The Good Girl Gone Blog

Add some Zing to your Beauty Routine with Origins May 09, 2013

As many of you know, I was sick with a nasty cold for about a week before and after the Blog Better Boston: Style Summit. Normally, I would have stayed home in bed watching tv and getting lots of fluids, but when you're the co-founder of a blogger event company, you can't just not attend your own events! Needless to say, it was a tough, Dayquil filled week, but the conference went very well!

One day post-conference when I was still feeling lousy, I noticed someone on Twitter shared a photo of an amazing selection of Origins products from their GinZing line that she received at some sort of event. I responded by saying how jealous I was and that I could really use some 'zing in my week.

To my surprise, Origins responded to my tweet and offered to send me some free product, no strings attached. Boy was I ecstatic! A few days later, I received a very fun package of items from their GinZing line, a collection of products that promise to give your face an energy boost. 

Let me tell you that first of all, the citrus-y smell alone is a pick me up! Add in some brightening mascara and some pretty fabulous cream shadows (I'm a convert- they're great to use as eyeliner) and you'll look as great as you feel. I normally can't stand cream shadows because they weigh down my eyelids and somehow make them itch, but not so with these products- I'm guessing it's because they're made with all of the good stuff (natural and organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils) and none of the bad stuff (parabens, phthalates, etc).

I highly recommend you try this product line. My only (small!) gripe is that the moisturizer doesn't contain sunscreen. I'm OBSESSED with my current nighttime moisturizer (also from Origins) but rely on something with SPF during the day. If I want to wear the GinZing as a daytime option, I'll have to layer on sunscreen as well.

Below you'll find my favorite products from Origins, many of which I've purchased on my own, so you know they're good!

Disclosure: Origins provided me with these products for free, but they did not ask me to do anything in return. In fact, they sent them without a note, so I don't even know who to thank!

The Perfect Bikini for your Curves April 23, 2013

Ever since watching Gidget as a teenager, I've been slightly obsessed with retro bathing suits. Not only are they extremely cute, but they're also great for us gals with curves. Enter Albion fit, a brand that truly gets it.

In addition to selling tons of cute workout clothes, they also offer a wide selection of retro-esque swimsuits that accentuate the good and hide the bad. I was immediately drawn to their high waisted bikini bottom and matching Cha-Cha-Cha ruffled bikini top in papaya. Though I typically go for most any color except orange when it comes to swimsuits, I don't actually have anything against it- if my memory serves me correctly, my current suits are black, red, purple and pink. Well, it's time to make way for orange!

When the suit arrived, it was definitely a darker/shinier orange than I had expected- it sort of reminded me of a gymnastics or dance costume, but it actually looks great on. I loved the bikini top's adjustable straps (you can change them from criss-cross to halter!) and girly ruffles, and was thrilled that upon putting the suit on, I didn't feel the least bit self concious. 

The high waisted bikini prefectly covers some problematic areas, and I'm excited to say I'm no longer dreading swimsuit season.

I'd show you pictures- but my skin is ghostly pale and I wouldn't want to scare you! I think the images from their site are a good represntation of what these suits look like on real girls. That girl in the picture above, she might as well be me.

I can't wait for the warm weather so I can bust out this brand new suit. Want to win your own? Good news, Albion Fit wants you to as well! Simply enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to be my bikini twin!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, you can use code goodgirl15 for $15 off purchases $50 or more through 4/27!

*Thank you Albion Fit for providing me with this adorable bikini. I was not compensated for my review and opinions are entirely my own.

Spring Accessories from 'Gina Made It' March 17, 2013

Greetings! I know it's been a while. Truth be told, the last few weeks have been filled with unpacking and getting settled in the new apartment. We moved in on March 1st, but still have so much left to do.

Just wanted to share a few quick photos of these adorable headbands gifted to me by Gina Made It. I love the bright colors and the simple yet elegant knot detailing. The headbands come in tons more colors and patterns and are available for purchase online and in boutiques across the country.

If you're a Boston gal, you may have spotted them at In The Pink or Flat of the Hill. They look like the quintessential Boston accessory, which makes sense, because Gina was inspired by her New England school days!

A bit more about the brand:

"As a curly haired girl, I always kept an eye out for comfortable headbands to help with those unruly hair days, or to keep the beach breeze from creating a wispy mess! My own line of headbands started after years of creating decorative party headbands for birthday girls and brides-to-be. My younger sister, who at the time was a senior at Marymount School of NY started wearing them to class and girlfriends began asking her where she got her headband.

Mimi’s response: “Gina Made It!”

Will I be wearing my headbands post-review? Sadly, I can't really handle a "hard" headband. I've attempted wearing hard headbands many times thinking "maybe it won't hurt" or "I'll just suck it up," but I know myself pretty well and don't typically choose fashion over comfort. Well, unless we're talking about shoes, and even then I'm trying to be more sensible.

I hope Gina Made It will come out with some soft, stretchy headbands because I really love the designs and the story behind the brand. I might just have to try some of her bun bows for a hint of preppy new England style.

PS- how awesome is the natural light in my new home office? I see a lot of  photo shoots in its future. Well, after I finish unpacking.

Thanks so much for sending these along, Gina Made It!

Disclaimer: I was provided 2 headbands in exchange for  a review. Opinions are my own.

Local Eats: Harvard Sweet Boutique February 21, 2013

I was contacted by Harvard Sweet Boutique a few weeks ago, initially because they wanted to share a recipe for Low-Carb Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Of course, if you're a long time reader, you know I'm allergic to nuts of all kinds, so I wasn't about to share a recipe for a food that, as my mom says, "offends me".

Instead, they sent over a bunch of goodies for me to try. My initial reaction? The packaging is so cute! My selection of nut-free goodies, came in a cute green polka dotted box with pink tissue. The package contained an assortment of brownies (salted caramel, mint chocolate fudge, to name a few) and cookies (oatmeal raisin, ginger molasses, etc).

I attempted to snap a few shots, but without opening the individually wrapped baked goods, I couldn't really get across how yummy they looked...so I'm using their shots instead.

Overall, I found the brownies a little too rich for my taste and was disappointed, because they were the desserts I was most excited about. The cookies, on the other hand- they were yummy! The Ginger molasses was definitely my favorite, with the oatmeal raisin coming in at a close second.

About Harvard Sweet Boutique:

"Harvard Sweet Boutique was founded by Harvard, Mass. resident Sue George in 2007 and gained in popularity as an online retailer accepting orders through its catalog and website. This past November, Harvard Sweet Boutique opened its doors for its first brick-and-mortar store located in Hudson, Mass. The storefront acts as a test kitchen, where treats like homemade pop-tarts, fresh granola, whoopee pies and chocolate covered strawberries are offered! The store front is located at 25 South Street, Hudson, MA 01749.

At Harvard Sweet Boutique, we have the perfect gift idea that is unique, whimsical, and magnificent. Our gifts are even more sensational and adorable than roses and teddy bears, and are also mouth-watering delicious. Send our “Sweets for all Occasions” as a wonderful alternative to flowers and traditional candies. Our beautifully packaged gifts are guaranteed to warm the hearts of your friends, loved ones, and business associates.

At Harvard Sweet Boutique, we believe that baking should be done the old-fashioned way – from scratch. Everything is made lovingly by hand, using only the freshest ingredients. When you order gourmet desserts from us, you can rest assured you’re getting the best, most delicious baked sweet available. Our products are all natural, and made with exceptional ingredients, including rich European chocolate with the highest cocoa butter content, pure 

double-strength vanilla extracts, the finest flours, premium grade nuts, and fresh Grade A butter."

I'd give these goodies 3 out of 5 stars. If you're looking to send someone a beautifully packaged gift, Harvard Sweet Boutique is a great option, especially if you're looking for  gluten free or low carb treats. Some baked goods do contain nuts, so if you have a severe allergy, they recommend you don't buy their treats.

Image c/o Harvard Sweet Boutique.

BeauCoo: An Essential App for Fashionistas November 20, 2012

Have you heard of BeauCoo? No? Well, it's an awesome fashion app that helps you find clothes that fit your body by matching you with women who have similar body types. All you have to do is create a profile and input your measurements- the app will add users with similar proportions to a special feed so you'll be able to see which pieces work best on women  just like you!

When you're shopping, you can snap pictures as you try on clothes and upload them to the app with store, size and fit information. Easy peasy :)

Some screen shots from the app:

I found the BeauCoo easy to use and could definitely see myself using it again in the future, especially as more people who match my body type sign up. The app is still in beta, so I didn't find any fit matches just yet. I'll give it a little time thoug-I'm hoping some other curvy petite ladies sign up soon.

There are definitely a few features I'd like them to alter/add, but the team of BeaCoo has been very responsive to any feedback I send their way, which is great!

From BeaCoo:

Pics on someone your own size! Discover a social style network of women your shape and size for looks, brands and stores you’ll love. 

Want to try it out for yourself? You can request an invite here!

Disclaimer: I will be receiving a gift card in exchange for my review, but opinions are my own.

PBteen Ultimate Beauty Organizer November 30, 2011

I like keeping my things accessible, I like functional decor and I have a lot of stuff. With PBteen's Ultimate Beauty Organizer, it's easy to find my everyday beauty essentials. With a small drawer (for nail polish, in my case) and lots of compartments for bottles and tools, I no longer need to search through piles of stuff just to get ready in the morning. It's sort of fantastic!

With a variety of compartment heights, it can store large bottles, styling tools, brushes and smaller containers. Plus, the organizer is great for women of all ages and can be used to store all sorts of different items! 

It's funny, the only thing I don't like about it is the big "Alana". It's cute, but definitely makes the piece more childish.It reminds me of all of ther personalized items I had as a child- the rocking chair, the plastic toy boxes, etc that all had my name in pretty script. I honestly had no idea they were going to include my name, but I'm sure you can order it sans-name. 

In Boston? Check out the PBteen popup shop in the Natick Mall!

The Ultimate Beauty Organizer was provided to me by PBteen, but opinions are my own.

Nighttime Orange and Blue October 24, 2011

An explanation:

1) A few minutes before taking these photos, I experienced a mysterious allergic reaction to something that made a weird bump appear under my eye accompanied by itching and tearing. It was possibly related to the almonds I found in our couch cushions (cough, cough, Eric). I'm not sure if the reaction was still visible in these pictures.

2) I was previously wearing something less cute, but Eric changed his shirt to go to the Sault launch party, so I changed my entire outfit.

3) I first read about this cropped orange blazer on Jean's blog and had to buy it and I'm so glad I did. Eric says he thinks it's my gateway piece to Land's End Canvas. We'll see! (The blazer is from H&M if you want it!)

4) I've never really been much of a "clutch girl". I think they're cute, but you know, not very practical. This one is c/o Red Envelope, who lists it under "leather gift ideas" and "Christmas gifts for girlfriends"

5) No photo taken that night could be used "as is", so I made some very artistic changes. The photos were all super "warm" so I added some cool filters and changed the color balance. The first photo is my favorite.

I'm really excited about my new clutch. The leather is extremely soft and it looks very luxe. Plus, the lining is a gorgeous blue...and it has pockets!

Outfit Details: Blazer- H&M; Top and necklace- Forever 21; Jeans- Banana Republic; Shoes- Marshalls; Clutch- c/o Red Envelope

Win It: INPINK Jewelry September 13, 2011

(Reminder: Please help me win $200 in the TJMaxx/Marshalls Mad Men Challenge. Vote here.)

Have you heard about INPINK? It's a new online jewelry boutique where you can shop by individual piece, or get huge discounts by buying an entire collection!

Looking for something stunning and affordable? INPINK is the place for you! I was given a $50 gift card to purchase my choice of baubles, and ended up going for the Westchester Collection. It was VERY difficult for me to choose just one collection, but I loved the intricate details of the Westchester. I was worried the pieces would seem flimsy and cheap due to the great price, but was pleasantly surprised.

The pieces look expensive, but the whole set--necklace, earings, ring and two bangles-- cost just $49! The bangles are definitely my favorite, and I also love the adjustable wring. The back looks like it wouldn't move, but it's cleverly strung on some sort of stretchy string, so it looks like one piece of metal, but really it stretches to fit your fingers.

And the best part? INPINK is giving away 50 $40 gift certificates to Good Girl Gone Blog readers! There are two ways to enter:

1) Like The Good Girl Gone Blog and INPINK on Facebook

2) Follow @goodgrlgoneblog and @INPINKstyle on Twitter

Make sure you fill out the  form so we can get you your prize! Giveaway will run through Monday September 19th. 50 winners will be drawn randomly. US and Canada only.

Review: Easy Canvas Prints May 09, 2011

I take A LOT of photos  and rarely do anything with them other than posting them to Flickr and sharing my favorite on the blog. Maybe it's because I don't have a fabulous photo printer (or any printer for that matter), but can hardly remember the last time I printed an actual photo.

Because of this, I was thrilled when BuildASign contacted me about creating and reviewing a custom canvas photo from Easy Canvas Prints.

The process was simple:

I used one of my favorite pictures from Mexico and was pretty happy with the final product. Seeing the picture blown up in print to 8x10 made me think that I should have done a little more work in photoshop, but it's definitely a cool piece of art that I can't wait to show off.

Thanks so much BuildASign for the opportunity. I definitely recommend creating your own canvas pictures as gifts for family or friends :)

*Disclosure: BuildASign provided me with a free 8x10 canvas to review.

Review: Timberland Earthkeeper Cabot L/F Tall Zip Boot April 08, 2011

A few weeks ago,  Timberland contacted me about the opening of their new store on Newbury St.  As part of the opening, Timberland will award a $2,500 “Earth Day” grant this April to a local community organization dedicated to environmental stewardship, which is pretty cool.

They also offered me the chance to review one of three pairs of shoes available in the Newbury Store. All three feature Bionic canvas for extra durability and ion-mask technology by P2i for ultra water repellency, but the choice wasn't difficult. I fell hard for the Earthkeepers Cabot L/F Tall Zip Boot.

Though I never really considered Timberlands fashionable, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw these boots. Not only were they super cute, they were waterproof and perfect for April in Boston.

Some specifics about the boots:

• Tall Zip:  Inside zipper for easy entry
• Premium leather and strong Bionic^® canvas upper for long-lasting wear
• Bionic^® canvas contains yarns made with a 50% organic cotton outer wrap, 38% recycled PET core and 12% HT polyester to provide increased strength, abrasion resistance and decreased dry time
• Hydrophobic breathable materials combined with ion-mask™ technology by P2i shed water easily
• 100% recycled PET lining for climate control and breathability
• Leather-covered footbed for optimal comfort
• Lightweight, flexible, undercut rubber outsole for maximum traction and durability is made with 15% recycled rubber

Now, it's very hard for me to write negative reviews on my blog, and in fact, I think this may be a first. Though the boots are super cute, they're IMPOSSIBLE to put on. Literally, I had to jam my foot into them to get them on. Maybe it's because the actual foot part is shallow, or because the zipper doesn't go down low enough (which is weird, because it goes pretty far), but it shouldn't take 5 minutes to put on a pair of boots.

Sure, maybe they'll stretch with wear, but I'm not sure I'm ready to risk it- they're just so stiff! Plus, my feet ended up covered in blisters. (Granted, the first time I wore them I was wearing ankle socks, but still.) When I tried to give them a second chance, it still took forever to put them on, and the rubbing against the irritated blisters did not help.

When I talked to Timberland's very responsive social team on Twitter and asked if they'd seen other unsatisfied customers, they remarked that the boot runs a half size small. As much as I want to believe a size 6.5 would fit better, there was still a ton of room in the front of the size 6.

Though these boots are cute, they're definitely not cute enough to be uncomfortable. I found myself walking on my toes in order to avoid rubbing my heels on the back of the boots, and struggling to tuck my jeans into them because they lacked any stretch.

Maybe it was just me, and maybe I need to give them another chance, but I think I'll pass. At $170, I think you should too.

Thanks for thinking of me, Timberland. I loved the style of the boots, but the comfort factor just didn't cut it.

Photo c/o Timberland.