Simply Blessed

cupcake {love}...

2012-02-14T00:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!
What better way to celebrate than with cupcakes?
{Here's a great Valentine vid by Blimeycow. Makes me laugh every time!}

without you {sotw}...

2012-02-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm really excited to see these guys in March. Their acoustic takes on popular singles sound better than the originals, in my opinion. Crisp, warm, and smooth - the makings of a good voice.

My SOTW: Usher's Without You, by Boyce Avenue.

decisions, decisions...

2012-02-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

I'm in a bit of a pickle. My amazingly comfy and oh so versatile olive green classic Toms have two holes in the toes and are ripped in the heel. Their versatility is, alas, diminished. Now for the pickle: which pair of Toms do I want to buy next? I will most definitely be wearing my olive classics until "I just can't wear them no more" - ie, when my foot can't stay in the shoe anymore due to all of the holes. But I would like a new pair to match the old level of versatility of my current pair. I miss wearing them to church and events! So, my dear readers: which pair?...

These lovely metallic mint Toms with the oh so adorable colorful lining? Don't these just remind you of spring?

These amazingly adorable -- and almost formal -- natural crochet Toms?

These navy university prep Toms? They remind me of summer and boating, more so than school.

Or last, but not least, these natural burlap Toms? I think these are the most versatile.

I have spent many an hour searching through and debating about which pair I want, and these four are the finalists (...yay?). But I just can't choose between them! If I were rich, I'd just buy all of them. But, alas, I'm not...oh well, moving on.

So...which should I buy??

accepted...

2012-02-10T20:39:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to tell you all that I have been officially accepted into CSU Monterey Bay!! I am so thrilled and so relieved to be accepted...I still can't believe it! It hasn't fully sunken in yet. I think once I get that little "acceptance packet" in the mail I'll say, "Wow, I'm actually going!"

When I told people that I had only applied to one college, most of the responses I got were, "Oh...you know, you still have time to apply to other places?" or "Huh...why? Don't you want to go to Poly?" No, no, NO. I DO NOT want to go to Poly, nor will I EVER want to go to Poly. Get it? Got it? Good. (I seriously don't understand what's so fantastic about that place.)
I knew that CSUMB was really the only place I wanted to go, and if God wanted me to go there, then I would be accepted...and I was! (still sounds weird) I mean, who wouldn't want to go there? You're an otter! So cute!
I can't wait to see what God has planned for me in Monterey. I'm looking forward to it. :)

canto della terra {sotw}...

2012-02-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

So we're just going to pretend that I didn't miss 2 SOTW's last month. OK? Thank you. :)
I'm a little surprised at myself for not featuring Andrea Bocelli in one of my SOTW's before now...I love his music! He's kind of the baby bloomer's Josh Groban - singing Italian, Spanish, and English.
One thing about AB that astounds me is that he's completely blind. He can't read music. Every time he sings, he's following the music all by ear - so impressive. Being able to follow an entire orchestra by ear shows that he isn't merely singing with the music, but that his singing is the music. It's from the heart, which is how music should be.
This song is one of my absolute faves. The orchestra just moves so well with his warm, rich voice; it gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it.

My SOTW: Canto Della Terra, by Andrea Bocelli.
Canto Della Terra by Andrea Bocelli on Grooveshark

11th and final...

2012-02-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

{This applies to so many people I know, it's not even funny...yet somehow, it still is.}

So you might have noticed my lack of posts since the end of January. "Have you been sick?" No. "Were you gone?" Nope. "Did you die?" Not yet, but death might be closer than I originally thought.

This is my last semester at the community college here in SLO, and I can't say I'm a little overjoyed. This will be my eleventh (yes, 11th), and I pray my last semester at this college. I feel like I've been here forever, or at least I've been here since high school, so I almost feel like I'm still in high school. It's a complicated web of relief and bittersweet feelings. But let me tell ya, if this semester keeps going at this increasingly difficult rate, after I complete my last final in May, the finalist of finals for my final semester (at this school), I will literally dance to my car, go out and buy myself something awesome, then have a celebratory stuff-your-face-and-watch-movies-all-night party...or something to that effect.
Yep, May will be wonderful. I just pray I make it that far.

"pinned" fashion...

2012-01-25T20:53:00.000-08:00

With school already in full swing, I've been finding that my brain reaches it's max by around 9:00PM (granted I've been starting at around 9:30AM, so I get about 12 hours in). To help unwind, I do one of many things: listen to music, watch TV, play Lego Batman on the Wii (don't judge), or - more recently - look at various things on Pintrest. Tonight, I looked at "winter" fashion...

Source: Uploaded by user via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: witwhimsy.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Lauren on Pinterest

(Make note, these are for winter in central CA, not CT or any other places with snow)

Sadly, I won't be able to wear these if we keep having this amazingly unseasonable weather (it's supposed to be 77 tomorrow). I guess I'll just have to look up spring fashion then! :)

blimeycow...

2012-01-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

I just recently discovered this dude on Youtube, and I'm sad that I only just now discovered him! I don't think I've ever actually seen a Christian comedian on Youtube - it's a nice change from the usual "PG-13" rated channels.
He has a lot of just fun quirky vids, but also a few relationship advice vids that are, actually, pretty spot-on (for me, at least). I think this one is my fave so far - it's so true!!

no light, no light {sotw}...

2012-01-15T23:31:00.000-08:00

Yep, I just can't get enough of Florence. Her music is so unique and original, I can't help but love it.
I haven't heard all of the songs on her new album yet, but I've heard the "top" songs and I definitely know why they're at the "top"...they sound so good! I'm too stingy to buy the CD, but I'll be listening to it online a lot.
My pick for the SOTW is one of her newest songs. I love the rich, deep music in this song. So full and satisfying.

My SOTW: No Light, No Light; by Florence + The Machine.

photo shoot {alex & sarah}...

2012-01-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

I was blessed to have the opportunity to take some photos of my dear friend, Sarah, and her boyfriend, Alex. As I said in my previous post, they are truly a wonderful couple, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for them in the future. Love you guys!!

heading home...

2012-01-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

After one super quick week with my awesome bestie, I'm heading home to SLO today. I had such an amazing "good for the soul" kind of weeks that only laughing with your best friend since childhood can bring. Exactly what I needed before another long semester of school.
Before I left, I had the privilege of taking some couple's shots for Sarah and her boyfriend, Alex. I don't think I've ever seen to much whole-hearted devotion to God and to each other before I saw these two's relationship. They have such a pure, honest friendship and love that you can clearly see why God put them together. I can't wait to show you more of the shoot! But I have to go through 140 photos first. :)

my brownie...

2012-01-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

Sarah's Dad has an auction business in Greenville, and we helped out at the auction tonight. We were in the back when this camera came into the bidding line, and I thought it had been sold. Right before we left, I started to say that I was a little disappointed that I had missed the bid on the camera. Little did I know that they hadn't sold it and the dude was still there! So I jumped out of the car with style (almost doing a face plant), ran back to the seller and bought my "new" 1957(ish) metal-cased Kodak Brownie Camera...for only $5. I'd say that's a pretty good deal.
The interior of the camera is in great condition, and the dude said it uses s.620 film, so I could probably use it. But I don't think I will. I'd rather clean it up really well and have it as a nice decorative piece on a bookshelf, cube, etc.
Yep, definitely a good find. Wonder what else I might find here? :)

my bestie boost...

2012-01-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

I will be flying out of San Francisco tomorrow morning and heading to Greenville, South Carolina to visit my very best friend, Sarah. We have known each other since we were in diapers, and she is truly my go-to gal for anything and everything. Whether it's a confidante, or a gentle/strong push to get me in the right direction, Sarah's the girl.
I only get to visit once a year, and I can't tell you how excited I am to see her. You don't realize how much you need a "bestie boost" until they're on the other side of the country.
I'm so stoked to head out...I better start packing!

adele {aoty}...

2012-01-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

I was really struggling with what song to do for my first SOTW for 2012. You can't really tell what song will be the biggest hit of the up-coming year. Then I thought, "Why not pick one of the biggest artists of 2011 and choose one of their songs?" So, that's exactly what I did. Who did I choose? None other than Adele.
Adele has made an incredible comeback with her album 21. The songs are rich, heartfelt, and honest. She says it like it is, which may be one of the reasons she's loved by so many.
My fave song of hers - by far - has to be Set Fire To The Rain. The music is mixed so well, and really showcases her voice. I seriously love it.

So, my SOTW and artist of the year (AOTY): Set Fire To The Rain, by Adele.

2011 {love}...

2012-01-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

Looking back on 2011, there were so many memorable moments that in order to honor them and fully recollect and share the experiences with you would take another year!
I can recall going through so many emotions (more so than actual events) in the past year that I never could have predicted I'd have. I had to evaluate and resolve many emotions in order to rebuild and revive others.
I lost some, found others. I longed for some and was repulsed by others. I ached over some and cried because of them. I wish I could get rid of some yet I know I will always have them. I long and pray for some that I've never had, but I'm so anxious to have. I've gone through so many emotions. But the biggest one that stands out: love.
I love to love, and I long to be loved. This was, and has long been, a struggle for me. I'm constantly surrounded by love, relationships, commitments, marriages, families; it gets a little lonely in this ever-growing sea of relationships.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love and am so happy for all of my friends and family who are lucky enough to have that special someone. I'm just flat out jealous, is all. (darn you sin)
Throughout this past year, God has been and continues to call me back to Him. I'm constantly reminded that that little (actually pretty big) ache in my chest, that I THINK is me wanting that hand to hold while I walk down the street, is really the Holy Spirit aching for a deeper relationship with me.
I mean, I think I got it rough? How about the One who, out of true and pure love, made us and is continually pursuing us; and yet we keep giving Him constant rejection. Now that would make me depressed.
At times, it is SO incredibly hard to love someone who you can't see or touch, and I will always long for that physical love that only a hug or a hand-hold from my boyfriend can bring. But I need to remember that God needs to come first. He's my first Love, and I need to build a strong, faithful, and loving relationship with Him before I pursue another. I mean, He did make me after all. I at least owe Him that much.
This year, I will continue to pray for my future husband. I will pray that he will continue to pursue God much more than I do. I will pray that he will constantly be reminded of His love and mercy, yet also His just anger and jealousy. I will pray that when we meet, He will pursue me almost as much as he pursues God - but not more than Him.
This year, I hope you too will be encouraged to pursue and cultivate your relationship with your first Love. I know I am. :)

little tink...

2011-12-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

My sister's friend had to get rid of her hamster. Being the animal-lovers that we are, we were delighted to add another addition to the family/zoo.
I'm not a big fan of dwarf hamsters (they're bitey). I like teddy bear hamsters more (you can actually hold them). When we first got Tinkerbell (Tink, for short, although I call her Tinky-Dink a lot) she did nibble a little. But surprisingly, she never really chomped down on my finger. Now she's used to our smells and knows that biting = flick, and no biting = treat. I will wear gloves once in a while if my hands smell of food, so then I don't have to worry about the biting. :)
She's a very cute little ham ham, and we're very happy to have her!

merry christmas...

2011-12-25T12:07:00.000-08:00

~ Merry Christmas Everyone! ~
I hope your holiday is merry and bright, and filled with love and laughter.
{By the way, here's my SOTW! Thought I'd forget on Christmas? Nay.}

movie review: sherlock holmes: a game of shadows...

2011-12-22T17:58:00.000-08:00

Yep, definitely a must see...seriously...go see it.
Here's a piece of what you could be missing if you don't go. Or - if you're like me - you wait 3 months for Netflix. Don't wait. It's so worth your $8. Plus, if you go to the first showing of the day, it's only $5.50! So now you have no excuses. Go see it. Soon. Like tomorrow.

my inner geek emerges...

2011-12-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how excited I am for the third and final Batman movie to come out in theaters. Batman has always been, and will always be, my fave superhero.
Having a trilogy of movies made by the amazing talent of Christopher Nolan has really improved the overall quality and seriousness of the Batman character. Because of the previous movies by Bob Kane, the generalized public view of Batman became "cheesy" and "silly." Yet Christopher Nolan gave Batman a comeback, and I feel that his movies have reflected this...journey of the character - his "rise" to fame, if you will.
The overall feel of this last movie is much darker than the other two, being that Batman's life is at much higher stakes then the previous movies. His rival, Bane, is far more superior than him both physically and mentally. Yet having the introduction of Catwoman may change the course of outcome - i.e., he might not die. I'm so excited to see how everything plays out, and I know CN won't disappoint.

{The new trailer of TDKR just came out this weekend...check it out here!}

a disney christmas...

2011-12-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

My family and I went to Disneyland these past few days for my Dad's birthday. It was a really run trip. We were able to get park hoppers this time, so I was able to ride Ariel(my fave princess)'s new ride - which was super cute - for the first time. It had been years since I was last in C.A., so it was really fun to go on hollywood tower of terror and screamin' again. I also saw the World of Color show for the first time. SO cool! Definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
At one point, my Dad and Sister had to go re-park the car (out of the hotel parking, into the parking garage) so my Mom and I were kinda free to do whatever. We decided to see Aladdin's Musical, thinking that it was only about 30min long. Turned out to be a full-on musical going for almost an hour. Yet another highlight of the trip. I've always liked musicals, so make it a Disney musical and I'm in love.
Definitely one of the best parts of Disneyland in the winter: the Christmas lights...

Everything is so bright and cheery! The non-stop Christmas music kinda helps too. :)
It was a wonderful trip! Now, time to tackle the giant pile of gifts that are slowly eating away at my floor space. Let the wrapping begin!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas {sotw}...

2011-12-12T23:33:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's another MB SOTW! Yay! I know how excited you all are...
I know I've been lacking in posts lately. Really, I have no excuse. All I can say is that my life's pretty uneventful at the moment (which isn't a bad thing), and I'll try my best to post more interesting stuff. Good? Sweet.
So, I've pretty much been listening to MB's new album non-stop for the past couple of weeks, and I'm not tired of it yet!
This song really sticks in my mind ALL day long. A timeless, classic Christmas song that I'll always love.

This week's SOTW: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, by Michael Buble.

rolling in the deep - b.a. {sotw}...

2011-12-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

I know I said I was only going to have Christmas songs for my SOTW's this month, but I can't get a certain song out of my head! Can I have two SOTW's this week?...Yes?...Cool.
I love a lot of Boyce Avenue's songs, but I think I like their rendition of Adele's Rolling In The Deep the most. His voice compliments the key so well - and vice versa.

So, my first SOTW this week: Rolling In The Deep, sung by Boyce Avenue.

chocolate pudding & sniffles...

2011-12-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

My Dad and I went to MBA last night for a Member's Night Dinner and shopping afterwards (it was 20% off all merchandise in their stores). The food was very tasty. My fave, of course, was dessert: some sort of chocolate pudding stuff (technical term). There was a tiny hint of fennel, which I could have done without. But otherwise, it was delicious.
I started feeling under the weather on the drive home, and today I have a cold - no bueno. I had a lot of plans this weekend, but now I'm having to decide what stuff I really want to do and who I'm going to see. I always seem to get sick during the busiest times of the year. Oh well. As long as I have my computer, some hot tea, and a warm blanket I'm all good.

mr. chew...

2011-11-28T13:22:00.000-08:00

Mr. Chew (short for Chewbacca) is getting old. At 16, he's pretty deaf and almost blind, but that doesn't stop him from being adorable! I mean, look at that face! He's so stinking cute.
Even though he's stinky, and can sometimes be a pain, I could never hate him. Sometimes he runs into a wall (sad but hysterical), and after trying your best not to burst into laughter, all you can do is pick him up and love him.
Such a cutie. So blessed to have him.

white christmas {sotw}...

2011-11-27T14:15:00.000-08:00

It's time...for Christmas songs!!! *fanfare*

One of the best parts of Christmas, in my opinion, is the music. It's what makes the season feel like Christmas - even if it's 75 degrees outside.
So, to get in as much Christmas spirit as possible, I will be doing Christmas songs for my SOTW from now until Jan! Yay! (for all you Christmas song haters: too bad for you)
I'm kicking it off with a song from MB's new album. I think I'll be listening to this CD everyday from now until Christmas, I love it so much. Classic, smooth, and warm. Just how Christmas music should be.

What better way to start the season than with my SOTW: White Christmas, by Michael Buble.

tightrope {sotw}...

2011-11-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

We've had seriously weird weather in SLO the past week, or so. 80 one day, rainy and 60's a couple days later. Today's rainy, which is all good with me, especially since it's fall. I want wool hat and scarf weather!
When the weather's cold, I love to stay at home with all kinds of snuggle factors: hot cocoa, tea, fuzzy blankets (no snuggies), etc. I also use the time at home to spruce up my room, since I never clean it on nice beach days, which is pretty much everyday in SLO.
Whenever I clean I listen to my "Work" playlist on my computer, which mostly consists of smooth but upbeat music with a little pop thrown in to keep my energy up (you need all the energy you can get when tackling a massive mountain of receipts to file). This leads me to my SOTW...
I just got Janelle Monae's most recent album from the library. I'm not a huge fan of R&B, but her songs are so just so catchy! It's hard not to get up and do a little pop + lock action when you listen to her songs...yeah, like I know how to p+l. Ha! Funny.
I've definitely heard her songs before, but I never knew who sang it. I heard her name in an interview with MB, looked her up, and low and behold it was her!

My fave song right now (this SOTW): Tightrope, by Janelle Monae.

mood jellies...

2011-11-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

My Sis bought a jellyfish aquarium for my birthday, and I just set it up a few days ago. It's actually a really cute aquarium! There are three little gummy jellies and the tank has a few jets that gently blow little areas of the water, one at a time. The system has changing neon lights too, which just adds to the coolness. Plus, it automatically turns off after 4 hours of use (a great nightlight for a kid) so I don't have to worry about it. Super cool gift, Sis. Good job. :)

macgyver pizza...

2011-11-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

I made pizza the other night, and I had forgotten to buy meat to go onto the pizza! I couldn't just make a meatless pizza (I'm so NOT a vegetarian). So what do I put on? Yep, a Slim Jim. And you know what? It actually tasted really yummy! A little crunchy, but not bad at all. I was proud of my Macgyver-esc pizza ingenuity and skills.

mi morena {sotw}...

2011-11-13T23:28:00.000-08:00

So, my Mom and I just watched JG's Live at the Greek DVD from...2004?...I think? Anyways, it's pretty old. Josh looks and sounds so young, even though it was only about 7 years ago. I guess some singer's voices and appearances change that quickly. :)
Unbeknownst to us, this DVD had a few songs that my Mom and I had never heard Josh sing before! (shocking, I know) We were both ecstatic and bummed that we hadn't watched the DVD until now.
One of the songs we hadn't heard before was Mi Morena. A beautiful rich song with a smooth melody that's really easy to hum - an immediate bonus since my Mom and I tend to sing/whistle/hum all of J's songs.

So my SOTW this week: Mi Morena, by Josh Groban.

lots of pins...

2011-11-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

I just acquired (nice word, right?) for myself a Pinterest account. It's kinda weird how you are put on a "waiting list" instead of just acquiring the account the same day...oh well, it was worth the wait -- about 4 days.
Pinterest is a site for people to "pin" and "re-pin" photos/videos under certain categories. It's almost a crafty or artsy search engine with an easy "sharing" idea. It's hard to explain, but it's a great way to procrastinate and waste extra time (which I've had a lot of lately).

They have a ton of variety, such as:
Artistic Photos

Source: luxefinds.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Cute Animals

Source: flickr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Fun Photography

Source: 74limelane.com.au via Lauren on Pinterest

Places/Outdoors

Source: tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Comedic Photos

Source: weheartit.com via Lauren on Pinterest

...and my fave...

Source: joshgroban.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: fanpop.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Celebs!...yep, I've made a whole board for them.

So, now I've found a whole new site to waste my time on! Yay! ;)

someone like you {sotw}...

2011-11-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

This song from Adele's most recent album has been playing on the radio a lot recently. Not sure why it's so popular now, but it is -- not that I'm complaining. :)
Because it's been played continuously, it of course gets stuck in my head, which is why it is my SOTW this week.

So, my SOTW: Someone Like You, by Adele.

petunia...

2011-11-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

I finally snapped a few photos of my "new" car (new to me, old to the rest of the world)! Check her out!...

I don't really name my stuff, but for some reason, I keep referring to the car as a "she." So I might just have to give her a name so I don't keep calling her "her." I'm leaning towards Petunia. It just popped up in my head and I think I'm going to stick with it.
I'm driving Petunia (haha) everyday, and I'm starting to get the feel of the stick -- "starting" being the keyword here. I still jolt and bounce around but it's slowly getting better...slowly.

hollywood {sotw}...

2011-10-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

So, as you might have already read in my previous post, I have been VERY busy driving all over the place this past week. Because I have been very busy, I haven't really had time to listen to music, which means I didn't really have a SOTW this week (gasp!). But, have no fear, MB is here!...yeah, cheesy. Moving on.
My SOTW this week is Hollywood. I had never heard MB sing this song until I looked him up on the library website (weird, I know). I like the music video a lot. You can really see his quirky personality really come out.

So, my SOTW: Hollywood, by Michael Buble.

busy busy...

2011-10-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

This week has been kind of insane. It's one of those "feels like I haven't been home in weeks but it's only been a few days" kind of few days.
I had an appt. down in LA early Thursday morning, so my Dad and I planned to go down to San Diego early Wednesday morning, spend the day at SeaWorld and stay the night, then go to LA from there. Through a turn of events, my appt. was canceled, but we already made major plans so we couldn't just not go! So my Dad and I had a mini-vaca and went to SD as planned and came home Thursday night (technically Friday morning). I'll post more about SeaWorld tomorrow. :)
My Dad and I have been looking for a car for me for a while now. We wanted a Mazda Miata because, well, it's a cute car for one thing (haha) and my Dad has been going to auto-x races for a while now, and we decided he needs a race car. So the deal was that we get the car for me, then when it's time for auto-x Dad will borrow it for the day...not a bad deal. Plus, my school is only about 1/2 of a mile away from the track. Perfect. :)
Last week, we finally found a Miata that looked good and was in great condition. So we went down to SB today to check it out. Overall, the car looks great. There's a little problem with the AC and coolant, and it NEEDS new paint (that's ok cause I was going to get it re-painted anyways), but it's still a great car. Because there's something off with the coolant/belt, we didn't want to chance driving it home in the warmer weather. Luckily, the previous owner was able to get it towed from SB to Los Osos for free! Yay! Here's the car in all it's towed glory:
Ain't it adorable? I can't wait to start fixing it up. The only problem is that it's a stick. I can't drive stick. So my Dad will have to teach me soon, but I'm all good with that. :)
I'll have more to updates on the car soon!

the lady is a tramp {sotw}...

2011-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

An interesting combo that actually works really well...don't judge 'til you listen...and try to ignore the blue hair, haha.

My SOTW this week: The Lady is a Tramp, by Tony Bennett ft. Lady Gaga.
{You can grab a copy of Bennett's new CD here!}

19 and counting...

2011-10-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

Monday was my birthday, and since it wasn't one of the "momentous" or "milestone" birthdays (19th) I decided to keep it low-key and relaxed. Plus, I was tired from the week before, so I knew that I didn't want to do anything too extreme...like skydiving (still want to try that someday). Still, even having planned a "low-key" birthday, it turned out to be pretty busy - a good busy, to be sure.
After dropping off the kid's - that I had babysat the night before - at school, I had my weekly Gyro appt. Then Padre and I went to Nike to buy me new tennis shoes (I only had old dude shoes that I have had since I was about 14...I was in dire need). Then me and the fam went to Morro Bay and did a Sub-Sea Tour which was totally fun, plus we were the only ones on the boat which was super nice. Here are a few photos from the tour...

The boat had a lower deck with 2 windows so that you can see into the water. Because it's the end of the summer, the water's still pretty murky, so we weren't able to see much. I hope to go sometime in the winter and see if there's much of a difference. The tour itself lasted about 45min long (which was plenty) around the inner bay. After that, we went home for gifts and then went to dinner at Mondeo's. SO yummy! I get their turkey avocado club wrap. Seriously the best wrap I've ever had, oh my gosh. After dinner, we came home and watched Toy Story 3 (I hadn't seen it yet) and ate SLO donuts.
Overall, it was a fun and not-too-busy day. A perfect low-key birthday.

arms {sotw}...

2011-10-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to Christina Perri's album lovestrong. everyday for the past week. I heard her song Arms on the radio and immediately loved it. When I got home, I looked up the album on the library's site and "requested" it. In two days, I had the album playing in the car via my iPod.
Many of the songs on the album or more melancholy, but there a few that I love - like Arms. Her songs are smooth and warm, many only having vocals with guitar accompaniment. The perfect album for chilling in your room on the computer, or sitting in front of the fire with some tea.
For my SOTW, I choose Arms. It's my fave song of the album, although Penguin is cute too. :)

So, my SOTW: Arms, by Christina Perri.

man, it's hot...

2011-10-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

It has been SUPER hot in SLO the past few days (upper 90's), which means it's pretty darn hot in Los Osos too (upper 80's). So what do CA peeps do when it's hot? That's right. Hit the beach! So yesterday my Dad and I put on the sunscreen, grabbed our sandals (well, I'm pretty much always wearing sandals, so Dad grabbed his) and drove to Morro Stands Beach.

It was the perfect beach weather: a cool breeze with the warm sun. Plus the tide was pretty low, so we were able to look at the tide pools (my fave part of the beach). We also found some sort of alien species on the beach (seriously I have no idea what it was). I wanted to take it home and dissect it (don't judge), but some kids probably took it before we walked back that way (darn kids getting in the way of science). Oh well, next time.
It was such a gorgeous day on the beach. I'm so blessed to live near the ocean. Now I just need to get my SCUBA license, then I'll be set!

a game of shadows...

2011-10-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm getting excited.
Here's the trailer for the next Sherlock Holmes movie!

the best is yet to come {sotw}...

2011-10-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Yep, I've got another MB song for ya! Yay!...well, I'm excited. :)
This week, I'm going for The Best Is Yet To Come. It has a warm jazz feel without being too sultry.

So, my SOTW: The Best Is Yet To Come, by Michael Buble.

huh...

2011-10-07T22:17:00.001-07:00

...didn't see that coming.

google the heimlich...

2011-10-07T00:52:00.000-07:00

"It's always on a Saturday."

cbc {blog}...

2011-10-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

If you are an avid reader/follower of my blog (haha), then you might remember me posting about my aunt's new business. About a week ago, she asked me if I wanted to design a blog to go along with her Etsy site. Of course, I accepted. I love random blog projects, especially when I have almost full creative freedom (everyone always has a banner that they want...otherwise, I'm free to unleash my creativity!). So, I spent the majority of my morning tweaking and editing the blog for her...and it's finally done! Well, I still need to edit the links, but otherwise it's good to go! Go ahead and check it out and tell me what you think.

call me irresponsible {sotw}...

2011-10-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm posting another MB song this week! Yay! Are you tired of him yet? I hope not, cause I still have a lot of his songs to share. :)
I'm pretty much going in order of faves within each album, starting with Call Me Irresponsible. So, guess which song I chose this week? That's right! Call Me Irresponsible!...How did you know?

My SOTW: Call Me Irresponsible, by Michael Buble.

birthdays and sardines...

2011-09-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

My Dad was up north with my Grandma this past weekend. Her birthday is today, so I suggested that I go up and meet them in Monterey and we can have dinner all together with her...and maybe stop at the aquarium too. :) So I went up yesterday and met my Dad and Grandma at MBA, then we met up with my aunt and uncle at the Sardine Factory (Monterey's version of the Madonna Inn). Their creme brulee was SO good! You know it's good when you see real vanilla bean seeds in it.
Sadly, because the place was so dark, I didn't get any pictures. But here are a few from the aquarium...

My Grandma hadn't been to MBA in years (about 10)...I think she enjoyed it. :)

moves like jagger {sotw}...

2011-09-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

If you've been listening to any sort of "pop hits" radio stations lately, you'll know my SOTW. Moves Like Jagger, by Maroon 5. I'm sorry, I had no choice but to get sucked into becoming a fan of this song. It has such a catchy beat that you want to dance to [speaking of dance, you can check out Carson Kressley doing a "cha-cha" to this song here...it's pretty amazing, and by amazing, I mean hysterical]. I don't really care for the lyrics. I just love the beat.

So, my SOTW: Moves Like Jagger, by Maroon 5.

so many shows...

2011-09-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

There are SO many season premieres this week, it's kinda crazy. I'm impressed at how the major stations keep a lot of shows from conflicting with each other...well, my shows at least. Here are just a few of the shows I'll be watching this week...
Castle premiered yesterday...kinda predictable (you can't kill a major character...or can you?), but still great. Dancing With The Stars also premiered Monday, but that has way too many commercials, so I usually watch it on Hulu the next day.
Raising Hope and Glee are tonight. But same thing with DWTS: too many commercials, so I'll watch them the next day...I'm just lazy like that.
The Middle is tomorrow, along with my new fave Modern Family. It's gonna be a good night of comedy.
Next month will start my all-time fave, Psych. So many good shows, so little time.

it had better be tonight {sotw}...

2011-09-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Michael Buble. I know, I know, all he does is copy Sinatra. But that's what I like about him. He can take 50's swing band, jazz and blues and make them popular again. That takes talent...or -- in this case -- a great voice.
Thanks to a friend of mine, I now have all of his albums on my iPod (thank you Garrett!), so it's going to be hard not to have a MB song as my SOTW for the next year or so...I have too many faves. So we'll just take it one week at a time.
This week, I've chosen It Had Better Be Tonight. With a great beat you can dance to, it's definitely in my top 10...maybe I should make a list! Yeah, I think I'll do that.

So, my SOTW: It Had Better Be Tonight, by Michael Buble.

talk typing...

2011-09-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

Yep, totally have those moments.

one decade...

2011-09-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Today, we remember the fallen, the survivors, and the fighters. We pray for the families who lost someone one decade ago. We pray for the survivors that will forever feel the ripple of fear and chaos of that day. We pray for the fighters who, because of that day, they have dedicated their lives to fighting those who took the lives of their loved ones. Today, we pray. Today, we remember.
In remembrance of 9/11, my SOTW this week is War At Home, by -- my boy -- Josh Groban. I love the lyrics of this song. So honest and passionate.

My SOTW: War At Home, by Josh Groban.

floral photos...

2011-09-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

My laptop is right under my window in my room, so I'm able to look out into my backyard whenever I take a break from the computer. I looked out this morning, and I saw a few flowers that had just popped up over night. So, of course, I had to get a few photos. Here are just a few...

The thing I love about floral photos: you can't really go wrong with editing. Each photo can give a totally different feel and expression that only flowers can give. Here are some that I edited...

I love photography. It's a great hobby. You know what would be fun? A studio photographer for actor portraits. I don't know, that sounds fun to me. :)

cathedrals {sotw}...

2011-09-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

History of Painters is an uplifting, indie/folk band that I love. My high school bible study leader is actually married to Justin (dude with the awesome piano)--you can see their wedding here-- and they both go to my church, so I've known them for a pretty long time (Justin was also my Sparkies leader when i was about 6...random fun fact). They really are an amazing band and I can't wait to see what God has in store for their future.
I love all of their songs, so it's super hard to pick just one for the SOTW. But don't worry, I'll definitely have their songs up more than once. :)
I think this week, I'll pick Cathedrals. It's one of those songs that you can just sway with and be completely content.

My SOTW: Cathedrals, by History of Painters.

happy 301 posts!...

2011-09-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is my 301st post! Whoo!!

You may ask, "301st? What happened to the 300th?" Truth is, I didn't see that the last post was my 300th (oops). But 301 is still a lot of posts, so I'm just gonna do this post the way I would have done the 300th. OK? OK.
I've been glued to the computer for the past couple of days watching all of Julian Smith's videos (what an exciting life I have right now!). They seriously make my day. They're original and always hysterical. Which is my favorite? I have no idea, I like them all way too much to decide on just one. Which one's most popular? This video: Malk. I also like Pre-Blessed Food, Hot Kool Aid, and of course Waffles. In a previous post, I linked With Child (also his). That one I think might just be my fave...maybe.

So, sit back, relax, and watch some of JS videos.

what the water gave me {sotw}...

2011-08-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

If you know me -- or have been reading my blog for a while -- then you know how much I love Florence + The Machine. I'm a huge fan of their album Lungs, and now they're coming out with a new album in November, which I'm super stoked about.
They just released a single from the new album titled: What The Water Gave Me. If the new album is as good as this song, then I'm going to be really excited.

So, my SOTW this week: What The Water Gave Me, by Florence + The Machine.

jg live concert...

2011-08-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

You know when sometimes you get all hyped up about something, then when the time comes, it disappoints you?...Well, Josh DID NOT disappoint. He was absolutely amazing. I can honestly say that THAT was one of the most fun experiences I've ever had. The only word that I can find to describe the event: magical. Josh's personality and talent were beaming. The music? Unforgettable. His voice is so much richer and warmer than his CD's (it's usually the opposite for singers...but not Josh)! I loved it...and so did my Mom. Her first sentence after the concert: "When can we see him again?" Hopefully soon Mom. Hopefully soon.
Josh had two stages in the arena: one at each end. So I was able to get a wide variety of shots, some being close and some being far. I was a happy little photographer.
Here are a few of the photos I snapped.

Thank you Josh for making Tuesday one of the best nights of my life (thus far). :)

~ P.S. Mom's and my fave song sung at the concert? Per Te. Mom was beyond thrilled when he started singing it...and so was I. :) ~

february song {sotw}...

2011-08-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

I've been talking about it since March. I've been listening to his newest CD pretty much everyday in anticipation for this joyous and momentous event. Yep, in only two days, my Mom and I will be in San Jose watching Josh Groban LIVE. I must say, I am beyond excited. I think the realization of actually seeing him in person hasn't hit me quite yet. But don't worry, it will. It definitely will.
I have fallen in love with JG's newest album. He wrote all of the songs himself, and I think -- because it's so personal -- that really adds to the attraction. Of course, I will always love the classics.
Because I am seeing him in a couple of days (that still sounds weird), it's only fitting that I choose a JG song for my SOTW. But how do I choose only one song out of dozens of fantastic ones? It's not an easy job. But this week, I felt drawn to one of the classics: February Song (which he also wrote). I can't tell you if it's my favorite, but it certainly holds a special place inside. I love the lyrics. Straightforward and honest; just how they should be.

So, my SOTW: February Song, by Josh Groban.

a family that is modern...

2011-08-18T23:14:00.000-07:00

I've just recently discovered Modern Family...I'm so sad that I've just now discovered this show. It's seriously one of THE funniest sitcoms I've seen in a really long time. It has a style of comedy similar to The Office, but the plot/writing covers a broader audience demographic. In other words, I understand the comedy. Unlike The Office, which just wasn't applicable to me -- but funny in it's own strange way.
Anyways, if you haven't seen MF, I highly recommend it. I think I've watched about 10-12 episodes in the past two days...sad, I know.
I've linked the pilot and the episode source site below. Watch and be amazed...well, not amazed. But you'll like it.

~ Modern Family: Episode 1 ~
~ Modern Family: Watch Online ~

colors of the wind {sotw}...

2011-08-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'm not entirely sure why I love Pocahontas so much. I think it might be because it's just a classic love story -- I'm such a sucker for those. But I definitely know one reason why I love it: the music. The songs are so original and fit so well with the time period of the story...it's so good!! Plus, Judy Kuhn has an amazing voice, so that's just the icing on the amazing song cake. Hmm, now I want cake.
Anyways, my SOTW this week is Colors of the Wind. It's a classic. Whenever you talk about Disney songs, 90% of the time one girl in the group will start singing, "Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue full moon?" at the top of her lungs...and then the rest of the girls will join...off key. But they will still sing on. Why? Because, it's a classic.

My SOTW: Colors of the Wind, from Pocahontas.

{Random fun fact: Christian Bale was the voice of the character Thomas in Pocahontas. Just thought I'd let ya know}

bye bye brittany...

2011-08-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

My good friend Brittany is leaving for college next week -- like many of my other friends, now that I think about it. Anyways, of course I will come visit her since she's only going to Biola (about 3 1/2 hours away), but she's been one of my best friends since we were about 9 years old, so of course we had to do something special. :)
What did we do? We went to the zoo, had panda, then went home for a Psych mini-marathon (I love budget parties). The best part? She had no idea that we were throwing her a good bye party -- surprise parties are pretty much the best.
Here are a few photos from the zoo...

We had a lot of fun with the turtle face thing.

I love these girls.

Brittany, I'm so proud of you. I can't wait to see how this next step in your life unfolds. Congrats!! :)
P.S. We're going to Disneyland when I come down.

huntington lake...

2011-08-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

I went camping at Huntington Lake with a few friends last week/weekend. I had a great time. It was super relaxing and chill -- exactly what I needed. We went kayaking and sailing (my first time! LOVED it, I can't wait to go again), sang by the campfire with guitar and ukelele (super cool), and made up some pretty amazing stories (Wilfred the platypus and his mustached former-friend-enemy Fernando the beaver). I had a wonderful time with wonderful people. Can't wait till next year. :)

got milk?...

2011-08-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

This just made me happy.

I'm going to be camping the next few days, and I'm super stoked! I haven't been camping in over a year...I feel deprived. I know I haven't posted any of MY photos for a while, but I promise that I will take a lot while I'm gone. :)
Also, I like this score from BB. It's my fave. (I've gotta give you a Batman score to go with my Got Milk pic)
I'll post some more when I get back! Ciao! (yep, I can spell it)

lovers {sotw}...

2011-07-31T19:25:00.000-07:00

Jackie Evancho became the fast favorite in the opera world after her discovery through AGT last year. Her charm, sweet personality, and amazing voice captured the hearts of millions of people worldwide. What makes her so unique? She's 11 years old, yet has the voice of a mature operatic singer. It really is incredible. She has such a wide vocal range for such a young voice, it's truly amazing.
Jackie just released her new CD Dream With Me this past month, and has already sold millions of copies. If you listen to it, you'll see why. Now all she has to do is sing a duet with Josh and I'll be one happy gal. :)
My SOTW this week is Lovers from Jackie's new CD. Many of her songs have a relaxed, slow tempo, and this song stands out a little more with it's more dramatic sound and faster tempo. (If you want a slower song, listen to her version of Nessun Dorma)

So, my SOTW: Lovers, by Jackie Evancho.

taken {netflix pick}...

2011-07-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

Our latest Netflix pick was Taken. SUPER good, I really enjoyed it. The writing was smooth, the dialog was pretty good, it had a believable plot with AWESOME fight scenes (little blood = happy Lauren), and the acting was great -- well, Liam Neeson is always great. :) Because of the plot, it's definitely one for teens and not kids, but I highly recommend any 17 girls who want to go to Europe with no adults to watch it. It has some good points to highlight (like: don't share a cab ride with a random stranger...duh). Also, learn karate...or carry a gun, but karate you can take on a plane...unlike guns...or snakes, for that matter.
Overall, definitely a movie I'd watch again. I give it a 3.5/5. I highly recommend it. :)

social trend mothership...

2011-07-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

This is one of the cutest wedding pictures I've seen in a long time. So simple, so sweet, I love it.
I like to look at wedding blogs during some of my spare time. Some people may say I'm thinking WAY too far ahead. To those naysayers, I say: nay!...Wait a minute.
I've brought up ideas, planned a few events, and have brought A LOT of decor ideas to multiple parties -- all of those ideas I got from looking at wedding blogs. They really are the social trend mothership.
I also get A TON of photography ideas from wedding photos, like the one above. You will definitely see some of the most unique and original photography on wedding blogs. Lighting, colors, themes; they're all there.
So, to the doubters of wedding blogs, I say: look for yourself. Here are a few of my faves:

* * *

100 Layer Cake

Style Me Pretty
Style Me Pretty -- California

going cutco crazy...

2011-07-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

My Dad and I made a spontaneous trip to the Mid-State Fair last night (we only go at night because it's WAY too hot during the day). We don't usually go on the rides or anything, we just like to look at the exhibits and see the different vendors and whatnot. So my Dad and I made our way through the art, the cake, the sewing/crafts, what was left of the floral, and many more exhibits. Then we got to the vendors. Now, we don't bring in our wallets because we know we will want to buy stuff. It's nice to just look around at all of the stuff people have out nowadays. We wandered through the leather goods, then the mattresses, then the jewelry polish. Shoes, food, and clothes were soon to follow. Then, we saw them: the Cutco people.
I have been looking at Cutco knives for over a year now, researching and digging at them to see which is best. The thing with knives -- or any kitchen gadget -- is that you have to try them out before you buy (especially the pricey ones). So, I would gaze and drool at the computer, hoping to try them out one day.
When I was doing my research, I discovered the Santoku knives by Cutco. The knife is wide, with enough leverage for little ol' me to cut through a potato, yet also light and thin enough to cut a thin slice of kiwi. I was in love. But, alas, I didn't know which size was best. The 5", or the 7"? Which would be best for me? When I saw the vendors at the fair, I had to know: which Santoku knife?
We made our way to the vendor, he asked if he could help us, and I asked him, "Do you have your Santoku knives?" He looked a little surprised by the fact that I knew the name of a Cutco knife. He handed me the 5", and I started rambling about my whole "researching and digging" and how I didn't know which would be better. I was probably the easiest customer of the day. I walked away having bought 3 new Cutco pieces for my kitchen collection when all I had wanted to do is hold the Santoku knives. But I don't regret it one bit. I LOVE the pieces I got.
I got this Santoku gift set. It comes with the 7" Santoku and the Santoku-style trimmer (I cut about 4mm slices of grape with this baby...I cut the grape into about 8-10 slices). When you buy a gift set, you get a free gadget...
...I got the pizza slicer. My gosh, I'm so excited to make pizza now. The blade? Detachable! Gah!

I can't tell you how excited I am about these new knives. Makes me wanna cook!!

fabio? um, no...

2011-07-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

What?! There's a new Old Spice guy?! Who's this "Fabio" and what have you done with the old Old Spice dude? Fabio doesn't compare to the old dude.
I think it's some sort of contest, but I have no idea. I just hope they bring the old guy back.
Wait! There's hope! I just found this video while I was writing this post! Yay!! OK, I feel better now. GO OLD OLD SPICE GUY!!

wild world {3/3 sotw}...

2011-07-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

I remember hearing Cat Stevens for the first time when I was in high school -- a family I babysat for used one of his albums as a lullaby CD. I remember loving it, but I never thought to look inside the CD player to see who it was (I admit, I wasn't too bright when I was 12). When the kids stopped listening to the CD, I was sad -- only because I thought I would never hear it again. About 4 years later, my Mom bought me a CD for my birthday. Low and behold, it's Cat Stevens (she just bought it thinking that I might like his music...my Mom knows me well). Now, here I am, listening to Cat, thinking about babysitting and lullabies...maybe that's why I get tired every time I listen to a CS song? Since I'm going to take a nap on this fine Sunday, my third and final SOTW this week is Wild World. Smooth, warm, and sleepy. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

My third and final SOWT: Wild World, by Cat Stevens.

parachute {2/3 sotw}...

2011-07-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of Ingrid Michaelson. She has such a rich and warm voice that just makes you want to sing along. Her music re-vamped and re-introduced the indie-pop industry to this generation -- you think of this genre, you think Ingrid Michaelson. She plays the ukelele too, which is just cool.

So, my second SOTW this week: Parachute, by Ingrid Michaelson.

set fire to the rain {1/3 sotw}...

2011-07-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

Due to my busy schedule (and general forgetfulness), I realized that I haven't posted a SOTW in about 2 weeks. Sadly, I have no excuses. Maybe it's the whole "summer laziness" thing that's been going around, I don't know.
So, to make up for the lost Sundays, I may - . . . no, I WILL post 3 songs this week (no slacking this week!).
My first song is Set Fire to the Rain, by Adele (yes, another Adele song). This is my fave from her new album, thus far. The music, the key; it all compliments her so well...and it shows. She sounds great.

So, my first -- out of three -- SOTW: Set Fire to the Rain, by Adele.

pizza prowess...

2011-07-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

The eve was tinged with cold as two old enemies burrowed into each others souls -- who would be the first to break? Twas the defeated me? Nay.
Yeah, that was a little over dramatic. I made my first (ever) pizza last night! I've worked with pizza dough only once before, and it didn't go so well (hence the over dramatized beginning to this post). I bought TJ's pizza dough this time which was WAY better than the Pillsbury kind I got last time (dough shouldn't come in a can...it's just not right). Of course, I couldn't get it into a circle, but who said pizzas need to be round?

The pre-made goodness.

In the words of AB, "Golden, brown and delicious."

My toppings? Sauce (duh), pepperoni, mozzarella, spinach, 'shrooms, yellow pepper, kalamata olives. It was a little salty, but still SUPER yummy, if I do say so myself. I will definitely be making pizza again soon. :)

the dark knight rises...

2011-07-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

...Can you tell that I'm excited?...Nah.
The first trailer for The Dark Knight Rises is out! Check it out!

cherish by carol...

2011-07-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

While I was in AZ, I took some pictures of my aunt's jewelry and doll clothing business, Cherish By Carol. This is only a taste of what she can do -- I took SO many pictures. All of her jewelry is so delicate, intricate, and beautiful, I love it. And the doll clothes? Adorable (I especially like the shoes). Here are only a few of her creations:

She makes larger, more complex beaded pieces...

She makes simple and elegant earrings (which I want)...

She makes adorable little butterflies and small pendants (the blue and orange is my fave)...

She makes matching little girl and doll jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, etc.)...

Last but not least, she makes doll clothes (I can't get over the shoes)...

All of her items are so cute, and I was so happy to be able to take the pictures for her new business. I had never taken photos of jewelry before, so I wasn't sure on what backgrounds or lighting to use. Overall, I think they turned out well. If I had had more time, I would have used some models (can't go wrong with models). But for what time I had, I really do like the results. :)

busy & eventful weekend...

2011-07-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's almost been a week since I've posted anything (time flies)! But I have a good excuse: I was out of town with no internet (told you it was good).
I've been in AZ visiting family for the past few days, which is always fun. A lot happened on this trip: Sis and I got lost a couple of times, but only for a few minutes each time (fun!...not), I was repeatedly attacked by cats (painful), I got locked in a self-storage place for 45min in 100+ degree heat and had to call the car wash next door to get me out (interesting), and I got sick (...ew). But aside from all of that, I had a great time! New adventures can be fun, right?...Right?! :)
My aunt had asked me if I could take some pictures for her new business, Cherish By Carol, while I was down in AZ. SUPER adorable little girl and doll jewelry and clothes, along with some adult jewelry that I REALLY wanted. So much of her jewelry consists of very intricate patterns that take so much time and patience to do...SO beautiful, I can't wait to show you all of the pics. :)

seals and pie...

2011-07-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, some of my relatives came into town. So what do we central coast citizens do? Yep. Go see the elephant seals. It was SUPER windy, but it's always fun to see the "little" babies. Afterward, we had dinner at Linn's. Gah, SO good! I had the Hearst Burger. HUGE. But I took some home and had the rest for dinner the next night; and it still tasted really good, even after microwaving it! I was impressed.
My Mom, Sister, and I are going to AZ this weekend to visit more relatives. My Mom is already down there, and my Sis and I are leaving tomorrow night, stopping in Palm Springs, then heading the rest of the way to Scottsdale the next morning. It's the first road trip that my Sis and I will be going on...should be interesting. :)

seriously?...

2011-07-06T23:59:00.000-07:00

...These just make me laugh.
{You can find more of these signs on Ellen's site}

new header...

2011-07-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have a new header now! The previous pic was cute, but SO pixeley (yes, I just made that up)...it was time to get a new one. I may play with the current one a bit (lighting, editing, whatnot), but for now, it's bueno. Let me know what you think!

daydreamer {sotw}...

2011-07-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

I didn't discover Adele until her latest CD was released (which is probably the same story of a lot of other newbie fans). She has a very raw sound, which usually doesn't work for me. But for some reason, her's does.
I picked up a copy of her CD 19 at the library a while ago, and I'm still listening to it pretty much everyday. My fave song, so far? Daydreamer. Her natural, raw voice accompanied with some simple acoustic guitar makes the perfect combo.

So, my SOTW: Daydreamer, by Adele.

i'm on a horse...

2011-06-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

I love the Old Spice commercials. They're seriously the best commercials I've ever seen. Sadly, I don't have a song of the week this week (I was late last week so it's thrown me all off, haha), so this week Isaiah will be the star. My fave commercial? Definitely the first. "Look at your man, now back to me...I'm on a horse." Classic.

stuck on what? {sotw}...

2011-06-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time. Time to talk about The King. At first, I HATED Elvis Presley, seriously hated him. His voice was just so annoying. The songs? Don't get me started. His hair? Really?
Then I heard some of his earlier songs (something besides his gospel tracks). They kinda grew on me. Then my sister bought my Mom the ultimate Elvis CD. That's when it happened: I liked Elvis Presley. My Mom had finally turned me to the dark, greased-hair side. His songs make me think of summer, and fun, and Lilo & Stitch (HA!).
So, since it's summer, and I've been having fun, naturally Elvis is one of the main artists I'm listening to on my iPod right now. I have a few main faves, but I've been playing Stuck On You a ton lately. No idea why, I just am, haha.

So, my SOTW: Stuck On You, by Elvis Presley.

sweet 16 surprise...

2011-06-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

My good friend Holly turned 16 on Saturday, so a few friends and I planned a sweet 16 surprise party for her...it was definitely a success. We all had a great time! Sadly, due to the weather, we had to move the party inside (it was only about 60 degrees outside...too cold for a party), so the pictures have horrible lighting. At least everyone was warm! :)
Here are a few photos from the party...

Smoked salmon pizzette...SUPER yummy, if I do say so myself. :)

I took SO many flower pictures, I just decided to make a collage...way easier to upload. :)

This weekend was SUPER busy for me, and now I have a long break before any big plans or trips. Yesterday, I watched TV...all day. Pretty sad. But then I reassured myself by saying that I haven't had one day to just sit for a while, so I deserved it after my big, long weekend (excuses, excuses).
It's just starting to warm up here, so now I'll be able to plan beach days (my fave)! Can't wait. :)

flap jacks...

2011-06-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

I was watching Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza last night, and this game made me cry, I was laughing so hard...if you need a pick-me-up, watch it. Oh my gosh, it's too funny.
"Flippity-flap, flippity-flap, flippity-flap, flip-"
"NO! WRONG!"
LOL :)

chocolate & random updates...

2011-06-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

I found Ghiradelli Double Chocolate brownie mix for half price at Von's today...I'm one happy gal. :)
I also got my Adele CD from the library...11 songs for 50cents...who needs iTunes. My fave song right now? Make You Feel My Love. It's a good song to sway back and forth to.
Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! My new heels are HERE!!!...and they FIT!! YAY!!! I'm going to wear them at the party, so I'll definitely get a few shots of them for you all. :)

where's my man?...

2011-06-13T23:37:00.000-07:00

I watched 27 Dresses tonight. I watched Definitely, Maybe last night. You know what I've discovered? Romantic comedies, the movies that I used to love to bits, make me depressed. Hands down, the worst stuff to watch when you're single. The happy endings? Again, worst thing ever. I start to think, "Hey, where's the guy who should be snuggling next to me while I make him watch this chick flick? Oh wait, I don't have one. *Sigh*" Then I think, "Lauren, you're so pathetic." Then I laugh and my family's like, "What are you laughing at?" My oh my, I'm an odd duck.
Then, the thought occurred to me, "You know what, I'm not so pathetic. I'll get married one day. These feelings are normal. Heck, back in the Bible, girls were married at 13, so of course I want a dude! I'm gettin' old here! I'm almost 19! *Gasp*!"
God gave us a longing for a second half. It's one of the most natural things we will ever feel: longing. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. It's that little feeling in your chest when you watch the dude lean in for a kiss in that fave romantic movie of yours, or when you see two people madly in love kiss for the first time as husband and wife. That little feeling is longing. We crave that moment. That moment of pure joy and love, knowing that we are loved and cherished by someone else besides your dog (no offense, Rebecca).
God gave us that emotion and craving, but not only for a husband: for Him. Before we crave an earthly man, we must crave our Heavenly Father; He is, after all, the Bridegroom in this story.
We must find our satisfaction in His love, and not go searching for it in a perfect guy who doesn't exist. I must find my satisfaction in His love, and not go searching for it in a perfect guy who doesn't exist. This is a huge challenge for me right now, and I know it is for a lot of other ladies out there, too. If I don't have a strong, fruitful, loving relationship with my Heavenly Father -- my Bridegroom -- then how on earth would I ever have a good relationship with a dude? Answer: I wouldn't. It's not possible.
Relationships -- marriages -- are built around God, not your relationship with God is based on your marriage; this is very easy to flip around. Many women find their acceptance in their husbands. This leads to very stressed, over-ambitious wives who over analyze everything their husbands might say (I feel so bad for those dudes). We must have a good relationship with God first (see? I made it bold...this is important).
Now, I could go on and on, but I want to get some sleep (I could probably write a book about this I can talk that much, haha). Long story short, my life should go in this order: God, People, Me. God's and my relationship is number one. Without it, I won't have any healthy relationship with any man, especially my future husband...if he ever shows up. ;)

* * *

Side note, I read When God Writes Your Love Story back in 9th grade, and I loved it. Of course, it wasn't too applicable then, but it most definitely is now. It's a super quick, fun read, and -- again -- so applicable. I highly recommend it.

hospital (update)...

2011-06-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

We heard from Grandma's surgeon today, and they've postponed the surgery because she's had a positive reaction to the antibiotics, and now she'll hopefully only have to have one surgery instead of two...see? Who says God doesn't listen. He's always there. Always listens. Always answers. I'm so happy and blessed. Thank You, God. Thank You. :)

tango? where? {sotw}...

2011-06-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

Even though it is one of my sister's fave movies, I have still yet to see Moulin Rouge. That, along with Pride and Prejudice, Les Miserables, and other romance classics (hey, my Netflix is full. I'm working on it), but that's beside the point. Even though I haven't seen the movie, I love the soundtrack. I especially love El Tango de Roxanne (I think everyone does, haha). Debi Mazi danced a tango to the song on DWTS a few seasons ago, but again, that's beside the point. The song is so full, powerful, and emotional. A perfect tango track. Which is why it's my song of the week this week!...I love it so much, I might just have to watch the movie. :)

My SOTW: El Tango de Roxanne, from Moulin Rouge.

hospitals (oh joy)...

2011-06-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

My Dad and I went up to San Jose yesterday to visit my Grandma (she's in the hospital with Diverticulitis). It's always good to see Grandma, but it's never good to see her in the hospital...I never like seeing anyone in the hospital, for that matter, haha. My parents are both nurses, so people always ask me if I want to have some sort of career in the medical field. My answer: most definitely not. Hospitals smell weird, and have nasty food, and no natural lighting...overall, I'm not a fan. No offense Mom and Dad. :)
My Dad will be going back up North on Tuesday to be with my Grandma after her surgery, so she will most definitely be on my heart and in my prayers for the next few weeks. I know that God definitely has a plan but, of course, I'm going to worry. I just have to trust Him.
God always brings Jeremiah 29:11-12 to me when I get worried or nervous.

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you."

I love verse 12: "Then you will call upon Me and some and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." It's so reassuring. He WILL listen. He WILL answer. So comforting. I love it.

* * *

I decided to post a few vintage pics of hospitals, ya know, cause I always post pics...don't worry, I'd never leave ya hanging. :)

Christmas time!

Lovin' the patient's handlebar mustache...classy.

Some nurses...they all look very similar...I think it's the hair.

My fave: cigarette vendor. What service.

shirts, shirts, & more shirts...

2011-06-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

I've been ordering SO many shirts from Shirt.Woot lately. I now have 6 Woot shirts...it's ridiculous. But they're SO easy to order! $10 flat (so cheap), no shipping (amazing), and once you make an account, they save your info for easier ordering (evil). Overall, it's so user friendly that it makes it stupidly easy to order a shirt. My latest buy? The pic above: "In the Library, with the Wrench." Totally awesome. I HAD to get it. What do you mean? I don't have a problem!...OK, I do. But you've got to admit, they're pretty awesome.

flash mobs...

2011-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

I love flash mobs. They're too cool. Especially when there are a ton of people involved...like this one.

little black heels...

2011-06-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to announce the purchase of my new black heels!! The Kimichi Blue Perforated Suede Heels from UO. I had a very old gift card for UO, and I've been wondering what to buy for a while now...until today! These were on sale for $50, REALLY pricey for me, but I think they're worth it -- I feel OK spending a little more money for shoes (they're an investment). I've been wanting some t-straps for a long time, but I didn't want anything too "mary jane"-like. These have the peep toe which I LOVE, plus all of the detail in the suede makes these one awesome pair of shoes. I will be wearing them with forest green tights at the sweet 16 tea party...I'm excited. :)

rebirthing {sotw}...

2011-06-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Skillet is definitely one of my fave rock bands. Now, I don't know how many people have said, "Really, Lauren? YOU like rock?" To their astonishment, I simply respond, "...Yep!" It's true. Little piano-playing Lauren likes Skillet, Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence, some Red (a little too screamo at times), and many more. Do I listen to it blasting on my radio nonstop? Of course not. But when you've been listening to classical, contemporary, jazz, or any sort of slower-paced music for HOURS on end, you begin to long for that awesome drum solo/electric guitar solo.
I also find that I like Christian rock more than a lot of the contemporary music out there...like K-Love. I'm sorry, K-Lovers. I can't stand your music. Too much Phillips, Craig and Dean (not saying their songs are bad, just not my thing).
One of my all-time fave Skillet classics is Rebirthing. Cello? Awesome! Even the lyrics are great; I think that's why I like Skillet so much - always a good message.

So, my song of the week: Rebirthing, by Skillet.

white collar {excited}...

2011-06-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

The new season of White Collar airs THIS Tuesday, and I can't tell you how excited I am. Not only because I get to see Matt Bomer every week (what girl wouldn't be excited about that?), but this season is setting up to be the most exciting, dramatic, and eventful season yet. Usually, I'm not a fan of over-dramatized shows, but I can make an exception with WC. The best thing about the show: I think I have the plot figured out, then they throw another wrench into the mix that totally throws me off...I love that. I love the never-ending suspicion with each character; you never fully know one person. Gah! I'm getting all excited. :)

photo shoot {garrett}...

2011-06-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

My good friend Garrett asked me to do a photo shoot of him for his mom (he's making a collage for her birthday). Of course, I was super excited (I love friend photo shoots)! We were able to go to multiple locations, which was super nice. I haven't done a photo shoot at a beach before, so this was both fun and a little challenging...I think we met the challenge. :)

Here are a some of the photos we got..

...I think they turned out well.

Thanks for asking me to take these photos, Garrett! I had an awesome time. :)

mercy {sotw}...

2011-05-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

While I was listening to my Pandora station yesterday, Duffy's Mercy came on. The first time I heard Duffy was on the first day of my ballet class (we did ronde jambe's at the barre, for all of you ballet enthusiasts out there). I requested her CD from the library and, truth be told, I only liked 2 songs on the CD...it's still cheaper than iTunes. Listening to that song will always bring back fun memories of that class.

So, my song of the week: Mercy, by Duffy.

napkin ring makeover...

2011-05-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

It's my dear friend Holly's birthday soon (mid June), and it's no ordinary birthday. It's going to be her 16th birthday!! Yay! So, since she is so awesome, I decided to plan a surprise party for her. I decided on an afternoon tea party (she LOVES tea parties...no joke) with lots of tea, coffee, and food...lots of food.
Since it is a tea party, I wanted to get lots of decorations for all of the food, drinks, and table. So, braving the infamous Goodwill warehouse, my Dad and I picked up a bunch of older dishes, glassware, and decorative vases. 20 pieces for $5.00...I'd call that a bargain. We also picked up some not-so-cheap paper lanterns (2 for $12.00) but I'll use them in the future, and some end-fabric for the tablecloth. I also went "dumpster diving" for some glass wine bottles I saw a woman tossing in the trash at the Avila BBQ (I leaned over the edge of the dumpster while my Dad held my legs...hey, they were free!). I still have some stuff I'd like to get, but I have a while so I don't have to rush. :)
Anyways, one of the things I picked up at GW was a set of 5 napkin rings. Due to their super old look and kinda nasty smell, I decided to paint them bright colors with sparkles! It is a sweet 16 after all. You've gotta have sparkles somewhere.
Here's a tutorial on the napkin rings.

Here they are in all their kinda-old-gross glory...but only for a little while.

Because I wanted to paint them pretty bright colors, and because the original rings where dark, I put two coats of white paint as a base. That way, the colors will come out brighter.

Pink, teal, purple, orange, and yellow. Super fun colors.

After a few coats of color, I painted them with sparkle paint (not glitter thrown on wet paint).

After a quick spray of gloss finish, my napkin rings were done!

I'm getting super excited for the party...I have TONS of decorating ideas...should be exciting. :)

old slo bbq...

2011-05-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

My Dad's friend Matt owns (and operates) the Old San Luis Barbeque Company. AKA, the place with THE most delicious tri-tip, garlic bread, linguica, strawberry lemonade, and much much more. You may call me bias because the boss and I are friends, but if you really know me, you know I'm pretty picky when it comes to food (I'll eat anything, but that doesn't mean I'll love it). Seriously though, the tri-tip is insane. Imagine, if you will, perfectly cooked and seasoned meat (perfect being tears apart like kleenex and melts in your mouth like butter) layered between two slices of garlic sourdough (local bread, of course) and topped with Matt's homemade BBQ sauce. Pair it with an ice cold, homemade strawberry lemonade and you've got yourself one delicious meal...gah, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
If you want some of this amazing food, come to Avila farmer's market on Fridays, 4:00PM-8:00PM. He's also available for catering (by the way Matt, you're catering my wedding...just thought I'd give ya a heads up.). I'll be helping out at farmers June and some of July, so even if you're not that hungry, come see me!...and maybe get something while you're there. :)

chance {sotw}...

2011-05-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

My song of the week this week is Lady Gaga's Paparazzi, sung by Greyson Chance. This kid is 13 years old, and he sounds like this...insane. He sang this song at his school's talent show, put the video on Youtube, and now he's coming out with his own CD. I think JB's got some competition.

cooking for solutions 2011...

2011-05-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

So, as I had mentioned in my previous posts, this past weekend was Cooking For Solutions at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. SO much fun, and SO much amazing food! Although, I don't think I will be able to eat fish again for a while...so much fish. My friend Ellie and I said that we would try everything at the Friday evening gala...I think we succeeded. Everything was super yummy, except for one thing: a good 2in X 3in X 1in cube of raw abalone topped with abalone and some sort of paste (it was green). Now, I like sushi, and I like raw fish, but that much raw abalone all in one bite...not gonna lie, Ellie and I gagged a little. Other than that, everything else was delicious. :)
The next day, we saw a cooking demonstration by the always witty, always hysterical, and always amazing Alton Brown. Always fun. I had seen AB twice before this and had met him once before, so getting to talk to/see him again felt like I was talking to an old friend (even though he has no idea who I am, haha). It was Ellie's first time, so she was super excited but never talked, which left me to making up the conversation when we got to take pictures and get books signed...good thing I like to talk. :) Also, being the forgetful thing I am, I completely forgot to bring my book for him to sign! But while we were waiting to get a picture, some random woman handed us a cedar grilling plank (really weird, I know). At first, I was just sitting there with a plank thinking, "Cool! Now I can grill salmon!" But then, the idea hit me: AB can sign the plank! Since I had already had a book signed, I gave the plank to Ellie. So, AB signed it, and Ellie LOVES it. Good deal all around. :)
Here are some pics from both days (I apologize for the fuzziness. I was focused on eating, not pic taking)...

...From Friday night Gala...

...Some of the animals!...

...Saturday!...

...Alton!!!...

...Ellie getting her plank signed...

...I think she likes it...

...My new Facebook profile pic :)...

...After the aquarium, we went to get some CANDY!...

Such an awesome weekend. Always great to see AB. Now I just need work at the aquarium so I can see him without it costing over $100. :)

excited...

2011-05-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Ellie and I are going up to Monterey later today for their Cooking For Solutions event, and I for one CANNOT wait! First of all, AB is gonna be there (need I say more?). Second, there's all this AMAZING food that you wish you could have all year 'round...ahh, my mouth is watering as we speak (TMI?). Third, I get to bring my awesome new camera with me! I haven't taken it up to MBA yet, so I'm super excited to shoot some animals!...Oh, you know what I mean. :)

freedom...

2011-05-19T12:06:00.000-07:00

This is how I feel right now, 12:13PM on Thursday, May 19th 2011. Why, you ask? Because as of right now, I have NO MORE SCHOOL for the summer!! YAY!! I can't believe I survived another semester of school. Crazy. :)
To celebrate, I went out and got a mani (yay!). But, of course, being the klutz that I am I messed up one nail (boo). But it's OK cause I have pretty similar nail polish so I can fix it...thinking positive here.
Now, since i have nothing to do, I'm going to do what we Americans do best: watch mindless television and play video games!...I love summer. :)

living limits...

2011-05-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

I love where I live. I love that it's where you will find some of the "happiest people on earth." I love that I live where tourists come (I like European tourists, even though they're rude). The only problem: I live in Los Osos, while my social life mostly exists in SLO. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE living in Los Osos, and I wouldn't trade it for living in SLO. Yet, since pretty much all of my friends live in SLO, I find that if I want to see anyone, I have to drive out to SLO and commit an entire afternoon/evening in doing so. In other words, I can't just text and say, "Hey, can I come hang out?" and drive 5min across town to get there. I have to really plan ahead. Also, at times, I find that I am the only one who offers drive in order to see people, which is understandable (but kinda annoying) since everyone is out in SLO and I'm the only one in Los Osos.
Just recently, one of my friends offered to drive me home because that was the only way were going to be able to hang out. I was so touched. I had never been offered a ride home before by someone my age, one of my friends. If I couldn't drive home, we wouldn't hang out (this happened a lot in high school). She couldn't believe it, that no one had offered before her. It would be so nice for people to feel like they could just come on over spontaneously just to hang out, or say hi, or bring pie, or have lunch...ok, I'm getting sidetracked.
The point is, because of this, I don't see a lot of people that often, so I can't help but feel that were not nearly as close as we could be if I lived closer (I'm definitely going to be closer to the people that I see more than once a week right after church for 10min). It's a little sad to think that 9 miles makes such a difference in relationships (or that the gas prices have such an impact...$4.24? Are you kidding?).
I suppose this can be seen as preparing me for college. But even in college, once I make friends, they will be on campus. I will see them more than once a week. We'll grab coffee, or hang out in each others dorms, or just chat outside of class. Even in college, it will be different from the current situation.
I know all of this rambling is from the many lost hours of sleep due to school and I will feel so much better after my mani appointment I have after my LAST FINAL tomorrow morning (WHOO). So, I am sorry. But this is what happens to me. I get tired and irritated at the silly things that shouldn't irritate me. But I also start thinking about important things...at least, things that I find important. Like people not driving 9 miles to see other people. Kind of silly...but important.