April Showers | May Flowers

Oh, just another engagement photo to share because I love this guy. Photo Credit

Just popping in to say hello!
Also, to share TWO playlists! I never got to share my April playlist, and May is JUST arriving, so I thought I'd put up both, just for fun.

But first, a rundown of May:
I've got event after event after event coming up, so this little blog is on the back burner for a while. Not that that's any huge deal - it's not like this blog is my job, amiright? The kids are getting out of school, they're going to Disney for a weekend, my bff is moving to Los Angeles (insert sad face), Breigh is having another brain surgery, invitations are being designed, a nephew is graduating high school... so much to do and attend to, this month will be over in no time at all!

I'll probably be in and out throughout the month because, who am I kidding? Every time I say, "oh, I'm taking a little tiny break for the month!" I barely make it a few days. BUT I am looking forward to coming back in June with lots to share, mostly wedding things, I'm sure! :)

And without further ado, a few playlists for you:

April Showers (grooveshark)


May Flowers (grooveshark)


**they're available on Spotify as well, but of course.. I really don't know how to link that here. But if you have an account on Spotify, find me and follow! :)
xo Haley

Blogging.

I have been blogging for about 4 years now, off and on. Throughout that time, I've gone through many different phases. Sharing too much, sharing very little, writing about nonsense, writing posts full of meaning to me, and as it turns out, to a lot of other folks out there.
Lately, I've kind of happened upon a blogging identity crisis. What kind of blogger do I want to be? Do I have any relevance whatsoever in the blogging world? Also of note, I hate the term "blogging world."  

I struggle with the fact that, in all honesty, I have zero important things to say. Nothing I write on this little blog will ever amount to much, will never have a truly lasting impact. It is my hope that maybe, someday it will. But right now? Not so much. I'm just a 21 year old nanny/student (but let's face it, I haven't been to a single class since last July. So.). I'm not married (yet), I don't have children to blog about. I'm not into the DIY world as much these days and my writing skills are hit and miss. Like, I really have to be fired up about something to write a post with real substance. 

What could I possibly have to blog about? I've ruled out that I'm not a DIY blogger, I'm not a mommy blogger, obviously. So what does that leave? Lifestyle blogging? What the heck is lifestyle blogging anyway? For real, legit question.

I'm terrible at keeping schedules, and at the moment, I struggle with finding things to post about. Blogging shouldn't be this hard, right? I guess when it is this hard, maybe that's my cue to call it quits, eh?

4 years ago, I started Elizabeth Haley. Not sure why I decided to call my blog my first and middle name, but hey - it worked for 3.5 years. I look back on my very first blog on Wordpress, and I cringe... My writing style (um, not sure if that aspect has changed, but let's hope it has), the over sharing, everything. I guess it truly does represent me at that age. I was a junior in high school when I started it, and started Elizabeth Haley 2.0 soon after graduating. Both represent major phases and transitions in my life, just as this blog represents this new phase of becoming a wife, and hopefully a mom in the next couple of years.
I've gone from writing to maybe 3 people, to an audience of nearly 300, back to around 30 solid regular readers. And you know what? That is a-okay with me. I don't need hundreds of followers to feel validated through all of this. Because, just like when I started blogging, it's all still for fun. I do it because I love it.

I guess all that to say, I want to keep blogging. I want to put something out there every day in hopes that it reaches someone and it will mean something to them.

Haley

Engaged, y'all.

So, I've been engaged for a year now. Literally, nearly a year to the day (the 29th!). We never, ever imagined being engaged this long, let alone by the time the actual wedding rolls around, we'll be engaged for 17 months. But with still being in school (and helicopter parents, we love you!) we thought it would be smartest to get a little further in school before getting hitched.
So anywho - last weekend we finally  had our engagement photos done! Elise is incredible. Beyond incredible. The turnaround time on these photos was like 0.6 seconds! Not to mention, the photos turned out beautifully! Here's a little peek:

Disclaimer: I know Blake looks super into that Mickey ears picture, but he was not. The things he does for me... 

You know, when preparing for engagement pictures, I was all focused on the outfits and locations. But you know what? NO ONE tells you about all the kissing! I'm not a PDA gal AT ALL. And all that kissing, in public... in front of a camera. Whoa, buddy. Not for me. That's why in all of the pictures of us kissing, Blake looks so serious, and I'm giggling. I literally could not stop laughing.

Seriously though, if you EVER need a photographer, Elise is your gal. She is the sweetest, most creative girl. She and I were always texting about ideas, and let me tell you - she has GREAT ideas. I can't even tell you how happy I am with our photos. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for these for what seems like forever, and they turned out just how I hoped they would! I feel like they capture mine and Blake's (extremely silly) personalities. Elise, you are the greatest. I can't wait for you to shoot the wedding! Also, Elise, you are now recruited as my life photographer. I'll call you when I have babies, for sure. ;) 

Where you can find Elise: 

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram

Love you, Elise (and Ethan too)! Can't wait to do this again in 156 days! <3 

New York flipping City

I could sit around on my couch and browse mommy blogs all day long. Alllll day long.

Like today, for instance? I caught up on a few months worth of posts on Nat the Fat Rat. She (and Love Taza | Rockstar Diaries) give me serious NYC fever. And maybe baby fever, too, but we won't talk about that. 

I've been to New York approximately one time in my life. It was a dream come true (and if that qualifies me as pathetic and extremely small town girl-ish, I am a-okay with that). I remember putting it on my "goal list" in 2010. My family must've seen that goal list because I was surprised with a trip to good 'ol NYC for my graduation gift! It was literally the best 4 days ever.

I drank an iced cinnamon dolce latte every morning.So when I order one now, I feel like I'm back in Manhattan. Oh, the memories. Also, my shirt is NOT an I heart NY shirt. It says I heart YB (yearbook!). Just to clear that up. ;) 

We did touristy things like visit the Statue of Liberty (biggest time suck ever. I mean, it was a great experience, but don't do it!), we took bus tours of the Upper East & West sides and downtown, we ate at TGI Fridays on our first night there (what? We were hungry and didn't know where to go! also, hashtag sixteen dollar hamburger). My mom, grandma and aunt went to The Today Show (and met Ann & Matt!). We went to Strawberry Fields (and the rest of Central Park - while they were filming scenes for The Smurfs movie!). Seriously, I can't even tell you how great this trip was.

I do believe, that no one has ever been this excited to take a picture with Hello Kitty. Ever. 

Blake went to NYC that same summer, too. For a while, it was all we could talk about. And if I'm being honest, it's pretty much still all we talk about. What it would be like to live there, how we can make that a reality, etc.
So, I'm sure Blake really enjoys it when I read all these NY mommy blogs, because then for the next 5 hours, it's all I want to think about and talk about:
"Blake, lets get on UO & Anthro and fill up a shopping cart full of stuff for our future tiny apartment!"
"Hey, Blake, lets get on Craigslist and look at apartments in Brooklyn!"
"Blake, I was looking at the cost of preschool in Manhattan and it's $5,000+ per year, per kid. I don't think we'll ever be able to afford that..."
"Um, Haley, we dont' even have kids yet. Stop."

That's pretty much how our conversations go. Not a joke.

I get excited when I think about going back to New York. I think about all the things I'll do and see, and how I won't do touristy things (except the Sex & the City bus tour, um, DUH) (oh, and I'll probably stalk all the locations where they filmed You've Got Mail).
A New York trip is probably a few years away, but a gal can dream, am I right?
Here are a few of my favorite NYC things on my Pinterest (I totally have an NY themed board on Pinterest, because duh):

* the Breakfast at Tiffany's brownstone sold last year for nearly $6 million, which is cheap in the world of New York City real estate, I hear.

*This studio apartment in Harlem. You know, Harlem never seemed appealing to me until I saw this. And then I decided a studio is probably not the best space for me when I have to share it with someone else...
*So basically, when you search "New York" in the search box in Naomi's blog, it's like opening a treasure chest of amazing.
*And my favorite New York mommy blogger, Natalie. Also a treasure chest of amazing.
*Meg has a compiled a good list of places to eat while in New York. (also, things to do)

If we are being completely honest here, it is my sincere hope that someday on this little blog, I can make my own list of my favorite spots in New York, and my favorite hole in the wall restaurants. Because, come on, the blog world needs another NYC blogger, right? #sarcasmyouknow

Disclaimer: This blog post was the product of not wanting to bug Blake with all of my NYC talk... enjoy! ;) 

The only song you'll ever need to hear ever again.

For the past 6+ years, my favorite song has been, without a shadow of a doubt, Talk Show Host by Radiohead. I don't know. I heard it for the first time when I watched Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (which, by the way, I hated The Great Gatsby so much ... SO MUCH... but I am so excited to see his take on it. Sigh. I love movies). ANYWAY.

This specific song was my favorite for years. And years. 

But it's time for Radiohead to take a break. 

Thom Yorke, you and your crazy dancing can step aside, preferably to the number two favorite song position. 

May I present to you, my favorite song. 

At least, for right now. 

A little over a week ago, Blake was listening to this in his car, and I just kinda rolled my eyes and was like, "oh, Blake is listening to his weirdy music again." Then, Friday-ish, I added it to a playlist on Spotify and decided to give it a listen. And, uh, to say I'm obsessed doesn't even cover it.

The only times I remember feeling this *obsessed* with something is when Hunger Games was released.
And that one time when I thought I loved AJ from The Backstreet Boys so much that my insides hurt. I was 7 years old.

I just really feel like all of those years spent on musical theater were preparing me for the ultimate belt-it-out-in-my-car song.  BRB, having a rockstar moment.

Happy Monday!
Haley

Confession:

Sometimes I get a little bit too baby happy. I read a lot of mommy blogs, I browse the kid section of Pinterest a little too often, and I take a lot longer looking through the baby clothes at Target than I do at anything else in the store. I'm a freak of nature, as Blake would oh so lovingly like to say if he knew that my weird girl hormones wouldn't hit him in the face. BUT, alas, I prefer to admit to mild baby fever.

Blake and I are years and years away from having little ones, even though I hate to admit it (gotta be off of our parents insurance, y'all). And Blake likes to remind me that we need to get through a wedding first before we can think about (or pin?) baby things. But NO ONE can stop me from staring longingly at my baby board on Pinterest! Here are few things I really, really love:

Kelli Murray's nursery tour on Moorea Seal's blog.

This adorable little girl room. Found on pinterest via this tumblr, but I don't know the original source.

Gosh darn it, I want cute little kids to dress! Via Zara Kids a few seasons ago.

Birthday parties are my jam. If I could have a Little Mermaid inspired party at 21 years old, I so would.

And my favorite links:
* 50 things to do with kiddos in the Kansas City area before they grow up
* Great girls your daughter should know (before she reads Twilight) // my daughter will never read Twilight, you guys. 
* Things to teach your children before their first date // this is lightyears away, but hey... useful tips, amirite? 

All this baby love comes from the newest addition to the Tucker family. Mr. Lincoln joined our growing family last Thursday and he couldn't be more perfect. I got to hold him for the first time Friday evening, and the baby fever skyrocketed. And then I go to work, where there's potty training and screaming four year olds, and I am reminded: Haley, you dummy, you are not ready for babies. Get your head out of the clouds.

Oh well. Someday.
;)

xo Haley

Color Run//Springfield

 It all started with my good pal Janel doing Color Run in St. Louis last year. Then I became obsessed. I did all this research on it, and found out everything I could... I couldn't wait until the next year when Color Run would come around again! And then... oh, and then it popped up in my email that Color Run was making it's way to Springfield. After texting everyone I knew, I patiently waited for registration to open.

 So, the 5k was this past weekend and it was a BLAST. I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination, but I had so much fun. I'm signed up for Color Me Rad (basically the same thing as Color Run) at the end of the month, and it can't get here fast enough!

It was rather awkward walking (...er, running...) up to the color stations. Every kilometer, there was a new station with a different color that is just thrown on you. Walking up to it, all you see is a big dust cloud of color. At the first one, which was yellow, I was like, "do I breathe when I go through?!" By the time I  got to the last color station I was spitting out color because I'd gotten some in my both. And Blake had blue snot for a few days. Ha!

Also of note: my boss and my mom both want to train for either the 10k or the half marathon at Disney World early next year. I will do it. But only for the Disney trip. ;)

I hope you had a fantastic weekend, I sure did! (I got to try out Farmers Gastropub for the first time. Remind me again why I'd never been there before?! I do believe it is now on the consideration list for rehearsal dinner spots...) Blake and I also saw the new Evil Dead movie. YIKES. I'm such a sissy sometimes! I made it through alright, but I'll just say I prefer the original cheesy version better. This new one is too creepy for me! I'm big on horror films but I've gotten to the point where I can't do gore anymore! Hashtag sad face.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Haley

The Bible and a few thoughts.

I've been watching the History Channel miniseries The Bible. It's amazing how you can read the stories in the Bible, but when you watch it, and really pay attention, it takes on a whole new meaning and it really registers in you what everything was really about. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching it and was pretty sad to see it come to an end!
Last night was the final episode, which dealt with Jesus's death and resurrection (of course the episode aired on Easter Sunday!). The story of Saul really spoke to me, more so than it ever did while reading it.
Saul was someone who persecuted Jesus's followers, and after a revelation by Christ, he reformed his ways and was chosen by God to teach His ways. We all know the story, Saul became Paul, and his life was transformed. A part of the dialogue really stuck out to me, though:

"I did what I did because I was certain I was right. That I knew what God wanted... as you are certain now. But then Jesus came to me. Not in righteous anger or in judgement but in love. And without love we are nothing." 

How many times do we speak the words and passages in the Bible for our own good, for our own "agenda," and yet - we are completely wrong. Saul persecuted the followers of Jesus because he thought his interpretations of the Scriptures were correct, but it wasn't until Jesus showed him that he was doing it all wrong, then Saul turned his life around. 

I am guilty of this so many times... I think I know what God wants, I think that I am doing God's work in my life and in others, but simply, I am not. All of us are guilty of this at some point or another. We are in great need of a Savior - so that though we are wrong, and our interpretations of Christ's word and His work are fallible, we can be and will be forgiven. 

Anyway, that was just my perspective from last night's episode. Like I said - I've really enjoyed this miniseries! Although, I will never understand why Noah had a Scottish accent. That is just beyond me.  

ALSO, here is a promo for our next sermon series at High Street: 

R E S T O R E from High Street on Vimeo.
You should definitely come check it out if you are in the Springfield area! Another good reason, our worship team is doing my new favorite Hillsong song next weekend... ;) 
Thanks for reading! Haley