I didn't know you cared!

Remember how it was my birthday last Sunday?

Well, it was.

Thank you for all the happy birthday wishes! I felt very loved.

In fact, I felt the love from some places that I really didn't expect. Observe:

A local radio station. Honestly, I'm not sure how they knew it was my birthday...

The dental office that I went to to get my wisdom teeth out two years ago. I haven't been back since. Also, I don't think I got anything from them last year...

And, my personal favorite, DefensiveDriving.com. I had to take an online Defensive Driving course a few years ago after some Texas cops decided to be jerks. It wasn't anything to do with my driving. Anyway, didn't hear from them last year either. Make sure you read the message. It's very thoughtful.

Isn't that sweet of them to care about my safety? I wonder why they want me to be safe as a 23 year old, but didn't really care what happened to me as a 22 year old...

Anyway, it was a great birthday weekend! Dallin took me to dinner (Liberty Market. Have you been? GO.) then to ride the gondolas at the Hyatt. Then the next day, I made THE amazing cookie bars (yummmm), and had a nice relaxing day, and then that night we had dinner at Red Robin with my family, and then did a little shopping. Then on my actual birthday I was surprised with more presents and had a yummy family dinner of my choosing. It was, in a word, spectacular.

Thanks again for all the birthday wishes on here and on Facebook. I am so lucky to have so many people that care! Including Texas defensive driving course companies!

Also, a few of you asked for the amazing cookie bar recipe. There was a link to it in the last post, but here it is again: click here for the amazing cookie bar recipe that will change your life.

Have a good one, y'all.

Also, P.S. and Furthermore

It's my birthday on Sunday. Woot!

I've already decided that I would like to celebrate the birth of myself by making myself these cookie bar things:


Yes, these are the cookie bar things I blogged about like, a year ago.

No, I haven't made them yet.

Yes, I have been dreaming about them ever since.

No, that's not exactly true.

Yes, it is.

No, I haven't had the time, motivation, or perfect occasion for which to make them.

Yes, I am determined to make them this weekend.

No, I'm not sharing.

Yes, I really do think you're actually asking me all of these questions.

No, I don't mind.

Have a lovely day! Make yourself a treat you've been wanting to make for a while. Just deciding to do so will fill you with joy. And then actually doing so will fill you with more joy. And a yummy treat.

1st Amendment: I will absolutely share. These things are freaking delicious...but only 2 or 3 bites will do you in. Seriously.

Because it wouldn't feel like summer without it

A trip to California, that is.

We decided sort of last-minute-ly to meet my mom and siblings in California for a little overnight stay.

They were going to Disneyland Thursday and Friday and then the beach on Saturday. Since Disneyland isn't exactly in the financial cards for us right now, we drove up Friday evening, spent Friday night walking around Downtown Disney, and then went to the beach with them on Saturday before driving home.

Or, to clarify, Dallin and I spent Friday night walking around Downtown Disney. Madelyn, being the little person that she is, gets into Disneyland free, so my mom met us outside Disneyland and took Maddy on some of the rides while we ate and explored. So yes, my baby did just go to Disneyland without me. And yes, I am jealous.

Anyway, I was positively determined to get some pictures of our trip, so now you get to see them!

Maddy loves shoulder rides from Daddy...and just loves Daddy in general.

She also liked trying on hats at the World of Disney store.

Arriving at Newport Beach! I know it's crazy popular, and it was really crowded (and hard to park), but man is it pretty!

Hanging out with Aunt Sarah on the beach. Yeah, Maddy is in a onesie, not a swimsuit. I was planning on more of a "walk around the boardwalk" day at the beach rather than a "play in the sand and water" day at the beach, but whatev.

She loved the sand, but wasn't sure about the (very cold) water.

Maddy loves G!

Aaaand, a family picture.

So there you have it. One fun-filled Harris family vacation! We have finally experienced summer...just in time for school to start next week.

Thanks for reminding me.

Guilty Pleasure - Part 1

(Side note...uh...beginning note: The original title of this post was just "Guilty Pleasure." Then I realized I will probably be writing about more guilty pleasures in the future...because I have more than one. End of side note...uh...beginning note.)

I don't watch tv.

Ok, that's a total lie.

Unless you define "watching tv" as "sitting on your couch in front of your television for an indefinite amount of time as you watch whatever is on." In that case, I don't watch tv.

BUT if "watching tv" is defined as "watching (on your computer) 1/2 hour or hour long shows that originally aired on tv" then yeah, I watch tv.

Hulu is where it's at, people.

So yeah, I have my "shows" that I watch. Not religiously (like, the day after they air) anymore, now that LOST and 24 are over (tear). But I'll get on Hulu while I'm folding laundry, eating lunch, or bored/tired during naptime.

Confession time: One of the shows that I watch pretty regularly is "The Bachelorette."

It's true. I wish it wasn't, but it is. And it's totally embarrassing. I mean, this show is ridiculous. Have you seen it? Then you know it's ridiculous. Have you never seen it? Then you probably assume it's ridiculous, which is why you've never watched it. Good for you.

But really, giving a girl 25 random strangers and assuming that one of them is her soul mate? No wonder the show has only had two marriages in their 20 or so seasons. Plus, you know ABC creates the drama. They pretty much admit to creating the drama - choosing contestants that will be controversial, editing out whatever they want, etc. I'm sure it's much worse than we even realize...probably on the verge of taking the "reality" out of "reality tv." (But then again, what reality tv show isn't?)

Anyway, I still watch it. It's kind of fun to witness all the drama, staged or not. And it's incredibly fun to laugh at all the ridiculous one-liners constantly thrown out there.

This season just ended. Did anyone else watch it? Was it not completely obvious who she was going to pick? I thought it was.

So...that's all. Just thought I'd publicly admit to watching a completely ridiculous time-waster of a show.

Do you have any guilty pleasure tv shows?