Welcome to Lake Shore Lady!
My name is Lauren and I’m so glad you stopped by!
A little bit about me:
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, but when it came time to go to college, I headed straight for the East Coast. I got a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University, and I couldn’t wait to make my move to New York City. I technically moved there before I even graduated to participate in SU Drama’s Tepper Semester. This was a study abroad style program for 2nd semester seniors – except instead of going to Europe, we took classes right in Manhattan with professionals in the industry. After making the trek back up to ‘Cuse to graduate, I promptly moved right to the Upper West Side and lived there for about 3 years.
While New York will always have a special place in my heart, I realized that I was 25 and unhappy… and something needed to change. I made the biggest decision of my life, packed my bags and moved into a studio apartment on Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview. While I loved being closer to my family, most of the important people in my life were now halfway across the country. Since I like to be productive, I realized that I needed a project – something to help me feel less lonely, but also something to help me channel my creative energy that had gotten so stifled in New York. And thus, Lake Shore Lady was born.
Since I started the blog at a time when I definitely didn’t have everything “together” (still don’t!), my goal has always been to create approachable and honest content. I want my recipe posts to encourage you to get in your kitchen and try new things. I hope my style posts help you find more confidence when you get dressed in the morning. We may not all be supermodels, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look great! And finally, I hope to inspire you to take care of yourself a little bit better. Whether it’s fitness, yoga, nutrition, or other forms of self-care… take the time you need to feel your best, both mentally and physically. It’s not about having the perfect body, or even the perfect life. It’s about health, mindfulness and gratitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you blog full time?
A: YES! I went full time with Lake Shore Lady in August 2018. You can read all about why I made that decision in this post!
Q: I’m starting a blog. Are there any resources you recommend?
A: Yes! I have a whole post about this topic – check it out here!
Q: Who takes your photos?
A: I do all my own food/lifestyle photography, but my outfit posts are usually shot by Hannah Schweiss, Jules Kennedy, or Adam!
Q: What kind of camera do you use?
A: I recently upgraded to a Canon R6 and I loooove it!
Q: I’m coming to Chicago, what should I do?
A: I’d recommend checking out my Weekend Guide to Chicago! You can also find a ton of “Best of Chicago” lists here!
Q: What are your favorite restaurants in Chicago?
A: My current favorites are new neighborhood gems, Spacca Napoli and The Warbler! But if you’re looking for more recs, check out those Best of Chicago lists I told you about!! (There are so many good ones in my Best Date Night Restaurants post!)
If you have any other questions, feel free to comment below or reach out via email. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!