As most people start to prepare for this week’s Super Bowl parties, Mr. Lively and I are starting to get ready for our trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! We will be gone Friday through Monday for a romantic weekend trip that doubles as my Christmas and Valentine’s Day present (I’m a lucky lady!).

I have already got my passport renewed and the rest of the preparation lies mostly in packing for the trip. But rather than waiting until Thursday night at midnight (we have done that before, much to my chagrin), I decided to get on the ball days ahead.

And in true Jess fashion, I’ve decided to see if I can create a more intentional packing process to help me stay prepared, but not burdened by a heavy suitcase full of unused items.

When I travel home for Christmas for a week to see my family I usually find that I have under-packed and feel forced to wear items that aren’t really ideal. But since I’m only heading to Cabo for three days and two nights, I also want to make sure I don’t over-pack due to my excitement to be somewhere warm and tropical.

So here’s what I did today to make sure I have a properly planned wardrobe while I’m away.

The first thing I did was talk with Mr. Lively about what activities we wanted to do while we were at the resort. We debated about whether we wanted to work out while there or not. Since my running shoes and gym clothes could easily take up a decent amount of my checked suitcase, I didn’t want to bring the gear if we weren’t going to really do a workout.

After discussing the workout idea, we nixed it in favor of swimming and relaxing. I have done a great job working out very consistently all month and I think a few days off to enjoy my hard work is ideal. So out went the workout gear from the packing list.

Above you can see what we do intend to do over the long weekend: lots of relaxing, swimming, and dining.

I also checked the weather forecast for Cabo this week. It looks to be about 75*-80* with cooler nights. So I knew that I needed to prepare for warm weather with layering at night.

Then, I pulled out most of my summer wardrobe and looked at all of my options.

Usually when packing, I get about this far and just throw my favorite items into my suitcase. But the end result is usually under or over packing and a lackluster array of outfits during the trip.

Next, I started to try on each item and created my favorite looks. Above you can see the outfits that could be great for dinner, dancing, or exploring. Each one has a layering piece as well in case of air conditioning or cooler temps.

I also made sure I had an outfit to fly back to Chicago in as well as a few other pieces that could be mixed in if I feel a bit more causal during the trip.

One bonus of this step I found was that there were a few items that needed to be steamed or cleaned. Those have been put in a special pile for me to attend to in the next few days so I’m not worried about them while on vacation.

And of course, I couldn’t forget the main event: swimsuits. I had the navy polka dot bikini from J.Crew last year but find that the top is a bit precarious for my chest and is best used only when laying out. So the new orange and black suits will be much better suited to fun at the beach or pool. I got both of the new suits at a huge discount from Lands End Canvas thanks to a recommendation from Jill.

So there you have it! I feel much better prepared for anything that might come up. I plan to use this same process to pack the other peripherals for the trip as well. This will include sunnies, beach towel, books, music, etc.

Viva la Mexico!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I had a great time over the long weekend in St. Louis with Mr. Lively and his extended family. Sleeping in, eating well, and recharging was delightful (and much needed). But now that I’m back, I am turning my attention towards decorating my apartment for the holidays.

My first order of business was to make these DIY ornaments inspired by Pugly Pixel’s sequin globes. They were simple to make and were a great craft to make while watching Modern Family.

To see pictures of the process, see Pugly Pixel’s tutorial. But here’s the list of materials:

• Styrofoam balls(assorted sizes to your liking, mine are 3″ and 4″)
• Sequins in whatever colors you want (I went for gold, of course)
• Solid head steel pins (I found mine in gold in the knitting/sewing aisle)
• Beads and seed beads (I had mine leftover from old Jess LC collections)

Though I haven’t made them to attach to a tree, I think they could be great baubles on a tray or tablescape.

They could also make great gifts as well!

Today I have a new use for those fancy candles that smell beautiful, but are less than rosy for the budget. Previously I shared how to re-use the pretty box. And here’s a new way to use the canister itself. (Like Martha says, to get rid of the leftover wax, put it in the freezer to help break up the scraps.)

Bedroom photo by Emily Anderson

As I write this I realize how surreal this is for me: yesterday my apartment was added to Apartment Therapy’s House Tours. Four years ago when I first moved to a not-so-great studio apartment, I discovered AT and their amazing house tours. This was years before I read any blogs and I was amazed and inspired by the apartments they featured. In fact, last year when creating a vision for my own space, I used Summer Thornton’s AT House Tour as a huge source of inspiration for my home.

So to be now featured on the site is a dream come true. If my 22 year-old self could know that I would be featured at 27 with the apartment that I have, I’m sure I’d keel right over. And when I think about the journey that has led me here, I think the biggest thing that I did “right” was to treat that tiny little apartment I once had as if it was the apartment that I have right now. I cleaned, primped, and acted as though that little dinky room was a castle. And I continued to treat my other apartments with the same respect and care. Come to think of it, I also did the same with my business. Even when times were slow in the beginning, I did my best to treat each order and customer as though I was already in the bigger business that I wanted. I think with this kind of respect and appreciation for the things we do have, we prepare and make room for the larger things to come.

Since the Rue shoot last year, a few things have changed in my home and the AT House Tour captured nooks and angles that the previous feature didn’t. So feel free to take a peek.

My current rug (Rug USA), updated from the sea foam green one seen in the Rue shoot. I like this one much better. I think the dark gray really grounds the other, brighter prints and hues in the space and makes the couch seem less bland.

A great shot of how I made my TV work within the awesome and newly discontinued : ( Ikea Lack bookshelves.

My mini bar I’ve been curating over the past year or so with a chevron decanter from Cathy. Love those blue straws found on Etsy.

A great view of the dresser layout with those sorta-famous DIY chevron canvases.

Thank you so much Jason and AT team for shooting and featuring my home! Hop over to see the full house tour!

As you can imagine, being a jewelry designer means that I have several jewelry boxes. This one in particular is very special to me as it once belonged on my Grandma’s dresser for many years.

Since I use display boxes to showcase most of my special pieces, this box has been meaningful but unnecessary.

… Until I found a new way to organize my sewing materials inherited from my mom. Now things are perfectly organized and easy to see.

And the bonus? Now I love fixing small holes or snags on my clothing because it means that I get to use the jewelry box that is meaningful and organized.

Today I’d like to introduce a new little treat I have for MML; Dual Purpose. As a designer and someone who is all about clearing the clutter and staying (mostly) on budget, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that help me have a home that looks great and functions well. From time to time (which means I’m not setting a rigid posting schedule) I’ll share new ideas that re-invent the purpose of something you may already have.

Because designing a life with intention means having intentional stuff, too.

Since the last photos were taken of my living room and bedroom, I’ve made some summer updates to my apartment.

Given the warmer weather and my evolving sense of style, I’ve chosen to go with brighter pops of color. Some of these colors and trends are even making their way into upcoming collections as well…

An ice bucket and wine rack from the thrift store, acrylic tray from CB2, and my favorite chevron decanter from Cathy round out a pretty little spot for drinks.

Since the first living room photos, my old sea foam living room rug has bit the dust. It discolored, wore out, and got red wine stains. So in came this gray little number from Rugs USA which brightens the whole space. The blue pillow caught my eye at Pier One. After obsessing about the pillow for a few weeks I finally caved and bought it.

A discounted aqua tray from TJ Maxx is the perfect way to carry barbecue goods to the patio.

Mr. Lively’s favorite candle scent I’ve ever had, Firewood by C.O Bigelow.

I obsessed over this Pottery Barn duvet for months and finally ordered it. If it’s good enough for Sarah and Diane, it’s good enough for me. I love it.

My new favorite scarf found for $16 at TJ Maxx.

What summer home updates have you done lately?

Today we have an inspiring post by Jen, an MML sponsor, Midnight Hustler, and jewelry designer. Her company, Golightly Jewellery has a great mix handmade gems and classic styles at very affordable prices. Below she shares some encouraging words about entrepreneurship. And to makes just a bit sweeter, she’s sharing a pair of Whitney earrings in a giveaway as well – details are below.

Enjoy!

Worth its weight in gems

Golightly Jewellery is officially at an Internet connection near you. Yep, and it’s a newsworthy if not historic moment. Ok, maybe not historic – not in your life, but in my life? You better believe it. You may think that small businesses just apparate overnight, you know, like the wizards in Harry Potter. Well, I hate to break the bad news, but you’d be wrong. In fact, your favourite small businesses – the downtown boutiques, the corner cafés? Well, they worked harder than Cinderella to just be, let alone succeed. But here’s the silver lining: it’s worth it.

I launched Golightly Jewellery in April, but it’s been in the works since 2010: designing jewelry, making mistakes, investing in inventory, making mistakes, launching the site, making mistakes… It’s a long road – a road with ups, downs, U-turns, and the occasional cautionary cliff. And if you’re the type of gal who experiences carsickness when the vehicle is parked, pack your Gravol and brace yourself. Like any ride in life, launching a business is fun, and it’s scary. But, in the end, it’s worth it because it’s yours.

Jess shared a post last month about why it’s good if you hate your job (because, chances are, hating your job will drive you to change, to do what you love.) Well, the girl is right. I believe that you should love your life, and if you don’t love your job, it’ll be tricky to love your life. So, listen to Jess, listen to me: to do what you love isn’t always a piece of cake; sometimes the journey is rocky, but if you keep truckin’, the cake tastes that much sweeter.

Jennifer is the Creative Director of Golightly Jewellery. She’s a freelance writer and editor, and works in web and social media management.

Giveaway

Jen has kindly offered to give away a pair of these Whitney Earrings ($40 value) made with sterling silver and freshwater pearls. To win, please visit her shop and come back here and comment about your favorite style in her collection.

Enter to win before 6/13 (winner will be announced then).

Today I have a little DIY project to share. I’ve had this one on my mind for about a year now, and a few weeks ago I finally completed the project.

Here was my inspiration from my friend Alaina over at Live Creating Yourself:

I adore nailheads and given that I wanted the boards to be gold and white – my favorite color combination of all time – this project seemed perfect.

Except for the fact that I’m a bit lazy when it comes to projects.

I’m the kind of person who is more likely to use pre-made pizza dough than make dough from scratch. Heck, I use canvases to make art without painting.

So rather than using the spray adhesive and linen that these cork board projects usually call for, I decided I’d try painting the boards white to get a similar look more quickly.

So I started with this:

Two cork boards from Target to be used on Kat and Melissa’s desk.

And these:

Gold nailheads from Ace Hardware. They didn’t have them in stock, so I special ordered them. I don’t recall exactly how many boxes it took to complete both boards, but I’d guess around 8-12 boxes with 25 nailheads per box. The maker is Anchor Wire and they are “brass furniture nails.”

Then I decided to try spray painting the boards white to see if that would do the trick.

And coincidentally break the law.

What? You didn’t know that spray painting outside in Chicago is illegal? It is. Kat and I totally broke the law for 12 minutes on a windy afternoon (not recommended). Wind and law-breaking are both less than desirable, but somehow seemed easier than using spray adhesive and fabric.

As you can see above, the spray paint was a good start, but definitely not thick enough to cover the boards properly.

So I took it to the next level with a topcoat of glossy white paint I had left over from another project. Here is the result of spray paint and glossy paint:

Not bad, if I do say so myself. I then started to push the nailheads in along the side.

… Until Mr. Lively innocently asked if they were supposed to be straight or not.

Whomp. Whomp. Whomp.

After that, I decided to draw a line in pencil along the edge where the nails should go, to help guide my pinning more accurately. If you squint closely you can see the line here:

Things got better after the line was drawn. But there are still some inconsistencies along the rows of nailheads. I choose to ignore the flaws.

And here’s how they look now:

Ta-da. The boards look great, and provide a place to put inspiration and notes from customers and friends.

Overall, the project was pretty easy and cheap. The nailheads were about $1.50 per box and the boards were around $12 each. While the spray paint and glossy paint were free.

Today we have a sponsor interview and giveaway with the lovely Regina, founder and designer of Acute Designs. Her shop is the perfect mix of affordable handmade baubles for hair, neck, wrists, and shoes. Below Regina shares how she used her creativity and passion for accessories to launch a full-time business after breaking out of a j-o-b.

(She also a great design site and food blog as well.) Enjoy!

On your blog you mention that you wanted to quit your j-o-b and do what you love. Can you quickly summarize that journey so we can know how Acute Designs came to be?

Since graduating college 8 years ago, I floated from job to job not really knowing what I wanted to do.  I assumed just making a decent paycheck was good enough, until I realized I needed a purpose.  Two years ago I was stuck in the most soul-sucking job imaginable and I knew I needed a change.

Every day at work, I would fuel my creative outlet by writing, reading blogs, and researching.  Eventually I decided it would be “fun” to start an Etsy shop as a hobby.  Within a week, I knew that I wanted designing, creating, selling, and writing to be more than a hobby.  I wanted it to be my full time job.

It took me a year of planning and saving to get to the point where I could quit my job – which is what I did about six months ago.  I have never looked back nor regretted it for a minute!

What do you love most about designing your accessories?  What about the business side of things?

My favorite thing is playing around and coming up with new designs.  I get inspiration from everywhere – movies, tv, art, my favorite designers, and so on.  When I get an idea for a new design, I love the process of creating the first one and seeing the finished product.

I also enjoy the business side of running my own business.  I am a numbers person and find a weird amount of delight in creating spread sheets.  I have been known to spend an entire Friday night tracking numbers and sales on various spread sheets!

The hardest part of this whole business thing is that I am a fairly shy person.  I have a hard time approaching store owners or buyers in order to sell my products wholesale.  I also tend to hold back in promoting myself.  I think this is a combination of being shy and a fear of rejection – both of which are normal but are things I need to work on in order to grow my business.

Your shop is overflowing with gorgeous accessories of all kinds! How do you determine what accessory style to jump into next?

I try to provide a lot of variety and price points in order to appeal to wide range of customers.  Also, I make things I love and if they sell, I make more and expand on the item that is selling.  For example in January, I started selling cream rosebud earrings.  They sold like crazy, so I expanded into various styles of flower earrings in an array of colors and these have been extremely popular.

I also do a lot of market research and try my best to determine trends for the upcoming seasons.  I attempt to appeal to the market without compromising my personal creativity.

What is your overall vision for Acute Designs into the future?

My current goal for Acute Designs is to expand my wholesale deals.  Currently, I sell in four stores around the country and by the end of the year, my goal is for my designs to be sold in at least ten stores.  I want that to continue to grow in the next year.

My long term goal is to expand from handmade accessories into clothing.  I feel that there is a huge value in handmade and/or local made goods and I want my brand to embody this notion.

In addition to designing and selling, I am also a freelance writer and spend a large portion of my week blogging and guest blogging and would like to continue writing and eventually write a book.

What do you recommend for a newbie Etsy designer who wants to get their shop off the ground?

My advice is to treat it as if it is your own website.  Do not assume that you will get business just because you are on Etsy.  The biggest mistake I see with new sellers is that they open a shop, throw in a few items and expect people to come.  The shop needs to be promoted, both online and off line. Success is a huge possibility, but you have to put the time and effort in… just like anything!

Acute Designs Giveaway – $20 Shop Credit

To win a $20 credit to Acute Designs, simply visit the shop and come back to this post leaving a comment about which item you most covet from the collection.

The winner will be randomly selected and announced on this post next Tuesday (5/24).

[credit for model photos]

I originally wanted to call this post “My Souped Up Linen Closet” but Mr. Lively in a mix of sarcasm and reflection mentioned that it should be titled “Designing Behind Closed Doors” and the name stuck. Yes, I unabashedly went way far beyond the call of duty and created a beautiful linen closet for my toiletries next to my bathroom. You see, I live in a not-so-big one bedroom apartment and only have a meager medicine cabinet in the bathroom for storage. So this closet directly next to the bathroom is where I begin and end each day.

And the builder basic rod shelving was not a pretty to look at as I got ready, nor was it practical. It was virtually impossible to get the deodorant to stand upright on those bars and I am just simply too Type-A not to have my products standing correctly.

Given that I’m all about designing my home with intention, I decided that the frustration I felt each day using this rather important area of my home warranted a little makeover. Though I don’t have a before picture to share, just imagine all these products in the same places… with many things lying caddywhompus (never thought I’d use that word here on MML).

And here is what it looks like now.

Much, much, much better. I actually look forward to opening the closet door now.

To make this space seem less utilitarian I used a lot of unusual items for storage. To create a durable, solid surface on all four shelves I found glass cutting boards at Pier 1. They were on sale marked down to $7 each and had a cherry motif on the top. But by turning them upside down I instantly had durable, high quality shelves. In the future I may paint the top of the glass, but for now the white bottom is completely functional.

You can also note the super cute apothecary jar that holds aspirin on the main shelf (inspired by an off-hand comment made by Nate Berkus about his own organizing obsession). I love this so much, though it obviously may not be a good idea for those with children.

I’ll start the more detailed tour on the main, middle shelf. I used a green desk organizer from Target ($7) to hold my lotions and other daily toiletries. The front level is easy to grab from but keeps everything orderly when not in use. The back level is great for the large moisturizers which don’t need to come out of the closet to be used.

The cute white bird tray made to store soap, was found at World Market ($10). Here it’s a great little accent piece for a glass bowl of hair accessories (TJ Maxx $5) and a candy container…

… filled with my monthly pills. Much prettier than an obvious and disposable plastic container.

Nice candle boxes make excellent storage containers. I stored cotton pads in this one.

And nail polish and manicure items are stashed in the other two.

My extra recipe box became the cutest container for tampons I have ever seen.

For less frequently used items, my blow dryer, and duplicate toiletries I love these sturdy blue boxes. I used to have white plastic tubs where were nice but these ones provide a nice pop of color and make the whole place look a lot more unified since they hide the contents from view when not in use.

So there you have it! Though us small space dwellers can’t have souped up laundry rooms, we can still have the chance to splurge on our own little part of our homes.

I’ll be back in the weeks to come with more Designing Behind Closed Doors reveals.

As I mentioned last week, I am moving to a higher unit in my apartment building today and tomorrow. Then on Thursday morning I fly out to San Francisco for a bag photo shoot followed by a trip to LA to meet Mr. Lively’s parents. So from today through Tuesday, April 26th, I will be out of the studio.

In the meantime I have a cool series called Freshen Up which will be a review of posts from years ago which tackle clutter for passionate purgers and pack rats alike. You’ll see this banner below on top of the review posts.

And I also have an idea for those who are in the process of moving. I can’t remember where I learned this tip, but it’s a good one.

Tip:

Before moving, pack an overnight bag in order to have your toiletries, change of clothes, and other essentials easily organized. This saves time digging through dozens of boxes to find your toothbrush and slippers after a long day.

I’ll be taking this trick one step further myself. Since I’m leaving for SF the second day after the move, I’ve already packed my bags for the trip. No digging in boxes in order to get ready for my flight early Thursday morning.

(Bags: the red bag is from Spare Parts, yellow bag is from Suwanee Springs.)

As promised, I have captured a few of the ways that I keep clutter to a minimum in my living room and kitchen. Though my apartment is not large, the tricks below help things seem intentional and decorative when they are mostly just clever ways to store items I need and use on a daily basis.

And in case you haven’t caught the tips from my bedroom, be sure to check them out too.

These books help to distract from the ugly electronics. Stacking books among the Tivo and router makes them seem ever so slightly less utilitarian.

Instead of wasting space in my kitchen storing glassware I used a tray from CB2 to display them alongside the adorable chevron decanter I received from Cathy.

The black blanket in the basket doubles as a clever distraction from the board games stored underneath inside the basket.

The wine crate on the bottom shelf (free from Binny’s) holds my linens. The pillow on top keeps things looking more organized than they really are.

All catalogs and reading material get put on this stack. (Chevron tray from Tilly Maison.) I love trays – they make objects instantly look more important and intentional.

This is the lowest shelf on a bookshelf in the entryway. The ceramic boots (a gift from Michelle) are perfect for umbrellas and pashminas.

The middle shelf in the entry has another Tilly Maison tray perfect for keys and wallets. Coupons sit in a vintage goblet.

For those who aren’t super organized, trays are perfect. Trays like this used for stashing stuff effectively contain the mess and leave surfaces clutter-free.

At the top of the bookcase my daily purses sit ready to go.

My kitchen table also doubles as my kitchen’s island. I like having these two hard placemats side by side as a runner during the day. Then come meal time they are easy to pull apart for individual use.

Here are three great tips:

1. A cake stand doubles as a pretty fruit and veggie tray.
2. A vintage coffee tin with a glass jar inside stores my silverware — saving drawer storage for knives.
3. A vintage pitcher holds cooking utensils right were I need them – next to the oven and stove.

Coffee and noodles double as accessories alongside some pretty snack bowls. The seals on the glass canisters keep the coffee grounds fresh and easy to access each morning.

Here is a link to the entire living room and studio tour.

Time to take a bit of a break from all of the Midnight Hustling! Today I thought I’d take a moment to share what I’ve learned from years of exfoliating unnecessary clutter. Any of my friends (or even Mr. Lively) can tell you that it’s rare to find a mess in my apartment. And though it is in part due to the fact that I love having order in my home, I also don’t have that much stuff. After years of End of the Week Exfoliations, Throw Out 50 Things Challenges, and What I Don’t Want for Christmas, I have leaned my possessions out substantially.

That said, my home is by no means sparse or bare. Below I snapped a few shots of my bedroom and bathroom organization to perhaps inspire others who are working on taming the Stuff Monster. And later today I’ll be sharing glimpses of my kitchen and living room as well.

More than any one tip, I can say that using “stuff” as decor has helped keep things beautiful and organized at the same time.

Scarves in a vintage glass bowl add color and texture to the dresser. It also encourages me to use them more often as well.

A vintage plate acts as a perfume tray. The vintage green goblet holds spare change and the clear glass container keeps cotton balls tidy.

This is my nightstand’s second drawer. An organizer from TJ Maxx holds my skinny belts, large scarves, and clutches.

I recently pinned my memento jewelry inside a shadow box from TJ Maxx. Now my grandmas’ vintage jewels are no longer crammed in a plastic bag.

My favorite new way to display everyday jewelry is in a small bowl on my dresser. It’s easier than going into a jewelry box twice a day.

Apartment living leaves little extra space for laundry. I converted my second closet into a place to hang out of season dresses. An over the door hanger is hanging on the closet rod to dry out sweaty running clothes or damp laundry.

This is part of my entry way closet. Large totes hang on S hooks. A shoe organizer hangs on the left to hold my workout gear; small shelves store towels, sunglasses, running watches, and headphones.

One of my little luxuries is weekly at-home manicures. Using a special candle box makes the tradition just a bit more organized and pretty.

Since I have a pedestal sink in my bathroom, this tray organizes and holds my makeup each morning. It’s stashed nearby in a hall closet when not in use.

Here is a link to my entire bedroom tour.

Ladies, this is big.

We’ve decided to launch a new challenge at Jess LC:

An outfit collage contest to win $200 and two pieces of Jess LC jewelry for the perfect spring look.

Yep. I’ve decided to launch a contest that I myself would drool over.

All the details are above and on our DesignYourLook page. But to quickly summarize: we are asking for contestants to create a collage (using Polyvore or a similar program is great) showing how they would wear two pieces of Jess LC jewelry and the spring outfit they want most this season. Once the look is created, it can either be posted on a blog or on our Facebook page and then emailed to theshop@jesslc.com with the subject line “Design Your Look.”

Here is an example outfit from Ashley M. (which is also our first formal submission to the contest):

Once the submissions are compiled on April 8th, we will post all of the looks here on MML on April 11th for five days of voting (so be sure to spread the word about your look!). The popular vote will determine which spring Design Your Look contestant wins the jewelry featured in their collage and $200 to put towards purchasing the clothing items in their winning look.

So please, tweet, facebook, and generally spread the word! We’d like to see a variety of looks and see how everyone plans to design their wardrobe with intention this spring!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ve recently done a Throw Out Fifty Things Challenge. Though my living room and bedroom were recently featured in Rue Mag, and everything looked orderly and “made under,” there were still 50 superfluous items floating around my home at the time of the shoot. It bears repeating that just because a space looks orderly and clean doesn’t always mean that everything in that space is needed, used, or loved. By exfoliating a stash of unnecessary stuff I earned money, returned items, and gifted away many of my things. Not to mention I feel much more peaceful in my home now that the unnecessary items are gone.

The idea for the challenge was straight from a Today Show segment with Gail Blanke who wrote the book Throw Out 50 Things. Though I’ve never read the actual book, the challenge itself is pretty self-explanatory. I did my first 50 Things Challenge in April of 2009, and it was quite enlightening. Even though 50 things sounded like a lot, it wasn’t that hard to reach. I simply looked at my space (closets are always treasure troves for this kind of challenge) and pulled out all the unneeded, unused, or unloved items.

Later today I’ll be back to share my 50 Things!

Time for bedroom pics! You’ll see a lot of photos that didn’t make it into the Rue Mag feature (pg. 46) because the article was focused on the live/work space rather than my bedroom. And again, Emily Anderson did a fantastic job capturing the special moments in this room.

To be honest, I hated this room for quite a while. But over time it’s come together nicely. I finally feel like I have that “grown up” bedroom I’ve been wanting for so long.

This is the big shot of the bed. My nightstands were both (amazingly) free. The white one was found on the curb without paint and the left nightstand was found in the dumpster in perfect condition. I couldn’t have gotten more lucky.

The pink painting was actually an old print from Bed Bath and Beyond that I re-painted. Here is the before and after. And believe it or not, this wall is painted the lightest shade of pink possible. I love it, but I sometimes forget that it’s actually pink. I think I could have gone a shade or two darker.

This is my love seat. Though I’d love to say that I spend a lot of time there… I don’t. It usually holds pillows at night. But I can pretend, right?

The dresser and chest are pieces my best friend had in her childhood room. I refinished them and added the antique brass knobs before I moved to Chicago three years ago.

This is the left side nightstand I mentioned earlier. I found it in next to my apartment building’s dumpster. A gold and marble miracle.

These Michael Kors pillows (link below) were a no-brainer for me. My obsession with white and gold runs deep.

(And no, my bed isn’t always this perfect – but it is made everyday.)

My Grandma’s silk scarves are easy to see and accessorize with in this vintage glass bowl on my dresser.

You can also see how I’ve used my DIY Chevron Paintings in the bedroom too.

My new favorite way to display and store everyday jewelry is in a small bowl like this one from Anthropologie. (Those are my Chevron Earrings.)

As you can see, I’m pretty minimalist when it comes to table tops. (You can spot my Chevron Bangle and Simple Paisley Dotted Earrings too.)

And one last shot of my bathroom. I love my custom silhouette of my family’s Westie, Mackenzie.

Where to find my pieces:

Headboard
Bed Frame
Throw Pillows
Duvet Cover (similar)
Tray
Loveseat
Nightstand Lamps – CB2 NA.

I have to admit, I’m still buzzing with excitement over the Rue Mag feature (pg. 46) today. In fact, there were so many more awesome photos that didn’t make the magazine, I decided to make an entirely new post sharing them. Emily Anderson did such a great job with the photography it was impossible to just pick a few. And in case you haven’t seen, here is the tour of my bedroom as well.

It’s also awesome to finally be able to look back on my original makeunder plan (post one, post two) from this summer and see how it all came together.

A shot of the full room. Living room on the left, studio desk on the right. (The kitchen is directly behind this space.)

My DIY gold paintings with white felt flowers. So easy to make for such strong impact.

My desk. Where I spend my workdays working on MML and Jess LC. One day I’d like to turn this white marble farm house table into a kitchen island.

Gotta give a shout out to Erin at Plush Studio for making my custom blue chevron curtains.

These Lack Shelves from Ikea are so fun to re-accessorize with the seasons (little can you tell that there were Christmas decorations all over the apartment the day before this shoot!).

The yellow chair was my one large color commitment. It pops in the room perfectly. I’m so glad I went bold!

Coffee table (found in the dumpster) with Voluspa candle Crisp Champagne.

A jewelry box holds my desk supplies.

Thanks for visiting my home! I’ll be back later today with the bedroom photos.

Where to find my pieces:

Bookshelves with these shelves laid horizontally
Arm Chair
Table Lamps
Floor Lamp
Curtains
Love Pillow
Desk Chair
Sectional
Vintage found thrifting or in the trash: white marble farm table (used as my desk), polka dot bowls, penguin book ends, and gold metal coffee table.

After five looong months I’m thrilled to announce that my apartment/studio combo has been featured in Rue Mag‘s third issue, which launched this morning!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to share my home in Crystal and Anne‘s wonderful magazine. Not only did Anne inspire me to start blogging seriously back in January, 2009, but Crystal has become a close, dear friend here in Chicago over the past year and a half. As sad as I am to see Crystal transplant to San Fransisco this month, I’m happy to know her dream is rapidly taking shape.  — And that I’ll have a fabulous place to stay the next time I’m in San Fran.

But it wasn’t only Crystal and Anne who did an amazing job on the feature. Emily Anderson was one of the most easy to work with photographers and stylists. We had an instant connection and loved getting to know one another as she shot my home. I definitely cannot recommend her enough for anyone looking for a talented photographer in New York. I’ll share more of her photos of the space later today.

I also need to send a virtual hug to Adrienne Murrill for the excellent perfect article that accompanies the eye candy. Her writing captured what I’m all about, what the business is all about, and what the studio/home is all about. Thank you so much.

And last but not least, Courtney of Courtney Khail Stationary gets a huge shout out for doing an incredible job turning my worry flashcards into a work of art! Download them yourself on page 52 (more on this on Monday).

Okay, enough chit chat… hop on over to Rue Mag to see the entire feature (page 46)!

Today I have to do a shout out for our incredibly talented Jess LC intern, Kat of Kat Doodles. She’s recently launched a line of valentines on Etsy and I’m beyond impressed. Her adorable doodles, cute phrases, and high quality card stock are a home run. I can’t wait to watch her line grow from here!

Here are a few samples. Each card is $5 and you can even have your own card customized!

Hop on over to her shop to see more.

[quote found via Traci Zeller Designs]

Good afternoon! Today I’d like to introduce you all to one of MML’s awesome sponsors, Violet Revolution. This fashion-based website has a focus on all things Chicago. As we all know, there is plenty of content online that caters to the NYC/LA markets. But Chicago has been in need of a site with a strong editorial viewpoint and a deep knowledge of the shopping events happening around town. So if you live in Chicago, just want to stay “in the loop” about whats happening in our fashion industry, hop on over to Violet Revolution. To explain in more detail, I’ve interviewed Nancy, the founder of of Violet Revolution, about how she got started as well as what we need to know about fashion for the holidays.

Enjoy!

How did you get inspired to start Violet Revolution?

I have always loved fashion and definitely LOVED shopping all my life.  During college and beyond, I became more familiar with the Chicago boutiques and local fashion scene here; but realized many people, whether they are local or elsewhere, aren’t as aware.  I also feel there are many women out there that need style advice.  Many women don’t know how or don’t have the time to put outfits together and want a go-to source for that information.  So I combined the two ideas and started Violet Revolution to share my style tips and advice with women with a local focus.  That way women can get style and beauty advice, plus find out where they can shop in person or online at the same time.

What kind of fashion advice do you have for the holidays?

1. Try out a new look.  Maybe it’s just incorporating some shimmery metallic eyeshadow (one of my favorites right now is the Golden Crown Tartan pattern eyeshadow from MAC), or wearing a sparkly earring or blouse.  The holidays are supposed to be a fun and joyous time, so why not have fun with your look?
2. When you know you’re going to be eating (and perhaps drinking) a lot at a party or with family; choose an outfit that will allow you to breathe and still look flattering when you’ve indulged a bit too much.  A-line dresses or tops that aren’t clingy around the mid-section are both good options.  Also, choose darker colors or prints to conceal mishaps.  There’s nothing worse than walking around a holiday party with red wine streaked down your white blouse.
3. Use the holidays as an excuse to dress up, even if you are only going to a relative’s.  Obviously showing up in a ball gown to a house party is a bit much, but don’t be afraid to wear a velvet jacket or dressier accessories.  How often do we get to dress up these days?  It can be fun, and makes your evening even more special when you feel special.

What do you love most about the Chicago fashion scene?

I love that we have one, period.  Think about if you lived in most other major cities, or even a small town, and love fashion.  There aren’t as many (if any) opportunities for shopping, fashion shows, or even education and careers centered in fashion.   I also love that, aside from fashion week here, there are many fashion shows and shopping events that take place all over the city nearly every week; whether they’re in a boutique, restaurant, or some other type of venue.  The tough part can be finding out when they are, but that’s why we post weekly sales and events on Fridays!

What trends are you most excited about for Spring/2011?

I’m pretty excited for all the new floral patterns for spring.  Sometimes floral patterns can be a little “old lady” looking at times, but I’ve seen a lot of fresh, modern floral styles shown from the shows.  In contrast to that, I’m also looking forward to the edgy, biker-inspired looks too — from short sleeve motorcycle jackets to shorts and tops embellished with hardware to metallic sheen pants.  I might try to mix the two together too — we’ll see when it gets a little warmer.  Even though it’s starting to get colder, I’m not quite ready to put my winter gear away just yet!  (Maybe in another week.)  : )

Today I have an interview with Tekesia Williams, an awesome MML sponsor and print designer with a line called Teezy. Her colorful and inspiring prints are a great way to accessorize with purpose. Below she explains her inspiration and where she sees her line in years to come. In addition, she’s also offering a giveaway and 15% discount to MML readers (details below).

Enjoy!

Interview with Tekesia Williams of Shop Teezy

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I definitely draw inspiration from all over the place.  God, my family, and my friends are all huge inspirations for me.  A lot of my inspiration comes from things in my own personal life or even things going on in the lives of people close to me.  It wasn’t too long ago that I opened my shop, while dealing with an unexpected illness that shook up my world.  During that time, I really wanted to be surrounded by things that inspired me, so I began making prints and little pieces of art for myself.  I would sit them around my house and when I would glance at one it would really make me feel better or remind me to keep pushing forward and keep hoping.  After a while I realized that I really wanted to share my inspirations with others.  I had always loved being creative and I had always loved art and design, but for a long time those things were put on the “back burner” of my life.  Now I know how important it is for me to be able to do what I love, to be fulfilled by the things that really matter in my life, and to help to inspire others.

I love your color story! How do you choose your color combos?

Thank you so much!  I love bright and bold colors and I love to mix them.  Many of the colors that I use are colors that remind me of some place that I love.  The beach is one of my favorite places to be and my family is from the Caribbean, so a lot of the colors I have used remind me of being some place tropical.  Colors can really influence your emotions and I wanted my colors to be uplifting, vibrant and playful.  I wanted my prints to be non-traditional inspirational prints that are modern and fun.  Fashion is something that I also love, so when I’m putting colors together I’m sometimes picturing the prints being put onto a t-shirt or tank.

Where do you see your business one year from now? How about five years from now?

I hope that my business will have grown one year from now.  I hope to be carrying other products in addition to prints.  I would like to carry things such as calling cards, stationary, greeting cards, and other paper products.  Five years from now I would like to have grown into designing more home décor products and maybe even some fashion items.

Are you able to do custom pieces for customers?

I am not able to do custom pieces just yet, but I hope to be doing custom pieces by the New Year. : )  I do love getting feedback though.  If there are colors or items that customers would like to see in the shop I definitely want to hear from them!

What has been the most interesting or rewarding customer interaction you’ve had?

For me, each time that I help a customer with their order or receive a message from a customer about an item I find it to be SO rewarding.  Knowing that someone else enjoys a piece that I really put my heart into really makes me feel good.  There’s just a feeling of joy that I can’t really describe, each time I pack up a print for shipment. : )

Giveaway and Special MML Discount

Tekesia is giving away one of her prints for free to the winner of this giveaway. To enter, please visit her shop and come back and leave a comment with the print name and color choice you would like to win. A winner will be chosen next Tuesday, December 21st.

She is also offering 15% off her entire shop for MML readers with the discount code JESSLC from now until December 25th. So go ahead and do any last minute holiday shopping. : )

Good morning! I am excited to say that things have slowed down ever so slightly at Jess LC and I hope to have some more time this week to really get back in my favorite “thinking with intention” MML groove.

In the meantime, I wanted to share an idea I had this weekend while decorating my apartment for the holidays. Since my new home doesn’t have a good spot for a traditional Christmas tree (large or small), I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to display the dozens of childhood ornaments that I’ve collected over the years.

Then I realized that the necklace tree that I got from Urban Outfitters does a great job at displaying ornaments as well. No mess, no fuss, and a great way to save money for small spaces.

(Update: Printer has been claimed!)

In honor of my old series, The End of the Week Exfoliation (each week for two years I got rid of one item in my home that I didn’t need, use, or love), I’m giving away a color printer I no longer need. With my new assistants, Melissa and Kat, we now need two to three computers at a time and a wireless printer. Which means this color printer is no longer needed.

If you live in the Chicago area and want to pick up this Cannon printer in Lakeview, please email me at jess@jesslc.com. The first person who emails and comes to pick it up gets it.

My first piece of advice when making under a home is to envision what you want your space to look and feel like. Then, once that vision is defined, the next step is to exfoliate the items that do not fit the future vision.

For me, artwork is difficult to exfoliate. I have purchased a few large-scale canvas wrapped prints from Bed Bath & Beyond in the past three or four years which I have outgrown. They no longer fit the vision I have for my space. But rather than pass them on or toss them, I’ve decided to give them a second life with a new coat of paint. The canvases alone at this size could cost upwards of $80 at an art store and just by doing some simple paint techniques on top of the print, I get a whole new look without spending much cash.

The art at the top of this post is now hanging above my bed. I decided that I was over the cool blues that permeated my apartment last year in favor of something bolder and slightly more feminine. Though I’m far from being an artist, the outcome is exactly what I was looking for. What I also love about this idea is that you can go to your local thrift store and find other not-so-great canvases and do the same thing.

(Before shot courtesy of Becki Schleis.)

Today I’m guest posting over at Sacramento Street about the 10 things that make me happy. Since I talk mostly about exfoliating stuff I no longer need, use, or love here on MML, it was a joy to write about the 10 things that I do need, use, and love in my apartment.

Hop on over to Caitlin’s blog to check out my favorite handbag, floor lamp, and winter gear among other goodies!

Our beloved Dream Reporter, Piper has launched One Sydney Road!!

Hop Jump on over to One Sydney Road to start shopping the long awaited lifestyle goods site lovingly created by Piper. It’s so incredible to see her hard work become reality. After following her journey for the past twenty-three weeks it’s hard to see what she’s been so worried about! She nailed this puppy outta the water. And that’s a huge sign of a great entrepreneur. Her launch, site, and product selection has the sophistication of a seasoned professional. And all her hard work on those product descriptions sure paid off too.

To know that MML may have in any small way helped birth this site makes me feel so incredibly thankful. Thank you all for encouraging Piper as she faced so many new challenges and fears. Your supportive comments have been the wind at her back. Now I think it’s time for us to all do some shopping…

… see you over at One Sydney Road!

And remember, if Piper and I can do it, so can you. Pursue your purpose.

I’ve got some exciting news! I’ve been asked to submit two of my recent art projects for an upcoming book and I need to make some step-by-step instructions with photos.

Since my projects are already completed for my place, I can recreate the projects for some MML readers… anyone in Chicago want one to buy one of the art projects above (price is just the cost of supplies)?

If so, email me at jess[at]jesslc[dot]com and I’ll whip you up a pink masking tape canvas or gold and white felt flower painting – first come, first served.

Okay, I know, this looks like a decorating post, but stick with me, the lesson translates to much more than just artwork.

These chevron paintings might look familiar since they came from my old studio. Before I moved in September, I had “decorated” this new apartment from top to bottom in my head. I automatically knew that these chevron paintings were destined to grace my new living room’s wall. They were going to be perfect.

But they aren’t.

In reality these puppies are a bit too small, too spread apart, and clash with other items in the living room. They look a little bit pathetic in such a large space and lower the room’s overall appeal.

But you know what? I kept them on that wall for a really long time. I knew that they had potential, I knew that they had value. And so I left them there, reminding myself of their potential and value, all the while feeling slightly disappointed with the living room’s overall look.

Eventually I finally stopped making excuses for the paintings and thought of new ways to fill the focal wall in the living room. I got excited about a really awesome wallpaper project I wanted to make with Oh Joy’s new gold and white wallpaper (I know, I’ve got a gold and white problem obsession). But the project was going to cost a pretty penny.

During all of the living room decorating drama, I made some delightful gold and white flower paintings for my bedroom. They were big, bold, and made a great statement. But the were so big and bold that they overwhelmed the space above my bed. However, I kept them up because they were big and bold - just like I settled with the value and potential of the chevron paintings in the living room.

(I’m guessing you are starting to sense the point to this story…)

Yes, ladies and gents, it took me six weeks far too long to realize the two sets of artwork simply needed to switched! By making one more gold and floral canvas, I had the perfect art work for each room. The big and bold floral canvases balance out the living room perfectly. While the chevron canvases add some much needed graphic punch to the more traditional bedroom.

I wonder how often we design our lives the same way I started decorating my apartment. It seems completely possible that we get so attached to the idea, potential, and value of things, that we forget to ask whether this career, relationship, home, friendship, or freaking piece of artwork is in the right place to begin with. Just because it worked before doesn’t mean it’s still working now. And it also doesn’t mean that we need to get a brand new piece of expensive artwork (or career, relationship, home, or friendship), maybe we just need to do some rearranging.

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