Change Is A Comin

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog!

The growth just this past week has been AMAZING! I'm so grateful for the views and all of your reading :)

But with a little more popularity I think an upgrade is needed...haha... because this blog's look is pretty sad....and I'm as technologically handicap as it gets.

Seriously. I just found out what a button was yesterday! Haha!

How long have I been blogging?

 

Anyways, thank you and please be patient with my construction process!

Not sure how long this is going to take me, but I am determined to come up with something good! You guys are the greatest. :)

 

All my love, Lauren. 

Ps. I'm redecorating my room too! Maybe I'm just in the mood for change.

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.

Come What May and Love It

I'm sure all you people are wondering if I even use this thing anymore!

And I'm wondering if I remember how to

But hey, I'm blogging again so that's better then nothing.

So crazy past couple of weeks I don't even know where to begin to summarize so I will just share the good stuff:)

 

I put some stuff together for my friend, Elder Starsi Scherf!

It's for his Christmas package which I actually had to get together like ASAP because shipping takes 2 months. So I made up a Christmas Story Scripture chase, put it some hot chocolate and water flavoring stuff to invite the holiday spirit and make the water taste a little better down there :) I gave him a lint roller, a tie, and some hand warmers that I sewed myself! Ahh yes, I sewed myself. I'm super proud of that lol even though they are just super basic pouches filled with rice that you stick in the microwave and nuke for a minute. That was really fun for me to make :)

 

I finished my school's quarterly grading period with a 3.8!!!!WHAT!!!

I know this probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but for me, it was. especially because I took up such a challenging schedule this year. I am feeling really proud of myself!

 

I have been pretty productive with my Autumn Bucketlist!

Doing all sorts of fun things and it really does feel like Fall:)

 

Gen Conf talks SAVE MY LIFE!

I've substituted the times I would listen to music with General Conference talks and I never want to go back. Now it's definitely my preference to listen to talks over music! My whole day is noticeably better and more uplifting. If I actually don't get to slip my headphones in and listen to a talk for two during the day I feel deprived of the spirit! It's amazing!!!

So I think I will leave you guys with my favorite talk of maybe all time, here.

 

All my love, Lauren. :)

 

 

 



Autumn Is In The Air

So I woke up this morning and it was cold out.

Is this for reals?

Out here in Vegas the weather "cool-down" is a pretty big thing cause you know, it's like finally cool enough for us to go outside.

Anyways, I opened all the windows and doors and let that cool air blow right in,

and I have been in the fall mood ever since.

 

So during the summer I made a "Summer Bucketlist"

and it was SO MUCH FUN.

Whenever friends were bored they would call me up and asked what needed to be done on my list so we always had something to do.

It made me way more productive at accomplishing things, and I almost got all of it done!

So I thought, "Why not make a fall list?"

So I did.

 

Ya ya ya, I'm super cliché I know, but this is a Autumn Bucketlist after all, isn't it?

 

 

 

 

  Autumn  Bucketlist

Go to a pumpkin patch

Go to the orchard

Farmers Market

Carve pumpkins

Eat Smores

Bonfire

Fall Photoshoot

Haunted Houses

Make Chili

Have a Bonfire

Go shooting

Make a Fall craft

Picnic

Go on a nature walk/hike

Go to a football game

Bake pies and other fall goodies

Attend a fall festival

Go to Bonnie Springs/Petting zoo

Spend a day in the library

Scavenger Hunt

Harry Potter movie marathon

Make a pumpkin recipe

Go on a day trip

Service Project

Make bird food pinecones

Make a banner of things family is grateful for

‰Spring Autumn Cleaning

Scary stories

Feed ducks

Knit/Sew something

Paint something Fall inspired

Fall/Winter Garden

Make homemade Butter Beer

 

 

 

 

Feel free to use any ideas :)

Tis' the season!

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.



Goodbye July!

I'm not going to lie, July sucked. And I am absolutely thrilled it's over.

Even though I look back now and the whole month felt like 5 minutes.

It's August now, and I put my big girl pants on, did my hair and makeup, then turned on some good country music to get ready to and I'm not going to lie it feels good to feel sassy.

July I decided to take a break from blogging for the fear that I would rant and say something unfiltered. BUT I'M BACK! I'm sure you were all dying to hear from me.

 

 

So what's new lately?

I've been feeling extra crafty sewing all kinds of stuff.

So far I have made pocket warmers for my friends serving missions and for the cold winter months, a turban wrap headband, and an infinity scarf.

Woohoo! Not to mention working on that big "Open when" Letter project!

 

 

School starts in under a month. Is this real life?

Am I really going to finally be an upper classman?

Last year I didn't go to a single sports event, so I'm changing that this year.

Count on seeing me in the stands for just about every sport because I really missed that this past year. I have already been in high school 2 years and hardly have had any high school experiences.

Probably because I have had the "I just cant get out of here sooner" attitude, but I', changing that this year. I want to be happy more.

I want to enjoy school, I want to make friends, make memories, and have fun.

 

 

The job hunt is on.

I really really want and need a job, yet again... I don't want a job.

Ughh. I've applied a couple places but so far nothing. Really crossing my fingers for Einstein Bagels.

 

 

When is it going to start cooling off?

I can't take this summer heat much longer.

 

 

I've spent the past two years on my life in jeans and t-shirts.

If somebody asked me what my style is I would say comfortable. Haha is that a style?

But, going back to what I said about making this school year different.... I actually want to get dressed for this year. And if I get a job..... I may actually have money to buy nice things haha.

Really praying for that job.

So I have been on Pinterest trying to discover my "style"

and I have discovered that I like preppy and simplistic clothing.

I'm not a flashy neon color, high low skirt, maxi dress wearing girl.

I like polos, and sweaters over button ups, and sperrys.

If you can't tell I'm starting to get really excited about discovering my fashion identity.

 

 

 

So I think I have covered all the bases.

This blog post was all about trying to play catch up so sorry if I bored you to death, but I promise I have a month of really really good blog ideas coming your way soon.

So stay tuned!

 

 

 

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