I had never heard of Origami Owl...every locket tells a story, what's yours?

living-locket Recently, a friend of mine invited me to  a "jewelry party".  I'd never been to one before but had heard of things like this.  I wanted to go and support my friend, of course, so I went.  What I found was pleasantly surprising, so I wanted to share my experience with you... the story behind the company and how it started was quite inspiring.

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I had never heard of this particular company before, it's called Origami Owl.  The concept is to tell your story through jewelry.  At first glance, for me anyway, being 42 years old.... it looked quite "young" and I wasn't sure if I'd wear any of it.  With that said, the jewelry was adorable.  They have "Living Lockets" which you can fill with charms of your choosing.  You can collect different charms and switch them out as often as you like, depending of your mood for the day!  You can also make one for someone special that has such meaning and thought behind it because of what's inside!  The lockets open up like in the picture above and snap close with a magnet.  The magnet is very strong, actually clicks closed and feels very secure.  The lockets themselves have a nice weight to them that feels high quality.  They come in different colors... silver, gold, rose gold, even black.  They also come in different sizes and are either plain or have crystals around the edges.

They have more than just necklaces.... they have bracelets and earrings too.  They have TONS of cute charms to choose from... anything you can think of really.  Also all the birthstone colors, plates with sayings on them that can fit inside.  Whatever you put inside, it just "floats" around inside the locket.  Here are a few pics from their catalog so you can see some of the different ways you can design your own "Living Locket"!....

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Charms aren't a new concept, but being done in this way is very clever.  I can see how this has become such a huge trend with young girls (and older women!)... I know I would've wanted so many of these when I was a teenager!  There are all kinds of chains to choose from too in different lengths... the mixing and matching possibilities are endless.

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The story of how this company came about really intrigued me.  It was started in 2010 by a 14 year old girl named Bella Weems.  What started as an after school passion to earn money for a car when she turned 16.... has now become a national social selling company!  The company has hundreds of employees and over 55,000 independent sales representatives called Independent Designers.  The at home parties are called "Jewelry Bars", which is very cute.  Anytime I hear about a young person making a passion into such a huge success it just warms my heart!  Young people still have that "dream" that anything is possible... sometimes we lose sight of that as we get older.   I love that "Dream It...Do It" attitude!  She obviously got her car when she turned 16, considering the company has made many millions.  Now the company gives back by helping others achieve their dreams!  :)

What I noticed at the jewelry bar I went to was it was so interactive.  She had many charms, lockets and accessories to play with, so everyone was putting together different lockets and bracelets to see how they looked.  As I started to do this myself... I wanted one for myself!!  My friend who hosted the jewelry bar, is also AMAZING at making homemade baked goodies.  She made pink champagne cupcakes for my bridal shower years ago... and she made them again for this... among other things!  She also had champagne and other refreshments which made it very enjoyable.

I chose a simple, gold, medium sized locket and I actually paired it with a chain that I had gotten at a boutique called "Wink" when I was in New York on one of my girl's shopping trips!  I chose four charms to go inside my Living Locket...  a happy face for Happy WifeStyle!  A diamond for my husband's birthstone (April).  A gold and crystal dog bone for "Stella".  A gold apple with a crystal in it for my trips to NYC that I love so!!  It looks so cute and it's truly special because of what these things mean to me!  Here's mine...

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Here's a few more for you to see.  I also think you could put photos in them... they are also reversible so you could put a photo that shows on one side and put charms in the other side!

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Another thing I LOVE about this company is this... because it started with a mother and daughter team, they allow girls as young as 12 years old to become Independent Designers for the company as long as they are supervised by a parent.  What a wonderful way to connect with your child, have them learn responsibility, and build confidence by running their own business!  The company gives back and has made it their mission to help others achieve their dreams by being a "Force For Good".  They have also partnered with Childhelp, an organization dedicated to transforming and saving the most innocent, vulnerable and often voiceless lives.

I am not affiliated with Origami Owl, but I definitely support what they are doing... I think they have an amazing mission statement:  "To be a force for good; to love, inspire and motivate people of all ages to reach their dreams and empower them to make a difference in the lives of others."  If you would like more information on the company, becoming an Independent Designer, ordering jewelry, or hosting a "jewelry bar" visit OrigamiOwl.com.

If you happen to be in the Northern California area you can contact my friend Meredith Spires and she'll help you host your party!  She is super sweet and would do a great job... she just might bake you something amazing for your party!!  I'm not making any promises, but just sayin'....she probably would.  :)  You can find her at Sonoma.OrigamiOwl.com  Thanks Meredith for introducing me to this company, I think it is extremely positive... Happy WifeStyle gives it two thumbs up!

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How to bun your hair bigger and "better"

hair-bun Ok, I will start out by saying that for many many years I have been a HUGE fan of "the bun".  I have been putting my hair in a bun for quite some time and most of the time... this IS the state my hair is in.  With that said, I have improved on it over the years.

There are many ways to get your hair into a bun, my favorite has always been a "hair stick".  I was known for always having a "hair stick" on me, even back in my 20's....my friends have always kidded me about it, and have always been a little perplexed how I used it.  When I first met my husband... it was the cutest thing, our first Christmas together he made me some hair sticks.  He painted them and decorated them because he knew WHAT a big part of my life they were!  HA HA!  It was awesome.  They were hard to come by though!  I was always stealing chopsticks from sushi restaurants... but they weren't quite right because they were too long!!  I'd buy plastic ones and those weren't quite right either because they'd break!  I finally found the BEST hair stick... I get them on Amazon.  They are 6" long and made of wood, rosewood actually!  They are so inexpensive... $8.99 plus shipping for 10 of them.  I stock up.  If you want some, go to Amazon and search "6" wood hair sticks"... you should find them.

So, I used to put my hair into a tight, regular bun... it would look something like this.  But it's small and not super flattering.

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Well, ever since buns have become all the rage.... there have been many bun "implants" that you can buy to make you look like you have a "bigger bun" or more hair.  I like the concept, and I've tried two different kinds of these "bun enhancers" and I have to say, I'm not a huge fan.  They tend to make your bun look too perfect.  I'm a fan of the "messy bun".  When it's big AND perfect... you look like you should have a corsage to go along with it!!  Not such a good look!  So..... I found this technique that I like!  This works for a high, big, messy "topknot"...

Here's the "tools of the trade", what you'll need...a hair tie, a hair "stick" (if you don't have one, that's okay...just pin more), and "screw pins" (you can find these at Target or any store like that)... they work WAY better than bobby pins.  If you haven't tried these, they WILL change the game for you.  :-)  They come in two different lengths... I have some of both.  For this bun I'm demonstrating, I only used one hair tie, one hair stick and two screw pins!

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First, put your hair in a high ponytail.  I like to pull on the front some to give it some volume, so it's not "tight on top of my head.

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Next, hold the ponytail up, and loosen the hair tie a little....like this...

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Next, put your index finger and your thumb through  your hair and grab the tips of your hair... you're going to pull it through the hole you make with your fingers, under the hair tie....watch...

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Next, tighten  the hair tie again by pulling each side above the hair tie, like you would to "tighten" a ponytail.  This will tighten it and make it more secure.  Like this...I had to move my other hand to take the picture, but it was on the opposite side of this hand to tighten it.

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Next, spread the hair around into a bun shape, around the circle....kind of like spreading it out and around....this is the top view.

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Next, secure it with a hair stick:  stick it in one side, dig down below the hair tie, and across to the come out the other side....and then start pinning it in place with the screw pins.  Make sure to "anchor" them to your head...essentially "tacking" the bun in place to your head.  This means connecting the bun hair with the hair on your head when you screw in the pin so the bun essentially gets closer to your head.  Connect the circle at the bottom and pin in place with the screw pin.  It should start to look like this...

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Now, you'll have that little "tail" hanging down which you can pin up like this...

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It's okay to have some pieces hanging... that's what makes it not so "perfect"... no prom dress needed please!!  :-)  Look in a hand mirror and see how you're doing and pin as needed...here's a few more pics...

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Once you tack it down in just a couple of places, it's actually really secure because of the hair tie and pulling the hair through like you did. Much more so than just a regular bun!  It makes it look like you threw it up quickly and it landed in this perfectly messy topknot!  AND it looks like you have about three times as much hair as a regular bun!!

This might take some practice if you are new to this!  Just keep trying, you'll get it.  When I did the pics for this blog post, I did it ONCE.  I didn't have to try and try... this is what I got the first try... so you can do it too!  This is the one time I LOVE having BIG BUNS and love helping you get them too!!!  :-)

What makes a girl "Beautiful" instead of "Hot"

What-makes-a-girl-beautiful I saw this article on EliteDaily and thought it was important to post here on my blog because I loved it so much.  When a woman is truly "beautiful"...it is that 'extra thing' that is so much more than looks....Enjoy!

Below is the article, it was written by Lauren Martin:

Beautiful. It’s a powerful word, one not thrown around as frivolously as hot, pretty or any of the hundreds of words we’ve come to describe women, debasing their worth to nothing more than the symmetry of their face and the fullness of their lips.

It’s a word that holds power and prestige far beyond that of any other adjective. It’s a sacred word, one kept for those who truly can’t be described any other way.

It’s a word that chases women to plastic surgery and extreme diets. It’s the base of all women’s desires and lifelong struggles.

But isn’t beautiful about so much more than looks? Isn’t it in that extra thing — that thing that makes a woman beautiful instead of hot?

We’ve already debated the differences between hot and beautiful, but we never really answered what exactly makes a woman beautiful — what dictates a woman’s right to that elusive status, what embodies that strong adjective we hold to such high regard?

By now we’ve learned that looks are in the eyes of the beholder and there is indeed a somewhat mystical quality of the soul that can turn a beautiful face into an ugly one.

People who have “beautiful” exteriors can begin to look ugly after you get to know them, while someone with a somewhat “average” face can become the most beautiful person you know, proving that beauty isn’t just a façade, but an iridescent quality that is not solely dependent on one’s gene pool.

It’s the quality that elevates a woman from just hot or sexy. It’s in the way she walks, talks and presents herself. It’s the way she radiates from the inside, out. It’s her soul and her spark and that thing you just can’t put your finger on.

It might be the girl you don’t notice at first, the one who doesn’t always stand out. It’s the girl you need to get to know, whose beauty becomes more defined with every conversation, every glance. It’s a word that describes women who can’t be classified as just hot.

Her passions define her more than her looks There is nothing more beautiful than a woman with passion. A girl who gets excited about things, lives for things and holds things close to her heart is a girl worth knowing.

She’s the girl you’d rather talk to in bed than take to bed. Because passion is contagious and watching someone get excited about something is the most beautiful quality you can find in someone.

She shows you her real face Women have the right to wear makeup and there is nothing wrong with that. However, a beautiful woman doesn’t feel the need to hide behind it.

A beautiful woman does not do anything for anyone but herself, whether that means wearing makeup or going barefaced to work, she makes sure you know that she does not owe her looks to you.

She doesn’t chase the limelight A beautiful woman doesn’t fight for the limelight, but is naturally endowed it. The allure of the beautiful woman is that she does not need to work hard or fight for attention.

She is confident and humble, which usually presents a mysterious quality that attracts people more than outlandish gestures and cries for attention. She doesn’t take away from others or place her worth on how many people she’s talking to.

She knows how to talk There’s nothing worse than a woman who doesn’t know how to use her mouth. A woman who knows how to speak her mind intelligently, who can captivate you with her words and opinions proves that there is nothing more beautiful than intelligence. Smart is sexy and words have the power to turn any girl into the woman of your dreams.

She can go it alone A woman who doesn’t need a man is a woman who is confident — and confidence is the key to real beauty. A woman who doesn’t need the approval of others radiates with a security and poise that elevates her from the status of just another hot face.

Because being a woman isn’t about needing a man, and a beautiful woman understands that she, herself, is enough.

She’s tight-lipped There’s nothing more intriguing than a woman of mystery, one who keeps her affairs private and those unnecessary words to herself.

Because there is nothing uglier than people who talk just to hear themselves speak. A beautiful woman is full of surprises and becomes more beautiful the more time you spend getting to know her.

She bends over backwards Is there anything more beautiful than selflessness? Beauty is found in those who care about more than just themselves.

A truly beautiful woman is compassionate and caring; she will never hesitate to blow her cover by showing that she cares. Hot girls play with your heart, beautiful girls mend it.

She’s open Beautiful women do not limit themselves. They are open to new ideas, places and people. They do not shy away from things because of stigmas and fear, they are beautiful in their boldness and their open minds.

She’s got soul There is such a thing as people with ugly souls and we’ve all met at least one person who proves it. A beautiful woman radiates not because of her tinted moisturizer or glossy hair, but because of that something inside her that just makes you want to be near her.

Hot girls don’t need to you show you their souls, beautiful women attract you with theirs.

She’s got that thing You know that thing, it’s the thing you just can’t place. It’s something that you can’t put into words, let alone describe to your friends.

It’s the special something about her that you can’t place because you’ve never seen it before. It’s the defining quality of the beautiful woman, the thing no one can ever completely describe.

I hope you enjoyed reading that article as much as I did...to see it on the EliteDaily website or to learn more about Lauren Martin, click here.