I got "tagged" by Haley J

1. Post these rules

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them

11 Random Facts:

1. At the age of 22 I might still sleep with my baby blanket. My family constantly teases me and wonders what will happen with the blanket when I eventually get married.
2. I HATE it when someone says I can't do something. I will most likely go out and try to prove them wrong!
3. I love to dance! And I wish I was good at it! Lets just say it's fun!
4. "Minni" my nickname...when I was a freshman my dear friend Alyssa Lowry Poulson gave me this name, because it's short for my last name, and believe it or not I was really small. It has stuck ever since. And I would say 80% of people know me by this name and not my 'real' name. (I didn't get this name because I drive a Mini Cooper!)
5. My favorite number, like Haley J, is #12. I inherited this number from Alyssa, and have worn it and loved it ever since.
6. In my lifetime I would love to run a marathon and do a half triathlon. One day I WILL DO IT!
7. I have a ton of OCD tendencies...locking doors, doing laundry, cleaning, white things (especially shoes), schedules, etc.
8. I love sports. I cold play, watch, and talk about them all day/everyday!
9. I graduated in December 2011 in Psychology..."Psychology?" everyone will say with a puzzled look. I love to know what people are thinking or why they do what they do. It has always intrigued me.
10. I have played soccer for 18 years of my life, so ever since I was 4 years old. People ask if I miss it...I miss the girls and the team aspect of it. To be honest my body can't take another year of what is required. So next goal with soccer...COACHING!
11. "The best random fact..." I have the most AMAZING family and friends ever. They continually amaze me. My life is great and I contribute that to the people that I am surrounded by!

Questions that Haley J asked:

1. What is your favorite type of candy?
- I always have recess sticks or rolo's in my hand when going to get a treat! Don't forget about the drink to go along with it...Gatorade! Yum!
2. What was your favorite thing to do when you were little?
- I was always playing sports with the boys...football, basketball, baseball, hockey, jumping bikes...anything competitive I would do, but it wasn't fun and good unless I beat everyone!
3. Snowboard/ski?
- I love both! I haven't done either in a long time, but soccer just ended, so look out world I'm about to attempt everything I couldn't before.
4. If you had to pick one place to live for the rest of your life (besides where you are now) where would it be?
- Tough question! Uh up north close to my family...
5. Who has had the biggest impact on your life?
Tougher question but I would say right now my dad. I have always looked up to him. I am always seeking advice from him. He has one of the kindest hearts. And I am a daddy's girl what can I say!
6. What is your favorite nail color?
- Right now I like the brighter colors especially pink and purple.
7. Do you have any weird routines that you perform daily?
- I probably have a lot, but can't think right now. The only one that comes to mind is I double check EVERYTHING!
8. Are you petrified of something?
- I'm absolutely scared of sharks...ugh!
9. Who is your celebrity crush?
- Ryan Reynolds...funny and attractive
10. What is one thing you couldn't live with out?
- It's sad to say...my blanket
11. What is your favorite thing to relax/de-stress?
- Sleep or play sports always takes my mind off of things!

Questions I ask my fellow taggers:

1. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Or would you keep it the same?
2. What is something that has happened in your life you never expected to happen?
3. What was you're best birthday?
4. What is your favorite Disney movie
5. What is your ideal day?
6. If you could meet anyone who would you meet?
7. What is something you don't have a problem spending $100.00 on?
8. Morning person or night person?
9. If you had 3 wishes what would they be?
10. Describe yourself in 3 words
11. What question would you want God to answer right now?

People I am tagging:
- Natalie Cude Drewery
- Linze Struiksma
- Jacie Cambra
- Lisa Minnick (start your blog haha)

Handicap Signs...

Walking under ladders, breaking a mirror, having a black cat cross your path, picking up a penny when it’s tails, and spilling salt have one thing in common…they all bring BAD LUCK. Ever since I can remember someone told me, “that walking over handicap signs are bad luck.” I swear every soccer team that I have grown up on lives by this rule or superstition so to speak. It’s weird when you see a team of soccer players, or people in general walking down the parking lot and all the sudden avoid a certain area. What’s even worse is when your family or friends are tackling people in the parking lot because they have caught on to your stupid superstition (Yes, my mom and brothers have done this before). Well I have always told people about this superstition, and have always believed in it heavily; however, I have never had a “bad luck” experience. I have just heard of them. Well until the other night...

So the other night Kat, TJ, Whit, Donny, and myself were walking out of Camilla’s (a café in St. George).
Donny totally walked over the handicapped sign.
This is our conversation that proceeded the “sticky” situation
Lauren: “You shouldn’t have done that.”
Donny: “Done what?”
Lauren: “Walked over the handicap sign…”
Donny: “Why is that?”
Lauren: “Well because walking over the handicap signs are bad luck, you know.”
Donny: “Well YEAH now that you said it, it’s going to be bad luck!”

Meantime we are getting in the car and Kat is frantically talking about how we need to beat the other cars back to the house. So we all are jumping in as fast as we can. Well the car starts to go and Whitley (the gimp) is halfway out of the car. Holding on with all dear might and screaming like a little girl she pulls herself to safety inside the car. As soon as this event happened I looked at Donny and said, “I told you…”
Moral of the story people is that handicap signs are dangerous. You do not want to walk over them. I have first-hand experience. And this experience could have ended in tragedy.
P.S. Kat is an excellent driver and this was not her fault haha. Love ya Kat

*Sidenote Kat is getting married in 6 days...BooYa

Living With Roommates...

Like I said in my previous post I just graduated from college, and stayed in St. George. One of the hardest things is not living with my family; however, I have 3 girls that I live with that I consider my family. They are the greatest roommates a girl could ask for. Hay, Whit, and Kat are awesome girls. If you don’t know them…I’m sorry. You should get to know them. I’m super lucky to know them, and live with them. I thought I would tell you a little bit about how great they are, and maybe a funny story.
We first have the baby of the household, Kat. I can’t forget to mention TJ…Kat’s fiancée. Let me tell you that they are perfect for each other. They are an awesome couple, and I have enjoyed getting to know both of the more every day. Kat is one of THE nicest, funniest, and the most loveable girl you will ever meet. I have found that me and Kat are a lot alike in the past month that we have lived together. We know each other from playing soccer here at Dixie State together.
I really got to know her when we went to San Francisco in Fall of 2010 for a soccer trip. Whit, Kat, and I all roomed together. Let’s just mention that both Kat and Whitley were getting sick this trip. Hmmm it would make sense to make them share a bed…nope. Next thing I know me and Kat were sharing a bed. Let’s just say that I gave her a nice back massage in my sleep that night haha. This was a funny way to start to get to know each other. That trip was full of giggles, deep talks, bugging Whit (since she got her own bed the whole time), getting me sick, and most importantly the start of an awesome friendship that I am so grateful for. We have had many dance parties together. I try to battle her, but dang she can dance. This girl may not know it, but she got me through the hard times at soccer. I am so excited for her wedding on March 10th. She will be a beautiful bride, and it’s going to be an amazing party. Congrats Kat and TJ! Love you guys.
Next we have the wonderful Haley J. I have known this girl since we were ‘wee’ little girls in our awkward stages. We played soccer all growing up together. We were roommates freshman and sophomore year, and I am so glad that Whitley and I convinced her to come back this semester. I have absolutely loved having her live with us. She is outgoing, hilarious, and one sweet girl. Haley and I have shared a lot of moments together that I will always remember. Some of my favorites would be hanging by the pool, ice baths, dance parties and dance videos, hanging out all the time, going to the corn maze haha, and many many other times. However, there is one night in particular that I will never forget with this girl.
Sophomore year, Haley and I went to the apartment below us to hang out with the guys. By the end of the night it was Doi, Ammon (who at this time we just met), Haley, and me. Let’s just say that Hay and I had the giggles so bad we were rolling on the ground, and Doi thought we were literally high. We were just laughing at Whitley and her choice of the guy she liked at the time. This is the night I give myself credit for one of my funniest jokes, Haley being her funny self, cracking jokes left and right, and also a night that started the great relationship between Haley and Ammon (I absolutely love them together as well). We both know how to laugh and laugh hard. What a great night that was. I love this girl to death. I am so excited for her to graduate this next semster, and see what she does next. Watch out you better believe it will be something great.
Last we have Whitley. I have lived with this girl for 4 years. We have gotten to know each other VERY WELL. We officially met when we lived together freshman year. We had always heard about each other from a mutual friend, but had never met. Whitley is my best friend. We get mistaken for sisters a lot now-a-days, and to be honest we don’t mind. Whitley has a heart of gold and is always trying to help people and make people happy. She is one of those people that make you want to be a better person.
I honestly could tell countless stories that we have shared together. There is always the story of her not being able to know the difference between shoot and shot, and along with that her numerous moments of saying the wrong thing in the funniest situations. Her Australian accents are to die for. We always find ourselves dancing or singing in the car, laughing about something completely stupid, road tripping it, pranking, making music videos, taking tons of pics, laughing again until we are almost peeing our pants, eating food and lots of it, having countless quotes to use, making fun of each other, and just having a good time. Like I said countless stories…this girl makes me laugh all the time. I can also find myself talking to Whit about life in general and all the fun things that come with it for hours. I couldn’t ask for a better person to live with for the past 4 straight years of my life. I will always consider her one of my sisters and one of my best friends.
I love all 3 of these girls to pieces and would do anything for them. Like I said if you don’t know them…I’m sorry, because they are that great. Love you girls!

Kat and I in China Town, San Fran

Hay and I at the corn maze

Whitley's Birthday

Homemade Donuts....YUM

Let’s be honest who doesn’t love treats. If you don’t I am going to say it…you are weird haha. Well Donny and I established that his favorite treat was donuts, and then the glorious idea came about that we should make homemade donuts. Brilliant idea…I think so. Thursday night I received a text from him to go watch this intense tutorial about donut making. I looked it up. People it was 7 minutes long. Talk about an intense tutorial on just donut making. After getting back from his basketball game, and watching the tutorial 5 more times we were determined to go on a mission to make these donuts.
As we were walking out to the car I hear this voice yelling at us. “Min, Ammon and I are going to make smoothies you want one! Yeah Min you guys got donuts we got smoothies!” You might of had to be there, but this is Haley to the “t.” She is super outgoing and would yell something like that across the parking lot. Haha I love that girl.
Anyways we went were back on a mission to the store to get the ingredients, and especially the secret ingredient (if you would like to know the recipe let me know it’s amazing). After getting the ingredients we started to make these delicious donuts. With our pal on the tutorial showing us the way, and telling us this wasn’t rocket science. We then sure felt confident in our abilities to make this happen. These donuts were legit. I am telling you! This whole night was just great.
All my roommates as well as others were over and we were just hanging out and giggling the whole time. One of my favorite things is to giggle. We mostly giggled about everyone’s silly mistakes. You have to understand the dynamic of the relationship between Haley, Whitley, and I. We all love each other, but we also like to give each other a hard time and to tease each other just like sisters do…I think. We stayed up late telling embarrassing and stupid stories about each other. It might have been those donuts we made…no wonder they were so good. It was a GREAT night to say the least!

Hello World

My name is Lauren, or better yet known as Minni most of the time. I never thought I would be doing this, because let’s face it my brother and my mom are the writer’s in the family and they are hilarious, but at the same time have amazing messages when they write. So why would I be doing this…great question I have no idea. However, the time has come, and I have caved to this crazy phenomenon called blogging. I figured that I have graduated from school (college that is, not high school people), and soccer is over. So I need to pick up some other hobbies and time fillers. My blog is going to have random thoughts, because I am a random person; quotes because I absolutely love and live off quotes. And finally stories, because everyone has a story to share…right?!
I am a person that tends to keep to myself. One of my new year’s resolutions, or better put for me as a goal, is to get out of my shell, and do things that I would never usually do. For those that know me this is not something I usually do. For me, this is getting out of my shell or box so to speak. So here we go…hope you all enjoy.

I know that in November and December we all share things that we are grateful for, because it’s Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well I am going to go against the norm and tell you that during this month of January I have never been so grateful in my entire life. Blessing after blessing has hit me in the face (not literally or that would hurt). I have begun to have that realization of how great my life really is.
In high school I thought I knew everything that life had to offer, which was just like any other kid you would find in high school. I thought I knew what it was like to work hard, pay for things, go through trials, be independent, and the best one is know everything. Haha I look back and think gosh that was a joke. Even in college I thought I knew about all of these things. The past couple of months I have found myself humbled, grateful for what I have, and excited for the things that I am going to learn.
This all started in August, which was my last semester of college. I think gosh Lauren it took you all the way until your last semester to start to learn all this. But hey at least I am starting to learn, right. In August I had a goal to finish school and soccer; go home; find a job; and save money to either go back to school or travel. Soccer season started and so did school. During the middle of Fall I was completely focused on finishing school and soccer, and then starting my next chapter in life.
Well October comes around, and things start to change. My mind started to mess with my plans and my two goals. I soon found myself in a huge predicament. Why? This wasn’t in my plan. Well November came and I still had yet to break the news to my family that I was now planning on staying in St. George for who knows what reasons, because I didn’t even know at the time. In all honesty I didn’t know. This was crazy to me. In August I didn’t want anything more than to move home, and now I wanted to stay in St. George and I didn’t know why.
Well I finally told my mom what was going on. I tell that woman everything. She was very nice and supported me. I didn’t want to tell my brothers, because we are the closest siblings on the face of the planet. I love those boys more than they will ever know. And they were so excited for me to move home. I was scared to tell my dad, because he is smart. He thinks everything through and is very logical when it came to decisions, especially with all the decisions I had made in my life thus far. I knew he would start to make me think. As I was still trying to decide if this decision (haha decisions Whit) was the right one, I prayed a lot. Slow and steady like always. I got the answers that I should go to the temple and call my dad. The next day I found myself at the temple. Yep, got the same answer to call my dad. However, I knew before calling my dad that I had to have a plan of attack. He was going to question me about everything. (This is not a bad thing about my dad. It’s a very good thing. He is the one person I put my whole heart and faith into help me with decisions, because I know he helps me understand what’s best for me. Like I said he doesn’t make the decision for me…he helps me.)
So when I felt ready to lay out my plan and answer his potential questions I called him. My mom and dad were on a “conference call” with me for about an hour. Every emotion was felt throughout that call, however, I learned a couple things about myself and my decision. I knew my “whys” for staying in St. George were not what they were supposed to be, and that if I was going to stay they would have to change and become better. Well almost being a college graduate at this time I knew I could come up with something to “persuade” them of this decision. One day while having spare time for about an hour I sat down and made them a power point. Yes you read right…I made a power point. It was called Game Plan for 2012 haha. This thing was chuck full of information from where I was going to apply for jobs; all about money; goals; etc. Everything my dad asked for with a bonus of pictures. I thought this presentation was just the greatest and I was so smart for making it. What I didn’t realize at the time was I just set up my life for me. I was originally trying to be a “smarty pants” let’s be honest, however, it turned into a reassurance and learning experience. Decision was made…I am living in St. George right now.
However, I was presented with another problem really quick. I needed a job. I am living on my own. One of my goals (in my power point of course) was to become independent. To pay all of my rent, grocery’s and all the other fun stuff. I was determined, and I mean determined that my parents would stop helping me with this kind of stuff. Not to shut my parents out, but more to prove to myself that I could do it. Well I was going home for Christmas Break for 3 weeks. I thought that’s a good amount of time for me to earn money at home wherever I can; make a resume; and even apply to a couple of jobs online. My rent was due at the beginning of the month, so my dad wrote a check so I could pay my landlord. Before I left to go to St. George I was determined to pay every single penny back. So I worked as much as I could. “You bet your bottom dollar” that I paid every single penny back, and I was so relieved that rent was finally paid. But I still had to live life. You know eat and buy necessities. To tell you the truth whenever I sat down to do a resume or apply online for a job I got this comforting feeling that everything will be fine when you get back in St. George. So I never did a resume while at home. Haha what absolutely crazy idea!
I found myself sitting at dinner the night before going back to St. George with no resume and I did not apply anywhere online. Great job Laur…NOT! That same night I got a text from a friend, Donny, just asking how life was. I proceeded to tell him the gist. I said, “I am staying in St. George actually, and now I am trying to find a job.” He proceeded to ask the same questions that everyone had asked me, which consisted of where I wanted to work. I continued to tell him that I wanted to work at a teenage recovery place. He quickly replied that he would talk to his boss. I honestly didn’t think much of it, because I was told the same thing by maybe 15 other people.
As Whit and I were on our way back to St. George I got another text from the same friend, and I couldn’t believe at what I just read. “Hey, Lauren you have an interview tomorrow. Is that going to work with you?” What? Are you kidding me? I was absolutely shocked beyond belief at this point. What an amazing blessing.
I end up going in for the interview the next day. 30 minutes later I had a job, and started to fill out paper work. One of the biggest reasons that I got this job was, because of “my reference.” My reference was my friend, Donny.
I still look back at this one little experience in life and am completely shocked at how it all came about. So through this long story I am so grateful for my life right now. I am grateful for an amazing family, my friends, everything that I have been given, and what I am learning. I am grateful for the simple and little things in life. And I am happy with where I am at in life.