Resolution time!

2013 is going to rock in so many ways. I can't even explain how much. I know that this blog will open so many doors for me, it gets me all giddy just thinking about the possibilities! I wanted to share my hopes and dreams for the new year.

1.) Learn to not take rude comments so personally // Try to be less emotional about things.

2.) Spend less time on facebook and more time being creative like - making time for craft & home projects for my blog. :)

3.) Keep my house clean. I'll accomplish that by tidying up every day so, that it won't be so overwhelming by the end of the week.

4.) Work out more.

5.) Work on my photography business. So many ideas and haven't had any time to do them. I'll keep that resolution private for now. Keep following and I'll post more when I do more! :)

6.) Travel more // Get my license and drive.

7.) Take more photos. As a photographer you'd think I'd be taking tons of photos all the time... well, since my day job is being a product photographer for Tactics.com/Womens.. I shoot photos all day long. That's my job, and I love it! But those photos aren't for personal use. I'm talking about photos I take that I can be proud of. Experiment more. Enjoy more. Love more. :)

For now, that's it! If I think of more, I'll come back and add them. Thank you for reading! What are your resolutions for this coming up year?

xo, Sierra

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to pop in and wish you all a merry christmas! 

here's a few photos from my family christmas last night:

Above: This is Ember, my favorite small person. She's six years old, and she owns most of my heart. Her mother is one of my best friends, I consider her family to be my family. So, they came over for christmas dinner! We had the best time! Oh, and in this photo she was found hiding under my down comforter.. under a pile of clean clothes :P 

Left to Right: My beautiful mother, My grandma and my boyfriend, Josiawa. They were prepping dinner :)

Yams!!!!!!! More like, YUMmmmms.

Josiawa holding my Violet Creams that my mom gave me. Soooo delicious!! Have you ever seen the movie Chocolat? It's one of my all time favorites, well.. the main character makes rose creams.. and that's basically what these are except made with violet instead of rose :) YUM!

And last but not least, our dinner table.  Two tables put together to fit all 9 guests. <3

Hope you are having the most lovely Holiday! I look forward to the new year! I plan on using this week to plan my January posts and I'm excited to share my projects & recipes with you all! I hope to gain more followers and readers soon. I look forward to meeting you all! xo

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

XOXO

Gluten Schmuten: Gluten Free Turkey & Dumplings Soup

So, my boyfriend and I had quite a few thanksgiving celebrations this year. The first was with my family on thanksgiving and those leftovers lasted us a few days after that. And then, Josiawa's family came to town the weekend before last and we had another thanksgiving celebration! And those leftovers lasted a week! So, we cooked it down and made turkey stock and many other delicious things from it! It's been a blast making different things with the leftovers. Last but not least, I made Turkey & Dumplings. I've made this recipe once before (except it was made the traditional way, with chicken) but with a different gluten free dumpling mix. This time around I used Bob Red Mill's. It came out delish! I don't ever write down my soup recipes, only because I'm quite seasoned in making soups. So, feel free to use any soup recipe you'd like.

Here's a Basic Soup recipe: Put olive oil in soup pot, saute your veggies until they're half way cooked. Put in your cooked meat and stock. And turn up the heat (I like to keep it on Medium heat.). Add spices to taste. Once the soup is heating up, start making your dumplings! Dumpling recipe below.

What I used:
Organic Veggies: Celery, Carrots, Yellow Onion, diced fresh garlic and Red Potatoes.
Organic Meat: Turkey
Stock: Turkey Stock
Spices: Dried Oregano + Thyme, Salt & Pepper.

~ Recipe for GF Dumplings: ~

2 Tb of Vegetable Oil or Butter
1/2 cup Milk
1 cup Bob Red Mill's Biscuit and Baking Mix

Directions
In a measuring cup mix milk and oil together. In a bowl place 1 cup of Bob's Red Mill Wheat Free Biscuit Mix and add the milk mixture; stir just until moistened.

Drop by tablespoon full into slowly boiling liquid. Return to a gentle boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook 12-15 minutes. Do not remove lid during cooking period.

Makes 15 small dumplings, about 9 good sized dumplings.

Enjoy! xo, Sierra

Happy Holidays!

Our first tree!! 

We rearranged our living room today so that we could make the focus on our  Christmas tree and fireplace mantle. I am so happy to be living in this beautiful house with my handsome boyfriend/partner. Once we de-clutter our living room, I want to start having once a week updates on each room :) On one of my favorite blogs called Maiedae, Savannah calls it "Project Condo". Look forward to more house decorating posts. <3

xo, Sierra

Why do Dogs leave the earth first?

This is beautiful.

I found this on my friend's blog who found it on pinterest via aplacetolovedogs.com and thought it was one of the greatest perspectives I have ever seen. If you are a dog person, you will love it.

Curious.

Sol Botanicals: Places I Love

Sol Botanicals is a small local apothecary & coffee shop at 383 W. 3rd Ave. in Eugene, OR. In the neighborhood of Tactics Boardshop, Ron's Island Grill, REI + Bounce Gymnastics. Owned by my dear friend Felicia and her partner Ryan. What's great about this little place is that they're original. They blend their own tea & make their own honey. They make organic smoothies and are now serving espressos, steamers and hot chocolate. Today I went in and tried their Vanilla Bliss Steamer with their house made Aphrodite Honey. The honey had [rose hips, cacao nibs and cardamom] in it. It was the most delicious and creamy thing I've ever had! Dairy Free options! It's a great place to shop for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers! If you're in the area, check them out! SHOP LOCAL.

~~~

Follow me on IG: @sierragrosss