I dreamed a dream...

It's incredibly dangerous to peruse this site "just for fun."  My "just for fun" jaunt has now developed into a full-fledged obsession with an adorable little townhouse nearby.  I NEED it.  (Okay, so I don't need it but tell that to the little devilish redhead on my shoulder.)

The price is fantastic, its in a great location and would be a super starter home, especially for a single woman.  That is also where the problem comes in.  As a single woman who is racking up student loans as we speak and is still trying to unearth herself from some poor monetary decisions while she was in her 20's and clinically depressed (retail therapy anyone?), I have found that qualifying for a loan on my own is not a possibility right now until I have enough money to eliminate some bills.  It would be different with a second income coming in but alas you need another in your household to bring that money in the door and that does not appear to be in the cards any time soon (the cat's a lazy cuss and refuses to go to work).  It's funny how people always dream of winning millions in the lottery but in reality winning $25,000 would make one of my biggest dreams possible.  Oh how your perspective can change as you become more and more adult like... :)

So here are a few pics of the house - its not super fancy, it certainly isn't my dream house but it is my dream "right now" house...

$ 109,900

3 bed 

2.5 bath

Front of town home

Bar and fireplace

Bar and open kitchen

Kitchen, dining nook and deck

Kitchen, nook and view!

Deck off the master bedroom, yes please!

View toward the Columbia river - would be super pretty on a clear day

So cute, sad it's not feasible...

What I have to keep on telling myself is that there are plenty of other people my age who aren't able to buy a home either, that I have a nice rental right now and that I am most likely in a better position financially than some my age... these self-affirmations however don't equate a home of my own or a nice deduction on my taxes.   Alas, patience is a virtue Sara... remember this.  

I do admit, however, that I look forward to the possibility of marriage someday - not only for the companionship and love but also the possibility to purchase a place of my own (or, our own).  I am also reminding myself on a daily basis that the right guy will come along some day and that it must be God's plan that I have yet to meet a man who is capable of loving me just the way I am.  Surely there's someone out there, right?

This verse was shared with me at my confirmation as an "adult" in the Lutheran church, it has always held a truly special meaning for me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make you straight in your paths.

                               -Proverbs 3:5-6

Another that brings hope:

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.

                              -Psalm 143:8

High Fidelity - Eric Church and Springsteen

I love Eric Church's unique sound (which, I admit, took me awhile to like at first) and I'm really digging this song right now.  Doesn't hurt that he's perty to look at as well.  ;)

I took a cue from the title of the previous song, "Springsteen" and have included a couple of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs. :)

While I'm not a big fan of 'the boss' in general there are a few songs of his that have a special place in my heart.  

The first two were released in my formative music years - middle school.  The first is "Streets of Philadelphia" which was from the Tom Hanks movie "Philadelphia" released in 1993.  

The second is "Secret Garden" which was the theme to "Jerry Maguire" starring Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger released in 1995.  

While both songs were indeed from movies that isn't why I like them (heck, I didn't see them until I was in college!). I enjoy these songs because whenever I hear them they take me back to that feeling of being 11 to 13 and so at awe with the world, so hopeful for the future, for love.  I love how certain songs can take you right back to specific moments in time - there are a lot of early 90's songs that do that to me. 

The third I just personally discovered a couple of years ago even though it is from the mid-1980's.  It just happened to pop up on a Pandora station one day and I immediately took note.  I love how the percussion sounds like a train, the song just sounds like it comes from a raw place.  Love, love.

Eric Church

High Fidelity - The Temper Trap and Miranda Lambert

My boss said this afternoon, after I randomly decided during the last half hour of our day that our entire department needed to boogie to the B-52's "Love Shack" and proceeded to play it for everyone to enjoy, that I have a very "eclectic taste" in music.  He then proceeded to translate this more clearly into "Sara likes some crazy, random stuff".  I took it as a compliment.  :)

I couldn't make up my mind this evening about which song to feature so you get both.  :)   This will probably happen more and more cause there are so many great songs out there to share!

The first is a song that came out in 2010 but gathered air play in summer of 2011 here in the US.  It is from The Temper Trap and it still remains toward the top of my playlist.  I just love it.  Here's "Sweet Disposition"

Miranda Lambert is one of my favorite female country artists right now, she's just so real and a total dork (check out her twitter feed @Miranda_Lambert for evidence!) not to mention her songs are so great!  This one really speaks to me right now, I love the reminder that God does not require you to be perfect - he loves you just the way you are.  The thought of  being worthy of just kicking back and drinking a glass of wine with Jesus cause he accepts you and all your faults is awesome.  This is "Heart Like Mine"...

High Fidelity - The Farm

I hadn't heard of this band until I went on the Halloween 'Boo' Cruise put on by a local country station last October.  The concert, which was headlined by Danny Gokey and also featured "Somethin' 'Bout A Truck" singer Kip Moore, was opened by this new trio called The Farm.  

My friend and I were super lucky to be literally in the front row of the concert and I was very impressed by this band - they are awesome musicians and really entertaining to watch.  They were also very down to earth and mingled with the costumed crowd before and after the show (Kip Moore did the same).  

I really hope their single "Home Sweet Home" eventually takes off cause they are super talented and I think, given the chance, could really make it big in country music.  

 

And here is Kip Moore's "Somethin' 'Bout A Truck" which is hitting it big on the charts right now...

The Farm - Nick Hoffman, Krista Marie and Damien Horne

Salsa!

So last Friday was our Salsa Showdown competition at work in honor of Cinco de Mayo.  I decided to take a chance and try and make salsa, it was a risk as I have never even contemplated making it on my own... Pace was good enough for me.  :)  So I started perusing one of my favorite recipe sites, www.TasteofHome.com and reviewed a few different recipes trying to get an idea of even where to start.  So I used this recipe as kind of a model (with a few changes since I wouldn't be canning it) and made my own modifications.  

While I didn't win the competition I did place third in the mild/medium category and the second place winner only received one more vote than me and the first place only one more vote than her so really I was only two votes from winning.  ;)

This is just a small sample, recipe will make upwards of 8-10 cups at least

Here is my recipe for Smokey Mild Salsa:

• 15 medium tomatoes (I used a combination of Hot House on the vine and Roma, diced and peeled if desired)
• 1 green pepper (chopped)
• 2 medium sweet onions (chopped)
• 1 sweet red pepper (chopped)
• 1 celery rib (chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced) or 2 tsp. pre-minced garlic from jar
• 1 can diced jalapenos, drained (4 oz)
• 1 can diced fire roasted mild green chilies, drained(6 to 8 oz)
• 2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes (14.5 oz), drained
• 1 can plain diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 2 Tbs. white vinegar
• 2 Tbs. graduated sugar
• 2 Tbs. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 teas. hot pepper sauce (I used Tabasco)
• 1/2 teas. paprika (smoky Paprika if you have it)
• 1/4 teas. cumin
• 1/4 teas. chili powder
• two light shakes of red pepper flakes (if desired)

Directions:

• In a large stockpot cook the fresh tomatoes, uncovered, over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in all other ingredients, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for one hour, stirring frequently.

As you can tell, I made it pretty chunky - simply chop veggies in smaller pieces to make a smoother salsa!

 Enjoy!

Are you a jaywalker?

My most recent class for school (I am 6 months out on a BA in Behavioral and Social Sciences from George Fox University) was a course on Addiction Disorders. One of our assignments was to either visit a local treatment facility or attend a 12 step (or equivalent) meeting in the area and write a short paper about what we see, hear, feel during the observation. I chose to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in NE Portland with a couple of other class mates.

What an amazing experience. It was so encouraging to see these strong people taking this step, making this commitment to themselves and their families. There was such a feeling of hope and courage in the room, the stories shared were touching and insightful - I am so thankful to have had the experience. The leader shared a story or parable at one point in the meeting that is called "The Jaywalker" and can be found on page 37 of what AA calls the 'Big Book.'

This parable really touched me and I could see where many of us (if not all of us in some way) have experienced a time where we looked at our choices or our actions and recognized how crazy, destructive or emotionally damaged they have been. I believe we all have something to learn and reflect on from this story, my challenge to you is to read and honestly reflect on how this parable might resemble your actions in some form and the ways you can make a positive change for the future.



"Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jay-walking. He gets a thrill out of skipping in front of fast-moving vehicles. He enjoys himself for a few years in spite of friendly warnings. Up to this point you would label him as a foolish chap having queer ideas of fun. Luck then deserts him and he is slightly injured several times in succession. You would expect him, if he were normal, to cut it out. Presently he is hit again and this time has a fractured skull. Within a week after leaving the hospital a fast-moving trolley car breaks his arm. He tells you he has decided to stop jay-walking for good, but in a few weeks he breaks both legs."

"On through the years this conduct continues, accompanied by his continual promises to be careful or to keep off the streets altogether. Finally, he can no longer work, his wife gets a divorce and he is held up to ridicule. He tries every known means to get the jaywalking idea out of his head. He shuts himself up in an asylum, hoping to mend his ways. But the day he comes out he races in front of a fire engine, which breaks his back. Such a man would be crazy, wouldn't he?"

"You may think our illustration is too ridiculous. But is it? We, who have been through the wringer, have to admit if we substituted alcoholism or any addiction for jay-walking, the illustration would fit exactly. However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. It's strong language but isn't it true?"

High Fidelity - Andrea Bocelli

I spent a good portion of my morning at work melting to the sound of Andrea Bocelli singing lovely Italian words into my ears through my new noise cancelling earbud headphones (the noise cancelling thing is sooo worth it, it literally is just you and the music - fabulous and mine were super cheap!).  But I digress...

Geez, can Signor Bocelli sing.  I could listen to him all day.  Sigh.  I first discovered Andrea Bocelli about 6-8 years ago when I was impatiently following my parents through an antique store one day (this was before I discovered how truly awesome antiquing is) and I passed a table where they had a boombox set up and were playing an Andrea Bocelli CD.... Sogno in fact, which is one of the three songs I will link below.  I was immediately drawn in by his beautiful and unique tenor voice, there is just something about it.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do...

Sogno

Melodramma

Canto Della Terra

Signor Andrea Bocelli