Category Archives: blogging

Let’s talk about weddings

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

1. I love weddings.

2. I’ve had a fair amount of sparkling rose cava on an empty stomach.  Well, not completely empty, I ate 5 pieces of some kind of sausage off an appetizer platter.  That makes a dinner, right?  I’m just saying – you’ve been warned.

This has been a completely bizarre week.  I believe my last post was my grad school wrap up.  It was such a great weekend.  I felt confident and happy and like all my life choices were agreeing with me.  Then I came back to St. Louis and the sky fell down on me this week.  It started with Gentleman Friend and I getting into what I thought would be a discussion and turned into a 3 day fight including some really yucky discoveries and feelings.  With that came devastating feelings of insecurity and betrayal.  Yikes.  Two polar opposite feelings and experiences so close to each other have just wrecked me this week.  I’m even taking a vacation day tomorrow to have a minute to really process what happened this week and really understand how I feel about it.

But this post is not about fights with boyfriends and yucky feelings.  But it’s important to know that happened the same week as the wedding I went to tonight.  Yes, a Thursday evening wedding.  Who gets married on a Thursday?  A rock ‘n’ roll couple who are doing the wedding on a budget.  I worked with the bride at Kakao Chocolate last fall when I was unemployed.  She mentioned she wanted a bartender, but renting actual bartenders was expensive.  I told her I can pour wine and beer with the best of them, and I’m really friendly, and I was hired.  So, I didn’t so much attend a wedding as I did work this wedding, but whatever.

I was married for a bit.  My wedding was big.  Well, I supposed compared to some it was.  Not to others.  Since I’m just a little tipsy, I’ll be super transparent.  My wedding had 175 guests and cost about $35,000.  I think that included the honeymoon.  I told Ex Husband we had two choices – do it big or elope.  I was leaning towards eloping.  He said his family only saw each other at weddings and he had friends across the country – a big wedding made everyone come together.  Big wedding done right it was.  I cared about the photographer and my dress.  He cared about call brand liquors at the bar and, as it turns out, he had strong feelings about cake design. It was a lovely wedding and I think the people enjoyed it.  Also, I looked the best I ever have.  Isn’t that always the way with brides?

Here’s some pictures of my wedding:

Most of my favorite photos from that day don’t include my face. Seriously.

I got my own cake. It was Ex Husbands way of making up for the fact that he won the big cake argument.

This was Ex Husband’s choice for cake design. And I’m pretty sure all 172 guests came up to me at some point and told me they loved it.

Fun photo! No face!

Ahh, rain is good luck on your wedding day. Lies people tell brides so they don’t have a stroke.

Moving on.

Tonight I worked this small backyard wedding.  I think there were about 35 people in attendance.  They live in an apartment building that has a small-ish backyard with one giant tree in the center.  They rented cocktail tables and a bar and served appetizer platters from Whole Foods, a wedding cake and chocolates from Kakao.  I served up wine, champagne, beer and bottled water.  (And gin and diet Pepsi’s to the mother of the groom.  Who wore cargo shorts and a t-shirt.  Mother of bride wore very traditional cream suit.  Mother of groom, cargo shorts and t-shirt.  And it was okay.)

The bride and her sisters hung twinkle-y lights and paper lanterns they made out of white paper lunch bags in the trees.  Another friend of hers and I clothed the tables this evening and set up the food and bar.  They had a playlist from iTunes piped into the backyard.  And it was lovely.  It was sweet and heartfelt and simple.

Cake from tonight’s wedding.

Cake from above.

DIY sign on the backyard gate entrance.

Pictures cannot capture the romantic glow of the lights and lanterns. It was so perfect.

Snacks provided.

Now, I’m not comparing.  My wedding was lovely.  I’m bummed that such a big production didn’t lead to a lifetime of wedded bliss, but that’s the past.  This wedding, though, was intimate and full of love and so simple.  It was the beginning of a marriage and not just a wedding.

The owner of the chocolate company the bride and I work at was there with his wife.  They are both wonderful people and they told me they were celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary next week.  A wistful feeling came over me.  I want to be married for 23 years.  I want a partner.  They arrived at the backyard first and the they were telling me about this time they had gone to a wedding and ended up taking over the coordinating efforts because it was falling apart.  They were relating these great stories and finishing each other’s sentences and reminding each other of what happened next…and I want that.

I want romance and fun and intimacy and love and a spirit of togetherness.  Which leads me back to the week I had with Gentleman Friend.  I am at a crossroads.

I am also at the end of this post.  I am tired and light headed.  No good can come from blogging any more this evening.  I leave you only with this advice.  Don’t spend the money on the big wedding.  Go on vacation instead.  Or buy a house.  Or redecorate a room.  Or save cats from a shelter.

Running Outside

Posted by sarah3030 in baking; food, blogging, running and tagged with , , , ,

Team in Training is officially kicked off.  Launch party was last Thursday and first group run is scheduled for the 12th!  I’m running to prepare to run in front of other people.  I think it’s like cleaning your house for the housekeeper.  Running outside at 8am when there’s 90% humidity is an experience.  An experience that will motivate me to get up at 6am next time.

I’m going to keep blog posts about TNT shorter – I’ll occasionally provide a recap here – or do what I’m doing today – and that is shoot you over to my blog on the TNT site.  I’d like to keep the running posts together, and perhaps, if you don’t give a rats patootie about the running and you’re here looking for cake, you won’t have to wade through those.

So, for running/Team in Training/ Half Marathon training posts – go here.

But let’s face it, I’m really running so I can keep eating cake.

Like the smitten kitchen strawberry cake I plan on making later tonight.  With fresh farmer’s market strawberries.  I made this a couple of summers ago and it was fantastic.  Also, strawberries have a special place in my photographer’s heart.  They were some of the first subjects when I got my fancy pants DSLR camera.

I was so proud of my first photos!

Instant art. For food nerds like me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your day!

Me, the update

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, Cat, Hair, Oliver and tagged with , ,
  1. I am in love with grad school homework.  My first assignment was to get involved in a case study simulation game, interviewing stakeholders and diagnosing an organizational issue.  It may sound strange to you, but for a nerd like me this is a gooood time.
  2. New job is going well!  I learn about 100 new things every hour about the grocery business and I think I have some valuable suggestions for the training program I’ll be running.  Yay!
  3. I saw Beauty and the Beast in 3D at the movies last night.  It was a magical movie event when I was 12 and is still a fantastic movie 20 years later.
  4. I got a facial and a hair cut yesterday.  It’s nice to have those small indulgences.  I also bought a new pair of shoes, although not the fancy work shoes I’ve had in the past.  Since new job is so much on the floor, running a grocery store, I bought some black tennis shoes for work.  I kind of love that I wear khakis and tennis shoes to work.
  5. I’m a bad money manager.  Nothing like a conversation with the ex-husband who was a fantastic money manager to remind me of that fact.  Must pay more attention to finances.
  6. I’m supposed to be writing a ten page paper *right now*.
  7. I signed up for another 5K on February 12.
  8. I’m a freak for Amazon.com.  I love my Kindle Fire, I love Amazon Prime and I love free two day shipping.
  9. My hair stylist has some kind of super powers to make my hair curlier than I ever know it can be.  She only trimmed it, but with how curly it is right now, it looks like I got 3 inches cut off.
  10. Oliver, the cat, is still a total pain in my neck at the exact same time he’s the most adorable cat ever.  It’s tricky to be both of those, yet he pulls it off.

And that’s ten.

Back to my paper.

The New Year is here

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, friends, growth, running, Sarah, The job. and tagged with , , ,

I don’t have any resolutions to share.

I am proud of myself for not waiting for this new year to put into place the things I wanted to happen.  I applied and was accepted to grad school when I had no idea how I was going to pay for it.  But thousands of people figure out how to pay for it, right?  I knew I would too.  I didn’t wait for this year to start to begin my longest half marathon training process ever, I ran my first 5K a couple of weeks ago.  I didn’t sit around and collect unemployment and wait for a job to fall in my lap.  I took on my random part time jobs where I met new people, learned new things and got out of the house, even though the combined total from those two part time jobs was never more than an unemployment check was.  My friend Claire likes to point out that I was essentially volunteering during this time because I still got partial unemployment during that time.

I have a “word” for 2012.  It’s FOCUS.  I have three big undertakings in 2012, things I began in 2011 and are only going to get more intense:

  1. Disney Princess half marathon training for Feb ’13  (I know – longest training process ever.  I know.)
  2. New job.  As a corporate trainer that has just moved to an entirely new industry (casinos to groceries) I know there is much to learn on top of a very rigorous training schedule.
  3. Grad school.  So much reading!  I’ve always been smart, but I’ve never been an exceptional student.  Creating good study habits is going to be a challenge.

Making time for all of these things in addition to life getting in the way is going to be my challenge.  Therefore, I choose to FOCUS this year.  So, instead of creating a list of lofty goals and books to read and instruments to tackle – I’ll FOCUS on these and see what else happens.

This new year snuck in.  I’ve been sicker this week than I can remember being in a long time.  I’m fortunate to never have sinus or allergy issues.  I’m experiencing my first sinus infection and it is wiping me out.  From a couple of days before New Years Eve until last night I was pretty much bed bound.  I had a few friends over for New Years Eve, but even they were out by 10pm.  I was even driven to purchase and experiment with a Neti Pot for the first time.  I have a few friends who swear by them and I will admit I felt relief after using it.  Also glad I live alone while using it.  Least sexy thing ever, I imagine.

Happy New Year to all of you.  I’m excited to enter this year with intent and purpose.  And a place to share it all.

#1 Make a List

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, My story continues and tagged with , ,

I feel like there are a LOT of moving parts in my life right now and I would like to make  a list.  I’m going to make that list here.  I got home from work and sat down around 7:20pm.  It’s now 9:20pm.  I’ve been sitting here for about two hours.  I haven’t turned on the tv, I’ve been catching up on a few things, uploading the photos I took at my family’s Christmas party, etc, but I still have much to do and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.  So…

  1. Make a list
  2. Get a hold of the financial aid office at BGSU.  Must get this straightened out ASAP.
  3. Watch White Christmas
  4. Mail Meg’s Christmas present
  5. Make chocolate chip cookies
  6. Make sugar cookies
  7. Attempt to make marshmallows
  8. Paint my fingernails
  9. Plug in new alarm clock
  10. Watch Meet Me In St. Louis
  11. Go for a run!!
  12. Crack open new Zumba 2 for the Wii
  13. Fold so much laundry
  14. Make a grocery list and shop
  15. Read a text book or two
  16. Download biography to read for class
  17. Scrapbook the racing number bib from my run last Saturday
  18. Blow up my new work out stabilizer ball (to help my non existent core muscles)
  19. Wash my hair
  20. Make a cocktail

Hey look!  I can cross one off.  Maybe I can pop in a Christmas movie while folding laundry and having a drink as well… Tomorrow morning I MUST start with a run and then BACK to the chocolate shop.  I also want to make the sugar cookie dough tomorrow morning.  If I don’t get to the chocolate chip cookies, it’s not the end of the world.  The marshmallows can wait until Friday.  I haven’t grocery shopped in what seems like weeks for actual food and not just holiday appetizer or dessert dishes I’m bringing somewhere.  This means I’ve been eating junk and eating out and neither of those are good for wallet or waistline.

Okay.  I think I like the idea of laundry/movie/drink.  I may go do that.  I also must get to bed at reasonable hour for the morning tasks.  Which means I should probably put the computer down.

Okay.  I’m going.  Really.  Send productive thoughts.

 

Update: I managed to make a cocktail.  An almond peppermint patty.  2 oz chocolate liquer, 1 oz peppermint schnapps and a splash of amaretto.  Pretty excellent.  I plugged in my new alarm clock.  This should not have been the task that it was – but word to the wise – never let your tech deficient mother buy you a fancy alarm clock.  I wanted one I could plug my iphone into and will make me up to a playlist of my choosing.  I don’t know that that is what I have here.  Or if it is, I do not know if I programmed it correctly.  I have a back up alarm set just in case.  Technology is supposed to make our life easier, right?  Also, I did email my professor about which biography I’d like to read for one of my classes.  Once she approves it I will start reading/downloading depending on what she says.  I gave her two options – one book I already own but have never read.  The other I’ll need to get.  It’s now 11:30pm.  I’m going to sleep.  No laundry folded.  No White Christmas.  Tomorrow is another day.  

More blogs I’m loving…

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, cooking, food and tagged with , ,

During Vegan Month I was so pleased to find informative and modern blogs that promoted vegan diets and made the food interesting and approachable.  My favorite find is a blog called Oh She Glows!  

Angela is the author of this blog and of all the amazing recipes I found there.  She also chronicles her story into healthy eating and healthy living, which I find really motivating.

I found this fast and surprisingly flavorful salad while browsing her site and now I make it every other week and eat it for lunch all week long.  I add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the vegetables in the food processor.  It sounds a little bizarre, but it is great!

I suggest a visit and plan to spend some time on her Recipage.  I have even bought buckwheat flour and plan on making this pizza soon!  The tomato basil pesto sauce sounds delicious!

The universe talks to me.

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, Crazy., heavy, Quirks, relationships, tv and tagged with , ,

That’s not weird, right?

I have employed a number of ways to search for direction when faced with a decision.  I have thought about it.  I have made lists.  I have jumped head long into a decision.  I have asked for opinions.  I have avoided opinions.  I have gone to church.  I have gone to therapists.

Sometimes, I like to ask the universe.

Sometimes, I get in my car and I’m thinking about a problem or situation and I decide that the next song that comes on the radio is going to have insight into my life and help me decide.

Sometimes, I think the universe answers me.

It’s no secret I’m still struggling with ending my last relationship.  This could have been your run of the mill break up mourning, but then there was a light or a flicker of a different fate for that relationship.  I was led to believe things could be different.  Nice things were said.  *sigh*  At the end of the day, hearts remain hurt.

And then the universe put this upon me:

A great article from The Naked Redhead about being friends with exes, or not…

A piece on breaking up and staying away from a life coach, Danielle Dowling

And because the universe really wants me to move on with my life, it gave me this:

http://www.cbs.com/e/NkSzSlb3MUOvZV5iYc9xzoc3EcIr4CMq/cbs/1/

TV was tough this week.  Robin looked at Barney, and I’m embarrassed to admit, asked a question that absolutely came out of my own mouth earlier this week, “I’m such a mess, why do you even like me?”  This could lead me to a tangent about why I’m (we, women, some women, smart women) look for validation from men, but I’m throwing a baby shower tomorrow and have a million things to do, so that topic will have to wait.  This could also lead me to a discussion of how I’m acting like a female character in an Aaron Sorkin show, while we’re on the topic of tv, but again, baby shower.  There are cupcakes to make and decorations to hang and floors to sweep.

The last piano-dropped-on-the-head moment came from this week’s Parks and Recreation (LOVE this show!).  The clip I wanted isn’t available anywhere for embedding, so I’m going to summarize.  Leslie is talking a mile a minute, interrupting Ann Perkins every line with how her ex-boyfriend thinks she is a steamroller.  Eventually Ann cuts in to confirm that Leslie is indeed a force, with a concrete block on the gas pedal and no brake.  My most favorite quote:

Ann: You made me watch all 8 Harry Potter movies and I don’t even like Harry Potter!

Leslie: That’s insane, you love Harry Potter!  You’ve seen all of the movies!

I’ve watched this conversation about 10 times since last night and that makes me laugh out loud every time.  Ann could have been talking to me.  I’m a steamroller.  I make up my mind with how things should go and then get upset when people don’t go along with it.  Intentions aside, I’m a steamroller.  I hear what I want to hear.  I push too hard.  The universe is talking to me through Ann Perkins.

Now, the episode diverts here to a place that I won’t which is Leslie and Ben decide to try again, that breaking up was the wrong idea.  I’m learning these lessons opposite of Leslie Knope.  I had a conversation kind of like the one below already.  Back when I thought Adam Science and I were on the same page.  Now, I’m getting the steamroller lesson.  I have no medium speed, I have all or nothing.  Oh well.  Let’s hope it’s something I can apply in future relationships.

Morals of the story:

I need to do anything else – hobby, read a book, see a movie, join a club – so I have something else to think about. Talk about. Blog about. I am no good all wrapped up in my head.

Also, I won’t lead you on.

Also, I do have a big personality and that means I love big and deep and with the best intentions.

Also, feelings are real.

Also, I can pretty much promise this is the last Adam Science post.

My friend Claire tells me about once a week that I don’t know myself at all.  I try hard to be or do things I think I’m supposed to and maybe disregard things that make me really happy.  I think I learned a few things about me through this.  The universe told me so.

Something I already knew?  Man, I love Leslie and Ben together on Parks & Rec!!  Enjoy this totally sweet clip below:

http://www.hulu.com/embed/U8qYHrrA15noYOq_ZW3KOw

Favorite New Blogs

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, relationships and tagged with ,

Pinterest hasn’t just introduced me to great ideas and photos – the new blogs I’ve been introduced to are so much fun and a virtual adventure.  I’m living vicariously through so many great craft projects, trips, meals and daily adventures.  I’ll make time to introduce my new favorites over the next week.

Today’s is The Perpetual Bachelorette.  Her adventures in online dating are so similar to ones I had when I did that last year and when I attempted it again in the last few months.  I empathize with her in every post.  As I wade through dating and breaking up and trying to maneuver romantic and friendly relationships I find solace in her stories.  Today’s post is especially on point with me – as it’s titled Comic Relief.  I love a laugh!  I think you’ll enjoy her writing style, her stories and her signature sign off – “I’m going to be single forever.”