mani monday + a HUGE giveaway + my day with Julep

Happy {MANI} Monday, everyone! This week will be an awesome one, because I get to share my recent trip to Julep's Headquarters in Seattle, Washington a few weeks ago.

When I first got to Julep HQ I was instantly in love with their pink waiting room:

I was pretty smitten over their pink piping on the ceiling!

Then I noticed the great wall of colors, along with (in a separate room) every Julep product ever made, to be sent off to bloggers, editors etc.

They also have a little, mini lab right in the office where they mix and match different colors and textures for possible new creations:

I loved sneaking peeks at their Holiday 2013 inspiration boards:

And I *really* loved seeing peeks of new products coming out! My friend, Heather (great name) from Julep was kind enough to show me around and show me lots of new products coming in the next couple months (you guys are going to FLIP when you see the new colors coming out!! I personally want every single product from the October box - stay tuned!!)

 After my tour at their headquarters, my mom and I were absolutely spoiled at the flagship Julep parlor!

We had the most amazing, relaxing manicures and pedicures and loved every second! I ended up with Kate on my toes:

...and Angela on my nails:

Gorgeous colors, right?? Julep spoiled me, and now they're spoiling one of YOU!! How does a ONE-YEAR Maven subscription sound??? Are you going crazy?? Dying to win?? Just use the rafflecopter below, and there are extra points if you link up with this week's Mani Monday (linky just below the rafflecopter)

Good luck, and thank you Julep!!!

You can find Julep around the web here:

SHOP * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

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Emani Makeup Love + A Giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent Emani products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, this stuff is fantastic!

Friends - I have to tell you about a new obsession of mine, Emani Makeup. I mentioned a few products I love in a Three Things post, but want to tell you a bit more about it....

Emani is a vegan/gluten free/cruelty free/talc/mineral oil/paraben free line of cosmetics, PETA certified and award winning line of cosmetics, and it is truly amazing. I'm all for green but honestly, most of the time when I try a "green" cosmetic it's just not up to snuff. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Emani has the perfect, buildable coverage, an amazing line of foundations, and their color products (eyes, cheeks, lips) are just outstanding - so blendable and gorgeous!!

With a background in the makeup industry I've tried just about everything, and while I often find great products, it's rare that I find AMAZING products, that I feel the need to tell anyone who will listen about!

These products are good for the environment, and good for your skin, but what really took me by surprise is how long-lasting they are. On a typical day I wear the hydra wear foundation, with a really light dusting of flawless matte foundation to set everything. I pretty much never leave home without some Key West blush on my cheeks (sidenote: if you've only got two minutes to put a bit of makeup on, go with blush and mascara. The mascara helps you look more awake, and the blush brightens your entire face!) Then I swipe on a bit of mascara, and if I have time some eye shadow and I'm good to go!

Here's a pic from the Snap Conference, where I was first introduced to Emani by my friend Alissa:

(14 hours of wear and still going strong!)

Emani wants one of you to try their products (and fall in love!) too, and they are giving one lucky winner their  Day Diva Kit, which includes three shadows, one lipstick and a brush (and wowza, their vegan brushes are incredible!!)

To enter, just use the rafflecopter below!

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CUPPOW! giveaway

Have you guys heard of CUPPOW!?? If not, let me enlighten you....in a nushell, they turn your mason jar into a travel cup. They are smart. They are eco-friendly. They are adorable. They are amazing. 

We have a handful (thanks, Cuppow!!) and all four of us use them regularly.

A bit about Cuppow, in their own words:

"The development of Cuppow was uniquely tied to Fringe Union in Somerville, MA. Fringe is a 7500 sq ft creative business incubator and coworking space and it continues to serve as our headquarters. The

contributions included a video by Paper Fortress, recycled packaging printed (and currently being printed as I type!) by Repeat Press, design by Natalya Zahn, our photos, web site, and more! It's a really cool story that worked off of a homegrown collaboration that took advantage of all the opportunities and amazing talents that Fringe has to offer

Additionally, our dedication lies in producing a product that is easy on the environment and safe for users of all ages. We use BPA, and phthalate-free plastic that is even free of BPS (a common BPA replacement with many of the same negative traits).

Our entire supply chain is in Massachusetts which keeps our transportation impact as low as possible. We are also allowed a level of quality control that just doesn't exist for companies like ours when producing a product overseas. We're really, genuinely, committed to making the most environmentally friendly product we possibly can!"

Pretty cool, right? Well, I'm super stoked that Cuppow is giving one lucky winner one of each size and color Cuppows (for a total of four!)

To enter, just use the rafflecopter below. Good luck!!

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You can find Cuppow here:

SHOP  *  FACEBOOK  *  INSTAGRAM  *  TWITTER  *  PINTEREST

Mani Monday

Happy (MANI) Monday, everyone!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited to introduce you to Mani Monday's new co-host, Emily of the Anna Delores blog!

A little bit about Emily: "I'm a Southern California native.
I'm semi-addicted to Dr. Pepper and very addicted to coffee.
My cousins make fun of my extensive collection of awesome shoes.
I LOVE shopping.  It gets me in trouble.
I LOVE food.  It also gets me in trouble.
I LOVE taking pictures.  That only gets me in trouble on rare occasions.
I'm not married or engaged, but I adore all things related to weddings.
My favorite city in the world is Paris.  I do not speak French. 
I have way too many headbands.
My favorite drink is a pineapple mimosa or a really good pumpkin ale.
Autumn is my favorite season. 
I love to take naps.  Like, at least once a day. 
I'm a dog person." She is also quite the nail art aficionado  and I couldn't be more excited to have her as Mani Monday's new permanent co-host!

To make things super special for Emily's first week with Mani Monday, a bunch of wonderful bloggers are offering this amazing nail polish giveaway worth over $300!  To enter just use the rafflecopter below, the mani link up!

This is a "winner takes all" giveaway, and the goodies virtually guarantee that you'll be set for manicure awesomeness for the rest of 2013.  Here's what's at stake:

From left to right:

• Zoya "Electra" holographic glitter polish
• Color Club "Put A Pin In It" metallic bronze polish
• Julep iridescent glitter pot
• Julep "Dakota" metallic copper polish
• Julep "O Canada" multicolored glitter polish
• Illamasqua "Speckle" lavender with glitter polish
• Julep "Simone" metallic lavender polish
• Illamasqua "Purity" peach creme polish
• American Apparel "Crescent Heights" neon lime green polish
• Julep "Daphne" turquoise teal creme polish
• Julep "Abbie" bright yellow creme polish
• OPI "Can't Let Go" Liquid Sand in royal purple
• Julep "Sally" beige creme polish
• Julep Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum
• Julep "Mackenzie" metallic spring green polish
• butter LONDON "Scuppered" metallic bronze with green glitter polish
• Julep "Glenn" metallic cranberry red polish
• Julep "Shenae" metallic mint green polish
• Julep "Ingrid" burnt orange creme polish
• Julep Freedom Top Coat
• Julep "Poppy" coral creme lip gloss
• Sephora nail file

All told, we've got 16 nail polishes and four manicure accessories.  The winner of this giveaway is going to make out like a bandit!  The total prize value is over $300, people!

Please, please, PLEASE be sure to visit the lovely ladies who co-sponsored this giveaway with me (just click on their images to be taken to their blogs)!  I am so happy to have them on board and you'll not regret a visit to their blogs.


Use Rafflecopter below to enter, and GOOD LUCK!
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$400 beach + bikini giveaway!!

Spring is finally here, and you know what that means - SUMMER will be here before you know it!!
To help you kick off the warm weather season, some blogger friends and I would like to give you a head start on planning for your next beach getaway and new bikini. 

21 Amazing Bloggers 1 Winner: $300 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card + $100 Victoria's Secret Gift Card 1 Mandatory Entry + lots of bonus entries
There is just one mandatory entry and that is to leave a comment below telling me "where you would go on your beach vacay". The rest are bonus entries and totally up to you!

Dreaming of Dimples | So Shay | This Won't Hurt A Bit

Saturated Canary | Glitter and Gloss | KV's Confessions

Jessica Who? | Gentri Lee | Her Late Night Cravings

For Lauren & Lauren | Meg O. on the Go | Hey, Hollywood

The Life of Bon | Ramblings of a Southern Belle | The Sunshine Diary

Lipgloss and Crayons | House of Rose | the Anna Delores blog

The Vanilla Tulip | Choose to be Happy | The Vintage Modern Wife

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 Good luck! 

*Note: Victoria's Secret gift card is only valid in US. Winning entry will be verified.

Jose Eber review and giveaway!

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post by Jose Eber Hair. Glitter and Gloss was paid and/or sent free product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Friends - let's talk hair. Before I had my girls, my hair was stick straight. Not even the tiniest hint of wave, and it wouldn't hold a curl. I was one of those chicks who could take a shower in the morning, let my hair air-dry and it would be perfectly straight. I miss those days.

SINCE having my girls I've gotten a ton of wave in my hair - but not on the top layers. It's the weirdest thing. It's wavy all underneath (sometimes downright curly) but I can't just let it air-dry because the top stays straight, but the bottom gets wavy, and when they combine it isn't cute. SO, I either wear it in a messy bun, blow dry my hair, while scrunching it, or blow dry and then straighten it. The straightening iron that I've had for the last ten years recently stopped working, so imagine how excited I was when the wonderful people at Jose Eber reached out to work with me! They sent me their amazing infrared blow dryer and the world's fastest straightening iron. They aren't joking when they say it's the world's fastest - it heats up in five seconds, no joke. It gets super hot, which means you only have to quickly glide it over your hair, and it is perfectly, beautifully straight!

I also did Leila's naturally wavy (super duper thick) hair, and it turned out amazing!!

 I loved that I only had to quickly glide it over her hair - she never complained about it pulling, or feeling hot and she loved how it turned out.....I may have created a monster, haha!

I also really adore the infrared blow dryer. I am not one to spend much time on my hair these days, and my old blow dryer is something I hated. It yanked at my hair, and took forever to dry. With this one, I swear that my hair is completely dry within five minutes (when I'm just blow drying it to get rid of the moisture before straightening - if I'm round brushing it takes a little more time, but not much!) I'm that mom who would rather take the extra 45 minutes of sleep than style my hair, but with my new tools it takes me about ten minutes to blow dry and straighten. I can certainly spare those ten minutes for great looking hair!

SO - do you want beautifully styled hair too??? The lovely folks at Jose Eber are giving away a Trio Clipless Curling Iron to one lucky winner!!!

(I am so jealous - that is currently at the top of my wishlist!) To enter, just use the rafflecopter below.  If you want to buy some Jose Eber goodies now, use the code GlitterGloss15 to save 15% off your entire purchase!!! WOWZA!

PS - this giveaway is open Internationally, woo-hoo!!!
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You can find Jose Eber here:

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Interview with Lit Cosmetics and a Giveaway

Recently I found out about a company called "Lit Cosmetics" - they offer hundreds of different glitters (safe to wear on your eyes!), awesome brushes and water-based glitter adhesives. Their motto is "No glitter, no glory." Obviously I'm in love.

Jodie, the owner and creator of Lit is a doll. She was kind enough to let me ask her a handful of interview questions, and she even sent a goodie for one lucky winner!

Glitter and Gloss: Your makeup is SO fun! I see no problem with rocking a little bit of glitter everyday, but what do you say to someone who is (maybe) a tad leery of glitter/how would you "ease" them into it? 

Jodie Urchyshyn, founder of Lit Cosmetics: Start with size #1 or size #2 in shimmer or solid as these cuts are smaller and will add just a hint of color and light refection to your eye area - also by fanning the glitter out will lessen the intensity

G & G: What makes LIT different than the typical glitter eye products out there?

JU: Unlike any other similar products sold in stores today, Lit Cosmetics prides itself in being water based,  alcohol free (alcohol is a big, “no no” in cosmetics), paraben free, Propylene Glycol free—made with all  natural ingredients. We stand 100% behind our products.

G & G: What are some of your favorite LIT color combos?

JU: Marilin Monroe (silver) & Beach Baby (gold) / Lemon Tart s3 & California

Soul s3

G & G: This is a hard one, but what is your absolute favorite LIT glitter? (Or top three) ;)

JU: 1) Beach Baby s3
2) Marilin Monroe s3
3) Spark s3

G & G: What's next for LIT? New colors? New products?

JU: 20 new shades coming out for 2014!!

Jodie was sweet enough to offer one lucky winner a "Lit Gift Kit" with "Beach Baby" (s2 glitter) and a lit fan to help everything dry. Pretty amazing, if you ask me! To enter, just use the rafflecopter below - good luck!!

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