the last months in review..

wow... I really need to either pull it together or stop blogging. I am terrible at keeping up with my own life and posting regularly... 

a ton of things have happened since I last posted on this here blog. it is actually a little crazy how much has actually changed in my life since October. I don't know what the best way to catch up is exactly, so I think I'll just spout things out as I remember them... in the best chronological order that I can muster.

October.

I went on my first date with Conner. He is amazing, and so good to me, and I could go on and on. 

My boys are leaving on missions at 18 and my girls are leaving on missions at 19.

I got promoted at work so that was pretty exciting.

I got accepted to Utah State! I'm planning on attending in the fall with one of my very best friends, Madeline. We're going to be roommates.

I got my first kiss. 

I went to Sadies with Jordan and we had a blast. That is one story to be told, let me tell you.  

I took my second and final ACT test. I improved by one point from my previous score. Kudos to me.

November. 

I counted down the days until Thanksgiving Break. It didn't come fast enough, and ended way too soon. Pretty normal.

I tried and failed to come up with a major for college. I guess I still have time...

As everyone around me was stressed and stressed about their BYU applications, I sat back and enjoyed the show. Utah State just keeps looking better and better. 

December.

I went to my first ever Jazz game with Conner and his family. It was so much fun. 

I went on the day date for Preference with Conner. We didn't go to the dance, which we were totes fine with.

I counted down the days until Christmas Break, just like the rest of the student body, and it came and went in the blink of an eye. 

I spent as much time with friends and Conner that I could during the break and I did a lot of fun things. 

Conner was in Las Vegas for New Year's so I spent the evening at a party at Ally's house with a bunch of friends. It was a lot of fun. 

This year came and went. Now that it's over, I look back and think how fast it actually did go by. I am graduating this year... THIS YEAR. 2013. In May. It's a little crazy... actually not just a little, but A LOT crazy to think that my "childhood" is quickly coming to an end and I'm going to be living on my own this fall. We're growing up and everyone is changing and it's wonderful and scary. I'm so excited and nervous and anxious and every other emotion all wrapped up into one. Pretty soon (like, this summer) I will be going to mission farewells and saying goodbye to my closest friends for two years and shortly after that I will be living on my own at college. Away from my parents and grandparents and cousins. On my own. It's truly insane. 

Anyway, that's my last few months in review. I'm going to become a better blogger, I promise. But until then...

..life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

..future

Wow. To be perfectly honest, that is the longest it has ever taken me to read a book in my entire life. I really enjoyed it though. (if you haven't read The Host by Stephenie Meyer, you should)It was a really great read... with a great romance. I love those.

With the end of the summer coming - faster than we'd all like to realize - I'm coming to grips with the fact that my adult life, full of responsibility and choices, is about to start and I'm truly terrified. I'm realizing that I'm not ready to make big life-changing decisions or choose where I want to go to college. I'm not ready for the rest of my life because right now, in this moment, I'm currently living life the best way I know how. I'm taking in my last summer before I graduate high school. I'm taking advantage of the fact that I can be crazy, reckless, and make a stupid choice once in a while... before I have to take responsibility and make decisions on how I will live the rest of my life. The future is a scary thing, and what is even more terrifying is what the future holds. I'm a firm believer in the plan and that every decision or choice I make has a negative or a positive consequence. I consider myself a mature 17-year-old. Someone who, more times than not, makes the right choice. But with every day that passes by and every decision I have to make about my future, even the little ones, I feel like hiding deeper and deeper in my own little world where I'm content with the direction - or lack thereof - that my life is headed. I'm content with how this summer has gone up until now. I guess we'll just see what happens next.

 

oh, and one more thing:

Live the rest of your summer to the best of your ability.

No. Regrets. 

..life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

'i want' summer..

I want to have a stinkin' awesome summer. I want to finish my bucket list. I want to grow up and move on. I want to do yoga. I want to get snow cones with my best friends and watch movies and have marathons. I want to work & earn money to maybe to to Europe next summer. I want to go to the gym and get fit. I want to go to midnight showings and dress up for them. I want to have classy dinner parties and tea parties and eat crepes. I want to hold hands with the boy I like and drink chocolate milk. I want my best friend to come home. I want to take pictures and blog and pinterest... all summer long. 

I'm going to Relax. Chill out. Go by my gut.

..this summer will be a tea party

xoxo

Annie

carefree summer..

if you were to measure all of the drama in my life, like physically measure it by the tablespoon, you would probably make it to the moon and back... twice.

I consider myself to be a pretty understanding person. Sure, I'm blunt and brutally honest 99% of the time, but some things I just cannot wrap my head around.

There are times in my life when I thrive in the drama and I live to know secrets, but other times (like now, for instance) when everything is piling on top of everything else and I can't escape it, it is too overwhelming. Summer is supposed to be carefree, and starting now: mine will be. 

..life's a tea party

xoxo

Annie

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 I overreact about everything..

life's a tea party..

xoxo

Annie

home is wherever I'm with you..

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