Woman We Love: Hillary Schneider

Name: Hillary Schneider

Age: 37

Location: New York, NY

Occupation: Creator, ILARI

What makes you tick: I’m motivated by order and beauty. That means that fresh, slightly opened white tulips harmonized within a cobalt blue vase on a stunning silver tray can literally make my day. I also love the harmony of flavors and the aromas of cooking. I cook for comfort, to punctuate a moment, and to make myself and my loved ones feel special. The smell of flowers and cooking and even the city in which I live all make me tick. So, it was natural that creating a fragrance would follow.

What was your motivation behind the creation of Ilari: I could not find a fragrance that worked for me all season long. I used to think if I mixed a little of a fragrance oil with a dash of an eau de perfume with the mist of vanilla and a hint of an amazing room fragrance, then I could create the perfect recipe. It took me a long time to find that special aroma and then I had to work up the nerve to try to create it! When I finally developed Ilari and then got others excited by simply by wearing it, I knew it was worth the time and the effort. And even more amazingly, it helped me captivate my new husband.

Current project: Based on the amazing feedback I am getting on Ilari, I am currently working on creating a spray version of the fragrance in a larger bottle and will move into manufacturing body cream and bath oil next for layering.

Any charities your work is linked to: We are currently looking to align ourselves with an inspiring charitable organization. Stay tuned!

My favorite section of SkinnyintheCity.com and why: Skinny Cookbook, of course! As a cooking enthusiast and self proclaimed “foodie,” I’m always looking for new and unique recipes. Skinny Cookbook always has amazing ideas that are as healthy as they are delicious.

What you would do if you had one hour free completely to yourself:
I would probably try a new recipe that involves some hard-to-find ingredients and a large margin of error.

What you would do if you had one year completely to yourself:
Travel. There are so many parts of the world I have yet to see and having the opportunity to live and experience different cultures around the world would be a dream.

If you could tell women one thing they should make a priority in their lives, it would be: Be true to yourself. Believe in your own beauty, and show it off. Inside each of us is a profound magnificence.

How do you stay in shape: Yoga and Physique 57

Favorite healthy snack or meal: A baked sweet potato and a salad with baby arugula, diced tomatoes, avocado, dried cranberries and shaved almonds. Topped with a hint of lemon juice and olive oil. Delicious!

Favorite indulgence (food or otherwise!): White Truffles - or anything truffled for that matter!

And the winners of a Fiber One Prize Pack are...

We asked how you'd sneak extra fiber into your diet and the responses were overwhelming! Maybe that's because we told you about this great product Fiber One 90-Calorie Chewy bars and offered you a chance to win a "weight management" prize pack including 2 boxes, a water bottle, and pedometer. Our five deserving winners are...

1) Kristin, age 21, from Newark, Delaware:

I sneak fiber into my diet by eating a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every morning. I always eat an apple as a snack and leave the skin on. For lunch I usually eat a turkey sandwich on double fiber bread and for dinner I usually eat a chicken breast with lots of veggies. -I am on my way to becoming a dietitian and I love fiber!


2) Gwen from San Diego, CA:

Skinny Contest: Win a bronzer from Miljo Cosmetics!

Do you want sun-kissed skin without the sun? Let us know why by e-mailing contests@skinnyandthecity.com by April 22nd, 2010 and 5 readers will win a bronzer! Please include what shade you'll need in your e-mail. And find out why we love this product here.

Skinny Contest: Win a variety pack of Chocolite products!

Need some Chocolite in your life? Let us know why by e-mailing contests@skinnyandthecity.com by April 14th, 2010 and a whopping 25 readers will win a variety pack to try!!! That's right, we said twenty five. What are you waiting for? Check out our rave review here.

Skinny Contest: Win a variety pack of Ella's Kitchen products!

Why would you like to try Ella's Kitchen products? E-mail us at contests@skinnyandthecity.com by April 6th, 2010 with your response and our favorite response will win a variety prize pack!

Skinny Contest: Win a Fiber One prize pack!

How do you sneak fiber into your diet? E-mail us at contests@skinnyandthecity.com by March 30th, 2010 with your response and five lucky readers will win a Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bar's "weight management" prize pack consisting of 2 boxes of product, a water bottle, and a pedometer. Check out why we are obsessed with these bars here.

And the winner of an organic variety pack from Peeled Snacks is...

Laurie, age 49 from Los Angeles, CA. She has a creative way to sneak our Obsession, Peeled Snacks, into her diet. We'll be waiting on that taste test or photos, at the very least!

I make a wickedly delicious sugar free, gluten free apple cobbler, and in place of the raisins I usually add for sweetness and texture, how cool would it be to use Peeled Snacks Cherry-go-round dried cherries instead? I'd love to try it and send you the results of my taste test, along with a photo or two...I'd FedEx a whole cobbler, but I don't think it would survive, so you'll have to take my word for it.

 

And the winner of a package of Yummy Earth treats is...

Stephanie, age 31 from Las Vegas, NV. We asked how you conquer sweet cravings and Stephanie's response wins her a package of Yummy Earth goodies! Find out why we love 'em here.

I conquer my sweet cravings without crashing my diet by baking! I love to get in the kitchen and bake up some cookies or brownies because the aroma alone satisfies my dessert craving, and I don't even need a bite. Once the treats are baked, I give them to my friends which brings smiles and doesn't hurt my waistline.

And the winners of our Coach's Oats contest are...

We told you all about Coach's Oats and how they make a delicious, hot and healthy breakfast. And we asked you what your favorite breakfast on-the-go is and why. The three lucky ladies below will each receive a bag of Coach's Oats because we love their entries and want to spread the word about this Obsession:

1. Ashley, age 43 from Bethesda, MD

Well, my favorite breakfast on the go is a chocolate croissant and a cappuccino, but I don’t think that’s what you are looking for ;)  Actually, I am a big believer that breakfast is a wonderful way to start your day feeling like you are doing the best you can for yourself – and the best way to do that is to eat healthily.  So, when skipping the croissant (which, I’m pleased to say, is the vast majority of the time) my go-to-move is Greek yogurt, blueberries, GoLean Cruch (for, yes, crunch) ground flaxseed and a dribble of honey.  Quick to prepare, super healthy, very yummy and can be eaten as I am choosing my outfit/purse/packing the gym bag.Can’t wait to see what your other readers like!

And the winners of our Equal Exchange contest are...

1) Wendy, age 59
"I am a fan of Equal Exchange because they work with small farmers, mostly in developing areas, and provide a fair trade to them for their labor.  The products are organic, and the chocolate they offer includes bars with a 70%-plus cocoa content.  It's an opportunity for me to participate in fair trade to help out small farmers while getting a great product."

2) Brook, age 29
"I think it is great that Equal Exchange has 100% recycleble packaging.  I get laughted at for how much I recycle but I believe it is very important.  I want my little girl to have a healthy earth when she grows up and I think this is a start."

Both Wendy and Brook will win an Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate gift bag! Find out why we are fans of Equal Exchange here.