A few of my favorite Things {GIVEAWAY!}

 

Property of Carolyn Svellinger

Snifffffff… nothin’ like the smell of b*tchy resting face in the plain of day.

Welcome to a few examples of why Carolyn doesn’t fashion blog much.  Also welcome to my 2014 All Star list of favorite locally made and health-aware products.   These lovely items have outshone everything else among my items I consider a luxury which I am blessed to be able to wear and use on a regular basis.  Let’s untie that brown paper package, shall we?   **Note note note** that I love these products so much that I’m an affiliate for many of them, and I so appreciate you clicking on and purchasing through the links (at no additional cost to you) I give because it helps my family out. Thank you from me and mine.

giveaway, fashion, healthy living, essential oils, wrenn jewelry

 

{ Svellerella’s 2014 Favorite Things! }

 

 – The Wrapped Cardigan–

Seamly Wrapped cardigan, fashion

Say hello to my favorite cardigan this year:  Seamly Co.’s Wrapped Cardigan.  When I discovered Seamly Co through Instagram late last year, I purchased their purple wrapped cardigan while being totally excited to contribute to sustainable fashion and their awesome mission of producing US made goods.  After wearing it for everything from a cozy momiform to a flowy part of my Sunday Best, I’d worn the fellow out so much that I almost panicked knowing I needed a new one.

fashion, seamly wrapped cardigan

Seamly Co came out with a gorgeous oatmeal color this fall and will you cringe too much when I tell you …I fell? AH! My favorite thing about this cardigan is the flow-y forgiveness of a growing baby bump!  Blessedly versatile and look how cute!

fashion, seamly wrapped cardigan

Seamly Co shows us three different ways to wear this cardigan on their site.  Go look!

–Wrenn Jewelry–

Wrenn Jewelry, fashion

I know I’m singing the tune I’m every woman when I say I’m SUPER picky about the kind of jewelry I like.  By now I think I’ve made it loud and clear that I’m a lifer for Wrenn Jewelry.

Wrenn Jewelry, fashion

 

Alissa hand makes her simple, yet gorgeously sparkly lovelies with care and is so attentive to every detail.  Her pieces stand out individually, which is excellent because while I love (the right kind) of jewelry, I think less is more and everything she makes steals the show on its own.

Wrenn Jewelry, fashion
Did I mention Alissa is a mother of two who had her youngest baby while fighting Non-Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma and Crohn’s Disease?  And have I mentioned that she’s the sweetest and one of the most generous people I’ve met through Instagram?  I know I have, but there it is again.
Check her site out, and treat yo’self. …or mention it to your significant other and offer to write his final paper in exchange for his purchase of the Green with Wrennvy Oval ring. I mean I didn’t do that, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Got a B. :(

 

-Primal Pit Paste deodorant-

Natural deodorant, whole living, health products

For the last few years I’ve gone through countless sticks of waxy natural deodorants in failed attempts to find something which keeps the stink at bay and also doesn’t ruin the pits of my clothes.  In the spring, my friend Ashley recommended I try Primal Pit Paste.   I ordered a jar of their patchouli scent. I ordered Craig a sample size because I can never be sure if he’s on board.  When I found myself angry that he kept stealing from my jar, I knew we’d found a winner.

We made it through the summer, with about three weeks of a broken AC, and guess whose pits never knew the difference?  Mine.
Guess what else? Primal Pit Paste now makes an actual stick of deodorant– but I’m too primal for that now and I love my jar of paste. ;)

 

–Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes–

Younique, makeup

Okay so I avoid online makeup/jewelry/handbag/nail wrap parties like the plague.  Why? Because in my experience, the product is never up to snuff, the style doesn’t jive with mine, and the prices are always more than I want to spend on something I don’t really like.

And then Ali messaged me about Younique 3D Fiber Lashes.  In my usual abrasive fashion, I told her of my skepticism.  But sweet Ali sent me a package in the mail and I found myself giving Younique a shot, despite my prejudices.  I’ve been using them for a solid 2 months and yep, she converted me.

BUT! The small catch about Younique Fiber Lashes –which I suspect is frequently misunderstood about the product– is that it’s not really a mascara.  The application process is totally different, though quite simple.

fashion, makeup, younique

When I first tried YM3DFL, I skimmed the instructions, and started slathering everything on in fast layers like a normal mascara and voila tarantula legs are shooting out of my eyelids and I look like a monster.   After re-reading everything and watching Ali’s tutorial, I carefully tried again– BA-BOOM!! My lashes were touching my eyebrows.  I looked Younique up on EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to check for the toxicity in their ingredients and I was impressed to see that it rates safer than my old faithful Bare Escentuals mascara.  I’m happy to have found another keeper!

This product truly is a little luxury, especially exciting to have around the holidays, and I’m giddy Ali was sweet enough to take a chance on queen Elsa.  Nah nah nah hey nah nah.

-Young Living Essential Oils-

Young Living, essential oil

I’ve been learning about using essential oils for a few years. Slowly I’ve tried a few different brands here and there, experimenting with different smells and since I’m predisposed to look for an alternative way to say, relieve a headache, calm a wild child at bedtime, sanitize grubby little hands, soothe an upset tummy, and relieve anxiety I guess I’m a big ol’ sucker for essential oils.  Last month I won a generous gift certificate to buy a startup kit with Young Living, and since I’d been talking with Craig for over a year about becoming a distributor (this is how slow I am about things), I finally signed up!  So here we are and I am super excited to be able to share my love of these wonderful oils with you directly.

 

Do you like my list?  I like my list.

Thanks to the generosity of my favorite companies, and as a huge thank you for your readership this year, you, my favorite Svell reader, have a chance to win each of these items in one big, virtual brown paper package tied up with the loveliest of strings.

The winner of my Faves of 2014 Giveaway will receive:

  1. A Seamly Co Wrapped Cardigan in your choice of color and size.

  2. $50 online Gift Card code to shop at Wrenn Jewelry

  3. One of Primal Pit Paste’s deodorants in your choice of scent, either a jar or a stick.

  4. Younique MoodStruck 3D Fiber Lashes from Ali Kettering

  5. A 5ml bottle of Young Living JOY Essential Oil

Come, come! Follow the rafflecopter prompts, do all the likes and all the things for more chances to win, and I’ll announce the winner Wednesday morning on my Facebook page.  US residents only, please.

EEEK! I’m so excited to see who wins!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

A 5 Faves linkup with Jenna!

 

147 Comments

  1. I am most excited about the deodorant for myself, and the gift card to help me get the perfect gift for my wife! Thank you so NYC for this opportunity.

  7. I’d love to get an early Christmas! And though i don’t comment much, I do so love your blog and writting style.

  8. I’m new to the blog and loving it! Can’t wait to go back and read what all I’ve missed!
    This giveaway looks awesome – definitely excited about the mascara!

  9. The wrapped cardigan! I wear my charcoal one from last year everywhere- class, errands, dates, work, even some fancy-ish charity events.

  13. Oh my goodness – I love the cardigan but is it weird that I’m equally excited about the pit paste?

  14. Oh goodness, everything looks amazing but I’m super excited about the cardigan and the jewelry!!!
    Love you blog Carolyn!

  18. This giveaway is amazing! I would really like the cardigan! I’m not nursing or pregnant anymore but would love to accessorize my wardrobe for teaching!

  20. I’m most excited about the essential oils. We’ve been wanting to try them for quite some time now!

  24. I love the jewelry. I’ve been wanting something by them for awhile now, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet. This giveaway just reminded me that I need to go for it!

  25. LOVE your blog. So glad I found you tonight. My soul was aching for some sweet encouragement and I found it here. I am digging that awesome mascara!

  26. Wrenn! Well, actually everything! What an amazing giveaway, I am super stoked, can’t wait to see who wins.

  27. I’m so happy you are featuring Wrenn Jewelry! I love every single piece of jewelry on her site because they are so effortlessly beautiful. Thank you for supporting American small business.

  33. I’ll be honest – the primal pit paste! I’ve been trying homemade natural deoderant the past couple months, but I don’t think it will cut it at the height of summer. I’m intrigued!

  35. This is an awesome giveaway! They are all great, but I am most excited about the Wrenn Jewelry gift certificate!

  37. I would love to win a piece of Wrenn jewelry! The other items look lovely as well! I love primal pit paste and young living so there is no way to go wrong! :) Awesome list!

  39. Being prego I am totally digging that cardigan but everyone I know is raving about younique but,
    Like you, I’m a total skeptic.
    Coming from a fellow skeptic and the pics, I’m intrigued!

  40. I’m actually really interested in the Primal Pits deodorant! I’m always looking for a better option!

  46. I’m super picky about jewelry too, but I’ve had my eye on wren jewelry for a while. I would live to win that!

  52. Tough choice, the cardigan is perfect and I’m also a huge fan of Wrenn jewelry but I’m excited to try the Primal Pit Paste. I’ve yet to find a natural deodorant that works good for me and I really want to stop using conventional deodorant because of the chemicals. Thank you so much for such an awesome chance- have a great Holiday season!

  55. It all looks uhmazing! I’ve been swooning over all things wrenn jewelry lately so that would be most exciting!

  56. I am so glad that I’ve come across your page. Everything I’ve seen on here so far has been amazing. From you offering giveaways to the way you even talk about people! You are so kind hearted. Even if I don’t win anything, in the end I did by getting to find/ learn of all the amazing things on your page. I would be most excited about The Wrenn Jewelry giveaway because she in an AMAZING person to do business with. She was so sweet and caring about the jewelry I ordered and was concerned when she thought it was taking too long. I’ve never had better customer service in my life and with that giftcard I could order more jewelry to wear and show everyone so they will go support her as well !!

  58. Such a wonderful list! I am very interested in the Young Living oils! Wrenn Jewelry is also one of my faves!

  61. I have been wanting to try Wrenn Jewelry andthe cardigan looks son cozy. Thanks for the chance.

  63. What a great blog to discover! This will be on my daily reads now! I found you through wrenn jewelry – which is what I’m most excited about! I’ve been oogling over the jewelry for months now and just need to seal the deal and get one!

  64. I would love all of them! But right now I would have to say wrenn jewelry – I have been looking at them for awhile!

  67. Such a fabulous list! I can’t get enough of Wrenn Jewelry so I’m most excited for that portion of the giveaway. I’d love to buy the star geode necklace for my sister.

  69. It’s a toss up between the primal pit paste and the 3D lashes. After a year of dealing with some endocrine issues, I’m trying to switch over to a natural beauty and skin routine. I love that both of these are made from good ingredients!

  70. I’ve always been a fan of Wrenn Jewelry but never had a chance to buy anything. This would be so great! The cardigan looks amazing too!

  71. Well, I’ve been eyeing up wrenn jewelry, youngs eo and yonique mascara for some time. If I won. Oh gosh….. Beyond excited!!!

  77. Wow, what a lovely giveaway! I love wrenn jewelry, but couldn’t justify an excuse to buy something for myself yet…

  78. Oh wow! I’ve been meaning to try out some Primal Pit Paste because my homemade one is just so hard to travel with! Love this giveaway!

  82. Just this morning I was scouring the internet for the perfect open cardi–this is totally it! I’m equally excited about the Wren Jewelry that would look perfectly perfect with it…and I can never say no to essential oils!

  83. I’ve been wanting to try out the essential oils for awhile now, so this would be the perfect time to start! Also, thta cardigan looks amazing

  87. Wow! That’s a hard question! I LOVE cardigans, I have basically no visible eyes without mascara, my sweat glands get swollen from conventional antiperspirant (lately I have been using PPP), and my frequent prayer is for God to increase joy in my heart…. But, I would have to say the cardigan!!

  94. Hi there! I am intrigued and would love to try all the items but I never thought of deodorant paste. I hate the pits of my shirts getting so shalacked with my current deodorant. Soo i’d say I’d be most interested in that. Oh! And I’d love some info on essential oils. I’m always looking for alternatives to medicine as well and love natural products! As always, love your blog!!

  97. I’m not sure which I’m more excited for – the cardigan looks amazing, but that pit paste is something I have been looking for for awhile. I tried a natural deodorant but it did not get the job done. I think I am going to buy the paste if I don’t win : )

  99. I would be thrilled to get one of the new wrap cardigans from Seamlyco. I absolutely love her clothes and would love to have one more of these in my closet.

  104. Hey Carolyn!

    The idea of winning ANY of these wonderful gifts is blowing me away! I’d love any of them…especially the Wrenn jewelry, the essential oils and the mascara! Living on a fixed budget makes buying anything out of the necessary items needed in life extremely difficult. But, would LOVE to try all of these things!
    Love reading your blog and LOVE you unique expressive style of writing! You have been in my daily prayers for a safe pregnancy & a healthy baby! I love you!!

    Lisa

  109. Oh I’d love to win me another Seamly piece. I just love Kristen and all of her makings. THanks for this awesome giveaway.

  112. Oh – so excited about the Mascara!! I’ve been hearing about how amazing it is and am really ready to try it out!

  113. This is a lovely giveaway. I love everything (even the pit paste) but I’m feeling a little plain jane in need of a pick me up… and have to give first pick to the jewelry. :)

  118. I’m most excited about the cardigan! It’s beautiful and looks super cozy. I’m most intrigued by the primal pit paste and was pleasantly surprised by the cost, I spend that on my clinical strength full of bad chemicals name brand deodorant.

  120. It’s a toss-up between the cardigan and deodorant. The cardigan is gorgeous, but the thought of non-toxic, natural deodorant that actually works? I didn’t know I could get so excited about deodorant… :)

  122. Really, everything, but I know I would just live in that cardigan if I had it (27 weeks pregnant here).

  123. Oh my goodness! Between the cardigan, the Younique, and the Wrenn giftcard, I don’t know which sounds best! The essential oils is also an awesome gift. Such an exciting package for us mommies. :)

  125. I am intrigued by the pit paste and mascara! All the products look great though. Love the small business/environmentally friendly support too!

  126. Oh my! It like you read my internet shopping history for all the things I can’t commit to buying! 3D fiber lashes have been on my list for a loooong time! and I’m totally with you on the safer alternative options for just about everything.

  130. Probably the jewelry… I keep seeing it pop up on Instagram and I’ve looked at the website several times. But I hardly ever spend money on myself anymore so it would be so lovely to win.

  131. What an exciting giveaway! I would love to try any and all of these things! I have heard so much about the Be Younique fiber lashes and would be so ecstatic to try those!! Thanks

  135. Ok since seeing your post last year with your purple cardigan on, I have visited the Seamly site about 100000 times and added one to my cart, but never bought it! I want one so bad though! Would love to win one!!!!

  138. Such a great list of favorites! That cardigan is gorgeous! The paste, I’m curious. Wrenn, the mascara, and essential oil – awesome! Thanks so much for the chance to win this amazing giveaway! And, you are stunning! I love all of your photos (you could totally be a fashion blogger/pretty much already are with a flair for art)!

  141. It’s the Carolyn list instead of the Oprah list! :) I’ve been eyeing Wrenn’s geode jewelry for a few months now, I just can’t justify the cost so i’d be most excited about that.

    (with the mascara a close second because I have stumps for eyelashes)

    1. also, I already follow all those companies on facebook and instragram, as well as receive the pit paste newsletter so hopefully my entry still works!

      sad news though, I’ve had to give up the pit paste. :( after a month of successful use, my pits became very irritated and started peeling, turned red, my skin started to weep and ooze. it hurt worse than heat rash i had on my pits in Arizona. It turns out my skin is too sensitive to use baking soda on at all. even by itself it’s too much and i get instantly red now. So now I’m a smelly, smelly, girl. :(

      1. They absolutely do- it just means its easier for you to enter :) I love when I enter giveaways and I’m already following everyone :)

  142. Carolyn, you’re always so adorable and fashionable, how do you do it?
    This is why I have to win your giveaway, to have the scant hope of ever holding a candle in the fashionable mom department ;-).

  143. Oh boy. Everything. But especially the cardigan. I have lots of non-nursing friendly winter sweaters and not many that are!

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