{CLOSED} What I Wore & a Giveaway: Red, White & Blue

With the 4th of July just three days away, I wanted to go patriotic with a red, white and blue ensemble! I got this white jumpsuit to wear to an all white party, and it's so comfy that I could pretty  much wear it to bed...haha! I paired it with a small red bag from Forever 21, my cobalt blue pumps and my brand new blue tassel necklace from Amrita Singh! It's unlike any other piece of jewelry I own at the moment which is why I am so excited to be wearing it with my Independence Day outfit. You'll have the chance to win the exact tassel necklace I have on by entering the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of my post - don't miss out! :)

I also want to give a shout out to Ashley at Salon Capri for my brand new cut and balayage highlights, and to Living Proof for sending me some amazing anti-frizz hair products so I can keep my hair sleek and straight on these humid summer days!

*Congratulations to Rita Alarcon who is the winner of the Amrita Singh tassel necklace giveaway! Thanks to all who entered, and don't forget to follow Amrita Singh on Instagram for exclusive sales and deals!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: GLOW for a cause

Happy Wednesday! I'm excited to be teaming up with GLOW for a cause today to offer you a giveaway for one of my favorite things in the world: perfume! :) GLOW founder Johanna is a Bostonian who lives in Denver now and started her company because she's just as passionate about beautiful scents as I am and wants to give back to charities that are meaningful to her, including the Red Sox Foundation and a no-kill animal shelter in Denver called MaxFund. {Did I mention she has 4 adorable pugs?! They are too cute!}

GLOW offers a variety of high quality, natural bath & body products including perfume oils & solids, body butters, soaking salts, facial treatments, lip balm, and baby products. Johanna donates 5% of each sale's profits to her five favorite charities, so not only do the products make you feel good when you wear them, you can feel good about buying them knowing that you're supporting a good cause. She was kind enough to send me a full size perfume oil, solid perfume and body butter in the Inspire scent, which is a light & refreshing floral that I've fallen in love with. The winner of this giveaway will receive the same set! :)

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Canon Rebel Kit & Kate Spade Bag!

Happy Tuesday! I've teamed up with some great bloggers to bring you an amazing giveaway - it's one I wish I could win myself! :) We've giving away a Canon Rebel camera kit with two lenses plus accessories, a Kate Spade bag, and a Kate Spade necklace. All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter widget after the jump. The giveaway is open through May 27th. Good luck!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Jackpot Candles

Happy Thursday! I'm excited to be sharing a review/giveaway post with you all today. Jackpot Candles sent me the most fun candle last month - not only does it smell like the lilac bushes that grew behind my childhood home, but after it burns down to a certain point, it reveals a surprise piece of jewelry inside!

Unlike other jewelry filled candles, Jackpot Candles lets you choose the type of jewelry you want to find inside: earrings, necklaces or rings! I chose an earring candle because I have so many necklaces and I wear such a small ring size that I was worried about the ring fitting. 

Click through to see the earrings I received and enter the Jackpot Candle giveaway!

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Happy Friday! Unfortunately due to circumstances outside of my control, the Nordstrom giveaway I joined has been cancelled. I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience and for any disappointment this causes. I hope you will continue to follow along with me and my blog and I promise there will be other great giveaway opportunities to come in the future!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: $225 Nordstrom Gift Card!

I hope you all had a great weekend and a fun New Years celebration! I took a few days off from Cupcakes & Couture around the holidays to relax and recharge, but I'm excited for the year ahead and will be back to blogging 5 days a week again. :)

To kick off 2015, I've teamed up with some fantastic bloggers to bring you a giveaway for a $225 gift card to my absolute favorite store in the world: Nordstrom! This would be the perfect way to treat yourself post-holidays and update your wardrobe for the new year. Just click through to fill out the easy Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win. Good luck and thanks for following along!

     

| A Memory of Us | Cupcakes & Couture | Dress in Sparkles | Elle Sees |

| Fashion, Bling, and other Girly Things | For the Love of Leopard
Head to Toe Chic | Le Stylo Rouge | 

| Meet at the Barre | More Pieces of Me | Peaches in a Pod | Pink Sole | 

| Stylin' in St. Louis | The Daily Lace | The Real Arnolds |

What I Wore: New Year's Eve

With New Year's Eve just around the corner, I wanted to do a shoot featuring the outfit I'll be wearing out on Wednesday night to ring in 2015! I've had my eye on this animal print sequin J.O.A. dress from Shopbop for a while - it's super affordable and a unique twist on the sequin trend. NYE is also the perfect time to break out my faux fur coat which keeps me warm enough to bare my legs in this cold weather.

Also, how fun are my statement earrings from My Social Shop? They add the perfect pop of sparkle and color to my otherwise neutral outfit. My Social Shop is a humanitarian initiative created to fund development projects in Honduras by selling emerging designer fashion brands. Their aim is to promote and execute social responsibility through fashion and shopping. The entire profit of their sales go to charitable causes through a series of projects called "Proyectos Humanitarios Mami Lilian" in honor of founder Maria-Jose's beloved grandmother. My Social Shop is giving away a $100 store credit to Cupcakes & Couture readers - just fill out the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post to enter! Good luck!

What I Wore: Initial Necklace

I hope you all had a great weekend! Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who entered my Kissing Frogs book & tote giveaway and announce the winner: Christine Renee! Congratulations! I'll be in touch today to get your prize out to you. :)

I have another great giveaway for you all today combined with an outfit post. 9th & Elm, an online shop featuring handmade & independent designers, sent me this gold plated double initial necklace and they want to give one away to a lucky Cupcakes & Couture reader as well! I styled mine with a simple and classic go-to outfit for me: a blazer, v neck blouse, skinny jeans, my favorite kitty flats and blush quilted bag. How would you style your initial necklace if you won? Let me know in the comments below, and make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Kissing Frogs

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! A big thanks to everyone who entered the holiday Scentsy giveaway that my mum hosted last week. I'm excited to announce the winner: congratulations to Tara D.! I'll be in touch via email today so I can send you the gift set. :)

I'm also excited that I have another great giveaway today featuring a brand new novel by young Boston author Stephanie Blackburn: Kissing Frogs! This page-turner follows 24 year old Elliott Roux as she navigates life in Boston post-college and all the curveballs it throws her way. From dating disasters to drama with friends; major changes within her family to questioning her career path, Elliott's story is an easy one for any twenty-something female to relate to. Elliott and I had so much in common that I actually felt like I was reading about my own life during certain parts of the book! I don't want to spoil the story for you guys by giving too much away, but I couldn't put the book down and finished it in two days. And since there's a special kitty character in the story, Phoebe and Oliver totally approved. :)

One lucky winner will win a signed paperback copy of Kissing Frogs as well as a canvas tote bag and pen. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, and make sure to use the hashtag #kissingfrogs when talking about the book on Twitter and Instagram! Good luck!!

{CLOSED} Cyber Monday Sales & a Giveaway!

Happy Cyber Monday! Aside from Black Friday, today is the biggest shopping day of the year, so I'm excited to be rounding up the best online sales as well as hosting a great holiday themed giveaway courtesy of my lovely mother!

I've always been a candle user/hoarder, but when my mum became a Scentsy consultant, she got me hooked on their products! Scentsy warmers plug in and use a small lamp and scented wax bars to spread fragrance around your house, making them safe for people with kids and pets {like my kitten Oliver who cannot be trusted around a lit candle.} Because they're flameless, you can leave them on all day long which I love because I always come home to a nicely scented apartment! :)

My mum is graciously giving away a fabulous holiday Scentsy set featuring the silver snowflake warmer you see below. When the lamp is on, the light glows through the snowflake cutouts and looks so pretty and festive! The set includes three holiday scents to use with the warmer: Everything Nice, which smells like pumpkins, caramel, butter, and glazed pecans; Christmas Cottage, a blend of Valencia oranges, raspberries, cloves, and spices; and Very Snowy Spruce, a mix of balsam, spruce, cedar branches, amber, and woody pinecones. She's also giving away a Very Snowy Spruce room spray which is perfect for the bathroom! The entire set is valued at $62, and would make a great holiday gift or a nice treat for yourself. All you need to do to enter is fill out the simple Rafflecopter widget after the jump!

PS: My mum finished her first marathon last month - the Marine Corps marathon in DC - at age 52! Isn't she impressive?!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Jouer Cosmetics

Last but certainly not least this week, we have an AMAZING giveaway from Jouer Cosmetics featuring all of my favorite products! Jouer was one of Cupcakes & Couture's first sponsors, sending me a huge package filled with makeup to review back in early 2013, and I've been a loyal #JouerGirl ever since! Not only do I love their makeup, especially their lip glosses, I'm obsessed with their signature scent, which is a delightful feminine blend of jasmine, gardenia and honeysuckle.

The winner of this giveaway will receive almost $180 worth of my favorite everyday Jouer products - not too shabby, right? Here's what's up for grabs:

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Crush Boutique & Gold West Vintage

Today's giveaway features two Boston businesses that I love: Crush Boutique and Gold West Vintage!

Crush Boutique is giving away a $50 gift card to use in store or online, so you don't need to be a Bostonian to enter this giveaway! Crush has two locations, one of which is just 3 blocks from my apartment, and is easily my favorite boutique in Boston. Crush carries all of my favorite brands, including 7FAM jeans, Parker, House of Harlow and Alice + Olivia. They're always ahead of the trends and have an amazing selection in store and online for this fall! If I won, I'd definitely use my gift card towards this amazing Skull Cashmere scarf:

It looks just as cute over a simple black blouse as it did with my studded tank! And how fun is this plaid Amanda Uprichard top?

What I Wore: Ariat Boots

Now that it's officially fall, it means I can finally pull my boots out of the back of my closet and pile on the cozy layers! :) Wearing boots is probably my favorite part of fall dressing, so when Ariat reached out to me and offered to send me a pair, I jumped at the opportunity!

Ariat has been the leading brand of equestrian boots since 1993 - if you have any friends who ride horses, they'll all have heard about Ariat and have likely owned at least one pair of their riding boots at some point in their career. :) Now Ariat is designing fashion forward footwear inspired by vintage equine culture that can be worn in the city as well as on horseback. Their fall 2014 collection is a contemporary interpretation of equestrian English and Western traditions and blends classic details and hardware with distressed leathers and artisan elements. 

I was sent the Bristol boot which is a flat leather boot that hits about mid-calf and is super comfortable. I love the double buckle detailing and the fact that they're simple without too many bells and whistles - I prefer a clean, classic style boot over one that has a lot of "flair" going on. I only have knee-high and ankle boots in my closet, so I love that these are mid-height because they give me a different style of boot to wear. I went cozy casual for this outfit, wearing my new Ariat boots with skinny jeans, a striped button down and an oversized open-front sweater. This is a perfect weekend outfit for fall and I can definitely see myself wearing these boots with jeans and sweaters as well as sweater dresses all the time over the next few months!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: Treesje Clutch

I'm super excited about today's giveaway and I think you will be too! Sister brands Treesje & Joelle Hawkens were kind enough to send me two of their handbags: one to keep and one to give away. The bag I kept is a studded black leather bag that I'll be featuring in a few upcoming outfit photos, but the bag I'm giving away might be more fun!

It's a foldover leather clutch featuring a super shiny gunmetal silver snakeskin print that's sure to catch everyone's eye! Valued at just under $200, it's perfect for a night out on the town or with jeans and a white T and will definitely become a staple in your wardrobe. It's roomy enough to fit your wallet, phone, keys, and lots of makeup - it's the perfect sized clutch!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: eShakti & MIYU Beauty

Happy Monday everyone! In celebration of Cupcakes & Couture surpassing half a million page views last month, I have a week filled with amazing giveaways for you! I'm super excited about each and every one of them and hope you'll enter them all :)

First up in today's giveaway: a $50 gift card from eShakti to shop online! If you're not familiar with eShakti, they made custom but affordable clothing for women size 0 through 36 - you customize the design and size! You may remember the adorable pink skirt I wore over the summer with the bow at the waist - that was from eShakti and was one of my favorite outfits to shoot to date. You'll get to use your $50 credit to pick out anything you want from their extensive collection.

Lately on Instagram & a Giveaway! {CLOSED}

Today is my first day back to reality after my little beach getaway to Plum Island, and I have to say it's tough being back to work and admitting that summer is basically over! I'm really missing the beach and the cozy little cottage I rented with Phoebe & Oliver. {Yes, I vacation with my cats...}

our little cottage

beautiful Plum Island beach

they still sleep on my head no matter where we stay!

Helzberg Diamonds Aisle Style Sweepstakes

Happy Monday! I'm excited to be partnering with Helzberg Diamonds today to share all the details on their Aisle Style Pinterest sweepstakes!

This month, Helzberg is helping brides-to-be say "I do" in style by offering them the chance to win some amazing prizes to use towards their wedding! One lucky bride-to-be (hopefully one of my Cupcakes & Couture readers!) will win a $1,000 Helzberg Diamonds gift card and a $1,000 David’s Bridal gift certificate. And, one runner-up will win a $100 Helzberg Diamonds gift card and a $100 David’s Bridal gift certificate. If you're like me and not engaged quite yet, that's okay! Aspirational brides-to-be are welcome to enter too. :)

Click through for the details on how to enter!

[CLOSED} Review & Giveaway: VersaSpa Spray Tan

Guys, I have a confession to make: I used to have a tanning problem. Those of you who know me now may think of me as your pale, blonde friend who wears SPF 30 every day, but I haven't always been this way. All throughout high school and up until my sophomore year of college, I used to go tanning once a week in a tanning bed, and I colored my hair way darker than my natural shade because I thought it looked better with tanned skin. I knew it was bad for my skin, but I did it anyway - maybe because it was the "cool" thing to do {hello Paris & Nicole}, maybe it was because I felt better being on stage in my skimpy costumes at dance competitions when I was tan...I'm not sure. But I only felt pretty when I had a tan. When I had a minor skin scare at age 19 that required plastic surgery on my face, I smartened up. I never went back into a tanning bed again and I started wearing high level SPF every time I was outside in the sun. I haven't seen myself with a real tan in almost 10 years.

the tan brunette formerly known as Amy

So, when VersaSpa reached out to me offering to give me and one of my readers a free spray tan, I was skeptical. I've gotten used to the pale Amy and I'm pretty happy with her, so I was hesitant to try out a spray tan for fear I would go back to liking tan Amy better. I was also terrified that I would turn orange or look streaky which I've definitely seen happen to other girls who have done spray tans. And if I didn't like my spray tan, how could I offer one up to one of you guys? I don't like to endorse anything I don't love or believe in. Lucky for me, I had a great experience with my VersaSpa spray tan! Click through to read all about it and enter to win your own!

{CLOSED} Giveaway: One Direction Concert Tickets & Makeup

I don't usually post twice in one day, but I have a REALLY exciting giveaway opportunity to share with you that just couldn't wait! I'm thrilled to be taking part in a local campaign to give away two sets of tickets to the One Direction "Where We Are" Tour Concert at Gilette Stadium in Foxborough, MA for Friday, August 8th, 2014 at 7pm. {Transportation to/from the concert and lodging are not included.}

Winners will also receive two limited-edition makeup collections by One Direction filled with beauty essentials and housed in a collectible keepsake tin. This new line features a range of makeup and cosmetic products celebrating youth, style, and the uninhibited lifestyle of a new generation. Celebrating life with bold shades, unique formulae and infused with limited edition collectable packaging, Makeup from One Direction is fun, bold, often irreverent, with a touch of cheeky mischievousness. Offered at prices that every girl and woman can afford, the collection will be on sale in Macys stores starting August 11th!

Click through to learn more about the makeup collections and to enter the giveaway!

{CLOSED} Alexis Kletjian Fine Jewelry Party {and an Exclusive Giveaway!}

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of co-hosting a sneak peek jewelry party for Alexis Kletjian Fine Jewelry with one of my favorite blogger friends, Georgina. We invited a group of Boston bloggers to join us at Tryst Studio in Hingham to view some of Alexis' beautiful jewelry for the first time. Susan Norton PR coordinated the entire event, and she didn't miss a single detail! You may notice that the photos in this post are much nicer than my regular photos...that's because the majority of them were snapped by the very talented Stephanie Olsen.

You have likely noticed my rose gold bangle made by Alexis in a bunch of my outfit posts and Instagram photos - I bought it a few months ago right after meeting Alexis at a blogger dinner and wear it almost every single day! She's also going to help me create a custom vintage-inspired ring using the center diamond from my late Grammy's engagement ring, which should be a fun and really meaningful process for me. 

Georgina and I got to Tryst {who has been awarded Best of Weddings for makeup every year by The Knot since 2011} early so the lovely staff could do our makeup for the party. Aren't they an absolutely gorgeous bunch of girls?