More Flowers...Again

How cool is this arrangement my family bought me for graduation?



I'm not sure what any of these flowers even are, but I love them. Apparently my mom told the florist something like:
"Make it weird! My daughter is not a rose carnation kind of girl."
She's right.

DIY Magazine Flowers

Click here to see how to make magazine flowers like this one!

Confession #4: Gluttony

The following is a list of where my money was spent on my last credit card statement, in order:

Barnes & Noble
Wendy's
The Olive Garden
Chili's
Dino's Sports Bar
Chili's
The Olive Garden
Sheetz (for an MTO not gasoline)
Sunoco (for gasoline)

I am sensing a trend.

Am I a foodie? I hate the word foodie.

I'll take one of these

I found the recipe for this heavenly looking thing on Pinterest (which I JUST joined and really don't understand how to use yet. I'm working on it).

Honey Cloud Pancakes. Oh my.



Follow this link to Things We Make for the recipe! I will be making this and I will let you know how it goes.

Any recipes you've been dying to try, readers? Please share!

Justin Timberlake.

This is Justin Timberlake. That is all.

Help a Girl Out

I don't know how many others have experimented with the nail sticker polish things...but they really do work! This set I bought for $3 at Five Below months ago:



Unfortunately, Five Below has a sparse selection of patterns. This was my favorite one there, and it seems it has disappeared.


Sally Hansen Salon Effects makes them in a lot of really cool patterns, but I just don't know if I am willing to shell out $10 for nail stickers. Has anyone tried these? Do they last?



Better yet, has anyone found a brand that makes cool patterns at a more affordable price? Help a girl out.

Girls

Twenty Something blog post promoting new HBO television show about twenty-something girls. Yes, I think so.



 HBO's Girls is written, directed, co-executive produced, and starring a twenty-something girl--Lena Dunham. This makes me so happy I could scream. She's this one:

This show is funny and brutally honest. A bit exaggerated at times, but I like that. Because what twenty-something girl doesn't feel like the escapades and proclamations of their girlfriends aren't a bit overblown at times? They are.

The girls on the show are educated college grads/students. They are intellectuals, yet they don't know when to stop talking to the booty-call guy. The kinky sex guy. Ew, yeah that guy.

WARNING: As a huge Sex and the City fan I will say that Girls is a different kind of....well set of girls. The ladies of Sex and the City are just that--ladies.




The foursome of Girls are in their early twenties and are still trying to decide what they want and who they want to be. They're awkward and dysfunctional and perfect.

Confession #3: These things are in my car now

Hello Kitty Floor rubber floor mats...



And Master of Puppets. I don't know what this says about me.

Confession #2: Tea Party

In light of my guest blogger Andrew's post about iced tea, I will share one of my maddening obsessions with you--tea.

When I wake up, I crave it in the way I imagine most twenty-somethings crave coffee, or pot. I like to have it on me when I write or when I drive. If there were a political Tea Party that involved actual tea, I would join it. I credit the miniscule bit of English blood in my genetics with this and my love for Oasis or Lily Allen.

I have become a bit of a tea snob in fact. Some teas are unacceptable. Like these:


I don't agree with an iced tea that comes from a concentrate or powder mix. That is a no no. I am pro-brew.

In fact, I like almost any other tea that is actually brewed from leaves (from what I can tell).
Here's a list of some of my favorite teas in specific categories:

1.Black Sweet: Lipton Pureleaf Iced Tea, Sweetened

I don't know why Lipton would consider making the disgusting options above available when their Pureleaf tea is so good. Pureleaf is great in any flavor: Raspberry, Peach, Sweet, and Green with Honey are all wonderful and refreshing. I actually judge a gas station's worth based on whether or not this tea is available.



2. Green Tea: Giant Eagle's Market District Organic Green Tea with Mint

This is possibly my favorite all time iced tea, and the greatest part is that Giant Eagle sells these babies for 10 for $10...meaning they are $1 a piece! My personal favorite is the Green Tea with Mint, but I also love the Green Tea with Honey, and there is a wide variety of other flavors offered in green, white, and even black teas. They look just like the ones pictured below except they'll be full of sweet nectar.



3. Chai Latte: Oregon Chai The Original, Latte Concentrate Liquid

This is easy to mix and tastes better than any $4 chai latte I've ordered at Starbucks. Oregon is HANDS DOWN the best chai brand out there, and I'm pretty sure the box says it's because they're the original. I pour mine over ice-- half chai mix and half skim milk, sip, and relax. I've found it at Wal-Mart and at Giant Eagle.



Readers, any suggestions? I love to try new teas!

Aloe Under Sweaters

So I was rubbing green, sweet aloe gel over my sun burns this morning and looked outside to see this:

Yeah, that's snow. Several local school districts have cancelled school today. It's an actual snow day, and I could not be less enthusiastic about it. 

Mother Nature, please allow me time to adjust and apply sunscreen before bringing winter back.  

Meanwhile, I'm going to listen to Weezer and avoid windows to cheer myself up.

Sun Screen Please!

Yesterday was gorgeous out and so I decided to sit outside to study and write. Unfortunately, I did not realize the strength of the spring sunshine. Thus, the awful one-shoulder  Flash Dance sunburn you see before you.

Bad sun-burns are comical, but all jokes aside, wearing sunscreen is very important. Beyond that, making the choice to NOT slide into a tanning bed is important too. I know that the temptation to tan is great for twenty-somethings. Many of my girlfriends (and even a few guy friends I have met along the way) visit tanning salons regularly. This is a terrible and unhealthy habit to fall into.

I recently read an article about a twenty-something girl who had lost her battle with melanoma. Though I have never used a tanning bed, her story still terrified me. Tanning aside, she was a health conscious girl with her whole life ahead of her. And so, I felt it was important to share her story with my readers... Click here to read this article and see why.

And remember girls and guys, pale is beautiful too!



Guest Blog! Nerf Wars

Hey, Readers, this is Audrey from Suburban Hoofbeats. I'm guest blogging about my awesome idea for a giant Nerf war on campus. Now this war can take place anywhere that has a large enough area. Tools you'll need: any and all Nerf weapons. My preferances are the broadsword and the long range gun. This is activity shouldn't be taken lightly. Hours have been spent in the Target and Toys 'R Us aisles contemplating the Nerf weapons. Andrew (previous guest blogger) and I have got to look psycho to the other shoppers.

It'll be so epic, it'll continue for generations. In fact this is what my kid will totally look like.

So Readers, if you want to be the coolest kid on campus, organize your own Nerf war. Trust me, people WANT to take part, they just need a leader.

Guest Blog! Half-Gallon Tea

Andrew Brown here. You know, that fat guy with the backwards hat who always has a half-gallon of iced tea with him everywhere. This is a practice that I picked up on beginning of this semester to lessen my migraines (hydration assists in prevention).

But soon, it became like my third hand. Iced tea is delicious, whether it be green, lemon, sweet, purple, light red, you name it. I'm starting to think I'm addicted to instant ice mix and artificial flavors. That's okay by me.

Campus Hunger Games

A friend of mine recently mentioned a desire to create a Hunger Games for our campus. Shout out to Audrey at Suburban Hoofbeats!



I am curious, Dear Readers, how something like this would Pan(em) out.

I know that some schools have created Quidditch teams. How successful are these teams? Is anyone on one?



If I were on one I know who I would be. That's right. That guy right there in the middle.
I'd be a golden girl. The snitch.

So, do you think one could adapt the Hunger Games into a college campus activity? Ration student meal plans? Force commuters to work hard labor in "District 12" for a semester? How the fuck would this work?

Please make this happen.

Confession #1:

I find the ending of Fight Club to be terribly romantic-- in spite of the subliminal image.

"You met me at a very strange time in my life."

Mud Mouth

Post-Quad ride photo. Yes, there is mud on my teeth.
ONLY because I smile and scream when I ride, so don't judge!

Ow Ow

I think that my boots have given me shin splints.
Here they are.
How is that possible?

Freedom of Speech

I had a recent encounter with a particularly ignorant individual that I feel the need to rant about to you, Reader.

Though I was not discussing writing or blogging with this man, a young marine who had not introduced himself to me or my conversation interrupted upon listening in with:

"You take an actual class on blogging?"

"Yes, I am an English major," I replied promptly.

"You waste tuition money on a class on blogging?" he said. Not really a question at all.

"Yes I do. I am a writer," I explained.

"I am sorry to hear that," he said as he laughed. Mocking me.

"I am sorry to hear that it bothers you," I told him before turning away.

I overheard him later explaining to no one in particular, "When shooting, it's best to shoot from a place of pain than of fear."

Dearest Marine,
If after serving our country you feel the best you have to offer is stale language about firing guns or misplaced judgment about how I use my freedoms to write, then I suggest you stay out of my conversation. You weren't invited in the first place, and you may have noticed I did not ask what you go to school for free to do because I do not give a fuck.
Sincerely,
Concerned American Woman

I know...more flowers.

I told you I love flowers.



 I have never seen 90 degrees in March in all of my 22 years of existence, and I have to say I have never been happier to see 90 degrees. Period.



I confess...I stole a few of these flowers from the tree I found them on and used them to garnish my hair for a formal event I attended on Saturday. They wilted for a good cause.

What spring things did you see this weekend, readers?

Daffodil Days

I love surprises and (as I have already shared) I absolutely love fresh flowers. And so, I literally squealed like a piglet with excitement when I found that my boss had surprised me with a bunch of daffodils he bought me from Daffodil Days.

The Daffodils are beautiful and fragrant, but most importantly buying a bunch of Daffodils from Daffodil Days means giving to an important cause. The Daffodil Days program promotes cancer awareness while raising funds for the American Cancer Society.

These flowers are inexpensive and a wonderful way to surprise someone you love while still making a meaningful donation. Buying fresh flowers can often feel like a frivolous act, but buying from Daffodil Days means helping patients and families in need, and there is nothing frivolous about that.


Click here to read more about the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days and to find a campaign near you!

Something I Learned From Lending Hearts

Now that our bellies are full of flavored ice and eyes full of sunshine, I would like to share something very important and special that took place this weekend.

On Sunday I went to an event with my mother, sister, and my sister's Daisy troop that was nothing short of beautiful. My sister's troop decided to donate their extra Girl Scout cookies to an organization known as Lending Hearts. This Pittsburgh-based non-profit group aims to provide support for families and patients affected by childhood cancer. To read more about Lending Hearts, please go here.




We delivered the cookies at an event held by Lending Hearts, and the event was wonderful. There was catered food, desserts, raffles, crafts, and face-paint. In true Pittsburgh fashion, there was a Penguin theme to the event. Sunday's game was aired while the Daisy's and small survivors chased roaming balloons.

The surprises Lending Hearts had arranged for the children, however, was the best part of the event. Iceburgh, the Penguin's mascot appeared at the event, giving high fives and blowing kisses before playing a game of corn hole with the kids.



Iceburgh was followed up by a visit from an actual, live penguin brought in by the National Aviary.

His name was Simon. He was just as cool as he looks.

While participating in this event would have been touching to anyone, I must share with you all that there is a specific reason why I was so inspired by this event.

I myself am a young adult cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when I was 18 years old, and thankfully I recently celebrated 3 full years of remission on March 11^th.

I did not share this in my previous posts until now because I wanted to try to write about the other strange but wonderful parts of my life. I wanted to write about experiences that I felt other twenty-somethings could relate to and understand.

I guess if I am honest, I wanted to avoid creating a blog in which the entire focus was cancer. I believe that there are a lot of components that make up a person, and I wanted you to know other things about me before knowing one thing that will always stay with me and define me:  I am a cancer survivor.



I watched a mini survivor on Sunday point to her knit penguin cap that covered her soft, baby bald head. She gestured to Iceburgh the mascot to show him that she’s just like him, she’s wearing a penguin face too.

I watched her and I imagined her future. Her hair will grow back long, until she decides to cut it into an edgy bob or throws it up into a pony tail, kisses her mom goodbye on the cheek before she runs out the front door to meet her friends. She’ll go to the movies and throw popcorn at strangers. She’ll look up to see stars above stadium lights and football fields. She’ll kiss boys who she’ll hate later.

Whatever amazing or ordinary thing she does, whichever special woman she decides to be, she will always be a cancer survivor. She reminded me on Sunday, I will be too.

GET OUT NOW

In case you didn't already know...today is the first official day of spring! Which means Rita's is giving away FREE italian ice today.



GO TO RITA'S NOW. You're welcome :)

I got mango and it was delish.
What's your favorite Rita's ice flavor?

Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites

My experience with this new fangled dubstep is minimal. A lot of it makes me want to jump out of a window head first.

Yet, this Skrillex song has grown on me. Maybe it's because I am a sucker for both monsters and sprites. It makes me sway and cringe at once, so I guess the title is fitting...

I don't understand it. And I don't think that I want to.

What do you think about dubstep?

Dart Frog Love

Fun fact about me: when I was young I had a fascination with an adorable yet threatening creature known as the Poison Dart Frog.



See? Like I said, adorable.

I love them because they are tiny and brightly colored (like Tinkerbell). Not only are these little guys cute as a fairy, but they're also kind of magical. These frogs secrete toxins through their skin that have been used to poison the tip of blowdarts.

Even better though, their poison can be used for good too! Chemicals extracted from some species of Poison Dart Frogs can be used for medicinal purposes. I've read that scientists have used their poison to create potent pain killers-- one of which was reported as 200 times more powerful than morphine. Sounds like fun.

While being introspective about this, I have noticed a trend. My interest in adorable but dangerous creatures has stayed with me well into my twenties. Look no further than this guy:



Robert Downey Jr., you are as beautiful as a dart frog. Call me.

Things I Actually Think About...

I went to put on one of my favorite pairs of cheap sunglasses and for the first time since purchase I read the fine, white print on the inside of the shades.

While "UV PROTECTION" has rubbed off over time, the text that follows reads "AGES 14 & UP" and I have to ask myself what exactly does this mean?

How does one determine the appropriate age for sunglasses?
Why don't my red, heart-shaped sunglasses say "AGES 13 & YOUNGER?"
What does this say about me?

I've always felt that if I can fit them on my face then they're age appropo, but now I am giving this second thoughts.

Furthermore, the fact that I went through this line of thinking makes me think I need to reconsider my use of time and brain power.

Pizza Party!

I spent my Friday night indoors playing Arkham City and cooking a scrumptious Cali-style chicky avocado pizza. It was just as good as it sounds.

Being the self-less woman that I am *ahem* I thought I would share the delicious recipe with you all.

You will need:
1 12 inch pizza crust
1/2 cup of pizza sauce (I use a lot more and my favorite sauce is Boboli)
1/4 teaspoon Frank's Red Hot wing sauce, Buffalo
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 fully ripened avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and sliced

1. First heat oven to 425 degrees F. Place pizza crust on a greased baking sheet, and bake crust for 7 minutes. I used Jiffy pizza crust mix to make the dough for our pizza crust, but a pre-made crust will work too! If you decide to make the crust using a mix like Jiffy, I recommend seasoning the crust before baking it. I used salt, pepper, garlic power, and a basic Italian seasoning mix (with oregano and basil).

               
2. In a small bowl, combine pizza sauce and Frank's Red Hot wing sauce. I used a little more hot sauce than the recipe calls for.

3. Spread pizza with sauce, top with chicken, avocado, and cheese. I added chopped red onion and two minced cloves of fresh garlic to my pizza (mine is the one on the right!).

4. Bake until crust is crisp on the bottom. If using a pre-made crust this should be 4 to 6 minutes longer. If using a crust mix like Jiffy to make dough, bake for 20 minutes.

5. Voila! Your Cali-style chicky avocado pizza is complete! As you can see, I was so hungry by the time this was ready that my after picture ended up being of a single slice. I dropped the ball and ate a few pieces before I remembered to take my photo. 


Enjoy!

Something Fun for the Readers

Dearest Readers,

I feel like this is getting kind of serious between you and I. So I bought us our first pet(s)!



Use your computer mouse to feed the fishies!

XOXO
Sarah Ann Rose

Meet my hound, Max...

My dog likes to borrow my accessories. And I am totally cool with it.

The Dress You Only Wore Once

In honor of spring I recently purchased two girly dresses.
What do you think, dearest reader?

Though I am typically a denim kind of gal, I absolutely love the feel of a dress.

And while many women acknowledge the LBD (little black dress), I would like to take a moment to pay homage the other important dress in a young woman's life: the dress you paid too much for and never wear again.

I have not one, but two of these babies hanging in my closet, both totaling at a cool grand in feverish spending back in the day.

                  

While I am not sure how practical it was for me to spend almost $500 on a lime green tulle ball gown, that was exactly what I did in spring of '07. Hell, I had so much fun that I did it again spring of '08 (trading in the neon tulle for leopard print satin). Alas, the beauties still sit under protective packaging in my closet since their return home the morning after prom.

I haven't the heart to sell them even though I am sure I have no event which calls for me to wear a gown (with the exception of my wedding where I will likely avoid animal prints of any kind).

Tell me, ladies: what's the most you've spent on a dress that you have only worn once?

Ode to the First Spring Rainstorm

While I must admit it still looks like dead stick hell outside, the smell of spring is undeniable.



It's rainy, there are birds chirping, and I can actually smell the sun. This has a potent effect on me both physically and mentally. I want to wrap my arms around strangers. I want to wear Jackie O sunglasses--sun, clouds, or night. I want to drive everywhere and nowhere.




Dearest Reader, do you feel spring too?