My Take

I'm back!  So sorry for the delays, again.  But I'm back in San Diego and my computer is fixed.  So let the blogging begin.

To get back into things I thought I would give you guys my take on the movies I have watched recently.

Life as We Know It: Easily one of the best romantic comedies I have seen in a long time-- and I am a sucker for romantic comedies.  The polt is not what you would expect and the story takes its time developing.  You will feel like you are on an emotional roller-coaster and I recommend bringing a tissue, just in case.  A very refreshing take on your stereotypical feel-good movie.

Morning Glory: This movie has a bit of everything.  It is witty and that alone got it major points with me.  I would not classify this as a romantic comedy although there is a decent amount of love in this story.  Overall, though, it is the story of a young woman finding a work-life balance who ends up helping others do so on the way.

Love and Other Drugs: I had extremely high expectations for this movie.  I thought the story was interesting and I liked how it, again, isn't your typical rom-com.  However, the highly-publicized nudity is a little disheartening.  I felt like the multiple instances of nudity did not contribute to the storyline in the way that it was intended.  Regardless, I understand why the movie is rated "R" and would hope that it would be despite the nudity.  The topics addressed run deeper than PG-13 appropriate.  Overall, a very well-written, emotional and intimate story that feels, for lack of a better description, true.  But I could do without the multiple awkward scenes.

Tangled: Disney surprised me with this one.  Yes, it is the story of Rapunzel but revisited.  They added the perfect amount of spice to make for an interesting movie.  The music and animation were extremely well done.  Still doesn't come close to the Disney movies from when I was growing up, but definitely one of their better movies from the 2000's.

I would recommend all of these movies depending on the audience.  Morning Glory and Tangled are more appropriate for kids while Life as We Know It is a good "going out with friends"/"date" movie.  Make sure to see Love and Other Drugs with someone who will laugh off the naked scenes with you.

Thankful

"Stay the Night" James Blunt

Hey guys!  Sorry for the lack of posts, my computer is currently undergoing repairs.
For now though, Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for each and every person that reads this.
Enjoy one of my new song obsessions :]
Love, Lauren

Your Love is a Song

I'm sorry for the lack of regular posts.  I was getting better for awhile and then.. midterms, presentations, projects, quizzes... you get the idea.  I miss blogging and I promise I'm getting back to it soon.  Meanwhile, enjoy this song.
Daphne and I had a marathon Switchfoot day last weekend (doing homework and listening to all of their songs).  Oddly enough, last night I was completely stressed out (I was buying things and preparing for a chemistry presentation) so I turned the radio on absentmindedly and focused on what needed to be done.  The song that came up before I parked was this one, which I loved when it was released.  But especially after the Switchfoot weekend with Daphne, I couldn't help but smile at this "coincidence", blast the music, and relax for the first time that day.  God's a pretty legit dj.

Romesick

It always starts with an idea.  A half-hearted (but hopeful) "let's go (insert awesome, random activity or place here) tonight!!!!".  So tonight my mission was to study in Little Italy with most sincere desire to find coffee that could take me back to Trastevere.  Accompanied by Yoyo, Daphne, some homework and an address we determined this night was going to be good-- regardless of the coffee.

Caffe Italia welcomed us with gigantic Venetian masks, cannoli, biscotti, espresso, gelato and the flavor of Italy.  The minute we walked in I felt like this was the right place.  I decided on a "Caffe Emmline", a blended gelato drink.  I figured that would be the closest to the real thing that I miss so much.  Their recipe calls for two shots blended with espresso bean gelato and I asked for some chocolate syrup.  My first sip was heavenly.  I was back in Rome.

We studied and relaxed there until closing time and decided to drive and get lost in San Diego.  The end of the evening consisted of blasting the radio, singing to every song we knew and stopping wherever there were awesome shiny lights to take pictures.

The night with my favorite roomies (<3) was just what I needed.  This week I was feeling a little bit homesick and really can't wait to go home and see my parents and my dog.  I think tonight was the motivation I need to get through the next two weeks.  So dearest Daphne and Yoyo, thanks and I love you guys.
"I'll never be the same, If we ever meet again, Won't let you get away-- said if we ever meet again, This free fall's got me so" --Timbland ft. Katy Perry

32 Cupcakes

The little things in life aren't so little.

Yesterday, I saw two men standing outside on one of the busiest paths on campus.  They were standing to the side speaking softly.  As I walked by I heard, "I pray also for your Spirit to wash over him and strengthen him".  That was cool-- people completely tuning out the crazy business around them, completely dedicated to the intimate moment they were sharing with the Creator of the Universe.
Today, walking to class I saw a Boston Terrier running around with a stick that was bigger than him.  Chased by two larger puppies, they were having a blast.  It's so easy for dogs to be happy-- and thankfully for us, its contagious.
And now, in lecture I was nearly falling asleep.  Today one of the T.A.'s is lecturing and his voice is like a sweet lullaby.  "Racism is prevalent...blah,blah,blah.. this study......"  Suddenly the side door opened up and three or four guys came in with nerf swords and proceeded to fight across the front of the lecture hall.  Another guy videoed the ordeal while a couple of the "students" in the lecture stood up, took their shirts off and ran away screaming.  The substitute took the ordeal pretty well while the class muffled laughter.  Yeah, it's definitely the little things.

Car troubles and other things led me to a mood of frustration late Sunday.  I figured retail therapy was out of the question (seriously, malls close early) so the next best thing was in order-- cupcake therapy.  I was bored with making the same cookies so I found a recipe for something new.  An hour later, I was the proud baker of apple cinnamon cupcakes with brown butter carmel icing.  (Check out this site, Cupcake 10.)  I made some more yesterday to finish off the diced apples (thanks to Daphne for the peeling and slicing <3) and now, two days later, my apartment has consumed almost 32 cupcakes.  We are that good.
"I know a girl who's tough but sweet, She's so fine, she can't be beat, She's got everything I desire, Sets the summer sun on fire...  I want candy" --Aaron Carter or the awesome Halloween stuffed animal from my grandma.  Personally, I prefer the latter.

The Halloween Snowball

I stopped dead in my tracks.  With a huge smile on my face I turned to Yoyo and exclaimed, "It's a Christmas tree!!!!!"

SANTA!!!

This happens every year.  It all starts with Costco stocking some wrapping paper and fake trees in September.  Everyone thinks that Christmas is still in the incredibly distant future and that Costco is just a little too Christmas-trigger happy.  But when I see that premature wrapping paper, I just smile and start counting down the days.  Once Halloween approaches, the world begins to face the fact that Christmas is just around the corner.  Costco and I, we are the prepared ones.  When the day comes that the rest of the world catches up, (usually seen through the malls decked out in ornaments and garland, Santas abounding and everything smelling like apple cinnamon spice heaven) I become even happier.

And today was that day.  Yoyo and I decided to catch "Life as We Know It" while it is still in theatres.  The movie was fantastic, albiet an emotional roller coaster.  But I think that is why it was so good-- finally a creative spin on the stereotypical romantic comedy.  We got out of the movie after the stores were closed and I grabbed a coffee at Starbucks.  This Starbucks was cool enough to blog about.  It had a gigantic carved wooden mermaid and automatic doors.  I'm talking serious cool.
Then, we decided what better time to shop than when all the stores were closed?  So we window shopped and ended up stumbling upon the Christmas tree in the middle of the massive outdoor mall which is where this post began.  I stopped walking and stared, perfectly content.

Tiffany and Christmas.... two of my favorite things <3

Good friends, good movies, good shopping and the Christmas countdown stands at 47 days.  The most wonderful time of the year always comes sooner than we expect.
"City lights, as far as the eye can see, You and I, we'll do it differently, With our hearts in our hands, Like loaded guns, We're taking a chance, We're the lucky ones" --Brendan James

"Summer" Days

I need to do laundry.  Not, "I should think about doing laundry", no.. that was a few days ago.  Now, I am out of clothes.  This fact is impressive if you have ever seen my closet.
Thankfully, there is a surplus of clean dresses in the back of my closet and, double thankfully, the weather is more than dress-perfect.  So, this morning I threw on one of the dresses I bought in Rome while I was waiting for my luggage to arrive.  And as I was walking to class, all I could think about was a cold, Italian coffee.  Sweet dreams, indeed.

Surfer heading home (filtered in Photoshop) 11/2/10

San Diego has seemed to conveniently forget that the calendar pictures kitschy "I voted!" stickers, leftover pumpkins and cornucopias signaling to most of the world (or at least this hemisphere) that it is November.  This week has been absolutely gorgeous and definitely hotter than when school started in September.  Yoyo and I made the short drive down to Shores on Tuesday to relax before the week got too crazy.  We drank banessos, tanned and took pictures.  With some amazing beach music, we watched the sun go down four hours later.  I never feel luckier to be here than when I get to watch the sun, starting from above, light up the sky with a thousand different colors and race past the horizon.

Bananas, coffee, sunsets..  It all kind of sounds like a Jack Johnson song.
"At Huntington and Malibu, They're shooting the pier, At Rincon they're walking the nose, We're going on safari to the islands this year, So if you're coming get ready to go" --The Beach Boys