A New Bag of Tricks

A couple of weeks ago, Julia and I presented in Chicago’s annual Seedcon Fast Pitch contest. One of our biggest challenges was explaining the virtues of getting one’s makeup done to a predominantly male group of judges. With the help of our mentors at Booth, we crafted a presentation that was chock-full of visuals, enabling those unfamiliar (dudes) to understand the concept of special event makeup. I used my teeny tiny makeup bag as a prop, illustrating the point that I don’t have the tools in my arsenal (let alone the skill) to make the magic happen.

When we were done presenting, I was filled with adrenalin and ready for the open bar. In a rush of excitement, I dropped my prop in what I thought was my purse… but it wasn’t. When I went to my purse the next morning to get ready for the day, my makeup bag (and all of the makeup I own) wasn’t in there. 

So, instead of hitting the books, I hit the stores. In a way, it was nice to have a clean slate. There are products I can’t live without, but there are also those products that I continue to replenish out of laziness and ignorance of alternatives. So here was a fresh start  - a complete makeup overhaul. Of course, as a student and bootstrapping entrepreneur, I was in no position to go crazy. So, I started at my neighborhood Walgreens.

I am a firm believer that drugstore mascara brands are not only cheaper, but often better because the cosmetic powerhouses have the resources and competitive push to innovate.  My logic is echoed by Oprah Magazine Beauty Director Valerie Monroe who says, “there are terrific [mascara] options at the drugstore, home of big brands with great research and development teams. Because they're vying for your loyalty, these companies are constantly developing cutting-edge applicator and pigment technologies.” So mascara, check. I also picked up brushes which some of you might be thinking is dicey, but bare with me. Big brand brushes are incredibly expensive (and I had to replace every single brush at once). I have also come to love EcoTools brushes. They are cheap, soft, don’t shed, keep their shape, and are available in almost all drugstores. When I did some Googling, I found that many of you out there also think they're an incredible alternative to the “good stuff.”

Of course, there are some things I will shell out for. Don’t get me started on moisturizers... let’s just continue the makeup discussion for now. Benefit bronzers (i.e. Hula) and Nars blushes (love the cream variety), cannot be replaced by a drugstore alternative. So, of course, I quickly picked up a new one of each after I left Walgreens. I was also introduced to Benefit’s Hello Flawless powder compact and liquid foundation, and I am loving both.

Well, that’s about as girly as I get. But hey, this stuff can make a big difference to how you look and feel. Very curious to hear what everyone thinks – what are the luxury products that are worth your hard earned cash and where does the budget brand more than fit the bill?

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Calmasutra

How do you keep yourself calm when an overwhelming task lies before you? Last week was a stressful one, and it got me thinking about how I handle these situations. When I was younger, my immediate reaction to stress or unhappiness was a call to my parents. Although sometimes you just need to vent, or know that someone loves you and thinks you’re great, I’ve come to realize that this isn’t a great strategy. While it “works” a lot of the time, I find that this process enables me to wallow and indulge in my emotional state, and even worse, sometimes aggravates my mood when I find that it isn’t magically meliorated by the person on the other end of the phone. What’s more, I often have lingering guilt for having spread my bad cheer to those I love. So, over the years, I’ve been working towards self mood management.

The go-tos that work for most people just don’t seem to work for me. Although I love hot yoga (whenever I get around to it) for my body, I find zero peace of mind in any of the many yoga forms I have tried over the years. I normally can’t have a drink to relax because even one beer or glass of wine renders me more or less useless – I’m not drunk, but I can’t get any work done or perform optimally in a stressful situation. Watch a movie or curl up with a good book? Nah, I’m too distracted and in my own head.  Sometimes I turn to music, but often seek out music that fuels my mood, not necessarily something that makes it better.

So instead, I turn to green tea, time alone at a sushi bar, and a video chat with my niece and nephew. I find the ritual of the first two calming and the latter never fails to make me smile and feel silly. Another thing I’ve come to find super helpful is crossing an unrelated item (something entirely separate from whatever is stressing me out) off my to-do list. This allows me to take my mind off the task at hand when it is driving me crazy, but also feel like I am making progress and creating some order.

So what are your tips? We could all use a little help!

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Thoughts per Mile

Just about a week ago, I had the pleasure of running Chicago's (hands down) finest race: The Hot Chocolate 15K.  Running, as we all know, is tough in general, but the real challenge of the day was figuring out what to think about for 9+ long miles.  For those among us who find the boredom of running to be the biggest hurdle, I'd like to bestow upon you my 9.2 miles of thoughts!

Mile 1: Pure excitement! 

Quite honestly, not much was running (pun intended) through my noggin at this point.  We were still in a tightly knit herd so it was somewhat necessary to focus on your surroundings so as to not bulldoze, or get bulldozed by a fellow runner.

Mile 2:  Nnst nst nst nst.  I downloaded too much techno. 

I thought BPM's were going to be the key to my success.  This was a poor assumption.  I wasn't in this race for speed.  I was in it to finish and having a jam packed playlist of rave music was a bad decision. Period.  There was nothing to sing along to.  No meaningful lyrics to provoke a thought. It was my biggest fail and it lasted for at least 40 minutes-which as you may or may not know- is four and a half songs.

Mile 3: Should I just stop? (Half kidding, half serious) 

This was the point where the 5K run/walkers and the 15K ambitious folk broke off.  I've always found mile 3 to be the trickiest.  The excitement from mile 1 and the endorphins from mile 2 have worn off and you're sort of faced with the realization that you have to do this for 6 more miles.  Sheer panic!  What if all the hot chocolate was gone by the time I finished?  This was a real (and kind of embarrassing) thought.  But, since quitters never win and winners never quit, I carried on.

Mile 4: The to-do list.

I'm aware that this isn't all that thrilling, but two weeks ago I full blown missed a lunch appointment because I had been neglecting my planner. (If I may paint you a picture: I received a phone call asking when I was going to get there, whilst sitting at my desk, under a pile of papers, wearing a sweat suit & glasses).  Ever since then, I've been creepy about memorizing my date book.  I should also mention- at this point we were running on a highway so I was just a titch distracted by the whizzing cars.  Not the best mental space to think about life's greater meaning. 

Mile 5: Who are you?  What do you do?  Why are you here?

This point of the course was one large loop so we had the pleasure of seeing people's faces as they passed us/we passed them-- a welcome change, as I had been staring at wedgies since 8am.  It gave me the opportunity to get to know my fellow Chicagoans: That girl looks like she's on mile 1.  How is her makeup still perfect? Was I supposed to put makeup on this morning!? That guy looks pretty athletic.  Why is he so slow?  Definitely an old knee injury from college…and so on and so forth.  Just making up stories in my mind.

Mile 6:  Do I need a new goal?

Full disclosure: I signed up for this run on a Sunday night after a handful of cocktails.  Considering the bad decisions most people make after a few too many, this was kind of a miracle.  Turns out, having a goal for the month of October was pretty fantastic.  Everyone is good at making excuses when it comes to the gym, but when you have the pressure of public humiliation on the line (slight exaggeration), you train.  Saturday mornings were dedicated to runs instead of bloody mary's and omelets.  Gym sessions lasted an hour+, as opposed to the usual 30 minutes, in-and-out.  Life was on track.  I couldn't help but worry what would happen after I crossed the finish line.  Is this how marathon runners are born?  Let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Mile 6 was devoted to thinking up possible new goals that would keep me on the straight and narrow.  (I didn't exactly come to any conclusions, but I have since signed up for a 10k Turkey Trot- baby steps to a greater goal).

Mile 7: American Horror Story: Asylum

Since Saturday night was spent at home- stretching my hammies and such- I burned through my DVR pretty quickly.  The On Demand Movie selection was sub par, and if we're still being honest, I had already watched "What to Expect When You're Expecting" the day before.  This is how I stumbled upon American Horror Story, Season 2.  Disturbing doesn't even begin to explain how completely messed up this show is.  You're left with a terrible lingering feeling of disgust and- as one may expect- horror.  I took this opportunity (in the friendly light of day) to digest everything I had been witness to the night before.

Mile 8:  Who picked chocolate?

Sure, it worked.  I was definitely lured in, but after 9 miles, who really wants a milk-based treat?  By mile 8 I definitely wasn't jonsin' for a Hershey bar.  I wanted a Gatorade.  Maybe a Luna Bar?  I did however start to think about what kind of meal I could get into later.  When you've burned 1000 calories before 10am, the world is your oyster (or cheeseburger).  Hence, the rest of mile 8 was spent thinking about what I would order for lunch that afternoon. 

Mile 9 (+.2):  Jesus take the wheel.

I'd be lying if I said the last mile wasn't purely devoted to moving my legs just a wee bit faster and asking a higher power to get me across that finish line.  Big thank you to the race organizers for having a) some girl with a megaphone yelling "almost done"- when in reality- we had another mile left, and b) throwing in what felt like a huge &^$%ing hill right at the end.  That was awesome.

Jokes aside- nothing felt better than finishing that race.  A short cool-down walk later and the hot chocolate was actually a welcome treat.  It should also be said that this race raised a boatload of money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities- and that right there is reason enough to sign up again next year.

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Passions & Gripes

Last year I decided to spreadsheet my passions & gripes in an effort to determine my mission in life.  Excel is a wonder tool so I figured this was the logical next step.  The end goal being, I could follow a passion or fix a gripe.

TheStylisted has fortunately been a cure-all to this wondering soul of mine, but you better believe I still add to that spreadsheet purely because it’s fun.

In the realm of beauty, health, and wellness, here are some of my top passions and gripes:

Passion: Any hair salon that gives you a pre-cut scalp massage.  Call me a puppy, I don’t care, nothing feels better than a good head scratch…and isn’t it strange that you can rub your own scalp ‘til tomorrow, but it’ll never feel as good as when a second party does it?

Passion: Napping with golf on.  Science has proven sleep is just about the best thing you can do for your bod- keeps us young, revs our metabolisms, cures the common cold- and in my humble opinion, the best nap you’ll ever get is on a Sunday afternoon with golf on.  1. It’s visually spectacular- lush greenery, sometimes an ocean- very soothing.  2. Every commentator seems to have the voice of an angel- lulls me right to sleep.

Gripe: When all beauty products run out at the same time.  First, it’s tough on the budget.  Second, there’s bound to be one morning/night/shower when you’re up a stream without a paddle, trying to get ready for work/dinner/bed with a toothbrush and a half empty bottle of hotel shampoo that you miraculously found in your suitcase.

**(Solution: my old roommate used to keep a box of samples that I thought was kind of hoard-y, until she opened my eyes to this terrible pain point and said she just rummages the sample box each time this happens- kind of brilliant.)

Passion: Bathrobes.  I think this is something you grow into, but nothing is better than a cushy bathrobe (hence, the Snuggie phenomenon, which we all know is simply a backwards bathrobe- sans tie…though a tie wouldn’t be a bad idea, as my Snuggie often slips off- What? Who said that?)  Pants are fun for public, but for anyone who lives alone, they’re actually the worst, and bathrobes are like the perfect bulky wrap dress (or smoking jacket, for the gents out there).

Gripe: Booking a makeup appointment.  (Did you see this one coming?)  My budget does not permit $120+ salon appointments so if I need to get my makeup done, I’m headed to a department store counter.  Sure, I may like the products, but who am I paying to paint my face?  Walk-in’s are welcome, but on a Saturday afternoon, you better be willing to wait your turn.  Then there’s the question of whether or not to go in your formal attire, or if it’s better to go super early and sacrifice a few hours of wear and tear to get dressed in the comfort of your own home.

**(Solution: TheStylisted  <<drops mic>> )

The list goes on with plenty more delightful passions and miserable gripes (most of which remain unsolved).  At TheStylisted, we're very lucky to be focusing on our passion for health and beauty, while tackling a major gripe of ours.  Beauty isn’t pain…it’s just inconvenient!

Care to share your passions and gripes?

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New Chi City

Both of TheStylisted’s cofounders are thin crust loving, Yankees/Giants New Yorkers who have recently put down roots in Chicago. Whether it’s out of polite conversation or a genuine curiosity, I am often asked which city I like better. I don’t really like this question because I think the comparison does a disservice to both cities. They are wonderfully different.

While many complain that the world’s cities and citizens are falling to Starbucks and losing their uniqueness, I am happy to report that they are not. Only 800 miles from my native New York, I am shocked by how different things are here. Yes, everyone knows that Chicago is cheaper, colder, cleaner and the people are generally nicer and that New York has “this energy,” more restaurants and it’s bars are open later etcetera, etcetera. BUT there are a handful of things – little things that taken together affect my quality of life– that I hadn’t anticipated. I would like to discuss these differences to enlighten those who might be considering a move, and hopefully reassure you that the distinctiveness of our fine cities is in tact.

Where New York has Chicago beat:

• Delivery: Without exception, Chicago restaurants charge for delivery. Not only do I need to pay an additional $3 to get food delivered right to my door, I feel incredibly awkward about tipping. I end up tipping what I would if there were no delivery charge, but I’m a student… and I am lazy.
• Bodegas: The concept of bodegas is completely foreign in Chicago. The closest thing to a corner store is a 7-Eleven. If you want a carton of milk or cookies without any fan fair, well, tough cookies.
• Nail salons: I’ve pretty much given up on manicures because they are $15 in Chicago vs. NYC’s $10 manicure (shout out to Nails Boutique on Hudson Street).
• Safety: I rarely feel unsafe in New York simply because there are always people around. In Chicago, that’s just not the case. Did I mention I was mugged last week…at 1:30pm?

Where Chicago crushes New York:

• Cell phone service on the El: I know that many see this as the end of a civilized society, but most people don’t abuse it and send emails/surf the internet instead of chatting.
• BYOB: SO many restaurants in Chicago are BYOB thanks to difficult licensing laws. Get this - there is actually a nine course tasting menu that is BYOB (and corkage fee is only $2.50).
• Bloodies: Bloody Marys in Chicago are a meal in a glass. You thought a celery stalk was fun? Try a stick of jerky, a cube of cheddar cheese, gherkins, and stuffed peppers. Pretty standard here. Not to mention the ubiquity of make-your-own Bloody Mary bars.
• Music venues: Music is just more accessible here. So many good bands come through and it’s easier to get tickets to one of the many intimate and funky venues.
• Lake Michigan: If you’ve ever seen it, there’s really no need to elaborate. While I realize that few New Yorkers are out there bragging about the East River and the Hudson, Chicago’s 28 miles of lakefront shoreline and 30+ beaches put these bodies of water to shame. 

These are the things I think about as I jog down Lake Michigan, with a slight headache from day drinking, a can of mace tucked in my Lulus, wondering what I’ll have for dinner. Am I missing anything?

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The Unfit Outfit

            My friend Claire and I have had a running competition for the last 5 years or so – who can put themselves out there in the world looking worse? Whenever I find myself walking the streets in an “outfit” that should never have been born (let alone seen by another human), I snap a shot with my iPhone and send it to Claire. My last submission include brown terrycloth pants, a college boyfriend’s XXL hooded sweatshirt, and (here’s the kicker) black leather slip on boots. This ensemble was the lovechild of laziness and hunger. My apartment was freezing (thus the sweat suit), I wanted dumplings and they don’t deliver, and my boots were right at the door and easy to get on. Another submission included a boyfriend’s button down (slept at his place and did a terrible packing job) tucked into an ivory skirt with an old coffee stain the size of my fist. The stain was on my butt so I didn’t notice it until I was out the door…. On my way to work. I kept my jacket on the whole day, which I now realize made the whole outfit that much more awkward.

            Sitting in class yesterday, I realized that Claire and I hadn’t played in a while.  In the last year, I have made a much greater effort to put myself together. Although fashion has never been (and will probably never be) a top concern of mine, feeling good about myself certainly is. When I spend the extra 10 to 15 minutes in the morning making sure an outfit works, or doing something with my hair, I feel better for the rest of the day. I feel more beautiful, I project more confidence, and I have no doubt that those around me are pickin’ up what I’m putting down.

Look good, feel good.

Lauren

P.S. Yesterday I was wearing Lululemon leggings with motorcycle boots. This could have easily been a contest submission BUT I was wearing a long sweater that covered the Lulu logo and much of my thighs. Okay…maybe that’s still terrible…

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