The Dichotomy of Love

Love is the most beautiful gift in the world and is in itself a depth that feels impossible to describe in words, yet it simultaneously seems to bring a heavy heart. Let me explain because I don't want this to sound like a negative perspective, but more one of reality + one I have been navigating the last four years. To illustrate, by far one of the greatest blessings in my life is my husband. We share such a tightly-bound, inseparable bond full of passion, lots of special memories, constant laughs, and mutual willingness to compromise because our sincere goal is to love each other better every day.To take a step back, I grew up in Dallas, am super close to my family (my mom and my twin sister are my besties, and same with my dad!), and I experienced one of the greatest seasons of loss in that city, which connected me to it (aka the people) in a way where it will always feel extra safe and like home. When Jase and I met, he was living in Los Angeles and has now been here for nearly 14 years, so, as many of you know, I moved out of Texas to start a life with my best friend. Hence the dichotomy begins; I experienced such heartbreak to leave everything that was comfort, yet I was so incredibly excited to live in the same city as Jason!He and I are both so thankful for this big move because my struggle of adjusting to a new atmosphere became his struggle too; he has been by my side wholeheartedly through it all, and we attribute this time to how deeply well we know each other. He is always there to cry with me and validates the grief of being unable to pop by my parent's or sister's house at any time. It developed in me such a lasting trust that he can comfort me like the people I am closest to can.The things that create such a rich love almost always seem to come from sacrifice and hardship, whether big or small. For instance, leaving Dallas or saying goodbye to my family when they visit hurts my heart at such a deep level, yet there is gratefulness amidst the pain because it only strengthens our marriage + it makes me extra grateful for every memory and moment with my family. Not to mention, leaving Jase to see my family hurts my heart just the same. It’s such a complicated emotional pull, but one that causes me to be filled with thankfulness for all of the love that causes such intense emotion. Am I making sense? Does anyone relate to this feeling?This post is in collaboration with The Refined Collective Series. Be sure and check out the other ladies in this wonderful group, such as Kat Harris with The Refined Woman and Jackie Viramontez.

THE OUTFIT 

top | shorts | sunnies

images by Felicia Lasala 

All Things Wellness

Hi friends! As you may have seen and heard, I have started sharing exclusive LSK content for email subscribers that focuses on all things wellness. If you love the personal practice of wellness as much as I do and always want to learn more, you are in the right place!I am SO excited about these emails because they are a chance for me to share different pieces of wellness information with you that have been life-changing for me. Wellness is a huge passion of mine, so these exclusive emails are such a fun way to share that passion with you!So far, I have shared my go-to list of top 10 essential oils and a list of daily doses of nutrition, from spirulina to probiotics. Next week, Dr. Will Cole will be sharing some key points from his brand new book: Ketotarian.I hope you join in on the wellness journey with me by signing up for emails! Exclusive content is delivered to your inbox about every other week, give or take.Click here to sign up for the wellness emails! Also, fun news, we are giving away three bottles of my dry shampoo, Stranded, to three lucky email subscribers at the end of September.

MY OUTFIT

two-piece set | sunnies | boots

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Must-Have For Fall: Everlane Stretch Denim

From the West Coast to the East Coast, my friend and LSK editor, Melissa, and I styled new must-have denim for fall...meet the Everlane Authentic Stretch Denim collection. We seriously cannot say enough good things about these jeans. High waist, check. Stretch without stretching out, check. Perfect ankle length, check. Beautiful wash options, check. Just when you think it couldn't get better...they are sustainably made in a responsible factory in Vietnam. How incredible is that? Also...just $68 a pair. Such a win! I am wearing the dark wash and Melis is wearing the medium wash. As their hashtag says, these jeans are REAL good. #DamnGoodDenim.Thanks to Everlane for sending us these jeans to try! We will seriously be living in them all fall. Shop them below! xx[show_shopthepost_widget id="3272952"]images: jason kennedy / lindsay solomon

Why I Love Weekend Trips To Laguna

You might have seen on Instagram that Jase and I spent the long holiday weekend in Laguna. It was such a joy as always, so I thought I should share with ya'll why I love weekend trips to Laguna beach so much. It is seriously our happy place!

Reason #1

It is truly the one place I feel like I can completely unwind. My brain shuts down almost immediately!

Reason #2

The weather is always so beautiful, even when it’s gloomy! It’s cooler than LA, so it’s extra refreshing + I love the fresh ocean air.

Reason #3

Jase and I always have the best conversations here, and it’s the most special place to recharge and reconnect when our work schedules are extra busy.

Reason #4

We absolutely love the food and quaint restaurants in downtown Laguna. We feel like we have really gotten to know even the hidden gems.

Reason #5

We love the beach and the peaceful environment that this little beach town is. We just feel right at home, and we always laugh because two days there feels like we were on a week’s vacation!

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THE OUTFIT (*c/o)

hat | sunnies | backpack* | shorts* | suit top* (similar) | sandals

 (similar)

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10 Good Reads | August Edition

As summer nears an end, we are soaking up all the moments to relax and unwind. I love discovering good reads, whether they are online or in print, so it's fun sharing lists of good articles to skim. If you are like me and love these type of blog posts, keep on reading! xo

*all about the house plants // Well + Good

*fashion inspo via Isabel Marant // Vogue

*faith-based post about bravery // Proverbs 31

*beautiful streets in NYC (travel inspo!) // PureWow

*God's way is always the best way // Proverbs 31

*makeup tutorial with w3ll people products // Well + Good

*a beautiful article about Primally Pure skincare // Darling

*a happy post about eating health // Verily

*inspo for a clean & organized fridge // Because I'm Addicted

*transitional fall style, the LA way // goop

OUTFIT DETAILS 

shoes | shorts or here | jacket | sunnies

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Clean Stuff Edit | No.5

It's that time, LSK readers! The clean stuff edit, number five, is here. As always, read all past clean stuff edits here and check out @thecleanstuff IG accounts for daily clean, toxin-free makeup finds that I totally love. xo

Blue Tansy Deodorant // Primally Pure

*clean deodorant lovers, rejoice! this new scent and formula from Primally Pure is a must-try.

Use code LSKTANSY10 for 10% off this deodorant until end of August...AKA end of this week!

Face Wash // Ursa Major

*for a face so fresh and so clean, this face wash cleans deeply yet gently.

Living Luminizer // RMS

*get that natural shine and just the right amount of glow with this luminizing highlighter.

Tinted Face Oil // Kosas

*wow, this face oil is a game changer...it moisturizes and provides light foundation-like coverage in a very natural way.

Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub // goop

*a shampoo made up of detoxifying and purifying ingredients that exfoliate the scalp to support hair health.

SHOP MY OUTFIT

shoes | pants | top | sunnies

images: felicia lasala [show_shopthepost_widget id="3255985"] 

Our Wedding Ring Story: Qalo Included

 Have I told y’all the full story behind our wedding rings? I know Jase and I have mentioned it in bits and pieces, but I thought this was the perfect time to share it with you guys. It is extra special!

A few months before our wedding, we went to our favorite jewelry shop in Dallas to find Jase a simple ring. Our main inclination in getting the band was for the act of putting it on during our wedding ceremony, but in the car after purchasing this, we were laughing because he just didn’t seem like a metal ring kind of guy. The shiny metal just did not look the best on him. Our conversation shifted quickly from giggling to crying our eyes out because Jase told me what he decided to do.

As y’all may know, I lost my left hand in an accident over six years ago, so I wear my rings on my right hand (European style ;) ). Before I mention what happens next, can I just say how precious my husband is? His thoughtfulness is always on another level + he has been a key component to my continued healing. Okay, back to the story! We are in the car, and with tears in his eyes, he told me he would love to get a tattoo of my name, Lo, on his right ring finger in place of his wedding ring. This was one of the most meaningful moments of my life. He loved how much it represented permanence and resembled that we are on the same team for life.

When we were in Nashville a month before our wedding, we found this amazing tattoo artist who made this a reality. Oh! And my name is written out in my hand writing.

As time went on, there were days where he wanted to wear a ring to an event or on a hike, and last year, we found out about Qalo, and it was the perfect fit! We love this company because they are on our same page: they think marriage is awesome and family is everything + they believe that when you’re committed to a spouse or a growing family, they are certain that when you focus on your family, everything aligns. Yes and amen!

The silicone rings fit our active lifestyle so perfectly + Qalo believes they also represent commitment to family, so it’s the sweetest reminder when we think of expanding our family! Something fun: use the code LAUREN15 for 15% off at checkout.

So to make this story extra special, I thought I would ask my husband three short but sweet questions! Read below! xo

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How has marriage strengthened your & Lo’s love and what do you love most about being married? 

A lot of people say, oh I am so glad I married my best friend, but in reality, it takes a long time to become best friends with someone truly – to know everything about you and feel complete comfortable being 100% transparent. I have just enjoyed that she actually is my best friend now, and she actually knows me and gets me and knows what makes me tick.

What do you look forward to most for our family?

Making my wife smile, enjoying the blessings that God gives us and hoping one day we have a baby or two or three.

What would you say is the key to a healthy marriage?

Over communicating and quality time together.

The Beautiful Blessing Of Trust

The person who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends it's roots out toward a stream, it doesn't fear when it heat comes, and it's foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit. -Jeremiah 17:7-8 (CSB)What a beautiful picture this verse paints for us: a strong tree with deep roots nourished by water, flourishing with vibrant foliage, stable in security amidst periods of drought, and fruitful no matter what might come. Scripture tells us that the person who trusts in the Lord is blessed, as blessed as the tree described here. The person who trusts in the Lord will be strong, secure, vibrant, nourished, and fruitful because he is rooted in trust and confidence in the Lord.This does not mean that we won't face trials (those periods of extreme heat or tough droughts), but more incredibly it means that even during the trials, trust in our Lord will allow us to continue to grow and thrive in our hope, dependence, and confidence in Him. When we partner with our great God through trust, blessings come and He enables us to be fearless and free of worry as we grow and strengthen like a strong, healthy tree by the water.How incredible is that? I cannot imagine a promise more beautiful. God is so good to His children, promising such a fruitful future for those who trust in Him completely and make Him their confidence.[show_shopthepost_widget id="3251407"]

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images by Felicia Lasala 

Morning Must-Have: Celery Juice

As you guys know from Instagram stories, I am totally into my morning celery juice routine! In all seriousness though, celery juice is a morning must-have for me. With so many health benefits, drinking celery juice first thing on an empty stomach has proven itself to be great for gut health by improving digestion and immensely limiting bloating and indigestion. I've been on a gut-healing journey with the wisdom and guidance of Dr. Cole, and the addition of celery juice in my daily diet has been a game-changer!After six months of diligently enacting my gut healing protocol, I was still experiencing daily bloating and started experiencing constipation. Feeling hopeless, he prescribed me to do this every morning an hour before I ate food, and my bloating stopped within two days and I haven’t been bloated since + my energy has improved significantly!I use a whole stalk of celery and juice it using my juicer. So simple, and I swear by it! Also, this article is a must-read if you are intrigued by this celery juice situation. It is extremely informational and confirms a lot of what I describe in this post. Have you guys tried celery juice yet? Let me know in the comments below and keep sharing your celery juice adventures on Instagram!

THE LOOK

juicer | top | pants

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