Artsy Fartsy

With all of this extra time on my hands I decided to make something. I am happiest when I am creating...writing, photography, painting, it doesn't matter. Maybe I'll have a second career doing something artistic.

This design is inspired by something I saw on Etsy. The medium is different, but the idea is not entirely original...so I am merely a pseudo-artist at this point. I will work on that. Still...they are as cute as all get out!

Check out my little birdies on 8x10 canvas!

I am debating on whether or not to paint them some little bird legs or not, and I still need to seal them.

Christmas Candy

Joe and I decided that we would try something different this year and give homemade goodies rather than the usual. I personally love getting this kind of stuff because, well, I love nearly anything edible. I found a recipe for an easy chocolate bark with cranberries and pistachios on the DMN that looks yummy. Another item that we are going to attempt is candied jalapenos. I must admit, I am a little nervous by the canning process...boiling and glass with Joe...it just sounds like a trip to the ER to me. We're going to try anyways.



So far the hardest part has been finding a recipe that we like. There are so many variations and we haven't tried them to have an opinion on which is best. I found two very similar recipes in the quantity of all ingredients except one...one called for 4 lbs of sugar and the other called for 4 cups of sugar. WTF?! I am confused. I'm going to buy supplies now. I'll be posting pictures of the process later. Wish us luck.

Parte Dos

I'm back from shopping and 4 lbs of sugar wasn't nearly as much as I thought. I looked it up and there are approx 9 cups in a 4 lb bag. That is still a quite a difference. I was able to get everything I needed at Wally World save the mason jars. I was probably looking in all the wrong places but I was so ready to get out of that place that I just decided to get them at Brookshire's instead. (Brookshire's is a grocery store for all you non-country folk.)

I took a much needed break from shopping and stopped at Starbucks for a Cranberry Bliss Bar and a Gingerslap Latte. Yes, GingerSLAP. That's was I asked for and the drive-thru guy found great amusement in my bumble. Glad I could make his day. It was pretty funny. See what WalMart does to ya? Freudian slips of repressed aggression taken out on innocent baristas.

I have now acquired all necessary ingredients for our night of candy making. Should be interesting...

Parte Tres

Made the "Festive Chocolate Bark" and it was really easy and yummy. I plan to make another batch in a day or so. I've started an artsy project that I'll share later.

I need some work on my food staging, but you get the idea.

Here's the recipe I found on the DMN website:

-1 cup shelled salted pistachios (if you're starting with nuts in the shell, about ½ pound)
-12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, so it melts uniformly
-8 ounces white chocolate, chopped
-¾ cup dried, sweetened cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Lightly toast pistachios on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes. Allow to cool.
Melt semisweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, on Medium (50 percent power) for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from microwave oven before completely melted and stir until smooth (the remaining pieces will melt as you stir). Melt white chocolate separately following the same directions.
In a small bowl, combine nuts and cranberries. Stir half of this mixture into semisweet chocolate. Using a spatula, quickly spread the mixture to about a ½ -inch thickness on a large cookie sheet. Drop the white chocolate by tablespoonfuls over the dark chocolate. With the tip of a butter knife, swirl the chocolates together to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle remaining nut and berry mixture over top and lightly press into chocolate mixture.

Refrigerate the bark for about an hour or until firm, then break into pieces. Store bark in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month. To give as gifts, package in cellophane bags tied with ribbon.
Makes about 1 ¾ pounds.

SOURCE: Adapted from Family Fun magazine by Lisa Centala

The candied jalapenos are questionable. I think we heated them too long so they don't look like the ones you would buy at the store. All in all, the process was stressful. I figure we can try them in a couple of days before we dole them out. But really...how can you go wrong with 4 lbs of sugar? You could put 4 lbs of sugar on just about anything and it would probably taste good.

Shop Local

Through the Dallas Morning News I found this cool site http://www.etsy.com/shop_local.php


It allows you to shop the inventory of local merchants. There's some super cute jewelry and kids things on there.

One of my favs: haute hardware jewelry.

What could be more apropos in a bear market?

I heart Zappos.com

So, if you saw my Christmas list you know there was a pair of redonkulously fabulous leopard cowboy boots on there I found on Zappos.com. Well I was lusting after them on Sat. night and noticed that there was only 1 pair left in my size! OMG! I panicked and bought them. Anyways, I got them today! Zappos upgraded my shipping to Express. Here's the best part for all you Zappos.com virgins that don't already know...free return shipping for up to 365 days after the purchase. This is wonderful considering that I am sending the boots back.

They are butta-soft and comfy which is a big deal with pull-on boots since I have such a high arch, but they just aren't leopardy enough for my taste. The leopard spots are in all the wrong (not visible) places and they kinda just look like some beat-up boots... and if I am going to pay THAT much for some shoes they must make me 100% happy. I mean, the clouds must part and a ray of light from the heavens must shine down with angels singing and all that jazz if I am spending that much. Boo...I wanted to like them so badly.
Anyways, Zappos has all kinds of cool stuff and I've always been very happy with their service. Can't beat free shipping both ways!

One of THOSE People

I don't have any human children, so my dogs get the brunt of my half-arsed maternal instinct. When I bought Phoebe, the breeder had high hopes for her saying that she was a show prospect and that she would like that I'd show her to help promote her kennel and bloodlines. I am sure you could imagine my reluctance to do so.

Well, I decided to do some recon and went to a dog show. You know, just some info gathering. I was pretty much petrified after seeing some behind the scenes stuff. Don't get me wrong, the dog show people are so so nice, but I just don't know that I could ever be that into my dogs. The amount of work that goes into it is unimaginable. Several months passed.

With some prodding from the breeder with whom I've kept contact, I decided to enter Phoebe into a show. I couldn't do it blindly, so I had to take her to a class to figure out which way to turn and how to "stack" her on the judge's table since I would be handling her in the ring. It's like charm school for dogs and I was the pageant mom. I felt like a fish out of water.

I did show her and she came in second place...out of two. haha She got a lovely red ribbon as consolation. I was told that she was better in confirmation, but was obviously not behaving like a seasoned show dog. Now I have the choice to keep showing her, or just keep putting cute little sweaters and bows on her. I must admit I am torn. I have decided that if I continue to show her, I would definitely hire a handler. I am not cut out for pageant life!

I think the look says it all!

Santa Baby...

I feel guilty for even having a wishlist in light of the economic gloom, but here it is anyways in it's materialistic glory.

• Flock of Birds Dress from Francesca's : I love love love this dress. I've had this peacock obssession lately (even considered getting a peacock tat!). Best thing is it is on sale for $ 30!


• Blu Cobochon Rings in black or coral from Max and Chloe- Saw these in US Weekly (Don't judge me! I had kicked the tabloid habit until Joe bought me a subscription last Valentine's Day.)


• Go Go Betsy Satchel by the fabulous Betsy Johnson, Zappos.com- I've loved this bag since I first saw it last January. I almost paid full price to have it on our cruise. I got a dress instead. Good news is, I still love it, and now it's almost 50% off! Yes, it's gaudy, but I lurves it and I wants it! (Hey, if I can't have the classic Marc Jacobs Stam then I can get ridiculously trendy purses and save a G.)


• Leopardito Boots by Old Gringo- Zappos.com I have a pair of Frye boots, but they are a snooze compared to these. These boots are "part cowgirl and part fashionista." I think that pretty much describes me. Of course they are over the top, but that's why I like them. Two sizes left... and my size is one of them. If that's not a sign from the heavens, I don't know what is! Drawback: not on sale :( I may end up buying these for myself anyways.

Put them all together and you have one tickity-tack outfit. haha Don't worry though, I have plans for each item.

Crazy Calls

OK…who is trying to have me committed to the nut house? Last night my cell phone rang about 7:00pm and I couldn’t dig through my purse fast enough to answer. I figured that it was Joe killing some time before his final exam and I would call him right back. You see, given my pathetic social life, the only people who ever call me are Joe and my mother. To my surprise, it was not Joe, nor a number I even recognized. It was a 972 number so I wondered who it could possibly be. I waited to see if they left a voicemail, but they did not.

I proceeded to Google the number to make sure I was not calling a telemarketer back, and to my astonishment, it was Green Oaks Behavioral Hospital. Of course, I panicked. I’d driven Joe to insanity and he’d checked himself in…I should have helped more around the house…poor thing…he’d cracked under the pressure of working and going to school full time and before his last final, he’d lost his mind. I’m the worst wife ever!

I called the number straight away and got the receptionist who was completely unhelpful. She informed me she had no way of knowing who called. My mind raced with the possibilities...had a concerned co-worker deemed me anti-social for not eating lunch with her and called the mental hospital…had someone taken the initiative on my constant threat to get on anti-anxiety medication since I continue to procrastinate…nah. I’m not THAT crazy.

I went through a laundry list of straight jacket-worthy friends and family. I texted Joe and dialed my parents. No one could offer any possibilities. I checked my phone’s history once more to make sure I’d not looked up and somehow dialed the wrong number. I noticed then that I’d missed a call on 10/30 from the same number. It wasn’t purely chance. Someone at the mental hospital is trying to reach me.

It is, as one could imagine, unnerving to receive mysterious calls from Dallas’s well known loony bin.

What if some crazy person is half assed stalking me?

What if someone I know is locked up and trying to contact me in vain?

I’m kinda freakin out…maybe I should go ahead and see about getting on the anti-anxiety meds!

I Feel Like Alex Trebeck...

I am sure all teachers feel like Alex Trebeck at some point.

The Chupacabra Lives!...in my yard!

About 6:30 this morning, Joe got up the let the dogs out for their morning potty ritual. I remained in bed relishing the fact that I didn't have to get up for at least another hour. Suddenly, I hear a scuffle from the flower bed outside the bedroom window, a squawk, and a booming "HEY!" from Joe, proceeded by Harry barking like crazy. My heart began racing, but I figured the dogs had scared a rabbit out of the bushes as a family of them has taken up residence in our yard.
I waited (in bed, of course) for Joe to come in and tell me about what had gone down. He walked into the bedroom clutching his chest.


Joe: Ohmygod, babe, something jumped out of the bushes and bowled over Phoebe! (our 4 lb. yorkie).
Me: So that was her I heard. What was it?
Joe: I don't know...but it was it was this big (holding hands 2-2.5 ft. apart) and Phoebe was just sniffing around the flower bed like always and it shot out and knocked her over and took off across the yard!
Me: Well, was it a cat? What color was it?
Joe: I don't know...it was moving really fast..it looked like it was hairless!
Me: (Concerned about some hairless creature lurking about the foliage outside my window, stalking my little dogs...) Do you think it was trying to get her?
Joe: I don't think so, but it scared her pretty bad and she cowered and ran for the back door...she didn't even get a chance to potty.
Me: Did she pee on herself? (Cause I would have probably peed myself in such a situation).


We checked and she'd not peed herself...and thank goodness, because I'd already given her one bath this week!


Returning to the morning ritual, Joe put the dogs back in bed with me and went about his routine. I tried, but I just could not go back to bed. There is a freakin' chupacabra waiting in the bushes to snatch up one of my babies! So here I am....writing this blog at 7:00am.


(If you don't know what a chupacabra is, I highly recommend doing a google search. You will notice there are some VERY different ideas of what the creature is.) Below is just one of many variations:

Brave New Blogosphere

Hello! You found us! Check back for all sorts of randomness that is life in Casa del Arnold. Without getting too personal, let me divulge a little about the members of the Casa. There's Joe, fresh off the jet from nearly 2 years in Iraq, college student, and new Broadcast Engineer. Then there's me, Sarah, secondary English teacher, and blogger extraordinaire. Also inhabiting the Casa are Harry, 3 y.o. maltese, and Pheebs, 7 m.o. yorkie, the most spoiled dogs in the world.

I've been blogging under the protection of Myspace for about 3 years now, but figured since our lifestyle has matured somewhat, I could be a little more open with my posting. However, I won't be giving up the guilty pleasure that is Myspace anytime soon, so look for my posts on there too if you are a Myspacer. Hopefully, I can keep this little blog alive..unlike my houseplants. :(