2012

Let’s get lost in Happiness

| Viciously Sweet

So I have had a killer workday ahead of me. In fact yesterday, I worked 9 hours on something I couldn’t even explain to anyone if I tried. I just recolored blocks in a computer program over and over again. So quite candidly I can say… those blocks, are really really colored. And everything else well… it didn’t get done.

And I have had a headache since last week that is made up of stress and allergies… because it’s been so windy where I live. I actually feel the north wind is telling me I should run away like, Juliette Binoche in Chocolat and start my own store of drinks and doodles. Where that weird French guy can judge how I would rather live a happy life than the life of a nun, and Johnny Depp can be my sexy repairman.  But that is for later, and deadlines are for now.

Amber came back into the office yesterday and was super optimistic. She made me remember all the things I learned in the last few weeks by watching movies with Paul Rudd in them. Wanderlust, My Idiot Brother, the Baxter. All of these movies made my last few weeks. All of them have helped me realize what I really need.

Happiness.

The only thing is I have to do is go find what that is to me right now. And since I’m currently at work I can try to think about it. I hope you can do it too… wherever you are at:

Right now I’m listening to music and trying to think about what would make me happy… not feeling trapped in this office would be nice.

♥Lauren

The Good, the Bad, and the Giggly

| Viciously Sweet

I know weekend posts are not usually my style. But I feel like typing and drawing… So my style is changed for right now.

And there is one thing I have to share before the year is over. And it’s so important that everyone know:

Bwa na-na na-na. Bwa ha-ha he-he.

When I found this out I promised myself to doodle it because everyone should have something silly that makes them burst into laughter… and we should totally celebrate it. The fact that she nearly passed out due to the lack of oxygen in her body from the laughter… now that was dangerous. If you are brave, please give the themesong from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” a try… maybe you will think its a bit funny too:

I hope there is something in your life that makes you laugh this hard. Personally almost everything makes me burst into laughter. Right now the near mention of “Velociraptors” is making me giggle like nobody’s business. Have a giggly Sunday.

♥Lauren

The Translation

| Viciously Sweet

 

I have not been posting lately and it’s because I don’t know what I should be posting. How can one little happy Lauren feel so feisty during this season. All I have wanted to do is just enjoy my family and a season where we cover everything in lights and sparkles.

But things keep happening:

-Like having to be around people who don’t like me… in a party setting.

-Being yelled at by a woman in the Disney story while picking up a present for my nieces. (I accidentally walked into the cashier line while I was looking at stuffed animals, she chastised me for my carelessness, and I thanked her for her holiday gratitude.) (Also, sorry Tony and Season… I already bought them more toys.)

-Having to witness grown people throwing fits about the “quality” of presents they are receiving. I don’t care if it’s not a designer… it is nice because someone thought of you when they found it… and not everyone can afford Cartier.

 

Thie following doodle was inspired by the mariachi my family has on Christmas eve at our family party. And I am dedicating a message to all you holiday kerfluffers:

It’s  just so hard to like it, when it’s being a grinch!!!!

So even thought Santa is on vacation until next year…I’m just saying you should just be nice… or I’m going to shake a maraca in your face… And remember no one wants a maraca in their face before the new year!

Happy last days of 2012 everybody!

♥Lauren

Christmas All the Time

| Viciously Sweet

A while ago when I was talking to a coworker friend who knew I was lacking in a bit of confidence. He told me he didn’t really know why I was because he thought I was sparkly inside and out. How does this have to do with Christmas? Well besides the fact I was was called a “Christmas tree”, it is because this Season is about having appreciation for family and friends.

And this year, I have learned that some people should be appreciated for being so kind to you, especially when you don’t feel you deserve it. At the time of this compliment, I really didn’t think I deserved niceties. But we all struggle with that. And that is what makes the happiness of this season so important.

Wow, this post isn’t very merry. This post is actually verging on the “It’s a wonderful Life” kind of introduction to Christmas… I think I was just trying to say that maybe we should celebrate how much we care for people all year long, because a season isn’t enough to show people how much we care about them.

And maybe we should pretend it’s Christmas more often… and not for presents or to age Jesus a little more. But maybe because this is the time of the year when people try to be the kindest and most grateful for what they have. We should carry it on for the rest of the year. We should tell people they sparkle. Because it makes them realize they can.

I hope that in the midst of all your Christmas and Holiday crazy this made you smile… just a little bit.

♥ and Merry Christmas, My Sparkly Trees!

Lauren

Isabel Stare-A-thon 2012: Exponential THON

| Viciously Sweet

Today is the final day of staring, glaring and gazing at the one and only Isabel.

Since I have not been as up to date this year on my staring logs. I have decided the best way to share how much staring at Isabel means to our office. Cue the romantic music.

The guys in the office are really into the whole event:

It’s been really hard to get work done in the office because people cannot literally look away from the live Isabel feed on the computer. The professional loves that the stare-a-thon can be integrated into his cubicle time:

And then there is Jonathon… our new coworker:

Jonathon preparing to stare

Has not only caught the staring bug:

But he also made this years staring slogan:

Yes, I work with some really weird dudes. And well, they could be doing worse things than staring. So as long as the star-a-thon is on we’re all safe… wait, it’s over.

Happy Stare-a-thon Isabel!

2012 Isabel Stare-a-thon, out.

♥Lauren

The Spectacular Failure

| Viciously Sweet

There are moments in life when you feel like a real winner. And then there are times you have that not so winning feeling.

Right now I feel like basically I am like the queen of failure. Everything I have done in the last few days has blown up in my face. And thank goodness I’m not a scientist… because I would probably have no face.

Maybe that would be okay lots of people like those faceless sculpture thingies:

faceless benefit?

I could become their model. I can hug a weird little heart shaped box for hours.. possibly while listening to “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana.

But I digress.

The spectacular failure

Here’s to hoping I meet my deadlines, finish Christmas shopping, and find time to cook all the food we eat at Christmas… I hope everyone else has a little more success in their endeavors! ♥

Also Tony I hope you are feeling better, and remember don’t challenge manholes…. they always win!

♥Lauren

Make It Big!

| Viciously Sweet

Noel and Liam Gallagher.

The Jackson 5.

Hanson.

Debarge.

All musicians that make beautiful music with their family members. Notice who is not on that list, Christie & Lauren… And for all you jazzy readers out there, that would be me and my sister.

So we may not have the rivalry of Liam and Noel… nor do we have the stage presence of the Jackson 5. Actually we barely know how to play instruments. But that is not the point, it shouldn’t stop our musical dreams.

Christie and I have discussed the possibility of taking our love of WHAM! on the road. And calling ourselves “LADY WHAM! a Wham! Experience”… but we have one very important problem:

Wham! Bam!

Now if my brother wants to be the Andrew Ridgely… We can get this show on the road… but I have a feeling he may not want to… because he doesn’t want to revisit his time with “the mullet”:

But Tony could totally pull this off!
Image Courtesy of: FANPOP!

Anyways, we will probably never resolve this issue… and time can never mend the careless whispers of a Wham! coverband.

Have a wonderful day everybody…. and yes, I would make the better George Michael.

♥Lauren

Isabel Stare-a-thon 2012: Enhanced Magnification

| Viciously Sweet

So I have been a little lax with the stare-a-thon posts. It’s because I got lost in the gaze I was holding Isabel in. I actually realized that I hadn’t even blinked in 12 days.

Apparently I’m not the only one who just can’t stop staring. Not only has Christine and the entire state of Nebraska got all caught up in the stare-a-thon holiday season…

According to the latest posts on TMZ, this old-timey Sherlock Holmes has a stare-a-thon addiction. He can’t even stop an solve a case. He hasn’t solved 1 whole case in the last month… Sherlock Holmes is sadly locked in the staring hold. But he did pose for this brief photo for the stare-a-thon.

So keep staring everyone… But don’t stare so long that you get stuck that way.

♥Lauren

Isabel Stare-A-Thon 2012: Jamie Foxx Remix

| Viciously Sweet

I have not been posting regularly. Due to my ability to spread myself so thin, and my ability to ruin almost everything.

But today, today there is 2 posts.

And like a blessing from the god’s of staring, the second post is about Isabel. You know the girl who has a month long event dedicated to staring at her face?

Well, every year I like to find a song to be the anthem of the stare-a-thon. And then in a moment when I was pondering how to squeeze 3 days of work into 1 I found the perfect song for this years stare-a-thon. It is a remix by the Academy Award winning Jamie Foxx:

The song has gone 6 times platinum today in my brain. So the next time you are really busy… and can’t quality time to calm your nerves or gaze undisturbed at Isabel… just remember blame it on the stare-sta-sta-stareathon.

Happy Staring everybody!

♥Lauren