Every few months Stella Dot lets Facebook fans vote for their fav items they want to see on sale. I am a little late to the party on posting this but you have till midnight to shop these!!
xx
-F
Beauty Counter: Hydration for the Body, Food for the Mind
After the close of Bona Clara I have found it hard to find a line of products I like and actually WANT to put on my face. After spending SO much time with a skin expert you become very aware of what is in your products. I was introduced to Beauty Counter and had to dive in!! I still have a few things from Bona Clara so I started with my body when testing Beauty Counter. I love that their mission is about so much more than skin care – its about making people aware of what is in their products and forcing the US to pay more attention.
Lustro Oil: all over hydration – has a light sent of citrus – the box suggests using it all over after the shower or adding a few drops to their moisturizer called “Hydrate”.
Hydrate: every day body lotion – same citrus sent with a bit of mint – not only is this a hydrating mixture but it has Mongongo oil and Ximenia Americana seed which both encourage rejuvenation.
I like mixing the two together for a super hydrated and fresh smelling body lotion!
xx
-F
Newport Babes Weekend: Handmade Soaps
While in Newport RI last weekend (a few weekends ago now) with a few of the girls we stumbled into a Soap Shop on Thames street and had to pop in – I am SO glad we did!! Half of the space is a store front while the other half is the actual “lab” where the magic happens – not only can you watch but you can make your own!
The store featured everything from room spray with essential oils to foot scrubs, soaps, lotions, candles and more. They even had something for my man 🙂 Beard oil – to moisturize those prickly buggers that I LOVE but always seem to scratch me.
The ladies skin care section caught my eye – with all natural essential oil based products ( keep an eye out for a post on my newest obsession ) such as cleansers, toners, masks, scrubs and even bath soaks. I could read everything on the ingredients label and the prices were unreal!!
Not only did we all leave with full bags – most of us had to go back for seconds once we discovered other must have goodies like these aromatherapy shower balls – you put one on the side of the shower where it will be hit with moisture but not directly getting soaked + you are in a spa like zen in no time. She had ones for sore muscles, decongesting, relaxing and even one to help with a nasty hangover!
I am OBSESSED with small businesses and the creativity that goes into them… I have so much respect for entrepreneurs that are just killin it! Cant wait to come back with the girls for a soap making party – little wine, little soap, my best girls… sounds like a fun night!!
xx
-F
End of Summer Sale
While I must admit, fall is my favorite season, especially in New England, I can’t believe Summer is over!! Every year I say it fly’s by faster and faster ( I feel old saying that). Labor day does mark the end of this beloved time for most, it also marks sales weekend!!!
Stella and Dot of course is doing one of their own – 25% off all SALE items!! Check out a few of my favs 🙂
Check out the rest of the sale items at www.stelladot.com/brandcheerleder .
xx
-F
Mother, Daughter, Sister
Last week I attended Stella + Dots annual conference called Hoopla (more on how amazing that was later) Each year they partner with an organization to give back. This year they announced a new partnership with Christy Turlington Burns and her amazing organization Every Mother Counts! I was lucky enough to hear her speak with Jessica (the CEO) about the scary, unsafe and deadly conditions woman are giving birth in – and over 80% are EASILY preventable – its as simple (and inexpensive) as transportation to the hospital and am excited to sell one heck of a lot of these $39 beautiful Enlighten bracelets to help make pregnancy and child birth safe for every mother around the world!
I find it shocking and down right frighting that every two minutes, a woman dies in childbirth. Every Mother Counts is making a really positive impact, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these bracelets will go towards this fantastic cause!
You can purchase your bracelet here 🙂
Mexico: Meet Flipper
I was lucky enough to end my “stay at home roommate” streak with a fabulous trip to Cancun Mexico! We created a “bucket” list of things we wanted to do while we were there for a week – combining ocean, beach, pool, food and adventure time.
We decided on two of the (so many) excursion options, one was an all day event at a place called xplor (zip line, paddling and four wheeling) and swimming with dolphins!!!
We arrived at Doplphinus, home to one of the of the most beautiful views of the beach/ocean, and received a bit of instruction on how best to touch the human sized fishy, to rise off any SPF we had on (it hurts their eyes) and to not touch their blow hole. With in just a few minutes we were paired with another couple and one of the trainers and we were in the water.
I am not going to lie – I was scared at first, there were little fishes swimming around and algae growing on the grates but we didn’t waste any time getting to know each other. We actually hardly had a proper introduction before “flipper” kissed me on the lips and cheek (how bold, I know).
We spent the next hour learning all about Flipper (that wasn’t her name – I just like to think it is) and how they rescued her and she has had two babies and they actually spend 5 years with their babes before there separated – they even have a “kindergarten” pool where they start training the babies around one year old. I am so glad we were able to experience this together, I feel like its something you do once and its such a fun memory to look back on!
xx
-F
Stella + Dot Engravables!!
I have been a part of Stella + Dot for 3 years and always wanted engravables in all way shapes and forms and its finally HERE!
We even have a little something personal for the men in your life!! I can’t wait for mine to come in for my man friend 🙂 There are so many combinations and ways to personalize and tell a story I can’t wait to see how people combine them.
You can only order through me or a trunk show so email me brand cheerleader@gmail.com for your custom order!
The Birth of a Tradition
Its hard to believe a month has passed since our trip to Mexico and I have been so excited to write this post. For those that don’t know I spent a week in Cancun with my boyfriend (yay). We had been discussing how we wanted to start a tradition for when we travel, something to collect as a memory from each destination.
I wanted it to be something different. Something I may actually display, (sorry trinket lovers) those shot glasses and magnets just aren’t my thing.
On the flight down we decided an underwater picture (good idea right?) would be how we document each trip. Fast forward to mid vacation when we met a lovely couple from just outside Atlanta in the “preferred” pool area. Herb made “insta-friends” with the high school sweethearts who had been married for twenty years! After a few hours (and several margaritas) the four of us ventured to the sports bar to place bets on the Belmont Stakes Race in hopes of a triple crown. We got to talking about Boston and how much the wife loved NewEngland sports, so much in fact her sons middle name is Brady!
Herb being the guy he is, offered his Boston branded hat off of his head to the couple… The husband took his hat from Costa Rica (yes I’m taking this as a sign I need to go) off and said only if we trade -it will mean even more that he give up the 4 year old hat for a Boston. Just like that our tradition is born. Trading hats with ppl we meet on our trips. Not only is it a cool souvenir to wear but it comes with a story!
xx
-F
The Art of Lettering
Last week I had the pleasure of taking my first calligraphy class with the uber talented Liz of Calligraphy Boston. I arrived at her South Street studio to a table set up with individual place settings, instruction cards, pens, name cards and goodie bags for each student. Her adorable office felt like a real life Pinterest board, she had examples of her work all over her walls, I couldn’t wait to get started! After a brief overview and show and tell we got right to work on – with small class sizes you get the perfect amour of 1-1 attention and work time.
I learned so much I couldn’t possibly tell you all of it without being boring and certainly not doing the class justice.
She explained:
- each letter has hairlines and — lines (thick and thin) and they are created by using different amounts of pressure on the pen
- you must sit with the paper at 45 degree angel and your elbow on the table
- its hard, you have to practice, a ton
Liz was such a good teacher, she had us trace the letters on the worksheets and told us the more you do this the better you will get for more than the obvious for muscle memory and equipped us with take home papers with numbered strokes. One of the best parts I just have to mention is the ridiculous amount if goodies you get to take home and practice with – the pen, ink, paper, pre cut cards to make things with – none of which I knew about before! If you want to take Liz class just click over to her website and pick a date – its as easy as that!
Bright Cellars
My newest obsession seems to be subscription boxes, birchbox, glossybox, barkbox as a gift, and now best of all, Bright Cellars, a wine subscription box!! They sent me a complementary box to review for the blog! I will be the first to admit, I LOVE wine but know very little about it – besides red/white and a little about the stereotypes of each kind (from my bar-tending career).
This is where Bright Cellars comes in, it’s a company launched by two MIT graduates whose goal was to introduce “hidden gems” (non mainstream wines) to you each month, they know you will love them because they created a “quiz” which matches your taste preferences using a bright points algorithm GENIUS I know… I tell you these MIT kids think of everything!
Once you get your score they suggest wines you would like (and have never heard of) – it even tells you what specifically you may like about the wines! The best part is each month you get 4 DIFFERENT wines to try – so you are constantly being exposed to new wines. They are even working on ways to rate and customize the experience – this is where the Pandora part comes in, you love a wine, you can let them know and “request more like this” or if you don’t like it – you can do the opposite – just like when you are listening to a station on Pandora!
You can take the quiz yourself – its super quick and easy, it asks things like what is your fav juice in the morning (i picked does coffee count as a juice) and candy preferences!
Since they are at the very beginning they have a rewards programs where you can refer a friend (if you love it) and you can get bonus wines to your subscription – sometimes wildcards that are still linked with your preferences but maybe a little outside of your comfort zone!
They are even offering my readers 50% off their first month with this link so head on over to their site and take the quiz!!
brandcheerleader 