The Nutshell of 2016

Another year has come and gone. Another year of memories, growing opportunities and lots of laughter. Another year of stressful nights, tears and sorrowful goodbyes. Another year has passed and onto the future. 

The following images presents 2016 in a nutshell: 

My dear, cat Beau passed away in the middle of January. We had had him for nearly nine years and it was bittersweet to see him leave our family.

Mom, Jordan and I went a weekend get-away to Kanab to spend some quality time together as well as volunteer our time playing with kittens and puppies.

The family spent some time together visiting the newly remodeled Aquarium. We also spent a long weekend together in St. George hiking and playing around in the red dirt. 

During the summer, I interned at a small business, FreshLime as one of their marketing interns. It was a blast learning more about applicable marketing and meeting some great people.

The family decided to venture out throughout the summer including this hike to Donut Falls and unfortunately there were no donuts at the top.

Our family took a road trip to the middle-of-nowhere Oregon to visit Grandpa Harve and Kathy. We spent that Fourth of July relaxing, eating freshly grown veggies and photographing the beautiful flowers.

My friend and I enjoyed the craziness and loudness of an outdoor country concert. It had been too long since my last country concert and I was grateful for the great company.

The best way to start school is to escape for Labor Day. The family and I went to Lava Hot Springs and enjoy a relaxing getaway with some minor cuts and bruises.  

This September, I had the great opportunity to become an Alpha Phi. This has already brought me so much happiness, friendship, and fun opportunities. I can't wait to see what awaits me as a lifelong Alpha Phi.

Mom took Jordan and me on a girls night and we got to see "Thriller" the dance show. It was fantastic as usual. 

 My roommates and I hosted an apartment dinner with two other apartment in preparation for Finals Week. We had so much food, too many sweets, and created a ton of great memories. Thanks again Apt 10 and 3 for helping and coming!

Tracie, Niki, Elijah and I all went to Anime Banzai again this fall to showcase all the hard work Tracie had done with making our cosplays. It was stressful but awfully fun! Here's to next year!!

 Apartment 13 Girls Night! This evening was dedicated to watching movies, eating desserts, and facial masks! It was a nice relaxing time with quite the interesting pictures.

In December, I participated in my first wedding as a bridesmaid, however, this wedding was anything but a typical LDS wedding. It was a combination Hispanic and Tongan wedding so there was lots of food, people, and dancing. 

My crazy siblings and I spent Christmas Eve floor dancing in our living room to Christmas music and taking funny pictures. It was so incredibly fun and I will forever treasure this memory with my siblings.

Anime Banzai 2016

This past October I experienced my third annual Anime Banzai.

Our group was based off a common video game, Starcraft: Heroes of the Storm and the common characters within. These cosplays were a group of firsts for the all of us but the excitement from the other fans made it all the stress worth it.

We participated in the cosplay contest for our second year and despite cosplay malfunctions and consistent trips to the repair station, we placed! We received third place in the beginner's performance. It was a great opportunity and we learned so much through it all.

Here are some of the pictures of our exciting, nerd-filled weekend.

The Gang ready to tackle Banzai 2016

Master Nova here. 

A Zergling...a pain both in the game and in cosplay. 

Nova here. 

The gang -- 3rd place Beginners Performance

Big & Little Reveal

October 3rd was the day. 

October 3rd was the day my journey in Alpha Phi changed. 

October 3rd was the day. 

October 3rd was the day I met my Big! 

For those of you who don't know, a sorority Big is also known as a mentor. Each new member of the incoming group gets paired up with an active member to help mentor them through their journey in the sorority. And so your mentor or Big Sister gets shorted down to just Big because in a sorority everyone is referred to as a sorority. 

Prior to me actually October 3rd, I was given three gifts to tease me and get me excited about meeting her. Well it worked. I got so excited, nervous, and started to love my Big before I even knew who she was. 

Day 1 - I received my favorite candy and drink: Twix, Kit Kat, and Strawberry Lemonade! It was presented to me in a very cute basket. 

Day 2 - I received a nice card with a beautiful note inside. I also got a stunning bouquet of fake roses so that I can always have flowers with me. Honestly, receiving this made me get really excited to meet my Big and the relationship we would have. 

Day 3 - I received a big bag full of beautiful things! I got a simple silver necklace, two shirts, and a comfy purple Mickey Mouse sweater/sweatshirt. This was my last gift that I would receive from my Big before I would find out. 

Reveal Day - The day that we would meet our Big was left a surprise until roughly 30 minutes before. It was insanely nervous and exciting. We waited one at a time to "fish" for our big (you'll see in the video) and then if caught something, our big was revealed. It was so cute! 

This is my little family tree. Rakael (red headed) is my big. Her big is Kathy (very top) and Kathy took another little, Annette (lower right). I'm so happy to have my Big, for the friendship we'll have, and the memories we'll gain together. 

A wonderful sister of mine created this video in celebration of us (Beta Omega's) meeting our Bigs. 

No More Baby Siblings

Hi, I'm Lauren and I'm in denial of my siblings growing up. 

I don't want my siblings to grow up because then they have to face reality, adulthood, responsibilities, and heartbreak. They aren't supposed to date people, make life-altering decisions, enter middle school or graduate high school. I want them to stay little, cute, and innocent forever. 

But since they aren't listening to me or any of my persuasion techniques...this is what they are up to.  

My not-so-little baby brother: 

Bud, as I often call him, is a stud. He is a senior high school student who is constantly running around participating in the advance choir, Madrigals, swim team, and track & field as a pole vaulter. He worked all summer for a landscaping business.  He is funny, handsome, caring, and one-of-a-kind.

My not-so-little baby sister: 

JoBean or Bean, as I often call her, is adorable. She is a mighty eighth grader who is tackling French, winged eyeliner and constantly craving movie nights, candy, and friend-filled memories. She worked all summer on mowing our lawn and her tan skin. She is funny, beautiful, strong, and unique. 

As much as I don't like my siblings growing up and facing the world, I hope that they never forget that I'm in their corner and will always be there for them. 

Labor-Day Adventures

September 2 - 5, 2016

Unlike last year, I was able to go home this labor day weekend to attend my family's annual trip to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. It had been on the calendar for months and I was excited to not only see my family but avoid the 3.5 hour drive up north -- that's right I flew! 

Did you know you can fly to Salt Lake City from Cedar City? Yup. We have our own little airport that only flies twice a day to only SLC and it is very responsibly priced too - $118 for round trip. 

Friday evening I flew home; Saturday we left for Lava Hot Springs and then I felt back to Cedar on Monday evening. It was a short trip but a nice little get away..despite the rain and chilliness. 

Here are some Lava highlights: 

Traditional lunch at Denny's in Tremont before crossing the Idaho boarder. Macie didn't want her picture taken, like a typical 13 year old, so naturally I took one. 

Underneath this bridge, my tube capsized and I fell under the river rapids. I could not stand up straight or find a pocket of air to breathe for 40 seconds. I finally found a pocket of air with terrified parents on the other side. Luckily, I walked away with only a few cuts and bruises and a story that I wouldn't recommend experiencing. 

I would make some hot chocolate and enjoy the quietness and crispness of the mornings along the river. It was a very peaceful time. 

Our days were full of adventure and walking that the evenings began to turn into the vegg and movie time as one big family. We ended up watching Shrek, Independence Day, iRobot, and some Family Feud. 

A water war insured thanks to Brian, Dad, Macie, and Ryker. Nothing was off limits and the rain started to win but nevertheless it was a great time. 

Mom really wanted to do some karaoke so she started singing and dancing on the street...but not before she peered through this window unaware of the lady sitting on the other side weirded out. 

A hula hoop battle began with Ryke and Niki showing off their amazing skills. This turned into Ryker trying to swing all 5 hoops at one point. It was quite the show! 

Next year, our labor day adventures will be relocated, thanks to the closing of stores in Lava Hot Springs and my near-drowning scare. Lava Hot Springs has been good to us but I can't wait to see where we end up next! 

Take 2: Rush Week

September 6 - 9, 2016

Southern Utah's Greek life had their fall rush week this past week and once again, I decided to try my luck with a sorority. For those of you who don't know, 'rush week' is a processes of open and invited event for potential new members and the various groups to mutually select new members. Each event gives the PNM (potential new member) a glimpse of what that sorority or fraternity is about and get to know their potential 'brothers' or 'sisters' better.

Each sorority and fraternity does different things during their rush week but this is how it went for me. Alpha Phi's members have always stood out to me. Their kindness, loyalty, and community service is instantly recognizable. I know of members completely blossoming within this organization and then help other sisters' grow as well. They follow six core values that were established years ago which can be seen in everything that they do -- sorority related or not. This is why I chose to rush the Theta Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi.

My cute nautical themed invites!

Here's how rush week went: 

Tuesday: Greek BBQ and Values Night!
This rush was different than most because it was shortened from five to four days which meant that two activities were on the same day. Greek BBQ was fun. There was free food, lots of various games, and a lot of reconnecting and chatting among all the PNM and Greeks. I definitely enjoyed talking to some new faces and reconnecting with old Phi's from my previous rush.
Values night was awesome, as usual. I got a meet a few more PNM, Greeks, and gained a better appreciate of the values that Alpha Phi's uphold. As of today, one of my favorite values would probably be "Character Development" because it includes personal growth along with helping others grow. It was a great night!

Posing at Values Night! 

Wednesday: Philanthropy Night! 

This night was dedicated towards informing the PNM about the main non-profit agency that they focus on serving throughout the year but especially during the "philanthropy week." Alpha Phi works with American Heart Association to help raise money and awareness for women's heart disease. This was a great night to learn about how Alpha Phi works to inspire and help other women in and out of their organization. It was really eye-opening and touching -- I was so happy to attend. 

Thursday: Preference Night!

This was an amazing night and I'm not ashamed to say that I cried at one point. This night is show the PNM that you even one step closer to becoming an Alpha Phi but being able to witness a sacred ceremony. While the ceremony itself is so amazing; it was a great time to get to know the Phi's even better and understand the more serious side of being part of a sorority. I felt truly honored to have witness that and I'll never forget it.

Amy and I on Pref Night! 

Friday: Bid Day! 

This was the day! The day that will determine if I will be becoming an Alpha Phi. Bid day is all about a sorority or fraternity placing a bid on the PNMs they want to join their sisterhood or brotherhood and... I got a bid!!! It was a very nerve racking night but it's such an awesome feeling! The evening was celebrated by meeting up in the canyon with the rest of Alpha Phi, eating, taking lots of pictures, and getting to know each other as sisters! It was such a fun time and I'm so excited for my journey with Alpha Phi!

My adorable Bid bottle

The Internship

August 12th, 2016

Today, I finished my summer marketing internship at FreshLime in Lehi, Utah. FreshLime is a marketing automation company service-relation small businesses throughout the nation and internationally. My responsibilities included strategic planning for social media accounts, creating graphic designs for social and publication use, writing content for the company blog, and much more! 

One of the best parts of this internship was the two other interns I got to work with. We were loud, chatty, and typical twenty-something girls. Frequently, we had Bachelorette recaps, SLAB Pizza runs, and distractions pertaining to graphics, boys, or videos. We were also the handlers of all FreshLime's social media accounts which brought out many snapchat filters, FreshLime Faces, and learning a ton more about social media. 

These two girls have taught me so much in the past two and half months. They've taught me the rewards of being adventurous, finding the positive in every situation, and how to step further out of my comfort zone. Their optimism, acceptance, and love for life was contagious. They kept me looking forward to going to work and helped me relieve some stressful days. 

I'm grateful for our amazing boss and teacher. Her positive outlook and enthusiasm for life, marketing, and enjoying the little moments was felt despite the distance from Hawaii. She was always so willing to answer any questions, provide a real-world experience, and allowed us to creativity liberty with our work. 

Everyone I have met and everything I have learned has made this summer so enjoyable and so worthwhile. This experience has been a blessing and true learning opportunity that I couldn't think of a better way to spend my summer. I'm truly thankful and happy for the summer I've had, the people I've met, and the things I've learned. 

Thank you FreshLime. 

New Hair Transformation

August 11th, 2016
This week I changed my hair in celebration of the new school year, new roommates, and new adventures. I found my inspiration on Pinterest and have been anxious to have it done; even though I love being a dark burrnette. Thank you Christina & your wonderful skills!

Below you'll find my inspiration and my hair transformation.

Pinterest Inspiration

STEP 1 

BEFORE: Auburn hair with an obvious red tint. 

AFTER: Neutral Medium Chocolate hair with a few golden/auburn tints. 

STEP 2 

BEFORE: Neutral Medium Brown with auburn/golden tints. 

MIDDLE: Dark hair being processed.  

AFTER: Dark base, caramel balayage treatment, cut, and curled. 

Cosplay Creation -- IN PROGRESS

Ever heard of Cosplay?

It is a combination of "costume" and "play." People typically cosplay their favorite characters from TV shows, movies, video games, and/or books. These cosplays are displayed in conventions dedicated to celebrating nerds, geeks, and fans alike -- basically anything like Comic Con. 

I was first introduced to the world of cosplay a couple years ago by my friend, Tracie, when I attended my first convention "Anime Banzai" representing classic anime characters from the 90's, Sailor Moon. Thanks to Tracie's magically sewing skills and finding killer steals, we were able to create three main characters: Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, and Sailor Mini Moon. We actually ended up winning an award on our costume during a contest they have during the convention. 

Last year, my life had become insanely busy so I didn't have time to help Tracie with the creation of their cosplays, based off of Five Nights at Freddy's, but I still attended the convention taking pictures, enjoying the time together, and embracing our nerdiness. 

This year, Tracie and I are trying new things with our cosplay for this year's convention. We are creating costumes based on a very popular video game, Starcraft. I'll be going as Nova and Tracie will be going as Master Nova. It has been an adventure creating all the foam armor and props to accurately represent those characters. 

Here is our progress -- I'm pretty proud. 

Our inspiration: Nova from StarCraft.  

Nova's Gun!

My light-up body suit! 

The start of my breast plate 

Shoulder pads!

The start of my boots. 

Isn't my friend, like, amazingly talented?! I can't wait to see how this cosplay turns out and to see everyone's excitement over our version of Nova.

Stay tuned for more progress and a huge shout out to +tracie wamsley!