Day 181: I am very proud of my homemade pasta sauce!

Day 181: I am very proud of my homemade pasta sauce!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
It is so delicious...I swear I'm not trying to brag! And I like to make it with a little bite! Some red pepper flakes and fresh garlic really give it flavor!

Day 180: Anthropologie sent me a birthday gift! ...kind of...

Day 180: Anthropologie sent me a birthday gift! ...kind of..., a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
15% off coupon! and a "me-time" fake watch bracelet thing... Ok! I'll take it!

Day 179: Yep, I am totally taking a career test.

Day 179: Yep, I am totally taking a career test., a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
So far "business" and "clerical" are my strongest areas...while I am not doing so well on the mechanical side of things.

I'm sure it's just going to tell me "stay right where you are" but hey, I'd rather know that than nothing.

Day 178: Another awesome thing when I visit Pgh: Mom does my laundry :)

Day 178: Another awesome thing when I visit Pgh: Mom does my laundry :), a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Best Mom Ever….Seriously.

Day 177: My Birthday Dinner (almost a month early)

Day 177: My Birthday Dinner (almost a month early), a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
We get a picture EVERY year at the same restaurant. :)

Day 176: Happy Thanksgiving

Day 176: Happy Thanksgiving, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I made these pies. Because I am awesome. Seriously. …This was also basically my only contribution to our dinner. :)

Day 175: The Snoopy Balloon for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Day 175: The Snoopy Balloon for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
For real. He is giant. Another thing checked off my Bucket List!

Day 174: My New Blue Dress

Day 174: My New Blue Dress, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Blue with white polka dots! And it was only $25. :) That makes me love it.

(PS - look at Scout looking kind of scary and cat-like in the background!)

Day 173: My favorite T-Shirt

Day 173: My favorite T-Shirt, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I got this shirt is 2001 (yes, it's 10 years old! isn't that amazing? it's been through so much with me!) at my CISV Summer Camp.

In 10th (I think?) grade Chemistry class, we did a Tie-Dye project and I took it in and tie-dyed it pink/blue. It was just plain old white before...boring right?!

And since then, it has been my favorite, most comfortable PJ shirt.

It reminds me of my sweet, wonderful friends from camp and the wonderful influence CISV has been in my life. It reminds me to reach out, make friends, love one another and that the smallest kindness can make a difference.

(Also, seriously, this shirt is so comfy I could wear it all the time.)

If you're not familiar with CISV, I suggest you read the lyrics to the CISV song below to get an idea of what an amazing organization it is:

Here in this village you may see

Children living happily

Different race and different land

Here we come to understand

One another's point of view

Learning through the things we do

How alike am I to you

Here we live and eat and sleep

Talk and laugh and sometimes weep

Here we share our hopes and fears

Build a bridge across the years

Sow a seed and plant a tree

Beneath whose branches there may be

All the nations gathered free

That our children so may grow

In a world we did not know

Sharing all they have to give

Learning how to love and live

In our hands the future lies

Seize the moment 'ere it flies

Stamp the present with an act

Dare to make our dream a fact

Day 172: My New Pillow Covers

Day 172: My New Pillow Covers, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Aren't they fun? Another Etsy purchase. Thank goodness I stopped after this. But how could I pass that up?!

Day 171: Macdougal Street decked out for the Holidays

Day 171: Macdougal Street decked out for the Holidays, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I love this neighborhood more than I can say. Anyone have an apt there you want to give me?

Again, all I want to do is sing "city sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style!"

Day 170: Earrings made by one of my favorite people in the whole world!

Day 170: Earrings made by one of my favorite people in the whole world!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Check out my pal's Etsy store where she makes wonderful jewelry! I'm wearing the red rose earrings today. They are incredibly adorable! And the yellow ones I am wearing next time the Steelers play! :) I LOVE LOVE LOVE both pairs. You'll love her stuff too. It's almost as awesome as she is!

Day 169: I saw this musical. It was ...unique.

Day 169: I saw this musical. It was ...unique., a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
To say the least. Amazing performances from the 3 leads. Beautiful beautiful music. But...just...strange. I don't know what to say about it. Go read the NY Times review. I think they explained the show's issues well.

Day 168: Decorations are going up. My favorite time of year in NYC

Day 168: Decorations are going up. My favorite time of year in NYC, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This made me want to start singing "City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in Holiday style..."

Christmas in New York City is magical. I cannot wait to go see the Tiffany Snowflake and the Rockefeller Center Tree. And my goal is to go skating at Wollman Rink in December! I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!

Day 167: Best Dog Ever

Day 167: Best Dog Ever, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The title says it all. How can you not love this little guy?

Hello out there.

Hi.

I just wanted to say hi because...it feels like the only things I post on my blog now are my daily photos and you don't really get to hear from ME. 

I mean, yes, there's a caption for each photo but it's never more than a paragraph.  And I think to myself, that isn't why I started a blog.  For a paragraph a day.  Or a sentence or two.  It was so I would have an outlet.  A place to open up.  A place to VENT.  A place to share.  A place for all my quirks and thoughts to come out into the open.

And yeah, sometimes my photos can do that.  But they don't really get to tell you how I'm feeling about, say, The Occupy Wall Street Movement.  Or my most recent vacation.  Or that conversation I had with that person about that thing.  I don't know.  I feel like I'm not telling you anything.

Am I telling you anything?

Whatever, I'm just saying.  I'm still here.  And I'm going to try to write more.  Like say more.  To you.  My readers.  If you're still out there.  :)

Loves.

Day 166: Charley is my #warmth :)

Day 166: Charley is my #warmth :), a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
He obviously wasn't ready for me to take his picture. But I'm sorry, that face is adorable no matter what. I love this dog.

Day 165: Family Fun watching the Steeler Game

Day 165: Family Fun watching the Steeler Game, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
At a fundraiser for ...ok, I don't remember what it was for...a Children's Hospital or something... It was a great way to watch the game though! We bid on Chinese Auction items and I won a Cake Pop themed basket! HOW APPROPRIATE IS THAT?! Seriously! It was perfection. Everyone made fun of me because when they called my number, I jumped up and down and screamed in excitement. The lady at the table next to us apparently said "Does she know what she won?" cause apparently she didn't feel it was nearly as exciting as I did. Whatevs, lady. You have no idea the joy this brings me.

Day 164: Tucked into my childhood bed

Day 164: Tucked into my childhood bed, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
It's quite comfy. The sheets are totally the same sheets I had in High School. Don't worry - they've been washed.

Day 163: Sitting by the fire!

Day 162: Sitting by the fire! #warmth, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
One of my favorite things about Mom's house is sitting by the fireplace. It goes through from the family room to the living room. Which I think is so super cool. Either side is cozy!

Back in my homeland. The land of Heinz. Hello Pittsburgh. :)

Back in my homeland. The land of Heinz. Hello Pittsburgh. :), a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This isn't a photo of the day, but I can't resist sharing. :)

Day 162: My Daily #Warmth

Day 162: My Daily #Warmth, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Ok, not really, I can't afford to go to Dunkin on a daily basis. Dunkin's a treat. But today, this was my cup of warmth!

Day 161: My hair is finally long enough to pull back into asemi-ponytail!

Day 161: My hair is finally long enough to pull back into a semi-ponytail!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Success! Look at that! Of course my bangs were still in my face, but LOOK AT THAT!

Ok, yes, I know this is only exciting to me.

Day 160: Not the best day. (Tears)

Day 160: Not the best day., a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Got some bad news today. Something I was really hoping for isn't going to happen. I was surprised - I really thought this thing was going to go my way. But it didn't. So I called my mom. I cried. And today, I'm trying to move on. But I can't help but be really bummed about it.

Day 159: Taking it back to 2004...CISV memories! Oh 18 year old Lauren- you are still just as obnoxious.

Day 159: Taking it back to 2004...CISV memories! Oh 18 year old Lauren - you are still just as obnoxious., a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Sweden. July 2004. Could I have made it any more obvious who the American was out of the group? Oy.  But this picture couldn't capture my personality better, I think.  At least at the time.  :) 

For those of you that don't know what CISV stands for...check it out.

Day 158: Mmmmm delicious pumpkin bread!

Day 157: Mmmmm delicious pumpkin bread!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I used my "pumpkin bread" pan. And it was amazing and awesome and it's almost gone already! Whoops! ;) It helped that I gave like almost half to my neighbors.

Day 157: Finally some fall foliage in the city!

Day 157: Finally some fall foliage in the city!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Walking near Battery Park on Saturday and finally seeing some color on those leaves. Happy day!

Day 156: Anonymous - Good Movie

Day 156: Anonymous - Good Movie, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
If you like Shakespeare, you'll enjoy this "What if" background story...

Day 155: Horizontal Stripes are my Favorite!

Day 155: Horizontal Stripes are my Favorite!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I would say at least 50% of my shirts are horizontal stripes. Completely unintentional on my part.

I'm sorry, but I must rant about this - Shorter University

I try not to get political and stuff on this blog, but I just think this is wrong.  It's not the fact that they have issue with these practices, it's the fact that they are FORCING employees to agree with them.  And will punish them if they violate it.  I'm sorry, but that is taking away a person's agency is that is just plain wrong.  Especially if this wasn't made clear at the start of their employment.  Please join me in fighting back against this offensive policy.



Shorter University, in Rome, GA , has announced it will require all faculty and staff to disclose their sexual preferences by signing a lifestyle pledge in which they will promise to not condone premarital sex, adultery, or homosexuality. Among other things in the lifestyle pledge, faculty and staff will also no longer be allowed to drink where students could be present, within 6 hours of any college event, or in the general public period. Refusal to sign or violation of these terms will result in disciplinary action, including possible termination.


So I signed a petition to Shorter University, President and Board of Trustees, which says:
"Shorter University, in Rome, GA , has announced it will require all faculty and staff to disclose their sexual preferences by signing a lifestyle pledge in which they will promise to not condone premarital sex, adultery, or homosexuality. Stop Shorter University from requiring faculty and staff to sign a lifestyle pledge."


Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/stop-shorter-university?source=s.em.cp&r_by=1517379

Day 154: I tried Spinning for the first time tonight!

Day 154: I tried Spinning for the first time tonight!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I can't decide if I liked it or loved it. It was interesting and went by quickly, which is good. But I couldn't tell if I had enough resistance or too much resistance at times. I guess I don't know how well I did! I'm sore this morning though. Oof.

Day 153: I love my outfit today!

Day 153: I love my outfit today!, a photo by lalasappy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Who doesn't love a classic sweater dress with a big belt? Please excuse the mess that is my room.