My obsession with Les Miserables (is your reward!) — a giveaway!
As I’ve mentioned (a few dozen?) times, I’m immoderately obsessed with all things Les Miserables. I’ve read the book countless times — and it’s a long one! — and saw the play at least six times in high school. And when the movie came out Christmas? I was there opening day. And the next day. And, well, I admit – the day after that. So, obviously I already own the Les Miserables Blu-Ray combo pack – and it’s amazing. And I hope some of you own it soon as well, because I’m giving it away to 5 winners! More info here. Enter...
Read MoreIn honor of (almost) Valentine’s Day: A Love Story + Giveaway (Sony Xperia TL!)
Oh, love. Sometimes I love the idea of love, sometime I hate it — but it usually is dominating everything I do. The last decade has brought about many new technologies that have changed the way we listen to music, read a book and even how we meet new people. Back in the day, people would strike up a conversation by commenting on the book you were reading or discuss an interesting article in the newspaper, nowadays people are intrigued by your new smartphone or tablet. Case in point, Duane and Hope had worked in the same building for two years, but finally broke the ice when she asked him about his Sony cell phone. They started dating and are now happily engaged, thanks to that phone! In honor of Valentine’s Day and the nearly 100 million people that...
Read MoreCheck out the Alberto Fermani Post Thanksgiving Sale (AND enter my giveaway for a fab pair of their boots!)
I secretly love when it gets colder out — it’s an excuse to wear incredible boots (and get incredible stares from boys as I’m at it.) Also, discovery: super-high boots lengthen your leg, and make you look taller and sexier! This week, I’m all about my new luxurious boots from Alberto Fermani — they have been creating handmade Italian boots since 1960! — and they have agreed to partner with me for the holiday by awarding one of you a pair of their boots! To enter to win, visit the Alberto Fermani site and then comment below sharing your favorite boot style (you can see at left the one I chose!). I’ll announce the winner Friday, and remind you then about the great Cyber Monday sale they have going on — so even if...
Read MoreMy Halloween Score (and a $100 T.J. Maxx Gift Card Giveaway!)
A few weeks ago, T.J.Maxx contacted me with a really fun challenge — they’d send me a gift card and I’d make the biggest “score” I could at a location — and then give two of you the opportunity to do the same! Obviously, the intention was to give me the opportunity to discover the new fall fashions at T.J.Maxx at a time we were transitioning from summer to fall — but I felt conflicted…how does one rationalize buying bunches of new clothes when they are in the middle of a body transformation? (Or at least attempting one!) Well, they shop for an OCCASION. So, I took my $250 T.J.Maxx gift card and went shopping yesterday for the ingredients for my Halloween concept. (And got a few other things while I was there,...
Read MoreGiveaway: Penny for your thoughts (or, like a whole bunch of them)
I began penning this post yesterday, as I was sitting in an airport terminal, waiting for my flight home (you know it’s a quick turnaround when you can check in for your arriving and departing flights at the same time), and I can’t help myself from people watching. I’ve always been something of a “yenta”( as my grandma would have put it )– I love observing from a far and trying to figure out the story going on behind a person’s often paper-thin facade. And the best place to people watch? The airport, obviously. Don’t you wonder what people are thinking? What their fun secret indulgences are? How ironic is it now I’m working on this post, about pennies for our thoughts (and a whole lot of them) — we have...
Read MoreGiveaway: $50 Kohl’s Gift Card!
I’m one of those girls that get very set in my ways — I find something I like that’s convenient, and I’ll do it all the time, and not be open to any substitutions. (Actually, the same could be said for my choice in cocktails. And coffee blends. And men.) And, I feel that way, quite often, about the variety Kohl’s affords me – there’s very few places I can drop by and get lingerie, k-cups, and new sheets all in the same spot — and all at a pretty bargain price. The store is celebrating their 50 years anniversary and is opening 12 new stores this fall. To celebrate, they asked me to share one of my savings stories – and then award one of you a $50 gift card to do the same! The grand opening sale is winding down...
Read MoreGiveaway: $50 American Express Gift Card!
Last week, I did a giveaway of a $250 American Express gift card to get you all ready for back to school. I promised I’d be following up this week with more fun for those of you who missed out, and here we are! The winner is being notified today, and will have lots of options to choose from in their prize: You can redeem MR points for increments as low as 2,500 to get gift cards in $25 increments, and this week, if you are not that lucky winner, you still have a chance to win and earn more points. (Check out how I used my points last week!) Today’s giveaway is easy: The most important thing to me in the world is loving and supporting your friends, and today’s giveaway — it’s all about sharing and friendship! I recently...
Read MoreGiveaway: Go back to school with a $250 American Express gift card!
For a lot of you guys out there, this week and next mark back-to-school time! For me, this time of year was all about the “newness” — fun new school supplies, great new clothes, fighting with my mom about MY idea of what to wear the first day of school (vs: what she believed I should wear)! And, let me tell you, I’m upwards of 30 now, and life hasn’t changed all that much! Interestingly, American Express is launching a week-long daily Twitter Sweeps to kick off “Back to School on Points.” In celebration of this super cool idea, I’ve created a “back-to-school look” using American Express Membership Rewards Points and paired it up with an opportunity for one of you to win a $250 American Express Gift Card! You can redeem...
Read MoreThis month’s Eucerin healthy skin giveaway!
Take it from me, there’s nothing to make you EXTRA mindful of your #skinfirst healthy skin pledge like spending two weeks straight on the beach! I’ve been SPFing my heart out, and remained vigilant to my Eucerin regime at all times. Which brings me to some fun: I’m doing a giveaway of two great Eucerin SPF products! Five of my readers will be able to win two lotions – Eucerin Daily Protection Face Lotion with SPF 30 and Eucerin Daily Protection Body Lotion with SPF 15. To enter, make sure you are following @AlyWalansky and @EucerinUS on Twitter – then, make sure to use the#skinfirst tag, and tweet me with why you need this product to survive the rest of the summer. Winners will be notified August...
Read MoreGiveaway: The Ins and Outs (Teehee!) of Vibes Going Mainstream (It’s true!)
Let it be noted, my mom subscribes to my blog. That said, a teeny part of me is squeamish about this post — but the rest of me is very aware that if I were to buy her 50 Shades of Gray, she’d totally put it in her travel bag. Anyway, Trojan just sent me their “wine and vibes” package so I could review their latest vibes on the market (and yes, Trojan VibrationsPleasure Package and reflect on the growing mainstreaming of vibes and sex in pop culture. They are everywhere — 50 Shades of Grey, Hysteria the movie, Trojan Vibrators in drugstores, etc – and I think it’s genius. After all, can you think of anything we all have in common more so than sex? (Not with each other, obviously.) You guys, let me share something with...
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