Love Life.

Simplify your life
Live one day at a time

Less is more

Slow down and take it all in...

Quality over quantity

Forget about the mess sometimes & be happy there's someone there to make it.

Don't worry

Paring down makes you feel free...

Take pleasure in the day to day

Appreciate the little things in life

Find beauty in every day things...

Don't click away the time

You never regret taking the time to do something nice for someone

They grow up before you know it

Keep your goals in mind but don't forget to appreciate what you already have...

Each day is such a gift to us and we should treasure its beauties: nature, our homes, our friends, our families...

Take nothing for granted. You will be happier, I promise.

A little girl drowned in the ocean this week while we were at the beach. I can't imagine how horrible it must be for her family right now & I'm heartbroken for them. Please say a little prayer & remember what's really important in your life. Don't take even one day for granted.

xoxo,

lauren

*images- 1. Real Simple, 2. Baby Christian 3.Atlanta bartlett 4. Atlanta bartlett 5.Real Simple, 6. real Simple 7.Mine-FL Rocking Chair 8.Atlanta Bartlett 9.Mine- wild chickory 10. mine- Froggy 11.real Simple 12. Mine- Ashby 13.Atlanta Bartlett 14-16. Mine - family

Love Life.

Simplify your life
Live one day at a time

Less is more

Slow down and take it all in...

Quality over quantity

Forget about the mess sometimes & be happy there's someone there to make it.

Don't worry

Paring down makes you feel free...

Take pleasure in the day to day

Appreciate the little things in life

Find beauty in every day things...

Don't click away the time

You never regret taking the time to do something nice for someone

They grow up before you know it

Keep your goals in mind but don't forget to appreciate what you already have...

Each day is such a gift to us and we should treasure its beauties: nature, our homes, our friends, our families...

Take nothing for granted. You will be happier, I promise.

A little girl drowned in the ocean this week while we were at the beach. I can't imagine how horrible it must be for her family right now & I'm heartbroken for them. Please say a little prayer & remember what's really important in your life. Don't take even one day for granted.

xoxo,

lauren

*images- 1. Real Simple, 2. Baby Christian 3.Atlanta bartlett 4. Atlanta bartlett 5.Real Simple, 6. real Simple 7.Mine-FL Rocking Chair 8.Atlanta Bartlett 9.Mine- wild chickory 10. mine- Froggy 11.real Simple 12. Mine- Ashby 13.Atlanta Bartlett 14-16. Mine - family

Would you, Could you, in a Barn?

The handy man and I celebrated sixteen years of marriage on Friday, and in true form, we celebrated it surrounded by our family while we camped our last camping trip of the season. We are not fussy or complicated, nor has our marriage been; and that is just fine with us. Because we love to tease each other, the inevitable question always pops up each year: would we do it all over again...and my favourite way to pester him: discussing at length how I would plan our renewal of vows (because we really would do it all over again, except there will be no vow renewal...the handy man thinks that is just plain silly!!).

Now, we had a relatively modest affair - though it was as big as I'd ever want it - and it had its fair share of pomp and ceremony. Still, if I were doing it all over again, I think I would do it this way:

• Outdoor venue: why not a barn? Of course make it one that has never housed animals and the resultant manure, of course!

Simple, homemade wedding favours and table decor:

Whimsical ways of involving the guests, like a simple string of photos of the happy couple. Don't you love this?

And what would I wear?

A simple cotton frock, with cowgirl boots underneath?

Nuh, uh!! No way!

I would pull me a Carrie Bradshaw and wear something like this:

After all, it's my fantasy wedding, isn't it?

****************************************

all images: Martha Stewart.com

If you want to read about the best frugal, yet stylish, wedding of all time, check out those crazy kids over at Young House Love. Don't you just love them and their smokin' creativity?!

Pear Tree Cottage Design Seminars!!

For any DC area readers, I wanted to let you know about Pear Tree Cottage's Design Seminar Series. (For non-DC area readers, just enjoy the pretty eye candy ;) The super-sweet & creative owner, Frances Brayshaw has gotten together a group of local designers to do a month-long series of design seminars on every Sunday in September. I'm so excited to be a part of the series & am the first one up on Sunday, September 6th at 4:00 pm at the shop in Vienna. Spots are limited, so if you'd like to attend, email Frances at RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com

Pear Tree Cottage
130 Maple Avenue
Vienna, VA 22180
RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com



I'm doing a workshop on arranging your accessories and will be starting with empty surfaces & demonstrating step-by-step how to create artful tablespaces, bookshelves & mantle arrangements.

Here's the schedule of Seminars:

Sunday, September 6 @ 4:00- Lauren Liess: Arranging Your Accessories

Sunday, September 13 @ 4:00- Toni Principe Korby: Defining the Look of Luxury

Sunday, September 20 @ 4:00- Kimberly Stein: From Photo to Finish

Sunday, September 27 @4:00- Rebecca Ilgenfritz: First Impressions: The Foyer

Everything in the shop is displayed so beautifully & they carry antiques & one-of-a-kind items as well as new items. The merchandise is always changing and it's one of those places you'll want to go to often to see what's new. (Not to mention you'll want everything in there!!!) Check out The Washington Spaces Blog for much more detailed description. (image below from Washington Spaces Blog)

It's going to be so much fun & I'd love to see some of you there!!! (It's my first time speaking in public since college so wish me luck!!- eeeeeek! ;) Again, spaces are limited & are booking up quickly, so email Frances at RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com to reserve your spot!!

Hope to see you there!!

xoxo,

lauren

Pear Tree Cottage Design Seminars!!

For any DC area readers, I wanted to let you know about Pear Tree Cottage's Design Seminar Series. (For non-DC area readers, just enjoy the pretty eye candy ;) The super-sweet & creative owner, Frances Brayshaw has gotten together a group of local designers to do a month-long series of design seminars on every Sunday in September. I'm so excited to be a part of the series & am the first one up on Sunday, September 6th at 4:00 pm at the shop in Vienna. Spots are limited, so if you'd like to attend, email Frances at RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com

Pear Tree Cottage
130 Maple Avenue
Vienna, VA 22180
RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com



I'm doing a workshop on arranging your accessories and will be starting with empty surfaces & demonstrating step-by-step how to create artful tablespaces, bookshelves & mantle arrangements.

Here's the schedule of Seminars:

Sunday, September 6 @ 4:00- Lauren Liess: Arranging Your Accessories

Sunday, September 13 @ 4:00- Toni Principe Korby: Defining the Look of Luxury

Sunday, September 20 @ 4:00- Kimberly Stein: From Photo to Finish

Sunday, September 27 @4:00- Rebecca Ilgenfritz: First Impressions: The Foyer

Everything in the shop is displayed so beautifully & they carry antiques & one-of-a-kind items as well as new items. The merchandise is always changing and it's one of those places you'll want to go to often to see what's new. (Not to mention you'll want everything in there!!!) Check out The Washington Spaces Blog for much more detailed description. (image below from Washington Spaces Blog)

It's going to be so much fun & I'd love to see some of you there!!! (It's my first time speaking in public since college so wish me luck!!- eeeeeek! ;) Again, spaces are limited & are booking up quickly, so email Frances at RSVP@ThePearTreeCottage.com to reserve your spot!!

Hope to see you there!!

xoxo,

lauren