A woman with short wavy blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue and white striped shirt and blue jeans, sitting on a green upholstered chair in a cozy room with a wooden bookshelf, a framed portrait, and a large window in the background.

lauren palmer

is a seventh-generation Texan who has long suspected she was somehow meant to be European. A writer and creative entrepreneur with an enduring love of story, she believes a beautiful life is not determined by geography or circumstance, but cultivated through the things we choose to notice, savor, and make our own.

For more than a decade, Lauren has explored this philosophy through The Art of Living Beautifully—a body of work centered on the idea of making culture personal. This is found in the details: the food we prepare and share, the objects we bring into our homes, the clothes we wear, the traditions we borrow and create, the books we read, the places that awaken something within us, and the beauty we choose to notice. These seemingly small decisions become the texture of life—and, over time, a culture entirely our own.

Lauren is the author of The France Dance and 11 Days in a Carry-on, books shaped by this same curiosity about what can happen when we step beyond the familiar. Through whimsical settings and deeply human characters, her stories offer readers a place to escape for a while—and perhaps return to your own life inspired to make something beautiful of wherever you are.

Whether writing, photographing, cooking, collecting, traveling, or simply paying attention, Lauren believes inspiration requires participation. The goal is not to chase a more beautiful life elsewhere, but to become more awake to the one already before us—gathering what moves us and, little by little, shaping a culture of our own.

A woman smiling, wearing a striped t-shirt and jeans, holding a bunch of lavender in her left hand, standing indoors with a blurred background.
A woman smiling, wearing a striped t-shirt and jeans, holding a bunch of lavender in her left hand, standing indoors with a blurred background.
A woman with blond hair, blue eyes, and wearing large gold earrings is holding a pink book titled 'The Fault in Our Stars' in front of her face, with her eyes visible above it. She is dressed in a brown button-down shirt.
A woman with blond hair, blue eyes, and wearing large gold earrings is holding a pink book titled 'The Fault in Our Stars' in front of her face, with her eyes visible above it. She is dressed in a brown button-down shirt.

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Black and dark gray abstract logo with circular shapes and inner negative space creating a stylized letter 'Q'.

The Art of Living Beautifully:

building a culture of your own

“I’m drawn to anything with deep roots and a past: vintage objects, passed down recipes, historic European streets, well-worn books, family traditions, and anything that carries the fingerprints of those who came before.” -LP

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Perhaps personal culture matters most when life feels the least beautiful. It cannot protect us from difficult seasons, but it can provide a beautiful way to move through them—reminding us that there is still joy to be found, beauty to be noticed, and life to be lived.

Fresh radishes with green leaves on display at a market, with potatoes and Brussels sprouts in the background.
Fresh radishes with green leaves on display at a market, with potatoes and Brussels sprouts in the background.
Close-up of a white bowl filled with assorted salted, roasted nuts and garnished with sprigs of rosemary on a rustic wooden table.
Close-up of a white bowl filled with assorted salted, roasted nuts and garnished with sprigs of rosemary on a rustic wooden table.
A woman with long blonde hair and sunglasses is sitting on stone steps outside a stone house with a pinkish-orange wall, surrounded by green plants and flowers. She is smiling, wearing a striped top and dark patterned pants, with a large woven handbag nearby.
A woman with long blonde hair and sunglasses is sitting on stone steps outside a stone house with a pinkish-orange wall, surrounded by green plants and flowers. She is smiling, wearing a striped top and dark patterned pants, with a large woven handbag nearby.
A woman in a white dress and red shawl taking a mirror selfie in a room decorated with beach-themed artwork and furniture. She is wearing jewelry and carrying a tote bag with a strawberry print.
A woman in a white dress and red shawl taking a mirror selfie in a room decorated with beach-themed artwork and furniture. She is wearing jewelry and carrying a tote bag with a strawberry print.
Close-up of a bunch of pink berries, likely grapes, resting on a book or magazine with text. The background is blurred and shows a cozy indoor setting.
Close-up of a bunch of pink berries, likely grapes, resting on a book or magazine with text. The background is blurred and shows a cozy indoor setting.
A scenic view of the ocean with clear blue water, green vegetation and palm trees along the rocky shoreline, and distant mountains under a bright blue sky.
A scenic view of the ocean with clear blue water, green vegetation and palm trees along the rocky shoreline, and distant mountains under a bright blue sky.

Friend, I’m so glad you’re here. More than anything, I hope these pages inspire a deeper awareness of what brings you to life. You are worth the time and intention it takes to create something deeply nourishing—something that magnifies the joy of beautiful seasons and helps carry you through the difficult ones.

Whether you find inspiration in one of my novels, a shared recipe, a vintage treasure, or perhaps even a chance meeting on the street, I hope you leave carrying a little more Light.

-ciao for now-

Lauren

A woman standing near a window with a brick wall to her right, looking to her left, smiling, wearing a sleeveless color-blocked dress and jewelry.

Are you curious to discover what happens when we quiet the noise, lift our eyes from the screen, and return to the life waiting to be noticed?

Social Media Detox
“Social media fills up all the extra space we have if we aren’t careful. It’s in quiet moments that we can hear God. Boredom facilitates creativity and curiosity. If all the quiet moments are filled up with socials, we are robbing ourselves of the opportunity to hear God and be used by Him.”
— LP
Hand holding a vintage turquoise door knocker on a wooden door.

The France Dance

The book cover titled "The Frame" by Lauren Palmer with a pink-to-purple gradient background and white cursive text.
Black background circle with a stylized dark gray link icon in the center.

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Prima ballerina Noëlle Allard is a Bostonian orphan who has dedicated her entire existence to perfecting her craft, making her one of the most renowned dancers in the world. After fifteen years en pointe and a relationship with a narcissist, Noëlle finds herself exhausted and broken by the very art form she loves. While dancing in Paris, a public brawl breaks out on the stage between her ex-ish boyfriend and her long-time pas de deux partner in front of an audience of adoring fans, and the spotlight reveals Noëlle in the center of a tumultuous storm.

To escape the fallout and her life of restrictive diets, harsh lights, and criticism, she leaps aboard a runaway train to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the village where her late father was born. After stumbling across his childhood home, now converted into a luxury B&B, Noëlle not only becomes a guest at the Maison Lavande but is also employed as the pantry chef, a craft to which she is not well suited.

As Noëlle continues down this unexpected journey through the past, she discovers that fresh, local ingredients in her pantry, and the love of a previously unknown family lead her to a path of healing and self-discovery. Set against the soft light and watercolor scenery of a family-run lavender farm, The France Dance provides a beautiful escape for anyone who needs a departure from their everyday life and will pirouette senses through a Provençal market of flavor.

purchase The France Dance
purchase The France Dance

The Journal is a collection of letters about creative stewardship—tending thoughtfully and imaginatively to the life we’ve been given. Through rituals, recipes, places, objects, and everyday curiosities, we’ll explore how to find beauty in what we have, joy in where we are, and inspiration for what comes next. Along the way, we’ll gather the little rituals, pleasures, and collections that bring us joy, restore our peace, and make us feel most like ourselves.

the journal

A pathway lined with tall trees with green leaves arch overhead, forming a canopy. The path appears to be in a park or garden and extends into the distance. Sunlight filters through the leaves.
A pathway lined with tall trees with green leaves arch overhead, forming a canopy. The path appears to be in a park or garden and extends into the distance. Sunlight filters through the leaves.
Pink hydrangea flowers in a glass vase placed on a wooden table with a mirror reflecting a person taking a photo.
Pink hydrangea flowers in a glass vase placed on a wooden table with a mirror reflecting a person taking a photo.
Small white ceramic teapot with blue hearts, placed on a white ceramic object with blue diamond and heart patterns, on a light gray surface with a wooden background.
Small white ceramic teapot with blue hearts, placed on a white ceramic object with blue diamond and heart patterns, on a light gray surface with a wooden background.
A green book titled 'Evergreen' by Lydia M. Miller on a wooden shelf, alongside a stack of similar books and a decorative metal stand.
A green book titled 'Evergreen' by Lydia M. Miller on a wooden shelf, alongside a stack of similar books and a decorative metal stand.
Close-up of a green matcha latte in a white paper cup with a frothy surface and a swirl of white foam on top.
Close-up of a green matcha latte in a white paper cup with a frothy surface and a swirl of white foam on top.
Peaches in a basket at a market stand, placed on a blue and white checkered tablecloth.
Peaches in a basket at a market stand, placed on a blue and white checkered tablecloth.
Close-up of a black gaming joystick with red buttons.

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passports

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farmers markets

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vintage

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matcha

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fresh flowers

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french cafe radio

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linen

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passports 〰️ farmers markets 〰️ vintage 〰️ matcha 〰️ fresh flowers 〰️ french cafe radio 〰️ linen 〰️

read the journal

travel essentials all in one place

11 Days in a Carry-on is part travel diary, part packing guide—filled with tried-and-true travel hacks, hardworking essentials, and little luxuries that earn their place in your suitcase. Pack lighter, travel better, and live beautifully wherever you land.

explore travel favorites

shop my travel favorites on LTK

Woman standing in front of a light blue wooden door and a white concrete railing, holding a round woven straw bag, wearing sunglasses, white sleeveless top, ripped denim shorts, and beige sandals.
Woman standing in front of a light blue wooden door and a white concrete railing, holding a round woven straw bag, wearing sunglasses, white sleeveless top, ripped denim shorts, and beige sandals.
A woman with blonde curly hair and sunglasses sitting on stone stairs outside a house with a pinkish stucco wall and a black wrought iron gate. She is wearing a striped top, patterned pants, and tan ankle boots. There is a large woven tote bag beside her, and green plants with purple flowers surround her on the stairs. The house has a house number 127 on a stone wall and is covered with ivy.
A woman with blonde curly hair and sunglasses sitting on stone stairs outside a house with a pinkish stucco wall and a black wrought iron gate. She is wearing a striped top, patterned pants, and tan ankle boots. There is a large woven tote bag beside her, and green plants with purple flowers surround her on the stairs. The house has a house number 127 on a stone wall and is covered with ivy.

San Miguel de Allende 2021

Santorini 2026

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiling and wearing a sleeveless orange top and matching wide-leg pants, standing outdoors against a white building wall with a domed church in the background on a sunny day.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiling and wearing a sleeveless orange top and matching wide-leg pants, standing outdoors against a white building wall with a domed church in the background on a sunny day.

St. Barth’s 2019

A woman with red hair wearing a large white sun hat with a black band, smiling and sitting outdoors under a clear blue sky. She is near a table with a glass bottle in front of her, surrounded by colorful bowls and cups, with a background of green plants and a wooden fence.
A woman with red hair wearing a large white sun hat with a black band, smiling and sitting outdoors under a clear blue sky. She is near a table with a glass bottle in front of her, surrounded by colorful bowls and cups, with a background of green plants and a wooden fence.

Rousillon 2023