Boston Babes, if you’re free this evening and in need of a little mani action, then you should head on over to Town’s Nail and Skin Center (336 Newbury Street, Boston) for “Manicures and Martinis.” For a $25 donation, you will enjoy a complimentary mani, martinis, light appetizers and get to learn more about Nest.

Nest is a great organization operating under a cool concept. Nest is dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries by helping them create sustainable entrepreneurial businesses. Nest provides micro-credit loans to be used for the purchase of the supplies and materials necessary to begin and/or maintain art or craft-based businesses. The loans are used to create clothing, accessories, and products for the home which are then sold online and in stores! You can learn more by clicking here!

The M&M action kicks off at 7p…If you’re going, I hope you have a great time!

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I hope you all have been keeping up with all the charitable happenings in Chicago! Please break out your calendars and get ready to add another event to your planner!

Next Thursday (the 19th), Aniko Salon and Spa (1109 S. Wabash) is inviting guests to come out between 5-9p for a night of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and beauty treatments. Proceeds from the Aniko Dream Glam event will benefit Dreams for Kids, a charity empowering young people of all abilities to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world.

Guests will also enjoy bridal consultations, skin analysis, vendor presentations, raffle and door prizes for charity, a sneak-peak
into the Spring/Summer 09′ hair fashion trends, and Aniko goodie bags. Whew…That’s a lot!

For more information on Aniko Salon and Spa, please visit their home on the web: anikosalonspa.com.

You can also keep up with their latest spa news and happenings by checking out their blog: anikosalonspa.blogspot.com!

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Chicago gals…Don’t forget to send me your information to enter the raffle for Shecky’s Girls Night Out tickets!

All you need to do is send me (thefabgiver@gmail.com) the following information by this Thursday, the 26th:

Your Name

Your Favorite Cause/Organization

That’s it! So simple…I will let the winners know on Friday, the 27th! For more information, click the flyer below and check out my original post!

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Before I get started, let me just say that I l-o-v-e events like this one! The Illinois Medical District Guest House Foundation has a goal of providing affordable short-term housing to the families of patients receiving treatment at one of the three* IMD hospitals. Currently, the IMD Guest House Foundation is leasing 10 apartments with the goal of constructing a stand-alone facility near the Medical District.

On Thursday, March 5th, they are hosting a beauty fundraiser at Bloomingdale’s on North Michigan Avenue from 6-9p. For $25, guests will be treated to cocktails and have the opportunity to receive complimentary services from beauty brands such as Bobbi Brown, Benefit, Chanel, Clinique, Dior, M.A.C., Rock and Republic, Smashbox, and more!

To purchase tickets and gain more information on this event, visit the Events page on the IMD Guest House website!

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*Hospitals include Rush University Medical Center, University of Illinois Medical Center, and Stroger Hospital of Cook County

Ciara at M.A.C. Hello Kitty Event

Every girl’s best friend, M.A.C., partnered with thirty top fashion designers to bring the world couture designs inspired by Hello Kitty. The designs were unveiled last week at an event attended by fashion’s finest and celebrities. The talented roster of designers include such names as: Catherine Malandrino, Charlotte Ronson, Elie Saab, Emanuel Ungaro, Giles, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Kai Kühne, Kate Sylvester, Marchesa, Miro, Opening Ceremony, Qiu Hao, Rosa Cha, Ruffian, Shu-Chi Huang, threeasFOUR, Vicente Villarin, Yigal Azrouel, Zac Posen, Zimmermann, and many more!

The pieces will be auctioned off on eBay to benefit the the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology. The auction begins tonight at 10pm EST/7pm PST, and will run until February 19th (closes at the exact same time). The items can be found by clicking here!

The M.A.C. Hello Kitty makeup collection will be available online and in-stores beginning Thursday, February 12th. Spoiled Pretty has the product lineup, and you can also visit www.maccosmetics.com for more information!

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To my Chicago ladies, I know that the weather is testing your nerves, but don’t let it get the best of you! Try altering your beauty routine to help you feel better! Lather Salon is hosting events tonight and tomorrow designed to not only pretty you up, but also to raise funds and awareness for P.A.V.E. (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment), an organization committed to using education and action to fight domestic and sexual violence.

Read the rest of my Examiner post here.

Sephora has added a section featuring products which benefit selected charities. Click the graphic below for more info!

Some of the products were featured before, like the Carol’s Daughter lip gloss and the Sephora Tote, but a few are new!

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It’s no secret that the winter can bring about horribly dry skin. I feel like I’m applying lotion and a slew of other moisturizers CONSTANTLY. I guess it’s just one of those things that we can’t avoid (like political scandals in Chicago). 

If you’re looking for a new moisturizer to add into your routine, I suggest that you check out LUSH Cosmetics’ Charity Pot. I sampled it a few days ago and my hands felt super soft after using it, and the smell was actually very light and nice. 

The best part about the Charity Pot is (obviously) the retail price is donated to LUSH’s Charity Pot program, which donates money to a host of animal and environmental rights charities. You can purchase the Charity Pot as a stand-alone item (7.9 oz, $20.45), or you can purchase it as part as the Charity Pot Holiday Gift Set ($59.95).

(Includes Charity Pot, and fair trade lotion, a massage bar, soap and shower gel)

For more information on the organizations that LUSH supports, click here!

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Spa Week in Chicago kicked off on Monday, and during this fabulous time we have the opportunity to enjoy discounted treatments for $50 at more than 25 area spas and salons. For a listing of participating spas, please visit spaweek.org. Spa Week Media Group, the PR firm responsible for Spa Week, also donates a portion of the proceeds from Spa Week to Cancer and Careers, a resource for working women living with cancer.

You have until Sunday, the 19th, to take advantage of these deals. With the seasons changing and our (Chicago) sports teams in disarray, who couldn’t use a relaxing massage??? Exactly. Enjoy!

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Marie Claire has come up with a list of 150 products to support breast cancer awareness and research! You can view the entire list by clicking here! Some of the featured products include:

Special edition Shiseido Lip Gloss, $20.50 (Available at Macy’s or Sephora)

Coach Lexington Breast Cancer Awareness Watch, $398 (Available at Macy’s or Coach stores)

Teleflora Pink Blush Bouquet, $49.99 (Available at Teleflora.com)

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