Midterms and Music

I get onto the computer to do some research for my midterms this week

And an hour later....

Vedging out and reading some of my favorite blogs.

Funny how that always seems to happen. :)

 

 

 

What goes together better than studying and music?

Here's a few of the things I've been listening to lately

 

Dear John- Taylor Swift 

(Don't worry no one is getting Dear John-ed just a fanfreakingtastic song)

Aint Nothin Bout You- Brooks and Dunn

Run-George Strait

Enchanted-Taylor Swift

Under The Bridge- Red Hot Chili Peppers

Long Hot Summer- Keith Urban

Safe and Sound- Capital Cities

Anna Sun- Walk The Moon

When She Says Baby- Jason Aldean

Slow Dancing in A Burning Room- John Mayer

 

Have fun listening and wish my luck studying!

All my love, Lauren.

 

 

 

 

 



5 Truths

 

5 truths about life that I have come to know.

 

1. Just because 2 things are different doesn't mean 1 is good and 1 is bad. It just means that they're different.

 

2. If your happiness depends on people or things, you're going to spend a lot of time unhappy.

 

3.Smiling at strangers is good.

 

4.It's okay to let people help you.

 

5. If something is right there will be nothing you can do to keep it from happening, if it is wrong you won't be able to make it happen.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

And only 3 days late :)

New Years was a ton of fun. My friends and I were all scrabbling trying to come up with plans of something to do. Our region has a big New Years dance, but we're all getting a little old for that now. Kind of awkward dancing with 14 year olds when you're about ready to graduate ;)

So my friends and I just decided to get together and go out to dinner then show up for the last hour of the dance for fireworks and balloon drop.

The night turned out way better than anticipated :)

Dinner was way fun and the dance wasn't so lame after all!

I'm so bummed I didn't get ANY pictures.

Well, except for this photo strip with my friend ,Justin.
 

 

The photo booth was the hit of the night :)

All of my friends took lots of pictures

(How in heck did I not get a strip!?!)

Oh well :) Anyways fun night. Here's a quote from Jake.

Jake: "Do you guys want to go get ice cream?"

Me: "Sure, I don't care. I just don't know where is going to be open on New Years 12:30 in the morning."

Jake: "Oh yea.. Rats.. Hey do you guys want to go to Smiths and just grab a tub of ice cream?"

Me: I don't care! Sure, whatever you want to do sounds good to me!"

Jake: "No lets not do that.. I don't want to go in.."

Me: "Well I bet McDonalds is open"

Jake: "I don't want McDonald's ice cream I want like real real ice cream."

Me: "Do you really want ice cream?"

Jake: " YES!!!!  IT SOUNDS SO GOOD RIGHT NOW."

Me: "Okay then lets get ice cream!!"

Jake: "Nevermind. I don't know what I want. I'm sleepy and I just want to go to bed."

 

 

This probably doesn't do it justice haha! Jake is the most laid back and chill person on the face of the planet. You could dye all of his clothes orange and he would say, "Oh shoot everything is orange. Bummer." and still wear it all. (Okay that was a weird example, but you get it)

I don't know, Jake just makes me laugh :)

 

I'm really glad that it turned out being a fun night because all I have been doing my entire winter break is sewing and cleaning. I needed a fun day :)

 

LETS TALK GOALS

Yada yada I know y'all could careless what my New Years Goals are, but this is mostly for me :)

If I tell you guys about them I am more likely to uphold them.

-Be more patient

-Maintain a clean room

-Continue reading scriptures/praying/journaling every night

-Pray on knees

-Never drop below 3.0 GPA

-Get YW Medallion

-Run 2x week minimum no exception

 

 

I think that's it :)

All my love, Lauren.

 

Missionary Package: Christmas

I had SO much fun putting this package together!

It was tiring, and tedious, but I am rather please with the way it turned out and it was a whole lot of fun :)

 

THE BOX:

My strategy for this package was to avoid crazy shipping costs by getting a small box and just jam packing everything possible in it. Mission accomplished. I lined the bottom of the box with Christmassy scrapbook paper and the sides with polka dots. I painted the box red and made a "Merry Christmas" banner for when he opened it! It was perfect for the box shape. I'm not sure how I would do that in a box with 4 flaps. Another smart box idea that I didn't think of is getting a flat rate box from the post office. I was kicking myself for a while once the pounds started adding up, but it all worked out pretty well for me. 

 

Gatorade (aka Priesthood PowerAde)

Chapstick

Tic-Tacs (Missionaries can't chew gum)

Hot coco with candy canes

 

Fruit snacks

Goldfish

Beef Jerky

Snickers

Starburst

M&M's

 

Sheet music for Love Story by Taylor Swift

and I Can Show You The World from Disney movie Aladdin

3 bookmarks

-Missionary quotes

-A poem

-My favorite scriptures

 

More "Open When" letters. I made these a couple months back but decided against sending them all at once because I am almost positive Joseph would just sit on his bed and open letter after letter until he had read them all haha! So I space them out, sending a few at a time:) You can find "Open When" letter post here. Making the letters was my favorite part of the whole package. Some of the topics were:

-When you're having companion problems

-When you need a good laugh

-When you're bored

-When you need to feel uplifted

-When you are discouraged

-When you feel like reminiscing

It was so fun writing these! For all of the letters I prayed for guidance on what to write and say. Especially the spiritual ones. It was really uplifting for me as I felt the spirit guiding me what to say, scriptures to share, talks to print out, testimony to bare. It was such a cool experience.

 

Warm socks for the winter months

Lint roller

Hand sewn Hand Warmers.

I just sewed two square pieces of material, flipped it inside out so the seams weren't shown and filled them with rice before stitching them up completely. You can also fill them with oats and they will work the same. You pop them in the microwave for a minute or two and they will stay warm for up to a couple hours! Just slip them in your pockets and they will keep them nice and toasty:)

 



This was the final product before I shipped it away.

I put the letters in the box and wrapped almost everything because I thought it would be fun for him to have something he could actually open on Christmas morning.

Everything has a cheesy saying to go along with it, if you couldn't read them in the pictures just leave a comment on this post and I will send them to you:)

I loved putting this together and any of my ideas are free to be used!

Goodluck!

 

All my love, Lauren.

5 Things

Hey there!

 

 

No need to say I have a really hard time keeping up with myself haha.

Stuff magically piles up...

And where did the time go?

I keep nagging myself to blog, then it takes a friend to nudge me back into it;)

So to get back into the swing, I will list 5 things and bombard you with pictures.

 

 

1. Track season is starting and ohhhhh how bitter sweet haha. Say goodbye to after school naps and hello to sore aching bodies, but it is so worth it. I love what I am doing, but I feel like I know NOBODY in track. Everybody has their own friends and I didn't really branch out last year either. So trying to make friends:) Trying to get back in shape(I thought I already was!?!?!?)

 

 

2. Joseph(because no blog post would be complete without mentioning him, right?) I get a kick out of his stories. Apparently it is totally possible for the inside of your nose to freeze;) Monday emails can't come quick enough.

 

 

3. My friend, Dorian, is getting baptized on the 21st! NO WAY!!! Everyone is so excited because he has been investigating the church forever... Really, though. Has it been 6 or 7 years? I am sooo excited! This is news of a lifetime. I am so excited for him to receive the constant companionship of The Holy Ghost and receive the blessings of The Temple. I'm beyond excited. Maybe even more than Dorian.

 

 

4. I was a vegetarian for 6 years and just started eating meat a few months ago. Boy did I miss out. Cheeseburgers are the best haha. And bacon. And biscuits and gravy is SO much better with sausage. Chicken noodle soup too.

 

 

5. Which brings me to my last topic. I have been sick for going on my... 7th or 8th week now? Fevers, chills, coughs, head aches, nausea, I've seen it all. Gosh dang. Pray for me guys because I'm sick of it. (Pun totally intended)

 

 

Life lately, in pictures.....

 

Finally finished this painting! I'm really proud of it.

Priest and Laurel South Stake Temple trip!

Las Vegas temple

Beautiful and crazy hard hike on a mountain over looking the entire city!:)

 

 

 

I think that's all for now:)

All my love, Lauren.



A Letter, A Cupcake, And A Random Question

Sooooo I have been feeling pretty guilty about this blog thing lately haha.

I've neglected blogging for the past couple weeks for y'all's sake because nothing has really happened since that super embarrassing rainbow post... and I haven't had anything in particular to rant about, but THEN today I realized I actually do have something to say.

So..

I will start off with the best news. Joseph!

Guess who got herself a letter!?

THIS GIRL

And I have read it about 10x and I'm just happy he is safe and doing well!

He's in CO and hasn't been effected by the flooding which is good news!

And he set 2 dates to met with investigators!

I'm really proud of him and so excited for him because well he's excited and has been waiting to be a missionary for-everrrrrrrr.

So I'm feeling pretty happy about that.

Plus I just love to hear from him!

Every letter or email cheers up me week.

 

 

I made 2 dozen cupcakes for my stake's fair this weekend and it was so fun!

a)I love to bake

b)I love my stake

c)I was in charge of (cup)cake walk

It was a good time.

Seriously working the cake walk was so much fun.

I had 3 of my favorite things, kidos, Disney music, and cupcakes and it was a blast.

I was going to post the cupcake recipe on here for some people asking... but it isn't even my recipie so just use good ol' google and type in heath bar cupcakes if you want to make them haha.

I'm so lazy.

 

Look how pretty they were though!

 

 

 

RaNdOm ThOuGhT

If red, yellow, and blue are primary colors..... How do they make things those colors.....?

 

Feel free to answer if you know the answer

And that's about it!

Until we meet again,

All my love, Lauren.

PS. Oh and a good quote by Neal A. Maxwell "Beware not to get caught in the thick of the thin things.." I thought those were incrediblely wise words.



A Super Duper Trippy Hippie Post

So ya know all that rain I was telling you we were getting?

Well today it produced the most insanely amazing full double rainbow and sunset.

I think I had a trippy hippie double rainbow moment, but that's ok because I think just about everyone did.

And it was totally trippy hippie moment worthy.

I don't think I have ever seen ANYTHING so beautiful in my entire life it was just incredible.

Let me explain for a moment.

Full on double rainbow that stretched from end to end in the sky.

AND IT WAS SO VIVID MY GOSH.

Ok haha now I'm sounding a little trippy hippie.

I will just show you some pictures because they will be able to show you way better then I could ever tell you.

 

 

 

 

It was beautiful.

I just laid in the grass during my run and marveled.

I may have even cried a little.

Oh my gosh this is all too embarrassing, but really guys I couldn't have been the only one.

It was a truly spiritual experience.

I am so grateful for this beautiful world God has created for me.

 

All my love, Lauren.

 

ps. Oh and btw if you don't get my "trippy hippie" reference go onto YouTube NOW, don't walk, run and go look up double rainbow hippie. Hilarious.

Playing Catch Up

I know, I know, this post is sooooo over due.

But, life is busy, and that's a good thing.

 

Anyways, I am a Junior now!

As lame as it sounds, I really do feel a ton older.

Although I am as positive as positive can be I want to go to BYUI filling out all the college recruit letters is really fun haha!

Makes me feel official ;)

The first 2 weeks of school were crazzzzzyyy.

It never fails, I always get "those" teachers.

The unorganized ones who are mean and scary that everyone in the school avoids at all possible costs.

Yup. Without fail, I always get um.

Buuuuuut, I got a couple *cough* 5 *cough* schedule changes and not things are looking pretty good.

I'm happy with it.

And the really great thing is now that all my friends are driving we go every Friday to get food after school

Haha. We call it Food Friday. I'm so clever.

So there's that. This year really is going to be a bundle of fun:)

 

 

 

And........ Joseph hit his 1 month mark!

Yayyyyy.

Here's a pre mish picture to commemorate.

But mostly because I am sad and miss my bestfriend and look at old photos way too much.

Enjoy!

 

This one is sooooo awkward haha I love it

 

 

 

 

Today in church they had the Laurels teach and the topic was virtue.

You know when you feel like you know what you want to say but then you get all emotional and flustered and it comes out all wrong?

Yea, hi. You are my people.

Trust me, I even had it all written down but between my messy hand writing and teary blurred vision I lost it all.

But, I've been periodically sobbing all day and think I have finally got my thoughts together,

hopefully I will get this out a little better.

And if not, well, I'll just delete it ;)
Ok. Virtue.

By definition it means behavior showing high moral standards.

But broken down and with lots of thought it means sooooo much more.

I feel like it's a constant topic in Young Women's class of you have to be prepared for your future husband which yayaya is great but honestly I am soooo sick of hearing.

Literally every time it is brought up I cringe a little, especially with the topic of virtue.

Maybe that's why I got flustered, because this lesson I prepared on virtue got tuned into a "Ladies, you have to be virtuous so you can find a virtuous guy" Then I look around and see all the mortified Beehive's faces.

To me, virtue is the ultimate quality of Christ.

Yes, you need to marry someone good. It is one of the (if not the) most important decisions in this Earthly life.

But so many people never get married, or like my Mom, you marry a good guy and he goes astray.

I could probably ask any woman, "Do you love your husband?" ... yes

"Is he the most perfect love for you?" .... yes

"When you married him did all the world become perfect, did every temptation go away, was there no more trial or suffering ever because you married the man of your dreams?" ...

HEEYYCK TO THE NO.

You could marry the prophet and still have struggles!

Look at Lehi and Sariah, he was the prophet! And did she still murmur? Yes.

Struggles and trials do not just go away because you are married to a great man.

This is where virtue comes in.

The MOST important relationship in your life should be the one you have with Heavenly Father and Christ.

And know this is all my opinion.

But I have shared with you guys multiple times how terrified I was that when Joseph left I felt like standing on my own would be hard.

-And it has been, but it has been the GREATEST blessing I do not think I am capable of explaining.

My testimony of The Atonement, Prophets, Book of Mormon, My Savior, God, has been elevated so much.

Through study of The Book of Mormon I have determined political views, and morals which will help me stand when the going gets rough.

It's The Book of Mormon that will help you become like Christ and obtain virtue, not a husband.

This topic was obviously for me because I learned so much.

 

 

 

 

I feel bad ending this post on such a heavy note so it's been really rainy and wet here and I enjoy that.

I stopped running for about a month, then started back up to train with a friend for a race, and phew it's hard getting back into it haha, but I love running!

I went out early Saturday morning and ran up a mountain to see the sunrise, then I laid in the grass for a while pondering.

I know it totally sounds like I wasn't running much, but I ran a lot haha.

I just took advantage of the super peaceful moment and took a break.

Here are some photos I took while running!

 

 

Yes, Las Vegas really is just 1 big ol' dust hole.

But I kinda secretly love it.

 

 

All my love, Lauren.



A Lot To Say About Nothing

It's been an eventful week, and a difficult week.

And I have a lot to say, about nothing in particular.

Just a lot to say.

 

First of all, I had no idea how big of a cheese ball I am.

My humor, taste in movies, romance.

I am oh so cheesy.

And you know what?

No regrets.

I love being cheesy, I love watching romantic comedies in my pj's and crying in all the sad parts and practically jumping up and down cheering in all the kissing parts.

Yes. Now you all know.

I'm one of those girls, but ahhh do I love it.

So sweet!

 

 

McKenzie.

My best friend.

The one I go to with all my good and bad.

LET ME NOT EXAGGERATE WHEN I SAY I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT HER.

She teaches me so much and she is so smart.

Probably the smartest person I have ever met.

And yesterday she left for college.

Uhh, it aches to say goodbye.

But Provo, you're lucky.

I've been saying goodbye a lot lately and I don't think I can take one more.

Here are some pictures of us, and my favorite memories with her.

And then the dreaded goodbye. :(

 

 

 

 

 

Being sick is awful.

I seem to have had EVERYTHING wrong with me lately.

Infections, cough, migraines, achiness, "that time of the month"

You name it, I've had it.

And accompanied by an awful rash was an awful sigh of depression.

I think I was just so sick and stressed out I lost my mind for a couple days there haha.

But with a trip to the temple and some support from great friends and family I made it through!

I'm just done with being sick.

Getting better and on the road to recovery!

 

I got this nifty planner and I am way too excited about it.

It's purple and has lilacs on the inside.

I has a monthly calendar and DAILY!

I keep looking at it and flipping through the pages and it brings me SO MUCH JOY.

LIKE I CAN'T EVEN. I'M SO HAPPY.

But I can't use it until the 2014.

Life is hard.

 

Advice Corner: Everything happens for a reason.

I know I'm a broken record and it's so cliché but seriously guys.

Everything. Happens. For. A. Reason.

I'll share something personal.

This week 2 am I was miserable.

One of the worst pains I have ever experienced.

It was physical, emotional, physiological, spiritual pain.

Everything ached I can't even explain.

And I prayed and felt pretty angry.

I didn't feel relief when all I wanted was comfort.

But I needed to feel that pain.

Gosh I had to, because the very next day I experienced the most beautiful miracle that I would have never been able to witness if I hadn't survived the pain from the night before.

God answers all prayers, but He has His own timetable.

Trust in it.

Endure it.

And He is waiting to bless you.

My testimony burns tonight.

1 Nephi 20:10

Alma 40: 23

 

Phew writing that took a lot out of me.

I look at the title of my post and laugh because it should probably say

"A Lot To Say About Everything"

but I'm too lazy to change it :);)

So oh well

All my love, Lauren :)

 

 



Goodbye Arizona

This past weekend I got to spend in Arizona with the best family anyone could ever ask for.

Grandma and Grandpa, all the cousins, Aunts and Uncles.

It was such a great mini family reunion.

I flew back home yesterday and ever since my heart has ached.

I know I'm only a state a way and an hour flight, but they feel so far.

And I'm a bit jealous all my cousins get to grow up together, date together, go to school with one another and be best friends.

I'm feeling a little like the forgotten relative over here, but oh well.

I wouldn't trade all my friends and cool people I've met here in dusty ol' Nevada for anything.

But I do want to share with you all some picture of my wonderful time in Arizona.

It really was wonderful.

 

This is my sister Lindsey and I on that super rickety and scary plane. It was making all sorts of really freaky noises.

 

This is what I come home to in Arizona. Miles and miles of strait up farm land, cows, and tractors.

 

This is me holding a 1700nFrench style musket complete with bayonet. This was soooooo cool.

 

That's my really great sun burn I got after only being in Arizona a day.

It was totally worth it though because I floated the river with my cousins and we all got crispy burnt together.

 

Here are all the older cousins playing BS together. I think I have FINALLY discovered how you win.

I can thank my cousin Trevor for the helpful tip.

He's the cute toe head blonde sitting closest to the camera on the right hand side.

 

This is the sunset on the last day. So pretty.

And this has nothing to do with my trip to Arizona, but just a picture of Lindsey and I doing a late night shave ice run. Oh and my dog Roxy. See if you can spot her!

 

 

So I'm really really bummed we spent the whole weekend having so much fun that we forgot to take a big group family picture. Grrrrr, I'm going to be kicking myself for that one forever!

Not to mention the really bad quality of the pictures in this post.

Curse my shaking hand!

Oh well, nothing to do about it now!

But all in all my weekend get away was just what I needed.

I miss my family.

I love my family.

And with that being said I will return again soon.

 

All my love, Lauren.



Mail for Missionaries

Is it seriously July already? SERIOUSLY!?

You all know that boy I seem to talk about a little too much? Yea well he leaves on his mission in what is it now.. 22 DAYS?

I thought I had more time, but let me tell you, it goes by fast.

Anyways, when I realized my time was cut so short to find Elder Rosequist a gift before he left I about had a heart attack.

I want something that he will actually be able to use and not just sit on his night stand until the next transfer.

I want to give his something that will make him laugh and cry and feel a little bit more at home!

It can't be heavy or bulky because he has to lug it around for 2 years.

Everyone will be getting him ties.

So that's when it hit me ya'll, and thank goodness for Pinterest...

"Open When..." Letters!

If you don't know what Open When letters are they are letters you write ahead of time and label then "Open When..... (fill in occasion)"

A couple of my ideas were:

-you are sick

-you leave the MTC

-need encouragement

-the weather is bad

-you are home sick

-miss me

-you need a pump of patriotism

-you need to be uplifted

-you get your first baptism

-you need a good laugh

-you have 6 months left

-its the last day of your mission

 

 

 

And to make this idea even cuter! This is where Pinterest comes in Make your own envelopes!

I swear to you it's totally worth it!

They come out soooooooooo cute! And I'm going to show you how to do it!
Thank me later.
 

Start with a store bought envelope that is the size you want your envelopes to turn out. This is going to be your template.

 

Next break the seams on the envelope and unfold it.

 

 

Place the envelope on the construction paper, scrapbook paper, cardstock, or whatever you used. I used a mix of cardstock and scrapbook paper for cute designs.

 

 

Then trace the envelope, make sure when you are tracing you trace very sharp corners and straight lines. If you mess up the markings retrace or when you fold it back up it may not fit together right.

 

 

 

It will look like this when you're done tracing.

 

 

 

Next cut your trace again with very sharp edges.

 

 

 

Voila! Now it's time to fold!

 

 

I always start folding with the bottom flap (the one with a dull edge.) Then each of the side flaps. This is tricky, so make sure when you are folding the flaps over they line up perfectly.

Glue where the arrow lines are then press over onto the middle flap. You can use liquid glue, a glue stick, mod podge, or a hot glue gun which is what I used. I just think it's sturdier and less messy.

 

 

And there you have your envelope!

  I even got a little bit witty with my envelope design choice. I'm using this one for the patriotic letter.

 

... And this one for "The Last Letter" Haha! Sometimes I think I'm so funny!

 

 

 

 

 

To fill the envelopes I filled some(most) with letters. I filled some with talks and uplifting quotes.

Stories or inside jokes.

I plan on putting a tie in one so he can spruce up his wardrobe when it's needed.

And a little bit of spending money when his guy appetite needs to be fed.

You can use these "Open When" letters for a missionary or just for cute cardstock, but feel free to use any of my ideas!

 

 

All my love, Lauren