a day at the winery.

if this is what adulating is about, then sign me up! 

if you look up the definition of a perfect day, it would look a lot similar to these photos. i do believe that one of the most important aspects to living your best life is all about the energy, vibes & people you surround yourself with. the circle i surround myself continues to help me bloom into something fierce, & days like this help us shine so bright. 

i ran across this quote the other day, & i couldn't find a better way to describe this season of my life...

"...right now, in this present moment, in the midst of your grief, your pain, your anger, your loneliness, your frustration, your self-hatred, your feelings that feel so much bigger than you- you are ok.

this is the place where gratitude begins, where greatness begins, where our true power is found.

right here. right where we are. 

being with ourselves & allowing what is to just be. 

you are ok. you are ok. you are ok."

i hope you know wherever you are, you are ok, too. 

xoxo, lauren. 

life update at 21-years-old.

hello, long time no see! 

one day a couple weeks ago, i found myself walking to campus to work on a project i had procrastinated on at around 9 pm, almost 3 hours behind the schedule i had given for myself. my #ootd was nothing less than shameful. pajamas. no bra. the only effort i exerted upon leaving the house was making sure i had provided myself with copious amounts of caffeine.

as i looked down at my ensemble, i giggled at the thought of how appalled high-school-lauren would have been with myself. hell, even a year ago i would've cringed at the idea of going in public in anything less than real pants & a couple of dabs of mascara. 

however, lately braless ensambles have been me with my shit together. 

i don't know if i can even write about life at 21-years-old, can i? after-all, how much does a 21- year-old actually know about life? i haven't even entered in what the rest of society identifies with as the "real world," (quite frankly, i'm not on any path to rush my entrance anytime soon.) 

however, here's what i have figured out... 

they aren't joking when they say that college is "the best four years" of your life. 

 i am a completely different person than the one who pulled up to this campus on that steaming august day three years ago, with one too many pairs of heels that i would never wear. 

looking back on my years here thus far, my memory is a blur (alcohol may be a factor). the time i've spent here has flown by, but i wouldn't have it any other way. i've learned more about myself in these past three years than i could've even imagined. some good, some bad, & some equally as ugly. however, the friends & lessons that i have gained here will last with me forever. i'm headed into my final year with a full heart (& mind).

bras are optional. 

i won't go as to far as to say that i have let myself go, but i do push the snooze button a couple more times in the morning. sleep is now much more important than assembling an outfit together. at this point in my life, i can't even imagine taking the time out of my night to outfit plan on a daily basis like i used to. however this makes "putting on my face" a special occasion, as i appreciate what a couple more dabs of mascara & a good red lip can do for a gal. i joke to my friends that "i only look pretty on the weekends now." oh well. accepting that we all can't be beyoncé is a hill i've successfully conquered. 

FOMO is a real bitch. 

i don't get along with FOMO. there is nothing worse than missing out on time spent with your friends  due to other obligations, such as work or school. & if you're lucky, maybe even both (cue, sarcasm!). i am the worst when it comes to turning my friends down when they ask me to join them, because 9 times out of 10 they are usually about to embark on something way more appealing than the activity i was doing. prioritizing has never been on my list of personality strengths. i have to remember to give myself a little big nudge & whisper: "the world won't stop spinning if you sit this one out." sometimes it's good to slow down & let yourself breathe. especially if you have an exam creeping around the corner faster than anyone would like to admit. 

thank your parents. 

if you're anything like me, the college experience wouldn't even be possible without your parents. between helping me fund my college education & my weekly wal-mart runs, they have truly been the ones to make this life possible for me. as cheesy as it is, i truly don't thank them enough. while we don't necessarily always see eye-to-eye, i am old enough to realize they only want me to succeed. even if that includes spending more time at the library than at happy hour. 

whoa, that was a lot. this post wasn't supposed to have its shit together, just like my current state of being. however, it has allowed me to reflect on where i'm at & more importantly where i'd like to be. these writing sessions are so good for my soul. need to remember to do them more often. 

bra or no bra, we have no choice but to kill it. 

xoxo. lauren.

a fall afternoon.

today was straight out of a tumblr page. swinging under a tree & feeling the breeze across my face was the perfect way to recharge. my tank is full. 

xoxo. lauren. 

five ways to get the most out of your 20's.

(try to) enjoy every moment. 

let's face it. being in your twenties is not a glamorous job. thanks for the unrealistic expectations, carrie bradshaw. it's easy to get lost in our typical routines of class, minimum wage jobs, sweatpants & ramen noodles. our days start to blend together & we become blind joys that surround us on a daily basis. no matter what you're doing, try to find the bliss in everything you do. you'll feel so much more peace.

 make time for you. 

finding & creating yourself tend to be the reoccurring themes of your twenties. apparently, it should be on all of our agendas. however, it can't take place unless you consciously give yourself the time to do so. this introspective time has allowed me to know whether to change directions, switch paths, open doors, or close them. you have to find what works for you. take time to be selfish, find your niche & buy yourself some damn flowers.

be kind to everyone you meet. 

being the mean, popular girl won't get you far anymore. it won't get you a job. it won't get you friends. it won't get you a good reputation. being kind can open up so many opportunities for yourself. word travels around fast when people know you as the "nice-girl." leave each person you encounter better than when you found them, no matter how shitty you feel. it's a win-win.

 learn to love your imperfections. 

being twenty today in a society driven by social media & waves of comparison, this one can be tough. one day you'll wake up & those american eagle skinny jeans from high school may not fit just as they did at a friday night football game four years ago. but, the best part? that's okay. the world won't stop spinning if you've gained five pounds, have pimples on your face or hair that doesn't curl. it's what make you, you. each change that comes your way is molding you into the woman rockstar that you were born to be.

realize you don't have to have all the answers. 

because honestly, who does? you need to fall down & make mistakes in order for you to discover what works for you. we wouldn't figure out how to "do life" any other way. the best thing about this time in your life (or any age) is the learning process you undergo on a daily basis. there are always hidden opportunities behind every failure. get excited about the mistakes you'll make & the lessons you'll learn along the way.

xoxo. lauren. 

casual drama.

 / chambray  / vest / skinnies / booties: similar  / scarf / hat: similar /

ya'll know that my favorite shirt is the chambray. i honestly can't get enough & i'm surprised i haven't purchased about ten more. i added the scarf & the hat to give this everyday look a little more "umph." (i'm making up words as i go.) i'm so glad i purchased these black ankle booties, as well. i was on the fence about them for the longest time, but i'm so glad i caved in! they go with everything & have been on major repeat. as much as i love layering in the fall & winter, i think i'm ready for spring to permanently make it's debut. 

xoxo. lauren. 

cutting the fat.

as i reach farther into my adult life, i am realizing that "cutting the fat" should serve as your yearly check-up at the doctors office. a chance to take a step back & revaluate the "fat" you have allowed to hang around your life for the past year. but, like your yearly checkup at the doctors office, it often starts to become a mundane task. one that we keep pushing into the back junk drawer of our lives because we don't want to deal with it anymore. 

by "cutting the fat" i'm referring to cutting out the negative things & people that are hanging around your life no longer serving a beneficial purpose to you. the end of every season is always a introspective time for me. this summer, i've had more time to do so than most. college life comes & goes like seasons (fergie quote was 100% necessary). the past two years of my life have proved that. i moved to another state, started a new job, decided on my major, changed my major, & changed my major once more. but, perhaps the biggest change has been the new people i have surrounded myself with, & the people that i have chosen to "cut" out of my life.

the latter is the hardest change to undergo. i feel as if at times we let toxic people hang around way longer than their welcomed stay because they have become an easy & comfortable routine for us. i have "cut the fat" of many things in my life in the last couple months. i moved apartments, so i "cut" out boxes of junk & clothes that were collecting dust in my room. i "cut" out a good friend who didn't view our friendship with the same level of severity as i did. (that one still stings.) however, one of the biggest "cuts" was made after i allowed someone toxic to creep back into my life for the second time because this time he proclaimed he was "changed" & "different." & that he couldn't believe he was "dumb enough" to the make some of the mistakes he had made in the past.

you can scream the words "i've changed" at the top of your lungs from a mountain top all you want. but the cold hard truth, (capital-t) about change is this; "change isn't change until something changes." this truth hit me square in the face after, i, myself, was left feeling confused & hurt for a second time. in reality he hadn't changed one bit. he was the exact same person i met almost a year ago.

you have to shut the door. no matter how hard it is, you have to "cut the fat."

& of course just as i was back to my normal self, no longer affected by his toxicity, he found his way to creep in my life again. but this time i knew better. his "i'm sorry" & "regrets" no longer held any weight with me. this time i hit the delete button. i chose to put myself first.

"cutting the fat" is just that. putting yourself first. its a necessary & sometimes mundane task, like your check-up at the doctors office. however, you deserve to be your best self, free of any "fat" that has found its way into your life.

xoxo. lauren. 

floral party dress.

similar: dress / heels / clutch

its the last week of summer, & i found it fitting to share the most perfect dress i wore for all of my summer festivities. i love the modern-retro take on this floral pattern. i think the 50's & i would've gotten along quite well. there's officially less than a week of summer left before i start my junior year of college. this summer went by faster than most, which seems to be a trend as years pass. however, it served as a nice break from my usual hectic schedule. now, time to enjoy the last couple days with no to-do list as much as i can!

xoxo. lauren.