I will forever be the Mexican girl who was raised surrounded by polynesians...

i consider it a blessing.
because these girls can have me laughing for days!
♥ ♥ ♥

Quesada family home evening...

...took place at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant in Mission Viejo
my mom & uncle Jr. used to go here all the time as kids
it was closed down but recently reopened!

...Uncle Jr. ordered the pig's trough (a super-sized banana split)
& he and cousin Jesse were declared piggies in front of the entire restaurant.
we were proud. ;)

noche buena 2011

9:30 am Masa purchased

10:41 am corn husks washed

10:53 am Papa reads an article about the Mexican Christmas tradition surrounding tamales

11:00 am Tamale lady foiled again!

11:31 am spreading of the masa

12:34 pm skype session with cousins in Utah

12:40 pm begin cooking pork tamales

1:30 pm chop dried pineapple for tamales de dulce

6ish pm Daniela & Carlos come over. eat pan dulce. show us their new iphones
6:30ish begin eating!

7pm & on Mexican story telling sesh & Daniela + Carlos score invites to Quesada family conference festivities! #winning

The Nutcracker

My mother adores the theater so for Christmas this year, I gave her tickets to the Los Angeles Ballet's show of the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is one of my favorite things about Christmas. When I was growing up, I would watch my VHS copy of George Balanchine's the nutcracker multiple times a week.

The LA Ballet's version of the nutcracker was a little different than the traditional one for one thing, there was no sugar plum fairy! & instead of land of sweets, it took place in the land of dolls. But still, I loved the ballet. :]

My mom also established a future tradition. She's taking her granddaughters to see the nutcracker.

Mantra.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in
silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly: and listen to others, even to the dull and the
ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons: they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there
will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in
the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is
as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right
to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God. Whatever you conceive him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace
in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Desiderata
—Max Ehrmann, 1920's

this is my happiness...

Sunday dinners with my family.

Lauren quiere...

1. New iPod// 2.Earmuffs// 3. socks.socks.socks. (yes, I'm serious)// 4. fujifilm instax mini// 5. 10-year journal// 6. Julieta Venegas CDs// 7. Nixon Tortoise shell watch.// 8. Viva la juicy! perfume// 9. Magic wand scanner.// 10. Burlap TOMS//

this is the best day I can ever remember.

This is a story, about a boy.

and a girl.


just kidding.

I went to see Dashboard Confessional in the SLC with Kirsten & Audge. I went with them last year too! Chris had not one, not two, but THREE opening acts. We came in the middle of the first one (image above). The next band, Lady Danville was super choice.
The last guy, Chris from Saves the Day, not so great...
He doesn't get a picture.
Really though, I was only there to see Chris.
And when he played my favorite song
(as in the one I want to have my first dance to at my wedding)
I was in blissful happiness.

I love concerts.

All of my ♥,
Lauren

estoy enferma.

translation=i'm sick.
it's weird though because it's not a cough cough sniffle sniffle.

It's more of a i'm always tired, my body aches, and i-can't-keep-food-down-so-i-have-to-leave-work-early kind of sick.
i feel like my body is fighting this epic battle inside of me without my consent & all i want to do is sleep.
sweet.
especially since it's finals week.
thuper duper.

but.
with that being said, i have the best roommates.
as in the kind who make homemade chicken noodle soup for me.
it tastes like manna from heaven.

want to know how i know God loves me?
because he puts wonderful people like my roommate Bethany in my life.
pero, sobre todo, tengo gozo en mi alma.

Who's that girl?

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