the rest is still unwritten.

I've recently acquired a appetite for The Hills.

Yeah, I know. I'm judging me, too.

But here's the thing. Lauren Conrad is a classy freaking dame. I don't know how this girl managed to go from a shallow little girl on Laguna Beach to a legitimate businesswoman, but this girl has got her act together. She's written a 3 book YA Lit series, has TWO clothing lines, a style book, and runs a really successful online hair and make up tutorial website. And, yeah, she says 'like' a lot and still had two reality shows on MTV, but she's definitely gone above and beyond the call.

Especially when you compare her to her onscreen BFF, Heidi Montag. Now THAT'S a sad story. Heidi started out as a sweet, if a little ditzy, party girl who had a big heart and a spark that lit up any room. That is, until she met the evil Spencer Pratt who not only broke her spirit, he might as well have broken her face. She got one of the most drastic and tragic full body make overs in the history of plastic surgery, and she was still recovering a full year after.

So what lesson can we learn here, children? Be a Lauren, not a Heidi. And how exactly do we go about that?

Even back in Laguna Beach, Lauren was careful about who she represented. A lot of companies approached her to be a spokesperson for their products, but she knew that she would be a role model for a lot of young people, and that she had to be selective. Because of her discretion as a teenager, she's taken much more seriously now than some of her fellow MTV alumni.

Lauren has always had a signature look. Even if you don't know the shows, you know her as that that girl who started the side bang braid trend, or one of the first stars to rock the ombre hair ♥ . Her style has often been called a mix of classic and trendy. But the one thing she isn't is trashy. One of her cardinal rules is to pick one part of your body to show off. For LC it's usually her legs, so she'll pair a mini with a high neckline and long sleeves, or jeans, flip flops, and a tank to show of her arms. Find your best feature and run with it! (Within reason. We are at SVU.)

One of LC's most famous quotes is 'I can't sing or act or dance, all I can do is be myself.' And look where that got her! So what if you don't have 'normal' talents? She's not a big actress, or a musician, but she throws what she knows (which is more than we can say for Heidi, the poor girl has a musical career almost as tragic as her post-op nose). If you've got a passion for cooking, make that your thing! You're secretly awesome at chess, or tying bow ties, or break dancing? Go for it! Show the world what you have to offer, even if you think they won't appreciate it. You'd be surprised how excited a group of college kids can get about someone who can make balloon animals.

Live as if life is a movie and you're the star. Speak as if someone you respect is listening. Always dress sharp, like you wouldn't mind if you did run into a herd of paparazzi. Take a few minutes to yourself every day, even for something as simple as taking a breath and meditating. When you're in college, it's really easy to get caught up in the crazy day to day stuff and forget the bigger picture. In the words of one of my personal heroes, Clinton Kelly, "Your fabulousness makes the world a better place -- unlike Pajama Jeans, which, as we all know, are a sign of the Apocalypse."



So that's what's up, folks. Don't hate on my girl LC, and embrace the awesome. Back to my marathon.

Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try.

A couple of nights ago, a good friend asked me a question. He asked where I would want to be,  if I could be anywhere in the world. Without thinking, I said there, in that exact spot, in that exact moment. I mean, c'mon. How many places in the world have a view like the sun setting over Buena Vista? Between Good View, great food and better company, who could ask for anything more? I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about this moment since then. And, as it turns out, I was more right than I originally thought.

I had a chance to go anywhere in the world. Yeah, at graduation, I could've gone to any city or school. I chose Phoenix. And then, later, when I decided it was time to grow up, I could've picked anywhere. Yeah, going to a church school was highly recommended, but if I didn't want to go that path I would've found another way. As it was, there was only one place in my heart, and that was here. From that first moment that I stepped off the airplane into Roanoke back in May, I knew that this was the place. That's all I could think, this is the place. This is the place that I want to spend the next four years of my life. This is the place that I want to tell my kids about. This is the place that I plan to meet some of the greatest friends I'll ever have, and maybe even someone to spend forever with. This is the place that I'm supposed to be.

It's really hard to remember this, going through the day to day of life. I get caught up in the drama and the stress and the humdrum, or start missing my family and friends and an H&M within driving distance. But I know that it's true. There's something here for me. Maybe someone. It's hard to say at this point. But what is important is that it's here, and that I'm going to find it. And next time I feel frustrated or hurt or upset, I need to remember that life isn't a series of accidents. There's a point, and a purpose, and a reason. I just need to make sure that I do everything I can to make it happen.



Really, the moral of this story is that I have ridiculous l'esprit de l'escalier: when you think of a response when it's too late to deliver it.

i enjoy being a girl

When I was nine, I discovered lipstick. It was this beautiful Clinique Berry something or other, and I was in love with it. But, seeing as how I was in the 4th grade, not many people appreciated my dark red lips. In an effort to make my look a bit more subtle, I smeared thick, glue like lip gloss all over. To be honest, I went from looking like someone with a bad lip biting habit to a night club dancer (in a burgundy poncho and bright green shoes, but that's a sort for another time.)

So, I kinda like make up. And by kinda like, I mean if make up could somehow take me dancing and cuddle with me a night, I wouldn't need a boyfriend OR a mastiff. I've probably spent a good 1/6 of my entire life income on mascara. It's safe to say that I know a thing or two about how to put on a face.

That being said, there are some things that I've only just come to appreciate in the past few weeks. And in order to save some other girl from making it all the way to twenty without experiencing the joys of moisturizer, here goes nothin.


Lip color.

I'll probably blame this one on the terrible teasing of those awful sporty girls in 4th grade, but up until recently I've lived by a strict dark eye/light lip rule. It's tried and true, and let's face it. It looks pretty fabulous. But eyeliner and a ridiculous amount of mascara can only get you so far in the world - sometimes a girl just needs some bright red lipstick. In my film analysis class, we're discussing how make up can affect your interpretation of a character, and I couldn't agree more. And what does a voluptuous girl with a cherry pout usually signify? Bombshell. I'm personally a fan of lipstain, it lasts pretty long and feel like you're writing on yourself with marker, but thanks to Cézanne I've recently discovered Covergirl Lip Perfection. Check out her fantastic review here at HelloGiggles.com.


Blush.
Ridiculous, right? You'd think a girl who's as lacking in the color pigmentation as myself would've gotten on this train long ago, but alas. The perfect balance between rosy cheeked lass and outright Jezebel has, until recently, alluded me.

It turns out that the answer usually lies in the brush you use. Weird, right? But not only is there a huge range of quality of brushes, but their shapes and sizes make a huge difference. Turns out a good foundation brush does not a good bronzer brush make, and don't even get me started on fans vs. fluffy. Yes, you can get away with having one brush for bronzer, blush and powder, but it had better be pretty freakin versatile.
On top of that, the location of the blush can completely change your look. A pretty pink on the apples of your cheeks gives more of an innocent look, while color that fans from your apples up to your temple is more dramatic and flushed.


Primer.
Yet another Hello Giggles gold mine - Sarah Howard recently posted about the best ways to have awesome looking make up, even in awful heat and humidity. This quote particularly stood out to me:

Think of your face like a canvas. You wouldn’t paint without priming, would you? A primer is even more important come summer.

Since I am easily susceptible to suggestion, I headed out to Wal Mart to try this most important beauty product.
And guess what? I LOVE IT. First of all, it makes your skin feel ridiculously silky. Supposedly it also evens out skin tone and gets rid of wrinkles, but I don't even care because IT FEELS SO GOOD, OMG. And make up goes on so smoothly and nice, you wouldn't even believe it. I got my Maybelline Age Rewind for about $6, and I would recommend it to anyone who wears make up ever ever.



And finally,

MOISTURIZER.

I feel like a schmutz for admitting this, but I've been pretty negligent with my basic skin care pretty much my entire life. I was one of the few blessed with pretty perfect skin, no zits or oily skin or anything. Really, I consider it a win if I brush my teeth and pick my mascara off at the end of the day. However, I realize that this is probably not a good way to be, so I invested in some face wash and moisturizer.
I wish I could say my freckles instantly disappeared and I lost ten pounds and everyone fell in love with me because I suddenly had a good skincare regime, but that would be a lie. Instead, I broke out with more pimples on my face than I've ever had in my life. That lasted about two weeks, and things finally settled down on my face, but I still haven't seen any drastic improvement. I use Clean & Clear Morning Glow moisturizer, which supposedly will add a little color to my face, but I'm still just as pale as ever. I do, however, feel a lot better knowing that I'm doing right by my skin.

Also, there's nothing like looking at yourself soulfully in the mirror, wiping off your mask for the day, singing along to Jewel's 'You Were Meant For Me' until your roommate pounds on the door and says she needs to shower.


**I would strongly suggest checking out hellogiggles.com and filleosophy.com for more great make up reviews and tips. :) **

It wasn't a hundred times, but it's still pretty tragic.

Okay, so Amy Winehouse was a hot mess. No one is going to argue that. But does it get much better than Back to Black? I think not. It's one of the best break up jams of all time. I have, more than once, been caught sitting in my car, blaring it and pretending not to cry.

Here's to a... Well, not exactly a legend, but someone with some amazing pipes.

Also, because the Winchesters are always relevant:

Cass vs. Buddy Holly

So, Washington DC, you really have a lot going for you. I mean it! There's that nation's capital thing, and the not 120 degrees (usually) and the pretty green, and A+ on all those monuments. I've really loved spending my summer with you!

But listen, DC. Where I'm from we have cacti and In-N-Out, and you know what else we have?

HIPSTERS.

I hail from a nice little place called Tempe, Arizona. Some know it as the valley of the sundress and the low rise jean, but not me. To me, Tempe is a magical land where everywhere you look, it's skinny jeans and rompers. You can't throw a stick without hitting an English or Political Science major. And you know what else is great about Tempe, Arizona?

These bad boys.

That's right. In our valley, we understand that you are only as good as your best pair of fake glasses. It's a trend that I'm convinced was started by my girl Jess way back our sophomore year of high school, but it's not just us anymore.

See? Even Jennifer Aniston is on board. And when I can find a picture of Rachel Bilson rocking the fake nerd glasses, you'd best believe I'll be posting it.

So here's the deal, Mr. Washington if that is your real name. I won't hold it against you that you're a bit behind the times. I like you anyway!

But if I keep getting these sideways glances at Target while I'm picking up more Covergirl Lip Sensation, we're gonna have words.