It’s taken me a long time to finally get back to writing. I’m Katie. I’m a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend and enthusiast of many things, of which I will share a lot about here. I love sharing my ideas, learning new ones and connecting with people, so I’m finally writing in order to do so.
This is us. My husband, John, and I have been married for 10 years, together for 14. We have twins, Avery and Jack, who are 8 years old and in the third grade. We live in Pacific Palisades, California, which for L.A. is as “small town” as you can get. We like it, it works for us. I have been born and raised in Southern California and John’s from Memphis, Tennessee. I could easily divide my time between California and Tennessee – but that possibility is still to come.
I’m a bit nuts about the holidays. How can you not be??? For me, the holidays start with Halloween. Our house is decorated to the hilt for both. My poor husband has to deal with the absolutely insane amount of decor, chotchkes, wrapping, cooking gear, you name it, that I have for Halloween and Christmas. I have a bucket list every holiday season of the things I associate with the ultimate season. It’s all a bit overkill, but I love it and my kids love it. It ends up being so much fun, I manage to even recruit the most “Grinchy” of the bunch over to my Esprit de Noël!
We generally spend Thanksgiving with either my family or John’s. We had an incredible trip to Texas and Tennessee last year. We like to stop in Dallas if we have time, then we spend time in Memphis with John’s mom and go up to Nashville as well to visit friends there. I’m lucky enough to have two very dear friends in Nashville to draw me there. I have a southern girl in me, so I love to get there as often as we can! This year, we are going to my folks for Turkey Day and my dad will be 85 the following day, so birthday celebrations are taking place as well. It will be a quick trip, but I love spending time at their home in Los Olivos. It’s a beautiful setting for a family gathering, amidst vineyards and countryside, the colors lend beautifully to a Thanksgiving celebration. My mom is a voracious cook, so I can get in the kitchen with her and bond over the feast that we prepare together. Their property is a kids paradise, fenced in acres of vineyards and olive trees (my folks make wine and olive oil) which they run and play (electronics free!) and sleep like babies each night. I love the towns there – Los Olivos, Solvang and Santa Inez. This time of year, being of Scandinavian descent, I love to shop in Solvang for all the little Scandinavian Christmas stuff. We will go up there more in December for my moms birthday and during the kids break from school. Luckily, it’s not far from us, so we have the luxury of going more often.
Next week, we are heading to Dallas. The boys are going to the Cowboys game and Avery and I are going to do some fun girl stuff. I’m going to be putting together my travel wardrobe in the next few days. I’ll share what I come up with. It’s been SO hot in L.A. that I’m a little giddy at the prospect of cool weather. Last year when we were there it was so cold. This year it looks like it will be in the 60’s. I’ll take it! Neiman Marcus and Stanley Korshak here I come!
So, that’s a bit about me. I just want to share some of these ideas, thoughts, inspirations, wins, losses, whatever that I have thought in the past might actually be interesting.
All for now!!! Happy Sunday!!!
Between you and me... 