Baby, oh baby...

 21 weeks 1 day, my 26th birthday

 my love and I heading to dinner

There's a baby in there!

28 weeks, starting to get big!

We live in a castle!

Yes, I've been away.  Lots has been going on, and to be completely honest...none of my clothes fit anymore so there isn't much to photograph fashion wise besides my growing bump! On my birthday in January my love and I moved out of our apartment in Chicago and began our trip to Omaha, NE.  He got a new job, and my family is from the area sooooo we were off on short notice.  I got the opportunity to spend my birthday in Iowa City with all my old college friends which was sooooo nice since none of them had seen me pregnant! I miss them all so much! And they threw me the cutest little baby shower with lots of cute little boy clothes and toys! That's right, we're having a boy!  So since then, we lived in a hotel for 33 days which was not as fun as it sounds....and then moved into our new condo which looks like a castle! I've spent my days organizing, cleaning, unpacking, decorating and well...being pregnant. I miss working sooooo much.  It will all be worth it when we see our little guy though! So I'm now 30 weeks pregnant and anxiously growing and waiting for the big day.  It will be here before we know it! :)   

Changes coming in 2011

 17 weeks 5 days

I haven't been blogging due to recent life changes, all exciting I must add.  As you can see my boyfriend and I are expecting our first child! Yipppeee! We get to find out what we are having in two weeks and are really excited.  Everyone has been saying I'm carrying a boy, so we shall see if they are all correct.  We'll be happy either way.  Its been a rough pregnancy so far, getting sick all the time, tired, headaches, and slowly growing out of my clothes.  But the feeling of a little baby kicking in my belly makes it worth while! All has taken quite a toll on my time and energy to take photos.  Now that I'm finally feeling a little better I hope to be able to share some pregnancy fashion on the blog.   I also now work full time in the Nordstrom shoe department and couldn't be loving it more.  This adds to my tiredness though, as my commute is over an hour every day, and the weather is freezing! I even caved and bought my first pair of snow boots, which have saved my little tootsies like you couldn't believe.  So this is my new life, in a new city with exciting things happening! Oh, and that little fat face is our sweet english bulldog Ruby.  Life is good ending 2010 and I am so excited for everything to come in 2011.

Home Sweet Home for the weekend

(Above: Urban Outfitters Leopard Cape and hat, Zara Jeans, Franco Sarto Boots, Aldo Necklace. Below: Rodarte for Target Dress, Inbox Iowa City earrings, Target pattern tights, H&M Leopard Print coat)


Can you tell my obsession with leopard print lately?  I can't help myself.  Spent the weekend home with my love, among family and old friends.  My mom and her fiance just bought a cute little historic house, built in 1859, so of course we went to see it.  Then spent an evening at an old friend's wedding.  It was so good to be back in the clean Iowa air, it made it hard to return to the loud city again.  

All about the braids

Sorry about the random disappearances lately.  A lot of life changing events going on!  Finally getting back to blogging and happy about it.  A little braiding inspiration for the middle of the week.  It doesn't seem to matter what time of year it is, I always seem to fall back on different types of braids when I'm feeling blah with my hair.  I can't help it.  There's something so effortlessly beautiful about a braid, be it messy, tight, up, down or across.  I don't discriminate, I love them all!

Akira Fashion Show

 (Motel Leopard Print Dress)

 (Free People Navajo Dress and Black Lace Slip, Urban Outfitters Mixed Chain Necklace, Vintage Velvet Jacket, Acne Atacoma Wedges)

Spent Sunday night at the Akira Fashion Show, which ended up being tons of fun.  My roommate Kitty and I just had general admission tickets so we couldn't see the show well at all, but we had a wonderful time playing dress up at the venue.  Loved seeing everyone dressed up!  I was obsessing over the black fringe dress on the Akira representative, but couldn't find it in my size.  And how adorable is the guy with the bow tie? I ended up getting a tight little black dress with adorned shoulders and leaving the leopard print dress behind, since I already have a sleeveless one very similar by Motel.  Its already starting to get pretty chilly in Chicago, my favorite time of year is fall so I'm excited to experience it in a new city. 

The back way

(Freeloader Grey Deep V Back asymmetrical tank, American Apparel Micro Mesh Bra, Grey Sweater from Denmark, Akira Black Tie Skirt, Urban Outfitters Mixed Media Necklace, Jeffrey Campbell Snick Wedges)


Finally a blog post! This one is dedicated to the lovely Morgen in Iowa City, since she brought the fact that I wasn't to my attention.  Miss you love bug! Here is the back way out of my 3rd story apartment.  Complete with Gnomes, walking sticks, graffiti and of course brick walls and locked gates.
Life has been hectic since my move to chicago, between my new job, getting settled into my apartment, selling my car, catching the flu bug and looking for art gigs, I feel like I haven't had much time to do anything else. But things are finally starting to come together so I'll have more time for the things I like to do...
I'm so happy to be in a big city, even if the adjustment has been a bit rough.  As my mom said to me, "Lauren, you're not in Kansas (ummm...Iowa) anymore."  And it's true.  I have definitely lost my sense of direction, familiarity, and the closeness I had in Iowa City.  I'm excited for all of the opportunities that seem to be available and I intend to take full advantage of them.
xo

Don't you let me go tonight...

(Secondhand chiffon floral top, Citizen of Humanity skinny jeans, Jeffrey Campbell Clogs, Vintage and Forever 21 rings, Vintage necklace, random watch, Forever 21 headband, Express bralette) 


Lykke Li continues to be my favorite.  Sitting alone in the efficiency I'm staying at in Iowa City after not being able to go to work earlier tonight due to rain. Wishing to already be permanently in Chicago living in the beautiful apartment that my boyfriend and I have....missing him more. Wishing I had more outfits because I'm running out of options more quickly that I'd prefer.  Cant wait to show you my new roommate, she's the cutest ever :)

Candy flavored mission to the moon

(top photos: Nylon Magazine, Copenhagen Fashion Week. Other images: original artwork by me)


I know pastel highlights are nothing new, but I can't help that I want still find myself thinking about and wanting them.  I even made an appointment in July to get them done but ended up having to work when I scheduled it.  They are subtle, yet fun.  Do I still do it?  I'm interviewing for jobs in Chicago, so maybe I should wait, but at the same time I want to just do it. Ahhh.....
So I've been thinking a lot about pastels, and light colors, fabrics and textures when I came across these images I made back in 2005.  They are my own original drawings collaged with items I scanned in the computer.  I used coffee filters, fabric, jewelry, and even went as far as putting cotton candy ice cream on my scanner. To end my thoughts on all things sweet and girly, the heading of this post is a tattoo I have down my right rib cage...I just can't help but be attracted to sweet, candy like ideas...

Window Sill

(Forever 21 White V-Neck, Zara Jeans, Jeffrey Campbell Wedges, Vintage Bracelets, necklaces, and scarf)


My favorite summer hairstyle has been the side fishtail braid.  It's so easy and fun, it makes a simple outfit not so simple.  And people always comment on it.  Since I'm living out of a bag of basic clothing, mostly work clothes, I'm having to get creative in other ways.
I'm staying in an efficiency in downtown Iowa City right now and it's so cute, I love old buildings.  Snapped these quickly right before I was on my way to run errands this afternoon.