The Good Kind of Love Playlist

Hi guys!

When I was in high school, I was obsessed with making mixed CDs.  I still have every single one of them in a huge binder somewhere around my house.  These days, I just download music online like everyone else in the world.  But I still like creating little soundtracks for my life and this is one of my all-time favorites.  It's the one that captures all the best parts of love and it always reminds me exactly why I fell in love in the first place ... 

The Good Kind of Love Playlist

Now That I've Found You by Paul McDonald & Nikki Reed

Hold You In My Arms by Ray Lamontage

Stay the Night by James Blunt

Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

Close Your Eyes by Michael Buble

Mmm by Laura Izibor

Make You Feel My Love by Adele

Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk

All of Me by John Legend

The Story by Brandi Carlile

With love,

Lace

P.S. Stay tuned for our country edition of this playlist!  It's the best thing you'll hear all day/month/year even if you're a country music hater ;)

Growing Lavender: Part II

Hey guys!

It's been over a week since we planted our lavender and it's growing right along!  New blossoms are poking through every day and it smells SO good.  But I'll be honest - we didn't get off to the best start ...

In the first few days, it was actually looking pretty limp.  I put the pot just outside our front door thinking it would get sunlight there.  But I was totally wrong!  Once I realized what was happening, I moved it into a sunny patch in our front yard.  It perked right up and has been looking healthy and happy ever since!

This week, I bought a little watering can.  I only water the lavender every few days, but during the in-between times, I leave the can outside so Lu can pretend to water it all by herself.  It always makes her smile and I love that she has such a big heart!

On a related note, I once read that plants need affection just like people.  I have no idea if it's actually true, but I'm a firm believer that every little thing needs love.  So every morning, I take Lu out to say hello to our lavender.  And every evening, we say good night!  Luna LOVES doing this!  After a week, she now stands by the door just WAITING to see it!  And as soon as I let her out, she waves and toddles over to it.  At almost a year old, she does A LOT of adorable things but this has to be one of my favorites!

I'll be posting another update in a few weeks.   Hopefully our little plant will be a lot bigger by then!  Actually, we might have to invest in a bigger pot soon if that happens!  Once it fully blooms, I'm planning to make lavender sugar and maybe a few other fun things ... maybe a lavender crown?   Or lavender satchels to tuck into our dresser drawers?  I'll make sure to post about it so stay tuned if you're interested! 

Until next time,

Lace & Lu

10 Simple Ways to Brighten Your Day

Hi everyone!

Do you ever wake up and feel off?   Everything is fine but you're just not feeling it.  Sometimes a bad day is just that ... a bad day!  But it doesn't have to stay that way.  Try these 10 simple ways to brighten your day:

1. OPEN THE WINDOWS

Throw open the windows in your house or roll them down in your car.  A little fresh air will go a long way towards making you feel better.

2. TURN ON THE RADIO

If you only have time for one song, make it River by Leon Bridges.  Or Carry Me Through by Dave Barnes.  It's like pushing the reset button on your soul.  And if you're looking for a full playlist, keep an eye out for our Better Days Playlist which is coming soon!

3. DETOX WITH SPA WATER

I'm a brownies-for-breakfast kind of girl.  But I try to steer clear of mood-crashing sugar on rough days.  Instead, I make a pitcher of detox water for breakfast.  Then I pour it into a wine glass, close my eyes, and pretend I'm hanging out at the spa for a few minutes :)

Quick Recipe:  Combine ice, water, mint cucumber, and lemon in a pretty pitcher!

4. TRY LUXURY HAND SOAP

Am I crazy for including soap on this list?  Maybe.  But I swear I feel happier every time I use Pecksniff's England Rose & Peony Hand Wash.  I found it at my local T.J. Maxx for super cheap and it smells so. freaking. good!

5. BUY FRESH FLOWERS

For under $5, you can purchase a sweet multi-colored bouquet from your local grocery store that will brighten your day (and the rest of your week)!  Just snip the ends and place them in clean water to keep them fresh.

6. SIGN OFF SOCIAL MEDIA

Have you ever heard the quote "Comparison is the thief of joy"?  Social media makes it so easy to compare ourselves to other people!  Try signing off for a day or two and let yourself focus on real life for a while. 

7. GO FOR A WALK

Skip the gym today and take a walk outside instead.  It will feel less like a chore and more like a much-needed recharging.  I actually take a walk every single day for my sanity's sake :)

8. TAKE AN EPSON SALT BATH

Our muscles tense up when we're feeling moody.  A warm Epsom salt bath will help your body (and your mind) relax.  It's worth it, even if you have to wake up a few minutes early or go to bed a little later to make it happen.

9. HUG SOMEONE YOU LOVE

Hugging is proven to make us happier.  It makes us feel more connected to the people we care about and significantly reduces our stress levels.  I knew this long before I ever read a study on it.  In fact, I give my husband and baby and family ridiculous amounts of hugs on a regular basis.  So snuggle up to someone you love and hold on tight.

10. WASH YOUR LINENS

If the day is almost over and you're still not feeling it, strip the sheets and pillowcases from your bed and toss them in the wash.   It feels so good to snuggle into freshly laundered linen after a long day.  Breathe in the soothing scent of your detergent and know that tomorrow is bound to be a better day.

With love,
Lace

6 Easy Ways to Meet Mom Friends

Hey lady!

Now that you're a mom, things are changing fast.  Maybe your old friends are still hanging out at bars while you're busy changing diapers and washing bottles.   Maybe you're new to town or naturally introverted.  Whatever the case, you need other moms in your life!  Here's why:

Mom friends are there for the good and bad.  They nod sympathetically when you talk about how you've been up all night.  They understand when your hair is a mess and you're wearing the same pair of leggings for the third straight day.  And they really, really get it when you have a meltdown because your husband never closes the wipes and now the whole pack is dried up!

See what I'm saying?  We need other moms almost as much as we need a good night's sleep. Luckily, they're a lot easier to come by than you think.  Here are six ways to meet mom friends in your area today:

1. HANG OUT AT THE PARK

This is my #1 way to make friends.  Try pushing a baby in a swing for thirty minutes and not talking to the mom standing next to you... it's impossible! 

2. CHECK OUT THE LIBRARY

Most libraries offer a variety of programs for little ones.  I've been taking Luna to a Baby Bunny Story Time since she was 5 weeks old.  It's more structured than the park so arrive a few minutes early or hang around after the class for a chance to chat with the other moms.

3. TRY GYMNASTICS

Our local gymnastics center offers a FREE fun time on Fridays for all babies under 18 months!  Older babies and children can come, too, for just a few bucks per hour.  While I chat up the other moms, Luna crawls up and down the stacked mats and across the floor beams.   And since there's a time limit, I never have to awkwardly figure out how to get away from a conversation.  It's the perfect opportunity for an introvert (like me) to socialize!

Note:  Out of curiosity, I checked around to see if other gyms offer similar programs and many of them did!  So definitely contact local gyms to see what they offer!

4. HEAD TO THE COMMUNITY POOL

Who wouldn't want to make friends while getting a tan?!  Just make sure to slather on the sunscreen (or keep infants covered) and bring plenty of water.  Also, try to go before 10 AM or after 4 PM to limit sun exposure.

Some places also offer swim classes for babies as young as six months!  We enrolled Luna in swim class when she was ten months old.  Full disclosure - she hated it BUT the other five babies in her class (that were all a few months older) really enjoyed splashing around.  And the other moms were sympathetic to Lu's crying.  It actually gave us something to talk about after the lessons ended!

5. JOIN STROLLER STRIDES

My version of "working out" is a leisurely stroll through town.  But I know plenty of moms who swear by Stroller Strides!  It's a fitness program that incorporates your baby into the workouts and it's found nationwide.  One thing to know - there's a monthly fee for this program.  Around here, it runs about $60 per month.  Still, it's cheaper than a gym membership and a great way to meet other moms!

6. USE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER

As a last resort, I use my husband to make friends.  He meets a lot of guys through work and many of them are married with kids.  Yes, sometimes it feels like I'm being set up on an adult play date.  But every now and then I meet a fellow mom who turns into a genuine friend, so it's totally worth it!

What are some other ways you've made mom friends?  Let us know in the comments below!

With love,

Lace

*Banner Photo by Caroline Basquill-White*

*All outfits pictured above are sold on WhiteGoldLA.com!*

One Month Until the Lace & Lu Launch!

Hey guys,

Things have been crazy around here!  The official Lace & Lu blog launch is only ONE MONTH (and two days) away and there's still so much to do.  I have interviews to conduct, photography sessions to complete, articles to write, and so much more.  I want to make sure that I'm giving you guys the best content possible and it takes time to do that! 

In the meantime, I want to share a little behind-the-scenes insight on how I'm prepping for our launch.  This week, I'm finalizing the Home page and creating the About page.  It's pretty tedious stuff to be perfectly honest.  I've had to sit down and really think about what I wanted to say and I how to get my message across.  But it's also been a rainy couple of days so there's no better time to buckle down and get it done. 

On a happy note, the weather was BEAUTIFUL last week!  I took advantage of the sunshine and drove Luna down to a nearby dock for an hour.  We met my friend Shannon there - she has a little boy about Luna's age and (like me) is working on her photography skills.  She took these shots of me and Luna while baby Arthur played nearby :)

I knew these pictures would be PERFECT for the blog if they turned out well.  But when Shannon sent them to me, I couldn't believe how much I loved them!  It's not that I don't have faith in Shannon's skills - she's incredible!  But Luna was ready for a nap and a little cranky and I was sure I looked like a complete mess!  Maybe that's why these pictures turned out so well, though.  Because by the time we got around to shooting them, I was more focused on Lu and less focused on trying to pose for pictures.  Just looking at her makes me happy and I think we can all agree that EVERYONE looks better with a smile :)

The hardest part about incorporating these pictures into my blog was choosing which ones to use - there are so many I love!  I ended up selecting one for my Home Page and one for my About page.  As for the rest, I'll use them to build anticipation for the blog on my social media accounts.  It's all part of the roll-out plan I'm currently putting together and I'm hoping it's at least somewhat effective.  I'll probably write more about that later if I can find time!

In the coming weeks, you'll have the option to sign up for the Lace & Lu monthly email list.  Until then, check back regularly for updates and let me know if there is anything you'd like to see on the blog.  I'm always looking for inspiration!

With love,

Lace