Creole Wisdom

the weekend review: sun-day, sunday

•So Curtis was begging and pleading for me to go down to his town for Church, and meet his parents (okay, he didn't beg- he kindly asked, but it would of sounded better the begging way, huh?)
•He came and kindly picked me up, under the disclaimer that I would not make fun of his car (I did not, at least he has one- don't get me started ; )
•Church was good. I am 100-percent-positive I distracted Curtis enough where he could not pay attention to the speaker.  It was a great older building with pretty wooden pews, and neat ceiling work.  It was a really nice break from the 1987 wannabe fashion show that is the King Henry ward on Sundays.  I know that was mean, but come see for yourself!
•And because I know you wanted to see:

•Disclaimer: he did not wear that to Church.  This was taken by his littlest brother after dinner. 
•And how fun was it to go to Church and be able to hold hands/mug on each other bwahaha I am so bad, I mug on my very own RM (return missionary).
•I got to meet the family, eat dinner (mystery jello, ahh!), and then play games.  I won phase 10- and as a result Curtis will never play another game with me ever again.  He also has trouble eating in my presense, as he dropped not only his drumstick, but dessert on his lap.  His parents were cracking up and they say he never does that- hilarious.  Ingrained in my mind forever.
•It would not be a fun weekend without a little "crisis"- Curtis got a flat on the way home.  I pretended to "learn" how to fix one:

•Oh no, a flat.  Images of the swearing scene in A Christmas Story were rushing through my mind!

•Jacking the car up.  Look at those sexy arms?  Puny, skinny arms are not my thing, give me some workin' mans arms.  Yum!

•Because I was not really learning car care 101 from Mr. Citris, I decided to do a self-portrait in the pitch dark. 
•After that "crisis" was resolved we drove on down to the baby capital of the world, i.e. where I live, and sat by the Temple and talked for an hour.  I was tired.  Then he took me home so I could go to sleep- at 2am!
•Good Sunday!  Loved it.

the weekend review: saturday's edition

•It was such a treat to meet Miss Brittany.  She is good people, as I say, good people. 
•A little background- she and I met via the wonderful world of blogging and instantly became blog buddies
•Since Britt works in "da business" (no, not the mob, the other business) we had to crop.
•First stop P.F. Changs for lunch:

•Oh my goodness how cute is she?  I wish you could see the darling little sundress she had on- very southern, a girl after my own heart!

•So um, maybe we ordered the wrong stuff, but we were not really impressed.  But it was about nourishment dear readers, nourishment.  We had lots of scapbooking to do.
•Well, just take a look at Britt's trunk.  She obviously came prepared!  Thank goodness Pebbles has a ramp, I about peed my true religions when I saw this...

•We did not lack for a thing!  I really prefer cropping, it is I think, more economical than buying stuff then going home.  When you're right there you just buy what you need.  I made 4 layouts while spending $20.00 I think that is pretty dang good.  This was my first time cropping at Pebbles, I've done it at Archivers before, and I love all the space they give you. 
•And wouldn't you know it, a nice girl came up and talked to us, and we all exchanged blogs.  It was nice to meet you Erica : )

•We stayed for about four hours, laughing, and making a mess.  It was scrapbooking discord at its best- my favorite kind of cahois!
•Because cropping is akin to a mental/creative/left brain marathon we were hungry
•Back to University Mall, but this time for CPK. Mmm.  She had the white, I had 4-cheese with avocado (it tasted so good!)
•Then, because she is a Bath & Body Works expert we ventured there and picked up goodies- I love their new, mini hand sanitizers, and as usual I picked up a giant tub of sea island cotton cream : )
•Back at the ranch we chanted for another few hours about life, school, jobs, boys, Church, Utah... you name it.
•She's a gem! 

back to my prairie

You know how sometimes good things happen to me?  Like last night.  My mother called, "would you like to go see the Guthrie's production of Little House on the Prairie?"  Obviously. How could I pass that up.  You know, I thought I was Laura growing up.  I'm serious. I had it all: the hardcover books, the paperdolls, the picture books, the cook book, a pioneer Halloween costume, trips to historic Ingalls sites with cousins during hot Midwestern summers. 

{ I cannot wait to get back home to my prairie to see this, we're going the night of my homecoming.  Life is good.

booked!

•I've never booked a hotel... ever.  But I've watched my parents enough times to know the basics
•Claire and I like a little luxury, life rough enough so at least you have to pamper yourself once and a while
•The night she arrives, we'll be spending a night at this posh place- the Hotel Monaco!

•Background story: I've wanted to stay here since dad came into town, but since our plans took us to Park City it became my dream deferred.  So now I finally get to stay here... ooo I cannot wait!
•I went online a few weeks ago and saw a perfect rate, $140 for one queen bed.  Talked to Claire, and then forgot to book it.  Went back this afternoon and the rate, same room, was up to $230.  Saddening. 
•So, I called them- since I'm not easily deterred- and they found me a better rate, $180- how great is that?  And get this- we get two full beds instead of one queen.  Just goes to show: ask and ye shall receive! 
•Claire called me earlier and says, "I saw they have in-room spa treatments.  We should get a couples' massage."  She's a girl after my own heart.  Um, yes please.
•So, for $90/night you and your sorority sister can stay in luxury!

a visit

you know how I just love to have guests.  this lovely lady, my Claire-bear, bear, and fellow Twilight enthusiast is coming to visit in two weeks!

(taken two days before school let out, May '08)

On the agenda:
•Salt Lake City Adventure
•American Idol try-outs (girl can sing!)
•Perhaps staying at a posh hotel
•Boys

cute as pie

One of the "perks" of blogging it getting to know fellow bloggers, and then reading, keeping up with their lives, all via their blog.  I think Emily Kate started talking to me when I posted on a scrapbook site about the church, way back in high school- She was kind, encouraging, and soon we started reading each other's blogs.  It was apparent that when I finally came out here that we plan a little get-together.  We met, along with another buddy at a great place in Provo-

We tasted gelato, and gabbed, gabbed, gabbed.  Favorite topics of convo:
•Filling each other in on the "real stuff," i.e. stuff that has to be vague on blogs- getting the full story!
•Learning about who I need to avoid (boy wise).  I will be wary from now on, guys!
•Just laughing over sharing  "crazy" stories

Emily was so kind to give me a ride home, and I hope  we'll get together before she heads out for exciting adventures  (eek! so thrilling).  Meeting blog friends is sort of like a treat- you kind of "know" them, so it's fun to see it all in the flesh.

celebrating dad, utah style

There are lots of fun ways to celebrate dad, but starting off with showing him around Provo and having him sit in the studio- listening first hand to the story I did on father's day was pretty thrilling. 

We set out for Park City Friday morning after a full-fledged BYU tour complete with lunch at, you guessed it, the MOA. 

Dad never gets lost and can navigate a place without a map in his rental car of choice, a hummer.  Our first stop landed us in the gorgeous, idyllic Sundance. 

I felt in love immediately as I smelled the mountain air, eyed the steep lift, and stepped up the wooden planks to their "general store" filled with goodies.  I found presents for mom and sorority sisters alike-

On to our destination, we checked in at our condo at the well-appointed Silver Queen Hotel.  Park City is exactly how you imagine an old Western Town, with modern upgrades, and all the shopping, site-seeing, eating, and photograph opportunities abound-

So, one of the highlights of the entire adventure was having root bear with Dad in an authentic, old, western saloon.  It was pretty memorable!

celebrating dad

You know you have a good dad when: he takes time out of his busy business life and flies out to Utah to take you to fabulous places and spend quality time with you- and spoils you rotten.

My father is simply the best.  I don't blog about him enough, really.  We don't look alike, but I am proud to say I attribute many of my quirks/personality traits from him.  He is kind, he is funny, he is accepting, he is da bomb! Haha.  But really, thanks dad, thanks for taking me to Disney Land to see Thriller in 3D when I was only 3, and not being upset when I peed on you (3D is pretty intense!).  But years later I love our father-daughter adventures just the same-

more middle of nowhere ohio part deux

College graduations are always an adventure.  I mean, do you like sitting on bleacher slabs for 2 hours?  I do, because it means I get to see my family/friends pass milestones.  Way to go Dennis!  Let's keep up that Harris motto: do it right, do it right the first time

Go Dennis, go Dennis, go

Now let me get on my little soapbox and say 2 things:
Black men,
You need to rise up.  You don't have excuses.  No, not every girl wants a thug.  Stop that mess.  If you want to quit stereotypes get yourself together and get an education.  Sports stardom and music production are pipe dreams, it's time to get real. 

Society,
Stop putting down black men by expecting them to fit into a box.  They are our brothers, sons, and fathers.  They are capable, and men of integrity.  Don't diss a brother because he's wearing a suit and not Nike's, going to college instead of running the streets.  Just because a man has his act together does not mean he is "bougie." 

Love,
Katie

golden corral et all...

Now, you know I don't really "do" buffets.  Oh well, so we were going.  My cousin Dennis was graduating so the whole dang family (dad's side) flew/drove into Ohio for the ceremony.  Having never been to a place to eat with the name "corral" in it, I knew I needed to get my camera out:

On my plate: corn, biscuit, veggies, and some rando fish with sauce and rice.  Oh, yes and chocolate cake, too (this is summer vacation!)

The wonderful Ohio section of the family: Aunt Barbara, Uncle Norman, Dorothy, Aunt Doris, Dennis, and some of his friends.

Aunt Doris and I- how fun!

Grandma and I : ) Is she not adorable?  It is from her that I gain the culinary strength to create masterpieces such as sweet potato pie and cornbread dressing. 

The verdict: Golden Corral gets 1/2 star, but time with family gets 5+