Little Bit Absent

Hey everyone,

I realize I've been a little bit absent on here.  I've just been spending a lot of time living my life (this new version of it, anyway) and getting acclimated.  Life in the apartment is great.  Will post pictures soon.  And to those of you who fear that I've given up on my cooking/blogging adventure...fear not.  I've been cooking, and documenting (of course) but just haven't put up any blogs yet.  But I will.  Just finding a schedule and a rhythm (2 essential things in my little corner of the world) and haven't yet found the optimum spot for writing.

Finishing up my last model for last semester's scenography class.  So 2 things will come out of that.  1.  Pictures of the set (if it's worth looking at...which honestly, I'm proud to say that I think it will be). 2.  More time...I think.

Anyway, just wanted to post something.  So that was it.  Oh...and one more thing...

Genevieve proudly sporting her new collar.
She's dealt with the move pretty well.

So that's what's going on here.  Model work.  Then work work.  Then homework.  Then a staff meeting.  Then Alpha Psi Omega.

Peace.

34 DAYS!

Wow...two posts in one day!  Pretty big stuff, right?  And on top of that, I wrote a biology paper.  Anyway...I ran into this video today (I know...I ran into another one too...I need to watch where I'm going before I run into a whole movie.) and it inspired the countdown you see above the blog posts.

The relationships (and all of the backstabbing that comes with them) look even more ridiculous when it's compressed into 2.5 minutes.

...oh...and when I say ridiculous that obviously translates to AMAZING!

So yeah...that's all I had to say.

P.S.  Joss Whedon...please direct another episode.  Or another million episodes.  Thanks.

Life is a Gift

This post is for everyone...but especially for my Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome friends (via blogs) Kyla and Luke.  (Hey guys!)

Anyway...seriously, like I said.  This is for EVERYONE.  I ran into this video on Facebook this morning.

I don't even know what to say.  There are so many things to say but I think I will say them later.  First I just want anyone who just watched the video above to let Nick's words resonate within you.

Love and peace to everyone.

Lauren

Movin' on Up!

Hey Everybody!

Hope all is well in everyone else's worlds.  Mine's pretty good right now.  We just moved furniture and stuff into our apartment on Friday.  Makes the whole move up to apartment living seem like more of a reality.  Melissa and I are both really thrilled.

Myself and Melissa on Friday night after moving in.

She's been out of campus housing for a couple years now but this is my first year...so one of the things I'm MOST excited about is being able to cook for myself!

I know...I know...it's a lot more work.  I'll get tired of it.  Soon I'll wish that I'm back in a hall of Freshman (no offense guys, you know I love you) with a meal plan that provides me with frightening faux food.  Yeah...I think not.

I do realize that it will be more work.  But it's real work that I'm really glad to take on.  It's like my mom keeps saying to me:

"Lauren...you're like...a real person now!"

Those of you who know me, know that I like to be in control of things.  Those of you who don't know me probably know that too, haha.  I wouldn't say that I'm a control freak (surely others might disagree), I would say that rather than needing to be in control of everything...I need things not to be out of control.  So if something is under control and safe, healthy, and of course to my liking...but in the control of someone else...I'm totally cool with it.

Food is a big thing for me.  I can't handle anything be questionable about food.  I also have a really hard time handling raw meat...but I'd rather brave through the terror of working with raw meat than have somebody that I don't know or trust preparing my meat for me.  Makes sense, right?  At least a little bit?

Anyway, this weekend marks the time when I will actually be moving in...not just moving in furniture.

Audience participation time...okay?

Please, please, please send me a favorite recipe...or two...or four...so that I can try it out!  I'm going to Facebook this request too, but I'm planning on doing this stuff from my blog mostly.  Here's the deal.  I'm thinking about trying to chronicle my new apartment experiences or whatever in the blog.  Kinda like Julie & Julia with the cooking thing.  So send me a recipe...AND YOU COULD SEE IT ON THE BLOG!

Exciting, right?  Well...I think so.

A little note about recipes:  Healthy recipes are preferable...just because that's part of why I'm so excited about cooking for myself...but if the're super awesome and not the healthiest...I might be able to make an exception.  Also, not a huge fish person.  But again...if you can convince me it's super awesome...I'll probably try it out.

Let's see some recipes people!!!!

Peace Out,
LT

P.S.  Sister...wet burritos?  Pretty please?

Yerba Mate

I was working on a biology paper this afternoon (at times it seems that that is all that I do anymore) and Kyle came home from having coffee with his friend/fellow Sunday School Teacher.  He walked into the house, greeted lovingly by Chance, Genevieve, and Nelson, and stopped behind the half-wall that divides the kitchen/eating area from the family room.

"I have an early apartment warming gift for you," he said, and further explained that it was also a gift because he noticed that I've been working very hard on these biology papers and he thought I might need some relaxation.

I closed my eyes and held out my hands, as instructed, and when I opened my eyes I saw that he had gotten me a traditional Yerba Mate Gourd and Bambilla.  The drinking of Yerba Mate is a common social practice in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, eastern Bolivia, and southern and western Brazil.  It's kind of supposed to be a miracle drink.  Sign me up!  Anyway, in some of its countries of origin it is consumed more than coffee in a ratio of 7:1.

I had my first try at it this afternoon.  I had about 3 or 4 gourds full.  Don't remember exactly how many it was...I was writing biology papers (shocker).  Let me tell you what...it has an INTENSE taste!  It was almost kind of overwhelming.  I'm thinking it's kind of an acquired taste.  But that's said about beer too and I've been able to acquire a taste for that just fine.

We're talking energy, antioxidants, blah, blah, blah...(those are reverent "blahs" not negating "blahs")...but it also...are you ready for this?

Get ready?

It kinda saves the friggin rain forests (which, due to my millions of biology papers, I know is very important to do) and by extension the friggin world!

And on top of that.  I'm kind of in love with the people at this company.  Check out this vid.

So...I'm looking at trying to make a conscious life change, here.  Those of you who know me know that I kind of do that all the time...but oh well.  Anyway, I'm trying this whole Yerba Mate thing out.  I think it could be great.  I was reading the pamphlet that came with it and it was telling me about the cultural gourd drinking ceremony...it's done among family and friends...loved ones.  

I said to Kyle "It sounds just like smoking Hookah." 

He said "...well yeah, or a peace pipe."

"Except drinking tea is better for you than smoking."

"Well yeah, Lauren...most things are actually."

You're welcome to those of you who were afraid of going through your day without a dose of Kyle's wisdom.

Peace out, Stay Classy!
Lauren Elizabeth

Awesome Blog from a Friend

Love these kinds of posts when you read them and it just feel like your soul wakes up to a bright and clear morning.

Peace out everybody!  Stay Classy!


http://emslates.blogspot.com/2010/08/powerful-essay.html

Meet Me in St. Louis OPENS TOMORROW!!!!

Presented by Elkhart Civic Theatre

Hey Theatre Fans! (That just doesn't seem to work as well as sports fans...does it?)

Anyway...wanted to write possibly the quickest blog ever to remind you all that the coolest thing, since whatever the last coolest thing was, is happening tomorrow...

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS!

The show opens tomorrow at Jimtown High School on C.R. 3 in Elkhart.

Coming to see Meet Me in St. Louis would be what is commonly referred to as a "good life choice." Trust me...while I am not a doctor...I do drink Diet Dr. Pepper sometimes.

The following information will be helpful in getting you to the shows on the right days at the right times:

Showtimes:

Friday, August 6, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 7, at 7:30 pm
Sunday, August 8, at 3:00 pm

CALL NOW FOR TICKETS!
574-848-4116

Tickets are $18.00 for adults, $15.00 for Students and Senior Citizens 62 and over, and $10.00 for children 12 and under. Or ask about our Family 4 Pack for $44.00!

Hope to see you at the show!

Peace,
Lauren