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Stef McDonald

Ooh La Lilacs

It’s Spring — and time for lilacs.

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Stef McDonald

Working with words for nonprofits and good businesses. Also: playing dress-up and planning my next meal. LinkedIn

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Instagram: @stefaniamcd

I’m so grateful for parents who raised me to love and respect nature. Life has so much more joy and peace because of it - and so many of my best memories involve time spent on beaches and trails, and in parks and campgrounds. Today’s highlight is sitting under the lemon tree in the backyard. 🌳 🍋 . . . . #earthday #simplepleasures #enjoythemoment #earthday2018 #everydayisearthday #duh

For #nationalhaikuday: They curl and they crash. It is the same on both coasts. My heart feels the swell. 🌊 . . . . #poetry #haiku #poetrymonth #thesea #ocean #beach #waves #losangeles #california #latergram #californiadreaming #eastcoastroots #westcoastlife #nyandla

It’s a fun day at work when you can rhyme like Dr. Seuss! . . . #Repost @earthdaynetwork with @get_repost ・・・ We heard a town was canceling their annual Earth Day celebration. Obviously, we think that’s ridiculous! It’s so silly, in fact, that it requires a Seussian response: You’re canceling Earth Day? Is this what I hear? Why won’t you mark it -- On this very year? The earth is still warming, The seas, they still rise. You can see it all, with your own very eyes. Come on, dear Harmar. The earth cannot wait. With this winter we had, Do you want to test fate? Your citizens will come out, If your event is made fun. Have a garden party, Or a recycling run. Don’t give up now! Make a smile of that frown! The community will thank you -- When you green up your town! #earthday2018 . . . (By Dr. Seuss fan-for-life, @stefaniamcd )

Running up that hill! I’m in yellow and it looks like I’m in the lead, but I’m actually well behind the lead pack. The guy on the left: my coach encouraging (yelling at) me. My first thought after finding this photo: he’s cheering for me as if I AM in the lead — because he did that for everyone on the team. We all mattered, even if we didn’t score for the team. I loved that about running cross-country, that we ran as a team and our individual efforts added up. Second thought: How great it is to have someone on the sidelines to remind us that we are strong and able to tackle obstacles, and be our best selves — and to also BE that person for others. #sportslessons #thereisnofinishline #yougotthis #crosscountry #runlikeagirl #labo #williamfloyd #floydfillies #tbt #throwbackthursday

The first thing I saw as I entered the farmers’ market today was this lovely woman in the background of the photo. She was leaning over to smell the sweet peas and I stopped to smell them, too. “So beautiful,” I said, then I looked up to see she had tears in her eyes. “My mother and grandmother grew them in upstate New York and the smell brings me back,” she said. I told her that it was a beautiful memory and shared that I was also from NY, and we chatted a bit. She said she moved to a climate that isn’t right for growing sweet peas. Then she made an attempt at an apology for crying over the flowers. I told her I felt lucky to have walked up at that very moment. And then I bought a bouquet. They smell amazing. #farmersmarket #flowers #memories

#Repost @lookfortheheart with @get_repost ・・・ Family time in nature is joyful and peaceful. ❤️🙏🌺 #lookfortheheart #hearts #flowers #nature #meditationgarden #encinitas #garden #leaves #love #serenity

Dressed for progress. #Repost @backstorystyle ・・・ When getting dressed for the march today, I thought of the brave and empowered students rallying for change — and I couldn’t help but remember my own high school days, along with that feeling of wanting so earnestly to make the world a better place. If you had asked me then about my career ambitions, I might have told you I wanted to be President. The pin on my jacket here is from a program I attended in high school called the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington, D.C., where I got to meet my representative and learn more about the inner workings of our government. In hard times like these, it’s easy to become jaded and feel beaten down, but I am choosing to feel hope and to be inspired by this next generation. Wearing the pin reminded me that I will always be that same girl committed to making the world a better place. March on! Now, a note about the bag: when I know I’ll be walking (or marching!), and bringing my camera with me, I choose a lightweight bag. I acquired this vintage Vera Bradley duffel when a friend spotted it on Etsy and saw it had my initials on the monogram. (Thanks again, @theninastormexperience!). It’s a perfect combination purse/camera bag. And it looked cute with my denim jacket. #backstorystyle

Signs of the times! This is what democracy looks like. I felt a lot of hope today. #marchforourlives #enoughisenough #losangeles

H O P E. #nationalschoolwalkout #schoolwalkout #community #civicslesson #futureleaders #localaction #windwardschool #goodcitizens #losangeles

Instagram: @backstorystyle

When I was growing up, picking out an Easter outfit with my mom was always a treat. After a cold and snowy East Coast winter, I always favored something light and bright and floral. Still do, despite the fact that I live in a warmer climate. When I spotted this floral top, it reminded me of a skirt I wore when I was a kid and I knew it had to be the piece to pull together my Easter outfit. #thriftstorefinds #slowfashion #easteroutfit #ootd #floraltop #flowerseverywhere #spring #backstorystyle

When getting dressed for the march today, I thought of the brave and empowered students rallying for change — and I couldn’t help but remember my own high school days, along with that feeling of wanting so earnestly to make the world a better place. If you had asked me then about my career ambitions, I might have told you I wanted to be President. The pin on my jacket here is from a program I attended in high school called the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans in Washington, D.C., where I got to meet my representative and learn more about the inner workings of our government. In hard times like these, it’s easy to become jaded and feel beaten down, but I am choosing to feel hope and to be inspired by this next generation. Wearing the pin reminded me that I will always be that same girl committed to making the world a better place. March on! Now, a note about the bag: when I know I’ll be walking (or marching!), and bringing my camera with me, I choose a lightweight bag. I acquired this vintage Vera Bradley duffel when a friend spotted it on Etsy and saw it had my initials on the monogram. (Thanks again, @theninastormexperience!). It’s a perfect combination purse/camera bag. And it looked cute with my denim jacket. #backstorystyle

Wearing my green. ☘️ The gold accent reminds me of gold at the end of the rainbow 🌈. Finding barely-worn shoes in a thrift store is always a treat. #backstorystyle #thriftstorefinds #balletflats #londonsole #secondhandstyle #slowfashion #stpatricksday #shoes #shoeselfie #instastyle

With a closet full of stripes and animal prints, I’ve started to wear them together. Also: how fun is this striped Levi’s jacket? #stripes #animalprints #leopardprint #denimjacket #mixandmatch #secondhandstyle #backstorystyle #ootd #thriftstorefinds #30wears #instafashion #instastyle #slowfashion

Instagram: @lookfortheheart

Sunday family dinners are the best. ❤️ #lookfortheheart #hearts #heart #mixedgrill #family

Little Lucy said, “braids look like hearts!” ❤️ #lookfortheheart #hearts #heart #mermaids

It always feels great to visit friends you haven’t seen in a while. ❤️#lookfortheheart #hearts #heart #goodfriends #goodneighbors

Three cheers for friends who bring you greens from their gardens. ❤️💚 #lookfortheheart #swisschard #gardengrown #eatyourgreens #hearts #heart

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Stef McDonald

Ooh La Lilacs

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