2014

2013 kind of hung me out to dry. Especially the last few months. But I'm also grateful for 2013. I know the kind of person I want to be—that's not to say I'm always perfect at executing those ideals, but I know what I'm working towards. 

2014, I'm expecting big things from you. I'm trying to dream bigger and work harder. I'm trying to treat my body more kindly (hello, gym...) and get more sleep. I'm trying to be better at time management so I can be better at fun. But most importantly I'm trying to be more gentle with myself. And others. Things are rarely as black and white as I sometimes convince myself they are.

The night my sisters and I flew back to NJ for Christmas break, we were at Liz's apartment eating dinner—I started laughing so hard at my own joke that I choked on my burrito. Clearly I am the epitome of grace. But my point is, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself a little credit. You are awesome. In this case, you are funny. And it's okay to think so, even if your sisters didn't at the moment (haha). You are amazing. No, not you in a year, or you in 10, or you when you get that job offer, or you when you graduate. You are awesome today. It doesn't matter what your snarky professor tells you, or what your leaders (bless their hearts) say. What you say and think is the important thing. You are amazing! That's not to say that there isn't room for improvement—obviously there always is. But, where you are, right now, at this exact moment, is pretty amazing. That's what I would tell 2013 Lauren. And I'd give her a hug too. 

Anyway, in 2014 I'm going to try and make a difference, hence I Was Here. Also Beyoncé. That is all.

P.S. I just thought of The Help. I guess what I'm trying to say is, "You is smart, you is kind, you is important." Also, you is funny.

Cannot Be Useless

"So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth, and complicates a destiny that is divine, with human fatality; so long as the three problems of the age — the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night — are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a yet more extended point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless.

— Victor Hugo, in regards to Les Miserables

 I discovered this quote in an old library copy of Les Miserables and loved it so much that I had no choice but to write it down immediately. Sometimes I wonder if I should be studying something else. Something more useful or noble or helpful... But then I think about it and the bottom line is simply how can you use this to help others? This quote just resonated  with me — books, words, music, film: they can all communicate to people so profoundly at times. It's all about what message you're trying to send, and as long as there is suffering in this world, "books like this cannot be useless." Nothing that inspires, gives hope, or expresses the beauty of human life can be useless if there are people that need to hear it.

Relay For Life!

A few months ago, there was a contest at my high school where students submitted designs for the t-shirt of this year's Relay For Life American Cancer Society fundraiser event. And mine won! I can't wait to see 700+ people wearing it this weekend! I don't even care if this is a little dramatic, but it might be a little surreal. 

i took the plunge!

I loved my old design, but it was time for a change. The beige and teal were a little dated for me.

I'll always remember the summer day in 2011 when my sister Emily helped me start my own little blog. I had had the perfect idea for a header: I ran upstairs and got my bed sheet (the teal) and a new lace dress I had just bought. It was a month after I got my instax camera, so those little photos lined up at the top were some of the only ones I had taken yet. And go for the gusto was born.

(Ignore me. I'm being overly sentimental)

 

This new design feels a lot more sleek! But please forgive me if the switch-over is a little wonky. I tried to learn coding the best I could (It's like another language) and for some reason, some of the pictures are justified weirdly, etc. And I'm trying to figure out a better way to tag things/edit and delete tags. 

Hey! Don't laugh too hard at the "tags" section of the archive! It was two years ago, okay! ;)

So, a few things are still getting in order, but voila!

story of my life.

don't worry, my mom said yes.

source.

go for the gusto

gusto |ˈgəstō|nounenjoyment or vigor in doing something; zest
i think the reason i chose this name for my blog is that 'go for the gusto' is a phrase that i find both inspiring and and usually applicable to me. i find enjoyment and vigor in the things i love to do, aka the things that i'll be posting most of the time. but also, 'go for it' is the kind of reminder i need all the time. how fitting! on top of all of that, here's a little girl whose attitude i try to channel. jessica goes for the gusto.

you can do anything, yeah, yeah.

xo