Guess What???

I'm so excited I could just poop my pants!!!!
Maeve Binchy, Jodi Picoult, and Luann Rice all have new novels coming out in a few months!!!!
I'm just tickled to pieces.

My Motto....

Always remember..........
Tip your face to the sunshine and thank the Lord for the beautiful day

Resolutions

Today is New Years Eve 2008. This year has been one of the BEST years of my life. I have travelled to the Bahamas, Paris, taken many trips to Chicago, made my annual sojourn to Florida with Archie, gone on my annual chick trip with Janet to Lake Michigan, went on a long weekend with Archie to South Haven and stayed at a beautiful B & B. I met up with my darling cousin, Sharon, for a fun weekend in Indianapolis, and have been to two family reunion/parties with my Vail kin. I also went with Karin to a Christmas shopping weekend in Chicago that was WAY long overdue!!! I saw two musicals in Chicago: My Fair Lady with Bree and Dirty Dancing with Mom. I have read many fabulous books and spent hours sitting like a slob inside or outside with my nose stuck in one of my beloved books.

It has also been a sad time....I lost my cousin, Shelley, to cancer and my job that I so adored and loved so very much has taken a turn south and made me very sad.

I vow to make 2009 a fabulous year full of growth, change (good change!!!) and happiness.

These are a few of my NY Resolutions:

Buy more candles

Eat less brussell sprouts

Only clean when the mood hits me

Shop more (doesn't mean "buy" more)

Buy fresh flowers

Go on as many trips and adventures as I POSSIBLY can this year!!!

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Books

These are the books I got for Christmas.

From Michael: The Sweet In Between by Sherri Reynolds (she wrote one of my fave books The Rapture of Canaan)

Testimony by Anita Shreve

I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass

2009 Writer's Market Book

The above 3 books were from Bree....

I am reading The Sweet In-Between right now.

Christmas 2008

Christmas was a blast, as usual, at our house!!! Bree got home on Tuesday and that night her friends, Lucy, Gabe and Gwen came over. They stayed up all night talking!!! When I got up at 5:30 to go to work, they were just leaving. Bree said they had so much fun talking and laughing and reminiscing. Bree slept til 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and I worked til noon. Then Christmas Eve we went to Kevin's. It was fun! I got a $40 gift card to Fresh Market from Mom in our exchange and then each couple got a $100 gift card to Fresh Market from Mom. We'll be eatin' good!!!

I can't believe this happened, but not ONE PICTURE was taken over at Kevin's!!!!

Christmas morning arrived cold as ever and Michael showed up at 6:30 a.m. I got up at 7:30 and so did Bree and we opened presents. Santa was very, very good to Kelli Anne. I got a Tiffany necklace from Bree, a novel from Michael, car washes from Archie. Bree got me several gifts that she got when she was in Europe a few weeks ago and some books that I wanted. She got me the Roseanna pitcher I saw when we were in Nordstrom Rack too!!!!! I was delighted with everything!!!!

We had brunch and then Michael left for work. Christmas is the busiest movie day of the year!!!

This is the first year we didn't go to a movie. It was cold and we had movies here to watch. Archie got a blue ray DVD for Christmas and he got some DVD's we could watch so we decided to stay home.

The day went all too fast. It is such fun having Bree home. I have so much fun with her and she is such a great listener and has such a big heart. I wish John could have come home too, but he was with his family. Having Bree home for Christmas is the cherry on top of the hot fudge sundae.

The next day Archie and Bree left for Chicago at 6:00 a.m. as Bree had to work at 10. They got into horrible weather. 30 closed and they had to stop. Then traffic just crawled along. It took them nearly 8 hours to get to Chicago!!!! I'm so glad everyone made it safely back home!!!

Here are some pics of our Christmas!!!!

WONDERS NEVER CEASE!!

Today I fell into luck! Totally by accident and it ALMOST didn't happen!!!
I wanted to make buckeye candy today and had to go to Country Kitchen to buy parrafin wax. I made a special trip over there, got the wax, and just as I was about to check out, I spotted ROSEANNA!!! Roseanna, Roseanna, my darling Roseanna, whom I have missed for soooo long!!! Whodathunkit? There was LOTS of Roseanna plates, coffee cups, espresso cups, tea pots, little casserole dishes! Oh I nearly squeeled with delight!!! I bought a set of darling plates. I wanted to buy more but held back. What a lucky day I had.
And to think...I almost didn't go to Country Kitchen!!!!

In the Middle of the Night

Something happened to me last night that is very rare for me. I woke up at 1:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. I tossed and turned, got up, checked my email, read a bit, laid on the sofa in the living room, then went back up to bed. Archie was snoring next to me.
My mind would not shut off!!! I found myself thinking over and over again the same two things!!! Pete and Re-Pete, Back and Forth, Over and Over, Check and Re-Check. I was going crazy! Does this happen to other people too? I would say to myself, "Now stop this right now!!!" and then I would think the same horrid things over and over again!!!! I almost started crying I was so frustrated.
I have a game I have played ever since I was a little girl and I would not be able to get to sleep because of worrying about something....I would (in my mind) pretend that my worries/concerns/midnight demons was dust on the floor. I would take a broom and sweep up the dust into a dustpan. Pour the dust from the dustpan into a bag. Then go to the window. Open the window and throw the bag filled with the dust/demons/worries/concerns out the window. Then close your eyes and off to blissful sleep. This did not work last night.
I must have drifted off sometime. (Last time I looked at the clock it was nearing 4:00 a.m.)
Next thing I knew Archie was calling me, "Keeeeelllliiiii....Time to get up! Rise and shine!"
I clomped downstairs and got my mug of hot coffee. As I took my first sip I realized what I always do....things never seem as bad or as awful the next day over a fresh cup of joe.

I just wanted to say "I LOVE TIFFANY'S"

Roseanna

These are my new Roseanna stuff I got in Chicago. You can't tell anything really...but they are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO ADORABLE.

Thank God for candles, magazines and a good book

This morning I sat in my robe and pj's, a cat on my lap, candles burning bright, and a magazine to read. I LOVE magazines. I read them cover to cover. I enjoy every page. Magazines have always been a special treat for me. When I was in high school I got Seventeen every month --- and as I have told Bree before, back then the magazine was larger than a magazine is now and twice as thick. My girlfriends and I oohed and aahed and paper clipped pages that we would go back to over and over again. After I was married and had my babies, we were very poor and I couldn't afford to buy magazines, let alone have a subscription to a magazine! I would read second hand magazines but it was never the same as having your very own brand new copy.

A few years ago, after I started working full time, I treated myself to one magazine subscription every year. How I looked forward to that magazine coming in the mail. Its happy cover poking out amid the bills and junk mail!

Well, this year I made a BOLD decision! I decided that I would get a magazine subscription to ANY AND ALL magazines that I wanted. I told myself, "So What?" Its MY money and it isn't as if I'm out snorting crack! I've paid my dues and by God I am going to get magazines!

So a couple of months ago I got Entertainment Weekly, Country Living (one of my favorites) Coastal Living, and Good Housekeeping. I still want Midwest Living (another fabulous mag) and that will happen soon.

I received my first magazine a couple weeks ago and then yesterday I got another one. It was like Christmas!!! I was so happy!!!!

So, I will light my candles, kiss my cats, read my books and pore over my beloved magazines til the cows come home. And like I always say....its not like I'm spending money on crack or something....

Roseanna!!

The thrill of my day on Sunday was walking into Nordstrom Rack and spotting some interesting looking boxes at the front of the store. I knelt down to inspect them and for the love of God it was Roseanna pieces!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called for Bree and she came running over. All I could do was say, "Bree, my God! Roseanna!!!!" Bree, who has known my love of Roseanna plates and bought me many pieces, gasped in surprise!!! We immediately began scooping up the various boxes and squealing with joy as we opened each box to see the darling treasure inside. I bought two little dish sets --- I'll take pics of them and show you. They had a big pitcher but I didn't want to carry it.
You see, I collect Roseanna plates. They used to be easy to find. I could pick them up at TJ Maxx or Marshall's. Then it became harder and harder to find them. You had to order them on the internet. So you can see how surprised, thrilled, happy I was to see them at Nordstrom Rack!!!!
I'm going to take a pic of them right now and put them on the site.
It's the little things that make a girl happy, you know???

A Shopping Weekend in Chicago

I had such fun last weekend!!! Karin and I left FW early Saturday morning for a much needed getaway shopping weekend in the big city. We hit Michigan Avenue by 10 in the morning and shopped all day, stopping to eat lunch at Frankie Scallopini's. That night we met Bree and John for supper at D4 and had a ball. Then Bree came back to the Sheraton with Karin and I for more girl talk. We had to kick her out at 10:00 because we were exhausted!!!
Then up Sunday morning all fresh and ready to hit the streets again. We had breakfast at the Sheraton and picked Bree up at 9:30. We were at Loehmann's by 10 and shopped the day away. We found bargains galore at Loehmann's, Macy's, Nordstrom Rack. I finished my shopping (except for stocking stuffers)!!!!!!!
We hit the road home by 3:30. I hated to leave Bree. I missed her as soon as she walked away...Christmas seems so far away until I see her again.
Karin and I stopped in Valparaiso for supper and got home about 7. SUCH FUN! We laughed and talked and got all Christmas-y. The stores were decorated so beautifully.... especially the old Marshall Field's ( now Macy's ) on State Street.
I love Chicago!!! Someday I would like to live there.

This is the mantle that I just decorated. Wish the kitties would have been in the pic.

I just decorated the mantle....also Bree got me the plates on either side of the fireplace at Posh and Archie just hung them for me. You can't see them real well, but they are gorgeous!!!! This is me in front of our tree...

Kinzie and Walt --- growing up

Michael and the kids

"It's Never A Good Time"

...for die-Ting. It's not a good time for me to die-T in the summer because I can't walk because its too hot and I have water retention. Ice cream goes down so good in the summer too....and all those barbeques.
Fall is a bad time to die-T because there is Halloween and apple dumplings. Then the holidays come along and that is a terrible time to die-T because of all the parties and goodies. Then after the first of the year comes the depression -- you know, the post holiday blues. Can't die-T then either. The only thing that makes me happy is food that time of year.
So that leaves Spring. Lovely, glorious, beautiful Spring!!! That is a perfect time to die-T. No excuses.....unless you can think of one or two.
Let me know if you do....

LET IT SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE snow! I simply adore it. Today it is snowing so beautifully and I am putting up my Christmas decorations. My candles are burning and even though I feel like I just did this....Has it really been almost a year? -- I can't help but feel excited and happy and cozy. Getting out all my old familiar decorations....the angel Bree made in kindergarten that has her own special place every year, the Santa with his reindeer that Michael bought me when he was in gradeschool that goes in the middle of the fireplace mantle, the wooden Christmas ornaments that a Parkinson's patient made for me years ago. I think how hard he worked on those ornaments with his trembled, shaking, hands. I cherish these things.
As I put up the familiar Christmas friends and listen to Bing Crosby sing White Christmas on the radio, I usually have to stop and wipe the tears from my eyes. Oh, I'm a sappy thing. But I can't help it. They are tears of joy and warmth and happy memories.
I remember getting my Yogi Bear stuffed animal for Christmas in first grade. I remember hugging Mom and crying my eyes out when I got my big doll, Holly, in second grade. She was the size of an actual 2 year old!!! I remember getting my Yardley Slicker Dolly Bus with all of the lipsticks in 8th grade and wearing a different color every day during the Christmas break. (back then you couldn't wear lip stick or lip gloss to school)
Snow and Christmas and eggnog and candles and music and baking always make me happy. Sentimental, happy, thankful. But the snow is the best.
Wow..its really coming down now!!! Maybe we'll have a big blizzard and work will be cancelled tomorrow!! Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
HAPPY HOLLY DAYS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Hour I First Believed

I am reading this now. It is the new novel by Wally Lamb.

So far it is EXCELLENT!!!

I love Wally Lamb and so glad to see that he has written a new book.

If you are looking for something great to read, try She's Come Undone or I Know This Much Is True both by Wally Lamb.

Sabi

Things have been difficult for her since the twins arrived on the scene.

Me and my girl

Four Christmases

Janet and I saw Four Christmases today. What a bad movie. Not funny at all and not a Christmas movie!! Mean people in the movie and mean children too! It was not feel good or funny. Janet and I were surprised that such big name actors were in such a dopey movie! Reese Witherspoon produced it so maybe they were doing her a favor. Anyhoo...Janet and I had fun but neither one of liked the movie and I am soooo glad I didn't see it on Christmas Day!!!

I think Marley and Me looks like a cute movie.

Bree and I always see a movie on Christmas Day. Last year it was Sweeney Todd, year before that it was Dreamgirls....can't remember past that. We've seen some pretty bad ones. One year we saw Family Stone and Bree got up and left and went into another theatre. That was a pretty bad one.

I got some Christmas gifts today!!!! Yeahh!!!! Tomorrow we put up the tree. I can't wait!!!

Think snow, everyone!!!!

Love,
Kelli

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2008

The smell of turkey is in the air. We are just waiting for Michael to get home from work so we can dig in. It is so great having Bree and John home!!!

Last night Bree, John, Michael, Archie, me, and Gabe went to Henry's for a few drinks and a sandwich. Had so much fun talking and laughing. Here are some pics from last night on our way to Henry's.

Walt likes a bedtime story

Michael and the kids

See how BIG Kinzie and Walt are getting? I can't believe it!!! they are as precious as the day is long. I love them. Sometimes I call Walt "Freckles" because he has spots on his face.

They are arriving tonight

Bree and John will be here tonight and I promise you pictures and stories. I'm so excited!!!!

I got new furniture in the TV room and I can't wait for them to see it!!! Oh, I want to hug their necks til their guts pop out.

Bree is bringing me something she bought me in Barcelona. I'll let you know what it is....she is the most thoughtful person. She never forgets her Mom.

The house will be filled with wonderful aromas and the sound of laughter. I will touch my heart and touch my head and tap a little lock on there to keep it all inside forever.

Hope your holiday is fantastic also.

Love and hugs,

Kelli

It's a Seed!!

Bree told me on the phone the other day the most INCREDIBLE thing!!!
I had written a very short story and emailed it to her. I told her that it wasn't much...not very long....felt like I needed to explore the characters more. And Bree said, "It's just a seed. Something to plant and then you can come back later and add to it." Isn't that marvelous? That is exactly true!!!
Several of the stories I've written don't seem "complete". They are almost "teasers." But Bree is right. They are seeds. Planted now and I can come back and elaborate on them later.
Thank you, Bree!
Once again, your wisdom amazes me. You are truly one of the most intelligent people I know. And I love you forever.....

I don't have time to work...

I decided yesterday when I was at work making a list of things I had to do to prepare for Thanksgiving and the arrival of Bree and John, that I just do not have time to work at a regular job. Working just takes up too much time! I need more time for being creative and thinking and taking naps and just laying around. After I put in a days work then there isn't much time for writing, reading, walking, kissing kitties, doing just enough housework that needs doing, socializing and just hanging out on the couch.
But I need to work so until I find another way to make some money .... this is it!! I thought of prostitution or belly dancing but that sounds like alot of work too...and I'd probably have to go on a die-t ....... So I'll just keep on truckin'.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU May all your wishes and dreams come true.
Love and hugs,
Just a Girl (Your Kelli)

What is everyone reading now?

I'd love to know what good books everyone has read!!! Let me know!!! I am reading House of Daughters by Sara Kate Lynch. I am eagerly anticipating the new Wally Lamb novel coming out in November.

More of Kinzie Anne

Kinzie

And I am going to have a fabulous year!!!

I am 54 now

The return of Just a Girl

Hi Luvs! I'm so sorry I haven't been around. I didn't think anyone cared about this silly blog of mine and I was getting bored with it, to tell the truth. But two weekends ago I was at a party in Indianapolis with my cousins, and my cousin, Tim, told me how much he enjoyed my blog. I was flabbergasted!!! I told Tim I couldn't believe that he was actually reading it! I told him I was getting ready to erase the whole bloody thing. He said no way! He loved it! He told me it gave him a better insight as to what I am about and he thought I was a good writer!!! I hugged his neck and told him I would get right back to blogging! And here I am!!!
So much has happened since I last wrote.....Janet and I went on our girlfriend getaway to Lake Michigan again this year. We love it so much there that next year we are renting a cottage for a week. I've been to Chicago to see Bree and her and John came back to see us a couple of weekends ago. We had a great time and Bree surprised her Grandma!
The big news is that the baby kitties are now neutered and front claws out. They are getting so big and I will show many pics of them!!! Sabi still doesn't like them so the kids just steer clear of her!!!
I met up with my cousin, Sharon, in Indianapolis for a cousin reunion! We had such fun. Laughed, ate, shopped, and had a big old slumber party. Then the next weekend we were together at another cousin party in Indianapolis!
Michael moved out. He moved into a 3 bedroom duplex with a buddy. So I will have his old bedroom to redecorate!!! Hurray!!!! It will be fun to have a winter project!!!!
So now I am back and I will be blogging and I expect readers and comments. I am also going to be posting some new short stories I've written.
Have a fabulous October, my friends. Love, love, love, Kelli

The BEST DAY

Yesterday was the "best day". Bree and John drove down from Chicago & spent the afternoon with us. We had lots of snicky snacks and Archie cooked chicken and burgers on the grill. Bree and John got to meet the baby kitties for the first time...they loved them and Bree wanted to kidnap Walt! We just talked the afternoon away. Michael got home from work a little after 5 and he got to see them too.
Thank you Bree and John for coming to FW and Making OUR DAY! We love you!!!

Archie and Micahel

This is me and my son and friend, Michael........

Some Birthday pics

Karin, Keith, John & I went to the antiques in the park today and then lunch at this great Mexican place.

Here are some pics of us at the antiques in the park....

This girl is 54 now!!!

Today is my 54th birthday!!! But I don't think I am going to change my name on my blog to fiftyfourgoingonseventeen. I'm just going to keep it at 53!!!

I am going to have a FABULOUS 54th year. It is going to be a challenge to make my 54th year as UTTERLY FABULOUS as my 53rd!!! But I will try.

A recap of the past year

I started my blog

Wrote 3 short stories (lost one of them in the computer but it still counts)

Went to Milwaukee (2x) to visit my H.S. friend, Linda.

Made many trips to Chicago to hang with Bree

Went to the Bahamas

Went to Florida twice

Had a girl cousin reunion ------------ Went on a chick trip to Union Pier with Janet

Went to PARIS

and by God is that the nuts or WHAT???????????????????

I love TIFFANY'S

Oy!!! My daughter spoils me and I love it!!!! For my fast approaching 54th birthday she spoiled me with a silver charm bracelet from my favorite jewelry store!

Vail Family Reunion

What a blast! The weather was warm, sunny and beautiful. My cousin, Jimmy, and his wife, Patty, live at Lake George and open their gorgeous lakefront home every year to host the family reunion. This year was a smaller group than usual because the only weekend we could have it was 4th of July weekend. Alot of the cousins had other committments.

I picked Bree up in Chicago and we headed for Lake George. It was sooooo great to see everyone again!!! My cousin Jenny's husband, Sandy, cooked pork brisket and chicken on a smoker all day and it was DELICIOUS!!! Melted in my mouth! Everyone brings dishes and there are tons of appetizers and munchies and lots of cold drinks. Beer is usually the drink of choice for this Irish clan!!!

The party goes on til the wee hours of the morning and then we all reunite again Sunday for Bloody Mary's, coffee, and brunch. Bree and I headed back to Chicago early to miss the traffic. There were hugs all around and promises to keep in touch and "see ya next year!!"

Bree and I got back to Chicago and proceeded to head to Michigan Avenue. We went into Tiffany's and Bree bought me a TO DIE FOR Tiffany's silver charm bracelet for my birthday!!!!!! I adore it! My first gift ever from Tiffany's. It is sooo pretty!!! THANK YOU BREE!!

Then we met John at Timothy O'Toole's for an early supper and I had to go home. As I went down the toll road I noticed mile after mile of cars and trucks stopped in traffic headed towards Chicago. Soooo glad we left the lake early!!!

It was a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attention: Movie LOVERS

If you are looking for a great MOVIE REVIEW site go to www.reelnerds.com


IT IS AWESOME. A GREAT SITE!!!!!!!!!!

July 4th weekend

...is upon us and so is the Vail Family Reunion. I am picking Bree up in Chicago Saturday morning and then we will head to Lake George where my cousin, Jimmy, and his wife, Patty, live. So, tomorrow is MY DAY! Nothing to do tomorrow but take time for Kelli and relax, pack for the weekend, and start a new book. I am just finishing up Something Blue by Emily Giffin and then I am going to read The Beach House by Jane Green.
The kitties are growing like weeds!!! Adorable! Today Walt was licking Kinzie's feet. So sweet!!!
Everyone have a great 4th and I will tell you all about the reunion next week.
Kelli

VAIL FAMILY REUNION

Next weekend is the much anticipated Vail Family Reunion. Cousins and Aunts and Uncles from all over will descend upon Lake George, Indiana on Saturday, July 4 for a 2 day reunion. The emails are flying from cousins all over and I know we will have a blast like we usually do. I will be sure to let you blog friends know of everything and pictures too!!!
Love and hugs,
Kelli PS BREE IS COMING THIS YEAR SO HURRAH FOR THAT!!!

June is bustin' out all over!!!

Hey everyone! How is the summer going so far for you?

I am reading Chasing Harry Winston and lovin' it. The kitties are doing great and Sabi is actually PLAYING with them!!! Oh it is soooo cute to watch them. They are darling.

This weekend is my "take time for Kelli" weekend. I have only done things for me and it is fabulous. Yesterday I came home from running a couple of errands and I took a shower, put on rice flower and shea body lotion and got in my jammies at 1:00 in the afternoon!!!! Why not? Spent the rest of the day writing, reading, playing with kitties, and eating some chocolate.

Hey, I could be snorting crack, right?

Anyhoo.......everyone have a wonderful day and especially to John....Happy Birthday, dear friend and loved one.....Kelli

Miranda the backyard bunny

This is a bunny that lives in our backyard. She isn't scared or anything. She is out there every morning and I can get real close to her and she doesn't even run!!! I love it!

Summer Reading List

I'm so excited! I just picked up Lauren Weisberger's new novel, "Chasing Harry Winston"!!! I can't wait to dig into it!
Here is the rest of my summer reading list:
The Spa by Fay Weldon
Weekend In Paris by Robyn Sisman (thanks, Bree!)
Multiple Choice by Claire Cook (thanks, Bree! again)
River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke
Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
What is everyone else reading? Tell me everything!!!!
Have a great summer, everyone! Love, Kelli

The kittens are sweet as sunshine!!!

What fun I am having watching those babies roll around together. They are doing great. Using the litter, eating, drinking a little water (they like milk better!)

Sabi seems a little calmer today. She didn't hiss at me this morning. Here are a couple more pics of the babies.

WELCOME WALTER NAPOLEON & KINZIE ANNE

These are my two new beautiful kitties....brother and sister that I got last night. They are adorable!!! Soooo tiny!!

Walt is the orange one and Kinzie is dark brown. They have beautiful blue eyes.

Sabi is not very happy right now....she is hissing at them and hissing at me. I am keeping them in our bedroom with the door closed while we are at work today.

They slept all night and have peed in the litter box.

Here are some pics of the new additions to my family.

The other side of sunshine....

....is a big, beautiful moonbeam.

Hello my darlings! Today is Monday and I woke up this morning with a feeling that this week (maybe this day) will be full of wonderful possibilities for me! I am nearing my one year anniversary of Just A Girl. Yes, friends, it will be ONE year that I started Just A Girl! So much has happened in this past year! I have traveled to Paris, to the Bahamas, gone to Florida twice, went on a chick trip to Union Pier with Janet, been on fun, fun, weekend trips many times to Chicago, read lots of great books, wrote a short story, saw a few really good movies, saw My Fair Lady on stage in Chicago, discovered the Friendly Fox. Geez, I know there is more....but anyhoo....it has been nearly one year of blogging.
Any ideas or thoughts or anything you would like to see from me in the 2nd year of Just A Girl?
The Vail Family Reunion is coming up July 4 weekend. Bree is going this year and I'm sure it will be a blast. You'll see many pics of the Vail Cousins on my blog so stay tuned.
Please keep reading and comment, comment, comment.
Love to all.....Kelli

Dedicated to a special girl

This is for Bree.... she is my daughter. She is my best friend. She is the wisest, most wonderful person in the world. She is so good and kind to me. She always makes me feel good about myself and when I feel blue she always makes me feel happy. I am so lucky to have a friend like Bree and the best part about it is that she is my daughter!

I am so glad that she is here...she makes me realize how beautiful my world is.

Thanks, Bree..... Mom

How do I make my dreams come true?

I have been asking myself that question alot lately. How do I make my dreams come true? Some things that I dream of I can control....like going on trips and doing things and seeing things and buying things and being with the people I love. But how do I make my dreams come true with things I can't control? How do I find that new job? How do I get connected with the right people to help me get the job that I want? How do I get started on a new career?
Bree gave me a Secret Gratitude Journal for Christmas last year that I write in. One side of the journal you are thankful for what you already have. The other side you are thankful for the things you don't have yet but that you want.
I am going to put forth my absolute strongest, highest power that I have to get myself into a new career. After 30+ years as a nurse I am ready to move on. Spread my wings and fly to a new adventure, I hope. Please think good thoughts for me, darlings. I sure need it.
Love and hugs and any ideas you may like to share...GO FOR IT! I'd love to hear...Kelli

Reading

I just started reading "Certain Girls" by Jennifer Wiener. It is the sequel to "Good In Bed".

I loved that book.

I recently read "Marie Antoinette, the Last Queen of France". Since going to Paris I am obsessed with French history. If anyone has any good books they can recommend on French history (fiction or non fiction) I would love it!

Here is what is on my bookshelf waiting for my greedy little fingers to flip through its pages:

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

The Spa by Fay Weldon

Belong to Me by.....can't remember her name! sorry

Weekend in Paris by Robyn Sisman (can't wait to read that)

Multiple Choice by Claire Cook

Love and hugs to you all, my friends. Keep me in your good, happy thoughts and COMMENT!!!

I am lonely. ha! Just A Girl --- Kelli

SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE

Last weekend Bree and I saw Sex and the City the movie. I was in Chicago staying with her and we went to the Sunday morning movie. So glad we did because when we left the movie people were standing in lines everywhere waiting to go into the next showings.

We loved the movie. I can now say that Sex and the City is one of my very favorite movies. Being a loyal follower of the HBO series, Sex and the City, I was not a bit disappointed in the movie. It was even better than I thought it would be! It was so wonderful to see the girls together again and the movie made me cry several times. Not big gushy tears, but enough to make me wipe my eyes.

I read the Roger Ebert review of the movie before I went to see it....Sorry, but MEN (especially OLD MEN) should not be reviewing Sex and the City. It is a show for us girls and a few choice men. Go see the movie! You will LOVE it.

Have a fabulous June, everyone. Write me. Love, Kelli This is me peeking out of the living window of our apartment in Paris....!!! I miss PARIS