Last night we had the privilege of meeting former Miss Universe Chelsi Smith at an event right here in Delaware and of course, gifting her with a beautiful ring by WHIMSY.

Since retiring her crown and sash, Chelsi has embarked on a successful career in entertainment and modeling. Her acting debut in the independent feature film Playa’s Ball co-starred Alan Payne and Elise Neal; she co-hosted Beyonce’s hit special Beyonce: Family and Friends on Pay-Per-View; and she can also be seen on HBO in Saladin Patterson’s One Flight Stand.

As well, Chelsi has been a guest on such shows as Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, the Jon Stewart Show, the People’s Choice Awards, Jim Thorpe Sports Awards, and the Soul Train Awards.

Never one to rest on her laurels, this talented young woman is also backed by Music World Music/Sony and has a flourishing career as a dance/ pop recording artist. Chelsi co-wrote and recorded the single Dom Da Da with top producer Damon Elliott, which was featured in the motion picture The Sweetest Thing, starring Cameron Diaz.

Chelsi is pictured here with Craig Whitten, the designer of the WHIMSY jewelry line.

How to look good and do good at the same time? Banyan Paper Handbags from Good Paper (formerly Banyan Paper) are the perfect solution!

These stylish bags are crafted by women who used to live on the world’s largest garbage dump, located in the Philippines. They would scavenge for bottles and cans to feed their families.  But now, thanks to microfinance loans, they produce beautiful handbags and provide for their families in a safe and dignifying work environment. 

Banyan Paper Handbags are handcrafted from local recycled materials such as unused newspapers and telephones books. They are reinforced with wire, and some of handbags use either twine or re-purposed tubing for the handles.  There is also a cloth lining on the inside of each bag and a zipper top on the Mia, Tina, and Christine styles.  All of the handbags have a layer of varnish as a topcoat to help them keep their shape and make them more weather resistant.  Each bag takes between 2-4 days to create, depending on the complexity of the design. 

My personal favorite and at the top of my list is the Mia, pictured. Priced at only $46, this is a great statement bag and sure to generate lots of compliments!

This is a great gift to receive, but it’s also a gift that gives twice – once to the woman that gets to carry this stylish bag and once to the woman whose hands created a beautiful piece of artwork with the power to change her life.

Get a gorgeous Banyan Paper Handbag and make Christmas special this year!

Flipping through the most recent issue of InStyle magazine, I was amazed by all the frosty white, and I don’t mean snowflakes! White banded watches are de rigueur for the holidays and I, for one, couldn’t be happier!

These watches run the gamut from an ultra sporty offering by Movado, to a substantial white ceramic linked version by Anne Klein, plus everything in between.

Want the look?

At the high end, Tiffany & Co. has a dazzling, diamond encrusted Atlas watch on a luxurious white band. Although I couldn’t seem to find it online, after a quick call to Robin at Tiffany & Co. and I found out that this fabulous watch is crafted of 18-karat gold, with — you guessed it – diamonds! Lots and lots and lots of diamonds. The Atlas watch comes in two sizes. The larger version will set you back a whopping $28,000 and the smaller one retails for $23,400.

A much more affordable version is the Aurora from Tommy Hilfiger. This watch has similar roman numerals and also has a round face. There’s plenty of bling but this sparkle comes from crystals. The band is a croc embossed leather and has an added bonus – it’s reversible! And for a mere $95, this is the watch I hope will be under my Christmas tree.

Let it snow!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and if your family is anything like mine, the cameras will be out in full force. Below are a few quick tips to keep you smiling now – and in a few years when you look back at your holiday memories.

A ¾ view is instantly slimming. Stand with the body turned away from the camera and turn your upper body toward the camera. And don’t forget your mother’s advice and stand up straight.

Hand on hip please. Take a tip from Miss USA contestants and actresses walking the red carpet. No matter how thin and toned your upper body is, if you have exposed arms, the flesh will “pouch” if your arms are next to your body. A hand on the hip is an easy and effective solution.

Solid, bright colors have a “wow” factor. Large prints just make you look… large. And who wants to add 10 lbs. before they’ve eaten any turkey?

Ditch the glasses. The glare can ruin a photo. Plus, you have beautiful eyes – show them off!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

I am really looking forward to Thursday! Not only because I love my turkey, but I am not cooking (Hooray!) so this year I can afford to be a little more stylish than I normally would.

My history with Thanksgiving is not too inspiring … white angora sweater splashed while stirring the gravy (ruined), magenta silk scarf dipped while mashing potatoes (ruined), grease spots on my favorite black silk pants (ruined)… well, you get the picture.

But this year, I vow, will be different (did I mention that I’m not cooking?) Now comes the hard part…what to wear? My family and friends are certainly not going to be playing touch football on the lawn a la the Kennedy clan, but we’re not exactly stuffy either. Which leaves me with a conundrum – what to wear that will be fashion-forward, comfortable, and not too formal?

My answer was, as always, online. At Talbots I found an absolutely perfect seasonless, wool-blend flounced-hem skirt for $99.00. This is such a useful item – work, play, holiday. One skirt goes everywhere, and in my favorite color of the season, gray!

The skirt would be beautiful paired with the Ann Taylor flirty ruffled cardigan pictured here in an irresistible, deep garnet. This gorgeous cardi can be dressed up or down and is a major bargain at $49.50 (previously $90)

The look just begs for another of my favorite trends, patterned tights. I found this pair of black tights at Banana Republic in a great, muted texture – nothing too crazy – for only $17. And the best part — they’re machine washable!

The finishing touch? My new silver Tiffany key pendant, a recent birthday gift from my fantastic hubby. Now just keep me away from the stove!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

National Jeweler magazine just arrived on my doorstep and as always, it was filled with insightful predictions for the latest in jewelry trends. With gold prices skyrocketing on a daily basis, and the economy still in freefall, you might think that fine jewelry is out of reach for holiday gift giving. But  flipping through the pages of this and other trade journals, I see that many high end jewelers – from Tiffany’s on down – have embraced alternative materials like sterling silver, natural pieces like beautifully grained wood and even handcrafted glass to create unusual, beautiful and very affordable pieces worthy of a place on a Holiday Wish List.

My Top 3 Picks:

Sterling silver. Silver is a great way to incorporate more contemporary styles (key and knot pendants come immediately to mind) in a much more affordable way. I also really like how silver looks with the winter colors that are so popular right now, like retro 1980’s neon brights and of course, all things gray.

Wood. Pieces made of wood have a wonderful, warm quality to them. I also think that wood is very personal – each piece has a slightly different grain to it, so each piece is as unique as the wearer!

Glass. From wildly popular glass bead by Trollbeads, Pandora and Chamilia to large scale Murano pieces. I recently saw an entire kiosk dedicated to large glass pieces at our local mall. The incredible colors, patterns and shapes make these the top of my wish list – from pendants on silk cords, to enormous cocktail rings.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

Favorite

Fashion Picks

Nov. 6-8

Not only does ModCloth have amazing vintage clothing, but they offer a wide variety of vintage-inspired and kitschy accessories—think gold-toned pretzel necklaces and a coin purse that looks exactly like a real chocolate chip cookie.

But don’t get me wrong—not everything is food-themed and tongue-in-cheek. There are also some absolutely fabulous handbags to pine over and great statement jewelry to put on your holiday wish list. I’ve gathered a list of some of my favorites, but definitely check out the website because they update it frequently!

Remember Ring.

You’ll never forget to send a birthday card, pay a bill or run an errand again with this cute little bow ring. It’s adjustable for a comfy fit, and it’s the most stylish way to be the Fashionista Who Never Forgets.

 The Sonnets Charm Bracelet. 

 Charm bracelets will always be “in” in my opinion, and this option is definitely fun and unique. It has nine crests reminiscent of the days of Shakespearean sonnets and nobility. Wear it as a reminder that you don’t have to have a lot of money to feel like royalty.

 Imperial Highness Pin.

 Give a plain peacoat a burst of color with this feathered pin. It reminds me of the crazy feathered hairpieces Keira Knightley wore in The Duchess, and it’s the perfect feathered accessory if you think you look goofy in a feathered headband.

 Raining Cats and Dogs Umbrella.

 If you hate rainy days, this umbrella will definitely cheer you up! The top is plain black, but the underside is printed with colorful cats and dogs. It’s sure to make you smile when you’re puddle-hopping to the office in heels (or big, clunky rain boots).

 Stagecoach Purse.

 I love dark “leather” (I never buy real leather), so when I spotted this bag on ModCloth, with its woven detail and swivel hook fastener, I fell in love. It’s faux-leather, of course, and the strap looks almost like a chain. This is the kind of bag I would traipse around the city with because it’s great for carrying the essentials, especially a camera. 

All photos are courtesy of ModCloth.com.

-Keri

This month’s InStyle arrived the other day and I was thrilled to see one of my favorite colors – purple – throughout! Not only were there great purple accents like bags and pumps, but whole glorious dresses and even gowns.

One reason that I am so drawn to this vibrant color is that purple an amazing attention-getter – truly hard to overlook! Another is that it looks great on almost everyone – from raven haired Megan Fox, to blond beauty Reese Witherspoon, to glorious redhead Debra Messing, this is a color that flatters just about everyone.

Wondering if purple was truly the “it” color of the season, I started to look for some confirmation. Guess what I found? Yes, it’s everywhere! Some of the best:

The Glam Guide recently featured some amazing $525 Miu Miu Suede platform pumps (available at Net-a-Porter), but you can rock the same look for under $100 with the Bukana Pumps by Guess shown here. Nice with a gray pencil skirt for work or skinny jeans and a leather jacket on the weekend.

The Bag Snob showcased a drool-worthy classic quilted Chanel bag in purple, available at Neiman Marcus. Alas, with a price tag of $1,895, reasonable by Chanel standards, it is seriously out of my fall budget. I did find the Nordstrom’s Quilted Mini Bag. Made of luxe Italian leather for Nordstrom’s this bag is a major deal at only $128.

For those brisk fall days Ann Taylor has a beautiful cashmere turtleneck sweater in deep grape just under $175. A slightly more affordable alternative shown here is by Cece, available at Bluefly on sale for only $116 – definitely a great investment.

Finally, I found a piece at Cool Spotters that doesn’t even invite comparison – my favorite piece of all – a flowing chiffon gown by J.Mendel from the Fall 2009 Collection. Lindsay Price was spotted in this beauty at the 2009 Emmy Awards. Shown here as it appeared on the runway.

The color purple for fall? I say yes!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

My husband Don and Mary Alice at Charm City Cakes. Mary Alice is wearing her brand new Audrey ring by WHIMSY!

On Wednesday we had a completely surreal experience. We took a short drive down to Baltimore to talk to the folks at Charm City Cakes about creating a special cake. If the name Charm City Cakes doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps you know the staff better as the cast of Food Network’s hilarious reality show Ace of Cakes. Led by the infamous Chef Duff, this is one crazy group of cake decorators! My family regularly watches their antics, as well as their creation of some of the most amazing cakes imaginable.

So, when we were greeted at the door by none other than Mary Alice, we were floored to say the least. In the back of my mind, I kind of thought we’d be shuffled to the side to meet with some random intern. Apparently, that’s not how they do things at Charm City Cakes! We sat smack dab in the middle of the bakery amidst the fantastic prop cakes we see each week on TV… like I said, it was surreal.

The meeting itself is hard to describe. Mary Alice is so incredibly nice and hilariously funny — by the end of the meeting, we had talked about everything from jewelry, to our last family vacation, to Charm City Cake’s new book and I felt like we’d made a real friend.

Plus I was able to give her one of the brand new Audrey rings by WHIMSY™. She absolutely loved it, especially the fact that the bead turns and she can “worry” it (yes, MA, those quotation marks are especially for you!). She chose a Red Energy bead by Chamilia, which was a perfect match for her upbeat personality.

When we got home, we had a fabulous cake tasting – the slices never made even it to a plate, we ate straight from the box — beyond delicious!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com