Merry Merry!

Beloved friends,

I wish you a most magical and joyful Christmas and entire holiday season! I'll be busy hanging with my family and will likely not post much for the next week and a half.

But that doesn't mean I don't love you.

xo
k

"christmas wishes on december 25th..."

http://www.hulu.com/watch/116558/saturday-night-live-update-fred-and-kristen

colossal.

In addish to the 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW, we need to add one...

i. joined. twitter.

thanks to: joanna and emmy.

vacay kicks off soon! I am a ball of holiday anticipation and merriment! ben, my riding buddy, will have to suffer through 7 hours of it as we head southeastern to our respective family homes in lovely NC.

Thanks to my newest addiction, you'll know all about it... 140 characters at a time.

xo

Fact.

I have managed to spend my entire life living in one of the "top 10 happiest states!"

Florida
South Carolina
Tennessee.

Dirty South- you've been good to me.

carol.

from dad: are you sitting down? attached are some pix of Mama's wrapping expertise! a large package for me, would take too much wrapping paper, so carol sue improvised, and VIOLA!

Astounding

Almost too good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfzRlcnq_c0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgFh1rEr5dM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkxFA7nzLFg&feature=related

mind = blown.

Thanks, Brent!

Pinch Me

Do you ever have a beautiful and spontaneous moment where you just stand back from your life, look at it, and smile with gratitude from all the way down to your toes??

I am the most blessed girl and happy as I can ever remember being. I have abounding joy in my world and I wouldn't change a thing. My family, friends, roommates, work, church and LIFE are in a really wonderful place and I am just grateful to be alive to enjoy it!

I can't stop smiling...and occasionally.. singing about it.

pang

My name is Kelley and I will always get a little excited about the Bachelor.

WHY???????

Don't worry. I'm not watching one minute of it. Promise.







But, I'll wonder.

Big Time

(In response to the news of my shooting a how-to video on organizing for AOL tomorrow)

Kelley: I'm SO excited about this... but kinda nervous.
Chelsea: You are Pamela Anderson at the baseball game right now.

HOOPING the HALF

It is offish!

I am hooping the half marathon in April! Country Music Marathon, here we come!

...and by "we", I mean me and 99 of my favorite hula hooping friends.

Not only will it be a really fun journey of training, bonding and doing something so fun that it is impossible to be in a bad mood while doing it. I will also be working to benefit "Hooping for Hope!"

HFH exists to reignite the female spirit in women who have defeated the odds and survived breast cancer. They've acknowledged, going in to treatment, they may die... they aren't prepared for what happens when they survive. It sounds like treatment can be very lonely and strips a woman of what makes her feel feminine. THIS is a great opportunity to love on these ladies, give them a fun past time, a community of support and remind them of the lovely spirit within them.

I LOVE THIS!

So, who knew I could hula hoop... and it would matter?!

in addish...

is it better that I have a completely true coffee mug today or that I'm wearing no sleeves because it is so warm?

You be the judge.

and a CLOSE second....

they're on FIRE today...

carol: i'm bringing ham and jello salad to our office party this week.
me: that sounds like old people food
carol: but its the really good cranberry jello salad- i love it.
me: that makes total sense. you're old.
carol: not that old.
me: you're right. not til February.
carol: you're right... i'm ancient. but.... God is older.
me: oh my gosh.

I LOVE MY PARENTS!!!!!!!!

Cam

dad: kel. I saw a lifetime movie last night whose star looks JUST like your roomie Jordan.
me: dad. you watch fa la la la lifetime???
dad: I gave up a while ago when, for my BIRTHDAY, I saw "Mama Mia"
me: iloveyousomuch.

the kicker? He was totally right! She's the spitting image of Jordy!!

love you, pops.

A Mental Picture

Because my digital camera is out of commish, I will paint you a mental picture of the delights that are my living room right now.

1. There is (not kidding) a DVD playing a fire. Yes, that means there is a fire roaring (crackles and all) in our "fireplace" which is the TV. What? We'll take what we can get.

2. There are tiny white lights around the periphery of the room. They are perfect and provide a delicious glow making our living room feel lovely the way snow makes even a junk yard look picturesque.

3. There is a tiny (fake) Christmas tree on top of a table just as you walk in the door. There are two reasons we had to go fake this year. One, our house is a fire waiting to happen and two, it is a huge fire hazard. Read: this house cannot use another excuse to catch flame. Thus, we will place a cute little tree on a table and light a tiny candle that smells like pine. Sure, it probably all evens out, but whatever.

4. There is a santa-penguin shamelessly suction-cupped to the window.

5. There are tiny white lights and a Santa on the porch. Completely awesome.

6. There is a poinsettia on the dining room table.

7. There is a cup of candy canes on the coffee table.

8. There will soon be a Nativity Scene on the entry table.

9. There are fabulous and nostalgic Christmas tunes in the air.

10. It. Is. Christmas.


Side notes:
This weekend was a great one! Dinner with Rachel was outstanding and a wonderful time to catch up on the last 13 years. Jessica's birthday celebrations were a riot- I hope she felt SO loved! Roommate Christmas was ideal. Toss in some rest, a kosher early bird special and even a champagne tasting and you've got my weekend.

Life is good.

Tiga Tiga Tiga Woods, y'all

Why am I shocked any more when Hollywood disappoints me?

Fame repels faithfulness. At least that's how it seems, right? When the news of his "accident" broke, I was sitting in the living room with my sister and dad. We called it. It was just a little too fishy and i KNEW Elin wasn't helping him but, instead, missing her real target-his head. The fact that she used a golf club is almost too apropos.

I really always thought el Tigre was a great guy. He seemed to have his act together and some supernatural skills. I mean, I could watch that commercial of him dribbling the golf ball on that club all day. But now he's oh-so-human.

He's become a statistic, y'all.

I know my appropriate response should be the realization that we're all sinful, but my reaction is utter disappointment. Like any other person whose hidden life is exposed, he is squirming. A natural response. My hope is that he can soon salvage his family and marriage.

Must another one bite the dust?

I'm pretty fortunate Cam and Carol have shown me its possible.

Count Off!

Some say I'm an onion.

Layers and layers.

Ok, it is mostly my co-workers. and roommates. FINE. I get it- I have packed a lot of hobbies and experiences into my 30 years and it takes some time to unfold all the stories, people!

Let me paint you a picture.

I was 15 (and 3/4) and decided to take the adventure of a lifetime. Fortunately, Mom and Dad agreed to let me live on a mountain in Honduras for 2 months of my high school summer. Let me back up. My dear friend Julia had spent the summer before in Australia with Teen Missions International and it more than intrigued me... it motivated me! Before I knew it, it was Honduras or BUST.

A few months, a training boot camp in Florida (not kidding) and LOTS of bug bites later, 30 or so of my newest friends and I were en route on TACA Airlines. Did I mention that, in order to herd 30 + highschoolers, we were forced to "count off" when we needed to account for everyone? Yes. We did that. We were the first team to inhabit that lovely mountain in San Isidro outside of San Pedro Sula. You say you want to see pictures? Oh, OK.

(Team Pic right before we left Florida for Honduras)

(our lovely surroundings)

(I'm in red and rachel is to my right)

and.. because you've been good... a picture of my perma-triangle hair: (I'm not proud)

Fifteen years later, I remember everything vividly. I became proficient at outdoor restroom use, befriended dive-bombing bats that kept me bug-bite free and even became one heck of a whiz with a shovel. After two long months of working the hardest of my life, we were responsible for what would become the entire septic system for the (then) upcoming Honduran Teen Missions Training Center (or whatever the actual name is.)

But if that's all you learn about my trip- you'd be cheated.

Y'all. I changed COMPLETELY on that trip! There wasn't one bit of me left the same. I left a weak little 15 year old whose biggest concern was if "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman" was going to be a new episode. I left sure of myself, my faith in Jesus and pretty certain I didn't want my life to be "normal." I was also quite certain I didn't want to live any place the Hondurans condemned ever. again.

I was launched into a community of folks that will probably never all be together again. In fact, that occurred to me one day and I remember making a huge effort to soak in the moment. Who knows, though... we may if Facebook has anything to say about it. We were a motley crew. None of us really knew what we were doing- but we braved (what will always be one of the benchmarks of my life) like champs! We, of course, bonded and I am thrilled to say I still keep up with the two most significant friends I made on our adventure!

Rachel and Josh.

Josh lives in Chicago and visiting him in August was the highlight of my summer! Rachel lives in the UK with her hubs. Here's the awesome part- she's in the states visiting her family for the holidays!! EVEN cooler? Her folks live in Mt. Juliet, TN- that is a grand total of roughly 20 miles from me! I get to see her for the first time in 13 years on FRIDAY! We used to write letters faithfully (our friendship pre-dated email, kiddos) and I still remember her childhood street address in Mentor, OH.

Long story, short. I will forever be grateful for that insane summer- complete with the lunacy and importance it brought 15-year-old me. It made me, in a small way, into... me.

Also- there is nothing like an old friend... especially when that friend also dodged a black panther with you in the tropics.

(kissing the ground in Miami upon return to the USA)

By the way... I was number 22.

the truth

i'm tired.

i'm happy!

we had a GREAT thanksgiving (mom, dad, kris, chad and me with nadia, chris, hilda and stevie!)

there is a large santa on our porch and an "elf on a shelf" atop the deer head in our living room.

standard.

TIS the SEASON!

more later... once the caffeine starts to work.

xo

Any Way the Wind Blows...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

da da da DA!

Somebody's blog is a toddler- I'm so proud!

Its seems a lifetime... and but a moment since the first post.

Thanks for letting me invade your space on the regular. You make me so happy! Who knows what the next two years will hold?!

Anticipation

Instead of getting overwhelmed by how much there is to cover, I will just say this:

ITS ALMOST THANKSGIVING!! Cam and Carol are coming on the heels of Kris and Chad. I am so excited- I can't even tell you! You may all *think* you have the best family... that's sweet... but you're wrong. Kirkers/Rochesters bring the funk always.

We'll trade turkey for pork loin, mashed potatoes for grilled asparagus, stimulating conversation for high intensity board games, brisk activity for sleeping and clothing for jammies. All in all.... perfection.

On the heels of a (more than) lovely weekend of marrying off June and Chip- I'd say life is pretty darn good.

xo

P.P.S.

If only I could consolidate my excitements today, there wouldn't be so many posts!

But...

I had to mention.

WE ALREADY HAVE OUR TICKETS TO SEE NEW MOON ON SUNDAY!!!!

I'm so excited, I bought Chelsea a "Team Jacob" t-shirt. even though I know she's Team Edward. Mind games.

xo

also....

SWOON!

I am ONE retainer away from asking my parents if I can wallpaper my room with photos of my new obsesh... GLEE!

I'll do all my chores...swear!

From a McCoy to a Thomas!

Today is here!

Think about it.


Just kidding. Today is the day I've been looking forward to for months- it is the day I point the Camry to Atlanta (with Coco riding shotgun) and all the thrill of Sarah June's wedding weekend begins!!

She's about to be a Thomas and we get to be there to witness it! I'll be donning (more appropriately "wedging in to") my burnished olive bridesmaid dress (with pockets, no less) and trotting down the aisle full of excitement! By the way, why do I always forget to work out every single day for a month before the wedding? WHY? Eh- whatev. The day will be about Sarah June and her radiant self becoming one with Chip- a man among men.

I'm as excited about all the fun of this weekend as I was that one time I laid on the couch in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and found Felicity on TV.... (I know, riiiight?)

Photos to follow!!

eeeeeeeeeeee!

Endless Love on GLEE tonight!!!!

I can't get enough of...

this song. Am I becoming a full-on country fan?

I guess that's what 5 years will do.

Murder at the Juice Joint

This was the best birthday party idea ever.

Welcome.

careful. Molly Molls is a good shot.

nice roommate love.

speak easy gang.

"natalie" and "southside sal"

um... amazing shot.

Finally... I can't decide which of these two photos wins "best of the night"...



Its a tough call!

Chelsea and I loaded up the double peanut butter pound cake I slaved over (riiiiight?!) and our fishnets and headed straight over to Johnny B's Murder Mystery birthday party. Best way to turn 31 that I ever heard of!

Y'all. It was SO MUCH FUN! I can't wait to find multiple excuses in the future to do such a thing. I was Molly (the no talent opportunist engaged to Notorious Nick, of course) and it was just plain fun. Molly rocks blonde hair, a cigarette extender, wields a gun and a lot of sass.

Things got interesting when Nick died and I got blamed! (Gah.) Pressure to clear my name was ON. Fortunately, the real killer was revealed. Can you believe it was the crooked Police Chief? Ain't that always the way?

So, it was basically the most whimsical evening I've enjoyed in ages and loved every minute! Mark and Lisa's house played the PERFECT backdrop for the evening. Hannah was one heck of a party planner/ speakeasy owner!

Fun was had by all... and maybe some prohibitionary treats.

alter ego... Molly.

Is THIS more "Molly" from the Juice Joint?


Or is THIS?

Vote! The Murder Mystery Dinner on Saturday won't play itself.

xo,
kelley

ps. kris.. i may want this haircut. be warned.

diversions.

Its friday eve... thus, i present:

YUMMIE.

and

AMAZING.





* special thanks to contributor trey without whom the content would remain yet undiscovered by the author.

Life-a-Rama

I got start my day at Bread and Co. with Hilda-boo. We had a great catch-up date over an egg white omelet- money combo!

After a long day at work, I got to go meet the newest residents of Nashville.... Masters Julian Cash and Luca David Williams! What handsome little men. They are honestly the most precious tiny creatures! I think I have a crush on both of them. I mean... look at these faces. Make me miss my days in the womb with Kris Kross.

My heart melted getting to hold Luca. I love me some Williams!! I can't wait to see Etta with them. Amanda and David were just happy as can be. I love them!

After that, I took it to the east side and enjoyed the first of many Hoop-a-Rama classes! I am hooked, y'all! I plan to take this town by storm- one rotation at a time. I learned to "pump" tonight. NBD. Next stop... hooping the half marathon! Ok, next stop is probably learning to hoop and walk, but still.

Then, I came home to watch "The Biggest Loser" (!!!!!!) with Jordy, Chels and Anna. Obviously. I just get so in to that show every week! I mean- SHAY!! Imagine the cardiac arrest I would have if I actually allowed myself to watch "Friday Night Lights" right now.

So, all in all, it was a GREAT DAY!

My secret friends

I often wonder about you all.

Like... who in Baltimore reads my blog often? I love Baltimore! (and you, whoever you are!)

Today i saw Portugal! I thought "B" and Julia were my only only International readers. I'm honored!

And you, my faithful Ft. Campbell reader- hello!

I almost feel like I owe you more... content. or something.

Nah... this is all I got- glimpses into the life of a 30 year old life-lover. So glad you've all joined me!!

love, k

ps. I'd send you a bouquet of combos and ring pops if I knew where to send them.

yawn.

I'm SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPY.

I rested a lot over the weekend- between the hysterical laughter, amazing food and movies... so, who knows why? All I know is that my heart is FULL from sweet time with June and the girls. Seriously.... like... too much fun. Love love love em!

But I am tired.

So, I leave you with Taylor Swift's monologue on SNL over the weekend.

xoxo

Weekend Fun!

I can't even tell you how excited I am for the 5pm whistle to blow (and by whistle, you know I mean last sip of tasty beer-in-a-mug to be consumed and oodles of emails forsaken until Monday) so I can hit the open road.

TO MONTEAGLE I GO!

We're celebrating Sarah June and her upcoming nuptials to the fabulous Chip Thomas!

There will be long walks, hysterical laughter, junk food, fall tunes, togetherness and LOVE welling up in all of us. What's better than a baker's dozen women getting together to play for a weekend?

Nothing. That's what.

Whisker Entertainment

Behold.... Whiskerino!

My friends Daniel, Trey, Aaron and David are all doing their part and growing hairs on their face for 120 days in order to win the bragging rights of MOST hairy.

I think.

I honestly don't know all the rules.

I just know that watching hair grow is more fun than I thought.

overheard at work today:

me: oooooh, we got an account that makes (insert favorite board game)
designer kelly: oh ME ME ME ME
me: well, I'm going to randomly assign this design

five minutes later...

kelly: I GOT IT!
me: aw- you were *supposed* to have it!
kelly: if you love something... let it go....

Halloween: Rochester Edition

Lets take a visual journey, shall we?

What if Lady Gaga became a bit more masculine?

we'll call this: the manly years.

And then, what if The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kim had a twin:

she says "Don't be tardy for the Party"... and Kristin wasn't.

Don't be fooled by Chad's changed appearance. This was a pre-halloween partay.

They're with me and I'm just plain proud.

Oh, Hi!

Hi there!

Well, I better write something today because Chelsea doesn't know what to do with herself if I don't and I can't leave my public feeling displaced.

I could share the story with you about my mom calling on a client yesterday who had pet turkeys and how she tried unsuccessfully to take pictures on her phone. (A sight I would give a lot of money to see).

I could also tell you about how over the weekend I was Kelly Kapowski from Saved By the Bell (SBTB to the real fans). You know, the episode where she uses the blemish cream Zach whips up in Chemistry class and it dyes her face a crimson red? Good thing that is Bayside's color. Alongside my faithful Jesse (Traci) and Lisa (Candace), we rocked three parties like whoa! It was lots of ridiculous fun.

I may even tell you how I got to see Haynes for her first birthday party and that she didn't care for cake (!!!!) and was the most adorable punkin ever!

I guess that sort of covers my weekend. While I get back to work, I will leave you with the mental image of my mother wrangling wild turkeys for a photo shoot.

you're welcome. xoxo

overheard in the living room tonight.

jordan: i think i bought the wrong sprinkles again.
anna: its a hard medium... Betty Crocker are too hard.
Jordan: no... they're "Parlor Perfect"
Anna: thats betty crocker
jordan: ah.

victory.

today I outgeeked Trey.

booyah.

Momentous!

THIS is a big day for Annie. Her very first album just dropped (nbd...just industry talk).

See?

Go listen. and buy. and love.

love,
kelley

office decor.

in case you don't read backwards, there is now an area up here in the Emma penthouse deemed "the cougar den."

that just happened.

Happy Little Trees

There's a group of us getting together in honor of Bob Ross tonight. His birthday is October 29th and, had he not died in 1995, he would have been turning the big 66.

Which of us can remember a rainy Saturday, in a home without cable, that did not warmly change with the soothing voice of Bob Ross? None. that's who... or was it just the Kirkers?

Chris decided a group needed to gather to commemorate, of course, so we're headed to the Greenhouse for a drink or three. Bob is an onion of layers and, if Wikipedia has anything to say about it, we'll know each of them by night's end.

Here's to you, man who coined, "happy little trees" and taught us it wasn't nearly as nerdy to paint in head-to-toe denim as long as you rock a white man's fro. We've all learned something here today.

ick.

i mean... REALLY?

Obviously, I dodged such a bullet.

Obviously.

purposely poked.

on Saturday I entered a world my mother has long enjoyed... homeopathics.

I tried ACUPUNCTURE!

Now, in the words of my father, yes- I did get holes poked in to my body and payed for it. It wasn't even so much a response to a particular injury or ailment. It was mostly...no.. totally due to the fact that i purchased a "spa package" for insanely cheap and it included some acupuncture. Genius!

So, half an hour of lying on my tummy breathing thru a hole in the cushion with pins strategically placed about ma body left me feeling... drunk. Weird, right? I stood up and almost hit the floor. I felt like I'd either had too much wine or had been sleeping deeply for hours. It was bizarre! Especially because I'd not even dozed off once. Plainly the pins are magic. duh.

So the real test was, naturally, going to be found out the next day. I got some pins in my right ear for stress relief, so it was hard to tell, on a Sunday, if it worked. I'm never stressed on Sundays. So, the true test was *actually* yesterday.

And, y'all.... I think it worked.

I had just as much work to do in *less* time than usual and didn't get stressed! Well... Chelsea would beg to differ as I contemplated throwing our wireless router out the window last night, but still. In general, I did not get overwhelmed once! I even rocked a smile all day long. I think.

So, now my goal is to step it up and try acupuncture again for other reasons. Devoted reader Jackie says that it was the cure for her mother's smoking habit. WHAT if pins make me a svelte body builder? [side note: when we were little, Kristin called women body builders "lizard ladies" and I still think its the best description I've heard].

So, operation pin prick is ON, bizzles!

new best friend.

Last night at church this happened:

me: hey buddy!
clark (pastor's hilarious 8 year old kid): *after doing our secret wink* um... you've gotten taller.
me: no... just wearing elevator shoes. (read: tall boots)
clark: my bad.

later...

me: that was so funny when you asked me if i had gotten taller.
clark: why?
me: well, usually 30-year-olds don't just grow a few inches
clark: you're 30? I thought you were 11.

el fin de semana

THANKTHESWEETLORD it is nearly the weekend.

I just need to jam about 9 hours of work into roughly 5 and then this girl is home free.

In the theme of a pictoral review of a week, I leave you with this. Sure its a few years old, but I just need you to know... i just really miss this one right here:

In similar news, JUNE and CHIP are COMING TO TOWN TODAY!!!!

eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

xo
k

Carol... again.

Yesterday mom pet this.
Inside a house.
With her bare hands.

What a baller.

Today, this is me.

forks.

text messages from our respective rooms:

Chelsea: is that an owl?
me: yeah... weird, huh?
Chelsea: it's probably Edward.
me: duh. I can hear his accent.

A pictoral review of Laudy in the last 72 hours

It felt like this.

so much so that chelsea wore this.

Then the heater got fixed and it feels like this

and now this is how I'll sleep.

:)

Some pics from Vacay

All four and a half of us.
Why do I always insist on the arm out photo? I'm usually better than this.

This view was insane!

Didn't wanna leave.

Baby shower!

Ther are a lot more, naturally, but I just spent a while uploading them to facebook and... it made me tired. I know. Its a new low. I get it.

I'm back in the real world but missing my girls like whoa.

but at least...

...its "podcast monday".

phew!

*sigh*

Its not so much that the temperature went from "Sunny and 99 with no humidity" to "Sunny and 42 with a chance of freezing one's buns off".

Its not even that I went from having only to choose what movie to watch each day to being back in the grind.

No... its not even the lobster and fresh guacamole I was eating transitioning into... tea for breakfast.

Its that I MISS MY GIRLS!!!

It was SUCH a wonderful trip. and i miss them. and i wish we all lived in the same city. and I love them! thankyouverymuch.

VACAY!

I could get used to this.

98 degrees.
sun.
no clouds.
margaritas.
pool.
no humidity.
best friends.
joy.

yes... I could get used to this indeed.

*full deets to follow, naturally*