i wish.

i wish i could eat popsicles at every meal. specifically ones found at gas stations. and even more specifically, these ones.

i wish my hair would cooperate more like it is today. i like these strands when they form an alliance rather than being so free-spirited. well, i suppose i like them all the time, but it sure is easier to fake being put-together when your hair is cooperating.

i wish wednesday would hurry up and get here.

i wish i spoke like grace kelly. her sweet voice and poised demeanor are somethings i so sorely lack. it's a new goal of mine. i mean, listen to her!

i wish nightmares would stay away for a while. just for a while. i need a breather.

i wish i'd embraced the beauty of listening to music for leisure with headphones in. "ayley the dance teacher" rarely listens to music for the joy of it. music can become work so quickly. it's so soothing.

and i wish my husband would hurry home from work tonight. crossing my fingers that happens. i need me some serious cuddle time.

xo.

girls with long hair.

images saved on my computer from a while ago via here, here, and unfortunately tumblr. (i'm sorry!)

this post could have been similarly titled
"girls with cooler hair than me"
or
"girls who have more patience than i do"
or even
"girls of the internet with amazingly photographable locks and, yeah, pouty lips for good measure".

i found myself distracted from writing an incredibly boring paper on some neuroscience stuff
& happened upon a few images of debra jo fondren
which led me to more pictures of her spectacular mane
and even more pictures of long haired beauties.

and here i am being all like "this post brought to you by the girl who can't seem to let anyone forget how glad she is that she cut her hair short".

sigh.
braid crowns and hair that you could just about tuck into your waistband have never looked more appealing.

xo.

on service...

so....
i did this little service project.
remember that?

i say little this time because it was small.
seven people showed up.
four of those were family members.

standing outside in the freezing cold,
for three hours,
i watched car after car pass by.
i watched people i know pass by.

i was so disappointed
to say the least!

i made over 100 flyers {that were placed on doors individually}, dozens of posters posted around the neighborhood, made gallons of hot cocoa, texted/facebooked everyone i know.

it was such a bummer.
i may have cried disappointment tears.

but...
here's what i learned.

 i will neverevereverever say no to helping people.

who cares how many people showed up?
who cares just how much food or clothing we collected?
who cares how many hours of mine seemingly went to waste?

not me.
it's not about me.
it was never about me.

because what little we did that day is going to make a huge difference to someone.
my efforts will not go to waste.
those three hours standing outside
to the point of painful finger freezing
are going to warm someone's heart.
the loving help from my family members,
the many hours i spent beforehand
will not go to waste.

the little food and single cardboard box full of clothes donated by the sweet people who came through are going to make a large difference for someone who really needs it.

never say no to service.
never pass up someone on the side of the road holding a service project.
never keep a spare dollar to yourself.
never hold the door open for only yourself.
never think "oh, somebody else will do it."
never. never. never.

i promise myself
from this day forward,
i will never pass up an opportunity to give.

someone out there has no idea just how much they are loved
by someone who doesn't even know them.

11.11.11

remember this?

here's my little contribution to the wishmaking this friday.

if you're in the area,

come say hello!

month of wishes

{via}

update//

groceries carried. compliments handed out to strangers. money donated. cookies made. rides given. errands run. children babysat. meals made. patience granted. hands lent. favors granted. hair braided. secret admirer notes written.

people wish for many things:

money

love

attention

help

 

i have been given so much.

these simple things are just... well, simple in the long run.

but everyone knows it's the little things

that make a big difference.

what are you doing to celebrate this month??

11/11/11

  

many of you know,

we planned a big party on 11/11/11
in honor of making wishes.

recently,
we decided to forgo this idea.

tragic, i know.

instead,
we are asking everyone we love to participate in making wishes come true in their daily lives.

11/11/11 is one month away.
each day,
make at least one person's wish come true
through acts of kindness.

do as best you can.

if you so wish,
you may plan to participate in the granting of a larger wish on the eleventh of november,
through food drives,
donation of clothes,
temple service,
reading books to children in the hospital,
various volunteer work,
etc.

if you would like,
document your month spent as a fairy godmother in whatever way you wish.
i would absolutely love to hear about it.

in addition to this,
and staying with the theme of "wishing",
please consider donating to the water project,
to sponsor a well for people in africa praying for clean, accessible water.

we spend too much of our time in decadence.
simplify.
consciously perform service in your lives.
make an effort to shine your own light onto others.

please spread this idea to those you love.
the more love, service, and kindness we can spread in the world,
the better.

keep wishing on eyelashes, ladybugs, clock numbers, birthday candles, shooting stars.

we all have the power to perform magic.