elle is for lauren

Wow it has been a busy summer. Here is a picture update on what's been going on...

PS - these are not in chronological order

Last week, Brad and I met up in Dallas at my cousins house. Thank you Steph and Marcus for letting us crash at your place and visit with your family!

Saturday was a ton of fun -- we started the day off with a trip to IHOP, we went shopping, we pampered ourselves, we ate a good lunch at the clubhouse by the Ryans, we hung out with the Ryans/took catnaps, we went to Main Event and played miniature golf, shuffleboard, and pool, and finally we topped off the day with a Bond movie neither of us had seen before.

Below is Bradley and I holding our mini golf scores - (It was a close one, but I won)

Playing pool, Bradley beat me 2 out of 3

Shuffleboard - I DOMINATED at this game. Brad decided a Shuffleboard table is something he is going to add to his "Bucket List" - we had a LOT of fun!


Glow in the dark mini golf - just trying to blend in...

Brad and I, looking like he is growing out of my neck.

My fiance is so cool. :)

Speaking of fiance, look at these awesome wedding invitations I found! Yes it says "Dreams Do Come True!" Only few will know how truly precious this is, given our pretty princess past.

This is me and my little sisters at Pop's - The local scam claiming to be a Route 66 historic landmark when really it is just a few years old. However, it is awesome and has a million different flavors of soda pop.

Alli wanted to go with us so bad, she offered to pay. We took her up on her offer, as that is a rarity. She was so excited though to bring her money and give it to the lady. Added bonus was she wasn't nagging us to see how many she could have!

So I walked into Alli's room to kiss her goodnight, and I look down to see the dogs spooning! How weird is that?!?

Home grown watermelon - delicious

AD was begging me to find her a job. I found her one for two weeks doing filing, etc, for BCBS. However, due to the sketchy people that often come to the office, they require a hair follicle drug test. Both AD and I assumed that meant pulling a few strands of hair. Unfortunately for AD, it meant cutting out with scissors about a 1/8 inch width and a 1/2 inch to an inch length. Also, AD must have gotten someone new or looked super sketchy because they did it THREE TIMES! AD has THREE spots like this on her head. There are not many times I feel remorse for being a part of something, but this is one of them. I know I giggle when I say it, but I'm sorry AD. On the bright side, it will eventually grow back.

My cousins from Chicago - Kelli & Jeff & Jackson, DeLaney & Addie came to visit a few weeks ago. They also brought Calene's daughter, Krista. We had a TON of fun swimming, boating, tubing, and just playing around. The only weird thing was Addie would NOT come to me. She's the only baby who would not at all come to me, even with bribery. However, she did warm up to me on the LAST day of the week long visit, and I was finally able to hold her!

This is Kelli & Addie at Incredible Pizza

Me, Krista, AD, Alli, Jackson & DeLaney at Incredible Pizza holding up all our ticket stubs. The majority of the tickets were won by Krista, AD, and myself thanks to our addiction to the gambling games. However, the kids did reap all the benefits.

This is a picture from my trip to Utah in June. I'm pretty much oddly related to all the people at this table. OK, not really, but we like to think so.

Peace.

In May, AD and I went to watch Steph & Ryan's adorable little children for the weekend while they went to Dallas. Abby & Mark were so good the whole weekend and I love these little bugs so much!

We had a little fun with Abby's hair.

Mitch came over to visit, and apparently he and my sister hit it off pretty well...

Just kidding, this isn't what it appears to be.

Esquire Taylor Reid Nuttall & sisters.

(TayTay received his law degree from Penn State in May)

I met up with Brad in NY and we drove out to PA together for Tay's graduation. This was Bradley's first exposure to the majority of my family. I don't think he has been around with everyone together yet. My family must have been super tame that weekend as this was in May and we are still together.

HaHa I love this picture! We are wondering some of the stores off of Main Street in State College (Penn State), and Alli says "look lowie they almost fit!" and I look over to see her in these massive shoes, contemplating if she should get them. A picture had to be taken. I had her do a Spice Girl pose to make the picture more entertaining. She is just the cutest little thing!

And finally, a huge section missing is our canyoneering trip to Zions National Park. But more on that later. Oh, and I spent two weeks in New York/Connecticut and don't have a single picture!

Well, enjoy the update and as usual I'll try to post more frequently!

Love Lauren

E is for Engaged

Well, I've been a horrible blogger and this announcement is long past due, but as of October 9th, I will be Lauren Guynn. Weird, I've been a Nuttall my whole life, I don't know about this whole name transition (no worries, I will not hyphenate).

Mr. Edward Bradley Guynn and I were engaged on Monday, July 13 in New York City. To be honest, I knew it was coming. Then again, he did wait till the last day of my two week visit in New York -- that threw me off quite a bit. Here's how it happened:

Well, the story ranges in what was told, but it all starts off with Auntie Cathy dropping me off in the city as she went to pick up Uncle Gary (let it be known that Cathy did exclaim that day that she thought I would get engaged that night - pure intuition). I met Bradley outside his office and we walked down to Del Frisco's, where we had an AMAZING dinner. The real truth is that he couldn't wait any longer and proposed between the appetizer and the main course, exclaiming "Would you like this to be your last dinner as my girlfriend, or the first as my fiance?" And of course I excitedly chose the fiance option (which was a good thing because that's the only date, other than phone dates, that I've had with my fiance). He had picked the ring out himself and it is BEAUTIFUL and everything I wanted. He did an awesome job! After dinner we walked around for a little bit and then strolled up to the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center), where he origionally was going to propose, and where he proposed to me for the second time. We enjoyed the view and then caught a train back to CT to celebrate with friends and family.

So now here I am planning a wedding. The date was set last week to October 9th. I now realize why people have long engagements, but it's ok, I'm not too worried about it. I think the hardest part has been trying to decide on colors! Well, and find modest bridesmaid dresses. Lucky for me I have tons of help!

Brad created us a new blog and we are transitioning this one over. You can access it at http://web.me.com/brad.guynn/Site/All_About_Us/All_About_Us.html.

Love Lauren

P is for Pain

I have been in a world of pain. Twisted and swollen ankles, one bum knee, and deep cuts on both feet. More to come....

A is for Alternator

Just go ahead and call me a mechanic. A few weeks ago my vehicle was sick. Father and I decided that the cause was a dead alternator. So I called the store and went and picked up a new one, brought it home, and changed it. That's right. I changed my own alternator. Below are the pictures to prove it. Father can vouch these are not fabricated or posed pictures. I really did change my own alternator!


Doing the dirty work

the old and the new

E is for Easter

Happy Easter to all! I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter day! Today we spent the day cooking and colorign eggs (while I wasn't working at Banana). Alli and I made some wickedly awesome dyed eggs.

At BYU, my friend Michon and her family had a tradition of around Thanksgiving having a "Thanksgiving dinner" with all the college kids. It was named "Fakesgiving". 2007 was my first Fakesgiving and I loved it so much I wanted it to be there sooner. Around Easter 2008, they were wanting to start an "Easter dinner" tradition and looking for a catchy name. And that is how Feaster came around. We started planning weeks and weeks ahead of time and this event was greatly anticipated by myself and others. But then the worst thing imaginable happened. Well I guess not the worst, but one of the things I hate the most -- the flu. Feaster finally came around and instead of enjoying a delicious meal with friends, I was by myself, miserable, and upchucking all day.

*****WARNING graphic/hideous picture below*****

Me being miserable from the flu and missing feaster :(

Alas, I have yet to experience Feaster. Maybe one day. Well friends, take care and don't be too envious of this awesome yellow Easter dress I bought at Banana today! :)

Love Lauren

G is for Graduate

I did it. I graduated. From driving school that is. And Ad's blog inspired me to blog about it. After two tickets, driving school, and $284.95, my record is now clear. See me with my driving school certificate below.

Not as sweet as this graduation.

Love Lauren

C is for Compulsive... Compulsive Buyer

Wow. That really just happened. I don't really know how. All I know is that I was looking at some watches online, and now here I am sitting with my credit card to my side, used, and seeing a screen with the charge and a final sale note. I guess this sweet baby below is now mine.

Just another indication I am my grandfathers posterity. At least for my sake it was shopping online and not the shopping channel. Hows that for a generation gap?

D is for Destination Wedding

WOOHOO for Bee!!! She is engaged to a wonderful (so I hear) man named Jeremy, whom I have never met. For those of you who don't know Bee (Bridget), she is one of my best friends, and my co-star in the video I made posted in M is for Many Things.

This is Bee and Elle in NYC in Summer 2007

Bee is getting married in January in the CAYMAN ISLANDS!!!! And I, Elle, will be one of her bridesmaids--I'm so excited!!!! Hello beautiful beaches and blue water!!!




Other exciting adventures I have in the works for the meantime are:


April 3rd - 5th = NYC with Bradley
May 22nd - 25th = Base Tan Weekend w/ Courtney and RZ


Love Lauren

W is for Work

I haven't been posting, I've been working. All I do now is work, work, work, work and work. And you know what? I'm ok with it. I even enjoy it. If I'm not at Bella Vita or working on something for there, you can find me at Penn Square Mall in Banana Republic. Yep, I'm working retail for the first time in my life--and I LOVE it! Love the discount, being around people, neurotically folding. All in all, I end up paying Banana to let me hang out there.

That's my excuse. I haven't been blogging, I've been working. But, my blog needs some love and I'm going to be a lot better. Only problem is my working life is now pretty busy and uneventful. Hmm. I need to make some changes to that...

Love Lauren

B is for Bradley

Bradley is my only true friend who has come out to Oklahoma to visit. Yes, I'm pointing fingers at you -- Allie, Ashley (all five), Bridget, Courtney, Jacob, Jen, Jenn, Jenna, Micah, Michon, Rachel, Stanley, etc... (don't hate me if I forgot your name I did this really quickly). You should all be feelin really guilty right about now, but it's ok, there is still time to book your visits!


Anyways, Brad came last Thursday and stayed till early Tuesday morning. We had a blast!


We went to: The Cowboy Musuem, the OKC Memorial, Earl's BBQ, the Museum of Art, the Botanical Gardens, Pops, Toby Keith's Bar & Grill, and a super dorky cartoon place.


Below are the pictures we took.

Brad at the local bank

Me in a school room

When I picked him up at the train station

JK those weren't for real, well, they were real pictures, but they were at "Prosperity Junction", a replica of a turn-of-the-century cattle town.

Below is me and my adorable little Alli at the Botanical Gardens. I LOVE waterfalls! (Disclaimer - I have no idea what she is wearing- I did not dress her, or approve her outfit for leaving the house. However, I do not have much of a case seeing as I look sloppy as well.)

This is at Pops on Route 66. It's a cool gas station/restaurant/convenience store with any bottle of pop you would possibly be searching for.

It's Cherry coke. For real.

That is all for now.

Love Lauren

W is for Worst Week Ever

or atleast worst week so far this year.

I know, it's been forever since I blogged. That's because there has been a lot going on but a lot of it has been up in the air and then I was CRAZY busy! I have a new job - yay! - I now work at Bella Vita Medspa (bellavitaokc.com) doing marketing/advertising.

So about two weeks ago I accepted this job, so I was working three jobs during that week. Then I had to set up an exhibit and be there the whole time at the Home & Garden show last Friday-Sunday, it actually turned out being really good and a lot of fun!

Anyways back to this being the worst week ever, I have worked 10 hour days for like the past two weeks straight (including weekends), I got in an accident pulling out of my neighborhood and got a ticket. I forgot I was scheduled to work at Banana Republic today and they called me while I was with my dad getting parts for my car, gross and smelly. On my way to work already late, I was pulled over and got a ticket and a warning that I have to get and Oklahoma Drivers License within 30 days. When I got home from work tonight, my mom looked at the phone bill and I have $114 in extra charges for media. I have NEVER used anything on my phone except text, calling, and bubble breaker. Turns out the kids over Christmas used it to watch TV or get on the Internet or something. Unfortunately, their call center was closed so I was not able to get it resolved.

Anyways, rough/expensive week. Hopefully (fingers crossed) next week is better!