Lifestyle - My Style Pill

In Lifestyle · October 31, 2018

Wedding Planning: Why We Are Using Paperless Post

Truth be told, Nate and I began planning parts of our wedding before we were even engaged. We were friends for a long time before getting together so once we started dating, the whole process just happened fairly naturally. We didn’t know all the intricate details but we knew we wanted things to stay fairly simple and cost efficient. One of the first topics that popped up first was the guest list and whether or not we wanted to send out paper invites or use an online service. Luckily we both agreed that by sending them online, we would not only save money, but it was more environmentally friendly in the end. Win, win!

I started by looking at Paperless Post since I use them for every party and gathering already and really liked their wedding invite options. I love that you can customize them to your liking, plus they have a really pretty selection of designer styles, including Rifle Paper Co, Kate Spade and Crane & Co. I had already considered reaching out to them to see if they wanted to collaborate on a post about the beginning steps of our wedding planning, but they beat me to the punch! I have to say I love it when projects effortlessly fall into place with a brand or company that aligns with my style and aesthetic, and this is definitely one of them.

I mocked up a couple invites below that I thought were pretty and elegant – which one is your favorite?

More to come on this soon, so stay tuned! xoxo

In Lifestyle · April 20, 2018

Earth Day DIY: Turn Empty Aveeno Bottles into Mini Cement Planters!

Guys, I DIYed something! Can you tell I’m very excited about it? I’d like to think my friend Jenni of I Spy DIY would be really proud of me and my efforts, seeing that I don’t often take on crafty endeavors, but in the spirit of Earth Day, I decided that I wanted to take a crack at upcycling one of my empty Aveeno bottles. I was inspired by this post and from that, I created a fun mini planter for my baby air plant.

The directions below are fairly straightforward but please be careful when using an exacto knife to cut the plastic bottle off and away from the cement. It can get a little dicey if you don’t totally know what your doing – case in point, my Dad had to help me in the end so I didn’t get all impatient and accidentally end up slicing my finger. Also, I made the mistake of not coating the cap that went inside the cement and had to pop it out with pliers. Oops.

For more in-depth directions, read this post by Paper & Stitch, which was my original inspiration! xoxoxo,

Christine

In Home Lifestyle Personal · February 14, 2018

Sweet Dreams with Spoon Sleep!

There are so many mattresses out there these days that boast good product design, guaranteeing you the best sleep of your life, but unfortunately not all deliver that promise. I have tried a couple of the “bed in a box” brands and have had both positive and negative experiences, but recognize that it really just comes down to personal preference. But for the past 6 months while home in Seattle, I slept on a very basic mattress that did my back absolutely no favors. I didn’t notice it right away but then slowly but surely, I started waking with the sorest back ever. But luckily the mattress gods aligned and a lovely person representing Spoon Sleep reached out to me about testing out a new bed. I jumped at the chance since my back was just getting worse and it was completely messing with my sleep as well as the quality of my day. It’s now been about two months of sleeping on the new Spoon bed and both Nate and I love it. The brand was super generous and is allowing me to host a giveaway on my Instagram today in celebration of Valentine’s Day so hop on over to my page and find out how to enter to get a free bed!

So, back to the bed. As I was figuring out the photos for this post, Nate suggested we do a fun reenactment of one our favorite Instagrammers, @catanacomics who created a genius GIF of how she and boyfriend sleep next to each other every night. Her feed is one of my favorites and more often than not, Nate and I end up sharing her comics back and forth online with each other because they are just so spot on! We even bought their super cute little digital “stickers” so we are clearly big fans haha! Anyway, below is our rendition of this comic, and according to Nate, the below photos are fairly close to how we (I) actually sleep! Oops, sorry babe!

SLEEP POSITION 1: The Traditional Spoon

We are snuggled up and ready for sleep!

SLEEP POSITION 2: The Face Plant

But apparently I get hot easily and like to spread out.

SLEEP POSITION 3: The Spread Eagle

What can I say, I guess I REALLY like to spread out!

SLEEP POSITION 4: The Separated Spoon

Almost back to where we started, but apparently I am still hot.

SLEEP POSITION 5: The Snug As A Bug

So clearly I go from hot to cold very quickly and also feel the need to take ALL the blankets. Whoops.

Thanks a lot for reading today’s post – it was SO much fun to create! And thanks a million to Spoon Sleep for everything! xo

And make sure to head over to my Instagram page at 9:30EST to enter the Spoon Sleep giveaway for a chance to win your very own new and amazing bed!

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A little bit about Spoon Sleep:

Their beds feature a state-of-the- art supportive sleep technology of Spoon pillars that respond to the body like an innerspring but also withstand the compression or wear and tear of an average sleep. These foam pillars are designed to be the most durable foam in mattresses to-date and literally spoon the body, providing flexible support with each shifting movement. I can attest to this because Nate is bigger and taller than I am and we literally cannot feel each other move around, or get out of the bed. I like that I still know he is next to me, but I don’t get woken up at 2am if the gets up for a glass of water or uses the restroom (or vice versa). Nate also has noticed that his back is no longer tight after sleeping in the bed for the past two months.

A spill-resistant cover guards against spills and accidents and allows for maximum airflow to keep the mattress cool and clean. This part is great for us, because we often like to bring our dinner into bed (bad habit I know but blame it on a small apartment!) and it’s crucial that if we spill wine or food that the mattress is resilient.

Designed and manufactured in the US, the Spoon Sleep mattress is shipped to your door, compressed and easy to move and set-up. Available for purchase exclusively online, prices start at $700 and feature free shipping, returns and a full 100-night trial period. Want to learn more? Visit spoonsleep.com.

In Lifestyle Personal · January 8, 2018

Life Lately and Some News…

Now that it is 2018, I will be celebrating my 10th year of blogging this coming September, which is just bananas! The fact that my decade anniversary is just 9 months away, really got me thinking about where I want to take the blog and what I see myself doing with it in the years to come. And therefore lies the purpose of this post…to let you know why I have been a little absent on here lately, which has mostly been attributed to my move and new bicoastal life, a heavier work load and the need to give myself some time to step back and reflect on the direction I want to take my work.

The recent change in scenery (hello Seattle) has been quite the interesting one to say the least. I’ve decided to save that topic for an entirely different conversation and possible YouTube video, but for those who have been asking, I do still have my apartment in New York and go back about once a month or so to work, see friends etc. However, right now, the majority of my time is spent on the west coast, growing my styling client base, working on various projects and spending time with my family.

If you didn’t know, which you might not, because I don’t really talk about it that much, I also work as a personal stylist/wardrobe consultant/style coach and have as long as I have been blogging. I’ve realized (finally) that it’s high time for that part of my work to become front and center and I couldn’t be more excited about it. That said, I would SO appreciative any feedback on what you want to see on the blog or what types of styling/outfit questions you might have for me! Anything and everything is such valuable information, so please share it all with me!

But, don’t worry, I am NOT going to stop blogging! I will just be spreading my time and work across different platforms, here and on my new site. I really want people to come to my blog and styling website to learn something whether it’s how I styled an outfit over the weekend (blog topic) or the top ten things I think you need to buy now (stylist topic). I will also be giving My Style Pill a facelift this year, which I believe will fill me with inspiration and passion once again for this dear ol’ blog of mine. Regardless, the two sites will be very much a part of one another and I can’t wait to see them flourish!

Photos by: Lydia Hudgens

Stay tuned on Instagram for updates on how everything is going and I will let you know when any major changes are happening! I am so excited for what’s to come in 2018 and I couldn’t be more happy to have you guys along with me for the journey!

In Lifestyle Outfits Style · December 20, 2017

How To Spend an Afternoon at Pike Place Market during Christmastime

I love downtown Seattle at Christmastime. It’s so festive, everyone is bustling about and all the decorations make me smile. Nate and I recently ventured down to Pike Place Market a couple of Sunday’s ago for a project I did for eBay and then ended up just wandering around taking in the sights.

How To Spend an Afternoon at Pike Place Market during Christmastime:

1. Start by walking through the main cobblestone street of the market and check out all the Christmas decorations. There are an abundance of wreaths, lights and trees surrounding the outside of the actual market, which is just so festive and pretty. If you are hoping to grab a coffee from the original Starbucks that is located on the same strip, you’re in for a quite the wait. It gets pretty hairy in there due to the influx of tourists, so I would bypass that and head to Storyville Coffee instead, which is located inside the market. They are on the top floor of the Corner Market building at First & Pike in Pike Place Market. Stand on the red cobblestone and look toward the iconic red neon “Public Market Center” clock-sign, and their building will be on your right. To get to the top floor, take the stairs or the elevator. Watch this video to learn more!

2. Afterwards, take a long leisurely stroll through the actual market and check out all the local vendors. There are so many little businesses tucked away on the different floors, so make sure to take your time and really soak it in. (Make sure to walk past the restaurant that was featured in Sleepless in Seattle!) If you need a little bite to eat, pop on over to The Crumpet Shop located on the 1st avenue side of the market. They have both sweet and savory options and they are simply delicious, especially when they are hot out of the oven!

3. For a break from all the crowds, make your way to the recently opened MarketFront and grab a beer at Old Stove Brewing, (which is also kid friendly). There are amazing views of Elliott Bay/Puget Sound, the Seattle Great Wheel, and you can watch all the ferries coming and going. If beer isn’t your thing, there are other vendors located inside, such as Indi Chocolate if you’re in the mood for something sweet!

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Seattle, especially if you have never been! If you get a chance to go, leave me a comment and tell me what you did and how you liked it!

GET THE LOOK:

Christmas trees, wreaths and twinkly lights, oh my!

SHOP THE LOOK:

Old Stove

Photos by me and Nathan :)

In Lifestyle Outfits Over the Weekend Personal Style · December 12, 2017

What I Wore To Pick Out Our First Christmas Tree!

GET THE LOOK:

On Saturday, Nate and I bought our first Christmas tree together! It would have been super fun to drive out to a tree farm and cut down our own, but we had a pretty packed weekend, so decided to go to local lot near the apartment. I wanted to look festive so I opted for my favorite little reindeer sweater, which is very holiday-centric because I figured, what better place to wear it when picking out a Christmas tree, right?!

SHOP THE LOOK:

And now a few iPhone pics from our day…

This photo cracks me up because we were so excited about our tree and wanted to capture the moment. I handed my phone to the guy who was helping us load it up onto the car, and before I could make any suggestions on how I wanted the photo taken, he snapped the picture, handed the phone back to me and said “that ok?”. This photo has now become a huge joke between me and Nate and we laugh every time we look at. It seriously looks like we placed the phone on the hood of the car, set a self timer and hoped for the best haha!

We ran out of lights, so the bottom half still needs to be wrapped but you can see some of the ornaments we decorated with below, which are mostly from my Grandparents throughout my childhood. We are going to add in some of Nate’s as well, but I can’t wait to start collecting our own especially because this holiday marks our first Christmas together!

Merry, merry! Hope you all have a great day today and thanks for stopping by! xo

In Lifestyle Over the Weekend · October 10, 2017

Over The Weekend: Pumpkin Patches and Puppy Sitting!

This past Friday, I cleared my afternoon and had a much overdue coffee date with one of my best girlfriends at this great little place underneath the Fremont Bridge. It was so nice to sit with her, just the two of us and catch up about life.

Get the look:

Pretty obsessed with my new horoscope tee (I’m a Cancer) that I picked up from J.Crew when I was back in New York. They have all the signs available and they are currently 30 percent off with the code GOSHOP.

Shop the look:

After coffee, I swung by to pick up this handsome pup named Kapono who we took care of all weekend while his parents were on vacation. As a surprise, I swung down by the marina where my Dad was working on the boat to give him a break and get in some puppy hugs. Ever since Barney passed away, I get crazy cravings to hug really big dogs. He slept with me on the bed most of the weekend, and is such a good cuddler. Being around Pono these last few days has been incredibly therapeutic for me and I think my parents as well. Look how handsome he is? He has one brown eye and one blue eye, which makes his face look completely different depending on which side you see. Clearly I couldn’t resist doing a mini photoshoot…

On Saturday, we headed out to a Swans Trail Farm to celebrate a family friend’s sweet little boy who just turned two, checked out the pumpkin patch (snagged a couple to carve soon) and watched hilarious little piglets run around.

Get the look:

Shop my look:

I had another pair of shoes picked out to wear, but am SO glad I grabbed these boots instead because they not only kept my feet dry, but super toasty too. Perfect for climbing hay stacks and walking through the pumpkin patch!

Get the look:

Later on around early evening we decided to take Pono out for a long walk and stop for a beer before meeting friends for dinner. It definitely started pouring on us, so thank goodness for frequent bus stop covers and restaurant awnings! Luckily it wasn’t too chilly and we found a nice little bar with umbrellas so we could sit outside with the pup.

All in all, it was another great weekend spent with people I love, plus one amazing dog.

I hope the past few days treated you well and here’s to a wonderful week! xo

Photos by my Dad and Nate :)

Shop the look:

In Lifestyle Outfits Personal Style · October 4, 2017

This Time Last Year: October 2016

One of my favorite things about having a blog is that it’s like a constant time capsule. Sure, we all have our phones and a lot of take photos everyday of various things, but I like that here, I can always look back to what I was wearing one, two, three (or in my case, nine) years ago because I’ve diligently documented it. It also reminds me what was going on in my life at that moment and I like reflecting on where I’ve been and where I am today.

Case in point, last year around the beginning of October, I was going through a break up with my live-in boyfriend. And although I may look upbeat and cheerful in these photos, it definitely wasn’t easy to put on a good face and smile for the camera every time. Luckily, it was an amicable situation and we are still friends, but it just goes to show you never really know what’s going on in someone’s life no matter what the photos may look like.

That turn of events really set into motion a lot of changes for me that I didn’t necessarily see or know at the time (isn’t that how it always works?!) and looking back, if you had told me a year ago I would be where I am now, I would have probably looked at you like you were crazy. So much has shifted for me since last October but I plan to keep “leaning in” to my 36th year as much as I can, soaking up lessons I’ve learned, and treasuring new experiences and memories.

What were you doing one year ago? Were you going through something hard and frustrating or joyful and exciting? Or maybe nothing in particular was going on. Whatever it was, I would really love to open up a discussion here so please feel free to share below! xo

(Photos by Emily and Krystal)