sometimes sarah writes

a new [ad]venture

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:48:00 +0000

thank you, friends, for supporting this blog [and me] over the last couple years. the blogging community is something special, and i feel so fortunate to have been a part of it. which is why i'm jumping back in with a new blog. feel free to join me over at saturday mornings.

ten on ten [may edition]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

[1] morning commute. crazy spaceship looking things on a train. [2] shhhh... touching up my toenails at work! [3] reading evaluations from students graduating this weekend from seminary. things like this make me feel blessed to do the work i do. [4] part of a gift for our doctoral students. an pottery student made each one a set of communion elements. so much talent! [5] packaging the gifts up! [6] our latest art installation on the brevity of life. photos of every person who died in the county in 2011. this exhibit has been one of the more powerful ones i've seen since being here. [7] one of our cohorts at the seminary made it through the "core" (2 years of intense classes!). they were the first (and only!) cohort i helped to bring in while i worked for admissions. i can't believe it's been that long, but i'm so proud of each of them for making it through! [8] oh gas prices, please come down. i want an adventurous summer. [9] western new york in all its' summer glory. [10] breakfast for dinner. yum! john said my apartment smelled like a diner. best compliment i received all day!

ten on ten [april edition]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:03:00 +0000

friends, i have a confession. i cheated a little on this month's 10 on 10. i visited my family out of state this weekend for easter and knew i'd be on the road most of the day today (the 10th). not only did i not want hours of shots of me in the car, being home gave me a chance to play with my sister's dslr, so i started my 10 on 10 yesterday, a little early. i hope you don't mind. ;)

[1] morning coffee [2] the last trace of my niece's birthday party from over the weekend [3] relaxing [4] one of my dad's five catches of the day [5] sweet finds from an antique shop in jersey [6] easter flowers [7] one of several new beverages we tried over the weekend [8] just one shot of me in the car (: [9] snack on the road [10] these were waiting for me when i got home (:

sometimes

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:08:00 +0000

sometimes your soul needs space to breathe.

sometimes your mind needs time to think.

sometimes your spirit needs quiet to hear its own voice.

and then sometimes you find you hold in your heart the hope that a new season brings.

happy first day of spring, friends.

"see, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;
before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
[isaiah 42:9]

mercies

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:25:00 +0000

this has been my go-to song when life get overwhelming.

car troubles, wedding planning, health issues, living situation, loneliness, insecurities, struggles with anxiety...

today i'm claiming His new mercies for me.

through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not.

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

[lamentations 3:22-23]

nothing can separate

even if I ran away

Your love never fails

i know i still make mistakes

but You have new mercies for me everyday

Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

there may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

and when the oceans rage i don't have to be afraid

because i know that You love me

Your love never fails

the wind is strong and the water's deep

but i'm not alone here in these open seas

cause Your love never fails

the chasm is far too wide

i never thought i'd reach the other side

but Your love never fails

You make all things work together for my good

[jesus culture]

linking with sweet kelly and jamie

mr. & mrs.

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:44:00 +0000

i have had the opportunity to review a few products for dayspring in the past, but none have gotten me more excited than the package i received this month.

the products from dayspring came a few days before the road trip to erie. i took it as a good sign of things to come. (: and if not for me, i had some friends in mind to gift them to! but i'm kind of glad i get to keep them!

inside were mr. and mrs. mugs. each have a little heart in the bottom of them. so cute!

i can't wait to drink my first cup of coffee as a mrs.!

also included was a coupon book for spouses. john and i are already looking forward to using the book to love on each other when we become husband and wife.

once again, dayspring has created products that are cute and meaningful. as the summer wedding season approaches, i'd definitely recommend any of the products from their mrs. and mrs. love collection as gifts!

please note: i received these products in exchange for a review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[freedom] sunday

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:55:00 +0000

Not For Sale | Faces of Slavery from Not For Sale on Vimeo.

there are more than 30 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other point in human history.
not for sale equips and mobilizes smart activists to re-abolish slavery—in their own backyards and across the globe. not for sale believes every individual has a skill they can contribute to fight human trafficking, and together we can end slavery in our lifetime.
-not for sale campaign

today around the world churches are recognizing freedom sunday, a day to inform, equip and empower people to take a stand against modern-day slavery.

we can all make a difference:

buy fair trade
every purchase matters. buying fair trade allows workers and farmers to be justly compensated and to build sustainable businesses. the money you spend on day-to-day goods can improve an entire community's day-to-day lives.

use the free2work app
this app grades companies based upon how their products relate to modern-day slavery. from risk levels of forced or child labor to assessment of the supply chain to availability of written policies and procedures to provision of fair wages, this app will help inform our purchasing decisions of consumers.

give to support the abolition of slavery or sponsor a child
international justice mission works to bring rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. they are gathering signatures for a petition to ask president obama to take a stand to end slavery once and for all. international childcare ministries uses child sponsorship [of just 82 cents a day] to provide education, meals, clothing and basic medical care to over 21,000 children in 30 countries.

pray and fast
"is not this the kind of fasting i have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" [isaiah 58:6-7]

"justice at it's best is love correcting everything that stands against love."

-dr. martin luther king, jr.

[insta]friday fun

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:08:00 +0000

i was feeling kind of lame about not having an iphone to make photos look more fun with instagram, so i decided to cheat and send pics from my not-so-smart phone to my itouch. where i was able to start an instagram account! so if you'd like, now that i'm a cool kid you can follow me on instagram @sarahbchamp.

linking up with jeannett and heather for a look at the last week or so!

i thought getting this box of sweets half off the day after valentines was going to be the highlight of my day...

and then i thought this might be...

but then, this happened...

which was the highlight of... my whole life? (:

we love shrimp.
every few weeks we'll buy some and cook them with some lemon, onions, and olive oil.
for this dinner, we added toasted rosemary and herb bread.

my thrifted finds of the week.

we had the prettiest snow the night before. big fat flakes that turned everything into a white wonderland. the kind of snow where you just have to stop and take in its silence and beauty.

which meant i was finally able to wear my northface gloves. they were a present from my stud for christmas and we've had such an usually mild winter i haven't been able to wear them much!

working from home today. there's no better office than one with a fuzzy blanket and a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

the weekend is so close. i'll be gym-ing it up tonight. tomorrow will be a day of planning and dreaming about the wedding! sunday i'll be helping my small group as we share with our church about freedom sunday, which is a day dedicated to the awareness of modern day slavery. because, unfortunately, it still exists in the world today. this is a great resource to find out ways you can help.

trash to treasure

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:13:00 +0000

yesterday at work our staff association sponsored a trash to treasure event. basically, we could bring in our "trash" and take home anyone else's that we deemed a "treasure."

um, hello, my name is sarah and i'm addicted to thrifting. add in the prospect of scoring some sweet finds for free?! well... you remember old yeller.

arrrr... here's my treasure, matey!

i laughed at myself after i got back because everything i picked up kind of all matched. blues and browns. two of my fav colors (:

a pretty mug ... candlesticks i'll sand and then maybe stain or spray paint ... wooden bangle bracelets

...oh yes, and a glass vase. [i'm convinced you can never have too many.]

and although it's nice to finally be getting some snow this winter, yard sale season can't come soon enough.

is this real life?

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:08:00 +0000

thank you all so much for your love and support! it is so amazing to finally be able to say that i'm marrying john! [and know that it will be sometime soon!] our story has been unfolding for a long time and i'm still a little in awe when i think about the guy that i saw playing a guitar on stage 8 years ago becoming the man who will be my husband. God is faithful.

it's been a whirlwind of a week, calling and seeing friends and family to share the good news. i have felt so blessed since our engagement. so many lovely words have been spoken and written to us. we have amazing people in our lives.

this season of engagement will most likely be a short one. we're hoping to get married in august! which, i'm finding, means taking care of a good number of big details pretty soon. it's been a little overwhelming, but we are committed to make this time a meaningful one, not a stressed one. i have a bit of work to do there, seeing as how i'm a type-A, planning, detail-oriented kind of girl. but that's why john is so good for me. he reminds me to take a breath, to enjoy the here and now, and really, to not worry. after all, what it really comes down to is, i'm marrying my best friend.

and that fact right there makes it really hard to keep a smile off my face.

a life changing road trip

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:24:00 +0000

i'd originally intended to write a little post today to celebrate my blog's 3rd birthday. however...

after a spontaneous [for me ;) ] little road trip to erie, pa last night, i am so happy to say that i am ENGAGED to john!

i am so excited to become mrs. beckler and to share the rest of my life with him.

four hours of driving, some chick fil a and a proposal later...

the love of my life right there!

and i'm working on writing out our love story to hopefully share soon (:

linking with finding beauty, captivated by grace, and rolled up pretty

ten on ten [february edition]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:00 +0000

today is my mama's birthday! i'm bummed i can't be there to celebrate with her, so i'm dedicating this ten on ten to her! happy birthday, mamacita!

one photo. every hour. for ten hours.

[1] an apple a day... [2] yummy, crunchy breakfast [3] my friday jam. [why have i not heard of this band before?!] thank you, sam! [4] a gift from my sweet coworker, jillian! it is friday after all! (: [5] beautiful piece of an art display at work [6] working for the weekend... [7] home sweet home. package waiting at my door. (: [8] my new toy! [9] getting reacquainted with an old friend [10] the part of the day i'd been most looking forward to... slipper time!

mail time

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:06:00 +0000

i was so happy to arrive home tonight and find a package sitting at my door! it was from my blogging friend, michelle (: i opened it up to find some perfect gifts for making it through these next 6 weeks of winter! [right, punxatawney?!]

i don't know if there's anything better to receive than something pretty, something chocolate-y, something pamper-y, and lip gloss!

new year blogging party [introducing michelle!]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:37:00 +0000

a few weeks ago, i saw the opportunity to be part of a blogger party with alycia, casey and danielle for the new year. i like blogging, i like parties, and so far, i've liked the new year so i signed myself up! each blogger was given the name of another blogger to get to know and to send a sweet little package to. [i like friends, i like gifts... can it get any better?!]

i was partnered with michelle from mish lovin' life.

considering i have about 78 pictures of myself in the exact. same. pose. i was excited to get to know michelle! as we've been emailing back and forth the last couple of weeks, i've learned that she really does love life! michelle is such a positive spirit. oh, and she lives in san diego. i've got to say i'm pretty jealous. but she insists rochester looks just as nice. [see how positive she is?!] michelle writes about her daily adventures, and i usually find myself cracking up at her posts.

michelle is training with her man for a marathon. as in 26.2 miles. stop by her blog and send her some encouragement!

michelle, i've loved getting to know you! i can't wait to see where life takes you!

hello you, you're gorgeous!

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0000

hello, comedy shows from the 90s...

i was still feeling quite under the weather this weekend, so it was mostly spent on the couch watching 3rd rock from the sun on netflix. did/does anyone else watch this show? i was so excited when i saw that it was on netflix because i remembered finding it hilarious when i was younger. and fortunately i was happy to find it still makes me laugh out loud. i mean, seriously...

i have sat here watching that clip over and over and it cracks me up every. single. time. i may or may not say that to myself in the mirror now.

hello, fantastic homemade dinner...

last night stud and i made a pizza. it was pretty amazing if i do say so.

pepperoni and banana peppers are one of our favorite combinations. delish.

and finally, hello, pretty new embroidery hoop art...

you make me smile every time i leave or come home. thanks for being so cheery.

random thoughts on a thursday

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:05:00 +0000

- i've been fighting a cold and sore throat for the last few days. the cold thinks it's going to win the battle this evening. but i'm fighting back hard with a fleece blanket and a cup of green tea.

- i'm excited to work on a new decoration for my front door this weekend. in the fall i made one out of a grapevine wreath and felt flowers. for christmas, i made a yarn wreath. i decided for the spring i'm going to make embroidery hoop art.

- taxes. do they stress anyone else out? they worry me. i'm always afraid i'm not filing them correctly. and my fears were confirmed this past year when i got hit with fines for making a mistake in 2007-2008. do you know how much interest builds up in 4 years? no wonder they wait that long to tell you you're in trouble. this year i've been receiving more forms than usual from taking a class last year and because i now have an hsa with my health insurance. here's to hoping i do it all correctly. and then [maybe] show me the money?!

-God is good. even when i don't acknowledge Him. i have to keep reminding myself to thank Him for this winter. my first two in new york were pretty rough. i do like snow, but really only when i have nowhere to be and i can curl up on a couch and watch it fall and drink hot chocolate. last year, the snow started falling in november and didn't stop until april. it was a hard season for me mentally and spiritually. summer eventually came and with His help, i was able to get some perspective and healing. the fall was long and mild and wonderful.

and now, it's winter. this year the temperatures have been way above normal and i think we've had a foot of snow total. it's been wonderful. my headspace has been good. so i remind myself to give thanks.

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

there may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

-jesus culture, Your love never fails

why i love him [vol. 2]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:27:00 +0000

me [holding up two nail polishes in front of john's face while he's working on the computer]: which color should i put on?

john: not black. you have a black coat. and it'll look all dark and goth and stuff.

me: move over. black is glam now. [pulls up a few pins on pinterest to prove point]

source

john: ok, yeah. go with black. it matches your retinas.

and really, he would know...

life smells like a rose...

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:58:00 +0000

this post actually has nothing to do with roses, but that's a lyric in one of the songs in the new muppet movie! if you haven't seen the movie yet, do yourself a favor and see it! [is it still in theaters? if not, i'm sorry]. ahem... sidetracked...

a little look at life recently through my ~~not-so-much-an-i~~phone...

snow day!

my stud brought me a ~~fish~~ cannoli

date night with my man at olive garden

i may have a drinking problem ;)

sneak peek of a project i'm working on for my bedroom

beautiful sunset on my drive home

can't beat ice cream. unless there's a warm choc chip cookie underneath (:

happy weekend, friends!

linking with jeanette, lindsay, heather and carissa

bedroom [inspiration]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:17:00 +0000

the inspiration workshop with gussy sews is back! the prompt for this month is bedroom.

full disclosure: in every apartment i've lived, my bedroom is always the last room i decorate. ideally it would be first. i'd create a relaxing space to retreat to each evening. but in reality, it is forgotten about and used pretty much only for sleeping. my kitchen and dining room and living room get my attention because those are the rooms people see! case in point here's what my bedroom looks like this evening:

things of note:

1] my toolbox currently resides in my bedroom.
2] yes, i did make my bed, but that's more of an obsessive compulsive thing for me.
3] target bags strewn across the floor. maybe it really is time for an intervention.
4] and last but not least, there's a down comforter bundled up on my papasan chair. it's been a crazy winter here. some nights it's just too warm for the down comforter, other nights it's a usual winter, freezing, and it's my best friend. so i currently keep two comforters at the ready. it really adds to the luxurious vibe i have going on ;)

but... there is hope! i've done a good amount of decorating to the rest of my living space last year and decided to start focusing on my bedroom this year. thanks to pinterest, i'm full of inspiration [and maybe a little bit of coveting ;) ]

my ideal bedroom would include the following things:

fireplace

source

reading nook

source

rustic features

source

and a statement piece

source

i feel more relaxed just looking at these pictures! and hopefully i'll have some more to share of my own room in the next few weeks. happy thursday, friends!

see more bedroom inspiration here...

old yeller

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:25:00 +0000

we recently had tenants move out of the building i live in, and they left behind a chair. once i saw it i couldn't get it off my mind. a call to my landlord and the chair was sitting in my dining room. extra seating + sweet vintage find + all for free = an amazing day for this girl.

i knew the perfect spot for the chair... right where my christmas tree was ! i don't think i've ever been more excited to take down a tree after christmas.

say hello to old yeller!

and here it is close to its actual color...

it's old and yellow and i. love. it. i'm a fan of its straight lines and its cute little buttons. i may try sanding and restaining the legs and cleaning it up a bit. may. there's just something about its current condition that makes me like it more.

have you had any sweet finds recently?

snow day

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:48:00 +0000

today the snow is finally falling in western new york! i had already scheduled to take today off, and i've got to say, not having anywhere to be while it snows makes it even prettier.

today has been a day of rest. the last two years i have been fortunate enough to have the week between christmas and new year's off. i've gone to visit family in new jersey during that week and have loved the feeling of being able to take a deep breath while i'm there. being away from home means that i have no obligations, no responsibilities, and, consequently, no stress. i have come to cherish that time. it's an opportunity to just stop and breathe, without having to worry about all the things that normally consume my day. it's a feeling i want to capture and preserve throughout the year, not just during the holidays. so i scheduled myself a little breathing time. (:

today i'm catching up on some tv shows and doing a little creating. this recipe is cooking in the crockpot for dinner, making my apartment smell like a fiesta.

i have been and will continue shoveling throughout the day, but i'm welcoming the breaths of fresh air. i'm soaking in the snow [literally and figuratively ;) ] and taking moments to smile to myself at its beauty.

smiling is good for the soul, you know.

ten on ten [january edition]

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:36:00 +0000

one photo, every hour, for ten hours.

[1] a peek into my makeup bag [2] poptarts. the breakfast of champi[gn]ons. [my last name (: spelled with a gn, but pronounced champion!] [3] signing prayer cards for our students at work [4] highlight of my morning = text from my stud [please excuse the fuzz on my phone!] [5] my tuesday jam [6] sunlight. in january. in western new york! [7] but things are still brown (: [8] grocery [9] shopping [10] home. and experimenting with bokeh light.

oh hello, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:19:00 +0000

seven days in and i'm posting my new year's resolutions! it's still the first week of the year, which means they're legit nyr's [new year's resolutions], right? right.

Source

i love the motivation and hope that a new year brings. the clean slate it offers. my mind feels open to dream, and dream big. and i know God may have completely different plans for my 2012, but if He's ok with it, these are the things i resolve.

1. open an online shop. i spent this past summer thrifting and yard sale-ing it up. i've enjoyed decorating my home with vintage finds and crafty-ness, and i want to open a shop to share my style.

2. decorate my dining room wall. i've had these frames since the summer and basically, i'm tired of talking about hanging them and staring at them scattered across my floors! i have two more to stain and then these beauties are finding a home in my dining room.

3. pay off my credit card debt. i got hit with several major car repairs in 2011. and some major car repair bills. i also found out i'd incorrectly filed part of my taxes in 2007 and 2008, resulting in some more money owed. but, i want to work harder to be responsible with my money this year, create a budget for myself, and pay off my credit card.

4. redesign my blog. i hope to create a look that better represents me, and i'm hoping to teach myself a bit about design in the process. it's a fun way to get to exercise some creativity.

5. read at least one book a month. this is kind of like an essential nyr, isn't it? i got a kindle fire for christmas and love it, which makes me even more excited about this resolution. a few books i plan to read this year...

i am almost finished with the 5th harry potter book and plan on reading books 6 and 7 this year. i also want to read a few recommended books for becoming an indie business owner: craft, inc. and the handmade marketplace. any other suggestions, friends?

6. keep growing my hair. i chopped it to just a few inches short four years ago and since then i've tried to let it grow out, but have always gotten too impatient or found a cute short cut that i wanted to try and ended up starting all over again. this time around i'm more determined than ever to let it grow out and it's paying off! my hair is the longest it's been in a long time and i love that i can pull it back in a ponytail again. that right there has been motivation enough to keep growing it out!

2012 has already been off to a sweet start. new york is having an unusually mild winter, resulting in very little snow so far. i've spent some good time with good friends. i have resolutions that excite me, and i'm full of hope for where this year will take me!

linking up with heather

a second chance

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Source

this week 2 years ago i left my home and family in new jersey to became a resident of new york, wondering what life was going to look like. to be completely honest, the last 2 years have been tough. i had such strong ideas of what i hoped for, it made for a pretty rough time. i think a lot of it was that i expected things to happen to me.

i expected the job offer i took to be the job for me, finally launching me on my career.
i expected best friends to just appear.
i expected to be busy with social commitments and new endeavors that people put in front of me.
i expected to be engaged, then married.

can we say, entitlement much?

john and i had spent a considerable amount of time waiting and praying for me to move, and i thought that when i was finally able to, the clouds would part and angels would sing and we'd get a happily ever after.

life is no fairy tale.

and it's taken me 2 years to realize that my expectations were way too... selfish. they were about me, me, me.

i've spent the last 2 years playing the blame game. i blamed john for not being who i thought he was or not making enough time for me [read: basically all my free time]. i blamed other people for not "reaching out" enough when i moved. i blamed God for opening doors and then letting me down.

eek. it's shameful to even type all of that out.

i allowed disappointment and frustration and anger to build up in me. i closed myself off from soaking in moments because they weren't what i thought they would be like. i shut myself down and isolated myself.

i was feeling pretty depressed in december about this life i had created here and about who i was becoming. because God is so good, a much needed holiday break spending time with family and friends helped rekindle the me i like being and renewed a sense of hope for my life.

i spent time owning up to my part in my own miserableness. or really, my whole. this wasn't anyone's fault except my own.

and this year i am claiming a second chance for myself.

i am fighting an internal battle that's saying it's too late to change. i'm stuck on this path. things are not going to get better.

but with the beginning of a new year comes motivation. and i might as well ride with it, right? (:

so i'm saying do-over. i want to use what i've learned and reach out. life is no good when you're busy looking in at yourself. i want to reach out to others, in friendship, in service, in thankfulness.

just because the last few years haven't been as pretty as i'd hoped, it doesn't mean the next few can't be. i want to look at life with open eyes and an open heart, to embrace it, whatever it may look like. i want to rely on His strength, to take Him up on His promises and live a life that isn't ordinary. i want to allow Him to work in me, to change me, to mold me, and to shape me into what He desires of me. and i want to surrender my expectations, so that i can accept His plans.

:: He who was seated on the throne said,

“I am making everything new!”

Then he said, “Write this down,

for these words are trustworthy and true.”

[rev 21:5]

christmastime

noreply@blogger.com (sarah) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:55:00 +0000

just a few pictures of the goodness this week has held...

last minute ~~shopping~~ crafting to finish up some gifts

christmas ~~morning~~ afternoon [we had to wait for my sister to get out of work to exchange gifts this christmas! longest. day. ever. (: ]

why yes, we do have matching fleece pants (:

and of course there have been plenty of good eats this week...

there's no place like home for the holidays (: