Sassy Sidenote: Nani On The line

I am helping Nani set up an etsy account which has been a little tricky considering I am having to explain the internet to her. Seriously, explaining paypal to her was an interesting experience to say the least. So like I said I am helping her set up an etsy account so she can sell her famous slippers and other little ditties on the Internet.

The other day I was at her house and she hands me a pair of slippers and says:

"Sass, here is another pair of slippers to put on the on the Internet"

"Ok great I will put them online when I get home"

"Oh honey, you are acting like I know where the line is"

Dogs Allowed

As I mentioned before, Jon, Frank, and myself are looking for a new place to live and this weekend we decided to get a jump on the search. We found some nice possibilities and I called to get some information that wasn't included in the add.

So I get on the phone with this one complex and I am asking my questions and all seems well and good. And then I confirm that they do indeed take dogs and she says yes.

Me: Ok great!

Her: Wait can I ask you what type of dog you have?

Me: Oh he is an English Bulldog

Her: (Sharp inhale) oh my , we don't take those type of dogs. They are on our list of dogs we are not allowed to take.

Me: A Bulldog? Really? He is like 14 inches off the ground and can't get around very fast...he isn't really a threat.

Her: oh no, we cannot take those dogs.

Me: Ok, well thank you anyway. Bye.

(Long Pause....I wait for her to say goodbye)

Her: Well if you decide to get rid of your dog go ahead and give me a call back.

yeah...sure, we'll get right on that. People sure can say some ridiculous things. I guess some people just aren't dog people.

Imma Let You Finish...

I have held back on professing my love for Taylor Swift for a little while now because there as that whole hub bub with Kanye and blah blah blah. But now since that seems to have blown over I will now discuss the many reasons I love little miss Taylor Swift.

I'm not really a country music fan per se but when I heard Taylor Swift I was hooked, country or not. I love how she plays the guitar and writes her own music. She calls out her exes in her songs. I think it is funny that she doesn't hold back but even better that her music isn't angsty, its just honest...and good. Also, she has a great sense of humor.

I appreciate that she is true to what makes her happy (baking cookies, dressing silly, cuddling in bed with her mom) and not the social norms of the stars her age (drinking, partying, making themselves look bad). However, I will say this, the rumors of her flirting with John Mayer do make me nervous.

But what I love most about her music is that it has an infectious quality that makes me want to jump on my bed, sing into my hair brush and dance around the apartment. Not that I would do that, I mean, I'm 25 , 25 year olds don't do that....ok this one does.

Do you like Taylor Swift?

Here Comes the Delusional

It's no secret that I would like to get married. To Jon specifically. If you have ever spent a good chunk of time with me the topic of weddings have probably come up. Not just my own future fantasy wedding but probably yours (dream or otherwise). I just love weddings.

The other day I told Jon "I can't wait to get married!" 

To which he replied, "Really? You hardly ever talk about it" (insert weak attempt at eye roll here, seriously he doesn't know how to eye roll)

Do you guys remember on Friends when Monica started planning her wedding to Chandler (which by the way was a huuuuge disappointment, anyone else with me here?) and she whipped out the "wedding book"? The wedding book was this huge binder where Monica had collected her ideas for a perfect wedding long before she had met her husband to be. Well I may not have a wedding book (yet) but I have so many ideas swimming around in my little noggin. Not just for my own "I do's" but just in general, there are about eight different wedding scenarios on deck. 

This sound crazy doesn't it? I know, I know. Therefore, I have done my best to stifle sharing my ideas with others because usually I am met with the question of "oh are you engaged?" Or I tell Jon of my ideas and he looks behind himself to say "who me?" because we are so obviously not engaged. I mean talking about wedding ideas when you aren't even engaged is akin to talking about how much moon rock you will bring home after your first space walk....and you aren't even an astronaut.

But if you are getting married and are at a stand still I'm your girl. Do you ever fantasize to the point of insanity? Please say yes, please say yes

*Photo Credit here

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors...Someone Get Me A Fence!

I can hardly believe it but the lease at our (mine, Jon and Frank's) apartment is up in the middle of November. So right now I feel like we are caught in between, too early to find another place but not so far off that we can ignore the impending move. I hate moving. blegh.

It would be lovely if we could just stay put but there are a couple reasons for us wanting to make the move, one being our neighbors...let me explain.

Let me just start of by saying that I was quite hesitant to write this because I was super paranoid that the neighbors would find it. But then all of a sudden I don't care. So here it goes.

There is a couple that lives next to Jon and I. They moved in the day we brought Frank home. At first they were very kind. However very quickly (we're talking like the second time I spoke with the guy) the boyfriend of said couple would divulge details of his relationship that I am sure his girlfriend would not appreciate me being privy to. For example, the first time I spoke with him alone he told me that his girlfriend has a lot of growing up to do before he proposes to her because she has "issues". The next time he saw me outside of our apartments he asked me if I could hear them fighting the previous  night(I had, but said I hadn't to avoid more details). He then goes on to tell me that they fight all the time and that his girlfriend used to have a drug problem that landed her in jail. 

Most of the time I would just respond with "hmm" or "really", I didn't want to get involved. But each time he saw me, which felt like it was becoming more frequent, he would share more and more information. Well one evening the neighbors invited us over for some Guitar Hero with some of their other friends. Harmless right? Think again.

At one point in the night the boyfriend pulls me aside and begins to chit chat about some of our other neighbors. He then notes that his girlfriend doesn't like him to talk to our neighbor across the way because she is too cute and she is brunette. And then I stare at him expectantly and then he says "My girlfriend HATES brunettes". He says this to me, a brunette. I remind him who he is speaking to and he responds with "psh oh not YOU".

So as you can imagine I just kinda stumbled out of their apartment at the end of the night and became even more confused about that couple. But what is even stranger is that when either the boyfriend or the girlfriend see me they avoid me at all costs. Could he possibly realize how ridiculous he has made himself look? Could I all of a sudden become a brunette threat? I don't know, but what I do know is that I cannot wait to cease being their neighbor.

What are your neighbors like?

Right Style Wrong Size

I was getting ready for work yesterday and I was pretty pleased with the outfit I put together. But my feet were a little pinched in my shoes. But the shoes were so cute (I got them last year at payless and they seemed to fit then...) So anyway, I wore them anyway and as I made my short commute to work (10 minutes) my toes became numb. Totally numb. Wow these shoes were uncomfortable. You know it had to be bad because this is coming from someone who danced on her toes without so much as a grimace.

So here is where my dilemma lies: I love these shoes. They are black, shiny and go with everything (I would take a picture of them but I left them in the car...lazy blogger I know). But what is the point of keeping them if I can't wear them comfortably? I guess it just goes back to my whole thought of fashion being art. I would rather keep them in my museum o'fashion (my closet) rather  than part with them. Do you ever keeps clothing or shoes that don't fit because they are just too pretty?

One Warm Coat-Year Three

Next week I will be going door to door handing out information for my third annual coat drive. (read about the first year here and last year here). I can't believe that this is the third year I have been collecting donations for the homeless. When I first started I just collected coats and wow, I collected a lot of coats. Last year I worked a little more closely with Sacred Heart (the organization that receives all of the donations that I collect) and we came up with a list of critical needs that people could donate in addition to coats. It is so amazing to see this little coat drive grow each year.

I am a little worried about how our current economic situation will affect the way people donate this year. The first year was overwhelming with how generous people were with their donations. The second year the economy was dipping its toe into decline and I definitely noticed that it affected the way people donated. So this year, a drastically different picture than last year, I am worried that people will be even less willing to donate. But I will never know unless I try and honestly, any donation is better than none at all. 

Last year I remember some of you lovely readers suggested I put this up at the beginning of the coat drive this year so people could donate from afar. 

Here is the list of needed donations from Sacred Heart:

-Coats and clothing for Men, Women, and Children

-Toilet paper

-pop top cans of fruit veggies and soup

-diapers for toddlers

-blankets

-infant formula

-new socks and underwear 

If you are interested in donating please e-mail me at Sensiblysassy@gmail.com

If not I totally understand, times are tough. But if you can I strongly urge you to donate where you can. If you would like to organize your own coat drive you can go here and they will walk you through the process!

Hey Have You Heard Of These Guys Called The Beatles?

I have always been a fan of The Beatles. I mean not like hardcore, but always really liked their music. For the past three weeks Vh1 has been airing "The Beatles Anthology" and each week Jon and I have been tuning in and hearing the back stories to some of our favorite songs. 

Well now the last chapter of the anthology has concluded and I am kinda loving The Beatles big time right now. Nothing like a well done anthology to spark my interest in a band that broke up fourteen years before I was born.  

Now I am not one to say that everything they did was genius, because....well.... I just don't get it.

But when it was good, wow it was good.

And on practically every commercial break they previewed the new Rock Band game with all Beatles songs...and their marketing worked, I want it big

 time! I have never had any interest in Rock Band until now. I can just picture myself singing my little heart out to those infectious tunes. sigh.

And I may be a few years late on this, but I have a major crush on Paul. He brings the teeny bopper out in me. 

I just know I would have been one of these teeny boppers had I been alive in the sixties...I just know it

Do you like The Beatles? What is your favorite Beatles song?

*Images courtesy of google images.

Perspective

Last night Jon and I got in an argument that revolved around a hat box and greeting cards. I opened up this window with the intention of writing about it, and then I noticed the date today. 

September 11th.

And suddenly this trivial argument didn't really seem all that important. 

It has been years since it happened but I still feel as though this day is tender, like scar tissue. The wound has healed, no longer bleeding, but there is a still noticeable injury. It still needs to be acknowledged. Every time I see an add for a movie that is being released today I cringe a little. Maybe I am just sensitive, no, wait I am sensitive, I know this. 

So for today I will take this space to remember the innocent victims and the courageous heroes that saved lives while giving their own. You can read my original post here.

I Am Falling For Fall

When I was little I declared that the only enjoyable season had to be summer. With the warm nights, watermelon is in season, days spent swimming, (MY BIRTHDAY ahem), how could you not love summer?!

Well as I have gotten older I have been giving other seasons a fair shot at showing me their goods (read that in the least dirty way possible). And since opening my mind I have kinda fallen in love with fall. 

Here are my top ten reasons for loving fall:

 10. The air is crisp and not "freeze your nose/boobs (whichever sticks out further) off cold"

9. It's finally time to welcome back warm drinks like tea (or those pumpkin spice lattes you are all bananas about).

8. Fashion gets a little boost by switching from bikinis to scarves and flip flops to boots. 

7. I get to dork out on all of the shows about hauntings on the travel channel.

6. It is the calm before the holiday season storm. I mean, Halloween is about having fun and being goofy and Thanksgiving doesn't give me the stressful feeling of having to buy gifts for those that mean the most to me...pressure!

5. The colors in fall are simply stunning! (Look at me sounding all Martha Stewarty).

4. I am inspired to be crafty. (See previous parenthesis)

3.  Warm foods (homemade macaroni and cheese or pot pie...yuuuuum) are back in vogue because its cool enough to turn on the oven without crying about it.

2. I cannot wait to stuff that little fattie Frank into a dog sweater!

1. New tv shows are back on! I am really excited about this but also a little overwhelmed because every single commercial I see looks like something that is worth my time! 

Why are you excited (or not) for Fall to get here? What tv shows are you excited to watch?

*I want to give a shout out to Spring, I really love you too. Winter, you still have no love from me.

Keep It Simple

On a good day, I liken getting dressed to creating art. To me, picking out the right colors, textures and accessories is similar to an artist shading the right amount of shadow on their creation, or chiseling an angle on a statue. My mom got me interested in fashion from a young age. I would watch her put together these amazing outfits, from head to toe, she had thought of it all! My mom would make sure that all the details of my outfits were well thought out when I was little and she encouraged me to take some style risks as I got older ("yes it's okay not to match completely").

As I got older I really started to establish my own style. I have found that I love solid colors (or black) as apposed to busy prints. I like classic pieces and dresses....oh how I love dresses. I like simple yet functional; I want to be able to look polished but not so much so that I can't play with a puppy or be my normal goofy self.  I'm not sure that my style has ever been ahead of the curve or "in" at all times but it is what makes me feel most comfortable.

Hey it worked for my style inspiration. 

Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis:

Even though her personal life was complicated, her style was always put together and chic. Simple and clean lines and those glasses, oh those glasses. That dark hair paired with the over sized glasses makes her sweet style turn somewhat mysterious. Love it!

Tell me, who is your style inspiration and why?

Wide Awake!

I am live blogging from the couch right now (don't ask me how that is different from all the other times I do the same thing). It's 5:02AM I have been up since about 3:30AM. You might be wondering, "Oh are you going on some fancy trip that requires an early flight?" 

No, no I am not.

Last night I was able to sleep through the night which I wanted to high five myself for in the morning. But this evening/morning I found myself completely awake at half past three. That seems to be my waking time. Something about the three o'clock hour that makes my mind wander, and apparently want to blog as well. 

Oh my, what if my body needs less sleep, I heard that happens as you age. I didn't think it would happen at 25 but I have always been mature for my age. Jon had these neighbors (older neighbors) that woke up around four every morning and he said he could hear them tending their garden and walking around their back yard at four thirty every stinkin day! 

Oh dear, I hope that isn't my fate. Most people my age are dragging themselves home right now, not waking up to start their days.

What I wouldn't give for some solid nights of sleeping from start to finish.

Excuse Me, Mr. Sandman, I Believe You Skipped Me

Sleep is so restorative. 

You know how I know this? Because I haven't been sleeping well, so I know how little sleep can negatively impact a person. This is so frustrating because I have never had problems sleeping in the past. So when I am staring at the ceiling at 3am I can't help but wonder why sleep is escaping me. And when I do sleep, I have the most bizarre dreams-so it's hard to figure out which is worse.

First of all our pillows are less than desirable. To put it plainly, our bed is where pillows come to die. So many times a night I am startled awake by my head flopping to and fro.  The frustrating part is that they are only about two years old (um but they were cheap, I should probably mention that...). 

And when the pillows aren't a pain in my neck our bed is a little cramped. You see all three of us, yes three of us, share a tiny double bed. Frank isn't the most accommodating of dogs to sleep with. Most dogs (in the movies) are all, "Thanks for letting me sleep on the bed, I will just curl up at the foot of the bed, you'll hardly notice me." Well Frank is 65 pounds of relaxation, which means he is usually found on his back in between Jon and I. Oh and he is snoring...Loudly!

Ideally, we would get Tempur-pedic and before bed all three of us would jump around a wine glass at the foot of the bed. But you know what? Those beds are expensive! Sheesh. I probably wouldn't be able to sleep if I spent that much on a mattress.

What is your sleeping situation, are you sleeping well these days? If not, you could probably find me online around 3 o'clock or so. 

Sweet Dreams!

Jo(h)n and Sarah Squared

This past week I have been getting back into the swing of things (begrudgingly) and I have also been meeting up with some of my favorite bloggers. 

Last Wednesday I had lunch with Kristin of Camels and Chocolate. We met for lunch and I brought Frank so she could finally meet him. The afternoon went by entirely too fast so we promised to do it again soon. By the way, she is to credit for these photos. My only regret is that she and I didn't get to take a picture together, oh well next time.

And then on Sunday Jon and I met up with Sarah Marie P and her husband Johnny! As we drove up to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Jon said, "Well at least we know we won't forget their names."

These crazy kids are so much fun, I just knew they would be but for a while there it seemed like we would never meet them. Many times Sarah and I would be chatting on-line telling one another how it seems like we have met before-but nope, not until last weekend.

Look at these cutie cutersons:
You would think that we had met before by the way we were carrying on. Here we are lookin scurred at the cave train ride.
And then here we are at the beach at the end of our adventure. The weather was the most beautiful I had ever seen it in Santa Cruz. It as ideal for all of the time we spent walking up and down the boardwalk going on rides, eating and being goofy in the sunshine.

Thanks for the awesome time guys, can't wait to do it again!