Wanna see your reaction, wanna see how it looks

So it seems to be that time of year again. The time of year when I feel the need to jump on the bandwagon and make some resolutions for the next year. I had some really good ones last year but I forget to take in the fact that I want to achieve way too much for myself. That sounds horrible but it is true. This year I will continue to drag myself through work and school yet again, but this is the last year of it. One year from now I will have my BA finally and I will no longer be a Oakland University Grizzly bear. It is kind of sad, because as much as I hate the stress, I really love school.

I decided  that I am not going to completely give anything up because I find that cutting myself off only makes me think of what I cannot have even more. So I am basing all of my goals off a reward system and substitution methods. I have a lot of faith in this, so I really hope that it works! That being said, here it goes:

1) Eat less fast-food. I wanted to give it up, but according to friends, Subway counts and I think I would die without Mc Donalds salads and Tim Hortins coffee on the way to school. The salad I eat when I visit Kyle at work, and I snag a coffee on the way to school twice a week. I still want to want to eat pizza too, but no more $5 ones from Little Caesar. If I want pizza, I am going to wait and get really good pizza like from Nikki's in Greektown in Detroit.

2) Eat less dairy. I have found that less dairy makes my stomach hurt less. The store by my apartment sells three brands of soy milk in three flavors, as well as rice and coconut milk. I actually like veggie and rice cheese, I like sorbet so I can skip ice cream (I love it, but I get sick after eating it). I still need to find a good replacement for yogurt. I know too much soy is bad as well, so I am going to try the coconut milk next week. I did not omit dairy completely because I do eat over at my parents house and at others occasionally and it would be hard on them to just cater meals around my unusual eating habits.

3) Learn more about coffee. I like to call myself a coffee enthusiast, but really I just like to drink a ton of it. I want to get a grinder soon because I mostly make coffee at home, maybe I can review coffee on the blog next year, eh? EH?

4)Volunteer. I got this one from my friend Dan. I have a pretty crazy schedule, but I was thinking of at least once per season, four times this year. I also usually partake in the Breast Cancer walk every fall, so I would also like to add one more walk or even a run this year. 

5)Lose the rest. Two years ago I lost over 20 pounds and I have gone back and forth trying to lose the last bit. I also would like to tone up, and get back into yoga.

6) Pay off another card. I want to pay off another credit card and more this year. I had a lot of credit card debt four years ago and I still have a bit but I have cut it in half. I have three cards left to pay off and then I have to work on student loans, ick.

7) Sleep. Typically I stay up until 12am, then get up at 5:30 am. Sometimes I am so exhausted I miss the alarm and do not wake up until past 7am, which is when I am supposed to leave. Then on weekends I stay up until 2am and sleep until 11am. BAD. I need to be in bed by 10:30pm and up at 5:30. 

8) Read more books. I want to read 12 books this year. That is a really sad number but considering how many books and stories I read for school, it is all I can do for the moment. 

9) Watch more movies. There are so many good movies out there that I want to see but have not, so I want to watch 24 movies that I have never seen and I have a list of them that I created (and keep adding to) that I want to see. 

I plan on keeping a list of books and movies that I do read and watch on excel and I hope to keep you lovelies updated on the progress. I already know that I will have to figure out what to do about friends, I think I might try hanging out earlier on Saturdays instead of Saturday night so I won't sleep in on Sunday's and waste the day. However, Kyle and I might still be looking at houses on Saturdays for a bit, but I have no idea what is going on with that. I want to put "buy a house" on my list but it seems the issues we are currently facing are not even in our control at the moment. I hope to have a more coherent update on the housing issue soon.

I decided to include Kyle in today's outfit photo because he wanted to wear all his new stuff the other day when we took these (he wears a uniform at work so he gets excited about clothes sometimes). Isn't he spiffy?

Me

Dress-Kmart

Belt & Cardi-F21

Hat-Handmade from artfair

Boots-Sears

Leggings-Target

Scarf-Gift

Bracelets-Gift

Kyle

Shirt & Hoodie-Target

Pants-Levis

Shoes-Kohls

Hat-OU

Song: "Amsterdam" by Guster 

If Cross-Country were easy, they'd call it football

Can you spot me in this team photo?

Such a tom-boy :P This photo seems so surreal to me, that day I ran a seven minute mile, and a little over two miles after that, I think in around 16 minutes. I joined Cross-Country late in the season my senior year of High School and to be truly honest, I didn’t even know we had Cross-Country team. I would have joined sooner! I loved this sport because it was unique to me, I was able to be independent and yet part of a team all at once. I had played Soccer and Basketball in the past, and I ran Track in junior high, but I kind of fell in love with running. I am really hoping to start up again, even if it is once a week. Of course I choose winter to start this, but I miss it. The best part is I love running alone. I am surrounded by people all day at work and at school, and doing homework isn’t exactly quality alone time, but running feels like I am able to recharge and just function better.

It is also amazing to know where all these people are now in life, these kids that I used to sit on a bus eating Luna bars with (the guys didn’t know any better) before an invitational. The Cross-Country team was definitely the dork team, as it was the dork sport. We didn’t have a ‘home’ running course at Ferndale High School, so we were always away. I spent a lot of time with these guys, four of these people are fighting in Iraq, two have moved to Canada, one moved to New York, one went to college in Alaska on a hockey scholarship, one lives in Detroit with his girlfriend and I run into him on occasion at the pool hall in Ferndale. I guess Facebook really does keep you up to date lol. So what sports did/are you guys playing?

The waiting game.

I am waiting:

For my hair to grow out. For this semester to end. For the courage to write something.  For warm clean laundry. To be detained. For new resolutions. For my home. For fresh brewed coffee. For an accurate self-portrait.

In the meantime, say hello to my self-timer pics, brought to you by the makeshift tripod that is my car bumper and yours truly.  I guess I could have taken these a little earlier in the day and I think I might try to park so my bumper isn't always facing the dumpster. I still like Kyle's pictures better. 

Where the hell have I been? studying and writing papers non-stop. Work has been insane too. I am in dire need of a vacation but that is not going to happen, at least for this month. Who knows what December will bring. Hopefully snow! I am probably the only person living in Michigan that absolutely loves snow. I love Fall and Winter and I hate Summer. I love ice-skating in Detroit and I cannot wait to go this year, the rink might already be open.... I just have to make it through the second week of December and I can put this semester behind me. Then I will have four weeks to prep for a whole new one, a fresh start. It's kind of sad, but I really cannot wait until I can make my New Years resolutions. I think I can do more than just drag my butt through the rest of the year but I am tired of just cleaning up, I want a new start!

Details:
T-shirt-Thrifted 
Boots-F21
Tights-Target
Dress-Ebony via Here to There

Will you never rest? Fighting the battle of who could care less.

There is nothing that gives me more closure and relieves stress to me  like crossing off an item on a list after it's done. After all that ranting and raving last week about wanting to get things done I really wanted to stick to it. So, I sat down and created lists, but this time I created list templates in Excel and saved them on both my home and work computer. I can easily add to them and scratch things off while I am working and I can just print out lists that I need to take with me, like shopping lists. I also made a spreadsheet that lists some goals and aspirations and stuck it in the same folder. I think the whole concept is a little new and strange to me, especially since I like to physically hold lists and notebooks and then decorate them lol. Well this time I left them all on the computer and they are the most colorful spreadsheets to mankind.

I also wanted to give a little update on the blog. I think posting maybe a little slower the next few weeks, as I am swamped with school and work.  It also looks like Kyle and I might get that house we put an offer on back in June, so if the bank finally approves us we can get working on the steps to get out of the apt and into the house.  I am also still trying to figure out what to do with pictures, they will not upload from my home computer. We do not have any viruses, I think we have too much stored on our hard-drive and things are running a little slow. For now I am using the free space I have left on photobucket, which means I can edit them a little since I don't normally, but I am not guaranteeing anything. There is good news too! New projects and cool stuff underway so keep tuned :)

Details

Top-Kohls

Pants-Thirfted

Shoes-Alloy

Belt-F21

Headband-CVS

Necklace-gift

Song "Battle of who could care less" by Ben Folds Five

Good times for a change

I am filing  an extension. I had a summer reading list, a weight-loss goal, several to-do and project lists that I started out with at the beginning of Summer that have since been neglected. On top of that I am behind at homework already. How? Classes just friggin' started! Well I blame the cold I have had for the past two weeks. I know everyone says it, but being sick is not fun. Who actually thinks being sick is fun? Maybe some kids in grade or middle school that are happy to be out of class and watching TV instead, but still. I have decided to stick with these goals. I have no deadlines for them. I am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing but it is going to get done. Here is the new list:

1) Homework comes first. No more glancing through the Ikea catalog for 45 minutes and then realizing it's 1am. Do homework before  going out with friends, before painting my toenails, and yes, before even blogging *sad face*.

2) Finish Summer reading list. I didn't actually make a list of books, but they are the small stack next to my dresser. Reading is one of my passions and I never do it anymore. I would like to get in at least one book a week, but I am not going to push it. 

3) Be healthy. I literally have been the pizza queen for about a month. I need to just eat healthy and avoid so much fast food. And eventually be able to post when I hit my goal. 

4) Keep it clean. I am a freak that cannot do a single thing unless my apartment is clean. I cannot focus on the page in front of me unless all the clutter around me is put away. So the idea is to spend a few hours on the weekend cleaning up bigger things and just trying to put things back after I use them on an everyday basis. 

5) Cook at least one meal. Kyle and I have completely opposite schedules right now. The only time we have together is all day Saturday and Sunday night. I figure I can stock up on healthy soups and whatnot for during the week and also make one giant meal so we can snack on leftovers all week as well. (More time to study, read and blog, woot!).

6) Me time and friend time. Saturday nights and Sunday morning is my designated friend time and I think I am going to try to squeeze in a little time on Fridays for me. Reading, trimming my hair, plotting to take over the world, whatever. Although what usually happens is I do laundry, because no one else uses the laundry room on a Friday night because they have lives. :P 

I guess that is all for now. Oh and be ready for a review of Hurley coming up soon :) I figure music reviews every once in awhile might be fun.

 Oh by the way, here is an outfit :P This is a really cute crop top that I am borrowing from the lovely Chloe. I really like tucking in crop tops sometimes because I like the shape it creates. A little, loose, a little casual, I am also sporting a vintage necklace and ring that were both my Grannie's. I rarely wear nice jewelry because I lose them, but luckily I have held onto this guy. 

Details

Top-Borrowed from Chloe

Sweater-ae

Shorts-Thrifted

Belt-F21

Tights-CVS

Shoes-Alloy

Necklace-Grannie's.

Song "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I want" by The Smiths

On nationality

Do you ever have someone come up to you and ask if you are a certain nationality? When I was in middle school-when my hair was at it's most red-I got asked if I was Irish a lot. I don't get that much anymore, but some people tell me that I look like I am Asian. I am not offended by either, but I am also not Irish or Asian. I am 50% British, 25% Polish, and 25% mutt. The mutt includes some German, Canadian,  and Native American. Although I think the ongoing joke is that everyone had a  great grandmother that is part Native American.

 

  

My family takes pride in our nationalities. In the sense that my Mother cooks for it. Every Easter we have traditional Polish foods, and on Christmas we have a traditional English dinner. I think it is funny how people come up and ask about nationalities at times. Especially since America is a giant melting pot. It's funny when you have that moment of having something in common with someone else. "Your Polish? Me too! I looooove Pierogi!" I also think it's funny how my family, and a lot of others that I come across, celebrate their nationality with food.

  

So my loves, what is your back round?

Details

Top-Target

Jacket, scarf & skirt-Thrifted

Boots & belt-F21

Watch-Burger king

June Gloom

It's not June anymore, I am well aware, but I adore The Like and their song fit my post title for today. I have been so down today. My Uncle RJ lives in the UP and fell off his roof a few days ago. He broke 5 ribs, shattered one of them, and bruised his heart, which I didn't even know was possible. He is at home now, but in a lot of pain. I feel so bad, I cannot visit because they live so far away. Also my Aunt Helen passed away a few days ago. She was in her eighties, so she lived a long life, but my Mom and Aunt Terri were pretty close with her and they are really upset. I feel bad because I don't really remember her. I think I saw her a lot when I was around 5 years old, but I still don't remember her. So things have been a little gloom around my parents house.

 

On top of that, all the little things are piling up and getting to me. Louie got a cut on his arm over the weekend, it's not a big deal, it isn't infected, but It scares me because I have no clue how he did it. Our apartment has flies. Sink flies to be exact. We have had them awhile and so do other apartments. We tried the vinegar and soap traps, they don't work (I think those are only for fruit flies anyway) so Kyle got a pet-safe bug bomb a few weeks ago and we bombed the place. I cleaned up flies for two days after, it was sick and gross but they were all gone...for about a week. Now they are back and we are going to try it again and try to get all the little cracks in the apartment cleaned out too just in-case any are hiding. I just hate it because I can't have anyone over because there are BUGS all over the place. I know they are harmless, but they are gross. Then my vacuum broke, AGAIN. I have had it 5 years and we had it serviced 3 times at different places, and Kyle and my Dad and brother's have all fixed it numerous times. We borrowed Kyle's Mom's for now, but it is frustrating. I feel bad being upset about these things when there are other important things to be upset about, which is just making it worse.

I think what I need is some alone time. I really am one of those people that needs to have alone time to recharge and be able to function normally around others. 

On a better note, I have been keeping up with my workout, and I have two weeks left! :) I am excited to do my "I hit my goal" post. I know I am at a slow pace, but I know it will happen, and soon. Sorry for being a Debbie Downer this post, I promise to have something more fun tomorrow (editing the pics now, actually) :)

Details

Top & earrings-F21

Skirt-Ebs

Shoes-Alloy

bag-Value world

June Gloom, by The Like.

Realm of mediocracy

I have never been one to exceed at anything in particular. I have too many interests to focus in on one alone and I tend to take on too many things at once so I never become fully exceptional at any of them. I love to read, I read a lot but in short bursts and I forget after awhile if I have read certain books or not. I love to cook, but I fail to follow any cookbooks or recipes and I tend to make the same things over and over only with slight variation. I like to exercise, but I fail to keep at it, and get disappointed easily. I love to paint my toenails but I do not have a steady hand. I love to write stories and poems, but they are mostly slap-stick and I fail to form plots or meaning. I don't mind though.  

I like that I don't dedicate all of my time and energy into one activity or passion because there are so many things out there to try. I like that I get frustrated when I burn stir-fry because then I can try again, and I am fully aware that I am human. What I like most of all, is that while people may know that I have many interests, they also know not to expect too much of me. When my friends come over and we are ready to go out and want me to do their makeup, I used to fear that I would mess it up so bad and they would get mad. Now I just make them aware that I am working out of a caboodle box and using wet n' wild, not the makeup counter at Macy's. When co-workers can tease me for reading Moby Dick and Buffy the Vampire slayer comics, I look at it as being well-rounded. When kyle comes home from work to feast on my "special", I know that he will be just as geeked eating macaroni with cheese and slices of hot-dogs instead of chicken Alfredo.

I think the best is my "fashion-sense". Enough people know about my blog and that I post outfit pictures regularly, but I love the fact that I can come into work, looking like the perfect little secretary in heels and a pretty skirt and then waltz in the next day in my Teenage Mutant ninja turtles T and know that I will be posting both outfits. They know I love clothes, but they never expect me to know what is in style. Like I said, they don't expect much of me, and I know that it sounds bad, but I love being the mediocre me that I am.

Details

Shirt & shorts-Thirfted

Shoes & purse-Target

Belt-F21

It's been good, getting to know me more.

Spotted again. Either I dress rather conservative for the bar or I dress like a slut for work.  I wore this skirt to Luna's before and then I wore it to work yesterday. I think things would not look so tight on me if I wasn't so curvy, but that is how I am built, so I deal. That really isn't the point of this post. I am coming to the conclusion that I am changing, growing up (ha!) or whatnot. For the past few years, I have been "The boss", as in, I usually take charge in my group, not necessarily make all the decisions, but I push people through to make sure we get done. I think it is a natural instinct of being the eldest child, but more importantly it has made an impact on my life. In my five year stint at McHell, two of those years I was a manager. And I hated it. I hate telling people what to do. I make quick decisions, and they are not always right. I honestly like to weigh my options (I am a Libra dammit) I need to see both or all sides before making a decision. However, when someone else makes the decision, I will push them to follow up on it. For instance if we are going to Luna's on a Saturday, then I call everyone, make sure we are meeting at a certain place and a certain time and we all leave together or meet at a spot inside. When Kyle said that he wanted to go to OU this fall, I make sure that he has done all the paperwork that needs to be done, and made all his appointments. When my friend Brian is complaining about people being rude to him, I find out who it is and then I bitch them out. I do this mostly without even thinking about it and more and more I feel like I am fighting everyone's battles. It becomes exhausting, and most of the time I feel like I am being a bitch.

I am also very much a Libra.  I said I have trouble making decisions and when I finally make one, I have to stick to it to make sure it gets done. I pretty much go by a strict schedule because there are so many things that I want to do. The problem is, my schedule does not fit around everyone else's and it does not always mesh well. I then feel cheated or bummed out of I don't get everything that I wanted done, done. It can get really OCD at times, but it is how I function. 

 (Kyle thinks this is the greatest pose ever)

With all this being said, I need to be better. Better to myself and others. I need to set time aside for the things I like to do so I am not crabby at friends when we hangout. I need to set aside time for balancing my checkbook, cleaning my apartment, for reading and even blogging. I am tired of trying to cram in a post during my lunch break or before work. They come out so half-assed.  I really miss reading and I have not had the time to do it this summer, and I also want to exercise more and I only manage to get walks in with Louie.

I am also someone who needs alone time. I need to recharge before being with people, even Kyle. I almost always suck at spur of the moment things, unless I get everything I need to do done, then I am like "let's do whatever". Where am I going with this? I don't know. I want to do everything, I have to be busy in order to function, but only scheduling an hour or two with people can be rude, so what do I do? I can't really change how I am, or how I feel without being completely uncomfortable in my own skin. I just need to be better. Sorry for the giant rant, but this is my place to do it, I promise not to do it too often. 


The skirt earlier this week:

On a less whiny "gwah" note, here is my new favorite picture :)

Details
Top & skirt-Forever 21
Tights, shoes & bag-Payless

Song "Gardenia" By Mandy Moore

Represent

I am not sure if anyone actually pays THAT much attention to everything on my blog here, but yesterday I decided to nix the schedule finally. I really love being organized, but the posts were starting to feel like homework, and it just wasn't really fun. I promise to still do some Friday Night Features, but for now, you have a plain ole blog. I am sure nobody is deeply offended. 

 Greetings from planet Sara!

In other news, I have full-on Weezer obsession going on (what else is new?) Work has been insanely crazy. I have to catch up, so I have been staying after, working half-days on Saturdays, I feel overwhelmed and Weezer puts me in a good mood. On that note, posts might be a little random in the next two weeks because of this. I promised my boss we would go for a beer after I get caught up, at least I have job security right? Oh and also speaking of Weezer...check it out :) 

Toodles!

Bacon & Eggs

Hello everyone! Summer is turning out to be such a blast! Last night, the neighbors and I all got together and we cooked up the last of the left-overs. There is something about fresh-cooked food, the faint smell of ciggarettes, and cold beer on a 85 degree day that really makes summer. I really could not have thought of a better place to be, it was great just sitting around BSing until late at night. I think we will probably make this a weekly thing. The only problem is.....if Kyle and I are looking for a house, we are going to have to leave them all :( just when we get a great group!

This is the dress that started it all folks. I bought this baby a few years ago at Regeneration in Ferndale, and it was the first thrifted dress that I remember buying. I knew it would be huge on me, so I bought a green belt to go with it. Of course, this black one that came with my NYE dress was free and it is easier to use (it stays put) but it is great to think that this one dress basically got me into thrifting more and more. Instead of spending $20 on a top at hot topic, or American eagle, I can buy more clothes and be a little more creative. The dress isn't anything too special, I am sure if another girl went into a thrift store, she could find one exactly like it, but, I guess the point is to make it your own. (Nothing against department stores, for I am a forever 21 whore) Like mixing it with a great, priceless bag from Target! lol. I know this bag was mass-produced a few years ago, but it was too silly not to pass up. I think it is great. :)

Details

Dress-Thrifted via Regeneration

Belt & necklace-F21 (see? I told you!) 

Shoes-Payless

Socks & bag-Target

Tell me who am I, without you, by my side?

Hey everyone! How is your hump day coming along? I have been busting major booty at work these past weeks, I need to get caught up. At least I have job security lol. This is another dress that I have worn for this blog, but I am happy to wear it without a coat or cardi or anything. It came down long enough to cover my legs a little more, making it appropriate for work, and also to hide all the gross parts of my legs. You see, I bruise very easily, and between Louie and my Mom's pup Pepper, my legs have taken a beating. Of course, it also has to be 80-90 for the rest of this week and I cannot wear pants in that kind of weather. ugh.

Last night was hilarious, I hate always picking out our food, so I forced Kyle to go to the store with me and we were starving! We almost bought everything in the store, Kyle almost opened the ice cream right after the cashier scanned it. It was bad. We also had about a million pop bottles to return, and we decided to race to see who could get more pop bottles in the machine, which resulted in us knocking each other over, spilling pop bottles everywhere, and the manager glaring at us and visibly wondering why we were acting like a bunch of stupid teenagers. 

Kyle likes the close-ups a lot more apparently. I have nothing new or interesting to report today, I have been spending a lot of time walking Louie, trying to keep the place clean, and looking for houses online with Kyle. Hopefully we can see some more this week :)

Details

Dress-Salvation Army

Shoes-Payless

Necklace-Gift from Friend

Song "What is life" by George Harrison