Every day in May, Part 2

The Blog Everyday in May, with a Twist continues.... See Day 1-7...

Day 8: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

Say yes to things, whatever “things” may be.

Yes, I’m taking my own advice, too.

                                                                                

Day 9: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)

I'm blogging outside in my PJ's because it is summer and that's totally appropriate, and fashionable, right??

Day 10: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill.

Oh god, my most embarrassing moment... let me think here.... Hmm, I remember being embarrassed but I don’t actually remember why (or one that I can legally share...) Op, I’ve got one...

Preface: Okay, freshman year of college, both semesters, I was in a ridiculously hard Spanish class. I had this class everyday at 8am.

After our final, which I passed, btw, I was skipping, yes, skipping joyously down the stairs, grinning like an absolute idiot. I reach the end of the first set of stairs, did a really attractive twirl to take on the next set and WHAM....hello most attractive male friend. (Dude was a babe!!)

I broke out into the most unattractive giggle, flushed magenta; I can’t even remember what he did but I just scampered down those stairs so fast, I had to get out of there!! And that, is my most embarrassing story...at least that I can think of...

Day 11: Sell yourself in 10 words or less

Empathetic.

Funny.

Competitive.

Curious.

Tenacious.

Imaginative.

Creative.

Feisty.

Driven.

Loyal.

Day 12: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)

I miss Saturday morning cartoons, not these ridiculous ones they have now but Rollie Pollie Ollie, PB & J Otter, Blues Clues and Bear in the Big Blue House. I miss watching Full House re-runs for the first time. Friends. Period. I miss new episodes of Friends. I miss roller blading around our 3-season porch to Jock Jams and counting my brother’s shots with a stopwatch and calculator like it was the 3-point contest for McDonald’s All-American. I miss playing Knights and Princesses in my backyard with bikes has our horses. I miss recess and all the ridiculous games. I miss my Dad dropping me off, and picking me up, at school every day. I miss when exercise was for fun and it wasn’t called exercise it was called playing. I miss going to the swimming pool everyday during the summer at 12:55pm because it opened at 1:00 and we needed to be there when it opened. I miss the outstanding tan I got during the summer. I miss orange ice cream push-pops. I miss bike rides as my only form of transportation and socializing. I miss the hours we’d spend on ridiculous chat rooms. I miss ICQ. (Uh-oh). I miss MSN Messenger and getting my butt kicked in Tic-Tac-Toe by all my friends. I miss decorating my locker during middle school. I miss my high school teammates, solely for our pre-game dance routines. I miss Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper.

I typing all of these things, and times, that I miss I’ve realized that I really just miss being a kid.

Day 13: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

Dear Hair,

I’d like to dedicate this public apology to you. The things I have put you through over the years have been harsh, to say the least. I’ve curled you, straightened you (both by tool and by iron...yes, I ironed my hair), daily blow drying you to perfection and without heat protectant. I’ve lathered you with product upon product, and doused you with so much hairspray I’ve contributed to ozone depletion. You’ve been colored, bleached, and highlighted and that’s only in the last year. I have ripped through your tangled mess in anger and I apologize. You’ve been twisted and pulled into ponytails for years, while we can blame high school sports for this it is truly my fault.

You’ve been nothing but good to me and what have I done? Made you conform to what I want. I’m sorry. From now on I will treat you with the love, and respect, you deserve. Thank you for always being there and please, do not go anywhere anytime soon.

With love, and heat protectant,

Haley

Day 14: Ten things that make you really happy

1. Finishing a good book.

2. Making the perfect Spotify/iTunes playlist.

3. Turning to a fresh page of my writing journal.

4. The smell right before it rains.

5. The sound of my friends laughing.

6. Freshly washed, and made, bed; the best feeling in the world is snuggling down into those clean sheets.

7. That one day a week when my hair does exactly what I want it to.

8. A new outfit.

9. A hug.

10. The last line of the Harry Potter series: "All is well."

Yours xx

Every day in May... + What I Wore: Last week of School

There is a blog challenge for May started by the lovely Jenni, from Story of My Life, challenging bloggers to blog everyday in May. I would love to partake but, um, May's going to be a bit ridiculous for me (MAYbe I will complete all the prompts in July but with a Hemline twist, who knows) so I've decided that instead of doing the prompts everyday, each week I will complete the prompts in one post.

There are no rules for the prompts. They can be interpreted however the blogger feels. So, away we go...

Day 1: The Story of your life in 250 words or less.

I suck at describing myself or my life. So, I'm letting a poem I wrote in Creative Writing do it for me. We had 15 or so questions to answer about ourselves (parents, character traits, favorite word/celebrity/place/phrase), as well as brands we would endorse without being paid, a striking image, a question, annoyance, and something you wish you could have but can't due to unforeseen changes. Damn I miss Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper! I think I had it like everyday during junior high. Without further ado...Table for 1

A pregnant woman sits alone at the bar,

I wonder if she notices me, a bystander in her world.

Silly, fuse toed, daughter of Joe and Tami, once McVay,

lover of London, fan of Jennifer Lawrence, me.

Literally, living the dream & loving it.

I want to skip towards her in my TOMs, like her child will,

plop down on the stool next to her, and ask:

What came first: the bagel or the donut?

Instead, I slyly snap a picture with my phone, share it, tweeting:

“Pregnant woman at a bar—I wonder what she ordered? #water”

Gum-smacking, knuckle cracking Waitress startles me:

I lust for a Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, but settle for a “Diet Coke, please.”

Day 2: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

Something-Nothing Days

I would like to take this time to educate you all on how to do nothing for an entire day while still doing something. I have spent many a day, wrapped up in a blanket, reading or watching copious amounts of Netflix. I'd say I'm quite the expert. You will need a space that is private (ie bedroom, TV room, living room, etc) where you can spread about 3-5 pillows, creating a sort-of headboard to lean against. Keeping, at least one pillow to the right or left of you to place your computer (portable DVD player, what-have-you) to watch your television selections. I prefer computer do take the occasionally Facebook-Twitter-Pinterest break. Feel free, if not located in your bed, to take the comforter/duvet with you to your location. Comfort is very much important.

Now most would say snacks would be the next important item but I will argue that hydration is key. I like to begin my something-nothing days with a bit of tea, or coffee. Then proceed quickly to lemonade (summer/spring) or hot tea (fall/winter). But, pro-tip number one, always keep water near, especially in a container with a lid and straw. Nobody likes to attempt to drink water out of a bottle and, SPLAT, all over your shirt. Awful. (First world problem? Yeah, I think so). 

Show selection... this is the perfect time to go through that Netflix Instant Queue and starting watching one of the 19 shows you've placed in there. My recommendations vary from Classics (to me) Gilmore Girls (many a Christmas break spent with my favorite Girls); One Tree Hill (remember: there is only one); Gossip Girl (if you have a flair for the dramatic and fashionable); or if you are feeling particularly nerdy: Dr. Who. My current obsession: Mad Men (Don Draper...*swoon*). And books, c'mon now, you can't go wrong with any choice but Harry Potter (shocking...) always keep me comforted on these something-nothing days.

(I'm skipping Day 3: something that makes you uncomfortable)....

Day 4: Favorite quote

I've got two. Both are very self-explanatory as to why they are my favorite. My first is Dumbledore's speech to Harry in King's Cross during the final book. 

Help will always be given at Hogwarts, Harry, to those who ask for it. I've always prized myself on my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it. But I would, in this case, amend my original statement to this: Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it. Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and above all, all those who live without love.

And my second favorite is widely misquoted as being said by Nelson Mandela. It is a (paraphrased) poem by Marianne Williamson.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do. It is not just in some of us, its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Day 5: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your friends/family member.

I really hope that you, yes, you the one reading this, knows that you are loved. I want you to know that I love you. I think you are beautiful, and smart. You bring light into my world. You are cherished. You were born with the ability and purpose to change someone's world. So, I, Haley, publicly profess my love to you, my reader. 

Day 6: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question: "What do you do?"

My goal in life is to inspire and to be inspired. So, that's what I do. 

Day 7: The thing you are most afraid of.

Failure. But aren't we all?

Annnnnd the Hemline twist? "What I Wore: Last week of School"

Oh the last week of actual class during my undergraduate career! What is one to wear! I wore my black skinny jeans from Sears, black tuxedo flats from Target, "leather" jacket also from Target, and a Mint knit sweater from JcPenney. My black bag in from Urban Outfitters and tree necklace from, you guessed it, Target.

I loved this outfit. It was perfectly spring sweater and by adding the jacket, I could wear it during the not-so-spring welcome. I can't wait to wear it more during the summer!!

Again this semester my university held the Jazz Swing Dance. I wore a dress from Karisma. It was on super-sale, like $10 I believe, which it just too good to pass up!! My shoes are from Herberger's about two years ago. They have gotten their wear. I love the colors of this look! And yes, I did dance the night away! Curious what I wore last semester?? Holiday Party + Jazz Swing Dance

Check out my graduation gift to myself?? Oh yea, a reusable Starbucks cup. Best. Purchase. Ever. This was my actual last day of college outfit. Scarf  was a gift but it is from The Buckle and my sunglasses are from Old Navy. 

Yours xx