Home Sweet Sarah

“Mind power, Swede. Mind power.”*

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Sarah

Since it was so fun last year (has it really been over a year? Wow) I thought I’d do the movie quote game again, this time with movies about Christmas/The Holidays/Movies I Always Associate With The Holidays.

Rules: Leave a comment identifying ONE movie quote. JUST ONE. Some of you are my movie quote soul-mates and could probably identify all the quotes. You know who you are.

Okay, let’s do this!

1. “Are you sure? Because it looks like he’s leaning.”

2. “Francisco! That’s fun to say! Francisco… Francisssssco.”

3. “Happy Thanksgiving. It’s your turn to say Happy Thanksgiving back.”

“Happy Thanksgiving back.”

4. “No, for three reasons. A) I’m not that lucky. 2) We use smoke detectors. And D) We live on the most boring street in America, where nothing even remotely dangerous will ever happen.”

5. “I did have an awful premonition I was gonna fuck up on the first day. Oh, piss it!”

6. “You used up all the glue…ON PURPOSE!”

7. “Six-inch ribbon curls, honey … SIX! INCHES!”

8. “Where are my Mary-Janes, Kate?”

9. “It means if you put on the suit, then you’re the big guy.”

10. “What does this song mean? My whole life, I don’t know what this song means. ‘Should old acquaintance be forgot?’ Does that mean we should forget old acquaintances, or does it mean we if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is impossible because we already forgot?”

* 11.

Posted in Book, Movies, TV, & Music | 16 Comments

Thanks given for this year

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Sarah

Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday, which, after almost five years of blogging, is not something that needs repeating year after year. Plus, Thanksgiving is like everyone’s favorite holiday, isn’t it? The food, the drink, the naps, the second dinner, the fifth bottle of wine, etc., etc., it’s not very original) is over, but what a lovely one it was. Lots of food and drink, family Skype-time, and laying around watching Elf.

I didn’t workout, I didn’t shower, I did take a picture of the two of us and cut off Chris’s head…

…So everything went according to schedule

I intended to take pictures of all my Thanksgiving food, because contrary to a popular blogger, I know you all really do care what I had for lunch, or in this case, Thanksgiving lunch (the Best of all the Lunches!) Unfortunately, I was hungry, so this picture of cranberry sauce is all I got:

Leftovers making their way to me tomorrow as a stir-in with my vanilla Greek yogurt, YUM

LG totally dug her first Thanksgiving. I mean, she ate the usual formula and pureed slop, but whatever. She seemed happy nonetheless:

It’s like she likes us or something. So weird, this one

We hit up Napa on Saturday, for the second weekend in a row BECAUSE WE CAN, and it was lovely and glorious, as you can imagine. The last time we were there, we picked up our HOLIDAY MAGNUM, which is something I am, for obvious reasons, looking forward to immensely. Now. Should we drink it on Christmas or New Year’s Eve, Christmas or New Year’s Eve? I know you’re all feeling very sorry for me. I’ll go drown my feelings of despair in my one-and-a-half-liters of champagne.

Other than that, there’s nothing to report. My turkey soup is about done and my stomach’s a-grumbling, so it looks like it’s going to be an early dinner and bedtime for me.

Oh, but first, here’s a picture of the baby actually enjoying her bath for once:

Or, you know, not hating it like usual. Whatever, I’ll take it

Happy belated Thanksgiving to you all! Life’s Good around here and I hope it’s the same for you!

Posted in Chris, Food & Wine, Holidays, LG | 2 Comments

Thanksgiving menu

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Sarah

Every year Elizabeth and A’Dell post their Thanksgiving and Christmas menus and every year I’m like, YUUUUUMMY I’M COMING TO YOUR HOUSE FOR DINNERRRRRR, which is scary, yes, but more so for Elizabeth, whose house I could totally show up to. (But I’d bring booze! I always bring booze!)

Anyway, up until two days ago, I thought Thanksgiving was next next week, so when I found out it’s just next week, I was all, OMG MY MENU AND DAMMIT I NEVER ORDERED A FANCY TURKEY OH WELL BUTTERBALL FOR MEEEEEE.

Here’s what we’re having this year:

Snacks

– Cheese and crackers (including a ball of cheese. It is not Thanksgiving unless there’s a ball of cheese, per Chris) and salami

– Crudites and ranch dip, because we’re classy

– White bean and artichoke dip (Giada recipe) with pita chips

Dinner

– Turkey! (Ina recipe) and gravy

– Stuffing (normally I’d add celery, onions, and sausage, but I’m using breakfast meat in another (new!) recipe, so I though I’d forgo the sausage here)

– Mashed potatoes (anyone have a stellar recipe to share? I usually keep it pretty simple with butter and milk, but am open to trying new things)

– Green bean casserole (with slivered almonds inside and onion rings on top)

– Brussels sprouts with bacon and blue cheese (the new-to-my-Thanksgiving recipe!)

– Cranberry sauce with maple syrup (Chris saw this somewhere, I’m not sure where, but it looks like the Pioneer Woman also has a recipe)

– Hawaiian rolls

Dessert

– Ice cream sundaes! (it’s my Thanksgiving and I’ll omit the pumpkin if I want to. Which I want to.)

Dranks

– Bloody Marys ~~for~~ with breakfast

– Mimosas throughout the morning/early afternoon

– Wine with dinner

– I’m feeling the need for a little coffee with Bailey’s or Khalua with dessert, but that seems like overkill, which means we’ll probably have it

What are you eating/drinking this Thanksgiving?

Posted in Food & Wine, Holidays | 12 Comments

First world problems

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Sarah

My car unlock clicker do-dad has stopped working and I practically break my thumb every time I try to open my car door. I’ve tried changing the battery and the problem persists, so that’s obviously not the issue. Every morning I walk out to my car, lugging 20 pounds of baby, her bag of stuff, and my bag of stuff and then I sit there while I *click click click* until I finally give up, plop LG and all our shit on the ground, walk around to my side of the car, unlock it manually, then walk back to the passenger side where I practically break my back trying to get her into the backseat. Once I finally get in the driver’s seat — hopefully I haven’t banged my head against the car door jamb, as that seems to be happening with regularity these days — I’m sweating and, due to too much vigorous movement, my pants have practically fallen down…

…Which brings me to this: I have no pants. My jeggings (my beloved jeggings!) are getting droopy, both pairs of my leggings are droopy AND have holes in the butt, and the pants I recently ordered from Old Navy don’t fit. And not because they’re too big.

I left my travel-sized face wash in the bathroom in Austin. It was Kiehl’s and it was FREE and while I didn’t love it, it was the only nice travel face wash I ever had and I only got to use it twice before leaving it a tired stupor at the Hyatt at 6am.

The newspaper reprinted last Sunday’s crossword puzzle this Sunday and never fixed the mistake. I look forward to very little on Mondays, the crossword puzzle being at the top of the list.

What are your first world problems these days?

Posted in All About Moi, Nerd Alert! | 7 Comments

Nothin’ lasts forever/Even cold November rain

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Sarah

Well hello! October just drug its little ass, didn’t it? And now here we are, in November, the beginning of my favorite time of year (THANKSGIVING! HECK YEAH!) and I’m sure now until the end of the year will go by in a second. Regardless, I’ve already started playing the Mariah Carey (Holiday) station on Pandora, so I’ll be in the damn holiday spirit for the next eight weeks.

Although it drug by, my October was busy, what with trips to Bakersfield and Austin. I feel like I went somewhere else…maybe? But I guess I didn’t.

October really was The Month Of The Internet, which started out by seeing Rhiannon (and Bill) (and BoB, sort of indirectly) at the champagnery. I don’t have a picture of that; HOWEVER, Rhiannon did get to meet Tyler Florence later that day and she didn’t even offend him or anything, unlike yours truly.

Then there was @theblathering in Austin, which was quite the whirlwind. So much so that I think I’m still catching up on the sleep I missed that weekend. I think – and this is being generous – I got maybe, MAYBE six hours of sleep the entire weekend. Maybe.

Anyway, here’s a picture of some of us ladies in Austin. (I stole this picture from Elisabeth.)

Miss Vanity (me) chose this because her hair and boobs look good. Neither of these things happen often, what can I say?

Then last weekend I got to see MORE Internet ladies (and Peppa) for brunch in Sacramento. (Picture stolen from Amy. I can’t be taking my own pictures these days, clearly.)

Check out how cute LG and Peppa are going to look together when they’re older. Luckily they won’t be able to kiss because those four giant cheeks will totally get in the way. Giant Cheeks: Messing up Game Since 2011

Then there was Halloween, a holiday which I’m not into too much, and neither is Chris, so we spent our evening hunkered down in the dark, drinking wine, and eating Reece’s Pumpkins.

She’s all skin and bones, hardy har har!

October also marked the month LG could start sitting up (albiet wobbily-y) on her own, as evidenced here:

And eating solid (and I use the word “solid” – quite literally – very loosely, as it’s just a bunch of pureed ickiness) food:

I feel like I can’t just leave you with that gross picture of my kid, so here’s one of the two of us, dressed up all nice and fancy for Napa:

If fancy means the leggings that don’t have the hole in the butt, that is

Oh, okay, FINE. One more of the little turd-monster:

Turns on the charm if, and only if, I move the camera out of my face so she can see me making ridiculous faces at her. So high maintenance, this one

Happy Thursday, best day of the week!

Posted in Chris, Food & Wine, LG, Travel | 9 Comments

We’ll always have the Internet

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Sarah

I went away (alone! without my baby!) to Austin this past weekend to meet some of my Internet besties.

Normally before a trip, I plan! plan! plan!

How am I getting from the airport to the hotel?

How am I checking into the hotel?

I need to buy a new outfit and new shoes!

And most importantly, jewelry! What accessories should I pack OMG now I need to buy something new again!

This trip was not like this. I sat in the airport bar before my flight, reading the newest issue of Better Homes & Gardens, drinking my Ramona-approved Pinot Grigio, knowing that on the other side, someone(s) would pick me up from the airport.

And someone(s) did.

I knew I’d have a place to stay, thanks to people who plan much more in advance than I do and who let me crash in their room.

I didn’t have to buy any new clothes, because, well, there was no time and money, but more importantly because when you have the awesome personal stylists I have, they tell you that what you already have is perfect. And they don’t lie.

And speaking of those personal stylists, I didn’t have to buy any new jewelry, either, because when you room next to them, you just have to show up at their door and ask, “Okay, what am I wearing?” (i.e.: What am I stealing from you for the night?)

The thing about meeting your Internet friends, awesome as it is, is that the time spent is always much, much too short. Brunch is never long enough. A dinner is never long enough. And, it turns out, a weekend (or in my case, less than 36 hours OMG I AM STILL SO TIRED) isn’t long enough either.

But lucky for us, because we already know so much about one another, we can totally cut the getting-to-know-you bullshit and dive right into the real-life stuff.

And even though we only see each other once a year, we have the Internet to keep us in touch (daily, hourly) until the next time.

Until next time, LADIES!

Posted in All About Moi, Travel | 5 Comments

The Rules of Meetings

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Sarah

No meeting shall begin before 10am.

No meeting shall begin after 3pm.

Lunch meetings should be catered.

Anything to add?

Posted in Nerd Alert! | 6 Comments

Working out the work and workout

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Sarah

I’m in sort of a weird place and it’s bothering me, so I’m gonna get all 2007 and write my feelings about it.

I’ve been back to work for a little over two months and things are fine, truly; nothing to report either way about that. I like my job and it provides stellar healthcare and while I miss my kid (all day, but usually pretty hardcore around 2pm), work is good.

What’s NOT good is the working out. From the time LG was about three weeks old, I started working out again, mostly doing the Shred and/or Bethenny’s yoga DVD and/or going on walks (LG was silent on our walks! Or, she was silent to ME when I put my music on. Same diff.)

I did this mostly for my sanity, as I’m one of those weirdos who starts to freak out if she doesn’t workout. I’m not a hardcore worker-outer, mind you. I just feel better when I DO something.

Anyway, the (re)start of work has put me in this weird place where I want to workout, but I also want to spend time with my child (imagine that) and it’s been hard finding the right balance between the two.

See, I get home from work around 6pm and if I go on a quick workout, I can be home around 6:45pm. The problem, though, is that LG goes to bed sometime between 7pm and 7:45pm, which means if I workout, my time with her is very limited.

Not to mention, working out after work causes us to eat dinner around 7:30pm or 8pm and when you go to bed at 9pm, that’s too damn late for dinner.

I know the answer is to just drag myself out of bed and workout before work, which is actually when I prefer to workout, but DAMN. I’m tired.

All this whining aside, I’ve been doing the Couch to 5k program and will be completing it this week. I was a little skeptical of the program; if you’d have told me eight weeks ago I could run three miles straight two months from then, I’d have laughed at you.

But, I started the program to give myself a workout I could complete in 30 minutes and I’ve done just that.

Regardless, I still feel this pressure to find the time to do what I want to do (workout, hang with LG and Chris) and what I need to do (workout, hang with LG and Chris.) But hey, at least my wants and needs align, right? Could be worse, I suppose.

In other news, I bought jeggings this weekend and they’re fabulous. So at least I’ve got a roof over my head, food ~~on the table~~ in front of the TV, and jeggs.

Posted in LG, Workin on my fitness | 8 Comments

Ancient accent vlog

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Sarah

Jumping on the bandwagon with the accent vlog.

If you want to play along, then…

Say these words:

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

And answer these questions:

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

Posted in All About Moi | 15 Comments

This is practically math

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Sarah

Bands whose songs all sound the same: Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Offspring, Green Day.

Bands whose songs all sound the same who I like: All of the above minus Smashing Pumpkins.

Bands/artists I wish I liked but who I don’t, in fact, like at all: Rolling Stones, U2/Bono, Sting.

Bands/artists I wish I liked but who I don’t, in fact, like at all who are British or Irish: All of the above.

Things I have against the British or the Irish other than the fact that they’re the origin of sometimes-awful bands/artists, like those listed above: Nothing.

Posted in Book, Movies, TV, & Music | 2 Comments