I'm a pepper you're a pepper... Dr. Pepper for dinner!

I'm sure it is no big surprise to anyone who has read my blog more than twice to hear that I love soda. Specifically Pepsi, but I sure wouldn't turn down Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper in times of need. I'll even stoop to having a Coke if there are no other options. It's kind of a long standing joke in my family that I even have recipes that call for soda as a main ingredient. What can I say? Meat combined with soda. What could go wrong?

So tonight, I am marinating chicken and ribs for tomorrow nights dinner. In Dr. Pepper. Jessica and Todd, this one's for you:

Dr. Pepper Marinade

In a gallon sized bag, combine the following:

2 pounds chicken or beef

12 ounces Dr. Pepper (one can)

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup lime or lemon juice

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, minced

1 teaspoon hot-pepper sauce or cracked peppercorns

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours. While the meat is on the grill, boil the marinade and use for basting.

This is how I roll on a Saturday afternoon...

Fun with the littles.....

Fun for the bigs......

The scent of a woman...

For quite a while now my perfume of choice has been Issey Miyake. I think it is such a unique and feminine perfume. But, I am a finicky and sometimes temperamental girl, and I can be a wee bit of a grudge holder. And recently the spritzer on my perfume bottle malfunctioned and it made me mad. So I made the sound decision to switch perfumes. I know I've mentioned this before, but I really, really dislike going to the store, unless it is Target or I am on vacation. Not often do I just "go to a store." But I do love to shop online, so I decided to hit up Sephora and purchase a perfume I saw at one of their stores on vacation well over a year ago. I realize that sometimes I go out on a limb with my online shopping with the whole "what if it doesn't fit" or "what if the color isn't right" scenario. Those are chances I am willing to take. But I hit the jackpot this time. I chose Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. I can not even tell you how many compliments I have had in the last week. MANY. So many. In addition to that is that fact that I personally think I smell delicious. I wave my wrist around just to smell myself. Odd? Maybe. Enjoyable? Yes! If the Internet had a scratch and sniff option I would totally use it just to share this perfume with everyone!

A VERY NICE pick me up!

Today I got a LOVELY award from Leah at Thinking Out Loud. It is a very nice friendship award. The rules of the award are as follows:

Here are the rules:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Without further ado (or adon't...)

Love Maegan. There's just something about her.

Girl in the City- I want to be her.

DiabolinaFashionDiary- I love her

Unwrap Life- A truly nice girl and good pen pal

La Belette Rouge- Addresses any question/comment you throw her way.

Health Happiness and Looking Fab- She shares it all! And is inspirational.

Of A Certain Age- Karen is a lady with style and time to befriend a wayward blogger...

Just my style- Having fun watching this style blogger from Wasilla Alaska!

Polly from A Working Mother's Chatter- Working mother. Chatter. Enough said.

*And I'll tell you the best friendship blog of all. The Swap N Shop Blog. All I am promoting is the fun and friendship of women while shopping. Who wouldn't love that???

http://www.swapnshop.blogspot.com/

Can someone pass me a tissue?

So, I have to say I've been a little emotional lately and I don't see it getting better any time soon. It all started about 8 months ago (and I'm not kidding) when it dawned on my that my unbelievably kind and great friend Jordan would be moving this June. (More to come about her later this week...) I knew this was coming, as her husband would be finishing med school and they would most likely leave Columbus. And no joke, I remember the day it hit me, and when the tears started, which unfortunately was during yoga class laying next to Brian during shavasna. An odd place to start crying, but whatever. So I have been crying on and off since November. And then tonight I was at Tessa's choir concert and it REALLY hit me that she only has one year left at home. ONE YEAR. And what a year it will be. Caroline starts kindergarten in August, Tessa applies to colleges beginning in September and we will start hearing back by November. Graduation in summer, leave in fall. All of this hits me as I watch the kids I have seen her grow up with sing. And there I am at the choir concert crying. (And they said I didn't have feelings....) So do you want to know what I did to cheer myself up? (Or at least make myself stop crying?)

I took myself back in the day. Back in the 80's when I was in swing choir (yeah, that's how I rolled) with Dan Dew as my partner, wearing my red/white/black dress singing and dancing to Lionel Richie. And again, no joke but I can still sing and dance our version of You Are. Sometimes I bust that one out for Tessa just to get her to laugh. It works.

*FYI- Facts about this posting:

-Dan Dew was not hurt in the posting of this blog. He even gave his permission to use his real name so I did not have to change it to protect his identity. Thanks Dan!

-Lionel Richie was not consulted.

-The swing choir featured was not the one I was in, but it is one that was a BIG DEAL back in Indiana where I grew up. Again, because that's how I roll.

Book of the day- The Unlikely Disciple

Sometimes I realize I read too much. Like when I can't find anything to read because I've read it all it seems. And trust me, reading 2-3 books a week does make it difficult to find something new on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. My tastes are pretty varied, which is necessitated by the need to keep things varied otherwise I wind up bored with books and shopping online. Again. And sometimes my favorite books turn out to be something so random and unsuspecting. Out of my normal realm. Non-fiction.

Today I read The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose. This is the true story of a student from Brown University who decides to spend a semester at the Evangelical Christian university Liberty. Run by Jerry Falwell. I really can't quite tell you how I came to choose this book but I can tell you that I really, really enjoyed it. It was a nice choice and a good way to keep my reading selection a little more dignified that one of my other all time faves, Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea? (Not that I don't consider Chelsea Handler to be dignified. I love that girl!) Next up- Round Ireland With A Fridge.

My favorite summer appetizer...

A few years ago Brian and I were lucky enough to be introduced to THE BEST WARM WEATHER APPETIZER EVER. Friends Gretchen and Jeff invited us over for dinner and served up a concoction of three things that would have never occurred to me but are AMAZING when paired together and grilled.

1) Jalapeno Pepper- Slice in half, hollow out

2) Cream cheese- Fill the inside of the jalapeno with it

3) Bacon- (Wendy Brandes- this is where I get your attention) Wrap the cream cheese stuffed jalapeno with bacon

4) Toothpick- Spear the jalapeno with it

5) Grill

I SWEAR the jalapeno is not spicy or hot after it is grilled. It is just PERFECTION. Whenever we have company over during warm weather it is pretty much a given that we will be serving these. Try it and see for yourself!

The trickle down effect... Or: A little bitchy goes a long way

As I continue my lifelong quest for knowledge I ask you this:

Why do moms/wives/women get asked such silly questions?

True story: Once my husband called me at work to ask me if we had any milk. Normally this wouldn't be a problem except HE CALLED ME FROM HOME. I described to him in detail what our fridge looked like and how it opened so he could find out for himself. But back to today's burning question.

"Is the air conditioning not working?"

Again, HE CALLED ME FROM HOME.

Aargh. So I very kindly called the company that installed our new hvac unit less than three years ago. The one I have had to have three service calls on. One of which was about a month ago. And I thought I was VERY kind when I explained to them that part of our reasoning for purchasing a new air conditioner was that we like to have cool air. And guess what? My a/c is fixed now. How COOL is that?

*Tessa thinks I'm passive aggressive. I think I like to get things done in my own way. You're welcome Brian.

Practical jokes.

What's really so practical about them?

A measure of success!

As mentioned many, many times I am sure, I gave up shopping for Lent. And amazingly enough, when Lent was over I did not resume my prior ways. I have been pretty boastful of this to Brian. I mean, really, (and unfortunately this is no secret to Brian anymore after the great credit card debacle of 2008) I was getting something shipped to me about every other day. But I've been having a hard time explaining to Brian just how reformed I am. Today however, it really hit home. I got my ebates check in the mail. Now, if you don't use ebates for your online shopping you should be. Kimberly at Fab Finds Under 50 turned me on to this. TONS of retailers use ebates. You just sign up for an account (FREE!) and see if your fave retailers use ebates. So many do! Nordstrom, Sephora, Banana Republic..... So you go to that retailer via the ebates sight, and you just shop. By using your ebates account you earn cash back. No joke. Ebates sends you a check every few months. And you did nothing. NOTHING. Looove ebates. Well, here is my measure of success. My ebates check was HALF of what it used to be! Which means I have cut my shopping in half~ Woo-hoo! Finally, something concrete to show Brian the new me! But seriously, sign up for ebates!

Spam

I finally got the email of my fantasies. I think. I was too chicken to actually open it for fear of watching my computer self-combust once again with some crazy virus.

But I'll give you a little sampling of how it went:

Sender: Casey

Subject: I will seriously do this tonight

Now, here's the thing. I don't know Casey, and I REALLY don't know anyone named Casey who would be emailing me about what they will "seriously" do tonight but I am a grown woman and I have a pretty good idea, so let me indulge in my fantasies (because that's really what "Casey" was trying to get me to do, right???)

1) Casey wants to do my laundry

2) Casey wants to cook my family dinner

3) Casey wants to fill my car with more than the $5 in gas I am patient enough to stand around and pump

4) Casey wants to organize all of my canned goods

I am SO tempted to open that email and reply to Casey that we have a deal.

The seven year itch....

No, not in my marriage, in my career! I have been in the same position within my company for seven years now. My job and I are almost common law. In my business, people tend to last about a year before they head on to another company but I have stuck it out. I love my company. My only problem is that we are based out of Indianapolis and living in Columbus makes it really hard for me to commute and relocating isn't a option. A job came open within my company to oversee the operations of our Northeast Ohio properties and take one property which needs leased up. My specialty! So as of Tuesday I will be headed out on the road getting acquainted with my new staff's and their properties. And so it goes. A new challenge for me! It is bittersweet though because I have developed many relationships over the past several years that will need to change a bit with this new transition. So there may be a few tears but I'm guessing they will be backed by a few beers as well! So Cheers to my new endeavor!

University of Kentucky, ya'll!

So Tessa isn't sure UK is for her, but she sure does love the "Southern speak" ya'll. (FYI- don't click on the "ya'll" if you don't want to hear DMX all through your room!) We did have a ton of fun though. We started out at the Kentucky Horse Park, which is AWESOME! The university was so nice. Very green. In all seriousness the gym at the university is powered by the energy of people working out. Very cool. It looks like the college search will continue though. Next on the list:

Indiana University (Home of yours truly!) and Mizzou (The school I didn't visit until after I made the decision to go to IU and cried when I got there and realized what I was going to be missing!)

I have to say one of the funniest things was parking by a Volvo just like ours. (Minus the shot out headlight mine has) When I showed Brian the picture he didn't get that it wasn't my car and asked "How'd you do that?" with regards to the front UK license plate. I sure didn't marry him for his powers of observation, ya'll!

And they're off!

University of Kentucky here we come! Out of all of the college visits this is one visit I'm pretty excited about. (Michigan State was another one but the tuition- OUCH!) We're going to spend the day at the Kentucky Horse Park and visit UK tomorrow. Caroline has already asked to ride barefoot in the car. Boy is she ever Kentucky bound or what?

Allison- Don't kill me! Call me if you free up at all. You guys have phones there in Kentucky, right? I'm sorry! If it all works out we have four years of visits though!

Finally! Prom pics!

If you give me long enough I can accomplish anything! Like take a few weeks to get around to finding the cord to my camera so I could download pictures from my camera...

It appears that in typical "over-zealous Katie style" I took no fewer than a hundred or so prom pictures but I was able to narrow it to two to share.

*The biggest THANK YOU ever to my friend Trinette. On super short notice (48 hours, and not the tv show) she managed to pull off a SUPER CUTE headband for Tessa. No joke, Trinette is the Queen of Crafting. You ask, she can make it. Maybe if I promote her crafting business I can finagle a cut of the profits??? Or I'll just settle for kick backs!

It's Official! I have been named Mother Of The Year!

I'm sure it was a close race though... Thank you Karen for nominating me. And for making my day!
Check out the video feed here:
http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=58lRb_vdIK4DE5Jk3yNyoDEyODY1NjI5&referred_by=16202867-Bka9EEx&p=moveon

Me versus the Volvo, yet again

Will I ever win with this car? I am determined to be the victor in the Great Battle of the Volvo. Brian scratches his head about how I am still driving this car (with all of the rain we have had there is a nice amount of standing water in it when combined with a humid day makes me feel like I am driving around in a mold-scented greenhouse) but I have told him that I will drive this car until I have to call him stranded on a freeway somewhere stranded because the bottom fell off of the car. And for the record, I am serious.

So anyway, a few years ago I put a cd in the cd player and it got stuck. It has as of yet never come out. Fine, whatever. But I am going to be doing quite a bit of driving over the next week and thought it might be nice to listen to some cd's. So I called my local Volvo dealership and told them of my drama with the cd player but was honest that seeing as how I waited two years, it must not be that important to me so I didn't want to spend a lot of time or money but did they think they could help?

Fast forward to this morning. Like a hopeful moron I was up bright and early for my appointment to get my cd player fixed. I was at Target WHEN THEY OPENED so I could pick out my new cd. I was SO prepared to drive to work listening to Black Eyes Peas or Eminem with the wind whipping through my hair as I looked so cute rocking out in my Volvo. Wake up Katie, this car has never failed to let you down. After sitting at the dealership for one hour they informed me that my car has one of the "newer" Volvo cd players and when a cd gets stuck in there it isn't coming out. But a new cd player is $250.00. It took one hour of my day and my pre-purchase of Total Clubhits to find this out???

Damn I hate my Volvo. But I do like my new cd I am listening to on my computer at work.

Can you keep a secret???

So, I am kind of doing a reverse Mother's Day. I am taking Caroline and Tessa on a Mother's Day trip. In a frantic effort to see one more college before fall and while schools are still in session we are going on one more trip. But I'm not telling Tessa where, only to pack a bag for a night. Fun, right? All I will say is that it is a school I know she will be interested in and should be a fun place to visit.

Oh, and I also have more fun news but need to keep it under wraps until next week.....

Conversation at my place...

Me to Tessa and Caroline (In a fit of desperation to get my house tidied up): Hey, you know what I'd like for Mother's Day?

Tessa (Already knowing this is going to hack her off): What?

Me: For you guys to help me clean this upstairs.

Caroline: You mean like organize my room?

Me: Yes

Tessa: That's not even close to being for Mother's Day

Caroline: Yes it is, it's in five days.

Thank you Caroline.

Tomorrow is National Beverage Day!

Don't even tell me you didn't know it was National Beverage Day and that you didn't plan on celebrating! Well, the good news is that Arby's has you covered! On May 6th, go to Arby's for your free Iced Fruitea. Someday I may try to figure out why offers like this make me so happy!

*What is your favorite drink to celebrate with?

Weekend wrap up...

Obviously, the weekend started off early, and on the right note with the Britney Spears concert...
Which brings us to Friday. I'm not normally a big "Friday night" person but once in a while I rally. Friday night was dinner with the girls at Rosendales which was AMAZING. Did something VERY unlike me and drank champagne with my food. On just a regular Friday night. Who said champagne had to be for certain occasions? Had THE BEST tomato/baby artichoke soup followed by lobster risotto and THEN had blueberry creme brulee. Divine. Dealt with torrential downpours to run across the street to the grand opening of the new location of Undone. Which was of course, great. Bought the cutest bustier and felt so girly doing so!
Which led into Saturday and a fun "girls night out" with Caroline, Brittney and Isabelle. Went to my #1 fave place to eat, Z Cucina. Not many restaurants of this caliber where you can feel comfortable taking children but Caroline and Isabelle always get treated like rock stars there. Had their new dessert, Chocolate Pancake Napoleon. Considered dying and going to heaven but...
#1) Caroline can't drive herself home
#2) I'm pretty sure my road to heaven may be blocked after I flipped off a car in front of some nice Missionaries who were in the car next to me...
Anyway, back to the rock star treatment- Our waitress at Z Cucina was SO KIND that she wrote on each little girls plate in chocolate "Caroline and mommy" and "Isabelle and mommy" What a perfect ending to a fun girls night!
Sunday.... Well, Caroline had some problems following rules today. We had a few temper tantrums and crying episodes. Caroline did tell me she was sorry for breaking the rules and she was having a hard time today following them. Sure. Tell that to Maria's mom after we had to send Maria home all wet from the hose in our backyard... Made a great dinner and had our friend Jeremy over for dinner.
Caroline did tell me at bedtime that she wants me to wake up early tomorrow and help her organize and clean her room and then I can go back to bed. Thanks honey. I'll look forward to that!
Looking forward to Monday!

Things I am pretty sure of:

1) I am the missing Pussycat Doll. After seeing the show last night I am pretty sure I was meant to wear knee high lace up stiletto go-go boots.

2) Britney Spears can lip-sync her concerts all day long. I don't care. Her show is amazing. Bar none, the best concert I have ever been to. I don't care what they say, if I had been to rehab I would still be in a corner huddled up trying to get my life together. In no way could I pull off what she has done with that show.

3) So, we got to the show knowing that our tickets were row G, which we thought was 7th row. Um, no. The seats actually start at row D, so we were 4TH ROW. No joke, we were so close that at one point they do a big ring of fire on the stage and we could feel the heat!

4) True confession- I bought a Britney concert t. I LOVE concert t's. And I'm wearing it at work today. But, it looks super cute, and I'm wearing it with a blazer and skirt.

5) Next stop on the KT concert tour- Beyonce.