3 things

Ohh hey guys! I sincerely hope everyone had a great weekend :)  Make that two great weekends since it's been a while.

Do I have news for you or WHATTT.

Since I haven’t been blogging for a while now (got into a bad habit and couldn’t think of interesting blogging posts) I decided to make this one epic post about what I’ve been up to and to share some exciting news!

1.     1.) Bought my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding (big step in moving forward with the August wedding).  I know all the brides say this - but as the maid of honor this should really mean something - I really think it's a dress that I could wear again!! I'm so excited about it.

2.     2.) I'll be visiting California on Wednesday with my good friend Julia.  We’ve been going the past 2 years for the Director’s Guild Awards (do we have connections or do we have connections?).  This year we’re staying a bit longer to really take in all of El Lay’s beautiful sites and touristy spots.  The first year we went we met Cory Monteith from Glee:

And the next year we got our picture taken with the boy from the Facebook movie:

Both guys were so nice!! And I can't wait to see who we might run into this year! 

And this last one, #3, is huge…I’m not sure if you’re ready for this. You need to sit down cause you’re going to faint. This is the most exciting news I could ever share with anyone. I’M MOVING TO....drum roll please….

Yes, me, small town girl moving to music city of the world! I can’t wait to start blogging from there.  But I still have a while so I’ll try my hardest to live in the present. ‘Til then, will definitely try my darndest to start taking more pics and putting them up.  This blog is still a work in progress and I’m trying to figure out why exactly I started it….but, yes, definitely will be trying to snap more pictures.

So anyways, just wanted to say Happy Monday

we laughed, we cried, we DIYed

I'm not kidding when I say this weekend was one of the best!  I am loving 2012 so far.  Despite spending most of the weekend hours driving in the car with my mom and sis, the weekend of Jan. 5-8 will go down in books as one of the most entertaining.  So many times the three of us had to just keel over from uncontrollable laughter.  And tears, there were lots of laughing tears!    

And speaking of shirts.... my mom "re-fashioned" this number from GWill and please just excuse me if I start to wear it every day.  It took her a whole maybe 30 minutes (and that's pushing it) to put it all together she just zipped right through it.  I'm off now to find some more things for her.      

Fascinating Reflections

It’s three days into the new year now and I’m finally getting a chance to actually sit down and reflect on the past year.  While the last few days since I posted have been busy, wonderful, celebratory, and terrifying (might be posting about that later/probably not); 2011 was a year for me to grow and learn.  I treasure all of my 2011 moments.

Since I only started this blog a few months ago here’s a really quick recap of my year:

•  I moved out of my parents house
•  Started my Master's program
•  Made some of the most amazing friends
•  Roadtripped across the East Coast with my I-don't-know-how-she's-not-my-sister best friend who I talk about all the time on this blog
•  Went on dates
•  Engagement parties
•  Graduated with my Master's
•  Experience the worst kind of pain when my grandmother died in April

Like all years 2011 had its ups and downs.  For me personally it seemed like the ups were EXTREMELY up and the downs were EXTREMELY down.  But as I sit and think about how different I was a year ago today, I am happy with where my life is going.  Two-thousands-twelve is here and there’s no slowing down!  I know this year will bring challenges, WEDDINGS!!!! (lots!), a relocation, and I think maybe even a new puppy J  Will keep ya'll posted on that last one!  

The future and all that

Dear 2012 Lauren,

Please do your Christmas shopping early.  Heck, start buying presents the week after Christmas if you need to!  (Everyone knows that's when the real black Friday sales are, anyway!) Year after year you wait until the very last minute to buy your presents.  But imagine if you bought them early - you could be baking..... drinking hot cocoa by the fire.....crocheting a blanket.....playing Christmas songs on the piano.  Doesn't all this sound nice?  Yes, I think you should try it in 2012.

Sincerely,
Help me I'm present-less

PS: In one year to the day, people are saying the world is going to end.  I used to believe all this and I couldn't (and still won't) watch the movie 2012 because the plot scared the bajeezee's out of me.  But awhile ago a friend sent me this article from CBS and I don't know, I just believed it.  I'm still not sure what is going to happen because whoever does?  But I found comfort in this article and maybe it will help you too if you feel like reading it.  Happy holidays!  (Here's to hoping I have as many shopping bags as the lady in the picture by the end of the day - credit: google) 

Last week was bittersweet

This week was kind of huge and epic and busy and perfect for so many reasons....Here's some pictures to prove it!  

Last week of school dinner

meow gorgeous girlfriends

making it rain swagger real $

mich hey's birthday

@UCF graduation pictures

my first layer b'day cake TEAM USA

$cake$

BGN = Board game night

Brit (in the middle!)'s engagement party :)

Master Gator Grads <33

MSM Program! WE R FAMILY

I DID IT! I GRADUATED (AGAIN!)

Making an impression

I’ve always been told that first impressions last a lifetime.  And these last few months I’ve REALLY been hearing it because of job interviews and what-not. If you’re reading this, you’re obviously smart.... so I don’t know why I bother to tell you geniuses this.  But, these are boots that make an impression.  You see, people aren’t sure if they should like them because they're torn and worn and clearly soooo vintage (FYI: they're sooo not vintage) or if they should avoid eye contact at all costs and walk briskly by because I am surely about to ask them if they can spare some change.   These babies have definitely walked a mile or two.  They'e been on the east and west coast! Of the USA! Talk about jet-setters! but I’m just not sure yet if I’m ready to part with these guys.  Maybe it’s just time for a closet-buddy.  These are some of my most oggled over brown boot duds: 

Ivanka Trump "Arlecia" boot

Steve Madden "Ruckuss"

DSW Franco Sarto "Rapid Over the Knee" boot

Dolcetta by Dolce Vita Harness Heel Boot

Isn't it awesome how this is the second post I've made about my shoes falling apart?? That's gotta be a blogging record.

TMI Thursday

If I do say so, I thought I did a pretty poor job introducing myself.  So I selflessly filled out the following to get better acquainted.  {Oh, how this reminds me of all those Myspace surveys me and my friends would send back and forth to each other!}


NICKNAMES: just to name a few....Glads, Gladdy, LayGay, Pepper, La, Lalita
BIRTHDAY: 29 May
ZODIAC: Gemini :D
HEIGHT: 5'8
EYE COLOUR: I'm rockin hazel
HAIR COLOR: Blonde
HANDED: Right-handed
FROM: Gainesville, FL
PETS: I haven't taken the plunge yet myself but I'm the proud auntie of a krazy maltipoo:

FAMILY: Yes...I have a family :)
LIKES: friends, card games, game nights, crocheting, reading, traveling, piano, online shopping
DISLIKES: controversy
FAVORITE ACCENTS: this is an easy one - Aussie
FAVE ACTORS: Kyle Chandler, Charlie Day, Jason Segal, Will Arnett
FAVORITE ACTRESSES: Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, Connie Britton, Helena Bonham Carter, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett
FAVORITE ANIMAL: killer whale 
FAVORITE MUSIC: right now I'm reppin country but I like it all! Bring it on Mumford, Carrie, Miley, Matt & Kim, Dolly, Ke$ha, Beyonce....
FAVORITE BOOKS: Harry Potter & Hunger Games #teampeeta 
FAVORITE COLORS: brown, gray, peach
FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK: today's Thursday and I'm pretty optimistic about it
FAVORITE DRINK: H20 but if we're talking adult bevs I choose sangria
FAVORITE FLOWER: tulips, peonies, gardenias
FAVORITE FOODS: cereal, apples, Johnny Mazetti {it's a southern thing} - funny, I never realized it was called "Johnny MaRzetti after all these years until I just looked up the recipe - also burgers and fro-yo
FAVORITE GIRL NAMES: Eloise, Sailor
FAVORITE HOLIDAYS: Halloween
FAVORITE MONTH: December and May {holla birthday!}
FAVORITE NUMBER: 7
FAVORITE SHOES: For the record I don't own any of these {Santa: I've been so good this year!}...

FAVORITE SPORT: Tennis, volleyball
FAVORITE TV SHOWS: Friday Night Lights, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Friends, Modern Family

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE ME
1. Halloween Horror Nights
2. guns {even talking about them scares me}
3. being alone at the house {getting better at this}

THREE THINGS I'D LIKE TO LEARN
1. a different language
2. photography
3. massage therapy 

THREE THINGS ON MY DESK
1. laptop
2. my planner
3. stapler

THREE THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE
1. go to a shooting range {to get over my fear of guns}
2. go skinny dipping!!!
3. get married and have babes

THREE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MY BODY
1. eyes
2. arms
3. scars

FIVE THINGS ABOUT YOU
1. I wish I was a little bit taller {you're welcome 90s fans!}
2. I can't go into a gas station without buying a scratch off lotto
3. I like to text like I'm still in 7th grade {ex: HeY gIrLLLL i BoUgHt $uMtHiNG 4U~!~!!~}
4. Love Karaoke
5. Love 2 Dance 

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO
1. Abroad: South of France
2. In North America: Canada
3. In the USA: Austin, Nashville, Hawaii


That about sums it all up, folks!  That was really long and now you know waaay 2 much about me.