tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24777774716149195422024-03-13T03:30:06.516-07:00A Day in the Life of HaleyHaley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-69610622946085705742014-12-13T12:37:00.000-08:002014-12-13T13:53:44.429-08:00Here's Why I Hate You.<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate you, Facebook.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A recent post in my Instagram feed, that I completely disagreed with, prompted this post. So let's get to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's take a look at my Facebook page shall we?</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0FKM7avuss0/VIyRh3ZqoCI/AAAAAAAAAoA/ViMyPtXQNyE/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-13%2Bat%2B12.20.05%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0FKM7avuss0/VIyRh3ZqoCI/AAAAAAAAAoA/ViMyPtXQNyE/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-13%2Bat%2B12.20.05%2BPM.png" height="636" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's me. This is what you see. I have 469 friends. I have pictures of my husband, my pets, and me. I'm married. I live in Boise. Cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's some more.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3Hz3oGfi30/VIyT0AACTrI/AAAAAAAAAos/W3K2qaTqlq0/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-13%2Bat%2B12.30.02%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3Hz3oGfi30/VIyT0AACTrI/AAAAAAAAAos/W3K2qaTqlq0/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-13%2Bat%2B12.30.02%2BPM.png" height="640" width="518" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are pretty much the only things I post about. My family & pets, my Etsy shop, and the occasional luxurious experience like going on vacation or buying a new eyeshadow palette.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking at these regular posts, let's gather some descriptions about me. What would you use to describe me? Vain because I've posted pictures of myself? Attention seeking because I'd like business for my shop? Spoiled? Selfish?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or maybe you're nice and you think, "She looks nice today," or "I'm glad she had fun on vacation."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the problem with Facebook. You don't know anything about me. Unless you've spent a great deal of time with me, you just don't know. So let me introduce myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's skip over everything you see on Facebook, because I'm going to assume you already know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here's some facts about me. Who I am as a person.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> I cry about EVERYTHING</b>. I'm not exaggerating. To give you an idea, here's some for-real stories about times I've cried:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried the first time I went to church after we moved. Not because I was touched by the messages, but because I went home feeling like no one liked me. No one introduced themselves, no one said hi. I made a comment in class that got a "hm." in response. I cried. I cried a lot and vowed to never return. (I was being a bit dramatic at that point. I've gone back to church. No worries.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried at the pet store when we were about to leave without buying Brutus, my guinea pig. We bought him, and then, of course, I cried because he needed a brother, so we bought Phil too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cry when I don't get enough sleep. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cry when I don't eat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried again about church because one sweet lady came up to me and talked to me, and remembered from my talk in sacrament several weeks prior that I had two guinea pigs. She asked how they were doing. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm crying now. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried about <a href="http://youtu.be/mHSaHRd4Q48">this video</a>, when a bunch of Canadians started singing our national anthem when the microphone went out.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cry at every Disney movie. Every single one. Except Frozen, which I hated. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cry about anything military related: sweet stories of soldiers surprising their families, soldiers dying, soldiers losing limbs. Those are all very emotional for me. I can't watch Wounded Warrior Project commercials. They put me in a funk for a few hours.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cry every time I call my dad. Most of the time I can get it together enough to actually make the call. I just love my dad a lot. I love my mom too, but we talk way more often so it's a little easier to pull myself together. :)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cried inconsolably for 2 days straight after my guinea pig Rocko died. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You get the point. I cry about everything.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I spend a lot of money</b>. But what you don't see on my Facebook is the money I spend on others. Simply because I'm trying to do what Jesus has asked and be humble. You don't need to know what acts of service I have performed. Just know that I make a conscious effort to spend MORE time and MORE money on others than on myself. "<span class="clarityWord" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> nothing </span><span class="clarityWord" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">be done</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> through </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">strife</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">esteem</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> other better than themselves." (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/philip/2?lang=eng">Phil. 2:3</a>)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>My life isn't perfect.</b> Neither is yours, I will assume. I've suffered with my fair share of sicknesses, afflictions, trials, and downright crap. Did you know I have PMDD? It's a hormonal disorder. I've had it since my freshman year of high school. It accounts for many of the other problems I've had. I won't get into it now, but it makes a HUGE impact on my life. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I'm naturally pretty shy.</b> It takes a lot of internal effort for me to say hello to someone. I'm very much an introvert. I get overwhelmed in large groups of people for long periods of time. Sometimes the shyness does come off as stuck up or rude. I swear I'm trying. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I spend a majority of my time trying to make others happy. </b>I'm a natural people pleaser. I love sending flowers and gifts and cards and whatever else I think might be a good idea. I'm always on the lookout for another person I can cheer up.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, let's not miss the point. This isn't about me, and how I feel that everyone needs to get to know me better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My point is, I hate social media for the fact that I can't see these things about YOU. Many of you don't post about your struggles or trials. You don't want to be that person. I want you to tell me your struggles. I want you to be REAL. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate social media for stirring up my feelings of anger or jealousy. Like, what the heck is that? Why in the world is my computer screen making me feel so negative? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate social media for the way it can tear up families, relationships, and friendship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate social media for the way I feel judged anytime I post anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hate social media for the way that I feel like I can't have an honest interaction. Everything I do is laced with "underlying meanings". "She liked this so it must mean that she supports the Affordable Health Care Act." "She commented 'You look beautiful,' but in high school I swear she started that rumor about me." "He didn't like my status, but I thought we were friends." "This picture only got 5 likes. Is there something on my face that I missed?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get real! I know I'm not the only one thinking these things, even subconsciously. My goal is to make my Instagram, & Pinterest about ME. It's FOR me. It's not for you. Sure, have fun following me. But these social media devices are for me to document MY life. I pin things on Pinterest I like. I post photos on Instagram that I like. And I am so grateful that I have a place where all of these little parts of my life are safe in one place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook on the other hand, that's partially for you. The things that are for you are the things I've posted to uplift, inspire, motivate, whatever. You never know when your post can make a difference in someone else's life. I'm friends with this incredible fitness guru, who has inspired me to start working out again. The other day she said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">It's funny how our minds constantly make up excuses on why we CAN'T do something." </span></span>You know what that post made me do? That post made me run two more miles than I wanted to. TWO MILES. That's an incredible feat for me. So the things I post, I'm hoping make a difference in one of your lives.<br />
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<span class="s1">Stop deleting your selfies and post 'em! I love selfies!! I think people are so brave when they can say, "I look so good today that I'm going to post a picture for the world to see." Because you DO look that good. And let's be honest, I even post the ugly ones. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My whole point is, LET'S BE REAL! If you like to work out, tell us about it. If you have a passion for singing, please, post a video of you singing your lungs out. If you like taking pictures, I don't care if you're not a photographer, post those pictures. Your social media accounts are YOURS.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to see more real people. That's my point. Social media degrades us into words and pictures, while we are so much more. We are incredible beings with incredible potential. Don't judge me by my Pinterest, Instagram, & Facebook, and you can bet I will return the favor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love social media for the power it has to make a <b>positive</b> impact on the lives of others. </span></div>
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Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-50239138628964869092014-11-04T22:11:00.001-08:002014-11-04T22:18:03.244-08:00When God Says You're Done, You're Done.This post is personal. It has a lot of personal experiences. One about my love life, one about my career(s)... I'll tell you that right off the bat, so you're not shocked later in your read. :)<br />
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I believe in God. I believe in prayer. I feel like I have a good relationship with God. I know that He knows who I am. I know that He knows me by name. He cares about how I feel.<br />
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I've learned a lot over my 21 years of life. One of those things being that you don't learn everything you need to learn at church. I know those teachers do their best, but there are just some things that cannot be taught. One of those things is receiving answers to prayers. Part of the reason this is so difficult is because each of us is different. We are more or less sensitive to what God is telling us. We may receive our answers in different ways.<br />
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In my church, we're always taught to ask God to help us with big decisions. He'll let us know which way is right, right? Part of the issue with this was that I didn't know how that answer would be formed. I couldn't tell you how many times I heard, "You'll have a very warm feeling if what you're asking for is correct." What the heck does that even mean?? A warm feeling? I'm always really cold. I hardly ever feel warm. My fingers and toes are freezing as we speak.<br />
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Let me tell you, I don't think I've ever had a "warm feeling" in answer to a prayer.<br />
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And we can't forget the infamous "Open your scriptures to a random page and your answer will be glaring at you."<br />
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Sure, it may have worked for others. It may have even worked for you. But for me, no.<br />
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I want to share with you a few personal experiences, like I stated before, that I took to God to receive an answer.<br />
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The first that stands out the most in my mind happened while my husband Chris was serving a mission in Italy. He'd been out for over a year, and the time was getting closer and closer to his arrival back home. Before he left, we'd decided that we would get married when he got back. We were absolutely sure that we were meant for each other. We were soul mates. In high school we were voted "Most likely to marry their high school sweetheart," and a bunch of 18-year-olds are totally a reasonable source of information. (Well, that was sarcastic, but Chris & I getting married is actually what happened. Hahahaha.) Anyway, we were in the single digits of months left until he arrived home. And I remember the day perfectly when I about had a panic attack while walking back to my apartment from campus. The realization that there were only 9 months left about killed me.<br />
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I was having a pretty tough semester. I started it with 21 credits, and ended up dropping one of my courses because I was too overwhelmed. For an annoying do-gooder perfectionist like myself, I about lost it. I couldn't drop a class! That's what quitters do!<br />
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I'm here to tell you that college is hard. Maybe not just the physical aspects, but the emotional and mental aspects as well! I was drained.<br />
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Anyway, the semester was off to a rough start. I remember being strung thin. I snapped at my roommate quite a few times. We cried together and laughed together. I cry a lot anyway, but this semester was a huge cry fest all the freakin' time.<br />
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Then one night I remember telling her that Chris was coming home in nine months. She was so excited. She always talked about how perfect we were for each other. (Mind you, she hadn't met Chris, but she liked him because I liked him. She was a good support system.) Then I told her that I was having second thoughts. I didn't know that this was the right thing. Well, she being the awesome person she was said something along the lines of, "You need to do what makes you happy." I wasn't sure what that was though. What was going to make me happy? Was Chris going to make me happy? What if he got home and he was "different" like everyone else said, or "didn't like me anymore because the mission changed him." (Special thanks to everyone that said that to me.) So I prayed.<br />
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I feel like sometimes I'm a bit needy and sometimes I beat around the bush. But I remember this prayer like it was yesterday. I said, "Heavenly Father. I have no idea what I'm doing anymore. I am so stressed out. I'm tired of school, and I'm tired of life. On top of all of that, I don't even know if the person that I've loved for the past 8 years of my life is even supposed to be my husband. Please tell me what to do."<br />
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So I waited for the "warm feeling." I got nothing but an impression that I needed to make a decision first. I'd always heard that one too. And this one is a good piece of advice that I will pass along because I do know that this helped me a great deal. Make your decision first. You've been given the agency to choose. God wants you to use it. I decided. I said, "Lord, I am going to date other people. Is this the right decision?" I got a "Sure, Haley! Sounds like a good idea to me."<br />
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I took that answer as, "Yes, date other people because Chris isn't the right one for you."<br />
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So date other people I did. For one whole week. I lasted a week and thought I might die. I was upset and angry. I was mad at myself, and I was mad at God. One kid thought it was a good idea to kiss me. So he did. (It was COMPLETELY unexpected. We'd known each other for a while but I thought I'd made it very clear that we were friends only.) And I was so angry. But I didn't want to hurt his feelings. Though at now at that moment I wish I would've slapped him across the face and stomped on his foot and then spit in his mouth. I was livid. To this day it's still a tender topic, and I don't ever bring it up, and I've suppressed the memory so well that it may as well have never happened. I was angry then, but I let it carry on because I didn't want to be mean. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. So I kept fighting through thinking, "I made the right decision to date other people. God told me I did, so I need to keep dating." I couldn't I just couldn't do it. I was depressed everyday. I was even MORE sad and MORE upset than I had been during that time period.<br />
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You can't date someone (or marry someone for that matter) because you "don't want to hurt their feelings." If it's not right, END IT. Get rid of them. Kick them to the curb. Ok... Sorry. You don't need to be mean, but you do need to move on. If it's not right, go. Leave. Get outta town.<br />
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So after that you can imagine what my prayer sounded like that. "I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WAS RIGHT?! I THOUGHT YOU SAID CHRIS WAS NOT FOR ME! I RUINED EVERYTHING! I RUINED IT! CHRIS WAS THE ONLY PERSON I EVER KISSED AND (INSERT HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED HERE) RUINED IT. I'M RUINED. WHY??? WHY DID YOU TELL ME THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DATE OTHER PEOPLE, AND THAT IT WAS OK FOR ME TO TELL PEOPLE THAT I WAS NOW DATING???"<br />
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I imagined God calmly sitting there listening to me scream and yell and throw my stuff around the room. Then I had this thought come to my mind, "Is this not what you wanted? Is this not what you asked for? You got your answer, did you not?"<br />
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He was right. He always is. I did have my answer. I KNEW without a second of doubt in my mind that Chris was mine. And I was his. We would get married. I was 100% positive.<br />
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During this whole experience (literally less than 2 weeks long. I figured things out very quickly), I was still writing Chris. He knew what was going on. He wasn't too pleased, and there was not much he could do from half-way around the world. But I believe he had faith in God. He knew God would tell me what I needed to hear. I apologized profusely. I felt like I ruined everything. But Chris, being the wonderful man he is, said, "I'm not bitter. I know you needed this experience, and I'm here to support you." It took a just a little while, but we were back to our normal selves pretty shortly after. Back to being Chris&Haley.<br />
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I'm a long story-teller. I've also learned that over the years. I never really realized until I started writing things down. Journaling, blogging, writing letters to Chris. They're all LONG. But, carrying on. If you've made it this far, I'll warn you that there's one more story. I'll try to make it shorter, but I can't make any promises.<br />
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My second experience was more recent. I've been doing traffic control for road construction every summer since I was 14 years old. My dad runs a business out of Idaho Falls and the company travels all over the state of Idaho. Yes, I'm the one that holds the stop sign.<br />
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This past summer (2014) Chris and I were doing road construction together in Bliss, Idaho. It was only an hour commute from Boise, so we were able to head home each night after work. As the summer went on, I felt more and more opposed to road work. I kept thinking, "Where am I going? Am I going to be doing this for the rest of my life?" I kept wanting to explore other options that had a little more potential. So I started praying about it.<br />
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Pause for another lesson I've learned about prayers. When I am praying about a decision, my answers usually occur in the amount of future potential I see in each choice. I'll explain in a minute.<br />
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As I was looking for something other than road work to do, I decided I wanted to try my hand at real estate. I had obtained my real estate license back when I had just turned 19. I took courses during my "off-trimester" of college, and licensed during that same time. I was hoping to use it to help out my mom and the team that she worked for in Idaho Falls. I didn't really do anything with it though, and continued to pursue my bachelor's degree.<br />
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So, back to 2014, with this licensure under my belt, I went job searching. I wanted to work on a team, mainly because I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I would fail if I tried by myself. I just wasn't aggressive enough. I submitted my résumé to two teams in the area. I heard back from one of them a couple days later, and I was invited to interview with her. I knew from the first interview that I wanted to work with her. She was fun and positive and a real go-getter. I knew she would be a great motivator. However, the interview process lasted about 4 weeks. There were many personality tests and other questions I had to answer. But, by the last interview, she offered me a spot on her team! I was so excited. She gave me a couple days to think it over and talk about it with Chris. I also talked it over with God.<br />
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With this experience, I felt positively about the job. I felt excited, and I saw so much future potential! I knew that this was what I was supposed to do. So I accepted.<br />
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Here's what I mean about the future potential being an answer to a prayer. In my first experience, I saw no future potential when I started trying to date other people. Everyone that asked me out, I kept thinking, "Oh, I can't wait to tell Chris about this. *eye roll*" Chris always crept back into my head. We were still writing each other and her knew what was going on. I saw dead ends with every single person that asked me out. I wanted to run and hide from them and never talk to them again. I wanted to crawl under a rock and die there. When I finally knew that I was supposed to be with Chris, it was like I saw the gates of heaven opening. *Cue singing angels.* No, really. I saw our entire future laid out before me. I saw how happy I would be. I saw such a positive outcome.<br />
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So maybe you're like me. Maybe you don't get a warm feeling, and you keep thinking, "Where in the world is this 'warm feeling' so I can know what to do?" Try making your decision first. See how you feel about it. Can you see the potential with one but not the other. I found that one decision made me squirm a little, and when I finally changed my mind I felt immediate relief.<br />
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With the second experience, the lesson I learned was a little different. I saw the potential with this career. I saw myself working for 4 or 5 years, then having a child, and maybe I'd continue, maybe I wouldn't. But the point being, I saw YEARS of the future laid out before me.<br />
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However, a couple months in, I started to get that little squirmy feeling. I'd shove it aside and say, "Uh uh. This is happening. I am doing this, and I am not going to give up. I've been here for only a couple months. Only a loser would quit now!"<br />
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Well, the job was 100% commission based, and I will be candid with you right now. In the 3-4 months that I worked there, I made $699.58. Split between, let's say 3, months, that's a little over $233 a month. That is not a lot. That was one commission check. I loved that job so much though. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving. I kept fighting the squirmies for about 2 months. Then one day, I prayed to God to give me the courage to keep going. To not quit. I wasn't a quitter. I wasn't a loser. I couldn't quit my job after only 4 months. I told everyone on Facebook about it. I kept posting about how much I loved it. It would be totally embarrassing to be "THAT person" that jumped from job to job. I tried my very hardest. But the way that this team was set up made it very, very difficult for me to earn an income. I received 25% of a 3% commission. So the check that I received for $699.58 was one commission check off of the sale of a home that was $145,000. This team just wasn't busy enough to keep me busy. To keep an income flowing. I knew that road construction for Chris was ending quickly, and soon we would be without any flowing income. I had to earn money, and I quickly saw the future potential for this job becoming more and more of a dead end.<br />
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Here is the lesson I learned from this. Well, a few lessons.<br />
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One, situations change.<br />
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Two, if the answer to a prayer is "Yes" it doesn't mean "Yes, this experience will turn out exactly how you imagine it to." This one has taken me a long time to learn. Just because it's the right decision, does not mean that it will continue to be the right one forever. God was telling me that I was done. I learned what I needed to learn. I didn't need to continue. I needed to move on and learn another thing. I cannot tell you how much I learned from those 4 months in real estate. I learned things that I will remember for the rest of my life. Things that will HELP me for the rest of my life. I learned so much more than market statistics and home features.<br />
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And the last thing I learned is to never judge a person. I've known this one for a long time. And it's one that I work very hard on. I would hope that no one thought, "Oh she quit her job. She can't make a decision. She has no idea what she's doing with her life. She's failing. She should just get a "normal" job. She needs to stop trying to sell things. Why hasn't she had any kids? Blah, blah, blah." You never know the whole story. You just don't. So I've learned that, because I'd love the courtesy and support from others in ANYTHING I do, I give that same courtesy and support TO others. I know how hard it is to be a person. Being a human is tough work. You've got to get up every single morning and DO stuff. Hard stuff. Stuff you want to do, and stuff you don't want to do. And on top of doing stuff, some of you may have trials and hardships that no one really understands. But, again, I know God is out there. I know he knows what will make you a better person. When he says you're done, you're done. You don't need to keep fighting for something that you need to move on from. Life is all about learning and growing, about becoming a stronger, kinder person. Pray. Pray often. Ask for help. Ask for support. Ask for guidance. Remember that answers come in many different ways. It's not always the warm feeling. And no one can really tell you how YOU receive answers. It's something you'll learn for yourself.<br />
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I hope that this was not just a huge ramble fest. I hope I was able to help even just one person. Thanks for making it this far...<br />
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<br />Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-37379687926731208992014-07-17T11:15:00.001-07:002014-07-17T11:29:41.713-07:00Bursts of MotivationI've been feeling very motivated lately, and I wanted to find something where I could log my goals. I looked around Pinterest and on a few blogs for a "printable" that would fit my needs, but nothing seemed to stand out. There were some very cute ones that were just too much. I didn't want to log my daily exercise and every appointment I had that day. I do have other tools I use for those things so my search was for something very general. I couldn't find what I was looking for so I decided to try my hand at creating my own! I just wanted to share it, in case it fits someone else's needs as well!<br />
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I needed a sheet that I could simply write my daily goals and weekly goals for one week. I didn't want to have to write "Exercise for 30 minutes" 5 times in my weekly calendar. It seemed excessive. (But I still wanted it written down!) Nor did I want to write "Get the oil changed" on one particular day because I wanted to be a little more flexible with my schedule, but still find a time to accomplish the task. They always say that when you write down your goals, you're more likely to accomplish them. So here it is! A weekly goal chart. I made one for myself, and one for my husband as well. :) I plan on putting mine in a frame and using a dry erase marker on the glass so I do not have to keep printing the sheets out, but feel free to share! Pin it to Pinterest, share it on Facebook, print a thousand copies for yourself and your friends. :)<br />
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<br />Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-10051384741137903192014-04-05T16:40:00.001-07:002014-04-05T18:18:47.155-07:00Please Be an Advocate for Children (I Beg You)This post will be pretty long. I can feel it. Please bear with me though.<br>
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I was inspired to write this post because today my family was in town. I was with my husband Chris, as well as both of my parents, my sister, her husband, and her baby. My dad thought it would be fun to take baby to the zoo to see the animals there. We perused for a while going cage to cage, looking at everything (though I must say, baby was unimpressed and fell asleep about halfway into our expedition). Toward the end, we were standing near a Komodo Dragon, and a woman holding a young child (under two) was standing near us. The child looked at the reptile and screamed (half out of excitement and half out of fear is what it sounded like). The mother immediately turned to her child and yelled, "Stop it!" A few seconds later, the child screamed again. The mother then hit the child on the arm, and the child started to cry.<br>
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It hurt... both me and the child. I will explain.<br>
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I'm sure you've seen a situation like this before. Some parents believe that spanking is an effective form of discipline. I personally don't. Any way I look at it, you are hitting a child. Someone who is much smaller and weaker than you are. My parents spanked me as a child when I misbehaved. I rarely got spanked, because my parents taught me well beforehand. Spanking was a last resort. I do not believe that this mother was abusing her child, I just think that there are better, more effective ways to handle these situations. I've had many discussions with professors and classmates about appropriate discipline, and I just wanted to share some solutions that I have known to be effective in both solving the problem and teaching the child. I have a bachelor's degree in child development, so this information is credible, though it is partially mixed with my own beliefs.<br>
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1. <b>Think about who you are disciplining for, you? Or your child</b>?<br>
If the spank is merely to keep your child quiet, it is inappropriate. The root word of discipline is disciple, which means <i>to teach</i>. Discipline should be to teach. The child should not fear discipline. You are their role model. They absolutely adore you. You feed them, clothe them, and give them shelter. You give them hugs when they fall down. You comfort them when they cry. If you are disciplining for <i>your </i>sake, you are doing something wrong.<br>
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2. <b>Check your attitude</b>.<br>
Are you angry? Are you visibly upset? If this is the case, you may not be effective in your discipline efforts. You may behave in a way you will later regret. This is where spanking becomes an issue. If you spank while you are angry, you are much more likely to inflict a punishment that does not match the misbehavior. Spanking should only be done when you have your emotions under control. You should never spank your child when your emotions are running wild.<br>
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3. <b>Do you have an audience?</b><br>
Your child may just want attention. Find a private area where you can talk to your child. In the situation at the zoo today, if the mother had ignored the screaming the first time, the child probably wouldn't have screamed again. There are times where it is appropriate to ignore misbehavior.<br>
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4. <b>Emotion Coach!!</b><br>
I can't emphasize this enough. It is tried and true. Emotion coaching is a method created by John Gottman. You can find his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Emotionally-Intelligent-Child-Gottman-ebook/dp/B005HF2VI2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396739955&sr=1-1&keywords=john+gottman+emotional+intelligence">here</a>. He writes many other books on marriage and relationships as well. If I can describe emotion coaching in one word, it's "validation." When your child is upset because his favorite toy is broken, put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel if your laptop suddenly broke in half? Tell your child you know how he feels. Tell him that you would be sad if your favorite toy broke too. Brian Regan has a great sketch <a href="http://youtu.be/hEf_DsbkaTA">here</a>. (It's only 45 seconds, he's pretty funny). <div><br></div><div>I could talk forever on emotion coaching, but another one I hear a lot is, "Just be happy." Tell me, if you are upset or angry and someone tells you to "just be happy," do you automatically perk up, smile at them and say, "Thank you! I was sad, but I am happy now." No. Chances are you want to hit the person sitting across from you with all of your strength. Your child feels the same way. So do not tell them to "just be happy" when they are upset. <br>
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5. <b>It's ok to take a minute to breathe.</b><br>
One bit of advice I've heard from one of my professors is that it is okay to take a minute to breathe. If your child has been crying for ten minutes, and all of your efforts to console him or her have failed, you may find yourself quickly losing patience. It is okay to set your child in his or her crib for a moment and take a minute to breathe. Your child will be in a protected area where he or she cannot harm him or herself, and you can shut the door for, let's say, 5 minutes to take a quiet moment. Allow yourself to regain your patience. Say a prayer. Make a quick phone call to your partner or spouse. Lay down on your bed. Read a novel for five minutes. When you feel ready, you can return to your child and begin your efforts again. Chances are they are just tired, and they will probably fall asleep.</div><div><br></div><div>6. <b>Children are concrete thinkers.</b></div><div>Piaget is one of my favorite child theorists. He has four stages:</div><div>• Sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The first three stages happen from ages zero to 11, then the last begins at age 12. The last stage is when they really begin to understand abstract thought. They understand it to a small extent before then, but not much. They do not understand "don't" or "stop", so by telling your child, "Don't run into the street, they are mostly hearing, "Run into the street." What is "do not"? How do you explain that? How do you explain zero? It's hard for even an adult. Turn your words into positive phrases. Instead of saying, "Do not run into the street," say, "Please stay on the sidewalk because playing in the street is dangerous." Instead of saying, "Do not hit your brother," say, "Please keep your hands to yourself." It's easier for your child to understand. It does take a lot of practice, especially in pressing moments, but once you get the hang of it, it comes naturally out of habit. </div><div><br>
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, "You don't have any children so you have no idea how to parent." I know that I don't have any children. That doesn't mean I'm incompetent in any way, shape, or form, just like popping a child out does not make you some sort of super parent. It is important to be as educated as possible about these things, so please do not disregard my words, simply because I do not have any children. Please join with me in being an advocate for children. It's possible that you may be the only hope for some children. Seeing you may be the best part of their day! Smile at children. Ask them how old they are. Ask them if they like their teacher. Ask them if they did anything fun today. Be their friend. Be kind.<br>
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I just wanted to close with a belief very close to my heart. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a member, I believe that each of us humans here on Earth have a very loving and merciful Heavenly Father. I believe that he watches over each of us. He knows each of our fears and our passions. He knows our names. I believe that we lived with Him before we were born here on Earth. I believe that we learned from Him and prepared ourselves to come to Earth. And not for one second do I think that our Heavenly Father hit us to teach us. I believe that He used His words to teach us, that He told us He loved us and asked us kindly to be better, to work harder. I believe that we felt sorrowful for disappointing Him and promised to be better the next day.<br>
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It's the same here on Earth. We are responsible for the little kiddos we have here. We can use our words to teach. We can tell our children that we love them and that we want them to be better tomorrow. And I can almost guarantee that they will feel sorrow, and promise you that they will try to be better tomorrow. Parents these days are either too quick to anger, or too busy to care. Please take time for your children. Take time to teach. Take time to tell them you love them. You made them, after all. (Or in the case of adoptive parents, you chose them.) Love each child. Protect them from harm. </div><div><br></div><div>I understand that most of you try so hard to be parents. You feel you are doing your best, and I believe you. Parenting is hard. I've seen it in so many people. I've seen it in my sister, my friends, and of course, my own parents. It is not easy. But Heavenly Father has entrusted you for a reason. He knows you can do this. Thank you for making it this far in reading my post. Please feel free to comment. I would love to hear what all of you have to say. I appreciate those of you who have supported me in my beliefs and ideas. </div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-3569341333721694532014-02-10T12:29:00.003-08:002014-02-10T13:54:19.718-08:00The Big Day! (And other stuff)It's been almost a year since my last post, and my entire life has changed quite a bit since that day. For one. I'm married. That's different than last year. But we'll get to that in a bit. I just wanted to document all of the stuff that's been going on since that day and tell a little bit more of my story.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 26, 2013</span></b><br />
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Chris came home after serving a full-time mission. As the story was told to me, he arrived home at the airport, left his bags with his mom and siblings, and his dad rushed him to the stake center to get released. There was a fireside starting at 7, so Chris wanted to make it there before that. He was released, and he drove to my parents house. He had spoken to my mom beforehand (and I knew because she had been acting funny the whole week) and had asked her to be upstairs taking pictures out her bedroom window. So the whole experience was documented. Anyway, Chris came honking up the road and I ran out to greet him. He gave me a bouquet the size of a small child that was absolutely beautiful. We talked for a bit, and he said he had a question for me. I tried not to get my hopes up (hoping that this would the THE question), after all, he had just gotten home. Literally an hour before this. But sure enough....<br />
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After two, very long, very difficult years without him, I was finally engaged to my best friend. The love of my life. My better half.<br />
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For those of you who have waited for your missionary and happily married him, you probably know what I'm talking about. You know that people are just mean. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "You won't marry him," and, "He will get back from his mission, and he won't want you anymore." (These are real things I heard. I promise people have actually said this to me.) Oh, and we can't forget about, "The mission changes you. He won't be the same person when he gets back." How dare anyone tell you what you should do with an eternal decision without you asking for advice in the first place. I never asked for anyone's opinion about the matter. Many statements were coming from people that I had known for 10 minutes. What an inappropriate thing to say. You're not being nice by "warning" them. I don't care if you knew your roommate's brother's wife's sister's niece who waited for their missionary and it didn't work out.<br />
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Just......ssshhhhhh.<br />
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For those of you waiting for your missionary with complete loyalty, don't let these people crack your armor. If you have known them for a long time, they just become a better version of what they used to be. They don't really change at all. They just get better. I will admit that some days I would believe these people. A lot of these statements came from people that I believed were friends of mine. No friend of yours will ever discourage you from getting what you want. People are mean. Plain and simple. Not all of them. I certainly found a few angels along the way who helped support me in my decisions. Hahaha who gave me a roll of toilet paper, and set a trash can next to my bed when I was too sad to get up. (My roommate did this. She is a saint.) It makes me laugh now because I'm just so happy to be out of it. Anyway, wrapping up the rant. People are mean. Don't listen to them. Follow your heart. Trust the Lord. I promise He won't lead you astray. Simple as that.<br />
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Fast forward.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 27, 2013-August 27, 2013</span></b><br />
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Wedding planning.<br />
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I absolutely loved our wedding. It was exactly what I hoped for. Here's a few deets and we'll get into the rest later. Our colors were shades of coral and tiffany blue. The theme was "shabby chic."<br />
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<b>Invitations:</b><br />
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Each invitation was handmade. I sell them <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/178978573/beautiful-handmade-customized-wedding?ref=shop_home_active_1">HERE</a>. My mom, Chris, Chris's mom, myself, and a few others slaved away at these for a while. Since our wedding was planned for August 28, 2013, we had about 0 days to get these invitations out. So we worked as fast as we could. I wouldn't have changed anything about it though. The invitations ended up gorgeous. I couldn't love them more. Each one was different. I showed just a few examples above of the ones we had left over, but we had about 40 different covers to rotate through. The inner papers were also different in each one. We were trying to keep with the "shabby chic" theme, which is what inspired the different papers. All of the inserts were the same. Each invitation received 5 engagement photos, a formal announcement, directions to the venue, and a registry card. They all tied shut with a ribbon.<br />
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<b>Wedding dress:</b><br />
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I got my dress from <a href="http://theperfectdress.com/index2.php#!/HOME">The Perfect Dress</a> in Utah. This shop was fantastic, but their alterations lady was absolutely unreal. She was incredible. My dress was originally strapless. And to this day I still cannot tell you how she built up sleeves without a trace of the previous neckline. I took a few mediocre pictures just because. Later I'll have pictures of me actually in the dress.<br />
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It was actually really fun buying a strapless dress and altering it because I basically got to customize the top of it. I chose a sweetheart neckline underneath the lace boatneck. And I wanted half-sleeves, not cap sleeves. So that part was all really fun.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 28, 2013</b></span><br />
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Yay for the big day! :D<br />
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Hahaha getting ready in the backseat of my mom's car. </div>
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Married.</div>
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<b>Finally.</b> </div>
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Look how handsome my husband is! I'm married to that guy. Forever. :) </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 31, 2013</span></b></div>
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Having a reception a few days after the actual wedding was the best idea ever. (Credit to Chris.) There's no way we could've done both in the same day. For those of you that have, you must be superhuman. Props to you. Seriously. Anyway, the reception was held at my parent's house as a half-inside, half-outside ordeal. My mom made an insane amount of delicious food. The decor was lovely. Everything was just as I'd hoped. </div>
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One part I wanted to highlight in particular is my beautiful sign-in book. My sister Amber makes these, and she actually sells them, so you could have one at your wedding too! I'll attach a link to her shop at the bottom of this page. And trust me, you will want one. I actually look at this sign-in book quite often. I love it because honestly, I would probably hardly ever look at a book with just signatures in them. They are nice, and they do the job, they just aren't my style. This book actually has all of our engagement pictures in it, and plenty of room for people to write a little message. The guests were able to look through it as they walked in, and see all of the photos. (Amber also makes adorable baby books if you're at that step in your life!) Obviously, I don't have a picture of every page, but you get the point. One other thing that made this book special is that Chris actually made the paper on the front cover. He was able to do that on his mission. It was just another sentimental touch. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously how beautiful are these details? Amber did amazing. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought this bookmark was adorable. </td></tr>
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Another detail I can't forget were the large letters that were placed in the sign-in armoire with the book. My other sister, Holly made these and I know they were quite labor intensive, so I'm eternally grateful. They ended up looking fantastic! Holly and Amber are both very crafty. Holly also has a shop where she makes all sorts of cute things so I'll link her as well!<br />
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I can't thank everyone who helped out with our wedding enough. It was truly the best day of my life. We've been very happily married for almost 6 months now. (Why couldn't time move this fast while he was gone? I will never know.) I love Chris more each and every day. I'm so proud of everything he does. Stay tuned for more blog posts of our married life! Thanks for reading!</div>
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Amber's Shop: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaperLuxuries">PaperLuxuries</a></div>
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Holly's Shop: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Craftimania">Craftmania</a></div>
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My Shop: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/buttonsbowsandbling">Buttons, Bows, & Bling</a></div>
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Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-29209053927769607952013-03-30T10:40:00.002-07:002013-03-30T10:44:17.827-07:00The Best Healthy Cookie Pie You'll Ever Eat. Dear bloggers...<br />
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I've fallen in love with a cookie. It's delicious. It came from this link: <a href="http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/05/31/deep-dish-cookie-pie/">Deep-Dish Cookie Pie.</a><br />
However, I've made several modifications to make it sugar-free and full of fiber. Here is the recipe as I have modified it.<br />
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<ul>
<li>2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans)</li>
<li>1 cup wheat bran (can be found at health food stores)</li>
<li>1 tablespoon chia seeds</li>
<li>3 tbsp coconut oil</li>
<li>1-2 tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>2 tsp baking powder</li>
<li>1/2 tsp salt</li>
<li>~ 1 cup sweetener</li>
<li>1-3 oz. package of hershey's sugar free chocolates (chopped, dark or milk works)</li>
<li>~1/2 cup water</li>
</ul>
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I understand some of these items may be a little foreign, as they were to me before my dad introduced them to me. You can do your own research about each of them, but here is what I understand about some of them:</div>
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<b>Wheat bran</b> is basically pure fiber. I use it to add structure to the cookie pie as the original recipe used oats. The reason I replaced the oats is because they are high on the glycemic load, which I'm trying to keep down. To be honest, it looks a little like Rocko's cage bedding. But it's edible. </div>
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I replaced the applesauce with <b>chia seeds</b> because chia seeds are a super food, full of vitamins and more fiber. Once they are hydrated they also serve as a wet ingredient. </div>
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I use <b>Truvia</b> for the sweetener to make it sugar-free. I have used the splenda/brown sugar blend, but this is not calorie free. Either way works so I'd rather not fill up on the calories. </div>
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You can use <b>Hersey's sugar-free dark chocolates</b> like I do, or if you can find sugar free chocolate chips, more power to you. </div>
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All right folks. Here's how it works.</div>
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<li>Place all the ingredients (except water and chocolates) into a food processor. (I use the Ninja and it works like a charm.) </li>
<li>After several good pulses, I like to pour the pulsed ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix them up. </li>
<li>Then place them back in the processor so that everything is evenly processed. I add the water as needed to liquify the ingredients a little more. You may use less than 1/2 cup, 1/2 cup exactly, or more. Just enough so that the "dough" is thick but wet looking. </li>
<li>Pour your thoroughly processed "dough" back into the mixing bowl and throw in your chopped chocolates or your chocolate chips. </li>
<li>Grease a round cake pan (I think mine was 8") </li>
<li>Pour your ingredients into the pan and smooth out the top. Throw that in your oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. </li>
<li>Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes. Then tip it onto a plate. Cut into 8 pie slices. </li>
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According to my own calculations followed exactly as I made the recipe:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9w7SaZyKx2Y/UVci6mhyYjI/AAAAAAAAAS8/cFivoRk1Lys/s1600/IMG_2248.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9w7SaZyKx2Y/UVci6mhyYjI/AAAAAAAAAS8/cFivoRk1Lys/s640/IMG_2248.PNG" width="372" /></a></div>
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Please enjoy. These are delicious both warm and room temp. And delicious the second day as well. Just store properly. :) Enjoy!</div>
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a dietician, nutritionist, doctor, nurse, or any food professional of any sort. Everything above is based off of my own opinions and my own daily diet. Consult your own doctor or dietician if you have any questions or concerns. Obviously "healthy" is really determined by your own needs. This pie is simply healthier than a traditional cookie pie made with foods full of sugars and starches. </div>
Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-13828882149608639822013-03-21T18:40:00.000-07:002013-03-21T18:45:39.985-07:00The Glycemic Load DietI just have to tell everyone about this book I read.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-56jFaE1vbT0/UUuuJqRIguI/AAAAAAAAASs/LtJ5WfPzrJ0/s1600/Glycemic+load.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glycemic-Load-Diet-Rob-Thompson/dp/1609610539/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363914071&sr=1-2&keywords=the+glycemic+load+diet">here</a> to see this book on Amazon.</td></tr>
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I loved it! This book just plain makes sense. It is written by Dr. Rob Thompson. Lately I feel like I've been gaining weight even though I've cut calories, been exercising, etc., so naturally I was feeling a little frustrated. My dad ordered this book a week ago and him and my mom have been following it ever since. They suggested that I read it as well. Basically, this "diet" (if you can even call it that) eliminates all starches, processed flours, sugars, etc. It focuses on eating carbohydrates in good forms (fruits and vegetables). He explains that our ancestors rarely had any starches. They had meat from hunting and fruits and vegetables from gathering. Starches were not a part of their diets. Over time, starches became very inexpensive fillers, so more and more food companies started putting them into their foods to save money. However, our bodies were not accustomed to handling this much starch, causing a "glycemic shock". This causes our bodies to secrete enormous amounts of insulin, causing us to gain weight.<br />
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In this book, Dr. Thompson also explains that approximately 40% of people are insulin resistant. Not necessarily diabetic, just more sensitive to starches causing these huge amounts of insulin to be secreted. He says if you are overweight, you are likely to be insulin resistant, and most people don't even know it. By eliminating starch, you no longer have cravings. Basically, to follow this book, you try to eat meals that have a glycemic load of under 100 (a potato has over 200, just to give you an idea of how much starches affect your body), and you try to keep your daily glycemic load under 500. This keeps your blood glucose level out of the "shock" range and your insulin is secreted at a normal rate.<br />
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A 1-1/2 oz slice of whole wheat bread has a glycemic load of 170, while 2 slices of 1" squares of semi-sweet chocolate has a glycemic load of 25. Pretty crazy, eh? So this diet allows you to eat chocolate! (<a href="http://www.lowglycemicload.com/index.cfm?ID=88">Lowglycemicload.com</a>)<br />
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I've been following this book for 4 days now. I feel so much better. (You've probably noticed my 87 billion cauliflower Pins on Pinterest. Who knew you could disguise cauliflower in so many ways?! My dad makes awesome fried cauliflower "rice".) Anyway, that is my vague summary. I suggest you read it whether you're fit, overweight, or somewhere in the middle like me. :) Even if you just have an interest in health and nutrition. It was a really good read. It only takes about 2 hours total to read. It includes a huge list of the "glycemic loads" of several foods, and several recipes. I have just felt so enlightened. Hahaha.<br />
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Read this book.<br />
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I'll keep you updated on how I've been feeling in the next couple weeks.Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-32371664152973369232013-03-02T23:31:00.001-08:002013-03-02T23:31:50.945-08:00Saturdays.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saturdays are indeed special days. I often go home because it's only like 40 minutes away. Sometimes...I spend the nights on Fridays here...And I look like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--L7qDVR0Lw0/UTLnXy6f97I/AAAAAAAAAO8/pKNaofB64F0/s1600/IMG_0900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--L7qDVR0Lw0/UTLnXy6f97I/AAAAAAAAAO8/pKNaofB64F0/s320/IMG_0900.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In response to Reagan's comment, "You know people can SEE that <br />
picture right?" Yes Reagan, that's the point. </td></tr>
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And then I wake up looking like this:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U996R1H6aqE/UTLldk0PSYI/AAAAAAAAAO4/LH_rTj7OJTc/s1600/IMG_1902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U996R1H6aqE/UTLldk0PSYI/AAAAAAAAAO4/LH_rTj7OJTc/s320/IMG_1902.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
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Hahaha I hope you're enjoying all of these heinous photographs. Anyway...Saturdays then proceed to providing me with lots of Diet Coke...and today in particular I was blessed with a pan of peanut butter bars provided by Reagan. I accidentally ate most of the pan. I feel it wasn't my fault that these particular bars were a nutty, chocolately combination of delicious. And it was my birthday 3 days ago... All right. It was my complete lack of will power. I would stand up from my workplace, cut off a smallish piece and go back to my workplace. Then I would eat the said piece....then it would be gone. And I would be sad...and so I would return back to the pan. This process repeated itself until I hated myself...Then I continued anyway. Here's a link to these delicious morsels:<br />
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<a href="http://mybakerlady.com/2012/01/16/reeses-peanut-butter-bars/">Peanut Butter Bars</a><br />
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Ok, I am cutting to the best part of today. So my sister Reagan and I like to take pictures. :) We're not professionals or anything but we think it's pretty fun to take pictures of each other and I also have an extreme love of editing. So here are some of the results that came out of today. (Notice my attractiveness range goes from heinously ugly [see above photos] to...not. And Reagan is just always beautiful.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of my favorites. :) She is<br />
just too dang cute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJDlsB0eUv4/UTLxzLQY0RI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/3toWn643klM/s1600/IMG_0920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJDlsB0eUv4/UTLxzLQY0RI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/3toWn643klM/s640/IMG_0920.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And sometimes she is just plain stunning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One thing you should know is that, while I like just regular ol' editing that make pictures look good, I also like funky editing that make pictures look cool. I love Adobe Lightroom. It has some presets that are really fun. And it's also just a good editing tool. Here's an example of some of the fun editing I like to do. :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkrygLeRVYw/UTL0z2nVUeI/AAAAAAAAARM/gG7cOY_1HjQ/s1600/IMG_0931-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkrygLeRVYw/UTL0z2nVUeI/AAAAAAAAARM/gG7cOY_1HjQ/s640/IMG_0931-2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a_jL7ODU0_o/UTL0z4zURUI/AAAAAAAAARQ/-GjUeDettCc/s1600/IMG_0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a_jL7ODU0_o/UTL0z4zURUI/AAAAAAAAARQ/-GjUeDettCc/s640/IMG_0931.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I couldn't decide which I liked better. They were both quite different so I chose to put both up. Here's an example of some "normal" editing. Chris got me the red glasses for my birthday. I'm rather fond of them. :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHCZziKDpGE/UTL1NjR60UI/AAAAAAAAARc/G5v3QTZcn3M/s1600/IMG_1020-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHCZziKDpGE/UTL1NjR60UI/AAAAAAAAARc/G5v3QTZcn3M/s640/IMG_1020-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sepia tones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8xov8v3XcE/UTL1ODhMpbI/AAAAAAAAARg/mUaw-MFgugk/s1600/IMG_1020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8xov8v3XcE/UTL1ODhMpbI/AAAAAAAAARg/mUaw-MFgugk/s640/IMG_1020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color. I feel like I was very "in my element" here. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It amazes me how different you can make photos look from the originals. Here is an example of a before and after.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obVkE3s1CF4/UTL2zaRSNWI/AAAAAAAAAR0/Lygbu4SYE-0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-02+at+11.26.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="403" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obVkE3s1CF4/UTL2zaRSNWI/AAAAAAAAAR0/Lygbu4SYE-0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-02+at+11.26.01+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used a similar filter as above, but I edited some of the colors. I increased the brightness, saturation, and exposure of my eyes using the brush tool as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's another example of a before and after:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_g59L98ncdw/UTL3L65_KOI/AAAAAAAAAR8/2zrhO6BbPbk/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-02+at+11.26.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_g59L98ncdw/UTL3L65_KOI/AAAAAAAAAR8/2zrhO6BbPbk/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-02+at+11.26.28+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo was so much fun to take. I had Reagan flip her hair on the count of three and this is what we got!<br />It's different, but I love that. And she was able to maintain her sassiness throughout the flip. ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24FnQdzg1EY/UTL4Ryel78I/AAAAAAAAASI/JKgRN7EoBM0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-02+at+11.36.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-24FnQdzg1EY/UTL4Ryel78I/AAAAAAAAASI/JKgRN7EoBM0/s640/Screen+shot+2013-03-02+at+11.36.26+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's another before and after of Reagan. A little more normal editing for this one. I love Reagan's sassiness. :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's one last photo:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZGSTfuyaxo/UTL4iDAxtKI/AAAAAAAAASQ/uZWxxDENFCM/s1600/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZGSTfuyaxo/UTL4iDAxtKI/AAAAAAAAASQ/uZWxxDENFCM/s640/IMG_0944.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sepia tones again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Let me know what you think!<br />
<br />
Like I said, Saturdays are always fun. I love being able to see my family. We've always been close because we are quite a small family. :) And because we kind of like each other. I guess that's important too. ;) But I also love Rocko. I get to see him every weekend. Here is a picture of him.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b96Zx6nsv8E/UTL4_1lVazI/AAAAAAAAASc/KEI66iNsay8/s1600/Rocko.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b96Zx6nsv8E/UTL4_1lVazI/AAAAAAAAASc/KEI66iNsay8/s400/Rocko.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's majestic. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He's getting old. Haha. But today I took him out of his cage to play with him and his little fingernails were WAAAY too long. So my mom had this master plan that we would put him back in his cage and I would bribe him to climb up on the bars of his cage to eat a carrot while my mom clipped his nails that were on the bars. So I went to get him a carrot. And I have never had to hold onto a carrot so tightly. Guinea pigs really enjoy food. And they suddenly have teeth of steel when they want to steal away food. Unfortunately, Rocko won the fight, got his carrot, and only had one nail clipped. I should have known. We had this guinea pig named Browney (yes, spelled with an "EY") years ago...he was really fat and we used to feed him Ritz Crackers and Nilla Wafers. I would try not to feed him the entire cracker...but he was somehow able to grab onto the cracker and pull without breaking it, and he managed to get the entire cracker into his cage and devoured it before I even realized what had happened. He was talented. Anyway...Have a wonderful Sabbath and a wonderful first week of March! :DHaley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-71720028615727591022013-02-27T23:48:00.002-08:002013-02-27T23:57:11.837-08:00The Big Two-O!That's right world. I turned twenty. A whole two decades. Four half decades. Five more years and I'll be a quarter century old. Ok...that was going to far. I'm not that old. But let's face it. I'm the worst blogger on the face of the planet. I haven't blogged since I got that super awesome purple dress with the pockets that I still love to wear all the time. But anyway, that's beside the point. I'm sure you've all established that I'm the worst at blogging by the lack of blog posts. So I didn't need to tell you that. Let's get to the good stuff. So today, February 27, 2013, is my birthday. Let me just tell you how amazing the people in my life are. First, my grandfather emailed me last night with two iTunes gift cards. He also sent a package from Amazon, which was an awesome Bose stereo that I can plug my iPhone right into. He's the best. And that's that. My wonderful parents let me go shopping for clothes, which is one of my favorite things to do. And I even got that gift early because I went shopping in Boise last weekend while we were in town for the Carrie Underwood concert. That was a good weekend. Here is a picture of Reagan and I waiting for the show to begin.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntwPrML45Uw/US8B5e9L0_I/AAAAAAAAALw/SU7408IRKro/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntwPrML45Uw/US8B5e9L0_I/AAAAAAAAALw/SU7408IRKro/s320/IMG_1864.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reagan is beautiful. I look childish. But I was still 19<br />
so give me a break. ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We also went out to dinner tonight. Continuing, my beautiful friend Rachel gave me this awesome pair of yoga pants that have super cute blue details. She always knows what I like. :) And Elise was Superwoman for the past few days. This girl has been working her tail off making cupcakes and decorating for my birthday, all while preparing to leave for Europe for a whole month! She is awesome. Here is a picture of me with one of her super awesome cupcakes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhdEwM6MkII/US8CyH10PHI/AAAAAAAAAL8/C-CXp2nVafc/s1600/IMG_1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhdEwM6MkII/US8CyH10PHI/AAAAAAAAAL8/C-CXp2nVafc/s320/IMG_1960.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It already has a bite taken out of it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They were delicious. She made yellow and chocolate cakes with vanilla and chocolate icing. Those are also her super cute pink pompoms in the back behind my head. :) Let's face it, my roommate was just a rockstar this week. It was my turn to teach today for the after-school program. The kids today were the sweetest. Everyone wanted me to sit by them, they all told me happy birthday, and I got a handful of pictures that they had colored. Kids sure know how to make you feel good. Then, there was my sweet boyfriend/kinda fiance 'cause we're planning a wedding except he's still gone, Chris. That boy got me glasses with the cutest frames! They are a pinkish red.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCriNPyL9mw/US8Dt6Qft4I/AAAAAAAAAMM/O6StY593OdQ/s1600/IMG_1945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCriNPyL9mw/US8Dt6Qft4I/AAAAAAAAAMM/O6StY593OdQ/s320/IMG_1945.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had just woken up when I put them on.<br />
No, I'm not embarrassed of my face. Or<br />
hair. Or anything else that looks publicly<br />
unacceptable about this photo. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He also got me a beautiful coral scarf. He's a good scarf picker-outer. I've gotten a lot of Italian scarves over the past year and a half and I've enjoyed every single one of them. He also plotted this little extravaganza.............<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUxGSl9AF1g/US8EMnygjgI/AAAAAAAAAMU/x_Edb_cc5sQ/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUxGSl9AF1g/US8EMnygjgI/AAAAAAAAAMU/x_Edb_cc5sQ/s320/IMG_1962.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are six HUGE bouquets of flowers. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unreal, right? So he gave his mother "strict instructions" that I had to have a bouquet that had stargazer lilies from him. This is his bouquet:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHBTwhawcJo/US8EmBhpJ_I/AAAAAAAAAMg/4nrQg412llQ/s1600/IMG_1949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHBTwhawcJo/US8EmBhpJ_I/AAAAAAAAAMg/4nrQg412llQ/s320/IMG_1949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So pretty! Some of the lilies haven't bloomed yet.<br />
It will be a wonderful day when they do. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And then, the other five bouquets were from each of the girls in his family.....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wsQ3i6szm0/US8FgJZXpNI/AAAAAAAAAMo/hBRkc7iIKk4/s1600/IMG_1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wsQ3i6szm0/US8FgJZXpNI/AAAAAAAAAMo/hBRkc7iIKk4/s320/IMG_1950.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly, his sister</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_YAz2Ua780/US8FgBl6TeI/AAAAAAAAAMs/n7JG4gcFek0/s1600/IMG_1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_YAz2Ua780/US8FgBl6TeI/AAAAAAAAAMs/n7JG4gcFek0/s320/IMG_1951.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jami, his sister-in-law</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zi0OCvdVu8Q/US8Fgqp0HzI/AAAAAAAAAMw/opmTtZAiIII/s1600/IMG_1952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zi0OCvdVu8Q/US8Fgqp0HzI/AAAAAAAAAMw/opmTtZAiIII/s320/IMG_1952.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shellie, his mom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UcDDVN2DP1o/US8FhZI1VKI/AAAAAAAAANA/2d_Epvsfmlc/s1600/IMG_1954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UcDDVN2DP1o/US8FhZI1VKI/AAAAAAAAANA/2d_Epvsfmlc/s320/IMG_1954.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salem, his sister-in-law</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M9iFVcD3sEs/US8FhMU6NZI/AAAAAAAAANE/fJd2CjZy9Ww/s1600/IMG_1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M9iFVcD3sEs/US8FhMU6NZI/AAAAAAAAANE/fJd2CjZy9Ww/s320/IMG_1953.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber, his sister</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Isn't that just the sweetest thing? I cried a little. I'll admit it. :) And then, to top off the entire day, so many of my wonderful friends came over and sang happy birthday and Mike even caught this picture....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6THGkAbIo7Q/US8GunTFjpI/AAAAAAAAANk/AmywQeCXyQc/s1600/IMG_1958.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6THGkAbIo7Q/US8GunTFjpI/AAAAAAAAANk/AmywQeCXyQc/s320/IMG_1958.PNG" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be honest, I'm not sure what to think of this. What<br />
on Earth was I doing?? (Banner in the back: Elise)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But it's ok because I got this........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhfNTO3l1tHpNGiOpUPBkjmNvullL4Kypx7-Cyd3BKArlfke-jtq8bsLchLoCRVHa4PzgyJ9bFe7LwhLnXvw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
That boy stuff three whole cupcakes in his mouth at the same time. Mike sure is a treat. During the party, people also signed a poster board card. :) I got some really nice notes. And Nate came over and brought me a delicious Cocoa Bean cupcake that had a pink candle in it. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jowT5kK1HI/US8HomqbQtI/AAAAAAAAANs/8dPZAzF1B4o/s1600/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jowT5kK1HI/US8HomqbQtI/AAAAAAAAANs/8dPZAzF1B4o/s320/IMG_1963.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
After people started to trickle out, it was just Elise, me, and these four handsome men.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjKu-Vavwes/US8H4gTw5kI/AAAAAAAAAN0/e8ld93NDq5I/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjKu-Vavwes/US8H4gTw5kI/AAAAAAAAAN0/e8ld93NDq5I/s320/IMG_1959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look like a shrimp. Josh, Brian, Mike, and Joe. (Left to right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We went to McDonald's and got Shamrock shakes. I had never had one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9QfZX824Mo/US8IZ3q8AAI/AAAAAAAAAN8/mRbrF69LNyw/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9QfZX824Mo/US8IZ3q8AAI/AAAAAAAAAN8/mRbrF69LNyw/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian talks too much...we still love him, but that is why his is <br />
still mostly full. Josh also let me have his cherry. That is true friendship. <br />
And he bought mine, because he's awesome like that. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then Brian raced Elise home while driving my car. Needless to say, between his driving expertise and my car, we won. Then we spent the rest of the night watching Duck Dynasty. I'm not sure why. I don't really care for the show, but apparently everyone else did. I was just perfectly content being in the presence of such awesome people.<br />
<br />
Marisa, my beautiful roommate even posted this lovely collage of us on Instagram. She has a package for me that I will get soon. :) She's in Australia at the moment just soaking up the sun.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sBbfD8Ld8M/US8K6O87oxI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/U102WY4S4rc/s1600/ris+and+hay+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sBbfD8Ld8M/US8K6O87oxI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/U102WY4S4rc/s320/ris+and+hay+collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gator jacks indoor picnic, thong cookie night, FHE in<br />
the summer time, and the Color Vibe 5k. What would<br />
I do without this girl?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I, of course, cannot forget about all of the awesome friends that sent me texts, called, or posted on my Facebook wall. You all are incredible. Thanks for making me so happy today. :) I appreciate each and every one of you.<br />
<br />
February 27, 2013 was an awesome day to say the least. I have never felt more like a princess. I love birthdays but this one just felt especially special. Thank you to everyone that made this day so perfect.<br />
<br />
<br />Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-62758206745828425712012-06-10T12:12:00.001-07:002012-06-10T12:39:30.684-07:00Good things come to those that wait...Please watch this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/31673669">Two Years</a><br />
<br />
It is one of the sweetest most touching things I've seen in a while. So I'm just sitting here alone in my apartment soaking in my own pitiful tears. Gosh how I miss Chris. Some days, most days actually, it is so easy. He's so happy and I'm happy and time just flies. Then there are days like today, where I remember how many days there are left, rather than how many have passed. It seems like an eternity more and then he will finally be home. I cannot express my love for him enough. We've been through so much together. I've known him since I was eleven. Hardly more than a child. And I fell in love. You may think I'm foolish, irrational even, but I know. I know that he is for me. He has blessed my life in more ways than I thought I ever deserved. I am so grateful that he is out serving the Lord. He is blessing the lives of many more. The Lord has blessed me during this time as well. It has been so easy most of the time. In fact, my mother had a harder time with his absence than I did. I would start to talk about him and she would leave the room or just burst into tears. It was actually quite funny. I thought I was the unstable one. ;) His family was a great blessing during the first week he was gone. I spent more time over there without him there than I did with him. Haha it was actually a little funny. But their home has begun to feel like my own. I love his family so much. They are selfless, giving people that have invited me into their lives and made me feel like a part of them. They continue to love me and invite me over, contact me, send me his emails, and do more for me than I could have ever imagined. School has also kept me busy. I get caught up in all of the things going on in Rexburg, Idaho, which, I must admit, isn't much. But, even still, I keep myself busy. I'm so happy that he has this wonderful opportunity. I know he is growing, just as I am. I know he'll be back soon. Until then, I'll continue to press forward, trusting in the Lord. For all of you waiting for missionaries, Heavenly Father will make it easier on you. He will help you know what to do during this time. If you haven't figured it out already, I love Christopher Aaron Roisum. He is a wonderful young man. I hope that each of you find your "Chris" one day.<br />
Love,<br />
Haley<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UISBNInPMks/T9TyskArLOI/AAAAAAAAAJc/9r6l7tZUPx0/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UISBNInPMks/T9TyskArLOI/AAAAAAAAAJc/9r6l7tZUPx0/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another summer day--2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dB04UtRlIN8/T9TytlwmiRI/AAAAAAAAAJk/NGeE1ivYH6I/s1600/DSC_0230_pp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dB04UtRlIN8/T9TytlwmiRI/AAAAAAAAAJk/NGeE1ivYH6I/s320/DSC_0230_pp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nIOGnll22sU/T9Tyz1WyjSI/AAAAAAAAAJs/1tvemxDNtKI/s1600/P1311337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nIOGnll22sU/T9Tyz1WyjSI/AAAAAAAAAJs/1tvemxDNtKI/s320/P1311337.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWxZCbpv28E/T9Ty4pkdp-I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/LBD-o7TdGns/s1600/p9070026copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWxZCbpv28E/T9Ty4pkdp-I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/LBD-o7TdGns/s320/p9070026copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eGwkJnrFbk/T9TzATzHaeI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/X_NRCRlHUCk/s1600/pa100905copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eGwkJnrFbk/T9TzATzHaeI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/X_NRCRlHUCk/s320/pa100905copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homecoming Royalty 2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-21806042937316309222012-05-30T18:59:00.003-07:002012-05-30T23:12:56.354-07:00Road Construction Has Begun!Hello all.<br />
It's almost summer time.<br />
The weather is warmer.<br />
The sun is shining.<br />
The tank is clean!<br />
And road construction has begun.<br />
I would first like to proclaim my love for my wonderful job. I love it so much. Why? Because it's the greatest. You get to stand and stare at angry drivers all day long while you get flipped off, cussed out, hit on, and whistled at. Also, you get awesome tan lines like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1iKgo1F8Es/T8bLxM3zheI/AAAAAAAAAIU/jGYrVS0rMKs/s1600/DSC00033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1iKgo1F8Es/T8bLxM3zheI/AAAAAAAAAIU/jGYrVS0rMKs/s320/DSC00033.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cheated a little. This picture is from last summer, but<br />
you get the point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, if you, like me, are slightly allergic to the sun, you get hives. Like this:<br />
<br />
Just kidding. That picture is disgusting. :)<br />
<br />
You also get really quite dirty.<br />
<br />
And you lose your mind a little bit and decide that a pile of ants is the coolest thing you have ever seen. So, you take a picture of them:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GbUdX22BApQ/T8bNPzkAflI/AAAAAAAAAIw/brf8sMiQxy4/s1600/IMG_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GbUdX22BApQ/T8bNPzkAflI/AAAAAAAAAIw/brf8sMiQxy4/s320/IMG_0058.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, there are many ants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
You also get to wear this sexy outfit called a hard had, safety glasses, and a reflective vest. </div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsUAgfMOGmg/T8bP3yYC7kI/AAAAAAAAAI8/Nh-E8Nh4vQY/s1600/Flagging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsUAgfMOGmg/T8bP3yYC7kI/AAAAAAAAAI8/Nh-E8Nh4vQY/s320/Flagging.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt the blow fish face was totally appropriate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br />
You also are allowed to park under important signs because... Well because you're important! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5W5AkcEu60/T8cLu0u7JUI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/zJvjy2BV6eE/s1600/car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5W5AkcEu60/T8cLu0u7JUI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/zJvjy2BV6eE/s320/car.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Well drivers. Be careful out there. And please, please be nice to the flaggers. They really aren't trying to make you miserable I promise. In fact, we are only trying to keep both you and the construction crew safe. Please don't speed through the construction zones. When a flagger is holding a slow sign, please slow down at least a little bit. And don't be rude. There is something about being in cars that makes people feel like they are invincible. We are people too. Just remember that. :) Love you all. Have a wonderful day and travel safely this summer!</div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-50335352470825782222012-05-27T19:54:00.002-07:002012-05-27T19:54:26.686-07:00Memorial Day Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It has been oh so long. I am a terrible blogger. I praise all of you out there that keep either a journal or blog of some sort frequently. Good work. So I will just update all of you on the status of everything. So, as you know, or perhaps you do not, this weekend is Memorial Day weekend. My heart goes out to all of those that may be grieving during this time. I am also forever grateful for those that have fought and are still fighting for the safety and security of this wonderful country. I've always been very patriotic at heart, yet I feel I don't voice it enough, if ever at all. I'm somewhat quiet when it comes to opinions that contradict others, though my mind and thoughts are so incredibly loud. If only I could express that well. I feel so blessed to be in such a wonderful place. Heavenly Father has been very very good to me, allowing me to live my life here. I would feel very prideful if I did not express those feelings at this time.<br />
<br />
I feel odd now transitioning into something so different. It seems a little selfish. But here is what has been happening. School is going well. This is such an easy semester and I am grateful that I have had so much time to do what I love. I have been able to spend much time being with my roommates and my friends. It seems like we are always busy doing something new. We have been big on Sunday dinners this semester. We thought perhaps we would scare away our guests, but they just keep coming back every Sunday. One of my roommates, Shaina, has a tradition in her family where the first time a guest comes over to her house for dinner, the guest must entertain them somehow after the meal is finished. So we have implemented that same tradition in our apartment. Every time a new guest has dinner here, they must do something to entertain us. We've had things from a person lighting his hand on fire to a full on skit with different people playing another's arms. It has been so much fun. The meals have also been fantastic. And occasionally we will add an activity that goes with the meal. For instance, for one dinner, Shaina and I wrapped a bunch of random utensils, like a blender bottle whisk, a potato masher, a Tupperware lid, a goblet, etc. Then, we did a Christmas gift exchange type thing with all of the utensils in the center. Of course, none of the guests knew that they were soon going to be eating with these "gifts". So after everyone sat down and was situated with their gifts, we all opened them and then announced that these were the utensils they were to eat with. To add to the fun, we all sat on the floor in a circle and then tied our wrists to the person sitting next to us. Anyway, Sunday dinners have definitely been a highlight of my semester.<br />
<br />
Some other activities that have been happening include:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLw8tMLYqtU/T8Leao5cdaI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Ftk4F-c4xWw/s1600/Hiking+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLw8tMLYqtU/T8Leao5cdaI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Ftk4F-c4xWw/s320/Hiking+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking "R" Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMO_fk-DVrE/T8LfobrzdfI/AAAAAAAAAGI/1yUt4BOUeck/s1600/Running+Stadiums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMO_fk-DVrE/T8LfobrzdfI/AAAAAAAAAGI/1yUt4BOUeck/s320/Running+Stadiums.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running Stadium Laps<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E8WYZXa6OvM/T8Lf0JD9FZI/AAAAAAAAAGY/BacUg8siPIU/s1600/Cutting+Zachs+Hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E8WYZXa6OvM/T8Lf0JD9FZI/AAAAAAAAAGY/BacUg8siPIU/s320/Cutting+Zachs+Hair.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting Zach's Hair<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pc8CFkVtM3w/T8Lf_kzN33I/AAAAAAAAAGg/zkIbXbbw9mU/s1600/BWW.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pc8CFkVtM3w/T8Lf_kzN33I/AAAAAAAAAGg/zkIbXbbw9mU/s320/BWW.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Eating at Buffalo Wild Wings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It has been a great semester to say the least. Marisa (pronounced Mer-EE-Sah NOT Mar-iss-ah) also had family pictures this weekend in Utah. Ol' Gilroy just wasn't going to make the drive though. Gilroy is Marisa's car. He has been struggling. So I offered to drive her and CJ and April down. And oh what fun! Here is some of our adventures from this weekend:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jIWWhYCFcls/T8LiNc8ySlI/AAAAAAAAAGo/FGX9mD0ags4/s1600/In+and+Out.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jIWWhYCFcls/T8LiNc8ySlI/AAAAAAAAAGo/FGX9mD0ags4/s320/In+and+Out.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating at In and Out Burger with Strangers. :) This was a lot of fun. Of course,<br />when we got there it was jam packed and no tables were available. So we waited <br />around for one to open up, and a kind man saw us waiting and told us he was<br />about to leave and that we could have his table. So he left and we took over. Then we<br />saw these nice boys waiting for a table and asked them if they would like to join<br />us. It was quite enjoyable. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6N1mvmQLiUU/T8Lisp8Bz8I/AAAAAAAAAGw/BUCaflcQ4A0/s1600/shopping+at+city+creek.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6N1mvmQLiUU/T8Lisp8Bz8I/AAAAAAAAAGw/BUCaflcQ4A0/s320/shopping+at+city+creek.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went shopping at Nordstrom at the City Creek Center. Nordstrom is my<br />very favorite store for all of those that were unaware. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIIQmo5mdgw/T8LjAeo_NFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/1AlEglFALYs/s1600/WAKE+UP.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bIIQmo5mdgw/T8LjAeo_NFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/1AlEglFALYs/s320/WAKE+UP.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also woke up looking really pretty. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjgNMt-nqJo/T8LjQlBB1TI/AAAAAAAAAHA/q_Pju7MOevY/s1600/Coral+Dress.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjgNMt-nqJo/T8LjQlBB1TI/AAAAAAAAAHA/q_Pju7MOevY/s320/Coral+Dress.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also bought this coral dress. I love this color. It was a must.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, one of the best parts of the weekend:<br />
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8o9hu0nrW18/T8LjepXWWqI/AAAAAAAAAHI/RGewTl6df08/s1600/Photo+on+2012-05-27+at+19.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8o9hu0nrW18/T8LjepXWWqI/AAAAAAAAAHI/RGewTl6df08/s320/Photo+on+2012-05-27+at+19.37.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dress.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ok. This picture is not the greatest, but the dress is! Here is the story behind this beauty. We were shopping at Nordstrom Rack. And I pulled this dress off the rack because I was super attracted to its color. It looks black in the photo but it is actually a really pretty eggplant color. So I pulled it out and it looked kind of ugly. But I saw great potential and decided to try it on. I will admit, it looks a bit like a sack, but I fell in love with it! I just can't express my love for this dress. It is a situation very similar to the leather jacket. So I decided to buy it and I wore it to church today. As I was sitting, waiting for an interview with my bishop, Malia, my other beautiful roommate, said, "Oh! Your dress has pockets too! That's cool." And I about died from elation. I was so excited! I immediately stuck my hands in those bad boys and just smiled. Pockets in dresses are one of my favorite things. It just made me so happy. So I've just been having a great day. :) Oh and also, my FHE brother, Nate dropped by. Without invitation. Contrary to what most people live by, I LOVE when people drop by unexpectedly just to hang out. It makes me very happy. So I was very happy to see Nate. So I gave him one of these:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0HbAQz8Agc/T8LmpM-2S_I/AAAAAAAAAHU/2_qt5Rk6iGk/s1600/cookies.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0HbAQz8Agc/T8LmpM-2S_I/AAAAAAAAAHU/2_qt5Rk6iGk/s320/cookies.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haley Brackett's Famous Cookies<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nate was having a hard time focusing on the conversation while eating....but we understood. If you haven't had one of these cookies, call me. I will make you one. If you call me tonight, I've still got a few left. :) Nate also was telling me a story about how he was asking this girl in our ward if she knew who I was and she asked, "Is she the really pretty one? Like REALLY pretty?" And I just...my heart melted. That was the sweetest thing ever. Telling me I'm pretty is like one of the best compliments in my opinion. You will immediately be my best friend because I will think you are the sweetest person in the whole world. Thank you to everyone who has already said that. I love you. :) Ok world, for now, that is my life. I appreciate all those that read and/or follow me. :) Have an absolutely wonderful Memorial Day tomorrow and don't forget to thank the Lord for the people that are fighting for us and the blessings you have just from living here in America. Love you all.<br />
Love,<br />
Hay <3<br />
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</div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-15889738833052087652012-04-05T19:21:00.002-07:002012-04-05T19:21:51.000-07:00It's been a while...Hello friends. It's been a while since I've blogged. I must say I'm not the best at keeping up with this thing...but I try. I would just like to proclaim my love for eBay.com. First, I must say that I am the queen of eBay. Let me just explain my past experiences...<br />
I have been selling things on eBay forever. Since I was about 13. Pink sweats resell very well.<br />
So I bought this pair of yoga crop pants a few years ago at Victoria's Secret when they first came out. When they first came out, they were only $24.00. Amazing right? Now you can't even get their yoga shorts for that much, and those are about a quarter of the fabric. Anyway...I had two $10 off coupon, but I couldn't use them at the same time. So I ended up getting one pair for about $14. And then got another pair a few days later for the same price. Fast forward to the present...well...a few months ago. Those pants were getting a little old. I hardly wore them anymore. So...eBay it is. :) I auctioned both of them off. One for $29 and the other for $27. I don't know who wanted to pay that much for used pants...but more power to them. So, I made $28 and got very good use out of those pants.<br />
Next example...<br />
About a year ago, Dillards was having a massive clearance sale, with an additional 25% off of all clearance items. I found a beautiful Coach purse that was marked down to $100. Normally $198. Plus the 25% off equals $75. So I purchased it, used it up until 2 days ago. Then decided to list it on eBay. I was in a search of a new bag for class, and realized that Coach items have a great reselling price. So I listed my own that I purchased a while back (planning to use the money to buy a new bag), starting the auction at $25. Wow, that is really low, you may be saying. Yes, yes it is. I start all of my auctions out low because then people say "Whoa! That is a super low price." And bid. And then more people bid. And then more. And then it isn't about buying the product anymore. It's about competing with all of the other bidders to win! It's about winning. That is the secret to eBay. I will share that with you. :) So, minutes after I listed this purse (literally minutes, less than 5 minutes) I received a message, asking if I would do a Buy It Now option, and if so, how much? So I decided I would take $100 for this purse if they wanted to buy it right away. I don't really like doing buy it now options because it limits the amount that an auction can go for (another secret). When people form their own idea about how much an item is worth, it will surprise you how much an item will go for. So do not put Buy It Now options on your listings. Well...you can. But I don't recommend it. This was a different case because it was a private message. And they were obviously interested in this item. So I offered $100. And immediately I received a message saying they would take it. So I revised my listing, put it the buy it now option, and they paid for it immediately. I got paid $25 to use that purse. :) So, that my friends, is why I love eBay.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvCh16Wx044/T35THOKiuXI/AAAAAAAAAFo/XzHXWhJgUHY/s1600/EBay_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NvCh16Wx044/T35THOKiuXI/AAAAAAAAAFo/XzHXWhJgUHY/s320/EBay_Logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I stole this logo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EBay_Logo.svg</div>
<br />Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-37867791182463073862012-03-16T21:01:00.001-07:002012-03-16T21:01:53.072-07:00The Best Drink EVER.If you are reading this, you must finish reading, and then make this drink. It is seriously delicious. Who needs hot chocolate when you have this? I found this recipe on Pinterest, so I'll post the link at the bottom. However I did make a couple adjustments. It's called a butterbeer latte, but there is no beer or coffee in it. So don't be fooled :) obviously the butterbeer references the famous Harry Potter drink. So here it is<br />
2 tbsp butter<br />
2 heaping tbsp brown sugar<br />
1 cup milk<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1/2-1 tsp cinnamon<br />
Put the butter in a pan and brown it. Watch very carefully because brown butter can turn to black butter very quickly. Once you have brown butter turn down the heat to medium low, add the brown sugar and whisk until evenly combined. Let that heat up for a minute and add the milk. Heat until it reaches your desirable drinking temperature, add the vanilla and cinnamon, and pour into a mug. You'll thank me ;) <br />
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http://haydenrodgers.tumblr.com/post/8261727464/master-haydens-butterbeer-latte-recipe-so-itsHaley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-8717130515380786282012-03-08T21:57:00.002-08:002012-03-08T21:57:55.106-08:00I Have Successfully Finished My First Week.......of Real Estate school :) Only 4 more to go and I will officially be licensed. :) Well, after I take the test that's scheduled after the course is finished. But you know. :) I might as well tell you why I decided to be a bit ambitious and take these classes.<br />
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1. My mom is a real estate agent. She loves her work.<br />
2. She could always use a little extra help. Bwahaha in a good way.<br />
3. I am off-track at college. Basically, there are three "tracks". Each one goes for about 4 months. As a student you are assigned two of the three. I have fall/spring. Which means I don't have to go to school from January to April :)<br />
4. I am still taking online classes. (That really has nothing to do with real estate school.)<br />
5. Real estate can make you good money if you can do it well and do it correctly.<br />
6. I would be able to work around my own school schedule, unlike a part time job with strict scheduling.<br />
7. Great back-up plan for a job since a Bachelor's in Psych doesn't get you much these days.<br />
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I can't think of any other reasons...but I'd say that is a pretty good list. :) Needless to say, having class Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. poops me out.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fEUanEO0WU/T1mbqqXYo8I/AAAAAAAAAFg/Gbt68EuX0To/s1600/pooped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fEUanEO0WU/T1mbqqXYo8I/AAAAAAAAAFg/Gbt68EuX0To/s320/pooped.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Yes my hair is still long and luscious. It's just pulled into a bun. Don't freak. :)Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-79749367238240315012012-03-06T22:18:00.003-08:002012-03-06T22:18:36.981-08:00Business is Booming. Almost. I finally got my Etsy shop up and running! :D It's buttonsbowsandbling.etsy.com! Check it out! Don't forget that if you don't have an iPhone, I am still totally willing to make you a case if possible! So don't be discouraged when you only see iPhones. Just message me with which phone you have and I will see what I can do! :D Here's a couple that I made today :)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDXOmLIuggM/T1b9gTE8Y3I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/GwGNqunO0LU/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDXOmLIuggM/T1b9gTE8Y3I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/GwGNqunO0LU/s320/DSC_0035.JPG" width="231" /></a></div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-31325646689902684562012-03-04T16:14:00.002-08:002012-03-04T16:14:29.438-08:00I have a new hobby, and a new best friend...Hello my fellow bloggers. I must say that I have had a fabulous weekend. It started when I finished all of my homework for my online classes on Friday (usually everything is due on Saturday), so I conquered procrastination, but not without motives. My family planned a trip to Salt Lake City for the weekend, and I certainly didn't want to do homework while I could be shopping. Who would? Then Saturday morning we woke up early and drove the 3 hours to Salt Lake. I've always been a bargain shopper, and I love great deals and sales, so first we went to Nordstrom Rack. I love that store, because I absolutely love Nordstrom. And Nordstrom Rack is all of Nordstrom's end of season stuff that has been discounted a supreme amount. Sometimes they also have stuff that only the Rack sells, but I'm not usually interested. Anyway, I found...my new best friend...in that store...His name is...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcW4Dt-IIU0/T1P5wwRx4sI/AAAAAAAAADY/dqZ_PtUyWCQ/s1600/leather+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcW4Dt-IIU0/T1P5wwRx4sI/AAAAAAAAADY/dqZ_PtUyWCQ/s320/leather+jacket.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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NEW LEATHER JACKET! :D</div>
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Isn't he beautiful?! I found him...and I had to have him. He also has an asymmetrical zipper, which is something I've wanted forever. And who knew a cow could smell so wonderful?! With that said, I also got a plain white shirt and a summery citrus colored tank top (both obviously not wonderful enough for a picture, but I will thank myself some day for buying them). I know he will pair wonderfully with my spiky shoes that I purchased a few months ago...they are also quite beautiful and one of my favorite pairs of shoes so they go together like peanut butter and ladies. (Talladega Nights. If you didn't catch that last quote.) Here is a picture of those beauties.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5AuFg21JV8/T1P7m17BXyI/AAAAAAAAADg/iXtpYJYXpFQ/s1600/My+spike+shoes%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5AuFg21JV8/T1P7m17BXyI/AAAAAAAAADg/iXtpYJYXpFQ/s1600/My+spike+shoes%2521.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yes. They will be perfect together. </div>
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In other news....</div>
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I have...a new hobby. </div>
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Called.</div>
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Making these phone covers. They fit iPhone 4 and 4S. I can probably do other phone covers if asked. Just request it if you're interested. I am probably going to sell them on Etsy. I will post a link later when I complete more. Some of them have already sold. I'll explain below in the captions. If you are interested in any of these, or have a request and want one specially made, contact me. :) I'll put the estimated prices for each below. While some may look similar in color or style, each is one-of-a-kind, and I plan on keeping it that way, so no one will have your exact phone cover. :) I plan on having them posted for sale within the next week or two. For now, this will just be my gallery. :) </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Por3F_GelZc/T1P-_Gpn41I/AAAAAAAAAEg/esa8FUbcWdg/s1600/DSC02918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Por3F_GelZc/T1P-_Gpn41I/AAAAAAAAAEg/esa8FUbcWdg/s320/DSC02918.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These five. The close ups are down below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnWMc3UANFc/T1P_B8pQAVI/AAAAAAAAAEo/iMZgPDcdrh4/s1600/DSC02919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnWMc3UANFc/T1P_B8pQAVI/AAAAAAAAAEo/iMZgPDcdrh4/s320/DSC02919.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one has turquoise paper overlaid with<br />white lace, coral colored buttons of different<br />sizes and shades, a tulle flower with a button<br />center, and a rhinestone surrounded camera hole.<br />Estimated cost: $20.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIGVrb-lKXs/T1P_FDKDlQI/AAAAAAAAAEw/nKN4n99rImA/s1600/DSC02924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIGVrb-lKXs/T1P_FDKDlQI/AAAAAAAAAEw/nKN4n99rImA/s320/DSC02924.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one has pink and black patterned paper wrapped<br />with tulle, flat backed white "pearls", rhinestones, both in between<br />the pearls and surrounding the camera hole, a tulle bow, tied around<br />a "Love" trinket.<br />Estimated cost: $20.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xou5fKvqBKI/T1P_IFUNbII/AAAAAAAAAE4/I1O8DCkj_p4/s1600/DSC02925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xou5fKvqBKI/T1P_IFUNbII/AAAAAAAAAE4/I1O8DCkj_p4/s320/DSC02925.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink paper wrapped with tulle, rhinestones, swarovski crystals,<br /> and a tulle flower with a button/rhinestone center, with<br />swarovski crystals glued to different parts of the tulle.<br />Estimated cost: $20.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7FXHwlJDe8/T1P_KzQ6MlI/AAAAAAAAAFA/oEkIANq0EYA/s1600/DSC02926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7FXHwlJDe8/T1P_KzQ6MlI/AAAAAAAAAFA/oEkIANq0EYA/s320/DSC02926.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one had turquoise paper, lace overlay, flat<br />backed pearls, rose tinted swarovski crystals, and two<br />plastic flowers.<br />Estimated cost: $30. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-11VB46K7wC0/T1P_NhpieyI/AAAAAAAAAFI/RgqucY4dzbI/s1600/DSC02927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-11VB46K7wC0/T1P_NhpieyI/AAAAAAAAAFI/RgqucY4dzbI/s320/DSC02927.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink paper, lace overlay, swarovski crystals, some not<br />tinted and some rose tinted, rhinestones around the camera<br />hole, two flowers.<br />Not for sale, already sold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae3A5DN55Ao/T1P8t9t8ujI/AAAAAAAAADw/QncWKOrofak/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae3A5DN55Ao/T1P8t9t8ujI/AAAAAAAAADw/QncWKOrofak/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black and white paper, wrapped with tulle, two silk flowers,<br />rhinestones, and flat backed pearls.<br />Not for sale, already sold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnjiBAJLQUs/T1P81gLSGlI/AAAAAAAAAD4/OyoiO73rt1U/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnjiBAJLQUs/T1P81gLSGlI/AAAAAAAAAD4/OyoiO73rt1U/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large off white fabric flower, vintage paper, lace overlay, <br />pink flat backed pearls, acrylic rhinestones, and a lace skirt.<br />Not for sale, defected.<br /></td></tr>
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I would love feedback on these. Please, if you have the time, give me your opinions. :) </div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-62782900484585993252012-02-22T21:02:00.000-08:002012-02-22T21:06:05.213-08:00The Greatest Thing I've Ever Accomplished...Well...Maybe.I'm super excited. I've just completed my newest crafting project, and it is AMAZING!!! :D The background of this project came from inspiration from eBay, you know, my very favorite website. I used to buy these super bedazzled blingy iPhone covers off of there. They were fine and dandy for a couple weeks, but after a while they got dingy and rhinestones kept falling off and so I finally ended up taking them off. Then the other day I was perusing on eBay, looking for a new cover. I found a few, but nothing that I absolutely loved. Well, let me rephrase. Nothing that I absolutely loved that was a decent price. A lot of them are handmade, but honestly, the labor costs are NOT worth $75. That's ridiculous. So.......................I MADE MY OWN! And it's so beautiful. (If you can't tell I'm super proud of this.) Now for the unveiling....<br />
Drum roll please....<br />
Now stop because drum rolls are annoying.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1mnR-qVh_js/T0XGMMymzCI/AAAAAAAAADA/v_2XioHh5HI/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1mnR-qVh_js/T0XGMMymzCI/AAAAAAAAADA/v_2XioHh5HI/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview. The Swarovski crystals surround the flat-back pearls and are <br />
dispersed evenly in the triangle of other embellishments. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKet_ByanTQ/T0XGU05oCqI/AAAAAAAAADI/dhFvtGQrVyw/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKet_ByanTQ/T0XGU05oCqI/AAAAAAAAADI/dhFvtGQrVyw/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a view angled toward the bottom. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ycjRaWUQmU/T0XGdQfUWpI/AAAAAAAAADQ/ztktpoA9E4c/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ycjRaWUQmU/T0XGdQfUWpI/AAAAAAAAADQ/ztktpoA9E4c/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This view is angled at the top of the cover, almost upside down.</td></tr>
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How cute is that?! And these pictures don't even do it justice. It looks even better in person. To me, the pictures make the cover look a little darker than the actual cover. This cover has a lace background, with flat back pearls, large acrylic rhinestones, Swarovski crystals, plastic roses, and a large fabric flower. <b>I am definitely willing to make and sell more of these for those that are interested. </b>Contact me if you are interested and we can talk about it! :)Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-3565543751026427452012-02-16T22:40:00.001-08:002012-02-16T22:42:20.201-08:00Let Us Catch UpHey everyone! It'd been quite a whole since I posted so I figured I would catch up on everything! Yesterday I had the wonderful pleasure of getting my wisdom teeth pulled. To be completely honest, I was terrified. However, once I got in there, they hooked me up to the IV to sedate me. Now from what I've read, sedation puts you into an altered state of consciousness and most people don't even remember the procedure. I, however, was still quite aware of my surroundings and just felt a little sleepy. So it was an interesting experience. All went well though, since I was blessed with only two wisdom teeth, both on the same side. It is a little unpleasant when the pain killers wear off, but with them I can hardly feel a thing! I guess I just got lucky :) I haven't swollen up yet either and I hope it stays that way. My beautiful friend Holly also brought me a delicious Jamba Juice and daffodils, which was so sweet! You can see the daffodils at the bottom of this post. So that's all for the wisdom teeth. I hope to continue recovering quickly. A few days ago, my grandpa asked me what I would like for my birthday since it is coming up on the 27th. I suggested some books for my Nook so he, being the kindest grandpa there is, sent me an E-gift card for Barnes and Noble. How awesome is that?! So I've spent my days recovering reading "Divergent" and I must say I am really loving it! It is part of a series of three books I believe. So, I would recommend it from what I have read so far. Anyway, I best be off for now. Hopefully I get better at blogging. Hahaha goodnight my lovely viewers! <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uZJPZdiX8rc/Tz32cfxs3XI/AAAAAAAAACQ/cKJs18YNTJo/s640/blogger-image-636816910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uZJPZdiX8rc/Tz32cfxs3XI/AAAAAAAAACQ/cKJs18YNTJo/s640/blogger-image-636816910.jpg" /></a></div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-173304542302011782012-01-29T21:27:00.000-08:002012-01-29T21:52:34.600-08:00The Bedtime Protein ShakeHello again! I just thought I'd share an easy way to make a delicious protein shake! I usually make protein shakes with two different types of protein. One is whey protein, which is perfect when you need protein relatively quickly (pre- or post-workout), and casein, which is very slowly released, making it perfect for bedtime or sometimes in between meals. So knowing the difference between the two is pretty important so that each shake meets your own needs. I highly suggest that you research different types of proteins before you start drinking them up. I'd like to take the time to credit my dad with my knowledge about proteins. :) (He's a pretty smart guy.) Ok, so onto the shake! Every night before bed I make myself a casein protein shake. This helps feed my muscles throughout the night (since it releases slowly), keeping them from breaking down, especially since I will be going without food for the next 8 hours while I sleep. To make this shake, you need the following ingredients (feel free to make any modifications if you are opposed):<br />
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1 banana, the browner the better!<br />
1/2 to 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk<br />
1 scoop of casein protein<br />
A dash of cinnamon<br />
Ice<br />
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If you would like to cut calories, I suggest using half a banana. You will still have the banana taste, but it cuts out about 50 calories. I also prefer browning bananas over the greener ones. When they start to brown, like the one above, they begin to taste sweeter, and break down a little easier. I find that the greener ones taste grassy, which makes your shake taste like grass, which is not delicious. Blend the above ingredients in a blender until well mixed. Remember, the more liquid you add, the thinner the shake will be. Depending on your preference of shake thickness, you may want to add less almond milk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please, forgive the dorkiness.<br />
I just love these so much that I feel obligated to take pictures with them.<br />
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Well-ah! You have a delicious midnight snack that is good for you! If you make it exactly the way it is listed above, the calorie count comes out to about 250 calories, give or take a few depending on your banana size. Play with this recipe a bit. It may not be the perfect consistency the first time. Casein is naturally very thick. You can make a shake for before or after your workouts by using this same recipe and swapping the casein powder for whey protein powder (or another faster-releasing protein), and cutting down on the liquid (whey is not as thick as casein). Now you no longer have to do the "stir with a spoon" method of protein. Take a little extra time to blend and you will thoroughly enjoy your protein. :)Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2477777471614919542.post-37030315771873984152012-01-28T23:42:00.000-08:002012-01-28T23:42:47.578-08:00My First Post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello world! I thought I'd try out this blogging thing. To start, I'm Haley! I'm a college student. And I love keeping myself busy. I have a boyfriend who is currently in Italy serving a mission for the LDS church. He'll be home in about 18 months, and I support him 100%.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here he is. Isn't he handsome?! :)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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Anyway, I have an incredible life. I love exercising and I am hoping to really tone up this year! So follow me for recipes to the protein shakes I make. I also love baking! So I'll post some awesome baking recipes as well. I hope you join me on my journey to ultimate fitness. Some other things I love include having my picture taken. Haha not in a vain stuck-up way. I just would love to model, but honestly the only pictures that ever get taken are the one's from my mom. But she takes beautiful photos, so it's a fun experience! <div>
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Like this! Bwahahaha. Just kidding. I took this one morning when I woke up...with my phone. </div>
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Here's two actual pictures. The bottom one was a lot of fun! I have a few like this. The snow was cold but the rose petals were already there! And a perfect match to my coat and shoes. </div>
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Some other things I love include Pinterest and eBay. I LOVE eBay. Selling, buying, you name it. I only buy new items, but I will sell some of my gently used clothing, and make enough money to buy new clothing! It's like I just trade all the clothes I no longer want for brand new ones! And who doesn't love Pinterest?! I find so many great ideas for everything on there. It inspires me. :) Well, there's me in a nutshell, and I hope that you will find this blog worth your while! I hope that you can learn more about me as I embark on this journey we all call life. </div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>Haley Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01015469454239719510noreply@blogger.com0