Lauren is a writer, musician, dancer, educator, and adventurer (and is getting used to saying each of those things without having them sound like questions).  She earned a B.S. in theater and minored in creative writing at Northwestern University, where she also received the University Fellowship Research Grant for her study on the development of physical theater and dance theory.  Determined to balance the cubicle careers of the "real world" with her creative endeavors, Lauren used vacation days to tour with a reggae band, compose music for film and television, and write.  When it was clear that passion overwhelmed the confines of Human Resources, Lauren Pleaped (took a Pink leap of faith) and has been cubicle-free since 2009.

Lauren is honored to write for Owning Pink and to follow in Joy Mazzola's insightful and mojo-making footsteps as Editor-in-Pink.  Committed to singing loudly, dancing hard, and failing with gusto, Lauren is deeply grateful for the blessings of the Universe (even when they are &@#*ing painful).  She expresses said sentiments in her personal blog, Full of Grate Great, and also writes for San Francisco music site The Owl Mag.  As a member of Oakland-based arts collective The Getback, Lauren performs and teaches music throughout the Bay Area.

Lauren lives in Oakland,CA with her fellow Gabriel, dog Otto, cat Goose, fish (pl.) Michael Jacksons, and turtles Nick and Vanessa.  Lauren dedicates her ongoing adventures in Pink to the memory of her original mojo mentor and mistress of sarcasm: her mother, Susan.