My Goal is Simple

New Blog!

Karen — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:30:29 +0000

Yes, a new blog. It turns out I had three different blogs floating around that dated back to June 2007 (The Huffmaniacs, My Goal is Simple 1.0, and My Goal is Simple). So I decided to consolidate them (picking and choosing the best posts) all into one family blog called And Then We Laughed. The previous blogs will eventually be deleted so I encourage you to check out the new blog if you want to peek in on our not-terribly-exciting lives.

http://andthenwelaughed.wordpress.com/

I’m excited to have all of the documentation of our adventures in one place now. The archives are slowly being filled and I’m sure the design kinks will be smoothed out as time goes on. Thanks for reading!

Kitchen Help (aka The Uninspired Title)

Karen — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:53:37 +0000

I spent my first day of spring pulling up weeds that filled up 10 lawn bags and digging up rocks. It was actually a lot more pleasant that it sounds and quite the workout, so I really can’t complain. And our backyard is really starting to look less like the overgrown jungle it was when we bought the house and more like a Oklahoma oasis it deserves to be – happy clap. Lawn furniture will be purchased in the next couple of weeks and maybe even a picnic table if we’re feeling particularly frisky. Dare I say warmer weather is finally here?

The Kitchen

Our kitchen needs help. We’ve haven’t done a thing to the space except move our furniture in. While I love the functionality of the kitchen, I am not in love with the look/design. The granite countertops and backsplash are less than a year old. The backsplash I’m not crazy about but I think I can pizazz it up without having to rip it out and start over – how financially insane would that be?

The walls are prison grey and the white trim is in desperate need of repainting. The jury is still out on whether we want to repaint the cabinets – we keep going back and forth. Maybe a glaze? Who knows? We’re not even sure what color to paint the walls. We’re leaning towards a yellow of sorts but no decisions have been made yet.

I’d like to choose a color and paint the walls soon so we have a starting point of the direction we would like to take the kitchen. Right now, I am at a bit of a loss and feeling uninspired…I think the grey walls are beginning to affect me. So I need your help.

What do you think? Any ideas on paint colors, cabinet finishes (if any), color schemes, etc.. are welcome. We need a kick in our pants in order to head in the right direction. Please feel free to link to pictures or whatever.

Things to keep in mind: The house is in Oklahoma and channels a ranch/lodge feel, so ultra modern/contemporary would more than likely feel out of place and hurt resale; we have no desire to rip out the cabinets, countertops, or even the backsplash; the fridge is stainless steel but all of the other major appliances are black; and the floor is a dark wood (and staying).

Here are some kitchens that I like…

{source}

HELP!

Cream Colored Ponies and Crisp Apple Strudels

Karen — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:31:44 +0000

My weekend wasn’t filled with cream colored ponies or crisp apple strudels, but it was a pretty good weekend nonetheless. On Friday night, we finally we watched the season finale of Portlandia while eating handfuls of popcorn, which resulted in me craving marion berry pancakes – did this happen to anyone else? On Saturday we pitched in at our church for some spring cleaning and then tackled the monster weeds in our front yard. Big plans to cook out were thwarted by a discussion about our favorite pizza place in Watertown, NY (Cams for inquiring minds) and we ended up ordering a pie for dinner. And yesterday was spent working on small projects around the house in the afternoon. Boo-yah.

{source}

Because it is Monday, warm, and almost spring, I thought I would share some of my current favorite things that are making me smile as of late. Don’t worry, no dresses will be made of curtains and no nuns will be harmed in the process (I have always wondered what became of the nuns who stole engine parts from the Nazi’s cars…). But before we get down and dirty, I must disclose that growing up I had a serious crush of Captain von Trapp. Like visited in my dreams crush. I know that I am not alone in this sentiment. Forget Fredrich, I was all about Georg Ludwig. While I ended up not falling for an Austro-Hungarian Navy officer, I did manage to snag a United States Army officer so all is not lost. I haven’t made Clay sing Edelweiss to me yet, but we’ve only been married seven years so there is still plenty of time to channel our inner Captain and Maria. So honey, you better get practicing on that guitar.

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion

My legs are scary pale and laying in a tanning bed is about appealing as letting a gila monster latch on to my wrist for a couple of hours. I’ve been using the above self-tanning lotion for a couple of weeks now and I’ve been very pleased with the results – it doesn’t streak, smell, or look orange.

Ann Taylor Loft Marisa Cotton Twill Shorts with 4″ Inseam

For me, finding a pair of shorts that fit properly is a bit like a Kardashian finding their dignity – damn near impossible. However, these shorts are my summer uniform. I have three pair in blue, khaki, and black and will probably buy another color or two this season. They’re perfect – loose enough to be casual and dressy enough for me to look put-together and not homeless while out and about. A win-win.

Revlon Red Nail Polish

Yes, the color is actually called Revlon Red. It has been my go to toenail color polish for the past couple of years. It may be boring and typical but why mess with a great thing? I hate seeing my toes without any polish on them, probably because they’re quite troll looking (seriously, they are frightening). And during the spring & summer, my toes are on display approximately 93% of the time.

Rainbow Sandals

Which brings me to my next favorite thing – Rainbow sandals. I never wore Rainbows in college because the population I despised most (Clemson fraternity boys) wore them with their button down shirts, pleated khakis, and croackies. And smug aroma. Therefore I hated the sandals by association. It wasn’t until 2006 that I finally broke down and bought a pair. I’ve been wearing them ever since that glorious day.

Goody Ouchless Headwraps

My hair is thick. Super thick. Ridiculously thick. So thick that regular ponytail holders do not work – they either break or fall out. Therefore, I must use these thin elastic headwraps (pretty much just a giant ponytail holder) to hold my hair. I wrap it around a couple of times and viola, a style that stays put. A bonus is that I can use the headwraps as actual headwraps when I am working out and such. I realize that my blog just may have hit an all time low due my discussion of ponytail holders but they really are one of my favorite things!

I am not paid to write these reviews nor will the links earn me money. As you can see, there are no advertisements on this blog and I do not participate in sponsored reviews. All views are my own. The following are simply some of my favorite things.

I wish…

Karen — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:29:43 +0000

… I didn’t have cankles. I’m pretty sure my ankles and calves qualify for at least the diet coke of cankles. As much as I promote a positive body image and all that jazz, I just can’t come up with anything positive about cankles.

… this amazing weather will stay forever. It is a breezy 80 degrees and I don’t even mind that my legs resemble a sparkly vampire streaked with sunless tanner. But come August we will be rockin’ three digit temperatures, causing us to stick to (faux) leather chairs. Hopefully Uncle Sam comes through for us and we will be spending part of the summer in a different location other than Lawton, Oklahoma (no, we’re not moving).

… our master bathroom didn’t depress me so much. Because it needs an overhaul and there are more pressing matters that our occupying our money and time at this moment. Seriously guys, it is uglier than Bernie Madoff’s soul. At least it isn’t scamming us out of money. I hope.

… Parks & Recreation wasn’t on hiatus. I am going through Swanson and Ben Wyatt withdrawal.

… new computers grew on trees. But they don’t.

And finally, I wish my ‘regular’ face looked happier. Anyone else have this problem?

{source = blog.krisatomic.com via Pinterest}

Have a wonderful weekend! Our will be filled with volunteering, yard work (the state of our property is bordering on embarrassing), and something green.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Karen — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:44:24 +0000

We come here to remember Those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.

When we were in Oklahoma City last Friday, we spent time at the national memorial that honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995 due the act of terrorism simply known as the Oklahoma City Bombing. My words would not adequately describe the memorial so I’m not even going to try. Below are some pictures I took and even though they hardly capture the impact, I hope they give you an idea of the memorial. The bombing and subsequent rescue effort is part of the history of our country and thankfully will not be forgotten.

Megan, Mike, and Mikey’s Visit – A Recap

Karen — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:08:09 +0000

Late last Wednesday night we picked up my sister and her family at the Oklahoma City Airport and made the hour-long drive back to Lawton. They were originally scheduled to go to St. Lucia but due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to cancel. So instead of losing money on the plane tickets, they used them to visit us! You heard it here first, folks – Lawton, Oklahoma is new St. Lucia. All kidding aside, we had a nice time hosting our first visitors in our new house and showing off our current location to East Coasters.

We took them to Meers Store & Restaurant, which is has been voted one of the best burgers in the US. Both of our parents enjoyed the meal when they visited so it was only appropriate that we treat Megan, Mike, and Mikey the same high class atmosphere.

The one thing Mike wanted to see was a free roaming buffalo. Box checked.

We spent Friday in Oklahoma City, where we started off our morning in a gourmet coffee and chocolate shop. The Belgian Chocolate hen was calling my name but I resisted the temptation to take the fancy foul home.

Husband, wife, and toddler son. Times two. Yes, the boys have lollipops.

We ate lunch at the Bricktown Brewery and enjoyed the sampler, which consisted of Old King Kölsch, Wiley One-Eyed Wheat, Remington Red, 46 Star Oklahoman Amber Ale, and Bricktown Brown. My favorite was the Wiley One-Eyed Wheat. Delicious!

The food was quite tasty too. A (Megan) Grilled Chicken Sandwich, B (Karen) Pork on Pork Sandwich, C (Mike) Buck’s Bourbon, Bacon, and Beer BBQ Sink Burger, and D (Clay) Brewery Cheddar and Bacon Burger.

A visit to Ft. Sill isn’t complete without a trip to the Artillery Graveyard.

Mikey approved.

The boys are 10 months apart so they really enjoyed playing with each other. Weston was pretty good about sharing his toys but there were a few moments of sadness, as indicated above.

We took them to the Wildlife Refuge a couple of times and drove up Mt. Scott. The weather was mainly rainy during their visit but we were able to take advantage of the sunny moments. They left on Monday to return to the land of cheesesteaks, water ice, and civilization. I hope they enjoyed their trip out west – we certainly loved having them out here. Thanks for the fun weekend Megan, Mike, and Mikey!

Getting Creative – The Baby Chicks Edition

Karen — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:58:33 +0000

For me, one of the biggest adjustments of moving from Raleigh, NC to Lawton, OK was having to leave a world filled with stay-at-home-mom-friendly activities. There were museums, libraries with storytimes, Little Gyms, Gymborees, playgroups, stroller parks, safe downtown, toy stores, and the list goes on. Throughout 2011, I documented my struggle with Lawton and staying home with the little guy. There just isn’t as much to do around here that doesn’t involve driving 90+ miles and I am not what one would classify as a homebody. And while my feelings on Lawton are beginning to shift, I am appreciating the scrappy town more, it certainly isn’t in the running to be one of the most favorite places we’ve lived. We are here for the next couple of years and I am determined to make the best of my time staying home with the little guy.

So yesterday, after nap time, little guy and I ventured to Atwoods – a farm supply store in town. I needed to pick up a couple of items and I knew Weston would flip over the baby chicks. For the stellar price of $0, we spent approximately 20 minutes looking at the feathered babies. We counted them, we pointed out the different colors, and we noticed sharing, fighting, and making-up. So while the activity certainly wasn’t flashy as some of the ones we participated in when we lived in a bigger city, it was still a fun and educational afternoon. And sometimes, that is all we can ask for.

Beautiful Sunday Afternoon in Oklahoma

Karen — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:08:10 +0000

(Taken with my iphone on top of Mt. Scott at 5:35pm March 11, 2012)

The Toddler Sense of Wonder

Karen — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:17:04 +0000

Last week, Weston and I were sitting in a lobby, waiting to be seen by a doctor. We had to wait about 45 minutes, which is 43 minutes too long in the mind of a two-year-old boy. So I followed him as he explored the waiting area. Weston flipped through every magazine, pointed out each and every fish in the tank, and looked through each window – seemingly mundane aspects of our daily life. He kept me on my toes while he explored the room with a sense of wonder that seems to only exist in toddlers. I didn’t mind – he wasn’t screaming, whining, or having a knock ‘em down tantrum so all was good in my book.

Also in the waiting area was a middle-aged woman wearing (for reasons unknown) a tiara. She smiled at Weston as he squealed at the cats featured in Reader’s Digest. She then turned to me and said, “I love my children but I am so happy they’re grown so I don’t have to chase them around anymore.”

It was an innocent comment and she meant nothing by it, other than making pleasant conversation with a stranger at the doctor’s office. But for whatever reason, her words have stuck with me – obviously, if I am blogging about it. While I understand that not everyone is a fan of toddlers – trust me, there are some days I feel like I am reasoning with a dictator of an oil-rich country instead of a two-year-old – but I don’t understand how one can’t catch the contagious energy that seems to overwhelm toddlers.

As parents, we are tasked with teaching our children the ways of the world. It can be a frighteningly overwhelming job at times. But it is also incredibly rewarding. However, we can’t forget to learn a thing or two from our children – whether it be to smile more, laugh more, explore more, or even cuddle more. So while chasing our toddlers can get tiresome, maybe we should cut loose and join them in their exploration of the seemingly (but actually not so) mundane aspects of life. It’s not like we have anything better to do while sitting in a waiting room.

Tagged: life, motherhood, toddlerhood

Study/Playroom Progress

Karen — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:36:07 +0000

We’ve officially been in our house for two months now. And it really is starting to feel like home. Our house has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a study. While the study does have a closet, it does not have a door, therefore it is currently unable to share the title of 4th bedroom. We plan to add a door in the future so we have some flexibility – sometimes it is nice just to able to shut yourself in away from the world, you know? Because we have a child, the study is also a playroom, which is why we’ve been calling it the oh-so-creatively-named study/playroom. It is very much still a work-in-progress but I’d like to share some of the changes we’ve made, like painting the built-in bookcase.

I know, I know – some of you wood purists are just wilting at the thought of painting wood.

But you have to believe me when I say that the wood was not in great shape.

Quite a number of coats of white paint later, the piece is shining and ready for some lovin’. You can see that I didn’t paint the wet bar area, that is because I have different plan, one that involves tile work. The original hardware is still on the piece but I will probably change them out within the next couple of months. We’re also planning on painting the closet door as well so just ignore the wood paneled effect going on in that corner, mmmkay?

Here is the wall with the television. I found that easel for Weston at a second-hand store for $10 and those chairs were thrifted for $2.50 a piece! I’d like to find a kid-friendly table so our little guy has a place to work while we’re using the office portion of the room. The green couch (that we bought in Raleigh back in 2008) serves as a makeshift divider.

We already had one black desk and I painted a white desk we owned a glossy black to match. Clay’s desk chair is one I found for $5 at the Ft. Sill Thrift Shop and once I find a fabric that sings my name (or his), I will reupholster the beast. My chair is one I found at the Raleigh Flea Market in 2010 for $40. It is by far the most comfortable desk chair my bum has ever graced.

Now if you know me, you know that I am not a fan of matchy matchy. So while there is quite a bit of symetry in our work station, I also wanted different elements, like the chairs, computers, and knick knacks on the shelves. Mason jars hold the essentials like pencils, paper clips, pens, and markers. The vamped up file cabinet sits between the two desks and our printer is on top. We’ve had the black magazine/etc… holder for quite some time (I think I found it at a TJ Maxx during our New York days) and it makes a wonderful place to store bills, magazines, and paper. So while the room is nowhere near complete, I feel like we have great progress going on in this joint. And bright colors aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it makes us happy. And in the end, that is all that matters.

Study/Playroom To-Do List

Make curtains
Make/purchase throw pillows
Tile wet bar
Paint closet door
Paint crown molding on wall with window
Purchase area rug
Purchase/make kid table
Purchase/make shelf for toys
Mount TV?
Reupholster desk chair
Paint ceiling
Purchase/make artwork for walls

Do you share a home workspace with your spouse? I must say, I love having a separate desk than Clay. LOVE.

Tagged: playroom, study