Have A Spicy Little Christmas!

I hope today you are having a wonderful Christmas. Even if you are not a celebrator of Christmas I still hope you are having a rad day!

I hope you have a blast spending time with your family, eating pizza, watching Sandra Bullock movies… whatever you do (I’m so not judging.)

But whatever you are doing and where ever you are, I hope that this doodle makes you laugh just a little bit:

From Provocative Cactus to you: Have yourself a Provocative little Christmas Day!

♫Lauren

A Viciously Sweet Guide to the Holidays

I will be the first to tell you I am the luckiest girl pretty much ever. Every day I am surrounded by my super fabulous family and deliciously awesome friends, and since I care not about my awkward-ness I will talk to anyone at anytime (usually about 30 Rock) but I digress. There is usually nothing that can rain on my lady parade…  Except there is a thing that happens a this time of year that people call the Holidays… and although I am all for sweet tiny baby Jesus and staring at Isabel, and all the beautiful lights… I am not down for all the non-magic of the “Holidays.”

Firstly, all those wonderful fabulous people you adore all year-long turn into crazies during the Holiday Season. Where they will on a drop of a hat go bat-sh*t crazy all over your face for putting a snow man decoration in the wrong place, or taking artistic liberties with sugar cookies. Now even strangers who will usually send a hello and a smile your way will literally slash your tires, because you want to park your car near a store that they want to buy some sort of moose shaped cheese, or underpants for their significant otter.

 

I find this aggressiveness hard to deal with since my usual response is to shut down and disarm people who have tilted to madness on the crazy scale. There is something about this cut-you-in-the-face-and-then-give-a-hug time of year that makes me want to retreat unto myself, and hide until all the people and things are normal.

Another thing that totally blows about the holidays besides that fact that you actually have to spend time outside your tent of solitude is… dealing with people you don’t like. Seriously, maybe the reason we don’t see each other 98% of the year is because we don’t get along. And even though I can try to find something nice about you, maybe your complete lack of maybe even being a human makes this hard. And maybe I will just eat a gingerbread cookie and cry inside while you are around instead of telling you, because this is the time of “togetherness”.

Now I’m not all about complaining without trying to figure out a solution (this is my kind of science)… So what can we do about this? I have been told by friends, and family that actually hiding in a tent in my parents backyard may not be the answer-

So I have come up with 3 fabulous conclusions:

 

1. Maybe it’s time to dawn a fluffy hat, or fake eyelashes, or even develop a RuPaul fixation… anything you can use as a crutch to get you through this time:

I'm going to be all Jolly Hollers!

2. I’m also thinking that I may try to interpretive dance until everyone leaves me alone. Because there is only so long one can see you “feel” the music like that one super wasted lady at any concert.

 

 

3. This is the one I always try the hardest at… stop caring. My sister tells me this every year. And every year I fail, and end up crying covered in tamale fixings while watching a Sandra Bullock movie. But this year I’m dedicated…Oh the roast needs to be put in? Um I think I’m going to go watch Spongebob, because he doesn’t yell at me for putting up twinkle lights when obviously the stair banister wants multicolored lights.

 

Have a fun Holiday time everyone. Please don’t cut me.

♫LAUREN

 

Is Lauren Interested? A Handy Guide to Figure Out How to Make Me Listen to You

Have you ever wondered when you are talking to me if I am interested in what you are talking to me about? I must tell you that if you are wondering you may already have your answer. Am I looking far away into space? Am I giggling in the middle of your words? Sorry about that friend, my brain goes at approximately 234 miles per second.

Lauren's Note: Sorry that this doodle scares you, Amber.

Now venture into the next zone carefully:

Firstly, ask yourself  is this really news I need to hear? Be honest with yourself. If the answer is no… walk away, until you made your story into an awesome concoction that I can’t live without.

If your answer is yes, I need to know about it instantly. You may want to use some Lauren convo traps. (I have a feeling that giving away my secrets may be a huge mistake, but I want to hear about new and exciting things, trap me into learning!)

The bait was something shiny!

1. Have you mentioned “the Cure” in any way? Mentioning Robert Smith and his brethren of musical accompaniments may help me  completely tune into what you are saying. Friday I’m in… totally listening to you.

In my imagination we could totally go get gelato and buy matching lipstick...

2. Have you thought of mentioning 30 Rock? If not you should! You may just blow my mind grapes with your witty repertoire.

I would wolf my teamster sub for Floyd.

3. If you may be losing me in conversation don’t fret… bring up chickens! Be they fried, doodled, free range, applying for drivers licenses in Arkansas… I’m there.

Chicken its the best food, and your best friend

4. Art, lets talk about it.. Mondrian, Hopper, Munch, Shag, Bob Dob, Utrillo, Kahlo…

Also Lets make famous art into chickens... combining numbers is muy bueno.

5. Am I going to get a present at the end of this conversation? Just give me a present. People should really give me more presents anyway.

Today the Dab gave me a rubber band, a paper clip and a binder clip... I was overjoyed.

6. Lets talk architecture. This is separate from art, because it is kind of my real profession and all.Tell me about your favorite building mid convo, I want to know about it. And if you can weave that into the story your telling… all the better.

Architectural PUNS!

7. This thing you are talking about…  are you super passionate about it? Does it drive your existence? I love to hear that kind of stuff… I mean if you are really into your story… How could it not become a classic for all ages?

I hope you love it when I talk about gelato

8. Are you talking about an instance that happened to someone I know… that always helps, so I can imagine… I’m usually hoping for a funny circumstance or something… But if its someone I don’t really like- like at all, lets not tell the story. Let’s instead talk about #1-7.

I need an owl to help me out in this situation

And that is really it. Help me become a better listener! I really want to hear all about that really cool thing that happened to you that one time when that other thing happened.

♫Lauren

P (to the ) S: that was a lot of doodles.

Happy Best Friend Day!

Today I found out possibly one of the best things ever. It is Best Friends Day!

A special day created just to celebrate the awesomeness of your bestie! Now, I am a lucky girl because I have tons of super best friends… and well some so-so acquaintances (but today isn’t about them!) … and TWO fantastic best friends!

And since today is about the creme de la creme of friendship, I would like to thank them for participating in 11 years of good times with me.

This has included (but is not limited to) countless trips to Disneyland, sitting in the big booth at BJ’s, weeks straight of giggling (cumulative), being banned from DJ Pizza Lunches, creepy/weird teachers, concerts that were awesome, being attacked by kittens while sleeping,  4 years of Catholic school uniforms, taking photos with strangers, watching the entire first season of Jem to see 1 scene, buying promise headbands, and One scary movie night (which is not necessarily the night that we watched ‘Centerstage” after grad-night.)

Without you two my three-ring circus would just be one ringed, I would be the lone musketeer, the last of the blind mice, that one really bored Bronte sister.

 

Weird and wonderful things come in three’s, don’t they?

♫Lauren

Anger in the Afternoon.

I am the kind of girl who hates to share her feelings. Really do, true story.

I do share my feelings through doodles. Usually my doodles can help me say the things I really don’t want to say in real. Like votre petite amie a une moustache et elle a la personnalité d’un sac barf.

…But I don’t really say them with words.

I think I need to go away from here… before I go crazy in the face.

Also look at this, it makes me laugh:

Thank you to whoever drew this, I feel like him around the moments of 1:08 to 1:12

♫Lauren

Isabel Stare-A-thon: The Fun Guide of Staring

Good Evening Stare-a-thon-ers!

Today on this fine Monday I bring to you a combination plate of staring… and doodles!

So sit back relax and enjoy this Viciously Sweet doodle presentation:

Fun way #1 was discovered one sunny morning when Isabel was super groggy and in the mood for breakfast:

Fun way # 2 is the best way to get exponential staring to happen

Fun way#3 is Baloo’s favorite way!

Fun way #4 is a tight fit, but totally worth it

Fun Way #5 is the best if you want to secretly stare!

I hope these doodles inspire you to stare  because you care. Also Isabel are you paranoid about periscopes, yet?

♫Lauren and Doodle Lauren

 

It’s Monday and I’m “Naturally Disappointed”

Happy Monday to all of you, after this long and most delicious weekend!

Most people like me are now settling back into their cubicles thinking why can’t I be frolicking around town whilst doing practically nothing yet be making money like some Kardashian. Some of you may be saying, “why isn’t my photoshop working? Doesn’t my computer know how important it is during the Isabel Stare-a-thon?” Seriously and more specifically I wish my photoshop were working.

But not specifically, I can’t be the only one who feels like this:

I am the most naturally disappointed right now.

♫Lauren

Friday I’m in love… with Chicken

Happy Friday Internet!

I know that I like to make constant references to the Cure in both speech and doodle.

And that I constantly  mention/ eat/ doodle chicken.

And I wonder how can I combine both to make the best thing ever? Do I eat crispy golden chicken while listening to “Just like Heaven”? Or can I do more with two of my favorite things.

So much like bacon wrapped shrimp, I have made them into a special and delicious combination in today’s doodle:

And that is the way I like it.

♥Lauren

Computer Update:

My computer is still not properly functioning. And I have so many silly deadlines… I feel like I will never get the chance to fix my improperly working Photoshop. I will try sometime soon.