Charles River Apparel // Giveaway

It’s an absolutely beautiful sunny day here in Boston, and even though thoughts of rain are probably the furthest thing from our minds right now, I just have to tell you about my brand new Charles River Apparel New Englander Rain Jacket because I love it so much! And, to brighten this day up even more, I’m going to give you the chance to win one for yourself! See, I can talk about rain and still keep things sunny!

I hate to admit it, but I can’t remember the last time I owned a proper raincoat. When Charles River Apparel sent me this lovely buttercup yellow jacket I quickly realized what I’ve been missing! Lucky for me, it arrived just in time for a week of rainy weather here in Boston and I was able to make the most of it right away. Remember that rainy Marathon Monday? My new rain jacket kept my dry all the way through to the 7th inning of the Red Sox game before it was cancelled due to the weather that day. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it through without it!

What I like best about this jacket (besides it being my favorite color) is the lightweight material. I feel like a lot of raincoats can be heavy and bulky, but the breathability of this jacket makes it perfect for a warm spring or summer rain. Not only is it totally functional, it’s pretty cute too, and is available in 10 different colors to suit any style. And, if you want to take your jacket to the next level, you can get it monogrammed too!

Charles River Apparel has more up their sleeve than just rain jackets (see what I did there?). I’ve really been loving their Waypoint Birdseye Fleece too! I wore it out for a jog around Castle Island the other day and it was the perfect protection against the chilly breeze. I have a feeling it will be a great addition to my rain jacket on those colder rainy days.

And now, for the fun part! Enter to win the New Englander Rain Jacket in your favorite color! One winner will be chosen one week from today on Thursday May 14th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Marshalls #FabFound Spring Fashion Event

Marshalls has always been one of my favorite stores. Anytime I'm on the hunt for a fab new outfit, purse, shoes, or a unique item for my home, Marshalls is my first stop. It's pretty much basic instinct: Oh, I need to find something amazing for a great price? Obviously I'm going to Marshalls! So, a few weeks ago I was happy to attend a Marshalls event at the newer location in Fenway with my friend Melanie of I Love Love. Hosted by some of Boston's best fashion bloggers, Mon Petit Chou Chou, Extra Petite, I am Khatu, and Neat Bit, the event was full of shopping, giveaways, lemonade, and cupcakes. 

Each blogger set up a display of their favorite items from the store to share while event-goers shopped around. They also prepared baskets full of wonderfully priced items, and in Price is Right style, asked us to guess the total Marshalls price for the products. Whoever had the closest guess got to take the basket home! Everyone who attended the event had the chance to go home with something amazing. 

This was a great opportunity to check out the Fenway store. It was my first time visiting this location, and I was definitely impressed. I'll absolutely be stopping by again so I can shop til I drop!

PS how cute did Noelani look with her favorite Marshalls items and her teeny tiny baby bump?!

Tweet

A Visit to the Wicked Peacock Shop

This past weekend, my sister Carolyn and I took a little trip up to Rockport, MA for the Grand Opening of Wicked Peacock, and I don't think I've ever been to a cuter boutique in my life! Having never been to Rockport before, I knew we were in for a day of fun the second we pulled into town. I felt like I was on summer vacation walking through all of the little shops by the harbor.

When Carolyn and I walked through the doors of Wicked Peacock, we already wanted to buy everything in the store. Between the unique rings, bauble necklaces, stacked bracelets, head scarfs, sunnies, graphic tanks, and adorable scarfs, we had a hard time deciding what to buy. I seriously wish I could make Wicked Peacock my own personal accessory closet!

I ended up taking home the cutest pair of bow earrings and a mint chevron scarf. Carolyn chose a cat head scarf and some amazing sunnies that she can't wait to rock on an upcoming trip to the Caribbean!

Not only were the products in the shop amazing, but the decor was gorgeous as well! Silvana, the shop owner, did a fabulous job styling her new space with the perfect combination of funky, antique, and chic pieces. I mean, take a look at this black and gold display. It totally screams "Gatsby" to me. Don't you think?

If you're in the Rockport area, or are looking for a fun place for a day trip, you seriously need to make your way to Wicked Peacock! With summer upon us, I don't think there's a more perfect time to drop in.

And, just in case you can't make it to Rockport before June, the lovely Silvana is offering a 20% discount off any online purchase just for Creative Soul Spectrum readers through the month of May. Woohoo! Just use the code CSSWP at checkout for your discount!

Many thanks to Silvana for showing Carolyn and I an amazing time during our visit!

Tweet

Wicked Peacock Giveaway

Is there a better way to start a Monday morning than with a chance to win some jewelry? That's exactly what's going on here today. My fabulous sponsor, Wicked Peacock, is offering Creative Soul Spectrum readers the chance to win not one, but two pairs of awesome earrings! Hooray! But, before we get to that, I want to show you some of the awesome stuff that is soon to come to the WP shop.

Last week I got together with Silvana, the founder of Wicked Peacock, for a little photo shoot in Boston, where I got to wear some gorgeous pieces. This first necklace was one of my favorites. I love how funky and unique it is. Wouldn't it be the perfect addition to a spring wardrobe with that bright pop of pink? We then paired the necklace with a beaded leather bracelet and these fun gold bracelets which were just my style. 

I swapped the bold necklace for this fierce tooth necklace which I think makes a pretty bold statement itself. I seriously wouldn't mind adding this piece to my jewelry collection.

Okay, how amazing are these earrings? I felt like a queen wearing them! The black stone paired with gold makes for a stunning piece of jewelry. It was pretty hard for me to return these beauties to Silvana after the shoot was over! It's no exaggeration to say that I love all of the jewelry in the Wicked Peacock shop.

Now, let's add a little WP to your collection shall we? I'm using Rafflecopter, so entering to win these mint and black acrylic earrings is really really easy. Using the options below, the more ways you enter, the more chances you have to win. Plus you can come back and tweet about the giveaway for an additional entry every day until the contest ends. Woo! The giveaway will end on Monday April 1st, and a winner will be announced on Tuesday. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stanz & Co. Hair Tie Winner

Congratulations to Amanda for winning the Stanz & Co. Piñata Party hair tie set, and thank you to everyone who entered! Constanza has added some new sets to her Etsy shop (I LOVE the Seaport and Sweet Sweet Summer packages), so make sure you stop by and check them out!

Stanz & Co Hair Tie Giveaway

I know, I know, it's only been a month since my last giveaway, but this is a fun one and I just couldn't keep it from you! My friend and fellow blogger, Constanza of Stanz & Co., is offering one lucky CSS reader a chance to win a pack of her handmade satin elastic hair ties. And let me tell you, these things are the bomb!

I met Stanz at my very first blogger event last year and we spent the evening chit chatting about life, our blogs, and her business. She told me all about the business of creating and selling hair ties, which she proudly displayed on her wrist, and I was definitely intrigued. I loved how the colorful ties doubled as accessories for your wrist and were way cuter than standard black elastics. Plus they're no damage / no dent so they don't ruin your hair! Shortly after meeting Constanza I ordered a set from her Etsy Shop and now I wear them in my hair and on my wrist all the time. 

I'm so pumped that Stanz & Co. has offered to give a "Piñata Party" set away to one of my readers so you can see how great they are too! I'm using Rafflecop, so entering to win is super easy. The contest will end on Friday the 25th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Infinity Scarf Giveaway!

Happy Friday everyone! The sun is shining, there's only one work week left 'til Christmas, and today I'm doing a giveaway... does it get any better than that? Did you see the "How to Sew and Infinity Scarf" tutorial I did on Prim and Propah last month? Well, I just loved that fabric so much that I decided to make one scarf for myself and another one to give away to one of my readers (that's you)! 

I just love a good infinity scarf, because depending on how you wear it, you can really change your look. Below, you can see three fun ways to wear the scarf.

1. Tie it in a bow for a feminine look. 

2. Loop it around your neck twice so it flows loosely.

3. Loop it around your neck for a casual look.

There are so many other ways to wear an infinity scarf, but these are the looks that I like best. 

I really love the adorable flower pattern on the scarf, and how feminine it is. It kind of reminds me of a water color painting. And, I think the colors make it a great scarf to wear any time of the year. Now let's get to the good part... how to win it!

Since this scarf could make for a fabulous Christmas gift, I'm going to make this a quick giveaway in hopes to get it to the winner in time for the holiday! The contest will run until Wednesday December 19th and one winner will be chosen. Since I'm using rafflecopter, you can enter multiple times for more chances to win. Make sure to come back and enter each day until the contest ends. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
   

Rent The Runway

Last week I attended the Rent the Runway and Bonobos Holiday Party Mixer in Boston, and I am so glad that I did! Have you heard of Rent the Runway? It's so much fun! This company allows you to rent designer dresses for 10% of their selling price, and is perfect for a gal on a budget who wants to dress to impress.  

On top of the dresses, Rent the Runway also carries jewelry that you can rent along with your dress or even separately. They also have stylists who make jewelry recommendations based on the dress you're renting!

At the mixer I was able to take a peek at some of the fabulous dresses available, while sipping on champagne of course, and then was able to try some of them on. This dress was one of my absolute favorites and I can't wait for an event to be able to rent it for!

They also had some of their jewelry available at the event, and oh-my-god I couldn't pull myself away from the table it was displayed on! I learned that while the premise of Rent The Runway is to be able to rent pieces, they also have a line of items that you can buy from.

This Oscar De La Renta Tres Chic ring grabbed my attention immediately, and I didn't want to take it off! It's perfect for any 2013 occasion, as Pantone just named Emerald Green as the Color Of The Year! Another green beauty I spotted at the Holiday Mixer was this Sachin + Babi Illyria Gown.  I'll definitely be adding both of these to my rental queue!

New Years Eve is right around the corner, and I think it's the perfect occasion to Rent The Runway. As someone who usually buys a new dress for New Years and only wears it once or twice, I think RTR might be the better option for me. If you're thinking about trying the service out, now is the perfect time!

I actually wore a Rent the Runway dress to the Holiday Mixer and I loved it! I went with the BCBG MAXAZRIA Guilty as Charged dress, and I was so excited when it was delivered just one day after I ordered it! I couldn't even wait to try it on, but when I did, I loved it even more. Needless to say, I enjoyed every bit of my Rent The Runway experience, and can't wait to rent again!

Disclosure: While I received a complimentary dress rental from Rent The Runway, my thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Tweet      

How to Sew an Infinity Scarf

We're going to be doing things a little bit differently here today. I've written a post on how to sew an infinity scarf, but instead of reading about it here, you can see it over on Prim and Propah where I'm guest posting. Enjoy!

Raising Awareness with Avanti Salon Boston

Today is my fourth Pink Post. So far I've shared the story of a 12 year survivor, talked about how you can show support in a simple way, and how you can participate to raise awareness. Today I want to discuss how you can take measures to protect yourself...

As women, we can't deny how fabulous it feels to step into a hair salon, receive the royal treatment, walk out a brand new woman, and then to be showered with compliments on our new 'do. For the month of October, Avanti Salon on Newbury Street is here to remind us that feeling so beautiful on the outside can owe thanks to being healthy on the inside. 

Raising breast cancer awareness is something that is near and dear to the hearts of the Avanti team, and to keep their clients healthy, they are offering an initiative to remind women to get their mammograms. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month , Avanti is offering haircuts at an amazing 50% off to any woman who brings in their most recent (within the last 3 months) mammogram!  

If you've been putting off making an appointment to get a mammogram, or have simply forgotten to do so, what better incentive than a half off haircut to give you that push! For more information about mammograms check out this Fact Sheet provided by the National Cancer Institute. Now that fabulous feeling that you get from a visit to the salon will feel even better because you'll know that you look amazing on the outside, have a clean bill of health, and you'll have a little extra money in your pocket too!

And of course, I couldn't recommend Avanti without giving the salon a whirl myself. I stopped in last night for a color treatment, (it was finally time for me to say goodbye to the ombre look - aka my outgrown highlights) and I'm happy to report that I had a wonderful experience.

I'm pretty sure that I was put into the hands of the Avanti Dream Team. Rob guided me through my color choice by offering great advice and answering all of my questions. I love the color that we chose and I'm thankful that he took the time to give me some extra tips on how to keep it looking nice. Marc took over for my shampoo, and I think it's safe to say that if it wasn't weird to hire a personal shampooer, I'd do it in a second! From there, Brian blow dried and styled my hair just right so that I left the salon feeling like a queen.

If you're looking to walk out of a salon feeling your very best, Avanti has my highest recommendation. (Check out my new color!) And don't forget that mammogram!

Tweet

Support the Girls With Wacoal

Today, for my third Pink Post, I would like to talk about a company that's certainly doing their part to raise breast cancer awareness. When I received an invitation to attend a "Wine and a Fitting" event from Wacoal, an intimate apparel company focused on "making women look and feel their best", I was thrilled with the opportunity to be able to view their fall collection with my fellow Boston Bloggers. When I made my way into the beautiful corner suite at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, I knew that I could expect to see some beautiful products. What I wasn't expecting, and was pleasantly surprised to discover, was that Wacoal has a huge involvement in raising breast cancer awareness.  

As part of the event, I was offered a fitting by a Wocoal Fit Expert. I learned that Wacoal hosts "Fit for the Cure®" events where for every woman who is professionally fit by one of these Fit Experts, a donation is made to Komen. They also have joined the fight against breast cancer by developing the "Awareness Bra Program". According to their website, "A pink ribbon flag symbol has been placed on each Awareness Bra to serve as a daily reminder that women should take care of themselves, and an informative hangtag instructs them on how to administer breast self-examinations." How great is that?!

As if this company wasn't great enough, for the month of October they are offering some really great initiatives through the use of social media to make donations to the Susan G Komen organization. Their #SupportTheGirls campaign is a great way to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here's how you can get involved...

FACEBOOK:
“Like” Wacoal on Facebook and enter to win a wardrobe of lingerie. Wacoal will donate $1 per entry to Komen.

PINTEREST:
Repin any pin from Wacoal’s ‘Support the Girls’ board with the hashtags #SupportTheGirls and #PinItToGiveIt. Wacoal will donate $1 to Komen for each repin.

TWITTER:
Follow @Wacoal + RT #SupportTheGirls and Wacoal will donate $1 to Komen.www.bit.ly/SuVtmb 

Tweet