Hi! I’m Lauren.

When I was twenty, I enrolled in a study abroad program in Florence, Italy which resulted in being a defining decision of my life. Witnessing culture that was not my own prompted me to create a personal culture that reflected my love for Europe with my deep Texas roots.

My intention post graduation was to move back to Florence, but something interrupted that plan, and I remained stateside for a reason that many of us do…a cute boy.

That cute boy led to a white dress and veil (and later two additional cute boys), and Europe seemed farther away than ever in those long days of mommy-hood when my boys required so much care and attention. During the few moments I had to sit and think, I often remembered my days abroad, and missed those cultural elements I had witnessed and adopted, but had long-since abandoned in favor of ninja turtles and goldfish.

I founded The Art of Living Beautifully in the Spring of 2014 as a means of bringing some of those beloved elements back into my life when I realized I had lost Lauren and replaced her with “Mom.” For the next six years, I focused on publishing various forms of media, all designed to help women find their own personal culture while also supporting our local community, McKinney, Texas.

In recent years, I have turned my attention to storytelling, and my greatest desire in this pursuit is to write stories that create escape. There was a time when I was in the throws of motherhood, I missed Florence and longed for a real cappuccino in a charming white cup, not one from a drive through window with plastic lid, and so for that mom, and any others out there who need a little escape from their everyday life, even if it’s extremely blessed like mine, I’m writing for you.

Much love and thanks,