Dog Lake // Utah Hiking

Utah Hiking Series has returned for the summer. Yes, even though it is August 2nd, I know. In my defense, I have been hiking, I just spent a month hiking in Maui, so the "Utah Hiking Series" has been... a little absent, obviously. Ha. 

This hike was up Millcreek Canyon that leads to a lake called Dog Lake. I thought that this was going to be a little simple hike because it only said 1.8 miles. Uhhhh, I was wrong. It was HARD (and I'm really out of shape). That guy running up the trail obviously did not think it was that hard, but I hate him so never mind that. There are a few trails that lead up to Dog Lake, but the Millcreek Canyon, Little Water Trail. is one of the steeper ones (and I could take Saylor on this one). Side note: I hate that I can't take Saylor up Little or Big Cottonwood Canyon. Dang you, Utah! I decided to take the steeper route because well, apparently, I'm an idiot. But it was good for me!!!! You know it was a long, good day because Saylor fell asleep within 5 minutes of being in the car. Despite the challenge of this hike, it was absolutely gorgeous and one that I will be doing again. 

Other Utah Hikes: Summit Trailhead AF Canyon Hike //  Bells Canyon // Horsetail Falls // Battle Creek Falls // Y Hike // Stewart Falls // Bryce Canyon // Lame Horse/Salamander Flats Trail // 

Have you been to Dog Lake?
What is your favorite hike up Millcreek Canyon? 

Maui Guidebook: Central Maui Fun!

Guys. I know that I have been posting so many videos and pictures of our trip to Maui. I want to see you go to Maui for 23 days and try to document less ;). Even though I have been to Maui many times, I have never experienced so many of these awesome things that we did over the course of these few weeks. I wanted to share my fun with you. My brother in law (he's 17...) mentioned that I was being annoying with my posts, but you all get to deal with it. Mostly because I don't write in my journal anymore (I know!!! I need to still!!!) so this is my documentation. I hope you enjoy the videos and pictures and info! If you ever go to Maui, you now have a guidebook and know who to contact!!
With that being said, this is the LAST MAUI POST. WOOOOOOO!

Over the last week while we were in Maui, we spent a ton of time exploring parts of the island that I have never really seen: Central Maui. We spent time mostly in Wailuku and Makawao area and doing some amazing hikes.

In the video you will see some of these awesome things to do while in Maui. The Haleki'i-Pihana Heiau State Monument in Wailuku is a hike that shows some cool stones that the ancient Hawaiians used as sacrifice. It is not a popular place and not well known, but still a cool thing to see (and it has an awesome view as you go up higher). Over past Wailuku is the Waihe'e Ridge Trail. It is a hard hike. My mother recommended this hike, but she somehow forgot to mention that it was INCREDIBLY muddy. It was so muddy that you couldn't even lift your foot up while stepping, so beware of that if you decide to go. But if it is not cloudy (which it was...), you can see  the entire valley. Be prepared to get dirty! In the Maui mountains we explored Iao Valley and the Iao Needle. It is the only area where they allow you to go in the mountains because they want to preserve it. Our next goal is to go find some secret hikes up in those mountains...for our next time....in December, probably ;). It had been raining quite a bit over the course of the three weeks while we were there so everything was so green and gorgeous, so the mountains were extra green and luscious. My aunt and uncle just moved to Maui and it was so fun to have them there! We spent so much time hanging out with Hudson and Sandy and we loved it. We went up to Third Friday with food trucks and music and local shops in Makawao and saw my cousin's awesome private school (it was so gorgeous). Makawao is a little up country and it's definitely country--tons of horses and rodeos! I love it, Hawaii cowboys!

Go see all of my other Maui Guidebook posts below if you missed any photos or videos!!!
Aloha!

Maui 2016: Central Maui Fun! from Sierra Charlesworth on Vimeo.






Maui Guidebook:
Lava Rocks and Snorkeling Cove 
Olivine Pools
Honolua Bay & Haleakala National Park
Road to Hana
Maui Beaches 

Maui Guidebook: Maui Beaches and Fun Times

I posted this photo on my Instagram. I am not 100% comfortable in a bikini right now, but I did it because I'm trying to love my body. I was overwhelmed with the amount of support I got! It still is uncomfortable at times, but OWN IT, ya know?  

GUYS. Second to last video of Maui ;) Bear with me!
Our friends, Carli and Josh, left after about a week in Maui. After they left, T and I just explored all of the beaches in Maui. We had so many good times exploring the island, swimming, going on walks during the sunsets. The sunset! My goodness, guys, I wish I could explain to you how gorgeous these Maui sunsets are. I wanted to just walk and sit and enjoy them every night. The following video encompasses a plethora of fun times while in Maui: celebrating T's Birthday, our favorite Shave Ice place, going to lots of beaches, enjoying sunsets, hanging out with my cousin and aunt at their home, and just enjoying the islands.

Some of my favorite beaches in Maui (and are listed in the video) are: Makena Beach (Big Beach), Kite Beach, and Kuawakapanu Beach.

Maui 2016: Beaches and Fun Times! from Sierra Charlesworth on Vimeo.




Maui Guidebook:
Lava Rocks and Snorkeling Cove 
Olivine Pools
Honolua Bay & Haleakala National Park
Road to Hana

That Back to School Anxiety...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company, Kellogg Company, J.M. Smucker Company, and The HERSHEY'S Company. All opinions are mine alone. #StartSchoolLikeAChampion #CollectiveBias

It is August. When August hits, my teacher mind starts freaking out. I have been spending a little bit of time (not as much as I should because I am in denial) in my classroom already getting ready for the school year to start. 

Even though I am in denial with the school year starting, I came across this awesome trick to get free books for my classroom at Walmart only. Even though I have been teaching for five years, I am always looking for more books for my classroom. At Walmart, you can buy specific food articles in order to stock up on the products above to earn free books. 

This year's Back to School Reading program incorporates the 2016 Olympic Games. I love the Olympic games!!!! All of the athletes are getting ready to compete and your children are getting ready to become a grade older in school!  Team USA sponsors Coca-Cola®, Kellogg’s®, HERSHEY’S, and ©/® J.M. Smucker and they have joined Scholastic to create the Walmart exclusive “Start School Like a Champion” program. You get a free book one by providing a free Scholastic book for every purchase of select products at Walmart.

This limited- time offer will run from June 29th to September 30th, and anyone can claim up to 90 books!

Follow these following steps in order to obtain your free book: 

1. Buy any participating  Coca-Cola®, Kellogg’s®, HERSHEY’S, and ©/® J.M. Sucker product at Walmart between 6/29/16 and 9/30/16. For a full list of participating products, refer to StartSchoolLikeAChampion.com. 

2. Join or log in to Kellogg's Family Rewards.

3. Upload your receipt within 30 days of purchase.

4.  Choose or donate your free book.

Each product that you buy will have a "Start School like a Champion" button on it (see Kisses photo below). I bought each of these products. 

We used them all at a bridal shower and I am currently waiting for my free books. I cannot wait for them to come! 

I found these products in my local Walmart. Each of them have a "Back to School Like a Champion" and/or american flag/olympic athletes located on these products. I found them in the soda, candy, and breakfast aisles.

Maui Guidebook: Road to Hana

On the east side of the island of Maui is Hana. Along the way, there is the ever-famous road to get there encompassing waterfalls, hikes, views, and greenery. That part of the island gets a lot more rain so it is more green and luscious. It is absolutely beautiful. I cannot believe that I have never done the Road to Hana--even after all of the years of going to Maui. I am so happy that we did it though. Even though it was a long day, we saw so many cool things.

Now, we did not stop at many of the "popular" places. We wanted to see some of the coolest places because we only had a day. Next time I go, I want to take a few days and go see so many of the other waterfalls and hikes and just take my time. Nevertheless, it was a great day with gorgeous sites!

I listed the places where we stopped in the video. Enjoy!

Maui 2016: Road to Hana from Sierra Charlesworth on Vimeo.


Maui Guidebook:
Lava Rocks and Snorkeling Cove 
Olivine Pools
Honolua Bay & Haleakala National Park

Interview T Money Part III // 3rd Anniversary

Three years of marriage to Tanner have come and gone. Marriage is not always easy, but, like anything that worth it in this life, it requires hard work. Despite what others might say, marriage IS hard work. I am constantly making mistakes and fixing them.  As always, we are still learning new things everyday about us, marriage, and life. Needless to say, this has been the fastest three years ever. I am grateful to have this hilarious, kind, loving man by my side. I mean, what kind of husband writes this sweetest letter to his wife?! 

Pictures from our perfect wedding day. 
July 27, 2013. 
Photographer: Brooke Bakken 

For the past few years, I interviewed him with these questions on our anniversary. I thought that it would be fun to ask him the exact same questions (with a few added at the end!). It was so funny to see his responses. I had to probe him to get a little more in-depth responses. He's really good at having two word answers. Typical male. ;).

My responses are in parentheses. 

Note: These are his responses EXACTLY. I didn't change one word. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

2014: Mark Tanner Charlesworth. Age 23. Married. 6'3''. Incredibly Good Looking with chiseled muscles.

2015: Mark Tanner Charlesworth. My name is Tanner and I like to party. I like to do stuff outdoors. 

2016: Tall. Awesome. That about sums it up. (basically...) 

What is your current job? 

2014: I'm in school full time during the year, but I am the Assistant Race Director for Epic Relays."

2015: The Color Run. But I'm kind of on the market, so if you know of anything, let me know! I am also a wellness advocate for Doterra. (If you need oils, let him know!!!)

2016: I knock doors and sell pest control. (Yes, he's one of those bros..) 

What are you going to school for? 

2014: I am getting my Accounting degree with a pre-dental minor, with the goal of going to Dental School. My dream school for dental is OHSU in Portland.

2015: Marketing and Business Management. (He has, clearly, changed his major and we have decided together to take a different route for his career! Only two more years of his undergraduate. We got this! Ha.) 

2016: Digital Marketing (his responses are getting shorter and shorter each year...) 

What was your first impression of Sierra (me)?

2014: I thought, 'This girl is crazy, but she's pretty.' You made me play a stupid envelope game. I didn't know anyone there. It was the most stupid game ever.  (I thought the same thing about him) 

2015: Who is this girl? She's a bossy pants. (hahahaha) 

2016: That girl is crazy. Pretty, but seems like a lot to handle (nothing's changed, I guess.) 

How accurate do you now think your impression of Sierra was? On which counts do you think you were totally wrong and on which were you right?

2014: Yep, she is crazy. But also pretty. (Ya win some, ya lose some). 

2015: She's still bossy, but mostly in a good way. (Oh gee, thanks.) 

2016: All correct. Crazy, but the good kind of crazy, most of the time. (so kind.) 

How many kids do you do want? 

2014: No more than 4. But I am not ready for kids; a wife is enough to handle for now." (HEY!) 

2015: 2 at the least, 4 at the most. I want boys and girls. One girl and one boy sounds perfect to me.

2016: 2-3. (the number is getting lower and lower the longer we are married hahah) 

What is your favorite food? 

2014: Pizza. Fire baked pizza, specifically. My favorite restaurant is Pizzeria 712 because, well, it's the most amazing pizza in the world." (Seriously…I'm drooling now just thinking about it.) 

2015: Pizza and hot wings. But I'm kind of a food nerd, so my tastes vary drastically. (All he ever wants is Pizza. Always. It's so annoying.)

2016: All kinds of food! Food is glorious and makes me happy (He really is obsessed with food. Good thing he is skinny. Ha!) 

What do you fear the most? 

2014: Bees. F*** Bees. (It's the funniest thing in the world. He will jump off cliffs, go bungee jumping, but he sees a Bee and FREAKS).

2015: Bees. F Bees. (LITERALLY THE EXACT SAME RESPONSE AS LAST YEAR. He hates them so bad. It's so funny.) 

2016: Bees. Always and forever bees. (hahahahahaha kills me. Every time)

What are your 5 favorite hobbies? 

2014: Rock climbing, fishing, watching/playing sports, reading, playing music. 

2015: Fishing, rock climbing, hunting, playing sports, watching sports. (Ha. Seems familiar.) 

2016: fishing, hunt gin, rock climbing, sports, I find a new hobby every week (Yes. Yes he does...) 

What is your dream vacation and why? 

2014: "I have a lot of dream vacations, right now it's Thailand because I want to hold a tiger. And they have really good rock climbing."

2015: Croatia. No, I don't know. Alaska. So I can shoot a freaking big bear. 

2016: Alaska in the summer because of bears, fishing, Denali and I really want to fly fish for salmon (He and I both have that travel bug. It's a problem). 

Describe yourself in 5 adjectives. 

2014: Loud, Energetic, Awesome, Intelligent, Athletic. "(He could make a list of fifteen, cocky son of a….. I could add some words, too…) 

2015: Awesome, Energetic, Funny, Cool, The Coolest. (Still humble…) 

2016: fun, energetic, patient, athletic, nonjudgmental (I added the last two! Haha). 

What is your favorite movie of all time and why?

2014: Top Gun. Because my grandpa was a fighter pilot for the Navy. I watched it so much as a little kid, I wore the VHS out."(Plus he looks exactly like Iceman/Val Kilmer! See here. It's creepy.) 

2015: Top Gun. Because my grandpa was a fighter pilot so I grew up watching it. (haha exact same answer.) 

2016: Do you even need to ask? Top Gun (I wonder if this will ever change...) 

Can you give me a mock session of how you would discuss sex education when you have a child?

2014: I will give my sons the same advice my father gave me: 'Keep the pecker in the pants, boy.' My daughters will wear chastity belts. That's it. Sierra can do the rest. (Awesome. Thanks, babe.) 

2015: Keep the pecker in the pants. [Smiles. Shrugs.] And, it would depend on the child. (Clearly he needs to expand his sex education knowledge and vocabulary.) 

2016: Just don't be stupid. Keep the pecker in the pants and then there are no problems. (eye roll. I will be doing the sex ed talk apparently. He says the same thing every year.) 

Me: What if it's a girl? 

T: That one will go a lot different. And my wife can handle most of that one (he's dumb. The father needs to talk to the daughter too!!). I would just tell her to respect her body and make sure the guys she dates does the same. 

If you won the lottery, what are the first three things you would do/buy? 

2014: 

1. Build a house with land. 

2. Buy a tiger and/or leopard…maybe some wolves (he is grinning at me right now) 

3. Live off of the interest and not let anyone know I was rich. My kids will earn their keep.

2015

1. Pay off my house. 

2. Start a french fry food truck business (he is quite determined to do this). 

3. Put away the rest. 

2016: 

1. Pay off my house. 

2. Buy a 2015 VW tai golf sports ago. 

3. The rest save and invest. And do some traveling. 

If your house was on fire and you had a chance to grab only five things before leaving, they would be…

2014: My wife, my dog, my guns, my guitars, and my laptop. 

2015: My wife because she is going to be passed out panicking (Rude! But true), Saylor the dog would get herself (she would follow us out.) (Again, true.)  So I would get my guns, my laptop…that's kind of all I would grab. There's not enough time to grab five things. 

2016: Assuming my wife is capable of getting herself out... (funny)... I would get my laptop, my guns, my guitars. And that's a lot so that's probably it (I think we all know his favorite things in the house at this point). 

If you believed in reincarnation, what would you come back as? 

2014: That's simple…my spirit animal clearly is a Jaguar." (I am dying right now. What a nerd). 

2015: A freaking awesome big cat like a lion or a leopard.  (He loves big cats.) 

2016: Jungle cat. Like a bad ass jungle cat. (oh, dear.) 

One of the best decisions you have ever made? (besides marrying me ;) )

2014: The haircut I got today. Just kidding. Marrying my wife. That's a trick question. I can't say anything else, but I wouldn't say anything else. Cause I loooooove you (He sang that to me. awwww). 

2015: Um…moving to Portland. Because I would never have met my wife if I didn't move there. 

2016: Going to school even though I hate it. 

2015 added questions...

What is one thing that you have learned about or from marriage? 

2015: Everyone needs alone time, even extroverts (he's an extrovert.) 

2016: Make your expectations clear so that your partners knows what to expect. It is much easier to not let someone down if they have a clear idea of your expectations. 

What is your most unique trait? 

2015: 

I hate talking about myself. Being freaking awesome. 

Me: No, really. Answer the question!!! 

Tanner: Ummmmmm, my inventiveness. I always have a thousand ideas. 

2016: I'm surprisingly good at remaking old furniture and solving puzzles. (He really is!). 

One quality you want your children to possess and that you will focus on teaching them?

2015: Integrity. Because the world is going to shit and we need some good people in it. You can quote on me that. (hahahaha) 

2016: Honesty. 

What was your favorite part about our wedding?

2015: The sex afterwards. (Oh, awesome.) 

2016: Our first dance. You looked so pretty and it was just the two of us and nothing else mattered. (awwwww!!) 

2016 added questions....

What piece of advice would you give "newlyweds?" 
2016: It's okay to argue as long as you're willing to say sorry and work to fix the issues. (so true!) 

What trait do you think that you and I have most in common? 
2016: The love of travel and the desire to do what's right (I would agree!). 

---------------

This was so fun to do and to see how similar most of his responses are. Well, at least we know he is consistent. That's one thing that I love about him. 

And, just for fun, let's show my wedding video. And the slideshow that was played at our wedding. Huzzah! 

Happy THIRD Anniversary, T Money. Here's to millions more! 

What else do you want to know about Tanner? Any questions you would add or want to know?

Maui Guidebook: Honolua Bay and Haleakala National Park.

 via Instagram

Another amazing thing that we did while in Maui was Honolua Bay and Rainforest. Just a few miles south of the Olivine Pools on the Northwest side of the island, past Kaanapali Beach and Lahaina, is one of the best snorkeling coves in Maui. You walk through a gorgeous forest to get to it. You won't want to miss this one. There are the coolest fish and sea turtles ( you can see them in the video!!!!) in the bay. Sometimes there are dolphins that you can see from the shore as well (only early in the morning, though. We didn't get to see them this trip).

One thing that I had never done before was go tot he Haleakala National Park. I LOVE National parks so this was something that I had to hit. One of the traditions in Maui is to go up on top of the mountain (at 10,00+ ft) and see the sunrise and sunset. We didn't want to deal with the crowd at sunrise, so we drove up for sunset. Even though it was cloudy and we couldn't see the sunset as well as we liked, it was amazing to be up above the clouds. I felt like I was up in space. It was FREEZING and although the sunset wasn't as colorful as it normally is, it was still gorgeous and such a cool experience. There are some really cool hikes that you can do up in the National Forest. We didn't get to them this time (we chose some other hikes that you will see later!), but I've heard that they are pretty fun hikes. Beware, the drive up and down the mountain is long and has lots of turns. We got a little sick on the drive. Ha.

Maui 2016: Honolua Bay & Haleakala Natl. Park from Sierra Charlesworth on Vimeo.

Last year's Honolua Bay and Rainforest post HERE

Maui Guidebook:
Lava Rocks and Snorkeling Cove 
Olivine Pools