Back in 2011...

Back in 2011 I had this thing called a Birthday where I turned the ripe old age of seventeen. To celebrate this once-in-a-life-time event, my lovely mother decided to take me to the happiest place on earth. No, not Costco, the other one. Disneyland! A few people informed me that seven-year-olds go to Disneyland for their birthdays, I responded with informing them that I had a marvelous time with those seven-year-olds, we went on the tea cups together.
But back to the Birthday celebration-I drove down to Cali on my actual Birthday with Sam (my amazing friend who moved back to Utah this summer. I was thrilled beyond words that her awesome mamma let her come), my wonderful mother, and her friend Amy (who is hilarious. Really-you don't even know). The drive down consisted of non-stop talking (Four girls put in a car together for six hours and they actually talked? I know, weird.), 80's movies, and a plentiful supply of snap-pea crisps and Pretzel m&m's (try them, you'll thank me later), courtesy of Sam.

That night we went to dinner at the Elephant Bar (quite delicious) and my mother surprised us with tickets to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Globe Theater, it was a great fun...especially when we got there late and literally had to walk across the stage in the middle of the introduction to get to our seats...and then walking into the dressing rooms, which were filled with half-naked people, while we were just trying to find the loo (My life is filled with moments like these).

Anywho, the next day we were off to Disneyland, where we had had a magical time. Sam even got me an official Disneyland Birthday badge, but it was only one birthday badge and it just wouldn't cut it since I was 17, so we spent the rest of the day collecting 16 more birthday badges (until a cashier remembered us getting one earlier in the day and Sam realized that they could have black listed our pictures and would kick us out if we tried again. Sam is nothing if not precautions. ;) We got up to 15 birthday badges). It was a fabulous day :).

Did I mention that we didn't get ready the first day? 

That night (you might want to note that our feet were seriously killing us. Are shoes may have been way cuter than mum and Amy's but at the end of the day we have killed for a pair of those ugly grandma shoes) we had a fabulous evening of pillow fights, swimming, watching the Disneyland fireworks while swimming ;), Nutella hunting, and having a late night dinner at Mimmi's (which was conveniently located right across the street).

On the way back from the pool we ran accross this single white shoe (which we dubbed the Cinderella shoe, because that is what you do when you find a lone white shoe at disneyland.)

Here is the poetic little shoe: 

The next day was California Adventure, which I had never been to. A few high-lights from the day: 

• Hollywood tower of terror (5 times. Also, Sam didn't tell me anything about it so you can bet I was freaking out.)
• The best corn dog I have ever had (not that I have them very often)
• The swings (Yes, I did feel like I was in Madeline)
• Sitting by a darling little English family on 'Roarin Rapids and having the little 5year old grab my toe after looking at it with confusion (I was wearing Viabrams at the time ;)
•  Screemin'...over and over again ;)
• Snacking on the Peanut Butter and Pretzel m&m's  the whole day long
• Oh, and having one of the most fierce days of your life.

Here are the captured memories from this spicy adventure:

Then we ended off the weekend of Birthday festivities with the sunset at the beach and a lovely dinner on the board walk at Ruby's.

I really don't think I could have asked for a better way to celebrate the mile marker of 17 years living. It was a simply splendid :)

An (unnecessary) explanation.

       The title of this blog is pretty self explanatory, 'a walk down memory Layne...,' but I will expound upon it anyway....because that is how I role. The reasons why I chose this particular title was (1). (the obvious reason) my name is Layne, and (2.) I want his blog to be about my 'walk' through life and all it encompasses. The experiences, epiphanies, thoughts, failed sewing projects, late night giggles, answered prayers, Nutella runs, awkward moments, spicy new recipes that everyone should try (or not try), and everything else that falls in-between. I want this blog to be me, documented through pages. So here is to starting a new walk, or in my case, a new documentation of a walk, in 2012. Cheers.