5 on the 5th

It's March already..ack when did that happen? Things happen at the speed of light in my life....as it was on the 5th of March (is that the ides of March too?) ...

5. A great cup of coffee starts the day
4. Garbage day...working to stay green and have more recycling than trash
3. Town halls done...two more PowerPoints to go
2. Getting warmer....almost 60 today!
1. Katydid Designs is born!

Have a great one...more soon!

A Weekend of Creativity, Wine and Women

I get it that non creative and crafty people do not understand the true theraputic value of glue, scissors and paper (I prefer a little glitter as well..). Last fall I hosted a small group of women at my house for wine, cheese, soup and scrapbooking. We had a blast. Most of those women (we miss you Diane!) are going with me this weekend to the 2 Peas Birthday Celebration in Madison, Wisconsin. I am so looking forward to (not necessarily in this order): awesome mexican food, wine, margaritas, catching up on my scrapbooking, doing make and takes with Kelly Purkey and Sande Krieger, cupcakes, chocolate, hot tubs, the gym, soft clean white sheets and a whole room full of crazy women.

It's a big weekend...in addition to 2 Peas I'll be lugging the computer and partipating in the online House of 3 House warming with 3 of the most awesome women I ever met - Heidi Swapp, Janet Hopkins and Rhonna Farrar. I feel lucky to be involved in a creative swap with these women...they bring out the best in everyone around them.

Which maybe, is the reason I really love these weekends. I feel refreshed and better able to handle powerpoints and office politics after the weekend is over.
Crafting women rock!

(New blog look supplied by the House of 3 women reference above!)

Could it really be 18 years ago?

She was this tiny thing with a full head of black hair, a row of which stood straight up in the middle like a mohawk. She looked just like her daddy did when he was born..

The first time I held her she stiffened her little body up and kicked her legs and threw her head back and tried to get away....

She has been trying to get away ever since.

She is funny, bright, crazy, absolutely beautiful, the ultimate drama queen. Everything is a crisis. She stands up for the ones in the back of the room. She has terrible romantic luck. She eats like a crazy woman and then goes for a run. She loves macaroni and cheese and jello cake.

Last Wednesday Jessica Allyse Kraft turned 18 and legally an adult. Her first adult action was to get her bellybutton pierced. At least that is the only thing she told us about.

Happy Birthday, Bess. We love you!

We're Going to the Dogs

Last year my boyfriend came upstairs and my dog and I were curled up (spooned) on my kingsize bed, fast asleep. He woke me up and said...You do know that is a dog right? She is not human..." Believe it or not I still date that man.
My dog, though, is still as important to me as she ever was. She is happy to see me when I get home and sorry to see me leave. She loves to ride in the car with the sunroof open and the windows down. She only needs treats, belly rubs and her food. She always checks me out when I get home but she does not ask for money, or gifts or anything besides love. She is my true valentine.
One more valentine ode...to my Texas dog, Skipper, who has sat outside my door at Amy and Tony's for years, ran and grabbed a toy as soon as I walked in the door, sat by my side on the couch and the dinner table. He has chased away bad boys in my life and sniffed many others. Skipper turned 15 today. I love ya, Skipper.
Happy V'Day all!

Five on the Fifth

Hard to believe it is already February. So many interesting things happening...work is cooking along, Janet's class and the House of 3 have inspired my crafting mojo and beginning the 09 purging. So here's to a great February!

1. Getting warmer.....24 today and predicted 50 for the weekend
2. Getting things done (bank, clean car (YEA), )..awesome to check things off the list
3. Fun with friends....I love my crazy friends...wine and seafood as usual
4. Last minute craziness at work....getting ready for the HOT IT event :-)
5. Pat Summit rocks!! Our Lady Vols coach has won more NCAA games than any other coach....man or woman..in the history of the game. Go BIG ORANGE!!!

A Day of Krafting

A perfect day for me would be never changing out of my jammies, having chinese delivered and working with paper and glue and scissors...all day. I am smiling again just thinking of it. So...that is what my weekend has panned out to be. Daniel was supposed to come in and I enjoy it when Daniel comes in and we go to the movies or cook dinner or watch basketball on TV..(btw...a shoutout for my TN MENS basketball who whooped up on the Florida Gators last night....rock on!). So, anyway Daniel had to go back to the dentist and he was on pain meds and did not come. I did have to change out of my jammies and go to the postoffice and Target and the bank...but that was it. After those brief errands I scurried home and Rita and I even took a WALK..a real walk outside not one of those hurry up and pee fast fast tracks around the house. The rest of the day it was paint, paper, glue, scissors, flowers, glitter..oh my! SO HAPPY! I'll put up a slideshow later..it was pure joy and some of my best stuff, I might add. A great weekend to help me get my mind cleared and ready to work on MYP next week. Woo hoo! (Ps....this is a tough one but ....Go Steelers. Honestly I would be happy for either team but Brian's family rooted the Steeler joy in me so I have to route for them first. But hey...it's football which also makes me happy.
And, BTW....I WILL be better at blogging. Time to break out the creativity some more!

Starting a New Year

At my very core, I believe myself to be a communicator. I communicate naturally -- in fact I am driven to communicate -- through writing, photography, crafts, designing, cooking. I love the beauty of colors, and design and everyday items through the lens of a camera or the jot of a pen (or, okay, the stroke of a key on a keyboard.) For some reason, the last part of this year, I just shut down. I had grand plans and I accomplished a few things. I made a few of my cookie baskets, somewhat halfheartedly. I made a few photo frames for my brothers and my dad and one for a good friend. I have even slogged my way through decorating a few places in the house, cooking a full Kraft christmas dinner, signing a few cards, and finally finishing Amy's present (smile...she won't get it for a few weeks so it is still a surprise.)
However, the frustrations of everyday life caught up with me. A change of the guard at work. Uncertainty at who I work for and what I do and whether I will still have a job in 2009. Where I want to live..both here and whether I want to make the move back to Texas....or for that matter, anywhere else. My camera -- one of my prized and most helpful possessions not working...just at that time of the year when I treasure it the most. A printer not working. Photoshop templates giving me a hard time. Things just somehow not coming through. Lots of cold and snow. Plans falling apart. Just not being able to get ahead of things.
Then....magically...I had this one day with friends..a couple of hours, really....in a warm restaurant, with TONS of snow falling around us....having a little drinkie poo (and some chocolate and of course wings, and burgers, and fries...) and my friends gave me this magical device...Now see, I have an MP3 player. In fact I just upgraded to a $50 Sansa Suze player (4 G?) where I was really feeling styling. I am not a MAC head, though I should be. First, the color made me laugh and smile. Then, when I finally capitulated and charged it and loaded music onto it, the sound made me sing. And even though the snow has melted and it is cold and icky and my creative mojo is not so good and my house is beyond horrible....I started to smile a little and sing and maybe have some hope. (And I think I discovered the camera issue is just the lens which is SOOO Much easier to fix....hey, I too can buy a new lens....wink, wink!).
No idea what 2009 brings for us. It's a tough time in the world. I have this huge house full of stuff which I need to organize so I can enjoy it. (Okay Wendy Smedley..I signed up for your class so you better come through!). But for now, me and the doggie and my new green ipod are hanging out up here in my office...singing Pat Green....smiling....







I guess just frustration and getting down at this time of