Sarah: Things I Like Lately

Watercolor Africa

We Are Each Other

Kitchen Supplies

Feet Embroidery

Wake ~N~ Make

Rectangles

Plant Life

Beards

Sarah: Sweater Love

Remember this post where I complained a lot about the things I missed in Elgin? Well, let me tell you something: It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here in San Diego! It's way cooler now (like 60-ish degrees!) and while we don't have snow, if I put on some good Christmas music and close my eyes, I can imagine the snow. Which is basically the same thing.

Saturday night, Husband and I went to this little shindig known as December Nights. It was fun! The museums are open all evening for free & there's tons of food. And while yes, we did have fun we left after about an hour and a half. Why? Two reasons: 

One: We only had 4 dollars in cash between the two of us and the ATMs there wanted to charge a fee of 4 dollars! On principle, we couldn't bring ourselves to do that. 

Two: It was freaking cold! And we parked like a mile away so that we could avoid paying a fee to park and crazy drivers. As we were walking the mile back to our car, I started to think how nice it'd be if I had a coat or sweater to bundle myself up. Hence, this list:

1). A coat with faux-fur just says class to me. Add a bow and you've got mega-class. Kind of like mega-desk.

2). This cozy little sweater just screams "Holidays!", don't you think?

3). I feel like the neckline of this pretty, feminine number would be universally flattering on all women. Do you think it'd look good on you?

4). Dainty, soft, & subtle. I love the blues.

5). Pretty simple & straightforward. But I like the buttons on the shoulder & multi-colored speckles throughout the oatmeal wool.

6). You know, 6 months ago I never ever would have worn something like this. But now, I think I'd live in it. Funny how things change, huh?

7). This jacket reminds of 1940s Germany (I've been watching a lot of German WWII films lately). I love the earthy tone, buttons, & the collar.

8). Since I was a kid, I've hated turtlenecks. They make me feel claustrophobic and trapped. And I admittedly, still don't own one to this day. But I'd be willing to give this one a try.

9). My obsession with mint green continues. This sweater just looks so comfy & versatile. Good for layering?

10). Just look at that lace collar. What an easy way to feminize any plain shirt. so. pretty.

Ok. Question: What's the difference between a jacket & a coat? 'Cause I have no idea...

Sarah: Pretty Little Tops

One: I love the pale grey & peter pan collar on this little number.

Two: Do you see this blouse? Mint green, a collar, & a bow. I think I'm in love.

Three: I tried this one on at anthro last week, & it was super cute. The sleeves rock.

Four: Is it just me, or is burnt orange a really flattering color? 'Cause I love it.

Five: Simple. Pretty. Classy.

Six: I currently love the baggier, bohemian style blouses going around. They're [usually] flattering & they make your style look effortless. I especially like the neck of this blouse.

Seven: Mustard & Floral pattern. Delicate & feminine.

Eight: I also tried this shirt on at anthro & I adored the fit & embroidered details.

Nine: I love the neckline, small key hole, & bow in this pretty little top. 

Ten: I own nothing with polka dots. Can you believe that? How pretty would this dotted blouse be with a simple necklace?

On a completely unrelated note: This morning when I went to work, I accidentally took both sets of keys, so Husband didn't have car keys to get to work. I left work 3 hours early to get them to him (his new job is super strict on being late). As I was driving, the van overheated three times & I had to call a tow truck. I left work at 7:15 am & reached home at 10:50am. Husband had to take a cab to work. Good job, Me.

Sarah: Christmas Wish List

I haven't made one of these suckers in a while and I've been asked by relatives what I want for Christmas, so here is my holiday wish list! Feel free to buy me any and all of the items on the list!

You should know though, there were a lot more clothes on here, but I went and sifted through to get the top picks.

1. Francis & I are getting iPhone's for Christmas (yay!)--but I'm huge klutz. I drop my phone weekly. I don't really care now, because my phone is crap. But when I get that iPhone, it's going to need some protection. And this my protection of choice.
2. I love the way this raw & natural diamond ring looks so rough & organic, yet completely feminine.
3. Such a cute & classic bag (that can, in the future, double as a diaper bag).
4. What a lovely, chic, printed blouse. I need more staples like this one in my closet.
5. I saw this movie a couple of months ago & it was so So SO good. I can only imagine how the novel originally set out the plot. I want to read it so badly.
6. Do you have eyes? Can you see these shoes? If you answered "yes" to both of those questions, then you understand why I want these.
7. I have become a sucker for peter pan collars & sparkly things. I don't know when it happened, but those preferences force me to like this sweater.
8. I love maps. I love typography. I love this map. I want it on my wall.
9. This coat makes me swoon. It's so simple & so lovely.
10. Oh my word. Pretty.
11. These sheets would coordinate with my bed sheet perfectly. And I like orange.
12. I have wanted these boots for over a year. One day...
13. A simple wishbone necklace. Something to wear everyday with anything & everything.

What do you want for Christmas?

Kelsey: 25

I am trying to make my 30 by 30 list but I keep thinking of the fun things I did before I turned 25. So I had to make a list.


25 things I'm glad I did before I was 25

- Got a tattoo, in Haiti

- Volunteered in Mexico

- Sang all over China

- Licked the Great Wall

- Went snorkeling all over the Caribbean

- Studied abroad, everyone should do it.

- Got baptized

- Watched every episode of LOST at least twice, time well spent

- Memorized The Lion King

- Saw Les Mis in London

- Learned sign language and worked with my favorite deaf person, Stef!

- Conquered fear of spiders and lived with a tarantula

- Met Denis (this is number one)

- Made the perfect vanilla cupcake

- Lived alone

- Lived in Africa

- Spent 7 years as a vegetarian

- Milked a cow! Then drank the milk.

- Dyed my hair crazy colors, glad I did it, glad its over.

- Ate a lot of lobster and a lot of Jello

- Learned to drive a stick shift

- Learned midwifery!

- Visited Europe

- Grew my first garden

- Learned all the words to the song "American Pie"

I totally milked at least half of that jug! 

Kelsey: America

I have been in Africa for 4 and a half months. This is the amount of time I require of myself before I can miss anything from home or complain about anything in Africa.

What you think I have been complaining during this whole blog? No. I have not. You will see.

I spent a few summers during college in different parts of the world working with short term mission teams. While this was one of the most educational experiences I could possibly have, short term teams can be difficult (annoying). Last summer I was in Haiti for the summer and I had been in Uganda since January with only one week in America between them. My second month into Haiti a short term kid told me that he missed American food so much that when he got home he would drive straight to McDonalds and then immediately to Chipotle. Then that night he would eat at Big Boy and Dairy Queen. Because 6 days without American fast food is basically starvation and torture. The kicker was this team ate American food their entire trip anyways. Plus the family who was hosting them makes some killer amazing everything food. It is literally impossible to miss American food if you are staying with Corrigan. I actually miss Corrigan food when I am back in America. For real.

Denis and I are planning a visit to America for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am very excited. Christmas in Africa (no snow) is just not the same. I mean they don't have Santa Clause here. My neighbor is named Santa and everyone thinks that is normal... It is not.

These are the top six things I can't wait to experience in America!

1. Infrastructure. I can't wait to drive on roads as smooth as butter. Roads without potholes. Roads that have pavement. Roads that have laws or just some semblance of rules. Soon I will be riding in a car and I will not be wondering the entire time if this will be the car ride that kills me. Even more important than roads, running water. Water that comes out of the tap that you can drink! Drinking water delivered right to your home! Electricity that never goes away. That means living without the constant anxiety that the power will go off at any moment and stay off for 36 hours. Oh and fast internet! My itunes account has really been missing me.

2. Autumn and the beginning of winter. The end of winter is the worst. I want snow until mid January and then I want Spring. We could completely get rid of February and March if it were up to me. It feels strange to be here and not have the weather change even the slightest bit. We are literally on the equator and the weather is exactly the same all year round. Its always June in Uganda. Winter in America means snow, hot drinks, sweaters, socks and all things cozy. I can't remember the last time I wore a sock. Uganda is wide open spaces under a giant sky but not cozy.

3.  Food. Cheese and salad and fish tacos and frozen yogurt. I really love Ugandan rice and beans but more than that I really love love food that is not fried! Everything we eat is fried. The beans, the rice, the vegetables, the bread, the eggs, the potatoes, all fried. Today I ordered a salad in town and it came with french fries. Not as a side dish but mixed into the salad. I have suspected this but it confirms that in Uganda french fries are a vegetable. What kind of a sick place is this? I can't wait to eat grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, ethnic food, breakfast cereals, skim milk, goat cheese, and tons of fresh pico de gallo. Yum.

4. Blending in. I want no one to notice me. That is the dream. Walk down the street and not have anyone look at me. No kids to touch my skin to see if the white rubs off. No creepy men yelling things at me. No one trying to charge me triple because of the color of my skin. No one to yell Mzungu (whitey) and stare. I want to be invisible.

5. No bugs. Mainly no mosquitos. No itching or chances of catching deadly disease from tiny flying insects all around you.

6. Family and friends. Or at least the ones who have not abandoned me for other states! You know who you are California, Colorado, and Michigan. Send my people back. Also D.C. please send Juli Smith, who never lived in IL but I feel like she did and I miss her like crazy. Thanks. But seriously can't wait to see my fam. My parents are sort of horrible at having children who live far away. And by horrible I mean they are awful at picking up the phone and calling their children. My sister and I complain about it all the time. You know those parents who even when you grow up they still want to know what you are doing and who you are with and what time you will be home, even though you dont live with them? Those are the opposite of my parents. My dad is very pragmatic and my mom is very chill. I once asked them if there was anywhere I could go that would make them worry about me (and therefore call me to check in on me). My dad answered, Afghanistan. So if I go to war they will worry and maybe call. But until that happens they will assume everything is peachy.

Speaking of America someone posted this picture on facebook of how America sees the rest of the world (yay ethnocentrism) and it cracked me up. Especially Canada.

See you soon America!

Sarah: Visual List

I've been thinking a lot lately about these little visual lists that I throw together and how they might be sending the wrong message. I try (really hard) not to be a materialistic, consumer-driven, get-the-next-best-thing type of person. I attempt (poorly, I admit) to be frugal with my income. I try not to buy things I don't need and I don't want to place all of my value in the stuff that I have or clothes that I wear. I think it has become the nature of Americans to judge people based on what they have and not their character. And I by no means want to promote that kind of mindset by sharing these lists. However, I do enjoy window shopping and whenever I see something I like, I slide the photo right on over to desktop so that I can share it with you lovelies. But it doesn't mean that I'm running out to purchase these things, I just like to day dream about them AND they give me direction when I go to thrift stores. For example: I could probably find number two on this current list at a thrift store pretty easily (and cheaply!!), but now I have an idea of what I would like instead of wandering aimlessly through the store.

You might be asking yourself, "Where is this ranting disclaimer coming from?" Well, dear readers it's coming from the conviction I felt when I read this article. You should read it too. I hope it will change your understanding of the fashion world and help you realize your own motivations for shopping. 

Ok, with all that said...here are some things that have caught my eyes as I have perused the world wide web lately:

One: This dress is really similar to the other maxi dress (number 8) I showed you last time. I just really like the colors of the dress, and I think I like it more as a shorter dress than a maxi. What do you think?

Two: Since I saw this dress in the anthro catalogue, I have loved it. It seems so effortless and comfortable while still allowing the wearer to look good.

Three: Mmm. This little romper is too cute!

Four: I don't know about you, but I don't necessarily like lemonade. I like this saying better. 

Five: Did you know that hippos are my favorite animal? They have been since I was little. I think this would be a cute little planter to rest on a windowsill.

Six: I like stripes. I like tshirts. I like drapey necklines. This shirt indulges all of those preferences.

Seven: I'm not sure why I like this dress, because it isn't really my taste. But I do like it. I like the scalloped chest, I like the color, and I like its versatility.

Eight: Hahaha. This poster just makes me laugh. Just think about what the poster is really saying. Funny stuff.

Nine: Well hello, perfect autumn shirt! So lovely to meet your acquaintance. 

Ten: Even though this print kind of freaks me out, I still really like it for some reason...I think it would be nice for a baby/child's room.

Eleven: So small. So delicate. So geometric. I like.

Twelve: Embrace messy hair, apartment, dishes, job, children, life. You name it, you got it.

Do you like having a space in-between each line or not? I feel like it's too cluttered if each line of the list isn't spaced, but spacing each one makes the post super long. What do you prefer??

The word list has lost all meaning

I have a theory that all women like lists. Its either that or the ones who don't are keeping silent because the list likers are so aggressive. I love lists. I think most people enjoy the satisfaction and the feeling of accomplishment they get when they cross something off their list. For me the standards are a bit lower. I feel accomplished and satisfied just at the mere action of writing something down on a list. I make multiple lists a week that I then immediately forget about. I think I can up my satisfaction level if I share these lists here, also maybe that will increase their likelihood of getting accomplished. And by that I mean maybe someone else will see the items on my list and accomplish them for me. Honestly I would get much more satisfaction out of doing it that way...

Denis headed to Kampala this weekend. I tried to wiggle my way into the trip but was shot down. I even got all dressed and he was all um where are you heading to? Rude. But I really only wanted to go so that I could visit a big fancy supermarket full of imported food. So I made a list.

Things I want from Kampala

- Chex! (I am dying to make homemade chex mix)
- Tortillas, corn or flour
- Tortilla chips
- Hummus
- Cheetos. I know that is kind of gross but they are cheesy!!!
- Boursin cheese. (I love this french cheese and heard a rumor you can get it in Kla)
- Brie cheese (also heard a rumor that there is decent brie to be found)
- Jalapenos (If I dont eat some salsa soon I will die, not exaggerating.)
- Zucchini, the best of all veggies.
- Apricot jam, to go with the brie
- Cream cheese
- Fancy crackers, must have fancy crackers to go with fancy cheese!
- Granola (This is a pipe dream but I can hope)

Things Denis brought home


- Inedible Brie. Was immediately thrown away, far away.
- Totally edible and yummier than remembered Boursin cheese! This was ten dollars and was consumed within 3 minutes of arrival. So worth it.
- Zucchini. This is waiting for me to cook it for dinner tonight! Yum!
- Apricot jam. Does not taste like I remember, tastes very weird.
- An order of Tortilla wrapped chicken with chips (fries).  Also the tortilla was a chapatti. So close...
- A wooden gazelle named Moses.

Although I basically would have fainted if he had found tortilla chips and jalapenos, I did appreciate the creativity shown with the list. I also appreciated the heck out of that ten dollar cheese!

Feel free to share a list.

- Kels