i know that it's still summertime,

and i should be wishing that i was at the beach --
but today i'm wishing for rain,
so i can fall asleep to it this afternoon.

the hunger games.

started the hunger games on saturday,
finished it on sunday.
and i'm officially obsessed.

i don't know why it took me so long to get onboard with this series,
but i haven't been able to get enough.

is it weird that i semi have a crush on peetah?
probably,
but i do.

also,
because i will clearly finish the second book, catching fire,
within the next 48 hours,
i've been considering picking up angela's ashes after that --
any input?

also,
the girl with the dragon tattoo
another book i've heard so much about,
but haven't had much interest --
what say ye?

i'm twenty-one years of age.

(this picture was clearly taken on my little sisters birthday -
hence, the two candles...but it still fits today)

waking up this morning,
turning 21 on july 21,
i was reminded of something i read a few nights ago:

"almost i fear to think how glad i am"
-ralph waldo emerson


i thought that by turning 21 in twenty-ten, i'd feel so old,
but all i really feel, is really, really blessed.

without further ado...

my little getaway from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

i made another friend video,
which documents our little 4th of july trip.

for some reason,
pulling out my camera 24/7
will always make me happy.

monday mornings

every monday morning,

i can always count on my boss
walking out of his office,
past the front desk --
and before he makes his way to the hallway,
he pauses and asks,
"did you fall in love over the weekend?"

even though my answer is always the same,
it always makes my day.

the 5 loves of my life.

the very first cassette tape i ever owned was:
the beach boys

the very first crush i remember having
(besides jonathan taylor thomas,
who comes in at a close second)
was:
the beach boys

before the dream street era,
my boy band of choice was:
the beach boys

___

so after learning that the beach boys are coming to provo, utah this november,
i officially have one good reason to be excited for the fall.

north by northwest.

I've been waiting all summer to go see North by Northwest
in the park tonight,
mainly because 1. It's an Alfred Hitchcock film,
2. The leading role? Cary Grant.
And 3. There's always a sense of perfection that comes while watching a movie
underneath the stars in the summertime.


Has anyone else seen it?
I've heard several mixed reviews,
but lets be honest -
any opportunity to watch Cary Grant for 90 minutes isn't something to be missed.

(just an afterthought: longest. movie. ever. made.)

total eclipse of the heart.

-my dear friend was married on saturday morning, and even though i wasn't able to attend her reception, i got to see a part of her wedding video last night and i just. about. died. it was so darling in every way, and it reminded me of another favorite wedding video i found online a few weeks ago, which i can't help but share. i fall in love with love every time i watch it.

Megan & Mihir Sunday Wedding 8mm from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.

- speaking of love, my boyfriend justin bieber finally came to town, and this 16 year old kid even made my knees go weak. although i am partially deaf after sitting in a stadium for 3 1/2 hours with 10,000 screaming girls, who somehow found it possible to literally scream after every dance move, song, and smile he made, i have to admit... i found myself one of them several times.

- and since this seems to be all about love today, i might as well include the latest and greatest love of mine: flour girls & dough boys, which is probably the cutest place in af to go get lunch. last summer, i remember making two stops there in one day because i think they probably have the best plain turkey and cheese sandwiches in the entire world... so my advice to all of you? go go go go go.

rope swings and sunshine.

waving flags at the parade, playing with sparklers in a tree house, staying up too late (too many times) and not regretting it the next morning - everything about our little vacation (which came to a grand total of costing $27) was exquisite, and i think it's safe to say that this past weekend could definitely be defined as perfect in every way.

with that being said, my favorite part of the whole trip had to be playing at pineview lake. we stumbled onto this little area by accident, and i'd rank it high up on the list of one of the most magical places i've ever seen: the tree house, the rope swing, the sunshine - definitely worth living over (and over and over and over) again when my time machine is up and running.

weekend getaway.

leaving today for a long weekend of horseback riding,
small town burgers, and fireworks in the park.

happy fourth of july!