Originally written October 2017.
Spend five minutes with Laurie McClure, and you'll feel happier and more inspired than you ever thought possible. Her smile, giggle, and overwhelming friendliness might even have you questioning if this girl is for real.
Her enthusiasm for her craft is so contagious, you may even feel compelled to rush to your nearest home decor store and buy a few new throw pillows or candles to spruce up your house.
It's not an act: Laurie really is that cheerful, warm, and downright amazing.
Her attitude and optimistic outlook on life spill into her event and home styling business, Practical & Pretty with Lo, as well as her event planning job at Anthropologie in Newport Beach.
It's easy to look at someone like Laurie and be envious of her passion-filled work that looks almost effortless, but Laurie will be the first to tell you it's taken baby steps and years of preparation to land in her current position.
For the last ten years, Laurie has worked for several high-profile active lifestyle companies including Speedo, Asics, and Billabong, clocking incredibly long hours, commuting across Southern California, and dreaming of a day when she could spend more time at home. And for quite a while, her home was a condo, with not much space to serve as her canvas for decorating.
"It is my belief that your home is your refuge," Laurie said. "And the more you love the space you come home to every day, the more you will enjoy time in it with those you share it with."
So while the corporate grind became almost unbearable at times, Laurie continued to pour herself into her passion, starting a blog and clipping away at inspiring magazine spreads, saving for a home of her own and sowing the seeds of a budding business.
"I started making goals—big and small—for myself," Laurie said. "I know it sounds silly, but I said things like, 'I want to be featured in Better Homes & Gardens,' or 'I want to book my first wedding.'"
Laurie said because she had no formal training in interior decorating, she started her blog to establish her voice and point of view. She utilized every inch of her small space to take photos and create simple home how-tos for her growing online audience. Eventually, she and her husband purchased their first home, which offered endless fodder and a never-ending list of perfectly post-able DIY projects.
Along the way, while still working full-time, Laurie started booking weddings and clients, and slowly but surely her idea turned into a small business.
"I just kept introducing myself as a small business owner, and it felt weird in the beginning, but you really have to believe in yourself and your passion," she said. "And I keep making more goals along the way to challenge myself."
Along with these goals and challenges, Laurie took a giant leap of faith. She left her full-time job, which looked glamorous, envious, and completely Instagrammable to those on the outside. For her, the job was not fulfilling and just served as a paycheck. Trusting her heart and knowing she would find some sort of replacement, she worked even harder on Practical & Pretty.
Laurie truly believes in the power of the universe, faith, and things happening for a reason. She stumbled upon a job opening for an event planner at Anthropologie, which married perfectly with her business, and now she works on both in tandem, booking events like succulent arranging and calligraphy workshops for Anthro, while planning weddings and styling photo shoots on the side.
She's unsure exactly what's next, but she continues to set goals, make plans, and most importantly—live in the moment. As she says, she's living and doing exactly what she's supposed to do right now. Laurie McClure is proving that old saying true: "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life."
IN HER WORDS
Advice for dream-seekers:
"First, never put off for tomorrow what you can do today, even if it's just fifteen minutes a day that you dedicate towards your goal. Start, be present, go for it. All too often we stand in our own way more than anything or anyone else ever will. Look at each and every day as an opportunity to make even the smallest step towards your goals. And eventually, all those small moments of progress will add up.
"Secondly, be kind to yourself. Know that progress takes time and doesn't happen overnight. Whether it be improvements to your physical self, strengthening your emotional self, challenging your professional self, know that it takes time and to be kind to yourself along the way, as long as you're making steps each day towards that goal/progress."
Other females who inspire you:
"My mom and grandmothers. My mom is my role model in life, and in parenting, and her mom before her shaped what an incredible woman she is, which is what I hope to do for my children someday."
Favorite kitchen utensil/appliance:
"Besides a wine opener—ha?! Wooden spoons. They are the most basic and fundamental cooking necessity for me. I never use mixers, rarely spatulas. A wood spoon can be used in basically every dish I cook to stir, scrape, and taste my dishes. I also love the aesthetic of a wood spoon holder on a kitchen counter—the warm wood tones just appear nice to me.
"[I also rely on] the gas burner stovetop. My favorite nights typically involve all four burners going, oven on, wine poured, music on, chatting about my day with [my husband] Jus. Those are usually the signs of a yummy meal and a long evening ahead, enjoying my home."
Favorite style of cooking:
"Anything in a cast iron skillet. One-dish meals are my favorite. I love to sauté the meat and herbs and butter, etc., first and get all the juices and flavors going in the skillet, then add in my rices/pastas, etc., to really absorb all of those flavors that have been marinating in the dish. There is something so comforting about serving a warm, hearty skillet meal to loved ones, especially [when we head] into fall!"
Go-To recipe?
