happy friday! ok, i know this is not my normal fave friday photos of the week but i haven’t taken a ton nor had time to go through them. and, i apologize that this photo is is so grainy (you can see it properly, along with the rest of the gorgeous home here). i did a big no no and increased the size, but the truth is i just love it so much that i wanted to post it. i’m totally loving the black and white situation carried outdoors. we are going to be cleaning up our deck and bringing up the patio furniture and i’m so wishing that i could recover our (pink) cushions in black and then find a pretty flower chandy like that. viola …. porch heaven!
these past few weeks and next coming ones are crazy schedule wise. i’m trying my best to just take it day by day. tonight we are finally celebrating rocco’s birthday and tomorrow night we are going out on a date. and, in between and after that there are a million practices, school parties, organizing and errands to do.
what about you? tell me your weekend is going to be super relaxing and let me hear all about it!
have a happy one, lovelies! xo
i also write for euro style lighting and this weeks post is super fun (or should i say how to create it in your home).
A FEW OF MY FAVES THIS WEEK +
01 / would you make homemade wrapping paper? i would.
02 / spring cleaning? how about your pantry?
03 / i still ooh and ahh over her house.
04 / i should be eating this but i’d rather be eating this (it just says welcome summer).
05 / does anybody watch this? someone told me that the girl looks like me when i was younger. i’m now kind of sucked in and missing my 18 year old face.
also, don’t forget the tree trial + discount with honest for La La Lovely readers.
FOR MORE LOVELY + Inspiration : PINTEREST / Chatter : TWITTER / Conversation : FACEBOOK / Pictures : INSTAGRAM
lately, i love been loving lockers. like want a pair for my house in a bad way kind of loving. i envision them in a mudroom looking all vintage and cool but hiding all of my kids things. coat hooks just don’t seem to be doing the trick anymore.
and what about in the kitchen like the photo above? that thought never occurred to me. i’m also in desperate need of a pantry (i don’t have a built in) thanks to the appetites of 4 little (some not so little anymore) la las. the built in version (pictured) are pretty great, right?
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1/ butter london west end wonderland 2/ benefit smokin eyes 3/ butter london crumpet 4/ mac lustreglass in love nectar
i’m kind of in love with my new sam edelman heels which i lovingly refer to as my princess kate shoes. because, see…right here. kind of, right? i was looking for a pair of shoes to wear to my brothers wedding, this past weekend, with this dress and i wanted something really classic and that i could wear in my everyday style too. these did not dissapoint. they are on major sale and hey it is a small price to pay to feel like princess kate for a day.
so, speaking of the wedding i went a little overboard with the nude / natural look. the above are a few beauty products that i’m loving at the moment.
and if you are wondering about the wedding
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it’s monday which means there’s usually talk of messes. today, i thought it would be fun to chat about un-messing. and by un-messing, i mean cleaning. like it or loathe it? it’s debatable, i know. it’s one of those jobs that is never fully done and starts un-doing the minute it’s done. so let’s discuss.
when it comes to cleaning i’m always on the lookout for products that work well, are natural, and, of course, affordable. from my experience this combination is hard to come by (especially in the middle part of the country where i live). i’m by no means entirely green but i’m slowly making changes where i can.
i currently have a few faves from The Honest Company that i think you might like too. I’ve known about Honest for sometime but i got to know them at ALT this past year. i kind of took a big sigh and nodded with a giant yes when i heard their approach to going green, “make small changes and over time it makes an impact.” for most people it’s hard (and not accessible) to change everything all at once. and if you are considering, it’s the price tag that usually makes the final decision for you.
so, for me, instead of getting rid of my old cleaning products, i decided to add in. i simply tried a few new ones before i threw out the old. i ordered a few things from Honest and have been using them for several months.
these two cleaning products have become regulars + work like a charm + i’ve even found a secret use for both of them :
Multi-Surface Cleaner : like its name it works on multiple surfaces. i like using it on granite, high chairs, the kitchen table and toys.
my secret use : stainless steel. i don’t know about you but i’ve bought many pricey stainless steel cleaners over the years and none have wowed me. i was pleasantly surprised at how well the Multi-Surface Cleaner worked on my stainless steel fridge. smudges be gone.
Dish Soap : love it for dishes, yes and yes (and feel so much better knowing my littles cups are cleaned with non toxic soap. i do a lot of hand washing so this is big for me).
secret use : carpet cleaner. who knew? remember my new land of nod rug? well it’s already seen its fair share of spills. one winter day it was hot chocolate splattered everywhere and another random day it was smothered cuties crusted into the carpet. both stains came out with the Dish Soap and a little water.
have you tried Honest? i’d love to hear what products you love and how you use them.
a few products i’d like to try next are the Healing Balm (i heard some people are using it on their crows feet and blemishes – for real) and the Conditioning Mist (for both myself and my kids).
you can sign up for the subscription service here.
confession : i was always afraid to sign up for a subscription and not sure if i wanted that many products, that often. but, honestly, it has been perfect. if you bundle your products, you save more, and you can mix cleaning, baby, and bath and body products. you can even change your shipping frequency between 4, 6, or 8 weeks (as needed). and the best part is that you can easily make selections and updates on the Honest Baby App, which i’m slightly obsessed with. a few clicks on my phone and ta da everything shows up at my door.
if you’d like to give Honest a try check out their free trial. and, La La Lovely readers can enjoy $10 off a $40 minimum purchase on first-time orders only (one per customer) with code LaLaLovely10off40. expires may 20, 2013.
this post is sponsored by Honest. all opinions are my own.
two, how do you do? i’ve known you three other times and you’ve been sweet but this time i find you rather bitter. yes, in the form of my squishy and smiley little guy you could not be sweeter but in knowing this is likely the last time two lives in our home, i feel a little sour.
sweet rocco you are sunshine through and through. pudgy hands and thumpy feet that leave smudges of happiness down the halls and in our hearts.
+you are so animated with the cutest little expressions that i somehow know that i used to make
+instead of yes, it’s a sure “mmmhmmm” and to that i can never say no
+you insist on going to bed with at least two binkies (memees). preferably three. one for your mouth. and one for each hand.
+whatever liam does or has, you must have or do too
+it’s been all about muno but as of last week spiderman (man) it is
+meal times are wild. no sitting still. food everywhere. walking on tables. begging for coocoo (cookie).
+you can break dance with the best of them
+ we call you roc, rocco the taco, and (i’m sorry) little roc
+you’re favorite book is wild animals by rop van mierlo
+you love to watch common + colbie caillat break it down with elmo
+you just started giving bear hugs and i hope you never stop
+you look up to uLA, Uke and EEum
+when i’m not looking you dance like maniac in your car seat. but i always catch a glimpse.
+you love to put on my shoes or anyones that might be laying around
by now it may be known that your name means rest. truth be told you are my most active. the messes you make are second to none. i’m always right behind picking up after you or you are right behind me undoing what i’ve done. your running. i’m chasing. but here we are together. maybe you don’t afford me physical rest but you’ve given my soul some. that is the kind i need anyways. the peace of mind kind. good day. bad day. random, nothing new kind of day. and there you are shining your sweet smile my way and covering me with little heaps of happiness. giggling goodness back into my serious self. creating chaos and casting calm into my heart. finding rest when you rest your head upon me. it’s all there wrapped up in your pudgy little body and bright shining eyes.
although it’s your birthday, i’m the one who gets the gift. and i pray that two with you is imprinted in my mind and stamped upon my heart for all the three and four and forty fours that follow.
ahh london. it seems like it was all a dream. this trip was somewhat of a last minute thing but i’m so glad i ended up going. i tagged along with some of my close friends and we went to colour conference which was pretty amazing. after a few days at the conference in london i headed south to worthing to visit my british bestie, maggie. maggie and i have been friends for almost 20 years. on my very first trip to england i stayed with her family and we’ve stayed great friends over the years. i spent time with her sweet family, drank lots of tea and chatted and chatted and chatted.
+the colored houses get me every single time. made a super quick trip to the portobello market with a friend. could have spent hours wandering about
+we stayed right in the piccadilly circus area which was perfect. with paul + laduree near by my taste buds traveled to france.
+i brought along my baggu pouch which is my new favorite thing. it was perfect to slip on my wrist and it held all my essentials. i have the medium gold pouch and the neon strap. i’ve been using it almost everyday since i’ve been home too.
+maggie’s mom, Pam Weaver, has written several books and it was fun to see them at the bookstore
so, i had a bit of money saved up for a new couch and i spent it on this trip instead. usually, if given the choice, i’ll take the trip every time. things come and go but memories last a lifetime. my sister, who kept pushing me to go, said i should be able to live on this trip for a good 6 months and i believe she is right. i shared a bit about why i went and i can’t tell you how happy i am that i did. now instead of geting annoyed every time i look at my mangy old couch i just smile.
is it any wonder that today i picked something so proper? probably not, because as i write this i’m still in my bath robe and pajama pants (which i wore in the car to drop the littles off at school – don’t worry, i stayed in the car).
i’m liking this ensemble quite a lot. red shoes. ripped jeans. the little louis case . would you wear this? i’d be feeling all businessy trina…ready to take on the world.
if you are looking for some rugged jeans…i’m loving these destroyed skinnies by free people.
what about you, lovelies? what do you wishing you were wearing today?
oh, and after my long businessy kind of day, i’d spend my evening here!
this entry way. the floor. the light. the bike. the white. yes, perfection achieved.
labeling jars like this (and check out the kitchen in which they reside).
big hair and good color.
a diy cherry blossom light inspired by lost in translation.
lemon curd. almost bought some in england + wish i would have. maybe i’ll attempt to make some.
what are you loving this week?
