Blog Transfer to Self Hosted WordPress? Check!

It’s done.

This blog is now closed.

The kitchen has now been officially moved from WordPress.com to a self-hosted WordPress site.

I have a lot to learn going to self-hosted, so bear with me for the next few months at the new site HERE.

I have specifically kept the theme the same to minimize the transfer headaches for the lovely and uber-talented, eDee, over at StuckAtHomeMom.com, so it really won’t look that much different for now.

Without eDee, this move would not have been possible, because y’all know how tech savvy I am.

I know I have been a little lax on posting lately, but hopefully I will be back up to speed in the coming days.

So without further adieu…

Check out my new domain: InTheKitchenWithKP.com

Sweet new email: karen@inthekitchenwithkp.com

And of course you can also still find me at all my favorite social sites!

Email: inthekitchenKP@gmail.com

Facebook Fan Page: In The Kitchen With KP

Pinterest: Karen Hartzell/In The Kitchen KP

Twitter: @InTheKitchenKP or @GracoKaren

Google+:  http://gplus.to/InTheKitchenKP

StumbleUpon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/inthekitchenKP/

I’ll be looking for you at the new site. 
Don’t make me come hunt you down.
:-)

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Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus – Fully Charged #RBBBATL

Have you ever been to a circus? I remember my last visit. I went with my sister, brother-in-law and 2 nieces when they were 3 and 4 years old. My nieces are now 15 and 16. I feel a little old thinking about my once cherub faced nieces then, and now driving and going to Prom, but last night I sure felt like a kid again. My own family and I were treated to a social media preview night for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged show show at Philips Arena.

Upon arrival we received a warm welcome from Feld Entertainment (complete with bright red clown noses for everyone!), and then were led down to the circus floor for an up close and personal introduction to some of the circus animals and their wonderful trainers. Then we stayed in the floor area for the All Access Power Up Pre-show, which by the way, is open to the public with your ticket purchase. I strongly suggest you take advantage of the opportunity. It was so much fun!

The kids were able to step into the various rings and try on samples of the elaborate costumes and personally interact with the talented performers.

Baby loved having a turn sitting in the trapeze ring that she watched flying high above the ground with a graceful aerialist just minutes before.

After a little more meandering around the floor mingling with the clowns and watching Asia, the elephant paint a few portraits (for real!), we headed to our seats for the start of the show. Not sure why we had a full seat to sit on, since you really only needed the edge.

Our entire family was soon sharing big belly laughs over the antics of the clown team of Stas and Vas.  Their 14 year history of performing together solidifies their chemistry and comedic timing. There were more fun clown antics, like trying to change a giant light bulb, only to be followed by our jaws hitting the floor when the tightrope performers walked, leaped and even biked on the high wire.

The Fernandez brothers were absolutely amazing! Their turbines of terror performance requires such precision and balance. They had me gasping more than once in sheer awe.

Even DH’s eyes got as big as saucers when the tigers came out into the center ring. Holy cow! Those tigers are HUGE! I could have died when the trainer leaned in to one of the big cats for some “kisses”. I totally think the tiger was just checking the seasoning level of the trainer’s face! Egad! The trainer must have nerves of steel to be in a cage repeatedly with 13 massive tigers! When they stand on their hind legs, they tower over him in height. It was utterly amazing to watch their interaction.

Our family had a wonderfully fun night, even though we missed the final act of Brian Miser, the Human Fuse. I heard the crowd went wild seeing him launched from a self-made crossbow at over 65 miles per hour — while on fire! WOW! I sure hope one of my fellow GA Social Media Moms got that on video!

Interested is checking out this awesome show for yourself?

There is still time!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged will show at Philips Arena from Feb 15-20, 2012 and at the Arena at  Gwinnett from Fed 23-26. For ticket information visit www.ringling.com, call Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400 or visit any Ticketmaster retail location.

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Disclosure – I was provided free tickets for my family for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged show in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday – Daydreaming

Wishing cold away
Warm breezes, sun on my face
Nope. Winter’s still here.

I can dream, can’t I?

Mommy and Me Monday – Photo Booth Fun

I’m sick again.
Feeling like crap.
Behind on posts, especially my Project Flawless12 posts.

Sometimes you just can’t catch a break.
I guess this is one of those times.

Last week, Baby and DH had a long weekend planned to PA to visit the in-laws. I was staying home with Jed. I had planned a fun four days with my little man, and of course the latest plague attacking my body put a stop to that. Our fun was a little more low key than originally planned, but lucky for me, Jed took it in stride.

We didn’t make it out to the park since the weather turned chilly, but we did make a trek to the office to pop in to a good-bye party for my dear friend and fellow Graco blogger, @GracoKelly. One of the highlights of the party was a super fun photo booth…complete with props!

Now, if someone could get Jed to actually look at the camera, we’d be golden.

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Have you succeeded and gotten yourself out from behind the camera lately? Share and link up with Mommy and Me Monday over with Serious Krystyn.

Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious? Hosted by Krystyn

Mommy and Me Monday – A Walk in the Park

It was only last week where I was reading tweets about Punxsutawney Phil predicting there would be six more weeks of winter. Frankly, if six more weeks of winter lets us continue to enjoy the mild temps we have had the last 3 months, I am ALL FOR IT!

Sunday was another Spring like day. The sun came out from behind some gray clouds, and we all enjoyed a good long walk on our closest section of the Big Creek Greenway. Anytime we can get away with short sleeve shirts in February, is pretty awesome.

After a nice lunch and a little rest we were ready to start prepping for the big game!

How did you spend your day before the Super Bowl started?

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Have you succeeded and gotten yourself out from behind the camera lately? Share and link up with Mommy and Me Monday over with Serious Krystyn.

Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious? Hosted by Krystyn

What’s in a Name? Flawless12

The Day 4 prompt for Project Flawless12 was discovering what the meaning was behind our name. I already knew Karen was a form of Katherine, which in basic definition means “Pure”.

B000000o-ring.

I decided to go the same route as Christie and check out the meaning of my name on a fun urban dictionary app called Slango. I downloaded the free version and looked up my name…quickly followed by a few chuckles. As you proceed below, you can see why…

Definitions by Slango app for iPhone

In a nutshell….
I am AWESOME.

Do you know what YOUR name means?

G!VEAWAY Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged in Atlanta

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is coming back to Atlanta, and you can catch the show at Philips Arena or Gwinnett Arena. You don’t want to miss the Most Electrifying Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth®!

Dates for Philips Arena Feb. 15 – 20
Dates for Gwinnett Arena Feb. 23-26

Fully Charged, the all-new surge of circus entertainment from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey where megawatts of thrills explode off of the arena floor with breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances that energize Children Of All Ages, and runs Feb. 15-20 at Philips Arena in Atlanta and Feb. 23-26 at Gwinnett Arena in Duluth.

Do you want to go?
You have a chance right here to win 4 ticket vouchers for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and a BIG Thank you to Feld Entertainment for supplying the 4 pack of vouchers!

The vouchers are good for your choice of one of the following performances:
Philips Arena

  • Wed. Feb. 15 at Philips Arena 7:30 show
  • Thursday, Feb. 16 at Philips Arena 7:30 show
  • Friday, Feb. 17 at Philips arena 10:30 show (there is no pre-show for this performance)

Gwinnett Arena

  • Thurs. Feb. 23 at Gwinnett Arena 7:30 show
  • Friday, Feb. 24 at Gwinnett Arena 10:30 show (there is no pre-show for this performance)

Here’s how you can win!

1. Like In The Kitchen With KP on Facebook HERE and leave a comment on this post with your username.

2. Comment below letting me know your favorite act of the circus.

3. Tweet this giveaway up to 3x per day!
I want to win 4 tickets to the Barnum & Bailey Circus in #Atlanta via @InTheKitchenKP http://wp.me/pT7cz-Xd #Giveaway”

Oh, and an extra special tip…if you select one of the shows with a pre-show performance, you have the opportunity to arrive at the arena one hour before show time to check out the All Access Power Up Pre-Show. It’s FREE! You’ll be able to meet performers and animals in person! What an awesome bonus!

GOOD LUCK!

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The Fine Print:
Follow the entry methods listed above, one entry per method chosen unless otherwise stated.
Leave a separate comment for each entry.
Please be sure to add your email address in case you win!
Contest is open until 7:00 PM February 8th, 2012.
Winner will be chosen randomly and must respond to their email no later than February 9th at Noon in order to receive complete details for receiving 4 ticket vouchers for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus!

Disclosure: Barnum & Bailey will provide the vouchers directly to the winners. My family was given a four pack of tickets to a show in exchange for hosting the giveaway.

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Congratulations to winner, Jessica!
Comments are now closed for the giveaway.

Two, Three Punch – Project #Flawless12

Since I am still on the path to recovery, and with a little help from codeine cough syrup, I was fast asleep by 9:30 last night. Not exactly what I had planned, but if you know me, I am not one to turn down a good 8+ hours of sleep.

So catching up with the Flawless12 project…

Day 2 of #Flawless12 WAS dedicated to giving ourselves a pat on the back…to say “Girl, ya done good so keep it up!”

  • My work life balance may not be perfect, but I will continue to make strives to find what works better for me and my family. My family will always come first.
  • Marriage is work. Anyone who disagrees can stick it. I will work at it until my last dying breath because mine is worth that much to me.
  • I love this blog and writing, but when I choose to read, snuggle, or watch movies with my children over tending to it, then that is and will always be ok.

 

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Day 3 of Flawless12 – if my life was a movie …I dream it would be like an action adventure with a little romance thrown in for good measure. Think SPEED with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.

In reality, it’s probably more like Cheaper By The Dozen with less kids.

I love the life they live, and how happy they are with what they have. Life may not be perfect, but Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt make it work. This movie epitomizes the theme that family always comes first, and that is how I live my life.

Please.

With these faces….

How could I not?

Now go hug your own kids!
This blog will still be here when you get back.

Jumping Into Project #Flawless12

I’m not typically one to do daily blog projects, mainly because some weeks I can barely find extra time to write. I adore writing. I love the feeling when thoughts just melodiously flow from my brain, and can be easily transcribe onto paper or typed into a post.

Let’s face it, being a parent is a lot of work, throw in working full time and basically I can kiss finding time to write goodbye. I think that is why this blog project from my friend Christie, over at Chatterbox Christie spoke such volumes to me.

Christie has “created a series of prompts, one for each day of the the month, dedicated to creatively and boldly showing some self-love. The prompts can be answered in any way that moves you. Pictures, blog posts, videos, tweets, status updates, pins on Pinterest…whatever.

I love this.
Who doesn’t need a little time to focus on themselves once in a while?

So…I have now put myself up to the challenge, but of course am starting a day late. It seems finding some time for myself to write, and get the words flowing again was a little tougher than I thought. :-)

Today’s prompt:

The courage to hold my phone above my head, smile, snap a picture, and agree to accept the first picture taken no matter what.
#nofilter

Ok, I admit this is the second picture.
I chopped off the top of my head in the first one.
And it’s not first thing in the morning.
And I have some makeup on.
And I am at my desk at the office.
I’m such a rule breaker.

Tomorrow is another day, and I will be more prepared for the next challenge.
Promise.

If you are interested in reading more on Christie’s project Flawless12 you can go HERE.  Then jump over and subscribe to the daily prompts HERE if you want to join in too.

What was the subject of the first daily blog challenge you participated?

Wordless Wednesday – Raise Your Hand

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If you bathed in wore Love’s baby Soft Perfume at some time in your life.

I won’t judge you if you still do.

I still can’t believe I actually saw this on the shelf at Christmas time.

Which scent was your favorite?

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