HEIRLOOM PIECE

I saw a rerun of the adorable Heidi Klum and Seal on Oprah. They were both wearing a necklace that looked like this and had a charm for each name in their family. What a great family heirloom. Maybe I'll have one someday with a charm named Clementine. Get yours here.

UNIVERSAL APPEAL

So I have to say, I LOVE my wedding ring. I loved it the day I found it in my InStyle magazine and I love it still today. It fits. It's feminine. It's unusual. It has rose gold {my favorite precious metal} and one tiny pink diamond {rad!}.
I always get compliments on it, especially from men. It's a real man-eye catcher I suppose. A few days ago I decided to give it a good cleaning and since then I get stopped in the hallway with people asking me if they can get a better look.
This ring has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is the memory of marrying Nate that overly hot day in August; so fun! The middle represents all the years I get to love him on earth and beyond. The end is the idea that someday, as an heirloom, it might grace the hand of my daughter or granddaughter.
Dear SimonG,
You really outdid yourself.
Love, Tonia

DANGEROUSLY PRETTY

I love this saw/branch combo charm from The Curiosity Shoppe.

ANNIVERSARY RING

The way I see it, if Nate got me a piece of jewelry for every anniversary, and assuming we both live long and healthy lives, that's a lot of jewelry to tote around, insure and worry about {not to mention, bequeeth}. So, I think we should only recognize the landmark years with something made of precious stones or metals.

Our first anniversary was appropriately celebrated with new rose gold bangles around my wrist. I'm thinking something like this will be perfect for our 5th. At 95 pounds {or $188} I think it's priced just right.

CARTIER LA DONA WATCH: SIGH

I don't really have a lot of expensive jewelry. My wedding ring is the only thing that surpasses the $1,000 mark. That being said, a lot of expensive jewelry wouldn't really suit my lifestyle so I'm not too upset by my reality. If I could, though, own something gorgeous and extravagant, it would be this Cartier watch. It's rose gold which, if you know me, is my element of choice.
Does anyone have $22,600 I can borrow and never repay?

PRETTY RING I'LL NEVER OWN

This is Kate Beckinsale's wedding ring close up. Pretty, eh? I've heard rumors that it was in the ballpark of $75k. I'm wishing someone I know would own this ring so I can see it upclose. I know a likely candidate...

LOCAL ARTIST

Utah Vallel local artist Jessica Depew runs the online shop Dub & Sam. She's having a blowout sale on her inventory of handmade earrings to make room for new designs. Each pair is just $10 - and if you buy three pair she'll give you a discount of $10 so it's like getting one pair free. Go here to shop and get details for this promotion.

BLOOD DIAMOND IS BLOODY GOOD

There is a scene near the end of Blood Diamond {starring Leonardo DiCaprio and the gloriously bald and white toothed Djimon Hounsou} where Solomon {Hounsou} is looking in the window of a London jeweler at a necklace dripping with diamonds. Because of everything that has happened in the movie you get this sense of it being a fantastic burden and a very inappropriate, lavish bit of shame. Rather than it standing for beauty it is a symbol of so much conflict.






















I don't know if I'll ever look at this gem the same way. I know that there are many conflict-free diamonds currently in the market but I had to ask myself, "are they even pretty enough to risk it?" And the answer was an astounding, "no". I'm very glad my gorgeous wedding ring is full of some of the tiniest stones that were most likely scraps. I think it's the only bit of diamond jewelry I'll ever own. I'm thinking lapis and rubies are more my style; of course I'll always find rose gold to be just enough all by itself.
Clemantine gives it 4.5 stars {DiCaprio's aussi accent stumbled at times}.

DARLYBIRD + NATE = PRETTY EARRINGS

Nate went shopping at Darlybird and got these pretty Swarovski Austrian crystal earrings. I wore them on Christmas and got lots of compliments. As it turns out, Nate has quite the eye for great jewelry.

PARTY NECKLACE

I love this necklace...of course you have to wear this neckline too {which I can't} but a girl can dream can't she? Get it at Banana Republic here.

MAN EATER THREADS

I happened onto this site and I found several things I'd love to open on Christmas morning.
1. Pade Vavra, bird hoops $99 2. Made Her Think, swallow bracelet $250 3. Holly Lauren, cream ring $85 4. Alex+Cloe, black heart necklace $48 5. Pade Vavra, gold bird with ruby {my birthstone} $165

GIRLFRIEND GIFT #1

In case you are stumped with ideas for your girlfriends, consider the make-a-wish charm necklace from dogeared.com.
You get to pick your charm from a large selection and place it on a pretty piece of silk ribbon. Whomever receives this pretty gift will make a wish. Once the silk ribbon wears out, their wish should come true. I'm not superstitious, but I like the idea of a gift promising something great once it's worn out.

DARLYBIRD

Jordan's guest blogger Emily mentioned Darlybird, a cute online shop where you can find unique, handmade jewelry and fun gift ideas. I especially like these earrings. If only they were framed in gold. I really only like gold now. They can be yours for $16.

BAD APPLE

As you can see, I've been doing a little jewelry shopping. I quite adore this black apple piece. I think it would end up being a necklace I'd rarely take off. It would become very good friends with the rose gold locket Nate gave me when we got married. I think they'd get a long just fine.

CUFF ME

I'd love to wear this with a t-shirt and some fabulous jeans. Basically I think anything would look good with this rad cardinal cuff.

GOLD NECKLACE IV and V

Dear Tina Tang,
Can we be friends for two reasons? First, I think your name is cool. Second, maybe you could give me jewelry as a symbol of our friendship. Just a suggestion.

GOLD NECKLACE III

Jib and Genoa tree necklace. I want it.

GOLD NECKLACE II

This three tiered bird necklace makes me happy. If you find it makes you happy too, don't thank me, thank Jami Rodriguez. It could be yours for $90.

GOLD NECKLACE I

I fell in love with this necklace designed by Liza McLaughlin the first time I saw it. It's beautiful and delicate and it's a bird; a bird that costs $425.

MESSAGE RINGS

I have always liked the idea of secret messages. Especially those exchanged between lovers and friends (not war enemies). I had Nate's wedding band engraved with a secret message and he had my rose gold heirloom locket engraved in French. Here are some sweet message rings that I'd be perfectly happy with while my wedding ring is under repair. You can find these at sundance.

I'm guessing my "stand-by" ring will end up being the tan line on my ring-finger and nothing more. Sad.