Write Where You Are is a blog written by Kathryn Gustafson about books, life, food, and a little bit of everything
First let me say that I like Starbucks. I love my coffee, and I’ve never gotten a bad cup at this franchise.
Recently, however, I was struck by the fact that we now live in the world of the “Mini Frappuccino.” This trendy 10 oz confection, available until July 6, is the newest part of the Starbucks culture. Continue reading “Of a Mini Frappe Mindset”
This is a re-post from my former blog. I wrote it last spring for some friends who were going to London and asked what they should see while there. When I studied in Oxford in 2010, I was fortunate to go on day trips to London several times—It’s my favorite city! As a traveling student, my money was very tight while there, so many of the things I did were free or inexpensive. So I present to you, 7 things to do in London on a Budget. I’m in no way a London expert, so this list is in no way comprehensive…if you see item 7, it’s pretty self-explanatory that way. Continue reading “7 Things to See in London on a Budget!”
By: Katie Gustafson
As a lifetime fairy-tale lover, I must confess to also being something of a Disney addict. That being said, of all the classic Disney fairy-tale princesses, Cinderella has always been my least favorite. Sure, all the female heroines were a bit cookie-cutter in those early days, but the others seemed to have something about them to make them stand out. Snow White was the original cheer-bringer that Walt pulled out of the bag. In Sleeping Beauty, Aurora’s haunting voice and stylistic animation made her seem elegant and mysterious. In the 1990s and 2000s, Disney princesses got more exciting. At first they branched out the princess 
characters with Belle, Jasmine and Ariel, who managed to still be princess-y while also instilling independence, a little rebellion and “girl power” to a rising generation. The new millennium princesses, perhaps beginning with Mulan and being followed by others like Tiana, Merida, Elsa, Anna (ect) introduced an even more three-dimensional portrait of a heroine to young audiences. These new princesses were more like real girls, ones you would want to be BFFs with: sweet, spazzy and flawed enough to be relatable. Cinderella just kind of disappears in the crowd of these newer, more exciting leading ladies. Continue reading “Disney’s Cinderella Remake: Re-discovering Strength in a Manic- Pixie- Warrior World”
Papaw is the name I used for a man named Gene Felder. He was my mom’s dad, a Southern gentleman, a funny guy, a true heart, a faithful Christian, husband, father, grandfather and friend. On Friday, April 24, 2015, he breathed his last breath on this earth. Here are some thoughts I shared at his funeral. Continue reading “Papaw: A Great Man”
So you’ve been seeing posts about Shaklee on my FB, and maybe you’re wondering what it’s all about. I wanted to give you some information about this company and explain why I think it’s AWESOME. First off, this is not a “trendy” thing. Shaklee has been America’s Number 1 Nutrition Company since the 1950s, and I have personally been using the products since I was about five years old. I’ve seen the efficacy of these natural products for years, and as an adult I am also beginning to appreciate more about the company: what it stands for, the research behind the products, and the goals it has for its members. After loving this company for most of my life, I have decided to explore the business opportunity that Shaklee offers to work from anywhere! I am currently a distributor in Shaklee, and I would like to achieve Senior Director status by the time our little girl gets here in July. I’m hoping this will allow me to earn from home! Continue reading “Shaklee and Why I’m ENTHUSED”
It was a crazy sunset on the Gulf Coast of Ocean Springs, MS. There were hardly any clouds in the sky and, against the backdrop of the ocean, you could almost feel the curve of the earth. We watched sun sink lower and lower towards the city of Biloxi which lay across the bridge. It looked like a neon-lit peach that would squish the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at any moment. The wind blew chilly, sandy air towards our ankles as we sat on the stone wall which divided the road from the beach, and my handsome husband excitedly snapped some photos, occasionally muttering, “I could kill myself for not bringing my telephoto lens today.” We waited for the moment when the sun would finally disappear altogether (eagerly anticipating the green flash, which we did not see). Then climbed into our red Vibe, “The Firebolt” and thought about where to go for dinner. Continue reading “Dinner Plans”
Into the Woods (2014)
Rating: PG
Run-time/Review Word Count: 124 Minutes/Words
Review: Fans of the original Broadway production and those who are familiar with Brothers Grimm will likely find themselves spellbound, while some who are expecting Enchanted (2007) may be troubled by the dark themes of the musical. That being said, Disney did highlight the happier events at the beginning of the story (with some effect on pacing) as well as the moral of the film ( “be careful what you wish for”) in a way makes it more family –friendly than the stage show. The film’s visual beauty, superb music, and fantastic acting (MERYL) make it a must see for anyone who appreciates a little fantasy and drama. Warning: The repeating melodies will be stuck in your head, but the complicated lyrics may leave you tongue-tied.
Hi everyone! I want to keep up with the bump pic and update posts every few weeks: I’ve stumbled upon similar posts by other bloggers and found them interesting as well as a good thing to have to look back on! I am currently either 18-20 weeks depending on what date you believe… 18 by the current, official due date, 20 by the original due date. I’m gonna call it 19ish. Any way you slice it I’m about halfway there! Here are a few recent developments: Continue reading “Baby (and Bump) Update at 18-20ish weeks??”
Hi everyone, I’m about 15 weeks into my first pregnancy now, and I’m actually starting to feel like it’s a real thing. It’s funny, I have a lot of friends who were always so excited about being pregnant, but to be honest it has always completely freaked me out. I’ve always had trouble explaining how much it freaked me out or why exactly, but it did. This has nothing to do with my desire to have kids- I have always loved children and wanted to raise a family of my own. Pregnancy just kind of seemed like a scary but necessary thing that would happen at some foggy point in my life to result in said children. Continue reading “Keeping it Real: 10 Surprises of Early Pregnancy (and the 15 Week Bump)”
I suppose these days you might say that Kale is trending. Kale is a great food to incorporate into your diet because it is low-calorie but jam-packed with vitamins A, C and K as well as iron and potassium. It’s shown evidence as an anti-cancer food and may also help fend off diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease (info from Medical News Today). Continue reading “Kale and Three Simple Ways to Enjoy It”
Write Where You Are | Books, Life, Food, a Little Bit of Everything 