BCA Finds For Everyday Use

You don’t have to purchase something that you’ll never use again just to show your Breast Cancer Awareness Support. There are tons of items that you’ll be able to use throughout the year, so shop wisely! Below are some of my fun finds that can be used everyday:

Believe it or not scarves are always in style no matter what season it is. I use them in summer to jazz up sun dresses, and in winter to keep my neck warm. This Lindsay Phillips Belleview Scarf ($25) is a vibrant pink and orange color and looks amazing with a plain black dress. For the month of October 25% of the purchase price will go to The Young Survival Coalition and The Mammography Voucher Program at Morton Plant Mease Hospital. You can justify it as an amazing new wardrobe piece that will help fight Breast Cancer!

I am pretty much obsessed with my new Philips Sonicare Toothbrush ($59.99) and I’ve never felt like this towards a brush before. Not  only am I cleaning my teeth, but Phillips Sonicare is a proud sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2010 and 2011, the company will donate $100,000 to fund breast cancer research. Brush away for BCA!

If there’s one thing I don’t leave home without, it’s my Smashbox Lipgloss. This Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss in Forever ($21) was created in a limited edition package, and all proceeds from the month of October will go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Not only does the gloss stay on for hours upon hours, but also protects with SPF 15. This gloss looks stunning on top of a dark red lipstick – you’ll fall in love, I promise!

Breast SOS ($65 for 3oml), a signature product from all natural skin care line La Isha, is a must for every woman who wants to keep their breast and decolette area looking youthful. It helps improve overall color, texture and moisture retention of the skin, and helps to eliminate the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discolorations and restore a tighter, springy resilience. It’s also a favorite amongst Breast Cancer victims as it helps to make breast reconstruction more comfortable for patients with its soothing essential oils. A portion of Breast SOS proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Fund.

Happy Breast Cancer Awareness shopping!

xoxo,
JR.

Boots, A Dress and A Handbag For Under $100?

Yes, that’s correct. I was able to visit Target while back home in NC. It’s a privilege coming from NYC since you have to travel pretty far by subway to get to a store, and all of the good stuff (especially the designer labels) is gone within a day. Plus it’s extremely hard to carry a lot of stuff on the subway ride home. Anyhow, here are my fabulous finds – all for under $100 total:

There were only 2 pairs of these Dolce Vita Buckle Ankle Boots for Target ($34.99) left and thankfully one of the boxes had my name written all over it. They’re very comfortable, and will look awesome this fall with some of my favorite summer dresses and a blazer.

Nude is the new black so I was extra excited when I saw this Xhiliration Ruffle Dress in Nude ($21.99). It’s a great color for every season and I plan on getting a lot of wear out of this. Cute in summer with some sandals and wavy beach hair, and sexy in winter with tall boots, leggings and smokey eyeshadow.

Can you imagine the disappointment on my face when I scrambled to get online the day Mulberry for Target went on sale, only to find that the Cerise Leopard Crossbody was SOLD OUT ($34.99). I was lucky enough to find one in the Raleigh, NC Target but also discovered Milo.com, a genius website that locates hard to find items within your local area.

What would we do without Target?! Stay tuned for several more great finds for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

xoxo,
JR.

Mad About Janie Bryant: Dress Just Like Joan, Peggy & Betty

When I heard that Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant was creating a clothing and accessries line for  QVC,  I became overly excited. Each episode leaves me wanting to head straight to Saraz Closet to search for a Joan-like ensemble.  Her line is called Janie Bryant MOD and the looks are inspired by the 50’s and 60’s with a Mad Men flare. Not only can you now look like your favorite Mad Men character, but you won’t go bankrupt with these fabulous pieces. The collection is very simple and offers lots of layering items in order to accentuate what you already own! Check it out:

Bring out your inner-Joan with the Janie Bryant MOD Reversible Swing Coat ($112). Perfect for wearing over a cocktail dress during fall, and even cute paired with some jeans and riding boots. Slap on some red lipstick and you’ll be instantly transformed. The coat pictured above reverses to a chocolate color – 2-in-1 is always good!

I secretly love Peggy’s innocent “Secretary” look, she pulls it off so well on the show. Janie Bryant created this awesome cardigan ($83.25)  that has a detachable faux fur color. This is a classic sweater that will take you from day to night. Wear it to work without the fur for a more reserve look, and attach the fur for after work festivities for a more sassy vibe.

My favorite collection peice – the MOD 2 Button Faux Fur Coat ($144). It looks just like my grandmothers coat and I can picture Betty strutting around town in this with Sally and Bobby. A great addition to everyone’s winter wardrobe.

My favorite Betty look so far – she looks  sexy and seductive and the jewels are to die for. Janie Bryant created the MOD Timeless Bead Necklace ($44.50) and Timeless Drop Earrings ($29.50) which almost mimic the look pictured above. I am a sucker for vintage and vintage inspired jewelry, and these will definitely be mine soon!

Obsessed yet? There are also a few bags, hats, etc. that weren’t mentioned above – be sure to check them out on QVC.com

xoxo,

JR.

On My Fall Wardrobe List: A Faux Leather Jacket

Sure, pleather used to be un-cool and it was a crime to be caught dead in something faux, but this fall it’s quite the trend. I found some really cool ones for under $100, as opposed to that lovely $550 Alice + Olivia Luiza Leather Jacket at Bergdorf’ I’ve been drooling over. It’s quite trendy too, so spending that much money on a jacket that I may only wear for one season seems crazy. I can purchase a couple faux leather jackets this season, not feel guilty, and still look super stylish!

Check out these fun faux picks:

This Arden B Leatherette Ruched Jacket ($69.99) hardly looks fake with it’s deep, rich chocolate color and gold metalware. The perfect jacket to pear with jeans and a pair of aviator sunglasses. And right now you can buy one, get a second for $10 – WHAT A DEAL! Perfect for a fall birthday gift or you and your bestie can split the cost of $79.99 and both walk away with the bargain of the century.

The Bisou Bisou Ruffle Pleather Jacket from JC Penny looks strikingly similar to the Alice + Olivia jacket I’ve been eyeing, and is on sale for $49.99. It’s a bit feminine and perfect to wear over a dress with some heels for a night out on the town.

I must confess that I’m a bit obsessed with the designers on QVC these days. K-Dash, the Kardashians very own clothing label, made it’s debut on QVC during Fashion Week and has been a huge success. This K-Dash Faux Leather Motorcycle Jacket is just what I need for riding on my boyfriend’s new bike (if he’ll let me that is). The studded metal on the collar makes it uber sassy, and also comes in an Army Green shade. ON SALE for $89.96!

Forever 21 is always a great place to find affordable, trendy items – you just have to have patience to weed through the crowds and half of the Jersey Shore-like outfits for the good stuff! Their version of the Faux Leather Jacket offers a tailored-like fit and is girly yet tough looking at the same time. The most recession friendly by far at $32.80!

And if you can’t get over the pleather factor but can’t shell out a few hundred bucks for the real thing, try thrifting around (one of my favorite hobbies). This vintage 80’s Leather Bomber Jacket is only $89 – who can resist leather from the 80’s?! Check your local Salvation Army or search online – there’s tons of vintage stores and Etsy.com is a great place to start.

Happy Shopping!

xoxo,

JR.

What You Need Now: A Pumpkin Enzyme Facial at Eve

I had the most amazing Pumpkin Enzyme facial ($14o for 60 minutes) yesterday at Eve Salon in the West Village. It’s their new facial for fall and man it sure does work wonders. Although Eileen my amazing facial esthetician says that I’m too young to need a facial, she still managed to make my skin look a few years younger! It’s a perfect way to reverse sun damage and hyperpigmentation, smooth enlarged or clogged pores, as well as get rid of flaky skin cells. Relaxation is also a key component for great looking skin so what better way to relax than spending 60 minutes in Eve?!

The first step was the Pumpkin Enzyme Mask to brighten and even out skin tone, while also improving the penetration and exofoliating effects of products used throughout the facial. A Microderm Creme was applied next, which gently refines the skin’s surface and helps minimize the size of large pores – also great to get rid of blackheads. The last step is adding AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) exfoliation to the mix for an extreme exfoliation that reveals new and refreshed skin! Eileen also told me to lay off the coffee and soda, and to always put SPF on before going out each morning (something everyone should do).

This facial really helped with my fall allergies as well – I came in all stuffy and walked away with clear sinuses! If you’re around the NYC area you should stop into Eve. If you’re not in the mood for a facial, their mani/pedi’s are the best I’ve ever experienced!

You can also opt for the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel for a do-it-yourself solution/to use in between facial appointments. I tend to go only 2-3 times a year for a facial, and use a product like this to maintain my healthy looking skin.

xoxo,
JR.

The Pumpkin: Light It, Sip It, Eat It, Bathe In It!

In order to celebrate the first official day of fall, I wanted to express my love for the Pumpkin as it always reminds me of the cool fall days ahead. With so many pumpkin products out there, these are a few of my absolute favorites:

Light it: Slatkin & Co. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Candle is an amazing scent of spicy pumpkin puree with sweet butter and vanilla cream all blended together – hungry yet? I leave this candle in my kitchen and light it at night when I’m reading on the couch. It’s super relaxing, lasts up to 65 hours of burn time and is only $19.50. I am really picky when it comes to candles, so you can trust that this scent won’t let you down!

Sip It: There’s nothing like a pumpkin spice latte and Starbucks knows how to win me over every year. While I’m not a fan of the rest of their coffee drinks, I can’t resist this warm latte on a cool night mixed with espresso, pumpkin, spices, steamed milk and sweetened whipped cream.

Eat It: How mouth-watering does a pumpkin spice cupcake with a maple-infused cream cheese frosting topped with a fondant maple leaf sound? This is my favorite cupcake on earth, and it happens to be all the way in DC. Although there are many different choices of delicious cupcake shops in NYC, Georgetown Cupcake beats them all by far. Order online for nationwide shipping ($26 for a dozen of your choice, and $29 for shipping). It’s worth it, I promise.

Bathe In It: Philosophy has some of the most amazing scents in their collection of body washes including Cinnamon Buns, Cookies N’ Creme and Cherry Angel Food Cake just to name a few (and they smell just as good as they sound.) Leave it to the brand to create a decadent Pumpkin Spice Muffin and Caramel Apple duo for Halloween for a mere $20. Best part is that you can use these for shampoo, body wash AND bubble bath (mix them together for a delicious fall bath).

What reminds you of fall?

xox0,
JR.