How to Look Like You Have It All Together: Shop Someplace that Does

Do you remember, when you were younger - maybe in high school or college or even in your early 20s - thinking, "Someday, when I'm older, I'll have it all together"? I thought my outfits would be coordinated & well-pressed, my home would be nicely decorated & always clean. Now that I'm in my early 30s, I still wonder, "OK, is that ever coming?" & I've got to be honest: I don't think it is.

That's why I like places that make it a little bit easier for me to feel like I've got it all together.

I was invited to attend last week's launch party at the Laura of Pembroke store at Pinecrest, a new mixed-use development in Orange, OH, about 15 minutes outside of downtown Cleveland. Laura of Pembroke is a clothing store, homegoods store, and furniture store, all in one, & this is their second location (the first is in Canton). It was one of the first spots to open at Pinecrest - along with a Shake Shack! (I tried to wait in that line but bailed after about five minutes.)

Pinecrest aims to be "the downtown of the East side," which amuses me a little because it's so solidly suburban - but as we've previously discussed, I like the suburbs, so I'm into it.

In celebration of their opening, Laura of Pembroke hosted a lovely launch party - open to the public & with special invitations to local bloggers - complete with champagne, custom cookies from the Itty Bitty Bakeshop, & a bubble machine at the entrance.

I'm not kidding when I say that this place has - & sells - everything. 

In fact, the women who work here joke that the entire store is for sale because you can literally purchase the art off their walls & the light fixtures off their ceiling. Their furniture is unfortunately out of my budget (still living that IKEA life, for now), but damn, do they have some gorgeous stuff.

They also have an interior decorating consultant on staff to help you style your home, & looking at how the shop itself is styled, I trust them 1000%. I'd kill for a home that looks like this instead of a few levels up from a dorm, which is admittedly what I'm working with some days. OK, that's dramatic; my apartment is cute, but it's certainly no Laura of Pembroke. Look at this place.

They've also got a huge selection of clothing, jewelry, shoes, & accessories, all at varying price points. You'll find a $35 shirt on the rack right next to a $250 jacket, with familiar brands brands like Kate Spade alongside newer ones you've not yet tried. Unfortunately, the largest size they carry size is an L, which is usually still too small for my size 14/16 body...

But accessories fit everybody! I bought an absolutely gorgeous ring that I've worn every day since making it my own, & I've got my eye on the unusual, fabric-based statement necklaces you see in the first photo below.

And finally, they carry a ton of homegoods, from barware to dishes to home furnishings. 

If you're into home entertaining or are looking for something special for friends who are, this is the perfect spot to find your next gift. During the launch party, I bought a little something for my mom's upcoming birthday.

I also went back a few days after their opening to grab a wedding gift for our friends Ryan & Sam's July nuptials. I won't tell you what I got, because Ryan sometimes reads this blog (hi!), but suffice it to say that it was a lot of fun to pick out something frivolous & pretty for them to enjoy.

While at Pinecrest, I met up with a fellow bloggers Crystal of Eat*Drink*Cleveland, Leah of By Travel & Error, & Alyssa of The Mexitalian) I was so impressed with the way Laura of Pembroke reached out to so many of us, focusing on what we blog about & personally love. Alyssa, a food blogger, wrote about her kitchen style; Julia, a beer blogger, wrote about their gorgeous bar goodies; Rachel, a style blogger, wrote about her fashion finds, including a pair of shoes I'm totally coveting. 

After the Laura of Pembroke opening, we stopped by a few other stores, including the West Elm launch party (free booze & tasty apps!) & Pottery Barn's opening soiree, complete with a really dramatic flower-stealing episode that I documented on Instagram. 

It's so much fun to be a part of the Cleveland blogger community that has formed within the last year. And while I will likely always struggle with the balance of sponsored versus organic content, it's easy to say yes to sponsored opportunities like this one when I really believe in & love the brands I get to partner with. I believe whole-heartedly in the work & success of local businesses, especially those owned by women, & I relish the opportunity to raise them up & to help fellow Clevelanders find new spots to try. 

Bonus: A few days later, when I returned to Laura of Pembroke to buy the aforementioned wedding gift, I also stopped into the new Shake Shack. This time the line was only - only! - 30 minutes, but it was totally worth it. That cheese sauce is to die for, y'all.

Many of the stores, shops, & restaurants that will ultimately populate Pinecrest aren't yet open, but you can follow along on Instagram at @discover_pinecrest for updates as new spots launch.



Disclaimer: I was invited to attend Laura of Pembroke's launch party at Pinecrest & was gifted a bag of goodies in exchange for a blog post sharing my honest opinions. As always, all views are my own - & given that I went back to buy more stuff from them, you can assume I'm telling you the truth about how much I liked this place!