Origami Owl Review and Giveaway

A friend introduced me to Cindy Sams, Independent Designer for the hot social-selling jewelry company, Origami Owl. Cindy and Origami Owl Designers across the country create and sell beautiful Living Lockets which can be customized with charms, dangles and plates that tell the recipient's story. Recently featured in Family Circle Magazine, Origami Owl was started in 2010 by 14-year-old Isabella who wanted to earn enough money to buy a car for her 16th birthday. {LOVE} The company has since skyrocketed and now has a waiting list of over 5,000 potential designers.

Origami Owl Founder "Bella"

As one of the first designers to hop on board after seeing the company's potential, Cindy loves running her own part-time business which is helping with college expenses for two of her children. Cindy also has a full-time job and is currently studying for her master's degree. The flexibility Origami Owl offers fits in with her busy lifestyle. 


Let me tell you about these charming Living Lockets. They arrive tucked inside a coin purse made of recycled kimonos and placed inside a chinese takeout box ~ cutest packaging EVER! 

I received the Silver Locket with Crystals in the medium size with the Ocean Turquoise Pearl Dangle and the Eiffel Tower, Flip Flops, Sand Dollar and Crystal Butterfly charms. I took about 50 photos of it, none of which did it justice, but it looks very similar to this ~

Large Custom Silver Locket with Crystals filled with Charms

To give ya'll an idea of what a Living Locket costs, here is the price breakdown for the locket I received ~

• Medium Locket with Crystals ~ $24
• Silver Chain ~ $12
• Ocean Turquoise Pearl Dangle $6.00
• Charms: Flip Flops, Eiffel Tower, Sand Dollar, Butterfly $5.00 each x 4 = $20
• Total ~ $62

Lockets are available in Silver, Rose or Gold, with or without crystals, in two sizes. The medium size holds 4-7 charms and the large holds 7-12 charms. The locket has a strong magnetic closure, additional charms, pre-printed background plates and dangles can be added at anytime. 

Living Lockets can be ordered through Cindy's website or email her with any questions or to place an order directly. What a fun at-home business this would be!

If you're like Bella and Cindy and have a dream of starting your own fabulous business, hurry over to Cindy's website and get in on this ground-floor opportunity before the waiting list gets any longer. The company is accepting new designers in waves {currently adding 250 new designers a week} while keeping a close eye on trends and inventory.

Chic Giveaway! ~ Cindy is generously gifting one lucky reader a Living Locket of their own! {Valued at up to $70}

Please read carefully! To enter complete one or all of the following and leave a comment below for each entry completed including bonus entries {each comment = 1 entry}. Please be sure to leave your twitter ID and/or full name in comments.

• Visit Cindy's website and let us know which charms would tell your story.

• Like Cindy's Facebook page.

Bonus Entries {optional} ~

• Like Chic Luxuries on Facebook 
• Follow @ChicLuxuries on Twitter 
• Tweet about this contest, sample tweet ~ #Win an @OrigamiOwl Living Locket on http://ChicLuxuries ARV: $70 cc: @ChicLuxuries #contest #giveaway
• Click Share under our facebook post about this gifting event and then Share Status/Photo to post on your wall.

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET July 22, 2012. For Complete Rules and additional Gifting Events, please visit our Chic Giveaways page.

Many thanks to Cindy for gifting me this treasured keepsake locket and for sponsoring this giveaway.

Photos courtesy of Origami Owl.

Get the Look ~ BagInc Alexa Bag

Our last promotion for BagInc was so successful, they asked us to host another before it even ended. I have admired the Alexander Wang's Coco Duffel Bag that Kristen Cavallari is carrying for a few years, but with an $875 price tag, I haven't been able to convince myself to order it. So I was thrilled to find BagInc's Alexa bag {lower right photo}.

The likeness is incredible, BagInc's designers even captured the gold-studded bottom on the most popular bag in their collection ~

It's no wonder the Alexa Bag is BagInc's best-selling handbag. We received it in Chocolate which I adore! ~

Even though it's made of soft cowhide leather, I wasn't sure from the photo how pliable it would be. I'm not fond of stiff handbags, this has a cushy softness and  has a slightly crinkled look. I also wasn't sure if the size would be too daunting for me. At 13"w x 11"h, it is perfect and will hold just about everything you can think of carrying. It's in a rich milk chocolate color, with a zippered closure and detachable shoulder strap.

If you love handbags, you won't want Alexa to leave your side. Plan on taking it wherever you go all year long. Be prepared for the occasional envious stare as it will happen! Inside is a soft taupe cloth lining, zippered compartment, and slit pockets for cell phone and keys. Eye Candy and Arm Candy, Alexa is available in Black, Chocolate, Camel, Violet, Olive and Pink. I know there are some who do not approve of designer-inspired anything, but there is something to be said for imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. In my opinion, inspired handbags {and jewelry} help create a buzz about and only add value to the originals. Women who love the Coco Duffel and have the money to spend on it, will still purchase it and more power to them. For the rest of the world, I'm happy BagInc offers the Alexa bag for $159. Add it to your shopping, birthday or Christmas wish list. I'm confident you will love it too!

Guess what? One of you will win an Alexa bag from BagInc! Open WORLDWIDE ~ YIPPEE!! Please read carefully: To enter complete one or all of the following and leave a comment below for each entry completed including bonus entries {each comment = 1 entry}. Please be sure to include your name and/or twitter ID. ~

• Visit baginc.com and leave us a comment below letting us know which bag, in addition to Alexa, is on your wish list.

• Like Baginc on Facebook

• Follow @Bagincbags on Twitter

Bonus Entries {optional} ~

• Like Chic Luxuries on Facebook
• Follow @ChicLuxuries on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest, sample tweet ~ #Win @BagIncBags most-coveted bag on http://ChicLuxuries.com RV: $159 #Contest #Giveaway Open WORLDWIDE! cc: @chicluxuries
• Share our Facebook post about this giveaway on your wall.

• Repin our pin on Pinterest about this giveaway.

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET August 1, 2012. For Complete Rules and additional Gifting Events, please visit our Chic Giveaways page.

Thank you, Baginc, for sponsoring this giveaway and gifting us my new favorite handbag! xox

Gotta Try It!

Easily the most intoxicating room and linen spray on the planet, Sugar Kiss Everyday Everywhere Spray by LaLicious can even be sprayed on your body. Spritz on your bed linens for the sweetest dreams, and in your closet, suitcase, laundry basket, diaper pail, trash bin, or as the name says, EVERYWHERE! We tried it as a room spray and the luxurious whisper sweet scent lasted for two days! Adorable pink polka dot tubular packaging. $25 at LaLicious.com. ♥

Say Bye-Bye to dry, sun-parched lips with ILIA's Tinted Lip Conditioner. A wash of color intensifies the heavier it is applied. Pictured in Shell Shock, it's a cross between pink and coral and my new IT color for summer. Drenches your lips with organic oils, vitamins and fruit extracts. Leaves your lips kissably soft without the unpleasant lipstick taste.  $24 at Ilia.com. 

We LOVE everything about Objects with Purpose ~ the website, the packaging and, of course, the candles. The fight or flight candle has an exquisite floral bouquet of jasmine and vanilla which soothes and relaxes.This is no ordinary candle, it can also be used as a solid perfume or as a warm body oil. Packaged in a luxurious gift box, each candle includes a matchbox with logo. This is a must for candle lovers. Available in single wick for $28 and triple wick for $42 at objectswithpurpose.com.

Beat the heat with Aveeno Positively Ageless Correcting Tinted Moisturizer, it's a sunscreen, moisturizer and corrector all in one. No need to pack extra products for vacation, this moisturizer will save you time, space and money. Made with Aveeno Active Naturals Shitake Complex, it hydrates and nourishes skin. Natural, light-reflecting minerals and lightweight coverage blend away imperfections and help reduce the look of fine lines. SPF 30 sun protection helps to protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays. I haven't tried a product from the Positively Ageless line that I haven't liked, the pricing is affordable and the natural shitake formula is gentle and effective. We found it for $19.99 at ulta.com.

Hey bright eyes! Hot summer days can cause water retention and puffy eyes. OleHenriksen's Ultimate Life Eye Gel Roller Ball to the rescue! A cooling gel infused with cucumber, peptides and witch hazel awakens eyes, helps reduce puffiness and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. And it feels GREAT! Can be refrigerated for extra soothing. This is definitely going with me on my next 14-hour train ride! $28 at olehenriksen.com. 

Many thanks to Objects With Purpose, LaLicious, OleHenriksen, Johnson & Johnson, and ILIA for providing us with the products and images for this feature.

Finds for the Family

Fruit parfaits are a healthy and super easy summertime dessert the whole family will enjoy. Slice your favorite fruit and layer with vanilla yogurt and Cascadian Farm Organic Oats & Honey Granola. For an on-the-go snack, fill a ziploc sandwich bag with Cascadian Farm Organic French Vanilla Almond Granola and sprinkle on peach yogurt. Available at your local grocery store or for $6.49 at CascadianFarm.com.

Even the kiddies will love bathtime with Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Nourishing Body Wash. For a refreshing and uplifting start to the day, we love the scent of White Peach and Ginger in the shower. Try Lavender, Chamomile and Ylang-Ylang for a calming relaxing bath before bed. Infused with anti-oxidants, it leaves skin  soft and lightly scented. The 16-oz. bottle is just $5.59 at Drugstore.com. Aveeno is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson.

If you have young children, don't forget the hair detangler when headed for vacation. Your little ones won't put up a fuss having their hair combed after swimming if it's tangle free. Fairy Tales Coco Cabana Leave-in Sun Spray is loaded with coconut oil, banana leaf extract, and jojoba oil to moisturize dry hair and protect it from sun damage. Spritz on at the beach, pool and lake to create a barrier of protection against salt water, chlorine and sun. 100% Paraben-, gluten-, nut-, and dairy-free. Adults love it too and it's safe for color-treated hair! Available at Fairytaleshaircare.com for $9.95.

Checkout the fun red, white and blue design on these thongs for the guys in the house. From Energie Footwear, these Umel thongs are made in Italy. Poolside, at the beach, or on a boat they are perfect for a summer vacation or July 4th BBQ. The thicker cushioned footbed make them a lot more comfortable than your average flip flops. Energie Footwear can be found in 32 retailers across the US. MSRP is $35.

Trying to keep track of all the important dates for the upcoming school year can be a task for parents and students. The Flag Academic Planner by Sarah Pinto can help. Fill in project due dates, exams, tryouts, sporting events, field trips, socials, and parent-teacher meetings as soon as they are scheduled and keep where everyone can see the week's upcoming activities. The Academic Planner follows the school year calendar. A section for Special Days, Notes, and Future Planning is also included. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks and made in the USA. Several designs to choose from, each measures 5x7". $20 at SarahPinto.com.

Allergies can put a damper on a vacation. Cleaning products used in hotels and motels can make vacationers miserable if they are allergic. If you have allergies, take along some non-drowsy over the counter medication. We like Allegra, it's effective on both indoor and outdoor allergies and it comes in a non-drowsy meltable tablet for children 6 and up, an adult tablet, and a liquid formula for children 2 and over. Find it at groceries, mass retailers, and drugstores. 

Thanks to Johnson & Johnson, Fairy Tales Hair Care, Allegra, Sarah Pinto, Cascadian Farm, and Energie Footwear for providing us with the products and images for this round-up. 

Girlfriends Giveaway

To celebrate Chic Luxuries' upcoming birthday, we're giving away a huge prize to one lucky reader to share with her best girlfriends. Get your girlfriends together, tag them, tweet them and invite them to join in for a chance to win a summer palooza of products ~ enough to share with several of your best girlfriends. {Of course, guys are welcome to enter as well}. 

The prize includes:

• 3 Glam Natural Lip Glosses
• 5 Yves Rocher Nail Polishes
• Vitabath Sugar Scrub
• Vitabath Lotion
• Aveeno Skin Strengthening Hand Cream
• Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer
• Aveeno Positively Nourishing Pomegranate + Grapefruit Body Lotion
• Aveeno Positives Nourishing Calming Lavender + Chamomile Body Lotion
• 8 Yves Rocher assorted LipGlosses, Lipsticks and Lip Balms
• Sarah Pinto Academic Planner
• Bored with Your Hair Top Knot Kit
• SkinAuthority Coffee Almond Scrub
• OcuFresh Tote bag
• 4 Stash by Mi Amor
• Avon Advanced Techniques Lotus Shield
• 2 Avon Shower Gels
• Avon Roller Ball Pen
• Optics Lab OcuSave Eye Vitamins
• Optics Lab Eye-Cept Rewetting Drops
• 2 Aspercreme Lotions
• Chicken Soup for the Soul book
• Poo-pourri Atomizer Gift Set
• 2 Yves Rocher Shower Gels
• Lip Plumping Lip Gloss
• Phone Fetcher
• Children's Allegra
• Color Your Smile Lip Gloss
• The Poopie Purse
• 2 Oh WoW! Lip Balms
• Yves Rocher Body Lotion
• 3 Yves Rocher Mascara
• 5 Yves Rocher Eye Shadows
• 4 Yves Rocher Eye Pencils/Eye Liner
• 5 Eco Lips Lip Balms
• Glitz-See 
• Pocket Mirror w/ Case
• Objects with Purpose 3-in-1 Solid Perfume, Candle and Body Oil and More!

Approximate Retail Value of Prize: $500+.

To Enter ~ Leave a comment letting us know how you are spreading the word about this contest. Please leave a separate comment for each completed entry. Here are a few entry ideas ~

• Follow @ChicLuxuries on Twitter and tweet about this contest, sample tweet ~ I've entered to #Win the Girlfriends #Giveaway from @ChicLuxuries on http://ChicLuxuries.com and you can too! ARV: $500 #Contest

• Follow Chic Luxuries on Facebook, Like and Share one of our posts about this contest on your wall.

• Follow us on Pinterest and Repin our pin about this contest.

• Tag a friend on Facebook with a link to this contest.

• Get creative and have FUN! 

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET August 1, 2012. For Complete Rules and additional Gifting Events, please visit our Chic Giveaways page.


Thank you to the many brands listed above whose generous product submissions made this giveaway possible.

Beauty on a Budget Chic Finds Under $10

Summer's heat can cause skin to breakout. Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads helps keep skin clear and provides refreshing cleansing for your face at home, traveling or at the gym. Pre-moistened with salicylic acid and moisture-rich soy extracts, they are gentle enough to use on sensitive skin. For extremely hot days or for a rejuvenating "pick-me-up" any day, try refrigerating them for 20 minutes before using. Pads are hypo-allergenic, soap and oil-free. Available for $6.15 at Drugstore.com. Aveeno is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson.

Nourish hair that is damaged from chemicals, heat and over-exposure to the elements with Infusium23 Repair & Renew Leave-in Treatment. Use after Infusium23 Repair & Renew Shampoo and Conditioner to strengthen hair against damage to alleviate breakage and split ends caused by routine styling. SRP is $6.99 each for the Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-in Treatment. Available at pharmacies, grocers, and mass and online retailers.

Vitabath's Cupcake Couture Scrumptious Vanilla and Sugar Body Wash. Made with Shea Butter, Vitamins A, B3, C, E and B5. Sweet goodness for your skin and just $9.99 for a 12-oz. bottle, myvitabath.com.

I'm addicted to the scent of Brittanie's Thyme Organic Hair Silk and love that it can be used on dry hair in between shampoos to smooth frizzies. Place 3-4 drops in palm, rub hands together and apply from root to ends. Made with organic Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Lavender Oil and Organic Rosemary Oil. Perfect size for traveling or to stash in your purse or desk for those bad hair day emergencies. A 1-oz. bottle is a steal at $9.50. Find it at Brittaniesthyme.com. ♥

Candles are the ideal way to add beauty and ambiance to any room or occasion. They make the perfect centerpiece when a budget doesn't allow for flowers and they can transform a simple bath into a spa-like experience. This Frosted Keepsake Jar Candle from Tomslitehouse Soy Candles will last 40-45 hours! WOW! Made of 100% soy, the candles burn evenly and cleanly, are handpoured and are available in almost any scent imaginable. My fav is Sugar Cookies...deliciously sweet scent of vanilla icing. $7.99 at Tomslitehouse.com

Many thanks to Johnson & Johnson, Brittanie's Thyme, Infusium23, Tomslitehouse Soy Candles, and Vitabath for providing us with the products and images for this article. 

Blogger Review and Giveaway Opp

Maria Tirotta, AVON Senior Executive Unit Leader and CEO of AVONdreamers, is looking for bloggers to host reviews and/or giveaways of her favorite AVON products. Complete the form below if interested in participating. Selected bloggers will be contacted via email. This is an ongoing opportunity, every effort will be made to include as many bloggers as possible. 

About AVONdreamers: Maria's team consists of over 1,000 AVON Representatives across the U.S.  The AVONdreamers team ranks #15 of more than 500,000 Representatives in the U.S. Maria has been serving AVON customers for over 20 years. For more than a decade Maria's passion has been to lead, mentor and assist Representatives achieve their dreams while building their own successful AVON businesses.

Gigi Hill Ginger Crossbody Review

I had heard of Gigi Hill when their PR gal contacted us for a feature, but I hadn't yet seen a Gigi Hill bag in person. The first thing that came to mind when I opened the package was "This bag would be perfect for a Mom". I then read how the company was founded and learned, sure enough, two Moms got together on a soccer field and decided there had to be a better bag for a Mom's busy life. They were right! We received the Ginger Crossbody ~

The second thing that struck me was how well the bag is made and with such attention to detail ~ Tassel rope drawstring with brass rings and magnetic snap closure, lined in turquoise and brown with slip pockets for phone and keys, and a zippered compartment for additional security. 

Made using durable oil cloth, this bag will last for years and Moms will love that it wipes clean! Measuring 17.5"W x 13"H x 6"D, this bag can hold it all...water bottles, baby bottles, wipes, makeup, agenda, you name it! There are many designs to choose from and each bag can be made in a variety of patterns. Ours was made with the Lulu pattern, a pretty garden theme lovely for summer. Combined with chocolate piping, tassel and strap, it can be worn in the cooler months as well. The Ginger bag retails for $92.

Want to earn a part-time income? Become a Gigi Hill Stylist and earn 25% commission on personal sales and more when leading a team of stylists. Or, earn discounts, free product credit, and hostess rewards by having a Gigi Hill party! What a great idea for a summer get-together with your girlfriends. Learn more and see the entire collection at GigiHill.com.

Many thanks to Gigi Hill for gifting us their beautiful Ginger bag.