A Day in the Life

2010-07-08T18:56:00.001-07:00

2010-02-09T22:33:00.001-07:00

"I'm not quite sure what I look like, cause when I see myself in pictures...I don't look like me. But I don't really know what I look like. Sometimes I'm like God I look hot. And other times I'm like...eh. A couple more sit-ups tomorrow, pink. It's so much easier to be hard on yourself. It takes work to be good to yourself...so I'm trying to put the work in. When I say 'Ugh, I wish I didn't have those dots all over my face' I say 'Mm, but they're really unique and special.' 'I wish I didn't feel fat today.' 'Mm, but you're really strong.' 'I wish my legs weren't so muscular.' 'Mm, but when you're older, they're gonna carry you around.' Things like that. Be thankful."

-Pink

I choose to grow.

2010-01-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

"Every human being has gone through a tragedy of sorts. And the idea is that you have two paths you can take: You can find that alchemy that turns lead into gold, find that magic where you can see the loss as an entry point for learning and grow from it and become wiser and stronger. I think Ernest Hemingway said it best, life breaks us all but you're stronger in the places that were broken. Or you can essentially crumble, give up, and waste your life."

- Jillian Michaels

Tis the Season

2009-11-28T11:16:00.002-07:00

Well, seeing as I have been terrible about updating this blog, I figure that I may as well try and improve.

Yesterday was "the day after thanksgiving" which in my mind means one thing: the official beginning of the Christmas season!! I listened to Christmas music all day long, sipped hot chocolate from Starbucks (which is a major addiction..I need an intervention. But we'll get to that next), and ended the day with watching Elf while laying under the Christmas tree. Yes, it was an excellent day.

Now. The Starbucks issue. The few times in the past that I've tried to hot chocolate from there, I wasn't incredibly impressed. About a week ago, I was cold, I was near Starbucks, and decided to give it one more shot. What a mistake!! ;) Since then, EVERY DAY I have gone in for my hot chocolate. It's like a drug. I swear that it's better this year. YUM. I need an intervention...that or a Starbucks buddy!! My order contradicts itself: I get a tall non-fat with whip and drizzle hot chocolate. Which means that I get non-fat milk...and then put whipped cream and chocolate sauce over the top. lol! Ehh, you win some you lose some.

Well my friends, I wish you a very happy Christmas & Starbucks season.

xo
K

Let there be cake!!

2009-11-24T20:03:00.014-07:00

So, a few months ago, I saw this post on MckMama's blog. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I HAD to try making it. My mom's birthday (which is this Sunday, the 29th) was the perfect excuse. Since she'll be out of town on her birthday, I decided to make it a few days early. I've been waiting patiently, and was SO EXCITED when the time finally came to make it.

Now, let me preface by saying this: I've never made a cake before. Ever. So a few days ago, I practiced by making a Pillsbury "funfetti' cake, but still just used the canned frosting. This was my first EVER attempt at making a large cake on my own, and at making frosting. I'm so excited with how it came out!!

I took pictures throughout the day to document it. From start to finish, it took me about 5.5-6 hours to make. So worth it! :)

Mixing up the batter for the red (well...red, turned hot pink) and orange layers.

Ready to go in the oven!

Messy mixing spoons!

Making frosting in the midst of a GIANT mess

yumm

Starting to frost the cake

All finished but...

...the real fun is on the inside! :) :)

Not bad for a first cake, eh? ;)

Time flies

2009-04-12T19:38:00.015-07:00

I can't believe how quickly this year is going. How on earth is it already April??

I had a really great morning. I headed into the Scottsdale Bible nursery (I used to volunteer there weekly but haven't been in about a year) to see if they needed any help. The supervisor, Jo, recognized me right away and placed me in my favorite room...the little babies! I love children so much and have a really special place in my heart for the little ones. I had a great time taking care of them during the service, and after it was over, Jo approached me and said that they really missed me, and asked me if I'd be interested in having my own infant room every Sunday at the 9:45 service! Needless to say, I accepted! I'm so excited to get back in there, and I can hardly wait until next Sunday!!

I'm so ready for school to be over. I'm feeling pretty burned out, and I'm so ready for summer break. My last day is going to be May 14...thank goodness!! Then, on May 15th, Krista, Jackie, Andrea, Heather and I are going to LA! We're going to go to the beach, Six Flags and Disneyland to celebrate Krista and Heathers birthday. I'm so excited :)

This summer is going to be big travel wise....I've also been accepted into a Study Abroad summer program!! I'll be flying to London in mid July, and boarding a cruise on the 19th. The cruise is from the 19th to 31st and we'll be visiting England (of course), Ireland, Scotland and France!! I'm so psyched. I was really lucky to get a scholarship which helped a lot with the cost. Plus, I'll get to visit Miss Maddie in England...yay!

I'll leave you with pictures from our recent trip to New York City. We were there March 15-20, and I'm now officially in love with the city. WOW. We had the greatest time.

I hope that you had a great Easter.

-Katie

30 Rock!

COLD night tour!

Top of the Rock

Regis and Kelly

Times Square

Central Park...my new favorite place in the entire world:

Beautiful!! I hope to be able to go back next year!

Finally an update!

2009-02-07T02:00:00.007-07:00

Life has been pretty average lately. Classes started back up in mid-January. I was also lucky enough to get a job as a nanny! Mon-Thurs are very busy for me between school & work, but I love having the 3 -day weekend, which makes the craziness during the week worth it.

Tonight I went to a Suns game with Heather. We had a lot of fun, and the Suns won 115 to 105! :) Funny story...When the players came out, one of them looked really familiar to me, but I didn't focus too much on it. Heather leaned over about half way through the game and told me that the player was one of her favorites, and that he (like me) likes to go to Disneyland often. As soon as she said that, it all became clear. I was in line with him for like 30 minutes last month when I was there! I thought he was really cute, and was flirting with him the whole time (and was secretly marvelling at his height (7'0"!!) and thinking about how giant our children would be LOL).

I had no idea that he plays for the Suns! Obviously, when I told Heather, she was about ready to kill me. She is so jealous that I was with him, and insists that I should have (1) gotten his autograph {I had to keep reminding her that I didn't know who he was, to which she responded "if you see someone 7 feet tall, just automatically ask for their autograph in case they're a basket ball player!"} and (2) flirted more and given him my number so that I would become a romantic interest in his life and get her court side seats. Haha!! We laughed about it all night...what a funny coincidence. I had met Analeigh from America's Next Top Model (my favorite contestant out of all the seasons!) the night before -- what a lucky trip!

Anyways, here are some pictures from the game. I hope that you are all well. :) -Katie

Our view!

Heather spying on Nash & his family.

The Gorilla is a rock star!

Shaq doing what he does best!

The final score!

Love, in the words of 6-year-olds

2008-12-17T12:56:00.002-07:00

Today was my last day assisting at the elementary school :(

The kids surprised me with cards, and they're hilariously cute, so i wanted to share them with you. I'm going to type them exactly as they are, because the typos add to the cuteness :]

Most of them have pictures with me and the child, and have rainbows and hearts.

I think that the teacher put some words on the board for them to use, and some of them didn't understand the concept, just copying them down (the first one is a good example of this...) My translations, if necessary, are in parentheses.

----------------------
Dear Katie,
Thank-you. winter-break. happy-holiday. jolly. teaching read books food feel happy. library. Merry Christmas?
I had a gra tin wif you (I had a great time with you?)
reading wif me
helping wif me.
I hop you Be a good teacher.
Miss you.
Visiting us.
good-bye I and gunu mis you.
trouble slele (I have no idea...)
friendle to Katie,
Love Anaya
--
Dear Katie,
Thank you for helping all of us! Thank you for teaching all of us! Happy holiday Katie. I feel happy when you come! I miss you so much. Thank you for be are friend. Merry christmas katie!
Love, Seya
--
Dear Katie,
I miss you so much i feel like i want to cry so much be cos i love you to much to be with you Katie (I think she meant without you LOL) but remember that we call you women (???) and thank you for teaching me how to read.
Love Genelle.
--
Dear Katie, happy holidays and merry christams! I hope you have a fun winter break! I will miss you Katie. Thank you for helping me pick my library book. Thank you for reading with me. Reading with you was fun! Thank you for teaching me so much! where are you going dring winter break? Have a very jolly christams! we all love you vert much! good luck Katie. good-bye Katie.
Love Zoe Z.
--
Dear Katie,
Thank you fore you comeing and we love you. if you come back I will by happe very happe and by Zachary.
--
Dear Katie,
I will miss you. thank you for visiting us. thank you for helping. us. good-bye katie. You are a good friend. Merry Christmas Katie. have a good winter break Katie. I will rember katie. thank you for teaching. you are a good teacher katie. I hope you will have a good winter break. Love Savannah.
--
Dear Katie,
The book you read was fun. I hope you have a great Christmas break. Happy holidays. I hope lots of presents. I wish you could visit one last time. I hope you like my note. Cole
--
Dear Katie.
I miss you. I hope you have a grate winter break. I hope you have a good christmas. thak you for reading with me. Thak you for helping me with sentrs (centers). I hope you like collig (college). love Isabel.
--
Dear Katie
Thank-you for helping us you are a good friend. I bet you will de a good teacher (they are still mastering b's and d's). Merry christmas good-bye. you did do a good god (job?). you are a good person. you mad a good choice. Love: Zoe R.
--
Dear Katie,
Have a happy jolly christmas. Merry christmas Katie.
Thank you for helping.
Love, Logan.
--
Dear katie,
Thank-you for teaching us. Marry Christmas katie Happy holiday Katie.
Love cameron
--
Dear Katie,
I like you miss katie.
I feel happ for teaching.
Do you like food. sckrklo yes no (circle yes/no)
Do you like spors srcklo yes no
Do you like christmas yes you
you to go first grade.
Christmas HAPPY
Love, Sage
--
Dear Katit
Thank you for taeching us. Thank you for helping (no name...Jack??)
--
Dear Katie.
Than you Katie. Good bye Katie. Happy holday. Merry Christmas. Love Samantha
--
Dear Katie:
1. I hoqe that you have a good winter break
2. I hoqe you have a good Christmas.
3. I will miss you.
4. I hoqe you miss my too.
5. Thak you for teaching!
6. Are you coming back?
7. I hoqe you have a nise school.
8. hoqe you are good at teaching.
9. hoqe you are nise.
10. sorry you haft to go.
11. hoqe you have a nise day.
12. thak you for readind!
13. thank you for teaching.
14. thank you for heping us.
15. thank you.
16. bye bye!
17. have a good nite.
18. bye bye and have a good day!
19. I like you.
20. bye katie bye!
21 hoqe you like your jod! (job)
22. Hoqe you are good at your jod
from Asheton
--
thank you for heipen me (helping me).
Thank you for reading.
Thank you fen bleaching us.(for teaching us)
Thank you for visitinges. (visiting us)
I hope you have a good Chrrsma brace (Christmas break)
fwenuslfo [I have NO idea] miss you.
Love Jaden
--
Dear Katie,
thank you for
teaching
helping
reading
rend books.
I will miss you
Love Cole H
good bye.
Happy holiday.
Love Cole H
--
Dear Katie
Merry Christmas Katie.
Thank-you Katie.
I will mis you Katie.
I love you Katie tooo.
Love Aria
--
Dear Katie,
I hope you have a good christmas
I will miss you
Thank you for helping me
Thank you for teaching me
I hope you have a happy holiday
Thank you for reading with me
Love, Zoe A.

--------------------------------------------------

It doesn't get much better than that :)

I brought them all presents too:
the girls got Disney Princess spelling workbooks
and the boys got scooby doo printing practice workbooks :)

I'm going to miss them!

Job-Hunting

2008-12-05T16:42:00.002-07:00

I'm job-hunting, and I need ideas!
My #1 iterest is nannying, so please let me know if you know anyone in the Scottsdale/North Phoenix area who's looking for a nanny!
Beyond that, I'm focusing on retail or reception. I've already applied at a few places but I never hear back. I picked up an application from babystyle today because their website said they were hiring, but when I went in, the girl said that she didn't think they were. I got an app anyways though.

I desperately need money. I'm trying to save up to go visit Maddie in London {in July} and it's uber expensive! Any ideas would be appreciated!!

:)

Wow.

2008-12-02T16:22:00.002-07:00

I have been terrible about updating this lately. Sorry!

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's officially Christmas time. I couldn't be more happy about it! I set my Christmas tree up a few days ago and went to Michael's to pick up all kinds of pretty new ornaments and lights for it. I've been listening to 99.9's all-day Christmas music, and am already counting down the days till, well actually, Christmas Eve!

As some of you already know, my family has a tradition. Every year on Christmas Eve we head over to my grandparents house for a delicious prime rib dinner, and after dinner, we open gifts. As a child, I always wanted to rush through dinner to get to present time, but as I've gotten older, I enjoy the dinner more and more. It's so yummy, and I can't wait for it this year :)

Speaking of count-downs, if you direct your attention to my handy dandy ticker at the bottom of my blog, you'll see that Ryan is coming in 16 days!! I am absolutely beside myself with excitement. It's cruel and unusual punishment to take away a girl's best friend for a whole year. I can't wait!

My parents are out of town, so tonight my brother and I are going out to dinner with our Grandparents. We're going to Sweet Tomatoes. I'm feeling under the weather (I have the flu...again...yes, that's 3 times in 2 months if anyone's counting) and that chicken noodle soup is sounding soo good. I'm excited to go out and enjoy a meal with them.

I hope that everyone is well.

-Katie

PS:
Congratulations to Amanda and David on the birth of beautiful little Gracelyn Shea. What a cutie :)

First Grade Politics

2008-11-03T13:50:00.002-07:00

Today while I was at the elementary school, I had the funniest conversation with a group of 5 kids. Keep in mind, while you read it, that the kids are 6 & 7 years old. :)

Zoe: Are you going to be here tomorrow?

Me: No. Well, I'll be here, but not in your classroom.

Isabel: Why not in our classroom?

Me: Because this is where I'm voting tomorrow.

Jack: Voting for what?

Me: The president.

Zoe: (gasp) The president is going to be here?!?!

Me: No, tomorrow we're voting for a new president.

Jack: I'm voting for Barack Obama.

Isabel: I'm voting for whoever Katie is voting for.

Jack: Who are you voting for?

Me: I'm not sure yet {Which is a lie, but you can't impress those things on the kids}

Savannah: I'm voting for John McCain.

Zoe: Me too!!

Jack: I'm voting for Barack Obama.

Isabel: I'm voting for Katie!

Me: I don't think I'd make a very good president.

Zoe: (Stands up and puts her hands on my shoulders.) Yes you would, Katie. If you believe in yourself, you can do anything.

Me: Ah, wise words from Zoe R.

Jack: I want George Washington to be president again.

Me: Ahh, sorry Jack, but he died a LONG time ago.

Jack: He did?

Me: Yep, sorry

Isabel: When did Bach die?

Me: Also a very long time ago.

Zoe: Who's Bach?

Me: A very good musician.

Jack: Barack Obama?

They're the best :]

Life

2008-10-29T22:13:00.003-07:00

I had so much fun with my 1st grade students today. They're all very excited about Halloween, so I spent much of the day hearing about what they are dressing up as, where they are trick-or-treating, etc. At one point, I was sitting with 4 of them while they worked on a project {3 boys and 1 girl}. One of the girls said she was going trick-or-treating with her crush, which I found very cute, and the other girls started talking about their crushes. Jack, the little boy, was being very quiet so I asked him "Do you have a crush on anyone, Jack?" He looked up and said very seriously "Well, I have a crush on someone, but I am in love with them." I smiled and said "You're in love?" He said yes, so I asked who with and he answered "You." I verified "you have a crush on me?" "yes." It was TOO cute. We had a brief talk about how I think he is very special but he may want to go for girls more close to his own age. But how precious- their innocence never ceases to make me smile.

My life isn't all that interesting lately, but honestly, it's a nice change. I've been pretty busy with school, and I'm trying to find a good college/young-adult church group to go to. I did find one I'd like to try out, but as silly as it is, I'm totally scared to go alone. As outgoing as I tend to be, there's something about going to church alone that scares me to death. I know it's stupid, but it is what it is. Said group meets tomorrow night, so I better get my bravery into high gear.

That's all for now. :)

Love,
Katie

I can't seem to take my eyes off this..

2008-10-22T23:38:00.002-07:00

Just one more dance video.
This is beautiful.

If you watch nothing else, check out how he gets up at 1:43!

Real posts soon. I promise :)

I don't know what about this video makes me laugh so much...

2008-10-20T22:47:00.003-07:00

but it does. So enjoy :)

TIP: Make sure you shut off my music player on the right side of this blog before hitting play.

Good Music -- Free CD!

2008-10-17T12:23:00.003-07:00

So I've really enjoyed JJ Heller's music for awhile. {JJ is a Christian artist who started in Phoenix and has recently moved to Nashville.}

She recently put out a new CD, which is FREE for digital download. I love it and strongly recommend it to all of you. :)

JJ Heller - Painted Red

School Days

2008-10-17T09:52:00.003-07:00

For my education class this semester, we are required to have 30 hours of field experience (meaning assisting in a school). I chose to go back to my elementary school and have been able to work with my preschool teacher, who is now teaching 1st grade!

To say the least, I absolutely adore it. I've been SO blessed to be in this classroom specifically, because the teacher I'm working with really let's me get into teaching and interacting with the kids instead of just sitting in the corner taking notes.

I can wake up in the worst mood, but as soon as I step into the classroom and immediately have 8 kids hugging me around the knees, everything I was worried about is gone. The kids are SO sweet and innocent at this age. They're full of hugs and stories to tell me the whole time I'm in their class. I'm already dreading the end of the semester - I'm going to miss them so much!

-Katie

California Dreaming

2008-10-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

My family and I went to Disneyland this past weekend. It was so nice to get out of the heat (AND we were able to come home to amazing weather! Even better!). We left Wednesday afternoon and got home last night. I was a bit of a camera-yielding monster, and by the end of the weekend, my brother was actually hiding when I pulled the camera out.

{All photos by me, with the exception, obviously, of the picture of my brother and I}

Hello, friends.

2008-10-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

I thought that it might be fun to start a [real, not myspace or facebook] blog.
Although the events of my life aren't currently all that interesting, this will be a place where I'll give updates on my life, post videos and pictures that I like, and pretty much anything else I feel like :]
Anyways, thanks for stopping by. Check in often for updates.
I'm gong to try and post my first entry tonight.

Love,
Katie