Leona Lane

THE LITTLE THINGS / / NO. 62

These little cactus babies are rocking my world right now! I've decided every girl needs a little bit of hot pink in her life - even me.

Years ago, (before Pinterest was a craze) I saw this photo of a kitchen windowsill lined with Harney & Sons tea tins growing different herbs. The perfect windowsill garden! So I was over-the-moon thrilled when my friend Hannah handed me a couple of empties recently. And that peppermint one - perfect color right?!

So I decided it was time to get some new plant babies and make myself a little cactus garden! I love how sculptural cacti are. They have always fascinated me a bit - ever since my dad had a little cactus garden when I was a kid. All the different shapes, the spines, the brilliant colors...

All you need to make your own is some containers with drainage holes, cactus/succulent potting mix and some cacti! I punched holes in the bottom of the tins with a hammer and nail. Then carefully potted them and placed them in a little galvanized tray. I've heard they like sun and infrequent watering - fingers crossed!

What little things are brightening your days?

THE LITTLE THINGS // NO.61

Back with another episode of the little things. For this week it's just like I said on Instagram yesterday ... all the plants, a cup of black tea, corners getting cleaned and an ultra colorful maxi skirt.

I love plants! I'm still not sure that plants love me... but we're working on that relationship. I find plants super therapeutic, they add so much life to a space. And in February, there is so much need for new life. And they're relatively cheap compared to fresh flowers. And to top it off, they help clean the air! Triple win in my book.

The overly cheerful maxi skirt was found at Target recently, in the clearance section. Love finding something that is perfect and is a bargain too boot. I can't wait to wear it every other day this summer. But until then I'll just blast the heater and wear it inside. 

I've had a few extra days off this week, so the house is getting cleaned. Things pile up, dust collects, you know the drill. But I decided no need to wait til spring for the proverbial spring cleaning. It feels good to have stuff off the floor and dust bunnies in the trash. Office up next - it is a disaster with a capital d.

And a good cup of tea never hurts. What's livening up your February?

THE LITTLE THINGS // NO.60

I'm bringing it back, and it's number sixty to boot. When we first started this blog we wrote a post called 'The Little Things' every week. And right about now, it seems good to have a reason to focus on the good, not the bad. The beautiful, not the ugly. The sunshine, not the shadows. You get the point. 

And I'm bringing back the numbers just for me. Cause the point of all the little things is that they add up. The sum is greater than parts. All the little moments and things added together make a statement. A statement that life is good. And we all need that reminder once in awhile. 

Today, I'm grateful for this little furball, who is always happy to see me, loves taking catnaps with me in the middle of the afternoon and loves shower water. He's also stopped bringing me presents - which I appreciate tremendously! 

IF 2015 WAS PERFECT

If 2015 was perfect... 

we'd go hiking a lot 
and spend time in the woods
find a new homemeeting
cook simple and delicious meals at home
drink lots of hot cocoa with or without hazelnut schnapps
have a million cuddle sessions with mr. malcolm
i'd do lots of yoga
listen to lots of records
and burn lots of candles
we'd make things simpler
and get rid of clutter
i'd always take my vitamins and drink lots of water
we'd go on a bunch of camping trips
and go somewhere new
i'd take more pictures of people
and we'd spend lots of time with old friends, new friends and family
i'd make things from scratch like marshmallows and popsicles
we'd drink lots of coffee
and eat good food
we'd chase the light and watch more sunsets and maybe some sunrises
i'd become a morning person
we'd keep dreaming about our cabin in the woods
and print our adventures
and keep painting
we'd carve out a reading nook
we'd go hammocking and paddleboarding
snowboarding too, on lots of powder
i'd make some cool stuff
and write lots more lists of good things
and be happy.

This is the stuff I want to make time for in 2015. This is absolutely not a pie-in-the-sky list, this is absolutely the opposite of that. When I started writing this list, I only wrote down things that are one hundred percent possible right now. Not things to dream about, but things that can absolutely happen in this stage of life, right where we are, right now. Here's to 2015! Hope you're a fun one!

PS. The wood calendar is from Artifact Uprising. I'd been looking for a calendar for the new year and I absolutely love it! All the pictures are Instagrams from our Europe trip last September. The quality is fantastic (as expected, they make great stuff). All opinions are my own and I was not paid or perked to write this post. The link is a referral link however and it should get you 10% of your order!

LITTLE THINGS | GIVE PERF BLANKET

 

The winter month are rolling in, and bringing the accompanying chill in the air with it. This time of year, I tend to be surrounded by piles of blankets (I'm so cold blooded it's not even funny). I have stacks in the living room, a pile by the TV, and an extra fuzzy one on my bed that I throw in the dryer for a few minutes before I hop in bed.

Most years I have a favorite, this year it has to be the Give Perf blanket that I bought this fall after seeing one on Beth Kellmer's Instagram feed. 

I just love it. It's the perfect utilitarian blanket. It feels like the workhorse of the blanket world - not fragile, not sentimental, has a good weight to it but isn't scratchy. I got it so I could take it places, since I'm not afraid of ruining it or getting it dirty. I got it to take to the beach, on road trips, for huddling around a campfire. Although I have to admit it spends a lot of time on the couch as well.

 

Plus the colors are perfect, I mean what's better than a combo of white, black and teal? And I love the geometric pattern. It reminds me of the blankets my dad used to bring home from his trips to Mexico. It's ironic, the imperfectness of it, is what is making it my perfect blanket this year.