What I'm Loving // January

by Lavender Elizabeth, January 31, 2019
January has been a very long month. It's slowly gotten colder and colder, with temperatures dropping to -21 yesterday! In honor of the longest moth of the year ending, I'm bringing back my "What I'm Loving" series. The last time I shared my monthly loves was back in September, so it's long overdue!

Below are the five things I've been loving this January.

The Best Winter Candles

in , by Lavender Elizabeth, January 28, 2019
This year, I've decided to get into candles. My family is obsessed with them, but for some reason, I've never jumped on the candle-loving train. That's going to change this year! In the winter, burning a candle can really create a warm and comforting home. I reached out to my candle-burning friends for their recommendations. Below are twelve of the most popular scents for the season, according to my favorite people.

Trip Recap // Last Minute California Trip

in , by Lavender Elizabeth, January 24, 2019
I spent the last week in Northern California and it was perfect. I still had 2.5 days of vacation to use up by the end of January, so I decided to take a last-minute trip to California. I told myself if I could find a cheap flight out there that I would go. I hadn't seen my friends since they visited in May, so a visit was long overdue. I was able to spend quality time with each of my girls, both one-on-one and together. Eleven cities over seven days - it was busy, but so fun. Read all about it below!

12 Ways to Beat the Winter Gloom

by Lavender Elizabeth, January 20, 2019
Winter is a magical time, but can also be quite gloomy. With less daylight hours and more overcast days, it can be easy to catch the winter blues. Being born in Canada and now living in Chicago, I've had my fair share of winters. Throughout the years, I've discovered some tried-and-true strategies to survive the chillier months. Chicago was just hit with a huge snowstorm, so I thought what better day to share my tips for getting through these snowy days? Below are 12 of my favorite ways to beat the winter gloom and find joy in this season.

Fashion // The Best Winter Sweaters

in , by Lavender Elizabeth, January 13, 2019
Yesterday, it snowed all day long here in Chicago. It was beautiful. I love winter because it means cozying up in sweaters. There are so many different takes on the classic sweater and today, I'm sharing my favorites. From necklines to fabric details, there are so many options - and so many ways to mix-and-match. See below for 16 of my favorite ways to wear sweaters, as well as some great ways to shop each style.

Home Tour // Our Knoxville Airbnb

by Lavender Elizabeth, January 08, 2019
In yesterday's recap of our trip to Charleston, I mentioned staying in a beautiful Airbnb while in Knoxville, TN. Today, I'm giving you a tour! This SoKno River View Craftsman was perfect. As soon as we walked in, all the details jumped out at us. The home had clearly been renovated, but with added charm. The house itself is a three bedroom, two bathroom home with a lake view. The master has an ensuite, complete with a walk-in shower; the other two bedrooms share the common bathroom. The kitchen has open shelving, subway tile, and wooden accents. There was also cute decor - like a "Lavender" sign - adding a real HGTV vibe. Plus, it was crazy clean, which I appreciate more than anything. I would highly recommend staying here if you're ever visiting the Knoxville area. 

FRONT DOOR & FRONT ENTRYWAY

FAMILY ROOM & DINING ROOM

THE KITCHEN

BEDROOM #1 & MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BATHROOM

BEDROOM #3 AND BATHROOM

CUTE SIGNS

I love Airbnb because you get to stay in great little places like this.

Trip Recap // Roadtrip to Charleston

in , by Lavender Elizabeth, January 07, 2019
This past week, my family moved my sister and her fiancé to Charleston. After spending New Years' Eve together, we set out on our road trip from Naperville, IL to Charleston, SC. We took three cars and one U-Haul trailer through six states, driving 948 miles over two days. It was a lot of time spent in the car, but so fun. We brought three walkie-talkies so each car was able to communicate with the other two. For anyone going on a road trip - highly recommend bringing them along! We had a wonderful week spending time as a family, while also exploring my sister's new home.

Currently // December to January

by Lavender Elizabeth, January 05, 2019
DECEMBER RECAP

December was amazing. I absolutely love the holidays, so I spent a lot of time enjoying the Christmas festivities. From looking at lights to shopping for gifts; holiday-inspired bars to ugly sweater parties; I appreciated it all! I also had the opportunity to use up some of my vacation time, so took the entire week of Christmas off of work. It was exactly what I needed! I rounded out the year with my family, staying home and playing games. It was the perfect ending to 2018.

CATCHING UP ON LAVENDER ELIZABETH'S DECEMBER:
  1. Currently // November to December A recap of last month and a look into next
  2. Kicking off the Holiday Season How my roommates and I kicked off December
  3. Gift Guide for the Fitness Lover Great gifts for the fitness lover in your life
  4. Gift Guide for the Photographer Gift ideas for your friend who loves taking photos
  5. Gift Guide for the Outdoor Lover Special presents for a nature lover
  6. The Stressed Out Girl's Gift Guide Gifts perfect for after the holiday stress
  7. My Fall Bucket List A complete look at my fall season
  8. Our Family Tree + Christmas Traditions A peek at our Christmas tree and traditions
  9. 2018 // Year in Review Looking back on my favorite memories of 2018
COMING UP THIS MONTH


January 1 Start our road trip to Charleston
January 2-6 Visit Charleston, SC (and move my sister there)
January 11 Friends' night out
January 12 Celebrate Kat's birthday
January 18 Celebrate my Dad's birthday
January 19-22 Visit friends in California

Have an incredible January!

2019 // My Year to be Enough

in , by Lavender Elizabeth, January 03, 2019
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14

A couple of years ago, I decided that rather than make "resolutions," I'd prefer to have a word that defines my year. For 2017, I chose the word JOY, and for 2018, INTENTION. This year, the word that's been on my heart is ENOUGH. I've realized over the past few months that I'm starting to compare a lot. Compare my experiences, what kind of events I'm attending, how my photos compare to other bloggers, etc. I'm confident in who I am, but every now and again, I have these moments, and that's when the comparison creeps in. This year, I want to be remember that I am enough.
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