Hey all! I am Katy Ursta married to my college sweetheart for 12 years, a mom of two boys, and a stage four cancer survivor. I started writing as a way of coping with my diagnosis, but found the more I shared about cancer, the more universal cancer became, and the more connected I felt to others and the less isolated I felt through the struggle. I own a virtual health and wellness company and commit to helping my clients find a deeper motivation to fight for their own health.
When I am not in the stands of my sons' hockey games, I am usually found folding the never ending piles of laundry, looking for the matching sock, breaking up hockey fights, or (let's just be honest) with my hand buried in the bag of chocolate, asking the question, "what do you want for dinner?" You can find more of my work on instagram @katy_ursta or on my website, katyursta.com
This holiday season as you’re making preparations for family visits, school parties, church events, food drives, travel, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and general merriment, you’re going to want to include this season’s hottest dish. You’ll recognize most of the ingredients as they’ve been around for a long time and they’re not hard to access, but to be fair, the recipe can be tough to follow at times. Placed just between your stuffed turkey and your stuffed calendar, be sure to make room for boundaries—the plate of protection that everyone is talking about this year. The dish itself is fairly inexpensive to...
I absolutely love Christmas. In fact, I start listening to Christmas music right after Halloween. I’m always itching to put decorations up as soon as my other family members are willing. I love the magic of the season, the giving and the meaning behind all of it. By the time November begins, I’m ready to take on the holidays in full force as both a teacher and a mom. If I’m being honest though, Christmas as a teacher mama is both magical and downright exhausting. There are parties for both my own children and my students. There are gifts to...
I didn’t know what my ringtone sounded like until I went back to work after maternity leave. “You know it’s always on silent,” I would say every time I missed a call from my husband. “What’s the point of having a phone if you never answer your calls?” “Who calls these days? Text me like a normal person!” It was a circular conversation, lighthearted, and not intended to bring about change. He will always prefer to call, and I will always prefer to keep my ringer off. But when I got my first early pickup text from my daycare provider...
A few weeks ago, my 7-year-old daughter was playing at a friend’s house when she messaged me on her game tablet to come pick her up. I didn’t ask why I just went to get her. I asked her once she was home how it was, and she told me she had a weird feeling and she was just “trusting her guts,” which I loved hearing her say. Apparently, her friend had a bunch of extended family show up at the house that we were unaware of. She is extremely outgoing, friendly, and confident so she thought nothing of listening...
No, you’re not a single mom for a weekend. I’ve heard it said at social gatherings, in passing at church, and on social media. Perhaps the words are being uttered in a state of awe as if comparing themselves to valiant warrior princesses, knights in shining armor, heroes. Usually though, it’s an under-the-breath complaint about being left by their otherwise attentive and loving spouse for the week or weekend. “I’m a single mom this weekend; my husband is on a golfing trip with his brothers.” “My husband is away for work, so I feel like a single mom this week.” ...
We’re running out of time for surprises in the calendar year, but it looks like Netflix is poised to deliver one more—and it’s a big one. The highly anticipated docuseries featuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is ready and we’re getting our first glimpse. And judging by the official teaser, it looks like this 6-episode series will be bringing the drama. The one-minute teaser for Harry & Meghan opens with an off-camera voice asking, “Why did you want to make this documentary?” Music plays while black and white candid images of the pair flash...
Dear teachers, I know this time of year is especially crazy for you. The weeks leading up to winter break are full of extras. There are festivities to invite siblings, parents, and grandparents to. You know how important that kind of family involvement and support is, and you’re so often the one who fosters it. There is crafting and present-making to ensure every student has something to gift to their loved ones on Christmas morning. It is so important to their little hearts to be able to give, and you’re the one who makes it possible. RELATED: Dear Teachers, Thank...
My mom was never, ever without a cup of Lipton’s tea. Like a dear friend, it held her hand, kept her warm, provided comfort. She boiled water in her navy-speckled kettle, then poured it into a cup and, completely ignoring the recommended four-minute steep instructions, immediately lifted it to her lips. It always mystified me how her mouth didn’t suffer third-degree burns. Mom’s penchant for thriftiness compelled her to use the same tea bag multiple times; only when it disintegrated and leaf particles floated to the surface did she accept defeat and reach for a fresh yellow packet. RELATED: Moments...
It was a staple on FOX during the late 90s and early 2000s and launched Ashton Kutcher’s career (and eventual marriage to co-star Mila Kunis) and now That 70s Show is all grown up—sort of. Netflix is debuting a reimagined reboot of the cult classic in January, and released a teaser for That 90s Show this week. The streaming service describes the plot of the 10-episode comedy series as a new take on a familiar story: “Welcome back to your favorite basement. Same Formans, new friends. It’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents...
One thing I don’t do now nearly as much as I did as a kid is act. Act like I’m happy when I’m sad. Act like I’m fine when I’m mad. Act like something is normal when it’s not. Back then, acting was just a part of life. It was how I survived. I would rather act than deal with the complications that reality brought. I would do anything to avoid the uncomfortable. Even when the situation was dangerous. As the years passed, God began to deal with me—the real me. My high-wattage smile—the one that didn’t mean anything—began to...
By Katy Ursta 
by Jennifer Vail 
by Tara Parkinson 
by Rachael Ramas 
by Savannah Lyon 
by Her View From Home 
