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!

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1. The Winner of the Home Depot Giveaway!
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3. Wanted: Chicago’s Most Chic and Curvy Maxxinista!

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!

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1. Curvy, Chic, and Crafty
2. Who Won the TJ Maxx Giveaway?
3. Earth Day Eco-Chic – Reuseable Shopping Bags

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!

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1. The Winner of the Home Depot Giveaway!
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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!!

Related posts:

1. And the Q-Tips Giveaway Winner Is…
2. Makeup Tips from Damone Roberts!
3. Brilliant Bargain Beauty Buys – Hair Edition

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!

Related posts:

1. The Winner of the Home Depot Giveaway!
2. And the Q-Tips Giveaway Winner Is…
3. Goddess Zuri giveaway winner!

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!

What are your style influences?

Ryan Leslie: I’ve always liked Tom Ford. And really for style…there’s really no influence in my style. People in general…different cultures that I’ve visited around the world..that’s what’s influenced my style. There are a lotta of designers that I like who are my personal friends, like Dsquared, but really at the the end of the day, every time that I talk to them about style, they’ve always told me to be myself and express myself through what I wear.

Hal Linton: My influences are, I mean, I’m really big on graphics stuff, I love the whole idea of big graphic things, and colors, and shapes, and architecture. I like to keep it funky and comfortable.

How does Lexus Luxury Awaits campaign relate to what and how you do it?

Ryan Leslie: Luxury is something that, really, many times is the product of hard work. It’s something that we afford to ourselves, a level of comfort, a level of excess, so to speak, that we work hard to attain, or that maybe someone in our family works hard to attain and lessons down onto us. So that’s why I think that when Lexus says Luxury Awaits, it means that if you work hard, you are able to reap the benefits of your hard work and then you can treat yourself to luxury, you know?

Hal Linton: I mean, Lexus is a sexy brand and I love what they are doing. I love what they were doing before with their sound. The sound in the cars is like amazing. I think when people define Lexus, Lexus is like this cool sexy thing. I want to be part of it.

I LOVE hosting giveaways, and I LOVE knowing you enjoy winning them. So I’m gonna keep this goodness going! Glad y’all had fun!

Related posts:

1. A Special Giveaway From Lexus To You
2. The Winners of the Lexus Giveaway Are…
3. Words To Live By

Sherri Shepherd — Chicago gal, comedic actress turned serious actress, she of is-the-world-flat?-I-don’t-know opinions on The View.

There’s something about her that I find extremely likable.

Even when Sherri’s putting her foot in it alongside Whoopi and Babs and making me yell at my TV, I still like her. When she’s playing Tracy Jordan’s take-no-BS wife on 30 Rock, I LOVE her. And I’m interested to see how she’ll fare on Lifetime, as the star of her own self-titled sitcom.

Sherri can be described as semi-autobiographical. It “centers around a newly single mom, paralegal and part-time comedienne/actress who tries to get back into the dating scene and move on with her life after divorcing her cheating husband.” I’ll let the New York Times say it, not me — “Any resemblance to her own very public break-up with the comedian Jeff Tarpley will be purely coincidental.”

During Lifetime’s Sneak Peek Week, all new episodes will air nightly at 7 pm EST. And during this special Afrobella/Lifetime giveaway, one lucky reader (who lives in the USA) will get a sweet Sherri “Single Survival Kit,” which includes the following:

*a PurseN
*Pamper U Pouch (printed zipper pouch includes 10 oz lavender fragrance body lotion, 8 oz lavender fragrance bath crystals, unscented tea light candle, and cool eye gel mask)
*a chrome purse holder
*a pair of velour slippers
*an umbrella
*a rabbit style wine opener
ALL inside a branded Sherri tote bag!

Pretty sweet gift for a single lady! I NEED to get myself a PurseN – how have I never heard of this miracle product before??

All you have to do is leave a comment below and tell me — which of those survival kit items would help you the most as a single woman?

I’ll close comments on Friday and choose a winner over the weekend. Good luck to all my single ladies!

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3. Cover Girl NYFW Makeover Giveaway!

#9 – Nina

and #23 – Brightstarr82

Congratulations!! I’ll be in touch to get your names and contact info so you can be added to the list for this exclusive event tomorrow night.

And for the rest of you who didn’t win, fret not thyself! I’ve got more special ticket giveaways coming up, AND the Cover Girl Giveaway will be open until this afternoon. So you can still win a little something with ya girl Afrobella!

Happy Monday, bellas!

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1. Miss Jessie’s Giveaway Winners
2. African Pride Giveaway Winners
3. The Dushi Giveaway Winners Are…

Bellas, if you live in Washington DC or nearby, I’ve got a special giveaway for you! But it’s only a one-day thing!

And it’s not a car. Lord knows, I wish it could be.

Lexux has been hosting some truly fabulous events around the country — check out the details at Strictly Fab and Gyant Unplugged for details on the last one, a special screening of Good Hair.

This is something different, and a bit more exclusive.

The Lexus Listening Lounge will take place the evening of October 6, in a beautiful venue, starring one of R&B’s hottest, flyest new artists. I can’t reveal who, I can’t reveal where. But I’ve got TWO TICKETS and special swag bags to give away. If you’re looking to add a little well-deserved luxury to your Tuesday night, leave me a comment below!

All you need to say is: I’m in DC! Pick ME!

This giveaway will officially be closed by 10 p.m. CST today, Friday October 2. So comment ASAP so I can make next week a little more fun for ya!!

Happy Friday, bellas!

**comments are officially closed on this giveaway and I’ll choose 2 winners ASAP!

Related posts:

1. Live From The Lexus Listening Lounge
2. The Winners of the Lexus Giveaway Are…
3. Giveaway Glitch

Me and Julia of All About The Pretty

BAM!

Keep in mind, I’d already done my own face. But by the time Jake was done with me, I felt like a brand new woman.

Do you like? Here’s what he used:

Jake highlighted the apples of my cheeks with Cover Girl Simply Ageless blush #230 (or Lush Berry) – I was a bit apprehensive when he was putting it on. It seemed like A LOT of blush, but it photographed beautifully.

Then he went over my existing liner with Cover Girl’s Outlast Eyeliner in Indigo.

After that he used Cover Girl eyeshadow in Purple Pop, and WOW. Purple shadow with brown eyes FTW. Now there’s even more reason for it to be my favorite color.

On my lips, Jake used delicious Amazemints gloss in shade # 605, AKA Everything’s Rosy.

I was absolutely thrilled with my makeover, and Jake was so sweet and friendly and warm. He made me feel beautiful, and now it’s my turn to pay it forward!

TWO lucky Afrobella readers can win the four items Jake used in my Cover Girl makeover. All you have to do is tell me — do you have a favorite Cover Girl makeup item? If yes, what is it and why?

I’ll close these comments on Monday afternoon. And I’m about to make it rain with giveaways, so get ready! This will be an epic month!

Edited Monday 8:45 pm — Comments are CLOSED! I’ll choose winners at the end of this week!

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