{life-changing- shaving tip}

Raise your hand if you use Venus or Mach3 blades to shave your legs/underarms?

Raise your hand if you cringe every time you spend $25 on an 8 pack of blades?

Raise your hand if you cringe every time you shave because you know you'll be getting razor bumps?

Hopefully I am not alone in this, but I have struggled my whole life with this.

I hate shaving.

I was reading through my Blog list last week and noticed a post from the Pioneer Woman. Who doesn't love them some PW? Now, I couldn't love her more. She has a really smart tip I thought I should share.

I tried it this morning, and it felt amazing! A 12-pack of single blade razors from Walgreens cost me $3.  Cetaphil was a little more expensive than shaving cream, but it will last sooo much longer. I bet it ends up being less expensive too.

Here is the link to the post. And here is the post so you don't have to go there to read:

I have…this friend.

Every winter, this friend is afflicted with itchy calves and shins. Not hands, not arms, not the body…just the lower part of her legs. The itching is very uncomfortable and can result in this friend of mine scratching so violently that she leaves claw marks on her legs. It’s a good thing my friend doesn’t like to wear shorts, because cosmetically speaking, she’d be out of luck.

This friend of mind happens to have a younger sister who has suffered the same wintertime malady. And even though my friend’s sister is younger, she did some experimentation and diagnosed the problem.

Shaving.

My friend’s sister’s findings are that using soaps, bath gels, or even shaving creams on the legs, then using super-sharp double-edge razors to essentially slice off the extreme upper layer of the skin, combines with the dry weather and basically causes the skin on the legs to stage a protest. Add in special razors with “moisturizing” strips and the problem is only compounded. One is simply introducing too many irritants to one’s skin at one time…and chaos in the form of severe itching ensues. The body is basically saying “leave me alone!"

So on a recent visit, my friend’s younger sister gifted her with this simple kit that she declared to be the solution to the problem. Cetaphil cleanser, known for its lack of perfumes and irritants, and a simple Bic disposable razor with no moisturizing strips or special bells and whistles.

Skeptical, my friend took her kid sister’s advice and has exclusively adhered to this shaving approach for three weeks.

And here’s the outcome:

Her legs are like new again. Not a single itch. Not a single scratch.

Her legs are completely healed of the trauma they’d been through all winter long, and they’re smooth as silk and claw mark-free.

I’m ready—I mean, she’s ready to wear shorts to church next Sunday!

(Well, except for the whole desperately-needs-a-tan thing. And the whole desperately-needs-muscle-tone thing. But we’ll take those one at a time.)

Hope this helps someone’s legs!

Love,
PW

Nailed it.

Hello Valentines. I meant to post this last night, but decided to snuggle on the couch with my own Valentine instead.

If you are on Pinterest, you may have seen this:

I thought it would be a fun little craft, so Caroline and I did it, too. We pretty much nailed it. (kidding!)

Thought you'd enjoy :)
(*Zach loved it, of course!)

Head...

Head

shoulders

knees

and toes

knees

and toes...

Head...

shoulders

knees

and toes...

knees

and toes and...

eyes

and ears

and mouth

and nose...

Heeeeeaaad... shoulders, knees, and toes! Knees and toes!

♥

Hi.

Well, hello there. If anyone is still listening after my lame absence in blogging, I hope you will come back. I resolve to be a better blogger in 2012 (personally and professionally).

I remember writing Caroline a blog-letter about a year ago, and though I haven't made it a weekly or monthly habit, I like to write her every once in a while. Without further adieu...

To my sweet Caroline...

Well, here you are almost 22 months old and it just dumbfounds me that we are at this point already. You're almost 2. I have so much fun with you on a daily basis, that sometimes I stop and realize {cringe at} how quickly time is passing. Too fast. Way too fast.

You talk so well. You mimic everything we say, and your sentences are getting longer and longer. We get a lot of comments on how well you talk. I really chalk it up to gender, genetics {guilty}, and talking to you like a regular person from the beginning. You have always understood what I say to you really well, and now you are starting to be able to verbalize things back. It blows my mind. Every time we visit your Gigi and Papu, they are so amazed at your progress since the last time they saw you.

You still have your own toddler language that usually only your Daddy and I can understand because we see you every day. When you say, "I see a lilly?" That means lizard. And mooch is a "smooch." There are lots of sweet little Caroline-words that I just adore in you. I just soak them up, because I know they will be gone soon.

You are already so sweet and caring. You give lots of hugs and smooches. You love to hug your stuffed animals and give them smooches. You always have to "hug sadie's neck" before you go to sleep at night.

You are all things girl. And I absolutely love that about you. I don't come off as a girly-girl, but I really do love those things too. You love shoes (and wearing mama's), clothes, jewelry, accessories, dancing {"twirl me, mama!"}, babies, and purses. Today at Target, I saw some jeggings for only $5. Since we don't have any that fit anymore, I grabbed them. The whole way around the store, you kept saying, "cute jeans! cute jeans! I show Daddy cute jeans!" You are so precious.

My precious girl that I hoped and prayed for.

You are polite and use your manners so well already. When you ask for something, I tell you to ask politely, and you say "pretty please, Mama." That warms my heart. I wish I could bottle those feelings of absolute love I feel for you.

I adore you more than words could ever say.

All of this reminds me so much of God's love for us. When I had you, I really fell deeply in love with the Lord. I understand his love so much more now that I have you. I thank him every day for the blessing you are in our lives. Such a huge blessing. You have changed me. Well, He has changed me through you.

I pray that I can help you to become a God-fearing woman who loves her savior too. I pray for his guidance all the time. I won't always make the right decisions or say the right things, but know I will always try.

He created you perfect in every way, and I feel overwhelmed with joy that I get to be here to watch you grow up. I love you so very much.

love,

Mama

{my life at this moment}

With Caroline keeping my hands full all day, my photography business has kept me busy at night. I can't believe I have been blessed with this opportunity. I have loved every minute. Aside from becoming a parent, I don't know anything else I have done where I have learned so much in such a short time. I can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

If you haven't checked out my other blog, feel free to peruse here. I feel so blessed that God has given me the heart for photography, and I only hope I can serve and glorify him in all I do.

I also want to thank those who have been my support system. You know who you are. I don't know if I could have done this without you!

All my love--

kate

{throw it all together}

Today was a confidence boost kind of day for me... cooking-wise.

I put Caroline down for her nap, and walked into the kitchen to scavenge for my lunch. I really wanted some tomato soup and a grilled cheese, but alas- "no soup for you." ;)

So, I grabbed the ciabatta bread, sliced it in half, buttered it, and then topped it with shredded mozzarella cheese. I broiled it in the oven (at 400 because our broiler on high burns stuff really fast. not speaking from experience or anything.) It came out perfectly brown and melted.

At that moment, I looked into the fridge for something to dip my grilled cheese into. Salsa? Nah. Ketchup? No way. Hmm... Tomato juice. Surely I could just heat that up in a mug, and it would be close enough?

I pour it into a mug, and just as I was about to stick it in the microwave, I had a lightbulb moment. Whole milk. check. Basil? check. garlic? check. I added those ingredients together (1:1 ratio of milk to tomato juice, but you could adjust that to taste) in a small saucepan, quickly whisked together, and turned it up to medium/medium high. After I checked to make sure it was warm enough, I poured it back into my mug.

Voila! Tomato Basil Soup a la kate. Is it La Madeleine's? No. But, is it good? Absolutely.

So proud of myself for thinking outside the box and whipping something up with what I had on hand.

{no regrets: microsuede}

Back in the fall of 2008, Zach got a bonus in the form of a gift card he could use at several places. Crate and Barrel was included on that list. We had been saving gift cards to Pottery Barn so we could get a new sofa, but decided to use the bonus gift card to Crate and Barrel instead. We had $1000, which doesn't always get you very far when buying a sofa. We went to the store, and found one we thought would be great. It was $999.00. Perfect! Clean lines, no back cushions for Sadie to smash, and it was made of microsuede. Hmm... I was a little leary of microsuede, because at the time, my perception was that it was a little cheap-looking. The microsuede had a very classy herringbone pattern, and a rich mocha color, so we went with it. It has been a great couch. Still going strong 3 years later!

Fast forward to nursery-gear. I wanted a rocker/recliner for Caroline's room, but had a hard time finding one within my budget. I returned all of the duplicate items we had received at baby showers and hoarded those gift cards and store credits until I had enough. I found one at Babies 'R Us that was a deep chocolate brown, had great reviews, and could rock AND recline without having to need an ottoman. Again, it was made of microsuede. I was hoping for cotton or velvet, but didn't have any problems compromising on that. It was a great choice. Not only has Caroline thrown up on me several times while sitting in it, but I have also clumsily spilled coffee on it more than I care to admit. All I have to do is soak up any extra spill, and then wet a washcloth to clean the surface. It dries, and you can't tell at all. Amazingly enough, it doesn't smell either.

When you have kids, or tend to spill a lot (guilty), this is one of the best things to have for your upholstered furniture. I am sure leather is great for it too, but that hasn't been in my budget thus far. I am so happy with both choices, so I wanted to recommend it in case you have looked past it too!

Microsuede. Thumbs up!