{Dot in the City Question of the Week} Community and Blogging.

Today over at Dot in the City, myself and a handful of other bloggers answered the question, What makes you feel most connected to another's blog? Below is my response-- you can read more over here, and join in the conversation at Dot in the City. And on a somewhat related note, imagine sitting around this table below, in an intimate setting, building community, connecting with one another, and enjoying the lovely autumn air. Perfection.

autumn dessert party || building community || let's make our blogs as cozy as this setting, shall we?

What makes you feel most connected to another's blog?

Community and connecting with others is something that is innately in each of us. I think that the blogging world is such a great extension of that everyday community. It is an outlet to express ourselves creatively and reach out to others and make an impact, without even knowing the reader on the other side of the screen. Whether your blogging is focused on the everyday beauty of simplicity, home design, empowerment, delicious meals, the wonder of motherhood, faith, the ever changing fashion world, or outdoor adventure and/or more, in each niche there is the opportunity to engage with another whose passion is kindred to your own. There is a way to meet someone through the mere exchanging of a comment, encouragement in the confines of text, or through a simple photograph. I love how PearlsPoppiesPinkiesUp has connected me with a handful of thought provoking, intentional, sincere, and whole minded women that I would have otherwise never met. With that, what makes me feel most connected is when I actual experience just that, the real character of the person behind the blog. The sincerity, intentionality, and realness of that the blogger. Just as in the non-blogging world, I feel most connected to another when I can relate and there is a two way relationship in a sense. They are engaged with their readers and quality, not quantity, is a priority. I would say that my 'love language' is quality time spent with others, so for me, that "quality" in a blog is important to me. This question is a perfect one to answer here on Dot in the City, because I feel like Beth does just that. She really shows that sincerity for her readers and you can see her desire to connect others in a quality fashion. And when it really comes down to it, if we strip away that desire to blog and post and post some more, community and connecting is at the heart of why we blog, is it not?

{Thoughts for Thursday} Dear future 80 year old me.

photo source

Dear Older Me,

Your years have made you wiser, with a  wise soul that is discerning. Discernment has made your speech sweet like a honeycomb, with gracious words that are sweetness to the soul.. Your words carry like a tune throughout your your family. Your young, their young, and generations after. May it be ever filled with harmonies of kindness.  

Your years have made wear on your face, your hands, your heart. Wrinkles of joy from laughing and being kissed by the sun. Rough hands from the work and love you have poured out through touch, and craft, and thoughtfulness. From a lamp that never goes out. A worn in heart secure in what you know is rock, and what you know is passing like the wind.

Your years have made you lovelier. The way you sip your tea, relish in frienships, and still wear pearls, just because. More precious than the jewels that adorn you, your beloved trusts in you, and has no lack of gain. Your years have made you independent and strong. Dress yourself with strength and dignity, and laugh at the time to come.

Your years have made you fear the Lord. Love the Lord. Know the Lord.

Your years have made you just the way you are.

Embrace it. And know I am learning how to be more like you.

xo,

A younger you

{With portions from Proverbs 29 & 31, ESV}

Repurposing Frames. Tray Chic.

I am notorious for framing too many photographs and art. I switch out what is on my walls and shelves so frequently, that a stack of unused frames accumulates in a closet.  Problem number one: Clutter. Problem number two: Pretty prints and photographs hidden away. While tackling problem number one this weekend, and decluttering the stacks of items on shelves and in the closet of my second bedroom, I played around with the unused framed pieces. While organizing away I came up with a fun way to incorporate a few framed art and photographs back out of the closet, and into our home, tackling problem number two.  

Typically for coffee tables, desk tops, and other home surfaces I've seen a lot of mirrors transformed, vintage crates repurposed, and other ideas out there for trays in the realm of home decor (even those trays that have slots for you to add photographs, you know the type). I am happy to say that now we can add framed art to the list of makeshift decor trays (and I'm sure I'm not the first to come up with the idea, but its still a refreshing way to use framed art!). Whether you go the mix and match route (like I did above in my desk area) or stick to a color palette where the items complement or go with the feel of what is framed (like below with the shabby beach vibe), it is a way to organize a space where knick knacks and little bits of lovely might otherwise look disheveled and not cohesive. A perfume and jewelry tray? A place to collect letters and stationary? A tray for lightweight jars and tea candles? A place for your fill-in-th-blank collection? Love it.

Fabric & Threads: Paisley, Cords, and Polkadots

If you know my everyday style, you know that I often mix prints. One of my lovely readers asked if I could share a bit on my print and pattern mixing. Being such a visual person myself, I thought that showing you photos every now and again of my daily looks may be of some inspiration to you, especially if they combine prints and colors you may not have thought of before! (HERE you can see the past Fabric & Threads post). This year I feel my personal style has both matured yet also brought back parts of my past. As a teenager, mostly what I wore was thrifted and vintage. I lost that zest for the thrift through my college years, and now with a love for being frugal and finding a bargain, thrifting is back in my life, and also allows for interesting patterns and pieces of the past to be a part of my wardrobe again. I can also say I feel a bit braver in my personal style. Feeling more confident in my own skin and in the layers beneath the fabric and threads has really made me more daring to try bold prints and trends I might not have tried in the past. And when I say layers, what I really mean is that I have grown in my confidence as a woman, in my inner beauty, and have learned to embrace my imperfections and be thankful for the body I have.

Mixing Prints for Fall:

This look incorporates skinny floral corduroys, a polkadot wedge top, grey suede ankle boots, and a top knot. The patterns and tones are subtle, yet compliment each other. The blousey top paired with the skinnies creates a fun sillohuette. Corduroy for fall is perfect, especially in colors like plum, eggplant, mustard yellow, and navy. Let's keep colors in the season, shall we? And of course the booties are in right now, but I would love them regardless of the trend. They're a great boot option while it is still eighty degrees out (no sweaty calves!). I'll have you know ALL of these items were purchased for my work wardrobe revamp. And ALL were purchased on sale! Paired with other items in my closet, a more formal work look can be put together with each piece. But on the weekend, I can wear all three of these elements together and BOOM a playful look for day and night. What is a print combo or look that you are loving for fall?

top ANN TAYLOR | corduroys ANN TAYLOR | booties TARGET 

Vibrant Florals.

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I hope these floral prints cheer you up the same way they do for me. This falls in the category of my weekly design crush. Even though autumn and winter are coming up, a bright vibrant spring print is still and will always be a favorite of mine, no matter the season. I love bringing the outdoors in, in any design element. And these prints definitely do that and more. You can almost smell the flowers looking at these prints. What are your thoughts on vibrant florals? (Also, I love that the first photograph is actually a little girls room. How sophisticated! You hardly notice the girly toys in the bottom left, because the floral print is jut THAT STUNNING!)

We have plans of DIY this weekend. I feel like its been ages. So stay tuned! I cannot wait to share with you the things I have been just aching to get to. Have a great weekend!

My Downtown Work Day.

Work work work. So thankful for a job I love. Week two in my new position down for the count! Here are some snapshots of my daily downtown day. If I'm unable to blog, at least you can see I'm alive and well! What's not captured via photo are the moments where I am so busy running all about at the two schools I work at. But you all know what that is like, running about that is. Also not photographed are the moments I spend in the classrooms, with children so curious about their world, exploring and navigating their independence, and teachers so passionate about their work and the children they spend each day with.

my Starbucks wifi use looks like this

my early mornings look like this

What is it that you love about the work you do every day?

xo,Lauren

Color {and taste} Translation: Pumpkins!

You know you have succumbed to the pumpkin obsession when you make a trip to the grocery store with the sole mission to find pumpkin flavored cream cheese and pumpkin bagels. It is only just September and the pumpkin craze is full force. I feel it in my bones, and in the air, as I walk past Starbucks each day and see a many pumpkin spice chai warming up a cup. It's not quite time to carve the guard and make art and decor with this little orange vegetable, but it is quite time to be inspired by pumpkins in the kitchen and home (and on pinterest, yes?).

photo source

I love the pinkish pumpkin colored wall paper in this retro design shot. This room beams fall, yet it is the lightness of the wall paper, white detailing, and decor that make it appropriate year round. Doesn't this print make you feel brave enough to paste some wallpaper in your home? You can check out more patterns and prints in the home on my growing Pinterest board--over here.

marthastuart / tatertots&jello

I absolutely LOVE the idea of using a pumpkin as a vase or bowl. These two ideas are my favorite upcycled pumpkin finds as of late. I had to look twice at the pumpkin flower holders, they are so subtle you almost miss that those are pumpkins! This weekend is going to be kitchen happy as I am going to try many of these delicious pumpkin recipes I have been seeing popping up all over. Here are a few I am super excited about:

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese - A Beautiful Mess
Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake- 20minutemom
Pumpkin French Toast- Recipes for a Quarterlife
Pumpkin Beer Bars with Streussel Topping - Espresso and Cream
Baked Pumpkin & Butternut Mac n' Cheese- Dot in the City
{As good as Starbucks} Pumpkin Scones- Nancy Creative

Mmmmmm Spicey Pumpkins!

xo, Lauren