Thursday, May 28, 2015

A New Swoon Reads Submission: Life in the Rearview Mirror


Some of you may recall a post back in March, when I announced one of my young adult novels, Abatement, was live and available to read for free on a site called Swoon Reads. Well, I am back with another post to let you know I have recently uploaded another!

Now live on Swoon Reads is Life in the Rearview Mirror!

Above is the complete description of my latest submitted novel, but if you want to know more about the story, here are some details.

Life in the Rearview Mirror is essentially about stepping out of your comfort zone. Rebecca, our main character, is a perfectionist who has her life all figured out. She has no problem sticking to the path carved out for her. She has perfect grades and knows each step she must take in order to become a doctor. The more she accomplishes to get there, though, the more she starts to wonder why she is doing it - does she even want to become a doctor? Whose dream is she chasing?

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Part of Your World


Apparently Kohl's recently had a Disney themed line with Lauren Conrad. The fact that I didn't know about this until I happened upon a few items on the clearance rack this past weekend surprised me as I get emails from Kohl's every damn morning (not even kidding).

Currently, Lauren Conrad and Kohl's just released a Minnie Mouse line so I guess they're all relative. The one I stumbled upon seemed to be inspired by Disney princesses. I found a blue wispy dress that was labeled Cinderella and then I stumbled upon a bunch of these fluffy and chic tulle skirts.

Oh hello there!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

What's Sara Reading? May Edition

With all the traveling I did between April and May, you'd think I would have gotten more reading done. I suppose I did (I finished one book below on one flight alone!) but when I see this month's round up, it doesn't seem so impressive. I feel like I read more, though, and I suppose that is what matters most!

I also just received a big box full of tasty new reads from a friend off Instagram and I can't wait to dive into those soon! Is there anything better than pen pals who share your taste in books? I think not! I sent her one or two of the ones below right back.

How is May shaping up for you? I am always exhausted by May's end. May and October seem to be the busiest months for my company. In early May, our annual conference happens in Vegas (see my post on this year's EMC World here!) so everyone is hard at work making it a success. Then, even though we all get a chance to breathe post-show, I seem to always have a lot of personal stuff going on in May due to Mother's Day and both my sisters' birthdays happening in May.

As for October, I don't actually know why it's always so busy, but it is! It tends to be a month full of busy weekends and nights. At least it's busy on a personal side? Hmm...

Anyway, business aside, let's dive into this month's reads, shall we?

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Ahoy, Bernie!


I freakin' love eBay. I know, wasn't eBay the big thing about a decade ago? Yep, but it's still an awesome resource for finding great deals - especially retro/vintage reproduction style clothing. I've found many a dress on eBay from homemade items to gals cleaning out their closets to sample sales from designers.

One of my favorites? The one and only Bernie Dexter!

I have a handful of Bernie Dexter pieces - I think my total is roughly 6 (1 skirt, 1 blouse, and at least 4 dresses). You'd see my Bernie collection and compare me to Ariel: "Bernie's? She's got plenty!" or you'd think I'm rolling in the dough (I mean, the most affordable of Bernie's dresses go for $108 on sale!). To be honest, I am really not!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EMC World 2015: Viva Las Vegas, Baby!


It's that time of year again! Spring! Sunshine! May! Hooray! What else do these things mean? EMC World, my company's annual customer and partner conference in viva Las Vegas!

This was my second EMC World as well as Cody's second time traveling to Vegas with me. This time, he even got our friends Andrew and Dennis to come along so he could have company while I was working in the booth on the exhibit floor. They had such a "mancation" together doing things like visiting the Hoover Dam and the shooting range, eating deli at New York, New York, drinking in the hot tub, and then some.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Pickle Me This...


Guys! I got to visit the Tatyana Boutique last week while in Vegas for EMC World! It was sort of a big deal since it wasn't something that was sure to happen. Since I was working 90% of the trip, I didn't get to visit all the places I wanted to but I had written down spots to find if I had the chance and high on that list was the Tatyana Boutique.

I found out there was one in Vegas only recently while following Miss Victory Violet's adventures around the globe the past few weeks. She shopped there while in Vegas and upon seeing her Instagram snapshots, I added it to my list.

We wound up getting tickets to a show in the V Theater on our last night there - the theater in Planet Hollywood, where the Tatyana Boutique was! We had a packed day so I didn't get to shop until after the show but luckily, the show ended just before 10, letting me hunt down the shop.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Treasures from Bubbie's Basement - Part 2


Last week I shared the kickass dining room set pulled from the depths of my Bubbie's basement. They were grimy, covered in dust, and had some cobwebs about them, but they were beauties to me! Have been ever since I was a little girl.

They spent multiple days in our sun room in their dusty glory, waiting for their clean up. Well, they got it! And this past Friday, I worked from home as I normally do and happily plunked myself down at the head of my new table.


Sure, there's still some age on them that just isn't removable, but they are magnificent now! They are back to life and are now in their final resting place - my dining room!

HOORAY!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies


I love when a treat has a counterpart, don't you? There's the Shirley Temple and the Roy Roger, smoothies and milkshakes, corn dogs and hot dogs, and soft serve and firm ice cream. One of my favorites? Brownies and blondies. Choices - yum.

Out of the above items, do you prefer one over the other? I love me a Shirley Temple, crave milkshakes often, and have always preferred blondies over brownies. Sure, a good ol' chocolate fudge brownie does the trick, but there has just always been something so scrumptious about a really good blondie.