Happy Holidays from The Network

This is me, my co-workers and the Board of the National Network of Abortion Funds.  Every day women call us and our Funds when they are short on the money they need for an abortion.  They've already asked everyone they know to borrow money and sold everything of value that they own, from their text books to their wedding ring to their diaper bags for their children they already have and love.

A couple days ago we got a letter in the office from a woman who was about my age.  She had recently lost her first child at a very young age and was continuing to pay off the cost of the funeral home.  She had left an abusive relationship and was struggling to get her life back on track.  She was incredibly grateful that we were able to help her pay for her abortion.  But we didn't pay for it.  People like you did.

For many women and teens, a small amount of money is all that separates them and the life they imagined for themselves; it's all that separates them from being able to make their own decisions about their lives and their health and having to carry their pregnancy to term.

I really believe in what I do and in what we all do together at the National Network and that's why I gave a gift this year, to be there for women in need.  Maybe if you're in a position to do so you'll click here and join me too.  I promise you there will be women around the country who will be very grateful.

St. Germain Cocktails

I've seen more and more specialty cocktail lists featuring drinks with St. Germain lately.  I had never heard of the concoction but I enjoyed all the drinks I tried with this intriguing sounding liquer.  St. Germain, I have since learned, is a French, elderflower spirit.  And it is delicious.  


Just this past weekend I had a Sparkling Pear cocktail at Sandrine's that was Grey Goose Poire, St. Germain, and cremant de bourgogne.  It had great pear flavor and none of the sharpness I expected from such a vodka-centric cocktail.  


In my exploration of paper and blogs I found this recipe for The Vieux Mot on http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/.  

1 oz Gin
1 oz St-Germain
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Sim­ple Syrup
1/4 oz Cointreau

Sounds yummy, no?  And then there's the Yellow Bicycle which is a half ounce each of St. Germain and Yellow Chartreuse with 4 ounces of Prosecco.  


A friend also gave me a tear-out of cocktail recipes from a St. Germain ad - what ingenious advertising!  It features such treats as the Elderfashioned which is 1/2 part St. Germain, 2 parts bourbon and 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters.  Or the classic St. Germain and Champagne, which in addition to being as simple to make as it sounds, also rhymes!  Add some Chambord and a blackberry for a delicious riff on a Kir Royale.  

Holiday Party Excitement

In addition to my tree, the other holiday cheer in my life revolves around my upcoming holiday party.  I have an elaborate menu planned out and I promise there will be pictures and recipes to come.

But first things first: the invitation!  I have been wanting to buy real paper invitations for a long time now and I finally decided this was a great time to splurge.  Let me tell you, the enjoyment I got from them was worth every penny.  From the "oooh fancy" remarks when we asked for people's addresses to send snail mail invites, to merrily addressing them in my new gold paint pen, to the excited reaction when people got them in the mail,  I never knew I could find so much joy in paper! (Okay I suspected, but now I know.)

New Year's Eve and My Addiction to Bad Movies

Why do I want to see New Year's Eve?  I'm not sure.  I should have learned my lesson after Valentine's Day.  But sometimes awful movies are awfully awesome.  Sex and the City 2 comes to mind.  I mean, I watch Jersey Shore people!

All I can think is "How cute!" and "How funny!" and "But what an amazing cast!" "Zac Efron is so dreamy!" And I know that's what they want me to think.  I know it's a ruse.  And yet...who wants to go with me?

Whaling Ships and Letterpress at Mystic Seaport

A few weeks ago I went to visit my parents in Stonington.  We went to Mystic Seaport where you can walk around a preserved maritime village and board the last remaining American whaling ship.  

This is the hull of the Charles W. Morgan, currently being restored.  It is the last remaining American whaling ship in existence and you can board and tour it even as it is being restored!

My favorite shop in the village was the old printing press.  Can you see the cases of letters on the left?  All the large letters are in the "upper case" and all the small letters are in the "lower case."  You learn something new every day.  

They still do their own letterpress printing by hand here and they created these beautiful sheets about the Charles W. Morgan.  So authentic and so pretty!

Decking the Halls with Christmas Memories

I love Christmas and I love having a real tree in my home.  I really believe that every tree can tell a story, and here is mine.  

This Santa is an Annalee doll; we've always had them in my home and when I think about Christmas I always remember my flannel sheets, Christmas blanket and my Annalee elf that wrapped around one of the posts of my bed.  On the right is an antique ornament, one of many that have been in our family for what feels like forever and are now split between me and my siblings.  

I was the first child.  It's pretty clear from these ornaments my grandfather made out of my photo.  Also, I received about a million different bear ornaments since people called me (and sometimes do still call me) Sara Bear or Sara Bear-a

Some of my early hobbies: violin and ballet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             My donkeys!  The first because I'm an eternal pessimist and because we went to Disney World. The second to represent my 2004 summer in Boston and my progressive values.  Also a foreshadowing of my most recent move!

Hand-blown glass ornament made for me by my little brother.

One of my favorite ornaments in the bunch. I bought this to represent Jake and my first Christmas together in our own home.  

And if you happened to be wondering "Where are the bagels?" you just found one!  My classic order was a toasted sesame with scallion cream cheese. Mmmmm mmmm good.  

Rick Perry Doesn't Know the Voting Age

I love a good train wreck so I really love this Republican primary.  

If only this was the dumbest thing to come from a Republican primary candidate.