I've just returned from spending the month of May in France. My time there was divided between hosting The Academy, visiting friends, and taking a solo French road trip to see new places and have a little creative down time. What I'm always struck by, no matter where I may be in the country, is how authentic the French live. You won't see homes filled with shiny new items from a big box store or mass produced wares delivered to their doorstep. Homes are collected, well lived in, and speak purely to those who inhabit them. They are unique and imperfect. They are nurturing to the senses and welcoming to all who enter their doors. I had the privilege of photographing one such home belonging to my friend, antique dealer Lou O'Leary. His home encourages me to approach my own decor with a sense of authenticity and meaning. My hope is that it does the same for you.

For the past few years, I've aspired to teach workshops here in the US for those who may be unable to travel to France, but have a strong desire to learn how to style professional visuals that reflect their brand and connect with their following. My objective in creating new workshops was simple; to design one-day intensive sessions that focus solely on styling exceptional images. This first series of workshops in the San Francisco area will kick off my plans of extending them across the nation in the coming year. I hope to see you at one!

Finally, I've begun to tackle a design project that, quite literally, looms over me every single day - finishing my studio space at Grove House. More specifically, the lounge seating area. You know how the saying goes - the cobbler's children have no shoes. That's me, in a nutshell. The "busy" excuse has been used frequently in an effort to ease my slight guilt over not getting my act together with the project. But enough already, the time has come to mark this one off my to-do list. Step One - Share my design plan with the internet.

Today we're continuing with my interview series of inspiring women who do unique and creative work. It seems now more than ever there are endless opportunities as to what a business might look like and how one might go about achieving success. Female trailblazers who are building their businesses off the beaten path, are in a way, sharing their gifts with those of us who aspire to achieve something meaningful in what we do for a living. In my line of work as an editor and stylist I’ve come across dozens of just such women, many of whom I consider friends, and I thought it would be great for you to get to know some of them as well.

Lauren Palmer is the owner and farmer of Bloomsbury Farm located in Smyrna, Tennessee. The farm is set on 400 breathtaking acres where she and her team cultivate and grow beautiful organic produce to sell at Saturday farmers markets around Nashville and to fill orders for their seasonal CSA baskets. But Bloomsbury Farm isn't only a farm - it is also a gorgeous event space; hosting weddings, special events, and farm-to-table gatherings. Lauren truly loves creating a community around farming, nature, and food - let's get to know her better!

The shopping in Amsterdam is just so good. You'll find small independent boutiques dotting nearly every street and I made it my mission to try and pop in as many as I could. It was an easy task, considering their creative window displays and eye catching merchandise were continually luring me inside. Hands down, my favorite shop was de Weldaad. Their selection of antiques, home furnishings, accessories, and textiles were so beautifully curated. I loved the gentle wash of their soft muted color palette and worn wood surfaces displayed throughout the store. It was such a relaxing environment to browse. I seriously wanted to dump everything out of my luggage just so I could pack it up with their wares. Instead, I brought home candles and pillow covers. Sigh.

Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Chicken Soup - quite the tongue twister of a recipe name but trust me...it's oh, so good. If you are feeling under the weather and yearning for spring, this soup is your remedy! It's a modern spin on your grandmother's chicken noodle soup with a vibrant lemon pepper pasta and hefty splash of fresh lemon juice. It's both comforting and refreshing and has been on rotation in our home this winter.

One of my strategies for posting more frequently this year is simply; to share more everyday things. Fortunately, when I started to make another pot of this delicious soup, I remembered my intention and pulled out my camera to document making the recipe. I hope sharing these glimpses of an average day will connect with you. When I read other blogs, they're my favorite type of posts. Plus, it feels good to not stress about creating content and actually just live it. So welcome to my kitchen, let's make Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Chicken Soup...