Can't Live Without, Neat Girl Edition

For this week's Can't Live Without, we have the pleasure of reading about what some of the Neat Method girls are loving right now. If you are unfamiliar with this genius, savvy, and highly effective company, now is the time to get to know them. Neat assists clients with everything from closet organization to full house moves and everything in between. They are located in twelve cities across the country, but will also travel to help you with your needs. I was lucky enough to use them for closet organization when we moved and it was amazing. Not only are these girls great at their job, they are women entrepreneurs killing it at helping people live more organized and sane lives. 

So let's see what a few of the Neat ladies Can't Live Without right now…

Mika Perry, Scottsdale, AZ Neat Girl

1. Macbook

2. Sparkling Rose (when not pregnant) Sparkling Water (when pregnant)

3. NARS foundation

4. Diptique L'Ombre Dans Le'au perfume

5. Moroccan Oil

6. Evernote 

Julia Purdy, Columbus, OH Neat Girl

1. Manduka PRO yoga mat

2. Capim Santo Alchemy Slumber essential oil

3. Bluebuds powerbeats wireless headphones

4. Tieks ballet flats in matte black

5. Glambox Tall Tstand for all your long necklaces and layering pieces 

Marissa Hagmeyer, South Florida Neat Girl

1. Trader Joe's Cookie Butter Cheesecake Bites 

2. Land of Nod Stripes Around the Floor Grey Bin 

3. Restoration Hardware Teen Woven Leather Storage Baskets 

4. Starbucks Toasted Graham Latte 

5. Voluspa Baltic Amber Candle 

Katie Koentje, San Diego, CA Neat Girl

1. Wilson Creek Almond Champagne

2. My COACH Day Planner

3. Chocolate NuttZo

4. Ergo 360 Infant Carrier

5. Lavender Essential Oil

Brooke Ruder, Chicago, IL Neat Girl

1. Lattice Bins for scarves, hats & gloves

2. Everlane's Twill Weekender Bag

3. Oxo's Fliplock Glass Canisters

4.  Rails Flannels

5.  May Designs Notebooks

Thank you girls! Happy weekend everyone! 

xo

Erin 

Style Snapshot: Ashley

As one of the founding partners of NEAT Method, Ashley Murphy has seen a lot of closets, a ton of products, and figured out ways to keep things simple and well... neat! I am still amazed at what she was able to do in my home. This chic Chicago mama-to-be shares with us her personal style and her favorite things. 

I am originally from Ohio, but have been a Chicago girl for quite some time now.  I actually left for a brief couple of years to live in San Francisco, but always knew I would be getting back to my Midwestern roots sooner or later.

Ashley & Molly

While in San Francisco I was lucky enough to meet Molly Graves, my now business partner and lifelong friend!  We successfully launched a professional organizing company, NEAT Method and are thrilled to be officially in the Windy City! We figured since San Francisco wasn’t enough, why not take on another city…possibly even two (Minneapolis is in the works…sshhh!!)

And…on top of getting settled back in Chicago and running NEAT, I should also probably mention I am expecting my first baby this October. Ahhhh!!! Luckily, Type A people do best with a full plate!

So given my current belly situation, I am fashionably inspired by anyone who can make                pregnancy look chic.  Unfortunately, the timing of my pregnancy has aligned with celebs such as Snooki. Sooo I’m trying my best to come up with outfits that don’t make me look like I’m giving birth to a full size human. I’ve always kept my style simple and might have a slight obsession with basics. I tend to purge things that I no longer wear, so therefore I hate buying things that are too trendy to last for more than a season. I guess it’s proof that I actually practice what I preach to our NEAT Method clients.

I can always find something to impulse buy at Roslyn and Krista K in Chicago. I never online shop, because why deal with the hassle of returns? I actually only own one pair of maternity clothes: a pair of J Brand 3411 Maternity Skinny Leg Jeans. I am just having the hardest time getting into the whole maternity clothes thing. However, I might be getting to the point that a size bigger isn’t going to work for my ever-expanding belly!

Like my wardrobe, I am also fairly simple in the makeup department. If you were to see what I sported in college, you would be thanking me for getting over the makeup obsession and going with a more “natural” look. I tend to typically throw on a little eye shadow and mascara, finished with some powder and blush and call it a day. For a night on the town, I will spice it up with some eyeliner and fun gloss.

My favorites are: Laura Mercier Buttercream eye shadow, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara, custom mineral powder by Nicole Jacob (a Chicago makeup artist that you must try if you live here), and a blush by her as well. Oh and my favorite gloss is Channel #84. That’s pretty much it though!

Turns out my skincare routine isn’t quite as simple as my wardrobe.  This might be where some of my OCD tendencies shine through. It basically stems from the fact that when I moved to SF, my skin completely changed and I officially had adult acne (did I mention that I’m a bit of a drama queen??). I immediately went into panic mode thinking I would never make any new friends looking this way, which is when I discovered the most amazing medical Aesthetician in the world, Kim from Skin Salvation. I followed her advice and my skin cleared up immediately.  With a few modifications, here is what she taught me and I literally do it every morning and every night. And yes, my friends and family make fun of me…but hey, at least I have friends now!

p Use a clean washcloth to wash your face every morning and every night. No really…a new one every time.

p Rub an ice cube all over your face after every wash. Yep…I really do this too.  And in fact, I think it feels amazing.

p In the a.m. – apply eye cream and SPF

p In the p.m. – apply eye cream and a moisturizer

My favorites are: SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanse, Elta MD spf 45, A Natural Difference Phyto-Pumpkin Moisturizer, SkinCeuticals Eye Balm.

As for my fitness regime? Oh gosh…do we have to talk about fitness these days!? Does standing all day on the job for NEAT count as exercise? I never thought I would be the pregnant girl that couldn’t keep up with her regular fitness routine, but as it turns out…I just can’t. Without a baby on board, I typically am a runner and Pilates girl. For now however, let’s just call exercise on a good day: working, followed by some walking and light stretching.

And…my other interesting life choices…I swear by the Whole Foods on North Ave in Chicago.  It is the size of a small city, and I can get anything I could ever want all while enjoying a glass of wine!  Well, except in my current state…do you think a girl can grocery shop, carry a crying child, and hold a glass of wine all at the same time?  Lets hope so cause I’m only a few months away from doing so!

I’m mostly a vegetarian, but also not afraid to take a bite out of a burger from time to time. I don’t drink milk, only almond milk. I’m a little weird about taking vitamins and will only do so with a glass of juice. I also hate taking medicine, and avoid it at all costs.

If you are still reading this…I should consider you a friend! So, thank you!

Feel free to check out NEAT’s blog to learn more OCD habits! 

NEAT New House

Moving is a real bitch. 

And though the results are always great after the boxes have been put away and the glasses tucked into a cabinet, the moments before that are a nightmare. Even for the most organized of people (sometimes me). 

Our move has gone off without too many hitches and I am happy to say that I am actually enjoying the space instead of obsessing over it. There is plenty of time to decorate, rearrange the vases, and shop online for rugs. 

But you at least want the spaces that you use everyday to be in working order. I was lucky enough to live close by to our new house and move a ton of items myself. Not having to box every kitchen utensil was a godsend. I was even able to set up the kitchen before the movers even showed up. The nursery was next since even though I could sleep on a couch, the baby needs an actual bed.  

Then there was our room/closet/bathroom. The clothes were shoved into the closet directly from wardrobes and toiletries dropped into drawers. And I kept telling myself....

"I will get around to that."

"I will totally organize all this to fit the new space."

"I will absolutely have the time and patience to organize it all."

Lies. All Lies. 

Because though I am a decent organizer, I am one of those eighty percent organizers. I do a great job up until about twenty percent is left and then hurriedly finish the job. The results are a solid B. 

I really wanted to start off on the right foot for this house and calling in the girls from NEAT Method was the best idea I have had since the move. 

They completely transformed the closet to a place that actually holds all of our clothes and makes sense. Every bottle and brush in our bathroom has a place. It is glorious. 

They transferred all of our clothes onto slim, no-slip hangers and categorized. Shoes are all in a perfect row. Clutches have their very own shelf. 

Jewelry is easily seen and browsed in clear, stackable boxes. Bracelets hang from an easy to see display. 

 I can actually see what is in those normally messy drawers. 

Products have a place that looks great and is functional. 

I highly recommend NEAT for any organizing you need done in your home. They assess what you need, tackle the leg work, and bring all the supplies. 

Plus, they are a ton of fun. Check out their blog, too. 

xo

Erin