"You Should Value What You're Doing More. . . "

. . . because it's awesome".

These are the words that were spoken to me a few minutes ago by the barista at the coffee shop where I'm currently sitting.

I was going to write about something entirely different this week, but sometimes life hands you something amazing when all you really asked for was a warm cup of jasmine green tea.

After he took my order, he saw my laptop in hand and inquired about what I was working on - and for a split second I was tempted to go with the generic "homework" response, but for some reason I refrained. I heard myself saying, "Well, actually I have a blog & I mean, I know every one has one, but I want mine to get popular someday, so..." and a few seconds later, I continued to hear myself say, "I'm actually planning on writing a book too, and I know it's the same thing - everyone thinks they can write a book, but I'm going to try."  That's when he interjected, looked me straight in the eye, and said "You should value what you're doing more, because it's awesome".

Value.

We need to value it all, and we so often forget. We need to realize our potential to do truly great things in this world, because we've all been given something special and unique. Stop mentally tearing down your dreams, because they don't deserve to be anchored. Imagine if Louisa May Alcott said, "Oh, a story about five little women. . . no one would be interested in that", or if Audrey Hepburn thought, "Sheesh, Hollywood would never want a girl with a funny face like mine!" Well, the world would have never gotten the opportunity to fall in love with Jo & Laurie, grieve over the loss of dear Beth, or cheer on little Amy's artistic journey. And poor Mr. Fred Astaire would have been denied the chance to have a s'wonderful slow dance on the river with the most beautiful funny-faced girl around.

Sometimes we need little reminders, signs, inspirations. I know it's hard to always believe in yourself, but it's something we all need to make a priority. We are so full of value. And according to my barista, it's AWESOME.

He's completely right, you know. We can do the things we set our minds to - we just cannot let the fear of failure or the idea that someone else will create something "better" than we will intimidate us into thinking we aren't good enough. As the great Winston Churchill said, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." Don't ever loose enthusiasm for what you love, friends.

I fully believe I was meant to come here today simply to hear this single sentence. We are given little bits of encouragement when we need it most, and today I am feeling so blessed because my encouragement cup is overflowing.

This afternoon I had to go into a job I love, take part in a meeting surrounded by coworkers that I love, and break the news that I am moving to a boss that I love. It was unbelievably difficult, but somehow I walked away feeling encouraged. Somehow, even after I explained to him that I would be leaving my job working his front desk starting during the busiest time of the hotel year, all he did was ask me what he could do to help. I am humbled by the true heart of this man, who took me in when I had absolutely no experience working in the hospitality scene. I desperately needed a job, and he gave me a chance - the last thing he deserves is for me to pack it up and leave. He and my hilarious co-workers taught me everything I needed to know about running the front desk, and because of them I now have found a line of work that I truly enjoy. Part of me fears that no future workplace will ever live up to this one, because the amount of acceptance, love, and encouragement I have received here is astronomical. If I could commute from California to Colorado so as to continue working at the Cambria, I would. Each and every person there has touched my life and changed it for the better.

And so goes life, onward and upward. A month from now, I will be moving back to California, and it is truly bittersweet, but I know in my heart it is the right decision. My plan is to chase those dreams of mine full-force, until the day comes when I can stroll casually into a Barnes & Noble on a sunny Sunday afternoon, run my hand down the alphabetized shelves of fiction until I come to the "M's", and see my own words living there.

So as for now, I say - bring it on, life! Because within every single curve ball you throw at me, I will see the value & find a way to make it awesome.

xoxo, lauren 

             

En Ce Moment

Happy Friday!

This week has flown by, which saddens me quite a bit since my man is only in town for a few more days. But on the bright side, we've had such an amazing time so far! Yesterday we went for lunch, then after we got ice cream cones and walked around the park. Let me tell you, it is the most pleasant way to spend a 72 degree spring day. (Also, I got to wear my dear, dear flip flops again - thank goodness!)

Since its been so warm & sunny lately, I've been thinking a lot about spring-y topics like the beautiful idea of planting an adorable little garden, improving my wardrobe, and reorganizing basically everything I own. (The spring cleaning bug isn't a myth, just fyi). I get like this every year around this time; just roll with it people.

On a side-note, I've also been feeling like a need a new hairstyle, but I don't know what. I don't want to cut it again, I'm trying to grow it out. But my straight hair just seems so boring sometimes. . . and then I try to combat the boredom with some Pinterest styling ideas, but of course they go downhill. Basically, this is me when it comes to doing my hair:

Help me, please, I'm beyond void of hair-styling talent. 

In more recent news, I found a lovely new 8tracks playlist that is perfect to listen to while the sun is setting, or while you're doing your makeup, or basically whenever you need a happy pick-me-up from the past. If you've never heard of  8tracks, go check it out! They've got perfect little playlists for every occasion, complete with adorable pictures to go with each one; pretty much my favorite things wrapped into one.

Lately I've been really enjoying my time student teaching, especially because I've gotten to do some student interviews. It's so interesting to learn what's going on inside their little 6th grade heads! Also, I have come to the realization that I love creating interview questions, working through them, writing about them, ect. Thinking about a few courses in journalism. . . hmmm. . . 

I decided to wear my favorite cute little blue & white striped blazer too, which made the day even better! And my little badge always makes me feel official - it's the simple things in life, really. 

Goals for this week include: keeping up with my book, going to the gym 5 out of 7 days, eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and staying positive. 

Let's make it to summer happy & healthy!

xoxo, lauren 

  

   

"We Hate Road-trips!" said None of Us, Ever.

It truly amazes me that a few days ago I was cruising across state lines by the hour, and right now I am ordinarily sitting here in Fort Collins drinking an iced chai. Yesterday Aj, Danielle, & I decided to tackle Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota in less than 24 hours. And it was fantastic.

We left the apartment around 6:30am and jumped on the interstate. The Wyoming state line is becoming quite familiar to us now! But Nebraska, on the other hand, was new for 2/3 of us. . .

Yes, a car full of guys might have pulled over and asked if we were okay moments after this picture was taken. And yes, we were okay, we just love state signs! But shout-out to them for being so sweet as to check on us, since we truly were in the middle of nowhere. 

As we drove on through Nebraska, we came across something that could have very easily passed as the highlight of the day: Carhenge. Yes - Alliance, NE has their own version of the Stonehenge, and it is impressive. So here are a few snapshots of us being absolutely ridiculous in the middle of the best roadside attraction ever. . . 

Naturally after visiting Carhenge, we really couldn't imagine the day getting any more amazing, but we drove on -- straight across the border into South Dakota. Now on a side-note, I would like to inform you that the directions we were given were a sea of tiny little two lane highways, intertwined between different pieces of Native American land & National Parks. It was just us and the road for mile after mile by the time we reached Kyle, SD, home of the Badlands. 

      

Now like I said, I would really like to request a name change - this place was the farthest thing from bad, it was gorgeous. It wasn't only the look of it all that made it beautiful, but the feeling it gave to anyone who entered. The Badlands are the embodiment of freedom. Somehow a place you've never set foot on before in your life can hug you with its warm winds, sing to you with the strings of a million tiny grass blades, and make you feel like you belong. There is no other way to describe it, you simply must go & experience it for yourself someday. 

At this point in our day we realized that somehow, everything just kept getting better & better - so we figured our next stop, Mount Rushmore, was going to be phenomenal. And it was.

First of all, Black Hills National Park, where Mount Rushmore was carved, is absolutely beautiful. The variety of trees & rolling hills astounded all of us. The sky, as with all of the fly-over states I've been to, was equally as amazing; it seemed to stretch farther than the eye could possibly see. It was changing so quickly that we could literally watch the clouds float by, I felt like we were so small in the grand scheme of things. 

  

Then, we drove around a bend and saw it for the first time - it truly is astounding. I've decided Mount Rushmore is something everyone needs to experience, it is truly breathtaking how detailed and life-like the stone is. As we all stared at it, we couldn't take our eyes away, because it almost didn't seem real. It's one of those things you learn about when you're young, see in all the textbooks, and never really imagine how it must be to actually see it in real life. But wow, is it stunning when you do!   

I'm telling ya, rush to Mount Rushmore. It is beyond worth it & you won't regret it! We enjoyed walking around the park, seeing the mountain from all different angles, and learning more about how it was carved. You know how the word "amazing" is frequently misused? Well in this case, amazing doesn't even cut it. It was more than amazing. 

Our entire day was amazing; driving down all these roads we had never even heard of before, adventuring through new states, seeing all different kinds of people. On our way back to Colorado, we stopped in Hill City, SD for some local dinner. The town was so picturesque and quaint, we even saw the sheriff stop & get some ice cream as we parked our car outside of this restaurant. . . 

It was so yummy (of course we all got buffalo burgers) and the food really hit the spot after the long day of driving! I love going to local places during road-trips, it helps you really get a taste of the town. After our lovely dining experience, we were on the road again *cue the song*. . .

       

All in all, it was truly a perfect day. I will never grow tired of adventure via wheels-to-the-road, it is far too exciting yet relaxing at the same time. And the fact that we were in four different states all in one day? Makes it just that much better. Slowly but surely checking off this never-ending bucket list I've got! I could travel the world with these two companions of mine for the rest of my life & be completely content. 

Where should we go next? Any ideas? 

xoxo, lauren  

 

En Ce Moment

We all mope about Monday, whine on Wednesday - and don't get me wrong, I'm quite the professional pouter myself - but quite personally I thrive on Thursdays.

                                        

. . .and no, it's not simply because of the sheer amount of coffee I have consumed by this point in the week, thank you dear skeptics. 

So for today, I'm starting a new weekly series of posts titled (quite frenchy & appropriately), En Ce Moment, where I will discuss the highlights of the week, including but not limited to: current books I'm reading, songs I'm loving, and just all around favorite finds. I hope you enjoy!

A few days ago I finished reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed, which I enjoyed quite a bit. It was motivating, for the obvious reasons, and continued to amaze me whenever I remembered that it is a first person account of true events. A 26 year old woman solo-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail? A fantastic read if you need some perspective and motivation.

Today I'm planning on starting The Longings of Wayward Girls by Karen Brown -

Apparently it holds mystery, murder, summertime. . . and the first words on page one are "Sadie wasn't a bad girl." So you just try and take a guess how intrigued I am by this one. On a side-note, if you'd like to take a look at other books on my radar, feel free to visit my Goodreads page!  

Recently I've been listening to ample amounts of Ben Rector, Ingrid Michelson, and Andy Grammer Pandora stations - they just never get old! They're great stations to listen to during early springtime, such happy songs like this one by Rosi Golan, which I think is simply one of the prettiest songs I've ever heard - 

And sometimes when you're having a bad day, your man sends you cute little things like this that bring a smile to your face & want to share them - 

Truly, that is now my absolute favorite picture, hands-down. So adorable, I'm obsessed. Here are a few more cutes, just for inspiration & good measure - 

Off to work I go, behind the front desk is where you will find me for the next eight hours. But then after that, the moment we've all been waiting for. . . Friday. It's less than 24 hours away friends, it's coming. We can make it!

xoxo, lauren  

Spring Break & Other News

You ever sit back, look at your life, and realize you want to need to change it (again)? And from that moment forward, all you can think about is chasing this new dream - well folks, this revelation has happened to me.

               

I realized lately that all I am doing is following the plan that society has laid out for me. I don't need to be living my life because I "should" do something. (And who says I should exactly?)

I am going to make a change here, and soon. A big change for the better! More on this to come. . .

In other recent news, spring break came & went; with it went Danielle and I to Montana - home of my handsome man, cute bookstores, and truly the largest, most beautiful skies I have ever seen. First stop, Wyoming. . .  

    

We drank pretty lemonades & left our mark. . .

Shout out to my darling little ficus for taking such great care of us, and still looking like a stunna. . .

6.5 hours & a few chocolate chip cookies later, we were greeted by the Montana border. . . 

And then we got to stare at this for the next few hours before the sun said goodbye. . .

Poor, poor us - I know! 

Once we got to Missoula, we ate good food, sipped on (shhh) strong drinks, and danced our way through sparkly downtown nights. Leaving your worries 12 hours behind you on the road really does do wonders, folks. It was hands-down one of the greatest spring breaks I've ever had. . .

     

                                 

On a mush-note, I also got to see my man :) 

He's quite the dream boat. My dream boat. I feel I'm the luckiest girl in the world! He amazes me more each day, who knew that was even possible? 

Then we had a pleasant day in the Heart of Missoula, with some coffee & book stores. . .

Even though leaving was the farthest thing from a peach, we got to stop & visit a sweet high school friend of mine in Bozeman, MT and she let us meet these beautiful little girls, which brightened the sadness of the day if only for just a few moments. . . 

               

Overall, it was a fantastic spring break -- I just can't wait till the day when I never have to say goodbye to Aj ever again. But we've already conquered this long distance thing for almost a year now, we've got it down & it's almost over! Time flies, it really does. 

Here's to hoping that our dear friend time continues to fly, as fast as its little wings can go, until it's time to head home for summer. The idea of summer - it's a whole other box of chocolates. Cheers to that!  

xoxo, lauren 

    

I Think It's Important To E X P L O R E . . .

Really, I do. We have this whole world at our finger tips -- so many different cultures, cities, rolling hills, road-side diners. When I was a little girl, I told my mother that I wanted to live each year in a different place, simply so I could expereince the feeling of what it means to be a true part of said-place, & not just be a tourist. Now is the time for me to do just that. 

There are so many things I want to say; so many things I want to write about. The running list I keep is a compilation of singular moments, that will someday hopefully all come together to create something beautiful -- 

The time I was at a half-star motel in Arizona & saw a girl in an old high school sweatshirt sitting on the steps smoking a lonely cigarette. 

The feeling that goes along with sitting alone on your porch at night; listening to old "annnd here's Frank Sinatra!" tracks while eating Chinese out of cute little boxes as the breeze takes control of the world around you and sends a single soda can clicking down the empty street, momentarily interrupting poor Frank & the boys. 

When you take on a solo road trip, and that indescribable feeling of freedom hits you every time you realize the power & independence you hold in your hands as you grasp that wheel. 

When you cross a state line for the very first time, perfect song escaping on full volume out your open windows, and you know in your heart you will never be able to experience that "first" again. 

That one night you sat there under your hometown stars with the three people that mean the most to you in the world, playing cards by candle light & pretending like your universe wasn't about to be turned upside down in a few days by the deceptive force that commonly goes by the name of "college". 

Exploring is more than landmarks and theme parks. It's all of those feelings, expereinces, moments & more; and it's the people you expereince them with. So go drink a beer in Nashville; slide up onto a New York barstool & order a Manhattan like it's nobody's business; pop open a bottle of sparkling champagne in Paris. And you know those beautiful human beings who love you because you're you? Who you can't imagine living without? Pack them in your suitcase and bring them along. 

Someday, I will write a book. Someday, you'll be walking through Barnes & Noble and see my name there, on the "Up & Coming Fiction" table, between Maupin and Moyes. And your eyes will do a double-take. You'll pick it up, and some line like "I went to high school with this girl" or "Wow, when I knew her she was so quiet, is this really hers?" will run through your mind. And I hope you'll want to read it. 

It will be filled with moments like the ones above, and many more that I have not expereinced yet. So I suppose I'm just as in the dark as you are, friend-that-just-picked-up-my-future-novel. Who knows what's filling those pages; I sure don't, at least not yet. But I can assure you they will be living, breathing words that I hold dear to my heart -- and I hope you will be able to get some life out of them too. I hope they will encourage you to go out and start your own mod-podge of moments. You can't go looking for them, you simply have to go out and wait for them to find you. They will, I promise - and when they do, you'll be ready. You'll know when they arrive because a familiar yet completely unique sensation will come over you, and you'll know you absolutely, without a doubt, need to write this down.

xoxo, lauren  

A Letter To Myself

Dear Future-Teacher-Me,

    Today you woke up and realized something: you're a ''real'' adult now. With a ''real'' job.
. . . And you're going to impact  R E A L  lives.

    The kids aren't always going to listen to you, they won't always get perfect grades, and they certainly will not always be simple. But it is going to be worth it -- because they will grow, and you'll grow along with them.

    It's scary, being the one in charge. You are going to have to be a leader and learn to stand up for what you want your classroom to look like. The way you impact your students on the first day is critical -- they need to know that even though you are soft-spoken (and almost as tall as many of them) that you still intend to be listened to.

    Classroom management and attitude is oh-so-important. My students need to know that I am on their side. They need to know the classroom is a safe place; a place where everyone (including me) shares one common goal: to improve & truly learn. I want to be on their side. I want to encourage them not only in their academics but in their social and mental skills.

    This is a big task to take on, but remember you have been trained for this! You have read all the books and observed all the schools - now it's your turn. Practice what you preach, woman. You've worked & studied & prayed for this. You can do it.

    You know it will be a learning process, and you need to always remember that, especially on your worst days. There will always be some days that are better than others; days where you wish you had a simple desk job instead of a crazy, stressful, frustrating, saddening, teaching position. But that's what you get when you work with precious little human souls, you get real life. You get it handed to you every day, tied with a little pink bow. Real life is all those things previously mentioned, but it is also rewarding, amazing, heartwarming, and full of innocence. It's a constantly changing tide, and you're going to have to learn to roll with the waves.

     But it will all be worth it, you'll see. Now go put on that pretty teacher dress you bought months ago while planning for this day. Feel confident. And smart. And able.

    Go out and  t e a c h.

xoxo, lauren