Nickels & Dimes: Warby Parker x DonorsChoose.org

In my opinion, there is nothing cooler than combining philanthropy with fashion. Stylish brands like TOMS and FEED for Target allow shoppers like me to give back to the global community while lining our closets with bags, shoes, hoodies and more. Talk about retail therapy!

For that reason, I am so excited about Warby Parker’s partnership with non-profit organization DonorsChoose.org. Revolutionary eyewear brand Warby Parker was founded by four friends, Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, Jeffrey Raider and David Gilboa, with a common passion for helping people in more ways than one. They decided to create a company that would provide high-quality prescription frames and shades (plus a monocle) for honest, reasonable prices. Warby Parker’s vintage-inspired glasses cost only $95, compared to the $500+ pairs you’ll find at most optical boutiques.

We’re Steppin’ Out: 2013 BET Awards

I would like to start by giving Black Entertainment Television a huge round of applause for this year’s BET Awards. They were probably the best I’ve seen in recent years, and went off relatively without a hitch. The theme for the show was “Anything Can Happen,” which you would think meant Lil’ Wayne & Co. would be gallivanting across the stage with their jeans around their ankles while Miley Cyrus and her Twerk Team did naked aerial yoga to Iggy Azalea’s “Work”. But thankfully, none of that happened, and the BET family was able to keep it classy for an evening. For the most part. Here are my picks for best and worst dressed this year.