Thanksgiving with a side of DIY.

Hi friends! I know I said I wouldn't be on here until Spring, BUT had to let you know of the Fallen Leaves Wreath over at Darling Magazine that I contributed. You can read the article in full under The Hostess--over here. (You may remember my inspiration for the wreath HERE). In less than five hours I am on a plane headed straight West. California here I come! I have not been back to see my friends and family since before this blog was even created...crazy, right? It is way past due. I hope you enjoy your time giving thanks with loved ones!

Darling Magazine: Hostess Tips for your Darling House Guest

photo via Pinterest

Last week, an article I wrote titled Hostess Tips for your Darling House Guest was published over at Darling Magazine. You can meandor over here to read it! Also, there is a really great weekend giveaway happening over at LGN. You should go check it out and enter over here-- ever so cute shoes (and a code for $20 regardless if you win) are up for grabs! 

Bon Voyage for Winter.

photo source

We are enjoying the last stretch of warm days before the snow arrives. Luckily, cold days in Denver are still paired with sunshine-- and that I am thankful for. You may have noticed my lack of new material on the blog over the past month. Part of that lack is due to my need to get outdoors, be with Matt, and spend time cultivating friendships. Another part of that is related to my heart-- the layers beneath, and seeking the Lord. Just as there is summer, fall, winter and spring, there are also seasons in life. Currently, I am going through a season of needing to simplify and step back from a few things. One of those things being Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up.  So as I am signing off for a bit, know this isn't goodbye, its only just see you in a little while.

You can still catch me writing and sharing projects over at Darling Magazine. I am excited to say that I will be contributing on a more regular basis under The Hostess, so definitely be checking in to read what myself and other women are writing about--over here.

xo,

Lauren

Bright and Bold Menu Chalkboard.

Matt and I are so lucky to have neighbors who feed us. Chris is a darn great chef, and we've had the luxury of tasting a bit of his own Italian roots through the meals he cooks at weekly "family dinners". Since we moved here to Colorado, Chris and Lauren have opened their home and have invited us to partake in conversation and laughs over home cooked meals, charades, and stories about our weeks. We've gotten to meet their friends and have a bit of quality "family" time. Its lovely.

When Chris and Lauren asked me to help them come up with art or a gallery wall to put up on the blank space in their well-loved and heart-of-the-home kitchen, we decided that a menu board was a was a must. Thanks to the scrap furniture store, they found this large frame for dirt cheap, which I painted with my favorite shade of red (left-over from past projects). Chris then cut out a piece of scrap fiber board which I painted with chalk board paint (again, left over). A little adhesive, and voila! The chalkboard menu is so large and the PERFECT addition to the space and the people who live there. I loved how Chris even had me come over last night to write the first official menu as he was cooking--and of course, the last touch was a signature from the chef. Do you spend time with friends over meals each week? 

Confetti, Balloons, and a Winner.

Whenever November is nearing, I get into birthday party excitement. I don't even have birthday parties anymore, but the though of balloons, homemade decorations, streamers, pom poms, and cake candles set in this nostalgia of childhood. Piñatas, birthday surprises, party dresses, and a day where its okay to feel a bit spoiled. Can you relate when your birthday nears? Well, its not my birthday yet, but I can still bust out the celebratory photographs to announce the Shabby Apple Giveaway winner! And to say THANK YOU for entering, let's throw a little party, right here, right now, in this sentence-- surrounded by these fun photographs! The lucky lady with $50 to Shabby Apple is Mindy Fan! Hopefully you can get the I'm Late I'm Late dress that mentioned as your favorite! Happy weekend everyone!

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A Weekend & A Week Off.

Getting out of town for the day is one of the best ways for me to feel refreshed and restored. Matt and I ventured out to Estes Park with our dear neighbors this past Saturday. I cannot thank God enough for creation and the way its beauty just abounds here in Colorado. Do I really live here? The day started with lattes at Kind Coffee, followed by a breathe taking hike to some falls, time spent gaping and climbing around on boulders with amazing views, Elk spotting (its mating season!), exploring The Stanley Hotel (Stephen King's Shining inspiration), and ending the day at a local brewery with Honey Wheat IPA. 

The time spent at Kind Coffee, and the heart to heart conversation with Matt, got me really excited about some things that may be happening here on the blog. November is going to be a big month. And at the same time, my day spent outdoors, inspired by silence and the little things in nature, and just being has made me want to take a week off from blogging for some solitude, reflection, and goal setting. 

I know you can probably relate to searching for that balance in life--balancing the things of this world with your desire to be in creation and away from it all. Thanks for sticking with me as I take a little time for this. I will see you in a week, lovelies, when I come back to announce the giveaway winner!

You have until Thursday night to enter the Pinkies Up Giveaway with Shabby Apple! Meander over here to enter for a $50 gift-card to this darling boutique and share about it with other women in your life!

Jenna's Whimsical Handmade Goods.

Meet Jenna. She is more than just my cousin. More than just a best friend. More than just a woman with a huge heart and a love for the little things. More than just a girl with a crazy creative mind and an expansive imagination. And more than just a grown up who is okay with posing like a dinosaur :)  Jenna and her sister Katie have been more like sister's to me. Some of my best memories are from adventures with these two. Jenna has always been that older girl in my life who I thought (and still think) was just so cool. And let me tell you, she is cool and so much more. 

Jenna is the creator of Jennasaurusfun-- her darling Etsy shop full of handmade goods. Crocheted octopus cozies, whimsical beanies (like "Lucy" the dinosaur above), scarves, and a new line that I am so excited about! Teaming up with her design smart husband Blake, there are wooden rings in her shop. A monster, diamond, and owl are first to premiere. And I hear she has so many more to come. You should go check Jenna out. I promise, you will love her. 

Jennasaurusfun Blog  ||  Jenna's Etsy Shop  ||  Jenna on Twitter 

[photo source: all photos are originals and the property of Jennasaurusfun ]

And remember to enter the Pinkies Up Giveaway with Shabby Apple--over here!