Holiday Gift Guide Series: Gifts for Her

This is my favorite time of year! I have rounded up a few of my favorite holiday gift items for your loved ones. There is no better time of year to show our family and friends how they can contribute to making the world a better place than the holiday season.

 

1. For the Fashionista

 

Blog_10.30_TBFSeedBox_960_2

 

Who doesn’t love Tory Burch? She has built an incredible company and doesn’t forget to give back and empower women who are rising entrepreneurs! The Tory Burch Seed Box is perfect for the girl who loves to support local businesses and try new things. The box has products made by women entrepreneurs and 100% of the proceeds go to the foundation. If interested in learning more, please visit The Tory Burch Foundation

 

11-BRA-STDWRP-MPW-front-4-1200x1200

Article 22 is a company with an incredible story. I learned about them through a friend and can’t wait to shop their beautiful jewelry! The jewelry is made from re-purposed scarp war metals from exploded bombs and other weapons. Now how amazing is that?! So in love with this story-don’t you agree that this would make the perfect gift for your wife, mom, sister or bestie?

 

2. For the Beauty Obsessed

 

11173301-1724327172750781

Do you want to save lives in Nepal this holiday season? Then buy someone a gift from Aveda. The wrapping paper on all the gift sets is handcrafted and has employed 5,500 people in Nepal in over 8 years. During 8 years, 2,400 families have been able to buy food, send their children to school and save for the future…..now doesn’t that just make you want to buy everyone an Aveda gift?! 🙂

 

 

33e0d4c393dbfeda0e048cbd0f813d7e

 

Are you really surprised that this made my list?! So many of us have a girl crush on Jessica Alba. I mean who wouldn’t? She is an awesome mom, wife and CEO. Buy your sister, bestie (or yourself) a few of the Honest Beauty products because guess what? A portion of the proceeds of each purchase will help fund skills training and education for young women. Honest Beauty supports the organization, Girls Who Code which provides girls education in the fields of computer science and technology.

 

3. For the Foodie

Feed_SnackBag_100BagPouch_600_2a639dfa-a0c4-417f-826d-ec9417363047_grande

Feed has partnered with Mouth, the best site for small and local food makers to bring you a special holiday gift of small-batch goodies! As you already know, Feed Projects is the social business of Lauren Bush Lauren that helps feed the world. Every bag sold helps feed a child for one year.

 

charity_water

 

Charity Water just launched a digital cookbook perfect for that person who loves to cook! The “Water Changes Everything” cookbook is comprised of 10 chefs and well-regarded food makers. You can download the book for$30 and 100% of the proceeds will bring clean water to one person in need.

 

Beauty That Does Good

Origins of Alaffia

A fortunate moment that brought together Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde is responsible for the foundation of this company. This amazing couple worked very long in order to find a solution for creating better conditions for families in Togo.

After some time, they came up with a simple, but brilliant idea – why not use Africa’s natural gifts, share them with the rest of the world and help improve the living conditions for the citizens of Togo and beyond.

Thanks to a bit of help and support, they came up with five nurturing collections for skin and hair care. What makes these collections so unique is their coconut and shea based formulas that emphasize natural beauty and help you maintain it.

But that’s not all this couple is working on. Alaffia is so much more than another business that sells beauty products – what makes them different is their company’s policy and the principles that both of them care deeply about.

Fair Trade Policy

For starters, they respect the Fair Trade movement that enables economically disadvantaged countries to receive a greater percentage of the price which is paid by consumers. Thanks to their policy, developing countries and their citizens can improve the conditions regarding basic human rights and finally put an end to some quite serious issues, such as child labor.

Help for Mothers

Did you know that each year of 160,000 women die due to labor complications in West Africa alone? The most powerful factor for this terrible fact is poverty, and others such as inadequate infrastructure only contribute to it.

Alaffia’s Maternal Health Project is working hard to lower and eventually eliminate these rates. Up until now, they have managed to pay for over 3,500 childbirths and still working to increase those numbers.

Empowerment Project

With money that comes from their skin and hair care collection, this generous couple is doing their best to improve living conditions in Togo, but primarily in the social and educational fields. Their company hires locals, pays for their health insurance and helps them raise their family.

That kind of empowerment to each and every individual they get in touch with makes a difference with a variety issues, like gender equality. With the rest of the money at their disposal, Alaffia is also contributing to youth educational projects.

Olowo-n’djo and Prairie have made it as easy as possible for us to help them with their cause. By getting one of their natural skin or hair care products, you’ll have a positive impact on someone’s life. You can order their products online or stop by Fairway!

Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company – A Business Built on Good Value

Jessica-Alba-The-Honest-Co

Jessica Alba launched The Honest Company some years back, and faced quite a few worried looks when she pitched her idea and asked for funding. In essence, the idea was a simple and morally correct one – creating, household, beauty and hygiene products using natural ingredients that don’t put anyone’s health at risk, and being incredibly open about what goes into the products.

A high level of transparency, going so far as to make even the containers transparent, combined with what seemed to be a genuine concern for the wellbeing and happiness of the consumers, and just a pinch of movie star charisma, have proven to be an incredibly potent recipe for success.

The Honest Company is now valued at around $1.7 billion, which just goes to show that putting the customer first and focusing on quality can actually work out quite well for entrepreneurs. So, what is this company all about, and why is there such a huge hype surrounding it?

The People in Charge Really Believe in What They Are Doing

The first thing you notice about this company is that it’s not just something a movie star invested in because it looked like a business venture that would make him or her even richer. Jessica Alba has been outspoken about her concerns that too many modern products are loaded with toxic chemicals. Ever since she launched the company she has worked hard on promoting a healthier lifestyle and urging people to pay more attention to what they put on and into their bodies and the bodies of their family. She is a mother of two, and her co founder Christopher Gavigan a father of three, so you know they are not just trying to use clever marketing ploys when they talk about raising healthy and strong children, and protecting your family.

The Company’s Inspiring Mission Statement and Philanthropic Work

The easiest way to know for sure whether a company is just jumping on the latest bandwagon and pulling your heartstrings with one hand while the other reaches for the wallet, or if they truly want to make a difference and give back to the community is to pay attention to their charity work. Those that talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk will make some donations here and there, but the true philanthropists with good moral values will constantly strive to make a difference. The Honest Company invests a portion of the proceeds from every purchase into helping the community in several different ways:

  • Putting healthy food choices in schools
  • Educating people on proper nutrition
  • Funding research and training that ensures the health of developing infants up to the age of three
  • Putting safer cleaning products in schools
  • Funding the education of ambitious young minds

This company’s mission is to ensure the proper development of babies and young children, help improve the health and wellbeing of growing bodies and ensuring that the new generations get the support they need to grow into productive members of society. These are goals that everyone can get behind.

Elegant Design and High Quality Standards

Even if we ignore Miss Alba’s movie star fame, the transparent approach and their philosophy and philanthropic approach, the products can speak for themselves. The containers are simple and elegant, featuring transparent packaging with a detailed ingredients list and calming colors. Putting natural ingredients and carefully avoiding potentially dangerous chemicals isn’t just a neat marketing gimmick – as hundreds of positive reviews, and customers raving about the products on social media can attest to, their stuff really works.

Not only do the products work as advertised, but they are offered in creative little bundles and the customers can sign up to receive monthly packages. This hassle free online shopping model, combined with clearly visible results are the things that made The Honest Company so successful.

They don’t offer products, they offer a lifestyle

When all’s said and done, we come to the very essence of the matter – these people offer a lifestyle and a better future, not mere products. This kind of talk alienates some people who’ve become jaded from years of being exposed to companies that try to paint a pretty picture while making some incredibly shade moves under everyone’s noses, but there are still plenty of good people in the world. Companies like these are run by such people, and if more passionate entrepreneurs followed in their footsteps this would be a much better world to live in.

Post Witten By: Vladimir Zivanovic

More Lingerie, Please.

Hi Friends:

As promised, today we will talk lingerie!  Some say lingerie is a waste of money…but how could something silky and lacy be a waste? It’s about your personal style. I believe lingerie should be part of your daily wardrobe.  I’m not saying you should wear a garter everyday but replacing the old t-shirt you may sleep in might be nice {not judging, sometimes I still sleep with t-shirts..shhh}.  Anyways, I really do love how delicate and beautiful it all is-I dream of having not a drawer but a closet full of it.{I’m pretty sure I’ve written this to you guys before..lol} If you’re like me, you will love Journelle. It’s my favorite lingerie shop! It’s like no other in the city. I’ve been to several of their locations in NYC and not only do I get superb service but I never want to leave. It really just captures the “feel good” vibe that we ladies like when we walk into a store. I don’t know how to describe it really, take my word and go check it out! Oh, and for those looking for more than just La Perla slips-don’t you worry-Journelle carries beautiful everyday loungewear as well. After all, they have to live up to the name…. Journelle was inspired by the french word Journellement, which means “daily”. The staff at Journelle truly believes lingerie should be worn everyday. 🙂

Below are my faves for V-Day! 🙂 Don’t forget to check out their site: www.journelle.com.

 

 

 

Bobbi Brown + GirlRising

Hi Friends!

I want to apologize for deserting you for a week. Things got really busy but I’m back with some exciting new posts! 🙂

Today we will talk about how Bobbi Brown is using her company to empower girls around the world. Before I go into the details of her campaign, I want to give you some alarming statistics.

  • 65 million girls around the world don’t attend school.
  • Two-thirds of the 792 million illiterate adults are females.
  • 14 million girls under 18 will be married this year.

Crying yet? Yup…this is really happening.  So now you understand why I jumped with joy when I heard that Bobbi Brown was joining the GirlRising movement and launching her own campaign called: The Pretty Powerful Campaign for Women and Girls. Bobbi Brown is giving us the opportunity to all make a difference and empower women and girls through this initiative. Bobbi Brown will give 100% of the proceeds of every Pot Rouge sold to one of these organizations :

US & UKDress for Success, an international non-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Hong KongHER FUND, a charity that promotes human rights and gender equality for women and girls.

KoreaOpen Closet, an organization that supports job seekers with limited resources by providing access to professional attire, as well as other career development tools.

South AfricaHeartBeat, a charity that cares for the emotional well-being of orphaned and vulnerable young women and girls suffering from the impact of HIV.

1

Q & A with Diana Heredia

Hi Friends!

Happy Saturday! Today I have the honor to share with you my most recent chat with a friend. Diana Heredia is the Director of Textile Development for Jason Wu. She is incredible woman who is career-driven and inspired daily by her family and friends. She is a go-getter and continuously looks for ways to challenge herself with projects, hobbies and new travel experiences. I hope the interview motivates you to push yourself harder to do what you love!

Need a little more inspiration? Well then head over to Diana’s blog at www.goodgirlgone.com

Job title:  Director of Textile Development for Jason Wu.
Job Duties: Manage the development of raw materials for 4 ready to wear collections per year.
What is a typical day look like? 
I don’t really have a set routine…it all really depends on what I have going on that specific day. But usually I have breakfast immediately after I wake up… that currently consists of dry raisin bran cereal with a side of unsweetened apple sauce and a shot of carrot juice to take my vitamins. I don’t generally workout in the mornings because I like to work out in the evenings or weekends. I don’t like to put time restraints on my fitness, but I’ll do something quick- like a few pull-ups. I don’t plan what I will wear until the morning which is a problem…{she laughs}. I make it look effortless but sometimes I try many outfits before I  head to work… at times it takes at least four tries! A good day at work is if I can leave by 7PM and my scale of how good or bad my day is based on how productive I was on that day- how many things got accomplished. In the evenings, I’ll attend salsa socials or have dinner with friends. If I have had a really stressful day I do a lot of sit ups when I get home. I consider that a little reward to myself!
Who/What inspires you? 
I am completely driven by experiences. Honestly, the notion of me wanting to do it all inspires me to push myself to not only do my daily job but to make sure I’ve nurtured myself in all aspects of my life. My inspiration is the freedom I have to just be… It’s very liberating.
What are your hobbies?
Reading, running, dancing salsa and listening to live music.  Oh, and if traveling is considered a hobby then that, too.   
3 words that describe you? 
Intuitive, spontaneous and honest.
Talk to me about your project/blog Good Girl Gone. 
Good Girl Gone (GGG) became a personal project- it sort of happened organically. I had this idea, I spoke to friends about it and they pushed me to formalize it. It became a creative playground/outlet for me and also a way for me to connect with others outside of my career. It has evolved from the initial idea I first had. I guess over time it has become a personal representation of who I am. In essence, a modern day story of a curious girl living in NYC. GGG has given validity to my visions and has provided a platform for my ideas to come to life. 
Do you have any mentors?
My mentors are my sisters and my friends because they are my sense of reality. I tend to live in a dreamy world. What I do for a living is a bit more superficial and for some it can be unrealistic. So while I stress at work because a button didn’t match, I have my sister who is in law enforcement and deals with the safety and well-being of human lives. It just put things into perspective. They keep me grounded.
Do you have any regrets?
No, I don’t have regrets. I feel blessed.
Has fear ever stopped you from achieving something?
It has made me hesitant, but it hasn’t stopped me. Even when I get anxious about something, I work through it. I always tell myself, “what is the worst that can happen.” 
Do you have a specific cause/philanthropy you advocate for and care about?
 I don’t have a specific one. I am passionate about many. An experience dear to me is giving back on Thanksgiving to a women’s homeless shelter in the Bronx. A few friends and I provide a home cook meal for them. I think service is important and I believe it’s our duty as citizens of this world to honor humanity in one way shape of form. It’s humbling to be able to give back once in a while. 
Can you tell me what challenges you think ambitious and career-driven women face today? 
The fear of settling and not doing something to your full potential.  My biggest challenge is myself. I set myself to a high standard. If my name is associated with something, I want it to be credible.
Favorite city in the world?
Depends on my mood. For my life…New York because it has a sense of legitimacy. I am of Dominican descent and I have a sense of culture here, this feels like home… the music, the food, the language. There is a freedom here that I haven’t experienced elsewhere. And of course, the industry I have dedicated my career to thrives here. Right now, this feels right. My new favorite place to unwind is Puerto Rico. It’s a blend between DR and Miami. I love the convenience of it. No passport required, no need to exchange currency, my cell phone still works, great weather… works for me!  
Favorite NYC Restaurant? 
The Greek restaurant Periyali.
Describe your fashion style: 
I feel like I have a bipolar sense of style! I have times that I dress for the mature “grown-up” version of me, but at times I tap into the younger, urban girl who grew up in Uptown Manhattan (Washington Heights). Both lifestyles flourish equally in my life. In three words: understated, relevant and androgynous.
Career wisdom for young professional women? 
Authenticity goes a long way and having a sense of self should always prevail. I will also say if you can find a career that compromises your personal life and you don’t mind it, then you know you are on the right track.
Diana 1

Photo by: Orlando Manuel

Diana 2b

Photo by: Orlando Manuel

 

 

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.