"Play 20 Questions With the Author."

Welcome to Love, Sar.

Kick your shoes off, grab a drink, and stay awhile.

I figured that you might want to know a little bit more about the author. So, here's my one-sided version of 20 questions. 

Collect anything?

Books! I have around 60 in my growing collection. Books with aesthetic cover art and a spine that would look fab in my bookcase always seem to find a way to come home with me. I recently picked up Everyday Etiquette: A Guide to Modern Manners by Grace Fox. Published almost 30 years ago, am I likely to follow Fox's suggestions on how to be more ladylike? Unlikely. However, the pastel pink spine and feminine cursive lining the spine will look stunning.

What's your poison?

I'm a vino girl through and through. Aside from wine, I love a good cocktail. Cosmos are great for channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw (iykyk). My new go-to is a gin martini with a twist. Its sophistication and simplicity will be the perfect sipping companion for a girls nights out.

Favourite city?

In recent years, I've been lucky enough to do some traveling to incredible cities and it's been a blast. Some of my favourites include Austin (USA), Reykjavik (Iceland), and Jasper (Canada). My favourite city though, is San Fransisco. I went there last year to celebrate turning 25 with my best friend (her birthday is the day before mine), and we had the time of our lives. There's so much history and it's truly an interesting city to walk around. You stumble across cool art and architecture wherever you go. Being able to go to sit next to the ocean while watching an MLB game is also a huge plus! Go Giants!!

What's something you believe everyone should try?

Therapy. And I'm saying this unironically. There's so much that we can learn from ourselves by opening up to someone who is out of our immediate circle and has an unbiased view of us and the situations that we encounter. I've been working with my counselor, Molly, for about 5 years now. I would not be the person that I am today without her, and I credit her for so much of my growth and development. Without her, it's unlikely that I ever would have considered putting myself out there or making a blog. In my eyes, once you find a good counselor, everything changes for the better.

Best piece of advice you can give?

"You can only control yourself and your actions". I've found that by trying to live by these words, I feel more positive and worry less. Letting go of the idea that you can control things out of your control is freeing. For example, you can control things like what you choose to do with your time, as well as the people that you have in your life. You can also control things that make your life easier, such as leaving early for an appointment. The fact of the matter is that you can't control things like traffic and the weather, but you can control some things to make to make your life better and easier.

Favourite item in your closet?

My black turtleneck from Aritzia. Almost all of the clothing in my closet from Aritzia was bought secondhand. Truthfully, I never enjoy going into the store, and the fitting rooms alone warrant their own blog post... but that's a story for another day. This turtleneck does the work for me. Not only is it lightweight and breathable, it's formfitting and hugs in all the right places. It also has the power to take a pair of jeans and boots and turn it into a classier, more dressed-up outfit. Pair it with a pleather or plaid skirt and you've got a 90s-inspired look ready for date night or drinks with the girls. 

What did you want to be when you grew up?

So many things. At some point or another, I wanted to be a professional ballerina, a teacher, the Prime Minister (lol yikes), a baker, an Egyptologist (was anyone else also super into ancient Egypt as a kid? like obsessed??) a chef, a nurse, a lawyer, and back to a teacher again. I followed through on becoming a teacher, but as I finish the second year of my career, I'm beginning to explore other career options.

Who's your hero?

This is such a hard question. I admire both of my parents and they are heroes in my eyes. The first person that comes to mind though, is my Nonna. She's the most determined little Italian lady who isn't afraid to tell you how it is. She's my hero because she's the bravest person I've ever met. At 21, she left Italy and hopped on a boat to head to British Columbia by herself. Before this, she rarely left her family's farm on a mountain in remote northern Italy. Despite the challenges she faced, she learned English, got married, learned how to drive (just don't ask her about the time she drove through someones fence), had three successful children, got a job in a hospital, and is now a great grandmother (in more ways than one). She taught me that being determined and brave pays off, and that you owe it to yourself to take a chance once in a while in life.

Favourite way to spend an afternoon?

I love heading to one of my favourite buildings in downtown Victoria, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, for a pick-me-up. As a self-proclaimed history buff, the rich history that the hotel holds is fascinating and keeps me coming back. Once I make my way up the mirrored staircase in the foyer, I head straight into the dining area. Grabbing a seat at the bar, I always make a point to sit nearest the windows to get a view of the inner harbour. Once settled in, I order an individual pot of the Creamy Earl Grey tea to enjoy whilst reading whatever book I have on the go. To accompany, I savour every piece of their complimentary charcoal popcorn (if you've had it before, you're likely nodding your head in agreement). After my last sip, I head out the back of the hotel through the conference centre onto Douglas Street. From there, I walk around the outskirts of Beacon Hill Park before heading to various consignment and thrift stores looking for fashion treasures. At dinner, you can find me trying a new restaurant somewhere in the downtown area. My favourite as of late is The Courtney Room. 

Something you couldn't live without?

I feel like I can live without all the 'stuff' in my house, but it's the people I love that I couldn't live without. My family, partner, and friends are everything to me. 

Go-to breakfast?

Two medium poached eggs on top of sourdough bread layered with pesto or hummus. Bonus points if you add a little 'everything but the bagel' seasoning on top. Paired with a side of fruit, this breakfast helps me feel energized, satisfied, and ready to take on the day. Plus, it's seriously SO good. 

What's the biggest risk you've ever taken?

In 2017, I decided to apply to be an Au Pair in Italy. (Au Pair is just a fancy name for a nanny). I'd never left North America and had only ever been on a plane to go to Disneyland with my family. So that June, I packed up my things and headed over by myself. It was challenging at first, but my weekends off were incredible. I saw so many beautiful cities, connected with my heritage, made friends from all over the world, and met some of my Italian relatives. It was a trip of a lifetime and helped me come to the realization that I wanted to be a teacher.

Why is your blog called 'Love Sar'?

When I write a card to family and friends, I typically end it with 'Love, Sar'. While writing a blog is a different format, it also feels like writing letters with each blog post to readers. Plus, I've put my heart into this blog, so I really am signing off with love.

Do you have a surprising interest?

It's probably not as surprising of an answer as it would have been 10+ years ago, but I'm interested in mysteries. With the rise in popularity of true crime, I've found myself even more curious about the criminal justice system. While I'm the type of person to check that my front door is locked every night about 3 times and is hyperaware when walking in the dark, learning about true crime and mysteries has taught me a lot about staying safe as a woman. Cold cases are a pet peeve of mine though!

Something you think is important?

Being more than your career. So often one of the first questions that we ask someone when meeting them for the first time is "What do you do for work?" Our careers can bring stereotypes and people can have ideas of who we are based on our profession before truly getting to know us. With that in mind, I think it's important to have hobbies and interests to connect with those around us. The more layers we have, the more interesting we are to others, and they are increasingly inclined to learn about us.

Favourite saying or motto?

I'm incredibly grateful to have family members that are so supportive. My favourite saying or motto stems from the encouragement that my Dad gives me. He always ends his motivational 'Dad talks' with "You go, girl!" As funny as it sounds, it's very comforting and encouraging. If I have a daughter one day, you best believe she is getting a "you go, girl" every day.

What's a dream of yours?

I've always loved writing, and a dream of mine was to write my own children's book and read it to my class when I was teaching. I would still like to write a children's book, but I would like to share it with the world outside of the classroom. Books allow children to escape into magical worlds while developing the fundamental skill of reading. Literacy and books are more important now than ever, and if I can make a positive contribution towards that, then I would consider it a dream come true.

Go-to TV show?

Sex and the City, of course! Every time I sit down at my laptop to write, I feel like I'm channeling my inner Carrie. I've also bought every book about the show that I can get my hands on and they never disappoint. I've recently finished Sex and the City and Us: How Four Single Women Changed the Way We Think, Live, and Love by Jennifer Keishin Armstong. Not only is she one of my new favourite authors, but the deep dive she does on SATC is incredible. Her book explains the cultural phenomenon that SATC created in addition to opening up a new world of possibilities for women. Armstrong also has a new book about the making of the movie Mean Girls titled So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls (And Why We're Still So Obsessed With It). How iconic and fitting is that title?! Stayed tuned for a review on that one.

A must-have on your desk?

A cute but functional planner. As someone who used to be notorious for double-booking themselves and forgetting things, a planner was a game changer. I got one in my first year of uni and never went back. Being able to see everything on a day-by-day as well as monthly basis has helped create balance in my schedule and use my time more wisely. My favourite brand of planner is Hobbry and I buy a new one every December from Indigo as a Christmas present for myself.

Why make this blog?

I felt 'stuck' creatively. I love creating, but at this point, I'm not really into making videos like those on TikTok or Insta reels where I'm talking to the camera. This feels like a way to marry my passion for writing with sharing about topics that I'm interested in. I also want Love, Sar to be a place where readers can feel welcome and slow down to read something they may find interesting.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

Love, Sar