Lauren Elizabeth

High Five for Friday

1. i've recently discovered that i can actually wear my hair in a high ponytail, so i've been doing it a lot. maybe too much.
2. honestly, who wouldn't be relaxed with all of that goodness? there's nothing better than a hot bath after a long day.
3. these two. i can't tell you how much i just love them. they're so darn precious together.
4. one of my favorite things about summer is drinking iced coffee from starbucks. so good.
5. i found this cat shirt at Forever 21 and knew i had to own it. oh, and it's less than $9? um, yes.

other exciting things: my mom gets into town later this afternoon and we're participating in a mini triathlon this weekend. wish us luck!

how has your week been? link up below and tell me about it!

new to H54F and want to know what it's all about? click HERE.

One Sweater, Two Seasons

i'm a firm believer in loading your wardrobe with versatile pieces. i have dresses that can go from summer to winter, sweaters that are worn year-round, and pants that can keep me warm on a chilly spring day. when Jia of Jia Collection contacted me to see if i would be interested in styling one of her gorgeous items, i couldn't resist. she's an incredibly talented designer with an eye for style. she sent me the Colette Pullover Sweater. the best part? it's reversible.

when i first tried it on, i knew it could be one of those convertible pieces that can easily transition from season to season.

if you went to check out her site, you know by now that her items are not cheap, by any means. although it's impossible for me to fathom spending more than $20 on a sweater, i would definitely consider investing in one of her items. Jia's products are of incredibly high quality, and are items that you can keep in your closet for 10+ years.

if this sweater catches your eye and you feel like splurging, Jia is offering a special code for Lauren Elizabeth readers to get 25% off. just use code LAUREN25 when checking out.

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shorts: Old Navy
pants: H&M (similar)
flats: J Crew (similar)
heels: Old Navy (in-stores only)
earrings: Francesca's (similar)

DIY gallery wall

i've always loved gallery walls. i love how easily they can fill up a space, and that they're usually made up of different things. i tend to get bored easily with my decor around my apartment, so something like a gallery wall is good for me. it adds some good variety, which means that i don't get bored with it two weeks later.

this gallery wall is particularly great because most of it was DIY'd, and the rest of it was stuff that i already had laying around. the 3 canvases (dots, stripes, and xoxo) and the "eat cake for breakfast" framed one were made by me. i just bought some simple things at the craft store and Target and let my creative hands go to work. the "xoxo" and "eat cake for breakfast" are made with stickers that i found at Target. the dots one is made from scrapbook paper and a round paper punch. and the striped one is made from a roll of thin paper - you could also use ribbon.

i love that there's no right or wrong way to do a gallery wall. just do what you like and arrange it how you like. you really can't go wrong. and i love being able to look up from my computer and be inspired!

Just in Biscuit Heaven Over Here

guys, these biscuits will solve all of your problems. trust me.

i was in a baking mood on Saturday, so i decided to try Paula Deen's recipe for homemade biscuits and, my goodness, it was the best idea i had all weekend. aside from watching three movies on Saturday, too. let's just say, i really relaxed this weekend and it was really nice.

anyway, these biscuits are the bomb. and they'd be really good if you added blueberries to them. or really anything, for that matter. and they're really easy. and consist of all pantry ingredients.

are you convinced that you need to make them yet? you should be.

now go make some biscuits.

A New Standard

i officially have a new standard for my tops - they must be reversible. well, okay, not all of them. but seriously, it's pretty nice when they are. i got this super cute top sent to me from The Chic Orchid and i'm in love. the color is beautiful and i'm mildly obsessed with the fact that i can wear it two ways - and they're both super cute. i'm a sucker for bows, too, so that's just the cherry on top of an already great piece of clothing.

i love that this top can be dressed up or dressed down. i could pair it with a great pencil skirt, some black skinnies, or shorts (like i did here). and, i got to wear my new Old Navy heels, so that was a bonus.

if you're interested in this top, head over to The Chic Orchid to get your own!