Bringing Out My Best

What will bring you joy and confidence today?
Which qualities can you throw out today?
Who brings out the best in you?
My working hands, big heart, connection to others. My compassion, laugh. My love for you, for Him, for her.
Judgement on others, negativity towards myself. My secondary emotions, regret, insecurities about the future.
A future bride, an unconditional father, a businesswoman, someone who will travel, a yogi, the one who makes me smile.

Next Big Style Blogger Contest!

My beautiful, inspirational, lovely sister Moorea Seal is entered in Refinery29's Next Big Style Blogger, and she's depending on your votes! So click over to Refinery29 to see the potential prizes, and vote for Moorea Seal! Scroll down to see this photo and click the gray heart to vote for her. To see more of her style and what she's all about, view her blog, jewelry shop, and her style. 

Graduation

Dad and I at my graduation from massage school, Oct. 21, 2011. I love you Daddy <3

Soft Serve and Country Kids.

I miss my sister. I love you Moo Moo.

Loves Of My Life

xoxo
Me, Bella, Moorea
Nevada County Fair
Grass Valley, CA
August 2011

Body Clock Renovation 2011

Yaaawn!
Alright, who of you has a hard time waking up in the mornings? It's okay, I'm right there with you.
My grandmother passed away two weeks ago. She was the epitome of class, service, charm, and generosity.. And she did it all on time, with happiness, and in style. I am so inspired by her life, and I want to make some changes. My first changes have started with those three things, being on time, being happy while I do it, and doing it in style.
I just purchased my first real watch, a Michael Kors wrist watch, that's so blingin' and beautiful. My grandmother was a servant to all, especially in the education field for Southeast Asians after the huge immigration to Long Beach in the 80s. She offered so many ways to help, to teach, and to serve other people, and always did it in a manner that was humble, but not to the point of letting herself go. She had her signature red nail polish, as I blogged about before. She always had her hair done and respectable clothes and shoes. It wasn't in the fashion of looking down on those who didn't have it, but she just liked it, and she knew she deserved it. So, my wrist watch is part one of my lesson on how to live in style while also living a life that is primarily for other people. I am a servant, and I love to serve, and I love everyone.
Moving on. Being on time, guys. This is my ultimate goal. I am the type of girl that is so much more pleasant to be around when I've woken up at 10:30 am, but you know, that just isn't going to cut it anymore. I need to wake up earlier. So today marks the day of my BODY CLOCK RENOVATION 2011, where I will be waking up early and starting my day early and loving it in the process. Last night, I successfully made it to bed by 10:45, and was out by 11 pm. Despite having very realistic dreams (not nightmares. There's a difference) of the zombiepocalypse, I woke up at 8 am, drank some tea, woke Moorea up, and now, at 9 am, we are out the door to walk The Newo Pups and read at Broad Street Books, a dog friendly cafe in downtown. I am overjoyed with the thought that in a few minutes I will get some real caffeine in me, because it is way to early for me to be awake. NAY! It is just the right time for me to be awake! And I'm going to learn to love it!

Question of the blog:
What is your ideal wake up time?

Swing Sets and Potato Soup

My grandfather said it was as if she stood up and walked out the room, leaving her body behind. Aunt Judy held the phone up to her ear, and I said thank you. Spending hours sitting on my bed, I search through hundreds of old photographs from England, looking for her. I pile, scan, crop, edit, post, for my family and for myself. I find comfort in the photographs. She had called me Amelia Earhart for what I had been doing all summer. I was going to call her and tell her I was coming down next week, but she left before I did, and now she is calling me to come down anyways. Always sweet, always tender. My heart yearns for a sneeze, and a second one, just so I can hear you say, "Want to try for three?" Or even just an "I love you be careful" before I hang up the phone. I want to eat our favorite potato soup from Hof's Hut together. I want you to tell me how this dress looks, see if you'd approve of it for next Thursday. A lady that looked like you told me that you would think it looked great on me. Today at the airport, a mother pushed her son in a stroller towards his grandmother. As she was turned around, he yelled with arms wide open, "Granny! Granny!" She turned, and with the sweetest smile on her face, started crying. As she held her grandson in her arms, I yearned for one last embrace from you. My Gaga. I want you to be at my wedding one day. I want you to meet my dog. I want you to wipe away my tears and sing me to sleep, because you always knew how to calm me when I was weepy. My emotions run through my veins.

You are with me. Please, be with me.

1.28.25-8.7.11

Question of the blog:

Who have you lost?

Lune Vintage Necklace!

Today I got a lovely package in the mail from my older sister, Moorea Seal. She has great connections with wonderful jewelry artists, and got this beautiful necklace for me! Jill from LuneVintage.Blogspot.com made this necklace, the Love Lune Talisman Tassel Necklace in Jasper. It looks just like the image I first saw on her Etsy shop, and matches my style so well! I'm so pleased. Nothing like a new piece of beautiful jewelry to brighten a stormy day!

Here are a few more images of her jewelry. She has a beautiful style that could match any lady's outfit. I will pair this necklace up against my infinite amount of little black dresses, or with a flowy little top and denim. Such a versatile piece, and I'll be wearing it all the time now!

Question of the blog:

Some people are just meant for jewelry, I feel like I'm that type of person. I will always be wearing some piece of jewelry. Currently, I am wearing two rings, a watch, friendship bracelet, septum ring, and my new Tassel necklace.

Are you the type of person who wears a lot of jewelry, or would rather wear no jewelry at all?

Reeds in the Wind

Dear You,

Take comfort. Yours will be the name of future generations, and the love that flows from your mouth like billows of sweet hymns will resound on and on.

Tattoos, Sisters, and Resolutions.

Kelly, getting her Sims tattoo on her birthday

It's been a great couple of days. I am feeling very motivated and happy about the way 2011 is coming along.. Okay so we're 8 days in but nevertheless, I have a positive outlook and that's good enough for me.

Some good news to pass on to you.

1. My blog has been redesigned by my older sister, Moorea. For those of you who don't know Moorea, she is one of my favorite people and biggest sources of inspiration in this world. Her mind is filled with the most wonderful imagination that she draws, designs, and produces for the world to see. Not only is she a blogger, but she redesigns blogs, and she can redesign yours, too! She also has an Etsy shop where she designs and sells wonderful jewelry that I love.. I have a few of her pieces that I wear all the time. So go on over and check out her great sites, and pick up some lovely new jewelry for yourself!

2. I am piling my New Years Resolutions together.. And there is one I am particularly excited about. To give you the general gist of it, I am going through the year weekly. Each new week, a new adventure. But I need YOUR help in putting this list of 50 things to do for 7 days! More on this resolution in my next blog.

Question of the blog:

1. Do you have siblings?

2. What are your new years resolutions?

Dream Interpreters Welcome

I was there, with you, in an apartment unlike the real one. There was a small dog, and as I held it, I saw his wire teeth, sharp and metal. They bit into my hand and my life blood was pouring out, all of it. I went outside. I got a phone call. We talked like nothing ever happened, you sounded just like yourself, your voice so clear it was as though you were right next to me. We were friends, it was so beautiful. I went to my sibling's apartment, but she left me. I was there with my father, and out of nowhere came a young, pretty little black cat. I was scared, I didn't know what to do. I put her in the bathroom, but the door was raised so high from the ground I knew the cat could escape. Panicked, I called my sister to ask what to do, and she was shocked to hear of a cat in her house. She was convinced the cat had hatched from an egg under her bed, that her previous cat must have laid the egg before she left. Frantic, I pushed a towel under the door of the bathroom so the cat would not escape, and my first thought was, she is starving. I ran down the street, so afraid I would be the cause of the death of this poor kitten. My legs became weak and wobbly, I lost myself trying to find a Petco. I found it, and as I walked in, a girl from my past walked by. She was pregnant, and looked beautiful. I was unnoticed. I could not find the food for the kitten. As I ran to the last aisle, my legs giving out, I began to wake up.

Stay asleep.. Stay asleep.

I made my own destiny now. My legs were strong. I knew exactly where the food was, and I had enough money to buy her the best. As I walked out, my favorite family from my childhood was there, they were celebrating in a crowd. They were joyful, for the first time in years. We saw each other, and I smiled. I was running home to feed the cat, and then I opened my eyes.

Finding Hope and Joy

There are some things I didn't think I'd miss.. In fact, they didn't even come to mind..

But this morning, as I was leaning over the toilet and couldn't throw up, I had wished more than anything I could have had my dad there to bring me saltines and tell me everything was going to be okay. That's something I really miss today.

I got a package a few hours later, from my father, with a book I left at home.

"Always remember:

Joy is not merely incidental to

your spiritual quest.

It is vital."

-Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

East To West, and West To South

Two days late, but nevertheless...

16 years ago, I moved to Nevada City, California.

Illustration by Moorea Seal.

And now, this Friday, I start a new adventure in San Diego, California. I'm packing my bags, and heading South.


Question of the blog:
In your life, where have you lived? Where has been your favorite place to live?

Jeweled

Jewelry by MOOREA SEAL

My darling sister's ETSY shop reopens tomorrow at 8 am pst. Get ready for some beautiful turquoise, chunky rocks, book necklaces, and some pretty little sewing. I am so proud of all of her hard work, and admire how much time she puts into something that she enjoys so much. Moorea inspires me in all aspects of life. Go check out her reopening on ETSY quick, before all of these pieces are gone!
For Moorea's jewelry: Visit her ETSY shop.
For her photos: Visit her FLICKR.
For some beautiful words: Visit her BLOG.

Question of the blog:
Who do you look up to?

Live, Laugh, Love

So maybe I'm a total Bitter Betty today, but I have always had a problem with this American obsession with the phrase "live, laugh, love". Mainly because when I think, if I could minimize my goals in life into three words, starting with L, I usually don't think of those three. Sure they're all great, but doesn't "living" just come naturally in life? So that's already a given. Laughing is nice, but I think the "learning" I have done in my life has been so much more meaningful and beneficial in creating who I am today. "Love" is an interesting thing. I encourage you to really find what you consider to be love, not some Americanized meaning that ends unhappily.
"Love as if you've never loved before." If you've never loved before, take this piece of advice. Never forget any moment of love in your life. Every drop of love you experience shapes you into the love you will keep forever. I have loved a few special beings in my life, and forgetting those times would erase very vital information I have learned through my experiences on this earth. Through love, I have learned what I want in love, what I deserve as a human being and as a woman of God. I have learned what love can be and what love will never be. And I am still learning! Through trial and error, and mistakes and success, you learn what love is for you.
So yes, I encourage you to live, and to laugh, and to love, but know there's a lot more to life than three words that are hung up on your door frame.

There'll Never Be One To Take Her Place

She's my angel from the west.

My pearl of the stars.

The Bees Knees

In honor of my sister's homecoming, my mother baked the CUTEST cinnamon bread I have ever seen. It's a little bee hive complete with bees all over it! How precious is that?! I am so happy she is home.

Today I picked up Andy from the airport! He is here for a week and I am so stinkin' excited!
Just thought I'd fill you in on the buzz (har har) around here. Now I'm off to the kitchen to see if there's any cinnamon bread hive left over.


Question of the blog:
What is one of your favorite things your parents bake?

My Baby You'll Be

Some nights, before I go to sleep, I remember my nightly routine as a child. I remember how difficult it was to turn on the sink, and when I would it would come pouring out much to fast. I can remember the white sheets with pink polka dots, and Mickey and Minnie on my pillowcase. My mommy would read I Love You Forever to me, or Goodnight Moon. Long hair, tangled, always up in a ponytail. I remember crossing my parents' foreheads, God bless you and keep you. I like that memory most, because even at nineteen I still get to God-bless-and-keep my parents before bed.



I know it's far off from where I am now, but I am so excited to one day tuck my children into bed. My mother used to say to me, after teeth brushing, pajama changes, and all was said and done, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." I look forward to the day when I can say that to my little one.

Goodnight stars.
Goodnight air.
Goodnight noises everywhere.

Question of the blog:
Tell me some of your memories from when you were little.

I Can't Remember This...

I miss my sister tonight.
This is a video of us on New Years. Okay so maybe we had some champagne, but for reals, I didn't know we were this weird.



Question of the blog:
Have any funny videos/pictures of good times with siblings or your closest friends? Share with me.

The Lost Art Of Long Names

A lot of people ask me why I introduce myself as Alexandra, and not a shorter name. To be honest with you, I like my long name better than any shortened version of it. Zandra, Z, you can call me what you'd like, but sometimes I wonder, where has appreciation for long names gone?
Nicknames have taken over. I have never met someone who had gone by Timothy, or Jennifer, or even another Alexandra. Instead, shortened version have replaced these pretty names. Every chance I get, I call people by their real names. Dustin, if you're reading this, the moment you started going by Dustin and not Dusty, I took it. I don't know what it is about long names, but I just love it. (This does not mean I don't like short names... In fact, I could never call my friend Alex by her full name, Alexandra. Her nickname is more of her name than Alexandra is!)

My name is Anne Alexandra Magdalen Ouida Houston Seal.
Anne - Hebrew, meaning gracious and merciful.
Alexandra - Greek, meaning protector and defender of mankind
Magdalen - English, meaning woman of Magdala (or tower)
Ouida - French, meaning famous warrior

I feel as though I take those meanings upon myself. I am a part of my name. If you know me, you know how closely I pay attention to meanings. I think they are important. I love the thought behind a chosen name.

Question of the blog:
I know a few friends that have always gone by their full names, and a nickname sounds so foreign to them. Do you prefer your real name, or your nickname?