Chic Living

Chic Living MAKING THE SPACE

YOUR OWN DIY WALL ART

15 WINTER 2011 VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1

TIPS ON STAYING SQUEAKY CLEAN

INSPIRING & MOTIVATING PLAYLISTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS HOW TO THROW THE PERFECT COCKTAIL PARTY

CONTENTS

7 Chic Living

WINTER 2011 VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1

DEPARTMENTS 05

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

06

DECORATE

By Christine Bradway

09 10 12 13

Show off and decorate your spaces New ways to use picture frames Make an old chair look new How to make your own wall art The makings to a great room

14

ORGANIZE

15 17

Great ways to stay neat and tidy Tips on keeping squeaky clean Checklist for your new place

26

RELAX

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Playlists for all occasions

28 ENTERTAIN

Entertain your guests with the perfect cocktail party

31 HODGEPODGE 32

Apartment Therapy’s tips for small spaces The Chic Girl | Rachel Neal

FEATURES 18 MAKING IT YOUR OWN

Meet a college-age couple who renovated a rental with a cheap budget and made it their own.

Like Studio Ten 25 owner, Abbe Fenimore’s living room? See what she does with shelves!

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A young couple makes their space their own

HELLO FROM

CHICLIVING MAGAZINE FALL | WINTER 2011

CHRISTINE BRADWAY

EDITOR | DESIGNER WRITER | PHOTOGRAPHER ILLUSTRATOR

ABBE FENIMORE

INTERIOR DESIGNER BLOGGER

LINDSEY STUFFEL

KATELIN CARTER

SARA LING

AMY BRADWAY

FEATURES WRITER

WRITER | ILLUSTRATOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

ILLUSTRATOR

M E E T T H E S TA F F AND CONTRIBUTORS A big thank you to all of our staff members and contributors at Chic Living.

Without them this magazine would not have been possible.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

t

he creative process is a long and difficult one. First we come up with a concept. We all have concepts and ideas—some worth accomplishing, some not. We form an idea and decide what it is we want to do. Then comes the forming and building of our product. We see progress in this stage; however sometimes not as much as we would like. We get excited or discouraged depending on our headway and where we’re taking our creation. We solve problems and learn along the way. Careful planning, researching, techniques or anything else we apply in this process start to pay off. We critique and revise the content, critique and revise again, and repeat over and over until we have our final product. Sometimes we stray from our original idea to find something better, which is when we can modify our concept. When our final creation meets our expectations is when we know that the process was successful.

Chic Living is the final product born from my idea of a magazine that any woman could enjoy and benefit from—a guide to easy elegance, doit-yourself decorating and design, and a fabulous lifestyle. Chic Living offers obtainable ideas and projects for the savvy woman who is looking to decorate and live in a simple but extraordinary way.

I want this magazine to motivate and encourage women to go after what they want in every aspect of their lives.

I couldn’t be happier that Chic Living has been such a successful process, and I hope that you enjoy reading the magazine as much as I enjoyed creating it. I can only hope that Chic Living is successful in that it serves as inspiration and insight to the women who want to live chic because after all, chic isn’t a style, it’s a lifestyle.

Christine Bradway, Editor in Chief bradway@chicliving.com

Winter 2011

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SITTING AREA Make your sitting areas calm and relaxing with cool colors thrown with vibrant accent colors. De-clutter the space so you feel at ease and stressfree. Let this space feel like a getaway from your day-to-day life and the rest of your home. Don’t be afraid to let your personal style come out.

DECORATE

Spaces Brighten up, love and show off your spaces.

BY Christine Bradway

LIVING ROOM Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere for your living room. Don’t be afraid to mix colors, textures, materials, and patterns. Mixing these can add depth to a room. If you have hard floors, rugs can soften the space and make the room feel warmer. You can add flowers to freshen up and brighten the room.

ENTRY

SHELVING

STUDY + OFFICE

Entries give a first impression of your place. Don’t clutter the space, and organize the space in an appealing and inviting way. Use decorative storage boxes, hooks and shelves to store your things. Add color and flowers to make your guests and even yourself feel welcome.

Make your shelves look like a piece of art rather than an extra space to store your things. Organize and de-clutter shelves, and try to only place items that are visually appealing. Stack books on top of each other and add colors that pop and accentuate the other colors in the room.

Arrange your work area so it’s accessible and not too distracting.

You want this space to be relaxing and create inspiration. Organize your books and material so they are handy, but not in the way. Make the space feel inviting by adding flowers, colors, and photos.

This is your work area so let it fit you.

Winter 2011

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DECORATE

The Frame

Let picture frames do more than just hold your pictures.

BY Christine Bradway

Running out of photos to put in all your frames around the house? Picture frames don’t only have to be used to hold those special moments captured by a camera.

Old vintage frames or even frames that do not have their glass anymore can make great decor pieces. Frames are a great way to personalize and add your own chic touches to a room.

OBJECTS can make interesting pieces to place in empty frames that hang on the wall. You can use ordinary objects like the gears shown in the picture on the right, or pieces that mean something to you.

TYPOGRAPHY of any kind can be a great way to add to a blank frame. The photo above shows letters that resemble an eye chart, but you can also make the letters spell actual words. Initials, short inspirational words or lyrics are also good ideas. Have fun with the sizing, formatting and color of your words.

JEWELRY hanging on a frame creates a fun and organized way of displaying your pretty things, and the frame ends up as a useful decor item. You can hang all your necklaces, earrings, and rings, or just show off your favorites.

TRAYS from photo frames can be a beautiful piece to set on a coffee table or ottoman. Place handles on the sides and put photos or fabric on the inside.

These trays can create all kinds of looks depending on the style of frame and the pattern of the fabric.

Winter 2011

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DECORATE

Making It Look New This Studio Ten 25 owner gives a vintage chair a makeover. See how you can re-upholster an old chair with a fresh and fun fabric and get a high-end look on a small budget.

BY Abbe Fenimore Over the holiday weekend my mom and I tackled a mini reupholstery update on a few fabulous chairs. The day we had our “walk through” in the warehouse I was instantly drawn to these chairs. The classic lines and channel back make them the perfect candidates for an update. They had a 12” skirt on them that was tattered and stained and one of the chairs was missing a leg. The wood trim was scratched and worn, I had big plans but that didn’t

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include re-upholstering the entire chair. I knew we could update the pieces easily by using the extra fabric from the skirt. Here is the before picture, a little tough to see because the warehouse was so tight.

The entire project took about 48 hours to complete with paint and multiple trips to the hardware store. We spent $35 dollars on supplies and were able to update the chairs with a high end look.

DECORATE

THE PROCESS STEP ONE:

We removed the damaged skirt and were surprised to find the missing leg hiding out inside one of the skirt panels, score! The ruching along the top of the skirt would be used to create a more modern looking panel along the bottom of the chair…nothing a little starch and a hot iron couldn’t fix. Once we removed the skirt and it’s 50 million staples, we were able to see the gorgeous legs.

STEP TWO:

Painting the legs. I am in love with Rust-Oleum’s high gloss enamel paint! Once we cleaned the legs off with a brush cleaner, the enamel paint was ready to apply. A little TIP, use a foam brush to apply the paint. It does not leave brush strokes and makes it easier to get into the small carvings of the leg. Let it dry for 10-12 hours and the result is a high gloss black finish that looks like a million bucks!

STEP THREE:

I purchased a simple black braided upholstery trim to add that little something extra to the chairs. I wanted them to look tailored and more modern and this trim is the most affordable way to do that.

ABOUT STUDIO TEN 25:

Studio Ten 25 was founded by interior designer Abbe Fenimore in 2007. Abbe’s experience began by representing interior finish products and has flourished from there—encompassing everything from furniture design to commercial and residential interiors.

Abbe’s style—an eclectic balance of vibrant color, a mix of rich materials and a true sense of space— creates beautifully livable and conversation starting atmospheres. Abbe’s work has been featured in Modern Luxury, Dallas Morning News and several popular blogs.

BEFORE

AFTER

Winter 2011

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DECORATE

Do-It-Yourself Wall Art DIY wall art is a simple way to decorate your space and create something that is all your own.

BY Christine Bradway

PHOTO ALPHABET Creating a photo alphabet is easy and can make a great focal point for any room. Art surrounds us nearly everywhere we go, and you can find letters of the alphabet almost anywhere you look. Architecture, household items, signs, and nature are great places to start looking. Some letters stick out, others require you to be clever and use your imagination. You might be surprised at how creative you can be!

What you’ll need

+ Digital camera for hi-res photos

+ Rolled canvas to print art on

Wooden frame to stretch canvas on

PAINTED PATTERNS Painting patterns on canvas is a quick and simple way to add a splash of color to your walls. You can be as plain or as wild as you want. Try painting solid colors, designs, or animal patterns.

What you’ll need

+ Blank canvas

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Paint & brush

DECORATE

The Makings of a Great Room There are hundreds of things that can make a room special, but here are five basics that are a must to make a room truly great.

BY Christine Bradway ILLUSTRATION Amy Bradway

1

2

3

4

5

RUGS

CURTAINS

PILLOWS

LIGHTING

MIRRORS

Rugs make almost any space feel warmer and cozier. When choosing a rug, be sure to pick a material that feels soft on your feet and that will be easy to clean .

Curtains are usually used for privacy, but they can also add warmth to a room.

Choose a color and texture that will stand out against your walls.

Throw pillows are a great accessory to your sitting area, and they don’t even have to match. Choose different patterns to make the pillows pop.

Lighting sets the mood for every room.

Decide on the vibe you want your space to give off, and choose fixtures that match or accent the room.

Mirrors are great decor items because they often make spaces feel larger than what they are. Hang mirrors on the wall or placed on their own.

Winter 2011

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ORGANIZE

Neat + Tidy Stay chaos-free with these cheap, decorative and organizational necessities from our three featured stores, Target, TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby.

MAGAZINE HOLDER

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Target $17

BASKET Target $9

HOOKS Hobby Lobby $5

HANGERS Target $10

BOXES Hobby Lobby $3

CATCHALL TJ Maxx $7

JEWELRY BOX Hobby Lobby $7

MAKEUP HOLDER TJ Maxx $16

HAMPER Target $20

Chic Living

ORGANIZE

Squeaky Clean Tips + Tricks Stay feeling fresh with these basic, helpful cleaning tips.

BY Christine Bradway

Use a sponge soaked in white vinegar or lemon juice to clean your dirty microwave. Set the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Don’t open the microwave for 5 minutes. This loosens the excess food and makes the microwave easier to clean.

Restore your towels by washing them with hot water and a cup of vinegar, then again with hot water and a 1/2 cup of baking soda.

This will get rid of the residue and make your towels look and smell fresh and new. It also makes the microwave easier to clean.

Unclog your drains by combining baking soda and vinegar and pouring down with hot water.

Leave a bowl of lemon slices in your microwave overnight.

This helps get rid of odors left behind from other foods and makes your microwave smell fresh. Leaving lemons in your garbage disposal also helps eliminate unwanted odors.

Clean and remove scratches on an LCD monitor by wiping with a damp, lint-free cloth.

Clean your votives by placing them in the freezer for a couple hours.

Once they are frozen, the wax will shrink and pop out so you don’t risk scratching the glass.

Clean your windows and mirrors with Windex or other glass cleaners and a microfiber towel.

Polish your chrome and other shiny surfaces by using a little bit of cola and rubbing it down with aluminum foil.

Protect your books from dust by hanging a piece of linen above the shelves where the books sit.

Whiten your clothes by letting them dry in the sun rather than in the dryer, if possible.

Freshen up musty books by placing dryer sheets in between the pages and placing the book in a Ziplock bag a couple weeks.

Clean spilled egg by sprinkling salt on the egg, wait 10 minutes then pick up the hardened mass.

Remove mildew in showers by spraying three parts bleach and one part water onto the mildew areas.

Eliminate pet hair by putting on a wet rubber dish washing glove, then wipe the damp glove across a surface. The glove picks up all the loose hair your pet leaves behind.

Clean out food containers by rinsing with warm water and two tablespoons of baking soda to get rid of the smell that food left behind.

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Vases.

Green. Gray. Orange. Small. Medium. Large. Variety of colors and sizes.

To find the store near you, call 800 966 9960 or visit crateandbarrel.com

ORGANIZE

Moving Checklist Moving out on your own for the first time can be very overwhelming, especially when you aren’t sure what you’ll need. This checklist will help you prepare for your move and figure out what you already have and what you still need to buy.

what you need... furniture

kitchen

bathroom

misc.

bed

plates + bowls

shower curtain + liner

rugs

nightstand

glasses + mugs

plunger

curtains

sofa

silverware

trash can

frames

coffee table / end table

mixing bowls

dresser

baking dishes

kitchen

desk + chair

cookie sheets

bath

dining table + chairs

cutting boards

hand

coffee table / end table

knives + kitchen shears

washcloth

shelves

measuring cups + spoons

cleaning cloth

TV stand

coffee maker

lighting floor lamps table lamps ceiling lights

safety smoke detectors CO detectors fire extinguisher

tools

toaster oven mits trashcan skillet saucepan stockpot wooden spoons spatula slotted spoon slotted turner

hammer

ladle

screwdriver

can opener

measuring tape + level nails + screws

plants

towels

decor

don’t forget

cleaning laundry basket laundry detergent dish soap handsoap vacuum broom + dustpan mop + bucket Wiindex paper towels cleaner scrub brush or sponge toilet bowl cleaner + brush stain remover

Winter 2011

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MAKING IT THEIR

OWN With some renovations and a few personal touches, a young couple turned their rental into a place they can call home.

WORDS Lindsey Stuffel PHOTOS Katelin Carter

P

art of moving into a new home, is making it your own. Adding your own personal touches that will tell any person who visits, a little bit about the person, or people, living there. The actual process of this personalization can take many forms. From dramatic renovations, to simply painting the walls, or putting down a unique rug, the act of making a house or apartment a “home” ultimately depends entirely upon the occupant.

Katie Avery, and Andrew Swain were introduced through a mutual friend and coworker. One day, Katie worked up the nerve to add Andrew as a friend on Facebook, and the rest, as they say, is history. They have been together ever since. Once they both decided to take the next step and move in together, they set off driving around the city of Muncie, Indiana looking for houses to rent. About the decision to rent a house, Katie says, “I was sick of living in apartments. I wanted my own space and yard and everything a house offers”.

During their quest, they happened to drive down a random street, where they spotted a house with a “For Rent” sign in the window.

After viewing it, Katie knew she had found her “diamond in the rough”. Having always lived in old houses, she has always had an appreciation and allegiance toward them.

She was able to see a lot of potential in a place that another person might dismiss immediately.

Add an understanding and helpful landlord, and you have the perfect recipe to turn an otherwise undesirable rental house into a perfect starter-home.

Katie and Andrew continued to live in her apartment for nearly 2.5 months, until the majority of improvements were completed, as the house was not nearly move-in ready from the start. The majority of work included painting, and

“

cleaning or replacing flooring...and Katie herself actually added some tasks to the list of improvements due to her inability to keep a paint can upright. With help from their landlord and Katie’s dad, Andy, the young couple was able to accomplish some major projects in a short period of time. The biggest of which, of course, were redoing the entire kitchen and bathroom floors, including taking out the old floor completely, and putting down a new subfloor and linoleum.

Compromise was likely the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Katie says, “I would say the most challenging parts of this process would definitely be compromising on not just the renovating, but the decorating of the house too. However, we came to an agreement and I think we are both happy with the choices we made, and I have definitely learned to compromise a little better.” While the couple seems to have a very eclectic and creative, yet cohesive

”

I was sick of living in apartments.

I wanted my own space and yard and everything a house offers.

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sense of style, Katie’s admitted her own “stubbornness” at times clashed with Andrew’s vision on things such as paint color. Once that was decided, however, it all came together. They agreed to have one base color throughout the house with a dark brown accent color. “I am totally against painting every room a different color. I like it when a house flows well from room to room, and I think it’s a lot harder to pull that off when each room is different. Plus, it’s cheaper when you use less colors.” Katie describes the style of the home itself as “warm”, and states, “I don’t really like modern unless it can fit in with the house, but I also don’t like it when old houses are filled with old antique furniture that make it feel cold”. The decor of the house is indicative of both Katie and Andrew’s personal styles, as well as some special touches from various family members that give a glimpse of where they both came from. Andrew is an avid artist and his artwork decorates the walls. Along with the original wall decor, Katie’s favorite parts of the house also include a built-in, which resides in the kitchen, a mirror she painted that hangs in the bathroom, and the doorway between the kitchen and

entry room, because of it’s character, which is reminiscent of the house itself. Aside from the things handed down from their parents, and Andrew’s artwork, most of the accessories throughout the house were purchased from Target, Hobby Lobby, Meijer and Walmart.

During the summer, Andrew tackled the task of landscaping. He put up a fence to allow their dogs to run free, and also cleaned off the little patio that, through the years of neglect, had acquired a plentiful collection of dirt and dead grass. Flower beds were nonexistent, so, together, they created some. Katie’s mom, Karen, donated some plants from her garden, and Katie also planted seeds of her own, which she enjoyed throughout the season. Andrew dug up the broken sidewalk in the front, and created a walkway to the front porch, from small and medium-sized concrete dug up from the backyard.

They’re not done yet, “I still have some projects for the flower beds outside, but that can wait until this fall or next spring”, says Katie.

Katie describes the entire process as equal parts, exhausting, tiresome, overwhelming and challenging.

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THE BAR: Andrew saw this bar in his neighbor’s backyard. It was obvious it wasn’t being used so he asked the owner if he could buy it. The woman who lived there said the bar belonged to her 10-year-old son. Andrew bought the bar from the son for $50. The bright orange top was painted black when he and Katie moved into their rental.

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November 2011

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“The process of fixing up this old house was definitely all of the above at times, but really, when I look back at the whole experience, it was only a couple months, and it was just a lot of fun and a big learning experience.

My goal, one day, is to buy a big old house and fix it up to live in and raise a family, so this has definitely given us some good experience if we end up doing that one day.� Katie’s parents kept telling them, if they can make it through renovating a house together, they can make it through anything. It seems they have succeeded in that area, as they did make it through, and nine months later, they still enjoy living with each other, in the space they created. They both seem to agree, however, that while it was overwhelming in the beginning, just thinking of everything that needed to be done, once they began the process those feelings subsided as they came closer to making their little rental house, on a random side street in Muncie, their first home together.

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RELAX

The Playlist Create playlists for different occasions that will help you relax and forget the stresses of everyday life.

BY Christine Bradway

D

o you ever wonder why music makes you feel better? Research has shown that music has positive effects on the minds and brains of humans.

Whether you think of music as a hobby or a passion, it has a direct influence on your mood. Some may find that music is incorporated into many aspects of their everyday lives. Many of us wake up to an alarm clock that plays a song, we listen to the radio as we drive, and we shop in stores as music flows through the speakers. We are surrounded by music almost everywhere we go.

Come up with your own playlists to help you relax, feel inspired or get pumped up.

Let music be your escape from the day-to-day grind. We all have many moods and emotions, and there is always music to help us feel the groove.

Chic Living has shared our favorite songs and playlists with you!

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THE GRIND

NIGHT OUT

The Grind is a playlist for the working woman.

These songs are easy listening and make us happy to be stuck on a computer all day.

Night Out is a playlist for when we want to hit the town. These songs pump us up and get us ready for a night of fun.

01. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals

01. Cheers (Drink to That) - Rihanna

02. You’ve Got The Love - Florence + The Machine

02. Let It Out - Girl Talk

03. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People

03. Under Pressure - David Bowie & Queen

04. Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked - Cage the Elephant

04. Rollin’ With My Homies - Coolio

05. Down by the Water - The Decemberists

05. Plug In Baby - Muse

06. Howlin’ For You - The Black Keys

06. Shimmy Shimmy Ya - Ol’ Dirty Bastard

07. Modern Man - Arcade Fire

07. ‘Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

08. Harry & Bess - Ferraby Lionheart

08. Body Moving - Beastie Boys

09. Hysterical - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

09. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

10. Invisible - Ryan Schmidt

10. Get it on the Floor - DMX

11. Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas

11. Sun of a Gun - Oh Land

12. Satellite - Guster

12. LoveGame - Lady Gaga

13. Victory Dance - My Morning Jacket

13. I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones

14. Dressed Sharply - An Horse

14. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake

15. Rock & Roll - Eric Hutchinson

15. Mr. Brightside - The Killers

Chic Living

RELAX

CLEAN + SING

COOK + DINE

Clean + Sing is a playlist for when we have to do the dreaded house cleaning. Turn on some good music and cleaning the house could be fun!

Cook + Dine is a playlist for when we want to make a tasty meal and eat it too. These songs make for a delicious dinner.

01. I Want You Back - Jackson 5

01. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

02. I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King

02. Easy Living - Billie Holiday

03. Joy to the World - Three Dog Night

03. You Belong to Me - Dean Martin

04. I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

04. You Are My Sunshine - Nat King Cole

05. Mr. Jones - Counting Crows

05. I Was Made for You - She & Him

06. Just Another Day - John Mellencamp

06. Crazy for You - Adele

07. So Fresh, So Clean - Outkast

07. Stardust - Louis Armstrong

08. Me, Me, Me - Middle Brother

08. ‘Round Midnight - Miles Davis

09. The Rockafellar Skank - Fatboy Slim

09. True Love Ways - Buddy Holly

10. Groove Me - King Floyd

10. My Sweet Song - Toby Lightman

11. Some Kind of Wonderful - Grandfunk Railroad

11. Like a Star - Corrine Bailey Rae

12. Wild Night - Van Morrison

12. Claire de Lune - The APM Orchestra

13. Spiderwebs - No Doubt

13. Let’s Stay Together - Al Green

14. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations

14. All of Me - Michael Bublé

15. Ooh La - The Kooks

15. You Go to My Head - Judy Garland

SWEET DREAMS

ROAD TRIP

Sweet Dreams is a playlist for the sleepy-eyed.

These songs are soothing and make us all the more comfortable in our cozy beds.

Road Trip is a playlist for when it’s just you and the open road. These songs will keep you company on the way to your destination.

01. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

01. You Wreck Me - Tom Petty

02. It’s a Dream - Neil Young

02. Travelin’ Man - Bob Seger

03. Hotel Chelsea Nights - Ryan Adams

03. Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver

04. The Violet Hour - The Civil Wars

04. California Love - 2Pac & Dr. Dre

05. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine

05. Take It Easy - Eagles

06. The Chances Go Away - Nate Logston

06. Monday Morning - Fleetwood Mac

07. Sea of Love - Cat Power

07. Back Down South - Kings of Leon

08. Fire - Augustana

08. Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Paul Simon

09. Fade into You - Mazzy Star

09. Country Road - James Taylor

10. Skinny Love - Bon Iver

10. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers

11. Strange & Beautiful - Aqualung

11. I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

12. Fix You - Coldplay

12. Up Around the Bend - CCR

13. Life on Earth - Band of Horses

13. Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

14. Moon River - Patty Griffin

14. Fair Weather Girl - Benny Shame

15. Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead

15. The Weight - The Band

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ENTERTAIN

Cocktails for the Chic

Throw a cocktail party and entertain your guests with tasty drinks for the chic.

These recipes and tips will help you be the hostess with the mostest.

COSMOPOLITAN INGREDIENTS + 1 1/2 oz. vodka + 1 oz. cranberry juice + 1/4 oz. Cointreau + Splash of fresh lime juice + Raspberries or lime wedge

PREPARATION + Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice + Strain into a chilled martini glass + Garnish with raspberries or lime courtesy of www.cocktailtimes.com

MARTINI INGREDIENTS + 3/4 cup vodka or gin + 2 tsp. dry vermouth + Cocktail olives

PREPARATION + In a cocktail shaker half full of ice cubes, combine gin or vodka and vermouth; shake well, and strain into martini glass + Garnish with olives and serve courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

MOJITO INGREDIENTS serves 10 + 2 1/2 cups light rum + 3/4 cup fresh lime juice + 3/4 to 1 cup confectioner’s sugar + 3 3/4 cups club soda + 10 large sprigs fresh mint, about 4 to 6 leaves each + Crushed ice + Key lime wedges

PREPARATION + In a large pitcher, combine rum, lime juices, and sugar; stir until sugar has dissolved; stir in club soda + Place mint sprigs in each of 10 glasses; using the back of a spoon to crush mint leaves + Add crushed ice to glasses; divide rum mixture between glasses; garnish with lime wedges; serve immediately courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

COCKTAIL LINGO

stirred drink: not served with ice chips shaken: made in a shaker, then poured in a glass

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double: extra shot of liquor in drink neat: a shot of liquor poured directly from the bottle to the glass up: chilled or prepared, served without ice

straight up: served neat and chilled dirty [martini]: olive juice is added garnish: fruit or vegetable added to drink on the rocks: served with ice

ENTERTAIN

THE PERFECT PARTY BY Sara Ling SET THE MOOD The music and lighting can completely alter the atmosphere of a party. Choose a wide variety of songs, but keep the volume low so that guests can still hold a conversation. Dim the lighting to create a more intimate, party-like atmosphere.

SEATING A well placed couch or loveseat will allow your guests a place to rest and chat, but it is important to have limited seating to encourage mingling and moving around.

Tall cocktail tables are a good place for guests to set their drinks down.

STOCK YOUR BAR The most important part of your party is the wine and spirits you have to offer your guests. In the liquor cabinet, make sure you have at least one bottle each of rum, vodka, whiskey, gin, and tequila. Along with the liquor, have a variety of juices, sodas, and garnishes to create different cocktail combinations. Have a bartending manual handy if you aren’t familiar with cocktail recipes. Be sure to have a variety of white and red wines.

FOOD Be sure to have plenty of food to nibble on. Bruschetta, party dip, trail mix, nuts, and mini sandwiches are all good party foods because they can be held in your hand while you chat with others.

ICE Make sure you have more ice than you think you will need so that you don’t run out mid-party.

ABSOLUTE VODKA

ALIBU M

EARLY TIMES

BACARDI RAZZ

BEER Beer, while considered “unclassy” by some, is the drink of choice for most men. To switch it up from the usual beer lineup, try to find a few microbrews that are locally brewed. Your friends can try new beers and support local brewers at the same time.

DRIVING When it comes to getting home, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure to have the numbers of cab services to drive your friends home. Otherwise, you can have extra blankets and pillows handy for your guests who would like to stay the night.

ABSOLUTE VODKA APPLE

GREYGOOSE GREYGOOSE

PATRON

BUD BUD LIGHT LIGHT

BUD BUD LIGHT LIGHT

BUD BUD LIGHT LIGHT

Winter 2011

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HODGEPODGE

Tips for Small Spaces Apartment Therapy’s Top 10 tips on making the most of tight quarters.

BY Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan

12 4 3 5 6

You’ve got to leave some breathing room. Emptiness allows the eye to travel someplace and rest. Every space will feel bigger if you

leave some things out Well-organized closets are essential. And

if there’s no lighting in there already, always install it—a closet is only 50 percent useful if you can’t see it.

Buy LED rope lighting by the yard and put it anywhere— in your closet at shoe level, as up-lighting on top of kitchen cabinets, and under cabinets for counter lighting.

Create contrast with color. Stain the floor

dark, use light colors on walls, and paint the ceiling a lighter white.

This helps the eye travel up the walls, giving a sense of more

Floor-to-ceiling curtains make walls seem

taller and windows larger. Do this with your shower curtain, too, to create the impression of a big, luxurious shower.

Take the doors off

doorways and closets and replace them with a curtain. Doors are a huge impediment to flow, and they take up space when they’re open.

Have at least three points of light at eye level in each room— and turn them on! By giving your eyes multiple focus points, it creates the illusion of more space.

Mirrors—an old, neat

trick—help make any room feel more expansive, and they double the light.

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Don’t be afraid to go big.

I know a woman with a teenytiny bedroom who built a huge four-poster bed. It made the room into a truly glamorous boudoir.

90

Wash your windows! The eyes

stop at a dirty window, but the gaze travels out, through clean glass.

Winter 2011

31

HODGEPODGE

The Chic Girl

Name: Rachel Neal Hometown: Hagerstown, Indiana Occupation: While running her part-time photography business, Rachel is also attending Kaplan College in Dayton, Ohio—majoring in photographic technology with a portrait concentration.

What she can’t live without: “My camera, my iPod and my computer. Three staples in a photographer’s life. Oh, and dark nail polish.”

Why she loves her apartment: “After moving out of a cozy house in the suburbs, I moved to a rather cool apartment in the city. Making use of the little “places” in my apartment has created a warmth that makes me feel comfortable and inspired. As a photographer, it is important to have these little areas to relax and clear my mind. My apartment is a complete reflection of me. I love walking into a room and seeing nothing but things I love.”

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Chic Living

Why she is chic: “I am into details. I am addicted to fashion and home decor. I photograph everyone as if they were the only super model in the world. I am madly in love with what I have done and what I am capable of. All of these things define me and who I am - a chic girl.”

Her favorite outfit: “My favorite outfit is a pair of leggings with my knee high leather boots, a printed top layered with a sweater and chunky but shiny jewelry. I finish off the look with a relaxed hair style and dark nail polish.”

Her favorite piece of decor: “A vintage glass lamp I found at an antique store a few years ago. Paired with a cream, drum style shade, it fits in perfectly with my glass bowls and containers in my bathroom. Updated vintage - my favorite.”

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