by Sarah | Feb 18, 2013 | All About Molly, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls
[flickr id=”8475700237″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]A few weeks ago I posted about Molly’s dream of being a “fashion girl”. Never did I imagine that making that simple post would allow me the honor of being able to help one of my children achieve their dream so quick.
One of the Indy Geek Girls, Katy, contacted me that same day and said that she might have an opportunity for Molly to be a model on the local morning news. She needed to check details, but it was a good chance she could be a model within the month. By last week it was a done deal & I just had to keep the tremendous news from Molly so she wouldn’t freak out too early. By Wednesday I caved and the next day was chaos.
Friday morning, bright and early we got up, we fixed our hair and makeup and hopped in the truck. Not before a few rounds of “are we there yet?” we managed to arrive about 40 minutes later.
[flickr id=”8476791438″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]By this point Molly was practically bouncing out of the truck, and my tummy was twisting in knots. How would she react in this place with all the excitement and new people and strange situations and cameras everywhere?
After a short time we were able to get her dressed and camera ready. She was bouncing out of her skin as we waited for the commercial break so we could head into the (surprisingly tiny) studio.
Finally the time came and Molly Cass was called on camera. At first, she later told me, she was afraid of messing up. It showed in her ‘deer in the headlights’ expression and the shuffle of her feet. Then…then she saw herself on the monitor and it all changed. She smiled and shone…and life was amazing.
For the rest of the day she was on Cloud 9 and even today she’s still talking about it and asking when we can “go back to Fox 59”. 🙂
I thought living my dream was amazing…
It’s nothing compared to watching your child live theirs.
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*~*~*
Molly’s outfit was provided by Blue Eyes & Barefeet.
by Sarah | Jan 24, 2013 | All About Me, Blogging Life, Random
With freezing temps & sick kids & edits & hubs & birthdays & Disney on Ice & chaos all around…I can barely get a coherent thought together much less a coherent post.
So what do I do? I steal a post from the ever loverly Emily, who stole it from her…and so on and so forth. I love posts like these anyway, and so as soon as I saw it I knew I’d steal it – just wasn’t sure when or how soon – turns out pretty damn fast.
So, here you go. 48 Questions You Never Asked, but I’m answering anyway.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes! My Great-Grandmothers – both of them. Sarah (she went by Sadie) and Melissa. I love this story and will tell you it if you ask. EVERY.TIME. Yup. It’s one of the areas my narcissism shines.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I can’t give you an exact date but I know it was recent. There’s been much emotionally-stuffs going on.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Nope. My print is better than my cursive – but in a rush they both suck. I write like my Dad (sorry Dad).
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Turkey Pastrami.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Three. Crazy. Insane. children. Love ’em most of the time.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably. I was always friends with the geeks & nerds…and I love theater people.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
NEVER (see also: ALWAYS).
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yup.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Hmmm. I used to say “No way in Hell would that happen”…but these days I’m more daring. I’d consider it (but probably chicken out).
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I hate cereal. But occasionally go through craving spurts where I eat Special K w/ strawberries (or fake-berries, whatevs).
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Never. Drives the husband up a wall.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Physically? Not nearly enough. Emotionally? Beyond imagination.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
I’m a simple girl. Vanilla with caramel sauce.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they’re smiling.
15. RED OR PINK?
Red. I hate pink, I have always hated pink.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My body. Especially after the picture gold mine from 10 years ago I sifted through last night. What HAPPENED to me?
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My best friend Jess. She lives WAY too far away and transporters need to be invented already.
18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
Budgeting. Seriously.
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
At the time I’m writing this? Brown slippers – it’s 3* out and my floors are COLD.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Pulled pork. Last night’s dinner. Yum.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Currently the news is on in the background. When i’m writing it’s often either Hard Rock or Love Songs radio on Pandora (depending on which story I’m working on).
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Burnt Orange.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
The smell of the pipe tobacco my grampa used to smoke – it evokes many memories and lets me know he’s still watching over me.
Vanilla or almond.
The wisp of smoke from a freshly extinguished candle.
The first fresh blast of crisp winter air you get in fall…it’s always so clean and cold.
Gardenias. Reminds me of my grandmother and my wedding.
24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?
They are very important to me…that doesn’t mean I’ll share them with you. I don’t talk politics to 99% of people. Or religion. I hate arguing so I don’t do it.
25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Both. But really? Mountain hideaway would win if I had to choose.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
HOCKEY.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Currently? Chocolate Cherry. I like to experiment, though…so it could change at any time.
28. EYE COLOR?
Brown. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it (just don’t look too close especially when I’m wearing purple and they look green)
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes! Hate myself in glasses
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Sorry. I can’t pick. Too many good things.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
I hate scary movies. Husband loves them…
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Madagascar 3. Probably 30 times since it was opened Christmas morning.
Oh, wait…the last movie I actually somewhat watched was INK. I missed portions of it, but it was an interesting and unique film.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Burgundy…until I change later.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Both? I love Summer…but I also love Winter. Hell, all the seasons have my vote.
35. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Mmmm….Cheesecake
36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Strength is preferred…but I get the importance of Cardio.
37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
Computer.
38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Mine. This one of Mine, too. (Hey, I’m reading proof copies for errors, shush. I’m not that narcissistic…much).
Also, I’ve been re-reading Harry Potter Series, and am currently on my least favorite (and longest) of all the books, Order of the Phoenix.
Also Hunger Embraced (by my crit partner, fun & sexy book)
Also MWF seeking BFF, recommended by her.
Also…oh, I’ll stop now. Let’s just say I read multiple books at once, k?
39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse pad is my desk…so…a lot of crap. It needs a serious cleaning.
40. FAVORITE SOUND?
Rain.
41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?
Uh…you can’t honestly expect me to pick?
42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Cafilornia. About 2 months before dah big quake in 89.
43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can bark like a poodle. I can sing, dance, write, knit, crochet, sew, and…sometime I think I can mother.
44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Buffalo, New York (well, a suburb of it)
45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Indianapolis. Circle City. In my old(er) age…I kind of love it.
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46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Stupid pale yellow that I’ve hated forever. Can’t afford to change it so it stays. Stupid pale yellow.
47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
Beige. Stupid brown/beige crap. One day I will own a car that is a color.
48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS?
I sure do. It’s fun to answer random questions.
by Sarah | Jan 9, 2013 | All About Denver, Blogging Life, Clever Girls, Sponsored, Wells Fargo
It seems like just yesterday I was nervously trying to nibble on my lunch while figuring out a way to tell my Dad I was expecting. I remember that lunch so clearly. It had to have been yesterday.
But no, it was much longer ago. Because in two weeks time Denver turns 15.
Fifteen.
He’s on the downhill slope of his Freshman year. That means in just 2 years he’ll be seriously looking at colleges. Our conversations turn to college at least once a week already.
And I am so ill prepared. It’s pretty sad.
I knew way back in First Grade when Denver first said he wanted to be in NASA that we had college ahead of us. Math, science, history – everything but reading that kid loved and excelled at. Then when reading took hold?
The kid has been unSTOPable.
Seriously.
His dreams of NASA have turned to dreams of being a Doctor.
As much as I annoy him going all New-Yorker and talking about how my son “wants to be a Doc-tah” – I’m seriously, sickeningly, insanely proud of this lofty goal.
And then I think about college.
How right now our only ‘plan’ to pay for it is an Indiana’s great “21st Century Scholars” program & hopes of him reaching Eagle Scouts which could = scholarships. Which is great – if he keeps his grades up and at least for under-grad.
But medical school means many years, many dollars, and my head starts spinning.
So deep in the recesses of my mind where I keep my panic and fear deeply hidden (oh, stop laughing – I do keep it hidden, most of the time) – that large red panic button has been hit. Sirens are blaring, and I’m hearing the robot from Lost in Space “Danger, Will Robinson!”
Three years is not a lot of time to suddenly come up with a plan, and I have a ton of questions.
Wells Fargo has provided a great place for me to get some of those questions answered. Their community forums have both new parents, panicky parents like me, students – and the bonus – specialists. I’ve been dipping my toes in the waters there and am happy to often find a topic very close to what I already have on my mind.
It’s helped ease some of the panic and the blaring siren sounds are subsiding a little.
But that darn Lost in Space robot is still swinging his arms around in circles…
*~*~*
Wells Fargo Community
What is it?
The Wells Fargo Community is an online forum where you can ask questions and share knowledge about financial topics. It’s a place to get help and help others in a convenient and safe environment.
The current focus of the community is education planning. We expect to add additional topics over time.
Who can use it?
The community is free and you don’t need to be a Wells Fargo customer to participate. In fact, you don’t even need to be a member to browse and learn from discussions. But, if you want to post your own questions or answers, we’ll ask you to sign up.
Why should you join?
The Wells Fargo Community is a great place to have conversations about your financial challenges and goals because:
- People with different backgrounds and experiences have joined the community so you can get a variety of perspectives.
- You can learn from specialists.
- We want to get you a lot of helpful and accurate information so we encourage participation from the community, review all posts, and, in many cases, chime in ourselves.
- Our community guidelines insist on constructive communications and we make sure our members are respectful.
- You can help others.
How do you get started?
Just go to WellsFargoCommunity.com. Then you can browse and search discussions to find what interests you. Your question may already be answered!
Join the community to ask your own question or reply to someone else. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and it’s free.
It’s easy to stay up-to-date with what’s important to you. If you post anything in the community, you’ll be notified when other community members reply.
Education Planning & Student Loans
Education planning has become increasingly important both due to its impact on lifetime earnings and its rising costs. Many people find the planning process confusing and the amount of information overwhelming. We want to make things simpler.
The Wells Fargo Community is dedicated to helping you understand your education planning options by:
- Bringing students, parents, college counselors, and financial advisors together so they can share their knowledge, advice, and experiences – all in one place.
- Spanning the entire college experience so you’ll find relevant conversations whether you’re preparing for college, in college, or done with college.
- Addressing key topics including saving for college, finding the right college, choosing a major, and preparing for life after college.
*~*~*
For more information about the Wells Fargo Community, please visit Wells Fargo Community’s site. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #WFCommunity #spon
by Sarah | Dec 11, 2012 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All About Molly, Blogging Life, SITS Girls, Sponsored
[flickr id=”8263289615″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Oh, this box has garnered a lot of excitement in my house this week. It came from BabbaCo, and was so chock-full of good stuff we’re saving half of it until Christmas break when we can take our time and enjoy it.
I couldn’t keep the girls out of it for long, though. We eagerly dove in and took out the Constellation Frame.
[flickr id=”8263288763″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]With 2 sheets of sun-sensitive paper and enough star stickers to overflow the papers, I had to exert some limits on how many stickers to use. Still, the girls had so much fun plotting out where to put them, and insisted on sharing the paper. All the time they were filled with questions and asking about the moon and the constellations – thanks to the coloring pages also provided.
Unfortunately winter hit just before we did this – and gray skies don’t help the paper turn dark so we’re still waiting on our finished product 🙁 To ease the girls disappointment, pulled out the crayons and colored the pages provided.
[flickr id=”8264354868″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]I’ve never seen my girls so focused and quiet for any amount of time before. They wanted their pictures to be perfect. Tongues were bitten in concentration to stay in the lines and make things pretty. Molly decided to make the moon picture she was drawing red like sand, so I suggested that maybe she was coloring it as Mars instead of the moon – setting off a whole new slew of questions.
I used to think about home-schooling, but always worried I’d have no clue where to begin. I wish I’d known about the BabbaBox then. A monthly delivery, always with a theme and relevant projects? With help like this, I might have had more courage to try.
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BabbaBox is a theme-based box delivered to your door that allows you to enjoy a little convenience and inspiration! As any parent can attest, the most important thing you can give to your child is quality time. BabbaBox makes this possible by helping you to save time, money, & mindspace.
Just think! Fantastic monthly activities with ALL the materials for kids ages 3-6. Included in the box are 3 projects + 1 bestselling book + digital download + parent surprise gift!
The best part? Babbabox makes a GREAT unique gift during the holiday season.
Act now! Get 50% off your first month when you sign up for a monthly membership using the code, SWAY100. Offer expires December 31, 2012.
**This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BabbaBox. The opinions and text are all mine.**
by Sarah | Nov 16, 2012 | All About Denver, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Giveaway, Hallmark
The past two weeks have been overwhelming for us. With Denver in the hospital, and then home but on IV meds, life turned on its head.
Even when we were home between the meds, and trying to return to normal life, everything about our life has been in upheaval. I’ve had to look for a job again, there have been activities for school and life in general is in a state of flux. There’s been little time to sit and regroup and just relax.
In the past two weeks there has been just one thing holding me together. My friends, my connections, and the simple gestures they’ve made to show they care.
Just yesterday, at the end of the chaotic two weeks, I opened my mailbox to find junk mail – and one envelope addressed to me. Inside was a simple card with a lovely handwritten note. It had come from the Hallmark Team. See, about a week before Denver went into the hospital I was a part of the group of bloggers that went to their Indianapolis Stop on the Hallmark Tour.
It reminded me of the importance of a simple card. I’m the first to admit that I’ve become a digital being – I prefer email and text to phone and mail.
But the touching gesture of a hand-written note inside a card meant so much. Imagine how much it could mean to a member of your family, or a good friend, to receive the added touch of a card with a handwritten note meant just to them. This card from Hallmark moved me to tears – you could leave your friend a blubbering mess for the same gesture.
During the Hallmark Tour event we were reminded of the importance of just telling someone what you want them to know. Tell them you love them. Tell them ‘thank you’. Tell them to be strong, that this will pass, that you admire them, or just that you think about them every day. We all shared our stories, what we want to tell, and at points it became a room full of tears. Most especially during the video that kicked off the event:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/SvmB7s5k6KA[/youtube]
So please, tell someone today what you think they should know.
*~*~*
[flickr id=”8191555068″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] On behalf of Hallmark I’m excited to offer this giveaway of their recordable book “Mom & Me”.
Inside the book is a wonderful little story of a Momma Kangaroo and her child, a series of questions that your child can answer, and you can record! You can capture your child’s adorable little voice as it is today, and hear their unique and creative answers to simple questions!
[flickr id=”8191552892″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]I can’t wait until my girls open this gift on Christmas morning and I can start recording their answers. Questions like “What do you think Mom does when you’re not around?” and “What do you like to do to make Mom laugh?” should bring fun and inventive answers from my two little story-tellers.
Entering is easy, just leave a comment telling me what simple gesture you want to do this Christmas to tell someone you love them.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Sarah | Nov 10, 2012 | All About Erik, All About Family, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls
When you’re younger, making friends is so simple.
You meet at the playground and an instant friendship forms. You sit next to someone at your desk in class and in no time you’re best buds asking to sleep-over.
When you’re an adult it’s harder.
You have a lifetime of experiences, traumas, joys, and broken hearts to muddle through. Walking up to a random stranger in a grocery store and creating a friendship seems – well weird to our grown up brains.
A few weeks ago my friend Heather was talking about a book she’d read – [amazon_link id=”0345524942″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]MWF seeking BFF[/amazon_link] – about a woman that set out to find a new BFF by going on one ‘friend date’ a week for a year. Something I would never have the courage to do.
After I stopped working to take care of my girls – my ‘friend’ world sort of disappeared. I’m terminally shy when I’m not in a theater situation. Even meeting my own neighbors gave me a case of the nerves. Erik is similar for different reasons and in different ways. For a long time I felt a isolated. I loved being home, but I missed having friends to chat with. While I’d gone to high school in Indiana – I didn’t know anyone in the town we live in now. I also didn’t like going out with two very young children, one of whom gets over-stimulated in crowd situations.
Through the past six years of blogging, and most especially the past three years of becoming more involved in the local blogging community, not to mention it being easier to get out with older children than with two babies – life has managed to help me find those elusive adult friends. Somehow life has even managed to do the same for my husband.
We’ve met intentionally, accidentally, incidentally, and yet somehow all of the friendships were destined-to-be. From neighbors that I finally got out to meet, to bloggers that totally used to intimidate me & now make me laugh harder than I’ve laughed in years, to people life threw into my (or Erik’s) path at just the right time.
I’d forgotten what it felt like to have a circle.
It’s a really good feeling.
