Showing posts with label simple things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label simple things. Show all posts

September 19, 2013

Some Things About Me

Um hi. All of a sudden it's been like, a month and I haven't written anything on here. But that's kind of the name of the game now, right? Getting caught up in other things, I sort of forgot my virtual world existed. 
I don't have much to say, I'd love to tell you about my job, but I think I'll wait until I have more time and energy for that. 
My beautiful friend Amber, PR goddess and mother extraordinaire, tagged me in a fun questionnaire that I thought I'd share with you! So... here goes.
Why do you blog and how has it affected your life? I started blogging when Christian and I got engaged- mainly so that my family who didn't live near us could keep track of wedding plans and thoughts about our engagement. It's sort of turned into a place where I can track my thoughts and sometimes it's just really therapeutic to share your world with others. It's made me learn a lot about what I do want to share on the internet and I've also learned a lot about other people through blogging. It's also made me realize that there is a big disconnect between the online world and the real world. You shouldn't live your life to blog about it, you should live your life, and blog about it if you have time. 

 What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear in life is missing out. I've always been that way. I'm obsessed with being in the know and experiencing things that others do too. It's really stupid and something I should learn to get over, but there are SO many things I want to do, and I'm worried about not being able to experience it all. How do you time your life to make sure you can be apart of the things you're supposed to be a part of? And how do you even know what those things are? It's a terrible, terrible game.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Yes, this is just a practice run for your next job interview. Hopefully no more job interviews for me for a while! If I could time it right, I would love to be well established in my career, preferably at the agency I'm at now. There's so much room for growth and development there. Kids are off the radar for me at the moment (give me 8 more years, then I'll think about it). Ultimately, I hope to be even more in love with Christian than I am now and in a place where my self-esteem, standards, and heels are high.

What is your most awkward/embarrassing moment? Do I seriously have to pick one? I wish there were just a few, but unfortunately my whole life is one big embarrassment. There's that time I threw up chinese food all over the parking lot in front of Chin's grandparents the first time I met them. That was a good time. 

If you could meet anyone, real or fictional, who would you choose? On a less serious note, I day dream about meeting John Mayer, like every day. Luckily, BFF Ali and I share this dream and have a game plan down for our first encounter with him someday. On a more serious note, I would love to meet Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife. Her story in The Paris Wife blew me away, and I would love to pick her brain (also highly recommend the book!). 

What is something you wonder about a lot? I wonder about people who I don't talk to anymore a lot. It's ridiculous and not good to dwell in the past, but when you leave the path of someone you used to know, it's natural to think about them from time to time. When you care about someone a lot, and then all of a sudden you don't, you don't ever really don't. Excuse my grammar. 

Where  do you find your greatest inspiration? I find a lot of inspiration through traveling. I'm a little bit of a wanderlust freak and being in a place where there's nothing to do but explore the beauty of what's around you is amazing. The sounds, sights, and smells of an unfamiliar place are the ultimate inspiration. 

Tell us about a favorite memory from growing up. One summer my family went to the 1000 islands up in Canada, and we stayed at this small bed and breakfast near Alexandria Bay. I think about it all the time because of the beautiful sunsets, the cold water, and the swing that hung from the B&B owner's tree in her front yard. I can still smell the blueberry breakfast bread pudding she made for us and for me, it was like the quintessential summer trip. I had sun-kissed cheeks and salt in my hair, and I can still remember waking up early in the morning, anticipating another day to start. Simpler times, people, simpler times. 


 


And there it is. I'd love to hear your answers to these questions! 

December 13, 2011

A Quiet Morning

I woke up this morning, completely content. My bed was warm, and I had no rush to leave it. The house was completely still (Chin was gone at his 7 a.m. final), and as I stepped out of bed, I opened our blinds to see a winter wonderland outside our window.
 
 
The first real snow came and brought with it a perfect morning.
I walked out into the kitchen, grabbed a bowl of delicious cinnamon burst cheerios, and sat down on the couch in pure silence. I love moments when the only words are your thoughts.
 
 I turned on the Christmas tree lights, and looked happily at the lone little present sitting under our tree (which is actually for my mother-in-law and not for Chin or me). 
 
 
Then, I made the perfect glass of hot chocolate, and that's as far as I've gotten.
Sitting on the couch, typing away, waiting anxiously for Christian to come home to join me in a quiet bliss. Because he is the only thing that could make this morning better.

November 11, 2011

grateful on friday

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday and a special day (11/11/11 make a wish!)
I thought I would start writing down some thankfuls on here on friday.
 there are so many things around me that i'm thankful for, and i want to share just a few on here!
+Fall foliage. While I often complain that we don't have great scenery in Provo compared to the east, i love walking down the street by the local duck pond and tromping through the red, yellow, and orange leaves.

+Friends who are in tune with me. i had so many times this week when friends really stepped up when i needed it the most, and it meant the world.

+The swimming pool. I've always been a terrible swimmer, but i've been swimming laps lately (and walking for my back... i'm 20 going on 85 yep) and i love it.
+Being Christian. I'm grateful to have beliefs based on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for religious freedom in our wonderful country.

+My grandpas. Not only on Veteran's day but everyday. They fought for our country and are an inspiration of bravery to me.
+my favorite brown boots. I could sleep in them.

+And last but not least, I can't forget Chin. He's my daily dose of sunshine.
What are you grateful for?
Please please share! :)


have a great weekend!

May 13, 2011

six things

so i guess i'm a little frustrated that blogger deleted my last post...
so if you missed it, all in all it said that:
chin and i have been married for 9 months, and we still are madly in love.
you know, nothing new on here.
we're all kinds of sappy.

and i had a post for yesterday, and blogger deleted that!
so here goes round two:
six things making me extra happy from yesterday (ha!) and today:
1. I love thursday nights. I go to school all day (literally) on Thursday, and come 6:00, my weekend starts! no class, no school, no work on Friday, and it's great.

2. I just slept in until 10:00... when does that ever happen?

3. on wednesday i decided it was finally time to make french macarons. i did, using this recipe, and they turned out great! i was surprised because i've heard how tough they are, and yes they were fickle, but i can't believe i actually did it!
(this is actually a terrible picture... i left my camera in park city!)
4. last night Chin and I went to Mountain West Burrito. it has the best burritos ever. if you live in provo/orem/utah county, do yourself a favor and get your cute booty over there!
5. I decided that I'm going to redo our spare bedroom and make it a little bit more organized. anyone know where i can find a really cheap bookcase to restore?
6. the weather is actually perfect. i mean really great. sunny and warm with a perfect breeze. i think chin and i are going to hike the Y tonight! 


happy weekend my dearest friends! hope it's great!

February 24, 2011

five minutes

last night as i laid on our bed finishing my homework for the night, Chin came and sat down on the bed, obviously frustrated and discouraged.
it was one of those moments where i didn't need to ask what was wrong; he wanted to talk and i was ready to listen.
i quietly closed my computer and crawled over to him and rubbed his back while he told me how frustrated he was with school and his MCAT prep course.
he felt like he wasn't making any progress and that it seemed like so many things were piling up on top of him.

i didn't know what to say. obviously i don't know what it feels like to have so many things on his plate, i don't know what it feels like trying to prepare for the test that will shape the next eight years of our life and our entire future.
i see Christian and i see how amazing he is. i am so confident in his abilities and i can see how much he's progressing. but looking from the inside out, sometimes he doesn't see that. 

it was nice to just let him vent and pour over his frustrations, because sometimes he doesn't like to talk about his feelings (imagine a boy not wanting to talk about feelings... ha!) and it's usually me complaining or venting. 
he's always a good listener and it was nice to listen back.

after our conversation, he looked at me and said, "thanks for those five minutes hayl. they were just what i needed and it meant the world."

now obviously i didn't do anything but really sit there and rub his shoulders, but for him, it was what he needed. 
sometimes i think that's what marriage, a friendship, or any relationship is all about:
being there. even if it's only for five minutes.

photo via

February 8, 2011

odds and ends

this may or may not be a bad week.
yesterday was outrageously busy,
i was busy all day that i didn't make it to the gym until 11:30 pm!
whaaaatttt is going on?!

but even though this is not my favorite week (at all),
there are some things getting me through it.

1. handmade earrings, hair pins, and rings.
this is what me, my mother, and my sisters made during the superbowl!
they were so easy.
what do you think?

2. homemade red velvet cupakes on my new cake stand.
for a longgg time i've wanted a cake plate with a lid.
i finally have one! my mom found this vintage cake plate with a lid at thrift antique store, and got it for me as an early birthday gift. i am so happy about it. it looks adorable with little pink and white frosted cupcakes on it. :)

3. Tea Time. this weekend my and my girl friends are going to the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake to celebrate my birthday that's in a couple weeks. We are going to tea time there and i am so excited! can you think of anything more fun to do for your birthday?!

December 29, 2010

reflections on 2010

as 2010 comes to a close, i've had some time to reflect on all that has happened this year.
my life has changed in so many ways, and i have continued to progress and learn.
although i feel so young and immature in many ways,
i really feel like i have learned a lot about life, love, friendship, and myself.
so here's to 2010: a year of change.
i'm happy that i've been able to share the ups and downs with the people who stumble upon our blog.
and i'm excited to share our 2011 with you. 
this will be my last post of 2010 (it's long enough to last through all of 2011), and i hope you enjoy the pictures that sum up my life (chronologically) of the past year.
May this new year bring you happiness and joy.
xoxo


january 2010- park city for jane's birthday

january 2010- "nerd" dance

january 2010- our very first picture together!

 february 2010- byu volleyball game with my girls

 march 2010- just some love with kir

march 2010- march madness

 march 2010- somehow freshman partying turned into wedding dress shopping?

 april 2010- hiking the y

april 2010- almosssstttt engaged.

 thank you chin for proposing to me on a day where i hadn't showered, washed my hair, put on makeup, or bothered to dress cute. ;)

 april 2010- last nights with the fam

 april 2010- last fam night

san francisco lovin

 liza and i

 april 2010- california girls trip

april 2010- my first trip to sprinkles and california

 april 2010- super taqueria

 april 2010- engagement pictures!

 april 2010

 april 2010

may 2010- relandscaping my parents' yard for our wedding

 may 2010- my dad and me. my parents and i planted over 300 plants, shrubs, and trees to relandscape the yard.

 june 2010- trip to lexington kentucky to visit my brother and sister in law and their son greggy

 kentucky racetracks- june 2010

june 2010- jane came to visit me!

 june 2010- my fourth dave matthews band concert

 june 2010- chin and i flew out to utah to attend Devin and Robli's wedding where chin was the best man.

 june 2010

 july 2010- chin and the pings came to be in the Hill Cumorah Pageant

 july 2010- reunited at last!

 july 2010- HCP

 my dear friend Elder Justin Mathews. he's serving a mission in Barcelona, Spain. until 2012 my friend!

 july 2010- HCP

 july 2010- chin and i walking out of the Palmyra Temple after i went through it for the first time.

 july 2010- the last night of HCP- almost sisters!

 ;)

 july 2010- my amazing bachelorette party and my last night being single!

july 2010- bridal pictures

 July 31, 2010- the best day of my year, when chin and i were sealed as husband and wife for Time and All Eternity

 July 31 2010- our wedding reception

 our first dance- July 2010

August 2010- our honeymoon to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands (i miss being tan)!

August 2010- our reception at the Inverness Hotel in Denver, CO 

October 2010- decorating pumpkins!

 halloween 2010- jane and tarzan hosting our family halloween party

november 2010- thanksgiving in Rochester
 

December 2010- lights at Temple Square

 december 2010- girls night out with all my girlfwends

 december 2010- chin and me, married for 5 months (on new years eve!) and still madly in love. :)

happy new year friends!