Monday, November 10, 2014
Decorating A Dude Room
stria nightstand | lund nightstand | alexa reclaimed wood | mid-century
i researched some budget-friendlier options, as well, sourced from ikea and target.
malm | malm gray | mid-century | dark gray oak
i know he doesn’t want to spend $400 on the favorite pick so we’ll see… might have to dig out my dusty headlamp and delve deep into the digital caverns of craigslist for a suitable option.
then there’s bedding.
while i toyed with the idea of plaid or hunter green, it looked a bit too collegiate when i put together my photoshop mock-up. i love the look but this guy’s 28 and looking for something a bit more grown-up. the two styles above from crane and canopy are great – charcoal and black and white.
also like these urban outfitters options – gray arrow motif and double stripe. but maybe too young.
i’m a little worried the gray options will be too much gray with the light gray walls.
and this crane and canopy style is also available in a steel blue. so we’ll add it to the list.
so here’s what we’re working with in terms of the room layout.
gray gray gray
as you can see from the before photos, the carpet has seen better days, so i think we’ll cover it up. love this triangle patterned rug from my go-to resource, rugsusa.
in summation…
cubby | bedding | rug | nightstand | light | clock | pennant | floating shelves | hanging bar
but we shall see! all in good time. this will be fun watching it come along… i’ll be updating on instagram also so follow there @alainakaz. and stay tuned for updates!
Monday, November 3, 2014
See here: one proud owner of Mauviel copper pots!
Today, almost five years later, I began my collection.
Thanks once again to the wonderful offerings of Joss and Main, and no, they didn’t pay me to say this, I was able to get three pieces for a fraction of the price of what Mauviel pots usually go for! I picked up a large saucepan, a medium sized stock pot (oh so pretty w/ it’s gold handles!), and a small frying pan perfect for my morning eggs (only $69 down from $210).
Check out their Go Gourmet sale currently going on for the next four days. But hurry – stuff is selling out rather quickly! Above you’ll see a few other favorites of mine, but I of course had to stop at the copper beauties (used up all of my credit in one oh-so-easy fell swoop). But the sale also has Staub and a number of amazing knife brands. Definitely worth checking out!
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Bar Cart Sale on Joss and Main!
Hey all! Signing on to share the good news that Joss and Main has a terrific bar cart sale going on right now-it’s under the “Toast to Festive Style” sale. If I didn’t already have one I loved from Society Social, I’d definitely be snatching up one of these beauties just in time for holiday entertaining and buckets of spiked cider.
I’d probably choose the top right brass style for $178. Which one is your favorite?
Monday, October 20, 2014
25% Off Paris-Inspired Fall Essentials
the accessories:
a great hat
a simple catch-all tote
barrette to pull your hair back
chunky jewelry to jazz up your simple clothes like this necklace and bracelet
the clothes:
a collarless coat
sexy silk blouse to go with everything
classic white button-down
the perfect sweater
white vneck tee
black skinny pants
black slouchy pants
and the shoes are everything:
oxfords and sneakers are on trend this season
booties and tall leather boots are investments that never go out of style
GET 25% OFF EVERYTHING AT J.CREW USING CODE #TGIFALL
AND AN EXTRA 30% OFF FINAL SALE!
Labels:
fall fashion,
fashion,
paris
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Silver or Gold?
I loved both! I mean – that polished nickel is looking pretty shnazzy, is it not? And I found myself wondering if the brass was going to look out of style in a year or two. Which to get? Silver or gold? After a few days of pining, I made my choice. Old dog, I am. Anticlimatic end to this story, huh?
Well, it arrived. And I love it. And to my delight, it has a dimmer! It’s like the gift that keeps on giving! (I’m a BIG believer in the importance of lighting options.)
But all of that being said, I want ya’ll to weigh in. Which would you have chosen? Are you over the brass/gold trend? Or do you believe it’s here to stay another decade?
SHOP MY DESK
lamp | mug | desk | notepad | pinboard | A letter object | magnifying glass
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Pass It On Potluck with Le Creuset
Anywho back to the Potluck. Le Creuset is sponsoring the really fun concept of a Pass It On Potluck. It’s really kind of awesome. This gorgeous Le Creuset Dutch oven in Lapis (that’s the beautiful blue color you see on your screen) arrives at your doorstep eager for you to cook up something delightful in it! The only rules are you blog about it or document it in the journal that also comes with it, then pass it on to the next person (the brand will send you the shipping label to print)! So all you have to do is enjoy cooking!
Oh, and clean the pot.
Easy enough, right? Right.
Another truth. I’ve never cooked anything in a Dutch oven so this was 75% exciting, 25% scary. Fortunately the chilly weather in Chicago’s been having has me all excited for fall so I opted to try a new recipe, something I’ve always wanted to do: a risotto. A baked mushroom risotto to be exact. With dried porcini mushrooms and cremini mushrooms and garlic and white wine… Mmm can you practically smell it? It was good stuff.
I found the recipe at The Kitchn, and it ended up being really easy! I opted to forgo the caramelized onions and craime freche on top like the recipe suggests – it tasted good enough as is. Will definitely be making this again come colder weather. Cozy up on the sofa with a blanket, a glass of Pinot Noir, and all the new fall shows.

Are you going to sign up for the Pass It On Potluck? What would you cook?
Labels:
food
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
LCY Yard Sale: Pottery Barn English roll arm sofa – only $600!
Hey gang! I am selling my Pottery Barn English roll arm sofa. I bought it almost 2 years ago for $1800 plus shipping and am selling for $600 or best offer, cash and carry! It will be available in mid-late September. The only reason I am selling is because I have a new sofa (that The Everygirl designed with Chicago-based Interior Define) arriving next month! See more product details here and on PB’s site here.
Email me at alaina.lcy@gmail.com if interested with subject line ENGLISH ROLL ARM!
Monday, July 28, 2014
The Everygirl and Birchbox, sitting in a tree!
We are so excited to have teamed up with Birchbox this month to offer an Everygirl box, which will contain five Affordable Luxuries – our favorite beauty products priced under $35.
We can’t believe that within an hour, 7500 already-subscribers ALREADY signed up to get this box in August; and now it’s only available to new subscribers. So click over and sign up for only $10 to get this sweet deal delivered to your door step in August!
And Danielle and I answered a short q&a with Birchbox about launching The Everygirl, our beauty routine, and the products we chose – check it out here!
photo by Stoffer Photography
Labels:
affordable,
beauty,
press,
the everygirl
Monday, July 14, 2014
#DAcoachhouse: a plan for the bedroom
my bedroom on move-in day
After I started to hang the gallery wall, I quickly ran out of black and white art. So I flipped through an old issue of Vogue, last year’s issue w/ Tina Fey, and ripped out a favorite snapshot of one of my favorite role models. I think she works well on the wall!
So that’s that! I unfortunately won’t be able to show photos of the finished product until it’s photographed and “published,” which likely won’t be for a long while (hoping next winter). But I’m always posting sneak peeks on my instagram, @alainakaz! Just follow the hashtag #DAcoachhouse to see snapshots of the whole place.
Thoughts?!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
2 Dresses for $50? That’s what I like to hear.
And I just hit “Purchase.”
I told you I like to buy the same thing in multiple colors – especially when that thing is $25. I’ll be bringing these comfy frocks with me to Europe in October!
Everything in J.Crew’s final sale section is an additional 50% off right now. USE CODE TODAYONLY at checkout Hop to it!
Here’s a few favorites:
This jacket that everyone owns and looks great in (including Claire Dumphey)
These too-perfect-for-summer shoes
Would love to wear this to a summer wedding
And a few favorite accessories like this, this, and these dazzlers
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Romp Around
striped romper | black | magenta | multi pattern
Are you a fan of the romper?

image sources: black jumpsuit via With Love from Kat // floral romper via Gal Meets Glam // plant romper via Sequins and Stripes // striped romper image via The Everygirl // black romper via Kendi Everyday
Thursday, July 3, 2014
The 10 Items Getting Me Through Summer 2014
1. Henry and Belle light-weight denim* $184
2. J Brand white jeans $172
3. Strappy sundresses: pineapple dress $41.50 and blue dress $39.50
4. J.Crew Factory peplum tops $32.99
5. Madewell linen tees $35.50
6. Strappy leather sandals: brown $59.50 and gold $175
7. J.Crew heeled sandals $158
8. Ray-ban blue aviators $170
9. Coach white handbag $219
10. BaubleBar dazzly earrings $34
*These light blue jeans are by a local Chicago brand, Henry and Belle, and are hands-down the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever worn. They’re are so light-weight and stretchy, dare I say they’re almost as comfy as yoga pants?
SHOP MORE GREAT OPTIONS

What are your go-to pieces this summer?
Happy 4th of July Weekend!
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