Warning: Unless you're my Momma or my gift-impaired husband, you're probably going to think this is super unclassy. I suggest you skip this and check back later for something different and less self-centered.
If you are however concerned with my lavish self centered-ness, then by all means read on...
I decided to make this because the holidays are approaching--it's almost Christmas time ya'll!--and I just have too many family members (my Momma, my sister, my husband, etc.) that despite being told and asked numerous times to get me nothing at all, will still attempt to get me a special or extra-practical gift. More often than not, demanding I tell them what to get. I of course will acquiesce and bashfully reply with the first thing that randomly pops into my mind, having put little to no thought into the object I name at all. Disclaimer: I have never gotten a bad gift from any of my family! But I have found, with the older I get, that things that you want are only as far away as simply asking.
So below you will find the Sarah Wish List for all things gift. (If you think it's extra uncouth to put this into writing, and then publish it on the internet no less, well then, you remind my mother and sister what it is I'd like for Christmas 17 times between now and then and be sure to have plenty of phone time on hand.)
The things I like are pretty simplistic, but none of my family has ever visited my home, to notice or know these things.
1. Fiesta Dishes! My attempts at collecting it have been kind of feeble, but I do collect it! and love, love, love it! Anything and everything, big or small, used or new. White is my color choice. It goes with everything and all of my dishes are white--I have a weird thing about mismatched-ness so simple and classic white is my favorite.
It can be found at most department stores: Like this one and this one.
Or even at www.fiestafactorydirect.com.
2. Plain white sheets. Queen sized. I also really like these sheets. (The 'Tan Geo' and 'Blue Global' selections are uber cute!)
3. A white faux down comforter. There is just something super comfy about them that I love. You can find one here, at Target.
4. Pillows! If you don't know about my not-so-secret obsession with pillows... Now ya do. I love pillows. Throw pillows, bed pillows, couch pillows. I love them all! I feel like a house can NEVER have a enough pillows. My living room colors are shades of beige and tan and white. (Think plain and cozy.) So white/cream colored throw pillows are always awesome. This one is really cute, and would look adorable on my couch. This one is super pretty too. Any pillow in shades of white and cream and beige would be pretty to me though.
5. Bath & Body Works. Candles, wallflowers, lotions, soaps, loufas, aromatherapy. Anything. I love it all. My favorite fall scents are their "Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin" & "Mahogany Teakwood", but generally if it smells pretty, I'll love it.
6. Paula Deen Cookware. Stainless steel. Any piece, big or small. Utensil, pan or pot. I just don't have enough! & I looove Paula Deen.
7. This rolling pin. Believe it or not, I do make quite a bit of bread-stuff. & I love Anthropolgie, it is one of my most favorite places. The beautiful, neat stuff they have is endless. A trip to Anthropolgie is an all day event for me.
8. Turquoise Blue Crosley Cruiser Turntable. I have pined over record players for a long time. There is something timeless and classic about a record player and I'd love to have one. Of course, I don't plan to be spinning any records or DJing any parties, this is just the cheapest one I could find, for an amateur like me.
9. A subscription to one of my favorite magazines: Garden & Gun or Country Living. I get all my decor ideas from these magazines and a few recipes, here and there. Good reading material, for plane rides, or field ops.
10. My favorite perfume. Bvlgari Omnia Coral. Found at most any department store, like this one. I also really love this one too: Fabulous by Isaac Mizrahi. I have declared these two perfumes as my official Sarah Scent.
And that's about all I can possibly come up with. I don't think I could make knowing my self desires any clearer than that. Of course, I realize some of these things are bit steep price-wise. But keep in mind, this also for my husband to read. (Ahem, Travis.)
Other than what's mentioned above, I could always use things like boot socks, regular white ankle socks, no-show flats socks--What's a Christmas without socks? I wear a size 8.5--and of course, anything covered in a chocolate is always brilliant and wonderful.
Now, if everyone I know could also please post itemized list of the things they'd like, It'd certainly make this Christmas shopping from across the country a much more achievable project.
Thank ya much & Love ya tons, xo.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
M is for Matthew!
The past few months of my life have been ridiculously cram-packed full of an ungodly level of busy-ness. I intend to give a brief recap, because TODAY is the first day I feel relaxed enough to do so. And by that I mean, I'm not actively participating in some vigorous activity currently, so I'm going to toot my own damn horn for just a minute!
Lets see...when did this all start? OH yeah, August. So in August, I'm told I'm going to be doing some really "cool stuff" for work. (In most cases this means my life is about to be an absolute living HELL, but in this case particularly, it was some pretty awesome stuff! But it didn't come without its always required purgatory time.) So onto the start of this 'I'm new here and trying to make good first impressions and seem as though I am far more intelligent than I am and that's why they picked me' "cool stuff". First of all, boy was it ever nerve racking to maintain that^ facade for six LONG weeks. Anyhow, classes for this stuff started and they were about, you know, all day long, 7 days a week for four weeks or so. Dinner obligations started dropping off of cliffs and then before I knew it any wifely house keeping related obligations--such as grocery shopping--started down that same slippery slope and after week two, Travis was back to having to fend for himself or have take out for most meals. (While this isnt so uncommon in our lives, I cook as often as I can, but sometimes my lack of energy heavily outweighs my desire to stand in a kitchen for any length of time.) This time the lack of home-cooked meals and house keeping was well worth it because I was learning at the cyclic rate--and I'll admit, I was loving it. (I may be overly nerdy, but there is just something extraordinary to me about learning real-life usable things; I can never get enough. I think that had I felt like college was initially providing me with that same type of learning experience, I'd still be in a class somewhere, completely enveloped in studying information. I would still love to get back to doing college things, but that's a tangent and another topic for a different day.) So the four long weeks come to a close or just transition rather, into application that took place far away from home and lasted an additional two weeks. Not that Travis could miss me, I'd hardly been present the prior four weeks. But off to a yucky place for two weeks. (I'm quite partial to constant sunshine and perfect whether now, ya'll.) Let me just say: Those two weeks were probably some of the most mind-bending back-breaking days I've ever had. From sun up to midnight each day. My poor hamster was running so fast his wheel was red hot. But what an incredible learning experience I was afforded! It was a hectic, crazy, exhausting, trying six weeks, but I gained a wealth of knowledge and a noteworthy experience!
So back home I went. But those six weeks were just the start of my exhaustion. I came home late on a Saturday evening to discover I was scheduled for the range just the following Monday. I had just enough time to unpack some of my bags and do laundry on Sunday before heading to grass week bright and early the following morning. That wasn't so terrible... until I found out I'd also be required to put in a full days work after snapping in. At this point, I'm over tired and starting to resent that I have gone 7 weeks with one Sunday off to do laundry. It's a countdown to the weekend. Not so much of a weekend without my main squeeze who'd at this time just left for out of town business, but it was a weekend, kind of. (Laundry, cleaning, gear-finding parties, etc.) Monday. Range week. Oh joy. I have the ostensible pleasure of waking up at 2:30 AM to arrive promptly at 4 o'clock in the morning at a place where we hop into a uncomfortable vehicle, with a bunch of gear on, get bounced around in the back of said uncomfortable vehicle for ehhh, about 20 minutes, to rattle you up really well and ensure no extra shut-eye be taking place. After this joy ride, you arrive in the middle of a pitch black, dark and freezing cold field. Wherein you dutifully wait the next 2 hours for the sun to come up! And you do this... Every. Single. Day. Long, whiny, story short, I got Sharpshooter, because it rained a freezing cold rain all day on qualification day. (The only day I've witnessed rain here, mind you. Don't ask me for lotto numbers.) Considering my skill set and those less than desirable conditions, I can't say that I'm entirely too unhappy with that score. I'm still nobody to mess with ya'll! If it's pouring rain and freezing cold, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll still be a dangerous gal it just may take me two shots instead of just one!
So what did I do the weekend after do you ask? Did I rest my tired eyes, sore muscles and fried brain? I did not. Having the silver tongue that I do, I talked some sweet nearby neighbors into getting me to the airport at 4:00 AM on a Saturday. So that I could fly home. For my very best friend's (who also happens to be my little sister) baby shower. I had spent the past weeks (after long, long hours of work) meticulously planning every tiny little detail of what I hoped would be a perfect baby shower for her. I got in that Saturday after my darling SIL picked me up from the airport and got right to work finalizing the tiny details and preparing for the big day (which was the following day; Sunday). Got very little sleep and started the morning early getting tables and chairs and putting everything together. No rest for the weary! But I somehow (with the help of a few special people) pulled it off. And I have to say, I was quite impressed at the party I was able to throw on little to no sleep after eight weeks of going non-stop. I can only imagine what I'd be capable of if I had gotten to plan everything like a normal person, with a little time.
Lets see...when did this all start? OH yeah, August. So in August, I'm told I'm going to be doing some really "cool stuff" for work. (In most cases this means my life is about to be an absolute living HELL, but in this case particularly, it was some pretty awesome stuff! But it didn't come without its always required purgatory time.) So onto the start of this 'I'm new here and trying to make good first impressions and seem as though I am far more intelligent than I am and that's why they picked me' "cool stuff". First of all, boy was it ever nerve racking to maintain that^ facade for six LONG weeks. Anyhow, classes for this stuff started and they were about, you know, all day long, 7 days a week for four weeks or so. Dinner obligations started dropping off of cliffs and then before I knew it any wifely house keeping related obligations--such as grocery shopping--started down that same slippery slope and after week two, Travis was back to having to fend for himself or have take out for most meals. (While this isnt so uncommon in our lives, I cook as often as I can, but sometimes my lack of energy heavily outweighs my desire to stand in a kitchen for any length of time.) This time the lack of home-cooked meals and house keeping was well worth it because I was learning at the cyclic rate--and I'll admit, I was loving it. (I may be overly nerdy, but there is just something extraordinary to me about learning real-life usable things; I can never get enough. I think that had I felt like college was initially providing me with that same type of learning experience, I'd still be in a class somewhere, completely enveloped in studying information. I would still love to get back to doing college things, but that's a tangent and another topic for a different day.) So the four long weeks come to a close or just transition rather, into application that took place far away from home and lasted an additional two weeks. Not that Travis could miss me, I'd hardly been present the prior four weeks. But off to a yucky place for two weeks. (I'm quite partial to constant sunshine and perfect whether now, ya'll.) Let me just say: Those two weeks were probably some of the most mind-bending back-breaking days I've ever had. From sun up to midnight each day. My poor hamster was running so fast his wheel was red hot. But what an incredible learning experience I was afforded! It was a hectic, crazy, exhausting, trying six weeks, but I gained a wealth of knowledge and a noteworthy experience!
So back home I went. But those six weeks were just the start of my exhaustion. I came home late on a Saturday evening to discover I was scheduled for the range just the following Monday. I had just enough time to unpack some of my bags and do laundry on Sunday before heading to grass week bright and early the following morning. That wasn't so terrible... until I found out I'd also be required to put in a full days work after snapping in. At this point, I'm over tired and starting to resent that I have gone 7 weeks with one Sunday off to do laundry. It's a countdown to the weekend. Not so much of a weekend without my main squeeze who'd at this time just left for out of town business, but it was a weekend, kind of. (Laundry, cleaning, gear-finding parties, etc.) Monday. Range week. Oh joy. I have the ostensible pleasure of waking up at 2:30 AM to arrive promptly at 4 o'clock in the morning at a place where we hop into a uncomfortable vehicle, with a bunch of gear on, get bounced around in the back of said uncomfortable vehicle for ehhh, about 20 minutes, to rattle you up really well and ensure no extra shut-eye be taking place. After this joy ride, you arrive in the middle of a pitch black, dark and freezing cold field. Wherein you dutifully wait the next 2 hours for the sun to come up! And you do this... Every. Single. Day. Long, whiny, story short, I got Sharpshooter, because it rained a freezing cold rain all day on qualification day. (The only day I've witnessed rain here, mind you. Don't ask me for lotto numbers.) Considering my skill set and those less than desirable conditions, I can't say that I'm entirely too unhappy with that score. I'm still nobody to mess with ya'll! If it's pouring rain and freezing cold, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll still be a dangerous gal it just may take me two shots instead of just one!
So what did I do the weekend after do you ask? Did I rest my tired eyes, sore muscles and fried brain? I did not. Having the silver tongue that I do, I talked some sweet nearby neighbors into getting me to the airport at 4:00 AM on a Saturday. So that I could fly home. For my very best friend's (who also happens to be my little sister) baby shower. I had spent the past weeks (after long, long hours of work) meticulously planning every tiny little detail of what I hoped would be a perfect baby shower for her. I got in that Saturday after my darling SIL picked me up from the airport and got right to work finalizing the tiny details and preparing for the big day (which was the following day; Sunday). Got very little sleep and started the morning early getting tables and chairs and putting everything together. No rest for the weary! But I somehow (with the help of a few special people) pulled it off. And I have to say, I was quite impressed at the party I was able to throw on little to no sleep after eight weeks of going non-stop. I can only imagine what I'd be capable of if I had gotten to plan everything like a normal person, with a little time.
This is one of very pictures that were taken. Failure on my part for not pre-arranging some decent picture taking, but it kind of shows the table arrangements I made. Blue mason jars were take-home favors.
There were little name tags that I made in hopes of eliminating the awkward "I have no idea who I'm talking to right now" moment at the shower. They were hit and I got lots of "how cute" compliments. Crafty is my middle name ya'll.
Cute little cake made by Cake Charisma. Kept with the theme of elephants and was different layers of blue inside and very tasty! ('M' is for Matthew; my arriving-soon nephew!)
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