Bling, Bling I got the _____! Big announcement!

My goodness, gracious. It has been a HOT since I last made a post. 

By the way, Florida was great. Thanks for asking!

Rather than provide you (or whoever is still hanging on at this point) with a laundry list of excuses as to just why I haven't gotten off my lazy behind and wrote something, anything about the happening of my life since oh, July.... I will spare you and just say that working 30 hrs/week + 12 credit hrs of school/week + 3 hrs of student teaching/week + schoolwork + a fiance in nursing school + planning a wedding = one VERY tired LaLa!

Now, wait a minute.

What?

What just happened you ask?

What just happened in this equation? 

FIANCE?

PLANNING A WEDDING?

What the what??

YES!

Yes.

Why yes, we are...

ENGAGED!

 

On Sunday, September 16 2012 (our 5 year anniversary) Tyler as little old me to be his wife. But, that's just the short version of the story. I will certainly be making another post to tell you about the whole thing. Which brings me to my next proposition.

I have been thinking about this since...well..since September. I would really like to start making weekly (or maybe even more if I can) posts about our journey to our wedding day, which by the way will be on October 18, 2014.

Our budget is around $5,000.  If you've read any of my past posts, you know my parents aren't really that involved in my life, and Tyler will be in nursing school up until 3 months before the wedding. I graduate this coming August. So, it's pretty much up to me (with a little tiny bit of help from his parents) to pay for this thing. 

I know $5,000 sounds crazy, but through a lot of research and pinning and asking for help, I think we can do it and I'd love for y'all to join me on this crazy ride. I plan to make updates each week about what ideas I've come across, DIY projects, stuff I've bought, etc. And I'm hoping that through this process I'll be able to help another bride like me.

I'm looking forward to it, I hope you are too!

I'll also be making some changing around here. Maybe even my blog name. Stay tuned!

I'll leave you with some pictures of my life since July. I can't wait to catch up with all of y'all too!

First time in Florida since I was 4!

The Dr. Seuss part of Universal was definitely my favorite! I mean, I am a future teacher! I had to have my picture taken with all the characters.

Miranda Lambert/Dierks Bentley/Lee Brice Concert in January! My favorite Christmas present from TT.

Classic jumping pose from Converge in Myrtle Beach this past weekend.

The beards are back! Best.Halloween.Costumes.Ever. Duck Dynasty! Yes, that's me in the middle. I'm Si.

October 20, 2012. One of my best friends, Rebecca, married her high school sweetheart. I was so honored to be a bridesmaid.

2 days before we were engaged. I had no idea that my dream was finally about to come true!

Cooking Lady Toes. You know, like Lady Fingers. Only better.

Another one of my best friends, Sam gave birth to the most precious identical twin girls in September. And I was one of the first people other than family to meet them. I cried like a baby. This is another one of my friends, Heidi and I visiting the precious little fruit loops when they were just 2 months old.

Thanksgiving 2012 in the country. Yes, that is a cotton field behind us. LOVE!

 

My best friend since 2nd grade, Lisa posing with my ring. And me, freshly engaged!

The cookie cake that one of my early childhood classes got for me! I was so surprised! How sweet!

My ring inside of a cotton boll. Cotton is the theme of our wedding.

One of the anniversary presents I gave Tyler. I was rather proud of this!

One of my best friends, Hallie, and I on one of our many outings...in which we usually get into trouble!

 It feels so good to be back! And all you future brides out there, get at me!

   

 

Bye Bye SC, Hello Florida!

That's right y'all..... today at 3 I will be leaving for Orlando Florida for a much needed vacation! Tyler and I were invitied to stay for FREE in a beautiful resort until Monday. This was a VERY last minute decision for Tyler and me...and very out of character for us to just decide to pack up and go! But I've got my work shifts covered and my bikini packed so I'm ready for some fun!

I'll be staying here......

And playing here.....

 So, I'll be MIA for a little while! I am SO ready to get my mind off things! I don't even like Harry Potter that much and I'm still excited to see the Hogwarts Castle. You only live once, right?!

I'll leave you with a picture from earlier today when Lisa and I went to Cow Appreciation Day! My first time particpating this year because I was always to nervous...GO GET YOUR FREE MEAL, JUST BE SURE TO DRESS LIKE A COW FROM HEAD TO HOOF!

They liked our costumes so much at Chick-Fil-A, the asked to take a picture of us for their website!

Have you ever taken a last minute trip? Have you ever dressed up for Cow Appreciation Day? What's something you did this week that was totally out of character for you?

Eet mor chikin! YOLO! :)

Heavy Hearted

I literally just hopped out of bed at 12:15 in the morning to write this post. My heart is heavy and right now, this is my only outlet. This is one of those down, way down posts. Joy doesn't exactly fill my heart right now.

I've stated a while back that my relationship with my parents is pretty much nonexistent. Without going into too much detail, things have gone from avoiding eachother, to attacking eachother.

One day I've been "cut off and cut out of their lives" and the next they "want me around more often" and "love me more than I could know" and "only want the best for me." And it's getting old. Very, very old.

There are so very many things about this situation that perplex me and keep me up on nights like these- Why have I had to live with my grandmother since I was 9? Why did my sister get to stay? Why have my parents never wanted to take care of me when they have been fully capable the whole time? Was it something I did? Was it something I didn't do? Why don't they like me? Why does everything have to be a battle? Why aren't they ever proud of me? Why can't the accept Tyler and I together? WHY DO THEY DO THIS TO ME?

Why is God doing this to me?

Why me? Why this life?

Can I do this anymore?

The list of things they don't like about me could go on forever. They don't like my major. They don't like the school I go to. They don't like my job. They don't like Tyler (for literally NO reason at ALL. NONE.) They don't like that I have a relationship with my aunt (why they don't like her, we all have no clue. My aunt doesn't even know).  I want too much (when all I ever really wanted was for them to take care of me, emotionally, phsycially, financially, etc.)

Every time I see my dad he says I'm making the biggest mistakes of my life and I will never have a nice car, or a nice house, or have nice things, or ever be successful or happy. And then he says I need to come around more often. Yeah, I really want to be around to hear that.

I have a 3.897 gpa, they've hardly had to pay anything for me to go to school, I graduate this coming school year, I just got an awesome job (and I've had a pretty good one for the past year), I have an awesome Christian boyfriend who is committed to taking care of me, and I've never been in trouble..pretty much in my life.

When I talk to them, I feel like I'm screaming in an sound proof room and no one can here me.

All of it is just becoming so exhausting. We go from letting "bygones be bygones" to "Don't call us if you need us." I'm starting to feel deeply depressed...the only way I could descibe my feelings to Tyler today was dark. That's how I feel. Dark. Or like a flower that hasn't been watered in months...withered and barely hanging on.

I wish so badly I had good parents. I wish it everyday. I pray for things to change. They never have. I want a mom I can tell everything (better yet..one thing) and a dad who would do anything (maybe just something?) for his precious little girl. I have no memory of them ever being proud of me.

Tyler says I just need to let it go, but I can't.. you know? I need to though. There's no need to cling to a pipedream.

But it's such a lovely dream.

If you have good parents, go give them a hug and a kiss. Seriously. You don't know how good you've got it. I would do anything to trade places with you.

If you made it through this whole post, thank you for walking through the dark with me. It feels good to be real and honest. Your prayers would be appreciated.

Homemade Box Cake?

*If you're in a cake hurry, scroll down for  the words written in red. **I apologize for bad picture quality, all were taken with my blackberry.

I have a friend whose Granny passed down a wonderful homemade "white cake" recipe to her, which she likes to make on occasion.....and it is DELICIOUS.

My Nanny, on the other hand, has taught me since the age of four, "If it comes in a box, or you can buy it at the store, there's no sense in makin' it. There's too many other things to worry about, especially if you're raising daughters. Just make sure what you've got is fresh, and tastes homemade and you can fool just about anybody."

So what's a girl like me to do? Here I am...calling myself a southern woman..and I have no freakin' recipes "like grandma used to make." I guess the only thing I can do (other than come up with my own recipes, which I will do!) is take Nanny's advice, and work with what I've got.

On the 4th of July, Tyler and I always go to the Pound Family BBQ. It started about 30 years ago, just as a family gathering, and eventually became a gathering of 300 in this sweet old lady's backyard...because once you're invited, you're expected to come back, because an invitation lasts a lifetime. And you're expected bring your friends and family too.

They also don't mind if you bring your favorite dessert or covered dish, as pork BBQ, chicken, and hash are provided.

So, of course I had to bring something. And I'm a cupcake kind of girl, because they're just so darn cute. This is what I started out with.....

Trusty rusty old Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix and Pillsbury Stars and Stripes Vanilla Icing.

Food coloring (Target Brand) to make the icing more patriotic, red and blue "party picks" pinwheels for decoration (6/$1 at Target), and some pretty cupcake liners from Wal-Mart.

THIS PICTURE SUCKS.

Now here is the important part. According to the directions on the back of the cake mix package, you will need 3 eggs, 1/3 vegetable oil, and 1 cup of water. I keep the 3 eggs, use fat free skim milk instead of water, and melted butter instead of oil. What I used wasn't acutally butter, but rather Brummel & Brown, a vegetable oil spread made with nonfat yogurt. No trans fat, and no hydrogenated oils, and no doubt, much better for you. Though I'm sure regular old butter and whole milk/2% would be yummy as well. I also add a tablespoon of vanilla. In addition, be sure to stir in one thing at a time. Don't add anything else until each item is mxed in well. And DO NOT overmix. You still want a few lumps.



Now, you may be thinking these changes are pretty small, and that they won't make much of a difference, but I am telling you, THEY DO!                                        

 

       And for heaven's snakes don't forget the funfetti! 

Bake at 350 until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Your cupckaes or cake should turn out very light and airy, with a flavor that can only be described as homemade.

The end result...

My best friend since kindergarten, Lisa.

They weren't perfect by any means, but I think they turned out cute! I served them on a 3 tiered wire dessert display and the pinwheels acutally turned in the the wind.

Here's the best part. I ended up parking my cupcakes next to some really fancy red, white and blue ones with cream cheese icing on a HUGE fancy dessert display. They looked much better than mine. But everybody wanted my cupcakes instead! That's why there isn't a final picture of them all, because they disappeared so fast!

Try this next time you make a box cake and you won't be disappointed! Let me know how it turns out!

   

                                                      

Hope y'all had a great 4th! :)

 

I am alive!

I have been missing for quite some time now. For some reason or another, I tend to keep doing this. At least I wasn't pissed at blogging this time ;) Rather, I've just been...living!


I made it through Easter...apparently with no shoes! Way to go, LC!


I made it through my 20th birthday (May 18)...Not an actual photo from my birthday party..but rather a picture of me with some balloons I randomly found outside of Marble Slab in downtown Columbia about a week before my birthday...NOT EVEN KIDDING. But hey, you get the point.


I made it through a wonderful week of vacation at Garden City Beach with my love...and let me tell y'all that was SO hard...

I also made it through..umm..well...whatever you want to call this torture!

And finally............

I received this is the mail yesterday! It's official. I can really take care of your babies now.

Also, one more piece of news...I will be quitting my job at the gym very soon because I will be playing "nanny" to some precious twins instead. Yay!

God is great. Life is good. And as always, I am crazy.

Damn you, Cancer.

I know it has been more than a while since my last post, and there is so much I want to get off of my chest. I just haven't felt like writing with everything going onl So, here goes.......


I have pretty much the best aunt and uncle in the world. As I mentioned in a post a long while back, the relationship I have with my mom is really..well, nonexistent. The two of them, and my cousin, were really all I was going to have (as far as my family is concerned) after my grandparents pass away.


Well, as of last Thursday, I now will only have my aunt and cousin, as my Uncle Joe passed away. 


He battled cancer for what seemed like forever (really about 2 years). He had colon cancer once and beat it, then got it again and lost.  He stayed in the hospital from September of 2011 until last week when he was moved to a hospice facility, and then passed away shortly after. He never gave up.


There were so many times, over the past 2 years (and especially the last 6 months) when we were told he only had a month, or 2 weeks, or a couple of days. But each time he pulled through. And so when I was told it wouldn't be long after he was placed in the hospice facility, I really didn't believe it. Even after I saw him last week, just a shadow of his former self, small and frail. Hardly any hair on his head, and plenty on his face. The medicine he was on made him say crazy things...one time he said to Tyler, "You told people we were in Las Vegas??!" Though we were sad, we all still got a good laugh out of the things he would say. He definitely was feeling no pain with all those drugs.


I had just gotten off work on Thursday around 12 pm when my grandfather called me and said "Honey, you know Joe died, don't you?" Well, I didn't. And even though I knew this was going to happen, I was still in almost as much shock as if he had called to tell me he had seen an alien walking down the street. 


I haven't been to work since, and Tyler and I have been with my aunt and little cousin pretty much all the time. I don't think my cousin understands. I'm not even sure if I understand. 


This is the first time that I have ever really lost a family member close to me. I have cried, but I don't want to be a crybaby. But I don't want to keep it all inside. I just don't know. I don't know.


I can tell you that I know that I hate cancer. It can suck my big toe and go straight to hell in a beautifully woven hand basket. I also know that I will never take being able to eat for granted again. Before being diagnosed with cancer, my uncle was chunky, not fat, just not skinny. And he wished he could lose weight. Not long after the cancer returned, he couldn't keep food down without becoming sick, due to blockages and problems with his intestines. He missed eating normally so much, and said he would do anything to gain every pound back.

My uncle was a very humble person, and such a hard worker. He also had a great sense of humor and was a huge gamecock fan. So much so, that we have all decided to wear Carolina clothes to the funeral and visitation. And at the end of the service, 2001 space Odyssey and the Carolina fight song will be played. I think he would think that was so neat. 

Though I will miss him, I am so glad he isn't suffering anymore. I just don't think anyone should have to suffer that much.

I love you, Joe! See you soon in heaven!

My Top Secret Talent!

I'm sure you can probably tell from my header that I want to be a teacher (a preschool one at that!), and that it's a given that I love babies/children/little people. But what you probably don't know is that I have a secret talent.

 No, I can't eat 50 hotdogs in five minutes, or speak to the dead, and I didn't teach my fish to ride a bicyle.

 Bummer.

BUT.... I am a baby charmer!

Say whatttt?!  

I will explain :) 

 

Right now I'm going to a community college where I'm studying to be a preschool teacher. I also work part time in a gym child care facility (I started in June 2011). If I just told you I liked my job, I'd be lying.

The truth is, I love it.

 

I can't tell you how good it feels when I come into work and the first thing I see is a child running up to me, with there arms held up high, waiting for me to hug or hold them saying "Miss Lauren, Miss Lauren! Hold me, hold me!" It is the absolute best feeling.

I love reading them books, and giving them their bottles, and holding them when they're sleepy.

My absolute favorite thing to do is rock the babies to sleep. I actually don't mind a fussy baby at all, they are sort of my favorite (I know, crazy!) because that's when I do my best work. I wrap them up and we sit in the rocking chair and I pat them on the bottom (they love that!). And I hum every single church hymn I know until they fall asleep. (But you have to hum really deep from your chest or it doesn't work!)  Oh my goodness I love baby rocking :)

 via

Whenever somebody get's fussy, they hand him/her over to me. And BAM. They are either asleep or smiling from ear to ear in 10 minutes or less. I think I have memorized almost every little face and quirk, and all I really have to do is look at baby to know what they want.

Now don't get me wrong, I do have bad days/moments. There are some times when my magic just doesn't work, and I'm convinced that baby hates me and I feel so done. And then of course there are older children there too (who are also fun!), but they can wear you out just with their attitudes! And there are times when I just feel like crying (and sometimes that's what I go home and do!)

But every time I have a bad day, I just think about all the kids that I love there, and eventually the bad feelings go away. 

So there you have it. My name is Lauren, and I am an excellent baby-rocker/nurturer/charmer . I might even go so far as to call myself a professional. And I am proud! :)

Everyone has a special talent, and it doesn't have to be something extravegant. What's yours?

Rockabye

 By: Shel Silverstein

Rockabye baby, in the treetop.

Don't you know a treetop

Is no safe place to rock?

And who put you up there,

And your cradel too?

Baby I think someone down here's

Got it in for you.