Category Archives: Sisters

Winding Down

Like I said, ain’t no one breathing ’round these parts until Wednesday.

But tonight’s dinner with Eli was the perfect way to wind down after a whirlwind few days.  We’ve had to re-schedule this friend date of ours far too many times and for far too many reasons.  So when I saw her on my calendar for this week and knew that we were actually going to make it happen, I was as pleased as punch.

I love getting together with girlfriends on the weekends, but there’s something about catching-up after work over a glass of wine that just can’t be beat.  Probably because it forces you to slow down when everything else in your life is telling you to keep moving forward.

Because ladies’ nights, are by definition, meant to be peaceful,  we pilgrimaged to Toast in the Warehouse District.  Largely because it’s lovely, but also because it has been on our dinner date To Do list since October.

It just needed to happen.

Plus, how could you not be soothed by the sight of this?

I know.  I KNOW.

Be still my heart.  Y’all know that if there’s a charcuterie plate on the menu that’s priced even somewhat reasonably, I will always pick that first.

Even though I’m usually hesitant to label a specific food as my favorite (let’s be serious, I eat anything and everything), I’m completely comfortable saying that a lovely spread such as the one pictured above is My Favorite Food.

It’s the one meal where you can eat an entire dinner without having to commit to a full plate of one thing.  I’m not kidding when I say that I can’t remember the last time I ate a coherent meal outside of the house.  It’s always bits and pieces, here and there.  Dinners composed of the things I really want instead of the things that the kitchen happens to put on my plate.

And, most gloriously, it’s exactly the kind of meal that forces you to savor every bite.

Which fits perfectly with the theme of slowing down.

What’s your favorite dish to order when you’re out of the house?

Do you prefer to eat one-dish meals or do you pick at lots of different things?

Wine Glasses and Cider Mugs

The most obvious sign that your dinner party was a success.

Besides the realization that you used the better part of a bottle of Windex to get ready for said dinner party.  And the fact that all of the linens you just washed to use for the party are now sitting on top of the washing machine, waiting to go through another spin cycle.

Tonight was the 2nd Annual Friend Thanksgiving.  Observed by my sorority sisters and I, it’s The Way to enjoy the best parts of Thanksgiving without any of the judgement and any of the stress.

There are no touchy subjects.  No problems to sweep under the rug.  No awkward moments.  No pressure.

If the Pilgrims got the chance to use a “do-over” on Thanksgiving, I’m 100% sure this is the way that they do it.

How it works: Everyone has to bring a dessert or a side.

Period.

Once you’ve set your heart on The Perfect Recipe, even if someone else says they’re bringing something from the same food group (example: potatoes, cream cheese, stuffing), you have to hold your ground and bring your dish anyway.

There is no turkey, there is no real structure to the meal.

Case in Point:  Tonight we had mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and a mushroom-potato gratin.

Viva la vida.

If you had to pick one “best” part of Thanksgiving, what would it be?

Always In

Kittens, I feel like this week has been the longest week and the shortest week all at once.  Regardless, I’m glad that for all practical purposes, it’s basically over.

A girl can only survive in slacks for so long before they start to tear a hole in her soul.

Yes, that was rhyme-y.  My B.

Tonight, Martha (one of my bridesmaids) came into town for a conference, so she arranged for a girlfriend (translation: sorority sister)-rendezvous at Bacio.

Can we talk about the most perfect of all possible ways to wave goodbye to this wacky week of ours?  Because this was basically it.

Y’all know I’m always in for Bacio.  It’s my kryptonite, embodied in a restaurant.  Just name the date and time.  I’ll be there.

More importantly, I’m always in for anything that involves the mystically healthy, yet probably totally-terrible-for-you combination of red wine, a bread basket, a monster salad and the odd french fry.

Call it comfort food.  Call it a fail-safe.

All I can say is, sorry for partying.

This week, I’ve been enjoying some of the best sleep that I’ve had in a long time.  I mean, it’s not that I usually sleep poorly, but this kind of sleep?

Is a totally different animal.

Like, to the point where rolling out of bed this morning was extremely off-putting because I felt like I had exerted so much energy.  Sleeping.

Since I’m an 11/10 morning person, it was more than just a little bit weird.

In addition to all of this heavy sleeping, I’ve also been dreaming.  With a vengeance.  It’s almost as if to make up for all of the dreaming I don’t do, we really need to knock a couple out of the park every once in a while.

Dream interpreters: Does anyone know what it means for you to dream about having a terrible experience at a salon that does shellac/gel manicures in rural Minnesota (read: Cologne) while you’re waiting for a plate of cheesy hashbrowns?

Because so far, for me all signs are pointing to one hell of a mystery.

How prescient.

What’s your restaurant-kryptonite?

Are you a dreamer?

I know that everybody “dreams.”  But honestly, I remember my dreams SO rarely that it’s rather remarkable for me to be able to express any sort of coherent thought about what happened.

For Context:

Kittens, I’m still reading everyone’s blogs, but since I don’t post OR comment on-the-job (homegirl has got some street smarts…or they might just be personal-professional boundaries), and the next few weeks are BUSY with post-work wedding planning meetings, travel, etc.  I’m desperately trying to keep up with everyone AND everything.

What do I have to show for my planning efforts?

Well, let me tell you.  Last week a two-hour meeting with the invitations-guy resulted in a wording-proof announcing the wedding of Katherine X X (I have two middle names) and Christopher Scott.

Wait…What?

Last weekend I was Expecting and apparently,  now I have a new fiance.

All I want to know is WHO is this Christopher guy?  And, is he a hottie?

For Context: We walked into the appointment with an invitation we LOVED (both the paper AND the font) from this printer, specifically.  We had wording prepared.  We were ready to provide quantities and deposit monies.

Once again, I feel like The Social Contract has been broken.

Marcus and I solemnly swear to be the most decisive, zen-like, low-maintenance engaged couple that the world has ever seen.  In exchange, I feel like The Universe and our karmic balance owe us perfection.

Or at least not outright failure.

Naturally such debaucles require a re-dedication to Leisurely Pursuits.

Last night I went to a sorority sister-fueled wine tasting and ended up eating my body weight in Kelly’s Peanut Butter Popcorn Crunch.  I didn’t even know such a thing existed.

It was like seeing The Unicorn of Snack Food.

Tonight, Marcus and I are spending date night at Toast, which is a Wine Bar in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis.  In keeping with the theme of the weekend, I fully intend to eat my body weight in crostini.  Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Maybe there will be snaps.  Or maybe there won’t.  I’m a fan of pretty food, but I’m also a fan of places with horrible lighting.  You can’t win every battle.

What are your weekend plans?

Do you believe in karma?

Hand Turkey Flock

I love Thanksgiving.  I really do.  The switch flipped for me in college after years of not really “getting” the holiday.

Now?  I’m addicted.

And so this year, I decided that in order to extend the rollicking good fun (as if eating two dinners on the ACTUAL day isn’t enough), I wanted to have friend-Thanksgiving with some of my sorority sisters who…

A. Have kitchen skills.

B. Will likely be expected to unleash some or all of their culinary talents on their family and friends for The American Holiday.

So tomorrow night, Katie* & Kel, Brittany, Ems, Sarah, and Jenna will descend upon our home and we will feast on a meal made entirely of sides.

Having turkey on Thanksgiving is all right and good, but I’m far more concerned about the other things on your plate that get smothered in gravy and cranberry sauce.

Naturally, with decorating skills like mine, you’re probably wondering what I’ll do in lieu of a tablescape to really transform the space.

Fear not, for the solution is simple…

Hand Turkeys.

As far as I’m concerned, they are The Original American Art Form.

They involve a minimum of materials and produce an absolute wealth of creative expression.

While they’re not really mass-produceable, they’re exceedingly easy to produce en masse.

I think I’ll make a flock.

Hand Turkeys: Yes or no?

Back in the day (read: college) when I worked at The Daily, I had an employee who had never celebrated Thanksgiving before (they were an exchange student from China).  Naturally, we had to do an impromptu-Thanksgiving lesson including hand-turkeys.  His turkey ended up wearing a basketball jersey (he was a great fan of sport).  It was marvelous.

Five Years Ago Today…

Five years ago I joined the first greek letter fraternity known among women.

I promised to keep our most precious secrets safe.

To accept unconditional love in return for my own.

They lift me up when I’m tearing myself down.

They inspire me.

They push me to think about others when I only want to think about myself.

They show me the meaning of perseverance.

They give me Proud Moments.

They make me laugh until I cry.

They know my past.

They’re the reason I have these people.

And this person.

And most importantly, this one.

My heart is full right now,

Kat

Find me a black beret…

Since you all know what a film connoisseur I’m blossoming into, I did end up watching Good Hair on Sunday night as my girl-weekend came to a close.  It was a documentary about the African-American hair industry and it was tres interessant.  Plus it was narrated by Chris Rock so it was a little kicky.  Watch it.  It won’t disappoint.

I think next up on the Netflix queue for moi is Food Inc. and like, whenever The Cove comes in, I’ve got a date to watch that with Miss Sam since I have obviously being a film connoisseur, I have friends that I discuss films with.

Translation: I mentioned I was watching it someday, Sam said she wanted to see it too, I said, hell let’s watch Dolphins get stabbed to death together.  Because that’s what sisters are for.

Right?

The Big 1-4-0!

Happy Founders Day Kappa Alpha Theta!

It’s pretty incredible to think that 140 years ago, four ladies found one another at a school that men didn’t want them to be able to attend, and that they managed to create something so enduring.

So, I thought I would entertain you all with some photos of the WONDERFUL, life-changing, incredible, selfless, bossy sisters that Theta has given me.  They are my strength and my joy.

My Alphas, the largest family in the house.

Meeting Chairman Bob with the Seniors during Sisterhood Week…

My GORGEOUS littles + moi!

Fighting for my family’s honor…And winning.  But OH MY GOD, the pain.

Spring Jam, obviously.

We add another to our ranks.

We make like Boxcar Children and hit the tracks.

We learn life skills essential to the northern climes…

Best Valentine’s Day gift, ever.

And we help one another down the aisle.

God, in the interest of time, this was only the last year of school and my first forays into the real world.  So I truly didn’t even get to show you half of the women who make my life complete.  I am so blessed.

Initiation Fall 2009

So, I always knew that I had the best sisters in the world. Like, this was not a new thing. But last night I got to spend initiation with them, which was SO absolutely pleasing and I got to meet the newest additions to our family. I mean they’re pretty perfect, obviously. Jenn’s little’s first set of letters were Coach, which I find to be totally fabulous.

Alpha love!

Star of Sammy…Part Deux

Since everyone in The House is super-busy this week or totally ineligble to run for Sammy’s Sweetheart (this has always been a problem). I have somehow found myself in the position of running again. Or representing. Or something, given the fact that once a sweetheart, always a sweetheart.

The whole thing pretty much needs to be Lis’ brainchild as she’s the one that’s over there all the time (she’s dating their Prior). And cleverly enough, based off of the theme “New York, New York.” I’m running under the premise of, “A Sweetheart so nice, they named her twice: KAT for Star of Sammys.”

Why, oh why, would I ever want to have a “normal” sort of week?