What's in My Shopping Bag?

Helly Hansen W Crew Jacket will keep you dry and looking chic on land and sea. Helly Tech® protection ensures the fabric is waterproof, windproof and breathable. Additional features include a quick-dry lining, high collar, and three zippered pockets. Available in a range of strikingly beautiful colors. $150 shop.hellyhansen.com

Give a room a new look for summer just by changing out a few pillows. We love the colors in the BluebellGray Melrose Pillow. Looks like a watercolor painting and it's super soft and comfy too. $70 at macys.com

Even if you have a keypad on your garage door, you'll love the MyQ Garage Door Opener from Chamberlain. It allows you to remotely open and close the garage door from anywhere in the world!! It's no longer necessary to give neighbors, friends or repair persons a key to your home. Simply download the free app, MyQ works with your home's WiFi and your smartphone with no monthly fees. $129.99 at chamberlain.com. 

I've been trying so many different veggie recipes, the last thing I want to do is spend time scrubbing a fry pan. Nothing, and I mean nothing, sticks to the WOLL Diamond Plus Fry Pan making cleanup a breeze. Veggies, eggs, even steaks cook up evenly and quickly in the 9-1/2" pan which has outstanding heat retention. The nonstick coated cast-aluminum pan comes with a lid and is PFOA-free. Dishwasher and oven safe to 500°. $134.95 direct.frieling.com

BUILT NY Sizzler Oven Mitt is built to last and protect. The extra long sleeve extends to the elbow and textured neoprene on the front and back protects fingers and hands up to 500°. Machine washable.  Available in 5 colors for $14.99 builtny.com 

Kuhn Rikon's Stay Clean Scrubber is made of 5,000+ food-safe silicone bristles. The BPA-free sponge is safe to use on nonstick cookware and all kitchen surfaces. Just pop in dishwasher to clean. Lasts longer than traditional sponges and doesn't harbor bacteria. Use dry to remove lint on clothes. Available in 5 colors for $8 kuhnrikon.com

No more wondering which drink is yours at the summer soiree with Charles Viancin's Butterfly Drink Markers. Made from silicone, they have a suction back which easily adheres to smooth surfaces. The look pretty decorating a cake plate too. They make a lovely gift for party hostesses too. A set of 6 are $4.99 charlesviancin.com

Keep fruit and salads cold at your next backyard party with this fun and festive Luau Inflatable Salad Bar by Big Mouth. Simply inflate and fill with ice and goodies and voila instant fiesta! SRP: $19.99 A dealer locator is available on bigmouthinc.com

EnerPlex Jumpr™ Slate 5K is a super slim 5,100mAh battery that charges smartphones, tablets, GPS, cameras and more on-the-go. Its unique design has holes which fit journal and binder rings. Comes with a tethered micro USB-cable for easy charging. Small enough to fit into a pocket or wristlet. $54.99 at goenerplex.com

L'Occitane Shea Butter One-Minute Hand Scrub is like a spa manicure in a jar. Organic sugar exfoliates skin while shea butter and sweet almond and grapeseed oils nourish and soften hands. A must-have for gardeners and anyone with dry or cracked hands. It also works wonders on feet. A 3.5 oz. jar retails for $24 at loccitane.com

ULTA does it again with another fabulous deal on a makeup kit. The ULTA Beautiful Face Kit includes a palette of 5 lips shades, a separate palette of 8 eyeshadows, face palette with 2 highlighters and a blush, a dual-ended eyeshadow and crease brush and a dual-ended blush and contour brush. A $61 value, the kit is just $19.99. Hurry it won't last long. ulta.com

My mascara obsession continues! I'm fanatical about replacing mascara every 3 months so I thought by now I had tried every brand on the market. Per-fékt® Liquid Lash Curler Mascara is a new one to me and I ♥ it. From the brush that curls each lash to the rich formula that doesn't flake, smudge or disappear throughout the day. It's per-fekt alright! $28.50 perfektbeauty.com 

Chic Giveaway! ~ One lucky reader will win the prize of their choice from our gift closet.

To Enter: email chicgiveaway@gmail.com and include the following:

• "Shopping Bag" in the subject line
• your first and last name
• complete mailing address
• twitter id 
• facebook name 

Sample tweet for your convenience ~

#Win the prize of your choice from @ChicLuxuries gift closet in their Shopping Bag #giveaway Details: ow.ly/X2g3301ISdQ

If you're entering our giveaways, we ask that you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET July 31, 2016.  Limit one entry per household. Winner will be notified by email and announced on our Winner's page. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. We received no compensation from any brand featured in this post, nor were affiliate links used. 

Starting Week 13 on Nutrisystem

Week 13 is here and so is summer! While I spent most of the winter indoors hiding from the world, I'm spending more and more time outdoors while on this journey. I'm also trying to stay on track in between all the summer get-togethers which always involve a variety of tempting foods.

Nutrisystem includes an Eating Out Guide with your first order which is filled with tips and smart choices. While some have reported the weight is falling off of them, my lbs. are a bit more stubborn. I've worked hard to shed each and every pound so I'm now super conscious about calories especially when eating out. This past week I chose coleslaw over fries at one restaurant and passed entirely on the chips at one of my fave local eateries, Paradise Grill. That may not sound like much, but for me, it is HUGE! I also passed on the sugary frozen drinks and had water with lemon instead. If you're looking for low-cal frozen drink recipes, I found this on Nutrisystem's The Leaf ~

My fave food pick for this week is the Nutrisystem Whole Wheat Ricotta Crepes. The creamy ricotta filling with tomato and roasted red pepper sauce is fantastic. The dinner entree includes 2 crepes and for a total of just 240 calories!

Although this isn't the end of my Nutrisystem journey, the #NSNation team asked that a "before" and "after" picture be posted at the end of the 12-weeks so here it is...

I can see a difference and can't wait to see what changes the next 12 weeks will bring. I shed another .6 lbs. this week for a 12-week total of 19.2 lbs. Thank you, Nutrisystem!

To save 40% off the cost of meals and receive 14 free shakes plus an additional $30 off visit nutrisystem.com/nsblog. For delicious, low-cal recipes and weight loss tips, check out https://leaf.nutrisystem.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. 

My Journey Begins ~ Starting Weight ~ 180 
Week 1 ~ Lost 6.2 lbs. ~ Weight 173.8
Week 2 ~ Lost. 1.4 lbs. ~ Weight 172.4 ~ Total Loss 7.6 lbs. 
Week 3 ~ Lost .4 lbs. ~ Weight 172 ~ Total loss 8 lbs.
Week 4 ~ Lost 2.2 lbs. ~ Weight 169.8 ~ Total Loss 10.2 lbs.
Week 5 ~ Lost 1.8 lbs. ~ Weight 168 ~ Total Loss 12 lbs. 
Week 6 ~ Lost .2 lbs. ~ Weight 167.8 ~ Total Loss 12.2 lbs. 
Week 7 ~ Lost 2.2 lbs. ~ Weight 165.6 ~ Total Loss 14.4 lbs. 
Week 8 ~ Lost .6 lbs. ~ Weight 165 ~ Total Loss 15 lbs. 
Week 9 ~  Lost 1.2 lbs. ~ Weight 163.8 ~ Total Loss 16.2 lbs. 
Week 10 ~ Lost .4 lbs. ~ Weight 163.4 ~ Total Loss 16.6 lbs. 

Week 11 ~ Lost 2 lbs. ~ Weight 161.4 ~ Total Loss 18.6 lbs. 

Week 12 ~ Lost .6 lb. ~ Weight 160.8 ~ Total Lost 19.2 lbs. 

Until next week...

Disclosure: In accordance with FTC regulations, I am disclosing as a Nutrisystem Nation Blogger, I am receiving 12 weeks of Nutrisystem food in exchange for writing about my weight loss journey. Affiliate links were not used in this post nor was any other compensation received. All reviews are my own.

Favorite Things - Summer '16 Edition

We've rounded up some of our favorite finds that we think you'll want to snatch before they're gone. When you're done shopping, pop back here and enter to win the prize of your choice from our gift closet. 

We're featuring this stunning Liquid Leather Jacket by Clara Sunwoo now because it is destined to be a sell out. It's ultra chic, lightweight, crease-proof, and oh-so-soft and comfortable. We adore the slimming, eye-catching design and placement of the zippers. Take it with you when traveling for cool summer nights, but trust us, you'll want to wear it year-round. Also available in Black and Olive. Love, LoVe, LOVE this head-turner which is a steal at $179. Pre-order at clarasunwoo.com 

Yes, that's Luke Bryan looking as cute as ever in his namesake sunnies from Costa del Mar. The comfortable, medium fit Luke sunglasses are available with plastic, glass or prescription lenses in Costa's popular frame and lens colors. Our fave combo is the black shiny frames with the blue mirror lenses. 100% UV light blockage and 100% polarization to kill reflected glare and reduce eye strain. Hard case and limited lifetime warranty included. Starting at $169 at costadelmar.com

Brighten every outfit this summer {and spirits too} with the Thirty-One Paris Tote in Candy Pink Pebble. Carry it or wear it as crossbody. It's large enough to hold a tablet and has interior slip pockets for cell phone, lipstick, keys and a snap closure. Craving more organizational compartments? Add the optional snap-in Triple Slit Pocket. Additional colors available. $78 thirtyonegifts.com

Get the party started with the Creative® iRoar Intelligent Wireless Speaker. Its BlasterX™ acoustic engine takes the listening experience to new heights by allowing the user to create multiple audio profiles with unparelleled performance while the upward-driving audio and side-firing passive radiators deliver a wider soundstage with unprecedented power from a bluetooth speaker of its size. Use the dashboard app to adjust equalizer, immersion and clarity. Fun features like Voice Morph which alters your voice during calls and recordings to using the speaker as a wireless personal PA system for presentations, iRoar's innovative technology is only surpassed by its mind-blowing sound. When the parties over, set the sleep timer and drift off listening to your favorite sounds. $369.99 us.creative.com. 

Uprooted Artistry handcrafts gorgeous artisan wooden serving boards, display pieces, and risers from dead trees that the Pine Beetle leave behind. Each one-of-a-kind creation is a work of art and conversation piece and can be personalized with a name, monogram or text burned into the wood. Unique, stunning and eco-friendly. ♥ uprootedartistry.com

Totally enamoured with this Women's Daybreaker Fleece Jacket from Helly Hansen. The picture doesn't do the color justice, it is brighter in person and simply GORGEOUS! Made of lightweight Polartec® fleece that can be worn every season, it will keep you warm and cozy on cool summer nights in the mountains or by the beach. It has two zippered pockets and a slim, chic fit. Available in 6 additional colors. $65 at shop.hellyhansen.com

The Beachwaver S.75 creates salon-worthy waves and curls for those with shorter hair, or anyone wanting the look of tighter curls. The ceramic rotating barrel distributes heat ranging from 290-450°, evenly from top to bottom to achieve a professional looking style in minutes. Includes a small clamp to hold hair in place without kinking. $129 exclusively at ULTA and ulta.com.

We recently featured Colorescience's® Sunforgettable® Brush-on Sunscreen SPF 30 and after using it every day at the pool, it quickly became one of my Favorite Things for summer. The chemical-free, fragrance-free mineral powder sunscreen is water resistant up to 80 minutes and comes with an attached brush applicator. Available in 5 shades, it provides flawless coverage with a hint of color. No mess, spoiling, or sticky residue = LOVE. Also available with SPF 50. The .21-oz size lasts about 3 months. $57 colorescience.com

Whether or not you're trying to lose weight, Nutrisystem's Chicken & Bacon Ranch Pizza is far and away THE BEST frozen pizza I have ever had.  A perfect combo of juicy bits of tomato, crisp bacon, and chicken combined with a garlic ranch sauce on a thin crispy crust that is absolute heaven. They have not asked me to feature any products in Favorite Things nor have we spoke about it, but this pizza is too good not to not tell ya'll about it. And, yes you can order it ala carte even if not on the plan. Just 280 calories! $5.99 nutrisystem.com

Stoller Family Estate 2015 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Rose will be the star of your cocktail party. It begins with an amazing Pink Grapefruit acidity followed by succulent flavors of peach, guava, apricot and watermelon and ending with a delightful dry finish to the complex layers. The strikingly beautiful ruby pink hue is not to be overlooked. Available in a 750ml bottle for $25, a Rose Gift Set with 2 unbreakable wine glasses for $40, or in a limited edition magnum for $60. stollerfamilyestate.com.

D-Link AC3150 Ultra Wi-Fi Router is crafted for those with large homes and anyone who wants faster Wi-Fi speeds for HD streaming and video gaming on multiple devices. Featuring a AC3150 speed for lightning fast home network, high power antennas for wider coverage, Ultra Dual Band, 1.4GHz Dual Core Processor, Smart Connect,  and high bandwith Wi-Fi signal to multiple devices simultaneously. $279.99 dlink.com

Karen's not alone in choosing L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream as her favorite thing. The company reports one is sold every 3 seconds around the world!! This best-seller combines honey, shea butter, almond and coconut oil to instantly moisturize, nourish and protect hands. Available in regular and travel size starting at $12. loccitane.com

Chic Giveaway! ~ One lucky reader will win the prize of their choice from our gift closet. {psst as with all our Favorite Things features, we'll be adding something special to our gift closet}. 

To Enter: email chicgiveaway@gmail.com and include the following:

• "Favorite Things" in the subject line
• your first and last name
• complete mailing address
• twitter id 
• facebook name 

Sample tweet for your convenience ~

RT #Win the prize of your choice from @ChicLuxuries gift closet in their #FavoriteThings #giveaway Details: ow.ly/tJ06301tRS8

If you're entering our giveaways, we ask that you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Contest ends 11:59 PM ET August 31, 2016.  Limit one entry per household. Winner will be notified by email and announced on our Winner's page. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize. Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. We received no compensation from any brand featured in this post, nor were affiliate links used.