2017 Book Report

Somewhere down the long stretch of I-70, or maybe hidden in one of the tiny towns along Highway 54, I thought I probably 'oughta keep track of all the books I've read (well, listened to) this year. Behold my semi-complete, non-chronological list of 35 books completed in 2017, plus a rating (out of ★★★★★), plus a random memory I associate with the book:

How to Fall in Love with Anyone ★★ A six-mile run in Bolivar, stretching in the parking lot of the First Baptist Rec Center where I parked
Rules of Civility ★★★ Being one of the first audiobooks to hear on Bluetooth in my new Toyota RAV4
Tuesdays in 1980 ★★★★★ Waking up early in Destin, Florida to read and sip coffee on the patio overlooking the beach
Girls in the Moon ★★ On the flight back from Destin, Florida being very, veryyyy sunburnt
The Girls ★★ Mowing the yard
Lilac Girls ★★★ Staining the handrail of my new stairwell
Tulip Fever ★★★ Flight to Falmouth, Massachusetts for the Road Race
Small Great Things ★★ Feeling very awkward when my car Bluetooth synced up very loudly and one of the characters was making incredibly racists comments
Dark Places ★★ Driving from Lee's Summit to Bolivar
The Thin Man ★★ Cleaning my house to rent out for a Mizzou game day weekend
The Circle ★★ Driving from Columbia to St. Louis
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore ★★★ Folding laundry and realizing I ruined a green sweater
The Swans of Fifth Avenue ★★★ Thinking that I really need to read Breakfast at Tiffany's
Spoonbenders ★★★★★ Crunches in the driveway
Into the Water ★★★ Looping around at the two-mile mark on the Bear Creek Trail
Today Will be Different ★★★ Driving from St. Louis to Columbia
Moonglow ★★★★ Mowing the yard
What She Knew ★★★ Getting gas just outside of St. Louis
The Trespasser ★★ Tirelessly attempting to mount my curtain rod at just the right height for my new IKEA curtains
A Man Called Ove ★★★★ Finishing a run of my three-mile-loop-from-home
A Beautiful Blue Death ★★ Driving from Columbia to Harrisonville
Not That Kind of Girl ★★ Painting my main level the most beautifully, neutral color: smoke
Pretty Girls ★★★ Being the last audiobook to hear via aux cable in my Toyota Corolla
Hello, Sunshine ★★ Finishing an audiobook and not having another lined up
Words in Deep Blue ★★★★★ Taking out my pearl earrings after work
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ★★★ Wondering if I have anything to pick-up at the dry cleaners I might've forgotten
The Goldfinch ★★★★ Making a cup of tea before bed
The ABC Murders ★★★ Digging up accessories for my Halloween costumes
Fierce Kingdom ★★★★ Driving from St. Louis to Columbia
White Fur ★★★★ Reading in the bath and obsessing over the weirdness of these characters
Fates & Furies ★★★★ Painting the afore mentioned new stairwell
Murder on the Orient Express ★★★★ Thinking about what to wear to the JES Holiday Party
Saints for All Occasions ★★★ Raking the yard
The Couple Next Door ★★ Making this totally underwhelming lemon chicken recipe

Wutherington Heights ★★ Driving home for Christmas

2017 A Year in Instagrams

02.18.2017  ♥  Rootin' Tootin' Chili Cook-Off

Ok, ok. We only placed 2nd in “Biggest Bowl” (largest donation) this year, but we had an awesome time, as always. The theme was 50s High School and our pop-a-shot basketball goal was a huge hit!

02.12.2017  ♥  Oscarfest (or the aftermath at least)
This is just a random family photo taken at our favorite (Texas Roadhouse) after our annual Oscarfest. But it’s cute–and I love these people.










02.25.2017  ♥  Mardi Gras in Soulard
Aaron and I are still separated by about 130 miles of Highway 70. Every now and then, I visit him in St. Louis and do fun things, i.e. Mardi Gras.

03.30.2017  ♥  GAHC Conference
The best excuse to visit Savannah is for a 24-hour work trip where your main job is to run a tradeshow booth for two hours like a boss. So, that’s what I did.

05.13.2017  ♥  Becca's College Graduation
Becca graduated college in May! Congratulations, you beautiful girl.









05.14.2017  ♥  Mother's Day

Throwback for Mother’s Day. I’ve been enjoying so many weekends at home with mom ... or with her in Columbia with me. Let’s just say: I am up on all the best shows and movies (of course).

05.28.2017  ♥  #Showme New Orleans

We revived the #showme Memorial Weekend this year with a trip to the Big Easy: beignets were had, swamps were paddled, hurricanes were consumed.

06.03.2017  ♥  The Smith Wedding

Congratulations to my sweet Emilie *Smith,* who made the most beautiful bride this summer.

06.01.2017  ♥  Universal Studios

Family throwback to Universal Studios was amazing! We had so much fun, not just enjoying the theme park, but recollecting about our past Universal adventures. The Terminator ride is exactly the same as it was in 1999. No question.

07.04.2017  ♥  4th of July

The 4th of July was patriotic as ever. Stars, stripes the whole nine yards

07.20.2017  ♥  Falmouth Road Race

Once you’ve run a marathon you never stop talking about it, but also, you get roped into an awful lot of races. This one being an amazing, east-coast, beach-side, 7-mile sweat-fest in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

08.21-to-27.2015  ♥  Beach Vacation

The best reward after race training is a couples beach vacation. Many books were read and greyhounds consumed.

08.21-to-27.2015  ♥  Beach Vacation Continued...

And also fish were caught. That’s what this picture is about.

9.??.2017  ♥  Downtown St. Louis
Aaron lives in Downtown St. Louis, which doesn’t have much going for it...except roof access.

09.09.2017  ♥  The LeComte Wedding

In September, we crossed the country to San Diego, California for the wedding of some of Aaron’s SafeTrek co-workers and friends. I tell you what, that place has incredible sunsets...

10.21.2017  ♥  Mizzou Homecoming Reunion
Life in Columbia isn’t complete without Mizzou Tailgates. The “fab four” were reunited in our origin-city at the famous Griswold tailgate (thank you again for having us)!

10.08.2017  ♥  Dallas Girl's Weekend

For mom’s birthday, we visited her sister and my sister in Dallas, Texas for a Girl’s Weekend. We toured Becca’s new ‘hood, ate amazing food and fiiiinally caught up on “The Good Place.”

10.31.2017  ♥  Halloween at Work

The Marketing Halloween costume this year was inspired by our daily life as we design and coordinate with our respective software. The Creative Team dressed as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrate, while our Strategic other-half were styled after Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel. I believe kids these days would define this as #extra.

11.12.2017  ♥  Friendsgiving

Our annual Friendsgiving is getting bigger every year! This year we added a couple of couples and, therefore, some new delicious side dishes!

   

12.07.2017  ♥  JES Holiday Party

The JES Holiday Party was shenanigans as usual: ridiculous videos, dancing and an open bar, what else would you expect?

12.30.2017  ♥  My 27th Birthday

For my birthday this year, Aaron and I took a “staycation” in the Central West End. It was fun pretending to be locals in the area and eating at all new restaurants (which is like my third passion in life).

12.24.2015  ♥  Christmas Eve

Becca and I hadn't been home in a while, so returning for Christmas was well anticipated! We spent Christmas eve comfortably in our matching pajamas and celebrated the next day and Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

12.30.2015  ♥  Kait's Quarter Century Challenge

HAPPY QUARTER CENTURY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEE! I took a queue from my mother's 50th birthday and decided to throw myself a 25th party just as epic: Kait Trivia, red-headed slut shots, homemade sushi with ginger, gingerbread Kaits and plenty of being bossed around. I actually made everyone call me Queen Kait and wore a tiara all night. I'm not embarrassed, it was a blast.

 

2018 New Year Resolutions

If there is one thing I always manage to post...it's a New Year's Resolution post. Here's what I'm thinking for 2018:

1. Be Kind
2. Appreciate my Youth
3. Read 50 Books
4. Save $10,000
5. Cultivate 2 New Skills
6. Become a Better Leader
7. Workout 4 Days a Week

Be Kind

Having been on the receiving end of such thoughtful, genuine kindness, it is important to me that a reflection of that kindness be a priority in my life. Over the last year, I have tried to be more aware of kindness. I started a tally in at the office where I marked each consecutive day of "kindness." However, my team quickly made it known that I was actually just marking consecutive days of "not meanness," which apparently, isn't the same thing. So, I'll need to find some new strategies for this goal, but it's back on the line-up for 2018.

Appreciate my Youth

All my friends are married and having babies, and I'm over here like...well, I'm like trying to appreciate all the things I won't be able to do when I climb into that boat with them. Among other things, I just want to appreciate where I am in my life right now. 

• Travel New Places
• Move to a New City
• Try Weird Fashions
• Care for my Skin
• Stay up, Sleep in
• Play Drinking Games
• Have Hangovers
• Go to Festivals
• Use Stupid Slang 
• Make New Friends
• Eat Whatever
• Karaoke
• Ignore my Phone 
• Play Intramural Sports  

Read 50 Books

And to clear, I'm counting audiobooks.

Save $10,000

I am actually terribly good at accidentally saving money. So, I hope a purposeful, budgeted goal of 0 $10,000 will not be too difficult.

Cultivate 2 New Skills

We should always be discovering, cultivating and utilizing new skills. I thought I might brainstorm a little list of skills I might try...

• Swimming
• Drive Stick Shift
• Photography
• Biking
• Embroidery
• Bartending
• Ballroom Dancing
• Programming
• Speed Reading
• Sewing
• Learn a Language

Become a Better Leader

Now that I am one, I suppose I should get better at it. There is a training program at JES for "Leaders of Others" that has, so far, provided some really helpful insight about myself and how that might affect my relationships with my team. I think being mindful and focused on the importance if improved leadership will be invaluable to its success. 

Workout 4 Days a Week

I haven't worked out since October 26 *shameful, eyes covered monkey emoji* and it's pathetic. Anyway, I've got to get moving and I don't want to rush into it, so we'll start with a simple count of 4 days a week and take it from there. It's damn cold though, and I hate treadmills...

Marathon Training Halfway Mark

We're a little over halfway through the marathon training schedule. I didn't join the fun until about four weeks in, but this is half way point for me. Here's a list of each long run and a little comment.

[ 9 miles ] Saturday, January 9
This was my test run to make sure I was actually up for this thing...guess I was. Following this run, I texted my marathon inspiration, Hannah Harris and said, "Send me the training schedule! I'm in" ...or something like that.

[ 9 miles ] Sunday, January 17
It was 17 degrees on the BCT (Bear Creek Trail) for this one and it was cold, cold, cold. I remember following three sets of footsteps in the snow along the trail and tracking my own as I ran back. At one point, I poked my butt and couldn't feel a thing. I came home, took twenty minutes undressing with frozen fingers and then spent over an hour "thawing out."

[ 11 miles ] Sunday, January 24
Beautiful, perfectly wonderful weather - after the last two cold runs, it was nice to see so many people out on the BCT. I got all caught up on the second season of Serial and even ran into Mark (my co-worker) by Albert-Oakland Park!

[ 10 miles ] Sunday, January 31
Another lucky day for weather. This time, Mark met me about six miles out and ran the last four with me. Thank god, because I was strugglin' and needed some encouragement.

[ 13 miles ] Saturday, February 6
In honor of the Roots 'n' Blues half marathon we ran back in September, I did the same route for this long run. It felt great compared to just four months ago! I love this route too because you cover just about all of Columbia: Stephen's Park, the MKT and downtown.

[ 14 miles ] Sunday, February 14
Blair and I ran on the MKT in the powdery snow for this one. On our way back (about mile 10) a dog started following us. We couldn't see anyone that could be his owner, but there wasn't much we could do. He would scope the area, bark at approaching walkers and generally protect us. Two miles later, we decided we had to stop and called Animal Control. After a bowl of water, a game of fetch and an awful lot of explaining our leashless-friend to strangers, Animal Control finally showed up and took our little follower to the Humane Society: probably my most eventful run yet!

[ 10 miles ] Saturday, February 20
This was the weekend Mom and I spent in Kansas City for Oscarfest. Before we began the movie mania on Saturday, I woke up early and ran 7.5 miles all through downtown Kansas City. We were staying in the River Marketing, which was just a hop from lots of city sights. I had initially planned to follow the "Riverfront Trail," but it was impossibly hard to follow when you didn't have a very clear idea of where you were going. So, instead I just roamed through the city and enjoyed the change of scenery. However, I am really starting to notice an achy pain in my knees as the runs get longer.

[ 16 miles ] Saturday, February 27
Weather changed pretty drastically from the time I left at 7:30 a.m. to when I returned at 11:45 a.m. I finished my 16 miles a short distance from home and as I walked a police office passed me and then turned around. "I've seen you all over town this morning!" he declared, and he wasn't wrong! This run felt GREAT!! I took my time recovering though, with some electrolytes and a bath before the Rootin' Tootin' Chili Cook-Off later that day.

[ 12 miles ] Sunday, March 6
After a long day of True/Falsing downtown on Saturday, I drug my self out of bed on Sunday morning and ran. This one HURT. Like everything: knees, calves, breathing, feet. By the time I finally got back and was about two miles from home, it took everything I had not to stop and walk...it was probably a pretty pathetic sight.

Still to go, I've got eight weeks of long, long runs.
[ 18 miles ]
[ 14 miles ]
[ 20 miles ]
[ 14 miles ]
[ 22 miles ]
[ 10 miles ]
[ MARATHON ]  Sunday, April 24

10 Tips for a Stay-at-Home Valentines Date

Well. The pains of being a girlfriend to a start-up loving boyfriend, is that sometimes he has to work a conference booth in New Orleans over Valentine's Day weekend. Oh, don't you worry, he'll make that up to me as soon as he gets back. Now, if he were here or if I had been on-the-ball enough to prepare this a couple weeks ago, we still would have stayed in for Valentine's Day. We're both trying to save money and I like to make plain, old everyday things feel new and magical. Here's how:

1. Decorate
Set the table in advance and use all your nice dishes. Craft or find a romantic centerpiece, even if it's as simple as candles on flipped wine glasses and a couple carnations. Make a string of hearts as a garland across the mantle. Dim the lights and ignite every candle you have handy. Make an extra soft and fluffy pillow fort to watch your movie or set up a spa for trading massages.

I started to use all the things I had to set the table and had two different ideas.

So, that's what happened... 

      

(How romantic are those 1970s era chairs, eh?

A new dining room table is definitely on my wishlist.)

2. Make a Playlist
Again, try to find some music that is out of the ordinary for you. It's alright to be a little cheesy with your playlist...it's Valentine's Day! Check out Spotify for some suggested playlists of love or a waste a little workday on Friday, February 12 to search around and download some sweet songs. Here are some of my favorite love songs you should give a listen:
(DISCLOSURE: I kind of like sad songs.)

Save Tonight, Eagle-Eye Cherry
We Loved, Juliet Piper
Everywhere, Fleetwood Mac
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), James Taylor
Higher Love, James Vincent McMorrow
Dancing Shoes, Green River Ordinance
Thirteen, Ben Kweller

3. Plan a Fancy Dinner
When choosing your recipe, be careful not to pick something that is too difficult. Read through the directions and make sure you have all the kitchen utensils and cooking equipment before you get your hopes up. In searching for our Valentine's date dinner, I've assembled a list of some great ideas for you too try!

4. Get Dressed Up
I know you're just at home, and I know it will probably take some convincing, but nothing will make your evening in feel more magical than if you both look and feel sexy.

5. Cook Together
Now, a fancy dinner can be so fun to make together, but be careful. Sometimes the pressure of a new recipe or the frustration of mistaken measurements may result in stress and tension that could likely lead to a couple's kitchen conflict. It's definitely a bummer if the meal doesn't turn out like you had hoped, but don't let it ruin your evening: order take out, put it out on your nice table setting and laugh about it. Don't get too hung up on getting to the actual meal, instead focus on the process of cooking together as you go.

6. Sit Down and Enjoy
Once the meal is made, sit down at your well-made table and enjoy it. Most nights, Aaron and I eat dinner at the coffee table in front of the TV...but for Valentine's Day, we might make more of an effort to sit down and enjoy each other's company.

7. Have Some Champagne
Celebrate with a little bubbly! If you really wanna be cheeseball, make a toast :)

8. Don't Forget Dessert
I usually can't manage to eat dessert after a big dinner, but we'll probably have something sweet for after our post-dinner event. Here's a little Valentine's dessert hack: strawberries dipped in Nutella tastes almost exactly like chocolate-covered strawberries...except it's way more simple and cheap.

9. Choose a Post-Dinner Activity
We would probably just cuddle up and watch a movie by candlelight. But there's plenty of nice, couply things you could do to make the night magical...

• Watch a Movie with a Drinking Game
• Wine/Beer Tasting
• Play a Board/Card Game
• Roast Marshmallows Fireside
• Give Massages and Foot Rubs
• Make Fondue Chocolate
• Take a Bubble Bath
• Read a Book Aloud
• Do Couples Yoga
• Look Through Old Pictures
• Watch Your Wedding Video
• Set Up a Scavenger Hunt
• Go Through Some Conversation Cards
• Play the Not-So-Newlywed Game

10. Kiss
Of course kissing is probably a pretty standard part of a any ol' day, but for Valentine's Day...maybe just make it a little more special. Kiss more frequently than normal, and have a little make-out sesh during your movie. Don't forget how romantic kissing is, and unlike a restaurant or public place, you can kiss alllllll you want at home. So take advantage of it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

10 Office Lunch Hacks

I work in an office. My Marketing department is in the basement where the only "kitchen accessories" is a mini-frig in the fitness center. On the second floor are the coffee makers, ice machine, dishwasher and filtered water faucets. The third floor is home to well-stocked breakroom and kitchen: commercial (double-door) refrigerator, dishwasher, ice machine, oven, toaster, two microwaves and filtered water faucets. In addition to appliance, the cabinets offer a variety of dishes, cookware, utensils and seasonings.

Let it also be known that I live about twenty minutes from work and don't have the dough to eat out every meal. So, the office lunch life for meeee! I've been at it a while, the whole lunching-from-my-desk routine, and have learned a thing or two about how to do it right.

1. Get one of these. A personal, 20-ounce food warmer is exactly what you need to save a trip to the microwave. Not to mention, it plugs in anywhere and is super discrete, so you can anticipate your meal from the aroma of it warming slowly behind you you while you work.

2. Dude, leftovers. Do not underestimate the value of a warm, homemade meal...even if it is a re-heated, homemade yesterday meal. When I make pasta or plan a crockpot meal, I do so with the intention of having leftovers.

3. Be fancy! I haven't even considered some of these portable office lunch ideas. I'm not sure I'm up to the time commitment here, but these recipes look like they would be so fun to try! As of right now, my idea of "fancy," is when I take the time to make a "grilled" ham and cheese sandwich instead of my standard sandwich.

4. Pack the night before. Of course you can't do this with everything, but you can do it with a lot! I'm sure you know all about the meal-prepping that's taking the country by storm, but it can be more simple than that too. I've started making these overnight oats for breakfast (they're like bland in a really good way). If you do salads, you can make them the night before by stacking the layers in a mason jar so that your dressing doesn't sog everything up and the lettuce stays nice and crisp on the top.

5. Bring the whole damn bag. It takes a little self control, but it's one less thing you have to tote to the office each morning. I keep a stash of something munchie (white cheddar Cheez-its, almonds, trail mix) at my desk and a bag of baby carrots and box of half-n-half in the fitness center mini-frig. When you use half-n-half like I do, you kinda gotta bring your own. My co-worker, Mark, brings the sandwich "fixin's" and makes it right there at his desk - that could be you!

6. Keep your desk-drawer stocked. Even if you don't stuff whole bags of almonds into your desk, don't forget to keep your essential condiments handy: salt and pepper, hot sauce, soy sauce, mustard, ketchup (packets obviously), olive oil, peanut butter.

7. Invest in a grown-up lunchbox. If you don't have access to a double-door, commercial refrigerator (or a mini-frig for that matter), it's time to get a grown-up lunchbox. I was going to find some cool lunchbox ideas, but then I found this post from Brit + Co and I think they've got 'em all.

8. Try a wrap instead. It's hard being one person. Even if you make a sandwich everyday, you can't really use a whole loaf of  bread in a week. Sure, if you don't buy Aldi bread, it probably lasts a little longer. But, if you do buy Aldi break, or struggle to use all your bread before it stales, try making wraps instead! They're lighter, healthier and the only change is using shredded cheese (which I KNOW you have). Bonus round: once you notice your bread going stale, remove what is left from the bag and set it out to harden. Crumble it up and you've got bread crumbs! Never buy those. They're too easy to make.

9. Keep emergency lunches on hand. Cans of hearty soups and a couple frozen meals are good to have in backstock. These aren't ideal, since they're more expensive and usually less healthy, but they work in a pinch. Depending on what you've got left at the end of the week, you may consider a simple cheese, meat and cracker combination for lunch.

10. Treat yourself, sparingly. It's ok to eat out or order in for lunch evyery now and again, but don't make a habit of it (Blair, I'm looking at you). While a freaky fast sandwich delivery or lunch out for a department birthday are not only fun, but easy, you can save a pretty penny by making it a habit to make lunch. Additionally, it is a bit more tricky to eat healthy when you aren't making your own food. Bonus round: make your meal out into two lunches! A large order at a sit down restaurant can easily be leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Now, that's a win.

Does anyone else have any good lunch hacks they put into practice?

2015 A Year in Instagrams

For those of you on my Christmas card list, you've already heard all you needed to know about my 2015. This version is a little more detailed and has bonus hearts and shit sprinkled throughout, so maybe worth the read...?

For those of you who aren't on my list, but would like to be, just shoot me an email with your address and I'll add you! I would love to. I only send cards to people who sent them to me first - so it's your fault if you're not getting one.

Let's begin...

01.01.2015  ♥  New Year's Eve

Last year, we rang in the New Year in good ol' Columbia. The night turned out to be a total bust (as most New Year's Eve celebrations are), but man, we got good stories!

02.28.2015  ♥  Rootin' Tootin' Chili Cook-Off
The 2015 Rootin' Tootin' Chili Cook-Off was Game of Thrones themed and JES Holdings raised over $11,937 for Boys and Girls Club of Columbia. Not to mention first place in Showmanship, Best Costume and Best Booth. JES doesn't mess around...

03.21.2015  ♥  Chicago Spring Break
Mom, my brother and I took a little Spring Break trip to Chicago. Sam wants to move there someday and mom wanted to prove the point that 1) it's too far for Bolivar, and 2) it was cold. WELL, IT WAS DEFINITELY COLD.

04.04.2015  ♥  New Year's Eve
Work on the home continues. This spring, I tricked recruited the family into coming to Columbia to celebrate Easter...by helping with my landscaping. Suckers.

05.02.2015  ♥  Anderson Wedding
In May, two of our good friends were wed. We spent the day celebrating Mr. Jordan and Zak Anderson. It was a lovely ceremony and the reception was a blast! But having to hang around with an old married couple didn't interfere with our lives much, we still have regular game nights and I (alright, Zak) still wins most of the time.

05.10.2015  ♥  Mother's Day

The family reassembled for Mother’s Day at the Lake of the Ozarks. There was a beautiful view and delicious food, but the good company was the best part. (Boyyyy, that was cheeseball.)

06.06.2015  ♥  Kansas City Weekend
Mom and I spent a wonderful weekend pretending to be locals in Kansas City: First Fridays in the West Bottles, wandering through the City Market, learning the classic lesson that you have to show up at like 8:00 a.m. to do a Boulevard Brewery tour and a fun little wedding downtown.

06.13.2015  ♥  Early Father's Day

Dad and I went to see the Cardinals play for Father's Day. We got great seats through a vendor of mine at work and as dad put it, "they were better than any seats we get for a Bolivar game."

07.04.2015  ♥  Casanovas Conquer Canada

Our Casanova family trip was to Niagra Falls this year! None of us had been, and I'll tell you what: we tourist'd the HELL out of that city. It's like a theme park: Ferris wheels, Jurassic mini-golf, dip-in-dots, not to mention the opportunity to go in, around, under, over and in between the falls. So, we did all that too.

07.25.2015  ♥  4th Annual Float Trip

The fourth annual float trip went down this year. Shenanigans as usual. We had a blast on the Current River and everyone made it back to the campground at the end of the day, so we call that a successful float.

08.15.2015  ♥  Allie's Bachelorette Party

Then back to the Lake again for one of the biggest, girliest bachelorette parties ever; to celebrate Allie. We all celebrated again in November when Allie and Taylor tied the knot. I was a first-time "wedding planner" for the event and it was an eye-opening experience! 

09.26.2015  ♥  Roots 'n' Blues 'n' BBQ Half Marathon

My co-workers and I trained through the sweaty summer evenings to run the Roots ‘n’ Blues ‘n’ BBQ Half Marathon. At 13.1 miles, it is my farthest distance to date. But just wait! Blair and I have the Oklahoma City full marathon on our minds in April.

[ Five Ways to Maintain Motivation for Running ]

10.08.2015  ♥  Georgia Affordable Housing Conference
My work flew me to a tradeshow in Savannah, Georgia and it was a blast. Slightly less than 24 to party on a boat and karaoke in front of my executives. What more could you as for? 

10.10.2015  ♥  Mizzou Homecoming Reunion
#Showmegirls were reunited in Columbia for Mizzou Homecoming! It was so good to get all of these wonderful ladies together again.

10.17.2015  ♥  Sue's Half Century Challenge

Mom turned 50 this year! We celebrated with a weekend in Bolivar and a wile, tri-event birthday party including: senior Olympics, a scavenger hunt and trivia.

[ Party Plan Like a Pro // Pre-Party Logistics ]

10.31.2015  ♥  Halloween Weekend

One of two Halloween costumes this year: the Scooby Gang and characters from the original Jurassic Park. I usually throw a big shindig, but this year we did a zombie pub crawl and a zombie 5K and had a lot of fun!

[ Happy Halloween from Jurassic Park & The Scooby Gang!]

11.15.2015  ♥  Friendsgiving

Our little Columbia couples group (we call ourselves the #decasquad 'cause there's ten of us) gathered together to celebrate Friendsgiving in November. I cooked my first turkey and a ham! The only thing I ruined was the gravy! Oops,

[ Friendsgiving: Beg, Borrow and Craft ]

11.19.2015  ♥  Soulmates in New York City

Abbie and I took a trip to New York City this fall and had a fabulous time eating, going to shows and walking...walking...walking. See pictured after the farewell concert of our favorite band: Pearl and the Beard.

[ Soulmates in the (New York) City ]

12.09.2015  ♥  United Way Week
Our office held our annual United Way Week campaign and I had a fun time serving on the committee. We hosted email bingo, penny wars, a food truck, chili lunch, Family Feud, and much more. Please consider me your source for good ideas for office social events - we have done everything.

12.18.2015  ♥  Marketing Family Christmas Photos

Shout out to my neat little Marketing Department, who I've had the pleasure of bonding with this year. So much so that we even took family Christmas photos, wrote a poem and passed them out around the office.

[ Marketing is Making Spirits Bright ]

12.24.2015  ♥  Christmas Eve

Becca and I hadn't been home in a while, so returning for Christmas was well anticipated! We spent Christmas eve comfortably in our matching pajamas and celebrated the next day and Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

12.30.2015  ♥  Kait's Quarter Century Challenge

HAPPY QUARTER CENTURY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEE! I took a queue from my mother's 50th birthday and decided to throw myself a 25th party just as epic: Kait Trivia, red-headed slut shots, homemade sushi with ginger, gingerbread Kaits and plenty of being bossed around. I actually made everyone call me Queen Kait and wore a tiara all night. I'm not embarrassed, it was a blast.

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