I Throw My Coffee In the Air Sometimes

 

True story. I am a barista-in-training by morning. And sometimes when 

making drinks, like today, all of the coffee + cream doesnotquite make it into le coffee cup.

Well, actually it was lots of half + half if we're gettin' all specific. It looked more like this:

But about 8 inches higher and with more milk. Kind of like a creamy waterfall.

A surprise waterfall.

As in, SURPRISE the customer just handed you a reusable coffee cup and you thought it was empty, but wait that's not all. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happened next. I lifted up said coffee mug to check what size it was (small or medium? I don't know, I don't know. We find out). This is due to the fact that A. I'm super duper new to being a coffee-maker and B. I wanted be sure I knew exactly how to ring it up.

I lifted the mug up and the sneaky half + half shot up into the air like fireworks on the 4th of July. If only Katy Perry had been DJing and could have played her song at that moment ... So much irony.

 

That's what I get for being an over-zealous coffee shop employee, I guess. A landslide of milk flooding the counter plus a sticky floor, empty cup, and an unhappy customer.

 And that, my friends, is today's tip for how to spruce up your Monday.  

My coworkers, snorting with laughter, helped me wipe/mop it up like the pros that they are. I will say this about Mr. Grumpy Reusable Cup - at least he tipped. 

[Images via: http://weheartit.com]

Attention All Ratty T-shirts and Old Running Shorts, Please Take Note

Happy Friday to y'all!

I've recently stumbled across Piperlime's newest ad campaign:

Let's get dressed!

Have you seen it? Such an interesting way to market their clothes + fashion. Basically, they're advocating that women everywhere put together outfits for day-to-day wear, over shlepping it in workout apparel or the like.

 I thought it was only appropriate if I composed a short letter to the guilty items in my own closet.

So here goes:

Ahem. Dear Grey, Saggy Sweatpants, 

Your services will no longer be required outside the comfort of my living room. To your friends, Mr. High School Class Shirt, and Mrs.Victoria Secret PINK PJs, take five [at the very least]. All Nike running shorts, you will only see the light of day when I'm running trails in the spring. Anything else that is old, stained, or could easily be mistaken for pajamas, you won't be going to get coffee, out shopping, or grabbing lunch. Let's refer to a musical classic to help us out here: So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye. Goodbyeee! 

No hard feelings you'll get over it,

Lorin

P.S. Check out these additional snapshots for some inspiration.

[Images via: Facebook, Money Smart Fashion, the stylish chick, BSSP]

Full House, L-O-V-E, & Other Musings

Good afternoon! Hope you're having a splendid day.

•  Remember the show Full House? I'm totally a '90s kid so my sis & I watched it absolutely all the time. Well, Candance Cameron Bure who played DJ, the oldest of the Tanner girls, is all grown up and has just written an awesome new book about her journey to finding physical & spiritual health.

 Snatch it up now on Amazon!

• Thump thump. Thump thump. Hear that? It's the sound of these adorable sparkly clips approaching, and just in time to for V-day. Kudos to ban.do for letting us play dress-up with our shoes.

 Wear your heart on your shoes. Or - say it with your hair. Ahh. Must I choose between the two?

• And I have to mention the ever-lovely Diane Kruger who graced the cover of Glamour this month. Holy jumbalaya. She looks amazing. Her style is effortless but chic and eye-catching all rolled into one.

 

•  In other news: my roommates are still hilarious. Just a brief sampling of some things they've said over the past week:

          "What do you mean you can't find the house? That's what you do. 

That's your job. Your job consists of you driving around and finding people's 

houses, for a living."
-CS to a delivery man who was over 11/2 + hours, um, "lost"

and

"No, no. You're no longer pregnant at this point. Girl, you're just holding
that baby hostage!"

       -CM to our 9th mths pregnant friend who claims that by simply crossing 

her legs, she will determine when her coming-any-minute baby will be born

Because He* lives,

Lorin

* "And so we know and rely on the love that God has for us."
I John 4:16

[Images via: we heart it, Access Hollywood, ban.do, Glamour]

Watch Out, Bridesmaidzilla Could Be On the Loose

Being a bridesmaid is a wonderful, exciting experience. It's a time to reminisce on sweet + hilarious memories from the years past, gab about how adorable the future Mrs. will be with her Mr., get all dolled up, and share in the celebration of their new life together.

But for some, it's a time when the truth is revealed - 

are you a bridesmaid-in-heaven ... 

or a bridesmaid-zilla?

 Obviously, the former is preferred by brides everywhere. Here are some important things to keep in mind as the big day approaches:

Do start hoarding $$ in a bridesmaid piggy bank, like this cute $7 one from Etsy. Set aside cash/part of each paycheck so you'll be good to go as expenses like the dress, shoes, plane ticket [for you out-of-towners], wedding gift, bachelorette party come rolling in.

If you're a LDB like me - that is, long distance bridesmaid, Don't forget to KIP! Yep, just like we wrote in our middle school yearbooks at the end of the year. It's so important to chat with the lovely bride to make sure you know A. when you're expected to be in her hometown B. how many inches your dress should be hemmed and C. which lucky cousin will be walking you down the aisle.

Do keep any and all [personal] complaints to yourself. The bride certainly does not need to hear your griping about how the yellow dress clashes with your skin tone. If you have a legit problem with something wedding-related, talk it over with the MOH. [Side note: If the bride-to-be asks y'all's opinion about something, give input! This is the time to put in your two cents]. Just a minor complaint? Write it in your diary. Or tell your mom.

Do join forces with the other 'maids. We're all on Team Bride. Make sure to email/text/Facebook the other ladies so everyone knows the details: who's throwing the bridal shower, what to bring to the bachelorette party, and what time to report to the church. You know, all the basic essentials.

Don't forget to ask what you can do. They don't call it brides-maid for nothing! Ha ha ha ... but seriously, it's all about helping the bride and groom in all pre and post wedding activities. The bride may not even have the time to ask so keep your eyes open for opportunities to pitch in. Roll up your sleeves and help fold those programs, or pick up flowers, or set up chairs, or set out the guest book. And don't forget to smile.

xoxo,

Lorin

 [Images via: Elizabeth Anne Designs, Lovelyish, TV squad, Etsy, we heart it,
for my friends,  It's A Jaime Thing, Majenta Designs]

Song Lyrics + Sunny Psalms

So Brooke Fraser, one of my fave singer/songwriters, has this beautiful song called "The Hymn." One of the verses goes a little something like this:

If I flee from greenest pastures/
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after/
'Til I only dwell in Thee.

These precious words are a wonderful reflection of what King David writes in the beloved Psalm 23*, which my pastor calls the Sunny Psalms because of the overwhelming love radiating from the passage. David claims the Lord as his shepherd, knowing full well that we, like sheep, need guidance, direction, & nurturing from a loving Shepherd. Without it, we'd be absolutely lost, smack dab in the middle of our own lives, wandering with no sense of where to go and tragically lost among the other sheep.

*Check out how personalized this psalm is. Love it! Read it out loud & praise God for His enduring faithfulness:

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

      [Psalm 23]

Want to hear something kind of awesome? God is there for us, not to necessarily make the grass any greener or the path any less bumpy, but to walk through this life with us, His sheep, through the low points, and to seek us when we stray, and bring us back into the safety of His arms.

[Images via: Flickr,  Brightok]

Spruce Up Your Monday

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Hope y'all had a lovely weekend. I certainly enjoyed the back-to-back snow days.

Today's tip for sprucing up your Monday is:

Pick up some red nail polish & start painting!

Seriously, y'all, I painted mine bright, fire engine red last night and I'm loving it!

 

1940s glamour, anyone?

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo,

Lorin

[Images via: we heart it]

Make Over My Living Room

Hey, y'all!

If you were to walk into my living room right now, you'd see ... well, not much! My roommates and I have been in the process of decorating for the past few months.  We have the basics - couch, chairs, ottomans, some pillows, entertainment center, but it's still lacking that special decorative flair.

We're aiming for "jungle chic" - a little zebra here, some blue accents there. I've found some really great examples of rooms with similar style.

Let the inspiration begin.

[Images via: we heart it, decor pad, flickr, Travel for Design]