Best on the Blogs

FDA Approves Depressant Drug the Annoyingly Cheerful

The Onion (thanks, Cindy)

100 Different Ways to Save $100 This Year
Money Saving Mom

Love is a Movement: The Cora Project
If you've been following the story of sweet Cora Paige and her parents, here's a way to help.

I'll Never Leave You
We Are THAT Family

"Hey Katie?"

I've mentioned this a few times but in case you didn't know, I am the aunt to the stinkin' cutest nephew ever. He's 4 years old and is the spitting image of my oldest brother.

Brennan, Madeline and I are hanging out together all day today. Just like her mom, Madeline adores her cousin.

She thinks Brennan is the funniest person ever and Brennan is always very concerned that Madeline is doing OK. For example, we're going to the Children's Museum this afternoon and he already told me he "will protect Madeline from the dinosaurs because she was scared last time."

Melting my heart, that little guy.

Right now, he's sitting next to me, laughing at VeggieTales' "Jonah" with smeared peanut butter on one cheek because he wanted to clean himself up after lunch. I don't have the heart to wipe it in case I wipe away a tiny bit of that independent spirit. (Jenny, I promise I'll clean his face before we leave the house.)

Being the bright 4-year-old that he is, Brennan is in the "asking questions" stage and every question begins with, "Hey Katie?." So far, my favorites are:

1. "Hey Katie? Where do bulls go when they're not fighting in the bullring?"
2. "Hey Katie? Why do some people think Thanksgiving isn't a real holiday and don't decorate their house for Thanksgiving?"

I should mention these two highly unrelated questions were within 30 seconds of each other.

I'm not sure when Brennan grew up from the tiny baby I held in the hospital room to this inquisitive, caring, independent boy. But I sure do love him. Peanut butter cheek and all.

I'm a one-track mind kind of girl

I've been thinking about this picture for two straight days. It's pushing me to my limits and I'm going to either:

1. Lick my canister of unsweetened cocoa or
2. walk to the grocery store to pick up a Ghirardelli brownie mix.
   

Want. Brownie. Right. Now.

P.S. I'm still kinda mad Kristen didn't mail that platter to me. Instead, she told me how good they tasted. Grr.

Grocery list: one stone tablet

Amy at Mom Advice recently posted her five commandments for blogging which I found really interesting. At first, I thought I didn't have any of my own but as I thought about it, I realized I do. I've just never written them out. So I did.

• Write only what anyone can read at anytime without regrets. Whether it's my family reading it today, Madeline reading it in 15 years or a boss reading it in 20 years, I won't type it if I might regret it. (You might think admitting my love for "Crossroads" falls into this category, but I disagree.) I'm always amazed to hear, "Oh, my mother-in-law's cousin's plumber's wife reads your blog" and even though I still sometimes think Jen is my only visitor, I write as if your mother-in-law's cousin's plumber's wife is reading it too.
  

• When in doubt, cut it out. If I wonder if a story or sentence might cross from "keeping it real" to "too much information," I delete it. For the record, my life isn't filled with bunnies, daffodils and rainbows. I'm not trying to paint a flawless image of myself by sharing only funny or positive stories. It's just I don't share my dirty laundry with a stranger in the grocery store so I won't do it here either.
  

• Never bad-mouth someone whether I actually know them or not. This really isn't hard because a negative comment in black type appears 20 times harsher than spoken so it's easy to hit the backspace key. Although, Vicky really tempted me...
  

• Never whine about lack of comments. Don't get me wrong, I love receiving them and have really enjoyed the community that comes with blogging. But I mainly blog to record my thoughts and because I just plain enjoy it. Plus it always turns me off to read someone begging for comments.

• Ask permission to talk about someone or share their photo. Some people really aren't comfortable with putting their information or image on the Web and I totally understand. So I try to ask someone if I can share a funny story that involves them or put their picture on the blog.

Do you have any blogging commandments?

Making it as a mom

For me, one of the most intimidating and thrilling aspects of parenting is understanding my actions and words have the power to allow my daughter to be completely confident in knowing she's loved. At the end of the day, that's what matters most to me as a mom.

You can read more about it in my latest Family bliss article.

And thanks to Carpenter Photography & Design for the beautiful photo. Melody, if you take my picture, will I automatically have gorgeous hair like her?

With the fiercest robin-sized bird as a mascot, how can one not be proud?

Did you catch the reference to my alma mater during the Oscar's? I spent four great years at good ol' Ball State University, also known as the academic powerhouse of the Midwest. It's an Ivy League-quality school that is referenced at prestigious events like the Oscars.

Or maybe you just know it because of David Letterman and "Boom Goes the Dynamite," which was the reference on Sunday night. Will Smith dropped it after screwing up a line.

Chirp, chirp.

I almost shed a tear of pride and wrote a check to BSU. Almost.

After hearing "boom goes the dynamite" for the first time in years, I had to wiki it and, of course, the phrase has its own entry. Did you know that video clip is now known as the Collins incident in communication classes? And Stephen Colbert used it when commentating a chess match?

So for those of you who think Ball State is a lower-rung Hoosier school, was your college mentioned at the Oscars or on The Colbert Report?

I rest my case.

If you give a mouse a poisoned cookie

On Saturday night, we were watching "The Dark Knight" in the living room. (I know, I know. Ask me in two years if I liked "Slumdog Millionaire.") I was already on edge because Heath Ledger is creeeeeeeepy and I don't do scary.

Then, ever so calmly, Joe said, "Don't freak out but I just saw a mouse in the dining room. He already ran back to the kitchen."

I didn't cry or even whimper. I simply put on my game face.

Translation: I grabbed my phone and began playing BrickBreaker while Joe dealt with traps. Because nothing clears the mind of rodent horror like a stupid phone game.

Joe assured me I had nothing to worry about because the mouse wouldn't come in the living room where the TV was making noise.So we went back to watching our movie.

Attention: Did you notice I didn't jump on the couch or stand on the edge of our tub or flee the house? I was cool, calm and collected Katie.

But just a couple minutes later, we saw the mouse (who was supposed to be scared of us and the TV) dart into the living room. Under the entertainment center. Under the mini-sofa. And was probably UNDER THE COUCH I WAS SITTING ON!

Cool, calm and collected Katie was no more. I didn't break into hysteria but I did stand on the couch with my blanket, demand that Joe hand me my purse (because it was unzipped and I probably couldn't use it again if there was a chance a mouse ever sat in it) and stayed in our bedroom for the rest of the night.

Thankfully, the mouse had a craving for peanut butter that night and is no more. And thankfully, I have a husband who doesn't coax me out of the bedroom but instead moves the TV and DVD player into our bedroom so I can stay as long as I want.

I love that he puts up with me.

Although now, I'm not sure if I ever want to move the TV back out. I know everyone says never have a TV in the bedroom, but I have to confess, watching The Amazing Race and Oscars in bed was bliss.

I put some new shoes on

Paolo is right. It feels so good to put on something new, even if it's the blog who gets updated and not me.

I'd been wanting to do something more than my pathetic Photoshoped header and had my eye on my favorite designer, The Design Girl.

(Although, I think Danielle should change her name to The Kicking Butt and Taking Names Design Girl because that's what she does.)

I found Danielle through Angie's site and thought, "Well, I can't afford her life-changing jeans but maybe I can have the same designer."

So I checked out Danielle's portfolio and loved everything I saw. But even better, she's very committed to philanthropy. Since my heart and professional writing is in non-profits, I love that.

And then.... Danielle had a blog make-over giveaway and I won!

I'm pretty sure Jen thought I was insane when I was staying with her in Dallas. Blurry-eyed, I checked my e-mail at 7 a.m. (because I'm addicted to my Crackberry) and shrieked, "OHMYWORDIWONABLOGMAKE-OVER!!!!!!"

I think that's when Jen sweetly informed me it was only 6 a.m. in Dallas and I should go back to sleep.

Anyways, if you are ever looking for a blog designer, I highly, highly recommend Danielle.

Now my writing just has to live up to the beautiful look. *sigh*

P.S. I think I'm mentally and physically incapable of typing a short post. This was supposed to be a short but gushy post and then I was going to write another post about the mouse in our house this weekend. Yes, another Katie nightmare. To sum it up: we see mouse, Katie stands on couch, Joe: 1, mouse: 0.

Best on the Blogs

"A Fair Warning" at 5 Minutes for Parenting
Remember that time my daughter pooped on the floor? Yeah, I haven't forgotten either and it's being featured today at 5 Minutes for Parenting's A Dose of Humor column.

"Lavish" at Brandi & Boys

a great reminder about loving and be loved

"Your Mark" at I Should Be Folding Laundry
I love everything Beth writes but this is fantastic

"This Pretty Much Sums Up My Marriage" at The Diaper Diaries
one word: hilarious

"10 Minutes to a Room You Love Finale" at The Nester
because we all know I love peeking into real homes and The Nester

Makes me wanna sing some Dionne Warwick

I've mentioned Madeline's best friend Blake just a few times because she loves the little guy to pieces.

Thankfully, he likes her enough to put up with her shenanigans and isn't too embarrassed to hold her hand in public. Because that's what friends are for.

Once we asked them to hold hands, they wouldn't let go. They just really love each other. You have to see it to believe it.

And if hanging two pieces of fabric in our doorway entertains Madeline as much as these two hangings at the Children's Museum, I could be so much more productive.

Although, I'm pretty certain she would still need me. Because this little girl loves an audience.

How to Live in Fear of Library Banishment

• Arrive at storytime 10 minutes late
  
• Ignore the frown on substitute librarian's face as you walk in front of half the group to take a seat
• Ignore the frown on substitute librarian's face as you walk in front of half the group again to chase your little girl who wants to play with Lego's
• Lose control of your child who appears deprive of a maternal figure in her life and wants to play with Another Mommy
  
• Apologize profusely to Another Mommy when your child refuses to get up from her lap
• Profess loudly that you do play with and read to your child at home and she shouldn't be desperate for Another Mommy
  
• Allow your little girl to scream, "BLAKE!" when she spots Best Friend because it means she gets up from Another Mommy's lap
  

(Did I mention Another Mommy had a 1 year old and 2 week old to deal with as my child wanted her to do the puzzle with her??)

Moving on...

• Allow your child to be chased by Best Friend because they are staying in the designated kids area
• Allow your child to shriek while being chased because she's too far from you even though she's still in designated kids area
• Chase your child through the Adult Reference and Paperback Fiction section because your child left the designated kids area
• Repeat above bullet point statement TWICE
• Put your child in time-out in the kids' Fairy Tale section
• Allow your child to run towards Best Friend for a reassuring hug after time-out
• Watch in horror as they collide at top-speed
• Hear the loud "thunk" as your child's head hits the floor
• Begin listening to the five-minute wail from your child who will not be comforted by you
• Receive stares from women who are probably thinking you deserve it after letting her run around
  
• Wonder where Another Mommy is and if maybe a stranger would comfort her better than you
• Realize your child will calm down after receiving Fruit Loops from Best Friend's Mommy
• Listen to your child's wails again after Fruit Loops are gone
• Receive angry stares from 30 computer users in designated adult area
  
• Decide storytime is over
• Flee the library without discussing the issue of a very over-due DVD and lost library card
• Contemplate never returning

And that was how we spent an hour yesterday. It was fun.

One of those rare posts that doesn't mention Madeline or my infinite celebrity knowledge

At church on Sunday, the worship pastor spoke briefly on finding the purpose for our pains.

It's a message I feel like I've heard a million times. OK, maybe just a hundred thousand times but still, I thought I had heard it plenty of times.

"Yeah, yeah, there are reasons why we go through hard times in this life, yada, yada, yada. Hmmm, what should we have for lunch?"

I'm just being real.

But then he said something that would have snapped my head around if I had been staring at the person behind me. (Which I wasn't, just to make that clear.)

"Jesus went through incredible pain while He was here. And the purpose for His pain is you."

While I've heard that message many times over also, that order of words moved me.

It's easy for me to forget that what Jesus went through really happened. It's not just a story in a really long book with weird words like "begat" and "hallowed." He experienced real pain, real torment, real agony. For me. For you.

It's easy for me to forget that I'm really, truly saved by a Savior. And He loves me enough to give me a purpose.

Love that. Love Him.

Love is in the little things

I loved this past weekend. Two whole days and three nights of weekend, Valentine bliss.

Joe and I have never been ones to buy a lot for Valentine's Day. We might do a small gift or sometimes just cards. But we still make it a special day to pour on the love.

And Joe did pretty good this year.

There was love when I slept in on Saturday morning while Joe took care of Madeline.

There was love when I opened our fridge to find Coke, a rarity in our house but one of my favorite things in life.

There was love when he made, as Turk from Scrubs would say, "brinner" (breakfast for dinner).

There was love when Joe washed every. single. dish. from Friday to Sunday. Since we don't have a dishwasher and I spend about 67 percent of my days washing dishes, washing dishes is totally a language of love to me.

There was love in our homemade Valentine cards.

There was love when Joe watched two chick flicks with me over the weekend.

And yes, there was love when Joe put up with me as I broke my high score in BrickBreaker.

Me: "Oh, praise the Lord!"
Joe: "Um,yeah. I'm pretty sure He doesn't care about this."
Me: "I'm about to beat my high score!"
Joe: "I'm pitting out in excitement."

I translated his sarcasm into words of affirmation. I just know he was really pumped for me.

The gift that can't be topped

Six Valentine's Days ago, I got my first kiss from the guy who would become my husband.

He was worth the wait.

In honor of this love-y weekend, I wanted to share something special to me. This is a song written by our marriage counselors and sung while we took communion during our wedding.

I love that it is a direct call to Joe and I on experiencing marraige as God intended it. I also love the direct line to Joe because what wife doesn't love hearing how her husband is going to love on her??

To the Maker of us all
We ask your blessing now to fall
Upon these lives that joined as one

Holy Spirit, Father, Son
You have given annointing for this appointing
A cord of three strands is born

Let love be your guide
and in Jesus abide
Together share your lives and all your own
He will make in you His home

May He be all your hope and strength
For He's the Way, the Truth and Life
As you walk as man and wife

That you might stand someday and hear Jesus say
"Joe, you loved your wife like You love you"

Make His love abound
While in Him she's found
Be by her side pressing on

May the life you find
Be the living vine
As the Holy God leads you on and on
On and on

This whole "mom" gig never gets old

I feel like I haven't blatantly mentioned this recently. Or maybe just not enough times.

I love this little girl.


I love peeking around the corner to find her reading to herself and Pooh on the rocker.

I love watching her crash into Joe's knees when he opens the door at 5:15 p.m.

I love hearing "Mama? Mama?" and then a string of jabber as she asks me a question.

I love the pitter-patter of her feet, smacking the floor as she runs and skips everywhere.

I love when she blows kisses, they are always over-dramatic and accompanied by a loud "Mwah!"

I'm so thankful for this little girl who made me a mom.

P.S. Thank you for all the comment love yesterday. You all are the best.

Blogs aren't messy

Ever think blogs are only written by perfect superwomen who live in spotless homes and wear True Religion jeans?

Oh, you don't? Well... um... yeah, me neither. I would never think that.

Maybe don't read my latest Blissfully Domestic article then.

P.S. Special shout-out to Allie, yet again, for such a cute, cute photo.

Why I don't own an iPod

Last night, Joe and I watched part of the Grammy Awards. I'm definitely getting older because I've never heard of the most-nominated artist, Lil Wayne. I'm not even sure if I'm spelling his name correctly.

I'm not someone who really cares about latest artists and coolest songs; I just like listening to what I like. And, as you all know, I have really classy taste.

My first CD was the soundtrack of Disney's "Pocahontas" so I didn't have a strong start.

Early on, my music taste was heavily influenced by my mom's cassette tapes. While my friends were dancing to New Kids on the Block and Milli Vanilli, I was grooving to Chicago, Journey and Lionel Richie. They still have a special place in my heart.

And when I like a song, I really really like it. I'll listen to it 30 times in a row. Not joking.

To name just a few, this has happened with

• Macy Gray's "I Try"
  
• Kid Rock's "The Picture"
  
• Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do"
  
• Johnny Cash's "Hurt"
• Kanye West's "Gold Digger"

I left Neil Diamond off the list because I didn't want to really embarrass myself.

And I could still listen to this song 100 times and never get tired of it. (If you haven't seen the movie, go get it. It's good.)

On the other hand, Joe has really good taste and is always on the look-out for his new favorite artist. He introduced me to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Killers, Adele, My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne and, way back in college, Coldplay.

He would prefer I stop listening to my country music altogether but that's just not going to happen.

Right now, Coldplay and David Crowder Band are my favorites. I love everything they do.

Side note: my People magazine reading might be affecting me too much because I would really be sad if Chris and Gwyneth ever broke up.

All of this is to say, if you need some music recommendations, don't come to me unless you have a special place in your heart for Neil Diamond and Joe is standing nearby.

It also explains why I changed the channel as soon as Joe went to bed. I'd much rather watch Masterpiece's "A Room with a View" for the fifth time instead of Lil Wayne.

The time I had nothing to say but typed anyway

Ah, the comeback post. Leaving the blog for a couple of days = mounting pressure for the perfect, most hilarious return post.

Yeah, that's not going happen.

I think I have so much to say about our trip to Dallas, leaving Madeline behind for the first time and surviving without my top five People.com stories on my Google home page.

But every time I sit down to write, nothing comes.

So I added a few photos from the weekend. And the only captions I came up with were:

hanging out

the sisters minus one

love this girl

Gripping, I know. Where's my Best Writing blog award?

So then I think I should talk about how much Madeline missed me after leaving her for three days. But since I called at 10 a.m. one day and heard she was watching Winnie the Pooh in Grandma's bed while eating popcorn, I think I'd be lying to say she really missed me.

Maybe I could mention how nice Dallas was considering it was in the 70s on Saturday. But it feels like a distant memory after shoveling five inches of snow yesterday.

Well, I could mention how exciting today was since I was going to finally, FINALLY see Emily's new baby girl. Oh, but then it got postponed.

Then Jaime asked me to go with her to hear Kate Gosslin from Jon and Kate Plus 8. That should be super-exciting and so blog-worthy.

Until Madeline threw up in the car seat on the way. Massive amounts of vomit. Sorry to be graphic but my afternoon was graphic.

So in the end, all I can say is I spent my afternoon cleaning Madeline's car seat while watching "Ever After." But that would make me lame so I won't.

To save this pathetic post, I will pull something out of my arsenal. Whamo!

Is it sad it makes me think of Jenny? Which if you made it this far, reward yourself by reading her post on Wal-Mart. Unlike this one, it's hilarious and well-written.

I had a New Year's goal to post every week day. So don't ask me how I'm doing on pilates...