LUSH DIY – Knot Wrap Display

My latest obsession are the Knot Wraps from LUSH Cosmetics. These 100% recycled, colorful scarves catch my attention! I love the floral designs, the versatility, and the price (only $6, heck yes!). My collection has grown quite rapidly this summer. I have gone from one scarf to 6 overnight. I used to keep them on top of my LUSH DIY box (post here) until I realized these beautiful designs needed to be displayed!

I started doing some research. First Pinterest, second LUSH stores, and third my own photo collection. Where I found these:

I love the simplicity and colors of these felt garlands. They inspired me to create this LUSH DIY post (along with my other research tools).

STEP 1: Find  two ribbons & clothes pins that inspire you. I opted for my usual: pink, flowers, and sparkles.

STEP 2: String the ribbon through the clothes pins. This part can be tricky since the clothes pin hole is super small.

STEP 3: Tie mini bows with your second ribbon and glue them onto the back of the clothes pin (the space where it opens and closes). This adds an adorable touch!

STEP 4: Tie a bow at both ends of the ribbons and nail to the wall. I tried tape for the first few days but it kept falling from the weight of the Knot Wraps.

STEP 5: Put up your Knot Wraps or other LUSH Cosmetic goodies and enjoy!

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Do you like my Knot Wrap display? How many Knot Wraps do you have? The ones displayed in mine are:

• Miranda – red with fruit
• Flirty Floral – purple and pink watercolor flowers
• Wild Flower – black with colorful flowers
• Psychedelic Summer – blue neon (no longer available)
• Mr. Bumble – green and yellow (no longer available)
• LUSH words – black with LUSH type (no longer available – part of gift set)

Heres is my latest DIY favorite I found on Instagram. Who doesn’t want a LUSH basket?!

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#finfree GIVEAWAY!

In honor of the #finfree movement and Shark Week, I decided to do my very first giveaway! The lucky winner will receive a fresh Shark Fin Soap from LUSH Cosmetics and samples from the LUSH Kitchen and products that are not available in LUSH North America.

This is all you have to do to qualify:

1. Answer the question “Can you sell smell?” in the comments
2. Tweet me your favorite LUSH Cosmetics Soap at @AndreaPuskar
3. Sign the petition for the #finfree movement 

The giveaway is international.

Alex and Ani – #MotivationNation

Alex and Ani is an awe inspiring company that focuses on the aspects and realities of being a human. They created a product that relates to us. Whether it is the Tree of Life or the Star of Venus. Each item has it’s own characteristics – hope, inspiration, beauty, love, intelligence, luck, and many more.

I especially love their #MotivationNation campaign that is about bringing positivity and motivation to their audience.

What do you think of their motivational quotes? Is this a social media campaign that reflects their brand message?

LUSH Cosmetics Summer Events

LUSH Cosmetics advertised 2 events so far this summer. The first was the #LUSH200 store opening in North America. The second is the #finfree movement. Here are some highlights from each:

The #LUSH200 details: The 200th LUSH Cosmetics store has officially opened in North America! LUSH Cosmetics in Yorkdale Shopping Centre located in Toronto, Canada is the lucky store! LUSH celebrated this event with giving out $200 gift cards across North America, creating fresh batches of products in store, having a dance party with a well renowned DJ, and even some beauty bloggers made an appearance. Did you win a gift card or participate in any of the #LUSH200 events?!

The #finfree movement has officially begun. LUSH partnered with Shark Week on Discover Channel and the finfree movement to help stop shark killings. Shark fin soup is a popular dish in many Asian countries that requires fins from sharks. The #finfree movement is here to stop these killings and protect sharks all around the world. You can sign the petition today here and buy the Shark Fin Soap (limited edition) from LUSH to stand with the #finfree movement!

Lovely Jubblies Breast Cream

This has been a long awaited post… but I had to find an appropriate time to talk about breast cream! Yes, Lovely Jubblies Body Lotion from LUSH is a floral breast cream.

This cream is packed with meadowsweet infusion and tiger lily petals. These ingredients acts like an anti-agent by tightening and firming skin (perfect for areas prone to dropping). Lovely Jubblies also softens the skin.

I adore this lotion. I use it on by décolletage, under my eyes, and on the back of my arms. It works quite well. Plus, it smells wonderfully! This lotion has one of the best floral smells from LUSH. It contains orange blossom, jasmine, and rose.

This is my second (yes, this product is good enough for a repurchase) pot of this cream. I use it a few times of week. I suggest Lovely Jubblies for anyone who loves lotions, floral smells, and soft skin!

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Who is excited for Shark Week? I think I am more excited for the Shark Fin Soap! I hope this is not a hoax… I need some of this pronto! This campaign supports the Fin Free organization that addresses the reoccurring manslaughter of sharks. Pick one up in your local LUSH store starting July 30!

Must Haves Summer Lacquer + Nail Art Favorites

Summer calls for bright, glittery, and colorful manis and pedis. I have especially been adoring three special shades:

FACE Stockholm has over 100 nail polish shades. That is a TON for a company that does not specializes in polish. My summer favorites from FACE Stockholm are #47 and #98. They both scream SUMMER! #98 (left) is a beautiful orange shimmer- I believe the base coat is orange and the shimmer is gold. #47 (right) is a gorgeous, mouth watering, deep watermelon pink! It almost looks red once applied.

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There is no need to explain the importance of Essie nail lacquer in the polish world. Essie comes out with beautiful, innovative colors each season that highlights trends. A huge trend this summer is cobalt blue polish! Yes – the dark, rich, creamy, deep blue. I absolutely adore this light cobalt called strut your stuff. It is the perfect showstopper without being to unusual.

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And as promised, here are my favorite nail art and nail shades from various social media accounts:

P.S. – I have discovered a NEW nail love on Instagram – @nailjob. Her work is beyond fabulous. I love the glitter looks and clear polish designs.

Kate Spade New York – Social Media

Never, ever have I blogged about Kate Spade New York social media. This will be a first! This company deserves a positive blog post because their social media extends the brand above and beyond normal expectations. Check it out!

Three things that come to mind when thinking about the Kate Spade brand:

1. Bows
2. Preppy couture
3. New York City

Do you see any of these things from these posts? Not really! Yes, some are preppy. Yes, some exude NYC. Kate Spade has successfully created posts that add more to their brand. Their posts are colorful, cohesive, and inviting. One post is about Rio. Another post is about a girl they love. One is about transforming an outfit from day to night. Do you think their social media extends their brand? Is this important for a company to digitally achieve?

LUSH Kitchen – UK Style

The LUSH Kitchen in UK is a few months old now. They make small batches of exclusive LUSH products – retired and new inventions. The list ranges from Lemon Melt to Baby Face Cleanser. Any LUSHie would die to get their hands on these unique, rare goodies!

I collect all social media that revolves around the Kitchen. Some of the above posts are directly from the LUSH Kitchen while others are from bloggers or regional LUSH Cosmetic stores.

PROS – You get to discover LUSH products you never, ever heard of. A guilty pleasure of mine is to check the Kitchen menu. I need to see what they are making and then research the products! Some of the inventions are very innovative, creative, magical, rare, and much more!

CONS – The LUSH Kitchen is only operating in the UK at this moment. All North American LUSHies are out of the loop! Fortunately, you can still order from UK but it is difficult to get exclusive items when they only make a limited quality (and they always seem to be “Currently Unavailable”). Rumors are spreading like wild fire though… apparently LUSH Kitchen will be coming to Canada SOON, hopefully!

I have not yet splurged on any of the LUSH Kitchen items. It has been hard… but the exchange rate between USD and Pounds is ridiculous. Have you ordered from the LUSH Kitchen yet? Share below!

P.S. – I will not be posting for a while… I am going to Kauai! Feel free to email me if you have any questions about my posts!

Granny Takes A Dip Bath Bomb

What is that odd new bath bomb LUSH Cosmetics invented? Oh yes, Granny Takes A Dip! A disk shape with four rings looks unusual compared to other sphere bath bombs. It reminds me of tree rings.

AROMA: I immediately smell Sweet Tarts candy when sniffing Granny Takes A Dip. It has a sweet punch but also a sour, citrus-y punch. It is a nice escape from a strong floral, sweet, or organic scent. It truly is a unique aroma compared to usual LUSH smells.

EFFECTS: Granny Takes A Dip decides to sit quietly in the bath water. It does not fizz or twirl. It does not explode with glitter or confetti. Instead, it chills while floating around in the same path. I liked the idea of the four colors. But I did not enjoy my murky purple bath water once it fizzed out.

INGREDIENTS: Like all bath bombs, this product contains a variety of safe synthetics and a hint of natural products – black pepper oil, lemon oil (very strong), ginger oil, and gardenia extract. Granny Takes A Dip is NOT vegan.

UNIQUE SHAPE: LUSH really played on this new shape. They used it in store fronts and even as a graphic in their new catalog – Fresh Matters. My friend, Allie Zoll, visited Ireland and took a picture of the store front above. I also saw a similar look in a LUSH while exploring France. Such a cool idea! The graphic from the catalog showcases how long each LUSH product lasts without using the usual and expected bar graph or pie chart. 

What do you think of Granny Takes A Dip? Do you think it is worth all of the hype? Will the new LUSH products be able to make it on a “Best Sellers” list?

Pride: Satisfaction for an Achievement

Happy Fourth of July! Unfortunately, it is pouring rain in New York… the whole shabam – thunder, dark skies, rain, puddles, wind. While stuck inside, I am thinking about the pride we have for our country, our relationships, and our selves. It seems to be contagious and of course, social media proves it!

Pride Week: Holy rainbows – every organization that supports human rights celebrated Pride Week in someway. Many created store fronts decked out in color. Many created new products to showcase pride. Many created images just for social media and sharing. I saw quite a bit on my news feeds from my favorite companies – Baked by Melissa, Julep, LUSH Cosmetics, Teen Vogue.

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4th of July: There have been many, many, many Fourth of July posts – from newscasters to the usual #lilly5x5. Here are two of my favorites that scream independence, USA, and patriotic shades. I adore how companies take their brand or product and turn it into something universally recognizable. The USA radiates pride on this day! A whole bunch of PRIDE!

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Here is my recent go USA face showcasing my country pride as I stand right near the edge of Niagara Falls. What a thrilling experience! I would love to see y’all’s PRIDE faces!