Prom

This is much long overdue, but prom!! Finally being a "big kid" and getting to go to prom was almost surreal. You look forward to this for most of your life, and within the span of a few hours, it's over. Lucky for me though, I have one more night to dress up and feel like a modern day Cinderella.

shoes // hair 

Though prom is a whole ordeal the day of, there's a lot that goes into play much before hand. Here are few tips I learned from this year..

• Book your limo early!! It doesn't matter if it's January and your prom is in April. Go ahead and book that sucker, otherwise you'll be stuck with your parentals driving you to prom. Wouldn't that just be fun?

• Make reservations about 6-8 weeks out. This is a must. Odds are, prom is on a Saturday night, and no nice restaurant is going to have open seating for a group of 12. Pick a good restaurant (J. Alexanders, Brick Tops, Cheesecake Factory, Amerigos, the options are endless!) and make a reservation. If you're not exactly sure how many will be in your party, tell them more than you have confirmed. You can always call back and downsize your group, rather than trying to find new accommodations for a large group.

• Don't forget about after prom, either. After dancing the night away, you might be hungry and tired, so have an idea of where you're going and when you'll be getting there (for your parents' sake). My group went out for ice cream and then back to one of our houses to watch movies, aka sleep. If you choose the limo route, make sure your limo driver knows where to go. Our driver was quite clueless and we ended up having to find an alternate location to get ice cream at :/ 

• Get your dress and shoes early. By March, most stores are wearing thin on their formal wear options. Go early, and you'll have more dresses to choose from. This also gives you lots of time to get your dress fitted and hemmed, which it probably will need.

• Order a corsage! If you have a date, gently remind him the color of your dress and one or two accent colors that would complement it. If you don't have a date, order the  corsage yourself. Most girls forget this since it is traditionally the guy's role. As far as presenting it, ask a key male figure in your life (dad, brother, grandfather, etc.) to present it to you. My dad did mine. 

• Designate a photographer. This is one of the most overlooked ones, since the parents are all naturally going to have their shaky smart phones and digital cameras. While that's great and fine, make sure with each pose that it is clear what camera to look at. We got several pictures with wandering eyes since there was a mob of photographers in front of us.

• Book your hair and makeup appointment early on! The same idea as the limo, if you wait, they'll be all booked. 

• Coordinate with the other girls in your group! It can be pretty tough to organize pictures with two girls wearing the same dress-- been there. done that. 

• Bring a portable phone charger, if you have one. Between the snaps and the selfies, your poor phone battery is going to be draining all too quickly. I used mine when we got back in the limo after actual prom, and it was a life saver.

• Schedule a "practice session" with your hair and makeup stylist(s)! Go in and talk to them about what style you're looking for. Chances are, they'll conduct a "trial run" with you to customize themselves with your hair/skin, and in this time, take notes of what you like and don't like and how you'd like it to be altered for the real go around.

Prom's a night to remember!! Go have fun!! Make good choices and don't do anything stupid. 

Through pictures and memories, it'll be hard to forget your prom night.

If you want to see my pictures and get some ideas, feel free to check out ours. There are quite a few candids in here, if you know what I mean ;)

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

xox,

Lauren

Tuesday Treasures

August 11, 2015

This week has been so busy. Balancing golf with school and church and babysitting has actually been very hard. I'm typically good about managing my time, but it's hard to manage time you don't have, you know?

Going back to school means going back into dress code. Our dress code is cap sleeves and nothing 6 inches above the knee. My Nike shorts are more than 6 inches above the knee, which means that right there eliminates most of my summer attire. So...we went to Old Navy. I found these jeans, which I am currently wearing as I write this. I have worn Old Navy jeans for as long as I can remember: classic skinny or midrise sweetheart fit since day one. They are cheaper price wise, but just as high quality as department stores. I wear mine out! They come in many different fits, colors, and styles. I guarantee they have a fit that flatters every body type.

If you didn't know, my most recent accomplishment off the golf course was making my grandmother shortcake from scratch (and it turned out totally wonderful. Of course, what is strawberry shortcake without whip cream?

Originally, my plan was to make the shortcake and whip cream from scratch, but I chickened out and just bought a can. I explained this to my grandmother and she insisted that she show me how to make fresh whip cream, so Sunday night, we did just that. Really all you need is a cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix it together with a mixer until peaks form! This makes about 2.5 cups of whip cream, but if you need more, just use the whole pint and double everything else! 

The stuff in the can has nothing on this fresh cream. It is so much richer, and I really do think everyone should try fresh whip cream at least once.

In the summer, I am very very bad about throwing my hair into a messy bun on top of my head. Honestly, it's a good day if I just brush it. I'm very low maintenance, but I do enjoy "dressing up" just as much as the next person. I love how my hair looks when I curl or straighten it. 

For promotion Sunday at church (all the kids and students move up a grade), I decided I was gonna do just that. I used a 1.5 inch Remington curling wand and 1 inch sections of hair. I'm normally not this happy with the curls I get, but I loved these, especially once they relaxed and curled around each other. I'm still trying to master the whole barrel/mermaid curl, but until I can get that, I'll gladly settle for these.

I also broke out my Lilly and Jacks for promotion Sunday :) #lovemyjacks

Part of my morning routine before school is listening to really good, uplifting music to get in a fresh mindset. I typically play my "good morninggg" playlist with Young and Free, Matt Maher, and those kind of people, but I felt adventurous Sunsay morning and played iTunes Radio's Christian station. I lucked out and found a gem. It is Beautiful" by MercyMe.

"Days will come when you don't have the strength

When all you hear is you're not worth anything"

When I first heard this, school was starting in less than 24 hours. I was about to immerse myself in a world full of "you're only as good as your clothes" and "your grades are how I see you." 

I stopped fixing my hair and sat on my bedroom floor with my eyes closed.

"You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His"

For me, it is so easy to believe that my grades are my value and that the score of my golf game is my identity.  And I forget that I am so much more.  I am treasured, sacred, and His. I am not the 42 I shot at Brentwood Country Club. I am not the size of the jeans on my legs. I am not the Vera Bradley lunch box in my hand. I am a child of God who is priceless to the One who gave His life for me. 

Thank you for reminding me, MercyMe. 

Don't you forget it this week either.

xoxox,

Lauren