Reporter Turned Mommy

Jul 12

Dog Days of Summer and Avocado Ice Pops!

by reporterturnedmommy

It’s been more than a month since I’ve blogged. I’ve basically decided to take most of the summer off from blogging because I’m not always in a place with a great internet connection. As I’ve mentioned before, we spend a lot of our summer at the Lake Erie Islands, (think the Hamptons for Clevelanders, only MUCH more laid back! haha) and my cell phone and internet connections there are very spotty.

It’s been a great summer so far. I am now more than half-way through my pregnancy and Blake is growing and learning more everyday! Here’s a look at some of the things we’ve been up to.

 

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We took Blake to Cedar Point one Saturday in June. He was able to ride four rides in SnoopyLand with Mommy and Daddy! He liked three of the four, and is now obsessed with Snoopy!

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Blake also loves boating! This was a huge relief. We took him on the boat last summer, too, but he was so little and we weren’t sure how he would do this summer. Luckily, he loves it!

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 The days are flying by. I think the following picture sums up what summer is all about! No caption needed! :)

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I’ve also started some new activities. I’m now doing Aqua Zumba and I love it!

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They offer it at our local YMCA and I’m doing it with a girlfriend of mine who is also pregnant. It’s a great workout, especially now! I’d never done Zumba before and I love that I can do the moves underwater and no one can tell if I’m doing them correctly! :)

I’ve also tried a few new summer recipes that the whole family is enjoying. The one I’m going to share sounds weird, but if you like avocados, you will like these….frozen avocado pops!

Blake loves them!

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I got the recipe from People Magazine and Chicago chef Rick Bayless.

Here it is…

1. Boil 2 cups water

2. Add 1 cup sugar and summer until dissolved, cool completely

3. Mash 2 medium avocados

4. Stir in water and 1/2 cup lime juice and fold in 1/2 cup chopped mint (I skipped the mint)

5. Pour into ice pop molds and freeze overnight

If you make these, let me know what you think!

I hope you all are enjoying your summer as much as we are. I’ll be updating as much as I can. In the meantime, relish this time of year…it’s definitely my favorite!

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May 30

Beating the Heat…in Pictures!

by reporterturnedmommy

Between chasing a toddler, being pregnant and trying to keep our house in order, I’ve been busy!

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.

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Our pool is open! We absolutely love it! Since this is our first summer with a pool, we needed pool furniture, pool toys, etc. I’ve been trying to get all the essentials.

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Water tables are awesome. Last year, Blake was still too small to appreciate them. This year, he loves it! Here he is splashing and having a blast with his idol, his ten year old cousin Sean.

Good thing we had some ways to cool off, too. Our air conditioning unit broke over the weekend. It was 86 degrees in our house on Monday and about 95 outside! The unit is being repaired as I write this blog.

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What child doesn’t love a golf cart? We have a house at one of the  Lake Erie Islands and we love to use our golf cart while there. Blake absolutely loves it! Check out his “cool dudes”…that’s what he calls sunglasses! My mom taught him that one.

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Our little guy is now old enough to love kiddie pools! Here he and Daddy are at one of the pools at the islands. Only problem? It was impossible to explain to him why all kids had to get out of the pool for 10 minutes when the lifeguards blew their whistle. Try explaining break time to an almost two year old!?

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After all that activity, time for a snooze! As you can see, our summer is off to a great start. I hope yours is, too! What do your kids like doing outside?

 

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May 15

The Great Gender Debate…to find out or not to find out.

by reporterturnedmommy

First of all, THANK YOU so much for all of your wonderful well wishes last week! I felt like a kid on Christmas as I hit “publish” for my blog post, announcing that we are expecting another baby. Your words of encouragement and congratulations mean the world to us!

I’m settling into my pregnancy as I am now entering my second trimester. I actually lost five pounds from week eight to week 12. Luckily, my doctor put me on some anti-nausea meds that are really helping. I certainly don’t look like I’ve lost any weight though!

Now on to the great debate…to find out the gender of the baby or stay surprised? We did NOT find out the sex for Blake and I LOVED not knowing. I feel there are so few GOOD surprises in life and waiting to hear those magical words, “It’s a____” in the delivery room is priceless! There is nothing like that moment! Below is a picture right after Blake was born.

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I have plenty of friends that feel the exact opposite. They say they are “planners” and need to know. Believe me, I’m a planner, too. I had everything meticulously planned out for the arrival of our baby. In my opinion, the gender isn’t something you need to plan for.

There is obviously no right or wrong, and I’m not judging those that find out. For me, though, the whole experience is more magical when the greatest surprise is revealed the day your baby enters the world. Another perk….all of our newborn items and big purchases, like the swing, bouncy seats, crib, etc, are gender neutral, meaning I can use them all on baby number two!

What do you think? Did you find out the sex of your baby before they were born? Let the great debate begin!

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May 11

Blake’s Big Announcement!

by reporterturnedmommy

We have a major announcement for our little family and Blake would like to bring you the news!

The shirt is a little disheveled, but it reads, “I’m going to be a BIG BROTHER!”. We are thrilled to be able to share this exciting news with all of you. Our new little bundle is due to arrive sometime in mid-November, before Thanksgiving, giving us even more to be thankful for this year.

Other than the nausea and exhaustion, I’m doing great. The new little one has a strong, healthy heartbeat and we are praying for a happy, healthy baby in November!

Kathleen and Family :)

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Apr 24

I’ve been thinking…..

by reporterturnedmommy

Since I’ve been away, I’ve had a few things on my mind.

First off, Democratic Pundit Hilary Rosen really ticked me off, and I’m a democrat!

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If you haven’t heard, she said Ann Romney never worked a day in her life. Mrs. Romney stayed home and raised her five sons. Yes, I know the Romney’s are millionaires, and yes, she probably had help. The comment still gets my blood boiling.

Democrats trying to “fix” Rosen’s comment have also managed to infuriate me. I couldn’t care less about the fortune of those running for president. I’m tired of the argument that because the Romney’s are wealthy, they can’t relate to the common man. Why? Because EVERY presidential candidate is wealthy, whether they were born that way or worked for it. I’m not saying that’s the way it should be, but that’s the way it is.

I could go on and on about this topic, but instead I’ll leave you with this tongue-in-cheek drawing from my friend Diane. We are both stay-at-home-moms and she posted this on my facebook wall.She titled it, “Ready to start my Monday”….haha. I love it! If only that’s what it was really like to be a stay-at-home-mom.

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Next topic…I have a new obsession. SPARTINA 449

Spartina 449 was started by a woman who lives on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. Daufuskie is an Island right by Hilton Head. Her hand bags, clothes, and beautiful accessories are now in more than 1,000 stores.

Here’s a look at a few of my favorite items.

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All of her items are very beachy and airy. I have a purse, wallet and apron. A portion of the proceeds also go to the Daufuskie Island Historical Society. You can check out more of her beach bags, purses, clothing and accessories by clicking here. Spartina 449 was also recently featured in Southern Living.

Lastly, I am still researching our family tree (on my family’s side) and I discovered a shocker! We are primarily Irish and English, and I thought that is all I would continue to find as I kept researching. My mother’s maiden name is Neely, which is a very Irish name and we were always told it was Irish and a form of McNeely. Well, notsomuch!

Neely is actually from Neleigh and it is German! GULP!

We were shocked. I had to go back to my mother’s sixth-great-grandparents to crack the code. I guess we will be celebrating Oktoberfest this year! :)

 

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Apr 5

Chili Cookoff!

by reporterturnedmommy

Tuesday night was so much fun! My friends Diane and Laura (who is also my SIL) and I went to the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland’s annual Chili cook-off!

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I was a “celebrity” judge and I ran into lots of people I know from my TV days. The event was packed!

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Around 30-35 different restaurants made chili for the event. I was assigned nine different chili’s to taste. I had to judge them on taste, aroma, and color, on a scale of 1-10.

  Here I am judging and tasting!

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The chili was really VERY good. Some were a little too creative and had a few strange spices, but most were delicious and hit the spot!

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Here’s Diane trying some chili. Diane and Laura were great judging assistants! haha

There was also a silent auction and Chinese raffle and guess who won a basket filled with beauty products?!!?

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That’s right! Yours Truly! My SIL and I just finished saying that we never win anything, then they called my ticket number! We all promised to share our winnings, if we won anything, and NOT be like that lottery ticket winner who worked at McDonald’s.  (the one who won’t share her mega-millions!)

It was a great night, for a great cause, and I was glad to be a part of it!

Now, things are very busy here as we get ready for Easter and a trip down south to see my family.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and Easter!

 

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Apr 3

Versatile Blogger Award!

by reporterturnedmommy

Fun “Mommy Blogger” Mom on the Go in Holy Toledo presented me with the Versatile Blogger Award! That was so sweet of her to give me a shout out on her blog and I am so happy I can return the favor!

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award…

1. Thank the award-givers and link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this award along

4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

Now here are 7 random things about me….

1. I studied abroad my junior year at Ohio University. I was one of four E.W. Scripps School of Journalism students selected to study journalism abroad. I spent Fall Quarter 1999 at the University of Wales in Cardiff, Wales.

2. Every time I go to a Broadway show, I wish I was up there performing with the cast. If I could only sing and dance! I feel the same way when I watch Glee!

3. I was editor of my high school newspaper and was named West Virginia High School Journalist of the Year. Here’s what I looked like back then! (pictures with my friend Jennifer who is still one of my bff’s)

Look at my bangs! Can you say “Coal Miner’s Daughter”?!! haha I was so afraid to get rid of my bangs back then. They were my security blanket!

4. My husband just finished his second full term as Mayor of Parma, Ohio at the end of 2011. It was a challenge, at times, while I was still reporting at Fox 8, because I had to recuse myself from covering stories in Parma, even basic breaking news. Management at my station also wouldn’t allow me to cover state or national elections anymore because of my husband’s elected position. That was VERY difficult for me.

5. My first name is actually Tara, after my mom, though I’ve never been called Tara. Kathleen is my middle name.

6. My husband and I honeymooned in Italy for 12 days and it was amazing! My favorite part was the Almalfi Coast and the City of Positano!

7. I never, in a million years, thought I would be a stay-at-home mom, but now that I’ve done it, I can’t imagine not spending all day with my son.

Now to pass on the Versatile Blogger Award!

Dee’s Adventures

Hines-Sight Blog

Lady Plus Baby

Why Cle

This was fun to write and I hope you enjoyed my interesting/embarrassing random facts!  I hope your week is off to a great start!

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Apr 2

A visit to the Easter Bunny!

by reporterturnedmommy

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This weekend, we took baby boy to see the Easter Bunny! My husband and I were convinced this visit would NOT go well. Blake was terrified of Santa and we have a priceless picture of him crying his eyes out!
We were pleasantly surprised, however, that he liked the Easter Bunny! I think there are a few reasons why….
1. We didn’t leave his side. You can see hubby in this picture! We stepped away during his picture with Santa and we think that added to his anxiety.

2. The Easter Bunny looks like a big, fluffy, cartoon character! I thought the sight of a large bunny, dressed with glasses, might scare Blake. It was just the opposite. He thought the Easter Bunny was hilarious, as opposed to the scary old man named Santa who is a real person!

Even though Blake isn’t smiling in this picture, he smiled during his visit and now that we finally have a picture without him crying, we are calling the visit a success!

What about you? Have you taken your kids to see the Easter Bunny yet? What was your experience like?
Happy Monday

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