tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23302438592772659232023-11-16T00:51:02.524-06:00Always Think BiggerMommy to 5, a teacher and a wife! It's just the story of my life...Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-27386379844360034872021-01-11T09:28:00.008-06:002021-01-11T09:28:44.256-06:00Anyone still there?Well, I took a pretty long break from blogging. I am not totally sure what I want for this blog or where I want it to go, but I'm going to work on creating a space that I can be proud of.<div><br /></div><div>I'd like to work on sharing some of the things that I use to make my family life, school life and craft life more organized and successful. </div><div><br /></div><div>What kinds of things might you all be interested in seeing shared? What would be useful for you?<br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a></div></div>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-6001638189684976482017-11-16T14:56:00.001-06:002017-11-16T14:56:03.606-06:00I'm running for the kids of St. Jude<style type="text/css"> </style> <html> <head> <meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1.0"> <!-- So that mobile webkit will display zoomed in --> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <!-- disable auto telephone linking in iOS --> <style> @media screen and (min-width: 601px) {.container2 {width: 570px!important;}} @media only screen and (max-width : 640px) {table[class="container"] {width: 100% !important;} td[class="mainTitle"] {width: 300px !important;} td[class="spacer"] {width: 15px !important;} td[class="belowFeature"] { width: 95% !important; display: inline-block; padding-left: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px;} td[class="belowFeature"] img {float: left; margin-right: 15px;} table[class="belowConsoles"] {width: 100% !important; display: inline-block;} table[class="belowConsoles"] img {margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; float: left;} td[class="featuredImage"], td[class="bodyContent"] {text-align: center; width: 620px !important;} td[class="bigfeaturedImage"] img {width: 100% !important; height: auto !important;}} @media only screen and (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 560px) { td[class="sjLogo"] {width: 560px !important; text-align: center;} td[class="viewWebsite"] {width: 560px !important; height: inherit !important; text-align: center;} td[class="donateButton"] {text-align: center; width: 570px !important; height: 80px; vertical-align: middle;} td[class="mainTitle"] {width: 570px !important; text-align: center;}} @media only screen and (min-width: 250px) and (max-width: 480px) {td[class="sjLogo"] {width: 480px !important; text-align: center;} td[class="viewWebsite"] {width: 480px !important; height: inherit !important; text-align: center;} td[class="donateButton"] {text-align: center; width: 400px; height: 70px; vertical-align: middle;} td[class="mainTitle"] {width: 90% !important; text-align: center; padding-top: 15px;} td[class="mainTitle"] img {width: 250px;} td[class="topDiv"] {display: none;} h1, h2 {line-height: 120% !important;} [class="consoleImage"] {display: inline-block; width: 100%; text-align: center;} [class="consoleImage"] img {text-align: center !important; display: inline-block;} [class="consoleWidth"] {width: 95% !important;} table[class="belowConsoles"] {text-align: center; float: none; margin-bottom: 15px; width: 100% !important;} table[class="belowConsoles"] img { margin-bottom: 0;} td[class="featuredImage"] img {width: 100%;} [class=centerText] {text-align: center !important;}} </style> </head> <body> <table width="630" bgcolor="#fcfcfc" style="border: 1px solid #dddddd; line-height: 135%;" class="container" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="container"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" width="30" class="spacer"> </td> <td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" height="100" width="570" class="headerBG"> <!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]> <table width="570" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td> <![endif]--> <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="container2" style="max-width: 570px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: middle; font-size: 0px; text-align: center;"> <!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]> <table width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td> <![endif]--> <div style="width: 348px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;" class="consoleImage"> <table width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="font-size: 12px;" class="mainTitle"> <img src="https://fundraising.stjude.org/images/heroes/email/heroes_email_header.png" /> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]> </td> </tr> </table> <![endif]--> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]> </td> </tr> </table> <![endif]--> </td> <td bgcolor="#f0f0f0" width="30" class="spacer"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" height="15"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="30" class="spacer"> </td> <td width="570"> <p>Dear Blog,</p><p>I'm running as a Hero in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend to help fight childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Heroes are runners who fundraise while they train for their race, and I'm proud to be a part of this nationwide alliance.</p><p style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left;">Remember, even $10 makes a big difference and will be gladly appreciated!</p><p style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left;">Donations of $50 and over will receive a vinyl monogram or name, if you will send me your address!</p><p>Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.</p><p>Your donation helps me go even further. Will you help me reach my goal of $1500? Every dollar makes a difference!</p><p>Visit my <a href="http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Heroes/Heroes?px=2229961&pg=personal&fr_id=67039">fundraising page</a> to make a donation. Thank you for helping the kids of St. Jude!</p><p>Sincerely,<br>Rachel Kannady</p> <a class="donateLink" href="http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&PROXY_TYPE=20&PROXY_ID=2229961&df_id=3800&3800.donation=form1&FR_ID=67039&s_locale=en_US&et=4vHILv7_z6FZa1MvXkCEdw&sc_cid=emh9015"><img src="http://fundraising.stjude.org/images/email/donatenow.jpg" alt="donate now" /></a> <span style="padding:10px; vertical-align:calc(12px);"> </span> <a class="secondarylink" href="http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=2229961&pg=personal&fr_id=67039&s_locale=en_US&et=4vHILv7_z6FZa1MvXkCEdw&sc_cid=emh9015"><img src="http://fundraising.stjude.org/images/email/viewmypage.jpg" alt="view my page" /></a><br /> <span style="display:none; display:none!important;">http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&PROXY_TYPE=20&PROXY_ID=2229961&df_id=3800&3800.donation=form1&FR_ID=67039&s_locale=en_US&et=4vHILv7_z6FZa1MvXkCEdw</span> <span style="display:none; display:none!important;">http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=2229961&pg=personal&fr_id=67039&s_locale=en_US&et=4vHILv7_z6FZa1MvXkCEdw</span></p> <span> <a class="secondarylink" href="http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?team_id=202341&pg=team&fr_id=67039&s_locale=en_US&et=9i3ZNl8S5Ys-bETm2Agj2Q&sc_cid=emh9015">View the team page for Breakaway Running for a Cause</a><br /> <span class="noshow">http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?team_id=202341&pg=team&fr_id=67039&s_locale=en_US&et=9i3ZNl8S5Ys-bETm2Agj2Q</span> <img src="http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/PixelServer?tr=khrksGWlissvN1v1k1egXA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/> <p><p> If you no longer wish to receive emails from your friends on behalf of St. Jude, please <a href="http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=ce0047c37761c7b9d7eb48a42d896829dcac90a6b7b9694552869c15ef04f318">opt out</a> or paste this Web address into your browser: http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=ce0047c37761c7b9d7eb48a42d896829dcac90a6b7b9694552869c15ef04f318 </p></p> </td> <td width="30" class="spacer"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" height="15"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><center><custom type="content" name="Bottom Button"></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" height="15"> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" align="center" class="container"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"> <tr> <td width="15" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> <td width="65" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> <a target="_blank" alias="facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Jude-Childrens-Research-Hospital/6435441794"><img width="65" height="65" border="0" title="Facebook" alt="Facebook" src="http://image.campaigns.stjude.org/lib/fe6615707d6701797615/m/1/facebook-button.png"></a> </td> <td width="1" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> <td width="65" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> <a target="_blank" alias="twitter" href="http://twitter.com/StJude"><img width="65" height="65" border="0" title="Twitter" alt="Twitter" src="http://image.campaigns.stjude.org/lib/fe6615707d6701797615/m/1/twitter-button.png"></a> </td> <td width="1" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> <td width="65" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> <a target="_blank" alias="pinterest" href="https://pinterest.com/mystjude/"><img width="65" height="65" border="0" title="Pinterest" alt="Pinterest" src="http://image.campaigns.stjude.org/lib/fe6615707d6701797615/m/1/pinterest-button.png"></a> </td> <td width="1" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> <td width="65" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> <a target="_blank" alias="googleplus" href="https://plus.google.com/+stjude/"><img width="65" height="65" border="0" title="Google +" alt="Google +" src="http://image.campaigns.stjude.org/lib/fe6615707d6701797615/m/1/google-plus-button.png"></a> </td> <td width="1" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> <td width="65" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> <a target="_blank" alias="instagram" href="https://instagram.com/stjude/"><img width="65" height="65" border="0" title="Instagram" alt="Instagram" src="http://image.campaigns.stjude.org/lib/fe6615707d6701797615/m/1/instragram-button.png"></a> </td> <td width="1" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> <td width="65" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> <a target="_blank" alias="youtube" href="http://youtube.com/user/MyStJude"><img width="65" height="65" border="0" title="Youtube" alt="Youtube" src="http://image.campaigns.stjude.org/lib/fe6615707d6701797615/m/1/youtube-button.png"></a> </td> <td width="15" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;"> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; margin: 15px 0; line-height: 15px;" colspan="11"><a style="color: #333333;" alias="privacy" href="http://www.stjude.org/privacy" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a><br><br>© Copyright 2017. <a style="color: #333333;" alias="copyright" href="https://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD" target="_blank">St. Jude Children's Research Hospital </a>. <br />501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </body> </html> Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-74416989376483122282017-01-14T10:00:00.000-06:002017-07-18T10:38:42.159-05:00Toddler Time<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eventually our budget
couldn’t really take the stress of me not working. And to be fair, I was
starting to get bored and I am pretty sure that Annie was ready for something
more exciting than sitting at home playing with me and the cats and only going
to mommy group 1 day a week. (And for everyone thinking, “there’s lots of free/cheap
things out there, why didn’t you find something?” Again, the internet was not
what it is today. There was no googling where to go with a baby, there was no
google.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I began calling around
to find out who was hiring and trying to find a job and child care. It was not
fun. I didn’t have a college degree and I had a baby so interviews had to be
done when my husband wasn’t at work and it was all so complicated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, I got a call
back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The job was not
amazing, but I was good at it. I was the Office Manager for a temporary labor office location. It was as not glamorous as it sounds. In fact, it was downright
awful. I really disliked the job. Over time, it got worse, until finally I had
to quit. I don’t remember anymore, what the “thing” was that finally made me
quit, but it was one of those days where I just knew, I was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I called my dad, he
was hiring a receptionist, and asked to interview for the job. And thankfully,
he made me an offer. So, I went to work for my dad, and back to school and
Geoff continued to take pictures with the school photography people and Annie
went to day care and life was grooving along. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We loved, we fought,
we played, we slept and we did all the things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We took Annie to the
pool during the summer, where we discovered that this girl REALLY loved the
water. Have you ever seen a baby throw a temper tantrum? The kind where they
throw themselves backwards and if you aren’t holding onto them, they fall out
of your arms and onto the floor? That’s what Annie did when it was time to
leave. EVERY SINGLE TIME. And do NOT let it rain and you already told her that
we were going to the POOL! Consoling her was nearly impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We took Annie to
Crossville to meet Geoff’s grandfather, John, during that summer. We had no
idea that would be the only time they would meet. Annie was named for John’s
wife, Ann. They had a wonderfully romantic romance and had loved each other
fiercely for their entire marriage. She was always talked about as one of those
incredible women you would want to meet. She changed her birth certificate in
order to be able to get married, for crying out loud! She taught Geoff to read
when he was very small and loved her family fiercely. She died long before I
ever became a part of the family, but John made sure I knew how much he loved
her and how much she was loved. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we put Annie in
John’s arms, she got very still. A wiggly baby by nature, she managed to be
quiet calm for his well-aged body. They locked eyes and seemed to have a
virtual conversation for quite a while. It was beautiful to see. He got teary
eyed and thanked us for introducing him to his first Great-Grandchild. An honor
I think he really enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As time dictates, Annie started to learn
to walk. And then she started to talk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her first birthday
came and we filled our home with as many friends and family, mostly family, as
that tiny duplex could fit. We made her a cute little cake that looked like
Winnie the Pooh, complete with a honey pot! We let her smash her cake and had a
fabulous day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Life seemed to be
moving along in a mostly good path. We were absolutely broke. Our little tiny
home was not really the right size for us. Neither of us had graduated from
college yet and our little girl really needed a yard, but we were mostly loving
and mostly making it…</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-50912663790820720032017-01-13T11:33:00.000-06:002017-01-13T11:35:11.550-06:00A few thoughts on Prayer<div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<div style="direction: inherit;">
I know many of you have been following the blog recently for the start of the chapters to my book. But, I wanted to share this with you...<br />
<br />
A story about my own personal past with people saying, "I'm praying for you (or so in so)." I shared it tonight with a friend after he told me that he and his prayer group prayed for me and my family. "For what it's worth," he said. Here's what it's worth to me. </div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
When my mom was in the hospital dying of breast cancer, she got sick fast and we couldn't let people in the room anymore. At first it was her request for sleeping and then it was because of how sick she was. So people would sit in the lobby and pray for her and I would get so mad at them. Mostly because I knew they couldn't cure her. And it just pissed me off. Really deep down.</div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
Over the course of the 22 days, over 100 friends said that they were praying for her; via Facebook, at the hospital and around memphis, probably even the globe. The night she died was easily the most peaceful and oddly beautiful night we had had. </div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
My sisters and I read to her and said our Havdallah and Hanukkah, it was the 4th night, prayers. And we all kissed her goodnight the way she would us. And each of us had some time with her. Geoff and I decided to go downstairs to the cardiac surgery waiting room where the hospital chairs turned into beds and get some sleep. We took baby Lissy with us and quickly went to sleep. </div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
And my mother drifted quietly away from us in her sleep that night.</div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
The next morning, her best friend, who had stayed with us since it had started was sitting with me. And she looked at me and said, "wasn't that so gentle and peaceful?" And I agreed.</div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
And she said, "you know. It takes a whole lot of prayer to make something so awful seem so peaceful." She had no idea when I was hugging those "prayer warriors", disingenuously thanking them and smiling at them; I had the nastiest thoughts going through my head towards those very kind, well meaning people. And from then on, I have had heartfelt absolute appreciate for anyone who ever said they were praying for anyone I even remotely thought maybe possibly might need help. </div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
So I assure you, your prayer or prayer list or prayer group, is worth a whole heck of a lot. At least to me.</div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: inherit;">
For what it's worth. </div>
</div>
</div>
Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-8401267172198394082017-01-13T10:30:00.000-06:002017-01-13T11:39:42.226-06:00Life with baby<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As life with a new
baby went on, I decided being a stay at home mom was just not for me. I
thoroughly enjoyed going to mommy group on Thursdays and seeing my friends. We
loved it so much in fact, we made a day of it! We would meet for lunch, sitting
around extra-large tables with our babies in their baby carriers napping, and
happily chat about the week since we last saw each other, ignoring the glares
of other patrons and employees wanting us to move on. Then we would caravan
over to our group session at the hospital. We would meet with other moms, and
lead by two nurses, discuss our problems, the babies, our lives as mommies and
whatnot. Eventually, we would all walk over to “baby weight watchers.” A scale
in the hospital’s retail office for weighing your baby. The hospital provided
disposable covers for the scale and we all happily weighed our babies and
tracked their growth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Overtime, the moms
would develop into little groups. It was not really on purpose, but it
definitely felt a little clique-ish. The designer mommies with super fancy
diaper bags and the newest, latest baby things. The very hippy, free spirited
moms with recycled everything and cloth diapers and they had that patchouli and
peppermint oil thing happening. And then, the free spirited groups that
organically grew of children who were close in age and so their moms started
the group around the same time. There was a core group of moms that we were all
a part of. Even though we had our preferred sub groups. The nurses, Cathy and
Kathy, who ran our little mommy therapy were really wonderful about sharing
information, calming upset mommies or just being really sweet, helpful people.
They encouraged us to welcome every new person with open arms and to continue
our budding new mommy friendships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As it would happen,
one of those days, we had several new moms all show up together. This would
generally happen every time someone new would show up, as in high school, no
one really wants to go anywhere alone and new moms frequently arrived in pairs.
On this particular day, we started our group with everyone in a circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cathy to the group, “Good
afternoon, everyone! Welcome, I’m Cathy, a nurse here at Baptist. We are so
glad you’re here today! Please share your name, how many children you have,
your baby’s name, how old your baby is and nay milestone your baby has met that
you’d like to share. We’ll start on my left and go around… Cindy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">And so we went around.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Each mom proudly
showing off their babies, generally born within the last 6-7 months; some are
now sort of sitting up, but falling to the side when attempting to perform,
some are now latching on better, some are holding up their head in tummy time,
Evan likes his pacy upside down. His mother showed us, we all laughed
appropriately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shared, “I’m Rachel.
This is Annie. She’s 10 months old. She’s great at sleeping and really likes to
lick the spoon of mashed bananas and to do baby pushups.” Everyone cooed as I
looked up, and immediately lock eyes with a woman I recognize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We continue going
around the circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then it’s her turn, “I’m
Caroline. This is Reid. He’s 2 months old. He really just sleeps.” Everyone
laughs. I blush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The group continues
sharing, but I am not listening. I am 100000% sure I have just heard my high
school sophomore English teacher share her baby in the same group I’ve been
coming to. I feel incredibly embarrassed. I’m 19 for God’s sake! My ENGLISH
TEACHER is sitting across from me in MOMMY GROUP. My friends are all at school,
whining about professors and what to wear to parties and whether their
boyfriends will like their skimpy dresses. I am worrying about diapers and what
my husband and I are going to eat for dinner…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After everyone
finishes introducing themselves, we watch a video about breastfeeding and Cathy
and Kathy offer to help everyone who is interested or wanting help. A few moms
pull back from the circle into their own little mini circles. A few of us make
eye contact and start preparing to head to baby weight watchers. I’m hoping we
can sort of sneak out, undetected. I feel like I’m back in high school trying
to sneak out of class. Cathy announces that we are heading to baby weight
watchers and encourages moms to join us, I cringe inwardly, I’ve been caught. I
smile at the other moms and wave them on to join us. (I may not <i>want </i>them to come, but I was raised in
the South and I have manners.) A few come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we are walking down
the hall and I am hoping that she won’t talk to me, “maybe I can disappear in
the group” I think, she walks up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Rachel”, she says. I
recognize the lilt in her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I turn around, “Oh
hey, Mrs Goodman! I didn’t know you had a baby! Congrats!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I could say the same
thing about you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah” I feel
sheepish. I probably look sheepish. ‘I look stupid. Why is she here? Why did I
come today? I should have stayed home and watched Judge Judy or something. Where
is that hole that’s supposed to be opening up in the floor?!?!?’, I think. “Her
name is Annie”, I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She’s beautiful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He’s darling”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Annie began wiggling
in my arms. Yes! An excuse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I fumbled through
words to make an exit and Caroline’s friend called out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We said our goodbyes
and she moved on.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-46528840208240815642017-01-12T10:24:00.003-06:002017-01-12T10:24:27.631-06:00Gotta Get MarriedWell, you know how the story goes?<br />
<br />
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage?<br />
<br />
Yeah, we didn't follow that story.<br />
<br />
Geoff and I had a short romance, and quickly followed that with an adorable baby. But, we weren't married yet.<br />
<br />
In August of 2001, shortly before my daughter was born, my sister, Ruth had her Bat Mitzvah. For those who don't know, that is a Jewish ceremony of welcoming a 13 year old girl as an adult learner of Torah and our faith. The student leads the service, reads from the Torah, reads from our Rabbinical texts, the Haftarah and gives their own interpretation of all of those readings. It takes years to prepare for, months to practice the Hebrew reading and, needless to say, it's a REALLY big deal.<br />
<br />
While we were greeting family after the service, several people remarked about my very enlarged belly and lack of jewelry on my left ring finger. In some cases, I might say stereotypes aren't true, but, quite frequently, it is clear that they are. Nearly every female friend of my mother's made a comment about "still time to marry before baby...", "don't you want to get married first?" and on and on. All we did was smile and say, "No, thank you." Because, really? Health Insurance.<br />
<br />
And honestly, isn't that the most Jewish reason of all? Money!<br />
<br />
Well, baby came and since she was soo high risk and health insurance policy rules being what they are, we had 30 days to get coverage.<br />
<br />
Thanks to the lack of internet and a good friend in the right place; we could get family insurance as long as we were married by Friday, the 21st. Seems easy enough, right?<br />
<br />
Well, the first step in doing that is going to get your marriage license. Generally this can be done in a County Clerks Office. In Shelby County, where we lived, there are a few Clerks Offices around the city. They try to spread them out and have them accessible in various parts of the city.<br />
<br />
We looked in the phone book and found the locations of the Clerks Offices. Which thinking back sounds so dark ages, but internet was not what it is now and certainly was not on your phone! Called to confirm their hours and find out what we needed to bring with us and made our way over to the office....in the Mall of Memphis.<br />
<br />
To those unaware, you're probably thinking, 'smart thinking to put that in a mall!' Ha! This was a gentrified mall if there ever was one! What was once a booming mall centrally located in Memphis, right off the interstate with an ice-skating rink, desirable shops, a carousel and great food selections; now had the rink, but the food court had 2 shops, most of the 2nd floor was empty, the anchor stores had pulled out and most of what was left was airbrush, cheap clothes and cheap, a wedding shop, fake gold jewelry and the Clerks Office.<br />
<br />
We arrived at the Mall, parked and walked in with our sweet little baby. We didn't really fit in with the environment, but we didn't really care. We walked in to the office, filled out the paperwork and waited our turn. It always seems like City offices are a little dingy to me. I don't know if it's a rule that they have to feel that way, or if they don't get cleaned as well or maybe it's the cheap fake linoleum flooring that doesn't clean well? I can't put my finger on it, but it never fails, they all feel the same way.<br />
<br />
Our number was called and we walked up to the counter. The woman greeted us in a strong Southern twang, "Hey, y'all! What's up?!" And so the conversation continued as we registered with the office to declare our desire to get married.<br />
<br />
We walked out of the office with our marriage license in an oversized folder and excitement in our hearts and on our faces. Immediately, a woman walked up to us, much the same way women try to get you to try perfume at the makeup counters, and offered us a 50% off coupon to get married in the Mall! Of course, you already can guess what happened.<br />
<br />
I had been raised "better than that" I was not someone to get married <i>in the Mall</i>! And certainly not this awful, nasty, shell of a mall, the <i>Mall of Memphis</i>. I wasn't one of <i>those people, we weren't those people</i>. When we got home, I called a family friend, a judge, and he agreed to marry us.<br />
<br />
The days passed and we planned for our "Big Day" in the judges chambers.<br />
<br />
His secretary called, he had to start a murder trial that week, he couldn't marry us.<br />
<br />
And so, on September 21st, 2001, I found myself being one of <i>those people</i> and walking into the Mall of Memphis to change from Miss to Mrs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-47849918431151052922017-01-07T15:18:00.000-06:002017-01-07T15:18:01.323-06:00Remembering 9/11 with a newborn<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">. I went home on Sunday,
September 9<sup>th</sup>. My doctor said I did “a beautiful job.” And granted
us our walking papers. The nurses loaded us down with diaper bags, diapers,
wipes, blankets, everything. Geoff proudly drove us home. That afternoon, my
father and step-mother came to visit. The baby room did not have an air
conditioner in it, but because I had cats and my dad said he was allergic, we
stayed in there. The room was quite warm. On Monday, we spent the day laying
around until there was a knock at the door. My dad had called and ordered an
air conditioner to be installed in the baby room. After that was done, we spent
the rest of the day, being lazy and staring at our tiny miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Tuesday, September 11,
Geoff had to work. He was doing school pictures at White Station HS, where I
graduated and where my sister, Claire was a senior and my brother, Gabe was a
sophomore. The day started pretty normal for us. Geoff got up and left around
6:00am to go to the studio and get what he needed to be at the school by
6:45am. Annie, my newborn baby, and I slept until around 7:15am. I decided that
I was going to shower and went and got the baby carrier from the kitchen,
carried it to the bathroom and proceeded to rearrange everything in my bathroom
until I had situated the room so that I could see her in the carrier while I
was in the shower, but would not soak her or the bathroom. You know, the usual
gymnastics that every new mom goes through during her first shower, post baby,
alone in the house. What could go wrong? According to my mommy brain,
everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">I managed my shower
ok. Annie slept peacefully. I, of course, assumed something was wrong at least
4 or 5 times and would check on her as frequently. I decided to go ahead and
bathe her and then got us both dressed. I turned on the TV. With 5 channels,
there was not a lot to choose from. I finally settled on Good Morning America.
I remember thinking that what Diane Sawyer had on looked really classy. I sat
on the bed, in my self-painted bedroom, the sun was shining, the sky looked
pretty out the window and my cat sat licking it’s paw on the end of my bed.
Things seemed pretty great. I felt almost normal. I had accomplished something!
And then the camera man said, “OH MY GOD!” So loudly you could hear him. And
over her shoulder, I watched a plane fly. (As I reflect on this, though I did
not watch GMA regularly, I do not recall ever seeing a plane in the background
of that show ever before or after.) What happened in the next few hours is
recorded in history books, as they say. My children, most of my friends’
children, will never know what life was like before that day. Any time I have
left on an airplane for a trip, my children have said good-bye at the drop off
of the airport or at the ticket counter. Never, as I did as a child, have they
come to the gate, hugged me during boarding and then watched, with their noses
pressed to the windows as the plane taxied away from the gate, down the runway
and took off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">My brother, at school
that day, headed to the auditorium to take his school picture and told my
husband what was being shown on the news in classrooms around the building, the
Twin Towers in NYC had each been hit with an airplane and were falling and
reports were coming in of other airplane crashes around the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">When Geoff arrived
home I had spent most of the morning reacting to the news. I had cried, I had
gotten scared, I had held my baby tight. Over the coming days and weeks, my
post-partum hormones spiraled into near paranoia about the safety of my newborn
child. With the help of my therapist, I recovered fully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">The afternoon of 9/11
Geoff called his mother to check on her. She lived then and still does, in
Knoxville, TN. Which is very near, Oak Ridge, TN. Oak Ridge is home to the
Department of Energy, Y-12 National Laboratories and Oak Ridge National
Laboratories. Know what all those places have in common? Nuclear Energy. The
military was blocking the interstate and roads around Oak Ridge. No one in and
no one out. His mother, safe and sound in Knoxville, could not get to Memphis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Over the course of the
rest of the month, businesses all around Memphis began asking for donations,
instead of their normal fees, and donating money to the rescue efforts in NYC.
Many of the schools were canceling their school pictures as numerous students
were not coming to school, due primarily to parental fear. This gave Geoff and
I more time together with our new baby. We began to fill our days by calling to
see what area businesses were donating any or all of their funds to the relief
and rescue efforts and trying to go to those places. Though it was not for happy
reasons, it was a grand tour of our city!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-42479499958308962692017-01-06T11:50:00.000-06:002017-01-06T11:50:04.854-06:00Happy Birthday Baby!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We arrived at the
hospital at 7:50pm. Most everyone had gone home and we were really at a loss.
We walked to the office of the woman who ran all the education programs to see
if she might be there. No luck. We tried to remember what we had heard in our
last hospital class 3 weeks before, but nerves and adrenaline make you stupid.
We wandered. We asked custodians. We finally got to the Labor and Delivery
check in desk, apologized and got these weird sympathetic looks as we waited
for all of our "goodies" as the nurse called them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She walked us down the
hall. She was very kind asking me to put on my gown, giving us our bracelets
and prepping us and the room for our coming activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I called my mom and
gave her the green light to come. Bad call. I had not yet been given my IV.
Just as my mom and sisters and friend Sarah walked in, the nurse was right on
their heels with her phlebotomy kit and IV materials. I had my sisters and
friend sit on the bed and block my mother's view of me and my view of my arm.
They chatted and made sure my mom didn't faint and we all tried to ignore the 4
needle sticks and wiggles it took to get my 2 tubes of blood and IV set
up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They stayed for a bit
and then left me to sleep. My doctor walked in as they were leaving and began
the first step of my induction. It was really not very exciting. My cervix was
still only 2cm dilated, as I had been for the last 2 weeks. No big deal. The
monitors and I could not find a happy position and I struggled for 2-3 hours trying
to get comfortable for my night in the hospital. Around 9:45pm Geoff was
starving and asked if I was ok with him going to Wendy’s and getting something
to eat. Off he went. I was finally comfortable, he turned off the lights and
left. About 5 minutes later I was finally comfortable and my nurse and a crew
came flying in, turning on all the lights, repositioning me, the bed, the
monitors, talking rapidly to each other, the works! The baby was freaking out
on the monitors. So, they made reposition again. Geoff got back just as things
were settling down and was, rightfully, alarmed. The nurse tried to calm him.
He apologized to me and promised not to leave again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next morning,
around 7am, my doctor arrived and checked on me and things had made quite the
progress. We made the decision to break my water and boy, did things take off!
My mother arrived at around 8:15am and wanted to come in. I asked the nurse to tell
her to wait. (Looking back, I completely regret that decision. I was scared
that she would get upset, or faint or try to get in my face, or you know, act
like my mom. Now, I wish I had allowed her to come in and share in that moment.
I don’t think it would have been as bad and dramatic as I had imagined, but I
had this picture in my head and all these people willing to let me do it my way
and I told her no.) The phone rang incessantly that morning. Everyone wanted to
know what was happening. And Geoff, suddenly social, would answer the phone and
give everyone details about what was happening! It was so annoying. The nurse
disconnected the phone from the wall, because, well, she’s a saint. My doctor
reminded me and Geoff of some of the things that she was concerned about and
the NICU team came in, a few others came and by the time I was ready to push,
there was a veritable army of people standing in my room to witness. My
daughter arrived and I heard everyone in the room let out a breath I didn’t
know they were holding. She was perfect. Not only perfect, she was healthy. A
lot healthier than anyone had given me reason to believe. But I knew. My mother
came in and held her. She left to go get my sisters when I was moved to my
permanent room. My daughter, Annie went to NICU for about 2 hours that
afternoon for testing and then returned. Geoff and I called people, flowers
came, family came. It was great time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His mother offered to
come and help us once we got home from the hospital. At first, unbeknownst to
me, Geoff declined. I asked him to call her back and accept! I knew he was
going to have to go back to work soon and I was not excited about being stuck
at home with just me and the baby and no one to help me. I liked our tiny
little duplex, but being stuck and alone and having 5 channels, well it just
didn’t sound awesome. So, he called her back and she said she would come on
September 12 and stay the rest of the week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-8779805735435326252017-01-05T11:52:00.000-06:002017-01-05T11:52:01.215-06:00Our Love child<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">On September 7, 2001 I went to work at Lindenwood Child Care Center for what would be my last day as Assistant Director. My colleagues and a few parents threw me a small going away party/baby shower. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 12:30pm. At the time Geoff and I had only 1 car and he had the car at work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">He called me at 12:25 and apologized that he would be late. His shoot had gone long and he and a secretary were on their way to give me the car. I called my doctor's office and asked them if I could please come in a few minutes late due to the car issue. They obliged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Geoff arrived and I raced to my appointment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">This pregnancy had been filled with doctors. I was 19 and lost more than 25 pounds during my first trimester due to insane morning/all day sickness. Nothing we did made it stop and I craved vegetables and BLTs. Good vegetables; Brussels sprouts, broccoli, Spinach, etc. Though my blood work did not look bad, I had a wide pelvic opening and the baby quickly fell into it. My doctor never got good measurements and immediately sent me to a high risk doctor. He diagnosed my precious cargo as having IUGR, IntraUterine Growth Retardation, the intrauterine equivalent of failure to thrive. For 20+ weeks I saw both doctors, got measured, answered dozens of questions, had my dietary choices questioned, Geoff was questioned if I was starving myself, and had ultrasounds. In my heart, I just knew everything was going to be ok. Geoff was scared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">He went to as many appointments as his schedule allowed. Sometimes just holding my hand, rubbing my hair (so annoying, but he liked it), and always carrying my milkshake. (Proof for the doctors I wasn't starving myself.) He was scared. This was his first baby and the memory of his sister after delivering his still-born niece was still vivid in his mind. He often shared that pain with me and was fearful that that would be our fate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">So, on this day, I walked into the office. Greeted the receptionists brightly and went through the confusion of the message having not been relayed that I was late and the girls thinking I was having a baby! What a laugh we had! They got me back on the schedule while I went to the bathroom. Once I came out we checked my weight, up a pound!! And got me in a room to wait. My doctor came in, chatted, measured my belly and listened to the baby's heart rate. She frowned. I frowned. My heart raced, palms sweat and the cold, thick feeling settled somewhere below my chest and above my stomach that says, "something is VERY WRONG." She asked me to do a none stress test. She said, they'd hook me up to a machine and track the baby's heart rate and it wouldn't hurt at all. Then she looked around the room and realized I was alone. "Would you like to call your husband?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">"We're not married. And he doesn't have a car," I stammered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">"Why don't you go sit at a nurse's desk and give him a call and once you get things straight will do our test."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">"What's wrong?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">"I think you baby might be a little stressed and may be ready to come out sooner than we thought." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">(I have no idea what I said. If anything.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">I then made a myriad of phone calls. I needed my mom to get my "husband", someone to get my sister ruth from soccer so my mom could get Geoff and someone to take my mom's students' art to the show it was headed to. And I needed everyone to do RIGHT NOW. No text messages, no cellphones and I got it all arranged in a few phone calls. I went to my second little room and got hooked up for my non stress test. I'm pretty sure I was in there for eternity. The clock said it was only 30 minutes. In that time I had bargained everything with g-d. I'd give it all up, live poor, do whatever I had to do for her to be ok. Just get her through this. In those 30 minutes, I believe, I took the first steps in becoming a mommy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">My doctor came in and read the paper and sat down. She looked stern and sad. I don't really remember everything she said. But I remember very clearly that she explained how induction would work. She didn't want to do a pitocin induction due to my extraordinarily low blood pressure. And so, she walked me through, step by step, my slow overnight induction. We were nearly done and my mother and Geoff walked in. The nurse tried to introduce them and everyone stammered with titles for Geoff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">She reviewed, more succinctly what would happen and asked if anyone had any questions. I'll never forget what came next, my mother asked if this was really necessary and my doctor looked at her, squared her shoulders and said, "yes, because I prefer not to deliver dead babies." The room fell silent. She half hugged me and said, "I'll see you later tonight."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">My mother, Geoff and I left. She made him promise I would eat. I wasn't hungry. She asked to meet me in the hospital. I agreed. I was frightened how she would behave in the delivery room as I saw her faint at my sister's forehead bleeding from a injury when she was about 8. This could get really bad. Really fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">We went home, got food on the way and tried to relax. I repacked my hospital bag and gathered my things and we headed to the hospital. It would be romantic to say we held hands all the way to the hospital, but it was more like Geoff squeezed my hand all the way there.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-63085157396444048192017-01-04T11:49:00.000-06:002017-01-04T11:49:09.006-06:00How the Love Story Began<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">On August 2, 2000 I
convinced Geoff to go on a date with me. We had been sort of hanging out off
and on for over a week. He was the general manager of the new Lenny's and I was
a pool manager at the JCC. I would offer to go pick up lunch (and dinner) at Lenny's
and would have to wait for the hot sandwiches to get made. Geoff would often
chat with me while I was waiting. Which I now know was completely out of the
ordinary for him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway, one afternoon,
the 2nd, I got tired of all of this little flirting and not getting asked out.
I decided to take matters into my own hands. I asked Geoff if he wanted my
number. He declined. One of the other guys wanted it. I wasn't giving it to
him. So I stormed out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, this was 2000. I
had a cellphone. It was supposed to be for emergencies. This was an emergency.
Duh. I stopped in the parking lot and looked at the receipt and called the
store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Hello, thank you
for calling Lenny's. How may help you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"May I speak to
Geoff please?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Ok"
(crashes phone onto nearby surface. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This is
Geoff."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This is Rachel.
Why didn't you take my number? Do I intimidate you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Uh, no..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Are you not at
all interested in me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I am. I
mean.."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"So then why
haven't you asked me out?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Ok, how about
this. You come out with me for dinner tonight and if after dinner is over you
hate me and never want to see me again, I'll get someone else to get my food
and I'll never come in your store again. Ok?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I work in a
restaurant. I don't really need to eat after."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Ok, how about
coffee?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I don't drink
coffee"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Neither do I,
it's just something people say!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I used we're at
an impass."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Fine, meet me at
the JCC and 9:30. I will drive. I am going to eat. You can sit. I will pay. And
my offer will still stand at the end. Ok?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Ok."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9:30p. I'm off work
standing near my car. Waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9:35. Security guy
comes by and says he doesn't want me waiting too much longer since everyone is
gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9:40 Security guy says
he's staying nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9:45 Geoff pulls up.
He gets in my car. We drive to my mother's house because even though I've
showered and done my hair and some make up, I had no clean clothes to wear, so
I'm in a suit and shorts and a tank top. He sits on my mother's couch in the
living room and talks while I get dressed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We go to Belmont Grill
on Mendenhall and Poplar. Geoff does not eat, but drinks some pineapple juice.
I eat fried mushrooms and a salad. And since the waitress says all the
silverware is dirty, I ate the whole thing with my fingers. We walk to Kroger
and get some ice cream and sit on the benches and talk and eat ice cream until
2am. I drive him back to his car and go home and wake up my sister to tell her
I just went out with the man I'm going to marry. He called his brother and told
him the same thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He calls me around 3p
that afternoon to ask me out to a movie and dinner the next day. Normally I
would've said no. Rules and all. But I accepted. He is the only guy I ever
accepted a date from the day before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We went to Cafe
Espresso in the bottom of Ridgeway Inn and went to see "What Lies
Beneath". I don't do scary movies. I ended up completely frightened and in
his lap. He showed me his house. We talked. He took me home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next night, we
went to Pete and Sam's and got take out and then back to his house and watched
a movie. We fell asleep together and woke up in the exact same position. It was
the first time in months that either of us had slept through the night. I was
supposed to move in to the dorms a couple weeks later. That morning he asked me
to move in with him instead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over the next few
weeks we spent waaaaay too much time together. I moved in with him and didn't
tell anyone. Two days later, my mother told me she had breast cancer again. On
the way back to the house we now shared all I could think about was having a
baby. I didn't want my mother to die without having been a grandmother. I was
19. When I told Geoff about my mother's cancer, he cried. That night, he asked
me to marry him for the first time and I asked him to have a baby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We may not have done
things in the "correct" order. But that month was definitely the
beginning of a great story! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-26984344565993697932016-11-03T12:18:00.000-05:002016-11-07T12:20:33.522-06:003 Steps to Saving on Groceries with little effortLet's face it, we are busy, busy, busy people.<br />
<br />
In these 3, fairly short, steps, you can save money at the grocery without much effort.<br />
<br />
<b>Step 1:</b><br />
Shop the sales! Right now, Kroger is having their Buy 10, Save $5 event! It's the perfect time to stock up on items that can be stored for later, since you can purchase them for a great price!<br />
<br />
For example, pasta generally costs about $1.20 per package, right now, if you get 10 items from the Buy 10, Save $5 event, you can get the pasta for .49 per package. Definitely worth stocking up on a few items that you use all the time!<br />
<br />
<b>Step 2:</b><br />
Have you tried <a href="https://ibotta.com/r/azbqrq" target="_blank">ibotta</a>? It's a great app that allows you to save money just for scanning the items you purchase and your receipt. (My referral code is azrbqrq, if that link doesn't work for you.)<br />
<br />
Here's how it works; sign up here, refer friends if you like, scan your grocery items, snap a pic of your receipt and get money in your account!<br />
<br />
Super simple!!<br />
<br />
<b>Step 3:</b><br />
Meal plan. I know that sounds backwards, but if you meal plan and make a point of planning how and when you'll be using your leftovers, you will find that over time, you spend less but use more of what you purchase. Which means you'll throw away less food and you'll save money!!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/486640119/meal-planner-and-grocery-list-single?ref=shop_home_active_3" target="_blank">Here</a>'s a great meal planning guide that I use to meal plan and grocery shop each week on one sheet!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-175391169893164322016-10-27T10:09:00.000-05:002017-01-12T08:28:52.885-06:00How to start a Capsule Wardrobe without stressing<br />
<div class="" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=382876002&rrec=true&mlink=5050,12413545,brproduct1_rr_1&clink=12413545" target="_blank">Oxford Button Down</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
It's all over <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/rkannady/" target="_blank">pinterest</a>, heck, I have a preeeeetty awesome board about capsule wardrobes, you can check it out <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/rkannady/capsule-wardrobe/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
But for a lot of people, it's really overwhelming to think about getting the whole thing started! I mean, for real, less than 30 pieces for ..... how long?!? What about laundry?? How do you have clean clothes?? What?!?!<br />
<br />
In light of that, I thought I'd share my secrets of how I made it work for me.<br />
<br />
1. Pick out your favorites!!! Don't worry about the season, just your favorites!! Here are 3 of mine!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi_LI7Ljwi75PM1vaZukHsdcXCj_6bXOKMhPk4ZlePTgAZodBxp5QXCG7o-nUSrYVHP6AqmwwoQUe7Gkwfj4GA1D2UdKkNMM4RQINfM8i_LQ0Or6am-eNiQmM577XMpQCDdMgQpExzayd/s1600/Oxford+Shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi_LI7Ljwi75PM1vaZukHsdcXCj_6bXOKMhPk4ZlePTgAZodBxp5QXCG7o-nUSrYVHP6AqmwwoQUe7Gkwfj4GA1D2UdKkNMM4RQINfM8i_LQ0Or6am-eNiQmM577XMpQCDdMgQpExzayd/s1600/Oxford+Shirt.jpg" /></a>Banana Republic Button Down Oxford<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/60EAAOSwhOdXoO7w/s-l225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for liz claiborne collection blue jacket" border="0" src="http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/60EAAOSwhOdXoO7w/s-l225.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Liz Claiborne Navy Blue Jacket<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for old navy black and white striped dress" src="http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/LKMAAMXQLoZR0h82/s-l225.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="150" /><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Old Navy Black and White Stripped Dress</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2. What do you LOVE about these items? (And yes, you can definitely have more than 3 favs!)<br />
I love pockets on dresses, though that Old Navy one does not have pockets.<br />
I love to feel comfortable in my clothes.<br />
I need my clothes to be wash and wear.<br />
I love good quality.<br />
I love and need to be able to move easily in my clothes when I'm working.<br />
<br />
3. Pick out the things that you like to wear with those favorites.<br />
<br />
Do you have 5 outfits? Could you make 5 outfits easily?<br />
<br />
4. Now get the items you'd need for after work, bed, working out, gardening, etc. But follow those same 3 rules; favorites only, things you love, and whatever else you need to finish the job, maybe a jacket for running when it's cooler or pj bottoms that go with a favorite top, etc.<br />
<br />
5. You should have around 30 pieces of clothing. If all of it is one season, you have the beginning of your capsule wardrobe! If it's not, see what else you need to finish off that season and try to only pick the items that follow your rules. Do you have something to wear for rainy weather? Do you have a hat for going to the beach or sunny days at a soccer game?<br />
<br />
6. Once you have a season of clothes, pick your favorite shoes and accessories that coordinate with most of those clothing items.<br />
<br />
You've made a capsule wardrobe!<br />
<br />
Try and do it again for another season, or just add to what you have to create a multi-seasonal wardrobe.<br />
<br />
7. Worried about laundry? Make sure you have 5 work outfits and 1 back up. If you can't repeat clothing items during the week, pick a monday outfit, a tuesday outfit, etc. Then repeat them each week slight variations of accessories. You only have laundry once a week, and your outfits are ready to go each week!<br />
<br />
As a teacher, I have 5 outfits for each quarter of the school year. On Monday of Quarter 1 I wear the same thing each week. But, when quarter 2 comes, I switch to the next set of clothes. The kids (and teachers) don't really notice until around week 7 or later and by then it's almost over!<br />
<br />
If you want to keep the other things to see if you need them, while you try it out, go for it.<br />
<br />
I hope this has helped you venture into the world of capsule wardrobes! If you have other suggestions for starting a capsule wardrobe, feel free to share in the comments below!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-20245408080596196552016-10-24T11:27:00.000-05:002016-10-24T11:27:20.748-05:00College Weekly PlanningAs most of you know, I teach high school biology. I happen to teach a lot of really awesome, really wonderful, really not organized kiddos. (And I mean that in the most loving way.)<br />
<br />
I happen to be a very organized person. Kids joke about the number of planners and lists that I have in my classroom. I guess I always thought that students would learn to be organized on their own and that I didn't need to take them through being organized step-by-step. However, according to numerous news outlets, teachers are expected to be responsible for more and more components of our students lives.<br />
<br />
I am here to serve! So to speak.<br />
<br />
So, in the photo below is the college planning checklist I used for each week. I will continue, over the next fow weeks, to share all of the checklists I used in college and in the last week I will share, for free, for a month, the entire set as one BIG file. All of these will be printables that will be free only for the time period that I have shared them for and then the links will switch to the fee based printable links.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAZ-fZovr7XP5FM9_Vpcs9zcCuJVVPg5Rz5mHZTzCnxtOhIk6wsz-M1psCZBnPCygrsJwd6mEYX3c7L6v3KxBuip2kMhZWD6gBeQvhyphenhyphenS2niIl4JCY9__MsmcOdvJ4w7TcPO6sPCq_NZ4w/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAZ-fZovr7XP5FM9_Vpcs9zcCuJVVPg5Rz5mHZTzCnxtOhIk6wsz-M1psCZBnPCygrsJwd6mEYX3c7L6v3KxBuip2kMhZWD6gBeQvhyphenhyphenS2niIl4JCY9__MsmcOdvJ4w7TcPO6sPCq_NZ4w/s320/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a great planning guide for a college student looking to really manage their schedule. It has space for 7 classes, 2 activities, cleaning, shopping and miscellaneous. The cleaning, shopping and miscellaneous have 2 columns that are both blank, so they can be used whatever way works best! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For most college students, this will provide the framework for total success in managing all of the things that are going on and need to be kept track of!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The link to the FREE printable is <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/kb3uej1dtq8xluh/College%20Weekly%20Planning%20Sheet.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<br />
I would recommend sitting down on Sunday to go over the needs for the week. I would also recommend printing 2-3 at a time so that you can write on them in advance of when things are going on.<br />
<br />
Don't worry, there are more printable planners to come!!<br />
<br />
Let me know, in the comments below, what printables you would like to see!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-12860048986608030552016-10-16T09:48:00.000-05:002016-10-24T10:58:23.680-05:00Meal Planning and a Meal PlanSeveral People have asked how I do my meal plan and my grocery list. So this week, I am giving you BOTH! I am sharing with you my FREE PRINTABLE meal plan and grocery list, my meal plan with links to recipes is below AND I'm sharing my personal meal plan and grocery list!<br />
<br />
So, here's a couple pictures, one blank and one in progress. Then I'll give you my steps!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKiJ5vnGr0imASsr7PvkqHYTM-ybxfuc24thgz6G2joREFh3MtB4cOOVZdkp_Ah3hcd6VFna4pgxiE0drei6_hHNAJuWa6SAWx5OXCCliQoZh81y17xgWYpnxfEErNPjAaNaSFMnFOh4iQ/s1600/IMG_5506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKiJ5vnGr0imASsr7PvkqHYTM-ybxfuc24thgz6G2joREFh3MtB4cOOVZdkp_Ah3hcd6VFna4pgxiE0drei6_hHNAJuWa6SAWx5OXCCliQoZh81y17xgWYpnxfEErNPjAaNaSFMnFOh4iQ/s320/IMG_5506.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPpFC23zfwVwj48SdBVbmMRBXcf9qyEyTguKI9qnvz0W90BnrRECcDT46HwtSAI0FCltPRZxEK59-0VJXwalA_PbxiKONpSmKAxWrHWrmSORNmcN5wuxyVNbhFy0PKmYAYHEI8XtBoYiP/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPpFC23zfwVwj48SdBVbmMRBXcf9qyEyTguKI9qnvz0W90BnrRECcDT46HwtSAI0FCltPRZxEK59-0VJXwalA_PbxiKONpSmKAxWrHWrmSORNmcN5wuxyVNbhFy0PKmYAYHEI8XtBoYiP/s320/IMG_5507.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blank</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Weekly Meal Planning Step by Step Guide:</span><br />
<br />
First, I check my calendar. I use an<a href="http://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/rachelkannady" target="_blank"> Erin Condren Life Planner</a>, to keep track of all the things going on at my house. I find that doing this BEFORE meal planning generally means that I don't plan a complicated meal on a busy night or after I've had a day that really is not conducive to cooking. It also means that I can check for when I might have time to do prep work the night before and I can put it in my calendar when I need to.<br />
<br />
Second, I talk to my kids about what things they like to see on the meal plan. My little ones generally want the same things, but my big kids have started exploring Pinterest and watch the Food Network now and again and they have shown an interest in branching out! It also helps them feel more involved in what we're eating and doing when they get to help make the plan.<br />
<br />
Third, we check the cabinets and the refrigerator. Maybe what you want is already in your house. Maybe something strikes you as sounding wonderful! Or maybe you realize you shouldn't buy that snack anymore because no one is eating it... No matter what, checking the pantry, fridge and freezer is a smart thing to do before moving forward.<br />
<br />
Fourth, I gather the recipes and start planning out my meals and groceries. I do it all on one sheet. It's <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/gw43ipln2np1xal/Blank%20Meal%20Plan%20and%20Grocery%20List.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">here</a> and this helps me make sure that I don't get too much or not enough. Or, if I'm using half and half creamer, for example, I know I don't need the whole container that is purchased, so I may check for another recipe to use up that last little bit rather than have it go bad in the fridge.<br />
<br />
Finally, I check the coupons and the circulars for sales!!! Chicken was on sale week before last for 39 cents per pound!!! So I got 20 pounds. So last week and this week have been lots and lots of chicken. Which obviously means, this week is.....chicken!<br />
<br />
Here's my meal plan and grocery list.<br />
<br />
And here are all the links to all the recipes!<br />
<br />
Monday:<br />
BBQ Chicken<br />
Macaroni and Cheese<br />
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower<br />
<br />
Tuesday:<br />
Shredded Chicken Tacos with fixings!<br />
<br />
Wednesday:<br />
Sweet and Sour Chicken<br />
Veggie Stir Fry<br />
White Rice<br />
<br />
Thursday:<br />
Chicken and Spinach Alfredo Casserole<br />
<br />
Friday:<br />
Leftover Baked Potato Bar<br />
<br />
Saturday:<br />
Burgers and Hot Dogs<br />
Fries<br />
<br />
Sunday:<br />
Beef Stroganoff<br />
Salad<br />
<br />
How's your week shaping up?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-26825256340131255962016-09-27T15:23:00.000-05:002016-09-27T15:23:37.407-05:00Recipe: Steamer DinnerMy kids all really love when we make foil packs. They're very popular on Pinterest as easy meals. I, however, did not find them to be easy. I found that they were messy, took too long in the oven and made a HUGE mess for clean-up.<br />
<br />
I decided to change the recipes to fit me and my family.<br />
<br />
I prepped one cookie sheet with aluminum foil and put the oven at 325.<br />
<br />
The recipe I use is this:<br />
<br />
2.5 Lbs of cut up dinner sausage or kelibasa<br />
1 lb yellow potatoes<br />
1 lb red potatoes<br />
1 large white onion<br />
<br />
The whole thing costs less than $10 and fed all of my children and me with leftovers!<br />
<br />
Here's what it looks like:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlxu29vEbBb0X0F4xCznv8iyNCCqC5cphmpot_1yKL3fTQuX6MsnEKKJaYuYmpvfCBcUJeFPNvr-K5UlOTy6fio2Opa2X1XUsoAv0Jvam9T0e4urayMXOiy4BgmFV3_VshreBZjtEXtSm/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlxu29vEbBb0X0F4xCznv8iyNCCqC5cphmpot_1yKL3fTQuX6MsnEKKJaYuYmpvfCBcUJeFPNvr-K5UlOTy6fio2Opa2X1XUsoAv0Jvam9T0e4urayMXOiy4BgmFV3_VshreBZjtEXtSm/s320/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Then, I put a "tent" of aluminum foil over it and into the oven it goes to 1 hour. I turned it at 30ish minutes, just to spread the heat love. The longer it's in, the better I think it is and the softer your potatoes will be.<br />
<br />
Here's my finished product.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW12o8ELlzkEeL2UD8u6zTkWBXAqccdLO8CCd7YImIHuZP72WKZ3YL6K-0UvHoGxI4VfWj0hAEbizXW63Zecl7KsHuYthxAD01Z9BeNbHNJrXNrVzEhjV-3IqzA4ZjcD8dnmXUtafra9sQ/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW12o8ELlzkEeL2UD8u6zTkWBXAqccdLO8CCd7YImIHuZP72WKZ3YL6K-0UvHoGxI4VfWj0hAEbizXW63Zecl7KsHuYthxAD01Z9BeNbHNJrXNrVzEhjV-3IqzA4ZjcD8dnmXUtafra9sQ/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
In the meantime, I also made a batch of gooey fudge brownies and a cheesecake fluff.<br />
<br />
Gooey Fudge Brownies were made with a Betty Crocker mix. (shhhh, it's a secret, okay?)<br />
<br />
The cheese cake fluff was a layer of crescent roll dough on the bottom, a mix of cheesecake batter and another layer of crescent roll dough on top with a sprinkle of cinnamon baked in the oven at 375 for about 40 minutes.<br />
<br />
My personal cheesecake batter recipe is 1 block of cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar and 2 eggs.<br />
<br />
Hope this helps in coming up with your dinner plan!<br />
<br />
I'll be back to sunday postings with the meal plan for the week, next week. All recipes will be linked and ready to go!<br />
<br />
Be sure to tell me below what you and your kids thought of the recipes!<br />
<br />
See you soon!!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-12887202043078317162016-09-26T11:22:00.003-05:002016-09-26T11:22:45.830-05:00Ways to help our students be successfulVery seldom do my professional blog (it's for my students to keep up with my classroom assignments, etc) and my personal blog intersect and have basically the same need for the same thing. But I find myself wanting to share this blog post with as many people as possible. Below I have listed out 5 ways to help your student be successful in school. I know some of them are easier than others MANY days of the week. But, I also know the more we, as parents, work to help our students find ways to be successful the more we will see them able to succeed.<br />
<br />
<b>Ways to help your student:</b><br />
1. Get them a planner!!! I use <a href="http://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/rachelkannady" target="_blank">Erin Condren</a> planners for my personal and professional calendars and tracking. I obviously, would recommend them, but there are truly hundreds of places to find great options! (The link gives you $10 off your first purchase at EC.) There are multiple options for how to lay out the week, this gives the user the chance to really see which method will best meet their goals and needs. (This is my personal planner shown below.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfpYeRUYDoYy5VBD_miE8HecN6NJ-ewlxfDtq7bj_ZLui6920QJogEMcLRk1YK4Nww8jw78da6o-SXM4yvesXdneDJt17q_F7h-IIZ-vkHg-hyJzPetTrnd-eE36cX5Xf9LGnQVDbqY-N/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfpYeRUYDoYy5VBD_miE8HecN6NJ-ewlxfDtq7bj_ZLui6920QJogEMcLRk1YK4Nww8jw78da6o-SXM4yvesXdneDJt17q_F7h-IIZ-vkHg-hyJzPetTrnd-eE36cX5Xf9LGnQVDbqY-N/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
2. A regular study/planning spot. Having a regular spot that is all theirs to plan their week, do homework and study is a game changer for most students! Making this a regular habit for your students is HUGE!<br />
<br />
3. Quiet time! Try and set aside an hour or more that is just for them and you won't interrupt them! I know that in families with multiple children, especially older ones helping out, have a hard time setting aside time for students to focus. However, if you can make this happen, it will be a huge game changer!<br />
<br />
4. A regular evening routine and bed time! Plenty of sleep is really important for our students.<br />
<br />
5. Regular morning routine. This is hard in my house, so I know it can be hard in others. But, having a regular morning routine of everyone getting up, getting dressed, eating something, brushing teeth, etc. will really help you and your student to feel more capable and prepared to do well at school.<br />
<br />
Feel free to share your ideas below! I'd love to hear what tips and tricks you have for helping your students find their own successes!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-29539169626838499922016-09-02T09:00:00.000-05:002016-09-02T09:00:21.682-05:00Kindergarten is Hard!Do you remember kindergarten? I do.<br />
<br />
I remember the kitchen set and loving the baby dolls, we had the "diversity set" with dolls of 3 ethnicities and both genders.<br />
<br />
I remember really fat crayons and giant headphones in computer class. I remember the monkey bars and the swings.<br />
<br />
My daughter's experience is entirely different. She has cried so many times in the last 19 days since school started. And for her it's only 15.<br />
<br />
We've been working on sight words, coloring homework, walking in a quite line, did I mention homework?, learning to tie shoes and .... going without a nap!<br />
<br />
Maybe I am being a bit mellow dramatic. But, maybe not.<br />
<br />
It seems like all of our high stakes testing and pushing is breaking our children. Kids are freaking out and losing control and getting upset over so many things that in the long run don't really work.<br />
<br />
Why does <a href="http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/features/school-stress-anxiety-children" target="_blank">this article</a> on WebMD about dealing with stress in small children, even need to be published?<br />
<br />
What happened to Montessori education?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=85008fdec0&view=fimg&th=156e88cabbe957d3&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8YrU7TqSV4avGtV8yeFyL-kSt5GtdlaJJ_pHGweAhbdpHw2dhFFP-7k1G9fAjDkR0scncxHrK3KqQpayQwM57rsLqpn49LKWGHZOG0m-g-SE0-_nJkEebJJrU&ats=1472780373444&rm=156e88cabbe957d3&zw&sz=w1366-h667" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Displaying IMG_5299.JPG" border="0" height="200" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=85008fdec0&view=fimg&th=156e88cabbe957d3&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8YrU7TqSV4avGtV8yeFyL-kSt5GtdlaJJ_pHGweAhbdpHw2dhFFP-7k1G9fAjDkR0scncxHrK3KqQpayQwM57rsLqpn49LKWGHZOG0m-g-SE0-_nJkEebJJrU&ats=1472780373444&rm=156e88cabbe957d3&zw&sz=w1366-h667" width="200" /></a><br />
Long gone are the days of students self selecting their play and self selecting their activities and having time to explore the world around them.<br />
<br />
Parents are regularly told to spend crazy amounts of time making flash cards and small little reading books to "reinforce the work done at school". I don't know about you, but I need a break after a busy day and I'm guessing our kids do too....<br />
<br />
Yet, there I was cutting up those flash cards with the best of them. Peer pressure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Maybe I'll learn something better tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-51223734945008399262016-09-01T09:10:00.000-05:002016-09-01T09:10:14.621-05:00Chapter # what?Today, I sit in my classroom 4 days away from the next chapter of my life. And quite possibly the scariest one yet.<br />
<br />
On Monday, my husband is moving to Knoxville.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Map from Memphis, TN to Knoxville, TN" height="99" src="https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=RfCSdfNZ0LFPrHSm0ublXdzhdrDFhtmHhN1u-gM,mLFZrBNv7y2ied0aEKOlNcv18xMxLj49cBnBgqB6dHpxoO6IgIzCl88QJu-NzuJbKo80ywYWnzoJjeKlNwTx_l9k01COb1JO0D_74GJXPIo3TTjB8D-o51kVY975iSsZ4rgr_23ymYxQStANfvjDk4s,UMdPNdkfxeR42CPnVNzTSv6xsK6TMi7gbuNFmxxC1bFpvZrB-cpP5UuyI1G3sUKUDq81vVKHBTtxH6oCsStFbgUwd9Ezc2G3j-yl1g4RDoR_bfmqTzOrV-uRuW04AwY7YP6CTmi4ucXE9U2dUsUDsPML_h4IvqGTj2U_keT05HJvvMscc7LEWZzwG1P2NaKdrbbPS3b_JL0p2thgPo4nxBQZev2K0sT7YZ3S2NQMqnJ3AsgJ-LAb0UrTRrmeLPMZqPsEqKLTmozvAK3Q3kXteJhvVcIiEFfkJGjbeTmzA0Y3Z77Pu2XDATq7RJcsiqqwBF4VR_k3ryTvV0FvbZOfQFIDbH0GW1bZQvDNW4b7cZ0iZ8-GvWty_bQ0z_F6YBgRzSlkjlHWJAcFeoNPV3k_Nz76uVeEkw?scale=1&h=200&w=643" width="320" /></div>
<br />
Most people have responded in one of the following ways:<br />
<br />
1. Are you guys getting divorced? No.<br />
<br />
2. Are you crazy?!!?? Possibly, but I have 5 kids, so we crossed that bridge a long time ago.<br />
<br />
3. Why? In short, it's his turn.<br />
<br />
4. Are you guys moving to Knoxville? Eventually.<br />
<br />
5. Aren't you sad or upset or??? Yes, and everything else, too.<br />
<br />
Here's what it boils down to for me...<br />
<br />
For the last 15 years, Geoff has said yes to me. Every thing, idea, degree, WHATEVER, that I came home and said I wanted to do, minus very little and very few, he said yes. I have done nearly all the things that I have wanted to do with my career choices, life choices and personal choices. It's time for me to say yes to my husband and give him the time and the space he needs to pursue his goal, his dream, his career and, most importantly to me, his happiness.<br />
<br />
So, for the short term, because 8 months is a short amount of time, I will have a house, a job, 5 kids and 4 dogs to myself. I will get all the hugs, kiss, boo boos, tears, joys and everything in between to myself!<br />
<br />
I will also be working to rid our home of excess clutter, trying to make time to see my husband, continuing to give high quality lessons and care for my children. I want to continue to sell monograms and appliques.<br />
<br />
I will gratefully and happily accept help and swallow my pride and even possibly, ask for help.<br />
<br />
It's going to be the busiest and possibly most dramatic time I've had in a long time, but I'm up for the challenge.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-82987815132346671592016-06-16T11:42:00.001-05:002016-06-16T11:42:58.348-05:00Loved from afar....reflections after loss and OrlandoMy mother died on December 24, 2011. At the time I was 30, I had been married for 10 years and had 3 children with one on the way. I had started a good career as a teacher, at a school I really really liked, my husband was finally going to graduate college and was a stay-at-home dad with plans to get a pretty good job or stay home in the fall. Life was ok.<br />
<br />
Losing my mother put my husband and I in a tailspin. She was an integral part of our family. Picking up my children from school, having weekly dinners with us and generally just being a great grandmother to her grand children. But more than that, she was my friend. She was my husband's friend. We had no way (or desire) to replace her. But, there was such a huge void. It was more than the cliched "hole in your heart"....it was a crater in my life!<br />
<br />
Over the last 4.5 years we have attempted to make small changes and edits to our lives to allow the pain of that crater to be some what diminished from the pain it was originally. But it has taken some serious work and a lot of time.<br />
<br />
This summer, I am teaching summer school at my mother's last school assignment as an Art Teacher before she died. There are several pieces of art around the building and they are all captivating, which was her style. But, she also left a more everlasting piece of herself. Her love for gardening. She started and created a beautiful courtyard, complete with a seedling of her grandmother's rose bush. I have been asked to help maintain those flowers, and oh what a gift it is. It is a quiet gift of her love to get to care for her roses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxCXzmZLL217Tr3fLeI_kxKwf6H71Ws4q_KO9m6x-5NfLGmX9rR4-z0Zdx-P0aCwD5eLNxPlXlzodgVivr-TyzHGgnwAzTEdNW48UxlbyCSU4zbzuy8Ork9UHSdi3_Gt5XU4CCUEHGOCV/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxCXzmZLL217Tr3fLeI_kxKwf6H71Ws4q_KO9m6x-5NfLGmX9rR4-z0Zdx-P0aCwD5eLNxPlXlzodgVivr-TyzHGgnwAzTEdNW48UxlbyCSU4zbzuy8Ork9UHSdi3_Gt5XU4CCUEHGOCV/s320/IMG_4939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Earlier this week there was a shooting in Orlando. If you had not already heard, it was pretty awful. My heart hurts for those who have lost loved ones. For those who feel threatened. For those who have felt this pain. Then more recently this week, a child was ripped from his parents at a beach in Orlando at a Disney Resort Hotel.<br />
<br />
There is no simple way to solve the many problems that are affecting our society right now. For what ever reason, some people have real fundamental problems with other people for religious, social, cultural or other reasons. I do not pretend that I understand what is going on.<br />
<br />
All I can say to those who have lost loved ones or are affected by the many tragedies; you are loved.<br />
<br />
I hope over time you are able to find love and support in these times and are able to find peace.<br />
<br />
Look for the moments when your loved ones will speak to you. Because they will. It will be subtle and quiet, but it will be there.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-67906392400155875322016-03-27T23:07:00.001-05:002016-03-27T23:07:50.484-05:00Day 3/365: SurrogacyA long time ago I leaned about surrogacy. Surrogacy is when a woman carries a baby for a couple unable to conceive and carry their baby on their own. <div><br></div><div>When I learned about surrogacy I was in high school. Now I have several children of my own and know that being a surrogate is something I am meant to do. Having babies is, apparently, something I am REALLY good at. Not sure why I got that particular "gift", but I did. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Finding the right couple has been a challenge. I'm quite sure that one day I will meet the right couple who I will be able to help. Not sure when that will be, but I know in my heart, it will happen. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Friends, if you're the praying kind, or spiritual in whatever way suits you; please direct your energy at the mama who needs me. She's in quite a struggle. Asking someone to care for your child is hard. Think how picky mamas can be about babysitters! But asking someone to carry your unborn child is an insurmountable fear and relinquishment of responsibility. How scary that must be! How great the compassionate she will need for that journey! How awesome the gift and responsibility. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Tonite, mama, you're in my heart. May we meet soon that I can help fulfill this dream and may the journey be as smooth and calm for you as possible! </span></div>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-41367433302840621672016-03-26T22:33:00.001-05:002016-03-26T22:33:37.538-05:00Day 2/365: todayToday I really wanted to be present. To focus on my kids and the sunshine and being present in the moment. And it was awesome. <div><br></div><div>We played in the sunshine, kicked our soccer ball, threw the softball, played in the swings, went on a nature walk, ate Popsicles, met friends and had a great day. I doubt this day will stand out in my children's or even my memory, years from now. But it was one of those really wonderful and really simple days. </div><div><br></div><div>We came home, had pizza and they were right back outside, together. Playing their own game on our trampoline. Now everyone is just about asleep and all I can think is how today was exactly the kind of day I want to have with them. </div><div><br></div><div>Our park, happily covered with people and sunshine. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWv9xCo15Z6ahmJSO73WK3G1j8Xx1iYGdEkFJZALY_vkc9e24xluDg8dwvWiSu-3dSEy7Li3SWu8WdxEL3MJD9O8pNX8alUeQAT-7oUYW04d8i4bkisQce7w7chaeVBNa4euPW-OLfMZN/s640/blogger-image--1817060793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWv9xCo15Z6ahmJSO73WK3G1j8Xx1iYGdEkFJZALY_vkc9e24xluDg8dwvWiSu-3dSEy7Li3SWu8WdxEL3MJD9O8pNX8alUeQAT-7oUYW04d8i4bkisQce7w7chaeVBNa4euPW-OLfMZN/s640/blogger-image--1817060793.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-62203279915572457262016-03-26T02:30:00.001-05:002016-03-26T02:30:08.083-05:00Day 1/365: Time to be reflectiveThere's a whole lot going on in my head. In nearly every corner of my life, I am at a crossroads. <div><br></div><div>Career: I've been teaching high school biology for 6 years, spoken at several national conferences in what I do in my classroom and I'm about to self publish my first book on the same. </div><div><br></div><div>Children: My 5 children are, quite literally, at every stage of child life development other than participating in college. </div><div><br></div><div>Personally: I've run a marathon and an ultra and I know what it feels like to be at my top physically. </div><div><br></div><div>Mentally: I'm not any where near middle aged, but I've lived a colorful life thus far. I miss my mother terribly, as her loss was premature. </div><div><br></div><div>House/home: We have decisions to make regarding either selling or "fancying" up and sticking around for a few more years. </div><div><br></div><div>What does all this mean? I'm not sure. But I'm planning to spend the next year working it out. Or cleaning, we'll see how it goes!</div><div><br></div><div>In the meantime; some ducks from the zoo today. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalrmMITRF_UCpI8XSJyPbBjV464KHNQUCqSgVV9KZwxIWBW56cLuvN46n1pUnW4TzSn5gL7K63HHMdSOzuk_TraQxKepFlIZ7hxVLOHUanpDY_xTztpx5t1Bh-msk8t50sZSWY4J-N7X2/s640/blogger-image--1448601919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalrmMITRF_UCpI8XSJyPbBjV464KHNQUCqSgVV9KZwxIWBW56cLuvN46n1pUnW4TzSn5gL7K63HHMdSOzuk_TraQxKepFlIZ7hxVLOHUanpDY_xTztpx5t1Bh-msk8t50sZSWY4J-N7X2/s640/blogger-image--1448601919.jpg"></a></div></div>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-36855441282598066382015-11-07T15:49:00.000-06:002015-11-07T15:49:54.573-06:00Clear and Precise InstructionsWith 5 kids, a job and what I'd like to call a life, there is little room for miscommunication. I just don't have time to deal with incorrect instructions for filling out forms, signing up for things or missing out because we just didn't know.<br />
<br />
It seems that this is a necessary fact in nearly all aspects of my life. I think it's why I appreciate lists so much.<br />
<br />
So, today, here are a few ways to improve communication skills in your own life.<br />
<br />
I think you might recognize these....<br />
<br />
1. <b>Who?</b> Who do you intend to involve, or for that matter, exclude. For example, if your child gets an invitation to a party, do not assume that all of the children are invited. If it is a friend hosting and you feel comfortable asking, ask. If not, you have 2 choices; either ask or don't ask. If you ask, be prepared for them to say no, it's their party. If they say yes, great! Proceed as necessary. If you are the host, make your mind up ahead of time and invite who you intend to.<br />
<br />
2. <b>What? </b>Make sure you give and get clear instructions regarding what is expected of you. It is much easier for everyone if you clarify for yourself whatever you don't understand. The moment you think of a question, it is time to clarify to make sure you proceed forward correctly. This makes everything better.<br />
<br />
3. <b>When?</b> How do people ever do anything spontaneous anymore? I have no idea! Because I always have a when. When are you arriving, when am I arriving, when do I need to leave my house to be on-time? Am I perfect at this, HECK NO! I have 5 kids, you silly person. But, I know when I needed to be there... Double checking date, day of the week and time are all important!<br />
<br />
4. <b>Why?</b> Well, I should hope you have not arbitrarily agreed to do something without knowing what it was, but the purpose is still important. That said, understanding the purpose of your event will have a direct effect on number 5 in this list...<br />
<br />
5.<b> How?</b> How should you dress? How should you act? How should you expect your children to act? All of this is answered in understanding how this thing, whatever it is, is about to go down...<br />
<br />
6. <b>Anything else?</b> You don't always have to understand anyone's reasoning for doing anything. But you should know if you are expected to bring plates and napkins to a party. These details are important to more than just you. Check on them.<br />
<br />
If you get through these items and you are still unclear about what is going on, maybe you need to call your host, the friend, or possibly, your boss. It's only kind to make sure that everyone is on the same page. As you continue to do these things, you will become better prepared for events and more and more people will (we can only hope) quit thinking that mom = mindreader....because it doesn't. But asking these questions and knowing what is expected of us, will help us all feel better about meeting any of the expectations laid out for us.<br />
<br />
Keep it up my friends, you're doing great!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/40/381918B6338D4B1E37ACDA7B9DC6C82A.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/rkannady/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="https://s-passets-ec.pinimg.com/images/about/buttons/pinterest-button.png" width="80" /></a>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-41536917523741039142015-11-01T16:23:00.002-06:002015-11-01T16:29:28.998-06:00Coupons, a cooking club and a meal plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV76w9rY8jzpZk6cthTVXf25WagqtuAhHSJEQJLsflUvFkjqJ5LMa4QlSgDEVoRvcxCTVtPQd-KIjGPODRKctSM1vJdHKnD0Q-oOhIYGsqmszy6PBtagk4S6qCF8ppNmNy1y3pvCyp5Ud/s640/blogger-image-766086696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV76w9rY8jzpZk6cthTVXf25WagqtuAhHSJEQJLsflUvFkjqJ5LMa4QlSgDEVoRvcxCTVtPQd-KIjGPODRKctSM1vJdHKnD0Q-oOhIYGsqmszy6PBtagk4S6qCF8ppNmNy1y3pvCyp5Ud/s320/blogger-image-766086696.jpg" width="240" /></a>A few weeks ago I shared that I was trying to save money by being more conscious of where and how I was spending money. One friend suggested I try couponing. So, I'm giving it a go. It's a bit of a numbers game and I am just getting started, but I used the coupons to help plan out the meal plan for this week. I got 2 newspapers to double my coupons and organized them into categories that worked for me: Baby, Cleaning, Dog, Hair & Body, Mouth, Feminine, OTC, Paper & Plastic, General Food, Fridge & Frozen, Restaurants and Extras. Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I'm keeping a running list of recipes that we will be using so I can put all of the coupons for those recipes in the very front to start getting those things together. I'm also planning to try to be more aware of the circulars that jam up my mailbox and may even save a few extras digitally. I use a few different apps on my phone to help with saving money, I'll link them if you don't have them so that you can start saving some money too!!! Where it is applicable, I'll put my referral code next to the link and then you can thank me by joining with my referral code and then let me know what you think of the savings apps too!!! Some of them are super user friendly and that only makes it more awesome!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
In no particular order....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1. Cartwheel for Target, secret coupons or percentages off for every item you can think of! The more you use it, the more coupons you can have on your barcode at a time!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And a RedCard!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
2. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kroger/id403901186?mt=8" target="_blank">Kroger Mobile Coupons</a>; it's like having secret Kroger coupons and the regular mailed circular in your phone! How easy is that? Click on the coupons to add them to your list!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
3. <a href="https://ibotta.com/" target="_blank">Ibotta</a>: (referral Code: azbqrq) Earn rebates for items you purchase all the time!! My total savings since I joined are up to $30.95. Once you join and use my code, you get an extra $2!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
4. <a href="http://receipthog.com/" target="_blank">Receipt Hog</a>, (referral code: clump306) snap pics of your receipts and then you get coins that add up to amazon cash. Spin the wheel to win extra spins or cash credit for your last receipt!!! Once you sign up and use it with the referral code, we each get extra spins!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And now for the meal plan: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJouT3HnOiq2qEb30JBtodnlPEnu1XBKx4XoiawTXbzFJGrfOvLYeEvN0EIXRccsSacms2PWA6Bn_GTRifxpAW8Ag6muQ1WZjCymWqpOM9qnxjBTUxdhyFE1tJUlDxb9JPGrwBfhNz_l-/s640/blogger-image--772655148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJouT3HnOiq2qEb30JBtodnlPEnu1XBKx4XoiawTXbzFJGrfOvLYeEvN0EIXRccsSacms2PWA6Bn_GTRifxpAW8Ag6muQ1WZjCymWqpOM9qnxjBTUxdhyFE1tJUlDxb9JPGrwBfhNz_l-/s640/blogger-image--772655148.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunday: Breakfast for dinner; pancakes, bacon, and eggs<br />
<br />
Monday: Taco Night!!!<br />
<br />
Tuesday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans<br />
<br />
Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo and Broccoli<br />
<br />
Thursday: Pizza Night<br />
<br />
Friday: Sausages, Macaroni and Cheese, and a yet-to-be-named Green Veggie<br />
<br />
Saturday: Leftovers<br />
<br />
On our family landing board, I put up the meal plan so that I can stop getting asked by people who read, "what's for dinner?" But, I figured since I need to hold myself accountable to keeping my house a little cleaner, I'd add a chore for each night. If I can stick to this, well, my house might look MUCH better!!!<br />
<br />
I'm also working on making my friends join me in a cookbook club! We'll get together periodically, each making something from a new cookbook and get to all share in the work! I'm excited!!! Anyone ever done one?<br />
<br />
Got any time saving tips or tricks you'd like to share?<br />
<br />
I don't have much time to spare!!!Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2330243859277265923.post-85538905333642286712015-10-26T21:43:00.001-05:002015-10-26T21:43:45.850-05:00It's Raining MondayI'm sure by now, those who follow the blog closely could point out that I forgot my meal plan post last night. I could make excuses about how tired I was after a busy swim meet weekend or I could just say, "I'm sorry."<div><br></div><div>I'm sorry. </div><div><br></div><div>If you were waiting for it; here's the plan:</div><div><br></div><div>Monday: tacos</div><div>Tuesday: breakfast</div><div>Wednesday: Brauts, smashed potatoes, green veggie of choice</div><div>Thursday: leftovers</div><div>Friday: grilled chicken and veggies (and Mac and cheese for the kiddos)</div><div>Saturday: burgers and fries</div><div><br></div><div>I've been thinking a lot about recreational sports and activities and how we oversee sporting activities for kids. Have you noticed the egos that are going crazy? It's the adults. Not the kids. Generally speaking, of course. </div><div><br></div><div>Many times the people who are getting the most emotional, upset and dramatic about anything that is going on are the ones who are supposed to be "adults". I find this confusing. </div><div><br></div><div>Let's try to work on setting an appropriate example of good sportsmanship, modeling appropriate language and losing gracefully. </div><div><br></div><div>Here's a few suggestions:</div><div><br></div><div>1. Congratulate a parent on their child's good performance, time, etc. (especially if they beat your kid or are on an opposing team.)</div><div><br></div><div>2. Cheer for great plays/swims/runs/hits etc. If it's great, it's great!</div><div><br></div><div>3. Congratulate the winners of a game/match/race, even if they are not your child/team. Don't complain about the referees, clock, ball, bat, etc. </div><div><br></div><div>4. Let the coaches coach and try to say to your child, "I enjoyed watching you play". </div><div><br></div><div>5. Thank the referees, coaches, volunteers, etc for their efforts in helping with that event. </div><div><br></div><div>6. Pick up your trash. No matter where your contest takes place, do not leave your trash. It's just rude. Seriously. </div><div><br></div><div>7. Be mindful of others. If you must complain, because sometimes you just need to whine and get it out, respect small ears. Reserve the more colorful, strong language for after you leave. </div><div><br></div><div>8. Remember your company. Similar to number 7; sometimes we forget when we are "in our space" that your guests/hosts, or their friends, may be nearby. Let's not make them feel unwelcomed in that moment of complaint. They make take personally your whining. Maybe you have a solution you can offer later for improving for next time.</div><div><br></div><div>9. If you must have your phone, resist emails and focus on what's in front of you. Photograph your child/their team and share it with the team. </div><div><br></div><div>10. Encourage your child to thank the coaches, referees and volunteers; when appropriate. We're not talking about kissing up or attempting special favor, just appreciating their time. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc2ueOeqNfYvbbPDZHTF4k7xg2QXw_TGErvZsBSly6R9Sxmis3qM_eqsCOEsnHVBCS8lSdi-6ymRCwGTpsSCTWqpnXMI4imPmDCExshw-0jUSslfEMMtCEDTMY5OhMPLubBX-zvzlH3JY/s640/blogger-image--1735271367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc2ueOeqNfYvbbPDZHTF4k7xg2QXw_TGErvZsBSly6R9Sxmis3qM_eqsCOEsnHVBCS8lSdi-6ymRCwGTpsSCTWqpnXMI4imPmDCExshw-0jUSslfEMMtCEDTMY5OhMPLubBX-zvzlH3JY/s640/blogger-image--1735271367.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Have any others? Please feel free to share in the comments! </div>Mrs. Kannadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07253724136015421685noreply@blogger.com0