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Showing posts with label Featured. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Featured. Show all posts
*This post was made in partnership with Responsival.  Thank you for supporting brands I feature*

 


Happy almost Fall! This time of year is full of gifting opportunities for my family. We have my wedding anniversary (plus my parents' and my brother's,) my birthday, my Mom's birthday AND my sister's birthday (tomorrow!) Christian's birthday is in the mix as well.

 

I have been featuring Aurate on the blog since 2018 and have yet to be disappointed in a purchase. I am definitely a fan for life. Whether your loved ones like classic diamond necklaces, bold necklaces, birthstone jewelry or simple rings, Aurate has you covered! They even offer different shipping options. If you're buying gifts you can request each item be packaged separately. If you're purchasing for yourself or want to be environmentally-friendly you can choose their Sustainable packaging, just a pouch to keep your pieces safe in transit.

 

I always have a hard time buying gifts for my Mom because she has everything she needs or wants. Jewelry is always a good choice - you can never have too many options! I've also gotten her fancy candles and random knick-knacks from Home Goods. One year my brother got her a pasta maker attachment just because he thought she would have fun with it. This year I went with adorable Mini Deco Triple Hoop Earrings (top left earrings in the photo below!)

 


Christian and I are celebrating our 3rd anniversary so, if we were going by traditional gifts, we would get each other something leather. Crystal is the "modern" third anniversary gift but I think leather is better. My parents celebrated their 39th anniversary earlier this month which means lace (or coral/ruby if you go in between 35 and 40 year gifts.) Christian and I don't generally do big gifts for our anniversaries but I think it would be fun/nostalgic to start going through the traditional gifts. Do you go by the traditional gifts for your anniversary or do you go with the flow?

 

In honor of our anniversary I got myself this vegan leather travel pouch for my Aurate jewelry. Now it will house all my gorgeous pieces for easy viewing and access, can't wait to fill it up with more! I chose the super pretty seafoam color but they also have green, terracotta and blush! They actually just introduced black and taupe earlier this week!

 


Sweater Dress: Miss Selfridge (Lord & Taylor)

Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals 'Athanasia' in Croc (Moda Operandi) 

Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye 

Earrings: Aurate Gold Twist Huggie Earring 

Necklace: AURATE X KERRY: Lioness Pendant & old chain




 *This post was made in partnership with Photowall.  Thank you for supporting brands I feature*


The easiest way to update almost any part of a home is artwork. Posters, paintings, photographs, even wallpaper can make a huge difference to your living space. When Photowall offered to send an item of my choice I really wanted to try one of their amazing designer wallpapers. Christian and I couldn't figure out where to put our perfect statement wall so we decided to go with a canvas print above our purple couch in the living room instead.


They've also generously offered my readers a coupon code. Enter aclosetfashionista25 for 25% off an item! This Photowall coupon code will expire in on October 14th.

Living Room - Before

 

Living Room - After - Photowall Canvas: Mauve Mist
 

Photowall offers everything from photographs and movie posters to illustrations, contemporary art and inspirational quotes. You can also upload your own photo/artwork. We opted to go for an abstract mountain landscape because Christian's dream is to live in/near mountains. There were almost too many to choose from and we had a hard time picking a favorite.  This blueberry sky print was a close second but we ultimately decided on the Mauve Mist canvas to tie in with our couch. Coincidentally our top three choices were all by the same artist, I guess we have a very specific taste.

 

Sizing is super customizable and if you choose a different ratio from the original piece you can easily pick which part of the photo you want to use for your print or canvas. When choosing canvas there are 4 options, I went with "Motif on edge" with a frame but you could choose a black or white edge or no frame at all. In the screenshot below you can see where the edges of my canvas will be thanks to the little pink boxes. If I had opted for black edges that would be shown instead to help visualize. I went with a 51.18 x 31.5 inch canvas so I wouldn't lose any of the painting in cropping.

 

Photowall canvas customization

We got a fairly large canvas because we wanted it to make a statement, and bigger is better, right? It adds so much fun and brightness to this basic wall.  I did like our previous "art" - aka Harry Potter illustration - but this painting ties in a lot better.

 

My Photowall canvas arrived super quickly (3 days after I ordered) and came unmounted with an easy DIY frame. We were able to put it together in under 15 minutes with no tears. There is also a video on each product page showing how to assemble if you're more of a visual vs. written instructions person.The system was very easy to follow and I'm sure saves a bundle on shipping costs/the environmental impact of shipping.

 

 

I posted a Reel showing how easy it is to put together! Watch on Instagram.

While perusing the site I learned about their environmental efforts. In partnership with Vi Agroforestry, Photowall plants around 5000 trees every year in the area surrounding Lake Victoria in East Africa. They also operate on a made to order system so they do not produce items that are not needed which avoids unnecessary waste. The printing ink used for their wallpaper contains no solvents or hazardous chemicals, and is biodegradable.  The canvas used for my beautiful piece of art is made from 100% biodegradable cotton.


If (when) we move to a new house, a statement wall with Photowall wallpaper will be something we think about as we're designing the interior. I went through 5,000 designer wallpaper options before we switched gears and there were so many I would love to have! I'm not normally a floral person but I was drawn to so many of their floral prints. How gorgeous is this purple sakura wallpaper? It would go perfectly in my purple-walled closet. Christian and I both loved this misty landscape in blue tones, he definitely has a thing for mountains.

 

Don't forget about the 25% off Photowall coupon code - aclosetfashionista25! It will expire on October 14th.


*This post was made in partnership with Responsival.  Thank you for supporting brands I feature*

 


Name a better gift for Mom than beautiful gold personalized necklaces! They can be made special in so many ways with initials, birthstones and zodiac signs. You can personalize them for your Mother's birthday or even with your/all her children's birthdays. AU-Rate has plenty of options to choose from! If you're not a birthstone or initial fan you can just choose any of their pieces and select your Mom's preferred color - gold, white or rose! It's impossible to not be able to find the perfect piece of jewelry.

 

Aurate also released a new collaboration with Kerry Washington last week called The Birth of Mother  featuring beautiful organic pearls and seashell motifs. Order by May 5th for regular shipping and May 7th for overnight to get your gift in time (in stock items only, not made to order.)


If your Mom isn't a jewelry lover there are plenty of other options to make her smile! Mine will never say no to a beautiful candle, my favorite brand to splurge on the past number of years has been Voluspa, but I also discovered L’or de Seraphine last year! Both are a bit on the pricier side, but when it comes to gifting - go for the high end!

 

For the Mom with a sweet tooth you could bake her something yourself (check out my baking posts to see what I've made lately) or order her a fancy dessert she wouldn't buy for herself! Maybe some Ladurée macarons or Dō cookie dough! You could even find a local donut shop that makes over the top donuts! Around here we have Donut Crazy!



Side-note: How beautiful is this london blue topaz and diamond ring from Aurate? I had to buy it when I saw it matched one of my favorite necklaces that my Grandmother handed down to me.

 

Double V-Neck Cashmere Sweater: Calypso St. Barth 'Gylden' (Gilt)

Floral Jeans Target Flipside Denim 

Sandals:  Zigi Soho Velvet Floral Embroidered Open Toe Mules (TJ Maxx)

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Natural Selection Mini Messenger Bag' (Saks Fifth Avenue)

Sunglasses: Gucci Aviators (bought in Italy)

Blue Topaz & Diamond Necklace: hand-me-down from Grandma

Ring: Vintage Emerald Cut Ring with London Blue Topaz c/o Aurate














*This post was made in partnership with Responsival.  Thank you for supporting brands I feature* 

 


It's almost Valentine's Day and what's a better gift than beautiful gold necklaces!? Even if you're not attached you can be your own Valentine and get yourself something special. Christian and I don't generally do Valentine's gifts - just cute cards like these from LovePop! With a little help from AURate I treated myself to a couple things. For a bit more of a Valentine's Day feel I chose a super cute Infinity Heart Ring in white gold to match my wedding set. My second piece is more of a statement but still something I could wear every day.


The moment they announced their AURATE x Kerry: The Lioness Collection in November I knew I had to get one of the pieces! I opted for the more affordable Lioness Pendant at $150 (Rather than the GORGEOUS necklace version for $530.) I have a few gold chains so I can effortlessly switch up the style of the necklace. Maybe even a mixed metals version with silver!


“I’m so proud to share this Lioness Collection, and all that it represents, with you. In both aesthetic design and in cultural meaning, each piece is built to embody the values of this unique moment while also honoring timeless truths. Make no mistake, the lioness is a queen. Her beauty is incomparable. Her strength is undeniable. She is a warrior, built for the hunt, and a nurturer, devoted to her pride. She is magnificently regal, and yet in the world of the Lioness, democracy and collaboration rule. In the #LionessPride there are no egos, there is no pecking order, just fierce felines winning collectively. You are a fierce lioness - beautiful, powerful, communal, and winning. And in our shared community we are a #LionessPride. So this collection is for you. I hope that it adds beauty, joy and strength to your day. And I pray that these pieces remind you of the sisterhood of this pride. WITH LOVE, KERRY”


 

Selling directly to consumers helps Aurate keep costs down. Many pieces are made to order so they don't have unneeded stock. Pieces are made in New York City so there are no import taxes which also drive up prices. This $150 lioness pendant from AUrate could cost upwards of $390 at traditional retail prices. Each product page shows this information so you can see the difference, just like another favorite store of mine - Everlane!

 

You're also getting a lifetime quality guarantee with your purchase. They re-plate, polish, and repair your jewelry when needed. Additionally, for every order, Aurate will donate a book to a child in need in your name. 

 

P.S. If you want to add a little sweet treat to your Valentine's celebrations, get your hands on Hershey's Lava Cake Kisses! They only sell them this time of year so stock up if you like them! (I only bought 1 bag so far, trying to behave!

 

Sweater: Madewell (Shobop), Jeans: J Brand 'Maria' High Rise in Supreme, Flats: Restricted 'Memo' (DSW), Earrings: Aurate Pearl Studs, Rings: Sofia Zakia Wandering Star Ring & Altair Ring, Aurate Infinity Heart Ring, Necklace: AURATE X KERRY: Lioness Pendant on my own chain

 





 

 

 

 

*This post was made in partnership with Responsival.  Thank you for supporting brands I feature*

 

The holidays may look a little different this year but that doesn't mean we can't still give to those we love - or get ourselves a few frivolous things. I won't judge (I do it too!) Even if it's a drop-off on their porch or shipping directly to them, you can show your loved ones you're thinking about them!

 

For the Home

If you're looking for women-owned businesses to support, rockflowerpaper is a great option to check out! I'm very into gifting household items this year instead of clothes and, luckily for me, they have a great selection of both home goods and clothes/accessories!

 

rockflowerpaper has quite a few Winter-themed serving trays that I'm considering as gifts (and for myself, obviously!) How adorable is this Winter Stags tray I bought with a gift card!? Might have to buy a plate hanger to showcase it on the wall instead of covering it with treats. Or I'll just leave it like this on our dining room table (without the succulents.) That's also what makes trays great gifts, so many ways to use them.

 

They also have a collection of ceramic pots with succulents! I have a thing for cute little succulents so you better believe I added some to my cart for the living room (and one for my Grandma too!)

 

Earlier this week rockflowerpaper started their Black Friday sale! You can get 20% off of $50, 30% off of $100 and 40% off of $150 orders. (not including succulents)

 

Handmade Gifts


 

Since I'm doing most of my holiday gift shopping online I'm trying to avoid the "major" stores and shopping small. I do a Secret Santa every year with my siblings/their partners and browsed etsy last month for my gift and found lots of fun options. I can't tell you what I got since it would give away the secret, but I used a few different sellers to make the perfect gift! Jewelry from etsy is also a popular choice and I've gifted many etsy-ordered necklaces in my day!

 

The Gift of Food

 

Another fun option for gifting this year is a week of meal delivery services! That way your loved one can have a fun meal without leaving the house! My brother bought my Mom a week of Blue Apron years ago and it was such a great gift. There are a ton different options too. I have personally used Blue Apron, HelloFresh and EveryPlate and enjoyed them all! You get the most bang for your buck at EveryPlate ($59 for 5 meals) but I find Blue Apron's meals ($59 for 3 meals) more adventurous.

 

To make it even more fun you can coordinate a week to get the same meals and make them together over FaceTime/Zoom/whatever video service you prefer. It's like date night for a family member or friend!


Personalization


Who doesn't love a gift made especially for them? Stealing another idea from family - my Mom made a photo calendar for my Grandma one year that had all our important family dates in it - birthdays, anniversaries and even puppy birthdays. She has twelve grandchildren so Mom made each month a photo collage of a different grandchild. 

 

You could also go another route and make a recipe or photo book, both of which I have received as gifts and loved! Knowing someone took the time to create something just for you makes it all the more special. You can use sites such as Snapfish and Shutterfly for these! (I always check who has a better coupon at the moment.)


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