500 unsettling emotions

I walked out of the movie and could not for the life of me decide if I liked it or not. That was the first thing that came out of my mouth when my friend asked me, "so?" It did not follow a traditional time line, it is one of those movies that you know right from the start you'll pick up on ten times more things the second time around, it did not have a "happy ending" and I didn't find the lead all that endearing. I found myself irritated while the credits rolled.

On my drive home I thought I would stop thinking about it and find peace but it kept bugging me. It was not until this morning over oatmeal (the best part of my day by far...lol) that I figured out why this flick threw me for a loop. It was too realistic. It didn't pick out the good parts of the relationship and splash them across the screen right along side the honeymoon phase that always seems to last, no, not 4 months but from love-at-first-sight all the way to the altar! Rather than it being a fairytale, it was all of it; firsts, fights, fears, and falling outs...

Anyways, I just thought I'd share what kept me bugged for the past few days. What is more disturbing really is that fact that I was that shook up by something that too closely resembled reality. That doesn't sound too healthy does it? Ha.

On a different note, a happy birthday (yesterday) is in order and but I didn't post yesterday so it's only semi-belated :)

happy 21st birthday kaylee!!!♥

i hope it was everything you hoped for, you deserve the best! xoo.L

Nannying is...

fulfilling

never boring (ha)

HILARIOUS

a workout

often maddening

exhausting

birth control

&

the best job everr♥

Some days we're productive...

and make it to the park in one piece. (never without band-aids, extra napkins, faulty capri sun straws, untied shoes, & magic marker stains.)

Other days...

not so much.

You never walk out of Fireworks empty handed...

What I came in for?

Window shopping with girlfriends and possible a cute birthday card.

What I came out with?

1 small green bag of silver trinkets

3 black&white cards for no particular occasion

2 photos of letters. L & K.

& 1 floral carabiniere that I currently have no use for

Even though my inner shopping queen got the best of me, I have brainstormed the good uses for everything (minus the carabiniere.) I really do love the photos. I collect things with my initials, from piggy banks with LK to childhood picture frames. They are hard to explain so I took a picture:

Last summer I found this really cute wooden cursive "L" and a "H" to put on Hilary's and my walls in our room all year (like 1 1/2 ft tall.) I also have these small black wooden L & K that sit on my desk. and now I can frame these cool photos or put them in a scrapbook, we'll see!

These are two of the cards I bought. The one of the group of girls reminded me of all of my delta sisters :) Yay for impulse purchases!

ps: Welcome Home Lizzie!!! :)

I put my baking skills to use and made a family favorite, lemon bars, for her long-awaited return!

New layout! and I'm sticking!

I have been paying around with different layouts all summer and I finally found one I'm sticking to (I think!)! It's just what I was looking for and I think its fresh and something new to house my upcoming Austrian entries!! the official count down is now at 26 days... I cannot believe it!

My mom and I went to go see Julie&Julia yesterday and I loved it! Definitely do not go on an empty stomach because it is all about food and it makes everything look absolutely delicious! Amy Adams plays a woman who starts a blog and writes all about cooking through Julia Child's cookbook, and it was a true story, so interesting. Anyways I thought it was important to mention that since I am a blogger as well :) We have something in common. I give it a thumbs up!

I don't know if it was the movie, or the fact that Megan and I have gone through a small Sex&the City obsession this summer or what, but I got to thinking about relationships picking apart the saying, "actions speak louder than words." In almost all things in life, it is largely what you do (not what you say) that really makes a difference. If someone says they're going to call, but never get around to it; if someone's says they want to see you, but never make a plan; if someone says they care, but a phone call is always too much to ask; what they are DOING instantly becomes more important/indicative of their real feelings than what they are saying. Taking this seemingly simple concept and tying it to my upcoming endeavors, going to Europe is all about DOING.

Traveling.

Photographing.

EATING.

Learning.

Understanding.

EXPLORING.

And I couldn't be more excited for all of it. I want to take pictures and understand the culture. I want to explore Salzburg and feel (at least for a few months) comfortable with the small city and the in's and out's of all it has to offer.

I have been giving a lot of thought to how I want to write/blog in Europe and I think more so than writing out a brochure-like "this is where we went, this is what we saw, this is where we are going" I want to write about how everything I am doing is affecting me. How places make me feel. What I love about traveling. What the smells remind me of. I was given two really special journals for Christmas to take with me (one for writing and one for collecting ticket stubs, trains passes, odd's and end's that I want to remember) but I want my blog to really reflect Europe's impact on me. Insignificant, American, navigationally challenged, curious, me.

"There are other fish in the sea... and you, my dear, just haven't found your barracuda."

A twist on the cliche "there are other fish in the sea" is exactly why every girl needs a best friend. I found mine in 2nd grade & consider myself lucky :)
Still waiting for my barracuda... these trout and tadpoles make for the adventure that is college, but wooo! how exhausting! The texting, phone calls, (or lack there of) facebook poking, wall posts and messages, blackberry messaging.. I feel like Drew Barrymore in He's Just Not That Into You. The forms of communication are tiring to say the least. Bring back the time when there was one phone, one message machine, one number. Ahhhhhh.

I know we haven't met yet, but please come soon... this world of endless technology/waiting can wear a girl out.


Some people search forever to find that one friend and at 20 I am confident I have mine!

Dear Mr. Dentist, you are not my friend

My annual dentist apt. this morning went something like this...

X-ray's
Gum tissue check... "you have slightly receding gums, don't brush too hard"
Bottom row check... "you have the start of some build up, make sure your brushing in consecutive circles softly around your gum line as well." "Don't just brush side to side." (whatever that means?)
Top row check
Flossing... "you have inflamed gums, maybe we should try you on sensitivity toothpaste" nurse: "yes I can tell you don't floss day and night, it is quite apparent"
Fluoride
Doctor comes in
Cavity.
Cavity.
3 other "areas to watch" that could be filled "to be safe"
nurse: (chuckles) "you just cant expect to come in here and think everything is going to go well it you neglect your gums!"

after appointment, nurse gives receptionist my papers, who says I need to make three appointments.

her: cheery voice! "Oooookkkkk, wow. Ok, so lets see, I'm looking at september for your first appointment..."
me: "Oh I'm actually going to be abroad, I leave the end of the month."
(she just stares at me.)
me: "Yeah..."
her: not-so-cheery voice "Well I don't know who you like I am, some kind of miracle worker??"
me: "Oh, no I'm sorry..."
her: "We're booked out through all of August"
me: "Oookkkk...."
her: "Like we don't even have an hour to spare so I will contact you if a cancellation appears, I'd have your phone with you at all times" (raises her eyebrows) "So we really can't help you right now."

Dear Mr. Dentist & Staff,
No, I do not sit in my dorm room all year and floss my teeth. I have a life. I am running around a mile and minute and on most days, my metal check list does not include "flossing" in its top five. I am sorry. I do however care about my teeth. My teeth are not unhealthy, some weird color, or neglected. And I do floss. I'll admit, I do not study my back molars in the mirror every night or worry about abstaining from specific foods that might "upset" my gums.
I do not like feeling like a criminal at your office and I also do NOT like feeling as if I am inconveniencing you by trying to make an apt. within the next three weeks.
I did not have a good morning because of you all, and I just wanted to send this out to cyberspace so I might feel a little better about things.
Sincerely,
Lauren

I did however finish my book, and am starting Firefly Lane tonight! Hopefully that will put me in a better mood :)

I'm on a BOAT

LJ is here and these past few days have been a blast! We had our nautical party last night and it was so much fun! :) I made sure to take lots of pictures. Still on the horizon, trip to seattle! Enjoy!
PS: Cannot believe it is already august!!!


LJ and I... so excited for Austria together babe!!


The girls helping set up before the party! We even wrapped twinkly lights around the pillars that were so pretty when the sun went down :)




such a gorgeous sunset!


Isn't she just the cutest little sister ever??


"I'm a delta, delta, KAPPA PSI!"