January 29th, 2009 by Kateastrophe

I honestly don’t know how people do it.

See, I don’t have a whole lot of responsibility in my life. Sure, I work full time and I have to be all “responsible” there, and yes it’s challenging most days, and yes it’s hard work, but overall it’s not like a huge burden or weight. When I get home, I don’t have a husband demanding I have a hot dinner ready to go. He’s easy. If I want to cook, it’s OK. If I want to be lazy, it’s OK. If I want cereal, he eats a sandwich. SO easy-going, that man. Love him. He’s also really easy-going about the cleaning thing. I don’t remember the last time I mopped the floor (don’t judge me!) and as long as things are RELATIVELY picked up, he’s good. Oh and he’s incredibly neat. Everything around him is organized, folded and in it’s place. Granted, he’s not a deep cleaner (Mop? What’s a mop?) but I am (when I clean) so it’s ALL good.

Some people have very time consuming church responsibilities, but my church calling? Super easy. I have a meeting once a month and help plan parties. It’s awesome.

Other than that? I get to do what I want. Yet I always feel behind and like I’m getting NOTHING done!

I want to work out every day, but it never seems to happen. I am a creature that needs lots of sleep. Like 8-9 hours a night. Needless to say, getting up early to work out really isn’t an option. So, I figure I’ll do it when I get home, right? Wrong. When I get home, I’m starving (stupid hypoglycemia), thereby, no matter which way you spin it, I have at least an hour or two used up to either cook or find a meal. THEN I need at least an hour to digest so I don’t die at the gym. By that time it’s like 8:00 or 8:30, at which point I start considering it will be about an hour workout and THEN I have to come home and shower. Which takes another hour. (Stupid long hair.) SO by then it’s 11:00 and I’ve accomplished NOTHING except eating and working out. Imagine doing that every day. Yeah. I try to work out three times a week but STILL.

I have a few TV shows I enjoy watching, and I’ve tried to multi-task and do other things while I’m watching, but I’m realizing my brain doesn’t work like that anymore. I end up rewinding things like five times trying to catch what Derek just said to Meredith or whatever. SO, there are several hours a week dedicated to TV. It’s sort of brainless ME time, but again, I get NOTHING done.

This leads me to the weekends.

I typically need to use Saturday to clean, organize and to wade through the laundry pile because HOLY CRAP does my husband get a lot of clothes dirty. I swear I wash five of his things for every one of mine. Then there are always annoying errands like GROCERY SHOPPING to do, and before I know it, my Saturday is gone.

Now, for Sunday. Oui, Sunday. Being a member of the LDS Church, we are asked to keep the Sabbath day holy which means that we try our best not to do any hard work, shopping, eating out, etc. on Sunday. And we spend three hours in church. Oh and my church is 30 miles away so add an extra hour there. I’m not complaining (ok I sort of am but not loud annoying complaining) because I usually enjoy church and have friends there, and being forced to take it easy isn’t a bad thing, but it’s hard sometimes because I feel like most people have two days at the end of their week to do some playing and some chores and stuff, and I feel a little slighted and like I only have one. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my religion and wouldn’t trade it for anything but I am sort of making a plea for shortened church for those of us with A.D.D. or who are just easily distracted . . . it’s not going to happen, but a girl can dream, right?

Now, add in my work travel and I have pretty much just summed up my entire life for you. Do you see time for vacuuming? Decorating? Working on projects? Joining a book club? WRITING ON MY BLOG? Nope. Not there.

I’m a slightly overweight version of myself trying to figure out how to do it all. Which brings me back to the beginning sentence. I honestly don’t know how people do it. How do you add kids and still work out and keep house and help them with their homework and play with them and all that stuff? How do you decorate your homes so beautifully and still find time to make curtains and do crafts? HOW DO YOU DO IT?

I realize I’m asking the same question women have been asking forever. I realize there’s no absolute answer. I just have all these things I long to do. I look in the mirror and I am sad because my outsides don’t match my insides. I want to fit back into the clothes I’ve saved because I know I can be that skinny again. I want to find time to work out enough that I begin to really enjoy it. I want to cook a great meal every day. I want my home to be beautiful and representative of Matt and I. I want so many things and I’m just not sure how to get them without giving up other things that are important to me.

So seriously, I know you SuperGirls are out there. I read about your lives and I’m mostly inspired, but today I beg you to share your secret with me. I promise not to tell anyone else J.

January 21st, 2009 by Kateastrophe

WARNING:  THIS MIGHT BE THE LONGEST POST EVER.  Seriously. 

So, I’m a Mormon, right?  And I’m 28 (woah).  And my husband is 33 (with a beautiful baby face that makes him look not a day over 25.  Jerk.).  We’ve been married for almost four years.  And we (shhhhh) don’t have any kids.

What’s that you say?  Mormons?  Without four kids in the fourth year of marriage?  Surely you jest!

Surely I do not.

Now, despite what I know some people think, I DO want kids.  I do want a little girl to dress up and teach how to be a princess, and I want a little boy that Matt can teach to play sports and all that boy stuff. 

I just don’t want them yet.  I don’t have all the words or reasons to explain why.  I think some of it has to do with growing up really fast and helping my Mom so much with my siblings.  I think some of it has to do with the fact that I sort of mother EVERYONE and EVERYTHING so I’m sort of exhausted by that whole thing sometimes.  I think some of it has to do with really loving my job and my freedom and two incomes and all those selfish things.  And I think some of it is that I’m just not ready. 

But sometimes I think the biggest reason is that I have all these little angels in my life, courtesy of my best friends.  I not only have the most amazing girlfriends in the world, but they have the best kids in the world.  I was thinking about all of them today and I thought I’d write a little tribute to my little bebes.  Would you like to meet them?  OF COURSE YOU WOULD!  I’m going to try to go in birth order here, but my apologies to my ladies if I mess it up.

First was Alayna.  Oh my goodness this girl came crashing into my world and with one blink of her giant, gorgeous eyes, she stole my heart.  This picture is a few years old but I absolutely love it.  She is smart and funny and EXACTLY like her mother, which is a total bonus because I LOVE her mother.  We were buddies from the beginning and I’ll never forget her famous question “cha doin Kaaaaate?”

Next came Princess Madeleine.  Again, the second I saw her, sucking vigorously on her mothers pinkie (something I think ALL of her mothers children did as babies) she stole my heart.  I spent a lot of time with Maddy until I moved to Phoenix and she is SUCH a ray of sunshine and joy.  Sometimes her mom and I laugh because people mistake her for my daughter, as she doesn’t look a whole lot like the dark haired, olive skinned woman who gave her life.  Maddy is a girlie-girl through and through and sort of reminds me of myself at her age.  Crown and all.  (Again, this picture is a little older, but captures Maddie perfectly!)

Now we have Miss Ava.  From the moment I walked into the hospital room to meet this little cherub, I knew there was something special about her.  She is awesome.  When she was tiny there was a lot of crap going on around her and she came out of it with a perma-smile and the best attitude ever.  She is a total fashion diva and is (almost) six going on eighteen.  Again, the picture is old, but I had to use it.  I love this girl.

Next is Blake.  Blake is PURE ladies man . . . always has been.  He had me at hello.  Well, before that really.  Blake is gorgeous, kind, funny, generous . . . all the things you want in a man PLUS he has a rockin’ sense of style and plays a mean game of Sorry.  All your hearts are about to be broken though, he’s in love with a girl at school named Eva.  Shoot.

Next is my Rylie girl.  Rylie was born during a funny period in my life, right before I met my husband . . . when I had black hair.  I don’t know WHY that’s relevant, but I’ve always thought it was funny that the pictures of me with Rylie right after she was born show a VERY different version of me.  Rylie cracks me up.  She apparently talks about me ALL the time, but when I finally show up to see her, she gets really shy and nervous.  Her dimples could melt the coldest heart and she is such an amazing little girl.  She calls me Auntie Kate and I just love love love it.

Sammy Sam Sammer.  What to say about Sam.  Oh yeah.  I LOVE HIM.  He is so stinkin’ awesome and funny and gorgeous and awesome and great and awesome.  Last time I stayed at his house he insisted on sleeping with his cars in his bed and scared me to death when he moved around and they rolled against the wall.  He smiles ALL THE TIME.  I love him.  SEE?  How could you not?

Now for Cache.  OH how I love me some Cache.  I got married just a few months after Cache was born so I haven’t spent as much time with him (or the kids that follow him) as the ones up above, but Cache is HILARIOUS.  His Mom would tell us stories of clever little things he’d say or do and have us rolling around laughing.  It’s not surprising  because his mother is hilarious.  His personality is so unique and awesome.  And guess what?  Today is his birthday!  Happy Birthday, little man!

Next is Mr. Nathan.  I just had the pleasure of getting to know Nathan a little better and he is so freaking cool.  He has every word to Linkin Park’s “Shadow of a Day” memorized and gets mad at his Mom if he doesn’t get to do his special move to “Human” by The Killers.  Did I mention he’s three?  Yeah,  three.  He’s got a big, hilarious personality.  He might just be the death of his mom, but at least she’ll die laughing!

Brandon comes next in the long list of my loves.  He entered the world with a huge mop of curly black hair which eventually grew out blonde and somehow turned into a black tipped mohawk.  It. Was.  Awesome.  As is he.  He is ALL boy and so much fun.  His love for his mother is unparralelled  and he loves to snuggle.  His birthday is also today and he is going to school for the first time ever!  I’m so excited to watch him learn and grow!  He is SO very special to me.

 Now for Alli Grace.  I introduced you guys to Alli a few posts ago, but she’s obviously worth mentioning again.  Alli has one of the biggest personalities I’ve ever encountered.  She has me wrapped around her little finger and I cannot resist when she sits on the carpet and carefully pats the spot next to her and says “Ka-eeey, sit!”  I just want to squeeze her!!

Isaac comes next.  I always had a special place in my heart for Isaac but I got to spend some more time with him recently and WOW do I love him.  Isaac has really struggled in his short little life and I’m amazed at how he’s learning and growing and at the sacrifices that have been made to help him out.  He just melts my heart with his crystal blue eyes and constant laughter.  Oh so sweet.

Little Lucy joined the world next.  Like her mother, she IS JOY.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen her not smiling and giggling.  She is just amazing.  And would you look at her?  WATCH OUT WORLD!

 Avella my bella came next.  She and I haven’t spent a lot of time together, but she is like a round ball of amazingness. She is her Daddy’s clone and so freaking awesome.   She spent some time at my house a few weeks ago and her laugh and smile are so contagious!

Now for Cole.  OoooOOOOOooooh.  Cole is just a sweet little cherub!  He has these rosy cheeks and blonde hair and perfect smile and OOOOOooooOOOOH.  I just want to hold him close forever.  I mean LOOK AT THIS BABY!

Last but CERTAINLY not least is Miss Nora.  She was my birthday present this year and I just got back from spending two hours holding and feeding her.  I’m so amazed that just three weeks ago she wasn’t here and now I can’t imagine the world without her.

So now you have met my loves.  Aren’t they precious and amazing?  I know there are going to be more joining them in the future and I can’t wait to meet the little spirits that my best friends get to bring into the world.

Someday, I’ll have babies of my own to post pictures of and brag about, but for now, these 15 little angels are enough.  I am so very lucky to get to love each and every one of them and watch them grow up into amazing people — just like their mothers.

January 20th, 2009 by Kateastrophe

On this historic day, I believe all Americans have a choice to make. For some, it will be an easy one. For others, it’s going to be difficult, but we all must make it.

Today, we must all choose to whether we support and uphold our new leader, or we don’t.

For me, it’s not a hard choice. I choose to support President Barack Obama.

I do not support him blindly and without caution and reserve, without stipulation or consequence. I have my doubts and concerns, and I believe anyone who doesn’t, hasn’t been paying a whole lot of attention lately. I do not believe that he is the savior of our country or that he will be able to make good on everything he promised us during his campaign. I do not believe all his decisions and policies will be perfect, ideal, or in some cases even close to what’s right. I may not agree with all of his ideas, and I may feel he is, in some ways, misguided, but I truly feel that his intentions are good and that he will do good things for America.

I choose to pray for President Obama because I believe that ANY person in that office, with that kind of responsibility, needs all the help they can get.

I choose to uphold the democratic system that I feel was inspired by God and has done a pretty good job over the last couple of centuries.

I choose to stand by the President, as Teddy Roosevelt so beautifully put it, “so far as he serves the Republic.”

I choose, on a day where we should all be proud to be Americans, to look and hope and pray for the best and leave negativity behind.

I choose to believe in him, because I trust that we live in a world where there are still good people with good intentions, and that President Barack Obama is one of them.

Will you choose to join me?

January 18th, 2009 by Kateastrophe

Dancer. We are definitely dancer . . . not because we’re stupid and frivolous, oh no. We are dancer because tonight, we (Kate and Brillig, co-authors of this post) did not sit down ONE TIME during The Killers concert. And we’re pretty sure we’re a little bit high from the guys in front of us smoking a bong the ENTIRE SHOW. We wish we were kidding about that last part. We have the munchies and everything is reeeeeallly funny right now.

So, yeah. We were the old ladies who literally drove to the concert in a minivan and the proceeded to dance the WHOLE TIME. (Brillig confesses to removing her shoes, because they hurt and she’s a wuss. Kate, who chose to wear her insanely high heels the whole time can no longer feel her feet.) And we danced. Cuz we’re dancers. Except, we’re totally human. N stuff.

We got some cool stuff—a t-shirt for Kate, a poster for Brilly (Kate suggests that Brillig use the poster to build a shrine to Brandon above her fireplace… candles are already in place, and Brillig double-dog-dares Kate to wear the t-shirt to church tomorrow morning) (Kate probably will).

We are afraid that when we’re no longer high, this post will not be very funny. But for now, we’re finding it hilarious.

So, here’s a picture of us at the concert. Kate has a big head. Brillig looks like a vampire.

And here’s a picture of the guy you’re really here to see. Hi Brandon.

(We totally didn’t steal this pic off the Killers website. Totally. Didn’t.)

(Or this one.)

Okay, fine. We did steal them. Because the pictures we took turned out like this:

Yeah…

And, for good measure, we stole this one for you too. Because, Hi Brandon.

We had so, so much fun. Like, the best time ever. The Killers plus hanging out with your BFF equals total awesomeness.

For the record, Kate is currently stuffing her face with raw-ish cookie dough. And ice cream. And Dr. Pepper. And Brillig thinks that spinning around in circles would be really cool right now. Again, not joking.

Kate’s arm is shaking. Mormons really aren’t used to being around pot… I wonder how Brandon (who, as you SURELY know is also Mormon—See? We have a BOND with him! A CONNECTION!) copes with it.

Okay. We really ought to end this post. It’s 1:00 a.m. after all…

January 13th, 2009 by Kateastrophe

I’ve always wished I was one of those people who forgot to eat when they’re stressed. It’s such a quick, easy, painless way to a little bit of weight loss. My sister is gifted at it. The second a teeny tiny bit of stress hits her life, BAM she loses ten pounds. She’d have boy trouble and BAM, twenty pounds. She was like a size -10 with big boobs most of her life. She’ll say she hates me because of my green eyes. I pretty much win because her largest ever dress size was a 4. Green eyes and fat or brown eyes and deliciously skinny? Hmmmm, hard choice. SKINNY, Meg-o, SKINNY!

When I’m stressed, I want to do nothing but eat. Sugar and cheese, specifically. Not together, of course, because that’s, well, EW. I get the cooking bug and decide to “throw together” a delicious, parmesan cheese themed meal with parmesan crusted salmon, parmesan risotto and parmesan broccoli. No lie people, that’s what we had for dinner last night. It was deliciously unhealthy. Let’s just say that things in my life are reeking of a bit of stress. This new promotion at work is a great opportunity but it’s causing unusually high stress levels in the land of Kate. Cheese anyone?

I punished myself for the meal last night with my second trip to the gym in a week. I’m attempting to get back on the six-days-a-week work out wagon. I was doing really well last year until about June. I’d lost about ten pounds and was sitting comfortably on the bottom edge of one dress size smaller than I’d started the year out. Que summer vacations, work trade shows, trips to China and those bastard Holiday cookies. I stepped on the scary scale of death to (joyfully) discover that I’m back up TWELVE pounds. TWELVE. Ugh. Shoot me now.

I’ve never been a tiny, petite person. At my very skinniest I tipped the scales at a number that would cause suicides in most women, but the number isn’t really what bothers me. I was a size six and pretty damn proud of myself at the time. I’m big boned, have a large amount of muscle mass and strong, sturdy legs. I put muscle on quickly and, if I do say so myself, quite beautifully, so I weigh more than your average gal. I’m OK with that. What I’m not OK with is the actual size of my clothes. I’m verging on a size that most companies don’t carry, that my favorite denim companies won’t even consider making cute jeans in. I know I don’t look FAT, per say, but I sure don’t look skinny either. The lumps are taking over and they have GOT.TO.GO.

So, I’m jumping on the dreaded January Gym Bandwagon. I usually avoid the gym at all costs in January because I can’t handle the crowds of people with New Year’s Resolutions taking up space on my favorite treadmill, but this year, I figure I’ll just find it in my heart to use ANY treadmill. I’m not making a New Year’s Resolution, because that’s not really what this is. I’ve done it before. I’ve been the girl that every gym employee knows by name because I’m there every day. I’ve faithfully laid out my gym clothes and ingredients for a healthy dinner so that I could maximize my workout. Come February, when everyone gives up their resolve to return to the couch, I hope to be that girl again, but this time, permanently.

Oh, but just in case? I’m starting a liposuction fund.

January 8th, 2009 by Kateastrophe

To steal my girl Julia’s phrase, Holy Johnnies I have a lot to catch up on! Sheesh!

So many fun and crazy things have happened in the last week, I’m going to cop-out and pull out the bullets! Wheeee!

• Remember the baby I mentioned in my birthday post? Well, she arrived safely on my birthday and promptly stole my heart – best birthday present EVER. Kate’s bloggy friends, meet Nora. Nora, meet the Internets.

  

   

  Also, just for fun, meet the other gal who’s stolen my heart, Nora’s big sister Alli, showing off her new dalmation. Awwww

   

  

   

• My birthday was awesome. It started out as a total downer but by the end of the day I was loving life. My be-fri Hannah drove ALL the way from Utah with her little family to surprise me (which she did as I was getting out of the shower. That girl’s lucky my towel stayed on!) We had a big New Year’s Eve party at our house and had tons of fun playing Wii Fit and We Ski. Matt got me the coveted Canon SLR flash (soooo fancy) and all in all, it ended up being one of my most memorable birthday’s ever.

   

• Remember that post I wrote about that one day at work where they let a lot of people go? Yeah, let’s just say it happened AGAIN, and I made it through the cuts AGAIN. We’ve basically cut the company down by more than 50% in the last six months. Yikes. I’m breathing a HUGE sigh of relief to still have my job right now – and to top it off got a sort of promotion. No raise to go with it, but increased responsibilities and a better title. In this economy? I’ll take it!

   

• After making it through the gauntlet of cut-backs, I spent the evening screaming my lungs out at the Fiesta Bowl. I’m a HUGE Buckeye fan so the last 16 seconds REALLY sucked, but the rest of the game was so so so much fun. I really thought my Buckeye’s were going to pull off a miracle there for a minute. Oh well. There’s always next year, right?!? I also got an extra special treat at the game. Chris “Beanie” Wells mom accidentally sat in the wrong seats before the game started, so she was directly behind us for a few minutes. After the error was discovered and she went to the right seat, I reached into my gift bag from Tostitos to get my Jalapeno Tortilla Chips and discovered chewed gum stuck to the salsa container! That’s right folks, I think Beanie Wells’ mom spit her chewing gum into my gift bag. If her son wasn’t so awesome (and HUGE and probably MEAN) I might have done something about it. Instead, I shook off the nasty and carried on with eating my chips. But not the salsa. I mean, I don’t like the stuff anyway but EW.

   

• I usually make a big long list of New Year’s resolutions, but I decided on just one this year. Eating dinner out a max of 2x per week. I think this will help me achieve lots of goals in one. Weight loss, money savings, getting more organized at home, getting food storage together . . . I think this ONE goal will at least push me in the right direction for all of those. Wish me (and Matt) luck because OUI it’s hard to cook every night when all these amazing restaurants tempt me with their yumminess!

   

• Have I ever told you guys that I’m obsessed with The Killers? No? Well I am. For several reasons actually. First, um HI Brandon Flowers and his beautifulness. Second, their music is, in my opinion at least, AMAZING, and third, it’s one of the only music groups my husband and I can agree upon. SO, listening to The Killers has become a necessity in our little family for road trips because we have very few choices that don’t make one or the other want to vomit. We’re limited to U2, Eminem (you heard me) and The Killers, and I quite prefer option #3 the mostest. SO, this very long explanation leads me to the BIG NEWS. I’m flying to Denver where I not only get to see my BFFF Brillig (OHMAGOSHSOEXCITED) but we have tickets to THE KILLERS CONCERT!!!! (OHMAFREAKINGSOEXCITEDICANHARDLYBREATHE!!!!) I cannot think of a better weekend. Brillig, her little family of Brilligites, my birthplace of Denver and BRANDON FLOWERS IN PERSON!! There will be squeeeing and screaming and maybe some fainting. By Brillig, of course. I’ll be tooootally cool, calm and collected. Tooootally.

   

• After Denver, I get a two day visit from my amazing and illustrious step-mother Lisa. She hasn’t been to Phoenix since I moved here so I’m VERY excited to see her and convince her sun-loving self that 300 days of sunshine and pools a year are the bomb and she should move here.

   

• After my visit from Lisa, I fly to New Orleans to see my sister, Tofutti!! (Ten points if you can name the movie that name comes from!). We are planning on a swamp tour, maybe some plantations, and of course, LOTS OF FRIED FOOD.

   

• After THAT, I’m in Orlando for a trade show. Yay. Trade show. Wheeeee.

   

• The DAY I get home from Orlando (yup, there’s more) my Mom comes to town. This means lots of late night chats and home décor shopping and I’m jumping up and down just thinking about it.

   

• Then we run into President’s Day weekend. No plans YET, but if I don’t have any, I think you’ll find me passed out on the couch from all the above activities.

   

And that, folks, is my version of playing catch-up. PHEW! Hopefully we’ll return to regularly scheduled posting . . . someday.