Happy Birthday Katie!

This past weekend I was able to celebrate my friend Katie's birthday with her. We have been friends since we were 14 as freshman at LHS and have been friends since. She recently moved to Austin (well like 2 years ago) to experience life outside of LA and all of our friends sure do miss her! Saturday night she was in town so we went to dinner at my favorite restaurant, ZEA, and then went downtown for a couple of drinks! It was a fun night and am looking forward to her next visit back! I love you Kitty and am blessed to have a friend like you in my life!

Me and the birthday girl

Always laughing!

P.S. For those of you who have never heard of the restaurant ZEA... it is the best restaurant ever! They started off in Louisiana and are now starting to franchise all over the U.S.. Their corn grits, a southern staple, are to die for! I just so happened to get the recipe from a friend so I'll post it on my recipe blog here. I've never tried making them myself so if you try them let me know how they turn out! 

It's a want, not a need.

With the economy the way it is, still being unemployed, and many bills to be paid... I find myself constantly asking this question, "Is it a want or need?" Ughhhhhh, I WANT a job and the economy to be booming again so I can buy all the "wants" that I WANT! I desperately WANT this dress and pair of shoes! How perfect is this outfit!? ::Tear::

Both the dress and shoes are on sale at JCrew

I'm going curl up on the couch and cry now...  =(

Giveaway from MRM

Check out this cute Vera Bradley bag that MRM is giving away! How cute would this be with a casual summer dress? Definitely add some fun to it! Go here to enter and make sure you do so before this Thurday, April 16th! Thanks MRM!

Magic Bunny Paw Prints

I forgot to add this in and I think you guys would get a kick out of it! Every year for Easter, for as long as I can remember, I wake up to a trail of Easter Bunny paw prints leading to my basket. My Mom started this tradition when I was one and has done it every Easter since. She cut out a stencil of three circles and pours baby powder or carpet smell good stuff over it. After we finished looking at all of our goodies we would stomp the paw prints out and they'd just disappear. We thought it was magic and thus coined the term Magic Bunny Paw Prints. It's a tradition that is continued every year and I will pass it on when I have kids of my own! 

Rex had fun stomping some of the prints out himself. =P

Easter Weekend

Sorry that I'm just getting around to posting. This weekend was super busy, I barely had time to breathe (as I'm sure it was for all of you). I PROMISE I'll be more prompt with my post (Mom!). Regardless of how busy I was... this weekend was one of the best I've had in a while. I spent the entire weekend with my family. Exactly how Easter weekend should be spent!

On Friday I went over to my sister's house and helped her clean and get her house ready for a crawfish boil she was throwing the next day for the family. We baked two batches of cupcakes and I must say they came out pretty darn cute! (Thanks Bakerella for the cute Easter basket cupcake idea!) Everyone at the crawfish boil didn't want to eat them because they were so cute. Here's some pics...

 

Saturday was the big day! It turned out to be a beautiful Louisiana day. Not too humid and not too hot. We played some really fun games and boy do we have some competitive genes in our family! While some played the others cheered them on and it even went as far as the "audience" doing the wave. It was hilarious and will definitely be the story that we reminisce about at the next event. I ate so much crawfish I was about to pop and then of course, I couldn't go without trying one of my cupcakes! Let's just say my diet was a little altered this weekend. It was so great getting to see everyone all together. Our family is a blast and we are already planning our next get-together! 

On Sunday I went over to my parents and hung out with them. My dad bar-b-qued and it was nice to be able to just sit down and relax. We watched the Disney movie Bedtime Stories and it was very cute! 

It was a fabulous weekend. I didn't want it to end! Family, tasty food and great times... can't ask for much more than that! 

Hope you are having a great Tuesday ya'll!

XOXO,

Lauren

Lingerie Shower

This past weekend I threw my friend Jennifer a lingerie shower. We have been friends since Kindergarten and I'm so excited that she asked me to be a bridesmaid for her special day. The lingerie shower was tons of fun and then after we went out and celebrated one her last nights out as a single gal. We had a blast! I can't wait for the wedding! Here's a few pics from the shower.  

Jennifer and I

How cute is this cake? It was delicious too!

The table with pictures of her and the bridesmaids!

Decorations on the mantle.

It's almost Friday! Hope ya'll are having a good week!

XOXO,

Lauren

I Heart Nola!

Yesterday was a great day! Not only did I get to spend some QT with my sister... I got to see Regis and Kelly! Besides the freezing cold weather ( it was a mere 54 degrees), it couldn't have been a better day! The Regis and Kelly show was a blast and I still can't believe we got to see them! After the show, we went eat beignets at Cafe du Monde and then went to the coolest bakery/sweet shoppe ever! It's called Sucre, A Sweet Boutique. ( You can order sweets off their website) They have the most amazing desserts and chocolates that you could imagine. And they offer champagne and wine paired with the desserts. It's right up my alley and I can't wait to go back! I couldn't have asked for a better Monday! What a perfect way to start my week!

An assortment of macaroons from Sucre. Absolutely delicious!

(The pecan and almond are my fav)

Me and Linz at Regis and Kelly!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my best friend's birthday... my Mom. Every year on April 7th I'm reminded of how blessed I am to not only have a mother like her but a best friend, confident and supporter, all in one! She is the best Mom a girl could ask for and I hope today she realizes just how special she is to me. I love you Mom more than the whole wide world! You are MY sunshine!

I had so much fun at lunch with you today!

Easter Dress

Is this not the perfect Easter Dress? Modcloth carries reasonable priced vintage inspired clothes and accessories. They even have one of a kind items that they find in vintage shops and flea markets. This dress is perfect for Easter Sunday and love the name!

Pralines and Cream

$129.99

Just My Luck

For the first time during this whole season that I DIDN'T want chicken dance contestant Megan Joy to get kicked off of Idol... she gets kicked off. Go figure! (Though I am glad I don't have to see her on the show anymore) Now I'll have to hear her fake accent in person on the LIVE with Regis and Kelly show on Monday. Ugh! I can't stand her and was hoping someone that I liked would get kicked off so I could see them in person! Why couldn't it have been my boy Kris Allen? (Then we could have met, fallen madly in love, and then lived happily ever after) Ugh, just my luck!

The "Original" Frosted Animal Cookies

I don't know if you guys were as big a fan of these cookies as I was, but they are discontinued and don't make them anymore! I was craving them yesterday and couldn't find them anywhere. Ugh! I remember as a kid opening my lunch box hoping I'd see a ziploc bag full of these little sprinkled treats! I guess now I'll just have to make due with the Keebler brand. ::Tear::