Wednesday, February 29, 2012

spring break!


going back to THIS beautiful place
and seeing these two handsome guys
TOMORROW!

spending spring break in California:
10 days of warm weather, bright sun, and
an action-packed agenda!
i am too excited :)

many many blog posts and pictures to come!

Monday, February 20, 2012

my weekend; in photos


here's a list of things that i enjoyed this past
weekend...and as you can see, a lot of it was yummy food ;)

long walks with trey outside in the amaazing weather we had -- home cooked meals -- saturday morning shopping trips and exploring with mike -- standing in line at a shoe release! -- neato burrito for lunch -- going out for sushi on 2nd street with my wonderful family -- family style sushi! yum! -- fried bananas. wow. -- buffalo chicken dip while watching hilarious SNL skits -- bowling with the family! (and beating mike once) and improving each time! -- milk and oreos -- long peaceful bus rides -- dark chocolate -- dad's famous french toast -- sunny rides in the miata with some ice cold sheetz coffee -- hanging out with the fam.

it was a great, relaxing weekend and exactly what i needed, heading into this busy week. hope all is well with everyone else-i'll be in touch!

[the sushi place we went to is called Miyako. It's a little restaurant on 2nd Street downtown. If you're a fan of sushi, I totally suggest that you go! And if you're not, they have a pretty big variety of other dishes too!]

---  


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

my thoughts on Valentines Day:


When I woke up this morning and signed on to Facebook and Twitter like I normally do, I was immediately faced with posts about Valentines Day. And most, to my dismay, were pretty negative. Yes, Valentines Day is only a holiday—and by no means, does it suggest that we only care about someone else one day out of 365. It’s a holiday. We take the time to celebrate every other holiday out of the year, so why should a day like today be any different?

Valentines Day is a nice gesture, damnit. It’s a day to go just a little bit above and beyond for the people that we love. It’s not a day limited to couples. We shouldn't be drowning in our own misery because we don't have a significant other. There are too many other people in our lives that we're forgetting about. And our love shouldn’t be limited to just one other person. Because today is one day out of 365 that we should really stop to think about all of the people that have been put into our lives. Our mothers, our fathers, our brothers and sisters, our friends, our significant other, our teachers, the staff that cleans the buildings, the security guards that keep us safe, those that make food in the cafeterias. Our love should have no boundaries.

And really, love is what we make of it; love is how we choose to view it. It’s not just a word, or a feeling—it’s something that can’t necessarily be grasped. And today, on Valentines Day, I experienced love all around me. I saw it in the man selling roses on the corner in the rain, in the heart-shaped lollipop that my advisor gave me at 10 o’clock this morning, and on the faces of dozens of boys and girls carrying bouquets of flowers around campus. I saw it in the red, white, and pink clothing, the old man running across the street to his wife, the homemade cards sitting around the lobby, and the box of chocolates that teachers handed out to their students. I saw it in the little white package I received, in the a cappella group that asked a girl to be their valentine, and in the free heart-shaped cookies offered every where that I went.

Love is about not only experiencing things, but about taking the time to let them sink in. And even though Valentines Day is just a holiday, I absolutely love its message—to spread the love and joy to those who spread it to you every day that you live.

 ---

Today, even though I couldn’t be with you all, I’d like to wish everyone in my life a Happy Valentines Day. You all mean more to me than I could ever express in words. Thank you for making me feel like the luckiest person in the world.

-lauren
  
  


Saturday, February 11, 2012

a little late...

too many times i think we focus on the negative things in our lives. we let them linger. we dwell on them. we let them bring us down to see the world in shades of grey. thats why i like this little blog. it gives me a chance to really reflect upon the positive things--no matter how big or small they may be. and when you add all the little positive things that make up your day, you find that they outweigh the negative by far.

so here's a list of the good things in my life lately
as far as my memory can recall ;)

sleeping in on a saturday morning
the smell of fresh laundry
a snow-covered city right outside my window
cooking a fancy dinner with friends
playing football with two packaged chickens
valentines cups at starbucks
spending an entire friday morning in a cafe writing a paper
a bowl of oatmeal after night class
study sessions in the library
free music from itunes
a superbowl party with friends
a game of apples to apples and the laughter that ensues
the anticipation of going to see a good movie
a week of birthdays
visits home
walks outside in february with the pup
baking brownies and bringing them back to school with me
long bus rides
the thought of spring break being just 19 days away
quoting your favorite television show
cancelled class ;)
cookin dinner with my awesome dad
salvo trips and crafts with rachael

and well, i'm pretty sure that this little list of mine could go on for quite some time...i've got two more busy weeks ahead until i find myself on a big blue megabus to see my wonderful and beautiful friends at penn state :) and i'm definitely taking advantage of the time to get as much work done ahead of time as i can! going home last weekend was probably the best idea i've had in a long time--i miss you mom and dad! (and trey!) i hope everyone is having a good month of february so far, and happy valentines day! don't forget to let those whom you love, know just how much they mean to you :)


and, since i didn't really have time to blog about all of these wonderful people in my life earlier this week...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to four people who mean oh so much to me. i wish you all another year of uncontrollable happiness :)
steph--feb. six
to a girl who can make whoever she is surrounded with
laugh - a gift that i truly admire about you.
i'm so thankful to have you here at pitt with me;
for the ear you lend to listening and the
nonstop fun that we have together each day.
you've made my second year here at pitt a great one,
and i cant wait for two more to come--
happy 19th woman!

leah--feb. seven
to a cousin who has always been more like a sister to me.
who lived with us for three weeks straight and who really
knows how to put away some lunch meat ;)
it's such a cool feeling to know that, if i ever come home for
a short weekend, that you're just right down the road.
you're one of the hardest working people i know and you
always persevere--
happy 23rd!

ash--feb. eight
to one of the realest girls i know. someone who never fails
to think of everybody else - who has done so much for me over
the years that i'll never be able to say thank you enough. 
i know that, any time we hang out, that i'm going to have a good time,
cus that's just the type of person that you are. even at two totally different
schools, i know that i can always count on you to be there 
for me. you have one of the biggest hearts.
happy 20th woman!

mike--feb. eight
to one of the best big brothers i could ever ask for;
to one of my very best friends. i feel so lucky to have not only
one, but two, big brothers who i don't fight with. who i can call
up any time during the day and just talk. you're probably one of the
only people who i can have a conversation made up entirely of television
show and movie quotes with and have it actually make
sense. thanks for never ever failing to make
me laugh.
happy 25th man!