CoolSculpting® is the safe, effective and non-invasive way to reduce fat in common trouble areas that tend to be diet- and exercise-resistant. *Cue angels singing* Its a revolutionary new body contouring treatment that precisely targets the stubborn fat you want to lose – naturally, safely and without surgery or downtime. CoolSculpting® is FDA–clear and totally safe.

It is a medical fact that fat is uniquely susceptible to extreme cold. CoolSculpting turns the tables on fat by harnessing the power of cold to naturally trigger fat reduction. Targeted fat cells crystallize, break down and then are eliminated through the body’s natural processes. Basically the CoolSculpting system uses cold to target fat cells and trigger their natural death, with no damage to nerves or other tissue. The body naturally absorbs the dead fat cells as they die over a few week period, leaving you with a significantly reduced waistline!

CoolSculpting takes about one hour per treated area and most patients are able to rest, check email or read while undergoing treatment. There is minimal discomfort with the treatment, no downtime and most patients can resume regular activity immediately after treatment.

Personally, I would love a tummy tuck. But those risks make me nervous and taking downtime to recover with three little kids is just not an option. Cool Sculpting is an amazing safe alternative – and significantly cheaper to boot!

WIN IT!

Cool Sculpting is giving away a treatment, valued at $1,500!

Be sure to follow Cool Sculpting on Facebook and Twitter for updates!

disclosure: we were compensated for our time in writing this post and promoting the giveaway.

ISN’T THAT CATALOG AMAZING??? Two of everything, please!!

Thirty One Gifts is the leading provider of fun, stylish and functional products for women, their families and the home. From signature purses and totes, to storage solutions that help organize your life, there’s something to fit every personality and situation.
The name Thirty-One comes from the verses of Proverbs 31 in the Bible that celebrates the busy, hardworking wife, mother, friend, daughter and sister in all of us. Thirty-One recognizes women for who they are and all they do for their families and their communities! Through Thirty One Gifts, tens of thousands of women have contribute to their lives financially by owning their own business!
This is a brand I can get behind 100%!! Love the brand. Love the mission. Love the product!

My favorite right now? This gorgeous Weekender Tote for only $98.

I love how things can be personalized with embroidery and monogramming – little touches like that makes for amazing gifts!

Two styles of their Thermal Totes are on sale for $10 and $15 through 1/31  – these would make amazing teacher gifts, birthday gifts, etc. Stock up!!!

WIN IT!

All Things Chic is giving away a $100 Thirty One Gifts gift card!!! 

Mandatory Entry:

Share who you would gift with a gorgeous Thirty One Gift creation! Would you treat your mom for Mother’s Day? Save it for your sister’s birthday? Use it for yourself?

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Thirty One on Twitter.

3. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

5. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

1. Drink more water & get more sleep: A hydrated, rested body makes for healthy glow!
2. Wash yo’ face: Ladies, do not go to bed with make up on. Just don’t. Keep a stash of Olay Wet Facial Cloths for nights when you’re just too tired to wash.
3. Eye cream: I don’t care how young you are. Use it. It doesn’t have to be pricey. You can come back and thank me in ten years.
4.  Get a 5 minute routine: Figure out how to get polished in 5 minutes. Quickly dab on concealer, brush on mascara, a touch of blush and a quick flat iron and you’re good to go. Every girl should have one!
5. Relax. Stress is not good for you. Take time to relax. Get a massage, soak in a bubble bath – just a bit of take time every week to find a bit of peace in life.

We can help you with that last one!

WIN IT!

All Things Chic is giving away a $50 Spa Week gift card courtesy of Trop50 – fruit juice with 50% less sugar and calories and no artificial sweeteners!! Reveal the truth behind your New Year’s resolution and receive a $1 off Trop50 coupon for yourself and 50¢ off coupons for 50 of your friends. You can also enter a sweepstakes on the Trop50 facebook page to win a $1000 gift card. I’ve tried Trop50 and I love it – I have no idea how they made it taste so good with half the sugar, but they did!

Mandatory Entry:

Share your beauty resolution!

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Trop50 on Twitter.

3. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

5. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

Thank goodness Shutterfly just launched the amazing Family photo site, Shutterfly Family Photos!  This site is such a great resource – I immediately added it to my bookmarks, since I always have trouble getting great family photos. They have tips on dealing with difficult children (and difficult husbands), tips and tricks for lighting and backgrounds, ideas for indoor and outdoor settings and (my personal favorite) an entire series of style tips from a fashion and style expert, Jenn Falik. Among the top style trends for this season’s holiday photos, Jenn Falik has great recommendations for photo styling – and we came up with some examples you can pick from!

Color-Blocking

Group photos can bring one of the season’s hottest trends, color-blocking, into action. Arrange your family in different bold hues for a stylish, runway-ready look! Recommended color choices this season include jewel tones like rich purple, cobalt blue, emerald green and lipstick red. We went with reds and pinks paired with neutral gray!

Bright Holiday Picture Outfits by allthingschic featuring knitted shawls

Get Comfortable

Cozy knits, specifically in shades of ivory or chocolate brown, will be trending this holiday season; and the textures of sweaters can play beautifully in photos. Pair with similarly colored bottoms for just the right amount of coordination. How cozy is this?

chunky sweater family photo! by allthingschic featuring a toggle sweater

Accessorize

Opt for one large statement piece and one small accent piece per person, such as a hair accessory or scarf – minimal accessories with maximum impact.

outdoor photo shoot by allthingschic featuring sheer scarves

Thanks to Shutterfly, we can all have gorgeous family photos in our holiday cards… in more ways than one!

WIN IT!

We are thrilled to offer our readers a chance to win 25 of Shutterfly’s darling new 4×8 cardstock Holiday Cards!!

Mandatory Entry:

Share your tips for getting a great family photo!

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Shutterfly on Twitter.

3. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

5. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

To find out more about Shutterfly – check out their Facebook page!

To show our support, we uploaded a holiday photo of our family wearing Nautica apparel (provided by Nautica) to the Nautica Facebook wall. Take a peek! I was thrilled with how this turned out. We were in a rush before church one morning, so we dressed everyone in our Nautica apparel, set up the tripod, and took 2 shots. Bam! Done. Easiest holiday photo shoot EVER.

I have always known Nautica to be a quality clothing brand, but I was exceptionally pleased with the quality of the items they sent. The girls’ tops are adorable, and my sweater was comfortable and fit nicely. I particularly liked that the sleeves were nice and long (I have long arms, and I hate it when my sleeves are struggling to cover my wrists!) The boys both liked their shirts; all in all, we were pleased.

Every year we try to get the perfect family picture for our Christmas cards, and I’ve learned a few tips along the way. If you still haven’t taken your family Christmas card photo yet, here are a few things to consider.

5 Tips for Getting That Perfect Family Photo

1. Choose a good time.

Don’t try to get your perfect shot at the end of the day when everyone is frazzled or when you’re in a rush to get out the door, say, to church or something. Okay, so do as I say, not as I do. It typically doesn’t work out well.

2. Use natural light.

If at all possible, take your picture in an area that has natural light. It’s so much more flattering. Morning or dusk is ideal, but you can use the shade if it is mid-day. The photo above was taken at 8:30 a.m.

3. Arrange people in a triangle.

The rule of thirds (photography) and the law of threes (decorating and design) applies here. Try to get people standing in somewhat of a triangular formation. We attempted that here, but the girls should have probably been moved over a bit more so that they were more centered. It’s just more pleasing to the eye.

4. Choose outfits that coordinate but don’t necessarily match.

Matchy-matchy is unnatural, and it just looks dated. Everyone should compliment each other though; otherwise the clothing will be distracting. Not sure where to begin? Maybe you have one article of clothing you love and want to use. Then try to coordinate everyone else’s around that piece.

5. Choose clothes that you would normally wear.

If you don’t ever wear button-downs, then don’t wear them for a family photo that is going to be gracing the refrigerators of friends and family from sea to shining sea. Wear something that represents YOU.

For more tips on how to coordinate outfits for family photos, stay tuned for What To Wear For Family Photos posting on All Things Chic tomorrow.

WIN IT!

To help pay it forward, Nautica is providing one All Things Chic reader with an adult or child sweater.

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Nautica.com, then leave a comment on this post telling us what Nautica apparel you would choose to wear for your holiday family photo.

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

3. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

4. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

Meanwhile, all ATC readers are eligible to receive a 30% discount at Nautica.com. Use BLOG30 at checkout to receive 30% off your entire order between November 7 and 14 (excludes watches, home items and fragrance).

And remember, you can upload your Nautica family photos in support of charity: water all holiday season long.

I was so happy to receive a hand stamped Love Tokens Necklace from Something About Silver.

It has a delicate and gorgeous chain with three little charms with one of my girls’ names on each of them.

I love it and wear it everyday. It goes with everything, and the quality is amazing. It is truly a treasure to me, and I’m thrilled with the product.

I could not believe how quickly it came – especially for custom work – so you have time to start shopping for the Holidays!

Something About Silver has an extensive collection of hand stamped custom jewelry – from necklaces, rings, bracelets and keepsakes.

WIN IT!

We are thrilled to offer our readers a chance to win a $40 Gift Certificate from Something About Silver! Here’s how.

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Something About Silver, and come back here and leave a comment mentioning your favorite product.

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Something About Silver on Twitter.

3. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

5. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

To find out more about Something About Silver – check out their Facebook page!

So I was thrilled to hear about BlueAvocado, a sustainable lifestyle products company that offers chic reusable snack and lunch bags for busy women on-the-go. Take a look!

BlueAvocado’s new (re)zip line of clear machine washable baggies comes in three sizes (snack $4.50, lunch $4.75, bulk $5.50) and is meant to replace disposable plastic baggies. Made of clear, FDA grade, peva film, the (re)zip includes an audited impact label and carbon footprint. In addition to food items and snacks, the (re)zips are great for organizational and travel needs.

How perfect is that!? Cute and practical and not at all cumbersome. You can purchase BlueAvocado products at Bloomingdales and Whole Foods and online at Amazon.com.

TRY IT!

All Things Chic readers may receive 15% off their BlueAvocado orders through 11/30/11 with the code bachic15.

WIN IT!

Win a hip pod and a matching set of the (re)zips in Avodot (a $23.74 value). Here’s how!

1. Visit BlueAvocado.com and tell us your favorite product! (mandatory entry – the rest are optional)

2. Follow BlueAvocado on Twitter.

3. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

5. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.

Enter the Neckalina, a hot new accessory from Cincinnati-based design shop KaVatee.

Ooo la la! Check out all of those fancy Neckalinas!

It’s a soft knit (think t-shirt… hence, the “tee” in the company name) circle scarf plus a detachable chunky necklace, which makes it a versatile three-in-one accessory for your closet. I was provided a Caroline Neckalina to review, and I decided to take it on a three-day trial run. Here’s what happened.

Day 1: Full Neckalina
I decided to dive right into the challenge wearing the full Neckalina. This is the boldest accessory I have ever worn and I have to admit – I was a little nervous to wear it. My scarves are all fairly conservative-ish, nothing too exciting. This is bright pink, right next to my face. Nothing like saying, “HI EVERYONE I’M HERE LOOKATMEEEEEE!” like a bright pink accessory, right? But my fears quickly came to pass. The Neckalina got a lot of attention, both from those who know me well (my co-workers) and complete strangers (random shoppers at Macy’s). I did find myself readjusting the Neckalina a few times throughout the day, because the scarf part of it was riding up a little bit. The Neckalina felt a little bit heavy, but not too bulky.

Day 2: Scarf only
I loved the contrast of the bright pink scarf with my neutral gray-white-black outfit, but maybe my co-workers were done with my hot pink ways by Day 2? No comments from the peanut gallery when I wore it this way. I will offer this piece of advice: Should you ever purchase or be gifted a Neckalina, I do recommend you wash it first. I have fairly sensitive skin, and I usually wash everything before I wear it. I didn’t with this, but it rubbing against my delicate neck skin (did I really just type those words?) created quite a rash. Lucky me!

Day 3: Necklace only
Wearing the necklace only was a fun way to add a pop of color to an otherwise plain outfit. I wore it to a business meeting, and I felt it gave enough of a splash to help me stand out – but not so much that I was uncomfortable.

Neckalina - with and without!

I did encounter a problem with the Neckalina on Day 3 – the necklace turned my white shirt pink! I have to say, though – I shot a quick email to Katie and Val (the “Ka” and “Va” of KaVatee) to let them know about the issue, and they were on it immediately. Turns out it was a production issue that they weren’t aware of, and they took steps to fix it for me and for all their other customers. They’re actually hand-polishing each and every one of the Caroline Neckalinas before they send them out. It was an example of excellent customer service that seems to be lacking in a lot of places these days, and a true testament to two entrepreneurs who are working hard to create a niche and good name for themselves.

All in all, I really like the Neckalina. It’s funky, fun, and definitely unique. One of the designers is actually having her bridesmaids wear the Caroline for her upcoming wedding this month! I can’t wait to see pictures of that; what a stunning sight that will be.

At $88 a pop, the Neckalina will definitely set you back a few pennies. I wish they were more in the $50 range, but then again, if they were cheaper, more people would have them. If you’re looking for a bold way to stand out from the crowd, this is it. It would make a great gift for the upcoming holidays, too. I won’t lie, I have my eye on the Audrey. I hope my husband is reading…

So, tell me. What do you think of the Neckalina?

WIN IT!

Would you like to win one?! Entering is easy, and there are a couple of ways to do so. Leave a separate comment for each entry method:

1. Visit KaVatee’s shop online and tell us what Neckalina you want to win in the comments! (mandatory entry – the rest are optional)

2. Follow KaVatee on Twitter.

3. Follow All Things Chic on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to the All Things Chic monthly newsletter.

5. Subscribe to All Things Chic daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the And The Winner Is plugin for WordPress and will be notified by email. Good luck!

Be still my beating heart.

It has all the features that I love about my Desktop version, but it is HUGE. Also, the spiral binding allows you to fold it backwards, so it ultimately takes up less space even though it’s bigger and has a lot more space for recording my busy schedule.

I just love how it has a place for your all your kids’ activities (or in my case, I use that bottom section for work – it is my editorial calendar for each of my sites.) I’m telling you, only a mom could come up with such a brilliant organizational system! Plus, it is so very chic (my favorite is the zebra print) and being organized is always on trend!

Now pretend this is a brilliant segue. We’ll get back to the momAgenda in a second, but first I have some egg-citing news to share with you!

Melissa and I are getting ready to launch a monthly newsletter!

This type of blog has SO much content that gets buried SO very quickly, we decided that it’s high time we start a newsletter to keep our most loyal fans up to date on our latest projects and to highlight some of our best posts. There will also be special deals and discount codes available only in the newsletter so even if you are a loyal daily reader, you will still want to sign up!

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter here or you can subscribe right over there on the sidebar at any time!

So what does the momAgenda have to do with all this? I’m so glad you asked.

Anyone who signs up to receive our monthly newsletter will automatically be entered to win their very own momAgenda Home Office edition in either zebra or pink — your choice.  (Of course, we will never sell or otherwise misuse your email address, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

We will randomly select a winner from our mailing list on Monday, September 26. The winner will be notified by email and has 3 days to respond before we choose another winner. Please have a US mailing address for shipping purposes.

Also, if you’re not already, you’ll want to be sure to follow momAgenda on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss out on any of their great promotions.

WIN IT!

One lucky All Things Chic reader will receive this fabulous prize pack from Suave Kids! (Tickets not included. Sorry

There is 1 required entry and 3 optional entries, for a total of 4 possible entries. This giveaway is open to US residents.

REQUIRED ENTRY:

1. Tell us your favorite Smurf!!

GIVE YOURSELF AN EXTRA ENTRY IF:

2. You are subscribed to All Things Chic via RSS or Email. Leave a separate comment saying so.

3. You are following All Things Chic on Twitter. Leave a separate comment.

4. FollowSuave Beauty on Twitter. Leave a separate comment.

On Friday, we will select a winner using the And The Winner Is… plugin for WordPress. We will post the name of the winner on Facebook and Twitter so be sure to watch for it!