tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:03:33 +0000ParenthoodPop CultureFashionBookshelfGiveawayLove and MarriageWriting BizHumilityAgingFaithSpringTravelChristmasChucklesExerciseFamilyFavorite ThingsFriendshipMusicOperation BonnetWinnersBalanceGirls in the KnowSignageYumAct TwoBottom LineChip MacGregorSpeaking GigsStretch MarksVidsWinterAmazon reviewBalancing ActDWTSEldredgeFaith HillMemoirPNGSkyhorseSordid Pasthttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_weA54Ubf8U4/Sj_c6vneNuI/AAAAAAAAACI/4oCWQWThTNA/s320/IMG_1913.JPGLaugh a bit. http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)Blogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-4920198334101282316Wed, 20 Jul 2016 03:05:00 +00002016-07-19T22:05:33.426-05:00 Hello, dear reader!  If you're looking for me, you're just one click away. I've moved my blog to my website, where there are all sorts of nifty things, including photos that have tastefully deleted my wrinkles and age spots. It's worth a look. Just click here. Thanks for stopping by! P.S. If you're a veteran email subscriber to the Kimberly Stuart blog, please leave your email at http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/07/ive-moved.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-9186959122120366522Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:18:00 +00002016-06-10T07:18:29.215-05:00GiveawayWinners Thanks, everyone, for entering and for reading and for admitting you all need you some Jan. I have to say, your entry emails were hilarious. I even received some photos of the most challenging of your spaces,  just to emphasize how badly Jan was needed.  Photo by Slate.com This was not one of those photos, but doesn't it just make you want to throw away everything you've http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/06/winner-winner-organized-chicken-dinner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-9187413292731813657Fri, 03 Jun 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-06-03T05:00:17.506-05:00FamilyGiveaway YOU GUYS. I'm so excited for you. Because I'm about to change your lives. We have just skidded into the end of the school year around here, and this giveaway is going to perk up that part of you that is secretly groaning with that news. Oh, just admit it. Even if you love your children, and let's assume you do love your children, they are messy. And they smell earthy after four http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/06/giveaway-you-want-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-8255369491356397503Fri, 27 May 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-05-27T21:42:10.705-05:00ExerciseSordid Past Today is field day at our elementary school. So I feel this is the time you should know these two things about me: One: In first grade, I jumped the farthest in the long jump competition. I jumped six feet. I can feel through the Interweb your respect for me. And let's face it: I deserve it. Two: For years, I was the record holder at my junior high for longest SHOT PUT THROW. Did http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/05/field-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-7775724682203538029Fri, 20 May 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-05-20T05:00:14.172-05:00Chuckles I used to have lots of interests. I used to be well-rounded and interesting at parties. I used to be nuanced. OK, that's not true. I was never nuanced. And I've never been much for parties. But I DID used to have a life that did not revolve around wildlife. Remember Chuckles? And Da Poss? Well, they have cousins. Or step-cousins. Or rival gang members. And now they are living under our http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/05/foxy-lady.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-7026685382995227377Fri, 13 May 2016 15:41:00 +00002016-05-13T10:48:00.649-05:00TravelWriting Biz Marc and I went to New York a couple of weeks ago.  I have security clearance to talk about this now because we are no longer out of town and you can't come rob our house. When you live with a conspiracy theorist, you have rules. But he's a very cute conspiracy theorist, so I play along. Here are the highlights. And you don't even have to come over for dinner and watch the http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/05/new-york-new-york-2016.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-7750352088633211219Fri, 06 May 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-05-06T05:00:06.995-05:00FamilyMusicParenthoodPop Culture We are in show choir season around here. You heard me. Show choir season. Kind of like lacrosse season or volleyball season only with lots of sparkles and jazz hands. I used to be in show choir, before the turn of the century. I loved it. We sang, we danced, we ratted our hair, we all used the same startling color of lipstick. It was pretty much amazing. Now my daughter is http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/05/show-choir-no-were-not-kidding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-5605193609763437404Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-04-29T05:00:11.585-05:00Travel Guys! Marc and I are going on a trip! Without the children! I'm so excited and also COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY EXHAUSTED from getting ready to keep my children alive from a distance. I want you to know that when I itemize all the duties I would have been doing while gone, it is clear that I should be making roughly $560,000 a year after taxes. I am amazing. I know this because I am needing to http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/04/travel-products-for-savvy-among-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-3702254695781404994Fri, 22 Apr 2016 21:35:00 +00002016-04-22T16:35:08.234-05:00FaithMusicPop Culture Let's talk about Prince. He was a genius. Also, the hair.  (Please note: This is Prince's most recent passport photo. MY most recent passport photo was taken when I was pregnant. I'm so happy I get to use it for a decade!) But Prince. And the high heels. And the fact that for awhile he was "the artist formerly known as Prince."  Is it too soon to make fun of that? http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/04/prince.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-8330496301739354602Fri, 15 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-04-15T05:00:07.406-05:00FashionSpring Spring has sprung! The buds on my viburnum smell delicious, my daffodils are in full bloom, and this sentence sounds like I know what to do in a yard. That's the prerogative of a blog writer. You get to lie at will. To help you get the most out of your life, I here offer you a guide to this year's spring fashion. You're probably going to want to take notes. **NOTE: I want you to know http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/04/spring-fashion-report-2016.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-239130777876972857Fri, 08 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-04-08T10:20:06.257-05:00ChucklesSpring It's that time of year again. The time of new shoots pushing through the dirt, the time of blue skies (if you don't live in Iowa this week), and the time of the woodchuck. That's right. The woodchuck. That disgusting, weirdo animal that follows me wherever I go. I even moved houses a few years ago, but Chuckles followed me. Remember Chuckles?  He's back. He loves me. I hate him. http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/04/how-much-wood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-7943988016689167291Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:08:00 +00002016-04-01T11:08:59.274-05:00FamilyParenthoodSpringVids Good gravy, I'm tired. Why am I so tired? Are you tired? You know this means we are old. We never used to be tired. Old people are exhausted. Probably because they have been walking and talking and processing and thinking and parenting for so long. And probably also because just seeing famous people gets wearying real fast. One of the byproducts of being tired is that I don't journal. http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-week-in-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-3266004300049803202Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:51:00 +00002016-03-25T09:51:45.122-05:00FaithSpring Today is Good Friday. This term, "Good Friday," has caused no shortage of consternation at our dinner table over the years.  "What is good about Good Friday?"  Thea has a particular issue with the terminology. "Jesus died! A horrible, mean, painful death! He died and He didn't even do anything wrong! It should be called 'Crappy Friday' or 'Saddest Friday Ever' or 'Unfair http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/03/amazing-grace.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-3285633063839468510Fri, 18 Mar 2016 14:29:00 +00002016-03-25T09:52:20.023-05:00FamilySpringTravel I visited my sister this week. The kids and I got in the car to drive from Des Moines to Denver and 2765 hours later, we arrived. We had a lovely time. We hiked a mountain. Some of us got courier service down the rough patches.   We saw some beautiful views and tried out avant garde hairstyles. I think this one is a winner.  We visited a museum. SOME OF US wanted to http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/03/spring-break-2016.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-5080104979256470381Fri, 11 Mar 2016 11:00:00 +00002016-03-11T05:00:18.710-06:00Writing BizYum Most of my life is raising a family with Marc. And by that I mean most of my life is making messes and then cleaning up the messes, both literal and figurative. And then sometimes I write novels, usually while wearing a bathrobe and a furrowed brow, which is only adding to The Wrinkle Issue. When I'm writing these novels in my robe and with my wrinkles, there is no glamour within a ten-milehttp://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/03/visit-to-centro-field-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-2309943709280365765Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:37:00 +00002016-03-04T10:37:58.242-06:00FamilyOperation BonnetParenthood Ana is reading Operation Bonnet. So is our mini Schnauzer, but I think Ana is getting more out of it. Or at least I hope she is. I'm trying to act natural, like it's no biggie. Whatever, man! That's cool. Go ahead, read it. Hope you like it. Or not. Or whatever. Of course I'm a total faker. I REALLY hope she likes it. I will be VERY SAD if she thinks it's horrible. Or not funny. Orhttp://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-daughter-is-reading-one-of-my-books.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-606822861204275103Fri, 26 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +00002016-02-26T05:00:02.241-06:00FashionPop Culture A thousand years ago, when I was young and carefree, I used to watch movies. Moving pictures, as we called them. It was a grand time, a glamorous time, a time when I could eat an entire bag of Cheetos and not feel anything but happiness. It was a time when I could sleep in until noon and not even have a fever. It was a time when I not only knew who was up for an Oscar but also had seen most if http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/02/oscars-viewing-guide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-6036529823939760345Fri, 19 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +00002016-02-19T08:16:46.853-06:00AgingFashion I had my first manicure last week. Actually, it wasn't a real manicure. It was a fake one, lasting only about ten minutes. And it was free. And I was in an airport lounge where the "manicurist" might also have been the "janitor." I don't know. I didn't ask. Because it was FANTASTIC. My nails looked really lovely and girly for about three days. Now they look like this. But for a momenthttp://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/02/you-take-care-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-7456994560018012777Fri, 12 Feb 2016 20:44:00 +00002016-02-12T14:44:54.225-06:00Love and Marriage Dear Me in 1996, Happy Valentine's Day. Don't roll your eyes. You're not above Valentine's Day. I know, I know, it's so commercialized and such an obvious ploy by stores to make money on sentiment. You'll totally torch your final in Feminist Messages in the Postmodern Media this semester.  Also, you're getting a little annoying. Plus, if you're honest with your postmodern self, http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/02/all-single-ladies-valentines-day-letter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-3805827195305647266Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +00002016-02-05T07:03:50.214-06:00FamilyFashionParenthood I'm battling a raging sinus infection and you know what I'm wearing? An infinity scarf. In case you missed last week, we have an infinity scarf issue in our house. Marc is opposed; I am in favor. We aren't quite as heated about neckwear as we were about getting Mr. Trump out of our state Monday evening. I was pretty whipped up about that. Marc was, as is his nature, more measured in his http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/02/winter-fashion-i-have-concerns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-1393017149155936918Fri, 29 Jan 2016 18:37:00 +00002016-03-25T09:52:50.267-05:00FashionLove and MarriageWinter Marc and I have been married seventeen years. I married a good man, which is fortunate for me since I was completely clueless and about ten years old. One thing we know after all these years together is that Marc knows best what clothes look good on me. Please don't send me letters and try to get me to free myself like the good feminist I am. I am not shackled to anything here. I simply http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/01/winter-fashion-marc-has-concerns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-377454889014170246Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:00:00 +00002016-01-22T10:12:27.051-06:00FriendshipLove and MarriageWinter Oh, baby, is it ever cold outside.  If you are reading this from a warm locale, please do not speak. I can't bear it. You are dead to me, along with every living thing in my backyard.  If, however, you are among the hearty and seasonally depressed in the Midwest, this post is for you. We are in this together. Let us rise above. Let us commiserate. Let us talk survival strategy.http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/01/five-ways-to-survive-midwest-winter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-236276014522451621Sun, 17 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +00002016-01-17T07:40:23.279-06:00Act TwoBalanceBookshelfBottom LineOperation BonnetStretch Marks Hello and happy freezing cold day from the tundra! Here's what I look like this morning: Not exactly true. This woman is European. So I looked less stylish. Listen, I want you to know I'm not going to start being THAT GIRL. You know, that girl who blogs every forty-five minutes and annoys you by telling you about it and gets sad and sulky when you don't read it and comment with hearts http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/01/giving-guide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-3761010969886725254Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:54:00 +00002016-01-15T09:54:04.107-06:00BookshelfChip MacGregorOperation BonnetSkyhorseWriting Biz Oh, Nellie. Operation Bonnet is Nellie’s story, and it’s a doozy. Nellie, an academic smarty pants with rough social skills, desperately wants to become a private investigator. Her small town in Ohio, however, is too sleepy for any case worth its salt. So when her first break comes from an ex-Amish guy who needs some help in the love department, she puts on her bonnet and infiltrates an Old http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/01/inside-scoop-operation-bonnet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755890658108279870.post-6554935267365403825Thu, 14 Jan 2016 12:00:00 +00002016-01-14T08:31:17.081-06:00BookshelfStretch MarksWriting Biz The title of this book has made many a man squirm in my presence over the years. I’m not sure why. I think of stretch marks as completely benign, a part of life. Like freckles. Or hangnails. Or a dilated cervix. OK, maybe not the cervix. Stretch Marks is a modern love story about a girl who finds herself pregnant, alone, and trying not go batty when her mom comes to “rescue” her. Here’s a http://kimberlystuart.blogspot.com/2016/01/inside-scoop-stretch-marks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Stuart)2