Mascara Lament

The day was bright, the sky was blue,
and then came the shock, it can't be true.

What to do? I think I'll cry
But then it'll smudge, it must be a lie.

They're gone from Canada, never to return.
But where will I get the mascara I yearn?

Calorie 2000, so thick and black;
I tried some Great Lash... Boy did it lack.

I want some drama, my tantrum will last
But my favorite mascara is a thing of the past.

So I'm forced to switch to some other brand
While I wait for Max Factor to return to my Land

So this is my Eulogy, I'll continue to cry
To my fair mascara, I bid you goodbye
L

By Invitation Only

I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine the other day. We were both going to the same wedding; he asked if I wanted a ride so I said sure. I was also giving my roommate a ride so I asked if that was okay. He asked where her boyfriend was. I said I wasn’t sure if he knew the Bride and Groom, maybe he hadn’t been invited? He then asked the most absurd question...

“Oh, is this wedding invite only?”

Invite only! Weddings are always invite only! That’s why they give out invitations!

I asked why he went if he wasn’t invited, “Well, there are people there I know.”

“So you go to weddings to socialize?!” I’m a little shocked! To add a cherry to this story, he’d invited someone else to this wedding that he wasn’t invited to.

I’ve been invited to a lot of weddings this year... 17 to be exact and the year’s not over yet. In general, I love weddings. I love how happy everyone is and how much family comes together.

I thought I’d share a list of the highlights of each wedding
Elise & Alex Andrews - The Hairspray Comment
Jeff & Shelia Smigel - Jeff’s Vest and the Men’s ties
Devon & Kimberly Tyers - Cookie’s by George cookies
Daniel & Teddi Lee - The incredibly over decorated gym
Kim & Jordan Wheatley*
Ricky & Chelsea Bennett - The on again / off again relationship that worked
Mike & Janeal Bullock*
Justin & Andea Morton*
Byron & Rosie Redd - The Food and the long tablecloths
Ed & Meagan Yu - Mllowing Meenah to live out her dream
Leticia & Ammon Christensen - The Picture Perfect Couple
Lisa & Doug Johnson - The letter from Clive and all the Pink
Mark & Kim Hughes - The Temple and how much I love them both
Leah & Murray Phillips - The honeymoon in Mountain View
Josh & Nicole Tagg - The Chopsticks and the instructional video and the bride and groom on the top of the cake
Brent & Jen Garner - The most classy, traditional wedding all year. They used simple, beautiful roses as table centers and they had actual toasts with sparkling apple juice. We actually ate the wedding cake (I love that)
James & Lucy West - The new Sister I’m gaining

* not attended

I’ve also come up with a rule for all my friends... NO MORE WEDDINGS THIS YEAR!The wedding gift budget is spent so if you suddenly get engaged you get NO GIFT :)
L

Fairytale Life

I always loved fairytales growing up, I loved princesses and castles and knights on horses, Fairies with wings and flowers in their hair. I love dresses and makeup and ribbons and lace… I like looking pretty and cooking and taking care of others, boys opening doors and fixing anything broken. In summary, I’m about as stereotypically a girl as it gets.

This has led to the discovery of Laura jobs and non Laura jobs.
Lifting a rolled up raft from the truck to the shore, that’s definitely not a Laura job. Making breakfast for the strong men that will do the above job? Laura written all over it.
Carrying tents and moving stacked chairs also fall into the non Laura category. Dinners and picking up wedding gifts I’ve got covered though.

I appreciate those who understand our distinct roles. Glad we came to an understanding so early in our friendship.
L

Feels Like the End of Summer

Today was sad. Today marked the last Sunday Dinner as we know it. A group of us have been getting together for dinner, sometimes there are wild card guests but it has basically been the same group of us. The host provides the main dish and everyone else is assigned items, it's worked so well and we've had some of the best laughs and food. But all good things must come to an end; Kim and Mark get married on Friday and move to Waterloo. Nathan is going to Lethbridge, Jenn is leaving the ward. It was time.
Hopefully Kim, Mark and Nathan will carry on the tradition in their respective cities and we can make Sunday Dinners a Country-wide phenomenum.

I really love you all, hopefully I can find some way to fill the void you're leaving behind :)
L

New Aunt

I'm an Aunt again!

Baby Gage Lee West was born on Thursday August 3rd. He is 21 inches long and a whopping 9 lbs, his Dad was the same weight :)

I added some pictures so you can see just how cute he is.
L

Summer is my Best Friend

So I've done it!

I walked by a waterfall, ate ice cream in a national park. Sat by the lake and went trail riding. I got bit my mosquitos, a little sun burned and let my hair blow in the wind. I ate BBQ Chicken and played catch in a park. Saw a chipmunk and a little fawn. I visited Monarch A.B. as my random Alberta visit and skipped stones in the Old Man River. What a great weekend!

So far my quest to live summer to the fullest has been successful! Stay tuned for more updates!

This weekend reminded me of how much I love the Prairie's, they're so beautiful. Coming to the top of a hill, looking out and seeing miles and miles of farmland and foothills is far more beautiful to me than any mountain range. The mountains make me clausterphobic, I can't breath, there's not enoug sky, there's nothing like a prairie sky. So big and blue and with clouds like today it's perfect. I'll take the prairie's over the mountains any day.

The drive home made me contemplate my city living, a good looking cowboy may be just what I need
L

The Good Left Undone

The inbox is empty… there’s nothing to do.

After an afternoon of reading other’s blogs I’ve decided that I’m not taking full advantage of this summer. I should be going on Road trips, hiking in parks… floating down rivers. Watching movies outside, embracing the mosquitoes, not letting them scare me off. I need more summer in my life.

Who’s with me?

Luckily for me I have a trip to Waterton planned for the weekend… no more sitting around waiting for summer to come to me. I’m going to get it myself.

I want to go somewhere in Alberta I’ve never been…like Stettler or Rocky Mountain House. It doesn’t have to be exotic… random is good. I’ve lived in Alberta my whole life and there’s lots I haven’t seen, so here’s fair warning… be prepared for day trip invites. Cause I’m bored.

I want more!
L

Ward Hike

What a successful day.

The hike turned out to be so much fun, not very hard, just nice. It was really hot but lots of the path was shady. Once we got to the lake there was lots to do, like swim if you're crazy! That's glacier water! There were people rock climbing and lots of people having lunch. We hiked down on the hard path and had such a beautiful view of Canmore. Once we got to the bottom we had some delicious sandwiches and juice and such.

I was pleasantly surprised with how well the day went. A few more people would have been fun but I liked that group that we had. Check out the pictures so you can see all the fun you missed.
L

Whack-a-Mole Champ

"What do you want to do at Stampede?"

It occurred to me on Saturday that I've never played Whack-a-Mole, so that's what I wanted to do at the Stampede. So we find a Whack-a-Mole place and I give the guy my money and then I get a text message, so I whip out the phone, start repsonding and Whack-a-Mole starts!! I WON!!! All these years I've been hiding my light under a bushel, I didn't mean to hide the talent, I'll share it - I promise :) The Whack-a-Mole guy said that's the first time he's seen someone text and play and still win... see Tonia, txting makes me smarter ;) I have this cute green stuffed frog to remind me of my win.

Whack-a-Mole was just one of the memorable experiences. I sat in a helicopter! It was pretty neat. I ate a footlong hotdog smothered in onions and cheese (if you know me then you know that's surprising).

I've come to the conclusion that I need more rodeo in my life... the Chuckwagon races were so much fun! I want to go back! I liked the grandstand show but I loved the fireworks! It was a great way to spend my birthday. The only thing that could have made it better was cake

Thanks for the good times and celebrating my 25th with me Brad.

Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday, love you all
L

Kim, I'm excited to hear about the house and if your offer was accepted

Happy Birthday to Me

I’m 25 today

It feels like a big deal, like a big number, you know?

How did you celebrate your 25th?

Mine will start with Breakfast with some friends. Then I’m going to the Calgary Stampede (now that I live in Calgary it tends to steal my thunder). I’ve never been to the chuckwagon races or the grandstand show, so I’m excited! I’d like to fit a Crave cupcake somewhere in there too but we’ll see if time allows it. Ideally I’ll receive multiple phone calls from all the good friends that are missing today and end the evening with some fireworks.

I’m not sure I’m where I thought I’d be at 25 but life is good.
L