Creative Juices

I Don't Want A Lot For Christmas

Yeah, thats so not true. Here is my very long Christmas list.
Slightly Unreasonables
iPod
Digital Camera I made my pick, I want the Nikon 4100 Coolpix.

For The Home
Vanity table - simply classic... at Target (The Steve already got it for me!)
Bedside Tables (white) I'll accept nice Ikea knock offs...
Chest of Drawers (white)
Wispy Glassware (magenta)
Swirl Glass Vase
Cube Cutout Wall Cabinet
Chandelier Glass Candle Holders
Rectangular Mirror (medium)
Flat out Tupperware
All in One Kind of Thing: its got a phone, a cd player and a clock, three things I desperately need in my Creative Memories room. Yes, the brand is less than, but I once knew a guy named Coby and he was nice.

Entertainments
Music From the OC Mix 2
Peppermint Marshmallows
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD
Aladdin DVD (I'm pretty sure my mom got this for us)
Scene It TV Edition I would so kick ass at this game.
Dr. Mario (for the gba)
America: The Book
The Funny Thing Is... Ellen DeGeneres makes me laugh.

Clothes and Such
Pink Sweatercoat This was on my list last year... and lucky for all of you that DIDNT get it for me, it's back.
Purple Scarf
Blue Striped Shirt
Cardigan (black)
Velvet Trim Boucle Dress ("Very Bree" is what The Steve said. Cant it be very SaBRIna too?).

Happy Shopping!!

Might As Well Face It

I am so addicted to chapstick (medicated chapstick, to be specific). I mean, I sort of knew I was. But today, I've gone.... uh... 7 hours without and I really dont think I'll make it. It's all I can think about. My lips are so... chapped. How will I make it through? What if my chapstick isnt where I think I left it? And it was a new one too. Oh god...

It's Christmas Time

How was your weekend? I had a loooong list of things to do... some of these included:
1. Sew
2. Shop for Project Share
3. Buy Christmas Tree
4. Decorate house
5. Finish Movie
6. Go get Cheesecake

Most of these things did get accomplished...
Well, sewing. I've had my boss' sewing machine for well over a month. With the intention of sewing up curtains for the bedroom and curtains for the living room. On day one of sewing, way back when, I managed to break two needles. I dont know what I was doing wrong. So, because I'm cute, I convinced The Steve to sew for me. (It helped to comment on the wonderful job he did with my purple velvet body pillow case he sewed, like, six years ago). So, on Saturday, I pinned and Steve sewed. He sewed 5 panels... we've only got one more to go and hopefully that'll get finished tonight.
Shopping... Wednesday, the boss boss let us out at 3pm. So, I went shopping. Every year our department adopts a family in Durham and we buy gifts for the whole family. This year, we got a single mom with 4 daughters. I got to go shopping for the three year old. It was fun.
On Friday, we went with our friends, Mike and Karissa to shop for a Christmas tree. Last year, we went with them, and Mike haggled Scott the Christmas Tree Guy down a lot. We got our tree for way less than what it was marked. Same thing this year. It works out nicely. Also, this year, Shelvia Dancy from News Channel 14 was out interviewing people that buy trees the day after Thanksgiving. She interviewed me and Karissa. I was on the news! Here's the article that references it. After that, I pulled out all the Christmas decorations... and now it seems like I dont have enough! We didnt even have enough lights to put around the tree because we got a bigger tree this year. Goodness. Steve decorated the outside of the house, as well. It looks really good. Yay for Christmas lights! My mantel does look nice, I'll admit that.
Over the course of the weekend, Steve finally finished Emily and Michael's wedding video. He did an excellent job. However, we're kinda stuck. The footage is complete, but we dont have a dvd burner. Oopsie. Small detail. Anybody got a dvd burner we could borrow? I'd kinda like to get their wedding video to them, say, before their first annivesary...
Last night, I went to get a slice of White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. For no other reason than the fact that I deserve it (and I didnt eat any of the desserts available at Thanksgiving dinner). It was super good. Ooooo, whoever lets me borrow their dvd burner can have a slice of cheeeesecake. You know you want one.
This week and coming weekend looks to be super busy. Christmas is so insane.

And I Don't Like Things This Way

For all my dirty minded friends... Happy Thanksgiving

Appropriate Thanksgiving Phrases (not so appropriate otherwise)
1. Talk about a huge breast!
2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.
3. It's Cool Whip time!
4. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!
5. Whew, that's one terrific spread!
6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.
7. Are you ready for seconds yet?
8. It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?
9. Just wait your turn, you'll get some!
10. Don't play with your meat.
11. Just spread the legs open and stuff it in.
12. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?
13. I didn't expect everyone to come at once!
14. You still have a little bit on your chin.
15. How long will it take after you stick it in?
16. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.
17. Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!
18. That's the biggest one I've ever seen!
19. How long do I beat it before it's ready?

I Am Agog, I Am Agast

Come this Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for one thing. My new eyeliner.
Over the weekend, I decided to splurge and buy Clinique's Quickliner (in moss). Ohhhh man. Now I know why that stuff costs $14.50; it's amazing.
Prior to this point, I've only used crappy eyeliner. The kind that clumps and breaks off and does stupid things that make you have to reapply all your make-up.
No more of that, man. This eyeliner glides on like my eyelids are silk, or satin, or anything really smooth... like butter on warm bread...
I'm in love.

Please Don't Tell Me This Has Been In Vain

For those of you that havent' had the honour of visiting my lovely new home, here's your guided tour. Enjoy.



1. My Creative Memories workshop. Compared to the rest of the house, seems bare. Needs color.
2. The Kitchen and its (beautiful) stripes (from hell)
3. The other side of the kitchen



4. Dining area facing the living room... the right wall has a silver glaze on it, didnt show up too well...
5. The fireplace



6. The living room
7. Masterbath (all the other pics turned out really blurry, so this is all you get)
8. Master bedroom (waiting on navy curtains and headboard...)




9. The outside
10. And no tour is complete without Belle... with the backdrop of my purple stripes.

And I Think To Myself

This morning, I went to Bruegger's Bagels for my regular Friday morning breakfast. I was running a little late because I was slow to get out of bed... but it isnt Friday without my bagel, so I had to stop off anyway.
When I walked in, Behind The Counter Kim noticed me. She looked up and mouthed "one minute." That was because there were no plain bagels, and she knew what I'd be ordering. Well, I could certainly wait a minute. I stepped aside and let other people place their orders. Thirty seconds later, Kim told me to go pay for my bagel and she's bring it around to me.
I walked up to the cashier, where the infamous Freddie Love (otherwise known as The Bagel Guy) stood. I didnt have a bag in my hand, or a drink or anything. I said "I got nothing, I'm waiting on my bagel." and he said "Well, have a nice day then," and waved at me discreetly. I've learned that this little wave means that I get my bagel for free. :) The Bagel Guy is good to me.
So, I stepped aside again. Two minutes later... Kim comes around and waves me to the side. She whispers... "the girl in the back lied to me, there's still 8 minutes on your bagel." Well, we both knew thats too long... so I asked for a cinnamon raisin and she quickly made it for me.
My point, I know, must have been hard to follow...
I love being a regular. I love that Kim and Freddie Love both know my order. I love that because I'm a regular (or maybe just because I'm cute) I get free bagels. I frequent a lot of other places in the area, but they are the only ones that know me.

Hey Now, My Darling

I have a mantel!
Yes, I've had a mantel for, what, 4 months now? And while it's currently adorned with beautiful swirly silver candle sticks (courtesy of Rachel), and the lovely painting we recently purchased hangs above it... that's not the point.
The point is, I have a place to hang my stockings this Christmas!
So, here's what will hold our blue and purple velvet stockings:

And to match:

They're on their way! Yay!

Don't It Feel Like Sunshine Afterall

I've got nothing to post about really. So, here's a favorite recipe of mine.

Chicken Pot Pie (Sabrina Style)
Ingredients:
Chicken (I use 2 or 3 breasts, cause I dont like dark meat...)
1 regular Pie Crust (from the freezer section)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of potato soup
1 small can sliced carrots
1 small can cut green beans
1 can corn
(our veggies of choice... you can exclude or include whatever you prefer)

1. Boil chicken (with a little lemon juice or seasoning) till it hits 180 degrees
2. Cut into bite sized pieces
3. Preheat oven at 350 degrees
4. Take one pie crust out of the freezer and set on counter to defrost a bit
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine soups and drained veggies with chicken, mix well
6. Spread the mix in a round 8 inch pan or casserole dish
7. Invert pie crust on top of mix
8. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes... until crust is lightly browned

Tips:
If you dont have time to boil chicken, you can just use the precut, precooked kind. Not as tender, I think, but still works.
If you do boil the chicken, but dont have a thermometer cause you arent crazy paranoid like me... just cook the chicken till it looks done. :)
Inverting the pie crust is the hardest part.. . but dont worry if it breaks a little, just place it all on top of the mix and it'll bake fine.

Enjoy!

That I Must Say To You

Why werent these sinks an option at the Design Studio?

// posted by Sabrina @ 2:34 PM

Hopelessly Devoted to You

I've mentioned my brother before. 7th grader. Very 13 years old. He's not doing so well in school... in fact, he's doing very badly. But not because he isnt smart (according to my mom). Life isnt so easy for him... and it pains me that there isnt anything I can do to make it better for him.
If I thought he'd listen to me while I monologued... here is what I would say:
Being a teenager suuuuuucks. There's no way around it. No matter what, you will always feel like the whole world is out to get you. Like your parents are only there to make your life a living hell. Its entirely unavoidable. So, right now, this second, get over it. The only one that can make your life feel like its worth living is you. (and God, but thats a whole other subject). So, act like you care about yourself and forget about the fact that it seems like no one else really does.
I think it's time for you to decide who you want to be. I'm not talking college major, profession, career or whatever. I'm talking you. As a person. As a human being. Do you want to be a selfish, rude, arrogant, careless, disrespectful smartass? I hope not. Cause though I'd love you no matter what... it sure wouldnt be easy to love someone like that.
Please be better than that. And I'll tell you how. Because I've been there. I've been 13, 14, 15... living with that man that makes you feel like crap. The only way to shove it back in his face is to prove him wrong. And the only way to prove him wrong is to be better than what he expects from you. Look at me now. And look at his foot in his mouth. Cause I'm not the little irresponsible brat he told me I'd always be. I survived on my own. I got married (and stayed married). I graduated from college. I even got a drivers license. I have friends. I have a church family. I have a house. I have a stable job. I feel loved. I love. I have a wonderful wonderful life.
Lets get this whole little bit about your grades out of the way. I dont know why you arent doing well in school. But I do know there has to be a reason for it. Even if you dont know the reason right now... maybe you should figure it out. But really, what you need to understand now... the grades you get in school only affect you. And though the grades you get in 7th grade dont seem all that important... they do determine the rest of your high school career. When you're 17 and dieing to finish school and get out of there... what you did in 7th grade will determine whether or not they let you take AP Biology or dual enroll at BCC. It matters, I promise. It's all part of a path. Get on the right path now. There's no reason not to.
As much as I'd like to be right there beside you, telling you all the right things to do so that you dont have to learn from any of the mistakes I made... I cant. Its your life. They're your decisions. Just know that I love you. It pours out of me effortlessly. I want you to be happy. I want you to feel loved. So that when you're old enough... you can make other feel happy and loved.
PS: Mommy loves you too. You just wont understand it all till you're 20.

In Your Eyes

There's nothing like the honest drawing of a child. Meg, my favorite four year old, was so kind as to draw a portrait of me on Sunday morning. Those who saw me Sunday will appreciate the attention to detail... including the stripes of my shirt (and socks), my jewelery and eye shadow.
I've talked about the way The Girls color. Kyra is very accurate and precise. Meg on the other hand... she actually said... and I quote... "Hmmm I need blue..." looks around the pile of crayons on the floor "I'll just use this orange."
Other quotes that amused me... "Noses are hard, but yours is big." "Put your hair behind your ears, silly, your earrings are prettier." "Your lips arent this red, but they should be."
So, here is "Sabrina by Meg." I was instructed to write my name across the top...

// posted by Sabrina @ 8:40 AM

Lookin Out For Number One

If you didnt watch the premiere of season 2 of The OC, you suck.
The only excuses I will accept are:
1. We live in NY, we work really late, we dont get home in time for such things as watching normal TV. Besides, it's no fun watching one hour dramas about brooding teenagers without you, Sabrina.
2. We listened to what you said and decided that you're right about everything and anything, so we bought Season 1 of The OC and are currently trying to catch up.
3. I'm more interested in football than The OC.
4. Temporary Insanity. Please forgive me.

Welcome To A New Kind Of Tension

I'm currently reading the funniest book ever. "America (the book)" written by the members of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Besides its clever layout design (its made to look like a typical history text book) its the funniest material ever. And since I cope with things I have no control over by laughing at them, this book came into my posession just at the right time. Its nice to sit back and laugh at the history of our nation. I'm also learning a lot too (unfortunately, I dont know whats true and whats not). Here's an excerpt for your reading pleasure:
"Though the president is very powerful, he cannot make laws. The president can suggest laws. The president can call individual congressmen and threaten, beg and cajole them to make laws. The president can use the bully pulpit and appeal directly to the people to ask Congress to make laws. The president can promise that if these congressmen pass the laws the president likes he will make them a delicious sandwhich. The president can hold his breath and pound his fists and threaten to run away. But the president cannot make laws. The president can observe a vexing situation that seems to run counter to common sense, shake his head and say aloud 'There oughta be a law,' but the president cannot make that law. The president cannot even write up that law and submit it with his name on it. The president needs someone in Congress to submit it for him. The president can only sit in his office and sign or not sign laws other people make. Sometimes this makes the president feel like a total pussy. Then the president realizes he is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and an island country is about to get a can of 'police action' opened up on them. This makes the president feel better."

She Moves, She Moves

So, I went to Ben & Jerry's to get my free scoop of ice cream. And he took my sticker! He TOOK my sticker!!! I would have said, 'nevermind, man' but I had already mentioned how badly I wanted a scoop of ice cream. I was in, there was no way out. I had to sacrifice my sticker and put it on a stupid coupon.
Damn good ice cream though, hit the spot.

She Bangs, She Bangs

I'd like to give a shout out to all the people in my area that wasted 3 hours of their Saturday for my benefit. Early voting is for losers, man. Whereas some people took the time to vote early and finish a novel at the same time, I procrastinated and won the race by only waiting in line for five minutes. (It also paid to have a last name started with an "A"... those M's and S's were waiting at least twenty minutes). Aaaand, I got paid time off to do it (go Duke!).
So, I voted. For the first time ever, I did research. I cared. It took a lot for me to get to that point. I decided I hate the two party system. Boo it. I think both parties are equally corrupt and equally stupid. I hate the mudslinging and the hatred they have for each other. Yes, as a passivist, I just wish everyone would get along. So, I voted for the only third party candidate on my ballot, Badarik the Libertarian. I dont agree with everything he has to say, but I dont agree with anything any one of them has to say. So, I used my vote in hopes that some day, one day, a third party would have a fighting chance at an election. Because, my .000000949% of the vote does matter, damnit.
In the local voting scheme, my voting was scattered across the board. I voted for Mike Easley (D) for governor (he's the current one and I think he's done a good job, especially with the Character Development classes in the Durham Public Schools). I voted Republican where I thought it mattered (such as, the house) and I voted for mostly women when it came to judges. And I voted for some girl with the middle name "Leah" cause it's my favorite name. Yep, politics is obviously not my game.
But I voted. I got a sticker to prove it. And I'll be going by Ben & Jerry's for my free scoop of ice cream later today.