Rad & Refined Summer Launch Party

I had the most wonderful time at the Chicago Blogger Network Rad and Refined summer launch party event over the weekend. This is what I wore:

Dress: Swap w/ Kaitlyn (Discovery), Shoes: C/O Sole Society, Bag: C/O Just Fabulous , Watch and Silver bracelet: C/O Kristin Hassan, Skull Bracelet and Necklace: Baublebar, Colored stackable ring set: gift, Stackable silver ring set: Shop Jules, Heart Ring: Self Made (I SPY DIY project)

As a fan of not only Rad and Refined but also both blogs Natalie off Duty and Color Me Nana, I was in blogger heaven this night. Truly!

Natalie, myself, and Dylana

There was shopping to be done, drinks to be had, food to be eaten, and photos to be taken! I had my eye on a maxi dress all night and could not stop coming back to it! I'm so predicable. lol

Myself and Jacqueline of Rad and Refined, me totally dorking out with Natalie (or making her think I'm a total dork, however you want to say it ;) and finally me passing out Because I shop too much cards to the girls! Hopefully they will set their closets up soon! ;)

Jessica and Jill of Style Juncture and myself

Delish cake pops from Coco Mori

And the night would not be complete without a little photo booth action compliments of Shutterbooth!

I was so happy my hubby came with me (he got a glimpse of my world), I hope I didn't make too big of a fool of myself as I am a super fan of both Natalie and Dylana, and I am beyond pumped at the new maxi dress I bought! Obviously you will be seeing it soon on the blog! And obviously I needed another maxi dress. No, seriously I did! ;)
*To book an appointment to shop Rad and Refined Chicago email info@radandrefined.com

CBN Event: Dots

The Chicago Blogger Network teamed with Dots for a night filled with shopping, a styling contest, professional photography, cupcakes, champagne, and candy! I had a blast! Here is what I wore to the event: Dress: via ThirtySomethingFashion Box Service, Shoes: C/O Just Fabulous, Jacket: C/O Sheinside, Necklace: Windsor, All Braceltes: Kristin Hassan, Ring: J Good, Bag: Coach

 Dots just opened a Hillside, IL location (The Hillside Town Center, 120 S. Mannheim Rd. Hillside, IL 60162) and I was blown away! They literally carry anything you could possibly need. Appeal, shoes, belts, under garments, jewelry, bags, and even lip gloss & nail polish! Everything (with the exception of some shoes and outerwear) is under $40!! Score! And to be honest, most items were either $14.80 and $18.80. They have all sizes 0-24 and everything seemed age appropriate for teens through mid 40's. Here are some shots of the store and the amazing treats they had waiting for us:  

I like to call this area SHOE HEAVEN! ;) The selection was truly amazing. How did I not know about Dots before this?!There was a style challenge and this is the outfit I tried on. I had better pictures taken of me by their photographer and will post them when I have them.

 It was my first time wearing print pants and I ended up buying them. Kinda LOVE them. They are so light weight and I adore the fit.  

In the end, I walked out one happy girl! ;) Lots of new clothes, a $50 gift card (which I used right away), and some other goodies too!
 

T + J Designs

Have you guys shopped for jewelry at T + J Designs yet?  All pieces are wearable from day to night and all under $100. Whether slipping into something comfy for brunch or dressing up for a fabulous night out, t+j offers the best in stylish, in-the-moment trendy pieces.

ABOUT T+J DESIGNS

Tiffany and Jen are sisters and the design duo behind t+j Designs. Frustrated with not being able to find the kind of jewelry they were looking for at the prices that they wanted, they created their own mix of modern, stylish and classic pieces. Their aim was to create jewelry for women of all ages, at all stages in life, offering pieces that didn't cost a fortune but would be able to go from work to play easily.

As a member of the Chicago Blogger Network I have met Jen a few times. She is seriously the sweetest girl ever! She is also blogging her way through her pregnancy one amazing outfit at a time over at Red Soles and Red Wine.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the site:

The line also features the Timeless Collection, which showcases beautiful 18K rose gold pieces. With necklaces and bracelets, this collection will make a wonderful treasured gift for a loved one for less than $65.

The growing jewelry line provides chic, mix-and-matchable jewelry for any woman looking to dress the part without breaking the bank. You can check out more of their styles over at T + J Designs website! Happy Shopping ;)

Giveaway: Eucerin Skin Care products and $25 Visa Gift card

As a member of CBN I was teamed up Eucerin for a really great product review and giveaway! Here is some info:
"This month we’d like to send you a “Love Your Skin Kit” on behalf of Eucerin. This care package includes the amazing Eucerin products below that help improve skin’s moisture along with a $25 Visa Gift Card to give your skin care regimen a boost!

• Eucerin Skin Calming Daily Moisturizing Crème (8 oz.) Is a gentle, non-greasy formula that combines calming oatmeal and rich emollients to help relieve dry, itchy skin for softer, healthier-looking and more comfortable skin.
• Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash (8.4 oz.), is a unique body wash formulation that combines soap-free cleansing with omega oils and other natural lipids to nourish and soothe.
• Eucerin Skin Calming Itch-Relief (6.8 fl. oz.) is an external analgesic lotion for itchy skin flare-ups with cooling menthol and natural oatmeal for effective relief that lasts up to 8 hours."

I have been using all 3 products for over a week now and I love all 3!
-The daily moisturizing crème is wonderful. It doesn't leave a greasy feeling and keeps your hydrated and smooth. I have actually been using it on my kids as well. This time of year we all have super dry skin! Gotta love winter! ;)
-I was a little scared of the body wash because it is an oil. I was wrong to be scared! It's wonderful! I get out of the shower already feeling like my skin is not only clean, but also hydrated.
- I used the calming itch-relief on my elbows and ankles. They don't itch, but they are the driest parts of me! This stuff rocks! There is a cooling sensation that happens and it's pretty wonderful! ;)


"For your readers looking for more information about how to take care of your skin, Dr. Sarnoff and Dr. Ingleton, your 2012 Eucerin Skin First Council Members and experts when it comes to the health of your skin will be sharing their tips and answering your questions for healthy, lovely skin on the Eucerin Facebook page.

When your readers visit the Eucerin Facebook page, they can get a FREE sample of the Eucerin Skin Calming Crème to help keep their skin moisturized and looking healthy this winter! All they have to do to receive a sample is “like” the Eucerin Facebook Page and follow the instructions on how to take the Eucerin Skin First Pledge."

To enter to win all 3 Eucerin Skin care products and a $25 Visa gift card simply "like" Eucerin on Facbook.
-For an extra entry follow Eucerin on Twitter
(leave one comment for each you do)

*This giveaway is open to US readers of 18 years and older. Winner will be announced 3-8-12 at 7:00am. Good luck!

Lara Miller CBN Event

This event was beyond amazing! Here is the outfit that I wore:

Dress: Victoria's Secret, Shoes: C/O Sole Society, Clutch: Threadsence, Cuffs: H&M, Earrings: Erin Gallagher Jewelry, Chain Ring: Tiffany & CO, Black Ring: Lia Sophia

I was invited to Lara Miller's Studio for a photo shoot and party. Our task was to use her clothing and style a look, have our hair and makeup done by Anthony Balthazar & Laura Pederson, be photographed in the outfit, and then just mingle with fellow bloggers, eat, drink, shop, and have fun! Yeah, for sure an ideal opportunity! ;) Here are a few pictures of what clothes and accessories we had to choose from. There were 2 rooms of clothes so these pictures do not do it justice!

Here I am getting all dolled up for the shoot. What do you think of the outfit I choose? I went with Lara Miller's sweater dress, cream sweater slip, and cowl neck infinity scarf.

I also (OF COURSE) wore all Chicago designer's jewelry. Kristin Hassan bracelets and Erin Gallagher Jewelry earrings.

After the shoot I got to catch up with some of my favorite blogger ladies.

And lastly, a shot of me and Lara:

I want to thank the Chicago Blogger Network and Lara Miller for putting on such a great night! Also big thanks to Kind Snacks, Smart Water, Finch Beer, Pop Chips, and Homage Street Food!

I can NOT wait to see all the photos, who will make the 2012 fall lookbook, and who won the 3 prizes (1st prize is $500 worth of Lara Miller clothes!) I will post my photos from the actual shoot as soon as I get them and keep you posted if I won any amazing Lara Miller clothing. And if I didn't win I need to buy that sweater slip I wore ASAP. It goes with EVERYTHING and just clings so perfectly to your body. Kinda think everyone in the world needs this piece. Just saying... ;)

Product Review: Pink Papaya Hand Scrub and Lotion

I received this sample in one of my CBN (Chicago Blogger Network) swag bags. With the winter months taking it's toll on my hands, I decided it was time to give it a try!
The sent is incredible. Smells like oranges and other citrus smells. I also liked how much was in these bottles. I barely made a dent in the 2 containers after one application. That's great because I can use it tons in the super cold months ahead of us!
After scrubbing, rinsing in warm water, and putting a nice layer of lotion on, I put the gloves on my hands. I left them in the gloves for most of the night (then when my son climbed into our bed he was all "gloves off mama!" lol).
My hands were definitely smoother after using this product. They are still dry(ish) so I think this is something that would really help your skin after extended use. I will be using this again for sure!

This weeks "I want what she has!"

This weeks "I want what she has!" goes to Rebecca Ahasic. She is adorable head to toe, but I am loving those shoes!

Heels: $80 (on sale) Rachel Roy

I just love me a great deal but even more so I love it when you meet a super sweet person who (as an added bonus) has great taste too! These shoes are beautiful Rebecca and it was so nice meeting you at the CBN Rent the Runway party last week.

WGN morning news

Dress: Tibi c/o Rent the Runway

On Tuesday morning I was out the door by 6:00am and found myself at the WGN studios around 6:45. We had our hair done by the Maxine Salon again (I LOVE the staff there! I will be going there to get my hair done from now on!) and we actually got to get ready in Bozo the Clown's old dressing room! I have to say, it was a bit creepy with the clown stuff all around, but as a kid who grew up watching Bozo, it was still pretty cool!
We were on live at 8:45am and the segment was a little different from the one we did the day before. There was no studio audience and there was a runway for us to walk! Thankfully there was not enough time to get scared as we were brought in the room and then a few minutes were live.
I think we all did a great for our second time live TV! Here are a few shots from the morning:



The Sassy Peach, Blonde Bedhead, The Clever Clipper, myself, Delve Chicago

I had so much fun with these 4 fellow bloggers and will miss seeing them everyday! A GIANT thank you to Chicago Blogger Network, Rent the Runway, and Maxine Salon!! I had an amazing 2 days with everyone and will miss dressing in designer clothes, having my hair done, and being on TV! ;)

You can check out a video clip from the show here.

Here is a coupon code for Rent the Runway that was given out during the show: RTRLOVESWGN for 20% off at Rent the Runway now through Jan. 31


For the last TV appearance you can check out NBC's 24/7 on January 8th at 12:30am.

Windy City Live

Yesterday morning was so amazing! I headed downtown and found myself at the ABC studios around 6:30am. By 7:30 our hair was getting done by the staff at Maxine Salon and then we did a quick walk through on the Windy City Live set.

By 8:50 we were dressed and ready to go on. I swear I was the only nervous one! These girls are amazing and everyone did such a great job!
Here's a shot right before we went on in my gorgeous David Meister dress. This dress retails for $460, but you can rent it for just $75!!


Delve Chicago, The Sassy Peach, myself, Clever Clipper, Blonde Bedhead

Thank you so much to CBN and Rent the Runway for including me.




**I will be on WGN morning news at 8:45am today wearing another beautiful Rent the Runway look!

**Check out my feature on Dea Rose here.