Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A peek into B + L




These last few weeks I've been keeping busy around the house - ordering stock, scouring flea markets, staging, and photographing some things for the shop. I decided to finally take some of the stress off and pay a designer to build me a website with a full shopping cart, so I can focus on the parts of this business that inspired me to start it in the first place.

This week I've been working on a lookbook - a little peek into bringing the outdoors in and creating natural, simple, and inexpensive looks for your home.

With every bit of this journey into a new career, I am finding exciting new transitions into where I will take the shop. I can't wait to see where this will go over the next few years, and what I can do as this all grows and finally pieces together to build a dream I've held tight for a very long time.














But for the record, starting a new career while you still have your old one, while you're 9 months pregnant, putting together a nursery, and still trying to keep up with your day to day maybe wasn't the best idea :)

Last night I had a minute (or ten) of crying on the kitchen floor. It was my first and hopefully last breakdown of 2011. Sometimes a moment to feel sorry for yourself is all you need as a reminder that things aren't so bad, after all.


Happy Spring, lovelies. After a long, dark Winter, it is finally time for new life.

41 comments:

Amy Cappelli said...

I want to live in one of your vignettes. Such a lovely world you have created.

jeana said...

Stunning Aura. Love everything!

siniann said...

You always amaze me Aura, beautiful photos and decorations. Can't wait to see what B&L will be when the new shop is ready. Your idea of the lookbook is great, it will work as a guide to work my home to look more like home, beautiful place to live.

You definetly need to travel to France, I'll hire you to re-do our messy french home ;)

Take care of yourself, I hope you will feel better already. I'm having bad moment too, with all the broken things in our apartment ( our toilet broke down, can you imagine!) and having the worst moment of homesickness.. I miss my family so bad. Spring will definetly make everything better :)

Happy spring!

Kristin said...

Gorgeous. The colors, the lines, the movement-- it's all so calm and pleasant to look at. I love it.

Anonymous said...

Wow, stunning. Beautiful photographs... just beautiful. :)

Nikole Taylor said...

If I were you, I don't think I'd ever be down :)
Your life seems so beautiful, in every way.

Lisa said...

oooh....yee-ha to you missy. I wish you only lovely things. Things really are never as bad as you think and all the old cliches are true!!!! I have a beautiful friend with multiple sclerosis. She has two wonderful children and a kind and fabulous husband and even though she has more problems than any other person I know she is always upbeat and always generous and sweet!!! I only have to think about her and know that anything is possible and even though things get bad there is always light in the dark. I believe that even when things are difficult and tiring in your life you will find the positive within it.....just like my wonderful friend!!!!!!!

Kathleen said...

i'm pretty in a few weeks all your tears will be that of joy :)

The Maiden Metallurgist said...

Go ahead and cry. Just so long as when you are done you brush yourself off and get back to your beautiful work. Have a gerat day!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love what you are doing - you are so talented! Just remember that even amidst all the stress, there is so much beauty to be found in this life we've been given. Have a wonderful day! :)

Anonymous said...

I love to see how far you've come, and cannot WAIT to see how far you will go.

Just lovely!

Kalei's Best Friend said...

i love the way u design!. effortless, feminine and minimalist.

kristyn ellen said...

Everybody needs a good cry. Hope the rest of the week is restful and productive, all at the same time. :)

Your spring touches look beautiful. You really have a knack for putting things together. Very inspiring!

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited for the journey your dreams are taking you on. You are very inspiring, especially when you are honest about your breakdowns! :) We all have them! :) I always feel better after a cry :) Have a beautiful week!

kelly ann said...

oohh, this is exciting! You have such incredible style and taste, I'm excited to see where this new adventure takes you. :)

xoxo.

Gaby said...

I can't imagine trying to start a business with everything you've got going on! I'm totally stressed out because I'm trying to start 2 freelance careers (soon to be 3), both of which I'm doing half-assedly. Keep up the good work though! I think you're doing awesome! x

p.s. thanks so much for your encouraging words on my yoga school post!

Melanie said...

Cheers to new life!

Good for you Aura, for following your dreams and getting things done. Not many people in life can say that they have!

You'll go far with your positive mind frame, determination and creative ability. I wish you best of luck with your business, baby, and life!

Jolene said...

You have such talent Aura! Loved it! Hope you feel better after the cry. *hugs*

Kristi said...

i am sure you will have many more breakdowns on the kitchen floor, you are about to be a new mama. xx.

Jessica said...

Everything looks so beautiful! I come to your blog everyday just to browse through recent and past posts for inspiration! It's okay to have breakdowns...trust me you're not the only one ;). You're spinning a lot of plates girlfriend so give yourself permission to go a little nuts every once in a while :D.
Sending you love and "de-stress" pixie dust!
<3

kelly louise said...

I just want to repeat exactly what Kristi said above. Just because, it's a given! We all do it. x

Holly said...

sometimes a good cry just helps get it all out in the open...

oh! and i wanted to let you know, i talked about you on my blog today.... here's the link, if you wanna take a look. i really do think of you as a huge inspiration. not only in the world of blogging, but you're not afraid to do what it is you really want. that can be a hard step for a lot of us.

http://holly-closetomyheart.blogspot.com/2011/03/mama-to-be.html

tea with lucy said...

ah lovely spring blossom, just as the autumn leaves start to fall here. xo

TAMMIE40 said...

Aura, I was introduced to your web site by my daughter, you are so inspiring! I love all the pictures, and arrangements. I have had a couple of moments of crying on the floor myself, so I can relate. One does feel much better afterwards. :)

Kelly @ turned UP to ELEVEN! said...

Happy Spring Aura! And congrats on all your new projects and new found creativity that you've always obviously had but is now over flowing for the rest of us to witness. I can't wait to see your shop up and running and all you have to show us!

Do what you can, when you can and as always you remember the important things in life, which aren't things at all - I always take that from you and keep it with me!

Sometimes break-downs are just our bodies way of freeing us from the negative and helping us move on!

oxox

Learning said...

Sometimes the little breakdowns are cathartic. I do think it helps give you perspective. I so identify with taking on a lot at one time. I got married and took the bar exam to become an attorney within 20 days. Planning a wedding while studying for the bar exam was not fun. But I made it work! And I only felt like eloping the last few months of it ;). I'm excited to see the new items to be sold on Bark & Leaves! Thanks for sharing the lovely shots.

- Angela

http://angelaslavani.blogspot.com/

Melanie @ Tip Toe Thirty said...

A good cry is necessary in life. Feel free to have one (or ten) after the baby comes. Along with lots of snuggles and kisses too.

Beautiful images and story as always.

tothenorthstar said...

Your photos and post are absolutely beautiful! As a fellow artist from Iranian decent it is so inspiring to see you doing such amazing work. Congrats on all the new and wonderful things in your life, the the persian new year on the way it is so lucky to be begining them now!

Chela said...

Haha. You made me laugh about crying on the floor and feeling sorry for yourself, even if for a brief moment. I usually hate it when I start crying, but it always, always feels better afterward. My troubles may not be gone, but maybe some of the feelings are spent. And I think that the tears help wash some gunk off of our vision that helps us see more clearly later. = ]

I think those blossoms are stunning! Thank you for being so generous with your beautiful ideas.

Leslie said...

Aura,

I have spent the last week or so reading through your archives. I have only ever read one other blogger's archives, so feel flattered. ;)

You seem to be a genuinely good person, and I have loved reading your thoughts on life, eating, family, birth, adventuring, etc. You have so much talent and a unique vision. Your little one is very lucky to have you as her mother. I know you will be wonderful at this mothering gig. It's tough but it is the best thing ever. The ultimate adventure! (I have two little boys, 17 months apart, and the party is never over.)

I am very happy that you are planning on birthing at home. I had a very traumatic first birth and wish I would have done the necessary research before it happened. I would have made very different choices. It does my heart good to see a woman who makes educated choices for herself and her baby. It gives me hope. I wish you a beautiful, healthy birth!

There is more I want to say, but I don't want to sound like a weird stalker. We don't know each other, but I do feel like I know you, and I can relate to much of what you say. Thanks for sharing your story with the world.

xoxo

L

Unknown said...

You are so crazy talented! Too bad we don't live close, I'd love to be your real life friend:-)

LOVE the pics, amazing!

Julie said...

Looks really beautiful, Aura..you have my support too, I'll feature your shop when it's ready:) And p.s. breakdowns are good sometimes, your vibe is so on target. Keep being great!

yours truly, melissa said...

Hope you're feeling better. Sometimes we all need a good cry! Also, your decor is beautiful. I love the blossoming Bradford Pears this time of year.

arielle elise. said...

so lovely :)

Marfio said...

It's almost time for a new life to join your family too. Wishing you all the best with all the new beginnings in your life.

Bridget said...

i love all the flowers you have around. so beautiful. you are a fabulous decorator. it all looks so peaceful.

ben+alex said...

i just found your blog and LOVE it!
i will now be following you:)

ben-and-alex.blogspot.com

--rock over london said...

I just stumbled upon your blog from ohdeedo and I am absolutely in love with all of your photography, your words, and how you're handling the transition into motherhood. I can't wait to see your blog post that includes a pic of the new one. Good luck with everything! <3

Unknown said...

i absolutely love this room! so chic!

Pearl said...

Oh I love this.
Super Cute!


Pearl

Shan said...

I love the cherry blossoms! I'm a little obsessed with them at the moment. All of your pictures are so fresh and peaceful. They remind me of Spring. I just wish it would come faster!