adore me

A few months ago, Adore Me contacted me for another product review (I love these people :)  I've been a member since the last time I reviewed a set of lingerie for them, and I have bought a few pieces here and there on my own.  This time, I was on the lookout for basic nude t-shirt bra and panties to wear on the road trip (because prissy lace lingerie is always fun, but for three months on the road I needed something practical).  I specifically wanted a set that was convertible to strapless, so I chose the Brigitte set (unfortunately, the set I really wanted was sold out in my size--one of the only downsides of ordering from such a small boutique site is that they seem to sell out of everything so fast, but that's only really a problem if you're as incredibly indecisive as I am).  Because the Brigitte isn't really meant to be worn without straps, I also cashed in one of my credits for the Elana set to cover my bases.

When I received the set late last week, I was amazed at how comfortable it was!  I've never owned a genuine t-shirt set, and it was so powdery soft it was like being covered by a cloud.  It also fit me like a glove, which always helps.  My biggest concern was that the set would be invisible underneath a basic white tee, which I imagine will be a staple of my road trip wardrobe.  Sure enough, it was!

There is a lot to love about Adore Me.  My favorite thing is that when you buy five sets you get one free, which definitely appeals to the bargain-hunter in me :)  Besides, at $39.95 per set (and sales and deals to spare!), it's practically a steal.  Even better, Adore Me offers free shipping AND free returns and exchanges, which is such a relief, especially for the first few purchases when you're not sure about sizing.  There are also gift cards available, and items preselected for a variety of occasions, in case floundering fellows are looking for ideas. The newest section of the site (at least, I don't remember it being there last year) is the swim section!  With summertime rapidly approaching, now would be a good time to head over and check out their collection (everyone gets 20% their first purchase, which is clever, because once you're sucked in you'll never want to leave)!

When shopping for bras and panties, you can organize your search by shape, size, color, or style.  The only thing that I was wishing for when I was searching was an actual "search" function so that I could look specifically for "strapless" (although I suppose that could also be fixed by simply adding strapless sets to the list of styles).  This would be my only (very minor) complaint as far as navigating the site was concerned (and it only came up because I was looking for something very specific--usually I'm happy to browse).  I joined the site because I saw enough there that made me think I would want to keep coming back on a regular basis (and sure enough, I do), but if you're not ready to commit to the monthly "skipping" you can also purchase as a pay-as-you-go customer--nobody gets left out!

If you do decide to check them out, click HERE!  Not only will you get 50% off (that brings your first set to $20!), but I'll get a free set!  Here's to friends who help friends buy fancy underwear :)

Happy shopping!

anjolee: sponsored post

I've never really been one to invest in fine jewelry, for the same reasons I've never invested in an expensive camera (although I did just buy K's fancy Nikon from him, but for a steal!), a designer dress, or a pair of shoes exceeding $200--I am a klutz who lives in the woods, and I tend to lose things.  That said, if I were to drop serious money on diamonds, they'd better be exactly what I want!  At Anjolee, they specialize in customized fine jewelry--so you can pick every detail, from metal to color to cut.  I love the idea of design-it-yourself diamonds!  When Anjolee contacted me to do a review of their site, I thought, why not?  While I am personally no where near in the market for diamond jewelry (I think the last piece of jewelry I bought was a $10 wire ring on etsy), a lot of my friends are getting married or passing through other milestones that are splurge-worthy. So here's what Anjolee has to say!

What advice would you give to a client who wants to buy a diamond for someone else?  How do you advise your customers about how to shop for someone else's taste?

If looking to buy a diamond for someone else, you can examine their other jewelry to see what metal type, style, and size they generally wear. For example, if they wear white gold jewelry most of the time, I would recommend sticking with that same metal type. Look for clues on style, i.e., do they wear vintage-inspired pieces, classics like a tennis diamond bracelet , diamond tennis necklace, or solitaire earrings, or something more elaborate like a red carpet necklace or ring? Having these details will help you when you begin jewelry shopping.

Where do your diamonds come from?  As someone who is concerned with human rights and the social and environmental impact of diamond mining, I am pleased to see that you make a special note on your site about your compliance with the Kimberley Act.  What can you tell my readers about your involvement and experience with the practice of ethical diamond mining?

Anjolee obtains diamonds from a few trusted diamond dealers. These diamonds originate in many of the major diamond mines based in Australia, Africa, Russia, and Canada. Our vendors also abide by the Kimberley Process. Passed in 2003, this important law states that all US companies must purchase diamond merchandise from ethically sourced and documented legitimate dealers.

How did you get started and what is your design and assembly process? What are the most popular pieces on your site?

We started in 1977 under our parent company name 'Sunrise Jewelry Manufacturing Corporation'. We broke ground with our quality tennis bracelet designs and manufacturing process. In 2008, we began selling to the public under our website name Anjolee. Our goal has always been to exceed the expecations of an online jewelry shopping experience. We allow customers to change the metal type, diamond quality, carat size, and length of all of our jewelry designs. We craft each piece at the time it is ordered, which is why we offer so many choices for customization. It usually takes three business days for us to produce any item and then it is shipped to the customer in our custom gift packaging.

(I love Anjolee's vintage tennis bracelets! I've always been partial to antique jewelry and these are so lovely.)

I know nothing about diamonds except that they are a girl's best friend--could you explain your "Anjolee standards" (of cut, polish, symmetry, and fluorescence) and why they are important?

Anjolee has narrowed the diamond qualities offered on our website to six combination choices of both color and clarity that we feel provide the most options for customers at a wide variety of price points. We provide natural, unenhanced diamonds that have excellent ratings in cut, polish, and symmetry. Coupled with the color and clarity options, the diamonds offered are a great value for our consumers.

Where can a regular girl wear diamonds when there is no red carpet in sight?

A classic tennis bracelet or pair of stud earrings can easily translate from the office to a night out.

I'd be interested to know the history of how some of these cuts got their names (Princess, Emerald, Brilliant, etc.). Do you know any fun stories about how these diamonds got their names?

I actually do not know any interesting stories of how they got their names.. .the diamond cut is a process by which a rough stone is meticulously cut into the shape and properties that are valuable. A well-cut diamond has great value and allows light to enter, creating a sparkling effect.

The prices on your site seem very reasonable for the service and standards you provide.  How do your prices compare to other fine jewelry sites and stores, and how do you determine pricing?

Anjolee is a manufacturer, which allows us to offer our high-quality jewelry products at a lower price point than a typical retailer. We work on lower margins but are still providing top quality merchandise. Our customer feedback section is full of great reviews discussing the quality of our service and products.

Is there anything else you would like to tell potential buyers of your fine jewelry?

We would like to tell potential customers that the act of buying jewelry should be fun – so give our customization features a try! Also, make sure you do your research and shop around online because the best deals can really be found on the internet and you get the added bonus of shopping without being hassled by sales people. We are truly passionate about the jewelry we produce and look forward to making the jewelry of your dreams!

So there you have it!  If anyone out there is in the market for some sensational sparkling diamond or gemstone jewelry, head on over to Anjolee and start customizing!

adore me

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the lovely people at Adore Me, an online lingerie boutique that offers personalized monthly selections for its members--for only $39.95 per set!  That, my friends, is a steal.  I have been looking around for some pretty underclothes, but have always been deterred by the exorbitant price tags, so I jumped at the chance to share this shop with you.

I chose the Grace, but it only came in S, M, and L and I wasn't sure exactly what size I would be, so I wrote to the stylist assistance team with my measurements and received a prompt reply suggesting the correct size.  The pretty package arrived mere days later, and I was delighted with the quality and fit.  I definitely wasn't expecting to be as impressed as I was, and I am really excited to have discovered Adore Me (actually, I guess it discovered me...).  There are so many beautiful pieces on the site that I would love to get my hands on.  

Click here if you're interested in checking out the site.  Your first step is to take a fun little "would you rather" quiz (who doesn't love those??), which helps the stylists at Adore Me pinpoint your personal style and create your showroom.  If you decide to join, your showroom will refresh each month, and you can purchase any item (everything from bra/panty pairs to babydolls to shapewear) in the boutique for only $39.95, with free shipping and free exchanges, always (plus, you get 20% off your first order with the discount code "ADOREME20"!).  If you don't want to purchase anything, you can just choose to skip that month, no charge!

My experience with Adore Me was a really positive one.  You can bet that I will be buying from them again!

(I Adore: Melody/Amalee/Gabriella)

in which girls wear glasses in the usa

For the longest time, I thought non-prescription glasses were just a silly affectation of hipsters worldwide. I rolled my (unbespectacled eyes) and carried on. And then, as with most trends that tend to linger, I found myself wanting a pair. So, I bought some (a $6 set from Forever 21), and wore them on occasion, but only for this blog. I scoured the internets looking for fun large frames and tried to convince myself that it was worth spending bunches of money on glasses that I may or may not need. And then, one day, GlassesUSA contacted me with an offer I couldn't refuse: they wanted to send me a pair of eyeglasses to style on the blog! And I said hooray!

(glasses: GlassesUSA.com; sweater/skirt/belt: goodwill; boots: seychelles; ring: vintage)

If you're in the market to buy glasses, I definitely recommend GlassesUSA. I ordered the College Tortoise, but they have a ton of options (I'm also loving the uber-hip-unhip "Jenny") and they're very reasonably priced (basic prescription glasses don't go over $138--it costs a bit more to add fancy types of prescriptions, but I wasn't going there). I decided to get a non-prescription pair because I haven't had an eye exam since high school and although I know my vision has deteriorated ($@%! computer screen) I figured I could always replace the lenses if necessary. The website is really easy to use--you can even search for "vintage/nerdy" glasses, which (of course) pulls up the treasure trove. On the website they also have this nifty feature where you can upload a mug shot to "try on" a pair of glasses before buying (go ahead, try it out [the image is clickable]):

The glasses arrived quickly and in great shape, accompanied by a sturdy case and cleaning cloth for the prevention of smash-and-smudge (aka protection against... me, basically). They appear to be well made--I'm loving the matte tortoise. It's so classic. They do draw attention to the lopsided ears I didn't know I had, but cannot be faulted for that :) As soon as they arrived this outfit materialized in my mind. K said I looked like a "librarian," but there is nothing wrong with that! All-in-all, I had a great experience with GlassesUSA and give them two thumbs up!

If you're thinking about buying a pair, you can use the code "Blog10" to get 10% off. They're also having a 50% sale right now that runs until St. Patrick's Day, so get in there while the getting is good!

spotlight: misikko HANAair hair dryer

A couple of weeks ago, the fantastic folks over at Misikko offered to send me a fancy-schmancy hair dryer to bond with and review for all of you! Now, I am not the sort of person who surrounds herself with expensive gadgets--and although I love a good blowout as much as the next girl, I get a haircut maybe once a year. I am not high-maintenance about my hair. That said, I'm definitely open to trying new things. So I thought, why not? Let's do a dry-off!

(The Competitors)

Misikko sent me the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer. The competition? A 6-yr-old hair dryer I picked up at CVS one afternoon for about $20.

(The Control)

Even though Misikko kindly sent me all kinds of awesome products with their gift package, I knew that I first wanted to test the dryer for its stand-alone capabilities. I have very thin hair, but there is a LOT of it, so it can take forever to dry with lousy equipment (like those hotel hair dryers that are connected to the wall... those are the worst). I used the HANA for a few days to get a feel for how it worked, and then I got down to business.

First things first, I timed how long it took to dry my hair completely with the HANA, and the next day I timed how long it took to dry my hair with the CVS dryer:

(The Conclusion)

The HANA was a clear winner in every way. Because it had been over a week since I'd used the CVS dryer, switching back to it after the HANA was like going back to Andre after running out of Dom Perignon. Not only did the HANA dry my hair faster, but the actual drying experience was so much more pleasant. While the HANA coaxed the water out of my hair with soft, quiet caresses, the CVS dryer was like a hot sand blast that left me feeling hot, sticky, frizzy and frazzled (I don't know about you, but profusely sweating after showering makes me grumpy). Even without products, my hair felt light and clean and smooth after drying with the HANA, while it felt heavy and damaged when subjected to a tête-à-tête with my old frenemy from CVS. Sometimes you don't realize how bad you had it until you're offered a seat on the lap of luxury :)

In short, the HANA won this dry-off, hands down.

I will never go back.

That said, I must admit that I probably would never purchase this dryer on my own, basically because I couldn't begin to afford it (I shop at Bargain Boutique, people--and not only because thrifting is trendy). However, if a $300 salon hair dryer is within the realm of possibility for you, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. From now on, every day will be like a trip to the salon :) And, you're in luck! The HANA is currently on sale. I'm talking serious savings. Or, if you're not in the market for a hair dryer right now, Misikko also has a great line of ceramic flat irons to curl, flip or straighten your lovely locks :)

Thanks, Misikko! You're the Greatest!