Danke Schoen

Seriously! Thank you for sticking around to the point that you will even read this. Christmas happened, I went to Austria, cheer season is happening, etc. Long time no post.

A lot has happened and I am going to start with Austria! It was amazing you guys. I have been back for a LONG time and I have yet to upload my photos. Instead, I will email myself a few from my phone so I can show you. Yes, I am that lazy. Just let it go. I am also not able to take any more photos at this point… my phone is full. I have resorted to deleting apps, music and audiobooks. All to avoid plugging my phone in for 10 minutes. Priorities!

First we went to Innsbruck and served at a Young Life camp for US military kids stationed overseas. It was a blast! Awesome kids, awesome skiing, awesome views!

Night sledding

At the top!

After camp we went to Salzburg. I LOVED Salzburg. It was by far my favorite stop. It had the city feel that is so intriguing (like Vienna) but it was still in the Alps and beautiful (like Innsbruck). We acted like Liesel and Ralph (Sans Nazis), climbed to the fortress and drank beer made by monks.

The top of the fortress

Our fun travel companions!

The Sound of Music Tour

Being Liesel and Ralph... 26 going on 27

Then we went to explore in Vienna. We prayed at St. Stephens, ate schnitzel (overrated) and simply just enjoyed everything Austria has to offer!

Schonbrunn Palace

That's all for now!

Sachertorte, dirndls and Maria von Trapp.

What do these things have in common? You guessed it! I’m going to Austria!

One sunny afternoon in June, Brian let me know that I may have the opportunity to go to Austria with him. Brian works for Young Life and his region is putting on a camp in Austria. I had little information, but he then said, “We leave the 26th of December and we will probably get to ski.”

We are going to Axams, Austria (outside Innsbruck). Fact: The 1964 and 1976 winter Olympics were hosted in Innsbruck, and many of the ski events were hosted in Axams.  AT OUR RESORT! It is only a little beautiful. Take a gander at the hotel where camp will be:

The extra bonus here? Brian and I are going to travel after the camp. We are going to Salzburg and Vienna to get our tourist on. I can’t wait! I freak out about how much fun it is going to be and Brian quickly reminds me that it is going to be a ton of hard work… to which I say…

Then I ignore him and get excited again!

Happy Christmas season you crazy fools! If you want to get me a present, feel free to get me anything Tyrolean, Austrian or Bavarian – Those are all kinda the same thing right?

I guess I have some research to do.  Also, the captain is a terrible winker! Let’s just blame the Nazis. On another note, you can bet I'm excited for the Carrie Underwood Sound of Music special!!

The Perfect Medicine

So I was sick last week. Just a stupid cold, but still! I hate being sick. Although, It's not as though anyone enjoys illness. I'm pretty sure I had a fever at one point, or at least I think I did. I don’t have a thermometer or anything. I am not a mom and I am not a doctor’s office… so I feel like that explains why I don’t have a thermometer. I do have a meat thermometer. Would that have worked? I mean, humans are technically meat right?

I figured out I had a fever when Marina walked into the house wearing running shorts and I was on the couch in my puffy down coat with the hood up. The aches and chills could have tipped me off, but it took that special visual for it to sink in.

The good news is that I am extra awesome and healthy now! I also spent the weekend in Black Butte with a few of my lovely friends.

A bloody, coffee and cards, the perfect medicine!

Antone Shenanigans

I spent an amazing weekend at the Antone Ranch! I don’t know how to describe how crazy wonderful this place is! It is a 40,000 acre ranch in central Oregon. Last year I described it as a cross between Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Hey Dude, Wildhorse Canyon and Disneyland. We barrel around the curvy rocky roads in jeeps, ride horses, shoot guns, boat, eat, play, pray and camp. And by camp, I mean glamp. That is glam camping. There are beds in the tents… so the word camping is quite misleading.

A line-up of our weekend transportation! You know we took those bad boys through creeks! 

Sunrise

So country! 

Everyone likes boats and sunshine! Not to discount the wakeboarding and tubing!!

Sunset from the fire tower

No filter! 

I am majorly sore and tired from such an awesome weekend! I’m sure you all feel super bad for me. I hope your weekends were equally amazing!

Independence Day!

Down with the Red Coats!

Have you noticed how the news calls it Independence Day rather than the 4th of July? Do they have to? “Independence Day” is the official holiday title, so I guess they can’t get sloppy and casual and call it the 4th. So pretentious.

I spent the most amazing weekend in Black Butte. [Read an old post about the ranch here!] What was so amazing you ask? Oh, just everything.

I subjected Brian to my family… so let’s just say I was thinking the weekend had the potential to be a little dicey. He could be like, “whoa, what is up with these people?” Or maybe he would embrace us, including the weirdness that is inevitably in every family. I mean, it isn't like you know what is weird about your family. You are in too deep. The weird is normal for you! Don’t worry, it was great!

The weekend was freaking awesome. I spent so much time in the sun. Time walking on the golf course and laying by the pool! I think I am probably no longer 98% water, but instead 96% water and 2% sunscreen.  (So I just researched this and the internet says we aren't 98% water. Umm. I’m pretty sure I learned that fact, turned myth, in science class. Great job public schools!) But seriously, it was a great weekend. The men and my mother golfed, my sister and I walked with them on the golf course and lounged by the pool… and we really did nothing else. Basically we ate, relaxed and sipped bevs for 4 days. What a great way to honor those who fought for our freedom!

Okay, that is all. Linking up with Sami today for weekend shenanigans, 4th of July edition! Pardon, I meant Independence Day. I hope you all had great weekends!

My biggest concern was my tan.

For a long time my summers were spent at the pool. As I sit here at my desk, I reflect. Literally. My skin is so pale it is reflective. I long for the days where I spent my time at the pool! I will obviously be spending my weekend in the sun, but it is just painful to think of those former summer days while I am sitting here at my computer. I didn't have a care in the world. Or if I did, it was about a boy or something else stupid. Come back to me dear summer! I did not appreciate you as I should have.

Summer 2008. Ignore my crazy face. 

4th of July 2008 when we had missed the fireworks. I only added this because Brian is in it! I like him, sue me. 

At the time these photos were taken, the most important things to me (and probably Lauren and Marina) were as follows:
1. Being tan
2. Getting Lauren into Happy Hour (she was still 20)
3. Frozen yogurt

Happy sunny days my friends! Don’t forget your SPF 30!
This post is about college summers when we actively neglected out part time jobs and internships. Still to come? A post about childhood summers!

Spring Break is maddening.

Why did school give us spring break? I understand summers off for the teachers to regain sanity (so they don’t turn to the darkness and become evil). I also see why there is a winter break. It is so people can stay inside all day and not freeze to death for a couple weeks in the winter. You may think it is because of the holidays but you are wrong! It is a fact that *75% of the time, Hanukkah doesn't even fall during winter break! I call that holiday discrimination.
*Not a real statistic

But seriously what is the point of spring break!? It is just rude and discriminatory for us non-students/ non-parents of school age children. It is like it is expected that everyone just DOES spring break and escapes the remaining cold to go soak up some sunshine. As a non-student with a normal job, I say “down with spring break!” Even other normal people without kids, who have normal jobs, act like spring break is a real thing for everyone! Tell me, why does my news feed contain multiple people my age going on vacation to Palm Springs, Hawaii, Texas, Mexico, Bend and Whistler? They all have normal full-time jobs! Wouldn't they rather go at a less expensive time? AKA not spring break? You aren't in college anymore. It is time to let go.

One thing I do miss about the good old days of spring break is the awesomeness of the MTV spring break special! Remember the crazy guy VJ with long hair who was always chewing on a toothpick or cherry stem? He wore flares and platforms… must look him up. He was totally on something. I wonder if he is still alive. Songs that I recall from MTV spring break performances: the Thong Song by Sisqo and Tipsy by J-Kwon. Really mom? You let me watch that stuff!? Actually, you probably had no idea. I was sneaky like that. I don't really want to link either of those dirty videos. So instead, this video of J-Simps is hilarious! From the gauchos to her movements while singing... yikes. Enjoy!

I used to love spring break for obvious school escaping reasons. I assume I will love it again at some point. But for now, since I am bitter and at home, I say no to spring break… and yes to equal rights.

Like how I added that at the end!? I am SO political.

I'm back! Sun Valley and other stuff.

Hello again!

I have been so busy doing important things like going on vacation, going to a wedding, doing laundry and getting a cold. Jealous of those last two? You should be.

Here is some vacation stuff that you may have already seen on Insta. My sister has a fancy camera with good pictures, but she probably won’t share them for like a month… if at all. It’s okay Linds, I think uploading is a hugely annoying task as well.

The Lodge and Baldy

My lovely parents

Dinner at the Ketchum Grill

And from the wedding for your enjoyment:

I posted this even though it is blurry with demon eyes. Why? Because it is hilarious and my legs look crazy tan! 

There was obviously a lot of fun involved in both. Anyway, I’m back in action! Except for this annoying cold.

Hailey on Dwellable

Road Trips and MTV

No, I am not talking about Road Rules. Close though!

Only one post this week because I am going on vacation!!!!! Woohoo! I am beyond excited to kick it with my family, ski and eat. That list is not necessarily in order of importance, but to spare feelings I decided I better type it out that way. (Hint: put them in reverse)

I’ll be here:

This is from the @sunvalley Instagram YESTERDAY! 

On a completely separate note, the trailer for Real World Portland is out. My favorite part is when they show the carpet at the airport. My least favorite part is the rest of it. I can’t help but be slightly annoyed with the quality of the cast and how they will probably make PDX look super lame by spending all their time at Splash Bar and Dirty. At least they were here during an awesome time of year! Hopefully MTV reps PDX in a fab way! It is also likely that our favorite places refused to sign whatever MTV has that forces establishments to take on all liability. I am obviously going to watch the entire season. For many reasons… including seeing if that time we yelled at them from the car makes it on TV! Ha!

Click Here to watch.

I'll be back next week!… maybe. I’ll probably have a vacation hangover. You know, when you are so relaxed from your vacation that it is debilitating. Am I the only one who “suffers” from this?

[1]

Chelanigans

This past weekend I went up to Lake Chelan, WA to celebrate the 26th birthday of one of my dearest friends. We have known each other since age 12, so yeah, we have celebrated a lot of birthdays together. And let me tell you, they just keep getting better! This celebration was no exception… we managed to get into some chelanigans! (That is a play on the word shenanigans. In case you don’t get it. It also happens to be the name of a bar in Chelan, but that is neither here nor there.)

The whole area was majorly smoky due to wildfires, but that didn’t extinguish our good time! (pun intended)

We spent most of the weekend laughing, snacking and wine tasting. You know that sounds like an awesome time! Don’t deny it.

Off we go! 

Roommates! 

The Sassiest vineyard. Hard Row to Hoe

See how smoky it was!? 

Cheers from the birthday girl! 

Off to get my hair done! Oh sorry, did you think I was going to write about the NFL refs? Ha! I crack myself up.