Gabe ♥ Hannah

serenity...in memories

2010-07-17T04:07:00.000-07:00

hmmm i would love to go to this place...this picture reminds me of one of my favorite places in the world...ashville, NC. i love instances when thinking back to times past...can you can smile. When remembering a face, taste, or smell, can elicit such happy times that it makes you feel content and pleased with your life. funny how its the little things usually that makes you do that... your little cousins baby toes, crunchy leaves as you walk through the mountains, the foaming crest of the waves in the ocean, the warmth of a cup of coffee during a winter storm... may i always be content with the things that matter in my life...wishing the same for you .... xo

emotions... from an emotional girl

2010-06-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

isn't it... well funny....what emotions can do to you!? emotion: defined...a reflection of your state of mind. in many ways... they are great because you can "express" yourself! of course they can be destructive or embarrassing too! i mean really... talk about roller coasters...bursts of laughter..... sobs n' tears...smiles....excitement...fear n' dread... we all possess such a range.... we have all seen those lil sticker faces with the lil box... where you can choose what emotion you are.... they say... "today i am" and you get to pick from all the emotions... "crabby, happy, stressed, exciting, angry, embarrassed, tired..." and put the box over the face.... well today i'm picking happy and content... i mean....since we can "choose" ... and we really can! ...and i hope you all are "choosing" your emotional displays too... hehe so much for my muddy thoughts... off to work...

studying....yes.... still studying

2010-02-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

i mean really!!! i'm still studying... i feel that that has been my lot in life for the last decade... and so it has... but soon... oh soooo very soon i hope.... it will all pay off... and my brain will be neatly organized with all the information to best treat my patients... and i know my learning will never be over.... but exams will!! yippee for only 2 1/2 more months until i wear a cap and gown!

sigh.... ookie back to....well studying....

be mine

2010-02-14T19:12:00.001-08:00

my gabriel gave me the best valentines day ever! yes, he did all the "right" things... by any girls standards! jewelry, dinner, chocolates, 2 pairs of super cute shoes, clothes, and other such surprises...yes... you can shout spoiled!! ;) ookie ookie.... alright already....

sooo here i sit... reflecting...thinking.... geez what a lucky lil girl i am.... i consider the caliber of man my husband is... the character and the integrity by which his lives his daily life... this weekend we shared dreams and aspriations for our future....we laughed sooo hard at each other's jokes....each tickle and tease was a demonstration of just how crazy in love i am with this man... oh of course...we haven't been without our battles....but gabriel has been my best friend through thick and thin... my ups and my darkest downs....talk about lucky...tears flood my eyes and i am blown away with the flood of emotions that overtake my heart....i mean it is unbelievable the depth of love that i feel for this man...some may find this a tad too personal.... but i've never shied away from public displays of affection...thank you very much... when you love someone... you just want to tell everyone about that person!! you want to share the emotions that are bursting at the seams.... gabriel has stolen my heart... he has captured my attentions and even when my lil heart strays or stresses....one minute in his arms melts my fears and puts a smile on my face....i thank God for my valentine.... for giving me such a man to love....happy valentines day... (yes i celebrate all holidays ;) )

my daddy

2009-11-28T05:46:00.000-08:00

i love being home when my daddy is around! yesterday we kept our tradition of getting out early for the holiday madness... dad holds all our bags.... makes the drop offs to the car... treats to starbucks and lunch.... and lends support as we shop the deals... i love my daddy sooo much it hurts... i love that he always makes time for me... to listen... and to goof off with... loved spending the entire day with him! xoxo i love you daddy!

i miss....shalene

2009-11-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

i miss my shalene..... i never get to see her but i do get to talk to her a-lot (or at least be both really try)...sigh... sometimes it is crazy how many days go by that i haven't seen her... i can only be home on the weekends... and that is when she works... another reason... i can't wait to be done with school...vita e bella because of my shalene patricia....

raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....

2009-11-06T04:11:00.001-08:00

these are a few of my favorite things...

*giving butterfly kisses with your eyelashes

*getting letters in the mail

*packages with my name on it

*a new playlist with new and old songs that you loooove

*greek yogurt (yummi)

*calling my nana and mom and never running out of things to talk about

*crunchy falling leaves chasing each other in the wind

*mittens w/finger holes

*my sisters

watching my gabriel sleep

*getting up when it is still dark and drinking coffee w/my Bible study

*peace with myself

*babies lil toes

*remembering and daydreaming

*phone calls from my shalene patricia

off to school i'll have to finish my list later x0 have a wonderful day

hungry girl

2009-11-05T08:56:00.001-08:00

oh my goodness gracious... i am so excited to share this to all my blogger friends and my girlies... i always get so super pumped when i make a new wonderful discovery!! okay so it is a company called "hungry girl"... how appropriate right! the company has the best recipes and e-mail newsletters... i have been trying them out and they are GREAT! very low cal for all you 'hungry girls" trying to watch the waistline... and for us trying to get back to pre-wedding weight (boo!) so i tried one out today... it is so yummy i had to share it! (ohhh... p.s. the cookbook '200 under 200' is so much fun!)

here's mine!! hehe i'm such a lil excited weirdo... (it doesn't look quite as good as the pic in the book.. but hey i'm working on it!)

California Love Mug

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 140 calories, 5g fat, 506mg sodium, 7g carbs, 2g fiber, 3g sugars, 16.5g protein --POINTS® value 3*
Avocado rocks...
Along with veggies 'n eggs --
Swirled with creamy Swiss!
- haiku by Hungry Girl

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
2 tbsp. diced tomatoes
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese
2 tbsp. diced avocado

Directions:
Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add spinach and mushrooms, and microwave for 1 - 2 minutes, until softened.

Blot any excess moisture from the veggies. Add egg substitute, tomatoes, and cheese wedge, breaking the cheese wedge into pieces as you add it. Microwave for 1 minute.

Stir gently, and then microwave for an additional 45 - 60 seconds, until scramble is just set.

Lightly stir, and allow to cool slightly. Top with avocado and eat up!

MAKES 1 SERVING

my trip to muskegon

2009-10-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

here i am so in my lil hotel room in muskegon.... i SHOULD be studying for boards.... but no... i'm downloading a new playlist and getting all settled for a week of work in a community dentistry clinic... i miss my gabriel immensely!!!! it is crazy... he is hunting birds in texas... and i'm here fighting tooth decay... hehe.... worlds apart.... can't wait till FRIDAY....

i miss my husband!!!

2009-10-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

ookay... so realistically... gabe hasn't really been "gone" yet... because technically i wouldn't have seen him because he would be at the gathering... but the thought of him being away from me from a whole week... seems looong and well sooo depressing... sigh... i guess i'll get a lot of studying done....note my attempt at optimism... sigh

new yogurt discovery!

2009-10-06T05:19:00.000-07:00

i love my frozen yogurt!! it is the best lil splurge ever! you can do health alternatives... or if your week is kinda rough... i add the peanutbutter cups instead ;) well yesterday after a long bike ride... gabriel showed me a new place in ann arbor that i haven't ever tried... "yogurt bliss" for 90 cals/4 ounces... not a bad lil treat... xo

today is the day

2009-10-03T03:31:00.000-07:00

today is my first part of the National Boards Dental Exam!! I was getting really really nerved up yesterday so i ate all the chocolate off of a box of icecream bars!!! bad idea... i just felt worse... gabe came to the rescue with a long walk to dinner and got my mind of my troubles... he is the best encourager and best support i could ask for... he believes in my... and always can cheer me up... i am so blessed by my wonderful husband! off to take the boards they start at 7:00 and here i am blogging! smiles...

worries about tomorrow

2009-08-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

gabe and i decided to read the Bible all the way through together...which i thought was an excellent goal to have as a new married couple! when we were kids my mom made us "Bible reading charts" to track our progress, that is what we are going to use. i love reading with gabe because different things speak to me and him and we learn 2x as much about things we may not have caught before! here is a lil excerpt from todays read...

Matt 6:25, 27,31a, 32b, 33-34

"therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?"

"and who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or to the span of his life?"

"therefore do not worry and be anxious [...] your heavenly Father knows well what you need."

"but seek (aim and strive after) FIRST His kingdom and righteousness, and then all these things [speaking of food, clothes ect] taken together will be given you besides."

"so do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. sufficient for each day is its own trouble."

boxes and boxes of goodies

2009-07-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

gabriel and i have loved unpacking our gifts! it is like having our shower all over again! i've loved filling my cabinets with all the beautiful dishes and fun colorful kitchen toys! i am so blessed to have gabriel here helping me and working by my side! from the awesome kitchen shears to the garlic press... we are definitely spoiled over here in ann arbor! xo

moving day!!!

2009-07-21T04:03:00.001-07:00

here's my handsome happy man on our moving day! whatta day... wow seriously... even with movers... this is some tough work.... and lotsa driving... but being with my perfect team player helped... gabe was so in sync with how i opperate and like to pack and unpack... he is AMAZING... if you need confirmation on who you are going to spend forever with.. just plan on packing and moving over 100 boxes and bags for 13 hours and then going to shop for furniture... and yeah then unload a good 25 of them!!! i couldn't have done this with ANYONE ELSE! i love you gabriel!!!! sooo much! and i appreciate your hard work... all with a huge smile on your face... he wouldn't let me get grumpy one time... and he even bought me a frozen yogurt to end the long day of work....

ann arbor~ art fair

2009-07-21T03:58:00.000-07:00

gabriel and i still are making time to enjoy our summer... this year we went to the ann arbor art fair with our newly engaged friends sarah and drew... we had to get palm palace beforehand (of course!) it is always great to take time to have a night of not planning or packing! i love just BEING with gabe... i can't wait to spend all our nights together!!! it's getting close!!

better together

2009-06-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

my baby's blue eyes are one (of his many!) best features... i just love him in pastel blues! i hope my future baby bahlhorns get my curls and his baby blue eyes!

"Cause Blue Eyes
You are all that I need
Cause Blue Eyes
You’re the sweet to my mean"

-Cary Brothers-

saturdays...are everyday

2009-06-03T03:50:00.000-07:00

gabe and I have the perfect couple song... when we started dating 3 years ago... this is the song we picked... i just love it!

Lyrics to Hallelujah~ by Teddy Gieger

You're the girl in the back of the room
My wallflower that's in bloom
You're so oblivious to this
I could fall into those eyes
Pretty circles that I try to escape into, yeah
Well hallelujah when you look at me
And hallelujah you're the halo over me
And you're all that I need

With you, every day is Saturday
With you, Every word you say is like a song
With you well, everything is obvious
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Well I found you, I found you
I found you, Hallelujah

I never thought I'd take that jump
A nervous laugh around someone
I'm sleeping in the palm of your hand
The way you whisper on the phone
I hear your voice when I'm alone
Cause you always understand just who I am

And hallelujah your love is free
And hallelujah you're the halo over me
And you're all that I need

The best things are unexpected just like this
Like a billboard in the sky you just can't miss
And I'm never letting this love go
Hallelujah, hallelujah

countdown 70 days!

2009-05-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

well time has... well flown on by... and sad to say i have neglected this blogspot! i'm so sorry i don't even think anyone still checks... which is entirely my own fault... but i am going to try harder to keep the world posted of our 'happily ever after' over here! xo did i mention 70 days till we are legally bound ;)

ilove to ichat

2009-03-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

what good is technology if we don't use it appropriately? well... gabriel would never stand for that! late nights when i wish we were cuddling...but we are miles n' miles apart... ichat closes in that distance for us.... gabe took a picture of us having a conversation over a video chat online... notice his roomie cooper 'hangin out with us' on gabe's bed....

registering

2009-03-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

gabe and i registered on valentines day! it was such a fun day to be together planning our future! i can't believe how quickly time flys by... we will be married in 137 days! oh my goodness! i received my first wedding gift in the mail today! how exciting to have so many wonderful people helping you out to make a home!

xo here's some pics of our everyday china and how happy we are ;)

my mother... my hero

2009-02-12T03:27:00.000-08:00

my mother is by far the MOST amazing woman that I know! her grace for others, love for the Lord and her family, and her passion for life is not matched by many people! i have been blessed so much by having her in my life and to call her my own! her tenacity to keep our family together and our relationship flourishing is more than a blessing to me! anyone who meets my mother knows what i'm talking about... you can't leave her... not feeling... well...blessed! she is an inspiration to everyone... she is always giving... never thinking of her own needs! she balances the lives and cares of her children and husband as if it were nothing... i just wanted to tell her that i love her and that i appreciate her "gift" of herself to me and to others! my mom makes it look easy... but i know that sacrifice, patience, and sometimes pain is what it takes to be her.... so i wanted to thank her... and to tell her how much i love her!

check out one (i know she has 3) of her blogs! great practical advice for everyday!

this blog shouldn't be called 'marriage' vitamins... it should be 'daily' vitamins!!!

www.marriagevitamins.blogspot

love, Hannah Noelle

this is what we do....

2009-02-10T17:35:00.001-08:00

typical tuesday.... gabriel picks me up from school and i fall into the car exhausted from the day... off to dinner (either miki (sushi) or palm palace (lebanese)) then we do errands and off to turn on a movie.... that we NEVER watch.... but i love my tuesdays with gabriel...

tonight's features~ 'w' and 'palm palace'

wasting time....guilty pleasure

2009-02-05T12:16:00.001-08:00

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back."

today i've wasted a lot of time.... doing nothing... i never get to do this... and i like it... i love that i had nothing to do... so i did nothing.... but somehow i feel guilty??? can someone explain this to me??

needing inspiration to hit the gym...

2009-01-13T04:02:00.000-08:00

Believe you can do it. Think no other way but "Yes you can." The human body is capable of considerably more physical endurance than most of us realize."

2 of my favorite treats!

2009-01-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

what would a girl do without her favorite snacks! one thing is true... i love sweets! chocolate and ice cream are two things it's hard to resist... so i don't very often.... hehe what's your favorite snacks??

saturday and sunday

2009-01-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

saturday: one of my favorite people was in town on saturday...kristen! she is such a sweet lil thing and i love my cute lil bridesmaid so much! i had so many wonderful ladies over my mom's home on saturday morning for a tupperware party! it was so much fun to spend time with sandi, pattie, chris, amber, kristen, bee, kim, and my mom....i have the most wonderful women in my life... i am so blessed with each one of them....i am sooo excited about all the new tupperware that i received for gabe and i! then off to lunch with his parents....dress shopping (came up empty again)... and chilled for the rest of the night (gotta love snow-ins in michigan). sigh... perfect lil day....

sunday:today was quite a busy day for gabriel and i... but it was so much fun. after church, we had lunch with the ever so lovely yatooma family. nicole and norm have 3 gorgeous little angels and we always have a great time getting together with them! we were a tad late to my papa's 81st birthday party....but we still managed to eat a lil bit more before going to see "hairspray" (a gift from gabe's roomie cooper) down at the fox. we grabbed a small bit to eat at pf changs aferwards (yes we are still eating). here is the point where i throw in a plug for danny's favorite restaurant...they do have AMAZING cucumbers that are ony 124 cals for the whole thing.... perfect late night snack. back to ann arbor to unpack and get to bed....

hi ho... hi ho... it's back to school i go...

2009-01-05T04:53:00.000-08:00

pics of one of our favorite pastimes in ann arbor... BORDERS! we love reading and rummaging through for great ideas and inspiration. so yesterday gabe brought me back up to school yesterday! we grabbed a quick lunch at 'la marsa' aka 'the old la shese', went shopping to buy the rest of our christmas gifts for each other: ugg slippers for me.... northface coat for gabe...drove to ann arbor....shopping for my groceries and then he helped me unload all my things and presents from christmas! i appreciate him in my life soo very much! xo Happy New Year Bloggers! xo

sigh...studying for finals...

2008-12-16T18:31:00.000-08:00

right now... i wish i were home with my mommi, sisters, and fiancee...almost done! i know i need to have a perk in my attitude...but i missed the cookie exchange this year and that really bummed me out! one more day!! sigh.... my home life is truly a placed to be missed.... never do i have so much fun... or feel so much love.... i'm a pretty lucky girl... merry christmas!

lil video

2008-12-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

a winter wonderland

2008-12-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

last saturday night we had such a great time hanging out with jesse and amber, michael and bethany, and russell and amanda!! dinner at steve's backroom....iceskating downtown detroit (no one even seemed to notice the 1 hr wait)....lounging at jesse and amber's place with hot coco and a fun game: apples to apples! these guys are some of my bestest and most cherished friends... not only do i have an amazing finacee'....but i have family....that i can call friends.... what more can a girl ask for.... hmmm a david yurman 5 mm black onyx braclet.... oh sorry who was asking ;) hehe (as you can see after "black friday" my christmas list has grown) hehe

i'm thankful for...

2008-11-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

~my family~

~~my fiancee'

~~~my shalene patricia

~~~~good books!! TwIlIgHt

~~~~~good food and snacks

~~~~~~coffee! my new fav...decaf with vanilla chia spice

~~~~~~~productive days.... lazy days

~~~~~~~~quality time

~~~~~~~~~getting excited for someone else's success or happiness

~~~~~~~~~~celebrating

~~~~~~~~~~~being HOME for the holidays

creating a fairy-tale

2008-11-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

my mom always told me that i was in charge of "making my own happiness," of "creating my own fairy-tale," and my aunt laurie has a sign in her bathroom that says "you are looking at the person in charge of your happiness." it is so true! the way that we choose to look at circumstances, change, our relationships, all affects how we will respond to them. this is really challenging for me... because it really starts with the "battle of the mind." this is where we need to "win" so that we can "win" in our lives... and live our "happily ever after" (on purpose!!). so my challenge to all my viewers (and esp. myself) is to do just that! we have "all the right ingredients" to make it... xo

writing the soundtrack to your life...

2008-11-16T19:46:00.000-08:00

what makes a good movie?? a stimulating plot...great actors/actresses....and.... having an AMAZING SOUNDTRACK!!! so....my love for music and lyrics propels me to ask... if you had to

write the soundtrack for your week... what would it be? sometimes i wish it wasn't rude or completely impractical to pop my earbuds in and drown out all the chaos of life... and let music be my background....

...this would be a great typical week for me...

*MondaY- "simple life" weepies (wishing i were back home with my family and fiancee)

*TuesdaY-"oh" dave matthews (i get to see my man....)

*WednesdaY-"dream" priscilla ahn (song reminds me of shalene and i when we were lil girls)

*ThursdaY- "strawberry swing" coldplay (a pick me up song to keep me happy during the week)

*FridaY- "sky" joshua radin ( sometimes i put this song on repeat and belt it out on the drive home)

*SaturdaY-"crack the shutters"- snow patrol ( just great acoustically)

*SundaY- "sunday morning" -maroon 5 (hmmm the title should say it all)

my morning ritual

2008-11-14T09:34:00.000-08:00

in honor of jessie's blog... i decided to be a lil copycat....

my morning ritual monday-friday

wake up to 3 alarms either 6:30 or 6:45 (decision is made the night before... there will be no snooze button for me): my radio, my phone, gabriel's phone call

get ready...pack a lunch... coffee w/my flavored creamer of the week...breakfast of eggs, toast, yogurt and my multivitamins....walk to school w/my roomie sarah ;)

family n' friends

2008-11-09T04:57:00.000-08:00

saturday was such a fun day... here are my highlights:

*cycling class with gabriel and christa at lifetime (very difficult yet rewarding)

*potbelly subs for lunch (love this place...they have the best hot peppers!)

*home to watch a movie with christa and gabriel...only to be joined by two other "squishers"...namely...bradley sheehan and john cooper...have i ever mentioned how much i love gabe's roomies?

*break for a tcby (didn't quite hit the spot due to the lack of cooperativity of the owner...sigh...he wouldn't mike the chocolate peanut butter into a shiver....oh well...)

*out to dinner with david and angela... i LOVE hanging out with these two! i always have so much fun...they are such a great couple! we did dinner at 'michell's fishhouse' and watched the 'hulk'.... we need to do this more than biannually!!

all in all... another perfect saturday!

umm apple pie anyone...

2008-11-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

I must say that I’m slightly troubled! Hannah told me this last week that she would be fasting… I thought to myself, wow that’s great honey! I pray that it’s a very inspiring time for you and she told me that she was fasting for some sick obsession for apple pie… Now I know your thinking I’m weird but trust me, Hannah is NUTTY when it comes to the pie! I saw her fight, defend and guard last weekend like a mother goose whose babies are being threatened… If you don’t believe me then just look at these pictures! Sorry babe but I had to…

Ahhh but all kidding aside… Han and I have been doing so wonderful! I simply cannot wait until next August, we are getting closer and closer as every day passes and I just can’t imagine how close we will be in the years to come! I love you babe!

my pursuit of happiness...

2008-11-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

gabriel picked me a early from school....we were able to spend so much time just being together...running errands...grabbing dinner....reading at barnes and nobels...just living life...i can't wait until we can be together everyday! we discussed religion, politics, work, school, family, our future, our dreams....i love teasing gabe....i love when he makes me laughs and teases back...i love watching him! he is the cutest thing.... esp when he is drinking his starbucks drink...he takes FOREVER to drink it!! i, on the other hand, am done in 5 minutes tops with my drink while gabriel savors his....and then lets me steal sips without complaint.... here are a few pics....don't you agree...he is adorably engrossed in that book!

what is your mindset??

2008-11-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

passage from an amazing book that gabriel bought for me on our date night last night... i read 1/2 the book in 2 nights...yes... it's that good... i'd love to hear some comments on this one ;)

"we live in a world that values convenience over permanence. Societal attitudes are vastly different today than in the days of the 1950's television show I love Lucy. We have temporary licenses, temporary visas, and temporary addresses. We expect instant cash, fast food, quick fixes, and instant great sex. We purchase disposable goods and refundable merchandise. We walk up, drive through, and exit, drive through door on the left. We abhor suffering, not only for the pain it brings, but for the inconvenience. The only thing worse than having an ailment we can't numb is standing in line for the five whole minutes to fill a prescription! We live in a world that devalues promises. "No new taxes," politicians pledge. "Satisfaction Guaranteed!" advertisements announce. Marketing copy promises products will be "long-lasting and durable." We've been disappointed so many times in so many ways by broken promises that we no longer expect promises to be honored. As a result, we are skeptical and distrustful of promises made to us and disloyal to the promises we make to others. We live in world that views happiness as a "right. " People emerged from the Great Depression with an attitude of long-suffering and forbearance. They'd experience the worst of times, and while they yearned for happiness they did not see happiness as something owed to them. Today the fast-track, upwardly mobile society in which we live has produced a breed of impatient people demanding immediate gratification. We've somehow translated our constitutional right to pursue happiness as the right to possess happiness. Advertising slogans daily reinforce this notion. You deserve a break today. " "If it feels good, do it." "Pamper yourself.. you are worth it." In a society that devalues permanence, distrust promises, and demands happiness, the prevailing mind-set toward things is if it's old, throw it away. If it's not convenient, forget it. If it's promised, don't expect it. If it makes you happy, use it. Unfortunately, this thinking has infected our attitude toward relationships. A husband throws away his marriage because it has grown old. A wife says, "Forget it," because loving her husband has become inconvenient. We break promises and justify divorce and extramarital affairs with thoughts such as, I have a right to be happy. I have a right to be understand and to have my needs met. We need to reject the mindset of disposable relationships, empty promises, and self-centered thinking and embrace God's mind-set of permanence, faithfulness, and Christ-centered living.

voting 2008....dividing us all...

2008-11-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

so i'm sitting here at 9:43 p.m. watching the Election 2008....by myself....

yes...because gabriel and i had to 'exercise our rights' as American citizens... we didn't get to be together on our date night...

i got out of school at 4:30 p.m. and made it just in time to NOT wait even a second to cast my vote...which made me super happy....

waiting to hear the news....wishing my lil politician was here with me explaining all the %'s and getting all worked up... =(

spreading love

2008-11-01T04:47:00.000-07:00

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." ~ Mother Theresa

the seasons of our lives

2008-11-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

i love fall time! i love watching the leaves dance along the streets, hearing them crunch beneath my feet, feeling the cool wind in my face, smelling, baking, and sampling all the yummy desserts, cuddling up with blankets are hearing the wind howl outside while everyone is snuggled up inside, sitting around a huge fireplace with a great book...yes.. i LOVE fall...

gabe loves summer time! he loves humidity (I KNOW!!), he loves anything he can do in a bathing suit... surfing, wake boarding, laying out for hours at the pool, seados, playing pool sports, he also loves barbecuing, playing tennis and golfing... yes...he LOVES summer...

one of the most wonderful things about a relationship is how much it challenges you grow and how it causes you to appreciate so many things in life that you would have otherwise overlooked. oftentimes we are JUST like our best friends... which is so great too! because you understand each other extremely well and it doesn't take much effort...but i must say there is something to be said for WORKING to understand someone's point of view and for appreciating things that you otherwise wouldn't even have noticed as fun or interesting. sigh...yes... it is hard to always do the "appreciation" thing when it comes to differences and it is sooo frustrating....buuutttt when you do... while it IS challenging... and it makes all the seasons of our lives more beautiful!

venturing out...

2008-10-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

tonight gabriel and i tried a new restaurant "the quarter." it was pretty good... creole style spicy food...but i have to tell you nothing beats our favorites!

1. miki's sushi esp the spicy tuna

2. charlie's mediterranean grill our fav....fluffy bread and hummus!

3. potbelly...we'll take the 'skinny' subs

4.cosi's

5. prickly pear when we are feelin' mexican

6. paleo's for italian

annnnd yeah that is pretty much our selection. we really just stick to the top 2 and rotate. i'm glad we tried something new purely for the 'sake of trying something new'...but it is true... we are creatures of habit =)

pumpkin bumpkin

2008-10-23T03:24:00.001-07:00

highlights from tuesday night:

~working late at school doing complete denture wax-ups ~ 6:45 p.m

~la shish for fattosh, hummus, chicken wraps~yummy (one of our tuesday night specials!) ~7:30 p.m

~home for pumpkin carving...bed by 10:15 (my lastest and greatest bedtime!)

so the best part of my day is knowing that gabriel is picking me up! he spoils me so in so many ways...but one of them is the fact that he drives over an hour to see me a few times a week... and then back home that same night! he never complains... he is so much my life right now... and i have no idea where i would be without his constant support and friendship. friendship between lovers is so important... and i have that in gabriel! he is my sounding board for ideas, dreams, frustrations, and excitement... i'm such a lucky (blessed) girl....

here are some pics... we carved a weirdo face... and baked the seeds w/salt... yummy yummy

~hannah~

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on
the feelings, as now in October."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

chicago memories

2008-10-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

chicago held so many wonderful memories...first and foremost was finishing the chicago marathon! the bonding that all the runners did with each other and our family and friends was amazing... and i can't begin to tell you the feeling you get when you cross the finish line! it is the end of a long training program... and quite the rush! i'm so glad that i share this passion for running with gabriel... i know that running together and sharing this has strengthen our relationship in so many ways! can't wait for the next race!

chicago marathon

2008-10-09T11:39:00.001-07:00

this weekend is the chicago marathon!!!!!!!!! i have many many mixed emotions of which include: fear, excitement, and pride... this training period has been so much fun so challenging and amazing for me in so many ways! it has shown me quite a bit about myself and my ability to really stick to something that i am working towards no matter what circumstances will try to derail me.... i'm going to write about the entire experience next week... but pray for me, shalene, gabriel, jesse, bethany, christa, and michael as we run our long awaited 26.2~ yippe!! it is finally finally here!!!

hannah

xxx ❤ kissing ❤ xxx

2008-09-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

You should be kissed and often
And by someone who knows how
Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind

Kissing is like drinking salted water

You drink, and your thirst increases

Chinese Proverb
A kiss is a lovely trick
Designed by nature to stop speech
When words become superfluous
Ingrid Bergman

"i'd rather be with you"

2008-09-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

okay...so if you know me...you will realize first of all how much i love my gabriel....and second of all...how much i love music! i obsess over lyrics, get irritated when other's don't appreciate amazing music, spend hours making playlists...well you get the picture. some of my favorite artists are the following: joshua radin (favoritest!!), the weepies, greg laswell, dave matthews, alexi murdoch, coldplay, ben harper, the cure (ya i know....right), damien rice, and dashboard confessional, iron and wine, u2, and maroon 5...oh and i could go on forever...i finally got the new itunes update and with the help of the new program "genius" discovered the joshua radin cd! (this story with all it's digressions has a point) one of the songs is perfect for gabriel and i...( i mean they are ALL good so get the cd...but esp this one!)

so why this song?? because of the line..."i need to be be bold...jump in the cold water" to those of you who don't know...when gabe and i first started dating, my family didn't even know who i was around him...because i was sooo giddy and spontaneous. i am not a "play-it-by-ear" girl...nor am i one to do be all goofy or unpredictable....buuuttt...enter gabriel bails...one day after a long tennis match (one of our favorite pastimes) we drove up to the house...and as we were walking up the driveway....i grabbed gabe's hand... and said.... "wanna jump in the lake??" he was like... "with all our clothes on??" i said "SURE! yes go!" running as he chased me into the water...where we kissed and swam...my family told me that is how they knew gabriel was the one... because of who i am when i am with him....

here are the lyrics....xo han

"I'd Rather Be With You"

~Joshua Radin~

Sitting here, on this lonely dock

Watch the rain play on the ocean top
All the things I feel I need to say
I can't explain in any other way

I need to be bold
Need to jump in the cold water
Need to grow older with a girl like you
Finally see you are naturally
The one to make it so easy
When you show me the truth
Yeah, I'd rather be with you
Say you want the same thing too

Now here's the sun, come to dry the rain
Warm my shoulders and relieve my pain
You're the one thing that I'm missing here
With you beside me I no longer fear

just another day...lovin' life

2008-09-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

the last few weeks have been HECTIC! very busy and very productive. in the midst of it all... my favorite times are tuesday and wednesday nights with gabriel. we go to dinner...hang out for an hour or so before he has to do that awful drive back to oakland township. gabriel is so good to me! he takes care of me and spoils me to pieces. here a few pics of him spraying my ugg boots that he got me for my birthday... isn't he the cutest...well... i think so =)

holding hands

2008-09-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

cliche' as it may be...one of the things that makes me smiles when i think about it...so secure and happy when i'm doing it...and absolutely miserable when i can't do it...is holding hands with gabriel bails! it's true... i love holding hands that much!! in fact (and gabe can attest to this) sometimes i get a lil overcome with how much i love holding hands and i will squeeeeeeze his hand sooo hard i think i almost hurt him! imagine that huh? thought i was crazy before and now i just solidified it? gabe and i do the classic 3 squeezes meaning "i love you" but we have special codes for what 4 squeezes ect...

isn't there is something so endearing and precious when you see couples holding hands? especially when you see the weathered hands of the elderly as they grip the hand of the one they have walked through life with. so much strength, comfort, love, friendship, and passion is translated through the holding of hands...so... don't disregard this socially acceptable way of "publically displaying affection" as common place..for it is one of my favoritest things....think about that next time you grab for the hand of the one you love...

my lil sis christa

2008-08-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

the last two weeks have afforded gabriel and i the pleasure of spending time with my beautiful fun-loving sis christa mista!!! she is seriously one of the most joyful smiley (is that a word) people i know! she is so positive and just so fun to be with! i love you christa marie budzinski! xo

♥bridesmaid loves her groomsman♥

2008-08-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

when gabriel calls...

2008-08-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

so...one of the many things i love about my iphone are my personalized ringtones! i love when i know it is gabriel calling me. my ringtone for him is "chasing cars" by snow patrol. this song reminds me of him in so many ways.

1. he "introduced" me to the band

2. the line "here in your perfect eyes"- well you just have to see my fiancée's eyes... yes they are...PERFECT!

3. my favorite line... "i need your grace...to remind me to find my own"

Chasing Cars lyrics

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Let's waste time

Chasing cars

Around our heads

I need your grace

To remind me

To find my own

All that I am

All that I ever was

Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where

Confused about how as well

Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here

If I just lay here

Would you lie with me and just forget the world

emails...the new "love-letter"

2008-08-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

i love sending gabriel emails using the leopard features....they allow you to create the cutest lil messages! here's one i sent him ;)

our latest fetish...bike riding

2008-08-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

yes, helmets and all!!! about a month ago gabriel bought a bike, a new seat for the bike, a bike lock, new road tires, and a CO2 tire pump, a new helmet... well you get the picture. so, thus begins the pastime of biking. where??? EVERYWHERE! everytime we go out in ann arbor to dinner, frozen yogurt, kroger, or the movies... WE BIKE! it is actually really really fun to be getting in some extra cross-training as our marathon date (october 12th!!) approaches! keep a look out for a cute lil couple bikin' across town!

my gorgeous fiance

2008-08-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

okay so i'm a little bit obsessed...well maybe alot...but the truth of the matter is that gabriel bails bahlhorn, my fiance, is gorgeous! we went to my cousin matthews wedding on August 8th and i just couldn't keep my eyes of him! i love him so much! we had so much fun dancing and being with family! it was a beautiful wedding~ congrats matt and lisa

missing gabriel

2008-07-07T17:57:00.001-07:00

sigh... well gabriel is off to the dominican republic for missions work...and well... i already miss him terribly! it is amazing to me how much one person can change your heart and life. i never considered myself an extremely emotional person...but when he called for 2 minutes on the international call tonight i got all chocked up and when he hung up i cried! it is so amazing to share love with someone...and i can't wait to share my everyday life with him. i watched "p.s. i love you" yesterday night. i didn't think i would even like it...but i loved the message that this movie portrays... don't spend your life wishing to "be somewhere or something" or waiting for "life to begin"... life is "right now" each moment makes up your todays...so cherish the time with the ones you love and who love you.... enjoy some of my favorite quotes from the movie...xo (p.s. the picture above is how every girl loves her face to be held before she's to be kissed)

"What do you want? I know what I want, cause I'm holding it in my hands...You. Every morning I still wake up and the first thing I want to do is to see your face." ~ Gerry

"I don't want to make any mistakes." ~Holly "Then you're in the wrong species, love. Be a duck." ~Gerry

fIrEwOrKs

2008-07-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

started the day off taking a few engagement pictures down town rochester. my parents threw a "4th of july barbeque" and had family and friends over to watch the fireworks. i think my favorite part of the day was flying my "dora the explorer kite" that uncle mike got me. it has been forever since i flew a kite and it was so much fun!

"hot on the grill"

2008-07-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

"burnt finger!"

yesterday was christa's 20th birthday. we ran in the morning, spent time downtown gross pointe, and then ended the night by barbecuing. gabe manned the grill...he did a great job in finishing the work the girls (and brandon) had done in the kitchen! i think it is so adorable that gabe loves to barbeque so often. he is such a lil summer boy. just another relaxin day....ended the night at the rochester fireworks.

sweet love

2008-06-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

weekend celebrations

2008-06-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

this was another weekend of parties! today we celebrated matt and lisa's wedding shower and bill's graduation for his doctorate! we are so happy for my cousin and his bride to be! they make each other so very happy! bill and chris had a wonderful celebration with a few close family and friends at their home...i'm glad i was able to caught the tail-end of the party after matt and lisa's shower....gabe and i went our separate ways as he went off to celebrate his friend matt's birthday...and i meet my parents and sisters for dinner at lebanese grill.

we are so blessed to have so much to celebrate! what a great weekend...

let the planning begin!

2008-06-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

well saturday was quite the busy day....lil did i know what i had in store as we started to look for places for our reception. mom was absolutely amazing and knew all the right questions to ask and the places to go. it was a pretty tiring day....but we covered a lot of ground. we ended up making one of the longer trips with dad too... there are so many amazing places in the metro-detroit area to celebrate a wedding....now we have all the info....we just need to pick the perfect spot for us!

in sickness...and in health...

2008-06-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

last night i came down with the stomach flu....it was miserable to say the least...but after spending all night and day in bed...gabriel cancelled his meeting to come over to take care of me. he is a great lil doctor....some gaterade to replenish my electrolytes and a movie...

"Just a lil dreaming and planning"

2008-06-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we started off the night with pita wraps from Charlie's Mediterranean Grill... then off to Bed Bath & Beyond to get some ideas for our future registry. It was funny to see some of the crazy kitchen items that we both considered "essentials," but it was exciting to start planning our life together! Gabriel cracked me up when I caught him staring in awe at an informational video on the new vacuum! Before we left, we both sat in the massage chairs to relaz after a "not so stressful" planning session... perfect night, perfect guy... "It's good to be in love!"

Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon!

2008-06-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

"I'll be fine hunny... just worry about yourself making it through this race."

Gabe Bails Bahlhorn

"Couples that run together... stay together."

Hannah Noelle Budzinski

Today Gabriel and I ran 13.1 miles through the lovely streets of Dexter-Ann Arbor. It was hilly... challenging and beautiful... ahhh but... fun!!!

It was so cool that Jesse, Amber, Michael, Bethany, Shalene, Gabe and I could do this together. We "carbed up" with quite the dinner at Paleo's downtown Ann Arbor the night before... pizza and lasagna! Yummy... It was funny because we both felt so funny saying "hold the salad... bring on the bread!" hehe It was so unlike us... but hey... those sow-burning carbs paid off! I love that I can share my passion for running with Gabriel!

It really means so much to both of us to stay in shape and have fun doing it!!!

SURPRISE! We’re Engaged!!

2008-06-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

As we approached our 2-year anniversary of dating, I didn't suspect that Gabriel Bails had marriage on his mind. We are so excited to tell you all our story and keep you posted over the next couple of months as we plan our marriage and wedding details.

See "Our Story" for the lil details of May 20th!