Christine Derr
Hey, y’all! I’m an adventurous wanderer who put down roots here in East Tennessee back in 2014. My little family moved here from the wilds of suburban Alaska in 2014. We love exploring Knoxville and the surrounding areas, especially the Smoky Mountains.
I’m a freelance writer and teacher who loves looking at the mountains when my nose isn’t in a book. I’m a mom to two bookish kids, a wildly clingy dog, two cats, and a fish I’d be in trouble for not mentioning. Since becoming a mom, I’ve been able to add Lincoln Log architect, LEGO contractor, and mediator to my resume. I’ve always been a bit of a jack of all trades, as I’ve been a tutor, teacher, circus instructor, bookseller, amateur baker and, of course, writer. I remind myself of this as I tell my kid not to sit on my other kid’s head while stopping the dog from chasing the cat and the other cat from jumping on top of the fish tank.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and am currently pursing my Master of Fine Arts while keeping all these creatures who live in my house alive. I survive on coffee, writing fiction, reading, Disney, and snuggles. You can read more of my work at www.pawprintsinthesink.com.
Baking the Semi-Homemade Way
Some of my earliest memories contain fingers coated in flour, sprinkles dancing away, and sitting on top of the counter to roll out pie dough. As a result, I've always loved baking. I've done...
Book Club for Beginners
I've always loved reading, and even wrote about how it's my self-care last month. I set yearly reading goals and share my progress over on Instagram. When a friend of a friend was new...
The Burned Out Mama’s Guide to Self Care
I was hiding in the bathroom eating a frozen Reese's Cup and trying to hold back tears. Both of my boys, ages two and four, were having an exceptionally stubborn day. Every little thing...
Small Size, Big Fun: Toddlers at Dollywood
Dollywood offers an authentic theme park experience, complete with roller coasters, mouth-watering eateries, and an old fashioned main street full of cute shops. Visiting Dollywood can seem like a pipe dream when you have...
Building Your Village
It takes a village to raise a child. We've all likely heard this phrase. When I was pregnant with our eldest son, we lived in Alaska, thousands of miles from our family. We had a...
Summer Lovin’: Date Night Done Right
Summer is almost upon us, bringing steamy days with evenings warmed by the sun-heated asphalt and lit by starlight and moonshine. Summer is the perfect season to enjoy an outdoor date with your sweetie, and...
For the Love of Aprons
The Problem?
It’s after dinner: leftovers are being compiled into containers, counters wiped down, and dishes rinsed and put in the dishwasher. You look down, and there’s a giant stain and a big blob of...