tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795043341652015202024-03-17T22:58:42.636-04:00Adventures of a Speech PathKelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-13243250905379572742015-02-18T10:23:00.002-05:002015-02-18T10:23:45.690-05:00refresh voxbox!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju36qb9z36HszdIQ2qd_rFZ7n2zfAhQN9zni-lvEoSzNMBEBdubkEYB3UUaloLAC-Y6vN270JVe43pM8jUe9VS2Ya_L9zpfRfL_Y8Ut8pVq2SiEq-ZTtui_TEVxXSmosEXQ3doz34Iw4E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-18+at+10.12.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju36qb9z36HszdIQ2qd_rFZ7n2zfAhQN9zni-lvEoSzNMBEBdubkEYB3UUaloLAC-Y6vN270JVe43pM8jUe9VS2Ya_L9zpfRfL_Y8Ut8pVq2SiEq-ZTtui_TEVxXSmosEXQ3doz34Iw4E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-18+at+10.12.20+AM.png" height="301" width="320" /></a></div>
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I recently received a Voxbox from Influenster!</div>
This is a program I signed up for where I receive products for free for testing purposes, then review. I really enjoyed getting this box- a lot of products I will actually use, and so far, I really like all of them!<br />
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I'll start out with the chips. Beanitos are made from all beans and baked, not fried. The texture is a little different than potato chips- not quite as crispy, but the flavor was good and they were not greasy at all. They were actually pretty filling too, which was a nice change from empty calories from chips!<br />
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The facial cream from L'Occitane is nice- the retail price for a 1.7 oz container is about $28 bucks, which is a little expensive- I liked it, but didn't notice much of a difference than my Oil of Olay other than the smell (and I happen to like the Olay smell...). It felt good going on, and didn't leave any film which is nice!<br />
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I think my favorite thing out of the box is the Covergirl Ultrasmooth foundation! I am not a foundation girl... only for fancy occasions do I bust out full coverage stuff- I am more of a tinted moisturizer fan. This though, I liked. After a full days wear, it got a little greasy, but the coverage was great. It came with this goofy little silicone applicator that I kind of laughed at at first, but I actually really like it! It helps smooth, and because it doesn't absorb any of the makeup, I used very little and got really good coverage. I was impressed, and will be finding more excuses to wear a touch more makeup! Well done, Covergirl!<br />
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The dental hygiene stuff was great- I am not a good flosser- I just get annoyed with the process, so the DenTek flossers and Listerine pocket packs were great! I can throw them in my purse, and everything is the right size... great for date nights, or impromptu meetings with friends!<br />
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Thanks, Influenster for the great testing supplies! Love finding new brands and products I wouldn't have necessarily tried myself!Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-65683059320069284252014-08-16T09:16:00.001-04:002014-08-16T09:16:50.114-04:00Miracle maniI recently received a promotion from Sally Hansen- the miracle mani no-uv light gel manicure nail polish. I am hard on my nails- if I get a few days without chips, I am pretty pleased!<br />
Sally Hansen advertises it can last up to 2 weeks, but I only got a week, but honestly, that week the polish held up pretty well! 2 chips and visible nail growth which rarely happens for me.<br />
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The polish goes on easily and 2 coats was enough coverage. The topcoat feels thick, but after a few minutes on the back porch with the pup in ther sun, and my nails were hard!<br />
The best part is removal is easy- my least favorite part of an actual gel manicure. Came off like regular nail polish.<br />
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Overall, I really recommend this! Next step is to try the topcoat with other polishes and see how it worksKelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-56907681501354620752013-08-06T19:11:00.001-04:002013-08-06T19:12:16.212-04:00{the most wonderful bread EVER}i have been in a battle lately. i want to feel like a real woman, and in my strange mind, a real woman is one who can make bread from scratch. the past few weeks, i have lost. between unrisen (read DENSE) bread and pizza, my poor husband ate some pretty rough dinners. <br />
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in my hate for yeast, i started adding 'easy' to my bread searches. <br />
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glory be, i found one! and i will continue to make this bread weekly. #1- it is cheap. it literally has 4 ingredients. #2- it is easy. mix and let sit for 12-18 hours (so the only downside is it requires a bit of planning, but the upside is it requires little skill baking typically requires). #3- it looks super impressive when you're done, and tastes great too!!!!<br />
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ok. so here's your instructions.<br />
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mix 6 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of yeast, 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 2 2/3 cups of cool water (hallelujah i don't have to figure out what temperature makes yeast happy!). just mix everything together and cover it with plastic wrap and leave it on your counter for 12-18 hours. after it's sat a good long time, use flour and cover your hands and a surface and kneed it a bit, working it into a ball. let that sit on a floured towel *not terrycloth (unless you want a massive mess) and cover with another towel for 1 1/2 hours. in the last 30 minutes, put a cast iron pot (make sure your lid is oven safe) in a cold oven and preheat to 425. when the oven is preheated, take your pot out, dump your dough in, being careful of flour flying everywhere, and bake at 425 for 40-50 minutes. uncover and bake another 5-15 minutes, depending how brown you like your bread. take the bread out of the pot and let it cool on a wire rack, and enjoy your amazingly delicious, homemade bread that caused no stress!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnvRQKvqkzVmAKW-Mpfcp47-Imqaz_VZ4tTRRSHoz-za278AZOrcL79x7Oh3LA5My0NRWR-Z5RuVjwFm2coW8A3NFlJwqJ4e3NTOPtePlmNp4QPx-aEZviH7L6l3tOlqOfM5x43ghCIk/s1600/Evernote+Camera+Roll+20130805+222529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnvRQKvqkzVmAKW-Mpfcp47-Imqaz_VZ4tTRRSHoz-za278AZOrcL79x7Oh3LA5My0NRWR-Z5RuVjwFm2coW8A3NFlJwqJ4e3NTOPtePlmNp4QPx-aEZviH7L6l3tOlqOfM5x43ghCIk/s320/Evernote+Camera+Roll+20130805+222529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-985203627077306262013-06-24T20:48:00.001-04:002013-06-24T20:57:05.028-04:00{a dinner with the banta's}We are attempting to eat a little more vegetarian around our house. Trying to be slightly more healthy. One of my best friends, Malorie, convinced me to try quinoa. I was a bit skeptical, but she told me she loved it, so I got some, and Ian bravely tried it with me. We love it! We consistently eat this, so I figured I would share the recipe I came up with.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0ZZA8ZC7wrzZ0ewKE8sM9ot63VJPQA_C_SCddmfDo4WsrWjNIczm7Y0aCkwqEehskTD7r1oshNQ5aYfnKBxsBE24reWzEhsWRTlU8iNy-07ePUIG7tKX-uL02vj091VaJNy9P7PFsmk/s1600/Evernote+Camera+Roll+20130624+210031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0ZZA8ZC7wrzZ0ewKE8sM9ot63VJPQA_C_SCddmfDo4WsrWjNIczm7Y0aCkwqEehskTD7r1oshNQ5aYfnKBxsBE24reWzEhsWRTlU8iNy-07ePUIG7tKX-uL02vj091VaJNy9P7PFsmk/s320/Evernote+Camera+Roll+20130624+210031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Take the quinoa and follow the directions to cook it. While it is cooking, cook some shrimp (we had Key West shrimp in honor of our honeymoon tonight), cut up some cilantro, and half an avocado. When the quinoa is almost done, add those ingredients, as well as a clove of garlic finely chopped, some salt and pepper to taste, and some chili powder (or anything spicy you may like). Finish it off with some lime juice and some mango salsa (mangos, onion, garlic, jalapeƱos, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper) and some tortilla chips to add some crunch. It's for real delicious and super healthy!<br />
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Let me know if you try it!<br />
<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-9096588442608706292013-06-13T09:30:00.002-04:002013-06-13T09:31:15.859-04:00{life after wedding}we are home!!!!! and settling into our home as husband and wife, and it's pretty great. i recommend marriage :)<br />
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our wedding was perfect- thank you to so many friends and family who helped pull it off! it was everything ian and i could have wanted and more. we are so blessed by the many friends and family who joined us to celebrate! to say we are thankful is to put it lightly.<br />
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our honeymoon was so much fun. prior to the wedding, i was much more concerned about the weather on our big day (not that i would have been upset if it rained- we had plans for rainboots and umbrellas!), but a few days before leaving while packing for the honeymoon, i checked key west's weather. RAIIIIIIN. we promptly packed rain jackets. which turned out to be a good thing.<br />
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let me preface this by saying key west has the best weather of any of the tropics. it has never gotten below 40 degrees (they cancelled school when this happened), and has never gotten into triple digits. it also only rains 30-40 days of the year, and those are usually sprinkles. well, we got a rare view of 3 full days of rain in key west. tropical storm andrea hit while we were there! we didn't let it stop us. we still explored the hemingway house, the southernmost point, and picked out all the places we'd eat all week while it was raining. we got to see the butterfly conservatory, feed sharks and stingrays at the aquarium, and even went to the beach in the rain. it was perfect, really!<br />
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the last few days, the sun came out and typical key west showed us her side. our favorite part of the trip was an ecotour with the man who ran our bed and breakfast we stayed at. we went out to a private island (until the boy scouts showed up...), found awesome seashells, snorkeled a bit, and found dolphins that swam right up to our boat and hung out for about 30 minutes! one of the coolest things i've ever experienced- they wanted to see us and check us out... crazy! sadly, i had dropped my camera in a wave, so we didn't get any really close-up pictures of the dolphins (the onces you see are from our boat captain), but it was an experience i will never forget!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99tB8xS65J6psMTKaZLj6st3p49Kux9V1iXbs51bwIw0DRYC8UPX6lqnTTnv6fkoYvKvjxprZXPOToLeIFW9crx8WIUh_A7HM6QHtIhzOUn5C7YK_vWCd7cy2cJHnwsdnZrlgOf9Z3NQ/s1600/dolphins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99tB8xS65J6psMTKaZLj6st3p49Kux9V1iXbs51bwIw0DRYC8UPX6lqnTTnv6fkoYvKvjxprZXPOToLeIFW9crx8WIUh_A7HM6QHtIhzOUn5C7YK_vWCd7cy2cJHnwsdnZrlgOf9Z3NQ/s320/dolphins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they got even closer than this! literally touched our boat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnqrDa31w-1TaR4VPmBqPS2i_PY0FMovbUDlNWhb5cOslpxqdO57koNOWVOTS3gLq1aHKQ1UielLCL0kTteLxBUdA-Iqem6KDOaCQKECR3DGBhRx8y8CBKAoKfCyDN4xGyE92soGLIP8/s1600/more+dolphins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnqrDa31w-1TaR4VPmBqPS2i_PY0FMovbUDlNWhb5cOslpxqdO57koNOWVOTS3gLq1aHKQ1UielLCL0kTteLxBUdA-Iqem6KDOaCQKECR3DGBhRx8y8CBKAoKfCyDN4xGyE92soGLIP8/s320/more+dolphins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the neatest parts of our vacation!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywBZjR5lBthf9GLVgYN2wLLNV3XhY0OHwvTOLBAd4G4NEiyJqJVZrXNQVSVuHrEaQwJA-B4GyJIBfGL73YynHfxWz2P0BpBgAHctvHAuIcsAACIpnziIqF8VrLHz2utzqMUKto-Q7DZo/s1600/our+shells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywBZjR5lBthf9GLVgYN2wLLNV3XhY0OHwvTOLBAd4G4NEiyJqJVZrXNQVSVuHrEaQwJA-B4GyJIBfGL73YynHfxWz2P0BpBgAHctvHAuIcsAACIpnziIqF8VrLHz2utzqMUKto-Q7DZo/s320/our+shells.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our loot</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI14V4Zixhpafyv1SJnhmWmFhfNqLOKzB9tZXWsKblC0ANXaEg8hamUy7x34AEAOZFKBx8Q1CfQO4FwP7LQz8FnfpDtjuUrieJd46SVK_vUl8XpxDjPB9UOk_ogwUvmsahoJ9weRqKm4/s1600/snorkeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI14V4Zixhpafyv1SJnhmWmFhfNqLOKzB9tZXWsKblC0ANXaEg8hamUy7x34AEAOZFKBx8Q1CfQO4FwP7LQz8FnfpDtjuUrieJd46SVK_vUl8XpxDjPB9UOk_ogwUvmsahoJ9weRqKm4/s320/snorkeling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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now life is starting to feel normal... i'm back to working a few hours a week doing home health, we're organizing our new home (praise the Lord i married an organizer!), and life is good!<br />
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hope you enjoy a few pictures we didn't post on facebook :)Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-20507259721700993512013-05-21T23:38:00.002-04:002013-05-21T23:42:54.013-04:00{almost}life is so full of changes right now. it is fun and exciting :)<br />
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our count down is 11 days right now. in true kellie and ian form, we started comparing our wedding countdown in relation to an NBA game. we started the countdown at 48 days til the wedding, and sectioned it out into quarters. we're a weird couple, but it works. all of a sudden, we're in the final quarter. all major details are done (we think and hope!), and now we just get to get excited!<br />
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we also moved most of our stuff into our new town home. that was an adventure in itself. i am not an organized person. it is one of the many traits of ians that i hope to adopt. i also brought most of the furniture and appliance-type things, so my move from my little one bedroom place was a little daunting. luckily, we had lots of help from friends and family, and got everything from my house, and the big things from ian's house over in 1 trip!<br />
the adventure came when i realized there was no water on in the house, although the water company assured us it was on. it wasn't. until today. i felt like i was camping in my house, which was ok for day one and two, but by day 3 and 4, i was done. crisis averted, the people at the water company felt bad for poor little me and sent someone over to turn the switch today.<br />
now comes the fun of organizing everything.<br />
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tomorrow is also my last day of work for the year! i am so looking forward to just sleeping in. i have big plans on thursday to spend my day in bed catching up on tv shows i've missed and sleeping in as late as i want!<br />
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t-minus 11 days. 11 days until i marry my best friend. 11 days until i get to share this big house with a roommate. 11 days until i live with a boy!!!! so thankful for this season and all it taught me :) thankful for the man God blessed me withKelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-86607999496432311922013-04-03T11:40:00.001-04:002013-04-03T12:06:15.891-04:00{personal}please let me start off this post with a statement that i am not against plastic surgery or changing one's look. i know people go through changes for all sorts of reasons. this post is simply about my eye-opening experience yesterday, and prayers for girls/women everywhere.<br />
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my eyes were opened yesterday to why plastic surgery can be addicting for some women. i went to the dentist for a cleaning yesterday. a simple cleaning, with questions of possible whitening for my upcoming wedding. i left and cried the hardest i have cried in months. a cry that came from the inside, one of feeling inadequate and not good enough.<br />
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it seems silly, looking back with a good night's rest, and some chats with my mama, some friends, and ian. it seems silly. but i know it's also not silly at all.<br />
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i left the dentist, after simply wanting to know if i could use white strips, feeling like i had the worst smile on the face of the earth. my teeth were literally 'picked apart', and i was told i needed everything from i need professional whitening, to veneers (nothing against them- i know lots of people need them for more permanent whitening solutions or they inherited 'great' teeth, just that my teeth structure is perfectly fine), to replacement caps on my molars, to gap reduction and a periodontal appointment. i left feeling about 2 feet tall. <br />
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this made me feel even smaller, because prior to going, i had put a little extra makeup on, i had my new fun glasses on, and a cute outfit. i felt good. i left feeling like none of it mattered.<br />
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i realized how blessed i am. i have been told all my life i am beautiful. my parents told me, my mom was never self-conscious about her beauty, and therefore, passed it along to me, my friends always built me up, and i'm marrying a man who thinks i look beautiful when i'm not wearing makeup, or trying particularly hard.<br />
i realized not everyone is as blessed as that, and that made me sad.<br />
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like i said, i can see how plastic surgery is addicting, because people start pointing out things that aren't 'perfect', and giving you solutions to look 'perfect'. without even meaning to, they can break you down to a point of desperation and pain, but give you solutions to 'fix' what is 'wrong' with you.<br />
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today i'm thankful that i know God created me the way he wants me. i may not be perfect by the world's standards. i may be too short, too small in some areas, too big in others, my body is not perfect, my skin is not perfect, i have my flaws, but i know GOD MADE MY FLAWS. if we were all 'perfect', we wouldn't have the things God made us to have to be unique.<br />
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i want reality to be like the dove commercials where women are celebrated for being different and unique.<br />
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please know, if you read this, you are beautiful. you may think you have your flaws, but honestly, we are our toughest critic. most people don't notice the tiny gap, or the off-centered whatever. they see you. they see the person God made you to be.Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-6339759364387034512013-03-19T18:43:00.002-04:002013-03-19T18:43:58.735-04:00{our random night}Ian and I have been looking for a place to live... We have a few front runners, but we don't make decisions quickly. I once had great advise given to me that you should drive around a potential home at night to see how it is sans daylight. Because we were near one of the potential places late one night (11 is late to me these days...), we figured, why not.<br />
This place is townhome plaza. There are tons of them, and that is it. Not the prettiest, not the worst, but picture that in your brain. Our particular place is on a deadend.<br />
While driving on this deadend street at 11 at night, a man comes out carrying a huge box and flags us down. A bit confused, we stop and roll down a window. Who is on a deadend street at 11 carrying a box? Why, a potential neighbor who offers us 10 lbs of bread, of course! Not exaggerating people, a huge box of bread, with an extra bag. I honestly don't even eat bread that often, but he explains he usually takes it to his church, but they don't need it, so he wanted to give it away.<br />
We decide although we have no need for 10 lbs of bread, we could find someone who did, and took it to the hope center, but really... How random!?<br />
I guess the benefit is if we move there we'll have at least one nice neighbor!<br />
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The adventures in moving...Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-49843679127577863152013-02-20T21:39:00.000-05:002013-02-20T22:01:41.280-05:00{children}i love my job because i love kids. i love their joy, i love their awe, i love their trust. <br />
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i have been following a blog for the past year about a sweet little girl with cancer. i hate cancer, and i hate when kids get cancer. it doesn't seem fair. but i love her family. not only did they trust God with her cancer, but they trusted Him without question of why. she passed away over the weekend after 4 years of cancer treatments, surgeries, experimental therapies, and so much pain... too much for a sweet little 9 year old to face.<br />
i cannot imagine losing a child. my brain won't even allow me to go to that place, but reading what her mother wrote... there is joy. joy of knowing where her baby is. joy in knowing this isn't a goodbye forever. sadness, but joy in knowing Christ, and knowing her little girl loved Jesus.<br />
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very frequently, the hardest part of my job is trying to show parents how great their kids are. my little friends are some of the funniest, cutest, most trusting and loving children. that is who God made kids to be, and it is why i love them. <br />
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to my friends who are parents, thank you. it is easy for me to lose faith sometimes in parents. thank you for loving your kids, taking delight in your kids, and letting them know you love them.<br />
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life is too short. earth is temporary. i want to make the most of my time here. i want to love. i want to be joyful. i want to celebrate each day God blesses me with. <br />
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life is not always easy, but it is beautiful.<br />
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and go pray for this family (<a href="http://prayfordaisy.com/">prayfordaisy.com</a>) i pray i can continually hand over to God the things that are most dear to me, and face each trial with joy, just as this family has with one of the most difficult struggles in this world.<br />
<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-62408628544333264452013-02-19T21:44:00.000-05:002013-02-20T22:02:19.054-05:00{indoor camping}Why do I love working in a preschool? Because I get to do fun activities with my little friends, call it therapy, and introduce them to new things.<br />
This week, we are learning about camping. I have loved camping since I was little- my parents have taken me on camping trips since I was a wee little one, so why not give my kiddos a little hint of something I love?<br />
I currently have a 4 man tent set up in my room, we are roasting marshmallows over a 'fire', and everything is being done by flashlights and lanterns. Even just on day one, it has been so fun watching my kids have fun.<br />
This is why I love my job- seeing my kids learn and have fun.<br />
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<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-84553593953074192252013-01-30T23:04:00.002-05:002013-01-30T23:04:42.404-05:00{my little friends}without going into detail, somedays of my job are just hard. i love my little friends. even the ones who try my patience and test my nerves, i love them dearly. it breaks my heart when i hear about my little ones who are not being given the life that they so deserve- a carefree life full of joy and happiness.<br />
<br />
sometimes, it is easy to get down...<br />
<br />
but i want to thank my friends with kids.<br />
thank you for loving your kids. for many of your facebook posts and blogs where you talk about the joy your kids bring you, the activities you do with your kids, and reading in your voices, your words, and your pictures how much your kids are loved.<br />
i can assure you that even if you think you screw up little things about parenthood, if your kids know you love them and they are safe, that is what they really need.<br />
<br />
you all give me hope that the future is not dark....<br />
<br />
thanks for loving your kids :)Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-19802817460589998872013-01-26T08:58:00.000-05:002013-01-26T08:58:44.391-05:00{if i'm going to be sick...}so i don't post on here too often anymore. 1. because, shocker, i don't have time... 2 jobs and planning a wedding, plus wanting to spend time with people i like = less time for things like this.<br />
2. sometimes, life as a speech path really isn't all that interesting.<br />
<br />
well. working in the schools, i am exposed to many, many little germs from my lovely little friends (see last <a href="http://waysofmakingyoutalk.blogspot.com/2013/01/not-for-weak.html" target="_blank">post</a>...). i caught it. and actually, i think i caught a few, because it seems like every day, my symptoms change a little bit.<br />
but that isn't what this post is about. although i am a huge baby when it comes to being sick, i have decided, good must come. and today it may come in a little joy in your life for reading this (i hope).<br />
<br />
i have learned something i would like to share.<br />
niquil is great. lord of the rings is great (to a lot of people... to me it's ok, but we can chat about that later)<br />
watching lotr then taking niquil?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">AWFUL!!!!!!</span><br />
i mean crazy dreams last night. dreams i was a hobbit being chased, then dreams i was the nasty, disgusting orc's that are chasing the hobbits, then i was gandolf, then i was the little elf dude... i mean, they didn't stop. and let me tell you, being in the mind of an orc is a scary enough dream.<br />
to conclude, i had wedding nightmares (don't know how those got their way in there), where i remembered i didn't shave my legs at the last minute before walking down the aisle, attempted to shave really quickly, cut myself, and bled onto my dress, down the aisle, and it was a disaster.<br />
<br />
this might be the end of my relationship with niquil when i'm sick.<br />
<br />
hope this offered a small piece of joy on my behalf. (or at least a lesson in what to watch or not watch prior to taking niquil)... like i said... SOMETHING good has to come from being sickKelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-70990662334342529932013-01-15T23:26:00.004-05:002013-01-15T23:28:04.634-05:00{not for the weak}if you have a weak stomach. stop here. this post is not for you.<br />
<br />
it is 11:30, i have worked 2 jobs today, and i am tired, so this will be short and to the point.<br />
<br />
my life is never dull.<br />
<br />
today, i had a little friend sneeze. this was not an ordinary sneeze. it was one that propelled thick, yellow snot that must have been stored in the depths of his brain, because it came out in a long string that came past his chin, past his collar bone, stopping somewhere between his belly button and chest. my little friend proceeded to suck this long (double) strand of snot right back up where it came from in one great snort.<br />
<br />
one can only be impressed with that.<br />
<br />
between the number of sick kids out, and sick kids that SHOULD be out, i need a snow day tomorrow.<br />
<br />
so tonight, i beg you to do a snow dance, throw a ice cube over your shoulder out your door, and sleep with your pj's inside out and backward.<br />
think of me. think of all the poor teachers stuck with sick, cranky kids.<br />
DO IT FOR US!!!!!Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-22985988099379421392013-01-13T21:40:00.001-05:002013-01-13T21:40:41.301-05:00{thankful}i don't want this blog to be all about me and ian. life is so much more than me, or him, or the two of us, but today, i am thankful that i get to become his wife in a few months. we're going through marriage counseling, and it is helping me to realize how thankful i am for the friend he is to me, his organization and desire to help me be more organized in my life (both with actual stuff and with emotional stuff as well), and the way he just makes me laugh daily and reminds me life is too short to not try and enjoy every minute- whether that minute is good or bad by earthly standards.<br />
<br />
i pray that you have or find someone in your life who consistently pulls you up to be more like Christ, and challenges you lovingly to become a better person.<br />
<br />
<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-89716328580512774442012-12-21T15:24:00.000-05:002012-12-21T15:24:02.003-05:00{Christmas}I love this season :) I love the job, the celebration, and the reminder of Christ entering the world as a tiny baby born into chaos, hardship, and still, joy. I love Christmas traditions- decorating the tree, driving to look at Christmas lights, baking cookies... Today I did some Christmas wrapping, artsy presents, and listening to Christmas music.<br />
4 days til Christmas! Hope you're ready!Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-44187385539247636872012-12-19T17:26:00.000-05:002012-12-19T17:26:22.882-05:00{hope}There is not a person who wasn't affected by Friday. I had to turn off the news. One of the other slp's, the ot and I just cried in our office. It sounded similar to our school, those babies were a year or 2 years older than my kiddos. We are teachers. Ask 90% of teachers- they would not hesitate to lay down their life for their students. We love our kids.<br />
<br />
It is easy to lose hope in society when things like this happen, but then again, it is a reminder good is in the world following the tragedy. There was a man who bought 100 cups of coffee from a local store in newtown, there have been vigils all over the us, victor cruz didn't just publically show support for one of th families, but took time to go visit them and be with them. There is hope for good in this world.<br />
<br />
Sunday, at church, they had a video that made me cry. Kids who love other kids make me do that.... I see hope and pure love in them, they get it. This kid gives me hope for our future, because he puts another child ahead of himself. Watch and grab a tissue...<br />
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This is why I love my job- I see kids love on other kids who may be a little different. We could all take some lessons<br />
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<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-6850515433290380582012-12-14T15:14:00.002-05:002012-12-14T15:14:59.129-05:00{prayers and pain}When we heard about the school shooting, we sat in our office and cried.<br />
<br />
Those kids could have been our kids. In reality, they are about 2 years older than my babies I see at school. The thought of someone taking the life of one of my kids just breaks my heart.<br />
Thoughts and prayers are with the families and teachers of the kids in that school. I cannot imagine the pain they feel. I'm honored to work with kids, and thankful I have a job I can get so connected to kids in, but this hits close to home...<br />
<br />
Praying God provides healing in ConnecticutKelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-53694028658752917522012-12-11T20:51:00.002-05:002012-12-11T20:52:58.293-05:00{a day in the life of preschool}i feel like the past few days, my life has epitomized preschool.<br />
<br />
yesterday, my favorite ot and i worked with a little friend with messy play and ended up covered in glue and shaving cream. we found it in the weirdest places- on our shoes, our elbows (even though we had long sleeved shirts on), my back... also add that i smelled like a man (a clean man, but still a man). <br />
<br />
today, in the morning, i saw a little friend who happened to be a bit drippy in the nose area. no one bothered to mention to me until 2:30 in the afternoon, after 3 meetings with parents, that i had snot marks in 4 separate areas across my shirt and vest.<br />
<br />
awesome.<br />
<br />
this is my life. and people wonder why none of us at the preschool ever look very nice...<br />
<br />
through it all, i love my job... wouldn't pick another one if i could! i'll take it, snot, shaving cream, glue and everything in between.Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-32011808373663573102012-12-08T15:14:00.000-05:002012-12-08T15:16:13.723-05:00{goodbye ichthus}the people who run ichthus announced the end of the music festival today.<br />
<br />
what a bummer! <br />
<br />
i have looked forward to, and enjoyed ichthus every year i've been blessed to go. i have loved getting to volunteer with compassion international, spending my free time during the day telling people about the wonderful organization and my sweet little girl in Africa.<br />
<br />
it's also a special place because it's where ian and i really started to get to know each other. the summer we started hanging out, i mentioned i wanted to volunteer with someone at the compassion booth, and ian told me he was interested. we spent a lot of time together there either behind a booth, or listening to music. it's where i knew he was someone i could get along with really well. the week after ichthus, he asked me out :)<br />
<br />
and the past 2 years, we've served together with compassion as a couple. i have come to look forward to seeing compassion workers from colorado, seeing the people who have volunteered year after year, and getting to watch people sponsor kiddos from around the world.<br />
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i'll miss ichthus. there will always be a special place in my heart for the place that introduced me to so many wonderful people, and showed me what a wonderful man my future husband is :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ichthus year 1</td></tr>
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<br />Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-32471769559981561062012-11-20T15:56:00.001-05:002012-11-20T15:56:33.578-05:00{blessings}Some days, things just don't go in your favor. Yesterday was one of those days. I was sick with a head cold and worked, only to come outside to see a mega flat tire. I have great coworkers who stayed with me til aaa came (stupid wing nut was rusted on keeping the spare tire firmly secured to my trunk). I then took my tire to get patched, and was informed it couldn't be,<br />
I'm stubborn, so Ian and I attempted to patch it. It worked, but not perfectly. It slowly leaked air, which isn't so great when driving.<br />
Today, my boss told me about a tire place in Winchester, so I took the car there to be looked at. The man put a used tire on my car for free, and told me he just wanted me to be safe. I almost cried in the tire store. I know I'm at th point in my life I an afford a tire, but its still not a fun purchase. Especially because tire places are usually dreaded by women, this was a place I truly felt cared for.<br />
I am so thankful for caring strangers.<br />
Thankful for generosity.Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-47343163747296395332012-11-08T16:31:00.000-05:002012-11-08T16:31:34.597-05:00{a little perspective}I will be totally honest. This post is a vent.<br />
<br />
I understand people feel strongly about politics. We all have our own ideas, driven from how we were raised, our experiences in life, and our individual belief system. The thing about politics is we rarely change others minds. We typically change ideas based on our current place in life, changing priorities, and ever evolving minds,<br />
<br />
Facebook doesn't change minds, twitter doesn't change minds. Relationships change minds.<br />
<br />
Friends, regardless of your thoughts on this past election, think for a moment about where we live.<br />
<br />
We get to pick our job. If you don't want to teach, you don't have to. If you want to work in retail, you can. If you find joy from cleaning up after people, that's awesome! There are jobs for you. Can you always have the dream job? No, but you can still find work (and I believe you can even find joy in the worst jobs).<br />
<br />
We are not fighting a war on our streets. There is violence and disagreements, but you do not have to worry about a bomb coming through your window or being shot at while out running errands. Across the world, people face this daily.<br />
<br />
We can worship (or not worship) in whatever church or place we desire. No one tells you who you must worship or how you must pray.<br />
<br />
Our government is not perfect, nor will it ever be. There is no way for billions of people to agree on everything, and 1 man to get it right every time. <br />
<br />
It is a first world problem to complain about our government, and there are people all over the world who would die to have the government we have, and who DO die for complaining.<br />
<br />
Last rant and then I'm done, I promise. Please do not bring down people who benefit from government services. Not everyone can make enough to provide for their families and tough times happen. These services can allow families to survive. Sure, they are abused, but then again, we all abuse a lot of the privileges we have. Before you lump all those people together, think of the single mom who works 40 hours a week and needs health services for her and her child. Think of the parents trying to adopt a child from an abusive relationship, but don't have all the means necessary. Think about the people who are recently laid off a job. They are people just trying to make it, and honestly, it shouldn't be the governments job to help them in the first place, it is ours.<br />
<br />
Ok. Rant over.Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-22258816127367567242012-10-16T20:39:00.002-04:002012-10-16T20:40:21.165-04:00{my little friends}i so wish everyone could come meet my little friends at preschool. while it's true that some of them (and let's be honest... all of them at some point or another) know how to drive me crazy, i love getting to be with them and finding ways to help them learn things.<br />
<br />
i like little reminders that i'm in the right place. work isn't always easy (otherwise it wouldn't be called work), but it's a nice feeling to know that you can wake up and go to work and enjoy it every day.<br />
<br />
today, one of my little friends, who may be the cutest child ever, can't focus to save his life. like to the point i get him during nap time because he drives his teacher crazy because he doesn't sleep... or sit still... today, he was able to name all the letters in his name, trace them, and then write over his name with a marker. that may not seem like a big deal, but for him, it was. we took a picture to show people and he was so proud when we showed it around :)<br />
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i also had a little friend, who in the middle of our fire fighter book, decided to tell me i was 'beu i foo". i for real have the sweetest kids.<br />
<br />
so thankful for a job that makes me smile. i love working with kids and seeing their joy and wonder for learningKelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-90965079669523661982012-10-14T17:27:00.005-04:002012-10-14T17:28:29.410-04:00{weekend update}this has been a fabulous weekend...<br />
<br />
for starters, weather was PERFECT! sunny, warm with a cool breeze... perfect day for...<br />
<br />
ENGAGEMENT PICTURES! ian and i weren't sure if we were going to do them, because my best friend and her husband hid out during the actual event and took some of my most treasured pictures, but we decided we wanted some fun ones of us that are nice, but not 'i'm in the white dress, he's in a suit' deal. like nice, but still our normal selves.<br />
<br />
katie and brad graciously told us they'd do pictures for us, and the pair of them make one heck of a team! katie is super creative when it comes to shots and came up with a picnic idea, and brad is an excellent photographer who worked so hard to make every shot perfect. it turned out so fun! it was a good excuse for me to make a pie and buy some pretty flowers. we played in a field of dry corn, and walked around campus. the pictures are so perfect and i'm so thankful for such talented friends!<br />
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saturday night we had some friends over and watched the craziest documentary called 'grizzly man' about a guy who went and tried to befriend the grizzlies (which he did for about 12 years, but then, the inventible happened.... they're bears...) CRAZY! (it's on netflix... go watch...)<br />
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today, i marked a 'real woman' task off my list of roasting a whole chicken. verdict is still out as it's in the oven, but my house smells like deliciousness.<br />
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so thankful for good friends, for a man i love dearly, for fabulous weather, and for weekends full of reminders of how much God loves us :)Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-33088349784902381772012-10-07T22:58:00.000-04:002012-10-07T22:58:02.800-04:00{preschool plague and fall}well it was bound to happen at some point... i'm actually impressed it hasn't happened sooner. after 2 months of working with precious, yet snotty and generous germ sharers, i have caught the preschool plague. <br />
<br />
this weekend was nice and relaxing. it included video chatting with a friend who moved too far away, the inaugural wearing of my ugg boots (although not the cutest, oh so comfortable), early bedtimes, extra blankets on the bed, lots of hot tea, and so much football! <br />
<br />
i got to celebrate a wedding shower with one of my friends, and did some crafting for our wedding. i keep coming up with diy crafts, which i may regret closer to the wedding, but currently, i love how they're turning out.<br />
<br />
tomorrow is a holiday (which funny side note... we, in kentucky get the day off, but in columbus, they're still going to school... you know... the city named after the man we're celebrating tomorrow), so one more precious day to sleep in. one more day to clean my apartment and do the laundry that's piled up, but life goes on in a messy apartment. life is sometimes too good to interrupt it with a dirty pan. leaving it in the sink one more night won't kill anyone.<br />
<br />
hope you've enjoyed one of the best fall weekends we've had in a while!Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279504334165201520.post-59802563765820895382012-10-01T16:59:00.000-04:002012-10-01T17:03:05.692-04:00{it's fall}it's officially fall :)<br />
<br />
i love this season... i love the colors of the trees, the smells of the leaves and coffee, the cool breeze, and the sound of crispness.<br />
<br />
life is hitting it's stride. work is still awesome. i love my little kids and the funny things they say. i love that they want to learn, thank me for homework, and when i walk in a classroom, every kid begs to come with me. it's good for the ego ;)<br />
<br />
engaged life is also hitting a stride. we're finally getting around to doing some planning, and it actually has been pretty fun! i'm thankful for a fiance who wants to help plan and organizes things perfectly. <br />
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has blogging hit it's stride? probably not. my days typically consist of waking up super early, going to work, coming home, trying to clean/cook dinner, attempting to keep my eyes open past 8 pm, and then going to bed and doing it all over again.<br />
<br />
it's fall, life is happy :)Kelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17449866084967475128noreply@blogger.com2