Year in Review

For some reason I thought I wasn't going to do this, why? I don't know. But then I got to thinking about how great of a year it really was. I've come a long way from where I was at the beginning of the year. And while you won't really see it in this post, I see it in myself, and I'm so grateful for it.

As New Years is approaching I'm starting to wonder what 2012 will have in store for me. Will it be a good year? Will it be a hard year? Will I accomplish a goal? Will the world end? ;) I have this weird thing where I can tell how the year is going to be before it happens. Maybe it's just me being strange, maybe it's me taking a thought and making it happen, maybe I really do have psychic abilities (something I've often told my family I have. haha!). Whatever it is, I've never been wrong.

Last New Years I knew that this was going to be a good year, and I was right. Yes, this has also been a challenging year. My family's gone through some difficult things and I know that there's always bad with the good. But the good far outweighed the bad this year, and for that I am truly grateful.

I had many moments this year where I literally had to stop and take a mental picture. It was too wonderful, too important to let slip by. Things that I knew I needed to remember for as long as I live.


This year I:

• Rock climbed! While it wasn't anything serious, I was terrified. I DO NOT (did not?) rock climb for real. Give me a fake wall- sure. But the real thing always seemed too unpredictable. Well, I did it anyways! And without a lot of fancy equipment too! Just a rope and the know-how of my dad. :)
• Met bloggers in real life! Not only did I meet many amazing ladies, but we still get together! I've made more friends this year (from all over the world) than I have ever before.
• Rode (is that right? it suddenly looks wrong) in a "cage" across a canyon! Using nothing but a pulley system, my family and I crossed a canyon on one of the best hikes I've ever taken.
• Flew over the tallest mountain in North America! While it did make me sick (what can ya do?), it was amazing. I'm so glad I seized that opportunity.
• Saw the most amazing lake in the world! Seriously, someone take me to a lake that is more perfect than Lake Louise in Banff National Park. If there are any bloggers that live there or in Jasper, make room for me, because I'm moving there! Jk, but I would consider it!
• Learned about photography! While I am NO expert, my photography skills have GREATLY improved.
• Walked on 5(?) glaciers! Each one was different, and each amazing.
• Drove from Anchorage, Alaska to SLC, Utah! That was actually my second time doing that. Except the first time it was the other way around.

I could go on and on about 2011. The couple years before this one weren't the easiest. I was happy they were over. While I know I'll be sad to see '11 go, I'm excited to see what 2012 has in store. :)


What about you? Did you have a good year? Or are you ready to move on?
(you can actually read about some of my travels in my guest post over at A Dreamer's Daze today!)

P.S. Enter my Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza HERE!

P.P.S. If you would like to sponsor Gentri Lee, check out my sponsor page HERE.

A Look Back

Hey everyone! Are you having a good start to your week? Already ready for the weekend? haha! I'm guest posting over at A Lost Feather today. Sarah's blog is one of my favorites, so I highly recommend you hop on over!

Lately as the seasons have changed from Autumn to Winter, I've been daydreaming of warmer times. It's been so cold here, bitterly cold. I can hardly stand it, and I'm reminded why I don't love Winter. So today I'm going to step back to this past Summer. A time that seemed so perfect, adventurous, and warm. Well, as warm as you can get in Alaska. Which is where I spent a good part of my Summer.

If you weren't following me back then (most of you weren't) here's a summary:
My sister and her family lived in Alaska, but they were moving to the lower 48 in August. I knew it would most likely be the last chance I had to visit Alaska for a while, so I decided to put my life on hold and spend two months with them- then help them pack up and drive through Canada back to the USA. My parents even came up and stayed for a couple of weeks. Here are some of my favorite shots from that experience:
I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking... because there are a lot of them...






















Mmmmmmmmmmm... Good times. I'm feeling much warmer now. :) And if that wasn't enough for you, go ahead and enjoy this video I made of my trip. I still watch it on a regular basis...


P.S. Don't forget to enter the Rolled Up Pretty giveaway! It ends tonight at Midnight!

Ice Skating- Check!

I was so excited to check off the first item on my Winter to-do list this past Friday. A group of friends went ice skating and we had a blast!

I'm actually not a bad ice skater. Remember when I posted about roller skating?? Ya, ice skating is WAY easier. Maybe just because I've been ice skating more than roller skating, but I'm pretty comfortable on the ice. (not triple lutz comfortable, but you get what I mean)

I know I have crazy/ squinty eyes in this pic (I was trying to keep the boys from photo bombing us), but I like it anyways. This is my younger sister and myself.

It was so fun and I suggest you all get yourselves to an ice rink- stat!

Thanksgiving-ness

How was everyone's Thanksgiving?! Or- How was everyone's Thursday?! :D I had a great Thanksgiving, it was a little different this year. Usually we get all dressed up, go see a movie, come home and eat dinner, then lounge on the couch. But there were no movies we wanted to see this year (my dad wasn't really excited about Breaking Dawn... Shocking?), and it was just my sister, mom, dad, grandma, uncle, and myself. (we usually have more people) So instead- my dad and I took the 4wheeler up into the hills before our early dinner. It was a lovely morning/afternoon in the mountains. My kinda day. :)


It was crisp and overcast. You could feel the temperature drop as we climbed.
(yes, that's a frozen pond)


I can't get enough of these mountains.


We also saw lots of wildlife! Now, I KNOW these pictures are TERRIBLE. But I had to zoom a lot. And my camera only has a 10x zoom before it starts loosing quality... Plus these animals would have ran if we had gotten any closer. So bad photos it is...
Wild Turkeys (how appropriate right?!) and mountain goats. Also some deer, but I didn't take any pics. I see them all the time.


If you look closely you can see the mountain goats to the side of me. 3 white dots. One is up higher and the other two are down lower.



Here's my dad! Gotta love his puffy orange coat. At least it kept us safe and easily spotted by those families who were in the hills practicing their shooting...


Here's a 360 degree collage from where we stopped. It's crazy how different Utah is. On the East we have the beautiful lush mountains and on the West we have the vast dry deserts.


Then we headed home and had our Thanksgiving feast! Mmmmmmmm....

Everything was made from scratch. My mom and grandma are awesome. She was practically finished by the time I'd offered to help. I need to be better at that. She starts the night before so it's not so hard the next day.

Sweet Potatoes with roasted Marshmallows
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Homemade Rolls
Jello
Homemade and homegrown Grape Juice
Turkey (duh!)
oh it was dellliiiiiissssssshhhh....


There was/is pie. But I didn't even think to take a pic. I don't like pie, so I just had second dinner... :/ haha! (don't judge me too much- our first dinner was really like lunch... haha!)

I'd love to hear how your Thanksgiving/ Thursday was! Please, do tell! :)

Happy SHOOOOPPPPIIIING!
Might as well enter the Poshlocket Giveaway while you're here! :)

Halloween Fun- Calling all Hocus Pocus Fans

Yesterday I was lucky enough to guest post for The Green Project- Check it!

I am the bloggy meet up queen! haha! jk. But I've got another one for you today. Wednesday night I was invited to go up to Lauren's family's home to make Caramel Apples! How could I refuse?! Not only do I LOOOOOOOVE me some caramel apples, but I'd heard all about how amazing their house is. It was settled- I was going.

Look at our gorgeous (and delicious) creations!


Pretty sure that Lauren and I were destined to be friends.



Ok, you Hocus Pocus fans ready for the most amazing thing I think I've ever seen???

Feast your eyes on THIS!


YES- that would be a replica of Winifred Sanderson's Spell Book! Lauren's mom MADE IT! MADE IT! WHAT?! I'm wondering if she'll teach me... Hmmmm...

As you can see I was ecstatic...


Their house was decorated perfectly! It was so much fun wandering around and seeing all of the festive decor.



After exploring it was time to sit back and watch Hocus Pocus by the fire place.


Before we left I had to get a few more pictures. They have something that they call the "Peter Pan Room"... It's not finished, but I had to snap some pictures to share with you. First of all- you go through a SECRET DOOR to get to the room! Then your engulfed in Neverland Magic!




She's still working on the mural. I need to go back when it's all finished (if they'll have me). It's seriously going to be breathtaking. Plus they have LED lights all over so it looks like stars and pixie dust!

Outside is just as great as inside. They have a giant eyeball projected onto their front window that moves around and seems to stare right at you. They also made this giant pumpkin man!


Needless to say- it was SUCH a fun evening! I couldn't have asked for a more fun and festive Autumn night. Thanks Lauren!!

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Printed Peaks Giveaway!! It's amazing and you guys are so lucky!

Gardner Village (with bloggy friends)- Check!

First- Remember that Pumpkin Project I mentioned?? Well it's UP! Just click HERE. :)

One of my favorite fall activities (it was on my Fall To-Do List- which by the way, I've completed all but TWO items on that list!! Go me!) is to visit a wonderful place called Gardner Village. They have such fun Halloween displays, the scenery is Fall perfection, and wonderful shops. I decided the best way to do that this year was with some of my local bloggy friends!


We first met for a delicious lunch at Gardner Villages wonderful restaurant- Archibalds. Then we strolled around the shops and enjoyed the crisp cool Fall air (or froze in it... I had on- thick tights, a long sleeve undershirt, my chambray top, a thick dress, warm boots, and a warm vest- and i still froze!).


The main attraction in October would be their "witches" that are everywhere. They're all so funny and different. There's a hoola-hooping witch, witches playing baseball, and even a witch using the outhouse... :/


Look at this- Fall perfection, am I right?!


They also have a candy shop that is a must see. It's filled with all of your favorite old fashion candy as well as fresh fudge in a variety of flavors!


It was such a fun afternoon with these ladies! I'm so glad they were able to make it (especially those who ran over during their lunch break!). I hope you are all having a FABULOUS week! Are you ready for Halloween?? What are you going to be?! Keep voting on my costume poll. I can't wait to see what the result will be! haha!

P.S. DON'T FORGET to enter this weeks giveaway from Printed Peaks! It's seriously AMAZING!!!

P.P.S. You can find the girls I went to Gardner Village with here:
Savannah
Megan
Courtney
Melissa
Jessica
Sara

P.P.P.S. If you're looking for a great inspirational read head over to Suzie's blog. It's all about being healthy, strong, and beautiful. :)