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

NOW HIRING!

Thomas West Salon is now hiring! If you’re a recent cosmetology school graduate and looking for amazing training by two motivated rockstars- keep reading! 

Danielle Keller and myself are the educators of Thomas West Salon, and after promoting two amazing stylist to the floor, we’re looking to hire at least one new assistant. Assistants in our program get two hands on cut and color classes every week, and are PAID to learn. 

This is a full time position, and at the end of the program, a full time chair and career at Thomas West Salon awaits. The training is hard work, but with Danielle as your cutting educator, and ME as your color educator, we will help you grow and become the strongest stylist you can be, ready to take on ANY client that walks into the salon. The salon is located in downtown Chicago, right on the river in the Merchandise Mart. 

If you’re interested in working in a creative environment and surrounding yourself with people who want to make you the best you can be please e-mail us at twesteducation@yahoo.com. 

XO
AJ 

Have you heard of Trunk Club?

If you live in Chicago, the answer is most likely yes… but no matter where you are, you don’t want to stop reading.

Trunk Club was started as an alternative for men’s shopping. Shopping for clothes in stores or online doesn’t jive with most men. It’s overwhelming, inconvenient, and you know men… they’d rather spend their time on fantasy football.

After recently attending the TC & GANT private event, I’m totally obsessed with TC… why didn’t I think up such an amazing concept? With Trunk Club, guys get a catered wardrobe without shopping. TC combines top brands, (like John Varvatos! YUM), expert service, (um a personal stylist), and convenient delivery, (like, to your door), resulting in a highly personalized experience that helps guys look their best and saves them time.

We all have a dude in our life who needs a little upgrade. Boyfriend, husband, boss… Help them kick the pleated pants and step into what they deserve. You gotta look good to feel to perform, right? 

The holidays are practically here, my eight week color clients are already booking into 2013… what?! Trunk Club is your holiday gift solution, and my girl Kim Breese, is your go-to stylist. Purchase a gift card with her through December 24 and your man even scores a free pair of socks. You’re welcome ;)

XO
AJ 

kbreese@trunkclub.com 
312.266.8700

Nobody’s perfect, but somebody is perfect for you, and you are perfect for them. That’s what is so incredible for me as an on-site bridal specialist. I witness love, at it’s peak. It’s raw. It’s anxious. It’s humble. It’s vulnerable. It’s innocent. It’s that moment of goosebumps that lasts longer than just a moment. 

When you witness two people that you’re personally close to on their wedding day, it feels straight up Disney. 

Erin and Mike, are perfect for each other. Doing Erin’s hair, and rockin out the looks of so many girls with my bridal team was TOO amazing. Hope this short video by Delack Media Group makes you feel just as warm and fuzzy. :)

XO
AJ 

Happy Tuesday! I’m silly amounts of excited to introduce you to Cettina!

Cettina is a women’s contemporary clothing line that focuses on cocktail dresses and ready to wear separates, as well as CUSTOM pieces. (In case you missed the caps… that was CUSTOM pieces! So cool.) I adore the silhouettes, feminine detailing, and unique color combinations that define the brand.

GET THIS. The line is made in Chicago, (EEE!), with fabrics sourced from the United States, (double EEE!).

The majority of Cettina’s custom work is for bridesmaids. Weddings are all about finding your version of unique, and what better way with dresses for the unique women in your life. Cettina taps into theme, mood, color and fabric preferences, followed by providing sketches to choose from. How much better is that than your typical off-the-rack shopping experience? I know!

Contact info for Cettina available HERE and HERE. :)

XO
AJ

Happy Monday :) 

After a weekend FULL of hair, love and weddings, I’m excited to be back in Chicago, back into the yoga studio, and back to the blog! 

Today, Emila Jane Photography released her super cool promo video. It’s the kind of thing I caught myself smiling at while watching, and couldn’t watch only once, or even twice. 

DO YOU LOVE THE HAIR?! I’m pretty proud of it. Call me maybe? 

Hope your week is full of summer lovin’ and fresh starts!

XO
AJ 

Oh hey Wedding Wednesday!

For the feminine bride looking for “vintage chic” I encourage you to check out BHLDN. 

The dresses are fairly priced and the look more original than most. New Chicago location if you’re in the area. ;)

 XO
AJ 

Starting a blog is a vulnerable and comforting experience. I’ve learned so much about myself through this so far short journey sharing my passions and trade with the world wide web. I’ve gathered ample amounts of feedback, questions, requests and fans, and with that, am ready to address everything in one post.

ON CHICAGO:

“You’re SO lucky you live in Chicago.”

OKAY COMON. I know you know better. It’s not luck. I didn’t WIN my life here in the windy city. I worked my booty off. I moved to Denver, back to Michigan, to Atlanta, back to Michigan, then Chicago. I moved to Chicago with $500, and no job. I lived in an apartment: 4 girls, no a/c, one bathroom. I took a bus to a train to work in what felt like the burbs. I gave away hundreds of free haircuts to get anyone I met in my chair. NOW, I’m obsessed with Chicago, I’m booked with weddings through the end of the year, am the color educator at Thomas West Salon, and you’re reading my blog, all in less than three years. Mission accomplished.

ON BLOGGING:

Everyone seems to be confused as to why I’m doing this. Why I’ve taken on yet aNOTHER responsibility. Those who know me well weren’t surprised, yet weren’t encouraging. They know I, for some reason, kinda enjoyyy being stressed, having tons on my plate and feeling busy. To clarify: Yes. I do enjoy having more to do than I have time for, hence my shopping problem, due to never having clean clothes. The beauty of my lifestyle, is that there’s zero room for boredom, and little room for failure. I make it my mission to get what I want. So for those confused still as to why I’ve taken on creating a website and blogging often, it’s to take on more. To establish a relationship with my clients outside of the salon, to grow my connections nation wide, to prepare a following for when I open a Chicago boutique, to have something for ME. I make men and women feel beautiful every day. It’s instant gratification at it’s finest. But what’s left, is a temporary warm fuzzy feeling, and split ends dusting the floor around my chair. When I come home, I’m inspired by the career I’ve chosen, but loneliness creeps and I miss my long distance boyfriend, when I have no one to tell about all the day I just lived. Blogging is an outlet, a hobby, sometimes yes- a chore, but mostly, it’s evidence. It’s proof of my realness. 

ON MATERIALISM AND MARRAIGE:

I don’t feel materialistic at all. I am a positive inspired woman, looking to spread beauty on the inside AND out. My beauty and fashion aspects of this blog don’t take away from the core of who I am and what I live by. A huge part of my career involves weddings, therefore I blog about them often. This doesn’t mean I have wedding fever. My boyfriend is married to his career, and I’m the other woman. This is OKAY, because I’m married to my career. None of my actions have ever displayed the search of a husband, or wondering if I’ll have a family someday, or wanting the house with a yard, or thinking it’s necessary to have a great big diamond. I’m in love with love, I love my boyfriend and I love my career, one big happy family.

I’m overjoyed with the response I’ve received from this website. Please continue to use the contact tab to ask me anything, or request what you’d like more of. And as always, please remember Your Stylist AJ isn’t a secret! So please like and share the facebook page.

Make it a great week! :)
AJ

Today, it’s one of those days where I’m over the top in love with not only my job, and friendships and cute studio apartment, but this rockstar city of Chicago. It’s beautiful and the energy is consistantly high. 

I walk out of my building everyday and instantly feel like I’m a part of something huge. I owe this city a genuine THANK YOU for making me a part of it. Living in Denver and Atlanta previously were amazing experiences, but I’m a PART of this city and I FEEL that. 

I’m a creature of my environment, and I’m so glad it’s here.

XO
AJ