Ten on Tuesday

1. How many blogs do you read every day and what are they? (I’m talking the ones you NEVER miss)
My honest answer is I don't read a blog EVERYDAY.  If I really like a blog I will subscribe by email so that I have a copy of the newest posts in my inbox to read at my convince.  Roots and Rings and the South 'n France Blog being the ones I have sent via email.  I have tried Google reader but I forget to check it.  So having the new posts sent to me is the best way.  For those blogs hosted on Blogger (like mine) I will scroll through the reading list on my dashboard about twice a week and read the ones I like the most (Craving Cupcakes, IKEA Hackers, The Savvy Savin' Mama, and Fuegita Bonita).

2. How many “best friends” do you have? Do you have different “besties” for different areas of your life?
Well my oldest and best friend ever is Jennie.  I have known her since 5th grade and she knows every boring and not so boring detail of my life.  I have posted about her several times (she used to be the traffic reporter on WXII in Greensboro) on here because I am so proud of what she's done and it was kinda cool to see one of your best friends on TV.  But she lives about 3 hours away so I don't get to see her enough at all.  James is also one of my best friends.  He is the one first one I call to talk about anything and everything.  I have to admit that I have never had a ton of girlfriends in my life.  And when I first lived here after college I didn't have any who lived here but after my son was born I found a wonderful mommy group and found Ivy & Jennifer.  Ivy has far and away become one of my best friends forever.  And Jennifer is not only one of my best friends but also my neighbor which is really cool.  And I can't imagine my life without any of them!


3. What’s your daily make up routine?
So on a typical day when I am just at home with Marley or running errands I don't wear any make up.  When I was working I always wore make up and I wear it to go out.  So when I do wear it I wear tinted moisturizer, powdered mineral foundation, creme blush, mascara, and eye shadow.


4. What is your ideal girl’s night?
I hit the movies once a week with Ivy because we share a LOVE of movies and Carmike Cinemas popcorn and we manage to talk during the previews.  But when I go out with all my girlfriends here I prefer to do dinner or drinks so that we can all talk and catch up.

5. Do you keep up with your nails/toenails or are they au natural?
I try to.  I always file my nails and keep them fairly short because that's what works best when folding my origami creations.  I love having long nails and can grow them out but it just doesn't work well with folding origami or working with the Mod Podge I use to make frames.  I always try to have polish on my toes but I honestly haven't had any on in the last couple of weeks.  I have been meaning to get to my manicurist for the last 3 weeks because I usually go around my birthday but I finally got an appointment with her for this Thursday and I am soooooooo looking forward to it!!

6. What’s your best roommate story (assuming you had a roommate at some point in your life)?

 I did have 3 roommates (Ali, Karen and Julie) on campus my first year in college and that was OK.  There were some personality conflicts among the group.  I tried to keep my head down and be friends with all of them because I liked all of them.  Not sure it worked that well.  But I did end up moving out to a 2 bedroom apartment off campus after freshmen year.  The original plan was for my high school boyfriend at the time to come move to Wilmington with me and we would share the apartment.  But on the day of the move in he basically told me he had cheated on me and didn't want to move.  Nice right??  Anyway I had to scramble to find a roommate to share the rent.  I found one but she bounced checks on me and had her slacker, surfer boyfriend (he left half the beach sand in my shower) move in without asking.  So after the summer was over I kicked her out.  I then got one of my old roommates  Karen from my freshman year to move in with me.  The kicker was that I was really good friends with Ali one of the other freshman year girls and the two did not get along at all.  It was awkward.  I felt bad that they didn't like each other and that Ali felt uncomfortable being around Karen.  It kinda sucked and I know Ali felt like I betrayed her.  At the time I wasn't aware of how Ali felt and I wish I had.  I hated how that friendship ended (it ended later after another incident, which I can't remember right now.... hmmm now that's gonna bug me).  Anyway after about 6 months of living with Karen she got into a really bad car accident on the way back from Christmas break.  So she couldn't come back to school but also couldn't get her stuff out of her room so that I could get a new roommate.  She did pay rent but I then had to cover everything else and it was tight.  So after that I decided NO more roommates and I moved into a one bedroom apartment by myself.

7. What’s your “go to” outfit that you wear more than anything else?
It's not really an outfit but I have several v-neck t-shirts from Target in lots of different colors.  I love them!  They are cute and comfy and I can add a colored tank top underneath to mix things up.

8. Do you have a beauty secret?
Not really!  I joke that I don't have any wrinkles because I keep a nice layer of fat on and that hides/keeps the wrinkles away!!

9. Did you read Seventeen magazine growing up?
I sure did!!

10. How did you learn to put on makeup?
I guess from magazines and going to makeup counters but also doing plays at school too.

Ten on Tuesday

1. How did your parents decide on your name?
I know two of the names in the running for me were Phoebe or Heather.  But they ended up with Katherine .... which I love.  Anyway my nick name is Katie and they chose that first from a Joni Mitchell song (I don't know which one and I kinda wish I did).  But I guess my mom liked the idea of a more formal name and then using the nick name Katie.  So Katherine it was.

2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?
My initials my whole life have been KAP.  Yes my maiden name started with a P and so does my married name.

3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?)
I kept my middle name because it's a family tradition and I knew I would give my daughter the same middle name (and I did)!  Besides I thought I would use my maiden name as my daughter's first name  but as it turns it doesn't work well with my husbands last name ... oh well.

4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)
No I didn't do that and never planned to.  Although as a coincidence we have J K M and N now all I need is a 3rd child and use and L name and we then have J K L M N!!  Just kidding!

5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
Sort of.  Like I said above I always wanted to name my little girl my maiden name (Page).  But it just didn't sound good with my husbands last name.  But I did name her Marley Anne Page.  So I was obnoxious and gave her two middle names. I know one will get dropped one day but it will forever be on her birth certificate and that is what I wanted.

6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?
Yes, middles names for both girls and boys.  The girl middles name is Anne and the boy middle name is John.  James is also a family name on BOTH sides but there are enough James' to go around already so that's why Noa is Noa and not James.

7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
I look at the meaning but if I don't like the meaning it doesn't have any weight.  If I loved the name I would still use it regardless of the meaning.

8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?
Totally pet names.  I think it's a lot more fun to name pets with pet names than with human names.  I've had cats named Wizard, Cotton ball (yes it was all white), Nike (he had white feet so it looked like he had on shoes), Einstein (that cat was stupid so it was a play on the name), Circe (former owner named her),  and Rio (she was a flood victim cat ... so river in Spanish).  And my dog is named Frodo ... yes we are Lord of the Ring fans.

9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
Yes. My son is named Noa for two reasons.  The first one is my cousin.  My cousin's name is Kanoa (he is Hawaiian ... hence the Hawaiian name) and I love the that name especially when combined with the family middle name John.  Plus I love my cousin.  But I knew I could not saddle my very white Haole (Hawaiian for while person) child with a traditional Hawaiian name.  So when I noticed the end of Kanoa is Noa (also the Hawaiian spelling for Noah) I knew I had my name.  And the second reason is because I knew a little boy named Noah who was so sweet.  My friend Jennie (see my other posts about her here) used to be a nanny and Noah was one of her nanny kids.  Plus when I named Noa,  Noah was not popular ... but just a few years after I named him that, it got very popular grrrrr.

Oh and the Ark jokes really are not funny people!  My son gets so tired of hearing about building an Ark when it rains.

10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
Well obviously Noa & Marley.  But I've always also liked Page & Piper for girls.  For boys I have always liked Luke.

Ten on Tuesday

Well hello my friends! Remember me? You know the former Mommy Days blogger. No I didn't slip into a coma. I just had a really rough December and it's taken me this long to recover and catch up. I really do want to blog and I actually bought a blogging tool app for my new iPad in hopes I will be able to be able to blog more.

1. Do you decorate for Valentine’s day?
Yes I do. Not a huge amount but a few little things like window clings and candles.

2. Does your desktop have a picture or computer graphic? Is it organized?
I don't have a desktop any more but my laptop has a collage of Noa & Marley that were taken by a local professional photographer I had done of them last year.

3. Do you use a paper planner, electric planner or no planner at all?
I use a Mac so I use and LOVE iCal. I can enter a date on my computer, iPod or iPad and it will be transferred to all my other devices when they are synced. Plus I print out the month to put up in the kitchen so everyone can see what's happening for the month.

4. Do you change purses or bags often or stick with a good thing?
It all depends on my mood. I usually change purses when I get tired of using the current one. So fairly often I guess.

5. What’s your favorite YouTube Video?
So my previous answer was nothing but I totally forgot all the videos of my friend Jennie that I think are hysterical.  So here is one.  And if you feel like it go to YouTube and search Jennie Stencel.



6. Do you use Turbo Tax or a real person to pay your taxes?
We take our taxes to someone. I don't even want to attempt to try doing my own.

7. How many states have you set foot (or tire) in? Which ones?
This is going to be long. My goal is to one get to all 50 states one day.  North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Washington, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, & Alaska. 32 in total.  Plus Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

8. How many countries have you been in? Which ones?
18 countries so far.  Mexico, Canada, Aruba, Bahamas, Jamaica, Curacao, Venezuela, Grenada, Bermuda, UK, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, & Kiribati.

9. How many pillows are in your house? (Sleeping or decorative)
Oy.... Around 40 is my best estimate.

10. How cold is too cold for flip flops?
For me there is no such thing. Well sort of. I wear flip flops all year round inside. But if it's colder than 60 outside I don't wear them out.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ten on Tuesday

 

1. What’s the one thing you always do when you’re stressed?

I freak out for a little bit.  I cry and play the worst case situations in my head.  I just sort of let the freak out happen then I feel better.

2. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done for a friend?

Huh I don't know.  I really have to give that one some thought....  and I'm still blank.  My friend Jennie once made me (I know she couldn't make me but she pushed me till I relented) run through the sprinklers on the baseball field at our high school.  She really wanted to do it so I ended up going with her.  And that's pretty much how it goes with Jennie :).  It was a lot of fun but we froze after.

3. What cleaning supply could you not live without?

My vacuum cleaner.  I actaully like to vacuum and with my dog we NEED a good vacuum cleaner.

4. How long do you plan on living where you currently reside?

A long time!  I love my house and we have plenty of room so I see us here until we are old and gray and can't get up the stairs anymore!

5. Do you usually vote straight party, a mixture, or not at all?

Usually straight party but I have been known to mix it up if there is a good candidate not on my side.  It happens once in a blue moon!

6. What’s something that you love to do, but seem to never make time for?

Lately it seems to be reading.  I typically finish a few books a month but not for the last couple.  I seem to be so tired that I just head to bed instad of reading.  Or there is my Dexter obsession which has been having a major impact on my reading time as of late.  

7. What’s your favorite store to buy things for other people?

It depends on the person.  I always love Target and can usually find something for anyone there but I also love Barnes & Noble and Pier 1.

8. What’s the weather like around you today?

We are finally cooling off here!!  It got up to about 85 today and it wasn't too humid either.  So a really nice sunny day.  I just can't wait until we get to the time when the highs are in the 70's and I can open the windows for a little while!

9. What’s the worst book you’ve ever bought and read?

The worst book I bought and read is Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon.  It was badly written and I had the whole mystery/plot sloved by page 50.  I will never pick up a Sidney Sheldon book again.

10. What’s the closest thing to you that is yellow?

Some yellow origami paper sitting on my lap desk next to my laptop.  I got my first custom order on Etsy last night!!!!  Yep someone is ordering one of my Origami Flower Mobiles but in her daughter's nursery colors!  Yellow being one of the colors.  I will be sure to post a picture of it once it's done.

Ten on Tuesday

1. What does your car say about you? If you don’t have a car, what kind of car would be your daily driver?

I have kids.  It's a Chrysler Town & Country mini van.  I really don't like it and wouldn't drive it unless we had kids.  But it's got lots of room and drives nice so it's all good for now.

2. To this point, what has been your purpose on this planet?
I think it was/is to have my kids.  I think raising good people is what I was meant to do.

3. If you could trade places with any person for any amount of time, who would it be?
My husband.  It would be nice to see what he does all and I would like him to see what I do all day.  I think it would help us better understand each other.

4. What is your favorite kind of cake? If you don’t like cake, what is it about it that you don’t like?
I love a fluffy, moist yellow butter cake with chocolate frosting!!! 

5. Would you have wanted to live in your parents’, grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ generation or only your own?
I think my own just because I am too much of a feminist and a techie to want to give up my freedom and my computer.

6. Do you have any home remedies for illnesses, cleaning or otherwise?
I swear by Celestial Seasonings Fruit Tea Sampler when I feel a cold coming on.  I drink 3 or 4 cups a day I swear it nips it in the bud or shortens the cold.
For cleaning I use a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to clean counters or glass.  It works well and kills germs plus it's cheap and green too.

7. What is your ideal weather situation?
70-73 degree sunny day with low humidity.  Which is spring and fall here.

8. What is your best attribute (physical or personal)?
I happen to like my blue eyes and I have pretty good hair (straight, long and not too thick or thin).

9. Do you text or surf while driving?
I sometimes text while at stoplights but I don't have a smart phone so no surfing for me.  But even if I did have one I wouldn't do it because my husband does it and it makes me so friggin nervous.

10. How long have you known your best friend?
Well I am going to be obnoxious and tell you I have 3.  There is my best friend Jennie who I have known since the 5th grade (so 24 years or so).  She knows me better than just about anyone.  But since we don't live in the same town anymore she is not as connected to my everyday life as my other best friend.  My other best friend is Ivy.  She and I met  almost 6 years ago through the MOMS Club.  Our sons were babies and archenemies (when they were babies) so we had a bond trying to keep out sons from beating each other up.  But we found we lots in common too and she is always there for me.  And last but not least my last best friend is my husband James.  Our 11th anniversary is coming up on Friday but we have been together 13 years!!!  The best part is we can still have great conversations just like we did when we meet 13 years ago.

My Friend Jennie Stencel Part 3

I have some sad news my friend Jennie who I have blogged about a few other times (you can see them here and here) has been let go from her gig as morning traffic anchor/person on the WXII morning show.

I have seen the show a few times when I happened to be in Greensboro for events and what not and I loved getting up early just to watch the show.  Yes I did it to see Jennie but I gotta say seeing her be funny on a morning news show was awesome!!!  I so wish the up tight morning show here would do something like that (hint hint WECT ...  Jennie is now available!!!!).  Starting the day laughing is awesome and I am not alone she has many fans some of whom turn up on this blog!  Anyway I am not sure what prompted WXII to want to part ways with Jennie but I think they are making a big mistake.  If you feel the same way please head over to a new Facebook Fan page calling for Jennie to be brought back (click here).  So here are some YouTube videos just to prove my point and well they just make me laugh.

Confessions of the Day 16

Part of me feels bad that I haven't posted a new blog since last Tuesday but then another part of me just doesn't have the energy to do it or to care that much.  I love my blog and it's such a great outlet but I have had a horrible cold combined with allergies.  The last week has been so miserable because of the cold/allergies.  I was taking naps every chance I got and going to bed as soon as the kids were in bed.  So that left me no time to do anything but take care of the kids and do minimal house work (and I do mean minimal).

I LOVE Glee.  There is no way I can describe how much I love this show.  In fact I think FOX knew how much I loved it so as a birthday present to me they are starting up the new shows tomorrow Tuesday the 13th on my birthday!!!  I think one of the major reasons I love it so much is that I was in chorus all through Jr. high and high school.  It wasn't technically a show choir like on Glee but my high school chorus was big and really good and did some dance routines (I was terrible at choreography but thank god for my friend Jennie who was awesome at it and made me practice and helped me get right).  But I loved being in chorus and it was a whole subculture at my high school but a good one not like on Glee.  I also just loved singing in a chorus!  That is something I miss a lot and why I love watching Glee.  And I confess I have all the music from the show and the DVD.

Reflections from 2009

2009 came to a close very quickly for me. Looking back on the year I have learned one very important thing; life is short and can end too quickly. I watched my friend Meg loose her 5 year old daughter to cancer, I watched my friend Jennie loose her mom very suddenly and unexpectedly and I just lost my wonderful uncle Gordon to cancer. So tell those you love how much you love them every chance you can. Don't wait to do the things you always wanted to do. You never know how much time is left. And most importantly ENJOY things. I have a tendency to take things waaayyy too seriously but life is just too short to be so serious and stressed out. I am also trying to take a page from my uncle Gordon's book and enjoy family.

My Friend Jennie Stencel Part 2

Well my last post about Jennie was very popular!! So she has managed to make it onto the Huffington Post with one of her YouTube video clips. So go here to check it out!

Oh and here is some vintage Jennie around 2000. One day I will scan in some elementary or high school photos and put them up!!!

My Friend Jennie Stencel

Ok so one of my best friends in the entire world is Jennie. I have known the girl since 5th grade. I dare say she knows me as well if not better than my own husband. Well I always knew she would go on to do something funny and something that would get her attention. Well she is the morning traffic girl for WXII a news station in Greensboro. Her antics come as no shock to me in fact this is all just "normal" behavior for Jennie. So let's just say she has always acted like she does on the air. Check one of her many clips on YouTube below.


She also had a blog that is funny check that out here.
Oh and if you have a Facebook page become her fan here.
Oh and she owns and perfroms in an improv comedy club called The Idiot Box with her husband Steve. I have been to a few shows and they are very funny so if you are in Greensboro or just passing through go check them out!!!

I just wanted to give her a little love here on my blog since I don't live in the same town anymore and don't get to see her often enough.


*****Update******
This is a pretty old post if you would like to see the newest information on Jennie please go here!