Jewels that Empower + Giveaway with Liberti Jewelry. (*CLOSED*)

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Every day I wear my wedding ring. Usually I will add on a few other simple pieces - the citrine necklace that reminds me to pray for my goddaughter and the pearl earrings that Stevie gave me on our wedding day. These pieces are dear to my heart and are emblazoned with my story.

Today I want to share with you about some jewelry that has a story of its own.

Liberti USA is a mission-inspired jeweler with the aim to create meaningful social impact. Fixated on empowering American refugees, Liberti prides itself on employing refugees and integrating them into all aspects of the jewelry business - job training, mentoring and career building. All the jewelry is made here in the USA with ethically sourced materials to create the unique pieces.

When Liberti reached out to share about the Less Than 1%  jewelry collection, I was surprised to learn that there was a jewelry line out there with such a specific goal of starting a conversation about refugee life. The Less Than 1% campaign seeks to raise awareness about the hardships that refugees face - even those living here in the States. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, less than 1% of the 14.4 million refugees around the world are fortunate enough to resettle and assimilate, meaning that more than 99% live out their days in refugee camps without the promise of resettlement. Imagine camping - for the rest of your life. This collection was designed with the unique <1% logo to pique interest and start the conversation.

I chose to stack the Coordinate and Freedom rings because I liked the way they looked together. The Love Lariat can be worn high on the collarbone or hang lower and longer. These pieces are made of 18K gold-infused silver.

I'm partnering with Liberti to give away one of the pieces from the collection - the Coordinate Ring in gold. This piece is etched with coordinates of a real refugee camp, formerly home to some of Liberti's employees. It's a reminder that whoever you are reading this, you are definitely living the good life, and there are many others out there seeking the same. Enter below for a chance to win this ring.

You can learn more about the Liberti USA story here and check out the Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter feeds. Feel free to share this giveaway with your friends!

Thank you to Liberti USA for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

Dreamy Summer Bathing Suits for Gorgeous YOU.

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It's swimsuit season. Whether you're ready for it or not, it's here friends. I know swimsuit season can strike a lot of terror in the hearts of women, but I am on a serious mission this year to dispel the body shame that seems to creep in with these summer months. Female bodies are BEAU-TI-FUL. These days I am feeling prouder of my body than ever before, because I've experienced it carry my baby, nourish my baby, and recover (sort of, ha) from the ordeal. Obviously, things are NOT the same, but I feel a lot more gracious towards myself after having gone through the experience of giving birth. More than ever, I am proud of what my body can do. And I'm not going to let a string bikini scare me from going outside this summer! Although the days of string bikinis might be behind me... who can wear those and chase a busy toddler around? #unicornmoms

With Memorial Day coming up this weekend, I wanted to share a round up of dreamy bathing suits that I'm crushing on. I am loving one-pieces these days (much to my husband's chagrin, he can get over it), because they allow me to be more active with my son. Plus, the designs are getting so cute, with creative cut outs and graphic prints - so fun! Of course, I'm always a fan of the Victoria's Secret Bikini Mixer, where you can mix and match the fit that is best for your body type with a zillion colors and prints. We ladies need to be able to customize!

Tell me - where do you swimsuit shop? Do you favor a one-piece or two-piece? Are you ready for pool/beach season? Happy shopping friends!

Every Date Should Be Made of Clothes Like These.

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Look 1 - Banana Republic Floral Vee Dress (c/o) in Candy Teal, Banana Republic Nude Wedges (past season, similar here and here), assorted bangles, including Keani Found You Cuff in Rose Gold

Look 2 - Banana Republic Sleeveless Embroidered Bib Top (c/o) in Gold, Free People Rolled Crop Skinny Jean in Ella Wash, BCBG Heels (past season, similar here and here), Banana Republic Colorblock Clutch (past season, similar here and here), Anthropologie Glimpse Hoops, Nails are painted in Watermelon by Essie. Photos by the dreamy Stevie Hale.

You better believe that date night is sacred around here.

Before the days of a baby and a mortgage, date night happened easily and often. It was so easy to throw on a colorful top and my snazziest heels, toss a Nars lipstick in a clutch and enjoy wandering the city with my best friend. Date night was all wine, trying new restaurants, talking about dreams and making travel plans. When we lived in Atlanta, it was jazz at Churchill Grounds and dessert at Cafe Intermezzo. When we lived in Boston, it was dinner at Grafton Street and drinks at Plough and Stars. When we lived in New York City, it was making our way through every restaurant recommendation we received, which was a lot, believe me. We pretty much never stopped eating when we lived on the Upper West Side (thank goodness for all that walking!) Nowadays, with family priorities and increased career responsibilities and, you know, mowing the lawn, date night takes a little more intention and planning than it used to. But you know what hasn't changed? The thrill of getting dressed up, experimenting with a bold lipstick or messy updo and letting all that suburban responsibility go for an evening. Holding the hand of my best friend, grabbing a bite to eat and making those dreams happen. We might be getting a bit older, but the mystique of date night is actually growing sweeter with time. The added need for intention is actually making me more of a romantic these days.

When Banana Republic sent over these clothes, I knew they had hot date written all over them. I had so much fun getting dolled up and out of the house in this BR Floral Vee Dress and Embroidered Bib Top. I love how the dress moves and practically dances on its own, and I didn't even mean to pair it with an old pair of Banana wedges that I had in my closet, but they were just the best shoes with the dress, so there you go! I love the clever, elegant stitching and how the supple silk brushes against my skin (while I twirled around like a little girl - seriously, the feeling this dress gave me was that good.) The Bib Top is rich with gold pigment, which I probably wouldn't have chosen for my skin tone (because I fear turning yellow, it's a Italian girl thing), but I actually love it on, especially paired with this bold fuchsia lip color and clutch. These clothes just make me feel ladylike and adventurous, all at once. Just the kind of garments that elevate an occasion from "dinner" to "date" :)

I hope whatever stage you're in, wherever you live, whatever your responsibilities are, you take a moment away from all that and plan something intentionally special for your next date night. After all, there's no time like the present to grab that hand of your love and make all the plans you can. Over wine. And dessert. And maybe a cheese plate, too. Why are you waiting for a special occasion to get dressed up, friend? Date night is for dresses and heels and lipstick!

What are your go-to date night looks? I'd love to hear in the comments!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post and providing free product.. All opinions expressed are my own.

Shop My Stella and Dot Trunk Show for Mother's Day!

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Last week I hosted a little trunk show at my house, showcasing the spring line of Stella and Dot jewelry and accessories! I wanted to share some of my favorite pieces with you and invite you to shop my party, because S+D is offering my friends some specials right now (be sure to scroll below to shop my links and use my special code). With Mother's Day coming up, I wanted to extend the invite to you, all of my online/out of town peeps, to treat your mama (and perhaps yourself) to something special.

Here is the direct link to my online soiree :)

Nolita Small Crossbody Bag with Raffia Fringe - $69

Nolita Small Crossbody Bag with Raffia Fringe - $69

City Slim Clutch - $49

City Slim Clutch - $49

To be completely honest, I was surprised when my friend (and Stella and Dot stylist) Jordan began setting out the jewelry in my dining room for display. Everything was so much prettier in person - so much more delicate, expensive-looking and more quality than I had expected. I'm used to seeing the Stella and Dot gear online, but seeing (and wearing!) it in person really sold me on the quality of the products. And the other element that surprised me was the way that the jewelry is designed. Almost every single necklace is made so that it can be worn in 2 or three different ways, where you can add or remove layers to change the look of the necklace, or wrap around your wrist and wear as a bracelet, etc. Several of the necklaces are multi-sided, so they are gold on one side and silver on the other. I wasn't really expecting everything to be so versatile - even many of the bags contained a matching clutch! A lot of bang for the buck, in my opinion.

Zoe Lariat Necklace in Gold - $98

Zoe Lariat Necklace in Gold - $98

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Alila Gold Lace Cuff - $98

Alila Gold Lace Cuff - $98

Unique Signature Engravable Momento Locket - $89

Unique Signature Engravable Momento Locket - $89

Freya Fringe Necklace - $118

Freya Fringe Necklace - $118

Alright, drum roll please... Stella and Dot is offering my friends 50% off the items below when you spend $50 or more shopping my party! This is a great deal that is only available to party-goers, but since you practically joined the party via this post (!!! virtual party for the win!), the deal applies to you! To take advantage of this special, make sure to type my name "Kristen Hale" as the hostess when you get to the check out page. Happy shopping, friends! I hope you find something great for that special mama in your life :)

P.S. - Since apparently I'm oozing with deals today, I wanted to remind you that Le Tote is offering my friends 20% off the first month's subscription box to rent/buy/wear garments and accessories using code OYKRISTEN. You can read more about my wondrous, laundry-free experience with Le Tote here.

Rent and Wear with Le Tote Fashion Subscription.

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Confession time. I hate wearing the same dress twice.

I know it sounds like a bratty first-world-problem kind of thing, but it's true. When it comes to my day-to-day wardrobe, I wear a lot of the same kind of clothes (hello mom uniform, party of sweats), but when I have somewhere special to go, like on a date or to a wedding, I like the feeling of wearing something brand new. Which is why I was super intrigued by the idea of the Le Tote fashion subscription, which allows you to rent or buy the clothes in the monthly box.

Today I'm sharing about my experience using Le Tote and giving you an idea of the kinds of clothes you could find in your own monthly tote. I put together three looks using the items that came in my April tote. If you're interested in trying out this subscription service, there is a discount code at the bottom for you to get 20% off your first month's tote! If you're a budgeted babe and you love to shop, this is such an awesome way to wear new clothes all the time for a fraction of regular retail price. Read on!

The Le Tote Experience:
Le Tote is a fashion rental service that gives us ladies access to an infinite closet of designer garments & accessories. You can rent these items, and if you love them enough, have the option to purchase for up to 50% off the retail price. But the best part? NO LAUNDRY. I repeat, no laundry, friends! You can wear the clothes for as long as you want, 2 days or 3 weeks, and then you just send it back un-laundered in the prepaid (by Le Tote) garment bag. This garment service is probably going to be my new best friend.

How Le Tote Works:
Okay friends, here's how Le Tote works. When you sign up for a tote, you fill out your size profile and style profile, browse through a bevy of clothes and accessories on the site, click "add to closet" on the items that you would actually wear. Based on your selections, Le Tote curates what will come to you in your tote. You get to finalize the styles they send to you, so you know exactly what's coming your way. When you get your tote in the mail, it will contain 3 garments and 2 accessories, along with a return mailer for the items. You wear what you like for as long as you like, and when you're ready, send the whole tote back in the prepaid envelope and they'll send you a new tote immediately. If you loved something, you can keep it and purchase it at up to 50% off retail prices. Just hold on to what you love and send everything else back. This lets Le Tote know that you'd like to purchase the item you didn't return, and they will charge the card on file and send a new tote.

A little note on sizing: Once you get your tote in the mail, it's a good idea to rate your items for fit and how well they match your personal style. Le Tote uses this information to personalize your totes so that you get the best fitting garments possible.

The Le Tote Benefits:
Along with the free shipping (both ways), and the no-laundry situation (which counts for a LOT of bonus points in my book), Le Tote makes sense for someone who cares about fashion but is conscious of their budget. I also see this really working for someone who wants to eliminate most of their closet and operate with a capsule wardrobe, and then just add in rented pieces to mix it up and add personality. Each tote is valued at about $350 worth of clothes, and you rent those for $59/month. With Le Tote, you always have something cute to wear on date nights, to weddings, to work, anywhere! You can get as many totes as you like in a month, and if you want to keep an item, you purchase it at a discounted price. For someone like me, who always wants to wear a new dress to a wedding, this just makes a whole lot of economic sense.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the kinds of brands that you will receive in your tote: Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman, Kate Spade, French Connection, House of Harlow, BB Dakota, BCBGeneration, Max Studio, Levi's, Free People, Rebecca Minkoff and more. Gang's all here.

My April Tote:
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked everything in my tote. Usually with a subscription like this, I expect to have a few duds, but this wasn't the case! The pink blazer-cape (is that even a word?) is something that would normally be so far out of my comfort zone, but since it came in my tote, I tried it on immediately. I was surprised at how Beyonce it made me feel. Kind of like a feisty, feminine superhero. And the ruffle red top has the sweetest sleeves - I could wear that on any occasion and make it work with jeans, a skirt, even casual shorts. All of the clothes are constructed of quality material and really delicately tailored. With each outfit I put together, my husband kept saying, "I want to take you out on a date in that!", which is always a good reaction. My one qualm with this tote was the wrinkle factor - everything needed a good pressing before I wore it. But I think that's the price you pay with getting clothes in the mail. In my opinion, it's completely worth the extra effort!

In My Tote:
Long Sleeve Floral Top - LE LIS Sheer Floral Blouse
Short Sleeve Red Top - Philosophy Ruffle Scuba Top
Pink Blazer Cape - Jealous Tomato Coveted Cape
Clutch - Clement Blush Foldover
Pink Tank - UA Amanda Cross Front Tank
Bracelet - AVA Rope and Bar Bracelet

If you're interested in trying this service, Le Tote is offering 20% off the first month to you - make sure to use the code OYKRISTEN at checkout :)

Now I'm curious about what you think - in the world of subscriptions for everything (Netflix, Zipcar, Blue Apron, the list goes on), would you subscribe to a service that allows you to rent clothes? Would you like having access to new clothes all the time, but owning very few? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Many thanks to Le Tote, who provided free product in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.