HAPPY NEW YEAR - 12.31.14

Hi guys, it's me, that girl katie,

It seems a lot of people are posting on Facebook, what a wonderful year, thanks for being apart of it. I haven’t clicked on any of those links but I imagine it’s a photo gallery of pictures they have posted throughout the year. While I am happy and also jealous to think most everyone has had a great year it brings up emotions for me.

Saying goodbye to 2014 means saying hello to 2015 knowing my sister won’t be a part of it. Losing my sister to cancer has been the worst and hardest thing I have ever been faced with and most people around me have no clue how I feel inside. This morning while at a kick boxing class I punched and kicked the bag as if I was hitting cancer and yes I felt better afterwards. Both exercise and my kids have really helped me stay grounded during this journey and I am so grateful for that. I am also very appreciative of all those who have listened to me as I try to process the loss of my sister. I am forever changed and believe that that with time and work I will make it through this part of my life and become a much stronger and more confident individual.

I will never stop missing, loving and caring for my sister but I know I need to figure out my “new normal”.

I hope, wish and dream that 2015 is filled with a lot of good health and heaps and heaps of laughter. I would like to think that the change of a New Year will guarantee my wishes but I also know life isn’t always equal, fair or easy. I realize I need to CHOOSE HAPPINESS and that I have the power and control of that simple yet hard at times goal.

May all your dreams, goals and wishes come true for this year and all the years to come....And thanks for being apart of my year!

Cheers to 2015!

FREE HUGS – 4.28.14

Hi guys, it’s me, that girl katie, This past weekend was my sister’s funeral. I want to share a small part of what I said at her service along with the short video clip I took with my phone.

My talk was directed to my niece.

Your mom loved hugs and believed that you needed a certain number of hugs a day, which was least a bare minimum of 3 hugs. She loved getting hugs & she loved giving hugs. Your mom was always telling me a hug is ended when one person pulls away so at times it was a hugging contest between us. To her, the act of hugging meant so much she even had it incorporated in her email address and phone number.

And because I believe this is what Stacy would want, I invite you all to stand up and HUG a few of Stacy’s loved ones around you.

It was so my sister and for that it puts a smile on my face.

Cheers to Free Hugs.

The Gift of Nothing

Hey y'all, it's me, that girl katie, I imagine everyone is busy shopping for the holidays. I have a book that you might want to consider adding to your shopping list.

bookcover

Last week I volunteered to read a book and create a craft project to go along with the theme of the book to my daughters Kindergarten class. She and I decided that I would read, The Gift of Nothing. We both love this book and with all of the gifts that may enter your home during this holiday season, we thought this was perfect timing for a perfect message.

Supplies for the "Gift of Nothing" craft project: - little gift boxes with handles so they can be a holiday decoration if desired - white paper board - colored paper board - double sided tape - markers

Tips: -I cut out all people so kids could concentrate on coloring them -I cut out all word bubbles -I choose double sided tape to avoid having to use glue that take time to dry -I wrote the title of the book on the front of each box along -I wrote on the back of the box a line from the book "but me and you"

Here are some pictures of the craft project. They all turned out so great.

photo

photo copy 2

Also, thank you for following my blog as I am still trying to figure out how to blog on top of all other daily duties.

DIY Wine Glass Name Tag

Hi y'all, it's me, that girl katie,

Sea Bag

Hi there, it's me, that girl katie, I have been wanting one of these really cool recycled sail bags for awhile and worked with them to come up with a custom design with my logo. I love it!

Here is their website incase you want to checkout all of their products, www.seabags.com