The Little Black Dress

A Girl's Guide to a Semi-Average Life.
with an emphasis on class, art, culture, fashion, and cuteness.
BACK TRACKING A BIT: AN EXCERPT FROM A LITTLE SOMETHING I WROTE ON THE PLANE TO EUROPE I also feel so incredibly fortunate to have the group of friends and boyfriend that I do. I have never felt more love from a group of friends in my entire life. From the farewell messages on Facebook to the text messages, to the phone calls, it is the absolute greatest feeling in the world to know that I have real, genuine friends who are thinking about me as I depart on this adventure. I cannot wait to return home to them.                   Getting on the plane was actually an interesting experience. Europeans are SO ready to get on that plane, as though it’s going to leave without them. So much shoving to the front in a hurry! As I boarded the plane with my awkward computer bag slipping off of my shoulder, I smiled at the boy standing in front of row 35 (I’m in row 36 seat J) looking perplexed at the seating symbols. “Do you think L is window or aisle?” he asked. We proceeded to talk for a few moments and I found out that he will be studying in Rome. He seems really pompous from the phone conversations he was having after our phones were supposed to be turned off. “Hey man, you just might be the last person I call in the US! Just chillin here in Jersey….yeah, dude not really sight seeing just in Frankfort for a layover.” Blah blah. However, while he’s a little pompous (reminds me of a boy I used to play tennis with) he did show a little bit of sincerity earlier on in the whole getting-onto-this-humongous-flight-process. An elderly Indian couple came up the aisle after us who could not lift their bags into the overhead compartments themselves, so the flight attendant asked this boy to help them. After successfully doing so, the elderly woman gave this boy a hug. They do not speak in the same tongues, they probably share few of the same views, but a hug was universally understood. It was a really cute moment.                   I just ate a surprisingly yummy meal of barbeque chicken, rice and veggies, a roll, and salad and am just sitting back and watching Crazy Stupid Love, which Steven, Mom and I watched over Thanksgiving break when he came to visit. I am going to try to sleep for the rest of the flight but I’m just so excited!!   Goals: -make at least one friend who lives and goes to school in Europe with whom you will keep in touch. -actually enhance your Spanish skills, do not just speak in English the whole time -take pictures you are proud of -spend your money wisely and sparingly -do not pass up any meaningful or fun opportunity that comes your way

BACK TRACKING A BIT: AN EXCERPT FROM A LITTLE SOMETHING I WROTE ON THE PLANE TO EUROPE

I also feel so incredibly fortunate to have the group of friends and boyfriend that I do. I have never felt more love from a group of friends in my entire life. From the farewell messages on Facebook to the text messages, to the phone calls, it is the absolute greatest feeling in the world to know that I have real, genuine friends who are thinking about me as I depart on this adventure. I cannot wait to return home to them.

                  Getting on the plane was actually an interesting experience. Europeans are SO ready to get on that plane, as though it’s going to leave without them. So much shoving to the front in a hurry! As I boarded the plane with my awkward computer bag slipping off of my shoulder, I smiled at the boy standing in front of row 35 (I’m in row 36 seat J) looking perplexed at the seating symbols. “Do you think L is window or aisle?” he asked. We proceeded to talk for a few moments and I found out that he will be studying in Rome. He seems really pompous from the phone conversations he was having after our phones were supposed to be turned off. “Hey man, you just might be the last person I call in the US! Just chillin here in Jersey….yeah, dude not really sight seeing just in Frankfort for a layover.” Blah blah. However, while he’s a little pompous (reminds me of a boy I used to play tennis with) he did show a little bit of sincerity earlier on in the whole getting-onto-this-humongous-flight-process. An elderly Indian couple came up the aisle after us who could not lift their bags into the overhead compartments themselves, so the flight attendant asked this boy to help them. After successfully doing so, the elderly woman gave this boy a hug. They do not speak in the same tongues, they probably share few of the same views, but a hug was universally understood. It was a really cute moment.

                  I just ate a surprisingly yummy meal of barbeque chicken, rice and veggies, a roll, and salad and am just sitting back and watching Crazy Stupid Love, which Steven, Mom and I watched over Thanksgiving break when he came to visit. I am going to try to sleep for the rest of the flight but I’m just so excited!!

 

Goals:

-make at least one friend who lives and goes to school in Europe with whom you will keep in touch.

-actually enhance your Spanish skills, do not just speak in English the whole time

-take pictures you are proud of

-spend your money wisely and sparingly

-do not pass up any meaningful or fun opportunity that comes your way

4 months ago

Things I've Learned While Studying Abroad for Just Two Weeks

From When Tiffanys Met Casablanca

4 months ago
Las Diferencias Culturas: Americanos Embarazosos en el Extranjero   When you first started learning about other countries, your second grade teacher probably showed you a picture of a kimono next to an American in a sweatshirt and jeans (sidenote: when did this become the American norm? ick) or maybe rambled about how in Hawaii they greet their guests with a flower lei when exiting the airplane (sidenote 2: I so vividly remember this lesson, and the horrid Hawaiian button down my teacher wore. Hawaii is part of the US, Mrs. Hopkins. Do we really need an entire lesson devoted to Hawaiian culture? I mean, I like pina coladas too but….) Regardless of how you were first introduced to cultural differences, there is nothing like moving to a country where they speak a different language to force you to fall face first into a pool of foreign cultural norms. I speak Spanish fairly well, however I speak zero Catalan. While there has been only one awkward incident with a cab driver who spoke only Catalan that ended in my friend falling into a garbage bin, the language barrier is difficult to overcome. Point is, not being a fluent Spanish speaker, I am constantly forced to look at body language, facial expressions, patterns of behavior, and personal interactions. I love it. Why am I not a sociology major? 1.) The Spanish aren’t lazy, but they promote leisure over all else. -“Hola Mees Bayz. Welcome to de Melon Deestreect (re: Melon District).  Eef someting breaks, eet weel take a semana to feex eet.” (translation: Hello Ms. Bayse, welcome to the Melon District. If something breaks, it will take a week to fix it.) Oh, that’s fine, I didn’t need lights anyway. -All shops are closed on Sundays (except for really horrible corner grocery stores run by the Chinese where you can actually buy peanut butter but nothing else of quality) -They do siesta. All shops close from 2-5 but do NOT ask them if they nap. Apparently they don’t and they don’t need culture shocked Americans insinuating that they have strange sleeping patterns. Lesson learned. 2.) Restaurant etiquette is much different here.    -You do not tip. Makes it so much easier for dumb Americans to split the check! -You need to ask for the check. They will not bring it to your table. In Spain, going to a café is a social engagement, so they refuse to make it appear as though they are rushing you out. 3.) The Spanish will touch you and kiss you on both cheeks. It’s fine except for when you’re out and about with friends. Quickly learn the expression “Dejame en paz!” 4.) Surprisingly, they actually say “ciao” much much more than “adios.” I’ve been disillusioned all these years! 5.) People here will look you DIRECTLY in the eyes as they pass you on the street….hello, awkward. I am not poised enough to handle that.   6.) My personal favorite difference: dogs are SO perfectly behaved here! I literally watched an unleashed dog sprint towards the road, stop at the crosswalk and wait for the light to turn green. What in the world are we doing wrong with our American dogs?

Las Diferencias Culturas: Americanos Embarazosos en el Extranjero

 

When you first started learning about other countries, your second grade teacher probably showed you a picture of a kimono next to an American in a sweatshirt and jeans (sidenote: when did this become the American norm? ick) or maybe rambled about how in Hawaii they greet their guests with a flower lei when exiting the airplane (sidenote 2: I so vividly remember this lesson, and the horrid Hawaiian button down my teacher wore. Hawaii is part of the US, Mrs. Hopkins. Do we really need an entire lesson devoted to Hawaiian culture? I mean, I like pina coladas too but….)

Regardless of how you were first introduced to cultural differences, there is nothing like moving to a country where they speak a different language to force you to fall face first into a pool of foreign cultural norms. I speak Spanish fairly well, however I speak zero Catalan. While there has been only one awkward incident with a cab driver who spoke only Catalan that ended in my friend falling into a garbage bin, the language barrier is difficult to overcome. Point is, not being a fluent Spanish speaker, I am constantly forced to look at body language, facial expressions, patterns of behavior, and personal interactions. I love it. Why am I not a sociology major?

1.) The Spanish aren’t lazy, but they promote leisure over all else.

-“Hola Mees Bayz. Welcome to de Melon Deestreect (re: Melon District).  Eef someting breaks, eet weel take a semana to feex eet.” (translation: Hello Ms. Bayse, welcome to the Melon District. If something breaks, it will take a week to fix it.) Oh, that’s fine, I didn’t need lights anyway.

-All shops are closed on Sundays (except for really horrible corner grocery stores run by the Chinese where you can actually buy peanut butter but nothing else of quality)

-They do siesta. All shops close from 2-5 but do NOT ask them if they nap. Apparently they don’t and they don’t need culture shocked Americans insinuating that they have strange sleeping patterns. Lesson learned.

2.) Restaurant etiquette is much different here.  

 -You do not tip. Makes it so much easier for dumb Americans to split the check!

-You need to ask for the check. They will not bring it to your table. In Spain, going to a café is a social engagement, so they refuse to make it appear as though they are rushing you out.

3.) The Spanish will touch you and kiss you on both cheeks. It’s fine except for when you’re out and about with friends. Quickly learn the expression “Dejame en paz!”

4.) Surprisingly, they actually say “ciao” much much more than “adios.” I’ve been disillusioned all these years!

5.) People here will look you DIRECTLY in the eyes as they pass you on the street….hello, awkward. I am not poised enough to handle that.  

6.) My personal favorite difference: dogs are SO perfectly behaved here! I literally watched an unleashed dog sprint towards the road, stop at the crosswalk and wait for the light to turn green. What in the world are we doing wrong with our American dogs?

4 months ago - 1

Here’s to Going International

This blog is temporarily being dedicated to my life in Barcelona, Spain and my travels in and around the area. 

Keep me honest guys—I’m absolutely horrible at documenting my life, but I am going to try! 

Besos!

L

4 months ago
LBD Girl: Natalie Portman She’s a smarty (Harvard Grad), absolutely stunning, a versatile actress, and just so darn cute!

LBD Girl: Natalie Portman

She’s a smarty (Harvard Grad), absolutely stunning, a versatile actress, and just so darn cute!

6 months ago

LDB Rule #4: When Dealing With People Who Drive You Crazy, Remember to be Introspective

So I’ll admit, I’ve been quite negligent with my writing. I haven’t been feeling inspired or reflective (a sign that I don’t make enough time for myself these days). Fortunately, I come to you now with a full mind. Unfortunately, I come to you annoyed, frustrated, and generally disappointed with some of the people in my life at home and at school. 

And so, I come to you now to say: when dealing with people who make you want to pull your hair out (laugh mockingly, scream, cry, whatever), be introspective. In other words, take note of their actions and do whatever you can to avoid being that girl in the future. Through clenched teeth and forced smiles, learn something. Take notes. 

                                             Notes to Lauren from Lauren: 

1) Learn how to be single. I’ll admit, I’m not so sure how good I am at this myself. I spent my entire freshman year of college single, but it was messy, dramatic, and silly. Typical freshman. However, should I find myself single again, I am fortunate enough to have models of how not to go about doing this. 

a) For goodness sake, if you’re single BE single. Learn who you are without a man in your life. Don’t latch on to random boys who may (or may not) be attractive and treat them as your pet/unofficial boyf for a while. Being single is a wonderful thing. It is your chance to develop, recognize, and understand your organic personality, tainted and changed by no man. It is your chance to focus your energy elsewhere for a while: on your girl friends, on your work, on your family, and most importantly on YOU. What a luxury!

b) Just because you’re “man hunting” doesn’t mean everyone else is or wants to be. You’re single for the first time in a long time and all you can think is “wow, I can make out with whoever I wanna!!” Which is great, trust me, I get you. But keep in mind that the people around you may not want to jump on that train with you. Just because you’re having a ton of fun “dating” (whatever that means), doesn’t mean everyone else is looking for an excuse to cuddle up with some new hottie. When single and having fun, remember to touch base with your friends at different places in Boyland. 

2) Remember who your friends are. Cycling through friends is both immature and stressful. Being able to only have one close friend at a time is also both immature and stressful. Remember to check up on your friends, be respectful of your friends, and take the time to genuinely see how their lives are going. A girl without her girls is a little less whole.

3) You are not always the victim. Sometimes, you hold some (or a lot) of the blame. In a fight with your BFFL? Remember that while she may be lashing out at you for something silly or juvenile, it’s really likely that there is something else going on that you could be held accountable for. Just something to think about. I forget this a lot, too. 

4) No one deserves to be put on an eternal pedestal. We all deserve our moments, and then we all deserve to be taken down. 

5) sometimes texting isn’t appropriate

Welp, now I know. 

LBD,

Lauren


6 months ago
essentially the core of this blog

essentially the core of this blog

9 months ago - 49

LBD Rule #3: Always Come Back to See How Much You’ve Grown

This particular rule was inspired by the following: a) a friend of mine who wrote a high school graduation speech that was poetic, mature, and head-on collided with my feelings towards home (thank you, Amy) and b) my feelings of discomfort, displeasure, and dissatisfaction with good ol’ Sussex County, NJ. 

Without a smidgen of doubt, we can all find various aspects of our homes that would send us to pack our rucksacks and march (re: sprint as fast as you can) out the door. When I packed up for college two years ago, I said goodbye to all of my stuffed animals (individually), hugged my real dog, waved goodbye to my house, and “SAYONARA, home!” I was so thrilled to be leaving my half-square-mile hick town that it totally went over my head that I’d have to come back for Christmas. 

So why did I start looking up colleges when I was in fourth grade and why did I choose to make my social life (social life=sleepovers with the entire three friends I decided to have) so limited? The simple answer is that I was unhappy: I was a city-dweller growing up in the middle of nowhere, went to a school where 60% of graduates stayed in the county after high school, and I found a lot of my classmates uncultured, ignorant, and totally sheltered. I don’t mean to sound like a snob, I really really don’t, but I genuinely felt like people were content forming important opinions based on their non-diversified, limited experiences here in Northwest, NJ. And to an extent, I was totally spot on. 

And so the story goes that I found myself in college, found my friends (the best friends anyone could ask for, really), and found a place where I was so totally, unconditionally happy. But for once, that’s so not the point. The point is that I ended up back at home the past two summers for various reasons, and this is what I’ve come to terms with:

-there are people willing to work and better not only themselves, but their community wherever you go. Part of my internship involved interacting with people of all walks of life who were struggling to support themselves and their families financially. Regardless of what is undoubtably a stifling weight of worry on their shoulders they would attend classes every. single. day. in hopes of finding a job, any job. It was so inspiring. Were these people necessarily the most cultured, knowledgeable, or sweet? No. But so incredibly inspiring. Take the time to notice and appreciate and help people who are working hard to better themselves and others. 

-without rural life, city life could not survive. I love the city. I love feeling that I’m part of a big, fast-paced world. I used to get stuck behind tractors and cow herds on my way to high school (I’m not kidding). Driving 5 MPH looking at a cow’s butt was not exactly a component of the glamorous life I imagined for myself. And yet, without these farmers on tractors and cows in the middle of the road, humans would be living on solely manufactured astronaut food. Ick! Rural life is so incredibly important. Doesn’t mean I’m trying to go milk a cow anytime soon, but I do think it is worthwhile for anyone to spend a little time in the “middle of nowhere.”

-everyone probably feels the same way you do. I was at the “local” mall a few weeks ago (“local”=forty minutes away) and ran into two girls that usually cause me to dive behind anything in sight to avoid…..clothing racks, tables, bookshelves, dogs, humans, anything! And yet, I was rounding the corner by American Eagle and I was spotted. And as the beyond awkward small talk ensued, we talked about how great our respective colleges are and how happy we were to leave our county. Apparently, they had felt the same way I did all along, even though I put them in the box labeled “to avoid: Sussex County lovers.” If I had spent a little less time running in high school, maybe I would’ve realized that even though maybe no one was totally like me, they were more like me than I thought and they were smarter too. Instead of rebelling against where they lived, they embraced it for the time, and then ran. So remember that nothing lasts forever and embrace where you are in the present. It will pay off. Don’t run too soon.

The short-winded moral to this long-winded story is that you need to go back once you’ve left. Go back to where you used to make a life for yourself to assess how much you’ve grown. I have grown. I see things I didn’t before and realize I wasn’t nearly as mature as I once thought I was. So go back. Talk to people, look around, learn something. But most importantly, look to yourself and see how much going away changed the very place that you thought never could change. 

“It’s a funny thing comin’ home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You’ll realized what’s changed is you.” (Benjamin Button)

LBD,

Lauren

9 months ago
LBD girl: Michelle Obama Put your politics aside for a second, please. No denying this woman is beautiful, a power mom, and completely BRILLIANT.  You’re my favorite first lady, Michelle (sorry, Jackie).

LBD girl: Michelle Obama

Put your politics aside for a second, please. No denying this woman is beautiful, a power mom, and completely BRILLIANT. 

You’re my favorite first lady, Michelle (sorry, Jackie).

9 months ago - 1
An LBD: knows how to pack (or at least is interested in learning how.)

An LBD: knows how to pack (or at least is interested in learning how.)

9 months ago - 5

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