New Year's Resolutions

Just so I have it in writing:

Spend less money on material things.
Exercise.  On a regular basis - at least 3 times a week.
Set up monthly charitable contributions.
Organize my spices (it really is chaos).
Take a solo trip somewhere.

Merry Listmas

If there is a first thing to know about me, it's that I like to make lists.  Yes, among many other qualities that my Mom assures me I have, I also have a penchant for the noble art of list-making (Listography?); "to-do" lists that scarcely get done, shopping lists I almost never stick to, party supply lists for theme parties I will never have.  I keep them everywhere: in my head, on tiny scraps of paper that I will never find again, in text messages to myself - the draft section of my Gmail account is solely dedicated to a constant rotation of lists. (You can imagine how dangerous Buzzfeed listicles are for me: can't even see the light from down in that hole. )

A second thing to know? I love Christmas music. Of all caliber.  I don't discriminate, I collect. To give you a visual: there are currently 620 songs in my Holiday playlist on iTunes (and those are just the mp3s).  I have, and play on repeat, everything from Nat King Cole's 'The Christmas Song' to an Ozzy Osbourne and Jessica Simpson duet of 'Winter Wonderland' (it's magic).  I take my Christmas music very seriously (though I do respect the bounds of human tolerance and only play it between November 25th and January 1st). Whether it be classic, remixed, a capella, TV Special, instrumental, or so-bad-it's-entertaining (hi, John Travolta), I must have it!

So, in a particularly satisfying merger of two things that I love, here is a list of some Christmas albums I've been favoring this year:

1. Merry Christmas [1994] Mariah Carey; favorite tracks: All I want for Christmas Is You, Chistmas (Baby Please Come Home), I Miss You Most (At Christmastime) & Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child
2. Chistmas Kisses [2013] Ariana Grande
3. Braxton Family Christmas [2015] The Braxtons; favorite tracks: Mary Did You Know? & O Holy Night (A Capella)
4. Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 4 [2013] Glee Cast; favorite tracks: Here Comes Santa Clause (Right Down Santa Clause Lane), Mary's Little Boy Child & Away In A Manger
5. Christmas Party [2016] She & Him; favorite tracks: Christmas Don't Be Late & Must Be Santa
6. Wrapped In Red [2013] Kelly Clarkson; favorite tracks: Underneath the Tree, Blue Christmas & Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel 
7. This Christmas Time [2003] Lonestar; favorite tracks: Please Come Home For Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, Reason for the Season & Winter Wonderland
8. Another Rosie Christmas [2008] Rosie O'Donnell; Nuttin' For Christmas (ft. Smashmouth) & Merry Christmas From The Family (ft. The Dixie Chicks)

Next year? Look forward to a definitive ranking of the best rendition of every Christmas Song ever recorded.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a very Happy Lauren's birthday, too!

Blissful Blues

Just twelve days shy of my 27th birthday, I finally had my first teen fashion experience: dyeing my hair an unnatural color.


Unfortunately, being blessed as a brunette makes the cotton-candy-colored hair trend all the more devastating (is this why they say blondes have more fun? Because they have more hair color options?). My initial hope for pastel blue tips were dashed by my hair's ability to comply to bleaching - who knew hair could inherit stubbornness? As it turns out, I am not a good role model for hair follicles. But, never fear! Blue hair is here! A comparable, subtler, darker shade of blue, but blue none the less. My 'Life List' is shrinking by millimeters (read: slowly). Happy early birthday to meeeeeeee!

Blue and snapchat famous

Interestingly: do not look as
terrible as a blonde as one
would have assumed

Welcome

I began this page as a way to catalog my personal thoughts and memories, share my wisdom, remember projects and recipes, and track my trajectory into a human an adult (she writes at the fledgling age of 26); a memoir of sorts. And, as the internet is a worldwide forum, you people - should you choose - will have an all-access pass into my inner monologue. Congratulations! And may I be the first to welcome you to LAUREN LAND!