film friday: freshman year semester two

Freshman Year Semester Two from Lauren Parker on Vimeo.

It's a very special film friday today, because I'm sharing a video that I made! This video features some of the adventures I had during my second half of freshman year, featuring some awesome things like our spy obstacle course and a picnic! I can't believe my first year of college is already over with. Time sure flies by.

You can see the first semester here!

film friday: mademoiselle maurice - origami street art

Mademoiselle Maurice - Origami Street Art from ufunk parseError on Vimeo.

Love all the little beautiful things that people do to make the world a happier place.

film friday (on saturday): dove real beauty sketches

I'm sure many of you have seen this by now, but I still wanted to share it. Matt sent it to me a little bit after it was posted, and I really loved the message behind it. Despite all the controversy that it's gotten (some people saying that it doesn't cater to different body types, some saying that it puts too much emphasis on physical beauty, blah blah), we have to keep in mind the message behind it. No matter what, physical beauty will always be judged. And while I think people put too much time and worry into making themselves look a certain way to please other people, we can't just push aside our physical qualities. I mean, our bodies are meant to be celebrated and we should celebrate our natural beauty. What I really love about this video is that it shows how much too critical we are of ourselves, and how the rest of the world actually sees us. You are so much more beautiful than you know. And it's the inner beauty that really shines on the outside.

So don't forget that you are beautiful, despite what you may think. Because there are people who see you and they see an amazing person with joy and happiness radiating from within, and that's what really makes you beautiful.

Have a wonderful day.

film friday: an invocation for beginnings

Please note: There's some cursing in this video, if that's not your thing.


I've been trying to play this video every morning before I start my day, because it's really encouraging and inspiring. I would write paragraphs on every little thing he says, but we will let the video speak for itself.

Have a great weekend everyone!

film friday: extreme sheep LED art

Ahahaha I'm sorry, I just had to have this video as this week's film friday feature. I couldn't help myself. It's too perfect.

film friday: empire state of pen

Empire State of Pen from BigAnimal on Vimeo.

Here's a cool, quick video for you to watch on your break today. I love the music and of course the art, I just want to jump right into the drawing and live there. It's so insane to think that people are capable of doing something like this. I don't think I would have the patience.


In other news, I finished all my classes and I'm about to start packing to fly home tonight. It's officially spring break!

film friday: take a seat & make a friend

I'll let this video speak for itself. It's so cool to see first hand how connected we all are and how people form relationships.

film friday: inukshuks under the stars

I am really excited to show you this video because my friend Shane actually made it! I got to meet him and another photographer (Sarah) in September when he was still working on the video and he is a really amazing landscape photographer. Some of the shots were actually from his adventure in Oregon, and then also in Canada. This video reminds me so much of Alaska and just staring up at the night sky for hours watching the Aurora Borealis and being completely amazed by it. So you definitely have to watch the video.

And I apologize, but for some reason I can't get the embedding code, so you'll have to go here to watch it. :)

Also be sure to check out Shane's facebook page here!

film friday: paperman

In honor of Valentine's Day, here is a super cute movie for you. From Disney, "Introducing a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques, first-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with the Oscar®-nominated short, "Paperman." Using a minimalist black-and-white style, the short follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him. Created by a small, innovative team working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, "Paperman" pushes the animation medium in an exciting new direction."

film friday: sweater

Willow - Sweater from Filip Sterckx on Vimeo.

Hey guys! Sorry for the little blog hiatus. It was definitely unintended and I missed blogging a lot. My laptop's power cord bit the dust the first day of classes, so I quickly bought a new cord and even got the quickest shipping, but of course it only came on the last day of the week. Being without a computer has left me kind of crutched since a lot of my schoolwork is online, but thankfully my friends have let me use their computers this first week. But now I am back and ready to go!

And thankfully I'm back just in time for film friday! I really love this music video. For one thing, I love finding new (to me) bands that are really good at what they do, and for another thing I'm a sucker for really imaginative music videos. This one blows my mind every time I watch it, and you definitely should take a look. Now it's time for me to catch up on everybody's blogs since I missed a whole week. (you guys wrote over 100 posts while I was gone ... either I'm following too many people or you guys are writing a ton!)

Have a great weekend!

film friday: this is oregon

THIS IS OREGON from Shwood Eyewear on Vimeo.

In honor of me flying back to the beautiful state of Oregon on Sunday, I thought it would be appropriate to show this video. Oregon is seriously so gorgeous and I love that it only takes a little bit of time to drive out and suddenly be completely immersed in nature. I think it's one of the most beautiful places on earth. If you have time, I highly recommend going to their website (thisisor.com) and checking out the photos, and would even more highly recommend actually going to Oregon and exploring all it has to offer.

film friday: into the mind

Into The Mind - Official Teaser from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

Yep. This video makes me want to rethink my life and learn how to snowboard and travel the world and have tea with monks.

film friday: freshman year: semester one

Freshman Year Semester One from Lauren Parker on Vimeo.

Is it cheating if I showed a video I made on film friday? Well regardless, here is a video comprised of some of the adventures I had my first semester of college with some incredible people. I miss them so so much right now and I can't wait for next semester!

film friday: the rip tide

I am a fan of this band and this music video. It definitely inspires me a lot, but I will let it speak for itself.

film friday: cut & fold

This video seriously blew me away. Even though the entire process to create this photo was literally played out, it can never take away the magic of creating a piece of art. One day I hope to be this good at photography and photoshop.

film friday: quiet

Hey guys! Here is the second Film Friday video! I just found this yesterday and was planning to show a different video (and even another video before I found that video), but in light of my big psychology project that I've been working on for about a month about introvert and extrovert group idea generation and just that relationship in general, I figured this was more appropriate.

My friend Jenna came in my room while I was watching this video (and subsequently crying because of it, hah ... this subject has meant a lot to me for a long time), and she watched it with me and helped me with my psychology presentation since I'm super nervous to present it, go figure. It was nice to be able to talk with her a little bit about it, even though I'm not always good at expressing my thoughts. I'm so passionate about this subject because it's my very nature and I just want to get the word out and gain awareness because I don't want anyone to feel the way I feel for being who I am. You shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed for who you are, and if people hate you for it, please please please don't think it's your fault. I'm struggling with this right now, and it's hard to appeal to an extroverted world. Every individual has to find a balance to be sensitive to all personalities. I have to constantly work hard at being more outgoing and initiating things and relationships, because I am no good at it (which not only stems from my personality, but from people in the past not wanting to have relationships with me for whatever reasons. I've written about this a lot before, not on this blog but in my own personal journals and to my mom, but I never want to invest in a relationship if the other person isn't willing to invest because I have been disappointed and hurt in the past, so I usually wait for other people to initiate relationships with me). And other people have to work hard at initiating things with me and being okay with me not feeling the need to express things.

And really, I think I am most myself on here. If you want to know who Lauren is, just read Introverts Introduction. I feel free to write my thoughts and express these subjects that I don't ever get to talk about with people. So thank you guys for being willing to engage with me. I really count you as a friend and I feel like this place is constantly a two-way conversation, which I absolutely adore.

Hopefully this helped you a little bit, if you're an introvert to be confident in who you are, and if you're an extrovert to be understand to those who are different than you.

And hopefully next week's video will be a little more lighthearted!

film friday

I guess you could say that this is an introduction to a new installation on the blog, called "film friday"! Get excited people! This is an introduction because I couldn't wait until Friday to post this particular video. In light of this post I figured it would be apt to show this video first. I discovered this video a long time ago and it rings so true with me. All too often people quit before they get past that frustrating stage, and it's all a matter of sheer determination and relentlessness. And the fact of the matter is, that stage could last years. But that just makes getting to the other side that much sweeter.

Friday Night Light

day 62






Yesterday I got to go bowling with some super awesome people! Bowling is one of my favorite things to do, because it's a ton of fun and really hilarious, especially when you're surrounded by cool and funny people.







These photos were taken by everyone, and I've forgotten who took which ones, so the overall credit goes Jessey, Kylie, Dayl, and myself. Those three girls make me smile so much!






After we went bowling we roamed the mall and tried on random clothes. I hardly ever go to the mall, and when I do it's only to forever 21, but I bought a few things from a brand new store! I can't wait to style them ... and they are really crazy pieces too.

Once we went our separate ways I headed over to my friend Paul's house for video games and junk food. I seriously love spending Friday nights with friends.





I hope your Friday was fantastic as well! What did you do?