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My Guide to Laguna Beach

September 26, 2016August 2, 2023 by whoorl

I’ve been involved in quite a love affair with Laguna Beach for some time, as many of you have witnessed on my Instagram account and blog over the past decade. It all started 14 years ago, when my boyfriend (now husband) and I were living, working, and freezing our tushes off in Chicago. I recall, on one particularly frigid evening in our drafty kitchen, I looked at him and said (through chattering teeth), “maybe we should move to Southern California.” Two weeks later, we signed a lease on a tiny apartment in Laguna Beach.

We lived in Laguna Beach for a couple of years, moving on to Corona del Mar and finally Newport Beach, but Laguna has always held a very special place in my heart. However, my love for this town has grown leaps and bounds over the past two years since we relocated to Oklahoma. Due to work commitments (thank you, career!) and family trips, I’ve been back to visit Laguna six times, which has been so lovely.

Any coastal Southern Californian will agree that living and visiting the area are two very different beasts, so the past couple of years have given me the opportunity to experience the town again as a tourist, despite my experience as a local from years past. This month, I collaborated with Visit Laguna to create a guide of my favorite Laguna haunts coupled with some unfamiliar, suggested stops. So, sit back (no really, sit down…it’s long), relax, and enjoy my guide to Laguna Beach.

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Odds and Ends

March 11, 2016March 11, 2016 by whoorl

1. I love dancing. I love toddlers. I love James Corden.

2. Oh, the tears I’ve shed on my yoga mat. It seems I’m not the only one.

3. Forget strobing and contouring. Have you tried Trumping?

4. I had quite a struggle with pelvic floor dysfunction a few years back. This is a fantastic article on the pelvic floor – all women should read.

5. Best procrastination story EVER.

6. Relying on friendship in a world made for couples. Such a great read.

7. GAME OF THRONES IS ALMOST HERE. #jonsnow

8. I have this clutch in black, but the pale pink shade is calling my name. Saaarrrraaahhhhhh.

9. Ladies need more sleep than dudes. IT’S SCIENCE.

10. Look at those handsome gents. Swoon.

Happy Friday to you! Hope your weekend is peachy keen.

image credit: david mramor

Odds and Ends

November 13, 2015November 13, 2015 by whoorl

Well, hello there, friends. I’ve been away for a bit (a trip to Tulum- will post about it next week, swoon), so I’m hoping to make up for it with a slew of odds and ends. Enjoy!

1. You’ve been cutting cake all wrong, people.

2. Before anything else, you must love yourself. If you feel like you’ve fallen out of love, this is a great article on getting back on track.

3. Runners that overshare? NEVER.

4. What do colors look like to color blind people? I would not enjoy it.

5. How your complaining is actually killing you. It’s science, people.

6. The secret formula for growing out bangs. I might need to utilize this one day.

7. “It’s perfectly orchestrated self-absorbed judgement. I was consumed by it.” Why a famous teen Instagram star decided to quit social media.

8. Why you are going to feel bad for a Very Long Time. Haha, um, kind of the truth.

9. Awkwarding. It’s a thing. And it’s so incredibly hilarious. The one about the Starbucks fart with the headphones on had me rolling.

10. Compelling photos of motherhood. No candy-coating.

11. The person you really need to marry to be happy. Fantastic. Really, so so so good.

12. Whoa, sun! Are you kidding me?

13. The A to Z of Anna Wintour.

14. The Smiths lyrics + Charlie Brown illustrations. Perfection.

15. Speaking of Charlie Brown, 8 things you didn’t know about Peanuts.

16. Your body’s amazing reaction to water. Gorgeous photos.

17. Got a little personal on my Facebook page. Hit home SO HARD in regards to my brainy, introverted boy.

18. Fall clearance sale at Nordstrom. 40% off, awwww yeahhhhh. Not gonna lie, obsessed with this boot.

19. David Hasselhoff is no longer David Hasselhoff. #whut

20. A sea organ. Who knew? I can listen to that for days.

21. I want to master this hairstyle. Will I able to do it? Only time will tell…

Happy weekend to you all!

image credit: olivier umecker

The Ultimate Green Beauty Cosmetics Guide

October 26, 2015June 21, 2017 by whoorl

I’ve been working my way through multitudes of green beauty products over the past few years, and thought it was high time to share my knowledge with you in one (fairly) succinct list.

Here’s the thing, though. There are so. many. amazing green/natural/organic beauty brands out there, and this list just grazes the surface. I highly recommend trying whatever you can get your hands on, but in the meantime, these are all personal favorites that I’ve used for quite some time. Although I very much enjoy the research behind ingredients in beauty products, I know many of you would rather have a root canal, so this list is for you. The brands I write about in this post are all clean, trustworthy, and most of all, fabulous.

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Odds and Ends

March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 by whoorl

Well, hello there! Kind of disappeared this week, as I’ve been dealing with a lovely little bout of insomnia. As some of you might remember from my No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn Summer Tour of 2013, I am pretty much good for nothing when I’m not sleeping. (Why, sleeping gods? WHYYYYYYYYYYYY?) My mind seems to follow the same crappy cycle of not sleeping for some random reason followed by worrying about not sleeping which causes me to not sleep which is followed by more worrying. IT IS SO FUN WHY DON’T YOU JOIN ME?

However, the great thing about overcoming a hard situation (like a horrible bout of insomnia) in the past is it arms you with the confidence that yes, indeed, you can and will overcome it. You did it before, right? I did. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over these past few years is that this too shall pass. THIS TOO SHALL PASS, my friends. No matter what you are dealing with right now…this too shall pass. And you will be a stronger, wiser person because of it, and, more importantly, know how to better deal with situations like it in the future. We are not our stories, friends. Today, you are light and you are awesome. Eat that for lunch.

Without further ado, some odds and ends for the weekend.

1. Tattooed senior citizens. I love this – looks better with age.

2. Data geniuses have figured out the ultimate road trip.

3. Is being a stay-at-home parent a luxury? Interesting read.

4. I love Amy Turn Sharp. And her poetry. And THIS. Oh yes.

5. Want to be more successful? Stop wasting your brain.

6. You’ve probably seen this before, but I always think it’s a wonderful manifesto to revisit from time to time.

Happy weekend, everyone! The kids are on spring break next week, so it’s going to be crazy around here. Perhaps I should re-read that manifesto one more time.

A Day in Peru

February 20, 2015May 1, 2021 by whoorl

Excuse the disappearing act this week – I had planned on sharing my trip to Peru with you while I was there, but after quickly realizing that the average time to upload a simple Instagram photo was about an hour, I figured blog posting would have to wait. Of course, now all I want is to serve you this overflowing platter of words and photos.

(Hey, don’t run away! It’s only like 20 25 33 40 photos. That shows restraint, right?)

What an eye-opening, inspirational, and informative trip I had; in fact, the reality that I was only there for 3 full days is shocking, given everything I learned and experienced. On the trip with me were three of my wonderful colleagues, Kristen, Heather, and Rebecca, and it was so cool to experience one of my favorite organizations, Krochet Kids, with them by my side.

Krochet Kids intl. exists to help impoverished, vulnerable women get on their feet by providing them a supportive workspace, stable income, in-house childcare, and an incredible mentoring program that addresses not only the financial aspects of their lives, but the psychological, emotional, and social aspects as well. (I’ll be honest, before seeing the organization and mentors in action, I imagined “mentoring” to be a pat on the back and some positive, affirming words. It is so much more. SO much more…these women are truly changing all aspects of their lives with a very detailed and measurable program provided to them by the organization. KK intl. gives these women everything they need to start their own businesses once completing the program. More on that later…)

And, oh yeah, let’s not forget to mention what these women create. Beautiful, handcrafted accessories and apparel for men, women, and children.

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