{accepted!}

well, i just got accepted to what used to be my first choice college! although i probably will not end up there it is still really exciting because it is really difficult to get into :) this does make the decision a lot harder. McGill is such a great school and i really loved it but maybe i can go there for grad school or whatnot. i would not have any scholarships and it is really expensive while at southern i can study abroad almost every semester. i know i have said this before but ugh i am such a BAD decision maker. it makes me all nervous like i will never make the right decision. but just getting into McGill is good enough for me. it just means that all my hard work this year paid off! i know that being able to study abroad so much will look really good for the careers i am interested in so southern will be the right choice but still.

now all i need to do is wait for the honors application/ presidential scholarship application decisions to come back and i will know for sure (then i will stop blogging about all these boring processes, but they are such a big part of my life right now). getting this acceptance isn't going to help my senioritus one bit.

{i feel infinite.}

i finished reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower today. it was so good. i haven't read through a book that fast in quite sometime. well, besides My Friend Leonard but they are two totally different kind of books. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Charlie was a really relatable character and i like that in books.

other than reading, senioritus has come on strong and is refusing to leave. but thats ok, i only have 78 days left of high school. i sent off my last essays for college this morning and am hoping i will get a full ride! that would be awesome. i cooked a meal tonight, so i can check that off my goals list. if it turns out well i will share it tomorrow. i really miss my sister and want her to come home. i can't wait till spring break to see her. :(

my sister is the most beautiful person i know. she is so nice and caring and funny and knows just what to say. plus shes really smart so she can help me with school. ugh. now i miss her more.

p.s. thats the cat hat.

{missing europe}

it has been 7 months since i have been back in the states. i really miss europe a lot. especially my home stay family in Germany. Freiburg was the best town i have ever visited. I got to stay with a family and be fully immersed in german culture. it was one of the best experiences i have ever had. i got to go to a german high school, eat german food and even try to speak some german :) i miss it so so so much. while in europe i also got to go to France, England, Holland, Switzerland, and Belguim. It was an amazing trip and i learned so much. I hope to go back soon (probably spring break or next year). traveling is my favorite thing ever.

i love these people very dearly. :( not to mention but european men are nice looking haha.

{new week, new goals}

well, last week i a set a few goals which i am really glad i did. My positivity index has increased a ton, i finished the book and am on to a new one, i spent less time on the computer for about a day (hey its the small things) and took a lot more pictures. I did fail on the making meals part. I mean i cooked but mainly just grilled cheese and pesto and easy quick meals. I was super busy last week and don't think that will really change this week. But here are my goals:

1. Read The Perks of Being a Wallflower
2. Cook at least one meal
3. Spend Less time on the Computer
4. Keep being positive and taking pictures
5. Work out everyday

So they didn't change much but i need to make these things a habit and then i will move on to other things :) This week is going to be super fun, well not really until friday. On Friday i am going to the Darwin Deez concert with my friend Elizabeth! yay!

Does anyone have any goals this week?

{toms day without shoes}

Toms Day Without Shoes is an event i feel very strongly about. It is a day, April 5 this year, where anyone who wishes will go one day without shoes. Just one day. It will raise awareness for the Toms One For One movement.

I want to begin raising awareness for this event now so you can plan your own event where ever you may be. They want this to become a worldwide phenomenon. On the website there is a tool kit to help you get it all started! I hope you all participate and upload pictures! I definitely will :) I will keep you all updated on the plans!

{vous parlez francais?}

This morning i had a French competition! it was interesting, i didn't place but thats ok. i didn't really want to place because if you did, you had to go on the the speaking part and i get really nervous and can't do it. after the competition, my mom and i went vintage shopping. we go to this really cute store called retropolis. it has unique things from all decades, i found a woodstock poster i really wanted but it wasn't for sale :( i came home with a plaid shirt. plaid flannel is the best. i do not have any pictures from the day because i forgot my memory card at home. i tend to do this a lot now. i really need someone to teach me how to thrift better. i always get so overwhemelmed and kinda shut down and can't think :/ it is a problem. hope you have all had a lovely day!

i have one more essay to write and i am done with applications for good! i must sit down and get it done. hopefully i will not be on the computer until it is finished! :)

what i need right now.

click on the photo for the link. i did not take the picture.

{friday flickr faves}

Vanessa

Vanessa

Erin M.

Erin M.

Chelsea

Some inspirational pictures for your weekend. If you click on the picture it will take you to the source. I did not take any of these. These are all beautiful pictures from my lovely contacts on flickr.

{film is beautiful}

i went to walgreens today to develop my film :) i love the feeling of getting film developed. it is exciting and fun and ahh just so great. i really want to have my own dark room someday so i can develop prints myself. those are a few from the roll.

{this week}

Things that made me happy this week:

• getting frozen yogurt with my mom
• finishing a book
• getting a lot accomplished on my art project
• painting outside during 5th period
• making home made lasagna
• working out everyday
• almost being done with applications/ almost deciding which college i want to go to

i don't think it takes too much to make me happy :) which i am glad about. i am going to pick up my film soon. that also makes me happy. the process of developing film is so amazing. i wish it wasn't a dying art. hope everyone has had a great week also!

{so many books, so little time}

Well i am nearing the end of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. It is ok. Kind of. I am not a huge fan, at all, but i like to finish what i begin. I do not think i would recommend it but then again everyone has their own taste in books and i do not want to turn you away. To me, i found it confusing and kind of pointless. But my "to read" book stack is getting small, while my "read" stack is getting bigger! yay! i have also added a few to my "to read" stack.

1. Fast Food Nation- Eric Schlosser (I really like memiors and fact like books.)
2. The Jungle- Upton Sinclair (classic, i need to get through some more classics)
3. Stones into Schools- Greg Mortenson ( i read 3 Cups of Tea, very inspiring, but this is the sequel and i am so excited! i think i will reread 3 Cups of Tea and then read it)

And i still had The Unheard and The Perks of Being a Wallflower to read also.

Gah i love reading! Anyone else like to read? Do share your thoughts!

{sunny days and essays}

i am still working on my college essays. full ride here i come! but today was the perfect day outside (again, it could be colder but i will work with what i got). it was sunny and about 50 or 60 :) so, i decided it would be an awesome day to go outside and write my paper. good thinking. fresh air is good for the brain cells i think. i have been stuck on this prompt all week and all it took was some fresh air, my dog and no computer nearby. me and my dog laid in the grass for awhile and then moved onto the porch to finish writing. i love the cover of my journal, it is so inspirational! Thanks Grandma! :) i have the main outline for the paper and plan on finishing this one tonight! other than that, my weekly goals are going well! how is everyone?

{books: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead}

If anyone is looking for a funny, quick read, here it is! It is based off the characters in Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are used as spies for the king and such to get Hamlet killed. It is really funny and I enjoyed it a lot. i have made a vow to myself to read more, and we were forced to read this for lit this year and i am so glad. is anyone reading anything good? lets share ideas! I will try to keep you all updated on my latest reading adventures.

{ooh la la}

cupcake shops are the cutest things ever. after school, my friend and i went to a bakery in our town. ahh so cute. i got coffee and she got a triple chocolate cupcake. noms. other than that it is beautiful outside and i am inside working on college essays. yay procrastination! i love my new lens btw.

{todays happenings}

i haven't really been inspired much to post today but tonight my mom and i had a mother/ daughter night with my friends Brenda, Myari and Mia :) It was super fun! We baked cupcakes and amish bread! (recipe to be posted soon) I love hanging out with my mom and all of them!

Other than that my day has been quite peaceful. I went to barnes and nobles, bought The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I also worked out, ate lasagna, and MY NEW CAMERA LENS CAME IN. That is super exciting. I bought a 50mm f/1.8 D. It didn't come in until after i took pictures tonight but be expecting better pictures in the near future. I really am working on it.

Onto my goals list: I have spent less time on the computer today (due to the fact i was busy), i baked (does that count as cooking?), i read some more in my book, have been positive! (even my family is noticing) and i have taken more pictures!

The list is quite successful if i do say so myself. Anyways sorry for the boring post, not too inspired today!

{Je vais aller fou!}

So many essays. college= essays and more essays. now that i am probably going to an american school, i found this scholarship to write an essay about the importance of peace and such. well its actually a lot more than that and it is due February 1st along with the other three essays for the honors college. my brain is fried, but i am staying positive and thinking of all the great things that will come of it. Along with all the essay writing, i am also studying for my French competition on saturday. i am actually kind of excited for it! the winner receives $75, which isn't much but hey a new outfit! Also, after the competition, my mom and I are going vintage shopping and out to lunch which is always fun :)

I just realized how much i have posted today! I guess my "spending less time on the computer" isn't going so great, but i mean i do need it for schoolwork so that counts right? Anyways back to essay writing! Hope everyone has a fantastic night!

i do not really like the way post without pictures look. so here is a supa cute one of me.

{World Maps}

I bought my sister, Ashley, this map for Christmas and ever since i have really wanted one. its the coolest idea ever and traveling is one of my biggest passions! i am also just obsessed with maps in general because they are just really cool! i'm thinking i will have to buy one for my dorm room. Most of the places i have looked have been sold out or back ordered :( I am on a mission though! I really also want to start doing some more paintings, i have been so uninspired lately and i hate it!Well off to study Français! Bonne Nuit!

{college and other stressful things}

i have been doing the college search process for about a year now and to tell you the truth, its getting really old. i had narrowed it down to about 3 and was pretty sure exactly which college i wanted to go to, but just as i had made up my my God keeps showing me its not where i should be. although, i will choose to ignore that because i am hard-headed :) i have been listening more i believe i know where i should be next year. as i review this choice more though it makes a lot more sense, i mean it is cheaper, i will get to study abroad A LOT more (which is what i am most looking forward to), i will get more money from my parents since college is cheaper and i will not have to work. decisions are so stressful. i hate them.

other stressful things:

• finishing high school without failing
• finishing an art project i was commissioned for
• writing essays to finish honors college apps

on the bright side, it was rainy and cold today (my favorite weather, no sarcasm) and i am listening to pink floyd! i am also online shopping, which i shouldn't due to the fact that i vowed to spend less time on the computer and my bank account can't handle it.

Me at the school i will probs be at next year~

Progress on my list: I have begun A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. I was pretty positive today! I have only been on the computer for about 30 min and am about to get off.

& that is about it! hope you are all having a great day :)

{vegetarian lasagna}

Tonight, my mom and i made vegetarian lasagna. I am the only veggie in my family but they are good sports and try out new things with me :) (they normally end up loving them + i only like to cook healthy things). but back to the lasagna. it was delish. for real, everyone must try this stuff. its actually quite healthy too! only 190 calories per serving. now thats what i call lasagna.

You will need:

• 12 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1-1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 can (15 ounces) Hunt’s® Tomato Sauce
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon each dried basil, thyme and pepper
• 1 cup (8 ounces) 1% cottage cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

{step one}

Cook the noodles as directed on package.

{step two}

Saute the onion, celery and garlic in a large skillet.

{step three}

Then add the mushroom and cook for 2-3 min. longer.

{step four}

Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar and seasonings. Simmer for 10 min.

{step five}

Mix cottage cheese, the egg, salt and parsley in a small bowl.

{step seven}

Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with four noodles, half of the cottage cheese mixture, half of the spinach, a third of the remaining sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Repeat layers.

{step eight}

Top with remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer. Let lasagna stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

& there you have it! a great meal :) let me know what you think!

{goals for the week}

I have decided to create goals for myself every week. I feel as if i don't accomplish much during the week due to my computer addiction (cough blogging cough) but now i shall become productive, hopefully. that is the idea anyways. i will keep you all updated on my progress :)

1. Read A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
2. Be postive. (this will probably be on the list for awhile, but it is a goal of mine)
3. take more pictures!
4. plan two meals a week that i will cook for my family (& if good share with you!)
5. spend less time on the computer

i believe these are super doable! Do any

of you have goals? feel free to share!

going to begin now!

{books galore}

first off, you should know that i love to read. love love love it. it is just so relaxing and nice. tonight i just finished The Catcher in the Rye. it was good, i'm not sure where i stand on it to be exact. i'm trying to decide if i would recommend it or not. Pros: it has a somewhat interesting story line and the narrator is funny. Cons: it is slow, curses ALOT, and doesn't really have a plot.

but on that note, i guess everyone should read it because it is a so called "classic" and its fun to say that you have read a classic and be able to hold intellectual conversations about the books.

& then again, i am a nerd so i feel this way.

this past week, i also finished the book My Friend Leonard. this book was exceptionally amazing. i loved every minute of reading it. it is the sequel to A Million Little Pieces. i HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick two books to read. you will not be able to put either one down. James Frey, the author, has a way of really capturing your attention.

well, on to my next book! I have a list~

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
2. Unheard
3. The Portrait of the Author as a Young Man

any others i should add?

& unrelated to books, i just got home from babysitting the most precious kids in the world and just realized that the older one will be in junior high next year. i feel so old. guess i will go drink tea and read, or go to bed. goodnight blogging world!

{adventure time}

today was an awesome day. it began by waking up, working out and eating eggs and grapefruit for breakfast. then i made sandwiches and cupcakes for the picnic my friends and i went on today. the weather could not have gotten more perfect (well maybe a little cooler, but hey its texas). we went adventuring through the forest and found mine and george's favorite talking spot!

then we set up the picnic and ate. nom nom nom. i made pesto and swiss sandwiches, brought sun dried tomato and pine nut hummus with pita chips, grapefruit and topped it off with vanilla cupcakes with purple frosting.

after we ate & ate & ate, we went exploring around the woods.we climbed through some intense terrain. we also had encounters with barbed wire and thorny bushes. it was totally worth it. on our way back to the picnic sight we found a cow skull and pretty much the rest of the cow bones and it made me so sad. :( i like animals alot.

all in all, it was a GREAT day that i would do over and over again. i also got to hang out with my best friends.

O, did i mention we were trespassers?

{lovin some bloglovin}

Follow my blog with bloglovin

To add my blog to bloglovin, it asked me to do that. For all you bloggers out there, bloglovin is awesome. It is so easy to read through the post of your favorite blogs and find tons of new ones to read (yay spending lots of time on the computer). It can also give you ideas for your blog!

I plan on creating an about me page soon :)

& tomorrow i am going on a picnic, so expect a post on that!

I just had a late night snack of grapefruit and hummus with pita chips! Probably some of the best foods ever created. I could seriously eat grapefruit non-stop for the rest of my life. Yum. Just thinking about it makes me want more.

Going to get some tea~ Have a nice night everyone!

{today was a good day}

I woke up this morning, went and worked out and came home and made an awesome breakfast. Eggs and grapefruit: Breakfast of a Winner. While cooking I listened to classical music and pretended I was a famous chef in Paris (o the dreams i have). Then it was off to school for me.

BUT...

When i got home my mom and I went to go get frozen yogurt from a new shop that just opened by my house :)

& today has been a great day!

I love my mom :)

{Vegetarian Jambalaya}

I love cooking dinner for other people. I don't know why but its just so entertaining and fun to plan a meal, cook it and serve it. Although I do not know if people like being my guinea pigs for my vegetarian dishes :) Thanks mom and dad! Love you both!

This meal is super easy to make so here you go:

• You will need:
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 6 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
• 
  

{Step one}

Pre-heat oven to 350.

{Step two}

In a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion, celery, green pepper, mushrooms in oil until tender.

{Step three}

Add garlic and cook for 1 min. longer.

{Step four}

Stir in the tomatoes, water, rice, soy sauce, parsley, salt, paprika, cayenne, chili powder and pepper.

{Step five}

Transfer to a 2-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° for 65-70 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

It is SOOOO good. Let me know if you try it or change it up or anything! feedback people, feedback!

here it goes

Well, I'm Haley and I now have a blog.

I wear cat hats,cook and take pictures.

This is where i will keep you updated on my life.

I also like music, lists and animals.

Here it goes, we will see how long this last!