Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts

November 11, 2015

Look good, Do good, Feel good with Paul Mitchell: Do Your Part & Use the Hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle!

Big thanks to Paul Mitchell for sponsoring the discussion on doing good deeds today.
Find out how you can give to six different charities just by sharing with the hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle on Twitter and/or Instagram thanks to Paul Mitchell!

Great hair associated with a good cause...? I'm all about supporting people going out and doing good things in the world so when I heard about the movement Paul Mitchell® started I was more than intrigued!


Find out how you can give to six different charities just by sharing with the hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle on Twitter and/or Instagram thanks to Paul Mitchell!

An amazing brand, celebrating their commitment to living beautifully by giving back... Does that sound like someone you know...? I like to think of my blog along the same lines, so I was more than on-board when I found out that doing my part in the "giving" involved me sharing how I give on social media. Whether I'm donating gently used clothing to local charities, handing a few dollars to a homeless guy as I drive by, or just lending a hand when I see someone in need... I'm always trying to do good deeds and help those in need.

Find out how you can give to six different charities just by sharing with the hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle on Twitter and/or Instagram thanks to Paul Mitchell!

That's why Paul Mitchell and I are spreading the word! We want to help the world and we want you to help us!

How can you help? Share why or how you give back on social media with the hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle and Paul Mitchell will donate a $1 to one of six charities!

Which Charities will they donate to? Here's a little information about all six of them:


Bright Pink: Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization that focuses on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. We are proud to support their mission to educate, equip and empower women of all ages to be proactive with their health. @BeBrightPink



Waterkeeper Foundation: For more than 10 years, Paul Mitchell has supported Waterkeeper Alliance in their mission to protect rivers, streams, coastlines and other major waterways around the world.@Waterkeeper



Morris Animal Foundation: Morris Animal Foundation is a global leader in supporting scientific research that advances veterinary medicine. We're proud to support the organization's commitment to improving the health and quality of life for dogs, cats, horses and wildlife around the world.@Morris_Animal



Grow Appalachia: In 2010, Paul Mitchell co-founder John Paul DeJoria teamed up with Berea College to establish Grow Appalachia, a non-profit initiative that helps Appalachian families plant a healthy future. Over the last few years, the organization has produced more than 1.1 million pounds of healthy, organic food for thousands of people in five states. @GrowAppalachia



Boys & Girls Club: Paul Mitchell co-founder John Paul DeJoria grew up in an underserved Los Angeles community. During his youth, the local Boys & Girls Club provided a safe place for him to socialize, learn and grow. Today, our company is proud to give back to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and their efforts to create great futures for young people.@BGCA_Clubs



Reforest'Action: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree proudly supports Reforest'Action, an environmental organization that plants trees worldwide, in the areas where they're needed most. Join The Green Takeover and help us plant 500,000 trees by 2016.


Find out how you can give to six different charities just by sharing with the hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle on Twitter and/or Instagram thanks to Paul Mitchell!

Now that you know where the money is going and how you can do your part, it's time to take action! Grab your phone, click on over from your laptop, or use your tablet and log in to Instagram and Twitter - express yourself and share how giving is your style with the hashtag #GivingIsMyStyle!



Want to learn more about the partnership? Watch this video!



October 25, 2015

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets Help Families and Build Stronger Communities for the People of Rwanda

I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere has provided me with compensation in the form of the beautiful Baskets from Rwanda  for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

Since 2005 Macy's has been selling hand-crafted baskets from Rwanda, this year marks the 10 year anniversary of something truly special and they celebrated in a big way - with a Rwanda Path to Peace pre-sale on their beautiful line of baskets, hand-made by the hard-working people of Rwanda! It's hard to imagine the journey the baskets (and these women) have been on; it's as though each of these baskets is a weaving together of cultures, a reconciliation of sorts - and that's what makes these colorful baskets even more beautiful. Basket-weaving allowing former enemies to come together and make something beautiful, I'm all for a Path to Peace for Rwanda...

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

After the terrible events that took place in the 90's, Rwanda and Macy's are trying to focus on the future. By focusing on poverty reduction through job creation, improved incomes, access to global markets and job skill training, the women of Rwanda can help lift their family (and their entire community) out of poverty. Macy's didn't want to offer the women a "hand out", but instead wanted to assist the strong and capable women with a hand up and that's' exactly what they are still doing 10 years later...

Macy's Rwanada Path to Peace Baskets

The purchase of each item from Rwanda provides the basket weavers an opportunity to improve their quality of life and puts a one-of-a-kind craft directly into your hands, it's a win-win situation for all involved! With the basket weavers earning nearly TEN times the average Rwandan wage, it's a huge help to the families in need.

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

As you can imagine, each women tediously works to hand weave these baskets; with such intricate detail and a process that has been practiced in Rwanda for centuries - these baskets are truly a treasure. Each design is unique and painstakingly created from sisal and grass by women who learned to weave from their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and other maternal figures.

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

The project employs thousands of weavers who are organized throughout Rwanda. What's amazing about this fact is that every group consists of women from both sides of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide conflict, working side by side. This proves that anyone and everyone is capable of working together towards economic stability.



Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

With beautiful red hues and stunning intricate patterns, I absolutely adore my new baskets and will begin collecting these baskets each year - because helping out a good cause and indulging my basket hoarding habit are two fun ways to kick off the holidays! Plus, each basket is signed by it's creator, giving me an indirect look into the life of the strong women in Rwanda.

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

Do you want to give a gift this year that truly gives back? Get all the details on these beautiful baskets and snag one for yourself and your favorite friend here.

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

Are you interested in getting your hands on the same baskets I have pictured? The red basket on the top (in the photo below) is Macy's Special Commemorative Basket, woven to represent 10 years of peace and prosperity and is absolutely beautiful. The bottom basket is the shining star fruit basket and it's absolutely stunning as well, no matter which basket you get from Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace program, I'm certain you'll love it!

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace Baskets

Want to find more awesome gifts to give over the holidays?
Check out my holiday gift guide!

http://www.laurenpaints.com/p/holiday-gift-guide-2015.html

September 17, 2015

5 Items Every Couple Should Add to Their Best Buy Wedding Registry

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.


Weddings are always so much fun. Celebrating the joy of a couple combining their lives, there's really nothing else like seeing a couple so madly in love share something so special in front of all of their friends and family. Laughter, tears of joy, good times, even better music, even more amazing friends, and hopefully some mind-blowingly fantastic wedding cake - we all love weddings for one reason or another!

Planning a wedding can be stressful, take the stress out of registering for gifts and add everything you'll need for marital bliss to your Best Buy Wedding Registry!

Whether your the type of bride that wants to plan every last little detail and go a little Bridezilla on her wedding party or the type of bride that hires a wedding planner and just sits back and enjoys the day, you're going to want to take control when it comes to the wedding registry. I'm not saying that your future husband shouldn't be able to help add things to the list, but I think you should probably get final say... After all - happy wife, happy life, right?
We had a wedding registry all set up and we received some amazing gifts for our wedding day way back in 2008, but I really wish I would've known that Best Buy offered a wedding registry service! We could've added things to our list that we really needed and/or wanted and I bet most of those items would still be with us today. We received a lot of things that we thought we needed, towels, plate sets, the norm... We were thankful for those items but most of them have been donated or just simply used until they couldn't be used anymore. Had we had the chance to register for appliances and electronics, amongst the other items Best Buy carries, we'd most likely still have everything we received. Think of registering at Best Buy as investment of sorts...

Another reason to register at Best Buy is their "group gift" option. Your guests can choose an amount they wish to contribute and you'll receive an e-gift card instead of a random gift you didn't really want... Hello to another reason to smile big on your wedding day! Whether you want to register for new appliances and ask all your guests to group gift the items to you or you want to add every DVD you've ever wanted, you can put whatever your heart desires on your wedding registry and your friends can be sure the gift they're giving you is perfect for you!

Planning a wedding can be stressful, take the stress out of registering for gifts and add everything you'll need for marital bliss to your Best Buy Wedding Registry!


Today I'm going to share 5 items that every couple should have on their wedding registry... After being married for nearly 7 years (in December), I think I have a pretty good idea of what you will and won't need.

August 15, 2015

Find The Perfect Gift with Best Buy Gift Ideas + Wish Lists!

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything or hunting for birthday gift ideas for yourself, Best Buy has you covered!

There's just something so special about celebrating birthdays with my loved ones! Ranging from making a cross country trip to attend my adorable niece's 2nd birthday party to planning a kayaking adventure for my husband's upcoming birthday, I'm all about doing things in a big way to help celebrate the people I love so dearly and their date of birth! I don't just like to just go on epic adventures for birthdays though, I'm also all about giving epic gifts; but as you may know, sometimes that gets hard, especially with a quirky family & group of friends!

Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything or hunting for birthday gift ideas for yourself, Best Buy has you covered!

So when I heard about Best Buy's Online Gift Experience making online shopping for everyone a little bit easier, I knew I had to check it out. They've made gift giving a breeze, with lists of great birthday items categorized and easy to shop for ‘Him’, ‘Her’, ‘Kids’, and ‘Teens’. Plus, if you are shopping by price point, they even offer lists of gifts in a range of prices from under $25 all the way up to $250+! With gifts like heart rate monitors and coffee machines to fondue sets and the best romantic comedies to date, you are bound to find something for everyone!

Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything or hunting for birthday gift ideas for yourself, Best Buy has you covered!

Maybe your shopping for the super sophisticated techie in your life that has everything already...? Best Buy even has a category for that person! You can shop their top tech gifts and find the perfect present or send a gift card via mail or e-mail and let the techie in your life find the best birthday gift ever for themselves; the choice is yours and I'm sure the gift will be much appreciated either way!

Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything or hunting for birthday gift ideas for yourself, Best Buy has you covered!

That's the thing about Best Buy, everyone can find something they just have to get their hands on!  Now that I've shared why Best Buy is the best place to shop for any birthday celebration, I'd love to know what you will be adding to your Best Buy wish list?

Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything or hunting for birthday gift ideas for yourself, Best Buy has you covered!

Go ahead and make a list of all the epic techie stuff you need and let me know what you want the most in the comments below! I may be making my wish list currently; after all, my birthday is only 5 months and 3 weeks away! *snicker*

June 17, 2015

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #Save4Summer #CollectiveBias

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile

With Father's Day right around the corner, I've been contemplating some fun ways to remind dad that he's loved. I have a couple of awesome father figures in my life: my Dad and my Father-in-law (as well as an awesome Cajun step Father-in-law but we'll talk more about him another time). Both my Dad and my husband's Dad have taught me so much!

My Dad taught me things like how to play golf and speak french and my Father-in-law taught me how to handle my self-employment finances and what southern hospitality really means. They both are so amazing and so unique and I miss them so much on days like Father's Day! Almost all of our family is back in the Midwest, so when holidays that are all about celebrating together come around it makes us wish that we could convince everyone just to move to Florida!

Since that won't be happening any time soon, I'm happy to share that I just upgraded my phone to a Alcatel One Touch Pop Astro from Walmart Family Mobile! Now we can all stay connected no matter where we are, at just 29.88/month for the first line! Plus, with unlimited talk, text, and data, we won't have any worries about overages or extra charges!

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile

Now that I've figured out that we can wish them both a Happy Father's Day face-to-face with Skype on my new phone, hubby and I have been wracking our brains trying to come up with a fun way to remind the three of them how much we love them. Then I realized I could use my new phone to make each of them something awesome!

For My Dad, I kept it simple and sweet. I made a photo collage of all of us (my sister, brother-in-law, and niece as well as my hubby and I) reminding him how much we love him!

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile
To create this all I did was text my sister and have her send me over a few pictures, then hubs and I took our own and I combined them all in a photo collage app I downloaded!

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile

For My Father-in-law I made a video of all of us, smiling and reminding him how much we love him as well!



This video was a bit more time consuming and I actually used my computer to edit some of the video... but it's relatively easy to make a video with any of the video creator apps found on the android play market, just like this one!

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile

If you don't have the time to put together a video or a collage... some awesome ideas that you can buy directly from your cell phone include: Groupons, e-books, e-gift cards, and more! I love shopping on my phone and I'm so happy that I'm able to treat each of the father figures in my life to something nice this year.

Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile

Now that I've shared a few awesome ways to easily make your dad something meaningful, I'd love to hear how you plan to surprise your dad on Father's Day?


Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please click here for more information or visit your local Walmart for current pricing.
Creative {and Inexpensive} Father's Day Gift Ideas with Walmart Family Mobile


June 15, 2015

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life {+ a Giveaway}

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NauticaforDad #CollectiveBias

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life

I remember as a kid I was convinced my dad was a real life superhero. He would come home and it would feel like he saved the day just by being there with me. I also remember that he traveled a lot during different parts of my life, always for work, but I thought it was because he was off saving the world.

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life

I can recall the handful of times he went on my girl scout trips and having my Mr. Mom with me made me the coolest girl on the trip, every time! He played games, helped me learn, and helped me grow into the person I am today in so many different ways.

I have a distinct memory of him lecturing me about school when I was about 13. I brought home my first really bad grade and he was so unhappy with me. He sat down and explained that my middle school and high school years were laying the "foundation" for my education. I think he actually spent almost that entire year encouraging me to really absorb what I was learning in school and wanting me to succeed so badly that we spent hours doing extra credit projects so that I would get a better grade; these are two memories that I reflect back on often, I cherish the advice he gave me and the time he spent with me.

Things haven't always been perfect though, we both know that. We went through rough patches where we didn't really understand each other, I guess that's just part of growing up.

We've been through periods of time where we didn't talk much, but I always knew he loved me. No matter what, he's been there when I really needed him and for that I'm so grateful. He's helped me more than I could ever even begin to explain.

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life

He's worked hard through out my life, always achieving new feats and staying so disciplined through out his career. He inspires me to constantly keep learning, he inspires me to grow into a better person. He simply inspires me.

While he still may have some superhero qualities, the fact that I'm an adult now means that I've come to the realization that he is really just a normal person, just like the rest of us, just like every parent. While he may have made a few mistakes (hey, we all do)...  That doesn't change a thing, I still want him to know he's a superhero in my eyes and always will be!

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life

My superhero only deserves the best so when I was shopping for something he would like at Macy's, I was certain I found the right gift when I found this handsomely scented Nautica Life Gift Set while browsing the cologne section. Nautica Life celebrates the lifelong journey of love with a refined blend of uplifting freshness, mysterious aromatics, and seductive woods - the perfect cologne for a superhero!

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life

I'm so thankful for my Dad, my superhero, and everything he does for me. Surprising him with a Nautica Life gift set is the perfect way to spoil him. I'd love to hear, how do you plan on showing your Pops your appreciation on Father's Day this year?

The Perfect Gift for a Superhero Dad: Nautica Life

Don't miss your chance to win big this year (for you and Dad)! One lucky winner will win a $4000 Cruise Vacation Package and Five second place winners will receive an awesome Nautica Fragrance Gift Package! Enter with the giveaway form below for your chance to win:

April 12, 2015

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MySignatureMove #CollectiveBias

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him - This sensible gift basket is the perfect way to spoil the man in your life, giving him items he'll need and love!

All men deserve to be spoiled on occasion, right? My hubby is a super helpful and understanding guy and while he tends to drive me crazy he definitely deserves to be spoiled! After running into the new line of awesome products from Irish Spring I knew exactly how I could spoil him with practical and sensible gifts, while including some items that were also "scentsable"!

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him - This sensible gift basket is the perfect way to spoil the man in your life, giving him items he'll need and love!

I grabbed all four new items from The Irish Spring Signature for Men line, which includes two different rich and luxurious Body Washes in a fabulous 3-in-1 formula and Hydrating formula. I also grabbed a 3-pack bar of soap in both the Hydrating formula and the super useful Exfoliating Scrub! These products are luxurious, yet manly - the perfect way to spoil your significant other.

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him - This sensible gift basket is the perfect way to spoil the man in your life, giving him items he'll need and love!

After finding his new signature products, a new green pouf to match them was definitely in order! I also grabbed some new deodorant, a stain remover, a small bottle of mouthwash, a few backache relief pads, nail clippers, and eye drops - basically an entire men's grooming kit!

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him - This sensible gift basket is the perfect way to spoil the man in your life, giving him items he'll need and love!

I stuffed this all into a new beverage carrier for the kayak, something he mentioned he wanted. I also grabbed him a new hair trimmer (not pictured, because he got his hands on it before I could take photos). I guess you could say, I stocked him up on practically everything he needs in just one quick walk through Walmart!

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him - This sensible gift basket is the perfect way to spoil the man in your life, giving him items he'll need and love!

While he gave me "the eye" for going on a small shopping spree for him, I can report hubby is pretty happy with the loot he received! So fresh and so clean, just the way I like him. :)

A Sensible, "Scentsable" Gift Basket for Him - This sensible gift basket is the perfect way to spoil the man in your life, giving him items he'll need and love!

While you should definitely spoil your man with Irish Spring in his gift basket, another super cool reason to purchase any one (or more) of the new Irish Spring Signature products is movies!

Wait... What? Here's some awesome news: You'll receive $5 off your next VUDU purchase! Claim your $5 credit simply by taking a picture of your receipt and then visiting http://cbi.as/3boj to upload your receipt. The last step: enjoy watching!


Now that I've shared how I spoiled my hubby with a sensible, "scentsable" gift basket sure to spoil even the studliest man rotten I'd love to know how you spoil your spouse? What kind of things would you love to receive/give in a gift basket?

April 5, 2015

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean


So, spring cleaning is something we've all been working on over the last few weeks...right? While I'm doing my best to keep our house tidy, it's just not happening lately. I've been trying to tidy up in between class and having to work on upcoming projects and tons of homework but right now the house is uhm, a little less than clean.

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean


The good news is I know what it takes to make my house "clean" in a hurry. I'm not just saying you should start stuffing laundry into your closet, which I've done (even as an adult); Don't judge me! But I am sharing how I tidy up my home in a hurry when I have unexpected guests phone that they are on their way.

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

Whether you are a professional "quick cleaner" or you like to keep an organized and tidy house all the time, today I am going to help you out by sharing a few ways you can make your house look, feel, and smell clean without much effort.

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

Looks Clean after you tidy up the three T's. Clean off your table tops, scrub your toilets, and sweep (or vacuum) the areas of your flooring that have high traffic.

We're all guilty of stacking magazines, mail, or sometimes just junk around the house - clean that stuff off of your table tops and you'll notice a huge difference!

Scrubbing your toilets is super important. When a guest uses your restroom, you definitely don't want them to get grossed out. This simple step only takes a few seconds but can completely change the way your restroom looks to your guest.

Sweeping or Vacuuming your entry way, kitchen, and living room only takes a few minutes for most people and it makes a huge difference (especially for those with kiddies or pets)! While vacuuming your whole house should definitely be on your to-do list.


How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

As we all know, a house isn't really clean until it #SmellsClean. While your home (hopefully) has a clean scent already, I like to use some amazing products that help to make my house smell ridiculously good!

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean


I've been burning my Peach Daiquiri candle from 719 Walnut religiously lately. Especially because I'm so busy that I haven't been able to indulge in a whole lot of beach days or daiquiris; while this candle isn't the exact same experience, it helps me feel a little closer to my favorite place in the world! I can only imagine what the Tahitian Escape or Tiki Colada scents smell like, but those are definitely on my list to buy next!

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

Placing candles in your office is the answer to a cleaner smelling home in general: Whether you decide to inspire creativity with a new candle in your office (like Glade's new perfectly colored and scented Poppy Grove candle), or comfort yourself in your bedroom with a candle offering a soothing scent to help relax you before drifting off to dreamland, or even if you decide to mask smelly scents in your kitchen with something delicious and deceiving, candles are an awesome way to make sure your house smells clean without much effort at all!


While I've always been an avid candle burner and hold true to my candle burning ways, this spring I've also started using plug-ins around the house and I highly recommend you do the same! I'm totally obsessed with the scents I've been using!

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

One of the plug-ins is a Febreeze NOTICEables Warmer and it offers a sense-exciting double scent of  Strawberry and Fig and makes my half-bath in the lower level of our townhouse smell beyond amazing.
How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

The other plug-in is AirWick's Sunshine Cotton and literally makes my entryway smell like a mixture of heaven and freshly laundered clothes!

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean

While both of these options are awesome, my last tip may be the easiest of them all. You literally only need to flick a switch and place a cube into the tray to make your house smell clean with these Glade Poppy Grove Wax Melts!



While I'm not suggesting you skip spring cleaning in general, I hope these tips to spruce your place up in a hurry help you out! I had friends share what they thought of our house, they all agree it smells clean... so don't forget to head over to the air care aisle to grab everything you'll need for a nice, deceivingly clean home!

Did you notice the adorable printables in my post? Be sure to grab those for FREE in an 8x10 size, just click on the image below:

How to "Clean" a Home in a Hurry: How I Make Sure My Home Looks & #SmellsClean  and  free printables!


Now that I've shared my tips to a tidier house in a hurry and these super cute printables, I'd love to hear what your last minute cleaning routine looks like?


February 21, 2015

Essentials for THAT Time of The Month: #SaveTheUndies With This Gift Basket

Today's Discussion is sponsored by U by Kotex, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.Essentials for THAT Time of The Month: #SaveTheUndies With This Gift Basket

Let's be frank, we all know during that time of the month most women tend to be a little moody and many are experiencing quiet a bit of pain. While there's really not much you can do about mother nature, being spoiled with a gift basket full of useful and comforting items is the perfect way to help ease the pain or at least distract from it a little.

Essentials for THAT Time of The Month: #SaveTheUndies With This Gift Basket

Aunt Flo is such a pain, this gift basket with U by Kotex is just what the doctor ordered. Head on over to the store, grab everything on this list and relax. Whether you're the boyfriend trying to help cheer up your girlfriend (brownie points!!) or you just feel like treating yourself to these goodies, I guarantee you'll love everything about being spoiled with these little delights!

Essentials for THAT Time of The Month: #SaveTheUndies With This Gift Basket

1. Protect From Leaks - Grab a pack of U by Kotex - Security Ultra Thin featuring 3D Capture Core and never worry about leaks again. These super thin pads quickly draw in and lock away wetness, leaving for a clean feeling with super-soft sides for your comfort! All the U by Kotex products are awesome, you should really try them and lucky for you, they are giving out FREE samples! Score an awesome #SaveTheUndies free sample today!

2. Go Herbal!- I swear by herbal therapy. Packs filled with a special stress-relieving aroma-therapeutic blend of herbal essences, these little babies are designed to calm and comfort both the body and the mind.

3. Eat All The Chocolate - Sweet treats like candy bars, cupcakes, etc will satisfy cravings and make for a happier girl! Especially if you grab dark chocolate - it's actual good for you!

4. Stay Watered - Grab something hydrating with vitamins. I personally love Propel or Vitamin Water. Each girl has her own drink. Remaining hydrated is important, no matter what time of the month it is!

5. Get Polished - Painted nails don't really seem like something significant, but having a nice mani-pedi is the perfect way to add a polished touch to the yoga pants & t-shirt wearing look.

6. Comfort is Key - Buying new comfy clothing is an essential part of feeling comfortable during this time of the month. The softest sleep dress you can find and cozy undies are the perfect apparel while cramping and just hanging out around the house.

7. Catch a Flick - Grab a rom-com, a cheesy girly movie, or a feminine classic and spend the evening relaxing with all the new goodies while watching the movie and cuddling!

Essentials for THAT Time of The Month: #SaveTheUndies With This Gift Basket

While this basket may not relieve the pain entirely, little surprises like this are always appreciated and may help distract from the aches a bit. I actually love giving baskets like this to my friends that just gave birth as well, it's such a creative way to give a new mommy something special made just for her. No matter who you plan on giving a basket like this, be sure to add some U by Kotex! What other goodies would you like to receive in a gift basket?

February 3, 2015

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Creative Types + {a Giveaway}

Today's discussion is sponsored by Onite.


Everyone deserves to be spoiled on Valentine's Day, whether it's your best friend, your child, your co-worker, or your beau - it's nice to give those you love a little something to remind them they are important to you. Today I'm sharing a collection of items that would be perfect to give to the creative types in your life. If you love an artist, a photographer, a blogger, a kid with a knack for arts & crafts - these gifts will be the perfect way to treat them to something special without breaking the bank.



1. Gimme Mini, ANYTHING - It may sound silly but all creatives love little versions of things, it's just something inside of us. I obsess over miniature versions of most anything but these baby clothes pins take the cake, plus they are useful in craft projects or as a paper clip.


2. Magical Markers - Having an array of colored markers makes for a fun time, anytime for the creative type. Be sure to get a wide variety of colors and the bolder, the better.

3. Funk-ify Their Case - We all love to express ourselves, help the creative in your life express herself (or himself) with an adorable case that suits their personality. Check Etsy for some truly unique ideas.

4. Pens with a Spin - Well, not exactly a spin but pens that are unique that your loved one will cherish. I found these beauties in the $1 section at Target, they don't need to be expensive - just unique or something your sweetie will like. I'm gold obsessed so these funky gold accented pens are totally the perfect gift.


5. Flash 'em This - This Onite Flash Drive is the perfect gift for the photographers and instagram addicts in your life. They can transfer pictures from your cell phone to your PC in seconds with this flash drive. It's tough too, I accidentally dropped mine in water and it still works perfectly.

6. Office Accessories with Style - I'm still working on this one but my purple stapler is doing the job for now. I suggest a kit with rhinestones or studs, whatever your sweetie prefers.


7. Chalkboard and Chalk Pastels - Chalkboards aren't just trendy, they can make for some pretty awesome creative inspiration as well. I love these chalk pastels because they show up SO bright and beautiful and mini chalkboards are where it's at!

The good news - I'm giving away a 32GB Flash Drive to one lucky winner! Enter to win this awesome gadget with the giveaway tools form below:



Do you have any creative gift ideas for your sweetie that you want to share? What's your favorite Valentine's Day gift you've ever received? I'd love to hear about it below!


Disclaimer: I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Must be 18 or older to win. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Twitter, Facebook, or any other entity, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.