cruisin'.

good news for me....happy dance happy dance!

i just signed up for my LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE!

seriously though...i am so close to being done. & that means it's time to start planning my congrats to myself present!

luke & i are hoping to go on a cruise in may (depending on when sweeps are at my work, since you can't request vacation during that time) to celebrate me finally being done with 6 years of classes, homework, tests & headaches.

it's been a long time coming, & quite the wild ride, as i'm sure most of you will agree.

i am so happy to almost be done & close that chapter of my life...i'm sure you all are too hehe. going on this cruise AND graduating are crossing off two huge things on my bucket list, & i'm so excited!

before i grow up & continue my job, all while looking for opportunities elsewhere, we are hoping to hit up a cruise out of GALVESTON, TEXAS, so we can see my brothers & their families before we go.

anyone have any travel tips or tips on what kind of cruises you prefer? any suggestions on what places to visit, & why?

all suggestions are much appreciated. we can't wait for this! especially me, since it means i'll finally be graduated!
(well almost..i'll walk in the spring, & do my senior seminar over the summer. but still! it counts!)

august!

to me, august is always the month that goes by the fastest. it seems that way, doesn't it? it's the tail end of summer, so while i'm busy thinking "slow down, time!" it seems to speed up, just to spite me.
it also might have something to do with 3 of my siblings having august as their wedding month... so it seems to sneak up quick when you feel stressed out about helping out, remembering when everything is... also family reunions, switching jobs, starting school, switching around my sleep schedule... this august is going to be one of those where i blink and it's over!!
i'm going to enjoy these next couple weeks, and try not to focus too much on the job, going back to school, money, etc. my family is visiting from texas, my little sister is getting married, we have 2 family reunions (too bad i can only come to 1!). needless to say i am super excited to see the fam as much as possible this month!

i got to go to breakfast with these 2 cuties, their mom, & their (second) favorite aunt casie this morning. mmm granny annie's! scones, pancakes, and SOS...yes!

they have both grown SO MUCH since i last saw them in april! it was kind of shocking, even though i was expecting it! i love these little squirts.

PS notice grace holding her fan i bought her in seattle... i saw it & just knew she would love it! once she figured out what it was she kept saying, "oh, pretty!" & didn't want to put it down when we got home.

the daily grind.

here i am with fox 13's ben winslow (aka twitter king, aka utah's favorite journalist) right before the 9 o'clock newscast. also, i owe this guy my career.

it may not seem like much of a career yet, but i got my foot in the door thanks to this guy.

it's a dang good thing i know how to make a good cup o' coffee.

everyone at the station was super excited to have me back this week. i'm very excited to be back as well, but still, the warm welcome was all i needed to know i'd made the RIGHT decision. that, & not hearing "I WANT A MOCHA COOKE CRUMBLE FRAPPUCINO" 18 times a day.

anyway, i'm getting used to my new "daily grind." this job is a lot more stressful, but it's good stress...eustress, i guess it's called. i am doing what i love, & i couldn't be more excited! i have been doing this for over a year, but the full-time hours & lovely raise are truly a blessing.

hope everyone has a lovely weekend! i'm throwing a bridal shower for my little sister this weekend, working my last day at starbucks, & writin' lots of newsy-news.

the only downside to this job is that i STILL have no idea what a "weekend" is really like. also, i still work at criddle's cafe (the scones & good tip money are too good to turn down). sigh. someday i'll be back to only having one job...someday.

sad times & happy times

yesterday started out pretty rough.

my brother's family, who wasn't supposed to move until today, decided they wanted to get a head start on the move & leave early.

i got to their house about 1 to help pack up some last minute things (i have been so busy with school this week, i hardly even got to help...i felt pretty bad.) & was a bit jolted by the news. 

we headed over to my parent's house to say goodbye to the chickens & the dogs... & then they said goodbye to us. 

grace giving me goodbye kisses.

i gave her about 30 thousand. i couldn't stop kissing her or matthew, basically.

smiling... slash being teary eyed. whoops.

my favorite 5-year-old.  i've watched this kid grow up & have loved every minute of being his (favorite) aunt.

blaaargh.

i managed to keep it together & really cried only once, when my sister-in-law started crying. it always sucks when your family is sad. & it made me realize that while they are starting a new, amazing chapter in texas, i'm going to miss the living in layton utah chapter! where sunday dinners, family walks, camping trips, random visits, and more were much much easier to accomplish!

despite the sad day that it was, it also turned out to be a happy one. i went REAL grocery shopping with luke's sister cassie (whose whole family is gluten-free). we went to SUNFLOWER MARKET in SLC, which is cleverly named after my favorite flower....clever because it's my new favorite market. good produce for cheap & SEVERAL more gluten-free options.

this diet might be easier than i thought! anyway, we also went to a book/vinyl sale at the SLC library, where i found the evita soundtrack for a dollar (my dad would be so proud).

another nice thing about yesterday was that i realized i still have one sweet newborn nephew to tie over my "baby hunger," as well as luke's niece to chase pigeons around the library with....hahah, i love her.

sad times:(

last weekend i got to see my studly nephew play "the genie" in his school play, ALADDIN! 

that happens to be my favorite disney movie, which i told matthew so, & he thought that was pretty cool.

he sang "never had a friend like me" & helped sing "a whole new world" with the entire cast. he was brilliant!

this week my sister-in-law, niece & nephew join my brother in katy, texas, to begin a new chapter of their lives. it sucks for me.

living 10 mins away from these cutie pies has meant lots of time to play with them & learn so much from them. matthew is one of the sweetest boys i know...he is always complimenting me, saying, "laur, your hair looks pretty like that," or "laur you are such an awesome aunt." it melts my heart! grace is such a sweetie too. she loves to say "thank you" & sing songs for me...it's the cutest ever when i ask where she's moving to, & she says happily, "tetsas!" i love her.

while i'm happy my brother found a job he loves, & that they get to start a new chapter in their lives, at the same time i am VERY VERY sad because i just don't know how well i will handle being over 24 hours away from these guys.

luckily we have luke's niece, kaylee...hopefully that will tie me over until i can afford a plane ride out to see them!

life decisions.

almost 10 years ago i fell in love.

i fell in love with the interstate surrounded by trees in neat rows,

the one-way streets of portland,

the jutted rocks of cannon beach.

i always told myself i would live there, someday. seeing how i'm most likely graduating in december (FINGERS CROSSED!) i'm starting to think ahead for these sorts of things. granted, i might wait to move until luke finishes school (yeah, i like him that much...weird) but oregon is on my list. (not to mention after 6 months in oregon, you get in-state tuition! rad!)
other states i'm considering applying for jobs in are colorado, nebraska (i would love to go back to omaha), as well as virginia or D.C. area.

i love you utah, but i think it's almost time for a change!

i'm sad today.

this week, one of my very good friends is moving away.

his name is adam, & he was one of my best friends up in logan. he dated my best friend emily, & after they broke up i remained close with both of them. throughout all my years in logan, these two are who i love the most!

sadly, though, adam's time in logan is through. he is finally a pilot (yay!) & moving back to pennsylvania, & taking his dog kiara with him. auntie lauren is very sad.

i will miss my many adventures with this kid, including our many inside jokes ("reconvene in four minutes!" or "damnit lauren, when you gonna realize time always proves me right") & all the good times we've had in the past few years.
cheers to him, & all his future adventures!

bathing our rottweiler, zeus. 

at his 23rd birthday party, which was a surprise party we threw for him. i'm such a good friend. ;)

frisbee golf!

playing fetch with the puppies. we have many dog friends :)

beerfest 2010.

congratulations, adam. i hope the next chapter of your life brings lots of adventure & fun for you & the pup. 

pookey.

this is my best friend adam davis christensen!!!

he is 24 today.

almost 5 years ago, when we were 19, he was told he had a very rare form of cancer, & the survival rate was not exactly in his favor.

it was kind of a horrible experience. but it's safe to say it brought us closer than i have ever felt to another human being. that is weird to say, especially since i have a boyfriend, but adam & i have never been "that way." this kid is like my brother; & someone i would gladly die for. 

5 years ago, doctors told him it was kind of unlikely that he would make it to age 25. but here he is, only a year away from being 25, & is still cancer free!!!

\\

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!!!!! i love you so much!

new years/new years resolutions.

so basically i have never had a good new years. ever.

they usually consisted of me getting into fights with my ex-boyfriend (who i have somehow ended up hanging out with on every new years since i was 16.) also, spent driving drunk idiots around & wondering, "why do i hang out with these people again?"

this year was one word: amazing!!! it started with luke & i going to my cousin gardner's house. he's in town from LA, & i only get to see him maybe once a year so i was definitely stoked. we played some wii there (i'm getting better!) & then went over to luke's cousin's house, who i went to school with up at utah state. 

ally came with us to his party, & it was a fabulous time, to say the least!! i haven't had that good of a new years ever! sadly i took zero pictures, which is unheard of for me, but here are a couple i took at my house before we left:

we love our toms :)

now, as for my new years resolutions, i have a couple crazy ones:

1. run a half-marathon. i can't believe i'm gonna do it, but i woke up this morning & went on a run with ally, & it's happening. I'M CRAZY.

2. see the more positive side of life. i'm a firm believer in Buddhism, but sometimes i seriously lack positiveness, & see only the bad in people. i'm going to work on that for the whole year.

3. do more yoga. doesn't need much explanation...i'm taking 18 credits so i'm gonna need a hobby to help me RELAX.

4. sponsor a child in uganda. i decided that with my tax return, instead of spending it on something i really really want (like another tattoo) i'm going to spend it sponsoring a child in uganda. for more information, look here. & also, this website is what inspired me to do it. it's a blog by a Christian couple who are both 23 (MY AGE) & just adopted a little girl from Uganda that they have been sponsoring for years. a very sweet story.

happy new year!!

i will miss..

all my awesome coworkers at the centerville starbucks.

this week i start my new adventure at the south ogden starbucks...and i'm so nervous.
i loved the people i worked with here, and the memories we made:
-playing practical jokes on franny, our manager.
-meeting ty burrell, the actor who plays phil on modern family :)
-laughing at laura when customers walk in on her in the bathroom. ha!
-fly killing contests
-the competitions of who could sell the most via
-sitting outside with the amazing regulars who became my friends
-dance parties to lionel richie, olivia newton john, and europe!!
-i'll even miss being made fun of for being the accident-prone barista!

the centerville store will always hold a special place in my heart. it was where i learned some great things. and also where i got reacquainted with my boyfriend...so thanks centerville. i owe you a LOT.  :)

moving day.

happy news!

i will probably be MIA on the blog for a few days... because..
i am moving!!

after one long year at my parent's house i finally can afford to move out. yay me! i'm moving to a lovely one bedroom cottage just north of school. i can walk to school every day! plus, i'm transferring to a starbucks closer to my new home. 

i've never lived in weber county. but i'm so excited to start a new adventure!!

let the packing begin...

isn't it adorable?? it's over 100 years old, by the way.
the pathway next to the house originally went directly to weber state.

crazy!

nesta will be in heaven with all these trees.

so excited!

until fall semester...

the last week of classes has been killin' me.

i can't wait for summer and for all of this to be over!! 

my first semester at weber was hard to get used to...it's a lot different than usu after all. 

but i'm so glad that i transferred down here. my life is amazing!
and i am very blessed.

now i can focus more on graduating and finding a job somewhere cool...preferably

or...

portland <3

favorite 2010 memories.

i sure hope you're ready for picture overload. 2010 was very good to me in some ways and i want to document all the amazingness that happened...holga style.

:]

i made lots of new friends this year. lost a few, esp some i never thought i'd have to lose. made lots of hard choices. went on lots of road trips. failed my first college class [dangit].  learned to cook 3-5 new dishes. hiked some hikes i never thought i could finish. did a mini triathlon. got a gym pass for the first time ever. worked as a cocktail waitress, a nanny, a housekeeper, a phone surveyer and a barista...yikes. moved 4 times. hugged a stranger. kissed a friend. laughed, loved, and lost and would do it all over again.

2010 had its ups and downs but i don't think i'd do it any differently. here are some of my favorite memories!!

had a "gentlemen's night" at patton's.

celebrated aaron's birthday in leather jackets.

went snowboarding but sadly only went once.

dressed up in superhero costumes with a bunch of friends

for the midnight showing of "kickass"

bugged adam as much as i possibly could. :]

took my sisters on a tour of my college campus.

rode in the back of a truck with ally [and patton and his wheelchair, not pictured]

moved home and got reacquainted with old friends

my super cute nephew turned four!!! holy cow time flies.

the most epic road trip ever to idaho falls in june.

such a freakin'blast.

learned to rock climb!!

i finally picked it up this year and loved it. favorite trips seen here and here. 

kept my friends close.

constantine, emily and i at aaron's in february.

i also rekindled my love of sushi over the summer.

danced randomly in a parking lot with friends in july.

celebrated hanukkah.

roomed with miss emily beth and loved it.

went to the FESTIVAL OF COLORS for the second time.

turned 22!!

enjoyed a father's day barbecue in my aunt's backyard with the sisters.

went and saw lion king the musical in salt lake city.

got to nanny my favorite little children.

my friends threw  me a fantastic surprise going away party when i moved home.

ally is beautiful.

enjoyed a several month long "greasy stage", seen here.

enjoyed several lazy afternoons at the 706 house.

got a job at starbucks.

bought a guitar and named her cherry.

first song i learned to play was pink floyd's "wish you were here".

went camping.

my sweet niece turned one!

danced in a field in the middle of february.

went to snowbasin with my mom and kylie to ride the alpine slide and zipline.

saw styx, kansas, and foreigner with my mom.

"masquerade party"

went on a salt lake city adventure with kyle.

enjoyed every single minute of my  stinky adorable cat.

hung out in my nebraska cornhuskers snuggie with odin.

learned to cook with my roommate emily

played with photobooth at 3 in the morning with adam and ally.

volunteered at the humane society

protested karl rove when he came to a book signing in logan in april.

cut 10 inches off my hair.

found a stray pit bull, drove it back to her proper owner's in ogden with ally and aaron.

quite the adventure. i even got peed on.

went snowshoeing lots with great people, including moudi and soren in january and also miss emily.

watched the saints take the super bowl in march.

[ryan isn't grabbing my boob btw. he's pointing at the score. haha.]

went to the annual banff mountain film festival!

discovered i actually hate/get sick on tire swings.

camped out in the living room in april.spent lots of time in the great outdoors.

the EPIC THURSDAYS in the summer of going to the twilight concert series.

saw beirut, modest mouse, matisyahu, she & him, the dodo's, the new pornographers.

other bands i was able to see live this year:

lydia, yeasayer, we were promised jetpacks, peter cetera, styx [see above], circa survive, and trans-siberian orchestra.

went to a "jungle themed" party at the U.

had a girl's night and went bowling

celebrated woni's birthday in january.

went to yellowstone with my cute family in july and saw 3 bears, a bear cub, a bald eagle, and about saw a baby deer get eaten by coyotes.

spent the fourth of july sleeping on the streets of provo.

nannyed one of the cutest boys in logan, zachary!

went on a fantastic road trip to zion's after ryan graduated.

2010 was crazy, that is for sure. i'm very excited for 2011. it's going to be different: different school, different friends, different goals. however i've finally come to a point where i am happy for myself. i'm doing what i want to do, enjoying life with who i want to, and i've finally come to terms with who i am. pretending to be someone i'm not for years and years has proven to be exhausting.

so cheers 2011! here's to many adventures.