who is lauren brown?
well, you may better recognize me by the name lauren nabors. that’s because from september 12, 1985 until june 3, 2011 that was my name. but, on june 4th, a great thing happened to me… i got to marry my best friend in the whole world, clifton brown. thus making me, lauren nabors brown. HELLO. it’s nice to meet you.
i was born and raised in arkansas, a beautiful portion of country smack in the middle of the ozark mountains. i used to take that for granted, but now i really love it. i went to college at Texas A&M University, which, i believe, is one of the greatest places on the face of the planet. i feel lucky and blessed to be an Aggie, to have received a world-class education (english major, dance minor - what what!) and to have made the most amazing friends ever.
my group of friends in 2008 - college station, texas
my group of friends in 2009 - little rock, arkansas
my group of friends (with a few missing) in 2010 - dallas, texas
my awesome bachelorette party with best friends in 2011 - dallas, texas
i graduated in 2007 and promptly moved to new york city (the place I had always dreamed about living) first taking an internship in the magazine world and then moving into a job with a large advertising agency. after a year and a half of that circus i knew that world was not for me. nor was it what i desired to do with my life. as new york city is one of the best places to be adventurous, spontaneous and work. it. out…. i took a nannying gig. no previous experience working with kids, save for teaching a dance class or two. who knew? it’s tough work - but the family i worked for was amazing, treated me very well and made me feel more like their family rather than the hired help. i had an amazing 2.5 years of nannying - summers spent out on long island, driving their family car to and from hockey practice in the winters (hello driving in nyc, i am very good at you now!) and many after-school playdates supervised, sibling arguments moderated and batches of cookies baked. i feel blessed for that time.
at some point along the way i met my now-husband, clif. it was a magical, exciting, crazy time and we like to give a little credit to the Yankee’s for bringing us together. also, great praise and thanks to God for writing our love story and uniting us together in new york city in a way neither of us could’ve ever imagined…
i am ridiculously proud of this picture that i took - from the rooftop of a friends building at 96th and Broadway
now, here i am: just a twenty-something newlywed living in manhattan. one of the greatest cities on earth. i have an innate amount of love for the written word, dancing, cooking, french bulldogs (who doesn’t love those adorable bat ears?!), eating green olives, writing and highlighting things in my planner, the new york city skyline at night, especially from the brooklyn bridge, the food network, taking pictures, vintage earrings, reading good novels, riding my awesome bicycle and anything that involves getting to be with my husband.
{photo credit: igor krajulic} this is me in another life, when i was a dancer and part of the Armstrong/Bergeron Dance Company - we came to NYC in 2007 (before I even lived here) for performances with the International Fringe Festival. something i am incredibly proud of!
the feast of san gennaro in little italy - september 2008
ok seriously, how cute is this little frenchy doing yoga?! i do not have one but you can ask clif, every time we pass one on the street i squeal like a school girl. one day, french bulldoggy, one day…
i told you i was from arkansas, here is proof: shooting some skeet with my brother and clif. this was the first time clif came home with me to meet my family. good thing he is a good ol’ mississippi boy and not a yankee, or else he might have left me on the spot :)
here is our engagement picture, just minutes after the big question was popped. clif proposed on the stoop of my old apartment on 122nd street - the place where he first asked me on a date, kissed me and told me he loved me (not all at the same time, of course!) many sentimental moments there, including our engagement now! august 11th, 2010
these girls are three of my closest nyc gal pals. i have also lived with each of them at one point during my time in the city. they have all loved me and made me feel special and i am blessed to have them in my life (jennifer, liz & lauren)
thanks for checking out my blog. i really do especially love cooking and eating out in the city. discovering new restaurants is a kind of adrenaline rush for me and i love sharing those things on this blog. in recent years i have also developed a love of cooking. as my best friend likes to say “it’s in your blood” because i grew up in the restaurant business. my parents are both amazing cooks and have owned and operated restaurants for as long as i can remember. please check out the page on some of my favorite places in the city to eat. also, look for the tag “good eats” to signify a new recipe i’ve recently tried. i try to share recipes as often as possible and enjoy doing so. i hope you might find something you like or, at the very least, something that makes your mouth water and brings you back for more.
lots of love,
lauren
photo credit: jamie fender
