{Featured} - Lovely Collaboration

Hello! I want to interrupt this blogcation with a post that means a lot to me and that I (and all of us involved) worked so hard on.  If you remember way back when, with this post, I talked about a lovely collaboration that my very talented friend Liz Lovi and I decided to get together and make pretty pictures.  Well, the lovely ladies at Ever Ours has featured our collaboration on their website today! (Talk about exciting!!)

Liz and I got together last summer to work on a project that we thought would be a lot of fun. I would try my hand at styling, and Liz would do what she does best, take amazing pictures. We enlisted two of our friends, Demetra + Mike, to be our models. We thought it would be fun to do something a little different and do an anniversary shoot. It was great timing with D + M celebrating their one year anny. Both travel a lot (mostly for work) so we wanted to create a theme that would encompass that. "Oh the Places We'll Go" was born. It was to be a simple shoot that incorporated maps, an air field, a very cool old truck, and lots of delicious sweets for the focus.

Please head on over to Ever Ours and check it out. But in the meantime, here are a few of MY favorites from the day.

I mean really, how cute are these two? 

xo, 

L

*Credit - “Oh the Places We’ll Go”

Photography- Liz Lovi, Liz Lovi Photography

Styling- Lauren Jamison, Look So Lovely

Location- San Carlos Airport, San Carlos, CA
1959 Chevy- on loan from a generous friend
Wardrobe + Jewelry– from Demetra’s (model's) closet:

Outfit 1: Tank and skirt– Madewell; Gold flats- Kate Spade; Sunglasses– Karen Walker

Outfit 2: Green Dress- J.Crew; Blue Bauble Necklace– ILY Couture via Etsy; Maroon heels- Sigerson Morrison

Cake Pops- Kell-Rae's Kupcakes

Suitcases, bistro table, & glassware – Vintage via Liz and Lauren’s collections

Blogcation...

Hi all :) I've decided to take a blogcation. Yup, similar to those staycations. I feel like I keep promising to myself that I'll post more, then time flies away from me. (really where does it go?) Trying to stay inspired to write seems to make me more distracted than ever. And striking when the iron is lukewarm is not working. This blog is my place to be creative and I truly love it. (well, most of the time) However, I am feeling a little like it's homework these days, without focus and direction and that is not how I want LSL to be. For me. 

After a lot of thought, I've decided to take a little blogcation. Just some time away to recharge, refresh, and rethink my baby. I still encourage the comments, or emails to say hello. 

To me this is an exciting time away. And instead of feeling overwhelmed about what to post, what to cook, what to do; I can focus more on what I am interested in posting, if I feel like changing it up, but most of all, improving it overall. 

In the meantime, I'm planning a lot of this.... 

and you should too!

xo,

Lauren

*Credit - 1/2

LSL {Thoughts & Quotes} - You

Saw this on my favorite site and thought I would brighten up your day/feed/blog roll. Just a lovely little thought for the day...

via

It's a nice reminder to be you, always. That's a courageous thing to remember to do and be when times and people get tough. But bravely being you, is the best anyone can do. I am going to try and remember this and really live with intention. 

Hope you are having a lovely middle of the week!

xo,
L

Bucket List

It's that time again and today's my BIG birthday! Last year I reflected on my 31 years and looking back, I have been working really hard to take my own advice. As difficult as I may be. ;) This year I'm thinking it would be a fun idea to try a bucket list of sorts. Some goals I want to try and accomplish this year. Some silly (#13, #27) and some more of a challenge (#14, #29). But what's another year older without some things to check off the ol' life list.

My 32 for 32 -  
1. Take a cooking class. (psst...already signed up and it's in September.) Check! {9/20/12}
2. Go sailing.
3. Volunteer more (ok, at all). Find a good cause and get going.
4. Go to a blogger event. Work on building a blogger community in general.
5. Read and reread some classics. Remember those? The ones we had to for HS.
6. Have a meal in every borough of SF (China town, North Beach, Marina, Sunset, etc....)
7. Camp on the coast.
8. Finally learn my crappy digital camera's manual mode. And use it more.
9. NEW job. (shhh)
10. Take a dance lesson. Maybe the pachanga, like Baby and Johnny.
11. Host a small dinner party at my house. And make all the food myself!
12. Finally learn a song on my guitar.
13. Use all my fancy purses and clutches this year. Even the ones I think should be more on display than for actual use.
14. Learn sign language. Or at least sign up for a class to learn.
15. Discover the hiking and biking trails in my neighborhood.
16. Decide once and for all (yes or no) about that tattoo. (you with me Lizzie?!)
17. Go to Palm Springs for a relaxing vacation. 
18. Make, list, and sell my jewelry on Etsy.
19. Figure out a good hobby. (in addition to the jewelry)
20. Make/paint a small canvas for my (future) gallery wall.
21. See the sunrise.
22. Go to the horse races.
23. Go on just a champagne tasting trip. 
24. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. (I've never done it!)
25. Exercise regularly. Get those toned arms, legs and gluts I've always wanted.
26. Go to a shooting range to try it. (this is something I was fiercely against, but think it's good to try most things once.) Check! {9/6/12 - 9/9/12, Shasta Lake}
27. Visit a psychic.
28. Be spontaneous.
29. Improve my "get up and go" and "just try it" attitude. See #28.
30. Be more crafty.
31. Keep moving forward.
32. Fall in love.

Do you have a bucket list of items that you would like to try or do? Any of the above on my list you've already accomplished?

Also wanted to take a minute to thank you, my lovely readers for making this last year so fun. I know there may not be a lot of you...but it's always been about quality, not quantity for me. :)

xo,
L

*Credit - Photo via Lizzie, from our collab.

LSL Foodie Friday - Party Time, Excellent

This weekend's the ol' birthday. (Another post coming soon about that). Another year older, another year wiser. That's at least what I keep telling myself. ;)

As much as I dread turning another year older and okay, dread is probably being a touch dramatic about it, but only say that for the fact that life hands you things when you're out making other plans. (or whatever the saying is) I am also very thankful to turn another year older. Happy that I have a very blessed life, that I am healthy, I have some really wonderful friends and family and a tiny apt I love coming home to.

You know I love my champagne. It's fitting that this Foodie Friday I showcase a celebratory champagne cocktail to enjoy, where the recipe asks for you to serve in a "fancy schmancy" glasses. Yes. This girl really gets me.

With that I would like to make a toast.....Cheers to the freakin' weekend! haha just kidding. Cheers to making this year count!

Citrusy Champagne Sangria

via {Kiran Tarun}

Ingredients:

4 cups freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

1 cup ginger ale

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1 blood orange, thinly sliced

3 clementines, thinly sliced

1 honey crisp apple, thinly sliced

1/2 cup pomegranate arils

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

pinch of salt

1 bottle of chilled champagne

Directions:

1. Prepare simple syrup by stirring sugar and water until sugar completely dissolves. Keep in refrigerator to chill while prepping other ingredients.

2. In a tall pitcher, add all fruits + grapefruit juice + salt + simple syrup and ginger ale . Chill in refrigerator for a few hours, preferably overnight.

3. To serve, add sangria in a fancy-schmancy glass and top it with bubbly champagne! 

Ching Ching! 

Bon Appetit and Happy Weekend!

xo,
L

LSL { Thoughts & Quotes} - Notes to Self

With all the craziness that summer is for me at work (what's this, the third post where I've talked about my busy work schedule!) I tend to take that feeling home and then it becomes me feeling a little crazy during my off hours. And it's just that feeling you get when you are so busy doing one thing but your mind is actually on wanting to do so much of another. Like decorating your house, painting a project, cooking a Foodie Friday idea. When I get home it's to the couch I go and not much else happens. I keep thinking oh, tomorrow I'll do that or after work on Wednesday that will happen. But plans get pushed back and sadly, I am notorious for having all these ideas when I am too busy to execute them, that when I finally get some free time (aka. in a couple of weeks) will I do them?

With that all said, and I don't know about you, but sometimes all you need is a reminder to slow down, or to inspire yourself midst the hoopla that is going on. I love me some quotes, so when I discovered these lovely and very inspiring ones from a very sweet blog called Notes to Self I got to printing and posting them up all around my desk. Sarah, the designer behind these beauts, not only created all of these images herself but has a very impressive blog that I highly suggest you go and check out. Her images are totes gorge. 

Putting up quotes to help me stay inspired when life gets a little overwhelming works for me, what is your go to? How do you stay motivated and/or inspired when there's no time, or there is time but your mind tells you that watching Always Sunny In Philly reruns is a more important to do? I could really use any advise to keep pushing me. Because at the end of the day, this is our one shot, might as well make the most of it.

xo,
L

*Credit - Notes to Self

How to...

I apologize that I have been MIA here on my favorite site. I am knee deep in summer camp craziness at school and it makes for long hours, lots to do, and at the end of the day, a very tired Lauren. I promise I will be back (and be better than ever!!) in a couple of weeks. And in the meantime I will try my best to get some blogging in, but know I'd much rather spend time with you here.

I found this 'how to have a lovely day' via pinterest (of course) and thought it was sweet. So, from me to you, I am wishing you the loveliest of days!

xo,

L

Summer Snapshots

"Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” 

― Henry James

Some summer snapshots of my life, my daily doings, my instagramming...

1. White succulents! I've never seen these before // 2. A pretty church in my neighborhood // 3. My oh-so adorable (and usually a ham for the camera) HS BFF's son. Who I am utterly in love with // 4. Scary tree // 5. Hand-written note with a CD of pictures make a girl smile // 6. My neighborhood sanctuary // 7. Lake Anderson, Morgan Hill // 8. "I'm on a boat!" // 9. Enjoying a "Lauren" temple - grenadine + soda water + straw // 10. Dorks! Clearly my brother and I have always been cool. And yes, those are balloon hats on our heads ;)  // 11. Happy Dad's day, circa 1981 // 12. Making map bunting for a collaboration photo shoot // 13. My neighborhood walk views // 14. Me. In a vineyard in Napa // 15. Champs + cheese and crackers + a good friend and Domaine Carneros = a very happy lady // 16. Stylish ladies waiting outside Bouchon // 17. Went to a bday party and out came a lemur! // 18. What I want my cat to look like, if I had one // 19. I found a secret garden // 20. My favorite ladies, my best friends.

What have you been up to? Any body on Instagram I should be following? Keep a sista informed. ;) (And now for my shameless plug, you should follow me: @miss_lovelylsl) 

xo,

L

*Credit - all pics taken with my trusty iPhone

Lovely Collaboration

I wanted to share a sneak peek of something my lovely friend, Liz, and I have been working on. Liz came to me one day with the idea of getting us together to showcase our interests, hers photography, and for me, trying my hand at styling a photoshoot. After some very detailed planning emails, many ideas thrown back and forth, a few phone calls, more texts, and one Pinterest board later, our collaboration was born.

Thank you to Lizzie for your incredible talent and for this amazing photograph, I cannot wait to see more from our day. And another thank you to D and M, our oh-so patient (and smokin' hot!) models. 

To see another snapshot from this shoot, be sure to check out Liz's blog and facebook page. (While your there, why don't you go ahead and 'like' it too!) 

xo,
L

Gallery Walls

To have a gallery wall or not to? That is my question. I love the look of gallery walls and have always enjoyed seeing them in other people's homes; it's fun to check out the pictures and memorabilia all in one place. 

The reason I pose this gallery wall conundrum is...you guessed it, I have one big wall that is just screaming for a change. And since you know I live in a studio, I really only have four walls to play with, and seeing that three of my walls are either a closet, a large window, or the entry way to my kitchen. So the one wall it is. Could a gallery wall work? 

THE wall in question
Looks much smaller than it is, but in total it's over 13ft.
via my trusty iPhone

Here are my thoughts-

Do the traditional: same color frames throughout and it must go all the way to the ceiling...

Bookmark this!
This picture comes with a how-to.

Or do eclectic with a mixture of frames and art work...

Or there's shabby chic, with mirrors and empty frames...

Or paint part of the wall dark to frame it...

Or paint it all dark and move it to the bathroom... yeah probably not. But that chalkboard paint is fun none-the-less.

Or make it a little more modern and incorporate shelves...

OR scrap the gallery idea altogether and swap it for some extra large art...

What to do? What to do? Seeing all these great ideas makes me inspired to get something up in the walls asap. For me hanging pretty things is always the last thing on the list to do when I move. And, sadly more times than not, I never get to it, leaving my apartments and rooms feeling incomplete. 

However going through all these images, I do still love my gallery wall idea the best. I have so many random pictures, art pieces, and keepsakes that I would love to have out on display. And as much as I love the idea of very large scale art, I'm not sure if my teeny-tiny studio is ready for it. But, man once I get that mansion, large scale art better watch out. 

What are your thoughts about hanging up pictures in your home? Do you have any gallery wall advice of your own? Or frankly any picture hanging advice for keeping everything in line and not needing to put a thousand holes in your wall? (Is it just me?!)


xo,
L
*Credits - 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12