What is a House Party you ask

So I am all about free stuff.  I mean really who doesn't like free stuff??  A year or so ago I was invited to my first House Party and I had no idea what it was.  But it was for Fisher Price toys and it was a good excuse to get my then 1 year old daughter out of the house to play with some other babies her age.  Well I quickly found out how awesome House Parties are!  First off you have to apply to host a party but that's not bad at all.  But if you get picked to host you get a box full of freebies and party favors based on the theme of the party.  I have now hosted 4 House Parties.  A South Beach Living Party, a MetaboLife Party,

a Kristin Hannah Party

and most recently a Ziploc Party.

Pretty much every House Party gives the host a few things to share and then keep along with coupons for the host and the guests get coupons and party favors.  Each party had different things and each was great in their own way.  I got  and gave water bottles and coupons for the South Beach Party,  exercise bands, stress balls, and lots of coupons for the MetaboLife Party, 12 hardback copies of Firefly Lane,  2 hardback copies of True Colors, and one preview copy of Winter Garden (awesome book!!) for the Kristin Hannah Party, and  I got tons of Ziploc bags, containers, Sharpies, note pads, and coupons for the Ziploc Party.  So if you like a deal like I do check out the House Party site and try applying.  Plus if you start having parties your friends will want to too and then you get to go to other parties too which is always good!

The State of our Spring Break

I am exhausted! I figured with it being spring break it would be a relaxing week filled with fun activities.  We have been doing lots of fun activities but it means running around with the kids most of the day and dealing with a lot more fighting between the two.  We are hardly inside since this week has been the most perfect weather (this is why I live in southeastern NC).  So you would think I would be going to bed early to deal with the long days running around outside but you would be wrong.  I am up late reading.  I mentioned (check it out here) a few weeks back that I was obsessed the Sookie Stackhouse books.  I am still reading them and still obsessed!  I am on book 7 right now All Together Dead.

I will most likely be done with it in a day or so.  But I don't have book 8 yet because I on a huge waiting list for it on Paperback Swap (PBS).  Part of me wants to just go out and buy books 8 and 9 so I have them when I want them but then my practical aka cheap side kicks in and I know I can wait until I can get them off PBS.

The fun won't stop anytime soon either.  We have another long fun filled day planed for tomorrow as well and add on top of that my brother and his family is coming into town for Easter.   So a long weekend of fun, family and eggs (hard boiled and hopefully some Cadbury Creme ones and Cadbury Mini ones).  I LOVE Easter candy!  Anyway so this will most likely be my last post until next week because this weekend is going to be so busy.  Enjoy your Easter candy too!

Ten on Tuesday

1. What television character do you identify with?
This is a hard one.  There are very few tv shows that have realistic women characters especially stay at home ones that aren't too cartoonish.  But I remember back in my early 20's when I was single and dating I really identified with Susan Keane the main character played by Brooke Shields on the show Suddenly Susan.  She was tall and clumsy and she just reminded me of me because of the way she handled things.  I have also been told (long ago) that I kinda looked like Brooke Shields (it's the eyebrows we both have thick eyebrows and I refuse to thin them down too much).

2. Describe your morning routine.
 Most mornings I am woken up by one of my children around 7ish.  Some days earlier sometimes later.  If Noa's already been taken to school by James then I put on some tv for Marley while I take a shower.  We then eat and either head out for some morning play or stay home and she plays while I clean or do house work.  On the days I take Noa to school I get up between 6:30 and 7 and depending on how early I get up I either take a shower or not.  We get breakfast and head out to his school.  I drop him off and sit in the parking lot (I am shocked no one has called the cops on me yet .. random woman sitting in her car in parking lot facing a playground) and read for about 40 minutes before I head in to volunteer in his classroom for an hour.

3. How do you do lunch? Bring from home or dine out? Same thing every day or mix it up?
Since I am home 95% of the time we eat whatever is here.  Usually sandwiches or leftovers but occasionally we will eat out or bring home lunch on the way home from a morning out.

4. What is one moment that, although seemingly trivial at the time, changed your life?
Well I would say browsing house listings online almost 7 years ago.  James and I were living in our condo but were considering moving to a house because he wanted a yard and I wanted to have kids and we needed more space for that.  So we were just kinda looking not really getting too serious when I stumbled upon a listing I loved.  We decided to go for it and call the real estate agent listed and see it.  Well we fell in love and ended up buying it.  Not only did we get a house I love (even with the Pepto Bismol colored carpet upstairs and white melamine cabinets) but I found one of my best friends my neighbor down the street along with her kids who are great friends with my kids.

5. Name your top three beauty products. 
Yes to Cucumbers Natural Glow Facial Towelettes- removes makeup at night and cleans skin but feels good and refreshing.  


Anything Burt's Bees!! But I really love their Herbal Blemish Stick (great for zapping zits overnight), Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub (exfoliates and adds back moisture), and their Honey Lip Balm (best lip balm I have ever used and smells SOOOO good).  Honestly I could give you at least 3 more of their products that are great but I will stop there.


6. What do you do when you’re alone in the car?
I crank the adult music and sing at the top of my lungs!!!!!

7. What is the ideal city for you to live in? If you can, take this survey (< that’s a link) and tell us the results. Do you agree with them?
Here's my top 6 in order according to the website:

1. Charleston, WV
2. Albuquerque, NM
3. Reno, NV
4. Baltimore, MD
5. Santa Fe, NM
6. Frederick, MD

I don't know what to make of the results.  Apparently I want more snow since all of these places get more snow than we do here but that doesn't take much.  I have only been ever been to Charleston and Baltimore and I was just passing through both so I don't know much about them.  It's very interesting. I think I disagree though. 

8. Are you waiting for something?
I am waiting to hear from back from a few old bosses for letters of recommendations so that I can apply for a job.

9. What was the last shocking news you heard?
Well there has been so much bad news lately about the health of loved ones and even some deaths that I would have to say all of those.

10. What are three things you wouldn’t do for a million dollars?
I wouldn't hurt or harm or kill anyone.
I wouldn't do anything involving poisonous snakes.
Nothing that would injure myself.
There's lots I wouldn't do.  Sometimes money isn't always worth it.

Confessions of the Day 15

Even though my son is on spring break this week, we have been/will be having him do homework everyday.  It's for several reasons the main being that he has not been getting all his classwork done in school and a bunch of unfinished work came home.  So as a punishment he has to finish all the half finished stuff and do some extra work.  Now I think he needs this but I also feel awful about making him do all this work on his spring break.  I feel like a mean, mean mommy.

My two year old daughter can sing or hum most of Soul Sister by Train.  I guess it could be a worse song.

I got a new cell phone but I didn't get a fancy new smart phone because frankly I am an Apple fanatic and I just want an iPhone but I REFUSE to switch AT&T because their network sucks and I am kinda mad at Apple for doing that stupid exclusive deal with AT&T.  So anyway I was over with the old ladies looking at simple cell phones.  It made me feel a bit old.  But at least I got a phone with a full keyboard so now I get texting.  It was a pain in the ass on my old Razor so I never did it often.  It's a good thing we have unlimited texting now that I have my full keyboard.

Hi my name is Katie and I am a reality tv addict part 1

I have had an inkling for a few years that I might possibly be a reality tv addict (there are some in my family who would say tv addict period but I come by that naturally ... thanks mom).  But as I was watching the premiere of Dancing with the Starts the other night I had to finally admit it to myself.  I swore I wouldn't watch DWTS.  Well my addiction took over. 

Is there a rehab for reality tv addicts???  Anyway as I was admitting my addiction I began to think of all think of the reality tv I currently watch and have watched.  It's quite scary and I am going to share it with you all in hopes that 1. it will shame me into going cold turkey (ummm not likely), 2. you all can feel better about yourselves because you never even saw an episode of Mr. Personality let alone watched the whole damn season, and 3. I have no reality tv showed tivoed to watched so why not!

So let's start with reality shows I have either watched full seasons of or had/have a season pass to on my Tivo.

The Real World - The reality show that started it all, for me and the reality genre.  I still watch The Real World to this day even though I am waaaayyyy out of their target audience age anymore.  But I still love it and have even blogged about it.

Survivor - I have faithfully watched every episode that has ever aired.

The Amazing Race - I LOVE it and it's won a few Emmys so it's not bad.  It makes me want to travel more than I already do and makes me realize my husband and I could NEVER be on the show together because we would be the dysfunctional couple that argues and yells all the time.

Big Brother - Yes I will admit to watching it.  I have watched all but one season (the one with Dr. Will and Mike Boggie).  I just like it.  I will even admit that that I have recorded and watched Big Brother After Dark on Showtime (if you don't know what that is good for you, you have life).

Ghost Hunters - I will say that I think the last 2 seasons haven't been as good and a normal person aka someone who doesn't have a reality tv addiction would have stopped watching if they thought it wasn't as good but no I am still watching.

Dirty Jobs - Two words Mike Rowe.  Ok two more IS HOT.

Kathy Griffin My Life on the D List - She is hysterical!

Tabitha's Salon Take Over - Bitchy stylists and dirty salons ... so much fun!

Flipping Out - Makes me glad my hubby's OCD isn't nearly that bad!

Kitchen Nightmares -Already talked about this one here

Hoarders- And talked about this one here

Real World/Road Rules Challenge (Inferno, Duel, etc....) - My fave real world and road rules guys competing for money and hooking up all over the damn place.  Tv at it's finest!

Rock of Love -  I would NEVER admit that I like Bret Michaels.

Daisy of Love -I know, I know.  I already feel cheap you don't have to rub it in.

The Surreal Life - Does VH1 do anything OTHER than bad celebrity reality shows??

Tough Love - This one is all about watching the train wreck that is Taylor.

The Osbournes - Oldie but a goodie!

Wife Swap -Please don't ask why.

Ok so that isn't even all the reality shows I have watched full seasons of but I'm tired and need to go to bed and none of you wants to read all of that right now anyway.  So this is just part 1.  I still have all the ones I have watched a few times but none the less watched.  Wow so this might be a 5 part blog......

Ten on Tuesday

1. When you were a senior in high school, what career did you think you’d choose? Did you? Why or why not?

The fact is I thought I wanted to be a teacher even back then.  Now what I REALLY wanted to be I knew wasn't plausible (back up singer or artist)  so I went for practical.  At that point I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a Spanish teacher or a special education teacher.  Well I did end up becoming a special education teacher because it was practical and I wanted to help kids who were in the same boat I had been in during my school career (I had/have a learning disability).

2. What one thing about the “real world” did you find most surprising once you were on your own?

I was shocked at how expensive little things like deodorant, soap, and razors were!  And how fast that adds up and takes away from your going out fun money.

3. Name 3 things you think your closest friends DON’T like about you.

I don't call often enough.  I am just not a phone person.
I get lost in my own world sometimes and forget to check in and see how everyone else is.  And it's not because I don't care.  I care a lot I just think some times no ones misses me or that I am bothering them.
Some times my sarcasm may be too much.

4. In order to sleep, do you need background noise or absolute quiet?

White noise is fine but I don't have to have it.  Ideally I like it to be really quiet.

5. Why do you choose to reside in your current city? Yes, you have a choice

I came here to Wilmington to go to college and had every intention of moving back to Chapel Hill (where I grew up and where my family was at the time) or somewhere in the Triangle after college.  But I met my hubby and we started to build a life here and well it became home and being 10 minutes from the beach is nice.

6. Are you close to your parents?

I am close to my mom who just moved  here from Colorado to be closer to us!  Yea!

7. What is your favorite fiction book? Poem? Blog?

Choosing one fiction book is like choosing which one of my kids is my favorite, I just can't do it!!  So here are just a few of my favorites.  Pigs in Heaven and The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingslover,  Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer,  Angles & Demons by Dan Brown,  Centennial by James Michener and Star Wars Vol. 1 Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn.

I am just not a poetry person.  I don't mind reading it and it was fine to read for english classes in high school and college but I just don't have the urge to seek it out and read it for fun.

I love blogs so once again I give you a few.  Cake Wrecks (too funny and involves cake what could be better?), Little People Wealth (money saving blog), Ikea Hacker (Ikea furniture and good design ideas)

8. Do you enjoy cooking or is it a chore?

I enjoy it most of the time.  It becomes a chore when I have forgotten to pull something out of the freezer and it's 5PM and my two year old is hanging onto my legs crying.  Which happens about every other day!!

9. Be honest. What one thing would (the majority of) your blog readers be shocked to find out about you?

I have 4 tattoos and plan on several more.  Yes several more new ones and touch up/fixes for a few of my older not so great quality ones.  It's kind of an addiction once you start.  I love the art of it and the individuality it gives me.

10. If you were given your own national holiday, what would you require people to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Day of You? Would there be a parade? Greeting cards?

Everyone one would have to eat pancakes but not just any old pancakes.  They would have to use my recipe (that was my mom's childhood friends' fathers) and none of that box crap.
Lunch would be turkey and avocado sandwiches.
Dinner would be eating out at whatever restaurant they wanted.  Because really who wants to cook all the time?
It would be a greeting card holiday because you can never get too many greeting cards (they are good mail and you know someone was thinking about you).

Guilty Pleasures

As usual my weekend was busy with a Ziploc House Party, date night (yea!), yard work, and t-ball practice.  It seems life never seems to slow down anymore and I am running from one event to the next.  So I take my down time very seriously!!  Here are some of my current guilty pleasures that help me laugh, unwind, and feel good!!


The Celebrity Apprentice -  I must admit I hate Donald Trump.  I think he is an arrogant ass but for some reason I am loving The Celebrity Apprentice.  Of course that might have to do with the fact that Bret Michaels, Cyndi, Lauper, and Sharon Osbourne are in it.

I Can Has Cheezburger? - OMG there is nothing better than silly cat photos with funny captions!!  Some of these are so funny I have almost peed my pants!  I get the daily email with all the new pictures and videos.  It's one of the few daily emails that I actually read right when I get it.


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Kitchen Nightmares - Gordon Ramsy, disgusting kitchens, cursing, food, and drama.  I love it!!  I have never wanted to run or own a restaurant and now I NEVER do.  But it's so much fun to watch other people struggle with it.  Oh and now I am really aware of the food service grade a restaurant has before I eat at it!

Coffee Snob

Some how in the last couple of years I have become a full blown coffee addict.  This may not seem so unusual to anyone considering I have two kids.  Even though they are 5 and 2, I still get up at least once or twice a night most nights to deal with a lost pacifier, bad dream, or wet bed.  But I don't have coffee in my house or most mornings.  Why? Because I am a coffee snob who used to hate coffee.  Neither of my parents drank coffee in our house growing up.  So I never even tried coffee until I was in high school and I thought is was nasty!  Fast forward a few years in college and I got a job at a Barnes & Noble that was brand new and opening in my town.  I didn't get hired to be a book seller like I wanted but I was hired in the Cafe that sells Starbucks coffee.

Because it was a new store we had a special Starbucks trainer from corporate come to teach us the proper way to make all their drinks and coffee.  Not only did I learn to make all the espresso and coffee drinks but I had to try them all as well.  You would think that would have turned me into a coffee drinker but you would be wrong again.  I thought most of the drinks were still nasty!  I did kind of like the Cafe Mocha with an extra shot of flavored syrup (can we say really sweet).  I worked there for almost 3 years and got a huge discount on food and drinks but still didn't drink coffee.  But I made a damn good latte let me tell you! Or at least that's what my regulars said. I even went back to work there years later for a Christmas season after my son was born.  I still didn't drink coffee even then with a baby in the house and again with a big discount.  Some how a few years ago it just started.  I think it happened at an all day scrapbooking event that I do about once a quarter.  My friend usually stops by a local coffee house called Port City Java.  She got my order too (a mocha but they don't call it that) and I liked it as I pretty much always had but I really liked it more this time around and somehow I was hooked.  Now I am still pretty  much  a wuss and would prefer to have a Carmel Macchiato at Starbucks

or a Milky Way Latte (now called a Black and Tan Mocha) at Port City Java but I will drink McDonald's Cafe mochas if I am desperate. 

I will also now drink regular coffee (only really good mild stuff like my uncle's partner makes in his french press) but I add a lot of cream and sugar to it.  So not only am I a coffee wuss but also a coffee snob.  Especially if my latte isn't made right or the espresso shots have run too long I get cranky.  See I still know all my barista terms!!!  I don't know weather to be ashamed or proud of my coffee snobiness!!!  Oh and if you don't know the difference between a latte and cappuccino ask me, ask someone, ask anyone, just don't order a cappuccino and then take it back and tell them they didn't put enough milk in it!!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Quick! Zombies are coming!! What do you do? Start cursing myself for not doing more cardio!!  Then I hop in my van because there is no way I am out running any zombies.

2. Whew, that was a close one. …I think your phone is ringing. Oh, it’s your best friend! She thinks she’s been bitten by a zombie. What advice do you give her? I make her give me a run down on what happened then I tell her she's a gonner.  Sorry love ya but get away from people now!

3. You realize it’s time to leave your current location because it’s clearly not safe anymore. Are you going to move at night or day? Defend your reasoning. Day time of course.  You can see the zombies coming and then you don't have to use a flashlight and attract more attention to myself.  Plus it's just a bit less creepy than night time if running from zombies can be any less creepy.

4. During your relocation, you come across a weapon superstore. My, that’s convenient. What kind of weaponry do you choose? What ever gun holds the most ammo so I don't have to reload as often and a flame thrower I think.

5. As you leave, an old lady on the side of the street begs you to help her. Do you? Why or why not? Nope all rules of society go out the window when zombies attack.

6. Good choice, you’re clearly a good person to have around in a zombie apocalypse. Oh hey, there’s a wifi signal here! You can’t stay long but this is your chance to gather some Intel on the current situation. What’s the first website you check? Facebook of course.  Zombies wouldn't be checkin their Facebook pages so all those left can plan our attack.

7. SHH! What was that noise?! Stupid cat.  Get outta here before you become a zombie snack!

8. I think it’s time to get out of here. I hope you have a plan. Where are you going now? I'm headed to meet up with all the survivors I caught up with on Facebook.  We are going to kick some zombie ass!

9. Wait a minute, that looks like a bite mark on your arm… You may be infected too! Will you tell other people? Oh that's not a bite it's scratch from that damn cat that scared me earlier.

10. How does this story end? The Facebook survivors destroy the zombies do more cardio and repopulate the world!

Etsy Ettiquette?!?!

I know, I know we have established that I sell some of my crafts on Etsy.  I said I wasn't going to pimp it out anymore and technically I'm not.  I have a legitimate question that I want some feedback on.  So this guys starts a conversation (Etsy's version of a direct message) with me on Etsy last week.  He says he LOVES this one particular frame of mine.

He really wants to buy it but he can't until he gets paid next week and could I put it on hold for him.  I messaged him back and said that there is no hold feature but that I could put it on inactive and then put back up as active on the day he wanted to buy it.  He said that wasn't necessary that I could just put RESERVED FOR _____ (this would be his name) in the title of the listing and that should be enough because he had seen other sellers do this.  So that is what I did. And wouldn't you know it not 6 hours later someone else bought that frame and another frame from my shop!  I didn't want to cancel the sale because frankly this person bought TWO frames and paid immediately and I just wasn't sure this guy would stick to his word.  So I packed up the order and shipped it.  I then began making another frame like the one above that the guy loved.  It will look a lot like this one but not identical because they are made by hand and will vary slightly.  The guy messaged me again today asking where it was because he was going make it a favorite on his account.  I broke the news to him that it sold but told him I was almost finished with another one that should be done by tomorrow.  Oh and I was going to tell him what happened once the frame I am making for him is done.  He seemed ok with it but only time will tell if he does and buys it.  So I am wondering if it was right for me to sell the frame to the other buyer and was it rude on her part or my part??  Is there Etsy ettiquette? Has any one sold on Etsy for awhile and have any comments??  I've only been selling for about 3 months so I am still new to this.  Anyway I feel guilty all around about this but I am thinking I should get over it!