Bloggy Community

{Day 30} 

Do you having a blogging community in your city? Tell us about it. If not, would you be interested in meeting up with other bloggers in person? Why/why not?

Since I come from such a big city I am sure there is a blogging community but I am not a part of it. I am such a new blogger that I never looked into it. I do know there is a community for bloggers in the Northeast coast, which is where I am from. It looks interesting and I am thinking of joining it.

As for joining a blogging community in the future I would be more than happy to! It seems like so much fun and I would love to meet over bloggers in person. Just thinking about hanging with another blogger makes me super happy. I'd join a blog community in my city because it would help my blogging and give me people who blog to hang out with. As of right now I don't know anyone in person who blogs.

I just want to say how proud I am of myself for finishing this monthly challenge. Not only did I complete the challenge I did it on time every day and I did it on the weekends! At the beginning I had a bunch of major doubts because school had just started and I was going to be busy. This was so fun to do and I want to thank Whitney over at Love Letters and List by the Observant Turtle for this challenge. You did a great job with the prompts!

xoxo,
Lauren

Mac and Cheese from Generations Before

{Day 29}

Share a recipe that has been passed down

This isn't my mom's but it looks pretty similar (Source)

The only recipe that I know of that has been passed down is our mac and cheese recipe. It came from my dad's mom and my mom now makes it all the time. It is a huge hit for everyone who has ever eaten it. My mom gave it to a few aunts and family friends but they can't make it as good as my mom ;). I'm giving this recipe to you guys to try and making. I'm telling you everyone will love it!

2 Tbsp Argo Corn Starch

1 Tsp. Salt

1/4 Tsp. Pepper

2 cups Milk

2 Tbsp. Margarine

8 oz. Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided

8 oz. Elbow Macaroni (about 1 3/4 cups) cooked and drained

In medium saucepan combine corn starch, salt, and pepper; stir in milk until smooth. Add margarine. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium-high heat and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Reserve 1/4 cup cheese for topping. Stir in remaining cheese until melted. Add elbows. Turn into greased 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake uncovered in 375 oven 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.


My mom follows this measures loosely same with the time. We like out mac and cheese to have a golden brown top but some people don't so its all up to you. We also tend to add a ton of cheese to the top. That's usually my job when I'm around and I go a little overboard. But hey you can't have too much cheese!

xoxo,
Lauren

Daily Blog Reads

{Day 26}

My top 5 daily blog reads

There are some blogs I go to everyday, usually through bloglovin. If you're not on bloglovin I suggest you get on there whether you are a blogger or just a reader. It makes reading blogs so much easier. Now back to our scheduled program. The blogs I read every day are blogs that I connect with for one reason or another. It maybe be because we go through similar things or because they just write about things that are really interesting to me. Here's my 5 daily blog reads.

The World According To Emma

Emma is a college student just like me who blogs about her experience and her life. We both like similar things like Big Brother and making list and goals. I love to get on and read about how her life is and what she is loving that week. I feel like we are so similar on personality. 

Jamie's Journey Through Life 

Jamie is another girl who is in college and someone I really connect with. I meet her before I actually found her blog and she is one of the reasons I started to blog. I have looked reading about her journey in college and her journey to becoming a teacher. It's so fun!

Finding My Voice

I believe I found Natalie through Emma but all I know is the minute I read her blog I feel in love. She is yet another college blogger (do you see the pattern) and what she blogs about really gets me thinking! I love the ideas she comes up with and there have been times where she has inspired me. 

Endless Bliss

I just found Tiffany's blog but check it every day. When I first found her blog I spent hours reading her past posts because I loved her blog so much. Her posts about books are one of my favorite parts of her blog. She also puts inspiration on her blog and I love anything inspirational. 

I Write About You

Vanessa's blog is another one I just found but spent hours on hours reading because I loved it. One of my favorite things about her blog is how she writes about reading the bible and her faith. I just started getting more into my faith and reading the bible so this fit me so well. Her writing is just great!

xoxo,

Lauren

It's The Little Things

{Day 25}

What are the silly things that excite you?

I am seriously that person who gets excited and super happy about the littlest things ever. I'll freak out and scream usually resulting in a few scared and shocked friends. Here's just a short list of when you'll find me freaking out.

...Finding out there is chocolate milk in the cafe and just chocolate milk in general

...When my favorite song comes on the radio

Source

...Princesses, especially Tangled

...Finishing all my work early in the day

...Finding a Tangled inspired tape dispenser 

Source

...Dogs, dogs, and more dogs

...Actually any animal

...Getting to nap and nap long

...To do list and anything organizational

Let me know what excites you!

xoxo,

Lauren

The Sunny Bedroom

{Day 24}

My favorite place in my house. 

My absolutely favorite place in my house is my bedroom. I share it with my little sister but I love the way its set up. My bed is across form the window so I get a ton of sunlight and natural sunlight is my favorite thing in the whole world. I also have a tall bookshelf with some of my favorite books in it.

I think the reason I love my room so much is because it gives me a place to go and just be by myself. Because I'm at school and only have one room to live in I don't get much time to myself. At home I can always count on going to my room and having time to myself. Plus the bright blue walls are my favorite too.

xoxo,
Lauren

My Happy Playlist

{Day 23}

My Ultimate Happy Playlist

I am such a sucker for happy songs and playlist. Everyone has those songs that make them super happy when they hear them no matter how old they are. Here's my list!

1. Home by Phillip Phillips

2. Wannabe by Spice Girls

3. Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi

4. What Dreams Are Made Of by Hilary Duff

5. Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton

6. Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy

xoxo,

Lauren

Celebrity Hangout

{Day 22}

If you had to choose five celebrities to hang out with, who would you choose?

I'm not a hang follower of celebrities and I don't fall all over them but I do have some that I think would be cool to hangout with. It's going to be such a mix of people that I feel like this hang out would be kind awkward.

Source

Betty White

Who wouldn't want to hang out with Betty White?! She is so funny and I feel like I would be laughing the whole time. I also feel like I would get some great advice from her. Wouldn't it be cool if we did a little taping of the show Off Their Rockers when we hung out?!

Source

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe is my favorite Kardashian. I feel like she is the most down to earth on of the bunch and would really enjoy meeting and hanging out with her fans. Khloe would bring a sense of fashion plus some laughs and crazy ideas to the table.

Source

Blake Lively and Leighton Meester

Gossip Girl is my favorite show of all time. I had trouble picking between Blake Lively and Leighton Meester so I picked both! It would be cool to see them together since they seem to be really great friends off the show. They would probably hate me because I would asks  ton of questions about filming and Gossip Girl in general.

Source

Marcus Mumford

Mumford and Sons is my favorite band and Marcus is the lead singer. I had a hard time picking just one of the boys but Marcus won this one. It'd be cool to just sit around and talk with him. Maybe we could get him to play us a little song. One thing I would want to talk to him about is the meanings behind his songs. I can just feel the meaning when I listen to them.

So who would you hang out with if you could for a day? Anyone that I want to?

xoxo,
Lauren

Spring, Spring, How Much I Love Thy

{Day 19} 

My Favorite Season

Spring has always been my favorite season. I look forward to it every year and get so sad when it leaves. Because of global warming, my spring is usually short and we go from cold to warm to splattering in a flash. Either way that short time spent in the season of spring is amazing.

I love spring for so many reasons. Back in April I wrote a whole post on why I loved it. I'm going to go into more detail this time about the reasons why I love spring.

Source

The Weather!

Who doesn't love weather that is not too cold and not too hot?! There's no need for heavy jackets or boots and you don't have to worry about snow. We can start opening our windows and getting fresh air into the room.

More Time Outside

I love to spend time outside but not when its cold. For some reason, I am always cold so when it is actually cold out I feel like I'm at the North Pole. The spring allows me more time outside to soak up the sun and fresh air. I am a miserable person when I don't get fresh air and sunlight.

You Need Less Clothes

I hate wearing long sleeve shirts and a ton of jackets. I hate anything bulky and that I have to carry around when I get into a building. IN the spring you can wear a light jacket and a t shirt and still be fine. I love that so, so much.

Pretty Flowers

I'm such a girl sometimes. I love seeing and smelling the pretty flowers but hate how they make me sneeze. One thing I love is planting flowers with my mom although I usually quiet halfway through. Maybe this spring I will get flowers for my room.

My Birthday

The ultimate reason why I love spring is because my birthday is in spring! I love my birthday so much and until recently loved the time it fell at. Birthdays are a big deal to me because it is a day to focus on that one person. I use to have the best birthday parties because of the weather.


Do you love spring as much as me?

xoxo,
Lauren

Dear Lauren

{Day 18}

Write a short letter to yourself at 13, 18, and 21

Dear 13 year old Lauren,

    You probably hate your life and are in that awkward stage. I know you have all these crushes on boys and I know that a few have found out but don't worry it won't matter in 5 years that they know. It's the end of your 7th grade year and you're about to start 8th grade. Trust me when I say 8th grade is going to be one of the best years of your life. Live it up because high school is coming and that can test you. You will survive this time in your life! Just breath and keep going!

                                                                                    xoxo, 

                                                                                                                   19 year old Lauren

Dear 18 Year Old Lauren,

     

         I know starting this year was bad for you. You had one of the worst birthdays ever but don't worry next year will make up for it. The last year in school was amazing and let me just tell you college is even better. You will make the best friends and make memories that will stay with you for years to come. Nothing will be able to live up to the year of 2013. Breath through the problems and live life. You will learn so much in this one year of your life. 

                                                                                     xoxo, 

                                                                                                                   19 year old Lauren

Source

Dear 21 Year Old Lauren, 

         I have one piece of advice for you: don't drink too much! I know you and I know you like to go crazy sometimes so make sure you control it. You're at the end of your nursing career and have made it so far. Keep up the good work because you can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I hope this year is everything you hope it is because you deserve it. 

                                                                                      xoxo, 

                                                                                                                   19 year old Lauren

This was so fun to write! I love letters to myself, especially to my future self. Let me know what your letters say!

xoxo,

Lauren

          

The Real Reason I Started A Blog

{Day 17}

Why I started blogging

I had tried to blog many times before. They all ended in failed attempts but I didn't give up hope. I knew it was something I wanted to do I just had to find the right time and ideas. I also needed to find other bloggers that were close to my age to really show me that teen bloggers existed.

In April of 2013 I took the plunge and decided that this would be the final time I tried to blog. If it didn't work out I was going to stop trying. Now quitting is something new to me. I hardly ever quit things and I feel like that is the reason this blog has really stayed around for over a year when the others didn't last more than 3 months.

The real reason I started blogging for the third time was because I wanted to document my life. I was in my senior year and about to start college both important years in a person's life. I believe in keeping the memories somewhere whether it is a journal, pictures, or in this case a blog. Now I haven't been the best at blogging so there are a lot of memories missing but what I have is still good. I hope to get better in the future so there will be even more memories to save.

Another reason I start blogging was because I wanted to connect with other people. I know there are other college students out there going through nursing school or just going through college in general.  Plus it seemed like fun to have "friends" on the other side of the country.

The last reason I started this blog was because I want to maybe help other people. I don't post many of my problems on here but I thought it would be nice to inspire someone with what I did post. I like the idea that something I do in my life causes others to do the same thing.

Now blogging comes with its pros and cons. I don't consider myself a true blogger because of how little I blog but I would say I still have pros and cons. Some of the pros are it helps my writing for school, it gives me a creative outlet, and it semi-forces me to do exciting things in my life. I say semi-forces because I don't always do exciting things. The cons are how much time it takes and sometimes I feel like I am talking to myself. I feel like the pros outweigh the cons a great deal and that is why I have continued to blog.

xoxo,
Lauren

A Italian Vacation

{Day 16} 

If you could drop everything and get on a plane for a two week vacation right now, where would you go and why?

Source

If I could just pack up everything and go on a two week vacation it'd definitely be to Italy. I am so in love with that place even though I have never been there. Maybe its because I love the movie Letters to Juliet or it could be because the Italian language is something I've always wanted to learn but Italy is my dream vacation.

This prompt came at the perfect time because I would love nothing else but to drop all my responsibilities this week and just go away. I was doing so well with keeping up with my work and actually doing work during the week but for some reason this week I have no motivation. I've spent more time in bed than anything but I'm hoping that as the week goes on I will catch up and get back in to the swing of things.

Source

Italy would make the perfect spot to relax because its so beautiful! Who wouldn't want to spend two weeks on a vineyard or on the water?! Plus they have amazing food and great places to check out. My number one must visit spot is Casa di Guilietta, which is Juliet's wall in Verona. I'd take the two weeks to go to every possible spot in Italy.

xoxo,
Lauren

Catholic School Girl

{Day 15} 

What it was like growing up as a catholic school girl

Not the exact uniform I use to wear but a similar one 

I believe I've mentioned on here before that I went to catholic school for 12 years. It was completely normal to me growing up for everyone to go to college school. I had very few friends who went to public school so coming to college was a little bit of a change for me. One of the things I had to learns was that there are other religions out there besides catholics and that not everyone is catholic.

Growing up I wore a uniform to class every day. It was a jumper, which looks like a dress, and a blouse. I had little saddle shoes and knee socks. Not to toot my own horn but I was pretty cute.

We went to church almost every week and on Wednesday afternoons we would sing all of the church songs to get us ready for mass. That lasted from first grade until fourth grade and than I had to move to a new school because mine closed down.

Going to catholic school meant I had stricter rules while in class. If you didn't follow the rules you'd get in big trouble. I feel like that's why I've always been such a good girl. I can remember in first grade we had what we called a pray table and if you were bad you had to sit at it.

It's hard to explain what its like to go to a catholic school because I don't know any different. What I think is normal is weird to some people.

xoxo,
Lauren

My Very First Blog Reads

{Day 12} 

What were the first three blogs you remember reading? Do they influence your blogging style?

I've been reading blogs for as long as I can remember. It probably started in my 8th grade year and it was by complete accident. One thing lead to another and blogs started to pop up in my google searches. All it took was one good blog read and I was hooked. 

I started out reading mom blogs because those ones always fascinated me. They really still do to this day. One of my biggest wishes was that I had a little family of my own so I could blog about them. In my eyes, moms were the only bloggers out their because I had yet to come across any other type of blog. 

Than one day I found a friend who was the same age as me and blogging! That's when I knew it could be done and I just had to blog. 

Source

That friend was Jamie from Jamie's Journey Through Life. She's the first person I remember reading and I still read her blog today. She influenced me to start my blog and there have been times when she's influenced my blog style also. 

Source

The second blogger I can remember reading is Renee from Little Earthling Blog. She is a miim of 14 and her story just interest me. I would go on and check her blog every day. I loved hearing about her story and was really moved by her little boy who has health issues.

Source

The third blogger I remember reading at the very beginning was Rachelle of Wilkinsons Quints. Who wouldn't be interested in reading about a family who is raising a set of quintuplets?! I know I was and they are so stinking cute. Plus they have pretty cool names ;).

So really only one person has influenced my blogging who I read at the very beginning. I still love finding new blogs because you can never have enough bloggy reads. 

xoxo,
Lauren 

Only One?!

{Day 11} 

You can only watch one movie, listen to one song, and read one book for the rest of your life. What are they? 

This is such a hard decision to make! I'm only allowed to choose one item for each category! I hate making decisions so much.

I think the easiest category for me to choose is the movie. I don't really watch movies so I had a little selection to choose from. After thinking it over for like 5 minutes I picked Matilda. First of all it is the first movie that came to mind and is one of my favorites. Secondly I can quote the movie and the scenes never get old for me. If I had time right now I would go watch Matilda but there is homework to be done.

Picking a book is the next easiest category for me to choose. My favorite books are always changing and because of time issues I haven't actually read a book in months. I had to think hard about this one and chose The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. Most summers I read this book plus the two sequels but I missed it the summer that just past. Like I said earlier I just didn't have time. I could probably tell you every little event that happens in the book thats how many times I've read it.

I thought picking just one song would be hard because I'm always changing what my favorite song is but I was wrong. After some thinking I was hit with the realization that Home by Phillip Phillips is my favorite song of all time. Nothing could change that. To me its more than just a song. Every year the senior class picks a song to represent them. Home was my song for my senior year. The words just represent my class and my high school so well. I always get so happy when it randomly comes on the radio or pandora. I could listen to Home everyday and never get tired of it.

xoxo,
Lauren

Birthday Memories

{Day 10}

My Best and Worst Birthday Memories

I've had 19 birthdays and most of them have been good. I can't really say that any have been great because I usually have average birthdays. What I can say is I've had an absolute worst birthday. It was my 18th birthday. It's suppose to be one of the best birthdays out there but mine was horrible. I usually don't expect a lot for my birthday. All you really have to do is say happy birthday to me and I'll be happy. Well, I didn't even get that.

So many people forgot about my birthday, including my friend since first grade and my Spanish teacher who never forgot anyone's birthday. I was upset because in my eyes it wasn't that they forgot my birthday but that they forgot me. To top everything off I didn't get a good cake at all and my whole family was super busy. I went to bed that night in a bad mood and spent most of the day wishing to go to bed. I did get really pretty earrings and my parents and siblings remembered my birthday.

I'd say that my bed birthday was this past one. So many people remembered! That made me so happy because for once I wasn't forgotten. My wonderful roommate and best friend, Bridget, surprised me with a little party. I honestly had no idea that she was doing anything for me and almost cried when I walked into our room and saw everything.

I wrote up a full post on my birthday here. Go check out all the details!

What has been your favorite birthday? Did you have any really bad birthdays?


P.S. Speaking of birthdays today is my sweet little cousin's 5th birthday! Happy Birthday Cecelia Grace!

xoxo,
Lauren

Tears in the Theaters

{Day 9}

Top 5 Times I've Cried at Tv Shows or Movies

I'm not one to cry at tv shows or movies. Hell until recently I never cried at all! But I do have to say there are some scenes out that have me doing the waterworks.

Source

Pitch Perfect Scene

Pitch Perfect is actually a funny movie but there is one scene in it that makes my heart hurt. The scene is when Benji is laying in bed all by himself and can hear them all singing. Benji really wanted to join and didn't get in. I always feel so sad for him every time it comes up. I did cry at one point because of that part alone.

Source

Titanic

God this is such a sad movie! Most of them end up dying in the end and that's so sad! I hate that Jack can't be saved and Rose is left alone. He worked so hard to save her and I just wanted them to stay together. I haven't seen the movie in a while being of the fact that it makes me sad at the end.

Source

The Lovely Bones

Another sad movie that I've only seen a few times because I prefer to stay happy. It's so sad that the girl is killed and what makes it even worse is that her family tries to look for her but they can't find her when she's right there! Than they ad in the other girls who were all killed and it like you need a whole box of tissues to get through the movie!

Source

Up! Scene

Up! is one of the cutest Disney movies out there but I get so sad during any scene that has Ellie in it and him missing her. This little old man is so heartbroken that its hard not to feel for him. I hate when they show the scene where it is him and than her empty chair. Other than that the movie is really cute.

Source 

Toy Story 3

Toy Story is a movie of my childhood. It's probably one of my favorite Disney movies so I was super excited for Toy Story 3 to come out. Well my brother, sister, and I rented the movie and watched it together one night and I almost didn't finish it. It was at the very end when everyone thinks they are going to die but they really like. My heart was so broken and cried in the dark because I didn't want them to die. Thank god they didn't!

xoxo,
Lauren

A Day In The Life

{Day 8}

A Day in My Life

Every day for me is a little bit different. I have different classes on different days and I really never know what I'll be doing each day. On Mondays I only have 2 classes, a 200 level sociology class about the family at 11:00 am and a creative writing class at 2:00 pm.

Outfit of the day. I did change into jeans later

Hair for the day 

I started my day out at 9:00 am when my alarm went off. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I go to breakfast with my two friends at 10. I got dressed and met them there. I was in the mood for cereal so I had rice krispies and french vanilla coffee, the only coffee I'll drink.

My finished breakfast

When we were done we stopped to talk with the really friendly security guard and than hung out in my room for a little bit. My friend Jill and I always walk to class together because were in building next to each other. I ran into my old roommate on the way in and talked to her a little bit. I love when I get to run into her. It makes my day.

Sociology Notes

I sat for 50 minutes in my sociology class learning about the family. I actually really likes this class and love learning about the family. After the class was over I met with my old roommate and one of our friends, Jill, and got lunch. I had a pasta with tomato and basil. It was really good.

After lunch I hung out in my room and was suppose to do homework but instead painted my nails. Really a bad decision on my part. Now I have a ton of homework to do and hardly any time to do it. Cue the stress!

I went to my creative writing class at 2:00 pm and really it was super easy and laid back. After class I met my friend Jill at my room so she could get some stuff (as you can tell I hang out wit her a lot were kind like best friends). We went back to her room and just talked. It always nice to see her and just talk because we always have something to say. Like I said were best friends.

The best friend waiting for me

I stayed in her room for a few hours before one of her sorority sisters came in to talk. She's actually Jill's Big, which means that she's like a big sister but not really related. It's hard to explain. We went to the pet store with her to get live fish to give her turtle. It was so cool to see the turtle eat the fish! I wish I took a video.

We went to dinner with her sorority and I went back to there house so I could do a group project. We didn't get much done because we have no idea what we're doing. And that's been my day so far. I was going to take pictures but forgot for most of the day. It's 7:30 now and all I'm doing for the rest of the night is homework and showering. I have class tomorrow at 8:00 am so I need to get to bed at a reasonable time.

I'm just going to stop my day here because everything after this is even more boring that the rest of my day. I hope you all enjoyed following me around and maybe I'll do a better day in the life when I do something fun.

xoxo,
Lauren

Edit: I was just about to hit publish when a fire drill went off in the building. I knew one was going to happen but didn't know when. I think that is officially the most exciting thing in my whole day and fire drills are more of a pain than fun.