"The One Where Rachel Quits"

Ok. So that is the title of an episode of Friends. And Rachel didn't quit anything (that I'm aware of...) but she did move far far away to North Dakota.

(I think this was her last day in the office)

But then 3 weeks later she came back for a visit! We did a couple of really fun things while she was in the state.

When Rachel and I worked in the same department at Career Step, she and I ALWAYS wanted to go to lunch together. But we couldn't because of lunch schedules. So when she visited, we went outside every day to work on our "base tan". Although, mine didn't really get very far...

(park by our office building)

We also had a MAJOR nerd moment, nay, night, and went to see Fellowship of the Ring when it was re-released in theaters to commemorate the release of the extended version of the Trilogy on Blu-Ray. Which is on my wish-list on Amazon.

(before the movie)

(after the movie. if we look tired, we totally are)

Miss you tons Rachel! Can't wait to see you again, get some non-brace-face pictures with you and do something else super nerdy. Cause that's how we roll :)

"i can tell that we are gonna be friends"

I really love having solid friends. You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that will listen to you complain about the same thing every day. The ones that will make all sorts of silly faces to cheer you up. The ones you know you can rely on for, well, anything. The ones that keep you entertained. The ones that offer you advice but don't get mad when you don't follow it. The ones that say the things you are too afraid to say to the people that need to hear it (Kjerstin, I'm looking at you). And the ones that you can do the same things for in return. I am so incredibly blessed to have quite a few of these friends in my life.

I received this little gem of a note this morning, and it totally made my day. Nope, scratch that. Week.

"Holy cow I missed you yesterday.  That horrible song that says, 'Today I'm not doing anything.... I'm just gonna lay in my bed,' you know the one... came on when I was driving.  Usually I turn the station faster than you can say lazy.  But yesterday, I thought, 'Aw, I miss Hayley,' and listened to the whole thing."

Seriously. So grateful for friends that listen to entire song that they hate because it reminds them of me <3

"watch it rob, you're burnin' the chow!"

time to play "guess the quote"... anyone?

Anyway, my wonderful mother gave me permission to share this recipe with those that inquire... and since they are my favorite cookie in the whole wide world I hope she doesn't mind me posting the recipe. Because really, they are life-changing. Or mood changing. Probably both.

Chocolate Snow-Top Cookies

(or... The-Most-Heavenly-Cookies-On-Earth)

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
10 oz. (1 2/3 cups) chocolate chips
6 tbsp margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
powdered sugar

-Melt 1 cup chocolate chips in small saucepan.
-Mix margarine and sugar until creamy.
-Add melted chocolate and vanilla.
-Beat in eggs
-Add baking powder and salt
-Gradually beat in flour
-Stir in remaining 2/3 cups chocolate chips
-Chill dough for 1 hour or more (freeze 30 minutes)

-Preheat oven to 350
-Roll dough into 1-inch balls and then roll in powdered sugar
-Bake 10-12 minutes on un-greased cookie sheet

 

I'm telling you. They WILL change your life.

please don't stop the music

May 11, 2011. Music Swap Day. The day of all days. The day Rachel and I finally get our computers together and swap our music.

Of course, we decide to do it last minute, on a weeknight.

And of course, neither of us cleaned up our music completely.

And of course, I forget the power cord to my computer, making it that much harder to go through music.

But we survived.

Good luck in North Dakota, Rachel! Next music swap we will be prepared...

Post script: these pictures were taken at midnight. Or later. Can't remember.

Shock, shock me. Shock, shock me.

So let me tell you about my night last night.

It started out like any other night this summer... me getting into bed way later than I had wanted. And then playing Angry Birds for half an hour. 11pm is way too late to go to bed, but unfortunately that has become the norm in my life as of late. And I'm addicted to that game.

The dogs woke me up at around 1:30. So I took them outside and then we went back to bed. This has also been normal for the past couple weeks. Also unfortunate, as I hate getting my sleep interrupted. Good practice for future kids? Probably...

All of a sudden, I hear CRASH CRASH and then feel something slam onto my mattress, right by my head. My eyes fly open and Blaze is sitting on my pillow. I look down, and my broken closet door is on the floor. (Broken a.k.a. unhinged.) I look around the room for Ruby and notice that my very nice tower fan is also on the floor, and Ruby is standing by the bedroom door looking a bit terrified. Like I would look if I had seen a black widow or something.

I think in her sleep, Ruby got too close to the closet door which is just propped up blocking my shoes from being eaten alive, and it fell over, knocked the fan down and scared both dogs. Poor girl.

It took 5 whole minutes to get Blaze off my bed. The top of my mattress is 4 feet off the ground. He was so scared he jumped onto the bed. And then wouldn't come down. I literally, at 3:30AM (did NOT know that existed) had to pick 75 lb. Blaze up off of my 4 foot high bed and put him on the ground. Wish I'd thought to take a picture. I took the dogs outside again and then went back in, picked up the closet door and the fan, and tried to go back to sleep.

Don't worry, I'm not bitter at my dogs for waking me up three times last night. In fact, all sleepiness aside, it's hilarious. Ruby's face... again, I wish I would have taken a picture. But my phone wasn't handy at the moment, and let's be honest. It was 3:30am. Like I'm going to remember to pull out a camera and document this...

But can we talk about the real tragedy here? Blaze now knows that he has the ability to jump onto my purposely high-off-the-ground bed. Can I get a Phoebe Buffet "oh no" from everyone? Because that knowledge to him is going to result in lost sleep for me...

"Let's vary piracy with a little burglary."

Cookies to whomever guesses where that line comes from. Except Dad. 'Cause you know the answer. And 'cause you are diabetic and can't have cookies. (Dad, do you even read my blog? Do you even know I have a blog??)

Anyway, apparently our neighbors downstairs got broken into yesterday between the hours of 1 and 4pm. Four dogs in the house (ours and theirs) and no one heard anything unusual? Odd. Their laptop got stolen but nothing else was missing. That was fun though, the cops showing up at my house at 10:30pm because that was really the first time I was home all day after the incident occured.

Maybe I should get one of these:

Because heaven knows you won't be scared of this face:

Or maybe one of these:

Let's be honest... if I could have a lion I totally would.

And if you are dying to know, that line is from a song from:

wonderful, wonderful day

I know, I'm still at work. And anyone that knows me knows it wouldn't, nay, couldn't be a good day yet because I am still at work. Yet why is it different today?

For the past week or two, I feel like I've been carrying a lot of weight. Whether it be physically (doubt it, I don't lift weights, just run), emotionally, or spiritually, there has been a lot racing through my mind. We're talking at NASCAR speeds. And it has really been getting me down, making me less inclined to converse with people, enabling me to retreat into "people-watch" mode. Which, don't get me wrong, is super fun. But not when I am purposely ostracizing myself...

So why is today different? I finally figured it out after about 3 hours of being so confused about my pleasant demeanor. I had made plans to go to the temple with a friend today after work but my friend told me last night she wouldn't be able to make it. So after a fitfull night's sleep (dogs woke me up at 1am; they got grounded to their kennels after that) I woke up and was trying to decide what to do with my day.

I went through the following thought process:
"Well, tomorrow is busy and I have to go grocery shopping, but maybe I could still go to the temple."
"No, I can just go on Saturday."
"Well, but I wanted to go last Saturday but didn't end up getting to." <--- (Harry Potter :D)
"It will be fine if I wait until Saturday. I'll have more time then."
"No. No, I didn't get to go and know I really need to and I know I will feel better so I am going!"

Boom. Happy mood. It was incredible! And really, my mood hasn't shifted at all today.

Want a recipe for instant happiness? Make a firm decision (out loud) that you are going to the temple no matter what that day. It's pretty incredible. Satan hasn't been able to come anywhere near me today and it's kinda been really awesome!

And, looking back at the conversation I had with myself, I'm pretty sure I wasn't conversing with myself, but with Satan. Amazing how he gets into our heads so easily sometimes. He really does start with the smallest of things. I guess you could say that for today, the score stands at Satan: 0, Hayley: 10 (I get 9 points for the temple trip and 1 for my decision).


PS. For those that don't live within 5 minutes of a temple, I guess this recipe won't really work... today I have to travel half an hour to get to the temple because Provo is closed. Ooh, maybe you could say you will study the scriptures for a certain amount of time at a certain time or something.

"Hey, William. I thought I smelled cookies wafting from the ovens of the little elves who live in your hair."

That is probably one of my favorite quotes from Glee. Love it.

Anyway, here are some of my random thoughts. In letter format. Cause I'm a copycat haha...

King City,
I got hot last night while I was sleeping. I miss your nightly cool weather and needing blankets. Also I miss how I never worried about my dog hanging out in the back yard.
Sincerly, Trunky for everything in King City

Asphalt in the parking lot at work,
You just tripped me. How rude.
Sincerely, Really clutzy

Provo Farmers' Market,
I will be there on Saturday. Please have good prices on really yummy fruit.
Sincerely, Fruit tastes better in California, but I'm gonna let it slide this weekend, so don't disappoint...

Jenny,
Wanna come to the farmer's market on Saturday?
Love, I don't wanna go alone

Baby sister,
You are getting married. Soon. Stop growing up!
Love, Feeling really old...

Little brother,
I miss you being little cause now I feel old. But I like being the short one when you give me hugs. Miss you.
Love, 8 years older and shorter too
I-15,
The sections of 80 MPH in northern Utah are marvelous. As are the recently paved sections of road between Scipio and Santaquin. Thanks for a smooth trip this week.
Sincerely, A happy driver

Pharmacy Technician course,
Thanks for all you taught me. And for letting me pass the final. I love knowing the generic brands of the drugs that are advertised on TV. It makes me feel smart. I'm a happy graduate.
Sincerely, Wish me luck on the national certification

Banana Republic outlet in Gilroy, CA,
Thank you for having a ton of stuff that I absolutely love. I should start there first every time so I don't have to say, "Okay. I have too much, I can't keep browsing." It's getting depressing.
Love, A happy customer

December,
This is a little out of character for me, but please come faster.
Sincerely, Anxiously awaiting _____

Everyone,
If you ever feel the need to bring me cookies or any type of treat (like when it is accompanying a VT message or a birthday card) just bring me watermelon. I will love you forever.
Love, I've already eaten 10 watermelons on m own since the middle of May

The park by my work,
Thanks for being such a sweet relief every day. Those extra calories burned have been wonderful.
Sincerely, 5 more to go

Cousins,
I wish we all lived close together so we could have awesome parties all the time like the one we had a couple weeks ago.
Love, Already can't wait for the next reunion

Blaze,
You were phenomenal on the drive to/from Provo this past week. Thanks!
Love, A proud mommy