A few short weeks...

In just a few short weeks life as I know it will be changing completely. In just 31 days I'll be moving to Des Moines. I can't believe how fast this summer has really flown! Its completely ridiculous. Realizing how soon college is coming is both incredibly exciting and yet super nerve wracking. I love buying things for my dorm and I love the excitement that is the change coming, yet I'm really not sure about leaving the comforts of home for the unknown. All I ever talk about is how excited I am for college yet deep down I'm also afraid. I'm afraid my roommate won't like me, I'm scared about moving to such a big town (compared to my hometown) and I'm nervous about my classes. I've taken college classes before, but none have challenged me in any way, shape or form whatsoever. I really want good grades and in high school I didn't have to try really at all except on the occasional paper which I usually made up as I went. It always seems like kids in college know how everything works and are always confident and such, but I have no idea how anything works at this moment in time. I may sound really apprehensive but overall I'm really excited. I can't wait to meet my roommate, explore Des Moines and take challenging classes for once in my life. I'm just not so thrilled with leaving home and going 3 hours away.

NLC #realitycheck

I had such an incredible time this last week getting a #realitycheck at the 2012 FCCLA NLC! I had so much fun touring Orlando, meeting new people and seeing old friends. I had a fantastic time at Sea World for the first time! I never had a desire to go, but it was SO much fun! I was also able to go to Disney's Magic Kingdom and Epcot! Two of my favorite Disney parks! I rode the Space Mountain ride at Magic Kingdom for the first time. Oh. My. Goodness. It was the ride of a lifetime! So much fun! At Epcot I love the countries! I love hearing different accents :P such as English or Italian! I loved that there was a family from the UK in the UK part of Epcot! It was interesting to listen to them! The conference part of the trip was quite the success! The theme #realitycheck is probably one of my favorite themes FCCLA has ever had! It was so much fun to see some of my friends up on stage as part of the NEC (National Executive Council)! One of my favorite parts of the week though was seeing a few of my best friends make the 2012-2013 National Executive Council! I'm so proud of all of them and have confidence that they will be incredible national officers! My workshop 'The Power of Positivity' was a success, and I had a great time getting to know members that attended! All three workshops combined, I saw around 300 members which was great! Finally, the highlight of my trip was the FCCLA block party at Universal Studios! I got to go to Harry Potter World. It was the highlight of my trip, but of my life. I was able to live through a part of my childhood again! Drinking butterbeer at the Three Broom Sticks, buying a Wand from Olivanders and getting candy from Honeydukes, was so crazy! It was just incredible! My goodness was it great!

National Leadership Conference

This week I will be attending the 2012 National FCCLA National Leadership Conference: #realitycheck. My flight landed yesterday in beautiful Orlando, Florida! After a crazy ride to the hotel at 1 am I finally got to my room around 2am! How crazy? I ended up waiting for one of this year's Iowa State Officers to find her way to the correct hotel until about 2:30am! After approx. 2 hours of sleep, I was up and ready for the day! It was a fantastic day at Sea World! I am so excited to be going to Disney's Magic Kingdom tomorrow! Although today has had its ups and downs, I'm so glad that I am here experiencing this #realitycheck. I'll be honest, I didn't know how I would feel, knowing I would be rooming with the very girls who took over for me as a state officer in March. Would I be jealous, would I judge them, would I come off as mean? I was too nervous for something that I really had no reason to be nervous for. I have loved getting to know this team of leaders even just today. As bittersweet as this is, I have loved getting to know them more than I ever imagined. They're such a strong group, and for that I commend them. Its a tough job being a state officer and so far what I've seen as a team has been exemplary. I don't think we could have had a better team to replace mine. I was a bit nervous at first, leaving the organization that I am incredibly passionate about into the hands of kids I didn't know...but those feelings have changed substantially. Its kind of fun being a has been with all of that experience under my belt! I've helped them overcome some nerves about state meetings and the conference, and its so incredible to see their confidence shine through! Like I said, this is incredibly bittersweet but its a really cool experience. I miss my team dearly and I really wish they were all here to experience The Ultimate Leadership Experience with me here in Orlando, but I'm excited to see the couple that did make it down! Although I miss my team, I am looking forward to what this week will have in store!

Hospitals

You know, its been awhile since I've been to the doctor. To be honest, I hate going to the doctor. Any doctor really: eye doctor, orthodontist, dentist, family doctor, etc...they all just terrify me. What if they tell me I'm going to die. What if they think I'm crazy. What if...that's the question that runs through my head. I have problems explaining my symptoms and everything, and I can't stand it. Its totally embarrassing 98% of the time too. Even if I just go in for a routine check up, I get super nervous, my blood pressure rises, and I freak out. I don't know what it is about doctors that make you feel so insecure? Its even more embarrassing when you live in a small town and the doctor could potentially know you, the nurse could be a friend's mom or you could run into them wherever you go. Its just a weird deal.
Today, I tried to call my doctor to get in for an appt. this week, preferably today or tomorrow. I didn't even care if I saw my specific doctor, I knew I needed to get in. The lady that answered the phone at the clinic was grouchy, and flat out said I can't get in until late next week. Isn't the point of a doctor's office to be able to get in when you need them? I needed them today. Not next week. That's just plain ridiculous. My specific doctor wouldn't even be able to get me in for OVER A MONTH. I found this totally unacceptable. I mean really. I'm not going to gross you out with the details of why I needed a doctor, but I'm pretty sure I waited long enough, and I wasn't waiting another week or even a month. I wanted in today. So guess who got to spend the afternoon in the wonderful Emergency Room since nobody else could see them! Me. Woohoo. It always seems like I go to the ER whenever I don't think its worth it. I always think you need a stick sticking out of your eyeball or a broken limb to go in, but apparently I never go in for any weird reason. I go because I feel like crap and no other doctor can fit me in. I once went because I was sickly and gross. They told me I was crazy and to just go home. No tests at all. Just "you're fine, go home." Thanks crazy doctor with two different colored glasses. I really appreciate it. Especially since I had to sit there for three hours that time.
What is it with ERs taking SO long? I don't know many people who get in and out in an acceptable amount of time. My mom was in for 5 hours BEFORE they even saw her. Its crazy.
I was actually surprised by my experience today though. I was in and out in about an hour and a half, and it went pretty smoothly, although I didn't learn anything as to what's wrong with me. I'm supposed to get in to see a doctor that I TRIED TO GET IN TO SEE, this week according to the ER. Umm...HELLO?! I told you I tried to get in and I can't get in until next week.
I just don't understand hospitals. Its like they TRY to mess you up. After so long I'm just sick of what's making me sick and all I want are answers. I don't want a "there are about 30 different things that could be wrong with you and we don't have time to go through all of them" I want a definitive "you are lactose intolerant" type of thing. Not just an "avoid dairy at all costs and see if you feel better." like I got today.

Yumm!

So, its been awhile since I've posted...sorry about that! Everything has just been too crazy! I just wanted to stop by to tell about a recipe I stumbled across today. The recipe is for a Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce. Doesn't that sound delicious? I know. Its super simple, and the recipe I found was just enough to make for the recipe it went along with, but I would make a ton of this stuff and bottle it or something. Seriously, who came up with this?
So the recipe goes like this:
1 Tablespoon Ranch Dressing
3 Tablespoons Sour Cream
1/4 Teaspoon Chili Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne Powder (I probably did just over an 8th of a tsp.)
1/8 Teaspoon Salt (I probably had just under a tsp here.)
1/8 Teaspoon Garlic Powder ( I know! I didn't expect garlic powder either!)

You just mix it all together and enjoy! I would probably add more Chili Powder personally and more Cayenne just to give it more of a kick. I didn't expect the ranch flavor to be so prominent with more sour cream than ranch, but its definitely the star here!

I think this would be delicious on a burger or chicken strips! This would actually be a really good part of a chicken strip breading. I usually add a bit of ranch to the breading anyway so this would just kick it up a notch!

I hope you enjoy this!

Hayley

VBS

This week I am looking forward to a fun-filled week! Today marked the first day of bible school where the theme is no matter what trust god called Sky VBS. It was a great day and also reassured me that I could not be an Elementary teacher! Just a few hours with those kids and I was wiped out! They're so energetic an wild! Coming back as a group leader reminded me of when I was a kid going to bible school. I used to look forward to it each year and in the ( I can't believe it's been so long!) 7ish years since i've been a student at bible schools lot had changed! I remember going and having an elaborately decorated classroom with a teacher and ten or so other kids. We made our rotations to crafts, singing and snacks but had our lesson put on by our teacher who did everything with us. Now there is no 'home' classroom, groups are of 4-6 and rotations include movie, wild blue bible lessons, science experiments and snack (which is the only thing that stayed the same with a trusty peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a various snack of the day) we have bottled water versus juice though. I think the new format is neat but I also think the old way was too. My group of kids are rather shy, but started to warm up to me by the end of the day! The songs are catchy and I've had them stuck in my head all evening! I just wonder what the program will entail on Thursday as we used to have music class and each grade had different songs they sang and then there were songs that everybody sang. I just don't know what the program will include now, as we sang 2 songs today but neither were practiced like they used to be for a program. Hmm... I wonder... I also signed up to give blood at a blood drive on Thursday! I never though I would actually look up blood drives to attend but I love that feeling after giving blood where you realize that you saved a life! :) I'm looking forward to everything this week is going to entail!

Hayley

Favorite Things

Today I wanted to post about some of my favorite things! I like to look through other blogs to see other people's favorite products, organizations and just overall things to maybe find something new of my own so I decided that it was time to add my two cents. I think I will categorize these things and just make a list so its easy for you to check it out!

Favorite Websites:

Facebook- Well duh. I spend so much time on here. In fact, I have it open in another tab as we speak!
Twitter- I love twitter. Follow me @shenhayley! I love how you feel like you get to know celebrities and other people. I love the parody accounts I follow and always have new stupid jokes and sayings coming from twitter!
Mint.com- I am loving mint.com. You can add your bank account info. and it can show you where you spend most of your money. It is incredibly helpful and I recommend any other incoming college students to try it out!
PrintWhatYouLike.com- I love this so much! Have you ever wanted to print an article off of a website but didn't want all of the advertisements and "gunk?" Well, PrintWhatYouLike lets you remove all of that so you don't waste paper! Its a genius idea! I used this the other day to print a coloring page (Yeah, I'm 18 and coloring pages are still fun!) and I removed all of the ads. It was fantastic!
TeuxDeux- This simple little website is basically one big to-do list. I love it because I am constantly making to-do lists, and now I have a website to help me categorize it by day. I'm new to the website, but I am enjoying how simple it is to stay organized!

Favorite Organizations

FCCLA- Of course! FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) was my favorite part of high school! Check out fcclainc.org and iafccla.org for more info! Truly a fantastic organization!
American Red Cross- I love the feeling after you give blood (not the ugh I feel so crappy and exhausted feeling) but the "Wow! I just saved a life!" feeling. They do SO much good and for that they are a favorite.
Whitney Elementary-Okay, I don't know if you can consider an Elementary School an organization, but for the sake of this post it is. I saw this story on Ellen about the school and I was blown away. The majority of the students (like over 90%) are homeless and their principal works hard to make sure they always have clothing and food. I was inspired by the story! (Check out Ellen's Youtube Channel for video!)

Favorite Brands

Coach- When it comes to handbags nobody does better! They also have super cute shoes and other accessories!
Silver- Silver Jeans are literally the most comfortable jeans I have ever worn!
Toms- As a (somewhat) new owner of a pair of Toms they make the list! They go with almost any outfit, and when you buy a pair, they donate a pair to a child that doesn't have any shoes! PLUS they are incredibly comfortable! What a score?! A great pair of shoes AND you help kids! Wow. Pretty great!

Favorite Items
(This is a misc. category)

Apple iPod-As I've mentioned before I love my iPod. I use it all the time. Its so great. I love looking through my calendar to see what I have planned, I love checking my email facebook and twitter when I'm out and about and I love taking pictures with it! The weather app is great and sometimes I check stocks just because there's an app for that! (ha!)
Roku- I just bought this item like two weeks ago and I'm in love. My bedroom isn't connected to our Satellite so I can't watch TV down there. This nifty little box allows me to watch Netflix, stream Pandora and even check the news! I am a fan!

Favorite Books

Harry Potter- I don't think I can say enough about how I LOVE Harry Potter! I've always been a fan, but I have a friend who inspired me to get back into the series and oh how I forgot how fantastic it is! I am loving the new website Pottermore that lets you delve deeper into the stories than you ever got to go before! Bravo!
Ana's Story by Jenna Bush- I read this book last year and it was inspiring. Just check it out. You'll be glad you did.
The Hunger Games- Again, just check it out if you haven't already. I hadn't even heard of the books until the movie came out. I haven't seen the movie because I was spending all of that time reading the books trying to catch up on what everyone was talking about!
Jane Eyre- A classic. Such a fun, interesting piece of literature. Its a must read!

Favorite Shows

NCIS- Oh man. I could go on and on about this show! I love it. That beast Mark Harmon plus Michael Weatherly and Cote De Pablo and Sean Murray is such a great combo! Throw in David McCallum and Pauley Perrette and Brian Dietzen and you have one hit!
Arrested Development-Why did this show ever end? I haven't made it to the end of the series yet, but what I've seen so far is so ridiculous that its a favorite!
How I Met your Mother- I wonder...who is the mother? I used to hate the show, but recently its made its way to the top of the list!

I hope this wasn't too long of a list! I'm sure you will be seeing more and more information about favorite things in the coming days and weeks! :)

Hayley