HAILEYANELA

I pride myself on being an optimist, a person who sees the glass half full. Most days. But sometimes I feel like there isn't a silver-lining to be found. All rain and no rainbow. Sure I could fake a smile, and I do some days, but it's never enough. I know that without the bad days we wouldn't have the good days, but bad days seem to last tooooooooooo long. So here are my three tips to turning that frown upside down. 1. List your thankfuls: a simple bulleted list of my countless blessings shows me just how well I have it. How many can boast the opportunity to attend a university at a subsided cost? Or a mother who supports them in ALL that they do? I even scribble down my gratitude for waking up to my alarm. 2.Turning outward: Do something for someone else. Write a note for a roommate. Braid a random girl's hair in the bathroom (true stuff). It doesn't have to be something massive, just meaningful. 3. Lose the 'tude: moping does nothing to help in the h...

At the start of every semester I swear to myself that I'll be on time to every class and always be prepared. Unfortunately that dream hasn't yet come to fruition. But with the help from my pretty Arvo watch, I'm crossing my fingers in hopes of improving my time-management skills. If you also suffer from being perpetually late to every event under the sun, know that you aren't alone dear friend.   But don't fret, because I've teamed up with Arvo to give you 15% off all Arvo products with my special discount code. So hurry over to snag yourself one before it's too late! lol discount code: ZCZMJTT   xoxo hails.

celebrating life without you With 4 years of (sometimes uncomfortable) dating under my belt, I feel the need to share with the literate world my experiences in the "minefield of love". In this week's diary entry you will find a brief and condensed history of boys I've been around, and my thoughts of who you shouldn't date. Let me be very clear when I say that I am in no way qualified to determine the strength of another's relationship. All advice presented before you comes from personal experience and should be read as such. So here goes nothing... Part One: Hailey's History With The Opposite Sex Awkward isn't a strong enough word to describe myself around boys throughout my teenage years; more specifically high school. I had a hard time trying to read boys and was (& still is) a chronic over-thinker. I read too far into insignificant gestures and assumed that with just the right amount of outfit-planning, I could score myself a boyfr...

If I were to swear on the Bible facing an audience of unfamiliar witnesses, I would attest to my character flaw of interpersonal expectations. My fanciful mind is utterly incapable of retaining lessons learned. It’s as if a wave of amnesia has swept away the memories of disappointment and disillusionment and left an empty canvas; ready to be repainted with a lesson that just refuses to adhere. I have a knack of throwing out chances to the undeserving; the ones that I know are sure to let me down. I can’t help it really. I am a deluded optimist at heart; earnestly wishing for change and improvement when I know none will come. I’m the kid with their fingers crossed, brow furrowed, and lip bitten; anxiously awaiting for things to go “my way”. My expectations aren’t grand in the slightest. They are usually centered on the forethought, or lack thereof, from others. Things that I assume to be common sense appear to have translated into intellect that far surpasses human courte...

I struggle with finding fun statement jewelry that is nickel-free and affordable. My skin is SO sensitive and will easily get inflamed due to the low-quality metal. I'm also not too fond of the sickly green tint left behind by cheaply produced pieces. But to find jewelry that comes straight from mother earth while still maintaining fashion-lovers' appeal? I'm sold. Leone Seeds  designs gorgeous jewelry and accessories 100% handmade in COLOMBIA with no plastic or artificial materials. Seriously how cool?! They reached out to see if I was interested, and I spent a solid day ogling their necklaces online. I'm guilty of sporting black almost everyday and figured some bright colors and prints would be a great way to give my closet a summer face-lift. The long blue set is made solely out of Tagua seeds that have been cut, shaved, and shaped (by hand!)  then dyed and assembled. I admit to swooning when I put on this turquoise dream. The laye...

c/o:  Sabrina Kellerman Photography I’m guilty of painting pretty pictures. Pictures of how I want my life to be viewed. I want crisp edges and smooth lines, not a defect in sight. A clear and in-focus image that everyone can praise, and my mother can be proud of. A picture that can garner Facebook “likes” and Twitter “retweets”; an image that attains the coveted “Life Goals” hash tag. Because who doesn’t want a life that can be applauded and placed front-and-center on the mantel of self-esteem? As a side effect of this deceptive exhibit of life, is the mass of people that assume they know exactly how you feel simply based off the carefully edited Instagram post. They surmise that the smile means happiness and contentment, and the success equals satisfaction and self-fulfillment. They believe the best, because the best is all that they can see. They view the performance from the front row, completely oblivious to the stress backstage behind the curtain. My frustration ...

There is strength in everything. Every action, thought, and word holds a well of power that is weightier than we can comprehend.   A naked word is nothing but a string of letters; but words stitched together with intent and purpose hold potential. They hold the potential to lift heavy hearts, to fortify crumbling character, to furnish the flame of faith, and possess the potential to empower beyond belief. We have the capacity to lead others towards a life of light, and knowledge of the value of their existence. We are literally capable of changing lives for the better.   And yet, the words may be turned in on themselves, maliciously shredded to the bone and cruelly corrupted. The brutal punch a foul phrase packs leaves a deeper impression than that of an empathetic expression. They’ve been used to dissect with disgust, criticize in contempt, to tease and taunt, and to brazenly beat down. Shamelessly and without thought they are dirtied for the sake of “speaking t...