(Already) Time for a Change!

I think I might be going crazy…Oh wait, I already am crazy! (My family constantly reminds me of this) But seriously, have you ever done so much research on one topic that your head starts to spin?

I’ve been thinking about giving my blog a face lift. Yeah, the little flowers and scrapbookish pattern are cute, but I got bored with it about a week after launching the blog. So the search begins.

Generally, I’m pretty artistic, but I have to be inspired before all of my ideas start to gel. After two weeks of searching index after index of blogger backgrounds I gave up. Nothing really seemed to fit what I was looking for. Granted, I had no idea what I was looking for, but I figured I would know it when I saw it. Then inspiration struck - “Why can’t I create my own design? It can’t be that hard right?”

Ha! I laugh now at my naivety.

Sure, there are some simple template generators that can help, and Blogging for Dummies is a great resource...but if I’m going to do something, its going to be done right. I want my blog to be memorable and unique, so a killer design is necessary.

I could have a pro do it – but I’m cheap, so this past week I’ve been exhausting every website I can find about creating blogs and writing html. Let me tell you, Google is a fantastic tool! So far I’ve been able to find answers and coding for everything I need.

Hurray! I’m rolling along and learning all of these sweet tips and tricks, but there is only one problem: I still don’t have an inspiration for my design.

Frantically searching more directories, reading articles, and even downloading free digital scrapbooking packages, I was still coming up with a big fat nothing.

It wasn’t until yesterday that, out of the blue, I got it.

Here is a sneak peak at some things that inspired me:

There is still a lot of work to be done, but I am so excited to dive in and conquer the world of Blogger coding. Hopefully I can get everything completed and launched before September.

Wish me luck!

Boredom + College Friends = A Mall Invasion

42 Days And Counting – I Guess I’d Better Start Getting Ready

So in exactly 42 days, 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds I will be boarding a plane to Italy. (Actually New York first, but you get the picture) It will be the first step on my three month adventure abroad. If you didn’t read my last post about this trip, let me fill you in: I AM GOING TO ROME! One full semester studying and living in Italy!

Needless to say I am very excited about the trip, but preparations keep getting pushed back because I “have all summer:” Well, not anymore...there are books to be ordered, electronic devices that need researched, and 90 days worth of necessities that much be purchased.

So here is my “To Do” of things that must be accomplished before September 9^th

Buy School Books – Paperback and internet downloads are the way to go for this gal – beauty product weigh a lot!

Plan Plan Plan – I am fortunate to have my best friend going with me. Our school is planning several trips but the two of decided it is essential that we travel Europe. Trip #1 will be to Milan, trip #2 is Paris, and trip #3 is TBA. I’ve looked up train and plane tickets, but I guess I should buckle down and make some concrete plans ;D

Budget – Get my finances in order. I’ll have to pay my bill for school, plus get the application in for my very first credit cart. Sarah is growing up

Research and Purchase Electronics – First of all I must get a converter and adapter so that I can charge my computer and camera batteries. Last time I went overseas the adapter blew up and ruined my charger sooo needless to say I’m pretty nervous. If anyone has experience or helpful advice it would be appreciated!

I’m also looking into purchasing a new camera. Still researching and deciding how much I can really afford to spend.

Knock Out My Killer Shopping List – Do you know how much make-up/shampoo/soap/facescrub/feminineproducts/contactsolution/deodorant/moose/hairspray a girl uses in three months? It’s a lot! I made my shopping list yesterday of all the necessities I’ll need – It will be around $175 dollars. I am already dreading that shopping trip.

Dealing With My #1 Problem – Fitting all of my clothing, necessities, towels, sheets, and misc items into two suitcases that each weighs less than 50 pounds. I’ve never been a light packer, so this is going to be interesting.

Wow, I feel a mildly extreme panic attack coming on. Any advice from seasoned travelers?
Well, I’d better get moving on this, so I’ll keep you posted….

Thank You for the Pain

I think that we grow the most through pain. When your world is completely shaken and everything seems to be broken, you can either morn over the shattered pieces, or see it as a clean foundation for something new. Everyone has experienced heartbreak in some form, so I know I'm not the first and I won't be the last, but I through it all I've grown and learned things that I never would have otherwise.

At the beginning of the summer I felt as though every area in my life was crumbling. I felt helpless and lost, but through this I saw areas in myself where I wanted (and needed) to grow. I made a promise to myself that when I went back to school in the fall I would not be the same person that I was before. I set goals and gave everything over to the Lord so that he could work in me.

My main goal for the summer was to grow in my relationship with the Lord. During the school year I had slipped, and really desired to get back in tune with Him. Beside this, my goals were not major or life changing, but simple things that I put on paper and accomplish.

Here are a few of them:

• Plan a bonfire (Check! Though it rained and we never had a campfire, I had friends over in anticipation of one)
• Work Out Regularly (Of course 'regularly' is a relative term)
• Get Involved in Ministry (I've been a leader in the youth group and have had an opportunity to really bond with some of the girls. Plus, I just got back from an incredible mission trip)
• Read a Book or Two (Finished "Angels and Demons" and am now skimming another novel)
• Scrapbook Sophomore Year (This is coming along nicely)
• Either to See One Friend a Week OR Do Something Special For One Person (Its been wonderful)

Now August and the end of summer is staring me in the face and I realize, I am a different person, but not in the way I thought I would be. When I was bitter and angry and hurt I looked at changing external appearances and actions. But when you give that up, something much better happens inside.

Sure I got a great haircut and a couple cute outfits, but I fell like the Lord has given me an entirely new outlook on life. Through ministry I have learned what it feels like to be selfless and give everything for Him. I have placed new value in who I am and what He has created me to be. And I can't wait to see what is in store for the years ahead.

There is a new Sarah bursting onto the scene who is confident, spontaneous, independent, and full of life. She is ready to dive full force into the future. To take risks and live vivaciously. There is so much that the world has to offer, and so much I have to offer the world. As I stand here looking forward there are so many opportunities and I am quivering with the anticipation of finding out where I belong.

Sure there are bad days, but I am thankful for them. I still battle bitterness and the wounds haven't completely healed - but today is a good day, and I will rejoice in it.

Free Mocha Monday

So, I am a huge fan of cold coffee. Iced or frozen, it doesn't matter, as long as its caffeinated and has whipped cream on top I'm cool. (Haha, get it, 'cool')

Okay, so my sense of humor is pretty lame, but today I did discover the best thing since sliced bread. My Optimistic Daddy got a hankering for an ice cream cone and we made a pit stop at McDonalds on the way home from work.

While in line at the drive-though the words "Free Mocha Monday" caught our eye. My Dad, Sister and I all strained our eyes looking for the small print that said you needed to buy $18 worth of french fries or stand on your head to get this deal, but there was nothing.

So we drive up to the speaker and Optimistic Daddy asks how Free Mocha Monday works.

"You get a mocha for free on Mondays" was the reply

"So, there are three of us in the car," Said Optimistic Daddy, testing the waters, "Does that mean all three of us can get one?"

"Yep" squawked the speaker.

"I'll take three"

We drove around, pretty much in disbelief. I half expected a tiny cup or some weak, crappy coffee, but it was nothing like that. Out of the service window came three large iced mochas with whipped cream and chocolate drizzled on top. And this was no weak coffee. Wonderful, dark, rich espresso. Mmmmmm!

Wait a minute...is that why I'm babbling not stop, giggling, annoying the crap out of my parents, and writing a blog post at midnight???

I think its safe to say that Free Mocha Monday is going to be a ritual from now on!

Okay – Its Facebook Official

This morning I logged onto Facebook, and just like every other morning, I was greeted by my home page filled with updates. A convenient way to see what my Facebook friends had been up to since I last logged on. (I call them my “Facebook friends” because even though we have a virtual friendship, that doesn’t mean we really talk)

As I scanned on down the page, I grew more and more disgusted. Status after status, wall post after wall post, were filled either with gushy messages, or a tragic sob story.

Now, I’ve dealt with this before. Summer is when all the college romance dies, (or heats up) but today it seemed extreme.

I am puzzled why anyone would want to share such intimate pieces of information in such a public setting. Am I crazy? Why would I want to read the wall-to-wall conversation between you and your boyfriend/girlfriend? Especially when it is punctuated by excessive amounts of “!!!!” “<3”>

On the flip side, I have been nauseated by sulky profile statuses…I am really sorry that your “heart is in a million pieces and he’s a million miles away” but don’t you have a best friend to go cry to? Your world of “Facebook friends” doesn’t want to know.

Desperate for attention? That is disgustingly sad.

Yeah I know, you can peg me as unsympathetic and heartless…but am I really the only one who feels this way?

Personally, I love sharing exciting things that are going on in my life. I post links and quotes and funny things that happen to me, but I don’t want everybody and their mother to know all the details of my life. (And seriously, by now everybody's mother is on Facebook!) I don’t want just anyone to be able to hop online and read the latest tragedy in Sarah’s life. I have the best friends and family a girl could ask for and they’re my support system – not the cyber world.