my cat is satan.

 

i sadly took these photos to prove to my coworkers that my cat is an "exception" to the "cats suck" rule.

we'd had a debate all day friday over it... "CATS RULE" "NO THEY DONT THEY'RE GROSS" & I kept trying to convince them that nesta was totally cool.

so on friday night luke & i noticed her being cute, watching us watch tv.

these pics are the result..

& just like that i realized, cats are the devil.

:D

unplugging.

 

i've had a super bad attitude lately, & i think i may have finally come to terms with WHAT is causing my negativity.

everyone knows how addicting social media can be, especially facebook, & i've realized in the past few months it somewhat consumes my life.

the other day i was walking to school with my nose in my phone, & something someone posted ticked me off, like it tends to happen every day.

i looked up & realized there were blue skies out.. & it was a beautiful day. but i'd hardly realized that because i was so consumed in what was going on online.

so with that i've decided to take a much needed sabbatical from facebook.

i'm sure i'll be back... it's so addicting, you know. but for now i'm just sticking to school, work, sleeping & hanging out with luke.

you can still find me on twitter cuz i have to have it for my job: @laurgardner13

you can also find me on instagram: @laurgardner because i'm still way too addicted to that to give it up.

but i'm hoping the lack of facebook in my life will bring about a more positive attitude.

i have to say so far it's been mostly funny. people think deleting your facebook is some "cry for help" or something. i've gotten several text messages along the lines of: "lauren! your facebook is gone! are you ok?" or "noticed you nixed your facebook. just wanted to check in with you."

i giggled so much! it really is crazy how much social media is used to measure other's behaviors. like, deleting someone off your list is the ultimate middle finger to your relationship.. & corny vague statuses are all you use to describe your life.

giggle, giggle, giggle.

anyways. 

i'll keep you posted on how my much needed "sabbatical" goes.

i do miss photos of my family, so hey family! if you're ever bored, you could always send me some picture messages :) or we can facetime! i am all about that form of technology, especially with my brothers living so far away.

 

chicken noodle soup.

last weekend both luke & i came down with colds.

we've been slowly recovering this week but it has not been easy, let me tell ya.

your life does not slow down when you are sniffing & sneezing all over everything
(although one professor in my class DID hand me a box of sanitizer wipes & said 'stay far far away..') 

anyway, i wanted to make something warm & yummy for us while we were dying,

& something that luke could just eat when he got home.

he's always cooking for me & i suck at doing the same for him, so this was

my chance to try.. i think it turned out pretty good, too!

 here's the recipe for you crockpot lovers:

 

CROCKPOT CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

ingredients

 3 large chicken breasts (fresh or frozen)
1 -49 oz can Swanson Chicken Broth or Stock
1/2 can (of the broth) water
4 Chicken bullion cubes
One package (about 6) large carrots peeled & sliced

One onion diced
One bunch celery washed and sliced

 1/4 bunch parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste

 

 

Add all ingredients to the crockpot and stir.  Cook for about 6 hours on low.  Shred or dice chicken.

1/2 package small egg noodles, cooked separately before you are ready to serve.  Add to the soup when ready to eat! (this keeps the noodles from getting soggy!)

 

 

after trying it luke & i both agreed that one whole onion is WAY too much. so next time

we'll probably only do 1/2. 

other than that.. it was the most delicious ever! & seriously helped our sickness, i think..

 

weekend.

 

the highlight of my weekend was facetiming with my texas family.

 

omelettes for breakfast.

 

aaaand homework.

that's pretty much what my weekend consisted of.

we did get out to see MAMA which was terrifying.. i have a love-hate relationship with scary movies. :/

and now it appears my flu bug has turned into the stomach flu.. so.. stay away!

this week is horrible timing to get sick.

but.. that's how it seems to go, right? happy tuesday! 

nailed it!

please ignore our disgusting living room.. as we both can't wait to move out.

but luke ROCKED valentines day (for the second year in a row.)

i woke up around 8 pm to him saying, "can i show you what i did??"

hehe, so cute.

i walked into the living room to see he'd brought our cute little breakfast table

to the middle of the room.

he had made chicken parmesan, and had some delicious drinks set up for us.

he also got me a SUNFLOWER GROW KIT! i am so excited about this!

he knows me very well.. my favorite flower will always be the sunflower & i am so excited

 to grow some indoors this spring!

of course he gave me chocolate too, because what would v day be without chocolate?

it was perfect. hope your love day was amazing!

ash wednesday.

 

as most of you know, i don't really consider myself any relgion

in particular.

however, i do like to embrace certain parts of certain religions

that i like, or that i feel will better myself & the world around me.

i've taken part in lent for several years now. i started it in 2009 when

i lived in logan & one of my best friends, adam, was catholic.

we both gave up meat for lent that year & then went to easter mass

at the end of the 40 days.

since then i've participated almost every year... i've given up

candy/sweets, alcohol & fast food.

one thing i've always been too afraid to give up for 40 days is caffeine.

but i think i'm going to do it this year.

so today at work i basically bathed in coffee as a "last hurrah." i get

to spend the next 40 days working overnights & going to school

full time with no help from caffeine... i'm a little scared.

so if you cross me in the next couple months & i'm a grumpy

grumpy girl.. you'll know why. it will be a struggle but that's sort

of the point of lent. so... here's to my last cup o joe & my last day

of having a diet pepsi for lunch.

ash wednesday is tomorrow, & my sabbatical begins!

anyone else doing lent this year? what are you giving up?

hi.

 

i dyed my hair purple this weekend.

that is all.

:) 

IT'S FEBRUARY!!!!

IT'S FEBRUARY!

this is me in february of 2010, literally jumping for joy that 

january was over.

really... i hate the month of january. it's cold, smoggy, & snowy.

& i always feel like spring will never come.

then feb 1st rolls around & suddenly i feel HOPEFUL again.

such a good feeling. happy day everyone!

because i'm so good at ranting.

i had to give an oral report on a book i just finished

for my public administration class. the book was

BACKLASH by susan faludi & ugh it was a rough read.

it made me hate government (& be so glad i changed my major)

all over again. i'll spare you the spirited rant i gave in my class & 

opt instead to tell you that i got an awesome 100 percent... i blame

it on the fact that my professor just enjoys seeing me get fired up.

i wasn't expecting a 100 after i said "there's pretty much no hope

for my gender in america."
 

dang you, pay gap!!!!!!!

how dare i want to be equal! i'm gonna start wearing pants to church!
just kidding, heehhe.
but really, if you don't believe me that our government sort of sucks,
check this out. i just have to laugh at it otherwise i get angry.
this & many other things.. blerg.

43 years ago today.

january 30, 1969

the beatles made their last live appearance on the rooftop

of the apple building in london (& no, it's not the apple you're thinking of.)

this is one of my favorite songs from that show.

pretty sure y'all already know this, but i think i should have

been there. i mean, come on.

in fact, i'm sure that i was there, in some way or another.

happy wednesday!

the cure for the winter blues.

 

some days you just have to eat sushi

(& then go buy benadryl thanks to your shellfish allergy.)
but seriously, so worth it.

luke & i are sushi nuts.. & after a weekend of car troubles,

being snowed in, stuck at home.. we just had to get out 

for some yums.

also: this helps: 

BREAKFAST FOOD!!!

criddle's cafe is our go-to place for when we need a pick me up.

good cheap coffee, hash browns with gravy (luke skips the gravy)
& BACON!

speaking of bacon, i have to watch a little film on pigs & how they

are treated for a class.. my professor is trying to bring back my

vegetarianism (i tried it 2 years ago.. lived off noodles & got so sick

i passed out when i stood up. so...)
hopefully i can close my eyes.

another happy thing:

 

i hadn't seen blue skies in over a month until yesterday.

i'm so ready for spring. 

my forever hero.

 

two years.

 

two years ago today luke asked me out on a date.

i hadn't been on one in over 3 years, by the way.

i'd dated around.. but hadn't gone on a DATE.

we did the typical 'dinner & a movie' date,

saw "friends with benefits" (super awkward first movie to see, btw)

& ate burgers.

i immediately knew i liked him & thought "CRAP!" because i knew he

didn't want a relationship.

ha! i showed him.

two years later we're still goin' strong.

& i've even convinced him to grow a beard.

the two best years of my life, easily. 

if you want a laugh.

 

my friend mindy tracked down some hilarious pictures from our

days of cheerleading. i couldn't stop laughing when i saw this.

i love not making normal faces still.. but these are just ridiculous.

sometimes i miss cheer/high school.. only sometimes, though :) 

LAZIZ

 

the other day i produced fox 13's good day utah weekend edition (& worked 12 days in a row.)

we needed a last-minute interview, so i called up my good friends moudi & derek. these two  started their own middle eastern spreads company last year & sell a variety of delicious foods including hummus.

i met moudi (who is from lebanon) while going to USU a few years ago, & we've always been good friends.

they did a great job in the interview.. & brought me a care package of awesome too! i got garlic spread for cooking, muhammara & hummus.. & i'm already addicted.

if you haven't yet, try them out! they sell their products at harmons!

i highly recommend them, but be careful... they are seriously addicting.

thanks moudi & derek!

home inspiration.

my last semester of school has begun (YAY!!!) & luke & i decided that after i finish my senior seminar in the summer, we are heading out of o town to move somewhere closer to my work (commuting 88 miles a day is not my thing.) we're very sad because we love our little cottage.. but also looking forward to new opportunities. our goal is to find an adorable house, not too expensive, with a fenced in yard so nesta (& perhaps a boxer puppy) can still play outside even if we live in salt lake city (we're looking in the sugarhouse/midvale area.) i must say all this talk about change has me SERIOUSLY wanting to just leave behind all our furniture & start over on decorating. our cottage is a mess of unmatching crap, but since the house is so old & tiny it never felt right to buy new stuff for.

here's some inspiration i've been feeling lately:

 

i love the idea of a bright kitchen with a bright accent color.

 

this dresser (& the wall hanging) are to die for.

 

l'arc de triomphe.

 

hanging vintage plates or sewing patterns is a must in our new casa.

i'm so excited to start decorating.. & we still have 6 more months. ha! 

 

 

 

new years resolutions.

 

1. take more pictures

-i got a diana camera at a thrift store months ago. my goal is to get some film for that bad boy & learn how to use it. 

i also plan on using my digital camera more often than ever (don't tell luke. he hates pictures.)

 

2. learn to cook... for real

-i have a boyfriend who adores cooking but sometimes i can tell he gets tired of having to feed me.. but i know he thinks that if he doesn't, i will starve.

-i plan on having him teach me a few easy meals in the beginning, before i get brave enough to try something that doesn't require a crock pot (all those recipes are so easy!)

 

3. dress up a little more

-i'm such a jeans & a t-shirt kinda girl.. heck, i even dress like a homeless person more often than not.

-surprisingly i actually have quite a few little dresses & tights that i love..  i just hate wearing them because they're uncomfortable. but i've vowed to lose the beanies & start dressing like i'm 24 & employed. ha!

 

4. continue to find inner peace.

it's kind of a neverending process.. but it's a good resolution still.

 

what are your new years resolutions?

  

 

new year's day.

 

rockin' my nebraska cornhuskers pride.

i'm so very sad the huskers lost their bowl game. not that it was unexpected.. but you always hope, you know? regardless, i sported my husker gear around town to do laundry, dye my hair & more.

pics on my hair later.. when i fix it. :/ i threw my back out about halfway through doing it.. i'm an old lady & it's sad. 

dec 31 2012 & we're still alive!!

JANUARY
-made several spontaneous trips to logan. regretted none.
-went on a lovely winter hike while on one of said random trips.
-started spring semester & took several great english & communication classes. also, le francais.

-celebrated one year together with my most favorite boy.

-started writing for indie ogden...had no idea it would turn into great friendships & opportunities!
-decided to cast my vote for jon huntsman jr. sad day when he dropped out of the race.
FEBRUARY
-learned about art house cinema, ogden's cute little theater that shows independent films.
-held a goodbye party for my best friend adam & his puppy kiara. they moved back to pennsylvania & it was very bittersweet.
-discovered nesta takes after her mother & has severe food allergies. she is now my pescatarian kitty..she only eats fish.
-discovered sunday brunch at slackwater.
-realized (again) what an amazing boyfriend i have after he surprised me with these presents for valentines day:

-my gift to him was the craft i made behind the sock monkey..i'm a cheeseball.

-oh, & he also made me chicken parmesan. <3>
-was featured in the salt lake tribune.
MARCH
-went to the festival of colors for the fourth year in a row.
-celebrated luke's 25th birthday.
-celebrated st patrick's day at a reggae festival & a friend's party, where we took several silly pictures, & i embraced my inner ginger.

-was in a photo shoot for urban chic, a vintage store up here in O-town.
-met robert downey jr. i peed my pants a little.
-celebrated international pancake day by having breakfast for dinner.
APRIL
-completed an item on my bucket list by road tripping to broomfield, colorado to see tom petty & regina spektor live in concert...words can't even express how amazing this was.

-became an aunt for the third time...to little preston james. i feel like we have a special bond because we share hair color..we'll see how he feels in a few years.
-shaved my cat like a lion & got ignored for a week.
-discovered utah's best pizza at lucky slice.
-luke's dad let us drive his 1972 mustang...by us i mean luke. & it was his first time..& someday this bad boy will be his (& his siblings...unless i refuse to share...)
-luke bought me a guitar.
-sad goodbye to my sweet nephew & niece, matthew & grace, as well as my brother & sister-in-law as they embarked for texas. saddest day of the year (tied with a day in october..see below.)
MAY 
-picked fresh strawberries for days & days.
-saw the civil wars perform live...great news since they announced they're breaking up just a month or so ago. it was SPECTACULAR.
-threw a benefit concert with the blog i write for. we raised over 2 grand for the TEARS foundation.

 
-celebrated our niece kaylee's birthday by going to lagoon & riding all her favorite rides.
-got a summer job at criddle's cafe...endless hash browns with SOS & scones. so. much. delicious.
-discovered a plethora of hiking trails near my house...fell in love with the 32nd street trail.

 

-celebrated mikki's & kristin's birthdays with an awesome photo booth & even more awesome ladies.

JUNE

-went to the arts festival with luke..picked up some gorgeous paintings for our house.

-picked apples from apple trees, squash from the garden, & zucchini...came up with several different recipes to make with them...i mean, to make luke make for me.

 

-started a hump day hiking tradition...fell in love with ogden even more.

-made homemade pizza & enjoyed a bottle of wine with my bff ally.

-my best friend emily moved closer to me!!! we enjoyed the sights of ogden & got the best pizza ever (lucky slice for the win!)

-our close friends chase & kaylee got married & we were lucky enough to attend the luncheon & beautiful reception.

-went to my adorable nephew's baby blessing.

-celebrated pride weekend with some of my favorite coworkers & lez bos.

-went to luke's little sister marti's high school graduation.

JULY

-took my dad & ray on the ogden valley garden tour for their birthdays.

-celebrated my favorite holiday, the fourth of july, with lots of food, swimming, & parades. sadly i had to sleep through the fireworks.

-quit starbucks after 2 long years!!!!! relief. so much relief.

-went on the BEST TRIP EVER to seattle! saw chelsea play the seattle sounders, visited the space needle, wandered downtown seattle, ate crab legs for the first time, & more! see the adventures here, here & here.

-was offered a full-time position at fox 13, working as a producer for good day utah!!!!!

AUGUST

-went to breakfast twice with my brother, sis-in-law, niece & nephew..mm scones.

-saw mumford & sons perform live...i've been wanting to see them for a few years now. it was amazing!

-my little sister married her BFF & they had the prettiest wedding ever.

-speaking of my sister's wedding, we had a lovely bridal shower for her..my mom embarrassed her lots & i quizzed her on how well she knows chris. turns out..really well.

-went to the worldwide on 25th festival. met people from all over the world & tried so much delicious food!

-i got to babysit my nephews & niece on more than one occasion... i was so happy about it! we also got to go to the zoo!

-saw horse feathers perform live at ogden nature center.

-survived triathlon 2012!

SEPTEMBER

-started yet another fall semester.

-was able to see brand new & manchester orchestra live for free.

-went on a double date with erick & emily before erick left on his mission. mmm nachos at slackwater pizzeria! yes please!

-went to emily's father's funeral... a very sad part of my year. RIP jeff davis. thank you for being a wonderful example, second father, & friend. & thank you for bringing my best friend emily into the world!

-celebrated luke's sister cassie's birthday at the dinosaur park!

-hosted a yard sale, where more people wanted to buy my cat than anything else.

-officially started my full-time schedule of 1am-9am monday through friday. brutal.

-celebrated labor day by working. ha! also, making baked zucchini. mmmm.

OCTOBER

-played in the leaves with my niece kaylee.

-ate copious amounts of ice cream (not ashamed by that either).

-went to a U of U game.. & got to see an at home win for the first time!

-was a featured guest at the local first monthly mixer at rainbow gardens!

-got a tattoo on my wrist. 

-went to see les miserables with my family.

-had to say goodbye to my family AGAIN!!!! this time my brother alex, sis in law susan & nephew preston. basically my heart broke a little.. i miss them.

-had sunday brunch with friends.

NOVEMBER

-turned 24!!! got old, basically.

-enjoyed two thanksgiving dinners.. had a food baby for a week straight.

-went out to sushi for my bday. thanks, darlin'.

-went to my first co-ed baby shower.

-saw milo greene live (again!)

-watched "my team" the seattle sounders beat RSL! don't tell my bf that's who i was rooting for (we are a house divided).

-worked the night of the election entering in numbers.. so fascinating & such a fun opportunity!! & romney said none of us were better off than we were four years ago.... :P

DECEMBER

-hosted the INDIE OGDEN AWARDS at union station.. highlight of my year.

-went to my aunt geneal's funeral. celebrated a life full of love.

-ate lots of food & had lots of family parties.

-celebrated christmas by working & feasting in the newsroom.

-got my favorite pair of christmas PJs ever that i wear....all the time.