Just a glimpse of something pretty...

hot chocolate, cinnamon-swirl toast, scrambled eggs

Happy First Day of Summer! I spent it watching Doctor Who and working. I don't think I went outside at all today, which is sad because it was really nice. This was breakfast from last week. I was really busy this past weekend (and had a few opportunities to take pictures, but I just... didn't...) but it was really great. I finally saw my best friend on Monday and spent a good portion of the day with her. She's been back for two weeks, but our schedules didn't match up until yesterday. Sunday was Father's Day, which I spent with my family. And on Friday (I'm going backwards here...) I went on a field trip for work! We ventured into LA to visit R.M. Schindler's King's Road House and then decided to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House spur of the moment right after instead of getting lunch. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the Hollyhock House, but outside was fine. I just didn't take my camera out of my bag. (It might have been because I was there for work...)

This Hello Kitty mug makes me feel nostalgic. I've had it for so long (I think I got it as a free bonus for spending so much money at the Sanrio store in second grade when it was the most popular and important thing in my life) and it's really small. But I still love it after so long and it's perfect for hot chocolate.

multigrain toast, scrambled eggs, orange

I'm pretty sure this is from last week sometime... And I didn't even eat the orange because it was dried out and gross (which I found out after I took these pictures...). I think I drank some orange juice to make up for it, though.

business as usual

This moment in my life is called Lauren Works from Home. I don't have to change out of my PJs if I don't want to and don't have someone stopping by. And I get to eat pretty much whatever I want when I want. But it's almost like doing what I was doing a week ago before I had a job... It's surprisingly difficult to balance work and random Internet surfing, though. The past week hasn't been that hard and I'm really only working part time, so it's all working out.

Leftovers

Sometimes it's just best to reheat things you already have in the refrigerator.

Like couscous and asparagus and chicken parmesan, with nectarines and blueberries and a glass of lemonade.

Breakfast of Champions

The most interesting things that I've been doing since I've been home for the summer have been the food I make now that I have a fully-stocked kitchen at my disposal all day. Most of the time I don't even change out of my PJs...

Cheese Omelet, half of a grapefruit, chai latte.

Naked Lunch

Couscous, asparagus and chicken. Yum.

majestic marble

I feel like a recreant blogger... I've been so busy this past month that there hasn't been time for anything except homework and the occasional episode of Top Chef: Masters. Just this week alone, there have been about ten assignments due - and the week is not even over! But the good news is that after tomorrow, there is only two weeks left of the semester. Hooray!

These are just a few pictures from the first hour at the Getty Villa from spring break. That was a month ago... Wow. Time flies! I'll space them out over the next few posts. Mainly because there's a lot and because I don't want to overload on pictures. There's also the whole, Lauren's busy as all get out and has no time for anything right now... Maybe if I have time this weekend, I'll recreate from outfits from the past few weeks and crank out some outfit photos. Perhaps I'll even venture into the Back 40 for them and get out of my room for once.

Well. Happy Thursday!

pleasantly blended

The week is almost over! I have registration tomorrow morning at 9:00am. I hated registration last year because it was so stressful and I had bottom-of-the-barrel choices for classes (well... sort of). But now that I'm going into my third year, I have more options and more chances of getting into the classes that I want. There's an advantage to being an upperclassman!

I wore this out to coffee with my RA after dance today (technically it was tea since neither of us had actual coffee...). We went to this great cafe near campus. It was really great! I want to go more often since the tea's great and not that expensive for the service and quality.

everything from Forever 21

hungry eyed and weather stained

Oops. It's been about two weeks since this was taken... There's been a lot going on in my life. I meant to post some pictures from spring break last week, but I've been so busy playing catch up in classes and trying to settle some personal issues... Life just got in the way.

This was the only good one of my whole outfit from that day... My sister helped me take them, but I wasn't really satisfied with them then or now. I have a lot more pictures from that day that I am much more satisfied with and took myself. Those will probably show up probably some time tomorrow!

stripped shirt, tights & boots - Forever 21

skirt - H&M

cardigan - Alloy

socks - Target

thankyou

I recently discovered this lovely site. How lovely is the idea of daily thank you notes? I think it's important to appreciate the people and things in one's life that bring joy and happiness. And saying thank you gives those feelings back and continues the cycle. I think it's a beautiful thing!

The first about empty rows on an airplane definitely fit into my Sunday afternoon when I was on my first flight back to school from break. The plane was pretty empty so I had all this space to myself! And the day went much smoother going back than traveling home the week before. Spending eight hours in an airport is quite draining... Thankfully, the rest of my spring break was very rest-filled and pleasant! But now it's back to the daily grind... Good thing the semester ends in just over six weeks!

drop like flies

THE WEEK'S ALMOST OVER!!! All that's left is three more classes, one more paper-thing, possibly a load of laundry, and an 8:20am flight! I still have to pack too, but that's neither here nor there right now. I'm so ready for this week to be over and finally home for a bit! It almost feels like it's the end of the school year...

top, belt, cardigan & tights - Forever 21

skirt - Urban Outfitters

flats - Payless

where the ensuing melee escape

Good News: Only TWO more days until I go home for Spring Break!!!

Bad News: I have a midterm tomorrow that I'm not completely sure how to study for...

The weather was actually pretty nice today! Quite a bit of sun, which is always greatly appreciated! So I busted out by ruffled romper that I got last summer kind of on a whim because it was cute and on sale. I think this is the second time I've worn it... I think it was pleading from the bottom of my drawer the past few days to be let out finally. Haha!

I was kind of hesitant to wear it though. I can technically wear whatever I want at school, but some things get you strange looks occasionally. I almost bought this great maxi skirt at Goodwill a few weeks ago, but I didn't because 1) I'd probably just look like an even shorter midget and 2) I'd get a lot of head scratching and questions about whether I was a Sunday School mom in the 70s. And I know that people's opinions of my clothes shouldn't affect the way I dress, but I think it'd just be easier to easy my community into things. Back home in LA it'd probably be fine, so I think I might save the long skirts for the summer. I think I'll see how they actually look on me when I'm home next week and go from there...

The good news though, is that I got a lot of compliments! Even from my friends who have previously expressed their distaste for rompers. Although a lot of those compliments came when people thought it was a dress... Oh well! It was a success and I feel like I now have social permission to try some newer things that my school probably hasn't seen recently. Who knows, maybe I'll come back and the end of next week rocking a gorgeous maxi skirt!

romper - Urban Outfitters

belt & tights - Forever 21

top - JC Penny

flats - Payless

time warp

This past Saturday, I went to paint mugs with some friends just to get off campus and spend time together. I went in with completely different designs than what I actually painted, but I really liked the colors and it just sort of happened. I'm really excited to get it back after Spring Break!

Today's been kind of a strange day for me. I stayed up way too late doing homework last night and woke up at 7:00am for my 8:00am class. I know what happened today, but I don't quite remember it... The two-hour nap that I took after dinner probably isn't helping in that respect...

The average temperature's been warming up and with Daylight's Savings Time this past Sunday, the days have been getting longer and it's lighter longer. We probably won't get any more freak snow storms any time soon. But it's been raining for the past few days and everything's been grey and miserable. And it's going to continue to rain until maybe Thursday. But I suppose that's a good thing since beautiful sunny days would make me sad knowing that I couldn't go outside because of homework and studying.

photos taken by Laura

going haywire

I received a really sweet compliment today from a girl in one of my classes. I told her I love her hair (it's the cutest pixie cut and looks awesome on her) and she told me that she always looks to see what I'm wearing every day to get inspired. How sweet is that? I'm a big believer in compliments and the power they can have on people's self esteem, so I often will tell people I don't even know if I really like their shoes or shirt or something - sometimes whole outfits. And hearing that someone thinks that I dress well really makes my day! Makes me want to give out even more compliments!

Last week was insane and this week is going to be even more so. There's so much to think about and do! I was telling my mum about everything I have to do and her response was, "That sounds like my last week of school my senior year of college! Aren't you glad you're a Lit Major?" Yes, Mum, I'm quite glad I'm a Lit Major. It's the best major! I'm just a tad stressed right now. I wrote a whole rough draft in only 30 minutes between classes today. That's skills right there. And a little crazy. Now I have to revise it and write a mid-semester assessment for my dance class. Thankfully, my classes tomorrow shouldn't be too difficult. One involves a whole class-period's worth of presentations. Maybe I can study for my test on Wednesday during that time...

cardigan, belt, skirt, & tights - Forever 21

top - Target

flats (not pictured) - Urban Outfitters

breakneck speeds

Hooray! It's the weekend!

The sun showed up today and warmed the earth all around! It was glorious! Made it a very happy day.

So last night's event was... interesting. We all looked really good and had awesome crowns and wands. The actual auction itself was really awkward and made me feel incredibly uncomfortable, but it was over fairly quickly and I could get back to my mountains of homework.

Everything is going so fast! I keep forgetting it's Friday... Next week is midterms week. I only have two tests, but there's still A LOT to do. The good news is that once it's over, I get a week off to read Gawain and the Green Knight for my Arthurian research paper in its entirety and relax and eat real food! I want to go see jane Eyre in theatres then if I can too. It looks really good and it's one of the books that I've read multiple, multiple times. I hope it lives up to expectations!

dress - Forever 21

tiara & wand - Dollar Tree

the rain came down

I have so much to do today! There are about four essays of varying lengths that are due tomorrow and I haven't even looked at most of them...! It's been such a busy week though that there has simply been no time to get to everything until the night before. I'm really feeling the pressure right now! And next week will be just as busy if not more so! Gah!

Today is also my eldest brother's birthday! Hooray! He turns 23 today. It feels so old, but it's not in the long run...

Tonight is also a charity auction event that I'm participating in. It's one of those date auctions where people pay money to go on a date with the participants, either individually or as a group. Some friends and I are in a group together, so it should be fun but incredibly nerve wracking! What if no one bids one me?? I'm trying not to think about it too much and focus on the fun aspects and the fact that everything is going toward MS research and treatments. The only thing that is really freaking me out about tonight is that it's coinciding with my homework for tonight... I'll get everything done though. Hopefully. (Can you say all-nighter??)

coat, scarf, hat, skirt, belt, tights & boots - Forever 21

blouse - thrifted

socks - Target

stay up all night

I love these boots so much it's not even funny. I bought them for the treads because we're still getting snow fairly regularly and I really don't like slipping on ice and slush. They're pretty good puddle traversing boots too. The top part is actually supposed to fold over to reveal shearling lining, but I wear them more like this.

I woke up this morning and there was new snow on the ground. It's ridiculous! We were getting spring-ish conditions just a few days ago! I can't wait to go home next weekend! I'm going to run around in shorts and tank tops all week. Even if it's only in the 60s!

top - JC Penny

skirt - H&M

socks - Target

necklace, tights & boots - Forever 21

just because it's real don't mean it's gonna work

I've passed by this spot before on my way to dance class and have always thought that it looked like a nice little spot to take pictures. But every time I walk by, I'm in dance clothes and hurrying to go to class. I recently had time after classes to go exploring with my camera and decided to venture down. The little tunnel intrigued me, especially with the graffiti inside so that's where I chose to take some outfit photos.

The sun has been coming out more recently and it's slowly warming up! Which means that the scarf might be a little overkill... But it pulls everything together more since I spend more time outside wearing a coat than without one. And I've just gotten used to throwing on a scarf with my coat before I go out. The warmer weather recently also means that tops like this are more okay. Last month I practically lived in sweaters and long sleeves. This past week I've been donning more lighter layers because I can. (And I'm getting really anxious to go home where it's in the 60s and 70s on average compared to the 30s and 40s up here...)

I'm also trying out more styles with my hair recently. It's finally long enough for Heidi braids! I normally just put it up in messy buns during class and leave it alone most of the time, but I've been getting really anxious to cut it again and make a big (BIG!) change. So I figured that since I probably won't cut it up here in the next few months (or even during the summer, to be honest...) I might as well take advantage of how long it is. Which probably means more Heidi braids over the next few months...

(Laura said I looked very patriotic this morning because of the red/white/blue color scheme of my clothes... I just liked how they looked together and wanted to wear my red tights... I don't really even wear "patriotic colors" for Fourth of July anymore. She later told me I looked like I was promoting our school because of my scarf, tights and coat since our colors are crimson and black. Again, not my intention. She was just making fun of me...)

coat & top - Forever 21

cardigan - Alloy

skirt - H&M

tights - Target

flats - Payless(?)

circle scarf - knitted by my mum