Gold, Valentines, and Bubble Baths

Hello Blogosphere!

Here I am, Saturday night, 11:00, blogging. That should be an indication of how my life has been lately. I'm here to fill you in on the gaps, but first I wanted to tell you have excited I am that it is February. Why, you may be wondering? Well, I consider February a weird month. First, look at how it is spelled. Second, it feels like summer, isn't it still winter? Third, the Superbowl is tomorrow and the Oscars are coming up soon! [And that's they exciting part] I am excited to watch and analyze the ads and critique the red carpet fashion.

So, this is what my life has looked like lately.

I am officially a Starbucks gold member! I've been working on this for 3 years. 

Bri and I finally had our craft day. We made Jade shadow boxes!

And I made some Valentines. [ I love Valentines day]

 

This is the Valentines day card I made for Pib. [Pib: My Boyfriend]

He doesn't read my blog, so it's safe to post this soon. :]

My new thing is relaxing. With bubbles, books, candles and beverages.

               Flea Marketing and Starbucking. :]

 And this has been taking up so much of my time, but I have loved every minute of it! I am helping coordinate the Hill City Polar Plunge Festival, which will take place, February 25th from 11-2pm. This is a festival full of family fun, live music and more. I have been working with my team of lovely ladies, below. I'll post more about it once the event happens! But, it has been exciting and I am so lucky to be working with the Special Olympics Virgina! 

Now I am off to bed blog world! Hopefully I will see you again sooner rather then later! I know I will want to post at least one more Valentines Day post before it passes! 

Love from,

 Hales

Friday = A Happy Hales

 

I hope you Friday is as sweet as my yummy, cinnamon latte! Do yourself a favor and get some Starbucks today... Celebrate with me that it's finally FRIDAY! 

I'm Back.

Hi Blogger World!

It is certainly very nice to be back. I have missed my writing, sharing and reading over the past couple of months. So, much has happened in my life this past semester! All exciting, life altering and a little overwhelming at some points, hence, the blogging break. [I even deleted my facebook!...That was life altering.] But, here I am. Back and ready to write!

I have missed blogging so much I  started a list in my email about blogging topics! I should not run out of blogging material for a LONG while. 

One major event that happened this semester was, my birthday! I turned 22 and can I tell you the reactions I have received?

'Boy, you are old.' - Some freshman I work with who thinks we are friends and that they hold the right to comment on my age.

'You're turning 22 and you are still in undergrad.' -College kids at the gym

'Really, cause I  thought you were  turning 20?' -Daddy

'Wow, you're 22! 22! That's SO old. Like, 21, you can still be a kid, you're only 21! But, 22. You're basically an adult.' -Both roommates comments wrapped into one

My birthday was pretty rockin'[Look Below] ...almost as good as 21. :]

Oh, my response to birthday comments? I just kept telling people I look good for my age.

Nose Pierce!

 

 As if you couldn't tell, my birthday was great. 

It is now summer and that means it's time to go home and face the music. I've been having a wonderful time being re-acquainted with my little home town, Spring Lake Michigan. I've fallen in love with Grand Rapids, again, along with Lake Michigan. Needless to say, I'm glad to be back in the Mitten. On the drive home, when I crossed that state line into 'Pure Michigan' I screamed for about 10 minutes. 

What have I done since I got home, you ask? Thanks for asking! Well, I left again and drove to Kentucky to visit my, sweet, encouraging, awesome, wise, hilarious and stylish Grandma! [Check below, you can totally tell she is all of those things]. We went to dinners, a winery, shopping (almost every day) movies and watch stupid TV shows, like, the Bachelorette. 

I am trying to convince my grandma to be the NEXT Bachelorette, but she insists I should do it.

Have you been watching this season?

 

I was SO EXCITED TO eat that! :]

We went to the Newport Aquarium.

Now I know what you have to be thinking, 'Haley, you drove SO much the past 2 weeks!' And you have that right reader, I have traveled a total of 1,766 miles in 2 weeks. I am proud to call myself a Midwest Traveler! Since, I am such an experienced traveler, allow me to introduce my traveling 'buddies'. [Look below.*I may, or may not have taken these pictures while driving.]

My Hula Monkey. It's a BOY.

My Sun Glasses.

Light iced, upside down, nonfat, Carmel macchiato and GPS. I could NOT have made it through without them.

*NOTE: This semi is not a 'buddy' in anyway. I took this picture to represent , all terrible drivers I encountered on the highway, all drivers in Virgina, and anything else that tried to get in the way of my wonderful journey. 

While driving through the country, I think I found the most popular hits on the radio stations. I heard these songs a MILLION times:

1. Katy Perry - ET
2. Kesha - Blow
3. Adele - Rolling in the Deep
4. Maroon 5- Never Gonna Leave This Bed

So, Why Audacious? Reader, thank you for asking so many questions, your intuitive nature is really motivating my writing. You're awesome. 'A moment with Hales', I think, was a deceitful title. This blog did not have 'Hales moments.' Frankly, I was just writing for the sake to write. I used topics like, design, sometimes fashion, crafts, and interior design, while I like all those things, that's not what I want to blog about. I want to blog about topics that pertain to me, now. If that happens to be something political, a new TV show, something religious, my life, music, or Starbucks, I'll write about it.

This blog is my place to write, misspell, have run on sentences, express, share, fill people in, and be AUDACIOUS. Audacious means :extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless: an audacious explorer. [Thanks dictionary.com]. And that's what I want this blog to be. Opinionated, Expressive, Informative, and Bold. 

I'm excited to dive in, be brave, bold, curious, opinionated and expressive. 

You are also excited? Thank you reader, of course you agree with me.  

Spring has stolen my heart.

I know, it's still only January. But recent weather patterns have pulled at my heartstrings making the air feel and smell springish.  55 degrees on New Years in Michigan... since when?

I will admit I am a fickle girl, but when it comes to picking favorites, well, I take that VERY seriously. For instance, if you were to ask me to choose my favorite Starbucks, I would tell you that depends on the season and time of day... For fall, the Pumpkin Spice Latte wins hands down. Winter, the Gingerbread Latte comes in a close second. For Summer, a Light Ice, Upside down, Non-Fat Carmel Macchiato is my favorite [which is really just an iced vanilla latte with Carmel on it. I like saying the whole name, I feel like a coffee expert. ha.] ... So, I'm fickle, point proven I guess.

Getting to the main idea of this entry [insert drum roll here] ... I have a favorite season. Spring. I will admit, sometimes I almost lose my loyalty when the fall leaves start to change, or the first snowfall happens. My heart almost gives itself to the summer late nights, and trips to the beach. I start to fall for the hoodies and bonfires, hot coco, and ice cream on the pier...

But today is a the kind of day that reminds me of SPRiNG, and my love for the season. Spring, is the time where everything comes back to life again, and everyone is given a brand new start. And the sunrises are the prettiest.

Ahhhhh, Spring. :]

Yes, it's January, but I am so on board with all these designers and retailers selling spring products already! PLEASE check out Starbucks new Springish mugs. [I fell in love this morning.]

 

 

Next Spring items on the list Coach Spring Shoes. I will admit I was surprised by the lack of color spring shoes are gaining this year. But I will also admit- I LIKE IT! [I'm a plain type of dresser, look in my closest, you'll find black, black, dark purple, and black.]

Hi, Boyfriends, buy me-- BUY ME! No, really. DO IT!
I'm a size 9.

Sophisticated, yet sexy and super trendy. Side note
  I HATE bows... but, I still like these!

Being slightly disappointed in the lack of color Coach Spring Shoes brought me, I had to check out my new colorful favorite Johnathan Alder.  Please look at the fun SPRiNG products I found below!

Buy ME.

My favorite find today!

Flowers PLEASE!

I will finish this entry with a small disappointment I had this Holiday Season. I had a major falling out with my favorite day of the year, Christmas Eve. It was sad, but true. We parted ways. Now I am missing a very crucial and critical aspect of my life,.... I'm thinking a new favorite day could be the first day of spring... or possibly Valentines day... Haven't decided yet.  I'll let you know when I chose.

Welp, I  hope you enjoyed this extra long moment with Hales! Have a fabulous Saturday!