A to Z of me

I'm stealing this from Mandy,  she's great!

A. Age:19.5
B. Bed size: Twin
C. Chore that you hate: Folding clothes
D. Dogs: None. But I plan to get a golden named Marly when I move out
E. Essential start to your day: irish breakfast tea
F. Favorite color: Purple
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'3'
I. Instruments you play: None. I played the clarinet in middle school.
J. Job title: Lifeguard/swimming teacher and student (its a job)
K. Kids: none...at the moment, I do want three kids!
L. Live: Toronto aka T.dot
M. Mother’s name: Sharon
N. Nicknames: hannon, sadie (my cousins), sare,
O. Overnight hospital stays: None *knocks on wood!*
P. Pet peeves: Do we want to open up this can of worms?!
Q. Quote from a movie: I have a few from Finding Nemo

• I suffer from short-term memory loss. [Marlin: Short-term memory loss? (Dory nods) I don't believe this!] No, it's true! I forget things almost instantly. It runs in my family! Well I mean... at least... I think it does. Hum... Where are they? ...Can I help you?
• Oh, I saw the whole thing, dude! First, you were like, whoa! And then we were like, WHOA! And then you were like, whoa. [Marlin: What are you talking about?] You, Mini-Man! Takin' on the jellies. You got serious thrill issues, dude

R. Right or left handed: Left!
S. Siblings: And older brother, Ryan
U. Underwear: Of course.
V. Vegetable you hate: Peas (I agree Mandy!)
W. What makes you run late: The bus
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth, Chest (for pneumonia)
Y. Yummy food that you make: Cookies
Z. Zoo animal: The lions!

happy thursday!

What I'm loving Wednesday

Linking up with the lovely Jaime today.

What am I loving this week?

1) I'm loving the fact that my dad made it into the Boston Marathon! Back in Sept of 2010 my dad ran his second marathon and qualified for Boston. He ran another one a few short weeks after and ended up seriously injuring his heel. No running for him for months. He is all better now and has started bumping up his training lots. Last week he entered his time and the BM people were going to let everyone know today if they made it. But on monday evening, he checked his email and there.it.was! He is on the top of the world. Boston Marathon is basically the olympics for marathoners. Hopefully I can go and not have exams during that time!

2) I'm loving school. No seriously, I am. It's a lot of work even with 4 classes instead of 5 (I had to drop my elective...way to hard, I'll make the credit up in summer school.

3) I am loving Lady Antebellum's new CD. Borrowed my aunts this weekend and put it on my ipod right away!

4) I am loving that yesterday was my first day back at work. It was great seeing my friend Nicole, we didn't work together this summer as she was the wading pool manager and I was at the big outdoor pool. Its just the two of us tuesdays so we've gotten really close the past year. She's great. 

5) I'm loving doing the shred again. My friend Laura started up a little 30 day challenge for a few that wanted to join from twitter. I haven't missed a day yet!  I haven't lost any weight but I sure have lost inches!  

6) I am loving this hair style. I got my hair cut (a well needed trim) on monday and almost got a lob (longer bob) I'm seriously thinking of getting it done next time. I just love it! Thoughts? Thank kate for sharing your hair secrets. 

7) I'm loving the blog world. Sounds funny but hear me out. I've only been blogging for 9 months but already am in love with it. I love reading everyones blogs and feeling like I'm there, living in your city or town. I love the emails I exchange with my girls. I look forward to them. I love that all my blogger friends help me and encourage me a daily bases. I love that most of the blogs that I follow have twitter (expect for Meg, get on it girl) where we can chat and laugh. I love that we aren't mean to one another, as we have seen on blog comments and twitter. 

 I'm not upset about the lack or followers or lack on commenting anymore, because I would rather have 3 or 4 regular commenters than 50 or no-commenters! If you take the time and comment, thank you!  

Now, go link up! 

Smoothies

I love making and enjoying my morning smoothies. I'm big on my morning rituals. For instance, I eat at the same place, read the same newspaper that my dad puts on the table, skipping over the sports section while drinking my smoothie..everyday.

It's a great way to get fresh fruit into my body right away. I like knowing that by lunch I already have two servings of fruit.

My whole family loves my smoothies and even fights over who gets to enjoy the left-overs that don't fit in the glass!

When my brother stays over night, he always makes me make him one. I don't mind :)

I'll be nice and share my secret recipe!

1 cup of OJ
1 container (small) of yogurt
1 banana
1 cup of any fruit you want (I love raspberries)

Put in a blender
Blend
Pour in glass and enjoy!

The finished product

Happy saturday friends!

What I'm loving Wednesday (fall)

Time to link up with Jaime again.



 I'm loving that fall is on its way! We've had a few days where I needed a light jacket or cardigan to go out, and its just lovely. I love fall.

I'm loving my new soaps from bath and body works. Every season I look forward to their unveiling of soaps and I love the three I got a few weekends a go.

LR: Caramel apple, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Orchard Leaves (my fav :))

I'm loving Bath and Body's new fall candles too. I bought Leaves, Woodland Berries and Frosted Cranberry. My favourite is Leaves. It smells like leaves after a rainfall. Its awesome.

I'm loving Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I treated myself to one on thursday and it was heavenly.

By accident I asked for a VENTI instead of my regular tall or grande! It was 11 points on weight watchers! Good thing I walked home from the subway that day. 

yours truly

happy wednesday friends!

spiritual "high"...hope you're around for a while.

I know I talk a bit about my faith and how important it is to me. Making the step to become a Christian is one of the most specials decisions I've made in my life. Being a Christian in this world, in 2011 is pretty hard with things all around me that are tempting and how many people are quick to jump down my throat, or let me know when I've not done the "christian thing"...but so re-warding.

Being a Christian is hard because,  for me, I'm developing a relationship with someone (God) who I can't see. It's like having a bff who you can't see at all and if you listen very closely you'll hear her speak to you. That's where I struggle.

I might come across as someone who has a great relationship with God but the truth is, I go through long periods of time (a couple of weeks, once or twice a year) where my relationship is just "meh" to me. Yes, I still go to church, and believe in God ::during these hard times, I have never stopped believing in god or started to wonder if it all exists::

I remember back in 2006, when I was thinking of being baptised, I was encouraged to talk to the older teens at camp about their Christian faith and ask if they could pray for me. Basically the whole camp knew that I was going to do so I had loads of people saying how proud they were and such. I remember this guy giving me a big hug and saying "sarah, you're going to have such a spiritual high."

Before that I had never heard that phrase and after he explained what it meant, all I could think was "that is so freaking cool!

He was right. For months after that day, I had a spiritual high. Every time I prayed, sang songs, went to church. It was like I was addicted to God and everything God related.

I would say just after Christmas time, the "high" went away. Going to church was boring, it was hard to get out of bed sunday morning. To sum it up, my heart wasn't in it.

Luckily, the "high" came back in april when I went to the youth rally and then at camp in august. This is how its been for a few years. Spiritual high then ::boom:: dropped.

Back in Febuary of this year, the "high" went away. I was angry at God for a reason (which I'm sure if you look back on my posts you'll know what it is) and worship wasn't doing anything for me. I left church each week not feeling "charged" up for the week and uplifted.

Instead of lasting a few weeks, it lasted till may. Then I went out west, there was my aunt, the loving Christian and bible-thumping uncle and they lifted me up that two weeks, it was great. I made sure the high lasted longer and before you knew it, it was camp time, camp was amaizing and good for my relationship with God.

Lately, I've been praying a lot on my own, listening to my favourite worship music and reading the bible.

I'm happy to say that once again my "high" is back!

I hope it stays around for a very long time.

happy sunday!

ticked, rattled and taken-advantage of...

...that is how I feel right now.
*

Dear family member,
Just because I'm related to you doesn't mean that you can go months without paying for me looking after your children. Remember this time a year a go when you asked If I could watch your kids and that you would pay me? Remember we agreed on $5 a visit? Remember when I had to ask you in november for my money because you didn't ask the total? Remember how I said it was awkward for me to ask you each month for money, that we both said it would work if you asked me at the end of each month the total? That way I could avoid the awkwardness of asking you.

You didn't do that.

So yes, I went from February-june with no pay. I let it go, thinking it was me doing a good deed.

But then you asked a month a go how much you owned me. I told you the amount.

Now that I've spent a a boat load of money on textbooks I would like the money. I wanted the money so I gathered up my courage and texted you asking really nicely if I could get the money. I didn't say "by tomorrow", just asap.

What ticks me off is that over 4 days later, a) you never responded and b) no money in my hands.

I feel taken-advantage of because for years I would drop everything for you and your hubby and babysit for you both. I would babysit late at night and call my dad to drive me home. *which baby-sitting doesn't work that way, if its late at night, an adult drives the sitter home*


I've put up with a lot but yet I never said anything. I feel taken-advantage because I've done a huge favour for you and your hubby and yet I don't get payed? How would you feel if you worked and had to chase your boss down for money? That's what I thought.



*I know I sound very very very selfish, I'm sorry if I come across that way, but I'm very hurt by this situation and its not like I can tell this person how I really feel.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm linking up with Jaime today for What I'm loving Wednesday!

1) I'm loving school! I'm sure I won't be saying this come mid-terms but as of right now I really like it. Ryerson is a good fit for me. My program? ECE? Is just awesome! Out of 84+ girls...get ready there is 1 guy! I guess many guys don't want to teach :)

2) I'm loving my school schedule. It's so hard to wake up at 6am for my 8am class on thursdays but most days I'm done by noon and headed home. Can't get better than that right?

3) I'm loving the new fall nail polish colors. If you know me, you know I love painting my nails and the new collections that came out from OPI and Essie are so cute. I love these two colours.

4) I'm loving Friday Night Lights. I'm on season 4 right now, just started it and it has to be one of the best tv series I've watched in a long time! If you haven't watched FNL...go watch it!

6) I'm loving that in TWO weeks the fall shows are back on. Hello, Desperate Housewives, Amazing Race, Grey's Anatomy, The Office and Glee!

What are you loving this week day?

We Remember

All week I've been watching those 9/11 specials on TLC.

My heart still breaks. 

It always will. 

It breaks for those who were working and all of a sudden a plane hits their tower but they have no clue what is going on. 

It breaks for the lives lost, 

all the innocent lives.

I was in grade 4 when 9/11 occurred. 

At 8:46am I was walking to school with my brother and dad while mom was running errands. 

Mom remembers returning a video to BlockBuster and hearing the reports on the radio. 

I remember the teachers notifying each other (I'm pretty sure the principal knew first since teachers were in their classrooms) and them calling each other while we were told to read. 

I remember feeling that something wasn't right. 

I couldn't put my finger on it but I just knew.

I remember coming home from lunch that day, and as we walking home my dad starting to tell me what happened (as much as a 9 year could understand) but yet talking with my brother (who knew more since he was in grade 8 or 9.)

I remember CNN being on and watching it. Totally speechless but yet very confused.

I remember going back to school for the afternoon and my friends buzzing about New York. 

It was hard for me to understand because a) where WAS New York?

b) what does the twin towers look like?

c) what are terrorists?

I remember my mom talking to a family-friend that night who's Sister-In-Law died in the towers. 

Over the next days I began to understand. 

So today, I want to say thank you to the police men, firefighters (and the Canadian ones who went down for weeks after to help with clean up), EMS drivers, doctors who risked their lives and those who made sure their co-workers were okay and out first before themselves. 

We will never forget what those hero's did that day ten years a go.

We will never forget those people who we lost.  

We will never forget.

*Go link up with Mandy today for blogger "day of slient."

A new start

Today marked the first day back in school. Not just school I might add but University.

I had my first class today, Psych 101 from 10am to 1pm. I was a little scaried  while waiting for my prof to start the class because there was over 300 kids in the room!

I'm taking Early Childhood Education at Ryerson. It's a 4 year program and when I graduate I'll go to teachers college (one year) to be able to teach! I'm super excited.

My family is really proud right now, my dad sent me a text this morning-since he left while I was still sleeping-
saying that he was really proud of me going to uni. Cue: aww :)

I have a sweet schedule.
Monday: class 10-1pm and 3-6pm
Tuesday: 10-1pm
Wednesday: OFF :)
Thursday: 8-11am (early but I get out at 11)
Friday: 9-12pm

I really wanted a day off so I could catch up on tv shows, blog and rest, study!
And most days I'm home by early afternoon.

It will be a busy year but I know a good one.
happy tuesday!