"Later on we'll conspire, As we dream by the fire..."

Feliz Navidad mis amores! So, I don't have an outfit post for today because, to be honest, I really just wore jeans and a sweater because it was SO COLDD. Anyways, as a way to spread the love, I thought I'd share another post dedicated to what I'm listening to now, seeing as the last post went over pretty well.

What's on my ipod (commas between song titles):

1. Arctic Monkeys- Flourescent Adolescent, Teddy Picker
2. The Kooks- Always Where I Need To Be
3. The Smiths- Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
4. Vampire Weekend- A-Punk, Campus, Giving Up The Gun
5.  Matt Nathanson- All We Are
6. The Dodos- Ashley, Winter
7. Hellogoodbye- Baby It's Fact, Oh Is It Love?
8. Rachael Yamagata- Be Be Your Love
9. Moby- Beautiful
10. Kill Paradise- Beautiful Colors
11. ADELE- Hometown Glory
12. Amy Kuney- Love Is Trippy, Simple Things, All Downhill From Here
13. Amy Winehouse- Rehab
14. Band Of Skulls- Friends
15. Sia- My Love
16. Cee Lo Green- What Part Of Forever, Fuck You
17. Duffy- Mercy
18. Florence + The Machine- Dog Days Are Over, Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
19. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole- Somewhere Over The Rainbow
20. K'naan- Wavin' Flag
21. Kate Nash- Merry Happy, Birds, Nicest Thing, Do-Wah-Doo
22. Landon Pigg- Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop
23. Lily Allen- The Fear
24. Meg & Dia- Going Away
25. Michael Buble- Save The Last Dance For Me, Haven't Met You Yet
26. Michael Franti & Spearhead- Say Hey (I Love You)
27. Mika- Love Today
28. Muse- Uprising, Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever), Supermassive Black Hole
29. Noah and the Whale- 5 Years Time
30. Okkervil River- Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe
31. The Pierces- Turn On Billie, Secret, Sticks & Stones
32. The Ready Set- Love Like Woe
33. Plain White T's- Let Me Take You There, Write You A Song, Friends Don't Let Friends Dial Drunk, Rhythm of Love
34. A Rocket To The Moon- Like We Used To
35. Santigold- Creator
36. The Script- The Man Who Can't Be Moved
37. Sea Wolf- The Cold The Dark And The Silence, Violet Hour
38. Selena Cross- Silence
39. Shout Out Louds- Impossible
40. Iron & Wine- Flightless Bird American Mouth
41. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Maps
42. Camera Obscura- French Navy
43. The Decemberists- Sixteen Military Wives, July July!
44. Cat Power- Sea Of Love
45. Modest Mouse- Ocean Breathes Salty
46. Corinne Bailey Rae- Put Your Records On
47. The Postal Service- Nothing Better
48. Belle and Sebastian- Funny Little Frog, I'm A Cuckoo
49. Eisley- Invasion
50. Hurricane Bells- Monsters, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, This Year
51. Patrick and Eugene- Don't Stop, The Birds And The Bees
52. Sleeping At Last- Green Screens, Umbrella
53. Kate Voegele- I Won't Disagree
54. Ingrid Michaelson- Be Ok, The Chain, Breakable, Snowfall, and basically all of her songs (:

And, now for those that I'm a bit ashamed about, haha:

1. BBMak- Back Here, Unpredictable

2. Cher- Life After Love 

3. *NSYNC- Bye Bye Bye
4. The Backstreet Boys- I Want It That Way

And, I feel like this one deserves her own category:

Taylor Swift- Basically, I love every single one of her songs, and yes, I am one of those fangirls that has all of her lyrics memorized (:

Well, I hope that you have fun finding some new music to listen to! Lemme know if there's any artists or specific songs that you think I'd like in the comments below.

Happy Holidays!

-xoxo Lauren

"I want a snowfall kinda love..."

Merry Christmas chicas! Ahh, I love Christmas so much, and since it is the season of giving, I thought I would do an outfit post today! I'm wrapping some last-minute presents today and thought I would get into the spirit and wear some Christmas colors.

(Top: JCPenney, Skirt: Forever 21, Belt: Forever 21, Sorry no shoes today!)




Don't ask me what I was trying to do here....

 

I hate when my dogs step into the shot! Haha <3

Sooo, I decided to actually let them take some pictures with me (:

And, my new hat! And sorry its turned, it uploaded weird

I wanted to take these pictures in front of my Christmas tree because I thought it was just so beautiful!
Happy Holidays to you and all of your loved ones!
-xoxo Lauren

Catching Sparkles

Holaaa!
Oh, how I've missed you! I know, I know, I've terribly neglected my blog. But school this year is... intense, to say the least. And, I get home and I'm tired and, ugh, the cycle never ends. BUT, today I have an outfit post! So, for Christmas and all of the other holidays, since I go to a Methodist private school, we have chapel and all the girls have to wear skirts (which is a bit chauvenistic in my opinion, but whatever). Anyways, here's what I wore:

(Dress: Unknown Department Store, Tights: Urban Outfitters, Necklace: H&M, Shoes: DSW)

 

Nothing too amazing but then again, I couldn't find the dress I really wanted to wear because it somehow went mysteriously MISSING. Bummer. But I guess it'll just make for an interesting scavenger hunt while I'm on break. And this reminds me. I'm sorry I couldn't post because not only am I EXTREMELY busy now (like I said before), but for a while, my computer wouldn't let me upload pictures to anything (including facebook!) But, my wonderful tech geek of a dad managed to fix this for me, so I'll be posting a lot more often now (: By the way, add me as a Facebook friend here!
Happy Holidays!
xoxo Lauren

Feminine, Girly, and Modern... three words to live by ♥

 

Ahhhh, it feels so great posting again! I've missed you all terribly, but life is life and sometimes you need to prioritize. Unfortunately, my blog must suffer, but no worrys, here is a post to keep you entertained. :)

<---  Sooo here's a pic of my new hair color :) What do you girls think? It's called iced chocolate brown.  It's a darker brown with tints of red in it that you can see in the sunlight. I really like it. It's temporary, but I think I'm going to keep dying it this color for a while.


(Dress: American Eagle Outfitters, Shrug: Charlotte Russe)

 Alright, soo, I can't figure out how to rotate this picture unfortunately, so I guess this is the best I can do haha.  I also have lost my camera, so this is a really bad picture from my phone, but since it's been so long, I thought this was at least better than nothing.



(Shoes: DSW)




I love these wedges like they're my children.  They're super comfy and they're simple but still interesting with their gold studs.

Now that I've come back into the blogosphere, I just want to know what you guys are up to.  What's new and interesting? Are there any new brands that you just ADORE that you think I should check out? Let me know and you could get a shout-out!


Con Amor,
Lauren <333

Times are changing...

Ahhh, it's been way too long since I've been able to visit this beloved blog. Many things have happened since my last post. I have started my SOPHMORE year in high school, I have for the first time experienced a peanut-butter-and-nutella-and-fluff sandwich, and I have just recently DYED MY HAIR! I actually just dyed it yesterday, and the best thing is, my DAD did it! I've never been so proud, hehe. I actually have to finish my homework now (ugh) and get to bed, but I just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know that, no, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, and I will be back with new posts-- STARTING REALLY SOON (I PROMISE)! For now, I will leave you with some of my current musical obsessions:

Rabbit Heart (Raise it up) by Florence + the Machine

Impossible by the Shout Out Louds

Winter by The Dodos

Sticks and Stones by The Pierces

Mine by Taylor Swift

Can't wait to talk to you lovely girls soon!

Con Amor (Always),
Lauren <333

My Guilty Pleasures...

So I know that it's been a while since I've posted last, but this past month has been CRAAAZZY. But I figured that I had to do a post, and since I was stuck at home all day today, I don't have an outfit post for you guys, so I thought I'd fill you in on some of my current guilty pleasures...
1. The Pierces-
I love these girls. They're so pretty and their music is FABULOUS. So far my favorite album is "Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge". Love it. Their music videos are so different and kinda creepy, but their music has that old jazzy feel to it and the videos are simple yet fabulous.

2. JuicyStar07-
JuicyStar07, aka Blair, is this AMAZING beauty guru. Her and her sister both have youtube accounts, and whenever I'm in need of some new makeup or hair ideas, she is the first person I turn to. You can access her youtube account here.

3. Oversize Cardigans- So, I'm not entirely sure how you would describe this type of sweater because right now, my brain is just NOT working. Anyways, I just recently bought a fab, super-soft heather grey cardigan at Gap that I will try to work into my next outfit post.

4. Pretty Little Liars-
I absolutely adore this show, and sadly it had it's summer finale Tuesday night. But the books are also just as amazing, and I just recently finished reading the first book in the series and it was an easy read, but very interesting.

5. Keds-
I know Keds aren't exactly the most fashionable shoes, and trust me, I'd rather be wearing a killer pair of heels, but when I need shoes that are comfortable for walking around town, Keds do the trick. And Urban Outfitters has a ton of great designs. So though you may disagree, I give Keds a thumbs up.

6. Love Like Woe by The Ready Set- I'm soooo in love with this song right now. It's so bouncy and perfect for summer and its so sweet. Love it.

7. Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownies- Super yummy! My stepmom has a wheat allergy, so we mostly have just gluten free food in my house, and ever since Betty Crocker came out with these brownies, I have been going nuts over them! I actually just took a pan out of the oven. They look amazing! And they're super easy to make, which is a plus.

Anyways, Rachel Zoe is on, which means my attention is currently being diverted, so I'll talk to you lovelies later!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

P to the A to the C-K-I-N-G...

Today was just a lazy day spent packing and preparing for vacation. I'm going on vacation from this Saturday (24th) to next Saturday (31st). I'm going to Bethany Beach in Delaware. I've never been to Delaware for vacation before so it should be interesting. But I am bringing my laptop on vacation with me, so I will be able to do some posts. But I'm not sure when I'll have time, so they'll be pretty sparse and scattered (which you guys are already used to with me, haha). Anyways, I thought I'd leave you lovelies with a quick little outfit post for today, but unfortunately my computers not cooperating and it would upload the pic :(. Not sure if I'll be able to post tomorrow, but I'm hoping I will. But I'll be baking banana bread, so it will most likely take some time, haha. But I'll be sure to catch up with you girlies soon!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

"...And we were pretty ballerinas all day long..."

Wowww, I don't know what it is about today but you guys are getting THREEEEEE posts today! But so far, I haven't told you guys what I did today, nor have I told you what I wore, so that is what this post is about (obviously Lauren, why do you always have to restate what we already know?). Anyways, today I went to a dance workshop that lasted seven hours. There was a ballet class and a modern class, so needless to say I was worked pretty hard today. But that's okay seeing as I really like ballet and I LOVE modern. :) Even though it was fun being a dancer and all, I was confined to a leotard and tights all day long. :( But I still managed to pull off wearing some normal clothes when I got home, so this is what I wore:

(Dress: American Eagle Outfitters, Blazer: Pins and Needles, Tights: Vera Wang, Shoes [not seen]: DSW)
So that's all for today I guess.

Con Amor (Always),
Lauren <3

"So I was thinking something along the lines of..."

So the other day I went with my grandmother to go shopping for my birthday/to get school clothes. However, I love my grandma and all, don't get me wrong, but its just SO HARD to say that you don't like something a grandparent picks out, isn't it? I mean, when my grandma would get that smile and that wishful gleam in her eyes and she'd hold up this absolutely HIDEOUS dress that she thought was "adorable", how was I supposed to tell her that I hated it? I mean, am I the only one faced with this dilemma? I don't think so. So I did what any other fashion-savvy girl would in this situation- I avoided the problem all together and let my grandma (who's a jewelryaholic) peruse the jewelry counters while I looked around the stores. But, since I live in puny little Dallas, PA and the closest mall is fifteen minutes away, there weren't that many stores that I felt were safe to go into to look. But nonetheless, I strived to find some things that I thought were worthy enough to add to my wardrobe and I hope you all agree!

(Skirt: JcPenney's $20)
And here is the detailing on the skirt (it's still a little hard to see):


(Skirt: Target $10.50)
And the detailing:


(Vest: JcPenney $15)

(Sweater: American Eagle Outfitters $25)

(Top: American Eagle Outfitters $20)

(Dress: JcPenney's "Olsenboye" Collection $25)

(Dress: American Eagle Outfitters $40)

(Shoes: Old Navy $15)


(Sweater: Charlotte Russe $20)
The final sweater from Charlotte Russe was actually from my New Jersey trip. So what do you guys think? I know this is just department store clothing, but considering the small town I live in I consider it kind of a success. Hey, did I ever tell you guys that the winner of the first season of Project Runway, Jay McCarroll, was from Dallas, PA? Score one for Pennsylvania. So comment below with your opinion on my outfit and let me know if doing some videos would be a good idea for my blog. Also, the reader who comes up with the best ideas for my blog will get three posts dedicated to him/her. Thanks guys!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

P.S.- Only six more days until my birthday! :)

What's your Funk and Standard?

So it seems only fair that I catch you up on what I've been up to recently, seeing as I haven't posted in what feels like a million years. But summer is summer. I always try to get as much fun and traveling in as I can until fall rolls around and it's time to hit the books again.
Anyways, this past week I went to Matawan, New Jersey to visit my friend Em. And it was fabulous. Nothing but swimming, shopping, and having fun with one of my best friends who I rarely get to see. While in NJ, I went to Red Bank, New Jersey for a day with Em. I loved the feeling the town gave. There were a bunch of shops and little novelty shops, and a bunch of little restaurants. Plus there was a huge Urban Outfitters and this one store named Funk & Standard. I thought it was one of the coolest little stores I have ever been in. To visit their website, you can just click here. If you have ever visited Fred Flare's website, which I'm sure many of you probably have, it is exactly the same type of store. Low prices, novelty items, and a vintage feel with its clothing. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take photos inside of the shop, so I can't show you the store.
After Funk and Standard, I went to this really awesome candy shop called Rick's with Em, and I think that I spent the majority of my money on candy, haha.

Anyways, this is just a quick little update on my adventures in Matawan, New Jersey. Just wondering, any Jersey girls reading this blog? Comment for a special shout-out!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

Inspiration and Those Summer Days

It's been almost a month and I think I'll die if I wait another day to post. Summer's been hectic, and I'm sorry that I haven't gotten the chance to post lately. However, there is less than two weeks until my birthday (which is the 25th), and so I will be getting some new pieces to show you. Currently my dog is turning my body into a jungle gym and a marathon of Disney movies is clouding my typing abilities, so I will make this post short and sweet. Later I will post on my NYC and New Jersey experiences from this past week, but for now, some inspiration.







Until tomorrow...

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

"I'd much rather be known as some curvy Kate than as some skinny stick." -Kate Winslet

Okay so I feel pretty bad right now. I know that I promised you lovelies that I would post either on Sunday or Monday, but I completely forgot that I would have no time to post on either day, seeing as I had to venture over to the land of ice cream and dirt (a.k.a. my aunt and uncle's house where my 6 and 8 year old cousins reside) because Tuesday was my 6 year old cousin's KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION! I know, I'm proud. But then again, if he wasn't able to pass kindergarten then there is something SERIOUSLY wrong.

Now, I really want to get to the main reason for this post. It's a serious topic and highly controversial, and before you read, I want you to know that I do not mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable or degrade anyone in any way. But I've been noticing a lot of advertisements lately for a new TV show that will soon be premiering on ABC Family called "HUGE". Now, the name alone seems, I'm not sure how I can describe it... controversial? Rude? Degrading? I'm sure I'm probably just reading into it too much, considering the show hasn't even premiered yet, but when you think about, do we really need more pressure about body issues in today's society? There are pressures EVERYWHERE for girls to be "skinnier" and how "Size 6 is the new 14". But when you flip through your TV Guide today, you see all of these shows devoted to body appearance. For example tv shows such as: HUGE, One Big Happy Family, Biggest Loser, Dance Your A** Off, Celebrity Fit Club, and movies such as: Hairspray, Mean Girls, To Be Fat Like Me, Shallow Hal, and even Center Stage address body issues. Whether it's highlighting criticism and abuse to people who are overweight, or whether the movie portrays a character faced with anorexia or bulimia, the media shows too much attention to body image. It is basically impossible to walk into a supermarket or drug store today without seeing tabloids with headers such as "See which celebrity recently gained 25 lbs." or those with pictures splayed all over the cover of celebrities who are "fat" (according to the media), when in all actuality, they are HEALTHY. I for one am not exactly the thinnest girl in the whole world, but I am HEALTHY. I love fruits and vegetables and I don't eat a lot of sweets. When I drink soda, it is usually lower in calories and sugar. I dance 24/7 and am always on the move. But, I do go between a size 6 and a size 8. And here's the thing... I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK. Sure, I want to look nice. But in all honesty, I'm proud of my body because I'M CURVY, but I don't have a weight problem. I'm healthy, curvy, and tall, so it all balances out. People can say what they want about how "skinny" girls are "prettier" or "better" than "fat" girls. These are the people that keep our society from moving forward, from progressing, from CHANGING. I KNOW that there are obesity problems in today's society, but people often don't realize the problems associated with anorexia and bulimia. According to The New York Times, 34% of adults are obese and 17% of children are obese. But according to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, 8 MILLION Americans suffer from bulimia or anorexia, 7 million are women and 1 million are men. 1 in 200 American women suffer from anorexia, and 2 to 3 in 100 American women suffer from bulimia. Nearly half of all Americans know someone with an eating disorder, and only 10% of people with an eating disorder receive treatment. And even though 10% of people receive treatment, 80% of those who receive treatment do not receive enough treatment. So next time you see a tabloid in your nearest supermarket, just remember that YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! This is why for this post, I decided to quote Kate Winslet, because I totally agree with her statement. If anyone has any questions, PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. If you want to just talk, I'm always available. And again, this post was not written to offend anyone. It was simply to inform you about the problems in the media today about pressures associated with body image.

Con Amor (always),
Lauren <3

STAY BEAUTIFUL! <3

Tunes, tunes, tunes...

So, I have recently been changing my music style to more alternative/rock/indie. It's such a fun and diverse genre of music, and I've been playing around with a bunch of different bands and singers. Of course, I will always love my Muse, Taylor Swift, and Kate Nash, but I have new favorites too. I think it's because of my recently gifted iPod, and I love the music videos that these bands come up with. They're so creative and inspirational! Anyways, I figured I should share some of my finds with you guys! Here's a list of names and some of my favorite songs!

1. Kate Nash- Merry Happy, Nicest Thing, Do-Wah-Doo
2. Muse- Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever), Uprising
3. Plain White T's (I've always had a thing for them, they're so cute!)- Let Me Take You There, Write You a Song, 1,2,3,4
4. Ingrid Michaelson- The Chain, Be Ok, The Way I Am
5. Kill Paradise- Beautiful Colors
6. Camera Obscura- French Navy
7. The Decemberists- Sixteen Military Wives, July, July!
8. Cat Power- Sea of Love
9. Modest Mouse- Ocean Breathes Salty
10. Hellogoodbye- Baby, it's fact, Oh, is it love?
11. Amy Kuney- Love is Trippy, Simple Things
12. Amy Winehouse (I've always loved her style)- Rehab
13. Corinne Bailey Rae- Put Your Records On
14. Vampire Weekend- A-Punk
15. Arctic Monkeys- Fluorescent Adolescent
16. Landon Pigg- Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop
17. Lily Allen- The Fear
18. Meg & Dia- Going Away
19. Sea Wolf (love them!)- The Violet Hour, You're a Wolf, The Cold, the Dark, and the Silence, Wicked Blood
20. Vanessa Carlton- White Houses
21. Okkervil River- Our Life is not a Movie or Maybe, Girl in Port
22. The Dodos- Winter, Ashley
23. The Postal Service- Nothing Better
24. Belle and Sebastian- Funny Little Frog, I'm a Cuckoo
25. Yeahyeahyeahs- Maps, Zero
26. Eisley- Invasion
27. Hurricane Bells- Monsters, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, This Year
28. Patrick and Eugene- Don't Stop, The Birds and the Bees
29. Sara Bareilles- King of Anything
30. Sleeping at Last- Green Screens, Umbrellas
31. Kate Voegele- I Won't Disagree
32. Anjulie- Boom

Ahhh, that's all for now! I'll let you know about any future finds! Let me know what your favorite bands/singers are!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3
P.S.- Sorry there's no fashion in this post, but I will definitely post again tomorrow or on Monday!

Lots of Pretty New Clothes and other stuff :)

Friday was my brother's graduation (which you already know) and it was REALLLLLLLLY hot. So, I couldn't wear the cute little outfit that I had picked out that had layers and a blazer. I think I would have died. So instead, I went a bit more casual.


(Top: Aerie, Cami: Aeropostale, Skirt: Forever 21, Shoes: DSW, Necklace: Forever 21)
I got this skirt when I was down at King of Prussia last weekend. It was from Forever 21 and it was only $8.50! Needless to say I was super duper excited. :) And because I haven't done a post on what I bought at KOP, I figured better late than never.

(Skirt: Urban Outfitters) I love this skirt and it was on the $9.99 and under sale rack, so it was on sale for just $9.99 (as opposed to the original $60 it would have originally been)!

I love these new sunglasses!

(Necklace: Forever 21) I love this necklace as you probably already know from the outfit posts that I wore it in.
My grandparents came up this weekend from Virginia for my brother's graduation and, like always, my Oma (grandma) went a little crazy with trying to buy stuff for me. Though I turned down a bunch of stuff, I did take her up on some new shoes. :)

I figured I'd jump on the clogging-wagon. So, I am going to follow this trend (I know, a trend. Gah.) But I have to admit, I do like this trend. Clogs are so different. You'd never think to pair them with a cute skirt before.

I really needed some new sandals and when I saw these I flipped! I love studs, so that's why both pairs of shoes had studs. Plus. these sandals have a really cool zipper detail on the side with a tassel on each zipper which I love. :)
(Clogs and Sandals: DSW)
And for my birthday, (which is July 25th, so it's a bit early) my grandparents got me an.........................



IPOD! It's a pink iPod nano and it's 8GB which is just enough. I'm just excited that I finally joined the technilogical revolution since this is my very first iPod. Don't worry, I've already stocked it with some Muse, Kate Nash, Sea Wolf, and "California Gurls" by Katy Perry (which I LOVE). P.S.- Who saw Katy's FABULOUS performance at the MTV Movie Awards?
That's all for today! Don't forget about the contest!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

"My heart skips a boom, Shalaka laka, Boom, Boom..."

Ahhhhh, so today I just felt like wearing something comfy. So I threw on a nice loose top with some high waisted linen shorts. And since I haven't done an outfit post on here in what seems like forever, I thought I'd share it with you all. :)




(Top: Forever 21, Shorts: Urban Outfitters, Bracelet: World's Market, Necklace: Forever 21, Shoes: Old Navy)

Tomorrow's my older brother's graduation :( so I should have something a little bit more dressy to show you all :) Then next weekend is one of my step-brother's graduation. I'm the littlest, which is actually verrrrry nice :) My oldest step bro already graduated, and now my two other brothers are graduation so it's just me. It's a bittersweet ending. It just means we're all getting older.
There might be another post later on today depending on how energetic I get, but if not, I'll talk to you all tomorrow after the graduation!

Con Amor,
Lauren <3

Oh!, and don't forget about the contest :)