Smorgasbord

*NEWS ALERT - LIFE LIST UPDATE*

I have reached my goal of 50 followers

Yesterday I went from 48 followers/readers to 56 57 as of this morning.  So, I pulled up my Life List and excitedly crossed it off.   50 followers was my personal goal.  Any more then that is just added sweetness.

 62.  Get 50 people to follow my blog March 5, 2010

Thanks to my sister Kristen who noticed and was the first to offer congrats!
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If you're new to my blog, welcome!
I hope you like what you see.

Leave a comment and let me know you stopped by

so I can repay the visit.
I do have a button up for the grabbing.
<------It's over there on the left. 
Let me know if you grab and I'll grab back. 

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I've got a few things to make mention of this morning. 

Again, I am asking and reminding everyone about:

Cards 4 Cancer

I have volunteered to be a team leader.

My team name is TEAM ROYCE

in honor of my Grandfather

Frederick E. Royce.

By being a team leader I am committing to delivering the cards that my team members make.

Who are my team members?

Kristen

Debbie

Diana

Candace

Darren

YOU

Please click here to sign up to be a team member for Team Royce.  It's easy and it's amazing.  You can make cards or buy cards and then spread the word about this cause

to your friends, family, strangers you meet on the street
blog about it, tweet about it, post it up at your work
have everyone make cards or buy cards
collect the cards from them
and then send or deliver all those cards to me (please email for mailing address)
I will then deliver them to the
Wilmont Cancer Center in Rochester, NY.
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Monday is my 7th wedding Anniversary.  Yea!  I am posting a special ♥ post in honor of it so my normal Weekly Menu Monday post will be up tomorrow(Sunday). 
If anyone out there (hello, out there) is trying any of the recipes I post or wants a recipe PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know.  I love feedback. 
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - -  -  -  -  -  - 
Here in Western, NY we're looking at an upcoming week of temps in the 40's. 
Yesterday while watching Sesame Street with the boys...I heard the familiar sounds of Jason Mraz's
"I'm Yours"...and there he was...Jason Mraz at the laundromat on Sesame Street....strumming his guitar...but when he started to sing..
the words were different and then Elmo joined in and then the others....I found myself smiling....check it out..it's a great "pick me up because Spring is coming and it's gonna be alright" kind of song.



See?!?  You're smiling, aren't you? 

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I think I have one more thing to make mention of. 
Those of you who have been reading Kerri's Klutter for a while may have noticed a few new "pages" to my blog.  I added the About Me page a month ago but added the "Disclosure" and "PR Friendly" pages just last night. 
The reason for these pages is that I hope to being reviewing some fun products/services.
What goes along with reviewing things?....Giveaways!!...so this is hopefully something fun that Kerri's Klutter will be participating in and YOU get to join in the fun. 

So, those pages are there to "MAKE IT KNOWN" that Kerri's Klutter is interested and willing to participate in the reviewing of certain products/services.

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  Ok.  I think I made mention of everything I needed to.
Who I am kidding?  I'm sure I forgot something. But, for now at least...I'm done. 

Have a wonderful Saturday! 

Friday Fragments AND Feel Good Friday

I ate a whole box of chocolates on Thursday afternoon.  Yep, a whole box.  Well, thankfully, it only had 4 chocolates in it because if it had more - ugh! it honestly scares me to even think about it.

I found out that I won a writing contest that I had entered at the end of December.  I am beyond excited.  The prize is a blog makeover created by The Style Dragon.  Kerri's Klutter will have it's own domain.  

Gonna reign my own domain baby!

My husband took the day off of work on Thursday and took the boys out of the house all morning.  What that left me with was an empty, quiet house in which I read and ate and read and ate and said "ahhhhh" a bunch of times(only when I could hear the harps playing though).  BLISS!

I'm looking forward to taking my niece out to the dollar theater (it actually costs $2.00) to see New Moon tonight.  She is 13.  I have read the Twilight series and was not impressed with the movie Twilight.  I have heard mixed reviews on New Moon.  It saddens me that I am looking forward to seeing Taylor Lautner (he plays Jacob).  He was born in 1992.  That makes him 18.  I am 32.  I do realize that's just kind of gross but sadly it still doesn't change the fact that even if the movie is a waste of my time...it won't be a total waste of time. 

I'm tiring of Facebook.  I enjoyed reconnecting with high school friends but have not really maintained any continuing friendship since.  It bothers me (because I think too much) that my facebook friend count says 139 and yet...yep...not really friends (in my meaning of the word) with all those 139 people.   

I love when someone new "follows" my blog because it's like an open door.  It's an open door to their page where I can check out their  as well as all the cool blogs they have on their list.  It completely amazes me how many people (men and woman) have blogs and how amazing these people are.  Everyday I am finding more, learning something new, and loving this journey that's only just begun.

I have been working on a few things that I have on my life list.  It's so exciting.  Self-efficacy is rearing it's lovely energy.  I love self-efficacy.  

A few of the things close to being checked off are:

- Having 50 followers on my blog.  

I'm at 34.  I realize I could stay at 34 for quite some time but so far I've been getting closer and closer each week.

-Learn how to shoot a hand gun.  Nail a bulls-eye.  

I have been in contact with a member and a close friend of the owner of a local rod and gun club.  He has recently informed me that I have the "OK" to stop by once the weather is warmer and start my learning process. 

- Make a personal mission statement.  Live by it.  

I am working on this and working diligently.  I am trying to convey myself, how I want to live and be remembered as well as what I want to accomplish in my life.  I am learning it is very difficult condensing myself into a few paragraphs that will ultimately describe how I view life and it's path for me.  I'm getting there.  I can't wait to share it with everyone else.

-Run a 10k. 

I am going to start running again on or around March 14th.  I am excited and looking forward to getting outside.  Spring is close.  Goals are being set.  Life is being lived.

And one last Friday Fragment:

I'm getting really sick of this cold and snow here in 
Western New York.  

I'm beginning to itch.  Oops, left off the B there.

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My youngest son Aidan is a year and a half old.  He is beginning to really 

talk.  In the course of just a few weeks, his vocabulary seems to have doubled.

He is also becomming more animated, opinionated and vocal about what he wants, needs and thinks is hilarious.

He has said Da Da for quite some time.  Now he says Daddy.

He rarely ever says Mommy or even Ma Ma. 

I know that he knows I'm Mommy so that's not the issue.  But he simply refuses does not call me by that name. 

When he does say it though it's as if he can't contain himself.  His little face lights up.  He seems to almost be bashfull about it.  He's not a bashful baby by any means.  So, when he says Mommy and then tucks his head down it makes my heart so happy.

He did it several times on Thursday after being out with Daddy all morning.  He did it a few times yesterday.

I realized that I like it being an every now and then thing.  I never know when his little voice is gonna peek out at me and say Mommy. And because I don't expect it, when I hear it, it's like hearing it for the first time.

Eventually, as he begins to say it more often it will lose it's surprise factor.  It will become normal.  I will become used to it.

But for now at least, it makes my face and heart smile every time I hear it.

I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd stop by.....

My niece Ashley turns 13 today.  In honor of her I reflected back on my life and I had a conversation with myself, when I was 13.  

This 98th post is dedicated to Ashley May Sine.  I love you.  

For you I wish

A journey of good with bad mixed in so that the good tastes that much sweeter....

Happy Birthday. 

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Hey.  It's me, I mean you...I'm you in 2010.  We'll be 33 in November.

Yes, I know...it is smuckin crazy.

  Yes, smuckin unbelievable too.

I thought I'd stop by for a little bit.

See how you're doing with being 13.






 
 Yes, I really turn 33 this year.  Thank you....I think. I'm glad I don't look like you thought I'd look at 33.

So, what's going on now...1990 right?  You're upset with Mom.  She never lets you do anything.  You run your mouth and say mean things.

BLAH BLAH BLAH!

Listen to me, it may not seem like it right now but Mom is going to be one of your best friends.  Stop laughing at me.  Get off the floor.  I'm serious.  It's like all of sudden one day you get it.  You know she's not trying to ruin your life on purpose.  I know it seems like that now.  You're 13.  Believe me, Mom is on our side.  Always has been.  Always will.  Cut her some slack.

Do you marry Shawn?  Are you serious with this shit?  Shawn is a loser.  Get over it already.  He will get you to do some things you know you shouldn't do.  It's because he's a boy.  A 14 year old boy.  He's a loser.  He will ask you to the prom and then call you two days before the prom and say he is going with someone else.  You will hang up the phone in Mom and Dads room and you will start to cry.  Dad will hug you outside your bedroom door.  You will hurt and feel like a such a ugly stupid person but you are everything but those things.  At 33 we don't even remember ever kissing Shawn.  We did but really it's just not memorable or worth the tears we'll cry.

Do you make it through high school?  I'll be honest with you, our high school days are not easy.  Our emotions run wild.  We have zits.  We are fat.  The boys we like do not like us back.  Nothing will seem fair.

It's not until we are older that we realize life seldom ever is.   

Yes, we make it through high school.  Academically, we struggle.  Socially we wish for more but ultimately, yes we survive high school.  We take away some valuable lessons.  Our education level does not determine how smart we are.  Our circle of friends will always be small.  Our roots being planted in a small town do not hinder us from doing great things.

Making friends never gets easier but keeping the ones you do have does.   

You will miss the house you grew up in.  In weird ways and at times you least expect it.

Do you have sex?  HAHA.  Yes, of course.  Looking back I think perhaps we have sex a bit too early but we loved the other person.  No one can fault us for that.  The first time was amazing.  You will reflect back on it many times through out life.  We got lucky.  Really, really lucky.  No pun intended.

Do you marry your first love, the one we had sex with?  No.  We sure don't.  We do much better.

We marry our greatest love.

Who dies?  Well, that's a loaded question.  We lose Grandpa in 1997.  Yes, it really hurts.  No, it never gets easier.  Losing a loved one simply sucks.  Nothing you learn prepares you for it, for the emotional loss and detachment.  For the emptiness in the corner of your heart.  That empty chair at Mom and Dad's table.
We are however, very lucky as we have lost very few of our loved ones.  That time is yet to come.

Lets see, what else.  We hurt someone we never mean to.  An unfortunate part in us learning who we really are.  It almost seems necessary now. It still hurts to think about.  We will pull from the experience many times. We will always feel like "sorry" doesn't even begin to cover it.

The years of 1996 - 2000 are four years you will spend hurting.  I'm not telling you this to scare you.  I'm telling you this to show you how strong you are.  You are resilient.  Your un-returned adoration for your crushes, drama filled fights with friends and parent troubles are nothing compared to these coming years. You will learn what it feels like to be alone even while you are with someone.  You will feel ignored.  You will be beat down.  You will lose friends because someone tells you to. You will lose precious time with your family.  You will lose yourself.  You will struggle to pull your head above the water.   

But boy, when we finally take that breath, it's the sweetest breath we've ever taken.  That life quickly disappears.  We emerge strong and determined.  And not to get all old fashioned on you but, we take the bull by the horns baby.  We own that bull.  That's right!

We own that Mother Smuckin Bull. 

Yes.  You are still a dork.  At 33.  Not all wishes come true.  So Sorry. 

Oh yeah, one more thing...that feeling that you have, about never being a mother.  Can I just tell you how completely and utterly misplaced and so very thankfully UNTRUE it is. 

That's right.  You marry your greatest love and have two wonderful little boys.

Ain't that the shit?

Are we happy?

What do you think?

Do I look happy?

That's why I'm here.  Don't you get it?  We make it.  We make it through those years, all of them, even the ones when we thought we'd break in half.

We make it.

that's pretty smucking fantastic isn't it?

No, nothing really gets easier.  Things just change really and yes, sometimes life still really does just suck.

but sometimes.....like when you hold your own newborn child for the first time, or when you are embraced in the arms of your greatest love...

sometimes all that other shit...just doesn't matter....at....all.

So, hang in there ok?  Because the things that come in between all this shit is way to good to pass up.  Trust me, ok?

Yes.  Sometimes it might not always seem like I do but yes, I love you.  

Trust me.

My Life List

It's almost the beginning of a new year.  A new year to strive to be my best, to do things I've always dreamed of, to live life to the fullest, not sweat the small stuff and to love like I won't be here tomorrow.
I've been updating my life list.  Do you have one?  It's an amazing tool that keeps me focused on the things I dream of.  It's so easy to forget, overlook and discard things I hope to do, see, and be.   With a life list I always have something to refer to, to see how far I've come and to be reminded that my life is Mine.
I highly recommend making a life list if you don't already have one.  It's a great way to gain perspective, inspiration and direction.

My Life List

Kerri Kwiatkowski

Created October 2007

1. 
   Have another child (August 12, 2008)
2. Learn to play the piano, well
3. Learn to play my violin
4. Write a short story or stories
5. See something I have written, published
6. Take some photographs, enlarge them and hang them in our home
7. See the Grand Canyon - take a helicopter ride over it
   
8. Visit Hawaii
9. Visit Alaska
10. Learn how to shoot a hand gun; nail a bulls-eye
11. Go to Disneyworld with my family
12. Renew my marriage vows to Darren with my children present
13. Kiss my husband in the rain; more then once
14. Create a recipe that wins a prize
15. Plant beautiful flower gardens
16. Learn how to change a tire
17. Learn how to cook on the grill
18. Take a second honeymoon
19. Attend at least one major sporting event
20. Go to a talk show and be an audience member
21. Plant a tree
22. Plant rose bushes in our yard
23. Make a personal mission statement; live by it
24. Get passionate about a cause; support it
25. Drive a convertible along the California coast
26. Accept myself
27. Go to Vegas
28. Get in shape; remain active for my children
29. Experiment with paint and canvas
30. Stay debt free; no high balances on credit cards
31. Spend New Years Eve in an exotic location
32. Invest money; DO NOT TOUCH IT
33. Get a passport
34. Volunteer
35. Develop a regular, series, meditation routine
36. Take a scenic overnight train ride
37. Develop a habit of gratitude – no complaining for 21 consecutive days
38. Make a date day/night with each of my sons, once a month
39. Take a trip with my Mom
40. Take a trip with my sisters
41. Write a children’s book
42. If I have a daughter, volunteer as a leader for girl scouts should my daughter join
    
43. Go on actual family vacations, if not once a year, once every two years
44. Take a child CPR class
45. Buy a pool
46. Develop an interest in wine  Fall 2008
47. Meet and become friends with other Moms Spring 2009
48. Visit Montana with my husband to support his dream to live there someday
49. Write a living will
50. 
    Add some fur babies to our family January and May 2009
51. Show my parents more respect
52. Strengthen my relationship with Darren’s Mom
53. Blog for 30 consecutive days November 2009
54. Run a 5k  August 8, 2009
55. Run a 10k
56. Rent a house or cabin and go on vacation with friends (who also have kids)
57. Get my sun Tattoo August 3, 2009
58. Get tattoo work done on left arm
59. Take my boys to see the ocean
60. Once the boys are grown - rent a condo or an apartment in a booming city - where Darren and I can walk to everything and enjoy city life since we pretty much only know country life
61. Learn to swing dance
62. Get 50 people to follow my blog March 5, 2010
63. See Riverdance
64. Get season tickets to R.P.O (Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)
65. Go on a ghost hunt
66. Own a "spiffy" golf cart
67. Win a photography contest
68. Visit and tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house in PA (www.fallingwater.org)