Living
All About L&V Living
Most of us know someone who is famous for their Christmas cookies or baking prowess. They are the people we love most this time of year right?! Treat the baker in your life to some of these thoughtful, useful, and personal gifts to encourage their time spent by the ovens.
Keepsake Kitchen Diary & Recipe Card Bundle | Personalized Wooden Spoons | Custom Recipe Baking Dish | Baked Good Gift Bag | Antique Bundt Pan | Grid Baking Sheets | Recipe Cards | Striped Cotton Apron | Pretty Baking Dishes
Friends, do you remember our holiday photo cards last year offered through Mixbook? Well, I’m overjoyed to tell you that not only are these favorite designs back for 2018, but we have introduced brand new designs for the season!
Photo cards have been much requested throughout the years and I’m so pleased with how they turned out and the options that are available!
Keep reading to see all of the new designs plus I have a special coupon code for you this year!
This wreath card is one of my favorites (and quite possibly will be the McKeehan Christmas card this year)! I have been loving blush and red for Christmas and the oval shape for a photo is so unique and cute.
Look at those matching labels! I love them!
This next card has a fun, retro vibe to it! I love the mint green background and the little holly berry details.
Real FOIL is back! Eeee! There’s just something about the sparkle of foil on a holiday card. Mixbook allows you to pick from gold, rose gold, and silver foil for each design.
I think the hand-drawn “greenery” in foil on this one is so elegant.
Another beautiful foiled hand lettering option! I particularly love the labels on this one too.
Take a peek at all the Lily & Val For Mixbook Photo Card Options here, including last year’s cards!
You may recognize a lot of these designs as prints in the Lily & Val shop! Also, if photo cards aren’t your thing, most of the designs are also available as cards without the photo on lilyandval.com.
Use code: DESIGNER18 on Mixbook.com to receive UP TO 50% off sitewide. (expires 12/31/18).
The Mixbook editor is so easy to use and makes ordering your Christmas cards I breeze! I hope you enjoy customizing your Christmas cards! I can’t wait to see which one you choose!!
So many happy engagements take place this time of year! If there is a bride-to-be on your gift list, you can count on the items from this list to be a special selection for this time in her life. We especially love our new Wedding Guest Book! It is a beautiful version of the classic guest book with a thoughtful twist…there are prompts for guests to fill out on the inside that will entertain the bride and groom for hours after their special day is complete.
Keepsake Kitchen Diary | Handmade Personalized Ring Tray | Bachelorette Party Sash Set | Velvet Ring Box | Bride Canvas Zipper Pouch | Our Wedding Guest Book| Glass Botanical Ring Box | Recipe Cards | Bridal Robes
Friends, they’re here! This week we released Lily & Val Meal Planner Pads in the shop and I’m so happy to finally share these with you guys!
I announced these were coming back in May, so it’s been a long time coming. (For everyone who has been patiently waiting- thank you from the bottom of my heart! ❤️) Every time we develop a new product, we really work hard to make sure that every detail is what it needs to be.
The team lived with these meal planners – testing out the spacing of the weeks & grocery list in real use, doing magnet fridge testing, tearing off the lists to take to the store… and now they are ready! I love mine (currently using the vintage bowl design) and I hope you find one you love too!
Keep reading to see all five styles…(Each pad has a tear-off grocery list and sturdy magnet on the back!)
This one pairs particularly beautifully with our Whimsical Lemon Keepsake Kitchen Diary and when you purchase both, they ship for free (in the U.S.)!
Pineapples just make me smile, but what I love most about this style is the blush & yellow colors!
Where are my Pyrex fans!? This meal planner is for you!
The watercolored gingham stripes on this one are just so cute and I love the little mason jar floral illustration in the corner! This is also my favorite planner to pair with our Classic Keepsake Kitchen Diary.
This meal planner features a classic L&V color palette of blush, mint and mustard! The background on the meal plan side is actually a very light blush, which I LOVE. I think the little cutlery illustration in the corner is really cute too.
Every meal planner pad also has a coordinated loose recipe card pack! Bundle them together for a ready-made, pretty gift this holiday season.
We hope these planners bring a little fun & cheer to the chore of meal planning and grocery shopping. We’re all about celebrating this ordinary, little moments of life.
Welcome, November!
As our hearts turn to Thanksgiving this month, I wanted to tell you how truly grateful I am for all of you! Thank you for being here. I hope this month’s hand-lettered wallpapers will serve as a reminder of all the good things in your life. Happy November, friends!
For this month’s Pretty Ordinary Friday #98, we’re documenting snapshots of our month. While our pictures may not be the prettiest or the most interesting, we enjoyed each instance and want to remember them! These are the behind-the-scenes, in-between moments – the small peeks that would otherwise be forgotten. Join us as we use this series to scrapbook the unedited, memorable happenings at Lily & Val and what is inspiring our team!
1. “White wrapping paper and Tombow brush pens – all you need for pretty gift packaging!” – Valerie
2. “I had the privilege of looking at this view of Pensacola Beach for 4 days while speaking at the Society for Creative Founders Conference. I can’t believe that less than a day later, Hurricane Michael swept through. The SCF is raising money for hurricane relief here.” – Valerie
3. “A pretty peek from our holiday photo shoot! Love the white on black.” – Valerie
4. “I was terrible about taking photos during the Society for Creative Founders Conference, so thank you to Jessica Smith of Jessica Smith Designs for snapping this photo of me during my presentation!” – Valerie
5. “This year’s pumpkin haul from Soergels Orchards! One of my favorite days out of the whole year.” – Valerie
6. “A few cute little pumpkins on my iPad! I love the little purple one.” – Valerie
7. “Oh just walking through a pumpkin patch and feeling like Fall!! What an amazing chilly morning with Mak at Soergels Orchards.” – Valerie
8. “I always love little match bottles. These little ones were too cute to not photograph!” – Emily
9. “Nanna’s Pyrex mugs added to the morning routine.” – Emily
10. “Tried out one of the new pillow designs in the shop for this holiday season…and it’s dreamy!” – Emily
11. “A little fall decorating. I love changing up the glassware around the house for the different seasons.” – Emily
12. “I don’t do real pumpkins, so it’s good fakes all the way! I love this new big one, with tons of character, from Home Goods.” – Emily
13. “Totally in love with and inspired by the florals on this glassware!- Emily
14. “During our family vacation in Seaside Beach, Florida, I snuck off one morning to have a quiet coffee on the beach. With a view like this, who wouldn’t just fall in love?” – Nicole
15. “Nothing like ending vacation with melty ice cream! This kid is my favorite!” – Nicole
With the launch of our Wedding Guestbook and more items being added to our wedding collection soon, we certainly have weddings on our mind!
Planning your wedding is an exhilarating time, but it can be equally as stressful. To help make sure your day is as special as you’ve always dreamed, L&V Shop Assistant and former wedding planner, Nicole, is sharing some do’s, don’ts, and tips you may not have considered.
Keep reading for her top ten wedding planning tips…
When creating your budget, think about the things that will be most important to you and allocate money in that area. Love photography? Put priority on finding a photographer that you love and will create memories. Music fanatic? Find the DJ that will keep you dancing all night long. Foodie? Spend the majority of your funds on a menu that will wow your tastebuds.
The minor details are rarely noticed by anyone other than you. I’m not suggesting that these things don’t matter. However, I have seen so many brides let a small detail ruin their big day. The fact of the matter is no one will know anything was wrong except for you. Focus on the big picture and the fact that you are soon to be married to the love of your life!
This is an important one to think about from the very start. Select people who will help make your day worry-free and will execute the day of your dreams without you (or someone else) needing to micromanage them. If you have doubts about their customer service or ability to do as you want, then you should find someone else. Read each contract thoroughly and be sure they will perform. And then let them do their job.
Roll with the punches and accept the weather for what it is. If it rains, embrace it with cute umbrellas or a last minute rain boot purchase to help make the photos more fun. Plan to have a gorgeous back drop for your ceremony that can be relocated to your rain plan location and give you the look you want. Ultimately, please remember… at the end of the day, you will have married your true love. No amount of rain, snow or sleet can take that away from you!
As soon as someone hears that you are getting married, they want to tell you what to do. Before you start any weddings plans whatsoever, you and your fiance should sit down and decide on your vision for the day. If someone you love offers you a suggestion that you don’t like, simply say, “Thank you so much for your input! I will take that into consideration!” Don’t feel obligated to compromise on your big day – even if it is your soon-to-be mother-in-law. This is YOUR big day.
You will have spent a lot of time and money on this one day. Make sure you are able to enjoy it! During dinner, sit down and actually enjoy your first meal together as a married couple. Make sure you eat enough so that champagne doesn’t go straight to your head. Dance the night away with your friends and family. Laugh so much that your face hurts.
Your wedding party shouldn’t be arguing with you on the color of their shoes. it is one thing to keep you in check when you ask them to buy a dress that is thousands of dollars. It is another to take your vision away from you. If you have someone that you feel needs to be a part of your day, but will cause you drama through the planning process, find another way to honor them. Ask them to do a reading for you at the ceremony or play hostess at the reception before you arrive.
Ask your bridal party to make sure that the beverages and music are handled for the limo ride to the reception. Have your MIL create a list of people bringing cookies/desserts for the Cookie Table (Pittsburghers know what I am talking about). Give your cousin a few small details to deliver/confirm upon arrival to the reception location such as place cards, card boxes, champagne flutes and cake knife and server. Your mind will be filled with so many more things, so let someone else focus on these for you!
If young children are involved in the ceremony, have a back-up plan to get them down the aisle. Rehearsals are not a reflection of how they will act on the day of the wedding. There are sometimes hundreds of people sitting there staring at them. This is a bit intimidating for any of us! Candy works magic. Trust me.
We all want to have Pinterest-worthy DIY projects, but sometimes you just end up with a #PinterestFail. You need to allow time for that Etsy back-up plan to arrive, just in case. Plus, you don’t want to be up until 1am finishing your favors in your bridal suite (been there). You need your beauty sleep! Try to have all time-consuming projects done about a week in advance.
Happy Planning! 🙂
Friends, it’s that time of year! Today is a day I look forward to and our biggest launch of the year… introducing the 2018 L&V Holiday Collection: A Good Old Fashioned Family Christmas!
Oh, am I ever excited for this year’s theme! Is there anything better than being home for the holidays? The inexplicable warmth of being curled up in your PJ’s, a cup of peppermint hot cocoa in hand and a cozy blanket on your lap. The lights are twinkling on the tree, each ornament proudly hung, each one with a story to tell of Christmas past…
If you know me, you’ll probably know this: 1. I’m quite the homebody and 2. My heart often turns wistful for nostalgia and the family memories I hold dear. Combine these two things and you have the 2018 Holiday Collection, “A Good Old Fashioned Family Christmas!”
The collection is a celebration of coming home for the holidays with the people you love, the nostalgic traditions that make the season bright, and a few dashes of playful whimsy & fun thrown in too (it is a Christmas Vacation quote, after all.)
This beautifully hued Christmas-tree-green chalkboard design bursts with bold, majestic hand-lettering
…to Grandmother’s house we go…
My most cherished memories involve Christmas Eve at my Grandma’s house. I remember my parents would play Christmas music on the way while my siblings and I would stare out the windows, admiring the lights. Grandma’s house was a tight squeeze with my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and me, but we didn’t mind. I knew the next day was Christmas morning, but I never wanted this night at Grandma’s house to end.
The new designs were extremely fun to draw, with a nod to retro style, playful colors, and cute illustrations.
An old-fashioned family Christmas would be nothing without family. Whether you’re participating in years-old traditions or making memories with your new little family, being home for the holidays is more about who you’re with rather than where you are.
In addition to new cards, we have two new boxed card sets! I especially love the “Home Sweet Home Card Set” with vellum envelopes! It allows the cute hand-drawn house design to show through when the card is addressed!
Four new designs feature a two-sided design, which is like getting two pillows in one.
Also, for this holiday collection all about HOME, it seemed like the perfect time to introduce our Home Sweet Home State Collection! Each state features “you can’t beat home sweet home” lettering & foliage illustrations. These states are the beginning, so if you don’t see your state listed for now, please drop us a line.
It’s also filled with behind-the-scenes peeks and even our current favorite Christmas song to listen to while you browse!
I am honored each time you choose to bring a piece of L&V into the sacred places you call home. I hope these items warm your space and make you smile. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and warm holiday season! xoxo
When we created the Lily & Val Wedding Guestbook, we really tried to think of everything that might be helpful! Since the concept was completely new, we knew we wanted to provide an easy way for you to give your guests the instructions they need so that you are left with a memorable keepsake.
Our solution to this: an instructional bookmark!
Here is how we recommend using the bookmark and a few ideas for you…
At the back of your Wedding Guestbook you will find a bookmark and velvet ribbon attached to the back cover with velcro. (The attachment is simply to keep the bookmark safe and in place until it arrives to you.)
Upon receiving your book, simply un-attach the ribbon and cut off the velcroed portion!
The beauty of this velvet ribbon is that you can choose to keep it long or cut it short. We like cutting out little triangles on each side of the ribbon for a pretty look.
Another way to customize your guestbook is to switch out the included velvet ribbon for a ribbon color that matches your color scheme! It’s simple to remove the ribbon and add your own using the slits in the bookmark.
Be sure to include your bookmark along with the guestbook so your guests know exactly what to do at your wedding!
Congratulations and Best Wishes! xoxo
You may have already checked out my previous post with the Everyday Black bean Quinoa recipe, so now it is time for recording this trusty standby in the Keepsake Kitchen Diary.
This yummy dish is one of my favorites for any time of year. The colors and it’s ease of transport make it a fantastic fall side dish to take to any gathering or get-together!
For this reason, I used the colors of the dish to inspire my Keepsake Kitchen Diary spread when I recorded this recipe under “sides”.
I love that the Keepsake Kitchen Diary has tabs to keep my recipe and kitchen concoctions organized, even when I am not!
One of my favorite things to do is add in little festive details like leaves for fall. Sometimes I choose to draw some of the ingredients in the margins inspired by the recipe.
This visual really helps when I go flipping through my Kitchen Diary for a dish or meal idea.
Sometimes the Memories section can feel intimidating. So much of food culture is filled with memories, but sometimes when a recipe is new or simply mundane it’s hard to choose what to put in those margins.
I like to jot down ideas of how I have served the recipe or things to remember about making it in the “memories” section when the “notes” section just isn’t enough. It’s your Keepsake Kitchen Diary, so make it your own however you’d like to!
Also, notice how beautiful the new fall recipe cards coordinate with my fall recipe spread?
I like to make the Difficulty “Hearts” bold in my Kitchen Diary. Again, this is a great way to speed up meal planning or deciding a last minute dish to make for company.
I love getting new recipe cards because it feels like getting a pretty new notebook…except these I will actually use and look at.
Having the new recipe cards released this fall has been great to use with all of my cozier recipes. I love my lemon recipe cards when appropriate, but something about these natural hues is so striking for the cooler month dishes without being too on the nose.
So take time to add even your everyday recipes to your Keepsake Kitchen Diary. The more you add in your recipes, without stress or overthinking, the happier someone will be someday to inherit all of your handwritten instructions, no matter how simple they may seem to you.
Memorable gifts & goods for
heartfelt moments
