“Fashion Against AIDS” Returns to H&M

The second coming of the “Fashion Against AIDS” collection will hit H&M stores on May 28th! The tees feature designs from artists including Katy Perry, Dita Von Teese, Cyndi Lauper (left), Pharrell Williams/N.E.R.D., Estelle, Yoko Ono, and more!

25% of percent of the sales will be donated to HIV/AIDS prevention projects of Designers against AIDS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation and YouthAIDS.

In a tip to the growing eco-concious movement, the collection will consist of 100% organic cotton! BTW, I really love, Cyndi’s shirt!

If (for some odd reason) you don’t know where your nearest H&M store is located, then get the info at hm.com!

-kb

Y.E.S! Chicago Happy Hour

The ladies of Y.E.S! (Young Executives for Success), a great group who supports Dress for Success, will be hosting a Happy Hour this Wednesday at Bull and Bear (431 N. Wells) from 6-8p. It’s supposed to be 80 degrees in Chicago on Wednesday, so if you’re looking for something to do after work, definitely come by and join the fun! Attendees are asked to bring a pair of Queen-sized flesh (neutral) tone pantyhose to the event. They, of course, will be donated to Dress for Success, an organization which supports the professional empowerment of women by donating suits and hosting beneficial workshops.

For more information, you can visit the Y.E.S! website or check out their Facebook page. Hope to see you there!

-kb

To TOMS or Not to TOMS?

I love TOMS’ commitment to donating one pair of shoes to children for every pair sold, BUT I’ve been struggling with some of the style options. For the most part, the ultra-casual slip on has not managed to impress me. And, when I gathered opinions from my Twitter peeps, the majority of the responses centered around “great cause, not-so-great style.” Nooo

What’s a girl to do? Well, enter my friend, DG. I hung out with her yesterday and noticed that she owns the glittery TOMS in silver and gold. So, of course, I had the this same conversation with her, only to find out that she’s low-key obsessed with the shoes! She owns four pairs, bought a pair for her son, AND a pair for her brother. Hmm…so, in honor of DG, I am re-examining the TOMS collection and digging up a couple of pairs that I would be interested in. You know, for the ultra-casual days!

Of course, there are the sparkly options:

Gold Glitter TOMS, $48

Silver Glitter TOMS, $48

And, a couple of ones perfect for the spring/summer time.

Egg Yellow Stripe TOMS, $44

Gabe Lacktman TOMS Neon Aqua Fade Womens, $68 (web exclusive)

DG made me a believer as she talked about how the shoes give her a comfy break from the 4 and 5 inch heels that she loves to wear! I think I’m starting to drink the Koolaid because while writing this post, I’ve wholeheartedly convinced myself that I need the neon aqua fade TOMS in my life immediately! The only problem is that there is a 3-4 week wait period for the Gabe Lacktman exclusives.

And, for those of you all who still don’t believe that the company donates a pair of shoes to children for every one sold, BELIEVE IT! Since 2006, they’ve donated 140,000 shoes to children around the world, and this year, their goal is to distribute 300,000 shoes! It’s hard to argue with numbers like those. You can read all about their commitment here. They also have tons of videos from their “shoe drops” on their YouTube channel.

You can either buy the shoes online at tomsshoes.com or at a boutique/retailer near you. For my Chicago peeps, the AKIRA women’s shoe store (North Avenue) carries them!

So…what do you guys think about TOMS now? I’ve always loved the cause and now that I’ve found some nice styles, I’m sold! All thanks to DG

-kb

Recycle Your (Juicy) Couture

Juicy Couture is giving you all a chance to “recycle” your old Juicy Couture items for a great cause. Until Tues, May 19th, you can “Recycle Your Couture” by bringing in your old Juicy items into any participating store! The items will then be donated to a local women’s shelter and you will receive 20% off of your purchase! 

BTW, check the bottom of the flyer to find the closest participating store near you! Looks like this program is only happening in select cities! Happy shopping, peeps!

-kb

Moms Get Pampered at “The Pretty Party”

Every Mother’s Day, women are always looking to do something fun and fabulous with their mothers (or daughters). The usual options are brunch, high tea, shopping, etc. This past Mother’s Day though, thirty Houston moms gathered to enjoy a special afternoon of pampering and beauty at The Pretty Party: Mother’s Day Edition. The event was the brainchild of Alexia Johnson (Life’s Petals Event Planning) and Summer Galvez (Socially Privileged Entertainment), two ladies who obviously know a thing or two about creating a spectacular experience. 

At the event, the ladies were treated to professional makeup applications, a professional photographer, wine, and appetizers. And, while the day was special for all the mothers involved, it had a special meaning to four VERY deserving mothers in the area. Thanks to two generous NFL players, three foster moms and a mother currently battling Lupus were treated to a full day of pampering and primping. They enjoyed brunch, shopping, manis and pedis, and before concluding the day at the Pretty Party!

Jammal Brown (New Orleans Saints) sponsored two of the moms, and made a special trip to Houston to meet them and take pics with the ladies. The other player chose to remain anonymous but no doubt had just as much impact of his 2 moms.

I’m a complete sucker for feel good stories like this one! When I first found Summer on Twitter discussing her event, I was ALLLLL about it! She’s planning to keep the Pretty Parties going and bring them to Dallas, LA, Oklahoma City, and (wait for it) CHICAGO!!!

You can learn more about the Pretty Parties by visiting their website at www.sociallyprivileged.com/prettyparty! As the dates of the parties are finalized, please believe that I will be posting the information here for you guys!

*singing “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story*

-kb

Happy Birthday, TFG!!!

OMG…I’m such a bad blog mommy! The Fabulous Giver officially was “born” one year ago on May 13th! I’m so happy that I’ve been able to share these events and my journey with you guys! I’m very grateful for each of you who takes the time to read my blog, retweet an entry, or tell your friends to check me out! 

Seriously, you all keep me working and trying to build my vision. I plan on really turning things up a notch in this new year. So, be on the lookout for a site redesign, interviews with some AMAZING individuals, events, vlogs, and MORE! 

Again, THANK YOU for all of your support and please continue to spread the word about The Fabulous Giver!

-kb

KB’s Journey: Partying for a Cause

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of hosting my favorite ladies for my Johnson and Johnson Cause Party. The idea behind the event was to gather my girlfriends for food, drinks, laughter, and, of course, a great cause.

My ladies gathered at my place around 1:30p, began introducing themselves, and started digging into the snacks! For all of my Chicagoans, if you have not had the fresh salsa and guacamole from Hyde Park Produce (1226 E. 53rd), you have not yet lived! Of course, with me being completely scatterbrained, I was still running around the morning of the party picking up tables, chairs, and other random items. So, I actually spent the first hour and a half of the party in the kitchen cooking with a sweatshirt and baseball cap on. Looking pure crazy! Hahaha!

As far as the menu was concerned, I prepared my take on a Mexican fiesta. You know, fajitas, black beans, rice, etc and the wine was definitely flowing! As we talked and ate, it became clear what the objective of the event was. J&J wanted to our gathering to really focus on nurturing our bonds in a relaxed, comfortable, and fun atmosphere!

In between the girl talk convos which ranged from dating to Beyonce, I gave my guests some background on why J&J believes in these cause parties and some information on the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project, the party’s beneficiary, and women and HIV statistics in Chicago.

If you’re familiar with The Red Pump Project, then you know that Luvvie and I adopted CWAP as our Chicago AIDS organization. The funds that were raised on Saturday will help offset the cost of CWAP’s annual conference for HIV positive women which is this Saturday, the 16th.

My guests were really pleased with their J&J gift bags! They received samples of Johnson and Johnson’s Be Radiant Cocoa and Shea Butter Lotion and Body Wash. I’m smiling because I’m a huge fan of both cocoa and shea butter in itself and have a fetish for any product which includes them in their formulas.

Hours later, when the last guest left, I was super-tired but in a great way. I had a great time catching up with old friends and sharing stories with new ones. Thank you, J&J for sponsoring this event. And, thank you, ladies for coming out and supporting CWAP (and me)!

I’ve included more pictures from the event below! To learn more about Johnson and Johnson’s Body Care line, visit www.johnsonsforyou.com.

Kiehl’s Gives Back

A couple of weeks ago, I started following Kiehl’s on Twitter (@kiehlsnyc), and noticed every now and then they would donate 100% of sales of any given item to the Waterkeeper Alliance. They called the campaign “10/10/10,” which essentially meant that for 10 days they sold 10 products for only $10 and donated 100% of the sales to the Waterkeeper Alliance, up to $10K. Got it?

Well, the 10/10/10 campaign is over, but that doesn’t mean that Kiehl’s commitment to charitable causes has ended. While browsing KiehlsGivesBack.com, I learned about two other initiatives that the company is sponsoring.

The first, in continuing support of Waterkeeper Alliance, is the donation of 100% of sales of limited edition bottles of the Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion line ($55). Kiehl’s partnered with 3 celebrities (Adrian Grenier, Erykah Badu, Kelly Slater) and Parsons School of Design to develop artsy labels related to each person/institution (Clockwise: Grenier, Badu, Parsons, Slater).

The lotions, developed with argan oil and Vitamin E, are said to create an ultimate barrier of softness for your skin. Knowing Kiehl’s reputation with eco-friendly and amazing products, I don’t doubt this!

In addition, Kiehl’s has partnered with YouthAIDS, an organization committed to reaching and education youth in over 60 countries about HIV/AIDS. The brand has created new limited edition packaging of their Classic Lip Balm ($8.50) to benefit the organization.

So, folks, there you have it! Be sure to pop on over to KiehlsGivesBack.com to learn more about their dedication to the environment and various causes over time! And, if you’re in Chicago, click here to find out details for tonight’s (5/12) screening of Sundance’s new original series Eco Trip: The Real Cost of Living at the West Armitage store (907 West Armitage). Cocktails will be provided AND attendees will receive 10% off of all purchases!

-kb

Out with the Old (Jeans), In with the New (Jeans)!

Tired of looking at your old jeans and itching to buy some new ones? Bring the former pair into The Blues Jean Bar (2210 N. Halsted) from now until the end of month and receive a discount on your new purchase!

The Blues Jean Bar carries lines from Seven, Paige, True Religion and more! If you bring in one pair, you’ll get 10% off the purchase off of a new pair. Bring in two pairs and you’ll get 20% off; bring 3 and you’ll get the max discount of 30% off one pair.

The donated denim will be donated to the Brown Elephant Resale Shops, the official charity thrift store for the Howard Brown Health Center. Howard Brown is committed to provide health and wellness services to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals!

Now, I’ve never been to The Blues Jean Bar, but word on the street is that they are very attentive and helpful when it comes to picking out a pair of jeans that look great on you! There’s only one way to find out though! Go check them out, but DON’T forget your old denim!

-kb

Guest Post: ‘Design for a Cure’ Recap

My partner in Red Pump crime, Luvvie of AwesomelyLuvvie.com, attended the AFC annual charity fashion show, and provided a great recap! Thanks for sharing with TFG, Luvvie!!!

-kb

 

On Thursday, May 7, I went to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s annual Make A Statement: Design for the Cure Fashion Show. The show is put on by the AFC’s Junior Board, and this year’s was in recognition of Jack Mackenroth’s “Living Positive by Design“. Jack is a fashion designer who is HIV-positive, and was on Project Runway. Living Positive by Design is his national campaign to combat the stigma associated with the disease, as well as emphasize the need for people with HIV to live their lives positively (no pun intended).

Tickets were $50 early bird and $65 regular price. Being the procrastinator that I am, I didn’t get my ticket until the day of. It was worth it though. The event began with a cocktail reception, and a flowing open bar. I got a chance to meet Jack and he was extremely nice, funny and down-to-earth. Plus those baby blue eyes of his were sooo cute! We chatted for about 5 minutes, and I told him about The Red Pump Project. He thought it was pretty cool and took my card. I took a picture with him too. Yayyyy!    

The Fashion Show began with thanks for the AFC Junior Board and all their hard work. Then Jack gave a short speech about “Living Positive by Design”. Designer Heidi Hess was the Mistress of Ceremony. First up was the line “Kwabena“. The other designers that showed their pieces were Heidi Hess, SkinStinct, 5p1t, Universal Gear, Lara Miller, Kate Boggiano, Serpico, Akira.