We all know what it’s like to rush out of the house in the morning to either head to work or take the kiddos to school. It’s chaos and it’s rush, rush, rush up to the second you have to leave.
For me, this last week or so has consisted of me waking up late and rushing to get ready and out the door in time to get to work for my first meeting.  However, no matter how much I’m rushing, I always make sure I eat breakfast. You might be thinking, gosh how do you have time to cook yourself breakfast, eat it, and head out the door in time? Well, I started making breakfast smoothies.  I even can make them the night before, put a lid on the container, pop it in the fridge, and grab-n-go first thing in the morning. It’s perfect, easy, and delicious! I can drink it on my way to work so by the time I am parking in my parking garage, my breakfast is done. This allows me to walk into the office and start crankin’ on work!

Try it! Enjoy it and let me know what you think. 

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 tablespoon flaxseed or chia seeds

1 1/2 tablespoons of almond butter

1 medium banana (frozen works too!)

3-4 slices of frozen peaches

Magic Bullet or blender

Directions

Place the banana in the cup followed by the almond milk.  Pour the flaxseed or chia seeds in the cup and the almond butter.  Mix all of these ingredients together with your magic bullet or blender until fully blended. Then add the frozen peaches and blend again until pureed. You can also add a handful of raw spinach to add greens as well. The one thing I love about this smoothie is you can add extra ingredients and play around with what you like best. I sometimes add cinnamon and vanilla in the winter times to spice it up a bit.

Enjoy!

Photo Cred: My Handsome Husband

Shoes: Michael Kors • Romper: Target • Sunnies: Karen Walker • Earrings: Target • Lipstick: Viva Glam by MAC • Lip Liner: Kiss Me Quick by MAC • Clutch: Louis Vuitton • Bracelet: Tiffany & Co. • Watch: Michele • Ring: David Yurman

This years’ Seattle summer has been brutal….brutally HOT! The temps have been in the 90’s for weeks and we don’t have AC. I know…crazy! The only pieces of clothing that I’ve been able to wear are dresses and rompers. Rompers, specifically, have been a staple in my wardrobe this summer. They are easy to wear, easy to dress up, flowy, and comfortable.

I bought this particular romper back in April before our trip to Mexico.  It was under $30 at Target! I know…Target! But honestly, I LOVE Target! I get so many pieces of clothing there that are perfect for each season and at a great price.  And I get the most compliments on them at work. If you haven’t bought any clothes from them before, head over to the women’s clothing section and I promise you, you’ll find something.

Happy Monday, everyone! xo Lauren

The past few weeks have been super busy with work, which is great, but I never was able to take a minute and think about the little things. I even wrote a blog about the little things in life and right now, I’m not really taking time to ‘smell the roses’.

This week, I’ve started to pause and really take a second to recognize those little things and enjoy them.

Here are a few of my favorite things this week:

1. My Pineapple Hand Towel

I’ve been obsessed with pineapples this summer.  Not actual pineapples, but any item that has a pineapple on it or is shaped like one, I’m in love.  When I was out of town, my mom went to a local festival and found this adorable pineapple hand towel.  She knew I’ve been loving on pineapples so she gave it to me. Apparently it was handmade by a sweet, local gal. Anything hand-made makes it ten times more cool!  Now, I have my pineapple hand towel hanging on one of my drawers in my kitchen and every time I glance at it, it puts a smile on my face.

2. Organic Red Lentil Pasta for the Win!

A month or so ago, we were over at our friends house and my girlfriend was cooking this red pasta. I looked at it and asked her what the heck she was making. She said, Lentil pasta. (a) I literally had never heard of it and (b) I don’t like lentils so I didn’t really care that I hadn’t. She convinced me that it was good and that I should try it once she finishes cooking it.  Once it was done, she threw in some broccoli, some marinara sauce, and voila – dinner was served.  I took a little taste and I have to admit, it was bomb.com. I loved it! Not only did it taste good, but knowing that I was eating pasta that was a protein was fabulous! They sell it at Whole Foods down the pasta aisle. It’s a little expensive at $8 a box, but boy is it worth it. My husband loves it! Whenever I’m there, I try to buy a box or two because it’s a perfect meal when I don’t have something planned.

3. Jesus Lives!

Every morning I wake up with a text from my mom. Each text has a picture of the daily devotional that’s in Jesus Lives.  I absolutely love it. I read each one and then grab the book and read on.  I love this devotional because it’s a great reminder that in everything you do, God’s love is sprinkled throughout.  He is part of EVERYTHING in your life….literally everything. It’s a constant reminder to live each moment and situation with the thought, ‘What would Jesus do?’ Honestly, it helps me walk through every situation with a lens that Jesus wants me to see, walk, talk, and strut my stuff to.  If you don’t have this book or its companion book, Jesus Calling, head over to Amazon and snag it! It’ll start your day off on the right foot.

4 & 5. Glassybaby’s & SkinnyGirl Popcorn

The last two things on my list go together – Glassybaby’s and SkinnyGirl popcorn.  If you don’t already, I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram – @lauren_husum – because then you can see all the fun ways I use these adorable glassybaby’s. Here’s one way – use them as popcorn bowls. I don’t have kids yet, but I thought this would be the cutest way to give kids a small snack.  They are colorful and just the right size for little ones.  I have to say, glassybaby’s have been my favorite item in 2015! I use them as decor, candle holders, and now serving dishes. If you haven’t checked them out, you must explore.

Recently, I’ve been trying to find an easy snack for work and I found these SkinnyGirl popcorns. They are the perfect size (smaller than normal popcorn bags!) and are yummy! They have a bunch of flavors, but I’ve only tried the sea salt and butter.  If you haven’t already, the next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up a box of SkinnyGirl popcorn. You won’t be disappointed!

Do you ever go to the store and buy multiple cleaning brands or soaps just to try them out? I’ve done that so many times over the years just to see which ones I like the best.  However, there is one brand that I always go back to – Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day!

About 5 years ago, I visited a girlfriend in LA and in all of her bathrooms she had Mrs. Meyer’s clean day soap.  After staying with her for a few days, I fell in love with all of the scents.  When I got back to Washington, I went to the store and bought 5 different Meyer’s soap and dispersed a few in my condo and stashed the remainder under my kitchen sink.  Ever since then, I have always (and will always!) buy Mrs. Meyer’s soap.  Not only do I love the scents because my entire house smells like a garden, but I love (A) these products do not contain chlorine bleach, ammonia, petroleum distillates, parabens, phosphates or phthalates, and (B) they do not test on animals.  Sounds like a win/win to me!

Check out the 3 soaps I have left in my house.  The Lavender is my go-to for the bathrooms in my house, the Rosemary is perfect for my kitchen, and the Lilac smells good in any room of the house! (The Lilac is limited edition!) You can find the variety of scents on Mrs. Meyer’s site.

Not until recently have I started using Mrs. Meyer’s multi-surface cleaner. Primarily because I always ‘try’ new cleaning products, but now I am convinced. I have been using the limited edition Peony scent multi-surface cleaner and it literally is my FAVORITE! I wish it was available all year long. It literally makes my kitchen smell like freshly sprayed perfume. I love it!

The Basil scent is one I’ve had for awhile and I enjoy it as well.  It has more of an earthy scent rather than floral, which is perfect for the kitchen.

I’ve mentioned a few reasons as to why I love Mrs. Meyers products, primarily because they don’t test on animals or use so many chemicals.  But there are two additional reasons that make me love this product.

(1) Their Branding. What’s the first thing you see? The two L’s – label and logo! Their logo/labels are catchy and stand out in front of every other soap or cleaning brand I see.  Thelma Meyer is the face and inspiration behind Mrs. Meyer’s brand.  She is an avid gardner, a mother, and has a passion for gardening and keeping things tidy.  These products stand for something and never change their core principles. This is why I love this brand and this is why I do and will continue to use these products.  I mean, how could you not?

(2) Gift Ideas. Since the branding is on point, colorful, and unique to Mrs. Meyer’s, I love giving her products away as a gift. How perfect would a little bag of Meyer’s soap be for a bridal or baby shower gift? They are gentle, don’t include harsh chemicals, and look great next to your bathroom sink. Sounds like a win/win to me. You can find adorable Meyer’s gift sets for purchase as well.

As a devoted customer who has used Mrs. Meyer’s soap for 5+ years and beginning to use the household products, do yourself a favor and pick up a few products to try.  Again, my favorites are the soaps and multi-surface cleaners, but there are laundry detergents, dishwasher soaps, air fresheners, and much more.

What are your favorite cleaning brands?

Wallet: Kate Spade • Sunnies: Karen Walker • Lipgloss: Eos • Handbag: Nordstrom (Under $50!) • Pen: Disney (I was just in Orlando for work and had to pick up a Disney pen!)

The things that I absolutely love about my handbag are all the lipsticks and lipliners that live in it.  I have too many to count on both hands but there are three that I use on a regular basis. Every morning, I put on one of my top three lipsticks that go with the outfit I’ve picked out for that day.  In the evenings, I may branch out and put on some of my other fun colors but for work I stick to these three.

From the left | Lipstick: Rouge Allure Velvet – La Romanesque by Chanel • Lip Liner: Candy Yum-Yum by MAC • Lipstick: Viva Glam 1 by MAC • Lip Liner: Kiss me Quick by MAC • Lipstick: Brave by MAC • Lip Liner: Spice by MAC

Hot Barbie Pink.

This Chanel lipstick is one of my faves. It’s soft, keeps my lips moisturized, and has long lasting wear. I paired it with this Candy Yum-Yum lip liner because it has a pop of neon to it that truly brightens the lipstick. I wear this color with black and white, hot pinks, and really any warm colors to add some color to an outfit.

Deep Red.
This lipstick I’ve had for a long time. It was my very first deep red lipstick that I ever bought. Crazy huh? But it’s my absolute favorite and I will never buy another. (I should never say never but at this point, I don’t plan on buying another!) I use the Kiss Me Quick lip liner from MAC with this color because it matches it perfectly. This lipstick is perfect for a date night with the hubs or a night out with your girlfriends. 

Be Brave.

This last lip color is one of my go-to’s for work. It’s neutral with a touch of pink and lasts all day. It can go with anything and is perfect when you want to add a little color to your lips without looking like you’re about to go out on the town. I wear it constantly and absolutely love it. I’ve learned that when I wear brighter colors to work, my colleagues call me Taylor Swift or ask why I’m wearing so much makeup – when really I just added some lip color.

Photo Cred: My Handsome Hubby

Shoes: Aldo • Skirt: J.Crew • Top: Gap • Earrings: Nordstrom • Sunnies: Karen Walker • Watch: Michele • Bracelet: Tiffany & Co. • Ring: David Yurman • Lipstick: Chanel • Lip Liner: Candy Yum-Yum by MAC

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying their week so far. I am travelling for work this week so have been pretty exhausted. But super excited to share this fun outfit!

On our way back from Oregon for my mother-in-law’s birthday, we stopped at the Portland outlet malls. The last store we walked into was J.Crew. They had a ton of cute clothes on sale! I ran across this bright, neon skirt and absolutely fell in love. In my head, I was thinking, ‘Would this look good on me?’. Even the gal shopping near me, asked me, ‘Gosh, I would never envision myself wearing neon like that?’ And I told her that she has to try it on before she can really know whether it’s something she can pull off.  So I took my own advice and tried this skirt on. This got me thinking. How many times have we walked into a store, saw something that we thought was cute but never thought we could actually wear it?

Well, ladies, this neon, bright skirt was one of those clothing items! And I bought it, wore it and got a ton compliments on it.

My challenge for each of you is to try on that piece of clothing that you think is ‘too much’ or ‘not my style’. You may just be surprised that it looks fabulous on you!

xo Lauren

This week I’m going to be out of town on a business trip. I have an all day event that I’m putting on plus dinners every night. Thankfully, I work with some pretty awesome people so they always make work trips ten times more fun.

But, before I can even think about my trip, I can’t avoid the inevitable – I must pack. Who loves to pack? eh…not me. But I do love picking out my outfits and preparing myself for the week ahead.

For this business trip, I took snapshots of 3 different outfits that I coordinated for my trip. My primary goal when packing for a business trip is to bring 1-2 staple pieces, i.e. shoes, handbags, etc, that I can mix and match throughout the few days I’m there.  My hope is that the next time you are heading out on business, you take a look at my business trip essentials and are able to coordinate outfits that can help you wear the same thing twice, pack less, and stay professional.

Here are the outfits I’ve rounded up:

1. The Airport Style.

Shoes: Tory Burch • Pants: Zella Leggings (On sale for $33.90) • Top: J.Crew • Sweater: Forever 21

When I travel, I have to be comfortable. On the way there and back, I plan to wear this simple, cozy outfit.  To save suitcase space, re-wear your airplane outfit. I always do! If it get’s dirty or you spill something on it, your hotel can launder it for you in a day. Boom!  Now, back to the outfit – I’m wearing a J.Crew tee, a pair of Zella leggings, a big sweater, and my Tory Burch sandals. I’ll also pair my Stella and Dot necklace along with my watch and a few bracelets to dress it up.  This way, if I run into anyone from work on my flight, I still look presentable. I also throw a pair of socks into my handbag. You just never know when you get on a plane that’s freezing!

2. Meeting Attire.

Top: Bar III • Skirt: Nordstrom • Shoes: Nordstrom • Handbag: Kate Spade • Earrings: Nordstrom

For this business trip, I have two days full of meetings.  I’m going to a place where it’s super hot outside but freezing inside, because they blast the AC.  So I had to coordinate an outfit that could handle both types of weather. I paired this long white skirt with a simple but classy black tee plus my blush pink heels. This outfit is comfortable and professional. The short sleeves will help me handle the hot temps and the long skirt will keep my legs warm in the cool, AC. Done and done.

3. Evening Apparel.

After a long day of meetings, I’ll get 30 minutes to freshen up and head back down to dinner.  Sometimes, I wear what I wore during the day but other times it’s nice to change it up. That’s what I’m planning to do on this trip. I found this adorable jumpsuit on our way back from Oregon at the Banana Republic outlet. There was one left and it was my size – totally meant to be! Oh and it was on sale from $100 to $16! Anyway, I thought this jumpsuit would be perfect for my evening event on Tuesday. We’re going to a winery so it’ll be indoors and I just know the AC will be on. I’ll be able to wear the same shoes I wore during the day plus the same handbag, which means one less pair of shoes and one less handbag to pack! I’ll bring a black sweater with me in case I get really chilly and boom – I’m good to go!

Happy Thursday everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your week. This week, I’ve been feeling like summer is just flying by! I just can’t believe we are already half way through July. That’s crazy!!

Today’s post shows what Chuck and I have been doing the last few weeks via Instagram. They’ve definitely been busy. I hope you all have been enjoying this summer with family, friends, heat, and yummy BBQs.

You can find more behind the scenes of Fiercely Charming and glances into my personal life on instagram, @lauren_husum

Enjoy the rest of your week!

xo Lauren

^Celebrating the 4th of July with my man

Chuck’s Outfit | Top: Banana Republic • Shorts: Banana Republic

^Chuck’s 30th Birthday Dinner

My Outfit | Top: Vince Camuto • Lipstick: Viva Glam by MAC • Watch: Michele • Bracelet Stella and Dot

  ^Checking out the Covered Bridges in Oregon

Chuck’s Outfit | Vest: Mountain Hardwear • Sunglasses: Maui Jims

^Beautiful Flower Arrangement for the 4th of July!

Flowers: Whole Foods • Glassybaby’s

^Dutch Brother’s Coffee Stop! Every cup had a sweet saying!

^Sunday night dinner at my parent’s house! Mama T’s shish kabobs…mmm mmm good!

Dinnerware: Macys

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

For those of you with a Nordstrom debit or credit card, you have the opportunity to get early access to all the awesome sales Nordstrom has to offer. However, don’t fret if you don’t! On July 17th, everyone has access to the biggest sale of the year.

I’ve picked my top 3 fall favorites in the following categories – jeans, shoes, handbags, and tops.

What are your favorite items from the sale?

xo Lauren

one | two | three

four | five | six

seven | eight | nine

ten | eleven | twelve

Photo Cred: The Hubs

Shoe: Nike Free 5.0 • Pants: Ideology • Top: Lululemon • Jacket: Lululemon • Earrings: Stella and Dot • Watch: Michele

As we close out the week and head into this sunny weekend, I thought I’d share one of my favorite workout outfits. My primary workout is Bar Method. I absolutely love it. I love the community of people and the awesome instructors. It’s a workout that is simply good for your soul.

When I think about what workout clothes work best for me when doing Bar, the first thing I think about are my pants. I aways lean towards fitting, yoga style pants. They are flexible and don’t get in the way of my workout. My favorite workout pants are the Ideology brand at Macy’s. They are reasonably priced, wash well, and always fit me right. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Lululemon yoga pants, but when you need a few pairs, it’s hard for me to drop a couple hundred dollars on workout pants. But boy do Lululemon pants fit well!

As far as tops go, I normally wear a fitting tank top, but when I saw this one, I fell in love. The colors are great and the back has a flow to it that can help keep you cool.  This is my favorite workout top that I own and I love wearing it to Bar! and it’s always fun when you show up to the 6:00AM class and see your Bar buddy in the same top! Twinsies.

If you haven’t tried Bar Method before, I highly recommend it. It tightens and lifts. And let’s be honest, my rear end could definitely use a bit of that.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Get your workout on!

xo Lauren