19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 19

In my 19th year I lived.

This countdown ends tonight and I thought it would be most appropriate to declare that I lived in my 19th year. I really do believe I embraced life. I loved life. I lived.

I am a pretty simple person. I would rather just spend a birthday around a dinner table at P.F. Changs with the family then have any extravagant or expensive party or outing. I would rather be with the people I love rather than do things. I would rather talk on the phone then text. I would rather communicate one on one than be in a huge group. I would rather have someone write me a note that they appreciate something I do rather than give me a gift. I guess the list could go on and on. The truth is that I love the simple things in life. And for me, doing the simple things every day helps me to recognize how great my life really is. In my 19th year I lived. I lived a simple life, but a life that I am thankful for every day.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 18

2 Days until I am 20.

In my 19th year I went on my first blind date. I actually went on two. In two weeks.

The first was great.

The second not so much.

Let's just say I am not even facebook friends with the person who took me on the second blind date.

Blind dates are a funny thing.

1st You are not previously friends so you have nothing to go off of and you are pretty much just getting to know each other while he is paying for your dinner. Thanks.

2nd You kind of feel obligated to like remember something about them, bring it up, ect. Like oh how is your job going? Did you get into your major? How was your trip last week? But since you don't have anything to go off of you can't do this.

3rd What do you do when you meet the person for the first time? Salute, hand shake, hug? Awkward.

4th What are you suppose to do if you know that it is not going to work out (or even be that fun) in the first moments. Let him buy you dinner. Yes. Yes and yes.

5th What if you are with an engaged couple. Is that more or less awkward?

In my 19th year I went on my first blind date. I definitely think everyone should experience it. It is an adventure.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 17

I don't really remember what I did on new years eve to ring in the new year. But in my 19th year I transferred from 2010 to 2011. Can you transfer to a new year? Why not. 2011.

Time flies.

And in approximately 3 days I will be turning 20.

Time flies.

And it didn't slow down in my 19th year.

Time flies.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 16

So today I had this ultimate desire to go to Disneyland.

It was real and quite incredible.

And I was trying to figure out why I wanted to go so badly.

I figured it out tonight while I was trying to decide what memory I wanted to remember today.

It was the fabulous trip we took to Disneyland this past Christmas break.

It was the greatest vacation. 5 Days of Disneyland in my 19th year. We hit everything and more. And when I say everything I mean everything... even the go coaster. (When was the last time you we on the go coaster?)

We ate delicious food, worked the fast pass system (best invention ever). We spent Christmas day in the Happiest Place on Earth. We watched the wonderful world of color.

I love disneyland.

If anyone is up for it I am ready to go. Just let me know.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 15

So you are probably wondering what happened to day 14. I think I slept through it. Really i did. All the day long I was out. Cough medicine will do that to you. There is a memory for you. A whole day lost to sleep. I am thankful for sleep. But I love being awake.

So Day 15

In my 19th year we had a roommate thanksgiving. A very cute wildlife inspired roommate thanksgiving. It was the first time I helped out with the making of the meal. It was actually delicious. We all helped and added our specialty. It was a time of roommate family bonding. It was a time to try our homemaking skills. And we did well.

Allred 11 and Allred 12 Wish You A Happy Thanksgiving

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 13

Today I am thankful for my health in my nineteenth year.

Simply thankful for heath.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 12

19 has been a year of continuing traditions.

One tradition I especially love is an annual hike to the Y.

I like that we only do it once a year. Because it is a hard hike. I also like that it holds some significance to my current life. The truth is the tradition started last year. And we have done it two years in a row. When I say we I mean myself along with Michelle and Madeline Bodine.

So I am not so sure if you can count it as tradition. But it is great. I love when Michelle visits us in Provo. Last year she was a frequent visitor. This year not so much. Probably because her daughter is in france.

The moral of this post. I have a great life.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 11

It is the 11th Day of this countdown.

In my 19th year 11 has become an important and defining number in my life.

In my nineteenth year I moved in Allred 11.

Don't you just love the way that sounds?

I have spent half of my 19th year living in this cute little apartment with my best friends.

Ash is my roommate. My good good roommate.

Katie was the new girl. Not so much anymore.

Maddie is my cousin slash friend for my whole life.

Viv moved into her spot and is now reclaiming her spot again as Ash and I's roommate.

I love Allred 11 and I have since the moment we all moved in.

It has had its disasters.

It has had its adventures.

It has had some good times with good laughs.

It has had heartbreak.

It has broken hearts.

It has become a place where ice cream is consumed daily.

It has had some wild moments.

It has captured memories of success.

It has become a sanctuary from the world.

It has become a place where all the world is welcome.

It has been a place of healthy living.

It has been a place of sickness.

It has been a place of spirituality.

I love allred 11.

I love my allred 11 girls.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 10

Today I decided 19 is a big number. But we are over halfway there. Crazy.

In my nineteenth year I lived out my summer with what will probably be my last full Hebgen Lake Vacation. You see this summer I am headed to Seattle. And the next who knows where. But this last summer in my nineteenth year I spent the full six weeks experiencing everything that Hebgen Lake has to offer. And I don't regret it one bit. It was probably one of the best Hebgen Lake summers of my life. It sure is up there. With banana rides, tube rides, four-wheeling adventures, music videos, lazy days on the dock and lazy nights under the stars, the list could truly go on and on. It is my favorite place on this earth. It is my home. And it might have just been the last time I could experience it on that level. Don't worry, I will be back. But the tears I cried from the cabin past the main road were not in vain. I will surely miss that last best place this summer.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 9

One Hebgen Lake Summer day Jenn and I had another little adventure. Another first.

Have you ever wondered if you could sit it a little tube and just be pulled casually behind a jet ski as you hold tight to a ski rope. Jenn and I have. So one lazy day we tried it out. Put the life jackets on and just went for it. It wasn't really a surprise but a few seconds after we hit it, the jet ski pulled us right out of the tubes. It was obvious that we set a trend. The boys wanted to try it. To no avail.

After many failed attempts we got serious. The turtle came out. Dave stuck the rope around the turtles neck and it was on. All you could see out on the lake was a jet ski and a turtle. It was a great thing.

And a great day on the lake.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 8

A Wild Year.

19 has really and quite truly been a wild year.

I love everything wild. So it is fitting that my life would take on a wild nature.

One of the most wild and free moments of the year was late one Hebgen Lake night.

It was dark. Jenn and I were bored. Have you ever wanted to go on a late night jet ski ride? We sure have. And we did. In our boredom, or lack of wanting to spend our time with the Playmill cast of 2010 we got into our swimming suits, waded out to get the jet ski, and went for it.

The moon was full. The water was smooth. It was wild. And Free.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 7

First off Happy Valentines Day. I love this lovely day.

For this post I was trying to decide if there was something lovely I learned in my 19th year. I did.

In all my strangeness I have complied lists throughout the year about love.

This is what I think about when I am bored. And then I write it down. Journals are the greatest.

*The Top Ten Places to Fall in Love.

*If love took on the form of each of the five senses what would it be? What does love taste like, smell like, sound like, look like, and feel like?

*3 Days of the Week that are Perfect for Falling In Love.

*A List of Songs Perfect to Fall in Love To In No Particular Order.

*An Unnumbered List of Things I Love About Hebgen Lake.

*10 Things People in Love Should Do For Each Other.

(One of these things is not like the other)

Oh love.

Want to know something I love? My duck sweater. In my 19th year I wore my duck sweater on Valentines Day. It seemed like the most appropriate outfit for this day.

Unfortunately pictures of myself in my duck sweater are limited.

But this will do.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 6

In my 19th year I decided to relearn the U.S. State Capitals.

It is all a part of this idea of lifelong learning.

I was bored June 16th 2010. So I picked up a book that had the states and the capitals. And started learning. It is kind of fun to just learn and relearn.

And I love the United States.

So it was great.

I hope that in my 19th year I have taken the opportunity to learn a lot. Not just state capitals. I hope I have learned to be open to learning. I hope I have kept an open mind to new ideas. I hope I have learned from the experience of others.

I hope that I will continue to learn.

Lifelong learning.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 5

In my 19th year my first high school friend got married.

In June.

Actually a couple of my high school friends were married. But on June 5th 2010 I went to Jessica Ann Piepers wedding reception. It was lovely. They are a cute couple.

Since then many other friends have been married, but being caught up in my own little life I haven't had the opportunity to make it to their receptions. That is why facebook is great. People put up their pictures and I feel like I am there.

In my 20th year I can look forward to my best friend from high school getting married.

In June.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 4

A have really simple goals. Even weird goals. But I love accomplishing the small and simple things. And today February 11th 2011 I did it.

I counted how many raisins there are in a box of Raisin Bran!

Weird. Inspired by Elder Pugmire years ago. Accomplished.

And because I know you are all wondering how many raisins there are in two scoops I have your answer.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 3

In my 19th year I went GOLFING for real for the first time.

I golfed.

I mallory hazel went golfing.

9 holes.

Wow.

It was May 17th 2010. I decided the golf course is a friendly place. It is kind of peaceful. A place of minor reflection. In case you were wondering I am not especially good. And because golf balls are kind of expensive I was not allowed to hit over water. But it was great.

Great.

Great.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 2

In my 19th year I got to try out anesthesia for the first time.

My wisdom teeth came out May 5th 2010.

I am a little bit of a wimp so with the consent of my mother I opted for anesthesia while the doc went to work in my gums.

I have to say it was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. The rush, or lack of rush while being put under and out is so crazy. It's like I lost an hour and a half of my life. I don't remember a single thing. My mind didn't even wander to any place during that hour and a half.

I recommend doing the anesthesia thing at least once in your life. It is definitely an experience.

19 Memories of My 19th Year

Day 1

One of my best memories was the day I declared my major.

Thursday April 15th, 2010.

Marriage and Family Studies

And don't forget my gerontology minor :)

It was a lovely day. The sun was shining. I went to the first floor in the Spencer W. Kimball Tower. Wrote it down. Slid it across the table. And it was done.

I walked home with a smile.

I was so excited to have a road ahead of me. Something to work towards. Something I love. Because I really do love it.