Made in America Monday: Jane Iredale Cosmetics

Prior to LuckyFABB, I had never even heard of Jane Iredale cosmetics.  Now I'm wondering what else I'm missing out on...

I was so impressed with the brand's event at the Refinery Hotel, loved all of the products I was gifted, and was thrilled to find out that they are made in the USA!  It's like the trifecta of fabulous-ness!

At the event, cocktails were flowing, butler-passed hors d'oeuvres were abundant, and makeup artists were working their magic.

 All attendees were treated to "lip makeovers" and I got done up with Captivating Crimson:

I went home with all of the products used to create this look and get complimented every time I wear them.  It is the perfect shade of red and I know I'll be wearing it a lot this holiday season.

Think you should rock these bold lips at all of your upcoming holiday parties?  (So do I!) 

Here is how to get the look:

1.  Exfoliate your lips with Sugar&Butter to remove any dead or flaking skin and provide a smooth surface for application.
2.  Blot to remove any remaining sugar crystals.
3.  Using Crimson Lip Definer, outline and fill in your entire upper and lower lip.
4.  Layer Margi Puremoist Lipstick over the pencil.
5.  Finish by applying Crabapple PureGloss Lip Gloss to the center of your lower lip.

Voila!  You too, can look like me and have fabulous holiday-ready lips thanks to Jane Iredale!

In other news, Sugar&Butter (an exfoliator and lip plumper) is hands down my favorite new beauty product I've tried this year and their Mystikol (eyeliner and highlighter combo) in onyx is a close second - so good for creating the perfect smokey eye. 

Dying to give Jane Iredale a try?  I have good news: you can order all of their products online!  And for my #shoplocal gals: Jane Iredale Cosmetics are available at Pharoah's Hairum (both locations), Conscious Beauty in Victor, Salon Enza in Penfield, Q Med Spa in Rochester, and Genesee Valley Laser Center.

As you embark on your holiday shopping this year keep in mind you make a difference every time you shop local and buy American - so why not make a point to do both?

Happy Shopping!

xoxo

Jenny

Made in America Monday: Brow Diva

I don't think it's any secret that I take my brows seriously.

How could you not after having senior portraits that look like this?

Gah!  That's bad!
The scary part is that I thought I looked good here!
I mean, kudos to me for the positive self-image, but those brows are TERRIBLE.
TERRIBLE!!!!

You know what's funny?  None of my friends had bad brows:

Hmmmmm.  Interesting.  They all look pretty good don't they?

They're still going to want to kill me for publishing their senior portraits, but ya know what?  That's what they get for never trying to help a sister out.

Let's just say that once I realized how bad my brows were, I was completely horrified.  Why had my friends and family allowed things to get this bad?  Where was the intervention?  The polite nudge?  The "Come on Jenn, let's go to the salon?"  Where was it???????  Where -was - it????

I believe it was my college suitemate who (at a table with about 12 other girls) pointed to me laughing and said:  "Girl whatchu doin' with those brows?  They look like the McDonald's Golden Arches - you had better fix that shit."  I felt my face get hot, pretended that I needed to pee, and locked myself in the bathroom and cried.  But much like Scarlett O'Hara vowing to never be hungry again,  I looked in that bathroom mirror, put my fist in the air and declared:  "As God is my witness, I'll never have bad brows again."

Okay so it was a little less dramatic than that, but it was a come to Jesus moment for sure...

Wondering where I am going with this?  Don't worry, I'm getting to the main point in

3...

2...

1...

So, how do I make sure I never revisit the Golden Arches look?  In addition to seeing Ryan at Brow Diva every 4-6 weeks for maintenance, I use Brow Diva's brow powder (in sophia) for a clean, well-defined look.  Just last week I realized that their brow powders are made in the USA. I love when I can support #shoplocal and #buyamerican in one fell swoop!

"Every woman needs a brow product to achieve that flawless, movie star look!" says the Brow Diva. Even thick, well-groomed brows need that extra touch for perfect symmetry. If you have sparse, uneven or unruly brows, brow products are a MUST for a clean, professional look.

I also highly recommend their duo brow brush.  Must.  Have.

For all your non-locals, don't fret.  Brow Diva's complete product line is available online.  You can experience a full, fabulous brow no matter where you live!

Do you have a favorite beauty product that is made in the USA?  I'd love to know what it is!  Share below.

xoxo

Jenny

PS- My Brow Journey, complete with more embarrassing photos is documented here.  Enjoy!

  

Made in America Monday: 1888 Mills Towel Giveaway

I don't know about you, but for me, not much compares to stepping out of a steaming hot shower and wrapping myself in a soft, cozy towel - especially if that towel is made in the USA.  American-made towels are pretty hard to come by:  1888 Mills is one of the last remaining towel manufacturers in the United States. 

Like supporting American jobs and manufacturing?

"1888 is proud to have 200 manufacturing jobs in the US along with 58 in sales and marketing. The US mill is responsible for global research and development; manufacturing high end and specialty towels; being quick to market; as well as balancing world production. These jobs support families, build schools, provide leadership for the local community, and provide purchasing power needed to fuel the US Economy."

Like free stuff?  You can enter for a chance to win a 6-piece set of 1888 Mills towels from USA Love List.  

Giveaway closes at midnight on Thursday October 3. The winner will be randomly selected, verified for correct entry participation, and notified by email.

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies,

xoxo

Jenny

PS- In the market for new towels?  1888 Mills towels are available at amazon.com:

 

Made in America Monday: Artwark Coil Ring Giveaway

You guys, 

I have been DYING to share my new favorite piece of jewelry with you!!!  I am officially obsessed with my gold coil ring from Artwark.  Jewelry by Artwark is the work of Sarah, a local jewelry designer, grad student, and all-around doll.  You may recall my mother's love necklace?  Or this feature piece I did on Artwark a while back?  Love her.  Love her jewelry.  Which is why I am so honored to have the privilege of introducing you to her latest design AND offer it an a special introductory price!

Artwark Coil Ring
Available for a limited time at the introductory price of $42-52 (depending on metal choice)

I am so excited about these rings.  They are so unique and so wearable.  Each ring is available in sterling silver or gold fill, hammered or matte, and made and sized to order.  

Hammered Options

I got mine (14k gold matte) last Saturday and have only taken it off to sleep.  It has been out for a girls night, dinner, cocktails, Rochester's White Party, lunches, meetings, and preschool drop offs.  This baby is my new favorite for sure - not to mention she looks great with my liabeau ROC flower and Madewell bow rings!

Dying to get your hands on one?  Today might be your lucky day.  I'm giving away a custom-made Artwark coil ring to one lucky winner.  Rings not your thing? You can opt for a $45 shop credit.  How sweet is that?!

Contest ends Sept 18th.  Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies!

xoxo

Jenny

 

Made in America Monday: Zkano Socks

Before we know it, sandals and flip flops will be put away, and boot season will be upon us.  I don't know about you, but I usually opt for a few new pairs of socks each fall - and this fall, I'm most excited about my blue and cream striped pair from Zkano:

Zkano socks are USA-made, family-owned, and sustainably-produced - three causes I love to support.  They are made from organic cotton, conform to your feet, and maintain their elasticity and softness wear after wear.

If you'd like to update your sock wardrobe with high quality, environmentally-friendly, and fashion-forward socks, today might be your lucky day.  I'm teaming up with USA Love List to give one $50 Sock Shopping Spree from Zkano!

Giveaway ends Sept. 5th at midnight.
The winner will be randomly selected, verified for correct entry participation, and notified by email. 

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies!  Check out all of these fun patterns and styles - which will you choose if you win?

xoxo

Jenny

PS- Zkano is one of 7 mills in Fort Payne, Alabama remaining from a town that once had 300 mills.

Listen to the story of Gina Locklear, Zkano founder and see exactly what you are supporting when you buy Zkano socks:

Made in America Monday: KOKOON

Have you heard about KOKOON?  (Me either until just recently - I can't believe I had no idea about this amazing company!  Thank God USA Love List is there to keep me informed about all the best brands that are made in the USA!)  

KOKOON is a "boutique without borders;" a modern, private pop-up boutique, that brings their contemporary clothing line to women via private appointments and in-home trunk shows.  Think:  a high end boutique coming to you, not a tupperware party, or worse, a makeup lady trying to recruit you to sell lipstick!  (Come on, you KNOW what I'm talking about!)  KOKOON stands by the principles of  No Presentations, No Speeches, No Recruiting Tactics, No Multi-Level Marketing - just bringing the [made in the USA] boutique to you.  

Owner and Designer Laine Sou Weinberg says, “I thought a traveling, private boutique could be an amazing shopping experience if it was done properly. I know what makes me uncomfortable with home trunk shows and I assumed other women felt the same. So, we took the cringe factor out of ‘home parties’ and developed a concept that we and everyone associated with us could be proud of.”

Want to hear some great news?  KOKOON's Twice Yearly Online Sale and Clearance event is going on right now!   You don't need to put on makeup or dust your living room for this party!  There are literally hundreds of limited edition and one-of-a-kind women’s items that are proudly designed and manufactured in the U.S.A.  available to you at 30% to 90% off retail prices.  Ah-mazing!  You can check out the sale now here.   

Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest 

Want some more good news?  I'm teaming up with USA Love List to giveaway a $100 KOKOON gift card!  Contest runs until August 1 and you can enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies!

xoxo

Jenny

PS:

About KOKOON founder Laine Sou Weinberg:

Laine Sou Weinberg started KOKOON in 1987 when her then-boyfriend-now-husband, Richard Weinberg, took her first sample line on a cross country road trip and returned with her first retail store orders. Soon after, the fledgling company landed their first major chain store order. That led to many years of successful retail and catalog relationships which included Nordstrom, Bloomies by Mail, Dayton Hudson, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Fred Segal, White House Black Market, and over 1400 boutiques.

  

Made in America Monday: Botanicals for Hope (Giveaway!)

Happy Monday Kiddos!

Another weekend has bit the dust.  Doesn't it seem like summer is just flying by?!  Ugh - make it stop! 

I'm teaming up with USA Love List once again to introduce you to a fantastic American-made, eco-friendly skin care line that not only supports our local economy but gives back to a worthy cause.  Botanicals for Hope truly is "skincare that cares"- a portion of their sales go to help to patients battling cancer.

This natural skincare line is aloe vera based and loaded with therapeutic plant based oils and butters, medicinal herbs, and healing botanical essences that leave skin feeling soft, supple and healthy.  They are formulated without soy, dye, fragrance, or petrochemicals and are not tested on animals.  Natural skin care that's good for your body, our economy, and the planet?  That gives back to cancer patients with every product sold?  What's not to love?!

And I can happily give it my personal seal of approval!  I got to try their intense therapy balm and it is awesome!  It's supposed to be for your cuticles, but I've been putting it everywhere:  knees, elbows, and my poor dry feet!  I've tried all kinds of lotions, and body butters on my feet and nothing seemed to help until I tried this stuff.  My heels have FINALLY stopped cracking!  Love it!  They definitely found themselves a new customer! 

Dying to try it?  Shop now.  Feeling lucky?  We're giving away a $50 shop credit!   Contest runs through Thursday, July 25.

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies!

xoxo

Jenny

  

Made in America Monday - The "I Want It" Edition

Here are a few Made in the USA items that I am currently lusting after:

Stephanie Dawn X-Large Tote $90

K/LLER COLLECTION $127

Paige Denim
Kylie Crop in Poppy Red  $189

Feel free to buy me any or all of the above.  Nothing says "your blog rocks" more than a free Made in the USA gift.  ;)

Hope your week is off to a great start!  

xoxo

Jenny

PS- Three more days to enter my most recent Made in the USA giveaway - get the scoop here.

  

Made in America Monday: Chrissy's Knee High Socks Giveaway

Happy Monday Kiddos!

I am teaming up with Chrissy's Knee High Socks and USA Love List to bring you a great Made in the USA Giveaway!  Woot!  Woot! 

If you love fun socks as much as I do you'll want to enter this giveaway.  Chrissy's Knee High Socks come in a wide variety of patterns and styles and can even be customized with your own text or logo.  So fun!  One lucky winner will receive a $50 credit to shop Chrissy’s Knee High Socks and with so many styles and patterns to chose from you can't go wrong! With 4th of July right around the corner - I'm loving my red, white and blue USA pair!  I will definitely be rocking them on Thursday!

Which styles will you choose if you win?

Click the +1 button for further instructions on each entry. This giveaway closes midnight on July 11. The winner will be randomly selected, verified for correct entry participation, and notified by email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies!

xoxo

Jenny

  

Made in America Monday: Kalulu Kids

When Lilly from Kalulu Kids contacted me a few weeks ago to share the company's Kickstarter campaign, I jumped at the chance. The company's high ethics, socially responsible attitude, and dedication to making their clothing right here in the USA are all qualities that I strongly admire. 

Let me give you a little background.

Children’s wear brand Kalulu Kids is preparing for its second season with a Kickstarter crowd funding project, which offers backers selected items from the current collection in return for an investment of between $5 and $5,000. The Brooklyn-based label hopes to raise $6,000 to build on the success of its spring/summer line with a brand new range of high-quality, East African kikoy fabric garments.

The Kalulu Kids Kickstarter project launched this week and will run until mid-June. Incentives for backers range from postcards and social media shout-outs to family-sized clothing bundles and the opportunity to name an item from the upcoming collection. Proceeds from the Kickstarter will allow Kalulu to procure the traditional kikoy fabric in custom colors and in the quantities needed to fulfill anticipated demand for the new items.

Kalulu’s successful launch and subsequent popularity has been a testament to the strength of the brand’s ethical business model. Whilst each item is handcrafted in New York’s Garment District, Kalulu’s kikoy fabric is responsibly sourced from small businesses in East Africa. And, through its partnership with New York-based educational charity SCALEAfrica, the brand also contributes a portion of all sales proceeds outside of Kickstarter to help build schools across rural sub-Saharan Africa. Founder, CEO and mom of three Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham now believes that the online crowd funding platform is the ideal way to forward Kalulu’s socially responsible mission.

“With this new collection, we hope to take the business to the next level,” explains Kiggundu-Bentham. “We’ve always been confident that it’s possible to build a successful clothing brand that represents a fair deal for everyone. And judging by response so far, a lot of people agree with us. That’s why we’ve decided to reach out to the community this time around. Kalulu Kids is ready to begin a new chapter and this Kickstarter project gives others the chance to be a part of our story.”

Known for their bright colors and eye-catching patterns, kikoys were traditionally worn by East African men as sarongs. The comfortable and hardwearing fabric now forms the basis of, and inspiration for, Kalulu’s range of children’s tunics, dresses and hooded tops. New additions for the brand’s second season will include long pants, kikoy-lined sweat shirts and lighter scarves. The existing color palette will also expand with new hues to compliment the feel of the fall/winter collection.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and to consider making a donation to get this brand underway.  It's a way to support an American-made brand with a global impact.  

Make a difference.

You can support the Kalulu Kids Kickstarter here.  

You can shop the spring/summer collection and find out more here.

xoxo

Jenny

About Kalulu

Kalulu is the product of Milbert Kiggundu Bentham’s East African childhood, and her current life as a New York mother of three. ‘Hare’ in English, Kalulu takes its name from the mischievous character found throughout East African folklore. Far from simply borrowing from Africa though, the ethical clothing company proactively gives back to the continent. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Brooklyn-based educational charity SCALEAfrica.

Kalulu’s entire line is made in New York City from East Africa-sourced kikoy cloth. Woven from 100% cotton, this durable and comfortable material makes for garments that can withstand years of use. The spring/summer ’13 range features tunics, dresses, tanks, jeans, shorts and skorts in a bright colors inspired by the brand’s African heritage. The spring/summer collection is available in sizes 2T – 10 for both girls and boys, with prices starting at $24.00.

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Made in America Monday: Meet Noubar

When I found out about Noubar bags from USA Love List, I just knew this was a company I had to share with you.  Get this:  Noubar makes fantastic clutches out of old billboards.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Billboards.

The brainchild of two sisters whose family owned and operated an outdoor advertising company in Ohio, Noubar repurposes vinyl from former ad campaigns to create stunning one-of-a-kind handbags. Since the original billboards are about the size of a NYC apartment, the images are completely unidentifiable on the scale of a handbag; instead the pixilated images create rich, powerful, dramatic color combinations.  The result:  little pieces of art, that are stunning, functional, and completely wearable.  Noubar bags easily transition from day to night, are environmentally-friendly, made in the USA, and super-chic...what's not to love?

Here are some of my favorites:

Details

Details

Details

I'm kind of dying for the black and white one.  So cool.  Which is your favorite?

xoxo

Jenny

PS- "Noubar bags are proudly sourced, designed, created, and manufactured in the USA." Love that!

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Made in America Monday - Stephanie Dawn Review and Giveaway

Afternoon lovelies!

Time for another installment of "Made in America Monday!"

I am so excited to share this brand with all of you!  If you are like me and use Vera Bradley travel bags and accessories, but secretly hate that they are made in China. This is the post for you.  If you want quilted travel gear in bright colors and versatile, functional styles that doesn't look like a cheap knock off, let me introduce you to Stephanie Dawn -fresh patterns, great styles, high quality, and made in the USA!  Woot!  Woot!

I was thrilled when they asked me to review and give away one of their flat iron/curling iron covers as part of my "Made in America Monday" series.  I travel often, and I HATE having to wait for my curling iron to cool before I can pack it safely.  With this heat-resistant carrier, there is no reason to wait forever, just wrap it up and you are good to go.  And since it is soft-sided, it doesn't take up any extra space in your luggage.  Love it!  I'll definitely be bringing it with me on my trip to NYC on Saturday!

Here is mine "in use"
Of course now I'm dying for the x-large tote in this pattern (kaleidescope)...
and a bazillion other travel accessories to match.  Oh, and another one for my flat iron...
#shopaholicproblems

Want to get your hands on one?  It just may be your lucky day!

Stephanie Dawn Flat Iron/Curling Iron Cover in American Red
Made in the USA
Suggested Retail $17

Enter for your chance to win here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck lovelies!

xoxo

Jenny

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It's Not Even Monday!

And I have a great "Made in America" brand to share with you:

Loggerhead Apparel is an American-made brand with a big heart.  Not only is their clothing made in the USA using supima cotton grown in the USA, but they donate 10% of all sales to sea turtle conservation efforts.  They are exactly the type of company I love to support, which is why I'm teaming up with USA Love List to giveaway a gorgeous Loggerhead Bellwether360 polo shirt of your choice.  

Love their turtle logo!

This style is the company’s signature product and is available in a multitude of colors and sizing for the entire family.   On the golf course or off, it doesn't get more classic than this wardrobe staple.  Enter below for your chance to win one Bellwether360 polo, in a men’s, women’s or children’s size, in a color of your choice. Entries close at midnight Eastern time on Thursday, May 2. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check back Monday for another giveaway from another great "Made in America" brand and The Flower City Fashionista.

Best of luck lovelies!

xoxo

Jenny

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