Wordless Wednesday

A birthday party to remember...

...because really what else is there to say?

Mexico - Part 2

So now that you know the basics of what we did on my little trip across the border, I'd like to elaborate on all I've learned. Liz started this little tradition of writing down the day's life-lessons (things like: The "Friday" song will annoy even people who don't know English), so I thought that'd be a cute way to share more of my trip.

10 things I learned in Mexico...

#1) Water-balloons cross barriers better than an English-Spanish dictionary

#2) I'm stronger that I think I am

#3) Yoga can save you from a world of pain

#4) If you work hard enough, a ham sandwich can be the best meal of your life

#5) City folk are easily amused

#6) The "lazy Mexican" sterotype is straight up bulls#!t.

...as my friends rip down a building with their bare hands...

#7) Man's-work is a myth

#8) How to count to 3 in Tzeltal

Un, Chep, O'Chep

#9) Mexico is built for people this tall...                 ...not that tall

#10) The man of my dreams is less than 5' tall

Mexico - Part 1

Hola, amigos! I've returned from my Mexican excursion in one piece & in good health. I had such a lovely time, I don't even know how to go about putting it into words. Maybe fewer words are actually better, so if you'll allow me I'm about to bog down your computers for the next 3 days & show off where I've been...

-----

This is Matzam... it's a place that Google Maps has never heard of but I know it like the back of my hand. My friends live there & sometimes they let us share our lives together there. It's simple & remote & hidden away... & it's a second home to me.

Years ago we started helping them to build a church... they've outgrown theirs. In the SouthSide most of the church building have been turned into something else because the church had died, here they walk for miles through the mountains & overflow their building.

We literally dug the foundation & built the alter, but this time around out job was demolition.

Now you see it...

Now you don't...

We also taught Bible School to the kids of the church. Warning: viewing of the following photos will make your uterus skip a beat. (Unless you're a man & clearly uterus-free... in which case you might grow one)

So can you see why I love it so much? I'll tell you more stories tomorrow & just leave you with sweet dreams of these darling little faces. Beunas Noches!

Sunday Funday

So much for thinking I'd be a blogging superstar on my first week of work! I'd bet you all knew better than I did how I'd be missing in action. Turns out starting a new job will suck the energy right out of you. But all is well & I'm loving it! And I miss you all so thanks for all the gentle prodding to come back to say hi, I love ALL messages even if they're about a lack of posts. haha

I had such a wonderful, refreshing little weekend. And I know soon my google-reader will be filled to the brim with all kinds of Mothers Day goodies, but before that wave I wanted to show you what single girls do on Sundays such as these... (after calling their mommas of course)

Breakfast with Friends

We got up early to get some delicious eats at Pamela's before church. If you're not from the Burgh but ever decide to pass through, you MUST get breakfast at Pamela's. Just ask the Obamas, they love it.

A Bit of Mischief

We had a little extra time before church, were hopped up on our morning caffeine, & were mere blocks from our pastor who we knew would already be in church. So....

Juvenile, we know. But they actually thought it was great & understood that sometimes we just show our love in strange ways. haha Also, we might be the only people to ever TP a house before 10am.

Me-Time

I've fallen in love with moon-manicures lately. I hear that having large moons on your fingernails is supposed to be a sign of intelligence so it felt appropriate for my first week of work. And now I just really like the way it looks, sometimes it's tough to find a good manicure for short nails. Last week was red, & today I took a little downtime to redo them into black.

Web Time

I ended the day helping Derek set up a blog/website for his music. It's not 100% perfect, but I think we're both pretty pumped about the state of things. It's simple, but pop over if you want to have a gander at what we've been working on.

Vlogging & Karaoke

I've got a change of pace for you today. Check out these 2 short clips I made for all you lovelies.

And as promised, here's my karaoke performance. Also known as final evidence that I have no shame. haha My timing got a little thrown off at the ending, & I seriously can't sing, but you'll see all this for yourself in just a moment.

Happy Monday!

Class Field Trip

Alternate Title:

Things that have been keeping Lauren so super busy - Part 1

Sometimes I love to keep my life in compartments. Work is work, friends are friends, & ne'er the two shall meet. Until you decide to bring your class of teenagers to your second home on a fieldtrip. haha 

It all makes perfect sense, they're studying careers in hospitality & I just happen to have access to a commercial kitchen with like 80 people to feed. (you can read background on The Table in this post) So they got to cook up 3 gigantic lasagnas, lots of garlic bread, & bake a huge pan of brownies... & get the feel of what a real kitchen is like.

I was all nerves leading up to this. Could they pull it off? Would they hate it? Would they totally embarrass me? What if they drop a lasagna? What if they scald eachother with boiling water? What if they totally slack off? What if someone's mean?

As usual, my worry is for nothing. They did an AWESOME job. I was totally proud of them. And weren't they so adorable in the process?!

FYI- My kids aren't on the lam & nor do they just like to wear their sunglasses at night. But there are some ethical issues with photos of students, so no faces... & I thought giant sunglasses were a lot cuter than scrambled faces or censor bars.

And a VERY big thank-you to Jen & Dylan for helping out. Those are some serious friends who would WILLINGLY endure 7 strange stranger teens with knives & boiling liquids just to help you out. Everyone should have a Jen & a Dylan in their life. Seriously.

Another Perfect Snow Day

Last week the snow began to fall again & the flakes piled high enough to bring about another snow day. Considering the lengthy healing time most of my playmates experienced from the previous snow day, I knew snow-football wouldn't be a likely option this time around. And to be honest I had work to do, even if only from the confines of my living room.

But I did make time for a lunch break field trip...

It was actually a ploy to cheer up Jen... I enticed her with promised of a vegetarian lunch buffet, shelves of spices, and the option to pick up fancy flours for the pancake party happening that night. (side note: I brought my camera to the food co-op but not to a pancake party? Where are my priorities?!)

It makes me feel like I'm in an old-timey general store... only imagine that store was taken over with hipsters instead of cowboys.

And along the way I found the perfect gift for a few friends... it was a good day out of the office.

The Perfect Snow Day

I've lived in the north my whole life... & over the years I've developed a fail-safe recipe for how to spend your snowday. Books & movies are fine for an evening of snow, preferably coupled with a warm fireplace, but an entire day halted from the normal routine calls for more.

#1) Get Out There

Perfect snow is fleeting. It's an imperative to the perfect day that snow be enjoyed while fresh. In a few days it will be dirty & slushy & curse-worthy, but for those first few hours it's like fairy dust.
#2) Add Friends
Snow days aren't just for children anymore, but it's ok to act like one. So go play with the other kids in the neighborhood just like the good ol' days. The sure way to keep from feeling the cold is a warm heart & never standing still... except for photo ops.

#3) Warm It Up With Cocoa
It's a well known law of nature that snow-dampened clothing cannot dry unless cocoa is being consumed. All efforts to the contrary are futile. Cocoa is best enjoyed with tiny marshmallows, a splash of milk, & surrounded with other soggy playmates.
#4) Munch Munch
Now that you've thawed, feeling has undoubtedly been restored to your stomach & the hunger must be silenced. Please remember this is a snow day for your kitchen too, show it the proper respect by choosing dinner at your favorite restaurant... calories don't count on snow days.

#5) Go To Bed Early
You've earned it... goodnight, everyone!