What 26 Hours of Dancing Does

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

$450,000. That’s a heck of a lot of money. That could buy a house (maybe if you live outside of California), more than enough cars, heck—it could pay off multiple student loans. But if you ask me, that money is going to a better cause because thousands of people are going to be affected, in fact potentially saved, by that $450,000. This past weekend on February 18 and 19, 2012, UCLA students ushered in their greatest fundraising total as they danced 26 hours for a world free of pediatric HIV/AIDS. With this sum, the Pediatric Aids Coalition has now raised over $3 million dollars in their 11 years of existence.

So where is that money going to go? Dance Marathon has prevented thousands of infants from being born with HIV through the purchase of preventative medication and they have offered support and community to children who are affected by HIV/AIDS whether they or their family members suffer from the disease. Through the generosity and compassion of so many college students who truly care, children are being saved from a disease of which they have no control over.

I have been moraling at Dance Marathon the past three years and I’m always amazed by the perfect integration of education and entertainment. While the event is non-stop fun with an abundance of costumes, endless dancing (hey, the whole point is that you can’t sit down) and an undeniable camaraderie amongst students, Dance Marathon doesn’t ignore the heart of the event—education, prevention, awareness, and acceptance for those who are affected by pediatric HIV/AIDS. Even though the cause may seem distant to some, the Pediatric Aids Coalition brings it close to home by bringing these very children to the event to dance right alongside. With over 7,000 people being infected by HIV/AIDS on a daily basis, and many of them being children, it’s crucial that we care about this cause. I’m so proud that UCLA adamantly cares; there’s no denying it as evidenced by that final total.

Another reason I’m proud? The Greek community cares more than ever. The committee is composed of many Greeks and many of the top teams were from sororities and fraternities. I have to give a shout out to my sorority, Chi Omega, for raising over $10,000. That’s absolutely exceptional. If there’s anything that makes me happy, and hopefully the rest of our campus happy, it’s knowing that community service is still alive and well at our university. More than the classes, more than the social events—UCLA is concerned about those who don’t always have a fair shot, and we stand up for them. In fact, we’ve stood up for them every year, for the past 11 years, for the 26 straight hours, without fail. And we’re not about to sit down.

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

P.S. Another reason I love Dance Marathon? Two years ago, on my birthday when I was a freshman at the event, I just happened to meet a person who is now very important to me. You never know who you might meet at an event like Dance Marathon… so if get the chance to go next year…then get up and dance!


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Like It’s Your Birthday!

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

He celebrates every day like a birthday. Why not you?

One of my friends made a comment the other day that has been in the back of my mind all week. She said, “Imagine how much happier the world would be if we treated everyone like it was their birthday, like they were a celebrity.” Of course, this idea doesn’t mean driving our friends around in limousines or baking them a birthday cake every day, but I love this general concept. For me, this idea means hugging a little more, gifting a little more, and making each other feel a little more special in general.

If you read my recent blog post about my new experiment, I’ve already gained a significant amount of happiness from getting a gift for someone every time I buy something. But it’s not about making myself happy—it’s about passing that happiness on to someone else. For example, I bought a Jamba Juice last week and I also bought a KIND bar for my roommate, letting her know what a “KIND” friend she is. She seemed to really enjoy it and seeing a friend get a smile (especially when she wasn’t expecting that kind of a surprise, even when it was small) really made my day. I think it’s these kinds of “birthday acts” that build stronger friendships and stronger people.

You don’t have to blatantly celebrate someone on a daily basis but even subtle acts can have a tremendous impact. In fact, it’s often the surprises that make people feel special. Just giving someone a hug or leaving them a complimentary post it when they’re not expecting it can be a friendly reminder that they are loved. We don’t necessarily need this affirmation from the people we love but it truly can make all the difference between mediocrity and true happiness.

Live alongside, laugh with, and love on your friends and family as much as you can!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

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Tear Down This Wall!

Posted on February 18, 2012 by

As we get older I think it becomes easier to build up walls to protect ourselves. I say this because I’ve noticed that I’ve put up some walls of my own lately. And while we think we may be protecting ourselves, I think these walls can actually hurt us more than anything. When we prevent challenges from entering our life, we are also preventing the positive as well. A wall is a wall and if you build a strong enough one, eventually nothing will break through it, not even happiness.

Perhaps you notice something similar in your own life, or maybe you’re good at remaining vulnerable and open to change. It’s something that I work on as much as I can. I think over the years, (and I think this is a natural process), I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve as much anymore. Sometimes my heart can stay buried away and I have trouble expressing my feelings. I think I revert to keeping my thoughts to myself instead of meeting a confrontation for fear of further trouble. However I have found that this often does more damage than good. Ultimately, I believe that we do need to speak up for ourselves, we do need to be honest with what we think and how we feel, and we do need to be open to change.

So here’s to breaking down walls. As Reagan would say, “tear down this wall!” I encourage you to do the same as I work to knock down my own. Life isn’t meant to be bottled up and preserved, life is meant to be shared, especially sharing how you feel. Be who you are and don’t fear that you are a burden; the people who matter will listen. I hope you’ll break down what’s holding you back and build up what makes you strong.

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

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Spending…But Sharing

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

I recently turned 21. A milestone so they say. I’ll admit, my birthday wasn’t typical—instead of a Margarita Monday or a Tequila Tuesday to ring in a new number, it was a sick-in-bed, studying-all-day kind of birthday. But it was still one of the best. I say this because it gave me a new idea—an inspiration for the happiness in gift giving. Whether it was flowers, balloons, or just a piece a piece of chocolate, I was reminded how a gift, no matter how great or small, can be the perfect way to let someone know you care about them.

But actions speak louder than words. It was during my birthday that I realized—why should gifts only come on birthdays or certain holidays? Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that come unexpectedly. They don’t have to be extravagant or expensive, just enough to convey that you were thinking of them. And before you start to think that this entire article is about how much I like getting gifts—I’m about to pull a 180 on you. In fact, I’m saying exactly the opposite because for the next month, whenever I go shopping (which isn’t too often so I don’t think I’ll go bankrupt with this plan), I’m going to buy a gift for a special person in my life. Whether it’s for my roommate, my best friend, my mom, or anyone who I treasure—no more excuses. When I see something that I think they will love, I’m just going to get it—all for the sake of hopeful happiness.

So much of the time we go out shopping just for ourselves. We buy a dress for ourselves, we buy Starbucks for ourselves (unless our boss is mandating a cappuccino), and heck, we even buy cereal just for ourselves. And I know, you may be arguing that it’d be crazy to buy something for someone else every time you brought out a Jackson or your gold card. But why should special occasions be the only time we’re willing to spend money on others? Let’s share more. Plain and simple.

I’m not suggesting you drop some serious dough. But I am inviting you to think of more than your self-interest when you spend. For example, let’s say you make a stop at H & M. Even just getting a little pair of earrings or a headband for a friend can go a long way. Or let them know you’re thinking of them by picking out their favorite snack (Cheez-its if you’re in my room) or getting them a chai latte while you’re getting your own. Life is happier when you share it with others. How can you not smile when you’re making someone else do the same?

Call me crazy, but I’m really excited to try out this project. You can still be savvy and spend your money in ways that make more than just yourself happy. Besides, the excitement from a new shirt will fade but your friendships will only get stronger when you put others before yourself. Happy spending but more importantly, happy sharing!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Please follow me on Twitter by clicking here!


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Your Friendship Toolbox

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

Yesterday wasn’t my favorite day in the world but somehow I ended the day still with a smile on my face. I realized it’s because of amazing friends. But I also realized that each friend has a certain function—similar to a toolkit. We all need certain types of friends for different occasions—granted you don’t want a friend that’s a tool! Just kidding!

 

So here’s the friends I recommend to have in your friendship toolkit:

1. A laugher: Someone who you can just get silly with. Life doesn’t have to be so serious with this friend. They remind you that it’s about the little joys and just having fun.

2. A hugger: 4 hugs a day, that’s the minimum! At least that’s the song they taught us in kindergarten.

3. An earthy one: It’s great to have people who are down to Earth and just get it at the end of the day. They’re the rational friend, the ones who can see the bigger picture.

4. A fair one: Devil’s advocates, as irking as they may be sometimes, offer the fair mindedness that we could all use a little more of. This friend is great at giving perspective which we can all use a little more of I’ll bet!

5. A sassy one: I like people who have a little spunk and spirit to them. Someone who can add a little flavor is always fun to have friend.

What friends do you prize in your toolkit? Every friend has unique qualities that make them special and valuable in our lives. Here’s to BUILDING amazing friendships!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Please follow me on Twitter by clicking here!

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Sunny Star: Veronica Sperry

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

New York. Fashion Week. What girl wouldn’t want to go right? Well Veronica Sperry, Chi Omega, Vince Camuto Campus Rep, and fashion extraordinaire got that opportunity. She shared her experience with me here but what I love about Veronica most is that she takes her passions and puts them in practice. She loves the fashion industry so what does she do? She goes for it, full speed. Some might buckle their knees and stay at home for fear of rejection but not her—she doesn’t let fear hold her back. I think we should all take that same mentality with our own particular passions. Go for it. If you want to be extraordinarily happy, you have to be brave and bold—and having a brilliant fashion sense doesn’t hurt either—but it looks like Veronica already has that covered.

1. You just got back from a trip to New York for your position as a Campus Rep with the fashion designer, Vince Camuto. Tell us about your trip and what you learned while you were there.

Last weekend I went to NYC with the two other UCLA reps, Diana and Alice who are both in ADPi, to attendVince Camuto’s market week. I learned so much about how market week works and the process of getting styles from the showroom to the stores. I got the opportunity to meet people on the Vince Camuto team as well as four other Vince Camuto reps from all over the country. It made the trip even more special getting to explore NYC with other girls who share my same passion. The last day of our trip we got to meet Vince and his wife, Louise, who is also the creative director of the line, and both were very nice and down to earth. I loved that they were clearly interested in our opinions and even asked us to pick out our favorite shoes from the upcoming fall collection. Meeting the people responsible for the shoes I post about on Facebook every day made me feel so much more connected to the brand. After I got back, I wrote a blog post about the trip which the Vince Camuto team posted on their national Facebook page moments after I published it. It shows that they are paying attention to what we’re doing here at UCLA and that they support us.

2. What has been your happiest memory as a campus rep for Vince Camuto? 

My happiest memory doing this program is by far the trip to NYC. However, our Fall Trunk Show was a pretty incredible milestone for me as well. I’ve never put on an event, let alone one of that magnitude, so its success was a major accomplishment for my team and me. A few people from Vince Camuto and a marketing team they are working with flew out to LA from the east coast just to attend the trunk show, and it made the event that much bigger. There was a great turn out of both boys and girls and by the end of the night our whole team was high on fashion success.



3. It’s clear that you love fashion and it’s inspiring how you took that passion and put it in to a potential career. What advice do you have for girls who want to pursue the fashion industry?

Especially after meeting people in the industry and Vince Camuto himself, the overall message I’ve gotten and feel I should relay is that if you’re passionate about something, go for it. Vince started off as a salesman and now is the creator of this year’s brand of the year. He proves that if there is something you want to do, there is absolutely no reason to give up on it. My passion is fashion, and I’m working towards that every day, though at the moment I’m hardly where I want to end up. My advice is to start with an internship or campus rep position and chase every opportunity that comes from it.

4. Why Vince Camuto?

First of all, the Vince Camuto brand fills a niche that no one else has been able to reach. They provide high-end designer quality and style at a price point that even college students can afford Secondly, their college ambassador program is infinitely more advanced than any other on campus. We’re sent purses, shoes, sunglasses, and even clothes that are still in stores to give to students for free. Yes, we have awesome pens to give away too, but no other rep on campus is giving away this kind of quality merchandise in these quantities. Vince Camuto’s purpose for this program is to give college students something they’ll actually enjoy, and that is the kind of goal I can get behind.

5. How does working in the fashion industry add to your happiness?

Working in fashion is what gets me excited and motivated every morning. Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to work in fashion, and now that I’m beginning to break into the industry, the future is that much brighter. I’m loving my time at UCLA, and wouldn’t cut it short for the world; but now that I’ve gotten a peek into the fashion industry, I know the best years of my life won’t be limited to my college experience.

6. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Like us on Facebook! Every time you see that ”Vince Camuto at UCLA” posted something, that’s me, and I take every comment and “like” to heart. I love to hear what types of things students like or don’t like on our page, so any feedback is much appreciated.

Thank you so much Veronica for sharing! I hope this motivated you to go to your own “Fashion Week,” whether that’s a triathlon, an audition for a musical, or taking the MCAT. Every time you show up, you are setting yourself up to achieve your goals. Go for it!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

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It’s a New Day, It’s a New Life

Posted on February 7, 2012 by

Good morning everyone! It’s so nice to be back! I’ve taken a long hiatus the past week preparing for midterms and the like. I also had an amazing weekend with some of my best friends celebrating my 21st birthday so that was the highlight of my week—I feel so grateful to have such amazing friends who bring so much laughter and fun to my life.

As nice as it is to write daily on my blog, I have to admit, it was also nice having a little break and letting my mind and fingers (too much typing for school!) get a vacation. I don’t know about you, but life feels busier than ever. I’m taking a full course load and I’m working over 20 hours a week. It’s definitely been a balancing act this quarter and I’m often heard saying, “It’s not that I don’t have enough time, I just have NO free time.” That’s the way of the game though; I know I’d rather be busy than be bored.

So if you’re in a similar situation with me where you feel like there are not enough hours in the day, let’s just take a deep breath. Baby steps, one small goal at a time. I think you have to focus on the small to achieve the great. Life is a daily commitment, whether it’s classes, a job, or going to the gym. They always say 90% is just showing up. I don’t think it can be that powerful, but I think it definitely makes a huge impact to just BE PRESENT. So here we are—let’s go out and conquer this week!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Please follow me on Twitter by clicking here!  

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Sunny Girl in Study Mode

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

The Sunny Girl is in study mode for now. I will bring back the sunshine shortly so stay tuned!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Go out and get your HAPPY on!

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Living It Up with a Laugh

Posted on January 28, 2012 by

A laugh goes such a long way. I laughed so much on Thursday night at the Laugh Factory where we watched UCLA comedians duke it out against the Trojans. There were 6 finalists on each side and while some were incredibly awkward, others had us uncontrollably laughing—especially when they made sorority jokes. Over 30 Chi Omegas went to the event so you know that when someone makes a parody of sorority life, we’ll get it. Overall, I was so happy I went to the event.

I hope you’re laughing at least a couple times a day. If you are a natural laughter, thank your lucky laugh stars. I wish I was! You know those people—the ones you hear laughing all throughout the day—I wish I had the gift. But if you tend to be somewhat of a low laughter like me, it’s not hopeless! Spending time with your best friends, watching your favorite shows, and yes, going out to comedy clubs will help you get your laugh on.

Laughing is a natural symptom of happiness so I hope you’ve got a fever for it (I need more cowbell! Side note: SNL is my favorite comedy show). Laugh as much as you can with the people you love. Life is too short to be serious all of the time. Let go and allow yourself to live it up with a laugh!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Please follow me on Twitter by clicking here! 

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Vloggo is the New “Thing”

Posted on January 27, 2012 by

We’re always looking for the next big thing right? Well one of my friends, Luke Wojnowski, may have just created it. His new website and iPhone app, Vloggo, just hit the web a few days ago and it’s already taken off. I created an account myself and I can’t wait to start connecting with everyone in this new element of video blogging. But don’t let me get ahead of myself…

As Luke explains it, Vloggo is like a Twitter account but with videos—you can record 60 seconds of just about anything and everything—a friendly shout out, a view from a hike, or just random commentary—whatever you like. I’m so excited to be a part of this new venture and I’m wishing Luke all the best with it. I hope you’ll join me in becoming a member of Vloggo and begin adding a little more life to your technology—starring you.

And if you want proof of Luke’s web talent, you can start by looking right at this blog. Had it not been for Luke, The Sunny Girl Site would not have had the nearly million hits that it has gotten nor would it have those bright yellow sunflowers adorning the page. Luke had enough faith in this project to invest countless hours and energy into giving The Sunny Girl that extra shine. Naturally, I am confident that anything he pursues will do well with his ingenuity, talent, and dedication. I encourage you to go and check out his latest idea, Vloggo!

Happy Vlogging everyone!

Here is the website so that you can get started: http://www.vloggo.com/

And be sure to “follow me” to see my first Sunny Girl video by clicking here!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

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