Fourth Year

Oh hi there. Long time no see! I have lots of excuses why that is but the main one is:

it's Scott's fourth year of medical school.

I can't believe it! Anyway, I thought I would explain a little bit about what this year looks like for us. It's kind of complicated so bear with me. If I get something wrong you medical folks, forgive me.

Let's start with the basics. Scott is an osteopathic medical student (want to learn more about what that is? Go here). The other philosophy of medicine is allopathic which is what an M.D. trains in. After medical school both D.O. and M.D. go to residency. The length of residency varies depending on the field of medicine the student chooses. Once all is said and done Scott will be a fully licensed physician (same as any M.D.) but he will have D.O. after his name.

At both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools, there are 4 years of school. The first two years are in the classroom. The second two years are clinical rotations. There are differences depending on the school with how the 3rd and 4th year are laid out. For Scott, his 3rd year of medical school had 9 months of 1 month rotations in mostly primary care medicine (Family, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine). All of these month long rotations were set up by the school and all students had to complete the same rotations.

White Coat Ceremony 2011

4th year is a little different. At Scott's school and in the D.O. world (I don't know much about the M.D. process) the student schedules two week or month long clinical rotations in the first half of the year in the field of medicine they want to practice. Most of the time they schedule rotations at the residency programs they are applying to. These are called "audition rotations". The student spends two weeks to a month with doctors and residents at one of the residencies the students is applying to. This gives the student and the doctors/residents a chance to see if the student will be a good fit at the residency program. Often the audition rotation determines if the student is invited for an interview during interview season. Students typically schedule their audition rotations between July-November. Interviews begin in November and run through January.

Audition rotations can take you all over the country. Scott has audition rotations scheduled in Michigan and West Virginia. Because of the speciality Scott wants to do, we are limited to certain areas of the country. It's not like that for everyone.

Once the student is finished with audition rotations and interviews. It's time to rank the residency programs for the Match. The Match is what determines where you go to residency. The student ranks each program in numerical order starting with their first choice. The residency programs do the same thing to their applicants. Both the student and residency submit their rankings and some magical algorithm in a computer matches a student and a program based on the rankings both submitted.

At this time, there are two matches. The AOA Match (D.O.) and the ACGME Match (M.D.).  At this time a D.O. can participate in either match and can attend either a D.O. or M.D. residency. An M.D. can only apply to the ACGME Match because they have not been trained in osteopathic manipulation (Side note: in the next few years the Matches will be combined and there will only be one for both D.O. and M.D. students). The AOA Match is in February and the A.C.G.M.E. Match is in March. Scott is participating in the AOA Match this year so we will find out where we are going for residency in February 2015.

Mr. VCOM Pageant 2013

After the audition rotations, Scott will be back in the New River Valley completing the rest of his fourth year rotations in various fields of medicine. I can't remember all of them but I know Emergency Medicine is one of them.

Scott will finish rotations in April, graduates in May, and will most likely start residency in July.

CRAZY! 

Anyway, to sum all this up. Scott has been gone since the beginning of July and will be back at the end of November. We trade off who visits who and we Facetime A LOT. (What did we do before iPhones?). Because 4th year is so expensive with all the traveling, we downsized. I am living with my parents while Scott is gone and we have rented our townhouse to another VCOM couple. We will relocate in January to live with Scott's mom so Scott will be closer to the hospitals he will be working at in the New River Valley. We are so incredibly thankful for our families' willingness to let us mooch. Love y'all.

So, yeah, we are basically nomads with two cats in tow.

why not?

It all started with a New Year's resolution. More like a phrase, really. I wanted to take risks this year and step out of my well worn comfort zone. So I decided to ask myself a question each time an opportunity arose, and the question was "why not?" The purpose of that question was for me to examine why I was saying no and hopefully encourage me to say yes.

I put this to the test a couple of times in early January, I went riding on a scooter in the Bahamas, slid down a huge water slide (that may not sound like a risk to you but it's not my thing, people!) both of which I would normally say no to. In mid January, I decided to stop making excuses and start dancing again, because why not?  If you know me or my family, you'll know my sisters and I grew up dancing. After high school I went on to major in dance in college. I continued to dance after college but not nearly as often. After a couple of years my "real" job started interfering with rehearsals. I decided that it was time to give dancing up. So I stopped. That was in in May 2012.

Hear no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil -1997

 Soon after college I started dealing with anxiety and even had a couple of panic attacks. It got even worse during the summer of 2012. Late last year, I started to see a counselor and began working on strategies to cope with my anxiety. Through that I realized that the start of my anxiety coincided with not dancing often, and then getting even worse when I stopped dancing entirely. Now, I don't believe that not dancing was the reason for my anxiety. I had a lot of life changes going on (getting married, graduating college, husband in medical school, new (stressful) jobs) but I do believe that I used dance to cope and relieve stress most of my life. Once I took dance out of the equation I lost my best coping mechanism.

Diamond Fairy in Sleeping Beauty - 2003

Thankfully, I have learned to cope with anxiety and stress without dancing (let's face it, my body is slowly deteriorating and it's not going to be able to dance forever!). In January, I decided I wanted to revisit one of my first loves - dance. I had taken a class before with a student organization on Virginia Tech's campus and decided I would try that again. I ended up finding a student organization specifically focused on ballet and my sisters danced with a couple of the dancers in the organization in high school. I contacted one of them and she gave me their class information. She also asked me to audition to be a part of their show in March. My first instinct was to say absolutely not! I knew I was out of shape and older than all of them. Yet, I asked myself the question, why not? I couldn't think of any real reason not to. What was holding me back was fear. I decided to audition and audition I did. They accepted me and thus my dancing career started again.

College - 2010

There have been days when my feet hurt, days when I was tired and felt too old, and days where I didn't feel like dancing. BUT through all that, I still felt joyful, exhilarated, and alive each time I danced! What is the saying? Absence makes the hear grow fonder? That's usually used in the context of relationships but it's true with almost anything. I took dancing for granted for so many years. Now, I appreciate and treasure each time I get to dance because I know what it's like without it and I know there will be a day when I truly won't be able to dance anymore.

To Build a Home - 2014 (photo credit: Kevin Dickel, photo courtesy of Ballet Project at Virginia Tech)

So ask yourself when an opportunity arises, why not? Who knows where it will take you. 

to my littlest sister

Annalee,

Today marks the day YOU graced the world with your presence. I can't say I remember too much about July 31st 1992, but what I do remember is getting a mermaid Barbie among other toys. I guess Mama and Daddy were trying to bribe Katie and I to like you. Unfortunately, it didn't work on me.

Up until you were born it was just me and Katie. It's hard to believe now but Katie was very quite, shy, and did pretty much whatever I wanted. I was THE boss (Sorry, Katie. It's made you a stronger person!). Then you show up, with your blonde hair and chubby cheeks. Let's just say you stole the spotlight that I thought was trained on me. All the attention suddenly was on you, which is totally understandable... now. Unfortunately, my childish brain could not see reason. I took on a personal vendetta against you.You did nothing to provoke it but be adorable. For the next 18 (probably more like 19) years I was MEAN to you. Seriously, I was terrible. I was critical, I pulled pranks on you, the list goes on and on. Through it all you were always so sweet. You took everything I gave and more with grace. That alone should have tipped me off that you were something special. In all likelihood, it did and fueled my jealousy more.

All I can say now is that I'm glad with age comes wisdom. Our relationship has been on the mend for several years now.  I'm sorry it wasn't sooner. I missed out on so many years of sisterly friendship because of my selfish jealousy. What's even more incredible is that you were open to my friendship after years of abuse. No, anger or resentment, you just took me as a friend without question. Again, it's a testament of what special person you are. I want you to know that I regret those years but I'm so thankful that God mended and changed my heart towards you. I treasure you, sweet sister.

You are a beautiful, kind, faithful, forgiving, spontaneous, Jesus loving woman, and that just scraps the surface. You are so many things I am not and I love you for it. Thank you for all you have taught me through the years. Thanks for loving me. Oh, and have a Happy Birthday.

Love you, littlest sister.

P.S. Congrats on being legal! I owe you a drink when you get back.

gettin' thrifty with it

Goodwill, oh, Goodwill! Why must I always leave thee empty handed?

Ok, let me just go ahead and put this out there.  It's not because I'm snobby or have high standards, it's because there is literally nothing worth taking home at my local thrift stores.  I read all these blogs and magazines and they talk about all their AWESOME finds at thrift stores. All I ever find are ugly Christmas mugs and faded silk floral arrangements. I have better luck with clothes, it's the home goods section that stinks. I know that the nature of thrift stores is hit and miss but I seem to be missing consistently. Then I went to Goodwill yesterday on a whim and my luck changed. Let's just say I did not leave empty handed! Check out my spoils....

 Sorry for the blurry-ness but if you made out that the sticker says $0.95 you would be absolutely correct!!!! Seriously a complete Apples to Apples came for under a buck! Scott and I love this game but never wanted to spend $20+ on it. 

 Then I found these beauties. I think I got all 3 for under $12 bucks. They were marked down at Goodwill. I didn't know they marked stuff down!

I think I want to hang them somewhere. Kind of along the lines of this: 

 Source

   Last but not least, I found these milk glass vases. I think they were $2 a piece. 

I was thinking of using them like this:

Source

 or this:

Source

Do you have good or bad luck at thrift stores?

four generations

Do you have a flour sifter? Well, I didn't for over two years of my married life. It made things difficult when I was baking but I made due. One day I was in Target and there was a flour sifter! So I scooped it up and put it in my basket. (Probably along side some other random items. That seems to always happen when I go to Target. It  looks like a schizophrenic was wondering the aisles!) I got home and I was so excited. The next time I baked something, I whipped that sucker out. I put the flour in and soon realized that I would be sifting flour for the next two weeks. IT TOOK FOREVER! I decided it was better for dusting sugar on a cake then for sifting 4 cups of flour. So my search for a flour sifter continued, and you know what? A good sifter is hard to find my friends! I told my mother my dilemma and she said that I could have the one she uses because Mema (my grandmother) was giving my mom a much larger sifter that Mema doesn't use anymore. Hallelujah, my search was over!  So on my birthday last week, my mom gave me the flour sifter. The cool thing about it is, the sifter was my great-grandmother's, Claudia Elizabeth, whom my mom and I are named after (The middle name that is). I'm almost positive, Mema used the sifter as well. It's pretty cool to think that four generations have used this mundane kitchen utensil. Well, I say "have used" it but I haven't actually made anything with it yet. Don't worry I will!  I love the design on the sifter. It's so happy with the yellow and green flowers!

Do you have something that has been passed down through your family?

30 before I'm 30

It's official, I'm half way to 50 and in the grand scheme of things I'm really close to 30. Since that is the case, I thought I'd make a list of things I want to accomplish before I turn the big 3-0 in five years. I'm not always the greatest at executing list such as these (See Summer Fun List) but I have some time to accomplish this list. So here goes!

1. Put at least one stamp in my passport
2. Restore an antique piece of furniture
3. Read the Bible cover to cover
4. Visit New York City with Scott (We've never been together) 
5. Have a kiddo? (Don't get your hopes up! Scott will be in the throws of residency by the time I'm 30!)*
6. Go on a missions trip
7. Ride a roller coaster
8. Make a recipe from the Art of French Cooking 
9. Sponsor a child 
10. Run a half marathon? *
11. Go to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.
12. Dance in the rain (Ok. I have done this but it's been a long time) 
13. Visit the Grand Canyon 
14. Go ice skating 
15. Give away 30 things that are not clothes
16. Cut my hair short... really short. 
17. ROAD TRIP! 
18. See the Tsavo Lions at the Field Museum. Long story. 
19. Make our wedding album
20. Decorate a cake. Like REALLY decorate it. 
21. Visit Disney World
22. Decorate our guest room 
23. Finish Atlas Shrugged
24. Redo the guest bathroom 
25. Make a terrarium   
26. Go to a Major League Baseball game. ( I know, it's sad! I lived in the Atlanta area for 16 years and never saw a Braves game!) 
27. Read all the Harry Potter books.  
28. Give blood. 
29. Try out a new skill... specifically calligraphy  
30. Learn a Second Language... I understand the likelihood of fluency is slim to none but I would like to know some basics of another language (besides Latin that is... Et Tu Brute?)

Whew! DONE! It was really hard to think of realistic stuff to put on here. I understand this is a list and the point is to cross things off but I don't want to be so absorbed in crossing off items that I miss the journey. Here goes nothing!

* Disclaimer Alert! Things I'm not sure will happen but in an ideal world would. 

ladies of the road

A couple of weekends ago my sisters and I had a little road trip down to Bristol, TN/VA. If you don't know much about Bristol here's what you need to know.

First, the state line goes through the city.
Second, it's the birthplace of country music.

The whole reason we went to Bristol was to see Mumford & Sons in concert. Their tour was called Gentlemen of the Road, hence my title. If you don't know who they are you should check them out!  They were amazing live. The concert was called a stopover which meant they had other bands playing all day. Basically a music festival and it turned into a city wide festival. Bristol closed down the main street, there were local bands playing on the sidewalk, and lots of food. Businesses had signs in their windows welcoming Mumford & Sons and there were banners up around the downtown area. Mustaches were EVERYWHERE! (They are a signature of the band.) It was pretty cool to see a whole city excited about this band coming.

Some interesting things that happened were:
- we were honked at and had more catcalls shouted our way then I think I have ever experienced. (I guess that's what happens when I walk around with my pretty sisters.)
- Annalee and I almost suffocated from all the second had smoke from cigarettes and, a hem, less legal substances. We probably would have failed a drug test. Katie, on the other hand, had no ideas because she was sick and her nose was so stopped up she couldn't smell.
- I also decided that concerts would be much more enjoyable if women were not allowed to scream. I think I lost a good deal of hearing thanks to a girl behind me. She was screaming like a banshee.
- Also, I wished I had videotaped a group in front of us. They were absolutely ridiculous. They pantomimed the words out to every song. It was kind of funny.

All in all, we had a grand ole time. 

just for kicks

Age: 24

Bedsize: Queen (someday we'll update to a king!)

Chores that you hate: FOLDING CLOTHES

Pets: One kitty cat -Mia

Essential start to your day: Going pee 

Favorite color: To wear I like black or neutrals because I'm boring. In and around my house I like green but not a dark green, I like happy greens! 

Gold or Silver:  I have to choose? if push came to shove, silver

Height:5'7"

Instruments you play:I took a year of piano. I don't think playing chopstick counts though

Job title: Assistant Event Coordinator

Kids: Not at present

Live: Blacksburg, Virginia

Mother's Name:Jane (Goes by Beth)

Nicknames:Sarey (by my mom) Sarah Sarah Sue (by my Grandfather)

Overnight hospital stays: none

Pet peeves: When people are driving and are getting into a turning lane but straddle the line the entire time. Drives me crazy 

Quote from a movie or tv show: "There is a patch of blue sky! Let us chase it!"

Right or Lefty:  Righty.

Siblings: Two younger sisters

Time you wake up: As late as possible. 8am ususally.

Underwear: What does this even mean? That I wear them in general or I prefer boxer or briefs? You'll just have to live without the answer!

Vegetable you hate: I don't hate vegetables, there are some I prefer not to eat but will if made for me. I'd say eggplant isn't at the top of my list.

What makes you run late: Sleeping in

X-Rays You've Had:One of my chest when I had pneumonia

Yummy food you make: My husband's favorite is my meatloaf.  

Zoo Animal: Tigers

Maybe you found something new out about me. If not, well, sorry I guess you  know too well!  Maybe I'll get Scott to do one but it will be more manly!

New Beginnings

I love spring. I mean who doesn't? If there is such a person I don't think I want to know them. Harsh words but true. One of the many reasons I love spring is it's a season of rebirth and renewal. Every year around March I think that winter is never going to end. I think something has happened to the seasons and I will be stuck in an endless winter. Just when I'm about to give up all hope and settle into the ice age, overnight little buds start popping out and the daffodils bloom. When I see that my heart sings, I have a pep in my step, and the world seems so much nicer. Everyone is happier. Even though I have no statistical evidence I do believe less murders happen in the spring. It just makes sense.

Illustration of my above sentiments

Reason for spring fever

The reason for all these musings is I'm starting a new chapter in my life. No, I'm not pregnant. I have a new job! Some of you may know I have been very unhappy in my now previous job. A door opened and I am now assistant event coordinator at the War Memorial Chapel at Virginia Tech (whew! That's a mouthful!) I won't go into details but my unhappiness in my previous job was definitely affecting my life outside of work. I know no job is perfect but I'm so thankful for this new beginning. (Fun Fact: War Memorial Chapel is where Scott and I got married.) I've only worked one day so far but I'm thankful that God gave me a fresh start. The schedule is flexible and I get Thanksgiving and Christmas off which is fabulous! I'll be busy in the summer with weddings but I'm so excited to be doing something I want to do. So those are the deets peeps! How fitting that my new beginning starts with the beginning of spring?

What do you hope spring brings for you? 

The Cookie Chronicle

A couple of weekends ago I set out on the mundane task of grocery shopping. When I walked into the store I saw Girl Scouts. It was like those little girls in tan and green had a glowing aura around them and the Hallelujah chorus in the background. I knew what was now number one on my grocery list. I got the unimportant necessities of life and some cash back. I made a bee line to the Girl Scouts, who, like the sirens in Greek mythology, beckoned me to crash my diet on the rocks of Caramel Delights. I got up to their table and those shrewd innocent girls told me they were almost out. I just wanted two boxes of Caramel Delights and a box of Thin Mints. To my great disappointment they were out of Thin Mints (of course). Those cunning little scouts said if I got 5 boxes I would be put in a drawing for a year supply of Girl Scout cookies. They had me at year long supply. I scooped up the last four boxes of Caramel Delights and one box of Peanut Butter Patties and I trotted out with my spoils. I got home but hid them because I didn’t want to share (I was having a Selfish Sarah Saturday). To my great chagrin Scott found them. He walked out of the pantry with the look of disbelief on his face. He said, “ You got five boxes???” I said, “Yes.” rather sheepishly. I think he still couldn't believe it even with the weight of five boxes in his hands. The feeling of a total glutton hit me in the face. I asked myself why in the world do we need five boxes of cookies? I mean seriously. We decided we would just have to pace ourselves. Fast forward two weeks and we still have a few cookies left. Scott and I have a tendency to uh- er, over indulge so it's pretty much a miracle. Don't worry, those Caramel Delight's days are numbered.

So what is the moral of the story?


Don't trust Girl Scouts.

Christmas fit for a King (or two)

Christmas is upon me whether I'm ready or not. Thankfully, I'm ready. Scott bought our last present yesterday. All, save the a fore mentioned, is wrapped and under the tree. Did I mention that today (technically yesterday) was Scott's last day of school for a whole week and a half!?!? Hallelujah! He needs it more than I do but I'll be glad to have my giant teddy bear around all the same.  Anyway, if you'd like take a gander at what our little castle looks like during the Christmas season scroll on down!

All wrapped up and ready to go!

Wrapping paper compliments of TJ Maxx. Also this may seem lame but I always choose two different wrapping paper designs. One for the guys and one for the gals.

My mom gets us a new ornament each year. S is for Sarah and Scott!

Scott calls this my Charlie Brown Christmas tree. But I like it and besides I needed some Christmasy-ness in our dining room/kitchen! 

We started this tradition last year. We saw off the a little bit of the stump and make it into an ornament for each year. Pretty neat. Can't say we thought of it though. The guy who sold us the tree gave us the idea.

My natural tree in the dining room. I used decorative lights I had around the house instead of Christmas lights, hung pine cones, and used little decorative balls from a bag of potpourri. 

I used some left over balls from the tree and filled in this tea light holder for a Christmas-y feel. Also I found that reindeer in our attic.

The view from the couch. I love coming home to this!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I'm rather excited about it. It's a lovely holiday. You get to see your family but not be broke from gifts. Also you get to stuff yourself as full as the turkey on the table. What? Just me. Er-uh, moving on. Recently, I realized from talking to my married friends I have yet to go through an important rite of passage. I have not cooked a Thanksgiving meal. Dun Dun Dun. Scott and I have been married for two years and I have yet to baste a turkey or bake a pumpkin pie. So I've been sitting around listening to those a for mentioned friends, who are nervously planning a every minute detail of their Thanksgiving meal, and I feel completely incompetent. Not incompetent enough to do any thing about it mind you. I will continue to bask in my lack of duties and be served delicious food by my mother. I wonder though, is that a bad thing? Possibly. I'll probably be 30, children running all over the place, and be 2000 miles away from my mom, begging her through tears to tell me how to fix the blasted turkey over the phone. Oh well. I'm ready to deal with the consequences later. For now I'll continue to gorge myself on the delicacies presented to me by the expert- AKA my mom.

Yup. Thanksgiving is awesome.



What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

24 going on 84

As many of you know I just had my 24th birthday. By most people's standards I'm still a youngin' but at times I question my youth. It's not really aches and pains or pops and creaks. It's something more important. You know how they say an elephant never forgets? My friends, I'm no longer an elephant! My memory is quite terrible. The problem is I really have no excuse. Most people have some reason for their "senior moments". Like having kids, a stressful job, or getting on in years. I have none of the above so what the heck is going on? You may think I'm joking. Well, let me give you an example. This story requires a little set up to understand so bear with me.

Ahem.

When we moved into our house in August 2010, I wanted Scott to change the lock on our front door. You know, just in case someone out there had a key. We painted the front door that day and were waiting for it to dry. It was getting late and we realized we had not bought the doorknob/lock for our door. We could not go to bed without one because I didn’t want any creepers creeping into my house! Scott went to Home Depot and grabbed one. It was the type where you can turn the door knob on the inside whether it’s locked or not. You can probably see where this is going. Anyway, we’ve lived with it like this for a year and never had an issue. My first “Sarah moment” as I will call it, happened at the beginning of August.  I grabbed my purse, my lunch, the Netflix to mail, and out the door I go. Notice anything missing? My keys. I’m now locked out of my house and my car. Scott is in class. My parents are 40 minutes away.  I call my newly made friend Sarah Pupillo (Our husbands are in medical school together) and she graciously took me to work. (I’m sure she thought I was crazy!) This was my first offense so I thought no big deal. False. The very next week I did the exact same thing! I walked right out the door without my keys. As of right now I’m having another “Sarah Moment” and I can’t remember how I even got to work but I got there late. Fast forward two weeks. We have an audit a work that day, which is a big deal. Guess who walks out the door that morning without her keys? Yes, you guessed it. ME!!!! My poor parents had to come get me because no one close by could help me. (If I ever move away from them I’m in big trouble.)  I got to work an hour and half late. It was so embarrassing on so many levels. I’m the office idiot. This is not the last time.  I did it again on a Saturday when I was meeting my mom and my sisters. I had to walk down the road and across Main Street to Books-A- Million and loitered around for an hour. My question is who forgets to get their keys 4 times in the span of a month? I think I’m the youngest person ever with Alzheimer’s! We have resolved the issue so I can’t lock myself now but that in itself is embarrassing, that we had to make “special” arrangements for my brain. On the bright side it makes for good stories!

Time to make me feel better! Have you had any “Sarah Moments” recently?

For those that want to know...

Scott:
He is now done with three weeks of medical school! Yay! Of course that's really just a drop in the bucket but it's something.  The first week was mostly orientation. Then his second week was full on classes. The third week started tests. He has at least two tests a week from here on out. Usually on Mondays so I don't see him during the weekends. Well, I don't see him during the week either! I was warned about that many times but that doesn't make it any easier. We set aside Friday night for date night though. We usually try to have a few dinners together during the week as well. I think we are getting into a groove now. Also for anyone that would like to know this block he is taking microbiology, immunology, histology, pathology, genetics and a couple of others I can't remember! The way they have classes set up at VCOM is in 10 week blocks. So he starts a new block in October with new classes. Below is a video from the first week of school if anyone has some time to kill. You can see where he takes class, see some of his professors and classmates. Scott is in there a couple of times too!


Sarah:
Let's see, um... well hmmmmm. I finished watching all the Harry Potter movies. Yup that's about it.


Here is the video for Scott's first week of class:

The Princess and The Pea

We all know the story of the princess and the pea. If for some reason your mother did not love you enough to share this story with you, here is a brief synopsis.

There was a prince and he wanted to marry a princess (the usual). Well, the prince searched far and wide but could not find the right princess (high standards). He came home from his search quite downtrodden. Later, on a stormy evening, a knock came from the door. The prince opened the door (of course, the butler had to be off).  There stood a girl, drenched with rain, who claimed to be a princess. Well, as these things usually happen, the prince was smitten. His mother, on the other hand, was not. The queen decided to test the "princess". The queen went and heaped a lot of mattresses (the exact amount is to be debated) on top of a pea. The queen knew only a true princess would be able to feel a pea under all those layers. The next morning the queen asked the princess how she slept. The princess said it was awful. The bed was so lumpy she was bruised (princesses are delicate you know). That was proof enough for the queen. Soon after, the prince and the princess were married and they lived happily ever after (this is also to be debated). The End.

My friends, I have a confession. I'm the princess. Yes, 'tis true. I mean, Sarah does mean princess in Hebrew so it's no wonder that I have princess tendencies.  Especially when it comes to my sleeping environment. They are as follows:

1.) Bed. It really has to be my bed. If not, I cannot, will not sleep well.
2.) Human contact. When Scott and I were first married I could not go to sleep with any body part of his touching me. I have actually gotten over this. But it is limited. A hand or a foot, but that's about it. 
3.) Darkness. I have to have complete darkness.
4.) Noise. I cannot have noise except from my fan. See number 6.
5.) Sheets. They have to be straight for me to get in the bed. I don't like twisted sheets.
6.) Fan. I have to have the noise of a fan. This is where it gets complicated folks. It can't be just any fan. My fans are held to high standards. It cannot click or make any repetitive noises. It has to be on low.  It cannot point at me ( I don't like wind in my face.) It has to be facing a certain direction. I can tell if it's not in the correct direction by the sound it's making.
7.) Pillow. It HAS to be my pillow. I also can only sleep on a certain corner of my pillow. Scott has tried to see if I really HAD to have my pillow and switched it out with his. I knew instantly. Don't mess with my pillow!

If any of these things have not come to pass the night before, the princess (that's me!), will have dark circles under her eyes and be very grouchy the next day. Some might say I'm neurotic. Well, probably most of you do. I'm sure any guy that's reading this is thanking sweet baby Jesus that they didn't hitch their wagon to mine. It takes a special guy to deal with a Hunter gal. (That's another blog in itself.) Thankfully, I found that special guy who can deal with my "princess-ness" aka my neurosis. So, what are you supposed to take away from this entry? Deep sympathy for Scott, I would think.

Welcome to the King Spa...

It's beauty night at the King house. Actually, Scott and I just wanted to see how nasty our pores were.

It might not be good but it's a reason...

I created this blog more than two weeks ago. Why you might ask have I not blogged anything? Well blogging when it comes down to it isn't very easy. At least to start off. So for this first installment of Living Like Kings I'll delve into why I created this blog.

I decided to start a blog for several different reasons. The reasons are below and in the order they came to me.

1.) I'll just be honest I want to be cool like all my friends that have blogs. Extremely unoriginal and superficial but a fact none the less.

2.) I made myself feel better about my above reason by telling myself that Scott and I have family and friends that are interested in our day to day existence. Which (hopefully) is true.

3.) I dug a little deeper after reason number two. I can be slightly negative at times and tend to ignore the little things in life. For instance the funny thing Scott said the other morning or an act of kindness I observed at the store. Things that make your life more colorful and meaningful. I want this blog to make me more aware of the little things. The positive things. Because let's face, it no one wants to read a boring and/or negative blog.

So all aboard. This could get interesting or totally tank. I'm crossing my fingers for interesting.

-Sarah