The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears, or the sea

Yesterday was just one of those days that you look back on later and say, "Wow- that was a good one". There is something about being back in Pensacola that just soothes my soul. Being with my husband and my best friends in my favorite place is pretty much my cure for anything.

We got here late Thursday night, met my great friend Aaron, and headed straight out to the beach. We wanted to go to Flounders for a little bit then call it a night. We met up with one of my best friends/bridesmaids, Abby, and ended up staying for hours and having a BLAST!

Me and Abbyyy! (We go back to 6th grade)

Love my bestie, Aaron! (We go back to 6th grade as well)

Just showing my husband some love =)

We got back to Aaron's, feasted on some leftover squash and macaroni, then hit the sheets so that we could have a long day at the beach yesterday.

We ended up getting a little bit later start then planned but the day could not have been more perfect. The temperature was in the low 80's, the water was crystal clear and felt AMAZING, and it was not crowded at all. We saw about 200 Manta Rays throughout the course of the day. People were lined up at the water all day watching the packs swim through. We, of course, were in the water right beside them so I did not get any pictures =(

I got to lay out with my favorite people, swim in the beautiful Gulf, read a Lauren Conrad novel (don't judge!) eat a delicious meal at the Hilton outside grill, and wear my favorite new swim suit and hat,

Swear I was not posing... =)

View straight ahead...

View to the left...

Not bad huh?! =)

We headed back to Aaron's, swam in the pool, cooked out, and watched the Celtics defeat the Magic for the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pretty much just another day in Paradise. Now, off to Fort Morgan with the whole Ryan gang.

xo

It's official!

Ok guys, it's official! My new name is Haley Perkins Ryan and I am pumped! I am so honored to be a Ryan and also honored to be a Perkins- so it was only appropriate to have both included in my official name.

So exciting!

On another note, after a lot of thought and prayer, Pat and I have decided to participate in the 21 day Daniel Fast. We will begin on June 1st when we get back from the beach. The purpose of a fast is to "give up or restrict food for a spiritual purpose". I just ordered the book from Amazon and I am so excited because it explains the purposes of fasting, how to fast, recipes for the Daniel Fast, and a 21 day devotional to go along with it.

Here is a list of the foods we will be avoiding:

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

So... what can we eat???

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon

All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.

All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.

Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

Ok... so I am a little nervous about it all but I definitely think it will be a neat experience. I am excited to focus on the important things in life. I am excited to do all of this with my husband. I am excited to see what the Lord is going to reveal to us.

It is time that we eat to live NOT live to eat.

Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure...

We were blessed this weekend to have our fellow married friends visit. Miley and Chris are the best friends we could ask for and we always have so much fun with them. Miley and I went to middle school and high school together in Pensacola. She went off to Flagler and I went to Auburn but we never lost touch. She met her amazing husband, Chris, and they married three years ago. We have been on countless trips and adventures with them since then and are so glad they relocated to Auburn. I cannot describe how great it is to have them as role models for our marriage. If you don't believe in soulmates- all you need to do is take a look at them and you will probably reconsider =)

Saturday afternoon we went to the beautiful Noccalula Falls. We packed a picnic that consisted of homemade chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, goldfish, cheese and crackers, etc. It was so much fun being with our best friends and enjoying the beautiful nature that God created for us.

Pat with his awesome backpack (inside has cooler, plates, cups, napkins, silverware, etc)

Me and my best friend in the whole world, Miley.

Our adorable husbands, Chris and Pat.

Our beautiful picnic spot- a rock looking over a huuuuge dropoff

After our picnic we took it back to the house. We played soccer and tumbled in the yard like little children. We walked down to our neighbors house and went on a beautiful night time boat ride. We came home, picked up Mexican food from El Tap, and sat around the table talking and laughing for hours. It was such a great night.

After our friends left on Sunday, we went to Trussville to celebrate G Daddy's 70th birthday. It was great visiting with Pat's family. We have not seen some of them since the wedding so we shared honeymoon pictures and stories.

Our next adventure was to The Summit. We returned and exchanged tons of things at Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma. Here are some of our favorite things we got:

The green pillows for our bed and the awesome candle sticks on the window ledge,

The La Creuset lime green skillet to match our La Creuset tea kettle.

We spent Sunday night at my Aunt Joy's house and had a blast playing the Wii with my precious cousin Finn.

I really love friend time. I really love family time. And I really love weekends.

Gone Thriftin'

I got a lot done around the house today. Got my chest of drawers and closet organized. Rearranged the cabinets to incorporate our new pots and pans. Realized I am getting obsessive compulsive about cleaning when I was scrubbing the white cabinet fronts trying to get off every mark. Seriously guys, I am a little scared I am developing OCD about cleaning! I am sure that Pat is scared since I almost cried last night when he did not rinse his toothpaste spit out of the freshly scrubbed sinks! (It's ok baby- I know you are trying!)

In order to celebrate all that we have gotten done the last couple of days I decided to go on a shopping spree.... at America's Thrift store! I am SO pumped about my purchases that I am gonna show you guys everything I bought for 23 dollars.

A few of my accessories... the one that kinda looks like a wrestling belt in this pic is actually my favorite.

CUTE denim shirtdress and gold braided belt

Black maxi dress and my wrestling belt =)

My favorite purchase... black dress with shoulder pads =)

A form fitted lacy dress... ohhh la la

My old school romper and braided belt

I also purchased 2 more skirts that I will post pictures of later if they turn out right... I am making some minor alterations to them tomorrow (like cutting off 8 inches...)

Until next time!

Cleaning is good for the soul!

I have now been awake for 10 hours and am just sitting down for the first time since breakfast. It has been a long day of cleaning, organizing, and trying to get this house into a livable state =) My mom, dad, and brother have been over here all day as we move junk from one place to another. From the house to the garage, from the garage to the trash, from the house to storage, from one bedroom into another. It really is a funny thing we are doing. You see, Andrew has been living with Pat since January while recovering from mono and waiting to take/pass the bar. When we got back from the honeymoon, Andrew moved into my old room at the ranch. So we have a lot of his stuff here, a lot of my stuff there, and a lot of my parents stuff that they do not have room for all over the place!

This stuff is all going to Joy's house (I hope she knows! haha)

This stuff is all going to the Ranch

This is all the wedding stuff that still needs a "home" as we say to the elementary kiddos.

BUT...

The new bedroom is finally finished!!

AND...

The bathroom is done! (Beautiful tile, I know- but we did what we could)

So... all that was to say that after a loooong day of cleaning, organizing, decorating, etc.- I feel like a new woman! I truly believe that cleaning is good for the soul =)

This is life...

As I sit here on the couch, I smell fresh chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. I hear ESPN on full blast updating us on the latest basketball news. I feel stuffed because we just ate a delicious mexican salad with chicken, corn, black beans, etc. I take in a deep breath and realize...this is life.

This was sooo yummy by the way =)

I absolutely love being with my new husband in our new house. Each day is a new adventure and it is so incredible. People have always joked about my ability to cook and clean because I have never really had to do much for myself. I was a little nervous about taking on the task of being a "good wife" and having the responsibility of cooking meals for my husband and keeping up the house.

I have made this my challenge as a newlywed. I am going to do my absolute best to cook a meal every night that we are home. I am going to do my best to make the bed everyday. I am going to do my best to always be caught up on the laundry. I am going to do this because I love my husband and he deserves the best =)