A Recap of 2011

Here I am, in Florence for the coming of the New Year. Let's recap this year, shall we?

January: I made the decision to study abroad. Commence paperwork and correcting myself on how to say 'Worcester'.

February: I worked ma butt of on school, my internship, and student government.

March: Full swing into second semester. Major involvement in MAC, a committee I was elected into.

April: the weather started to get nicer, so days were filled of playih outside, cruising in our cars, and bonfires on the beach.

May: said goodbye to the Junction crew. A big group, we has stayed together through our freshman year. We knew it was never going to be the same.

June: my birthday brought a visit from friends, a brand new spanking camera and my first outdoor music festival.

July: spent working at my internship, trips to Duluth and Fargo and hangin with my dad.

August: work, work and work. Anticipation for my trip abroad. Lots of packing and buying various things I 'need'.

September: the move. I moved across the ocean to my new home of England.

October: my first English Halloween (not as awesome) and the homesickness struck. Some bad news from home.

November: making new friends, first bonfire day, and planning for my winter break.

December: easy finals and travelling. Christmas spent in Rome with friends, and mass at the Vatican.

This year was a year of change. I learned so much about myself. I realized how much of a homebody I am, and how I rely on my family. I realized I am smarter than I thought, and I finally learned how to study. I learned the value of friendship, and every post and comment I get from friends back home make me excited to see them. 2012? I think I can top you. Though traveling Europe is amazing, home truely is where your family is.

I hope you have a lovely new years eve! Please be careful on the roads, don't drink and drive, and be safe.

Dear, Thomas.

.I dream about you sometimes. Your cute furry face and long whiskers. When you get older, you'll have a grey muzzle. We'll be best friends, you and I.

I'll name you after St. Thomas. Thomas seems like a great, sturdy name. Plus it's my dads middle name. I  love the name Thomas.

When you're just a babe I know you'll be naughty. All little ones are. But you'll grow into a calm, beautiful dog. We'll play on Lake Superior beach and cuddle at night. You get endless doggy snacks. Living in a college house when you're young, you'll get used to the loud music and many girls. When we move out it'll seem a bit strange, the quiet. But remember, it'll always be me and you. Two best friends.

I'll never want you to die. Is It weird that I want you to live forever, and I don't even have you yet?

So, when that time comes that you must close your eyes to our world, I'll be there, stroking your hair. Two best friends.

Love,

Mia.

Jealousy

Oftentimes we get caught up in jealousy.

The other person is skinnier. The other person is smarter. They have cooler pictures, or more followers, or have better hair. Or they seem to have a stronger faith, or more patience or more kindness.

Someone is always better or more.

My big New Years goal is to address my jealousy. I too often get caught up in how my life could be 'better'. I have trouble focusing on the now and plan for the future. Don't get me wrong, I love my life. I have awesome friends, and I'm traveling Europe. I just find myself comparing. The grass is always greener.

So I'm going to stop that. Try to focus on the NOW and appreciate where I am.

What about you? Do you suffer from jealousy?

Secret Bakeries

In Florence, there are these things called secret bakeries. Italians are known for not going out until 12 pm and the party doesn't stop for a while.

There are concealed bakeries around Florence that specifically open for all the drunk people roaming the streets, looking for something to eat.

They open around 12 and stop baking around 2. Hidden in dark allies, there are no signs except ones that say 'be quiet' or 'respect those who are sleeping'. The doors are concealed, and except for the smell of the bakery, you'd never know it was there.

Last night, I found one. Armed with three other American friends I had made in the hostel, one of them introduced the idea of finding one. And we did! We each got a chocolate croissant for a euro each, and it was still piping hot.

Easy to say the best croissant I've ever had. Ever. There was a pool of melted chocolate right in the middle, with powered sugar and flaky goodness. Amazing.

So next time you're in Florence, look for em. It's worth it.

Buon Natale!

Merry Christmas from Italy! Tonight, I'm going to St. Peters square for Midnight mass. I might get to see the Pope! Whoop!

I hope you're having a magical holiday season. Appreciate time with your family. I'm pretty sad I can't spend it with mine. I'm with my 'England family' though, so we'll probably watch Italian tv and pop some champagne.

Anyway, snuggle up with your family, enjoy lots of food, and merry.

Bonjourno from Venizia.

Hello! I'm in Italy, guys. You know that dream that you don't want to wake up from? That's my real life. Though Venise has no night life, I've found plenty of things to do in this beautiful city. Though it is quite colder than I expected it to be!

Is it sad that I already miss my computer? And reading your blogs? I feel like Im missing out on catching up with friends! I'm such a blogger.

Anyway, I just wanted you guys to know I'm safe. Next stop, ROMA!

Off to Travel Europe

Hey y'all. Here I am. The day of my departure. I'm almost done packing, and now all I have to do is clean and buy my train ticket.

I won't be posting anything here consistently. I'll probably buy some wifi in places so I can update you on what I'm doing, but there probably won't be any pictures.

SOOO......

Where am I going you ask?

London ✈ Venice ✈ Rome ✈ Naples ✈ Pompeii ✈ Florence ✈ Basel ✈ Lyon ✈ Grenoble ✈ Paris ✈ Lille ✈ Brussels ✈ Amsterdam ✈ London

Phewy. And then after that, I'll meeting friends in Berlin (if I don't run out of money).

Wish me luck!

P.S. If I die/kidnapped on this trip, I want you to know I want to be donated to science. And have a Jack's Mannequin song playing at my funeral. *cough morbid much? cough*

Getting Married Young

Hey guys, I'd like to introduce to you my friend Ashley! If you read my post about Mormons, you know I follow a lot of them. I am not Mormon, but I am religious (hence my interest in their religion). I follow a lot of blogs that happen to be in the LDS church. They're all crazy nice people, and not crazy crazy, like "Sister Wives". I'll give you the low down on what I've found to be true:

They believe getting married is for eternity, not life. 

They don't drink, smoke, drink caffeine, or wear immodest clothing.

Honestly, it mostly sounds like the Catholic religion! (Minus the praying to Mary and saints and stuff).

And if all of this is Greek to you, just scroll down and meet Ashley. She's awesome, I promise. 

Hi friends of Color it Mia! 

I am glad to be here taking over Mia's blog for the day! 

Mia is the sweetest and I adore her blog!

Who is this random girl on her blog? I'm Ashley from Sloanbook :) I blog about my husband and I and our chihuahua in our new home in Colorado! We both just graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) and are now enjoying life after college, which is definitely a big change, but good so far!

Awhile ago, Mia asked me on Twitter basically the question of 

"Is it normal in the Mormon religion to marry young? 

Or are you guys just lucky finding the "ones" early on?"

Today I am going to attempt (key word here) to answer Mia's question for you all! Now before we get started I would like to say that I am giving my opinion. I do not know the 'correct' or 'right' answer to this. Also, I am in no way an amazing writer so I'm sure it won't come out as eloquently as I'd like it. And that is a fact.

But I am a Mormon  (member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and I got married at age 20 which most people would consider young.

Now let me tell you about my own personal experience.

I met Kevin -my now husband- sophomore year at BYU right at the beginning of Fall semester (in September). He had just moved back to Utah after serving a two year mission for our church in Milan, Italy. We met at the Wilkinson Center in line for some crappy Italian food (basically the food court). After that he invited me to sit and each lunch with him and his friends and then over to his apartment to hang out and it all went down from there! We hung out all the time and then next thing I knew it he was telling me he loved me. Then came spring time and we started talking about marriage and I knew he was the one. I decided I would marry Kevin and I prayed and got a confirmation that it was the right choice. I felt good about my decision. We were engaged that spring and got married on 08.08.08. Now that is August, not even one whole year of knowing Kevin as we met September of 2007! Crazy huh? But it was the best decision I have ever made! I love Kevin so much! We've now been married just over 3 years!

Now that was just my experience. I was married at 20 years old and Kevin was 23. I would like to be clear that not all Mormons get married young. I have lots of friends from freshman year in the dorms who are not married yet and many of them have graduated BYU. It is normal to be not be married in the late 20's or 30's. I would have to say that in comparison to other religions, that Mormons do get married the youngest.

I guess they all came to the same conclusion that I did, that they found the right person. I have seen 18 year olds get married. I've seen one get married and I felt like it was the right choice for her as she is very mature, maybe even more so than me! I've also seen an 18 year old get married who I felt was very immature and maybe it was really rushed in to. But who am I to judge; I am not. I do not know her that well but there are also different maturity levels that play into it.

Now that you are aware that not all Mormons get married early I will tell you why I think a a lot of them do.  That lies in our religious background and beliefs.

To understand the Mormon habits of marriage you must understand our view of the family. Take a look at: The Family: A Proclamation to the World (HERE). This document explains the importance of the family entity. I will throw in a few quotes after what I say, from that document, so you don't have to read the whole thing, unless you want to.

We believe that marriage is vital in God's eternal plan and that marriage doesn't stop at death do you part.

We believe that families can be together forever and that children are a very important part of the family.

"The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated
beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples
make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for
families to be united eternally."

We believe the role of a mother is a sacred responsibility and not to be taken lightly which is why we desire to marry early and start our families because we feel it is a divine calling to be a mother and a father.


"The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential
for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for
His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further
declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are
to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and
wife.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each
other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3).
Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and
righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to
teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of
God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and
wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the
discharge of these obligations."

I hope that gives you some insight into why a lot of Mormons get married young. But remember, not all do! I know lots of older people who are not married!

If you have any questions feel free to visit Mormon.org or shoot me an email at sloanbookblog@gmail.com 

And I would love for you to stop by my blog here! 

IF you happen to like reading about young married Mormons, I'm your girl ;)

See! Isn't she great? Pop on over to her blog, and she recently did a home tour of her new house, and it's adorable. Hope you guys enjoyed, and seriously, if you have any questions, send me or her an email, or comment below! 

Goals for 2012

Everyone has New Year's Resolutions. I (personally, nothing against you) don't believe in them. They're half-hearted promises to no one. No credibility, no passion, no motivation.

Goals are completely different. You strive towards them everyday. You are credible. You know that every goal doesn't have to be completed this year. You have time.

Last year, my dad's New Year's goal was to quit quitting smoking. He's been a smoker since 13? 14? so it's been a long journey to him quitting. He was done.

One month before I left for England, he quit. Hasn't smoked since. He had quit quitting. He just did.

My goals for this year are random. Personal goals, blog goals, school goals, travel goals. I know I probably won't finish most of them. Most of them I probably won't be able to do until I return to America. But here we go:

1) Have 100 subscribers to this here bloggity by the end of the year.

2) Road trip to the Grand Canyon.

3) Visit my friend Jordan in Seattle.

4) Have a bonfire on the beach of Superior with my friends.

5) Be a better person. Lie less. Smile more. Encourage, but not enable. Gossip less. Trust more.

6) Get my nursing assistant license.

7) Get a job as a nursing assistant.

8) Hang out with friends you haven't seen for a while. Don't hang in the same crowd.

9) (Unless you're studying) always say yes to being a sober cab. Don't make your friends walk in the cold, or drunk drive.

10) Find someone special.

See! Those are my goals for the year. I may add or subtract to it. It's like a mini bucket list for the year. And yes, a lot of these goals are going to have to wait until May, for when I get back to America.

I left out working out and eating healthy, because I think those are a given. You should always strive to be healthy (not skinny) everyday of your life.

Forgetting to Live

.I came across this quote:


"First, I was dying to finish my high school and start college.
And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
Then I was dying to marry and have children.
And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough so I could go back to work.
But then I was dying to retire.
 And now I am dying…


And suddenly I realized…
I forgot to live."


These kind of quotes make me scared. Am I going to regret anything when I'm older? Will I wish I lived longer in England? Will I regret speeding through college? Will I regret... will I regret...


I hope not. Right now, I am completely and utterly happy with where I am now. I have good friends. I live in England. My family and I are close. I'm about to travel Europe for a month in two. freaking. days. 


Life is pretty good. And right now, I'm not regretting it.

Confessions of a Graphic Design Student Feature!

Well, hello friends of Mia! 

My name is Kristen and I blog at Confessions of a Graphic Design Student. 

Why am I here invading Mia's space, how did I get here, and why do I blog? 

Well, first let me explain a few things...

I'm a Gemini, so for everything that I am there is a total opposite side to me as well. 

I like to think of it as balanced chaos. 

I'm dominantly right brained since birth and have been an artist ever since I could draw on the walls, which lead me into the world of fine arts. 

But, being the free spirit that I am I strayed from the typical "high school, college, dating, marriage" timeline, dropped out of college, and skipped straight to marriage! 

And he's a good dude- I made the right choice :)

Four years passed on as I struggled with figuring out what I wanted to do with my life... I dabbled in design from opportunities arising in the workplace and I knew that's where my calling was... but I was scared to do anything about it. 

So, I kept up my work routine totally exhausting myself until one day my boss threw me under the bus in the worst way possible, to which I politely told them to, er, piss off :)

Yeah, I kinda make gut decisions like that. 

Then what? Well, I took a deep breath, and with my amazing hubby supporting me I was able to start night school at a fantastic career college, found the perfect part time job within the design industry, and started blogging about my life and school experiences; from the frustrations of logo design to my first client, you will see, read, and hear it all (with occasional appearances by my two mini dachshunds, Sam and Nelly).

I'm an artist/designer, writer/storyteller, silly/serious kind of blogger... 

want to be friends? :)

 Visit Confessions of a GDS Blog

Vocation.

Have you ever heard of the word?

If not, click here.

It means a person's calling. Ministry uses it often when they feel a calling to do God's work.

But it doesn't have to be religious. A vocation could be a calling to be a doctor, to travel, be a mother or wife, work with the elderly, be in PR, work in the government, anything. If you feel a calling to what you are doing: it is your vocation.

Unfortunately, I haven't found that yet. I haven't found the peace and knowingness when you find your vocation.

It's the shiver and undeniable happiness that comes with what you are doing.

But hey, I'm still very, very young.

P.S. I just realized it's my last year of being a teenager. SCARY.

Dear, Finals.

Come at me bro.

I got this.

One 1,500 word essay, a final, and two papers separate me from Italy, France, and Switzerland.

I GOT TAGGED

My first tag y'all! You know, that makes me feel pretty special. Check out Emma, the girl who tagged me!

#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
My dad calls me Mia Maria. (Even though my last name is Marie. Hahaha.)

#2. What's a weird habit of yours?
I write all over my hands in reminders, everyday. So by the end of the day I have super pen stained hands.

#3. Do you have any weird phobias?
I refuse to drive in snow! If there is one flake, I'm not driving.

#4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?
Justin Bieber, One Time. No shame.

#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
WHEN PEOPLE STARE. I was brought up that it is the rudest thing next to pointing.

#6. What's one of your nervous habits?
Twirling my ring on my hand, or my hair.

#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The middle, diagonally! I take up all the space.

#8. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?
A giant lion, that was more of a giant pillow. I didn't name him though.. :(

#9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at starbucks?
I'm a Caribou girl, man!

#10. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
Always use primer before eyeshadow! But sometimes I forget. :)

#11. Which way do you face in the shower?
Away from the water.

#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
I can wiggle my ears.

#13. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?
Potato chips. Salt and Vinegar especially!

#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
RIGHT?!! In a valley girl voice. I can't help it, it just comes out! Hahahah.

#15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing?
Tank top and spandex/leggings!

Phew. I'm now going to tag....

Kaytee from her blog named "Eight".

Lauren from "My Happy Thought".

Ally from "Keep Calm & Carry On".

Tag away!

Faith isn't Convenient.

I've wanted to write this post for awhile, but never thought of the right way to say it. On the way home from a Handel Concert (I was forced to by my music class), I was struck on how I can say this.

Faith isn't convient.

As an American, I live in a world of convenience. 24 hour Walmarts, swiping credit cards, drive-thrus and instant music downloads. Anything you want, right away.

That's why I think people my age are shying away from religion.

You have to take the time away from your schedule to pray. You have to set aside time to think and talk to God. You should go to church every Sunday so you can profess your faith. You should talk about your faith to others, and study your bible. Nothing about believing is convenient. You have to go out of your way to want this.

You have to spend time doing things that others may find silly. You have to put your pride aside and pray.

And that's what faith is about. It's not logical. It's not convient and it's not instantaneous. You have to work at it, every day.

Sometimes Hersey's is the Bomb dot com.

.I miss home. Whenever I see a movie/tv show where they are drinking a Big Gulp, I get insanely jealous. I miss good cheeseburgers (british beef isn't the same), chocolate milkshakes, Taco John's potato ole's, pickles, and honey barbecue wings from Buffalo Wild Wings (with ranch dipping sauce, of course).

So basically I just miss the food.

My friend went to a store where they had an "American" section (that's weird to think about.. we don't have a "British" section in our grocery stores, right?) and she found Junior Mints, Hersey's, and Reese's.

Back in middle school I would come home, grab a Hersey's bar, and drink an ice cold Coke from a can. I was a healthy child, obviously. I'm eating the Hersey's now and it. is. amazing.

So yes, I did just write a whole post about food. Whaadddup.

American food must have crack in it. I miss it so. much.

Secret Life.

There has to be one thing about you (the reader) that people don't expect.

Do you secretly look up baby pictures and melt at kittens, when you're a 6 foot football player? Are you "anti-smoker" but smoke on the side?

I will now introduce to you my alter ego- Monica.

Monica loves to dance. She loves to listen to all kinds of rap/hip-hop, anyone from OnCue/Prof to Eminem/Yelawolf. Soft, hard, funny, crude, fast. She loves to dance in clubs to it, and will dance all night long if they let her. She would wear snap backs and jordans if she didn't look silly in them. She gets flutters in her heart when she hears a really good line. Love.

Bet you didn't expect that!

What about you? Who is your "alter-ego"?

Also, can someone please buy me this Minnesota Twins hat? I WANT IT! Uggh. Being a college student is rough.

Dear, Santa.

I've been pretty good this year. I've tried my hardest to be good, and not to swear too much. The swearing is harder to give up than I thought. But it's the thought that counts.... right? Right? ;)

This year, I would love these lovely things. While a visit from my parents here in the UK would be at the top of my list, that's not possible. So I'll settle for less cool, cheaper options.

1. A Kindle. I've always wanted one, because I LOVE to read. And reading in class would be awesome.

2. A knitted black hat. I just bought one, but I want mine to be more slouchy. Make sense?

3. Brown ankle booties. With some sort of fuzz. It's getting to the time of the year where my feet get really. freakin. cold.

4. Goldfish. Enough said.

5. I need glasses. Seriously, I feel like I'm squinting all the time, even though I got my eyes checked right before I came here. These frames would be #baller.

6. Haven't heard of Wreck This Journal? Check it out here.

Merry Christmas! What's on your list this year?

Procrastination X1902831.

{via}

If you like to get nothing done, here's what you have to do.

Go to this website: http://procatinator.com/

It's a website full of cat GIFs and music to go along to it.

P.S. You're welcome.

Taco Bell in da UK

There is, in fact, a Taco Bell in England. There is only one Taco Bell in the entire country, and it's only 2 short hours away from me.

I'm more of a Taco John's girl, but hey. I need some sort of 33% real meat produce in my tummy at least once a year. Then I'll regret it an hour later...

Being in England, I'm away from so many fast food chains, which is great! But I've replaced the fast food with copious amounts of chocolate. Seriously, they eat so. much. chocolate.

See these chocolates? Two tins full of chocolate. And the top one is empty, done by moi.

And yes. I did just give my tins of chocolate a photo shoot. So shoot me.

What about you? What kind of food do you. need. to. have.

A you know what's funny? I just had tacos tonight. Shows I didn't have nearly enough.

Dear, Future Me. (Pt. 2)

Dear Future Me,

I wonder if you figured life out? Sometimes I wonder if you dropped out of college. Was the pressure finally too much?

I wonder if you're stressed about debt. Student loans can do that to a person.

I wonder what you feel when you look back at your time in England. Do you miss it? Who do you miss? Or do you love being back to America?

I wonder what you look like sometimes. What your hair will look like, if you got fat/skinnier, got more fashionable, or if you're just the same.

Did you go to the 5 year reunion? Or did you think it's not worth it? I wonder how the people in my grade has changed. I wonder who has gotten married by then, or had kids.

I hope you learned to put trust in God with your future plans. I stress too much about what's happening next, that I have a hard time being in the now. I hope you stopped doing that.

Anyway, I hope you're healthy, happy, and in love.

Love,

Past Mia.

Ray of Sunshine.

Sometimes it's hard to be in the best mood.

Not every day is going to be a sunny day. Sometimes the day just wears on you. You go to bed, thankful that this day is finally over.


Today wasn't like that. I went to mass, and got invited to a Christmas dinner after. I hung out for hours, instead of doing Shakespeare homework. I ate turkey and carrots, I talked to new people, and I sold raffle tickets.

I studied Shakespeare, and I think I'm going to do alright.

But besides today, I believe being happy is an effort. If you want to be miserable, you can be miserable. Life is what you make of it. If you want to be happy, be happy. Do things that make you happy. Surround yourself by good people. Do new things. Laugh, a lot.

What about you? How was your Sunday/weekend?

Ironbridge

This weekend, I went on a field trip to Ironbridge. Where they invented how to make iron cheap, and they built an iron bridge. It was fascinating. #sarcasm. 

While I want to put the best into every situation, it was a boring field trip. But! I did learn new things.

1. They put the mineral coke (not cocaine) into iron to make the carbon levels correct.

2. Queen Victoria visited one of the museums we went to 41 times. (Though I would have no idea why...)

3. The most people visiting at the same museum mentioned, at the same time, was 109,000 people. Again. No idea why they would do that.

4. Ironbridge is also known for china making.

5. We didn't get to go to the crafts fair. *sobs quietly*

Well there you have it! I learned something new. After, we went to see various Americans in an Alice in Wonderland production, and I went to bed. Phew.