giveaways | Girl Meets Life | a lifestyle blog by Gracie Gordon

#LEAN14: rawxies review + giveaway!

16 June, 2014 by Gracie 2 Comments

What if I told you there was a cookie that is vegan, raw, gluten free, soy free, and dairy free?

You’d probably say it either a) doesn’t exist or b) tastes gross.

…but that’s just because you haven’t tried RAWXIES.

Rawxies are…all of the above! They’re cookies that are vegan, raw, gluten free, soy free, dairy free, include non GMO ingredients, and no artificial sweeteners. That’s thanks to the use of REAL ingredients like oat flour, dates, almonds, palm sugar, coconut, etc. In other words, there are no weird chemicals/ingredients that you’ve never heard of, which unfortunately is in far too many snack bars these days.

Rawxies come in four varieties:

Mint Chocolate Chip
Banana Bread
Lemon Poppy Seed
Mocha Almond

My favorite would have to be Banana Bread – especially topped with a little bit of peanut butter 😉

To me, Rawxies are the perfect snack because they’re a good healthy snack for when you’re on the go, or a healthy dessert replacement. I love how the heart-shaped cookies come in a pack of two – it makes them more fun to eat than a regular snack bar. They’re obviously not as decedent as homemade cookies out of the oven, but they perfectly sweet without leaving you with that sugar hangover feeling.

Rawxies also makes a delicious CRUNCH snack, which is like a cracker meets flatbread meets…granola. But it’s savory! Perfect for a salty, crunchy snack and for dipping in hummus. The Crunch also uses all real ingredients like various nuts, seeds, flax, and organic spice blends.

I especially love the Cheezy Chili Lime flavor.

Want to try RAWXIES products for yourself? You can enter now to win a gift box including 6 packs of RAWXIES and 3 bags of CRUNCH!

This is an INSTAGRAM contest!

How to enter:

REGRAM the photo above on Instagram (you can take a screen shot of it via my Instagram)
include the caption “I want to win @alagracie’s @rawxies giveaway! #vegan #healthy #rawxies”
Must follow @alagracie and @rawxies

~~The winner will be chosen Friday, June 20th at 5pm EST and announced *on this post* – so be sure to check back! Must be 18 years or older, open to US residents only.~~

The winner has been chosen! Congrats @sarahmclaughlin!

p.s. If you want to get your Rawxies fix right away, there’s free shipping on all orders on the Rawxies website!

Good luck!

Please note I was not compensated for this post…I just love Rawxies!

St. Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion Spray review + giveaway!

5 June, 2014 by Gracie 169 Comments

Ohh, summer. The most longed-for of seasons. I don’t know about you, but I’m counting the seconds to when I can start wearing tank tops, cut-off shorts, flip flops, and all those other comfortable and cute summer wardrobe looks. And don’t even get me started on how excited I am to soak in the sun, go for walks in the park, and enjoy days at the beach with my friends!

With summer around the corner and those tank tops and cut off shorts making their way back into my closet, it’s important to me to start prepping my skin for that exposure to the sun and elements that it hasn’t seen in about 9 months. I already do a pretty good job of taking care of my skin by moisturizing often, but I always ramp it up a bit when summer rolls around because I know my skin needs that extra protection. Not to mention I want my skin to glow and look as healthy as possible!

That’s where the new St. Ives® Fresh Hydration Lotion Spray comes in. I’ve posted about spray lotion in the past and how much I love it. As someone who takes moisturizing very seriously, I love having an option that I can do more quickly when I’m in a rush…or just feeling lazier than usual. Lately I’ve been using it every day-it’s definitely a new favorite way to moisturize for me.

One of the things I love most about St. Ives® Fresh Hydration Lotion Spray is that is gives me moisturized skin without the heavy lotion feel. And with the summer heat, I definitely prefer a light and soft spray over using a heavy, thick lotion on my skin. It dispenses easily and evenly all over your skin. I was given three varieties of the new St. Ives® Fresh Hydration Lotion Spray, and I loved each and every one of them!

First up is the Energizing Citrus & Vitamin C Fresh Hydration Lotion. I love using this one in the morning because the citrus blend of grapefruit, orange and lime is so refreshing. The natural Grapefruit Extract and vitamin C make for a great morning pick-me-up, leaving my skin feeling healthy and energized for the day ahead.

Next is the Naturally Indulgent Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract Fresh Hydration Lotion. This one is perfect for if you’re at the beach…or if you just want to feel like you are 😉 The coconut scent is summery and refreshing without being too overwhelming. The natural ingredients like coconut milk and orchid extract are known to leave skin feeling silky and smooth.

Lastly there’s the Naturally Soothing Oatmeal & Shea Butter Fresh Hydration Lotion. I love using this one at the end of the day. The scent is really calming and helps me to relax and unwind after a long day. This lotion is formulated specifically to soothe skin with natural moisturizers like Shea Butter and Glycerin, skin moisturizing vitamins A, E and F, as well as moisturizing fatty acids. The Oatmeal & Shea Butter collection also includes St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Lotion and Moisturizing Body Wash.

For tips and tricks for how to use these new St. Ives® Fresh Hydration Lotion Sprays, visit the Facebook Product Tab. You can also visit their website.

What is your moisturizing routine for healthy skin during the summer? Leave your answer in the comments section for the change to win a $100 Target gift card!

For more information on these products you can visit the St. Ives website or Facebook page!

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 6/2-6/30.

Be sure to visit the St. Ives brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

ben amun bracelet giveaway (this is a REALLY good one!).

7 May, 2014 by Gracie

If the title didn’t give it away, I’m EXTREMELY excited about this giveaway!

I’ve been a huge fan of Ben Amun jewelry for a while now. I don’t think it’s much a secret that I’m a jewelry/accessories girl through and through, and Ben Amun’s designs continue to wow me.

If you ask me, Ben Amun is the leader when it comes to eye catching statement jewelry (or as referred to on their website, “wearable art”). Their jewelry is bold and interesting, yet classic and elegant at the same time. Not to mention the fact that each piece is custom made to order.

My best friend Jessi is the social media community manager for Ben Amun, and when she asked if I’d like to do a giveaway, I obviously jumped at the opportunity.

Ben Amun was kind enough to gift me with the box link chain bracelet seen above, and I haven’t taken it off ever since. I love chunky gold jewelry, especially layered with other bracelets (a fun look for summer!).

And as for the giveaway, one lucky reader will win this STUNNING large link chain bracelet - the highest valued prize I’ve ever given away!

how to enter:

1) Leave a comment saying how you’d style your new Ben Amun bracelet.

2) Tweet about the giveaway: “I entered @alagracie’s @ben_amun giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/lwwat6w”

3) Follow @ben_amun on Instagram

You can enter once, twice, or all three ways – but be sure to leave a comment for each entry in order for them to be counted accordingly.

~~Contest open to US residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Ends on May 14st, 2014 at 4pm EST, so get your entries in! Good luck~~

5/14/14 - winner has been emailed!

Please note I was not monetarily compensated for this post. All opinions herein are my own.

Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine with Everyday Luxury from Sonia Kashuk.

5 May, 2014 by Gracie 214 Comments

I don’t know about you, but for me the onset of spring is the perfect time to do a bit of “spring cleaning” with my makeup routine and body care products. That’s why I’m so excited I got to try out some of the new body care products from Sonia Kashuk, which you can find exclusively at Target.

When it comes to my makeup and beauty routine, though, it’s more important than just how I look. As someone who lives and works in New York City, I never know what each day is going to hold. Some days I spend working from home, but other days I find myself out all day in meetings, following by networking events or dinner out with my friends. So for me, it’s not only important to have makeup products that are reliable and make me look my best, but ones that make me feel pampered – like I’m getting a little bit of luxury thrown into my daily routine.

That’s why I am such a huge fan of the Sonia Kashuk line of makeup and body care products because it provides an everyday luxury for me no matter how crazy or busy my day might be.

Sonia Kashuk has really become a lifestyle beauty brand that encompasses all of my beauty wants, needs and desires – everything from bath and body, to beauty, to fragrance. They really provide luxury for every body! That makes Sonia Kashuk the perfect one stop shop to get extremely high quality product that are accessible and affordable.

The Sonia Kashuk products are the same quality and prestige you’ll find at a department store, but at a fraction of the cost. The genius part of this partnership and what makes the Sonia Kashuk brand so unique. By partnering with Target they have gone direct from manufacturing to retail, which has eliminated the extra costs involved in distribution - so the cost savings goes on to US, the consumers. Learn more in this video, “Why Sonia Kashuk Beauty?”

I was sent four great products to try, and here’s why they’re the perfect addition to my beauty routine going into the spring and summer seasons.

First up is the Chic Luminosity Blush/Bronzer Duo in Glimmer. I’ve always worn some sort of blush or bronzer, but this duo has completely changed how my face looks and feels. It goes on SO lightweight, and it adds the perfect hint of color and illuminates my skin, while still keeping it looking really natural.

I carry this bronzer/blush duo around with me all the time, and I make sure to apply it again after a long day and before starting my evening plans. No matter where I might be in the city at any given time, it gives me that little boost of feeling beautiful and confident going into whatever I might be doing next.

The Sonia Kashuk Tools Dense Blush/Powder Brush No. 24 went perfectly with the bronzer/blush duo for flawless application. I must admit that it wasn’t until the last year that I realized the importance of having good makeup brushes. It can make all the difference in the world when it comes to even, natural-looking makeup application! And this brush does exactly that. It’s super soft and applies the bronzer/blush in the perfect amount.

Next is the Eye Couture Palette in Eye on Neutral Shimmer. I always tend to lean toward neutral palettes when it comes to eye shadow, and this one has every shade I could want – all in one. I really love how much the shades in this palette make my eyes pop. It makes such a noticeable difference in my whole appearance without looking like I have a ton of eye makeup on. And I love how it brings attention to my eyes more than my actual makeup.

Lastly is the Pink Innocencia Eau de Toilette. If I’m being honest, I’m actually not the biggest fan of floral scents. Until now, that is! This fragrance has the perfect amount of floral scent without being too overbearing. I especially love it going into the warmer seasons because it’s so fresh and light – so great for summer to complete my entire natural, flawless look, thanks to Sonia Kashuk.

Here is a brief video where I go into a little more detail about the products:

How do you add everyday luxury into your beauty routine? Which of these Sonia Kashuk products would you want to try most?

To enter to win a $100 Target GiftCard®, leave a comment below with your answer (don’t forget your email!) and you will be entered to win!

Learn more at SoniaKashuk.com and visit the Sonia Kashuk page at Target.com.

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SKBeauty” and “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/5 – 6/30.

Be sure to visit the Sonia Kashuk brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

finally a sneaker i love: Reebok Skyscape {review + giveaway!}

21 April, 2014 by Gracie 253 Comments

For most of my life, I’ve had a love/hate relationship of sorts when it comes to athletic shoes (or as we call them where I grew up, sneakers).What I love about sneakers is pretty obvious – the comfort! Whether I’m going to the gym for a workout or just out and about on errands, having comfortable shoes on is so important. Not to mention that as someone who lives in New York City… and someone who doesn’t own a car… I find myself walking just about everywhere.

What I hate about sneakers (usually) is that the majority of them aren’t necessarily… well, they don’t typically sync with my personal style. Going back to the fact that I live in New York City, the only thing that seems to be more important than comfort here is fashion. Just being real, here!

That’s why I was so excited when I was offered to get a free pair of the new Reebok Skyscapes to try out. After seeing photos of them, I suspected that I may have finally found a sneaker that is comfortable AND fits my personal style.

When I received the Reebok Skyscapes, I’m not exaggerating when I say I was shocked at how comfortable they are (more so than I even expected). I’ve actually never experienced an athletic shoe quite like them. They are soft, lightweight, and so flexible that when I wear them it almost feels like I’m wearing no shoes at all.

The Reebok Skyscape features new Skyspring technology to help support the foot and provide all day comfort. The lace-to-toe molded silhouette and unique design provide unbelievable comfort and the shoe only weighs 5 ounces. Foam material in the upper adds softness and flexibility, and the low-cut design lends to added mobility. They have a great seamless construction for minimized rub and irritation and that extra added comfort.

Another great feature is that Reebok Skyscapes are machine washable. For best results remove insole and wash insole in delicate, cold-water cycle with soap or detergent. Let insole and shoe air dry. Make sure to keep away from heat or direct sunlight. Recommended to remove laces prior to washing.

As for the fashion aspect, Reebok Skyscape really does fit my personal style. I can wear them with my workout clothes for an extra pop of “athletic fashion,” or I can even pair them with faux leather leggings and a vintage t-shirt for a fashionable, casual every day look (wearing sneakers with “normal” clothes is actually really in style right now, actually). The Reebok Skyscape has really become my new go-to shoe for when I’m on the go all around the city, all while keeping style and comfort a priority.

Interested in trying a pair of Reebok Skyscapes for yourself? You can either purchase them online, or at the Reebok FitHub or Outlet locations. You can also find them at select locations of Kohl’s.

Where would you wear your Reebok Skyscapes? Leave your answer in the comments section for the chance to win a YourReebok Custom Card and create your OWN pair of Reebok Skyscapes!

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 4/21/2014-5/18/2014.

Be sure to visit the Reebok Skyscape brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!