Lex in the Loop

Pantone: Bold and Modern

2012-01-13T13:00:00.000-06:00

Not sure who’s doing Pantone’s marketing lately, but they are killing it! I’m naturally drawn to all bright colors (hence my birthday cake from my friends), so trust me, this Pantone push is recent and I’m lovin’ it!

The design is sleek yet bold, modern yet retro, and of course, colorful!

What can’t you get in a Pantone design and color?

Super easy DIY that will make a bold statement, and add color to walls without painting so great for renters! Just pick up a bunch of blank canvases, and paint away! Check out the inspiration here from apartmenttherapy.com

Give baked goods or even Pantone Sugar Cookies in these Pantone tin boxes. Or fill and stack ‘em with household odds and ends… great for office use too.

Send adorable postcards on these Pantone Postcards… Box comes with 100 cards in an array of colors. Use them as thank you cards, birthday wishes, sorry I suck, etc…

I also found Pantone Notecards with Envelops as well!

Make sipping coffee at work exciting with a Pantone Mug… Or get the whole set to display and use at home. I of course I want the whole set and set them up for show.

House your iPhone in a fun, bright Pantone iPhone cover… Just ordered mine in Yellow C…

Brighten up your travel with Pantone Luggage tags… Super cute and will help spot your items.

Pantone Wallpapers for your computer, iPhone, iPad, etc. are free and delightful.

Keep your pearly whites bright with fun Pantone Toothbrushes. Also makes a great ‘lil gift for everyone and anyone.

For any kind of painting you’re doing, MyColor inspired by Pantone offers fantastic paint colors and you can find them at Lowes online, or at a store near you. These paint colors would come in handy for the DIY project I mentioned…

Pantone folding chairs are insane! Hang them on the wall to fill in with pops of color and you can use them all the time… I want them all! I think a super clever DIY’er could figure out how to make these from old metal folding chairs, but until then, I’m in love with these!

Sherbet Picks

2012-01-12T15:13:00.001-06:00

Today is the first day of snow in Chicago and I’m already over it… I’ve got my mind on brighter things than white snow: sherbet! Not only does a big bowl of rainbow sherbet sound good right now, but the colors in general are making big strides for Spring 2012.

I will be taking a delightful trip to Palm Springs at the end of February, so I’ve already started my search for cute items and outfits for my vacation and for spring/summer.

Mmmmm sherbet…

Current/Elliot Ankle Skinny Jeans in Mercury Glass $198

Free People Best of Both Worlds Blouse in Mint Julep $118

J.Crew Blythe Silk Blouse in Neon Azalea $98

Alice+Olivia Fierra Dress in Dark Teal $198

Splendid Maxi Tube Dress/Skirt in Sunset $84

Victoria’s Secret Abbie Triangle Top in Maldive $20

Victoria’s Secret Matching Bottoms in Double-string Bottom in Got a Mint $18

(Love the mixed top and bottom! Can’t beat the price and plus now I can get an awesome Mara Hoffman Coverup!)

Blue Life Bachelorette Dress in Yellow $88

Kitschy Kitchen Art Prints from Society6

2012-01-11T15:03:00.001-06:00

While looking on Society6 website for a new iPhone case, I skimmed through the art prints. I came across super cute and very unique prints… especially some awesome ones for the kitchen!

I think it’s hard to find kitchen art that is not cliché. Plus, I’m always looking for kitchen wall decor that won’t make me lose my appetite, although some might think that would be a great diet.

Ooooh, just look what I found:

Let’s All Go and Have Breakfast starting at $16

Breakfast at Tiffany’s starting at $20.80

Bacon and Eggs: Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation starting at $13.52

Flattering Flares

2012-01-11T14:00:00.001-06:00

Flare jeans are super flattering because they jet out from the knee which makes your thighs look way narrow. This style also makes short legs look longer due to the fact that they’re so long which creates “legs for days!”

Few rules I always follow with flares: they have to be long enough to touch the ground but make sure you keep the bottoms clean, the bluer the wash the better so they don’t look outdated, make sure the waist isn't too low cut because there’s more denim and pulling ‘em over your butt all the time is not attractive.

You don’t have to be a hippie to flaunt this look and I will post the perfect style of tops to pair with your flares. (Tried to rhyme but it wasn’t making sense.)

Quick Tip: Not sure when it expires, but type TULIP in the promo code section at Revolve Clothing for extra 15% off! It's been working when I checkout for the last few months so never hurts to try!

My picks:

Blank Denim Pull on Flare Denim $78

J Brand Babe Bell Bottom Jeans $207

Current/Elliot Low Bell Jeans in Anchor Destroy $252 (they run really big so go down a size)

J Brand Bette Flare Leg Jeans in Icicle Wash $216

Current/Elliot Low Bell Flare Leg Stretch Jean in Blue Moon Wash $153 (on sale at Revolve Clothing, they run really big so go down a size)

Current/Elliot Low Bell Flare Leg Stretch Jean in Dare Devil $218

iPad Frills and Thrills

2012-01-11T12:56:00.001-06:00

So, I feel like it’s been forever since I posted, but oh boy do those holidays take it outta ya! The actual holidays are fantastic, it’s the time spent catching up for the time missed.

Anyway…

Thanks to boyfriend, I now have an iPad! Since I do so much on my iPhone, I didn’t really think the iPad would be much different; just bigger versions of my apps. Boy, was I wrong…

The best apps I have found so far...

Shopstyle App: I have been obsessed with it on my phone, but the iPad version is amazing! Shopstyle.com is like a Google search for but for every brand and store imaginable. Plus, you can set up alerts when your favorite brands and/or items go on sale!

Google Catalogs App: It’s a beautiful way to scroll through some of my favorite catalogs including Free People, Anthropologie, Williams Sonoma, Nordstrom, etc. It also lets you save items or entire pages.

Flipboard App: Pick your favorite categories, blogs, news sites, anything you want and they are at your fingertips all in one spot.

PopBooth App: So much fun, it’s like having a mini photo booth to play with all the time! Plus, you can get them printed n’ shipped for super cheap!

So many more I will share later on, I mean I did only get the thing on Saturday!

Now, I also need a case! Here are the few I am picking from, and if you have one you love, let me know in the comments!

Tory Burch Robinson E-Tablet Booklet $136.50 on sale

Tory Burch Flip E-Tablet Case $157.50 on sale

Diane von Furstenberg Petal Dance Medium Paddle iPad Case $135.00

Jonathan Adler iPad Cover $20.00 on sale (super cute website www.seejanework.com)

J. Crew Solid iPad Case in three colors $14.99 on sale plus extra 30% off right now

Patterned DODOcase for J. Crew for iPad 2 $84.95

Game Changer: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers' Dirty Little Secret

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

Call me crazy, but being a cleaning freak, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are insane! They clean EVERYTHING! Trust me, I’ve tried ‘em on every dirty surface possible! (Just not on color-painted walls!)

Turns out they are just this stuff called Melamine Foam which is really cheap to buy. Because I use so many of these ‘lil cleaning sponges, they can be quite expensive at $5 for 4 sponges.

You can get 60 large pieces of Melamine Foam on Amazon for $15!!

Game Changer! Now I can go super cleaning boyfriend’s bathroomJ

Scuff Off 2011

2011-12-22T13:29:00.002-06:00

A great little gift to ring in the New Year would be this homemade lemon salt scrub. In the winter, our skin is so dry that it’s super important to exfoliate !!

What you will need:

5 tablespoons sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon

First mix the olive oil and sea salt together. Next cut the lemon in half and squeeze over the salt & oil mixture. Mash it all together and then scoop into cute little jars. Add a label to the side or top of the jar, or tie a ribbon with a gift tag.

Your friends & family will love this little after holiday treat !!

I will be making these little gifts for the ladies (and maybe gentlemen) at our New Year’s Eve little party !!

Adapted from The Beauty Department’s recipe from Spring 2011.

Holy Patterns! Hammocks & High Tea

2011-12-16T16:26:00.003-06:00

I’m in super awesome pattern heaven… This is the kind of site where I treat myself to something after a crap day.

I know we are all holiday shopping, which everything on Hammocks & High Tea makes for the perfect gift, but bookmark this site to come back to after the gift giving/receiving has died down and you’re looking to splurge just a ‘lil.

Anyway…. Holy Vibrant Prints!

Chevron Reversible Clutch $169

I don’t think I could adore this more than I do, and it’s the absolute perfect answer for traveling; one clutch does so much!

Sera Pillow $90

Sumba Pillow $90

I even want to mix both these pillows together on a charcoal gray sofa!

Chevron Drawer Liners $25/six sheets

Call me crazy, drawer liners are a must, in every drawer! Everything will look so much prettier with these fancy gold chevron liners!

Even the gift certificates for Hammock & High Tea are colorful and amazing!

Keep the Peace... All Year 'Round

2011-12-15T16:47:00.001-06:00

There's something nostalgic and endearing about a peace sign, and they can add a bit o' fun to any home decor... Around Christmas time, you see more use of peace signs for the home, but I think they work year round.

Here are some ways to incorporate the symbol, without creating a dorm room effect…

Free People Vintage Handmade Metal Peace Sign $328 (I feel like someone handy could definitely make one super similar)

Fred Flare Peace of Cake Silicone Baking Pan $19

Room & Board Peace Charcol Pillow $49 (Mixed with mature taste, it doesn't look childish)

This is a DIY project from ilovetocreate.com (Personally, I'm in love with the shaving cream paint effect in general, but I would make the black lines white, and/or thinner)

Viva Terra Silver Peace Wreath $65 for small $129 for large (No, this is not Christmas decorations, it is just awesome and would look great anywhere, especially in a kitchen or bathroom)

Cast Iron Trivet from atwestend.com $16 (Everything on their site rocks)

16 inch Peace Sign Wreath Form $10 (Sky's the limit, wrap this baby in anything! Spray it white, wrap with white wire string lights like below)

DIY project out of an IKEA light fixture (Or, combine this project with the wreath form from above)

Viva Terra Bay Laurel Peace Wreath $69 (Again, year round, pretty in the kitchen, or on a front door. Also makes a perfect gift)

Cameo Nouveau The Charger Large Peace Sign Plate $35 (These would be gorgeous as charger plates or dinner plates, but also just one in the middle of a coffee table, on the kitchen counter, etc.)

Big spender, little spender

2011-12-14T17:07:00.003-06:00

To make up for the fact that I spent $200 on these fabulous green Alice and Olivia trousers, I noticed on my Shopstyle.com favorites I had the pants next to this tribal Forever 21 top.

Therefore, I justified my expensive purchase with the cheapie top which together creates a perfect outfit for work or fun!

Also, these pants rock, come in a bunch of colors and can be worn year round… All in all, definitely worth it, especially with cheap, fun tops like the one I paired with ‘em!

Note: As I typed this, I realized the Ann Taylor blue skirt I’m wearing right now (bought 40% off this weekend in store) will also be perfect with this top!

Quickie: Holding it all together with Tight Wallets

2011-12-14T15:41:00.002-06:00

A friend just introduced me to these Tight Wallet elastic money& card holders. They aren’t bulky at all and I’ve been looking for something to use in my clutch. I hate throwing my license, money, and credit cards in my clutch when I go out for the evening. I love my Tory Burch wallet, but it is way too big to carry at night.

So the perfect solution: Tight wallets. They couldn’t be any cuter, and there are so many patterns and styles for guys too. I still see grown men using paper clips and rubber bands to hold cash and cards in their pockets. This holder is designed to be so slim, it doesn’t create uncomfortable “bulge” in their pants (I laughed out loud a little when I wrote bulge too).

These tight wallets are made by Jack Sutter in Brooklyn; I love that these little wallets are handmade, unique, and make the perfect gift for any guy or girl.

Tight Wallets range from $10 to $22 a piece, it is the perfect gift price, or just treat yourself (Parks and Rec reference)!

My top picks:

Spike the Punch Necklaces!

2011-12-14T13:40:00.001-06:00

Jewelry designer Elizabeth of Spike the Punch Jewelry has hit the nail directly on the bright and sparkly head. These necklaces she designs are everything we want in a statement piece hanging from our necks: bold, bright, shiny, feminine with a touch of edge. Her pieces are instant classics in my book. They remind me of J. Crew jewelry on fire! You will not find pieces like this in a department store; these are handmade items. Try going to the ladies room when you’re out and not be asked where you got this fabulous necklace! Hats off, Elizabeth, hats off.

Spike the Punch on Etsy.

These necklaces are starting to pop up EVERYWHERE, so scoop 'em up while you can!

Quickie: MIMI+MEG Mission Lists for 2012... You can't resist

2011-12-06T18:03:00.001-06:00

Among the top sites I check daily, Meg of MIMI+MEG is always coming up with something delightful. I already look forward to her Celebrate Calenders that display the happiest, craziest holidays(ex: Upside Down Pineapple Cake Day). Today she posted Mission 2012 lists that let you jot down all of your goals for 2012 and breakdowns for each goal.

Check out Meg's blog and also follow her on Twitter and Facebook, she's always coming up with the most clever stuff!

Gabriela Artigas Triangle Ring on Obaz.com

2011-12-05T13:35:00.001-06:00

Check out Obaz.com for this insanely unique and beautifully designed ring by jewelry designer Gabriela Artigas.

I came across her work and love the bold, smooth, finish on her rings. I like to wear a bunch of rings at once, and especially stacking 'em up together.

This ring is great for stacking or wearing alone. It also is not as sharp as you might think. Because of its smoothed edges and Gabriela's immaculate attetion to detail, this ring will not catch on anything (my biggest pet peeve with rings).

Usually sold for $90, at $42 it makes a great treat for yourself, or a fashionable gift for sisters, friends, girlfriends, etc.

Keep your eye out on Obaz.com for more fashion steals on meticulously chosen style finds! They also have other great deals on other awesome, hand picked items.

Big Sweater, Mini Skirt

2011-12-01T16:22:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite cold weather staples: Warm sweaters and sweet mini skirts. I feel the sweater balances out the small skirt, creating an appropriate look with opaque tights. It shows there’s still a lady underneath that billowy sweater, yet you still stay warm in toasty in the cold.

Another fun feature of the sweater/mini combo, it can be dressed up to sequins or down to snow boots.

Remember, key to the look is balance. One of the most important rules when getting dressed: big on top, small on bottom; small on bottom, big on top.

J.Crew Funnelneck Pullover $74
Parker Bugle Bead Skirt $264
Free People Scoop Bank Knit 2fer Tunic $118
Forever 21 Pleated Skirt $18
J.Crew Wynter Cowlneck Sweater $68 SALE
Free People Rosey Holiday Skirt $128
Zara Cable Stitched Sweater $80
Theory Jalla Knowledge Skirt $295 (Steep, I know, but this is an office basic with a fun side, which means you'll have it for years and years. Breaks up all black work attire too.)
J.Crew Handknit Fair Isle Sweater $225 (Their stuff usually goes on sale pretty quickly, so I keep my eye on pricier pieces I love.)
J.Crew Cable-stitch Sweater $78 (Sale) (See what I mean about sale items over there?)
Mango Check Mini Skirt $45
J.Crew Shimmer Bow Sweater $88
LA MADE Boho Lace Scarlett Skirt $70

Asos.com Plunge

2011-11-29T16:38:00.001-06:00

I have yet to order anything from Asos online, but I think now is the time I try 'em out.

While looking for the perfect skirts for a post I am working on, I saw the perfect black sequin mini skirt (sucker for sequins over here) from Haute Hippie. Moments later, a yellow and black Diane von Furstenberg mini caught my attention. So I clicked and saved and moved on to Asos.com.

I was surprised to find extremely similar skirts to the high priced ones I'd just saved; a yellow and black mini and a basic black sequin mini. Ultra shocking was the fact that the DVF yellow/black diddy was a rarity to me; not a common color combo this time of year. Goes to show ya, research pays off!

I don't "believe" in knocking off styles, however, a piece that I consider a "fun trend" is sometimes not worth the splurge, and I'd rather spend on a classic or staple. Skirts to me come and go, the styles are always changing and I'd rather have dozens at a good price then one or two with a steep price tag.

To be fair, the quality is better on most designer labels, and I would rather find the Haute Hippie skirt at Nordstrom Rack (Haute Hippie always pops up at the Rack) and still pay a little more than the lower quality made Asos skirt, but I finally have a chance to take the plunge and order from Asos.com.

Note: The styles shown with the skirts from Asos are not up my alley, but worn correctly (as I will be discussing in my upcoming post about sweaters and minis) these WAY less expensive options could work, and not look so trashy...

Please share with me if you have ordered from Asos.com or know more about 'em....

Quickie: Ryan Gosling Inspires Home Decor

2011-11-29T15:51:00.001-06:00

Dear Apartment Therapy and web writer Alison Brislin,

You have made my least favorite day of the week, Tuesday, fantastic !!

Check this out, it's wonderful: photos of lovable Ryan Gosling paired with cozy home interiors... What's not to love?

All photos courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com.

Again, thanks!

Love,
Lexi

Holiday Gift Ideas for All Budgets

2011-11-29T15:12:00.000-06:00

Christmas time is my favorite because I love giving gifts! The trick is to not bust my budget but still bring smiles to my friend’s and family’s faces…

Best little gifts:

For busy bees: “I Will Do One Thing Today” Notepad $1.99

For the crafty: Spraypaint Handgun $6.49

For the thirsty: Infused Vodka homemade

For the nostalgic: Teenage Power Couple Pencils $8.00

For the wino: Digital Wine Thermometer $18.00 special on Obaz.com

Best little bit bigger budget gifts:

For the pretty organizer: Farmer’s Market Baskets $14 each

For the entertainer: Trio Beverage Dispenser $70.00

For the label luster: Tory Burch Large Logo Earrings $68.00

For the beauty fanatic: Birchbox Monthly Beauty Sampler $10/month

For the secret pretty boy: Birchbox MEN’s Beauty Sampler $45

For the stocker n’ shopper: One Year Costco Membership $55.00

Happy Shopping !!

Love, Lexi

Parker LBD

2011-11-18T14:24:00.000-06:00

Love me some color! The more colors, the merrier… But there’s something amazing about a simple LBD. My affection for the perfect black dress is simply based on the fact that you can do literally ANYTHING with it and it will look stylist and put together.

I like a dress that can do a lot for me: day to night, multiple seasons, work or fun, a real classic piece.

One of my favorite lines, Parker, designed the perfect black dress with every element I was looking for: silk, long sleeve, appropriate yet still fun length, with a twist (faux wrap). Little note: the “wrap” part of this dress actually stays shut, no lil’ slip ups to worry about.

Since Shopbop.com rocks, they get exclusive designs from awesome labels so this LBD is only sold on Shopbop.com. But, the style of the dress alone is so flattering and fantastic; I recommend one of the many other colors and patterns this ditty comes in as well.

I like to “play” with my clothes and see how many things I will wear with one piece from my closet. Here is just a lil' taste...

Rebecca Minkoff does Sunglasses for Vogue Eyewear

2011-11-15T12:59:00.001-06:00

I have only worn Ray Ban sunglasses for the last 8 years. It’s been between two styles: my classic Ray-Ban Aviators, and the Classic Wayfarers, since I can push those on top of my head, even though it’s a big no-no. I love my Ray-Bans because I feel silly in those fabulous big designer frames; I prefer classic cool.

Well, Rebecca Minkoff must have received my 50 letters requesting her to design sunglasses (joke, but I wouldn’t put it past myself).

There is only one style from RM for collaboration with Vogue Eyewear exclusively for Sunglass Hut called the “City Collection”. Doesn’t matter, this one pair is pure perfection: a simple, bold look with a slight feminine touch; aka so Rebecca Minkoff. And, they are priced reasonably at $130.00.

Santa, if you are reading this, I would like these please. And hurry, they are limited edition…

Jarred Enthusiasm

2011-11-14T15:55:00.000-06:00

Feeling a little domestic today, so I figured I would post about mason jars. Glass jars in general should never be thrown out. The possibilities are endless. I now keep jewelry in jars, makeup brushes in jars, all bathroom vanity items in jars, everything!

With the holidays coming up, all kinds of glass jars can be used to create cute little gifts.

Thanks to my favorite, Pinterest, I have accumulated tons of ideas for my jars.

Here are my favorites right now:

Spray painted jars for drinks, organizing, vases
Dying jars with alcohol ink and a can of spray air
Organizing beauty products and small items that just get lost all over the place (bobby pins!)
Bulk panty items (coffee grinds, nuts, rice, granola, anything !!)
Infused vodka for Christmas gifts (Real Simple had a great gift idea last year for this)

Try Red Hots candy infused vodka for Christmas !!

Any kind of cake-in-a-jar, like monkey bread, amazing and makes a great little gift

Like me, you might find yourself going out of the way to a) eat spaghetti with tomato sauce simply for the jar, b) buying things at the grocery store only in glass jars, or c) posting a note on the office fridge asking colleagues to save all glass jars for me !!

Nasty Gal... Makes me feel 21 years old again

2011-11-10T21:14:00.000-06:00

I'm 25 and I already feel like I can't get away with wearing certain styles that I could a few years ago. Sooooooo, I like mixing fun items into my wardrobe without spending too much. How many situations can I wear a mini tribal skirt? But with opaque tights and a blousy top, I can make it work, appropriately.

I like to have fun with my style but not feel uncomfortable in my clothes. Love the price points on shopnastygal.com and I love the awkward looks from the front desk lady when I receive a package from “Nasty Gal” to the office.

I never take their looks on the website to literally, especially due to the fact that I am in Chicago, not Cali, and it snows here in the winter. A lot.

Check out my Pinterest Board for more of my favorite pieces from shopnastygal.com.

Vanity Affair

2011-11-10T17:39:00.000-06:00

Every girl wants a vanity and needs a vanity. If you find one at a thrift shop or a flea market, BUY IT! I have seen so many over the years and still feel deep regret over not bringing them home with me.

Luckily, you can make one yourself. It doesn't matter how much space you do or don't have, you can make it work!

From Real Simple, they use an inexpensive laptop station ($60) which folded up is only sticks out 8 inches! This is great for small apartments in the bedroom, bathroom, or if you are one of those lucky girls that have space in the closet.

Another great Ikea-hack vanity I found on msTapioca’s blog. The Ikea Ekby Gruvan wall shelf is white or black with a glass top, which makes it sleek and pretty. You can wall mount this pretty little thing, or buy legs for it also at Ikea. I would wall mount if you don’t want it to look like an Ikea overload.

Find a mirror at Home Goods, Target, any resale shop, or maybe you have one sitting around. Spray paint it to give it a unique finish.

To surround the vanity mirror, maybe hang something on the walls that will organize and display your jewelry. Thanks to Martha Stewart, here is a great Shadow Box Jewelry holder.

Also, something I found on Pinterest, you can make a Make-up Magnet board to hang above your vanity.

You can find a nice little bench anywhere from Ikea to a resale shop and reupholster the top with pretty fabric.

In the next few months, I am going to DIY a vanity, and will share lots of photos!

Cold Nights are Perfect Game Nights

2011-11-09T19:00:00.000-06:00

It's starting to get colder out which means everyone has less energy to head out for a night on the town. This creates perfect opportunities to host game nights at home. Some might think this sounds lame, but these nights always turn into big laughs and even bigger cocktails. Plan accordingly for the group you are having, example, just girls means pretty cocktails and cutesy snacks. When the boys are involved, have lots of beer on hand with hearty dishes. Personally, I like to incorporate both ideas; the boys always end up loving our fun, colorful cocktails anyway.

Pick your favorite games that don't need much explanation. This is not the time to try and teach everyone new games and rules; classics are best. Scattergories, Scrabble, Monopoly, our my personal favorite Charades.

Drinks are easy: beer bottles always work. Get some whiskey for shots as a prize or a punishment. Sofia Coppola champagne cans are a delicious treat for the girls since they come in the cutest little pink cans with straws.

An awesome drink is Vootbeer from 303 Distillery in Boulder, CO.

Vootbeer

Ingredients:

2 oz. 303 Vodka (any Vodka works, I use Smirnoff)

5 oz. Root Beer

Whipping cream for garnish

Maraschino Cherry (optional)

Preparation:

Fill glass with ice

Pour vodka over ice and then fill with root beer

Garnish top with whipping cream and cherry if desired

Snacks are crucial: Make some fried pickles, chocolate dipped potato chips, chicken tortilla soup, tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons, or simply some favorite frozen food aisle appetizers.

What do you plan for your cold weather game nights?