THE Cookie

As referenced in my bio, I'm a cookie fiend. I'm obsessed. I have to ration the cookies I buy at the grocery because if I didn't, I could literally eat all of them in one sitting.

Side note: I sometimes daydream that someone will dare me to do just that - eat an entire package of chocolate chip cookies (the pack of 30 from Kroger) in one sitting. Then I will have an excuse to do it. Maybe I'll ask for TJ to dare me to do it for my birthday.

Anyway, there's one cookie that is better than all the others, in my humble opinion. It's the Oreo-stuffed cookie. Yes, a chocolate chip cookie with an Oreo in the middle. Incredible. I don't often get compliments on food I bring to work, but if I come in with a batch of these, it's like George Clooney's in the house. People I don't know that well are approaching me for the recipe. My director tells me he loves me. And I never EVER have leftovers to bring back home, which is why I only bring half the batch in. The husband would kill me if I made these and didn't leave at least 15 for us.

Of course, it's not my recipe; I found it on Pinterest. The brilliant blogger at Picky Palate came up with this recipe, and for that reason, I plan to include her in my will as a way of saying thank you. Just kidding. I don't have a will.

Side note: Get a freaking will. You're a parent now for God's sakes. Let me just put out into the universe that all my stuff should go to the husband and the kiddo. Someone notarize this.

Ok, I just made an appointment with our lawyer.

Back to the point. Try these cookies. You won't regret them. They will help you make friends and feel happy. And if you're a parent without a will, get on that already dude.

Blog Roll

A highlight of my morning (on days when I work from my office) is sipping my coffee while scrolling through my Feedly. I subscribe to around 30 blogs, mostly in categories that make me happy - fashion, fitness and home design and decor. These blogs both inspire and intimidate me. (I feel compelled to mention that I also subscribe to Mashable and Fast Company... so there is some work-related content in there as well.)

Sometimes I daydream about making a living as a blogger. That's hard to believe considering the sporadic way I post, but I think that's probably because I don't truly see this as a viable option for me. So instead, I will live vicariously through these stylish, savvy people.

A few of my favorite blogs are Kendi Everyday, Atlantic-Pacific, Thrifty Decor Chick, IHeart Organizing and Elements of Style.

Kendi Everyday

Kendi Skeen is the blogger behind Kendi Everyday. She's a small-business owner in McKinney, TX, running a clothing shop called West & Lou (formerly Bloom) with her husband. I love her for a few reasons. For starters, she wears labels that are generally pretty accessible, ranging from those you'd find at Nordstrom to mass-market places like Old Navy. While she incorporates some trendy items into her wardrobe, her style is classic with an edge, which is what I like to try and do. (Not saying I'm successful.)

These are a few of my favorite looks. I love the neutrals she's sticking to lately, but there's always a twist that keeps things from looking boring.

Atlantic-Pacific

Blair Eadie, Director of Accessories for Tory Burch, is just the pinnacle of cool in my eyes. The things she wears are completely unrealistic for my life most of the time, and that’s fine because the things she wears are completely out of my price range all of the time. Her blog, Atlantic-Pacific, is major eye candy.

Ok, I guess I could afford the Adidas shell-toe shoes she's sporting here. I might even have the pair I wore in 10th grade knocking around my attic somewhere for the win.

So. Chic. Also, can we just admire the Tanya Taylor “Peggy” skirt? I daydream about this skirt. I missed my shot at buying it (#splurgealert) and am kicking myself. It's perfection. It marries two things I love that are completely at odds with one another: minimalist black & white and RAINBOWS FOR DAYS.

Thrifty Decor Chick

I’m going to be honest here. For a long time, I was a Young House Love devotee. All other home-improvement/DIY blogs took a backseat to them. When they shut it down a few months ago, I was heartbroken.

All along, I’d been occasionally checking in with Sarah at Thrifty Décor Chick, and with all my newfound YHL-free time, I spent awhile digging into the TDC archives. I love Sarah’s approach to writing about her projects. Her voice is very clear, and I kind of feel like we would totally be friends in real life. She has great ideas, and most of them are budget-conscious which is what I’m always looking for.

Her hydrangea trough struck me immediately, and my wonderful husband recreated it for me in the fall. This is hers; ours is currently empty, as I haven’t committed to what’s going to live there when it’s not filled with fake pumpkins or ornaments.

I also love the built-ins she created with her father in her former dining room. I’m dreaming up plans to do something similar with a nook in our living room.

IHeart Organizing

IHeart Organizing is a newer discovery for me. I can’t remember how I ended up on this site, but I could look at it for hours. An entire blog dedicated to making things orderly AND pretty? Yes, please.

Organizing the Bean's toys is a hot topic right now. This playroom is fantastic - so functional, so fun.

Elements of Style

Ah, Elements of Style. In terms of decor, this is probably the complete opposite of Jen at IHeart Organizing, but somehow I love both. Erin Gates is insanely put together. It’s safe to say I love every outfit she’s ever worn (even though that’s not her line of work) and I like 99% of the rooms she does too.

My dad gave me her book (also titled Elements of Style) for Christmas and I devoured it in just a few days. I haven’t even found a place for it on my bookshelf yet because it’s just sitting in my family room still – I can’t stop thumbing through it.

This is Erin's actual kitchen. I have literally had dreams about this space. Gorgeous.

Look at these pictures and tell me this girl isn’t stylish. Go ahead, try it. I’ll punch you in the face.

There are so many other blogs I enjoy, but these are the ones I make a priority to read. They keep me excited about the things that interest me. As a wife, mom and employee, it's so easy to get wrapped up in those roles and forget to take time to do things that I love. Err, let me clarify. I LOVE being a wife and mom, and most of the time I really enjoy my work, too. But as I've learned over and over, I'm better in all those roles when I make sure to give myself time to focus on hobbies. Sometimes I wish I had "deeper" hobbies like following politics or learning a different language - and those are on my to-do list - but the truth is that I just like things to be pretty, whether it's what I'm wearing or where I'm living. 

Letter to Mom 2.1

Dear Mom -

I've numbered this 2.1, as the 1.0 version lives on my former blog, Blue Love Notebook. Soooo techy of me, eh. No.

I'm sitting here on my couch, Scrubs on in the background because this show never gets old (until around season 7 or 8, when it was just all wrong). Your granddaughter is snoozing on my chest and it's perfect.

I've been missing you an extra ton lately. The Bean is so special and goofy and smart, and I so wish you were here to see her. I also wish I could ask you for advice about five times a day.

I also wish you were around to help take care of Dad. We don't know what's wrong yet, but he's sick. He will not let me take care of him hardly at all. He's finally let me come to a few doctors appointments, but that's about the extent of it. I love him so much, and I need for him to be ok.

Glee is finally in its final season. I'm still watching... I don't know why. I guess I've invested so much time into five seasons that it seems like I should stick it out for the sixth. It's not anything like it was when we started watching.

We were out at Kenwood the other day and I thought of you as we turned around in Dewey's parking lot. We decided to go out to lunch one day and had planned to go to Trio, but decided to try Dewey's instead. We talked and laughed, and then probably went shopping afterwards because that's what we did. I miss it.

I made your spaghetti and meatballs for dinner last weekend. I actually didn't screw up the meatballs! They were delicious, and making them wasn't nearly as difficult as I remembered it being four years ago when I tried last. I think I'm actually getting better at cooking. I know there's so much more you could've taught me though, if we'd had the chance.

I miss you.

Love,
Kate

Awards Show Junkie: Golden Globes 2015

I will openly and aggressively admit to anyone who asks that yes, I’m an awards show junkie. I love them. Always have. I have so many great memories of watching various awards shows with my mom – dissecting the fashion, analyzing acceptance speeches and being critical of the hosts.

She would’ve loved Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s three year run hosting the Golden Globes. I mean, seriously, can they host all the things?

However, I wasn’t digging their red carpet looks this year. They’re both so beautiful with killer figures and these dresses just don’t do much for them. Amy’s Stella McCartney is a gorgeous color, but all that elastic at the waist reminds me of pants a 90 year-old woman would wear. And I just don’t really get Tina’s Antonio Berardi tea-length dress at all.

(Source: People.com; Jason Merritt/Getty)

Ok, Emma Stone is, in my mind, a yes. I’m seeing some back-and-forth about this Lanvin jumpsuit, but I think it’s a gorgeous option. 

(Source: Popsugar.com; Jason Merritt/Getty)

The fit is impeccable – so glamorous and cool. Her hair is doing what I wish I could make mine do, and the makeup is flawless.

I adore Julianne Moore, and Julianne Moore in Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci is even better. I wish she’d pulled her hair up or back or something; it looks kind of unfinished. But I barely even care because that ombre dress and those feathers are wonderful.

(Source: People.com; John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Ahhh, Amy Adams. I love you and I want to love all of this. Yes, the dress (Atelier Versace) is a lovely color and yes, it’s tailored to perfection. It’s the hair. I feel like she’s always doing the “Old Hollywood Glamour” hair and it’s not working tonight. To be fair, when I saw her, she was accepting her award and was clearly caught off guard. As she said during her speech, she didn’t even think to reapply her lip gloss!  Her hair looked a little flat though.

(Source: People.com; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

To be fair again, I think I maybe have a slight chip on my shoulder where Amy Adams is concerned. My husband has a not-so-secret thing for her… I don’t exactly think he’s going to walk out the door, but she feels much more approachable than anyone else he likes. I don’t think Nicole Kidman is ever going to come knocking, but Amy Adams seems like she could kick-it Cincinnati-style so I’m keeping my eye on her.

Lupita Nyong’o’s dress is another one that I’m seeing mixed reviews on. This Giambattista Valli dress looks a little bulky here, but when she was on stage presenting, it looked incredible.

(Source: People.com; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

J.Lo in Zuhair Murad. We get it. You’re aging in reverse. Put them away.

(Source: Jason Merritt/Getty)

If you’re going for “Old Hollywood Glamour,” look to Jessica Chastain.

(Source: Popsugar.com; Jason Merritt/Getty)

This Versace dress is flattering to her figure and sets off her hair so nicely.

Felicity Huffman just gets better and better. I loved her fifteen years ago or however long it was when she was on Sports Night. Her Lorena Sarbu dress is on-trend and age-appropriate. You don’t have to be 20 to wear cutouts.

(Source: Popsugar.com; Jason Merritt/Getty)

There were plenty of other interesting looks, but I’m starting to feel a little meh about being critical. Also, my husband just brought me beer and cheesecake and turned on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.