I took over the Virginia Bloggers Instagram for a week and had a blast. It was fun sharing a little piece of each day. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

(Click through for the captions)

I think it’s fun to give a friend something special at Valentine’s Day. Here are a few things I’ve given in the past and some ideas!

Flowers from Amanda Burnette: I’ve ordered flowers from Amanda several times and they’re ALWAYS beautiful. They’re so much more unique than something you could get at a national chain or at the grocery store. TODAY (2/10) is the last day to place your order to get these in time for Valentine’s Day!

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polishes: All of these polishes are gorgeous. As a fun little bonus, they’re all named after songs. I’m partial to Respect and Sarah Smile. They’re also free of harsh chemicals and cruelty-free. Get them for 10% off AND in time for Sunday if you order by tomorrow at elementsbeautyshop.com.  If you’re in Richmond, you can even stop by their store in Carytown. Elements also has my FAVORITe perfume, the Elixr of Love from Caswell-Massey. I can’t imagine anyone not liking this scent. It smells SO good.

Candy Valley Cake Company Cake Pops: Keya Wingfield makes the most beautiful intricate and creative desserts I’ve ever seen! I was introduced to her work when she made these gecko cake pops for one of my clients back in 2010. She also made these awesome and super realistic pops for my clients at Elements. You still have time to get these heart cake pops if you order today!

Buxom Lip Polish: These are one of my favorite lines for lip gloss, and they’re all named after women! I was first introduced to them when I worked at a bareMinerals boutique in college and they had only Krystal, Dolly, Bambi and a few others. They’ve since expanded the collection to include Jessica, Elizabeth, Christina (!), Kristen, Kelly and more. I gave my friend Sophia her namesake shade when I did her makeup for her wedding  last summer. My personal favorites are Erin, Krystal and Dolly.

Rich Bitch: A lot of my friends are in similar industries and we talk a lot about our careers, professionalism and give each other advice and share resources. I think a book that’s really helped you is an awesome gift. My friend Sara gave me Cheryl Strayed’s ‘Brave Enough’ for Christmas, and I thought it was just the perfect gift. Last month, my friend Jevata and I hosted an Inspiration party and invited some women we admire and care about to share their favorite books. You can check that list out here.

Experience gifts are always awesome too. Nobody hates a gift certificate for a mani/pedi. I like Heather at Canvas the Salon. SHE DID OLIVIA POPES NAILS, people! She’s right here in Richmond but she was called in to do a VIP manicure for Kerry Washington in DC. You can read about how it happened here. Of course I IMMEDIATELY ordered the shade she used. It’s available in this kit at HSN. I ordered several to save as gifts!

Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Mask | $90 |ElementsBeautyShop.com – The biggest difference I notice is that it makes the skin very soft and plumps it up. I love the way it smells and this is one of my most luxurious-feeling masks.  You sleep in it too!

Boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydrating Sleeping Mask – I got a sample of this in one of my Sephora orders and just ordered a full-size. Here’s what Sephora has to say about it: Tsubaki (Camellia) Oil firms, hydrates, and protects against free radical damage. Allantoin provides hydration and supports natural cell renewal with natural anti-bacterial and deep-cleansing benefits. Wakame prevents fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness by replenishing protein, helping to support natural collagen production. Rice Bran Oil reduces dark spots and increases micro-circulation for soft, glowing skin. I say,  it smells amazing and gives you super soft, moisturized skin to wake up to.

REN Instant firming Beauty Shot | $54 | ElementsBeautyShop.com –  I like to carry a sample-sized version of this in my makeup bag to pat on whenever my makeup creases (usually between my brows). This smells like roses and the little bottle is so cute. I recently tried it all over my face, patting it on before moisturizer, and I loved how it felt and made my foundation look. They hyaluronic acid in this is meant to plump up your skin and hold in moisture. It also smells like rose. 

La Mer Soft Cream $85 – $465 | Nordstrom – obviously a classic. I got this as a Christmas gift and then re-purchased when it ran out about eight months later. I use this sparingly because it’s so pricey, sometimes just as an eye cream.

Fresh Rose Mask $62 | Sephora – This mask feels SO fancy and it’s super gentle. The texture is somewhere between a liquid and a gel. It smells soooo good. When my face feels dry and irritated, this os the one I use.

byTerry baume de rose $60 | Beauty.com – I got this on a Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal and combined used some birchbox points. This is VERY similar to Dior’s Creme de Rose, and I’ve been using it throughout the day whenever my lips get dry. If you’re looking for something similar but less expensive, try Benefit’s Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm. They smell like roses and come in a few different colors. “Lollibalm” is my favorite and reminds me of the new lilac Lip Glow Dior came out with for spring.

Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Serum | $90 | ElementsBeautysShop.com – A long time favorite. I went into detail on this one here. Basically, it’s super light and I like to add it underneath another moisturizer for winter.

GlamGlow ThirstyMud Mask | $69 | Sephora – This one smells like coconuts and is SUPER moisturizing. You can either leave this one on for a few minutes or sleep in it (I usually wash it off). I use this one when my face is extra, extra dry but not irritated or sensitive. If you’re going to get this one, make sure to get the kit. (same proce as the mask but has some extras).

Ole Henriksen Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask | $34 | Sephora – When I’m not sure which my skin needs more – moisture or exfoliation – I use this one. It smells like lavender and feels calming and nice for irritated, dry skin.

Post your favorites for winter in the comments. I want to try them all!

PS: Use the code TIRAMISU for 10% off any purchase at ElementsBeautyShop.com

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I am SO excited to talk to you all about Adornable Box. Remember the boutique,  Beckett, that I mentioned in my Charleston travel post? The owner, Athena, just started a jewelry service that’s amazing.

Here’s how it works:

After you share some info about your preferences with Adornable, they’ll send you a box full of jewelry to try. You have 3 days to try on your jewelry and decide which, if any, you’d like to keep.

Then, pack up the box with the items you are returning, use the enclosed return label to return the box, and ENJOY your new pieces You’re only charged only for the items you keep.

Everything came in these cuttle little pouches with personalized notes from Athena about why she chose the items. The prices are also noted on each piece.

I’ve tried jewelry subscriptions before and never found anything I loved. I like delicate jewelry that’s simple but pretty and that’s exactly what Athena picked out for me.

I LOVE this bracelet. This and the earrings are definitely my top two picks. I’ve been wearing the bracelet almost everyday. The necklace with the tiny blue beads is so elegant and unique. 

I was amazed by the quality of all of the pieces.  The #1 thing I was concerned about is having pieces that don’t tarnish and that hold up well. Even though the prices range from only about $15-$35, everything is so nice. I’ve worn these several times and everything is sturdy.

These are the kind of earrings that slide through your pierced ear so a section is on either side. I wore them everywhere from a Christmas party to work.

This piece was neat in that you could wear it as a necklace or as a bracelet.

I layered the blue bead necklace with a piece I already had. The notecard Athena has enclosed with it suggested I pair it with a white/cream blouse, which I’ll definitely be trying.

This is such a fun concept and I can’t wait to get my next box.

To sign up for an Adornable box of your very own (or get one for a friend for Christmas!), fill out this form. For the holidays, you’ll get a $10 coupon in box to use toward favorite pieces. If you’re giving Adornable as a gift, you can purchase a gift certificate of any amount for the receiver to spend on their favorite pieces!

My favorite local beauty boutique, Elements of Carytown, is having a Christmas Party this Thursday. A Very Cary Christmas will be from 4-8pm. See more details and RSVP here.

The Elements Beauty Bloggers have put together gift guides with our favorite beauty products. Check out Caroline, Whitney, Susanna and Stephanie’s picks here. All of the products talk about (and everything else in the store) will be 20% off when you mention any of our blogs or use any of our discount codes online from 12/3-12/10. That means you can get goodies from REN, Peter Thomas Roth (hello, time to splurge on that 24K gold mask), Malin + Goetz, Erno Laszlo (my personal favorite) and more. PLUS, shipping is free with any $25 order.

For a more extensive guide of my all-time favorite Elements products, click here. If I had to choose just one favorite, it would be this Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Infusion Serum. It smells amazing and is just moisturizing enough for my skin.

My friend Jevata and I had a fabulous time at Saks a few weeks ago. Her friend Beverly George is a personal shopper there, and we thought it would be fun to let her try out fall’s trends on us. First, a little explanation on what a personal shopper is, and who can use the service.

Anyone can use a personal shopper. Budgets vary, of course, and Beverly can accommodate. She works with people who are looking to expand their wardrobe because of a life change like a new job, people who shop with her for new things each season, and people who shop couture that needs to be custom-ordered. She has clients all over the country. You can send photos of yourself so she can pick out clothes that will work for your build and style.

You can also shop for gifts. Beverly can work with you to shop for family or for special occasion items like bridesmaids gifts.

If you’re interested in trying or purchasing any of the clothes or accessories below, email her at Beverlybeverly_george@s5a.com or give her a call at 804.317.1413. You can also follower her on Instagram: @saksfifthbev.

After we tried on our first outfit, we went back to the room to find fruit, cheese and water to refuel for our next outfit change.

We wore these masks to protect the clothes from makeup. (Have you ever seen these before? I hadn’t.)

For our first look, I love this Tadashi Shoji strapless gown and Elie Tahari fur jacket. (I lovvved this coat)

Jevata sported this elegant white Escada suit. I love the bow in the front.

I LOVED these Stuart Weitzman shoes. (PS, that’s Essie’s Bikini So Teeny on my toes)

Jevata looks SO stunning.

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When French Connection reached out to offer me $$$ to try their Fall Collection I freaked out. I’m familiar with the brand, and I’d seen their clothes in a local Richmond boutique, Bliss 5812 (recommended to me by the wonderful Amy of Super Fun Yoga Pants)

Here are my favorite things from the site:

I love how this top mixes the cool perforation with lace on the sleeves.

And this one is SO delicate and pretty. I went wedding dress shopping this past weekend with my soon-to-be sister-in-law, and this almost reminds me of a bridal gown.

This was one of my favorites. I almost got this one. It’s so unique.

…and the top I ended up getting for myself, the Ripple Knitted Jumper. 

I decided to wear it when I joined Kelli Lemon on her Video Series/Podcast, Coffee With Strangers, so I have some photos of the top in action. all of the shots below are by the lovely Jenny McQueen of Capture Photography.

Check out the video clip below and the full segment at CoffeeWithStrangersRVA.com

Ann Taylor sent out an email featuring these pants this morning and they sold out within hours.

They are so fabulous. My rule for myself is to not buy anything at Ann Taylor unless it’s 40% off (They are always having a sale),  so I passed on these, even though they’re gorgeous.

I happened to check the site later in the day, and noticed the pants weren’t there anymore. I had already posted a link to them on my blog’s Facebook page, and when I clicked, I got the “SOLD OUT.” messaging. The marketer in me was curious, so I did a quick search to see if anyone was talking about these super popular pants. I saw this tweet, which inspired this post.

A lot of times, a really popular item will sell out online, but you can find it in stores. One little trick I learned. The “Find In Store: feature can be your best friend, if you know how to use it. Don’t just search your city. I live in Richmond, VA, and I highly doubt that Ann Taylor sent a large supply of sequin pants here, so I search by New York, NY, and low and behold, three stores have them in stock.  If you have an Ann Taylor credit card, they’ll waive the shipping cost and send them to you right from the store. Otherwise, it’s about $8.

I have a navy pair from American Eagle (no longer available, unfortunately) that I got a lot of use of last winter. They’re comfortable and warm because they’re leggings, but also very dressy. If you can’t get your hands on the ones from Ann Taylor, here are more options. Happy Shopping!

Sephora is having their biannual 20% off sale (the other one is in April, I blogged about it here), and it’s an awesome time to be a beauty lover. VIB Rouge members had 20% off last weekend, and VIB members have it this weekend. Xsparkage did a great video post about the details of the sale with her recommendations here. I like to use these sales as an excuse to try something a little more expensive and to stock up on things I repurchase over and over. Here are a few things I’d recommend getting.

KP Duty Body Scrub | $46: I got a sample of this and loved it so much that I bought the full size. It’s the first body wash/scrub I’ve tried that has both physical and chemical exfoliants.

Bobbi Deluxe Eye and Cheek Palette | $85: This looks gorgeous. I didn’t pick it up for myself because I already have a few of the colors. But, I wanted to include it because it has so many great shades. Pale pink is my favorite blush of all time.

Clarisonic | $149: I LOVE my Clarisonic. I got it as a Christmas present when I was in college, and it’s such a great thing. If you’re not familiar with this, it’s a brush (kind of like an e toothbrush) that you use with your face wash to cleanse. It’s supposed to make your cleanser more effective and give you a deeper clean. I notice a HUGE difference when I don’t use it.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick | $26: I bought this for doing smokey eyes after reading  reviews online. It’s a shadow stick, but can be used as a liner. I tried it once all over my lids for going out but it’s actually replaced the Armani liner as my everyday liner. It doesn’t smudge AT ALL.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara | $23: Best. mascara. ever. This gives you super thick-looking lashes.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Dry Shampoo | $14:  I love the idea of a perfumed dry shampoo. I like my R+Co, Oscar Blandi and Living Proof dry shampoos, but I ordered this one and am very interested to see how this one works (and smells!).

Sephora Luxe Lashes | $17: These lashes are fabulous. I’ve worn my current pair three times, and they hold up great.

YSL Baby Doll Kiss and Blush | $40: I have a coral and a plum (which I totally copied from Arielle of Scotch and Nonsense). It’s such a nice product because you an use it on your lips and cheeks, and it’s very subtle. Even though this one (11) is really dark, it looks like a light berry stain that you can build up if you want a bold lip.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector | $41: This is such a gorgeous product. I pump a little onto my fingertips and pat it onto my cheek bones and around my eyes.

Fresh Brown Sugar Bath & Shower Gel | $20: Every once in a while I pick up a fancy shower gel. They seem to last a lot longer and feel and smell super nice.

Fresh Rose Face Mask: This is a super gentle mask that I think almost anyone could use. I bought it because it smells like roses, of course. It’s good to use after you’ve used a clay mask or an exfoliating one, because it’s so light and re-moisturizes your skin.

Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream: MakeupByTiffanyD (One of my favorite YouTubers) had a great explanation of this product here. This is such a great foundation. It feels thinner than a regular foundation but has really great coverage. the only downside to this is that there isn’t a great shade range. I’m wear light-medium, for reference.

My lovely friend Leslie works at Sephora here in Richmond (remember her from this post?), and she was kind enough to share her picks as well!

PTR Camu Camu Powder Exfoliator | $45:  This leaves your skin so soft, smooth, and bright, and has the perfect fine but gritty texture.

Belif Herbal Cleansing Water  | $36:  on the Korean beauty trend. I don’t know why Korean cleansing waters seem to be so much better than others I’ve tried, but they are magic. Takes off everything so well and doesn’t leave a weird film.

NARS x Steven Klein collection: Holy crap I love it all. If I have to pick one though, the lipstick in the color No Shame is such a beautiful juicy plum red, and it’s limited edition.

VERB Leave-In Mist $14: It’s a new hair are brand where every product is only $14, and everything I’ve tried has been awesome. I have fine hair with dry ends, this gives me moisture and a silky finish, but doesn’t weigh it down even when I spray it on dry hair.

Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatale | $125:  I’m obsessed with this perfume brand. This is my favorite scent, but it’s really hard to choose out of all the good ones. It’s kind of pricey, so it’s the perfect thing to use a coupon on! I wore it on my wedding day.