Category: Gift Ideas

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Nordstrom Fall Beauty Trend Week – The Mall in Columbia

Nordstrom Fall Beauty Trend Week started on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at The Mall in Columbia.  I attended the event because I love beauty products and wanted to learn more about the cosmetics brands featured.

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The event (taking place now) specializes in providing promotions such as Oxygen Facials, Hand & Arm Massages, and tips for achieving the perfect Blow Out.  To conclude the week, Nordstrom will present a live interactive morning talk show with a special guest panel!

Visit the online site to register for the Nordstrom Fall Beauty Trend Week near your location.

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Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Amazon Echo Smart Speaker – Lifestyle Tip

Presenting your new assistant and lifesaving product: the Amazon Echo

CLICK HERE

You’re probably asking, “what’s this object?”  Watch the video below to find out:

  • Information, music, audiobooks, news, weather, traffic, sports, and more–instantly
  • Controlled by your voice for hands-free convenience
  • Far-field voice recognition hears you from across the room
  • Connected to the cloud so it’s always getting smarter
  • 360º omni-directional audio to fill the room with immersive sound
  • Compatible with Belkin WeMo and Philips Hue connected devices to control lights and switches with your voice
  • Plays music from Amazon Music, Prime Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more

 

 

[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOCeAtKHIc[/youtube]

Accessories /

PANDORA Store Re-Opening – Art of You Campaign

On Saturday, June 20, 2015 I was invited to take part in the grand re-opening event for PANDORA Towson Town Center.  The event revealed their new store design which complimented the campaign, “Art of You.”

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PANDORA’s “Art of You” campaign invites consumers to embrace the self-creator within and tell their unique life story.  I was excited to attend the event because I am collector of PANDORA bracelets and charms.  My bracelet (s) allow me to wear those memories daily.  I also like the quality of their jewelry ranging from silver, gold, and diamond.

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The event was also very informative.  I received a store tour, viewed jewelry, and learned more about the company’s overall philsophy.  Store associate (whose name was also Kim) shared their most popular ring this season due to Selena Gomez’s tweet:

Need the princess pandora ring in my life

B22pbuaIQAEZ7U8I could not visit the PANDORA store without making a purchase for myself.  I decided upon the Faith, Hope, and Love charm to compliment my silver bracelet.  This particular charm’s symbolic to my life; Faith and Hope for all things possible while continuing to walk in a state of Love!

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Accessories /

Amazon Prime Now – One Hour Delivery Service

Prime Now, Amazon’s one-hour delivery service, now features a “Father’s Day Gifts” section full of items that dad would LOVE to get his hands on this year. Customers in Baltimore can order through the Prime Now mobile app and have gifts delivered to their door in an hour, including:

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Prime Now also offers tens of thousands of daily essentials and is currently available in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Dallas, Miami and New York.

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Accessories /

Ann Taylor Summer Collection – Shirtdress, Bucket Bag, and Hat

Shirtdresses are one piece wonders for an ultimate feminine look this season – take a cue from today’s New York Times Style Section that features the ladylike look.

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Ann Taylor’s summer collection includes flattering, fun and amazingly pretty shirtdresses for every summer occasion. Be comfortable and confident in the season’s popular trend that is in a class of its own or upgrade your look with an easy transition from work to play on a Friday evening with go-to accessories from Ann Taylor including: a belt, bucket bag, slide sandals and hat.

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Accessories /

Tipsy Elves Memorial Day Tank Top

I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend! I spent the three-day holiday eating barbeque, playing golf with my family, and indulging in Memorial sales. Thank you to Tipsy Elves for sending a fun tank top to wear during weekend festivities.

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I’m actually saving this shirt for Independence Day weekend (smile.)

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Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Summer 2015 Survival Kit: Skin care, Drink Options, and BBQ Set

Summer is around the corner and we’ve compiled your SUMMER 2015 SURVIVAL KIT!

From the latest in skin care to refreshing drink options, milkshake machines and more, below are summer-perfect items to get you through every last sun shining day.

Coconut Oil For Beauty: While most people associate coconut oil with cooking, Extra Virgin Coconut oil actually has a variety of beauty uses and this trendy item can multipurpose as a moisturizer, hair conditioner, teeth whitener, shaving cream, and natural sunscreen. Moreover, most folks would agree that the right facial mask is one that contains coconut oil. Pure, unrefined, and cold pressed, this Extra Virgin Coconut Oil from Carrington Farms coconut oil comes in convenient, portable Paks, so it’s great for toting to the beach or a pool. As an added bonus, coconut oil has been shown to help prevent breakouts, so you won’t have to worry about unwanted blemishes. Priced at $9.99/8- 0.5 oz packets per box at select retailers and online at www.CarringtonFarms.com

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Organic Beach Towels: In Turkey, where bathing has been raised to an art, khadi is the traditional choice for toweling. Coyuchi’s Mediterranean Beach Towels are traditional lightweight Turkish bath towels with a high/low weave for excellent absorption. Woven from yarn dyed organic cotton and edged in hand-knotted fringe. Cotton is 100% organic, and sourced and woven in Turkey. Priced at $68 at coyuchi.com

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Travel Friendly Wine: VOGA Italia’s Baby Sparkling is a mini sized sparkling wine- perfectly portioned for one! With a unique screw top cap, you can easily open and reseal while enjoying a summer picnic lunch or day at the beach! For extra cute enjoyment, pop in a straw and enjoy. No glass needed. Priced at $5.99 at select retailers nationwide.

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Hydrating Coconut Water: Coco Joy is naturally rich in nutrients and hydrating electrolytes and full of sweet flavor from all natural, pure coconut water made from 100% pure green coconuts that contain no added sugar and no preservatives. It’s gluten, lactose and dairy free and is the perfect cool companion to rejuvenate after a day spent under the sun. It delivers antioxidants, calcium and magnesium and has fewer calories, less sodium and more potassium than sports drinks. Coco Joy is brand new to the US and is available on Amazon.com. Priced at $1.90 for 8.40 fl. oz cans and $3.90 for 42 fl. oz. bottles.

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Portable BBQ Set: You’ve got the beverages, now what about the eats? Prepare a serious BBQ at your local park or favorite outdoor spot with All-Clad Stainless Steel BBQ Set. The set includes 4 grilling tools in a sturdy, metal carrying case for easy transport of tools to the grilling area. Priced at $119 at www.macys.com.

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Milkshake Machine: Nothing’s better on a hot summer day than a creamy milkshake! Now with Omega’s milkshake makers you can bring the fun home! The extra-large Stainless Steel blending cup clicks on and off for ease-of-use and serving. The powerful motor and detachable spindle aerates mixtures into frothy, smooth textures for superior whipping results. Priced at $179.95- 399.95 at www.OmegaJuicers.com

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Hot-Weather Ready Pillow: Get your beauty sleep…even on a hot summer night. JuveRest’s The Sleep Wrinkle Pillow’s contoured shape provides comfortable support and improved air circulation around your head keeping you cooler at night. Plus, its patented design minimizes facial wrinkles by promoting back sleeping and compression-free side sleeping. Priced at $179 at www.juverest.com

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Beauty /

Mother’s Day 2015 – Chic Fragrance Gift Ideas

This Mother’s Day, celebrate the woman in your life with a scent that will take the guess work out of gift-giving. Whatever her most unforgettable, beloved quality, there’s a perfect scent for her:

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  • Killer Queen Spring Reign by Katy Perry: Perfect for the mom that is young at heart, this limited edition floral fragrance opens with notes of pink freesia, violet petals and cassis. Heart notes of natural davana and May flower rose balance out the woody base of cashemeran and cederwood oil (30ML /$39.00; 100ML/$59.00, mass retailers).

 

  • Lady Gaga Eau de Gaga: Give your mysterious and daring mother the intoxicating scent of Lady Gaga’s newest fragrance. Built around a beautiful heart of white violet, this scent opens with an invigorating burst of sparkling lime to counterbalance woody-floral intensity, and evolves into a sensual trail based on leather ($34.00, mass retailers).
  • Beyoncé Heat Wild Orchid: For the fierce and feminine mom, this enticing scent both invites and intoxicates those who encounter it. The fragrance opens with a sparkling allure of the tantalizing trio of pomegranate, coconut water and boysenberry. Honeysuckle and blooming magnolia frame the butterfly orchid to create a bold bouquet. The base showcases simmering sexy notes of blond woods, skin musks and gilded amber adding to its sensuality (15ml/0.5 oz $20, mass retailers).

 

Don’t forget about dad on this holiday. For the refined father who is always there for you, give him a fragrance that captures his greatest qualities –Nautica LIFE. With notes of sea salt, marine seamoss and natural violet lead, Nautica LIFE unleashes a revitalizing splash of energy while creating a blissful feeling of magnetism and seduction ($62,50, Macy’s).

Don’t forget to purchase a beautiful bracelet for under $60 from www.stelladot.com

Beauty /

Pamper Mom on Mother’s Day – Epsom Salt Treatment

Moms deserve all the pampering in the world, and with Mother’s Day approaching, you might be interested in an inexpensive way to create an at-home spa for mom.

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Photo from Runner Unleashed.com

Just get some Epsom salt, and it will help give Mom a well-deserved break. Doctors say it might even improve her health!

Here’s how:

For pampering

Epsom Salt can be used to create the ultimate at-home spa, and it’s something several experts and celebrities recommend to help look and feel better. A relaxing bath or exfoliating treatment will leave your skin radiant and glowing.

Tips include:

  • Glowing skin exfoliating treatment: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.
  • Microdermabrasion Facial: Mix 1/2 TSP of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.
  • Bathtime Bliss: Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent.
  • Pedicure Perfection: Dissolve a half cup of Epsom Salt into two quarts of warm water. Pour the water into a container and soak your bare feet for fifteen to twenty minutes. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent. Massage the entire foot with Epsom Salt concentrating on the heels and ankles to remove any dry, rough spots. Then, rinse your feet off with clean tap water and dry them thoroughly.
  • Homemade bath crystals: Mix two cups of Epsom Salt with a few drops of fragrance to create a custom bath crystal. Add a few drops of food coloring or 1/2 TSP of glycerin if you like. Store in an air-tight container.

After Exercising/Boosting Magnesium Levels

Tips include:

  • To ease muscle pain and fading bruises. Add two cups of Epsom Salt to warm water in a standard-sized bathtub (double the Epsom Salt for an oversized garden tub) and bathe three times weekly, soaking for at least 12 minutes.  Also can be used to make compresses.
  • To soothe feet aching from a tough workout or a long day, add a cup of Epsom Salt to a tub of warm water and soak them.

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Those soaks could also boost your body’s level of magnesium – a nutrient that experts say helps your body produce its main source of energy and impacts at least 300 enzyme systems. Over the past century, experts say the amount of magnesium we consume in our diets has dropped by about 60 percent, but here are some tips from doctors and researchers who say soaking in Epsom salt can increase your body’s level of magnesium:

You can get Epsom salt at most pharmacies and supermarkets.  You can learn more at www.epsomsaltcouncil.org or www.facebook.com/epsomsalt

Don’t forget to purchase a nice mother’s day gift from www.stelladot.com