Not Another LA Blonde

Tag: life

Shop Pink: Top 10 Products
Breast Cancer is something that affects so many people. Why not do the most we can to give back. Unfortunately, I think it’s safe to say that we all probably know someone who has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and hopefully they have overcome their battle, but I know many have not. In any situation, you always wish there was something more you could do to help out.

I’ve rounded up a few items that I felt were good products that also give back during the month of October. We all know y’all were going to go out and shop anyway, so why not do it at a few places that donate back to Breast Cancer Awareness?
1. Pink beautyblender bubble – Price = $20.00
Throughout the month of October, 50% of all proceeds from this product (as well as the micro mini bubble) are donated to the Look Good Feel Better Foundation, a free program that helps support cancer patients with the side effects of treatment.
1. Kiehl’s Kiss For the Cure Butterstick Lip Treatment Duo – Price = $32.00
This lip treatment duo is proof that some of the best things come in pairs. One tube is packed with nourishing coconut oil (and a pretty, rosy tint) and the other with antioxidant-rich lemon butter. 100% of net profits benefit Bright Pink, a national non-profit focused on breast and ovarian cancer prevention and early detection, and breast cancer education programs.
1. June Jacobs Rapid Repair Healing Cream – Price = $60.00
This therapeutic cream was created by aesthetician June Jacobs, who experienced radiation dermatitis while undergoing breast cancer treatment. Not only does it address skin conditions caused by radiation, the multipurpose product is also a cult favorite for providing protection and all-day hydration. For the month of October, 25% of net proceeds for this cream will be donated to the Anne Moore Breast Cancer Research Fund no matter where you purchase this at. If you buy through the website, another 25% of the net proceeds with be donated to the Dublin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute. This product comes in 3 different sizes!
1. Note Cosmetics Long Wearing Lipstick – Price = $9.99
Now, I’ve never used this product, but all the reviews said great things and I’m all for companies who give back! These pink, pigment-rich options from Note Cosmetics are shades with a noteworthy cause. Choose any of their pink lipsticks or glosses marked with a breast cancer ribbon symbol, and 10% of your purchase will go towards the American Breast Cancer Foundation, a national charity dedicated to providing education and financial support to those affected by breast cancer.
1. Vera Wang Truly Pink Eau de Parfum Spray – Price = $33.00
This classic rose fragrance smells like fresh flower petals. When you purchase from fragrancenet.com, they’ll donate 15% of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which fuels advances in prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer.
1. Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray – Price = $29.00
While bumble and bumble’s Thickening Spray bottle is dressed up in a limited-edition pink design this month, the beloved formula is still the same. A few spritzes create lasting lift and body for a voluminous blowout at home. When you buy this version of the bottle, the brand will donate 20% of the suggested retail price to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
1. Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Illuminating Bronzing Powder Set – Price = $55.00
Bobbi Brown makes some of our favorite beauty bag staples, and this one includes the brand’s iconic powder compact that leaves behind a sun-kissed glow. This year, when you purchase the set, Bobbi Brown will donate $11 from each purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
1. ORIGINS Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask – Price = $27.00
Origins is committed to donating $50,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation this year. Their limited edition BCA mask will give you your best beauty sleep; your skin will drink up the emollient-rich avocado and apricot oils and deeply rehydrating Japanese seaweed.
1. Tory Burch Support Breast Cancer Research – Price = Varies
From October 1 – October 31, 2017, Tory Burch is donating 20% from this purchase (in pink color only) to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
1. Jack Rogers Exclusive Lauren Sandal – Price = $128
Now through October 31^st, Jack Rogers will donate 10% of sales of the Exclusive Lauren Sandal in Blush to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Happy shopping y’all! Let me know if you know of any other brands that are donating during the month of October.

XOXO

P.S Check out my Instagram Not Another LA Blonde and see my day to day life!
October 12, 2017
Wedding Wednesday: The Ring Boxes
Happy Wedding Wednesday! I got my September The Ring Boxes box in the mail last month and I know I’m super late on this, but let me tell you…there were a lot of super cute things in the box that any bride-to-be would love! So I decided that even though it’s October now, I still wanted to show y’all what I got in my box last month.

“Who doesn’t love flaunting that fiancé title and flashing your new fabulous bling! You always want to have all the newest and cutest bride to be goodies when you’re engaged and The Ring Boxes gives you just that, one big box full of all the most popular and fabulous bridal products each and every month leading to your special day! Each month we arrange a new box packed with full sized custom gifts, wedding décor, beauty and spa products as well as date night perks! Giving our brides the ultimate bridal experience.”

BACKGROUND: The Ring Boxes was created in January 2017 so it’s still pretty new. It features handpicked bridal items delivered right to your door each month. You can choose from monthly, 3 month, 6 month or 12 month packages. The price varies depending on which subscription you choose. Since my wedding is exactly a year away, I choose the 12 month package which brought my pricing to $35/month or $420 for the year. A single box costs $40. This box is the perfect subscription for the bride-to-be!

Here is a BREAKDOWN of the SEPTEMBER goodies in my box:
1. Rose Gold Bride Bracelet by With Love From Katie – Retail Value = $23.00
This custom rose gold bar bracelet has been hand stamped with love from Katie! You can check her out on her website for perfectly imperfect one of a kind jewelry! You can also find her on Instagram @With.love.from.katie Brides… use coupon code “IDO10” at checkout to save 10% off your whole order! Ok so how cute is this bracelet!? It’s super lightweight and dainty. It’s perfect for every bride-to-be and is easily worn. You know just by looking at it that it has been made with love. I love wearing mine and wish I knew someone getting married so I could get them one!
1. Couples Pillow Cases designed by Mush Made – Retail Value = $24.99
These sweet custom pillowcases are the perfect addition to any bed! I couldn’t find the exact ones that I got in my box, but I found this set on Etsy which is almost an exact match! Bed, Bath and Beyond also has two options you can get that are super cute as well! And of course Etsy has plenty of other options to find a look that you love! AHHH ok these are also super cute! They look great as décor pillows as I would definitely not sleep on them. They are perfect for decoration and look good on any bed! I can’t wait until the fiancé and I get our own place and I can put them on our bed!
1. I DO Candle by Lux Illume – Retail Value = $15.50
Third in its series the bright and bubbly floral blend of Magnolia and champagne captures the magic of the moment when you say “I do”. You can purchase this in the Illuminating Love Collection. This is the 3^rd candle in the series and the 3^rd one that I’ve received. These candles are great and really last a long time. This one smells great!
1. Satin Sleeping Mask – Retail Value = $18.00
I couldn’t find the exact sleeping mask I received but you can find similar ones on Etsy and, of course, on Amazon. Every bride needs her beauty sleep! Block out the sun with this elegant satin sleeping mask. While this is really cute, I’m not all that into sleeping masks. I’ve read all about the benefits, but I just don’t like something covering my eyes while I sleep. This might be the only thing that came in my box this month that I didn’t love.
1. Reasons I Want To Journal by JournalingJane – Retail Value = $6.50
I found this and so many other cute wedding themed journals on the JournalingJane etsy page. They range in price from about $5.50 to about $12.00. Write out the reasons you want to marry your sweetheart for a meaningful gift to give them the night before your wedding that they will treasure forever. This journal is sooo cute. I was already looking at the one that says “a journal of the last 100 days of our engagement”. I think this would be the perfect gift to give your future Mr. and something that you can both go back and look at forever.
1. Personalized Stroopwafel Wedding Favor – Retail Value = $1.50 each
Your wedding guests will love these unique treats so much! Give them away as a single or set of stroopies individually wrapped and personalized favors. Available as a circle or heart shape to add even more love to your wedding day. This item is from gourmetweddinggifts.com This is a super cute idea, I’m not sure if it’s the direction that we’re going in for our wedding, but they have a lot of options to choose from.

BONUS!!!

The box also came with 2 recipe cards. One was a recipe for the bride to be and the other was a recipe for the perfect date night. One was “Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta” and the other is for “Roasted Potatoes and Kielbasa”. They both come with a recommended wine pairing. I think that this is such a good idea for the soon to be bride to have a collection of recipes to make. I can’t wait to try out both of these recipes!

THE VALUE

The value of September’s box is $89.50! This is a little low compared to other months, but is still worth more than what you are paying for the box! While there are some items that I wouldn’t pay for or wouldn’t pay that high of a price for, I felt that the items in the September box were REALLY good. I was super pleased with my box last month and it just makes me even more excited for the big day in 8 months!

I think this box is a great for the bride-to-be and I can’t wait to see what the rest of my year subscription has in store for me! After my year is up and I’m married I will cancel my subscription but only because I will no longer need a bride-to-be box delivered to my door every month!

XOXO
October 11, 2017
Wedding Wednesday: Finding My Dream Dress

Happy WEDDING WEDNESDAY y’all!! I know it’s been kind of a while since we talked about my wedding, but I just have the absolute BEST news to share!

I FOUND MY WEDDING DRESS!!!

It was literally everything I thought it would be. I am overwhelmed with happiness by my choice and I can’t wait for the big day for y’all to see what I picked.

Buuutttt since it would be bad luck to show off my gorgeous dress now, let’s talk a little bit about my experience.

Every other Friday I have off from work, so my mom and I picked a Friday I was off and decided just to go look at dresses so that I could get an idea. Mind you, I had absolutely no idea what kind of dress would even look good on me! So we get there and right away I’m super intimidated by ALL the dresses in the store. The lady working was super friendly and helped me sign in and get going on picking out a few styles I might want to try.

I wanted a ball gown style dress so badly, but after trying one on I realized that I am just too short for that style (it was heavy and made me start to feel a little claustrophobic). I tried on quite a few different styles and let me tell you, not everything out there is cute! My stylist was really helpful and when I found a dress that I actually liked, she would go and pull a few more of that look or style. I finally narrowed it down to one or two dresses but my mind kept going back to this “one” dress I had tried on. I got a little case of cold feet and had to walk out of the bridal boutique without a dress.

Side Note: this isn’t my dress!

That night I knew that dress had been mine and I started to get nervous as that had been the only one in the store. My mom kept telling me that if it was meant to be, then it would still be there in a few days when we went back. That night I texted my MOH and asked my soon to be mother in law if they could come with me and my mom to pick out a dress.

A few days later we went and my girl was working again (yay!!), I told her that I wanted to try on my special dress again and we picked out a few other ones to show my little party. I tried on a couple of dresses and then finally put on the ONE and I knew immediately that this was going to be the dress that I walked down the aisle in. I started to tear up and when I walked out I knew from their faces that they agreed. This was MY DRESS, there was no question about it. The girl I was working with put a veil on me and I was DONE, I started crying and my mom started getting teared up. I told the lady that this was the one and that I would be walking away with my dream dress that day. I still have to get it altered since it is a tad bit big on me, but it is absolutely beautiful and once it is paired with my veil, I know that it will be perfect.

Finding my dream dress was such an emotional experience for me. I know they always say on TV that you just know when you put it on and I can honestly say that is 100% true. I’m glad that I didn’t have 50 million people there with me and that I just took the people who mean the most to me. I can’t wait to walk down the aisle towards Robert in 8 months and see that look on his face and the tear in his eye.

XOXO

October 4, 2017