Lauren's back!

So my sister is back from North Dakota tonight, which means that we are both home for the first time in almost a month.  Despite the minor accident involving her new comforter and spaghetti sauce while she was gone, she still wants to hang out with me. So what are we doing on our first night home? Uploading a ton of CD's from the library, watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and watching One Direction on repeat. You've got to love sister bonding time! Oh and listening to her read entries from her fourth grade journal was pretty entertaining.

"The Best Song Ever" 

and it really is the best song ever! 

Day 7... Pet Peeves

So I've been avoiding Day 7 (see Worst Habits) because I thought that it was a post about what my pet hates and I was completely confused.  I've realized that it must mean what are your Pet Peeves. So I'm backtracking and doing Day 7 today!

Inconsiderate Drivers or Driving in a big City

Dirty and long finger nails: I have to keep my nails clean at all times

When professional writing (books, newspapers, online news) have very noticeable grammatical errors.  I have horrible grammar (but I'm getting better) and spelling; but it annoys me to no end when professional outlets don't catch them.

Using the word "moist" to describe a texture or surface (really any word that describes something gross).

I hate being early and I hate being late. Also along with this I really don't like waiting when I'm ready to go.

I also dislike when people talk down to me or think I'm stupid.

Day 11... 15 Favorite Things

So this is a hard one, both to organize and to think of.  My movies and books could all count as individual ones but I love them all, so there it is.

1. Writing/Reading/History

2. Hotdogs

3. Smell of old books! 

4. Mission Work

5. Europe and Ed Sheeran

6. HARRY POTTER EVERYTHING!

7. I found this awesome website with Stereotypes for countries and states, I love reading these and here is a really good one I found. 

                  On a side note: I love the Europe, but this is just funny both for Europe and the US

8. New Girl, Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, HIMYM, Friends, and Hart of Dixie

9. Books: The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Beautiful Creatures series, The Time Travelers Wife 

10. The Civil War

11. My Tattoos

 This one is really special to me.  It translates to 'The Gift of Gab' in Gaelic. You get the Gift of Gab if you kiss the blarney stone in Ireland, and my grandpa used to tell me that I must have sucked the blarney stone because I talked so much. It also represents my Irish heritage! 

This tattoo is also special because I share it a couple of my friends.  It means Job's Daughters in Latin and Greek.  Job's is a daughter organization of the Masons and I've been a member since I was 13. 

12.

13. I love my iphone!

14. BLUEBERRIES

15. Partying/hanging out/traveling/adventures with my Best Friends! 

Day 10... Best Physical Feature

I love being short! Only being 5' 2'' (ish) has made for an exciting life. I am a believer that my height has helped to define me, and I am ok with that. I love being shorter than everyone else and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Being short might seem like a disadvantage to some people, but look at Napoleon. Ok so he might have been exiled and died, but before that he did conquer most of Europe and many of those countries even invited him to do so.  

Also I am never taller than any guy, so that is a huge plus. I know know it's the important things in life. 

Day 9... Worst Habits

Ok.. So now I'm three days behind, so I figured it was time to finally do this one.  As much as it pains me to admit, here are my worst habits.

1. I will procrastinate anything. Whether it be because of avoidance, stubbornness or pure laziness I will try to put it off. I'm from the school of: "but I can bs a paper and my writing is better when I'm rushed.", it's not but it still doesn't stop me.

2. I make this weird face when I'm concentrating. And unfortunately it looks like this.

3. I never wear sunscreen and as a result I get burnt EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

4. I will do something or not do something purely out of being stubborn and spite. I'm adorable like that or annoying, however you want to look at it.

5. I have a bad habit of talking all the time and horrible volume control (either too loud or too quiet).

6. I spell everything wrong.

7. I'm OCD about the weirdest things. What kind of pen I write with, how my bed is made and sheets are when I go to sleep, etc.

8. I have to be in the mood for a certain food to eat it and if it has a weird texture, no thank you. Example: Cottage Cheese is the worst. But I could Hot dogs and Mac n' Cheese everyday of my life.

My friends could probably point out a lot more bad habits but this list would probably be too long.

The Happiest 5K...

Last Summer I got to run in the KC Color Run. It was an amazing time and is truly the happiest 5K on earth! Here is an awesome video that the Color Run posted yesterday, both inspiring and creative! 

And here are some pictures of me and my friends after we finished! 

I can't wait to do it again. 

Day 8... Hangbag

What's in my handbag?

Well first off I don't think this is exactly considered a handbag.. more like Mary Poppin's carpet bag. 

Surprisingly I cleaned out my bag about a week ago and it has managed to stay clean and receipt free. 

Not a very exciting bag as of today, but it does manage to cover the essentials in my life! 

Day 6... My 5 Senses

So today I'm back in good old Maryville (not for good, sadly) and so my senses happen to be a little different then the usual summer ones! 

1. Sight 

My sight for the whole weekend are from my cute new duplex! And of course the rest of Maryville!

2. Sound

Right now I hear the air conditioner trying to work and some Taylor Swift "Red"!

3. Smell

Unfortunately I have a cold and I can't smell anything! 

4. Taste

The only thing I'm tasting right now is the lovely taste of Maryville water (aka dirt)

5. Touch 

My butt is firmly planted on my couch and my fingers typing away! 

Day 5.. 10 Songs I <3 This Summer

I'm always finding new songs to love and hating them soon after. So here is a list that will inevitably change within the next week or month!

1. Blurred Lines ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams by Robin Thicke

2. Awkward by San Cisco

3. Emily by the Mowgli's

4. Bruises ft. Ashley Monroe by Train

5. Drunk by Ed Sheeran

6. How to be a Heartbreaker by Mariana and the Diamonds

7. Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

8. Can't Hold Us (ft. Ray Dalton) by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

9. 22 by Taylor Swift

10. Rock Me by One Direction

Day 4... Fears!

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This was legitimately the scariest thing when I was a little kid and forever cemented my fear of clowns and drains. 

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This one might be just for rain, but the one in IT definitely was not. 

Not only did IT terrify me from ever letting a stranger dress up in a polka dot costume, put on a red nose and make balloon animals at my childhood birthday parties; but it also managed to keep me from going to the bathroom alone without my mom for about a month straight. I know pathetic. I did happen to finally re-watch IT a few summers ago and it only slightly scared me. I no longer have to go to the bathroom alone, but you will never find me in a creepy swamp, at night, alone. EVER. 

Along with clowns I am also afraid of spiders. I know most people are, but my fear stems from not want to get a spider bite and die. And really, who wouldn't be afraid of this? 

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or worse yet.. this one. 

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If I was cornered in a room alone with this.. I'm a goner. 

#SCSBC13

I know it's almost the end of July but I recently stumbled upon the Semi-Charmed Summer 2013 Book Challenge (found HERE) and decided to do it. Luckily I have gotten quite a bit of reading done on my various trips this July!

So here is my List:
Titles in Bold have been completed

1.The Irish Princess by Karen Harper
2. Making Sense of Sex by Michael Duffy
3. Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close
4. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 
5. Lucky by Alice Sebold
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
8.
9. The Bling Ring by Nancy Jo Sales
10. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
11. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard 
12.

I'm still looking for a book written by an author who was born or died in 1992; and a non-fiction book that I want to read!

Day 3... Favorite Quote

I love quotes.. I love having them written on my walls, posted on bathroom mirrors, or posted anywhere to remind me to wake up and have a great day. Which makes this post especially difficult, since there are so many quotes that I love. I find quotes to love everywhere! So instead of one simple quote I'll put up a few of my favorite life and literary quotes (from my favorite authors).

1. "Use what talents you possess, the wood would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best"

-Henry Van Dyke

2. "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid"

-Albert Einstein

3. "After all this time?" "Always."

-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Dumbledore and Snape)

4. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a great fortune, must be in want of a wife." 

-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice 

5.   With Blue - uncertain - stumbling Buzz -

      Between the light - and me -

      And then the Windows failed - and then 

      I could not see to see 

                                            (13-16)

-Emily Dickinson, "I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -"

6.

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Day 2... 20 FACTS!

1. I have a problem overusing exclamation points!!! 

2. I'm starting my senior year at NWMSU. Once a Bearcat, Always a Bearcat!

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3. I'm studying the two greatest subjects ever: History and English! 

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4. I love traveling, even if it is short road trips! Give me a passport and a plane ticket, and I will go anywhere. My travel priorities right now are to go back to New England, Seattle and to visit Europe!

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5. I grew up in the cutest little town in the mid-west: Parkville, MO. 

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Downtown Parkville

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Park University and the Missouri River

6. I am like 90% Irish and proud of it! 

7. Along with traveling, books are my passion.  One day I hope to combine Traveling, Literature and History into one fabulous career (any ideas would be greatly appreciated). 

8. If you didn't know by now I am a huge history nerd/buff/lover. Especially if it has to do with the Tudors and British Royals.  And I wouldn't complain if you threw me into a civil war museum/library for days. 

9. I get to work everyday with my best friend! 

10. I love every minute that I get to spend with my best friends! 

11. I'm graduating in ONE YEAR! I can't even believe it, but I couldn't be more excited.  Bring on the degrees and a year of volunteering/mission work with YAV (young adult volunteers)! 

12. If you know me, I have a thing for gingers (especially british ones)! And if they happen to be named Ed Sheeran, then I wouldn't complain. 

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13. My favorite author is Jane Austen. If you hadn't caught on yet, I pretty much in love with anything British. 

14. My favorite books are Pride and Prejudice and of course the great american classic: The Great Gatsby!

15. Favorite movies are the Lion King and every Harry Potter movie. 

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16.  My family is crazy but I wouldn't change them for the world! 

17. Spell Check is my life savior

18. Rock Chalk (and the Royals and Chiefs are as far as I go with sports) 

19.  HARRY POTTER

(I love Harry Potter: books, movies, actors, characters, everything)

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20. I am also one of the clumsiest and most accident prone people you will meet. 

Blog Challenge... Day 1

It's been a crazy month, but I'm back! To start my return I thought I would start a blog challenge. [borrowed from the blog of my friend, the lovely Helen Strotman (check her blog out on my sidebar).]

And so it begins...

This recent picture is of me eating my first authentic Chicago Dog in the wonderful windy city.  Last week I spent a wonderful vacation in Chi Town visiting some friends and doing very Chicago things, including: Navy Pier, the Ferris Wheel, taking a picture at the Bean, and of course chowing down on a delicious hot dog.

As far as an introduction very little has changed about me over the past month, except for my hair color.  I did have the wonderful and exhausting opportunity to go on two back to back vacations.  First to Chicago and then to Purdue's campus for the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (as an adult this time).  Both experiences were amazing and cemented my love for traveling and exploration.  Until tomorrow, because I am determined to finish this challenge.

Also an update on my summer reading list:
I have finished 9 books so far, some on the list and some not.  I will update later on my likes and dislikes, but now it's time to continue reading!