10-Year Anniversary of The Kerrie Show Blog: What a Ride!!!

Ten years ago today I was teaching my 7-year-old son to swim in a hotel pool in Phoenix, Arizona while wrangling 3 younger children and keeping us all occupied each day before Daddy got off work. Gas was $4+ per gallon, and the housing market was crashing hard. Two different weekends we loaded up the minivan and headed five hours to San Diego to the beach and Sea World. It was AMAZING.

I started The Kerrie Show blog with this post called 6 People in a Minivan Heading to Phoenix, Arizona back when my 4th kid, Eva, was just about 7 months old. Joel was 7, Michael was 5, and Callie was 3. Since starting the blog, we've added another family member, Samuel, who is now 8 years old careening toward 9.

In Phoenix, I would borrow my husband's laptop at night sometimes while he'd play with the kids so I could update family and friends about our travel adventures via email. Soon I realized I could be blogging about it and keep an online record just for us. Over the years, it has turned into our personal scrapbook as I got too busy to do real scrapbooking!

Today we'll be swimming in our own backyard pool which overlooks our pond ... all 5 of my kids can swim well and they are healthy, smart, kind (most of the time!), precious. My oldest will get in his own car and drive to Planet Fitness to work out. He'll probably work at his lawn care job this week. Callie and Sam are at a sleepover. Eva will be playing LOL dolls happily. Michael will be creating the most awesome things out of Legos.

I'm planning our homeschool year, proofreading, keeping house, and finishing up my latest book. My husband works at the same company and we'll be married 20 years in October.

Let's get some sad things out of the way, because I think they are important and make us who we are. I was pregnant this past March with our 6th child, who we named Olivia Della, but we lost the baby very soon after we found out we were expecting :-( At the same time, my husband got hit by a car while riding his bicycle ... and he's fine, miraculously! My good friend's son died in his sleep at the age of 13. I've lost 3 of my 4 grandparents, and Aron's last living grandparent is now gone. Life is full of good and bad, up and down, happy and sad.

We've traveled with my husband Aron for work a few more times to Wyoming/Utah (2012, and it gave us our love of the country and our dream of moving), Texas (2015), Chicago (2017).

We've been on vacation to Colorado (2010) and Florida (2017) (no blog posts of Florida?! ... I have to get on that because it was 2 weeks of awesome in the midst of buying and selling a house!).

Here are some Christmas Letters to get you up to speed if you're new here or if you know my family personally and want to walk down memory lane and cry! Lots of photos!

Our Lame-o 2008 Christmas Letter

Our 2010 Christmas Letter

2011 Christmas in July Letter Written by Samuel, age almost 2

Our 2011 Christmas Letter

Our 2012 Christmas Letter

Our 2015 Christmas Letter

Our 2016 Christmas Letter

Oh, and we moved in 2017 from our house of 17 years in Overland Park, KS on a busy street corner across from a school (we miss the playground and walking to the library!) to 8 acres in Peculiar, MO.

One last photo at our house of 17 years on Grant Street. November 2017.

If you're looking for something specific on here, I have a Search box on the right-hand side so you can type in a topic :-) I do it all the time myself!

I also have a few more blogs, which are in various stages of disarray:

The Published Parent

Homeschooling Mommybot

Kerrie the Kitchen Queen

Here's to another 10 years! What would you like to see me post more about?

Never miss a post! Head to the right-hand side of the blog and enter your email address so I can send you new posts! (I am trying to get off the old way and on to Mail Chimp; this means you won't get all the sponsored posts on here but mostly relevant content and fun things from our life.)

August 2018 Free Lego Monthly Mini Build Registration

I think it really says something that I've been posting about this for years and the same employees are
there every single time we go. Lego is a great company!

I wrote this FOREVER ago, it seems like, about the LEGO Store monthly mini build! Things have definitely changed. I used to have to wait in line for a long time with a couple of little ones but now they are older and easier!

After the crazy waiting-in-line like for a rock concert only with little kids fiasco month after month, Lego stores changed things up for at least 6 months and the employees would just hand you your mini build kit if you had gotten a card for the kit when you first got to the line.

HALLELUIA! The first time they did that I almost cried. We got our kit, grabbed ice cream and went home to build the kits, saving an hour (at least) of our lives!

The last year or so, however, they have changed it again. They don't do this to be a pain in your butt. They do it to try new things to make as many customers happy as possible because they are Lego and they rock like that. You are basically RESERVING your mini build.

So you have to mark your calendar or you'll forget to register like I do. For instance, today is July 15 and I need to register for the August mini build. You can now pick Tuesday times or Wednesday times.

Sign up HERE for the current mini build.

Sample calendar like they hand out at the build:

One August I was able to take my own kids plus my friend's kids for a total of 7 kids building :-)

You can only sign up 4 kids per session per VIP account email. You can sign up for a VIP account here (worth it ... VIP points add up and you get free Legos!). I am not messing with getting two VIP cards and we only need 4 kits anyway. Callie is not thrilled about building Legos and instead uses them as decorations (Heartlake Grand Hotel, anyone?). BUT ... the sweeties at Lego usually offer her one anyway. And we take it because they are cool!

TIP: Make sure when you do the final page of registering to CONFIRM that the top of your page does not say that you are confirming to be on the WAIT LIST or you do not have a spot! Go back in your web browser and get another spot FAST!

FINE PRINT: In order to participate, guests must be between the ages of 6-14. All guests will be expected to complete the build in the store. Registration on a first come first serve basis. Stores will no longer accept walk-ups on the night of the event.

How to Contest a Family Member's Will

Family is something that many people often hold dear to their hearts. This could be because of the sentiments held when it comes to blood relations or simply because they’ve been with you through the ups and downs of life. Whatever the case, when a family relation passes away, it can be devastating for you and your loved ones. It can be even more tumultuous when there happens to be a will involved. Sometimes, wills seem unfair and can cause division as well as disagreements between family members. However, you should know that although a will seems to be set in stone, that it can be contested. You’re going to find out how you can do so below in case you’re in a similar situation.

Determine Whether You’re Lawfully Entitled

Determining whether you can actually contest a family member’s will is the first step in the process. You should, therefore, consider doing research beforehand to see if you have a case. Some people who are typically able to contest a family member’s will include a spouse or blood relation, so if you are either of the two then you may be eligible. You can also try contacting The Inheritance Experts for a consultation and advice in case you’re unsure. Once you’re confident that you’re lawfully able to contest the will, you should find out about the actual will itself and see if you can get a copy in case you suspect that it’s been tampered with in any way.

Calculate the Costs

Legal battles can be financially draining, so it’s key that you’re fully aware of the cost implications before making the decision to contest a will. It can cost thousands of dollars, and it’s also possible that the trial could end up taking several years. If you don’t have enough to cover the legal fees, then you may want to consider how you can get the finances to do so. This could mean needing to take out a loan or saving towards it. However, you should note that contesting a will must be done in a timely manner or you may miss the allocated time-frame to do so.

Make a Case

When contesting a will, it’s imperative that you’re somehow able to prove that the will is invalid. Key things that usually invalidate a will include the will not being executed properly, your deceased family member being mentally incompetent when signing the will, someone exercising undue influence over your family member, or your family member falling prey to some form of fraud. On that note, if you have any verbal or written conversations which indicate what your deceased family members desire was in terms of their will, you will need it to build your case. It is also key that you get an experienced solicitor who is available, easy to communicate with, understanding, and has reasonable fees.

Contesting a will likely isn’t something anybody wishes to do but at times, it is necessary. If you happen to be in such a position, it’s important that you understand the process and weigh out the costs beforehand. By doing so, you may increase your chances of winning and being awarded what you feel you’re owed.

Detergent for Workout Clothes

Working out is a popular and beneficial pastime. It doesn’t matter if you’re a keen runner, cyclist or simply like to lift weights in the gym. The truth is that you will sweat into your clothes. That’s why you have specific workout clothes; these clothes are meant to be sweat in and allow for active movement. While you can easily shower and change your clothes after a workout, your workout clothes face other issues:

The Smell

Sweating opens your pores and releases toxins, which generally cause a smell. This smell is then transferred to your workout clothes through your sweat. If you don’t wash them, you’ll notice the smell will linger.  Therefore, choosing a laundry detergent that will eliminate the odors of your workout clothing is important to getting your clothes looking and smelling like new.  You can opt for a major brand and run the risk of damage to your high performance gear, or opt for a specially formulated laundry detergent to do this, just make sure it fulfills issue 2 as well.

The Bacteria

Bacteria collects in the folds of your skin; such as your armpits. You can’t prevent this from happening. However, it is these bacteria which interact with your sweat to cause body odor; which is transferred to your workout clothes. Choosing a detergent that can kill the bacteria transferred to your clothing will ensure your clothes are getting as clean as possible, each time they are washed.

Using The Right Detergent for Your Workout Clothes

As mentioned, you need to choose a detergent which offers a pleasant aroma and can kill the bacteria on your clothes. The best option is actually those which uses natural techniques. The best way to wash your workout clothes is actually to turn them inside out. This gives the water and detergent the easiest access to the most affected areas. You should also limit the amount of detergent you use. Half your regular dose will suffice. This is one time when less is definitely more. If you use too much detergent your machine will not be able to rinse it all out. The result is the detergent stays in the clothes; giving them a slightly musty smell. In addition, the detergent that stays in your clothes could irritate you once you start sweating. It will certainly encourage the bacteria production over all of your workout clothes. While a good detergent is essential, it is also a good idea to add an odor-eliminating product to your wash. This will do exactly as it says; get rid of odors. Vinegar is good at this, but does create its own aroma that you may wish to avoid.

Dry Properly

It is also essential that your workout clothes are dried properly before you store them. Any dampness will attract bacteria and mold; making your clothes smell worse. The best way to dry any clothing is with low heat or air drying, as this ensures all moisture is gone. You can choose whichever detergent you like as long as you follow these simple rules to enjoy fresh smelling workout clothes.

A Look at the Flavourful History of Gelato

While there is indeed nothing better than a refreshing serving of gelato on a sweltering day, most consumers are quite unaware of its rich and decidedly "tasty" history. You might be surprised to learn that some even claim that the origins of this dessert can be traced as far back as the Roman times. However, let's take a look at the more recent history in order to appreciate all that this delicacy has to offer. 

A Sicilian Tradition 

Some believe that the earliest known reference to Italian gelato can be seen in the 16th century. A man known as Bernardo Buontalenti was said to have served this frozen treat to wealthy families (including Catherine dei Medici herself). 

Although many myths surround this substance, it is a fact that the first ice cream machine was produced as far back as 1686 by a man named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli. It only stands to reason that this treat soon became popular amongst the upper classes of society. The name "sorbetto" seems to have been adopted around the same time (derived from the Arabic "scherbet"; a word still used today). Gelato soon gained a following outside of Sicily throughout countries such as France. 

The art form continued to be perfected within Italy and many secrets were passed down from generation to generation. In fact, some even considered this craft to be an art form. However, the real breakthrough did not occur until the 20th century. 

The Invention of the Gelato Cart and Mass Attraction 

One of the past issues surrounding any type of frozen dish is that it would eventually melt. Therefore, gelato and similar substances had an incredibly short shelf life. All of this changed with the invention of the refrigerated transportation cart. Originally developed in Varese during the 1920s, it soon became easy for the general public to access this amazing delicacy. This tradition continues into the present day, as Varese is still the main Italian production centre of gelato. It is said that well over 15,000 workers around Italy are now involved in the production of gelato. 

The Work of Artisans 

Italy is the only nation in the world which produces more than 50 per cent of its gelato by traditional methods as opposed to mass manufacturing (1). The fact that this substance contains up to 70 per cent less fat when compared to ice cream has massively increased its public appeal. Still, the taste of gelato is the main selling point. This dessert is available in a kaleidoscope of different flavours and the chances are high that even the most demanding of preferences can be satisfied. 

In order to satisfy the needs of the public, the professionals at NEMOX developed a wide variety of applications suited for the home made gelato. Founded in 1986, NEMOX is one of the industry leaders today. In order to learn more about their offer, visit Nemox.com for a truly tasty treat.