Everyone I know who has been, has fallen in love with the culture, the ambiance, the food, the romance of Paris. Someday, I dream of visiting and strolling hand in hand along Parisian streets with my husband. It isn’t my time – not just yet.

BUT – thanks to my friends at Black Atlas – it could be YOUR time!

This won’t be just any trip. It involves:

* Five nights’ accommodations at an historic hotel
* A private city tour
* A private walking tour of Paris including the literary Latin Quarter, artistic St.Germain-des-Pres, Champs-Elysees and vibrant Montmartre
* Dinner for two and a jazz concert

And this tour will be organized by Walking the Spirit Tours.

So how do you enter?? How do you win??

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Yesterday I lived life as offline as possible and spent the day doing me for a change! Why? Because it was my birthday!!

Every year I like to celebrate by hosting a giveaway. This year I’m a day late, but I’m truly psyched about this one. Bellas – allow me to introduce you to Fairwinds, a unique jewelry collection by Rachel Roy. The collection is a collaboration between Rachel and Fairwinds Trading. Every item has been hand-crafted in Africa by a female-owned business.

This clutch was made in Tanzania, using local fabrics.

These gorgeous earrings were made in Rwanda, featuring beads made in a paper layering process.

This bracelet is made from shredded woven paper, using traditional Rwandan techniques.

Right now, Rachel Roy’s Fairwinds collaboration is available at rachelroy.com and select Macy’s stores and macys.com, and the collection compliments Macy’s Rwanda Path to Peace collection of amazing baskets — which is also made by Fairwinds Trading!

I reached out to Rachel to learn more about the collaboration.
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Yikes!

With all the craziness of the past week or so, I forgot to close this giveaway. Thanks to the few of you who entered, your responses were all so heartwarming!

Without further ado, the winners are:

liberationtheory

Henr aO.

circa1978

Congrats!! I’ll be in touch with you to get your $25 Eden Fantasy’s gift certificate on its way. Hope you get yourselves something fun!!

And if you didn’t win this one, keep reading — I’ve always got another giveaway up my sleeve!

I hope you enjoyed Valentine’s Day!

We enjoyed a beautiful and romantic day here in Chicago. We spent the morning in Chinatown, attending the Chinese New Year parade. Yesterday was the first day of the Year of the Tiger, and Chinatown was densely packed with onlookers. You can see some photos from the day here on my Twitpic page.

After lunch in Chinatown and a relaxed and romantic afternoon, my husband and I had an absolutely amazing prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. Over ahi tuna and guava martinis, we reminisced about Valentine’s Days past. We mused about how much our lives have changed, and what has remained constant for us.

Valentine’s Day is about love, and it’s also about celebrating the things that keep love alive. It’s about those tingly feelings in your stomach, the person who makes you feel them, and keeping that tingle going strong, year in and year out.

I promised back in December that I’d do a blog post about some those things for Valentine’s Day. So here I am, making good on that.

If you prefer your blog reading to be strictly rated G and preferably about hair, click here to read my latest post on BVHairTalk.com.

But if you’re looking to spice up your life with an Eden’s Fantasy gift card and you’re an adult, feel free to click the more tag to wander with me into PG-13 territory.
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Loved your responses on the Whitney Houston giveaway post!

I had to chime in with my own choice for favorite Whitney Houston song — although it isn’t one that appears on her debut album, Whitney Houston.

I gotta say, my favorite Whitney song is It’s Not Right, But It’s OK.

Why? Because I love the sass and strength she exudes in this song. She is letting fools know that she isn’t here to play! Love that song. A close runner up is My Love Is Your Love, just because of the reggae-influence that creeps in there. One of my faves.

Without further ado, the winners!

#4 – David Cillo
# 23 – Nia
#28 – Rory

Congratulations to you. I’ll be in touch with everyone over the weekend to get your address details.

You know me, I’m always planning a fresh giveaway! Keep your eyes open — another one’s coming up soon!

45 of you are vying for No Panty Lines, Purple Lab’s lip plumping, Hoodia enhanced, crystal clear uber fabulous lip gloss!

But alas, there are but three to give away. Here are the randomly chosen winners!

9 — Lexi who says she’ll “wear “No Panty Lines” over a nude lip pencil with a soft, smokey eye.” Sophisticated!

28 — Takea Janelle says – “I plan to wear my “No Panty Lines” lipgloss with very little else. I LOVE the sexy, kissable look and feel of a neutral gloss. My lips have a natural pinkish hue, so I don’t need an in-your-face color for everyday wear. On Valentine’s Day, I want my boyfriend to be transfixed on my Huge Lips & Skinny Hips ;~).” — well go ‘head Takea!! Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

43 — Crystal G who offered two looks — “in the day- by itself or over a lip covered in liquid foundation for a clean nude look. At night-over bright red lipstick or dark brown lip liner!”

Congratulations, ladies. Hope you love the gloss! If you didn’t win this time around, click here to check out the rest of the Huge Lips, Skinny Hips collection.

Here I am wearing Worship Kate. Love it!!

Thanks for everything, Purple Lab!