They're In & I'm Out!

Anyone want to guess what "they're" is? Think no more! It's my mission papers! I know, crazy. Really crazy. Like Reaaaaalllly crazy. So in just (hopefully) 2-3 weeks i'll know where i'm going! So you HAVE TO leave a comment with your guess! If you guess right I will wonder where you got your magic skills and why you didn't clue me in sooner. But whatevs, we're cool.

I'm leaving town for a couple weeks! My family is in the Nauvoo Pageant in Nauvoo, IL. So buckle up and hold on tight for some sweeeeeet pioneer dress/middle part legit pictures coming your way. You may want to save any pictures I post for proper black mail in the future, because 1) pioneer dress down to my ankles? Yes, cute. 2) Middle part- I promise you I can't pull it off like Miley Cyrus. 3) My hair gets purty crazy in the one million percent humidity i'm about to experience. 

That's about it. I have a long road trip ahead of me and you better believe we're stopping at only the coolest roadside locations. Worlds biggest ball of twine, anyone? So don't forget to leave me your educated guess of where I will be serving & stay tuned for some po-dunk pictures ya'll. In the mean time, I feel obligated to post the picture that I submitted with my papers, doesn't everyone do it? Do you think it sends the Europe/NYC vibe? That's what I was going for ;)

Oh, and while you're guessing where i'll be going, add your opinion on whether or not I should get straight-across bangs. I'm not sure why, but i've been feeling like it lately! Imagine about eyebrow length/maybe a little longer on the sides/pretty full. I've just been growing them out for a long time but I have no style! It bugs! So ya, 1) mission guess 2) bangs 3) you're the best for reading this

Ron Weasley Is My Homeboy

I went to my first (yes, i realize that makes me lame) midnight showing of a movie! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2. I fell asleep watching Part 1 at home and I never read the books so i'm pretty lost on  a little bit mostly everything. It's pretty bad. But I had Taryn catch me up on the important facts and we were good to go. I enjoyed it! I'm glad to know things "work out" in the end, if you catch my drift.

Me, Taryn and Mady made t-shirts for the occasion. Mady may or may not have ditched us after she got a date offer, but that's ok...our group of friends were pretty fun too. My shirt? "Ron Weasley is My Homeboy". I only have one regret about writing that:

After I saw this picture-

I wanted something about Neville Longbottom written all over me instead. Oh well, power to the gingers.
What's your favorite HP movie yet? I really liked Oliver Wood/quidditch games in whatever number that was in & also the games against different schools, that was pretty sweet too.

Oh, It Happened!

I didn't take many pictures of Birthday festivities for my 21st. But I had a great birthday! (Thank you everyone!) Facebook sure makes you feel special on your day, people I haven't talked to forever were wishing me a Happy Birthday, it was just grand. That night I went to a very fun singles branch activity. We split up in groups and went on a picture scavenger hunt. We had to find things like a policeman, be in a rock band, a house on a hill, a mortuary and take a picture with it.

Friday night I went into Vegas to celebrate with some friends. We went to Caesars Palace and had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, went shopping, walked the strip (in the rain!) and watched the Bellagio water show. It was a fun night and the only picture we got was with Mr.T. However, before I left I got some wonderful advice from my grandmother. She looked me in the eyes and said, "don't stick any nickels in the slots, austrie. Or dimes, or dollars, I don't even know what you stick in them anymore, but don't do it!"
So, remember everyone, don't gamble!....ever....not even once. Or my gma will come after you.

I just had to tell the world about my birthday, because it was a great one. A great one indeed! I'm legal now!

My 4th

Ohhhhhh the 4th of July. Quite the excellent holiday (if i may say so myself). It may be because it's so close to my birthday, or the fact that it really means that summer freedom is here, or maybe it's because it makes me think of the block party they have in the movie The Sandlot, celebrating the 4th. Whatever it is, I really do like it. 

How do you celebrate? 

My family goes riding in the hills. This year we found a few dead cows (probably the worst smell i've ever inhaled through my nostrils), a turtle (quickly declared the name "Speedster") and a few geocaches. Then we have breakfast at McDonalds and rent a movie.  

Then we have a family BBQ, and I got to blow out some early birthday candles!

We took my younger cousins to the fireworks show at the fairgrounds & ended the night at my house lighting our own. The 4th of July is the ultimate Summer holiday. I love the 4th of July.

My Birthday is tomorrow! Tomorrow! Wooohoooo!

Pine Valley, UT

Family Reunions are awkward...and i'm not entirely sure why, but you would all agree with me that they are, right? There's something about driving up to the camp site and everyone just turning around staring at your car. I think that's when my dad said, "why are family reunions so awkward?" Took the words right out of my mouth, dad. I've found that one thing solves this issue-getting involved. You've got to play the games, "be interested" in the family history albums, volunteer to run the fish pond, whatever it takes. So those of you who know me, know that I was sitting in a camp chair under the tree reading my Marie Claire magazine....thinking the pine trees were enough to cover my so-white-i'm-blue skin. Wrong, again. But those of you who have ever been to Pine Valley, UT know it's a really beautiful place and it brings back a lot of memories. 

When I was in elementary school, my grandparents would gather up us grandkids and take us up there for a few days. Proof:

I hadn't been up there for years, so the day trip turned out to be a great getaway. Especially Pine Valley Reservoir.

For the record, I love funny family reunion stories. Lay 'em on me.