xoxo, lm

Giveaway: Beauty Bag Swag

I decided it is only appropriate to rekindle our relationship with a bribe. I have no shame in buying your blog love with beauty products. 

I have quite the collection of polishes and powders, brushes, lotions and potions. This is due in no small part to groups like StyleChicago, who throw amazing events and give to-die-for goodie bags.

I went to a PrettyCity gathering tonight and left with hair styled by Salon O Sixty-Five and a bag of full-size products, which I'm going to giveaway to one of you!

Included is a $25 gift certificate to Salon O Sixty-Five (for any service more than $50) and a card for 20% off any service, Umberto Beverly Hills Collagen Pre-Shampoo Treatment, and Milani Nail Lacquer (Cherry Pie), Lip Flash (News Flash), and Baked Eyeshadow (Blue My Mind).

To enter, share your favorite beauty brand by commenting below or via Twitter @lisaml15 by EOD Wednesday, Feb. 15. I will use Random.org to pick a winner whom will be notified by Thursday, Feb. 16.

The lucky owner of the beauty swag has to be sure to send me a picture of themself rocking that electric blue eyeshadow. Although I think I would look more Mimi a'la The Drew Carey Show, I know one of you can rock that edgy, on-trend look.

Can't wait to read your favorite brands!
xoxo,
lm 

Reinvent. Reinvigorate. Revive.

Photo by my RTD III

After an interlude, the blog is back! Truth be told, I can't stray long from writing and after renaming this site, it finally feels like home.

Without getting too gushy, I think this blog has matured with me. From its inception when I was in my early 20s, living in my first city apartment and writing with a bestie under the title Laid-off Ladies (and no, we weren't unemployed, we were living the "laid-off lifestyle" because we were young & penniless. Hate the title? My mom did, too.), to its midlife crisis stage, when it worked under the title Undecided. At that time, I was in my mid-20s, living in a studio and finding my way at my job. 

And that brings us to now. Oh, the sweet present moment. I feel like the site is finally me, and I am, too. This go-round I'm in my late-20s (gasp!), co-habitating with my fiancé, and as you read in the last item, I am engaged! Everything is falling in line, as my job has blossomed into a career I love, my family remains healthy and happy, my friends are amazing as ever, and I feel like the most blessed person on earth.

On these pages, you can expect product reviews, style must-haves and looks I lust after, some wedding tidbits, pictures of my oh-so-adorable nephew (and soon to come: my niece!) home décor, and other things that catch my fancy.

If you have any content ideas or want to drop me a note, please do! You can comment below or reach me at xoxo.lmarie@gmail.com. If you want more information on this site, check out the About This Blog section, and to read posts from this site's various phases, look through the archive!

I hope you come back often to look, laugh and lounge :)

xoxo,
lm

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I Want You, Boutique 9

I am completely in lust.

I cannot stop thinking about Ildra (above) from the Boutique 9 collection at Nine West. I've thought of all the outfits I can pair them with, how perfectly they mesh with spring weather and how incredibly adorable they are.

The only problem: I can't quite rationalize spending $140 on a pair of shoes, even if they are my shoe soul mate. At my core, I am a bargain shopper (plus, I'm still trying to boycott Nine West since my last online shopping experience with them was simply dreadful).

Instead of purchasing my dear Ildra, I will post them here so I can come back and look at them when I'm having a bad day.

If there is a shoe God, I hope she discounts my Ildras at 60 percent.
xoxo,
Lisa Marie 

Suit up for Spring

 
Warmer weather makes my spirit brighter and fills my planner with festivities. Here are a few things I'm looking forward to this spring, what's in your planner?

• Ribfest Chicago - June 10-12, Northcenter
• Printers Row Lit Fest - June 4-5, Printers Row
• Kayaking - I missed the YouSwoop offer today but I hope to go before summer's end!
• Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays - May 23-July 25, Millennium Park

xoxo,
Lisa Marie 

Vintage Chicago: My Favorite Stores

I grew up in a house well-decorated with vintage items and antiques, which is where my appreciation for antiques probably began. I love when the old is merged with the new, especially in fashion and home decor.

After the leg of a beloved antique table broke off, the beau trusted B.J. Furniture & Antiques to put it back together. The store, 6901 N. Western Ave., is a gem. Their repair work is quick, reasonably priced and flawless; their customer service is amazing; and there are all kinds of goodies to look through!

Some other antique stores I enjoy:

• Hoard Antiques, 4710 N Damen. Eclectic. Awesome.
• Ravenswood Antique Mart, 4727 N Damen. Love, love, love the window displays!
• Brimfield, 5219 N Clark St. So warm and cozy.

What are your favorite vintage and antique shops? 
xoxo,
Lisa Marie 

*photo courtesy of B.J. Furniture & Antiques

British Designer Heads to Michigan Avenue

L.K. Bennett is headed to 900 N Michigan Ave, level three, this spring and it's bringing some fabulous clothes, shoes and accessories with it!

Here are some of my favorite finds from the British retailer:

                                                        Mirella sandal, about $280

Alexa blouse, about $152


Lalita necklace, about $152

I'm definitely a budget shopper but I can appreciate the finer items in the fashion world! For more information on the store's arrival, see my Examiner article.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie 

*photos courtesy of L.K. Bennett

Sunshine Make Me Bright

With the countdown to spring taking over my thoughts, here are some things that make me think of brighter days.

Milani's Pink Rocks and Fresh Teal nail colors. I went for the more subdued Goldie Locks today, which is peach and a nice combination of light color and sparkle.

Shell Pink and Vanilla Cream eye shadows from The Body Shop. A nice hint of color for those days when your sun-kissed face gives you a glow that makeup cannot replicate.

After a winter that seemed never-ending, I think Mother Nature owes all of us a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals for the spring and summer. Yes, please!

Spring is Sunday!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie 

*Photos courtesy of Milani, The Body Shop, Jimmy Choo

Celebrate Women Every Day

There's only a few moments left of International Women's Day, which is just enough time to discuss honoring women in our lives.

I'm always grateful for holidays - Hallmark holidays or not - for the reminders they give. They offer me a chance to evaulate the way I treat people year-round.

There is not a better day to celebrate the women in my life - from my mama who is resilient and contains a contagious zest for life; to the new mom, my sister who has an amazing maternal instinct toward all her loved ones and the best sister instinct in the world; my friends: blonde, brown, tall and small, who are a crutch and inspiration; and countless other women - cousins, aunts, grandmas and more - may they always know how special they are.

Sister, grandma, mama, me & Michael man on a breakfast date

Let's aim to show women - and all our loved ones - how great they are today and every day. Here's some ideas, share yours too!

• Who doesn't love flowers? Pick some from the garden, pick some up at the store, plant some in a pot and spread the love!
• Hugs are free and a guaranteed way to share warmth.
• Send a book with a note instead of a card.
• Send a card instead of an e-mail.
• Chat over a homemade lunch.
• Listen.

Don't forget to remind yourself how great you are, too.
xoxo,
Lisa Marie 

Things That Make My Soul Happy:

 Beautiful things, like this 19th Century Biedermeier Style Méridienne. I love! From 1stdibs.com, my favorite website to peruse when I want to be amazed.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

photo courtesy of 1stdibs.com 

 

Chopping Block's Bag Clips: Simply Adorable

 Images by Lisa Marie

In my desire to become more domestic - or domestic at all - I went into The Chopping Block during an afternoon stroll. 

There were shelves of Le Crueset tools, single chopping knives which cost more than my entire knive set and all the kitchen gear a chef could need. 

Amid the racks of cookbooks and packaged kitchen goods at 4747 N Lincoln Ave. sat these bag clips, which were too adorable to pass up.

Now I smile each time I grab for a bag of chips or trail mix.

For $3.95, it's totally worth it. 

xoxo,
Lisa Marie