Monday, January 31, 2011

must have mondays!!

hi all! hope you had a fun weekend. mine was amazing. we had our big formal event, the captian's ball, and i had a fantastic time partying it up with my friends. more on that later. ;) for now, here are my "must haves for this week", and in honor of the captian's ball i decided to have them all center around formal events and dancing!! enjoy!! :)

1. you must wear a beautiful dress like this one
there are a million other gorgeous dresses on modcloth, but i love the color for the transition between january (winter) and february (valentine's day). the main thing is that you have to feel beautiful in whatever dress you end up wearing.


2. you must add some cute bows to your shoes
as a college student on a college budget (with a little help from the parents) i can only buy so much. hence why i LOVE the idea of gettting a simple pair of heels (black is okay but i like silver better) and dressing them up by adding different kinds of fun little shoe clips.


3. you must dance to this song
this song is so much fun to just jump around to, and the lyrics are easy so everyone can sing along. my girlfriends went a little crazy during this song. (and every other song too...)


4. you must carry your necessities in this clutch

although i'm not a fan of black (im too pale to pull it off) i do like the pattern and think it'd be fun for a party. i'm all about the accessories here.


5. you must have this lip gloss

this is by far one of my favorite flavors. it's sweet and fun and everytime i put some on i get at least one person (guys and girls) telling me how good it smells.

hope you like my party outfit necessities for today's "must have mondays". i'll be back later to tell you about the ball itself.
xoxo, Lauren

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

is there an ark i can borrow??

i adore my college. the classes are great, the people are great, the food is (usually) great. i sound silly but i can't even begin to describe just how much i love it here. there's really only one or two little things i don't like about the school and it's something that's totally and completly out of the school's control. what is it?? the weather. i live in newport news, va. for those that don't know, it's on the east coast of the united states. that means that it's really windy. i don't totally hate cold, but wind sucks beyond belief. it makes everything colder and messes up perfectly fixed hair. i love snow, but because we're on the coast, we get almost no snow. ever. instead, we get rain. a lot of rain. tons of rain.

don't get me wrong, i adore rainy days. i love any excuse to pull out my super cute rain boots and umbrella, and love being able to curl up in bed with a blanket and fuzzy socks to study (or nap or watch movies on hulu). however, when it rains here, it pours and that means we basically get flooded. another thing about being near the coast means that we're very low so everytime it rains the campus floods. i'm short (only 5'2!!) so sometimes i feel like i'm about to drown while walking to class!!

although they predicted a wintry mix the past couple of days, we ended up just getting a ton of rain today. (and of course i forgot my umbrella, which meant a mad dash back to my dorm for me). already the campus is flooding. i think i may need a boat when i head to dinner tonight. here are some pictures of the rain i stole from a friend. how's the weaather where you are??
xoxo, Lauren




Monday, January 24, 2011

social networking update

hi again!! 2 posts in one day what what!?!?!? i have a few quick updates to tell you about.

1. i got a twitter!! i used to have one, then i deleted it, then i realized how much i missed it and brought it back. you can follow me at @CupcakeCutiebug. feel free to say hello and i'll try my hardest to reply every time. :)

2. valentine's day is coming up and although it's not my favorite holiday (for a single girl it can be a little depressing) i've decided to spread a little cheer by offering a little sale in my shop. by entering the code HUGSandKISSES in the coupon code box you'll get 14% (fourteen!!) off your price. that def makes valentine's day a little sweeter. also, you can find my etsy shop here.

that's it for now but i'll be back tomorrow. until then, here are a few sweet pictures to brighten up your day!! :)
xoxo, Lauren

  

must have mondays

i don't think i've been up this early for quite a bit. i actually got up at 8:30 to run over to the housing office, but i'll explain more on that later. ;) this week's "must have mondays" is changing a bit. i don't want to only show off things i like that you can buy, but rather, stuff i love in general. so "must have mondays" isn't so much as "must buy this" but more "you must...buy this, read this, eat this, ect". the style's changing a wee bit but it'll still be fun. i promise. okay, enough with the ramblings (can you tell i got less sleep than i needed?? i apologize). onto the stuff!!


1. i must buy this for my friend
my friend taylor loves converse shoes and her favorite color is blue. when i saw this i about freaked out because i know it would be perfect for her. now if only i had the money or her birthday was coming up...hmmm ;)


2. you must feel sexy when you're slaving over the perfect bundt cake wearing this now
i bake all the time (hello, my blog has the word 'cupcakes' in its title) so the second i saw this i flipped. this is exactly what i need the next time i start baking.


3. you must cover up your next injury with these band aids.
so maybe they're a little most costly than most band aids, but they're just so cute. although, as accident prone as i am, i'd go through them within a week.


4. you must remember these ways to deal with stress

(you may have to click to enlarge). i get stressed super easily. especially last week. and this week is going to be a little hectic too. hopefully if i focus on some of these ideas, and with the help of my friends, i can get through it all.


5. you must put this print on your wall.
kind of going along with my "don't stress" idea from the last one, soaking in a bubble bath is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind. i dob't have a bathtub here but usually a long hot shower will still do.


hope you enjoyed the "must haves" for today. i'll be back later with another post. xoxo, lauren


Sunday, January 23, 2011

a double feature movie review

this weekend has been jammed packed. friday night my friends and i went to see the social network. CAB (campus activities board, the group who sets up fun things to do all over campus) was hosting a free showing. the movie started at 9, but we got there at 8:30 and it was already packed. although the group i was with had to split up, we still all manged to get seats.


 


i was interested to see how the movie was because i've heard so many different opinions. it was way better than i was expecting. i think they made mark come off as way more ruthless and cold hearted than he appears in real life (at least, when i've seen him). and justin timberlake really isn't that great of an actor, i'm sorry. (please honey, go back to singing.) but overall, i really liked the movie. it moved at a god pace and had its really funny moments. i'm not sure how much of it is 100% true but i'm assuming most of it is. i think one of the reasons it was so interesting was because it really showed just how much facebook has influenced our lives. some of the stuff they did (like repeatedly checking to see if the girl he had friend requested had added him), made my friends and i laugh because we all knew that we secretly did it too. i'd totally recommend it to people looking to see it.

saturday morning i was hanging out with a friend when she mentioned wanting to go home for a night to spend time with her mom. she's about a 2-hour drive away from the campus while i'm about an hour away and she passes by my house in order get home. we had originally planned to go home on friday this weekend to see our families but plans got changed so we weren't going to go. somehow, the trip ended up being on for saturday night so we packed tote bags, grabbed our dirty laundry, and headed home. my parents were super excited to see me (i miss them a lot when i'm gone, plus i miss my puppies too). my mom cooked dinner, then she mentioned they had rented a movie. on an earlier trip back home we had wanted to see "eat, pray, love" but didn't have the time so this time she had ran out and got it.


 


the movie was really interesting. it's not my favorite by a long shot, but it def makes you think. julia roberts is wonderful (her laugh is so beautiful, and so iconic. i love it) and i liked some of the other supporting cast members. this movie is also based on a true story about a woman going to go find herself. my favorite part of her journies through italy (the food looked divine), india, and bali were the people she met. it was like everyone she met had their own little story that helped her figure herself out and i loved the idea of being so globally connected to all these amazing people all over the world and how you can help others while helping yourself at the same time. however, i did feel sad for liz, the character julia robets plays. it's no secret i'm trying to figure out my life, my place in the world, who i am, and all that stuff. some people may say i'm too young because i'm only 18, but i think it's a great time to start exploring the world. liz, who i'm assuming is in her mid-30's or 40's, never did that and she seemed so sad, almost pathtic at times. some of the stuff she was just figuring out then, i've already learned. we're both still trying to use it now though. once again, i'd recommend this movie although i feel like it would be more catered to people trying to find themselves or searching for that extra little bit of motivation.

this weekend was so great. i got to have fun with my friends, yet i still got to come home and see my parents and puppies. (oh, and i got a super cute new cardigan i may try to post a picture of soon!!) ;) what did you do this weekend??
xoxo, Lauren

Friday, January 21, 2011

Silly Photo Friday!!

sorry for not posting all week. it's only the second week of school and already things are crazy busy. so i apologize times a million and i promise i will start posting aside from my new features. i'm actually 98% up to peed in all my classes so that's a good start at least. and it's friday (woah, already?? where did my week go?) but i'm super happy because i have another fun night planned with friends. and this time i'm going to try to take more photos. last night i was at my friend's dorm (i practically live there, i swear) and we all had a blast talking, hanging out, and being silly!!

it actually creates the perfect opportunity for me to introduce my newest feature. "silly photo friday" (or thursday, im still deciding) is going to be some fun pictures that i either a. had taken or b. am in. (maybe both??) i'm trying to take more photos this year (as if i didn't take a lot before) and this will be a fun way to show a few off. and finally...onto the photos. (warning: sorry for the quality this week. between the setting my camera was on and the awful lights in the hallway the pictures aren't 100% perfect, but they are 100% fun!!) :)


the always fun "let's jump up in the air and get a picture of us mid-jump". not easy but always makes for tons of laughs. (note my friend damian in the back...he almost knocked a tile out of the ceiling!!)



damian is one of my closest guy friends. one of the reasons we got so close was because we spent so much time practicing together for that huge dance competition this past november. and whenever ballroom kids and  performers get together, you get the constant need to dance and ham it up in front of the camera.


taylor is def one of my closest friends here. we actually went to opposing high schools but never knew each other. we have so much fun together, but that also leads to so much trouble. ;)


That's it for this "silly photo friday". feel free to tell me what you think about the newest feature. i'm off to go get ready for tonight!! can't wait. xoxo, Lauren

Monday, January 17, 2011

Must Have Mondays!!

hi there!! this past weekend was super crazy busy and although i had an amazing time, it also left me majorly sleep deprived. i'll post later about my weekend (i didnt even take any pictures, i was having THAT much fun!!) but for now i'm going to squeeze in a quick "must have mondays post"!! :)

 
1. this top is so adorable.

it's one of my favorite colors and its a style i can usually pull off. plus i could dress it up or down, depending if i was frolicking off to a party, class, or hanging out with a cutie. ;)


2. this necklace
it's totally fun and sweet as well. anyone who knows me knows i love cupcakes (hello, look at my blog title!!) and this would be a treat to add onto any wardrobe. (sorry for all the cupcake jokes...haha)


3. this dress
the captian's ball will be here soon enough and of course, being a girl, i get really into the dresses. this is so sweet and it's vintage, which makes it even better. another great etsy find, of course!!


4, this print
 
i absolutely adore flapperdoodle. i got a few of her prints for christmas, but i wouldn't mind another one. this one would be great because i love and miss my puppies back home. granted, they aren't dalmations, but it would do.


5. this adorable little baby alpaca
okay so i know this is kinda silly but i saw this picture and just couldn't resist. i've always wanted a little baby alpaca or llama, but alas, living in a subdivision (or college dorm room) doesn't exactly make that possible. one day maybe... ;) oh, and of course i'd put it in a little jacket!!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

back to college-land!!

i got back to college on saturday and classes started on monday. as hard as it was to leave my family and my animals, i was so excited to get back. even after just one semester it already feels like home and i have a little "college family" that i love. one of my goals for my blog this year is to blog more about my life and my college adventures. this semester is going to be a little busier than last semester.

(my super awesome planner!!)

the first semester is one of the harder semesters because people are adjusting, finding themselves, meeting people, and learning to live on their own. my stats grade wasn't the greatest but i passed which is what matters most. i have one more math class this semester and once i'm done with that i'm freeeee of math. i'm also fundraising chair for the ballroom dance society, meaning i get to plan all the fun little events to build up funds. i'm already working on the first little event that should be held later this month. i'm also on the sketch comedy team, hanging out with friends, working on my etsy and blog, and getting ready for our huge formal event, the captian's ball, coming up later this month. more on that laaater... ;)


so far my classes seem okay. i had to switch one that doesn't start till next monday, but hopefully that one will be good as well. i'm in one of the easiest math classes and 2 of my ballroom friends are in there so i should be able to get by. my history class actually seems pretty cool. the professor was well-recommended by a friend who had him and he seems pretty rad so far. i'm in 2 psych classes, 201 and 202, and i have them back-to-back so tuseday and thursday evenings from 4 to 7 will be all psychology. the first professor seems amazing, but the second...not so much. during the first class he lectured for almost an hour without stopping. i'll try not to complain too much but i don't think i'll be praising the class much either. i do need to get my study habits in order, however. i have my binders (but i still need cover pages!!) for each day, my super colorful pens, planner (50% off at Barnes & Noble!!) and most of my books are in. Now all that's left is actually starting to study.

(supplies)

we had a "ballroom free dance" last night and it was sooo amazing to see everyone again and start dancing. i had so much fun dancing with all my friends that i've missed. damian, my cha cha partner, and i had an especially great time dancing together again. we were cha cha partners at the dance competition we went to in november, and missed advancing to the next level by one judge. our plan is to practice like crazy and take no prisoners at the competition next november.

tonight we have our first official ballroom lesson of the semester and rumor has it this guy i've been talking to a lot recently will be there. more on that later. ;)
xoxo, Lauren

Monday, January 10, 2011

Must Have Mondays-

I finally have internet again!! i got up super early (well, 8:35am but that's early for a college student!!) and treked over to the tech services place. at first the guy had no idea what to do and i was convinced my laptop was screwed but with the help of google (by this point i was almost ready to give up hope completely) they got it working again. :) :) i just about jumped over the counter and hugged the guy when he said it was fixed.

anyway, now that i finally have my lovely little laptop working again, i'm ready to dive into blogging and my etsy. i plan to devote a lot more time to it this semester. i'm adding more features, one of which is this one. "must have mondays" is basically where i'll be showing you some of my favorite stuff i've found recently. i decided on "must have mondays" because 1. a lot of people do "fav fridays" or "things i like thursday" and i just wanted something a little different and 2. i like the alliteration. teehee and now, onto my first "must have monday"

1. this adorable headband from my etsy shop
i know it's from my own shop so maybe that makes it a little tacky but i just can't help it. i made the first one with the intention of selling it and loved it so much i had to keep it. therefore, i made 2. and then 20 more in different colors. plus, they're perfect for valentine's day. :)


2. these adorable key covers.

the second i saw them i just about died. more accurately, i squealed with excitement. i want them so badly but if i got them i'm not exactly sure where they'd go. i don't exactly have any keys (except for my one house key) to put them on. nonetheless, they are so sweet.


3. this super awesome print
i'm a teenage girl. it's a fact that no matter how many hours you put into it, your hair will almost never do what you want it to when you need it to. next year i'll be living with 4 other girls and sharing one bathroom. i'm thinking this print may end up hanging on the wall next to the mirror.


4. this super cool USB drive
i lost my flash drive awhile ago. so far i've been using my friend jessica's flash drive (not sure if she knows i still have that...ooops) but i suppose i'll need to get my own eventually. this one is so sweet and it even comes in pink too!! that's the one i'll be getting.


5. this happy little print
something about this print makes me super happy. not sure if its the bright yellow of the simplicity of the message but something about it just makes me smile. and you should too. :)

Monday, January 3, 2011

2011!!

My first post of the new year!! How refreshing!! I love new beginnings. I think that people can always start over fresh and it doesn't matter how many times you do it, it's always fun, new, and a little scary. The best times to start these "new beginnings" are usually times when you're going through changes in your life. Starting school (like when I started at college in the fall) or a new year (like now!!), or maybe a new job, move, or anytime you feel like it. :)

My last few hours of 2010 were spent at a friend's house. It was a small get together but we still had a blast. We built a fort (totally silly but totally awesome too!!) and did a bunch of other fun stuff. Then my first day of the new year was spent with friends again. We got our nails done, went out to eat, then Allison (one of my fav people in the whole world) slept over. We stayed up talking about everything and laughing our heads off. It was much needed.

Sadly, my laptop still isn't connecting to the internet and my mom's laptop bit the dust over new year's. I'm posting this from the library right now. I can't wait till I can get back to college (i miss everyone so much) so one of my nerd friends can fix it for me. I promise once it's fixed i'll be back out with tons of fun posts but until then i thought i'd just let everyone know i'm still alive and hoping for the best in 2011.

xoxo, Lauren