Lilify + Life

The transition to autumn is beautiful and also bittersweet. As we embrace dark mornings and early evenings filled with crisp air, we simultaneously say our annual farewell to the abundance and luster of summer.

Every year amidst this passage, I dedicate myself to the heavy, hefty work of cutting back my garden. This yearly ritual always causes me to feel a bit forlorn – bidding adieu to the dahlias, alliums and roses that graced August. As I shave and slash it seems impossible that this aggressive pruning is, in fact, imperative to instigate the next season's success.

The morning after, I always stare at my garden, unacquainted with the stark and orderly composition. Then the brisk air blows in, followed by the rain, and the garden cocoons into the coziness and calmness of fall.

I wish you a shift from summer that welcomes all the wonder of autumn - the season of apples, pumpkins, soup and slowing down.

HL

Lyrics can make a song feel like it was written just for you. A well-written song can make you laugh, cry, laugh and cry - and even define a generation. But sometimes you don’t want all that, you just want to let the instruments do the talking. The music can mean whatever you want, no need for interpretation. 

Scary Goldings is an incredible collaboration of Larry Goldings and The Scary Pockets. The combination feels like it was always meant to be.

The Scary Pockets are comprised of Ryan Lerman and Jack Conte along with a continually rotating list of musicians. They can be found on YouTube doing fun covers of everything from “I will Survive” to “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.

You may not have heard of Larry Goldings but you have more than likely heard him. 

He’s infused his signature keyboard sound with De La Soul, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Herbie Hancock and John Mayer just to name a few.

Enjoy a good listen to Scary Goldings on a mellow autumn evening, imbibing, or just vibing.

JS 

Jeff Tweedy seems like a genuinely awesome father. Not only is he rock royalty - having been in Uncle Tupelo and the front man for Wilco - in 2014 this rock star dad made an album with his son under the band name "Tweedy''.

The title of the album is the family nickname of the father + son duo’s wife and mother Susan (Sukie Rae) who was battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the time. The duo recorded twenty tracks, made some fun music videos and subsequently went on tour together.

Not something I would imagine a father and his 18-year-old son would render without a real love of one another and of making music.

Celebrate Fathers Day and slide into the start of this new season with the track Summer Noon.

JS

As the mornings greet us early and the evenings linger later, we welcome the season of warmth and solstice. We celebrate Fathers and all those who nurture, guide and gladden.

I wish you a summer full of all things abundant, buoyant and radiant.

And I wish you a Happy Fathers Day,

HL

We are beyond honored to be included in Forbes' "Discover Monterey."

Read how to "Spend your Summer on The Central Coast" here.

Acting on behalf of someone else is a deeply important, deeply humane role. Caregiving is necessary, noble and profound – it can also be exhausting.

In early May, we honor Mothers, and all the selfless caregivers in our lives. We celebrate teachers, health care workers, community leaders, Aunts and Aunties, Grandmas and Nanas. We recognize those who are struggling to become Mothers and those that have transitioned to care for their own Mothers.

On May 9th, we shower our caregivers with love and we invite them to take time for tea and for themselves.

Happy Mother’s Day,

HL

Dream Shore is a Synthwave producer based out of Miami, Florida. His newest album, Resilience: Part 1, plays like the soundtrack to your favorite 80’s action movie. The opening track “Training” starts out slow, almost as if mid dream and then builds to a momentous sequence. If you close your eyes, you can picture a hero meditating on a mountainside in preparation to block her Sensei’s punches while blindfolded. 

The rest of the track titles offer similar sentiments  - “Inner Strength, Resilience, Prevail and Tranquility.”

Spring is here. Pop the collar on your polo, go for a drive with the windows down, play this album and get lost in your own movie montage.

JS

The start of this year was long and lonely. And, then the birds began their sweet symphony and the hellebores snuck into bloom. The rains nurture and subside. The weather warms and the days grow longer. Our world slowly starts to open and spring surprises.

In my garden, the jasmine is in full flower, the sweet pea undulates into bloom and the daffodils dance. Every turn introduces unexpected sprouting, new growth – efflorescence.

The passage into spring symbolizes regeneration. I wish you a season full of surprise and renewal.

HL

The Neon Skyline, from Canadian musician Andy Shauf, is a concept album about hearing that his ex is in town. Just as the dawn of a new year brings reflection of the past, this record brings back memories of how things used to be for them. Several listens will reveal the story in more and more detail, but it can just as easily be perceived through passive listening.

Shauf plays all the instruments and creates melodies that take you on a journey of stillness, hope and regret.  The real magic is in his unique style of pronunciation - without knowing you'd be hard pressed to guess where he is from.  

Look up the lyrics and listen on a slow, still winter day.

JS

Winter is slow and creates a pace that is careful and cozy. The world, even in such tricky times, is a little gentler as we keep calm and still.

Perhaps as a result of being raised in Alaska, I have had a fondness for Valentine’s Day since I was a little girl. I think the pops of red, the roses, the handwritten notes, the heart shaped cookies and jello jigglers prepared for parties at school were a refreshing contradiction to the bitter of winter.

As an adult, I admittedly still feel the same affinity for Valentine’s Day.

I adore an occasion to feel all the feels and I just love love.

This Sunday, we celebrate all versions and visions of love. As an antidote to the stillness of the season and the complicated challenges in the world right now, I wish you wellness, kindness and a whole lot of love.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

HL

We are open until 5:00pm on Thursday, Christmas Eve. 

Our brick + mortar is open with enhanced cleaning and wellness provisions. We have space and grace to welcome you while maintaining a safe social distance.

We are also delighted to offer curbside pick up on any order placed online. You will receive an email stating that your order has been fulfilled and then we will look forward to seeing you during our shop hours. If you wish for us to bring your purchase to your car, please call us when you have arrived.

We are also happy to ship any order directly to you or your loved ones. Shipping is complimentary for all orders over $35 and is $5 for all orders under $35 in the United States.

If there is any other way that we can assist you, please feel free to contact our team.

♡

HL