tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46874058358507202192024-03-05T06:56:55.205-08:00love&laughterKaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-53650730696736181632013-01-10T06:44:00.002-08:002013-01-10T07:58:23.342-08:00New York State of Mind...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, Nate and I are taking James to New York city for the very first time. (!!!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'll spend the day walking the city streets (and I'll of course be pretending I'm a real city mom!!), eating lunch <a href="http://www.eataly.com/index.cfm">here</a>, and then the grown ups are going to see Lion King on Broadway (a Christmas gift from Nate) while James hangs out with one of his <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/03/congratulations.html">favorite aunts and soon-to-be uncle</a>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know James wont remember his first trip to the city where his Mom and Dad fell in love at all, but I know I will!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Oh New York <3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. We're staying at the <a href="http://www.newyorkpalace.com/">New York Palace</a> hotel, so I can't end this post without signing off:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">XOXO,</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Gossip Girl</span></div>
Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-45792714392814622002012-12-17T11:16:00.003-08:002012-12-17T11:18:27.339-08:00DIY Christmas Card Organizer<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/111323422010793699/">Pinterest</a> for the easy-peasy, no fail Christmas card organizer idea! (Andddddd to all of our friends and family who have wished us Happy Holidays this year!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ribbon + Binder Clips or Clothes Pins = No mess and no hassle!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1I2d0RR2OLgCFGsEu_7Fjz6tk57NKseTKbHyu4r8eJpGeb7hh-uT4Kd2Ol6SBNuuiXbIvE1MvijIlE62PsgIYiczdE83ZKfgDgB6pBfBajlS4Ep4QQoZO8FFniqEFwYuNR1pWdgyaYnp/s1600/cardorganizer2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1I2d0RR2OLgCFGsEu_7Fjz6tk57NKseTKbHyu4r8eJpGeb7hh-uT4Kd2Ol6SBNuuiXbIvE1MvijIlE62PsgIYiczdE83ZKfgDgB6pBfBajlS4Ep4QQoZO8FFniqEFwYuNR1pWdgyaYnp/s400/cardorganizer2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBQ9SDe1BwiALvwX8UabS_E8nf0wKFo7M3p6cBb9IGifGiUZe_WWI7DYMw84zuIKpXrDbah8jSOKwYwxYX-LcYkvtxwV4wOJpyDjgT7bFa_tcpj4BOtoGeB7dFtT8J53ClTF6QH123PtZ/s1600/card+organizer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBQ9SDe1BwiALvwX8UabS_E8nf0wKFo7M3p6cBb9IGifGiUZe_WWI7DYMw84zuIKpXrDbah8jSOKwYwxYX-LcYkvtxwV4wOJpyDjgT7bFa_tcpj4BOtoGeB7dFtT8J53ClTF6QH123PtZ/s400/card+organizer.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Keep 'em coming!</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-28117068989638622202012-12-12T06:50:00.000-08:002012-12-12T06:51:59.820-08:00Two months, two loves and two pictures...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils_lGVp3mIyX-aiCXuAmA40hBLzXDKhspaoER2_BhKFy0WH9HXE90I1ykWKfkJSA18HyGHBpbyo0PqLwjD8zibgBWCF11_AFy1wdLxqZg1RFyEgZOvwhwpe-3tt8kNR1GRy_s0QGhTWL7/s1600/2+months.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils_lGVp3mIyX-aiCXuAmA40hBLzXDKhspaoER2_BhKFy0WH9HXE90I1ykWKfkJSA18HyGHBpbyo0PqLwjD8zibgBWCF11_AFy1wdLxqZg1RFyEgZOvwhwpe-3tt8kNR1GRy_s0QGhTWL7/s320/2+months.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James' crazy hair 2 Month Photo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot believe my baby is already 2 months old. TWO MONTHS OLD!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Everyone tells you how quickly they grow, but never in my life did I envision it went <em>this</em> fast! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I mean, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">James is already nearly double his size in weight than he was when he was born, he's drinking 5x the amount at each feeding, and he's so long (tall?) I think he may put holes through all of his footie pajamas!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Although I'm definitely from the school of thought that wishes they would stay this little (and precious) forever, it is truly incredible to literally watch this human being grow before my very eyes. Every day his eyes open just a little bit wider, and as he begins to see more of the fascinating world going on around him, I myself have begun to see things from an entirely new perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Each smile, each coo leaves me wondering...even dreaming...about James' future. And as much as I want to know what his voice will sound like, what his interests will be, what he'll be when he grows up...I've never been so happy to just enjoy the present! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Motherhood has truly been the most defining and life changing experience of my life...it has given me a whole new appreciation for my own mom and dad...and I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful partner to share it with. Two months ago I fell in love with not one but two little boys - my son and husband, who overnight turned in to the most wonderful daddy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuPxp_Rvf5KB715HX9qgZ2dZ789pkWpMRxv1pWygZLyuaTraZOXcySMDsNTi3Wt9ynV3zbdosPVJsO15Ti82dsJNIG_UfcgAVWUkdw-h_tnIogWvxFHt5KGIm8Cc8OImqFfvKo6t9FQzm/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuPxp_Rvf5KB715HX9qgZ2dZ789pkWpMRxv1pWygZLyuaTraZOXcySMDsNTi3Wt9ynV3zbdosPVJsO15Ti82dsJNIG_UfcgAVWUkdw-h_tnIogWvxFHt5KGIm8Cc8OImqFfvKo6t9FQzm/s320/IMG_2411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I fall in love...it will be forever...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am the luckiest <3</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-52333253388527478232012-12-06T07:51:00.001-08:002012-12-06T07:54:27.683-08:00Instagram<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-r2EbiMY6MA_50gjNv2fIDQYlyTzGeCl6ufpYtQfIjgtsrcNEb93bviifdPc2JxP4bhNdLqVgULGV-RE3yoFpqscWmngSeAR-vFw25z72sLGEXSDnr8z7DliZeRavcptA3Nyhyphenhyphenc0b661/s1600/instagram.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-r2EbiMY6MA_50gjNv2fIDQYlyTzGeCl6ufpYtQfIjgtsrcNEb93bviifdPc2JxP4bhNdLqVgULGV-RE3yoFpqscWmngSeAR-vFw25z72sLGEXSDnr8z7DliZeRavcptA3Nyhyphenhyphenc0b661/s320/instagram.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been on Instagram for a while, but it wasn't until recently that I discovered you actually "follow" and "share" photos with friends. I honestly just thought it was a app to make your pictures look prettier! Oops! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyways, since I've gone public it's been fun (and <em>funny</em>) to see what other people are taking pictures of - pets, food, hair, feet, houses, scenery, etc. And I just learned you can follow celebrities! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My favorite subject? You guessed it - James! I take so many pictures of him on my phone its embarrassing! Even worse, I don't remember the last time I actually used our nice, expensive camera! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So when my sister sent me this video yesterday, it sent me into hysterics!</span><br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/_JAFZCarr7I/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_JAFZCarr7I&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_JAFZCarr7I&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Totally nailed it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Are you on Instagram? What are you taking pictures of? And has your phone taken the place of your point-and-shoot digital camera?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. I'm the one right at the end of the song..."so many pictures of my kid you'll want to murder me" :) Consider yourself warned!</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-14271465536995829792012-12-05T11:07:00.004-08:002012-12-05T11:16:20.622-08:00Emergency Contact Info<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up until last week when my husband watched James alone overnight (!!!), I had only been apart from my sweet baby for less than three total hours <strike>since he was born</strike> since he was conceived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first one hour period was when he was 10 days old and I had a 103 degree fever (mastitis) and needed to go to the doctors. Needless to say I was so exhausted and delirious I hardly remembered the baby free outing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second time I left him was to do a quick run to the drug store for more diapers. And I say quick because when you compare it to the extra time needed to get a baby into his car seat, into car, out of car, into stroller and finally into the store - it truly was a breeze.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And the third time was to go to the gym 2 blocks away for the first time post partum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All three outings were local and my husband LOVED the extra one-on-one time he got to spend with James! I had zero concerns leaving our baby with <em>him</em>, it was <strong>me</strong> that I was concerned about!!! I didn't want to be away from my baby for a minute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But when my bi-annual Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse sale shopping trip with my sisters (a tradition that started with my Mom) / Nate's first overnight with James was approaching, I realized that I should start putting an emergency contact list together. Not just for him, but I really should have these numbers readily available in case something were to happen when I am home alone with the baby...which is pretty much every day! And once we're comfortable enough to have a babysitter, this is a must have for the house! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, good old Pinhole Press just wouldn't let me type up a list and tape it to the fridge...they had to make this adorable photo magnet...and I just couldn't resist!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pinholepress.com/products/emergency-contact-magnet-3-60003/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emergency Contact Info Magnet Portrait - $4.99</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used another cute shot from James' newborn photo shoot and customized it to include his birth date so a caretaker and / or medical responder would know EXACTLY how old (or should I say young) he is. This would also be a great place to indicate other important information like food or drug allergies!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I think this would make a cute stocking stuffer for new parents, don't ya think?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Just another one of my recent Pinhole Press creations...and yes, there are more to come!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. Did I mention how much fun Nate and James had when Mommy was away?! :) I love my boys!</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-91594925553985309702012-11-28T13:28:00.000-08:002012-11-28T13:28:55.885-08:00INTRODUCING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In case you <strike>missed all the pictures I've posted on Facebook</strike> haven't heard...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CE_9A0gYtIy1JR-a004QotYYrjvmq6NSle4cS8xtx9TSprApxceoXwar7SP6Pl-HJKh21K6haPLnoaBn4UnuR2JfYVfxhkDdcYWMLu59hQxbHMplvz_wr6EKN9Tawhx9yxsy93r1ShlN/s1600/James+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CE_9A0gYtIy1JR-a004QotYYrjvmq6NSle4cS8xtx9TSprApxceoXwar7SP6Pl-HJKh21K6haPLnoaBn4UnuR2JfYVfxhkDdcYWMLu59hQxbHMplvz_wr6EKN9Tawhx9yxsy93r1ShlN/s400/James+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">I am a mom!</span></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My heart has never been so full <3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo by Brianne of <a href="http://bepphotography.com/?pageID=85437">Brianne Elizabeth Photography</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Birth Announcement by <a href="https://pinholepress.com/">Pinhole Press</a></span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-30728231278512301172012-10-03T09:31:00.000-07:002012-10-03T09:31:56.023-07:00Disappearing Act<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Why hello long lost friends! I can't believe its been over a month since my last blog post! <br />
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First, my apologies for the unexpected sabbatical! I honestly thought that when I stopped working (did I mention that?! My last day at URBN was August 30th! I'm officially a stay-at-home mom-to-be!), I'd have all this extra time to update my site, create new / interesting posts for you guys, go to the beach, take naps... <br />
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But honestly, I have never been so busy before in my entire life!!!<br />
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Between helping Nate finish the new house, moving out / selling the old house, planning our open house shower / housewarming party AND getting ready for our baby boy...let's just say life is pure craziness right now!!! Pure, amazingly awesome, over-the-moon happy <u><b>craziness</b></u>!! :) <br />
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On top of all that, I don't have my own computer / laptop anymore! I actually loved and embraced the new found freedom from technology I felt after handing in my work laptop, but it definitely has made blogging <strike>every day</strike> rather challenging...! <br />
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So today, I finally decided to hijack Nate's macbook and am <i>attempting</i> to write my first of what I hope to be regular posts again. Just don't expect too many pretty pictures right now - I'm a tried and true PC girl and feel like an old lady trying to figure out all these new icons! Help!!<br />
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But anywaysssss,<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> we are all moved into (but definitely not all unpacked) the new house!!!!! And it is, without a shadow of a doubt, better than I ever imagined!! As I sit here typing on the butcher block counter-top island in our gorgeous new kitchen, looking out through our 16' sliding doors to the open bay, I can't help but feel overwhelmingly blessed. I am so excited for all of our friends and family to see the amazing house Nate built for us (yes, just like in the Notebook - "I want a gray house, with white balconies") this weekend, and afterwards I promise to post pictures for those of you not able to be here in person. Until then, we'll be working on knocking off a few more items on our massive house to-do list!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Equally as important (to our wallet, anyways) - after 9 months of no activity / no offers on our old house on Pleasure Ave., we got 3 offers in one week (when it rains it pours, right?!) and finally SOLD our house!! Moving out of Pleasure Ave. was as much work as moving into the new house (especially because we did both ourselves...with a few hours of help with furniture from one of Nate's kindest of friends), but now that its all over with, it was completely worth it. We said goodbye with fond memories but no absolutely reservations. It was a great first house! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And finally, according to my doctors and a surprise trip to the hospital on Sunday night, Baby Torok could be here any day now!!! We are 36 weeks and officially on baby watch people! (Trust me, I am just as surprised as anyone! I was convinced this was a November baby - never did I imagine I'd be on an ice chip diet and talking about our pain management plan at the hospital 4 weeks early!) Anyways, I am home now relaxing / preparing for baby - I felt like such an awful mom for not having anything packed for the hospital...no baby clothes washed...we didn't even have our camera ready (!!) - hoping to make it through the weekend! But if he's ready, we're ready! We can't wait to meet him! (Slash I really hope this was not a complete fake out and he does decide he wants to come out late!) But, stay tuned!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Like I said, it's been a crazy month! And while I thought I'd have the nursery finished and all of our new furniture picked out / delivered before our housewarming party...such is life! Building our house has been the most incredible journeys and we can't wait for Baby T to join us for the rest of the adventure! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">xoxo</span></div>
Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-74428942544285917032012-08-29T10:24:00.001-07:002012-08-29T11:42:24.370-07:00Celebrating One Amazing Year<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did we celebrate?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>We worked at our new house! </strong> Nate taught me how to spackle, tape and sand (his closet)!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">31 weeks pregnant and hard at work!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My masterpiece!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>We exchanged cards...and presents!</strong> Nate spoiled me with another ring that came in a <span style="color: cyan;">tiny blue box</span><span style="color: black;">!</span> I surprised him with a highly anticipated new tool for our new house / lawn (that came in a very LARGE box)! And we both enjoyed our first experience shopping in the "Anniversary Card" section of the drug store.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>We went out to dinner </strong>at Dock's Oyster House (in Atlantic City), the place Nate took me on the night we got engaged! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>We had a sleepover</strong>...at our NEW house!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our campsite all set up...so excited!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morning after...our bed was quite deflated!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>And we relaxed on the beach!</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I <3 OCNJ</span></td></tr>
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Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-27633712057965272842012-08-24T08:48:00.001-07:002012-08-24T09:01:44.866-07:00Happy (2 days early) Anniversary, Nate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/01/trash-dress.html">We've</a> <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-new-house-update-7.html">truly</a> <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/03/closing-time.html">had</a> <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-bride-our-wedding.html">the</a> <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/house-hunters.html">most</a> <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/details.html">incredible</a> <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/06/its.html">year</a>! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/this-is-just-friendly-reminder.html">I love you</a>, forever and always <3</span> </div>
Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-24580175655749942222012-08-22T12:22:00.001-07:002012-08-22T12:49:47.597-07:00Recipe: Grilled Caesar Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One night last summer I went out to dinner with two of my former college roommates at a yummy little BYOB in Philadelphia. We ordered a grilled caesar salad to share as an appetizer expecting </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your typical caesar - lettuce, croutons, paramesan cheese, grilled chicken - ya know, nothing unusual. But when it arrived we all realized that the word chicken hadn't actually listed on the menu and we were literally being served a <em>grilled</em> salad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The lettuce was warm and soft yet still a little crunchy, with that summery hunt of chargrille. And it was delicious! Caesar salads haven't been the same for me since!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Since Nate and I frequently recreate the recipe at home (its a new household favorite!), I thought I'd pass it along in case you're looking for something new to throw on the barbeque!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Ingredients: </strong></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 head of Romain Lettuce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Parmesan Cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Caesar dressing - I highly recommend an oil based dressing like Ken's Steak House Lite Caesar</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Directions:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">1. Cut the head of lettuce in half, as pictured above, being sure not to cut the core.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">2. Liberally pour salad dressing on both halves of the lettuce and let marinate (the longer the better).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Cook on grill on medium-high heat flat-side down for 3-5 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">4. Although I love the burnt taste, I usually pull off the <em>really</em> burnt pieces from the leafy end. Then I add more dressing and sprinkle with parmeasean cheese! One head of lettuce makes enough for 4 people but Nate and I usually finish one just ourselves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Enjoy!</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-36216757554287177892012-08-17T09:02:00.000-07:002012-08-17T09:46:32.531-07:00On Pregnancy And...Books, etc.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll admit, the hardest part about getting through that <em>scary first trimester</em> was not having my mom around to call to ask questions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I use the word <em>scary </em>not because anything went wrong, but because you really go through every emotion in the book during those first three months. From absolute ecstatic excitement (all my dreams coming true about being a mother!!! we're having a baby!!!), shock (holy cow, we're going to be parents!), worry (is everything ok in there? is he/she still in there?!)... Your body is starting to go through an incredible transformation and, having never been pregnant before, you don't exactly know what's "normal" or what is "ok to still do"... Not to mention the raging hormones!!! All while you're keeping this huge secret from most of the world, counting down every last week and day until you hit that 13 week mark and finally feel like you can breathe a sigh of relief like "we made it!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So yes, it is all quite nerve wrecking the first time around (and seriously so exhilarating and exciting at the same time, I promise!!) but </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">all I really wanted to do during those months was call my mom and ask her things like "did this happen to you?!" or "were you prone to stretch marks?!" or just talk to about pregnancy / parenting in general! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So ladies (and gents), resource recommendation #1 - your mom. It's never too early to talk about her experiences in pregnancy and parenting :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anywayssssss, any emotional support I needed during the first tri came from my darling husband - who was absolutely wonderful by the way - and my sisters / girlfriends who really have become my stand-in moms (and I to them). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And most of my questions and concerns could be answered through reading a book (which is why I'm writing this post...recommendations below!), asking my doctor, or (worst case scenario) consulting the internet (last resort only...the internet can be a scary place when you're googling pregnancy related questions!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I thought I'd share some of the books that have really helped throughout our pregnancy... because regardless of if your mom is around to badger with your 20 questions (or squeal in excitement to!) you're going to want to have some good resources in your house. If anything, it'll keep you from calling your doctor every day over every last symptom (something my husband wishes I would do, but I assure him is totally not necessary)!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reading has truly made becoming a mom all the more real and and exciting for me, and I can't wait to meet our precious little guy in a little less than 10 weeks!!! (Can you believe it?!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, I have a whole new appreciation for the human body, particularly my own! It really is an incredible thing! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Before You're Expecting</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>What to Expect Before You're Expecting</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Before we started trying, I picked up a copy of <em>What to Expect Before You're Expecting</em> and I thought it gave a pretty good refresher on the whole birds and the bees discussion. I think it would be extremely helpful for anyone having difficulty conceiving, as it focuses on preparing for conception, timing sex and adjusting your lifestyle, although I think it is a good read for anyone about to "start trying". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Pregnacy</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>What to Expect When You're Expecting</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A week-by-week playbook of what to expect - at your doctors appts., the growth of your baby, what you may be feeling / experiencing physically and emotionally... It also has a great overview of labor and delivery - something we are most definitely preparing for right now! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This has literally become my pregnancy bible!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Bump.com</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Owned by The Knot.com, the Bump is a great online resource for planning and budgeting throughout the entire 9 months. They also send you a weekly email that updates you on your baby's development including, my favorite part, what fruit or veggie your baby is the size of which I always found very amusing. Our baby has grown from the size of a poppyseed to the size of squash in the last 30 weeks! I'd sign up again just for the fun emails :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>For Dad</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Expectant Father</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This book comes highly recommended from both my brother Justin, who actually lent us his copy after I had ordered the worlds worst "dad book" for Nate. (The book was called <em>What to Expect When Your Wife is Expanding</em>, and it basically told the dads to only go to the first ultrasound and delivery, and then in-one-ear out-the-other for the months in between). Although Nate hasn't taken to the reading as much as I have, I'd say this is the male version of the What to Expect books, leaving out some of the more personal details of what is going with the female body and focusing more on how to support the expectant mother and mentally prepare for fatherhood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Be-Prepared-Practical-Handbook-Dads/dp/0743251547/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345189555&sr=1-2&keywords=expectant+father">Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads</a></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This book was recommended to me by a male coworker and soon-to-be first time dad who described the book as the "boy scout guide to being a Dad". And I couldn't agree more! In addition to the hilarious tips and tricks - like how to change a baby in a packed sports stadium or how to construct an emergency a diaper out of a towel, sock and duct tape - the book </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">also provides age-appropriate activities for Dads to do with their babies, which is something I have found that Nate always asks me about. "When will I be able to take him water skiing" or "when will he walk"? Oh and I just love the cover - how manly, right?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm hesitant to write reviews on these yet, considering I haven't put any of my new found knowledge to practice. But here is what I'm reading / have read to help prepare for baby:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>What to Expect the First Year</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obviously a huge fan of the <em>What to Expect</em> series... And at some point during your pregnancy you shift from reading about taking care of yourself and growing baby and start focusing on what to do when he or she actually arrives! In addition to the month-by-month guide to what youre baby should / will probably be able to / will maybe be able to do, it has great sections on breastfeeding basics, baby care and first aid, and stimulating your baby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>The Sleepeasy Solution: An Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep - from birth to Age 5</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A friend sent this book after buying it for herself on recommendation from A Cup of Jo's "<a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/08/motherhood-mondays-what-to-register-for.html">What to Register For</a>" post. I was sold as soon as I read the title. I love my sleep and hoping our little babe does too! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>The Nursing Mother's Companion</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another gift from a friend who read this instead of paying (out of pocket) to meet with a lactation consultant prior to delivery. We are taking a birthing class that has its own dedicated lactation session, so I'm hoping both will help prepare us for nursing! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Did you take to reading during your pregnancy and early days of parenting? I'd love to hear if you have any great book recommendations! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">xoxo</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-20376022672296967132012-08-14T13:16:00.004-07:002012-08-14T13:33:04.921-07:00Random Acts of Kindness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, one of my favorite blogger's hosted a <a href="http://mkinwonderland.com/2012/08/an-easy-peasy-giveaway-and-my-childhood-bowl-cut/">surprise giveaway </a>on her blog in honor of <strong><em>her</em></strong> birthday! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was no liking, tweeting, following or reposting to enter - you simply had to leave a comment with your favorite color and email address and wait to find out <em>what</em> and <em>if </em>you had won.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Obviously, I entered. Who doesn't love a free giveaway?! And it was so much fun to see how many other people blindly entered the contest without even knowing what the prize was that they were vying for! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><em>But to say I was shocked when the winner was revealed is an absolute understatement. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">First, because it was me (I won! I won!), which is just plain exciting and shocking in itself. I never win anything! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And more importantly because I found out that I actually was a part of something SOOO much bigger that just a free giveaway. So much so that I actually felt guilty for being the winner...or perhaps the word I'm looking for is unworthy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">MK's blog giveaway was part of her big "<a href="http://mkinwonderland.com/2012/08/my-surprise-birthday-project-revealed/">Surprise Birthday Project</a>" where she set out to do 28 random acts of kindness for the 28 years of her life she has lived thus far. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She sent letters, gave flowers, left inspirational notes and quotes, made baked goods...among some other adorably heart warming ideas like this letter to her nephew explaining what an act of kindness is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And this bag of 28 "free wishes" she left waiting at a fountain:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was so touched, so moved reading each and every one of the gestures she performed to celebrate her birthday...including the fact that she wanted to do something nice for one of her loyal blog readers, just because! I had literally just celebrated my own birthday by eating chocolate chip cookies (guilt free, I might add) and treating myself to a work from home day...and here was someone who made "her" day not about herself, but about others. Really amazing if you ask me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My pink and turquoise (yes, I couldn't decide between two favorite colors) care package arrived over the weekend and just as she intended, it really made my day! And while I still have</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> not decided what big thing I should do to <em>pay it forward</em>, I have to say that MK's post inspired me to be, well, just a little bit more <strong><em>thoughtful </em></strong>with the little things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And perhaps start a new tradition for Torok family birthdays? :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Imagine what our world we be like if we all added a few more acts of kindess to our every day?</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. Pop on over to <a href="http://mkinwonderland.com/">MK in Wonderland</a> to read the full post! It'll definitely warm your heart on this hot summer day!</span></div>
Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-64186419851362118642012-08-07T08:46:00.001-07:002012-08-08T14:46:01.308-07:00Summer Reading<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">via tumblr</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am in dire need of some summer reading recommendations! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Audible and I are going through a dry spell, and with my pregnancy insomnia in full force and the Olympics halfway over...I am getting concerned!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've read the Hunger Games series (<a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-hunger-games-i-mean-weekend.html">obsessed</a>, obvi), Bossypants (Tina Fey you crack me up!), Secret Life of Bees (enjoyable), the Twilight series (<a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/02/twihard.html">need I say more</a>), The Help (love love love), The American Wife (a surprisingly steamy read), Unbroken (highly recommend if you have <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/search?q=olympics">Olympic fever</a> and enjoy WWI stories), Day of Infamy (a WWII history lesson - I was on a kick), Steve Jobs (simply wow), the Sex & the City books (meh) and Jack Kennedy all within the past year! (Not to mention the countless baby / pregnancy related books that I've plowed through...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">What other best sellers am I missing?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And please do not say 50 Shades of Gray - no interest!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. <a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/08/any-book-recommendations.html">A Cup of Jo</a> totally stole my blogpost today! </span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-79364942318813822902012-08-06T13:28:00.005-07:002012-08-07T08:54:20.150-07:00Our New House: Update #7<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7/24/12: 27 weeks pregnant and hard at work</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">building a house and making a baby!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hard to believe it's already August! And even harder to believe that we'll be moving into our new house <strong><em>NEXT </em></strong>month!! (#fingerscrossed) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We are sooo excited! (And <em>very </em>ready to move out of our current house...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since my <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/07/our-new-house-update-6.html">last update</a>, I'm happy to report that things have been moving along rather quickly! We finished sheet rocking in record time and Nate tells me the crew did an excellent job! (I 100% agree, but to be honest it would be hard for me to tell if it was a good or bad job since I've never seen an entire house get sheet rocked in less than a week!) Its is really starting to look like a <em>real house,</em> not just a construction site! And I'm having even more dreams about cooking and entertaining in our kitchen, lazy Saturdays on the couch, BBQs on the deck...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyways, I haven't shared many details on the floor plan of our house yet but today is your lucky day - I'm giving you a virtual "tour" of our ~3,200 sq. ft 5 BR, 2 BA home in Ocean City! Consider yourself warned - lots of pictures ahead! Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>First Floor </u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">To maximize our <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/our-new-house-update-4.html">view</a> of the bay from our second and third floors, we decided to build more of an "upside-down beach house" vs. the more traditional "main living area on the first floor" house that we both grew up in... </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdpFIfZZbGj_PRa91UT22JIj9RzAkHNd6xfijzuvF4SrJkx3G7rL2w9A0kGgIrhGndNWSByci4HCsbdLLNUAjSmFJPk2i6L58F8_XJvspYCBfgX3toqX0q5Qx6axyhSg6T2bp4M3b5dmD/s1600/8-4-2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdpFIfZZbGj_PRa91UT22JIj9RzAkHNd6xfijzuvF4SrJkx3G7rL2w9A0kGgIrhGndNWSByci4HCsbdLLNUAjSmFJPk2i6L58F8_XJvspYCBfgX3toqX0q5Qx6axyhSg6T2bp4M3b5dmD/s400/8-4-2012.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8/4/2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, when you enter the front door of our house (imagine I am standing in the front door in the picture below), we have stairs to the second floor (main living area) to the left...</span></div>
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...<span style="font-family: Verdana;">and down the long hallway on the right are 3 bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, a laundry room / mud room, coat closet and access to the garage!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>Second Floor</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In this picture, I am standing at the front of the house (in the living room) taking a photo of our soon-to-be kitchen. The cabinets and island will be on the right, and our dining table on the left.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAJgZkiCW7UcyeK2ZkAnPaur4D39SA6MCeTlZKpHLPzK0PpVNJnDOjXN85whM7F0jMjRqJ6cS9zd4IPwfDExAL8a-pt2HPvjbioFTixxVZZet6Z3mQZ9lPlPh6UmF86hV0NFYIgYBwuBv/s1600/7-24-12+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAJgZkiCW7UcyeK2ZkAnPaur4D39SA6MCeTlZKpHLPzK0PpVNJnDOjXN85whM7F0jMjRqJ6cS9zd4IPwfDExAL8a-pt2HPvjbioFTixxVZZet6Z3mQZ9lPlPh6UmF86hV0NFYIgYBwuBv/s400/7-24-12+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I am standing in that doorway above in the kitchen (which is a hallway that leads to our walk-in pantry, half bath and junior master suite) taking a picture of the living room. God I love that huge sliding glass door!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5Bvgc3ZtEYAvzHnow9sgIJfD_8cd1u2wHT6k1XOpghznH67aC_C2FP9upIBCFsVUz0f5mqMfWMPduCds8_F2rlAfFX2t3S8NnqLvxrLRiu_gUnqLKfr_y1jeZb1MXQiyKMUm03x0Zhig/s1600/7-24-12+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5Bvgc3ZtEYAvzHnow9sgIJfD_8cd1u2wHT6k1XOpghznH67aC_C2FP9upIBCFsVUz0f5mqMfWMPduCds8_F2rlAfFX2t3S8NnqLvxrLRiu_gUnqLKfr_y1jeZb1MXQiyKMUm03x0Zhig/s400/7-24-12+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The junior master (down the little hallway) is perhaps my favorite bedroom in the house (yes, even more than our master) - it is a 12' x 16' room complete with its own walk in closet and bathroom. AKA, Baby Torok's nursery! (Now do you know why it's my favorite?!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4tI6axM-luTM3uIEYpiTjjiuyAEpPC9htYG7ofRpyApab6FIpfomRabzFxnbw8AismaUnPcxwPYVhoWokqTswGRW4MgqPj9SI2xYCF0dEAZjfRW90Y7xGIVggpcNgs6NQ3oAuAkOIzfM/s1600/7-24-12+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4tI6axM-luTM3uIEYpiTjjiuyAEpPC9htYG7ofRpyApab6FIpfomRabzFxnbw8AismaUnPcxwPYVhoWokqTswGRW4MgqPj9SI2xYCF0dEAZjfRW90Y7xGIVggpcNgs6NQ3oAuAkOIzfM/s400/7-24-12+6.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Stay tuned for an upcoming post "On Pregnancy And...Designing the Nursery"!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Third Floor</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The third floor (which is 60% the size of the second floor - yes, that is some weird Ocean City zoning law) is our master suite which includes our bedroom, sitting room, private front and back decks, his / her walk-in closets and master bathroom! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here is a view from the front of the house - we plan on putting our bed underneath the windows (see second picture) on the right, and the sitting area on the left.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqMNNI2YzrwrZiQRxkCL4FdpxMHTRkeedA_CvkU9nBzio1QnFOOjn1f5YFEG2nd-Sql9YHyt3ZbNvjzopFwiJQUEFP_t-D57eb3g7JfABYyuhPVsHdFrkjTr64GLR1Bebb80Du04OC4Pn/s1600/7-24-12+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqMNNI2YzrwrZiQRxkCL4FdpxMHTRkeedA_CvkU9nBzio1QnFOOjn1f5YFEG2nd-Sql9YHyt3ZbNvjzopFwiJQUEFP_t-D57eb3g7JfABYyuhPVsHdFrkjTr64GLR1Bebb80Du04OC4Pn/s400/7-24-12+7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here, I am standing about 10 steps to the left in the corner (sitting area), trying to capture where our bed will be.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O8I1IcL_9RViX0ZofzsBcuQIH-ZZVKbqLiCgYxARfGeZb3G1jVTK8eRtNweWJKDIvMAAPOsgPcGfM3eO3PNq2mri0KbKBqCApBRq90rsiukrqUAZIh7FE4W1Ye2V78MVxGPr_loyotH3/s1600/7-24-12+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O8I1IcL_9RViX0ZofzsBcuQIH-ZZVKbqLiCgYxARfGeZb3G1jVTK8eRtNweWJKDIvMAAPOsgPcGfM3eO3PNq2mri0KbKBqCApBRq90rsiukrqUAZIh7FE4W1Ye2V78MVxGPr_loyotH3/s400/7-24-12+8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A sneak peak at our master bath - shower straight ahead, toilet on the left, and missing from the photo is our double sink vanity and my dressing / make up table.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyH02K0tDLiUkBfEJE-FceH-ncfYAoqrkfK4l___jRuLzLra-TRdYuMSqwY4Fil9VrC7yk3wFpz6lt1ys7LggydUnhwz_NkEfJYgoTnp7Zo9W4h3wvCVCnLSps7iNqJkfTucIy90C4evc/s1600/7-24-12+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyH02K0tDLiUkBfEJE-FceH-ncfYAoqrkfK4l___jRuLzLra-TRdYuMSqwY4Fil9VrC7yk3wFpz6lt1ys7LggydUnhwz_NkEfJYgoTnp7Zo9W4h3wvCVCnLSps7iNqJkfTucIy90C4evc/s400/7-24-12+9.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is there a door in out bathroom? Well, Nate hasn't taken an indoor shower (okay, <em>mayyyybe</em> one) since we moved to Ocean City...so we just had to build him his very own outdoor shower off the back deck!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0hVj_cac5yihdgRMiagcURdunoz_TtwyTifQSb37IPEPBiadLT0Slb6Kp7Mxlsbm2SspljYKWBbQFoyPlr-tgTdiZ46gTGubLjFXUv7yg8XmwSYkbq6rjRZhtxr-7JnJS9QpV1jC0ZN4/s1600/7-24-12+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0hVj_cac5yihdgRMiagcURdunoz_TtwyTifQSb37IPEPBiadLT0Slb6Kp7Mxlsbm2SspljYKWBbQFoyPlr-tgTdiZ46gTGubLjFXUv7yg8XmwSYkbq6rjRZhtxr-7JnJS9QpV1jC0ZN4/s400/7-24-12+10.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week, the interior doors, trim and crown molding was installed. I'll be honest, I left all three of those decisions completely up to Nate. A. because I didn't even know there was more than one choice for doors or trim (me: "White. I wantwhite doors and white trim, please!"); B. beacuse I really am not that observant to know the difference between them; and C. if there is anything I learned from choosing our cabinets - I like more decorative wood working, and he is a minimalist...and we'd waste too much time making the decision together!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyways, best idea ever because he made up his mind in less than an hour, there was no debating / mind changing / compromising and it looks <em>fabulous</em>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Whats up next? The painter started today and our tiles, kitchen cabinets and appliances will all be delivered next week! Might we perhaps be in by Sept 15th?! I think it's doable! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Also something to look forward to? Our garage door will be installed on Wednesday, as in two days from now, which should hopefully keep out both noisy neighbors and other trespassers...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Can you believe that on Sunday morning, while giving my dad (who hadn't seen the house since it was a vacant lot!!!) the <em>grand tour</em>, we walked upstairs to find that someone had apparently broken in and had a little fun with our leftover paint samples on Saturday night?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My reaction: "what the f&#* happened?!" (I told you I don't deal with surprises very well!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Luckily, there was no <em>major</em> damage, nothing was stolen and no one was hurt. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">xoxo</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-75456346616081265392012-07-31T09:52:00.000-07:002012-07-31T09:52:45.649-07:00My Motto Today<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="colorless" href="http://pinterest.com/source/leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for all the birthday wishes! xoxo</span></div>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-82191807523551691612012-07-27T07:11:00.002-07:002012-07-27T07:15:08.730-07:00Christmas in July!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcnVIfEdMlbn2HGe0WXTpIz2qCQZ_uyNugoiMccwdsV_ZFXpa_Ktsaa_e7o4vBPTwOazcMUpB3eS91Q3Q3VE6mDRO0TePWj9Ckbw6JKx3EAsvsLldfUfotPN8tk7BYhltjbhajuYHQc2w/s1600/olympics.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcnVIfEdMlbn2HGe0WXTpIz2qCQZ_uyNugoiMccwdsV_ZFXpa_Ktsaa_e7o4vBPTwOazcMUpB3eS91Q3Q3VE6mDRO0TePWj9Ckbw6JKx3EAsvsLldfUfotPN8tk7BYhltjbhajuYHQc2w/s400/olympics.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so excited for the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics tonight that I seriously feel like a kid on Christmas! It's hereeeee! It's finally HEREE!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now how the hell am I going to make it through work all day?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Side note: did you know hell was the first curse word I ever said? I was probably around 10. We were up at our Pocono house when I said out nowhere, "it's hot as hell in here!" I obviously didn't know that was not something appriorate to say... And I think I got my mouth washed out with soap??)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyways, what are your summer olympic favorites? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mine are, without a doubt, swimming, gymnastics and of course, soccer! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I can't wait for the Phelps / Lochte showdown, And I'm anxious to see Matt Grevers swim the 100m backstrock because I just recently learned that Nate swam against him in the NCAA championships when he swam for Penn State his freshman year of college...and was touched out by .01 of a second (!!). (He also swam against Michael Phelps when he was 12 years old...and beat him! Now that's a cool claim to fame, huh?!) Oh and Natalie Coughlin, even I have a girl crush on you! :)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mmm...swimmer bodies!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Was anyone else as glued to the U.S. women's gymnastic trials as I was? Poor Nastia... And although I'll definitely miss getting to watch another Shawn Johnson performance, hello </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Gabby Douglas! She seriously won me over as her new biggest fan! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm still a bit disappointed the U.S. men's soccer team is not making an appearance, but the U.S. women's team is already giving us plenty to cheer about!! Looking forward to watching more from these ladies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Other events I'm really looking forward to? Diving, the triathlon, and track and field!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Do you have Olympic fever?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">USA</span> <span style="color: blue;">USA</span> <span style="color: red;">USA</span></span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-37043034012303796632012-07-26T14:06:00.002-07:002012-07-27T06:26:10.456-07:00On Pregnancy And...Before We Were Expecting<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The month after our wedding, I had my annual exam at the lady doctor. After catching up with the doc on what I had been up to - oh you know, just got married and had the most amazing honeymoon in Fiji! - he immediately took out his prescription pad, wrote one out for prenatal vitamins and handed it to me saying "Oh, then you'll be needing this!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I laughed out loud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although we were planning on starting our family <em>soon</em>, that length of time had not exactly been defined yet...and I surely hadn't mentioned that to him!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heck, I still hadn't even unpacked my bags yet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But he said I should start taking them anyway - never too soon to start. And I headed out of the office thinking "Wow, before these appointments used to be all birth control and the moment I mention I got married they switch to the tune of babies, babies babies!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But a couple days later, I had a flashback to a memory of my mom when she was pregnant with my youngest brother Patrick. I was still the world's pickiest eater - like literally, I think I could have won an award - and my mom was telling me how important it would be for me to take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, and that she prayed by the time I was having children there might be at least one or two vegetables in my diet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(At that time, the only vegetables I liked were carrots and celery. And I did not eat fruit. Period.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I started thinking about my diet... Luckily I outgrew my pickiness as I got older. And after losing all the college / post college weight I had gained (from late night food, beer and lack of exercise) by changing my lifestyle, diet and joining a boxing gym (it really does work!), I was able to maintain a weight I was pretty satisfied with for the past 4 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But I realized that during the times my exercise had become more sporadic, my eating also turned more erratic - I was a habitual snacker, meal skipper, crash dieter. But it did the trick to keep the scale tipping right around where I wanted it to when I wasn't on the work out train. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anddddd then I lost about 3-4 lbs the month before my wedding - the <em>really unhealthy </em>way - you know, because you're supposed to be your skinniest on the most important day of your life!!! (I wanted to do more (!!) but I was fighting some serious funeral weight... #eatingyouremotions)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I knew that if we were serious about starting a family anytime in the near future, I needed to start eating right again. And this time not just for me, but for the health of our unborn baby. That meant no more meal skipping, and especially none of those extreme pre-wedding measures... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I also did some <a href="http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/ask-heidi/weeks-1-and-2/prenatal-vitamins.aspx">homework</a> (I promised not to get preachy on ya, but I thought this was too important not to share: stocking your body with nutrients, reduced risk of neural tube defects, fewer episodes of morning sickness, increased fertility... Food for thought!) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and immediately took that prescription to the pharmacy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Soon" turned out to be mid-December. And while my eating wasn't perfect (and my exercise was still rather nonexistant. but hey, it was winter!), I was on my way to a healthier me. Something that couldn't have been done overnight...or from the moment we decided to press go on starting a family right then and there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Because sure enough, just o</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">ne month later, well, you know what happened! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Like the doc said, never too soon to start. <em>Especially </em>for someone like me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Stay tuned for an upcoming post On Pregnancy...And Weight Gain for more on this topic!)</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-84947404221199158992012-07-25T13:10:00.002-07:002012-07-25T13:29:35.264-07:00On Pregnancy And...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkerCs5NUhHZhuS_SaZg280KVO2zoM-_0vuN8mL34enHj0_Ms7b4MusBbFtVoADgr0n-lZ6DUG4q_Bmin3kjF9_fYaKFsiWjuufmv787x70MEgA0p0l9hI4I11ltIWDQBAYgk1NUpzlDV/s1600/silhouette.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkerCs5NUhHZhuS_SaZg280KVO2zoM-_0vuN8mL34enHj0_Ms7b4MusBbFtVoADgr0n-lZ6DUG4q_Bmin3kjF9_fYaKFsiWjuufmv787x70MEgA0p0l9hI4I11ltIWDQBAYgk1NUpzlDV/s400/silhouette.bmp" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kellyhicksdesign.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week, we officially entered the third and final trimester of our pregnancy! I cannot believe it! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When I think back to that <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/02/have-lovely-long-weekend.html">life changing day</a> in February, it seems so long ago... Yet I feel like our pregnancy is flying by! W</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e'll be meeting our little boy for the first time in just a few short months! EEEEEE!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">When I <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/father-of-bride-part-ii.html">finally shared our big news</a> with the blog-o-sphere, I really wasn't sure how much I'd write about our 9 months waiting for baby. Since then, I shared the story about <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/details.html">how we found out</a>, our decision to find out the gender of our baby (<a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/05/gender-reveal.html">here</a> and <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/06/big-reveal.html">here</a>), the <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/06/gender-reveal-party.html">party</a> we threw the celebrate, and the big announcement that we are (to apparently no ones surprise) expecting a baby <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/06/its.html">BOY</a>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have, however, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">neglected to share the more personal details of our experience, equally because I am naturally a private person at heart (despite having a very public blog) and I have been, well, extremely busy this summer with work, building the new house and getting ready for baby!! Not to mention, I am no expert here - this is baby #1 on board!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But this has truly been one of the most amazing and life altering experiences of my life. I honestly LOVE being pregnant and I realized I should be writing about it! Not only for myself, but for for any readers out there going through / will go through some of the ups, downs and everything in between in their own pregnancy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">S</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">o, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'd like kick off a little series I'd like to call <strong>"On Pregnancy And..."</strong> where we'll talk about some pregnancy related topics like: </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">gaining weight (something I really struggled with mentally), </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">finding maternity clothes (harder than you think!), </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">great reads / resources, </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">designing a nursery (so.much.fun), </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">pregnancy journals (some cute ideas ahead!), </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">baby bumps (when exactly do you get one?!), feeling those first kicks (indescribable), and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'll hope you'll tune in and share some of your stories, as well!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">xoxo</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-41974472458831355402012-07-19T11:03:00.002-07:002012-07-19T11:08:53.390-07:00Our New House: Update #6<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welp, it's official. We're sheet rocking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We finally passed our final framing and insulation inspections yesterday...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxBOfjUEBE4D2MuVMbJTitRF_j4VKfX7aVcNoENFgNZhvNfXEQSmOhNJopjix7iSJYFhOVHFel3LKW3YFVQPG7iNU0YQylkKJBEiv91R4I7zRx67_bzSnam2X0Vl7x51JzZHWa_b6ZZsb/s1600/7-18-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxBOfjUEBE4D2MuVMbJTitRF_j4VKfX7aVcNoENFgNZhvNfXEQSmOhNJopjix7iSJYFhOVHFel3LKW3YFVQPG7iNU0YQylkKJBEiv91R4I7zRx67_bzSnam2X0Vl7x51JzZHWa_b6ZZsb/s400/7-18-12.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yay! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And today they hung the first piece of drywall!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpv3S0XehLUT9jb4AXvENYZ9K7Sc6fZjQOsq8cQLYkhOk1T6xZOKVwX9DvfxMWlbPbK0yEW3UynIGxwJxjzxjoAIHswCFM42hvt9G2LUt5IrA-FkPNULBywDTQ5iGnvBujxYAAwChJ5GP/s1600/7-19-12+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpv3S0XehLUT9jb4AXvENYZ9K7Sc6fZjQOsq8cQLYkhOk1T6xZOKVwX9DvfxMWlbPbK0yEW3UynIGxwJxjzxjoAIHswCFM42hvt9G2LUt5IrA-FkPNULBywDTQ5iGnvBujxYAAwChJ5GP/s400/7-19-12+3.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sneak peak at the future nursery</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We could not be more excited!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">While our house undergoes its next big transformation - this time on the interior - here are some pictures I promised <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/06/our-new-house-update-5.html">in my last update</a> of the (95%) completed exterior! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-HpCJc0CzXhnRNs16pOibgoxB-UHoR9EMkj6yrx79AAqVO5zZNh_-IiRbIPKkykqu8dSO3KMIOgxynZiQyq2dfb-nSI1-IK7Aiv5K6dFwVQpTPjJTMjO0peeE8W-X8R3u88Pv3a8tEnV/s1600/7-16-12+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-HpCJc0CzXhnRNs16pOibgoxB-UHoR9EMkj6yrx79AAqVO5zZNh_-IiRbIPKkykqu8dSO3KMIOgxynZiQyq2dfb-nSI1-IK7Aiv5K6dFwVQpTPjJTMjO0peeE8W-X8R3u88Pv3a8tEnV/s400/7-16-12+7.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the right</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVX8-9Y_wPRP3ucHxvrx0hvqbIyqPdp0U2VBsWVX40QqcTA19GwKt06C04ArpOfhdr2x0wpPVT9dHCOFtbGd9hcb2NhA8s21CNVnrMH-5XPU0A1GBb5SmqHihPaxeWer-3UKhoneaNRuZ/s1600/7-19-12+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVX8-9Y_wPRP3ucHxvrx0hvqbIyqPdp0U2VBsWVX40QqcTA19GwKt06C04ArpOfhdr2x0wpPVT9dHCOFtbGd9hcb2NhA8s21CNVnrMH-5XPU0A1GBb5SmqHihPaxeWer-3UKhoneaNRuZ/s400/7-19-12+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the left</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwUlYOuU3NYkiNpcc4znMyHymyC3by4T67R1-tpjIfKtuYRlKHqXtG1X1tT3aY4KVPrX9mrxhyphenhyphentX52Qcnaajz_ldcBKQYzaiZeGDMvhP9I-5ighp1vmXutw9jI4BBlGO5rOM93LmX55P3/s1600/7-16-12+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwUlYOuU3NYkiNpcc4znMyHymyC3by4T67R1-tpjIfKtuYRlKHqXtG1X1tT3aY4KVPrX9mrxhyphenhyphentX52Qcnaajz_ldcBKQYzaiZeGDMvhP9I-5ighp1vmXutw9jI4BBlGO5rOM93LmX55P3/s400/7-16-12+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">close up of the arch on the 3rd floor deck</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(you can see a glimpse of it in the shots above)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ain't she a beaut? (The house. Not the port-o-potty...or Nate's truck! Something always seems to be in my way of a perfect shot!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Garage door, interior doors, trim / molding and appliances have all been ordered. Next up on our to-do list: order kitchen cabinets (I swear we're doing this on Monday), finalizing tile and vanity selections for the bathrooms and ordering the hardwood floors! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then maybe I can finally start thinking about furniture and decorating! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Until next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">xoxo</span></div>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-65096356429784367022012-07-18T10:16:00.002-07:002012-07-18T12:13:14.704-07:00YOLO<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGi3A4T6wIPh9tRxatoyM6DkPRoTL2GIPZcaE0gvc1JfLiHid1xWgiFOW7NWXiVcVAuBqS71FHnEW34ltCMnf1y-nt2e3sW2qX0XfqBnKK9qyg83Fb_sPhhZrK6773MInOO4v2pXEMtJA/s1600/yolo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGi3A4T6wIPh9tRxatoyM6DkPRoTL2GIPZcaE0gvc1JfLiHid1xWgiFOW7NWXiVcVAuBqS71FHnEW34ltCMnf1y-nt2e3sW2qX0XfqBnKK9qyg83Fb_sPhhZrK6773MInOO4v2pXEMtJA/s400/yolo.bmp" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">weheartit.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago while on one of our nightly walks in Ocean City (this particular night was a stroll on the boardwalk), I couldn't help but notice that just about every other kid under the age of 20 was wearing a graphic tee with four letters on it: YOLO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was completely stumped. Is that a word? An abbreviation? I asked Nate but he he was just as confused as I was! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The best we could come up with was that it was a form of "hello" - you know, when you enter a room and say "yellow" or "ello" in a a funny accent?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It wasn't until my 5 years and 12 years younger siblings arrived over the Fourth of July that we learned what the h-e-double-hockey-sticks it all meant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Y</strong>ou</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>O</strong>nly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>L</strong>ive</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>O</strong>nce</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Apparently its taken from rap lyrics from Drake's "The Motto" (pronounced YO-LO)...and everyone is saying it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Everyone?! Not me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I thought I was pretty "with it" when it comes to pop culture references, but this revelation <em>totally</em> caught me off guard! And made me feel <em><strong>so old</strong></em>! I mean, I know we're going to be parents and all (13 more weeks!) but I'm only 26!! I should really know these things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Is this how our parents felt when we had to explain what LOL meant?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Regardless, I'm worried that this is only the start of being out of touch when it comes to what the "young crowd" is in to... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So I pray you, dear younger siblings of mine, please keep me informed of all the useless, funny and random words / phrases / abbrevs (is it still ok to abbreviate the word abbreviations?) that I should both know about and avoid saying at all costs! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. For another abbreviation I that had me stumped, see definition #3 of TBH <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tbh">here</a>. Anyone else?!</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-35563579747334570262012-07-16T08:54:00.001-07:002012-07-16T09:42:18.473-07:00Target + Neiman Marcus<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't already heard....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Target and Neiman Marcus are teaming up with 24 CFDA designers to create <strong><em>a holiday</em></strong> <strong><em>collection of limited-edition gift items</em></strong>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The collaboration will debut December 1st and will run for three weeks at both Target and Neiman stores and websites. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Designers who created pieces for the collection include: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alice + Olivia</span>, Altuzarra, Band of Outsiders, Brian Atwood, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, <span style="font-size: x-large;">Diane von Furstenberg</span>, Eddie Borgo, <span style="font-size: large;">Jason Wu</span>, Judith Leiber, Lela Rose, Marchesa, <span style="font-size: x-large;">Marc Jacobs</span>, Oscar de la Renta, Philip Crangi, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, <span style="font-size: large;">Rag & Bone</span>, Robert Rodriguez, Rodarte, Skaist-Taylor, Thom Browne, <span style="font-size: x-large;">Tory Burch</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">Tracy Reese</span>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Can you tell who I am most excited about?!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. Is it too soon to be looking for our first babysitter? Who is available Dec 1st?! :)</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-19708172411367870192012-07-12T12:26:00.002-07:002012-07-12T15:17:37.652-07:00Working From Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, I am working from home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have 2 conference calls, an inbox full of emails and a research project due by the end of the week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm also doing all of the laundry, the dishes, cleaning the kitchen / bathroom and taking out the trash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I will shower (at some point) and do my hair. And I hope to squeeze in both a walk on the boardwalk and a mani-pedi at some point this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I will wear spandex and a comfy t-shirt. And </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'll be more productive than any single day I've spent in the office this week and any single Saturday morning I've attempted to get my life in order.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Working from home one day a week is a luxury I've been enjoying for the past 9 months. I work on a small team of 3 people where my boss travels frequently and my new coworker (who joined 2 months ago) and I have a clear divide between our roles and responsibilities. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Most of my day is spent in front of the computer researching...by myself...which could really be done anywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">URBN (like the previous employer I worked for) boasts that it is a place where employees can have a healthy work / life balance. And while I would have to agree that this does <em>actually</em> hold true, there is still something to say about the importance of "face time" in the office... Which is why I was a little </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">nervous to have the conversation with my boss about a more flexible work schedule.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">He, however, more than agreed that it would be no problem! I could work from home one day a week (two when he was out on extended travel), the day TBD weekly depending on what meetings were on my calendar. And its honestly a <em>life savor - </em></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">both for my work and my personal life. I am happier, more productive, well rested and can enjoy my weeknights and weekends so much more knowing I have those 10 consecutive hours during the week that I <strong>cannot leave our house</strong>! Oh, and it's been a nice thing for our <a href="http://kaitlintorok.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-long-is-your-commute.html">commuting </a>budget, as well. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm curious, how many of you have a flexible work schedule? Do you love and appreciate it? Or are you more unproductive when you're at home?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. How come girls are better multi-taskers than guys?! I can't imagine many men I know getting this much done in an entire week! Am I right?!</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-55350909783138602862012-07-05T12:01:00.001-07:002012-07-05T13:07:06.911-07:00Our Wedding Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be honest, when we started planning our wedding last year a videographer was the first thing I cut to trim down our budget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">First, because I (like most people) <em>hate</em> the way I look and sound on camera...and didn't want to have to worry that my <em>every move</em> on the most important day of my life was being capture by a complete stranger!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Second, because I thought watching the video afterwards would take away from all the emotions, memories and feelings I had surrounding our wedding day. There is no way a video could live up to how I remembered that day in my head, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But then, my grandmother passed away in April (2011), just 2 months (almost to the day) before my mom. And I completely changed my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">At her viewing, one of my uncles set up a TV to display a montage video with snippets from my great grandparents', grandparents', aunts' and uncles' and my own parent's weddings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It was the first time I had ever seen video footage of my grandmother when she was "young". And the first time I ever saw my parents wedding video. To be honest, I didn't know they had one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I think watching the videos was an emotional experience for everyone that day. We all got to see the day our families started, starting our great grandparents! But, you know the saying about how every family occasion seems to be either a wedding or funeral? Well, we were definitely living it. Wedding one year, funeral the next. And little did we know we'd have yet another funeral that year... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I cried watching it for about a million reasons. Tears of grief over the loss of our dear grandma; tears of happiness to be a part of her living legacy, and to see how in love all those bride and bridegrooms were both then and now; tears of sadness as I saw just how much my beautiful mother's body was failing her, 30 years after she married my dad; tears of joy as I anticipated my marrying the love of my life; </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">tears of absolute fear later that night as my mom had another near-death chocking episode. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And finally, I cried because I learned that I wipe the tears from my eyes the exact same way my mom did...and because it had already been so long, due to the Parkinson's disease, since I had seen her wipe her own tears that I forgot we shared this little <em>semblance</em>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the next few months, I made my case to Nate about why we now <em><strong><u>needed</u></strong></em> a videographer at our wedding. What will they show at my funeral? (To which he replied "you are nuts") How will our kids get to see how young and in love we were on our wedding day? ("They don't want to see that!") I told him I didn't want something 12 hours long that we'd never watch - just some basic coverage, set to a few songs, that shows the highlights of the day! Nothing expensive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But in his mind, we had already written this off the list. And it was a couple thousand dollars we weren't adding back on... H</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">e didn't budge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, what did I do? I hired one anyways. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And felt so guilty about it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">That is, until I got the final version and showed it to Nate. He LOVED it!! (So much so that he actually <em>thanked me </em>for going ahead and having this done even though he had said no!). And so did I! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here it is, my friends: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wellspunweddings.com/Kaitlin%20Rowley%20Overview2-HD%20Web%20Video.mov">Our Wedding Video</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I hope you enjoy this little glimpse in our wedding day. And who knows, maybe it will help you decide whether or not a videographer is for you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. Wedding day coverage + editing by <a href="http://www.wellspunweddings.com/">Well Spun Weddings</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.P.S. The infamous tear wipe at minute 1:15...</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-17371725614266681672012-07-04T05:14:00.000-07:002012-07-05T05:18:42.803-07:00Happy 4th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope your 4th of July is filled with lots of sun, barbecues, fireworks, family and friends! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Let freedom ring!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Photo via Thefancy.com)</span><br />Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687405835850720219.post-78007875820923312042012-07-02T06:41:00.001-07:002012-07-02T09:28:58.542-07:00How long is your commute?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nate and I commute from Ocean City, NJ to Philadelphia, PA for work every day - approx. 65 miles each way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we first moved to Ocean City, the plan was that we'd drive together 2-3 times a week. That lasted all of <em>maybe one week </em>before we realized our schedules are way too different to commute together... I'd end up being at work hours before anyone else with not much to show for it except bags under my eyes. And Nate would spend hours waiting in the parking lot for me to leave work as soon as possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I honestly don't mind the drive itself - it takes about an hour and 15 minutes (+/- 15 minutes depending on traffic) which really isn't bad when you think about it. It used to take me about an hour door-to-door when I lived and worked in New York City. And that involved walking, subways, transfers and more walking! Now, I'm in the comforts of my own car and I have audiobooks, a cell phone and radio to keep me company. Sure I have my days, but don't we all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(In my opinion, the real killer of commuting is gas and tolls. But we won't even get into that!!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">How long is your commute? And how do you feel about it? If you're really feeling bad about yours, check out this <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/04/16/070416fa_fact_paumgarten?currentPage=all">New Yorker article</a> which featured a woman who spent <span style="font-style: italic;">six-and-a-half hours</span> commuting every day! Now THAT is just plain crazy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Safe travels!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Photo via hotphotography.tumblr.com)</span>Kaitlin Torokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213250037566998384noreply@blogger.com2