December 14, 2007

The "S" Stocking for "S" girls...

Settling In

I can't believe I have been in my apartment for almost one year now. When I moved in, I thought I would only be there maybe 3 months tops, and then I was going to buy a house. Well the house didn't happen, and I'm actually very glad. My little home has been a place of solace this past year. A cozy, quiet place to go to at the end of a long day. Sweet relief! I really don't want to move anytime soon, because it is one of my least favorite things! Over the past four years I have moved 4 times! Let me tell you, moving stresses me out! Actually, I was reading an article about top life stressors. And in this article they list, moving, starting a new job and loss of a loved one, as some of the most stressful things in life. Looking back over my year, the first part of the year I experienced all three events. Within four months, I moved, lost someone i loved, and I started a new job! It was indeed a very stressful time! However, I have spent the last part of this year, learning to "settle in". Settling into a life as a single person, settling into my home and my job. And really, learning to find peace and contentment in the little things, the ordinary moments. Sometimes big changes in life can stress you out and sometimes they are the motivators for real personal change. I am not who I was a year ago, and thank God for that! I really did not like who I was, mostly unhappy and disengaged from the world. Now, I am overcommited (in a good way!) and joyful most days... I am blessed, that is no cliche, I really really really am! I have been wanting to settle down for a long time now, I just realized, that is exactly what I have been doing! Funny how that happens!

December 13, 2007

Twinkling Tinsel

Free Movies Rock!

Tonight I just got back from a steller night out! Last week, my friend Megan sent me word that you could score free passes to the movie Juno. I had been seeing previews and I really wanted to go. Plus the writer, Diablo Cody, is from Minnesota, so you know that there was going to be a lot of MN references, and there was!!! I met Shannon after work and we did some uptown shopping before dinner. We both bought scarves and headed over to Chino Latino. There we met up with Ellen. We sampled some really fun drinks with some very interesting names!!! Shannon's drink came with these fruity vials to mix into her drink. Tre cool!
Along with the fun drinks we shared a couple of apps. Before we knew it, it was time to head over to the Lagoon to meet up with Megan. The place was packed, because it was first come first serve only. Luckily we were in right away, found some good seats and enjoyed the show.

It really was a great movie, witty humor, and YES! lots of MN city references! Plus at the end of the show we all received Juno T-shirts! How fab! I love a good dinner and a movie!

And if that wasn't enough, after all the hoopla I went home to see who won the title of America's Next Top Model. Well Kelly and i picked the right girl from the start... cause we're good like that. The prize: A dinner for the three of us at Chambers in Minneapolis. Posh Posh! More fun and frivolity continues tomorrow....

December 12, 2007

I BELIEVE!!!

Four Things...

Four things that make me happy:

1. Cooking\Baking\Recipes

2. Christmas

3. Traveling

4. Eating with Fun Eaters

Four Movies I would watch over and over:

1. Dumb & Dumber

2. Little Women

3. It's a Wonderful Life

4. Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Four favorite drinks:

1. Mojitos

2. Mimosas

3. Wine

4. Ice Cold Water

Four places I have lived:

1. St. Paul, MN

2. Hillsboro, NH

3. Beijing, China

4. Bemidji, MN

Four TV Shows that I watch:

1. The Office

2. Gossip Girl

3. ANTM

4. Lost (if it ever comes back!)

Four Things I like to eat:

1. Chicken Pad Thai Spicy Spicy

2. Pizza

3. Seafood

4. Wedding Cake

Four favorite colors:

1. Pink

2. Red

3. Yellow

4. Silver

Four places I have been on vacation:

1. Spain

2. Bahamas

3. France

4. Trinidad

Four things on my floor right now:

1. Shoes

2. Flower pot

3. Christmas Tree Skirt

4. My Cat

Four blogs I read regularly:

1. All my friends' blogs

2. Orangette

3. Nothing But Bonfires

4. Gluten Free Girl

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. Getting a pedicure/manicure/massage/hair cut

2. Fiji

3. Going to dinner with friends

4. In my kitchen

What a Crock!

Yesterday, I needed to make something for dinner, but i needed to have it ready when I walked through the door. Enter ye ol' Crock-Pot or as my cousins' call it, "Vlach-Pot" (they can do so many fun things with their name!) Anyway, I was to a bring a meal over to a very lovely person named Heather. I met Heather through my cousin Kelly, and I instantly thought she was sweet and wonderful! Plus she has a great blog too! Heather also has her hands full with a 2 year old and a 5 month old, so I can only imagine how time-consuming that must be, hence me thinking, "oh gee, maybe she would like a meal delivered?" It's not delivery, it's sabrina! Ok, so I didn't have a lot of time to make a meal after work, so I thought the crock-pot might be the best option. I do get a little nervous leaving a hot, plugged-in item going all day, but I said a little prayer and hoped for the best. My prayer was answered, and when I walked into my place, the aroma of pot roast greeting me at the door, along with my cat, desperate for a little morsel of beef meat & fat! I made a ginger-snap pot roast and some Parmesan Orzo (thanks for the recipe Megan, delicious!) and then I scooted off to Heather's. Now, I have only seen pictures of Heather's kids, but in person both Miles and Asher are sweet and adorable. Miles is so smart and has the funniest things to say and Asher was all smiles and giggles! Heather's husband Ryan was great and has got me extremely interested in watching a show called Flight of the Conchords about some wacko New Zealand band. Can't wait to check it out! What a great little family Heather has got herself, and she's not half bad too! :)

Gingersnap Pot Roast

2 lbs beef chuck roast
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
8 gingersnaps, crumbled
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon beef bouillon, granules
1/8 teaspoon red peppers, ground
3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & quartered
3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces or 2 parsnips, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 bay leaf
Trim fat from roast. Cut if necessary to fit crock-pot.
In large skillet brown roast on all sides in hot oil.
In a small bowl combine water, gingersnaps, vinegar, bouillon, and red pepper.
In crock-pot, place potatoes, carrots or parsnips, and bay leaf. Place meat on top of vegetables.
Pour gingersnap mixture over meat.
Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 10-12 hours or high-heat setting for 5-6 hours.