sayonara 2011..

     I would love to say that every moment of this year has been great, but I'd be lying. Needless to say, this year was a struggle. I feel stronger having made it through 2011. It's been hard, but it's been worth it. I've had many learning experiences, none of which I would give back, strengthening of friendships that I wouldn't trade for anything, and moments of laughter that made every minute easier. The choices I've made this year, more than any other year, have made me realize who I want to be.

This year I...

• became friends with Sarah Matheson
• went on Choir Tour to Anaheim, California
• became good friends with Tessea Nelson, Ashley Nicholes, Ryan Hall, Riley Cox, and Hannah Ashby
• turned 16 and got my drivers license on my birthday
• began working at Boondocks in Draper
• finished my Sophomore year at American Fork High School
• went to my first Cavestock
• went to my second-to-last Girls Camp
• went on my ONLY Pioneer Trek
• went to the final Harry Potter movie at Midnight, and said goodbye to my childhood
• started my Junior year
• became friends with Ally Pinkston, Makenna Bryant, and Hayley Nelson
• got my very own car
• went on my first date
• went to Homecoming with Logan Cameron
• got my first B+
• went to Preference
• went to Breaking Dawn: Part 1 at 3 o'clock AM
• got completely hooked and caught up on the Vampire Diaries series with my sister
• became a legal driver of Utah
• celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends
• had a lazy and completely relaxing Christmas Break

Thank you friends, new and old, who have set examples for me everyday this year. I'm grateful for second chances, and third and fourth chances. I'm thankful for Harry Potter. Thank you Sarah and Stephanie, for everything you do for me and for making me laugh always.

this year has been a tea party for sure..

xoxo

farewell 2011

Annie

Sometimes sitting on the couch while writing a Macbeth essay and listening to Christmas music next to the tree with your sister is the perfect way to spend your night..

That's what I did.

One more day everyone, and we've made it. congratulations..

Christmas Break is going to be monumental this year, I can feel it.

I'm going to have a Harry Potter marathon next week and I'm extremely excited about it.

Oh, and I'm currently hooked on Gossip Girl..

Happy Holidays.

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

 

.. a couple of things have happened

It's been a very long while since I have posted.. sorry.

There's just a few things you should know about that have gone on since you last heard from me..

1. I am obsessed with Pinterest as of 12.8.11

2. Physics is the bane of my existence.

3. I'm reading Hunger Games again (preparing for 3.23.12).

4. I'm going through some serious Vampire Diaries withdrawals.

5. I'm going to explore Pottermore thoroughly during the break.

6. Five more days.

..life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

Knitted Pretties..

Everyone please visit  

www.etsy.com/shop/knittedpretties.

My sister is selling the knitted accessories featured in the following photographs of yours truly [also featuring Rachel Denney]. Please feel free to post any of these pictures on your own blogs. We'd very much appreciate the advertisement. 

  

[Chunky Cowl Scarf: Eggplant Purple] 

[Little Bow Headband: Mustard]

**Little Bow Headband is available in Mustard Yellow, Cranberry Red, Teal, Light Gray, Cream, and Black.

  

[The Purple Rose Hat]

 

[Chunky Scarf: Cobalt Blue]

[Bow Pin: Teal]

**Removable Bow Pin is available in Mustard Yellow, Cranberry Red, Teal, Light Gray, Cream, and Black.  

 

[The Cream Bow Hat]

 

[The Mustard Cable Hat]

 

[Bow Headband: Eggplant Purple]

**Bow Headband is available in Eggplant Purple, Mustard Yellow, Cranberry Red, Teal, Light Gray, Cream, and Black.  

 

[Teal Flower Hat]

 

[Bow Fingerless Mitts]

**Bow Fingerless Mitts are available in Cream with your choice of bow color. 

 

[Chunky Cream Scarf with Black Bow Pin]

 **Removable Bow Pin is available in Mustard Yellow, Cranberry Red, Teal, Light Gray, Cream, and Black.

 

[Big Red Bow Scarf with Bow Pin]

**Removable Bow Pin is available in Mustard Yellow, Cranberry Red, Teal, Light Gray, Cream, and Black.

 

[The Striped Pom Pom Hat]

 [The Big Bow Headband: Teal]

**The Big Bow Headband is available in Eggplant Purple, Mustard Yellow, Cranberry Red, Teal, Light Gray, Cream, and Black.

 Some of my personal favorites are:

• everything Mustard Yellow. Mustard is the "it" color this season
• the Chunky Cowl Scarves
• the Bow Fingerless Mits

Don't forget to visit the shop!

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

xoxo..

 

 I think it's perfectly normal that I've already started planning my wedding.. it's going to be so classy and you're all invited.. today was a great day.. 

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

sometimes I overreact about everything..

life's a tea party..

xoxo

Annie

a dinner party with friends in October..

It really was one of the funnest nights of my life. I made some new friends, and caught up with old ones. I learned great things about some seriously great people. We were classy and we talked about funny things while we listened to indie music and ate a delicious dinner. I think it was a huge success. 

life's a tea party.. or a dinner party..

xoxo

Annie

Today has basically been the worst day ever..

life's not always a tea party

Annie

ah Homecoming..

Here's a picture from Homecoming. We had an awesome night... and we danced the night away.

 

more to come..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

home is wherever I'm with you..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

xoxo..

I feel like tomorrow is going to be a great day. Great things are going to happen tomorrow. Oh.. and we're going to beat Lone Peak. Okay probably not.

I have the greatest Halloween costume idea. What are you gonna be?

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

peachy..

I have a pretty nasty burn on my thigh from my curling iron that's going to scar..

I am going to write an official blog post tomorrow.. 

I will be a better blogger..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

big piney drive..

I'm at the Gillman Family Reunion this weekend. I'm honestly having the greatest time.

It's 9-10-11 today.

I won the family ping-pong tournament.

I'm in a beautiful home on Big Piney Drive in Eden Utah. Where is that? you ask. About 40 minutes out of Ogden. 

See you on Monday. It's been real.

Only one week until Homecoming. :)

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

a night to remember..

So this is how it went down:

I was sitting in Stephanie's dining room when I get a call from Miles. yes. Miles Farnsworth. 

"Hey Annie." 

"Hey?"

"Are you home?"

"No, I'm at Stephanie's. Why?"

"We just wanted to come see you and talk to you. How ya doin' Annie?"

"I'm good, how are you?" (In the back of my mind I'm thinking someone may be asking me to homecoming).

"I'm great... Why aren't you home!?"

"I don't know, I'm just not. I'm over at Stephanie's if you want to come see us and talk to us." (Katie Parker enters the room) "Katie just showed up, so you can come hang out will all three of us."

"Okay. Maybe we will."

"Who is 'we'."

"Me and Isaac." yes. Isaac Litster.

"Okay, sounds good."

"Okay, see ya."

"K bye." 

5 minutes later I text Miles: Are you guys going to come? Because if you aren't we're going to go find something to do.

Yeah we are coming.

Okay.

Katie, Stephanie, and I proceed outside to wait for them.

About 10 minutes later: Isaac's red van pulls over across the street. Normal. Logan gets out of the car (wait - since when was Logan coming?). A Silver Expedition pulls over behind the van. Less normal. Grant Pierce, aka: Baby-G, gets out along with 3 or 4 other boys. Two more cars pull over. This is the opposite of normal.

*OKAY.. WHAT IS GOING ON?* 

This is when we run back into Stephanie's house as fast as we can, shut all the blinds, turn off all the lights. We look out the blinds and they all duck behind the hedge in the front yard, crouching their way to the porch. Jessica walks into the TV room, "What the? What are you doing?!" She opens the door and the boys have formed a nice Can-Can line across the porch.

"Can-Can can you go to Homecoming with Logan Cameron? Annie will you go with Logan?" (or something along those lines) and that's when Logan comes out from behind the line with his head down and a single wild pink rose which he planted in my hand.

I'm not going to lie to you, it was presh and I loved every second. 

I'm so excited for Homecoming! It's going to be a night to remember. Bring on the dresses, shoes, hair appointments, and mani-pedis. 

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

this happened on September 3, 2011..

I got asked to homecoming.. 

more to come..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

financially stable-ish..

I have more money than I thought I did. 

I was ecstatic when I opened the envelope to find my biggest paycheck of the summer. I love having a job.

I'm still not at my financial goal, but I'm getting closer every day.

I wish money grew on trees, but I'm coming to grips with the fact that it doesn't.

I'm seeing Harry Potter 7.2 again with my work bestie Kristen. I'm prepared to cry again.

I think this picture is extremely hilarious:

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

ah car shopping..

Yes. I'm in the market for a car.

Yes. I hope it is fashionable-looking, affordable, and gets great gas mileage.

Yes. I am paying for half.

No. I do not have any idea what it's going to look like, but I have a pretty little picture in my head.

No. I am not ready for school to start until I have 'some wheels'.

No. I lied, I'm not ready for school to start at all.

Yes. I came across these fantastic photos today:

Yes. I thought they were quite hilarious.

Yes. I will own a skirt exactly like this one: 

Yes. life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

I got some exciting news today..

I may be doing inventory at Nordstrom Rack next week..

If everything works out as I'm hoping, I will get the employee discount on everything at the Rack and at the University Mall location for a week, and get paid $8.50 an hour.. I'm so excited..

I hope everything works out..

I've been doing a bake sale for the last few weeks of summer.. this week is Homemade Oreos for $8 a dozen - Let me know if you want to place an order and live you semi-close to me..

School is 2 weeks from today and I still need a car..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

I'm a slacker - and that's all I can really say about this..

I'm really going to try to be better, at least for a while.. 

Please don't lose hope, I am going to blog more often.. 

I love you all for still following. Well, those of you that still are.. 

school starts 2 weeks from tomorrow, punch me now... hard. (I really don't want to go.) but...

life's a tea party after all

xoxo

Annie

coming to a close..

Well, we've almost made it haven't we? School is coming to a close. To be exact, in seven days we will be free school. No more homework, no more teachers, no more ringing of that annoying bell..

We will be free..

Sometimes I think about the school year coming to a close and I remember all the memories from this year and how much fun I've had, that I may even miss it. Then I think harder and decide that I am crazy for ever letting that thought slip through my mind. I'm sure by August I will be ready to go back, longing just to have a schedule again, but until that time I am more than willing to repel all school-related thoughts..

I admit that I will miss the people that I never see outside of school and it's going to be hard, but it's all good -- it's only 3 months..

I start work tomorrow at Boondocks.. I'm super nervous, I'm won't lie. I think what I'm most worried about is that I'm going to mess up an order, make the guest not want to come back, or make a complete fool of myself. Hopefully this will be an easy transition.. 

I just keep thinking about how much fun this summer is going to be. I can finally drive and pretty much go wherever I want. There's nothing in the world that is better than this feeling.. Freedom..

There's only eight days.. I think I can make it..
Sarah and I are going to get ice cream on Thursday and talk. I'm quite looking forward to it..

 

 life's a tea party

Annie

xoxo

happy birthdays..

It's official everyone.. and I don't mean to brag but:

I am sixteen years old.. 

As of 12:54 am on May 19, 2011 -- I am sixteen years old..

I can't believe this day has finally come..

I have had such a wonderful day so far thanks to the greatest friends on the entire planet (which are mine by the way).. That fact is unarguable..

I love everyone in my life and especially those who have wished me a happy birthday today, some even multiple times..

I love my two best friends that kidnapped me this morning to take me to breakfast at Ihop so I could completely stuff my face with eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, and blueberry pancakes..

I love Logan Cameron, who shares this special date with me, and I'm so thankful that we are such great friends..

I love everyone in my life and I love that they love and support me too..

I love that I passed my road test with shining colors, okay, I missed six points..

I love my friend who surprised me with chocolate cupcakes that taste delicious, even if they're squished..

I love my mom, dad, brother, and sister for everything they do for me every day.. 

I love that I can finally drive by myself in the car and especially the fact that I can say, "Hey everyone, I am SIXTEEN.."

I love life..

Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life who have always been there for me.. I love you dearly..

happy birthday to me..

life's a tea party

Annie

xoxo 

 

a little bit of catching up..

so I haven't written in a while, but here's some things that have happened to me and the people around me since I last wrote:

It is almost summer.. only eleven more days..

I had a job interview at Boondocks that went very well..

I saw Water for Elephants and it was fantastic..

I got my first snow cone of the year..

I watched my favorite movies..

I stressed and stressed and stressed over homework overload..

I went to the last boys soccer game of the season after getting a snow cone with Sarah..

I heard first-hand that one of my best friends got her first, second, third, etc. kiss..

My best friends and I drove around on the weekends and got ice cream and blasted The Lazy Song on the radio every time it came on..

I got the job at Boondocks as a server and I'm overjoyed about it..

I turned in my six page research paper on identity theft for English today..thank goodness that's over..

I'm turning sixteen tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited..

I've missed blogging..

life's a tea party

Annie

xoxo

california girls: we're unforgettable..

unforgettable:[uhn-fer-get-uh-buhl]:impossible to forget; indelibly impressed on the memory; scenes of unforgettable beauty.

 

This year's Spring Break was definitely unforgettable..

Choir Tour Year One was unforgettable..

I enjoyed every second of it, except when my feet were hurting and I had to hobble around like a granny..

I made some fantastic new friends..

Ashley, Sarah, Tessea, Hannah, Cassie, and me in front of the Disneyland Castle.. a magical moment..

 Ally, Riley, Ryan, Jared, Tessea, Ashley, and me in front of the famous Mikey Mouse flower arrangement.. another magical moment..

 Ryan, Riley, and Jared at Newport Harbor.. boys will be boys..

 Ashley and Ally.. whale watching..

Ashley, Ally, me, Sarah, Hannah, and Tessea at Balboa Beach.. yet another magical moment..

We saw everyone's true personalities..

 Tessea, Hannah, Sarah, Ally, me, and Ashley.. Balboa Beach freak out..

 Cute Ally and Ryan on the tram to Disneyland day one..

 Sarah and Tessea on the tram to Disneyland day one..

We lived in Midieval Times for one night..

 Ryan, Ally, Tessea, Hayden, Riley.. Midieval Times..

 

Me and Ashley at Midieval Times.. such a blast..

 Yeah.. I attempted to eat that..

 

More of the show..

We saw hundreds of dolphins while whale watching.. yeah, we didn't actually see any whales..

 Dolphin Watching..

All in all I had a fantastic trip.. 

I love all my new friends that I realized I should have been hanging out with long ago..

I laughed until I couldn't breath, over & over..

I hobbled around like a granny who needed a cane..

I almost bought a cane at a pit stop on the way home..(not really)

I  will always have a special place in my heart for California..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie 

   

 

 

day eleven: my first love

I know this is super lame, but I'm pretty much going to skip this day.. I haven't found love yet, so why waste my time writing about something that is yet to come? I could tell you what I hope love will be like? Would you like to hear? Comment if yes. :)

 

 

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie 

 

day ten: today's attire

Today was what I like to call a default day..

I didn't wear anything especially special, just normal..

I wore

this shirt (or rather, one very similar to it):

(Stephanie is running for Jr. Council, vote for her if you haven't!)

with a jacket resembling this one, except in gray:

(I wear this almost every day..)

with these jeggings:

(most comfy pants ever..)

with these boots:

(another everyday piece..)

..

 

What I would have liked to have worn --

maybe.. this tank:

 with maybe.. this blazer..

  

and maybe.. these shorts..

and maybe.. these sandals..

 

please let Summer come already..

life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie