Beautiful YOU!

The blogging muses hit me.  At 11:30pm.  I ought to be sleeping.
I generally don't do double posts, but I realize that I have different followers on my blog and blogfrog community than I do on facebook (so follow me on facebook too!!!!) 

I was briefly chatting with a business associate.  She shared this note/image with me.  It is powerful; I had to share.


As women (and moms) we can get so bogged down about who we are.  Perhaps guys do it and don't let on, but I know women are always comparing.  I do it too.  I didn't want my mom to take a picture of me for our family calendar with no makeup on.  Isn't that silly?!  There are all sorts of oughts, or shoulds, or whatever.  Then as a mom, there is mom guilt - you know it.  Stinks.  Then if you run a business, or work outside the home (or inside) there's that guilt too.  It's all around.  And it seems like there is no way to escape.


But I want you to know that you are LOVED.  L-O-V-E-D.  You are who you were created to be.  You were made for greatness!!  I don't care where you are spiritually (I don't really fit the mold either).  I'm not here to shove anything down your throat, or win souls.  I think that's tacky.  (Frankly, I think God thinks it's tacky too.)  I just want to share with you how much you are loved.  You are a PRINCESS!  You aren't loved because of who you know, or what you do, or where you've been, or anything else.  You're loved because you are you, and there is no one else like you.  Dr. Suess said it really well, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

 

You are an awesome woman!

 

Bound Together by Love

Welcome to another review by Amanda Nicole.  (Howdy, everyone!)  Once more, I do not get paid.  I do not get the jewelry for free.  I don’t get anything from this, except the joy of spending my husband’s money on Park Lane Jewelry.  (He’s less than happy, but I can tell you what the family is getting for Christmas!)  The following review is my true and honest opinion.  Rachael is not involved in the review process.  Thank you FTC for understanding I am following the law here.

Today’s review: Indulge Necklace

Okay, does that need words?  Yeah, because this is a review!  The Indulge necklace is a two heart necklace.  The larger heart lies at the base of the neck.  Two inches up on the left lies the next small heart.  There seems a Spanish/Southwest influence to this piece.  I’m not sure where they came up with the name.  I can think of a few better names.  I think you’re supposed to think you are indulging yourself while wearing this lovely piece.  Perhaps they are trying to say indulge yourself in love.  Maybe the artist wants to indulge  I have given up trying to understand where artists come up with the names for their work.  Instead, let’s take a closer look at this beautiful necklace. you in love, which doesn’t make sense.

You’ll notice the red crystal is surrounded by lots of little crystals.  I’m sure I’ve seen this design before.  I just can’t remember what painting I was looking at.  Or was it at a show of royal jewels?  Oh well, it isn’t important.  What goes around comes around.  This definitely has a Spanish Royal feel to it.  I could see Queen Isabella wearing something like this as she waved goodbye to Columbus.  (“Bye!  Bring me back chocolate!”)  I think this would work great with an outfit that has a Spanish/Southwestern feel to it.  This would be the piece I would wear to go to a salsa.

The deep red works well for the heart.  After all, isn’t that the color of love?  The crystals allow the piece to shine and sparkle.  Isn’t the heart supposed to shine?  Especially a heart in love?  The Austrian crystals are like those around us that we love.  Their love helps us sparkle when they are near.  Our heart shines by itself, but the addition of their love truly brings out that shine.  The Indulge Necklace does just that, reminding the world of the shining heart within the woman who wears it and her friends and family.

The second heart is smaller by a lot.  It has only one row of crystals surrounding the red crystal in the middle.  Does this take away from the second heart?  No, I think the designer was trying to send a subtle message.  If you ask me, the designer added the second heart to remind us that we can never truly shine on our own.  We must have the love of others.  While their hearts do not look as big as ours when someone is looking at us straight on, the hearts are just as large.  It is just a simple case of depth.  Two trees can look different sizes when they are not side by side.  I think that is what the designer was going for here.  (Or, I am just gonna be a romantic and put this idea out there for the artist to go “Yeah, sure, that was my plan!”)

The chain may throw some people off.  It is rather heavy and leans towards chainmaille in my opinion.  At first, I was not sure about the chain.  Another glance told a different story.  The Indulge Necklace is not just one heart, but two.  Both hearts are attached to the chain links so the hearts cannot move.  Isn’t that love, though?  A chain binding two hearts together?  Each stays separate, yet they are tied by a bond that outlasts time?  When you think about it, the chain works better than any other design I could think of for the piece.

Buy the Indulge Necklace for the special woman in your life.  She doesn’t have to be your wife.  (Hold on, girls, before you attack me.  I think that anger will quickly melt away in to“awe, sweet idea, Amanda Nicole.”)  Think of your mother, guys.  She’s done an awful lot for you over the years.  It was her love that saw you from birth to today.  Your mother’s love deserves recognition.  What better way to recognize that love than a necklace with two hearts and a card to tell her you will always be her little boy?  Write these words down: “Mom, just as these two hearts are forever joined together with a chain, so a mother’s love forever joins her with her son.  No matter how far away I may be, it is your love people see in me.  Thank you for all the love you have given me; making me in to the man I am today.  Love, (Your Name)”

Fathers, what about that little girl in pigtails and her mother’s shoes and makeup?  That little girl you remember sitting in your lap sleeping with her head on your shoulder?  The one running up to you as you come home from work?  The one you just dropped off at college in August?  Yeah, same girl you swear was wearing pigtails she walked towards the dorms?  Or that little girl holding her favorite teddy bear while wearing her mother’s pearls?  The one standing in a white dress and a veil draped over her hair?  Why not give her the Indulge Necklace as a gift of your love?  Trust me when I say my favorite ring (the one the photographer thought was my engagement ring at the wedding) is the one my daddy gave me.  Daddy & his little girl have a special bond.  Give her the Indulge Necklace this Christmas or for her birthday as a way for Daddy’s little girl to always have a piece of you close.  Believe me when you ask a woman about her favorite jewelry she will always include something special her father gave her.

I’m sure Rachael has some other ideas about the subject.  She seems to be big on buying jewelry for yourself.  I think she’s missing the point on the Indulge.  (Ducking so Rachael can’t hurt me!)  Seriously, at $149 (plus tax and S&H) the necklace isn’t that bad of a price.  Rachael always has sales.  And you needed to buy a lot of Christmas presents.  Do you want to be that guy trying to figure out what to get his mother, wife or daughter on Christmas Eve as the mall is closing?  Okay, stupid question.  You guys always like waiting until the last moment.  You are just waiting for the best price.  I get it.  Still, give Rachael a call or email her today for help shopping for the women in your life.  She’ll mention a guarantee that if they don’t like it, you can return it.  But that won’t happen with this piece; especially when you print this blog up, grunt and go “Read!  Me mean this!” in some form of grunt.

I mentioned one of my last orders in the Juliet review.  Let me tell you of another order I bought lately.  Three (3) pieces of jewelry valued at $315 for a mere $104.  That’s not too shabby.  (For you guys, that is less than the cost of Madden 11 and StarCraft 2.)  Rachael is always running deals.  Talk to Rachael today by emailing her rpparklane@gmail.com.

On a personal note, you’ll notice a nice little poll that has been going on here at Sparkly Jewels.  Do me a favor?  Vote for anything but more reviews.  Your only other option is to feed the reviewer.  I do quite well on comments.  Comments keep me healthy and happy.  Comments are free to feed.  I’m not asking for much.  What did you think of the review?  Do you own the Indulge Necklace?  Did you buy it after reading this?  What did you think?  Come on, people!  Feed the reviewer!

Your blog is yours again, Rachael.  Do tell us about the bonus item deal, or any other deals you have going at the moment.

WOW!  Amanda, you have such a knack for words - absolutely beautiful!!!!

This necklace, I've included in the 12 Days of Christmas gift giving deal...you can get 12 gifts for someone special (mom, grandma, sis, wife, daughter).  You're receiving $860 in jewelry for only $200.  When you think about each piece coming with a lifetime warranty, it's a gift that keeps giving.  I recently heard from a client that she had purchased a necklace for Christmas, and it broke THAT NIGHT!  She took it back to the store she had purchased it from, and they wouldn't return it or exchange it or give her store credit.  She was out $100.  I hear stories like this nearly everyday.  When you purchase with Park Lane, you don't have to pay extra for the unconditional guarantee - it comes free of charge.  Isn't that peace of mind???

I hate to sound cliche, but don't put off waiting until the last minute.  Be sure to get your order in as soon as possible.

The 12 Days of Christmas gift giving starts on Dec 13th.  To avoid paying rush delivery, order before November 22nd.  If you place 2 or more 12 Days orders, I'll foot the shipping!!

Ladies, you can also send me your honey's contact info, and I'll put a bug in his ear

For never was a story of more woe, Than this of Juliet and her Romeo

What does Romeo have to do with jewelry?  Well nothing, but Juliet has a lot to do with it!  Read on!  Thank you to my wonderful friend for her beautiful review of one of our pieces.  As a shameless plug for a friend, please hop on over to her blog and be sure to follow the makings of an authoress.

It’s Amanda Nicole again.  (Waving!)  Rachael’s friendly, unpaid, buys the jewelry she writes about reviewer.  (Yes, I need to rethink this whole thing.)  I’m also the friend who doesn’t wear jewelry, and doesn’t exactly like jewelry.  Yet, here I am reviewing the jewelry.
Everyone likes new things.  Or, at least so I am told.  Today’s edition is the Juliet Bracelet.  I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to think of Romeo & Juliet when you see this bracelet.  It has four charms and two “pearls.”  Bear with my art critique here.  This piece is a work of art, and what one person sees might not be what another person sees.  Let’s take each of the four charms separately for our critique.

Juliet Bracelet 

all photos by Amanda Nicole Trisdale

We will start with the key.  It is a lovely key with “LOVE” as the teeth.  I will believe the designer meant that love is the key to unlock any door; be the door bolted shut with compassion or hate.  I find the key a pivotal part of the play, and of this bracelet.  For what is Romeo & Juliet without the moral of the story?

 
Next comes the heart.  It should not be shocking to find a heart on a bracelet based on one of the greatest love stories of all time.  This little charm shows how beautiful and delicate love can be.

 
After the heart we have the cameo.  We can never forget the young beauty who tragically takes her own life for love.  Timeless, ageless in the shadow of our memory, Juliet reminds us that we must seek the better self within us, not the hate that surrounds us.
 

Some might disagree with the inclusion of the symbol of peace on this work.  I would ask them to think about the play.  A love that could overcome hate is a love that brought peace between two families.  Remember the ending of Romeo and Juliet.  Both fathers stand looking down at the bodies of their children.  In that moment, Montague and Capulet realize what their feuding has cost them; their children.  Peace, the final gift of Juliet to her family.  Love, the key to unlock not only someone’s heart, but to unlock peace.  Two symbols by each other on a bracelet, meaningless one without the other.  For can one truly have peace without love?  Or love without peace?
 
So, whether you are like me and bought this lovely piece due to the fact your niece is named after the heroine in a Shakespeare play, are a fan of one of the greatest and longest enduring love stories of all time, or just love a beautiful piece of jewelry, buy the Juliet Bracelet.  Or, seeing as how Christmas is coming up, pick up the bracelet for that woman in your life you have been feuding with. 

For those who don’t like large charms on your wrist, but love the charms on the bracelet, you are in luck.  Park Lane happens to have the same piece in a necklace.  The bracelet is $55.  The necklace is $119.  Rachael can always work in a lovely deal for you.  Talk to Rachael for more details.
“For never was a story of more woe/Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”  The Prince’s eulogy for Juliet and Romeo at the end of the play.

**From Rachael:  Amanda, Thank you so much for this beautiful review of the Juliet bracelet.  I must admit at first I was slightly irritated by the peace symbol on this lovely bracelet, but you helped me to remember the message of Romeo and Juliet.  Photos really don't do this piece justice, it is precious.  If pictures are worth a thousand words, then these lovely words are only half of the story!  Please do be sure to give your love this bracelet!!
(yes, we do have deals!!!)