Author: Kathleen

  • Currently In October

    Today is the first day of October, so I’m interrupting this anniversary week to bring you my monthly update!

    Current Book(s): I’ve been wanting to start this one for months, ever since a friend of mine told me The Sword Of Truth books were her favorite series. This is the first one, Wizard’s First Rule. It’s total fantasy, geeky stuff, but I love it so far. Of course, I am only on page 94 out of 836. And there are eleven books in the series, all of which are equally as long. This might take me awhile…

    Wizard's-First-Rule-Cover-w

    Current Playlist: Big news, y’all. I bought an album! (Do they still call them “albums”?) Anyway, I haven’t done that in a LONG time. And I am very satisfied with my purchase, the self-titled premier of band Works Progress Administration. If you like Nickel Creek or Glen Phillips (from Toad the Wet Sprocket), you’ll love it. And you can listen to the entire thing on their website, too.

    cover

    Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: WHEN OH WHEN will I be able to cut back on the ice cream?? I stopped by my in-laws’ house yesterday to watch some TV that I had them record for me, and I helped myself to some Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate. While I was still there, my father-in-law came home and brought me some Haagen Dazs. I couldn’t turn down a gift, so I ate the whole thing. Shame-inducing? Yes. Guilty? Yes. Pleasureable? Oh yes.

    Current Color: Still a sucker for sage green, but dying to paint the rest of our house a nice neutral.

    Current Drink: Water, of course.

    glass-of-water

    Doesn’t it look refreshing?

    Current Food: I made chicken marsala for the first time recently, and what do you know, it was amazing! Maybe I am a natural chef after all. Or maybe I just pick really easy recipes.

    ChickenMarsala
    [via]

    Current Favorite Show: Oh Dancing With the Stars, you get me every time. I am not proud to admit that I teared up during the premiere, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I have no idea how something so ridiculous can make me so happy.

    Current Wishlist: More money in the bank so my husband and I can execute all the travel plans we’re making for ourselves. Currently on the list: San Antonio, Kansas, Scotland, New York City, South Carolina, California coast.

    Current Needs: To actually set a budget and stick to it. Help me, Dave Ramsey.

    Current Triumphs: I taught a lesson at my church’s youth group last night, and I think it went pretty well. I celebrate inwardly every time I get through one of those, and then I ask my husband over and over what he thought of it. Last night he told me, “It was awesome! Your best one yet!” Gotta love him for that.

    Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Air bubbles in the IV pumps. I hear the beeping in my dreams.

    iv pump

    Current Celebrity Crush: This is anniversary week; my only crush is my husband. :)

    Current Indulgence: Between DWTS and all the ice cream, I think I have enough indulgence in my life right now.

    Current #1 Blessing: Last night after I went to bed my husband went and put gas in my car. Little things like that make me love him even more. :)

    Current Slang or Saying: I don’t think I have one of these. Although when I’m with the teenagers at church all of a sudden I find myself saying things I never would normally. Things like “chill”.

    Current Outfit: Same old scrubs. One of these days I’ll take a picture of something cute I wear on the weekend so this isn’t so boring.

    Current Excitement: We’re going to San Antonio TOMORROW for our anniversary trip! Some things I’m looking forward to:

    bb10939
    Staying in this bed and breakfast

    seaworld1
    Going to SeaWorld since neither of us have ever been

    riverwalk
    A boat ride down the Riverwalk

    Current Mood: Slightly weary from work, but mostly REALLY! EXCITED!

    Current Link: I just have to share with you this awesome cooking website, Rouxbe. It’s not just a place for recipes, it’s an actual online cooking school. I used it to make the above-mentioned chicken marsala, and already I’ve learned about sucs, deglazing, and the fact that you can cut chicken breasts in half or even in three parts so they won’t be as thick – why did I not think of this myself??

    Anyway, there is a whole lot of stuff you can access just by registering (for free!) and the website is so easy to navigate. For example, you can be watching a video recipe and if you don’t understand a word or a concept you can just click on that part of the outline and it will take you to a page to explain said concept, and then you can pick up right where you left off in the recipe when you’re finished. It’s amazing! Us newbie chefs (albeit naturally gifted) find it VERY helpful.

    Happy October!

  • things i love about my husband

    One of my goals is to write David a list of 100 things I love about him, and this is the perfect time for that. Here are 90 of those things, because the other ten are just for us.

    1. He remembers everything I say.
    2. He likes to run errands. I rarely have to do the grocery shopping.
    3. He made up “Family Bed Time” for us and the dogs, where we spend time loving on them, cuddling, and talking when we get home from work.
    4. His warm soft body, especially because I’m always cold!
    5. Listening to him softly snore in the morning.
    6. How he can fall asleep in 2 seconds no matter where he is.
    7. All his little noises.
    8. Our “lang”.
    9. It doesn’t happen often, but he lets himself cry in front of me.
    10. His musk.
    11. He unashamedly calls me Dayleen – you know, like Brangelina?
    12. He buys me flowers for no reason at all.
    13. He gives me the big half of the pastry, brownie, cookie, etc.
    14. He LOVES dogs.
    15. He tells me he loves me a million times a day and means it.
    16. He won’t relax if there’s anything wrong between us.
    17. He actually likes to cuddle.
    18. He makes everyone laugh.
    19. My whole family loves him.
    20. He has made an effort to get to know my brothers.
    21. He even looks out for them and has concern for them as if they were his flesh and blood.
    22. He is very socially adept, and I am always proud (and grateful) to have him around in social situations.
    23. He has beautiful eyes.
    24. He has strong, defined calves.
    25. He protects me in countless different ways.
    26. He’s a practical spender, but splurges when appropriate.
    27. The way he’s gotten so involved at church. He’s on the leadership team and is a leader in the youth group as well.
    28. He’s extremely sensitive to everyone around him.
    29. He’s close to his family.
    30. He loves to read and always has multiple books going.
    31. He is a great at conversation and I am never bored with him.
    32. He lets me pick the movie or TV show we’ll watch.
    33. His cute mouth.
    34. His thick, sturdy legs.
    35. He loves playing with kids.
    36. How cute he looks holding our nephew Lucas.
    37. He tells me I’m beautiful and notices when I change anything about my appearance.
    38. He always wants to spend time with me and finds a way to make it happen even if we’re both extremely busy.
    39. He helps around the house and I don’t have to ask him to.
    40. He keeps in touch with me throughout the day.
    41. He likes the food I cook…
    42. …but he’s okay with cereal or sandwiches for dinner (thank God).
    43. He treats Cleo (my dog) almost the same as Eddie (his dog).
    44. He tucks me in to bed every night.
    45. He’s a homebody just like me.
    46. He lets me decorate the house in whatever way I want.
    47. He likes sports.
    48. He came to all my indoor soccer games.
    49. He holds onto me in public…
    50. …and in private too.
    51. He’s excited when I buy something for myself because it makes me happy.
    52. He puts up with my blog.
    53. He loves my natural beauty but compliments me when I have makeup on.
    54. He goes to all the Alley Theatre shows with me.
    55. He wants to travel all over…
    56. …but he loves coming home to Houston.
    57. He has the best heart of anyone I know.
    58. He does hilarious imitations and voices.
    59. He does the Right Thing.
    60. He’s been through a whole lot and come out on the other side.
    61. He trusts God with his life.
    62. He always comes to me first with any thoughts, fears, happiness, struggles, good news, etc.
    63. He wants to have a family with me.
    64. He’s faithful.
    65. He honors me by not watching raunchy TV shows or movies.
    66. He makes sure our vehicles are in good shape before we go on a road trip.
    67. He has adapted to my inability to communicate well at night when I’m tired, even though that is when he needs me the most.
    68. He encourages me with all of the projects I take on (cooking, decorating, Internet, etc.).
    69. He is constantly bringing me little treats or gifts that he knows I’ll like.
    70. He never says anything negative about me to other people. He always praises me.
    71. He loves and respects my parents.
    72. He knew he wanted to marry me and pursued me until he had me.
    73. His dimples!
    74. His parents are two of his most favorite people.
    75. He puts up with a very painful hip condition and rarely complains.
    76. He’s an excellent, safe driver and drives us wherever we go.
    77. He’s very intuitive to people’s needs; he can “read” people well.
    78. He’s extremely intelligent.
    79. He lets Cleo sleep in the bed with us and even brings her there every night because he knows I love it.
    80. He makes up silly songs about random things.
    81. He works very hard at his job.
    82. He’s an excellent storyteller.
    83. He’s the best partner for games (especially Trivial Pursuit and Scattergories).
    84. He tells me he loves me when I wake him up at 5 a.m. when I’m leaving for work.
    85. When he reaches for me to pull me close.
    86. He let us buy a $4000 mattress that we are paying off over 2 years (no interest!) because I am in love with it, even though it makes him hot.
    87. The way he loves to make people happy.
    88. He stopped feeding Cleo people food because it makes her sick and she’s gaining weight, even though that is one of his favorite things to do.
    89. He’s an excellent communicator.
    90. He loves me more than I ever thought a human being could love me.
  • I Still Do

    I loved my wedding. It was a huge affair with over 200 guests, planned for 8 months, stressed me out to the max, but it was worth it. The entire weekend was the best in my life.

    If I were to go back and do it again, there wouldn’t be much I would change. So here, enjoy a completely gratuitous slideshow of wedding pictures that I made.

    I’m happy to report that my marriage is even more amazing than the wedding was. I would do it all over again every single day of my life.

    Music is “This Kind Of Love” by Sister Hazel.

    All photos by Christine Tremoulet. Copyright 2008, all Rights Reserved. If the pictures are slightly blurry, it’s my fault for resizing them wrong, not hers!

  • Love Story

    Once upon a time there was a girl who wanted to be a nurse. In order to achieve this goal she quit her full-time job, enrolled in school, and began working a few hours a week at an office that offered her flexible hours. She happened to be dating a boy, long-distance, who she was no longer in love with and, in fact, she wasn’t sure she ever really was to begin with. The problem was that this boy was decidedly in love with her, and was making plans to move to her city. When she began her new part-time job she was slowly coming to the realization that she didn’t need to stay in this relationship for loyalty’s sake.

    In the office where this girl now worked, there was a man. The two of them were casually acquainted with each other because his younger brother happened to be one of the girl’s best friends in high school. They immediately struck up an easy friendship. Unbeknownst to the girl, this man was pursuing her as more than just a friend. And unbeknownst to him, the girl wasn’t “single” as she appeared, since she had never mentioned anything otherwise.

    Until one day, she did. Before the Thanksgiving holidays, she mentioned that her boyfriend was coming into town. He was fascinated. They had a long conversation about her relationship with this boy, and the man left feeling, ironically, closer to the girl than ever before.

    When she returned to work the week after the holidays, she shared with the man that she had broken up with her boyfriend, a horrendous ordeal that she was overjoyed to have behind her. Two days later, she was in the file room when he approached her and asked her out. In his mind she had only been dating someone for a week, when in reality it had been over a year. She was caught off guard. On one hand, she was drained from the relationship that had just ended, but on the other hand she thought that she might have fun getting to know this man. She asked him if she could think about it. He took that as a negative.

    Instead, they continued to become better friends. She began spending entire days with him and his family on the weekends. Although she still had some concerns about getting into a relationship, she finally let him take her out. Things progressed slowly for a short while, and then she let her nerves get the best of her. On a Friday night she told him that she could only be friends for now. She wasn’t ready.

    The following week was difficult, as they had to work together. But the man proved his worth by still being just as good a friend as ever to her. During the next month the two of them continued to talk, and her interest in him continued to grow. She had long conversations with her two best friends, both of who encouraged her to give him a chance. One weekend she went to his house with a group of people for a game night. They sat next to each other, and she let his leg touch hers. Her stomach did a flip, which both surprised and excited her.

    A few days later he invited her over to watch a movie. As they watched, his dog sat in between them and they both petted her. Their fingers touched. He asked her if he could hold her hand. She hesitated. He told her it wouldn’t mean anything except that he was holding her hand. She smiled and said yes. She didn’t know it at the time, but her heart had been won.

  • Anniversary Week

    Words can never tell you, however, — form them, transform them anyway, — how perfectly dear you are to me — perfectly dear to my heart and soul.

    I look back, and in every one point, every word and gesture, every letter, every silence — you have been entirely perfect to me — I would not change one word, one look.

    -Robert Browning, to Elizabeth Barrett

    At the end of this week, on October 3rd, my husband and I will have been married for exactly one year. In honor of that milestone, this week my posts will be one big celebration of our relationship. Happy anniversary week to us!