Love, Lulu Mae | Blog

Makeover Monday's | Summer Prep Products

2012-05-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

Perry’s Summer Preparation Products List

The weather is finally getting warmer, which means summer is almost upon us. Lounging on the beach, camping, and cookouts in the evenings - these are a few of my favorite summertime things (couldn’t help myself). With all this fun ahead it’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement, but before you make a mad dash to your first outing of the season, a little preparation is in order.

What I am about to share with you is top-secret information. Nah, not really …just one women’s list of favorite warm-weather-welcoming products.

Dust off that bikini of yours and you’re off to the beach without a hesitant thought. Get Waisted body shaping crème by Mama Mio is fab-none-enal! Nine active ingredients give this dream crème its ultimate tummy-firming power. Apply daily for a month and you will start seeing results. It also smells delicious!

This next one is pretty simple, but completely necessary. The Fusion Pro-glide razor by Gillette is great for getting my legs beach ready. Why should men have all the fun?

Nobody likes a melting face, so most of us opt-out of makeup in the summer-but what if you could have your makeup and wear it too? Jane Iredale cosmetic’s Dream Tint is not only light enough to wear in sweltering heat but it is also SPF 15!

Start fresh by scrubbing away dry, winter skin. My favorite body exfoliation is a warming sugar polish by Aromafloria. The delightful smell of ginger and mango is fresh and addicting.

With these helpful products you will be all set for some fun in the sun! I hope you find them as wonderful as I do.

Trending Thursday's| I Love My Belly

2012-05-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

I always find a business much more appealing when the advertisements are direct and make me laugh out loud. Belly, a blossoming rewards program, is definitely a business that projects a quirky and very real brand image.

I first came across Belly while shopping at one of their participating locations. Signing up was wonderfully easy. With the scan of a QR code and an email address I was all set to use my card. I received fifty percent off my purchase that day and was instantly addicted!

Shortly after activating my Belly account, I received an email thanking me for signing up. True to the unique personality of the brand, the email read, “We’re stoked out of our minds to show you how easy it is to Belly at your favorite places. Simply scan your Belly card or app at any Belly location and earn points toward fun and interesting rewards. Smash a cupcake into your baker’s face. Get knighted by the owner of your local bookstore. Shave your barber’s beard. Dreams become reality with Belly.”

After exploring bellycard.com, I discovered that my Bellycard works as a universal rewards card, allowing me to access exclusive discounts at any Belly authorized location. By clicking on the “locations” tab, I can see what businesses in my area accept Belly, with an easy-to-maneuver map.

Not only do I get discounts from my favorite businesses, but I also rack up points that are promised to reap great rewards. Great discounts and free stuff? I’m in.

Bravo, Belly, for breaking barriers!

Makeover Monday | SpaRitual Encounter

2012-05-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

Working in the spa industry for over three years, I was naturally roped into the following of OPI nail lacquer. Needless to say my, nail polish collection is quite extensive. Even so, a product that offers long-lasting color with all natural ingredients has swayed my loyalty.

SpaRitual, claiming to be the original natural nail lacquer, is advertised as vegan, since it is free of animal bi-products and is not tested on animals. Shel Pink, the founder of SpaRitual, has always been an advocate for natural products, holistic, practices, and the belief that spa treatments are meant for improving health, rather than fleeting indulgences. Call me a tree huger, but growing up in Northern

Michigan has left a soft place in my heart for natural products.

Their newest collection for summer, PIGMENT, includes six brilliant colors. My favorite? Well, picking only one would be hard to do…like telling one of my puppy dogs I like him better than his brother. However, my pick-of-the-week is a timeless teal, modestly titled Indigo. The crème color is bright and cheerful, great for any summer bound outfit, a special event, or a day on the beach. It also matches quite well with my favorite larimar ring.

Natural products, stunning colors, and easy accessorizing have converted me. Thank you SpaRitual for showing me the light!

Trending Thursday's | Snazzy Slacks

2012-05-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

Those Are Some Snazzy Slacks!

Betty White has to be one of the coolest grandmas in the history of the world. Her unbeatable humor and sassy attitude draw in audiences of both old and new. Could cool grandmas be so ‘hip’ that they are influencing the latest fashions? You bet your afghan they are!

Grandma-style patterns and accessories hit New York fashion week hard last spring and then again this year. Most frequently spotted were large, detailed floral print slacks. Brands like DOLCE & GABANNA and Nine West chose large, brightly colored floral patterns with a lot of contrast for their Spring/Summer collections.

As with any fad, not everyone is on board. The Huffington Post recently reported that floral pants ‘need to go’, claiming that they have been repetitive in designer’s collections and that overpowering patterns take away from your face.

The trick to pulling off this bold look? Make sure the rest of your outfit is simple. A white tank and single colored flats would complement your poesy pants!

~Perry

Trending Thursday's | Shaved Hairstyles

2012-04-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

It’s funny how nice people are…until they realize you’ve shaved your head. For about a year now I have had the undeniable urge to fall into one of the latest trends, buzzing a section on the front part of your head. Singers like Rihanna and London’s latest, Ellie Goulding are a few women who have embraced the half–shaved-head style. Last week I finally made the plunge. In the dining room of my friend’s apartment, my roommate chopped off a chunk of my hair then buzzed it to a clean cut. I was both ecstatic and in shock when I looked in the mirror the first time after, but the overall feeling was freedom.

Most women have fallen prey to what our generation would consider to be the ideal, beautiful hairstyle. We all know the look, long voluptuous waves that cascade down our shoulders. Of course it is implied that we are crazy if we ever wanted to cut it and I wouldn’t be surprised if every Victoria Secret model had to sign some sort of

agreement to not sabotage their hair.

The other day while at work, a gentleman greeted my “good morning” back with a smile, did a double take, and then quickly looked away. After he left, I had to laugh, but it got me thinking. What is it about my shaved hairstyle that makes people so uncomfortable? If I had to shave part of my head for brain surgery or because I was going through treatment for cancer, no one would think twice. It is when we voluntarily cut our hair that we are ridiculed. It’s the same situation if a doctor was covered in tattoos. Are they going to prevent him from saving your life? Of course not. Is shaving a portion of my hair going to make me any less attractive? Absolutely not! With or without your hair, you are still beautiful, because there is more to you than just hair!

Yes, Brittany Spears, even you.

xoxo - Perry

Trending Thursday's | The Caged Accessory

2012-04-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

I have heard of being a slave to fashion, but the recent wave of cage-like designs is taking things literally! Mostly made form elastic and plastic based panels, these designs are a crazy combination of a crinoline and bedroom bondage. Barely there caged dresses, corsets and skirts made an uncanny debut in London last season. Since then this fabulous fad has expanded to leggings, accessories, shoes, and even underwear. Yes…caged underwear.

Marco Mitanovski sent encaged models down the runway at his Spring/Summer 2010 showing. To add to the mystical vibe of the designs, models also were adorned with large antlers and face masks made of hair.

The whole dominatrix style is not something I am generally for, but I will admit that there are a few pieces that are creeping their way up my must-have list! Shopjeen.com, an online accessories boutique, has been tempting me with upper body harnesses and shoulder extensions dubbed “crane shoulders”, by Chromat. They are just unique enough to let you test the waters before jumping into a whole new world of fashion.

Maybe one day I’ll take the plunge, but until then I am fine being on the outside of the cage, looking in.

xoxo, Perry

Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt Take the Cake

2012-04-15T12:54:00.001-05:00

We are over the moon with excitement! Celebrity actors “Ewan McGregor” and “Emily Blunt” were captured on camera opening their Love, Lulu Mae Headband Gifts. It appears they both liked their stylish gifts… (with Ewan actually putting the headband on!). Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt are in a new feature film “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” which already hit the theaters earlier this month. Host Catie Keogh of 24/7 Chicago on NBC5 was able to land an interview. Check out the exclusive interview HERE.

We’d definitely have to say, “Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt take the cake”.

xoxo, Lulu Mae

Music

2012-03-09T15:24:00.002-06:00

I might be the single most awkward dancer ever but there is just no feeling better than feeling the pulse of music on a dark, crowded dance floor and shaking and spinning and shimmying all of your problems, bad moods, and cares away. Oh, and singing along at the top of your lungs, sweating and screaming and laughing with the besties. I went to a concert last night at The Vic and listened to an incredible band (The Head and the Heart) play incredible music and I was swept away by their string lines, their soul, their heartbeat rhythm behind every song. It was a gorgeous, gorgeous evening, straight up the twinkly red lights and lanterns the band had adorning the stage. Honestly, it made me want to give up my life of words words words and sing and dance my way into being a rock star when I grow up.

Kisses,

AJS

Mid-Week

2012-03-07T17:15:00.003-06:00

It's been the kind of week where the only place I want to be is here:

Wishing you daydreams of maitais and sunshine and tiny umbrellas and bikinis.

Kisses,

AJS

Chicago Lovin'

2012-03-05T20:08:00.002-06:00

Sunday was one of those days where I fell in love with this city all over again. I walked out into a day that at first glance seemed a little too blustery , a little too biting, a little too overcast for a real adventure, but I had my heart set on following the instructions of the date: March fo(u)rth! So, march forth I did (With the beau, of course. He’s such a good sport!). I stopped in at Unabridged, the neighborhood bookstore down the street and perused the shelves and shelves of books, finally settling on only two to take home. We grabbed a coffee, using the remnants of my mother’s Valentine’s Day Starbucks giftcard on Venti blonde roasts and walked. We strolled out to Belmont Harbor and sat on the edge of Lake Michigan, sipping coffee, watching the water wave lazily and the puffy, purple clouds blow across the sky to the water’s edge, talking about everything and nothing; a conversation so much like the night we met, every topic and no through topic. Just talking and basking in being bundled up and peaceful and together at the edge of the city.

It’s so curious that when you sit by the lake (so many of my favorite places are along the lake…), you can see nothing but water, water, water, sky. Sometimes boats, sometimes runners, sometimes dogs that are over the moon to have a giant puddle to splash in. Yet, to your back, there are millions of people leading millions of lives running to literally millions of different places at a pace that is so vital, so alive, so urban. What a beautiful feeling to have both. To have a place of such delicate tranquility juxtaposed with the glorious busy bustling that happens in every square inch of this lovely city.

We strolled the lakefront, down to Fullerton, where the skyline is perfectly framed by the water and park scene (The best view is just north of the fountain in Lincoln Park proper, a few steps west from the zoo.) and ended the day with a trip to buy bananas and grapefruit at Trader Joe’s before returning home to warm up, all on foot of course.

Oh, Chicago; you had me at hello.

Kisses,

AJS

A Little Fancy Footwork for your Friday

2012-03-02T11:46:00.010-06:00

Spring fever is starting to settle in for the long haul for me, so I've found myself more than a couple of times this week getting distracted googling Spring shoe collections and Easter dresses (A tradition my mother has upheld throughout my life, even now that Easter implies a bottle of wine and my friend Shannon's epic Easter ham rather than sitting in church, listening to my Grandfather give his Easter sermon...)

I've been delighted by what I've found. Spring's shoes are all about the statement, the huge pop any outfit needs to be fabulous. Designers have taken up frivolous accents (bows,braids, beads, bling) and a decadent pallette of bright, cheery colors (I'm obsessed with the little flamed Prada heels; amazing!). Heels are all over the map, tiny and tall, chunky and midsize, and wedges for welcoming warmth back again. The candy colored footwear is perfect to start Spring and keep the party roaring all the way to the tail end of Summer, and the shiny plastics and patents are a nice change from serious Winter-wear. I'm hoping the Easter Bunny keeps up his end of the basket bargain and brings me something like this...

I'm on fire for these Prada heels...

The bottom left of these Alberto Guardiani are just waiting to be part of a dreadfully romantic Summer love affair... I'm seeing sunshiny kisses near the Eiffel Tower.
Burberry hits the mark with the beads on those wedges.

Christian Louboutin shows off his flair for the dramatic in the three pairs above. The red and turquoise are ready for a flamenco fiesta and I'm loving the feel of the pink pair-- so exotic!

Jason Wu
Roberto Cavalli embracing ombre in his circular cut outs; a lovely, delicate pallette for Spring. The pair on the left would make an awesome "Something Blue"

Kate Spade for hitting the town or just being a girl on the go. Those tennis shoes would be great with some rolled up boyfriend jeans for your Sunday midmorning brunch date and grocery trip.

The classic Tory Burch Flat, in Spring colors.

Try not get too distracted daydreaming about how happy your toes would be in those shoes...

Kisses,

AJS

Leap of Faith

2012-02-29T17:31:00.003-06:00

I hope you've all made the most of your Leap Days today. I like to think that because February 29 only happens once ever 4 years, whenever you get a leap day, everything you do is kind of a bonus.

You can take a leap of faith and throw yourself into something a little more unknown that you might on any other normal day. You can leap into a new look; February is a really rad time for bold fashion moves, like that new red lipstick you've been too nervous to try or that vintage cocktail dress you found at that Second Hand Store on your corner. You can take channel your inner ballerina and take a literal leap (I have such love for photos of graceful dancers leaping; such an inspiration to forget about falling and find nothing to keep you down.). Maybe it's a curb jump into a puddle to splish splash around. Maybe it's jumps between position 3 and 2 in Spin class or jumping jacks or an old-school game of leapfrog. You could even get on board with the Sadie Hawkins-style tradition of girl proposing to guy on Leap Day.

The universe is gently encouraging you to go the extra mile and accept its slight challenge to be better, stretch farther, strike out a little more. Take it up on the offer and take a leap.

Kisses,

AJS

Oscar-Worthy

2012-02-27T19:49:00.011-06:00

Oscar night was full of an appropriate amount of glitz and glamour. In for the fashion, I was not disappointed by the showing on the red carpet. I loved the colors, the details, the lines. So many different takes on feminine touches -- ruffles, peplums, bows, bling. The whole show had a throwback vibe to a time when movies were more than just popcorn and 3-D glasses; the fashion had that same feel. A lot of nods to Hollywood's glamourous history, with a modern touch. I loved so many of the looks! These were my faves on the evening:

Rooney Mara

This Givenchy ballgown was simple, classic, tailored. I loved this shade of lipstick and the retro vibe of the Bettie Page bangs. It was a lovely homage to old Hollywood with a futuristic twist.

Melissa McCarthy

OK, I just think Melissa McCarthy is so adorable. It got a lot of flack, but I really dug the custom Marina Rinaldi Melissa chose. This mauve number is flowy in all the right ways. The hair, the shimmer, the sparkly accents make her look like a goddess. Also, how cute is this photo with her hubby from the red carpet?

Viola Davis

I adore this color! This green Vera Wang with her gorgeous mocha skin is perfect. And the green in her eye makeup is subtle, but stunning.

Michelle Williams

I was fortunate enough to cross paths with Michelle Williams once when my day job was selling tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago. Tiny, graceful and sweet, I feel like her cute little pixie cut could not be better suited to her charm. This Luis Vuitton ensemble marries the sweet lace and vintage peplum with a bold, powerful red. It's a perfect blend of playful and elegant.

Penelope Cruz

This blue Armani ballgown and finger waves screamed Grace Kelly to me. Pretty as a princess.

Emma Stone

On the red carpet, Emma Stone was asked to describe her Giambattista Valli dress. She said, "It's fuschia and there's a bow." This delightful dress really does come down to those two factors. I love how girly it feels without being too frilly.

Maya Rudolph

Wowza, look at the bling on this Johanna Johnson dress! The color is rich, the lines flattering, and the hair a perfect complement. But the sparkling crystal work really makes this whole look red carpet ready.

Tina Fey

The lovely and talented Tina Fey in custom Carolina Herrera. Simple lines, lovely color. This beautiful look is structured and fits Ms. Fey perfectly. I love the feel of the whole look. She was radiant.

George Clooney

What's an Oscar recap without a little George Clooney? His arm candy, Stacy Kiebler, is looking amazing as well, in a Marchesa gold number. Vintage-feel, lovely accent seams. And George Clooney on her arm. Lucky, lucky lady.

Vogue

2012-02-24T18:15:00.003-06:00

So, I confess I eagerly await the day in every month when my Vogue gets delivered to my mailbox. I compulsively check my schedule, block out time to read the whole thing cover to cover and voraciously devour it, stunning photos and glorious magazine features. Glossy fonts and couture really do get my heart all aflutter.

Last night, after a work day greatly in excess of 8 hours, I sprawled out with the March edition, sipped some amazing Snickerdoodle coffee, turned up the Adele in honor of her magnificent cover shoot (That eyeliner! That decolletage! Adele is a topic for another, longer day.) and spent hours with my nose buried in the magazine.

Here's to a weekend full of Vogue-worthy fabulous!

Kisses,
AJS

A Black Tie Affair

2012-02-22T21:28:00.009-06:00

Sunday night brings the Academy Awards. I just adore watching everyone strut the red carpet in their black tie finest. It gets me all starry-eyed at the prospect of Old Hollywood glamour, vintage couture and what it must be like awash in the flashing lights. Tonight, I'm just wondering what kind of glorious dresses I'm going to get to see. Perhaps the formal wear will be nodding toward the Spring 2012 Runway collections I've been scouring, trying to decide what trends seem do-able outside of the couture arena. (I really adore the vast number of ruffles that are on par for the warm months! There is nothing more feminine than a well-placed ruffle.) I'll just be mooning over these until my Oscar Report....

Diane Von Furstenberg (I want DVF to design my life...)

Lazaro

Marchesa (Too pretty to only post one...)

Tobi Hannah

Valentino

Vera Wang

Kisses,

AJS

Home is Where the Heart Is

2012-02-20T22:01:00.003-06:00

Home.

I travelled to the place where I grew up this weekend for the first time since a wedding I was in two years ago. My parents moved back to where they grew up and the rest of mu family lives and I haven't had the opportunity for many road trips since I sold my Orange Pontiac Grand Am to avoid amassing even more parking tickets than I already had recieved from my friends at the CPD.

I drove down the streets where I learned to drive with surprising muscle memory, I ate toffee chip ice cream from my favorite ice cream place and I met the new baby one of my best friends just had (It was serious love at first site! And she is the most amazing mother in the world; she seriously brings sunshine into every day). I got to show my boyfriend where I took all the baby steps to become the person I am today. And I got to see the amazing paths and successes that my friends for life have moved into. One of my closest friends has an amazing fiancee and a house that they've put so much love and time into remodeling; their happiness is stunning and beautiful and infectious.

It was a trip full of smiles and love and the immense gratitude for the people that have loved me unconditionally throughout my whole life. It reminded me of who I was and how I got here, sitting in this bedroom in the city with its sunny windows and closet in the hallway in a neighborhood where I can walk to anything within ten minutes. It reminded me of long afternoons sitting with my mother in the kitchen of our old house, the hours I spent laboring over my thesis before graduation, the summers I spent with the top of my gorgeous candy apple red '72 Beetle convertible down and the radio blaring as I jetted off from place to place. It reminded me how much I've always wanted to do and made me pause to take a breath and reflect on all the things I have accomplished, muddled through, made.

Never forget to take a minute, a weekend, a day to just stop and appreciate your roots and smile at the awkward, bookish ten-year old you were and hope that she'd be immensely excited at the prospect of the woman you've become.

Kisses,

AJS

Rules for an Awesome Road Trip

2012-02-17T08:48:00.007-06:00

Once upon a time ago, my roommates and I drove from Chicago to Auburn, AL where my parents had recently returned after many years in Ohio. I think we spent 20-odd hours in the car, with an adventurous stop to stay the night in Ohio on either end. We drove through rain, we drove through mountains, we drove through sunny, windy roads. We ate local fare and made new friends, in spite of being enclosed in my 2004 Pontiac Grand Am for hours on end.

It was amazing.

I’ve embarked on many of these get up and drive trips in my life; my family made the dreaded Ohio to Alabama drive at least 4 times a year. Every year. For 15 years of my life. My love, Valerie, and I did a St. Louis/Chicago trip before I lived here. And, on a whim, boyfriend and I drove to Madison, WI and Kalamazoo, MI all in one weekend. Clearly, I don’t mind kicking it car-style. The best friend and I are actually debating a Route 66 journey in the near future. If you find yourself with a car and a destination, here are some solid ways to get your road trip out of first gear and into the seriously awesome zone.

1.) Great music. If the jams you pick for the car aren’t great, an automatic bad mood will settle in all corners of the car and no one wants that. It’s tradition with my roommate that we listen to the entire discography of Fall Out Boy on a trip. When I’m alone, I always go showtunes so I can sing my little diva heart hoarse on the road. It’s all a matter of personal preference, but be sure whatever you listen to is a crowd favorite.

2.) Pick the right road trip buddies. You know the friends that you have tons of fun with; the ones that will set fire to the bars with you at 4 am, the friend from knitting class, the neighbor you casually grab sushi with periodically. But you should also keep in mind your limits when planning a road trip. You’ll be spending hours in the car, then days at your destination with your road trip buddies. And if they are lame, the whole experience is lame.

3.) Snacks. As tempting as it may be to pull off at the first Steak and Shake/In and Out Burger/Jack in the Box you see once you’ve hit the road, you might want to consider healthier fare on your driving days. Greasy food will just make you sleepy for the drive and napping makes you miss all teh fun stuff. Why not pack some sandwiches and fruit and have a picnic instead?

4.) Do your homework. Figure out how you and your mates are going to divide the cost of gas (AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator is awesome for that!), how much money you actually have to spend on keychains from every state you drive through and figure out where you’ll stay when you arrive at your destination. These are things you are not going to want to bother with once you are on the road.

5.) Be spontaneous. Don’t do too much work though. Don’t plot out exactly how many hours everyone will drive and where you are going to eat every single meal and how much time is allotted for chewing. Part of the beauty of a road trip is pulling off the road to have grilled cheese at the biggest dairy farm in the country or taking a photo with the giant peach sculpture at the rest area before you really needed to stop. Spontaneity is in the true spirit of a road trip, hitting the pavement and just going.

6.) Document everything. Keep menus. Take pictures. Make friends. And when you get home, there are tons of cute crafty things you can do with your road trip memorabilia. My personal fave suggests taking a city map from each city you visit and using it to mat a photo from the place to display as a group.

7.) Wear a wrinkle free dress. Seriously, some of my favorite road trip pictures are me with huge sunglasses, dress and hair slightly ruffled by the breeze, usually posing with something ridiculous like a giant beaver. My mother always tells me to dress to arrive, not to depart, so you can be ready to make an entrance anywhere. I always travel that way. (Thanks, mom.)

8.) Don’t forget your umbrella. You can’t change the weather. Make sure you have a coat, umbrella and shoes that can handle rain or sand or whatever kind of ground situation might await you at your destination.

9.) Be courteous. Don't pop your gum. Throw away your trash. If someone else is driving, offer to pump the gas. Don't be a jerk and karma will smile on your road tripping efforts.

With that, I’m off to finish packing and get ready to take off for Ohio for the weekend with the bestie and the beau. It's going to be Barney Stinson legen- (Wait for it...) -dary.

Kisses,

AJS

Love

2012-02-15T08:21:00.003-06:00

My Valentine's Day was so full of love and candy hearts and happiness that I'm still feeling over the moon. I hope you had little paper hearts and chocolate covered pink peeps and fancy dinners, platonic or otherwise. My Valentine's Day involved an all-day treasure hunt, Vintage romantic films, dinner (complete with a new, very Joan Harris dress; red and black in appropriate holiday spirit) and the best sour cherry pie in the city (maybe the world?).

Most inspirational was the number of people in my life who found their own special ways to celebrate, single or together or eating cookies with their cats. Friends separated by states sending adorable handwritten snail mail cards, couples away at different schools with mushy midday messages and dozens of roses and my mother calling 6 times to see if I was having a good day at work. Seriously, I'll say it again; What is so wrong with a holiday that brings out the mushy side of working men shuffling off to buy flowers in their 9 to 5 suits to take home during rush hour and makes even the grinchiest of grinches feel a little something? I mean, I just love love. I know you know this about me, but I just firmly believe that all of the people/animals/special things you love need to be and should be reminded all the time. Love deserves to be shouted from rooftops, tumbling out carelessly and falling onto anyone who gets in its way.

I hope you did something you love or spent the day with someone you love. I try to spend every day that way, but having a special day set aside just to do so once a year is a pretty rad reminder that it's a good way to spend a day.

Kisses,

AJS

A Splish-Splashy Love Story

2012-02-10T19:15:00.005-06:00

Let me tell you a story about a girl with a rainy day dream.

This dream involved a pair of galoshes. With a bow and enough of a heel to make them feel a little more Madison Ave than fresh off the farm. Simple, black and rainproof; a flash of magenta on the inside. Love at first sight on Oak Street in the Kate Spade store. I could practically feel exactly how fabulously urban I was going to feel strolling to the red line in my incredible rainboots, very vintage sunglasses, femme fatale trench coat and umbrella.

But the boots were $150. So, they could not come home with me.

Fear not, dear reader, this story does NOT end there. This is no mere tragedy; it's a story of hope and unending promise.

A few months later, after relentless albeit erratic price monitoring on a few websites, I discovered the boots were marked down (Last night to be exact). And that I had a coupon only good for rainboots (Only at Piperlime, right?). And I had a $50 reward that was applicable.

Annnnnnnd the shipping was free! Seriously, the dream galoshes for only $14? Yes, please.

I guess good things really do come to those who wait. Now, I just need a puddle to do some serious splash testing once they arrive...

Kisses,

AJS

That Holiday Right Around the Corner

2012-02-08T15:49:00.011-06:00

It’s that time of year again. Candy hearts, pink nail polish, glittery cupids adorning walls. I know that Valentine’s Day is a controversial Holiday in some people’s hearts; the forced romance, the commercialism, the pressure to make some sweeping romantic gesture that you spend all of February prior planning, etc etc etc. Single’s Awareness Day (I’ve been there. I get it.)

But, I’m not one of those anti-Valentine’s Day people. Any reason I have to show a little love to the people in my life seems like a good one, even if it is just a Hallmark Holiday. I think it’s a glittery-pink-doily-heart bright spot in a very grey month that desperately needs a pick me up. And it’s not just about romantic love; Valentine’s Day is day to celebrate all kinds of love. Love for your best friend who telepathically knows when you need a GNO, love for that coworker that knows exactly what you like from Starbucks, love for the roommate that takes out the trash, love for your mom, love for the little girl you babysit who thinks you are nineteen times cooler than you are, love for that guy that holds the door at the post office every time you see him there. And I guess that breathless-fearless-flying-floating-swept-off-your-feet-everything-is-fireworks-and-magic-weak-in-the-knees-over-the-moon kind of love isn’t so bad either. Is a holiday that celebrates the thing that makes the world go round really all that bad? This girl thinks it’s pretty awesome in fact, even if that does make me hopelessly romantic in my sensibilities. So awesome, in fact, that I made handmade Valentine’s Day cards for the people I love the most. Not cliché, not trite; just made with love and a really awesome glue stick.

So, this year, instead of hating on Val Day, show the people you love what they really mean to you. Ask that dude four cubicles down to be your Valentine. Tell everyone you know you love them, in whatever way they are most special to you. I recommend a handmade Valentine. But if you don’t have time for that, I found some pretty adorable ones that someone else handmade on etsy. Check these out!

Wishful Thinking

Robot Valentines

Simply Adored (I love the ribbon!!)

Pride and Prejudice (These really appealed to my two degrees in English...)

And a play on Vintage Valentines, my favorite V-Day aesthetic!

Meanwhile, I'll be busy letting the beau sweep me off my feet!

Kisses,
AJS

Not Just For the Boys

2012-02-06T17:48:00.003-06:00

When I was little, my mother raised me to know that football is close to godliness. Her faith in her Auburn Tigers exemplified what true devotion is; the struggle, the heartbreak, the victory. (And a good excuse to make some rad Southern football food.) And she taught me the importance of a good tight end, of course. (High on the list of important lessons from my mom…)

Now, I’m a grown up and that love of football is deeply instilled in me. In fact, my mom is the only person I know who can scream more loudly at a coach on the small screen than me. I may be the girliest of girly girls, but I beat my boyfriend in Fantasy Football. I talk trades with my personal trainer. Sundays in the fall find me decked out in my Colts best, complete with hoop earrings and hairbow. Football is sooooo not just for the boys, ladies. Check out the PINK pro line if you don't believe me!

So, I’d like to congratulate the Giants on a victorious SuperBowl and mourn the heartbreak that will be the next 8 footballess months. Also, I’m still reflecting on the incredible nachos and tiny football shaped pies I had at the SuperBowl party I attended.

Nomnomnom.

Kisses,
AJS

A Case of the Fridays

2012-02-03T17:58:00.003-06:00

Monday gets a really bad rap; the start of the week, back to the daily grind. But, today, I have nothing but a case of the Fridays.

I'm ready to fly the coop, daydreaming about glittery eyeliner, my red patent pumps with the bows and the black dress I might break in tonight. I'm debating hair styles, which ring will match my manicure and where the night will take me.

I'm blaming the tepid Chicago Winter for my impatience for going-out-time; when it's negative two and the snowflakes are freezing your eyelashes the your glasses, leaving the house is such a drag. But this weather makes it easy to slip out. There's nothing like putting a period on the week prior by getting dolled up and getting out on a Friday night. The weekend is open with promise and potential for mischief and I can never resist the feeling that there is something always to be celebrated on a Friday night. Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy yours!

De-Clutter

2012-02-01T16:37:00.004-06:00

When I was 14, I spent a great deal of time jamming out to Survivor by Destiny's Child with my bestie who I am lucky to now have as a roommate, a few states away from the basement where we used to read Harry Potter and play Karaoke Revolution. And where my mom used to clean up after us.

Today, we put on the same Destiny's Child CD (Seriously, that CD has had a life!! Also, DC's cover of Emotion is really clutch!!) and threw a cleaning party to de-clutter our common apartment space. There was much bootylicious dancing with the broom and singing into the Swiffer duster. It made the process of cleaning up the mess of four people + friends immensely easier and now the living room is so much nicer to inhabit. (It's hard to live a fabulous life when the place you live stresses you out!)

Decluttering can be emotional. Who wants to get rid of that little red dress you wore to that dinner thing with that guy two years ago that you swear you will be able to wear somewhere again? And who doesn't attach a little too much sentimental value to silly things? For me, it's books with marginalia (I have two degrees in English for a reason), then, as I mentioned Monday, shoes. It's hard to know what to get rid of, what to keep; to get perspective on what things really matter when you are surrounded by chaos. But, tackling the junk drawer or bookshelf, or at our apartment, the "drawer of shame" puts all of those feelings to rest.

Getting rid of little things that don't really matter as much as a memory creates so much more room to breathe, to be happy, to live, to make new memories.

It's easier to take in small doses; a closet or room a day, moving from place to place. The change is infectious, motivating you to really get things on track in other aspects of your life; I filed my taxes super early after I finished deep cleaning my room. And I really feel purged of all of the negative energy that I'd been trying to overcome, like I let go of many things that had been subconsciously holding me back, keeping me from performing at peak level while they were covering my floor, crowding my closet.

So, if things are feeling a little overwhelming for you, grab your roommate, your best friend, your beau, your cat and some rad tunes and get to cutting out the junk. It's amazing how much zen clarity and calm a clean, organized room can bring you.

I found that this article from Real Simple was a huuuuuuuge help. (Not to mention the unconditional willingness to spontaneously burst into song of grown-up BFF and I, not at all unlike our 14-year-old counterparts...)

Happy De-Cluttering!!

Kisses,
AJS

Put Your Best Foot Forward

2012-01-30T12:30:00.010-06:00

I’ll admit it; I’m totally one of those shoe girls. My relationship with shoes is serious and enduring; no feeling rivals the giddy-love-at-first-sight-intoxication of taking a shoe out of a box and putting on your feet for the first time. Stepping out into the world, feet first with the perfect footwear. I think it started with my first, tiny, pink pair of ballet slippers when I was 3. Now, I honestly have hundreds of pairs of shoes distributed between 3 closets in 2 states (Not to mention the extra pair I left in my roommate’s car a while back…) . Gold high heels, red wedges, neon orange running shoes, black ballet flats with tiny bows, black ballet flats with big bows, silver penny loafers; the list goes on and on. A good pair of shoes makes me as weak in the knees as a kiss from the beau (And those can really sweep a girl off her feet...) Clearly, it’s really all about putting your best foot forward.

I think a few of these pairs that I can’t stop daydreaming about would definitely help do just that…

So, put your best foot forward as you conquer the week ahead!

Kisses,
AJS

Alexander McQueen | Go Big or Go Home

2012-01-27T21:08:00.002-06:00

Avant-garde, daring, adventurous, romantic - these are words that come to my mind when thinking of the late designer Alexander McQueen. He pushed the boundaries of runway fashion and inspired millions… including Love, Lulu Mae. From artistic heels to colorful gowns; McQueen's creativity set the bar for fashion runway. Alexander McQueen was a tormented genius fashion god and will be cherished for centuries to come. What are your opinions? Love or Hate the designs?

Love, Agnes Lulu Mae