Peace Out 2011

It's New Year's Eve!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! The first thing I think of when New Year's Eve comes around is the year my friends and I snuck out of my parents basement to go see some boys in a small town near by. Oh yeah, we were rebels like that...even though my mom knew what had happened before it even happened. How do Mom's do that and I hope I get that superpower too. Anyway, we were all 16 years old, made the 11 minute drive, awkwardly flirted and then were back home by 11pm (ya know, so we weren't on the road with all the drunks and crazies!) And then we drank Mountain Dew Code Red. I'm not sure if anyone else has experienced this or not while drinking Code Red but we're convinced that it has either alcohol or some sort of drugs in it. Because our drunken level was a rising like crazy. And it was hilarious!!! We pulled it all nighter and were loud-cackling-screaming-hysterical-obnoxious 16 year old girls until the break of dawn. And I loved every minute of it. Oh the good ol' days...... :) 


Now New Year's Eve is like a whole different world it seems. Full of ridiculously priced drinks and cover at bars, lots of hoochie and slutty dresses and drunk dudes on the prowl. Umm no thanks. The other night we went out to celebrate my friend Hilary's 24th birthday and some bro asked me my name and then said, "Katie? Oh that's a beautiful name." To which I said, "and so is the ring on my left hand. You see those guys playing buck hunter over there? The one in the North Face is my fiance." And that was on the 28th...I don't even want to know how tonight would be downtown. Puke. Which is why Jordan and I are having a New Year's Eve Party!!!! Clearly this is a brilliant idea. We'll have our own beer and drinks, lots of good food and snacks, our closest friends with us and lots of games/music to keep us entertained all night. This is a win-win. No creepers. No slutty dresses. No dumb overpriced cab fares. And tomorrow, we all get to lounge and recover together while watching Sunday NFL ticket all day. I love me some football and lazy sunday with Jordan and our friends. 


2011 has been quite the year. Unlike others, I'm kind of sad to see it go but ready for 2012. So many things happened in 2011 that it's kind of mind blowing....Jordan and I participated in our last Dance Marathon as undergrads, we moved in together, got engaged and a puppy and we both started grad school.....my parents moved to Texas....my friend Marco moved to Egypt for a 2-year teaching position....I watched friends lose parents and grandparents.... As I sit here and I think, it makes me realize that I have been beyond blessed and lucky throughout this year. It has been truly amazing. And so far from the looks of it, 2012 is shaping up to be just as awesome, but will definitely be much more amazing and special. Jordan and I will be married in 7 quick months and I will officially become a wife (And the more I think about it, I realize my mom was right when she said, "I think you would be perfectly happy being married and having kids..." because this raging baby fever just doesn't seem to want to go away....yep. I'll post about that another day) Ok enough of that. I hope 2012 brings everyone plenty of love, happiness, good health, quality time with family and friends and many awesome memories. I'm looking forward to the future and am excited to celebrate 2011 tonight! May you all have a safe and fun holiday! See you next year :) 

Christmas Slump

Well I haven't posted since before Christmas....and now here I am. In a slump. There's something about all the excitement of being surrounded by family for days and feeling all of the love we share and endless deep belly laughs. And when it all suddenly comes to an end and I'm left sitting in the silence of my own living room by myself (because of course Jordan offered to work today, why wouldn't he?!) it just really sucks. So I'll recap Christmas to give myself a pick me up:


Best Part about Christmas: Having my whole family back together. Finally. With my sister living in Wisconsin and my parents in Texas, only my brother and I are left in Iowa so it makes family gatherings tough. But pretty bomb ass once we're all together. 


Worst Part about Christmas: Watching my whole family go back our separate ways. Let's just say that when Jordan and I pulled out of my Grandma's driveway on Christmas night after hugging my parents goodbye, I was a hot-bawling-sobbing-snot faced mess. For about half an hour. I determined that there's no worse feeling than saying goodbye to your own parents and not even knowing the next time you'll see them. I'm pissed that I took them living only 2 1/2 hours away for granted this long, damnit anyway.


Worst Christmas present: (I realize this sounds like I'm contradicting my previous post and maybe I am in a way...but keep in mind my parents only gave me one gift. A very practical gift. Everything else I got was just "stuff" which I'm sure I'll use/wear, but I could definitely live without it all) Ok, well maybe the stack of sweaters that are sitting on the counter with the gift receipts waiting to be returned would be a good place to start....although it's the thought that counts, right? But since I didn't get a new laptop which is really the ONLY thing I asked for and legit really need, I'd say opening up the two boxes I thought could have been a computer, was the worst. Tricking people at Christmas is just not ok. 


Best Christmas present:  well my whole family being together is definitely number 1. But if we want to get technical and go with something tangible, I'd have to say my brand new Nimble vacuum from my Dad and Mom!!! I've already used it twice. I'm not sure if they're just trying to "domesticate" me so I'm ready to be a wife or what, but I'll take it. This vac is the BOMB! Turns out between me and Paisley, there's a lot of hair in our carpet that I never realized. Whoops. Anyway, here I am 24 years old and obsessing over a new vacuum and have been texting my friends about it left and right. I need some new hobbies....


I hope everyone has had a fun-filled Christmas and holiday season. It has been truly amazing this year to celebrate with my entire family for a few days and then we celebrated with Jordan's whole family for a few more days. So. Much. Family. We also celebrated the fact that this was my last Christmas as a "Cross" and next year we'll be married so I'll officially be an "Easton." Well at least my heart is full of love and I've never felt more blessed or lucky to have the families I have in my life. But ughh, I feel like I can't even leave the couch because of the obscene amount of food/treats/sweets/pop/beer that I've consumed over the past week. Guess I better put another Christmas gift to work this afternoon...a new kettlebell and Bob Harper workout! Bridal boot camp here I come......of course, that won't happen until I actually get up off the couch to put the DVD in. Shoot.

a Christmas rant.

Well so far my break has went something like this....I go to bed between 11-12pm when Jordan does (since he's working all week full-time...one of us has to be productive right?), watch a movie or read in bed until 1ish, sleep til 10am, then finish the movie or chapter I ended on. After Paisley and I have had enough of just laying in bed,  I figure it's time to change back into some sweats and a hoody then post up on the couch. All day. And usually fit a nap in somewhere between 2-4. I really don't know what my life has come to. So today I finally switched it up and after realizing that Christmas is only 5 days away, I finished all of my Christmas shopping. I got ALL of it done in ooh about 4 hours, including wrapping, if that even. Which makes me laugh because I know some people who have spent close to (and probably way more than) 40 HOURS Christmas shopping! Yes, you read that right. 40 HOURS!!!! That would be an entire full-time work week spent shopping. What?! I don't have the time (or money!) for that!! 


What is happening to Christmas?!! I don't get it!! Why do stores start putting Christmas stuff out at the same time as they set out the Halloween decorations and candy! It's beyond ridiculous. Not to go all churchy and "God-freak" on you all, but isn't the real meaning of Christmas the birth of Jesus? Do kids these days even know the story and how it all went down? It makes me sad and somewhat disgusted that some parents just think that Christmas is about the presents and Santa and the quantity of stuff they give, not the quality. Maybe I'm wrong here, but I honestly don't ever remember growing up like that or celebrating like that. Sure, my siblings and I all made "Christmas Wish Lists" but that's all they were. Wish lists. Because we could write down anything and everything we wanted knowing damn well that we wouldn't see half the stuff under the tree at any point in time. We went to a Catholic school growing up so we went to Mass twice a week, followed the Advent calendar and wreath and did different volunteer activities throughout the month of December...ya know, sing at the nursing home, read to elementary kids, ring the salvation army bell. Anyway, we gave our time is the point I'm trying to make. We did random acts of kindness because people remember those longer and those go a hell of a lot further than a Christmas tree full of the latest clothes and shoes underneath of it. I think people underestimate the power of acts of kindness. You don't have to look very far to realize that people everywhere are less fortunate than you or have it worse off. If you're reading this, you're already more fortunate and rich than countless people who can't even read or don't have a computer or access to the internet. 


So back to my point. Christmas and gift giving. It's outrageous and something has got to change. I'd like to think and tell myself this, and also my mom, that we're at the age where if we want something, we can buy it ourselves. If we can't afford it, we'll either save up for it or decide we don't need it that bad after all. Christmas to us isn't about the "stuff" or the gifts. It's about family and being together. It's about the memories and hugs and laughs and snuggles and good times that we'll all share over a few days that we all get to spend together. We all pile in the car and go to church together which gives all of us time to reflect on the year, our lives and be truly thankful for who we have in our life and what we are blessed with. I wish all families Christmases were like this. I wish that people would keep "Christ" in Christmas and not change it to x-mas or "Happy Holidays." All I know is that when Jordan and I have kids, I hope to teach them from an early age what Christmas is about. I hope our kids understand that there are other kids out there much less fortunate than them and to show them how rewarding it would be to donate their new toys to Toys for Tots or use their own Christmas money to donate to an organization that helps support kids with cancer. While I'm sure the massive overload of spoiling will still happen from the grandparents (because isn't that what grandparents are for?!), I hope that they would at least help recognize that just because they didn't teach their own kids these values, they would help us teach our kids what's important to us and our family. Gotta teach 'em and start 'em young right? I saw a pin the other day on Pinterest and thought it was so fitting for this time of year: 


The 4 Gift-Giving Rule:
-one thing they want
-one thing they need
-one thing they wear
-one thing they read


Brilliant. Thank you, Pinterest. You did it again. I should pass this along to those 40-hour shoppers for next year. And I have already mental noted this for the future. And to wrap this up, just because Christmas is this weekend and the festive music will stop on the radio and the gift giving will come to an end, doesn't mean the gift of time and gratitude needs to stop. Volunteer at the local hospital. Read to kids at the library. Give blood. Take your neighbors dog for a walk. Donate to a charity you support. Smile at someone you cross paths with. Do something, anything.  A little boy in Dance Marathon once said, "an act of kindness, big or small, is the greatest gift of all." If a five year old knows that, what's wrong with the rest of us?? Just think of how much better this world would be if we all put someone before ourselves first, even if just for a day or a few hours. Make it a New Year's Resolution if you have to. Eventually, we'll get Christmas back the way it used to be. Until then, enjoy all of the time with family and friends, embrace the moments together and spread the love around to those who might not have as much. And remember: count your blessings, not your problems.

give me a break

I have officially been on "Winter Break" since last Wednesday until January 17th. That is 5 weeks. 5 WEEKS. What in the hell am I going to do for 5 WEEKS?!!?!?!?!!!!! I'm going crazy just thinking about that.... First off, I'm going to be sleeping in. Although my body now only lets me sleep in until 9:00, sometimes 9:30 if I'm lucky. Maybe over break I'll acquire tons of motivation to start working out. I mean, I have 5 weeks to come up with a routine and start getting my sweat on. After all, that size 2 wedding dress hanging in my closest isn't going to wear itself! Or maybe I'll start catching up on scrapbooking....or read a new book series (I just finished all of The Hunger Games recently. I recommend the series to everyone. Read them. Love them. Get pumped for the first movie to come out in March!!!!)....bake and cook some tasty treats and meals....lounge and cuddle on the couch all day with Paisley. Clearly, my possibilities here are endless! Realistically, the amount of time I'll spend napping/laying on the couch/watching movies/snuggling with Paisley could be scary. But since I just officially finished my first semester of grad school with stellar grades and have made it through 4 months of wedding planning and puppy training without entirely losing my mind, I think I deserve to kick back and relax for all it's worth! The things that I know I will definitely be doing over break are:


1. Celebrating Christmas with my whole family all together and then celebrate with all of Jordan's family. I love family get togethers so much and I can't wait for Christmas just to see my family!
2. Drinking the two bottles of wine I have on the counter. They've been staring me down the past few days and I think it's time that I enjoy them. Maybe I'll get the new wine glasses/bottle opener I asked for which means I'd have no choice but to drink them.
3. Making our guest book for the wedding. It's going to be a photobook with fun tid-bits and stories along with lots of pictures, duh. And it's going to be the bomb.
4. Decorating a mailbox that will be used for our cardbox. Unique and DIY is the theme of our wedding. So again, it's going to be the bomb.
5. Enjoying and loving all of the down time with my fiance. Sometimes the stress and routine of school, work, and balancing our families gets both of us acting all sorts of crazy so I'm looking forward to lots of lounging and laughing with Jordan. 


And on that note, Jordan just said we're going to a movie at 9:30 tonight. Yay for a surprise date night! And an even bigger yay that I get to pick the movie! I have a feeling these 5 weeks will probably just fly by but either way, I'm loving break already :)

dry shampoo

The amount of dry shampoo I have used this week is almost disturbing. Almost. But not entirely. 


This is nothing new or a secret by any means so I'll just throw this out there right away....I don't shower every single day. And I love using the go-to line of, "well it's not good for your hair and it dries out your skin!" Which is all entirely true especially as the air starts getting colder and drier outside. It takes my obsession with chapstick and putting on lotion to an obsessive level. Anyway, back to the point. I don't shower every day. And I don't see anything wrong with this. I wake up just as easily in the morning by being attacked by my puppy and brushing my teeth so a blast from the shower would just make me mad and cold. I didn't realize my obsession with dry shampoo, especially this week, had gotten so out of control until this scenario happened today: I got home from taking my finals. Facebooked for a while, emailed some people and then crashed on the couch for a solid two hours. Then I woke up and it was like my hair had a mind of it's own. A lemony smelling, semi-rough but semi-smooth feeling, mind of it's own. It was half sticking up and half teased exactly how I did it at 6:45am. And it was almost greasetastic in some spots. Like the in-between stage where you debate about if you should shower or just use more dry shampoo. Who's with me on this one? Clearly, I've experienced this more than once. No shame here. That's when I have a "hat day" and after that, I give in and shower. I don't even try to hide the dry shampoo anymore in the back of the bathroom cabinet from Jordan. He knows I can go for days without a shower. And still loves me for who I am. And like I said earlier, I hate sweating. I don't ever work out. Why shower? I personally, being a girl and all, think it's a pain. Gotta wash my hair, dry it, restyle it, yadda yadda yadda........and then while showering, it always reminds me that I should also probably shave my legs. Yikes. Actually, make that yikes times a million. Whoops, my bad legs. Sorry for also ignoring you the past...oooh I don't know, 2? 3 weeks? Shoot. The things girls go through, it's exhausting I tell ya. At least I  have clean underwear for every morning, with or without a shower. 

the wrath of finals

Whoever thought of finals can shove it. They are so not necessary. In fact, I'm convinced that they're evil. Finals turn me into something I'm not. A stressed out, on-edge, snappy, moody and irritable person for days. This in a nut shell, is not me, mind you. Sure from time to time things might stress me out or make me moody, but finals puts me on a whole different level. It's ugly. And I don't even know WHY is the thing. It's not like these final tests are a surprise by any means. I've known when they will be since August. Which just makes me that much more mad with myself for getting so worked up over them. I feel like Nancy Kerrigan after she got smoked in the shin whenever finals roll around at the end of each semester....wwwwhhhhhyyyyy wwwwyyhhyyyyyy whyyyyyyy?!?!?!?!?!!!!

I feel ya Nancy. I once got hit in the eye while playing hockey.
I'm sure this was my same reaction.

Needless to say, it's only Monday and I'm SO over finals week. Thank the lord that I'm done first thing Wednesday morning. By all means, I am not a morning person but I will take a 7:30am and 9:45am final ANY day over a 4:00pm or 7:30pm final. No way josé. And besides my own finals, I can't wait for the class I TA to have their final either. What's with all these students blowing up my email the past two days saying "help me understand this...where is this information at...when is our final and where at?!" What I wanna know is just how big that rock is that they've all been living under all semester apparently, holy smokes!! If you have a final in less than 12 hours and you don't know where it is, you have much bigger problems than not knowing two vocab words. While they just add to my stress because of course I put off my own studying to answer their emails, at least I know I have my own shit together. And because of that, I can rest easy tonight. That is if all 15 pounds of Paisley doesn't try to hog the bed again...

sry 2 bother u

I woke up this morning to an email from a student in the class I am a TA for. This email is no joke. The student, who shall remain nameless, really sent it to me:


katie,
     sry 2 bother u. i jus saw my grade for my paper & im wondering y i got such a bad grade. thx


Umm...seriously?? Is this kid for real? Well, sadly he is. Because he resent me the same email twice. Apparently, his first email sent at 12:30am that I didn't reply to wasn't good enough so he resent it at 10:30am. Ridiculous. I don't even know where to start with explaining to him why he got the grade he did. What I really want to do is contact his high school English teachers and ask why they gave him any passing grades to obviously teach him/allow him to write the way he does now. Awful.

  I'm dealing with a bunch of babies around here.

It seems that what "they" (whoever they might be...) have been saying over the past 5-10 years really is true about the dwindle down of our education systems. Blame text messaging, blame instant messaging, blame the media, the kids friends or whoever you want. Clearly something is happening here. And it is not good. It's one thing for this kid to send me an email using short hand and slang language. Fine, that I can deal with. But when he and plenty of other students also use that same short hand and slang IN THEIR PAPERS....that is NOT ok! And then for them to be pissed off at me when I give them a C- grade for their papers. Get outta town punks. Go back to high school, learn how to write a paper and then come back when you're ready. Mind you, this class I'm a TA for is a general education course. It shouldn't be hard!! If they think I'm a hard ass or a bitch, have fun the next three years taking classes for your major. Good luck to you future 5th and 6th year seniors who can't pass a class because you can't write a paper. Don't blame me. Blame yourself. Kudos to all the teachers in any grade level, no matter the subject. You can only do so much each year with all of the education funding cuts happening all of the place, I get it. I guess it's true that you can only help someone who is willing to help themselves. And I guess this group of freshmen are learning that the hard way. Welcome to college, kiddos.                              

shutterfly fail

I ordered my Christmas cards a week and a half or so ago....I spent TWO HOURS perfecting them and triple checked the spelling....I paid shipping which was almost half the total cost of the cards....and FINALLY they arrived yesterday!!!! I had been checking the mail box religiously twice a day for the past 4 days because I knew they would be arriving soon. So much to my surprise, I was not happy with what I saw when I opened up the cards. The picture was blurry. Not like, a little blurry and kinda sorta out of focus. Not like, 'oh it's sorta blurry but maybe people won't really think much of it?' Not even close. This was like, "what the hell happened?! I paid entirely too much for this shit." So, after a huge freak out, my next idea was to contact Shutterfly about this issue. And just to preface this, I would seriously hate being a company or a customer service rep for a place that I am not happy with. (which reminds me...this is another trait I got from my mom. just telling people what's up and how it is because that's how we roll...especially if you piss us off OR try to rip us off) So here is what I wrote to Shutterfly:

I recently ordered and received 25 photo cards. When they arrived, the picture was beyond blurry and out of focus. While making the cards and before ordering them, I was never notified or warned that this picture would print blurry. I am embarrassed to send these cards out to my family and friends. I am not in the least bit happy with the quality of them at all. Had I known the picture would print this way, I would have uploaded a different picture or tried to make it a better quality before ordering. I have printed several 4x6 pictures from you and have received a warning that they would print poorly given their resolution so I assumed you would do the same with the photo cards. Seeing as how I am not satisified with these at all, you need to fix this and make it right. You have two options: recredit my account and refund my money for the order AND shipping so I can take my business elsewhere. Or you can give me 25 photo cards for free AND pay for 2-day shipping so I can receive these and mail them before Christmas is here. If you can't do either of these options, I guarantee that you will never receive my business again and I will post this on every social networking site so all of my family and friends, and their family and friends, will take their business elsewhere as well. 


Needless to say, today I was very happy to wake up and see I had an email response from Shutterfly customer service. And thankfully, they accepted option #1 that I gave them. So I reuploaded a new version of the picture, ordered them for free and got the free 2-day shipping. And now I will wait and see how these turn out....so help me God that those 25 Christmas cards come back blurry again and I will really lose my mind. (Actually, I think I already have after reading and grading 50 freshmen papers in the past 2 days...apparently high school doesn't teach grammar and writing skills these days anymore.) Anyway, Shutterfly you're officially on my list until I get my non-blurry Christmas cards. And I suggest you make it right because my list isn't a place you wanna be! Ah so thankful the weekend is almost here...

the first gift of Christmas!

Today I felt like the boy from The Polar Express...because....I got the first gift of Christmas!!! And it was totally unexpected! Today at my 8:05AM class (which I showed up 25 minutes late for...gee thanks a heap snow/ice) my professor said he needed to see all of his TA's immediately after class. Of course, instant paranoia sets in with me. "What's he going to say? Is he mad? Did I do something wrong? Am I not getting an assistantship next semester?!!" Anyway, we all stayed after class and sat there questioning what would he was going be on our case about now....until he walked back into the room with two BIG bags of Christmas presents!!!! Our prof (who is probably mid-50s? maybe 60s?) is a single dude so when each of us girls opened up a scarf from American Eagle it made for quite the laugh. Seriously, I wish I could have seen him buying 6 of these scarves. And on top of that he also gave us each a Christmas card with a real genuine note from him. Basically, he said I'm awesome and he can't wait to have me around for the next 2 years in the program AND also to TA and help him with class. So if that's an offer for an assistantship each semester, I'll take it. Merry Christmas to me!


In other news, I helped my friend Hilary today bust down her basement wall and save her sister's dog that she is dog-sitting for the week. Meekah, the dog, really brought this on herself because at some point, she jumped up on the door handle and locked herself in. So instead of there being a key for the door anywhere, we had to go all Animal Cops and ASPCA on the basement. Breaking in through the wall paneling was really the only option. Needless to say, without the help of any guys, google OR pinterest, we combined our strength and tore through the wall. Saved the dog (let her out of the room...it's not like there was a fire and that we had to "save" her from anything.) Patched up the wall. And it looks good as new just like that. 


And lastly, my day ended by having a long dinner with my friend Lea. Is there anything better than sharing a delish dinner with a good friend? Eat in 20 minutes but end up staying there for almost two hours? I love it. There's nothing like some quality time with my girl friends. We get each other's jokes, reminisce about old stories and we can vent for hours, obviously. And never get sick of it. Nothing makes my heart feel more full and happy after such a wonderful day spent with two of my closest friends and then ending the night snuggling with the boy and pup.

Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see. 

-The Polar Express

i got it from my mama

My mom is the bomb. Really, she rocks. I've always known that she is very supportive of all of us, insanely crafty and creative, hilarious, ridiculously organized and always thinks outside of the box (usually for a cheaper alternative for things.) And I know she has passed on some of her best qualities to me as well. Like her helping me become independent, think for myself, and she encourages me to be successful in all I set out to do...not to mention her high metabolism and "skinny genes", green eyes, sense of humor and crafty skills just to name a few. Actually, it's almost scary how much we are alike now that I'm starting to realize it. But I mean, look at how much fun the two of us have together. 

we're funny girls.

Now with the wedding planning, she has taken her crafting and creativeness to a whole new level. I'm talking OFF the charts here people. Beading like a mad woman. Painting jars and making all of the boutonnieres. She's even eating baby food just so we have enough of the small jars. EATING BABY FOOD!! Is that love and dedication or what?!

wedding mania!

Whoa baby, look at all those jars! I love them all and am so excited for how unique and "us" the wedding is going to be! Now enough of the decorations....onto even more beautiful items. Since I have my wedding dress, (duh, that's not what I'm going to post pictures of) I have been searching high and low for the perfect head piece and bracelet. And of course, my mom entirely blew my mind and left me speechless when she hand-crafted all of this...

Etsy sellers, move aside. My mom has got the beadin' fever.

I know, I know. It's all beautiful, isn't it? She really out did herself on this one and I couldn't be more excited and thankful for these items! My mom has always meant so much to me and I can't imagine trying to plan this wedding or do any of it without her by my side. I've actually been looking forward to this "event" for awhile now because I knew how special it would be for the both of us. We've already shared many laughs and tears (thankfully, way more laughs than tears!) and I'm sure over the next 8 months leading up to the Big Day, there will be plenty more of both. It didn't take the wedding for me to realize how awesome my mom is and how supportive she is. But it has made me feel even more lucky to have her in my life and thankful to say she is one of my best friends. So to this, I thank you Mom. For everything you have done, continue to do and will do throughout my life. It wouldn't be the same without you and I can only hope to be the mom to my own kids as you have been to me. Love, Louskilou :)

zero tolerance

I hate to admit that I have little to no tolerance when it comes to drinking. Zero tolerance might sum it up actually. Especially when I'm trying to drink with the guys and apparently my girl friends. And keep up during power hour. And trying to make it to century club. My body is hating me like whoa today. I don't know why I do this to myself. Luckily, this isn't a very often event but when I do drink, it's like my subconscious is telling me to drink enough to make up for the last few dry weeks. I guess that means my body is punishing myself for not enjoying a couple of cold ones more often. That's obviously the only logic to this situation. So naturally, I suppose, that means it's okay to have a beer or two each night. Maybe I'll try that route for a while.....


Thanks to trying to keep up with the guys and not wanting to appear "lame and weak sauce" also led to the night ending something like this. Me passing out in the recliner. Jordan carrying me to bed. Me getting tucked into bed. Jordan continued to drink in the living room with our friends and watch football. Jordan hearing weird noises from the bedroom. Me puking in the bed. On the bed. On the floor. And on my arm. While still passed out. Jordan holding a trash bag below me. Me missing the bag and still hitting the bed and floor. Jordan getting me to the bathroom and shower to wash off my arms and face. Jordan put all the bedding in the wash, remade the bed with a new set of sheets, and tucked me into bed. Again. Thankfully, that was the end of the eventful night and we both slept in past 10.


I have gathered three things from this:
1. Jordan is great at cleaning up puke and dealing with it. Which is awesome news because the thought of cleaning it up, even my own, makes me gag. He'll be on puke patrol for sure when we have kids. 
2. We needed to change the sheets anyway. What better way to remind us to put on the flannel sheets and put away the summer sheets than a little puke. 
3. I actually think I might be getting sick for real. So I'm not blaming all of this on the drinking. It merely is a coincidence. A big coincidence perhaps. But I have been feeling really achey and feverish for the past few days so I rest my case.


I love Lazy Sundays. I get to spend the whole day lounging in sweats with Jordan and Paisley with football on. And since I'm feeling a little under the weather that means some napping will happen too...Jordan already caught me and Paisley taking one nap. So this is how I will be spending the rest of my day....

Paisley is the best little spoon

I hope everyone fully indulges in lazy Sunday. Rest up, kick back and relax. Why work on the to-do list today when it can be done tomorrow!

healthy schmealthy

I despise the grocery store. I loathe grocery shopping. And for one reason: the damn price of everything. In a society where you get ridiculed and judged for being over weight and laughed out of some retail stores, they sure don't make buying healthy food an easy task. 


I have one thing to say about healthy food prices: ahem, screw them.


Thankfully, I still have my trusty genetics to rely on. Although at some point, I'm sure my high metabolism is bound to slow down, but until then, I'd like to stay ahead of it. And I really don't ever want my future kids to look at pictures of myself from high school or college and say, "Wow Mom, you were pretty skinny back then....what happened and is that going to happen to me?!" Yeah, yikes. A day I dread and hope to never experience. They'd get soap in their mouths for sure.......just kidding. Actually all of our lunches would be canceled for the rest of the week due to lack of hustle. 


But seriously. I have an idea: why not make fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, yogurt, teas, and pasta along with any other healthy alternative half the price it is now? I bet that would encourage people to eat better. I know I'm not the only person who sees the section "Healthy Market" in the stores but reads it as "Too Expensive For You Grad Student" (or whichever alternative fits you better, like maybe "Don't even think about it. You have 4 other mouths to feed at home.") Geez louise, what's a girl gotta do around here to feed herself and her fiance some healthy meals without breaking the bank?!! All I know is that my future home will have a big enough backyard to have a giant garden. Basically like a replica of my parents at our old house. Then I will just reap all the benefits of homegrown goodness and love every minute of it. And shove it in the face of the grocery stores. But until then, I will continue to just suck it up, pay the prices (and still bitch about it) and let my body reap the benefits. I only hope all of these healthy meals pay off in the long run....


Speaking of run, I blame all of this entirely on the class I am a TA for: Health For Living. Everyone I TA with is in Health & Sports Studies, personal trainers, love to run, yada yada yada. Workout freaks I like to call them and I want to be one of them. But not really because I hate running. And I reallllllly hate sweating. Which means I have a really big love/hate relationship with exercising in general. Which brings me back to the whole point of this post about eating healthy. Clearly I gotta eat healthy since I hate sweating which means I gotta pay astronomical prices for the healthy food......ughh it's a vicious circle I'm living in I tell ya. Vicious. healthy schmealthy, can't live with it. Definitely can't live without it. Damn. I'm going to enjoy every last grape I bought now, even the wrinkly ones. 

guilty of pre-wedding wedding planning

It's true. I'll admit it....I am guilty of pre-planning my own wedding. So sue me why don't you.

I know however, that I am not the only girl who has done this. Obviously. Let's be real here people. I mean, can you blame me really? Being 24 and surrounded by friends and friends of friends who all seemed to be getting engaged, married, buying houses and having babies--you know, THE WORKS--of course I started to get anxious and thus it led me to start planning my future wedding. 

Here is what I had to work with while pre-planning:
future groom: Jordan. (you know when you know, right?)
budget: unsure, but hopeful.
ring: again, nothing. but wishful thinking. and making it painfully obvious about what I liked and wanted.
size: small. I wanted everything small. No big poofy dress, small even numbered wedding party, cupcakes and no giant cake, and no more than 200 guests.
decorations: no fresh flowers, period. lots of DIY stuff and candles.

colors: plum purple, sage and khaki
time of year: late summer

Thankfully for me, Jordan was totally ok with me always rattling on and on about "when we get married....for our future wedding...." because turns out he also had the same idea in his own mind. But with both of us still being in school (we'll be professionals some day), I really wasn't expecting anything to happen in the near future. The only thing I could rest easy about was knowing that he agreed, more or less, with my above list. Which only further got my wheels spinning and more obsessed with all things wedding related. I constantly found myself looking at dresses, rings, venues, and even photographer prices. Every recent google search on my computer had something to do with weddings, no joke. At this point, I KNEW Jordan was the one because he was still around! Whewww....So imagine my surprise when I got home from orientation, on my birthday, and he had this beauty waiting for me...

 

I know, it's gorgeous isn't it?

And just like that, we have been in a whirlwind of officially and for real planning this wedding! Now I don't feel guilty (not like I did in the first place) about spending all night going from one wedding blog to the next with a marathon of 'Say Yes To The Dress' playing. Now he only has 8 months left to listen to me as I read different facts and stories from the latest Brides magazine or try to show him my latest idea....all while he enjoys a couple of cold ones and plays Call of Duty. Which I quickly realized I might as well be talking to a brick wall and that's what my mom and girlfriends are for. Thanks J man for just nodding your head and always agreeing with me anyway. Just one of the many things I appreciate about you.

rabbit rabbit

I remember growing up watching Nickelodeon like it was my job and they always had random facts or quotes for each day. Does anyone else remember that? I know some of you 90's kids probably do. Anyway, the one I always remember and think of was "rabbit rabbit." Supposedly, on the 1st of each month, when you wake up and if the first thing you say is "rabbit rabbit" then that is going to bring you good luck for the rest of the month. So guess who has been waking up and saying this to herself (and sometimes outloud) on the 1st of each month....yep, this girl. Maybe that explains why I really am so lucky and I'm always winning things. Shoot, now my secrets out which means any prizes that you win in a month when you said "rabbit rabbit" should automatically be turned over to me. 

With the 1st of December also brings two other very exciting things. First off, it means the start of Ellen Degeneres 12 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!!! Which by the way, I should totally be attending. Hey yo Ellen, why haven't you returned any of my emails?? I've been emailing you like crazy, submitting stories and pictures left and right. Show me some love why don't you and invite me to your show!! Ok enough of that, I'll keep dreaming about it later. The other exciting thing is today also starts ABC FAMILY 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!!! One Christmas movie a day for the next 25 days?! Umm YES please!! There is nothing better than snuggling up on the couch with the tree lit in the corner and playing a Christmas movie to get you all jazzed up and in the Christmas spirit! Although, I won't lie...there will be some of their movie choices I won't be watching. Like the clay animation movies. Ehh, I've never been able to stand those. On those nights, since Jordan is obsessed (seriously, in love) with all things Christmas, we'll choose from our own movie selection of holiday favorites! 

Elf....one of the best Christmas movies!

One last thing that the start of December also brings is a whole mix of emotions around the holiday season. Being surrounded by all of my family and friends makes me feel truly blessed and so lucky. It also makes me miss those so much that have left my life, some way too early. It really isn't fair but I know they would all be so proud to see what we have accomplished. I hope this month brings everyone plenty of family time, laughs, smiles and joy. I for one, can't wait for all of the home cookin' and a little friendly competition during our family Christmas games! It's on, booyahh!

  

slightly inappropriate, entirely impressive

What's new Katie Lou?? Oh my blog is, that's what's new! And just a head's up, this blog will most likely be slightly inappropriate, but entirely impressive.


And why's that? Well, I'll tell you. Because that is exactly what this blog will be. Some days I might be entirely appropriate and polite, while other days, you might think that in a past life I was a sailor. Regardless of which type of day or post it is, you can bet it will be impressive.


Here are the cold hard facts:
1. My name is Katie. Although I go by many names...Katie Lou, Kate, Lou, Lousker, and my favorite from my mom has to be Louskilou.
2. I am recently engaged to an amazing guy who goes by the name of Jordan. I also live with said fiance in a fancy little condo. It's like we're living in Suburbia, minus having our own kids to add to the neighborhood. 
3. However, we do have a fiesty and adorable little puppy. Paisley, the pup, we saved from a local shelter and she's the best dog ever. Seriously people. Always adopt.
4. This blog will be about a random assortment of things. Because that's how my mind works. You can count on anything from wedding planning, dog training, grad school, nights out, lazy Sundays and whatever else I encounter.
5. As mentioned above, I can't promise to be entirely politically correct all the time and I'm sure at some point, I may offend people. Whether it be my own opinion or my choice of words (because who doesn't love some F-Bombs now and then?), this is your only warning. 


And so, with all of that said....welcome to my blog!!! I've always enjoyed writing (and reading) so now I'm finally doing something about it. Because what works best for me is to laugh things off and cry it out so if that's what it takes for you too, let's be friends. Alright people, adventure is out there!

Me & My Mini Family