...because home doesn't happen overnight.

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Congrats to Genny Ramer!

Some of you may remember this instagram post. Besides the obvious laughs, that photo also yielded many questions about my glasses. The short answer is they’re from BonLook.

bonlook 1

The long answer? The really REALLY long answer? I had 20/20 vision until my second year of college when I found myself squinting at the board. {That right there totally dates me. Do colleges and universities still use chalkboards nowadays?} In my early 20’s, I got my first pair of glasses. Since then, my vision has changed. A lot. Pregnancy was a huge factor. Sometimes my vision improved; sometimes it worsened.

Fact: When I was pregnant with Mabrey, I failed the vision test at the DMV when I was renewing my driver’s license.

The clerk took pity on me and said, “Hmmm…maybe it’s your hair. It looks like your hair is in your eyes. Would you like to try again?”

“Uh, yes…YES, it’s my hair,” I lied, pushing back my hair dramatically, not wanting to come back another day and wait in line two hours. I tried again and passed by the skin of my teeth. Nicest DMV clerk ever, right?

Anyway, I got lazy with my eyes. Getting new glasses every year was a hassle, not to mention, expensive. I pretty much never wore my glasses because they weren’t up to date and they had teeth marks in them from our dog who has since passed away. I went five years with no vision test, no eye exam of any kind. Oops. Then, a few months ago, I developed the most annoying twitch under my right eye. It would start as soon as I woke in the morning and last all day. This carried on for two months. TWO WHOLE MONTHS OF EYE TWITCHING. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. HH finally talked some sense into me and I went to see an optometrist.

Turns out, the vision in my right eye had changed for the worse. Not wanting to drag my kids around an eyeglass store while I chose one pair from the million on display, I thought I’d try shopping online. Our vision insurance doesn’t cover frames so I was looking for something inexpensive yet stylish and versatile. I wanted my new glasses to be appropriate for everyday and for dressing up from time to time, too. I found all that in BonLook. And, bonus!, they offer an online tool that lets you virtually “try on” glasses from the comfort of your home. Sold and sold.

After “trying on” several pair and selecting one, emailing a copy of my prescription to BonLook {some states require vision prescription verification} and calculating my pupillary distance with BonLook’s online measurement tool {super convenient since my optometrist failed to record it on my prescription} my order was ready to go in a matter of 20 minutes one evening after the kids were in bed. I found a coupon online and spent less than $80 on my new glasses. I have never spent so little on a pair of glasses! And I love them to boot.

bonlook 4

As luck would have it, a week into living with my new glasses, BonLook contacted me and asked if I would like to become one of their brand ambassadors. Of course! The brand is affordable, high quality and stylish and offers a quick and convenient online shopping experience. It’s a brand I stand behind.

And, and, AND!…BonLook is offering one House*Tweaking reader a FREE pair of glasses! See entry details below.

PRIZE: one pair of BonLook glasses {$99 retail value} Prescription or non-prescription. Eyeglasses or sunglasses. Shipping not included.

RULES: You must have a shipping address {no P.O. boxes please} within the WORLD. One entry per email address.

TO ENTER: Go here to enter to win.

DEADLINE: Enter before November 22nd. One random winner will be chosen.

WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: BonLook has an interview with me up on their blog today. It covers blogging and my thoughts on glasses. Check it out if you’d like!

Yes, I have a new blogging stool that I need to write about. No, I don’t normally blog in a skirt.

images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

36 Comments

15.November.2013

I’m curious which style you chose? Maybe you said it in your post and I missed. Sorry if that is the case :).

15.November.2013

I would also like to know the style of your frames. I made an appointment this week for an exam new glasses and have been looking at on-line retailers like bonlook. this post is right on time :)

15.November.2013

I had the same prob – I realized I needed glasses when I was staring at the chalkboard in my law school class and coudln’t figure out why the professor thought anyone could read his tiny writing. Turns out it was my eyeballs to blame. P.S. I had no idea there was such a thing as online glasses shopping – genius!

15.November.2013

I TOTALLY need a new pair of glasses – the ones I have are years old and I only wear them to and from the bathroom before/after bed.

15.November.2013
15.November.2013

It’s linked up in the interview.

http://blog.bonlook.com/post/67062005995/women-we-love

15.November.2013

i found my answer as soon as you posted the link! thanks!

15.November.2013

I love the Betty style! :)

15.November.2013

Hi, thanks for the giveaway, but I followed the link and entered my email and now it’s asking for a password. Help!

15.November.2013

nevermind, my bad haha

15.November.2013

My glasses are the pecan toffee Alice! There’s a link to them in the interview.

15.November.2013

Pecan toffee Alice!

15.November.2013

Seriously…. could you be more beautiful? You are stunning, like your home. I don’t wear glasses, so I studied your house in the background of the photos! :) Did you just use that chair just for the BonLook photo? I seemed to remember a different (wooden) chair you had at your desk area before?

You are such a stunner! I love those glasses, and have been putting off going to get my eyes checked out for 3 years now. I’m pretty sure my vision has tanked and I need help. Argh! Maybe this is the kick in the pants I needed.

15.November.2013

I mentioned it at the very end of the post…it’s new and I will post about it soon!

15.November.2013

So I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I am (oddly enough) passionately against ordering glasses online. My mom worked with an optometrist for 30 years, and I have several close friends in the field. I have had glasses for over 20 years, and believe the optician (that person who helps you find/order/receive your glasses) is SO valuable to the experience.

In short, I think anyone should reconsider the optician (and NOT shop online) because: 1) finding the right glasses for your eyes is much more than color and style, 2) often the lab doesn’t get your prescription/specs right for the lenses (in 20 years, I’ve had my lenses sent back SEVERAL times), and 3) many times people don’t know what type of add-ons are best for their lifestyle and/or eyes.

I do realize that this is a personal choice. But please be educated about what value an optician brings, and the pitfalls of shopping online. Please reconsider using a professional!!!

15.November.2013

My husband desperately needs a new pair of glasses so I am entering for him. He needs an update badly!

15.November.2013

I tend to agree. I ordered a pair of sunglasses online (website undisclosed) and they do *okay,* but give me a headache after extended periods of time. I think a measurement or two may be off, and had I gone into an optician I feel like I might not have the same problem.
Someone who needs glasses AT ALL TIMES will probably find it worth going in person to pick out specs.
For occasional use, such as *only* far away, or *only* reading glasses, or like in my example, sunglasses, I feel like online is a great way to save a few dollars on a spare pair. :)

15.November.2013

That is so funny. I had the same thing happen not long after my daughter was born at the DMV. And the lady was so nice. She was coaxing me along to give the correct answers. They seem to be back to “normal” (which isn’t exactly great but it is what I’m used to and what works with my RX, lol) now. Such a strange thing. I thought I might be a little cooky!!

16.November.2013

I have totally been neglecting my eyes. I’m only a year overdue for new glasses but I have not been able to justify the $400 price tag for my lenses. Bifocals….. I’ll have to check this out and see if they would work for me!

16.November.2013

Oh, this would just be awesome! My son was informed that he needs glasses. Perfect timing for this giveaway!

16.November.2013

Dana, first off, you look beautiful in the photo! Secondly, my question has absolutely nothing to do with glasses but I couldn’t find the post for what I wanted to ask, so… I know a while back you were enthralled about ordering and receiving some hammam towels for you and HH… I wanted to see if you still loved them, are they absorbent/large enough, worth the price and how they have held up?! I’m thinking of ordering some for Christmas and wanted honest feedback before I placed my order! Thanks so much for any advice you can give!!

16.November.2013

I have always loved tortoise colored frames for my seeing eye glasses and my sunglasses. Yours suit you perfectly, and I definitely agree with the others… You are just as gorgeous as your home!

16.November.2013

I kinda feel bad… almost 40 and my vision is fine (knock on wood!!!). But I have extreme light sensitivity and would love a new pair of sunglasses! My “fancy” ones are so scratched I’ve retired them and now I am using ones from the dollar store….

16.November.2013

By the way, I’ve wanted to mention that I really like your new photo at the head of your blog.

17.November.2013

We are still using the turkish towels. They take up less space and are absorbent HOWEVER since we are all sharing one bathroom and sharing towels {it’s just easier right now, not a long-term solution} it seems they aren’t fully drying out between consecutive uses. They are definitely drying out better than the regular towels we were using before but I was hoping they would dry even more quickly. I plan on buying a few more once the other bathroom is finished so we can each have our own clean {and dry!} towel at any given time. In all honesty, I don’t think I’ll go back to regular towels but I do wish I would have stuck to neutrals {grays & neutrals} instead of buying the rainbow.

17.November.2013

very cute glasses. wondering if you ever posted a winner for the uncommon goods giveaway?

18.November.2013

Dana, I love bonlook!!! i too had the same story regarding my vision. I was 21 and couldn’t see the board anymore. For some reason I thought everyone just saw things blurry until I had to get glasses and realized the world was more beautiful than I thought it was!!

18.November.2013
18.November.2013

it looks good on you – nice choice

18.November.2013

It isn’t just the styling of frames that makes an optician valuable, fitting the glasses to your face can be crucial to having good vision with your glasses and having them sit comfortably on your face. Opticians always provide this service for free…when you order glasses from them. Ordering them online means there is no one providing this service for you. The other big issue is the fact that opticians take precise measurements so that the optical center (and if necessary, bifocal line) sit in the exact right place for you….this is part of what the pupillary distance is. Your optometrist did not fail to note that on your prescription because optometrist never measure that in the course of a standard eye exam, and most offices won’t even have the instruments to do so. This (and other measurements that many online retailers don’t even bother with) is the job of an optician fitting you for glasses.

Like Staci said, not every pair of glasses you get online will be ill-fitting or provide you with less than your optimum vision. But, most people don’t realize that by buying online, you are sacrificing some important parts of the process, and if your glasses don’t work as well as they should then there is no you can go back to to get it straightened out!

18.November.2013

I too cannot too strongly advise people to find a good local optometrist and optician for their needs. Also, please never put off getting a regular eye check up – many time other clinical conditions can be discovered through a good eye exam (high blood pressure, for one).

I do get my contact lenses on line (after a throrough exam with my optometrist AND AT HIS SUGGESTION), but would never think of getting glasses on line. Not only do I appreciate a professional advising me on which frames work best with my prescription lenses, as well as my coloring and face shape, as mentioned before, it’s imperative to get a professional fitting. And, if nothing else, if the glasses need tweaking down the road (losing a screw, whatever), your local optician will usually take care of that gratis.

Sure, we all know that there are really basically, what, two manufacturers of frames – but a good optician will add far more to your purchase than the frame and the lenses. They’ll be checked and be perfect for you. before you leave the shop I’ve had glasses sent back to the manufacturer when I thought they were fine at first wear – but my optician wasn’t pleased with the fit.

Remember, folks, you get what you pay for – and your eyes are worth more than the cost of a cheap pair of shoes. :-)

19.November.2013

Entered, and I am excitied about this giveaway and BonLook. However, it also asked me for a password (weird) and then after I entered it, said “THANKS FOR SIGNING UP TO THE GIVEAWAY!”

Not instilling a lot of confidence, grammatically or otherwise (though it is a refreshing change to have a giveaway that one can enter without having to jump through “Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Pinterest!” requirements to enter.

19.November.2013

I agree with you all. An optician will also suggest certain coatings based on what you do on a daily basis. I am on the computer all day for work and I cannot imagine not have the anti-reflective coating, the glare from my monitor without it is unbearable. I also find it uber distracting when I am talking with someone who is wearing glasses and doesn’t have it, every light is reflected off the glasses and right back at me. The anti-reflective coating is definitely not something you would ever pay for if shopping online, but once your optician shows you a sample, you realize it is worth every penny!

20.November.2013

I followed the link but I couldn’t enter. I would love free glasses. Just so happens I am going to the eye doctor today.

09.January.2014

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