Get in the Spirit!

If you’re in need of a last-minute Halloween costume, Spirithoods is a great option. Although these faux-fur hoods aren’t exactly made for Halloween, they can easily be worn in a creative, animalistic way.

Simply dress in all black, draw on a few whiskers a cute nose, and voila – you’re a fun and fashionable feline! If you aren’t feeling feline-friendly, you can choose from a variety of creatures including a wooly wolf or a panda with panache. Plus, once the winter comes you can continue to wear these super stylish hoods to stay warm!


Available at www.spirithoods.com for $129

Are you dressing up this Halloween? If so, what are you going as this year?

California Love

Back when I was pregnant, my skin looked as if it had been in a nasty war between good and evil. In order to combat the unsightly blemishes, I needed something that wouldn’t further the irritation, but soothe my sensitive skin. A friend recommended that I try California Baby — I did and I’ve been hooked ever since.



This organic line of bath and body products is gentle enough for babies’ skin, but also works well on skin types for the whole household. During those hormonal months, it’s important to steer clear of products with potentially harmful ingredients, which makes California Baby’s all-natural, eco-friendly products a smart choice for expectant moms.

For your chance to win a super cute tote and 3 travel size California Baby products, please click here!

BGG Launches Modern Mommy!

Remember a few months ago when I announced that I was given my own blog (Trend Blend) on PARADE.com? Well, now it's a new and improved mix of mom, baby, beauty, and fashion blog called, Modern Mommy!

This week I'm giving away a Chicco Keyfit Strada booster seat (a $129 value). Click here for your chance to win. Be sure to check it out and spread the word. Thanks again for all of your continued support!

XOXO,

BGG

Fresh Fall Fragrances

Finding the perfect fragrance this fall will be easy with this roundup. With autumn-aromas in the air, it's time to ditch your sweet-smelling, summer scents for more subdued, earthy, fall fragrances.

From Queen Latifah's 'Queen of Hearts,' to Jordin Sparks' 'Because of You,' the search for your signature scent of the season is over.

Check out these "scent-sational" celebrity-endorsed perfumes:
Queen Latifah's 'Queen of Hearts,' reigns supreme with top notes of bergamot, cinnamon, plum, and dewy greens making it a must-have for fall. Available at www.macys.com for $59


'S by Shakira,' is a super feminine fragrance with hints of florals mixed with woods creating an aromatic delight.


Fergie's 'Outspoken,' is a fragrant floral mix of tuberose, jasmine, and passionflower. Available at www.ulta.com for $32.90



Jennifer Lopez's 'Love & Glamour,' is a beautiful combination of fruits and musk with notes of sandalwood and guava. Available at www.macys.com for $49.


Jordin Sparks 'Because of You,' has a somewhat citrusy scent with top notes of orange blossom, clementine, and white imperial currant. Available at dots.com for $9.95

What's your favorite fragrance for fall?

**Two lucky readers will win a bottle of Queen Latifah's 'Queen of Hearts,' a value of $59. SImply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week. Also, the winner of the poetry book is Jennifer. Congrats and please send me your mailing address!

Poetry for the Soul

I come from a family of poets, however, the poetic "gene" skipped me. Luckily, I can enjoy some of the greatest poems with Sourcebook's new title, "The 100 Best African-American Poems," selected by renowned poet Nikki Giovanni.

A collection of African-American works from classic poets like Richard Wright to contemporary artists like hip-hop legend Tupac Shukar - this book is bound to take you on a phenomenal poetic journey. Plus, it includes an audio CD featuring poems read by the poets themselves such as the glorious Gwendolyn Brooks, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and more! If you're a poetry fan or know someone who is, this book is a definite must-have.


Available at bookstores nationwide for $22.99 next month.

Are you a fan of poetry? Are you a poet yourself? Tell me and one lucky reader will win this book. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced next week.

**Btw, the winner of the Fresh Plum Lip Tint is Catherine A. Congratulations and please send me your mailing address.

Just Ripe Lips

Even though Christmas is still a couple of months away, it's not too early to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head - Fresh's Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment that is.

This super decadent sugar-formulated balm is a tinted treat for your lips. The buildable plum hue leaves lips soft and moisturized making them just ripe. If weather-protected, supple lips is what you want, Sugar Plum is a sure bet for fall.


Fresh's Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment is available at www.sephora.com for $22.50

Have you ever tried this product? Are you a fan of Fresh lip treatments? I loved it so much that I picked up an extra tube for a lucky reader. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week.

Mini BGG Break

Hey BGG Readers,

I'm taking a mini-break, but will be back next week with more beauty, fashion, giveaways and more next week! In the meantime, I thought I'd share a new pic of Ava! It's actually about a month old, but I haven't been snapping away as much as I should be. If only there were more hours in the day (lol). Enjoy the rest of your week!

Topshop Takes on Chi-Town

Attention all of my Windy City fashionistas, I just got wind that Topshop is headed for my hometown! That's right, the fashion emporium from across the pond that recently landed here in NYC is making it's way to Chicago.

Known for it's cutting-edge pieces and eye-catching accessories, Topshop will surely get a warm welcome from Chi-town fashion lovers when it opens its doors on Michigan Avenue next spring.

Mary J. Bliges Throws Shade

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, is lending her signature sunglass style to the masses. Next month, Blige will debut Melodies by MJB, a line of designer sunglasses that will include a mix of cool, classic aviators to fashionable oversized frames.

Fans of the shaded singer have admired her style for nearly 2 decades, now we can have a a piece of that funky MJB flair. Even though sunglasses are usually reserved for the summer, we all know that the sun always shines!

Melodies by MJB will be sold at Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman. Prices will range from $165-$225.

Would you wear a pair of MJB's shades?

Feeling Blue?

For all my beauty buffs, there seems to be a major case of the blues sweeping the makeup scene. After attending several beauty-related events, varying shades of blue kept popping up on various palettes. From midnight blue eye shadows to royal blue nail polishes, blue is definitely the fresh "it" color for fall. If you're hesitant to try the trend on your eyes, give it a go on your nails for a less-shocking style.


Maybelline Eyeshadow Trio in 'Blue Slate' available at www.ulta.com for $5.39


Butter London Nail Polish in 'Blue Smoke' available at www.dermadoctor.com for $14


Estee Lauder Automatic Duo Pencil in 'Hyacinth Sky' available at www.macys.com for $23.50


MAC in the Groove Mineralized Shadow in 'Blue My Mind' available at www.sephora.com for $19.50


Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Eye Definier in 'Vibrant Blue' available at www.barneys.com for $27


Smashbox Jet-set Waterproof Liner in 'Navy' available at www.beauty.com for $22


Pop Beauty Nail Glam Nail Polish in 'Ocean Online" available at www.beauty.com for $14

Will you partake in this fall beauty forecast?

Cropping Season

With only a slight chill in the air, it's not quite time to break out full-length trenches, but a cute cropped one will do the trick. Not only will this mini-version of the classic wardrobe staple keep the you warm, but effortlessly chic at the same time. Plus, they complement dark-rinse jeans, which are always in style.

Check out some of these light-weight trench jackets:


BB Dakota Hinsdale Trench Jacket available at www.dillards.com for $89


Cropped Trench Coat available at www.charlotterusse.com for $35.50


Cropped Trench Coat available at www.gap.com for $79.50


French Connection Cropped Trench Jacket available at www.asos.com for $153.34


JNBY Adventures Short Trench Coat available at www.shopbop.com for $318


Joseph Full-Length Jacket available at www.yoox.com for $180


Burberry Sawley Belted Cropped Trench available at www.bluefly.com for $500.40


Juicy Couture Ruffled Cropped Trench available at www.bloomingdales.com for $107.28

Are you a fan of cropped trenches?

For Colored Girls

The trailer for Tyler Perry's film adaptation of the 1976 award-winning play, "For Colored Girls...," was released earlier this week. Are you looking forward to seeing the film this November? Are you a fan of Tyler Perry films?





**Btw, the winner of the Goldfinger nail polish is Mocha Mish Mash. Congrats and please email me your mailing address.

Goldfinger

During the summer months my nails are usually lacquered in a lovely hot pink shade, but as the temp cools I lean toward more metallic and muted hues. This fall it's all about having gold at your fingertips. Rich, gold tones gives nails that pop of color, but with a subtle, festive flair. From celebrities like Leona Lewis to Rihanna, it looks like the nail color of the season is going to be golden.


One of my favorite of-the-moment polishes is Milani's Nail Polish in 'Gold Lame' available at www.milanicosmetics.com for $4.49


Ginger & Liz 'Got My Groove Back.' By the way, these beautiful, BG founders are making their mark in the world of nail color! Available at www.gingerandliz.com for $12


LA Splash in 'Spark Gold' available at www.ulta.com for $3.99


Sephora Nail Color in 'Only Gold For Me' available at www.sephora.com for $9


Deborah Lippman in 'Nerfertiti' Nail Color available at www.barneys.com for $16

Will you be wearing the gold polish trend this fall season? One lucky reader will win a bottle of Milani's 'Gold Lame' polish. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced later this week.

Fall for Fleece!

Now that fall is right around the corner, why not ditch your lightweight cardigan for a comfortable fleece blazer? This season it's all about updating the stylish staple with a flexible and flattering fleece blend. Blazers work with just about every item in your wardrobe from skinny jeans to shorts and now these fleece finds can create an even more casual look.


Authentic Fleece Blazer available at www.jcrew.com for $98


Juicy Couture Shrunken Fleece Blazer available at www.shopbop.com for $178


Flannery Fleece Rugby by Ralph Lauren available at www.rugby.com for $99.99


Luxe Fleece Cropped Blazer available at candcalifornia.com for $69.90


Vintage Havana Fleece Blazer available at www.nationaljeancompany.com for $84

Would you wear a fleece blazer this fall season?

Stuck on Fashion!

With so many BGS wearing wedges and strutting in sky-high heels, it's inevitable that some of us will either trip or take a tumble, leaving behind a scratch. If so, Band-Aid has all of us fashionistas covered - literally.

Celebrity fashion designer Cynthia Rowley has partnered with the household brand to create a super chic collection of adhesive bandages giving the boring flesh-tone shades a backseat.

Packaged in sleek black and turquoise tins, these designer bandages are bold with glamorous designs such as sequins and pretty petals.

Available for a limited-time, these scrape-savers will be in Cynthia Rowley stores, cynthiarowley.com and The Cooper Hewitt Museum next month.


Would you wear a designer bandage or simply stick to the nude hues?

**Btw, the winner of the Motions products is Nicole Rogers. Congrats! Please email me your mailing address.