Set the tone to your home!

Is your entry solely designed for functionality or do you use it to introduce the style and feel for your home?

Why not make it both!

When I bought my condo 3 years ago I was beyond excited to decorate it the way I wanted, a clean slate - a blank canvas. First thing I did was paint the walls with a neutral gray, and off I went furnishing 700 square feet. My credit card was getting quite a workout to say the least and, after investing in some big ticket items, I had to slow the decorating down. I put off the entry way til the very last because I didn't know what I wanted to do with it! The space is a little tight, so I didn't have the option of making it its own separate room. I spent many hour Pinning and still couldn't come up with anything I liked or I was too nervous to try...In the mean time, Jim Morrison hung behind my door.

The before...

The before...

I finally came across this Pin and it inspired me to do a circle mirror gallery wall combo. I liked the simplicity of all the white frames, but there are some super great gallery walls that combine lots of different colours and textures. I'll try on my next wall - baby steps!

Photo Credit to bowerpowerblog.com

Photo Credit to bowerpowerblog.com

I have so many photos I've collected over the years and enjoy framing pictures of my travels, so I knew I wanted a mix of both art, words, my favourite places with my favourite people. This was the mix I came up with!

  • Heart of Gold - this was a gift from a dear friend AND my favourite Neil Young song. (similar one here)
  • A Banksy Art Piece "There's Always Hope".
  • London's skyline (dear to my heart from when I lived there briefly in 2014).
  • My friend Kathryn and I with a backdrop of Manhattan.

I'm definitely not a knick knack person and there is a fine line between too much accessories and just enough, but details are a great way to add personal touches of you... even in a small entry way!

  • The IKEA side table was upgraded with a new mustard rose handle (an easy inexpensive way to update a piece!). This knob's an oldie from Anthropologie, but you can find a similar one here
  • My keys hang on the slogan my mother feels she needs to repeatedly tell me: "Keep Calm and Carry On".
  • My mail has a home on a cute heart envelope dish - it also holds left over change from world travelling (note the British pence). It's also a great dish to store other grab-and-go items (like my sunglasses so they don't get lost in the black hole of my purse!)
  • An anchor door mat because nautical is always in and I need to display my constant life dilemma of Converse vs. Metallic heels.

This is my current entry way, I'm happy with the progress I made and my first gallery wall but I think an entry way might just be one of those spaces that's ever evolving... I'm thinking wallpaper next? 

How will you welcome your guests into your home?? Get creative! 

xx

LC

aaaaaaaaaaaand one last quick check before heading out! 

aaaaaaaaaaaand one last quick check before heading out!

 



Say YES... then Netflix and Chill.

As we near the end of January, I find it crazy how people’s emotions are a pendulum from the beginning of the month - the promise of new resolutions and optimism for the new year ahead - and then mid month hits and the pendulum hits a giant boulder and you almost feel stuck. You realize you go to work when it's dark, come home when it's dark and, for Vancouver, the winter rain has set in and that can be a bit of a downer.

I've been deemed a bit of a "planner" among my friends, I love organizing group events, hosting dinner parties, volunteering and getting involved in different events in the city - I want to admit that part of my motivation is that I am single and live alone and if I DIDN'T reach out and organize things I would lead a sad life sitting in my apartment binge watching Netflix, alone. That's why I have a rule: say YES to as many invitations as possible - especially if it's outside of your normal routine! It's always hard getting there but usually 95% of the time you're happy you went or it's an experience to talk about.

A few things I said YES to this week:

  • A visit to Grouse Mountain! I usually just visit the mountain after doing the traitorous 3km hike up. This time we went up to see the snow!! Crazy this mountain is just 20 minutes outside of downtown and it transports you to a winter wonderland with activities like skating, sleigh rides, skiing and some epic photo ops in the twinkling lit forest walk. See exhibit A: My loud cackle captured on film.
  • Another fun (and NEW!) thing I participated in this week was volunteering for the Vancouver Symphony Ball! It was a black tie, "Singing in the Rain" themed event and all to support a good cause - what better way to spend your Thursday night? I'd also recently purchased some black tuxedo pants that I needed to debut at the perfect event...  on a white carpet. 
  • I joined one of the many "new" online dating apps, "Bumble", yes ladies, there are bee's out there waiting for you to talk to them! And by Bee's I mean men. This site is a bit different than the other ones because the woman needs to make the first move within 24hours of being matched - I'm a fan of the concept, but I won't lie, my rate of return on responses was about 5% (Insert defeated emoji here.) HOWEVER, I did connect with a guy and am proud to say I am going on a date this weekend!

So you can see the theme here: say YES...JUST DO IT. You won't regret it! Well maybe you will, but then you'll have a story to tell over a bottle of wine with the girls and you'll always have your sweats and Netflix to go home to ...

Happy Weekend!

xx

LC

 

 

New Year. New Me. Cliché, I know.

So 2016 has finally arrived, whether we were prepared or not, people start to naturally outpour all of their New Year resolutions and mantras, including my favourite: NEW YEAR, NEW ME (said it a boisterous Oprah voice). 

I’ll admit this year I was a full on textbook example of someone aspiring to make this year the BEST ONE YET. These plans didn’t so much include resolutions, but rather:

1. Complete a WHOLE 30 (www.whole30.com). The “cleanse” that includes no sugar, dairy, grains, legumes… oh and Prosecco and other fun boozes.

2. START A BLOG, this one was a long time coming. I actually signed up in October but it finally came to fruition in January. The New Year: time to get shit done. (Thanks for tuning in to blog #1!)

3. See a psychic! I admittedly spend a large percentage of my days worrying about past, present  and future life so, any sort of insight I could get – spiritual or otherwise, was welcomed for my sanity but also to spare my friends the ramblings of over analyzing yet another year of Lauren.

A check-in on progress…

1. I lasted 5 days on the Whole 30, and a few series of events (and Vodka) have lead me back to Day 1. Life happens and sometimes plans change – but I’m back on the horse…

2. Blog #1 published = SUCCESS! 

3. I really enjoyed the psychic experience. I left feeling optimistic about life, appreciating the things I have to be grateful for and worrying less - a little, at least. I’ll chalk it up for the win and, if anything, I am excited to see how the year unfolds!

So whether you’ve gone all or nothing on the resolution front, a few things to keep in mind: it’s not the end of the world if plans change, that’s life. Tomorrow is going to happen either way, and like the music legend that was David Bowie said, “You could be a hero/ Just for one day / We can be us / Just for one day” So just be you, everyday. 

XX

LC (FYI: a nickname I go by, in a world with many Laurens)

Said goodbye to 2015 in my hometown, Edmonton, Alberta. Photo Cred: Elizabeth Marie

Said goodbye to 2015 in my hometown, Edmonton, Alberta. Photo Cred: Elizabeth Marie