{Giveaway} Foxgloves garden gloves

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 April 2

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FOF Harriet Zbikowski is giving away 4 pairs of bestselling “Elle Grip” garden gloves from her company, Foxgloves. Choose from 7 spring colors: Crow black, fuchsia, iris, periwinkle, sahara, spring green or tulip. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Which color gloves would you choose?

Most  FOFs have worn many hats in their lives. FOF Harriet Zbikowski, a gardener and professional landscape architect in Hudson Valley, NY, has worn many garden gloves. Yet, in her 20 years in business, she couldn’t find a pair that were just right–the ones sturdy enough for gardening were bulky and unstylish. Harriet preferred the slim, chic fit of vintage fashion gloves, but they weren’t water resistant nor durable. So, fifteen years ago, she set out to create her own line of gloves that would be both elegant and practical.

“I started at the Dupont Fabric Library in New York City,” says Harriet. “There, I got fabric samples and did stress tests, selecting a particular blend that performed the best.” This special blend includes Invista SUPPLEX® nylon for durability and Invista LYCRA® spandex for four-way stretch. The design was based off of a fashion glove from the 50s that Harriet found at a thrift store. “I found the last glove maker left in New York City to make my gloves,” she says. Harriet went into production in 1999. Thirteen years later, 1200 stores nationwide carry Harriet’s gloves which go by the name “Foxgloves,” (also a common flower species). They’ve been featured in dozens of garden and shelter publications including House & Garden, Real Simple and Town and Country.

People also use Harriet’s bestselling “Elle Grip” for driving, bird watching, dog walking, or for a better grip if they have arthritis or other joint problems. Others simply wear them as a fashion accessory. “A few years ago, these shop owners came up to me and said ‘We have to tell you, we’re from Tennessee and girls have been coming in and buying your gloves to go with their prom gowns!’  Another time, a woman came up to me and said, ‘I needed gloves for Easter Sunday, so I wore your gardening gloves to church and they went so perfectly with my Vivienne Westwood!”

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Enter to win bestselling “Elle Grip” garden gloves from Foxgloves. Choose from 7 spring colors: Crow black, fuchsia, iris, periwinkle, sahara, spring green or tulip. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Which color would you choose?

Four FOFs will win. See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes April 11, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

{Giveaway} Sabi Pill Cases

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 March 27

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FabOverFifty is giving away the stylish pill carrier of your choice from the FOF Shop. Choose from 1. Shake,  2. Crush,  3. Grand Carafe and 4. Folio. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Which of the four cases would you choose?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy these mod pill cases in the FOF Shop.

A few years ago, entrepreneur Assaf Wand noticed that his wife, Liron, wasn’t taking her prenatal supplements in public because she didn’t like pulling out a prescription bottle in public. Realizing there could be a market for modern pill cases, Assaf got to work on a line of supplement storage that would be sleek, chic and functional. Last month, he launched his first five pill storage cases and accessories under the brand name Sabi, with plans to expand to home and travel products in the near future. Here, we chat withPinny Gniwisch, Sabi’s head of marketing, about their new line of mod pill products.

Who designed the product line?
We approached fusedesign, an company based out of San Francisco that has designed award-winning products such as the Herman Miller chair and the Jawbone Bluetooth. They were intrigued by our idea. We formed a partnership.

What elements of design make these pill storage products unique?
They’re easy to open and everything has dual purpose. For instance, the Grand Carafe, is a pill holder and a water bottle.  Crush is a pill holder and crusher.

Why do you want FOFs to know about your product?
They are fastest growing demographic in the world today–they’re aging gracefully and have money. They’re surrounded by brands like Apple and Method and, as a result, looking for products that facilitate something but don’t make them look bad while doing it.

What’s your best-selling item so far?
Crush, the pill crusher. People have told us they use it to crush pills for their pets and kids.

What’s the feedback you’ve received so far?
Customers have told us that Sabi products removed the stigma of taking pills and even sparked conversation around their supplement intake.

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Enter to win a a mod pill case of your choice from the FOF Shop by answering in the comments below: Which of the four pill cases would you choose? (Choose from 1. Shake, 2. Crush, 3. Folio, and 4. Grand Carafe)

Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy these mod pill cases in the FOF Shop.

Sign up for Sabi’s e-mail list to receive product updates and discounts.

One FOF will win. See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes April 5, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

{Giveaway} The Perfect Summer Scarf

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 March 21

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Designers Troy and Stephano are giving away one of their signature “Necklush” accessories. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Do you have a signature summer accessory?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? You can buy the Necklush now in the FOF shop.

In 2008, FUF artists Troy and Stephano were twenty-something NYC artists who spent most of their time “in the clubs.” Rapidly tiring of the nightlife, “we were left with a decision,” says Troy. “Work for the ‘man,’ or find something that made us truly happy.” They chose the latter, and began hand cutting, sewing and selling unique necklace-scarf hybrids on the streets of SOHO.

Composed of multiple, seamless cotton loops, the vibrant neckwear was an immediate hit. “We were nervous people would be like, ‘What is that?,’” says Troy, “but instead it as more like ‘I want that!’” No surprise: it’s a perfect way to add polish to jeans and a t-shirt or a tunic and leggings and it’s light enough to wear all summer long.

Since launching, Necklush has since been lauded as a design triumph, appearing in Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago Museum Store. Now, it’s available in the FOF Shop!

Enter to win a bestselling a “Necklush” by answering in the comments below: Do you have a signature summer accessory?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? You can buy the Necklush now in the FOF shop.

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One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes March 31, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

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{Giveaway} Yala Designs Sophie Wrap

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 March 14


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FOF Nancy Morgan is giving away the bestselling “Sophie Wrap,” from her clothing line, Yala. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Do you wear clothing that shows your upper arms?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy the Sophie Wrap in the FOF shop.

In 1997, FOF Nancy Morgan and her husband, Larry, were teaching English and traveling in Asia, all while raising their six-year-old daughter Chelsea. The trio would sleep on beds without sheets or even the ground as they trekked. One night, they thought to stitch together two sheets, creating a sort of sack to sleep in. Their first product, the “Dreamsack” was born. They built an entire brand around the beloved “Dreamsack” and over the years have expanded to sheets, pajamas, wraps and more. Here, we chat with Nancy about her line of super-soft, easy-wearing, clothing and linens.

Where is your business based?
Ashland, Oregon. But we go to China, where our manufacturers are, at least twice a year. We believe in not only fair trade, but exceptional trade. We work with smaller co-op factories–we’ve visited them all and know the people there.

You started with the “Dreamsack”–how did you transition to clothing?
Our customers loved it and asked ‘What else do you make like this?’ They requested pajamas and bathrobes, so in 1999 we started to expand the line.

What does “Yala” mean?
We wanted a name that has a global feel. We found that the word can be found on almost every continent–its a river in Africa, a region in Thailand, and in Hebrew and Arabic it means ‘Let’s go.’

What materials do you use?
We started with silk and added bamboo fabric. The bamboo fabric feels really cool against your skin. We are also adding organic cotton to our line.

Who is the designer?
In the beginning, I was the designer, but in the last couple of years my daughter has joined the business and really likes the designing part.

Working with a family business–best thing ever or biggest challenge ever?
It’s wonderful, and it’s a challenge. Ashland is a really small town, so my daughter moved to Portland. It works well, because she can be in the community she chooses and we are still in close contact electronically.

Why will FOFs love your line?
As women over fifty, we want to be comfortable and to feel good too. We also like caring about our environment.

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Enter to win a bestselling “Sophie Wrap,” from Yala by answering in the comments below: Do you wear clothing that show your upper arms?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy the Sophie Wrap in the FOF shop.

One FOF will win. See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes March 22, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

{Giveaway} Glogover Convertible Tights

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 March 6


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Bonnie Glogover of Glogover Hosiery is giving away a pair of her Convertibles–tights that can be worn three ways: closed toe, open toe, or at ankle-high length. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Would you wear tights with open-toe shoes?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy Convertibles tights in the FOF shop.

Bonnie Glogover thought up these clever tights while getting a pedicure. Watching women at the nail salon cut their hose in order to expose their toes, she thought “there must be a better way.” Bonnie and her dad, Stanley Glogover, inventor of nursing and maternity bras, whipped up a prototype for tights with a convertible toe flap. Two years later the product was granted a patent. Investing $100,000 of her own money in the idea, Bonnie took her first batch of manufactured tights to bank cafeterias in New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey to see if they would sell. When she sold out of all 30,000 pairs, she knew she had a winning product on her hands…and feet!

Your have inventor genes! Your dad was a successful inventor–what about your mom?
My mother was the hostess of Romper Room, a television show where she taught kids manners and their ABCs. She was a very proper woman and always dressed me in pantyhose from the day I was born.

Wow–so pantyhose never bothered you?
I wear them every day, even under jeans. However, the seam at the toe was always bothersome to me. I always thought it would be great if it could be eliminated. That was one of the inspirations for Convertibles, which feature an ‘invisible’ seam.

Tights with seamless toes that can be worn for pedicures–genius! What other uses do they have?
When they are converted open, they can be worn with sandals, open-toe or peep-toe shoes. You can wear them barefoot when you go dancing or if you are going to the foot doctor.

That’s great–but did you have to sacrifice anything when you added all the ‘extras’?
Not at all–I shopped my prototype around and settled on a manufacturer in North Carolina because of their excellent quality control. They are made from 20 denier nylon–this premium quality would normally cost double in the department store…without all the bells and whistles.

Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Would you wear tights with open-toe shoes?

Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy Convertibles tights in the FOF shop.

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One FOF will win. See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes March 15, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

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{Giveaway} Hand-Embroidered Bead Bracelet

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 February 22

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Don’t want to wait to win it?  Buy it in the FOF Shop now!

Tricia Milaneze, owner of Lavish Jewelry, is giving away this colorful, hand-crocheted bracelet. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: What do you wear on your wrists?

Tricia Milaneze recalls a time several years ago when she almost abandoned her jewelry business entirely. A single mother to two children on the autistic spectrum, Tricia, age 36, was also working a demanding “day job” as an immigration attorney. “I had a good position at the law firm, a good salary and insurance. But my jewelry orders started to get bigger and my clients started to complain because they couldn’t reach me. I couldn’t do both things well. I had a feeling I’d lose what I had built with the jewelry business if I didn’t dedicate myself to it full time. So, I left my law job.”

Her chutzpah has paid off…in 2011 she made more than a million dollars in sales, and her beaded baubles were featured in InStyle and Lucky. Plus, Tricia’s jewelry is now for sale in the FOF Shop!

We spoke to Tricia about how she and her team create Lavish’s unique designs.

Your jewelry is handmade in Brazil, but you operate your business out of Miami. How does that work?
I’m originally from Brazil, but in 2000 I moved just north of Miami, where I operate Lavish. Each piece is designed by me and crocheted by artisans in Brazil. I still visit Brazil often, but it helps that my brother lives there–he is my business partner.

Tell me about the creative process when producing your jewelry.
We start with an idea on a piece of paper, but because we work with wire, a lot of the pieces end up looking different then the original drawings. We have to see how the wire is going to behave. We change a little here, a little there…the creative process is very dynamic. We make a few pieces first, and from those we develop a whole collection.

What materials do you use?
Copper wire–because it’s very flexible–and glass beads.

Where do you sell your pieces?
I sell in the U.S. and also internationally–Japan, London and Italy–mostly in boutiques, catalogs and a few department stores. I am also now selling my jewelry in the FOF Shop. I’m hustling it.

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Enter to win this hand-embroidered bracelet by answering in the comments below: What do you wear on your wrist: a bracelet, a watch, both, or nothing at all?

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes March 1, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

{Giveaway} Pure Inventions Trio

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 February 15

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FOFs Lynne Gerhards and Lori Mulligan are giving away three bottles (approx. 180 servings) of Pure Inventions, their flavored water enhancer. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Next to water, what do you drink most?


Anyone who has been on a diet–whether to lose weight or get healthy–knows what the beverage options are: water, water and more water. So healthy! So boring! That’s why FOFs Lynne Gerhards and Lori Mulligan, two nutritionists and friends, created Pure Inventions liquid water enhancer, a calorie-free, chemical-free, sodium-free, nutritious water enhancer. The drops–which are portable and can be added to any flat or carbonated water–range in flavor from vanilla creme and pineapple coconut to peach and chocolate cocoa. And they actually taste delicious…we tried them. “If you replace one 20-ounce sugary beverage a day, you’ll cut 9,000 calories of sugar per month,” says Lynne. We’ll drink to that! Here we chat with Lori and Lynne about Pure Inventions and staying healthy after fifty.

What did you two do before you created Pure Inventions?
Lynne: Lori was raising a family and I was running a country club. We got our certified clinical nutrition degrees and opened up a practice in September 2001.

Lori: We wanted to create something that would get our clients to drink more water.
We worked with scientists–giving them the concept that we wanted–and they figured out how to fit it all in that little bottle. In addition to flavor, the drops also provide antioxidants, fruit extracts, green tea extracts and other nutritional benefits.

Do Pure Inventions extracts contain sweetener?
Lori: Yes. Many of our clients wanted to go off diet soda, but were still looking for something sweet tasting. We use extract from the Lo-han fruit. It’s nicknamed the ‘longevity fruit,’ because it grows in countries that have an unusually high number of residents who live past 100. It’s also low glycemic, has zero calories and is one hundred times sweeter then sugar. It’s used in Chinese medicine for digestion, respiratory problems and regulating blood sugar. The other sweetener we use is Stevia. It’s from the Stevia plant, has no chemicals, and there’s no processing. It’s also great for digestion and blood sugar.

Why is Pure Inventions important for FOFs?
Lori: With menopause, your metabolism slows down, and you gain weight. You can age quicker if you’re not eating well and exercising. This can at least solve the drink issue–to get you off soda, diet soda and sugary drinks.

Do you have a favorite flavor?
Lori and Lynne: The vanilla creme. When you add it to sparkling water, it tastes like cream soda! We also like using our fruit extracts over plain yogurt or oatmeal or as a cocktail mixer.

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Enter to win three bottles of Pure Inventions (approx. 180 servings), flavored liquid water enhancer by answering in the comments below: Next to water, what do you drink most?

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 23, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Can’t wait to find out if you won? FOFs receive 35% off all Pure Inventions products when you enter code PUREFAB50 at checkout. Valid from February 16, 2012 to February 23, 2012.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

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{Giveaway} “For My Love” print by an FOF artist

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 February 8

FOF artist  Naomi Lees-Maiberg is giving away “For My Love,” a luxe print of her original oil painting. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: What was the last piece of art you purchased?

Six years ago, FOF artist Naomi Lees-Mailberg and her husband left their frenzied metropolitan lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, for an abandoned farm house in coastal Maine.

For 25 years, Naomi was an illustrator for major magazines and newspapers in Israel, all while she raised three children, taught drawing at a college and showed her art in galleries. “It was a crazy life–deadlines until 2 in the morning, two cell phones, two land lines.” Now, she spends her days painting from her quiet, scenic studio, which has breathtaking views of Acadia National Park. Here we chat with Naomi about her major move after 50 and what inspires her and her now. (See more of her pieces in the FOF Shop!)

What did your friends  say when you decided to leave Israel?
It was shocking–no one believed we were going, but we plunged into it, thinking Maine would be a nice place to grow older. It’s dead silent out here but it’s really beautiful. I totally recommend doing something like this to people living a crazy life.

Why did you choose to move to coastal Maine?
My children were going to college in the United States. Also, my sister and her husband moved to Maine, and I’d visit every summer. Each year, it became harder and harder to leave. Finally, my husband and I bought a 1830s farmhouse on 16 acres. Much of the house is built from old ships.

What inspires your work?
My surroundings–the landscape. For the items that I sell such as “For My Love,” (a painting of rose petals) I look for things that would be universally appealing. These were painted from roses in my own garden. I have also done more abstract paintings, and I’ve even done performance art.

What mediums do you paint in?
A lot of watercolor, but I also do acrylic and oil.

What kind of paper do you print on?
I use the best paper I can–Entrada. It’s really soft, so the prints look like originals.  I can also print on canvas and have them stretched on a frame.

Where do you sell?
A local gallery, and now, the FOF Shop.

Enter to win “For My Love,” a print from Naomi’s original oil painting, by answering in the comments below: What was the last piece of art you purchased?

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 16, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

{Giveaway} Fancy Magnifying Glass by Twig Terrariums

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 February 1

Katy and Michelle of Twig Terrariums are giving away this fancy magnifying glass. They use it to create their own miniature moss worlds, but you can keep it in your purse and use it on that oh-so-pesky, tiny type. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Do you ever use a magnifying glass when you read?

Cool company alert! Terrariums are making a comeback, but we’re not talking those dreadful aquarium-style science projects. Instead, two Brooklyn, N.Y. FUFs have built their business building miniature worlds inside vintage apothecary jars. Here we chat with Katy and Michelle of Twig Terrariums. Plus, their terrariums are now for sale in the FOF Shop!

Is this a full-time gig for you guys?
Oh yes, for both of us.

What are your backgrounds?
Katy: We both were Brooklyn College students; Michelle was there for design and photography and I was there for creative writing.

How did you two meet?
Michelle: We’ve known each other since I was 15 and Katy was 12. We lost touch in our teen years when Katy moved away. We met up at my 31st birthday party. A friend brought her as a surprise guest. The friendship was rekindled, and we liked to get crafty together ever since.

When did you start getting interested in terrariums?
Michelle: I spoke with my college chemistry/biology teacher on how to make a terrarium, and we started experimenting with different vintage jars. They looked like little gardens, and we added people to them. Before we knew it they were all over our apartments. So we had a choice: Sell them or give them to our friends for Christmas.

So you started selling them! Fabulous. When was this?
Michelle: About 3 years ago.

Do you teach others how to make terrariums?
Katy: We have regular workshops all the time at our studio in Brooklyn and around town. We also do private workshops with people who want to work one-on-one with us.

How do you take care of a terrarium?
Katy: They’re moss terrariums so it’s very simple. You mist them with water every 2-4 weeks and keep them out of direct sunlight.

Very low maintenance!
Katy: That’s our goal. We are busy urban dwellers without access to acreage, so our terrariums are our backyards.

What’s your favorite scene you’ve seen someone make or made yourself?
Katy: In a workshop one woman did a medieval scene–with a knight slaying a dragon. That was cool. We have so much fun making custom pieces, like a skydiving couple we did recently. We also did wedding centerpieces and each terrarium represented a different memory in the couple’s life–from one with them having dinner by a lake, to one with them riding on mopeds.

Your business was recently featured by the New York Times. Why the sudden interest in terrariums again?
Katy: They’re so low maintenance, and we’re all so busy. You don’t have to hoe and rake and prune, and you have a petite little garden that you can potentially put your family in. Or enjoy your grandchildren in your little green world. There is a very peaceful aspect to them–yet they add a nice bit of life to any home.

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Enter to win a fancy magnifying glass by Twig Terrariums by answering in the comments below: Do you ever use a magnifying glass when you read?

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 9, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

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{Giveaway} Win tights with underwear woven in

LEAVE A COMMENT 2012 January 25

FOF Hallie Peterson of Leg Luxury is giving away two pairs of her one-of-a-kind tights. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Do you always wear nude stockings with skirts–even in the summer?

Most mornings, FOF Hallie Peterson partakes in a ritual she calls “dressing from the bottom up.”

“When I get dressed, I start with my tights. I decide which ones to wear [based on] my attitude,” says Hallie. “If I’m feeling sassy, for instance, then I put on something like my ‘Wild and Fun’ tights or my ‘Feathery Lace’ ones.” If she’s feeling more conservative, Hallie opts for her ‘Little Dots’ or ‘Elegant Scrolls.’

Hallie has the luxury of choosing from dozens of styles, because as owner of Leg Luxury, Hallie takes multiple trips to Asia each year to find the most unique tights.”I’ve had women literally chase me across parking lots to ask me where I got my tights.” She doesn’t sell basics opaques or sheers because, well… “you can get those in Target,” says Hallie. On her buying trips, if she doesn’t see quite what she’s looking for, she works with her manufacturers to come up with something truly one-of-a kind.

“A client came to me and said ‘look, I’m 42 years old, I hate panty lines, I’m single and I take my clothes off in front of men.’ So I worked with my vendors and we created tights with these lacy French cut panties sewed in,” says Hallie. “It gives a sexy, elegant feel and it removes the question of whether to wear panties or not.”

Prior to launching her tights business, Hallie, a San Diego-based FOF, worked in marketing for Radisson Hotels and Northwest airlines while launching multiple side endeavors, including selling popcorn in Russia. “When I write my biography, it’s going to be called ‘From Popcorn to Pantyhouse–Living the Frivolous Life,’ she jokes. But, all jokes aside, Hallie describes herself as an “entrepreneur with great purpose, background and foundation.” “I’ve reinvented myself a number of times but I think I’ve found what I’m sticking with,” says Hallie.

Hallie sells her tights online and to boutiques across the United States and Canada. They range in price from $20-$26.
“We don’t have the legs we had when we were 20,” says Hallie. “We may have vericose veins, sun spots or cellulite, and when you cover your legs it looks a lot better than leave them bare.”
Enter to win a pair of Leg Luxury tights by answering in the comments below: Do you always wear nude stockings with skirts–even in the summer?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

Two FOFs will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 2, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.
Can’t wait to find out if you won? Now, you can buy Leg Luxury tights in the FOF shop.