Joan Hornig is honest about loving potato chips, wanting Meryl Streep to wear her jewelry and wishing she had thought of the name “Recipe for Success.” The philanthropic designer braved snowstorms and canceled flights to make it to Houston for a benefit at Tootsies for the organization that brings chefs to schools to teach healthy eating habits. Hornig vowed nothing was going to stand in her way of raising money for a great cause.

“I was determined,” Hornig said. “I knew I was going to get here and I did.”

Hornig applies that same can-do spirit to her jewelry line and “Philanthropy is Beautiful” foundation which provides support for registered charitable organizations throughout the world. The way it works is simple. Shoppers buy jewelry, designate a charity and Hornig donates money to the cause.

“This is a reminder of a cycle of giving. Instead of giving something to someone and the giving just ends, this way it lives on,” Hornig said. She reasons that if people (and women specifically) are going to buy a gift anyway, they will want to maximize the experience if given the opportunity.

“Women are so amazing and shoulder so much, so this way I let real women use the power of the purse,” Hornig said.

Her jewelry designs are empowering too. Chunky colorful necklaces crafted from amethyst, citrine, onyx are stand alone attention-getters, while those with more demure tastes are drawn to diamond and pearl earrings. Stylists contact her constantly for their celebrity clients and Katherine Heigl, Oprah and Hayden Panetierre are all fans of her work.

“I like that I have youth and maturity wearing my jewelry. Hayden Panetierre is passionate about saving the whales and while that may not be your charity of choice, she is doing what she believes in,” Hornig said. “Brooke Shields wears my jewelry and she is beautiful and a Princeton graduate. I like intelligence and commitment.”

Meryl Streep and Natalie Portman are ideal for Joan Hornig jewelry, embodying the sensibilities she values. She also goes against the Hollywood grain and never gifts celebs jewelry because if she did, a worthy charity would go without.

From aiding victims of natural disasters like the Haiti earthquake to supporting local organizations such as Recipe for Success, Hornig is passionate about them all.

“I believe in health for life. I wish I had thought of the name “Recipe for Success” because it ties in beautifully with what I do. It’s good to get involved because all those pennies start to add up to dollars and it all makes a difference,” Hornig said.

Sweet something from the mall
If you vowed to stop signing up for every newsletter or contest that came your way, Willowbrook, First Colony and The Woodlands Mall may change your mind. Register on the mall sites and the first 350 people at each of the malls to redeem a Valentine’s Club e-mail today and Saturday will receive a $10 Shop Etc. card. Every little bit helps right?

TwitterSwag
Besides being caught up on every random thought that pops into John Mayer’s head, Twitter is an excellent tool to score swag. From shops to restaurants, the social media service is an excellent way to get surprisingly good deals. One that most recently caught my eye was from the Four Seasons spa. The spa Twitter special includes a free manicure when you book a pedicure and mention you saw it on Twitter. Both run $75, but with the deal you get the mani/pedi for $45. Seems like a Tweet deal to us.