doodles

Passing Notes

| Viciously Sweet

Today I’m going to tell you a story about when I was in school…

When I was in school I was a good student… which really surprised people because I seemed really unfocused in  nearly every lecture class I had.

I just really was good at comprehending the subject matters I studied and once I did… I didn’t have all day to hear the lecturer talk about alabaster in its various applications, I just daydreamed until the hour-forty five had passed. And of course I had read the textbook the day before, so I had all my day to not think about trying to memorize anything but stuff I wanted to.

Now all my daydreaming probably would have been just fine, had I not forced my weird imagination on my friends, especially Jimmy. He wanted to pay attention so badly and all I ever did was distract him. I would spend my time sending him drawings of Jamba Juice cups, Lambs that were striped, and well taco’s and how much I wished I was eating or building a place to hold tacos and not be in that class.

So dedication time… this Doodle goes all the way out to Jimmy who is like many miles away from me right now, but could probably use a laugh:

My favorite part is when he finally gave up on learning and just doodled back instead!

Quite candidly internet, I would list distracting people as one of my finer qualities. If you spend time with me the next thing you know is that it could be hours… or even years. And there is going to be sketchbooks of doodles to go along with it.

Now I must return to some doodles that I am working on like super seriously!

♥Lauren

Sleeping with the fishies

| Viciously Sweet

Happy Saturday everybody!

I wasn’t going to post today but… I haven’t been posting all that much lately. And I actually got some time to draw today, and I’m just so happy I had to share it.

My sister-in-law asked me to draw the sad tale of her beta fish Guido and his unfortunate run in with the Goldfish Mafia of Missoula Montana.

It appears Mr. Guido was 86’ed by the golden scaled crime lords… and she just wanted to share the story in graphic form.

Gangster fishes! I have had a few goldfishes in my lifetime and I can tell you they are very much exactly like this. When we cleaned out their tank there were just tons of mini aquatic weapons…

And, even though my scanner is a bit on the fritz, I used my fabulous new notebook that I got from a fellow blogger Edwin at the Awkward List.

I’m in love with this notebooks that you can get at emnote!

♥Lauren

The Fashion Statement

| Viciously Sweet

Yesterday I went shopping with my homegirl, Nancy.

 

We decided to traipse into Forever 21, even though neither of us are 21. But, hey I have a giftcard. And they usually have clothing for poor young professionals scattered about their store… but not yesterday.

Yesterday was different…We didn’t understand anything that store had going on…

We passed racks, displays, and even footwear before pondering a very important question… When did we become this old? Why were all the clothes so unpurchaseable?

Neon pink baseball caps with fancy flowers on it?

I want to meet the 16 year old who wants to wear this. Just call me Blossom!

Jean backpacks for purses with neon pink trim?

I had this as a kid… it was even ugly then.

Oxford shirts cut into mullet shirts?

Dresses cut into mullet dresses?

Decorative leopard bras as clothes?

Shirts that said “Never trust a cowboy”? (Really, what have cowboys done to us? And in Los Angeles, how often do you encounter them enough to not trust them?)

And everything else is completely transparent, and says “Beverly Hills” on it.

What the what, Forever 21?!? I know I’m 27, but when did people decide to dress like my 1990s Hawaiian barbie?

This is my Tuesday meeting outfit… don’t ask what kind of clients I’m meeting with…

I just can’t fathom I would feel comfy like this! So, I spent half my gift card on some jewelry and some sunglasses. And well I think glasses are supposed to be see-through in parts so I’m doing okay!

I am just going to say remember when all the clothes were heavily Mad Men Inspired? Yeah I was down with that.

Until then I can draw Nancy wearing all the clothes she passed up yesterday:

It’s like so many layers… but still completely breezy!

♥Lauren

Happy Birthday Brother!

| Viciously Sweet

Today was a crazy kind of day, but there is always something that is very good.

And today’s very good is that it is my one and only BIG BROTHER’S BIRTHDAY!

He turns 40 today! And everything is turning up roses for him! He has a fancy new job, a beautiful and super fun wife… and two beautiful and rambunctious and adorable daughters. One who at the age of four is practically my grown up adult height.

So good job on being really tall too, Tony!

Anyways, I heard that they had a wonderful day full of good food, except for an intercepted cupcake. I hope you have a super fun weekend brother, and if you notice the drawing is of you at a California beach…. because I am so excited about your visit I’m already illustrating it!

Happy Internet Birthday! Can’t wait to see you up in this hood!

♥Lauren

Happy Happy Birthday!

 

Office Confessions: Just like Heaven…

| Viciously Sweet

So today has been a mildly uneventful day in my hood.

And I am just fine with that… While I found myself getting lost in grids and information blocks of doors and room information. I got a big smile on my face. I was listening to the Cure.

And sometimes things just don’t get much better than that!

I just love listening to the Cure. Robert Smith rocks my socks!

Also tomorrow is my brothers birthday he’s going to be the big 4-0! Which means 4! Happy Pre-Birthday Tony!

♥Lauren

 

Fairy Tales

| Viciously Sweet

Okay, I am aware that I am a grown up.

But isn’t the idea of something magical just kind nice? When do we decide that we’re too cool to smile at a big lollipop, or for spinning around in an a-line dress, or even just eating a really good cookie with a chilled glass of milk. I think that we all deserve a chance to enjoy something for no particular reason, or with no explanation.

And no one should make you feel weird for it.

Today I saw my coworker had this game and the name of his city in the game was “Etopia.” What a serious name! It’s a city you are playing with in a game… it can be named anything!!!

He told me, “I’m sorry its not Pegasus-rainbow-flower-anthia.”

Now this could have been not nice, in fact it is a kinda a backhanded compliment.

But this comment only made me happy… I mean isn’t it good that he thinks of flowers and rainbows and fictional flying creatures in association with me. Anyways, quickly–I will add here that I still don’t like knowing how magic tricks are done… and try to forget about “reality” when I see them. I mean, if it’s a fantasy why not just get caught up in it?

And now onto the sketchy part… simply I dedicate this drawing to all the people I know (in real and online) who make me happy. Regardless of any bad times, when I’m really in  a happy moment:

And I thank you so so much for it!

♥Lauren

Here comes the fear

| Viciously Sweet

Sometimes I look around and wonder when it will be better? Not that I don’t appreciate my current existence. I mean the wondering and future-casting is just a normal thing. It’s something we all do, because we all aspire to more. I mean I’m not a Disney character, so my wishes are more than like becoming a ‘real girl’ or putting an end to the terror of Rattigan.

(On an interesting sidenote: I’m super preparing for my family’s visit here this spring, trying to find movies that won’t terrify my nieces– Great Mouse Detective… probably not interesting to a 4 year old.)

Anyways, I have a friend who is really actively decided to change their life majorly. And I super respect that… it’s just makes me think that maybe I should be doing some things in the world. More than helping cashiers find a pen, or sending thank you notes to people who cut my hair and sell me flowers for my hair. I just don’t know what to do first… get my architecture license? Work on selling my doodley-crafts to people? Become an entertainer at children’s parties? Hire a private investigator to find every Waldo (just to get my bases covered)?

There is just so much to do. But tonight, I think I’m going to try to learn how to use my new camera… so I can take unblurry pictures with it.

 

(Bonus Points for people who know where I borrowed that background from!)

♥Lauren

The Big 10,000

| Viciously Sweet

Okay I was super prepared to make another post. I was in it, I was going the distance.

And then I didn’t hit post. Because it just really wasn’t happening in my gut. I felt like there was something better I could share.

And then when I was driving home I realized what it was. Last week in my silly adventures I ended up on this Date Duration Calculator… and I found out today is my 10,000th day!

Because you know I’m a bit of a sappy girl I bring you this doodle:

I’m so happy I got to share some of my 10,000 days with you. Also thanks for making my days super amazing.

And in my super 10,000 day knowledge I have decided I totally am going to live my next 1,000 days like Dolly Parton. Who I have always adored… but the more I learn about her the more I see her as a force of absolute goodness in this world. And really don’t we need more of that? I want to help with that!

Also thanks to Jonathon who understood my joy of 10,000 days. Just to let you know I ate Ice Cream and wore a very sparkly necklace to celebrate it… and did I mention there was a new Mindy Project? Well there was, and my whole day was just wonderful :)

One more thing. Use the calculator and calculate some of your special days. I’d like to see some of your numerical triumphs!

♥Lauren

 

Stress, Potato Salad and Happiness

| Viciously Sweet

Happy April Fools Day/ First Day of April/Kris Marshall’s birthday/ 88th Anniversary of the Formation of The Royal Canadian Air Force.

Today I have had a lot to deal with:

-really stressful deadlines! I mean I was already running late today and then I come in and everything is the worst and due at the same time… Um give me a moment to panic:

I already didn’t take a lunch! I can’t find extra time!

-Trying to set up appointments so my car can look less crunchy from behind. Never a problem for a Kardashian… but, it’s a problem from my car’s rearside.

FUN FACT: I drive a candy bar. And… well summers are very sticky.

-making my stapler fancy:

It’s costume is so cool it’s now in the Justice League in the corner of my desk… The Scurvy Stapler of Justice is here!

– Defeating the evil in my general area. It’s a real affliction over here. And for a few weeks I’ve retreated… but there is only so long I can be pushed around until I get all well Warrior Princess on you.

Your Nonsense: I will shut it all down! All of our office supplies will have faces!!! BWA HA HA!

-eating my potato salad while it was still cool from refrigeration .

It’s been out of the fridge since 9!!!!! And now it’s lunchtime!!!!!

(The last one was much harder than it sounded. It took about 45 minutes to get to eat it between all the work I was doing, and our office fridge is still not functioning.)

 

But today is just not a day I want to remember being stressed out for. Because, I choose no to! There has to be a silver-lining to this Garfield grumbling of a Monday! So now that I’ve finished 2 deadlines, some mildly cool potato salad, and set up an appointment for my car to get some reconstructive surgery… I can share something really wonderful with the people who read this blog:

“San Francisco” from the Mowgli’s- this song is like sunshine and love had a baby, and their baby became musical.

This song according to Amber is very hipster. It probably is, but I think it is 100% fun. And you can hear it blaring out of my car everywhere I drive lately. And I even have a horrible Polynesian/ belly-dance dance for it!

 

And here’s a little doodle to go along with all the joy in this post:

It is because you make it that way!

♥Lauren

(All images, besides mine are courtesy of the rad people who host thangs on IMGUR)