Hi! My name is Lauren Hopkins and I am a 33-year-old publicist, wife, and mother of two precious little ones—Grace (3 years) and Ford (5 months). We live on beautiful St. Simons Island, Georgia—a coastal community with a small-town, laid-back feel. I am grateful for the opportunity to work and raise my children in such a special place with so much to offer. As the owner of a boutique lifestyle public relations company, my days are filled with promoting my clients’ businesses and products while balancing my roles as wife and mother.
How do you take care of yourself so that you’re physically and mentally prepared to be your best self for others?
It is very easy to fall to the bottom of your own to-do list, but I firmly believe in nourishing myself so that I can be the best in my business and personal life. For me, that means carving out time for exercise. With two young children, I’ve had to adjust my expectations about the frequency I make that happen, but it remains a priority. I also rely on my quiet time and cherish reading Jesus Calling and My Utmost for His Highest. Both devotionals offer iPhone versions, so it makes it easy for me to weave a lesson into my day during moments of downtime. When I make a conscious effort to avoid defaulting to social media during those times, I am a better version of myself.
What’s your favorite beauty secret?
I’m a big fan of Bobbi Brown Lip Balm, Sapelo Skin Care Renewing Serum, and YSL Touche Eclat to brighten dark circles. Finally, and most importantly– a smile. Everything looks better with a bright smile!
What’s your favorite go-to outfit for a quick polished look?
Life on an island means casual wear fills my closet. I often default to wearing leggings or jeans with a tunic. I love the island-casual options Mari Max, a local St. Simons boutique, has to offer. On warmer days, I live in dresses from J.Crew, Two Friends or St. Simons-based Tibi. I’m a sucker for a statement necklace or a fun pair of earrings, but these John Hardy studs are a must-have for daytime. If I want to feel polished around the house or in front of weekend guests, you can find me lounging in LAKE Pajamas.
What’s your favorite quick-prep dinner for your family?
If you were to stop by our home on a Sunday evening, I can guarantee we will be eating rotisserie chicken with a roasted or sautéed vegetable. I also include macaroni and cheese for my daughter. As a bonus time-saver, I use the leftovers in my daughter’s lunchbox for Monday. This easy meal allows me to focus more time on prepping for the week ahead and enjoying my children before the busy week begins. I’m also a new fan of Terra’s Kitchen (@TerrasKitchen), a meal delivery service that makes it quick and easy to prepare a delicious dinner that’s unique. We just tried the Crispy Citrus Chicken & Broccoli Skillet—it was out of this world. Even my three-year-old declared it, “dee-wicious!”
Tell us your favorite Instagram account to follow and why?
Because of my profession, I follow countless Instagrammers. I’m always looking for ideas, cross-promotion opportunities, and client mentions. So, Instagram can often feel like work for me. Even though she’s a client, I LOVE following @libbiesummers. It doesn’t get more inventive or amusing than her account. My favorite “just for fun” account to follow is @nicatnitemusic. She is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter and mother of two children who are close in age to my two kiddos. Her son is coincidentally also named Ford. She rarely pushes products, so her feed is a refreshing change of pace. Go follow her. I guarantee you’ll love her song-lyric ready captions and breathtaking snapshots.
What tradition or routine is important to you?
Oh, I love a good routine. They are a comforting way to make sure everything gets done on time and in the right manner, so we have routines of all sorts in our home. Most importantly, going to Church as a family on Sunday is one routine we aim to keep. It offers consistency and the opportunity to connect with other believers, God and my husband. My daughter looks forward to it and my husband and I enjoy the one hour to peacefully sit beside each other and refill our tanks for the week.
What’s in your purse?
So much! Hand sanitizer easily tops the list. Plus, I always carry my Kate Spade Lacey wallet (it holds everything including a pen and a checkbook), Tom Ford Sunglasses and my Emily Ley Simplified Planner. I use Hayden Reis water-resistant pouches to corral the rest of my smaller items including business cards by Emily McCarthy and mom must-haves like Band-Aids, stickers, snacks, wipes and bibs. A few other items I love to have on-hand are paint swatches from my house and a small tape measure, similar to this one. You never know when you might stumble on the perfect piece to add to your home and carrying those two things with me help me know if the item is worth considering.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I certainly don’t lack inspiration in the lifestyle arena because my profession surrounds me with beauty found in the pages of magazines, on blogs, and through social media. Professionally, I am inspired by my clients who are all contagiously passionate, dedicated and talented. I’m lucky to work for people who I admire and who are energizing. Personally, I find inspiration in the Bible and through small daily reminders from @SheReadsTruth and @Proverbs31Ministries.
We know you’re a busy lady! How do you balance all of your work responsibilities with your home life? Any tips for our readers?
Y’all, #TheStruggleIsReal. The nature of my business means that it’s practically around-the-clock and there is always something more to be done. That, paired with the fact that I love my work, means it’s hard for me to avoid being a workaholic. Thankfully, I was raised by amazingly wonderful and selfless parents who taught me the value of family. I want to offer my children that same blessing. The best tip I can offer is to avoid using unnecessary apologies. As women, we are wired to please and we frequently soften a “no” with an apology. Whether it is turning away a client because my plate is full, or declining a meeting because it conflicts with a family event, I am working on not feeling “sorry” when I can’t make something happen. While we want to, the simple truth is that we can’t do everything– and that is OK! I would challenge other women to not only feel like you can say “no,” but to also say it without including an “I’m sorry.” You’ll be surprised how this simple shift in behavior can free you to enjoy other priorities.
What’s your favorite app (or other tool) for helping you do life?
Because I live in a small town, we don’t have access to a mall or other “big box” stores, which is why I rely on convenience apps and online shopping. Amazon is an obvious first choice, while Diapers.com, Shopbop, Sephora and Zappos are other go-to apps. Grocery IQ is an easy way to keep up with items I need from the grocery store, pharmacy and even Target. I can sort lists by store so that the next time I’m in each place, I have the list handy. I also love House Account because it allows me to shop my favorite boutiques from all over the country right from my phone.
Links to your website and social media accounts.
Website: http://www.lbhandcompany.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LBHCo
Instagram: @laurenbhopkins
Pinterest: @lbhopkins
Twitter: @LaurenBHopkins