From the category archives:

dear diary… everyday life

ragnar nation

by @according2kelly on April 20, 2012

so-cal-ragnar-relayit’s dark outside, but the birds are chirping. they know that today is a big day.

like me, i’m guessing they could hardly sleep?!

i was up past one, & wide awake at 5am. which is silly, because more than likely i’ll get little to no sleep in the next 36 hours (but at least i was able to get an extra little carbo loading done).

why you ask? well, because i’m racing today, & tonight & all day tomorrow too…

yep! i’m joing the “ragnar nation.” me & 5 of my soon-to-best-will-know-EVERYTHING-about-me-after-spending-36-hours-in-a-van-together friends (including carrie & elise – my usual cohorts in crime), 1 full-time driver, & 1 full-time photographer/ social media rock star are going to be running 200 miles (leap frog style) all the way from huntington beach to san deigo (via the inland empire).

with just six runners, that means we are running approximately 33 miles each in just over a day. (i’m actually responsible for 40!) yikes! hopefully i’m prepared.

i’ve been hydrating day & night for nearly a week (it’s supposed to be HOT), the last couple of nights i’ve been sleeping in my recovery compression tights to make sure my legs fresh (sexy huh?), & last night i carbo loaded (which is always my favorite part of racing).

if you’re feeling a wee bit envious of my upcoming adventure, feel free to follow along. we will be posting updates to the team sparkle face book page, or you can follow us on twitter: @runTeamSparkle, @according2kelly, @thisiscarrie, @cupcakeactivist, & @tamrabbit.

wish us luck!

{ 9 comments }

somewhere over the rainbow

by @according2kelly on April 6, 2012

rainbow chocolate dipped oreos, rainbow cupcake bites & rainbow slushie

rainbow-theme-party

a rainbow ensemble including team sparkle rainbow stripe race legs,
& a tiered team sparkle rainbow skirt

rainbow-team-sparkle-running-skirt

teams sparkle rainbow wings

rainbow-fairy-wings

& a plethora of rainbow tissue poms poms & paper lanterns
rainbow-party-decoarationsis all you need to create a colorful & fun rainbow themed party

rainbow-printablesomewhere over the rainbow, way up high,
there’s a land that i heard of once in a lullaby.

somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue,
and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

someday i’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops,
that’s where you’ll find me.

somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.
birds fly over the rainbow. why then, oh why can’t i?

{ 2 comments }

hot chocolate floats

by @according2kelly on November 9, 2011

hot-chocolate-floatsrich & decadent double fudge hot chocolate, served with just a touch (okay, maybe a double scoop) of ice cream. hot chocolate floats- the ultimate late night anytime snack on a cold winter day.

hot chocolate floats

1 mug of hot chocolate

1/4 cup of international delight creamer of your choice

1 scoop (or 2) of ice cream of your choice

combine hot cocoa, international delight creamer in a mug and stir to blend. top with a scoop (or 2) of ice cream, & serve immediately. my “standard” hot chocolate float is made with french vanilla international delights creamer, and french vanilla ice cream or mint chocolate chip ice cream.

but sometimes, i like to mix it up & live on the wild side…. pumpkin pie spice international delights creamer & pumpkin ice cream, peppermint mocha international delights creamer & peppermint ice cream. the possibilities are truly endless.

the only thing that could make hot chocolate floats even better? a couple of candy cane joe joe’son the side. better wipe my mouth, i’m drooling.

___________________________

 

Tell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart gift card.

Capture the flavors of the holidays in every cup of coffee with International Delight Creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Vanilla Spiced Rum and White Chocolate Raspberry. 

TellTeTeTell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart Gift Card.
Capture the flavors of the holiday’s in every cup of coffee with International Delight creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as Cinnabon, Almond Joy and Pumpkin Spice, International Delight can make everyday feel like a holiday.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight.  The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Delight Brand. 

{ 25 comments }

survival emergency kit {the first 3 minutes}

by @according2kelly on November 8, 2011

do you have an survival emergency kit? are you ready an emergency? i know i’m not, & i’m probably not alone. who knows when disaster could strike?! & i for one want to be prepared. you know what they say “better safe than sorry.”

survival-emergency-kit-the-first-3-minutes

locally, here in orange county, families are gathering supplies & necessities needed for what we are calling “the power of 3.” basically it’s an emergency preparedness plan that focuses on the first 3 minutes, the first 3 hours, the first 3 days, the first 3 months, and even the first year after a disaster.

i love the power of 3 plan – it’s a baby steps approach to emergency preparedness. perfect for someone like me!

so, if you aren’t fully prepared for an emergency, i encourage you gather your own supplies, & together we can become “ready.”

survival emergency kit {the first 3 minutes}

one drawstring backpack or plastic drawstring bag, containing:

* one pair of sturdy shoes
* one flashlight
* one pair of leather work gloves
* one whistle
* lightweight clothes

prepare one bag for each member of your family, and attach it to each bed in the house (or somewhere else that is easily accessible & unlikely to be moved).

_______________________________

see… what did i tell you? pretty painless eh? you probably have most of these supplies already laying around your house. all you had to do, was gather them all together, so when an emergency strikes, you don’t have to go searching for them. now, when disaster strikes, you’ll be prepared for those first 3 minutes. up next? survival emergency kit {the first 3 hours}.

{ 13 comments }

the never ending battle

by @according2kelly on November 3, 2011

this halloween the boys proved once again that the battle between good & evil, really is an eternal struggle.

{ 1 comment }

rapunzel, rapunzel let down your hair

by @according2kelly on November 3, 2011

diy-tangled-rapunzel-costume-for-kidsjust weeks before halloween, little miss charlie finally discovered princesses or “princey’s” as she calls them. (with two brothers & a house full of hot wheels – i’m not at all surprised it didn’t happen earlier.)

seeing that “punzy”(otherwise known as rapunzel) is her new-found best friend, it seemed like the perfect halloween costume. although, after dressing like “punzy,” charlie is now having a bit of an identity crisis.

she prefers to wear her purple rapunzel dress at all times, refuses to wear shoes & will only let me brush her hair if i sing…

flower, gleam and glow
let your power shine
make the clock reverse
bring back what once was mine

heal what has been hurt
change the fates’ design
save what has been lost
bring back what once was mine

wonder if she’ll start singing “i could go running/ and racing/ and dancing/ and chasing/ and leaping/ and bounding/ hair flying/ heart pounding/ and splashing/ and reeling/ and finally feeling/ now’s when my life begins!” next?!

{ 13 comments }

{mad men inspired} what i wear & how i wear it

by @according2kelly on October 11, 2011

i’ve joined a movement – a fashion movement that is. sweats, work out pants & sometimes even pajamas have become the norm much to often. so i’m linking up with the always fabulous lindsey & my new friend nina, to document what i wear & how i wear it. there’s nothing like having a little outfit accountability to get you motivated to actually get dressed each & every day.

hectic schedules, poor lighting conditions, and a terrible case of mommy brain, has resulted in absolutely no pictures of my latest outfits – but i can promise you one thing, i have been getting dressed, each & every day.

mad-men-dress

luckily, angry julie agreed to my personal photographer at the recent mad men inspired oc blogger bash, documenting my well teased hair, cat eyes & 60′s inspired garb.

what-to-wear-mad-men-inspiredmad men inspired party {oc blogger bash}
teal dress: betty paige
black patent leather belt: betty paige
black patent leather wedges: steve maden
 black purse: chanel
pearl bracelet: vintage

after spending the evening drooling over vintage cars, drinking milk shakes, eating retro candy & watching audrey hepburn on the big screen, i’m starting to think i was born in the wrong era… even if i do look like the mom from the wonder years.

so what did you wear this week?

{ 20 comments }

{almost} wordless wednesday: scrabble alphabet soup

by @according2kelly on October 5, 2011

scrabble-alphabet-soupit’s become a morning ritual – once the lunches have been made, the boys dressed for school & breakfast is on the table, scrabble alphabet soup comes out.

with school back in session, and gavin & owen in 1st grade & pre-k, learning to spell & read has become a bit all-too-consuming. i don’t know about them, but i’m already sick of flash card, & easy readers. luckily, we’ve discovered scrabble alphabet soup…

scrabble alphabet soup is a seriously fabulous game for everyone, but especially new readers (& spellers). players can “grab their spoon, roll up their sleeves and dive into the frenzied spelling action in a race to scoop up a three, four or five-letter word.”

each of the players gets a card, selects a word they are aiming to spell, then starts scooping out letters, hoping you’ve scooped out the letters needed to spell their word. the first player to spell the selected word on their card wins the round.

i love that my kids are learning to recognize letters, spell, construct words & even read – all while playing a game & having fun. & the best part? now that it’s part of our “morning routine,” the kids look forward to playing each & every day, without even realizing they’re learning.

disclaimer: i received scrabble alphabet soup for review purposes, but the opinions expressed are 100% my own. & we really & truly do play scrabble alphabet soup every morning as we eat breakfast.

{ 11 comments }

{almost} wordless wednesday: dancing queen

by @according2kelly on August 24, 2011

always remember to…

even though, chances are…

somebody is watching,

you are going to be hurt,

someone will hear you,

& heaven really is on earth.

_______________________________

photo & video via ryan marshall of pacing the panic room

{ 2 comments }

i’m on the edge, of glory.

by @according2kelly on August 23, 2011

it all started with a message that read: SUPER SECRET!!!! i’m looking for extroverts to be part of a top secret BlogHer’11 mission.

super secret?! extroverts needed?! my interest was definitely piqued.

suddenly i found myself on the edge, of glory (literally), & immersed in super-duper-secret-BlogHer’11-flash-mob preparations (officially called mobHer), organized by the always fabulous theresa (rock on mommies) & mary (the mama mary show).

we’re talking virtual dance rehearsals, spontaneous dance parties & lots of extra curricular dance practice – in front of the mirror, in the kitchen, & pretty much anywhere i heard lady gaga.

mobherfast forward one month later. i am at the san diego convention center. the day is friday, august 5th. the time is 12:15pm, & i find myself nervously chatting, as my super-duper-secret is about to be shared (& witnessed) by hundreds of unsuspecting bloggers.

suddenly, off in the distance, i hear the music begin, & i realize the time has come. it’s time for me to live “on the edge, of glory.”

honestly, i couldn’t think of a more appropriate song. because, aren’t we all on “the edge, of glory” after all?!

{ 20 comments }

← Previous Entries