Living Lola Style

May 2 AUCTION

2013-05-01T11:31:00.001-05:00

ANOTHER AUCTION THIS THURSDAY!

Lola's Auction House is full of inventory for this week's auction, Thursday, May 2 at 6:30pm.

Preview these items and more everyday at Lola's, 10am - 6pm or view the online auction catalog.

SAVE THE DATE

We'll be having another auction, Thursday, May 16 @ 6:30pm. We are currently consigning items for this auction. Call 815-931-0699 to make an appointment.

APRIL 4th AUCTION

2013-04-01T16:00:00.002-05:00

ANOTHER AUCTION THIS WEEK!

Lola's Auction House is full of inventory for this week's auction, Thursday, April 4 at 6:30pm.

A detailed list and photos are now available. This auction has lots of goodies: vintage records, tools, antiques, household items, laudro sculptures, furniture and more! Come early to preview the items and register for your bidder number!

SAVE THE DATE

We'll be having another auction, Thursday, April 18th @ 6:30pm. We are currently consigning items for this auction. Call 815-931-0699 to make an appointment.

A FULL HOUSE

2013-03-15T11:32:00.001-05:00

WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE AT LOLA'S!

Lola's Auction House is now full of inventory for the next auction, Thursday, March 21st at 6:30pm. A detailed list and photos will be posted soon. Feel free to visit the store Mon-Sat from 10-6pm to preview the auction items. We are always open to the public!

FIGHTING BOREDOM

2013-03-05T12:40:00.000-06:00

ITS A SNOW DAY, FIGHT THE BOREDOM!

In Morris, IL parents are scrambling to entertain their kids today. Yesterday was the Illinois Holiday, Casimir Pulaski Day and today, an unexpected snow storm cancelled school for a second day . So, what are parents to do?

Leave the house, buy yourself a well deserved cup of coffee, pick up some groceries and stop into Lola's where there are TONS of creative and fun activities to entertain the kids. Here's a few of the favorites:

1. STICKER PADS

Remember Colorforms? These stickers pads are similar with more than 150 reusable stickers to play with on 5 fun scenes. Lola's carries 6 different sticker pads, for both boys and girls.

2. 'DECORATE YOUR OWN' KITS

Paint your very own kits include banks, figurines and more. The banks that can be decorated include cupcake bank, piggy bank, and a race car bank.There is adorable rubber duck that can be painted then used in the tub. There are also two dinosaur figurines that your son or daughter can paint then display on their book shelf. These kits are perfect because they come with the project, paint, stickers and paint brush - all in one handy box.

3. PAINTING

Are you raising the next Van Gogh? Encourage your budding artist with paint with water books, finger paints, watercolor paint sets, and paint pads.

This seasons must-have accessory for any toddler artist is Water Wow. Fill the paint brush with water, paint the pages, color magically appears, then dissapears once the water dries. Perfect for dining with your parents!

4. COLORING

Coloring is fun whatever age you are. Lola's has Jumbo Coloring Pads with 50 Different Pictures, Crayons, Non-Roll Markers, Non-Roll Colored Pencils, and Blendy Pens. Make your world colorful!

5. CRAFTS

Nothing was more fun as a kid than a good craft project. Put the phone and ipads down and create! Lola's has tons of projects: Sand Art, Swirl and Spin Art, Suncatchers, Wood Models and Princess Wand Kits. These kits come with all the paint, wood glue, sand, stickers or brushes you will need.

There is no reason you should ever hear the words, "I'm bored" with Lola's in town! Open Monday - Saturdays 10am - 6pm. See an item you want, but you don't live near Morris? We can ship anything, anywhere! Give Lola's a call: 815-513-5788 or send an email !

--- Happy Snow Day!

AUCTION

2013-03-04T12:51:00.000-06:00

The first Auction is this week!!!

View the Auction Bill
for details and photo's of items to be auctioned.

[For more details, visit the Auction Page.]

CHECK THIS OUT

2013-01-30T12:58:00.000-06:00

WE ARE FAMOUS !!!!

Lola's was thrilled to be featured on the Shop Small 2013 blog. This is a great blog focused on the whole idea of Shopping Small! Here is how the author describes the blog:

"In nutshell, I’m sick of chain restaurants and stores. As a small business owner, and a mom, I think it’s important to support the independent shops & restaurants that are passionate about what they create and sell.

November’s Small Business Saturday’s popularity has increased dramatically over the years. But, really, can’t we support these businesses more than once a year. We seem surprised when the 'little shop on the corner' goes out of business. But as my brother-in-law likes to ask 'when was the last time you shopped there?'

I decided to challenge myself to a year of shopping small. Wondering if I can truly find everything I need for my family, without breaking the bank, and finding some amazing gems along the way. "

Check out this blog and follow the Shop Small journey! I highly recommend it!

- Stacey

LOLA EATS

2013-01-30T11:33:00.001-06:00

I was looking for a fun new recipe in the cook books at Lola's and I came across; French Toast, Sweet and Savory Dishes for Every Meal, by Donna Kelly. There are A LOT of interesting recipes in this book, but I thought I'd give the blog readers a sneak preview.

Crunchy Graham Dipping Sticks!

(How fun!)

Crunchy Graham Dipping Sticks

6 slices lightly toasted Texas toast or other heavy white bread
1 cup of heavy cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
9 graham crackers (try cinnamon graham crackers)
Canola oil

Cut each bread slice lengthwise into four sticks. In a pie pan or other shallow pan, mix together the cream, eggs, vanilla and salt. Whirl the graham crackers in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. Spread graham cracker crumbs on a plate. Dip sticks, one by one, into egg mixtures and then press into cracker crumbs, coating thoroughly. Heat a little canola oil in a small frying pan. Cover and cook sticks over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned. Cool until warm enough to handle. Serve with a side of syrup and use your fingers to dip. Makes 24 sticks.

Stop into Lola's and pick up this unique cookbook today!

allie

MIGHTY WALLETS

2013-01-28T11:19:00.000-06:00

You know who's awesome? You are!!!

It's true! And awesome people need a Mighty Wallet.

What's a Mighty Wallet, you say? It's an absolutely amazing Tyvek wallet, no stitches, you can write on it, very thin but its REALLY tear resistant. And I mean REALLY. Like I used my muscles and I couldn't tear the sample. This is stuff is crazy.

AND..its recyclable. So when you are done with it, you can recycle it! Be green!

And....it comes in a whole bunch of nifty designs! These are just a few of my favorites at Lola's but we have bunches more! They are only $15 so that's a great deal for you or your sweetie!

stop by and check it out!

allie

WINTER MIX

2013-01-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Crepes sont l'amour-Lola's Mix by alliekaye on Grooveshark

BEING CREATIVE

2013-01-23T14:55:00.000-06:00

What does it mean to be "be" creative?

Is it that you are especially talented and could sell art for millions of yen?

No.

It's the incurable, ineffable, irresistible desire to create.

To put yourself out there, to risk.

So don't trying "being creative" just DO.

You already have all that you need.

Being creative is willing to make messes and mistakes, and then clean them up.

In life, and on your kitchen counter.

Nobody is perfect.

To put some beauty into the world, even if only your eyes can behold it.

To release anxiety, stress, grief. When you do, someone finds it and realizes they are not alone.

allie

LOLA'S NEW GIRL

2013-01-21T10:38:00.001-06:00

Becka!

"My name is Becka and I am a music-loving, cat-hugging, scrub-wearing, cake-baking, photo-snapping, wife-to-be. My blog is about the ramblings and dabblings of my daily life. You will most likely find me in a pet store with an arm full of kittens or standing in a pile of drool at Anthropologie–but most of the time I am in the kitchen pretending I am Ina Garten (denim shirt included)."

Becka is the newest member of our team, and a bubbling cauldron of energy and enthusiasm.

She blogs at: http://chronicenthusiasm.wordpress.com/

Stop by and say hi at the store, and her blog!

allie

CHILL OUT

2013-01-18T11:44:00.001-06:00

Feeling stressed out lately?

Me too! Winter has that draining effect on almost everyone.

Here's some things to do to "chill out"...

1. Read. You know that book you've been wanting to read, just never have the time? Take the day (afternoon, hour) off and go read! Grab and blanket and cuddle with a book on the couch. Seriously. Dive into some Hemingway, H.G. Wells, Treasure Island, Les Miserables, Heidi. Classics are good for the soul.

2. Eat. Not encouraging gluttony here, but the opposite in fact. Instead of pounding some Mcd's when you are stressed, take the time to treat yourself nice and make a delicious, healthy meal. I suggest a lovely salad with cold cut chicken or turkey for some staying power. Add some winter fruit and your good to go!

3. Cuddle a baby. No baby available? Then take the time to appreciate someone else in your life. Cuddle with them if possible!

4. Change some artwork in your home. Switch it up! Instant mood improver!

5. Spend some time with your pets! Animals are proven to improve a bad mood, plus you can play paparazzi and take a bazillion adorable pics of them....

This is my guinea pig, Sherlock. She loves the spot light. (not really, but I don't care :)

6. Take a walk. "But it's cooollllddd" So what? It's not gonna change, so channel your inner Eskimo and embrace the snow and chill. Just make sure to bundle up! Trust me, you'll feel much better after!

7. Go shopping. Unless you've got a massive debt problem, go peruse your favorite shops. Don't have a lot of cash? Lola's has very reasonably priced stuff for your snowy days ahead! We get new stuff in all the time, so come check us out.

Thanks for stopping by!

allie

LOLA DRINKS

2013-01-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but when the weather turns cold, I turn to hot chocolate. I'm always looking for ways to spice it up and invent new flavors for my choco. Enter the Rolo White Hot Chocolate...

The idea is pretty simple. Heres what you need:

Rolo White Hot Chocolate
Two or three little Rolo's, or other carmel filled chocolate candy
A packet of high quality white hot chocolate
Hot water or milk

Dice up some Rolo's, place them in the bottom of the mug, then add you packet of white hot chocolate, followed my hot water or milk. Add a split Rolo for garnish, and ENJOY!

XO Allie

PHOTO CHALLENGE

2013-01-14T15:29:00.000-06:00

Hi there! I've decided this new year that I was going to a photo challenge, 365 photos at my home and Lola's! Already I can see an improvement in my photos! Here's an update and a glimpse at some of the goings-on.

4/365

Lola's has new window lights, vintage gym lights! So neat.

9/365

Beautiful vintage cameras for sale at Lola's

8/365

A cozy day at home for me :)

5/365

Thanks for stopping by,

xo allie

LOLA DRINKS

2013-01-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Are you feeling well?
Are you sure?
You look like you need a hot toddy....
I've got just the thing for you!!

Lola's Apple Hot Toddy
1 measure whiskey
2 measures apple cider
Small amount of honey
Cinnamon stick

Heat apple cider and whiskey and stir. Then add a small amount of honey and a cinnamon stick and ENJOY!

Oh...and feel better. :)

"Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough"

-Mark Twain

'66 THE CHIEF

2013-01-10T12:00:00.000-06:00

We have this Morris High School yearbook from '66 in our store, and I got a kick out of some of the pictures, and was inspired fashion wise by some spiffy outfits. Thought you might enjoy a peek.

We have this yearbook for sale at Lola's if you want to own this piece of history. :)

allie

LOLA DIY

2013-01-08T10:54:00.000-06:00

Today, I'm going to jog your memory.

Do you remember a time before Pinterest?

Yeah, me too.
It's not that old. Weird right?

Well think a little farther back and remember those annoying cork pin-boards? People (myself) would put them up proudly in their offices and declare it the new place to put clippings from magazines, notes from friends and other such interesting tidbits.

But, sadly, the board remained bare. I mean, cut stuff out and pin it to a board? (Ain't nobody got time for that!) It just didn't happen.

But you know what did happen? I fell head over heals in love the "vintage school room" look. Remember light green chalkboards?

Ah, nostalgia.

I wanted to create a vintage style green chalkboard on the cheap, so I "donated" my old cork pin board and rounded up some other ingredients.

To create this look, you'll need...

1. Paint-able surface. I chose my old cork board, but anything really would work. An old ugly picture, a piece of wood ANYTHING you can paint.

2. This other stuff. Plaster of Paris, or Unsanded grout (available at any home improvement store) acrylic or latex paint to get the desired shade, measuring spoons, one plastic spoon and something to mix the paint in.

3. Mix! Add 1 tbls of the Plaster of Paris to 1/2 cup of paint. To get the vintage green look, I used 1/4 of bright green paint, 1/4 of off white, and a few dashes of black. Then stir WELL, the plaster can be lumpy.

5. Paint!

thanks for stopping by!!

xo allie

GLAM WINTER PARTY

2013-01-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hello, and welcome to a new series on Living Lola Style; Party Like Lola!
The series will take you through different party theme and have neat ideas and DIY's along the way!

What's better than pink and glitter when the winter blues set in?
Nothing, that's what!

1. Create and eye-catching backdrop, this is the "base" of your color scheme and theme. I decided vintage book pages because the patina and texture. Use double sided tape and adhere to poster board for a quick way to breathe life into a otherwise boring wall without permanently changing it.

2. Create a snack buffet inside a piece of vintage luggage, with an eye catching liner. Use some contrasting dishes to display some appetizers or desserts.

3. Add a vintage twist: use vintage game cards as place cards. We sell these adorable cards at Lola's, I'll share the quick and easy DIY soon.

4. Elevate your centerpieces. Whatever you choose to center the party on, (I painted some jars hot pink and glitter dipped them!) make sure you can see it! I used a stack of vintage books in an complimentary color.

5. Place mats...remind you of your grandma's house? Well shake it up and use something different and interesting. I have a stash of vintage sheet music and I picked out some songs with cute titles! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Allie

ANTHOLOGY

2013-01-02T18:00:00.000-06:00

We LOVE Anthology at Lola's!

Anthology is an amazing, high quality magazine, full of ideas and inspiration for your home, cooking and photography.

We have plently of copies at the store, ready to come home with you!

Facebook.com/anthologymagazine
Instagram: anthologymag

happy reading,

xo allie

365

2012-12-31T14:00:00.000-06:00

Inspired by Elsie of A Beautiful Mess I have decided to take on a 365 Challenge!
Basically you commit to doing something everyday for the next 365 days! It's a great way to challenge yourself to the limits.
Everyday too much? Try a monthly or weekly.

Some run a mile a day for 365 days (phew!), some create something new every week for themselves or their loved ones, some paint a painting daily, some read a new book each month, the ideas are endless!

My challenge will be to take 365 pictures of Lola's and my home. I'm hoping this will expand my skills with using my iphone to take beautiful photos.

So think of something that you would like to improve upon, be specific and have fun this year!

2012

2012-12-31T09:14:00.001-06:00

From all of us at Lola's, we would like to thank all our readers and customers for an absolutely, amazing, fun year!!

We've got some new things cooking at Lola's, so I thought we could take a look at the many faces of our store this year, as well as some of our favorite blog posts!

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2012:

1. Blog about an unproductive day

2. The awesome Paint Swatch Wall

3. Lola's 10 Rules to a Successful Party

4. House vs. Home: Crates

5. A Pop of Color

Thanks again for an amazing year! We are planning some new, big and exciting things for 2013, for this blog and the store, so please stop by for a visit again soon!

xo, Lola's Team

50 SHADES OF ANAIS

2012-12-13T12:26:00.000-06:00

My latest obsession is Anais Nin. I believe she was a woman ahead of her time. By today's standards, she would be like most of us. A woman, trying to find out who she is, navigating a path through life and trying to juggle her needs versus the words expectations of her. Most of us recognize her name as it pops-up on pinterest boards as the author of a quote. However, I think of Anais as the E.L. James of her generation. She blazed a trail for modern female authors. Back then is was shocking for a woman to write erotic fiction, however, now she would probably be interviewed on Good Morning America. She is often romantically linked with Henry Miller, yet her husband Hugh Guiler is rarely mentioned. She even married a second time, without ever divorcing Guiler. Her life story sounds like an epic movie with scenes taking place in romantic locations such as Cuba, France, New York and California. She led a complex life, not unlike many women I know. I feel as if she were to walk into Lola's, we would be friends. She poured her thoughts into beautifully written poems, essays, novels, diaries and - most popular, her quotes. Here are a few of my favorite. One is surely to speak directly to your soul.

EVERYTHING I NEED

2012-12-13T11:07:00.001-06:00

A perfect quote to keep in mind as the holidays approach.

Here is a great rule of thumb to follow when shopping:

Enjoy being together with your friends and family this season,
And every day!

RANDOM

2012-12-12T15:08:00.000-06:00

Random Moments at Lola's.

Seen from Lola's window.

Something fun for your kids bathroom?

Happy Holidays - Lola's 2012

Happy Holidays - Lola's 2011

STARTING TODAY

2012-12-12T13:01:00.000-06:00

Why wait until January 1st to start a new routine? At Lola's we do things on our own schedule. Unique and original. Why not use today [12/12/12] to make a new resolution?

We resolve to post on this blog often. Make that regularly.In fact, daily. Yes, daily!

Now you can discover new things on this blog every day. Quotes, inspiring photos, links, tips and more.

Daily To Do List:
1. Hit snooze on the alarm clock.
2. Roll over and fall back asleep.
3. Repeat Step 1 and 2 until you are ready to face the world.
4. Wake up and start a new day.
5. Brush your teeth.
6. Visit LivingLolaStyle.com.

Add LivingLolaStyle.com to your daily routine - we are! Sign up to follow by email and receive posts sent directly to your inbox.