Floating the lake (warning, pregnant belly ahead)

April 8, 2011

Today was a very, very fun day here in Stillwater. I had been watching the weather all week waiting for the first hot (91 degrees!), muggy day in Stillwater so that I could jump in the water and float around Lake McMurtry and today was the perfect day! Steph and I tried this last Sunday and with only 80 degree weather and 30 mph winds it was torture, but today was absolutely perfect. I look like a sunburned fish right now, but I do have cocoa butter rubbed all over my red arms and belly. Lake McMurtry is Stillwater's best kept secret because hardly anyone every goes there to swim, Lake Carl Blackwell is the popular place to be, but on the west bank of McMurtry is where the peaceful floating happens. 

Steph and I floated for 3 1/2 hours today and I am thinking that I will be back in the water every 90+ degree day from here on out!


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Solomon's Room, phase 2!

April 2, 2011

This week has been such a whirlwind! We left for Kansas City last Sunday morning after we got the call that our friends went into labor and ended up waiting for 3 days before she had her... more on that next week when I have time to go through 800 + photos! We drove home late Tuesday night about an hour after Camille was born and the following afternoon had my good friends Ginny Corbett and Shari Henson stay for a short visit. I kept asking Josh what day it was yesterday because I just had no idea what day of the week we were sitting on! I'm glad that the weekend is finally here because it is my last one without anything to do for almost 2 months... and then I'll be birthing a baby! Wowzers.

Here is Solomon's baby bedding that my sister-in-law's sister made for me. I am in love with how it came out, if you are wanting custom baby bedding made then message me and I'll give you her info! We still don't have a mattress for the bed or the curtains and so it's not complete for another few weeks, but we are getting darn close!

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I also sat for a few hours yesterday and made a river rock alphabet (I always get ahead of myself and buy/make things for when Sol gets to be about 3 or 4:) inspired by this etsy listing.

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shari:

lovely! you're so creative!

 (04.02.11 @ 10:46 AM)
jean smith:

i have been LOVING all of your home remodels. sigh. it looks AMAZING. love solomon's room :)

 (04.02.11 @ 11:15 AM)
Nicole Mc:

Everything is awesome Lauren, and it's great that you're getting ahead of yourself. When Sol is 3 or 4 you won't have the energy for these kinds of projects...and most likely you'll have 2 by then!! :)

 (04.02.11 @ 12:38 PM)
Tara:

HI Lauren! I've been following you for a long time! The nursery is precious and I LOVE making things that I've found on Etsy for cheeper!

(04.03.11 @ 10:23 PM)
Erica Sledge:

Can I live there? I LOVE that room! So refreshing to see someone steer clear of the blues and browns!

 (04.04.11 @ 08:48 AM)
Chelsea:

LOVE the bedding! It's coming along so well.

 (04.04.11 @ 01:00 PM)
Meredith:

I've been following (aka "stalking") you and your blog for a while now. I love your photography style and your creativity! Solomon's a very lucky boy:) Can't wait to see the finished product.

 (04.04.11 @ 02:48 PM)
Tiffany Stanley:

That is the cutest boys room I have ever seen. Did you make the mobile?

 (04.04.11 @ 05:13 PM)
Dixie Dobbins:

I love the nursery Lauren! the only thing I think you havemissing are window treatments and It would be awesome to hav elots and lots of books! (and a glider to read to Soloman in) Cool books like Dr. Seuess, Cat in the Hat, Hop on Pop all those,! Reading to your hcild is one of the best things (but starting around the time they are a year is old the best. Im sure you can find some cool Bookends too! Love your style, i hope you submit it to Design Sponge when youre done!

(04.09.11 @ 09:16 AM)
Janet:

love the nursery! can't wait to see pics of baby Sol!

 (04.18.11 @ 10:15 PM)
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Home Remodel #12

March 22, 2011

I've had a lot of people ask me if we were redoing the Farm room for the baby room and the answer is NO!! It is my favorite room of the house and there is noooo way that I'm clearing it out for the baby room after just 6 months of having it finished. The truth is, we have a three bedroom house and I have just never shown you the third room because I was never happy with how it turned out.

So here are the phases so far of what Solomon's room is looking like...

After we sold our bedroom furniture (yes, I know, it looks like a college boy's room)

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Picking the paint color... we went with the most neutral color I've ever worked with: Valspar's Crafted White (I kind of regret going so neutral, but what can you do?)

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Phase 1:

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I bought a bunch of colorful license plates from a junk store in Perkins and got them all for about $30! I tied them together with jute twine and hung them with nails to make a colorful piece. I painted the dresser white thinking that the room was going to be a darker color and might end up painting it blue if it still looks too bland. The bolt of fabric on the floor is going to be the curtain color and should really add some nice contrast to the room. We were planning on painting the opposite wall with chalkboard paint and when we read the reviews on the paint and how many coats you had to add we have decided to postpone that idea for a while. I am going to just add floating shelves and storage.

I still have the baby bedding and curtains to add, huge frames, possible colored headboard, baby mobile, larger sheepskin rug in front of the crib, vinyl decals on the ceiling and a few black and white zig zag pillows before it is complete! Can't wait to see how it turns out in the end!


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amanda:

I like the neutral color.....it makes everything else stand out. LOVE the license plates :)

 (03.22.11 @ 11:55 AM)
Kate Leverenz:

I like the paint color, but I'm a fan of neutral. I'm sure the final product will be stunning. I've been thinking of making my own mobile now... I have so many ideas floating around my head that I had never even considered before. Thanks for challenging me to think outside of the box!

 (03.22.11 @ 12:09 PM)
Megan Greathouse:

It looks GREAT! But you are right...this specific neutral color doesn't really scream "Lauren" but I still think its gonna be good once you keep bringing in the other colors you are talking about with the curtains, bedding and an accent chalk board wall. I seriously can't wait to see little Solomon!

 (03.22.11 @ 04:05 PM)
Courtney:

I just painted my kitchen Crafted White. It's such a nice soft color.

(03.25.11 @ 06:22 PM)
samantha :

WE just did a chalk board wall and it turned out so wonderfully. I can't say enough about it! It actually wasn't too bad, only took two coats and ended up costing just under $30, now i wish i'd of added the magnet paint to it (they mix it in) and they can actually tint the chalkboard paint so it can be moonstone gray (which we did) OR lots of other shades of blue, yellow, etc. Some of the fun "comic book shapes" (think the bam or pow type of shapes) may be fun as well and they have those chalkboard shapes (like you' use for a crazy/photo booth) on etsy.

 (03.29.11 @ 09:56 AM)
Anonymous:

So what room is your office?

 (03.29.11 @ 01:09 PM)
Bill C.:

The license plates are such a genius idea!

 (04.18.11 @ 04:33 PM)
Bill:

great post. I love the very unique, creative ideas for the room. Really nice job! More important than the color scheme itself is that you can tell you put a lot of thought into the interior design.

 (11.16.11 @ 02:50 PM)
HVAC :

license plates are unique. Walls look much better then the blue color for sure. its always best to have light colors on your walls it makes the place look brighter and happier

 (01.26.12 @ 04:17 PM)
Betsey:

What a huge transformation. I have a client about to brighten up his color palette in his apartment and will send him this link to show what a difference a brighter paint can make.

 (07.23.12 @ 03:59 PM)
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The top 7 things I love about my house

March 19, 2011

It is such a beautiful Oklahoma day today and I have taken the entire day off to relax and enjoy the last day of Josh's Spring Break. Next Spring Break I will have a 9 month old to run around after, that is a crazy thought.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought some Tulips and Blackberry bushes to plant in my backyard and it got me thinking about how much I love living here. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE living in my little house on Doty St. It is small, old and completely covered in memories and my husband's craftsmanship. I even have trees and flowering plants in my backyard! It made me want to show you the things that I love most about my house...

1. The trees. We have a 30 foot Cottonwood in the backyard that shows such a beautiful display during Spring, Summer and Fall! In the front yard we have a 40 foot Magnolia tree that blooms huge, waxy, white flowers in the Summer. It is a great climbing tree!!
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2. My farmhouse kitchen sink and huge window. I look out my kitchen windows while I'm cooking and washing dishes and see about 6 Cardinals and Blue Jays sifting through our grass each day. This is something that I never saw growing up in the desert plains of Texas.

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The view from my kitchen window...

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3. My wood floors. We just moved our bed out of the nursery last night and underneath it are the most perfect looking wood floors I've ever seen. The rest of the house's floors have lost their satin shine, but this new area reminds me of what an awesome job Josh did finishing them after he took out the green carpet.

4. My backyard has two spots that are perfect for growing a little salsa garden. I've got garlic planted right now and I'm finishing off my peppers and tomatoes indoors to shelter them from the last frost.

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5. The windows. We have very large windows for it being a 60 year old house. Most houses that I've seen built in the late 50's have very little windows that are awkwardly high, but ours are large and plentious!

6. Sleeping in the Farm Room. Need I say more?
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7. Knowing that Josh has crafted every single inch of this house. There is nothing cooler than seeing your husband's handiwork and remembering what a dump the house was before. I love my husband and I love the home he created for me. It is perfect in every way and I never want to move. 
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Kelsee Reeves:

lauren i can tell how deep your love for josh is in this post. your house explodes with love just from looking at these images..i can only imagine how amazing of an environment it is going to be for little S to grow up in. thank you for posting this and for being so transparent in this new season of you life. its really, really beautiful.

 (03.19.11 @ 07:38 PM)
Paula:

Beautiful home, filled with love. Great place!! How did you make the outdoor chimes with the spoons??

 (03.20.11 @ 08:05 PM)
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Mini Group Brainwash dates for DFW area!

March 18, 2011

Are you wanting to attend a mini group Brainwash with me this April? Here is the information FINALLY!

Why attend a mini group Brainwash?

- hands on learning (I REALLY do care that you get better!)
- only 4 hours so that you won't have to find extended child care or be in traffic!
- the price is way cheaper than a full group Brainwash!
- this is probably the last opportunity for me to come to the DFW area before I have my baby!
- you will be helping me stay home with my baby during July and August! (thank you!!)

When: 
April 19th 10-2 This date will be geared towards portraits
April 20th 10-2 This date will be geared towards weddings

Price: $500 (includes 4 hours of teaching and lunch!)

Group size: If more than 15 sign up for a single date then I will open up another time or date that week to allow for smaller groups. 

What will you be teaching in 4 hours?

-shooting in manual (my way!)
-posing, lighting, location scouting
-over lunch you will be eating while I'm answering your specific questions
-photoshop skills the fast way
-watching me shoot two mini sessions around the block

I will also stay an extra hour and finish answering questions for those of you who want to hang around!

Where: Carri Neu's Studio in Denton, Texas

How do I join in? 
Portrait Emphasis BOOK NOW!
Wedding Emphasis BOOK NOW!

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Lauren:

Maggie, please email me about your comment. I would love to talk with you about it.

 (03.20.11 @ 06:07 PM)
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