Wednesday Loves*

Here we are friends, once again…and I think I have decided to start a WEDNESDAY LOVES!!!!
I loved reading them on everyone else’s blog…so I figure people will love to read them on my blog….or at least I hope so, so here goes!

The first two things I am LOVING right now are two of my favorite Summer treats:

Strawberry Orange-Banana Crystal Light!!!! DE-LICIOUS!!!! I actually don’t taste the banana or the orange, at all!! In fact it tastes like strawberry lemonade married fruit punch and at 5 calories a package (for a whole pitcher) I drink this stuff like its going out of style!!!


COLDSTONE ICECREAM CAKES!!!!!! Pictured above is their Cookie Dough Delirium!!! We had it for my husband’s graduation and IT IS INCREDIBLE!!! I could of eaten that whole cake BY MYSELF!!! I have also had their Birthday cake, it is wonderful as well. But my favorite is definitely the Cookie Dough!!! This is a great idea if you have any Summer birthdays or just because it is one of the best things you’ll ever eat!!!


Next is my Burberry Brit perfume!!!

You know when you smell a perfume and you say THIS IS IT!! THIS IS THE SMELL IVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR ALL MY LIFE!!! ..welll ya, this is one of those for me as well! I got this perfume originally when my family went to Europe the first time and then I used it all up.... then I got it for my birthday and once again, I'm in love with it!!! Plus, when I smell it some of those same memories from Europe come rushing back!-but besides that, it smells so sweet, and warm and wonderful that when someone says- "someone smells good" i immediately say its ME when I'm wearing it- bc it HAS to be me because I'm wearing the best smell ever! ;)


Also, I'm also on a painting/scrap-booking kick! I just cant get enough crafting!!


umm is this not THE CUTEST scrapbook ever?!?! I'm thinking I will have to get one of these for each of our future kids!!!! LOVING THIS SCRAPBOOK!!!


And lastly, I just had to add this "love" on this post because a) its got a very interesting plot. b) its a classic. and c) because it represents hilarious times with some of my best friends:

- this is a plot twisting, kind of creepy movie ( and book) and if you're ever in a funny mood with some of your best friends- it will for sure bring a lot of laughs!!!!

Welp, I've just completed my first "Wednesday Loves"!!!
Happy Wednesday!!
-Kate

Monday Randomness

1) I have taken many trips this Summer and for a girl who LOVES to travel, I am for once, happy to be home for awhile! Traveling a lot makes you thankful for your home....

2) speaking of: the husband and I were contemplating moving the other day....not in a serious sort of way but he had an idea....what if we moved every four years where the Olympics have been held starting in say...LA, then Calgary, Seoul, Albertville (France), Barcelona, Lillehammer (Norway), Atlanta, Nagano (Japan), Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino (Italy), Beijing, Vancouver, and then next up is London, Sochi (Russia) and finally Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).....as of now..... I would TOTALLY be down with living in some places... but like Seoul, Nagano, Beijing, Sochi, and Rio de Janerio would be pretty hard for me to live in...my husband's thought though, is if you dont like it- you'll only be there for four years......another thought we had: our kids would hate us!!!! SO we "X-ed" it off the list of things to do....BUT still on the list is to attend at least one Summer Olympics and one Winter Olympics...now that would be AWESOME!!!!!

The last Olympic games Winter 2010....for any of you that love it....here is a previous post from that Olympic Games- just in case you missed them!

3) I am feeling extremely crafty today...although I have a TON of daily chores that must get done (aka beaucoup de laundry!!!) but I feel my pent up craftiness will soon have an outlet!!!...if I can get through this other stuff first!!!

4) I have recently begun speaking French-i-fied english (see ( ) above) and I would like to think I made it up myself...though the Cajuns in reality have beat me to it Chere!

5) I HAVE AN AWESOME HUSBAND! Who is currently washing my car!!! YAY for husbands!!! and YAY for time off from work and YAY for clean cars that have been driven to various parts of the U.S over the past few months!

6) I LOOOOVE SUMMER!!!! I DONT LOOOVE SUMMER SCHOOL!!!!!!! boo.

7) Back to my need to craft, I would like to include a few things I would like to accomplish/do one day:
Learn to sew
Become an accomplished cook and interior designer, and party hostess and home hostess aka be a virtuous Martha Stewart/Southern Living gu-ru on the side one day
Take singing lessons (just always something I've wanted to try)
Take piano lessons (my inner musician is apparently coming out)

and thats all I can think of for now....

8) Let me leave you folks with this LOVELY picture....if I could find out where this picture is actually located...I would go there... in a second! I really hope its real!

Isnt it just the most fabulous SUMMERY flowers outside, you have ever seen?!?! Its even more beautiful as my current computer wallpaper! :)

Ok Im signing off now, Au revoir!
-Kate

Orphans

God reminded me today why He placed me in Social Work. Its not about me, its about the kids, the orphans and the foster care kids.
Sometime I get discouraged with the Social Work program and just think, why don’t I just quit and have babies? These people don’t know THE TRUTH. Many of them openly denounce God and try to get us Social Work students to advocate things He detests. I often find myself frustrated and feeling like this schooling I’m going through is futile because they can teach me all the therapy in the world but none of it will work without the healing power of Jesus Christ!
Sometimes I wonder, did God choose this for me or did I?

But today, God reminded me why He chose this for me. He reminded me of the fire He put in my heart for the abandoned, the neglected, and the abused, the orphaned children of the world and right here in this state. There are so many different avenues for Social Workers to pursue and I see that Satan has used that to distract me from the main focus that Christ used to lead me to Social Work in the first place, the orphans.

Sometimes we just need reminders, and in so doing, God has also given me encouragement; especially on the day of my internship interview. I wonder why God has reminded me of this- on this day. The day of the interview I have been praying about, wondering and kind of resenting for the last week.
Jesus, please give me more of Your discernment today!

-Kate

Just an update on life

Well Summer is in full swing!!!! We are invited to more things every week than we know what to do with!!!- Which, I'm not complaining but it always seems like Summer and the holidays are the most busy times of the year! Im wishing I had some funny or cool story to tell everyone....but really I dont...
I got to go out to dinner with three of my best friends tonight and I cannot tell you how I needed that girl time SO BAD and how it just seemed to soothe my soul the way only true and close friends can! Praise the Lord for friendships!!! And even though I'm married now- YOU NEVER STOP NEEDING YOUR GIRLFRIENDS!!! Husbands are great-dont get me wrong!...BUT THEY AREN'T GIRLS!!! :)
Also, since returning from a recent 10 day vacation to three different states, the beach included in one of them, I am proud to say that I have officially started to become a morning person! I quite like it...but it also means I got to bed MUCH earlier than I used to as well....which isnt so bad, except on the weekends.... so that is new in my life....what else....
my husband will officially be done with school FO-EVA on Saturday so PRAISE JESUS!!! So glad and happy for him!!!! Which also means his parents are coming...they will be our first official guests to stay over at our house! What a fun new experience! I hope they like the house/how i keep house!!! :) I wonder what I should cook....?
Anyways....oh one last thing! I think my husband and I are going to take up.......are you ready for this?! BIKING!!! haha!!! You see, I walk with my friend Heather pretty regularly in the Fall, Winter and Spring and its a GREAT workout because its more of a walk/jog- but in the summer its just too hot to go during the day SOOOO we have to go at night...and for newlyweds...thats difficult for us because evening time is when we like to spend time together. So you would think that my husband and I could just walk together- problem solved, but OH NO, competitive man that he is, is frustrating to walk with because he always wants to race you or push you and when i work out...its got to be on my terms or it aint happening...but while we were in Florida we rode bikes together and had a great time...so we're going to try it out this week-I'll update you on how that turns out...because I know you're all dying to find out haha.
WElll Im writing this with a large pile of clothes sitting next to me that needs to be folded....moms dont lie when they say that the laundry NEVER ENDS...good thing I actually like doing laundry because I know I'll be doing more than I will probably ever want to in this lifetime so I should probably be going....
Until next time I post...
-Kate

Songs and Summer

I find it interesting that every time I have a TON of work to do....I end up right here on this blog- with suddenly alot of things to say....or share....or show....
I also find it interesting that I am in SUCH a good mood today when I just took a final exam that I only feel "ok" about and I have one huge assignment worth half of my grade due in 45 hours....... and that includes sleeping somewhere in there.....hmmmm.....

-perhaps it has to do with the very sunny weather appearing today after MANY MANY storms and prayers......everything just feels BRIGHTER!

So in honor of my very happy mood- currently at least ;) - I am now going to share a few songs that I am absolutely loving right now and will probably be playing in the background as I write this FINAL PAPER!!!! WHOO WHOOO
Yes, yes, thats right the countdown until i turn in of this final paper in 45 hours-is also the countdown to SUMMER!!!!!! AHHHHH one whole month of pure bliss.....lol thats right, just one month then I'm taking only ONE very interesting summer school class....but that doesnt dampen my spirits not one bit!!!!

Now back to the songs!

Taio Cruz- "Falling in Love"



Lupe Fiasco- "The Show Goes On" (this is the edited version :) )


Diddy "I'm Coming Home" (also the edited version :) )


-Also Im absolutely LOVING the new singing show "The Voice"--is anyone else just loving it?!
Maybe its the smaller amount contestants or the fact that the people have to turn their backs to them and just listen to their voice....as if its really more focused on their singing... ya its wonderful
AND I'm missing the acappella singing contest called "The Sing Off" that NBC does each year, i wish they would do a Spring version!!! I ESPECIALLY love that competition!!!!! There is something wonderful about acapella, harmonies are music to my ears!

For any of you who saw the show this past season-- I personally think that the only reason "Committed" won- although they were good, I wouldnt say they were 'BETTER' than Street Corner Symphony or The Back Beats - the judges just went on and on and on about them all season long so I feel like the audiences' vote was very swayed by the judges comments on them.... Committed was CLEARLY their favorite.
Again, personally, I thought Street Corner Symphony and the BackBeats were MUCH better!!! I love that the Back Beats had women in- a woman's voice totally adds to the harmony, plus their performance was all around just great, but I would have to choose Street Corner Symphony as my very favorite because their voices were just incredible and they sang just about all of my favorite songs in the competition- and they sounded even better than the originals!!! They made something good, EVEN BETTER!!!

So with all that being said, I will now leave you with some of my favorite performances from each of my top picks from that show!

If any of you know my family-- you know we LOVE this kind of music, its in my blood:

Street Corner Symphony " Down on the Corner"


Street Corner Symphony "Come on Eilleen"


And now The Back Beats with all their wonderful pop music: I so live with one foot in oldies and one foot in pop (And maybe a hand or two in country)- I love it.

The Back Beats "If I were a boy"


Happy Tuesday my friends!!!! WE'RE SO CLOSE TO SUMMER!!!!
-Kate

SOUTHERN LIVING

OH YES OH YES!!!! I LOOOVE me some Southern Living!!!







Its about that time.....SUUUMMERRR!!!!!!!!!!
Sun-dresses, seer-sucker, Sperry's, Polo, Lilly Pulitzer, Jcrew, pearls....ALLL things Southern and P-R-E-P-P-Y!!!!!
You can have your "urban" style and your fashionable gray and neutral colors, but give me all the bright colors and white this side of the Mississippi can handle!!!!!







Counting down the days until SUMMER!!!! :))

Kate

Music...

I just need to vent my dance/musical frustrations for a second on this blog.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE songs with a great beat--that I can dance to, and I LOVE to dance!!!
When I need my dance fix (which is almost daily) I like to listen to songs that have at least a good or benign message (Aka its not about gettin drunk/high in the club and its not about sex)- garbage in, garbage out. So this post really is about all the songs that are not about that- which definitely narrows the category down a bit. But nonetheless, I must vent this.
The problem you might ask?
90% of all songs that have a good beat and not a bad message STILL CUSS! Really? REALLY?! Its SO NOT NECESSARY!!!!!
You can get your message out without the use of those like 15 words- we have thousands of words in our English language and you chose to use THAT WORD???? Congratulations to all those singers/songwriters who created some awesome beats and even a created a great message about helping the kids on the streets and the poor in 3rd world countries--YOU JUST RUINED THE SONG FOR ME WHEN YOU ADDED IN THOSE EXTRA UNNECESSARY CUSS WORDS. I know you're angry or sad or frustrated- I feel the same way about those kids and the poor, but you can certainly get your message across without cussing. It doesnt tell me how angry or serious you are by how much you cuss about something- its like nails on a chalk board, *RECORD SCRATCH* *EXCUSE ME?!?! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???*
I cant listen to you, and its not that I cant- its that I choose not to. So some of you reading this are thinking....well if you dont like it dont listen to it....AND I dont which brings me down to the point of this post:
WE NEED MORE SONGS WRITTEN WITH A GREAT BEAT, GOOD MESSAGE AND NOOOOOOO CUSSING!!!!!!! finding those songs is so few and far between-its a bit depressing. Some days I feel I've lost all my dancing ability from sheer lack of good music to dance to. Its a sad day in America if that truly happens. lol. but seriously.
Last thought: I do love a good Christian rap song that can be danced to! And Christians are really stepping up their game in the music department! Amen to that! But once again, there just arent a whole lot of them!
I will now post three songs that have a great beat, a great message and ABSOLUTELY NO CUSSING!!!!
Please enjoy.







"Just tryin to keep it real,"
Kate