Home Sweet Sarah

…When hearts like ours meet

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Sarah

What’s your song? You know…The song that makes you call your significant other and tell him, “Turn on 94.9!” when it comes on the radio?

Ours is Social Distortion’s cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”

Oh HELLO THERE, Mike Ness. I mean Chris. HELLO THERE, Chris.

Although that’s “our song,” we actually danced to Etta James’s “Sunday Kind of Love” at our wedding. Phenomenal dancers though we may be, it is sort of difficult to slow dance to…Whatever it is “Ring of Fire” is.

When choosing a first dance song, I knew I wanted something from this genre, but not the obvious “At Last.” I randomly heard this song come on the jukebox at the bar where Chris and I met and that was it. Done!

So! What’s your song? And while we’re at it, what’s your sign? I’m an Aquarius.

Posted in Book, Movies, TV, & Music, Chris | 10 Comments

Top Chef Masters (of Snoozeville)

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Sarah

I’m a fan of pretty much anything Bravo puts out (see: The Real Housewives, of which I watch every franchise, even Miami, which no one else seemed to watch, and except for D.C., which I declined to watch not because of the housewives, but because of my deep-seated hatred for Washington D.C.) but I’m totally not feeling this season of Top Chef Masters.

It’s just…Really, really boring. I think the Masters franchise may have tapped out with the first season because I don’t think there are that many chefs who have both the skills and the personality required to be Masters.

See, I’m pretty sure Bravo picks chefs for the regular Top Chef based on a formula of 60% skill and 40% personality. Their chefery isn’t as great as that of a Master, but they are entertaining (see: Spike, my favorite Top Chef ever or Marcel, my arch enemy who’s good for yelling at the TV.)

So, by the time it’s time to start casting for Masters, Bravo has a very limited pool (or vat?) of chefs from which to choose. Their skill level needs to be top notch, but the chances of finding a master chef that’s got a good personality, as well? Nearly impossible.

Hence why this season kinda blows. Hence why I think Top Chef Masters should have begun and ended with the first season. Hence why they brought Hugh back in the second episode of this season.

Doesn’t it seem odd that they brought Hugh back without any explanation? And! Brought him back for good, with none of that you-can-stay-but-only-if-you-win-this-elimination-challenge kind of thing? And and! Haven’t kicked him off yet?

Not that I’m complaining! Without Hugh, I would have stopped watching after episode two. I just find it suspicious.

Suspicion aside, I’m totally rooting for Naomi to win.

Posted in Book, Movies, TV, & Music | 4 Comments

Lushin’ it up

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Sarah

The other two-thirds of my family are napping right now, which means it’s deathly quiet in here (minus LG’s grunts and groans…Sister is a very active sleeper), which also means now that I’ve typed that, she’s wide awake, but anyway! Since it’s nice and (relatively) peaceful, I thought I’d take a quick second to remind you that I do still write for Food Lush on the weekly (Wednesdays) and here are a couple posts I am particularly proud of (god I’m a douche, sorry):

Chicken Two Ways: Chicken Stock

A Different Taste of Napa Valley

Kitchen Tips and Tricks (The peanut butter trick will BLOW YOUR MIND)

San Diego Eating and Drinking Guide

Save Money: Be Your Own Butcher (Bonus: A picture of me holding a giant piece of pork)

If you have any food- and beverage-related posts you’d like to see, let me know! I’m always looking for new material, especially if that new material involves me trying out a new food or better yet, a new booze.

Cheers!

Posted in Food & Wine | 2 Comments

She get it from her papa

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Sarah

When I was a baby, I looked exactly like my mom. You could take a picture of her at one year old and compare it to a picture of me at one year old and it’s like we’re the same person. I sort of assumed this would how it would be with LG. She’d pop out looking like a Mini Me, naturally, right?

Well. She popped out and looked…Like neither of us, really. She certainly didn’t look a thing like me and didn’t really seem to look like Chris, either. Or so I thought.

Then I received some baby pictures of Chris from his grandma and HOLY SHIT:

Twins. These two are TWINS.

Chris doesn’t see the resemblance (how he doesn’t is beyond me) but to me it’s crystal clear. She get it from her papa, FOR SURE.

Posted in Chris, LG | 4 Comments

A couple more movies that aren’t that bad

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Sarah

I have some more movies that aren’t that bad to add to my list from yesterday. When I wrote that post, I knew there were a few movies I was missing, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember which ones, so I assumed they were just gone forever, along with most of my brain cells, THANKS FOR NOTHING, CHILD. However, at 4:00 AM this morning, they came back to me, and so here you go: Two more movies that don’t suck.

The Runaways
This is the Joan Jett biopic starring Kristen Stewart who I generally can’t stand (she’s like a younger, female version of Bill Paxton, am I right? Very. Mono. Tone.) Oddly – luckily – though, the movie isn’t about Joan Jett as much as it’s about Cherie Currie, who is played by Dakota Fanning. I appreciate the casting here…You know, casting someone who’s actually 16 to play a 16 year old. What an idea.

Anyway, it was interesting to see where these girls started from and (some of) their eventual demise and where they are now. Plus, it has good music and it’s only 106 minutes long, so you know I love that.

Hot Tub Time Machine
The DVD cover said this movie was funnier than The Hangover. Uhh, no. It’s not. BUT! It was still funny, if only because of the ’80s costumes. See, it’s about a group of friends who travel back to their old party cabin and through the power of movie magic, get transported back in time to their ’80s-selves. Blah blah, hijinks ensue as they try to make it back to 2010, blah blah.

Anyway, it’s got John Cusack (who plays no Rob Gordon, but I don’t think he’ll ever surpass that as his best role) and Chevy Chase and a totally creepy Crispin Glover, who I think they cast purely because he was in one of the best ’80s movies ever.

So there you have it! Two more movies that don’t totally suck. Go forth and watch, if you want. Or don’t, because they weren’t that good.

Posted in Book, Movies, TV, & Music | 6 Comments

Some movies* that aren’t that bad

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Sarah

You know those movies that just look dumb and only stay in the theatre for a hot second before going straight to DVD? Yeah, this is a review of some of those movies. Not exactly a glowing review – not exactly a review at all – but oh well.

Couples Retreat
This was actually a very funny movie and with an all star cast, to boot. It’s got Kristen Bell, who’s well on her way to becoming the new Amy Adams for me, and Jason Bateman and Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau and other actors whose names I don’t know but who you’d totally recognize.

I was dubious, but turned this movie on one day and was surprised at how funny it was. It’s now one of those movies that makes it into regular viewing rotation in our house. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no The Hangover or Talledega Nights, but it’s still good.

Anyway, it’s about four couples who…WAIT FOR IT…Go on a couples retreat. Hijinks ensue.

It’s also less than two hours long, which is sort of a rule for me, movie-wise. Oh, and apparently it’s directed by Peter Billingsley (Ralph Parker from A Christmas Story, one of the best movies of all time.)

When In Rome
Another Kristen Bell flick! Again, I was doubtful this movie would be good, but it’s surprisingly cute and not too terribly cheesy. This has got a lot to do with the cast (Danny DeVito and Napoleon Dynamite (and, oddly enough, Pedro too), not to mention Josh Duhamel, hubba hubba.)

Plus, much of the film was shot in Rome and at the Guggenheim museum, both places I myself have visited, so as I watch this movie while wiping someone’s poopy ass, I can remember that at one point in my life, I did do cool things.

*TV Mention: Friday Night Lights
Like a number of people on the Internet, I’m about five years late to the Friday Night Lights party. Not to worry, Chris and I are catching up with a vengeance. We watched seven episodes in a row yesterday and although we have about 23 episodes still to watch, we’re wondering what in the hell we’re going to do when we’re done with FNL.

Anyway, about the show. It’s about [high school] football in Texas and bunch of high school students who take themselves way too seriously. It’s a few parts drama, a few parts comedy, and one part HELLO THERE Tim Riggins.

What movies (or TV shows) (preferably on Netflix Instant) have you seen recently that don’t suck even though you thought they might suck? I’m clearly looking for some stellar entertainment options these days…

Posted in Book, Movies, TV, & Music | 6 Comments

30 Little Things : 10 : The best part of my day

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Sarah

When I was pregnant, the best part of my day was taking off my bra. Man, just thinking about that makes me smile. I never bought new bras when I was pregnant; instead, I just crammed the gals into my old bras, so by the end of the day, it was like, WHOO! Get these puppies outta here! Of course now I haven’t worn a bra in over a month (nursing tanks, woo!) so that’s no longer the best part of my day.

Anyway, enough about boobs!

Now the best part of my day is when I wake LG up to eat. Right before she starts to wail (“How DARE you wake me up to feed me, woman! I shall claw at your boobs with my talon-like fingernails!” (Guess I wasn’t done talking about boobs, huh?)) she streeeeeeetches as she’s waking up (like a real human, this one!) and makes the cutest faces.

See?

(For background, and to keep updated on what I’ve accomplished in the 30 Little Things project, click here. Also, follow Sensibly Sassy, Barbetti, Ready for 30, Maura Lessa, Vicki, Kristie, Just Expressive, and Penny as they play along too!)

Posted in 30 Little Things | 7 Comments

Instinct this

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Sarah

When I was pregnant, a lot of people would tell me, “Don’t worry, your mothering instinct will kick right in!” which never made sense to me, as I never expressed any real concern over my mothering instinct or lack thereof.

Were these people just projecting their insecurities onto me? Did they take my constant “I’m terrified!”s to mean I was concerned about my mothering instinct? Were they concerned about my mothering instinct?

It may come as a surprise to you, but I haven’t ever been, and continue to not be, concerned about my mothering instinct. I am actually quite a good nurturer. I give good back scratches. I always make sure people are fed and watered (or wined.) I write the twice-monthly checks to our cleaning lady to ensure we don’t live in filth. See? Good nurturer.

I’m not particularly religious, but I do think God pairs you up with the perfect little mate, baby-wise. Someone for whom your motherly instinct (whatever that means for you) kicks in, even when you really have no idea what you’re doing.

For example, I had never changed a diaper before, but when LG has soiled herself YET AGAIN, I change her diaper, no problem. I had never (physically) fed a human before, but when LG is hungry, I toss her a boob or a bottle, again, no problem. If she’s crying, I swaddle her and if she continues to cry, I unswaddle her and if she still continues to cry, I swaddle her yet again. And if she still won’t shut her trap, I yell, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WAAAAAAANT and…She continues to cry. That’s just my mothering instinct and it seems to be working for me.

Okay, okay, what’s actually working for me is Chris, who is like the baby whisperer. If she’s crying and crying and crying and WILL NOT SHUT HER TRAP, I can hand her off to Chris and, ahh, instant silence. Chris is the far preferable parent and I can’t say I blame her. He is pretty damn awesome.

Unfortunately, after three (glorious!) weeks of Chris being off work, he goes back on Monday and to say I’m sad is an understatement. No more sleeping in until 8am. No more 20 minute showers. No more baby whisperer. Just me and LG, my perfect mate, trying to figure out what in the hell we’re doing. But I have my mothering instinct, which I’m sure will carry me through. ~~I know it will.~~ ~~I think it will.~~ ~~I hope it will.~~ I know it will.

Posted in Chris, LG | 9 Comments

Baby daze and haze and gaz(ing)

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Sarah

Other than the usual sleep, eat, poop, repeat, there’s really nothing new to report here. We’ve been taking it day by day (mostly hour by hour, actually), but we’re all doing well. Of course, this morning I tried to dress Chris in a newborn onesie, so who knows, maybe we’re not doing as well as I thought.

We’ve had lots of family and friends in and out over the past couple of weeks, which has been awesome and made doubly so because everyone’s brought us so much food. And, no matter how much we eat, it seems we still can’t make a dent in the fridge. (No complaints here!)

We’re trying to do as much as we can outside the house while (mostly) all LG does is sleep. I know we have a limited window of time before she turns into a terror, so we’ve been taking advantage of this time.

To that end (and because I strongly believe in introducing my offspring to booze as soon as possible — it’ll help her fit in with the family right from the start, I think) we’ve been to Napa twice so far.

Don’t let the smile fool you. Bringing a baby out in public immediately makes momma need a Xanax.

Other than that, it’s just been a lot of baby gazing up in here…

She’s quasi-evil, she’s the margarine of evil, the Diet Coke of evil

They say you’re not supposed to bathe a baby right away, but what are you supposed to do when she SHITS IN HER EAR?

Don’t let that smile fool you — she’s just taking a dump

Dumping or not, she still manages to do absolutely adorable things like this:
Are you still alive or did she kill you with the cute?

Hey look! It’s NOT a baby picture! I do do other things! Like plant my second garden, which should have been done, oh, three weeks ago:

Back garden has corn, peppers, tomatoes (thanks Elizabeth for the starters!), fennel, peas, marigolds, mint, basil, and rosemary. Front garden has sunflowers, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, and strawberries.