Lilify + Life

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

2020 has required a careful combination of gratitude, grace and grit. We are all amidst a journey we will never forget.

As the holiday season greets us in this tricky time, it is a reminder that gratefulness and joy, even in small, secluded settings are, more than ever, essential.

I am grateful to be a small business owner. More so, I admire and applaud all small businesses and our resilience and adaptability as we wiggle through this weird year.

Small businesses create community, character and charm. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, I especially celebrate these small operations, their agile leaders and their dedicated staff.

I am deeply grateful for your continued support. On behalf of my family, and the dream team of artists, makers and movers that make up Lilify, we wish you a warm welcome to the season of feast and festivity.

And, for the days when gratitude, grace and grit are difficult to summon, there are always sweets, treats and tea.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving,

HL

This time of year, this year specifically, keeping cozy is key. It never ceases to amaze me that the transition to brisk weather and rainy evenings make certain things even more enjoyable – tea, soup, jazz, red wine and cuddles. These things are even more delicious and desirable when it is the season of cozy.

And, of course, candles.

This season we are thrilled to introduce our newest releases to our permanent collection SANDALWOOD + PALO SANTO as well as VETIVER + SALT. Both of these candles are deep, warming and wonderful.

And, our FROST + FIR holiday release is back!!! This candle is beloved by many and is only available in November and December. This year we are also delighted to introduce SPRUCE + SPICE. This candle offers a balsamic woodiness complimented with cinnamon and spice. These candles are the perfect way to welcome the cold and the holidays.

Our candles are hand poured locally by Emmaline Molloy of Valley Botanicals and available in shop + online.

I wish you wellness during this trying time and I hope you keep calm, warm and deeply cozy.

HL

Autumn arrives, we find ourselves still sheltering and I’ve become more and more attracted to music created in secluded settings - acoustic shows, solo performances and especially albums recorded at home.

At the apex of my favorite albums list is Tom Petty’s Wildflowers. One of Petty’s most intimate and personal albums, it is set to be re-issued October 16^th. Included in this re-issue are 15 tracks of home demos.

It is this version of the iconic title track “Wildflowers” that is perhaps the best anthem for the year.   The recording feels so confidential, with just Tom Petty and his guitar, and you almost feel like you are in the room with him.

The familiar lyrics performed from such a private setting encapsulate the tandem of 2020 - solitude while yearning to be somewhere you feel free.

Keep an eye out and an ear open for the full release this autumn, so that you can spend a little alone time with Tom.

JS

This summer was a lot of a lot. The challenges we are all facing this year were compounded with fires devastating our communities. The smoky skies created a sepia tone to our days that depleted our spirits.

And, we entered the daily roller coaster of teaching our children from the safety of home.

Amidst the demands, this week I woke to a mellow morning and the distinct smell of fall. I immediately longed for butternut squash with apple and sage and welcomed the realization that even though there is so much out of our control, the transition to cooler temperatures creates a coziness that makes soup taste even better. And, I believe that making soup is a love language.

Another love language is appreciation. I send out gratitude and appreciation for all the firefighters, educators, health care professionals and community leaders who are working so hard to make things work - and also appreciation for the all the parents who are working so hard to make it work for our kids.

I hope that this autumn we all enjoy a hearty, healing soup – because even though a good bowl of soup will not make it perfect, it will definitely make it better.

In the shop, we have white pumpkins, warm candles and warming music to welcome you and celebrate the shifting of the seasons.

We hope to see you soon!

HL

Sending out wishes of safety, strength and a lot of love, especially to the firefighters protecting our communities. 

♡

HL

This year has been a journey. Months, weeks and certain hours can feel up, down and all around. As we navigate the many challenges, a dear friend of mine said it best when he told me “now is a time to be kind to ourselves.” 

What is kinder than a beautiful bubble bath?

Bathing welcomes the time and space to pause and nourish our body, our skin and our soul. To allow oneself to break, breathe and to be, we introduce our newest line of small batch, signature bubble bath.

Created in collaboration with and made locally by Connie Mardon, our bubble bath features the same exquisite scent blends as our beloved body lotions. Herby, earthy and unique, our blends offer careful aromatic pairings created to relax and uplift.

I invite you to extend kindness to yourself or to others, with our restorative bubble bath now available in shop and online.

HL

You know that you’ve got a great summer album on your hands when track one features the melodic genius of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. From there it jumps into all the catchy pop and dance rhythms you could hope for while lyrically celebrating youth and expression.

Both in style and attitude Janelle Monae is making a case to be the heir apparent to Prince. Dirty Computer was even released with a Sci-Fi movie of the same name like Prince did with Purple Rain. This comparison is most prevalent on the track “Make Me Feel”. 

Dirty Computer is fun and relevant to the times we are in. 

Enjoy it on a road trip, at a summer barbecue or just dancing by yourself.

JS