Blessed

I LOVE Southern California. It's just so beautiful... I feel so blessed that my street is lined with Palm Trees + that I'm 2 miles from the beach. Couldn't ask for better weather. Even though I LOVE the snow/rain, I don't think I'd trade my sunny So Cal days for it. :)

xoxo

Hike # 1 ~ Santa Ynez Canyon Trail

Tried out a new hike last weekend. It was a good one, although - I didn't go on the hike I originally intended.

Unfortunately I got a late start, and didn't get to start the hike until around 3:45... Dumb! I was so bummed, because I knew I wouldn't get to finish my hike :( When I started out too, I got a little ways into the hike, hoping I could just rush through it to cover all the ground... and ran into a park ranger! He was like, "How far are you going", and then told me he didn't recommend it because a) it was going to be dark soon, and b) because they have 'lost' some people that didn't find their way back to the original trail... Whaaat??? You don't have to tell me twice! So, I just decided to get as far as I could by like 4:15, to allow at least 45 min to get back. I ended up making it to the turn point, and went left instead of right, to let me go further! :)

I plan on going back to get to the Waterfall Trail -- but this time I went left and just did the Trippet Ranch Trail. The hike was beautiful - although, it's hard for nature not to be right? I'm not picky - it's just so nice to be in the great outdoors! I absolutely love hiking + can't wait to explore lots of new trails this year!! My goal is to hike at LEAST once a month, but ideally every two weeks! :)

Here are the hiking specs if you want to give it a try! I'd definitely recommend it :)

Santa Ynez Canyon Trail to Santa Ynez Waterfall

Topanga State Park

'Hiking distance: 3 miles round trip for the waterfall, 2.1 miles for the trippet ranch trail

Elevation Gain - 300 feet

Maps: U.S.G.S Topanga, Santa Monica Mountains East Trail Map

Summary of the hike: Santa Ynez Canyon is a lush, stream fed canyon & natural sanctuary filled with oaks, willows, sycamores, and bay laurels. The trail follows a forested canyon bottom with numerous stream crossings. Santa Ynez Waterfall drops off the cliffs at the narrow, steep-walled branch of the main canyon. The 18 foot cataract resides in a peaceful grotto surrounded by sandstone cliffs and fern lined pools.

Driving Directions: From Santa Monica, drive 3 miles north-bound on the PCH/Highway 1 to Sunset Blvd. Turn right and drive 0.4 mi to Palisades Drive. Turn left and continue 2.4 miles to Vereda de la Montura. Turn left & park at the end of the road 0.1 mi ahead.

**Note: It's sort of a weird starting point. You are in a neighborhood essentially. The road ends because there is a gated community and you have to have a code to proceed. When you get there look to the right and you will see the sign for the hike + trailhead :) Park on the street... It's sort of a steep hill, so I parked at the top + walked down.

Happy Hiking! :)

xoxo

Recipe ~ Broccoli + Potato Soup

Each week I plan on trying out a new recipe! :) Last weekend, I was craving soup, and decided to try to make it from scratch. It turned out pretty good. Here is the recipe + some pics!

Broccoli Potato Soup:

2 medium red potatoes, chopped

1 14-ounce can reduced sodium chicken broth

3 cups small broccoli florets

2 cups milk

2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese (8 ounces)

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

Ground black pepper

1: In a large saucepan, combine potatoes and broth. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covererd for 8 minutes. Use a potato masher to mash potatoes slightly. Add broccoli and milk; bring just to simmering.

2: In a medium bowl, combine the 2 cups of cheese + flour; toss gently to coat. Gradually add to potatoe mixture, stirring until cheese is melted. Season to taste w/pepper.

3: Top each serving with greens + shredded cheese if desired.

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Per serving: 365 cal, 18g fat, 74 mg chol, 782 mg sodium, 28 g carbo, 4 g fiber, 23 g protein

It turned out pretty yummy! I accidentally used regular gouda cheese instead of smoked! It makes a ton! Only downside of living alone and cooking for one, is the leftovers. And I HATE leftovers. I almost never want to have the dish again, so unfortunately the food goes to waste! :( I do have two great Hungry Girl Cookbooks (great!) that have low serving sizes ~ so I will be making a lot more from there! :)

Happy Cooking!

Recipe from: Shortcut Holiday Cooking Magazine (Better HOmes + Gardens Special Interest Publication)

I love cooking magazines + cookbooks! :)

xoxo

Sara

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone :) I know it's a little early -- but I would guess at this point that it's a little late to say Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday + may 2010 be your best year yet! I had an amazing Christmas + am truly thankful beyond expression. It was so great to celebrate Christmas Eve with friends + Christmas with family. Busy but amazing! I am really, really looking forward to 2010. I know that it will be amazing!

Two of my goals for the New Year, are to cook more + to hike more. Two of my favorite things that I don't do nearly enough! I hope to try at least one new recipe each week (hopefully more!) + at least one new hike each month (hopefully more!)! I will help track those goals with this blog + will be posting new recipes + hikes in the LA & surrounding areas. I'm excited.

This past weekend I made soup from scratch + went on a new hike. I will post both of those tomorrow!

More later. Sending lots of love.
xoxo

Holiday Bliss!

I absolutely love the holidays! How could you not be in a good mood with all that the holidays bring: great Christmas movies, amazing Christmas music, fun holiday parties, great times with friends and fam, baking, and just enjoying the JOY of the season!? I just can't get enough. This past week/weekend, I went to the grove to see the Christmas decorations + LOVED It. Totally reminded me of New York City! And then this past weekend, I went to Christmas Lane in Oxnard to see the Christmas lights there. I love love love Christmas lights + decorations. I can't wait till I'm able to do a huge outdoor display of my own!:) I am going to go all out - Clark Griswald style.. haha!

Love holiday traditions!! What are your favorite holiday traditions? This year I got to start two new traditions! I went to my first cookie exchange + loved it. Love the concept of everyone baking + then sharing the cookies & swapping them. I attended this year, and want to host one next year! I am already excited to plan it. So fun! Also this year, I am obsessed with Christmas ornaments! I seriously love them + want to buy them all! I started three different ornament exchanges with friends -- and have gotten a TON of ornaments from it. I LOVE it. Will definitely continue that. It's great, because obviously with this economy, not everyone can do gifts, especially outside of your immediate families -- so an ornament exchange is great, because you get one in return + it's something that everyone can use! Who doesn't want/need ornaments? I will definitely be getting a bigger tree next year -- just to fill it with new ornaments. :)

Speaking of ornaments -- if you need any, a great place to go is Kohls!! They have GREAT sales on ornaments, and you can get really cute ones for cheap! :)

This weekend, I also got to do two more of my annual traditions (it was a very busy weekend!) -- Me + my two best friends did our Annual Baking Party! It's so much fun to get together + bake, and was fun this year because we added an ornament exchange. :) Secondly, my family had our annual Seven Fish Feast. It's an Italian tradition, where everyone brings a fish dish (crab dip, calamari, shrimp dishes, etc...) to share. It's supposed to be Christmas Eve, but we always celebrate early. Lots of fun!

Another great tradition, and probably the most meaningful for me, is Project Adopt a Family! Every year, I adopt a family for Christmas. In the past I have gone through Lutheran Social Services + adopted from there, but this year, my non profit that I am on the board of directors for, Cancer Hope Foundation, adopted two families from our cancer camp. Two very deserving families. Soo, I just decided to focus on that. This year, things are hard for EVERYONE with this economy so I knew it would be a challenge. But I am COMPLTELY BLOWN AWAY by the response I got from my own friends & family for these two families! I sent out an email to my closest friends + family, and got an amazing response. Tons of people volunteered to buy gifts and/or gift cards + it was a huge blessing. This last weekend, I drove all around picking up gifts from friends that had gifts to donate, and it was just amazing to see! My entire trunk was FULL of gifts to give -- I felt like Santa! :) It was so great, and amazing to see everyone come together to make a difference. It's amazing the impact you can make when you pair up with people! Totally the ripple effect -- Love it :) So a HUGE THANK YOU To the awesome people that donated gifts and/or gift cards: Debbie, Robin, Angela, Dino, Jess & Eli, Debbie & David, and everyone else. Sorry if I'm missing anyone! I can't thank you enough - I am very grateful + hope you know that you made a huge impact in the lives of others :)

I just love traditions :) Always looking for new + fun ones to add.

Hope everyone is doing great.. Only 3 days till Christmas! INSANE! Even though I feel like I've tried to savor this season, it has still flown by. I still have so much to do!!! But tonight, I must go home + rest, because I need to fight off being sick, and after an insane weekend like the one I just had, I really need to rest up! :)

Lots of Love!
xoxo

Project Adopt a Family!

Thank you SOOO much to everyone who helped contribute to Project Adopt a Family! My non profit organization, Cancer Hope Foundation, adopted two families this year to provide Christmas for them! One family, lost the father this year, and so it's a single widowed woman with two children & the other family is a single mom with three children. The first family lost the father this past year to cancer, and the second family - the single mom with three kids -is currently battling cancer!! Both are amazing families + deserve the best Christmas ever. Soo, that's what we are planning :)

My friends and family have been amazing!! At my small group Christmas party Monday, instead of doing a big gift exchange with each other, we all brought gifts for the families! :) On top of that, I sent out an email to my friends & family, and the response has been HUGE! I've been picking up gifts all week from people wanting to help. I love that I have generous friends, that really take time to make a difference this holiday season (and always!)!! So thank you, thank you, thank you!! I am so beyond grateful!

Love you all!
xoxo

Two Great Things!

One of my FAVORITE causes to support is KIVA!
www.kiva.org
http://www.kiva.org/lender/sararose4389

It is honestly SO much fun choosing the businesses + people that you want to support and giving them loans. It's micro-lending at it's finest! I absolutely love it + always look forward to lending! :) To date I have given over 38 loans, and 2 gift certificates, and have 4 successful invites to friends/family that have signed up to loan on Kiva. It's awesome!

I am SO happy to announce that Kiva has won 25K from the Chase Community Giving Contest! Check it out: http://www.kiva.org/about/inside/2009/12/16/kiva-wins-25000-in-chase-community.html AND they are eligible to win more in the next round.. so be sure to vote :) :)

The second great thing is this:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/la-county-animal-shelters-to-discount-holiday-pet-adoptions-by-30.html

LA County Shelters are having a special on pet adoptions -- $30. Read the article for details and the day this special is in effect. That's a huge value -- because it includes the adoption fee, microchipping, and spay/neuter.

They are doing this because there are over 90K animals that go to the LA shelters EACH year! It's heartbreaking. :( Spread the word to all your friends and family! If you've ever thought of adopting, what better chance!! :)

If the timing doesn't work for you now, please bookmark this site: www.muchlove.org! I volunteer with this great animal rescue organization, and we are always looking for great pet parents! One of the things that I love about Much Love, is that they go to the shelters to adopt, and they choose the animals that have dates up to be euphanized. They are saving those that are in the most need!! :)

Sending lots of love.
xoxo

Christmas Letter

Dear Friends & Family,

Sending you lots of love this holiday season. Wishing you a VERY Merry Christmas & fabulous year to come. May 2010 be the most amazing year yet. :)

I am SO thankful to have such a great group of friends and amazing family that seems to be ever expanding. 2009 was filled with amazing adventures + joy, and I feel so blessed!!

Some of my highlights this year!
~Visiting my nieces in St Louis
~Mini family reunion in Palm Springs with my sisters
~2nd Annual trip to Yosemite/Bass Lake with my sisters
~Bali & Singapore vacation with one of my best friends
--While in Bali – went white water rafting, rode an elephant, and fed monkeys!
~Sacramento trip to visit my elementary school friends
~Mexico Cruise to celebrate one of my good friends’ bachelorette parties
~Another amazing weekend of volunteering at Camp Keepsake & another year of being on the Board of Directors for Cancer Hope Foundation
~Celebrated my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary
~Became the Director of Oasis Preschool & Leader on the Social Justice Team at my church
~Started volunteering at Much Love Animal Rescue
~Went on a Social Justice trip to Mexico with my church
~Had season tickets to the Pantages Theater in LA & saw some great plays like: Dirty Dancing, Grease, Legally Blonde, The Grinch, etc.
~Took some free cooking classes at Williams Sonoma
~Discovered some new hiking spots in the Santa Monica Mountains
~Started cake decorating with a friend
~Had an amazing day of wine tasting with friends & family to celebrate my birthday
~I celebrate 4 years with my company, Aerotek, in March 2010
~and so much more..

It was filled with adventure and I had a great year. :) I am so excited to see what 2010 will bring! Some of my goals for 2010 are: go to grad school, move to a bigger place, adopt a dog, go white water rafting again, go skydiving, and travel to Israel & Costa Rica. :) We will see what the year brings!

Anyways, that was a long update! I hope to hear from you all too! I want to hear all about what’s going on in your lives. Hope that your year is filled with hope, love, joy, & adventure!

~Sending lots of peace, love, joy, & adventure your way!
Xoxo
Sara

My new blog: http://srclivelaughlove.blogspot.com/

Thankful!

2009 has been a whirlwind! It has seriously gone by in the blink of an eye, and now it's time to gear up for 2010. I am so thankful for the many blessings in my life ~ especially my amazing family & friends. I couldn't be more excited for what 2010 will bring. I thought it'd be fun to start a blog to chronicle my adventures, so here I am! Should be fun. Eventually I'd like to do something like in the movie Julie + Julia, where she cooks through a cookbook. We will see :) Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for updates. xoxo