Be. Bangles Giveaway

This time of year, everyone’s thinking of gifts. Whether it’s picking the perfect present for someone you love or wondering what’s inside that pretty package under the tree…it’s something that sort of takes over during the holidays.

But I’d like to take a second and talk about a different kind of gift. I want to talk about talent gifts…which are things you’re naturally good at. Let me give you an example, I have the gift of encouragement. I will complement people ALL DAY LONG. People thought I was a big kiss-up back in my school days, and would always say ‘ok, JULIEN. What do you want?” But I honestly just loved cheering people on with my words!

Someone else using their words to encourage others? This cool jewelry company called Be. Bangles. They inspire girls to be the best version of themselves through their pretty, encouraging bracelets. I love this quote from their website about their mission:

“We’re here to remind you of your greatness. Especially in those moments you’ve forgotten how extraordinary you are.”

— Be. Bangles

Their bracelets have positive sayings written all over them like, “Live what you love,” F*cking Fierce” and “Let Your Light Shine.”

And if that wasn’t cool enough, they also partner with One Girl to give girls in Uganda and Sierra Leone access to education. Each bangle sold can fund a day of education in some of the poorest countries in the world. Each of us has the power to change the world.

In honor of spreading holiday cheer around Christmastime, I’m giving away one of their bangles!! To win the SOLD OUT “Live What You Love” bracelet, just enter below! I’ll be picking a winner this Friday! Good luck!

(And if you want to see a familiar face or are inspired by Be. Bangles, head over to their fundraising page! They’re hoping to raise $20k by the end of the week!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wearing Everlane top, Calvin Klein jacket (similar), Free People jeans, Sophie Blake earrings and Be. Bangle bracelet.

Holiday Lip Shades

I have this vivid memory from 5th grade - I’m sitting in my mom’s car waiting to be dropped off for school. I clumsily threw my hair into a half pony tail (my signature style back in the day) and swiped on some brown lipstick. Next, I got out my blue eye shadow (YES BLUE) and swiped a bit over my eyelids.

How my mother let me out of that car I’ll never know, but such was the start of my obsession with makeup. While I would not (I repeat - WOULD NOT) sport blue eye shadow ever again, brown lips are certainly coming back into style.

This holiday season, I wanted to share three fun lip shades that I’m loving at the moment!

First is this super cool relish brown lipstick from Erwin Gomez (in SAB), a local makeup artist and salon owner. In the tube, this looks sparkly and red, but it’s totally not. When I wear this, I’ll typically forgo blush and strictly stick to bronzer for contouring. It’s such a bold color and I’ll be honest - I wasn’t sure if I’d love it on me…but one swipe and the 5th grader in me was in heaven.

This gorgeous red color seen above is called "Serrano" from Makeup Meltdown. This is your red if you’re not committed to looking like you placed used a red crayon on your face (which is not a bad thing, but not always the look you want!) It has just a touch of pink in it too, which I really love. I only did one coat, but for a deeper, darker red, apply a couple.

Finally, the greatest bright pink shade ("Grenada" by Makeup Meltdown.) This color is not for the faint at heart. It's bright and it's beautiful. This tint would look great with a black holiday dress or even a casual light grey sweater and jeans for brunch out with the girls. I also just did one coat on this one, but if you’re looking for a brighter look, go for round two.

What makes the last two shades so special is that $5 from the $20 retail price of each lipstick will be going The Beauty Bus Foundation, a non-profit that provides "Bags of Beauty" to the terminally ill and their caretakers nationwide.

Hesitant to purchase before trying? You can try out the last two shades by Makeup Meltdown next week at Kendra Scott in Mosaic District on December 10!  And 20% of all Kendra Scott and Makeup Meltdown sales from that evening will go to benefit Active Minds! Hope to see you there!

Wearing Sophie Blake earrings, Everlane tee and Calvin Klein coat (similar)

Cozy Holiday with Old Navy

Each year around this time, I start to prepare. I find myself buying ALL the scarves, inviting in a new winter coat and hunting for a pair of boots to keep my toes warm and toasty. You’d think I was getting ready for an apocalypse or something! But I KNOW come winter, I’ll stop trying to look cute and just focus on staying warm.

Thankfully, Old Navy has tons of cute and cozy pieces! I’ll admit, I haven’t shopped at Old Navy since their flip flop craze took off back in middle school…but I was very pleasantly surprised when I recently ordered a few items from them!

This scarf is the ultimate cozy piece. I’ve received countless compliments on it every time I’ve worn it (which is basically every day since it’s arrived in the mail.) It’s from their pop preppy collection, and although I wouldn’t categorize my style as preppy, you KNOW I can get behind a strong check print like this one.

Now onto the skirt - it looks so expensive, but it’s only about $30. WHAT?! YES. True story. And the color is so pretty in person. I wore this to brunch with my gal pals last weekend, but you’ll definitely find me wearing it to work. And for date night. And to the grocery store.

And about this super super cozy sweater…I was nervous about ordering this one because I just couldn’t tell if it’d be really soft or itchy online, but I’m happy to share that it’s so soft! I wore this to pick out our Christmas tree this past weekend (and basically never took it off, whoops!)

Are you frantically trying to find cozy things to prepare for winter?! If you are, you can shop a few of my other cozy Old Navy picks below! You can save 30% on all purchases using code: EXTRAGIFT

Look 1: Old Navy scarf and skirt (size down) c/o, Sophie Blake bracelet, Via Spiga boots, Finding Ferdinand lipstick in "Scandal" (you can find this at the Sophie Blake pop-up!)

Look 2: Old Navy sweater and scarf c/o, Sophie Blake bracelet, Citizens of Humanity jeans via South Moon Under c/o, Gorjana necklace via South Moon Under c/o and Via Spiga boots.

NUDE Skincare

With the weather dipping into the 30s around the DC area, I’ve really been amping up my skincare regimen. In the summers, it’s easy. A little toner and a dab of moisturizer and I’m good to go. But like the geese fly away to warmer temps for the winter, so did my hopes of moisturized skin.

That is, until I was introduced to NUDE Skincare. GAME CHANGER, you guys! You know when you’re so in love with a product you feel like a crazy person telling everyone you know? This is NUDE Skincare for me.

When I first opened the package, I was kind of shocked to find rescue oil. OIL? FOR MY FACE? Stop. I can’t put OIL on my FACE?!

Or so my naive self thought.

Now I use their rescue oil every morning right after my shower (before my moisturizer) and it keeps my skin super hydrated and soft ALL DAY. Yes, you read that right. All freaking day. And it doesn’t stay oily - it soaks into the skin for a happy, healthy glow. It’s filled with tons of great stuff like botanical complexes, organic rosemary extract, and tons of vitamins, omegas 3s and other antioxidant-rich ingredients.

And the overnight repair mask? Literally the most luxurious stuff I’ve ever put on my face. When I’m feeling too lazy to wash my face before bed, I just think about this mask. I’ll be honest - sometimes it’s the only reason I wash my face.

Another reason I love these products? They’re all-natural, vegan and cruelty-free. A lot of people don’t know this, but I’m a vegetarian because I love animals…so it’s very important to me that my makeup and facial products are kind to animals too.

If you’re looking for some facial rejuvenation and a way to protect your skin this winter, I would highly recommend these. You can shop these and more NUDE Skincare products below.

NUDE Skincare Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil and NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Overnight Repair Mask c/o

Gorjana Holiday Collection at South Moon Under

I really love the holidays. My fear of cold weather melts away and a rush of holiday cheer sets in. I eat way to many sweets that I know I’ll have to work off come January. But I’m too busy making (and subsequently, eating) my famous Italian Christmas cookies to care. Because holidays. (Also because I won’t be wearing shorts anytime soon!)

I also love dressing up a bit around the holidays and always look to find a few sparkly pieces to sport throughout the season. Over the past year, I’ve fallen in love with Gorjana. I really like how the pieces are so simple but have a little something extra. Whether it’s just the right amount of sparkle or hammered texture, Gorjana does it right.

Their newest holiday collection just released at South Moon Under and I got to take them for a little spin on a girls day out lunch this past weekend. I met up with my amazing gal pal, Alicia and my fave photographer, Jen, and headed straight to Momofuku for some noodle noms at City Center. We went about 3 PM (no lines, yay!) and immediately ordered their compost cookies (‘before our meal, please.’) We ate to our hearts delight - so much so that I completely forgot to take an insta to proof we were there. Hate it when that happens. ;)

I’ll be sure not to miss any insta moments this Thursday, Dec. 3 from 6-8 at South Moon Under in Mosaic District - they’re having a Gorjana trunk show to showcase their new holiday pieces! Guests get a complimentary gift with every Gorjana purchase and enjoy 20% all purchases around the store! WHAT! YES, it’s true. And the first 25 to arrive get a swag bag (although you’ll have to beat me to it! I don’t mess around when it comes to SMU swag bags - they’re always the best!) Hope to see you there!

Wearing all Gorjana jewelry via South Moon Under c/o. Erika Schrieber skirt, Tibi tank (similar), Halogen leather jacket, Via Spiga booties, South Moon Under clutch, TasselsBySarah tassel c/o.