Here in begins real life again. Breakfast at home. Pretty dishes. Writing projects. Recipe projects. Laundry. Cleaning. My fast + furious desktop computer. Conference calls. Charlottesville!
And the surgery waiting room. Matt just took Karen to the hospital and we will be waiting for a call around 3PM to signify we can go see her. We live just a mile from the hospital, so Karen said it would be wise to hold the waiting room at home instead of in the hospital’s tiny wing.
He asked me to make breakfast while he got ready to go and requested a smoothie. I happily whipped one up.
Blended dough style, which means oats were the majority ingredient!
The Mix
For TWO smoothies
- 2/3 cup oats
- 1.5 cups milk
- 1 big banana
- 1/4 cup Vega Tropical Shake n Go smoothie mix
- 2 tbsp ground flax
Toppings
- Rosie’s Best original granola (which I froze and thawed – worked great!)
- Lauren’s espresso salty nuts
- A taste of Nutty’s Butterscotch
As we unpacked our ENTIRE car and put away all of our Christmas presents, we discovered we had quite a crowd waiting to play outside! I would have loved to let these kitties inside to play, but Matt is very strongly allergic to cats, so unfortunately we can never have one as a pet – or even pet one for fear of dander on the hands 
These guys live a few houses down with a pack of about 6 more!
As much as I love Christmas, this tree has GOT to go! It’s darkening up my bright and airy living room.
Thanks so much for all of your kind comments about Karen <3
{ 76 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m ready to take down our tree too, which is weird since I usually love leaving it up until late January!
The Christmas tree is starting to come down today as well – I’m sad though, it looks so pretty!
We’re undecorating today. I love the holidays but after the 25th I’m ready for all the jazz to be down.
Hope her surgery goes well!
I took down my tree ASAP on Boxing Day.
I’m taking down decorations today too. It helps to mentally start the new year with last year’s decorations removed.
As fun and satisfying as the holidays are in so many ways, it really feels good to return to normal routines.
Wow I completely love the look of your living room! That chair is awesome!
My tree is still up and we still turn it on at night… sad story.
Oh sweetie, I will be thinking about her all day. I know this is scary for all of you. I am sorry that your family has to go through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Karen will be in my thoughts. I hope everything goes well. I’ll be praying for you guys.
PS I love your pear place mat! It is so very bright!
Love that placemat! I’m headed to Pier One after work to look for more on clearance
I’m really allergic to cats too (though not deadly or anything). I have never really wanted one for a pet though…always been happy with dogs! Have a good day!
Hoping everything goes well for Karen today.
I never want to take my tree down! Ever!
Hope Karen’s surgery goes well! Good luck to her!
I think the gray kitty is a Maine Coon!!! I have 2 Maine Coons and they have a similar ruff, tail and furry ears/paws!
Good luck and a speedy recovery to Karen!
Praying for smooth hands of the surgeons, and no spread of the cancer! Hope she does well.
Sure know the feeling of unpacking the car after a christmas away! Seriously, it took me over a day to stow and organize all the christmas gifts, suitcase contents, etc. etc.
All the best wishes and prayers for a successful surgery for Karen.
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
We soooo need to put away all our Christmas decorations. They are everywhere though and a bit overwhelming!
Thinking of Karen today! Praying for a successful surgery.
Best wishes to Karen
Ditto! You guys are in our thoughts!
I hope the surgery goes well!!
Definitely keeping Karen in my thoughts today. I pray the surgery goes quickly and takes care of everything.
All my best to Karen! I hope she gets well soon!
I always thought I was allergic to cats but discovered that it is only some cats. My Dad is the same way too. Maybe Matt is as well? My kitten and I rub faces and I have zero problems!
Also, you should put Matt on antihistamines so you can get a kitten
He haaaates taking medicine. My parents have always had cats and he is miserable when he’s there – if it gets on his clothes, he will be allergic when putting his sweaters away for the summer!
i really want out tree down too…but i’m SO not in the mood to actually do the work! laziness at its finest…
What about Siberian Cats? They’re supposed to be really good for people with allergies, and they’re super cute!
Hope your mother in laws surgery goes well
Best wishes to Karen!
I’ll be thinking about Karen today– good luck to her!
I LOVE that mat/towel. SO cute!! Pier One?
C+B!
karen is one lucky lady to have so many good thoughts going her way (including mine!)
tree comes down january 1 in our house… is that strange?
I’ll be thinking good thoughts for Karen today!!
Where is this AMAZING pear tea towel from? I am crossing my fingers it is a tea towel as I am slightly obsessed with them.
C+B!!
Awesome mug and bowl!
Sending hugs & prayers to Karen
You have such a beautiful home!!!
Soon our tree will go back in the box. All 3 feet of it
Hope Karen’s surgery goes well
I need to get my tree down as well – something about seeing Christmas related things (trees, hearing Christmas songs, etc) depresses me. I hope Karen is feeling ok today.
As much as I love traveling and visiting and vacation-like get-aways, home + routines have my heart. Saying extra prayers for Karen this morning!
It is nice when you get back from a vacation just to be in your kitchen using your own dishes and get back into your own normalcy. I love it!
My Dad used to claim to be allergic to cats, but my Mom loves them, and we always have one. I think that was just his excuse because he’s a dog person, but he eventually gave up. Poor Dad!
I hope everything goes well today! I know it’s a stressful day. I hope Karen recovers quickly!
My very best wishes to Karen; she’ll be in my prayers today. Will be waiting for positive post-op news from you this afternoon…take good care, Kath.
Best wishes to you all on this day and the days following. Somewhere I “know” that Karen will have a full recovery!
I read above that Matt hates taking medicine, but have you guys ever thought about allergy drops? They’re essentially allergy shots–small doses of the allergens taken to build up immunity–but instead of having to go to the doctor, the doctor mixes up your specific formula (they’re custom formulated to have only the things you’re allergic to) and puts it in a little dropper, then you put five drops under your tongue every night for 3-5 years (I get a fresh batch every month, arrives automatically in the mail, very convenient). I’ve been on them for 2 years and went from not even being able to be in the same house with cats without itching and wheezing, to being able to stay at my parents’ house with three cats and two dogs with no problem except for a little itching on my neck–no sneezing or wheezing at all! They’re expensive, but it’s been totally life changing and is naturopathic medicine, so I’m not so skeeved out about taking it every day for 5 years. Just something to keep in mind!
Again, best wishes for you all today.
That does sound like a solution, but I’m afraid the cost and effort might not be worth it since it’s really only a problem a few times a year. Thanks for the suggestion though!
I’ll be praying for Karen today.
Also, LOVE LOVE LOVE the pear placemat!
Best of luck to Karen today. Been awhile since I’ve posted but wanted to let you know that you are all in my thoughts from my corner of Canada
Sweet chair!
I like the tree even if it is darkening the room, I think it makes the living room look homey : )
I hope everything goes well with Karen, and for a speedy recovery! *hugs*
Praying for you guys!
I am sending loads of love to Karen and the two of you today! Let me know if you need anything.
Prayers for Karen and your family!
Yeah, our Christmas tree is coming down New Year’s day – not a fun job!
Waiting for calls from the hospital is the absolute worst. When my mother was in (and out and in again and so on and so forth), I kept my phone literally 6 inches from me at all times. (Couldn’t keep it in my pocket, because what if my butt rejects the call? Or there’s some mysterious signal killing force field created by the rivets?) It’s really not fun.
So I hope the day goes quickly and the surgery goes well.
lauren’s nuts are so tasty – i think they kept me up when i ate them at night – that espresso works!
fingers crossed for karen.
Thinking about you + the family today. All the best! p.s. I’m also allergic to cats + in general do not like them at all
We’re all thinking about Karen & your family today!
Kath… you have such a beautiful home
Hey Kath,
I’m about 30 miles from Charlottesville.
Would still love to get together while I’m hear
For two weeks!
We’re headed to Beer Run with my cousin tonight!
Tell me what you want to do!
Email me
Megs
I missed sending you well wishes for Karen, but she is in my prayers today, as are you and Matt.
I took mine down the day after Christmas. So happy to have the space back!
Is that tiny white building part of the hospital?
I hope Karen’s surgery goes well. You’ll be in my thoughts!
back to life; back to reality! at least you survived! best wishes with what you have going on
Keeping you guys in my thoughts today.
Glad the granola still tastes great! I like to keep in in the fridge all the time because it keeps longer that way.
Mmm, that looks yummy! Love your coffee mug! I agree, the tree at my house has also got to go.
Best wishes to your mother- in- law, Kath! And happy day to you and Matt
I totally agree that the tree has to go. My is just annoying me at this point. Prayers to Karen today!!!
what a wonderful breakfast! i’m having a lovely break at my parents’ house during the holiday season, and i am NOT ready to get back to real life!
Wishing Karen a speedy recovery!!!
I hope Karen’s surgery goes well and she recovers quickly.
Love your living room!
I love your living room and tree
Best wishes for Karen.
Can you guys have dogs as a pet?
He says he’s not allergic to dogs, but he sure sneezes a lot when he pets them! But not like cats. A dog is a possibility, but not a priority right now.
I work at an animal shelter. Cats are lovely aren’t they?
You can pet them by the way, just wash your hands afterwards and it should be no issues for allergies.
: )
I’m highly allergic to cats too, but this doesn’t stop Brad from petting them. I just act like he has the plague until he scrubs in like he’s about to perform surgery. Tell Matt I feel for him!
Aww, what cute little kitties! Hope Karen is doing well!
I wish we had a Crate & Barrel…I want those cute pear place mats! Good vibes out to Karen today.
We haven’t taken down our tree yet! I’ll be sad to see it go because it means the holidays really are over!
Fingers crossed for Karen – hopefully everything goes smoothly for her.
My fingers are crossed for Karen– may her surgery and recovery be speedy.
as for fun plates/mugs- urban outfitters is having a sale on cute stuff– did you know they are affiliated with anthro?
i dislike cats very strongly- to the point where i might’ve suggested i’m allergic to avoid contact… some cat lovers just don’t understand:)