Tag: LMP

Photography Exhibition

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Nymph Invitation

Hello readers!! I have some exciting news. I am having a photography exhibition on August 22nd from 7 to 9pm at Calvary Chapel Garland: 1546 Rowlett Rd, Garland, TX 75043

If any of you live in or near Dallas county, you are more than welcome to come check out my photography and meet me. There will be photographs, music, and snack food. The event is not exclusive. Feel free to invite family and friends.

Appreciate art readers!!

– Lauren Michele :)

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

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Let Freedom Ring

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Good afternoon readers.  I wont make this post drag on and on and on.  My words will be short and sweet.  Enjoy the food, fireworks, and time with loved ones today, but please don’t forget the price for our celebration.  The World Cup is happening right now.  As an American citizen, it does not matter if you rooted for Team USA or not.  What matters is that you, me, all of us appreciate the freedoms we are blessed to enjoy in this country as citizens.  Unfortunately, those freedoms were not free when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and they are not free now.  There are brave men and women  fighting on our behalf.  Remember those American heroes and celebrate to the fullest.  Happy Independence Day!!

Stay patriotic readers!

– Lauren Michele

“And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave” – “Star Spangled Banner”, Francis Scott Key

Soarin’ Over California

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OH…MY…GOODNESS!!!  Long time no “see” readers.  School controlled my life for the past two months, and I was unable to do anything but shoot and edit photographs.  I feel so bad and offer my sincerest apologies.  I am now on a 3-week break and plan on writing at least one blog post per week, three total.  You may be wondering about my post title.  I was at Disneyland yesterday, and I rode the ride “Soarin’ Over California” for the first time.  I loved my home state before but love it even more now.  The ride simulates a flight using a mechanical lift and a large projector screen.  It never ceases to amaze me how diverse California landscapes are.  I was beaming with pride, and my mom teared up.  I felt special because I could look at each and every scene and say “This is where I come from.”  I highly recommend that ride to anyone and everyone who visits Disneyland, even if you are not a Californian.  It is a beautiful experience.  Well, I am off to take a nap, but I shall return very soon.

Stay loyal readers!!

– Lauren Michele :)

“The sand may brush off, the salt may wash clean, the tans may fade, but the memories will last forever.”  – Unknown

***DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE LAUREN MICHELE YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCic1VLw_OuW2fzDQ88oi_AA/videos

Falling From Cloud Nine

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Photo Credit: Shaden, Brooke. The Dream State. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. <http://brookeshaden.com/gallery/?title=the_dream_state&gt;.

Hello readers!!  I am back.  I am actually in class right now, but I felt like writing, and today is a work day therefore I have the freedom to blog.  First of all, I want to thank Katy Perry for her lyrics, A.K.A. the title of this post, and Brooke Shaden for her relevant photograph.  This post is all about the transition from a good mood to a bad mood.  My Easter weekend was amazing.  I was smiling for three days straight, and at one point I was dancing around my house singing “Walking on Sunshine.”  Those who know me personally know the person I am describing is a total stranger to them.  Have no fear!  My “holiday high” did not last long after the sun went down Sunday night.  Understand that my good mood did not disappear because I was uncomfortable with being happy.  Reality hit me as soon as my schedule returned to normal.  I resumed working on mid-term projects, and things were going wrong left and right.  Life is not a Hallmark movie.  We earn moments of peace by working hard, but life requires more work than relaxation therefore the ratio is far from 50/50.  When you are in a good mood, enjoy the happiness.  Those are the moments you can cling to when life attacks from all sides.

Chin up readers!

– Lauren Michele  :)

“Everybody wants happiness.  Nobody wants pain.  But you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.”  – Unknown

P.S. I posted four new videos on Youtube yesterday.  Check them out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCic1VLw_OuW2fzDQ88oi_AA/videos

– Enjoy, Like, & Subscribe!!! –

El Gran Escape

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Long time no “see” readers!  It has been almost two months since I last blogged.  I hope this blog post finds you well.  I myself am sick, most likely from stress, but am happy that the upcoming week is the last of this quarter of school.  I am officially 6 months away from graduating college, and I could not be more ready to finish.  This quarter has been rough, full of harsh portfolio critiques and drama around every corner.  My only conclusion is that I am still alive and treading water.  I have managed to find the perfect escape from reality.  As a writer, I find solace in drama therefore my go to is quality books and television shows.  I have recently fallen in love with two Spanish dramas: “Isabel” y “Los Hombres de Paco.”  I get a heaping dose of romance and a Castellano lesson all at the same time.  La perfeccion!!!  The only problem is that when I like something, I tend to develop obsession.  I take the word “Escape” literally and become a character in the book I am reading or the show I am watching.  There is nothing wrong with imagination, but the line should be drawn at discontent with reality.  I always have trouble not crossing that line.  When reality becomes unbearable, I “escape” through alternate realities and give up on living my life.  It is fun for a time, but reality cannot be avoided forever.  Now I have to go practice what I preach.  I will let you now how well that works out… or not.  Happy Spring!  I shall return very soon.

Make a great escape readers!!

– Lauren Michele  :)

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”  – Seth Godin

Hanging On

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That moment right before rock bottom when a rope drops from Heaven to rescue you.  You tug the rope to ensure security, and it falls at your feet because no anchoring force existed at the other end.  I am there.

Yes, I am well aware that the introduction was melodramatic.  Keep in mind that I am a poet, and my venting language will always sound unconventional.  Moving on.  This quarter has been a puzzle.  Mid-terms are already in full swing, and I made my schedule for next quarter today.  There is not enough time in each day.  I am working every possible minute except when I absolutely need sleep in order to stay at least 1% sane.  What lies before me seems an impossible task; I am working hard to diminish my current to-do list, but it keeps growing, creating an illusion that I am accomplishing nothing.  Have you ever had this same feeling?

I apologize that my past few blog posts have been so bleak, at least in comparison to Blogmas 2013 (my Christmas blog posts).  As a writer, I believe in total honesty therefore I do not embellish the truth to make it more appealing.  I write about my genuine feelings, whether depressing or pleasant.  I have heard that it is normal to feel unmotivated and stuck during the last few months leading up to graduation.

“The hardest push comes right before the reward.”

Let us all press on towards our current goal(s) together.  Keep your head up and eyes forward readers!

– Lauren Michele  :)

P.S.  Please do not forget to check out my new Youtube channel and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCic1VLw_OuW2fzDQ88oi_AA/videos

#GoGoldOrGoHome

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Skalij, Wally. Gold medal winner Gabby Douglas competes on the beam in the women's individual all-around event. 2012. Photograph.

Skalij, Wally. Gold medal winner Gabby Douglas competes on the beam in the women’s individual all-around event. 2012. Photograph.

I watched The Gabby Douglas Story on Lifetime earlier this week and was really inspired.  Gabby had to push through one obstacle after another to fulfill her goal of competing in the Olympics.  According to the movie, being away from her mom and siblings on top of intense training created emotional stress that, for a period of time, drained her passion.  Her family and her coach talked to her, but she was the one who had to make the final decision.  She decided to keep going and went on to become the first United States gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal in both the all-around individual and the all-around team events.  She was also the first African-American female gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal in the all-around individual event.

Though our stories are different, I am reminded of my current situation living away from my dad and brother and attending college.  I feel like photography is no longer my passion, but I am determined to finish what I started to the best of my abilities.  Even if I do not want to become a world-famous photographer, I do want to feel satisfied that I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and succeeded.  I miss having my family together in one place, but I want to make them proud and show them that the past two years of struggle have not been in vain.  Because of them, I cannot justify being selfish, though I do admit that I do slip-up here and there.

Check your local TV listings for The Gabby Douglas Story or watch it here: http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/the-gabby-douglas-story/video/the-gabby-douglas-story

“Hard days are the best because that’s where champions are made…”  – Gabby Douglas

Go for the gold readers!

– Lauren Michele  :)

P.S. Please check out the new Lauren Michele Youtube channel and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCic1VLw_OuW2fzDQ88oi_AA/videos

Full Speed Ahead

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The quote says it all.  The excitement of Christmas and the holiday blues are officially behind us.  February is only eleven days away.  It is time to press the gas and move forward.  Trust me, I am still in a “blah” mood, but I try to remind myself everyday that in order to make it to my college graduation in eight months, I have to complete and pass the remainder of my classes.  Therefore, full speed ahead!

I have a heavy homework load this quarter, but I will try my very best to maintain a consistent blog.  I am also working on my new Youtube channel.  Please check it out and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCic1VLw_OuW2fzDQ88oi_AA

I was very scared to put myself on public display; a lot of hurtful things are said on social media.  But, I have had the idea for awhile and finally decided that I would never know if it was a bad idea unless I tried.  So far I am having fun despite the amount of work it requires.  I appreciate the support I have received on Tumblr and WordPress, and I hope you all will continue to support me in my new endeavor.  I also want to encourage you to try new things.  Do not not let fear and what ifs control your life!

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”  – Neale Donald Walsch

“In spite of fear, do what you have to do.”  – Chin-Ning Nu

“I’m not what I have done.  I’m what I’ve overcome.”  – “What I’ve Overcome”, Fireflight

Stay motivated readers!

– Lauren Michele  :)

The Only Thing

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I promised a Christmas-depression rant, and I did not deliver.  I apologize to those of you who may have gone crazy from anticipation.  Going back to college after a month-long vacation proved to be more of a burden than I expected.  Warning: This post is a bit of a downer, but please bear with me.  At the moment I am fighting the demon that is fear.  I only have approximately eight months of school left until I graduate, and the pressure is building.  I started my first portfolio class today, and the teachers did an excellent job freaking me out.  For the next eleven weeks, I have to produce an impressive 30-50 image portfolio that will get me into the second and final portfolio class.  I have to impress a five-person committee twice; three of those people will be complete strangers who do not know me and are not connected to the photography program.  On top of that, I have to pass Western Civilization and three other photography classes.  Besides that, life is sunshine and roses.

I think I have been a downer for long enough.  How ’bout I post some quotes about fear in an attempt to lift the mood?

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“It’s not about being fearless, it’s about acting in spite of fear.”  – Veronica Roth, Divergent

Overcoming fear is a process as is deciding to overcome fear.  I am not suddenly feeling courage and strength being poured into me, but God willing that will happen soon.  At any moment the words of those three quotes will sink in, I will pull up my big girl pants, and I will do what I have to do.  Fear is scary to experience, but the underlying truth that we never want to admit is that fear is beneficial.  When has overcoming fear ever made someone more weak?

Stay fearful readers!  It is good for you, despite the terrifying process.

– Lauren Michele  :)

4 Days Until Youtube…