Live Life to the Fullest

The holidays for many is usually a time full of joy and happiness and an opportunity to spend time with loved ones. It is also very important to remind friends and family how much you love and care for them because life is too short. 
 
Yesterday afternoon my grandmother called us and gave us the bad news that her neighbor and our long time friend of the family died of a massive heart attack Sunday morning. It is very saddening and I cannot comprehend that she is no longer with us. She had no known heath problems so this was shocking for all of us. 

My mom always told my sister and I to make the most of your life and live everyday to its fullest and I never really thought much about what she said until now. I have made a promise to myself that I will not take life for granted and let everyone I love and care about how much I appreciate them in my life. 

This holiday season make sure you remind your friends and family how much you love them and appreciate them in your life. Because you never know when their or your time will come.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kafer family during the holiday season.

10 Gulity Pleasures for Finals Week

As many students are aware finals are right around the corner. From personal experience this time of the year that I bite my nails to the bone trying to cope with stress and freak out more than I ever should. I have learned that taking breaks and doing something for yourself helps a lot.  That is why this year I have created my 10 Guilty Pleasures for Finals Week. I hope to stick to my plan and do at least on of these per day to help cope with my over the top anxiety. 

Lauren's 10 Guilty Pleasures 

1. Indulge in Dark Chocolate (which they say is good for you!)

2. Take a 30-min nap as a break from studying

3. Watch an episode of A Charlie Brown Christmas
(to think about Winter break even more)

4. Paint my fingernails red for Christmas 

5. Walk to Starbucks and get a Venti Hot Chocolate

6. Read the entire issue of the Cosmo that came this week- cover to cover

7. Look up random, stupid--but funny-- YouTube videos
like Marcell the Shell with Shoes On

8. Jump on my roommates bed while singing Spice Girls songs with your roommates

9. Facebook creep on someone you haven't creeped on in awhile

10. Go to http://cuteoverload.com

Good Luck preparing for finals!

Childhood Stories

Remeber when you were little and you had a favorite story or poem and you would have your parents read it over and over again? My roommate Maddie had an assignment for the class Interpretation of Literature and she was to find a children's poem that influenced her life.  It made me think about my favorite children's story and poem that have influenced me.  When I was little my mom used to read the book Froggy Gets Dressed. 

I would have her reread the story about 5 times before I eventually went to bed.  I can recite the story almost to its entirety today.  It was memorable to me because my mom used to read the book in a dramatic and memorable way.  It always made me laugh when she would emphasize the way Froggy's mother called for him. That memory will remain with me forever and one day when I have kids I wish to read them the same book and the same way as my mom. If you haven't read this story I would highly recommend it for a lighter read.

When I was young (before we actually got a dog) I would always beg my parents to get a dog.  A poem that I remember from my childhood that my sister and I would read over and over again was the poem Mother Doesn't Want a Dog by Judith Viorst. Every time we read the poem it was always as funny as the first time we read it.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they smell,
And never sit when you say sit,
Or even when you yell.
And when you come home late at night
And there is ice and snow,
You have to go back out because
The dumb dog has to go.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
Mother says they shed,
And always let the strangers in
And bark at friends instead,
And do disgraceful things on rugs,
And track mud on the floor,
And flop upon your bed at night
And snore their doggy snore.

Mother doesn't want a dog.
She's making a mistake.
Because, more than a dog, I think
She will not want this snake.

Do you remember your favorite childhood stories or poems? Its nice to take the time and think back to how happy a simple story made you feel, and how those fond memories have stuck with you all of these years.

1st Major Snow of 2010

Iowa City got its first "major" snow of the year this morning. Even though it wasn't enough to completely cover the ground it was still nice to see. It made my roommates and I get into the Christmas/Holiday spirit and made us procrastinate even more about studying for finals. Although the snow Iowa City got this morning was nothing compared to what the western suburbs of Chicago (where I am from) got hit with. This is a picture my sister sent me today of our backyard. I am glad we didn't get hit this badly because I hate driving in the snow. Such a mess!

Even though I put off studying for finals today I still got a lot of my Christmas shopping done.  Thank goodness for the internet because I wasn't in the mood to join the craziness of holiday shopping at the mall. It is so nice to sit on the couch, watch Mean Girls, drink an Arnold Palmer, and get almost all of your Christmas shopping done!

My roommate Jessica is apart of the Newman Singers here in Iowa City and they held their annual Christmas Concert last night. Maddie (my other roommate) and I went to their performance last night. It was a beautiful concert and we really enjoyed all the wonderful talent of the singers. She sang "Do You See What I See," which is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It was a great way to begin the holiday season.
Christmas break could not come any faster!

True Cubbie Blue

Today the Chicago Cubs organization lost a legend. Ron Santo lost his battle to bladder cancer today at the age of 70. He will always be remembered for his life long loyalty to the organization and leave a lasting impression in Cubs fan's hearts forever. Next year will not be the same without him and it will be different to listen to Pat Huges on the radio without Santo. 

Mocha Lady

"Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so many years of our own lives."

-John Galsworthy 

Mocha I will miss you very much and hopefully one day we can reunite. You were one of the best dogs and you will always be remembered dearly in our hearts. Wrigley misses your company and your motherly instincts. We don't go a day without thinking of you and Jasmine. 

Love you Mocha 

Papa

A recreation of a photo I did using Ebony pencil last year in Basic Drawing 1. This my favorite picture of me and my grandfather when I was young.  He was shocked and speechless when he received this drawing on Fathers Day this past year. We are the best pals my grandfather and I. I love him very much and I don't know what I would do without him and his jokes in my life.