Twenty for Twenty-Twelve

This post concept was stolen shamelessly from my friend Kelly, the delightful indie princess I hope to one day become. The original idea was one picture for every month– you know, like, 12 pictures total. But I am so terrible at consolidating. So here it is.

JAN brady

MLKJ day

FEBby webby

Sarah's [London] bridal shower!

MARsha brady

Orbit commercial.

APE ril

International lovers.

 

mother MAY i

Hiding all the boys' furniture in our room. So worth it.

I forgot this picture ever existed. What a gem.

JEFFERSON. We were so smitten. Best internship ever.

they say when you marry in JUNE...

Our faces are streaked with mud. Ballers.

More internship, but doing real work this time.

Alex Boye. He's British, so kind of a big deal.

JEWEL eye

Merica.

AUGUST rush

Lots of girls get their wisdom teeth taken out so they can look more like me.

"This is the crew– mia familia"

SEPTimus severus snape

Call me Bear Grylls, minus the au natural ice baths and drinking elephant poop.

OCT over

Good news! Hogwarts is real.

NOV– is very very extraordinary; E–

BYU women's soccer

Mission call to the San Fernan!

back to DECEMBER all the time

Broadcast Journalism: by definition, the best-looking major on campus

"Rudolph" came to visit this year... I especially liked his sock hooves.

Chattanooga Girls. now; forever.

After the most disappointing apocalypse ever, let's ring out the wild bells. 

Cheers, 2013!

The Internship That's Not About Bunnies

In nine days I start my internship with the National Council for Adoption. Doing "media relations" and "shadowing their attorney on the Hill"- so basically, I have no idea either. We're just gonna let this thing fly.
Also, in case you were going to ask (again) "So what do you want to do after you graduate?"
my answer is still a vague but promising "Something awesome." Right now I have more important things to figure out. Things like how to work the D.C. metro and where to buy food.

Never having been a pregnant teenager myself, I actually have no experience with adoption. So how FORTUNATE that right before the semester ended I got to help a real-life orphan stay out of the system.

My friends found him underneath a car in the parking lot- named him Dobby and took him in- even though it was finals week and they really didn't have time to deal with a rabbit pooping all over their house. What good souls. Naturally, as soon as fb informed me of this I was at their front door with some carrots.

We tried to take Dobby for a walk (hop?)... the leash was made for a small cat but could also accommodate a rather large bunny. Turns out the reason Dobby is so large may be because he doesn't really like to jump around in the grass but likes very much to sit there and eat it.

Let's be honest: I am not an animal person. But that thing was like a stuffed rabbit, I tell you. It would just lie there in your arms and calmly wiggle its nose.
I was smitten.

Natter the Elementary Education Major.
"Just attach this photo to your resume and anyone will hire you."

Using my "social networking skills" that I bragged about in my application I started a marketing campaign (ie. status update) to save dear Dobby from the animal shelter.
As it happens, another girl I don't know adopted him first. But FOR THE RECORD, I did have a legitimate bunny-lover contact me after the fact.

What this experience has taught me is that successful adoptions can take place as long as you have
a) friends who are looking to 'add one more' to the family, or

b) friends who just can't say no to faces like this.

Congratulations on your new home, Dobby!!

My Future Pt. 2

In the meantime...

for those of you who know about my very slight COMMITMENT issues...

I've committed.

Good things about this internship:
1. I am the FIRST media intern they've ever had- so I get to blaze the trail here.
2. I will get to ride the metro to and from work. This has already been consecrated as precious time to read, write, observe, think, and stay on top of homework in general.
3. Their office is in Old Alexandria, Virginia- which apparently, is a very darling town.
And as we all know, Virginia is for Lovers. 
3. The commute will force me to better prioritize my time so that every evening when I come home I will be sure to LIVE IT UP and experience everything in downtown D.C. (I am starting my list NOW... so if you have any suggestions of places to go or see or eat, I would love to hear them!)
4. They have an attorney on staff who they said I could shadow on the Hill and see some family-law-policy-work in action. Law school HOLLER!
5. Should I ever want to adopt a child, I will be one phone call away! :)

ALSO,
I am going vegetarian- at least until the end of the summer. At which point I may go back to Chick-fil-A if I cannot bear it, or at which point I may have turned into a total chunky-granola, full-fledged vegan.

"But Lauren, what's the big deal? You don't eat that much meat anyway!"
Exactly.
Might as well make the jump! I am excited to start and to JUDGE YOU ALL at this weekend's General Conference barbeque!!

totally kidding.

However, if you are of the vegetarian/vegan persuasion, DO share some of your favorite recipes. And when I say "some," I mean all. I am quite determined to become a good cook. (Ideally, I would love to be able to bake without eggs.)
Currently, I will finish up the chicken I have in my fridge.
And then I will start getting creative.
Goodbye, meat!

Hello, homemade granola bars.

You can find the recipe here via the lovely Sarah. Because if you have not had these, you are SERIOUSLY missing out.