CharmingChick.com

Summer Turquoise Jewelry

July 24, 2008 – 7:45 pm by Jen
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Turquoise jewelry is one of those classic summer accessories that never seem to go out of style. It’s the perfect shade for almost any summer outfit, and it’s a really affordable gemstone.

Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle has a great article about summer jewelry, also commenting about how turquoise jewelry is really a must-have for summer.

I was interested, so I did a little research and found out some really cool things about turquoise jewelry. For centuries women around the world have believed that turquoise has the ability to attract luck, love, and money, and that turquoise jewelry has healing and protective powers. Turquoise got it’s name from 16th century Europeans who mistakenly thought that the turquoise they were buying from traders was originating from Turkey, rather than Persia. Turquoise is also an alternative December birthstone.

How do you care for turquoise jewelry? Be sure not to expose it to oils, perfumes, cosmetics, chemicals, heat, or direct sunlight. You can keep it from scratching by storing it separately from other jewelry pieces. Feel free to wash with water as needed, but be sure to dry the gemstone thoroughly afterwards.

For some of my favorite turquoise jewelry, click the pictures below:

Foods that can reduce your risk of Breast Cancer

July 22, 2008 – 7:15 pm by Jen

Despite rapidly advancing research and treatments, breast cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the industrialized world.

Research had shown that eating a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables may contribute to a woman’s risk of breast cancer. A recent study has shown that eating the following foods can reduce a woman’s chance of breast cancer, whether or not she is genetically predisposed:

Fruits
Vegetables
Low fat dairy products
Fish
Olive oil
Sunflower seeds
Avocado
Foods high in Vitamin D
Tofu

If you would like to read the entire article, entitled Nutrition and breast cancer among sporadic cases and gene mutation carriers: An overview, click here. You can also read more about the findings on the Susan G. Komen website.

What Jewelry Do I Pack For a Summer Vacation?

July 20, 2008 – 8:57 pm by Jen

With some airlines now charging you per checked bag, we’re all trying to cram as much as possible in our carry-on bag. So what jewelry do you pack for your summer vacation?

First, don’t take your good jewelry! Unless you carry individual insurance policies on your pricier pieces, it’s just not worth the risk. Even then, no one wants to have to fill out all that insurance claim paperwork! Lock your expensive jewelry in your safe or your safety deposit box, and travel with your “costume” jewelry instead. You can look like you are wearing diamonds without having to worry about those expensive pieces being lost or stolen on vacation. This also goes for any vintage jewelry or heirlooms - those items cannot be replaced, so don’t take the risk of losing them.

Sandy beaches and salty or chlorine waters can be very harsh on precious metals and gemstones. You don’t want your ring to slip off while splashing in the ocean anyway, so make sure to remove your jewelry before hitting the beach or pool.

So what jewelry do you bring? You’ll want to pack something that can look great with a variety of outfits, like a classic sterling silver necklace with a simple pendant. Also, don’t forget that you can often pack less clothing, but still completely change your outfit, just by changing your jewelry. So pack some fancy chandelier earrings to dress up a more casual outfit for dinner.

Summer classics are usually your best bet. Pearls are a summer favorite that most ladies agree will dress up a casual outfit easily, and yet aren’t too heavy or uncomfortable. Check out this post about classic summer pearls from Just Ask Leslie.

Lastly, keep it organized. A simple travel jewelry organizer (like the ones below) are a great way to keep your jewelry from “shifting” during flight. Plus you’ll be able to easily see what all you have to work with when you are getting ready. Click the pictures below to check out some of my favorite travel jewelry organizers, and have fun on your summer vacation!

Planning Your Wedding on a Budget

July 19, 2008 – 4:13 pm by Jen

With the economy suffering right now, it can seem impossible to afford your dream wedding. But luckily there are ways to cut costs in your wedding budget so that you don’t have to compromise that dream gown or beautiful destination. Here’s my top five tips for keeping your wedding budget under control:

1. Choose your date carefully. Off-season is the best, and stay away from holidays. Many locations will give big discounts for Sunday vs. Saturday. A candlelight wedding on a Friday night is extremely romantic - and much less expensive than the typical Saturday evening wedding. Not only can you save on locations, but vendors such as catering, bakeries, and florists, will often give you a discount since they are less likely to be busy those days.

2. Invite less guests. It’s amazing how much you can save by eliminating a few folks from your guest list. It’s your wedding - you don’t “have” to invite anyone. Let go of the pressure to invite those friends you haven’t seen in years or those coworkers you don’t even like. Not only will it keep your wedding day less expensive, but you can actually spend time with all your guests this way. A smaller wedding can feel more intimate and relaxed, as well.

3. Plan the wedding yourself. Wedding planners can be costly, and many of the tasks that they perform you may be able to do yourself. Enlist the help of bridesmaids, Moms, grandmothers, and other friends to keep from getting overwhelmed. Your family and friends will be happy to help with your special day!

4. Have the wedding and reception in the same place. By picking a multi-purpose venue you can usually get a package deal and save a good bit of money. It also keeps your planning less stressful, and you don’t have to pay for transportation to several locations.

5. Limit your attendants. Each bridesmaid, groomsman, flower girl, ring bearer, etc. all cost you. Sure we all want our family and friends to be involved in our wedding day, but try to limit the number of attendants wherever possible. There are lots of way to get these folks involved, like with the planning!

I found some great budget wedding tips here for further reading. Brides.com also has several great articles on saving money in your wedding budget.

If you are looking for affordable bridal accessories, check out some of my favorites below. These pieces look pricey, so no one will know your money-saving-secret!

Staying Safe in the Sun

July 16, 2008 – 5:24 pm by Jen

July is UV safety month, so I thought I’d share few tips on how to stay safe in the sun. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in humans, so make sure that you are taking steps every day to prevent it.

Start by applying sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher. Make sure your sunglasses block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. Add a hat with a wide brim.

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are typically the strongest between 10 am and 2 pm. Check the UV index for your area on a particular day when planning outdoor activities. For a guide on how to read the UV index, check out the National Foundation for Cancer Research website.

Experts say that skin cancer is largely preventable if people take these basic prevention steps. To read more about what you can do to prevent skin cancer, check out this article called Safe in the Sun: How to Stay Cancer Free.

Click below for a couple Melanoma Awareness items that I recommend:

Accessories are a must-have for your daily wardrobe!

July 12, 2008 – 12:37 am by Jen

I recently read a great article from The F! called Crimes of fashion - Not accessorizing is a no no. I’ve obviously thought accessories were important for a long time (since I work for a jewelry and accessory company) but I thought this article put it short and sweet.

The great thing about accessories is that you can feel great about even the most dull wear-to-work outfit, or transform jeans into a stunning combo for a night out! And when you’re on a budget, a new handbag and pair of earrings is a lot more affordable than buying a whole new outfit!

Click the pictures below to check out some of my favorite dramatic accessories:

Summer Trend: Sterling Silver Jewelry

July 6, 2008 – 8:53 pm by Jen

With high gas prices and a down economy, sterling silver jewelry is really growing in popularity this summer. Not only is sterling silver jewelry classic and lasts a lifetime, it is just so affordable!

So what is sterling silver jewelry anyway? Many are unaware, but pure silver is actually really soft so it is combined with other metals to produce a more durable metal for jewelry: Sterling Silver. It contains 92.5% pure silver, which is why it is called .925 sterling silver. The other 7.5% is commonly copper or nickel. These metals make the sterling silver more durable without actually changing the color.

Throughout history women and men have adorned themselves with sterling silver as a symbol of affluence. It is truly timeless, and worthwhile investment since it can be passed down from generation to generation. Silver prices (just like other precious metal prices) are currently on the rise, but yet sterling silver jewelry still remains incredibly affordable.

For some of my favorite sterling silver jewelry, click the pictures below:

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

July 5, 2008 – 11:52 pm by Jen

This July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, which is sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation in an effort to raise awareness that arthritis affects children and teenagers, too. Though many are not aware of the prevalence, juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, Juvenile arthritis refers to any form of arthritis or arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers who are less than 18 years of age. About 294,000 children are affected. While there is no cure for juvenile arthritis, medicines and physical therapy can help maintain movement and reduce swelling and pain. Recent juvenile arthritis research found that a gene region known to play a role in some varieties of adult rheumatoid arthritis is also present in all types of childhood arthritis.

If your child is affected by Juvenile arthritis, you can sign up for a free juvenile arthritis newsletter containing latest information on treatments, research, coping, parenting strategies and profiles of kids with arthritis. You might also be interested in attending the National Juvenile Arthritis Conference July 10th-13th.

According to the JA Alliance, the following the common symptoms of Juvenile arthritis:

Pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness of joints, causing limited range of motion
Joint contracture, which results from holding a painful joint in a flexed position for an extended period
Damage to joint cartilage and bone leading to joint deformity and impaired use of the joint
Altered growth of bone and joints leading to short stature

If you would like to find out more or make a donation, visit the Arthritis Foundation website.

Click the picture below to see some of my favorite blue ribbon juvenile arthritis awareness jewelry:

Cocktail Rings: The New Everyday Accessory

June 28, 2008 – 8:55 pm by Jen

Long gone are the days when the term “cocktail ring” meant you could only wear these sparkling gems in the evening. From celebs to the runway, you can’t miss these knock-out rings in every style imaginable. The best part is: you can wear them anytime!

If you are looking for the styles that are celebs are wearing, check out SheFinds.com article featuring Cate, Angie, and Michelle’s cocktail rings. As for designer styles, you’ll love these stand-out cocktail rings by Kenneth J Lane featured on MyFashionLife.com. The newest styles feature a few smaller stones, rather than the original single large stone we saw last year. Check out the hottest summer cocktail ring designer trends in this article on the National Jewelry Network.

It’s tricky trying to find a cocktail ring though that makes a bold statement, is decent quality, and fits your budget. TheBudgetFashionista.com has a great gathering of affordable cocktail rings that are hot this summer.

And of course, for some of my favorite unique and affordable cocktail rings, click the pictures below:

Summer Trend: Floral Accessories

June 23, 2008 – 6:07 pm by Jen

I’ve seen lots of flirty and feminine clothing and accessories this season, but my favorite is the gorgeous floral prints. From handbags to sandals to jewelry, flowers are springing up this summer!

I’d pair a flirty floral summer dress, like this one discussed on Shopalicious!, with some dainty floral earrings or sandals with little flower accents. For a terrific gathering of some hot summer sandals, check out SecondCityStyle.

There definitely is a point though where too much floral is just tacky. Be sure to read this article from Logicalharmony.com about Floral Prints Done Right. it is a must-read guide the summer’s best and worst floral prints.

As for some of my favorite floral jewelry, click the pictures below:

CharmingChick.com

Summer Turquoise Jewelry

Foods that can reduce your risk of Breast Cancer

What Jewelry Do I Pack For a Summer Vacation?

Planning Your Wedding on a Budget

Staying Safe in the Sun

Accessories are a must-have for your daily wardrobe!

Summer Trend: Sterling Silver Jewelry

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

Cocktail Rings: The New Everyday Accessory

Summer Trend: Floral Accessories

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