...a new home...

I've officially accepted the fact that I live in Chicago.

I have also officially accepted the fact that my last name is Erickson, not Sheets.

As such, I decided it was time to officially say ADIOS to sarahcsheets.blogspot.com, and HOLA to my new blog...whizbangs.

Welcome to Chicago.

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From September 29, 2011

From October 3, 2011

...hair cut...

hopefully highlight of my day...

getting my hairs cut.

non-highlight of yesterday...

thinking i was getting my hairs cut, taking a 30 minute L ride, and being wrong about the day of my appointment.

this was an especially sad moment for me, as i had discovered that myself, my sister, AND my mom had all unknowingly scheduled hair cuts for the same day. turns out i was the lame one who missed out.

oh well.

so...in less than an hour i need to decide what to do with my hairstuffs.

potential ideas

lots of layers, and keep the side-bang (which i'm currently sporting having grown out my blunt bangs)

short hair, and back to the blunt bangs

keep it long, and bring back the bangies.

i never know how i'm going to get my haircut until i'm in the seat and ready to go. but one thing i know, is that i'm going to steer clear from any haircut resembling this...

...so true...

is it ironic that i'm posting this from a coffee shop?

and that i just applied to work at starbucks?

and that i'm about to go return four books that i picked up from the library earlier this week?

yes, i read them all.

...jane and barbara...

Remember this?

Although Jane and I are still in the process of becoming well acquainted, I was contacted by Barbara, who very well may be Jane's best friend.

Barbara sent me an email asking me if I would be willing to make a copy of a cookie recipe for her. Well duh, of course I would! As a cookie lover myself, saying no wasn't an option. As we started emailing, it became clear to me how sentimental and important this recipe was to her and her family.

Although she grew up eating Jane Christopher cuisine, there was one particular recipe that she was ready to have back in her possession. Section 7, Oatmeal Cookie Mix Cookies.

This recipe is a family favorite. Barbara's mother, Edith, used to make cookies every Thursday for Barbara and her three siblings, (LOVE that!!), and it was a good day when these cookies filled the jar.

Edith originally purchased the box in the 1950's at a Weingarten's grocery store in Bayton, TX. Every week, Weingarten's would sell another section of the recipe's for the box, and Jane Christopher also published a recipe weekly in the Houston Post.

Somewhere along the road, oatmeal cookie mix cookies went missing...and they've been looking for it ever since! The Houston Post is no longer in print, and google is pretty sparse in Jane Christopher hits. (In fact, my blog is the top hit for the recipe file...) What I LOVE, is that Barbara's mom is the one who found my blog and post on Jane Christopher. Way to go Edith! :)

From left: Dad (Jack), Barbara, Martha (sister), Lynn (sister), and Mark (brother).

Mom (Edith) in front.

This is what a well used recipe file SHOULD look like! :)

It turns out, the Jane Christopher Recipe File is something of a classic, even holding a spot in the Americana section of the Library of Congress. Boo Yah!

It was such a pleasure emailing with Barbara, and I'm so glad I was able to have a small part in reuniting her with her favorite cookie recipe! And lest you readers think these cookies are just going to be made for her family, you are wrong! The first thing Barbara said to me was "I work for a chemical company in Houston (sit at a computer processing railcars-no outdoor work!) and I can't wait to make these for the always hungry railcar loaders who work very hard all day in the south Texas heat and humidity." Have fun re-filling that cookie jar Barbara!

Here's to happy tummies!

p.s. if anyone else decides to make these cookies, let me know how they are!! They are in my kitchen's immediate future for sure!

...malin marie king...

A very happy birthday to the newest member of the family...

Malin Marie King!

07/08/11

5 lbs, 6 oz.

How perfect is she?!

Her gender was a surprise to her momma and daddy, so we are all off to buy lots of incredibly girly things for Malin.

Tim and I can't wait to see her in August! Stonybrook, NY...here we come!

...the low down...

Here's the skinny...in sequential order

I'm a bad blogger,

bad birthday celebrator,

bad sister,

and bad daughter.

I'm working my best to rectify all of the above, and the devote some of my plentiful free hours of time on getting the WORD out on the oh so exciting life of moi.

Following is a small picture homage to my sister Abigail. She turned the age of twenty-seven on May 23. Thankfully, I was able to be in CO on the 24th, and a cake was made. No big deal, only 5 layers; but I WOULD go so far to say as one of my better looking creations.

She's such a good sister she even visited me in Chicago! The Bean!

She's such a good sister she eats the questionable food I cook!

She Matron of Honor's for me.

She's such a good sister she deals with not only MY antics, but also his.

After Abbey's birthday, it was time to celebrate SPENCER and his high school graduation!

It's pretty ridiculous that my little brother, who was unquestionably the cutest child EVER, has graduated. Congratulations buddy, I'm your biggest fan.

AND THEN, Father's day. Obviously, I had to see my dad on the big day, so we met at the Albuquerque airport. That's just how we roll.

Actually, I was lucky enough to be included in a psuedo-family vacay. And by lucky enough to be included, I mean I guilted my dad into including me by moaning about the woes of unemployment in a pricey city.

I love my dad, and I'm glad there's a specific day set aside to recognize how great he is. Anyone who knows me and my parents notice how alike dad and I are; from blue eyes, to the same nose, to the same tendency to believe we are always in the right. :)

All I know is that he's a great influence, has made incredible sacrifices for our family, kept me on the right path, and always threatened to punch anyone who didn't like me in the nose.

And by the way, he's a darn good athlete.

Dad, I just want you to remember that I SUCCESSFULLY mowed the back yard when I was in Colorado. We're making great strides.

...Attention Barbara in Texas...

Hi Barbara!

I'm so glad someone else knows about the Jane Christopher recipe box, and has actually used many of the recipes! I'm still exploring myself, so I'm excited to hear about which ones were your favorites.

I would be happy to make you copies of some of the recipes, but the only problem is...I don't have any contact information from you!

Please feel free to email me at

sarahcsheets@gmail.com

and I'll start copying those recipes!!

Looking forward to hearing back from you!

...the X factor...

Oprah gave me a big N.O. when I tried to win tickets to her show.

So much for "favorite things."

It's a good thing I didn't go through with this tattoo.

Well... I'm going to The X Factor instead. Take THAT Oprah.

I don't really know what the X-factor is, except for my friend Jill told me that it's the show Susan Boyle was discovered on.

So Jill and I are going.

They are taping a show here in Chicago, and I'm off to see the infamous Simon Cowell yell at some undeserving people. Excellent!

One particular nugget of interest is the dress code required for all X-factor guests. Since they can describe it better than I, here is the dress code, verbatim, from the confirmation email.

DRESS CODE IS STRICTLY ENFORCED FOR OUR INTERNET TICKET HOLDERS! Hip, uspcale attire is mandatory. Colorful, spring colors are requested. ABSOLUTELY no apparel with logos of any kind on the front or back are allowed in the studio audience. ABSOLUTELY no t-shirts, sweatshirts, white tops, shorts, or flip flops! We'd prefer you don't wear jeans. Please dress hip and upscale as if going to a nice club or restaurant. You will be on camera so it is very important that you dress nicely! When you look great, the show looks great!

IF YOU DO NOT DRESS ACCORDING TO THE DRESS CODE YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.

Yikes.

Hip, upscale attire...I'm going to OWN* you on May 20th!

*no reference to the Oprah Winfrey Network. I boycot all things Oprah. Except for Nate Berkus, as I have recently submitted a request to be on his show in hopes that he buys me a new couch.

...mother's day...

I'm glad there is a whole day devoted to mothers.

I think there should be several dispersed throughout the year, so we are constantly reminded of how much our mother's do for us. But one day is a good start.

When I think of everything my mom means to me, I can't really find the appropriate words to explain it in writing.

Thank you mom for being a constant supporter, and always fiercely standing beside me with unconditional love.

Thank you for being a role model as a mother, companion, friend, and most importantly as a follower of Christ.

Thank you for drawing faces on my fruit and vegetable stacks.

Thank you for your unwavering help and support in the past couple of years when I moved, and then moved, and then moved again, and then got married, and then moved again.

Another great thing about you is that you're an awesome dancer. And sometimes when you're talking you break out in a truly convincing southern accent. (But only for a couple of words)

Thank you for setting an example in your marriage for Tim and I, Abbey and Josh, and yes, eventually SPENCER.

Thank you for being a best friend to me, and to everyone who has had the pleasure of being close to you.

Thank you for taking care of this poopscotch.

And this one...

Thank you for not caring when I make you ugly/"unique" cakes with a #9 candle on top.

Thank you for being willing to risk having a meal with me when I used no directions in cooking.

Thank you for your company.

Thank you for being who you are, and for teaching me what it means to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

I LOVE YOU MOM!

And I couldn't let the day go by without also saying a big HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my mother- in-law Victoria Erickson. Thank you for raising your son to be a wonderful man of God, and also my husband! :)

...sunshine...

Today marks day three of sunshine in the city of Chicago since I moved here over a month ago.

Yes.

I'm counting.

Finally enough sun to open the tulips and encourage leaves to actually grow.

SPRING!