Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas with the Fowlers

It was a very different Christmas for both of us this year. First off, it was my first Christmas without my parents. As you may remember, last year, my parents came to visit us the day AFTER Christmas. This year, however, such was not the case, and though I was saddened to not have them with me, it did force me to lean on my extended family in a way I had not before.

Let me explain...

I think it's quit normal to not have an automatic familial love for one's family by marriage. After all, they are strangers at first. And in the beginning, they are not family, and then, just like that, they're of relation. I suppose in the beginning, it's a choice to love them--as it can be oftentimes with anyone. :)

Then, as life is lived and shared, the love becomes less of a requirement and more of an obvious outpouring from the developing relationship. All this to say, that I have loved my in-laws from their inception as my in-laws, but I am now starting to love them as my family.

For various reasons, not all could be there this Christmas--that's why it was not the typical Christmas for Kevin. With that, I'd like to introduce you to them.

It seems only right to start with the most senior of our bunch (and, no, I'm not talking about Santa Clause ;). This is Mamaw Ersie, otherwise known as Granny. As Kevin is always trying to set her up with someone, Santa's visit made a prime opportunity. She wasn't impressed.

Next, we have Kevin's mom, Lovonda. Ersie is her mother. She is one of the most genuinely sweet women I've known in my life, and I'm very blessed to have her as my mother.

Next to her is Melinda, Kevin's brother's wife. I've very much enjoyed getting to know her.
This is my wonderful father-in-law, Jim. He's a Vietnam Vet who turns into a mush ball any time a baby is around. It's great! :-) I'm very excited about the possibility of giving both Jim and Lovonda grandchildren one day.
Below are Kim and Josh. Kim is Kevin's sister (how did you know, right? :). They recently (well, a year ago) moved to Nebraska so Josh could farm and stay home with the family more. We've got their blog link on the right hand side of the page. Kim is diligent about updating it frequently, and it's fun to see their family grow, both in maturity and numbers.


Speaking of numbers, this is their number one: Ashlynne, commonly referred to as "Ashy."

Here's number two, Rachel. She's a natural mother (but not yet!) and a mini-me of Kim (or so I'm told).
And this is Lauren, otherwise known as Laurie. My first memory of her is from the first time I came with Kevin to have dinner with the Wilkerson's. Lauren, at the age of three, came out to the car to meet us, with one cow/moon sock on and one striped sock on. It was absolutely precious.
Last in the line of female Wilkersons is Kate. I took this picture (as I'm sure you can tell), and, well, Kate's not really fond of the camera (as I'm sure you can also tell). She is however, the most expressive of the bunch.
Last is Caleb. We must admit, we've got a special place in our hearts for this little guy, if for no other reason that he was a member of our bridal party (as the age of negative one day). He was born the very next day. We will measure the maturity of our marriage by his maturity...okay maybe not. ;)

He's just started crawling on the stairs, and Mom and Dad Fowler have great ones to practice on. I think that's all he did the whole time we were there.......
Pretty proud of yourself, aren't you, Caleb?And of course, Uncle Kevin can't help but join him on the floor....things just look so much better from this angle. He doesn't seem to mind, though.

Next, we travel back to the Fowler surname, but this time, it's Greg and Melinda's kiddos.

The oldest is Marysa. She's in Junior High, and we're pretty amazed at how much of a young lady she's becoming. Not because it surprises us, but because Kevin held her as a baby and reveled in the new-found uncle status she gave him. She was a "really pretty baby," and she's becoming a beautiful young lady.

This is her younger sister, Myranda. She's recently lost a lot of weight due to the recent detection of a thyroid problem. She's always been cute, but she's adorable now, and we're also enjoying watching her grow into a young lady.

This is their younger brother, Austin. He's a spitfire and loves anything having to do with Cars, the movie or that actual. He's a little mini-me of Greg. :)

We dearly love both sides of our family. This side being locationally closer, we're grateful for the time we get to spend with them, and we hope you've enjoyed meeting them!

Tune in next time to learn about the new baby, we just brought home.

(hint: it's little and square)

Monday, December 22, 2008

10 Tech Tools That Have Changed My Life

Many of you consider me a pretty tech-savvy person, so please allow me to turn fully geeky in the confines of this blog post. I want to share with you 10 tools that have truly made my life easier. These tools are not only for tech-nerds, they can be easily incorporated into anyone's life.

10. del.icio.us
You come across a page that is really cool and you know that you would like to see it tomorrow, a week from now, or even a decade from now. What are your options? Some of you will argue that you simply add it to your ever-growing favorites folder on your computer. But do you only use one computer? What if you want to access it from work? The average life of a PC is about four years...are you sure that your bookmarks are going to follow you forever?

del.icio.us takes care of that.
1. Visit a website that you deem cool and would like to keep for reference.
2. Click "Save To My del.icio.us" on the website's provided browser toolbar.
3. "Tag" your webpage with a word to help you organize it.
4. It is yours forever!

It can be accessed from anywhere. Want to give it a test drive? Where can you find this service? Well I already mentioned the URL multiple times. Type "del.icio.us" into your web browser and you are there!

Cost: Free!

9. Blogger
Leave it to Google to create a blog program that anyone can use. Whether you are a meager school teacher and his sign language interpreting wife, the former Secretary of Labor under the Clinton administration, or just a dude that wants to share everyone's secret, everyone is using Blogger.

In literally 5 minutes you too can be publishing your family, hobby, classroom, or life to the world's largest audience.

Cost: Free

8. YouTube
I bet you've never heard of this one, eh? Well, we in the Fowler household use YouTube more than just a replay of a funny clip you've seen on television--YouTube is our television. It is also an easy forum to create a clip in iMovie and send a silly e-birthday card to a family that lives thousands of miles away.

Cost: Free!

7. Podcasts/iTunes

What does John Piper, NPR, Dr. Phil, Rush Limbaugh, and Barack Obama all have in common? Pretty much nothing at all, except for the fact that they all Podcast. A podcast is in essence a blog of audio recordings that you can go back and listen to at your leisure. Whether you are driving in the car and want to catch up on the sermon you missed last Sunday, or whether you missed the latest episode of This American Life, podcasts can get you updated at any time.

The best program to manage your podcasts is iTunes--a free program by Mac that is on many PCs. iTunes can automatically download your podcast episodes (and even automatically sync them to your iPod if you own one). For a guy that is working for about 14 hours everyday (and is standing in front of a classroom when many radio programs and press conferences occur) this is a Godsend

Cost: Free!

6. Gmail
If you receive more than two e-mails in a day, you need Gmail. Say that you and Bob Smith and Jane Patterson at work are in a conversation about the latest project. Your inbox over at Hotmail or Yahoo! may look like this.

Smith, Bob Re: Project
Smith, Bob Re: Project
Smith, Bob Re: Project
Patterson, Jane Re: Project
Smith, Bob Re: Project
Smith, Bob Re: Project
Patterson, Jane Re: Project
Patterson, Jane Re: Project

But in Gmail, it looks this:

Bob, Jane, Kevin (10) Subject: Project

It has all the e-mails in that given "conversation" on one page. Very convenient!

If you are saying, "Well, I only use my work address" then don't let that stop you. That is the very reason that I have fallen in love with Gmail. I have rerouted my work address of fowlerk1[at]k12tn.net through my personal address at kevinlfowler[at]gmail.com I get all of my mail (on average about 30 messages a day) on one screen and it is conveniently organized in different mailboxes.

Better yet, Gmail gives you so much storage space that you "never have to delete another e-mail again." Plus, Google is coming out with little innovations that you can easily add to your e-mail experience if you choose to. Whether it be a sleek theme, a view of your Google Calendar, or even Mail Goggles--a program that makes you second guess sending a nasty e-mail--Google has got you covered.

Cost: Free!


5. Google Reader
With almost every organization and human being online, you could waste a lot of time going through your bookmarks to see who has updated his/her/their page. This is why Google Reader (and other feed aggregators) were created. I have subscribed up to 60 websites and thanks to Google Reader, I do not need to visit each of these sites to see if there is an update. This video explains the usefulness of Reader:


Cost: Free!

4. SmartTime+
Imagine a tool where you input your schedule (either manually or through Google Calendar/iCal) and then throw in your to-do list for the day. Then imagine this tool giving you an at-a-glance look at your schedule for the day and a "Smart" list of the recommended order in which to do these tasks. Now, imagine this list conveniently in your pocket.

That tool is here. It is called SmartTime from Left Coast Logic and it has completely revolutionized the way that I get things done. If the above paragraph makes no sense, perhaps this 13 second video can enlighten you in the usefulness of this program:

As the clip suggests, this is only a program for iPod Touch/iPhone users. There is a "Lite" version for Free in the iTunes apps store, but the recommended version here is $9.99 but well worth it!

Cost: SmartTime Lite | Free!
SmartTime 2.0 | $9.99

3. Apple MacBook
My first laptop. My first Macintosh. I am in love. With its beautiful design, reliability, and overall 'smart' approach, the MacBook has made me never look back to PCs--a machine that I have been using regularly for a decade. Why are Macs so much better than Microsoft? Well, let's ask the founder...


Cost:$999

2. iPod Touch
When you hear 'iPod' you probably think of music. Even though that isn't too far off the mark, today's iPod Touch is hardly used for music. For instance my iPod Touch serves as my PDA. It has my e-mail, internet, calendar, (the aforementioned) SmartTime, directions, photos, Bible, pocket U.S. Constitution, games, movie info, YouTube, and even serves as a remote control to my MacBook.

Some of you may be itching for an iPhone but are hesitant to pick one up because of the high data plan prices. I'm with 'ya, but I urge you to see the iPod Touch the little brother of the iPhone. In fact, the iPod touch can do everything that the iPhone can except call, take pictures, and access the Internet sans wi-fi. Everything else is the same.

Cost: $250

1. iCal/Gcal
These two programs have revolutionized not only my life, but our marriage. These programs are in essence exactly the same and have the same features, except iCal can only be used on Macs. Gcal is an abbreviation of Google Calendar and can be accessed on all operating systems. The beauty of these programs is that they will not only allow you to organize your life but they also have a "shared calenders" option.

With the shared calendars I can import Lydia's calendar and see what her schedule is like for the weekend. At one glance, we know where each other are and can even have reminders of events sent to our cell phones via text message. Both calendars are aesthetically appealling, but Macs interface looks much better.
Below is a screenshot of our calendars as seen from iCal.

Cost: Free




Tuesday, December 16, 2008

It's the Little Things in Life

Like...

A clean tank. Doesn't he look appreciative?


New Vaccuum Filters.

(For the sake of my pride, I will not tell you how long it's been since our last vaccuum. Needless to say, I learned that our vaccuum actually needed a filter, and I ordered them on Amazon. They arrived yesterday. Rejoicing in the land!)

Folded Laundry--'nuff said.
Our own little bit of Christmas.
May you find joy where you least expect it this Christmas season!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

A Christmas Song

Lydia and I fell in love with this tune when we saw it in movie theaters. We hope that there is enough joy to go 'round at your house this Christmas.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Saturday IS Coming!

...And none too soon!

Last week, you know, the one after Thanksgiving, FLEW by, so I had some high hoped for this one. It, however, wasn't to be. I'm sitting at my desk, nose running from my lunch of Taco Bell nachos with jalapenos (which were actually spicy this time!), grateful for my job. And grateful that it's Friday.

Why am I so anxious for the weekend, you ask? Well, aside from the obvious reasons, I leave tomorrow to spend the night with some of the coolest, dearest girls I know!

That's right: It's roommate time in Tennessee!!!!!!!
It started out with Len, me, and Laura in Carenegie Hall during our Junior year.
(the picture is from graduation Senior year, but you get the idea.)
Senior year, we added Anne to our bunch. Anne and I were both RA's the year before and so went from having our own rooms to having a roommate. We were both nervous, but managed nicely, and I wouldn't trade that year with her for anything!
(I especially love the picture. That was the general state of our relationship: I was eating; Anne was just staring--haha!)

...And then there were four!

We all graduated last May and have managed to get back together a couple times since then. I'm super excited about this weekend, as we're doing a mini-vacation to Asheville, NC. Staying in a hotel overnight, going to a gingerbread exhibit during the day, hanging out....

College would not have been the wonderful experience that it was without these young ladies! We're each in our own path right now: Anne is living at home, working; Len is at Princeton Theological Seminary (yes, that Princeton); Laura is at Columbia Seminary in Atlanta; and I'm married working at UT.

The Lord has been gracious, and we can still come back together and share in each other's lives!

May we never lose that!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

kitchen (un)essentials!

So, it's the holiday season. We've passed Thanksgiving and now on to Christmas and New Year's. For most of us that means extra time in the kitchen. I've come to enjoy the kitchen, and I thought I'd pass on a few things that make my time there more productive and, well, just more fun! :)

I cannot take credit for this first one:

A dear friend of mine uses her olive oil jars (I'm not sure of the specific name) for liquid dish soap. It's easier, cleaner, and it just looks cuter!


This is my most recent purchase: A Salad Spinner (WalMart, $10)

I stopped buying bagged salad and began purchasing heads of lettuce, but wasn't sure how to get ALL that water off to store it without it becoming slimy. Presto! (Kevin even likes this one!)




Next up we have: My Food Processor!


It makes slicing and dicing a snap! It's not easy to clean, so sometimes it's easier to just do it by hand, but I used it recently to cut up a whole onion--fabulous!

And what's a kitchen without some mixing bowls!? But these aren't just any mixing bowls--these are colorful mixing bowls! They make me want to cook just so I can play with them! :)

And where there are mixing bowls, there are measuring spoons! But these aren't just any measuring spoons...these are MAGNETIC measuring spoons! There's a tiny magnet in the middle of them, so they stick, stack, and are easy to find in the drawer. There are also two sides to each, so no need to rinse of when measuring two ingredients any more.

Excessive, you say? For only $8 at Target, you can have some of your own! Go ahead--indulge yourself!

This last picture has a story with it...

Back in January, I helped my sister-in-law pack for her and her family's trek west. :'-( I got all of two whole boxes packed for them, BUT one box I packed contained her spices. The truck was heading out a little before them and as Kim pondered which ones to keep for their last few days in Tennessee and which ones to send ahead, she said, "I just don't know--they're like my friends."

I've thought of that comment many times since then, especially as my own cooking and spicing ventures have expanded, and I think I now know how she feels.

So here are my friends, in their cozy little home:

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Holiday Budget Crunch? Nah!!!

I have learned from the best!

We used to tease my mom about her Christmas shopping habits: she literally starts shopping the day after Christmas for the next Christmas, and then she buys gifts all year long so that when Christmas rolls around, she's done.

Now that I am married and living on a budget as well, I see the wisdom in this. About a week ago (just before Thanksgiving), I sat down with my husband to talk over the budget. He mentioned that we'd have to start shopping soon for Christmas, and I said, "Well, I've got it almost all done."

Of our four parents, three brothers, three sisters, six neices, and two nephews, we've only got one nephew left to go!

The only hard part is actually remembering that we've already bought them gifts! :-)

Monday, December 1, 2008

An Historic Day

It was an historic day yesterday for the Skidmore side of me. For the first time ever, I made my grandmother's salad dressing that I've been enjoying since I was a girl. When I was young, my mom would mix the ingredients and hand me the jar, and then I would perform the ceremonious task of shaking the contents to perfect consistency (I'd literally wait by her side until I could shake them up).

The recipe came from my mom's mom (so, it's probably actually a Patterson recipe, which is my grandmother's maiden name, passed to the Freggens, my mom's maiden name, passed to the Skidmores, my maiden name, and now it's in the Fowlers, which will Lord-willing be my daughter's maiden name someday :).

Anyway, the ingredients you see in the photo above and are very simple. It's sort of a whatever feels good recipe, but there are a few measurements to be had.

Grandma's French Dressing:
Wesson Veg. Oil
Vinegar (any kind will do. When my mom made it for me back in Sept., she used Apple Cider because that's what I had on hand. Last night, I used Balsamic Vinegar because that's all I had.)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
a few dashes of paprika
fresh, finely chopped onion
a few dashes pepper (optional)
a jar

1) In jar, add 3 tbsp. of oil for ever 1 tbsp. of vinegar. (i.e. 9 tbsp. of oil to 3 tbsp. of vinegar)
2) Add remaining ingredients.
3) Shake well.
4) For best taste, let sit overnight before serving.

Gets better with age. :-)

Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

My new office-mate (for that's what they call the woman I share an office with), Tammy, gave me two tickets to "Fantasy of Trees" in Knoxville, so Kevin and I went today. To learn more about the actual event go here.
I couldn't help but comment to Kevin that my mother would have LOVED it--she loves Christmas, especially the Christmas trees. The only problem would have been we never would have left, for she would have wanted a picture of every tree!!! Though I didn't quite get every tree, this post is for you, Momma!
We took several splendid pictures that we hope you enjoy!

This was one of the first trees we came across. The trees are decorated to be sold, and the proceeds are given to charity, and there were several peacock-themed trees. Having always loved peacocks, I like the idea--even if the feathers on top were a little odd. :)

REAL peacock feathers on it! Such amazing colors!

Me standing in front of the peacock tree. After Kevin took this picture, he said, "You look like you're wearing a hat!" Thanks, hon...

Of course, hundreds of magnificent trees, dripping with decorations!


Some that were just cute. (Notice the "It's a boy" and "It's a girl" signs on them....)

A display of miniature trees.

There were some pretty cool ornaments, too.
I've always been fond of Snow Men.
...and snow flakes, too, for that matter!

One of those For-Posterity pictures.

And then there were all the usual players...
Some ballerinas (who were absolutely adorable!):
A guardian angel (who looked surprisingly like Angelina Jolie, we decided) with her reindeer (we're still trying to figure that one out)...
Santa Clause...
(I think we decided how we're going to broach this topic with our children...ask if you want to know. :)
Last...a garage band of penguins?
Kevin assured me it's their mascot, but I'm not entirely convinced....
This one's also for Mom. She likes lambs, and I thought she'd get a kick out of these little guys...
And there you have it! Knoxville Fantasy of Trees, 2008.
It was enjoyable, crowded, pretty, consumerist, relaxing, and costly....
But it was free (to us) and at this stage in the game, that's really what we're all about.
So, Merry Christmas! From us to you. May your Christmas season be a celebration of what the season is truly about...

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanksgiving, 2008

We were incredibly blessed to celebrate Thanksgiving twice this year!

We don't have any pictures from our first celebration, on Wednesday, with the Fowlers (darn those rechargeable batteries that haven't been recharged!).
On Thursday, we went to some dear (newly-married) friend's house to celebrate. It was quite the experience--neither one of us had ever made a Thanksgiving meal on our own. So, we divided the menu and conquered! And aside from a couple forgotten dishes (like the mashed potatoes! how does one just forget mashed potatoes in the Thanksgiving meal!?!? yes...that was my doing...), we did just fine!
The dining room table:
Da Boyz: Thomas holding Indy (as in Indiana Jones) and Kevin.
Thomas cutting the Turkey...which was absolutely amazing! Not bad for a first time!
Steph showing off the giraffe oven mitt Thomas's grandmother bought them.
And then, after dinner, the real party started...as in Guitar Hero.
Steph and Kevin getting down with their bad selves.
And where there is music (or something like it), there must be dancing (or something like it).
Kevin and Me attempting a hoe-down.

It was a wonderful evening of time with friends, and we are very grateful to have them in our lives.

One lat pic for the road: