I am Lauren, Lady Gaga enthusiast

This morning, while enjoying my coffee, and scanning Yahoo's OMG! page (a daily exercise), I came across these pictures of Lady Gaga...


Who in the world is Lady Gaga and why am I just now finding out about her? Where have I been??? Well, nonetheless, anyone who can rock this hairstyle, automatically earns my respect and devotion. The "do" is reminiscent of my very favorite Project Runway Season 3 contestant, Allison Kelly's design...no? She got kicked off for this one, ugh!


While I absolutely adore Allison, and her designs, I have to give it to Lady Gaga for truly pulling off this hairstyle. The bangs soften the look, and make all the difference. She says that the style is inspired by a 2008 Jean Paul Gaultier runway show, but while I've scoured the web for images of all his recent shows, I've been unable to find anything likened to this. Here are some more images I found of Lady Gaga and her signature do!

tights are not paaaaaaants!!!

LOVING the white jumpsuit!!!

I could tell, just from those 2 initial images, that this girl has got it going on! The more I read about her, the more I'm impressed. So who exactly is this Lady Gaga who's got me so worked up? After doing some research, I found that she is an American singer-songwriter and musician, known for her work in the pop/electronica genre. I have to admit, I was rather impressed with the 3 music videos I saw. While her songs tend to be about seemingly trivial and superficial subjects like parties, money, and dancing, I found myself truly appreciating the aesthetic quality of the set, costuming, styling, choreography, etc. She says of her 2008 debut album, The Fame...

"[It] is about how anyone can feel famous. Pop culture is art. It doesn’t make you cool to hate pop culture, so I embraced it and you hear it all over The Fame. But, it’s a sharable fame. I want to invite you all to the party. I want people to feel a part of this lifestyle."

What great dresses!! I wish I knew who made these!
(I prefer the pale Gaga)

Maybe one day I'll get to see her perform live!!! Apparently she's on tour right now in Europe with the Pussy Cat Dolls(another obsession)... if they do a U.S. tour together, I am SO totally there! Hopefully her back-up dancers will wear these sandals... a nice touch, don't you think?

I am Lauren, clementine enthusiast

I'm a bit particular about the things I put into my mouth. It's not exactly that I'm a picky eater (I'm all for trying new things!) but I tend to be very sensitive to and aware the textures of my food. I prefer each bite to have a certain consistency... a consistency that is rarely found in the fat laden baby back ribs served at what seems to be every single Sunday afternoon cookout. Unless I have the time, and the patience, to painstakingly inspect every prospective bite, I am likely to opt for a hot dog at such events. One trace of that grimy gristle between my teeth, and I am done... appetite reversed... stomach repulsed... the end.

It's not just meat that gets me this worked up. Fruit, too, has me picking, poking, and peeling, all in hopes of perfecting the sensory experience. So, as I'm sure you can imagine, several weeks ago when my mom offered me a clementine I promptly declined, for the thought of tearing apart such a tiny citrus, full of skin and strings, did not exactly excite me. Nevertheless, upon convincing me that clementines are seedless citruses full of juicy flavor and joy, my mom coerced me to try a slice of her mini orange. And so it was, right then and there, that my love affair with clementines began.

I simply cannot get enough of these little things. They accompany me nearly everywhere I go. A 5 lb. crate won't last me but a week... I seriously eat them ALL day long. Chances are, if our paths ever cross, you've seen me peeling and picking at my juicy snack on multiple occasions. With only 35 calories (but who's counting?), an abundance of vitamin C, and just enough sugar for a little boost, these fruits make the ultimate snack. Perhaps eating 8 a day (buuuuuuut who's counting, right?) isn't the BEST choice, but what can I say, these things are rather addictive. Once I get the taste for a clementine, it's all I can think about... I MUST satisfy the craving. Thinking ahead, I always make sure to always have at least 2-3 in my book bag/purse/car/etc., just to be safe.

Earlier this week when I bought my mini-crate of clementines, I found that 5 lbs. of the fruit no longer costs a reasonable $5.99, but now runs me nearly $9!! I came to the horrifying realization that my beloved citruses are presently going out of season. What am I to do? I am slightly (more like seriously) concerned about the absence of clementines in my life during the coming months. Will I find a seasonal replacement indulgence? Any suggestions?

Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my daaaaaaaarling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

I am Lauren, particularity enthusiast

It's the second day of Sculpture class, and upon consultation for my first project, I'm greeted with an ebullient, "Well someone's a Type A personality!" He says it almost as if it's something to be ashamed of. Is there something wrong with having a plan, and organizing accordingly? Most certainly not, but I suppose it's an oddity in an introductory art course. Artists have a reputation for being more care-free and easy going... I must be the exception.

I am the type of person who tends to care about things that others could care less about. Curiously so, though, I would never actually use the word caring to describe my personality... hmmm. I don't care about the whimpering puppy dog on the street corner, or your neighbor's great uncle's ingrown toenail.

I'm just really particular, as I frequently find myself explaining. Type A is a bit severe- I've found that the word particular much better suits both me and my ways. In the world that I live in, things must be a certain way. Space must be optimized and time must be optimized... and in order to ensure this, one must... organize.

Those who do not share my curious attention to detail, might be inclined to protest, at the sight of my far from tidy bedroom, that I certainly am not of the organized sort. But these folks would be sorely mistaken. I care SO much about the organization and perfection of details, that the big picture tends to suffer. Ideally, the details will only contribute to the optimization of the space, but when time is not being optimized (nobody's perfect!) the ideal is not realized. Caring so much about the order of my highly organized drawers, when crunched for time, I will throw my (clean) clothes into the laundry basket, just to avoid having to deal with a sloppily folded tank top, that will most certainly require a REfolding when time allows. As you can see, this is not time-optimizing. Having to fold my tank top twice, once sloppily and once more to perfection, I am actually wasting time. Tidiness is not always the best use of time.

See how optimization is made up of various factors? It requires a fine balance... but this is getting too scientific... and I think you get the idea...

optimize /ˈɒptəˌmaɪz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [op-tuh-mahyz]: to make as effective, perfect, or useful as possible
particularity [per-tik-yuh-lar-i-tee, puh-tik-]: attention to details; special care

Apparently, attention to detail is considered an asset in various fields...

"Chef says that all your vegetables are to be the same size... anything less is unacceptable!"

This is from the book I am currently reading about a girl who drops everything to go to culinary school in Paris... Perhaps I should do the same- my vegetables are ALWAYS the same size!

Though my particularity may go unnoticed and perhaps unappreciated, I believe that it contributes to all that I do. My fastidiousness is my art. And my art is just that, fastidious.

fastidious /fæˈstɪdiəs, fə-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fa-stid-ee-uhs, fuh-]: excessively particular, critical, or demanding; requiring or characterized by excessive care or delicacy

I am Lauren, Marc Jacobs enthusiast

Some say you can't judge a book by its cover... perhaps there's some truth to the tired phrase, but I'll be the first to argue that there is indeed merit in visually stimulated discretion. This is, after all, how I knew immediately that Kristen, my current roommate and most fabulous friend, would be worth getting to know. Upon our first meeting, I spotted the lovely Marc by Marc logo bag hanging upon her shoulder and I was convinced, right off the bat, that there was something to the budding friendship.

But it goes deeper than a brand name. Not only do I love Marc Jacobs' designs, but I am very much drawn to his entire aesthetic. His print ads are sensational, just like his handbags. More on Juergen Teller, the genius photographer behind these campaigns, to come. These images are from his 2006 spring/summer Marc by Marc Jacobs ad campaign... some of my favorites. Is Dakota Fanning not the coolest?











I appreciate fashion not merely as a status symbol, but as an art form to be enjoyed and revered. One who shares with me an interest in and an appreciation of an artist such as Marc Jacobs, shares not only incredible taste, but a quality of intriguing oddity that I find particularly attractive in a friend.

And a sense of humor can never hurt...



Keep an eye out for my fabulous new MJ bag... Santa really knows how to pick em!

I am Lauren, stocking enthusiast

For some reason, this Christmas, every time I have either said or heard something about stockings (the Christmas kind, of course) images of translucent nude colored stockings seen only on the legs of little old ladies have come to mind. This is a new thing for me, and it has been slightly troubling. I have always been one to express my enthusiasm for Christmas stockings, so this year, every time I gush "Oh I just LOVE stockings!" I can't help but feel the necessity to clarify- Christmas stockings or stocking stuffers. Maybe it is just that I'm getting older and am more aware of the things I say, or maybe it has something to do with my awareness of the origins of Christmas stockings... but all of this is irrelevant to the fact that I just LOVE stockings! (this is just me clarifying my intended use of the word "stocking", and justifying/explaining this clarification...)

Anyway... I will say it again... I just LOVE stockings!! I don't know how stockings are stuffed in other households, but at my house, they are ALWAYS something to look forward to. Slowly unpacking a stocking, full of many miniature goodies, is, in my opinion, the best way to kick off a merry Christmas morning. One of the things that makes stockings so special in my house is that the majority of the stocking stuffers are wrapped, adding to the suspense and excitement.

Our stockings are stuffed with more than just pez dispensers and candy canes (though, throughout the years, these items have often been included). Anything small enough to fit into the stocking ought to be stuffed. Common stocking stuffers have included make-up, nail polish, tweezers, fragrances, socks, panties, pens, gift cards, cash, mints, gum, chocolate, and the like. Thrilling, is it not?

How are stockings stuffed in your home? Does Santa know you as well as he seems to know me? For some reason he always know juuuuust what to give me.

It occurred to me yesterday that stockings are simply too wonderful to happen only once a year. When I have kids, I am going to start a birthday stocking tradition! Perhaps, since birthday stockings aren't (yet) mass marketed as are Christmas stockings, we will have to use the old lady version instead.

I am Lauren, coffee enthusiast

Born of two avid coffee drinkers, and raised during the height of the coffee culture craze, I was predisposed to love coffee. My enthusiasm was sparked at a very early age. Every morning while my mom enjoyed her daily brew, I would snuggle close and beg for a coffee kiss. Soon the innocent lip to lip coffee tastings were not sufficient. Sips turned into gulps, and before long she was fixing me my very own cup of the sweet creamy concoction.

Ever since my dad discovered our shared love of coffee, he has taken it upon himself to foster and fuel my enthusiasm with countless coffee-shop outings. He made sure, early on, that I knew the difference between a latte, a cappuccino, and an americano. Like most coffee-shop goers, we sip our lattes and discuss current issues and such, but likely at some point our conversation will shift to the topic of coffee. My father and I discuss coffee as many discuss philosophy or religion. To us, it is not just a drink, but an artful delicacy to be carefully contemplated and savored.

I am willing to admit it... This attitude towards coffee has somewhere along the way turned me into a slight coffee snob. Whether it was boycotting a coffee-shop for not having whole milk (the only TRUE way to make a latte), or shelling out a lofty chunk of my savings in order to purchase THE ultimate espresso machine (pictured above), at some point during the past year I have been affirmed that my particularity about coffee is not the norm.

Not only am I a coffee snob, but I am also a coffee addict. If I do not have my 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning, at about 3 PM I get the most insane headache. Actually,these afternoon headaches are pretty typical. I usually take them to mean it is time for my afternoon latte, but on the days I have missed my morning cup(s), they are particularly insane. Yes, I am fully aware that coffee is a drug. I am certainly not one to condone drug abuse, which is why I prefer to attribute my frequent coffee consumption to my intense enthusiasm for the beverage.

Apparently, this love for coffee is nothing new. In the 1730s, Johann Sebastian Bach composed what is known today as the Coffee Cantata. It tells a story of a girl who refuses to marry unless she can find a man who will tolerate her coffee enthusiasm. I feel that I can truly identify with this young woman and what she has to say. She pretty much says it all...

"If I can't drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment, I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat."

I am Lauren, scarf enthusiast

We all know those people. We don't actually know them, but they have somehow worked their way into our lives through no direct effort of their own- just by looking the way they look, wearing the things they wear, doing the things they do, or simply being who they are. Currently in my life there's Weird Hat Girl, Jesus (the shoe-less bearded fellow), and Renaissance Boy, just to name a few. And I can only assume that if I were to step out of my body and see myself walking around town on a regular basis, this me-less me would likely come to be known as Scarf Girl.

I am fully aware of the ridiculous frequency of my scarf-wearing. Some girls wear necklaces, some wear earrings, some wear scrunchies. I wear scarves. To me, scarves are the ultimate accessories- they (have the potential to) look fabulous AND serve a functional purpose. I guess some equivalent accessories could be watches, belts, and bags- all accessories that, when done right, can add a little something to a look without appearing superfluous. You are going to wear these necessary accessories anyway, so why not make them work to your advantage?

Okay, okay, maybe my scarves don't ALWAYS serve a purpose of warmth. I used to have a hard time accepting scarf-wear in warm weather, but I've recently deemed it appropriate to wear scarves in this not-so-scarf-worthy weather, just because I love them as accessories THAT much! BUT if your are going to try this- wearing a scarf purely as an accessory- it is crucial that you do it the right way. Scarves as accessories MUST be wrapped/tied in an appropriate fashion. That doubling over into a loop and pulling through absolutely will NOT cut it. Come ON! Be creative with your scarf! Try new things! Take risks!

Though I've acquired a number of scarves over the past few years, since the onset of my scarf enthusiasm, none have impacted my life quite like my green scarf... my staple accessory. This scarf has seen the world. We first met in London nearly 4 years ago and have been best friends ever since!



2005- In London, where we first met... the beginning of a beautiful relationship (PLEASE overlook my ignorance of the importance of creative scarf-wrapping)


Same trip. Now Mr. Green Scarf has the pleasure of experiencing Paris


Fall 2006- Blue Ridge Mountains (scarf barely visible but most definitely there)


Spring 2007- mountains again


Fall/Winter 2007- 2 of my very favorite childhood friends


Fall 2008- purely an accessory





So, as you can see, we've shared many fond memories, and there are surely many more to come!
Until next time,
(the fabulously unashamed) Scarf Girl