For the final contestant in our Sit a Spell series, I present to you Lara Casey! Our dynamic Editor in Chief really needs no introduction, so I’ll let her take it away… – Emily
Photo by Millie Holloman
1. My husband, Ari, and I eloped to Vegas after just having met five months before. It was so not like either of us, but it was perfect. We’ll be celebrating our six year wedding anniversary on March 18th!
2. My grandmother, a true Southern belle from Alabama, is one of my favorite people on earth. She’s a redhead, too, and feisty at that! Grandma “Bunny” will be 94 this December. I just talked to her and she told me to tell all of y’all hello and it’s wonderful to meet you here on this blog. She doesn’t know what a blog is, but I told her it’s a place on the internet where all of my favorite friends read about pretty weddings and wonderful love stories.
3. I used to be a personal trainer. And at one point, I could deadlift 225lbs. Useless skill, but fun to intimidate my male clients in the gym.
4. There is an elbow in my rib. No, really. And a foot in my belly. I’m due with my first baby – Grace Austin – in about 11 weeks!
Photo by Nancy Ray
5. I’ve been eating the same breakfast almost every day (with the exception of about a dozen days) for the last 15 years. Jay Robb protein powder and oatmeal. It never gets old to me! And I probably eat more Luna Bars than is legal. I should be their spokeswoman.
6. I am really bad at trivia. Or anything to do with pop culture. We cancelled our cable a while ago and I generally rely on my husband to tell me about current events. Don’t ask me to name a band or pop star. I’d lose.
Photos by Nancy Ray
7. I got a D in tap class once. OK, technically it was because I injured my knee running and had to sit out most of the class, but I was pretty terrible at it. I went to school for music and theatre and design.
8. I started the magazine on Microsoft Publisher. Eventually, I taught myself InDesign by literally pushing all the buttons to see what they did. Ever since I was a kid, I never read instruction manuals to put things together. I get much more pleasure out of figuring it out myself. One exception that I’ve learned the hard way on: Ikea furniture. Do not attempt without the manual. Ever.
9. I still don’t know who goes first at a four way stop. I usually just wait for someone to go first or give me a funny look and pause awkwardly, telling me to go.
10. I genuinely love my job and couldn’t dream up a better group of women to work with every day. I pinch myself every day! Oh my stars, these ladies are the real deal – kind, genuine, hard-working and fiercely devoted to you, dear readers!
Read more about Lara here, here and here!
P.S. Still time to get your gorgeous ad in our next print edition! Email Whitney ASAP for last-minute availability!
I hear ya aboout Ikea!! And congrats again on baby Grace–what a beautiful name <3
Erin: Thank you so much, Erin!!
Lara, I dont live in the south, but I totally love this blog and your candid way of keeping it real. Thank you for sharing… oh and I would love to get my hands on your mag… I cant find it up here though… can we order it online?
~Christine
Hi Christine! We do indeed sell copies online! We’re sold out of V1 and V3, but V2 is still available and V4 will be released in October! Here’s the buy link: http://iloveswmag.com/info/buy-sw/
Lara, this was so fun to read!! I’m sure I’m not the only fan of yours who can hardly wait to read all about your precious girl when she’s born! :)
Lisa: You are so sweet, Lisa. Thank you for always being such a great encouragement!
Such a fun article about the diva behind Southern Weddings! We can’t wait to get our hands on a copy of V4. We are big fans all the way from Hong Kong.
Angee & Vincci: A big HI Y’ALL to you in Hong Kong! We’re so excited to have you as a part of V4!!
[…] sat a spell with our dynamic Editor In Chief, Lara Casey! She really needs no introduction, but she’s got […]
I love that you started on MS Publisher! I used to use that back in the day and I definitely learned InDesign by clicking on all 500 buttons and googling “How to make a polka dotted square?” :) Glad to know I wasn’t the only clueless gal out there!
Allie@HoneyBeeInvites: Haha! We are birds of a feather, my dear! Love it!
love you Lara! such a cute post and you DO have the best job and you rock at it!
Dana Laymon: I love you, too, Dana! xoxoxox
You are adorable Lara! I love how personal and genuine everything you write is. So inspirational! I’m so happy to have you in my life!
Courtney: Courtney, I’m so grateful for you, too! Love you so very much!
Lara, I loved reading about you (and your little one on the way! Congrats!!) My fiancé and I are big into working out, and one day we hope to open our own gym and train. I am in school right now for dance and nutrition and would love to integrate that into our gym, as well. I love SW! It’s the highlight of my day to read the blog and get inspiration! Your love for what you do shows, and that’s what makes SW so awesome!
Sheila: Thank you so much for the kind words, Sheila!! I’m excited about your future gym! I want to come when you open it! Congrats on your upcoming wedding, my friend!
Hi Grandma Bunny! Lara, I tried out Luna Bars after seeing a picture somewhere of your pantry collection and am a convert! I’m also bad a trivia and awkwardly lapse into silence when someone brings up the latest celebrity news.
Lydia: I’m so glad I’m not the only one!!!
HoneyBee Invites is so creative and sweet ! I’d definitely use HoneyBee for any event that I’d plan !
What’s there not to love about this lady!? Cannot wait to meet Grace Austin!
xoxo,
a