arizona rain.

there is a distinct smell when it is going to rain in the arizona desert.
it is one of my favorite scents in this world.
it is earthy. it is fresh. it is delicious.
the scent comes from a native plant that gives off a potent smell when moisture is in the air.
if i ever moved from arizona, i would ache for the scent of arizona rain.

on saturday it rained.
and as i waited for my photo-clients to arrive,
i reveled in the glorious smell of rain.

and i marveled at the beauty of the storm clouds up ahead.
there is something magical about rain storms in arizona.
i love my home state.
i love the rich blessings that the Lord has given me.
and that includes...the smell of arizona rain.

what's lauren happy about?

i haven't done a "what's lauren happy about?" post in a while, so here goes...


1. christmas card pics by connie :)
i received my disk in the mail with all of our pictures, and i am so happy!
now i just need to make the christmas cards.

2. homemade pies.
sierra and i ended up making 8 pies for thanksgiving. we loved doing it!
and while the pies were baking, we watched "glee"...of course!

3. jace wayland
i finished the 3rd book in the Mortal Instruments series this weekend, and died.
the series was so amazing. and Jace...JAAAAACE. Hello! he is amazingspice. I even proclaimed on twitter that i am starting to think he pwns Peeta. I know! Fierce words from Busy Bee. srsly...go read!
#jaceisthehotness.

4. pictures for the "p" family.
my sister-in-law, Robin, asked me to take pictures of her family.
i just love my nieces and nephews. they are so so so cute.
almost every one of the pictures had at least one child looking down, or somewhere else, but i think that adds to the charm. i just love these guys...

5. pictures for the "b" family.
yet again, i take pictures for this family. they seriously are like family to me.
they all are so gorgeous. seriously...have you ever seen such a stunning family?
congrats to clint and haylee...they will be getting married soon! (she has the prettiest red hair.)

i am also happy about our christmas decorations.
and that we are all moved in.
and that we love our new ward.
and that my photo blog is all updated and awesome. check it out.
and the office, season 4, that we have been devouring.
and for a warm husband...because i am always cold.


what are you happy about?

love.

i could write an endless lists of things i am thankful for, but i won't.

i have rolls to make, and asparagus to roast.
instead i will tell you what i most thankful for...

i am so very thankful for love.
love frees us from the heavy, nasty weight of hate.
love raises us up out of the shadowy feelings of despair.
love heals wounds that you never thought would heal.
love makes us better.
love makes us who we are.


Jesus died for us, and that was because of his infinite, encompassing love.
my parents raised me in a home full of love.
i learned best from the teachers that taught out of love.
i found who i was, through love.

and my heart is complete, because of the never ending love ted and i share.


not to sound cliche, but the beatles (i bow to their infinite awesomeness) had it right...

all you need is love.

happy thanksgiving.

i am in love with taking pictures...

i ♥ when i capture love through my camera.
these pictures made me insanely happy tonight...
i hope they make you smile :)

isn't that little family just beautiful?
i am smug because it's my best friend, lindsay's family.
i have a couple things to say about lindsay...

she has been my friend my entire life.
she is so selfless and wonderful.
she makes me laugh so hard...i just love her.
she truly is one of my favorite people on this earth, and i am blessed to have her in my life.

who are you thankful for, today?

the "face" girls, rule.

i truly believe that i was blessed with the best family ever...

my mom, and my sierra, are my favorite girls in this world.

and we pretty much ruled at the "new moon" advanced screening.

and yes...i designed those shirts for us.

they said, "yeah...we like twilight. but we aren't crazy and crap. srsly."

then "team edward" on the back, obvi! with a "stupid wolves" in the corner. we have our priorities in line. of course.

so, like i said. we rule.

don't hate.

it's ok...

it's ok to change your mind.

yes, i stewed over this blog for the entire weekend. yes, my brother ty was pissed at me for not sticking with the first decision of just shutting down the blog. yes, i felt bad that i let him down. and then i remembered, why do i care what people think? if i choose to stop blogging one day, and then decide to blog the next, why should i care if someone thinks i am a flake? yes...i am a flake. and a pushover. meh...who cares.

it's ok to wear bright red tights to church...

i don't care if it wasn't the conservative way to go. it's freakin' cold at church! my way was much more comfortable...and much more stylish. plus, i can put off shaving my legs, which is always a plus. Holla!

it's ok to not make your bed (as witnessed above)...

if it means i can snuggle ted a little bit longer in the mornings, i am ok with that.



it's ok to read on a saturday night...

sometimes reading an amazing book ("City of Ashes") while ted plays "Call of Duty", on a saturday night, is the perfect way to spend the evening. especially when Golden Spoon is involved.

it's ok when your roots are showing...

but mom, seriously...PLEASE do my hair soon. i beg of you...and so does the rest of the world. kthanxbye.


it's ok to cry like a baby at this part every time...

this is the only part in "Twilight" that crazy Catherine Hardwicke got right. and by part she got right, i mean the D&G tux Edward is wearing...duh! what else?

it's ok to force the tedward to help put up christmas on Nov. 22nd...

even when he looks beyond thrilled to be doing it anyway!

it's ok to turn on the AC so you can pretend you are cold...

just so that it makes Christmas time feel more real. i am a firm believer in the AC-fake outs. It's arizona people!

it's ok for you to go here and see our anniversary pictures taken by one of my closest friends, Connie. tell her what you think!

i promised i wouldn't...and here i am.

mmkay, so here is the deal...

i promised myself i wouldn't be like everyone else and write a review of "New Moon". Seems so cliche, right? but here i am...writing my feelings. i.can't.help.it.

this post will be spoilery, so see the movie first and then join in the convo...because we MUST discuss! srsly...we MUST.

1. i have suuuuuch a girl crush on kristen.

she was magnificent. i have seen many complaints that she was terrible, just because she didn't cry. i thought that was what was so convincing about her role! i have been there...when you hurt so bad, and it encompasses all of your thoughts, you just sorta become catatonic. tears aren't necessary. i thought her interpretation of Bella was so amazing. i.love.her

2. jasper...i know how you feel.

do you see that look on jasper's face? i made that look 500 times yesterday as i battled serious nausea (that i still have now). dude...i get you.

PS...the wig still sickens me.

3. this part slayed me, for some reason...

so classic Bella...accepting a present from Jacob, but not Edward. it was harder watching it on screen than reading it! seeing Edward looking on! Guuuuh.

PS...is it just me, or does Edward look waaaay tall here? mmmkay.

4. us girls had serious jealousy issues over esme...

look at her dress! and her gorgeousness! and jasper's awkwardness.

awesome.

5. while i can appreciate this hottness in the pouring rain...

i am not among the girls that have started changing "teams". hottness? yes. love the tat? yes.

is he 17 in real life? VERY yes.

6. YES! YEEEEESSSS! he ruled.

this dude TOTES knew what he was doing. he.was.perfect.

and hideous. awesome.

"come to me my pretties!"...oh, wrong movie? my bad.

7. oh golly gee wiz...kristen being beautiful again.

she.is.BELLA. love her.

8. was this in the movie?

because i feel cheated that it wasn't.

9. the chemistry between bella/jacob was amazing.

the most perfect BFF friendship with the perfect amount of tension.

*cough*...team edward...*cough*

10. heaven help me...the only 2nd hand embarrassing part in the movie...

do they expect me to believe that 1. Alice would ever pick out a dress for Bella to wear that looks like that? and 2. that Bella would ever come within 20 feet of that dress? and 3. that Edward would be attracted to someone in that dress? mmkay...my work is done.

11. i was just WAITING for them to bust out singing "Masquerade" from Phantom...

you know, this song? sadly...they did not.

12. did anyone else notice that Bella and Carlisle were a little close?

i mean, in this scene they totally were able to feel each other's breath on their faces because they were THAT.CLOSE. I kinda went Team Carlisle at that moment. Maybe THAT'S why Carlisle made Edward go outside...dun dun duuuun! :)

*no i have not read a fanfic where Bella and Carlisle have a secret relationship and run away to Europe together.*

13. did this happen in the movie?

again, i feel cheated. also...Rob totally wears smaller jeans than me.

14. oh em gee...dude.

Rachelle is the perfect Victoria. Guh! I bow to her amazingness and hotness.

15. heaven help me...

i lied...this was the mother of 2nd hand embarrassements. i don't understand the people that said this part was beautiful? they look like dead fish...and Edward is already dead! lauren does not approve. i think i checked my phone during that part. i thought when they had this scene in the trailer that it was just for kicks and giggles...you know...a jokespice. guess not.

16. perfect. scars.

whoever applied emily's scars rules me life. awwwesome.

17. and finally...i am soooo fiercely Team Edward.

i cannot begin to tell you how team edward i am. i don't care if some under-aged guy has ginormous muscles that encompass his entire body...and block his breathing passage. i don't care if movie edward's abs are inferior to movie jacob's. because i am sooooooo team edward. him and his pasty, lanky, awkward self.

guuuh. thud. kapow.

i loved new moon. it was 500 billion times better than twilight. it was embarrassing. it didn't make me want to pretend i wasn't a twi-fan. chris weitz gets us...he knows what we want. he knew how to deliever the beautiful story and make us ache right along with Bella. i.love.him for it.

i will be seeing it again tonight! and i think my friend katie will be too, check out this text i just received from her: "hey girl. just wanted to tell you i'll miss being friends with you...but i am dead now from New Moon. it was so freakin fantastic, it slayed me."

and with that. i can die happy.

go see new moon!

PS..please love the last sentence of the movie. i am still swooning.

edited to add...I just want to say HI! to the many people that approached me last night and introduced yourself. Ya'll rock and are so sweet :)