Wednesday

We've moved! This blog is now located at http://www.laurensloveandlaughter.com/! Were new and improved and excited for you to come visit.

Monday

Happy Love Day!

According to Wikipedia Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. To me this 'Holiday' is just a fun excuse to do something fun and exciting with the one you love. The truth is that flowers, chocolates, jewelry are special surprises that are sure to put a smile on a girls face but it does just that...puts a smile on our face. I hope that we learn to love our special someone everyday as if it were Valentine's day. No need to be extravagant or feel pressure to purchase something but rather make the person recognize just how much you love them and all that they have brought into your life. Everyday should be this special, do not wait express your love for these occassions.

"A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, one human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults."
Charles Kingsley

"Where there is love, there is God also."
Leo Tolstoy


"Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition."
Alexander Smith

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
Allan K. Chalmers


Tuesday

I live for Music

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”





Monday

The Feline's have Arrived. MEOW!

The Ray-Ban Wayfarer trend hit heavy when Rob Pattinson was seen sported the style in Twilight. The Wayfarer's have been around since the 1950's but made a huge comeback within the past couple years. I will admit that I like the Wayfarer but I'm thrilled to see this trend fade a bit and for the 1950's cat-eye sunglasses style to swoop in. The cat-eye are retro and add a touch of elegance and sophistication that no other sunglasses can. Stars such as Jessica Alba, Mary Kate Olsen , Nicole Richie and Olivia Palermo have been spotted wearing them out and about. Of course I spotted this trend with the February J Crew catalog when they announced their seasons inspiration was Classics. Classic is the best way to describe this style of sunglasses.
My favorite designers for the cat-eye include Tom Ford (worn by Olivia Palmero below and seen in the JCrew catalog), Diane Von Furstenburg &Michael Kors. Meooowww!!!

Saturday

Water Piece

This is the most gorgeous choreography and song.I could watch it over and over again.

Friday

Flirty Feathers

 It's amazing what a haircut can do, I feel like I just lost 5 lbs! My thoughts are, why go on a diet when you can cut your hair instead? I hadn't gotten my hair cut since July...I know, I know "You should really get your hair cut every 6 weeks to keep your hair shiny and healthy." It's like a broken record, I'm so sick of being told that every time I go in to do anything to my hair! I'd rather grow my hair out into a huge ball of split ends and then get it cut, is that alright with you??

Anyways, my stylist was lovely and ever so stylish. I couldn't help but notice as she moved her perfectly groomed shiny hair that there were a couple of strands that looked like feathers. They were ever so settle but had just enough color to catch my attention. After 30 minutes of eyeballing these feathers I finally asked what it was, she said they were "feather extensions". FEATHER HAIR EXTENSIONS?! That sounds like fun, I'll take one! She came back with a couple different colors and I decided on the brown feathers with a touch of purple. I love the fact that its settle and somewhat hidden if you want or you can make it fun and funky if you pin back your hair.

My best friend, Taylor Rasted, of Relevant Rubbish and I believe feather hair extensions will be the hottest new trend as it's affordable, fun and something new. Never mind spending hundreds of dollars on a full-head of extensions, one feather is all you'll need.

The feather extension will last up to 2 months and can be washed, straightened, and curled just as if it were a real strand of hair. This is a very new trend therefore, this service can only be found at select boutique salons. If you live in the San Diego area, Pure Salon & Spa offers feather extensions for $30.




Wednesday

Ah-Mazing Crab Stuffed Avocado Salad

I have a deep love for avocados. The kind of love that can devour a bowl of guac like its going out of style. I'm always looking for ways to incorporate avocados besides the usual sprinkling over salads, guac, BLT or my style...straight up. I found a delicious herb crab salad stuffed avocado recipe and decided to give it a shot. Its beyond delicious and such a great source of monounsaturated fats which is considered the "healthy fats" proven to lower cholesterol levels.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh summer herbs (such as basil, tarragon or chives)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Pinch pepper
2 chopped cloves garlic
Pinch salt
8 ounces lump crab meat
1/3 cup chopped celery
4 pitted avocado halves

Directions:
1.In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh summer herbs (such as basil, tarragon or chives), 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar and a pinch pepper. Using the flat side of a knife, smash 2 chopped cloves garlic with a pinch salt; whisk the paste into the mayonnaise mixture. Stir in 8 ounces lump crabmeat and 1/3 cup chopped celery. Divide the crab salad among 4 pitted avocado halves.

* I used low fat mayo in place of the regular to make it healthier:)

Tuesday

Stop This Train

Today I am reminded of how delicate life is. It seems as we grow older this becomes all too clear. At times I feel overwhelmed with how fast life seems to be going. As a young child you cant wait to get a year older and then you find yourself waking up one day and wondering where the last year went wishing for time to slow down. It comes as no surprise that as the years continue, the people in our lives get older and along the way we will have to go through painful goodbyes to the people that mean the most in our lives. I wish for you that you cherish everyday as if it were the last, that you hold onto your loved ones and express to them often how much you love them and that you never take your health for granted. A day of health is one to be grateful for.

This song pretty much sums it up perfectly "Stop This Train"