the M project

I dont really have anything to talk about today but I havent blogged in awhile so I thought I would. There is a picture I wanted to share!

YUP! haha I KNOW! What the..?! I told Tim I wouldnt put it on facebook. I never said anything about the blog! ;)

The fact that it is sideways is due to my laziness. You love me.

becoming jane

So lately I have been ignored. Ryan if you are reading this start feeling bad... NOW.. no NOW.. ok... NOW! haha ok not really. Only once and its meant to be a funny story but being ignored is never funny and you shouldnt tell people ignoring them was funny either. Ryan I hope you are taking notes. :) This doesnt really have anything to do with this post it is just the conversation I am having at the moment. Its funny. Laugh.
Anyway so I played reception chick again today for the last time. I am SO not gonna miss being bored for five hours! Within these five hours today I was reading blogs and decided to go back and read old ones. I was on Michelles blog and got to her post and the "wreck this journal" and it reminded me...
Once upon a time in a far away place called michigan lived a very "best good friend". (I looove you, Forrest.) He has always been jealous of my amazing journaling skills. (The fact and I journal and he doesnt) Well very "best good friend" and I were to be reunited in the lovely land of horses for the birth of our little brother, ninja. (Really Ninja just was really good at timing his birth a couple of days before Ryan and I came home for Thanksgiving.) A couple of weeks before this.. the maiden across the hall found this AMAZING source of destruction. In book form. (Michelle. She worked across the hall. Wreck This Journal.) I decided I was going to help "best good friend" through the "horrible" journey of journal writing by giving him baby steps. (I figured start this male off with some destruction was the way to go before springing the actually idea. Ya know. Make him happy first. ;) I gave him a bundle of destruction (Wreck This Journal) and JOY (an actual journal) and sent him on his merry way..... THE END.
Yeah. You read this right. I never asked how either went or is going. Yeah. Another example of how Im a bad friend. Maybe I should talk to him more.. Na. Sorry love. :) Mason (another friend) said once (and he was so right) after I moved away. "Remember how you once said you cant have a long distance relationship because you are so "out of sight, out of mind"?.. Well your right! Only it applies to everyone. EMAIL ME!" haha yeah sorry Ry, Mason, and others.
IM GOING TO BE A BETTER FRIEND!
promise.

(and Im gonna stop moving so I dont have to keep up with so many people in so many different places!:)

LAURENnicole

1+1=peace

Yup.

Thats right.

I swam!

:)

LAURENnicole

post-ited

note: I wrote this sunday but never post-ited it. (yup that was me trying to figure out how to use ED on the end of post-it. been my goal pretty much all week! :)

Today when I got home from church I had an email from an amazing friend of mine who has no idea but she has the best timing of anyone I know. I havent talked to her in weeks so she has no idea what is going on in my life and its like she knew she needed to share. She has been through more in her life in the past year I think should humanly possible to bear and yet she has kept going. She has fallen. She picked herself back up and fallen again. The thing to remember here is she has always gotten back up. Always returned to what she felt was right. I have had the privilege of going through these worldly struggles with her. Through her example I have realized the Lord knows whats best for you. The good and esp the bad things he places there to help you to be what he needs you to be. She understands that. That is basically what she shared in this email. I am so thankful for the wonderful people in my life AND their wonderful examples AND for sharing! See if she hadnt of sent this email I wouldnt of ever known. I LOVE her missionary example! esp. when its within her peers! Her story and her over flowing love for others and God brings tears to my eyes.

So.. I thought I would share with you what she shared with me.

Just this song. I think it might of really touched me because I know her and music is really powerful to me anyway. I always put what I feel to some song. Maybe cause Im too chicken to say what I feel... na not really. :) Just that someone else can word it so much better.

.

SWIM

.

You gotta Swim

Swim for your life

Swim for the music that saves you when you're not so sure you'll survive

You gotta swim

Swim when it hurts

The whole world is watching, you haven't come this far to fall off the earth

The currents will pull you away from your love

Just keep your head above

.

I found a tidal wave

Begging to tear down the dawn

Memories like bullets

They fired at me from a gun

Crack in the armor yeah

I swim for brighter days

Despite the absence of sun

Choking on salt water

I'm not giving in

SWIM!

.

You gotta swim

For nights that won't end

Swim for your families, your lovers, your sisters and brothers and friends

Yeah you gotta swim

For wars without cause

Swim for the lost politicians

Who don't see their greed as a flaw

The currents will pull us

Away from our love

Just keep your head above

.

I found a tidal wave

Begging to tear down the dawn

Memories like bullets

They fired at me from a gun

Crack in the armor, yeah

I swim for brighter days

Despite of the absence of sun

Choking on salt water

I'm not giving in

I'm not giving in

SWIM!

.

You gotta swim

Swim in the dark

There's no shame in drifting,

Feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark

Yeah you gotta swim

Don't let yourself sink

Just find the horizon I promise you it's not as far as you think

The currents will drag us away from our love

Just keep your head above

Just keep your head above

SwimJust keep your head above

Swim, Just keep your head above

SWIM.

.

Jacks Mannequin

.

"When everything is trying to drag you down, you have to keep fighting (swimming). Sometimes you don't care enough to do it just for yourself - so you have to do it for others who care about you. Sometimes you have to swim for other things that save you. Sometimes you have to swim because other people won't. Sometimes you have to swim just to "show 'em!" The important thing, though, is that you SWIM. And you don't ever stop. You keep swimming just to keep your head above, and then, suddenly, you are winning. So for anyone who ever faces discouragement... SWIM!"

-Part of the email from said AMAING friend

I love you! You know who you are.

LAURENnicole

o ben. O o jerry.

Today I have been pondering a little. Kinda on the selfish side of thinking. Kinda not really. Basically about my "wants". Now, when I put it that way it does sound selfish but really its not. Think about it. Knowing what you want is definitly not a bad thing.

These are my worldly "wants"

• 
  
  to be a BMX biker chick. (and by this I mean I want muscles. see below)


• 
  
  live on the east coast. just close enough to the ocean


• 
  
  to live in a studio apt above a coffee shop


• 
  
  own a horse


• 
  
  to have long hair and not wanna cut it off


• 
  
  own a awesome camera and know how to use it


• 
  
  to use said camera to capture the joy in the simple. daily.


• 
  
  never take out the garbage


• 
  
  for jeans to never fade


• 
  
  to own a book store ("you've got mail" inspired type of book store)


• 
  
  to have the perfect nook with the perfect chair with the perfect white wooden shutters letting in just the right light (rainy or sunny) with a fluffy pillow and a good book.


• 
  
  to chase a rainbow


• 
  
  to have an unlimited supply of honey buns and caramel apple spice


• 
  
  everytime I see something of no worth and see what it could be to actually be able to change it (im refering to like an old chair and other such design/artsy things)


• 
  
  to write a book


• 
  
  to own a flat (shoe) in every color of the rainbow

I know this list was kinda long already but Im sure there are more to come. :) I have these thoughts everyday. ha But it gives me something to dream about. Something to strive for.

LAURENnicole

hard core?

I havent been this bored at work in a long time.. So when you have 5 hours of nothing but time you get to thinking. Or list making.

laundry

find books for regan

buy new swim suit

...

Pause.

This is my train of thought:

Hmmm... I should get a new swim suit.

Ugh I have to look good in a swim suit.

Hmm.. I should get muscles.

How do I get muscles?

BMX

THATS IT! I should be a hard core BMX biker chick.

They have muscles, right?

LAURENnicole

HOPpy birthday?!

HOPpy birthday?!

Ok so I didnt get a picture of the card but I was so amazed/proud of myself for finding this that I couldnt not share!

Last sunday was Ryans birthday. Yup. Big ONE NINE! weird cause once upon a time that seemed so old. anyways well I went on a search for a birthday card/present.... well I found this card that said HOPpy birthday with a picture of a little fog. The frog doesnt really apply to anything I just thought I would tell you about it cause it was cute. :) I have always called Ryan HOP and yeah thats pretty much why finding this card was like gold! :)

OK.. fine.. I lied.. kinda. Yes that was an awesome card but the best part about it is I had NO idea it said HOPpy birthday. I just really liked the frog. HA it was my momma who was reading it and was all "thats so cool that you found this card." yeah. I played along like I knew all about it. Im just that cool.

Karma Karma Karma

Yeah it happened to me. Or Im just bad at this gift thing cause I got all these different things for him like sunflower seeds and ashley tisdale light up pen and kite... and other fun things from our adventures together over the lives of ZIGGS ZAG (yeah thats us.. ryan decieded one day many moons ago that I needed a nick name so ziggy it became. rightly so he became the zag to my zig haha) anyway so.. right?! WRONG! haha I got all confused or I just have a bad memory cause almost half of the things I got him werent from adventures we took... they were with other people... HAHAHA yeah but there it was still fun... it made for a really good time!! And alot of laughing... at me!

thanks family. :)

LAURENnicole

PEG reloaded

As many of you may know I wrecked the love of my life in March.. Long story short I slid on some ice on the interstate which in turn turned into a serious game of ping pong.. PEG/Lauren vs. I-15... guess who won...

I only had her 2 weeks before this happened which is the saddest part! Janie was AMAZING through this whole experience! I LOVE YOU! She was even the one who came and picked me up from the sence. I think that cop was a little scared of us.. there was alot of crying.

btw.. I HATE state farm! For anyone who cares to know. They were horrible to work with. I know insurance companies are bad but this was unbelievable! Alot of stress later she is home and RELOADED!

thanks kirt!

:)

LAURENnicole

stringing popcorn

blogging is fun :)

ha

LAURENnicole

the grass on the other side

The top 5 reason my momma wont take my phone calls.

1. "im eating."

2. (coming from a little sibling) "shes sleeping"

3. "im exercising."

4. "gavin is being cute. im taking pictures."

My all time favorite...

5. "i just dont feel like it."

I love my Momma.

LAURENnicole

not like a hooker but more like a princess

Ok, here is the deal... blogging = takes time! Plus out of the 5 people who know I started this maybe 2 of them read it so really if it wasnt for my love for you this blog would not be gracing the world. For the other one who reads you can thank them. :)

This weekend Janie (my roommate) and I fled from unseen danger in the middle of the night. Yes, packed up and ran/drove. Still to this day we have no idea what from. (My mother says we are just getting in the practice of listening to the spirit but I just think we are two scared little girls! ;) Well we show up at her parents about 3am and played a little 007 trying to get into the house without waking anyone up. I really should be the next bond girl. Think about it.. Anyway, we wake up and go to church, come home, sleep, eat, hunt for easter eggs (Bear wanted to help ----> ), and just chilled outside til I got cold. SURPRISE! ha This has been the adventures of The Allred Easter Outing.

I love my Momma Allred!

I LOVE my Momma!

(just in case you are reading this Momma I dont want to get one of those "I see how it is" phone calls. ;) Plus, I cant help that I like her.. SHE believes in the easter bunny. I mean did you see that egg Janies Mommas Easter Bunny brought me! ;) JUST KIDDING! I also love your Christ centered Easters!

O, yesterday Michelle got a laptop. Its a VERY exciting event. The whole story. From the color Blue to the darling FedEx man who tried to deliever it. :) Shout outs and SMILES for new Blue laptops and pink sweat bands!!!

Other then that I really dont have anything else to share with the general public of the 5 who know! :)

LaurenNicole

Practicing Cucumbers

I went for a hike sunday. Yes, yes I did. Stop starting at your computer screen like someone died. Now stop checking you have the right site cause you do. Hold your horses cause it was my idea too! I know, I know Im so proud of myself too! :) We, Amy and I, didnt go the whole way but it was really pretty.

It was a good day. I look forward to Sundays. Its the first day of my weekend so its my first rest in the week and its just AMAZING!

One of my favorite people, Charlotte, had surgery this week. That just sucks for her and if I feel like being selfish me too cause she has been too sick for me to see. Anyway, I just wanted to throw a little shout out to her.

I have the cucumbers ready if you wanna practice! ;)

Ok well I guess thats about it for today. I never have too much exciting going on besides work but when I do.. I share! (Most of the time. Its hard to find time to blog!)

LAURENnicole

"PeekY" BOO!

This post is for my little sister, KIERSTYN. I wore the ring you gave me today! I really like it! I dont remember where you got it from I just remember you gave it to me. THANK YOU!

I miss you!.. getting me drinks and turning off the light and JUST KIDDING! I miss you and my family in general.

:)

LAURENnicole

Stairway to Heaven

Wow!

CARAMEL APPLE SPICE

I "discovered" this most AMAIZNG drink the other night. It just so happens to be the most amazing cider I have ever had and my new addiction. I cant even discribe it to you other then to say its like heaven... well i guess I really wouldnt know that but its got to be close!

You see I seem to always have an addiction of some kind. In previous times it has consisted of such things as Maverik hot chocolate, Sonic strawberry limeade, etc.

I cant seem to live without these drinks.. while in each different phase, so I guess its a good thing Im ok with being an addict. :)

LAURENnicole

Luck of the Draw

So I am plant sitting! Im VERY excited that I was trusted to such a postition.. because it just so happens this isnt just an ordinary plant. This plant is lucky. SWEAR. I was told from a very wise coworker, Jacob, the the chinese lady who could have sold this plant said, and I quote in a chinese voice, "You give water, this plant lucky." Or something along those lines. So for the next week that I am plant sitting I hope to have wonderfully lucky experiences. For those of you who know.. Im gonna need such luck this week.

May all of you be just as lucky for viewing this post with just a glimpse of such a lucky plant.

LAURENnicole

S M T W T F S

I got bored yesterday and when I get bored I get all thinking creative. I cant help it I just want to make something! So Ive been in need of a calendar so here is the one I made for me.

(see above)

Discover is one of my favorite words. Along with DREAM and IMAGINE and... well I have alot. All the stars have a letter in them S M T W T F S and then all the post-its under them for whats going on on that day.

It may be weird but I love it! And it was fun to make.

My next project is a peacoat/trenchcoat. I havent decided which.

LAURENnicole

Bend At The Knees

I took a night to myslef last night. This is what you get!
It actually was really good. I was actually kinda sad cause I couldnt go to my mommas baby shower. Yes, thats right my mommas prego. Deal. I thought I didnt care but it turns out I do. Shes so fat she broke a chair. Yup, just straight up broke on her. ;) No lie, it really did brake... just not from her fatness, not that shes not fat cause she is.... HELLO shes prego. :)
Now I dont even know if I can go home when the baby is born... I guess thats the life of growing up. Stupid. Sometimes.

The rest of the night was good with lots of ice cream and movies. I should be getting fat but I ran then went out to play soccer so Im counting on that canceling each other out. So, basically, if nothing else Im just not gonna change which I guess I can handle... maybe.

LAURENnicole

Sun Shines. Clouds Cry.

I MISS RHOP.

I talked to him last night and he sent me this picture and I know how much you all miss him too so I thought I would share with everyone. Just to clarify I sent him a picture of me and told him not to forget him so naturally he had to send one to me and this time I didnt even have to ask! ;)

(The only way I am able to get away with posting this picture is because he has no idea about this blog. :)

LAURENnicole

snap. crackle. pop.

Ok.. So here is the deal.. I WANT PIZZA! I dont know why but I have been craving it all week. I actually did eat my aunts pizza for like two days straight but I really want Papa Johns! I love thier whole wheat crust and garlic sauce... mmmm... mrr... its GREAT!

Now I'm sure you are all curious about the weird little boy (or girl) on this blog. Basically, he/she is here to haunt your dreams..

BOO!

JK Its actually kinda funny. I wanted a papa johns logo to blog so when I went to search one this picture of this little boy (or girl, I cant figure out which) came up. It just cracked me up! Naturally I had to use it. hellooo.

LAURENnicole

Ensign Traitor

Yes, what you hear is true, I was a traitor to Ensign. I crossed the road to Chevy. In my defense I had to have a key made for my car! Also, I did try.. HARD. I spent three hours on saturday trying to get a key cut that would work at prob five or six different places. In the end I knew what I would have to do on monday.

For those that don't know what Ensign is.. its the Honda Toyota dealership I work at and the chevy dealer is across the road. Hence my traitor status.

There is a happy ending tho.. I HAVE A KEY THAT WORKS! The first time, all the time, day and night, light and dark, black or white! Its great!

LAURENnicole