tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911762795033700382024-03-05T20:43:03.322-05:00I Don't Make the News, I Just Report It.Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-88051553444062397052012-01-01T23:40:00.000-05:002012-01-01T23:40:49.377-05:002011 In Review...but first, about my signs from God.To say that 2011 has been the craziest, most challenging, and happiest year of my life would be a gross understatement. The truth is, I already knew 2011 would be different somehow, before the year even started. I'm not a psychic by any means, but I had been getting clues since September 2010 that 2011 was going to be a big year.<br />
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<strong>Disclaimer:</strong> I'm not crazy or devoutly religious. I believe in God and the principles of Christianity but this was my first experience with something like this and so the explanation of "signs from God" is the best thing I can come up with to explain it. So don't call me crazy.<br />
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I don't know when I really started noticing the repeat appearance of "11:11" but I would say it was around September of 2010, probably right after my birthday. I just started seeing that number everywhere - mostly on a clock, but a couple of times it was my total at a restaurant or something like that. It just seemed like every time I looked at the clock, there it was - 11:11. It happened in the morning and in the afternoon when I would randomly think <em>what time is it?</em> and there it was. Coworkers would stop by my desk to chat for a minute and then ask me what time it was - and you guessed it, many times it was 11:11. I would receive texts and emails timestamped at 11:11.<br />
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I think most people have heard that when you look at the clock and it's 11:11, you are supposed to make a wish. So I did that - and it didn't come true. I wished for something else - again, no luck. Finally I decided the third time was the charm and changed my wish again - nothing happened. That's when I decided that something else had to be going on here. This clearly wasn't about wishes or at least one of mine would have come true. That's when I started thinking that maybe it was some kind of sign from God about something. Maybe something was going to happen on November 11? I waited the whole day with baited breath for something - anything - to happen and to my disappointment (and I have to admit, relief) nothing happened. I gave up trying to figure out what 11:11 was supposed to mean, but I kept seeing it over and over. It got to be pretty frustrating.<br />
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Then, a year ago yesterday, I was in the shower getting ready to go out for New Year's Eve when it hit me out of the blue. 11:11 was not a month and a day, a time, a Bible verse, or anything like that - it was a <em>year.</em> 2011, that was getting ready to start in a few short hours, was going to be an important year for me. And boy, was it ever.Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-71648389238110268612011-12-19T21:29:00.000-05:002011-12-19T21:29:46.601-05:00In Terms of Gains & Losses...Yes, I realize I have not written in my blog in 4 months. <em>I've been busy, y'all...</em>gettin' hitched (best day of my life/I'm so glad everyone's stopped acting crazy), figuring out where to store all of my beautiful, newly acquired housewife items, and trying to make a decent grade in my very first graduate class. It's been crazy.<br />
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If there is one thing I have learned in my first two months of marriage, it is this: if there's a football game on TV, you're probably watching it. I'd call it false advertising - <em>of course dear, you can watch Grey's Anatomy on the big TV, I don't want to watch Thursday Night Football - </em>then suddenly, he puts another ring on it and you're watching Every. Single. Game. Sometimes I even think in football language now, which is why I decided to present my 4-month life update in terms of gains & losses.<br />
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<strong>Over the past 4 months...</strong><br />
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<strong>I gained:</strong> a new last name, which was really exciting until I realized...the only things I know how to write in cursive are my first name and my maiden name. Uh oh. Several kindergarten-scratch looking trial and errors later, I think I've improved quite a bit. Improved as in, you can almost read the first three letters.<br />
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<strong>I lost: </strong>my mind when I thought it would be a great idea to begin working on my master's degree the same semester I planned a wedding. I probably should have given that a little more thought but it turned out just fine in the end. I'm pleased with my grade and more importantly, prepared myself a little more for taking two graduate classes next semester. And yes, I did do homework on our honeymoon. By the way, I'm getting my Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Grades 5-9. I'm going to get my initial certification in Social Studies and if I really get wild, I may also get certified in Language Arts.<br />
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<strong>I gained:</strong> this beautiful, unique white dress...that I have no idea what to do with. Fellow wives, what did you do with your dress after the big day? I am almost certain it will end up at my mother's house for the next 30 years but I won't lie, I entertained the idea of selling it. Why not? I will never wear it again, and if fashion repeats itself every 20 years, that's great, but I don't (and won't) have a daughter getting married 20 years from now. Mark that down.<br />
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<strong>I lost:</strong> probably about 5 pounds when I got sick on our honeymoon. Fun, right? Well, at least I got sick on <em>the last day</em>, because you know, who wants to enjoy one last day in paradise? I spent the last day of our honeymoon curled up in our hotel bed with wracking stomach pains. No, before you ask, I didn't drink the water...but we did venture off the resort one evening for an authentic Mexican dinner that turned out to be a little too authentic for me. I did make it home in one piece though, which was a major accomplishment.<br />
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<strong>I gained: </strong>a wonderful, loving husband that I am so happy to be married to. Engaged life was fun, but married life is where it's at. It helps that he just bought me a Nook Color for Christmas and fixes my coffee pot to auto-brew in the morning.<br />
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<strong>I lost: </strong>the freedom of only having to do laundry about every two weeks. Men and their clothes - I don't get it! That's another post for another time. But let me say this - Husband amasses about three loads of dirty laundry to my one. I've never seen anything like it.<br />
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That about sums it up. I know it doesn't sound like I have done a whole lot in the past 4 months but trust me, planning a wedding is no joke.<strong> </strong>Life is back to normal though, and I have a lot to say to make up for lost time!Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-76112214676090797422011-08-05T19:32:00.000-04:002011-08-05T19:32:12.747-04:00Mullet of the Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN0I9oUPC10C6P3-0X2xpCneIbKnBY9C437i4OxqsGBy07JIeBvsvOfuBBWziTGBkVlL0XgG4vUh3V76MEnPkwTyaz5x26SVdEFP8IwK98JaRllaA4Y-3h9todaPSmMDJ2MEvvoAJ3ev_/s1600/Judo+Mullet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAN0I9oUPC10C6P3-0X2xpCneIbKnBY9C437i4OxqsGBy07JIeBvsvOfuBBWziTGBkVlL0XgG4vUh3V76MEnPkwTyaz5x26SVdEFP8IwK98JaRllaA4Y-3h9todaPSmMDJ2MEvvoAJ3ev_/s320/Judo+Mullet.JPG" t$="true" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Judo Mullet</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This stunning specimen, spotted at the Owen County Judo Tournament in April, immediately caught my eye and I just could not resist. Would you look at the shape and rattiness of that Kentucky waterfall? As an added bonus, he was wearing a windsuit. A <em>silk</em> windsuit. Complete with sport stripe down the side. And I thought judo tournaments would not entertain me! This cat is ready to jump on the mat and "hadaka jime" someone (yeah, that's a judo term. Impressed?)</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-65764754960006189192011-07-06T22:12:00.000-04:002011-07-06T22:12:07.095-04:00"Is Kyle slow?" - Teen Mom Recap, Week 1<div align="center">Normally on Wednesday I would be doing a "What I'm Loving" post, and that's kind of what this is....except for I am only discussing one topic that I sure am loving this week!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: magenta;"><strong><em>The return of....</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7hFK8PwPhvSsrxdzee9cptU3EPzxWRAc0nQBy4B2o3nhB5l6HowYA3SwV2Pdp5jehOm9Pky_3qBZv8aeRXeYcHDYIYJuVyJFjiim_XGvLat6StS9PnSAqCUWKxDIInDcLJ0hNZq5WBmd/s1600/Teen+Mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7hFK8PwPhvSsrxdzee9cptU3EPzxWRAc0nQBy4B2o3nhB5l6HowYA3SwV2Pdp5jehOm9Pky_3qBZv8aeRXeYcHDYIYJuVyJFjiim_XGvLat6StS9PnSAqCUWKxDIInDcLJ0hNZq5WBmd/s200/Teen+Mom.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, yes, I know. Please do not lecture me about my tendency to watch trash TV, as I am well aware it rots my brain. I justify watching Teen Mom by telling myself it's a true, honest portrayal for young girls of how your life can change if you have an unexpected pregnancy....but really, I just like the drama. This was a big week as it was the season premiere, and we are back with the original cast - Maci, Amber, Farrah, and Catelyn. It's great that MTV brought them back because we've been watching these girls long enough to have a vested interest in their life stories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maci is still living in Nashville with Kyle and commuting to take little Bentley to see his dad Ryan. Can anyone explain to me why she does all the driving back and forth? If that jealous rat Ryan was my baby daddy, he would be putting some miles on that BMW you see parked in his garage. Anyway, Maci finds out this week that Ryan's child support is not going into her bank account and she wastes no time getting legal on him. Thankfully it ends up being a banking glitch and the child support shows up. Now Maci is wanting Kyle to meet Ryan and Kyle is refusing. Red flag, Maci, red flag!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amber's back and she's just as much of a hot mess as ever. She's dating this new guy, Chris (an equally hot mess), and good ol Gary shows up and wants to get back together. Amber makes one of the smarter decisions she's made in her life and decides to go back to Gary to have their family back together again. Well, we know how well that works out (ominous foreshadowing!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Farrah has now decided that her boobs aren't big enough to support her fledgling modeling career and of course the obvious next step is to call around to different banks until she finds one who will give her a loan for breast implants. Yes, I'm serious. The rest of her segments in the episode depict her pain and suffering post-surgery. I don't even want to waste any more of my life talking about her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tyler and Catelyn are sitting at Catelyn's house when she realizes, oh, someone has tried to pry my bedroom window open. And look, someone has actually pried my younger brother's window open, and what's that, Mom? You say that a door was open when you got back home earlier today? GEEZ. Let's call the police and report a break-in. So Tyler & Catelyn decide to make lemonade out of those lemons and get an apartment together. Of course, Tyler's mom is not overly pleased but let's be honest here....they've had a baby. I think the jig is up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>M</strong><span style="color: black;"><strong>ost Awesome Moment: </strong>Ryan, Maci's baby daddy, sending her a text while sitting right across from her: "Is Kyle slow?" Later, Ryan claims, "I've had hundreds of people ask me."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Dumbest Moment:</strong> It's a tie between Farrah and Maci. You see one clip of Farrah tossing pizzas at her job and complaining about making ends meet as a single mom......but then she decides it's a great idea to get a loan for breast implants. Do you think she will be able to write this off as a business expense? Then after Ryan calls Maci's current boyfriend Kyle "slow," Maci tells Kyle about this and then complains when Kyle gets mad at Ryan. Sheesh, haven't you kids learned anything by now?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Best Performance:</strong> I have to go with Tyler & Catelyn for this week. I would have hoped they had noticed earlier that the house had been broken into, but I suppose that's just as much Catelyn's mom's fault, bless that woman's heart. She needs help. Anyway, Tyler & Catelyn didn't make any stupid decisions this week, and Catelyn's younger brother has a child mullet, so I'll give them the award. Also, has anyone else noticed how much Tyler looks like Justin Bieber?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Cliffhanger: </strong>Will Amber get sheets for her bed?!!? I can't tell you how much seeing Gary sitting on a mattress without sheets disgusts me, and not because of Gary!</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-88007177544071613312011-06-26T21:50:00.000-04:002011-06-26T21:50:40.345-04:00Recharged<div align="center"><strong>"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine." - Robert Gallagher</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">It's probably the understatement of the year to say that it's been awhile. Of course, I didn't expect to just start writing again and not explain to my 23 followers (and the hundreds of you that anonymously read - I know you're there - I see the numbers) where I have been. So we'll start at the beginning.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I wouldn't say that I'm a person who invites change. I don't go out of my way to avoid it, but at the same time, I don't actively seek out opportunities to change things up. I'm a fairly habitual person and so most of the time, when I experience an event that results in a moderate-to-serious life change, it puts me "out of sorts" for awhile. So you can imagine, when over the course of two months (late February - late April) I: got engaged, resigned from my old job, moved out of my apartment into Daniel's house in a new city, and then started a new job (in that order), it was a little, you might say, unsettling. One major life change at a time is enough but to experience four in such a short time is....interesting.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">In retrospect, it was probably better for me that everything happened all at once because I had less time to process each individual event and overanalyze everything. I had already planned on moving and that was a blessing in disguise when I left my old job. Being unemployed was a humbling experience and I can honestly say that I will never consider being a stay at home mom now - I have realized that I really need to have a professional outlet in order to feel good about myself and feel like I am helping to contribute to the family. I have a wonderful new job now and I honestly love my coworkers and my new environment. I won't say too much, but leaving behind massive amounts of stress and a toxic working environment, all while doing a job that doesn't make you feel fulfilled and proud of your work, can really make someone's quality of life increase drastically.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So here I am. It's been a crazy past few months, but thanks to the love and support of my fiance, family, and friends, I made it through the hard times and have been able to rejoice in all the good that these changes have brought to my life. I am finally settled in my new life and routine and if this is what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life, I'm one lucky girl. There is so much to be said about faith and I am so glad that somewhere in my life I realized how important it was to have faith in yourself and that in the end, everything will work out - maybe not the way you want it to, but the way it's supposed to.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Don't worry - while I've been taking some time to recharge and get settled, I've come up with some really great blog posts to write. You didn't think I would come back without quality material, did you?</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-47234338649715765552011-05-18T22:06:00.000-04:002011-05-18T22:06:25.665-04:00What I'm Loving Wednesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">It's Wednesday, and that means I'm linking up with Jamie at <a href="http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/">This Kind Of Love</a> to tell the world what I'm loving this week! Strangely enough, I realized that everything I have loved this week has to do with either food or drink....so we'll call this the <em>WILW Food & Beverage Edition.</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUge4tIkb6waCbVmz-h8iihJNASr85ZC1EueB9rBpw1zctNKesJO3jsKwnNSq3pm4iR_K60NQqiu_ajhvWou1yE4vslQqgsChoo4cy6ooOQuraOe_pBXoed6bFSUXasEbnqYcryyaZc8T2/s1600/Starbucks_Chai_Tea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUge4tIkb6waCbVmz-h8iihJNASr85ZC1EueB9rBpw1zctNKesJO3jsKwnNSq3pm4iR_K60NQqiu_ajhvWou1yE4vslQqgsChoo4cy6ooOQuraOe_pBXoed6bFSUXasEbnqYcryyaZc8T2/s200/Starbucks_Chai_Tea.JPG" width="164px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Starbucks. </strong>Yes yes, I know we have always loved Starbucks, but since going back to work last week I have rediscovered my love for this tasty (and expensive) coffee concoction. At my old job, it used to be really easy for me to avoid going to Starbucks - there wasn't one close to my office, and unless I left my house early enough, I didn't have time to make it there. However.....there just so happens to be a Starbucks on the way to my new office and it's been very hard to resist. So hard, in fact, I've been 5 times since last Monday.....yeah, I have to get this under control. My drink of choice is a grande non-fat raspberry latte, closely followed by a skinny vanilla latte (remember this in case you need to bribe me to do something for you.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jd4Q_hmobISGLKGvxmPI65aLAWMm42n90gxxSRjz4mMLOMpESST85JDtlDWJZMkBqg10Sa2flYdq7VGtyezXXCQPiTz83Jm6lpqDmHBSpo1oWaIZ00Y_nb4fYFCr-796ccjOQRDAU0M6/s1600/th_vanilla_wafers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jd4Q_hmobISGLKGvxmPI65aLAWMm42n90gxxSRjz4mMLOMpESST85JDtlDWJZMkBqg10Sa2flYdq7VGtyezXXCQPiTz83Jm6lpqDmHBSpo1oWaIZ00Y_nb4fYFCr-796ccjOQRDAU0M6/s200/th_vanilla_wafers.jpg" width="182px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Lemon wafers. </strong>Technically this picture is of vanilla wafers, but lemon wafers look the same. I discovered these little gems in the cookie aisle at Kroger while trying to find stuff to put in my lunch. I thought, <em>I like lemon, I'll try these</em>....and with the first bite, my life was changed. They aren't overly lemon-y, but have just enough of a bite to make it a refreshing experience. I went through a box in about, oh, three days. So much for my "white dress diet."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1_wXahRamF9J143CTIOq7Rt96tjAEcPUT_x2TPf_M2PfQzGWXD2YkIfmA1MnSplqel0QSOtsdXoYYzdu8hsITR6wQshJt4izHpC4mzbHqbVvaPim-j8dcNrmGylJ2dTLvbR-Vd3IQRxR/s1600/MountainDewVoltage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1_wXahRamF9J143CTIOq7Rt96tjAEcPUT_x2TPf_M2PfQzGWXD2YkIfmA1MnSplqel0QSOtsdXoYYzdu8hsITR6wQshJt4izHpC4mzbHqbVvaPim-j8dcNrmGylJ2dTLvbR-Vd3IQRxR/s200/MountainDewVoltage.jpg" width="120px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Raspberry citrus-flavored Diet Mountain Dew. </strong>First let me say, I hate even admitting that I even tried this drink. I think it's widely accepted in the world that Mountain Dew is like water for rednecks. I mean, some people (mostly in the eastern part of Kentucky, but let's not judge) drink Mountain Dew from the time they can hold a bottle....and then of course, all their teeth rot out, but that's beside the point. I am ready to publicly admit that my beloved fiance is a DMD addict (he drinks Diet, so I'll give him a little credit) and while restocking his supply, I was attracted to this pretty blue beverage. After reading on the bottle that it was a raspberry citrus version of DMD, I had to try it.....and I <em>love</em> it. I am so embarrassed to type this right now.....but it tastes just like a carbonated version of this blue lemonade Kool-Aid that I loved as a little girl. Want to hear the worst part? I bought a 12-pack. You don't have to tell me, I know I'm headed down a slippery slope.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L9pqW7dQaRzGuL2S8UPG58G7c6say1tt4PIpFDxkehtUVoWCgtaaKF4YOsu3qEnjyLKom-39tV65-YKxst6MJLzxaq0Wq4UsSEJ2f_uBIKHMCoeSqpM8PORNaVYouW5m2M_2OCLMIA1N/s1600/convection+oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L9pqW7dQaRzGuL2S8UPG58G7c6say1tt4PIpFDxkehtUVoWCgtaaKF4YOsu3qEnjyLKom-39tV65-YKxst6MJLzxaq0Wq4UsSEJ2f_uBIKHMCoeSqpM8PORNaVYouW5m2M_2OCLMIA1N/s200/convection+oven.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Convection oven. </strong>Not really food or drink, but in certain cases (such as this evening) it allows you access to food. I mean let's be honest - sometimes, the oven (for whatever reason) doesn't get your chicken cooked all the way, and you have a hungry man to feed. What's a girl to do? I considered turning the oven back on and letting it heat back up, which would take forever....and then I thought, why not put them in the convection oven? Until tonight, I have never been able to say I found this contraption particularly useful, but it cooked the chicken more in 20 minutes than the regular oven did in 45. Which leads me to wonder....can I just bake everything in the convection oven? And, do they come in bigger sizes? I don't think all my pans will fit in there. Listen guys, I'm a WIT (wife in training) right now, and if I can find a shortcut...please don't rain on my parade. Unless you know I am going to set the house on fire by trying this method...then please, by all means, speak up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What are you loving this week???</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-5107328282076453672011-05-04T21:23:00.000-04:002011-05-04T21:23:34.149-04:00What I'm Loving Wednesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It's Wednesday, and that means I'm linking up with Jamie at <a href="http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/">This Kind of Love</a> to tell the world what I'm loving this week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhDaL3Q6iMlUEE7qUn46g4hto4vfzxq8IDTjjU7KxlozRtnY0ovc6ZpzUVmrqR1N-MKPLmJ-QECSiZZe3gJxX-f0fzkEVAaD2ca2m7bly1-BtCpj2vUzZ021PyFFtCfH1JtlZxG_0Tye6/s1600/onions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhDaL3Q6iMlUEE7qUn46g4hto4vfzxq8IDTjjU7KxlozRtnY0ovc6ZpzUVmrqR1N-MKPLmJ-QECSiZZe3gJxX-f0fzkEVAaD2ca2m7bly1-BtCpj2vUzZ021PyFFtCfH1JtlZxG_0Tye6/s200/onions.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>Frozen onions.</strong> Strange, yes, but such a big help when cooking. I just re-discovered my love for frozen onions tonight while cooking enchiladas. You don't have to do any manual labor; they don't make you cry; and your hands won't smell like onions for hours afterwards. Perfect for the Suzie Homemaker who would rather expend her energy chopping up something for dessert. To me, everything about frozen onions is a win-win situation, and that's my favorite kind of situation to be in.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaEyWuCrmxu3grGB27I8L4BPxEL3ZhA5lheePFysB-UgQGxUG1vhAoPrpw_RafXCWNuAvuqxC__1g20I33VmBEov8ZchpxKS0qqsLhxymW5xcRnvc9_NqDHe-gSIm7v0BOx2ohXDvrvsH/s1600/Zyrtec-D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaEyWuCrmxu3grGB27I8L4BPxEL3ZhA5lheePFysB-UgQGxUG1vhAoPrpw_RafXCWNuAvuqxC__1g20I33VmBEov8ZchpxKS0qqsLhxymW5xcRnvc9_NqDHe-gSIm7v0BOx2ohXDvrvsH/s200/Zyrtec-D.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>Zyrtec-D.</strong> I don't think I would be able to leave the house right now without it. I grew up in Ashland, smog/dirty air capital of the world, and never had a problem with allergies. I move to central Kentucky, and <em>whoa,</em> twice a year (spring and early fall) I lose the ability to breathe. Can anyone explain this to me? Clearly I am now having seasonal allergies, but what am I allergic to? Clean air?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSl6VB-UA6oRGtiyPqDAsbn2A74NPhbRpsKOjVaCnkW5A_4mJlSpWVoHjWuGfAAttjAPIcQ7BMV7gwnJnCofSb-Xr9Dmgf8EzZzXWt-bXM5_1oKnv3qdedw2SsAcLj-ZLwKzho8nBAlIG/s1600/calendar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSl6VB-UA6oRGtiyPqDAsbn2A74NPhbRpsKOjVaCnkW5A_4mJlSpWVoHjWuGfAAttjAPIcQ7BMV7gwnJnCofSb-Xr9Dmgf8EzZzXWt-bXM5_1oKnv3qdedw2SsAcLj-ZLwKzho8nBAlIG/s200/calendar.png" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My Vera Bradley desk calendar. </strong>Oh, Vera, you never let me down. Your beautiful patterns and bright color combinations always make me so happy. I bought this desk calendar (same pattern as in the picture) at the beginning of this year at a great clearance price. Seriously, I think I paid $5 for it. At my old job, I already had a desk calendar so I didn't have a use for it, but I think God was sending me a sign when he told me to buy it. When I walk into my new job on Monday, I'll be taking my lovely VB desk calendar with me :) More on my new gig very soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2YtcHp54YcbKWs3b0zwGrGSc9_i8YvtPMroLvFZLG0pvoOIA9NgR20TVBzsHXi3jK1MHp1lBwahI1-XBr-lPJHUKeGzeG1kHj-d2R9uRy2d5jiFoggDyHXucsu0okLE_WojZdhL35sZk/s1600/coupon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2YtcHp54YcbKWs3b0zwGrGSc9_i8YvtPMroLvFZLG0pvoOIA9NgR20TVBzsHXi3jK1MHp1lBwahI1-XBr-lPJHUKeGzeG1kHj-d2R9uRy2d5jiFoggDyHXucsu0okLE_WojZdhL35sZk/s200/coupon.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Coupons. </strong>I've been at it again, and I have to tell you, couponing gives me a rush. I know that's sad, but it's a thrill to figure out ways to cleverly coupon and save more money. I think they call it "stacking" coupons in the business. Here's what I pulled off this week:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. Kroger had 12-packs of Pepsi products on sale 4 for $10 with a Kroger card. I had a manufacturer's coupon for an additional $2 off, so I got 4 12-packs for $8. Okay, that's not that clever, but considering that 12-packs are about $4 each, 4 of them would have cost me $16 and I got them for $8, about a 50% savings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2. This one is my pride & joy. I had two manufacturer's coupons for Old Spice - one was $1 off two Old Spice products, and the other was a buy one get one free Old Spice bodywash. I purchased two bodywashes (at $3.50 apiece) and first scanned the $1 off coupon, so the machine still thought I was purchasing two products. <em>Then </em>I scanned the B1G1 coupon to get the second bodywash free. So, I got both bodywashes for $2.50 when it normally would have cost me $7. I was so proud of myself!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3. Then at Wal-Mart, I saved about $13 from manufacturer's coupons I had cut out of the newspaper. I would have saved more but Wal-mart wouldn't let me "stack" the coupons - has anyone else had this problem? Anyway, this week we saved about $30 on things we would have had to buy anyway. That's my rule - I won't buy it unless it's something we need now or would need eventually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What are you loving this week???</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-76896992077636823732011-04-20T22:17:00.000-04:002011-04-20T22:17:59.832-04:00A Funny To Get You Through the Week...<div align="center">Earlier this evening I was wasting time on Facebook, and I ran across this picture I had posted and tagged my dad in:</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp8dV_naiburldTDz4umW0lzwBtgJVybtVKIkxrgFyNH4jW9E3ERf2ku-axLx7jalU-0BFdU3PUWTGonCKg2eo2VnQkQHUANyScjkqaSKWHLaMgKNpfczV1fF50HPwv_59zgmmwA0cR1q/s1600/Dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp8dV_naiburldTDz4umW0lzwBtgJVybtVKIkxrgFyNH4jW9E3ERf2ku-axLx7jalU-0BFdU3PUWTGonCKg2eo2VnQkQHUANyScjkqaSKWHLaMgKNpfczV1fF50HPwv_59zgmmwA0cR1q/s320/Dad.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Yeah, you read right. My dad has Facebook. The day I got a friend request from him was probably one of the 10 most awkward days of my life. But, I digress.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">One rainy November evening (insert "November Rain" or Guns N' Roses comments here) I discovered this highly entertaining website called Face-In-Hole. I discovered this website because my best friend Cathy posted a picture of me "with" Justin Bieber - I found this uproariously funny and decided to spend my entire evening putting my friends in pictures.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I have long thought that my dad resembles Hulk Hogan, and this Face-In-Hole opportunity was golden. I put him in the picture and promply uploaded it to Facebook, tagging him in the picture so it would appear on his profile. About 10 minutes after I posted it, I got a call from Dad saying that he appreciated me tagging Hulk Hogan as him and that was really funny. It took me about 30 seconds to figure out that Dad didn't realize that was his face in the picture and not Hulk Hogan's. We argued on the phone about this for a good 15 minutes until I told him to have June, my stepmother, take a look and verify for him that it was, in fact, his face. Even after this, Dad still didn't believe it was him on the screen. 20 minutes later, he <em>finally</em> conceded that it was his face on Hulk's body, <em>only after</em> he saw the birthmark he has on his cheek in the picture.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>SHEESH.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">And people wonder why I am the way I am?!</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-11206024638990252422011-04-14T21:21:00.000-04:002011-04-14T21:21:38.760-04:00My new favorite game?<div style="text-align: center;">I believe that I have inadvertently stumbled upon what may become my new obsession....my new favorite game...and probably ultimately my downfall.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgU9-BCQmDGkfymC29oV-PQCgCMsU5nNAXVbGjH5FnHR8Bm3rMSMP0sdPaggXzN3mfG0aiFwq1wRaACWztssyMtB0LnYc6ISKVwt433-5NKxviMKd8EkvWOQ0YB3LsRx74uDLMB_q56Hf/s1600/Coupon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgU9-BCQmDGkfymC29oV-PQCgCMsU5nNAXVbGjH5FnHR8Bm3rMSMP0sdPaggXzN3mfG0aiFwq1wRaACWztssyMtB0LnYc6ISKVwt433-5NKxviMKd8EkvWOQ0YB3LsRx74uDLMB_q56Hf/s200/Coupon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You see that? Yeah, that's what you think it is. That's a stack of coupons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have never been one to clip coupons. Not because I don't see the value in it, but because I don't usually plan out my shopping trips more than 5 minutes in advance. Typically, I will drive to Target, pull into the parking lot, and think <em>what do I need to get here?</em> I make a list on my phone, and I'm off. This also happens at the grocery store, and just about every other store I go into. Not very conducive to couponing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I'm going to be a wife now, you know, and this means I am going to have to learn how to plan shopping trips. Specifically, trips to the grocery store, because stopping at Kroger every night on my way home from work and buying a box of macaroni & cheese is not going to cut it anymore. I have embraced this change and in trying to make myself get used to looking for coupons, I was looking through the ones that came in the mail the other day and I stumbled across a $3 off coupon for Nivea bodywash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I use bodywash, and I thought, <em>well, that's a pretty big coupon,</em> so I cut it out. I had to make a trip to Wal-Mart today for groceries (just for one dinner, mind you, I don't have the meal planning thing down yet) and I thought I would check out the Nivea bodywash while I was there. So imagine my surprise when I only found one bottle left on the shelf (this should have foreshadowed what was about to happen.) I smelled it; not my favorite scent but I could live with it. I look at the price tag to see how much I'm going to have to pay for this and the tag says: <strong>Rollback!! $3.00.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>WHAT?!?!?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I blinked about 20 times and realized that yes, the bodywash had been on sale for $3.38 but was on sale for $3.00, and my coupon was for $3 off....which meant.....surely not.....that bodywash was <strong>FREE! </strong>I about died right there in the aisle. Is this what it feels like to be an extreme couponer?!?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now don't get me wrong, I don't think I could ever be like those women on the show. First of all, I think it's counterproductive to have to buy 45 bottles of mustard in order to get 30 of them free. What am I going to do with 45 bottles of mustard? Or 45 bottles of anything, for that matter? I am not a hoarder and I'm not going to become one in order to become a couponer. However, I definitely now see the value in looking for coupons (for the things I need <strong>only</strong>) because clearly it could save me some dollars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course I know what will happen....I'll start buying stuff I use, but don't immediately need, just because <em>I have a coupon</em>. So if you see me at Target, Wal-Mart, Kroger etc. and I have a cart full of junk, please stage an intervention immediately.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-24519510311171560292011-04-06T22:37:00.000-04:002011-04-06T22:37:31.612-04:00What I'm Loving Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's Wednesday, and that means I'm linking up with Jamie at <a href="http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/">This Kind of Love</a> to tell the world what I'm loving this week!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V5ITnnR0FFwRcQwbMOg_TZ4LP7TR-WcxYOspuREhyIduGyxi7wvct7iLcXZiBG3t4SvcIKAzoSqIJ-tMob2U8KbhdXGrlW7swWbig8yKRDgFbf3rgV9h_Lrw990FyDsR-jmRxavnZsoW/s1600/Sanuk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="69" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V5ITnnR0FFwRcQwbMOg_TZ4LP7TR-WcxYOspuREhyIduGyxi7wvct7iLcXZiBG3t4SvcIKAzoSqIJ-tMob2U8KbhdXGrlW7swWbig8yKRDgFbf3rgV9h_Lrw990FyDsR-jmRxavnZsoW/s200/Sanuk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sanuk Yoga Mat flip flops - </strong>Seriously, run, <em>do not walk</em>, and get yourself a pair of these stat. I have never felt anything more heavenly on my feet. I'm pretty critical when it comes to flip-flops - I don't like ones that are too thin or ones with plastic straps that rub against the tops of my feet. These flip-flops are the best of all worlds - yes, the bottoms are made out of yoga mat material. Soooo cushy and supportive, even when you wear them for an extended period of time. I could probably run a marathon in these.....okay, maybe not, but only because you will never see me running a marathon, not because these would make my feet hurt. The women's shoes are called Yoga Mats, and the men's shoes are called Beer Coozy (no, fellas, buying these won't make you any less masculine.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbKkcaHZwQMd1xO5w_NNS_rkCbHFHlcpED8BoDV5PLYb41QdTZxMBUn-q0JWT3C3coZUAmn0s9nKtG5YR_P2kzn_Zr0z6I_22f9ZOn7mkRN9L8ck-96ApP10OM_ohMa7f1jCyWkK0Y4v6/s1600/alligator.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbKkcaHZwQMd1xO5w_NNS_rkCbHFHlcpED8BoDV5PLYb41QdTZxMBUn-q0JWT3C3coZUAmn0s9nKtG5YR_P2kzn_Zr0z6I_22f9ZOn7mkRN9L8ck-96ApP10OM_ohMa7f1jCyWkK0Y4v6/s200/alligator.bmp" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>This fella. </strong>Okay, I promise this is not going to turn into a mush-fest, but I really just have to give my man some love this week on the blog. I have been going through some pretty big life changes recently (hence the reason for my blogging hiatus - more on this later) and he has been nothing less than amazing. So supportive, patient, understanding, and caring - I could not ask for anything more. Really, if this is what the unconditional love of marriage feels like, this is the best decision I have ever made. (But honey, I would appreciate it if you would put the toilet paper back on the holder when you get out a new roll instead of sitting it beside the holder. See, it's not all hearts and sparkles in my eyes......I kid, I kid.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMZLnrFyOzzL9rrOZ2heK7kOGEjVSMw-2k1SGJgHHmfY56YXs-TfwChb2X7ox2GWZmrnwb7FrAY0wYrhXWzMnOpH7QI9kGz5DhO_ivkbogkk-6QyL0o968cMvuVMY_cv5AN50e3pwXW5X/s1600/Jellybeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMZLnrFyOzzL9rrOZ2heK7kOGEjVSMw-2k1SGJgHHmfY56YXs-TfwChb2X7ox2GWZmrnwb7FrAY0wYrhXWzMnOpH7QI9kGz5DhO_ivkbogkk-6QyL0o968cMvuVMY_cv5AN50e3pwXW5X/s200/Jellybeans.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Chicks, Ducks, & Bunnies - version 2.0. </strong>These Sweettart jellybeans were an accidental discovery, originally purchased during a moment of desperation when sugar was essential and no CDB's were to be found. And my oh my, what a discovery. Not only do these jellybeans come in 6 flavors instead of 3 flavors like the CDB's, but you can also eat a lot more of these before your mouth starts to get raw. They might have less calories too, I can't say that for a fact, but jellybeans are generally lower-calorie so we'll just go with it to make ourselves feel better. I encourage you to try them ASAP, and I'll trade you my yellows for your purples.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVugNru6O6kGzrEsayCrK_Vl9lu58QLLgE1o2aowWajXL3oPrN1P5gfvhfuhu5DOEw5vdIjngGttlqkkG5WW2xCAI0eBCAiQ3LmkhEgpSC2mNXQN-pHtuG9fr7ziTVRNeZEPZ722Ci__i/s1600/Giovanni%2527s.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVugNru6O6kGzrEsayCrK_Vl9lu58QLLgE1o2aowWajXL3oPrN1P5gfvhfuhu5DOEw5vdIjngGttlqkkG5WW2xCAI0eBCAiQ3LmkhEgpSC2mNXQN-pHtuG9fr7ziTVRNeZEPZ722Ci__i/s200/Giovanni%2527s.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Giovanni's Pizza.</strong> Oh hello delicious, how are you today? You Ashland people know what I'm talking about. Giovanni's Pizza, for those of you that don't know, is hands down the best pizza in the world. Greasy, thin, and smothered in toppings, you just can't beat it. I believe Giovanni's is a regional delicacy but I was so happy to discover that there is a Gio's in Winchester. Sometimes it's just nice to have a little reminder of home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What are you loving this Wednesday???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-7178612329793651172011-03-17T20:46:00.000-04:002011-03-17T20:46:50.280-04:00Crazy Things We Do For Love...Red River Gorge<div style="text-align: center;">I'll be the first to admit it....I'm not what you would call an "outdoors" kind of girl. Far from it. In fact, other than my newfound interest in gardening, my idea of "outdoors activity" is lounging by a pool in the summer....and don't even think about suggesting I do anything outdoors in the winter. If there's one thing I hate more than green vegetables, it's cold weather.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That said, you can imagine the predicament I found myself in this past summer when Daniel suggested we go camping one evening with our friends <a href="http://scottabney3.blogspot.com/">Scott</a> and <a href="http://sunrisetosunsetpotpourri.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a> at the Red River Gorge. <em>Are you kidding me? </em>Camping to me is, let's go to a creek and run around for awhile, maybe roast some hot dogs, definitely make s'mores, and then we can go home to sleep or go to a hotel, as long as there's indoor plumbing and a bed. Unfortunately this does not align with the male idea of camping.....so it was sleep in a tent, or disappoint Daniel, neither of which I really wanted to do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Luckily I remembered that due to a prior commitment, we had to be somewhere that particular morning and so there was just no way I could spend Saturday night in a tent. I agreed that we could leave early Saturday morning and meet Scott & Amanda to hang out for the day and come back to town that night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be honest with you, camping wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Although according to everyone else, I didn't go camping, I went "camping" because it's not really camping unless you stay in a tent. I beg to differ. But I did learn a few things that I would like to share with you now:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>1. Old Navy flip flops are not made for walking in a creek.</strong> While I love a good pair of $3.50 flip flops, the thinness of these flops do not provide for a particularly enjoyable experience while walking on rocks in a creekbed. However, going barefoot is not really an option either as that hurts even more. I know, I tried doing it both ways. The solution? Wear the cheap flops long enough to get you to a clearing where you can sit down on a towel, and park it. There's no need to be walking around in a creek anyway. Unless you are trying to catch crawdads, in which case....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>2. Make sure you bring appropriate wildlife-catching equipment.</strong> Amanda and I quickly discovered that catching crawdads, while a good way to pass the time and have a friendly competition, is just not possible with your bare hands. I spent about two hours trying to catch a minnow and I just gave up. We sent the boys to the "general store" to pick up some things and they came back with a net. Bingo!!! Amanda & I started catching all kinds of stuff. I will caution you that if you decide to temporarily keep your wildlife in a container, make sure you cover it, for crying out loud. I <em>finally</em> caught one of those fish and he jumped right out of the container.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>3. Don't wear scented lotion, unless it's scented with citronella.</strong> Yes, I know, I really should have thought about this, but while fulfilling my desire to have soft skin, I turned myself into a one-woman bug attractor. It was insanity. I've always had a problem with mosquitoes but this was absolutely ridiculous. Trust me on this one, just skip body lotion for the day and you'll be fine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought perhaps I had escaped any future camping trips, but as it turns out, Daniel & I are getting married so I'm guessing this is going to be a yearly adventure for me. I'll be ready...as soon as I buy some of those rubber-soled water shoes.</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-52419408780414411752011-03-14T21:59:00.000-04:002011-03-14T21:59:47.357-04:00You Like Me....You Really Like Me!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I apologize for my two week hiatus from blogging.....I really do. You might have thought I was running around doing fun wedding planning things, but....not so much. No, I've been spending my time at the ol' workplace, working some fabulous 13 hour days, and a strange daily schedule to compensate for said 13-hour days. Yes folks, it's Telefund time, which for those of you who don't know is my station's longest annual on-air fundraising pledge drive. It lasts for 16 nights and while I don't have to work every night, I have to work enough nights to make me <em>cuh-razy.</em> Although I will say, the little bit of wedding planning I have started to do has been a real eye-opener.....but more on that later.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's pretty amazing to me that even though I have been MIA for two weeks, I still received another blog award! You guys like me...you really like me! A big thank you to sweet Jessica at </span><a href="http://runningthroughlifeinhighheels.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Running Through Life in High Heels</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> for my Stylish Blogger Award...if you haven't checked out her blog, make sure you take a look - it's so cute!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9RvYwAyJ0Cec5SEZp6Dg3IEhK9le-QCgjEkK7IHKJ5WCh2CD2DmSy6eK75TN7AwWfTyFcGZ0KR2-OVWlnBU2wfFq8YRe2gi5L3mVeQg1emkxVRTtPbug37wAXS9qpmJ_N5Yhyphenhyphen-VENn83/s1600/stylishbloggeraward.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9RvYwAyJ0Cec5SEZp6Dg3IEhK9le-QCgjEkK7IHKJ5WCh2CD2DmSy6eK75TN7AwWfTyFcGZ0KR2-OVWlnBU2wfFq8YRe2gi5L3mVeQg1emkxVRTtPbug37wAXS9qpmJ_N5Yhyphenhyphen-VENn83/s1600/stylishbloggeraward.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are the rules:</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. Link back and thank the person that gave you the award.<br />
2. Share 7 things about yourself.<br />
3. Award 5 recently discovered blogs.<br />
4. Contact them and tell them about their award.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Without further adieu, 7 things you may or may not know about me:</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. I have a strong aversion to green vegetables and will avoid them at any cost. Strangely enough, I do like lima beans and peas and those seem to be vegetables most people hate. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Although I was raised in Ashland, I was born in Huntington, West Virginia (my mom's obstetrician was there.) Sometimes I cheer for WVU since technically I am a Mountaineer by birth (do I like to admit this? No.) I like to say I have dual "state-ship" which is not quite as glamorous as dual citizenship.</span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. I am a dog person - cats are okay, but they are so creepy. Say you're doing your makeup in the morning - you can hear a dog coming up behind you and sticking their nose in your business. Cats, on the other hand....you turn around and they have been sitting there watching you for like an hour and you didn't even know it. CREEPY.</span></span></div></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. I am an only child. Once I got to high school, I started wishing I had an older brother so I could date his friends.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. I have a small scar on my chin where I fell on a gas can and cut myself when I was 2. </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">6. I have a major sweet tooth, but can easily pass up chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, and oatmeal raisin cookies.</span></span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">7. If I don't watch the Today show while I'm getting ready for work in the mornings, I feel totally lost and my day usually turns out to be bad. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am passing this award on to:</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sheaswayoflife.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shea</span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://gutenstrudel.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Allie</span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sunrisetosunsetpotpourri.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Amanda</span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://scottabney3.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Scott</span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://whimsybeading.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kelly</span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Make sure and check out all of their blogs....well worth the click! Thanks again to Jessica!</span></span><div align="center"></div></div></div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-88202642805681166842011-02-27T21:47:00.000-05:002011-02-27T21:47:13.254-05:00It All Comes Back to Sweettarts.<div style="text-align: center;">Friday was a typical day for me - I went to work, came home, kicked my shoes off, and plopped on the couch to play Angry Birds for a minute to rid myself of work stress for the weekend. The only thing that had happened out of the ordinary was that I received my Yoga Mat flip-flops I had ordered (you'll hear more about them on Wednesday because, let me tell you, I am <em>loving</em> them.) I called Daniel to see what he wanted to do for dinner and we decided I would drive over to his house and then we would pick where we wanted to eat from there.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I get to Daniel's house and nothing is amiss, so of course I had no idea what was about to happen. We sat and watched TV for a few minutes and I kept trying to get him up and out the door because I was hungry. <em>Finally</em> he got out of his chair and I got up to get my purse and car keys together so we could leave. Just about the time I am starting to get really impatient, Daniel says to me, "I have something to give you before we go eat so stand here and close your eyes." I reply, "Did you get me Sweettarts?" I knew my beloved Chicks, Ducks, & Bunnies have hit the store shelves (let's be honest, I've already been through two bags) and I thought I was about to get a sweet surprise.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">As it turns out.....I didn't get Sweettarts, but I did get a sweet surprise:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4FpD36KC7xSirHsxKtbUVB9Bb9DM1gpRxxYpcnV_loQAgQu3cawsK6S566s0fcspLDUmQfsZ0cPwJcEVAQCZbS2cEaF8lQ5NhB9xa4EprZG5AtA79MF3cTot34vRDU9mu__GF1f1B_5b/s1600/My+Bling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4FpD36KC7xSirHsxKtbUVB9Bb9DM1gpRxxYpcnV_loQAgQu3cawsK6S566s0fcspLDUmQfsZ0cPwJcEVAQCZbS2cEaF8lQ5NhB9xa4EprZG5AtA79MF3cTot34vRDU9mu__GF1f1B_5b/s1600/My+Bling.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I opened my eyes to find him on one knee with that amazing rock. That is an awful iPhone picture and I am not lying when I tell you it doesn't even come close to doing my ring justice. <strong>I was stunned silent.</strong> That never happens. But what an endorsement for Sweettarts - did I think I was getting an engagement ring? Oh no. This girl just wanted some Chicks, Ducks & Bunnies. I hope someone from the Wonka Company reads this story and sends me a check. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After asking Daniel about 500 times if this was really happening and making sure that I was not dreaming, I realized that he really had just asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. A flurry of phone calls and two hours later, we finally went out for dinner....although for some reason, my appetite was gone and my mind was elsewhere!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So here I am on Sunday, a fiancee. I can honestly tell you I have never been more happy or excited in my life! I don't know how I got lucky enough to be able to spend the rest of my life with the best person I know, but here I am. Daniel is truly my teammate and my other half and I know it's rare for people to actually find their soulmates in this crazy world. And he did such a wonderful job - not only is my ring more than I could have ever asked for, but he designed it himself <strong><u>and</u></strong> pulled the whole thing off without me ever finding out about it. That's the real miracle here because I am quite the detective when I feel like something strange is going on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will not be turning this into a wedding planning blog because, let's face it, there are a billion of those, and why would you want to read about tasting cakes and trying on dresses when you can read about mullets? I am sure though that my adventures in wedding planning will provide some great stories for this blog!</div><div align="center"></div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-29631536619417988732011-02-23T22:13:00.000-05:002011-02-23T22:13:53.675-05:00What I'm Loving Wednesday!<div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s400/WILW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccVfUO4Xvty9pNjcwrrPHccKJbM9jyjT8fRMC1Pjm9kAVdE-7jLi8-ChmXzov4B0VrFzk2HsXsWOryL7iIB-DiWyXDINouqESM_aWvvfgQQSABgsnnU5-K2ikCuNsC_Sro_XBEBnkU7k/s320/WILW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">It's Wednesday, and that means I'm linking up with Jamie at <a href="http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/">This Kind Of Love</a> to tell the world what I'm loving this week!</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7apvjbbdZwM48P6R1oQJ-s7Uu9ZQjc-EUwqY2JczZrDJS6wbA-MnGH1YOHc5QqMzhpUiCZnKsHnuDO6zPmM4m_lUmqYtMfgMbUzenMAEOL3e7WsRr7BBnW6VvTZtQTIYuqGP8rRsxfdd/s1600/amazing-race-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7apvjbbdZwM48P6R1oQJ-s7Uu9ZQjc-EUwqY2JczZrDJS6wbA-MnGH1YOHc5QqMzhpUiCZnKsHnuDO6zPmM4m_lUmqYtMfgMbUzenMAEOL3e7WsRr7BBnW6VvTZtQTIYuqGP8rRsxfdd/s200/amazing-race-18.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Amazing Race</strong> - it's back!!!! I have waited since December for my favorite show to start again and here it is! I'm not sure I'm sold on the whole "Unfinished Business" season thing though. Some of these teams I didn't like seeing the first time around and so to see them again is kind of a bummer. My favorite teams are the cowboys (I hope they don't get eliminated this Sunday!), the Globetrotters, and Margie & Luke (the deaf guy.) My least favorite teams are Amanda & Kris (they are not very smart) and Kent & Vyxsin. I honestly think that Kent wears more eye makeup than I do - he is a guy, and that is not okay. I am curious about one thing though - I had read back in December a list of the teams that were supposed to be on this season and some of them are not on - the cops (Michael & Louie), the home shopping hosts from last season, and also the Asian guy & his dad from last season. Does anybody know any gossip on what happened here???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMUoQimw80GUKLx_8kfHQLQz2wZRGNcxPIpBbJjzrIW5WhTVocTyciD4LA1j2gz0GdIzdTxrx71C0PH4ufo9p7wX_DNVZIMu9SylEJQ5l_W2bLUaLPUZ8CNmWMO7W9J0u1gouJDaXQRbw/s1600/Sweettarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMUoQimw80GUKLx_8kfHQLQz2wZRGNcxPIpBbJjzrIW5WhTVocTyciD4LA1j2gz0GdIzdTxrx71C0PH4ufo9p7wX_DNVZIMu9SylEJQ5l_W2bLUaLPUZ8CNmWMO7W9J0u1gouJDaXQRbw/s200/Sweettarts.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvTsNn32HUNa4CG2IXFJmItzL8xqK5n9kh04wL528o211O2cFVDm-lryVVxjqIrTNjh9DMOc5-4ggXaFlWhCD1h5VmNJiDvwPRXoMuxdu7PruoPR-RQUgse8FuQ1PJYoHR841Wkj6dGOc/s1600/Thin_Mints_Pkg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvTsNn32HUNa4CG2IXFJmItzL8xqK5n9kh04wL528o211O2cFVDm-lryVVxjqIrTNjh9DMOc5-4ggXaFlWhCD1h5VmNJiDvwPRXoMuxdu7PruoPR-RQUgse8FuQ1PJYoHR841Wkj6dGOc/s200/Thin_Mints_Pkg.jpg" width="115" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Spring treats.</strong> It doesn't exactly feel like spring outside yet, but I know the sun & humidity will be arriving soon as both Girl Scout cookies and Chicks, Ducks, and Bunnies have arrived!! I could have sworn I only ordered two boxes of Girl Scout cookies this year but strangely enough my bag had three boxes in it...hmm, wonder how that happened? Oh well, I'm not complaining. And Chicks, Ducks, and Bunnies...now that is how I got hooked on Sweettarts. You have to be careful with these though - each piece is roughly the size of two Sweettarts and so they make your mouth raw a lot faster. Also, they only come in pink, blue, and purple so that's kind of disappointing as I also enjoy the green Sweettarts - but clearly, this is not stopping me from eating them. Let me offer up a word of caution - as you get towards the bottom of the Sweettart bag, many times the pieces will be covered in Sweettart dust - do not inhale as you put these in your mouth!! You will choke and cough your head off for approximately 30 minutes, leaving your coworkers to ask you an unnecessary amount of times if you are okay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNILhCFd1FFxCGDc1fiP0EpDhyyOvY4ZWOUNDd9GX7bHtXES9mpbw7DA6fCzZOZ18BHaZgLOPyYrWe9Fw_5KNbzEB_5iSAhvUL5ZX07hraHqj0wWStMTJaNjF1EF1lkDBHv0JKDrNY7fPx/s1600/dooney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNILhCFd1FFxCGDc1fiP0EpDhyyOvY4ZWOUNDd9GX7bHtXES9mpbw7DA6fCzZOZ18BHaZgLOPyYrWe9Fw_5KNbzEB_5iSAhvUL5ZX07hraHqj0wWStMTJaNjF1EF1lkDBHv0JKDrNY7fPx/s200/dooney.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Another spring treat - my new Dooney & Bourke.</strong> I usually buy one new Dooney a year and my dear boyfriend made this year's purchase for me as a birthday gift. I love Dooney's duck pattern and I am so excited for it to warm up outside so I can finally carry this colorful gem - it has been in my closet since September! I know the bright colors are going to be an instant pick-me-up whenever I need it, and as a bonus, it's huge - perfect for all the random stuff I like to keep in my purse. I hope I can make it until April!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nf68T-lYy_8TP13ygBx8Fq6N1cgFTHlPxvZ_hOviQm5gUC1mhGMw0rg1q-33slTqr5eds-skXzIoNzVlvUnHJ_pyRs07nbiklh4HZ1_9p1KQn3jG-7SgyLwK6fcyCcovifU0KjJORDrg/s1600/Sawyer.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nf68T-lYy_8TP13ygBx8Fq6N1cgFTHlPxvZ_hOviQm5gUC1mhGMw0rg1q-33slTqr5eds-skXzIoNzVlvUnHJ_pyRs07nbiklh4HZ1_9p1KQn3jG-7SgyLwK6fcyCcovifU0KjJORDrg/s200/Sawyer.bmp" width="150" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>This guy.</strong> Meet Sawyer, Daniel's Great Dane. I have started to claim him as mine, but only when he is behaving and/or does something cute or good. When he's bad, he's 100% Daniel's dog. Sawyer and I have what you might call a love/hate relationship - I think he loves me most of the time, but he hates me when I make him behave; and I love him most of the time, but hate him when he's sassy. And boy, is this one sassy dog - I have never heard a dog backtalk someone like Sawyer does. If you aren't giving him what he wants, he likes to get up in your face and do this sassy half bark-half yelp noise. It's quite interesting what happens when a dog the size of a human decides he wants to "play" - I will admit that Sawyer & I have had quite a few physical altercations and usually I'm the one who ends up hurt or bruised. However, I am loving Sawyer this week because he really is starting to calm down and behave better and I think we have hit a new high in our relationship. I'm definitely a dog person, and I had forgotten how nice it is to have a dog around - I mean, look at that face...then he tries to bite your feet and the cuteness somehow disappears.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What are you loving this Wednesday?</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-5819217105238143562011-02-22T21:38:00.000-05:002011-02-22T21:38:21.569-05:00Three Months, Three Re-commitments<div style="text-align: center;">My apologies for not being around for the past week, but I've been pretty busy:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJWV4v9D-LaFr4cQRJVOikDAf33i1r_na4EjAn88HTl6tf73756YDAf4mJRb4oD6iSWOl8tM_wSmsn7nkm3Kv4TqQDFqkEB16qPykN3wLdUsdNh02R_LRZO18b96KCsPmjDknsTwU-ZLT/s1600/David%2527s+Bridal+trip+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJWV4v9D-LaFr4cQRJVOikDAf33i1r_na4EjAn88HTl6tf73756YDAf4mJRb4oD6iSWOl8tM_wSmsn7nkm3Kv4TqQDFqkEB16qPykN3wLdUsdNh02R_LRZO18b96KCsPmjDknsTwU-ZLT/s200/David%2527s+Bridal+trip+014.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We celebrated the 29th birthday of this wild & crazy guy with BD's Mongolian Grill, cookie cake, and a Shake Weight. Isn't my old man cute?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_BSxPJjm-mUVYgirDmoT4JBSucN4LSWnPs-gFxgAUduqclQe_lvhJ7jVKxG8uyQmwuQTWCNM-URdkFypwdwOdSb18bZ8gtpyazz6qsrmnG5ZxGjGA_-mKY_6ybyUVVIh2wAVyvOwjxLz/s1600/David%2527s+Bridal+trip+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_BSxPJjm-mUVYgirDmoT4JBSucN4LSWnPs-gFxgAUduqclQe_lvhJ7jVKxG8uyQmwuQTWCNM-URdkFypwdwOdSb18bZ8gtpyazz6qsrmnG5ZxGjGA_-mKY_6ybyUVVIh2wAVyvOwjxLz/s200/David%2527s+Bridal+trip+043.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div align="center">I shopped at David's Bridal with <a href="http://sunrisetosunsetpotpourri.blogspot.com/">this lovely</a> and displayed a level of wedding-dress-trying-on organization never before seen in the store. I'm not her Maid of Honor for no reason! I also got to try on some "fun" (hideous) headpieces, the best of which looked like I had a live bird in my hair. Awesome.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zv46mmIQiMhy00SqjLEZtHcGVNbGQVo7JbNPQqToiU01wB7hMA52i-4x8eFNE4FsU5v_Ei-OHVSp3YxWnkQrsUYe9bsYr9R3mILED2paZ_GGsxarr1ahSiQOJzStlaiYUjQCjfve5G4k/s1600/David%2527s+Bridal+trip+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zv46mmIQiMhy00SqjLEZtHcGVNbGQVo7JbNPQqToiU01wB7hMA52i-4x8eFNE4FsU5v_Ei-OHVSp3YxWnkQrsUYe9bsYr9R3mILED2paZ_GGsxarr1ahSiQOJzStlaiYUjQCjfve5G4k/s200/David%2527s+Bridal+trip+019.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div align="center">I hung out with these hot mamas and reminisced about the good ol days!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I realize that going a week without blogging is not really a long time in the grand scheme of things. However, I told myself when I started this that I was going to keep up with it and not be one of those occasional bloggers who only posts twice a month. Plus, I have a lot of stories to tell, and if I only blog once a week it's going to take me <em>forever.</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So with that, and in honor of the beginning of March (the third month of the year) coming up next week, I have decided that I am going to recommit to three things in my life:</div><div align="center"><strong>1. My blog.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>2. The gym. </strong>I am not what you would call a "gym rat," in fact, I can completely understand that the idea of me in a gym is hilarious to some (and rightly so, I'm what you might call an indoor girl.) I joined a gym around the corner from my house about a year ago and while I can't report a 20 pound weight loss, I have lost some inches and redistributed things in a way that makes me feel better about my appearance. I still have a long way to go though, and because of this, I am committing to myself to do my very best to make it to the gym at least three days a week. Sometimes things genuinely come up, but like most of us, I'm also good at making excuses and that has to stop. If I know I'm not going to be able to go after work, I am going to make myself get up in the morning and go. There, I said it for all the blog world to see - now I <em>have</em> to hold myself to it.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>3. Reading. </strong>I used to read like a fool - I had my nose stuck in a book constantly. Then I went to college, and reading became more of a necessity than a pastime, and I found myself hating books (especially books about Algebra and Logic.) After falling out of the habit of reading I just haven't made time to get myself back into it - but I love to read, and so this is something I really want to work on. My goal is to read a book a month for the rest of this year and then write about each book on my blog. I am currently reading <u>The Help</u> by Kathryn Stockett, and up next is <u>The Confession</u> by John Grisham. After that, I'm going to need some suggestions....so I need everybody to be thinking about their favorite book titles to send my way!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We're three months into 2011....what are your three re-commitments?</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-84351778418662239792011-02-15T22:16:00.000-05:002011-02-15T22:16:44.159-05:00My First Award!<div style="text-align: center;">I apologize for being so MIA.....I haven't posted in almost a week! Somehow time got away from me, but don't worry, I'm back with some great news....</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">I WON MY FIRST BLOG AWARD!!!!</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Yes, you heard right....thanks to <a href="http://runningthroughlifeinhighheels.blogspot.com/">Jessica</a>, I have won my very first ever blog award! I habitually <em>don't</em> win things, so this is a big deal for me! Jessica, thank you very much - and everyone else, make sure and check out her blog - it's super cute.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xOf7Int8HcBhRw7GNeh5Wfmen3cQTrDM19rAcY8UfAmJPe6dNTeBBEDi1HEghdiMrsScOQ2K618qMLdixeT8wzwez4eMlodkMPlp9IJMQ7MtGQC5dnP89yvNNCaK9J5zTz7ESc9he-lb/s200/breath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xOf7Int8HcBhRw7GNeh5Wfmen3cQTrDM19rAcY8UfAmJPe6dNTeBBEDi1HEghdiMrsScOQ2K618qMLdixeT8wzwez4eMlodkMPlp9IJMQ7MtGQC5dnP89yvNNCaK9J5zTz7ESc9he-lb/s200/breath.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So here is how the Breathtaking Blog Award works - I have to answer the following questions:</div><br />
<div align="center"><strong>1. Who/what inspires you?</strong></div><div align="center">It's hard for me to pick out one particular individual that I can say inspires me in every way. It would be easy for me to pick out people who inspire me in certain areas, but I can't think of a specific person who inspires me as a whole. So I will say this - people that inspire me are people who always manage to find the positive in any situation. I know we all get down and out at certain times in our lives, but the people in this world who know how to pull something inspiring out of any situation. People like this inspire me to work harder, love deeper, and try within myself to find the positive in every situation, no matter how bad it may seem to be.</div><div align="center"><strong>2. What is your favorite season and why?</strong></div><div align="center">Fall, hands down fall. I love the smells, the colors, the temperatures, and my birthday....I just love everything about fall. Yes, I know, the trees are more or less dying for the winter, but there's a beauty in it that I just can't explain. I love fall so much, it's a non-negotiable for me that I will get married in the fall (but not too close to my birthday, of course. That would mean I would only get one holiday instead of two.)</div><div align="center"><strong>3. What are you most looking forward to this year?</strong></div><div align="center">Warm temperatures, and sunshine! I'm sure everyone is saying this but I really notice a change in my mood (and a change in others' moods) when the sun is out and it's at least 40 degrees. With that said, this should be a good week because it's supposed to be 60 by Friday (heat wave!) Long-term, I'm also looking forward to finding out what 11:11 means (more on this in an upcoming post, but quick summary - I'm convinced I'm getting a sign from God.)</div><div align="center"><strong>4. If you could write a book about anything, what would it be about?</strong></div><div align="center">I'm not sure if I can pick one thing in particular right now, but I know that whatever I wrote about, it would be something funny. There's just not enough laughter in the world today and if I could help contribute to making people laugh through my writing, I would definitely go that route. Oh, who am I kidding, my book would be about mullets. </div><div align="center"><strong>5. What is your greatest passion?</strong></div><div align="center">My greatest passion in life is probably taking care of those I love and care about. I firmly believe that actions speak louder than words and while making sure people you care about know it verbally, it's so important to also show it through your actions. I just like to take care of people and do what I can for them - people have done a lot for me in my 26 years and I want to pay it forward.</div><div align="center"><strong>6. If you could change one thing about your life or yourself, what would it be?</strong></div><div align="center">I would have spent much more time in college trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life career-wise. We all know it's so easy in a fun college setting to get caught up in the day-to-day and enjoy the moment - which certainly has its merits, but at the same time, I wish I would have put more thought into the long-term - what do I want to do with myself for the next 30 years? Almost every gal (and guy, for that matter) that I know in their mid-20's is in the same position - not knowing what they have been put on the Earth to do. Sometimes it's not fun.</div><div align="center"><strong>7. Lastly, what is your favorite novel?</strong></div><div align="center">I used to read all.the.time. - and then "big girl" life got in the way and I fell out of the habit. I am trying to get back into reading at least one book a month. With that said, as weird as it sounds, I think my favorite novel is probably <u>The Chamber</u> by John Grisham. Not necessarily because of the subject matter, but because this is the first John Grisham book I read and he quickly became my favorite author. As a matter of fact, his latest book is sitting on my nightstand, just waiting to be read. Coming in a close second is the classic <u>To Kill A Mockingbird</u> (but I think that's on everyone's list.)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I get to pass this award on! Check out these Breathtaking Blogs:</div><div align="center"><a href="http://sunrisetosunsetpotpourri.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://waitingonthebutterflies.blogspot.com/">Sarah</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://jmnandersonarchives.blogspot.com/">Jamie</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-59490448199197266932011-02-09T21:46:00.000-05:002011-02-09T21:46:52.469-05:00What I'm Loving Wednesday<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU6GcZU74jrKEjNwdTvEBhLoQ2S_b76K1vb6OmIOJNMkqzwLw_WV6UcUMq88_tBCgrndQ2GvwzbBmbjMqd7UdVBCrQngehOvrFn6-6G0gqqtApS1q3CSNHwMRJikoSaAefGmADXASX78/s320/WILWlogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU6GcZU74jrKEjNwdTvEBhLoQ2S_b76K1vb6OmIOJNMkqzwLw_WV6UcUMq88_tBCgrndQ2GvwzbBmbjMqd7UdVBCrQngehOvrFn6-6G0gqqtApS1q3CSNHwMRJikoSaAefGmADXASX78/s320/WILWlogo.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center">It's Wednesday, and so that means I'm linking up with Jamie at <a href="http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/">This Kind of Love</a> to tell the world what I'm loving this week!</div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQtueJ-yscEYUaObxmVsA71vHzz4drep5JqAT8m8oCfYm8wmYOS3sKoQGuq7EDmDaGHsCdYfSr9hagNTtXmwwFNa7xi9ijGDJ_RA45d1UcUkMDhdC8AkLTimN7PHymOVFsIYGh5s17gHJ/s200/water+bottle.gif" width="186" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My water bottle. </strong>Mine is blue with brown polka dots, and a big "H" on it. Now you may be surprised to hear this, but I have started to frequent the gym (meaning I go once or twice a week, three times if I'm really ambitious.) I know that it's Fitness 101 to take a water bottle with you and drink while you work out in order to keep cool and hydrated, but I never wanted to do that because I could just picture myself falling off the elliptical while I was trying to take a drink. I'm not good at doing two things at once. When I went to the gym on Monday, I was so thirsty because I had popcorn at work, and so in a moment of weakness I filled my bottle up and took it to the gym with me. <em>Best decision I ever made! </em>I definitely stayed cooler which in turn helped me to keep up my pace during the workout. Imagine that, me listening to someone else's advice! I'm turning over a new leaf here.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwudK3f3m8cFW4esOokrf4XBXl5m-L9JIKH7OYcV493u0dcm4VpP0i8mfC4qZOmAZEAG1hIYHL6_Fq8rsNqmXsmsevOfOJrGzMFX6SCq3ezNcldDVSDScUoI8hA9JnYrE7PRidW3k48Ow6/s1600/osis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwudK3f3m8cFW4esOokrf4XBXl5m-L9JIKH7OYcV493u0dcm4VpP0i8mfC4qZOmAZEAG1hIYHL6_Fq8rsNqmXsmsevOfOJrGzMFX6SCq3ezNcldDVSDScUoI8hA9JnYrE7PRidW3k48Ow6/s200/osis.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Osis Dust It hair powder by Schwarzkopf.</strong> I have baby fine hair, and so I love volumizing products and use them daily, most times to excessive amounts - but you know what they say, the higher the hair, the closer to God. This is my latest discovery, thanks to <a href="http://pinkloulou-confessionsofa20something.blogspot.com/">Allison</a>. Aveda makes a similar product that I have tried and loved, but at $25 for a tiny bottle, I had to choose smaller hair as opposed to a smaller checking account. I found the Dust It on Amazon for $11 for the same size bottle as the Aveda product! Happiness! Shake a little (and I do mean a <em>little</em>) on your roots and fluff. The powder is a matte texturizer that holds like hairspray but doesn't have the crunchy feeling, <em>and</em> holds through humidity. Try it now! (I really should get some kind of endorsement deal with Schwarzkopf.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLh_gqsFvIB5qCCnpnlkpZXXK3Q2YomF_apHUdS1boWx0El7KZlaU0BuRakb8smfzxTC6l-IO6M6JflB8vcDZRPpisnShAMkEoSbX2CggZONI4wrQezdzK3qIex1h0byJHzczL-0FmpMI/s1600/turkey+hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLh_gqsFvIB5qCCnpnlkpZXXK3Q2YomF_apHUdS1boWx0El7KZlaU0BuRakb8smfzxTC6l-IO6M6JflB8vcDZRPpisnShAMkEoSbX2CggZONI4wrQezdzK3qIex1h0byJHzczL-0FmpMI/s200/turkey+hill.jpg" width="116" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Turkey Hill lemonade tea.</strong> Oh my word, cut me open right now and you will find this in my veins. I <u>cannot</u> get enough of this!!! Something about the combination of lemonade and tea is so irresistible. Most people only like to drink it in the summer but I am a year-rounder. Maybe subconsciously it reminds me of summer, which is nice since it has been snowing yet <em>again</em> today. Lucky for me, I have a boyfriend who is an enabler and keeps a carton in his refrigerator for me at all times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbG-qSIv3lleJjONlb_IqvZ4YWaGdVhAoEmF3HD-1Vre1TA-u5LOIOtf942NrtfZ4sf8urDMPxGwYOEGtj0JkaPeexRO1AwlQPszgQfn19nYeeL3vaQiCNbv4q5iA18QccBH5mck694Qq/s1600/tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbG-qSIv3lleJjONlb_IqvZ4YWaGdVhAoEmF3HD-1Vre1TA-u5LOIOtf942NrtfZ4sf8urDMPxGwYOEGtj0JkaPeexRO1AwlQPszgQfn19nYeeL3vaQiCNbv4q5iA18QccBH5mck694Qq/s200/tulips.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Tulips.</strong> On the same token as subconsciously thinking about summer, I have been looking at pictures of tulips lately in a last-ditch effort to get myself through the snow slump. Tulips are my favorite flowers of all time - I love them all, every color. They remind me of spring, which makes me happy. To me, spring is the season of hope - just when we thought it would be cold and gray winter forever, spring happens and everything is blooming and beautiful. While I detest the humidity and allergies that spring brings into my life (after all, every rose has its thorn) spring should serve as a reminder to us all that hope springs eternal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What are you loving this Wednesday??</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-61209139581138949942011-02-06T00:06:00.001-05:002011-02-06T00:06:28.445-05:00My Super Bowl PredictionThe Super Bowl is tomorrow and if you're anything like me, the last thing you pay attention to is the actual game. There's so much else going on - commercials, the halftime show.....and everybody knows it's not about who plays the better game, anyway. Here's what decides the Super Bowl for me:<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>1. Which team has the best looking quarterback?</strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFlOqJ37fTrqwMnGYdMjWFdnLcRyjKisTgBGx5TpWjAiCq43EETHo1FVnjX6g4F-VLE70D3PITmP_cAM7oOfCd54Akylv3dgVWte-aOV6DfVo3gBXXn1WX3cP71tAL9x8yDDN_XifR4Xf/s1600/benroethlisberger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdBLNTgFhAGji7rWTo5S_9Xk9pSgy6vjcCqZzJ_C75ZdD1yH-50Dv8vj3R1m1_kSgrxRSeC07ZeDKrDFK22-v4DYxHjM77vu2MmsX131E4Wp3CGa5o8ooLcxcsxH_j-vUQ2ScgeReEAwr/s1600/Aaron-Rodgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 204px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 135px;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdBLNTgFhAGji7rWTo5S_9Xk9pSgy6vjcCqZzJ_C75ZdD1yH-50Dv8vj3R1m1_kSgrxRSeC07ZeDKrDFK22-v4DYxHjM77vu2MmsX131E4Wp3CGa5o8ooLcxcsxH_j-vUQ2ScgeReEAwr/s200/Aaron-Rodgers.jpg" width="133" /></a>This is Aaron Rodgers. He is 27 years old and is the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. Not that we care so much about career statistics here, but Aaron went to the University of California and was drafted to the Packers in 2005. He's really good at football. More importantly, he's cute. Look at that face! And just a little bit of neat facial hair, just enough to say <em>I'm a football player, I'm tough</em> without saying <em>I'm lazy and I don't like to shave.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFlOqJ37fTrqwMnGYdMjWFdnLcRyjKisTgBGx5TpWjAiCq43EETHo1FVnjX6g4F-VLE70D3PITmP_cAM7oOfCd54Akylv3dgVWte-aOV6DfVo3gBXXn1WX3cP71tAL9x8yDDN_XifR4Xf/s1600/benroethlisberger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFlOqJ37fTrqwMnGYdMjWFdnLcRyjKisTgBGx5TpWjAiCq43EETHo1FVnjX6g4F-VLE70D3PITmP_cAM7oOfCd54Akylv3dgVWte-aOV6DfVo3gBXXn1WX3cP71tAL9x8yDDN_XifR4Xf/s200/benroethlisberger1.jpg" width="174" /></a>This is Ben Roethlisberger. He is 28 years old and is the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He went to Miami University in Ohio and was drafted to the Steelers in 2004. He is also really good at football. You may or may not have heard about this, but Ben has been in trouble a few times during his NFL career....we'll leave it at that and get to the relevant stuff - he is not cute. He could have been, at one point in time, but now he has let a wooly mammoth take over his face and it's not working for him. Additionally, he needs to get his hair cut because frankly, he's starting to get a little bit of a mullet. It's just not cute. Plus, for some reason he looks like he's at least 40.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Advantage: Green Bay. Come on, was this even a contest?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>2. Which team has the best rap fight song?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YuNnIIo_kQMmZ2Q4CQ-W5NIOPhSnoHB81Y1UuuctKoPpT_WH4mZG3PFZB02-JrGPCAIzeNAH3grQ6RZWtLGzHRd2s8GghF6Feo1nyN-XRc2y27o90c0LRnlai5poINk8ValyCgUlTqy4/s1600/wiz+khalifa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YuNnIIo_kQMmZ2Q4CQ-W5NIOPhSnoHB81Y1UuuctKoPpT_WH4mZG3PFZB02-JrGPCAIzeNAH3grQ6RZWtLGzHRd2s8GghF6Feo1nyN-XRc2y27o90c0LRnlai5poINk8ValyCgUlTqy4/s200/wiz+khalifa.jpg" width="200" /></a>This is Wiz Khalifa. He wrote a song called "Black and Yellow" all about how much he loves Pittsburgh and the Steelers. You might have heard it, it's a pretty popular song. Now some people don't think this song is about Pittsburgh, and that's certainly up for debate, but when the Steelers made it to the playoffs and now to the Super Bowl, they decided to <u>own</u> this song. I certainly hope Wiz is being paid a kickback from the Steelers.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAzE3aULPSWBBJk5eQBE6ML_ZskeykDpUeFD-FGfEfq22otyGPSzUZyVrWWax7GTr6GBxhPIekMzCyqY1dzz8nsxvf5G3y2FYX2kB6JwTCdN1Jws6nvNCd1cxGEbVahhsIwIGxxop9K6J/s1600/lil+wayne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAzE3aULPSWBBJk5eQBE6ML_ZskeykDpUeFD-FGfEfq22otyGPSzUZyVrWWax7GTr6GBxhPIekMzCyqY1dzz8nsxvf5G3y2FYX2kB6JwTCdN1Jws6nvNCd1cxGEbVahhsIwIGxxop9K6J/s200/lil+wayne.jpg" width="200" /></a>So Lil Wayne hears "Black and Yellow'" and decides that his team also needs an anthem. Thus, "Green and Yellow" was born. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Weezy, but really? He couldn't get any more creative than "Green and Yellow?" Yes, I understand those are Green Bay's colors, but that's basically the same as "Black and Yellow." Weezy, my friend, you have been sippin on too much sizzurp.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFlOqJ37fTrqwMnGYdMjWFdnLcRyjKisTgBGx5TpWjAiCq43EETHo1FVnjX6g4F-VLE70D3PITmP_cAM7oOfCd54Akylv3dgVWte-aOV6DfVo3gBXXn1WX3cP71tAL9x8yDDN_XifR4Xf/s1600/benroethlisberger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <strong>Advantage: Pittsburgh. Wiz Khalifa did it first!</strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>3. Which team has the best souvenir?</strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyBQK1ty7V_uoWe-u3KWv5wQ7HCZjnfTll4RG5vAmg3MaHaDWr5rPsD-s4QUwhtIhKF6kBaqscrH2EcRmfmpcWQvEgitTwgSF4sVGIvJv9WoUzmCZSQg86nR2EbMPdcUNw1cB2zoCPH2Q/s1600/terrible_towel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyBQK1ty7V_uoWe-u3KWv5wQ7HCZjnfTll4RG5vAmg3MaHaDWr5rPsD-s4QUwhtIhKF6kBaqscrH2EcRmfmpcWQvEgitTwgSF4sVGIvJv9WoUzmCZSQg86nR2EbMPdcUNw1cB2zoCPH2Q/s200/terrible_towel2.jpg" width="200" /></a>This is a Terrible Towel. I don't know much about how this works so I looked it up on Wikipedia....and I still don't get it. Basically the team needed some kind of gimmick, and they came up with this towel, and for some reason they decided to call it Terrible. I don't know, I don't get it either....can someone from Pittsburgh help me? Why would you call anything about your team Terrible? At least you could use it to dry your seat off if it had been raining before the game.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3uiTA3cneZUZuXlh86h-Fjd9ALvAzNyDJ1Okz06THOaRNyBGvqJll0_b7vOF_PUZGrshuK0LFiQLg6jhaMmTWIF9N68ye-RZLhl8MHrs3ck-FKUomHH-AQLb07W0eWWGavFV2M_A9smB/s1600/cheesehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3uiTA3cneZUZuXlh86h-Fjd9ALvAzNyDJ1Okz06THOaRNyBGvqJll0_b7vOF_PUZGrshuK0LFiQLg6jhaMmTWIF9N68ye-RZLhl8MHrs3ck-FKUomHH-AQLb07W0eWWGavFV2M_A9smB/s200/cheesehead.jpg" width="200" /></a>This is a cheesehead hat! It's awesome. I understand the connection here: Green Bay is in Wisconsin, which is famous for cheese, thus = a cheesehead hat. It makes perfect sense. Usually they are made out of foam and can also be referred to as a "Cheese Hat" since it is, in fact, a hat. Genius. You may or may not know that humans lose most of their body heat from their head, so wearing a Cheese Hat at a football game also keeps you much warmer than a little Terrible Towel would.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Advantage: Cheesehead Hat. I love cheese, and I like to be warm.</strong></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So there you have it. Most may say that the winner of the Super Bowl is determined by who plays the better game, but I think it's about way more than who scores the most points. Based on my system, the Green Bay Packers will be winning tomorrow.....and if they really do win, remember who gave you the hot tip.</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-25837120303882309512011-02-03T22:13:00.000-05:002011-02-03T22:13:47.552-05:00The Secret Life Of My iPod.....<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I had originally planned on writing today's post on a different topic, but while at work today I was discussing favorite old-school songs with two of my coworkers, which led to a discussion about songs we love but are embarrassed to admit it - or, our guilty listening pleasures. Naturally I began to think about what my guilty pleasures are when it comes to music, but of course I didn't talk about it because....well, that would be embarrassing! So instead, I decided to share it on my blog for the whole world to see. Just like I always say, if you're going to walk up to the bell, you might as well ring it.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Keep in mind, these are my guilty listening pleasures that until this point I have been ashamed to admit that I'm secretly crazy about....most other things I will openly admit to liking, for example, Justin Bieber. Without further adieu, I present my top 5 guilty pleasures:</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxi7TrYFx2Yc6JuDvnBNe8ZvFjMzJss2a_6d41Gw5cpzq0dgsAIL-NGUxwynvDEhuH5L1Kdw7a_E3a9QRFLf0auydxkhlYosunelcp-Q1tqxtDycf0TbnyLuCSmviEfpNeGyLByh_cU1S/s1600/LFO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxi7TrYFx2Yc6JuDvnBNe8ZvFjMzJss2a_6d41Gw5cpzq0dgsAIL-NGUxwynvDEhuH5L1Kdw7a_E3a9QRFLf0auydxkhlYosunelcp-Q1tqxtDycf0TbnyLuCSmviEfpNeGyLByh_cU1S/s200/LFO.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>1. "Summer Girls" by LFO.</strong></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Not only is this a catchy song, it's also educational - how can you argue a song that teaches listeners that Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets? And to be honest with you, before I heard this song, I didn't realize that the great Larry Bird wore Jersey #33. I actually was <em>thisclose</em> to seeing LFO in concert - in high school, my friend Anna Conley & I escorted her little sister & a few friends to a Britney Spears concert (so yes, I have been to a Britney concert) and LFO was supposed to be the opening act. Anna & I were all ready, wearing our Abercrombie & Fitch and everything....and LFO didn't show up because they were sick. To this day, that really upsets me because I would rather tell people I had seen LFO in concert and not the trainwreck that is Britney.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbpDWIMEe73BQVTnNpHc0neOb03gmCSg3hS0O-lwuWvQBUqdU14PULZ4zsqaGWtEnBjSKvuEHzFiMYctnpYH214NdE7RogWPEZlWMNbgFMH7ICFug3djnnq_SWXuVr8uMAVv3-UE2i-Mt/s1600/Bon+Jovi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbpDWIMEe73BQVTnNpHc0neOb03gmCSg3hS0O-lwuWvQBUqdU14PULZ4zsqaGWtEnBjSKvuEHzFiMYctnpYH214NdE7RogWPEZlWMNbgFMH7ICFug3djnnq_SWXuVr8uMAVv3-UE2i-Mt/s1600/Bon+Jovi.jpg" /></a><strong>2. "Living On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi.</strong> Now don't get me wrong, it's not embarrassing at all to like Bon Jovi. They are, after all, one of the most legitimate of the 80's hair bands, and Jon Bon Jovi has had a long and illustrious solo career. This song is a guilty pleasure because no matter where I'm at, or what I'm doing.....I <em>have</em> to sing along. As Daniel and most of my friends can attest, I am no Celine Dion, and me trying to hit the "whoa-OH" in the chorus sounds like a duck being strangled. Admit it - you <u>can't</u> listen to this and not sing along.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbdGuF3czdzi_lDqhpoq17HSxod1hBbo9CDNv19Ed5sG5KNIMco1ltXB60VN-p0eXJjSOJNnhBRDzXbkwM3LT4a0XdoWOgSMSfvTeBglq2NbL86LqIUg9JsxPzZnHdp0EgMNcSRYSvLEl/s1600/Miley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbdGuF3czdzi_lDqhpoq17HSxod1hBbo9CDNv19Ed5sG5KNIMco1ltXB60VN-p0eXJjSOJNnhBRDzXbkwM3LT4a0XdoWOgSMSfvTeBglq2NbL86LqIUg9JsxPzZnHdp0EgMNcSRYSvLEl/s200/Miley.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong>3. "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus.</strong> As much as you love to hate Miley, the chorus of this song is just so dang <em>catchy,</em> and easy to relate to. I mean, who hasn't hopped into a cab at LAX, with a dream and a cardigan, and then a Jay-Z song comes on, and you started waving your arms around like crazy? I see people raising the roof in the backseat of cabs all the time. While rocking out to this song, you just somehow have to forget that the girl singing it had a double identity as a Disney character and will probably turn out to be the next Britney, and that her dad could more or less be credited with making the mullet popular. Just enjoy the music.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnltfGhDXIVoDBAVC-OmfWsw-xujy_Jxm6iDl4R-uvgdoeri3b4CRD39nocy35muYC7-lwNJh4eMcLS_dsN9gQ8rCC_chfkQROIACz68apBHYfIecWBPZLR7TL3h01clvzgKSt1_hw1w/s1600/Ricky+Martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnltfGhDXIVoDBAVC-OmfWsw-xujy_Jxm6iDl4R-uvgdoeri3b4CRD39nocy35muYC7-lwNJh4eMcLS_dsN9gQ8rCC_chfkQROIACz68apBHYfIecWBPZLR7TL3h01clvzgKSt1_hw1w/s200/Ricky+Martin.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong>4. "She Bangs" by Ricky Martin.</strong> I don't care who you are, if you can listen to this song and not wiggle in your chair just even a little bit, something is wrong with you. Ricky's Latin beats appeal to even the whitest of white people. I will openly admit that I purchased this CD and his first CD (featuring "Livin La Vida Loca") for my mother and I was not ashamed to rock out in the car with her. If you like Ricky Martin and you are ashamed to admit it, just tell people that Zumba made you do it....everybody's all about that these days.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq8LFNwhZq6xLi0TxRfz7EVPoIyA5uKtyaZzuVePeGlm-CmUw5v67zewStsz3preKi-yPOpsvfVuRnJntR_UZ-ascljwZcbwzULEeVmcRsS31d1wTQT0FUSDJIoeU9i8cWdzcVKl7H-Nh/s1600/All+Thata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq8LFNwhZq6xLi0TxRfz7EVPoIyA5uKtyaZzuVePeGlm-CmUw5v67zewStsz3preKi-yPOpsvfVuRnJntR_UZ-ascljwZcbwzULEeVmcRsS31d1wTQT0FUSDJIoeU9i8cWdzcVKl7H-Nh/s200/All+Thata.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong>5. The "All That" Soundtrack.</strong> I bought this CD on a whim back in, oh, probably 1995 and let me tell you, it was probably the best $16 I've ever spent. Not only does it include classic artists like Coolio, Immature, and Mokenstef, but also sound clips of "All That" skits such as Goodburger & Earboy. Talk about a blast from the past! My personal favorite jam on this CD is "Candy Rain" by Soul For Real. My love, do you ever dream of, candy coated rainbows? There's even a Lori Beth Denberg skit on here - I know you remember who she is! All I have to say is, "Welcome to Goodburger, home of the Goodburger, can I take your orrrrrrder?"</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">What are your guilty listening pleasures??? Feel free to comment anonymously if you have to!</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-43474280251149352492011-01-30T21:39:00.000-05:002011-01-30T22:55:45.452-05:00Crazy Things We Do For Love....My First Grappling Tournament<div align="center"> Meet Daniel.<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568190889879060066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB60mdmW0XCIBHJLF12kgkAbAv6dYIDaJNwAApBQdva6UTOVyaOzvTb8vORqECt5Yjg463uWwwKeiKcSWbanM3ewbxQ0163Nvfx9Q1lX4iuxf9qmCfIag-g8GTj59udo67whk8Y2ho04zd/s200/grapp3.bmp" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center">Daniel is my wonderful boyfriend who has somehow managed to put up with my antics for over a year now. Over the duration of our relationship, Daniel has introduced me to a lot of new places and things that otherwise I would probably never experience. The reason for my gratitude about this is twofold - one, for him being willing to share his life with me; and two, the comedy that usually ensues makes for excellent blog material.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Daniel has been taking judo classes for about two years now at a dojo in Winchester. <em>Dojo</em> is the technical term for "gym-type place where people take martial arts lessons." In addition to judo, Daniel likes to participate in grappling competitions. I don't know how to describe exactly what grappling is, so I looked it up on Wikipedia and it says that grappling is "a general term that <span style="color:#000000;">covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and </span><a title="Martial arts" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts"><span style="color:#000000;">martial arts</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> that are practiced both as </span><a title="Combat sport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_sport"><span style="color:#000000;">combat sports</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> and for </span><a class="mw-redirect" title="Self defense" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_defense"><span style="color:#000000;">self defense</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">." There you go.</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">You can imagine my skepticism when my dear boyfriend asked me if I would like to go to a grappling tournament with him this past fall, especially when he told me that we would need to leave about 7 am in order to get to Louisville for the weigh-in at 8:30. Oh, the irony.....I'm what you might call a little high-maintenance in regards to personal hygiene & vanity, and so this meant that I would have to get up around 5:15 am in order to leave by 7. But, I wanted to be a supportive girlfriend, and I have to admit that my curiosity was getting the best of me, so I decided to go.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>WELL. </strong>I can honestly say that I was not disappointed when we finally arrived at the gym at 8:30. I could immediately tell that the grappling competition was going to be a highly entertaining place. Basically how it works is a huge mat is placed on the floor (in this case, over half a basketball court) and the mat is divided into 6 areas, all labeled by number. Now when I say "divided," I mean, there are 6 tables around the edges of the mat and pretty much you just try your best to stay in the general area of the table while rolling around on the mat with another person. It was insanity. Matches were going on at all 6 stations at once, so at any given moment there were 12 men grappling with each other in generally the same area. It was a frequent occurance that one match would run into another and then it became really confusing because I couldn't figure out who was supposed to be where. I felt really fortunate that at most times I could pick Daniel out of the melee. Observe:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568184633932096194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmqfJ3OjIctwiHwTzhG9h4zmNhS9ziCKFu1LR-Y2HdYDa9X2FUqxj2ggv08CDU7B-zrXzSsg3QX_SwW19b9FFqomftxBgUjPOxm97k5xAed_CG8EWVgrtMfTfTOWHTDMLT1Q98w3C-26U/s200/grapp1.bmp" border="0" />That's not Daniel, but on the left is Jim, one of Daniel's fellow dojo-mates who also attended the grappling match. Do you see what I mean? Look in the background.....those other two guys were a lot closer than it looks like in this picture. It's basically just a big free-for-all.</div><div align="center"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568192137718202002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7TkpqQSArCNT3Mmp9coB9f0szwL27HmwkApm7H1aLcTMHS-V5NkwcS09CYmv7lb_5PFP1ZJa-wSeIrg_krHJErL1cjWCW2A5l6InRlV2Ap91A-h1VK4k4eV1tMfn7SxOBYQknhH4qjpt/s200/grapp2.bmp" border="0" /> <p align="center">Jim, Daniel, and lots of medals!</p><p></p><div align="center">We were at the grappling competition for about six hours, and while I was (and am still!) super proud of Daniel winning two medals, what I really came away with from the day were these three things:</div><p align="center"><strong>1.</strong> <strong>There are a lot of male drama queens at grappling tournaments.</strong> I have never heard so many grunts and groans in my life, all from men who were shaved and spray-tanned like their life depended on it. Also, here's a hot tip if you are planning to invest in the stock market: high-priced sporting wear (ex. Under Armour, etc.) would be a great choice because let me tell you, some of the men at these grappling competitions are keeping them in business.</p><div align="center"><strong>2. Some men should never, ever go shirtless in public, not for any reason.</strong> Self-explanatory. Come on fellas, if you know you are going to be shirtless in public, try and clean up a little. Your Teen-Wolf-esque back hair is not attractive for spectators.</div><p align="center"><strong>3. It looks like half the guys at grappling competitions are deaf, but they aren't.</strong> It seems to be a popular thing to do to carry your mouthguard around your ear at grappling competions. This confused me at first because I was unaware that grappling was such a popular sport for deaf people. Upon closer examination, they weren't hearing aids, but mouthguards. My point here is, don't be fooled, everyone can hear everything you say.</p><p align="center">All in all, my first grappling competition was a highly entertaining and fulfilling experience and I will definitely be attending another one. However, this time I will be focusing less on the action and more on the spectators....peopleofwalmart.com doesn't have <em>anything</em> on this crowd. Don't worry, I will take lots of pictures!<br /></p>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-8586689859280086632011-01-27T20:44:00.000-05:002011-01-27T21:40:15.925-05:00Flirting with Fame...The Time I Told Nick Lachey "No, Thank You."<div align="center">Meet three of my best girlfriends, all of whom are pivotal characters in this story:<br /></div><div></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1MFlfZdc59eWAAZyivdMECAXgpi4wU4opaQpox1-39NfyZqWWTqRzGIBYuMoqC_dEAOmfHrn88nNoWy1Mmt1-NBhNOCeUw_XYfKDMdWTMuIBk8-YErygnUwWr_Aohv1iXG2ruYOHWXya/s1600/Blog+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567055765022658306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1MFlfZdc59eWAAZyivdMECAXgpi4wU4opaQpox1-39NfyZqWWTqRzGIBYuMoqC_dEAOmfHrn88nNoWy1Mmt1-NBhNOCeUw_XYfKDMdWTMuIBk8-YErygnUwWr_Aohv1iXG2ruYOHWXya/s200/Blog+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1MFlfZdc59eWAAZyivdMECAXgpi4wU4opaQpox1-39NfyZqWWTqRzGIBYuMoqC_dEAOmfHrn88nNoWy1Mmt1-NBhNOCeUw_XYfKDMdWTMuIBk8-YErygnUwWr_Aohv1iXG2ruYOHWXya/s1600/Blog+2.jpg"></a> </p><div>That's Sarah on the left, and Cathy on the right. I have known these ladies since my freshman year at Georgetown College when we joined the same sorority and we have been BFF ever since.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4HfTDurNLoo09LXzL-mJ7V5oSvIRo8nc6xXzWuD4B41bTjPvuH-cG59BQe2EGK7Oy7cuV0nBfj8j1RfW-RqIYD01-TB3s9Sd9HdIL3v0P30tYt_-cv3coZtkPaccBj3_xadARkwB60QO/s1600/blog.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567055553928692258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4HfTDurNLoo09LXzL-mJ7V5oSvIRo8nc6xXzWuD4B41bTjPvuH-cG59BQe2EGK7Oy7cuV0nBfj8j1RfW-RqIYD01-TB3s9Sd9HdIL3v0P30tYt_-cv3coZtkPaccBj3_xadARkwB60QO/s200/blog.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Jen (on the left) is one of Cathy's best friends from high school. We met through Cathy while we were all three still in college, and although I don't see her as much as I would like, for some reason it always seems like Jen is around when some of my craziest adventures have occurred.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">These lovely ladies and I make an annual girl's night pilgrimage to Cincinnati, and this particular trip took place in the summer of 2008. Cathy, Sarah, Jennifer & I had been to the Maroon 5 & Counting Crows concert at Riverbend, and after the concert, we decided to go out on the town for awhile.</div><div align="center"><br />Upon arriving back to the hotel, we were all worn out and ready to go to bed. Little did we know....adventure waited for us in the lobby of the Westin Cincinnati. (Yes, thanks to Cathy's remarkable Hotwire skills, we were staying on the 13th floor of this fabulous hotel.) As we are walking up to the elevator, I can see an older man and woman and a younger couple getting on it. We get to the elevator and I can see that with 4 people are already inside, not leaving much room for the 4 of us. The older man says, "Come on in, girls!" and trying to take into consideration <em>our </em>comfort and safety (I was trying to think of the group, really) I told the man that we would wait for the next elevator. The younger woman, who had her back to us, turned her face slightly to the side and Sarah blurts out:</div><div align="center"><br /><strong>"THAT'S VANESSA MINNILLO!"</strong></div><div align="center"><br />Then I saw it. I hadn't noticed before, but the younger man in the group was standing in the corner of the elevator by the panel with the buttons, hidden from view. I saw this face peek out from around the side of the elevator and........</div><div align="center"><br /><strong>IT WAS NICK LACHEY.</strong></div><div align="center"><br />I kid you not. Standing right there in front of us! I almost died. And of course, right at the moment I announced to the group that Nick Lachey was on that elevator, the doors closed.....because, after all, I had told the older gentleman that we <em>would wait for the next elevator.</em></div><div align="center"><br />For a split second, the 4 of us stood there and looked at each other in stunned silence.....and then immediately started mashing the buttons to bring another elevator down to our floor. The whole time we were watching to see what floor Nick Lachey's elevator stopped at (and can I just say, we were staying on a higher floor than he was.) We get in the elevator and I get off at the 13th floor because, after all, that's where our room was, right? - and as I heard the elevator doors close behind me, it became quickly apparent that my 3 amigas had left me on the 13th floor, without a room key. I suppose that was my punishment for telling Nick Lachey & his entourage that <em>no thank you,we'll just wait for the next elevator.</em></div><div align="center"><br />The rest of the story is just hearsay - I wasn't there because I was hanging out in the lobby of the 13th floor waiting for my friends to come back (where else would I have been?) According to Cathy, Sarah, and Jennifer, they found Nick Lachey's room and put their ear up to the door, only to be almost caught by Vanessa Minnillo who was heading out to walk her dog. The three of them "accidentally" got in the elevator with her, where the following conversation took place:</div><div align="center"><br />Sarah: "That's a cute dog....what kind is he?"</div><div align="center">Vanessa Minnillo: "Oh, he's a mutt."</div><div align="center">Sarah: "I've heard that's the smartest kind!"</div><div align="center"><br />I will say that while I enjoyed my rest on the nice chaise lounge in the lobby (because at that point my feet were killing me), I would have <em>much </em>rather been in the elevator with my girlfriends - not so much to see Vanessa Minnillo in person, but rather to hear us try and make awkward conversation with her. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">To this day, I have to admit that I am not sure everything that supposedly happened after I got off the elevator really happened. Then again, just because I would make a story like that up to make my friend who had blocked me from getting in an elevator with Nick Lachey jealous.....doesn't mean my friends would.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We later heard somewhere that Nick Lachey had been in Cincinnati that weekend for a wedding. Ever since then, on our annual girl's night trip, we make it our mission of the evening to find Nick again. Unfortunately, we have yet to do so....but when we do, I am going to make <strong>sure</strong> we get on that elevator with him this time.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-25600127783846505882011-01-26T20:52:00.000-05:002011-01-26T21:46:59.777-05:00What I'm Loving Wednesday<div align="center"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566680430984180578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTuka2TLlmtJSZAnEKxzLqXUe9xa-PP5VqJ8SBaniDYuixaDMvG2eM6cZ4Vrid1z5ajRHXTIsvKL_iGeFjdGva5Jmh99W-5bpTN5eHB9BCLYylqjuXA4ZDu8ttXanJHcHaP9cVDz-2xp2/s200/WILW.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Happy Wednesday!</div><br /><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center">Usually by Wednesday of any given week, I am totally stressed out about work and so I have to find solace in the little things that keep me happy and functioning....and this has been one of those weeks I'm linking up to <strong>What I'm Loving Wednesday </strong>at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/littledaisymay.blogspot.com">littledaisymay.blogspot.com</a> to share what I'm loving this week!</div><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566685124564573986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsqx8nEosfOSbqfRSKE9F0GB1uSuSWYHwSrmlXsOv1yR7x2Q5rV4x6im-Tjy5tsdUANcarln62lsRVBjfjmC3gPrFwlT4rXeMPYxhIDQQRnyXdKrtsp_MYMOImS-HqLSH9ODi9V5wHP1w/s200/steven+tyler.bmp" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>Steven Tyler. </strong>Yes, I know, you don't have to tell me.....he looks like a crazy man with the guyliner, spray tan, and excessive plastic surgery. I'll tell you this much - Steven Tyler is going to carry <em>American Idol</em> this season. Randy Jackson is played out (dawg) and I have never been a fan of Jennifer Lopez. In fact, she drives me crazy. Now Steven Tyler? He is out of control hilarious. I think my favorite moments are when he just randomly throws his head back and lets out that high pitched scream. I wish I had the ability to make that noise just so I could do it at the most inopportune and awkward times.</div><div align="center"> </div> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566687781997243282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7Xi9MDmBLwWB9s4i4vnH1aTgP5A8Ta0JMNRdjhkKujFM90KUnNCulsvENqx_K457Vkru6gD_v8UUUhdFIg_y-7shCiDiI1-9bwPKgSafz6oUwV0_yLSQs_5pUyjGsjALRvIwAgDaBc9r/s200/MichaelJacksonPYT.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><strong>"P.Y.T." by Michael Jackson. </strong>Now don't get me wrong, just about every Michael Jackson song makes me rock out regardless of where I am.....but "P.Y.T." takes it to another level. I usually listen to it on the way to work in the mornings and I seem to always forget that a) there are lots of cars around during rush hour traffic and b) that I got a little overzealous with the DIY projects one Sunday and my car windows are no longer tinted (another story for another day.) When I realize someone in the car next to me has been watching me rock out as only a white girl can, I find happiness in my embarrassment by deciding that I have provided them some hilarious entertainment on their way to work and made their day.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566689525361826450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iGsomZqCChSLa3TyyK5hzmVVJSAHhPLL-Lbvl4mlSPlJqOCUny-pCAOIDkfWSTCQ_xHnMtLzoXNzBek44ThEIthOsCL838LZlih35NLRfiKBmXjJdMPbcZcTOIzovhxl4ICln7gnOrhX/s200/sweetarts-hearts-14oz-bag-ebay.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><strong>SweetTart hearts.</strong> OH MY WORD. I cannot say enough good things about these joyous little bundles of sweet & tart. By far my favorite candy (even surpassing chocolate), I get so excited between late January through Easter because the seasonal SweetTarts hit the stores. I like the hearts because they come in all of the traditional SweetTart flavors, but the downside is that their small size requires you to eat them until your mouth is raw to feel satisfied. Now on the other hand, around Easter we get the Chicks, Ducks, & Bunnies SweetTarts and while they are bigger in size, they only come in three flavors (pink, blue, and purple), which is kind of a downer for me. It doesn't help matters that somehow I have gotten my coworkers addicted to the Chicks, Ducks, & Bunnies and so even when I know I shouldn't eat more candy, they are always lurking around somewhere.<br /></p><p align="center">What are you loving this Wednesday???</p><p align="center"></p></div>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-20022459523484411062011-01-22T18:44:00.000-05:002011-01-22T19:47:02.255-05:00Controversial Topics: My Defense of Justin Bieber<div align="center"> I'll say it, I'm a fan of Justin Bieber. Most of my Facebook friends probably know this because I have made a few status updates about Beebs, and most recently I posted this picture:<br /></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565161076471926562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DF3w-d7P_RhGXkix1xZHwcDrBWj9_SkKr19B63yipA2GOkbgVTVDDfx6hxbeWFiMya8WRR4RL6sxtAGJ_h2nKJv5P8Lp7Y0jL7wpO2M9OiyAXEigl0AzuMQXt0JKNPtKE6D-ZC2SfCCY/s200/Beebs.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Yeah, that's me and one of my BFFs Sarah, and the Justin Bieber calendar she got me for Christmas. I guess you could call her an enabler.<br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center">I think it's one of the Understatements of the Year that not a lot of people over the age of 15 like Justin Bieber, and I just don't get it. Personally, I think he has a <em>lot</em> going for him. Consider:</div><p align="center"><strong>1. A killer entourage.</strong> I think we've all heard the story about how Beebs became famous, but just in case someone hasn't, let me recap here. His mom had posted some videos of him singing on YouTube and this guy who used to work for So So Def (as in, Jermaine Dupri's record label....quick flashback to high school: <em>money ain't a thang....)</em> saw the videos and called Justin's mom up. After he made his demo tapes, Beebs had Usher and Justin Timberlake fighting over who was going to sign him. You read that right - USHER and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, A-list music artists. Usher eventually won the war (<em>yeah man</em>) and the rest is history. Say what you want, but if Usher is in a bidding war with Justin Timberlake over you, something legit is going on. And since Usher is now, for all intents and purposes, Justin Bieber's boss, I would say Justin has a pretty serious posse when he rolls up in the club. (He is only 16, so I don't think he should be rolling up in a club. But I digress.)</p><p align="center"><strong>2. Catchy songs.</strong> I might be a white girl, but I know a good tune when I hear one and Bieber's got some hot beats. You can't tell me one female on this Earth who doesn't want to be "One Less Lonely Girl," and you have to be on another level of creative to figure out how to cleverly incorporate "Eenie Meenie Minie Mo" into a pop song (with Sean Kingston making a cameo appearance, no less.....see point #1 above.) </p><div align="center"><strong>3. He's not the only young pop star....</strong>who started out looking like a total dork and ended up making it big time. Cases in point:</div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565173502558251522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Bhml1R42ySJmPJrActFXGPUgoWCNnUIwnfGdqC0Im3ZOLKVCqxWlX5epXE0zPN4ub4axfVu4-8cH_3RvzUhYau2lqHE06ODDBCaqTzFdz5pFzV4z1oaeIcqXUDgxfTkaNQqUFFoqmzY0/s200/timberlake.bmp" border="0" /><br />The man himself, Mr. Timberlake, circa <em>Mickey Mouse Club</em> days.</p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565173749020517346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 162px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMBDmouFaTf4mwuOC4SJQZHyflSgTIYqxjvFnasSLjAFMbu28NRLOqIwakINgN9UkohwpiJlvQOMoiCrVmwo5w7pJ3neQmXMNo7fcl4f3d7mTfNhJfGVVXpY7AIUueW6Aez4C73MEgs4v/s200/Marky-Mark.jpg" border="0" />Professionally known as Mark Wahlberg, you might recognize this heartbreaker as Marky Mark, circa the <em>Funky Bunch </em>days. Now if this man hasn't done a 180, I don't know who has.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565174193252636210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 119px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNAAl5-A6lqD2Obs3NYDZHv3ytRGoTndcOAxksoDyA6_y6sOhinDPl15xlR7-TzwuSFzU17iT-_wAAsfYuVJKc2hrSU5OHmaoCdQlTKx-LVgGiIuCivswU6Y3jKC-puUvAHhK_9OvElqX/s200/ricky_martin_menudo.jpg" border="0" />Ricky Martin, circa <em>Menudo </em>days. Total dork. Come to think of it, Dear Boyfriend just pointed out that young Ricky & Justin Bieber share a striking resemblance to each other at this age. Coincidence? And yes I know Ricky Martin is gay, and yes I know a lot of people think Justin Bieber is, but we aren't here to discuss that. We are discussing his legitimacy as an artist.</p><p align="center">Love him or hate him, I'll put good money on it that when a Justin Bieber song comes on the radio, you at least know the words to the chorus. So own it already! If you just can't bring yourself to do it, think of it this way....supporting Justin Bieber is like supporting Usher's bank account. That might make you feel a little better.<br /></p><br /><br /><p></p>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-69419712286179535282011-01-19T20:19:00.000-05:002011-01-19T21:02:48.042-05:00If I Ever Get My 15 Minutes....I don't think it's any secret that I am dying to be famous. Not really in the typical, "I would like to make 15 million dollars a year" kind of way, but more so in the "I saw you on the local news!" kind of way. Of course, based on the fact that I like to stalk local TV news crews in (usually successful) attempts to get my mug on TV (more on this in a later post), I spend a lot of time thinking, <em>if I could be on any television show I wanted to be, what would I choose?</em> It's hard for me to choose just one.....so instead, I've chosen five.<br /><br /><strong>1. <em>The Amazing Race</em>.</strong> Now, this should not be a surprise to anyone who knows me. Somehow this show has become the only program I regularly watch during the week. I've given up on <em>Desperate Housewives</em>, I'll have <em>House</em> on in the background but not really watch it, and I don't get upset anymore if I miss <em>Grey's Anatomy.</em> But <em>Amazing Race</em>, I never miss it. DVR is not even acceptable, I have to watch it live. This is something that my dear boyfriend doesn't understand. Anyway, how much fun would it be to be in a race around the world?? It would be so awesome to travel around the globe and see so many places in a short time. However.....I am not exactly low-maintenance when traveling, and that could cause some problems in regards to the whole "race" aspect. My partner would have to be the navigator, the one to complete all physical challenges, and the one to keep track of our travel money. Well, that makes me sound pretty useless, doesn't it? My role on the team would be the schemer....I would make other teams miss their planes, go in the wrong direction, and fail to reach the finish line.....so basically, I would be the brains of the operation.<br /><br /><strong>2. <em>Jeopardy!</em></strong> I have always wanted to be on this show, for as long as I can remember. I think it all started when I used to watch it as a little girl and the questions would be something along the lines of, "what color is this?" I understand that adult Jeopardy! is probably a little more difficult, but I'm ready. Also, the atmosphere on the show is a little bland. I really think I could add a little spice to Alex Trebek's life.<br /><br /><strong>3. <em>Cash Cab.</em></strong> OMG. Love this show - you get the opportunity to win money while you are going somewhere you were planning on going anyway, AND you don't even have to drive yourself there. What's not to love? And the host is pretty cute. I am going to NYC in October and you bet your bottom dollar I will be peeping in every cab I encounter to see if it's the Cash Cab. If it is, I will bang on the door until they let me in....but don't worry, Discovery Channel, I'll act surprised when the lights start flashing. If there's one thing I've learned from watching this show, it's that you should always travel with a nerd in NYC. It doesn't appear to me like the people you would have to choose from for a "street shout out" are very intelligent.<br /><br /><strong>4. <em>Deadliest Catch.</em></strong> Are you surprised to see this one? We've already established that I'm not what you would call low-maintenance, and I'm not really the outdoorsy type either. This is why I would stay up in the wheel house on the Northwestern and hang out with Sig Hansen. It would be awesome to be on one of those crab fishing boats, minus the whole crab fishing part. My job on the boat would be to eat some of the crabs....you know, quality control. The only way this could go wrong is if the boat sunk, but I'm choosing not to think about that possibility.<br /><br /><strong>5. <em>The Today Show.</em></strong> Could you not see this one coming?! As I said earlier, my obsession with news shows will be discussed in a later post, but there's no way I can not include the Today Show on my list. As a matter of fact, my dream job is to be co-anchor with Matt Lauer. I love to talk to people and hear their stories and so I think I would be the perfect candidate if Meredith Vieira ever leaves. I plan on making this pitch to Matt while I am in NYC so I'll let you know how it turns out.<br /><br />In the meantime, look for me on local Lexington news shows - I watch LEX18 in the mornings, but the WKYT cameras seem to love my face :)Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391176279503370038.post-82594488172683197952011-01-17T15:00:00.000-05:002011-01-17T15:41:55.212-05:00These Are a Few Of My Favorite Things...the Achy-Breaky Big Mistakey<div align="center">Anyone who knows me at all knows that one of my favorite things in the world is....a good mullet. I have been a fan of mullets for years and am a seasoned mullet hunter. I even did an informative speech on mullets for a public speaking class in college (and yes, I did get an A.) When people ask me why I am so fascinated by these creatures, the only answer I can come up with is that a mullet is not just a haircut, it's a lifestyle. (Also, let us not forget my Eastern Kentucky roots, and therefore a natural interest in anything remotely redneck.) I feel that it is my duty as a mullet aficionado to share with the world some knowledge about these works of art! Today I will cover two of the four main species of mullets: mullets and skullets.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><strong></strong><div align="center"><strong>1. The basic mullet.</strong> Of course, we all know there is nothing basic about the classic "10/90" hairstyle, but this category covers the species of mullets you are most likely to see in public. Your classic mullet has the business in the front, party in the back look and can be spotted by the most novice hunter. Here is a great example of a textbook mullet:<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563248695140797314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVf81l8YkSM4mQ_ln90dnhDmystz8TZqD6fd1AWZ2B7lkJ0e4t2jQbo_WzxlD44njV5u5Ccvu2fz9u28LRSqmRaAuyzuhyphenhyphenX45qHs8NYGr3z3v6xXQovN209pxz8dJgQL7G_rUG2bIzanV/s200/2.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"></div><p align="center">Would you look at the length on that sucker? Notice the gently flowing waves. Extra points if you noticed that the mullet is out at some type of social function, no doubt in a big crowd of people. No party is complete without a mullet!<br /><br /></p><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">The category of "basic mullet" also includes three subsets: <em>mullatinos</em>, <em>albinos</em>, and the hugely popular <em>rat tail</em>. A <em>mullatino</em> is any person of Latin/Hispanic descent who sports a mullet. This species is actually quite widespread and is frequently seen in public.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563249122939835346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GuJ0nBv0rQmv0YNJMbwas0BM3DRIa9WZtrCgDdfA4l973bOi3H_c6m5zUdLOedHAWR_D63PGhsjLvyC0QNBmtTXVklca590XUnxzn9CrZq6bBGxullCaUxZLYezVAeuQ0pc9WbWijm3I/s200/3.jpg" border="0" /></div><p align="center">Me gusta mucho, ese. </p><br /><p align="center">An <em>albino </em>mullet can be defined as any blonde mullet. Bonus points are awarded if the subject also has light-colored eyes, for that true freak-of-mullet-nature effect.<br />Look at this smooth operator:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563249379537041122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPHodLIZpr0sRJvlXdNbiuR0jgPoW1QdA-66Elep8KZ3IyaZJ7u6xV93B2LclB7FQKAWAK-38y_iMnCbIAbcxkp-xGgfl5u425KJ9uEWPsN8BN-QR4soBAhwiwv189nHE6XB1Qbznub9U/s200/4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em>Rat tails</em> are often considered a category all their own as most consider them to be a hybrid of the mullet, but for the purposes of this blog they will be grouped in the "basic mullet" species. <em>Rat tails</em> are most often sported by males going through puberty, but in rare occasions, have also been spotted on females. </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563249568872764850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKSqkWvLraPomaY8dnuhTc5hyYh_ITrw4kDB83zXEwYzLbH6fP-nztEKCBXlENxRIY-gecmVpzCokLmkQqd0HDoRfuswGxnc4h6Ce78y9Mlz9CMosmXn0H0JKx3nIUH0E7BNw3mg0wdju/s200/5.jpg" border="0" />Get em, Tiger.</p><br /><p align="center"><strong>2. The skullet.</strong> A skullet is defined as any hairstyle which involves a shaved head and the classic mullet party-in-the-back. Some would argue that a skullet is not a true species of mullet, as shaving the head eliminates the "business" part of the mullet, but the presence of the "party" portion of the haircut screams mullet to me. There is a subset of the mullet species, the forced skullet. This phenomenon of nature occurs when someone who has a mullet begins balding, thus creating the forced skullet look.</p><p align="center">His shirt says "I'm The Big Daddy." Yes sir, yes you are....the Daddy of skullets.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563253361287048130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04ZkcTykBUH0N2m5WldbwhZGmJmxV16qx0diB8otJdZvsYH-WW1M93DskhtgBJAlrul4p88YQX062MEZ70HE_N4JWJxVD6OujS7y1xn10ZiV3Y3JQep2b9sn0SzvcB7ILGkdTwpRAaXAX/s200/6.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">Forced skullet. Notice the beautiful silver locks wafting in the breeze....magical.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563253691156940338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmnSRQxh-lj0l50vmPnMdiv_XTPOgqew61CBjpVKpZhCXDaUeGnS5YYH2JhAUIseG3XkO1VJ7JYx0iXuqGRHjUBX7TURLUAErA8rgqQ-CSTrA25Klaw0W5O2_-bloDdM7diG6_p2As3es/s200/7.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Of course, this has been only a beginner's introduction to the phenomenon that is the mullet. Mullet hunting is an on-going activity for me, so please rest assured that subsequent blog posts will cover other topics related to mullets. </p><p align="center">Until then, keep your eyes peeled for those Kentucky Waterfalls!</p>Haleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15004492939562245459noreply@blogger.com3