Alright bellas, let me get my Tyra on and close this TJ Maxx contest!

I have only one TJ Maxx card in my hands…and that card goes to…

Commenter #5 – Nikia!

Congratulations!! We’re going shopping!! I can’t wait!!

I need to qualify that by saying this — all of you who entered this particular giveaway REALLY helped give me some fashion direction, and reassured me that I too can survive this winter thang with style. And it was EXTRA hard to choose a winner because I actually KNOW some of you who entered! So please don’t take it personally and PLEASE know we’re gonna hang out soon. Hopefully REALLY soon — there’s a fabulous Red Pump Project event coming up and I really really want you all to come out and party with me!

And if you didn’t win THIS giveaway, hang in there kitty — December is bringing the best giveaways I’ve ever had! So keep reading and keep entering!

Every day I gaze out of my window and notice the trees. Green soon faded to gold, orange, some became fiery red. Gorgeous. And now most of the foliage has fallen, and the trees have bare (yet still beautiful) branches.

Chicago has been having an unusually warm autumn and this bella is not complaining! It just gives me more time to rock my late-summer gear, and get ready for the cold weather that is inevitably a-coming. I’ve been thinking long and hard about the items I need to enhance my wardrobe, and I realize that I need HELP!

True story: I don’t know how to layer. I think I have it down pat, them my husband looks over my outfit and lets me know that ain’t it. (and he’s not exactly Tim Gunn, so I KNOW I’m struggling).

I apparently don’t realize what kinds of garments I need to get through the upcoming wind and cold with style and self-expression. And I don’t quite get how to put it all together to the most fashionable effect.

So I need help from someone who knows how to WORK IT in Chicago’s unfriendliest season. I’m on the look out for Chicago’s most chic, curvy fashionista, to join me on a shopping spree at TJ Maxx!

For this very unique giveaway, TJ Maxx has provided a $250 gift card for one lucky winner’s purchasing pleasure. The winner will use that $250 and join me in shopping for fall fashion essentials. And we’ll film a little video about our coolest finds, to share with Afrobella readers!

Does that not sound FUN?

So Maxxinistas — mount up! Do you have this cold weather fashion thing down? Leave me a comment describing your personal cold weather style. If you’ve got links to photos online, share with me! I’m going to leave these comments open until Wednesday, and choose a winner ASAP so we can go get our shop on! The air’s getting chilly and I’m ready to be in style before Christmas!

*** edited Wednesday at 8:05 CST – Bellas!! You blew me away with your AWESOME suggestions. I’ll choose a winner by the end of today from the 15 comments received so far, so hang in there! And guess what — I have some GREAT giveaways coming up next, so keep reading, keep entering and if it isn’t your turn this time it might be the next time!

Someone asked me the other day, “Bella, what’s up with you and all these giveaways?”

I just LOVE doing them. Part of being an online editor or blogger is learning about, and often getting the opportunity to review all of these amazing products. Offering a giveaway to my readers gives me a chance to spread joy. Please know that I do my best to review the products I personally use and respect the quality of. In turn, it brings me joy to hear back from you when you’ve won something here. Just recently I got awesome e mails from the winners of my Peace Images earring giveaway, and the Sarenzo Beads headband giveaways, complete with photos of them rocking their prizes. I can’t tell you how happy that made me!

I hope you enjoy the giveaways as much as I do, and even if you don’t win this one, keep commenting. Don’t give up – someday it’ll be your turn!

The winner of the Q-Tips giveaway is #50 – Kami. Congrats!!

And like I said, if you didn’t win – best of luck with the next one. I’ve got an AMAZING holiday season jam packed with giveaways, including my biggest giveaway EVER, so keep entering!

Sometimes I use them dry. Sometimes I use them wet. Depends on what look I’m going for. Doesn’t matter the method — either way Q-Tips are must-have beauty essentials.

I do have a battalion of makeup brushes, but still I reach for the familiar brand name cotton swab, when it’s time for a quick eye-makeup application (or clean-up, if I’ve managed to make a mess… which happens often).

And I’m not alone! The amazing Mally Roncal recommends using Q-tips to vamp up your office-appropriate look for an after-work cocktail party (she advises dipping a Q-tip into smimmer powder, then highlight cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the center of your eyelids, and your brow bones. Blend, blow a kiss at your reflection and you’re out the door!) Makeup artist to the stars Troy Jensen (yeppers, Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist!) offers a helpful tip — roll with Q-Tips for those long days out when you’re just bound to wind up with raccoon eyes. Smart!

How does a brand as ubiquitous as Q-Tips update their image? By releasing the adorable and tres-chic Vanity Packs. Initially available in four trendy designs, the Vanity Packs are about to make a holidazzle debut with chic boxes to go with your Yuletide decor. AND to up the ante, the good peeps at Q-Tips are offering Afrobella readers a special giveaway!

One lucky Afrobella reader will win all four Q-tips® Vanity Packs and a chic jewelry box from West Elm (retailed at $100).

SO pretty, right??

All you have to do is tell me: how do you use Q-Tips in your beauty regimen?

I’m gonna close these comments by Thursday and choose a random winner on Friday, so let me know ASAP!

Good luck, bellas!!

The e mail in my inbox was short and to the point. “Bella, have you chosen the Carol’s Daughter winners yet?” It was the kind of thought that’d normally run through my head, shortly after the giveaway. Except this time it hadn’t. I let THREE giveaways come and go, and STILL hadn’t chosen a winner for any of them. Why?

Because I’m spreading myself too thin, juggling too many jobs, spinning too many plates. And forgetting things-to-do that are actually important. So please accept my abject apologies, and let’s get down to business! All of the following winners were chosen randomly, by number.

The winners of the Carol’s Daughter Princess and the Frog collections are:

– #11 – Angie O
– #24 – Dayeshell Muhammad
– #40 – Marilise

The winners of the Cover Girl giveaway are:

– #7 – soukho
– #20 – Danielle

And the winner of the Sherri single survival kit giveaway is:
#32 — Michelle

WHEW! Congratulations to all of you beautiful bellas! I’m going to pace myself better and let one giveaway run its course before I begin the next one. So if you didn’t win this time — hang in there. I’ve got some INSANE giveaways coming up for the rest of the year. The holiday season will feature the biggest giveaway yet!

I love hosting giveaways, but it’s so rare that I actually get to see the winners enjoying what they won!

Just this last week, two Afrobella readers — Brightstarr82 and Nina — won tickets to the Lexus Listening Lounge. At the time I couldn’t reveal details of the performers. But now I can — Ryan Leslie!

From what I hear, the winners had a blast. Here’s Brightstarr82 and Celena of Strictly Fab looking tres chic at the event!

Celena got an up close and personal pic with Ryan Leslie, and Nina — where you at?? E mail me and I’ll add your undoubtedly gorgeous photo as well.

More on Ryan Leslie and Hal Linton’s style, courtesy of Strictly Fab, under the jump!
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