The Week of November 17

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Happy Monday!  Jumping right in on this gloomy day...


HOLIDAY
I sure can relate to this!  The video is interactive, too (click on an item and info appears)!

Notice any familiar faces here? Third Eye Chic Studio did a great job capturing the festive fun at the Boston Blogger event at Wayfair last weekend!

Make sure your home is winter-ready with these tips!

BEAUTY
This post accurately outlines certain mascaras that have passed the "cry-baby" test.  I'll be needing this net year for wedding season!

A round-up of some great picks for fall nail polish colors is a great resource for that ever-so-important life decision at the salon.


LOCAL
Did you know T. Swift makes house calls?  She stopped by a fan's home in CT (right by my alma mater!) last week to surprise an influenced fan and her family.

Our city gained a new juicery as of today, on School Street downtown.

Where does Jimmy Fallon dine while in Boston?  The North End, of course!

Check out what is sure to be a hit gift this year, created by a kid in the Bay state.

The Rowes Wharf skating rink is coming back as of Saturday!


MISCELLANY
The inner language geek in me found this interesting, there was a new font created for those with dyslexia, designed to help them read.

I mean, anyone out there with #RBF knows how true this is!

Into Serial?  Well, here's your new fix.

I love the fluidity of Vogue's witty questionnaire.  The latest is with Amy Adams.

SELF
An interesting read (and preview for a post to follow later this week!) on why millenials aren't saving money.

Are you an introvert?  Here are some great tips on networking.

Okay, you're an adult, right?  Now, be sure your fridge organization reflects such!


SHOPPING
I've bookmarked this, and you should, too!  Refinery29 will be updating the page up through next week for Black Friday sales.



We hope you have a great week!  Be sure to check in every day, we have a big surprise in store!!

- Meredith

Sunday's True Confession

Switching Deodorants is an Instant Health Upgrade

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Traditional deodorants are full of chemicals. And sure, these chemicals prevent sweat and keep your underarms smelling fresh for a full day, but did you know these deodorants also:

• Have aluminum, which has been loosely linked to Alzheimer's. 
• Have parabens which which has been found in breast cancer growths.
• Have artificial fragrances which contain allergens, and unknown chemicals as part of an FDA loophole.
• Stains your clothes - your natural sweat does not cause pit stains - deodorant does!

Why are we rubbing this poison on our skin everyday when there are so many great, chemical free options?! These four have been tested and approved by the JUGs. For newbies, we highly recommend Lavilin and Soapwalla because they last the longest. Other brands are effective, but require more frequent applications.

Convinced? Ready to make the switch to a non-toxic, natural deodorant? Head over to lavilin.com and enjoy 20% off!

Discount Code: LavilinDeodorant20

Daily Read: Monika Hibbs

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For those of you who have read blogs since the late 2000s, you know the veterans out there.  Monika Hibbs of Vancouver is one of those trailblazers many bloggers have followed since discovery.  She has a curated sense of style you just drool over, and it's easy to enjoy watching her picturesque adventures, most recently a trip to Vegas with her husband.  Her tasteful home decor DIYs and recommendations are my personal favorite piece of her strong brand.  I could definitely stare at her home tour all the livelong day!

It is not surprising she has been all over the press from Boston-local Style Me Pretty to HGTV to Glitter Guide, just to name a few.  Don't forget about Monika's shop, too, which we hope is replenishing soon before we start rolling out our gift guides in the coming weeks, it's definitely one of my go-to resources.  If Monika is what Vancouver is about, we better get there sooner than later!

- Meredith

Local Gem: Anheuser-Busch Brewery

It's no secret that the JUGs love a good time, so when we had the opportunity to tour the Anheuser Busch Brewery in Merrimack, NH we jumped on it. We were actually surprised to realize how close the brewery actually is to Boston - took us less than an hour to get up there, giving us plenty of time for beer tasting! 

We've seen a few breweries in our day - Harpoon, Sam Adams, and a few others, but we were awed by the sheer scale of the budweiser facility in NH. They make enough beer on site each day to provide 10+ beers to every seat in Fenway - and this is the smallest Anheuser-Busch brewery in the country! 

Next time you have a free weekend, or have visitors in town, we highly recommend heading up to the brewery. It is the perfect cold-weather activity.

But enough with the facts - time to taste some brews, pet the clydesdales, and, of course, check out the budweiser gift shop!

Bud-kini anyone?!

- Cameron

The Week of November 10th

Hey gals, how was your weekend? We JUGs had very eventful weekends. Cam was in L.A. dominating her sight-seeing game and Meredith and I joined the Boston Bloggers for a lovely day event at Wayfair. We learned so much from the speakers and participants and we feel so grateful to be part of such an intelligent and positive community that helps us grow as bloggers and women. 

...And on that note, let's dominate this week! Here's the round up of links for this week.

C A R E E R  &  I N S P I R A T I O N

Marketing Your Authenticity: When Branding Gets Personal. At the HFTHBoston event Saturday we talked a whole lot about the importance of maintaining your authenticity on your blog. Here's another must read from The Everygirl that also speaks to this topic.

Collaborating with a bestie or a new partner? Design*Sponge's Biz Ladies column offers us some great advice on how to tackle these tricky situations in their article, How to Pull Off a Stress-Free Collaboration.

A must-attend event for anyone who owns or is looking to start an e-commerce business: Selling Online - Launching an eCommerce Startup at Workbar this Thursday from 6:30 - 8:00. 

H E A L T H  &  F I T N E S S

Feeling stressed? 10 Ways You're Making Your Life Harder Than It Has To Be from Thought Catalog.

Almost time to hit the slopes! Grab the latest gear at the annual Ski & Snow Expo going on this Thursday to Sunday at the World Trade Center in the Seaport. 

A R O U N D   T H E   H U B

Nail Art Princess: Meet Nina Park, a roller derby team member, an english teacher, and owner of an Instagram account that has over 16,000 followers that live and die for her nail art images. Oh and she lives right here in Allston. 

It's almost time! The Harvard Art Museums re-open this Sunday after a long awaited wait. 

What are you up to this week? Share your events and giveaways with us on Twitter at @JustUsGalsBos!

- Suzanne

Sunday's True Confession

Latest Obsessions

Am I the only one who's wardrobe goes solely gray and black in the winter? I can't help it, it just happens! But these are some staple pieces (as well as accessories) that I am totally dying over right now. Though they are black and gray I think they are pretty badass and cool. 

1. Dying for this J.Crew coat but they are sold out of my size. Cross your fingers for a re-stock!

2. This shirt is a must. Must I tell you!

3. I have yet to attempt the cape trend but this Zara cape seems like a good place to start.

4. I am so onboard with the resurgence of Doc Martens. And they seem like pretty good winter boots, no?

5. Dying to read Thrive, by Arianna Huffington. Have you read it yet?

6. I think these will be my earrings for 2015. I love a simple shine.

7. I am obsessed with Linda Rodin so I am dying to try her new product line, Rodin Skin Care.

8. You gotta add a little pop if you're wearing all black and grey! Start with this RMS Lip2Cheek number in Beloved. 

What are you currently obsessing over? 

- Suzanne

Why You Must Try Dry Brushing

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Oil pulling, charcoal teeth brushing, juicing - there have been countless beauty trends over the past couple years - all a little strange, but many effective. Our latest tested-and-approved beauty trend is dry brushing. 

I first heard of dry brushing from Jody and Ashley as a way to continue the journey to good health after completing the 14 Day Whole Food Detox. And, after spotting a selection of dry brushes at Follain, I decided to buy one and try body brushing for myself. 

WHY BRUSH: Dry brushing daily before each shower promises to exfoliate, draw toxins out from the skin, activate the lymphatic system, smooth rough spots (elbows), and even help slightly decrease cellulite. 

COST: Sustainably-made sisal brush from Follain: $10. 

ACTUAL RESULTS: Starting out, I was nervous about over-exfoliating and irritating my sensitive skin, but so far, no problems. In fact, rather than being itchy or awkward, dry brushing is really soothing and comforting - like a quick mini-massage. As far as the other claims, let's go through them one by one. Does dry brushing...
Exfoliate? Yes.
Detox & activate lymphatic system? Hard to tell, but I feel great.
Smooth skin? Yes.
Decrease cellulite? No results in this arena yet, but I've only been brushing for about a month, and I hope to start seeing results in a matter of 6 months or so (before next bikini season)!
Bottom Line: Dry brushing takes less than 5 minutes per day and the results are well-worth the time. Plus it feels great!

 

- Cameron

Office Makeover by One King's Lane

  

One King's Lane recently modernized the office space of Whitney Port, one that she shares with her siblings and was a bit too business-oriented and bland.  Sound familiar?  

The makeover is now in line with Whitney's esthetic.  The guidelines used are so simple!  Which of the nine tips would you incorporate into your own workspace?

- Meredith

all photos from OKL

The Week of November 3

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V O T E

By now you probably know who the candidates for governor are - Martha Coakley and Charlie Baker - but do you know the ballot questions? Tomorrow, Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to vote on some important issues. Make an informed decision by brushing up on the questions. While we encourage you to vote anyway you find appropriate - we also hope that you will support better recycling measures in the state by considering a 'yes' on question 2. 

E A R T H

At some point over the past few months I discovered The Tree Kisser on Instagram. They have the cutest animal-friendly and vegan-themed shirts and totes. I kind of love the Kale-afornia girl tote. And this tank is perfect for yoga!

If you haven't already been to one of the free lectures at The New England Aquarium, there are some really great speakers coming in the next few weeks - check out the schedule and make reserve your seat. 

Interested in connecting with powerful, motivated women in the energy industry? RSVP for Thursday night's New England Women in Energy and the Environment Annual Meeting and Networking Event (free!). 

R E A D

Fun fact - you can listen to a month of unlimited audiobooks for $1 through audiobooks.com. I'm currently doing the month-long trial. It is the perfect way to kill time while waiting for the T or to make the work day go faster. 

Gather with your friends to discuss Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, our latest discussion guide is out. 

Our next read is The Vacationers  - so head on over to the Boston Public Library website and reserve a copy. 

S L E E P

This time of year is always surprisingly busy. Make sure to stay healthy by getting enough sleep - something that we always forget to prioritize while concentrating on diets and fitness instead. Start with these 12 Tips for Sleeping Soundly. 

Getting to sleep can be tricky when you're wound up - next time it happens, try this relaxing breathing trick. 

- Cameron

Book Club Discussion Questions for 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt

1. Rate the book A - F.

2. Many comparisons have been made between this book and Great Expectations and other Dickens books - do you see the similarities? Are they significant?

3. For most of the book, Theo is 13-15. Does that seem right? Does he seem wise beyond his years? Immature?

4. Does the book seem to accurately depict the feeling of loss? People's reaction to Theo's loss?

5. Theo meets many personalities throughout his young adulthood. Which do you like best?

6. What advice would you give to Theo if you met him after his mother passed?

7. Are there any good influences on Theo's life? What impact do they make?

8. Why do you think such a sad story has become such a popular novel?

9. Would you see a movie based on this book? Who would you pick to play each character?


- Cameron

JUGs Jams: November Playlist

Remembering Mayor Thomas Menino, 1924-2014

We lost a great one yesterday.  Former Mayor Thomas Menino was our city's longest-serving leader, from 1993-2013.  He epitomized strength long before the Boston Strong movement.  Likely the Mayor that we JUGs will remember most since we all grew up in the area, he truly made a huge impact on the lives of most Bostonians.  He has passed on as a legend and we send only happy memories and support to his family.  We are glad he is no longer in pain and will continue to smile thinking of him and seeing his name sprinkled throughout the city, a visionary that changed Boston for the better.

- Meredith


all photos from boston.com

Ain't Nothin' Wrong With Feelin' Blue

Yesterday a friend of mine Instagramed a picture of her new home office with the most gorgeous bright blue walls...and now I'm totally jealous! I can't get this vibrant color off my mind! It feels so cozy and adds such a dynamic pop to a room, don't you think? 

Would you or have you painted a room bright blue? What do you think?

- Suzanne

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Daily Read: The Kind Life

Did you just say you've never heard of The Kind Life?! AS IF!

The Kind Life has been actress Alicia Silverstone's healthy living dairy for the past few years and even resulted two books - The Kind Diet and The Kind Mama. Alicia combines conscious, healthy living with environmental sustainability and animal rights to create a blog about how to do everything without hurting anyone or anything else. Though the overall blog is not political, she still manages to tackle the tough issues like fracking, climate change, and animal slaughter for leather production (seriously, did you know that many soccer cleats around the world are made of kangaroo leather? yikes). Alicia also rounds up some great vegan recipes like vegan shepard's pie and sweet potato black bean enchiladas. I definitely want to get a copy of The Kind Diet ....adding it to the Christmas wishlist ASAP - it is a perfect follow up to the J+A Whole Food Detox I completed in September.

- Cameron

JUGs Approved: This Is Life with Lisa Ling

So I've only seen three of the five aired episodes to date, but I'm already prepared to say that I am a huge fan of CNN's new show, This Is Life.  Renowned reporter Lisa Ling (who, fun fact, delivered my college commencement address!) produces and hosts the investigatory program that focuses on various life choices, often questionable and unusual, within sub-cultures of the US.  Her journalism is raw, with an early episode diving into the serious stuff right away, painkiller addiction within affluent Mormon communities in Utah.  Needless to say, the topics are incredibly real and moving.  I'll leave everything to your own interpretations, but there is no doubt that this show will open up your mind and awareness to the candor shown.  I find This Is Life a great outlet to expand horizons and to learn!  New episodes air on CNN Sunday nights at 10pm, with past episodes available on demand.

- Meredith

The Week of October 27th

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Is November seriously creeping up on us?!  We can't believe it.  Any thoughts on what will be the big costume this year?  Here are some updates we wanted to share:

F O O D
It's crockpot season!  Be sure to follow these guidelines.

Have to fix a bad mood?  Check out certain foods to eat according to how you're feeling.


H A L L O W E E N
Still in need of a halloween costume?  These little divas and divos could easily be translated to adult versions.

BostInno presented holiday events for the upcoming week.


M I S C E L L A N Y
This parody of Matthew McConaughey's Lincoln commercial was dead on.

Have you seen the steamy new show, The Affair, on Lifetime?  It is not one to miss.


S E L F
For that inner peace we all desperately need, you can read up on meditation here.

Moving soon? (Or bookmark for next year!) One of our favorite Boston blogger gals, Ali, outlined how to stay organized during the moving process.


T E C H N O L O G Y
Did you get an iPhone6?  Be sure to read about how to use Apple Pay here.

Google is always a step ahead, especially with email.

Last week, Emily made some good points in relation to how to deal with anxiety and how to put travel first, both important topics.


Do you have any Halloween plans to share?  We'd love to know what you're dressing up as, be sure to comment or tweet at us with costume ideas and/or plans!

Make it a great one!


- Meredith

Sunday's True Confession

Saturday Inspiration

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Giveaway: Set of 12 Greeting Cards from Proper Pen

Happy Friday, gals! Seems like a great day for a giveaway, doesn't it?

Today we are pleased to announce we will be giving away a set of 12 handmade greeting cards from Proper Pen. Incase you missed it we featured Proper Pen owners, Lisa and Bridget, on this Wednesday's Who's That Gal. Together they are an unbeatable team of besties producing some amazing work. 

To enter, leave a comment below and follow us on twitter as we will announce the contest winner next friday at noon. Good luck!

Psst, even if you aren't the lucky we winner, we've got something for you. Enter the code JUGS20 when checking out of the Proper Pen shop to receive 20% off your total order.

- Suzanne