Lauren from Texas

Maybe I would use this photo for my eBloggery profile picture. I like to take car photos, wear borderline ghetto hoop earrings, and I have transition lenses. Be my friend? Why is finding friends so difficult as an adult? I’m not talking about acquaintances you call friends. Those are easy to discover. Look around your place of work, church (if you have one), and community gatherings. I’m sure you’ll see lots of people you know on a first name basis, but that doesn’t mean you would call them last-minute because you’re dying to see a chick flick on a Sunday afternoon and you don’t want to go alone. I’ve been reading MWF Seeking BFF, and while I’m only a couple of [...]

About the photo: Pinecones from a Christmas floral display repurposed into a winter arrangement for my dining room. It’s almost time to put them away though, as I consider the beginning of March to be the start of Springtime (at least here in Texas). Well, I made it through the first full week of my new schedule. It’s exhausting, yes. But it’s also kind of rewarding when I hit the pillow at night and realize just how much I accomplished that day. As long as I can close my eyes to the pile of laundry that’s almost as tall as I am. 1>> I have been eating terribly as of late. The only way I know how to eat quickly [...]

About the photo: I’m almost 26 years old and my parents still send me (and now Michael) Valentines every year. I hope I never get too old for that. Years of bad Valentine experiences throughout high school and college led me to despise the holiday. Since I am a hopeless romantic, my heightened expectations of being swept off my feet in a flurry of pink and red left me disappointed year after year. Michael and I met February 11, 2007 — slightly too early to celebrate Valentine’s Day together. The next year, we had been married for not even 3 months (yes, our entire courtship + engagement lasted less than 9 months), and when talk of Valentine’s Day began to [...]

There are certain things that never fail to make me feel better. A hot bath. Chocolate. A cup of tea. The perfect thrift store find. The list goes on, but “time with my sister” is definitely very near the top of that list. + = best breakfast ever When I was a kid, I never thought that the little girl who played Barbies with me every day and wanted to take my princess dress-up clothes out in the mud would grow up to be one of my best friends. She’s turning 23 on February 24th, and 10 days later I turn 26. I like to think she was my 3rd birthday present, just a few days early. Thanks, Mom and [...]

+ I’m going to call this 5TOAF “The Hipster Edition,” since I will be showcasing 5 things I thought were cool long before everyone else. In all seriousness, I get a lot of amusement from people who feel the need to stand up and shout about how they were the FIRST PERSON IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD to like a band, hair style, book, etc. As if there’s some eternal, unspoken contest in which you will win an award for being The Most Original. That being said, here is a tongue-in-cheek list of things I like to brag about at parties, or to my husband after I’ve had a couple glasses of wine. Cool things I was doing before [...]

Look at me bringing back the Currently meme! I haven’t done one of these since last February. It seemed appropriate to do one tonight, mostly because I’m exhausted and needed a writing prompt. Just keeping it real, y’all. Current Book(s): One For the Money by Janet Evanovich. It’s entertaining, easy-to-read, and funny in sort of a creepy way. I’m waiting to see the movie until I finish the book, which is exactly the way I like to do things. Current Playlist: My running playlist, which includes: Usher, Gym Class Heroes, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, and Rihanna. I’m such a teeny bopper. Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Scary amounts of Nutella. I mean, SCARY AMOUNTS. Like, smearing it an inch thick on crackers [...]

Leia is psyched about my new job, obviously. Tonight, I’m doing laundry, working on projects for clients, and preparing to start my new job bright and early tomorrow. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I have the anxious-excited-intimidated-empowered jitters that come traipsing into my life with every new adventure I encounter. They feel something like butterflies in my tummy while a bulldozer runs over my face as I watch a Zac Efron movie and eat yogurt that’s expired but still tastes pretty good. You know, that feeling. If only I could channel the unadulterated audacity that Leia continually possesses, I’d never experience anxiety. I’d nip anxiety in the heels, quite literally. I’d make anxiety eat poop, and [...]

Someday, I will stop making announcements about life changes every five minutes, but today is not that day. And no, I’m not pregnant. Life has been good lately. I really enjoy my job; I get to write, blog, and develop social media strategies for clients. Michael and I have been able to somehow spend lots of quality time together, despite his busy schedule, and have come to a great place in our marriage. Last Friday, we sat outside for three hours and did nothing except listen to music and talk over glasses of wine. I’ve been running, blogging here more, and overall enjoying the little, everyday things that make up my present life. However, since my job is part-time only, [...]

1. I’ve wanted Veronica Mars to come back for another season – or better yet, a movie – for a long time. After the whole adorable Kristen Bell meets a sloth spectacle that occurred earlier this week, I now have a strong desire to see Kristen Bell come back as Veronica Mars — but with a sloth as her sidekick. A mystery-solving sloth. AM I RIGHT? And if you’ve somehow been living under a rock and haven’t seen this video yet, watch it immediately. You’re welcome. 2. Thanks for all the @-replies regarding Pancho. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, long story short: Earlier this week, Pancho seemed like he was bloated. So I googled “dog bloat.” NEVER [...]

I’ve been known to be somewhat of a crier. I mean, when you get choked up over Kay Jewelers commercials (and I do, every damn time), you know you have a problem. And if it has to do with animals? Forget about it. Even cartoons about animals send me over the edge. Therefore it should be no surprise that I, along with what I imagine to be about 99.99% of the population, cannot handle ASPCA commercials of any shape or form. I mean, seriously. Who are the people who can actually sit through these commercials?!? As soon as one comes on, I am frantically changing the channel and desperately holding back tears, usually with little success. I’ve even been known to yell from [...]