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?

Don't Tell Me Who I Hate

Hey all.

Over the past few days, I have read some Facebook notes that, I feel, have attacked my church and my belief system. These notes are just a small drop in a large bucket of accusations that we have faced over the past several years.

I'm not trying to convince anyone of my political views. I just want people to understand that just because I think a certain way or believe a certain thing does not mean that I am a hateful person. So I wrote my own Facebook note addressing accusations against me and my church.

Here's what I wrote:

Don't Tell Me Who I Hate

Is anyone else sick of having other people tell you who you hate?

I am.

People who think like I do and believe what I do have always struggled with other people not understanding us. We have been given many different labels. The one that I'm seeing most often nowadays is "hater."

Do you think I hate people?

Let me just make this clear right now. I have never - ever - been taught by my parents, my church, my scriptures, my God, or my own conscience, to hate anyone. ANY one. Because my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is so often the brunt of the accusations, I will tell you that in almost 15 years of being a baptized member of this church, I have never been taught or told to hate, persecute, revile, undermine, or mistreat anyone. I have been taught, however, to love everyone, with a Christlike love, regardless of their religion, political stance, sexual orientation, race, or appearance.

Now, I may not be as good at this as I could be. I may not do enough service, donate enough to charity, or volunteer at shelters or hospitals. But I can tell you this: I do not hate.

Do you really think I hate people that are just trying to find happiness by being able to marry someone they love? Do you really think I hate people that do whatever they can to leave their own country and find jobs in ours, just to try to make a better life for their families?

Yes, I am against gay marriage and illegal immigration. But I do not hate gays or illegal immigrants. I do not. And for anyone to tell me that I do is wrong. It is putting words in my mouth and feelings in my heart. It makes me think that I do not have a right to my own opinion, that I am not allowed to say what I want to say because I might get called a hater.

Why is it fair for people like me to be silenced in this way? Why is every point we make faced with accusations of hatred and ignorance? Why can't I say what I think without it being hateful?

Is it because you think I couldn't possibly understand you? Because I am a Christian, middle-class woman with a husband and a baby and a house in suburbs with a Toyota in the garage? Is that why I'm not allowed to think the way I think? Because I've obviously never felt hurt, betrayed, angry, alone, lost, confused, or sad? Because I've never been called names? Well, guess what - I have felt these things. All of them. And you call me names all the time. Selfish. Arrogant. Ignorant. Bigot. Hateful.

Obviously, you don't understand me.

You tell me I'm trying to keep you from your right to the pursuit of happiness. Let me tell you what is really the case: we have different definitions of happiness. My happiness does not include a world where homosexuals are allowed to marry and raise children. Yours does. And you know what? One of the great things about our country is that we are both able to pursue this happiness without name-calling, accusations, or hatred.

All I'm doing is standing up for what I believe. You are more than welcome to do the same, on one condition: don't tell me who I hate. I don't hate you. I can't make you believe that, or anything else, but it's true. I want you to be happy. Why wouldn't I?

If there are some issues that we have to agree to disagree about, then so be it. But don't tell me that I'm a hateful, ignorant person because of what I believe. You know how that makes me feel? It makes me feel like you hate me.

Do you?

Go see Inception

You should go see Inception.

Why?


Because it's:


Intelligent

Intense

Intriguing

Inpeccably (temporary replacement for "impeccably," so as to fit with the "in-" theme) cast

Incredible

!!!

Extreme Makeover: Master Bathroom Edition

When we moved into our lovely home (almost a year ago!), the ONLY room that did not get touched AT ALL was the master bathroom. The laundry room was painted, closets were painted, even the pantry was shown some love, but we decided that the master bathroom was something that we could hold off on. AKA we were sick of house projects.

Well, the last couple months have found me itching to do something to our master bathroom. Why? Observe:


While these pictures were taken after our shower curtain and towels and such had already been removed, this was the general idea of our bathroom. Ho-hum.

So, about 5 hours of work later and....

Ta da!

Let me point out some of the features of this, our new bath space:

• painted a nice, neutral gray
• new shower curtain and towels
• new light fixtures
• framed mirror
• decorative touches, including the wall sconces, flowers, and apples

All done pretty cheaply, I might add.

I LOVE IT.