WHAT DO YOU DO  

With two degrees in geology, I thought I’d end up in the oil or mining industry. Fate and family brought me home to Iowa. I’ve had a 20-year career with the Department of Natural Resources and enjoy working with many dedicated scientists and engineers. I'm close to retirement now and thinking about what that will look like: more art, more reading, more meditation, more time outside, maybe I’ll even pick up my banjo.

I have had many physical injuries in the last few years and had been unable to participate in some of my favorite activities due to pain. After much frustration, I began working with a personal trainer, Jered. He is fantastic. He has a system, I don’t entirely understand it, but it works. It is so much fun to be playing tennis and going to yoga without any pain! Being able to stay active has been worth every penny. My latest activity has been to learn to bow hunt.    

BEAUTY

I’m a lipstick and blush girl and definitely go for brights rather than neutrals. I use simple gentle, products on my skin, as much Retin-A as I can stand, and sunblock. I burn super easily and La Roche-Posay Anthelios ultra-light sunscreen protects my skin better than anything else I’ve tried. I’ve used Aveda products on my hair forever.

HOME  

The most wonderful creatures in my home are my Norwegian Forest cats, Bridget and Liam. I adore them and having other living beings around my house makes it a home. When decorating, I like to have a neutral background just so that I can have bits of color that change with the seasons. I’m lucky to have painters in my family. Most of the paintings in my home are by my sister, Sara Bell, and my brother-in-law Leslie Bell.

CLOSET

I’ve always loved clothes! I was very cool in my college days and lived in vintage and secondhand clothing. Today my vintage shopping consists of vintage Levis from Preservation. It is so much fun to have jeans that fit just like they used to - I’d almost given up on jeans. I also have soft spot for shoes, especially boots, and most especially By Far boots. They go with everything. Just like my home, I have neutrals but I really like bright, happy colors (and I never turn down a great animal print)!

- As told to Preservation

Lori was photographed at her home in Des Moines, Iowa by Nicole Lorenson