Your favorite email newsletter and website is turning 10! And to celebrate, DailyCandy is hosting a contest for entrepreneurs. DailyCandy’s Start Small, Go Big Contest brings DailyCandy’s favorite success stories from the last decade — the country’s most successful entrepreneurs — together with tomorrow’s innovators for a series of small business workshops in New York City.

Three lucky winners receive $10,000 each, a write-up in a DailyCandy email, promotion to the company’s 440K+ Twitter followers and Facebook fans, and visibility on DailyCandy.com. To boot, the three winners (and their guests) will get to attend a blowout celebration to hobnob with movers and shakers from NYC’s digital media, tech, food, and fashion industries.

The contest, August 16 through September 6, awards three entrepreneurs (one from each of the Fashion, Food, and Fun categories), with a spot at the DailyCandy Academy, a one-day small business workshop where well-known and accomplished business men and women will share their stories, insights, and counsel. Winners will partake in a day specifically created to suit their entrepreneurial needs, meeting one-on-one with various industry big wigs bringing their functional expertise in the areas of tech, product, marketing, branding, PR, finance, and more.

“DailyCandy editors have been identifying and championing emerging businesses since 2000,” said Beth Ellard, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DailyCandy. “As we finish our first decade and look to the next stage in our evolution, we wanted to give a few small business innovators an even bigger DailyCandy boost. Our new contest will do just that.”

The key to winning Start Small, Go Big: each product or service should make life a little sweeter, just like DailyCandy. To enter, go to www.dailycandy.com/startsmallgobig or to the Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/dailycandy.

Complete your application by 10 am EST, September 6, 2010. DailyCandy editors will choose 12 finalists, then open the polls to the public at 11 am EST on September 9. The three top vote-getters in each category will be announced September 30. Winners (plus one guest each) will be flown to New York City to participate in the DailyCandy Academy and attend the company’s anniversary celebration on October 28.

Local Las Vegas jewelry artist Ashleigh Edwards is quickly establishing a name for herself and her designs. With an exclusive collection featured at Gaia Flowers, a presence at the popular arts and music street festival First Friday, and an online Etsy boutique, Edwards is gaining popularity while offering shoppers one-of-a-kind creations.

I first discovered Edwards at a First Friday event. Her jewelry caught my eye because her pieces are so unique. The designs are very earthy and organic while maintaining a very modern and feminine style. While Edwards’ pieces have a certain Boho sense to them (many of her pieces are re-purposed and eco-friendly), they’re not what I would label as “granola.” Hey, I’m all for saving the earth, but I don’t hug trees and wear Birkenstocks. So while I can appreciate upcycled fashion, I certainly want to remain chic. And I can do that as I wear jewelery from Ashleigh Edwards Designs.

Edwards describes her line as “global glamour.” She finds the process of jewelry design to be therapeutic. And while Edwards has been designing for over six years, influenced by her mother’s passion and her father’s insistence that she can accomplish anything, she has been selling her pieces in Las Vegas for just the past three months. “I can’t keep up,” says Edwards. “I didn’t expect for it to be like this in just three months,” she adds, referring to the momentum of her sales.

“I was thrilled to have Ashleigh join us,” says Gaia Flowers Head of Marketing Heidi Kyser. “I like that fact that she has some pieces that are upcycled and repurposed. That’s a big part of Gaia, being eco-friendly.”

Prices are comfortably affordable, with some necklaces priced as low as $20. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind, but they all look beautiful when layered together. So when purchasing an Ashleigh Edwards Designs piece, considering purchasing two or three at a time for a hip, fashionable layered look.

Edwards will have a booth where she will be selling her jewelry at this coming First Friday, which is this Friday. Look for her near The Gypsy Den at 213 East Colorado on August 6 between 6 pm and 9 pm. During First Friday, visit Gaia Flowers at 4 East Charleston, where you can find an Ashleigh Edwards Designs collection sold exclusively at this shop. If you can’t make it to Las Vegas, visit Edwards’ Etsy boutique at www.etsy.com/shop/Ashleighedwards.

WIN ASHLEIGH EDWARDS DESIGNS
You can win this fabulous braided bracelet with a floral design. Wear now or in the Fall. Just leave a comment below letting me know what you think of Ashleigh Edwards Designs or tweet me at www.twitter.com/lollieshopping.  Receive one entry for a blog post comment and an additional entry for a Twitter reply, for a limit of two entries per person. Giveaway offer ends August 31, 2010.

Other Jewelry Designs from Ashleigh Edwards Designs:

This piece is my favorite. I tried it on, and it felt so good, laying flat against my neck. The stones felt so cool and comforting.

These two necklaces are sold separately, but look how great they look layered.

I adore these earrings Ashleigh Edwards gave me as a "thank you" for this blog post. I wear them all the time and I find women staring.

The artist Ashleigh Edwards wearing one of her own designs.

Neiman Marcus has launched the “What’s Your Passion for Fashion? Challenge – Round 1.” This fun campaign invites fashionistas to pull together looks for Fall 2010 from Neiman Marcus. Entrants must select at least one item from the dresses, tops, outerwear, pants, skirts, jackets, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and accessories categories to create their looks and then describe why their looks are perfect for Fall fashion.

Forty-two finalists will be selected from Round 1 to move onto Round 2 for the chance to win a $5,000 gift card. “Indulge in a pant suit, go for green and give your footwear the boot! A Fall must-have. Passion for Fashion let’s you take all the season’s best trends for a spin and turn the runway into your reality,” says Ken Downing Senior Vice President Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus.

To play and enter go to: www.neimanmarcus.com/passionforfashion.

The “What’s Your Passion for Fashion? Challenge – Round 1″ social media program ends August 23, 2010, 11:30 PM (PT). Round 2 begins on or around September 10, 12:00 AM (PT) and ends at 11:30 PM (PT) on September 24.

They’re back and as seen on TV. I’m talking BluBlockers, baby! The original brand to block harmful UV rays and bluelight, BluBlockers protect your eyes and eliminate glare from the road while you’re driving.

BluBlockersRock.com gave me a complimentary pair to try out, and I’ve been wearing them around sunny, bright Las Vegas. I can tell you first-hand that they work. Plus the ultra cool, retro look of my white BluBlockers have gotten me tons of attention and compliments. I heart my BluBlockers.

And BluBlockers are inexpensive. The matte black and tortoise aviators are only $25, while the white frames are $30. Totally do-able. You can purchase BluBlocker Sunglasses at BluBlockersRock.com.






WIN BLUBLOCKERS
Sponsored by BluBlockersRock.com, you can win a pair of the Demi Tortoise Aviator sunglasses by doing one of the following:

• Follow @BluBlockersRock on Twitter, then tweet me to let me know: “I am following @BluBlockersRock and I want to win!”
• Like the BluBlockersRock Facebook fan page, then tweet me or leave a comment below to let me know.
• Leave a comment below and tell me why you want to win the BluBlocker sunglasses.

You have until the end of June to enter. One winner will be randomly chosen and will win one pair of the Demi Tortoise Aviator sunglasses. Good luck!

Check out my animoto video below and see some close up shots of BluBlocker sunglasses as well as photos of me wearing them. Enjoy!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Claire Jane Vranian is a fearless, captivating and inspirational fashion designer and entrepreneur straight out of Britain. Lucky for me, she lives right here in Las Vegas and has become one of my favorite friends. She brings UK flavor to Las Vegas style with her to-die-for handmade handbags, rock star-style t-shirts and vibrant, sexy hair fascinators all of which can be purchased at InspiredbyClaireJane.com. Her designs are already capturing the attention of celebrities and can be found on former “Girls Next Door” twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon and Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott.

I got the chance to interview Claire Jane to find out how she got started, what inspires and motivates her and what the future holds for her and her label.

LS: It seems like you just jumped into designing head first. Like the idea sprung on you, and you just jumped into it. Is that what happened?
CJ: Absolutely. I’ve always been surrounded by a lot of artists, because of my special effects makeup background. And, I’ve always felt that there’s something out there for me – my passion. And I literally woke up one morning and thought, “I’m going to make a bag.”

I get inspired by fabrics, and I had walked into a quilting store in Utah and I had seen some fabrics and they seemed so cheesy but I thought, “Something needs to be created with these fabrics, kind of rock and roll.” And two days later I bought some fabrics and made a bag. And that was my very first bag, about a year and half ago.

I just found that I could do it, with literally no experience in sewing. I asked my sister, “Do you have a sewing machine I can borrow?” and she’s like, “Sure.” And I’m like, “Well, can you show me how to thread it?” And she was making some costumes, so she showed me how to sew a straight line. So, I put my two pieces of fabrics together, sewed on some straps and I had my handbag.

I just constantly worked and worked on fabric combinations, and I just found I had a passion for it. And I could express myself in way that I hadn’t been able to before.

LS: With that first design, were you thinking about selling, or were you thinking about creating?
CJ: I was just thinking that I wanted to make a bag for myself. Something for me, something personal that I could say, “You know what? I made this.” I took it out and then I gave it to my sister, Amanda, and her friends asked, “Where’d you get that bag?” And she’d say, “My sister made it.” And then I made a bag with skulls on it, and that one is really when I realized I could sell them. People stopped me on the street to ask me where I got it from.

But the t-shirts are a whole other story. We were in Dublin for Joe Elliott’s birthday, and he said to me, “I really love your handbags. Can you make me a jacket to wear onstage?” And I laughed and said, “Honey, I can sew a straight line for handbags, but jackets? I’m not there yet.” And I thought about it for awhile and thought that this could be a great opportunity for me to do something, so I told him, “You know what? I can design a t-shirt for you.” And that’s why my first designs were the Union Jack, you know, the whole Def Leppard thing. That’s how it all started with all the British flags. So, I have to thank Joe Elliott for getting me into t-shirts. And he wore them onstage straight away.

LS: Did you ever think you couldn’t do it?
CJ: In what respect?

LS: Well, it doesn’t seem like you ever had limits or doubted yourself.
CJ: I believe in myself. I believe I can do it. I believe everyone has the ability to become the best they can be. I am determined to make it work. And, I just work really hard at it. And I get a little insecure sometimes, thinking, “I love it. Will anyone else like it?” Then I have to really pull back and go back to my principle feeling and go back to the integrity of that I’m doing it for me. I’m expressing me and my art form. That’s what I’m doing in designing.

LS: Would that be your advice to anyone who wants to be a designer, but is scared to do so?
CJ: Yeah. Just believe in yourself and do what makes you happy. And I really don’t follow any trends. I never have. Even when I was younger and in school, I used to like to do my own thing. I’ve never really followed fashion. I’m more like, “I like that. So I’m going to wear it.” And, I think I’ve kind of gone back to my inner child a little bit. And that’s what gave me my strength.

LS: So how would you describe your aesthetic?
CJ: I’m influenced by a lot of things, but definitely rock and roll chic. But, I’m getting into classic designs. I want to produce a classic line of clutch bags that people can use everyday, with functionality so that people can take them to lunch or take them out to a dinner party or wear them out to a nightclub. Keep it kind of basic and classy. But, I’m all about the linings inside as well.

LS: Five years from now, where do you want your collection to be?
CJ: Well, on the front page of Vogue, of course!

WIN FASHION FROM INSPIRED BY CLAIRE JANE
You can win the Banana Cream Burnout Razor Back Tank top which features a beautiful crystal design PLUS a hair fascinator of your choice simply by doing only one of the following:

• Like the Inspired by Claire Jane Facebook fan page and tweet me on Twitter or leave a comment below to let me know you’ve done so.

• Or follow @InspiredbyCJ on Twitter and tweet me: “Hey, I love @InspiredbyCJ and am following her now.”

• Or leave a comment below and just tell me why you love Inspired by Claire Jane.

You have until the end of June to enter. One winner will be chosen at random and will win one Inspired by Claire Jane Banana Cream Burnout Razor Back Tank in the size of her choice and any hair fascinator of her choice, too. Thanks for entering and good luck!

See my own Inspired by Claire Jane fashion in this animoto slideshow.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I’m really excited about the upcoming release of “Sex and the City 2,” and to add to the excitement, I am giving away TWO tickets to the daily Sex and the City Hotspots Tour in New York City! This fabulous tour prize includes…

*Shop at the store where Charlotte bought her “Rabbit”


*Stop at “Scout,” the bar owned by Aidan


*Enjoy cupcakes like Carrie and Miranda


*Go on location to the art gallery in SoHo where Charlotte worked


*Shop at the hottest boutiques & stores in Greenwich Village


*Visit Buddakan, site of Carrie and Big’s wedding rehearsal dinner


*See new locations from “Sex and the City: The Movie”

A winner will be randomly selected and will receive a gift certificate THAT NEVER EXPIRES to redeem for TWO tickets to the Sex and the City Hotspots Daily Tour. So even if you don’t live in New York, you can use the gift certificate for your next trip out to The Big Apple.

ENTER TO WIN:

• Leave a comment below to enter.

  OR

• Email me at LollieShoppingblog@gmail.com

  OR

• Tweet me at Twitter.com/lollieshopping

While the gift certificate prize never expires, this giveaway does. You must enter by midnight Pacific time, May 28, 2010.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.screentours.com/tour.php/satc/ or call 212-209-3370. Good luck and thanks for entering!

Giveaway sponsored by On Location Tours, Inc.

It’s the season of new beginnings, a time to pack away your chunky knitwear and revamp your Spring/Summer wardrobe without busting your budget. Conversation Pieces is giving away one sunny item everyday from today through Monday, April 12, 2010.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The contest runs from 12:01 am PT, Tuesday, March 30, 2010 through 11:59 pm PT, Monday, April 12, 2010 (the “Promotional Period”). To enter, participants must log on to www.ShopConversationPieces.com and submit the required contest and information. Limit one (1) entry per person per day (12:01 am PT though 11:59 pm PT) during the promotional period. Fourteen (14) winners (the “Winners”) will be randomly selected on or around 11:00 am PT the day after each 24 hour period ends from among all eligible entries received during that timeframe and posted to the website. The odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received each day. The Winners will each receive the style featured during the 24 hour period for which they were selected at an Approximate Market Value (“AMV”) of Thirty Eight Dollars ($38.00) per dress. Prizes will be shipped to winners. Prizes will be shipped on a weekly basis during and after the promotional period ends. If the prize cannot be delivered successfully, winner forfeits prize.

The Vision Council is offering Lollie Shopping readers a chance to win designer sunglasses by taking a very brief survey. Prizes include sunglasses from Carrera, Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, Jil Sander, Jimmy Choo, Lacoste, Miyagi and Ray-Ban.

CLICK HERE to enter and take the survey. Ends April 2, 2010. So hurry, and good luck!

Need more Lollie? Then sign up to receive the weekly Lollie Shopping E-Newsletter. Delivered to your email inbox every Saturday, you’ll receive:

*A weekly Lollie Style Lesson: Each week, I’ll give you one tip about fashion, style or shopping.

*Sale alerts: I’m always in on the hot sales. Now you will be, too.

*Recommended Reading: My favorite blog posts of the week from my favorite fashion bloggers and me.

Plus, other exclusive offers, giveaways and information. The first newsletter goes out May 1, 2010.

SIGN UP FOR LOLLIE AND WIN!
The first 100 email subscribers for the Lollie Shopping E-Newsletter will be automatically entered into a random drawing to win one $50 Visa Gift Card. One entry per person. Open to entrants of the 48 U.S. contiguous states only. One winner will be chosen at random. Deadline to enter is midnight Pacific time, April 30, 2010 or when 100 subscribers has been reached, whichever comes first.

Use the form below to sign up. YOUR INFORMATION IS PRIVATE. I will not sell, rent, distribute or give your information to any third parties. Subscription is for one free weekly Lollie Shopping E-Newsletter only. I will never use your information for any unsolicited communication.

Thank you for subscribing and happy shopping!

It’s one of the hottest beauty trends right now – a semi-permanent sparkling, tinsel hair accessory that adds dimension and glimmer to your style. Beyonce wore it to the Grammy’s and April Fried is the creator of the original product to set this trend – PopTinsel.

While April travels the country promoting PopTinsel and teaching hair stylists how to apply the product to their clients’ hair, she’s based out of Las Vegas. So I have easy access to her and her shimmering product, which comes in all kinds of stunning colors. We met for coffee and April shared with me her experience and style tips.

April’s family has a long history in the beauty industry, beginning with her grandfather. She joked that she has hair dye in her blood and stated her first beauty job was taking inventory at the age of four. It’s this kind of connection to beauty and style that has driven April throughout her entrepreneurial career and inspired her to create her company.

The future holds many beauty-related opportunities for April, but her focus right now is on PopTinsel, which she is successfully promoting among celebrities, including Melissa Rivers, Tiffany “New York” Pollard and Bridget Marquardt. In fact, April has just returned from promoting PopTinsel in the gift suites of the Oscars. “I like to say that I’m spreading PopTinsel all over tinsel town,” she said.

Melissa Rivers with PopTinsel in her hair.

For those who worry that PopTinsel is too bold a look for them, April recommends the more subtle types use PopTinsel from her monochromatic collection. For example, brunettes can incorporate brown or black tinsel into their raven tresses while those with all gray can use silver tinsel to create a sweet, peek-a-boo effect. “I’m not trying to make anyone look like a Christmas tree,” said April. And when you tire of the look, just remove the tinsel. As April told me, “It’s easy in, easy out.”

Is your stylist offering you PopTinsel yet? If not, introduce your stylist to April. Her goal is to educate stylists across the world on PopTinsel and the proper way for application. “I’m helping independent stylists one strand at a time,” quipped April. There are currently over 1000 stylists across the U.S. beautifying their clients with PopTinsel. Make sure your stylist is one of them.

Here I am wearing red PopTinsel.

WIN POPTINSEL with the HAI-COOL CONTEST!

Now you can have your very own set of PopTinsel. Win the PopTinsel Celebrity Six-Pack, a special set of PopTinsel colors that April provides to her celebrity clients, when you submit the winning PopTinsel Hai-Cool.

All you have to do is submit your coolest PopTinsel traditional style haiku via the comment selection below or @ reply me on Twitter (Twitter.com/lollieshopping), making sure you use the PopTinsel name at least one.

One entry per person, per email address or per Twitter account. If you leave your Hai-Cool via comments below, you must set up a profile at OnSugar so I can contact you if you win. Contact information will be kept private and never sold or used for any other purposes than to contact the winner.

Judging will be conducted by April Fried and me (Lollie Shopping). Submitted haikus must the original work of the entrant. Deadline to enter is midnight Pacific time, April 31, 2010. Contest is open to entrants of the contiguous United States only. Good luck!