Sunshine State Transplant

Riverside Arts Market

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Saturday Brett and I went to the Riverside Arts Market. It happens every Saturday from 10am - 4pm March through December here in JacksonVegas. It's a great place to go walk around, listen to music and spend too much money. We seem to have misplaced the camera of late - so I documented our trip via Instagram.

We grabbed some Blueberry Sweet Tea

We signed up for a Veggie Delivery Service with Black Hog Farm

They will let you come volunteer on Saturdays from 9am-4pm, I'm thinking about doing it.

We saw some superheroes. Love his little crew socks.

We bought Pepper Jelly from MY Pepper Jelly

Harvest Jalapeno and Mango Habanero...SO MUCH YUM.

We ordered some Christmas Red Pickles - they are cucumbers that are "pickled" in cinnamon and other yummy Christmas-y goodness. And crunchy. They sound so weird but are amazing.

And saw some Zombies! My favorite is the Jimmy Buffett zombie back there in the back.

Hope everybody had a wonderful and safe Halloween weekend!

To DIY For

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:57:00 +0000

I've heard many different people describe Pinterest in many different ways. The most accurate description I have heard is "time suck." In the category of sucking time from your life it rings in just below Facebook. It's.That.Bad. And that amazing. You sit down and think - I'll just take a quick minute and browse through my friends' pinboards. 7 hours later you're covered in Reese's wrappers and you're seriously thinking that it would be a great idea to get life sized version of Walker Texas Ranger to decorate your home.

One of the main things that draws people to Pinterest is the availability to find DIY projects. There is so much creativity and amazingness out there. It's easy to get overwhelmed. So here's what I'm thinking. Novel idea. Lets ACTUALLY MAKE SOMETHING FROM PINTEREST. Try to catch your breath everybody. I know its crazy. I'm gonna do it. I'm really gonna do it. Let's make a choice, shall we?

First off we have -

Zinc Inspired Letters from Sugar and Charm similar to Anthropologie

At $18 per letter online - these would be totally worth knocking off!! Should these be my first project?

Next Up We Have -

Doily Lamp from Dos Family

I love Dos Family because it's two girls with an eye for all things cool, re-purposed and handmade! Doesn't it up the cool a notch or two when people are from Sweden? It totally does.

In their words:
Dos Family is about goodlooking sofas, fleamarket findings, TV, how to build a diner with toys, country living, everyday life, food, feltpen-tattoos and challenges. It’s all about the strange and beautiful thing called inspiration, really. Welcome to the world of Dos- now go do something!

Our last choice, but certainly not least is - (I kinda cheated)

A wonderful blog! Just kidding. I did find a wonderful blog on Pinterest. Full Of Great Ideas. Someone had pinned it to their "favorite blogs" board. I did a little searching inside and I found this easy peasy tutorial. (Along with a PLETHORA of other things that I'm DIYing to try.) Tee Hee.

Cricut Vinyl Mailbox Label

I don't have a Cricut machine but it can't be that hard to find vinyl lettering, right? I might be eating my words after this but it's worth a shot. The journey is the reward. I would definitely have to repaint my mailbox prior to this. It's getting a little fade-y. (We've gotten a notice from the HOA to fix it and I've been too lazy to actually take it down and paint it. Our neighbors must hate us.) I'm thinking a little Oil Rubbed Bronze action. So this would be a dual project.

These are all pretty simple and seem like they wouldn't be too hard to use to get my feet wet. So whaddya think? Which one?

Whew!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:42:00 +0000

The wedding is OVER. Mixed emotions, so bittersweet. Now I can finally get my brain unscrambled enough to start blogging again. Hooray!! The big day was perfect and beautiful and wonderful.

I'm currently sitting in the Orlando airport with my brand new shiny husband waiting for our plane to Costa Rica. My new father in law is at our house babysitting the grand dog and all is right with the universe. I promise to give you all of the juicy details upon our return.

For now - the lovely, wonderful, and very talented Breann over at Life and Love of a Parrothead has a sneak peek for you.

See you soon!
Love, The Prestons.

Blog for a Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:00:00 +0000

Hello blog friends - I have missed you. My life is absolutely crazy out of control right now. (Wedding in 2 months - wheeeee!!) So we're gearing up for that. I did want to take a little time out of my busy schedule to write about something that is really important to me and has really touched my heart.

I have a friend from college who was an excited expectant mom just like every mom on the planet. She was thrilled to be having a baby and she was even more thrilled when he arrived. That baby had the most amazing crazy hair I have ever seen in my entire life. Just utterly awesome. I mean look at it.

At the end of June, James (that guy up there in the pic with the hair) was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor. His mom, Kara (my friend) and her husband Matthew chronicled all of the events on their blog Jamesie Beats the Tumor. On Saturday, July 16th - they lost their sweet baby James to the tumor.

I am not a mother. I have never known what it feels like to love someone the way that a mother loves a child. I can not begin to imagine what it must feel like to have a tragedy like this happen. Through this, I have found out that Kara is one of the strongest women I have met. While we were friends for a brief time in college and most of it was goofing around - I feel like I have gained a new understanding of her personality through this event and from her candid conversation about the situation on her blog. She and Matthew have handled everything with so much grace. It is astounding to see how James' life has affected so many people. It is a testament to them as parents.

The reason I'm writing this post is that the Dallas Zoo has just had a birth of a baby girl giraffe and they're having a contest to name her. James loved giraffes and the giraffe has become a symbol of his life. Kara and Matthew's friends and family have started a campaign to name this baby giraffe "Jamie" in James' honor. Anyone can vote - you don't have to live in Dallas or even in the United States. Here is a link to the PDF form. Just print it out and mail it in. It will only cost you postage and it would mean the world to Kara and Matthew.

They have also started a foundation to help fund research for Rhabdoid Tumors, which is the rare brain tumor he was diagnosed with. You can donate here.

If you want to hear them tell their story themselves - the CBS affiliate in Dallas did a very nice story about them and the video is posted on their website.

Let's come together and do something good for someone else today.

Summery 5-Step Fruit Salsa

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:22:00 +0000

Fruit Salsa is an easy summer dessert my sister graciously handed down to me. (Sometimes hand-me-downs are a good thing!) It's the recipe that makes you new friends. People will be begging you for the recipe. Seriously, it's that good. It's also a great recipe if you have someplace to be, don't want to show up empty handed but don't have a plethora of time on your hands to create a culinary masterpiece. I have a pot-luck coming up at work so I thought I'd make it for you guys!

Difficulty Level: Easy

Total time start to finish - 10-15 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 Apple

1 Carton of Strawberries

1 Carton of Blackberries or Raspberries

2 Kiwis

1/2 cup Sugar

2 tbsp Cinnamon

2 tbsp jam (I like red plum but you can use whatever kind you like)

Step 1 -

Wash your fruit (duh)

Step 2 -

Peel the kiwi and dice it (gently - those things are delicate!)

Then dice the apple, strawberries and add all fruit to the bowl (including the blackberries)

Transplant Cooking Tip of the day!

Definition: Dice means to cut foods into small 1/4" squares. These pieces should be as even as possible, usually for appearance. {Source}

I use a Cuisinart handheld chopper to dice my fruit (except the kiwi, I do that by hand). My chopper is kind of like a slap-chop but with much less autotune. <--- You should click that.

Step 3 -

Mix together sugar and cinnamon (I keep a little canister of sugar/cinnamon mix in my pantry just for this reason. Also for when I have a hankerin' for cinnamon toast. Yuummm.)

Step 4 -

Add cinnamon/sugar to your bowl and carefully mix it throughout your fruit. You don't want to squish the blackberries or kiwi too much.

Step 5 -

Add jam and mix again

DONE!

Serve with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips for dipping. If I'm really short on time, I get Stacy's because they're the only cinnamon pita chips I can find. They're normally at Winn-Dixie in my area.

If you have a few more minutes, you can whip up your own cinnamon sugar tortilla chips pretty easily.

Sweet-Tooth Tortilla Chips:

Ingredients:

Tortillas (8 or 12 inch)

Cinnamon/Sugar Mix

Butter

Step 1 -

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2 -

Spread butter all over your tortillas. Be generous. "Butter is your friend." (Say that in a Paula Deen accent. It will make you happy.)

Step 3 -

Shake your cinnamon/sugar mixture over the tortillas.

Step 4 -

Use a pizza cutter to cut your tortillas into quarters and lay flat on a baking sheet.

Step 5 -

Cook tortillas 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

What's your favorite summer get-together dish? Heaven knows I can always use a new recipe to add to my stash!

Style Files

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:33:00 +0000

I bought a new hair accessory last week and I'm still on the fence about it. I saw it and I loved it. I had to have it. I gave it a couple of days to think about and I went back and picked it up. But I'm still feeling a little iffy.

So ladies (and gents - if this interests you) is this a hit or a miss? Win or Fail? Let's be honest. Does it make me look cool or like I'm 11 years old? Let me know in the comments.

A Letter To Me

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:59:00 +0000

STOP! BEFORE YOU READ THIS - GO SEE BREANN AT LIFE AND LOVE OF A PARROTHEAD!! I'M BEING FEATURED AS HER FRIDAY FACE!! CLICK HER BUTTON TO HEAD OVER THERE!
Sorry about the CAPS. I'm pretty excited if you can't tell.

I have a 45 minute commute to work every day that I actually enjoy. It gives me a chance for a little me time. I listen to music or audiobooks (nerd alert) and I generally just chill out. On the way home today, Brad Paisley's song "Letter to Me" came on. I started thinking about what I would tell myself if I could have met me when I was 17.

When I was 17, I was the quintessential good girl. I grew up in a really small town where everyone knew everyone else. The kind of town where news travels fast and bad news travels even faster. My mom worked in town so if I were to get in trouble, she would be all over me before school was even out for the day. So I found an easy solution. Just don't get in trouble. I spent about 70% of my time playing sports and the other 30% at church. I tried really hard to be nice to people and had a moderate amount of popularity as a result, I think. I was also BORING. Like, two scoops of vanilla with half & half topping boring. How about a little photo-love, shall we?

This was junior prom (Paradise Found Theme - thus the lei)

First I'd like to say BOO YAH - CHECK OUT THOSE ABS. Those definitely don't exist anymore. I mean I guess they're still there...lurking around somewhere beneath a few layers of craft beer and a good Florida State Education, I just haven't seen them in awhile. Secondly, I'd like to give a shout out to my girl Britney Spears for inspiring bare midriffs on high school girls everywhere in 2001. Thanks for the memories B.

Wearing a sequined tube top to prom was probably the most rebellious thing I did during my high school career. Well, that and getting my belly button pierced when I was 15. But the fact that my whole family came with me and it was a birthday gift for being such a good kid kind of takes the edge off of it. All in all, I was an ok kid but there are a LOT of things that I'd like to tell myself. Tips and Tricks, if you will.

Dear 17 Year Old Sarah,

Loosen up girl, for real. It's really great that you're staying out of trouble - keep doing that - but it's ok to get a little crazy sometimes. (Within limits of course.) Keep an open mind about religions that aren't your own. People who have different views than you can teach you things. Listen to them. Write some DAMN scholarship letters. Like 100,000 of them. Going to two different colleges is expensive and mom & dad aren't footing the bill for that one. It's ok to fall in love but don't lose yourself. The next few years will be hard. You're going to be broke - a lot. But you're going to make some great friends and meet the real love of your life. If someone says, "Hey - I think Florida is a great place to live." go with your heart no matter how little money you have. Take every opportunity you're given because once a door is closed it doesn't open again. Listen to your mother. She's right about most things - especially the "don't call boys" rule. Letting boys chase you will be a very useful skill later on. Trust me. ;) The last thing I'd like to tell you Sarbear is be yourself and love yourself. That self will be constantly changing and evolving - the people you meet will leave a mark on it and the choices you make will take that self to many different and wonderful places. Lead with your heart but make sure your mind has a say in the matter as well. I love you.

Love,
26 Year Old Sarah

Weekend Wrap-Up and a Giveaway Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:10:00 +0000

Last weekend was a crazy busy one here in Sunshineland. (Kind of like Zombieland but replace the zombies with retirees - Rule #1 - Cardio.)

Saturday Brett and I went to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival which has been a Jacksonville institution since 1979. We were there pouring beer (of course, what the heck else would we be doing?) for the Wine Down, Brew Town VIP event. The Jazz Festival is always free thanks to the wonderful sponsors. Our VIP part was a $25 ticket that got you a tasting glass to take home, your choice of wine or beer glass and 6 drink tickets to taste whatever kind of wine or beer you wanted. Biscottis was also there serving awesome little food samplers as well as Tijuana Flats, which I absolutely LOVE. The third food vendor was Sweet Pete's which is a super cute ice cream and candy shop downtown. It was such a cool experience to get to hang out for a few hours, pour beers (drink some beers) and just listen to good music.

*Notice those Super Sweet Sunglasses? Yeah you do.

Sunday we just hung out at home and grilled out with neighbors. It was wonderfully relaxing and I tackled Mt. Laundry. The mountain won. I'm still folding.

Then Monday (Memorial Day...much love and thanks to my Active Duty/Veterans and honor to the Fallen Soldiers) Brett had to work but after he got off work, we headed out to the house where we're going to get married and hung out at the beach. We're VERY lucky to actually know the people we're renting from for the week of the wedding so I anticipate many lazy weekends hanging out and getting to know the house really well...culminating in our awesome wedding. Doesn't that just sound great?

I took this photo from the ground level porch. (From a rocking chair, no less.) I live where people vacation. That makes me just feel a little warm in my heart. I can't wait until the wedding and this is all decked out. It's gonna be cool, although I did figure out that I need to make about 400 feet of bunting to decorate with. Uh, what? I'd better get started soon.

ANYWAY - I'm sure that you don't want to hear anymore about my weekend, you want to know WHO WON THE GIVEAWAY!!!

The winner is NICOLE over at The Plunge Project! Congratulations Nicole! You will be getting an email shortly with the details.

Feel free to head over to the Facebook Page and "like" me! I mean, only if you like me. And I knoooow you like me. So just go over there and do it already!

I hope you guys had a fun and relaxing weekend!

Saturday Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sat, 28 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000

So you guys remember the Baby Moustache? I saw those and thought - I HAVE to make that. So I pulled out my glue gun and made a couple of those babies. (Pun intended) I sent one of them over to my sweet friend Breann over at Life and Love of a Parrothead for her little cutie Logan. Here he is rocking his new gift from Auntie Sarah.

And today's your lucky day! I made two extra Paci's and as I don't have any children and all of my nephews are WAY past pacifier stage - I'm giving them away to you!

Leave a comment about why you think you need a tiny little Mario mustache for your kiddo/niece/nephew/husband/wife and you'll be entered in the drawing!

You can submit entries until Monday evening at 7pm. The winner will be chosen from Random.org. Good luck!!

***EDIT 3/30 @ 11:24am***

If you're having trouble leaving a comment on this post - email me directly at sunshinestatetransplant {at} gmail {dot} com and I'll enter you in the drawing! Happy Memorial day!

Easy Peasy DIY Pinwheel Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:16:00 +0000

We'll be doing a few things differently at our wedding...there will be some surprises but I'm also going to share a few things here. Mostly because I'm so excited and also because I'm figuring a lot of this stuff out on my own and I want to share it with you.

During the planning process, I have been obsessively scouring wedding blogs looking for stuff. There are a LOT of very cool tutorials, like Hand-Made Ribbons by Ms. Awesome Weds (I will definitely be using this) or the Photobooth Wall from The Ruffled Blog which is very cute and unique.

The one thing that I was looking for and couldn't find was a pinwheel tutorial. One that made sense and seemed simple enough for the likes of me. So I did some research, figured out what I needed and headed off to Michaels for supplies. Here's the resulting product (and it really spins!)

Lets Get Crackin'

Materials:

- One 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper (the double sided kind works the best) You can use smaller paper, just make sure that it's square (8x8, 6x6...you get the point)
- Scissors
- One, 1/4 inch by 36 inch dowel rod
- 1/4 inch round hole punch
- Glue Gun
- Pen
- 48 inches of (approximately) 1 inch wide ribbon
- Ruler or Yardstick
- Scrap paper in a complementary color to your scrapbook paper
- 1/4" Beads (you only need one) Mine are pearls. That's because I'm classy.

1. Turn your scrapbook paper over and draw an X on the back with your pen and ruler.

2. Use Scissors to cut down each line of your X. Stop 1" from the center on each line. MAKE SURE you don't cut all the way to the center or you'll have to start over.

This is what it will start to look like -

3. Hole punch your paper in the center of the X and every other corner piece.

4. Then match up the holes in your corner pieces with the one in the center and glue them down.

Now you should have something that looks like this:

5. If you like those pointy edges, you can move on to step 6. Personally, I like my edges rounded, so I'm going to cut them off. Essentially, you just follow the curve with your scissors about an inch down from the tip. (That's what she said?) Sorry - this post was getting too serious. The picture below shows how it looks.

6. Now that we have the Wheel part done, lets work on the "pin."

Take your dowel rod and cut it down to 24 inches - or twice the size of your original paper size. If you have 8x8 paper, it needs to be 16 inches long. Then cut a one inch piece from the leftover part. Glue them together and VOILA, you have a pin.

6. Now glue your ribbon to the top of your dowel right under your 1" piece and twist around to the end. Glue the ribbon down in a couple of places on the way down so it doesn't slide around. Secure your ribbon at the bottom with one more drop of glue.

7. Use your scrap paper to cut a 1x1 inch circle and punch a hole in the center. Slide your wheel onto the pin and then slide the little circle on as well. Glue your bead onto the end of the one inch piece so your wheel doesn't come off.

Then you're done! And you have a really cool party decoration! Now - go on and craft my friends. Make me proud.

Beach Blanket Bingo - The Big Five

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:21:00 +0000

Since my migration to sunny Florida, I've become what some might call, "A Summer Connoisseur." A veritable Dog Days Duchess...if you will. Over the last seven years I've become very familiar with the ridiculous crazy hot summer weather and of course, the beach. Since I am such an expert *cough* I have decided to share my go-to beach bag items with you guys today. When we make last minute plans to head out - this is what I MUST HAVE before we walk out the door.

1. Sunscreen

This first one's a no-brainer. Before I'm out and about, in and out of the water, showing off my super sexy summer bod (insert sarcastic chortle) I'm all slathered up. I usually put this on BEFORE we head out to the beach, while I'm getting ready, so that it has time to soak in and get the maximum amount of protection before we go. Apparently - Good Housekeeping agrees with me. They also say that you should reapply every two hours and after every big sporting event (i.e. Beach Volleyball) or water submersion. My go-to sunscreen is Coppertone Sport, I like that they have a lotion option and a spray option. It's also not really greasy, which is nice. I'm shiny enough without any help from my sunscreen.

2. Lip Gloss/Balm

You've gotta have the lip gloss and balm because you never know who you're going to see at the beach. Also, the wind and sun do a number on lips. I actually might have a serious addiction. These are just the ones from my purse. My favorite is the C.O. Bigelow gloss. It's the pretty green and pink one. The flavor is Magenta Mint and I love it because it is SO tingly and pepperminty. Since I have very teeny tiny lips, lots of color doesn't work for me and this has just a little hint of color. It even tastes good. I mean, I don't recommend eating it...but I kind of want to.

3. Cool Sunglasses

Take notice that I didn't just say SUNGLASSES. They've got to say something. Mine say - I'm ripping off every 80's movie I've ever seen. But at least they're saying something. I would also like to point out that cheap shades are always better. These are $5.80 at Forever 21. (And they're the baller pair I'm rocking. So you have the option to be just like me...I mean, if you want.) It makes it easy to change your look anytime the mood strikes. You don't have to spend a million bucks to look it, folks.

4. Bandeau Tops

Sooo this isn't a must have for everybody but it's definitely a pre-wedding staple. I figured this out after my first beach outing of the year (when the water was still too cold to get in and I spent the whole time on the sand) and managed to get some super sweet tan lines. I ran straight over to Target and got a bandeau swimsuit. Tan lines are not what I want the main focus to be in my wedding pictures. I reaaaaally love this one from H&M. (And - at $14.95 for the top and $12.95 for the bottom, you can get two if you want!)

5. Waterproof Mascara

I'm not a super girly girl. When I go to the beach, I tend to get in the water. And while I'm not going to fix my hair (or maybe even shower) if I'm heading out - I definitely don't want mascara running down my face. It's all over the place. It's in your eyes, people start to wonder if you're crying. Your hands are wet so you can't fix it - you go back to your towel and you wipe your eyes but you've got sand on your hands, next thing you know it's all up in your eyes, then you really are crying and the mascara just keeps on running. Lets be honest - it's not a pretty situation.

That's the hit list. I mean - there are a gazillion other things that I normally bring - I am bordering on the verge of beach contracting - but this is the bare minimum. What is the one item you can't leave the house without when you're going to the pool or beach? Give me some good ideas - I might have a little space left in my bag to squeeze something else in.

American Craft Beer Week

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:40:00 +0000

If you didn't know (you probably didn't - I won't hold it against you) this week is American Craft Beer Week. The idea is to celebrate the very cool American Craft Beer community. There are roughly 2000 Craft breweries around the country. They are local, most of them are working toward being eco-friendly and sustainable and they are definitely advancing the beer culture and community in the US. This topic is near and dear to me because my sweet Man works for a beer distributor in town that houses many of the really great craft beers. Because of that - we get to do a LOT of really cool stuff and drink some really crazy fantastic beer.

Our local grocery chain, Publix, has a "Publix Apron's Cooking School" where you can take classes on anything from cooking techniques to pasta and pastry making. (They even do private parties! How fun would it be to get a group of girlfriends together to learn to cook Cajun or Indian or Chinese?) They have seven schools in the Southeast and we're very lucky to have one here in Jacksonville! To celebrate American Craft Beer Week, our local Apron's Cooking School teamed up with our beer distributor to host an American Craft Beer Dinner. Chefs Patrick, Christy and Tony did a great job pairing a few craft brews from around the country with really tasty dishes (complete with recipes!)

*Disclaimer. We did drink some beer at this event, and between the delicious food and the slight beer buzz, I forgot to take pictures of a couple of dishes. Don't fret - I'll find suitable stand-in photos.

The first beer we had was the Samuel Adams Boston Lager. In 1985, Sam Adams' founder, Jim Koch (pronounced Cook...you pervs) quit a really high paying consulting job to schlep around Boston selling his great-great-grandfather's beer recipe to bar to bar. Six weeks after he started, he entered his beer at the Great American Beer Festival and it won best beer in America. He's the living, breathing American Dream. Not to mention, his company is named after the father of the American Revolution, who was also a brewer.

*Please hold while I sing a rousing rendition of This Land is Your Land*

Here's what Boston Lager looks like. They even made a special glass for it so you can enjoy every single yummy bit of the flavor. This is a great beer to bridge your way from regular beer into the craft beer world.

{Photo via Boston.com}

The first course of the night was Arugula Salad and Seared Sea Scallops with Warm Orange Vinaigrette and Spicy Candied Macadamia Nuts. I won't lie - I was so happy about the Spicy Candied Macadamia Nuts that I completely forgot to take a picture for you. So here's a picture of a puppy salad. My salad tasted really good but it wasn't nearly as cute as this one.

{photo via CKAH}

The salad was paired with Avery White Rascal, which is a Belgian White. In regular people terms, it's a light wheat beer (think Blue Moon). The citrus flavor in the beer makes it pair really well with spicy food. The guys over at Avery recommend Thai or Mexican. The spicy arugula and macadamia nuts were FANTASTIC with it. And that's coming from someone who is not a huge fan of wheat beer OR arugula. So there you go.

The second course was definitely my favorite. Biscuit Topped Bacon Cheddar Mac-n-Cheese. Uh, yum. It was paired with Rogue American Amber Ale. This beer (an Amber Ale, obvs) is a little heavier with a very round, malty flavor and a tawny color. Read: biscuity. It pairs really well with, well- biscuits. The Rogue Guys say it also pairs well with beef and fish.

The Mac-n-Cheese was made with Heavy Cream, Nutmeg, Reserve Cheddar, Swiss Cheese, aged White Cheddar and BACON. It was like a little bowl full of heaven. The biscuit topping was made with sugar, cream and buttermilk so it was a little sweet and 100% delicious.

The third course was Andygator Braised Bratwurst with Potatoes, Sauerkraut & Sweet Mustard. It was paired with Abita Andygator. Let's get geeky - Andygator is a Helles Dopplebock made with German Yeast and German Hops. Helles is a German adjective for "light" and Dopplebock is German for "Double Bock" or "Double Beer". Which is stronger than normal beer. So technically it's a light, strong beer. Hey - knowledge is power.

You have to be careful with this beer though, as it weighs in at 8% alcohol, it's easy to go overboard. (Which can be really fun sometimes, let's be honest.) This in and of itself is why I don't have a picture of the beautiful bratwurst. But I will assure you, it was great. There was a little twist with carrots and granny smith apples. The strong hop flavor in the beer went really well with the caraway seed in the recipe. This would be a really great Oktoberfest recipe.

New Beer Mug?

After the Brats, we had Pan-Roasted Duck Breast with Lentil Dahl and Roasted Corn and Tomato Chutney. This course was paired with Terrapin Hop Karma. Hop Karma (which used to be called India Style Brown Ale) is made with 5 different varieties of hops and 7 different malts. I won't lie - the details get a little fuzzy at this point. The beer was really good and the duck was reeeeeaaallyy good. I think I would probably leave the lentil dahl out of the picture though. Just personal preference.

The last course - and definitely the most decadent, was the Chocolate Stout Laced Tiramisu. The beer was another Terrapin creation, Wake and Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout. This is one of my favorite beers of all time and is pretty self explanatory. It's a stout - (like Guiness) with Coffee and Oatmeal flavors. Not to mention, it has a bomb-ass name. Even if you aren't a stoner. (Which I am NOT. Hi, mom!) No-really, I'm not a stoner. Glad we cleared that up. The tiramisu was layered with ladyfingers, mascarpone, cream cheese and cocoa powder. The ladyfingers were soaked in the beer and they were so soft and yummmmmmm......

So, LONG STORY LONG - go to your friendly local beverage retailer and pick up some American Craft Beer! There are lots of different brands, styles and flavors.

If you want to learn more about the different breweries (and you definitely should) - check out their websites: Samuel Adams, Avery, Abita, Terrapin. If you would like a copy of any of these recipes, email me: prestons2be {at} gmail {dot} com and I'd be glad to send them over to you! Happy drinking!

Tee Hee Hee

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:52:00 +0000

Click the pic to go to the source

A baby with a mustache. It doesn't get better than this.

Also - if you would like your baby to have his or her very own mustache. It seems mustache makers are available.

via etsy

To all of my friends who have children. Watch out - you may be getting one of these in the mail.

Shenannigans

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:38:00 +0000

Last weekend we went to Orsay (the Restaurant, not the Museum) and then went to see Citizen Cope. If you'll remember, I have been wanting to eat at this restaurant for a while.

I had a serious jones for the Lobster Pot Pie. In reality, I ended up getting the filet on a recommendation from a friend. It was crazy good. Best steak I've ever had. Ever. For real. It was cooked rare, served with truffled mashed potatoes, wild mushrooms, Eden Farms bacon, asparagus and red wine jus. - Hold on, let me clean the drool off of my keyboard. Ok, Good to go. - Generally, I am not a mushroom person. Previous to last Sunday, the only way I would eat them is fried and dipped in some kind of creamy sauce. Classy, I know. These mushrooms were killer. I have no idea what type of "wild mushrooms" they were but I will definitely think twice before nixing mushrooms from my dishes from now on.

I would have photos for you but the seating was kind of awkward and we were seated close enough to another couple that I could hear what they were whispering to eachother. It would have been just really weird to start taking pictures of my food right next to them, so I didn't. Maybe next time.

After dinner, we went over to The Florida Theater to see Citizen Cope. Brett really loves his music and it was an acoustic show so we figured we would check it out. The show ended up being completely amazing. Live music is always fun and it was cool because the audience was really into it. It seemed like everybody knew the words. If you haven't heard his music - you should definitely take a listen.

Before the show, we had a little Pregame. We drank some Southern Star - Bombshell Blonde courtesy of our friends The Parrot Heads. (Thanks guys! It was tasty.) And yes - we are in the parking garage outside of the theater having a taking pictures of each other. Don't judge - that's just how we do it. (Sidenote: I'm pretty convinced that if everyone else were to drop off the face of the earth, Brett and I would be able to entertain each other until we got eaten by the zombies...but that's a whole 'nother story.)

Then the show:

This picture was an accident but it ended up looking really cool with her sweet peacock tattoo with Citizen Cope in the background. (I can't take credit for this one, Brett took it)

We had a great time - it's nice to have Spring here so we can start our super spring/summer concert-o-rama. We always see a TON of concerts when it starts to get warm out. Brett's the music guy - he buys the tickets and I show up. This weekend I think we might be going to the fair! There is usually awesome live music at the fair. And if there isn't, you can always make it up to yourself with fair food! I can't wait!

Here's to hoping you guys are able to get out and do something fun this weekend!

Getting Down and Dirty: Volume 2

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:32:00 +0000

Remember this desperate plea for help? I would like to say thank you to all of my loving and loyal friends and family for helping me make (AND EXCEED!) my goal. With their help - I raised $125 in three weeks for the MS Society! With that matter taken care of - we turned our eyes to the muddy, muddy goal. Then we did it. We conquered the beast. All 6.2 (ish) miles of it. It was long, and hot and DISGUSTINGLY dirty. Let's have a little taste of what the Muddy Mistresses went through. (Pretty sweet name huh? It is awesome - Unfortunately, I didn't think of it.) I'll be honest, I probably won't remember all of the obstacles as things got a little fuzzy around a mile and a half, but I'm going to do my best.

First, I would like to tell you how nervous we were. This is me searching (in vain) for an app to teach me how not to throw up from anxiety.

(Don't worry - I made a hair appointment for this weekend to fix those gnnarrly roots)

We signed up for the Trophy Division (aka - competitive) so we had to wear long pants and military-style boots. Those things were uncomfortable. Think of a 2x4 and then add some sandpaper to the inside. Then multiply that by about 100. That's pretty much how it felt. I think we looked pretty cool though. Check out those guns.

We had no idea what we were in for.

The first 1.8 miles were dry. Completely mud-less. While this might seem a nice alternative to the ridiculousness that followed, it was actually horrible. Dirt without water flies around when you have 40-50 adults stampeding through it. Then it goes into your nose and gets stuck in your throat and lodges itself into your lungs. It makes running very uncomfortable. Not a fun couple of miles.

Then there was a 5 foot deep pond. It was VERY cold. So down we go into the water. There was a little relief because since there were so many people moving through it, it kind of turned into a lazy river. All you really had to do was pick your feet up.

Next came another pond. This one had Styrofoam "lilypads" linked together with cords. You had to jump from one to the next all the way across the pond. This was actually pretty easy as long as you ran down the middle. Unfortunately - the guy in front of me did not have this knowledge and managed to almost upend every single one of them. I definitely thought I was going into the drink there for awhile.

The next few miles are a blur of half-mile to mile long mud bogs (8-10 inches deep) where your boots would almost completely submerge. Definitely the most tiring part of the whole thing. We also completely crawled through the same amount of mud on our hands and knees underneath wire and webbing. I think a manicure will be in order sometime soon. Then there were various wooden walls varying from one made completely out of logs 7 feet high to one with wooden slats 2 1/2 feet apart. That one was about 40 ft high and you had to go up and over. Scary.

Then we had yet another pond, this one with logs all the way across. The rule was to go over one, go under one, over one, over one. Here's the catch. You had to completely submerge your head in the nasty water to go under the logs. With no clean clothing to wipe your face on. Of course there was a photographer at that station. I hope those pictures never see the light of day.

The last three stations were all water. The first was a mud hill you had to climb up and then jump off of into a pond. That was pretty fun. Then there was a seriously uncomfortable mud slide with a tarp over it. I think my bum's still bruised from that. The very last was the "leap of faith" where you jump off of a platform into yet ANOTHER muddy yuck pond. Thankfully that was the last one. We were a sight to see by then.

Ok everybody - pretend like we ran the whole thing!

I ended up sustaining one crazy scratch/bruise on the back of my shoulder. It's pretty gross - but I otherwise came out fairly well. My teammates, not so much. Mary ended up with blisters the size of silver dollars on her heels. Ouch. She's still in recovery for that. Look at her face in that picture - it's saying, "Lord, please let this be over soon before my feet fall all the way off." (She's on the right in the front) Yeah - now you see it. I have a picture of the heel but I will spare you that. It's really gross. Holly may or may not be losing one of her toenails. The verdict is still out.

Even with the exhaustion, the minor and major injuries and the crazy anxiety, the whole thing was a phenomenal experience. I had a great time and I'm definitely hoping the Muddy Mistresses invite me back for next year's battle with the elements.

{all photos courtesy of M. Malone Photography}

Jacksonville Fashion Week

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Apparently here in Jacksonvegas we have a Fashion Week. Who knew? Certainly not me. I was sitting at a stoplight on the way home from work yesterday browsing through my Facebook (because I'm an addict) and I saw a status update from a local brewery here called Intuition Ale Works advertising a trunk show at the brewery for Jacksonville Fashion Week.

I immediately called Brett and told him that I was going. My second call was to my friend Mary - to make sure I didn't have to go by myself. Although I would have gone by myself if I had to. After much arm-twisting and bribing, Mary agreed to go with me to the brewery. I got a call back from Brett saying that there was NO WAY he was going to miss an opportunity to drink at his favorite place in Jacksonville, so when I got home we loaded up in the car and headed that way.

We pulled up to the regular site at the brewery - Pele's Fire baking pizzas in the parking lot and the regular scruffy man crowd that hangs out there.

And inside - there was THIS!

Yes - that jacket is circa 1990 - has shoulder pads and is probably from his mother's closet. But he is WORKING it.

We had a couple of beers, hung out, I got a sweet vintage scarf ($3) and a new necklace ($15) It's a starfish.

There was also a photographer there who was taking photos and posting them on a gigantic screen. Very Red Carpet. It's Jensen Hande Studios and you should check him out!

Hmmmmm looks like those might be cute for displaying at a certain wedding that might be occurring? We shall see.

We had a couple more beers with Miss Mary and then headed home for the evening. I think this counts as a win in the Wednesday Night Adventure book.

What I'm Wearing

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:52:00 +0000

I saw this on Breann's blog today and thought I would share! I'm on my lunch break - Why not!

Shirt and Earrings: Target :) Going for that girly, flirty thing, not quite a dress, but it's a start!

Pants: NY&Co.
Shoes: Gap
Pedicure: Sorely needed.

Let me know what you're wearing today! Post a link to your outfit in the comments!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Girl Crush: Zooey Deschanel

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:00:00 +0000

There is a long list of girls who I have “girl crushes” on but I think she tops it.

A few notable runner ups are:

Girl who I would most like to have as a friend: Rachel McAdams

Girl who I would most like to go to a bar with: Emma Stone

Girl who I would most like to be my 2^nd sister: Jennifer Garner

The list goes on and on. I clearly have issues.

Those people are all people that I would like to hang out with, grab lunch, chat etc. But Mrs. Deschanel is someone who I wouldn’t mind actually BEING. Now, no need to worry guys! I'm not having an identity crisis – I love being me. I have a very cool life and I think I’m pretty interesting (also, very humble, obvs) but if I were to do it again - maybe I would name myself Zooey.

The first reason is very clearly her style. 500 Days of Summer really sealed the deal for me. The cool thing is, that although there was a stylist on that movie, she really does dress similar to that in real life. It’s a mashup of 50’s and 60’s styles with modern pieces – all very girly and romantic. I think I like the idea of someone who just enjoys being a girly girl. Sometimes it’s fun to play dress up and she gets it. I won’t lie – I bought Lucky Magazine this week just because she was on the cover. Advertising works. But in the article, she talks about not being into all of the metallic-studded bondage gear that is so trendy lately. I feel the same way. Give me a ruffle and a flower any day.

Check her out at Coachella in 2010

So pretty.

She’s also a musician. Which I am insanely jealous of. I can carry a tune (in the shower) but I don’t play any instruments. I definitely don’t write songs. She’s the She half of She & Him. They’re kind of throwback indie folksy I guess. It reminds me again, of the 60’s with very sunny lyrics and an oldies pop feel. Their albums are called Volume One and Volume Two. I bought Volume One and I love it! I would have also bought Volume Two also – but I’ve gotta save up to pay for those darn cupcakes. :)

Click the Album Cover to See a cool Music Video!

She also has that kind of retro haircut with the dark hair and blue eyes. Which always makes someone seem cool, even if they aren't - I think.

I have decided that I’m going to adopt a little more of that breezy, girly style while still maintaining my own super awesomeness. I don’t think that I’ll learn how to play an instrument or start writing songs anytime soon but maybe I’ll wear a cute dress to work tomorrow. Baby steps.

Cupcakes!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:15:00 +0000

We've decided to do a few things unconventionally for the wedding. No tuxes for the guys (per Brett's request), very informal setting (per my request) and DIY everything - because we're awesome. One other thing we've decided to do a little more unconventionally is not having cake! Not having a cake at your wedding, you say? That's a crime against humanity! Calm down everybody, we are still having a sweet treat - just a more fun version! Cupcakes! There are sooo many cute things you can do with them, and everybody loves a party with cupcakes, right? Look at these super cute Pennant Flags from Random Inspirations Life Celebrations. We will definitely need to make some of these. (Those are mini-brownies but you get the point.)

The bottom line is that I just don't like cake. I never have. Even as a little kid I had cookie cake for my birthdays. (My mom makes a dang good cookie cake. Shoutout Mom.) For some reason though, I do like cupcakes. I know this makes no sense but I think it has something to do with the amount and the placement of the icing. It's a conundrum. Also, Brett doesn't eat sweets. I couldn't tell you the last time that the guy put anything with sugar in his body - so he doesn't really care.

The best part about having cupcakes of course, was the tasting! We went to Sivada's Cupcakery here in Jacksonvegas because they're the best! The cupcakes are sweet but not too sweet with the perfect amount of icing. The best part is that the owner makes a concerted effort to use natural ingredients and little to no extracts. Makes them so much yummier.

Last Tuesday at the tasting we got to try Red Velvet, Triple Chocolate, Island Carrot and Wedding Cake. Brett was at work so I took one of my friends from work during our lunch hour. Best.lunch.ever.

I LOVED the red velvet, carrot and triple chocolate (even though I'm not a huge chocolate fan). The wedding cake had a crazy amount of almond in it which would have been good if I liked almond. Alas, I don't. We decided to swap the Wedding Cake for Birthday Cake which isn't so almond-y and add Peanut Butter Cup which is chocolate with peanut butter icing. I think. I haven't had that one yet but heard it is fantastic! And can you really go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate? I don't think you can.

This cute little tier is where we're going to put about 30 of the cupcakes and then we're going to get some additional holders for the rest. I love how whimsical it looks. I'm thinking about tying balloons in the wedding colors to the top. Festive, no?

The best thing about cupcakes is that (contrary to what I had originally thought) they are about 1/2 as expensive as a wedding cake. Depending on what kind of cake you get, of course. These are $2.50 each whereas a nice wedding cake with fondant icing can run about $5-$6 per slice. Plus you get to have all of the different flavors with the cupcakes and you don't have to worry about having someone there to cut and serve the cake. We'll probably have a little cake there for Brett and I to have something to cut for pictures but the cupcakes are the main event. So, I say this every time I post anything about the wedding but I am getting pretty dang excited. We met with my friend Mary who sells Stampin' Up to talk about invitations this weekend so I'll have more details about that later. Happy planning!

Getting Down and Dirty!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:43:00 +0000

A few years ago I participated in a marathon through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program and I fell in love. I raised $2600 for that event over 4 months and ended up finishing the Disney Marathon. It was an exhilarating and very fulfilling experience. I ended up finding a love of running and working for the Society after I graduated from college. I got laid off about 9 months later. (Womp, Womp) Thanks economy.

Since then, I've been looking for an outlet to be able to volunteer. I've done a few things here and there through work but I was really excited when a friend told me that they had someone drop off of their team for the Jacksonville MS Mud Run. Basically, it's a 10k (6.2 mile) obstacle course through the mud. I've heard horrific stories about heat and blisters and chafing and...well, I'll stop there. In spite of all that, I'm still SO excited to do it! It's nice to have something to work toward, never mind the fact that the race is 3 WEEKS AWAY. Ah!

I have been training for a 15k that is this weekend so physically, I should be able to make it without completely passing out or having to go to a medic tent. The part that is most important is the fund raising. I have committed to raise $100 before the event. The good news is, I have some really amazing family and friends who have helped me raise $65 of it. That leaves $35 to raise in 18 days. Just under $2 each day. (And hopefully more.)

Here's a little taste of what I'm up against: I'll be honest. I'm not sure why that video is so tiny. Here's a link in case you don't have laser vision.

The team I joined is called the Muddy Mistresses and we're in the Trophy division. Which means we're required to wear military boots and long pants. This is serious business. I hope I don't croak.

If you're feeling especially generous and would like to be today's $2 donor, I would be eternally appreciative and grateful. There will definitely be some pics and maybe even a video for those of you who like to laugh at the misery of others.

I can't wait! *Insert insanely nervous laughter*

Donate here! (If you want, I mean)

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/sstephenson

This.

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:17:00 +0000

Oh My Gosh. And This.

Click the photos for their sources.

Use a Comma, Save a life.

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:35:00 +0000

Copy, Paste, Print. This will be hanging in my cubicle tomorrow.

The Go-To Outfit

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 03:52:00 +0000

If I need to get ready really quickly, I always wear the easiest thing to put together in my closet. It's my go-to outfit. It's flattering, easy, and it looks like I kind of actually tried to look nice.

Today was one of those days. Brett and I celebrated Valentine's Day today because Valentine's Day on a Monday is LAME. We hung out at home and rented movies from RedBox (Inception and Paranormal Activity 2 - Both my choice, both VERY romantic). I fell asleep during the second movie which ended up delaying the 2nd part of the best Valentine's Day ever. A dinner date!

It seems like it's really hard to have a real date these days because we've been so busy, so that's what I asked for as a gift instead of jewelry or chocolate or whatever. Anyway - since I seem to have some mild kind of narcolepsy, I ended up sleeping until 4:30pm when we were supposed to be leaving the house at 5pm. Yikes! I slapped on some makeup, curled my hair and ransacked the closet in a tizzy to try to find something to wear. I ended up with the old standard. The Go To.

The magical combination is a black 3 quarter sleeve shirt from Target, my favorite store in the universe. (The one in the picture is actually from Blue Fly) Dark Wash Jeans, also from Target and a colorful scarf from.....guess where? Target! Oh, Target my love. I think I might have a problem. Do they have rehab for discount clothing abuse?

My scarf is actually a coral-y color and I have a white one as well. They're great during the winter here because it's not really cold enough to wear a coat, but it would be too cold without a scarf! I usually wear black ballet flats or flip flops - depending on how I'm feeling. Today I was feeling the flats.

As always when I wear the Go To - I managed to look semi-put together in a very teeny tiny amount of time. Win! These guys will stay in heavy rotation in my wardrobe, you can count on that. Happy Early Valentine's Day everyone!

Southwestern Ranch Chicken Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:54:00 +0000

Or - as I like to call it, "Throw some stuff in a dish and see what happens casserole."

Now, I'm not a chef. Geez - I'm not even really a cook. I live by the - If you can read, you can cook- rule. And lucky for me, I can read. I have had a few forays into the world of domesticity but I wouldn't say that I've mastered it by an means. I think I may have come one step closer though.

I made up a recipe. And not just any recipe. A really good-tasting one. With a cool name. At least I think so. So today, I would like to share my very first recipe ever with you. Try at your own risk - but it really does taste good!

Southwestern Ranch Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:

1/2 box Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Rotini (I think wheat pasta has more flavor but you can use whatever kind you like)
2 Cups Breadcrumbs
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
*1 four oz can of Green Chiles

1 Cup Black Beans
1 Cup Sweet Peas (I actually used frozen peas)
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
*3 Chicken Breasts, Cooked
*1 Packet (or 3 tbsp) Hidden Valley Ranch dressing Mix

*not pictured because I'm totally nuts and forgot to add them before I took the photo..doh!

Next time, I would also add corn and red bell pepper, but didn't have those on hand today...so that was a no go.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Boil pasta according to the directions on the box.

While your pasta is cooking, mix together the black beans, green chiles, peas (corn, red bell pepper) and ranch dressing mix. This is going to look really weird and gross. That's why I don't have a picture of it here. Don't worry, it will taste great. Make sure you completely mix everything together so it's all uniform. It's going to be weird and grey. Just keep going.

Cut your chicken into bite sized pieces. Add it to the cooked pasta with about 1/2 cup of cheese. Mix it all together.

Then, pour your ranch/black bean mixture over the pasta in a large mixing bowl and stir until everything is all mixed together. It's going to look just like pasta salad at this point.

Then, add your pasta salad into a 9x9 baking dish.

Mix together the breadcrumbs and the remaining cheese in a bowl, then distribute over the top of the pasta salad.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

If you try this, let me know how it turns out! I ended up making WAAAAY to much so I edited the recipe to only make one pan. My favorite part is how the cheese and the breadcrumbs get all melty and crunchy on the top. Yuuummm!!! Happy cooking!

A Word to the Ghost Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:30:00 +0000

I had a friend at work tell me the other day, "I was reading your blog and I wanted to leave a comment but I didn't want you to think I'm stalking you."

Now, let me put something out there. I want you to stalk me. I want to know if you love me or hate me. With blogging, (and I'm going to make a series of rash generalizations and use a lot of horrible punctuation here), there always is a level of narcissism. We like to talk about ourselves. There is one singular reason that we park on our little corner of the internet and slave away thinking of things that we think you'll like. We want you to like us or we want you to hate us. We want to make you think and talk or we want to make you act. We want to create a persona, whether that persona is funny, witty, smart, cynical or whatever. Some of us want to help you - but in the end game it's always about us.

We want comments. We want them and we need them. It validates us as bloggers. It makes us feel like we're not just out there talking to the CSS code. It's the best feeling in the world to log on and see that people are talking to you or about you or using your space to talk to talk to each other. Also, we can see you. We obsessively log on to our Google Analytics accounts to see how many unique visitors we get each day. We read where you come from and what kind of keywords bring you to us. We can see you out there and we would like to hear you, if you would like to be heard. There's no pressure for you to leave us comments but if you feel like you'd like to push that little button - go right ahead. It makes us happy.

There is a certain amount of fear that comes along with being a blogger. We're putting our lives out there for people to read and sometimes that comes with a little backlash. If people don't like what you say, they're going to tell you. (Normally through an anonymous comment.) It can hurt, but ultimately it's the reason we do this. I mean, no one logs on and signs up for a Blogger or Wordpress account and hopes that people will take shots at them. But we all want some kind of reaction. The positive outweighs the negative in this aspect.

To all of the other bloggers out there, I use narcissism in a facetious way. I do realize that we aren't completely obsessed with ourselves. A lot of us would like to ultimately be some version of writer and this is the most accessible way of being "published" without actually having to get published. I can spend hours and hours blog hopping and adding sites to my Google reader. I love having the outlet that I have to say what I like and I love seeing how other people view their own lives and the outside world. (Also, I love run-on sentences.) Thank you for being such an interesting, funny, insightful, strange, strong-willed, opinionated group of people. I'm happy to be a part of it.

For everyone, blogger and non. I like comments. If there's something you want to talk to me about, or to someone else, use this as a platform. Surf around and check out other blogs. See what you like and what you don't like, and most of all...let us know you're here!