Tag Archives: love & family

I thought I loved you then

Yesterday was the epitome of a ‘picture perfect’ day.  Blue skies, sunshine and seventy something.  The kind of day that reminds us to live in the moment.  Close our eyes; feel the cool breeze and the warm sunshine on our face.  Deep breath.  Ahhh…  Perfection.

The groom was all smiles and the bride was absolutely breathtaking… her gown a soft creamy white with delicate jewels and a veil that sparkled in the sunlight.  It was a glorious day for a wedding.

Weddings are magical.  A window into that fresh, warm feeling of new love. Just sitting there in the church, you could feel the happiness, the excitement, the anticipation… I started to reminisce about that day, our day, over twenty-eight years ago.  About to say “I do” to the man who I loved more than anything.  Yes.  There would be hard times, we were warned.  Marriage is a roller coaster.  Ups. Downs.  Some really sharp turns.  Sure.  Life happens.  You learn to hold each other close during the good times, and even closer in the bad.  Yet; as I sat there yesterday, filled with emotion, I realized something very important.  In all of the advice that we received… Everyone had failed to mention one very unexpected consequence of marriage.  When I was waiting to walk down the aisle on our wedding day, I was as happy as you can be without exploding out of your own skin.  Yes.  That happy.  I was absolutely certain that I could never love this man any more than I did at that very moment. 

I was so wrong. 

“I thought I loved you then”.  My thoughts, put to music by Brad Paisley.  Listen with your heart.  If your eyes fill with tears when you hear this song, then I pray that you, my friend, feel blessed as well.  And so I feel a certain sense sense of responsibility to forewarn our newlyweds… This is (if you are so blessed) an unforeseen consequence to a long and happy marriage.  So consider yourself warned.  As for us, this is a marriage that (God willing) still has a long, long way to go.

“What I can’t see is how I’m ever gonna love you more; but I’ve said that before.  Now you’re my whole life; now you’re my whole world.  I just can’t believe the way I feel about you, girl.  We’ll look back someday at this moment that we’re in.  And I’ll look at you and say…

and “I thought I loved you then”.   Brad Paisley

(french) deals and donuts

For those of you who are “Kansas City friends”… You are probably aware of the fact that I have a booth out at Trendz Market.  Well, I have to let you in on some breaking news.  This week (thru next Tuesday), I have the “item of the week” (big gasp; then silence…)  Yes.  It’s true.  While you are sitting here reading my blog post, you could be up at Trendz saving 20% on anything french…!  Oooo la la, my friends.  (Click on my Facebook page if you want a “sneak peek” at some of the featured items!  For store hours and info, click on “shop with me at Trendz” link at the top of my blog site)  OK.  Maybe you are not here in Kansas City, or you are a new reader of my blog, and therefore have no idea what Trendz is…  No worries.  Simply click on the links at the top of this blog page…”who is creations by cathy” and “shop with me at trendz”.  That should get you up-to-date.  So now you’re sad.  You wish that you lived here so that you could stop by Trendz and check it out.  I’m sorry.  I do, however, have two bits of good news that might cheer you up a bit.

Number one; I am working on getting a little shopping page together so that I can share some of my Creations goodies with all of my friends, near or far. It will be the “shop now” link at the top of this blog site.  I will keep you posted.

And reason number two (the more delicious of the two); I found this yummy looking recipe at Camille Styles blog site.  (Thank you, Camille!)  Indulge and enjoy…

Baked French Breakfast Donuts

Adapted from Cooks.com

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup milk (I used whole milk)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat donut pan generously with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg; mix well.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg together. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk.
  4. Fill donut tins half full. Bake 15-20 minutes. Take out of pan immediately and swirl tops into melted butter, then sugar and cinnamon mixture. Makes 6-7 big donuts.

*Note:  These work just as well in a muffin tin, too!

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

if heaven wasn’t so far away

So the funeral was today.  I watched, in pain, as my friend said goodbye to her husband; the father of her beautiful children.  Oh my gosh – How does this happen?  In an instant, your life is completely upside down.  Inside out.  Changed forever.  Just. Like. That.

At times like these, we are called to pause and reflect on our own lives.  What, or who, have we been taking for granted??  We all get busy.  Busy, busy, busy.  So much to do; so little time. Right?  So what would change if we really knew what “so little time” really meant?

We complain that our husbands leave the toilet seat up, snore so loud that the walls vibrate and never buy us flowers.  So go out and buy yourself a bunch of flowers – and a pair of earplugs while you’re at it.  And please note that it takes less than five seconds to put a toilet seat down.  Seriously.  Husbands complain that their wives never stop talking.  Talking while they are watching sports. Talking while they are (trying to) read the paper. Talking, talking, talking.   But what if that talking was truly silenced.  Forever.

“If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”, a song chosen by his kids to accompany the video…. a picture diary of a life well lived, but cut way too short. Click on the link.  Watch the video.  The words remind us how fragile and fleeting life can be.  We can’t go back.  Once our loved ones are gone, they are gone forever.  Today is a gift from God…. so love with all your heart.

looking for a rainbow

I will be honest with you – My posts have been kinda tough to write lately.  OK…really tough.  And there is an impossible one coming tomorrow.  People that I love are going through some very, very difficult times… and that hurts me deep down in my heart.  So today I wanted to share a pic of one of my very favorite things, rainbows… along with two of my favorite songs made into one.  Less than five minutes to watch this peaceful little video.  You have five minutes.  Do it.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow ~ What a Wonderful World (click here and enjoy…)

the “Maine” goodbye…

We have said “goodbye” so many times over the past couple of months, but I always knew there would be one last goodbye before she left…

My dear friend, Mary, is moving to Maine with her hubbie.  They moved out of their house (only one house between us) and into temporary housing a couple of months ago.  We said goodbye.  The neighbors had a going away party.  We said goodbye.  We got our little “girl’s group” together for one last coffee.  We said goodbye.  Went out for Indian food with our hubbies, one last time.  We said goodbye.  Finally – we met up briefly at a neighbor’s house last night for one final goodbye…

I cried each time, but tried to keep it “polite and reasonable”.  I reserved my gut wrenching “throw yourself on the floor” sobs for private home time.  The truth is – Mary doesn’t do the whole crying thing.  She is “matter-of-fact”, positive and reasonable… on just about everything.  Her determination and positive “never-give-up” attitude helped her survive cancer.  Three times.  Oh ya… and a miracle.  You see, “medically”… Mary really should not be here.  Doctors still have no explanation as to how or why she survived her most serious bout with cancer.  But I do.

And so my heart is filled with an explosive mixture of happy and sad, all combusting within me at the same time.  I am (selfishly) very deep down in my soul sad.  But, in the same breath,  I am absolutely ecstatic for Mary.  She so deserves this happiness.  She has been given the precious gift of time to follow her dreams.  And that is exactly what she is doing.  She is not the kind to sit around worrying and “what iffing”.  She appreciates and savors each moment as it is in front of her.  I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, however; She’s not perfect.  She does have one well known shortcoming…. Mary loves doughnuts.  A lot.

So this morning I am (sobbing) in the shower (which, by the way, works very well).  We said our final goodbyes last night.  Right…?  No!  I have to see her one more time.  One more hug.  One more goodbye.  So I get an idea.  Unfortunately for Mary, I know where she is going to be at exactly 9:30.  I have one stop to make on the way there and miss her by a hair.  Panic mode sets in.  In the end, we meet briefly in a grocery store parking lot for a quick chat and one more hug.  I present her with one little gift for the road… doughnuts.

And we say our final, final goodbye.

She tells me “No crying” (ya. right.) and I get back in my car and watch as her car disappears from my rear view mirror.  As she drives away, I realize that she has left me with a hole in my heart… and I believe it to be about the size of a doughnut hole.

God speed, Mary. 
Your rainbow is waiting…
live happy… laugh, love dream, create

blessed with babies

How can you not smile when you look at this sweet little face…

Goodness gracious; I have had babies on my mind lately.  Between our two families, we have three little ones turning one within a month and a half of each other.  And, on top of that, we just welcomed another precious little one into the family this month!  Fourteen nieces and nephews.  We are so blessed.

Distance; and time…  they are the enemies.  On my side of the family, every single one of my nieces and nephews is far away. That is just so very hard for me.  There are so many milestones, moments and memories that pass… without me.  Sometimes I just have an “Aunt Cathy hug” deep inside that makes me feel like I am going to explode if I can’t deliver it!!  Ya – I know.  I’m their aunt… not their mom.  But for me it goes really, really deep.  I would do anything for any of them, as if they were my very own.  Because they are.  They are family… and there is nothing more precious in all the world.

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

ice cream sandwich day?

Yes – You heard me correctly… It IS “National Ice Cream Sandwich Day”!!  Who knew; Right???  Well that doggone thermometer continues to hover at triple digits, and there are absolutely ZERO age limits for celebrating this “national holiday” – So a big WooHoo to that!  I loved this blog post that I found at Twig & Thistle (below) because it is not so much a recipe as a “how-to”.  Simple instructions and a beautiful, tasty little package of cold refreshing sweetness!!  Even better – you can make them up ahead of time and pop them in your freezer. Done. Then at your next outdoor BBQ or summer party you can whip them out and impress your friends, smiling politely as they “Oooo and Ahhh…”   Give it a whirl before the summer comes to an end.

There are few things that I love more than ice cream in waffle cones. It doesn’t take much convincing to go for a scoop so when I saw waffle butter cookies at Trader Joe’s I knew excatly what I had to do: ice cream sandwiches! They’re super easy to do and would make a great treat for Easter, just pick a pastel ice cream, sandwich it between waffle cookies and violá! Easter eggs! I used strawberry here but mint or sherbert would be cute too, honestly though, can you ever really go wrong when it comes to ice cream?

What you’ll need: Carton of ice cream Butter waffle cookies from Trader Joe’s Round cookie cutter bent into an oval Large knife Cookie sheet Parchment paper Wax string

Directions: Take your ice cream (the boxed kind works best) and cut off a 3/4″ thick slab, it doesn’t have to be exact just thinner than your cookie cutter. Next, use your cookie cutter and cut out ovals from the ice cream, set the ovals on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and put the sheet in the freezer to firm up.

While you wait, cut out 9.5″x2.5″ strips of parchment paper to use as holders for the finished product.

Once the ice cream has chilled for a bit, transfer to the cookies with a spatula. For a little extra sweetness, add decorative chocolate sprinkles; simply roll the edges through the sprinkles for an even coating.

For the final touch, wrap in parchment paper and secure with waxed thread or baker’s twine then freeze until ready to serve. Enjoy!

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

love in london

So indulge me for a moment or two.  The summer Olympic games have got me a little homesick for London.  Again. 

I know, I know.  You might be thinking, “Been there; done that”.   Yes – During the “Queen’s Jubilee” I did a post entitled “big ben”.  And, yes; Big Ben is in London.  But you have to understand that this was a special time in our lives.  Very special.  Two years and a lot of memories.  So you were thinking just one blog post would cover it?  Oh, gracious me.  I think not.

So I begin with the reminder that we had only been married for two short years.  We were moving away from friends, family and familiarity.  We were entering the unknown… just the two of us.  A team.  We brought very little with us. Found a furnished “flat” (apartment) to live in; filled with someone else’s “stuff” – dishes, furniture, bedding… and started making our memories.

We lived a “hop, skip and a jump” (walking distance) from The Victoria & Albert Museuem, The Natural History Museum, Hyde Park and Kensington Palace/Gardens (where Prince Charles & Princess Diana lived.)  Used to do my morning walks in the gardens surrounding Kensington Palace.  Never once, however, did I see Princess Diana in her bathrobe out picking up the morning paper.  Hmmm… Go figure.

The truth is, and the point of this blog is that the two of us learned how to survive, day-to-day, alone together, as a couple.  When you only have each other – it is such an incredible bonding experience.  We were there for each other during the sad and lonely times; when something would happen back home and suddenly we felt like we were painfully separated and distant from those we loved… because we were.  But we focused on the fact that we had each other; and we got through it.  We shared all of the adventures, the “kodak moments”… the experiences that formed treasured memories for the rest of our lives. We made wonderful friends, traveled to incredible locations and lived every single day with gratitude for the many gifts that we had been given.  What we didn’t realize, at the time, was that the true gifts weren’t palaces, princesses or exotic destinations.  The true gift was the strong bond that formed between us over those two years that gave our fresh new marriage a solid foundation on which to move forward.  Through thick & thin; sun & rain.  Twenty eight years of marriage (so far!) and we’re still going strong.  I am grateful.  Always.

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

one of those days

Ever had one of those days when something stops you dead in your tracks…  Maybe you were kinda, sorta expecting it; often times it comes out of nowhere and pulls the rug out from under you.  These are the times that we are called to pause and quiet ourselves in a way that allows us to absorb the world around us.  Sometimes we need these moments of reflection to remind us of where we are, who we are and where we are going.  Did we stop this morning to count our many blessings? Did we love the ones that we love?  Did we make someone laugh or smile; show kindness to a stranger or put someone else’s needs before our own…?

I am incredibly blessed in my life, and I will go to bed tonight with a feeling of deep gratitude for all that I love…          live happy

drink like a lady

Take the time to dive into this article; including the links.  It is a blog post from “Lauren Conrad“, a fresh, feminine and lighthearted site that I really enjoy following.  She covers absolutely everything from makeup and fashion to cocktails and entertaining.  Just give it a whirl if you’re a girlie girl… (Ha!  Sorry.  That was bad… teehee!!)  Happy Weekend!!  live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

Ladylike Laws: Holding Drinks

Sometimes I find that I just have to treat myself to a much-deserved glass of wine after a long day of work, or sip a flute of bubbly to celebrate a special occasion. But you would be surprised to learn that there are very specific rules when it comes to the way you hold your drink. Clutching your cocktail correctly might be a custom that we often overlook, but I’ve found that it is just as important as basic table manners. Whether you’re a guest at a summer dinner party or the happy hour host, these essential-yet-simple tips will remind you to grasp your glass the proper way the next time you wine and dine. Without further ado, here are my rules for holding drinks:

  • White wine & champagne. Always hold your glass or flute by the stem. Holding it by the “bowl” warms your drink, and both white wine and sparkling wine taste best when chilled. Instead of holding the bowl, pinch the stem between your index finger and thumb. Otherwise, you might get called a “bowl grabber.” No thank you!
  • Red wine. First of all, a bottle of red should always be uncorked or poured into a decanter for a while before serving so it has time to breathe. This improves the taste enormously! Like white wine and champagne, red wine should be held by the stem (contrary to popular belief). Not only does it keep your merlot or cabernet the right temperature (a little cooler than room temp), it also prevents your fingers from leaving smudgy prints on the glass too.

Now that you know how to hold your glass correctly, you might find these tips helpful too:

  • Proper placement. When setting your glass down on a dinner table, place it to the right of your water glass.
  • Eye contact. You may remember from my post on Cheers & Toasts that it is polite to hold eye contact when clinking someone’s glass. Otherwise, you risk seven years bad luck, according to the French superstition.
  • Keep glasses full. If you’re the host, make sure your guests’ drinks are never empty.
  • Direct your gaze. While sipping your drink, you should direct your stare into your glass. It is impolite to look at another person while drinking if you are in conversation.
  • Chill champagne flutes. When serving champagne place the flutes in the refrigerator beforehand to chill them. Like I said before, champagne tastes best chilled!
  • Filling facts. Know the appropriate measurements when pouring drinks. Red wine glasses should be 1/3 full, white wine should be ½, and sparkling wine or champagne should be ¾.  A glass that is too heavy might result in an unladylike spill.
  • The “twist pour.” To prevent dripping, when filling your glass, twist the bottle at the end of pouring. It also looks pretty fancy!

Ladylike Laws: Holding Drinks So there you have it. You now know how to hold, serve and drink wine and champagne like a true lady. Class dismissed! Now go ahead and celebrate with a glass or two (and for those of you who don’t drink, treat yourself to something sweet for reading this anyway)!
If anything, just remember: Always hold by the stem 🙂