Sarah: Contentment in the Sadness

Sometimes, when I hear a song or read a book or see an image I'm so moved I cry. I'm so overcome. I'm sad. The sadness touches the very depths of myself.

And yet in the sadness, there is contentment.

Sarah: Struck, Exchanged, Down

If you are out of college, living in a new city where you only have 2 friends and no family around, and you don't know how to make friends, I have the answer for you:

Get an adorable pup that is scientifically irresistible to the human race.

No one can ignore him. Conversations are struck. Smiles are exchanged. Walls come down.

Sarah: Life

San Diego offers free college-like courses for adults who live in San Diego county. And I'm taking two classes this fall! Did I mention they're free?

I had my first class last Wednesday - a pattern making class. I love to sew and I'd love to learn how to make my own patterns for clothes; hence, the class. It's a four hour class once a week, for 18 weeks. I'm really excited about it!

The second class that I'm taking just started yesterday. It's a basic photography class. And when I say basic, I mean b a s i c. As in, let's talk about the different kinds of camera. Digital vs. film. Point & shoot vs. DSLR. Granted, it's mostly older people who don't really understand their cameras, so I probably shouldn't judge too harshly. Still, I'm learning a few things. This is the first "formal" photography class I've ever taken. And even though it's pretty rudimentary, I'm enjoying myself.

It feels good to be back in class(es). And to be learning about my passions and hobbies instead of taking courses which are required.

It feels really good. I feel good.

Sarah: Life via Instagram

Here are some photos of life lately:

an experiment with glitter

my mom sent me this picture. I miss this little one 

Have a happy Wednesday!

Sarah: Antsy

I've been feeling rather antsy lately. Antsy for it to get warmer. Antsy for my birthday. Antsy for Kels to come visit. Antsy to purchase my new camera. Antsy to start something fresh and new....

I hate when I wish the days away and am not present in the everyday things.

Sarah: Time to March

I'm so glad you stopped by, otherwise you might not have known that February was over and March has begun! 

This month has so many things to offer:

- Today I've committed to working out hard again and trying to get back in shape. 

- The first day of spring accompanies March!

- The first day of spring this year, just happens, to also be my birthday!

- Kelsey is coming to California at the end of this month!

I'm going to kick off March by wearing my new shoes from Anthropologie! I am in love with them.

Sarah: Slowly Becoming

Things are happening. Life is happening. All the time.

ashes

creating a budget

lipstick

not quite ready

baby Lu

my love

What could be better than a Monday morning spent listening to the amazing Alexi Murdoch and feeling the excitement of dreams slowly becoming a reality?

Sarah: Sleeping Habits

Guys. I love my bed. It's my most favorite place/thing in our apartment. It's so comfortable and inviting. The bedding is mismatched - there's a quilt I thrifted in college, my duvet from college, the bright blue pillow case is from bedding I had in high school, and the yellow sheets are an old Christmas gift. But still. I love it.

Want to know something weird about my sleeping habits? I can't sleep unless Francis is in bed with me. At night, when I'm more tired than he is and I go to bed it doesn't matter how tired I am, unless he's in bed with me I can't fall asleep. I'm pretty sure it's because he's usually out in the living room either watching tv or surfing the internet and my mind is wondering, "What's he laughing at?" or "When is he coming to bed?". It's like my mind can't really turn off until he's by my side.

In the mornings, it's the same kind of deal. His biological clock usually has him up around like 7am. He will usually lay in bed for about another hour or so before he gets up. But when he does get of our warm cocoon of a bed, I'm up too. It's different though when he leaves for work. If I know he's getting out of bed to get ready and then leave for work, I just keep on sleeping.

It's like I subconsciously hate the idea of missing out on any of our lives together - even to sleep.

Am I the only one who's like this?

Also, kind of off the subject, but I'm giving up chocolate for Lent. Are you giving up anything?

Sarah: Teddy & Rebecca

My friends Teddy and Rebecca were married on January 14th. And now they're taking their time on their honeymoon traveling around the country. How cool is that honeymoon?

On Valentine's Day they made their way over here to good ole San Diego for a nice little visit. They arrived early and stayed late--and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I've known Teddy since I was in the 4th grade and Rebecca since high school years. While they were here we took walks, ate good food (ahem, California burritos and sushi!!), had terrific conversation, experienced the best street performance, and enjoyed the presence of one another. I love when worlds, old and new, collide.

Here are some pictures from their stay:

Awesome street performance

She has one of the most interesting faces

Teddy and Rebecca,
Thank you for coming to our home. Thank you for your friendship.
I love you both.

Sarah: HIMMH

In case you don't watch How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), I'll tell you up front that this post title (which stands for How I Met My Husband) pays homage to that show. 'Cause I love it.

Even though Frank and I don't really celebrate valentine's day, I thought I'd share the story how we met.

I was a college freshman filled with dreams and the hope of possibilities. I had the foreseeable future planned out for myself: Go to college, meet cool people, get a degree, join the peace corps (or some other organization like that), travel the world, meet more cool people, have life changing experiences, maybe in my late 20s meet a nice guy, get married, have kids a couple years later.

Spoiler Alert: That's not how things turned out.

When I had just entered college, I had never really had a "serious" boyfriend or relationship so I wasn't necessarily looking for one. I told myself to build good friendships with people and focus on school. I had a passion for people, cultures, and service--so I went to school for missions. I had seen the Invisible Children video for the first time in high school and I felt so drawn to Africa. As I discussed my interests and passions with my older sister (who was a senior at the same university), she told me that I should talk to a guy named Francis because he's from Uganda.

Speed things up to the first couple weeks of school. I had joined the university choir, which provided a good way of interacting with various people who didn't share my classes or major. I had noticed this guy who sat behind me, a tenor. One day in the cafeteria, after choir, that same guy and I were next to each other in the dinner line. I asked him his name and he replied Francis. I made the connection that he must be the same Francis my sister told me about (after all, how many Francis' do you know?). So I made the leap and asked him where he was from. Uganda. Suspicions confirmed.

And this my friends is how, in our first interaction, my future husband shot down my dreams:

Me: I'd like to live in Uganda one day.
Frank: Why?
Me: I'd like to be a missionary.
Frank: Uganda doesn't need anymore missionaries.

And he proceeded to walk away while I, reaching for an apple, stood dumbfounded. After that conversation he kind of intimidated me.

Fast forward to February when a select group from the choir went on tour to Florida. Francis and I were both in that group. We spent a lot of time together over those 4 days. It was then that intimidation of our first conversation started to melt away And it was also when I first felt the flutter of butterflies when we talked to each other. At one point over those four days a friend asked me, "Do you like Francis?!" And I replied that I did.

In Florida together

Once back in good 'ole Elgin and out of the rays of Florida sunshine, Francis and I began to hang out more than usual. A few weeks after that, on February 29th, he asked me out.

While we were dating

Since then we've had our ups and downs. I broke up with him once and we were apart for four months. Then I realized the error of my ways, we talked about it, processed through some stuff, and started dating again. Two years after that, before I even graduated college, I was a married woman.

 

Sealing the deal

Sarah: Happy Birthday, My Love

Today is Frank's birthday!! I got up this morning and got him Starbucks, made him breakfast in bed, we're currently watching the Manchester United game and later we're going to go out somewhere to watch the Super Bowl!

It's a day full of celebrating one of my favorite people!

Happy 33rd, my love. I hope it's everything you want it to be.

Sarah: Not the Same Thing

So lately (as in yesterday) I've been thinking about cutting my hair short. Not like pixie short, but bob short. I'm tired of growing my hair out and I want to change things up. So I typed into google, "trendy hairstyles for curly hair". And this is what I got:

What. the. heck. I thought I asked for curly hairstyles, not perfectly manipulated hairstyles that are created to make people believe that Gwyneth freaking Paltrow just got back from the beach and just so happens to have flawless waves... That's not curly hair. It is not the same thing.

Curly haired ladies, how many times have you lusted after a hairstyle but thought, "Oh I can't pull that off with my curly hair." How many times have you looked at a hair tutorial only to find the afterthought, "This works for curly hair also." When it comes to hair, we are second class citizens.

Why is there no real hair advice for us curly headed ladies? We want to get in on all the latest, coolest, and trendiest hairstyles, but we can't! We don't know how. And when we reach out for help, this is the kind of thing we get: fake curls that insult the very essence of of curliness.

I have imperfect curls, individual ringlets - each one having a mind of its own, not straight-made-to-look-curly hair. And they need guidance, nurturing, and love.

So here's the point of this rant: I'm calling on you, major hairstylists of the world, help us truly curly-haired ladies. Give us real advice and guidance about our hair and stop - just stop - trying to pass off the curling-iron-curls as curly hair. It's insulting.

Thanks.

Sarah: Looking Forward

I've never really made New Year's resolutions before mostly out of laziness & the fear of disappointing myself if I failed to reach my goals. But I like the idea of resolutions. Reflecting on our lives, deciding what needs changed & tweaked,  & deciding what the best course of action will be to make those things happen.

So this is the first year that I am making goals for the new year. And as you can see from my list, most of my goals are character building not necessarily "things to do". Without further ado, here are the things I want to accomplish this year:

-Begin to live my life fearlessly

-Stop comparing myself to others

(I read the following quote somewhere & it has stuck with me, because it's undeniably true, "Comparison is the thief of joy.")

-Work hard for the things I want

-Develop a true sense of style

-Rise above the little things

-Cook more

Not a very long list & it might not seem very special. But these are all things that I really struggle with & want to change. I am ready for the new year!

Sarah: All the Time

One of the things I struggle with living in San Diego is the weather. When you grow up in the midwest, you begin to equate weather with events, holidays, & emotions. The weather is so fickle & tricky that you never know what to expect on any given day.

But here...it's nice all the time. Even when it's chilly, it's nice. I don't know how to react to this kind of consistent weather. Back in Ohio or Illinois, when it snowed & I didn't like it I could just boycott the weather and stay curled up in bed. Or if was rainy & cold I could take out my angered disappointment by staying indoors. But here...when it's nice all the time, I feel like I need to be happy all the time. And I usually am. The weather here doesn't accommodate bad moods or bad days. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's what I need in life. More sunshine.

It's going to be in the mid-seventies here in my little neighborhood. After that little rant above, I feel sheepish admitting that I'm looking forward to it.

Tomorrow I'm going to post some of my goals for 2012. Stay tuned.

Sarah: Big Year

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

I took an unintentional leave of absence from the blog for the holidays I guess. It certainly wasn't planned, but I'm glad it happened. It was nice to just take a break and focus on on the holidays, my husband, & our families. 

For both Christmas & New Years Eve, we just chilled out at home. Everything was low-key, lovely, & perfect.

2011 was a big year:

I made a commitment to take care of my body & followed through on it//I finished up my degree & graduated college//I helped Kels pack up her stuff & move to Uganda//I ran my first 5k//I watched as my sister gave birth to my first niece, Luisa//My husband lost his job & we made a really big decision//Frank & I traveled to Uganda & I met my in-laws for the first time! And I love them//I saw the source of the Nile//My womb was blessed by one of my husband's aunties//We packed up our cars & moved across the country//We almost moved into our cars while living in San Diego//I became an official Californian//I had a big personal revelation//I got new glasses//Kelsey & Denis came to the US//Kels & Deno got engaged//

I think 2012 is going to be an even bigger year. Bring it on.

Sarah: Life Lately

Frank and I moved [again!] on Saturday! We moved from the cockroach infested little apartment to a cute little apartment in a busy little neighborhood. I. am. loving it. I'm not loving the unpacking, though. A necessary evil I suppose.

Here are some iPhone photos that I've taken lately:

 December Nights in the Park

On Sunday [right after we moved into our new
place] we got our first real Christmas Tree!
I am now in FULL holiday mode!

Starbucks for moving day!

We were excited in line for the coffee to
help us with moving day!

I hope you all have a lovely Tuesday!

Sarah: Happy Birthday!

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of my mom. She looks happy and she's actually smiling in this picture! Something that is not easy for her to do. I don't know why! But it's at the level where if I want her to "smile for real, mom!" I need to like tickle her or say something super inappropriate for her to laugh. I don't know what made her smile in this picture...maybe it was that her favorite daughter was giving her some sugar. I kid, I kid. She doesn't have favorites. But if she did....

Anyways. The true reason I posted this photo of my mom is because look at how much she looks like a young Melissa Gilbert! You know, from Little House on the Prairie. Or LHOTP for you hard-core fans.

Mom & Sarah: Prom Night, May 2007

Rob Lowe & Laura Ingalls-oops, I meant Melissa Gilbert.
Circa 1980s. Did you know they were once engaged?

They could be sisters! Seriously! Especially when I remember pictures from when I was little. My mom had this beautiful, white porcelain skin & gorgeous wide-set eyes. I've always thought she could have totally been a model.

Also, Happy Birthday, Mom! You're the best.

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