On The Couch: Pulling the Trigger

Lately I've been a little...well let's say paralyzed when it comes to making a decision.  This can be anything from sending my resume into a new but unknown company, to picking an area rug for our new dining room.  Big, small - a decision is a decision. I find it's much easier to completely avoid choosing which path to take than to suck it up and just pull the trigger....well at least at first.  After awhile the lack of forward momentum and the constant niggling in the back of my brain begins to drive me crazy.  But why does making a choice always feel so permanent?  And why does that commitment bring about such anxiety?

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I think the first thing we need to look at is our fear of commitment.  The definition of commit is to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge, to give in trust or charge; consign. (source)

These are all heavy words - to bind, to pledge, to give in trust - and heavy words must be treated with respect.  But who said every decision we make has to be permanent?  Yes, decisions come with consequences.  Some big - hello marriage, children, moving, new job.  Some not so big - well, that color is completely wrong for the dining room...however it looks great in the guest bedroom!  But as long as every decision is made with as much truth to our spirit as possible, it can't be a wrong decision.  If we continue to see our commitments as something separate from our spirit, then they will always come with anxiety and fear of the unknown.  However, if we know ourselves inside and out, if we have really spent time discovering who we are and what we believe, then everything we choose to do in life is simply living up to that.  Our essential truth.  And there is nothing to be scared of, because no matter what it will be a discovery and learning process that leads us closer to joy.

Oh, and I chose a rug.  Finally :>)

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xo,

Kate

Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

 A long time ago, I had to reconcile myself with a sad conclusion.  Brace yourselves - this is a tough one.

I'm a terrible cookie maker.  Seriously.  Terrible.  No matter what I do -  follow the directions to a t!, room temperature ingredients, non-room temperature ingredients, tweak for high altitude, and on and on - my cookies come out flat.  Like negative in height.  My sweet husband always tells me it's not how the cookies look but how they taste...but let's get real.  We all want light, fluffy, delicious looking cookies.  

And I'm also weighed down with the burden that both my sisters were blessed.  They make PERFECT  cookies.  I'm not sure what happened with me....sigh.

Then I came across this recipe - Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies.  I knew I had to try to make these - hoping that even if they didn't look pretty, they would taste good.  Look at these ingredients! It's mathematically impossible for these cookies to not taste delicious.  And wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles...these cookies... 

Came

Out

PERFECTLY!!!!

Do a dance, sing a song, the impossible has happened.  See here for the original recipe - my tweaks are below.

Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon honey

1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup peanut butter chips

1.) Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.) Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and pudding together.

3.) In a separate bowl, beat together butter, peanut butter, and both sugars until fluffy and light in color - about 3 minutes.

4.) Mix in the eggs, then vanilla, then honey until all is combined.

5.)  Add in the flour mixture slowly.

6.)  Finally mix in the chocolate and peanut butter chips!

7.)  Bake the cookies for 10 minutes....and enjoy.

Make these soon - you will not be disappointed!  The original recipe also calls for reeces pieces - I'm not a huge candy in my cookies fan, so I added a little more chocolate chips and peanut butter chips instead.  Next time I might remove the peanut butter chips.  These cookies are awfully rich, and more chocolate could be interesting.  I'm thinking it's the pudding mix that makes the difference. mWhat do we think about adding vanilla pudding mix to my original chocolate chip recipe?  Has anyone done that? 

Hope this week is a good one!

Kate

Friday Favorites

It's Friday again? Already? Yay! This week flew by for me (Kate).  I'm excited to spend a quite weekend at home with my husband and the pup.  Some USC football on Saturday, some rug shopping on Sunday...sounds pretty good to me.

 This week included International Day of The Girl - a movement that speaks out against gender bias and advocates for girls everywhere.  CNN's article "To My 15 Year Old Self: Things I Wish I'd Known" featured several prominent, current women leaders of today.  Check out the full article here.

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I seriously need this Union Jack coffee mug from Zara Home. 

It only comes in sets of 6...maybe I need 6?

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Song of the week is Ellie Goulding's new single Anything Could Happen.  "This album for me is a journey from dark into light, from confusion to understanding. I didn't set out to write a break-up record but I think it became one," Goulding said of the record.  It's a great track - I'm eager to hear the rest of the album.

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My favorite instagram this week is of me and my dear friend Ann.  This is us at the Nashville wedding we attended last weekend - I miss this girl! She has a wonderful blog...check it out here.

Weekend Weekend Weekend!! Can you tell that I (Kara) am overjoyed at the thought of a few days to relax? Not much planned at our house this weekend, we will be watching college football, getting together with friends, and just hanging out with the pup.

I stumbled across this fall front porch, and I am thinking I need to create something similar this weekend.

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I have been on the hunt for new drapes for our office, and this look has inspired me to find something burnt orange. I love the color in this room.

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My favorite inspiring quote this week relates to music.  In my world music makes everything right. I am going to find a way to make this or buy it, because it is perfect.

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WELL!  It has certainly been an entertaining week for me (Kacey) :)  I'm in Macon, Missouri right now working on a show called Honky Tonk Angels!  It's a tiny little Midwest town with LOTS of good people, and I get to work with 2 amazingly talented women.  BUT!  My favorite parts of this week???

First of all:

Check out the view from my bedroom window!!  IT'S FALL Y'ALL!!!!!!! Sigh...that just makes me super happy.  I never get fall like this in Los Angeles!!  

This week we are learning lines, songs,  and dances...opening night is...

 ONE WEEK AWAY!!!!

and I have a lot to learn:)  My character sings some songs by the incredibly talented Bobbie Gentry which brings me to my next favorite of the week...

I mean COME ON!  What a pic! 

love the hair, love the style, love the make up.  She was one of the first female country music starts to write, record and produce her own music! Talk about inspirational.  

I'm going to leave you with a link to a video of her singing "Ode to Billy Joe".  It's downright haunting...

And I get to sing it onstage:)  I love my life!

"Ode to Billy Joe" Bobbie Gentry on the Andy Williams show 1971

Good stuff...enjoy it lovely friends! And Happy Friday~!

                                                       

                                                       

Before/After: Gold Bar Cart

Happy Thursday amicis!  I'm back with another Before and After project.  We've all seen the gorgeous bar carts that adorn Pinterest's hallowed halls, right? Let me just refresh your memory:

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Ahhhhh...true love.  As a direct result of what you just saw, I've been pretty much obsessed with finding a bar cart for our sun room.  After running around antique stores, flea markets, big box stores, and the Internet I came across these beauties:

The above 3 are at Wertz Brothers Antique Mall in Santa Monica, and all are a couple hundred dollars.

This gold bar cart is perfect and for sale at Open Sky - $275

 Let's put it this way - I had to keep looking :>)  These were all just a tad out of my price range - ha!  And just as I was losing hope, I walked right by this guy at Stars Antique Mall in Hermosa Beach:

Seriously.  I walked right by it.  But then some strange, internal tug forced me to turn back around and unearth this piece (under dishes and frames and art and glasses and you name it, it was sitting on her)...and I looked at the price tag.

$39.

Seriously? Thirty nine DOLLARS!?!?!??!!?  Sold!  With a little tender loving care (using the same process I posted here), she turned into.....

I used Rustoleum Metallic Spray Paint in Gold Gloss after priming her with Zinnser Cover Stain Spray Primer.

I could not pass up this gorgeous bottle of Pimm's we saw in London.  It's one of the 2 souvenirs I brought home for myself from our Europe trip a month ago.  Isn't it gorgeous? I'm such a sucker for anything "Union Jack".

Recipe for easy Pimm's Cup Cocktail

Mix 1 part Pimm's No.1

with 3 parts chilled lemonade.

Add some mint, cucumber, orange

and strawberry.

I love her.  I plan to style her up a little more, but she's so pretty now!

Side note: I stumbled across this super fun quiz over at the Homegoods website.  It's helps define your home decor style using different photos...check it out!

xo,

Kate

New Workout Gear - Get Motivated!

When our days get busy, it can become difficult to find time to hit the gym.  For me it is the first thing to be cut from my to do list on an overwhelming day, and really it should be the very last thing I consider skipping.  Obviously we all know it's good for our bodies, but for me I seem to gain the most benefit in my head.  It makes stress easier to handle when I get in a good run at the beginning of the day. Problems seem easier to solve when I have taken time for myself to get those endorphins going.  And frankly, I am a happier person when I workout.

So, if you are struggling to get up early to make it to the gym before work, or class, or life begins each day, I have a little piece of advice that always seems to motivate me.  What is it you ask? GO BUY NEW WORKOUT GEAR!!  I swear to you, a new tank, or some sweet new kicks are just what the doctor ordered when lacking a little motivation. 

  I won't lie to you, I am a Lululemon-aholic. But seriously, the quality of their brand is top notch, and I believe the clothes are worth the price.  

Here are a few of my favs.

Gather and Grow Crop - $78

Cool Racer Back xlong - $48

In Stride Jacket - $108

One of my favorite things about Lululemon is that basically everything thing they make comes in an option to cover my backside. So when I hop on the treadmill I am not as worried about my bum, because it's covered! What is better than a strategically placed, LONGER tank? Not much in my humble opinion.  If you are looking for a little pick me up head to Lululemon and pick out something new.  Oh and just so you know, I always try to purchase as much as I can on sale.  They always have a cute tank on sale, and then buying the crops to run in at full price doesn't seem quite as painful.  At least that is what I tell myself. 

Go friends, shop and then work your butt off.  Pretty soon you won't need those extra long tanks to cover your bum. :-)

xo,

Kara

all running inspirationals from here

clothes from lululemon.  - not a sponsored post, we just LOVE it!

On the Couch: Mindful Moon

I was on the ever enlightening Facebook the other day, and an old coworker had posted about an app she had recently discovered.  It’s called Mindful Moon, and it's basically a self-affirmation, pick me up in the middle of the day, getcha thinkin’ kind of app.  I downloaded it immediately as I have been in need of the occasional pick me up these days.  I gotta tell you.  It’s awesome!  It seems to know exactly what I’m thinking and what I might need to put a smile on my face.  

For Example:

I had just gotten home from taking the pup I was caring for on a walk.  As I tried to enter my house, Cali (the pup) resisted walking into the shadowed living room, instead opting for the sun drenched deck outside.  Not a bad call right?  I decided to indulge her as I could literally feel the stress of the oncoming day start to creep up the base of my spine.

As Cali settled in to do some sunbathing, I sat down and… I found that I was frowning…on the inside.  Boo.  Why was I sad? It was a beautiful day…what was UP with me??  I needed a pick me up.  (On a side note, being a girl is weird, huh?  We are complicated, moody creatures...sigh…).  So I swiped my Iphone and clicked on the new app I’d just downloaded.   Here’s what it said:

“Breathe in Gratitude.  Breathe out negativity, stress, bad thoughts…

…Do this for 3-5 minutes.”

Ohhhkaaaayyy.   I closed my eyes and attempted to breathe.  Have you ever noticed how shallow and stunted our breath can be throughout the day?  It was like I couldn’t inhale for more than 2 seconds before I felt uncomfortably full and had to exhale.   Like I was choking on my own oxygen.  Do I really go through my day so closed up, so bottled in?  Wow.  

My first grateful thought was…”love”.  It was all I had time to think before having to let the air out.  My first negative thought to let go was…”self hate”.  Ugh.  Kinda deep for a Sunday.  But….I might as well go ahead and get that bad feeling out of my head right?  So I kept going with it, just letting the thoughts ebb and flow as they wanted, each positive, grateful feeling proceeding it’s negative counterpart.  

It was amazing.   Pretty quickly I felt my breath begin to lengthen, to lighten.  I felt a calm, lovely warmth settle around me.  I gave appreciation and acknowledgment to my husband, my family, and breathed out the fight we’d had, and the worry that I’m not there enough at home.  I thanked God for my health, and let go of the stupid guilt that I hadn’t worked out this week or the Chipotle (darn it) that I’d given in and eaten the day before.   I felt inspired that the world was full of possibility and I was only just beginning my journey.  And with pleasure, I threw away the feeling of dread when I thought about the future, what I was going to make of myself, and was I too old to start over?  I smiled when I thought of the precious puppy I got to take care of this week, and I let go of the annoyance that she woke me up at 5am:)  Trust me, I was pretty amazed, slightly scandalized, and fairly amused at some of the thoughts that floated in and out of my brain in those 5ish minutes.  I mean, if I hadn’t taken the short amount of time to acknowledge them and then get them the heck out of my head, would they have just festered, unknowing but all too powerful inside of me?  Ugh.  Not a pretty thought at all. 

When I opened my eyes…I felt light.  My whole body had opened and softened to the world around me, almost like it was ready to accept the day (and myself) for whatever it (or I) was going to bring.   I had this big grin on my face, and I felt confident... and so sure that this day was going to be fun and magical.  So, lovely peeps, do yourself a favor.  Go download Mindful Moon immediately.  It might just save your day…

…even if you didn’t know it needed saving.  

Love and all that stuff,

Kacey

Magical Song of the Moment: "It’s Only Fear" ~Alexi Murdoch

Recipe: Orchiette with Prosciutto and Bread Crumbs

After a whirlwind weekend flying to Nashville and back to LA in under 36 hours, the last thing I wanted to do last night was cook dinner.  But we're trying to cook more and eat out less (and after a weekend away, home cooked food sounds so much better than another restaurant meal, right?), so I chose this quick and easy pasta recipe.

Orchiette Pasta with Prosciutto and Bread Crumbs

Orchiette pasta - or similar shell pasta

2/3 cup bread crumbs (either flavored or not)

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 package of prosciutto, chopped

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

hand full of torn basil

salt and pepper to taste

Add on: Grilled Chicken breast

1. Cook pasta according to box directions.

2. In a skillet, heat the oil slowly.  Add bread crumbs and stir often - too high of heat will cause them to burn.

3.  If you're not using flavored bread crumbs, add a little salt and pepper to taste.

4. Turn heat off after about 3 minutes.  Add the chopped prosciutto, Parmesan, and cooked pasta. 

5. Sprinkle chopped basil on top and serve.

I also grilled up some chicken breast to pair the pasta with.  A few sliced of toasted french bread and a fresh green salad - and dinner was ready in under 30 minutes!

And what made the night even better?   A new episode of Homeland - get on the bandwagon. It's so good!

xo,

Kate