Share a Coke!

Polka Dot Retro Bikini: c/o OASAP.

Hair Bow: Claire's.

Sunglasses: c/o Lulu*s.

Lipstick in MAC's Lady Danger.

Hi everyone!

I've been waiting awhile to shoot pictures in this darling swimsuit, and when I found my name on a share a coke bottle the other day I thought, "I HAVE to pair these two together!" I absolutely adore coke and it's a bummer my campus is Pepsi; to me, there's nothing that can replace an ice cold coke (especially in a glass bottle, the best!). It's even better that this one has my name on it; yep, I'm one of those suckers that falls for the personal marketing trick. Anywho, I just think it's pretty cool to have a coke bottle personalized with my name!

I'm doing floor sets for Aero both tonight and tomorrow night till the wee hours of the mornings. It's the big Aero Now launch event with all the new clothes and new image for the company. The clothes are SO cute guys...lots of cat things that make my heart happy with cute crop tops and quirky t-shirts. It'll be exhausting to put all this together, but it's always so rewarding to see the end result. 

With much love, Lauren.

We Are Who We Are.

Pinafore, Collared Shirt, Pendant Necklace: Forever21.

Black Flats: Thrifted.

Hair Bow: Claire's.

Hello there! ♥

My birthday is coming up so soon- August 1st! I've written about it before, but I actually really hate my birthday. It's never been a fun day for me. I'm not one for having attention on myself, so a whole day where everyone celebrates me? It makes me so uncomfortable! I also always get my expectations up really high for the day (even though I try not to), but usually am let down. Because after all, it is just a day like any other day, but I just happened to be born on it.

This year I'm especially nervous and kind of dreading things because it's my 21st, which is such a 'big' birthday that has a lot of meaning to it. But to me, again...I don't want to make a big deal out of things. I think I have decided to have a drink for my 21st though. Something super light and feminine-- I'm shooting for a birthday cake martini or a chocolate mudslide.  It'll be my first alcoholic drink ever! Not sure how I feel about that yet.

I've been very stressed out lately and things have just been mounting...hoping everything calms down soon. Between working a ton of hours at my job in a more stressful position, helping my mom with her broken leg, house sitting, preparing for Italy, and trying to keep up with this blog...I'm just sinking. I feel like sleeping a lot to avoid everything I have to do, but I know that won't help anything. Praying for strength and peace! x

With much love, Lauren.

Lay Me In Roses.

Rose Dress: c/o OASAP.

Olive Jacket: Thrifted.

Hair Bow: Claire's.

Flats: c/o Pink and Pepper.

Bird Cage Necklace: Target.

Lipstick in MAC's Russian Red.

Hello! 

I had this post all ready yesterday but couldn't think of anything to write about, so I decided to wait till today. Still nada, ha. Oh well, perhaps for tomorrow's post I'll think of something to write about  ♥

With much love, Lauren. 

Cause' You're the Only One.

Floral Sweater: Forever21.

Olive Shorts: Thrifted.

Bunny Shoes: Le Bunny Bleu.

Necklace: Gift from Katie.

 Hello everyone, and happy weekend to you! ♥

After doing shipment this morning at work my family and I went out for stuffed crust pizza--mmmm, now that's a Friday evening! I will miss American style pizza while I'm overseas, but I hear Italian pizza (and especially in Florence) is excellent. It was a month from yesterday that I leave and I'm feeling good. Excited! I'm feeling better instead of the nervousness I've been feeling the past few weeks. I know that it will come back eventually (hopefully not as bad as before), but I'm better equipped to handle it and have confidence that it's all going to be okay. 

I'm going to keep this short for this evening--love you guys so much and hope your weekend is lovely! x

With much love, Lauren. 

Cops and Robbers.

Striped Crop Top, T-Strap Heels, Earrings: Thrifted.

High Waisted Jeggings: Forever21.

Lipstick in MAC's Lady Danger.

Hello everyone! ♥

Thankfully I've been feeling much better and less stressed than I was this past week. A lot of things have worked out on their own since then, and praying + talking to God a lot has most definitely helped calm me down. Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes!

For some reason it's just been really hard for me to blog this summer, which makes me very sad :( A combination of working more than last, being worried/stressed about a lot more, having a boyfriend (it does take up time!), and feeling somewhat uninspired with my outfits...it's kind of put the breaks on blogging, but hasn't brought me to a total stop. Which honestly, I don't ever feel like I could stop blogging all the way. I love it. It brings me so much peace, companionship, and creative release. But I suppose I have to realize that in some points of my life, I will be busier than others and have troubles that set me back from blogging as much as I'd like. The important thing is to blog when I'm ready, when it feels natural and unforced. That's my number one rule for blogging: do it only when you want to. It's not like exercising where you feel better after doing it and you're glad you did. It's more like..."I'm not proud of what I put out and I'm just doing this for other people instead of myself." Always blog for yourself--that's the person you have to do it for. 

At Aeropostale I've started working the merchandise flow position on top of my sales associate position which really excites me! Basically what merchandise flow is it's the person who takes care of shipment. Most days of the week we receive boxes of new merchandise or replinishment that needs to be unpacked, sensored, folded/hung, and put in its proper place in the stockroom so it's able to be found. I've always wanted to try the job out, and one day I just asked if I could and I was so surprised when they put me on for this whole week! It's a pretty labor intensive, fast paced, detail oriented job; and I might even dare to say harder than working the floor (which does have its own set of difficulties). But I really enjoy it and it brings me so much curiosity and fascination to study hands on yet another part of this multifaceted industry I'm becoming a part of. 

Whew, must get to bed for an early morning tomorrow of just that ^^! I hope to talk to you all very soon again! x

With much love, Lauren.

Life's Snapshots #46.

Told myself I wasn't going to buy anything more for the store...then I found these!

Writin' letters on some new stationary + that day I got this darling, matching ring in the mail from an instagram friend. 

Golly, this dress was so beautiful that I found at the antique store the other day!

Had a good time at the library last week and found a book on traveling in Italy that has been helpful!

Grandma made Hershey's chocolate pudding. A++++

Which one to choose...

Finally got a holder for all of my lipsticks!

ITS A CHOCOLATE HEEL.

Went to TJ Maxx a few weeks ago and picked up shoes for Italy + a good jacket for over there!

Roses will forever be my favorite. If I have a daughter someday, I might name her Rose.

Super cheesin' because this was such a good day with my mom.

Ugh, gourmet cupcakes from the West Side Market :) :) :)

Celebrated Steak N Shake's 80th birthday with milkshakes with Ryan!

 

I want to live in an old apartment in a downtown district someday, just like these. 

It's been quite awhile since I've done a life's snapshot's post, and even these ones are from the very beginning of summer! I've been trying to savor and really enjoy the last bits of summer that I have before I leave...but I always tend to get a little sad as July comes around and definitely August because summer is ending.

Anyways, enough sad talk! If you'd care to, you can follow me on instagram with @passingwhimsies :)

With much love, Lauren.