Swimming Stories in Seattle: The Sequel

Note: This post is a continuation of my last one, Swimming Stories in Seattle. 

The last two days at Zones were eventful to say the least. My last individual race of the entire meet was the mile (30 lengths of the 50 meter pool)! I was super nervous because this was the race that I wanted to perform the best in. I gave it everything I had left in me after seven races and ended up dropping 20 seconds (part of it was the altitude difference)! The best part of that race though was the fact that everyone on the Zone Team cheered me on. After I got out and finished cooling down, the chaperones gave us Pink Starburst and Fruity Pebbles smoothies from Jamba Juice off the Secret Menu. It was a special treat because these ones were pure sherbet versus greek yogurt.

One of the traditions at Zones is that each team performs a skit. We were supposed to do a skit, except each skit has to be approved by a committee. Our plan was to go out and pump up the crowd, then walk away after saying “We don’t have one.” The committee didn’t approve, so there was no skit for Team Utah this year. :(

After the finals session that night, it was time for the swimmer social. All the teams that came representing their LSC’s went to a party at the Fun Center. We played mini golf, arcade games, bumper cars, and much more! But the best part was the pizza buffet, I had been waiting for junk food for what seemed like forever. 

After staying up really late the previous night, and waking up early the following morning, we were ready to travel home. Before our flight, we went and toured the streets of Seattle. First, we visited the Space Needle and then the gum wall. Yes, I did add a piece of my gum. We realized that we had a lot less time than anticipated, so we ran through the streets and took the monorail hoping that we could catch our flight on time.

I took this picture of the Space Needle. It was a beautiful day!

Once we arrived at the airport and finished checking all of our bags, we had lunch at Wendy’s. We each were allowed to order three items (I think someone ordered 3 frosties). But one of the guys orders only came with thirty chicken nuggets instead of forty, so we spent forever waiting for those extra ten. 

The flight home went by really fast, probably because it was really short. I’m pretty sure the flight attendants were annoyed with us by the end, but that’s their job. When we entered baggage claim, everyone’s parents were there with balloons and a giant “Congratulations” poster. I was away from my family for a week, so I couldn’t wait to see my brother, sister, mom, and dad!

Overall, Zones was awesome. I hope you enjoyed reading some of my favorite memories. Next year, since I am still age group, I get to go to Zones again. Except, this time, the meet will be held on the tropical island of Hawaii. I can’t wait!

Thank you and check back for more posts coming soon. 

XOXO

Siena

Swimming Stories in Seattle

PCS Zone Swimmers

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this summer I attended the Western Zone Age Group Championships that were held in Seattle, Washington. I had a blast with all my friends and in this post I would like to highlight a few of my favorite memories.

After we landed in Seattle and finally got out of the rental car place, each of us were placed into van groups that we would travel with to the hotel and meet every day. I had the best van group ever, and it consisted of my buddies Catherine, Katie, Elise, and Bella. You could say that on the way to the hotel, we got really lost. By really lost, I mean that we went fifty miles in the opposite direction. That was really a great start to the whole trip!

Bella, Elise, Myself, and Catherine

My friend Elise, being the curious person that she is, decided to experiment with Katie’s iPhone. Since Katie’s iPhone had a life proof case on it, Elise wanted to test the depths that the phone could withstand. Thinking that it wouldn’t sink quickly, she plopped Katie’s phone into the dive tank. Within seconds, the phone hit the bottom. Everyone gathered around and stared down in awe. Luckily, Elise got the phone before it exploded!

A lot happened during our van rides to prelims and finals. Bella packed Listerine breath strips in her swim bag, but they had melted together into one due to the heat. So, she decided to put them all in her mouth at one time. For the next couple of hours, whenever you were nearby, her breath was like a minty cloud. At one point, she claimed that she could breathe through her ears.

To pass time, we rocked out to the latest hits while imitating different Vines. Cars passed by us, and the drivers looked at us like we were aliens. I’m surprised that we didn’t cause a car crash.

I met a lot of new people, including this kid named Joshua, except everyone called him Chow (a nickname he clearly deserves). He had a quirky personality, but all he really cared about was food. During our team dinners, he kept going back for more. Chow and his friends were in the hotel room next to us, and every morning he would come out of the elevator complaining that breakfast wasn’t ready. 

For this meet, we wore kneeskins, which take forever to get on. It was a girl party in the locker room, and every couple of minutes you would hear a yelp of joy or cheering, which meant that someone got their suit on. Once your kneeskin was up, it was time to celebrate! To this day, Elise has ripped several kneeskins, including the Arenas, and I don’t know how that’s possible. She truly deserves a giant prize for her efforts.

The boys were going down to hot tub on the final night after the swimmer social, and they got locked out of the hotel room in their speedos. They ended up having to go down to the front desk to get another key.

Stay tuned for Swimming Stories in Seattle: The Sequel!

XOXO 

Siena

My Closet Must-Haves

I thought that today I would share with you some staples for your wardrobe, so here you go.

Cardigan

As we all know, giant cardigans have been coming into style. Whether they are a plain color or have an intricate design, they are perfect for those chilly fall nights or just to simply accent your outfit. Right now, my favorite cardigan is the BP Open Front Cardigan from Nordstrom.

Casual & Cute Sweatshirt

I have those days when I barely can even make it out of my bed, let alone put together my outfit. Therefore, I throw on a sweatshirt with leggings for school. The BP Collection at Nordstrom offers comfortable clothing that is perfect to wear everyday.

Quality Denim

Everyone knows that jeans are a closet staple, since they go with pretty much everything. I like to try out different styles and washes for an unique look. I currently love my high wasted jeans from Delias.

Plain Shirts

I mean, what is better than a solid color shirt? They can easily be worn by themselves or layered and paired with other garments. I have to say, sometimes simple is better.

Black Dress

A black dress is a wardrobe necessity because you can wear it on any occasion. Black dresses come in several different styles, so everyone is able to find one that they love. Plus, they never go out of style as todays celebrities are sporting the look at well.

Fitted Winter Jacket

As the winter season is approaching, it’s time to bundle up. For my birthday, I got a jacket from Nordstrom that has a blue plaid print, kind of like a flannel, and a furry neckline. I think that it is absolutely adorable. There are so many types of jackets from parkas to pea coats to keep you warm when the storm rolls in.

Winter Boots

You can trudge through the snow in fashion with fuzzy winter boots. And, in case you were wondering, American Eagle also makes boot socks. Check out Roxy for my chosen boots.

Converse

Chucks are back! Literally everyone at my school owns a pair (or multiple pairs) of Converse. Since being released in 1917 as the first basketball shoe, Converse have turned into the American sporty sneaker.  Offered in various prints in high or low tops, Converse are sure to make your outfit.

Sweater

Guess what? That time of year is here where it is “sweater weather.” Not only do I love sweaters, but my sister loves them too! She has a sweater that has “sweater weather” written on it, no joke. Anyways, sweaters give you that flawless fall feel.

Leggings

Leggings are the perfect alternative for all jean haters. You can find leggings in stores everywhere! Right now, Lululemon is the most popular. Even with a major price tag, they are durable and fashionable, making every penny worth it. Ivivva, their partner, offers athletic apparel for girls of all ages including outfits for running, dancing, gymnastics, skating, and tennis.

Some of my must-haves!

That’s all that I have for you today!  Thanks and I hope that you’ll check back soon.

XOXO

Siena