summer, where are you?

tired + no motivation + ready to be home + exams + ADD like symptoms + no sleep = me.

I don't just want summer...I NEED summer.

THINGS I WANT THE MOST:

- Mom & Dad hugs.

- Hanging out with Mark, Lindy and Ashley; they're my favorite people in the world.

- Seeing rocky; my crazy lovable demon possessed dog

- Going to eat at charlottey places aka cajun yard dog, the penguin, showmars, la unica and anything chainy that we don't have up here in nowheresville.

- To be able to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt and not get goosebumps on my legs when the wind blows.

- Going to the pool where I can lay out and feel the sun soak into my skin.

- Relaxing on my pack porch

- Getting to see my grandparents that I miss so much

- Starbucks. yum.

- The smell of sunscreen

- Driving with the my windows down, sunroof open, sunglasses on and my music blaring

- Sleeping in until I can't sleep anymore and then staying in my pajamas until I go to bed the next night

- Hanging out with my high school friends

- Nights where its the perfect temperature outside and you feel like you can blend into your surroundings

- Being able to make harry potter jokes with the fam

- Playing cards, reading magazines, having random conversations and debates at the dinner table

- Sitting and talking at the barstools in the kitchen while my mom cooks dinner

- Watching cash-cab, jeopardy, king of queens and wheel of fortune together

- Catching up with my neighbors

- Trips to the beach

- Everything about being home: family, friends, food, free laundry. HOME.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER.

please pray that I do well on my exams! Only a few more days and THEN I'M HOME!!!!

NEXT STOP - PICCADILLY CIRCUS... PLEASE MIND THE GAP.

Unfortunately it is quite a dreary day here in Boone. As the rain pours outside the window I am once again holed up in Beanstalk drinking an iced Mad Monk. I'm jamming out to my coffeecoffeecoffee iTunes playlist and my feet are propped up on a plush leopard ottoman.

So today, as I sit here (procrastinating; my specialty) I've decided to take a road-trip (or blog-trip) to London, England. I have been to London once before but that was my sophomore year of high school, so I think it's about time to venture there again.

Heres a few things I would do on my dream trip to London.

(p.s. money doesn't matter on this trip...oh wouldn't that be nice)

I'd stay in the posh Browns Hotel in London and sleep in a King size bed all to myself. Ah, bliss.

I'd wake up and put on the cutest, most Londoner outfit that I can manage. Then I would stroll around London looking like I stepped out of J.Crew Magazine - just like this girl.

In the mornings I would grab myself a latte (duh, how else do you start off the day?) at Caffe Vergnano, a local coffee shop on Charing Cross road. This coffee shop may frequently be passed over by the muggle eye, but I would shuffle in and take a seat next to the wide glass windows. Propping open the current book I'm reading I'd carelessly munch on a blueberry muffin and I'd sip the decadence that filled my cup. Delicious.

In the afternoons I would take a trip to Crockatt & Powell, a quaint little bookstore. I'd read for a few hours, forgetting the time.

One day I would take the Harry Potter tour and visit places like the Leaky Cauldron. I'd pretend like I was a witch and it would most likely be my favorite activity of the entire vacation. (this is the real door - I've been here! yay!)

There would be days that I would shop and shop and shop until my feet wanted to fall off. I'd bring along my stylish British friend that I had met on my 8 hour flight. We'd become the best of friends and I'd end up spending my entire trip with her. Then one night when I am picking up dinner to go, I'd meet a handsome brit. He would have perfect teeth and impeccable style. He would show me a marvelous time and we'd hold hands on the London Eye.

Hmm. Back to reality.

Oh how I wish I was in London... but I'm not and I have a lot to do in the real world. Study, study, study.

I'm hoping to go abroad there one day though. Cross your fingers for me!

coffeecoffeebuzzbuzbuzz

Since the ripe old age of twelve I have been drinking one of the most delicious drinks in the world; coffee. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't the most adventurous coffee connoisseur back in my middle school days. My coffee vocabulary was limited to the term frappacino (pretty much a coffee milkshake) and that was the one and only thing that I tried on the menu.

But nowadays, its a different story. My coffee vocab has vastly increased and I pride myself in the fact that I've tried about 75% of the Starbucks menu.

I've tried

(my favorite) Iced-Decaf-nonfat-no whip-raspberry-white mocha

Caramel Macchiato

Dark Cherry Latte

Blueberry Latte

Chai Latte

Marble Macchiato

Signature Hazelnut Hot Chocolate (or as Lindy calls it - heaven in Cup)

and every frappacino possible, including the Green Tea Frappacino

But up in Boonetown, in the middle of nowheresville, my loyalty to the starbucks franchise is slowly dying. See, up here in the mountains, we aren't blessed with a Starbucks around every corner like in Charlotte (or for that matter, NYC ♥) . In fact, the closest Starbucks is all the way in Hickory, NC. And this may sound pathetic, but one day I was missing Starbucks and Target so badly that I actually took a 1 hour and 15 minute roadtrip to get my coffee and Target fix. It was swell.

Luckily, I have finally found a sufficient replacement for Starbucks while I'm at school...

BEANSTALK.

Beanstalk is in serious competition with Starbucks, but the fact that Starbucks can be found practically everywhere in the World makes Starbucks win by a landslide.

(I almost kissed the ground when I saw starbucks on my family's europe trip)

And as I sit here in Beanstalk writing this post I can't help but feel quite studious. Plus, the mixed matched furniture, unique artwork, and hipster music playing makes me feel so...undeniably cool. Right now I am sipping on a Mad Monk, my absolute favorite drink. It is served in a thick glass cup and is delicious.

I'm pretty sure these are the ingredients:

Shot of Espresso, Chai, Mocha and Caramel, possibly milk?

I'm not positive, but even so, it is delectable.

So while in Boone, beanstalk will just have to do and if you ever get a chance to come here, you must give it a try.

BREAKFAST

Puffs of cloud in my cereal bowl,

lush, soft and white,

capture my imagination

and send it pivoting into the unknown.

My fruitloops pop their tinted lips at me

and sing along

"we're following the leader, the leader, the leader..."

as they edge along their ceramic fort.

My coffee sits in silence,

though steam rises from the activity below.

Factory workers lie beneath

pumping their tiny feet on their steam-pedals

and grinding the coffee beans with their fists.

I distractedly stir around my cereal

and suddenly they're a circus.

Tigers jump through soggy hoops

and take a dip in the silver pool that is my spoon.

My coffee becomes an audience;

as I pour, it brims over the edge

and excitedly spills onto the table.

An angry mob rushing towards the magical view.

Simply milk in my cereal bowl;

but it's a world of my own.

QueenQueenQueen.

For some reason I ♥ QUEEN.

It's kind of weird since both of my parents aren't big fans but for some reason I love their music. ( I like to believe that I appreciate rock and roll)

this is how I got introduced to them -

I remember it was one of the last days of school in like 7th or 8th grade and my teacher let students bring in their own CDs for our class to listen to since we didn't have any more work. One guy in my class brought in one of Queen's greatest hits CDs. He put on Bohemian Rhapsody first (which I knew somehow, but I didn't realize it was Queen) and then the CD continued playing and for some reason I loved it and went out and bought their greatest hits CD right after that. LOVE.

Well anyways, when I was in High School I was in a creative writing class and then senior year I was on the Literary Magazine staff so I always had the chance to write poetry when I wanted to. We would get topics to write about and I didn't realize how much I would miss writing until I got here. So, today I'm gonna write a poem using titles of Queen songs; who knows how it'll turn out.

Rock and Roll Love

"We will rock";

You spoke these words with such fire

uncontrollably I gave you weak smile.

It was our turn; we were dead on time, here to win.

And I was your killer queen, dancer, devil on the drums.

You had me wound around your finger;

whenever was convenient for you, I was there.

But your guitar served as somebody to love and

you held it with grip tighter than you ever held me.

I took the stage, death on two legs.

Though barely alive, near you, I was a kind of magic.

I was enamored by you.

Your face was the hammer to fall right through

the glass around my heart.

Staring at you, bicycle races filled my intoxicated mind.

Over and over thoughts of us pedaled in my head.

I'd given my life to you,

but was it all worth it?

Something ludicrous had captured me;

a crazy little thing called love.

You were my prince of the universe,

my scandal.

We each had a part in a rock and roll love.

Headlong drugged by you, you held me together

but only you could keep yourself alive.

I lived in a tale of unrequited love.

You're my best friend, and though you tried, you couldn't fool me forever.

So you left me.

You took my shattered heart and handed it to me, barely beating.

And now i'm alone;

all dead, all dead,

sleeping on the sidewalk.

And though you broke me, I want you back.

Why is it that pain is so close to pleasure?

reading = love.

The time to read is any time: no apparatus, no appointment of time and place, is necessary. It is the only art which can be practiced at any hour of the day or night, whenever the time and inclination comes, that is your time for reading; in joy or sorrow, health or illness. ~Holbrook Jackson

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved to read. My teachers would read Chika Chika Boom Boom and I'd sit on my square of carpet and listen to them in awe. I had Goodnight Moon propped up on my shelf at home and soon I was on to chapter books. Books like The Boxcar Children and Mr. Popper's Penguins had me developing a intense love for reading, but nothing made me want to read more than Harry Potter. Page after page I'd read the Harry Potter books, only to be let down because I'd finished an 800 page book in only 3 days. My brother, sisters and I read these books so many times that now many of the covers are missing, pages are beginning to fall out and the binding is barely holding on. Reading was a way for me to escape my life into one way more exciting. My imagination would be able to run wild; I could stroll through the halls of Hogwarts with Harry, Ron and Hermione, solve a mystery in the Westing Game, or glide along the high seas with Charlotte Doyle. Reading has changed me dramatically, I don't know how exactly, but I know it has.

So today I thought it would be fun to mention some of my favorite books incase you happened to be stumped on what to read. (My mom has probably done this already but great minds think alike)

- Sophie Kinsella / Madeline Wickham books. The Shopaholic Books are so much fun and so are all of her other ones. I especially liked Undomestic Goddess. They're such an easy read, perfect for the beach or any vacation. (The movie doesn't do them justice)

- Jodi Piccoult Books. She is such a talented writer! Her books require so much research and time, I don't understand how she writes so many of them! I think I've read almost every single one of her books.

- Harry Potter books. There is nothing better in the entire world. Seriously. These are some epic novels right here.

- Historical Fiction. Here are some amazing historical fiction books. Pam Jenoff is an INCREDIBLE historical fiction author, all of her books are so so so hard to put down. Lindy and I discovered them at Barnes and Noble and passed them to our friends and then one of our friend's Mom got her entire book club to read it! PHENOMENAL!

I do like the Twilight Books, but honestly, I'm not a big fan of the writing style. It doesn't seem to me like it requires much talent but the story line is really fun and they are extremely entertaining.

These are just a few of the books that I have loved loved loved. Hopefully ya'll can read some of these books too, you won't be able to put them down!

let's hear it for New York, New York, New York...

One day I'm going to live in New York City. I'm gonna wake up and the lights of Times Square will slowly be dimming and the early morning hustle and bustle will have woken me up, but I won't care. I'll be living in a TEENY TINY loft apartment on the outskirts of the city. It will be decorated with stuff passed around in the family and from target and antiques stores but it will be insanely cute. I'll sell my car before I move and hop on the subway to get to work.

I'll own a little boston terrier named Charlie who will like to sleep at the foot of my bed. He will be soft and snugly and he'll try to keep me safe at night even though he is the furthest thing from a ferocious animal.

I'll take Charlie out in the morning, kiss my husband goodbye and on my way to work I'll grab coffee at Starbucks; a tall, decaf, nonfat, raspberry white mocha and they'll have my order waiting as I walk through the door. "The usual Laura?" "You got it! "
I'll be working in Greenwich Village for a local magazine while admiring the glass doors of Seventeen and Glamour, knowing my time will come one day; but for now I'll be using my Advertising/ Creative Writing major to help develop local ads for up and coming artist in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Me and my husband (whom I met at church when I first moved there) will order Chinese Take-Out from the cheap place down the street. (he's the artsy type; button down shirts, jeans and converses - hott) We will prop ourselves up on the couch and eat our sesame chicken while watching Cash Cab with charlie laying on my husbands feet.

In the spring we'll walk Charlie in Central Park and hand in hand we will stroll through the trees and admire the beauty of the park as everything begins to bloom.
My life will be similar to You've Got Mail (when she finally realizes it's Joe Fox) I'll fall in love with the autumn leaves and have bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils on my desk at work.

"don't you just love new york in the fall?"

I'm going to live there one day, whether its on my own or with a husband, but whether NYC wants me or not, I'm coming!

I LOVE NEW YORK!

here's a link to Lindy's awesome new york video on my facebook.

ch ch ch ch ch ch check it out.

VIDEO

Lindy is my best friend, most incredible twin and amazing person you will ever meet.

We get a long better than anyone I've ever met.

Shes my other half

and I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

I wrote this poem about being a twin because although its a ton of fun, it does have its ups and downs

(Obviously this poem is a hyperbole of my life but it does have some truth behind it)

My Reflection; My Life

She learns, I learn.

She grows, I grow.

A mirror image has imprisoned my life.

I long for an exclusive personality.

Mine...mine only.

Selfish? ...To you it may seem that way;

you - a person born without your own personal duplicate.

Do I even have my own qualities?

My own name?

My own life?

"Hi We're (fill in the blank)"...

And yet I muse... who am I if not part of her?

I AM her.

She makes me complete.

My built in best friend, my other half.

The one person I'm not sure I could live without.

But sometimes, (even though it hurts her when I say it)

I feel like I'm not my own person;

Me and her are a packaged deal, two for the price of one.

We find ourselves in a never ending competition without a price in the end.

All I have to do is relinquish the right to my personal choices;

after all, I have her to make them for me.

And though it can be tough;

she finishes me.

Without her I'd be nothing;

a lifeless shell in search of the unavailable.

Interchangeable, replicas, identical, synonymous.

Twins;

She lives, I live.

sitting waiting wishing.

Lets just say that recently I've really struggled with patience when it comes to God. Although I know it's a waste, for some reason I like to imagine that I have control of getting something right when I want it...

I want a job - poof - job.

I want a boyfriend - voila - boyfriend.

I want to have tons of friends - BAM - friends.

FALSE. nope, sorry. WRONG ANSWER.

( obviously, considering I don't have a job, boyfriend or a million friends. )

I tend to find myself consistently baffled by God's timing and end up sounding way too similar to the girl from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

"I want it now, I want it right now..."

When in reality, shouldn't I be saying

What does GOD want for me now, RIGHT NOW?

I've begun to realize that one of the main reasons I want so much right now is due to the fact that I'm constantly comparing myself. Everyone else is dating someone, why not me? Everyone else has a job, why can't I find one? Everyone else has something to do this weekend, why don't I?

Hello! The world doesn't revolve around me!

So what I'm not dating right now, it's not the end of the world.

Yeah, a job would be nice so I can earn some money, but why not help out just to help out.

And seriously, take advantage of a free weekend, there are only a few times it's perfectly acceptable to sit around in your pajamas and watch TV all day.

But for some absurd reason when I thought about these things I began to think "...is something wrong with me?"

Well actually yeah Laura, there is something wrong with you -

You need to stop being SELFISH and start being SELFLESS.

My life isn't about me, it's about GOD. It's not about my timing, it's about HIS.

He has my life in his hands so whatever happens, will happen when HE wants it to

(whether I like it or not)

It's insanely hard to acknowledge, but he really does know what's best for me.

So right now instead of trying to jump onto my ride, which is sure to leave me anxiously waiting by the gate, why not just sit back and enjoy a way more exciting ride - GOD's ride.

After all, what else is there?

In HIS hands

Forecast today; storms of doubt.

Gray clouds funnel through my mind

and I find myself lost within them.

Suddenly Im unaware of direction;

I stare down at my compass to see it steadily spinning round and round.

My breath catches... I've lost my path.

The path I so carefully mapped out in my mind.

I feel my knees buckle and as the compass falls to the ground, it shatters.

My plans come to rapid halt.

Everything I had ever wanted.

Everything I had ever arranged.

Everything I had contrived, was nothing.

Nothing but shards of glass and illusion.

In the dirt, I kneel; broken and in a daze

and in my darkest hour I fearfully acknowledge you're presence.

YOU,

artist of all existence.

You pick me up in your sturdy arms

and brush the dirt off my face.

With forgiveness and promise you set me on a new path;

YOUR PATH.

With the map I once treasured laying far behind, the world finally spins into focus.

And as I walk forward I am certain about the future because I know

you're near, and you will make my paths straight.