Creole Wisdom

she was preppy, in the worst sort of way...

Do you not remember my Lily Pulitzer obsession this past winter?

There I was, freezing in bitter cold Bronxville and I was imagining the warm summer days ahead and when the dresses I wanted would go on sale...

Well, the day has come. These two goodies are on there way to me now. Sadly, I tried to find Matt a matching tie in the same print, but they don't make that. Guess I'll just have to wait until another dress goes on sale that is in a print also offered for men's ties. Sigh. But I did get the bag, right?

meet the new...

Sales associate at Pier One! So I've been looking around for a fun, part-time job and decided to take this one. I just cannot bear the Macy's take over of Marshall Fields so I had to turn that down, it would of depressed me!

I'm so excited to start working the floor, after all it's fun to create beautiful homes for other people!

Today is my first day, so I'll let you all know how it goes!

drumroll please...

Well Orientation for Communication Majors was yesterday-

I'm offically registered for classes and made a mega purchase on books (oy!)

Next fall I'll be taking:

Journalism 1001 (Introduction to Mass Communication): My book is soo cool, cannot wait for this class!

Anthropology 1001 (Human Evolution): This counts as my "science" class combined with a lab. Should be pretty interesting-

French 1022 (Accelleration Beginning French): This is a special course designed for students like myself who have taken french, but haven't been in a class for a while (I didn't take it last year or my senior year of High School). I'm nervous about this one...

GWSS 3407 (Women in Early America): Now this should be pretty cool, I almost took the history of health care II (19th & 20th centuries), but I love American History so I picked this one...

My counselor is great, I'm probably going to apply to the Journalism school, so I need to do really well this semester, especially in my journalism class...

The bookstore took me by storm, the grand total for three of my classes (one set isn't in yet) inlcuding school supplies was.... $350 (!) Not as bad as it could be, but still high... (err thanks dad!)

Minus some minor confusion everyone was very helpful, especially the boy at the book store who spent 1/2 hour with me getting every single one of my books that were available. Now that's customer service ; )

graphic design and then some

As a few of you know I recently added another weblog, katie harris photography. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to break out and sieze the day with my work. I'd just like to create a little extra money on the side and have fun taking pictures!

Well about a week back a friend of mine in California mentioned my work to a few of her co-workers. There's a private school in the San Francisco area that I will be doing a bit of graphic design work for!

How great is that?!? I'm already in business!

Although I'm not really a graphic designer I'm hoping this will really open up a door into that field of interest for me. Hey, I can combine the photography AND gd work!

Next month I'm planning to take a trip out there (yeah, Cali!) to do some photography work. (Errr... Katherine and Tangee I'll be sure to e-mail you guys in plenty of time to let you know when I'll be there- we should get together!)

The dad was proud. He's the best dad in the world. Hands down. So as a sort of "congrats to you my entrepreneural daughter" I got a subscription to Before and After Magazine ! I'll sure be cooking on natural gass from now on...

truly summer

Although it's the end of August I finally feel like I'm enjoying my summer!

My internship ended on Friday, so that was nice. My boss took me out to lunch at a great place downtown and my co-workers gave me a candy basket with a baloon! It was so sweet. Maybe I'll end up working there after graduation, it's good to have that as an option!

Since I didn't have to get up early on Monday my roomie, her boyfriend, matt, another friend, and myself went out to a club!

It was wonderful, so much fun. I love that I can still dance with Matt, love keeping that spark even after one long year (okay so it feels like a longtime to this girl...)

The picture is from Matt's and my outing yesterday. We had yummy lunch at Jimmy John's and then went and sat out at the beach.

There might be only two weeks left, but I'm really planning on enjoying my summer!

Food Power!

Well everyone's moved in.  I am.  Matt is.  All my roomies are, too.

Yet despite the fact that Matt's house has a kitchen does that mean he eats over there?

Haha.  Nope.

Last year I used to get by on wheat chex and miso soup for dinner.  It was fine for me.  Sure I appreciated a good, hearty dinner, but there was no way I was going to shell out all that cash and put in all that effort.

For his first day here Matt was, let's say dissapointed in my culinary skills.

You see growing up with gourmet cooks I can do some serious damage in the kitchen, but I just don't.  If I'm just cooking for me why-

But wait.  I'm not just cooking for me.  Do all men think that if you're a girl you're supposed to feed them?

Here's a recent dinner I made:

Paprika Chicken (Mom's Recipe)

4 pieces of chicken, thawed (up this number for more people)

1 brown lunch bag that  is sturdy!

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon salt

Mix dry ingredients into bag

Shake chicken in bag

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes (turning once at the halfway point)

Fragrant Green Beans (my own, go ahead and laugh at the list of ingredients):

Bunch of green beans, cut at each end

1/2 red onion

Pinch of salt & Pepper

Place beans and onion at the bottom of a pot, add a touch of water and the seasonings

Steam

Of course I topped that dinner off with pesto pasta with homemade pesto from my parent's opulent supply of basil.

Now back to the subject at hand-

I love how I'll come home with Matt and he'll just sit at the kitchen table looking at me.  I'm thinking Why are you looking at me?  I guess he was hungry ; )

So I cook and he's happy and we all eat good.

But if I'm going to be cooking real food this year I need some real supplies, right?

My "big," new purchase was a cock pot...

I got it at an overstock store for a killer price... $23.00!!!

I've also bought a new set of silverware, salad thongs, napkins, and handtowels

Now don't get me wrong Matt loves to cook with me, and I do take it as praise that he'd rather come over and eat my food than eat by himself. 

Either way, it's pretty cool.  I've got some amazing power, food power.  So... Let the domestic games being!

Now for some pictures.. The Domestic Diva Strikes Again!

wa! I don't wanna be an "old mom" and other rants from the crazy nineteen year old coed

You know, I think I was born in the wrong time.  This world seems so confusing to me- where is my husband?  Where are my kids?  Where is my house?  Nope, I'm still stuck in that weird spot between being a "kid" and a "grown woman" (whatever that means anyway!) 

Don't get me wrong- I'm thankful.  Thankful that when I babysit the kids are staying at their home and I go back to my neat bed, clean sheets, and unstained pjs...

Last weekend I voluntered at the church nursery.  Personally I'm against children not being "allowed" in church (but that's a whole other rant...)  Anyway only the "head volunteers" can change diapers.  So as one went and helped a girl out I was stuck with the screaming seven month old.

Maybe it's women's intuition, but since rocking and swaying wasn't working and neither was a bottle I did the next best thing: I rubbed her stomach...  Haha I know it sounds funny, but she calmed right down.  Right down.  I mean- going from crazy loud to halfway alseep in a matter of seconds. 

It was so cool.  I was so proud.  (And you know, I didn't even care if she left a spit-up stain on my shirt!)

Later in the week I did a photo shoot of adoarable 11-month-old twins.  Wow.  Did I miss the memo about how much kids move?  Let me tell you , I would be tired if I had to chase after them!

To the subject on hand: I don't want to be an old mom.  Nope, nope, nope.  Not me.  Uh-uh.  I want to be done when I'm 30 and I want 4 kids.  You do the math. 

What cracks me up is people always talk about how women have to "nest," but honestly I think men do it more.  Take Matt for example- he doesn't think it's wise to have a child before you gradauate from law school and buy a house.  Bwah.  We're gonna be so beyond old then.  See in my mind you should have a stable home and be able to support a child, but that is that- you don't need a mansion and yep I saw plenty of law school grads with babies in arms at Matt's brother's graduation. 

So there.  I'm done! 

I'm home!

Well I've finally started to settle into my new place.

I really, really like it here

It's way more "urban" than I expected, but hey I managed Harlem alright?

What I love about my neighborhood so far are all the old houses, the one I live in was built in 1911- cool huh?

Here is an album of me moving in!

my new place!

slide show!

August 1st

When we become angry, upset or dissappointed with somone, we forget the good they have done. We seem to think people must prove themselves to us again and again. If ever they fail to live up to our expectations, we are quick to voice our dismay. The ancient Africans taught that if a person is good to you, you must forever speak good of them. They believed the good always outlives the not so good. In order to keep the good flowing, you must speak of it. ("Acts of Faith, Daily Meditations For People of Color" by Iyanla Vanzant).

Wow. How's that for food for thought? Recently this little purple book has been an addition to my regular scripture study. Of course it's not of God, but it's little tidbits to remind me of things.

Today's message rang clearer than a bell. Especially the part, If ever they fail to live up to our expectations, wea re quick to voice our dismay. How true!

I'm so lucky. I count my blessings time after time, and yet I still have room for endless complaining!

I love this message because it really gets at the heart of what all people should do, especially in their relationships: remember the good.