How Life Has Come Full Circle {or}

My 29th birthday to be exact. And even though my life is completely turned upside down right now with our transition back to the states, it's also worth noting how many things have come full circle.

I'm living back in Southern California in the same area I lived in when I first moved here. I'm working at the same university where I went to school, driving the same car, and still have many of the same friends.

If you had told me at 19 what was in store for me over the next 10 years, I probably wouldn't have believed it. But I know that I would have hoped that the people who mattered in my life then would still be around, and most of them still are.

In many ways it feels like the beginning again. I just started my second career and with only one income it definitely feels like we are living on a college student's budget. I'm having to re-learn the streets and freeways and figure out where things are.

This time around though I am older and {a little} wiser. And I have a partner and built in best friend to help me navigate {the husband}.

It might sound like not much has changed, until you factor in all that has happened since I was last here: getting married, buying a house, teaching school, moving to Dominica, living in a developing country, earning my masters degree, starting Priceless Design.

If you can't tell, I'm rather proud of what I've accomplished in the last 10 years. And at 29, I have a lot to still look forward to!

Happy Birthday Erin!

Every now & then I come across an up & coming blogger whose writing style amazes me. Meet Empirically Erin. Her posts are always thoughtful, well-written, and occasionally opinionated. I love a blogger who has a view & shares it. Even if I don't agree, I definitely respect anyone who can clearly articulate their point of view.

Erin's sister Emily from Oh Hello, Love is also a blogger {awesome writing runs in the family!}. Since she lives hundreds of miles away from Erin, Emily thought it would be fun to organize a little blogger-birthday-surprise for her sister by asking a few people to wish Erin a Happy Birthday on their blogs.

An even sweeter part to this story is how blogging has brought the two sisters together recently. In Emily's words,

Blogging has really brought us closer together since she started her blog this year. We're totally different people and didn't previously have any hobbies in common. So now we have blogging! It gives us a way of keeping up with one another and something to just chat about.

And this is why I love the blogging community: it brings people together.

Pirates of Caribbean!

Dominica has one claim to fame, can you guess what it is?! Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl was filmed here. The cast & crew stayed in Portsmouth (where we live) for part of the filming. According to rumor, they stayed in the Portsmouth Beach Cottages, and you can stay in a "Johnny Depp" or "Orlando bloom" cottage if you come to visit.

To celebrate my good friend Kristen's birthday this weekend, we decided to take a trip up the Indian River where a part of Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. Somehow I had never gone on the river tour, even though I pass by it all the time! I even pulled out the good ole DSLR for the trip.

To satisfy your curiosity, I've put together a few comparison images for your enjoyment.

I love these silly girls. One of my biggest worries when we moved to Dominica was that I would be lonely. Just the opposite has happened! The med-school spouse community was so warm and welcoming. There is something about being stuck on an small island with similar daily annoyances that really brings people together. {Survivor was lying: there's no voting anyone off!}

Interested in seeing more? Clare has more pictures from our adventure on her blog, take a peek!

Happy Birthday Sissy-La-La!

Today is my little sister Julie's birthday. We are only 18 months apart, which put us two years apart in school. We looked a lot alike when we were younger. My mom says that people thought we were twins when we were really little.

Being that close in age, and having pretty different personalities, we had our share of fights & "hating" each other years weeks days. But I am so thankful to have had her by my side growing up. She was my partner in crime and constant friend. She knows me, the good & the bad, and loves me the same.

She is the kindest, most gentle hearted person I know. The things that might have bugged me growing up have turned into things I admire about her now: the ability to slow down and relax, how friendly and kind she is to everyone she meets, and her free spirit.

Julie, I am so glad that you are my sissy-la-la. 

You are a beautiful, strong, compassionate woman who I love & admire. 

Happy Birthday!

His 30th Birthday

Last week my hubby turned the big 3-0.  Chris was not as excited about it as I was. Possibly because he had to go to school all day, or maybe just because turning 30 isn't as much fun as it sounds. Either way, he was out of the house most of the day which gave me the perfect opportunity to bake him a cake!

My friend Crystal is an excellent baker and agreed to help me with the adventure, and Clare let us bake at her house so Chris wouldn't find out. Plus, she lives right near the restaurant we were going to eat at so I didn't have to attempt to walk this baby across town! There is no way I could have pulled this off without the two of them.

It took nearly the whole day, but we ended up making a heavenly chocolate 3 layer cake with peanut butter whipped cream frosting and Godiva chocolate ganache on top. It tasted even better than it sounds!

P.S. I made him a "30 for Your 30th" card like a few people suggested!  He Loved It.

P.P.S.  And now I get to officially cross something off my 12 by 12 list!

Happy Birthday MoFo

Possibly one of the most odd thoughtful birthday presents I've ever received, this miniature version of Beyonce the 5 foot metal chicken made my {birth}day.  If you don't know about Beyonce, you need to stop what you are doing and go read this post and then this one by The Bloggess.  If you aren't laughing so hard you are crying by the end of it, your sense of humor must be broken. 

My friends know me well.  They even baked me some awesome tie-dye cupcakes with the most amazing frosting I've ever had.  You can check out the recipe on Crystal's new blog, A Little Lovely. 

Don't those look heavenly?  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends on this island.  Last year, I described my birthday as "simple" and never imagined what an incredible adventures were waiting for me. 

Not only did my friends and I have a great time out, Chris and I also went on a trip to Roseau to stay at the Fort Young Hotel.  (sorry for the crappy picture.) We swam in the endless pool, had a delicious steak dinner, and the most amazing white chocolate mousse dessert.  The best part?  Air conditioning so cold we got to sleep cuddled up under the blankets.

Birthday Wishlist

In a perfect world (aka America) where you can order things online and have them shipped to you within a week, this would be my Birthday Wishlist this year.

 Forever & Ever, wooden and leather iPad2 case by Grove

iNecklace, glowing "breathing" power symbol by Adafruit

I heart California necklace by Truche on Etsy

Gold & Diamond Feather Ring by Fire and Ice

Birthday in Dominica

  I've celebrated my birthday in many places at this point: Atwater, Azusa, England, Claremont, La Habra, Orange, and now Dominica! This was definitely the wettest birthday on record.  Actually, I can't recall any other birthday where rain was involved at all.  But it was also my first birthday in years where I haven't had to work!  Last year, I was pretty much at school until 9 pm becuase of Back-to-School Night.  No fun!  My first order of business was.. Iced Coffee!  Without a coffee maker, it's been a luxury to have a coffee these days.

  Half way to the university, there is a wanna-be coffee shop called Rituals.  It even has the green starbucks-esque font lettering on the front sign.  When I got home, the maid was just going into my apartment.  So, while the maid mopped, scrubbed, and cleaned, I Skyped with Kristen in Egypt.  (If anyone wants to ever Skype me, my name is: katieolsonprice.)  I enjoyed my afternoon reading all the wonderful birthday wishes.  Then it was time to get ready for Chris's White Coat Ceremony.  Knowing there is NO shopping on the island, I had picked and brought a new birthday shirt with me.

  We headed off into the rain for his ceremony.  The White Coat Ceremony is when the medical students get their first official white coat, which symbolizes the professional aspects of becoming a doctor.  The students read an Honor Code, which is basically an oath to do no harm, and are pinned.

  I kid you not, they played "We are The Champions" while the students were going up to be pinned!  It was a true Laugh Out Loud moment.  The Prime Minister of Dominica was there, and gave a short speech.  Apparently, he is the youngest head of state anywhere in the world right now.  We had a few snacks, ducked out of the rain for a while, and as soon as it cleared we headed home.

  We had to pop in to Rituals on the way home to wait out the rain again.  By the time we got home, I was done with walking in the mud for the day.  We ordered in from The Tomato, which is one of the more expensive, but really yummy restaurants here.  All restaurants deliver in Dominica, even the coffee shop!  I had penne pesto for dinner, and Orlando Bloom Chocolate WOW Cake for dessert.  Supposedly, while they were filming Pirates of the Caribbean here, the crew would frequent The Tomato and this was Orlando's favorite cake.  All in all, it was a good birthday.  Not quite as extravagant as in years past, but I'm learning that sometimes simple is just as satisfying.  :)