Posts made in December, 2011
New Years Eve!
12 Things I have done in the Year of 2011
1. I moved to Park City, Utah and lived in a hotel with some of the best house mates anyone could ever ask for 
2. Learned how to ski and snowboard in the best powdery snow you would love to fall in. (Over and over again) 
3. Saw Pilobolus for free! 4. Gotten better at keeping in touch with my long distance friends! 5. I saved up and bought my little truck, Tonks 6. I relocated back to San Diego with my family 7. Spent the 4th of July, camping in San Elijo to get pummeled by those Pacific Waves 
8. Started a little business selling hand-painted mugs 9. Quit rock climbing. I may still be a little bitter over this. 10. Ate at a bunch of really great restaurants like, Crazee Burger, Urbn, Claire de Lune, Wahoo’s, Swami’s (all in S.D.) and hung out at O’Shucks, Bistro 412, Good Karma, and Alpine Internet Cafe. (in Park City) 11. Started practicing Bikram Yoga 
12. Spent all of the holiday season with my family and some loved ones.
It has been a very successful, (challenging) and life changing year! (Those are always my favorite, I mean, perhaps without so much challenge, ya hear what I mean, 2012?) There has been a lot of moving, learning and growing up. I’ve been taught what I want out of relationships, and life. And have also learned what I am looking for from the areas I live.
I hope 2012 is filled with just as much wonder, beauty, scary changes, bravery and kind-hearted souls as this past year.
Yay for New Years Eve! Please be safe everyone! Hope you spend your last night of 2011 with a lot of heart, soul and interesting activities!
Muah!
Sierra
Ugly Sweater Party
A few days before Christmas my sisters and I all went to a long-time friend’s house for their annual ugly sweater party. Nicky and Torrie both went last year and the little one couldn’t find a suitable sweater… So, my problem solving sisters decided to pick up… a tree skirt.
A very ugly, felty, velvet-trimmed, glitter-infested tree skirt.
Since this was such a hit, we have decided to make it an annual tradition.
And this year it was my turn to wear it!
I wish I had more pictures, but I am so happy that Tanner took these!
At the moment I’m rockin’ Christmas socks and a lit Christmas tree…
At least until it is no longer socially acceptable… Like, mm, you think June, is too long?
Xoxo,
Frar
Sierra’s Scrumptious Supper
Tonight I made a delicious dinner of chicken, okra and corn. Guess what?
I love okra. The fried kind, you know?
The stuff that is all crispy and delicious?
YUM.
My sister and I adored it. And may have eaten it all.
Now that my belly is all full I’m debating whether to go out to PB for a little hoorah.
Decisions, decisions.
Happy Wednesday everyone!
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Makin’ them Mugs
I’ve been pumpin’ out some more handmade mugs for a few orders of mine. Last night a Starbucks Latte got me through the wee hours, and today when I got done with my order I began making an animation for my blog. I love my Wacom. I am so excited to keep messing with it, that it’s kept my inspiration in tip top shape.
Here are a few mugs in my order today. If you are interested in any of them, or if you have ideas of your own that you would like me to put on YOUR mug email me or leave a comment below.
On another note, New Years is coming up!
What are you plans?
I have no clue what I will be doing. This is my first year not having definitive plans. (lame) but I have my fingers crossed that something really fantastic comes along.
Oh and guess what? My ankle reports got approved for my CG physical (I hate physicals. but woohoo on progress!) Also, my friend said my ASVAB scores [the assessment test the military gives] are genius. What?? I know. I’m surprised too, but SO ecstatic.
Read MoreMerry Christmas!
Christmas over here was wonderful. Especially considering my Holiday season last year. Horrendous.
But this one was AMAZING!
Six Flags yesterday was so cool, and we didn’t have to wait in any lines.
And this Christmas morning was so relaxed and filled with so much love.
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas too!
Read MoreGosh
This no picture thing is getting OLD, don’t you agree?
I am waiting for my sister to email me some from our cookie decorating party.
And tonight us sisters are joining some great friends for an ugly Christmas sweater party. Woohoo!
And then tomorrow we are visiting with Mike’s mum, up North. Play in the snow and then get ready for Magic Mountain on Christmas Eve!
I still have two more presents to finish and some very busy days ahead of me!
Wish me luck!
(I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME!)
oh, Happy Hanukkuh as well. I hope your third night is wonderful!
XO!
Read MoreKayaking
With a seventy pound dog is… interesting. And will probably make you burst out laughing… at least it did us. Especially because Riley kept trying to tip the boat to get to Pelicans that were flaunting in front of him, and the seals that were swimming around…
Quote of the Day:
Nicky: “I am going to call them.”
Me: “Who are you going to call?”
Nicky: “Ghostbusters!…?”
It was an overcast, laughter filled day.
I wish you the same for your Monday!
xoxo,
S. Iola
I’m a LION hear me Roar
Because I have been negligent, I have decided to put this picture up. That I am not extremely fond of. But other people seem to like it.
For the sake of explaining; my hair gets really frustrated at me when I run out of mousse and forget to pick some up.
It’s curly most of the time, however, when it gets irritated, or…erm… has a bad day (pun intended) it likes to get a little wild. Case and point.
This is what my hair looks like when I put it in a braid after a beach day:
Crazy, but I can live with it…
Well, THIS is my hair when I blow-dry it, before I get the chance to straighten it.
RAWR!!!!
Actually I look like a sad lion… But I laughed out loud when I saw this.
On another note…kinda
MY HAIR HAS GOTTEN LONGER! woot.
Now I am off to kayak in the drizzle that is San Diego Winter.
I will try to start posting more regularly again.
XO!
Read MoreI am just Full of Surprises! (Part 2)
So for these reasons and many, many others I have decided…
…drum roll please…
to join the Coast Guard!
I took the ASVAB today, and reached my goal of the score I wanted. Woohoo!!!
Nothing is completely official yet, I think I can still be rejected?
But hopefully I am not.
via imgfave
Also, I know I am slacking with pictures. This will stop tomorrow.
I realized I didn’t go into detail about everything, I feel like it would be really boring, and it is kind of personal. I might add more when I know more. But if there was anything you want to know in the mean time, email me at s(DOT)iola(AT)yahoo(DOT)com .
WHAT ELSE I DID THIS WEEK WHILE STUDYING:
1. Sea World during Christmas= Snow World. So cool.
2. Crossfit. It is so awesome! And I realized sometimes my mind is stronger than my body… woops. I feel so muscle-y and tough right now (I’m still a little sore)
3. FILTER. A favorite coffee shop of mine in North Park. I totally recommend the Mexican Hot Chocolate. (delicious!)
4. Sleep overs with puppy and sister and her boyfriend. With really good breakfast in the morning
5. Great sister who helps me study even better by helping me take holiday/ or food themed breaks. Yes!
And it worked too.
6. New Episodes of Once Upon a Time.
Woohoo, for successful study sessions!
picture and a recipe via
Read MoreYou want to know what kills me?
Math.
It really doesn’t get along with my brain. This has been the fact of [my] life since I was little.
But hopefully they learn to like each other soon.
Hear that math problem?
Be nicer.
Love, Me.
Read MoreI am just Full of Surprises (Part One)
So I know I have been absent for a few days… there are really no excuses.
But! I made a BIG step in my future career choice. And I am really excited. But I probably won’t say anything on here until later. Because who knows, I may fail an interview or something. (fingers crossed that that does not happen)
Anyway, I have been super busy lately with nothing much to show for it. Which for some reason feels pretty good. I am feeling very optimistic about my life and the choices I get to make for myself…
Here’s a break down of my stay in San Diego so far:
I’ve been fighting off this hopelessness that surrounded me once I got here. You know in the movie Pocahontas where she talks about following the wind. Or maybe it was Chocolat? Either way, I have always really connected with that thought or sentiment. All of my life I have moved, and each time it felt right. I knew where I was supposed to go. There was a purpose to that place, and everyone I encountered was there to benefit me.
That has been my life.
Well because of this, somehow I felt the urge to move back here. Back to Sunny San Diego. But in an honest state of feelings, I knew it wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I told this to a friend of mine one drunken night, and then took it back. Thinking it would make it more true, if the World got to keep that sentence I whispered. Because at that time, the wind stopped telling me where to go. Everywhere was equal. But school was a promise to myself that I wanted to keep, (and I get free tuition for in-state colleges that I am a resident of) so off to San Diego I went. And… here I am.
But when I got here, there wasn’t any drive like there was in all my other places. There was no need to improve, work my butt off; San Diego has my family. San Diego has my home, it is a safe place, it is a good place. And along with that, it is an expensive place to be active, the climbing gym is 17 to 15 dollars depending on where you go (even when you have your own gear!). I was wanting to work at one of the gyms, but even with my experience [hah. whaaa? This just seemed too weird while I was reading it] they aren’t hiring. (BOO.)
The beach is 40 minutes away, and I borrow my sister’s surfboards, so add on another 10 minutes to pick them up. And gas too!
Oh! And on top of that, every job I have been interested in, only pays minimum wage. without insurance. and probably aren’t hiring. (I am sure SOME place is hiring, is paying a bit more than minimum wage, and maybe will cover insurance. But I haven’t found them that will hire me without a B.A.)
So I was left thinking, how is this going to work?? That is not what I had in mind when I came from Utah. I was thinking, at least $10.50 an hour.
All of these little factors left me very discourage, and very depressed.
I can stand working in a job I love, not getting paid very well. I am pretty okay with that. But to work somewhere that you feel is so worthless, and no one really moves up the ladder, and your bosses are unprofessional, AND you aren’t getting paid well? Call me picky, but not for me. No thanks.
Can I also say, that I haven’t gotten paid minimum wage in about… 5 YEARS? (people still did that? what?)
So I prayed and prayed and prayed. Asked my True Self what I needed and asked for a little ray of sunlight. I also asked just to be grateful for all of the good things I have (and my golly, did it help!) but I kept asking for something to come along that will help me go to school. Help me not be miserable while I go to school… Maybe even let me travel as I am finishing my B.A. Or at least just let me work with something that has to do with Visual Communication.
And guess what? I found it! In the most unlikely form, I would have ever guessed….
To be continued.
xoxo!
p.s. Rex and I had a skype date (My very first!) And here is a picture of one of my greatest friends Bekah! a.k.a. Rex. Isn’t she dashing with that moos[e]tache? I think it is fantastic and proof I have goofy friends. She is so kind, supportive, loving and confident. I am so lucky that I can still call her such a good friend even after not seeing each other for like… 2 years? And, Skype is amazing. It’s my new favorite toy.
P.s. Sorry for putting this up here if you didn’t want me to… It’s my shout out to you. because I love you dearly.
p.s.s. Also, sorry for the really terrible pictures. I can’t even believe I put the I’m on fire thing on here. Gosh.
Read More10 Holiday Words
I don’t know about you guys, but I love wrapping presents. There has always been some weird tick in me that wanted to make the corners perfectly crisped and everything neatly folded. So this little habit combined with crafty DIY ideas? HEAVEN.
There is a link to her website on the picture. Anyway, I love these ideas and brown paper packaging has always been a favorite of mine.
Here are ten Christmas-y words I like to hear today:
1. Hot Chocolate (I made some from scratch yesterday and took pictures, I will post a recipe later though)
2. Douglas Fir
3. Ornament Parties
4. Santa Claus
5. Winter Wonderland
6. Pine Cones
7. Nutcracker Ballet
8. Chicago (it was a wonderful winter holiday season. You can’t beat that city’s spirit.)
9. Presents. To give and recieve
10. Snowmen! (anyone who is close to that pretty white, cold stuff. Can you make one for me?)
XOXO,
I LOVE DECEMBER!
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