the ultimate summer post

Since I have school starting tomorrow, I'm finally posting about the rest of August as well as summer as a whole. 2011 has been an absolute vision of what my high school summer should be, minus my grandmother's funeral.

My family, just missing Annaleen, on that day. 

I made a summer list and was able to complete most of it- so here goes.

- Planted flowers

I planted 5 pretty plants in the front yard, and they dies a few weeks ago in a crazy hailshower.

- Watch a thundershower

 It was a crazy mental hailshower.

- Watch all 8 Harry Potter movies

Matt and Kate and I were able to watch quite a few together, but I missed the last half of the Sorcerer's Stone asleep on the couch. 

- See a Broadway Show

{I stole these off of Kate's blog. Thanks girl.}

I saw Wicked for the second time while Matt and Kate were in town at the beginning of July. I just LOVE it and one day I will see it sitting up close. 

- Go to Stampede

That's my homegirl Hannah playing the lead in the ever random but amazing Grandstand show!

My hurr is totally a weather victim in this picture, but I love the chucks (the churckwagon races, I'm local. ) Oh , and I love my brother too. 

- Go to a rodeo

- See Brooke White in concert
Dream come true. 

Truman opened for the show. hot stuff. 

My concert going pal.

SHOUT OUT TO MADDIE MADELINE MADDAWG! 

Brooke in the flesh.
She debuted some of her new stuff from Jack and White!

- Watch an Extreme Home Makeover reveal in person

- Hang at the lake

- Friend movie night
On separate occasions we watched Harry Potter 5, The Italian Job, and Pirates 4.


- Visit Lake Louise and Banff


Victoria came along with my parents and I on a little road trip. My dad was riding his bike home from Lake Louise, so we spent the day in the Rockies.

- Hipster watch downtown

Last week, Victoria packed up a cute little picnic, and Ben tagged along. We went to this gorgeous park with a wade pool. It was a perfect day. There was a girl there making a headband out of wildflowers, so it counts as hipster watching. 

Ben likes to creep and stuff.

She's a good homemaker.

- Go on 5 dates (I went on four).

Most recently, I went to the CFL game with my buddies!

Missy and Jeremy

Sir Michael and I. 

He actually got to use that face on his ID card this year. 

- Watch a CFL game

- Go to EFY

Oh my goodness, was it ever great! Definitely the best out of the three years I went. Victoria was my roommate, and we just hang the most bangin' time. 

Young Ambassador faces!

Add caption

"What?" Did we do more than take pictures of ourselves?"

YES!

This is Shannon. I love her. We skype a lot.

So does Victoria.

I love Becky. 

I love this group of girls. 

This was the only option for photos since the monstrosity of a storm was happening outside. Take note of Victoria's facial expression. 

There was a mishap, not a fight. 

My homies!

I was able to have some serious spiritual enlightenment all week long!

- Guitar picnic

- FINISH READING THE BOOK OF MORMON
I starting reading it straight through a while back, and since I took a lot of detours, you know studying other topics, it took me a while to finish. I happily passed off my virtue project, and hopefully it will count for my Honor Bee. My goal is to finish personal progress by my birthday in October. 

- Take M on a date

We went and got dinner, (poutine- the same as last year) and bought silly glasses at the dollar store. I love my niece so much- she makes me happy when skies are grey!

- Get gelato
I went with Zoe and again with M on our date.

- Be a YCL at girl's camp

Some of my beehives and one of my leaders

Girl's camp this year was a stake camp. The theme was "Believe Hope Endure Seek". A whole lot of planning went into this camp, and all of it paid off! I loved being with my friends from other wards, and I also loved getting to know my own little ward better. The weather was perfect, and the spirit was strong. 


-Go to the Temple

- Watch fireworks (go to Global Fest)

sunset before the show

 GlobalFest is an international fireworks competition that happens every year. I have never been able to go before, so I took the opportunity when my friend Teolynn invited me.

- Get a pedicure

turquoise, naturally. 

- Read "Unbroken"
One of the most amazing books I've ever read. I loved it so much, I read it in a day.

- Read "The Help"
I also loved this book, and I cannot wait to see the movie. Read it in 3 days.

- GET MY DRIVER'S LICENSE

What else can I say?

Inaugural car wash- the very first place I drove to on my own!

- GET A CAR
This part actually came first strangely enough. I needed a car to take my test in since none of our other cars worked for it. My YW leader was selling her car and I jumped on the opportunity!

Meet Nina Devonte- The blue Chevy Malibu!

Well, adeiu summer 2011- hello and bonjour to senior year!


Love, 
Megan Marie


P.S. I've obviously made quite a few changes on the  way my blog looks. I'm still working on a header, but I'm really liking things fresh and clean. Are these large pictures blowing your mind?

heirloom

This is one of my most prized possessions, my grandmother's dollhouse. While I was in Utah for her funeral, I was able to pack it up into our car and bring it home. I am unbelievably grateful to have it. I remember playing with the house in their basement, well, not really playing, just looking. 

This house is painted my favorite color combination- blue and red, and is in my favorite style. I finally was able to place it on my desk and set up the furniture. I really wish that I had taken pictures of the inside before I boxed everything up back in Utah. I wanted to set it up like grandma had it set up. 

I'm missing my Grandma. I was on Goodreads tonight and looked up my Grandma's account. She's done a bunch of reviews of her favorite and not so favorite books. I'm copying and pasting everything she wrote onto Word so I can keep it forever! My Grandma loved books so much, and has passed this love to her whole family. 

let's get crafty

I found this image on pinterest,

and took it as inspiration for a wall in my room.

My mom and I took a mini road trip on Friday, (I drove the whole way!) to Nanton and through Okotoks. I found 5 old frames at a thrift store in Nanton for 5 dollas. I picked out some acrylics at Michael's and got painting. 

The next step was to use magnetic paint and cover the back pieces of the frame. Some were empty frames, so I had to cut out pieces out of thin wood and painted them.

The finished product! I had a shelf where that necklace holder board is, so I used it to cover up the knarly holes leftover in the wall.

The quote on the magnet is "You do not find the happy life, you make it." -Camilla Kimball

This stichery was in a nasty looking gold frame, so I spruced it right up with some green paint. 

This weekend project also counted as a divine nature project. I'm more than halfway finished with my Personal Progress (the second time). I also finished reading the Book of Mormon yesterday, I just love that book! 

picnics, guitars, paper, chalk, and cars

What do all the things in the title have in common?
My various activities I did with Carlee in July. 
She was leaving for Hawaii on Friday, July 22 so we made sure we had time to hang out. I prepared the food and she brought her guitar as we had a birthday picnic by the pond. 

She taught me how to play the intro of "Falling Slowly".


The next day I went on her birthday double date with Carl, Adam and Carlee.

We flew paper planes on top of a hill

 drew some lovely chalk messages

she blew out her birthday candles like Harry Potter does on his 11th birthday,

and we got some ice cream and ate it on another hill. 

Here we are looking all nature like. 

Carl managed to accidentally lock the keys in the ignition, so we tried various methods to try to get into the car. Eventually, we had to go get the extra set. 

We finished the date by racing remote control cars around the 
park! Another successful date I must say!


Love,
Megan Marie