Questioning

I am alive, I am doing well, but I have not been writing here, now have I? I feel the burden of secrets, those of my own and those of others and I feel the more I talk and the more I write, the more likely I am to let them leak out before their prime, meaning before I am allowed to make them public or to share them with people outside of each different secret circle. Secrets are tricky in this way, but fun in their own right, keeping us all on our toes and keeping us feeling kind of mischievous at the same time.

Although, if you are interested in some of these secrets feel free to send me an email. I will be glad to share them with my special internet friends and acquaintances. While I have been sworn to secrecy in some situations, there are some secrets that are okay to share with innocent bystanders, don't you think?

Love and Tight Lips,

Sara

conesandleaves at yahoo dot com

West Side Story in St. Louis

Yesterday E and I had the pleasure of attending an afternoon performance of West Side Story with my Mama at The Fox Theatre here in St. Louis. I feel so lucky to live in the city that houses this magnificent venue.

Photos are not allowed in the theatre portion of The Fox, but I did snap a couple of phone photos in the lobby to show just a hint of how ornate and beautiful this building is.

From ceiling to floor every inch of The Fox is covered in intricate details. Every time I go I feel as if I am experiencing the definition of "luxury". The carpets, the bathrooms, the hallways, the stairs...it all feels extremely luxurious.

If you are ever in St. Louis and have time for a show, I would highly recommend experiencing The Fox at least once. We always get there a bit early and I enjoy wandering around a bit and taking it all in. Visit the photo gallery page on their website if you want to see a few more glimpses into some of the details that fill this theatre. Though I do have to say, photos don't do it justice.

As for the show, it was filled with wonderful dancing and singing and left me entertained for a good couple of hours. I didn't have a ton of knowledge of West Side Story prior to the show, knowing only it was about two opposing gangs and involving a love story. Turns out it is inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but more modern and set in the West Side of New York City. The first part of the show felt a little overly lengthy to me at times, but by the intermission and after, I felt more engaged and I left feeling satisfied and excited about my experience. I also always leave theatre performances feeling so inspired. Seeing people on the stage living out their dreams and being witness to so much talent rocks me every time. I leave feeling motivated to continue working toward my own dreams and building the life I imagine for myself and my family. You can't put a price on those feelings, which is lucky, because professional theatre is an expensive addiction, one we can't afford to partake in often, but try to experience at least once a year. This year will have to be twice though, for The Lion King is coming at the end of Summer and it is on my must-see-on-stage list, right alongside RENT. 

Do you have any must-see shows?

Love and Theatre,

Sars

Ups and Downs

UP: Having some snow this week, even if it was fleeting. It might be all the snow we get for this Winter season, but it was fun while it lasted!

UP: Sharing valentine love notes with my love. We don't always do the holiday, but we share love notes pretty regularly, so making a point of having a special one for Valentine's Day can't hurt.

DOWN: I have been feeling kind of stuffy and sick this week, but nothing too bad. Hopefully that passes just as quickly as it came, like the snow.

UP: We are wrapping up week 5 of the semester this week. I might be counting down the weeks, but each one that passes is one step closer to being finished. I love to learn, but I am so over school in this capacity. Not exactly the way I learn best.

UP: Although online classes, and a typical class format isn't best for how I learn, my Communication Barriers and Children class is awesome. If all my classes were this wonderful I would be an even happier camper. Instead I put more focus on that one and do my best to just power through the others.

UP: My critters are cute. Really really cute. And sweet. Really really sweet.

UP: This Sunday I am going to the theatre with my mom and E to see West Side Story. It was our Christmas present from my mom and I am excited to go kick back and enjoy a show. I absolutely love going to the theatre.

DOWN: I am so busy with everything that it's hard to focus on all of the other wonderful things going on in my life. 

UP: That there are those other wonderful things going on, even if they won't get as much attention as I'd like to give them until May. More on all that later!

Ups and Downs,

Sara

30 Days of Lists!

If you were around here in September you may remember my participation in 30 Days of Lists.

Well, good news, another round is coming up in March!

30 Days of Lists is just what it sounds like, 30 days of making lists!

There is a new prompt for each day, and you can create your lists however you like and at whatever pace you would like. Last year I went with a scrapbook/art journal kind of style, but this year I am doing something a little more simple which I will post more about as March 1st draws nearer.

If you want to sign up yourself you can do so at 30daysoflists.com. 

You can take a peek at my lists from last year at this link: 30 Days of Lists September. I would love to have more bloggy friends participating and to see what you come up with and what shows up on your lists. I signed on as a sponsor this year, but do not receive any benefits for you signing up, I just like seeing people being creative and connecting over something awesome!

Do you think you will sign up? Have you participated in a round before?

Love and Lists,

Sara

Savory and Snowy

On Monday we finally got some snow. It ended up being around a few inches. Funny thing is it started in the afternoon, but by the following afternoon it was all melted and you would have never known it was ever here. I guess that is the kind of weather we get in this crazy Winter season. 

 E got home a little late due to the weather and I only had eyes for pizza, so we loaded up in the truck and took an adventure for some papa johns. Usually sounds like a better idea than it is, but my craving for cheese-less pineapple pizza was fulfilled and it was fun to get out and see the snow.

On another food note, all I want lately is savory. Usually I have the biggest sweet tooth, but lately the saltier and more savory the better. So long as I am still eating my veggies I see this as a good thing. Sugar isn't exactly the healthiest for every day, you know?

So tomorrow I will pack myself a savory lunch and head off to my internship to put in a few more hours. I am not exactly sure what I will be doing from day to day yet, but I think tomorrow will probably involve more work on the organizations website and maybe some more work on posters for an upcoming event. Only time will tell, but I know I am glad to tick away at my hours.

We are also working on figuring out what we want for our wedding. We are probably going to go for small and simple rather than something larger. With everything going on I think it is for the best, and also would be a better fit for our personalities and desires.

What have you all been up to? School, working, family stuff? Anything neat or not-so-neat? Any savory cravings or desires for sweets?

Craving Salt,

Sara

Progress and Such

I know I have been MIA lately, but I don't exactly have an excuse. I have been a busy bee for sure, but more so just very much in my head and trying to keep up with my own thoughts and such.

I did finally start my internship on Friday and as of 3pm today have completed a total of 12/150 hours. I have a bit of catching up to do with my starting a quarter of the way into the semester, but I think it will go well. Now it is just a matter of scheduling my days and weeks to make sure everything that needs doing is done.

And yes, eyes still on the prize of that May 12th graduation date, with some stops for cookies and hot tea along the way.

Love and Progress,

Sara

Living and Breathing and Planning and Dreaming

Do you remember at the start of the new year when I talked about my 2012 intention? My intention was to simplify. That intention still remains, but I am just now starting to find out how important my plan for the year really was and is.

First off, yesterday I deactivated my twitter and facebook accounts. I'm predicting twitter will be gone for good, but I may bring facebook back in time, just in order to peek at pictures of my niece and nephew who live out of town, but for now I need to be free from those devices, I need to eliminate more and more activities from my life that I can turn to in order to waste time or to distract myself. Time is such a valuable thing and I really should be appreciating the time I do have. Rather than just digging in, doing the crappy stuff, and putting it behind me, I will waste time on meaningless activities in order to avoid the crappy. As you can imagine, at the end of the day this just leaves me not having accomplished much and not feeling all that wonderful about things. For instance, I have one class that I absolutely cannot stand. The topic is not really of interest to me and I find the assignments aggravate me to no end, but what does avoiding and distracting get me? Nothing. The work still has to be done, the class will have to be completed, there is no getting out if I want to graduate in may, which I do. And really, once I just dig in and make myself do it, it really is not a big deal. I just let the pressure build up and get myself so worked up that I let it become bigger than it is. As you probably see by now, this is a common problem of mine, but one I am constantly working on.

So, I simplify. I will continue to remove distractions, but I will also put my rewards systems back into place. Not rewards of purchases, but rewards of time, time to spend on watercolors and sewing. Today the plan is to finish up all of my assignments due by today and to cozy up with my watercolors and brushes into the evening. Life is not very much fun to live if we don't make time for the things we enjoy most, so that's the plan, completing required tasks efficiently and then focusing on the things that matter most of all.

Learning How to Simplify,

Sara

Up, Down, and All Around

UP: Today I went to an orientation of sorts so I can begin volunteering with developmentally disabled kids for one of my courses. I am looking forward to the growth and the learning I will be exposed to through this opportunity.

UP: All of my internship paperwork is completed and we are still on the right track. Hopefully only a couple of more things and I will really be able to get started.

UP: I have been on a savory foods kick lately and not really in the mood for sweets, so the fact that my cupcakes didn't turn out last night is not as upsetting as it normally would be. 

UP: The weather around here has been amazing.  Sunny skies and warm temperatures for the past few days.

DOWN: It is winter, so we really shouldn't be having such mild weather. I do worry a bit about the larger implications of all this.

UP: Secret love notes left for me to find when I open up my computer. That fella is a keeper.

UP: I love that we have clean drinkable water at the ready. This allows me to keep my jug filled with ice water all day long and I know this isn't the case for everyone. I am very thankful for this clean water.

DOWN: The motivation for school work is still kinda scarce and I am not thinking that is going to change until graduation in May. So long as I am aware of it and keep plugging along anyway than this doesn't have to be a problem.

UP: Tomorrow is Friday and that means it is almost weekend time, which means two full days of fun, fella lovin', and friends. These little two day breaks at the end of the week are a pretty wonderful thing.

Mostly Ups,

Sara

Just Breathe

Luckily, with a good dose of crying, some hugs and encouragement, an evening stroll, and some planning ahead for the next day, I made it through yesterday and was able to start fresh this morning.

I really do become overwhelmed so easily and have always been an emotional lady, but I think I need to step back and realize that most of the overwhelming stuff does not need to be that way. At the end of the day we are all just people. Just skin, bones, blood, and feelings and all of the other things that clutter up our lives are not as important as just loving ourselves and the other humans around us just as much as we can, while doing our best to let the other things fade away.

This is not an easy task because we also have brains and a tendency to stress, worry, and over-think at times, but I am going to try harder to just be a good human and love the other good humans and to see what comes of that.

The school work, the internships, the wedding planning, the barking dogs, all of these things can stress me out or I can handle them one at a time and not put pressure on myself to have things a certain way or to have to be perfect, but just to do them with love and with care and leave it at that.

I will do my best to breathe. To just breathe and move forward and to enjoy all of the wonderful things that are coming my way if I would allow myself to see them.

And if you hear me getting stressy feel free to remind me to be a good little Breathing Apparatus and to chill out.

Breath by Breath,

Sara