My blog is 1!

A year ago today I started my blog.  And what a crazy and amazing year it has been for me!  I just think of all of the wonderful things that have come from starting this little blog of mine and it makes my heart smile.  I have met some truly amazing people and you all brighten my day.  So I just want to say a big thank you to all of you, I don't think you know what a blessing you are.

I haven't been blogging a lot lately, just crazy busy and in my down time I have things to do.  Important things like reading and re-reading Mockingjay, you know?  So let me know if there's anything you want me to blog about, anything (almost anything that is) about me you want to know more about or if you have a question you want me to answer.  I'm ready for it!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!

Remember that time...

Remember that time, when I promise Jacki and Alex to do a post of me from high school?  And then I never did it?  But then randomly one night I did?  Oh, well that time would be now.  Apparently insomnia is great for blogging, who knew?

So remember that time when I was in high school....

And this hung from my rear view mirror in my car.....

And I won awards for being such a stellar math student...

And I thought I was fat...

And I thought I was cool and let my friends pick my nose...

And I didn't wear makeup because I didn't have to...

And I had the most ridiculous tan line on the planet because I was a lifeguard....

And when we would buy matching shirts in different colors and think we were awesome...

And we thought it was really awesome to pose in the back of police cars after a late night at Coram's....

Or when I was a finalist for homecoming and didn't win, but my sister brought me and my bestie a crown anyway....

And that time I was so glad to be done and didn't realize I had made memories that will last a lifetime....

Wow, so many fun times to remember.

So now you need to do the same!  I want to see you in your high school days!  Do a high school post, do it!  It will be fun, and you'll do a lot of remembering and hopefully a lot of smiling because I know I sure did.

Munchen

As my upcoming vacation gets closer and closer, my excitement is getting out of control.  I thought I would share a little today about our plans for the trip.  We decided to go with a group of friends to Oktoberfest in Munich.  How awesome will that be?  Before this trip, I really didn't know a lot about Oktoberfest, but it turns out that it's like a huge fair with rides, lots of yummy food, and of course beer.  I don't know about y'all, but fair food is my favorite (how inappropriate after a Thin Girl Thursday post) and I love ferris wheels and all of the other crazy rides you only find at the fair.  I'm also fighting the urge to sport some lederhosen while in Germany, I can't promise that it won't happen.

We are also going to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle, referred to by many as the Disney Castle.

I have heard how absolutely amazing this place is and I can't wait to actually see it.  We're going to spend the day hiking around the castle and end with a tour of the inside.  How cool is that?

Other than those things, our agenda is still a little up in the air.  I would love  to hear any suggestions you all have for me to see while in Munich!  Is there somewhere we must go or some German food we absolutely have to try?

Hope you all are having a marvelous Tuesday!

Thin Girl Thursday {8}

Whew, what a crazy week or so it has been! I have been majorly slacking on the blog lately, my apologies.

Even though the title of these posts make it seem like I'm focusing on being thin, that isn't actually the case. I want to be healthy.  I want to live a long, healthy life with my soon to be husband and our kids and grandkids one day, so I'm starting now.  Long story short, I got sick had blood work and I learned a lot about cholesterol this week.  Without boring you all to tears, I will say my "good" cholesterol is too low.  Wow, who would have known your cholesterol could be too low?  Anyway, my doctor suggested I exercise.  So starting today I am getting serious about exercise.  I started with changing my diet and including vitamins into my everyday routine and now I'm going to balance it all out with some exercise.  I have recently started going to a Zumba class, so fun, and tonight I attended Butt and Guts.  I am already regretting this decision and I am sure that my legs hate me.

I don't want to get bored working out, so I would love to hear your favorite ways to work out! Let's all stay motivated to be healthier and happier!

Busy busy busy...

Eeee!  I recently registered for two classes for next term.  Which means that in October, I will have a master's degree in Public Administration (assuming I pass the two I've signed up for... hey anything can happen).  You can call me Master Lauren.... psshh not! I'm totally kidding.  Of course, I will have one more class to take in January in order to complete a certification, but still that is craziness!  One would think I would have a little more figured out about myself by now... but I don't.  And I can definitely say I have no clue what I'm going to do with myself once I'm done with wedding planning and school.  I will have so much time on my hands and I can't wait.  But for now, I'm preparing for the craziness that is going to be in my life the next two months.  I have one free weekend.  One weekend in all of August and September where I have nothing planned. Oh em gee, I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it all. 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Guest blog for Ashton!

Hi friends!  No post for today, just letting you know I did a guest post for Ashton, you should go read it!

Hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend!

Thin Girl Thursday {7}

Sorry if these posts are getting old.  It's all I've had time to post about lately other than a random post here and there.  My school term ends tomorrow, so hopefully it means more time for blogging!

Someone told me yesterday that I would go back to stuffing my face with cookies as soon as I was done with my diet.  I quickly informed her that this isn't just a diet, this is a lifestyle change for me.  She also told me not to deprive myself of things because it will cause me to binge eat later down the road.  Um, that might be how it is for you, but not for me.  If I feel like I want something sweet I go for my strawberries sprinkled with stevia instead of those double stuffed oreos.  If I'm feeling like a salty snack I grab my melba toast and put some hummus on it.  Is that saying I will never eat those sweets and snacks I did before?  No way.  It's my way of teaching myself to turn to healthier choices rather than immediately go for the cheetos.  And once I reach my goal, if I want cookies or ice cream, I will have it.  Hopefully I will just not do it as often or make better choices when the situation rises. 

People baffle me.  Everyone on the blog has been nothing but supportive of me, then I run into something like this and it just irritates me.  So I went to yoga to chill out and all is well with Lauren once again.

What lifestyle changes are you making in your quest to a healthier you?