la la lovely things

i had this post and that post but no post seemed right today.

yesterday, as i drove to ikea, in a giant white pick up truck, to buy patio furniture for my husband to put together, other peoples lives were being pulled apart.  i’m sure your heart is aching with each sound of the newscasters reports.  and the ache of those who have lost loved ones can’t be put to words.  i haven’t even been able to turn the tv on, other than a blaring episode of peppa pig, as i sometimes just can’t take the visuals of devastation.

how to do you handle hard times?  do you hide out?  do you take action?  do you divert your attention?  i sometimes do a little of each.  i hug my loved ones a little tighter and pray throughout the day.

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i found out about laura, affectionately known as the hollywood housewife, from a good friend who reads her blog daily.  laura is a small town oklahoma girl turned hollywood housewife,  for reals.  i quickly took a liking to laura and her blog as she is a writer at heart and lover of books.  her posts are honest, endearing and thought provoking.  and if i’m ever trying to figure out what to read next, well, i know where to look.  laura and i met at ALT and i only wish we had more time to get to know each other better.

My luggage. I travel at least once a month and usually more. This year I’ve already been to Colorado, Salt Lake City, Vegas, Oklahoma, Dallas, and Palm Springs. This bag is from my trip to a blogging conference down in Laguna Niquel. I’ve been home almost two weeks and the thing is still unpacked at the foot of my bed. If I don’t tackle it right away, I get super lazy about it. Come to think of it, this is true for most tasks in my life.

Books. I have a serious book buying addiction. I have more than I could possibly read. And since I bought a Kindle Paperwhite (you can see it peeking out at the top of the stack), the instant purchase gratification is out of control. Lest you think this is a humble brag, I really have forced myself on a hiatus until I make some progress on my current To Read list. I keep a stack of books that I’m excited about on my bedside table, which means that space is never as pristine as I would like for it to be. But I’m okay with that kind of clutter because having books around brings me comfort.

A major theme in my life is Start Where You Are. Too often I’ll talk myself out of trying something new or making a change because it seems overwhelming, or because I feel like I need to be more prepared in some way. But it’s not true. Start where you with what’s in front of you. One step leads to the next to the next. I have to remind myself daily.

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so, i this could totally be my monday mess.  i don’t have a unpacked suitcase at the moment but, like laura, if i don’t do it right away than it just might stay packed until the next trip.  what about you?  and books, don’t get me started on bedside books.  ok, do.  i just added this book + this one, over the weekend.  what books are on your bedside table?

p.s. last month i did an interview with laura for all parenting (where she writes a regular column) on moms who blog, you can read it here.

images : hollywood housewife

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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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.

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.

if there is the slightest chance you don’t know camille than it is my pleasure to introduce you!  camille is the founder and lady behind camille styles (and yes that is her real name) which happens to be a favorite stop for all things entertaining, food and beauty.   if you want to know how to throw a beautiful party than camille is your girl.  she has mad entertaining skills and doesn’t miss a detail.  her site is one of my go to’s and i’m pretty sure it will become one of your’s too.  thanks for sharing your mess, camille!

I’m a major card-sender and letter-writer, and I’m a total sucker for beautiful stationery – (if it happens to be letterpressed, even better!) The only problem? Organizing my growing collection and keeping it from getting out of control! I’d like to setup a system for corralling cards by occasion, so that when I need a birthday, thank-you or congratulations card, I can easily see all my options. I’m thinking that a file system might be my best bet…

Since the CamilleStyles.com office is on one side of my house, our dining room table often becomes my team’s “conference room” (or photo studio, or break room, depending on the day.) A typical Monday morning brainstorm session usually ends up with magazine tears, stacks of books and lots of coffee cups strewn about, and I actually kind of love it. This photo (above)  is a visual illustration of all the creativity and productivity that is happening!

i’m curious … does anyone else collect stationery and cards?  i do and, i have to say, my supplies are all squished in a drawer and i always find myself buying double because i don’t first check my disorganized stash.  thanks to camille, i’m definitely thinking about a filing system now too.  how do you keep your stationery and such organized?  i’d love to know.

images :  1 + 3 by Suzy Q / 2 + 4 by Camille Styles

hi lovelies.  i’m back from england with a tired body but rested heart.  i  can’t wait to share photos and stories with you next week.  but, before i begin that i suppose i should start with, at least, one of the reasons why i traveled across the sea.  a few weeks ago i wrote this in my journal :

i am tired.  inside and out.  the list of to do’s (mostly ones i’ve brought upon myself) is pretty long and i want to blow them off, almost, as much as my high school geometry homework.

all i want to do is read and write.  write and read. look at words.  hear them.  ponder them. and think them.  all the while, making making my own with an inky pen or the punchy click of my computer keys.  stringing words together to make sense of my soul.

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