I was super honoured when one of my best pals, Lizzie Bowden, asked me if I’d like to be featured in her newsletter for Laughter & Lemons. Life coach in training extraordinaire, Lizzie is all about women, positivity and self-care, and her wonderfully researched and thought-provoking newsletters are always packed with sage advice and lots of love. If you haven’t already, I urge you to check her out.

Here’s an excerpt from her latest offering, where she asked me some questions about Leo & Luna and life in general.

Enjoy! x

This week it's my pleasure to introduce Lauren, copywriter by day and creative celestial extraordinaire by night. Not only is she a dab hand at words but she owns a flourishing business of hand-painted prints and embroidery ready to fill your home with astronomical goodness.

Lauren has creativity running through her veins.

You're super creative: writer by day and painter and embroiderer by night - tell us, how did Leo and Luna come about?

I would love to say it came after years and years of honing a craft I’ve been passionate about since birth, but honestly? I ordered a Leo constellation print from a big retailer and was really disappointed when it arrived. It didn’t look anything like how I imagined; the quality was super bad, and I remember thinking “I have such a strong mental image of how I wanted it to look, I should just do it myself.” So, I bought some nice paints and brushes and created it. I really enjoyed it, so figured I’d carry on making all 12 star signs as a little side project. But then, what was I going to do with them all? So, I tried selling them and voila! The ideas snowballed after that and I couldn’t stop.

Have you always been interested in the cosmos?

Oh, always. We get so caught up in our little bubbles down here that we forget about the hundreds of other worlds above us – ones we simply cannot dream of comprehending. The science behind it all is incredible. There’s also so many myths, legends and stories that we have been associating with the stars and their coordinates for thousands of years – I find it so magical and utterly mind-blowing.

Your gorgeous work has been super-successful so far! What's your dream for Leo and Luna?

I think I just want it to keep growing, I want to keep connecting with people and creating artwork that makes me proud. I have no idea what the future holds, but I kind of enjoy the mystery of that.

Who are your biggest inspirations in life?

It’s mostly people around me who are actively being brave – those people that feel the fear and do it anyway. We spend a lot of time looking at celebs as role models, but really, we should be looking up to the friend who finally managed to cut out a toxic person or behaviour from their life. The friend who started a new venture even though it terrified them. The friend who actively stood up and fought for us or others.

How do you feel about change?

I used to be terrified of it, but now I’m really trying to embrace and be excited by it.

When do you feel at your most powerful?

Probably at 2am when I can’t sleep because I have an idea that just won’t quit, and I absolutely must bring it to life right that second. It’s the most exciting feeling.

And how do you recharge when you need to?

Always a bath. Fancy bubbles, essential oils, candles, a good book. Phone in the other room. There’s few stresses that can’t be defeated by a good ol’ soak.

What was your biggest 'sliding doors' moment in life?

Without a doubt, has to be how I met my best friend. Walking back from a uni night out about 10 years ago and this random girl comes up to me and asks if I live nearby as she desperately needed a wee. We quickly bonded over a mutual love of Doctor Who and Chinese food on the walk and as a thank you, she invited me over the next day to watch the latest episode with a takeaway. We’ve been pretty much inseparable ever since and lived together in London for a few years. She could so easily have asked someone else or I could have turned her away and our paths would never have crossed again. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today (and I wouldn’t even know you! Imagine that!) if it weren’t for that chance encounter on a rainy Southampton street at 1am.

Tell me, what's your favourite thing about living in London?

The people I’ve met here. 100%.

How do you stay motivated working from home?

Realising that I cannot do 9-5. It just doesn’t work for me and it never has really. Taking time to figure out my own routine and listen to what I actually need rather than what I think I should be doing has done me the world of good. We are not robots, we all work differently, and that is okay.

What is the best thing that's come out of lockdown for you?

It forced me to take a serious look at my copywriting business after I had to furlough myself. I realised I hate the corporate world and needed things to shift. Now, I’m focusing on working with small businesses and start-ups and feel so much more at home.

We're educating ourselves on the incredibly important Black Lives Matter movement. What's been a helpful resource for you?

Social media. Actively paying attention and listening to the personal stories that have come out of America and the UK over the last few weeks have been invaluable. A lot of people have a lot to say and I am going to continue to listen and learn from them.

Quick fire

Guilty pleasure

Reruns from the 2000’s (specifically Top Chef and Desperate Housewives)

Best advice you've received

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Works for so many scenarios.

Currently reading

Just started Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (late to the party but want to see what all the fuss was about.)

Favourite beverage

Cold pint of cider on a sunny day

What’s your star sign

Leo

Describe yourself in 3 words

Creative, introvert, empathetic

Give your favourite small biz a shout out

@peggyandsam on Instagram

Why them?

They sell the most BEAUTIFUL stationery and phone cases. I am constantly fantasising over their notebooks.

What is your spirit animal?

A bird

Who would play you in a film?

Emma Stone, please!