La Raza.

I can't imagine life without culture. There's something great about feeling united with a group of people because of common ancestry and heritage. Mexican food is simply the best, there's a reason for it's wild popularity. I missed it while I was in New York. My mom is an amazing cook, as most Mexican mothers are, and it's comida Méxicana 24/7 at my house during the summer. Visitors always welcome. Mi casa es su casa.

Soccer is king in my culture and on Saturday, Mexico faced the USA in the Cope de Oro. I root for the motherland. I grew up watching Mexican soccer with my dad & I don't deal with any kind of inner struggle when deciding which team to root for. Mexico won, just in case you're wondering 4-2 & my all time favorite player, Geovani Dos Santos, scored the best goal of the game.




That's popcorn covered with Tapatío hot sauce. It's a favorite snack of mine.


There may not be farms in Compton, but that doesn't keep people from riding their horses.


My dad ALWAYS reps BYU.

All of my ♥♥♥,
Lo.

My dad & I have quoted this video waaaay too many times to count.

Sorry to all the non-Spanish speakers reading my blog. I promise it's hilarious.
(editors note: just as I was posting this my dad screamed from the shower: "El trapo. el trapo. el trapo. comete un pan."
I seriously love that man.)

we also sing the song on ocassion:

I'm sorry if you're in public with us & we embarrass you.
Us Flores' are pretty good at doing that. :]
#talent

Also, Mexico plays USA today! El TRI has my heart. #teamdossantos

Allof my ♥,
Lo.

Table for 8; Part 1.

Once upon a time there was a girl named Lauren and a group of best friends known as Table for 8.

They all officially started hanging out in 2006, but the story begins just a little bit before that. This story starts with Lauren. Lauren grew up with two brothers and no sisters {she doesn't mind this one bit}. She always thought fairy tales were kind of stupid and she didn't really care for those high school movies where the popular boy falls for the unpopular girl. Her movie preference of choice were stories about best friends.

Lauren didn't really have all the luck with best friends {they always moved} and she didn't go to her home school so her friends usually lived all over Los Angeles County {they still do} so it kind of made it impossible to hang out.

She decided high school would be different.

It was.

In fact, she had heard so many great things about this place, she knew it would change her.

It did.

But, Lauren started high school the wrong way. You see, she was still immature and cared about those things that didn't really matter.

It took one really stupid rumor, a handful of silly handwritten letters, and a bit of shunning for her to realize she hadn't made the best choice in the friend department and that being yourself really is the best. Sometimes a 15 year old doesn't make the best life decisions.

The timing couldn't have been better.

Lauren was working on a Lord of the Flies project for Ms. Chavez's sophomore English class with Michelle Jauregui. And so she spent her nutrition and lunch breaks in Ms. Chavez's classroom for a week; she had never felt so grateful for a school project.

Fortunately, Lauren and Michelle were good friends. & Michelle didn't ask her any questions about why she started hanging out with her group of friends during lunch breaks at their table.

Others at said table were a little more reluctant.

Don't get her wrong, people were nice, but they had been friends for a while and sometimes things could get cliquish.

Then one day Lauren met Jeniffer. Jeniffer with two fs and one n. Lauren recognized Jeniffer from a lunch birthday party thrown for a mutual friend freshman year.

Years later, Jeniffer would tell Lauren about how people had told her not to hang out with Lauren. Jeniffer really didn't understand. & she decided not to listen to the girls who weren't really her friends anyway.

& that was the day that 1/8th of the table was filled.

Her first time EVER trying mochi green tea ice cream. . .

& probably her last.

Bansky hooks it up.

so... i don't know if you heard, but the MOCA has this pretty awesome exhibit called art in the streets. Even better news: brilliant British street artist Bansky is paying for everyone's admission on Mondays. You can probably guess where Cindy, Dianey and I went my first Monday home. I loved it so much, I might have to go again! I really wouldn't mind it, especially since the Geffen is located across the street from little Tokyo. We both know how much I love that place.
For a lot of people, street art is controversial.

but...
I grew up surrounded by it. LA has some of the best murals around (future blog post?) and I can't even count the tags that are sprayed on the surfaces of my hometown. I rather miss street art and graffiti when I'm in Provo.

Even if you're anti street art, go see the exhibit.
It's always good to learn about underground cultures.

p.s. i love LA
All of my ♥,
Lo.

family pictures.

I don't know how things are in your family, but it's almost impossible for us to take family pictures.
Someone is always left out of the picture.
So yesterday after we came home from church, I made the executive decision to have everyone get together for a family photo.
I figured what better day to take a picture than Father's day.

All of my ♥,
Lo.

birthday bonfire for Misden at Brenda's house.

When i was getting ready for college, people would tell me left and right that I'd lose contact with my high school friends.
i was determined to prove them wrong.
four year later; we're still going strong.
Yesterday felt like we never left high school...


Kid Cudi's Pursuit of Happiness is the soundtrack to my summer.
I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold.
Memories from my summers in LA keep me going in Provo & they help me remain true to who I am.

i'm a big fan of being real.

All of my ♥,
Lo.

First day home.

I spent the entire day with my father yesterday since he's the only one that's

done with work for the summer.
(Having teachers for parents is the best!)
We went running through the neighborhood in the morning & I fell in love with Compton all over again.
It feels so good to be home!

All of my ♥,
Lo.

If you ever find yourself in New York City...

1. Bleecker Street Pizza, 2. Harvard Sailing Team, 3. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 4. Tribeca Film Festival, 5. Student Rush for broadway musicals, 6. Manhattan LDS Temple, 7. Shake Shack, 8. Opera at Lincoln Center, 9. Brgr, 10. Nooï, 11. Grimaldi's Pizzeria, 12. Asia Dog, 13. Brooklyn Flea Market, 14. Chelsea Market, 15. Movies onboard USS intrepid, 16. 30 Rock, 17. Wicked front row ticket lottery, 18. Coney Island, 19. Cafe Lalo, 20. Amateur night at the Apollo, 21. Mamaroneck, NY, 22. Popbar, 23. MOMA, 24. Yankees game.


All of my ♥,
Lo.

Can't take my eyes off of you...

I've been experiencing a lot of "lasts" lately. last time going to my internship. last time rushing to catch the 1 and then the 2 or 3. Last time riding the 7 during rush hour. last time having to swipe my ID card. & on Saturday night, I saw my last broadway show. Jersey Boys.

I grew up on Oldies radio KEARTH 101, so naturally I'm a fan of Frankie Valli & The four seasons. They happen to be the group behind my favorite love song. & The fact that they have a musical about their start, brilliant. Brilliant as the cute little English couple we sat with on the front row would say. Rachel & I were both given departing kisses. Um, I'm ashamed to say that I didn't know the Four Seasons sang the original version of this song. I only liked to chorus anyways so, I guess I'm sticking to their version from now on...

Lasts make me sad.

All of my ♥,
Lo.

bronx bombers.

they gave us wind & rain. we got out our umbrellas.
they offered us $60 tickets. we met Charlie and got in for $30.
they told us we could only use mastercard. we stuck it to the man & used visa.
they gave us free yankees hats. we were super happy.

All of my ♥,
Lo.

Visiting all the MLB stadiums in NY = DONE!
My hermano is just a tad bit jealous.