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

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.

Ben Amun

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.

Ben Amun

Ben Amun

Ben Amun

Ben Amun

Ben Amun

Ben Amun

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!

Ben Amun

Ben Amun

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.

my favorite spring/summer fashion trends.

I don’t know about you, but even though it’s only April, I’m all sorts of excited about trading in my sweaters and layers for tank tops and cut offs.

The other day I posted some of my spring/summer wardrobe and got a few requests to share my favorite fashion trends for the warmer weather, so here it is!

(I thought about waiting until it was closer to summer, but if this year is anything like last – the cooler part of spring is going to flash before our eyes. So why not get the wardrobe ideas started now?)

While compiling my favorite styles and trends, I realized that they kind of all overlap and fall under one big category. So I’m going to call my favorite fashion look(s) for the spring/summer Boho…with an Edge.

 

If I had to describe this “Edgy Boho” look, it would be…

KIMONOS // STRAPPY // FLOWY
CROCHET // CROP TOPS
CUT OFFS // LAYERED JEWELRY
WHITES // BRAIDS // NATURAL MAKEUP

OFF THE SHOULDER // DISTRESSED DENIM
MESSY HAIR // BEACHY // EFFORTLESS
HEAD SCARVES // FLARES // OVERSIZED // FRINGE

 

(all images found via Pinterest. Click the image for source)

 

Some of my favorite places to SHOP for Edgy Boho clothes are:

URBAN OUTFITTERS // BRANDY MELVILLE // NECESSARY CLOTHING // LF // FREE PEOPLE

 

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What are your favorite styles & trends for this spring and summer?
Which of these do you like (or dislike) most?

if i’m being real…

I miss the good old days of blogging. The days where not everyone and their mom had one. The days where blogs were BLOGS and not informational websites or online magazines.

On a completely unrelated note, most of the time there’s a lollipop hidden somewhere in my purse.

99% of the spring/summer clothes I’ve gotten recently are white.

When I say “whatever, I don’t care” - it means I definitely 100% do care.

I eat at least a spoonful of peanut (or almond) butter a day.

I was on a date last week where a guy made me feel dumb for believing what I believe. I didn’t like that.

Speaking of the opposite sex, I think this quote via Pinterest really nailed it.

I don’t own any designer clothes. Not by New York’s standards, at least.

Going to the movies is one of my tippy top favorite things to do, but I haven’t been in months.

Did I really just say tippy top?

I’m really good at glamorizing/romanticizing things. It’s a blessing and a curse.

I’m trying to become a better listener. I think I’m already decent at it, but I want to be better.

I’m also working on being less hard on myself. So far, so good!

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Your turn! Be real with me about…something. Anything.

snapshots.

Shipping out Speakable orders is my new favorite way to start the day.

Okay fine…there’s a better way, and it’s called brunch. Even if it doesn’t “start” the day until 3pm.

A la Essex

brunch at Essex NYC

mimosas

 

The other day I got these Amy’s Sandwich Rounds to give a try. They’re really tasty, but really small.

Amy's Gluten Free Organic Sandwich Rounds

If you look really closely, there’s one hidden under there…

eggs + sriracha

But it’s all good because I got the extra carbs I needed from a green smoothie.

Why do smoothies taste better in a jar…?

Green Smoothie

 

My summer wardrobe is growing at a much more rapid pace than most years.

But…how much do you want to bet I’ll never wear those crop tops?

summer clothes

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Have you started getting summer clothes yet? Any colors/trends your especially loving lately?

loose waves hair tutorial {video}.

Last week I asked for your feedback about which topics you’d like me to cover now that I’ve started doing videos, and how I do my hair was a definite top request.

If you’ve been a loooong time GML reader you may remember doing a hair tutorial video in the past, but it’s long gone by now. I think this one is much better as I go into more detail of my routine :)

FYI - I don’t think the captions are showing up via mobile. Nothing super important, but just so you know!

Also, you can find the “links below” listed in the details on the actual video page.

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What’s your go-to hair routine? Have you ever tried doing this type of loose wave in your hair?

color lovin’.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my newly BLUE hair.

No, I didn’t actually dye my hair blue (although, it IS quite trendy right now according to Pinterest…). That optical illusion is thanks to Shimmering Lights, odd lighting, and a cool-toned filter. I’d never forsake my beloved blonde, but the blue is kinda cool looking, huh?

More color has been making an appearance in my life via my accessories. I definitely tend to lean toward neutrals when it comes to my clothes, but jewelry is a fun and easy way to add a pop of color.

I got this great bracelet from Target. I don’t usually check out their jewelry section, but they had some great finds! I thought this was just so fun for the spring and summer.

Speaking of jewelry, did you know that Speakable necklaces look great with any color? 😉 Shameless plug – sorry not sorry.

Speakable engraved necklaces

On the food front, this go-to meal has continued to make an appearance quite often. I always knew this combo of avocado, eggs, and sweet potato was delicious and filling, but it’s also quite the colorful one, yeah?

Avocado, Fried Egg, Sweet Potato

And then there’s Baby Bo’s Cantina, which is one of my favorite hidden gem restaurants in the city. They have hands down some of the best authentic Mexican food I’ve ever had. Not to mention it’s clearly quite festive there.

Baby Bo's Cantina NYC

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What do you think of the bright and bold hair colors trending right now? Would you ever try something like that?