Category: Style & Beauty

Friday Favorites {12.04.20}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Remember back in March when the world shut down, we all thought for sure we’d be through this pandemic in a few a weeks? Maybe a month. And all of the germ experts were like….you all have no idea. Buckle up. This thing is likely coming back for a second wave in the fall and winter. And that seemed so impossible and so far away?? And here we are in December. Still in a pandemic. CRAZY. We’ve been through almost an entire year living in a pandemic. It seems like the end is in sight, though. There’s hope that we don’t have another year of this, at least. And I am READY to be able to see my family again.

I’ve got a whole host of FAMILY stuff today. What’s this blog without Jonathan and Harrison pictures? A little bit of style and one of my FAVORITE sales of the year. And just some randomness. Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Watching these little guys together over the holiday weekend was the best. Four days of Harrison giving hugs to his brother, trying to make him laugh, and fetching his lovie for him when he cried. I love being their mom.

Read more

Patio Planters & Bistro Lights

Posted on by Lauren Lane

About a month ago, Nathan came out of project retirement thanks to the boredom of staying home from COVID, and approached me with an idea to switch up our patio. He had always envisioned making the rectangular side of our patio more of a set aside space that would lend itself to an outdoor picnic set or table and chairs.

Per usual, I was terrible at taking “before” pictures. I just want to get to the end result! Here’s a look from last year at what this area looked like:

We re-homed both the hydrangea you can see on the far back left of the above picture, and the boxwood on the far right corner to new homes for this project. Then, Nathan built a couple of cedar planters to put in the corners instead.

Read more

A Room Fit For a Big Brother: Harrison’s Big Boy Room

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Back in February, we found out that we were going to be adding another little boy to this Lane clan (in just a few short weeks now!). Knowing the gender of our newest little Lane set about deciding what to do with Harrison’s sleeping situation. Would we buy a second crib? Would we keep Harrison in his current room or move him to a new room? Toddler bed or regular bed?

We decided it would be easiest for Harrison to move to a new room, and for him to give his crib to his baby brother. We already had everything set up in his room as a nursery. Rocking chair, dresser low enough to put our diaper changing station on it. It’s the smallest room in the house, and perfect for a little baby. And fortunate for us, was already decorated for a little boy! So I set about designing a new room for Harrison.

I have loads of “internet” friends that I adore following on Instagram for their amazing home style. But somehow, anytime I set about to do a home project myself, I get 85% of the way there, and then that last 15%, which is usually wall decor, just kind of hangs around for months…sometimes years. We literally have walls and rooms in our house that don’t have a single thing hung on them after six years of being here. (Can you say also fear of putting nails into a beautifully painted wall??)

Here’s a peak of the walls/room before painting…

Read more

Let’s Look At…Your Summer Wardrobe

Posted on by Lauren Lane

If your’e new here, once a month, I link up with two of my favorite blogs (Shay @ Mix and Match Mama and Erika @ A Little Bit of Everything), to share a “look” into some little aspect of our life. Before we get to this month, here’s a peak back at what we’ve “looked” at so far this year:

Today we’re sharing our summer wardrobes. And if you read all the way to the bottom, I’ve got a super exciting thing coming up NEXT WEEK!

I’ve shared in earlier posts that being pregnant and living in the time of COVID (aka – I don’t get out much), my summer wardrobe is laughable at best. Most days I opt for gym shorts and a workout tank. Not having to get dressed up for work each day has been a blessing on the wallet this go around and saved time in the morning.

I’ll share the things that I’ve been wearing regularly during quarantine with my ever expanding belly.

Read more

What’s Up Wednesday {06.24.20}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

The days of June have come and gone so quickly! I knew that things would really feel like they were speeding up as we head into the home stretch before meeting our newest baby boy! July is already baby month! Or at least, we think so. I guess if he decides to be very late, we could end up with an August baby as well. Harrison was two days past his due date, and right or wrong, I’ve got it in my head that I’m going to have the full forty weeks before this little one arrives too.

Tell me – did your babies arrive early, on time, or late?? Were second babies more on time or earlier than first babies??

I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer to share with you what’s going on in our life lately!

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

  • Sunday: For Father’s Day, we’re going to do take out from a local restaurant!
  • Monday: Leftovers
  • Tuesday: Salmon & sautéed spinach
  • Wednesday: Chicken nuggets and Mac & cheese – Nathan has insisted from the first day that we were dating that Mac and cheese must be served with chicken nuggets. I’m guessing that combo reminds him of his childhood
  • Thursday: Leftovers
  • Friday: Carne asada tacos

2: WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Preparing for this newest little Lane boy has me super reminiscent of the early days of bringing Harrison’s light into this world.

Read more

Weekday Wardrobe in Quarantine

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Earlier this week, I shared our weekend, which included most of the things I’d normally include in my Friday Favorites post. So instead, I thought I’d do a bit of a funny take on what I’ve been wearing lately. It’s a cross between quarantine-chic style and what I’ve been wearing this pregnancy while WFH.

SUNDAY!

Making a pre-pregnancy shirt work just a bit longer. Invested in these comfy joggers from Amazon. Perfect for pregnancy and post-pregnancy.

MONDAY:

Ready for a morning of working from home. These slippers are getting worn pretty much all day. And my favorite maternity camisole that I wear under everything is super cheap at Target.

TUESDAY:

This is another pre-pregnancy sweater. I love the Emma 525 sweater. They hold their shape so well, and they come in soooo many colors.

And ironically enough, I forgot after Tuesday to take any more pictures. 🙂

I did a post on our Mother’s Day weekend HERE, which includes SO many of my favorites from this past week. Until next week, have a good weekend!

Friday Favorites: Current Favorite Curly Girl Products

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Last fall, I talked about all of the research I had done on the Curly Girl Hair Method. Almost six months later, and I’m still following this method. My hair feels healthier than it’s ever felt because I’m not washing it and styling it every day with heat. It’s like my hair is saying, “you’re finally figuring out what we like.” Along my journey, I’ve tried many products. And the one thing I’ve found about the CGM is that my hair is not the same month-to-month. The things that will work for me in the dead of winter with no moisture need to be switched up as humidity starts creeping back up as well.

Here are the products I’ve been loving in the low humidity this winter.

Read more

Let’s Look At…Your Winter Wardrobe

Posted on by Lauren Lane

It’s the day of the month that I link up with two of my favorite blogs: Mix & Match Mama and A Little Bit of Everything to share a little peak into life at our house!

And today, we’re looking at our winter wardrobe! I’ll link anything that I post below that’s from the current season and still available. My winter wardrobe consists of workout clothes, sweaters, and more sweaters.

When I moved to Michigan for college many years ago, I went up north with a wardrobe fit for a central Midwest winter. I had no idea what I was in for with a Michigan winter on Lake Michigan. What I found out was that snow was at least a weekly thing. And not just any snow, lake effect snow. Temperatures were bitterly cold from November through a good part of March, and my central Midwest winter wardrobe of long sleeve t-shirts and a handful of sweaters just wasn’t cut out for Michigan winter.

Read more

What’s Up Wednesday {01.29.20}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

My first What’s Up Wednesday of the new year! This January seems to be lasting for forever. Anybody else? I’m craving warmer weather, and time spent outside in the garden and walks with my little man.

I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer to share with you what’s going on in our life lately!

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

January and February are my busiest months at work. Dinner time is all about easy, easy, easy.

  • Sunday: Carne asada tacos
  • Tuesday: Pulled pork leftovers from my birthday dinner at my parents’ house!
  • Wednesday: Maybe leftovers
  • Thursday: Baked potato bar
  • Friday: Out to eat
  • Saturday: Date night!

2: WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Warm weather. And gardens that are full of flowers and greenery.

Read more

Friday Favorites {01.17.20}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

January and February are my really busy months at work. It feels like for two months, I run around like a crazy person trying to get it all done both at home and at work. The solace is that it’s not super nice outside, so I don’t feel like I’m missing time in my garden, going to the pool, and all fo the wonderful things I love in the spring and summer. There are still plenty of things, though, that makes the week more fun!

I love snow in the winter. Within reason, of course. But it just makes the world quiet, and I love that kind of peace. We got a couple inches of snow last weekend, and it was wonderfully beautiful. And inclusive of hot chocolate, of course!

Read more