Here We Go.

Okay.

Soooooo...

I'm definitely slacking on the blog.

Ever spare minute I have is spent reading Harry Potter.

It's fine.

I leave for trek in four hours.

Yay me.

I shall write of my trek across the plains of Wyoming

as well as my tale of my student council retreat.

Peace out, cub scout.

I'm Back.

Sorry blog.

I have disappeared. 

I have been busy.

Girls camp was amazing.

Truly.

Exactly what I need.

I LOVED IT.

Our theme was Tangled.

We watched it three times.

Life was good.

The children of the Ward.

I adore them.

Every single one of them.

A life sized Rapunzel.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I about died when I sawher.

The little sister.

We're princesses. 

We have endured six years of girls camp with each other.

SIX YEARS.

Long nights in tents.

Torturous hikes.

Rain storms.

Friendship bracelets.

Awful canoe rides.

Tears.

Manny many tears.

Love you Madison.

You'll always be my ward sista.

The beehives in my room.

Most of the time I don't feel like a Laurel.

These Beehives teach me everything.

I admire them.

Saturday night was spent with my girl Justine.

Our lives were shared.

We went and saw the fireworks.

I love fireworks.

Sunday I was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about camp.

I was asked to speak on our theme.

Which meant...

My talk was based off Tangled.

Best. Talk. Ever.

It went well.

And great.

And fantastic.

I love speaking.

I love voicing my thoughts and my opinions.

Weird I know.

Today...

Was rough.

Busy is a better word.

I worked for six hours.

Worked on my solo for two.

Doesn't sound like a lot.

But I can't move.

I like my couch.

It's my friend.

I think I am going to go swing tonight.

Wish me luck :)

We Are A Team. Full of Fashion and Friendship.

Once upon a time,

I was so blessed.

Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways.

Yes, he does.

What am I talking about?

May I just say...

ALLYSE'S BRIDAL FASHION TEAM 2012

Some say it looks awesome.
Others say stupid.
Some say neat.
Others say silly.

But one thing I know for sure.
It might be one of the best things to ever happen to me.

Friday Morning 7:30 am
My hands were shaking as I walked through those cold metal mall doors.
I turned the corner and entered the store.
It was a room of crowded people.
I have never felt so alone.
I turned in my luggage and grabbed a muffin by the mirrors.
The greens carpet caught my attention as I thought of what my friends were doing that day.
Seven Peaks?
Maybe a night under the stars with their bodies pressing into the thick green grass?
Whatever it was,
I wouldn't be there.
Small talk was made.
No one really willing to be their one hundred percent self.
We sat in a circle.
I mainly looked at the ground.
I could not think of ONE thing to say.
Not one.
Then a girl with very long blonde hair asked if she could squeeze in.
She was soft spoke.
The ultra polite type.
I was intrigued.
She was quite the opposite of me.
Luckily she was a dancer.
So that made a click from the start.
We discussed local studios and different school programs.
Turns out she is from Lone Peak,
and fifteen minutes away from my house.

I was in the Blue Group.
Also known as Gucci.
We played get to know you games.
I shared my passing out problem and all my favorite things.
Turns out the blonde was in my group again.
I really liked her.

We had a fashion class from the funniest old lady.
Half the stuff she said...
Ya, we did NOT expect that to come out of her.
My favorite type of apparel would be Romantic.
I learned that.
I was informed I had a M butt.
Yay for me.

At lunch is where the magic happened.
I sat by the two Lone Peak representatives and something happened.
I didn't have to try to make conversation.
I didn't have to worry about my every thought.
I didn't feel the pressure to be perfect.
I was me.
Happy little me.
And I knew these girls would become close friends.
I had that little tingle in the stomach,
And I could feel Heavenly Father shining over me.
I could feel his warmth.
His brightness.
And friendships were formed.
To the point,
Where we are moving in with one another when we graduate down in the red rocks.
We are going to college with each other.
And only after 4 hours.

We had walking classes.
And we learned our path on the Runway.
Dresses were sized and distributed.
I got a pretty one.
It made me feel like a princess.

We got to check into our hotel.
I roomed with the three most adorable girls on this planet.
We watched What Not To Wear.
It fit the theme of our gathering.
With only 30 minutes of down time,
We were off once more.

Luau baby.
And let me just say,
Exciting things happened.
I rolled down a BIGG hill.
I attempted different types of rolls but I only ended up nearly kill myself.
My ladies and I played on the giant elastic.
Running til we couldn't stop laughing.
Running til I fell flat on the bottom.
Running til I couldn't run no more.
As we laid under the shade with our heartbeats high,
I smiled in the warm sun.
This felt so easy.
So natural.
No one expected me to be anyone.
They didn't know my past.
They know the girl I have come to be and what I stand for this very moment.
And they loved me.
They appreciated me.
And I love them.
Maybe a little bit more.

See what I'm talking about?
What beauts.
We ate unbelievable food.
We're talking three big plates full.
Modesty was discussed with cute men from BYU and premissionary boys.
It was fantastic.

That night I went swimming.
Hot tubbing.
Spent the night buy chocolate,
running away from football players,
and watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
I was completely content.
The happiest I had been in a long time.

The next morning we had a two hour photo shoot.
Linsey and her awkward life.
It was bad.
Then the ladies and I went shopping.
We went into a photo booth.
We are a little crazy.

Best friends?

I say yes.

Then we got ready for the runway.

Did I mention I was awkward?

The blonde and I had to sprint to the bathroom to wipe off all the gunk and creams.

We laughed.

We helped each other.

She's one of my bestest friends.

Did I mention we are moving in with each other once we graduate?

Ya, we are.

Here are some pictures.

Happiness.
Pure happiness.

I love my Fashion Team.
Every single girl.
Motto time?
Modest is hottest.

Right Around The Corner.

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.  
Bern Williams

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.
Wallace Stevens



Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. 
John Lubbock


Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
Henry James

Summer. Summer. Summer.

I can smell it.

Taste it.

It's in the air.

Make it come fast.

FASTER.

Yesterday,

I went to my concert.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

BRUNO.

I THINK I WANT TO MARRY YOU.

get it?

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

BECAUSE I WOULD CATCH A GRENADE FOR YOU.

Best. Night. Ever.

Here are some pictures.

This was my date.

What a winner.

The night was amazing.

Amazing.

Like...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm speechless.

Fantastic.

Today felt like

SUMMMMMEEEEEERRRRRR.

I didn't go to first period.

Because that is completely over-rated.

During second, things got better.

I thought I had a much over due fine..

But.

I don't.

So.

I get my yearbook!

During precalc,

I left.

And I went into the hall to see my Crush.

We were given a dare.

It might happen in the summer.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

What?

Then I jumped into my best friend's car.

Good ol' Billy Jean.

We went to Cafe Rio.

I ate a WHOLE burrito by myself.

Pure heaven.

I went back to the school to discuss grades with my teachers.

We duct-taped a girl to the lockers instead of going to fourth period.

I giggled.

A lot.

Then we went swimming.

Kind of.

Then we made cookies.

Then a sophomore serenaded me on a piano.

I sat and listened.

I thought about how good life is.

I was in my swimming suit and cover up.

Laying on the couch.

There was no worry of homework or a test coming up.

I have a very special boy in my life.

The one that gives me butterflies.

Summer is right around the corner.

I go to Lake Powell next week.

Grades are done.

Finished.

I survived my junior year.

No more stress for the next three months.

I have the bestest friends in the world.

My little red-headed sister.

My soul sister.

My Romeo.

My favorite sophomore.

My almost-step-sister/cousin.

I am so blessed.

I love my life.

Plus I got to wear a skirt today.

SUMMMMEEERRR.

I love you.

Dreams Come True. Why Yes, They Do.

There lived a little lassie named Linsey.

During a break from the dreaded, stressed-filled land of school,

this young maiden traveled to a mystical place.

Full of whimsical buildings and adventurous rides.

Where a seventeen year old, one much like herself,

could lose maturity and fall back into the state of a child of five years.

Yes, this is where she entered.

The Land of Disney.

A few of her adventures enquired:

Jumping aboard a flying elephant and soaring to new heights.

She was able to see her iconic hero, The Prince of Pop, right before her eyes.

Yes, she almost died.

Flynn Rider. Enough said. 

She began to travel to a fantasy land,

where one day, her husband will be a spitting image of this young man.

She figured her chances of receiving a dashing husband like Mr. Fitzherbert,

She should become as much like Rapunzel as possible.

First step: Find her own personal Pascal The Chameleon.

In another part of the land,

This damsel stumbled upon a true treasure.

Sleeping Beauty.

Pause

Upon meeting this iconic princess, a new aspiration arose.

My new goal in life:

Become a Disney Princess at Disneyland.

Yes, it is true.

After meeting this kind soul, my passion for the career path grew immensely.

Belle?

Snow White?

I am not precisely sure which princess I might take on the role of,

but all I know is that one day,

little girls will stand in line to meet their hero,

and I will be the one to make that dream come true.

Play

As in every good story,

How could this frilly girl make it through the kingdom without the help of a few friends?

She bumped into her long lost childhood best friend.

The days of elementary and wee princess life.

What fine days those were.

Also, she had the privilege to ride a few roller coasters with this dashing young man.

Space Mountain and Indiana Jones have never been so enjoyable.

This little princess felt quite spoiled to have the company of such an exquisite prince.

Finally, by the end of this night,

She met up with one of her bestestestest friends of all time.

The damsel had a lovely time filled with deep talks, laughs, and animal sound contests.

As this lassie returned to her castle that evening,

she looked back at the events that had occurred.

Blessing after blessing.

This princess was so grateful for the time that she got to spend with the royal family,

as well as some amazing and inspiring people.

The Land of Disney is a magical place.

It is where Dreams Come True.

Believe me,

A small portion of mine did.

Can you pick out which part of the story that is?

Does It Get Better Than This? I Think Not.

mag·ic

n.

1. A mysterious quality of enchantment

adj.

2. Possessing distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects

or in other words:

3. DISNEYLAND

This land of thrilling roller coasters and fantastical settings

is what keeps imagination going for the children and teenagers of this day.

I have come to a conclusion 

of why I am seventeen years old

and still scream and cry every time I see Mickey and Minnie running around the theme park.

I have grown up with Disney.

It has always been apart of my life.

I have always seen princesses go through trial after trial,

only to end up with a prince and a happily ever after.

I have seen talking lions lose loved ones and their way,

one to come to the realization of his destiny and take his rightful place as king.

A fishy son gets lost and the love of his father ultimately brings them together.

A toy understands that a boy can love more than one 

and still be completely special no matter the circumstance.

No matter the situation, 

or dilemma,

Disney always inspires the heart of every youngster.

These movies and characters have a way of making you see beyond yourself and 

really hope for all things great.

Completely fantastical.

Amazing.

That is why I love this place with all my heart.

So yesterday,

I ventured to this world of fantasy.

This is the sign that hangs above the bridge as you enter.

It makes you feel as though,

you are leaving today,

you are leaving all your worries,

and traveling into a world of blissful fun and excitement.

Here are a few or my adventures:

The youngin's and I before Indian Jones.

I have a never ending love for Tarzan.

Who doesn't love a chiseled man running around in a loin cloth?

Haunted Mansion.

Classic.

California Adventures.

Not as grand as Disneyland but the rides are praise worthy.

I am happy the pictures don't show the tears.

Yes, I started crying when I hugged Sully.

Childhood hero right there.

A kind lady at a story gave me this button for free.

I wore it all day.

I received a total of seven congratulations.

Probably the best part of the day.

 One of my favorite rides.

3D Toy Story extra spectactular game of skill and joy.

Right before

"The Magical World of Color"

So inspirational.

A note worthy event:

Serendipity.

Such a fantastic thing.

As I got in line for an adventurous ride,

Thunder Mountain to say the least,

I was slightly wade down by my throbbing feet and burnt skin.

As I dragged my tired self through the winding cement path,

I saw a patch of blonde hair in another close section of the line.

Could it be?

There is no way.

Maybe?

"Mom... I think that is..."

Before I knew it my Crush became visible behind the mass amount of people.

I exclaimed hello and let my excitement beam through.

What are the odds?

Huh?

In a different state,

at the same theme park,

on the same ride,

at the same time?

Really?

Serendipity.

I smiled the rest of the day.

Always keeping a hopeful eye out for this young lad.

He was never spotted again,

but I am grateful.

Today:

I went to the beach.

New Port, to be exact.

I love the heat.

The smell of the ocean.

The waves crashing on to the shore.

The scent of sunscreen mixed with the burning salt on my skin.

The screams of little children being splashed.

The crunch of chips between my teeth.

The bright sun.

My hair blowing with the ocean breeze.

Everything.

It makes me glow.

It was a good day.

Grand actually.

I love the beach.

I think I will some where near by when I get older.

Maybe not.

I love my protective mountains too much.

But now is not the time to worry.

Just smile.

After my adventures, the girls ran to Target.

I found these birthday card.

My sister had to walk away due to embarrassment,

when I began to flail myself on the floor fueled my laughter.

How enlightening.

I laughed.

Very hard.

Spring break.

Man.

I love it.

Tell me your adventures.

I would love to hear them.

It Has Only Just Begun.

Guess where I am right now?

CALIFORNIA.

I. Love. Orange. County.

with all my heart.

This means a road trip baby.

To be honest,

I HATE ROAD TRIPS.

Main cause:

Nausea.

I get so so so so sooooo sick.

It was filled with movies and laughs.

Fights and sleep.

It was awful.

But amazingly fun at the same time.

We took pictures.

We are staying with a member from Elder Brown's old ward.

She had him over for dinner and was so impressed with my dashing brother that she emailed my mother with complements and inspiring words.

They are kind of best friends now.

So we are staying with a random 67 year young lady that we have never met before.

She cooks the most amazing food.

We love Bobby.

Today, we went to Joshy's old ward.

We met one of the boys he baptized.

His name is Zeke.

What a nice boy.

We visited his old apartment building.

It was special.

Walking in the same places he did.

We thought we were cool.

We traveled to the New Port temple.

It is so different from the beautiful Timpanogus Temple home.

But equally enchanting.

And ducks walk the streets.

I thought they were kind of neat.

The adventures of Anaheim.

I left a foot of snow,

only to end up in 70 degree weather.

Life is grand.

It has only just begun.

Tomorrow:

We tackle the mystical destination of

DISNEYLAND.

More information will be provided.