Charms for Good: Alex and Ani

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I am sure most of you have heard of Alex and Ani charms by now. Almost every girl I know owns a few of these adorable bracelets. But I just became a bigger fan! Guess what?? They have a great philanthropic division that supports a ton of non-profit organizations. You can shop on the website by a specific charity or by bracelet. Alex and Ani’s Charity by Design program donates a portion of the proceeds for each bracelet to non-profit organizations. Go check them out on the website…and make sure to buy a few for yourself and your besties.

In the meantime, here are a few of my faves. 🙂

Power Of Unity Charm Bangle

Commitment|Empowerment| Champion

Commitment|Empowerment| Champion

Charity By Design Donation:

Alex and Ani will donate 20% of the purchase price from each Power of Unity Charm sold, with a minimum donation of $25,000, between November 2014 and December 2015 to Special Olympics which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities around the world.

Completely Blessed Charm Bangle

Faith|Gratitude|Divinity

Faith|Gratitude|Divinity

Charity By Design Donation:

Through October 31, 2014, 20% of all Alex and Ani sales from the Completely Blessed Charm, with a minimum donation of $10,000, will go directly to Blessings in a Backpack, a program designed to feed underprivileged children. Join the battle against hunger and help feed the future of America.

Let Creativity Rule Charm Bangle

Ability|Artistry|Collaboration

Ability|Artistry|Collaboration

Charity By Design Donation:

20% of all sales, with a minimum donation of $5,000, will go directly to Unified Theater, an organization that dissolves typical barriers between youth with and without disabilities through student-led transformative arts experiences.

New Beginnings Charm Bangle

Empowerment|Leadership|Passion

Empowerment|Leadership|Passion

Charity By Design Donation:

Through December 2015, 20% of proceeds received by Alex and Ani from selling the New Beginnings bangle, with a minimum donation of $25,000, will be donated to The ONE Campaign, a global campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 3.5 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease.

Make Your Mark Charm Bangle

Influence|Commitment|Action
Influence|Commitment|Action

Charity By Design Donation:

Alex and Ani will donate 20% of the purchase price from each Make Your Mark Charm Bangle sold, with a minimum donation of $20,000, between June 2014 and December 2015, to generationOn to inspire, equip, and mobilize youth to take action that changes the world and themselves through service.

Fuel for the Fight

Hi Friends!

Hope everyone is ready for Christmas! I certainly am not! Ha! I still have some shopping to do…ahhh.  But anyways, I wanted to share this with you because it warmed up my heart when I saw it.  So, a few days ago I came across TreatMint Box. Treatmint Box offers gifts for cancer patients and survivors. It is the first-ever subscription service dedicated to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. Their mission is to provide a rock solid way for friends and family to show their support and stay connected. Just so you know, this company was started by Kimberly Fink, a stylist who was diagnose with uterine cancer at the age of 32. After going into remission, she contacted folks in her network and started the company.

TREATMINT Box’s curated boxes and products provide inspiration to fuel the fight of those battling and healing from cancer. You can expect gifts that provide comfort and inspire. Below are some examples of items that can go into a box.

Isn’t this an amazing idea? I don’t have anyone close to me with cancer but during this holiday season I am keeping others in mind that may have families and friends with cancer and who are thinking of different ways to make them smile during the holidays.

XO,

Lourdes

Treat Men-Photo by http://www.treatmintbox.com

 

 

 

Treat Women, photo by: http://www.treatmintbox.com

 

Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers For the Besties!

Hi Friends!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Today I have a beauty gift guide for your besties! I mean who doesn’t love to shop for their BFF’s? It’s so much fun! Below are some charitable beauty products that will warm their heart up a bit once they know the meaning behind it. You can make it extra special by making sure the gift supports a cause that is meaningful to them. Shop away and share with me other gift ideas you are buying for your girls! 🙂

Gucci Chime for Change will donate at least one million dollars toward improving the lives of girls around the globe. Each time a bottle of Gucci women or men’s fragrance is purchased, the luxe Italian label will contribute to the cause of the buyer’s choice —  A year in, Chime for Change has raised awareness and funds in over 80 countries. This is an incredible initiative.

Gucci Chime for Change will donate at least one million dollars toward improving the lives of girls around the globe. Each time a bottle of Gucci women or men’s fragrance is purchased, the luxe Italian label will contribute to the cause of the buyer’s choice — A year in, Chime for Change has raised awareness and funds in over 80 countries. This is an incredible initiative.

 

What it is: A special, limited-edition of 100% Pure Argan Oil, scented with African red rooibos tea. What’s the Model Citizen campaign? Our Model Citizen campaign salutes the generous spirits of trailblazers like Mary Alice Onyura.  She's a beacon of possibility shining bright in the slums of Africa. She's the kind of woman I want my daughters to grow up to be. Working with the game-changing IMAGINE Initiative, which brings a new worldview and the skills needed for transformative change to our world, Mary Alice is helping women in the Nairobi slums to empower and uplift themselves and their communities. Mary Alice is breathtaking and inspiring to me, which is why I’m donating 10% of the proceeds of this year’s Model Citizen products to support her and other change-makers who have dedicated their lives to empowering women around the world.

What it is: A special, limited-edition of 100% Pure Argan Oil, scented with African red rooibos tea.
What’s the Model Citizen campaign? The Model Citizen campaign salutes the generous spirits of trailblazers like Mary Alice Onyura. She’s a beacon of possibility shining bright in the slums of Africa. Mary Alice is helping women in the Nairobi slums to empower and uplift themselves and their communities. Mary Alice is breathtaking and inspiring to me, which is why I’m donating 10% of the proceeds of this year’s Model Citizen products to support her and other change-makers who have dedicated their lives to empowering women around the world.

Bobbi Brown Pretty Pink Ribbon Lip Gloss Collection-every time you purchase a set, Bobby Brown will donate $12 of every sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Bobbi Brown Pretty Pink Ribbon Lip Gloss Collection-every time you purchase a set, Bobby Brown will donate $12 of every sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

 

MAC Viva Glam Lipstick-All proceeds of the ‘Viva Glam’ line benefits the MAC AIDS Fund to support the fight against HIV/AIDS.

MAC Viva Glam Lipstick-All proceeds of the ‘Viva Glam’ line benefits the MAC AIDS Fund to support the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 Chantecaille 15-Year Anniversary Eye Shade Trio and the beauty brand will donate the proceeds to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Monarch Butterfly Fund and Widecast to help protect endangered elephants, butterflies and sea turtles.

Chantecaille 15-Year Anniversary Eye Shade Trio and the beauty brand will donate the proceeds to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Monarch Butterfly Fund and Widecast to help protect endangered elephants, butterflies and sea turtles. Each sophisticated shade symbolizes an endangered species that still urgently needs our help.

 

he beauty brand philosophy recently launched the hope & grace initiative to support mental health and wellbeing. For all products sold on philosophy.com, 1 percent of sales will go towards community-based mental health organizations.

The beauty brand philosophy recently launched the hope & grace initiative to support mental health and wellbeing. For all products sold on philosophy.com, 1 percent of sales will go towards community-based mental health organizations.

 

Why I love Donna Karen (And you should, too!)

Hi Friends!

When Donna Karen is not getting ready for runway shows or traveling the world, she is caring for some great causes! I am not sure if you were aware of this but she has a foundation called the Urban Zen Foundation that is supported by the Urban Zen Store in the west village. The Urban Zen foundation has a three-part mission: Well-being, Empowering Children, and Preserving Cultures. Donna Karen created the Urban Zen Foundation because she wanted to integrate business with philanthropy and globally expand on the “soulful economy movement”concept.

The Urban Zen clothing collection is beautiful and inspired by Donna Karen’s travel experiences throughout the world, especially Haiti, a place very dear to her heart. Check them out here:

Below are some of my faves. 😉

 

XO,

Lourdes

 

 

 

 

Roger Vivier + We Are Family Foundation

Hi Friends!

I have awesome news for my London peeps!  Roger Vivier (known for creating the first “stiletto heel” in 1954) is collaborating with We are Family Foundation this holiday season. All sales until tomorrow will be benefiting the foundation. We Are Family Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate the next generation about respect, understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity – while striving to solve some of our biggest global problems at the same time.

This amazing collaboration comes as no surprise to me since recently We are Family Foundation hosted the 2014 Tedxteen conference in London and it was a success! Watch it here.

If you are not in London, feel free to pass this onto family and friends who are!

Happy Saturday!

 

XO,

Lourdes

roger vivier

 

 

SpecialSaleWE

Holiday Gift Guide for the Kiddies

Good Afternoon Friends:

As some of you may already know, today is #givingtuesday! Giving Tuesday was created as a global online response to the consumerism of the holiday season. Today we globally dedicate ourselves to giving back! So don’t forget to check out some of your favorite charities and local events.

In the meantime, I created a holiday gift guide for the kiddies in your life. I’m not a mom yet but I’m an auntie and I already started brainstorming and browsing! Here are some cute ideas! Happy Shopping!! 🙂

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Girls’ J.Crew Sweatshirt benefiting The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust that helps elephants and Rhinos.

How it works:  100% percent of the net proceeds will be donated to the trust.

Find it: Shop this adorable sweatshirt at www.jcrew.com

image

ROMA kids rain boots

How it works: Each Roma boot purchase generates a pair of rain boots given to children and orphans in Romania to fight the climate of the country.

Find it: Shop Roma Boots at www.romaboots.com

Awesome Kids T-Shirt by Charity Water

Awesome Kids T-Shirt by Charity Water

How it works: charity water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe water to people in developing countries.

Find it: http://www.charitywater.org

Winter Fairy Peg Doll DIY by The Honest Company

Winter Fairy Peg Doll DIY by The Honest Company

How it works:  The Award Winning actress Jessica Alba started this company to help moms and give children a safe start. The Honest Company has made a huge impact in many communities-they recently donated 13,000 diapers to support N.C families in need, they plan baby showers to celebrate Naval moms and have donated 200 cribs and 10,000 diapers to Baby2Baby! They are awesome and you really need to check them out!

Find it: www.honest.com

H&M Conscious Foundation

Hi Friends:

Happy Monday! Who doesn’t love shopping at H&M? Well you are going to love them even more after I tell you what they’ve been up to. This mega brand is on top of their game when it comes to global impact!

Some awesome worldwide projects:

All For Children Project-a collaboration between H&M and UNICEF that supports children’s rights in India and Bangladesh. {goal: to help 1.7 million children by 2018}
Help train cotton farmers to grow cotton with less impact to the environment and with improved livelihood.
Provide 100,000 women and girls in poor communities with skills training and/or capital to start up or continue local businesses.
Enable 73,600 children to benefit from early childhood development programmes.
Provide 250,00 students with access to clean water and toilets in Schools and educate them in hygiene practices.

Awesome, right? Here are a few items I am loving right now:

H&M Global Impact

H M white button blouse
$47 – hm.com

H M fine knit cardigan
$20 – hm.com

H M white top
$11 – hm.com

H M turtle neck sweater
$39 – hm.com

H M brown sweater
$39 – hm.com

H&M slim jeans
$47 – hm.com

H M short sleeve jumpsuit
$55 – hm.com

H&M activewear pants
$24 – hm.com

H M loop scarf
$11 – hm.com

Guest Post on Life, Tailored

Hi Friends!

Yesterday was National Philanthropy Day so I teamed up with Life, Tailored and created a holiday gift guide for men! Life, Tailored is a men’s style and fashion blog that brings you luxury brands, top rated travel and drinking spots. Please check them out at www.lifetailored.com and read my article at http://lifetailored.com/style/holiday-gift-guide-gifts-give-back/.

XO

Lourdes

give back

Coffee + Hugh Jackman

Hi Friends:

Yes, that’s right. Hugh Jackman is in town and has coffee for you.

I’m kidding. Maybe.

Well, his coffee shop is here. Not sure if you will catch him but hey, no hurt in trying. 😉

Laughing Man Coffee Shop was founded by Hugh Jackman as a way to bring local farmers to the market.  A few years ago, he went to Ethiopia with World Vision and met a farmer by the name of Dukale. Dukale was his source of inspiration because he was able to see first hand the limited opportunities for a farmer who produced amazing coffee but yet wasn’t able to show that to the world. So, this inspired Hugh to start this journey for Dukale and other coffee growers in the world that want fair trade price for their coffee.

You know what I love the most about this business model? Well, that as a costumer who walks into the coffee shop, I know for sure that my contribution is going to the Dukale Family. It’s not charity. It’s engrained into the business.

So this is the deal, it’s Monday and you all need a cup of coffee (or several), so go stop by Laughing Man and enjoy an amazing cup of coffee brought to you by Hugh and Dukale. If you can’t make it down to Tribeca then go on the website and read about this awesome coffee shop! I mean, friends, think about it, you might catch Hugh Jackman and are contributing to a great cause while drinking a yummy cappuccino…hello!! I say that sounds like a pretty good Monday.

xoxo,

Lourdes

dukale and hugh

NYF_Tribeca-LaughingMan_636x431