7 tips for getting ready at the gym {feat. Dove Dry Spray}.

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I’ll be honest - showering and getting ready at the gym (or more often, in a SoulCycle locker room) is kinda sorta when I can turn into a bit of a diva. I’ve just gotten so used to my creature comforts of getting ready at home that I just dread having to do it elsewhere.

But obviously life happens, and if I want to squeeze a workout into a busy day sometimes getting ready at the gym and going right to my next destination is the best bet. So here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years to make getting ready at the gym quicker and easier.

1) Dry shampoo. No surprise there! Depending on how sweaty I got during a workout (sexy, I know) I sometimes can skip washing my hair, and a generous sprinkle/spray of dry shampoo can do the trick.

2) Use a wet (as cold as possible) towel on your face & neck. One of the things I hate most about getting ready directly after working out is that I don’t have as much time as I’d like to let my body cool down. Ideally I like to ice my face to help me cool down (and relieve any puffiness), but a cold towel can help do the trick too.

3) Travel-size everything. You can get just about anything in travel size now - a hair dryer, curling iron, straightener, toiletries, etc. If you’re regularly getting ready at the gym, the less you have to carry around throughout the day can make the process less of a pain.

4) Roll your clothes instead of folding them. This tip is a game changer when it comes to packing in general as it helps avoid wrinkling. It Also saves space in your gym bag.

5) Use a backpack. I know I know, backpacks aren’t exactly the most glamorous accessory. But if you’re going to be walking a lot with your gym/work stuff, it’s much more manageable than carrying everything in a shoulder bag. If you have a car and don’t need to carry much stuff - disregard this (and I envy you ;)).

6) master the top knot. Sometimes despite your best efforts, hair can be the biggest struggle when it comes to getting ready at the gym. So in the event that you either don’t have time to blow it out, or you just can’t get the frizz under control, a great top knot can be a life saver. Paired with a pair of earrings and a bold lip - you can save yourself time and effort.

top knot

7) Dove Dry Spray. I’m pretty picky when it comes to the right deodorant. I want something that does the job, smells great, but also doesn’t leave any weird residue. Right now I’m loving Dove Dry Spray, which was introduced to me by Simply Stylist. It provides all the care of Dove in a dry spray format - a way to experience real skin care benefits from a deodorant.

Dove Dry Spray doesn’t leave behind visible residue and protects from perspiration for 48 hours. It goes on instantly dry for a cleaner feel - the perfect option for when you’re on the go (AKA definitely when getting ready at the gym). Go to Dove.com to learn more!

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dove. All opinions herein are my own. Please note that I was compensated for this post. You can refer to my product review policy here. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

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Do you often get ready at the gym? What are your best tips for doing so?

a perfect girls’ day out in NYC | Everybody Rise event + book giveaway.

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Even after living in NYC for 5 years, those days still come along that feel like a New York fairytale. They’re the days that I literally dreamed of as a little girl. And a few weeks ago, I got to experience one of those days while celebrating the release of the new novel Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford.

The day started when I headed uptown to DryBar in the Le Parker Meridien. I had heard rave reviews about DryBar before but had yet to try it myself, so I was excited for the experience. A handful of other bloggers (including Jessi, yay!) and I were greeted with cookies, coffee and mimosas, followed by being pampered with a great hair wash and blowout.

DryBar

I loved DryBar and would definitely recommend it, especially before a special event or night out.

After DryBar we all headed around the corner to The Plaza Hotel. Yes…THEE Plaza Hotel.

I had only been to The Plaza twice before but only for their spa, so I was pretty thrilled when I found out we’d be doing the classic tea/lunch there.

The Plaza NYC

The Plaza NYC

It was pretty much a girly girl’s (AKA me) dream. Adorable tea sandwiches, mini desserts, and of course delicious tea.

The Plaza NYC

The Plaza NYC

The Plaza NYC

We were joined by author Stephanie Clifford, and it was such a pleasure to get the opportunity to talk to her about the new book. It was casual and relaxed, and she was so easygoing and fun to talk to. We asked her more questions about the book (which we had all previously read) as well as her inspiration, her background (as a NY Times reporter!), etc.

The Plaza NYC / Everybody Rise review

To give you a brief idea of the story, here’s a synopsis in author Stephanie Clifford’s own words from our lunch.

Everybody Rise is a book about fitting in and figuring out who you are…it follows a 26-year-old named Evelyn. She’s from Maryland, she moves to New York and is trying to find her place here. She ends up thinking she’s found it when she falls in with this old, money-set driven job. In order to fit in there, she begins lying-she changes the way she dresses, she changes the makeup she wears, she changes her hair. The lies quickly get bigger and bigger until she has to reckon with the sort of made-up life she’s come up with.

It was important to me have a heroine who wasn’t redeemed or rescued by a man. She gets herself into a ton of trouble, and she’s the one who has to scrape herself out of it in the end. It’s also a story of mothers and daughters. It’s sort of fitting with having tea at the plaza because one of my favorite scenes in the book is Evelyn at age 10 visiting New York with her mom for the first time. Her mom is there to revisit her own glory days, and at tea Evelyn can’t do anything right. Her mom is like, “No. No. No. No lemon in there. Cream in there. Don’t hold it like that, Evelyn.” That sort of anxiousness in wanting to please her mom builds a lot of what happens later on, 16 years later when she’s a young woman in New York. She’s still trying to gain acceptance, still trying to be seen because she was never quite seen by her mom.

Everybody Rise

I must admit that I’m typically not the biggest fan of fiction novels. But I’ve got to say that I seriously loved Everybody Rise. It was a fun summer read, which was much-needed since I’ve been traveling so much over the past few months. I loved the storyline, especially since I could relate to the whole “newbie in NYC” aspect of it.

If you’re looking for a new read, you should definitely check it out. You can also enter to win a copy of Everybody Rise of your own by leaving a comment below! Tell me the best book you’ve read lately. I’ll choose a winner on Monday 8/31 at 5pm EST and contact them directly. Open to U.S. residents only, ages 18+.

Good luck! :)

*** Congrats Janel - you’re the winner! I just emailed you for your mailing address :) ***

beauty: Redken Blonde Idol review.

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I have a serious girl dilemma to share with you. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to have blonde (colored) hair, while keeping it looking long and healthy at the same time? Considering I keep wanting to be blonder and blonder, this is not an easy feat.

So when I got the opportunity yesterday to visit to Cutler Salon in Soho and try out some new products for blonde hair by Redken, I was all about it.

I met up with Redken colorist Chiala, and right away I knew I could trust her with my hair (which is a rarity, ha). She recommended the Redken Blonde Idol Blue Oil Lightening System for my hair.

Redken Blonde Idol

The color turned out to be the perfect match for my hair and skin tone. It was cool and bright with just a touch of golden glow, which is perfect for the summer. It couldn’t have come at a better time, since I’m leaving for a mini beach vacation in a few days. Roots = non-existent!

I was really happy to hear that the Blonde Idol Blue Oil Lightening System is a coloring option that will keep my hair looking and feeling healthy.

Chiala also used Redken Extreme Anti-Snap treatment on my hair, which made it look and feel extra healthy and shiny. I kid you not - this stuff made my hair look like it was 2 inches longer.

Redken Extreme Anti Snap

I must say I’m very impressed with Redken products, and really will continue using them. I love how the products give great color, but also focus on keeping hair healthy. It’s a win-win, and exactly what I need in hair product.

Redken Blonde Idol Products

I went out for Monica’s birthday after the salon visit, and I must admit I did feel like quite the Blonde Idol with my new hair 😉

Monica and Gracie

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Redken through Condé Nast. All opinions herein are my own. Please note that I was compensated for this post. You can refer to my product review policy here. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

Redken Blonde Idol | Gracie Gordon

What’s the most important thing you look for in a hair product(s)?

beauty: redefining perfection {with bareMinerals Complexion rescue}.

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I’m going to be a bit vulnerable with you for a sec. That okay? Cool.

Growing up, I had a major insecurity. It wasn’t my weight, height, shyness, or intelligence.

I was insecure about my freckles.

My freckles have faded as I got older, but they were pretty apparent when I was a kid. Up until about the end of middle school, I absolutely loathed them. It didn’t help that my best friend growing up had a smooth, tan complexion with a perfectly placed “Cindy Crawford” mole above her lip. I felt as though I paled in comparison (literally) with my fair skin, light eyebrows/lashes, and freckles covering nearly my entire face.

Thankfully, as I got older I got over this insecurity 100%. I really credit my mom specifically - she always told me how beautiful I was (inside and out), and in general I was raised in a environment that affirmed me in so many ways. Somehow I went from hating my freckles to actually LOVING and fully embracing them!

Now that I’m in my 20s, my freckles aren’t nearly as apparent. They come out more in the summer when I’ve spent time in the sun, and I actually get excited for that now. Over the years I’ve really loved using makeup that allows me to embrace and highlight my unique features, rather than trying to cover them up.

A few weeks ago bareMinerals was kind enough to send me a ton of their products, and I was excited to take the opportunity to play around with natural makeup looks.

Bare Minerals

I got a few different eye shadow palettes - I couldn’t decide which I loved most! They were all great neutral shades that still adding a hint of glam and shimmer. My favorite was probably the Sexy Neutrals.

Bare Minerals

Bare Minerals

But the product I love the most (seriously - I can’t speak more highly of it) is the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue. Complexion Rescue is a smart new form of liquid lightweight coverage that actually improves your skin as you use it. How cool is that?

Bare Minerals

Complexion Rescue is not only a thirst-quenching cure-all, but it’s also available in 10 natural-looking shades to provide effortless sheer-to-medium coverage for both workday and weekend wear. Providing just the right amount of coverage, Complexion Rescue enables skin to appear more awake and even-toned due to its imperfection-diffusing properties and naturally radiant color.

Complexion Rescue combines the best of BB and CC creams & tinted moisturizer, complete with skin-loving humectants and mineral electrolytes. It applies easy with a smooth and natural coverage, while drastically improving skin hydration and texture at the same time (a very California chic aesthetic). It really is a whole new way to think about makeup.

Bare Minerals

I want to be clear that I only speak highly of products that I genuinely do love *and use* myself, and Complexion Rescue is one of those products. I definitely suggest checking it out/learning more by visiting bareMinerals.com.

Be original. Be natural. Be good.

Bare Minerals

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of bareMinerals. All opinions herein are my own. Please note that I was compensated for this post. You can refer to my product review policy here. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

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Have you tried bareMinerals products? What is a “flaw” of yours that you’ve learned to embrace?

4 ways to bend the rules with my favorite beauty hacks + HP Pavilion x360.

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I have to admit something. For way too long, I had seen the word “hack” all over the internet, but had zero clue what it actually meant.

Eventually I sort of just figured it out, and when I did I realized that I personally have a handful of life hacks that I think are pretty darn useful. And, I don’t know about you, but as a girl that’s definitely the case when it comes to my beauty routine.

Here are my top 4 beauty hacks that have made a huge difference in my own life, and I think you’ll find them pretty life changing helpful too.

top 4 beauty hacks | GirlMeetsLife.com

1) Ice water facial/ice packs. I mentioned this (new) trick of mine recently, and I can’t rave about it enough. If you don’t feel like dunking your face in ice water (it can be sort of annoying), I’ve found that just placing ice packs directly on your face for a few minutes can have the same effect. I find it helpful to tighten the face overall, and especially to diminish under-eye puffiness.

2) Dermablend. I first started using Dermablend years ago when I had to cover up my wrist tattoo for an acting gig. When I saw that it was thick enough to cover up an entire tattoo, I realized it would probably work wonders on covering up blemishes on my face. So now, whenever I have one of those “OMG how am I going to cover this up” blemishes or under-eye circles, Dermablend is my go-to. It can seriously cover up everything and anything. I actually have their Leg & Body cover, but they have a concealer as well.

Dermablend

3) Use eyeshadow as eyeliner. A makeup technique that I’ve been using for years and often get compliments about is my smokey-yet-natural eye look. My secret? I often skip the eyeliner and instead “line” my eyes with a smokey layer of dark brown eye shadow. This is especially good for the daytime when you don’t want a sharp lined look but still want to make your eyes pop. I suggest getting a brush like this one, and then using the eyeshadow of your choice! Like I said, I love a dark/chocolate brown shade.

4) Tease on-the-go. When it comes to hair, I fall in the bigger is always better category. Even when I’m wearing my hair straight, I need at least some sort of volume at the root. After after a great blowout and using volume products, sometimes my hair can start falling flat when I’m out and about. So I found a super simple (and cheap) way to fix this - I carry a thin comb around with me all the time. I got this little comb at the drug store for just about $1, and I use to tease the roots of my hair. In under 20 seconds it adds instant volume!

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In that same spirit of bending the rules, this post has been inspired by bending the rules of technology with the HP Pavilion x360. When I was first sent the HP Pavilion x360, I didn’t know what to expect. To my surprise, it was nothing like I anticipated…in a good way. I couldn’t believe all of the ways it could twist, turn, and invert. I got nervous that I was going to break it, haha. It’s unlike any device I’d ever seen!

HP Pavilion x360

The HP Pavilion x360 is designed with a detachable keyboard, which lends to four awesome “modes” to play in - Laptop, Tablet, Tent and Stand.

As someone who works in blogging and social media, the versatility of the HP Pavilion x360 definitely comes in handy.

In addition to the everyday use of a laptop, the stand mode makes it really easy to watch my favorite TV shows or have video chats with friends, family, and even clients. The tent mode created a great angle to film videos for girl meets life, as well as present slide shows. And then there’s the tablet mode, which is extremely convenient (instead of having to choose between using/carrying around a laptop or tablet).

(HP is on also tour right now with the “all about that bass” girl herself, Megan Trainor. Check it out here.)

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of HP. All opinions herein are my own. Please note that I was compensated for this post. You can refer to my product review policy here. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

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What’s one of your beauty hacks?

season’s sweetings with SMARTFOOD.

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Would you believe that in my four years of living in NYC, I haven’t once decorated for the holidays? I always put it off because a) getting a Christmas tree here is a pain and b) I usually spend the week or two around Christmas at my parents’ house.

This year, though, I teamed up with SMARTFOOD® popcorn to get a little creative with the holiday decorations. And I must say - it was so much fun (and delicious)!

SMARTFOOD’s two holiday flavors - SMARTFOOD Cinnamon Brown Sugar Popcorn and SMARTFOOD Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Popcorn – are not only insanely good, but you can also get creative and make tons of holiday-themed decorations with them around the house! The combination of sweet and salty plus some crunch made for the perfect snack to munch on as I decorated my apartment.

I’m not normally one to play with my food, but I decided to go old school and make fun holiday decorations out of SMARTFOOD popcorn. All you need is some thread and a needle, and you thread the popcorn on for a cute decoration to either put on your Christmas tree or around the house (in my case, apartment).

This season, let’s see how many popcorn craftivities we can create. From centerpieces to wreaths to garlands – ornaments to snowmen to decorative treats…the question is, what CAN’T you make with SMARTFOOD popcorn?

Now through December 20th, simply share a photo of your #SmartfoodDIY holiday creations on either Twitter or Instagram. Use the #SmartfoodDIY and #GMLifeEntry and we could both win a $250 gift card – just a little extra sweetness for the holidays! (see official rules at fritolay.com)

  • Follow Frito-Lay on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fritolay
  • Follow Frito-Lay on Twitter: @Fritolay www.twitter.com/fritolay
  • Frito-Lay snacks – link on first reference: www.fritolay.com

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Frito-Lay. DIY creation and stated opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.