In summary:

Since I spoke last, a few things happened.

1. I got my Master's. 
2. I moved home to Phoenix. Haboobs. 
3. I started teaching. College students. They're not very forgiving when you make a mistake. ;)
4. I applied to graduate school. Goal: Make a difference in Psychology
5. I didn't get in. That was humbling.
6. I fell in love with teaching. Like, madly in love. 
7. I applied to graduate school, again. Goal: Make a difference in Education using Psychology.
8. I got in. 

Funny how things work out, huh? Look out, Tucson. I'm comin' for you.

It's Friday!

Miss Kate, my niece, grows up. :)

He was wrong, and it was a good thing.

(photo via)

Today, while enjoying my lunch, I was jabbering with a co-worker. He lovingly discussed his years in France with his pregnant wife. He spent two years there as he pursued his degree, aching to return to his friends who lived there. Upon arriving home in Mexico city, he reflected on his life leading up to that point, as though he already reached his peak in life. "As I stood on the stairs leading down to the tarmac, I thought, my best years are behind me," he said... 

"I was wrong. The best was yet to come."

Ahh, that made my Wednesday! I hope we can all embrace the possibility that there is no such thing as a "peak" in life, and that we have endless opportunities available to pursue the peaks at any stage of the game  :) 

The Happiness Project

Such a great upper for 2011. If you haven't read this book, get to it! I've been in a clean-up and clean-out mood over the last few weeks. I have this book to thank for pushing the envelope just a bit. Plus, it's time to make some positive lifestyle changes. Thanks, Gretchen, for such a great piece of literature!

New York City

I had the wonderful opportunity to fly back East this past weekend and mingle with some of my fave gals, visit my old stomping ground, and fill myself with some of the most amazing food ever!

If you're in the city, you must visit... 

CASK, order the white sangria and expect your life to change.

S'MAC, take a peek at the menu, then decide to order the NOSH size of the CAJUN Mac. Amazing.

16 Handles, create your own heaven in a cup, then die happy.

Magnolia Bakery, if you order the Banana Pudding, you'll have one bite and refuse to share.

Mercury Bar, if you're a drinker at all, order a "Dirty Girl Scout." No X-factor here, it's just a mint-cookie flavored shot. 

Pay It Forward Day

Ch-ch-ch-check it out! I think it's great; I just wish we didn't need a time of year to be giving.

Haunted House Weekend!

People who say, "I'm too old for that" are absolutely out of their minds! I'm gonna hang onto my childhood forever. 

This past weekend, I went to a Haunted House with some pals, and it was the MOST FUN. (Plus, Kristin had a coupon! Yay for cheap fun!) Not gonna like, I planned to be brave...

Fail.

I'm 25 now...

Therefore get an excellent discount on car insurance. Welcome to adulthood, Lauren.

I'm doin this!

My sweetheart of a gal pal Rachael sent this over last night, how precious is this? I wanna make one just like it and post it all over!

Thanks, Rach! xo

30 days

Where in the world have I been for 30 days? Welp, it's been a roller coaster.

I made it to the APA (American Psychological Association) Convention. PHENOM! I love Psychology! AmyJane and I presented our poster, "The relationship between verbal aggression and internalizing symptoms." I know, so grown-up of us! We wanna go back... The next convention is in D.C. next August. It's happening.

And, while I was in San Diego with AmyJane for APA, I met up with Sam... 

Helped AmyJane celebrate her bachelorette... 

And frolicked around L.A. with Miss Katrina!

Finally, we met up with Mama Meyer and Kirk in DisneyLand... 

Whewww!!

In addition to all these shenanigans, I've been celebrating birthdays... Job hunting... And applying to PhD programs. 

More updates to come!

My friends are good to me.

Hayley bought me this shirt. I love her. :)

Tail Feather

(photo via vintagelifenetwork.net)

Today is National Dance Day! Woot!

Mug Collection

(my first Quotables mug!)

My dear friend Jen surprised me with a lovely graduation gift! She gave me a Quotables mug. (This one.) I'm obsessed! I have a few other Quotables mugs, and I think it would be the coolest darn mug collection EVER. Ideally, I'd like a set of 8, as a standard for place settings... So I plan to keep shopping for them. Visit the website, it will make you smile.

You get in the bowl!

This made me laugh today. Thought I might share. :) Enjoy! 

A Lesson Learned Today

(photo via thingsweforget.com)

I have a very strong belief... That those close to you in life are there for a reason. They're there to teach you something, show you something about themselves that in turn will reflect a piece of you. Perhaps some people fade in and out of your world because they are meant to teach you things at different stages in your life. I sometimes forget this when I become upset with my parents, irritated with my friends, or just simply angry over the way things seem to be going. 

While perusing through my favorite blogs today, I stopped for a moment at my dear friend Kristin's most recent post... She blogged about signs and how she characteristically struggles with change. As a result, she asks God for signs, loud and clear, so there is simply no question about what is right. I wouldn't consider myself a highly religious person, but I certainly feel spiritually connected. I felt connected to what she had to say. I want to have faith in the decisions I make. The next few months will present dozens of new challenges, and I want to feel the warmth of confidence with each new challenge I face. Thanks, Kristin, for enlightening me. :) 

Jenny & Johnny

(photo via dailycandy.com)

DailyCandy is giving away a free download of the new single, "Big Wave" by Jenny Lewis and Johnny Rice. I simply love their sound. Visit their site at jennyandjohnnymusic.com. I'm pretty sure you'll love!

Phoenix

Indeed I just graduated, and I'm getting a lot of "What's next, Lauren??" and "Find a job yet??" and even a few "The real world is scary! Are you ready??"

So, what is next? Here's the story...

After careful consideration, I've decided to move back to Phoenix. Pause for reaction.

I've mentioned it in blogs here and there, and perhaps alluded to my excitement for returning to my hometown. The truth is, I miss it.

Yes, I love, love, love Manhattan. I have developed a sincere passion for this big city lifestyle. But, I'm ready for something else. Will I find it in Phoenix? Maybe. But, I know I've looked for it here, and I haven't found it. The next year will give me the opportunity to seek some field experience, now that I've completed my degree. And, I'd like to obtain my PhD one day, but the reality is... Money is a bit tight and it would be wise to spend my summer making a genuine investment in my future, that is studying for the GRE (Yikes!) and writing phenomenal letters to schools. And even better - spending some quality time with my family and friends. I miss my dear Miss Kate, my wonderful Sister, my supportive parents, and my lovely friends. I'm ready to make Phoenix a home, even if it's a temporary transition to something else. Sure, I've gotten some grief from some pals here in NYC, like I'm giving up on this lifestyle, like I couldn't hack it, like I disliked it all along... They joke, of course. But, the reality is... I did succeed here. I'm not giving up, simply moving along, heading in another direction.

So, I have a wicked to-do while I'm home! I still have four crazy weeks left in New York City. I've got some research to wrap up, and a few tasks to take care of. Naturally, I plan to make the very most of my final days in the city, embracing the grace and charm of this city. But, here are a few things on my mind...

1. Eat at Pita Pit with my gal pals. 

2. Shop at the H & M in Scottsdale with my Sister (Cha! There are H & M's in NYC, but I'd like to dig into a little big city shopping as a desert rat.)

3. Central Coast Wine Tour. 'Nuff said. 

4. Dance. Dance. Dance. 

5. Take an Aqua Zumba Class

6. Canoodle with my Mom, Sister, and Baby Kate

7. Go swimming. In a swimming pool. While it's 100 degrees outside. 

8. Cosmic Bingo! My friend Kristin piqued my interest yesterday. 

9. Drive. A car. With the windows down.

10. Get a good haircut. (I really only trust my hairdresser in Phoenix. Snobbish? No, just selective.)

11. Eat at Postino with Brie.

12. Do the Scottsdale Art Walk.

13. Go on a hot air balloon ride.

14. Go Salt River Tubing.

15. Find a job? Whoa, how did *finding a job* make it on this list?

16. Visit the Cave Creek Thieves Market. Have you ever heard of this??

17. Visit First Friday in Downtown Phoenix, hosted by ArtLink

18. Go Bowling. 

19. Join the gym again. Amen. 

20. Surround myself with family and friends. 

Pure Imagination, Maroon 5

(photo via designchampagne.wordpress.com)

There's a new commercial out right now. I couldn't tell you what the product was, for the life of me. But, I'm uber smitten with the song - Pure Imagination. It's the song the *original* Willy Wonka sings at the end of the movie. Naturally, I "iTuned" it. Turns out, Maroon 5 does a beautiful little rendition. (Note: There's a little bit of political banter in the middle. Kind of bogeys up the song, but it's pretty sweet, nonetheless.)

Check it out! I downloaded it, obvi. 

Picnic on the Roof

To celebrate our graduations and transition to adulthood (whatever that is), we decided to invite friends from our programs over to the apartment for a picnic party on the roof. The weather was downright gorgeous and the sunset was the perfect encore to the evening. We had sexy sangria and some delightful little snacks. Aaron even made his famous bruschetta!

Chchchcheck it out!

We even had a staring contest! I got the idea from A Cup of Jo several months back and I've been dying to try it out. My pals were a little skeptical at first, but we were all laughing by the end.

Ahh, the night was truly magical! 

Create.

Live. Work. Create. (Outside an apparel shop in Brooklyn.) 

I love that "Create" was included.