         }
     }
 
+    /* emptyBackgroundText
+        creates a backgroundView for when there is no data to display.
+        text = text to display.
+    */
+    func emptyBackgroundText(text: String) -> UILabel {
+        let noDataLabel: UILabel = UILabel(frame: CGRectMake(
+            0, 0, favoritesTableView.bounds.size.width,
+            favoritesTableView.bounds.size.height))
+        noDataLabel.text = text
+        noDataLabel.textColor = UIColor(
+            red: 22.0/255.0, green: 106.0/255.0, blue: 176.0/255.0, alpha: 1.0);
+        noDataLabel.textAlignment = NSTextAlignment.Center;
+        return noDataLabel;
+    }
+
 
 }

    override func viewDidAppear(animated: Bool) {
        super.viewDidAppear(animated)


        // reload table view:
        populateFavoritesTable()
        favoritesTableView.reloadData()

    }

    /*  tableView -> int
            returns number of cells to display
    */
    override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        return self.favoriteCells.count
    }

    /* tableView -> UITableViewCell
            creates cell for each index in favoriteCells

        // Connect table view to this controller (done in storyboard too)
        favoritesTableView.dataSource = self
        favoritesTableView.delegate = self
        favoritesTableView.registerClass(UITableViewCell.self,
            forCellReuseIdentifier: favoriteCellName)

        // Table view visuals:
        favoritesTableView.rowHeight = 50.0
        favoritesTableView.tableFooterView = UIView(frame: CGRectZero) // remove empty cells
    }

    /* viewDidAppear:
