Monthly Archives: October 2011

Halloween. A speedbump on the way to Christmas.

Posted by sarah3030 in Crafty and tagged with , , ,

I just don’t get into Halloween.  I have a cute ghost candleholder, which is the extent of my decorations, and if I’m being honest here I didn’t even get that out this year.  That’s not to say there aren’t cute decorations and in my recent pinterest and blog hopping ways I’ve found more than ever.  Here is a round up of some of the crafty ideas I may embrace next year.

I found the blog The Swell Life through Pinterest and found so many great DIY Halloween projects!

 These are her forged foil pumpkins and these could work all fall instead of just Halloween.  And this next project I found through Pinterest and that led me to the blog.

 

I think I could handle making these super cute vases and having them on the mantle for several weeks leading up to Halloween!  Some old wine bottles (of which I have plenty) and some spray paint?!  I got this.

And if you need more ideas – this post of hers will take you to 12 fun ways to decorate a pumpkin.  What I love about her ideas is that they don’t require a lot of carving.  My barrier to more pumpkin decorating is cleaning out the center of the pumpkin.  I don’t like pumpkin guts.

 

 

 

 

 

Hostess with the Mostess showcases the most elaborate Halloween parties and decorations.  I don’t think I’ll ever make it to this level, but it is awfully fun to derive inspiration from their posts.

Love adding the sanding sugar so they look sparkly!

So much to look at!

Maybe if I had a Halloween party to throw or attend I would get more into the decorating.  Maybe next year.  But for now, I’m excited that tomorrow I can start playing my Christmas music.  To me, November 1 is the official beginning of the Holiday Season, which is my favorite.  Tonight, I’ll watch Halloween (the movie), make some pumpkin pasta and drink some hot chocolate.  And start preparing for the rest of the holidays this year.

Now, I’m off to spend this Halloween at the DMV and perhaps a walk around a neighborhood I haven’t visited in a while.  I’m thinking of walking around Soulard or Main Street St. Charles.  I need to do it this afternoon before all the crazies come out tonight.

How Oliver is like me

Posted by sarah3030 in Cat, Crazy., Happy, Oliver and tagged with , ,

Disclaimer: Oliver is my cat.  I understand a post like this gives me the “crazy cat lady” vibe, but I don’t care all that much.  He’s my baby and I love him.  And he is JUST like me.  As much as a cat can be like me.  

When we are tired we will fall asleep anywhere.

Along a baseboard...

while watching tv....

even while working on the computer...

 We both like to sleep with a stuffed animal.

Two tabbies are better than one

We believe it is in everyone’s best interest if they are friends with us.  We cannot understand why someone wouldn’t want to hang out with us.

...even when the other person has made it clear they dislike us. They have no choice. We will overcome.

 

We like to be in the kitchen.

If we love you, we want to be RIGHT NEXT to you.

Preferably on your neck.

Not kidding.

If you're there - I'm there.

And if you’re sleeping – well then let’s cuddle!  (Seriously, my ex-husband could tell you some stories.  There are couples who like to relegate to their sides and there are couples who are “cuddly sleepers”.  When I have my way, I am a cuddly sleeper.  That poor guy used to beg for just a minute to get settled before I’d start making myself cozy on his side of the bed. And even if he wanted space, I used to just try to sneak my feet over to his side.)

Your space is my space.

This is sometimes how we wake up.

Even naps.

I just want to be near you!

We don’t know a stranger.

Just chillin' with Billy P.

We’re not particularly graceful or ladylike.

Not gentleman-like, either.

But we sure are cute.

We just have one of those faces.

The end.

Why Ted Mosby is my dream guy

Posted by sarah3030 in Crazy., My story continues, Quirks, relationships and tagged with , , ,

I used to be a big day dreamer.  I created these whimsical and fantastical scenarios.  Sometimes that led to extreme disappointment, e.g. the way I thought my ex-husband would present me with a house key vs. the way it actually went down.  More e.g., being in the most romantic city in the world (Paris) with Adam Science vs. the way it actually went down.  I keep hoping someone will keep up with my imaginary world in reality.  Or at least come close.

I’ve discussed here before my fairy tale complex and you gotta believe me when I say I have tempered it a great deal.  I suppose I refuse to let it all go.  I have, however, put the extreme day dreaming on hold.  Until I started reading The Secret.  If I don’t know what I’m looking for, if I don’t actively think about what I want, then how will I know it when I see it?

I day dream about going to work in a productive environment where my talents are recognized.

I day dream about running the marathon in my ruffled running skirt and name on my shirt.

I day dream about my cats getting along.

And recently, started day dreaming about the next relationship.

I needed a person to put in those day dreams.  I couldn’t have it be anyone I knew in real life because that may confuse things.  I needed a fictional character.  I’ve had a thing for Ted Mosby, the character from How I Met Your Mother, for a while, and tonight’s episode solidified my crush.  (Editor’s Note: Not Josh Radnor the actor who plays him – Ted Mosby, the fictional character.  It’s my day dream.)

Looks profile, check!

When asked what my “type” is, I respond with “I like tall, pasty, dark haired dorks.”  I do!  I think Ted fits the bill.

Two minute date was awesome

I want someone romantic.  I love gestures and bits and special plans.  Again, I’ve tempered them to have some basis in reality, but I do not believe romance should be a dying art.  And it doesn’t have to be much – it can be candles at dinner, living room floor picnics, sweet notes left on a fridge or in a purse.  Occasionally there should be thought put into plans and date nights out and flowers.  Girls like flowers.

My slowly coming back day dreams about romance and relationships center around romantic nights.  I know there will be mundane evenings, and afternoons full of football and mornings spent doing chores, but right now, I want to think about someone who puts some effort into an evening out.  In my day dream, there are gazebos.  That’s all I’m saying.

A guy who pines...

Ted Mosby would miss me if I was away.  Ted would want to see me and text me while I was away.  We’d have cute inside jokes.  Ted would have these deep feelings for me and would want to talk late into the night.

Pretend to understand the finer things

What I love about Ted is his desire to appreciate the finer cultural things in life.  His collection of strange hobbies (calligraphy, buying encyclopedias, collecting old coins) makes him interesting and means we will always have something to talk about.  I like to pretend I know more about wine and constellations than I really do.  We’ll get along just fine, Ted Mosby and I.

What really solidified my crush on imaginary characters was the concert that Ted begged everyone to go to on the episode this evening.  It was the Weird Al Yankovic concert.  Not only do I love Weird Al (I find him oddly attractive.  Please see my type above.  Make sense?) I have BEEN to one of his concerts.

Oh Weird Al, I love you!

So, for all of his romantic, pining, pretentious, Weird Al lovin’ ways – Ted Mosby is my guy.  And until I’m ready to actually start dating again, I’m pretty happy with this day dream version of the next guy.

When I run a marathon

Posted by sarah3030 in Event, random, work it out and tagged with , , ,

That’s right: when.  But that’s another day.  Right now, let me tell you what I learned from being a spectator at the Rock and Roll marathon in St. Louis today.  I watched from two different vantage points.  I started near the 8 mile mark which is where the 1/2 and full marathon runners split.

8 miles in 1 hr 14 minutes. I got this.

Then I walked across the park to catch the marathoners near the 21 mile mark.  Crazy that while I walked a total of 10 blocks, the route the racers took them 12 miles.  I live in the perfect spot for viewing this course.  And have been inspired to run.  Really run.  And now that I’ve seen this race I’m more prepared.  Mostly more prepared for what I wear.  The running part is going to take a significant amount of thought and training.Running skirts are a thing!  I love it.  I saw a variety of styles and some even have ruffles.  I always thought I’d be the person in a tutu, but I think being the serious athlete I’ll become, a running skirt is the better balance of feminine and sporty.

Classic running skirt

with ruffles!

I will absolutely have my name or some other distinguishing feature on my shirt.  I found myself yelling “Go Cards” at folks wearing Cardinals shirts, “Go Tigers” at Mizzou shirt wearers, and so on.  The best ones were the ones that had their names on them.  I love the idea of strangers shouting my name as I run past.  Which I did every time, so I believe other spectators did as well.  Think of the boost you get from hearing your name called out!

You cheer for her coming and going!

Matty gets the cheers!

You can only yell "Go Jack" or "Halloween guy" with this

I’ll also need to accessorize.  Leg and arm warmers are great ways to add color.  I’m sure there’s some function as well, but right now, I’m focused on attracting attention.

Arm Warmers!

Colorful socks!

Creating the marathon playlist on my ipod will also take some very serious consideration.  Order and timing of the songs seems very important to me.  This endeavor may take longer than my marathon training.  I should start building the playlist today.

I also look forward to my blog post after finishing my marathon.  It’s going to be full of the things people yell at you from the sidelines.  I know that I stuck with some general, “way to go”, “you got this”, and “go – go – go!” cheers, but along the way I have to believe there is some crazy stuff yelled, in the spirit of being encouraging, of course.

So there you have it.  Lessons from the sidelines.  For now.  I think I need to go to the gym now.

All joking aside, it was a really amazing morning.  It’s awe inspiring to watch the endurance and persistance.  Also, runners are sexy.  It made me miss Adam Science while watching.

Moments like these

Posted by sarah3030 in growth, Happy, My story continues, random, The job. and tagged with , , ,

Part of trying to live with The Secret in mind is to spend a moment each day being grateful for what you have.  I’m so anxious to see what’s coming next, to end this period of unemployment, to have a job again, to find the next great relationship and now, to start my new master’s program, that I don’t always stop and appreciate what’s happening right now.  So, here’s a look at what I’m grateful for right now:

  • I get to meet awesome St. Louis chefs and be part of really cool cooking parties at one of my jobs.  Tonight, my favorite tapas restaurant’s chef was there as well as the director of a local chain of organic coffee shops were the Iron Chefs at a private party.  I got to watch them cook and create and be a part of that.  That’s cool.
  • I’m grateful for hot chocolate with pumpkin marshmallows.  Seriously delicious.
  • I’m so happy about this weather!  I love the chilly mornings and perfect afternoons.
  • What’s up with my Cardinals in the World Series?!  As I type we’re up in game 3 14 to 7!  Take that Texas.  Especially satisfying as I’ve never particularly liked Texas.
  • I’m grateful for new vegan blogs that are opening up new food options to me.
  • I’m so happy Parks and Recreation is available on Netflix so I can keep watching it on repeat.  Ben and Leslie just make me so happy!
  • This new lip stain from Sephora!  I got a sample of it and I’m loving it!  I don’t usually wear anything besides chap stick.  Color on my lips makes me feel like a grown up.
There you have it.  I don’t want to get to wrapped up in the stuff that’s making me crazy right now.  I’m grateful.

Grad School

Posted by sarah3030 in growth, Happy, My story continues, work and tagged with , ,

I was accepted to an Executive Master’s program!  I started the application process months ago, have rounded up a nomination, three letters or recommendation, my college transcripts and wrote an essay on my academic intentions.  Whew.  I can’t tell you the last time I wrote an essay.  It was easily the piece that was causing me the most anxiety.  I was concerned I was going to get a phone call saying that was the worst essay they had ever read.

My new school!

Oddly, my academic interest paper was centered around how I thought my undergrad education was kind of bogus.  I was fortunate to have great experiences during that time with internships and student organizations, but my actual course work was full of professors who hadn’t been in the field in 20 years, outdated information and assignments and narrow industry insight.  I wound up at Harrah’s which prioritized teaching and learning and succession planning at that time so was able to get amazing opportunities.  My goal with this master’s is to lead organizations in that direction – where they guide and educate their teams into productive careers.

I feel good about this.  I really didn’t know what to think about my chances of being accepted were.  I am so excited to get a Master’s degree.  I know that it will make a difference in career opportunities that I am offered.  And I’m ready to learn some new things.

It was nice to have something good happen to me today.  I had forgotten for a minute what that feels like.  I’m content and making it most of the time, but to have an honest to goodness good thing happen, that felt great.

Also, in the random category, this week went well without the tv on as I fell asleep.  I still play a movie or tv show on my Netflix app on my iphone, but the light and sound are much softer.  I just like the noise.  Falling asleep has been much easier in the darker room.  I should set a new weekly challenge…I’ve been trying to set a Zumba goal.  Do a Zumba workout 6 out of the next 7 days.  Can I do it?  Sure I can.  I’m a master’s student.

Big cookies

Posted by sarah3030 in baking; food, cooking, dessert and tagged with ,

I am always on the lookout for a new chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I’ve tried so many that I’m really tuned in to the subtle differences in the recipes I find.  The combination of downtime and Pinterest have led me to many new baking websites.

This recipe came from a blog called My Baking Addiction and is aptly called Big Chocolate Chip Cookies.  It required making 4 oz balls of cookie dough for huge cookies.  The good news is that I just received a food scale for my birthday!  Making accurate and consistent cookies was no problem.

Helpful scale for Giant Cookies!

My way cool food scale

Cookie result! Very uniform - thanks to measuring.

Yum.

These were very good cookies.  Perhaps too sweet for me, between the 2 cups of sugar (1 cup brown, 1 cup regular) and the 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips these seemed to be leaning on the sugary side.

Meanwhile, here is what Oliver was doing as I made cookies.  I promise he stayed away from actual ingredients. Look how cute his little face is resting on the box of dates.

Sleepy Oliver. Tired, but wants to be where the action is.

Can I tell you a secret?

Posted by sarah3030 in growth, heavy, My story continues, relationships and tagged with

I read the Secret.  I even watched the movie.  Did you know there was a movie?

The Secret has been made fun of a lot.  That’s all I knew about it before reading it.  That and my therapist recommended it to me months ago, back when I still had insurance and saw a therapist.  Meg had the book and the movie was a Watch It Now feature on Netflix.  I had no excuses not to start diving in.

The Secret is the Law of Attraction.  Yes, if you can think you can, you can.  I wanted to be skeptical, but the more I read, the more this isn’t a new concept.  Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”  Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”  The documentary “What the Bleep do we Know” was all about positive energy and brain power.  I don’t think this is total bogus.  I really love that Henry Ford quote.  The Secret says there is more than just thinking about what you want.

1. You have to ask the universe for what you want.  What are your goals?  What do you want?  Be clear and specific.

2. Believe it is already yours.  Calm down and live like what you asked for is on it’s way.  You’ve asked the universe – there’s no reason to believe it won’t come to you.

3. Be in a state of readiness to accept it.  Believe you are worthy of what you asked for and recognize it when it comes to you.

I thought about my college years and my first couple of years working.  Without calling it The Secret I would say I had this kind of attitude.  I approached every job, internship, student organization, relationship and promotion with absolute confidence.  If I wanted something, I got it.  I always had a clear picture, I always believed they were happening and therefore started preparing for them.  I don’t know when this power of positive thinking got away from me?  Moving to Louisiana?  The negative experience I had with the casino employees there?  And then for years I thought about how lousy things were – and they continued to be lousy.  Even the month of August this year.  On August 1st I got a parking ticket for parking within 10 feet of a mailbox.  I remember emailing Adam Science “August sucks.  I hate August.”  And you know what?  August did indeed suck.  I lost my job.  I broke up with Adam Science.  My car was hit and run.  Meg got a job offer.

What did I have to lose refocusing my energy.  Step one is to decide what I want and ask the universe.  I’ve come up with some pretty clear goals for my job and some personal growth.  I’ve made my desires clear to the world and I’m waiting for them to materialize.

This brings me to tonight.

I had no clear relationship goal.  I’m still disappointed that my relationship with Adam Science ended.  I kept hoping it would become the relationship I thought it had the potential to be.  I know I haven’t talked a lot about it here, and that’s because I’ve worried Adam Science himself would be reading this, but, well…hello, Adam if you are reading.  I’ve been so confused since I ended things on whether or not it was the right thing to do.  I have very serious nostalgia about all the fun and good times.  Last night and my own personal, bizarre struggle with the hat was all about thinking he and I should still be friends and how do I begin that transition.

Tonight I was working a private party at Kitchen Conservatory.  Essentially a group rented out our big classroom kitchen and could do whatever they wanted with it with me as their kitchen back up.  It was a group of about 25 and it was a Chopped Theme birthday party.  They had four chefs with mystery baskets and it was really a lot of fun.  It was the group of people that stood out.  They were coupled up for the most part and there was so much love in the room.  There was teasing and fun and helping and cheering and supporting and it was lovely to be around.  (Also there was wine.  Drinking at work is so cool.)  And I realized once and, I’m hoping, for all why I need to really close the book on any thoughts I may have had about reconciling a romantic relationship with Adam Science.  It didn’t feel like that.  And tonight I may have gotten a better idea about how to visualize and ask for a relationship to the universe.

I’ve been in such a funk when it comes to happy couples.  I’ve been jealous and bitter and sad and anxious whenever I see, hear, read about or think about partnerships.  It’s even been dictating my movie and tv choices.  One night last week my sister had a pretty funny exchange.  I told her I was cranky.  She told me to put in a funny movie.  I told her no, movies had couples and people with jobs in them and I was too mad to watch happy couples or employed people.  Her response was to put in the next Harry Potter, that there are no happy couples or employed people in Harry Potter.

Moral of the story: I’ll be embracing more positive thinking.  I’ll start forming an idea of what to ask the universe for in my next relationship.  I can still love and respect and miss who Adam Science is, but need to remember that I was lonely in that relationship.  And most importantly, I believe I’m worthy of what is coming to me and I’m ready to accept it when it comes my way.  Here’s to creating my future with the power of positive thinking.

I’m about to enjoy my weekend.  I have the next two days off.  It’s like the old days when two weeks days are the weekend.  I guess that made today “my Friday”.

I’m Sarah, and I’m ridiculous

Posted by sarah3030 in Crafty, Crazy., growth, heavy, relationships and tagged with ,

The thing about having two part time jobs that have random schedules is that it is impossible to get into regular day to day habits.  Which also means I feel tired all the time.  That could also be because of the cats.  The cats!  But that’s a different post.

I demonstrated some of my ridiculousness last night.  I stayed up until 1am finishing a project that I should have finished a year ago.  And why?  Why now?  It’s a gesture.  Sigh.  I can’t even explain my line of reasoning right now.  Last year I said I would knit something.  I got halfway through it and then got distracted.  Last night I finished it.  I just needed to.  And to prove a point?  To try and make things right?  To say I’m sorry?  A little of all of the above.  At 1am I had several brilliant delivery options, almost all of them involved some play on a “Say Anything” / “Love Actually” montage.  You know that scene in Love Actually where the guy shows up outside of Kiera Knightley’s apartment with the music and the signs that he keeps flipping through without saying a word?  I love that scene.  It’s so tragically romantic.  And I felt I was in the same scenario.  I needed to drop this hat off and then just leave.  I wanted a more amicable ending to this story.  At 1am I had full blown plans to carry out this “bit”.  I love a “bit”.  I love big gestures and special moments and romance.  The good news, is that at 5:20am when my alarm went off to “carry out” this “bit” I came to my senses.   I did not think that intended recipient of this gesture would appreciate my point of view.  In fact, I saw doors being slammed in my face.  (Seriously, I even awoke suddenly from a dream in which the back of my car was slammed into.  I think it was symbolism.)

Which leads me to this thought – why do I think I know what’s best for other people sometimes?  Why do I think I’M what’s best for people?  Claire used to ask me that at work from time to time.  Why am I so confident I know what’s best?

Sigh.  I got a little bit more sleep.  I got a lot of coffee from downstairs.  I’ve become a bigger coffee drinker.  I think it started when Meg was here.  I continue to grow in my coffee appreciation.  Cappuccinos are expensive.  Regular coffee is only a $1 if you bring your own mug.  I’m a girl on a budget.  I got a dollar.  I’m about two weeks away from drinking straight black coffee.  Sign of growth?

Ok.  I’m off to mail a hat.

A tale of three lighting scenarios

Posted by sarah3030 in Quirks

It’s a little bizarre, but this is what is on my mind right now.

I have lived in this apartment for exactly two years and two weeks.  I just realized there is a 2nd light in my guest bathroom.  The guest bathroom is bigger than an average bathroom because it has an alcove for the washer and dryer.  One of my very few cons to this apartment is that when you turn on the lights in the bathroom it automatically turns on the exhaust fan.  Sometimes I just want light without the noise of the fan.  The mystery second switch in my guest bathroom turns on a light above the washer and dryer – with no exhaust fan.  PLUS, I don’t know what kind of bulb is in there, but it’s a really nice white light.  So many of my lights are the CFL bulbs and I find them very yellow.  I am in love with the light in my bathroom.

Which leads me to my kitchen.  I’ve been trying to take pictures of some of the meals I’m making here in vegan month, but the light in my kitchen is soooo yellow!  The pictures come out terrible.  By the time I’m cooking all natural light is gone.  Must find a new lightbulb that is environmentally and photographically friendly.

Which puts us in the other bathroom in my house, my bathroom.  There is a bathroom attached to my bedroom and like the guest bathroom the fan and light go on together.  Sometimes I just want to take a shower with less noise.  OR noise I add, like my radio or tv.  It is impossible to hear anything over the fan. There is no mystery switch in my bathroom.  Which got me thinking about options… Are tap lights still a thing?  Those battery operated lights that you touch and they come on. Could I stick one on the wall opposite my shower head?  Get some light in there, but nothing abrasive and no noise?  Stay tuned…