Spring Rings from Chamilia – Perfect for Your Valentine

February 9, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Looking for something for your Valentine? Perfect for the “big day”, or for anytime really- these new rings from Chamila are both beautiful and something that can be worn differently as she so chooses. Stacked, singly, or in combinations, these are beautiful and easy to wear with just about any outfit.

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Chamilia (www.chamilia.com), a Swarovski company, has introduced three new stackable rings. The entire Chamilia line is made from sterling silver or 14 karat gold and features genuine Swarovski Crystals and Swarovski Zirconia. The brand follows strict Swarovski guidelines for quality and aesthetic standards.

“Stackable rings have been a popular offering from Chamilia since their introduction,” said Chamilia Vice President, Global Merchandising and Marketing Catherine Ottaviano. “Each year we introduce new styles that integrate into existing Chamilia collections so that our customer can continue to feed her need to stack and coordinate with what she is already wearing.” 

Chamilia now has these three new stackable ring styles, including:

  • Latitude Points Ring—This bright sterling ring features an open band with Swarovski Pure Brilliance Zirconia set on each endpoint (U.S. MSRP $40).
  • Ornamental Drift Ring—This sterling silver band with bright finish features a pattern of meandering curls with Swarovski Pure Brilliance Zirconia detailing (U.S. MSRP $55).
  • Pavé Circle Ring—This sterling silver ring, features an open circle set with pavé Swarovski Pure Brilliance Zirconia at the top of the band (U.S. MSRP $45).

Items from Chamilia’s Spring 2018 collection are available now and will be sold at the brand’s more than 1,000 retail partners worldwide and on the Chamilia website. For more information, please go to www.chamilia.com.
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How to handle Valentine’s Day in a BRAND NEW relationship

February 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

It’s Valentine’s Day; that special time of year dedicated to all things heart shaped, loved up and ohh la la!

Deciphering how you should spend the 14th of February is usually pretty easy; if you’re in a relationship you go on a date, share gifts and so forth, and if you’re single you rock out your singledom with friends and have fun… or you try not to text your ex and watch any romantic 90s Hugh Grant classics and cry in the bath.

But what about if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a NEW boyfriend? You’ve both been dating for 2 months, a month, a couple of weeks… what are the rules here? How far do you go? Do you celebrate it all at?

Don’t panic, we’re here to help point you in the right direction!

1. Feel whether the time is right

It can be ‘too soon’ to celebrate Valentine’s Day with each other. If you’ve only gone a few dates with one another, then we’d suggest that it’d be best to ignore Valentine’s Day this year. Follow your gut, if you think it’s too soon… it probably is. At the beginning of a relationship it’s always best to keep it cool and casual than to appear to needy.

 

2. Are YOU ready?

Question how you feel about this relationship. Celebrating Valentine’s Day with one another is a big step and shows that you’re into each other and potentially looking for something more long term. Maybe you’re not looking for a relationship right now, if that’s the case question whether or not celebrating Valentine’s Day may send your new boyfriend the wrong message. You don’t want him to get hurt if you don’t see this as a long term relationship!

 

2. Be open and talk about it with one another

If you feel that both of you are ready, just be frank about it and simply ask him, ‘It’s Valentine’s Day, do you want to do anything?’ If it feels weird, just laugh about it and keep it light! If he’s not ready however, don’t push it and don’t let it bruise your ego, sometimes people need more time to dedicate themselves to a relationship.

 

3. Keep it low-key

Whilst talking to your new boyfriend, tell him that you don’t mind keeping Valentine’s Day low-key. You could make rules like no gift giving or only doing something during the day. Create a plan together that works for both of you.

 

4. Go out for drinks

If you’re a new couple, perhaps just going out for a drink or two is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Impress your new date with your favorite little black dress number, don’t go too overboard with something like a ball gown though… or a wedding dress. We’re pulling your leg of course, but wearing something flirty and simple is ALWAYS the best option for a Valentine’s Day date. If you feel like having fun, maybe go somewhere with a theme (like a 20s speak-easy style establishment!) or somewhere fancy!


5. Have a home cooked meal

If you don’t feel ready to go to a fancy restaurant together just yet, why not celebrate with a home cooked meal for two at your home? It’s still intimate, and fun, but it’s also causal. If you don’t know each other too well yet it’s also a great way to feel relaxed around one another and talk. Going to a posh restaurant can feel stifling and put pressure on you both. Give your new boyfriend the opportunity kick off his cool men’s chukka boots and relax in your company.


7. Do you get each other gifts?

Decide together whether you’re going to get gifts for one another. You don’t want to give him a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine and discover that he’s got you zilch, or the other way around. Make a plan before Valentine’s Day.


8. Don’t get him anything too big for Valentine’s Day

You may want to get him SOMETHING to show that your relationship is going well and that you care about the guy, but you don’t want to get him something TOO romantic or serious as it may spook him. And the same goes vice versa! Just picture it: you’ve been going out for a month and a half and he gets you a huge plasma screen TV for you to watch Netflix together at your place. You’d want to run for the hills wouldn’t you?

Aim for a gift that’s not too expensive and something fun and casual. If he’s mentioned a book that he wants to read, get him the book! If he likes a band, buy him their latest CD or get him an itunes voucher so that he can download them himself! It would be too far to buy him tickets worth hundreds of pounds to their reunion tour… in Belgium. The thought is nice, but it’s too much too soon. For unique and quirky gift ideas check out some online shops like Mr Shoes.

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Fun Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Family

February 6, 2016 by 1 Comment

If you are looking for the perfect gift for your kids and spouse this Valentines Day, we’ve put together a little list to make your shopping that much easier.  Check out some of our picks, and see what strikes your fancy.

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For your littlest Valentine, head to Hallmark.  You can do quite a bit of shopping there, but what we loved was the Love-a-Saurus Techno Plush, new for this year.  This cutie roars and dances when you push his button.  Perfect for boys or girls (and even “big kids”), this bright red dino will break it down to “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer, which kids will groove to, and moms and dads will wax nostalgic. It is $33, or $18 when you buy 3 cards. You can also find an assortment of adorable itty bittys- sweet toys that fit in the palm of your hand- including new Thing 1 and Thing 2. Your favorite troublemakers from Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, with Valentine hearts for their antennae to be festive for the holiday.  They are available for $7 each. Of course, you can always get an assortment of cards perfect for Valentines Day (or any occasion) at Hallmark.  This year they also have new cards from the Signature collection, itty bitty Valentines (to go with your itty bitty stuffed toys) as well as from  Hallmark designers Justin & Tuesday Spray, which are just beautiful.  You can pick up these items at Hallmark.com and at Hallmark Gold Crown stores.

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For tweens, teens, and spouses, we loved the lovely gifts from Oragami Owl. Not only is the jewelry beautiful, but it’s unique because you customize it for the one you love (and it’s much more affordable then some other lines). Choose the color, size, shape, and more, as well as the charms that go inside and/or outside, the length and type of chain used, and all the other details. You can even add Swarovski crystals for a bit more color and sparkle. Origami Owl lets you pick out items that highlight special memories about your Valentine, and will be a truly cherished gift for that reason- it’s about the bond you two share. You can choose from necklaces, bracelets, wrap bracelets (a hot trend right now), lockets, and more at www.OrigamiOwl.com. Prices vary, check out the site and choose the item(s) that you like best for the ladies in your life.

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Another option for the girls and women in your life is the environmentally-friendly and non-toxic Duri nail polish collection. Also safe from DBP, Tolune, and Formaldehyde, you can buy these separately or in a cute Valentine’s Day set of four, in a sweetheart box ready for gift giving.

While there are more then 250 shades of Duri (sounds like a book, yes?), the Valentine’s Day collection includes “every day is a Valentine” red, “cupid rules” pink, the pastel “iced roses”, “unexpected kiss” in a light purple-pink, and “sweetheart”, a bright shade of orangy-red. This is a great gift for the female of nearly any age in your life- most women, from the littlest girl on up, love their mani-pedi’s. Grab singles for 6$ each, or the gift set for $24 at www.duri.com

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For the coffee lover in your life, take a look at the Trudeau espresso maker. This bedside pot makes getting your morning java that much easier with a convenient stainless-steel stove top espresso maker. Just fill it up, brew your beans in true Italian style, and serve. It uses pressure for the water, and has a safety release valve for the steam to be released from. The handle stays cool to the touch, so you don’t need to worry about burns. It’s also portable, so you can take it with you anywhere you go- you can use it for regular coffee if you would like as well, making it a good camping tool. It cleans easily in the dishwasher, and has a 5 year warranty as well, so it is well worth the price of $70 at http://www.shoptrudeau.com/ .

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For the nerdy love in your life, head to ThinkGeek.com and check out all the fun and funky wares they have in stock, perfect for those with a taste for the “dark side”, “Trekkies”, “brown coats” and more. Don’t know what I’m talking about, but know someone who will? Think Geek is for your shopping needs. If they love tech, comic books, or sci-fi shows, you will find a bounty of fun and unique items they soon won’t be able to live without.

For a fun twist on classic Valentine’s Day gifts, we love the ThinkGeek: iPhone Heart Charging Cable. Who needs another box of heart shaped candies? This cable goes with iPhone 5/6, but it also works with our iPad. It has 8 LED tiny, plastic, red hearts that also light up when it is plugged in and charging. One end goes into the i-device, the other into a USB port. It’s 46” long, and is available at http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/iotl/ for $14.99. Show how strong and bright your love is, and that it’s endlessly renewable.

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Tired of the same old, same old floral arrangements? How much would they love to receive a Star Wars Bouquet. There are 3 options available, and they arrive wrapped and ready to be given. Each bouquet of nine “long stemmed” officially licensed Star Wars characters- in the Assortment (Boba Fett, Darth Vader, C-3PO, R2-D2 , two Ewoks , and three Stormtroopers), the Darth Vader bouquet (Darth Vader and eight Stormtroopers), or the Droid (three each of R2-D2, R2-Q5, and R2-D9) bouquet. They are available for $60 at http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/iprq/ for the assortment bouquet, each bouquet has a different link, but they and many other gifts can all be found at http://www.thinkgeek.com/gifts/ . These fun gifts are sure to be a conversation piece, and something to make all the other geeks jealous. Who has the best spouse? Yeah, you know it.

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Beautiful Gifts Handmade in Peru With Novica

January 27, 2016 by 7 Comments

It can be hard to choose a gift for your loved one.  You want to give something special, something they will love.  If it’s pretty, that much the better. Novica is the perfect place to find that perfect item.  Not only are items hand crafted, which means they will each be unique and totally one of a kind, but they also support local artisans (who you get to know in a little “story card” that comes with your purchase).  You see a portrait and a biography of the artist on the page of the item when you buy it, and when your gift is opened, they will read the card and make the discovery as well.

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My son, who happens to be my favorite little Valentine, helped me choose a special gift for his Godmother, a very special person in his life.  He wanted to choose something she would really love, and he thought she would love the Andean Folk Art Cotton Applique Change Purse, ‘Butterfly Afternoon’. Quite a mouthful for a small purse, but it’s very pretty and not at all common.  My son is very picky and deliberate in choosing gifts- he really wants to make sure to choose the right gift for the right person.  We both think she will love the purse, with it’s bright colors and sunny, hand stitched scenery.

It arrived carefully wrapped in beautiful paper, with a red ribbon and a tiny doll in the center.  It was very festive (and honestly, very cool looking).  It looked expensive,  like someone had really put time into it very carefully.  He can’t wait to give his  Valentine’s Day gift!

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This beautiful, functional work of art was created by Balvina Huaytalla who lives and works in the Peru.  Her work is inspired by the Peruvian Andes, and she wishes to share it’s beauty with everyone. She is a single mother who is struggling to take care of her young son, and this and every purchase helps her make a living.

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There were a few things that caught my eye as well while we were looking around- it’s hard not to be distracted by all the beautiful products.  These Gold Accent Heart Shaped Earrings would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, or really any day out.  They are so pretty, I had to send a little “hint” over to my husband.  The only thing better then a beautiful gift is one that gives back.  Lovely, traditional art (some you can even wear) that embraces local artisans, doesn’t use bad labor practices, and helps others live sustainably- so much awesome with one purchase.

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Valentines Day Gifts for the Kids

February 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day is no longer a day just for your significant other- many people give gifts to parents, close friends, and children as well.  I know that I give gifts to my son, and I cherish the ones he gives me. (Of course, we wear our glitter-pasta necklaces with pride, don’t we?)  If you are still looking for the perfect gift for your little prince or princess, here are some ideas.

pic4If you have a game enthusiast, check out Skylander’s new limited edition Love Potion Pop Fizz.  Just in time for Valentine’s day, and nothing “mushy” or “sweet” about this fella, who throws vials of strange substances instead of shooting a cupid’s arrow. Your gamer will love this new addition to his collection.  While he will be somewhat rare, he is not yet hard to find- you can find him on Amazon, Target, Walmart, and stores like Game Stop at this time.  Prices vary, starting at about $10 and up.

If your Valentine is a little younger, Cloud b has a variety of sweet toys that they will love to snuggle up with.  A well rested sweetheart being the best kind, Cloud b helps encourage sleep with it’s line of creative nightlights and bedtime toys. One of our personal favorites is the Glow Cuddles Bear, which is not only adorable, but very soft.  It has a glowing heart light in it’s chest that is activated by a hug, which is comforting not only because of it’s soft light, but also because of it’s gentle, calming “beating” that helps lull little ones to sleep.  It has 2 sleep timer options, 10 minute timer on the sound feature, 23 minute timer on the soft glow.  Good for all ages as it has sewn-on facial features and no small parts. It requires 3 AA batteries which are included, and retails for $35.95 on http://cloudb.com.
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Edible Valentine’s Day Idea from Entenmann’s

February 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate my post. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
Looking for a fun and easy dessert for Valentine’s Day? Entenmann’s is celebrating this year with the Entenmann’s Sweet Valentine’s Edible Bouquet. Fan of chocolate? Doughnuts? Sweets in general? Read on.

Check out the Entenmann’s Facebook Page for lots of sweet ideas.
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Hallmark Valentines Day Gifts

January 29, 2015 by 5 Comments

If you are like me, you love all things Hallmark. I have a “card addiction”, and like to send them for any and all reasons.  Real, paper cards- I know, I’m so old fashioned and super not hip, ay?  No. It’s fun to get mail that isn’t bills now and again- and they really do make you smile, don’t they?

Hallmark is a great place to shop for all occasions- Valentine’s Day is no exception.  Hallmark is all about showing you love and care, so it’s the perfect place to stop and shop for your loved ones.  No matter whether you are shopping for your wife or girlfriend, mother, grandmother, boyfriend or husband, or even the kids- Hallmark is a good starting point (and who knows, you might be able to do all your shopping in one place!)

Some of the cute new Valentine’s Day gifts they have to offer this year include

Hug-Lovin’ Hippo Interactive Stuffed Animal

pic5This hug-hungry hippo dances and sings, telling the world how much she loves hugs. Give her a squeeze if you please and listen to her sing a clever parody to a familiar ’90s song.

  • Hallmark Gold Crown exclusive.
  • She dances and sings:
    I like big hugs and I cannot lie
    Never let a hug pass me by
    You can give high fives or cuddles
    But please don’t lose those hugs
    So gentlemen? (Yeah?)
    Ladies? (Yeah?)
    You wanna drive this hippo crazy? (Oh yeah!)
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Have a Happy Valentines Day with Aurora

January 28, 2015 by 5 Comments

If you are looking for the perfect plush for Valentine’s Day, look no further then Aurora.  Makers of the stuffed toys you love year round, they really shine on Valentine’s Day.  There are so many options to choose from, but these are a few of our favorites.  They have plenty to choose from in the pink and white variety, but traditional brown bears and the like are also available.  Super soft and squeezable, these are perfect for the stuffed animal lover in your life.

pic6Lots of Love Elephant: Say “I love you” in a big way with Aurora’s beloved, best selling elephant complete with signature heart-print ears, available in new colors and styles for 2015.

stuffed animal Valentines daypic4My son just loves his new Pom Pom Penguin- he was not feeling well last week, and mommy gave him one of his Valentine’s Day stuffies early.  What can I say.  This penguin is larger then he seems (as you can see from the photo with my son) and so snuggly soft.  PomPom Penguin: Chilly Valentine: Available in nine styles and four sizes, Aurora’s popular Pom Pom Penguin is melting hearts with cuteness. The line expands to include precious, super-soft pink penguins and each holds a heart with a “cool” embroidered message including: “You melt my heart!” / “You give me chills!” / “You’re Cool!” / “XOXO”
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