Your Stylist AJ | Fashion & Hair Inspiration Blog

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[yourstylistaj]

WELCOME BACK TO THE BLOG! IF YOU'RE HERE THAT MEANS YOU'RE A REGULAR AND HAVE HAD THIS WEB ADDRESS BOOKMARKED! THANK YOU!

Your Stylist AJ HAS MOVED! Please bookmark: http://yourstylistaj.com/ and keep reading :)

XO  AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

Happy Monday! 

I'm so excited to deliver boat loads of pretty this week! Three weddings in three weeks, and I've got the photos to prove it :)

Meet Jen and Nick. Aren't they handsome!? These two are totally giddy over each other and it was so special to be a part of their day. I got the bridal party feeling fancy at Hotel Lincon alongside Shannon O'Brien falsifying lashes! And of course, the above photos wouldn't be so breathtaking if not taken by Emilia Jane Photograhy. 

Congratulations Jen and Nick, can't wait for Sammy to get home so we can have a double date! 

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

So there's no easy way to say this, I'm obsessed with the idea of being a mermaid. Yet plug my nose when jumping in a pool or falling off a surf board. Sammy actually has to look away shaking his head. It's embarassing. I guess this means I'm a poser mermaid, as I'm more about the beached wale mentality. Nevertheless, I can dominate some beachy hair!

Surf Spray is this sexy grungy texture-y product I use on myself and my clients all sumer long, so you can imagine my excitement to learn Bumble & Bumble created a shampoo and conditioner to enhance the look! 

The product is expected to hit the shelves in less than two weeks, but I've been using it and LOVING it. Stay tuned for a G I V E A W A Y.

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

HOLY GIRLPOWER!  If you've been around YSAJ for a bit, you know I'm the biggest fan of girl power, creatives and entrepreneurs. Please meet my dear friend Kady! 

KADYLUXE™ is a new brand of fashion forward activewear inspired by dance and founded in Denver, CO by former NBA dancer Kady Zinke and business partner, Audrey Fedele Hartwell. It's is a brand with big goals and points of difference. The clothing is top notch with a brilliant concept and two chicks with serious drive!

It's easy to help get these girls off the ground. You can support this new business by purchasing a garment, (I bought the moto skinnies... OBSESSED!), and by spreading the word! Because, you heard em, there's a little dance in all of us.

Hop to it!  AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

[yourstylistaj]

With all the ugly in the world, I just wanted to look at some light and fluffy feelings for a bit. We're all staying informed and sending out strength to Boston, and it's weighing isn't it?

This week was confusing and overwhelming. The world has been dark and I've been frustrated. I've decided to surrender to all the things and people that are making me sad, and remind myself that love is the answer. 

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

Day 1. For the zillionth time... 

I've been struggling with a small series of unfortunate events lately. Not ONE big thing has happened or gone wrong, but bunches of little stuff has started to catch up with me. I obviously have been lacking blog post consistency, which sucks. This weekend when chatting to my best friend about life, my career, and the blog, she said, "I just thought maybe you were getting over it." YIKES. 

I'm not over it, I'm more into it than I've ever been. The last thing I ever want to do is publish a half ass blog post, but in the same breath I have to remember that "done is better than perfect". So here I am, getting it done, and as a perfectionist, it will be challenging to post this puppy without rereading multiple times and holding back the honesty a bit. 

I live a life of organized chaos. Some of you do as well, you take on the world, and prefer it that way, but there's simply not enough hours in the day. Others think we're crazy. Someone actually said to me this week, "What could you possibly be doing that you're so busy?" To people like that, I say this...

I have BIG goals, and SO much to give. I take on so much because it makes me genuinely happy, stressed but happy. I STRIVE for balance, and admit I haven't perfected it. The battle of "too busy" is between me and my goals, and to anyone that chooses not to contribute to my life in a positive way, stay out of it. 

So today is Day 1. It's not the first time I've had a Day 1, it's not even the 20th, I've truly lost count. It's embarassing to proclaim motivation for newness when really you feel like the boy who cried wolf, but as long as I'm hungry for a fresh start, I can absolutely make it happen.

Today's Day 1 consists of sitting here writing and publishing an imperfect post, just to get it live. The green and fresh stocked fridge. The laundry currently tumbling. My first workout with a personal trainer. A still drying pale pink, self painted mani. Today is my Day 1 of striving for a more consistent, more productive life with higher return. 

It's not too late, why don't you decide to make today your Day 1 too? XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

Diving back into life and productivity after flying to Florida, driving to New York, and flying back. 

Today has been FULL of returning e-mails and heavy to-do lists but I needed a break to scope the WWW for juicy finds. Here they are! 

A fun T-Swift 22 cover and parody. (& the original is insanely amazing...)

Mint chocolate chip polish... would you ever?

A gorgeous theme and lovely wedding dress.

Sammy's on the Triple A roster! Proud doesn't begin to explain. 

I understand the difference between need and want. 

I've been spotted wearing this repeat offender every other day. 

Can you imagine?!

"READ THIS IMMEDIATELY" -Emilia

My girl Lauren is coming to Chi tonight! We haven't seen each other in YEARS. If you believe in girl power do yourself a favor and add her new BADASS BLOG to your daily reads. 

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

HI GUYS! I miss you!

I've been living in crazybusytown and have been neglecting this little corner of my life! It feels great to be posting!

I've been meaning to dedicate a handful of posts to my favorite products. I'm a hairdresser, but I'm also the ultimate consumer, and try everything out there. My original thought was to do back to back posts on all the products I'm obsessed with, but instead I'm starting a new series. Every Wednesday, you'll find product reviews and things I love on the blog. 

_______________________________

To start, allow me to introduce you to a LIFE CHANGING SHOWER EXPERIENCE. L'OCCITANE products are ALL dreamy and luxurious, but THIS SHOWER OIL is purely decadent. 

I was skeptical. An oil? In the... shower? Doesn't oil repel water? I started imagining myself panicking trying to rid the never rinsing oil in my shower and slipping around like Bambi on ice. But THIS oil, turns into a silky lather when mixed with water. IT SMELLS LIKE A DREAM, it is razorburn's worst enemy, it is the best way to start your morning. 

Now hear me out, this is a $24 body wash essentially. I know that's a lot of money compared to your Dove, Suave or Bath & Body Works that are full of fillers and nasty overpowered fragrances. This is the most justifiable $24 I've ever spent. Do yourself the same favor, you deserve it! ;)

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

Sometimes you have just one of those. One of those days, one of those dates, one of those, "Oh no he did NOT just steal my taxi...", mornings....

This was one of those weeks for me. (I'm blaming the weather.)

I'm human, and gotta keep it real with you. I try REALLY hard to be an optimistic person, but it's not always natural. I've been fighting the negativity all week, and admittedly, failed. EW week, go AWAY already.  

I'm happy to be in my apartment on this Saturday night, solo, with a great book and away from the world. I can't WAIT to spend tomorrow strategizing for a better week next week, but until then, I'm going to RELAX. 

I hope you are having the best weekend ever. 

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

Ahhh... not the screaming AHHH! but the just took your first sip of Diet Coke after a hangover ahhhh...

After 11 hours in heels, I'm in sweats with my hair on the top of my head. I'm accompanied by a cup of tea and fantastic piano as I type up bridal contracts and respond to e-mails. 

Nothing glamorous about my night, but it's undoubtably the best Thursday night I've had since Sammy was in town.  How do you unwind? XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

"Clip in ponytail" doesn't exactly have a classy ring to it... but for a reason unknown to me, I've always wanted to try it. Now that I have, I say it's a win. My hair is already (pretty) long, but this works on almost any length. If you can get your hair into a ponytail, even if it's two inches long, you can absolutely rock this look. 

I purchased the HAIRDO Wrap Around Pony, (in Golden Wheat), and LOOK, it works, and WELL. The steps are actually extremely simple, but I've amped up the look by adding a top section to wrap around the pony to not only better blend color, but look even more sophisticated. 

1. Section off a top portion of your hair, and clip it out of the way

2. Gather the remaining hair into a normal ponytail

3. Align and pin, (most come with built in pins), the extension piece to the top of the ponytail

4. Wrap the seam around your natural ponytail, securing the velcro for a snug fit

5. Now wrap the "extra" piece around the base of the new ponytail, and pin 

6. Unclip your first top section and lightly backcomb for volume if desired

7. Add the top section to the ponytail by wrapping it around the base, and pinning

8. Own it!

If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below and I'll make sure to help! Have fun :) XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

A rebranding has been in the works for a few months now, and I'm ALMOST ready to relaunch Your Stylist AJ and come back even stronger with so much more to share! 

BUT! I couldn't wait any longer to share my new logo. I've been quietly admiring it for weeks and though my new site isn't live yet, I had to give you this sneak peek. 

What do you think!?

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

Everyone loves a fresh start. Since we were children we've been wired to look forward to newness. Fall meant back to school, and we got excited over blank notebooks and gel pens. As adults we shift our attention to the New Year, create resolutions, wipe the slate clean, and start over. 

Any chance I get to "start over", I take. Ridding the old is something that just feels FRESH. Like when the breakup is officially behind you, and you have this amazing chance to reinvent yourself to be a better person and stronger woman. Or move across the country to a new city, or have a career change.  

Over the past week of me being MIA from the blog, I moved, (and have been internet-less). Packed up my life and moved a whopping three blocks, but to a beauty of an apartment almost three times the size of my old studio space. It. Feels. SO. New. 

I've been purging anything I don't need, making space for new things, or just letting space be... space. I've donated loads of my belongings, and tossed a whole bunch too. We tend to hold on to more than we need, or use, and to make space for space's sake is something I think we can all work on. 

If your closet, dresser, hair product drawer, whateverrrr is clustering up your life and routine, get RID of it. Donate and throw things away to make room for freedom. Getting and maintaining that organization is absolutely the best feeling and will carry over in other aspects of our lives. 

Hop to it!  AJ 

It's EASY to donate! Here are some Chicago rockstars that will PICK UP donations from your home!

www.charitypickupservice.com  877-337-3873

Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance  312-655-7510 

Salvation Army 888-574-2587

[yourstylistaj]

Happy Sunday Monday! For most of you, it's Monday, but for many, (all you hairdressers out there), it's your Sunday!

This is my first day off in many a many a moons. From the outside, it seems I travel tons and have the lightest work load. Fair enough. What's really going on though is an overflowing inbox and 12 sticky note to-do lists following me around. 

Today, I'm packing up my life, and preparing to move this week. It's a whimsical kind of Sunday for me this Monday morning. A day of deep breathing, a comfy sweater and slow moving productivity, made possible by the following tunes... 

gregory alan. BIG BLACK CAR

daughter. HOME

the swell season. IN THESE ARMS

rosi golan. HAZY

the civil wars. POISON & WINE

cats and dogs. THE HEAD AND THE HEART

So whether today is the beginning of your week, or you're coasting on the cusp, may you find your mind in peaceful Sunday slowness. 

XO AJ 

[yourstylistaj]

There's a home video my parent's possess of me opening a pair of Dr. Martens on my 12th birthday. It's embarassing and awesome to watch my jaw drop and voice raise an octave as I compare their beauty to that of Duane Engleman- my then "future husband". 

Women have an undeniable magnetic pull to shoes, diamonds, walk in cloests and boy bands. After a long week of travel, work and cancelled flights, I'm feeling like the strongest magnet EVER. 

This week, I'm ordering these boots, and MOVING! Which will score me an extra closet, and storage unit! I've been pinning sparkly things, and listening to the Bieber acoustic album. I know...

So no matter what the week brought you, self medicate with the foolproof quick fixes that work for you. :)

AJ

[yourstylistaj]

There's something about the word change that ignites me all over. The way it begins and ends with this strength against your tongue as you say it. Cchhaannggee.

Change is a neat thing, because we all have our own relationship with it. Some people love change- encourage it! Others fear change- get nervous about it. 

Personally, I think change is healthy and empowering. (So much that I have it tattooed on my body.) For me it brings newness, which I associate with feeling fresh and rebooted! 

This time of year everyone feels a little blah. The holidays are long gone, but Spring is nowhere to be found, in the midwest our skin+hair=DRY. We're searching all depths for some sort of pick-me-up. 

Maybe that's why all my clients are eager to chop their locks. Whatever the reason, for the first time in my 7 years doing this, it seems like EVERYONE is looking to go short. Typically, I'm ultra conservative with length, and ask a zillion questions before proceeding... "How long have you been thinking about this?" "Did you guys just break up?" etc... but lately, everyone who wants this refreshment has brought in a printed photo or pulled up their Pinterest, eager to invite the newness. In that case, say no more... lets do it! 

If you're looking for a fresh start, I say go for it! What's really stopping you? Just let go, it's liberating!

Your Stylist, AJ 

(sorry sis! couldn't resist using these photos!)