Amanda's Bachelorette Weekend

This past weekend 8 girls traveled to Highlands, North Carolina to celebrate Amanda's bachelorette weekend in the mountains. I have been stressed ever since November trying to plan her bachelorette, and I am kinda sad it's all over with now. We had the absolute best time this past weekend. It was full of fun, relaxation, laughing, and girl time. We painted wine glasses, played games, relaxed, and embraced Amanda with bachelorette fun :) I think everyone's favorite part was going to Old Edward's Inn on Saturday. We all went to the spa to spend the day to relax and get massages. We all can agree that each of us have never been that relaxed in our entire lives. It was exactly what everyone needed. The place was absolutely beautiful and so incredibly serene. It was like a dream come true honestly. None of us wanted to leave. When we got back to the house after the Spa we got ready and had Amanda's bachelorette party and lingerie shower. We had so much fun with all of the games and presents. I hope this weekend was everything Amanda had hoped for and more. She is truly one of my best friends and I am so thankful as well as honored to be a part of her special day! I am sure one day she will be helping plan my very own bachelorette :)

Girls before dinner!

This is Elmer... Amanda came up with the name haha!

The beautiful bachelorette!

Fun questions!

Girls at dinner!

Everyone relaxing at the spa!

Goofing around with my best friend!! 

This coming weekend Blake and I are headed to a monogram shower for Amanda. We are so excited for all the showers coming up! The wedding will be here before we know it!! Hope everyone has a great week while I will be studying for 5 days straight for all of my test this week! Enjoy your week!

XO Lauren

New Year - New Me

There isn't just one word to describe 2011 for me. It was a whirlwind of emotions and definitely a learning experience. This past year I have grown as a person more than I ever have. I am in a great place in my life and I am eager to see what the new year brings for myself, my family, my love, and my friends. I have learned so much about myself in the past year, and I know it has made me a better person. I hope to help more people this year, spend more time with family and friends, continue to grow in my relationship, get even closer to God, and overall become a better person. I am wishing each and every one of you a year of love, happiness, and hope!

My main wish for this year is for Tori Svenson to beat her battle with cancer and start living the life of a beautiful 8 year old. I wish her a year with no pain, no suffering, and NO cancer! I hope Tori gets to travel to Hawaii with the Make a Wish Foundation and I hope she and her family can start living again after her treatments are over. Wishing the entire Svenson family love, wealth, happiness, and strength!

Christmas 2011

I know I am a little late on updating about Christmas this year but I will still fill yall in anyways :) As most of you know, I was able to help the Svenson's with their Christmas this year since they were unable to have the true Christmas they deserve. I got word that they were completely overwhelmed with joy and happiness that they all cried Christmas morning. This family fills my heart with love and joy and I feel so blessed to have been able to spend some time with them this Christmas. (Tori goes in tomorrow for another round of chemo that lasts a week. Please keep her in your prayers!)

Christmas was a little different this year for me. Being in a serious relationship means having to compromise with one another, and with our families living an hour away, Blake and I had to make some compromises. We decided that he would be here all day on Christmas Eve for church and for our party and that I would spend all of Christmas day at his grandmother's (since he came here for Thanksgiving). I woke up at my house and opened presents real quick before my Grandmother, aunt, and uncle came over. Since I wasn't going to be able to see them that night at Christmas dinner, we settled for breakfast instead. After, I went up to Blake's house and we enjoyed a very yummy lunch at Betty's house. After we went to Grandmother's and opened presents. Blake being the person he is who HATES being surprised already knew what his gift was and that was only because he was driving me crazy... trying to figure out what it was- so I gave in. He opened his gifts on Christmas Eve from me since he couldn't stand it any longer (typical man). I gave him a Filson duffle bag that he had been wanting and he loved it. I however opened my gifts from Blake last on Christmas morning because I don't find it fun annoying someone about what they are getting me haha. Blake gave me the most gorgeous black pearl earrings... I love them so much I haven't taken them off since Christmas! He also gave me a quilted Ralph Lauren jacket which is a jacket I picked out forever ago and he found it... without even knowing I had wanted it! He is a smart smart man! We exchanged gifts with Austin, Alex, and Amanda as well. We had SO much fun watching Austin ride around on his new little four wheeler we got him! He was adorable. I had an amazing Christmas and hope each and every one of you did as well.

Opening gifts

Blake with his bag and his new sweater

After church on Christmas Eve

Most of the family on Dad's side

Austin LOVED his new toy from Aunt Lala and Uncle Blake

Merry Christmas!

Precious Tori

This past Tuesday I was lucky enough to get to finally meet sweet Tori and her mother Penny. Tori is an 8 year old beautiful little girl who is currently undergoing treatment for brain cancer. I met them at the mall with Leighton and we ate at the American Girl Doll Bistro. The place was so adorable and we had so much fun. We sat there asking questions and laughing about funny times. Lunch was a blast! After lunch, we went shopping for a little bit where we got some games for Hunter, and some clothes for Tori. Throughout this whole experience, I have never felt God's presence more than I have this past week. For example, we were sitting at lunch and Tori said she wanted the shirt she had on in grey... well sure enough, someone had mailed me that exact shirt in grey just a week earlier. The American Girl look-alike doll she picked out just happened to be the doll Mrs. Bennett had bought for Tori. Out of all 20 look-alike dolls, somehow we picked the right one before she ever even picked one out! While in Buckle shopping for Hunter, Penny picked up a shirt and a hat that Hunter had specifically wanted. It was the EXACT hat and shirt my brother had bought for him. How did this happen? I can only assume it was God's way of helping! I have felt God more in the past week than ever before and it feels AMAZING! Leighton and I spent so much time wrapping, collecting, and shopping we were so excited to take all of the gifts to Columbus. We made our trip on Thursday and dropped off all the presents at the Svenson's house. My car was EXTREMELY packed and there was no way we could have fit four more gifts! It felt awesome to have filled up my entire car with gifts for this family who was so deserving. While in Columbus we played Price is Right with Tori and Hunter and also had dance parties! We had so much fun! I didn't want to say goodbye but we had to get back since the weather was suppose to get bad. I am wishing the Svenson's the merriest Christmas of all! This family is so close to my heart and I plan on staying in touch and visiting even after I head back to school! I am so blessed to have met such amazing people. The Svenson's were the best gift I could have asked for this Christmas! Everyone please continue to pray for Tori and her family! Although I wish I could be there with them on Christmas morning I know they will have an amazing Christmas!

Christmas is about giving!

For those of you who know, I have decided to help out a family in need this Christmas. The Svenson family is a family who displays love, passion, hope, and faith. Tori Svenson who is only eight years old was diagnosed with a very malignant form of brain cancer earlier this year. She has undergone over 30 radiation treatments and is currently receiving chemo treatments. She will be receiving chemotherapy until June or July of 2012. This little girl is so strong and has had to give up so much in her life. She is a little girl and her soul is having to fight for her life. Hunter Svenson is thirteen and an amazing big brother from what I hear. He cares for Tori and tries to soothe and comfort her in anyway possible. He has never resented his sister... just this awful disease affecting her! Their father, Todd, is currently in the military who was actually away on duty during the time Tori was born. Penny has had to spend every day caring for Tori and shuttling her to and from treatments. As you can imagine, finances are more than tight for this family this Christmas. Their story spoke to me and inspired me to help them out. They don't deserve to not wake up Christmas morning without anything. It isn't just Tori fighting this awful disease, its the whole family. They DESERVE a day filled with love, joy, excitement, and happiness. I have rallied up as many people as possible to help me give this family the Christmas deserve. I feel so blessed to have such caring people in my life. Everyone is coming together to help this family out without even knowing them, and it truly warms my soul. I am so thankful to know such amazing people with such amazing hearts! I cannot wait to see everything we get for the Svenson family, and I especially can't wait to hear about their Christmas morning experience. I pray each night that Tori can win this evil battle, and her family can have relief. I am hoping each and everyone of you reading this blog post in someway or somehow helps someone in need this Christmas season. Christmas is about giving NOT receiving. If anyone is interested in providing gifts or donations to this family you can email me at laurenmc820@yahoo.com I hope everyone has a blessed day!

XOXO,
Lauren

I am Thankful For.

I am thankful for so many things in my life, and can't even manage to get them all written down before time to post this. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Always count your blessings and give thanks. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I love each and every one of you!

1: I am thankful for my faith with God. He helps me through my toughest times and gives me strength each day.
2: I am thankful for my my family because without them, I don't know where'd I be.
3: I am thankful for Blake. My best friend, my soul mate, and my everything. Thankful he always understands everything I am going through.
4: I am thankful for my health for letting me live a beautiful life and experience the joys God brings.
5: I am thankful for my Grandmother. I am thankful for God giving her the strength to fight cancer.
6: I am thankful for each one of my friends. I am at a point in life where I have determined who my true friends are and I am thankful for each and every one of them.
7: I am thankful for my education that will one day improve my chances of getting a job while in the process of pursuing my dreams.
8: I am thankful ALL of the sunsets I see. It reminds me of my grandmother who I miss dearly. Each of the little sunsets she brings, reminds me that she hasn't forgotten about me.
9: I am thankful for my mistakes because they have made me become a better person.
10: I am thankful for shelter and my home.
11: I am thankful for my sight, for letting me see the true beauty of life.
12: I am thankful for my freedom and for those risking their lives to fight for me- and our country.
13: I am thankful for clean water- to drink, to bathe, to play in.
14: I am thankful for the kindness of strangers- their "thank you's, greetings, hellos, goodbye's, and smiles."
15: I am thankful for my mother- my best friend, my support group, and my anger management counselor. To get me through the toughest times, to listen to me cry, to support me, to make me laugh, and to not judge me.
16: I am thankful for my father- my role model, my support group, my life counselor. To support me in each decision I make, to guide my through life, to help me financially, and to always be there for me no matter what.
17: I am thankful for my brother- my close friend, my advice counselor, and my "vent" person. To give me school advice, to teach me everything I need to know about UGA and growing up, and to be the  "big brother"
18: I am thankful for my maltese, Emma. To make me laugh when I am sad, to keep me from boredom, and to always be there to cuddle with me when no one else is.
19: I am thankful for Dr. Molock for saving my life.
20: I am thankful for penguins- unique animals who have made the bond between my father and I even stronger.
21: I am thankful for food- for nourishing my body
22: I am thankful for the experience I have had in the fashion world- hoping one day it helps me discover an amazing career.
23: I am thankful for hot bubble baths- always an easy way to wind down and relax. Not having a bathtub while at college, has made me miss mine!
24: I am thankful I am able to appreciate others. I am thankful I can say thank you, sorry, compliment strangers, and help anyone in need.
25: I am thankful for coupons... the simple joy I get from saving money.
26: I am thankful for peace
27: I am thankful for all of my vacations to Disney World. Thankful for all of the memories I made with my family.
28: I am thankful for the Dalton family for treating me as their own.
29: I am thankful for my growing strength with God
30: I am thankful for the growth I have experienced personally in the past year.
31: I am thankful for the ability to help others and put others first
32: I am thankful for people who pay attention and listen to me
33: I am thankful for Dr. Green for preaching and teaching me about our Lord.
34: I am thankful for being able to write down the things I am thankful for and sharing them with others.
35: Lastly, I am thankful for you... my readers. Thank you for letting me express my feelings and share my daily life experiences.

Georgia Florida 2011

Hello all! Hope everyone is having a good week so far. This past week has been kinda hard to get back into considering I was in Florida for 4 days... and might I add I am still giddy over the Georgia win. It has always been on my "bucket" list to go to the Georgia Florida game where Georgia wins. As most of you know, we have only won 4 of the last 21 meetings before this past weekend. Well guess what... WE WON!!!! 24-20 and I was there :) I finally got to cross something off my bucket list and it felt great!! I had so much fun and was so glad I actually bought tickets for the big game. When we won, I mean it was crazy. I have never heard so many people chanting, barking, and screaming. The Bulldog Nation was ECSTATIC! I mean when all these people travel to Jacksonville and we lose, they get kinda upset. This year we won, meaning our money was not wasted! I had the best time ever. Blake and I are officially 1-1 for Georgia Florida. We are excited to see what the rest of the season holds. "I said it's great to be... a GATOR HATER!" Hope everyone has a good weekend... we're getting close to Thanksgiving! Oh.. and Roll Tide ;) Beat LSU!