Dexter Season 7 Trailer

Oh lord, this season is going to stress me out! Have you seen the trailer? Here it is:

What do you think? We all know season 4 was the best and that the last two seasons kinda sucked, but I think they are bringing it this time. Predictions? Will Dexter kill Deb? What about Deb being in love with him, is all that immediately going out the window? Will Doakes come back to life? And if I'm not mistaken, there is a season 8, so I guess Dexter can't be locked up quite yet...

muahaha.

Happy Hump Day! A long weekend is just around the corner!

Tuesday Treasures #5

It's been a while since I shared my Tuesday Treasures! Have you guys been in a Target lately? They have all this cool new stuff and I have so much trouble not buying it. This week I wanted to start by sharing some items from Target's Patch NYC Look Book, which are super irresistible!

Owls AND mushrooms AND foxes!!!  

Do you see the owl in the middle? I love this!

I also wanted to share a few of my favorite items from The Mitten State, which sells the neatest Michigan apparel! I haven't bought a shirt yet, but I look at their site all the time! They also donate a portion of the proceeds to charity. Aww, what a great company!

Their stuff is great, and my birthday is coming up soon - just sayin'!

Happy Tuesday!

Giveaway: Heather Pritchett Illustration

UPDATE: The winner of the owl print is Kelly! Congrats, girl!

I'm excited to announce my third giveaway today, Heather of Heather Pritchett Illustrations has kindly offered up one of her adorable owl prints to one winner. All you have to do is like her facebook page! There are additional ways to win below. After my owl post yesterday, I'm thinking I could use some more owl lovin' on my walls, and I love all of these guys - I think I'd choose #3 - what about you? You'll certainly get to choose if you win! 

Heather has also graciously offered 15% off any order on her Etsy Shop with the coupon code lovelyllorys. I hope you decide to take advantage!

A little about Heather - "After I graduated art school a year ago, I started taking work as a freelance illustrator/graphic designer. My Etsy store is a way to sell my art that's more independent and self-motivated, somewhere where I can create and sell whatever I'd like. I live in southern California, and I hope I never have to leave. It's the most beautiful place on Earth!"

Southern California is really beautiful! I bet she finds a ton of inspiration for her designs there. Thanks for letting me host this giveaway, Heather! 

You have until Saturday at midnight to enter the giveaway, and I'm trying out a widget this time, so no comments necessary (although I'd love to hear what you have to say)! Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Collections: Owls

As a precursor to a new giveaway I'm hosting tomorrow (check back!), I'm sharing my owl collection with you! I know it's like super cliche to have an owl collection now, but I started mine a few years ago, so I think it's legit. I went around the house getting things to photograph, and the collection is actually pretty sizable these days! I even have a.) more here than I didn't photograph and b.) more at my parents' house, so I'll get to do a follow-up post at some point! Something to look forward to: )

Above, left to right: Mug from a thrift store, mug from China Town in SF, painting I did of the picture frame in the below picture, cookie cutter that was a gift, and figure/not really sure of its actual purpose that I found at a thrift store.

Golden figurine from thrift store, iron-on labels that were a gift, picture frame from Urban Outfitters, napkin holder from thrift store, clips from IKEA, tea light holder from UO, little figurine from Target's dollar section, flower-owl figurine from thrift store, little figurine that was a gift, owl made of stones that was a gift. (Paper underneath is from World Market).

Clock from a thrift store. It works and is totally silent, so I love it!

Owl Always Love You decoration from Urban Outfitters, container from Urban Outfitters, bottle opener from UO (super sturdy), catch-all from UO (yeah, redundant, I know!), hot plate holder from thrift store, white container from UO, and two containers on the right end from thrift stores.

Cuff from a stand on the island of Hvar in Croatia, "Give a Hoot Don't Pollute" pin can't remember from where, two rings - one from Forever 21, the other from Rue 21, necklaces - Forever 21, gift, yard sale, etc., and a candle holder from Bath and Body Works. The painting is by my friend Brea. So detailed!

Tank top from Forever 21 and bag from Kohl's.

Towels - all gifts, mostly from Kohl's!

There you have it. I haven't been thrifting much lately, but all the well-known stores around here seem to lack owl things (darn hipsters). So I have to dig off the beaten path, but that's half the fun! I can't buy everything owl thing I find... or can I? Anyway, what collections do you have? I shared my mug collection here, and I also collect mushroom things, vinyl, pin-back buttons, and a few other things. I've always been like this - my mom claims I brought home used napkins from birthday parties, but I don't remember that.

Happy Sunday! And remember to check back tomorrow for the giveaway I mentioned: )

Brush: A Painting Experience

Last night Andrew and I went with several co-workers to a studio called Brush in East Grand Rapids. I hadn't heard of it until we were invited, but you go for a couple hours and they teach you to paint something - last night was wine bottles. We paid a flat fee of $35 which covered the canvas, use of paint and brushes and other supplies, the instructor's guidance, and the great tunes that kept us entertained. They also have beer and wine and snacks available. What more could you ask for!?

The signs on the paint told you how many pumps of each to add to your pallet. For some reason I ended up using a lot more gold than called for.

Very clearly the before picture!

Mary, me, Andrew, and Kay getting amped!

They served Blue Moon! I was set.

Another before shot. All the paintings on the wall are included in the different classes you can take. Shout out to Cory on the left who set the whole thing up! Thanks, Cory!

We began with our background. Our teacher, Tanya, would give us an instruction, then turn up the music to give us some time to work on each step.

Moved on to outlining and filling in our wine bottles... I stopped listening to directions when she told us which colors to paint which bottles. I didn't want the same painting as everyone else!

(Some of us concentrated harder than others)

And we emerged with our finished, professional paintings! It was fun to see everybody's. They all turned out really great but all so different!

The whole group!

What a fun evening. I am intrigued looking ahead to my birthday (September 15th) on the calendar, which is called Morning Mimosa Open Paint. If I don't make it then, I definitely think I'll be back soon for another art lesson! What about you? Do you have a place like this in your town? Anything similar? I'd love to hear about it!

The Newsroom on HBO

I want to first remind you all that this is the last day to enter my Lil Prop Shop Giveaway! It's not too late to have a chance at the camera necklace. Thanks to all who have entered so far: )

So the season is almost over, but have you been watching The Newsroom? Andrew and I have been obsessed since the opening scene of the first episode, which I think was the point, but it is so good! I'm glad HBO had the guts to be like, "hey, the news isn't really telling anyone the truth because there are powerful people in charge who have so much money and special interests, that they actually control what you get to hear." Also, "the USA isn't the greatest country in the world and if you still think we are, you're part of the problem." It was a big deal that they went after the Koch brothers in an episode, but I feel like as HBO, that was even pretty ballsy. Anyway, they are close to being caught up with the present, so I'm wondering how future seasons of the show are going to go. I predict that they'll do some flashing back - maybe to Mac in the middle east? What do you all think? Have you been watching it? Do you recommend the West Wing? I've been told I need to watch that if I like the Newsroom.

Well, check out the very first scene - watch the whole thing! Do it!

And then remember that you can't resist Sam Waterston in a bowtie!

What a cutie.

Let me know what you think!

That Lil Prop Shop Giveaway!

UPDATE: The winner of the giveaway is Ashley! We have communicated via email and I will be sending her the necklace. Thank you everyone who entered!

And now for my second giveaway! Angelina from That Lil Prop Shop has kindly supplied me with a pretty lil camera necklace to share with one of my faithful readers! All she asks is that you like her on facebook (leave me a comment so I know you did it)! Super easy! Here's the prize up for grabs:

It's oh-so-lovely!

Angelina has an etsy and ebay shop for her newborn baby photography props - what a great idea! I know I have a lot of photographer friends out there - make sure you check out her affordable shop to stock up on your backdrop and prop needs.

The knit fedora and necktie from angelina's shop are ahh-dorable!

A little about Angelina: "I work at home full-time selling on Etsy, eBay and Amazon. Proud wife and mommy of two great kids and one on the way. Live in fabulous Southern CA. Love all things photography and baby!! My family and I love photography and it is our favorite hobby to do together...Noticed there was a need for affordable photography props so I started creating my own!!"

Thanks, Angelina! 

To enter my That Lil Prop Shop giveaway:
"Like" Angelina's facebook page (and leave a comment telling me you did)
And for an extra entry, follow my blog, Lovely Llorys! (and leave a separate comment telling me you do)

Winner will be chosen at midnight EST, next Wednesday, August 22nd. Good luck!

Johnny Flynn // The Wrote and the Writ

check out this la blogotheque video - andrew and i just discovered this johnny flynn track yesterday. we keep listening to it over and over!

Filling Up On Furniture

whoosh! we had a long day on saturday. i'll start with dinner and then rewind. i've blogged about cinco de mayo a few times (here and here), and i'm always looking for people who want to join andrew and me for a drink. our new friend kathryn was interested, so we went out for $5 sangria margaritas last night, yum! our food spread that you can see surrounding us include nachos supreme, cheese enchiladas, and a delicious shrimp cocktail with pico de gallo and avocado. we hadn't tried the shrimp before and it was so gooooood.

 kathryn is only here for another month, so sad!

 you know you want that shrimp/avocado/pico glass of goodness.

 yummmmmy!

now to rewind. i work at steelcase (in food services; i'm a barista!) and andrew was doing that too until he just landed an internship there in the HR department. kathryn also has an internship this summer, so that's how we met her (and we are so glad we did!) we are all in the market for furniture, so one perk about working at a furniture company is access to great sales! every week they have "employee sales", where you can get great discounts on slightly damaged items. once a year, they also have a big re-market sale, where they have a huge selection of returned items for a big discount. the re-market sale was yesterday, so we all got up early and hit it!

this SW_1 chair by coalesse retails for around $2000. we got it for $60! and the ikea throw was $6, i think it matches nicely! this was actually from employee sales a couple weeks ago and is technically an office chair, but we have it in our living room.

this leather chair by turnstone is likely to be a good reading chair. this was the most expensive thing we bought - $150. again, an ikea pillow puts the look together. the table next to it was just $5! bargains!

when our roommate moved out we were left with a huge dining room and nothing to fill it with. we got these great move stools for $30 each. we really need to find a great table for these, asap! anybody know of one?

we also grabbed a couple of dining room chairs at employee sales for $15 each. we probably shouldn't have bought these, but we couldn't let them sit there! any ideas for a use?

where do you get your furniture? i'm not opposed to thrift stores or yard sales, but for soft chairs and couches, i'm a little pickier. i think we're really lucky that we have access to some really nice things for a fraction of the price! now if we could only find a great couch!

happy sunday! are you watching the closing ceremonies of the olympics tonight? i hear the spice girls really are going to perform!

Fresh From the Farmer's Market!

tonight i actually made a real dinner, which i feel like i haven't done in a super long time! anyway, the theme of the evening was "farmer's market" because andrew and i did a ton of shopping there on saturday. i really hate wasting food, and lots of times we buy things and then forget about them or are too lazy to cook, so i was determined not to let that happen! i should have taken more pictures, but i made a stuffed eggplant dish with spaghetti on the side for dinner, with the eggplant and tomatoes from the market. while i was preparing everything, i asked andrew to grab some vanilla ice cream for dessert. we never buy/eat plain vanilla, so he wasn't convinced that this was a good idea until he received his sweets. i made...

peach and blackberry crisp! he loved it. and he's hard to impress when it comes to sweet things, for some reason.

i also should have taken a "before" picture of this, but a "during" really delves you into our dessert-eating experience, i think; )

this is about when andrew asked for more ice cream. guess the vanilla was a good choice!

yum!

i feel confident that i can share this easy recipe and you will follow it and your mouth will be so happy afterwards!

Peach Blackberry Crisp

Ingredients: 

at least 3 peaches, peeled and sliced

big handful of blackberries (raspberries work great as well)

for the crisp:

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup (half stick) butter, melted

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with oil. Place peaches and blackberries in pan. Stir your crisp together and evenly distribute on top of fruit. Bake for appx 30 minutes and do yourself a favor and top with vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!

see? super easy! and really delicious. i can't wait to go to the farmer's market again this saturday so we can have this again! please feel free to share your favorite recipes with me! i am always looking for something easy yet delicious and healthy (more or less) to make.