Jingle bells Jingle bells...

Chicken pot pie tonight. So yummy. Probably my most favorite meal when it's cold outside. Iced tea. Salad with cranberries, walnuts, white cheddar cheese. Homemade vanilla bluebell ice cream. I was going to make cherry crunch but we have a faulty can opener and I was too lazy to try to open those cans...

Today was fuuuuunnnnn...We decorated for christmas at work! Set up the christmas tree. Went and bought some new lights because it had dull patches that were dark. That was a sad little tree. It was kind of droopy and I could tell it was crying before we pulled it out of its box. Christmas decorations are magical to put up. I could put up Christmas decor for a looooooong time, but I hate when I have to take it down. It's just like, this is a lot of work and the thing that we were looking forward to isn't happening again for a long time. We put garland around my front reception area, and so every time somebody walked by I could tell they had a little twinkle in their eye because they were so excited about the holidays...

Boo yah

Ohhh yea you can hey ya'lllllllllllllllllllll......

Can you blog at the apple store????

Hello!

What's going on ya'll??? Is everyone getting excited for Thanksgiving because I sure am! We are having thanksgiving in Dallas for the first time in my life this year. With the exception of one magical year when we were taken on a surprise trip to Disney World by my parents when I was 15 (that was so awesome, we woke up with bags packed for Houston and went to sleep in the car and woke up at the airport to Florida--way to go Mom and Dad), it has always been tradition to spend Thanksgiving in Katy, Texas where my Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Dan live. But this year we just can't, and I'm sad about it, but...

Dad is having shoulder surgery tomorrow. He's finally reached his limit. Too much tennis playing has landed him a shoulder injury that must be fixed with surgery. It shouldn't be too complicated of a surgery and his recovery time is surprisingly fast. He should be back in the office by Tuesday!! (but we'll see about that).

Anyways, Dad's going to be out of commission, so we're staying here and having Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family on Thursday. Becky got here last night. Tonight we're having a last meal before Dad goes under the knife, tomorrow will be a festive day at work, and Thursday, well you know what happens Thursday.

Gobble gobble!

Love,
Sarah

Oh and Crawf...

Why can't I post on your blog? It won't let me, otherwise I already would have. Sorry. Let's check that out so I can write on it, OK?

I miss running with you.

Feeling kinda bloggy...

Hey Ya'll!

First note- Crawf-I am so proud of you for re-starting your blog. Maybe if we do it together we will be cute, bloggy girls in no time!

Last night I made chili. It's the recipe my mom uses, and it's mostly from the recipe on the back of the chili mix, but I'm going to tell you how it's different. AND healthy. AND SOOOO easy! (Andrea this is for your marraige recipe list)

you will need:

1 lb. of ground turkey

1 can of ranch style beans (If you want to be extra spicy get the kind with jalapeños)

1 packet of William's Chili seasoning (or you can go to Sam's and buy a big container of it to have on hand - that's what I did because this chili is very good)

1 can of diced tomatos (I'm pretty sure mine were Hunt's)

1.5 tbs flour

Brown the ground turkey (if i were you i'd leave in the juices, but you are also free to take them out if you want to be super skinny)

Season it with the Chili seasoning, salt if desired (I always desire.)

Add tomatos and beans

Add flour

Let it simmer for about 1o minutes.

Eat. Use Frito's, rice and cheddar cheese liberally, or eat it by itself.

So easy, but you can't go wrong.

Yesterday Katie stole my new dress and wore it to church. I was kinda ticked but then I realized it wasn't that big of a deal and so I wasn't mad anymore. And then today she sent me a hot brownie from Tiff's Treats to work and I'm getting ready to go give that silly dress to her, ya'll!! She knows the quick way back into my heart!!

I was actually really busy at work today, and I am so excited that it is Thanksgiving this week because everyone at work seems to have a little pep in their step. Makes for a much happier work environment. Wednesday we are having a Maggiano's feast. Thursday I am running the turkey trot with Calli and Kyla. We are super-runners. Oh i need to make sure I have some leggings to wear. Brrr that's gonna be so fun. And then it's off to stuff myself with all kinds of yummy Thanksgiving food! Yay!

If you are reading this, I am thankful for you. Thanks for all the encouragement to keep going! I'll see how long I last, Ya'll!

Love you.

This is the sweet life...

Hello all. I know that nobody reads this anymore, and I kind of hope nobody reads this blog until I can get some sort of consistency with it. So, if you're here, go away. I'm not ready for you yet. Just kidding, if you want to read this then that is fine.

I always get re-inspired to blog when I read other people's blogs, and a coworker told me about a blog that has become my recent obsession. It belongs to a really funny mom, and she's inspired me to take a new approach to my blog life. You can read about her funny life here:

www.holymama.org

Time to leave inhibitions behind. If i'm going to share my life with people on the INTERNET, i guess i better stop worrying about if I sound stupid! Because who cares, this is me.

Campbell and I are having a chill date night tonight. We're going to use the gift cards that I've been collecting at work to go to Chili's. Yes, I LOVE Chili's. Most nights I really want to go somewhere swanky and hip, but tonight I just want a chicken fajita pita from good 'ol Chili's. And french fries and iced tea. That sounds happy.

And I don't want to wear fancy pants and a fancy top and fix my hair. I just want to wear my high-wasted GAP mom jeans and a fleece. I want coffee later too. Doesn't that sound great? C'mon all you cute girls (all my little friends are super cute dressers), I know that sounds great to you.

After Chili's we're going to catch up on some TV and just veg. Awesome. This is the sweet life.

OH! There's my blog title! I've been waiting so long for it to come to me.

Happy Friday!

back to blog...

Problem:

I love hamburgers and french fries more than almost any other food.

Solution:

Weight Watchers meeting in the morning.

Helloooo everyone! I'm back again. I hope you'll read my posts again after this long break. I can't guarantee that I'll be here that often, but I'm going to give it another go. I have more to tell you, but it will have to be a little bit later. Busy day!

love,
sarah

Today I got a job...

I will be working for Storm LLC for atleast the next month...Many of you don't know this, but I have been working for my dad a little bit since I've been home for the summer while I was looking for a job, and I feel so fortunate to have found a job so early in my summer search.  One of my dad's patients works for a law firm a few blocks over in downtown, and the other day when I was working at Dad's office she told me that they were looking for an office assistant.  

It's not exactly what I thought I'd be doing, but I am really excited about it.  What I like about it is that it has potential to become become whatever I make of it.  There aren't many specific job requriements, I'm just kind of there to learn and to help out wherever I'm needed.  Sounds like a good first job to me.  They told me I get to ask lots of questions, and that's all I needed to know.  Undoubtedly I'll get to know more about the legal field in this job, and it will be a good indicator of whether this is something I'm interested in doing long term (I've thought about doing law firm recruitment for awhile, and that may possibly be on the horizon)

I still have dreams of owning a dance studio or becoming a speech pathologist, and I made that clear in my interview, but for some reason they're still real excited to have me, and I'm real excited to be there.  

I start Thursday.  I'll keep you posted.

Love ya.

This is such a strange time...

I have been home now for 2 weeks.  I'm already finding that while my home in Dallas is still home I don't feel quite as comfortable living in it the same way I've always done.  It's a strange time...

I've graduated but all I have to show for it is a diploma.  I do not have a job to go to during the day, I don't have a source of income, I am still relatively helpless and dependent on my parents.  An adult that much more similarly resembles a child.  This awkward stage in my life affects every interaction I have with my family.  "Hey Sarah do you want to go to the Rangers game?", "One sec, let me ask my mom."  or "Hey mom and dad do you mind if I go on a run with Katie this morning instead of going to church, I went last night."--"Sure Sarah, you don't have to ask us that, you can make your own decisions now."

but...Can I?  I am the oldest child, and from what I can figure in the bible, though I am graduated and in some ways independent, I am still under the authority of my parents.  I feel strange.  I little bit underdeveloped or something.  I am not confident in my own decision-making abilities and constantly need the advise of someone wiser.  

I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing, but maybe it's time to start going to the ultimate wisdom-giver.  Maybe it's time to start consulting my Heavenly Father and His Word about every decision.  Maybe the way I mature is to come to the Lord like a little child.  Not only is it OK, but it's the only way we're supposed to do according to Luke 18: "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  So instead of constantly going to my parents and saying, "Help me make this decision.", I need to start consulting the Lord to ask the same thing.  That pleases Him.

I'm on my way to Becky's graduation baccalaureate, but will continue struggling through my thougts later.  If you just read this, thanks for reading my piddly thoughts.  I think majority of us reading this are all in a similar position, and I hope it's encouraging for you to read that I'm struggling through this awkward phase as well.

Love you all.

SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance starts tomorrow night at 8/7c.  This is a sweet blessing in my life.  Thank you God for Dance and for this show.  I love it very much.

P.S.  Hi Twitch, Bethany and I will miss you this season.

Here is the recipe for Neopolitan Ice Cream Pie that I got from SELF magazine.  Doesn't it look yummy?  Shouldn't we make it??

INGREDIENTS

• 9 graham crackers
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat strawberry frozen yogurt, softened
• 1/2 Heath bar, broken into small pieces
• 1 1/2 cups mint ice cream, softened
• 1 1/2 cups crushed Oreo cookies
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat chocolate frozen yogurt, softened
• 2 fresh strawberries, halved

PREPARATION

Combine crackers and butter in a food processor. Press mixture into a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan to form crust. Chill in freezer for 20 minutes. Remove; spread strawberry frozen yogurt over crust. Sprinkle Heath bar on top. Freeze until firm. Remove. Spread a layer of mint ice cream over frozen yogurt; sprinkle 1 cup Oreos on top. Freeze until firm. Spread a layer of chocolate frozen yogurt on ice cream; freeze until firm. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Oreos on top. Garnish each slice with strawberries.

Yumm...and summer begins!

Everything's easier in Dallas...

I am officially in Dallas.  

I am officially home.  This last couple of days has been very fun and exciting.  

I think I'm going to like it here....

Wanna see what I've been doing??

This is a chow chow.  If you didn't know it, Katie Tucker is living in Dallas this summer (her first Texas summer!  woo woo I hope she doesn't melt...)  Katie is living with a very sweet woman who I have yet to meet whom we lovingly refer to as "the widow", and a GIGANTIC chow chow named Tonka :)  Tonka is actually black, but I liked this picture.  

I spent the night at Katie's new house after we went to church on Sunday night, and I like Tonka but he kinda scares me.  These dogs are known to be very sweet, but also very aggressive and sometimes mean.  Not Tonka though.  Sweet as they come.

I'm going to turn into a couch potato this summer because of all the shows that are starting.  Last night we watched Jillian pick her batch of men that she will pick a husband from.  We love the pilot (jake), and Kiptyn.  Is anyone else as excited about So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) as I am???  That show premieres Thursday, and you better bet it will be entertaining.  

Other topics:  I am looking into taking Bickram Yoga this summer, anyone else??  

also...I have a good recipe for healthy ice cream pie that I will post soon. :) 

love ya.

Martha's Bloomers

We went to Martha's Bloomers today with bible study.  As you know I do love a good restaurant.  Have you ever been there?

It's a fun place to go with girls.  It's a gardening haven with a little tea room in the back that serves delicious chicken salad and iced tea.  We also had sample "shots" of tea in tiny tea cups with butterflies for handles.  Cute :)

I absolutely love the girls in my bible study and I will miss them so much!  Kelsey and I have been leading these girls since they were freshmen, and it has been such a blessing to learn about Philippians and then Daniel with them.  This all started because 2 girls decided to invest their time and wisdom into me and Kelsey and some other fun girls when we were freshmen and sophomores in hopes that we would learn and someday lead our own study and help more girls know Jesus more deeply in college.  Since then Kelsey and I have started our own study with three girls--Amanda, Lauren, and Kate.

We recently (almost finished!--we're going to finish over the summer) the Beth Moore study on Daniel.  I loved it.  If you want to read a book about a true man of God, and also learn a ton of crazy/awesome prophesy read Daniel!  And we loved doing it with the Beth Moore study.  I don't think I'd touched Daniel since I was in preschool learning about Daniel in the Lion's den.  Which is a really cool story, but there is so much more to his life!  He is a great example of a man who lived counter-culturally, and faced much persecution in his life because he feared the Lord.  Amazing! 

Tomorrow I will clean my room.  Deep clean.  I mean it this time.  I'm also going to find a place for my sister to live next year.  If anyone has any good College Station dorm/apartment suggestions please let me know!

love ya'll

Today I sat in bed all day long...

Today I woke up around 8 and literally did not get off of my bed until I went to the allergy doctor at 1.  :)  I don't know what's wrong with me, but lately I can't breathe very well, so I saw the doctor and he gave me some samples.  I hope that helps.  I think I just need an inhaler.

Tonight I went to dinner with my dear friend Holly.  Holly has been my very good friend for such a long time, I guess you could say our friendship blossomed when we were officers of the 9th grade drill team, had a common interest of shopping at Agasi, and thought we looked cool in braces.  We actually thought we looked cool all the time.

We didn't...

Anyways, now my dear Texas girl is planning to up and move to Boston to start married life with her new fiance, David.  I love talking with Holly about her plans.  Everything is so exciting right now.  Holly is literally about to be a wife, a teacher, and a northerner (eww).  Everything in her life is changing!  Everything in our lives is changing I guess.  I don't know how we got here.  Every time I talk with Holly I learn something from her.  As I was sitting across from her tonight at dinner I just kind of realized how important it is to maintain friendships.  There is really nothing more comforting nor healing than being with a person who knows you inside and out, and has for a long time.  My friends and I are all about to graduate and scatter all over the world, and I'm not very good at keeping in touch, but it's so important!  So i'm gonna try real hard.  Even more than that I guess I've just been learning to value people a whole lot more lately.

God puts all kinds of people in our lives for a reason.  We are made to live in community with people.  Heather Hendricks says that as believers, our unity points others to God (John 17:20).  So if this is the way we point others to God we better know each other deeply, and let people know us deeply.  I am so thankful to have friends who love me enough to know me.  Know what's going on inside of me.  I will strive to do that for people around me so that we may point to Jesus because of our unity.

By the way, I'm learning this stuff because I'm reading this blog: http://www.herhands.blogspot.com/.

If you are a girl you should read it.

I'll be floating the river tomorrow. :)  That sounds delightful!

Goodnight

Today a miracle has happened...

It is a rainy day in college station.  And it is perfect.  My finance class was cancelled today and so I called Katie and Michele and we decided to go eat lunch at Madden's.  I believe that if we eat food in heaven it will be from Madden's.  I mean it.  If you have never been to Madden's for lunch, go and order the Bacon and avocado grilled havarti and white cheddar cheese sandwich on focaccia with a cup of

bisque.  Yum.  It will melt in your mouth.

I want a labradoodle.  

i mean is that not just the cutest thing you've ever seen???  My family has one, Moe.  He is very cute, but I want one of my own.  Katie and I are watching When Harry Met Sally in my bed.  We made coffee and ate cake.  I love to grind my own HEB coffee.  Taste of the Hill Country is my favorite.  It has light hints of vanilla and cinnamon.  Really good with hazlenut creamer.  Perfect.

i forgot that i restarted my blog

i'm going to work on the design.