creative gathering...

Hi lovelies,

I am looking to build my link list and exchange links with others. If you care to share your fabulous blog, please just comment the link below! Aything with design, pretty things, and fun content will do!

bittersweet dilemma....

So, um, I am in a bit of a pickle. I loveeee design. Don't you? Hopefully you do, if not this blog is probably a bore. I mean design is so fantastic. What can be better than the culmination of immense creativity, materials, and loving labor? Nothing, that's what! But here is the thing, I am not really finding myself to be much of a creator lately. I start classes in literally 5 days, and it will be about product development, not, you know, actual product making. I decided to switch gears because I think people should be more realistic with themselves when it comes to their life. Life is short. I have taken allot of things for granted and learned the harddddd way. No more I say! I will not take my innate talent for granted.

I think my purpose lay in the nurturing side of things (read: business). Boring I know, but someone's gotta do it! Anyway, so if you are new to my blog (which you are because my blog is new haha) then let me catch you up. I am in utter love with home decor and lifestyle products. Have been for the longest. Amidst my heavy reading, I was asked to think back on my childhood to really get a sense of where I was meant to go, what purpose I was meant to fill. The book was describing those who put on shows for their family at Thanksgiving end up on American Idol, and then there are those who start rearranging their bedrooms and making pillows....at the age of 5. That's me. But now I am in a stump. I gravitate more towards operational than craftational (a word I just invented). Is this bad? I feel I will end up just owning a store that curates the best of others, instead of selling my own wares. I feel so connected to wanting to see others truly passionate about creating succeed. With that said, I am putting my collection on the back burner until I really feel strongly about it again, if ever. I will devote all my attention towards the non-profit I have been trying to start, and now I feel like its really what I was meant to do. I am more interested in the business of craft. I could live happily forever just buying and marketing and building indie businesses more than the actual making. So that is what I will set out to do! More on that later.

Do you ever feel lost about what you should do with your craft, whatever it may be? I might just elope and become a baker once and for all!

image source: eveline tarunadjaja

Wrap Me Up And Tie The Bow.....

Well, well, what do we have here. If it isn't the craftiest of them all, Ms. Creature Comforts launching herself a little online store. Martha Stewart, watch out! Ez, along with longtime friend and now business partner Marichelle, have been toiling at away at their new venture Nice Package. Devoted fans already know they are the queens of DIY, so this idea suits them perfectly. The shop has been up and running for a few months now on Etsy, and now Big Cartel, and is packed with adorable and unique gift ideas, trinkets and packaging. They debuted right here in NYC at the Brooklyn Flea where many indie brands have journeyed into stardom. Can't wait until I can see them in person for myself. In the meantime I might just go ahead and load up on some of their Etsy stock. Shhhhhh.

PS- You definitely don't want to miss the Nice Package blog, brimming with DIY tutorials and videos, inspiration galleries and newest products!

xoxo
L

If Everyday Was My Day....

...it would be filled with pink, Paris, and cupcakes. What would your days be filled with?

xoxo
L

I Sing About Unicorns In My Sleep....

I'll try to keep my little blog focused on lifestyle, but how can one live without music right!? Well darlins, let me introduce ya'll to Lisa Mitchell. I, like most, have made many a new year's resolutions and accomplished probably only one or two, including this blog. Lisa so far has toured with Jason Mraz, headlined her own national tour, played in the UK at the legendary Glastonbury Festival, released her stunning debut album entitled Wonder and been nominated for three ARIAS. What have you done? Yeah, I know how you feel. Oh and forgot to mention, Lisa is um....only 19 years old.

At 16 she found herself a finalist on Australian Idol. Her music has been compared to the tenderness of Laura Marling, the wordplay of Regina Spektor and the free spirit of Fiest, Lisa inhabits a magical world few other artists have been exploring. Wonder is an album that not only defies her years, but defines her as one of Australia's most talented singer-songwriters. She writes from experience, sings from the heart and gives her all in every performance.

Lisa explains: “Songwriting for me is usually trying to create something that will give me proof of hope, like a packed lunch for the future or something. I’m a chronic journal writer, so it’s kind of like when I can’t just write it down, when there has to be even more of a human element to it, whether my voice or the chords… I guess it’s like proof that I can move forward. Usually it’s about losing and then re-finding hope or happiness. Most of my songs are written around that cusp. I guess it’s a survival mechanism for me.”

Enjoy her lovely music video above, then learn more about Lisa Mitchell here.


xoxo
L

white winter wonderland....

There’s something about white hot chocolate that makes it seem like the most pleasurable drink in the world. When made correctly, white chocolate hot cocoa can be a creamy, decadent drink. If the chocolate doesn’t melt correctly, or if you add the wrong ingredients, it can also be a grainy, oily concoction.

Even though milk or dark chocolate hot chocolate is great for late-night skating parties and for caroling, as well as those grand afternoons when you get to spend some quality time with your girlfriends, when it comes to the special moments you have to yourself, white hot chocolate is the drink to indulge in. When you’re down, lonely or just feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, you know it’s time to do something special for yourself. When that happens, take a little time out of your busy schedule and relax with a good book, an overstuffed chair and a mug filled to the brim with luxurious, white hot cocoa.

How to Make White Hot Chocolate
Think rich and robust when making white hot chocolate and try to use the finest, richest ingredients you can find. Utilize Ghirardelli chocolate, heavy cream and expensive vanilla beans.

Ingredients You Will Need:
4 to 6 ounces Ghirardelli white chocolate (grated or chips)
1 split vanilla bean
1 to 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream
1 teaspoon white granulated sugar (optional)
1 cup real dairy whipped topping
¾ cup whole milk
1 teaspoon hazelnut flavored dairy creamer

Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the vanilla bean. Dissolve the sugar in the milk and then slowly add the white chocolate. When the chocolate has melted, add the heavy cream. Add one ice cream scoop very slowly, making sure it’s completely melted before adding the second. When all of the ingredients are melted, pour the hot drink into a glass mug and top with additional whipped topping or mini marshmallows.

If the ice cream changes the texture of the white hot chocolate and you don’t care for that quality, omit the ice cream and add a full cup of milk.

gum drops and city dreams....

You ever have just a simply amazing day? And when I say simply, I don't mean in the way like it just happened...I mean, it was simple yet amazing! Well today (TGIF) was surely one of those days. Speaking nothing to the fact that I have been high (falling in love) all week and grinning from ear to ear everytime I think about my guy, I just had a very fulfilling day living out my average day, yet taking notice of the small things. I hope you stop to smell the flowers once in a while. It can be hard at times, especially if you live in a metropolis like me, but it is very worth it.

There will be some great thigns happening on my blog, starting this weekend (it's a long holiday weekend, so thought I would take advantage of the free time to inspire my lovely readers). I'm going to start my posts about books, start Mobile Mondays (a nifty idea that crossed my mind at the book shop today, seeing as I am surrounded by wonderful things all over the city and sometimes only have time to whip out my phone to take a snapshot) and the first of many suggested shops, events and ideas I think you will love. So stay tuned!

xoxo
L

fly the coop...

Who says you need a bird to have a gorgeous eco-friendly cage that's made just for, well, birds? This is nothing new. Birdcages are a fantastic source of decoration and have many uses throughout the home. A savvy design purveyor would first buy one cheap at a thrift store or local flea market. Repainting or refinishing it in a jewel tone for spring or muted metallic for fall would most likely be her next step. Lastly, she would make all her girlfriends envious at her next cocktail party when the birdcage is displayed as a table centerpiece hosting an array of candles. Or maybe on the window ledge with blooming tulips. Or keep it intimate and just for your eyes only in your boudior, with jewelry hanging astray. Need a head start? I've found a beautiful and affordable option (hello! $39) at the ever-so-clever West Elm web store. And, well, I guess a bird could work too....but go for a dove- that's the Lola way!

Becoming Lola.....

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. You can call me Lola. And I am a bonafide city girl. New York City to be exact. Living here is an inspiration in itself, so this blog is long overdue. I have tons of ideas constatly swirling in my head, begging to come out. I hope you enjoy joining me on my journey. What exactly is the journey you ask? Well, I LOVE home decor, writing, publishing, decorative arts, cooking, food (i put this because I enjoy making and eatingggg). My dream is to one day be a Martha Stewart prodigy haha. But baby steps. Everyone has to start somewhere. I am currenty starting on the first step of the ladder by forging on as an English major with a minor in theater arts. My overly ambitious nature also led me to finally chase after my undying passion for design, and so I will be participating in the only home decor products degree program in the world! Right here in NYC of course. Once I have my degrees in hand (I want my Masters soon too, but not sure what's left to get haha) I am sure I will be ready to take on the world! But in the meantime, stop back here at my lovely humble blog to share all the wonderful inspirations, designs, recipes, ideas, people and places that I will for sure be dishing out every second....as long as my little fingers can keep up that is!

xoxo
L