Caroline Carlisle's Baby Shower

This is late, like really late. 

But I recently dusted off the ole blog and saw that I started this

 and decided to quickly finish it up and post it! 

My friends are just so incredible and threw me and Caroline Carlisle the most gorgeous baby shower! 

It was in late September at Neiman Marcus Willow Bend in the Marcus Room.

The Marcus Room is seriously the most gorgeous venue I've ever seen ( I may or may not have already booked it for Car Car's 1st birthday party...obnoxious, I know, I can't help it.).

The flowers were perfect. I love roses + babies breath! 

The gold chargers, the chiavari lucite chairs, the favors on each place setting, the games, it was seriously all perfect! 

The menu was delicious and included 2 of my favorite foods: popovers with strawberry butter 

and tortilla soup! 

They also had pink champagne cocktails, Prosecco, and virgin pink drink for the preggy lady! 

Dessert is always my favorite part of every party. 

In my opinion, the cake and cookies (other than entertainment) are the most important part! 

The cake, cookies, cake pops and macaroons were simply perfect. 

Gorgeous + delicious. 

Like I mentioned above I love good entertainment at a party so games are important to me. 

We played all the most fun games with the cutest prizes! 

I'm so thankful for the ladies! 

They put on quite the party!! 

 And am thankful for all the gorgeous ladies that came to celebrate sweet Caroline Carlisle! 

Dinner Diaries

Recently, my sister-in-law was told me how easy + inexpensive it is to make bread at home.

I got inspired and started pinning my little heart out.

I found a pin for  French Peasant Bread (which my SIL highly recommended) and went with it.

I have to admit that I am a "do-er" and not always a thinker... The first time I made bread I had the dough rising and was on the phone with  my best friend when she asked if I had a loaf pan.

Which of course I didn't but luckily both babies were napping and daddy was home so I ran to target to buy a loaf pan!

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the recipe I follow:

 

Ingredients: 

• 1 package dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 T sugar
• 2 t salt
• 4 1/2 c flour
• corn meal
• melted butter (about 2-3 T)

Directions: 

1. Place yeast, water, sugar, and salt in warm bowl and stir until dissolved. Add flour and stir until blended. Do not knead.
2. Cover and let rise one hour or until doubled in size.
3. Remove dough from the bowl with floured hands (or awkwardly scoop out half the dough with a rubber spatula like I do, because the dough is really sticky and I don’t want to touch it!) and place in 2 rounds on a parchment-lined cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Let rise an additional hour, or until doubled.
4. Brush the top with melted butter and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees and cook an additional 15 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and brush again with butter.
6. Serve warm.

Notes:

• To make the dough ahead, follow directions up until the second rise.  Instead of leaving it out to rise, cover and place in the fridge.  It will rise some in the fridge, but it may still need up to an hour to rise before you bake it.
• You can easily halve or half again this recipe, depending on the size of your crowd.

http://biteofdelight.net/2008/02/french-peasant-bread.html

This is already a family favorite (Mitch and Eli can eat a loaf in 1 sitting!)

and I have been making it about once a week for a couple months now!

I also started jarring my own jam which I will blog at a later time!

Pairs great with this bread!

Hope this inspires you to bake some bread this week!

xoxo

Lauren 

New York Fashion Week {February 2015}

I know, I know... 

It's been 4 months since my last entry, I'll get back to regular blogging at some point, right? 

This post was created in February but never finished so I thought I would finish it up and post it now. 

Better late than never?

I had the honor to work on the production team for the 

Mark & Estel New York Fashion Week Show. 

They are such an incredible design team that have asked me back 3 times to work for them at NYFW. 

It has truly been a dream come true. 

This past fashion week I came in for a week and was involved from A to Z with the show. 

From casting, to styling, to fittings, to make-up trials, to day of prep, to show time. 

It was certainly one of the high lights of my career in the high fashion world. 

Here are some behind the scenes pictures {or #BTS for you hip kids}:

Casting: Day 1

Gift Bags  

Styling table

Model cards

Elliot my bae from my first Fashion Week; Love her! 

My own little office space

It's all in the detail 

We somehow ended up in a shoot with Mark & Estel! Lol! 

I see you Fashion Police :) 

Hey, Tim Gunn! 

After almost 7 years in the Fashion Industry this has to be one of my favorite memories. 

I won't be back in September as I will be 8 months pregnant but hope to attend some shows in the future. 

God has a new plan for me and my family in the creative field and I cannot wait to share with you all what is to come! 

Fashion was and will always be a part of my life in some capacity; but the tides are changing. 

Until next time...

Hugs & Kisses, 

Lauren