Lauren from Texas

{my new mantra; photo obviously taken before I realized I need coffee to fuel my life} It’s no secret that I started school last Monday. I am signed up for 12 hours, which equals four classes, which equals a full-time graduate student, and a busy one at that. I had planned to move to a more part-time schedule at the hotel (still working about 30 hours per week), but apparently there was a miscommunication somewhere, and I found out last Monday morning that my position cannot be part-time, so I had a choice: full-time or no time. Since quitting is not an option for me, I chose to stay on full-time. Cue a panic attack and a few tears. It [...]

{sneak peek of some of the shelves in my bedroom; more pictures of the new house soon!} 1. Had a conversation via text with my sister earlier this week wherein she was trying to encourage me, since my schedule is nuts now that school has started. Katherine, after a text from me whining telling her how busy/tired I am: “Yeah but one day you’ll be able to go on an all-inclusive cruise wherever you want! Just picture yourself in a gorgeous sun hat with a tall cool glass of something in your hand watching the ocean float by and think, ‘this is why I wanted an education.’” LfT: “And my diamond ring will be too heavy for me to lift [...]

This past weekend was spent with my sister. Every year, we go to the Texas Hill Country area, stay with a friend of hers, and float the river. We usually take pictures, but for whatever reason, this time, our cameras stayed in our bags. Sometimes you have to unplug from everything and just enjoy. At least that’s the excuse I’m using today, since I don’t have any photos to show. We had a great time eating, floating, and generally relaxing. I got home last night exhausted and feeling that I had squeezed every last drop out of the summer. Because, my friends, even though we have a good two months of summer-like temperatures in Texas, something happens today to mark [...]

Since moving into our house last month, I’ve been pinning like crazy. I have a different board for every room of the house (and then some). Now that everything is unpacked (NO! MORE! BOXES! HALLELUJAH!) and we’re settled in, I can begin the fun part: decorating! I’m starting with the main room of the house, the living room. This particular living room has lovely built-in shelving and a pretty faux fireplace (with not-so-pretty hunter green marble; looking for a DIY fix for this, stat). I decided I wanted to paint the walls a soothing gray, leave the trim and crown moulding white, and pull in some different shades of blues and teals, as well as a pop of pink here and there. [...]

Does it ever seem like things only go wrong when you’re by yourself? My car only makes weird shuddering noises when I’m driving it…alone. As soon as Michael drives it, the thing decides to be on its best Porsche-like behavior, which is pretty good for a 2003 Saturn. Then I sound like a crazy person trying to imitate the noises my car may or may not have been making. Whenever I decide to go for a run…alone…three different suspicious-looking men approach me from three different directions (THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND THEN I FELL AND SKINNED MY KNEE). When my husband goes for a run, it’s like he’s running through Mister Rogers’ freaking Neighborhood, and he doesn’t understand why I’m afraid [...]

My friend, Sarah, is pretty awesome. Besides having a giant adorable dog (see English bulldog in above photo), she loves my blog so much, she created a Facebook page for it. She’s vying for the position of PR representative for LfT, and since she’s the only contender as of yet (and probably ever), I think she’s hired. I hope she’s okay if her paychecks come in the form of pretzels and Cheez-its. You see, Sarah and I also work together, and I’ve been known to pass snacks her way from time to time (like, every day). I guess you could say she owes me. The other night, Michael was gone, so Sarah took the opportunity to come over with a [...]

1. I hate Facebook. I feel like everyone is trying to outdo one another…at what, I’m not sure. Who can be the most pregnant? Who has the happiest marriage? Who can post a photo of the best lunch? Sidenote: Why do people feel the need to say things like “My husband just made me dinner. Jealous? You can’t have him.” Look, I don’t want your husband. I have my own. By all means, talk about how great your husband is, but don’t think that just because he knows how to grill that I am green with envy and wish I was married to him. Besides, have you SEEN my husband?!?! (Sorry, inside joke.) 2. Pancho and Leia got their yearly [...]

I love makeup. One of the saddest things about relocating last summer was that I lived right down the road from an Ulta, and now live miles from one. I probably definitely save a lot of money this way, but I do miss my easy access to bareMinerals. My makeup is a mix-and-match of drugstore and mid-priced. I don’t wear anything too expensive, not only because I can’t afford it right now, but also because I tend to doubt that there’s enough of a difference to justify paying $40 for a lipstick. I mean, will it make me look exactly like January Jones? Then it’s not worth the extra $35. Everyday, I wear: moisturizer, bareMinerals Original Foundation (applied with an all-over [...]

{bachelorette party cupcakes} I know I don’t need to keep talking about how crazy this summer has been. But seriously. IT HAS BEEN CRAZY. If this summer were a family member, it would be the aunt who has lipstick on her teeth and a bird in her hat that may or may not be faux. She has runs in her patterned hose and falls asleep each night beneath her blanket of cats. HAVE I MADE MY POINT YET? Good. Now where was I? Ah yes. Crazy summer. Besides making the decision to go back to school, studying for and taking the GRE, and obtaining my PhD in moving, I also was a bridesmaid in two weddings. All while working a [...]

{Photo taken right after closing, in front of our new house.} I feel like I’ve blogged a lot about moving in the last year. Probably because I have. In less than 4 years, we have moved 6 times. 4 of those times have been since May of last year. I KNOW. Before I have even started my master’s, I’ve achieved my PhD…in moving. Going back through the advice I wrote in this post and the amazingly helpful comments on this post definitely provided some great moving reminders. Here are the few tips (old & new) that helped the most this time around: Banana boxes are the best thing that has ever happened to moving. Go to the nearest grocery store [...]