Thanksgiving Day & Black Friday Sales Round-Up

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you're all feeling stuffed around now, with bellies full of turkey and hearts full of warmth. So you can spend more time with the people who matter most, I've rounded up a few of the best Thanksgiving week sales for your convenience. I'll be sure and keep it updated through the weekend.  Happy shopping!

Anthropologie: 25% off with code "SHOPTOIT"

ASOS: 30% off with code "BLESSED"

Ayres: 50% off + free shipping with code "AYRESBF"

Baublebar: 30% off with code "THX"

Birchbox: 30% off of $35+ for Aces members with code "ACESONLY"

Century 21: Extra 25% off one item. No code.

Ciate: 30% off everything. Prices as marked.

Cowshed: 20% off everything. Prices as marked.

Design Darling: 20% off with code "THANKFUL"

Drybar: 20% off products and tools. Prices as marked.

Durance: 30% off with code "BLACKFRIDAY30"

Furbish Studio: 20% off with code "CYBER"

GILT: Free shipping with code "FREESHIP"

J.Crew Factory: 50% off everything. Prices as marked.

Jet Set Candy: 20% off with code "CYBER20"

Joie & Equipment: 25% off your order with code "THANKS"

Kendra Scott: 15% off + free shipping with code "SALE15"

Kusmi Tea: Free shipping + Tsarevna mini tin with code "BLACKFRIDAY"

Lisi Lerch: 20% off + free shipping. No code.

Lord & Taylor: 20% off + free shipping with code "THANKS"

May Designs: 40% off notebooks, stationery, photo books, desk calendars. No code.

Milly: 25% off with code "BF2015"

Molton Brown: 25% off with code "MBEVENTUS"

Nars Cosmetics: 20% off with code "TAKE20"

Nuxe: 30% off everything. No code.

The Organic Pharmacy: 20% off with code "VIPN15"

Peach & Lily: 20% off with code "GIVETHANKS20"

Rifle Paper Co: Up to 30% off everything. No code.

Sugarpova: Free shipping with code "FREESHIP"

Talbots: 50% off one item, 40% off order. No code.

Tarte Cosmetics: 25% off with code "FRIDAY"

Tory Burch: Spend $250, get 30% off with code "THANKS"

Vineyard Vines: 25% off everything + extra 40% off sale items + free holiday sticker with code "THANKS2015"

Waiting on Martha: 20% off with code "SHOPSMALL"

Zara: 30% off everything starting 8pm ET tonight

Birchbox "Feeling Fancy" November 2015 Review

The month's box celebrates the launch of Birchbox's very first  exclusive own-brand of make-up. It's called LOC, or "Love of Color". This month for a sample choice, we got to pick one of three LOC lipstick shades or one of two LOC eyeshadow shades. I went for the "Glam Life" lipstick shade.

I loved the glamorous color scheme this month. The teal and grey box top with the decorative rose pattern is absolutely gorgeous. I'm definitely going to repurpose it in some way. I also liked the accompanying cranberry tissue paper inside. It matched my LOC lipstick! 

My box contained: Obliphica Professional Seaberry Serum - Fine to Medium (full-size, $38), Harvey Prince Sincerely (full-size, $57), LOC Collection for Lips (full-size, $18), Temple Spa La La Lagoon Aromatic Bath & Shower Gel (full-size, $18), theBalm Frat Boy Blush/Shadow (full-size, $21)

Obliphica Professional Seaberry Serum - Fine to Medium

I've used this product a couple times now and really love it so far. All you need to do is apply one spray into your palm, spread it on your hands, and run it evenly through your hair just after taking a shower (while it's still wet). A full size bottle would definitely last you a long time.

I've been really impressed with how soft and silky my hair was each time I used this serum. It makes it look and feel healthy. It's also a great alternative to a leave-in conditioner when you're traveling. 

Harvey Prince Sincerely 

Harvey Prince is definitely one of Birchbox's favorite brands. This is about the fifth or sixth sample I've received from the brand (this is the third or fourth perfume). The products have all been pretty nice, but I have yet to actually buy anything from the brand.

This is definitely a more unusual scent than the other Harvey Prince perfumes I've tried. It has notes of South African Freesia, Japanese Orange Flower, Moroccan Rose, Turkish Cyclamen, Indian Tuberose, Indonesian Clove Bud, Spanish Mandarin, French Bergamot, Lebanese Cedarwood, and Australian Sandalwood. 

Looking at this description you might think it would be a bit musky, spicy, and exotic. However, I actually think it smells primarily of Freesia, with a hint of Orange Flower, and Tuberose. It's definitely very light and floral.  I didn't think it was particularly youthful, though. I think I will share this with someone looking for a more mature scent. It would make a great gift for mothers and grandmothers this holiday season!

LOC Collection for Lips 

This was my sample choice selection, in "Glam Life". While it looks like it would be a pretty dark plum/wine color, it actually ended up being a bit lighter and more magenta/rose. It glides on really nicely and has a nice moisturizing quality. It's also pretty long-lasting. 

The only critique I have is that the pigment seems to concentrate on any areas where you have try skin, essentially creating darker "spots" in those areas. So, I would highly recommend using a lip exfoliant (like this one from Lush or this one from Mary Kay) before applying this product if you have chapped or dry lips from the winter weather.

Temple Spa La La Lagoon Aromatic Bath & Shower Gel 

Temple Spa is a brand distributed by Gilchrist & Soames , which is another Birchbox favorite like Harvey Prince. I've received at least four or five samples from them before.

This product has notes of Ylang Ylang, Eucalyptus, and Patchouli. I would say the Eucalyptus is the over-powering scent, as it is quite invigorating. It goes on in a pretty nice foamy white lather. I think it is pretty moisturizing too. Overall, I actually like this product a lot more than the other brand Birchbox has included that are distributed by Gilchrist & Soames. I think this one is very unusual. 

While I like the scent quite a bit, I think it is pretty gender-neutral - or perhaps a bit more masculine than feminine. I think it would make an excellent holiday gift for a dad or boyfriend!

theBalm Frat Boy Blush/Shadow

As you've seen in my previous posts, I'm pretty obsessed with theBalm. I think all of their products are pretty fantastic. I love how they create such natural looks, that many of the products are multi-purpose, and that the packaging makes them really easy to take on trips.

I like how this blush has some tan/nude tones in it so that it would look great on lots of different skin types. It's finely ground like an eye shadow which means that not only does it perform double-duty, but it's also easy to control the pigment concentration you want on your cheeks. If you want the color to be especially radiant, apply the powder with your finger. If you're going for a more subtle look, use a brush.

Beating the Winter Blues with C.Booth

Influenster recently approached me to review a product of my choice from bath, body, and haircare brand c.Booth.  Admittedly, I had only used one of their products before - the Honey Almond Dry Oil Mist from my Glossybox back in July 2013. So, it had definitely been a while and I was excited to try out something different! 

I know I've seen the brand around in quite a few locations. When I went to get my product for this review, I found a really large selection at ULTA Beauty in Princeton, NJ. However, c.Booth products are also available at Walgreens stores nationwide. All the products are extremely affordable, around $6.99-9.99 and are often on sale too!

The packaging is very sleek and gender-neutral, highlighting the purpose and natural ingredients of all of the products. They remind me a lot of a more affordable version and accessible version of Kiehl's. Products come with a variety of scents and ingredients including: passion fruit, shea blossom, Italian olive oil, walnut shell, rosemary mint, Brazil nut, and Egyptian argan oil.

I picked out the invigorating "All-Over-Body Sea Salt Scrub" ($8.99). It has an energizing scent that reminds me of peppermint and eucalyptus. It is great for sensitive skin because, although it has some sea salt exfoliating beads, they are a bit spread apart and not overly concentrated. 

I have heard that people with very dry or sensitive skin can often go a bit overboard when it comes to selecting an exfoliant, picking ones that are particularly rough to slough off dry skin. However, that can actually cause other problems. Exfoliants that are overly concentrated can actually bring too many oils to the skin's surface, causing acne and other skin concerns that those with dry skin wouldn't normally have. This product is the perfect balance to avoid those negative effects.

Sea salt is a fantastic ingredient in any body scrub.  They help purify, boost circulation, smooth, and replenish. The Eucalyptus Leaf Oil revitalizes and conditions to help sooth skin and leave it healthy and smooth. 

The only downside of this product is that there wasn't enough of it! I went through quite a bit in my first use. I'm so excited I got the opportunity to explore this brand through Influenster and I can't wait to get another scrub...and maybe some of their Rosemary Mint Bath, Shower, & Hair Wash too!

This is a sponsored post. I received this c.Booth product for free 

for testing purposes from c.Booth via Influenster.

Rebecca Minkoff NYC Sample Sale Starts Tomorrow

Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale

Up to 75% off Ready-to-Wear

Handbags, Shoes, & Accessories

Monday, November 9th | 11am-9pm

Tuesday, November 10th | 10am-8pm

Wednesday, November 11th | 10am-8pm

Thursday, November 12th | 10am-8pm

Friday, November 13th | 10am-8pm

Saturday, November 14th | 10am-5pm

260 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10001

Know before you go: 

Check out my review from the May 2013 Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale HERE.

Celebrate GREAT Britain on Madison Avenue!

L.K. Bennett Heels // Molton Brown Shower Gel // Molton Brown Body Lotion

Mulberry Bracelet // Prestat Chocolate // Jo Malone Ornament // Mulberry Scarf

The GREAT Britain Campaign, in partnership with the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, is hosting "GREAT Britain on Madison Avenue" later this week (November 5th-8th). Over the course of the four days, twenty boutiques and hotels on Madison Avenue are hosting different events celebrating British heritage and craftsmanship. The activity benefits Historic Royal Palaces, which conserves and maintains such iconic buildings as the Tower of London and Kensington Palace.

A few events include: manicures by Butter London in L.K. Bennett, Rococo Chocolate tastings at Erwin Pearl, and afternoon tea with Wedgwood and Walker's Shortbread at Molton Brown. You can check out the full calendar of events here.

In this edit I've rounded up my favorite holiday gifts for around $200 or less at several of the participating stores. If you're in New York this Thursday to Sunday, swing by the stores to pick these up! Not in New York? No worries, I've provided links above to purchase these items online.

See you on the Avenue!

Enter to win Evian & Longchamp Prizes!

I hope you've all had a chance to check out my review of the evian® Brumisateur® facial spray. Now, you can get your own fantastic taste of France with this fantastic giveaway hosted in collaboration with beauty distributor The Wilkes Group.

One lucky winner will receive a classic Longchamp "Le Pliage" Backpack (RRP $125) filled with one 10 oz, one 5 oz, and a trio of travel-sized evian® Brumisateur® sprays (over $175 total value).

Three fabulous runners-up will receive a Longchamp pouchette toiletries case (RRP $50) filled with a trio of travel-sized evian® Brumisateur® sprays (over $70 total value).

Très bien!

This post is in collaboration with The Wilkes Group via Brandbacker.

Haute to be Healthy: My Jus by Julie Cleanse Review

A huge thanks to People StyleWatch Magazine and Jus by Julie for providing me 5 jus bottles and 6 booster shots for free for review purposes. When StyleWatch first approached me, I thought I was only going to get 3 just bottles, so I was pretty excited to see I was delivered enough to pretty much do a whole 1-day cleanse (6 jus bottles).  They were beautifully delivered to my home in a pretty large cardboard box that contained a really cute insulated cooler tote inside with an ice pack to keep the juices cool.

I've never done a cleanse before so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Overall it sounds like a great way to refresh your body and to ultimately feel more energized, focused, and balanced. I was surprised to see that you can eat or drink a few extra things during the cleanse. You're allowed as much water as you want, up to two cups of coffee, green tea, two egg whites, a moderate amount of raw or steamed vegetables (cucumber, celery, green leafy veggies, broccoli, & cauliflower), and sugar free gum.

Here's a step-by-step diary of my 1 day cleanse with Jus by Julie:

Since the 1-day cleanse is 6 bottles and I was given 5, I had to start with Jus #2. Just as well, since I woke up a little late this morning - #becausesaturday. Admittedly, I did cheat and have a small 70 calorie pack of Mozzarella snacking cheese earlier in the morning - fair enough, since I was one Jus bottle short.

11:30am: Jus #2 "Spicy Pomegranate" had a distinct sour lemonade taste with strong cayenne pepper aftertaste in each sip. To be honest, I didn't really taste the pomegranate element at all. It did take me a while to drink this one because of the spicy and sour components. However, I drink a lot of light lemonades and love ordering cocktails with habanero and other peppers, so these flavors weren't really foreign to me. This was a really light drink. It didn't seem to have any pulp to it at all, more of a "Crystal Light" consistency.

3:15pm: I got a little tired before 2:30pm and took a nap, so I had this one a little bit later than I thought I would.  Jus #3 "Sweet Spin" tasted a lot like the typical smoothie I would buy in a store like Jamba Juice, Odwalla, or Naked.  I've also made similar ones with my Magic Bullet blender.  It's got a nice sweet taste because of the pineapple, mango, and banana. I would say the banana taste is a little stronger than the other two fruits. The kale and spinach don't have an overwhelming taste either, which is probably a good thing. The rice milk was subtle but added a nice taste. That's something I don't typically add in my own smoothies, but now I think it's a great idea! This one definitely did have a thick texture with some pulp.

4:15pm: Got a little hungry. Admittedly I don't have a lot of veggies in the fridge right now because I wasn't prepared for the cleanse. The box kind of showed up as a surprise Friday afternoon. The instructions said that all the juices are made fresh and should either be consumed within three days or frozen for later. I figured it would be better to taste them while they're fresh so I opted to try it today, since I had dinner plans yesterday and Sunday. So, I may have cheated a bit again...I had a 90 calorie bag of steamed edamame. It's not a "leafy" green but still unclear whether or not it's something to avoid. Hopefully it won't affect anything!

I also tried half of the Aloe booster shot. It didn't taste as bad as I thought it might. It was actually pretty pleasant. Since I thought I might be getting dehydrated though all this, the Aloe one seemed like a good one to try.

5:30pm: Getting hungry again. Had some steamed spinach!

6:30pm: Jus #4 "Chia Berry" is a bit sour like Jus #2 but the pomegranate and strawberry even out the taste nicely. The chia seeds add a nice thicker texture too. This one also tastes really sweet to me and again I see it has a very high sugar content (28g).

7:50pm: Couldn't stop thinking about all the food in my house. Oh no! Managed to find some sugarfree gum I bought a couple weeks ago. That did the trick!

9:15pm: I was looking forward to Jus #5 "Island Coconut" all day because the ingredients sounds so good - coconut meat, coconut milk, dates, and cinnamon. It tastes just like Horchata or rice pudding. Definitely the best one so far. It has chunks of coconut that tickle your throat a little, so you may want to have some water with this one. It definitely tastes more like a dessert which is odd since this is the one you're supposed to have at dinner time. It feels like the sweet one should be the last one of the day. Regardless, I'm not complaining. I drank this one pretty quickly because it tasted so good. I wonder if I could buy this one individually sometime and have it as a substitute for dessert?

11:30pm: Jus #6 "X-Treme Greens" tasted a lot like Jus #3 "Sweet Spin", as you would imagine. This one was a little more sour than sweet because lemon was the dominate flavor. The consistency was also significantly thinner, as the only real texture to this one was from the hemp seeds. This was was actually a little hard to finish because, believe it or not, at this point my stomach actually felt pretty full!

In the couple weeks immediately following my cleanse I definitely noticed that my appetite was significantly smaller. Over that same span of time I also noticed that I'd lost at least five pounds. I felt considerably more energetic for a few days too. Doing a cleanse was really tough - and I know most people do them for more than one day.  However, I think I would be open to trying this one again if I felt like I was going through a period of low energy and consuming a lot of unhealthy food.

Interested in trying Jus by Julie yourself? Groupon is currently offering the 1 and 3 day cleanses at a discount. Click here to purchase the 1 day cleanse for just $33 (RRP $50) or the 3 day cleanse for just $125 (RRP $180). 

What's your take on juice cleanses? Let me know in the comments below!

I was supplied with five cold pressed juices and six booster shots for free for  review purposes from Jus by Julie via People StyleWatch Magazine.