Everyone knows that, when it comes to gifts, there are three types of guys: the guy who’s really sweet, tries hard, and generally manages to get it right; the guy who’s really sweet, tried hard, and still fouls things up pretty often (but he’s cute and sweet so you try to forgive him); and the guy who just doesn’t try very hard at all, so you’re pretty excited when he gets you something more interesting than a toaster.

As chance would have it, most guys seem to be most like guy number 2—he tries to catch your hints, and he always puts a lot of thought and heart into your gifts, but a lot of times, he just misses one or two details that happen to be, well…CRUCIAL! But we all love him anyway.

Like any girl, you really, really want him to get you something good for Valentine’s day, if only because you can’t stand the hangdog look he gets when he sees that you don’t like his Valentine’s gift. So here’s a hint—online wish lists are your friend.

I know, I know, how much thought could a guy really have put into a gift if you’ve already told him what to get you? But, if the alternative is “Hangdog Harry” for two weeks after Valentine’s, it may be worth the compromise. I mean, after all, he at least needed to think about which items on your wish list he thought would mean the most to you. And, of course, while he’s looking at the things in your wish list, he may find other things that you would like too—so even guy number 1 (the guy who always knows just the right gift) can be helped by a wish list.

As you know, my favorite jewelry store is Pugster, and I think their wish list is pretty cool. You just click on the “Add to Wish” list button in the product description, and when you’re done you can email to whoever you want. To demonstrate, let me show you what’s on my Pugster Wish List for Prince Charming this year:
A couple of months ago, I started my first European beads bracelet, and boy, am I addicted! They’re just so cute! And they’re so easy to slip on and off and rearrange. And they’re good for, literally, any occasion. I can wear them to dinner with grandma, or to a dinner party, or anywhere, and people are always commenting on my bracelet.

I love how this charm bead sparkles, with its Austrian crystals.

Again, I love how this little red heart is surrounded by sparkling crystals. And a little bit of color is always welcome.

I like my earrings dangly, and these pink heart-shaped Murano glass earrings are just gorgeous. And the thing I love about Murano glass is that it’s so versatile—it can be dressy or casual, and it looks great either way.

If Prince Charming is really feeling nice this year, this is what he’ll get me! I love how delicate this pendant looks hanging from its shiny white sheer ribbon. And it’s perfect for the spaghetti strap dress I want to wear out on Valentines.

More Murano glass earrings—actually, I think these would be great for wearing to work, or out to lunch with a friend. Casual and fun.

Sterling silver is great for Valentine’s Day, and I love how this cute heart outline kind of hangs at an angle. And while CZ is no diamond, it looks just as good when your man doesn’t quite make the big bucks yet.

This ring is sooooo cute! I love how feminine it looks with the dangling heart charm. I think I’m going to get this for one of my best girlfriends (we’ve been friends since preschool), but I’ll be jealous if I don’t get one too.

I met a friend of mine for coffee last weekend, and she was wearing this incredibly cute clasp charm bracelet, with all kinds of cute little charms, so I’ve been thinking about starting a bracelet myself.

As you know, I love Italian charms, and these deluxe charms are a really fun way to make a classier Italian charm bracelet.

I know it’s kitschy, but something about Valentine’s Day brings out the third-grader in me. Remember making “Be Mine” cards out of construction paper? I sure do, but Italian charms are easier.

What else needs to be said? Well, besides “I love it!”

Getting Creative with Italian Charms

Buying birthday gifts is tough! We want to give the perfect gift. Sometimes we just don’t know what to buy. This is what I faced this year as my long-time friend Amy’s birthday approached. What to get her? What to get her!

Amy’s favorite thing in the world is her little pug, Fluffy. She loves that dog! She also loves Italian charms. I thought to make her a Fluffy-themed Italian charms bracelet with custom and pre-designed Italian charms. As I was choosing Italian charms for Amy’s bracelet though, I had an Italian charms epiphany: Amy would love an Italian charms collar for Fluffy!

I picked Italian charms with doggies, ordered Italian charms with Amy’s pictures, Italian charms with Fluffy’s pictures, Italian charms with Amy and Fluffy together. I also bought standard Italian charms to fit the doggy theme. The collar was packed with photo Italian charms, laser Italian charms and painted Italian charms. It was beautiful! It was a blast!

By the time I put the Italian charms collar together I was really excited. The Italian charms looked great! What’s better, Amy loved Fluffy’s Italian charms collar and Fluffy did too. She said it was the perfect gift! Ooh the things you can do with Italian charms: the possibilities are endless!

Spring forward…Fall back….

It’s ingrained in our consciousness almost as much as the A-B-Cs or our spelling reminder of “i before e….” And it’s a regular event, though perhaps a bit less regular than the swallows coming back to Capistrano.

Yet in those four words is a whole collection of trivia, facts and common sense about Daylight Saving Time.

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in 1784, in an essay, “An Economical Project.”

The idea was first advocated seriously by London builder William Willett in the pamphlet, “Waste of Daylight” (1907). In this, he proposed advancing clocks 20 minutes on each of four Sundays in April, and setting them back by that same 20 minutes on four Sundays in September.

Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also established daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law.

Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February 1942 to 20 September 1945.

After the war its use varied among states and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.

During the “energy crisis” years, Congress enacted earlier starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on 6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two years the starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April. In 1986, a law was passed permanently shifting the starting date of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987. The ending date of daylight time has not been subject to such changes, and has remained the last Sunday in October. With the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the starting and ending dates have once again been shifted. Beginning in 2007, daylight time will start on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.

For a very readable account of the history of standard and daylight time in the U.S., see

Ian R. Bartky and Elizabeth Harrison: “Standard and Daylight-saving Time”, Scientific American, May 1979 (Vol. 240, No. 5), pp. 46-53.

**Information compiled from the CA Energy Commission and the US Naval Observatory

My Aunt Josie taught me to understand the Fall. Josie was my mom’s baby sister, the youngest of her family and more of a friend to me than just about anyone! We were friends first, family second. We shared jewelry, outfits, music, and books, and our summers, hanging out at her ranch. Josie was whip smart, financially independent and a fearless horsewoman. I think my mom was half terrified and half hopeful that I would take after her.

Personally, I’ve always lumped Fall with that impending dread of school, and the end of Summer was somewhat a time of adolescent gloom. I just hated that all the leaves, flowers and grass would be dying, and the days would get shorter, and there was just that unbearable sense of ENDING. I preferred springtime, the sense of new things growing and the excitement of a Summer full of fun ahead!

Aunt Josie loved autumn. And she took it kind of personal that I didn’t. Over the course of our summers together, she did manage to convert me to appreciate the changes brought by this season of death. Renewal of the earth and all that jazz. That leaves would die in a blaze of glorious color, fall to the ground and renew the earth, so that new green leaves would appear on that tree come spring… she was really into that. She always said, spring can’t happen without fall passing before.

Those lessons of renewal and rebirth are really important to me, now, because Aunt Josie passed away 3 years ago, a victim of breast cancer. We totally didn’t see it coming, and if she knew about it much beforehand, she didn’t let on. I don’t mind saying that I was really scared, for a while…could it happen to me? I found a ton of stuff to read about detecting and preventing breast cancer, and lots of great organizations that are spending money on helping other women with the disease…but it’s still a very chilling thought.

At the end of our last summer together, Aunt Josie gave me a back-to-school gift of a necklace, a delicate glass pendant in the shape of a new spring green leaf. It was kind of an inside joke, I guess, from the Fall Fanatic to the girl who preferred the spring. When I wear it, I think of renewal, and rebirth. Instead of being sad about Josie, I try to think of the women who have and will survive to see the next Spring.

For years now my grandmother and I have met every week for a visit: dinner and scrabble. It’s our tradition. I always stop for fried chicken along the way. It’s wonderful.

This week, after a very close game of scrabble, grandmother suggested we look at her “old” jewelry (she knows I love jewelry). She left the kitchen, returning with a small, marvelously embroidered jewelry box. Delicate, the small jewelry box looked like it held little jewelry.

What a surprise! Grandma’s jewelry box overflowed with gems: amethyst jewelry, CZ, peridot and ruby jewelry, sapphire and turquoise jewelry, pearl, garnet and quartz jewelry. I could go on and on.

It was a jewelry treasure trove! A magic pit of jewelry! Blackbeard’s jewelry booty! Every time I thought the jewelry box empty, grandmother lifted another gemstone, another dazzling specimen.

Grandmother had a story for every brooch and necklace, every bracelet, every set of earrings. We retraced her life through that jewelry. It was beautiful.

We spent hours over that jewelry box, talking and laughing. As I was leaving, I kissed my grandmother’s a cheek as I always do. Before I turned around, she grabbed my hand. From behind her back emerged the jewelry box. ‘I want you to have the jewelry box dear, and don’t say no,’ she pushed the jewelry box into my hands, ‘just remember.’

I was weepy all the way home. I’ve put grandma’s story, her jewelry box, on my mantle where I see it everyday…..remembering.

Mother-in-Law Day is October 21st! Click Here for some great gifts and deals!

Wishing Good Luck to You!

Throw out that chain mail! It’s bad luck, a scam, people who write them are scary! That’s always what I’ve heard. Usually when I receive a chain letter, I’m spooked for days, burning sage, spreading bowls of salt about my apartment to ward off the nasties. Of course there are always exceptions. Recently I received a very tempting chain letter. I had to participate.

Gemstone Jewelry!

Through the years I’ve received chain letters for money and recipes, even clothes and sandals. I’ve always passed but this last letter, well, being the gemstone jewelry gypsy I am; I just couldn’t resist a gemstone jewelry trade. The letter went like this:

Hey Guys and Gals,

Love gemstone jewelry? Here’s your chance for more gemstone jewelry!

Your favorite gemstone jewelry!

Click Here - Jewelry Coupons by Email

Choose your favorite gemstone jewelry. Write your preferred gemstone (affordable please) beside your name and that’s the gemstone jewelry you’ll get!

It’s Easy!

Send a piece of gemstone jewelry (wrap that gemstone jewelry carefully) to the person at the list’s top. Try to buy that person’s favorite gemstone. Cross that person off, writing your name, address and favorite gemstone at the bottom. Send this gemstone jewelry letter onto five more people.

You’ll receive your first piece of gemstone jewelry within days!

I’ve sent this gemstone jewelry letter over a dozen times, and I’ve never been disappointed. I now have a lot of gemstone jewelry.

Try it! You can’t lose with free gemstone jewelry!

Free Gemstone Jewelry!

Girls, I’m glad, glad, glad to say I shook the spookies and took the gemstone jewelry letter leap. I’ve already received 11 pieces of gemstone jewelry! My favorite gemstone jewelry? Well, you’ll just have to keep your eyes open for the gemstone jewelry letter.

PINK is absolutely everywhere right now. But this isn’t some teenie-bopper girlie fashion trend that just hit the “cool” shops. Pink is the color which signifies a cause closely associated with many women.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the annual campaign which has been wholeheartedly embraced by the fashion industry. Even Glamour Mag has a full spread on Thinking Pink!

Wearing pink is a great way to show support for an important charity, and some products even donate a portion of the proceeds!

Joanna Schlip is a world renowned makeup artist who has put makeup on many celebrity faces. I don’t have enough room to list them all but let’s just say she’s prettied up faces from Alicia Silverstone to Zooey Deschanel and everyone in between. According to a recent interview she gave, what are her favorites? Frosty pink lipstick and hot-pink nail polish!

ACCESSORIZE

You don’t have to go pink from head to toe to look great and lend your support. From catwalk models photographed by David Bailey, to lipsticks, bags, pink brooches and necklaces, there won’t be a reason to miss the campaign this October!

Do as the celebrities are doing and don a Breast Cancer fitted T-shirt. Or funk up an outfit with a wide-range of pink jewelry available. Or a pink wallet or handbag. Scarves and hats do well with pink highlights, especially for a night out on the town.

SAVING LIVES

2006 marks the 22nd anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is designed to educate women about breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older, breast cancer deaths have declined and the initiative has grown to be one of the most recognizable health awareness initiatives in the United States.

So show your support this month… and add a little color to your wardrobe.

This Pink Teardrop Murano Glass Pendant Necklace is only $17.99

Sterling silver is easy to care for and maintain, requiring minimal time and effort. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your sterling silver will be enjoyed for years to come!

Storage

Make sure that you store your sterling silver separately in a soft cloth to avoid surface scratches. Plastic ziplock bags can also be used for storage. Use plastic that is either polyethylene or mylar – never polyvinyl bags. Storage in an airtight bag helps to minimize exposure to oxygen, which can cause tarnish stains. To avoid this, it is a good idea to store your jewelry when not wearing it. Remember, wearing your sterling silver is the best way to prevent buildup. Oils from your skin actually help ward off tarnish!

About Tarnish

Tarnish is a reaction of your sterling silver with corrosive gases in the environment. This discoloration alters the look of your jewelry, creating a dull finish. Oxygen, sulfur and chlorine are common culprits in the build up of tarnish.

Light Cleaning

Regular cleaning of your sterling silver jewelry prevents dulling tarnish build up. Tarnish is much easier to remove as it accumulates rather than once it is built up! Use a soft 100 % cotton cloth (a t-shirt is perfect) to gently wipe the surface of your sterling silver piece. Rubbing too hard can cause existing dirt to scratch the surface of the silver.
For removing smudges, makeup or fingerprints use a mild liquid detergent combined with warm water. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely, buffing with a cotton cloth before storing.

Deep Cleaning

For older stains and excessive buildup, use a soft cloth with a non-abrasive silver polish paste. You can use a dip polish paste on sterling silver without gemstones. When applying paste, rub in a back-and-forth motion. A circular motion can cause scratches on the silver’s surface. For hard to reach crevices, use a child’s toothbrush or mushroom brush found in grocery stores. A clean cloth can be used to remove all residual polish. How much tarnish you choose to remove is a matter of style - leaving some tarnish in crevices adds to a defined, antique look.

Sterling Silver Friendship Ring for Under $20

Yes, I know – summer is over and fall is already here. But…I’m still holding on to those last few sunny days as much as I can, and wearing pink sure does get me in a happy mood!

And, best of all, I hope that by adding a nice splash of pink to my wardrobe or accessories, I can do my part to raise some awareness of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Some great ideas are the pink ribbons or wristbands, but a splash of color in the accessory department can have a great effect, and look amazing too! Try a sheer scarf with your black dress, pink pendants, earrings, or do it my way – by wearing a pink brooch throughout the month.

My favorite in my collection is a Musical Note Pink Brooch, but being a brooch girl, I do have many!

So, yes, although fall has definitely set in and the Fall Colors are taking over, try to brighten your day once in a while during October by wearing some pink. It’ll bring smiles reminding you of sunny summer days; all the while you’ll be showing your support to those millions of women who truly need it.

My mom sure will love you for it too!

Musical Note Pink Brooch for only $8

If you’re starting to feel a chill in the air, then you’re feeling the same thing I am – fall is really here! The month of September is coming to an end, while autumn comes to its peak.

As the trees are turning their beautiful autumn colors, so the colors and shapes of the fashions of the season are changing and evolving.

WHAT’S HOT THIS FALL

This year, styles from years ago are again at the top of the “must-have” lists for fall fashion. Leggings and knits are definitely leading the way.

Leggings were one of the top fashion icons of the 1980’s and they’re back again. For me, it’s just not going to happen, but it sure is fun to see all the young girls dressing up like I used to in high school!

On the other hand, I’m certainly happy about seeing knits popping up everywhere! They’re comfortable, stylish and not too pricey.

COLORS COLORS COLORS!

Last season’s white sensation has made a bold turn with red taking over as the “hot” color for this fall season. Whether you find it in shades of cherry, cranberry, or tomato, red will always turn heads. It’s classy, easy to accessorize, and always available.

When not going for a bold statement with the reds, there are other great colors making a big splash this fall! Teal blue is great around the office, and plum purple is quickly becoming the new black!

Personally, I love the purples best. You can pair it with winter white, sienna, and a whole range of other colors. Accent with mother of pearl, and you’ve got the perfect classy combo.

CHOICES

Whatever you choose, try to focus on color combinations more than the style. We all know we’re not 22 any more (well, some of you are!) – so the hottest little skirt isn’t always the top priority. But, getting those wonderful fall colors and the accessories to match will make your outfits just right for you!

Ooh La La! Red Murano Glass Bracelet - $12.99

This Mother of Pearl Pendant is beautiful with all the fall colors and is only about $25!

So there you have it. Get into fall with some great colors and comfortable styles! - Summer