Hostutler House of Chaos

Italy, Greece & Turkey... Oh my!

2023-08-10T17:59:00.004-04:00

Ciao! This summer, the Hostutler House of Chaos took to Europe. It was an amazing vacation, full of memories, and one that we will all always remember. I had so much fun planning and organizing the trip. After we returned, a lot of friends and family members asked me if I would share our itinerary and how we were able to pull off almost two weeks in Europe with six people. In this blog, I will give you all the details of our trip with as many links as possible. I hope you can take a thing or two, or even the whole itinerary, and apply it to a future vacation! Feel free to comment with questions and make sure you share your pictures and videos once you get there!

In 2020, Riley, our oldest child, studied abroad in Florence for fall semester at Florence University of the Arts through a program offered by the University of Kentucky. We had planned to go visit her over Thanksgiving but due to the COVID mandates and shut downs, we made the decision to post-pone the trip. That is how the plan to travel to Italy began for summer 2023.

We decided to surprise the kids at Christmas with the trip by making a puzzle. We had gotten this idea from some great friends of ours. I had a puzzle made at Walgreens of a collage of the places we would be traveling and when they opened the box, they had to put it together collectively to figure out the future trip and it's destinations. This made it super fun for them and extended the time period of surprise a bit longer.

We ultimately decided that if we were going to pay for flights to Europe for six people, we would stay as long as we could and really soak up a bunch of different places. Keeping in mind the amount of luggage we would inevitably have between us all for two weeks of travel, we decided a mix of land and sea travel would be the best way to avoid a constant schlep. This proved to be one of the best decisions we made. I highly recommend doing this if you have a large group, a mix of ages (for us it was 14-52) and a large amount of places you want to see in a relatively short amount of time.

As a guide, I will spell out the way we planned our trip, add some pictures for good measure and links so you can click and do some research beyond my blog. I hope this will help you realize your European vacation! Going there was a dream come true and I want the same for you!

MY STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

1. We picked dates. Sounds like a no-brainer but this is crucial to any trip, especially Europe. We chose July because we wanted summer but it was very hot! We also wanted to get in the water in Capri, go to the beach in Mykonos, etc. Not to mention, we needed a time while the kids were not in school so summer was our option.

2. Decide where you want to start. We knew we wanted to go to Florence and see where Riley went to school and lived during her semester abroad. We also wanted to simply spend some time there and in the Tuscan countryside, experience the culture, eat the food and drink the wine. So, we flew into Florence and chose to stay there for five days. That was a perfect start to the trip!

We stayed in an Air B&B that I highly recommend in a wonderful location. Silvia, a superhost, was great, the place was very clean and it was really spacious. The only part that I need to mention is the amount of stairs to the unit in case you have limitations. There were sixty to be exact and they were steep. Stairs are very common in Italy so prepare to haul your luggage! I tried to think of it as a great way to work off all the gelato! ;)

Air B & B in Florence Here is where we stayed:

Day 1 in Florence:

We arrived in Florence on July 20th, a full day later then we should have after having our flights fully cancelled, then rebooked. We should have left on the 18th and arrived on the 19th, but we ended up leaving on the 19th at 11:00am EST and arriving around 2:00pm Florence time on the 20th. The total combined flight time was just shy of 14 hours. Not bad thanks to Netflix and podcasts.

We hired a driver from the airport to the Air B&B. I would highly recommend not to rely on getting a tax during the busy season. This was about $100 for all six of us and all of our luggage fit in the van. **Sidenote: We only packed carry-on bags and did not check anything! No risk of losing luggage!

Here is a link to the transport we chose: Viator Transport

Once at the hotel (and up the steps!), we settled in, freshened up and headed out to wander the streets. There is something to see on every corner in Florence! We felt extremely safe, the people were very friendly and the options for exploration are endless! There are museums and statues, restaurants and bars, gardens and bridges. At every turn, you can soak up the culture.

For dinner we made reservations at La Giostra. It was delicious and a fun experience! I highly recommend enjoying a meal there and trying a lot of different things on the menu!

Things that I learned about dining in Florence are:

1. You aren't in a rush!

2. You don't have to tip but they greatly appreciate it!

3. Water is not free. And you are always offered still or sparking.

4. They do not have Diet Coke.

5. The food is amazing!

Here is the link to La Giostra where the fan favorite was the amazing pear ravioli!

Day 2 in Florence:

For our second day in Florence, we booked a full day experience called Fun in Tuscany which sounds cheesy and touristy (which normally makes me cringe!) but wasn't at all! My daughter Bailey and her fiancee Grant had done this when visiting Italy earlier in the summer, so we had intel that it was worth the time and money. I can attest that it was!

We had to meet the man picking us up for the day's adventure about a mile away, so we went a bit early to grab coffee and breakfast at Cafe Gamberini. It was the cutest place with the most delicious food! Highly recommend.

Danielle, our driver, picked us up at nine o'clock and took us to see some amazing sights and views around Florence. Just looking out over the city, it is impossible not to be overwhelmed by the history and beauty. From the the Duomo of Florence, to the unique architecture of the homes. it is a truly remarkable place. What struck me the most about Danielle while we spent time with him taking in the views, was how proud he was to be from Italy and how much history he knew about his country! It was absolutely inspiring.

We were taken to an adorable horse farm where were went on a beautiful ride through

the countryside and vineyards. We all had a blast, the horses were well-behaved and the scenery was lovely. It was extremely hot, so for the sake of the horses and riders, the guide did a great job keeping us in the shade as much as possible while still allowing us to take in the views.

Next, we headed to San Gimignano, which is an Italian hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Florence. Encircled by 13th-century walls, the breathtaking town basically circles around the Piazza della Cisterna, a square lined with medieval houses. There you can see a bunch of medieval towers, including the stone Torre Grossa, as well as the Duomo of San Gimignano, a 12th century church. There are quaint restaurants and adorable shops. We even tried some award winning gelato at Gelateria Dondoli where I highly recommend any flavor but enjoyed the pistachio down to the last drop.

Fattorio Poggio Alloro was our next stop. There we toured the farm where they raise Chianina cattle and also produce wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The vineyard was beautiful and exactly what you would expect in Italy. There they also have rooms where you can stay, as well as wine tastings and a great restaurant. We had a pretty extensive wine tasting and a multi-course meal, which was delicious! (I still dream of the bruschetta!) Family owned and operated, the whole place exudes warmth and made for such fun experience!

Overall, this was one of the best days of the trip! So much fun and a mix of experiences! I highly recommend doing this if you spend some time in Florence!

After heading back to Florence from San Gimignano, we walked around some more and then went back to clean up for dinner. We left a bit early to stop by one of the infamous wine windows in hopes to grab a Aperal or Hugo Spritz. These are super cute and the girls loved getting pictures!

This night, we had an incredible meal at Filetto De Oro and enjoyed a mix of foods so we could try a lot of different things! They had great steak, yummy pasta and wonderful dessert!

Day 3 in Florence:

One of Riley's favorite coffee shops and breakfast joints while studying abroad was Melaleuca. It is super cute and the food is great! We started the morning off of day three, enjoying the view of the Arno River.

The rest of the early afternoon was spent wandering, shopping and exploring. Todd loved the suit shops and Hogan enjoyed the fancy sneaker shops. The girls and I liked the boutiques and pottery/ceramic stores.

Next stop was Boboli Gardens, a historic garden that was first open to the public in 1766. It was beautiful! As the granddaughter of a florist, I appreciate a green thumb and the fruits of his/her labor.

Our final dinner in Florence was very causal yet one of the best! We loved the pizza at Mamma Mia Firenze. Riley had frequented this place while studying abroad and so we knew we would have to try it! Todd is still dreaming of their pizza!

Day 4 Florence to Civitevecchia:

This was a travel day for us. We decided to split our means of travel throughout the trip between land and sea in an effort to avoid the major "schlep" that can come with traversing a country with multiple travelers and bags as well as in an effort to see a bunch of places in a relatively short amount of time. So, leg two of our trip was a cruise and we needed to get from Florence to the port in Civitevecchia, a seaside town outside of Rome.

The cruise was the only part of the trip that we used a travel agent. I have no doubt our agent would have been helpful for the whole trip, however, I enjoy researching, booking and organizing our travel so I did the rest of the planning. She was very helpful when booking the cruise, getting the best deals and making sure our rooms were adjoining, etc. Sandi Riemer helped us book our cruise and was fantastic so I highly recommend you reach out to her for your trip!

The cruise we booked was through Royal Caribbean. We booked three rooms. One for Todd and I, and two for the kids to share. For cost purposes, Todd and I had a room with a balcony that we all enjoyed and the kids had interior rooms. We didn't spend a lot of time on the boat nor in the rooms, so this was totally acceptable. The ship was only two years old and very nice. The food and staff were great!

Here was the itinerary:

Our Itinerary

To get from Florence to Civitavecchia, we had to walk our luggage a little over a mile through the cobblestone streets of Florence to get to the Santa Maria Novella train station. We had pre-booked our tickets to Civitavecchia via Italia Rail . This was about a three and a half hour train ride with multiple stops and switches. Definitely not fun but the trains are equipped with WIFI and are pretty comfortable, so that was fine. Just part of it!

Once in Civitavecchia at the train station, we had to get to the port. With a million bags. With a few hangry kids. And with the knowledge that we had made the right decision booking a cruise and not doing the train travel every other day. Thankfully, the port was very close to the train station...roughly a mile. So we just drug our bags again and made it to the place where the cruise bus picks you up to take you to the port. Pretty simple but not spelled out very well prior to arrival.

Once through all the security and bag checks, we boarded the ship! It was a long day, so we were happy to get on board, shower and clean up for dinner.

Travel days are tiring, so we looked forward to a quiet ship day the following day on the way to Greece.

Cruising Day 1:

We just chilled out. The trip had been and would be most days, all gas no brakes. So, a nice day of reading in the sun, relaxing and chillin' out was nice. I am not someone that loves cruise days because I love to go-go-go, however, this day was a nice reset.

A few perks to cruising as your transportation from place to place is that you have a hub. We also love eating dinner at the same table every night that we eat on the ship with the same waiters. We grow to have a relationship with them and it is fun to get to know them, where they are from and things like that.

We also enjoy the shows in the evenings. Royal Caribbean offers a lot of different types of entertainment, such as a great magician one night to some amazing vocalists another night. These things help pass the time between ports of call.

Santorini:

Santorini in one word? Breathtaking.

We had from 1:00pm until 11:00pm in Santorini. You have to take a tender boat, provided by the cruise ship, from the ship to land. From the base of the island to the top, it is extremely steep. You can walk, which even as someone who loves to workout, I do not recommend. There are mules & donkeys everywhere and it is super slippery. We chose to take the cable (like a gondola) up.

From there, we walked around a little bit, but in Santorini the best part is the view! So I had booked at room at Agali Houses for the day so we could just enjoy the resort, swim in the pool, soak in the view and have a nice poolside bar. This also gave us a place to clean up before dinner. The price isn't cheap, but we all agreed it was one of our favorite days and was totally worth it! ** Sidenote: Make sure to book the exact number of guests.

After soaking up the rays all day, we cleaned up and headed to dinner. I had made reservations months prior at Remvi Restaurant and asked specifically for a table outside with a view of the Caldera. The food was good, staff was very sweet but the view was the best part. The sun set around 8:30pm, so if you go in July, make your reservation in the ballpark of 7:00pm.

After dinner, I recommend walking and seeing the views of Santorini in the dark with all the lights lit up and shining. So pretty!

The last and final thing you must do, is make your way back down the hill. We decided to walk down because the cable line was super long and we didn't want to be late to get on the tender boat. This was an interesting experience of dodging donkeys and manure, trying to not slip on said manure, laughing super hard and sweating a lot. Still a great memory! For planning purposes, it takes about 40 minutes to go down the switchback when it is slippery!

Ephesus, Turkey:

Turkey was the only port where I decided it was best to go with a Royal Caribbean planned excursion. I booked the "Best of Ephesus" tour via the ship. This was the basic itinerary of Best of Ephesus. This tour seemed to mix a bit of the history of the ancient town but also added some of the Biblical elements. More info can be found on the Royal Caribbean site.

First, we went to the home that is believed to be where the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, lived until the end of her life. I was skeptical, but after being taught that she was entrusted to Apostle John by Jesus before his death on the cross, it made since since John lived in Ephesus and was buried there as well.

We then toured the ancient town of Ephesus, which was awesome. I loved seeing how well they built everything and how beautiful and intricate it was even so long ago. We even saw the statue of what inspired the Nike swish, which Hogan thought was amazing.

Seeing where Paul preached to the Ephesians was something I found awe-inspiring. The fact that, at the time, the natural acoustics carried well enough for him to speak to thousands is a testament to their resourcefulness.

Truly amazing!

Last, we went to see where Apostle John was buried. Knowing that we were walking on the same ground as one of Jesus' dearest friends, the "one he loved", was moving for sure.

It was a really remarkable day and we all enjoyed this part of the tour!

The end of the tour was at a rug shop, which we didn't really like, so no need to elaborate! (If you are into very expensive Turkish rugs, this may have been your jam.)

Mykonos:

Finley turned 17 on July 27th, which was the day we went to Mykonos. (Lucky girl!)

We had from about 8:00am to 6pm on the island once off the tender boat, so we booked a breakfast reservation at Blu Blu Mykonos as a fun birthday celebration. It was so delicious and the view was very pretty. It was just about a five minute walk from where the boat pulled in. Super accessible!

The town of Mykonos is absolutely adorable, so we spent a few hours wandering around, shopping and taking pictures.

Next, we walked to the famous Windmills which are right near town.

They were so pretty!

Near the Windmills, there was a bus station where we bought to and from tickets and went to Ornos Beach. There were several beach clubs with bars and waiters that offered beach loungers and umbrellas. To rent two large lounge chairs and an umbrella was about $90. We spent about three hours there enjoying the sun, sand and sights. We even ordered some delicious sushi and snacks for ease. The water is stunning and the boats are fun to watch. It was a nice, relaxing way to enjoy Mykonos.

We had to head back towards the ship, so we hopped back on the bus (which came every thirty minutes). My advice would be to make sure you have extra time because the bus stops several times and you do not want to be late.

Once back on the ship, we cleaned up and had a delicious dinner and caught a great show!

Cruising Day 2:

This was very similar to cruising day 1 and

a nice relaxing way to break up the week!

Capri:

Our final destination proved to be one of the best! We docked in Naples and our plan was laid out ahead of time, knowing we wanted to go straight to Capri.

I booked a ferry boat for 9:30am and a return boat for 3:25pm via Mr Ferry. Super easy and seamless.

Once to Capri, we had about an hour and a half to wander around, so we walked up the very steep streets to the top of the city. The shopping and restaurants up there were very beautiful and high-end and the streets were so quaint. Definitely worth the climb!

We walked back down the hill to meet the man we had booked for a private boat tour around the island. He was great and I highly recommend the company!

We booked this: Capri Boat Tour

We got to go around the island, see multiple sights and grottos and get in the water a few times. We never felt rushed and were able to soak it all in! We did not go to the Blue Grotto, which I know is supposed to be amazing, simply due to that fact that it is very touristy and takes awhile to get through the line to only see it for a few minutes. We decided we would rather spend our time seeing a lot of different areas around the island.

We all collectively LOVED Capri. It was so beautiful and the water was so many different colors.

We were off the boat at 2:45pm with enough time to grab a bite of Naple's best pizza and then board the ship.

Our last night aboard was perfect with a few hours to clean up, pack our stuff to depart the next morning early and have a lovely dinner.

Ship to Airport:

Our flight home left at 11:00am out of Rome, so we needed to move quickly to get to the airport. We booked transport right off the ship and it was very seamless. We used Connecto and they were very timely, clean and efficient.

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I know this was loads of info, but I have had lots of friends and family members asked about the itinerary and details of our trip so I thought it might be helpful. In addition, this was a great diary of sorts for me!

Thanks for hanging on until the end!

Feel free to email me at kellyhostutler@gmail.com with any questions or let me know about your trip should you do something similar!

With Love and Limoncello 🍋, Kelly

All the world's problems could be solved with advice from the Berenstain Bears.

2021-01-26T13:35:00.013-05:00

I don't know what the future looks like but I do know that in the past I read a lot of Berenstain Bears books. As a child, my parents read them to me and my siblings. I now have bought almost every single book written by Jan and Stan Berenstain and their equally talented son Mike for my four kids. Their messages are timeless and simple, yet always on point and applicable for the moment. Recently, after reading a few of the books to my kids, it crossed my mind that if the world took to heart the basic examples and lessons demonstrated by the precious family of bears that come from a "sunny dirt road deep in Bear country", the world just might be a better place for all of us.

In this post, I would like to break down a handful of these book titles and pull from them the example they teach and how it could impact our world if we all followed suit.

1. PATIENCE, PLEASE.

"When is our garden going to sprout?" they asked Mama and Papa. "You have to be patient," said Mama. "Have faith that what you have planted will grow in God's good time." - Taken from The Berenstain Bears Patience, Please by Mike Berenstain.

This one doesn't need much explanation. We all need patience. We need it with our kids when we find ourselves delivering the forty fifth-glass of water to them prior to bedtime. We need it at work when a fellow co-worker seems to always drop the ball yet seems to get the promotion regardless. We need it with our spouse and our friends when they don't meet our needs. We need it in traffic and we need it to be still. But lately, we need it more than ever.

Change can be scary. The pandemic has caused us to be super patient waiting for the days to feel normal again. Our government changes and the recent election, no matter what side of the aisle you are on, has demanded a dire need of patience. Hear me out. Things don't always happen overnight. Life happens in the in-between. Don't miss this! Don't forget that between a second ago and the future is the present and it is a gift. Stop anxiously waiting for the perfect time to do the perfect thing. There is never a perfect time. Be patient for your dreams and your goals. Realize that the process is beautiful too. There are lessons to learn and experiences to be had that can be missed when only fixing your eyes on what is ahead. Planning and dreaming are wonderful things to do but only if they don't take away from the path it requires to get to them. It is a path of patience.

2. BLAZE A TRAIL.

"'Now mark the trail,'" Sister read from the book, "'so others can follow the path you took.'" - Taken from The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Sometimes the path you see for yourself isn't a path yet taken so it seems scary to set foot upon that path. But oftentimes, others are just waiting for someone else to go first. Maybe that someone is you. Maybe that someone is me.

Taking a leap of faith, doing something different or blazing a new trail isn't always popular especially in the day and age that we are living in with constant images of what is "in" and what is "out". But new things, places, experiences, dreams don't begin as "in" or as "out" because they are new. And new is amazing. New gives you permission to be authentic. it gives you permission to be first at something. It could be an opinion. A style. A way of thinking. Whatever it is, it will be yours.

My oldest two kids, Riley and Bailey, were nineteen months apart. The next two kids came about four and half years later and 2 years and nine months apart. Riley and Bailey joke that they were the "trial kids". I would agree to some extent. Todd and I were young and inexperienced as parents. But with the newness of parenting came lots of first for us together. I cherish those firsts. We blazed a trail together and figured out what it was for us to do this thing called parent/child and we made it work our way. When friends couldn't meet us for dinner because their kids had to hit the sack at 8:07pm on the dot, we just took our kids with us. When we wanted to squeeze in a workout, when would take the kids to the playground and make the playground our gym. We knew that we not only had to fit in their lives but they also had to fit in ours.

Moral of the story is that it is ok to do something different. It is ok to challenge the system or go against the popular way, to spark a new trend or to plan a new adventure. You just might inspire someone else to do the same.

3.THE JOY OF GIVING. GIVE THANKS.

"You know what the Good Book says," Mama told them. "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

"We know," said Brother. "We receive an awful lot, so it's time we gave some of it back." - Taken from The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by Jan and Mike Berenstain.

Have you ever been so excited about a gift you have for someone that keeping it a secret is almost unbearable? You just can't wait to see them open it, receive it and ultimately enjoy it! But have you ever thought about that in regards to Christ? He has given us gift after gift and sometimes we are too busy to notice or too eager to move on to the next thing that we don't take the time to enjoy it. If the person you gave the gift that you were so excited about barely noticed it or acknowledged it, how would it make you feel? Pretty crummy, right? It would seem ungrateful. You would feel let down and disappointed. You would be hurt and probably sad.

Thinking about this makes us feel pretty upset because we are all guilty of this. We take a long trip to the beach and never think about the fact that the Lord delivered us safely to the destination. Gift. We get to see an old friend, spend time with them and regret when we realize that friendship has been taken for granted. Gift. We get a promotion at work and feel so proud of our hard work to earn it yet forget that God had a bit to do with it too and that somewhere on the other end of that blessing is the person that didn't get the promotion. Gift.

But the blessings keep coming despite our lack of appreciation for so many of them. The biggest blessing of all being Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection! He gave us grace. And the best part about grace is that we can both receive and give it. It too is a gift.

So we all need to pay attention to the blessings big and small. We need to be grateful and because of that gratitude we need to pay it all forward. We need to spot those in need. We need to be quiet enough to hear the voice of God urging us to step up and help someone. There is joy in giving. My sweet friend Carol passed away last year of cancer and at her memorial service a friend spoke about her take on accepting help. She looked at it just as Acts 20:35 quotes Jesus stating it, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." So, she thought that by allowing someone to help her, it was ultimately blessing them. What a great way to see it!

4. COMPUTER TROUBLE.

"Computers have their uses - they're great for work or play. But it's not a good idea just to stare at them all day! - Taken from The Berenstain Bears Computer Trouble by Jan and Mike Berenstain.

When I was in college we didn't have cell phones, even the flip variety. We would somehow just know where to meet our friends after class without texting or tracking their location. We had no idea if we were missing out on a party or event because it wasn't broadcasted across multiple social media platforms. We might find out a day later but it was basically too late to care. We didn't have the ability to Google anything, ask Siri anything or even rely on Alexa. And, get this, we survived.

On the flip side, we didn't have the benefits of all the fun pictures, instant access to anything we want to see or learn about or the ability to find our friends the minute we needed them. We didn't have Google to help with homework, Snapchat to make our faces look like a dog or without a blemish, or even a calculator attached to us at all times for instant help with math. Some of these things are fun and super helpful.

But one thing that I can say is that we were blissfully unaware at times. When you don't have access to every piece of news, slice of information and instant update, you don't worry about as much. You live with your eyes looking up at the world, not down at someone else's world condensed to a small screen. There was a bit more connection in a world that was technically less connected.

I am not bashing the internet. I love it! I love finding new recipes on Pinterest. I love Instagram both as a consumer and contributor. I enjoy apps such as Words with Friends. But I know that I feel yucky when I know I have had too much screen time. And I have to remind myself that not everything I read on the internet is true. Recently, I added a timer on my phone only allotting so much time to screen time. It is definitely a positive move and I would encourage you to consider it also. We get one life. Do you want to live yours out or on a screen?

5. SHOW SOME RESPECT. THAT'S SO RUDE.

"But Mama!" Protested Sister. "It's a really rotten day and I felt grumpy and -"

"That's no excuse," said Mama. "It's easy to be pleasant and have good manners when the sun is shining and everything is going well. The challenge is to be polite and pleasant to everyone when things are going badly." - Taken from The Berenstain Bears That's So Rude by Mike Berenstain.

This year, I have noticed that manners and respect have been endangered. There have been a lot of political debates, social and environmental challenges and, the icing on the cake, a worldwide pandemic. Couple these things with the open forum of the internet and you have a perfect storm. It seems like a lot of people think that because it is typed it doesn't have to be kind. Respect for the opinion of others and simply being openminded seem to be things of the past. But it doesn't have to be that way. Just because someone believes something you don't or because they agree with a different outlook doesn't mean that they are a terrible person and deserve ridicule for all to see.

My mom used to say that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I would have to agree. That doesn't mean you can't be honest in a kind way. Honesty doesn't have to be rude. For example, here are two ways of being truthful.

Friend: "Do these jeans make me look fat?"

Honest (but rude) answer: "Yes."

Friend: "Do these jeans make me look fat?"

Honest (but kind) answer: "I think that another pair would flatter you more."

See the difference? Maybe if we just checked ourselves prior to commenting on somebody's post or jumping in on someone's argument, we could have a world of discussion versus a world of division. Next time you begin to want to jump in on a heated debate, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Will I be reflecting Christ in how I comment?

2. Will I offer value in what I am saying?

3. Is this about my pride or my positive contribution?

I want to finish this section with one more note. Saying things with kindness also often sinks in more. When you are rude or hateful or come across judgmental or without regard for someone else's opinion, your credibility will suffer. Say what you have to say if you truly feel the need and then show some respect and also LISTEN.

6. LEARN ABOUT STRANGERS.

"But in some important ways they were different." - Taken from The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers.

This book mostly discusses the need to be careful with strangers in hopes to protect kids from danger. And there are lessons to learn there for people of all ages, but I want to talk about strangers a bit differently.

Our country is a melting pot. There are people from all over the world that have come to the states to call it home. There are people from many walks of life, financial background, age, skin color, height, weight, mindset, intelligence, etc. There are people that look different, act different, have different physical and mental strengths and weaknesses than us. They can all feel like strangers. But do you remember when you first started kindergarten and you didn't know anyone and it was so exciting? You were thrust into a room with lots of kids from different lives and you were swimming in strangers. But guess what? You had things in common too. But you didn't know that until you took the time to get to know them. Suddenly, they were no longer strangers because they became friends.

I am not foolish to think that every stranger we meet will become a friend. And I also know that it isn't as easy now to become friends with a new person as it was when you were sitting with them all day in a classroom sharing paint and crayons. But I do think that opening your mind to people that are different is what makes your world colorful.

7. THE BLAME GAME.

"Of course, there are times," said Papa, "when someone really is to blame for something. But most of the time, it's important to remember there's usually enough blame to go around." - Taken from The Berenstain Bears and the Blame Game by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

It is hard to be hurt. It is difficult when things don't go our way or when we don't get what we want. Marriages fail. Accidents happen. Bad decisions are made. Mistakes occur. Friendships fall apart. And when these things happen, it is easier on our hearts to look to someone or something else and blame them on it so that we don't have to look internally and see our own shortcomings.

Blame allows us to look out instead of in. When we look in we have to get real and real makes us vulnerable. But I believe that vulnerability breeds true authentic friendships and relationships. When we can fail and say we are sorry, we open up the idea to the other person that they have that luxury too. They realize, as do we, that we don't have to be perfect to be in that relationship. We both just have to be honest with one another.

Trying to be perfect and even striving to be perfect is a lost cause. There was one, and there will always solely be, one perfect person that ever walked the face of this earth and His name is Jesus. Striving to be like Him is wonderful but thinking that we can be perfect, not so much. What we need to strive to be is full of grace. For ourselves and for others. And when we get hurt, we have to be open to receive the apology made by another and give forgiveness. But what is even more difficult than that is to give grace when the other person isn't sorry. The do not have to earn your grace. We didn't earn it from Jesus, did we? He freely gave it. I encourage you, stop the blame game and start living with the grace that was gifted to you. It will be freeing!

8. THE GOLDEN RULE. SAY THEIR PRAYERS.

Do to others what you would have them do to you. - Matthew 7:12

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - Matthew 7:7

Of all the books I have mentioned, these two are the two that I feel the most strongly about and want to finish with a few thoughts about them. Neither require much discussion because they are both so simple yet so vital for our country, our world, our families, our churches, our workplaces, our schools and our humanity.

Treat others as you would want to be treated. It is simple. If you and I would keep this as the guideline to all we say, type, screenshot, share and tweet, it would be a game changer.

Pray. Above all else, we have a direct line to Jesus and it is by prayer. We need to pray. Pray little. Nothing is little to God. Pray big. He can answer big prayers. And pray huge. Nothing is bigger than our God.

CONCLUSION.

We may not live in Bear Country and our problems may be bigger than Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother Bear, but I have an inkling that they were on to something. Patience, bravery, gratitude, giving, self-control, respect, kindness, open-mindedness and a humble spirit are all very connected to what the Bible calls the Fruits of the Spirit. Wouldn't the world be a lot sweeter if we all worked to have more of that kind of fruit?

P.S. Thank you to Jan, Stan and Mike Berenstain for writing incredible books for children that provide wonderful lessons to us all.

SENIORITIS20 : The Nationwide Epidemic

2020-04-23T08:17:00.004-04:00

SENIORITIS20: A Nationwide Epidemic

SENIORITIS. The Oxford Dictionary defines this word as "a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance". That definition may become vintage after the Coronavirus Pandemic. The class of 2020, now often referred to as the Class of COVID19, is suffering from a new strain of Senioritis: Senioritis20.
Where the old symptoms of Senioritis were things such as low motivation to attend class, loss of appetite for math and english, intermittent daydreaming and things of that nature, the new Senioritis20 symptoms are much more serious. I will define some of the most obvious symptoms here so that you can be attentive, ready and able to diagnose this condition in a loved one, friend or family member. I will also give some helpful hints as to how to best ward off this disease while we anxiously await the cure.

In no particular order and not limited to, here are some of the most common symptoms of Senioritis20:

1. A STRONG DESIRE TO ATTEND SCHOOL. This can be a bit alarming depending on the person that develops this symptom. Often times, the patient is even taken aback by this desire after years of hard fought "sick" days, spring, winter and summer break countdowns and even daily complaining about the need to attend said school. This symptom is often caused by the sad realization that sometimes love and hate can coincide and that maybe Mrs.Woolsey and her ripped panty hose, body odor and constant sniffles wasn't really all that bad first thing every morning in A block.

2. NOSTAGLIA. It isn't unusual for a patient to want to walk down memory lane. Even if you know that the actual event wasn't as sweet as the revisited recap, walk the road with them. They are spending the last weeks of their senior year basically alone in quarantine. They could use some company. If you are older and it's been a hot minute since you yourself graduated or if you didn't necessarily love your high school experience, it may be hard to comprehend why this period of time is so sad for the patient. It may seem petty or silly to you when you are up at night worried about your tanking 401k, your job or lack-there-of, or simply paying the bills, but to them this is a time that they will never get back. Thirteen years of schooling has brought them to Graduation: a Rite of Passage! They have made it through mid-terms and finals, athletic wins and losses, personal events, bullying and Saturday morning detentions, sad times and happy times. They have, in a lot of cases, spent more time walking the halls of their school on a given day than in their home. Even though they were anticipating change due to graduation, they were not anticipating change that would cancel the very things that have been looking forward to all year. There isn't as much excitement to the icing when you can't share the cake with the ones who baked it with you.

3. ANGER. Who can blame them? They are mad. This disease sucks, has no current cure and who really wants to have a drive-in graduation or graduation parade? Sure, these solutions are a good salve to the wound but they are just covering the gaping hole of pain that only flipping a tassel in person could remedy.

4. LACK OF CLOSURE. Don't romanticize this one folks. Sure, some patients are upset about not seeing their best friends again in the halls of school or having one last lunch table gab session. But these aren't the people that the patient truly needs the closure and will forever have to accept not obtaining. Well, then what kind of closure do they need? I will give you a few examples:

1. The quiet kid in class that has tried for four years to work up enough courage to ask the popular girl out on a date and was "this close" to doing so. Cornona 1 - Quiet kid 0
2. The kid that sat the bench all year and couldn't wait to get one more chance to prove himself to the coach. Corona 2 - Athlete 0
3. The teacher who has been working all year with a student they believe in and truly feels they are almost to where they fully grasp a concept. Corona 3 - Teacher 0
4. The kid that has problems at home and was about to work up the nerve to tell the counselor and seek help. Corona 4 - Kid who needs help 0
5. The kid that worked so hard to climb the ranks of student council to become president and has looked forward to giving the speech at graduation. Corona 5 - StuCo president 0

See what I mean? Things were happening. Kids are grieving the what-ifs!

5. FEAR. This symptom of Senioritis20 can be one of the most severe and it can be crippling. Fear is also known to cause night sweats, mood swings, tears and even diarrhea. I have heard it said that all emotions come from two places: love and fear. Well, my friends, fear isn't always presented in the prettiest manner and can often come out disguised as a snippy attitude, grumpiness, sleepiness and even extreme sadness.
High school was a cocoon. A safe haven. Even if it was often used as a derogatory term, school was actually cool. Everybody was doin' it! The teachers, even the ones often complained about, were familiar. The walls and halls of the building were like home. They were covered in artwork, school event posters, science projects, photography and other things that were proof of life in the place that housed the dreaded classes and exams and anticipated pep-rallies and games. Being told that the patient cannot return "home" is unsettling. It is scary. They find themselves in a limbo between childhood and independence, vaguely divided by a sort-of abyss rather than the originally planned graduation ceremony with physical passing of the diploma and tossing of the hat. The seniors now sit alone in their rooms in front of a screen all day that was otherwise constantly something they were told to "stop staring at". Their work is electronic, their correspondence difficult and synthetic seeming and their tests aren't even truly tests because they have access to the answers right behind them on their bed or nightstand. Their world is no longer familiar. The patient longs for the past, albeit one they could not wait to move on from in anticipation of college, because it is a warm blanket compared to the uncertainty that lies ahead. Couple this will a worldwide pandemic that is killing thousands and you have fear.

6. OVERPOSTING. The only treatment for this symptom is grace. Good ole fashioned, bite-your-tongue-and-don't-unfollow grace. Even if you see the patient post the same nostalgic Junior Prom photo forty five times on Instagram, click the LIKE button! Give them the support that you are able to give with one touch of your finger. Not THE finger. I know that seeing Mary run around town in her soon-to-be-unused graduation gown and cap shooting pictures in her old stomping grounds will be cute the first time, but once Mary's friends see what Mary is doing the whole town's worth of seniors will be doing the same. Like them anyway. And add a heart emoji for good measure.

7. DEFEAT. Be on the lookout for this symptom. It is the last one I will mention and likely the most concerning. If you notice your patient to seem unsurprised when another event is cancelled, take note. If they begin to talk about taking a gap year next year, already anticipating the cancellation of college in the fall, take note. If their facial expression doesn't change at all when discussing alternate graduation ideas and potential ways to make it special or how to celebrate even if a party isn't going to happen due to social distancing, be alarmed. They haven't worked this hard to quit now! The antidote is creativity! Help them dig deep. In a world where there isn't as much as usual to look forward to, make something! Remind them that maybe they aren't going to get the graduation that everyone else got to have but maybe, just maybe, they will get the graduation that everyone remembers! Different isn't always bad. The class that was born into the chaos of 9/11 wasn't meant to be defeated. They were meant to be trailblazers, challenged by change and eager to make the world a better place!

So now what? We have diagnosed our patients and we have some advice on how to manage them. But is it really enough to manage their cases? I don't know about you but I want a cure to this Senioritis20 epidemic! I want the long term side-effects of the disease to forever remind them of what they beat. I want them to see the strong desire to attend school as a reminder that they are blessed to have had a place where they had the freedom to learn and grow. I want their nostalgia to always be a part of them so that they don't take things for granted in life knowing that at any time and without warning, they can be taken. I want their anger to be channeled into drive and determination to find a way to make the best of the situation which will further educate them on one of life's greatest lessons. Like Nicolas Evans said, "Life isn't about what happens to you, it's about how you handle what happens". I want the scars of the lack of closure to always remind them to not wait for a perfect time to do something because the perfect time is often the present. I want them to learn to react more from love than fear because love comes from God. He is the giver of all things good. Regarding of the over-posting, I want them to look back one day and see those memories and all the "LIKES" and be reminded of the community, family and friend group that surrounded them with grace and love at a really tough time in their life and be driven to return the favor. Where defeat is concerned, I am not worried about that. This group of Seniors has grown up learning from some of the most dedicated, selfless, giving people the world has ever seen. From the first responders at Ground Zero in 2011 to the current ICU units filled with exhausted doctors and nurses all across our nation to the brave soldiers continuing to fight for our freedom, these kids have been taught by a lifelong example that defeat isn't an option.

So if Senioritis was defined in the Oxford Dictionary as a "decline in motivation of performance", I can only imagine Seniorits20 will be added before we know it under the antonym for Seniortis as "a strong increase in productivity, positivity and gratitude" due to the realization that life isn't about the moments that we mourn but the moments that we seize.

Cheers to the Class of 2020!

Dedicated to my Senior!

Intentional and Organized in 2016

2016-01-07T21:52:00.000-05:00

My second goal for 2016 is to get more organized and intentional with my time. Between working real estate full time at Semonin, owning Crossfit Fixation, raising four kids between the ages of 6-15, caring for a horse, a dog, and a husband I am pretty stretched thin! I operate best with a full schedule and a lot on my plate...hench the name of my blog and what has become our family "brand"! My life is organized chaos. But I know I have room for improvement and this year I intend to be intentional about that. Here are a few ways I plan to get it together...

DINNERS:

Weeks when I meal plan for at least three days out I feel a lot more relaxed. The end of the day scramble to decide what I am going to make for dinner that is healthy AND quick isn't fun. I want to get back to meal planning and cut back on my trips to the grocery. Also, the grocery bill will drop when I am not running into Kroger or Fresh Market on impulse.

LAUNDRY:

Ugh. Literally three loads of laundry a day is what I have to complete to actually stay on top of the laundry in my house! My oldest two daughters help with the laundry and my husband is laundry king but I am sporadic! When we built our home I made the laundry room large and fun so that I would WANT to do laundry...

MY OFFICE:

It stresses me out to think about it! I work a lot from home and I am certain that I work better with an organized workplace! This Christmas, my office became the catch-all for every catalog that came along that I didn't have a chance to glance through and every piece of artwork made at school! My dad (being the jokester that he is) left me a note after visiting with a "to-do" list. I put this picture on my Instagram with his note and a picture of my office in its current state making fun of my own mess...

But it should really look more like this pending I follow my own advice and get more organized...

PSYCH...

Of course I don't have a picture of a clean office. That would mean it would have to have ever been in complete order...

TIME:

Something that I have been reading about and paying a lot of attention to is time. Last year I started a book club with a small group of women. We chose faith based books that focused on areas of our lives that needed improvement. One of the books we chose was THE BEST YES by Lysa Terkeurst. It talked about the importance of saying YES to things that really make sense in your life and not answering yes to everything to avoid conflict, appease people, etc. Lysa says to choose wisely what you do with your time so that you can have time for the things that really matter like family and quiet time. Sounds easy, right? Not so much! Especially with class room obligations at the kids schools, work demands, friends and their invites, volunteer options, etc. She reminded me that I shouldn't say MAYBE rather answer definitively if I know in my gut that I probably don't have time or even want to do whatever it is I have been asked. Lasty, she drove home the point that I don't have to explain myself. As the old saying goes..." No means No".

I highly recommend Lysa TerKeurst's book THE BEST YES

So, my goal this year is to just be intentional and organized. To think before I agree to something. To decide if it works for my family. To decide if agreeing to some obligation will make me stressed out and stretched and eventually effect the positivity of my home. To get organized so that things run more smoothly at work and at home and so we have more room for FUN!

I could list a million more places in my life where I could implement intentionally and organization! I hop emu few examples will inspire some of you to do the same! XOXO - Kelly

www.tyme-is-honey.com

www.becauseimaddicted.net

Be More Present in 2016

2016-01-05T17:00:00.004-05:00

My number one goal for 2016 is to be more present. I need to improve on being 100% committed to whatever I am doing at the moment I am doing it. I catch myself responding to texts while talking to my kids. I don't want to be the mom that halfway listens. That spends too much time behind a screen and not enough time in front of real people...especially little people that God has trusted me to raise! The moments are fleeting. They are precious. I need to prioritize and strategize to make each minute count.

One thing that really sticks out in my mind is the trip that my husband Todd and I went on about a year and a half ago. We traveled with a handful of members from our church along with a member of World Vision (www.worldvision.com) to Ethiopia. The trip was amazing and eye-opening and life-changing. We loved on the people of Abaya, a large village about 2 hours from Addis Ababa. We shared God's love and had a blast doing it. I remember so much about that trip. I remember the smell of the red clay. I remember specific faces of kids and their ripped clothes. I remember the songs that they sang and the scent of the school rooms that took your breath away. It occurred to me recently that I remember so much about that trip because I was UNPLUGGED. There was no WiFi. There was no cell service. I was PRESENT. I was in the moment soaking in the experience. I felt feelings fully and carry with me the memories of that amazing adventure and will forever.

I want to EXPERIENCE like that all the time. The smell of my kids after a warm bath. Their laughter in the halls. Their sweet voices and quiet whispers. Those things matter. I tell my older kids all the time that they should live life and not spend too much time watching other people live on Instagram, Facebook, Visco, etc. I need to take heed.

Below is a video that I put together of some of the bazillion pictures I took in Ethiopia. Take a look! I think it might inspire you too!

Another slideshow by Smilebox

GOAL SETTING

2016-01-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

Resolutions and I don't really get along. I think it is something about the pressure of them. The commitment maybe. But GOALS, goals are something I set. I like the challenge of meeting them, the organization of watching myself reach the stepping stones along the way to completing them, and ultimately the feeling of success when achieving them. So, I have decided to publicly declare my personal goals for 2016.... (insert drumroll please)...

GOALS: (in no particular order...)
#1. To be more present.
#2. To be more intentional and organized.
#3. To be in the best shape of my life when I turn the big 4-0 on November 12, 2016!
#4. To read a book a month.
#5. To read the ENTIRE Bible. Including Leviticus...
#6. To blog more. Even if nobody ever reads it but me. It helps me document my crazy life. .
#7. To meet my real estate goals...
- Implement new marketing strategies
- Meet my sales goal (I will keep that one to myself!)
- Work towards saving, planning and finding my first flip house.
#8. Make time for date nights with Todd :)
#9. Make more time for friends.
#10. Start writing the book I have been putting off starting.

That is it. Ten goals. Over the next few days I will unpack in separate blog posts why I want to aim to achieve these goals. It is important for me to remember why I set them...especially months down the road when I begin to lose stride!

XOXO - Kelly

Back to Bloggin'!

2013-03-07T17:44:00.001-05:00

Ok. I am a slacker. I have not blogged in ions and I am so flattered that people have commented that they miss my posts! So...I am back to bloggin' folks!

What better way to start the new year (well, kind of new) than to list what I am looking forward to this year...

1. Summer. Point blank, winter is the pits.

2. My cousin Andy's wedding to his girlfriend Alexa! This is exciting for multiple reasons, but especially because I have not seen the Hogan side of my family since my Grandma passed away in 2006! Way too long! Also, this will be a couples trip for me and T! Gotta love that! :)

3. Running again! I have missed training for something since I last trained for the Augusta half-ironman in 2010! After I completed that race, I took up Crossfit and although I love it, I have missed the thrill of a race. So, Rock and Roll...here I come!

4. Paleo. Todd and I have adapted a mostly Paleo way of eating. In a nutshell, we are eating mostly what the hunter-gatherers ate. Veggies and meats, fish, nuts (no legumes, so no peanuts!) and fruits...basically, if a caveman ate it, so can we! We both feel fantastic and are enjoying the adventure of learning to cook for the paleo palat!

5. Family vacation. Don't have it planned, but still looking forward to it!

6. A changing real estate market. My year is on track to be the BEST one yet from a business standpoint! YAY!

The list goes on and on, but really, I just look forward to everyday with my family that God gives me. If I have learned anything over the last few years, it is that every situation God places in our path can be an instrument of beauty and growth. It also can bring us closer to Him...if we allow it. I have a new awareness that this life is out of my control. Everyday is a surprise. Every day is a gift. Enjoy!

As for pics...here are a few from the months I was a slacker...

Ok, so not the most timely photos...halloween era...but pics nonetheless! :)
Til' next time!

Out with the OLD, In with the New!!! :)

2013-01-02T23:35:00.001-05:00

This picture basically says it all!

2012 was a fun and fabulous year! It started with a great New Years Eve party at the home we were renting. Many laughs were had by all! We then proceeded to move into our home, drop our boxes and then literally turn around and leave! I won a cruise through work, so Todd and I left the munchkins at my parents and spent five wonderful and romantic days in the sun! Derby weekend rolled around quickly! We threw a huge bash at the house for friends and family Oaks night and woke up and partied some more at the Derby. (See May 2012 post) Summer was spent enjoying the peace that comes with living in the country! Riley and Bailey spent a week with Todd's parents and a week at Flipfest camp. Longest amount of time I have spent without them by far! Missed them, but knew they were in good hands! We enoyed a vacation to WaterSound in South Walton Beach as a family ending the summer bronzed and rested. As anyone with four little kids knows, school starts with a bang and then you blink your eyes and it is Christmas break! That is how fast it seems that this first half of the school year has flown by! Christmas was Norman Rockwell-ish (cheesy but true). Following the tragedy that was the devastation in Newton, CT, I found myself again reminded of God's goodness and his blessings and really trying to emrace my children more then ever. That desire to slow down and soak in the moments was hindered a bit by the fact that I was sooo behind ("I have never been this far behind!" came out of my mouth more than once reminding me that I am absolutley my mother's daughter) forcing me to show up until Christmas Eve! Ugh! Regardless...Christmas beautiful and I do believe that Christ was the center of the season. That brings us to New Years!!! 2013 is HERE!!! Which brings me to the whole point of this post...OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW. What do I mean by that? I don't do resolutions, but I do reevaluate my life and goals and try to see where I can improve. OUT goes over committing myself, IN comes saying YES to things that are top priority. OUT goes disorganization, IN comes a system (I am not talking anything rigid...let's get real folks, we are talking about ME here!). OUT goes fly by the seat of my pants dinners, IN comes planned weekly meals. You see my point :) I feel like life is so good right now. I am blessed with a husband that I am closer and more in love with than ever, four fantastic kids that are all thriving, healthy and lovely, 3 four-legged critters that bring me so many smiles, a job that is fun and motivating from which I have made many new friends this year, the best friends I could ever ask for, a wonderful family, an amazing new home...I could go on for a long time. But most of all, God has given me hope and peace in my heart this year. Without his grace, I could not have those things. Without Him I am nothing!! Can't wait to see what His plan is for 2013!!! :)

Anyone Looking For A Horse Farm? :)

2012-06-06T12:21:00.001-04:00

As a realtor, I am always excited when I have a new listing! It is always a challenge and an adventure at the same time! I am EXTREMELY excited about my newest listing. It is a turn-key 15 acre horse farm in fantastic condition in the heart of Kentucky horse country! Interested in a horse farm? Contact me at khostutler@semonin.com or 502-426-4577 (Kelly Hostutler/ Semonin Realtors)

I'll Have Another...I think he will!

2012-05-31T15:58:00.004-04:00

I'll Have Another...I think he will!

I am a horse person. I do NOT consider myself an expert by any stretch, but have spent the last 26 years involved with horses. I started riding hunters at age 9 and continued to ride competitively through college. To gain experience, I would hop on anything that needed to be worked, from a polo pony to a hunt horse. I love them all. I rode for the University of Kentucky's Equestrian Team and had a ball. All through school at UK, I worked for Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital (www.roodandriddle.com) as a tech and supervisor and had the luxury of taking care of some horses that I could NEVER imagine I would have even been able to touch! I did everything from help with foaling to nursing dummy foals to surgery help to assisting in a fetonomy. After college, I worked as a copywriter for Saybrook Advertising in Lexington. Saybrook mostly does advertising for the racing industry, so my ads mostly ran in The Thoroughbred Times and Bloodhorse. I learned alot about bloodlines and confirmation. It was a great job! But...it does qualify me to have a slightly informed opinion about racing. And...if I am right, I'll Have Another will win the Belmont Stakes and take the Triple Crown next weekend! I can just feel it...! And if not, well, he is still a great horse and deserves many kudos for a fantastic year! Pray for a safe trip first, and a TRIPLE CROWN winner second! GO I'LL HAVE ANOTHER...I think you will!

(Photo courtesy of www.horseracingnation.com)

New Shoes

2012-05-18T13:12:00.002-04:00

This morning I was thinking about how I could use a new pair of running shoes. I have been logging some miles, and my old ones are getting a little worn. Something like this was what I was imagining...

Until God put this picture in front of my face later today, and I realized that I truly don't need anything...but Him. God Bless.

**Photos courtesy of Nike and Pinterest

Job Well Done Nora, Job Well Done.

2012-05-13T18:38:00.003-04:00

May 13, 2012: Mother's Day

I do not believe that it is by coincidence that God called my Grandma, Nora Deutschmann, home today on Mother's Day. I believe that it was his way of saying to her, "Job well done Nora, job well done!" She is and always be a shining example of what a mother is to me and to many that know her. All the fruits of the spirit she not only held but showed everyday: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. It must have taken these nine characteristics to carry 14 babies and raise them all to not only know Christ but to be loving and good people.

She brought joy to anyone that came in contact with her and she would light up when children were around...especially any of the almost 74 grandchildren (including the great-grands).

Just look at the famous baby pictures of the 14 kids that have always hung on their wall! I cannot imagine cooking for and cleaning after them all!

73 years of marriage! My prayers go out to my grandpa who will be undoubtably lost without his best friend. They are an inspiration in a generation where this kind of commitment to "believing in forever" is not the norm.

Just a glimpse of the legacy that Grandma leaves behind....

And a beautiful reminder of the great love that is the foundation for it all.

I love you Grandma! I am a better person and mother because of your example! You will be greatly missed, but I know that your eyes are fixed on your Maker today, and you could not be happier! Happy Mother's Day!

Kentucky Derby Weekend Fun 2012

2012-05-10T19:14:00.001-04:00

Kentucky Derby 2012

Hey ya'll! Remember me? I haven't written a post in FOREVER, so I thought Derby weekend would be a fun re-entry into the blogging world! I have been knee-deep in boxes and contractors running in and out, not to mention real estate is CRAZY again! All good and busy things that have kept me from updating my blog! (And the fact that in the country the internet isn't the greatest, so posting while Todd is doing his patient notes isn't possible due the fact that it is slower than molasses with two users! But...not a bad tradeoff for peace and quiet and roosters in the morning.)

Derby weekend consisted of 9 house guests...friends new and old. It was great fun and I truly enjoyed getting to know some new people. Friday we held an Oaks Party for about 50 friends and family, and then Saturday we had 3 boxes together at Churchill where 18 of us gathered to lose money and enjoy each other's company! I'll Have Another brought home the victory to a record crowd! Fantastic Day! Here are some pics...

Julie and I getting ready for Derby

Jeff and Katie Norris

Todd's parents Joann and Danny

My friend Jeff Buchek and I

Catey and Julie

Todd and I (top and bottom)

(don't know how I posted this pic twice...sorry)

At the track...

Hats Hats Hats!!!!

Doesn't my hubby look cute in his hat?

The pretzel was short lived after I found a hair on it. Gulp.

OAKS SHINDIG at the house!

Steve and Allison...new friends! So sweet!

Hey! Steve and Allison again...still sweet...(I am notorious for double posting pics)

Katie and Jeff....love them!

Bob and Shawn...aren't they cute?

Joann Jessie and Erin Hogan (my sis!)

Stephanie Hilner, Nicole Burke and I (the short one)

Michelle and Jonathan Ray (they are darling)

The most adorable picture of Joanie and Mount

My oldest daughter and my sis!

Sisters!

My cute parents! Marilyn and Richard Hogan

Jessica and Jesse Hedden...great pictre of this sweet couple

Michelle, Catey and Julie (aren't they beautiful!?)

Last Week of Construction :) :)

2012-02-04T12:27:00.007-05:00

These aren't the best shots (I was hurrying)...but you can see a few more additions! The right lantern in the dining room needs to be adjusted (crooked city) and the exterior flatwork is still being completed, but it's moving along! :) Have a great weekend!

Rock On! :)

2012-01-29T19:55:00.003-05:00

Today I ran out to check on the house and the fireplace stone was going up! It is turning out gorgeous! I can't compliment http://www.trurock.com/ enough! They are a great company with great people!

Finishing Touches :)

2012-01-25T19:09:00.005-05:00

Well...we are ALMOST there! The front gate posts are almost finished...

Master tub and faucets are in...

Last of the light fixtures are being installed...

Knobs...

Floors are finished...

Foyer fixture is up, up and away!

Butler's Pantry too....

The beveled arabesque tiles are in and they are really neat..glad I held my ground on these!

Trim guys are working on the breakfast bench...

This has been such a fun and creative experience! God has blessed us with the greatest people working on our home...both talented and kind. The painted say he prayed over our house! How great! Carpet, fireplace stone, landscape...lots of things going in this week! Check back!

We're Cookin'! :) And concrete...

2012-01-07T12:52:00.006-05:00

We are in the homestretch now! All the loose ends are tying together and a house will soon be a home!

Little hands have made their mark...

Walkways are almost ready for guests!

The parking pad is ready for parties!

Exterior lights are going up...

Still need gutters...

The kitchen has gotten it's appliances!

Can't wait to cook on this baby!

Finley is excited too!

The master wall tile is in, but we need the mirrors to determine if the sconces work or if they are too small. Praying they work...they are really cute in person!

The funky hall bath still needs alot of work.

All in all, it is really almost finished! I feel so blessed to have had this experience and have been able to use so much creativity! Stacye Love is a fantastic builder and person! I would highly recommend her to build for you if you ever consider it!

Tat-two, yes...it's true!

2012-01-06T10:33:00.002-05:00

Yes. It is true. I got a tattoo! Well...in August! To make a long story short, Todd and I went to dinner for our tenth anniversary in February 2010 and talked about getting matching tattoos. I sketched on a napkin an idea that we decided to take to a tattoo shop after dinner and have drawn by a tattoo artist. Life got in the way, and we never got over to the shop to get the tattoos. Well, in July 2011, Todd came home with a surprise. He had gotten the tattoo I had drawn so long ago on his right wrist. I don't want to post a picture, but they are symbols that mean alot to both of us. It meant soooo much to me that he went and got our tattoo, but I wasn't ready to get mine just yet! Finally, on August 5th, I went and got mine to match. It is on my right wrist and I absolutely love it! It is something I thought I would NEVER do, but it was so fun and exciting and it didn't even hurt! (The scary part was my tattoo artist's name - Jughead!) So, to put the rumors to rest...Yes. We have matching tattoos. Yes. They are in visible places. Yes. I love it. No. It didn't hurt. No...I won't get another one...well, maybe. Never say never :)

No time to write...just pics! :)

2011-12-23T21:13:00.005-05:00

No time to write! Christmas Craziness!!! But...here are some updated pictures of lighting, hardware, paint, flooring...etc! First pic is from dining into the foyer...

Hall powder room board and battan...

Master lantern... sconces look lost, but will all come together with mirrors and such...

Office hardware...

ditto.

Sunken living room sconces on bookshelves...

kitchen knobs and pulls...

Hogan's fan...

Kitchen island lighting...

Upstairs hall sconces...they are hammered and great in person...

Sunken living room chandeleir...

Mess in the kitchen while the guys were installing hardware...trying to not freak out about everything sitting on the counters...(see cup...hoping it's not Big Red)

Breakfast room light

(wierd? yes. Conversation piece? yes. Will it grow on you? yes.)

Whoops! My notorious double picture!

sunken living

He came!

2011-12-18T21:42:00.003-05:00

I have a wish this Christmas. I wish that my kids will have their hearts in the right place and that we will all think first about why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. I want the first person my kids think of when I peek my head in their rooms and say "HE CAME!!!" to be Jesus...not Santa. Simple as that. HE came and will forever be all we will ever need.

Counters and Faucetry! :)

2011-12-14T18:39:00.006-05:00

Lots of changes around Forever Farm since the last update...and yes, it is beginning to feel like home and FOREVER! We are getting excited! We have nailed down a color for the foyer (Dewy by Sherwin Williams) It took a couple of tries, but we nailed the color that I was after finally!

After the first island broke in half on the truck (Trurock Granite and Marble was awesome and I truly recommend them to ANYONE! They handled the disaster with class and composure! http://www.trurock.com/) We finally got our new one and the rest of the tops delivered and installed yesterday!

We decided on Eureka Danby for the kitchen and we are very pleased with them!

There is alot of interest in them while still keeping them very light.

We decided to paint the inside of the kitchen windows to keep the kitchen from looking sterile. I love them...

Kitchen faucet is in... sink too!

Laundry too. This was Todd's pick and I think it is really cool.

Yes. The cabinets are blue. I love them. So glad I took the risk and made the laundry and office fun!

Laundry counters are white carrara marble. They appear very gray in the picture.

The master faucets are in! I think they are really pretty and classy looking! So fun to see all these things we have picked in person!

The counters in the master are called Emperador Light marble.

Letter of Thanksgiving...Hostutler Style :)

2011-11-23T19:35:00.013-05:00

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! I love Turkey Day because it isn't about gifts but about reflecting on what we are blessed to have! It is also a time to think about how we can improve and what we can change about ourselves so that others can be more thankful for us! :) Here is my list...Hostutler Style!

Hostutler House of Chaos- I am thankful for a house full of
fun and noise! I love my four beautiful children and their happy faces!Even when I long for quiet, I still wouldn't
trade my crazy life for anything!

Our story - I told my husband the other day that of all the love stories ever told and any fairytale ever written, that ours is my favorite. As flawed as it is, it is a story of TRUE Godgiven unconditional forever kind of love.

Salvation - Thank you Jesus!

The Spine Center Chiropractic - I am thankful for the wonderful business my husband has made and the that it provides for my family.

Unconditional Love - That we have that in my family. That I have that with my best friends. It says "no matter what you do, no matter where you are, I choose to love you!"

Triumph - I am thankful this year that despite many trials, we have been triumphant.

Laughter - It is the best medicine. Todd and I laugh alot! The kids make me laugh! My friends make me laugh! Pretty much anything makes me smile because that is just me!

Exercise - I am feeling stronger than ever this year!

Realization- This year more than ever I have realized what is important in life. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned this year. I have embraced my life, my story and have turned the negative into positive. I feel like life is what you make of it!

Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings to all! XOXO Kelly

One Solitary Life

2011-11-17T18:27:00.000-05:00

At Church last weekend, they played a poem with a video called "One Solitary Life". It brought me to tears and I was touched by the message. Although no one will ever have the impact that Jesus did on the world, we can all aspire to make a difference. We shouldn't wait until we have more time or money to feel "ready". We shouldn't wait until tomorrow. Today, just as we are, is good enough. I encourage you to take a moment to watch this video and listen to it's beautiful message...

Thanksgiving for my birthday...I am one lucky girl!

2011-11-13T20:37:00.003-05:00

I am one lucky girl. I do not have a perfect life. I do not have a flawless marriage or kids that behave perfectly all the time. I sometimes yell louder than I would like, and I am not always the most tidy. But I am ONE LUCKY GIRL! Celebrating my birthday yesterday made me realize how many blessings I have in my life. I always wanted to marry my best friend and stay married for life. Well, I did, and this year has been one that has strengthed our love, commitment and respect for one another...even through the toughest days. I still get butterflies...We have the foundation to last a lifetime and the desire to always make it work. I always wanted to be a mom, and I am the mom to the four greatest kids I could have ever have been given. I know that God has asked me to guide them through life on this earth and that they do not "belong" to me, but I would never be the same if anything happened to them! They are simply JOY. I always wanted a job that I love. Despite a busy year, my business has done very well and I am very proud of that. I have been blessed with a beautiful new home that holds the foundation for many memories for my family. My brothers and sister, mom and dad, Todd's family and all our friends are such blessings. Even when my BF's have to call me out sometimes, it is a blessing. I just feel overwhelmed with the good things God has given me in life. He has given me trials that have proven to be recycled into blessings. He has given me goodness of which I hope to pay forward. But most of all, I have been given not a perfect life, but the PERFECT life for me. I am one lucky girl.

Cabinets continued...crazy sink in progress...we're getting close!

2011-11-10T19:37:00.008-05:00

Well, it's November and we are getting closer!!! The cabinets are all installed...even my crazy looking sink (looks really horrible in the below picture, but it is much better in person!) is here!

I love how the chalkboard fronts turned out in the office! My pantry door has one too...it is so cute!

The cubbies are really pretty. Hickory Valley Woodworking did a great job! Thanks Phil and gang!

If you look closely you can see the chicken wire in the glass! I love it!! Exactly how we wanted it!

Todd and I are getting really excited! Only a few more months until we can move to Forever Farm! :)