Lace on top

When I was younger, I used to obsess over bridal magazines. I would check them out from the library, run up to my room, and pore over each and every glossy page with wide eyes. Even though I've grown up, a beautiful wedding dress still makes me swoon just like it did when I was a little girl. 

The dress trend I'm most fond of at the moment is the lace neckline. It's romantic without being fussy, and modest without being frumpy. Although this trend was revived by Princess Catherine's wedding dress over a year ago, I think it's here to stay for a while. 

Those were a few of my favorites. What do you think about this trend?

Sunday Sunrise

Right now I'm dog-sitting for a couple at church while they're on vacation, and although it's been mostly smooth sailing, there have been a few "moments". Like when one of them threw up twice on the carpet. Or when they decided that they didn't want to eat dinner until 10:30 at night. And this morning they woke me up howling at 5:45, then decided that it was time to get up 15 minutes later (even though we didn't go to bed until 1am).

Mumbling under my breath and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I opened the back door and let them out. Then I saw it: the most beautiful Texas sunrise I've caught in quite a while. Although I got up before the sun many days while I was in school, I was too tired or too busy to notice the sunrise. But this morning, wow. Made me fall in love with Texas all over again.

Then I realized that if the dogs hadn't woke me up an hour and a half early, I wouldn't have seen the sun rise at all. I've been praying to God for help in being patient and appreciating what I do have rather than what I don't have. So maybe this was Him telling me to appreciate little things like a gorgeous sunrise. Or maybe He just knows how much I've missed watching one. Either way, I'm glad I got woken up. Besides, there will be time to sneak in a nap this afternoon. ;)

PS: Unfortunately this photo isn't mine, but looks exactly like the sunrise I saw this morning; I got it from here, and it was taken in Frisco, Texas 

'Merica!

Ok so...this huge American flag shorts trend? I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm more into subtle accents, not something I might see at a NASCAR event (sorry if you're a NASCAR fan!). Nevertheless, it seems to be running rampant, especially among college students. At least they're being patriotic? 

After searching online, I found out that this extends far beyond a simple pair of shorts. Behold the wealth of American flag clothing I found:

And sadly, that's not even everything I found. Now a few of these pieces are actually wear-able...the others (how about those leggings, eh?) feel too costumey. How do you feel about this trend? Yay or nay?

Snack Attack

Since I've been home, my parents have been trying to "fatten me up" before I have to leave again. Plenty of desserts, bread, and butter-flavored veggies have found their way into my mouth during the last week and a half. But while I can't refuse my mom's home-cooked dinners, I can fix some healthy snacks to enjoy during the day so I don't overdo it. 

However, I am in total laziness mode now that I'm home. All of the stress and lack of sleep during the school year caught up with me in a big way, and afternoon naps on the couch while my mom watches TV are my new thing. So any recipes I try while home have to be pretty easy. Well this recipe is seriously the easiest, yummiest snack I've ever made. No really. It's pretty rad.

All you do is combine these 7 ingredients in a medium-sized bowl:

1 (15oz) can of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15oz) can of corn, rinsed and drained

2 small tomatoes, finely diced

1/2 red onion, finely diced

1/8 cup lime juice

1 tsp cumin (or to taste)

1 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)

Now serve with tortilla chips/pita chips/veggie chips...whatever you desire. Or you can eat it with a spoon like I do. It's quick, good for you, and tasty. What more could you want??

I took a double batch of this to a Bible study the other night with a bag of tortilla chips and it was a huge hit. There wasn't much of it left, which kinda made me sad because a small selfish part of me wanted it all to myself. It's just so good! And I love that I can eat it without feeling guilty. Which is more than I can say for those pecan pie bars sitting in the kitchen right now. I will resist, I will resist...

Makeover Monday

I am an avid garage sale-er and thrift store go-er. I get a little rush from finding things others would consider "trash" and transforming them into something useful or pretty. The weekend before last there was a garage sale right across the street, and I couldn't help but go. I'm so glad I did. I got both of these pieces for $20 total. 

The 1st piece is a small dresser that I'll be using to hold some of my clothes. The 2nd piece I picked up is a large nightstand, but I'll be using it in my living room to hold my TV. The second photo below shows the real color of this piece

Now I just need to figure out how I will change them to fit my apartment. Here are some different DIYs that I enjoyed looking at (click for link)

I could use words

Or ModPodge and paper 

 I could paint it a bold color (although maybe not green)

Or keep it neutral with an elegant design

I still don't know which direction I'll go with these two pieces, but when I finally decide I'll do an update and show the results. Any good ideas?

Sugar sugar

Sugar waxing
http://tipnut.com/body-sugaring/

Friday's Fancies: Casual Friday

This summer, instead of going home to my usual babysitting job, I decided to stay in my college town and get "a real job". Not that being a nanny wasn't a lot of work, but I need to try something new, ya know? Right now I have a job in one of the offices at school. While we don't have a set dress code as student workers, I like to look fresh and polished. It's crazy what people wear to the office sometimes. A tube top and shorts may have been appropriate for last night's party, but at least change before coming in to work please. *end rant*
I'm always looking for new work outfits that look classy but still let my personality show. This outfit does both, and even adds in the ever-popular chambray button down. Unfortunately, I have a terrible time finding work pants that fit me correctly. Seriously, it's even worse than jeans shopping. A small waist and big butt is nice sometimes but pants shopping is not one of those times. But I am on the hunt to find a pair now, because I love this outfit that much.

It would be a great casual Friday outfit, especially in my work setting. I think the deep chocolate accessories make this outfit more sophisticated, and the leopard accents add a little bit of sass without moving into skanky territory. And of course, every woman needs a good watch! They make me feel strong and powerful. Is that a weird Lauren quirk, or does anyone else love them as much as I do?

I'm going on a small girls trip with my Mom and Little Sister today...so excited! It's gonna be a great weekend. :)
Happy (casual) Friday everyone!

Silky Smooth

During the Winter, it's so much easier to get by without shaving. Just throw on a pair of jeans/tights/you name it, and no one knows the difference. But Summer is now here and those days are so over. It's too hot for tights, and shorts are coming out in full force. That means my razors are getting a lot more use as well. But as much as I hate taking the time to shave my legs, I adore how smooth they feel afterwards. 

Something else that's smooth...the french silk pie I made for Sunday's Mother's Day lunch. We had crock pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and corn. Then this delicious pie afterwards:

My Mom got this recipe from an older lady in our church, and since then it's become the go-to when we need something sinfully sweet but not too difficult. Here are the ingredients:

1/2 cup + 2 tbs unsalted butter

1 cup superfine sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 oz unsweetened bakers chocolate

3 eggs

1 chocolate graham cracker pie shell

1. melt chocolate, set aside to cool

2. cream the butter and sugar well using an electric mixer for 5 minutes

3. add in extracts, then the cooled melted chocolate; mix together

4. add the 3 eggs one at a time, mixing for 5 minutes after each egg

5. pour mixture into the pie shell and let sit in the fridge overnight

*NOTE: The eggs in this recipe are not cooked...so if you don't eat raw eggs, don't eat this :)

This pie is super rich, but really good if you like chocolate (which I do...obviously). Now I just need to tie up my shoes and go run a few miles. ;)

Makeover Mother's Day

Now that Mother's Day is over and I gave my Mom her present, I can share with you one of my newest addictions: Canvas Art. I spotted the idea of transferring photos to canvas on Pinterest a while back, but apparently did not save the pin to one of my boards. Therefore, the idea was forgotten. The other day, I stumbled across a fellow Fort Worthian's blog, The Lifestyle Guide, and re-found the "photo to canvas" idea. Since Mom's Day was coming up, I decided to give it a shot. 

I edited a recent photo of Little Sister and I, cropped it to 8x10 size on Picasa, and took it to Office Depot on a flashdrive. They made a laserjet copy for only 11 cents. The 8x10 canvas was $4.50 on sale at Michaels, and I got super lucky and found the jar of gel medium on clearance for only $4.99. Totally my lucky day. Here is the complete tutorial.

And ^^HERE^^ is how mine turned out. I was so pleased! 

The hardest part of the process was staying patient enough to let it dry completely. It probably would've turned out even better if I had let it sit overnight, but patience isn't really a virtue I possess. I did manage to leave it alone for about 12 hours until I couldn't take it any more and started rubbing the outer layer off. I kinda like the rough imperfection of it, though. Just don't forget to reverse your image (if you look closely, you can see the writing on my shirt is backwards haha)

Have any of y'all tried this? If not, you should totally go for it. I can't wait to do one (or many) for my apartment. :)

Happy Monday!

It's Okay Thursday + Tie-Dye

{It's Okay...}

...to have mixed feelings about going home for the Summer (even if it's only for a few weeks)

...to spend the night on the Internet instead of cleaning the apartment and packing

...to hate working so many hours but love the money that magically appears in your bank account every 2 weeks

...to buy yourself flowers. Just because you're awesome
...to reach for the coffee pot the minute you wake up - because after all, it's 5:00am. -_-

...to secretly be a teensy bit jealous of girls your age who are already getting married and becoming mommies (stupid peer pressure)

...to crash on your couch when you get in because "the bed is too far"

...to miss The Boyfriend only 5 minutes after he leaves

...to be super freakin' stoked about Lactaid because it means you can have icecream again (oh Bluebell, how I have missed you)
...to think your church family is better than everyone else's. Because really, they are ;)

Everyone having a good week? It's Thursday, and that makes me excited. I finished finals on Tuesday and am going home today for a few weeks. The Boyfriend's last final is today (sending him "good study vibes")

In other news, I tie-dyed a t-shirt. Totally ready for summer now. ;)

What are you doing to get ready for Summer?
Have a great Thursday...the weekend is coming up fast! :D

Inked

I've been seeing the most pretty tattoos lately, both in person and on the Internet. I've wanted one off and on for the last few years, but many things have stopped me: The fact that I'm a wuss and am afraid that it will hurt. The fact that my family would disown me (okay maybe that's an exaggeration, but not much). The fact that not many professional work places would appreciate me having one, especially since I'm working with kids. But most of all, the fact that I might regret it once I get it, no matter how much I think about it beforehand.
A big tattoo trend right now is the "text tattoo" Here are some of my recently discovered favorites.
It doesn't hurt to look right? ;)
all images from Pinterest

And this one is a fake tattoo I did this weekend on my forearm. The words are from a song I've sung in church since I was little, and hold a special meaning for me. I'm the most impatient person you'll ever meet. I also struggle with my faith a lot because things aren't happening the way I think they should. This tattoo is a reminder that things will happen in God's time, not my own, and that I need to trust that He loves me and always does what is best for me.

"In His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time. 

Lord please show me every day as you're teaching me your way

that you do just what you say, in Your time" <3

The 5th of May

Linking up with Alison @ Long Distance Loving again for

as well as Kori @ Blonde Episodes for 

When you live in a college town, you learn which days will be good for going out and which won't. I have a feeling every good Tex-Mex restaurant will be packed to the brim tomorrow night. 

{weekend before finals + Friday night + Cinco de Mayo = crazy drunk college students}

So while it will be tempting to fight the masses, I think I'll have chips and salsa in the quiet of my little apartment. But if you're going out to grab enchiladas or having your own little fiesta (or if you just feel like dressing up), here's some outfit inspiration.

So, any exciting plans for the weekend? Mine involves some studying, a take-home final, work, hanging out at the pool, job searching, and packing to go home for a couple of weeks. 

Have a fantastic Friday! 

Things that make me feel...

From happenings in the last week or so, I have rediscovered something very important about myself: I am a person who holds in every little emotion (good or bad, mostly bad), because it's hard for me to trust others with them. It's hard to express what I'm feeling because I'm afraid others won't understand. So I just hold it all in until the stress causes me to burst.

This = Not healthy.

For some reason, it's a whole lot easier to express my emotions to a bunch of strangers/readers than those closest to me, so that's is where I'm starting. This is the first of a mini-series of posts on emotions. Each week I will post 5 random things that go with that week's emotion, and I encourage you to do to the same. Whatever it is, good or bad, no judgment here. :)

I'll start with an easy one. Here are some things that make me feel

{Happy}


1. Coffee

Coffee isn't really something I drink for the caffeine anymore. That wore off a few years back ;) It was something special my grandma and I shared, and is a symbol of my "alone" time (I usually drink coffee when I'm trying to de-stress). Today marks a week that I've gone without coffee and I'll be more than ready for a cup tomorrow morning.

And oh yeah, Frappuccino Happy Hour ("Frappy Hour" as I have named it) is back at Starbucks starting tomorrow. Get pumped! 


2. Singing

I used to be in choir in high school, and it was a huge chunk of my life. When I got to college I was in choir for a semester but it just wasn't the same. Now I sing in the car, while I'm vacuuming, sometimes even when I work out (to the annoyance of the super fit girls running beside me). But I long for the day when I can sing in front of people again, when I can perform and have people actually listen. It's something that I'm passionate about, and fills me with a huge amount of joy.

3. Sleeping late/laying in bed on the weekend

Now this rarely happens to me (and by late, I mean 9am...my body doesn't let me sleep late), but this is seriously one of the best feelings in the world. Add coffee (see #1) to this and I'm set. Now if only I had this super cozy bed...

4. Reading romantic stories/Watching romantic movies

There's nothing like a good love story. Katniss & Peeta from Hunger Games (although I know that's not what the series is about blah blah blah...just lemme enjoy their cuteness), Leo & Paige from The Vow, Carl & Ellie from Up - they're all just so great. And there are so many more that tug my heartstrings and make my tummy flutter. I'm such a hopeless romantic *sigh*

5. Making something

If I could just spend all of my money & time on crafting, I so would. It's so thrilling to take a random assortment of things and make them into something amazing. 

There are my 5 things...this is obviously not a comprehensive list (because The Family and The Boyfriend aren't included of course). I could've named off a million and one more things that make me happy. But for now, these will have to do. I'll have a new emotion to share next week. 

Until then, have a lovely Thursday. I'm off to lunch with The Boyfriend, his Mom, and his Aunt.