The dog days are over.

Love F&theM.

I know this is not a new song, but it is my new mantra.

Judging strictly by facade, this blog appears as though nothing has changed, but behind the scenes, it's a regular DIY Network show. Simply put, there is a lot of renovating a-going on here.

I have been collecting photos and magazine clippings for years now with the hope of one day making an inspiration board. The reason I never started my board is because I made it out to be SUCH a project. Well, it is a project. I just had to remind myself that making an inspiration board is suppose to be...inspiring. A fun project, if you will.

So that's just what I did. I had fun. I buckled down one night and started cutting and pasting away. And... voila!

Care of my hilarious Uncle.

It's no secret how much I love Chelsea Handler. I have been following this chica BCL when she hosted the Chelsea Handler show. I stumbled upon this video- a stand up routine when she was just starting up. It's funny, well, not because she is that funny in it (which by the way she still does the drinking and sleeping joke to this day on her tour), but it is funny to see how much she has changed over the years. One thing remains a constant though- her vodka drink in hand. Duh.

Soooo....Grey's- The Musical? My vote is ehhhh. In all fairness, I was impressed that many of the actors could sing (read: not Ellen Pompeo), and I did not know that a couple of the actors are actually professional singers as well (read here). BIG HOWEVER, I really thought it was distracting. Next season is suppose to get better, but right now I am definitely not singing the praises of the musical episode of the ER drama. What did you all think?

And we all need a happy song to start the day on a Monday. I love this Onerepublic song (yes, there is no space between one and republic). The message is it is going to be a good, good life. Who doesn't need that reminder at the start of the week?

My name is Kathy. I have a blog. I have been really bad at keeping up with it. But, let's not dwell on the past.

Sometimes you just need a reset button. This is mine.

I forgot how much I love to write here at CTK, and I really forgot how much I enjoy reading all of your blog posts.

So, I am back. Ready to update you on my life. Also, ready to write about whatever frivolous things come to mind such as decorating, music, clothes, you get the point. And even if it is frivolous, you know what, I won't feel bad chatting about it. After all, that's what I do- CHAT.

Nice to (re)meet you. Let's get this party (re)started.

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I have a friend who is in bed by 9, who can jump up at 4:30 am to work out with a trainer (who happens to be her husband), shower, get dressed, and is ready to go by 6am. All of this with a smile on her face. By the time this bubbly blonde is bouncing out the door, I haven't even had the opportunity to hit my snooze button once.

I am soo not a morning person. In fact, I don't even like breakfast. I am always asking, "do you all serve lunch yet?"

However, I can get more work done between the hours of 12am and 3am than you could ever imagine. I have always been on "last call" hours. Maybe that is why I was a bartender in college.

Having an office job now, I am trying really hard to change my ways. I make personal training appointments early before work. So far, I am having a REALLLLL tough time. I try to go to bed earlier, but I end up staring at my ceiling fan. Does anyone else have this problem?

RKS and I had a discussion of all the things we remember from the early 90s. Like Trapper Keepers, Lisa Frank's purple, pink, and strange (now that I am looking back) graphics on everything, and Pogs. We spoke about how funny it would be if we rolled up in the middle of a decently populated area and started throwing slammers down and making pog trades. Then, RKS showed me this forum question, and I do not know why I found it so funny, but please tell me this person is joking- the person who actually answers this question even more so than the actual crazy that asked. And, this is coming from someone who shamefully admits that she was the proud owner of a million pogs and at least 4 slammers. Hilarious. Do you remember any of these three throw backs?

I know my latest posts have been less about fashion, less about football, and more about feelings. I know that this recently-induced introspective blog theme may cause a few bloggers to "un"follow. Jay Z may be in an Empire State of Mind. I am just in a State of Mind. Again, a period of reflection with all that has happened as of late.

You all know that Frou Frou song right? Let Go. From Garden State. It seriously places me (delivers me/carries me and all other forms of transportation) to a new dimension. Because I am feeling generous, and I remember that my Kindergarten teacher Ms. Toups taught me to share, well, find it here:






Do you ever find you just need to let (it) go? Not specifically talking about people, nicknacks, or POGS (kidding, but I really did have a collection of them growing up), just need to let it go, generally speaking. Well, regardless if you agree (or disagree), at least I shared a pretty awesome sauce song and photo with you. That's fair, right?

It is kinda fitting that my last entry was about Charles Dickens and great literature. I mentioned a friend of mine passing away, a few entries ago. To be more specific, she was my House Mom while I was at UF. She was definitely more than "just" a House Mom to me and many of my friends. We were her first girls, and many of my friends kept in great touch with her over the years. Even to the point of attending her daughter's wedding. Even to the point of giving a eulogy at her funeral.

My dear friend Meg wrote the most amazing reflection on the life of Miss Ann. This is not just a eulogy, it is prose. It is absolutely beautiful, so I thought I would share. I told my friend that she may find herself with a fairly morbid job on her hands because I am pretty sure people are lining up already to secure her as their memorial speech writer. To be fair, she also had a pretty amazing client to work with. Trust me, it is that beautiful.



Writing a so-called eulogy for Miss Ann is either the hardest job in the world, or the easiest.

It's been more than a year since she first mentioned the E word and I still can't reason why, out of the scores of people who adored every blonde ounce of her Titusville-bred self, she deemed me worthy of this task. What I DO know, though, is that I can't imagine a greater honor.

It was the Sunday after a reunion disguised as a football tailgate--a tailgate orchestrated largely by Miss Ann--that she first mentioned the E word. In a tone as familiar as one fitting for "I'll take a glass of Yellow Tail chardonnay, please," Miss Ann summoned me into her suite, and with just a few words, anointed me the future author of her eulogy. She'd even told Stacy as such.

The statement was paralyzing. I was as much honored as I was horrified. Tebow had just secured us a win over LSU. Our two-day visit had been punctuated by game day endorphins, reminiscing about trouble we'd gotten into in the DZ house and her excitement over the bundle of joy growing in Stacy's tummy. At that time, 16 months ago, the thought of saying goodbye to Miss Ann for more than a football season was strictly out the question.

As she persisted about the E word, I agreed, under the pretense we'd table the conversation for 20 years, after she’d said a toast at my and Nicole’s weddings, after Brian had executed an engagement as colorful as Shaun's, after Stacy had a house full of bubbly little tinkers. God, it seems, had other plans. Maybe heaven was lacking in laughter. Maybe the angels needed someone to make them chicken noodle soup and seven layer bars. Most likely, though, I think He saw all the fun she was orchestrating on earth and wanted in on the action.

Because I'm pretty sure there aren't laws against plagiarizing oneself, here's a snippet from a letter written four years ago.

"Though us Delta Zeta sisters share varied faiths, we spiritually agree on one certainty: we know why God rested on the seventh day. He did so to create the woman whose homemade ice cream cakes and pepper roasts make Rachael Ray dishes taste like Chef Boyardee, the friend whose compassionate dialogue rivals the writers for Grey's Anatomy, the role model who stands taller than Macy Gray on stilts, the set of shoulders more supportive than Tim Tebow’s game day armor… Miss Ann Grenville.

Should the price of paper rise in the future, it'll be easy to pinpoint the culprit. It will take several forests of refined greenery to create the wedding invitations, birth announcements, thinking of you, change of address and Christmas cards directed Miss Ann's way in the future. To not include Miss Ann in the joys of life would be like not inviting the mother of the bride to her daughter's wedding. Graduation may close our days and nights with Miss Ann, but a little bit of her character is embedded in each of us as we follow in her footsteps."

These words were written in 2006, a time when I visualized addressing announcements to a Miss Ann at 903 S.W. 13th Street in Gainesville, Florida. Now that she'll know about engagements and babies long before a paper product could be stamped, she's taken "going green" to extremes. Leave it to Miss Ann to be hip and trendy from heaven.

I heard that Miss Ann was going to let us know it was her time by saying, "Well folks, the party's over."

Miss Ann, you know I'd never correct you, but I'd be remiss in not calling you out on this one. The pre-party may have run its course, but the band has just arrived.

While the next few weeks and months will leave us longing for one more hug, one more wild hair to leave her a voicemail to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine," one more notification that "Ann Grenville likes this," let us find comfort in the thought that we no longer have to share our Miss Ann.

From here on out, on any given fall Saturday, the DZ tailgate will boast one more attendee, no more panhellenic or fraternal laws to mind. Tables on the Front Lawn will sport an extra guest, one silently encouraging rounds of upside down pineapple cake shots. Sidelines throughout the SEC will staff an extra blonde cheerleader... when said cheerleader is not distracted by unannounced visits to the locker room. And when his mom and dad are distracted with singing "We are the Boys," Parker will have a built-in playdate, one that will continue to rival his youth.

There was nothing ordinary about Miss Ann during our precious time together. And there will be nothing ordinary about this Anngel - that's angel with two Ns. As much as this Anngel will be on hand to blanket us in her protective arms, she'll be just as much a silent antagonist encouraging us to follow her tireless pursuit of adventure.

So... Miss Ann, our Anngel, you're officially on the clock. I hope you're ready. Because, well folks, this party has just begun.

One of my best friends just left her job as an attorney and became a high school English teacher. She is teaching the classics, so we had a long talk about our favorites. Every one always talks about how much they hate Charles Dickens. Well, being paid by the word certainly doesn't lend itself to short stories. However, I remember loving A Tale of Two Cities. I have never forgotten the first paragraph:


"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."


What is your favorite classic?

That's me. I resisted the Grey's train for years (apparently 7 seasons), and here I am, with a purchased-for Hulu account. On season 3, episode 10. I have already watched season 7. I need help. I am seriously addicted. Like in a not-so-healthy-spend-a-perfectly-good-Saturday-at-home-watching-episodes-kinda way. What is my problem?