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: I'm Back

Guys. Let's just ignore the 4+ month hiatus, ok? Let's pretend it never happened.


Here's something I've been doing lately:

These are all images from the monthly anthropologie catalog and I cut them out, print something on it, and hang it in my apartment or put it in my journal.

Easy art.

(the third image inspiration from here)

Sarah: Why Does Anyone Ever Wear Pants?

Guys. I just purchased my first pair of leggings. These leggings to be exact:

And my question is: If leggings exist, why does anyone ever wear pants? Seriously. I plan on living in these babies.

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: Mondays

Thursdays used to be my favorite day of the week. They're ripe with anticipation for the weekend. They set the mood for those glorious two days of freedom.

But lately...

I've become quite smitten with Mondays. And mornings. I like Mondays because they are the start to a new week. It's a day filled with hope for what the rest of the week has to offer. Same with mornings. You wake up and it feels like you have all day to gallivant around.

I just like the hope that accompanies Mondays and mornings.

Don't even get me started on Monday mornings. We could be here all day...

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: 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: Things I Like Lately

Watercolor Africa

We Are Each Other

Kitchen Supplies

Feet Embroidery

Wake ~N~ Make

Rectangles

Plant Life

Beards

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: Officially Obsessed

I'm not feeling so great today, so I called off work. Which means that I have more time on my hands than usual. Enough time to morph my face with the faces of people I love:

Sarah + Molly = Samolly

Sarah + Meghan = Sargan

Clayton + Sarah = Clayrah

Margaret + Sarah = Sargaret

Sarah: Good Fun

Guys. I found this website that allows you to morph your face with your friends', spouses', celeb crushes' face to see what a combined version of your would look like OR to see what your babies would look like.

This is Kels & me:

Aren't we pretty?

Prettiest imaginary child award goes to
this little angel.

This what Husband and I would look like:

bahaha. This cracks me up. It's kind of attractive,
but mostly terrifying.

And this is what my future daughter will look like:

Doesn't really look like either of us. hmmm.....

I just thought I'd share something fun & silly! If you morph yourself, I want to see the result!

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: 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: Fear & Loathing

image from here

This is the scariest animal alive. A couple years ago, I ran across a photo of this disgusting thing, also called a pangolin, in National Geographic and I googled it. And I immediately regretted it. I have never had such a powerful physical reaction to an animal before. When I saw it, I became nauseous. I mean, aren't you nauseated by the sight of it's creepiness?

image from here

image from here

When I started researching it, I discovered that it's the cousin to armadillos. Which, I also find gross (not as gross as these bad boys, though). Their scales are rock hard--creating a super strong defense against predators. While I was reading up on pangolins, I thought to myself, "As long as they don't live near me, it doesn't matter." Guess what. They're native to Uganda. What. the. heck.

Ancient people groups made armor out of them.
image from here

image from here

Even now when I see them, I get shaky and kind of start to panic. Denis agrees with me. He told me once that I should get a BIG stick and hit it. Kelsey thinks they're cute. I suspect she only said it because of her love of arguing. One of Kelsey's FAVORITE stories to tell me is how her friend Becky told her how rocks last a super long time. Kelsey decided it would be fun to rile Becky up by arguing that plants last longer. Apparently, it was a heated argument--that should not have happened! Only because Kelsey loves to argue.

Back to the point: pangolins. They are the only animal I fear. Some people fear snakes or spiders--animals that can actually harm you. Not me. I pick the seemingly harmless ant eater.

image from here

They are gross. They are vile. They make me want to cry.  And if you don't feel the same, you will after this video:

Read more about these nasty little creatures, here.

Sarah: Saturday Plans

The sky is grey and bright all at the same time--the

perfect fall weather to drive around some neat little neighborhoods

and look for a new place to live with my love.

Later I might sew up some Christmas gifts & indulge myself & watch

some kind of foreign film. Any suggestions?

What are you up to on this lovely Saturday?

Sarah: Week in Instagram

tree

a section of our dresser

Frock You vintage store

vintage earrings

mad men

salsa chicken & black bean soup

husband hard at work

i love me some mindy kaling

Life is really good. Yesterday, I heard a great message on judgment at church that was challenging and refreshing. I hate cooking, but I've been doing it a lot more lately--which is a big change for me. Let me clarify: I've been dumping things in my crockpot, leaving it for 5-8 hours, and then I marvel at the delicious food that comes out. I got a new moleskine journal--which makes me very happy. I love moleskines. Francis and I went out to a bar on Thursday night with a couple of people and it was super fun. Like I said, life is good.

Sarah: Come Back Films

You know those films that you always come back to? The ones that resonate and stay with you? The movies you put on if you are working on a project because you know every line by heart? Yes? Well, these are my movies:

image from here

The Holiday

It's a feel good movie. I think part of the allure of this film for me, is my experience of the first time

I saw it. I went to see it in high school, with my good friend Emily. And it was a good time. The

thing I like most about this movie is the dynamic between Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and the old man

down the street. I could do without Jude and Cameron's superficial relationship--but hey, it makes for

a good movie, right? But--who doesn't love that scene in that kick ass fort with Cameron, Jude, and

 Jude's adorable movie-children? I love me some berry kiss.

image from here

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This is my all-time favorite movie. It's a true love story about two people who get caught up in the

mundane, stagnant stages of love. They stop seeing each other for who they are, and instead, see

all the flaws and imperfections. Eternal Sunshine shows us what can happen to our relationships if we 

stop working at them and allow ourselves to see the worst. By traveling through his memories, Jim

 Carrey's character realizes why he loves Kate Winslet. And then fate brings them back together. What

 I love about this film is that every time I watch it I discover something new. Whether it be a new quirk 

of one of the charactersor a new detail in the set, I'm always excited to see what I'll discover next.

The creativity of this film is out of this world and it's so well acted. I'll meet you in Montauk.

image from here

Away We Go

First of all, the combination of John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph is genius. They compliment each other 

so well. In the first few scenes, I didn't really like Maya's character. She seemed kind of controlling

and teacher-ish; always correcting John's character. But as the film progresses and you get to know

John's character, you can understand (not condone) some of her frustrations. The characters are

realistically flawed and they are just searching for a good place to raise their child. Along the way,

they meet some crazy characters and come face-to-face with some deep, life issues. It's a 

beautiful, funny, sensitive love story that I can watch over and over.

image from here

Pride & Prejudice

I love this book. And I also love this movie. The subtle growth of love between Elizabeth and Mr.

Darcy is enough to make any girl swoon. Also, the mutual realization of their flaws is something

that I think many of us can relate to.While I'm not Keira Knightley's number one fan, I think she did a beautiful job portraying Elizabeth Bennet. I also love the way the family dynamic is captured in this movie. We can all relate to a time when our parents and siblings embarrassed us. The cinematography is beautiful. The beautiful landscapes, the camera work--I mean the dancing scene with Elizabeth and 

Mr. Darcy is breathtaking. This will always be a film that I will come back to and watch. 

What are your favorite, go-to movies?

Sarah: Today

Today is my day off!

So, today I'm going to start organizing our house--because the exterminators came yesterday. woot woot! I'm excited to clean, decorate, and organize this place into feeling like a home. Perhaps there will be a home tour (through pictures) coming to the blog soon?

Today I'm getting my California drivers license...if I pass the test.

On my way home from the DMV, I'm going to  stop by that thrift store I was talking about the other day. 

I may or may not enjoy a nice glass of wine while watching 30 Rock later. 

What are you up to today?

Sarah: Observations

I can't breathe through my left nostril. Which tells me I'm getting sick.

We're waiting to unpack our stuff until the cockroach thing is taken care of--which is one week from today! I'm counting down the days.

Pumpkin spice coffee creamer is not as good you would think.

There's a thrift store called "Frock You" that I really want to visit. 

Daytime television is depressing.

It's beginning to cool down here. Yesterday it was 65 degrees. Today it's going to be around 72.

Frank and I are going to go to Mexico sometime soon--just because we can.

I'd like to re-experience my wedding day.

I can't wait to read Mindy Kaling's book.

Image taken from here

Why do women try to fight aging? Fighting it makes them look desperate, insecure and older than they really are (I'm talking to you, Kathy Lee).

I'm obsessed with black tea.

I'm excited to start a certain sewing project, but I can't find the scissors. I could go out and buy a new pair, but I'll just wait until I find the old ones.

I've been sleeping like a rock lately.

I have the entire weekend off! 

Sarah: No Longer

I have been feeling so inspired lately. Inspired to create, write, go outdoors, sew, the list goes on. But I mostly feel inspired to be a better me. I think it's because of the move to San Diego.

I'm no longer forced to live within the limitations and boundaries I put on myself or that I thought others put on me. I know that I could have realized this at any point back Elgin, but it took for me to move across the country to change my thought process and realize the potential here.

I used to allow my own fears and insecurities stop me from doing things I love. Fears like, what if I fail at it? What if, after I fail, I can't stand to even think about the thing I tried to do? What if I disappoint myself and the people I love? What if I don't ever get to be as good as I want to be? All of these what-ifs have piled on top of me and they've caused me to stall on life. They've caused me to stall on my dreams.

No longer. I'm not going to live within the imaginary, crippling limitations I've set for myself. I'm going to aim higher. I'm going to want things, really want them. And then work my butt off to get them. For the first time in my life, I am allowing myself to believe in me. It feels freeing.

This photographer, Tara Whitney, really inspires me. Her style of photography is precisely what I hope to achieve one day. And she doesn't sugar coat her life. I respect and admire her as a fellow human being. I came across this image from her blog, and it spoke to me. Maybe it'll help you in some way.

Image taken from here