T is for Twilight

To be honest, I am rather ashamed that it has taken a month for me to blog. I guessed it's because I haven't been feeling very witty, thus unable to live up to my usual standard of wittiness and I wouldn't want to deliver something boring. I'm not going to go on and on about how I'm such a bad blogger and I'll get better --that's just annoying. Instead I decided that I'm not going to blog for other people anymore, I'm going to blog for myself. As Taylor's friend Zack says, "When the brain fails, the internet always has your back." Moving on the the main topic of this post...

I have too fallen subject to the Twilight craze. I read each of the books within a two day span and I saw the movie on the day after opening night. Not so much of dire need, but because that's when everyone was going. It wasn't very good, but better than I thought it would be (mainly because I had very, very, very low expectations for it). But I did enjoy it and will see the sequel if it's ever created. At first I felt the Edward character DID NOT fit, but he kind of grew on me. The image of the Jacob chosen was good, but his voice bugged me and he was a horrible actor. He sounded more like a big city boy than an indian living on a reservation. The girl that played Bella was prettier than I thought she would be. Rosalie wasn't as pretty as I thought she would be, Jasper was really small. And all the Cullens paleness was done so horribly. It really looked liked white makeup on them not blended very well. Anyways, I can't even remember the rest of my critiques right now I'm so tired. Love to all! Goodnight!

W is for Watermelon

How does your garden grow? Well ours grows pretty decently. This year we had butternut squash, jalapenos, red hot peppers, half a tomato, beets, parsley and watermelon. Two watermelon started to grow, but one was viciously attacked by animals. The other grew beautifully, however, father fell under the notion that it would sever the tie of the vine when it was ripe, which never occured. One day we could resist no longer and picked our overly ripe watermelon! Here is the account in pictures (much better than words).

Father with his garden grown watermelon

the first cut

almost completely cut through

one half

the watermelon being sliced for consumption

me taking the first bite

I hope you were all able to feel as you were a part of this monumental occasion.

Love Lauren

elle is for lauren

Many rage about my generation for constantly having cell phones and ipods attached to our ears and never having peaceful moments of quiet reflection and mediation. I cannot, nor will not, deny that I am a part of this always plugged in generation. However, I do have time for reflection as I shower, as well as in those quiet moments while I lay in bed unsuccessfully trying to fall asleep as my thoughts bounce all around my head. Two days ago while taking a shower I pondered this very topic, which was thought of because of the following.



While showering after a long day of work I was thinking about many different topics, and they all started to combine in thoughts. I thought about how badly I wanted to update my blog, but didn't have time because if I were to be on the computer, I needed to be searching for a job. I was thinking of my unsuccessful search for a job. I considered change and how much I sometimes like change. It was then that I considered changing my name to Elle (not legally of course, but to be used with every new acquaintance). I then thought of how I wouldn't want to do that, because when I have a baby girl I would like to name her Elle. This is a big deal, I tend to not think much of the future, I have no idea how many kids I want or what I want there names to be. I have no idea of where I'll want to live, then or now, I have no idea where I want to get married or even what I'll want my colors to be. I have no idea of any details at all. All of it just gives me a big headache and unnecessary stress. It makes me wonder, was I ever a little girl? Did I ever dream? I guess it just proves that despite my addiction to shopping, I am just not a girly girl.

By reading the previous paragraph and contemplation on other thoughts, I can now realize why I choose to stay plugged in. By being plugged in: I stay focused; I avoid mindless thoughts; I avoid stress; and I avoid daydreaming which results in a waste of time for me.

S is for Slave

I haven't been blogging, I've been slaving. Slave, esclavo, sklave, schiavo, slaaf, escravo, 奴隶, 奴隷. That's right. The past few weeks my whole existance can be explained by that five, sometimes more or less depending on the language, letter word. Gosh, now I know how Cinderella felt -- "Lauren do this", "Lauren do that", "Lauren get me some water", "I'm hungry, make me some food"...

...(entering dream sequence)...feed the dogs, do the dishes, go swimming with your sister, walk the dog, mow the lawn, make lunch, make dinner, clean my room, do the dishes, vaccuum the house, dust, quit playing the piano, find a job, get me some popsicles, pick this up, run this to the post office, get alli off to school, do the dishes...

No, that is not some sick nightmare, that is my life.

In the past week I have constantly been cleaning:

the kitchen

this room

the dining room

the living room

and (unphotographed) the other living/piano room, the guest room, alli's room, the study, and the entire upstairs (my room).

There has also been one other unfortunate job that has been thrust upon me, but I think that one will have to be saved for another post...

** A special thanks to http://www.freetranslation.com/ for providing me the translation of slave into spanish, german, italian, dutch, portuguese, chinese, and japanese.

M is for Modeling/Monster

I've created a monster. The other day I wanted to use my old camera, actually my moms old camera, a Canon AE-1. I've had it since I did photojournalism in high school. Might I add that I was one of the best sports photographers at Tomball High! Anyways, I haven't used it in forever and have essentially forgotten what a majority of the settings were, its not automatic so I couldn't just point and shoot but had to pick the f-stop and focus and everything. It was fun trying to figure it out again, but it has been half a decade and I think I've lost my touch. It was weird going to the store to drop off film, and having the suspense of not knowing AT ALL what the pictures I was going to pick up would look like. Aunt Cathy was baffled that people still even used film.

Back to the monster I created, I had to have something I wanted pictures of, I didn't want 24 images of landscape, so I told Alli that she was going to have a fashion show/modeling shoot. She pulled out her princess dresses, jewels and did her own hair and make-up and then we went to the back yard. I have never laughed so hard as I did when she started doing poses. I want everyone to know, I did not even once pose this child or tell her what to do. But I got everything from arms outstretched, to struts, to pouted lips, to smiling faces. It was way fun.

Here are some pics I took. The quality and sharpness isn't as good as the original because I scanned them in and the scanner wasn't workin too well and made the edges of some of the photos weird, so they are all cropped a lot. Feel free to come over and see the originals! Enjoy!

Below is Sampson T. Nuttall

Any ideas for the next shoot?

Love Lauren

T is for Texas

"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."

That is the pledge of allegiance to the Texas state flag. I used to have to say that every morning after the pledge of allegiance to the US.

I love Texas.

I forgot how much until I went down there last week to help watch my cousins adorable one year old, Marc, because she just had a baby.

Here is Abigail with her grandma, Cathy.

Me entertaining Marc, or vice versa.

Little Marc loves cell phones. Here he is with his mom, my cousin Stephanie, playing on my cell phone.

While I was in Dallas, I also got to hang out with my friend from Jerusalem--Mitch Murdock. We had a fun time and the most entertaining, yet stressful, cooking experience. I didn't take any pictures, but I do have one from when he visited at my house and stayed in Alli's room. This photo is creepy. Only few will understand the meaning behind this photo.

Now I'm back in Oklahoma taking care of my mother who just had surgery on her ACL on Friday. Basically, instead of getting a job, I've been a professional caretaker for the past few weeks. Haven't been getting paid, but have been provided with food, housing, and the necessities of life.

Love Lauren

PS - I'm missing my "besteez" like crazy. (Allie, imagine yourself photoshopped into this picture)

R is for Recipes

In the words of high school musical "What time is it? Summertime! School's Out - Scream and Shout!" Sadly, summertime is now over and what time is it? Time for Lauren to finally, grow up, get a job, and live on her own. I'm currently living in boring old Oklahoma with my parents as I decide on what I am doing with my life. Oklahoma wouldn't be so bad... if I had even just one friend within half a decade of my age. My only friend here, Jessie Babcock, is 15. Her mom is, well, let's just say if Jessie is 15 her mom is atleast half a decade older than me. Anyways, enough of my whining, I need to move already. Point of the blog post is that soon I will be living on my own. I will have no mother to cook my meals, no roommate who is an expert chef (Thank you Rachel Zackrison), and no sister to trade off cooking with (Love you Meredith). I need to learn how to cook real meals.

This is a real request for favorite recipes, don't send me a ton because if you do I will probably disregard them, but if everyone reading will send me a few of their favorites, it would be much appreciated. Send to laurennuttall@gmail.com, or post them as a comment so others can see them. Thank you in advance.

Here is one of my favorite recipes given to me by Rachel.



Title: Chicken Enchilladas - Rachel's Recipe

Description:This is the recipe I've made at beach week the past couple years. Enjoy!


Ingredients:1/4 cup chopped pecans1/4 cup chopped onions2 T. margerine1 4oz can of diced green chili peppers, drained3 oz. cream cheese, softened1 T. milk1/4 t. groud cumin2 cups chopped cooked chicken 12 7-inch flour tortillas1 10 3/4 oz can condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup1 8oz carton sour cream1 cup milk3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese2 T. chopped pecans


Directions:1. In a skillet, cook pecans and onion in margerine over medium heat til onion is tender and pecans are lightly toasted. Remove from heat, stir in 1 T. of the green chilies.

2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 T. milk, cumin. Add nut mixture and chicken. Spoon onto tortillas, roll up, place seam side down in a greased 3 qt rectangular baking dish. (**I usually put a little bit of the sour cream/cream of chicken mixture in the bottom of the baking dish to keep it from sticking)

3. In a medium bowl combine soup, sour cream, 1 cup milk, and remaining canned chilies. Pour the soup mixture evenly over the tortillas in baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 35 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with cheese and extra pecans. Return to oven and bake for 5 more minutes.

************ I find that the filling mixture isn't quite enough. I usually double the "chicken mixture" (cream cheese, pecans and onions, chilies, chicken) to make heartier enchilladas. I also put some cheese inside before I roll them up. Enjoy!

Number Of Servings:6 servings