Thanks for taking the time to check out NNYLife.com. My name is Katie. I’m a freelance writer/stay-at-home mommy to 6-year-old “Diva” and 3-year-old “Hunk” (that’s him right there trying to maul my face).
I write about lots of things here, but most often you’ll find posts about the life my family enjoys in northern New York. With its luxury of space, breathtaking beauty, our proximity to the Canadian border, the largest historical landmark (the Adirondacks), Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, a large Army base (Fort Drum), along with people from everywhere with every type of interest and background, to me, NNY is the perfect place to call home.
I haven’t always had that attitude. Like any ambitious Oklahoma girl (yes, I’m a born and bred Okie), I planned to move to New York City to get a very glamorous job as a book editor. But after a summer internship at a major publishing house and a taste of real Manhattan-living on the Lower East Side in 2000, I decided to throw that future away with both hands and move my hopes and dreams north – way north, for love. Only later, after I was already married to my husband did I discover just how difficult it would be to adjust to life in the “north country.” I knew almost no one and I’d never really dreamed of any other life besides the one I’d just rejected.
I found the process of building a new life in a climate – both literally and figuratively – completely foreign to me, almost too much to handle. But I’m not the type who gives up.
So, here I am, eleven years after that fateful decision to accept my husband’s marriage proposal, which came with northern New York as a package deal. I won’t say life’s perfect. Because then it wouldn’t be very interesting to read about. But, sometimes I let myself believe it will be.
Here’s what I tend to write about:
Weekly Price Comparisons – Because I try to feed my family mostly fresh and as minimally processed foods as possible, I don’t always use many coupons. But every week, you can be sure I’m buying the cheapest fresh vegetables, fruits, meats and dairy products in town. My weekly price comparisons are a result of my weekly fresh foods scavenger hunt. Check Sundays for updated lists so you can make the most of your Sunday shopping trip!
Confessions of a Reluctant Couponer – About a year and a half after turning to coupons to make it possible for me to continue my pursuit of a career in writing and motherhood, I can safely say I’m still completely ambivalent about those pesky little slips of paper some stores will take in exchange for the things I need. Follow (and make fun of) me as I continue my pursuit of a balanced life and career in spite of – and maybe a little because of – coupons.
With help from my dear friend, Becky who is the thriftiest person I know in real life, we’ll collect the greatest deals on everything from food to kids clothes available in Watertown every week.
NNY Family Calendar – With the help of contributors Becky and Katie K, we keep the NNY Family Calendar packed with FAMILY and MOMMY FRIENDLY activities. If you have an event or an activity open to the public, please let us know. We want to be a trusted resource for finding all the best kid-friendly activities in the NNY area!
Nesting – Our shoestring budget home improvement projects, some favorite recipes for a budget-conscious, healthy and mostly soy- and dairy-free family, and a window into my whole-hearted effort to try and maintain a clean, efficient household, despite my messy tendencies.
Popular Posts:
Watertown Grocery Guide – Going grocery shopping? Before you head out, check out the stores to hit, the stores to avoid, and why.
Hunk’s Adventure with FPIES – How we survived those first two years of Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome.
Doody Calls, and Why a Rapper Owes Me a Favor – Yet another reason being a mommy can make you feel really uncool.
Tips for Driving in Snow – Things I wish I’d known the first time I took a spin (almost literally) on the slippery winter roads.
Say Good-Bye – The first of probably MANY posts about saying good-bye to a Fort Drum friend.