Challenge Yourself...

Being brutally honest with myself...

Honesty: You will never reach your potential if you aren't willing to challenge yourself.
Brutality: What ways are you challenging yourself throughout your life's campaign?

Motivation

What motivates you?



-posted from kati's iphone

What if beds were still this small?

-altruism, be it

Education Reform

A Candid Conversation with a 5-year old

I made an appearance at a junior high volleyball game a few weeks ago and found myself in the company of an outgoing 5-year old with an unrestrained thought process. The candor with which she spoke, and gave me advice was wildly entertaining! Just as our debate about all-day preschool came to a close, there was a long pause in conversation followed by a long stare, which was followed by......

5-year old: "Kati, you have a weally small mouth."

Me: " Yah?"

5-year old: "It's weally small."

(Awkward silence...)

5-year old: "Were you born like that?"

Me: "Uh-huh... Thank you? I think?"

Excuses, Excuses...

I'm hoping the following pics will validate my absence from blogging over the past 9 days! :-)

Took a trip to South Haven with my best friend Charity!

Chilled in a red snuggie on the boat in the morning.

Thought deeply in the red snuggie on the boat.

Thank you bestie for taking me up!

Tell your best friend you love them today

Two of the most genuine, honest, absurd, enduring, accepting and compassionate Best Friends on planet earth!

Thoughtful Equations

OpiNion + EMpathY= Influence

Dinner Date...

Grilled Pork chop and peaches with a balsamic vinegar, blue cheese, sweet onion dressing and some sangria...Who better to share it with than, (cue dramatic-blind-date-dinner music) ZOE! Hope that sentence wasn't so anticlimactic that you stopped reading. Well, of course you haven't stopped reading if you're reading this.... Anyways! The truth is, there are a lot of "betters" to share dinner with, and if you happened to be one of the lucky one's, who has stumbled upon their "better," let them know it tonight! And... if you've found yourself making gourmet meals and having stimulating dinner convo's with an 8lb., jack russell.... Not to worry, there's a plan for you too! :-) Do your thing!

"I've become the person I swore I'd never be, but how did I get to this point? I've come to the conclusion it could only be one of three things; the desire for stimulating dinner conversation (but dogs can't talk), the result of being 27 and having some SERIOUS nurturing instincts, or the sheer enjoyment of serving dinner to someone who genuinely appreciates it with all they have." -Kati

How do you know you don't like it, if you don't try it?

This post is for all you burger and brat grilling fanatics....How about making zucchini patties an All-American summer time spread? The marinate is simple, and the results will keep your tongues waggin'!

I made the mistake of slicing some of the zucchini patties a bit thick. I'd aim for about as thin as you can cut them. They cook crispier that way, which I also like. My neighbor gave me a fresh basil plant at the beginning of the summer and this recipe gave me the opportunity to use it!

Ingredients: 2 tbs. White wine vinegar, 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice, dash salt, dash pepper, a couple leaves fresh basil, 1 tbs. fresh thyme, and 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions: Marinate for at least 3 hours and thrown on the grill

The Breast Milk Baby...

I posted a link to this advertisement on my facebook wall, simply to gain some insight about what the Mother's of my network thought about it.... Some of the comments really cracked me up!


Kara Williams, Mother of two adorable girls writes, "Inappropriate. They want kids to "experience motherhood"?!? Uh... what's next, we'll have them stay up until 4:00am with a crying doll and have them simulate birth? I am all for breastfeeding, but feeding your babies in front of their older siblings is a great way to promote it. Weird...."

Sue Polly, Mother of 3 grown children, and now Grandmother of 6 beautiful grandchildren says,"My kids always pretended to breast feed their babies. I don't think they need a special doll-but hey, why not? I guess we don't even think anything about pretend bottles to feed dolls."

Brittany Johnson, Mother of two, cutesy Grace and baby boy Luke, commented, "It's creepy and incredibly inappropriate. Grace learned enough just watching me feed Luke. She certainly doesn't need a doll to enforce it!"

And lastly, my best friend Charity writes, "Way to stir the pot Kati...lol. You love this discussion...a bit much in my eyes, but what do I know...I have a little boy :-)"

I have my own opinion about this suckling dolly... The fact that the child places a bib with stars that cover the nipples like pasties is enough for me to leave this one on the shelf! :-)

Simple additions for big change...

I rarely do any intentional shopping for new home decor. Most of the new additions to American Honey's walls are knick knacks that I stumble upon and fall in love with, even if I don't have the perfect place picked out for them when I buy them, I know I will eventually work them in somewhere. I found this wooden whale at an antique shop and picked it up for $10.00.... I love the Cape Cod feel it gives off.

I purchased this sailboat blueprint off ebay a couple months ago but hadn't found the right frame for it, until I was cleaning and re-organizing my shed last week. This window was removed from American Honey when I was remodeling last summer and I saved it for an occasion just like this.

The finished corner. I still need to get the blueprint hung on the wall, but you get the idea. I love the nautical blue's of the lampshade and the blueprint together.

It's a Pretty Life

Zo and I finally found a Friday with NO plans... That was boring, so we made our own! Her balance was better than mine as we cruised around Pretty Lake. I transformed my wind-surf board in to a paddle board and managed to stand most of the way around the shore-line.

Precious Baby Boy

May 17 my twin sister Jami and her husband had their 2nd baby.... This time a boy. After two generations of Todd's being dominated by the X chromosome this little guy has truly been a blessing and an interesting experience for all of us! He's almost two months old so he's beginning to develop a little personality all his own, but rather than describe it to you I'll just let you in on his name because I feel like it says so much about him. Asher Hans Beck. Complete stud. Big sister Avery has stepped in to the role well! Her favorite things to say are, "He so cute, Asher so cute," and her favorite thing to do is kiss him hard and shove his bink in his mouth. They are such aggressive lovers at age two. Unfortuantely for Asher, he can't escape Avery like the cats do when she runs to aggressively love on them! Below are some pics I've captured over the past two months of this little Casanova! We love you baby boy!

Natural Sea Wall

One of my biggest goals for American Honey HideAway this summer was to finish landscaping my shoreline, and thanks to a few good friends the seawall is almost complete. My long time friend Neal Wolheter and his wife Lydia donated the rocks from their field and even helped me haul the stones down to the lake with one of Neal's farm toys. I recruited another one of my good friends, Jon Mitchell to help with the loading and unloading early Saturday morning! I'm so blessed to have friends who are so willing to help me with my mini projects like this. It's all about being resourceful. :-) The picture is of the boys unloading... I have to finish setting the rocks so stay tuned for the finished product!

There was a Farmer, had a dog, and AVERY was her Name-O

Look out Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion!

Itsy Bitsy Spider Remix

My niece Avery singing her own rendition of "Itsy Bitsy Spider," she will be 2 on July 10th.

Jamie Oliver Shows School Kids How Chicken Nuggets are made

You should really think twice before sacrificing your health for convenience...

Sunday ambitions...

The beginnings of a Sunday project! Why buy one that's already put together when you can buy one that's in one hundred pieces and put it together on your own?





Ready to be stained...



The finished product...

Location:Pretty lake

Young ladies

The lady lakers hard at work in June!

Location:N 055 E,LaGrange,United States

Mobile Blogging

My old pantech phone recently suffered some catastrophic injuries.... the term catastrophic meant to imply, injuries that it won't recover from, injuries that it won't recover from meant to imply, full submersion in a hot tub for approximately 7 seconds. While I was distraught to witness this, after all, my pantech had been such a loyal friend, this incident gave me permission to pull the trigger on one of the new iphones. I'm in the process of linking my phone to "Keeping Up With Kati," this could very well be the cure for my frequent verbal diarrhea. :-) Stay tuned.

Hiatus...

Pardon my absence... I have returned to the office.

Naming the Smoker Craft...

This is a cry for help... I need some assistance in the naming of my pontoon. Options are below:

1. The Anne Bonney- I like this name because of it's meaning. Anne Bonney was a female pirate. According to several online sources, Anne, took what she wanted from the world and never made apologies. I like this because it means she was a strong woman, but I dislike this because it seems to be an immature mindset. I guess I could perceive the facts how I wish too.
2. The Alvilda- Like Anne, Alvilda was also a female pirate.... I think I like her story the best. Alvida's parents kept her locked in her room, and set two poisonous snakes to keep away all but the most ardent of suitors. The most persisant and brave fellow turned out to be Prince Alf of Denmark, and though he passed the test Alvilda's parents were none too happy about the match. Deciding she wasn't ready to be wedded to some stuffy Prince, Alvilda took advantage of her parents' irresolution and hightailed it out of there. She joined a crew of cross-dressing women, but had barely got started in a career in terrorizing the Baltic coast when they came across a crew of pirates that had lost their Captain. They were so impressed by her capable skills that they voted unanimously to elect her as their new leader. With these fresh reinforcements beneath her ruthless guidance, this formidable woman became such a nuisance to the merchant trade that her former betrothed, Prince Alf, was dispatched to bring the troublesome pirates to justice. Alvilda and her crew fought back to the best of their abilities, but in the gulf of Finland they were bested at last. Prince Alf and his men boarded the pirates' ship, where hand to hand fighting ensued. After sustaining heavy casualties, Alvilda's crew succumbed and she herself was taken captive. With her beauty concealed by a face covering helmet, she was taken prisoner, and it was only when this helmet was removed that Prince Alf realized who the scourge of the seas had been. For her part, Alvilda was so impressed by how Alf had fought in battle that she married him on the spot. She went on to share his wealth and throne as Queen of Denmark, and together they had a daughter, who they named Gurith. Whether little Gurith followed in her mother's ocean going ways is not known. (http://www.katyberry.com/Dorianne/pirates.html)

3. Oh Buoy

4. Nauti Gull

5. Green Eyes

6. Pretty Gull- The lake I live on is called Pretty Lake, so just keeping the theme.

-If anyone has any more suggestions hat might go along with the name of my cottage, they are welcome.... American Honey Hideaway....

It really is THAT simple

I know! Rather than getting wrapped up in political correctness and walking on egg shells all the time.... Why not stamp yourself with the "EMPATHY TRADEMARK"? It really is that simple.

Me and my little spuddy's...

-First attempt at dehydrating potato's in progress...
-Review to come...
-Keeping fingers crossed for an unadultered potato chip.

"The oppressive commentary of teenage girls...And what I wish they knew"

"She only did that because she wants people to vote for her for Prom Queen."

"I don't give a shit what she said to me, if she opens her mouth one more time, I'm gonna hafta have some words with her."

"All those middle schoolers want me. It's like, can they make it more obvious? Staring at me when I'm walking up the stairs." -announcement to entire class, while she is wearing booty shorts

"She's a ho. She's like a mixture of a little bit hillbilly and a little bit redneck... ho"

"I'm too fat to run the mile Miss Todd"

"My parents don't care what my grade is"

"I heard she was working for some cleaning business and they make you wear lingerie while you clean"

Altruism,

I like to dream about what this world might be like if everyone knew the definition...

My Neighbors...

It's unknown how long they have been, or how long they will stay, the only certainty's are that they will leave together and return together. I can say these things for certain because I've been witness to this pattern for nearly 4 years. It's said that Swans mate for life, that is FOR LIFE. I often wonder how two animals decide to make that commitment and that leads me to consider how they keep that promise. Swans are unable to solve simple math problems, write a letter to a friend, and they aren't equipped with a conscience, and yet they are able to recognize the terms of a commitment. In a world where the biggest commitment any human can make, marriage, has been completely desensitized, as a single 27-year old woman, I find solace in "My Neighbors,"... The Swans.

Footnote: I should note that I have many miraculous examples of strong marriages in my life. Marriages that have survived unthinkables (I just made that word up), and marriages that I know will withstand this life.

Fed Up!

If you're like me and are becoming "fed up" with putting foods in your body and having no idea what's in them, I have some words of advice. I purchased this dehydrator from Wal-Mart for $40.00. I did some investigating on the internet and found that more complex dehydrator's could set you back about $200. Needless to say, you get what you pay for. If I'm able to become proficient in dehydrating foods in my $40 Oster, I might consider investing in a more elaborate machine.
Up first on the menu: cucumber chips, dried green beans, and banana chips. I lightly salted the cucumbers and green beans, and I dipped the banana's in a lemon juice and water concentrate prior to placing them on the drying shelves. 15 hours later my first endeavor in dehydration was complete!
My mounting prejudices against processed foods hasn't stalled with the dehydrator. I've been toasting organic pita bread (approx. 45 calories a bag) and baking kale. Both recipes serve as a great substitute for a potato chip or a salty snack. My twin sister Jami turned me on to the kale.
My "appetite" to be aware of what's going in my body continues. I've been addicted to home made hummus! Well, I'm not certain you call it hummus... I simply puree a can of garbanzo beans, add some roasted red peppers, and call it "hummus". I've never actually glanced at a hummus recipe. I've also added some canned spinach and garlic powder to pureed garbanzo beans and found the result to be equally as satisfying as the red pepper recipe. I like to dish my dips up in to containers that are easy for single-girls or Mom's on-the-go!

Mothers Day Weekend

Friday.... Kenny Chesney Concert

Saturday.... Mothers Day Festivities with the fam. Ave all smiles and ready to be a big sis!

Warm Weather Is On It's Way...

Impatience is bread each evening as I recline in my living room, which happens to be lined with windows that overlook the inviting waters of Pretty Lake. Sunshine is the number one requirement to warm the waters, and court the cottage-goers, unfortunately, we haven't seen much of it in the past weeks. Where do you find the affection you need to warm your heart when the sun isn't shining?

1. Humanity and appreciating something in everyone
2. Organic food
3. Morning drives in to work
4. Interacting with my co-workers
5. Putting the cart before the horse
6. Spare time
7. Candid photos of the one's I love
8. Meaningful music
9. Ideas and dreams
10. Heartfelt conversations with my students

More Dramatical P.E. Moments with Miss Todd...

"This game of aerobic ball feels more like Vietnam!"
-Miss Todd, (after receiving 18 new dodge balls)

Take Advantage of the Rain

Gloomy, Northern-Indiana, weather got you down? I've compiled a list of some ideas to help all of you busy-bodies ease your anxieties of being unproductive in this impossible weather!
(in random order)

1. Organize old photo albums and put them on a CD
2. Make a new itunes playlist
3. Send a "just-because" card through the U.S. postal service
4. Paint a piece of furniture in your house
5. Organize your meals for the week
6. Bleach your white's
7. Host a wine tasting
8. Make homeade granola
9. Give yourself a manicure/pedicure
10. Google tips for planting your garden's this summer

Easter Weekend

I went down to Marion for the Easter weekend to be with family. We went the non-traditional route and celebrated Easter on Saturday night around the bonfire. We did this partly because my family likes fires and partly because my brother-in-law is a youth pastor and would have church until mid-afternoon on Easter day. It proved to be a great idea as the rain held off, temps stayed high, and the fire stayed hot! Matt and Jami, who have another baby on the way in about a month recently invested in a burley tag-along for Matt's bike. We busted that out for the first time on Saturday. Ave wasn't too sure about it initially, but she eventually settled in and told Mama and Papa, "That was fun," after the ride.

Sunday morning I went to church early with Jami to cook up about 180 pancakes for all the youth at Matt's church and then the family drove in to Fort Wayne for an Easter Dinner celebration at....wait for it.... Five Guys! LOL! Again, non-traditional, but Matt was dying for us to try the place and I wanted to get home at a good time! I'll go back to Five Guys! I got home from the long weekend around 3:00 on Sunday, but couldn't bring myself to sit still... it was too nice outside. I kayaked across the lake and back, then I long-boarded across the lake and back. Busy Sunday!

Dramtic Motivational Moments with Miss Todd...

"You lose in P.E., you lose in life"
-Miss Todd

Distractions...

I fell in to the tapioca pudding trap again last night. Those little clear balls seem to demand my attention at all the wrong times. Again, I say, in an effort to save consumers time, they should really put the count on the side of the cup. 442 clear balls later... I have 4 sentences of a 4 page paper composed! Shameful!

Embrace

"I get my best ideas in a thunderstorm. I have the power and majesty of nature on my side."
-Ralph Steadman

Raise your glass to...

Raise your glass to the hyper-sensitive, self-aware, people-pleasers of the world. A dying breed? You know who you are, and you've undoubtedly used all three words to describe yourself. Why? Because you are self-aware. Trapped inside yourselves, only to be freed through the satisfaction of others in you. Difficult to comprehend to those you seek to please. Is their pleasure your pain or does your heartfelt happiness sweat from their smile?

Welcome A Rainy Day

I was treasure hunting last summer when I came across this lamp at a flea market in LaGrange. It was the first decoration I bought for my house. I like to brag about the fact that I paid just $2.00 for it. Unfortunately, the lamp didn't survive my Birthday party at the Hideaway, and I've been on a mission to recreate the lamp for $2.00 or less.

I had a lamp that I bought at IKEA last summer that also broke, but I've been holding on to it for the sake of salvaging it's parts in "Operation Duplicate Jar Lamp,"! I now had the electrical elements for the jar lamp, and the shade, all I needed the jar...for $2.00, or less. Less it was! My Aunt and Uncle were cleaning out their barn last weekend and I happened to be swinging by to return a suitcase I had borrowed for Spring Break. That's when I came across an old malted milk jar. Hooray! Free! I took it home and assembled the lamp using rope that I had left over from my bathroom mirror (see pics below), to hide my electrical work as well as a hot glue gun.

Cottage Tip- Wrap it in rope for a nautical feel. This mirror was in the bathroom when I bought the cottage, using a hot glue gun, I just wrapped it in rope that I bought at Wal-Mart.

American Honey Hideaway -Est. 1940

It's been almost a year since I closed on "American Honey Hideaway,". It's proven to be more than a roof over my head throughout the past 10 months. Scan through and enjoy the photos, if nothing more than to enjoy the simple pleasures that I do each time I cross the threshold of my tiny retreat.

LakeView

Look who came to visit... Father Winter.

RoadSide View

Recess is Over

While I'm certain many of my few followers have "given-up" on "keepin'-up," with me...I simply can't continue to disassemble the dreams of the thoughts in my mind. I've promised them this outlet, followers or no.