Katie Vondera
Katie is a St. Louis native, coffee lover, and difference maker. She has a passion for teaching at-risk high schoolers how to find joy in reading and writing. She is a divorced mother of two incredibly strong girls who can be found watching The Voice, eating ice cream, and staying up late reading. Katie and her girls love exploring St. Louis-hiking and playing at local parks, getting away to Pere Marquette, breakfasting at Strange Donuts or The Barn, and learning at all of the museums.
Reclaiming the Future, my Hopes, and my Dreams
Reclaiming the future means giving wings to the dreams you forgot that you had.
Nearly eight years ago, my world was turned upside down. I had a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old, an alcoholic husband, a...
The Cookie Tradition: Another Casualty of the Pandemic
I love the magic of Christmastime and the joy of all of our family traditions. From putting up our tree and talking about where and when we got each ornament, to the joy of...
Three Stores Worth the Stops for Groceries: Take Note!
When is more time in the car worth it? When these three grocery stores are on your list!
As moms, it seems like there’s never enough time. We are spending so much time working, driving...
The Gift I Gave My Girls: Knowing When to Ask for Help
“Mama, I want to talk to Holly,” my daughter said as I snuggled next to her while tucking her in. She’d been having trouble with our move and was still feeling uneasy at bedtime....
When Running Away Looks an Awful Lot Like Running Towards Home
Running away can often be a plea to be lured back home.
“Come get me, mama,” she dared, arms crossed across her chest, a full block away from me.
“What?!” I was mad. It was 8:30...
Becoming a Mother, Moment by Moment: A Journey to Motherhood
Physically, I became a mother on my 30th birthday. I hadn’t had Braxton-Hicks contractions before that day, and so when I woke up with contractions, I was pretty sure that’s what was going on....
Easter Crafts: Bunnies, Chicks, and Lambs, Oh My!
Enjoy making these adorable Easter crafts with your kids, to help celebrate at home!
When we were first advised to consider social distancing sometime before Spring Break, a wise friend suggested we not forget that...
Less-Than-a-Dollar Moments: 7 Ideas for Everyday Memories
The most precious memories are often the everyday memories of simple traditions that we do with our children. It's not about the money that we spend so much as it is about the time...
To My Galentines: It’s Not a Competition, It’s a Celebration
I met a woman the other day, and she was awesome. At first, I was jealous; all I could see was how cute and strong and badass she was. We may have the single...
My Christmas Break Resolution
Twinkling lights, peppermint candy, hot cocoa, caroling. . . does life get any better than all of that? You can feel the joy as the most wonderful time of the year is upon us,...