It looks like I haven’t added anything to here in awhile, but if you check out the Projects and Valdez Troop page there is a lot of new stuff.  I have finally gotten comfortable living at home and stopped complaining about it. Who cares being 22 is about figuring life out.  If I am still here when I am 26, then I can complain. Anyways, here is one of my latest films for my digital editing class.  It makes me really want to just take off to another country right now.

An Abstract Adventure from lauren valdez on Vimeo.

So I have been living back home for almost 4 weeks now.  It definitely has its ups and downs, but I have been enjoying this relaxing time to figure out my next steps and spending time with my babies.  I am working as a producer for LIVE from the Future…with Stuart Paap, which is such a fun job; filming in LA, meeting celebs, hanging out with the crew, and learning a ton about film and marketing.  Other than that I am taking a few film classes.  I just got a new gig doing promotional videos for the science department at Cypress College, so basically I am just making a lot of films right now.  Here is my first cheezy film class assignment.  You might recognize the actress as Selina Elise Valdez and the original music by Jason Keller.

Wondering through the Park from lauren valdez on Vimeo.

So this is way overdue, but I have had a busy last week transitioning to moving home, taking classes, and working a ton.  But back when life was simple and good, about two weeks ago, we dyed Sanya’s hair “Chocolate Raspberry Truffle”.  The 15 boys on the gymnastics team we lived with were always so confused by our womanly ways i.e. cooking, grooming, and smelling amazing (according to Jimmy).  Imagine the their confusion when they smell toxic hair dye and hear Sanya and me yelling in the bathroom…well here is the story.

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle from lauren valdez on Vimeo.

When we are off and about working in other countries, it is not always all exotic, fun and games.  Here is the story of us trying to leave Cochabamba after weeks of hard work and good times.  Although these were some stressful days, (Emily was hospitalized, we had to fight everyday with the airline, etc.) they were some of the best of Bolivia.  I want to give a shout out to Sanya and Laura who we got to spend more time with (after we had said goodbye to them); Andres for making sure we ALL got on a plane ride home; and to Daniel’s mustache.

Adios Cochabamba from lauren valdez on Vimeo.

I come home yesterday and Becca and Grace are standing on the front porch taking pictures, for what I thought would be a big event, but no these dresses were part of a series of outfits in a Monday afternoon round of dress-up.  The only problem was that they had nowhere to go.  Upon hours of requests, they finally get a car but nobody to drive until…SANYA saved the day being the badass from Oregon that she is with mad stick-driving skills.  This video is a glimpse at the result.  Spoiler Alert: There is a happy ending.

A Legendary McDonalds Trip from lauren valdez on Vimeo.