12.31.2006

busy bee lingo

Here at Busy Bee Lauren I like to use special words and phrases. You see, I excel at spelling, and I happen to have exceptional grammar. In fact, I was thinking about majoring in English Writing, but then I realized how much I hate writing papers, and dissecting poems by crazy poets. As I was saying, I know how to construct a sentence, but that's boring! So I like to use an insane amount of slang and made-up words on my blog for maximum awesomeness. I try to reach a slang-quota for each post, actually. So here is a guide if you get lost:


Srsly - I use this when I want to put emphasis on the word "seriously". When I type it, I almost always say it aloud as well. It also is accompanied with a sideways nod to the side and a half-eye roll. It's pretty much legit.


Legit - Used when I am talking about something awesome. For example: "Zac Efron is legit." or "Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt is legit dot com." It is to reinforce how awesome I think things are.


Lamespice - This is used when referring to something that is so beyond lame that it needs a "spice" added to it. Lamespice can be used as an expression, for example: "I have cramps today. Not even chocolate can cure it. Ugh! Lamespice!" Or it can be used to describe something, such as: "Cafe Rio is lamespice, but Costa Vida is bomb. Obvi!"


Obvi - This is a good word. I love saying it because it is so ridiculous. You see, "obvi" is just a shortened word for "obviously"...obvi! BUT the funny thing is, saying "obvi" is about the same work as saying "obviously" so it doesn't really serve a purpose. It just makes everyone feel cool to say...obvi! See? It's fun. And stupid.


Totes - When I say "totes" I am NOT referring to a cute Juicy Couture tote bag. I am in fact referring to something totally awesome. For example: "I TOTES just ordered a Juicy bag online!" The awesomespice word "totes" makes some people mad. I think those people need to be given a hug. No one should get mad at people for TOTES using awesome words. Here TOTES is a hug for you, angry person! (((hugs)))


Sicknast - This word is so beautiful that is a ironic. You see, "sicknast" completely encompasses how much I despise certain things. Should I use Cafe Rio as an example again? I think so. Example: "Cafe Rio's salads are soooo sicknast!" You see? Awesome. Combining the words "sick" and "nasty" for the birth of the mega word: "sicknast" is one of the most holy word marriages in the fake english language. You can all thank me for this.


Tedward - This is the unwanted and ultra-hated nickname that I bestowed about my loving husband, Ted. You see, I felt that Ted possessed the awesomespice qualities of my beloved Edward Cullen...so I birthed another mega word: Tedward. Genius right? Yes. Want to know what else is genius? The fact that I called him Tedward on my blog for over a year before he found out. Awesome.

about me

so...this is me:

Photobucket

So where did this blog come from?

Well, way back in the day, at the peak of Myspace's awesomeness, I wrote a blog post on the really lame form of a blogging section. It was all about my professed hatred for "rolly backpacks". It was pretty much the single most amazing piece of literature I have ever produced. In fact, I will never pass the level of awesome of that particular Myspace blog post. It was beautiful. Too bad it suffered a painful death when I deleted my Myspace for the first of 5 other following occasions.

A year passed and I heard whisperings of something called "Blogger" followed by a word that I am pretty sure resembled "awesome". Since I like words that sound like "awesome", I decided to give it a shot.

And here I am. My blog follows from when I was 18 and waiting for Ted, while he was on his mission to Madagascar. To him coming home, us dating and then getting married in September of 2008.

this blog is a lifestyle blog where i document our adventures. we were both born and raised in arizona, and while we love being here with family, we both yearn to see new places. we love to travel, and we love trying new restaurants. we love taking photos, and i really love vintage and thrifting. we love finding awesomespice places in mesa, az and then sharing them with you. i hope this can be a place where you find inspiration for your own adventures!

happy reading! stay awesomespice :)

Photobucket

contact: laurenkbrimley"at"gmail.com

twitter//facebook//tumblr

12.28.2006

my long awaited sister!

MY BROTHER IS ENGAGED!!! My brother Ty is pretty much my best friend in the entire world. He gets on my nerves sometimes, but I love him so much. For about a month we have secretly been shopping for an engagement ring so he could propose to his girlfriend. This was a big deal to me because I'm not the best at keeping secrets and I kept this one!

For Christmas, all he wanted was money so he could buy the ring. The day after Christmas he bought it! It's magnificent...then last night he popped the question. Nothing fancy, just after a nice walk around the temple lights. I was honored to be the first one he told...yay!

I'm excited because I am finally gonna have a sister! They set the date for May 31st...

12.26.2006

I'm not a senior...


Hi everyone, guess what! I am almost 19 and I graduated from high school last May! Sheesh...I am about to tell you my biggest pet peeve. All through high school people told me that I looked older than a teenager. People that I didn't know would assume I was about 20. Well, when I graduated in May, it seems as though I have been perceived as being younger. I bet all women who are aging and want to look younger are dying to know my secret...well guess what, THERE IS NO SECRET, people are just dumb. Here are some instances...

1. I went to the bank over the summer, with my mom, to see if I could change the status of my savings account. I wanted to be able to get to it without having my parents permission. Well the lady who was helping us said, "I'm sorry but you must be 18 to have access" I told her, "Oh, well that's fine, I am 18 1/2" she DIDN'T believe me...even with my mom standing right there and demanded I.D.

2. I am my mom's visiting teaching companion. ONe day we went to visit one of the ladies and she started asking if I was excited to graduate and turn 18 and stuff...I gently reminded her I had graduated already and she just COULDN'T believe I was the same age as some of the girls that are in my ward. I found this instance kind of ridiculous because, since when were women in relief society when they were 17? Goodness...I will let it slide.

3. I have seen a few people older than me, who have siblings my age. Every single one of them thinks I am still in high school and the same age as an even younger sibling of theirs. This bothers me because....uhhh, I just can't explain it. Isn't common courtesy if you don;t know someones age, you guess higher when they are young adults?

4. This one really bugged me. I went in for a 6 month interview with my bishop and he asked how I liked being 16! I was all, umm, I am in college, I am 18...same age as your daughter. I personally think I look more mature than his daughter, but that's just me. Gee...

Well, I think I am done rambling about stupid people...

12.23.2006

Christmas Past and Present


This picture was taken last year on Christmas day. It was probably my favorite Christmas of all time. Ted gave me the most wonderful present I have ever received...and my best friend (my brother) came home from his mission a few days later. I love how everyone looks forward to Christmas...and then when it comes it is exicting, but in the evening it is just kinda low key and almost boring. Me and Ted always take advantage of this lazy part of the joyous day. We usually wear comfy clothes, take turns opening eachother's gifts and then top the night off with a good snuggle in front of the Christmas tree. This year will be really different. There is no Ted, no present from Ted, and of course no snuggles from Ted...I don't really know what to do with the rest of my Christmas day without him. I have been thinking of starting on my thank you notes that day, or watch a movie with my family...or just take a very needed nap. Whatever I end up doing, I will have a happy day. I will be happy because I know that Christmas is the day we think of Christ...we think of all of the wonderful things he did for us...most importantly his amazing, and wonderful Atonement. He is the ONLY way we can make it back to our Heavenly Father and I love him so much...I hope we can all keep that in mind this Christmas weekend.

12.21.2006

Oh how I love you Disneyland...





Dear Disneyland...Why are you so amazing?

As I was reading the box to my recently purchased "Sleeping Beauty and Prince Philip" ornament...It said that the production of the movie "Sleeping Beauty" started in 1951 but had to be put on the back burner because the developing of Disneyland park. I found this funny...Disney didn't have enough staff to do them both at once haha. I also started thinking about Disneyland...

I have been to Disneyland more times than I can count on my fingers. I LOVE it. I LIVE for it. I love disney, ANYTHING! I love the excited feeling I get when I know my family is going on vacation to Disneyland. I love the pit in my stomach I get as I am walking up to the entrance of the park. What I love most is the moment I first get through the ticket line and my ears are full of the extremely cheery, delightful disney music! ahh...it brings tears to my eyes...literally, I can't help it. My family usually takes a picture in front of the flower formation of Mickey's face at the grand entrance and then OFF...to play time.

My family is so knowledgable about Disneyland. Let me tell ya. We know the prime times to go...like, the second week of January...preferably a Tuesday-Thursday. Never go on a Saturday! Never go Thanksgiving weekend...or the week of Christmas. Anyway...we always go when no one is there so we can virtually run through rides.

I love Space Mountain. It's so amazing. To get the full effect, you MUST request to sit in the very front row...I can't explain it's awesome-ness, just do it, then you will understand. The Disneyland workers are so friendly, they will be more than happy to put you in the front row...just ask :)

That's another thing...Disneyland has the NICEST employees. I went to Six Flags a couple of years ago and I was stunned by the rudeness of the workers...but Disneyland workers have like a flame lit inside of them that makes them just happy...either that or they are just exposed to the Disney magic so often that they have been softened into extremely nice people...either way, I love it!

Have you noticed how Disneyland is spotless. Their sidewalks are popcorn free. Between the workers sweeping the sidewalks, and they happy pigeons eating the rest, they achieve extreme cleanliness. DO you think they hired the birds too? haha Also, their bathrooms are spotless...maybe even cleaner than my bathroom at home...weird.

Splash Mountain...oh how I love you. That ride is just down right happy. I love riding it with my brother and Ted. Oh my goodness, those boys are goofy. There is a part in the ride, right after you go down the big drop where you are seranaded by huge chicken, hen...things. They do this insane dance and Me, Ty and Ted can't help but join in on their jig. Disneyland is the only place where you are socially allowed to look like an idiot.

I could go on forever, but I believe I am out of time...All I have to say is, Disneyland...I love you. Thanks for the memories.

12.20.2006

I love my mom



I have a wonderful mom. Her name is Nancy Ann Kircher. She has the most beautiful brown, curly hair...I was fortunate enough to inherit her thick, curly hair. My mom has three children. Ty, being the oldest, is going to be 22 this saturday. I am the middle child and only girl, and I will be 19 in February and Zachary is the youngest and he is 11 1/2. I always wondered why my mom didn't have more kids. Whenever people would find out I was mormon and the lack of kids we had in our family, they would say "you aren't a REAL mormon"...weird. Just recently I found out my mom couldn't have more kids, and would have loved to have at least one more.

My mom has ALWAYS been there for all of us kids. Now that I'm older I realize how much she really did for us. Growing up I would go to dance classes at least twice a week. My dance studio was about 20-30 minutes away and my classes would be for a couple hours. My mom would have to plan her life around my dance schedule. This was just a tiny bit of the big burdens she did for me...jus to make me a well rounded individual haha. I used to be such a brat about it too. I remember crying and pouting saying houw much I didn't WANT TO GO TO DANCE!! I never realized how much of a burden it was on her; and how expensive it was.

My mom would ALWAYS try to come to ALL of the kids field trips. She really came to most of them! She also found time to volunteer in our classrooms. I loved seeing my mom at school. I know it means a lot to my little brother too who is still in elementary school. Just recently my little brother was having a canned food drive (which he was in charge of because he is the student body president) and whichever class brought the most cans, got a pizza party. He is so competitive and to win, was such a big deal to him. My mom, bought over 200 items over a 4 week period so he could take them to his class. In the end they won! My mom cares so much for the needs of all of us. Here are a couple examples:

When my brother was on his mission she sent him the biggest most bountiful boxes full of his favorite things. She would spend two hours each week at the computer sending him an email, because she was computer challenged haha. She also, made an effort to write him each week, on top of that. My mom is a peach.

My brother Zach likes to run for student council...just like me! She spent countless hours making posters, making campaign buttons and writing out his speeches so he could have a fair chance at winning. He won, both years in a row...thanks to mom haha. I also won a few years too.

My mom is an amazing seamstess. She made 7 formal dresses in high school. I would dream up how I wanted the dress and she would spent a couple of months without much sleep, sewing my dresses. She wouldn't jsut sew them...she would bead them with hundreds, sometimes thousands of beads. She would make me a matching purse, and a couple of times she would make a tie for my date to match. She is amazing...

When Ted was in Track and Cross Country, she would take me to all of the meets. We would drive for like almost an hour and a half sometimes...just because she knew how much it meant to me to go support him. Thank you mom.

My older brother was in a band. Not a school band...a full fledged punk band. My brother was the drummer so that meant band practices were always at our house! Instead of being a bum about it, she LOVED it! She would buy Dews for them and just enjoy their band pratices. She even let them have one of their shows at our house! She is way cool...

All through high school I had one day a week called "Lunch Day". A bunch of my friends would come over and my mom would slave away making food for us. Sometimes spaghetti and garlic bread, sometimes chimichangas, sometimes enchiladas and even lasagna. Of course there was always dessert too. "Lunch Days" were alwayslooked forward to by me and my friends. One of my friends even said "that is the one thing I miss about high school the most"...

My mom is an amazing listener. When I have a hard day I like to vent out all of my frustration and she always listens and is very comforting...My mom is the friend everyone wishes they had and searches their whole life for...I'm just lucky enough to live with her.

I love my mom, and I hope to be half the amazing woman she is someday...

12.19.2006

my tuesday...

I had such an insane dream last night. I dreamed that my family was visiting the same resort we visited this past August. Well after a wonderful day of sunbathing, I decided to break off from my family and go back up to the hotel room and take a nap. Well, once I entered the hotel, the whole interior turned all spooky and scary (it looked just like the Tower of Terror at California Adventure, except creepier.)As I entered the elevator, sure enough, It fell, straight down to the basement...as I was STANDING! I totally got all bruised and beat up and stuff. Suprisingly, I made it out to gether up my family and tell them about it. They all followed me into the elevator, but of course, the elevator worked perfectly! I was so angry. So of course my parents compared me to the little boy who cried wolf. As my parents got off the elevator, they left me in it, and I pressed the "level 1" button, and sure enough...the elevator dropped me to my death. Even though I died...

I woke up rather chipper! I decided just yesterday that I wanted to make a homemade quilt for my very good friend Tori. I bought all of the fabric yesterday, and I faced the near impossible...to assemble the entire quilt in one day! She was flying down from Provo tommorrow! Well, with a lot of determination and with help from my mom, I did it! It's so adorable! I will have to post a picture of it.

I also found time today to pick up a few last minute presents for Christmas. My older brother has been in need of a new cell phone battery...and he has been EXPECTING me to buy him one for Christmas. I don't know about you but I have a problem buying gifts for people who EXPECT me to buy them it. I told him I didn't really want to buy im such an expensive gift if I didnt find any joy in buying it. He FREAKED out! He was like "Oh my gosh Lauren, I NEED it!" I couldn't believe how angry he got. Well I went to buy it today, and fortunately I set my limit to 40 dollars, and if it was more, I wouldn't buy it...it was 50 dollars! MUAAAHAHA! So I ended up buying him something else. I was happy.

Well I just finished doing a bunch of chores for my mom, because she caught a cold. Even though today wasn't particularly fun...it was definately productive, I feel good...

12.18.2006

face prints

I have 2 closets in my bedroom. My bedroom was originally the master bedroom, but then my parents decided to switch bedrooms with me so they could do some adding on...so now I have the "master bedroom"...sorta. Anyway, the two closets have 2 sliding glass mirror doors...each. So a total of 4 huge mirror doors. I clean them every once and a while, definately not as often as my mom tells me to do, but c'mon, I'm a busy college student who doesn't really care about smudge marks on the mirrors. The real reason why I can't stand to clean them is because of this:

Every time I clean those blasted mirrors...a few days later, there appears a "face print" right on the center of the mirror. For those who don't know what a "face print" is, it's when someone presses their oily little face on glass, or in my case...a mirror. It leaves a distinct print of their nose, mouth, chin and sometimes, their forehead. Their eyes are also accentuated by the silhouette of the eye cavity. When the print is left on the mirror, it looks both frightening and humorous; only someone who has seen a "face print" can fully understand what I mean by this. They look ghoulish, and also playful at the same time. "Face prints" most commonly show up in these places:

1. my mirrors
2. our home windows
3. our car windows

Anyway, back to my story...I find these "face prints" all the time. Who is this "face print" bandit?! He seems to be about 5 feet tall...with a cute button nose. I have a certain family member that fits that description, and his name starts with a "Z" and ends with an "ach"...

12.16.2006

Family quirks

Have you ever noticed how every family has a different word for certain things? Let me explain. I was just texting my friend about how I was sick and I woke up with "eye goobers"...she said, "you mean, eye crusties," I said, "no, goobers...that's what my family calls them." I have another friend who calls them "eye bugers". Another common item with many names are pajamas. My family has always called them JAMMIES...I have found that others call them PJs...WHY? PJs is such a boring name. I can just feel the comfiness and warmness when I say JAMMIES. Well, when I was little and my mom would be combing my hair and come upon a tangle, sheo would call it a "tangle". Well once I was playing with Ted's hair, because he loves it, and I came upon a "tangle" and he said, "uh oh! I ricky rat!" I said WHAT!? And he explained that his mom called tanlges...ricky rat. I play on Mickey Mouse's name. I have never looked at Micky Mouse the same again haha...

12.12.2006

Girlfriends!


Oh how I miss my girlfriends! I feel like almost everyone I love is away from me right now. It was hard this fall, but it being the holiday season...it got even harder. One of my friends is at BYU (emily neil) and I miss her so much. She always made me laugh. And 4 of my girlfriends are in China teaching english. My other best girlfriend goes to ASU and is involved in the orchestra program so I NEVER see her. Saturday was the first time I have seen her in a very long time. We went and saw the Nutcracker together at the Mesa Arts Center put on by the one and only, Ballet Etudes. It was so amazing.

I really miss having girl nights. I really miss just giggling with a bunch of girls and watching wonderful cheesy chick flicks together. I can't wait till next week when Emily gets back from BYU, Charity is done with orchestra, and Suzie, Shelene and Kylie and Jonna get back from China! Until next week...

12.11.2006

stamps

Don't you just LOVE this picture? I absolutely love it and I'm not even quite sure why..it's just cute. Well a few weeks ago I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, "Martha Stewart Living" (I know, I know...she is a jail bird anyway, I know she isn't honest, but I appreciate her domestic goddess skills that she has) and she was talking all about Christmas cards and how having cute stamps is essential! She introduced me to a website that I adore now! It's
www.stamps.com ! All you have to do is upload your favorite image and you can totally make your own stamps! I made stamps out of this picture so that when I write ted...it adds a little happiness to the letter! It's about 18 dollars for 20 stamps...A little pricy, but totally worth it! I would recommend it.

12.08.2006

roachy

Do you ever have those days where you feel just...sad? I had one yesterday.

Whenever I used to have those kind of days, Ted was still around. He was so silly; he would cheer me up in the only way he knew how. He would bring me a snack and of course, make me laugh. He would usually bring me peanut m&m's or cheezits or...his amazing brownies. I loved when he brought me brownies because they always had walnuts in them, and they were full of gooey-deliciousness...oh how I miss them.

I loved when Ted would make me laugh. Here are a couple of my favorite ways he made me laugh...

1. This first one needs an explanation: One day we were sitting on my couch and I said something about me looking ugly that day. We got in an argument about this. Finally he said, "Lauren, you're puuuuurdy" and when he said that, he took his hand and like stroked my face. Well it was REALLY funny when he did that, so he then put a retarded look on his face and pretended he was blind and stroked my face and said it again "You're PUUUUUURDY" and laughed this really scary chester molester laugh. It was really funny...I will have to post a picture of his retarded face sometime. Well anyway, whenever I was sad, he would say that to me until I was laughing uncontrollably.

2. I always have a blanket wrapped around me because I am always cold, that makes sense haha. Anyway, he would tickle me and then wrap me in the blanket until I literally couldn't move...I had my arms wrapped in the blanket too...then he would tickle my feet because I couldnt fight back. This made me laugh, but also pissed off at the same time haha.

3. Ok, this is actually an ongoing joke right now: So about two years ago, my mom and me threw a birthday for my little brother. The theme was "Fear Factor" and one of the dares the kids had to do had to do with bugs. I can't really remember what it was. But we bought tons of rubber bugs. At the end of the party we gave away all of the bugs (or so I thought.) Well one night at dinner (ted was eating with us, because he did at least twice a week) and I was eating my salad when all of a sudden I see a COCKROACH in my salad! I screeeeeaaaaamed so loud until I realized my mom was laughing. I noticed the roach was fake. It was really hilarious. That night we named it "roachy". Well for the next two years we (me, ted and my mom) would take turns hiding roachy in the most original spots. Like the sour cream container, the butter, ice cream, cookies...everything. We even sent it home with ted in a package of zuchini bread we had made for him. This was the weekend before Ted left. Well, at the airport, he had roachy in his POCKET! He tossed roachy at my mom, thinking HE was the last one to make a roachy attack. Well, being competitive, I sent roachy in a package to the MTC. I got roachy sent back in a letter. I then sent roachy to Madagascar, and I got roachy back. Roachy is back in Madagascar right now and I havent seen him in a few months. My guess is roachy got lost in the mailing system haha. Anyway ya. those were good times.

Well, I'm glad I wrote this blog, it totally cheered me up....and that was my goal.

12.02.2006

Christmas Survey

I had to copy Robin's cute Christmas Survey....


1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? hot chocolate for sure...egg nog scares me. I love mint hot chocolate...

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He used to just set them out unwrapped, but now I guess he likes to wrap them....

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? There are the colored "bulbous" lights outside, and I talked my mom into using white on the tree...it's more elegant.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? My mom does, but it is in an awkward spot, so no one uses it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Always the day after Thanksgiving

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Definately turkey with stuffing

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: The year I got my first American Girl doll, when I was 6, I think.

8. How and When did you learn the truth about Santa? I think it was a gradual process between 5th and 6th grade...

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I open all of the gifts from the relatives on my dad's side on Christmas Eve...we have a big party :)

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? My mom calls it "a mish-mash" of 24 years of marriage...

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I don't really know. I think I would hate it, because I hate being cold!!

12. Can you ice skate? Not at all

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Yes. Last year's gift from ted. It's perfect.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? The birth of Jesus...and spending time with my family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My dad's cinnamon rolls, or my grandma's "Margy" bars.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Eve party at grandma's, and playing Christmas Bingo with my family...

17. What tops your tree? My mom's pottery angel...

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? I love giving...

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Josh Groban's "O Holy Night"

20. What is your favorite Christmas story? The birth of Christ

12.01.2006

sponsor


Photobucket


do you have a small business, or fabulous blog that you'd love to advertise on busy bee lauren?

i love promoting awesomespice artists, designers, crafters, musicians, photographers, bloggers and all around amazing people!


as a sponsor, you have the option of participating in a joint giveaway with a few other sponsors. giveaways draw the most traffic to your blog, and get readers excited about what your site has to offer!


a couple times a week i like to do a "daily outfit" post, where i post my outfit for a little fashion inspiration. if you have an item you would like me to incorporate into my outfit, i will feature and link to your site in the post. you don't have to be a sponsor for this option, but i do have to be able to choose the item so that it follows my personal aesthetic.


subscribers through google reader/blogger/bloglovin/twitter/facebook/tumblr: 12,098

hits per month: 170,000+ with 129,000+ unique views

(as of september 3o, 2011)

email me at laurenkbrimley"at"gmail.com for rates and stats!

link love

recommended reads:


[ have met these loves in real life ]



here and there

May 2009 Issue of Dolly Magazine

Photobucket




Dressing on the Side features here and here