Links for Saturday

• Einstein Bagels, welcome to the corner next to BYU. HOORAY!! Plus if you are on their email list you get free coupons all the time :) Seriously, I can eat blueberry bagels for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  
  

• Mormon Explorer. This is also for all you travelers who aren't Mormon but totally could be. I love the idea of this so much- like couch surfing but less scary.
  
  

• J.K. Rowling spoke at Harvard's graduation ceremony in 2008 on "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination." Just in time for graduation. Next time you have twenty minutes to spare, blow it all on this.
  
  

• I read this love letter one month ago and I'm still not over it.
  
  

• This video encompasses both my feelings for David Archuleta and for floral design.
  
  
• This website is for all you color aficionados out there (which now means any woman with a pinterest account.)
  
  
• And let's talk for a minute about Titanic. (movie, not boat.)

When it comes to films, I don't like chick flicks. Or seeing things in 3-D. Or sad endings. And you KNOW it better not be more than 2 1/2 hours long. So according to all logic, I should not want to see this movie in theatres.

But yet...

I do.

P.S. I love hanging with my family and shooting myself in the foot right before finals. Pictures to come.

P.P.S. My second plant never sprouted. Tonight I start writing the paper. I'm thinking it's going to echo the words of Dallin H. Oaks on Timing. Because in the end, sometimes you simply have no say in the matter.

A Snapshot Update

End of the semester weather girl. 

You can see the full segment here- weather starts at 16:35- although I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to count how many times I say "um." (Just know that nothing is scripted and I have people talking in my ear at the same time that I am trying to extrapolate on the 5-day forecast.)
Or you Provo-dwellers, just tune in this Friday to Channel 11 for the noon newscast! Last show!!

General Conference.
was fabulous. I can't wait for the Ensign.
But also...

Elder Archuleta. I'm still not over it.

First visit to CPK... it gets a big A+. Pear and Gorgonzola: delicious. Kelly: beautiful.

And LATER THAT NIGHT...

it was.

Also, Three Things I Have Discovered About Words:

1. There are lots of words that T9 does not recognize. Words I have to teach it, like "omgee" and "velociraptor" and my personal favorite, "homeboy." Because when you try to type it, the first thing that comes up is "homecow."
Kills me every time.

2. You know those random combinations of letters you must enter "to prove you're not a robot?" They are so hard. It always takes me at least two tries. I already have glasses and I am in college- so clearly I'm not blind or illiterate.  I guess I must be part robot.

3. The other day, doing research for a BYU Radio story on handwriting analysis, I took this online test.
Obviously, it's going to be a little faulty. But it was still interesting.

Lauren Simpson, your handwriting reveals that you are an extrovert and spontaneous.
You need a lot of space, unwilling to concentrate or confine your energies on the small details of life. You're quick in your responses and possess spontaneity.

Hack science? Maybe. But also kind of cool.

P.S. My paper about my love-plant is due in one week. And my second seed is giving me nothing.

P.P.S. For everyone involved in the Gosling v. Reynolds debate... one of these two men is a real-life hero.  Just in case we still had a few fence-sitters out there.

The Modesty Project + The Second Marriage

This is what I finished this weekend. 

By far, it was the most fun thing I have ever shot.
Because my friends were in it.
Because I wasn't on a noon deadline.
Because the topic is something I care about, and I didn't have to try to be objective.

Fun Facts about this Video for Non-Techies to Understand and Enjoy:

1. In the world of broadcast, "You're hot" means your microphone is working. It wasn't until the last interview of the day that I realized no one else knew that.

2. Today I showed this video as part of a church lesson on modesty. Ironically, I had burnt myself with a curling iron that morning on a very prominent place on my neck. So I looked super virtuous as I was presenting.

3. Adrian was the only interviewee who even suggested that immodesty was in any way attractive. When I was filming I couldn't decide if he was seriously the only one who thought that way OR if he was just the only one who was being honest. The newsroom boys all affirmed it was the latter.
"Lauren, immodesty isn't a good thing- especially in the long run. But just remember: guys are still guys."
I still don't know which story is more true. Because the other day the BYU men's cross country team ran past me and let me tell you, it was by far the most immodest thing I have ever seen... and it was not attractive.

This is what I did this afternoon.

Before: Dead plant.

New seed of love.

Magic FERTILIZER my friend gave me.

Implantation.

In its favorite spot by the TV and the window.

I have just a few weeks for this thing to sprout, grow and stay alive. Don't you fail me, baby.

Potential New Paper Titles

Second Chance to Bloom: A Novel

Death and Starting Over: People Do Both of These Things All the Time

Nothing Kills a Relationship Like Moving Too Fast

Lots of General Authorities Remarry

The Firstborn Son: must die, but then all subsequent children will be fine!

Law School?

This weekend Father Dear sent me the following email:

Top 5 Reasons for You to Go to Law School

5. You are young, beautiful, and smart and now is the time of life to load up on education that your family can buy you to secure a high income and fulfilling future.

4. To acquire lawyering skills.

3. Your mother wants you to become like Chris Cuomo.

2. Your grandmother wants you to become like Megyn Kelly.

1. When people tick you off you can just sue 'em.

  

It's true that Monday I'm going to a meeting about life in the lovely JRCB. I'm going because it was pitched specifically for Women in Law School and because I get free lunch.

But mostly because it would make him happy.

I had never seriously considered it because of an exhaustive Mock Trial competition in high school, the difficulty of the LSAT prep book, and my non-cutthroat nature. I would have complimented Elle's fuzzy pen on the first day of class. 

But my father is a smart man, so I usually try to take his advice as far as I can.

College. What a babe. 

I can't even tell you how many things I love about this picture.

Like me, he didn't like to wear pants or fix his hair. 

And like me, excelled at thrifting and dressing like a grandmother.

 P.S. GUESS WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?!???

After so much moderate watering and love?!??!??

I came home last night and it was dead. Like shriveled up raisin dead. There was no chance of revival.
You tell me what kind of a relationship metaphor I am supposed to draw out of this.

 

 Relief Sorority Sleepover.
There was so much nail polish I couldn't pick just one. Or two. Or three.

Hi, my name is Lauren Simpson and I am thirteen years old.

One day I will be a crafty woman.

Sometimes you have to start small.

Like making a summer-camp Tennessee bracelet as you casually log the video you shot. 

Or painting your nails with the bottle you keep in your backpack. (One of my favorite hobbies.)

Or enjoying feet that sound like Christmas morning as you wait for a repairman to explain the bowl of ceiling juice that collected on your floor.

But just for the record, I am in FLORAL DESIGN this semester. So I'm already feeling ambitious in the festive kind of way.

Jars. I can do that.

Heart-shaped cinnamon rolls.

This one I almost didn't post because whatever I come up with won't compare. 

What I'm not feeling is ambitious in the ambitious kind of way. I talked on the phone with my mom for an hour the other day (ha I say that like it's something unusual) about what kind of a real, "big-person" job I am going to find after I graduate.
Yikes.

Do they need any videographer-consultants at Kleinfelt's New York? Because I am great at weddings. And hitting it off with strangers. And giving pep talks. And telling people what to do.

Plus, I love him. Look at that smile. 

He is the type of person whom, if he were to say, "Lauren, jump off that bridge"- I would probably reply,
"Yes, Randy. Good idea. I trust your judgment implicitly based on your perfect track record of finding the high-maintenance women of New York City their dream haute couture wedding dress."

Happy almost-February.

P.S. I know what you are all thinking.
"Lauren, you haven't said anything about your plant! Has it sprouted yet?!"

... the answer to that question is no. No, it has not.

Mayday.

Remember this?!?

Today I found out that a requirement for my religion class (LDS Marriage and Family) is the "Law of Harvest Project." 

And I quote:

1.) You are required to grow and maintain the plant during the entire semester from the seed you receive in class or from my office. A healthy plant may receive up to 25 points.

2) You will write a paper outlining the parallels you learned between growing a plant and developing and maintaining a relationship. 

Based on my track record,  I'm already coming up with a slew of potential paper titles. 

"Future Husband, Beware: An in-depth analysis of how my good intentions generally result in disaster or death."

"Dead Hearts are Everywhere: When love and houseplants don't make it through the winter."

"Bad Seeds: Why some relationships aren't worth the effort of keeping alive." 

"Sheri Dew never married, either."

Maybe it's like the Empty Pot story where all the seeds have been cooked, and like young Ping, I will be rewarded for my honesty by becoming the empress of China. 

Although I admit that when monarchy becomes your back-up plan, you know your options aren't looking too hot.