Take Good Care Of Yourself

The other day someone in passing said to me when saying goodbye, "take good care of yourself"! Their words made me think: what does "take good care of yourself" actually mean? How does one do that well?

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF...

...means different things for different people at different times. But man oh man, is it important. Our loving Lord of course is our great caretaker; He takes care of us in multiple ways from His throne. I believe though that He equips us to take care of ourself AND in His great provision, surrounds us with people who will also care for us. It's our responsibility, though, to care for ourselves to the best of our human ability. This includes caring for our physical bodies, emotional selves, spiritual souls, and our God-focused minds.

I PRAY...

...for all of us to fight off the guilt that the enemy uses when we do focus on and care for ourselves. Don't be surprised when the devil tries to tell you you are selfish or you should be doing something else for someone else. It's simply NOT TRUE. Taking good care of yourself by rest, relaxation, taking time to do your favorite hobby, investing in yourself, doing something that makes you smile...all of those things fill up your energy tank in order to take care of others in your life well! You have to be filled up in order to fill others up.xo

MY OUTFIT

*gifted by the brand!

sunnies*| hat* | bag* | top* | jeans | shoes* sold out, but love these & these

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Healthy Traveling Tips

Hey friends! In the spirit of summer travels, I am sharing some of my tips for how to stay healthy and feel your personal best on vacation. Vacationing is of course a time to have fun, relax, and unwind, but I find that by incorporating a few things in my routine and by making a few wellness-focused choices, even while on vacation, I feel my best and end up enjoying the vacation as much as possible! 

it's all about the balance...

celery juice

-When it comes to my morning must-have celery juice, I can go a few days without it, unless the hotel is incredible and is able to provide it!

water

-The Larq water bottle for travel is so intriguing - it filters + cleans the water through blue light! However, if we are driving somewhere, we bring water in glass water bottles and refill them when we can.

supplements

-I bring my daily supplements in a daily supplement container to keep them contained and organized!

snacks

-When away, I generally bring two snack options: Paleo Puffs and Ohi bars are my go-to right now.

eating out

When eating out, it’s important to order whole foods and ask questions - is the fish wild? Is the meat pastured, grass-fed and finished? I always ask about the oils in salad dressings + if my food could be cooked in olive oil. However, I will say, splurge a little on vacation! Eat a pasta or a pizza one night if you want because... YOLO!

makeup

-My makeup routine gets simplified for sure! I just bring concealer, tinted moisturizer/foundations, RMS bronzer, Ilia lip tint, and an Ere Perez color pot.

exercise

-For exercise, we always aim to workout in the gym, walk on the beach, or go on a hike, but most of the time we take vacation as a time to relax and rest. Above all, we listen to our bodies!

sleep

-I bring essential oils for relaxation, this silk pillowcase + this amazing sleep mask.

 [show_shopthepost_widget id="3680125"]Hope you enjoyed this list and here's to happy and healthy traveling!xo, Lo.

Nordstrom Sale Picks

Unless you haven't been on social media this weekend, you are V aware that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale started Friday! // Details: it continues through August 4th with exclusive access for cardmembers until the 18th, but opens up to all on the 19th //. The deals are seriously so good and as you know well, Nordstrom's brands are the best of the best. Jase and I went yesterday and we had such fun!! I love using this sale each year to invest in quality pieces that I know I will love for seasons to come. Keep scrolling to see what I bought from the sale and click the links to shop! xo

7 looks, 10 pieces

the list

:cropped sweatshirt: :black leggings: :camel sweater:

:corduroy pants: :grey sweatshirt: :white tee:

:black jeans: :green sweater: :black tee: :blush jacket:

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Favorite Cleaning Tool: Nellie’s WOW Mop

For all of you who know me, cleaning is a top priority in my every day life. I live with lavender wipes in my car, a hand vacuum at full disposal, and now, my new favorite cleaning tool, the Nellie’s WOW Mop.You guys. This cordless and rechargeable, lightweight mop is first of all the cutest mop in all the land, and not to mention, it’s super easy to use!It comes with reusable pads that can be thrown in the wash and reused up to 100 times. It is great on ceramic, hardwood, and tiles floors...and my favorite part? The Floor Care solution is plant based, contains a naturally derived fragrance, and is the best tool for removing dirt and odors.

Other benefits I love about this product line:

1) the products come in tins, which are easier to recycle and are in turn eco-friendly.2) they are biodegradable and friendly to the environment.3) they are hypoallergenic and are perfect for sensitive skin.4) the powder is more concentrated than liquid detergents, so you’re not shipping water all around the world. Another eco-friendly perk.😉5) the dryer balls are used to replace dryer sheets, which are usually very toxic!P.S. Did you know? Most scented detergents just mask your clothes in a chemical fragrance instead of actually cleaning. Nellie’s powders are fragrance-free, leaving your clothes and dishes scentless – so you know they’re clean!This line is becoming one of my favorites and a staple in our home. Shop it here and use LAUREN for 25% off at checkout!Thank you, Nellie's, for sponsoring this post! 

7 Non-Fiction Books To Read This Summer

Happy July 5th, friends! Hope everyone had a happy fourth full of fireworks, yummy food, friends, and family. Who agrees that summer is such a sweet season to start a new book? Whether you are traveling, on the beach, at home, or at the pool, taking time to dive into a new book feels so right during summertime. Below is a list of 7 books to read this summer including pages we have read and loved, ones we are reading as of now, plus books that are our own to-read list this summer and beyond.

The Next Right Thing

on moving forward by making decisions while trusting the Lord

Suffering

on walking through comfort victoriously thanks to God's presence

Box Of Butterflies

on hope, encouragement, and comfort from the Lord

The Body Keeps The Score

on understanding the physical impact of emotional stress and trauma

You Are Free

on embracing our God-given gift of freedom in all aspects of life

The Tech-Wise Family

on putting technology in its proper place within your family

Love Letter Life

on the beauty of Godly pursuit, intentional dating, love and marriage 

--

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Why I Love Our Time In Idaho

Idaho is the place where I feel like I can fully shut down mentally and really open up relationally, spiritually, and emotionally. On many getaways, I still feel the urge to work and snap photos of our adventures and outfits, but this place makes it seem like responsibilities pause and relaxation sets in. For a getaway, this is so rejuvenating for the mind, body, and spirit! To me, Idaho feels like the good old days, where you don’t even know where your phone is! Instead, your heart is centered on card night with the family and friends, soaking in every bit of nature on the golf course, water skiing and boat riding until you are tanned, and ending with a night of cooking and sitting by the outdoor fire pits.I love having a routine, and I think my Idaho routine is my favorite of all, starting with a celery juice of course! And here I define routine as having an open hand to whatever the day might hold, and letting it unfold as it does. I love the communal aspect of this place, especially on the pickle ball courts. I love that physical appearance is not even close to a priority...hello, lake hair! Not to mention, nature is what fully rejuvenates me; as you may know, I love all animals with all my heart, so it’s extra fun spotting different ones throughout the day!Also, this place feels extra safe, peaceful, and absent of the stressors and troubles of the world. I couldn’t be more grateful for this getaway spot in the crisp air and beautiful mountains! It’s good for the soul, opens up space to think, and brings the important things into perspective: relationships, rest, and creating extra sweet memories.

Summer Shopping List

Hey friends!It's officially feeling like summer time, and that means summer style is on my mind. I recently shared my summer state of mind and with that comes fun, easy, carefree clothing to set the mood. Scroll down to see what staples are in my summer wardrobe. If you are looking to add a few new things to your own summer wardrobe, my hope is that this summer shopping list inspires you! Wishing you a relaxed summer season in clothes that you feel comfortable, confident, and totally "you" in.xo Lo.

Summer Shopping List

Bikini top & bottom

One piece

Flip flops

Sun hat

Denim shorts

White top

Date night dress

Casual dress

Cover up

Comfy shorts

Basic tank

Baseball cap

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What I'm Wearing

tee (c/o) | pants | sunnies | shoes (c/o)

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Summer State of Mind

These are just a few things that come to mind when I think of welcoming summer this weekend with memorial day weekend. My summer state of mind is already in full gear and I am so expectant of this sweet season spent savoring moments of rest and new adventures with my guy, our friends, and our families. And side-note, how could this light & bright layer not make me dream of summer? The color seriously brings me so much joy and is the perfect light layer for summer athleisure.

S U M M E R

sun-filled days + cooled-down nights :: weekend escapes to the ocean :: late saturday nights and slow sunday mornings :: taking time to rest and dream :: & enjoying the season fully

WHAT I'M WEARING:

*all items c/o brands*

bike shorts | crop top | jacket

[show_shopthepost_widget id="3590428"]images: felicia lasala 

Tips On Purging Your Home Before A Move

Hi friends!If you are following along on Instagram, you may know that Jase and I moved out of our first house together a month ago! We didn’t post a lot about it as it has been a bit of a whirlwind, but the circumstantial events that led to this move brought so much clarity and peace that it was time to leave. We are moving to a new area that is in the middle of nature and 15 minutes from one of our favorite beaches, so our excitement level is through the roof.A little update: we are living in a hotel for a few months because we are about to fully jump into renovating our new house. This is a story all in itself, so stay tuned for that + we are doing a completely nontoxic remodel from the stones, tiles, and paint we use to the glue, furniture, and lighting we buy. I have learned a lot and will have so much to share with you guys!Now to the topic I have been dying to jump into: purging the home before a move! I think we can all agree that although moving can be stressful in some ways, but the best part about it is cleaning out every inch of the house, from the closets to the kitchen cabinets to the office shelves.I tend to clean out our home every few months because if you do it often, the process becomes super easy and far from daunting. But there is something about moving that sparks an even greater purge. Jase and I donated or tossed out about ten to fifteen super large bags of stuff. Isn’t it crazy to think that we had that much in our already non-cluttered home being unused? We donated loads of clothing and shoes, work out attire that sat in the bottom of our dresser drawers, beauty products, handbags, candles, books, lamps that were lounging in the garage, and we tossed products that were recently expired!I know we probably all know of Marie Kondo and her new series on Netflix; it’s creating such a beautiful movement! A friend recommended her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, to me a few years ago, and the two things that stood out to me were:1) Everything should have a place.2) If something doesn’t spark joy, get rid of it.It’s easier said than done, right? But from implementing this and purging extra recently, doesn’t it lift such a weight off your shoulders when you empty your house of things that are unnecessary? I also read this article recently that connects clutter to health; it’s so fascinating!! Not to mention, it brings more intention when purchasing things because it feels so refreshing to live with less.I would love to hear your experiences with tidying up in the comments below! xoxoimages: The Home Sort- best organizers ever!