Truthful Tuesdays

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Elizabeth at Confessions From a Working Mom is the host for this carnival and it's one of my faves!

This week's question...How did you tell your DH/Family that you were pregnant?

This is a fun one for me! I found out I was pregnant with Rory on a Monday. (The first Monday of the dance year 2008, that's why I remember! :)) I called Dave immediately and told him. We were trying to conceive, so it wasn't a surprise to him. He claims "he knew." (RIGHT.) But we did manage to surprise my sister and my family. That upcoming Saturday was my sister's birthday party, so I made her a special card. It said "Chels, you've been the best sister for the last 21 years and I'm sure in May you'll be the best AUNT ever!" She read it aloud and it was hilarious to watch everyone's reactions. My parents got misty eyed, of course, my sister's boyfriend at the time clapped (HAHA!) it was awesome. :) Then 36 weeks and 3 days later, Rory Beth-Ann entered this world and life was forever changed for the better. :)

Top 2 Tuesday

Taylor over at Undomestic Momma is hosting Top 2 Tuesdays this week! This is a fun carnival because it only takes a second each week and gives me something to post on Tuesdays. Tuesdays are bland.

This week's topic...Top 2 Stores!

1) Old Navy. I swear to you 3/4 of everything I own is from Old Navy. It's cute, wears well, affordable...and they often have such great sales, I can afford to buy a shirt for a specific event and not have to worry about finding somewhere else to wear. If I only spent $10 on it, then it doesn't have to be a wardrobe staple! Plus their dresses are adorable in the summer, I love their workout line for work and their camis are the best. The only disappointing thing with ON is their baby sizing. Anyone else think their clothes run about 2 sizes small for babies? Everywhere else Rory is in 9-12 months (12 months at Carter's) but at Old Navy, she's 18 to 24! That's quite a difference! Doesn't really matter as long as I remember! haha

2) Target Not necessarily for clothes, although they do have some adorable stuff and I *loved* their maternity section when I was pregnant, Target is just awesome. I like it so much better than Wal-Mart, mainly because it seems so much better organized. The baby department is fantastic, especially the shoe section. All of Rory's shoes, minus one pair, that we actually like and wear on her in the cold weather are from Target. I love Target! It's like a trendy Wal-Mart. Maybe the reason I like it is the closest one is an hour and a half away so it's a treat when I Get to go! Wal-Mart is only 30 minutes away so I am there whenever I want to be....hmmmm....:)

Runners Up: Victoria's Secret, Body Central, Kohl's, Any and all shoe stores, Barnes and Noble, Pat Catan's. :)

Join in!!

5QF

5 Question Friday is here again! Yippee! Mama M over at 5 Crooked Halos is hosting. Check her out here. She's great! (Especially check out her carrot gravy recipe. I made it Wednesday night...delicious!)

On with the show!

1. Do you sing karaoke? If so, what is your go to song?
I do not sing karaoke. I do not like to sing much. My mom and my sister are outstanding singers, professional level and I am not. I often say they do the singing, I do the dancing. I will sing in a chorus for a play, maybe even do a "character" solo, something funny and not musically challenging but I would need many months of voice lessons to get my "real" voice back.

I guess I lied. Does singing in the car count as karaoke? If so, then HECK YES I DO! Rory likes when there is noise in the car, so I sing all sorts of things, mainly all songs by Glee or Michael Jackson. It ain't pretty, but it makes her giggle.

2. What is your favorite coffee drink?
That's really tough for me, because I *love* coffee and coffee drinks and all things coffee flavored. I'd have to say a vanilla frap from Sbux, a caramel latte from McD's or a white chocolate raspberry mocha from Sheetz. Sheetz is the best coffee in my opinion. Regular House Blend with 3 Splendas, 2 Shots of skim milk and 1 french vanilla creamer? HEAVEN!!

3. If you could choose your own name, what would it be?
I would keep Kate, I like it's simplicity and ease. But I would give myself a formal name. I never wanted one, but now that I am a business owner, it'd be a lot easier if I had Katherine or Kathleen to use in professional settings. But I love my name 99% of the time! My parents are good baby namers.

4. Were you ever bullied?
No comment.

5. How often do you eat fast food?
Not very often. The closest thing to FF in the forest is Subway, and that doesn't count because it's not nearly as bad for you as real FF. Less than once a week is a safe bet. Maybe 2 times a month. I love my McDonald's though. MMMMMM! Delish!

Wishful Wednesday

It's Wishful Wednesday again! Yay! Kelsey over at The Seattle Smith's is back from what looked like a glorious vacation and is hosting WW this week. This week's topic is a gooooood one.

'I wish' .... I could play a character's role in a book and it would be Cynthia from The Mitford Series by Jan Karon.

Can I just stop for a minute and gush about these books? The Mitford Series are the most comforting books. They are equivalent to a good cup of tea, a bowl of hot soup, a pile of mashed potatoes topped with gravy. They are hot chocolate on a cold winter day, an old friend stopping by, a cold finally going away. I love them. Karon writes with such conviction and honesty about some seriously touchy subjects, yet these books makes you feel warm inside. The way she weaves religion and Christian ideals through the story seamlessly make it clear Karon is a Woman of God.

Cynthia is the wife of the main character and I think she is wonderful. She is an author and a painter and a wife. She's been through quite a bit in her life and I appreciate the way she applies her experiences to her present day life and those around her. Cynthia is an ordinary woman but her handle on life is different. It's beautiful.

I highly recommend these books. They are usually in the library and you will read through the entire series without stopping, I swear. They aren't action novels or mysteries, but you will be captivated!

An open apology.

I'd like to issue an open apology to all my students this week. I am so crabby with you and I apologize!! It's not your fault, at all. (Well, it would be nice if you would come to class dressed properly and prepared...hint hint!) I am crabby because I am exhausted. Dave's been working super early, Rory is teasing and therefore I am up several times a night again. I am working hard on the recital and competition and it's just harder to do with a little Rory crawling around. :)

Again, I'm sorry. Just like when Rory was born, I will adjust and it will be fine.

LOVE YOU, especially my level 5 slow mo's.
Miss Kate

Top 2 Tuesday...TV Shows

Taylor over at Jimmy Choos and a Baby Too is hosting Top 2 Tuesdays again this week and this week's theme...TV shows!

Easy.


Join in!

1) Gilmore Girls. Hands down, my all time fave. I love the relationship between Lorelai and Rory (hence my daughter's name...) and I love the witty banter. It gets a little far fetched in the last 2 season. (Luke has a daughter?? Yeah...no.) But I just love it. I have all the season of DVD and watch it daily on my DVR. It's been the one show I've enjoyed faithfully through the last 8 years of my life. It was so comforting on some of my worst days. In fact, in college when I was going through the worst time of my life, it was Gilmore Girls marathons that kept my spirits up most days. (and prayer!) When I was beginning my labor with Rory last spring, I walked circles around my house watching Gilmore Girls. It's my happy show, to say the least.

(Courtesy of Google Images)


2. GLEE!
The most fun show on TV. It'll be returning in April...and not soon enough. (I hate American Idol. I think it is the worst show on TV and so incredibly fake and rigged. I am also starting to develop a strong dislike for SYTYCD for exactly that reason. Ugh. Another post for another day!) Glee is just...hilarious! It tackles issues but nothing that is depressing or makes you down. And the music?! WOWWWWWW!! I heard a rumor of a Glee national tour this summer and you better believe Dave and I will be in the front G(l)eeking out!! :)

Sunday Stealing

Sorry I've been so MIA lately. The last 2 weeks kicked my behind a good one, but I'm back on track now. (Hopefully!) No better way to get in the blogging swing of things then with Sunday Stealing. Join in here and link up!



34. What do you like about the summer?
More like what DON'T I like about summer. I like the relaxed pace to my day, the weather (especially in Pennsylvania, it rarely gets unbareably hot.) The outdoor activities, the swimming and boating!, the cookouts and parties, the fires, the s'mores...ahhh can't wait!

35. What do you like about spring?
THE MELTING SNOWWWWWWWWWWWW. But not my allergies.

36. How many states provinces have you lived in?
Just one. But I've been to all the United States except North Dakota, Hawaii and Alaska

37. What cities/towns have you lived in?
Just this one and Meadville, PA where I went to college.

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Bare feet, for sure.

39. Are you a social person?
Yes I am. For sure. I like interacting with people.

40. What was the last thing you ate?
A cookie during Sunday School but we're on our way to a pancake breakfast here in a hot second.

41. What is your favorite restaurant?
Chain: Olive Garden
Non-chain: Citrico's at the Grand Floridian in WDW

42. What is your favorite ice cream?
Chocolate chip cookie dough and anything peanut butter and chocolate.

43. What is your favorite dessert?
Apple pie with vanilla ice cream!

44. What is your favorite kind of soup?
That's tough, I love soup. Brocolli cheese is up there pretty high, chili, chicken gnocchi, spaetzle, veggie beef, corn chowder...Delicious!

45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
Grape, of course.

46. Do you like Chinese food?
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

47. Do you like coffee?
Oh I sure do! I'd like a cup right now actually.

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average?
4-5, at least. I try to go through three refills in my water bottle each night at dance and it's 2.5 glasses worth in each refill.

49. What do you drink in the morning?
Coffee and milk

50. What non-banking related card in your wallet is the most valuable to you?
My driver's license, of course.

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
Yes. If you are standing at the bottom of the bed, I sleep on the right. We slept the other way for the first year or so of our marriage and every morning, the covers were all wrong and the feather bed would be pulled off. Since we switched, it's like 50 times better. haha

52. Do you know how to play poker?
Sure do.

53. Do you like to cuddle?
Sometimes. But not when I'm hot. Ugh. Gross.

54. Have you ever been to Canada?
Plenty of times. It's only a couple hours away.

55. Do you have an addictive personality?
To food, yes I do.

56. Do you eat out or at home more often?
Home

57. What do you miss about highschool, if anything?
Hmmm...I miss dance class at April's.

58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
Marilyn Manson, Gov. Rendell and my friend from high school.

59. Do you want kids?
I have 1 and I want another eventually.

60. Do you speak any other languages?
Spanish and a smattering of French and even less of Russian.

61. Have you ever gotten stitches?
Ohhh yes. I had about 30 in my hand.

62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Nope

63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
Either or. I just like warmth and water.

64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
Window

65. Do you know how to drive stick?
Roughly yes. I've driven motorcycles and four wheelers and the like my whole life... so...

66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?
RORY!! :)