Live Creating Yourself.

polka dots and neon #mysummeruniform

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:28:00 +0000

in the four years since its inception, live creating yourself has never been anyone's go to resource for personal style posts. and let's be honest, even if i tried to make it that, you'd see a lot of the same thing: j.crew, j.crew, a touch of kate spade, with the occasional budget find from target and gap in the mix. needless to say i don't think anna wintour and friends would be knocking down my door for my groundbreaking tips on fashion. that being said, today, i have a style post for all of you! (and yes, it's cholkerbock full of the aforementioned brands.)

i had a very exciting photo shoot last week (details forthcoming) and quickly ran out the day before to pick up some items that i thought would maybe work and represent my personal style, which i've since coined preppy but FUN, [exclamation point]. of course, the stylist put me in something totally different, but that's neither here nor there. after the shoot, i couldn't bring myself to return this polka dot dress (now on sale!). i love it too much and suspect i'll be wearing it all summer long, appreciating how it works for both day and night. ok, i mean, for a fancy day. i don't know about you, but i normally don't run errands all dolled up.

yeah, that's a selfie. but there's a puppy in it so it's okay. and before anyone asks, yes, i was spray-tanned. i'm normally a lovely/pasty shade i like to call brightwhitelikethemoon. if any of you have an event coming up or just want to give spray-tanning a try, i can't recommend benefit enough. sure, you have to get nakey in a closet with a lady who hoses you down w/ sticky orange spray that stinks to high hell, but i've learned it's worth it.

SHOP THE DAY OUTFIT:

dress | bracelet | sunglasses | belt | espadrilles

SHOP THE NIGHT OUTFIT:

p.s. we are giving away a pair of the daytime espadrilles by jacques levine on the everygirl! so head on over and sign up. ($139 value!)

first and last photo by darlene campos for the everygirl

The Summer Collections are Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Just in time for summer, two of my talented, entrepreneurial ladyfriends have launched the second collections of their blossoming companies (and I predict burgeoning empires)!

For all of my fashion-loving readers, be sure to check out the new blazers available at Two Penny Blue! Props to the styling in this shoot. Abundant gold accents = feast for the eyes!

emerald | stripes | dahlia | navy

I sported my 2PB blazer the other week in a tropical Skittles-inspired outfit (turquoise, red, and fuschia) and received so many compliments! It's such a great classic, especially with the gold buttons.

...and for you interior design junkies, Biscuit's new bedding collection is now for sale online, including the Alaina, complete with teensy Eiffel Towers and confetti!

Click here to shop Biscuit's new collection!

Congrats, Marie and Bailey!

Ok now for the fun/difficult part. If I had to choose one from each collection, I'd go with the cambridge blazer in dahlia (can't say no to pink) and the Alaina duvet (duh).

Which blazer and bedding would you want in your life?

Belle Home Tour: Office Before and After

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Remember a few weeks ago when I promised you all posts documenting the before, during, and after photos of my apartment makeover? Then I teased you with a great detailed account of my bathroom project and have done nothing but sporadic fashion posts since? Yeah. Sorry about that...

Today we are finally on to the second installment!

My office/bar/sitting area, which as you can see from the photo above, is near the back of the apartment just before the kitchen.

AUGUST/BEFORE MOVE-IN: Given the built-in hutch and proximity to the kitchen, this room was clearly meant to be a formal dining room. But I had no use for a formal dining room and absolutely loved the windows, natural light, beamed ceilings, and openness of the space.

AUGUST/POST-MOVE-IN: So upon moving in, I unloaded all of my office furniture in this room. I really liked this set-up since it was so open but facing the window wasn't an option since it was TOO bright, especially with the afternoon sun.

SEPTEMBER: True story. This is how I lived for a while. I called that big piece of cardboard my window treatment. It was an eyesore but a necessity. Even though my large wooden dining table from Fashion for Home was ordered and due to arrive in December, I needed a place for my interns to work in the interim, so I picked up the extra white table from Ikea with the plan of eventually using it as my desk. (I had pretty much destroyed my Overstock parsons knock-off when I spilled nail polish remover on it. But I ended up getting a new West Elm parsons instead (yippy!).) The dining chairs were a Craigslist DIY project from my last apartment–they have since been thrown out. And note the two small Ikea lack coffee tables off to the right–those were from our Everygirl How to Style a Coffee Table feature.

OCTOBER: You all voted, and the new chairs arrived from Euro Style Lighting. Actually, most of you voted for the white plastic chairs, which I agree probably would look great with my dark wooden table (not shown here), but I've been obsessed with the wishbone style for as long as I can remember. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get them. I clearly tidied up for their arrival.

NOVEMBER: The new table arrived. If I'm being honest, I don't love it for this space at all. It needs a great colorful rug to go under it to break up all the wood. And I hated the row of rectangular tables splitting the room down the middle.

NOVEMBER CONTINUED: Here it is from the other angle, straightened up a bit and styled for fall.

DECEMBER: Truth be told, this room and I were at a stalemate. I had plans for every other room, but wasn't quite sure how to tackle this. And one day, inspiration struck, and I decided I was going to do with it what I do best: recreate my office gallery wall and a splash of pink! This big mess was from shuffling everything around. See there are now two parsons desks in the photo above–my new one from West Elm arrived and I wasn't quite sure what to do with the old one (it's now sitting in my sunroom/storage room). Oh, and I had finally gotten around to hanging some curtains! The rod was $28 from Target and the West Elm cotton canvas curtains were in my living room at my old place.

DEC. CONTINUED: Clean up that mess, rearrange the large dining table so it's more like a work table and less like a conference table in the center of the room, add in another area rug I've had for forever, and the space is finally starting to take shape...

DEC. CONTINUED: Well, almost. This is actually quite sad to look at. Starting with the color on the walls.

DEC. CONTINUED: So the next day I ran out to Home Depot, picked up what I thought would be a lovely shade of blush pink paint, and went to work.

DEC. CONTINUED: Unfortunately, you can barely tell it's pink. See the two wall colors above the kitchen doorway where there's a chunk that's still beige? Yeah, I know. I can hardly see it either.

DEC. CONTINUED: In the soft iridescent glow of evening lamp light, it looked kind of pretty.

DEC. CONTINUED: But overall it was just sad sad sad. Not to mention I didn't even have enough paint to finish the whole room.

FEBRUARY: Still–Behr's Musical Mist was the color the room was for my first photo shoot for our Everygirl career feature! It actually looks kind of nice here, yes? I got that cool arc lamp from Joss and Main using my credits. It perfectly finishes the space, don't you think?

FEBRUARY CONTINUED: But if you looked reeeeally carefully at my career feature, you might have noticed in some of the photos that not all the walls were pink! I told you, the single gallon of Behr's paint wasn't enough to cover the entire room. Fortunately, it was only the small area behind my desk and bulletin board that were left beige. Hardly noticeable, I think.

MARCH: To my complete delight, Farrow and Ball came to my rescue, sending me a gallon of their Middleton Pink paint, which I do declare is the most perfect pink in the world. Here is my office restyled for my home tour which went live on The Everygirl. The large wooden table was technically there for the first photo shoot, but we moved it out of the way since I didn't want to reveal too much. So when our photographers Maura and John Stoffer came back over to shoot, they stepped farther back, getting more details into the shot to show a better perspective. You can also see that a little Ikea ektorp loveseat was added in on the right below the gallery wall. My roommate, who many of you probably know, Caitlin Brown, moved in in January and brought it with her. It works perfectly against that wall, as you'll see.

Here's the intern station. The framed photo is a shot I took of my own feet at our Kate Spade event. The colors worked perfectly. The neon pink candles are from A New Leaf and the candleholders are from Ikea. I really like the two shades of wood, but like I said, I would prefer to see this combination on an area rug. Unfortunately, adding a THIRD rug would be just a bit too much.

Bulletin board which I DIYed years ago and still love atop my Ikea expedit shelves (everyone asks where I got the peg legs it sits atop–they are also from Ikea but I had to drill holes into the shelves). I switched my mint and white lamps around so the white one is now here and the mint one is against the gallery wall wall.

Got a new rug from Lulu and Georgia which I layered on top of my pink geometric rug from RugsUSA. You might remember seeing it in our How to Style a Parsons Desk feature! I regularly use most of my belongings for my styling projects.

I didn't want to overstyle my bookshelves w/ perfectly matched everythings. There's usually a bit more clutter on the top, but for the most part this is what they look like. So this is what you get. Wooden storage bins are from Ikea. Magazine files are from Container Store. Binders are from Russell and Hazel.

My pinboard. Or Pinterest in 3D, as I like to call it. Makes me feel 16 again, complete with a photo booth reel of Danielle and me. Most of the items on this board are actually letters from Everygirl readers or women we've worked with. Still, it inspires me.

The office bar.

Wish it had a great rug in front of it, but I own enough rugs as it is.

And there's the gallery wall. Amazing how the Caitlin Wilson Textile pillows transformed this shot, bringing all the colors together. Again, the rug is the Sabine from Lulu and Georgia.

One last shot of my gallery wall. Let's see if I can name all this stuff starting with the Vogue print and going clockwise...

1. Vogue print on canvas from Bed, Bath and Beyond
2. Rue Royale street sign bought in New Orleans
3. print of Paris buildings I bought on Etsy
4. oil painting purchased for $40 in a thrift store in Richmond, VA
5. LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE letterpress print from Heartfish Press
6. photo of Danielle and me at our Kate Spade event
7. the grey ballet flats in the black frame is a tearout from a J.Crew catalogue
8. I FEEL YOU print on canvas from Birdaria
9. yellow flowers is an Alicia Bock photograph that I received as a gift
10. the little photo in the grey frame is also a tearout from a J.Crew catalogue
11. the oil painting in the top left I purchased from an artist in Montmartre in Paris
12. wall clock from Joss and Main
13. wooden A I bought at JoAnn Fabrics and painted gold
14. letterpress print of Sears Tower from West Elm
15. random photo someone emailed me of a spool of pink thread–I actually meant to change that out for the shoot but forgot.

And because everyone always asks where that fabulous seafoam green lamp is from... I purchased it when I was 19. The lighting department at the local Macy's Home store was closing and all lighting was 90% off. So I bought a $270 lamp for $27. I had absolutely no use for it since I was in college, but I loved it and knew I had to have it, so I stored it at my mom's for years until I graduated.

This room is definitely an homage to younger Alaina, full of pastels, pinboards, and pictures. And I love it.

WALL PAINT COLOR: Middleton Pink by Farrow and Ball

Any questions? Ask 'em in the comments!

See the BEFORE/AFTER of my bathroom here!

all the pretty photos are by Stoffer Photography for The Everygirl

Winning.

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:11:00 +0000

This morning I attended a faaaabulous event with fellow Chicago bloggers at Coach to check out their new spring and summer footwear. Amelia of The CHIcago Life Blog showed up wearing these show-stopping neon trousers (see photo here) which I expected to be some uber fancy-pants designer from Barney's. Wrong. They're the one and only J.Crew, and they're on sale!

Fast forward one hour later. You'll find me at my desk adding them to my online shopping cart...

pink and lime

Also picked up these razzmatazz pink goodies. You should too! Why? Because all items are currently 25% off w/ the code springfest! Winning.

In other news... Danielle's lovely one bedroom apartment is finally revealed on The Everygirl today! Yep. I get to hang out in all that pink, gold, and white prettiness whenever I want. #luckyme

image by Stoffer Photography for The Everygirl

i can see you but you can't see me

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Last week The Everygirl posted a fashion feature highlighting three spring trends shown two ways as styled by the talented sister duo Darlene and Stephanie of Glitterary (they're from Alaska, living in Chicago, and damn do these two have talent–seriously check em out).

Anywho, one of the looks they did was “All White” and they ventured down to the Chicago Yacht Club to photograph it. The combination of white outfits against the blue water as a backdrop was brilliant. But what really caught my eye were the sunglasses red-haired Stephanie was wearing: they were a pair of aviators with blue reflective lenses (shown in the second photo below). I feel like I've seen colored and reflective sunglasses before but all of a sudden I feel like I'm at Coldstone Creamery deciding whether I like them, love them, or gotta have them. Likely the latter.

A quick Pinterest search for "reflective sunglasses" proved quite fruitful as all the big names in the fashion bizz are sporting these–including top blogger Sabrina Meijer of AftrDrk (shown in the green lenses) and my girl Viviana Volpicelli (donning the red)...

I can't say I'm craaaazy about the vibrant colorful hues; I think the green is a bit alien-esque. Odds are if I get a pair it will likely be in the blue or colorless variety.

Would you or have you sported this look? Fun for summer, no?

Me as bedding.

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

Yes, you're reading that correctly. Let me backtrack.

Y'all know my dearest pal Bailey Quin McCarthy, interior designer, shopowner, blogger, and mom extraordinaire, opened up a store in Houston last fall. Affectionately named Biscuit, the shop offers an original bedding line among other cheeky home goods. Part of the genius behind the bedding is that Bailey found inspiration from her favorite bloggers and named the bedding after them. So when the company launched half a year ago, there was the Katie (Armour of Matchbook Magazine) and the Joanna (Goddard of Cup of Jo), to name a few. And now... drum roll please... there's the Alaina!

Flattered. Giddy. Surreal. All words floating through my head as I see the print–complete with tiny Eiffel towers and mint and pink confetti (how apropos!)–on an actual bed! It's kind of hard to see in the pics above since it's the duvet folded at the foot of the bed, but I'll have plenty of more photos soon enough! And I'm pretty sure the Alaina, along with all the other new spring lines, will be available online this week or next! I'll be sure and let you know. And let's be honest. It's probably going to fly off the shelves... Who doesn't love Paris and candy-colored confetti?! No one.

Here's a detailed photo Bailey sent me a while ago when they were having the sheets printed at the mill in North Carolina. It's me as bedding!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Bailey! And congrats!

word on the street

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

pursue magic

image via @trent_tweets instagram

Thoughts on Men's Fashion // cuffed jeans

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

There are few things I appreciate more in life more than a well-dressed man (my family's well-being, Nora Ephron movies, and puppies being a few others of notable mention). I've said it before, but it doesn't take much for a man to look polished, sharp, and sexy. And sometimes it comes down to one thing in particular: a great fitting pair of jeans. Combine them with a manly pair of boots or loafers, and it's amazing what these two things can accomplish.

More recently, however, I've become an avid fan of one look in particular: the cuffed jean. This takes a man's look to a whole new level, whether he realizes it or not. The genius of it is that it's extremely fashionable but still rugged and manly–defying the stereotype that a fashionable man automatically looks "metro." He could be wearing a broken-in tee or hoodie and a worn pair of boots, and this simple styling trick ups the sex appeal like whoa. Shows he knows a thing or two. Or maybe he doesn't but at least he's willing to listen and take advice from someone who does know.

If any men are reading this, I highly recommend giving it a go.

If the guy in your life–be it boyfriend, brother, husband, son, etc.–is thinking of investing in a great pair of jeans, here are some of the best sources. I know some are a bit pricey, but I promise you it will pay off. ; )

BEST SOURCES FOR MEN'S JEANS:
Taylor Stitch
Bonobos
J.Crew
RRL
Joe's
J Brand
APC
Simon Miller

jeans 1 | 2 | 3 // shoes 1 | 2

jeans 4 | 5 | 6 // shoes 3 | 4

Remember to go slim, slim straight, or straight fit in a dark wash. For best results, cuff the ankles with a single roll and serve.

Have to send a big thanks to Danny, Austin, and Pete who helped me w/ this one! I'm no expert at sourcing men's fashion outside of J.Crew, but these dudes know a thing or two.

OTHER MEN'S STYLE POSTS:
Men's Style Part 1: Always Dress Like You're Going to Run Into Your Ex
Men's Style Part Deux: The Tie Clip
Men's Style Part 3: I have many leatherbound books.

word on the street

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

what a shiny thought for this dreary day.

image via @katiearmour's instagram

I've been in love with love...

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:44:00 +0000

It's funny because today we posited the question to Everygirl readers: how would you spend your perfect day? And it just so happens I have such a great little weekend planned, starting with today.

I was up and at it early this morning to meet with a group of students from University of Iowa. We had coffee and I answered questions about a career in journalism. Talking with students is one of my favorite things to do since I wish I had someone to sit me down when I was 22 and tell it to me like it is. I gave them as much advice as possible: about starting a blog, building it, pitching ideas and getting published, internships, utilizing social media, etc. Hopefully it was helpful for them!

This afternoon Danielle and I are headed to a Cubs game "on business" w/ the folks from Federated and HTC. Man, working for yourself has its perks. Sure it's cold, but when is a baseball game not fun? Never. The answer is baseball is never not fun.

And tonight I'll be drinking a little too much wine while dancing to these guys–the Mowgli's–at their sold out show at Schuba's. I love live music. And I also dare you not to like this song. It's too darn catchy I tell ya.

Favorite Lyrics:
I lost my head in San Francisco,
waiting for the fog to roll out,
but I found it in a raincloud.
It was smiling down.

Tomorrow I have a long overdue day date with my sister–lunch and pedicures–followed by a girls dinner and ladies night out with my girlfriends. Fun cubed.

What's in store for you? Any exciting plans? Or busy bees?

Either way, I hope you all have a happy weekend!

Belle Home Tour: Bathroom Before and After

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:36:00 +0000

So... what did we think?! I'm so overwhelmed and grateful for all of the positive feedback about my home tour. I know it's quite different from my old place–more bold, more grown up, more finished. I know the living room is much more masculine than I think anyone would have thought I'd do. But as I said in my interview, I was determined to decorate an all neutral space using a lot of graphic patterns and shades of grey, and I love that I stuck with that and how it turned out.

Over the next week or so, I'll be doing a lot of back-tracking. Taking you on full before-after recaps of how my apartment got to where it is. So if this isn't your bread and butter, I apologize. If it is, get excited. We are starting with the biggest transformation of all. The bathroom.

You may recall I referred to this room as the black sheep of the home when I was first signed the lease on Belle. (And for those of you who are REALLY new, I refer to the apartment as Belle. Long story. It doesn't matter why, just know that I do it.) It was dirty-looking, dark, awkward, w/ a funny shaped tub/shower situation and parts missing from the ceiling. Charm city.

There she is.

Looks like a frat house bathroom, no?

Painting this wood paneling was a real B. The wood acts as a sponge so it took an entire can to cover this small room. I documented the whole painting process here.

And here it is through the Stoffers' lens. Instead of going the typical bath mat route, I went with a black and white striped runner by Dash and Albert available through Layla Grayce. The room itself is long and the mucky-colored floor tiles are quite ugly, so I thought this was the best solution to hiding as much of it as possible. Plus it keeps my tootsies warm. The stylist in me is kicking myself for not having some cool black and white art hanging on the wall to the left. Oh well.

Oh, this next before and after is my favorite...

Before. Love the missing lightbulb, splattering on the wall, and empty soap dispenser. Seriously like a bad cabin motel rental.

After! White, bright, clean, and lovely. Yes, I humpty-dumptied a few photos together to give you the full picture of what's going on from this angle. Adding gold finishes was always on the to do for this room. I changed out the knobs on the cabinet with leftover knobs after a family member's kitchen renovation. And I bought the cheapest option of toilet paper and towel rack Home Depot offered in this shiny brass finish. (Actually it was the only one they offered–every other piece of bathroom hardware in the store was polished chrome or brushed nickel.) I am aware investing any money into fixtures in a rental sounds... well, not smart. But I can't tell you enough how happy this transformation makes me. This went from being the worst room in the house to one of my favorites. A relaxing little haven where I can escape and pamper myself with a nice bath, scented candle, and glass of vino.

Another favorite shot. The gold details and the glow of the candle are everything. The photograph is my own; I snapped it in London's Covent Garden. Oh, how I miss that city.

And another before for comparison.

Crazy, right?! And how sharp are those black ceiling beams?! That's my favorite part of the bathroom, hands down. Note the shiny brass toilet paper rod is the same collection as the towel bar.

Let me tell you, brass shower curtain rings are NOT easy to find. I had to get them off this random site the Bed Bath Store. Love them paired with my simple white shower curtains from Pottery Barn. Also, I painted the metal curtain rods. Not sure you're supposed to do that, but it worked.

This apartment is huge, but there is no "linen closet" for bathroom storage. So I used one of my expedit shelves to corral towels, toiletries, and extra tp. I'm not going to lie. It hardly ever looks quite so organized, but at least the bins hide medicines, tampons, and all the other goodies you don't want lying around in front of guests.

Stoffer Photography's snapshot. Much prettier. Obsessed with that skin care collection you see there with the dots on it. Somme Institute. If you're in the market, I highly recommend giving it a try. My skin feels so much better and the dark circles under my eyes are slowly fading. Yay aging prevention! That sweet gold candle, and black candle and diffuser atop the shelves are all by Dayna Decker. Another brand I've fallen in love with. Their candles crackle like a fireplace and the packaging is perfect for any decor savvy shopper. They are a bit pricey, but keep them in mind as an extra special gift (Mother's Day!).

The trimmed towels and brass container are Serena and Lily. Now, I have to be honest. I have S&L bedding and am obsessed. Super soft and luxurious and great quality. The towels, however, aren't holding up like I would hope! Threads are coming undone along the edges which I find very disappointing since I haven't had them long... at least they look awesome. The polka dot make-up bag is Kate Spade. The framed photo is my own–I had it hanging above my bed at my old apartment.

So you can see the goodies on top a little better. Yes, that's a fake orchid. I've had it for years and I love it because it never dies like every other plant I own.

Last shot!

COMPLETE LIST OF BATHROOM SOURCES
Dash and Albert Lighthouse black ivory runner, Layla Grayce
gold Marni glass, Jayson Home (used here as vase)
black candle, Dayna Decker
Twirl perfume, Kate Spade
brass shower curtain rings, Bed Bath Store
grand embroidered shower curtain, Pottery Barn
face products, Somme Institute Skin Care
brass candleholder, Serena and Lily
faux Boxwood topiary, New Growth Design via Joss and Main
striped towels, West Elm
Bark border frame towels, Serena and Lily
white Expedit shelves, Ikea

SEE THE FULL HOME TOUR HERE!

really pretty photos by Stoffer Photography for The Everygirl
other photos by me

My Home Tour on The Everygirl!

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Oh, Fiona. How I love that awkward pup.

Finally, my home tour is here! Check it out!

Lots of details to follow in the upcoming week.

photos by Stoffer Photography

florals by Jayson Home

styling by me!

my home tour is coming... and me as lois griffin.

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:23:00 +0000

After months of teasing, my home tour is finally on The Everygirl tomorrow! 7am - set your alarms!

I know I said no more sneak peeks but I instagrammed this and it's just too good to not share...

The one cute corner of my desperate but homey(?) kitchen. I spy the talented photographer Maura Stoffer in the reflection of my beauteous mint-colored Kitchenaid mixer, the newest and final addition to my home! Her and her husband John did such an amazing job w/ these photos. Cannot wait to share!

Plus I'm excited to reveal which art, bedroom lamps, and dining chairs I chose! Thanks so much for all who participated in the voting. I'll explain my choices in the upcoming weeks following the big reveal.

In other news... an illustrated version of Danielle and me made it into a short article in this month's Luxe Magazine. Headline reads It Girls??? Silly Rabbit... we're Everygirls. Makes me chuckle. While it's surreal seeing a drawing of myself, I can't help but think I resemble... who is it... ah yes. Lois Griffin.

Yes? At least the artist was generous on my waistline! I'll take it!

LCY Listens: my new favorite song. obsessed. download immediately. you're welcome.

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:38:00 +0000

This is the Little Green Cars. The song is called "The John Wayne." I've had it on repeat since I first heard it a few days ago, I've shared it with everybody I know, and they all wholeheartedly agree it's amazing. I get to see them live on Sunday! Yay live music. It's almost like summer's here.

You'll probably be seeing a lot more music posts around these parts... so get excited.

See more LCY Listens posts here!

Happy weekend! Any exciting plans?

flowers in your hair

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

It's not your wedding day or your birthday or any special day for that matter. Just a normal summer day. And you're heading out with your friends for lunch. I absolutely love the thought of wearing fresh flowers in your hair, but my Everygirl comrades all said no one does that. Wouldn't happen. So of course now I'm determined to do it. I think it will go perfectly with my summer frock obsession.

What about you–would you sport fresh flowers in your hair?

Reminds me of this darling little tune by The Lumineers, coincidentally titled... pause for shock "Flowers in Your Hair."

And the lyrics are the perfect amount of heart-warming goodness:

When we were younger
we thought Everyone was on our side
Then we grew a little bit
And romanticized the time I saw
Flowers in your hair
It takes a boy to live
It takes a man to pretend he was there

So then we grew a little and knew a lot

And now we demonstrated it to the cops

And all the things we said

We were self-assured

Cause it's a long road to wisdom

But it's a short one

To being ignored

Be in my eyes

Be in my heart

Be in my eyes ai yai yai

And be in my heart

So now I think that I could

Love you back

And I hope it's not too late cause you're so attractive

And the way you move

I won't close my eyes

It takes a man to live

It takes a woman to make him compromise

Be in my eyes

Be in my heart

Be in my eyes ai yai yai

And be in my heart

saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:01:00 +0000

kate spade for half the price? dreams do come true!

introducing saturday, the new wallet-friendly brand by the legendary fashion line for all things colorful and happy. deborah lloyd and her team have been making magic happen and today it's available for all to start shopping!

i'm clearly on a dress kick lately. flirty, fun, and bright–they make dressing in the summer so easy. can't wait to throw one of these on and meet the girls for cocktails on a patio in bucktown. oh, when will it be summer?! and why don't i just live in california so i can sport my dresses year-round? also loving that linen raincoat and their home line!

which frock is your fave?

the dress every woman should own

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:03:00 +0000

Wow! Barely a peep from my the past two weeks, and today you get two posts! Naturally because it's super important.

I wore this scallop dress in the lime color for my Everygirl home tour feature, and I have to say I'm obsessed. I don't have a ton of clothes. I tend to wear the same things over and over and over again. i.e. my hot pink tippi sweater–which of course made it into the other shot from yesterday's shoot. But I tried this on in the store thinking the color would rock in my neutral living room, and not only is it abnormally adorable, it is so comfortable (made out of a stretchy material!) and thanks to vanity sizing, you buy it one size down. Win. I'm convinced it will look good on everyone. Best part is it's currently 25% off! Which color would you choose: lime, poppy, or navy?

And here's a blurry sneak peek picture of a picture from yesterday's shoot. Apparently having my photo taken makes me laugh. Ok. That's it. No more sneak peeks! Full home tour debuting on The Everygirl on Thursday, April 4! Mark your calendars.

Happy weekend!

snapshot from yesterday's shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:50:00 +0000

love this polaroid john captured while maura was working her magic w/ the fancy camera. this duo is so talented - i cannot wait to see all the photos they took of my home.

round 2 today with a photographer from houzz. then we are finito!

mercury glass bottles and florals via jayson home // west elm nightstand (currently on sale!) anthropologie wishbone // eurostylelighting gourd lamp

photo via alainakaz instagram

home tour styling in session

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:02:00 +0000

dust, vaccuum, arrange flowers, style vignettes, remove dog hair from all cloth surfaces, iron said cloth surfaces, buy new pillow inserts, fluff pillows, rehang art, enter next room, and repeat. it takes a lot longer than it sounds and boy is it tedious. but the place is looking mighty fine!

the stoffers will be here at 8am tomorrow to start shooting and houzz will be here friday morning. oh, how i hope you all like it! i know i do. : )

wish me luck!

sunburst mirror via Layla Grayce // Eiffel Tower print via me // black and white photo by Kimberly Genevieve for The Everygirl // flowering branches via Jayson Home

photo by alainakaz

one of those weeks...

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:16:00 +0000

...where it was just go go go and it just didn't stop. conference calls, emails, posts, errands, planning for next week's photo shoot of my full home tour (eeek!)... this week just got away from me! i apologize for the lack of posts. productivity will no doubt carry into the weekend with some few last minute things to get done before maura and john stoffer come to shoot the place for the everygirl, then a photographer for houzz comes the following day (all the more nerve-wracking when i don't have access to the photos before the run)!

one of the last things i need to do is decide on floral styling for the shoot! yes, i consider myself a stylist. but i missed the floral styling gene. kind of like i missed the wedding gene (i have no desire for a big wedding or big dress or any of it). fortunately, the awesome and talented folks at jayson home and garden are helping out... here are a few images i've collected for inspiration. can you guess what will go in which room?

quince branches, simple white flowers, mossy green arrangements, and pink ranunculus in mercury glass. lovely.

what about you? any fun plans for the weekend?

My Love List #sharethelove

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:36:00 +0000

So some friends of mine (Danielle, Liz, others) and I have teamed up with Diet Pepsi to share our love lists with you. Things we enjoy–nay, loooove–doing to kick back, relax, and have a good time. Winters in Chicago limit your options, but that doesn't mean we sit around and mope. Here are a few things I've done this season to keep my spirits up despite the endless snow and clouds.

1. I love to grab drinks and/or a great dinner with friends. Few things give me more pleasure than a fantastic meal at a great restaurant or sitting down at a nice wooden bar to spill cocktails and secrets.

2. I love to spend a day on the slopes. I am by no means a pro skier. Amateur at best. I can get down the hill pretty efficiently without falling, and enjoy doing so - plus who doesn't love stopping in the chalet for some hot cocoa by the fire? I can probably count on both hands the number of times I've skied in my life; coincidentally, I own skis, boots, poles, the whole shebang. (Long story - bought the skis on CraigsList, the boots on clearance - all in a failed attempt to ski regularly while at Syracuse. I blame my guy friends at the time.) Anyone with a sense of geography knows there are no mountains around these parts, but we have some decent hills that fill the need. Boy would I love to experience Colorado... or better yet, the Alps. A girl can dream... photo by Gray Malin

3. I love to get a massage. Is there anything better? Have you ever had a massage? They are definitely a luxury, but if you've never had one, I recommend looking on Groupon this instant to find a deal for you and treating yourself to one. It is such a treat. I've never had one with hot stones but mmm would I like to give that a try. image via

A few of my favorite things to get me through the winter months' activities...

What do you love to do? Please leave a comment and fill in the blank: I love to _______.

Or you can #sharethelove by tweeting to @dietpepsi with lists of all the things that make you happy! Be sure to use the hashtag #sharethelove - see what other people have said on Twitter by clicking here.

This post was sponsored by Diet Pepsi.

CREATE YOUR LOOK

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Faux Leather Leggings. Hottie McTottie. I recently got a pair from BCBG and if we're being honest, I kind of feel like a more bad-ass version of myself when I put them on. Of course, I'm not super fashion-forward or a risk taker when it comes to clothing, so my go-to styling for these slightly rock-n-roll, a-whole-lotta-sexy pants is to pair them with all black and top it off with some gold accents. It's classic, and it works. Let's call it a day. However, should you want to spice it up a bit (not that faux leather needs much seasoning), there's always the option of shoes...

THE LOOK

wishbone earrings | black drapey top | long chain necklace | faux leather leggings | chunky bracelet black foldover clutch

WHICH SHOES WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

white patent wedge (sexy) | black cap-toe (classic) | pink pop (fun)

view other CREATE YOUR LOOK posts here

Belle: Vote on (pink!) lighting for my bedroom!

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:46:00 +0000

Because we all have SO much fun voting on my decor (chairs for dining room, art for living room)... let's throw another poll your way!

Here is what my bedroom has been looking like. Off-black walls (Farrow and Ball), grey upholstered headboard, Serena and Lily duvet that I'm mildly obsessed with, Jonathan Adler Lust Pillow... awesome awesome awesome. I've since added white velvet drapes - super luxe, cozy, and overall fantastic, and a sweet, inspiring little print above my headboard. I realized it needed that finishing touch, however, to tie it all together. And what's better than a lil' pink?!

I was choosing between two pink lamps by Robert Abbey available through Euro Style Lighting: the classic Gourd and the edgy Delta. I may or may not have already decided on said lamps, but I would looove to hear what you think.

Also obsessed with the white mid-century nightstand from West Elm. Methinks a set of these would be perrrrfect against the black backdrop.

VOTE IN THE COMMENTS: gourd or delta?!

details from my weekend at home

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:59:00 +0000

For the past month or so, there have been two round dining tables sitting in the living room. My roommate purchased one she found on sale (marble-top from CB2, great piece), but we haven't had anywhere to put it. Until I realized it can actually work in the living room, not as a dining table, but as more of a decorative piece and end table for the giant chair I own. It works out perfectly! Sneak peek above. Oh, also - the pillow are from Furbish and Serena and Lily!

And in case you forgot... we are shooting my full home tour next week (eek!), and you'll be able to see it on The Everygirl at the end of this month!

Naturally, I had to style said marble-top table so that it worked in the space. Oh, how I love creating little vignettes; pulling trinkets from other places in my home and grouping them together in new ways. I'm obsessed w/ my marble pattern lacquer box and horn sculpture, both from Furbish. And I've been wanting Celerie Kembell's Black and White since it came out. It perfectly depicts what I've done with my living room.

Another project I tackled this weekend was repainting the office. Remember the epic fail of painting my office pink? The room looked white/purply/grey/pink depending on the lighting... well I went over it with a coat of Farrow and Ball's Middleton Pink, and it's pretty much everything I ever hoped for in a pink room. I will definitely use this shade of pink here on out in the future. *Note the wall color in the photo above is the old pink prior to getting a new coat.

How was your weekend?! Get anything productive done?

Belle: Help me choose art for my living room!

noreply@blogger.com (Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:13:00 +0000

My home tour will be debuting next month on The Everygirl (you already saw most of my office!), but there are just a few finishing touches I need to get done around the apartment. Notably: art. The biggest decision for me in this place was what to hang above my living room couch. It's the focal point of the room, and it was going above my new couch baby (the Carlisle English roll arm sofa from Pottery Barn - my first big furniture investment piece). I've been a longtime fan of Sharon Montrose's Animal Print Shop and was really excited at the thought of having two of her 17x22" photographs hanging there (they fit perfectly in my $25 Ikea frames)!

But have you seen Sharon's work...? There are so many fantastic options!! It's taken me months to decide... Fortunately, the fact that I needed two vertical photos helped narrow it down significantly. So here's what I've come up with...

Who doesn't love a good animated gif? The room is completely neutral, so do I stick with that or throw in a touch of pink w/ those fun flamingos?

baby zebra and baby tiger

two pink flamingos

an ostrich and her egg

Which duo should I have as my new living room art? Vote in the comments!

See the full decorating process of my apartment, Belle, here. Or catch sneak peeks on AlainaKaz Instagram!