Kitty's Dish

I’m on trend right now with my new fuchsia and purple feather hair extension, so I just MUST dish in a hurry…  

Since spotting one on a girlfriend of mine a few weeks ago, I’ve been noticing them everywhere!  Such a fun accessory for summer and best of all: easy on, easy off and only about $10 each.  I was super excited to jump on the band wagon and get my own this past weekend for a party that I was attending, so I made a last-minute appointment with my stylist. In less than 10 mins (8 of which were taken up by me choosing my colors), VOILA! Fun, whimsical, edgy and on trend. You can still wash, blow dry, curl, flat iron, etc, and from what I hear they last a few weeks or can be easily removed and re-applied as you choose. Love it. 

Better hurry to get yours, because you know how trends go….by the time you’re finished reading this, well, it may be old news.

I am a terrible liar, and that’s the truth. 

Not to say that I’m incapable of embellishing a story to make it a wee bit more colorful (hence, the blog), but a real fabricated lie can take on a life of its own, and I’m just not the type who can carry that kind of baggage.  I’m forever haunted by one particular fabrication that dates back to elementary school.  Oh my, here comes a therapy session. 

At the end of the school year, my second grade Catholic School teacher, Sister Mary Jane, asked me to babysit her bird for the summer while she was be traveling.  I was an excellent student, (honor roll, ‘gifted’ class, etc.) so Sister Mary Jane must have thought the world of me to let me care for her beloved pet.  With my Mom’s permission, I brought the bird home and set up its cage in my bedroom.  I don’t recall exactly how long this little venture was successful before the bird took a turn for….well, the bird croaked.  Yes, I inadvertently killed a nun’s pet bird. 

That isn’t the worst of it. 

Maybe Sister Mary Jane was concerned that I had become too attached to her pet over the summer, or perhaps she really didn’t even want the bird anymore after all once she returned from her travels, so at the end of summer she called to offer me the bird to keep.  …And I ACCEPTED.  That darn bird had been dead for most of the summer, but I was too embarrassed to tell her that I failed; so, instead, I accepted with gratitude.  Oh bless me Father,  I lied to the nun.

When I returned that Fall for the third grade, I would see Sister Mary Jane in the hallways in passing and she would ask about the bird.  I was already caught up and couldn’t turn back, so I responded by telling her that the bird was doing well and that I loved my new pet so very much. Throughout the year, I would dodge her when I saw her coming, but occasionally our paths would cross and I’d have to smile and lie between my teeth.  Can you imagine the anxiety?  I was on my way to hell in a handbasket.  This may have continued on into the fourth grade year, either way it seemed like forever; and then thankfully, she eventually stopped asking.

Why couldn’t I stop and tell her the truth?  Life experience has now taught me that a lie weighs so much more heavily than any consequence the truth could ever bring.  But I have to wonder if Sister Mary Jane somewhow knew the truth the entire time;  I can’t imagine that I was a very talented  liar at only 8 or 9 years young.  Maybe she let me work through it myself so that I could learn the lesson on my own.

At least now I can giggle about it, and the truth can set me free now that I’m blogging my story to the world.  Hey, who knows, maybe Sister Mary Jane is reading my blog somewhere up there from heaven now? ….  I have to assume that God has WiFi in heaven, right?

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Do you have a fabulous gift idea for the wonderful and loving father in your world?

CUSTOMIZED KICKS

I’m terrible at surprises.  Not only am I difficult to surprise, but I can’t seem to surprise anyone else either because I have zero patience and my poker face needs some MAJOR practice.  I always, ALWAYS give in out of sheer excitement.  (I’m a terrible liar too….but I’ll get to that in another post someday.)

My husband’s Father’s Day present arrived yesterday via UPS, which I had secretly shipped to my office, two whole weeks early.  Yup.  You guessed it, I folded within just 30 seconds of walking in the door after work and surprised him with an early present….well my 7 month old son ‘surprised’  him with it.  But you get the point.  (I need a  how-to-wait- for-a-surprise intervention, seriously.)  

Anyway, I’m so proud of the gift that I just must dish so that you can copy the idea. Nike offers an option through NikeID where you can customize sneakers down to the color patterns, and you can even add letters to the tongue top.  I lucked out and found a color combo in a pair of Nike Air Max 95′s that he had wanted for some time and then added my son’s initials to really customize them and to make the gift be  ’from’ our little guy.  Best of all, my husband will always be reminded of how much we love him and what an amazing Daddy he is every time he wears them.

JERKY BOYS

In the current issue of Food Network Magazine, there is recipe featured for Homemade Smokey Cola Beef Jerky, which has now been tried, tested, and triumphant in the kitchen of Kitty.  Beef jerky is the ultimate Man Food.  I don’t know about you, but store-bought jerky grosses me out like no other.  Those little flecks of fat and it’s oozy greasiness…yuck, no thanks.  However, if making it homemade, you can use  the best cut of sirloin and make a much more tasty version.  

Wow was it  D-E-L-I-S-H, and easy peasy too!   (Plus it’s far less expensive than the customized kicks idea above, if you’re on a budget.)   Click here for recipe.  I don’t own a dehydrator, so I used the oven method.  The finished product isn’t very giftable visually when it’s done, so this mug presentation is the perfect fix.  You can also wrap up a bunch in butcher’s paper secured with twine, and include a heartfelt Happy Father’s Day note served along with some frosty imported beer and a classic comedy like Caddyshack or Animal House.

What’s your Father’s Day gift idea?

(Update: So apparently the Hard Rock isn’t continuing the Thurs night shindigs after all (booooo!) , but the best way to track the trucks is on Twitter.  Click my follow link on the right panel, and you can see some of the ones that I keep an eye on. Enjoy!)

I have been literally salivating for the last 30 minutes trying to run through my yummy tastings from last night’s escapades at the Food Truck Rally at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL.  I’ve been adding my newly found favorites to follow on Twitter so that I can keep their locations on radar, just in case I get the urge to drive across town for a fix….or maybe just to test my self-control as to NOT drive all over town like a maniac foodie-holic.  They were that insanely delicious. 

I’ve always been a diehard for the Food Network, which is where I first learned about these gourmets-on-wheels years ago. The Hubby and I daydream about an RV vacation, touring Diners Drive-Ins & Dives across the country… I have to wonder how Guy Fieri does it without ending up on the Biggest Loser?

So last night was my first real food truck feast and ooh my word…..  it was worth every single, mouth-watering, flavorfully delish calorie that I devoured.  First stop: Ms. Cheezious for a Grilled Bacon & Bleu, which is crisp bacon with creamy blue cheese and green onion on sourdough bread.  And I thought that I was the grilled cheese guru with my little mayo trick? Heck no, I’m not anymore.  Ms. Cheezious, you are now crowned the queen of grilled cheese.  That melt was genius.  Can’t wait for another.

The next hour or two was a blur of foodgasims.  The Hubby and my bestie’s hubby zoomed back and forth between our table and the trucks, ordering more tasty treats than we should admit to.  Meanwhile my bestie and I chatted it up, kept the kiddies happy, and juggled diaper changes and baby bottles in between bites and forkfuls of deliciousness.  Some notable mentions were the Deep Fried Cupcakes from Sugar Rush, with condensed milk dipping sauce; the ”Mother Stuffer Luna” from Mr. Good Stuff, which this week was a tomato & mozzarella caprese stuffed into a Venezuelan arepa; and the Short Rib Tator Tots and the Ginger Brussel Sprouts from Dim Ssäm à gogo. 

I now pronounce thee: my favorite foods.

The good news for you all, or at least all of my local South FL readers, is that this Food Truck Rally is planned to continue all summer long on Thursday nights from 6pm to 10pm.  It’s family friendly, and they show a weekly movie under the stars (last night was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), as well as any big game such as last night’s Heat game.  And rumor has it that other activities such as face painting and carnival games may be coming soon.   

Wait a minute.  I cancelled my Weight Watchers Membership today.  Really, I did.  But now that I’m thinking about it, was this a subconscious decision influenced by my enjoyment last night?  Am I still walking around like a zombie in a food coma?

…What the hell, life is about living and loving…and I am certainly loving this new Thursday night foodie fest.  Come on out, but be warned: Must. Bring. Appetite.

I am feeling especially private this week.  My grandmother, on my father’s side, was moved to hospice care on Monday and passed away this morning.  It’s amazing how frivolous the world seems when something so real happens.  Blogging just doesn’t feel right. 

All that I will say is that, in my eyes, this woman defined grace.  She lived a long, beautiful life of 95 years.  I have so many fond memories, and for a brief moment I considered expressing them here on this forum, but I just can’t.  Maybe one day.  Instead, for now, I am taking this time to reflect inwardly and remember my grandmother with love and appreciation. 

Finally, I can dish! (and, exhale……..ahhhhh)  I’ve had to hold this one in for the ENTIRE WEEK, and all the while I was bursting at the seams with pride.  Someone get Martha on the line and tell her KITTY IS CRAFTY too! 

I made my first diaper cake for a co-workers baby shower, and I am going to take the next few minutes of your time to toot my own horn.  The absolutely, positively best part is…and I MUST tell you this in advance to keep you interested….are you ready for this one?….It is drinkable.  Oh yes, I’ve managed to smuggle in alcohol for the mommy-to-be’s pleasure.   At the center of this adorable display of Pampers wrapped with cutesy ribbon and tissue paper is a bottle of champagne to celebrate baby’s arrival.

I can’t really take full credit here.  I must cite my sources of inspiration and detailed instructions found on the web.  It started like this….

Last year when I was expecting, my coworkers put together the most incredible work shower for me.  Actually, this shouldn’t even have qualified as a work shower….I was spoiled rotten with an elaborate surprise in my boss’s beautiful home, with lots of generous gifts and fun memories with dear coworkers friends.

Fast forward to now… As soon as I learned that another surprise office shower was in the works for someone else, I wanted in.  Although I’m not very close with this mommy-to-be, I wanted to pay it forward and here was my chance.  And party? (blowing on my fingernails)  That’s my specialty. 

I scoured the internet for inspiration and discovered HWTM’s Momma Bird free printables.  Free is fabulous.  And to really make it shine, I came across the perfect centerpiece: an HWTM Diaper Cake complete with cutout birds.  Our theme is set and we’re ready to go. 

…..screeeeeech.  Stop.  The guest of honor is SCARED OF BIRDS.  Oh no, not just a little afraid. Come to find out, she has a true phobia of these little chirping feathered friends. This was a fear only Alfred Hitchcock could dream up, but now it was messing with my mojo….and Lord knows, you just can’t mess with Kitty’s party planning. 

My party contribution was crushed, but I licked my wounds and carried on.  We worked around the loss of theme with little time to go, and we kept it simple.  I was only able to salvage a couple of the free printables for decor, but had to crop out the little bird silhouettes as to not throw the expecting mommy into a panic attack.  (But as anyone who’s experienced childbirth knows, at 38 weeks today, she may have actually thanked me for the push towards contractions.)

That fabulous diaper cake? That was just NOT going to be sacrificed.  HWTM’s version was my true inspiration, but it was Alpha Mom’s narration, complete with step-by-step pictures, that knocked it out of the park.  I’m not going to give you the gory details, but I definitely suggest that you check each out and give it a whirl for the next baby shower that you’ll be attending.   Take it from me, a new mommy, the champagne itself will win the prize.

Congrats again, Susy.  I am so thrilled for you to join the mommy club, and I can’t wait to swap new mommy stories with you soon after your little bundle arrives! xo

Oh, before I forget.  Here is my crafty creation.  Not bad for a diaper cake virgin, eh?



Petunia Pickle Bottom! Just the name is fabulous… makes you want to say it over and over again like a children’s tongue twister…. Petunia Pickle Bottom, Petunia Pickle Pottom, Petunia Pickla Pattam…. ok, ok, I’ll stop now….

I’m lusting after this fabulous clutch for family nights out. I can’t add it to my “favorites for mommies” list because I don’t actually own it (yet), but hopefully I can move it over to that category once I have it in hand and as soon as I can think of my list of reasons to explain to The Hubby of why I can’t live without it.

First of all, it is called Cake, and yes, it looks just as delicious in person as a sugary slice of fluffy moistness with icing on top. “Cake” is a vintage print that comes in a Carry All, a Satchel, a Holdall, and a Pocketbook, but it’s the Clutch that caught my eye. I have plenty of oversized bags stuffed in my closet, so nothing sounds more appetizing than a sweet little clutch to carry just what mommy needs for the baby and me.

As many of PPB’s items do, it comes with a coordinating wipey case, a fold out detachable changing pad, and plenty of little compartments for stashing other necessities. It will surely fit a bottle, my phone and/or camera, and an extra bib or two at least.

I’m on a yellow trend lately, which is called Buttercream here, but you can score the French Gooseberry or Apple Tart on final sale at Layla Grace, both of which are fun, bright summer colors.

Isn’t it just as cute as pie….umm, I mean cake?

With afterthoughts of the royal wedding lingering in the tabloids, I’m fabulously intoxicated by the ideas of romance and fairytales left in the air.  I dream of my wedding, only now I’m looking back instead of forward. What a magical night it was….

My big day was two years ago, however I find myself still just as obsessed with wedding details and planning as I was then as a blushing bride, and still gushing over glamorous wedding gowns in storefront windows.  The royal wedding is really just an excuse for me to expose my addiction as an already happily married woman, and reason for others to pretend to be interested in the details once again. 

Every detail was a success.  With a dash of creativity, endless hours of internet research looking for inspiration, some generous gifts from connected friends in the event industry, and a whole lotta planning, we were able to make our dreams come true on a dime.  Really, you would fall over if you knew how tight our budget actually was, and that we actually stayed on target.  And budgeting is just NOT my forte, my friends, and that’s no secret!

I’m already imagining the plans for our vow renewal someday…. Next time, maybe I’ll want my feet in the sand, somewhere exotic.  Or did you see Tori & Dean’s vow renewal last May?  Loved how they incorporated their kiddies, the chic grey and yellow color scheme, and that they featured displays of their favorite things (such as Tori’s shoe display and the painted motorcycle for Dean), the ‘typewriter notes to the couple’, and the complete living room decor set amongst the gorgeous Beverly Hills backdrop.  Stunning. 

What are your wedding dreams? Feel free to link your wedding or event post in my comments. I’d love to see!

In my imaginary life, I’d be relaxing poolside with my husband and little one, enjoying the oceanfront breeze and smell of mangroves that line my beachfront property.  I’d do yoga every morning and spend my free time planning fundraisers.  My hair would be perfectly styled, and I’d almost always be in a designer kaftan with flowing sleeves and jeweled accessories.  We’d host regular beach barbeques and cocktail parties with family and friends, (printed invites, of course!) and we’d spend our weekends and holidays cruising the coast by boat or zipping over to the islands for a few spontaneous days away….

I stumbled upon Jetsetter.com last night and since then my imagination has gone wild.  I want to travel.  I want us to experience different cultures.  Some of these destinations are incredible…but I mean, really, how would I get us all packed up for some exotic, glamorous vacation in Dubai or to go on Safari in South Africa?! Can you imagine?… Do you think I could pack my Dr. Brown’s microwave bottle sterilizer?

Exactly.  So apparently we’ll have to hold off on the exotic options for a bit. I’ll just put them on the back-burner until I can figure out the logistics….oh, and of course, the finances.  I’ll also need to conquer my newly acquired fear of flying.  That might be an issue if I’m going to be an aspiring Jetsetter.  Sigh.

In the meantime, I can dabble in my daydreams on a much smaller (and affordable) scale.  And with a just little imagination, I can totally channel my inner socialite: kaftan, yoga, and the works.  The Omphoy Palm Beach.  This is the shoe that fits.  It’s under $200 per night on “Flash Sale” at Jetsetter.com, its decor defines the vision of my imaginary beachfront estate, and it’s just a car-ride away.  Fantastic.  I think I could even get away with bringing my Dr. Brown’s gear….

The Omphoy Palm Beach

It’s May and it’s hot, which means I have no choice but to go swimsuit shopping.  I had plans of working out religiously and bringing my sexy back by now, but the reality is that I can’t work full-time, keep a household, and have quality time with my husband and baby without cutting something out ….sadly, my gym membership took the hit hardest:  Cancelled.  Period.

The hubby and I purchased The Insanity Workout DVD series after he was suckered in via middle-of-the night infomercial.  And I was pumped up about it too.  We could workout together at any time, without having to worry about a babysitter.  The workout looked fabulously intense… how could I not get fit with this plan?!  The answer is: by not doing it at all. 

Insanity Night #1 didn’t go as planned.  Dinner was later than our ‘normal late’, and it was taking longer for me to put the baby down for bedtime… I rock him to sleep every night, but on this particular night he was  squirming and turning his head to look around the room eagerly, with no intention of sweet dreams anytime soon.  I told Hubby to go ahead and get started.  Night #1 was supposed to be just the fit test, so I could get caught up and do that later on my own.   And frankly, I know I’m not fit, so why would I need a test to tell me that.  

I’ll have to thank my little one for not cooperating at bedtime and getting me off the hook…..the hubby finished an hour later, DRENCHED in sweat and face beaming red.  Not appealing; gross, actually. Damn.  And that was just the fit test.   There went that plan for me…… 

So now I have to suck it up (and suck it in) , find a way to feel confident in a swimsuit and face the inevitable pool/beach days ahead.  I’ve already dodged a few invitations for SUNday FUNdays.  I found myself at Swim & Sport, the Bloomingdale’s of swimwear in my opinion.  Target’s $20 swimsuit price range can’t possibly work the bikini magic that I need.  (Yes, I believe that spending more money will provide better results.  Confessions of a Shopaholic 101.)

AMAZING.  The experience wasn’t so bad after all.  I scored an adorable BIKINI (yes, I said I BOUGHT A BIKINI at just 6 months postpartum.  Whoohoo, thanks WeightWatchers and Jennifer Hudson!)  Well, at least, in dim lighting the swimsuit is adorable.  We’ll see how I feel in public, in the sunshine, with my freckled, pasty-white, hasn’t-seen-the-sun-in-over-a-year complexion……ok, ok to myself: stay positive.  It’s adorable.

Thank you to the designers of this store for not putting fluorescent lights in the fitting rooms, and for having mirrors and dressing space large enough that I don’t need to walk out into the fitting room hallway mirror.  I can quietly embarrass and judge myself in peace while trying on different styles and sizes.   I settled on a bandeau top and skirted bottom.  The top and bottom are rouched with lots of fabric, so my waist will appear tiny (after a few cocktails….and from very far away).  Click here to see….but before you judge me on the price for just a bathing suit,  you should know that it is now my self-proclaimed Mother’s Day Gift.  I called my husband, aka “Bank of Hubby”, immediately when I left the store to tell him that I’d bought my own gift.  I’m sure that I’ll regret the memory of my first Mother’s Day present being a bathing suit.  Whatever.  I’m impulsive, and I had to justify my purchase somehow. 

Best of all, my diet has now been turbo charged.  I’ll be less opt to cheat now that I have a bikini to fit into and reason to suck in my tummy.  Maybe I’ll reconsider that Insanity Workout.  Mmmm, actually….. maybe not.