2011 Intentions

In the spirit of the season, this year I intend to...

• Send more handwritten notes. I've been watching a colleague do a lot of writing during downtime at work, and I've decided this is a lost art truly worth pursuing (besides, it gives me an excuse to purchase cute stationary!)

• Develop my culinary repertoire. I need to be able to whip up at least 5 quick go-to family meals with ingredients always on hand, and have a couple of perfected "fancy" recipes down for adult meals.

• Take, frame, and hang more photos. I may be biased, but I think I have a beautiful family and we rarely take photos together. We won't get these moments back - so I need to make sure I commemorate them. I'm thinking of creating a grouping - either going up the stairs or above the couch in the living room. The question is... black & white or color?

• Read my son a book before bed every night once I'm home. Work to build his library, and teach him to love education and the many adventures it can take him on and lessons it can teach him. Ultimately, I'd love to have a collection built of all of the Caldecott winners in hardcover. This could get expensive, so this will be a work in progress.
  

• Convince myself to love running. I hate getting started, but I don't seem to mind it too much once I get going. Specific goals for this year are to run and complete a 1/2 marathon. The hubs has already run a whole, and has plans for an ultra, so in the scheme of our household, a 1/2 should be easy. I hope to run an additional 5 races along the way, and work my way up to 25 miles a week by June.

• Become more mindful - of who I am, where I am, what I am doing and why. Practice mindfulness based techniques, and continue to practice yoga.
  

• Hone my sense of design style, and along the way learn that if I don't love something or it's not exactly what I envisioned it's ok to say no - even if it is a bargain (for those of you who know me - you know how hard a bargain is for me to resist!)

• Learn to do my hair. and makeup. by myself. by Colleen's wedding. This probably will involve the purchasing of something besides bronzer and mascara, however I'm on the downward slope to 30 and it's high time I learned how to doll myself up a little bit. This army life has not been kind with opportunities in that regard.

• Truly develop the 5 year plan. I'm looking at a career change, it's not that I haven't enjoyed my work in clinical social work, but I would love to be a doctor. Now that I finally have enough experience in the medical field and enough self-esteem to realize I can do it, I need to develop the plan of how I'll get there. Right now I'm looking at post-baccalareate pre-med programs, and trying to figure out if we can afford for me to go full-time, or whether I'll go part time. Suggestions?
  

• Complete a DIY project. I found a great inspiration on Eddie Ross's blog on re-creating a secretary. I think I might just attempt it. Granted - he is a professional - but I have skills, right? (No comment B!)

Check out his before: And After:
I'm sure I'll come up with more along the way, but I think this is a good start!

photos courtesy of EddieRoss.com

Currently Crushing On...

So, I finally decided it was time to launch my own lifestyle blog, a venue to share my musings, current obsessions, and trials of life. I hope that you enjoy!

My nights here in Iraq find me yearning for life outside of my small metal box. Right now I'm crushing on some luxe, soft handbags...


This Proenza Schouler PS1 Leather Satchel in saddle


& this Chloe Cary Satchel




& this Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q High Schooly Bag



Images courtesy of net-a-porter & Neiman Marcus

I've also been looking at some amazing furniture, and some DIY projects for when I return. I'll be sure to post on these soon!

Until next time,
Katie

Sea World & Sesame Street Live! at Fort Hood

4th of July!

Mom and Dad returned from Fort Polk to pick up Mr. Aidan from Plymouth and visit family! Godmommy Colleen made the trip down from Boston to spend the day with us and bring Aidan on his first trip to the beach (fyi.. he did not care for the cold Long Beach water!)

Texas Bluebonnets

We snapped these photos of Aidan back in April - but those outside the region might want to see the little man visiting with the state flower. Sorry we are so late with updating the blog!

Washington, D.C.

We recently took advantage of an opportunity to visit the White House in Washington, D.C. for the annual easter egg roll. While there, we got to spend time visiting with Mema Murphy, Uncle John, Aunt Mary Paule, and Godmommy Colleen and her family! It was a whirlwind couple of days, but we managed to take in several of the Smithsonian museums, a double-decker bus ride of the city, and the national zoo! We hope you enjoy our pictures of the easter egg roll!!

Aidan - 1, Pnemonia - 0

We wanted to let everyone know that our tough little man pulled through and Aidan is now recovering at home. Aidan became very sick on Monday and was admitted to the hospital with bilateral intrastatial bacterial pnemonia and Sepsis. Dad did a great job of bringing him in and making sure that he got the care he needed. The little man was having quite a tough time, with difficulty breathing, low blood pressure/reduction of blood flow to the extremeties, a temp over 103 degrees, and a white cell count over 18,000. He was a real champ with multiple chest x-rays, blood draws, urine samples, iv sites, oxygen and breathing treatments. He did not care to be hooked up to anything, but eventually realized those darn nurses would continue to re-attach him to the various devices and succumbed to the pressure and gave up. He's doing so much better now, but still has awhile to go before the full infection has run its course. We have a few more tests to be run later in the week, but wanted to share that he is now recuperating at home. Thank you all for keeping our brave little man in your thoughts this past week!