face liftoff!

Welcome to the new and improved internet  home of LOHOdesignco. It's been a long time since I've faithfully attended to this little blog, and I'll not waste your time with excuses, 'cause... you're not the boss of me. But on this day, the 19th of September 2011, I, Lauren Elise Horton, do so resolve to be a better personal blogger and part time internet junkie.

A few life changes in my absence:

1. I graduated from LSU. This, ladies and gentlemen, has proven to be not nearly as wonderful as anticipated. I now do things like paying rent, making my own doctor's appointments, and possessing more personal responsibility than any 22 year old should ever be allowed.
2. I started my first job. I use the term "job" here loosely. What's paying the bills these days? A sweet baby boy named Anson. I'm a nanny. It rocks. It keeps me humble. Read about my adventures with baby A at http://handsomeanson.blogspot.com
3. My best friend is ENGAGED to my number one bro! And they're getting married in March. For those of you who aren't the best at math, that's less than six months from now. What makes that even more complicated is that my girl moved to India a few weeks ago. Huh? Read about all the cool things the Lord is doing in and through her life at http://alexkicker.wordpress.com

A few of my favorite things right now:

    

peace out girl scout!

xo, loho

So, I know this is a weird post to start the blog back up with. And I've been sitting on it for a week or so. But, well, this is the internet, and it's my day off and I'll cry if I want to. So here's a letter I wrote to Norman and then I'll be done with the eulogizing. He wasn't just a dog, I'll fight you if you try to say otherwise.

hey monkey,

 i remember the day i met you. you weighed four pounds and both of your ears still laid down flat. the first thing we noticed about you was that your eyes were the same color as mine. that's when i knew i loved you.

i wasn't running with the Lord when you came into my life. i wasn't exactly running away either, but i was a sad broken version of myself looking for love in all the wrong places. i didn't know how to turn it around. or didn't want to, one. i needed help overcoming a lot of lies about myself and about the world that i'd been listening to for a long time-- but not the kind of help that tells me how stupid i'm being, cause i wasn't ready to listen. i needed the kind of help that would depend on me and love me and snuggle with me, but without all the human selfishness that messes those things up and gets good girls into trouble. God knew that. and then there was you. with your short little legs, your big wormy belly, and arguably the single most obnoxious yap on the planet.

you grew so fast! and one at a time your ears started to stand up. you were slowly becoming  the norman we all (maybe not all, but definitely I) knew and loved. remember the first time we went to the dog park and you were too socially anxious to move more than two yards away from the gate until rufus went with you? remember when you ate half a box of rat poison and i had to try several methods of vomit induction before you puked it up? (confession: i did this because i couldn't really afford to take you to the after hours emergency vet clinic... you survived, it's fine.)

i never did find out what breeds were involved in your genetic makeup... and believe me, every one asked. you were a goofy lookin' dog, buddy. and not the most conventionally-likable personality, let's be honest. you assumed everyone thought you were wonderful, but also had some major trust issues. and i suppose you came by the mile-wide independent streak honest. your aunt alex put it this way, "he wasn't just a dog, he was.... you." (it's okay that we're sassy, people love it.)

God blessed me with the funniest little friend when he brought us together. you were in my life for a very specific season -- you took care of me just as much as i took care of you -- and i'm so thankful for you. i'd be lying if i didn't say i miss you like crazy. i would pay a million pet deposits and give up a million fossil watches and forfeit ever having hair-free sheets ever again to change what happened. but, as hard and as sad as it is, if you were the kind of dog that stayed in your fence you just wouldn't be the dog i fell in love with. you wouldn't be Norman.

so don't worry about me. the maker of the universe is working all things together for my good. things will slowly come back around to some semblance of "normal." but there's never gonna be another Norm. 

                                  love forever, mama.

all tan everything

1  2  3  4  5  6

shameless plugging

happy february everyone! this is your friendly reminder that now through valentine's day the LSU Museum of Art Gift Store is offering 20% off one item. so come downtown and find something unique for your valentine {or your mom}

xxxo

the illustrious david janes

I just recently discovered illustrator David Janes [represented by Handsome Frank Illustration Agency] while futzing around on the internet [p.s. "futzing" is, in fact, a real word]. And I am absolutely in LOVE with his portraits! He is based in the UK and has done a lot of political figures. So cool. And the best part is that for £25 (about $35) you can send him a photograph and he'll draw a portrait from it! {here} so if anyone wants to hook a sister up, I would absolutely adore one of myself and my puppy dog.

my main girl crush

photo lovingly snatched from wolfgnards

just a little unabashed photobooth vanity