some things i've learned...

all IS FAIR in love and war

i will ALWAYS be a princess in my mommy's eyes

it takes more muscles to frown than to SMILE

a bubble bath can cure ANYTHING

DADDYS give THE BEST hugs

life is too short to hold grudges

yoga is peace

when life gives you lemons, make LEMONADE

having a sister is like having a BEST FRIEND you can't get rid of

"life's a dance you learn as you go"

vanilla ice cream is best with gummy bears

never loose sight of what you believe in

summertime is for flip-flops and sunglasses

music can change ANY bad mood

LOVE with ALL your HEART

cute underwear can make any girl feel GOOD

everything happens for a reason

tanning is LOVE

life without friendship is like the sky without sun

live so your glass is always "half-full"

pray daily

a good country love song can bring a smile to ANTONE'S face

life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. it's learning to DANCE in the rain.

camping = smores

nothing beats the feeling after a great workout!

'retail therapy' saves lives. TRUE STORY.

cuddling is INTOXICATING

kickboxing is butt kicking!!

sunflowers = happiness

a BLT is not the same without HOMEGROWN tomatoes!

i love how thunderstorms make me feel like a little girl

challenge yourself everyday. you'll feel more ACCOMPLISHED!

nothing beats a good book

springtime is for HAMMOCKS!

snowy weather is only fun for about a month. then it gets OLD!

SERVE OTHERS

don't put all your eggs in ONE basket

Some days you gotta dance

Live it up when you get the chance

'Cause when the world doesn't make no sense

And you're feeling just a little to tense

Gotta loosen up those chains and dance

I've tackled that mountain....

STORY TIME :) last May I had the chance to go to Moab and hike all over the place. Southern Utah is BEAUTIFUL! There's nothing like seeing the realness of the red dirt in person. It's crazy. There are some beautiful hikes that are yes, challenging, but have extremely rewarding views. Went with some friends and had great conversations the whole way up.
Come June I realize I really want to hike the Y. Just in my backyard in Provo, Utah. If you don't know this about me, I'm extremely spontaneous and act on pretty much all impulses. So it's 7am and I'm wide awake laying in bed when I decide to conquer the mountain. I figured that since I had hiked all over Moab, I could pretty much conquer the world. Boy was I wrong. I start the hike and the whole way I'm thinking to myself, how am I ever going to make it. I had no idea how hard this was going to be for me. Hiking the Y is all switchbacks, all uphill. No level ground or downhill at ALL! Well, I get to switchback number 8. Extremely exhausted and having no idea how much further to the top, I then turn around and call it good.... Not knowing how many switchbacks there were left. I jogged down the hill feeling bummed that I turned around but happy that I made it that far.
This morning I woke up with a little extra hop in my step. I decide I'm going to hike the Y and this time make it all the way. I wasn't going to let myself turn around again. This time I come fully prepared with my ipod fully charged, some water, and my inhaler (don't laugh!). I start up the mountain, knowing this time that it's all or nothing. I make a little stop to rest after about the 3rd switchback. As I'm sitting there I notice a girl coming down the mountain. She smiles and says, "Goodmorning!" And I quickly say, "I have a question.... How many switchbacks are there?" She responds, "There's 10 to the bottom of the Y and 12 to the top. But don't worry, the first few are the hardest and longest of them all. You can do it!" I say thank you then start on my way back up. I get thinking to myself... "ARE YOU SERIOUS? I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO NUMBER 8 LAST TIME THEN TURNED AROUND AND WALKED ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN!!!"
I quickly learned turned this into a life lesson... Me, walking on a path with the end not in sight, so often turn around to go back down the road already traveled. The first time I tried this hike I had nothing. Not an i-pod, no water, no inhaler, no friends to say keep going, and no road map to say how much further I had. I was walking completely blind on a path with literally no end in sight.
Well, I knew how much longer I had to go and lets just say when I was getting to the 11th switchback, I saw my final destination right there in front of me and starting running to reach my end goal. I DID IT! I MADE IT! All I needed was a little map, support, and entertainment.
Now, going back to the first time I tried this hike. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought that it was going to be a peace of cake. I had no idea that hiking the Y was all switchbacks and all UPHILL! Personally, I prefer my hikes with it's ups and downs. But this morning, I put it into perspective... In these last days there can't be ups and downs. Where I'm strong, but then fall a little downhill just to pick myself back up in a week or however long. These are the final days where it is going to be an uphill hike! Striving always to become better. I know the end goal and my final destination. I only hope that towards the end of my hike of life that I will again run full speed only this time to my Heavenly Father to embrace Him with a hug. Just as I did the final steps of hiking the Y.

the map of the Y

Beginning the trail...

I dropped my phone as I was sitting on top the the Y. I laughed as it fell all the way the the base of the Y. Hitting every rock and flying into three pieces: the back, the battery, and the front. I got it all put back together and working. Makes for a good story and great laugh. The scratches give it character!!! :)

PEACE + LOVE

LOOK MOM, I'M LIKE 10 YRS OLD AGAIN :)

laying on top of the Y, feeling on top of the world!

GOODMORNING UTAH!!

one of my most FAVORITE things...

As I am wake up this morning, naturallly- to the sunrise not an alarm clock I notice a few things. The clean fresh air of a beautiful spring morning. The birds happily chirping already off to a fabulous day. And me, bundled up in my bed. My face being the only thing that's sticking out of my cocooned body wrapped in blankets. Oooh how I LOVE sleeping with my window wide open. (i can do this since I'm on the 3rd floor.).. And waking up feeling and wondering if I really am camping or if it's just another beautiful spring morning in Utah.

... Of course two minutes later I'm kicking off the covers and rolling over to grab my box of tissues needing to blow my nose. Realizing I still have a fever and a dang sinus infection. :( Well, at least I was able to enjoy the peaceful serenity for a couple mins!

what a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

i LOVE LOVE LOVE sundays. it's my favorite day of the whole week... wednesdays aren't too far behind though. This week i've finally become an avid gym goer. I think i went 6/7 days. GO ME!! I worked about 48 hours this week... GO ME!!... Going to LOVE that paycheck. The weather on the other hand... ughhhh. Snowed I swear 8 inches on Wednesday. Good thing it was wednesday and NOTHING can get me down that day. I was still smiling from ear to ear despite the cold that made me want to cry! Friday morning I wake up and check my bank account to see how broke I am... then BAMB. My tax return came a whole week early. Couldn't be happier. I promised my mom I wouldn't spend it on clothes, "I'M GOING TO PAY OFF ALL MY BILLS!" Which, I am in the process of doing, but still, I deserved a little of this big chunk of change. So, I bought myself a little spa package: facial, pedicure, and massage. Ooooh what a GLORIOUS day I had. And I don't think I did anything wrong at all by spending a little money on me... Someone has to spoil and take care of me :)
This next coming week the average is going to be about 75 degrees :) which means... CAMPING NEXT WEEKEND! I'm so excited. I just love love love spring/ summer/ fall. Hahaha. But really. So this should be a great week.... If only I can get rid of this bloody cold!!

Happy Easter...

I love easter. And it's not because of the easter bunny, all the candy, and the new easter dress. Lets be honest, it's been about 6 years since i've gotten all of that! Today I had the pleasure of giving a talk in sacrament meeting. As soon as I finished, my bishop came up to me and said, "We need to get you on a mission!" And I couldn't agree more. I'm so excited about life. These next few months are going to be AH-MAZ-ING. The sun is starting to SHINE. The flowers are starting to bloom. I should be getting my amazing tax return back shortly :) My best friend Tracy who's been in France since August is coming back. I'm going home in May and my WHOLE FAMILY will be home! Photoshoot? Yes PLEASE! I just love life. I'm starting to really embrace the mystery life holds instead of hating it. It's better this way. Oh, and i LOVE country music. Went country dancing THREE times this week :) wahaha. I LOVE IT. Plus I'm now an avid yoga goer and kickboxer. I'm finally getting out of my anti-social winter phase and ready to meet some new friends and have a wonderful summer. It's going to be splendid.

i miss my BROOKIE

So a couple weeks ago I went to go see my best friend Brooke who is serving a mission at temple square in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was so glad that I went because 1. it was totally last minute. i was afraid i wouldn't be able to find her in the dark. and 2. once i found her she told me she's leaving for Washington in two days!!!! Ahhhhh... sooo excited for her. So we decided that the next day I'd go visit her and she'd give me a full tour, her last temple square tour before Washington! Here's some pictures... enjoy :)

i can totally tract in these shoes!! :)

"Many young women are serving missions and many are purposing to serve, not because they aren't married or have nothing else to do, but because they have the desire to serve and therefore are being called to the work. The reason there are so many going is because in this next generation Heavenly Father will be sending His priesthood army to the earth and He wants to send them to mothers who have been properly trained and taught in the gospel. And what better training can a young woman have than that of serving a mission."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

:) exactly what i needed today!

ode to my MOMMA....

yes, this picture is almost 4 years old, but it will probably always be my FAVORITE!

Growing up and moving out is such a funny thing. The last thing I ever thought was that my mom and I would end up best friends. She always told me that years down the road we'll get along just great living in our own houses and be best friends. I never believed her. We fought like sisters when i was growing up and I was such a brat. Okay, we both were. Ha, we're both tooo stubborn for our own good! We like things done how WE LIKE THEM DONE. We'd argue on the phone then hang up on eachother. I'd do things intentionally just to make her mad, and I'd have a smirk knowing it drove her NUTZ! Well now, SHE'S RIGHT... we're the best of friends. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't talk to her!... somedays not an hour. Haha. She's so supportive of everything I do and would give me the world on a silver platter if she could! I honestly feel like I have three sisters sometimes. She's the most fun-loving person I know. Spunky, loving, and freaking HOT! I have so good genes thanks to her! I miss her dearly ... One day I'll live in a house right down the street!

sleeping to DREAM

it's been BEAUTIFUL weather minus the wind, but a storm is coming our way. right now i'd love to fly to some far away place, lets say FIGI, before it gets here. all i want to do is bury myself in sand, feel the warmth, and enjoy some peace and quiet, and a good book. aaaahhhh if only i could make this dream a reality.

Don't pull all your eggs in one basket!

The single life is such a funny thing. It's still something that I completely don't understand but yet wouldn't change it for anything! Through the past years of me being single I have learned SOO-OOO much about myself and I truely feel like I'm myself again... but only not ALL the time. Only when I know I am comfortable being me... It's such a funny thing. I've come to realize that the relationships I have been in I've completely morphed into someone I don't even know. Even the friends I have... with one group I'm known as 'the goody goody,' yet with another i'm 'the rebel.' ... And lets not even get me started on dating. Dating is so weird and I absolutely HATE hate HaTe all the rules. ' Don't call, be the chase. No back to backs. Don't seem too interested. Okay, now you're playing too hard to get...' the list goes on and on. I just want to be ME... ALLYSON LEIGH BARNEY. The girl who truely cares about how your day is going, and not hinting that I want to 'hang out later.' The girl who feels most comfortable in sweats and a pony-tail. I'm the girl who just wants to have fun. I don't need you to take me to the most expensive restaraunt in town, I'd rather a picnic in the park. I'm at a time in my life where I've decided that I'M DONE BEING WHO EVERYONE ELSE WANTS ME TO BE. I want to be me. If it's not good enough for someone else, that's fine by me. (okay really, that's where i'm totally lying. i HATE when people don't like me.) but that's what I'm going to work on... I love my life and who I'm becoming. But, I am a people pleaser. I say what people want to hear. I do what people would think I'd do. Well, I'm going on ME vacation!

...if only i were closer to a beach. :)

my BeAuTiFuL life

life is so funny. today has been a quote day. i love quotes. i love songs with good messages. it just makes me smile. so in no particular order... here's some favorites that made me smile today...

"And for each who observes [the commandments] there is the promise of a crown, a queenly crown for each daughter of God, a crown of righteousness and eternal truth." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Your Heavenly Father loves you unconditionally, it's time for you to love yourself unconditionally!

I gotta feeling that you have a heart like mine,
So let it show, let it shine.
If we have a chance to make one heart of two,
I just want to dance with you. - George Strait


God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

"Falling in love doesn't begin with falling in love with others. it begins with falling in love with ourselves. loving ourselves is healthy and as God intended. learn to deeply and fully cherish your heart, your soul and your body and only then will you understand what it is to truly love another"

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may just never be enough;
Give the world the best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
-Mother Teresa

"I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love."

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."
Helen Keller

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.
- George Washington Carver

Sisters, the time has come to unleash the power of righteous happiness that exists among women of God. When we live like disciples of Christ should live, when we aren’t just good but happy to be good, others will be drawn to us because we are “distinct and different—in happy ways,” as President Kimball

The Touch of the Master's Hand

"Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar - now who"ll make it two _
Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three". . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody,pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow;
"A thousand dollars - and who'll make it two?
Two thousand - and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going - and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand -
What changed its worth?" The man replied:
"The touch of the masters hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -
He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

~Myra B. Welch

25 rAnDoM facts...

here goes nothing...
1. i LOVE rainy days and thunderstorms
2. sunny drives with good music can cure any bad mood
3. i am a true kissing entrepreneur in all ways possible
4. i am a hopeless romantic. a lover, not a fighter
5. i have broken 11 bones! all in my arms and fingers plus my tailbone... which was BY FAR the worst
6. my birthday is the 4th of july. and yes, i still like to think some of the fireworks are for me!
7. my sister danielle and I truely thought there were 'kid onions' till we were 10!... thanks mom!!
8. i've been working since i was 15 and to this day, my favorite job was a checker at a grocery store... i love people
9. i've played the piano since i was 5... but shhhh no one knows!
10. my favorite color is purple. second favorite is yellow.
11. i never read a required high school reading book. haha. thank you smart older sister who did her work oh so diligently and made my life easy!
12. i'm like a little kid when it comes to fireworks! they're AMAZING and they make me smile :)13. when i was little my parents used to watch me run into walls as their entertainment (i was blind!)
14. im I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T.
15. snuggling is like medicine to me
16. i LOVE LOVE LOVE baseball games!
17. i wore an eyepatch over my lazy eye when i was 18months old. then wore bifocals till i was in 7th grade. now, just reading glasses :)
18. i live for long peaceful autumn walks
19. if i didn't have to work i'd be camping ALL SUMMER!
20. i chew ice... 24/7 thank you mom! ha
21. a man in a baseball hat and some scruff is the most attractive thing in the world!
22. i would rather my 'man' wear levis as opposed to $250 jeans! keep it simple.
23. i have the coolest scooter and am missing it during this cold winter
24. my family, beliefs, and aspirations are what keeps me going
25. i'm wanted in the state of nevada. (maybe i shouldn't be telling people this)

I want a PUPPY

I'd name him Marley

I'd name her Coco

So i've decided I want a puppy... There's a Carrie Underwood song that's called 'The more boys I meet, the more I love my dog.' And I feel like it's totally true, minus the whole dog thing. Plus, I really really want one! :) So here's the lyrics...

This boy here wants to move too fast,

sees my future as havin a past.

Well I dont think so, I dont think so.

That boy there, well hes playin me fool,

he thinks hes funny, and he thinks hes cool.

Well I don't think so, I don't think so

Cheap dates, bad taste, another night gone to waste.

It's not like I'm not tryin', Cuz I'll give anyone a shot once.

And I.... I close my eyes,

and I kiss that frog,

each time findin, the more boys I meet,

the more I love my dog.

Heres this guy, thinks he bad to the bone.

Wants to pick me up, and take me home.

Well I dont think so, I dont think so

Cage fights, playstation, ex-games, raider nation.

Oversized pants with an ego to match.

It's not like I'm not tryin,Cuz I'll give anyone a shot once.

And I... I close my eyes,

and I kiss that frog,each time findin'.
the more boys I meet, the more I love my dog.

Why cant they be like the ones that mean everything to me?

Warm and loyal, Open and friendly.

It's not like im not tryin,Cuz I'll give anyone a shot once.

And I... I close my eyes,

and I kiss that frog,each time findin,

the more boys I meet, the more I love my dog.