Random Thoughts of a Happy CoffeeGal

The La Vida Academy is officially on Thanksgiving vacation!

Which mean the Sweet Shop is now open full time.

Today I hope to do a twenty-minute-tidy on the house, and then I'm locking myself in the office for the day.

Today I am working on these for my beautiful and sweet pre-teen nieces:

I'm tempted to make one for myself....

I'll probably need to find some time to bathe my dog.

She ran out last night in the rain and found some nastiness to roll in....

If I didn't love her so much I'd be tempted to make her be an outside dog for good.

I also need to start the dough for my Southern Refrigerator Biscuits....which is a lovely, super-buttery, sweet bread I always make for Thanksgiving.

Oh, and yes, I need to take  the turkey out of the freezer...thanks for reminding me.

Some of you already know this....but I get my bird drunk every year. I already posted about this here (four years ago????) ...but I get such a kick out of it that I'm telling you again.

Ok seriously, how does time go so fast? And how much better does my kitchen look with the white cabinets!

But back to the turkey... several years ago when we were living in Texas I was so excited because I found a turkey on sale for .28/pound (or something ridiculous like that) and so I picked the BIGGEST turkey I could find.

I didn't take into consideration that we are just a party of four. Nor did I consider that half of our family was under the age of 5...I was temporarily blinded by .28/pound.

I was so proud when I came home with a 25 pound turkey. I had to throw out nearly everything on the top shelf of the freezer to get it to fit, but it was totally worth it.

Of course I forgot to pull the turkey whopper out of the freezer, and it wasn't until Wednesday morning when I realized my mistake.

I called the turkey hotline and the turkey expert told me to quickly take my bird, and put him in the bath tub filled with cool water.

So that year the bird got dunked twice. Once in the tub and once in the keg.

Oh, and also....do you know how long a 25lb. bird takes to cook? And how much meat you get??

Alot.  We ate turkey of one variation or another for a very- long- time.

But look at the memories I have.

This year my bird weighs a whopping 12 pounds. Perfect.

How about you? Are you cooking this year? Will yours be a big feast with all the extended family, or a small affair like ours? What is your favorite Turkey Day dish?

Happy Tuesday!

PS: I do have some time scheduled to catch up on blog reading...and to check in on all you new gals who have been recently leaving comments! Thank you for stopping by, and saying hello!, and I look forward to using some time this holiday week to pop-by your place!

Thanks Giving

It's quiet here this morning.

It's cold and rainy, and yet, the day ahead holds promise.

I am thankful for that.

I love this week of Thanksgiving...and the quiet here this morning is lending itself to pondering...

I'm thankful for...family far away.

On Friday I had two telephone conversations:

In the early afternoon I spoke with my sister-in-law. We hadn't talked in a very long time, but as good friends often do, we slipped into encouraging conversation immediately.

Much later that night I had a conversation with my brother. He had just arrived at home from the hospital.

He's a police officer, and while on duty he was hit on his motorcycle by someone who ran a red light.

It was rush hour, on a very busy intersection...he was thrown 75 feet from his bike.

He was banged up, but for all intents and purposes, his injuries laugh in the face of the tragedy that could have been.

To hear his voice that night was soothing to my soul.

I am thankful...that his life was spared.

On Sunday we celebrated The Misters birthday with steak and chocolate cake, and spent the evening around our fire-pit in the back yard.

I am thankful for....a husband that is strong and tender, smart and wise, loving and honorable. I cannot figure out how in the world I got to be his beloved...but I am so very grateful.

I am thankful for... my church family.

We are a small community and last night we met for our traditional Thanksgiving meal.

After dinner we had the opportunity to give voice to our gratitude. As a handful of the men and women stood up to give thanks it was clear that we have each been given to this community for specific and real reasons.

Honestly, I have often doubted what my purpose might be for this little church, but last night, I didn't doubt.

I am thankful...that God has a very deep and meaningful purpose...for my brother, his family, my church family, for me....

He has great purpose for you. 

Don't believe otherwise.

Sometimes it is difficult to see, or to understand...

So, I am especially thankful for this:

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—

plans to take care of you, 

not abandon you, 

plans to give you the future you hope for."

~Jeremiah 29:11

(The Message)

Raising Enablers

One of the things I love about my kids is that they know me.

They really do.

They know that my favorite animal is the giraffe.

They know that I don't really have a favorite color, but if you press me to give you one I'll tell you pink.

They know that I love reading and I look forward to Wednesday Night Date Night with their dad (aka: Wine Wednesdays...I almost always have a glass of wine with dinner on Wednesday.)

They know I enjoy homemade gifts, and that I have this super-love for babies.

They know that the songs Happy Birthday and the Star Spangled Banner will make me cry every. blessed. time.

However, if you asked them what advice you would give someone about me they would say:

"Don't talk to her before the first two cups of coffee."

Sad, but true.

Yesterday, the kids were building Legos while listening to Old Yeller on an audio disk.

When we were done, The Boy came to me and said, I made you something!

Its a state-of-the-art coffee maker that cleans up after itself, with a JUMBO sized coffee cup.

Yes.

They know me.

I love them so....

Lessons from the Coffeegal

Last week I was very concerned because our copy/fax/printer/scanner wouldn't work properly.

( I was also griping, because I buy elastic pony-tail holders by the dozens, but can't ever find one when I need it.)

Finally, on Sunday, we had a moments time to sit down before lunch to figure out the issue with the machine.

And by "we" I mean, The Mister.

He got out the manual, and Q-tips, and cleaning solution, and pushed buttons, and cleaned rollers, and did a bunch of really cool and official looking stuff.

(Have I mentioned lately that he's exceedingly handsome when he's trying to save the day? Which he does very often....but digress.)

His diagnosis?

We might have to take it to an "'official dealer" to solve the problem.

All I could hear was "ka-ching!" ringing in my ears.  Of course this would happen right before Christmas.

We decided to go drown our sorrows in a turkey sandwich.

After lunch he went back to the machine, just to take one last look.

Within a few moment he starts to laugh.

Not that funny "hee-hee-hee!"-- this is hysterical laugh.

It's the "ha, ha, ha"-- I cannot believe what I just found in this expensive machine laugh.


He reached into the depths of the inner workings and pulled out a black, elastic pony tail holder.

Oops.

And now?

The machine works like a charm. Better than ever.

What have I learned from this?

I've learned to always take one last look, and as a bonus, I figured out why my hair accessories are disappearing.

The copy/fax/scanner/printer machine is eating my elastic pony tail holders.


(Since I am not entirely sure I can blame the kids for this issue, that's my story and I sticking to it.)

Happy Wednesday!

She's Watching Me

"You're so skinny."

Three magic words I've always longed to hear...

Until they came from my daughter.

For those of you who are new readers, 18 months ago I shared a secret here on the blog. Mostly because I wanted to bring attention to the True Campaign, a ministry that is dear to my heart.

I don't struggle with eating disorder as I did in the early part of this decade, but honestly there are still days when I choose to think things about my physical self that just aren't true; when I let feelings and the culture we live in dictate what I think is attractive.

Several week ago I received catalogues from two very popular female oriented department stores. The models on the covers were very...willowy. The Mister saw those catalogues sitting on the the counter, and was immediately angry.

"Kellie, the girls on those covers are way too thin. Why do women think that's attractive?"

My answer?

"Mister, its not the women I'm looking at, its the product, the clothing, the beautiful household things they sell as well."

He gave me a look that told me he was very serious, and he seriously wasn't buying a word.

He called my bluff.

I know he is right.

Skinniness still holds a powerful attraction to this former disordered eater...I no longer have the passion to wear skinniness anymore...but I'm still sometimes seduced by its call.

And now, its slowly, deceitfully, almost innocently, calling my nine year old daughter.

I've always thought I was so good about keeping my issues contained around the kids. I don't talk about dieting, I don't weigh myself with them around, I try to be balanced in what we eat--not talking about certain foods being "good" or "bad". I now exercise in moderation; enjoy people and things around me.

Being outwardly grateful for the body I have...

But, we're only as strong as our weakest link, and the catalogues on my counter tell it all.

If my daughter can't escape from the images that bombard our minds in the safety of her own home, where can she rest?

The truth is I look at those models and sometimes wish...

And my daughter? Well, she looks at me...

..and her statement that day she as watched me dress has caused an alarm from the depths of my soul that refuses to be silenced.

In that moment of truth, a deep place that I hadn't realized isn't chained down by the standards of 'thin' was awakened--A tiger, no longer caged, who's cubs are at risk.

I may not be able to stop all things that stand in the face of my daughter and beg her to compare herself to an unmeasurable standard, but I can will take her hand and lead by example.

She may be called by pictures, by culture, by peer pressure, by fashion, by media, and all things that "set the standards"....

...but, she is watching me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are not familiar with the True Campaign go on over and check it out. On this page you can be a part of the True Campaign by signing up. If you only have time to do one thing today, don't leave a comment here and use that time to check them out. It's time -- Challenge the Culture and End the Crises.

Ladies Who Lunch (And other fun stuff)

Thanks to all who played If I Came To Your House Today on Friday.

That was some serious fun, and I look forward to doing it again in the future!

This weekend was chock-full of exciting events and it all started out with a lunch date with The Carpool Queen on Friday. She had some VIP's in town for a short stay, and was generous enough to share a couple of hours of her visiting time with me tagging along.

I was very excited to meet the ever witty and famous ImNotNed. He actually has his own blog, but I found him through the comment section over at CPQ's place.

Anyway, ImNotNed (who really isn't Ned, but whom I almost called Ned five bagillion times) was just as fun in person as the guy he plays on the net. And I would say that even if he hadn't bought everybody's lunch. (Thanks again!)

I really enjoyed talking with Imnotned's beautiful wife, Momologuer.

I hope I didn't appear too weird.

You see, she reminded me of someone, so I kept staring at her while my brain was in overload trying to figure it all out.

I kept wishing they were gonna be here awhile so that I could kidnap CPQ and Momologuer for the afternoon. I just knew that we would be kindred spirits, should time allow. (Hmmm, I've seen her somewhere....)

How did I know?

Well, other than the fact that Momologuer seemed very calm, relaxed, and personable, in her beautiful winter-white wear, but when she found out I was on the way to Michael's for a few crafty things she dug in her purse to see if she might have a coupon I could use.

Friends, that is love...to share a Michael's coupon with a stranger.

(who does she remind me of?)


As we said goodbye and walked out into the rain I was still trying to figure out who Momologuer looked like...when I got into the car and put the key in the ignition it came to me...

Kate Hudson....she totally looks like Kate Hudson.

On a complete random note....to say that I am not an adventurous eater would be the understatement of the year. I am especially a not a fan of anything that has anything to do with cream, or cream sauce-- anything that is colored white, really. (Sweet things and coffee creamer excluded.)

Listen, I never said I didn't have issues.

But for some weird reason--and I am not sure why--when I am with the CPQ I try to be very foody forward.

Case in point: Chicken Pot Pie Soup.

It was rainy and terribly cold outside and I knew soup was the answer. Normally I would go for French Onion or Chicken Veggie, but when the waitress walked up I ordered a big bowl of the Chicken Pot Pie soup like I had just won the Dairy Queen crown.

Next time I won't be such a poser.

Ok, this post is getting long...fast foward, Coffeegal.

Saturday we went to Richmond VA, got lost downtown in the middle of a marathon, toured a musuem, and a historic home, went to a wedding receiption for some friends, drove home, slept late Sunday, made french bread, read in the first sunshine we had had in almost a week, crashed in bed last night, and now I am here. Whew!

One side note: In the middle of all that activity I tried the Peppermint Chocolate Shake at Chik-fil-A. I had heard rave reviews on Twitter and other blogs.

Don't hate me, but....I'm not a fan. It's like drinking a gravel milkshake. It tastes good, but all the crunched up candy cane is like drinking rocks.

However, to confuse you even more, since I have written my disdain for all things creamy, I do actually like one Egg Nog shake during this season...

I know, I even confuse myself...

Happy Monday!

Carnival: If You Came to My House Today

***Updated!!!! For some reason the Mr Linky link is requiring that you click on it to add your link, or see the links of those already posted. Be sure to click the Mr. Linky page to go Visit Others at Their House Today!***

Step right up!

For three tickets, or the price of linking your blog up in Mr. Linky (below), you can join this carnival!

If you don't have a blog, then just look around, and enjoy the ride!

I will leave this carnival open all weekend. But then I'm packing it up and we're movin' on into the next week of blogging.

***if you are unsure as to what a carnival is, or what this carnival is about, click here.***

With out further adieu:

If You Came To My House Today...

If you came to my house today. Yes!
You'd see that I've much here to say, But
The talk is diversion,
For those with aversion,
from the dog hair that lies yonder way.

(And those are also framed pictures that I have yet to hang up since we moved back....its only been a year. See...that fur ball almost blends in with the hardwood.)

If you came to my house today...
You'd see that the sky is quite gray,
Inside we'd be warm
From that cold, wet storm.
Sipping coffee, or tea, hooray!

If you came to my house today...
You'd see my desk's great dismay.
This cre-a-tive mind,
Is messy you'll find,
For she crafts as if at a buffet.

If you came to my house today...
You'd see this brown couch right away.
We'd sit and we'd chat.
I excel at that!
We'd be happy with our small soiree.

If you came to my house today...
You'd not see perfection. No way!
There's dirt, socks, and dust.
Wash pile is robust...
But I'd choose friendship o'er work anyday!