Be Lauren (Or Whoever You Are)

Every time I'm around someone very outgoing with a bubbly personality, I always kick myself. Why can't I be like her? Even when I think I'm being outgoing, I'm still too quiet. Those are the times I have to stop and say: I like who I am.

Let's face it. I can try all I want to be crazy, outgoing, insanely popular...but that's just not who I am. With friends and family, I can be a jokester. I can be fun and outgoing. But around most people, I am more reserved, introspective, and that's just me. Always has been, always will be!

Being true to who you are is a constant battle. I don't know about you, but I'm always wishing I had someone else's hair, was more outgoing, could write better, didn't worry so much, etc. etc. We should always strive to be our best, but some things just aren't going to change no matter how much we force them. It is just best to be the best version of ourselves and to own it!

Focus on your shining qualities and forget about the things you always wish you could be. Think about all the people that love you for exactly who you are and wouldn't want you to change. Make a vow to yourself when you start thinking, "Oh I wish I could be more like __. She is the life of the party and is so spontaneous and I'm not like that." Instead think of all your great qualities: how kind you are, your singing talent, the way you never forget a friend's birthday. Love yourself for who you are...not who you'd like to be. As cliche as it sounds, you only get one life and you are the way you are for a reason. Own it!

Guys & Girls

While I don't truly believe this since I have a lot of guy friends and I don't go around falling for all of them...I did fall for the best one. :)

Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot Book Review & GIVEAWAY!

For someone who loves movies, getting the chance to review a book about a filmmaker's behind the scenes journey of Hollywood was a real treat.

In the memoir, Kiss Me Quick, Before I Shoot, it follows Guy Magar's journey from moving to the United States as an Egyptian immigrant, attending film school, and becoming a film director with a fair share of hilarious pursuits and Hollywood secrets. All leading into the journey of healing the love of his life, his wife Jacqui, as she battles leukemia.

This unique blend of the story of Jacqui's battle with cancer and how Magar became her caregiver, loving her along this tough time and the behind the scenes look at the making of Hollywood movies is touching, hilarious, and a great read.

Magar is a fantastic storyteller and doesn't hold back in sharing the cold truths of the industry as well as accounts that probably have never been told outside of Hollywood. Readers get a real chance to see what they will never see about their favorite movies.

Today one lucky reader will get a copy of Magar's book: Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot!

To enter to win:

1 entry: Comment on this post and tell me why you'd want to read this book!

Another entry: Follow me on Twitter! @lrstewar. Leave a comment here saying you follow me now and I will check it out.

Another entry: Follow me on Facebook! Again leave a comment and I will check to see if you're a new fan.

Yet another entry: If you don't already follow me, follow me on RSS or Blogger and let me know. If you are already a follower and want another entry - have a friend follow me and have them comment and say YOU sent them! Every new friend gets you another entry!!!

If I had the choice...

Scrubs + love quote = my favorite.

P.S. Happy 7-11...go get yourself a free slurpee!

The Dreaded Textbook Problem

I started this blog when I was in college and I bet a lot of my readers are still chugging along with their school work. Honestly one of the most frustrating things about college were the dreaded textbooks. They cost a ton of money, were heavy, often I barely used them, and then I didn't get any money back for them!

Waiting in that line to have the college buy back your books and having them say they no longer use that edition and "Oh, we can give you $1.00 for this book you paid $50 for!" Ugh!

Luckily there are websites like Valorebooks, that sell used books for a good price and offer rentals and sell back programs. Click here to buy used college textbooks (or better yet - rent 'em!)

Now tell me, what is the most frustrating part of college? Do you agree with the textbook problem? How do you buy or rent your textbooks?

Need a Backpack? Look No Further!

Honestly, a great perk of being a blogger is that people actually want your opinion on products. One of my favorite things on this blog is a product review, whether it is something new I found at a store or I get something free to review. When I get emails from PR people wanting to give me a new book to review, it makes me feel, well, like a legit blogger.

Today's review is not a book though, but a Samsonite backpack! Definitely something new and different. I'm glad I have the chance to share it with you because we all need backpacks at one point in our lives. For most of us, we lug them around as students, packing as many books as we possibly can in it. Some of us go for style (and let me tell you, that wasn't always a good idea as those usually break) and some of us go for strength.

I got the Samsonite Tectonic large backpack in black - super sturdy with tons of room for everything. The second it came in the mail, my Dad has been bugging me that he "really likes it" and could "use a new backpack if I don't want it" (hint, hint). It's pretty big with a huge zippered pocket for a laptop - think fuzzy, padded space for your electronic BFF. Then it has another large zippered pocket with other pockets inside - great for books, clothes, whatever you lug around. The outside has a bunch of smaller and medium-sized pockets and spaces for water bottles and whatever else you carry.

The best part for me is the way the back is super padded. I have back problems, so I used to get horrible backaches from carrying around a backpack in school and would resort to carrying books. This one seems so comfortable, for about a second I missed school.

All in all, super sturdy, held my things and I won't be giving it up to my Dad anytime soon. If you want to check it out or anything else from Samsonite, click that link. This bag is currently on sale! Tell me what you think of it!

Birthday Weekend Recap!

Friday, I got to head to a local town for a Stars and Stripes festival with my boyfriend's family. We ate at a great restaurant and discovered all about feather bowling, which is now on my list of things to try. Definitely still confused since I didn't see any feathers. :P I got an airbrush tattoo with Kev's cousins and we all rode on the Ferris Wheel (second time in my life...I should probably get out more, ha!). His cousin got very upset that he couldn't win a Jamaican banana toy. We saw monkeys riding dogs - banana racing as they call it. Weird, weird, weird.



Then, I had a great 22nd birthday! I have the tendency to focus on the negative at times and get upset that friends couldn't come to my party, the selfish notion I didn't get the presents I wished for, or any other stupid and petty thought that comes to my head. But lately I've been reading "The Happiness Project" and while I don't really agree with everything the author writes, a lot of it puts life in perspective.

So I'm trying to be more positive and ignore those nagging, pessimistic thoughts that often creep their way into my brain. Easier said than done (especially when I live with my parents because unfortunately that's where I get my sensitivity and pessimism from at times).

So being more positive definitely made my birthday 100x better. I focused on all the wonderful friends that came out to celebrate my birthday with me. On the fact that my family comes together and still gives me presents at 22-years-old. That I am happy and healthy and have time to swim all weekend.


My amazing boyfriend got me tickets for a Tiger's game (for me and a lovely date... I teased him by saying "Oh who should I bring?" but of course I want to go with him!) and I now have way too much candy stashed in my desk from various people. On my actual birthday, I got a free cupcake (I ate two that day... oops!) and went out that night to a local bar/restaurant to celebrate with friends - lots of fun!!!

Sunday, my family came over for a nice BBQ...burgers, hot dogs, cake, sparklers, and all! The perfect topping off to the weekend was tanning and swimming two days in a row.

I hope you all had a lovely 4th of July - don't forget to thank your military that keeps our country free!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and can enjoy the beautiful weather and freedom of today. xoxo

Sometimes I feel this way...

from and its love

Happy Birthday To Me!

Tomorrow is my 22nd birthday! Here's hoping it is better than last year's!

I must say the most exciting part of my birthday right now is all the free offers I keep getting in the mail/e-mail! I can get a free drink from Starbucks, free meal from Noodles, have a surprise offer at Panera, $10 off any purchase at Victoria Secret, etc.

Tomorrow I am going out with my friends and will see my family at some point this weekend. Unfortunately, the worst part of having a birthday on July 2nd means most people go away for the July 4th weekend. But, oh well!

Next week, I start a babysitting job which will get me some extra money and allow me to keep doing my freelance jobs, so I am very excited. Definitely a great birthday gift! ;)

♥