2014 in review

okay. don't blog since the summer but here's my annual review of the year! 

january/February:

`finished my winter break course I was taking at the college farther away to bang out some credits

`started college full time with 17 credits. it was honestly a holy experience

`such a snowy and freezing cole winter (its here again). did lead to some SAD blues (NOT A SIN BTW) due to so wicked low vitamin D

`also got really into raw food dieting. in no way a fully raw (freak) but really implemented more of those wonder foods and eat about 2 or even 3 raw food meals a day. usually. dairy is usually the downfall. cheese, man. 
`had a few good skypes with my SA loves. miss them so. 

        

this is one of the only pictures of have from winter 

march:

`a week before my birthday my mom lost her job. total shock. she's amazing and resourceful and literally had people asking her to work for them that day and is at a much healthier workplace and thriving. God uses everything for his glory. 

`I had zero plans to join any extracurriculars while at school. I met a teacher (who is now like family) that advises the student volunteer organization and I joined and became the secretary (keeping track of all the minutes) and it had been a super life giving experience. anywho we serve and funded a dinner at our local and awesome (sustainable and trusted) city mission. it had been a few months since I had done that kind of stuff and man did I miss it. it's fun, joyful, and humbling.   

`turned 19. wow. wasn't all the eventful of a birthday honestly. went to my fave italian restaurant with my mom and dad. cavetalli cooked to p e r f e c t i o n. i got a sewing machine. another check on my dream endeavors to bring God glory in my niche for him. ;)

april/may:

`my mom turned 51 on Easter. the hottest, most amazing, kindest, loving, caring, could go on 51 year old in the world

so pretty. got her genes. at this really good italian restaurant we ate at after my cousins father's wake. does everyone go out to eat after wake/funerals or is it just italians?!

`my nephew Luca (technically my 2nd cousin but we're italian so go with it) was born. so presh. 

`did another service project with my student volunteer organization at a local shelter for homeless and sexually exploited teens. was really intrigued by the place and set up an interview to intern/volunteer over the summer. 

`finished my first semester of college with a 3.8 GPA. my goal was deans list and I made it to presidents list. to God be the g l o r y. amen. btw and I'm getting better at this leaning thing and its kinda beautiful, i still get my days. 

summer: 

`such a busy time. june and july was a mix of the worlds worst human bio class (grateful for my edu but HOLY CRAP it was just death and lots of tears, so much time and effort, STRESS, I STILL DONT KNOW WHAT A CELL IS) and my other summer class, my internship at the shelter, my  job, studying, future planning, summer socialization (or lack of note AWFUL bio class). I took a CLEP test so I got to get out of my introductory psych class (saved time and money. 

mommy and dad at the festa. i'm just noticing the italian world cup shirt on my dad. so much ginny. 

`my fave beginning of summer tradition is this italian fest with amazing food and pretties decor and atmosphere (you just run into everyone) at this italian church. we go like almost all 3 days haha. 
`Because of my summer classes and such I didn't go to Africa this year. Ugh so hard. kinda an identity crisis but kept myself busy for sure. Mission still came up when I got to mentor the SA mission team on children's ministry stuff. LOVE and honored. My friend Courtney was going to SA missions trip and I got to help them shop for all their supplies and pay for it. If you can't go, you give. Court also stayed a few extra days in SA to help at the same place I did last year and I got to send a picture with a letter on the back to each of the kids and a necklace for the girls and candy for the boys and babies. The oldest boy I was close with got a Yankees snapback and the oldest girl I was close with hot a hairband. They loved everything even though I with I could have got to gov sit to them in person. They sent me back a card and pics I loved and I called them on Skype and they said they miss me. That call gave me such a rush.  

`went hiking with my dad at thacher park when the summer classed peaced out. 

                                             

`

`my internship at the youth shelter was a really good experience. I mostly helped the clients fine and apply to jobs and apartments, go to DSS with them, help them with schoolwork, fundraising, and recreational/ art therapy activities with the clients, helped the staff. learned a ton too that I wouldn't really be able to learn in a classroom

they were so good at scrabble. i got really into it and still rarely one and i'm a words girl. 

`wildwood was in august. so good to be back. good food (fish tacos, chips and salsa, ice cream, gelato, coffee, italian cookies, pasta, banana chocolate chip pancakes, pizza). getting addicted to the water and waves and getting pulled out way to far and realizing you can't touch the bottom and you tray to swim back to shore and you can't and a life guard has to help you and then you can't find your sister for a half hour after. reading love does on the beach. remembering old memories and making new ones. remembered following the Micheal Brown case here too, it had just happened and so hreatbreaking. Black Lives matter!!

`my niece, Gia, (technicaly my 2nd cousin but we're italian so go with it) third birthday

`after a sabbatical or more a drought from crafting I got to catch up on some crafting in august. and all God's people said amen.

september/october/november:
`this semester flew by sooo fast. I had 18 credits. Mostly good professors thanks to rate my professor.com. My classes were Statistics, Western civilization, social problems, abnormal psychology, interpersonal and group dynamics, and physical geography. Interpersonal and group dynamics was my favorite class for the content and teacher but I also like abnormal for the professor too. Physical geography was so boring like bad but I mad this really embarrassing but good video project last minute for the class and got out of the final for it and got an A for the class! I did so well grade wise and for all A's and a B in stats a 3.83 gpa and made the president's list. Ahhh! to god be the glory.
`La turned 23 on October 6th. I actually got her a really good gift- a snack subscribtion since I fled the country on her bday last year.
`I didn't actually go anywhere for halloween-shocker! But at work I dressed up as mary poppins (with out buying anything) an dressed up my resident as the old man from up. it was perfect.







`so for my interpersonal and group dynamics class we do a group project called a service learning project. we address a need in our community a do something about it all while working in a group and practicing communication skills. I had a group that restored my faith in group projects. we helping the Girls on the Run club at our local elementary school. we asked business for donations of healthy snacks for the club and got monetary donations so we could have a team tshirt making day. we went to their practice and official 5Ks too. We wrote encoring notes each week for the girls.
Because I cannot say no I signed up to be a "running buddy" in the spring, I love kids!

my group!

`Mommy and I in the fall took a few trips to Scoharie a small, really rural town about a half hour away for the scenery and this really good cafe that has all farm fresh meals. killer food.

she'll kill me for this pic. cider doughnut bread pudding though. 

`thanksgiving was really good. the parade, lauren and I had our annual sbux coffee date, i worked for a bit. we went to our last holiday at aunt sharons (before she sold the house) and the whole family was there. so fun and yummy. probably the best dessert was the brownies my cousin andrea made. her kid, valentina was sooooo cute and I hadn't seen her in awhile and she has the best personality. andrea and marc are really good parents too. Laur and I drove dom and nico to bart's house and they got locked out so then I drove them to their cousins

December:
`Started out kind busy with the week before and finals week.
`I was really busy planning for a lot of it a Christmas party with gifts for the clients at the youth shelter I volunteer at. I was able to get a lot donated and fundraised. YAY! Put a lot of time into it.
`Also have an insanely GENEROUS friend, Tanneal, that brings and helps coordinate Christmas gifts and dinner to over 74 families in municipal housing in our town so I was helping her at a few events and donated a few of my signature paint bucket gift baskets to her families and fundraisers.
`my aunt kate and uncle dick visited literally the week before an part of finals week but it still was a really good visit with them
`Had to put my sweet orange boy down

RIP Burturm

`Went to visit lauren in Brooklyn. It was my first time seeing her apartment and it was nice to toole around the city and go to the is South African restaurant, Madiba, I've been dying to go to. It was really good and fun. All I bought was the TIME Ebola Fighter Person of the Year magazine while most girls shop on pink or whatever.

`took my mom to see Elf the musical for Christmas at a local theater

`Participated in Dressesmber (only missed one day!) see above photo
After church Erinn, her boyfriend Eric, kristen, and I had lunch at Chipotle after church and stayed awhile, we went to the Asian supermarket too and it was a fun afternoon.
`Christmas was really good. Worked both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Sad I missed church cause working eve, we were out of power too for quite a few hours, "dinner" if thats what you'll call it was at my Aunt Pat's, really quiet there just because family always has to be all over. We hosted Christmas day and it was good too. I got out of work really early. Such good food! I begged mom for no gifts but she mostly just got me "gifts that give back." We all looked through old pictures which was really fun too!

`For Christmas I went on a Christmas letter writing spree started with a letter, picture, and sweets an headband for every single one of my South Africa loves. They are never forgotten. PRAYING the USPS and the SA postal service do their thang and get them to my loves!
`Sorta facing the post christmas, low vitamin D, IT'S SO COLD, my dr. took my off a medicine too drastically blues mostly anxiety. Jesus plus mommmy plus crafting plus more bible and jesus is the cure but mostly Jesus and Bible.
`New Years Eve. Such a fast and beautiful year. Today I read the Word, did some crafting, ate a gingerbread milkshake from stewarts (thanks dad!), met Mom and Leigh (her coworker) for lunch with laur at the standard (really good time), drove home with mommy, did this and some crafting, visited my grandparents and finishing this review. I good day to end a blessed year. About to go finish my 2014 memory jar!

Thank you Jesus for another year. So grateful, thankful, and hopeful.

P.S. Seemed like I really followed through on my 2014 declaration. Sanctification Station as Jami Nato says. Yay! Go God!

YAY 2015!!

a full plate.

i don't know what the purpose of this post is- sorta just a ramble-y journal, i suppose. i'm about to have a massive plate next week for quite a bit. i have a 2 1/2 week intersession thats 3 credits, yum. and the new year and working 2 jobs, and going full time to college ( i have da besst schedule ever though i crammed everything into pretty much 2 days and one night class holla), writing a children's book (thats a slooow process though), speaking to local churches about adoption and orphan care, home work and studying (my FAVORITE), serving in youth ministry, learning new trades, and starting my dream job that helps others. oy! it might be just a bit hectic but i can do all things through christ who gives me strength. hallelujah! i'm pretty motivated and going to have to learn to manage my time like a boss like neva before. as i always say God's got my back. 

six things

1. I'm DONE with school (HALLLLUUUUJAHHH) but I need to find my creative streak again. I plann on selliing my jewelry at more botiques but I want to paint. Painting sounds wonderful right now, like painting these! They look rad!

2. I also was doing semi well with healthy eating habits and quitting sugar due to the persuasion of one of my faves and need to get back on track ASAP because I felt great and productive but my flesh loves sweets. Sorta a post for another time though. 

3. I have a slight obsession with this blog and all their home and garden projects. I'd love to do beekeeping and a whole coop of chickens like them! 

4. After I get my diploma, my besties and all the peeps whole helped my get that gorgeous paper aka my diploma are going to celebrate at Chipotle with burritos and lime and salt tortilla chips. Because food and friends are my love language. 

5. A few weeks ago at Target I got a mini doughnut maker on clearance for $8!! I'm thinking PB and Chocolate doughnuts. Yes, a few bullets ago I spoke of getting back on to quitting sugar. #thestruggle

6. I've been pressured for wayyyy long into getting a twitter and comedy vlog because I don't think I have great comedic timing when I write most things. But I also want to put more spoken word poems and cooking and crafty stuff on here as well. 

                                                                                                                 {source}

belated catch up

Joke of the day! What did the mama tomato say to the baby tomato? Ketchup!!

Get it?! Cause of the title! El oh el!!!

Anywho, the past two mouths of my life have been CRAZYTOWN, USA!! So sooooo so much change, excitement and disappointment and a chapter ending in TWO DAYS!?!? ** (I wrote this May 29, then two days before school ended, its June 4^th now, oops)**I end government-instituted education on Friday (DID IT!!). I’m sooo happy and excited and waiting for God to open more doors for this next chapter. I know that’s sort of crazy and irresponsible but God’s changing and thawing me out to the woman he wants me to be. It’s hard and there’s been a lot of tears shed about this unknown future of mine and what God wants me to do first but I know His timing is perfect. I’m pretty sure His timing is more confusing than the trinity to understand but I just ask like I understand it. And God is a million, trillion times more creative than me so I just go with what he wants for me. I want out with a bunch of my older girlfriend the other night and one of  them was having the same struggles as me with not knowing where God wants her to be and things like that. The devils top prioiorty is making you feel alone. Although I didn’t want this friend to go though the same struggles as me but it felt good knowing I am not along in the journey. This friend was saying how she fasted until she heard God speak. I thought that was so selfless and brave and I felt encouraged to do the same, with instagram, pintrest, and sweets. I’m going fab on the instagram and pintrest one and well ugh is it hard to give up sweets but that’s for another post. But holy freaking cow did God start speaking and moving! So stop reading fellow lurkers and start fasting!! Go brave ones!!!

**as said before, this was written on may 29 and its June 4^th now. my life is crazybusyville, ny, usa.**

*i celebrate and break fasts with iced coffee*

stream of consciousness

a stream of consciousness, brought to you by the brain of jackie servideo. 

hallelujah praise the lord on highhhh!! SPRING HAS SPRUNG IN UPSTATE NY!!!. 

no more of that!! 

natural vitamin d makes me giddy like a soccer mom likes her new minivan. 

i made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from here to send to my friend erinn, (for her birthday) who deserted me for a                            higher education. 

i made the first batch at 9'o clock and forgot to put oatmeal in. good job, jackie!! 

then i redid them and they were fantastic. i love a cake-y cookie. 

when i was at the post office sending them off, the clerk asked if there were any "flammables, explosives, illegal substances..." and i replied "nope just cookies!" he did not crack even the slightest smirk. 

my coworker got the cutest.cat.EVER. fits in the palm of your hand!! so soft and fluffy and cute.

  proof.

i hate to say it but it might even be cuter then my chubby boy. 

i can't decide. also the camera adds ten pounds. 

i wrote a kick a$& paper for my ethics class. five glorious pages about adoption, one of my favorite topics. i just know that God will use me someday in the hard, beautiful, god-glorifying process. 

i need to use my big girl camera more often. i need some subjects. 

this little chick make a great one. 

but my fave subjects ever are thousands of miles away. 

love her. love the smile. love red dirt. 

a man at my church sang the song below. if you're in the mood to cry. listen. 

happy monday!

(i secret love monday's, love a good fresh start.) 

sweet bits journal- march

everyday before i go to sleep i write down the best part of my day. in helps keep things in perspective and everyday might not be pure unicorns and rainbows but there is something good in e v e r y d a y. 

 

`march 1- much needed mental health day. made peanut butter pretzel brownies. 

`march 2- Went to one of my fave restaurants with my nonny. satisfied my taco salad craving. 

`march 3- church fun, my friend, Jessie, gave my a dress, with to the craft store with my ma and scored. 

`march 4- made the entire home and careers class, laugh, at my obnoxious fox story.

`march 5- noon dismissal, i love you. 

`march 6- life groups made my crappy day much better and we ate guyanese curry together. 

`march 7- olive garden with my co-workers. i love my job. 

`march 8- snow day. thank the LORD! 

`march 9- worked a double, cleaned, crafted and shopped with my ma. #productive

`march 10-fun church day, realized as i was nodding off to sleep that i forgot to do an essay. fun times.

`march11- my mother picked my up from school with a cupcake. 

`march 12- almost cried while watching the bachelor. that's a problem. it's classy sister wives.  

`march 13- loved life groups. ate lie pig. 

`march 14- late night thearpy, i mean target run with my ma. scored big. made banana chocolate chip bread at 10 PM.

`march 15-brought in my banana bread to work like a good italian girl does.     

`march 16- saved/signed up to die 5 years ago today. God, you are good. 

`march 17- brought my aunt to church with my today. had an lol fest with a text banter with my bestie. 

`march 18- failed my road test and sobbed like spongebob in the episode with his grandma and the cookies but listening to this song lifts my up big time. 

                         

`march 19-snowday. thank you jesus. addicted to the hunger games. 

`march 20- went to one of my fave restaurants with my ma. ate like a barbarian. 

`march 21- my one friend presh and and I love to vox eachother. we had a good feed going today!! so grateful for friends. 

`march 22- no school. prayed that god would help me find a replacement or work tomorrow so i can go to my friends birthday shindig. walk into work with a cover. boom. 

`march 23- sweet babysitting gig. besties birthday dinner was a grand time. 

`march 24- preschool kids church today. did resurrection rolls with them. they seemed to get it for a bit but then they were all "so jesus melted?" great. MY COLLEGE BESTIES ARE HOME!! #sociallife

`march 25- finished the first hunger games book. soooo good. props suzanne collins.

`march 26- had a driving lesson that i was super bitter about going to and then the teacher, who goes to my church, gives me two more lessons for free, and moves up my road test. yesssss. 

`march 27- rockin' quiet time with the King of Kings. 

`march 28- mother took me out of school extra early to start break. immediately proceeded to the library to get the 2nd hunger games book. 

`march 29- birthday weekend begins. went to this new and AMAZING waffle place for breakfast. 

`march 30- even more AMAZING easter service. then the best best best time having a birthday dinner with my main girls. 

`march 31- {birthday/resurrection day}- another amazing easter service with water baptisms. cried just like the above meme at them. then hung out with a new friend and had a small easter dinna with family.   

the time i failed my road test

Last week I failed my long awaited road test. I legit cried for about two days. I was pathetic. ughhh. Anything to do with the DMV gives me severe PTSD. Most things in life even the deep, heavy things I just seem to get though by laughing at. Here begins this post. I wake up the morning of my test do my normal minimal morning rituals, minimal because I loathe mornings, it's getting late/I lose track of time and I realize my mom isn't up. Gah, we have to be at the DMV in 10-13ish minutes and we live about the same time away from  it. We floor it all the way down there. Finally get there, just in the nick of time, stand in the perpetual line and I say to the teller, giddy as ever, "I'm here for my road test!" she replies "no ma'am we don't do them here," then I correct her naively "No, not a permit, a road test!" she spits back "Yeah, you take them on such and such an avenue" and hand me a sheet with directions. After that statement spilled out of her mouth she I turn my head to my mom holding back tears and wanting to scream. We hop back in the car and begin following the confusing directions and get lost (within our own hometowns) approximately 587 times.  We , My mother, speeds, make u-turns on a no u-turn highway, and weave on the highway during rush hour, she really goes beyond the call of duty to get me there. After a million and a half circles and dozens of tears, we find it because of the driving school car, waiting in line. The driving school car belonged to this cool, youth volunteers at my church, he gives me a few pointers while I wait. Finally take my test and act cool as cucumber but totally nervous on the inside, aced parallel parking and K-turns! I finish and when she utters the words "well you didn't pass" I'm shocked and didn't believe her either mind you I've been know to be the "most persuasive person" according to my friend Mahadhi so I lightly try to sweet talk her but didn't take it. oy. So I failed. But got some lessons for FREE from that driving school and was able to move my test up way earlier than the two month wait I would have had to the through the DMV!! #bodyofchristswag

"For we know that God works for the GOOD of those who love him and are called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28 

God's got his girl.

sweet bits journal- February

I like a clean perspective. Finding the good in e v e r y t h i n g. Seeing the mundane as beautiful. etc. I started a "Sweet Bits" journal listing/sentencing the sweet bits of the day. It was semi-inspired by this youtube channel.

here goes the sweet bits of FEBRUARY 2013:

`February 1- Babysat some cute kids, their parents told me I was their fave

`February 2- Went on a lunch date with Ma to Marrato's 

`February 3- Had a blogging date with myself at Starbuck's #thuglyfee

`February 4- Mom picked me up form school on time, that my friends is a miracle

`February 5- Sooo sick, but I got a school free day out if it. hollaaa

`February 6- Baked cookies!!

`February 7- Woke up on time #miracle and made a satisfying lunch    

`February 8- SNOW DAY!!! 

`February 9- Trader Joe's & craft date with Ma and found 125 rolled inside of a stuffed bear I got eons  

                    ago. CRAZY!!   

`February 10- Signed up for youth group getaway shindig! SOOO GLAD I DID!! :)

`February 11- I got to craft. Can I get a HALLELUJAH!?

`February 12- Found out I get out at 11:55 on Tuesdays!!!!! 

`February 13- Life groups was rocking tonight!!

`February 14- Went to my favorite restaurant, Peter Pause, with Ma today, and demolished he local 

                       candy store chocolate (turtles) she got me. 

`February 15- Started school vacation, pigged out on free dunkin' donuts

`February 16- Finally got to read (while babysitting) and got $30 for it!!

`February 17- Woke up at 8:30 and needed to be at church by 8:45, make it on time!!

`February 18- NO SCHOOL!! (all week:) Went to my other fave restaurant for curry and my fave fro-

                      yo place for desert with Ma and Lou 

`February 19- NO SCHOOL! Read a magazine with Ma on the couch (trying to make it a weekly 

                       thing) 

`February 20- NO SCHOOL! Needed lazy day.

`February 21- Worked my first day at a kids consignment store! 

`February 22- Ma took me to a new fave restaurant. Had taco salad =out of this world good and then 

                      sped to get to church on time for the getaway/retreat thing and the first night was 

                      AMAZING, such a Holy Spirt filled night!! 

`February 23- Another AMAZING day at the getaway. Sledding, deep convos, ice skating, good food, 

                     and lots of worship! 

`February 24- Soooo sad to leave the getaway but built such strong relationships with God and friends!!!

`February 25- Mom made dinner (miracle) and I had a semi free night (miracle)

`February 26- Work was FUN but long and there was good leftovers and takied for an hour an a half 

                       with my BFF, Presh! (just what I needed)

`February 27- 2 hour snow delay!!!!!! Made breakfast, ate it at home, life group was fab, and for Lou's 

                         last night home I found a ton of pic of our creppy uncle and tapped them all over her 

                         room! (dead form laughter) 

`February 28- Lou moved to NYC, made a delish salad at work and precisely spilled it all of the carpet 

                      on the way to clock out and my co-workeers (and me) laughed at me for about 5 minutes. 

^From the Getaway, Let's Play Find the white girl! 

*Also one of the only pics I took this month :( 

journal entry/ quote

I found a quote in my Bible during church yesterday...

                      

            "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe"

-Saint Augustine 

It must have been from a sermon and I wanted to be preppy and take notes during church. What? I thought is was pretty profound.

Then I scribbled below the quote, I'd say quite a few years ago...

"Your grace has found me just as I am" 

(from the song, "Majesty")

I'm so thankful for grace. I sure do regularly, or hourly, minutely (that's a fun word). I'm thankful that I never had to change and tidy myself up to come to the wondrous cross. My gracious God took me in as as was: needy, messy, weary and washed me in his Son's blood and from there I could be changed for eternity. Hallelujah! 

God has been good to me. 

things i'm called at work

             today's post is chronicling the variety of names i'm called at work. 
                          i like to write stuff down  ;)

            1. Little Africa or Africa 

         ` this name seems to follow me at all my jobs. lindsey lohan and I have something in      
          common. what? well the lindsey lohan in mean girls not the currently intoxicated    

          one. my coworkers love to hear my wild (literally) tales from africa, along with   

          stories where i forgot to wear a bra to school.

        2. Sarah

          ` I work at a retirement home. old people live there. with dementia or really old 

           brains. And just some cray cray people. A resident enjoys calling me ‘Sarah’ because 

           i “look like the ideal jewish girl.” The said resident also refers to me as ‘he’ or ‘good 

           boy’ often with my freshly waxed eyebrows and girlstashe. damn Italian genes.

          3. jack

           ` this nickname which once drove me crazy, i’ve now grown highly accustomed to   

             nearly every peer group i’m associated with calling me jack. even my bosses call 

             me it. i’ll take it.

         P.S. It's almost friday!!!!!!!! YAYYYYY!!