Over at Thoughts By Natalie

Happy Saturday, lovelies! When my friend Natalie asked if I'd be willing to guest post on her blog, Thoughts by Natalie, while she is in Massachusetts for summer vacation, I knew exactly what I could share! Natalie writes a lot about wellness, healthy eating, and vegan dishes, so when she asked more specifically if I had any DIY projects to share, I thought that our raised garden bed DIY would be fitting--especially since organic and straight from the garden is the healthy and fresh way to go.

Here is an excerpt from the post...

"Maybe you've hesitated to plant a garden because you live in the city with more concrete than soil to contend with, or you feel like your thumb is no hue of green in the slightest, or you think about planting when the season has passed, or you have no idea where to even begin...And perhaps with just a bit of direction, or just a bit of encouragement, you can be on your way to your own little farm, starting with a few veggies and herbs. A garden to call your own. The very fist step in your garden ventures, is to create a home for your plants to be nourished and to grow..."

Read the rest of the post HERE. 

Follow Via Bloglovin' & Summer Adventures

You may have seen stamped all over your favorite blogs that Google Reader is going away this Monday. So let's have this be an official au revoir to the reader that has kept us in the loop with our must-reads. I have opted to stick with Bloglovin' to organize my own blog lists, and I'd love for you to follow me over there! Follow me on Bloglovin' here >>

--end housekeeping. onto summer dreaming.--

One of my all time favorite memories in our first year here in Denver, is from a Saturday last summer when we went tubing down the Boulder Creek river with our neighbors. Matt ran to Wal Mart the morning of this impromptu tubing adventure, to find only one tube left of the shelves. He bought a tube for me, and a little inflatable boat for himself (see here). This is where things started to get pretty funny. As you can probably imagine, a 6 foot 3 man in a child size boat floating down a rocky creek was a sight to behold. That, and my friend Lauren braved the rapids with her dog in tow, the little cattle dog pup sitting on her lap the entire way down the creek.

The Acapulco Chair

For some people it is shoes. For other purses. For me, I tend to swoon over and collect too many chairs.  You might remember my last chair crush, wire chairs, and my amazing Craigslist find that soon turned into a chair revamp. And one time I found these bad jacksons at Goodwill. And in Breckenridge I couldn't help but want to take this yellow peely rusty chair home too. We have a thing, me and chairs. And this thing, I couldn't even shake it while in Mexico. I met the acapulco chair in person, at the flea market in Puerto Vallarta. And then, after seeing it in Puerto, I of course noticed these chairs all over Sayulita- on porches, patios, and rocking next to swaying hammocks. You guys, I think we found the ultimate chair for summer.

That Cup of Joe

But first, coffee. Because the day can get away before we ever even notice it began. To coffee, and to taking time in the morning. To cream, and sugar, and straws. To mugs and coffee cozies. To Wednesday, to June gloom (but not for long!), and to friends to enjoy that morning cup with. 

xo, 

Lauren

What's Eating You? | Love Yourself Linkup

As part of the Love Yourself Linkup today, my friend Serena, who I have known through adventures in being housemates and Bible studies since our college days, is sharing part of her story. 

In my struggle with body image, it wasn't until I realized what was really bothering me about myself that I was able to begin to overcome.

A man named Paul once said, "Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I had heard the verse many times before, but found myself hitting the gym and planning my next diet all the same. I was trying to conform to what society told me was right. The weight loss was never very much and it was only achieved by a diet and lifestyle I knew I wouldn't maintain. In fact, I knew it would only be a matter of time until I gained it back, plus some.

Patriotic Romper Style

Last week my friend Natalie shared her Shorts Story as part of The Love Yourself Linkup. I could totally relate to Natalie's shorts sentiments. Something Natalie wrote really stood out, especially so as we women try on outfit after outfit and spend many a battle in fitting rooms across America: "clothing is meant to fit me—not the other way around."

How Does My Garden Grow?

Since venturing into gardening in the city, and writing my first gardening post, green has sprouted and veggies are appearing in that little garden of ours. If only I had a growth chart for the tomato and pepper varieties. Jack and the Bean Stock brings on a whole new meaning--they are growing like crazy! It has been a decently hot and dry week, which brings out a whole new sense of care and tenderness towards this little garden of mine. First thing when I wake up, I go outside and water. It has become a ritual, and even Shelby loves to come out front and lay in the shade by the garden, watching for squirrels, before the sun steals the cool air away. 

Girl Shops Globe

It goes without saying that one of my favorite parts of travel are the markets and shops. When we were in Peru, it was the textiles; in Buenos Aires, the shoes and antiques. Did any of you ever see the show Man Shops Globe on the Sundance Channel? It chronicles Keith Johnson doing, what I might consider, my dream job: searching for the most unique and beautiful objects and decor for Anthropologie. It was always a tricky show to catch when it was airing--but you can watch the episodes online now at Sundance.com. Anyways, Man Shops Globe follows Johnson, who travels six months of the year, to ends-of-the-earth excursions, from flea markets in Paris to remote villages in India to obscure art studios in Turkey. Did I mention dream job? When I travel I always think of that show and what Keith would say--would it make the cut and take the trip back? I try to only bring back items from my travels that I couldn't find elsewhere, that are part of the culture or folklore art, and/or just tickle my design fancy.

Sprinkle Covered

I realized something while looking at snapshots from our trip. If I had to describe Sayulita, Mexico in all of its splendor, my description may be best given as a metaphor. Sayulita is the chocolate-dipped-sprinkle-covered-frozen-banana of my dreams. It is bright, and rich, and messy, and melt in your mouth perfection. And when you are enjoying it, all the rest of the world disappears. The moment is about enjoying each bite. You cannot help but think of the chocolatey, melty, sprinkle goodness that is the dipped banana--that is Sayulita. And even better, is when all of your friends have choco banana with you--everyone ooey and gooey and enjoying it together. Sayulita, and frozen diped bananas, are best this way. 

The "sprinkles" of Sayulta are all over the place. Colors here and there, everywhere. The markets are filled to the brim with hot hues of every shade. At one store, called the Gypsy Gallery, hand loomed and woven vintage fabrics are ALL over. It was hard to resist filling up a second suitcase! Handmade, bright, and rich textiles--perfection, right?

Cinque Terre | Samantha Elizabeth

Today I have a travel treat for you! Samantha Elizabeth, a lifestyle blogger and photographer, is exploring Italy this week and she is sharing a bit from her travels with us today. When Samantha shared her Getting Lost in Venice photographs, I wanted to vacate my current life and just hop all over Italy--she captures her adventures and the beautiful details of the towns so effortlessly. I hope you enjoy snippets from her travels, and her abroad fashion sense, as much as I have! (Ps. You should also see how diy savvy this girl is-- like this shutter mail holder, this head board, & these vintage magnets).

Along the north west coast of the Italian Riviera and nestled next to the Mediterranean Sea you will find five small villages called Cinque Terre, which include Rigimorre, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. My husband and I have chosen to stay in Manarola, the smaller of the five and more remote of the villages. One of the most fascinating things about these five villages is that they are nestled within 5 miles of jagged cliffs and vineyards.  The structure of the vineyards weaves their way from the bottom of the cliffs to the top; it is an unthinkable and amazing sight. The locals will tell you that the “The best grapes grow closest to the sea.”

Cinque Terre is one of those coastal villages where the options are endless for adventure. Enjoy a hike through vineyards and take in the amazing views of the Mediterranean’s rugged coastline, jump a 5-minute train to the next closest village and sip cappuccino in a cafe, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the “catch of the day” as Cinque Terre has some of the freshest seafood in the world, send your taste buds soaring and experience wine tasting and the world renown Sciacchetra one of Cinque Terre’s finest wines, take a less strenuous stroll along Via dell’Amore, a footpath cut out of sheer rock just a stones throw away from the sea. Cinque Terre’s charm is unlike any other in the world and exceptional in its beauty.

My Heart & My Career | Love Yourself Linkup

As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it...

About two month ago, I decided to work part time. I had a pulling on my heart since November, that I continued to ignore for months. Until finally, after the strings were tugged and pulled and my internal dialogue couldn't stay inside any longer-- I told someone about it. I told Matt. I told my mom. I told my boss, and her boss. I took a giant leap to say I know something isn't right, I am not fulfilled in my day to day, there is a part of my inner workings that does not feel complete. 

I took a leap to say that perhaps the career path I chose is not the one for me. That perhaps I need to start from square one and discover a new field. At age 27, after being a straight arrow zooming through school, four years of college studying Child Development and Psychology, and landing right into a job just one week after graduating--with the company I'd call my second family for five years now; I realized that maybe I zoomed a bit too quickly without stopping to listen to my heart along the way. The field that was perfect for me in my young twenties may not be that for me any longer. And for me, to realize this, took strength.

Strength because as soon as I spoke the words, questions shot right back in attempts to make me waiver, stumble, and deny my heart. To realize this, and tell someone about it? When I've always had my eggs neatly in a row? When I've worked so hard to get where I am at? When I've always been the one to do so well and never stray? When I don't have the answer for what I'll do next? When the image of "part-time" seems like the easy road out? When finances become an issue? When everyone else seems to have their career figured out? When, this, if, that?

Fast forward to now. Two months after I've moved to working part-time, so that I can explore my other passions and take the time to listen to my heart. I cannot say that doubts do not pop up or that I don't ask myself what are you doing? when others seem puzzled by my choice. In the world we live in, it becomes second nature to believe that at 27 I have to have my career figured out. That I have to know my five year plan. Well, I don't. But I do know that I am loving myself more now than I ever have. I can say that my heart feels more clearly listened to, exponentially so. I am looking at design, writing, and ministry as options to pursue. And it is exciting. Yet honestly, I feel so new to this type of thinking. To pursue my hobbies and my inner workings as a career path? To patiently seek out God's plan for me? (To even think that I overlooked both these things).

Matt often reminds me that I still have 30 years, if not more, of working days ahead. With that perspective, I want to choose what is absolutely right for me. This little bend in my otherwise straight arrow is but a freckle in my career path. As Bob Dylan said, "A man (or woman) is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." -- so why not  take a risk and do it?

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I am writing today as part of the Love Yourself Linkup--an ongoing series that will focus on topics such as self worth and body image. A community of woman will talk about our thoughts on these subjects, tell stories of our personal experience, share what has inspired us, challenged us, and more. Learn more over at Ann the Adventurer. You can read my thoughts from the past weeks where I've shared about anxiety, true beauty, gossip, and writing to an 80 year old me. If you have a story to tell, and want to be a part of the link up, join the conversation by writing and clicking to enter it below.

Darling Magazine | Issue No. 4

Darling Magazine made a trip to Sayulita, sat poolisde amidst humidity, and graced our communial area for the majority of our stay this past week. Even a few of our guy friends picked up the Spring Issue and remarked words such as "I wish they made a magazine like this for guys!" while reading parts out loud for the group to hear. 

You can still pre-order the Summer Issue of Darling Magazine, and by doing so, get a free digital copy  with your purchase. With bridal showers, birthdays, and vacations on the horizon, stocking up on a few copies isn't a bad idea ;) Even Anthropologie has caught on that this magazine needs to be in the hands of all women (congrats, Darling!)

Soaking up Sayulita

Sunsets, sand, and the sea. The combination of these things, give me clarity. Of mind, and heart. Add in friends and fish tacos and the world just feels a bit more complete. Today I am thankful for all of that, and all of this-- this life I've been given so graciously. I'm thankful for the beach and friends to enjoy it with. I feel so blessed by the simplest of things, yet the most important of things, this week while in Sayulita. By the way, this town is the cheery and bright little Mexican surf town I always wished to stumble upon. If you love sand and sea, and crazy delicious street tacos, write it down on your travel to wish list.

California Instagrams

Ten days in May I found myself California bound, and California loved. Here are some snapshots from my lens that week. (Note the amazing avocados, a trip to Trader Joe's, and year round outdoor pools--all a luxuries I very much miss at times--second to my best friends).

Vintage Glass Containers

That little vintage shop with the yellow chair? It had these beauties too. All of these old glass jars reminded me again how much I love vintage. Not that I forgot about my love for vintage, but it is very easy to get caught up in the now, and the new, when it comes to design. Threshold at Target, West Elm, Ikea and other newer stores get me going on a modern kick, but still my roots and what I come back to is the old and the rusty. There is so much potential (Not to mention the story that often comes with it. Remember the story of how these vintage chairs came to Denver? And what if doors could tell about the secrets kept within behind their closed guard?) What about you, are you vintage or modern when it comes to design?

Yellow Chair and Old Ammunition Box

Is this chair, ammunition box, flower vignette just wonderful? We were wandering through Breckenridge two weekends ago and I came upon this in front of a very darling vintage shop that upcycles so many amazing finds, straight from farm country. This little set up is a mix between what I love and what fits Matt's style too. Me: bright yellow and vintage. Matt: old ammo box. I need to go back. I have decided that I need to set aside an entire weekend for antique shopping through all the little Colorado mountain towns. I've already marked a few I've stumbled upon in Idaho Springs and along the way to Boulder. I'm thinking it will be perfect on a scorching hot day in Denver--to get away and up into the cooler mountain air while looking for old treasures. Who's with me?

Writing Over at Darling Magazine

An article I wrote for Darling Magazine was up this past weekend. And I have to say, the process of writing on a specific topic can teach you so much! Unlike past articles I've written--on friendships, travel, projects I've done--this one stretched me to really dig deep and research a topic that I only knew from the surface. I can now say, I feel well equipped to take on even the toughest laundering task. Thanks to tips from women in my life, and a bit of old fashioned book research, I was able to put together The Art of Laundering. You can scroll down and read it in full, and see the original article over at Darling Magazine online.

You are out shopping with your best friend and you've just found the most beautiful piece of clothing to add to your wardrobe. Its versatile and completely you.The fabric on your skin, the color hue against your complexion, and the fit—as if it was made for you, ready to be off the rack and worn out the door. As you hold the textile up and see your reflection in the mirror, you hesitantly reach for the tag near the neckline. Three words stare back at you: dry clean only. Oh how three words so delicately printed and hidden in a garment can stifle the shopper in her tracks! And how quickly your decision to purchase the piece is swayed. All due to laundering.

Third Time in Puerto Vallarta!

Vacation is here! Matt and I are Mexico bound, and are most likely up in the air by the time you are reading this. I will be unplugged all week, with the exception of maybe a few instagrams- so you can see a bit of our Puerto Vallarta adventures by following me HERE (yes , I changed my username, its @lauren_tien now!). This will be my third trip to Puerto. Ay ay ay! I am so thankful, I love Mexico, despite everyone's concerns up here in the North. I studied Spanish all through college and have such a passion for the culture. Not only is it a vacation, but a time my mind switches to thinking in Spanish. Oh how I love it. And did I mention we will be seeing more than a dozen of our California friends!?!?

The first time I went to Puerto Vallarta, I was at the awkward age of eleven. It was an amazing trip with my dad, aunt, and cousins Jenna and Katie. We parasailed, ate chips and salsa all day long, snorkeled, sported the hair braid & beads fashion to a tee, and built sandcastles while having pizza parties on the beach with the local kids. 

The second time I went to Nuevo Vallarta, was just over a year ago with my mom, one of her best friends, and my kindred spirit Caitlin. Unlike the trip when I was eleven, digital cameras documented our moments. I thought you might enjoy some snapshots from that trip (and I am sitting here writing the night before we leave and am getting SO excited for sun, sand, piña coladas and fish tacos, to name just a few basics.)

Clearly trying to make a deal.

Looking back, not quite sure why we ate these?

I told you, kindred spirit.

Although I am traveling this week, I have scheduled posts throughout the week. So be sure to check in! You can also read up at a few of my go to blogs on lifestyle, fashion, design, and all the in between: 

Thoughts By Natalie | Anne the Adventurer | What I Wore 

Crazy Bananas | Darling Magazine | Little Green Notebook

Going Home to Roost | Kendi Everyday | Samantha Elizabeth

Poppies & Happenings Lately

I love running through my neighborhood this time of year. Everything is green and blooming! And these poppies took my breath away as I ran past them on an afternoon run this week.

This weekend we are tying up loose ends and prepping to leave for Mexico. Our college friends are finally tying the knot, and are having a destination wedding! The first few days of the trip will just be Matt and me in Puerto Vallarta. But the second half, we are staying in a house with a group of our closest friends (who many I have not seen since we moved to Colorado), and celebrating the soon to be newlyweds! As you can imagine, we are beyond excited. 

Here is a little recap of some of the happenings here at Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up lately:

// I am still just smitten with terrariums and succulents in this round-up.

// Graduations inspire questions, important ones, like am I listening to my inner voice & am I taking risks to reach my dreams?

// Target does it again with J.Crew like button ups, and this cute seahorse print for summer.

// Our minty fresh little bathroom.

// I opened up and shared about anxiety this week.

// Lace is so feminine, both in fashion and home design, and here is how I'm loving it.

// I'm considering a trip to Ikea when we get back (lots of projects I've been dreaming up!), and I always seem to return with pillows in hand.

// Summer beauty is best when keeping it natural and low maintenance in the style department--inspired by Thoughts by Natalie.

// I need to make cushions for our wire chairs and have been narrowing down fabric choices (and would love to score a Peruvian textile that I could make into pillow cases).

Happy weekend!

Kitchen Facial DIY

There is something so endearing about making products the old fashioned way. Before the age of Sephora, lightyears before it seems, women did have to make their own products--for all household needs. I love the thought of regressing, and simplifying what we use daily, don't you?

I have been making lists of beauty products to whip up from scratch once I run out of my current supply. I am still feeling this overwhelming urge to live more simply. This is one of those ways I am taking baby steps. I seriously have no idea if the DIY beauty products will be a success, but the thought of making my own shampoo, conditioner and other daily used products is really wonderful in theory, isn't it? And with my temperamental skin, face products could be either a complete mess, or in another sense just perfect because of the simple and gentle ingredients.

Which is Worse? | Love Yourself Linkup

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” --Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway gets it. He gets that writing, true and honest writing, can be painful. But I once heard someone say that true agony comes from keeping an untold story inside of you. So which is worse? The heartache from keeping a story within or the painful process that writing that story can entail? 

I used to be the one who would bottle things up. I stored everything within. The parts of me that felt unheard or misunderstood, I kept. The parts that wanted to fix the world but couldn't, stayed in my heart. The parts where I made mistakes, I held inside as shame. And any bit of hurt from words and turmoil in my world, I internalized deep within. I used to be the one who would keep it all in. It would pile and pile until, when at the brink and filled with one more thing, I would shatter into a million pieces and be unable to control my emotions.

As a young girl, I think I always hoped that I would grow out of being sensitive. That I would grow up and out of the way I bottled up and tucked the weight of my world neatly away. That I would learn how to hold back my tears and to honestly talk about how I was feeling. The truth: There are still parts of my girlhood, the bottling things up and holding my anxieties in, that I still deal with today.

I in no way had a hard childhood or girlhood. I experienced joy and life as full as can be. In fact, I would say I had a model childhood filled with so much love. But I still bottled things up. The hard things, overwhelming things, even at times the simple things, and the rough parts of life that are so very present, I held within. I can explain the feeling as pressure from the inside out, on the walls of my heart, on my chest, and an unsettling.

That unsettling, the pressure on my walls within, I now know as anxiety. Those millions of pieces I would shatter into? A panic attack.

This past weekend, after a beautiful day in the mountains with Matt, literally a perfect day full of so much joy in the simple things--fresh air, driving through the country, homemade fudge, perfect blue skies, and wonderful conversation--I came home and within one hour felt overwhelmed by the things I had left behind that day. The internalized things I had forgotten about while enjoying a day in the fresh air, came crashing over me, like a wave I couldn't run from, within just moments of being back in the city. Whatever I had bottled up, was starting to press from the inside out, about to shatter if one more thing was internalized. I was on the verge of having a panic attack. I had been bottling things up over the past week, month, or who knows how long--and something triggered that pressure, that unsettling, and the brink of tears (for what felt like no reason at all).

The difference between now and a younger me, is that I know myself. I know this very part of me. And instead of hiding this part of my story, and dealing with the agony of keeping it within, I am talking about it. Writing about it. And as Hemingway said, its painful. No one wants to say "hey, I have anxiety and sometimes break down into a full on panic attack!" It is painful to be so honest about a part of myself I am not very proud of, but worth it because talking and writing about it brings healing.  For my whole life, I have been the master at keeping my anxiety a secret from everyone (except my Mom and Matt, who know me better than I know myself it seems). But I think its time to face it, and say it, and write it.

Back to this past weekend--on the verge of a panic attack, Matt, who knows this part of me well, encouraged me to get outdoors. To do something I love--to go for a swim. The wonderful thing is, that Matt has helped me bring this part of my story to life. He helps diminish that anxiety and bottling up as being that voice of reason and truth. He has made it clear that when you tell a hard part of your story,  share about a part of yourself you are not so proud of, the response from those who love you is solid and steadfast. That they help you through it and help you overcome it. 

I am still figuring out how to write all of this--how to make it known on my blog that this is something within me, that I deal with on a very real scale. But I am realizing that the agony of keeping something bottled up and untold is far harder than the process of writing about it, or telling someone about it. To me, that is the worse choice. 

To love myself truer and deeper, writing about this part of me is necessary. And hopefully, it inspires you to journal, write, or talk about the untold story in your life.

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I am writing today as part of the Love Yourself Linkup--an ongoing series that will focus on topics such as self image and body image. A community of woman will talk about our thoughts on these subjects, tell stories of our personal experience, share what has inspired us, challenged us, and more. Learn more over at Ann the Adventurer. You can read my thoughts from the past weeks on true beauty, gossip, and writing to an 80 year old me. If you have a story to tell, and want to be a part of the link up, join the conversation by writing and clicking to enter it below.