As you read this, I am at my company’s annual “team-building” staff meeting.
So, while my brain is rendered into mush from an overload of corporate-speak, I leave you with beautiful pleasures for the eyes and for the ears.
First, Harry Winston’s diamond wave bracelet:
And for the ears? Mumford & Sons — The Cave
Enjoy, and see you in a couple of days!
Bisous,
LPA
It is THOROUGHLY winter now, my dears.
At the moment, the snow in my front yard is up to mid-calf, and after this weekend, it will probably be up to my knees.
Bah.
I know, a Canadian complaining about winter is like the guy who goes to the same restaurant every day but always complains about the food. However, taking my business elsewhere isn’t really an option.
Hence, I wallow in bitterness from about January 3rd until roughly sometime in late April.
There are only a few select tasks that will chase away my winter doldrums:
1. Getting my hair professionally blown out. This little indulgence never fails to make me happy, no matter what time of year it is.
2. Receiving a kiss from my toddler.
3. Eating homemade butter tarts. The Stonecutter made an obscene quantity over the holidays, bless his heart.
4. Flowery jewelry. It’s springtime-ish and cheerful and oh-so-feminine. Just looking at it makes me forget that it’s so disgusting out that I’ve had to wear my big Kamik snow boots everywhere. (That sound you just heard was the Manolo sobbing into his impeccable wool gabardine sleeve. Sorry, boss.)
Want to chase the winter blues away? You could start with these pretty, delicate earrings. Just skip them if your skin tone is similar, or else people may think you have an unfortunate growth on your earlobes. On darker-skinned ladies, however, they’d be SO pretty:
These earrings also make me very happy. I love the jasmine flower (not to mention the incredible scent of jasmine flowers.) These are floral, but also somewhat exotic, and altogether lovely.
This bracelet is like a cooler, more durable corsage. And really, why should we have to leave corsages behind after prom? It’s unfair, I say.
Some flowers are just meant to boldly impress, and this conversation-starting flower necklace does a thorough job of that. The multiple chains add a cool edge, but the piece is still delicate enough to wear with your more feminine clothes, I’d say.
Bisous!
LPA
Hello, my little winter chickadees!
Well, the holiday season is over, and we now have the long stretch of winter to face. Everybody has turned their Christmas lights off, it’s dark, it’s cold, and we don’t have any statutory holidays until Easter.
Bah.
The only bright spot for me is that my birthday is this month. And while I am on the far side of my 30’s, I still get excited about my birthday. Mind you, that’s probably just because I love attention.
I also love garnets, January’s birthstone. I’m a bit weird about garnets, though — I’m not a fan of them when paired with diamonds. However (confession time), as a general rule, I don’t like it when
diamonds are used to accent precious or semi-precious gems. I prefer for the gemstone to take centre stage, or for it to be paired with something interesting or unusual. Pairing a garnet (or a sapphire, or an emerald, or a pearl) with little accent diamonds just seems kind of, “Ooh, let’s jazz this up a bit by adding a bunch of little diamonds!” I guess it just seems sort of lazy. Mind you, I’m sure there IS some fantastic jewelry out there that pairs gemstones with diamond accents — it just seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
I told you I’m weird.
Anyway, back to garnets. Take it away, wiki:
Garnets species are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless.
Garnet species’s light transmission properties can range from the gemstone-quality transparent specimens to the opaque varieties used for industrial purposes as abrasives. The mineral’s luster is categorized as vitreous (glass-like) or resinous (amber-like).
Of course, red (rhodolite) garnet is the one that we see most often. The word “garnet” comes from the Latin word “granatus,” meaning “grain” or “seed.” This name was given to the garnet because of its close resemblance to the pomegranate seed.
A gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love and the desire for a loved one’s safe travel and speedy homecoming. As well, garnets were once used medicinally, to increase strength and ward off several medical problems including blood disorders, heart palpitations and lung disease.
The irony is that this garnet jewelry would CAUSE heart palpitations, thank you very much.
Yes, this is a baby’s pendant, but I see no reason why I couldn’t have it set in a longer chain for myself. It’s just too adorable!
Hammered gold and garnets? Why, yes. Yes, I think I shall! I’m definitely a sucker for hammered gold, so those earrings are right up my alley:
We also have this simple, but perfect ring. The setting doesn’t distract from the gorgeous, deep, rich red of the garnet. Delicate, but still very, very striking. Me likey.
So, happy birthday to all my fellow January babies! May your birthday bring you some pretty new garnet baubles!
Bisous,
LPA
No, not THAT New Moon. The January 4th will see the first new moon of 2011. And of course, thinking of the moon makes one think of moonstones.
For years, I had wanted a moonstone ring. A friend of mine had one, and I had always admired it. Mind you, I had always admired everything about this friend’s style — she is one of those people who always looks perfectly, effortlessly put-together. (Of course, the fact that she is a six-foot-tall cool blonde probably contributes somewhat to this effect, I’m thinking.)
Anyway, on a trip to Holland in 2005 with my now-husband, we stopped at this tiny little store in a tiny little town, and there, he bought me a sterling silver ring with a moonstone in it. The funny thing was that I put the ring on my right ring finger, as that is where it fit. When we exited the store, all of our Dutch friends started oohing and aahing and clapping. It turns out that they wear their wedding bands on their right ring finger, not their left. So they thought we had just gotten engaged.
I look at this ring and am flooded with good memories. If I had a chance to grab any of my jewelry in the event of a fire, this ring would be one of the first things I would grab.
In India, moonstone is regarded as a sacred stone. It is believed to bring good fortune. And really, couldn’t we all use more good fortune in 2011?
So it is a stone that is reputed to bring good fortune AND it is a stone to which I hold a great sentimental attachment. Do I really need more reason than that to hunt for pretty moonstone jewelry for my beloved readers? No. No I do not need more reason.
You could have stunning moonstone-and-pearl earrings :
Or you could have this beautiful bracelet:
And of course, you simply cannot go wrong with a moonstone ring! Mine is sterling silver, but this unique gold one is SO eye-catching, no? It’s a wee bit pricey, but it would make a marvelous engagement ring (a deliberate engagement ring, as opposed to my inadvertent false Dutch engagement adventure, obviously.)
May the new moon and the new year bring you plenty of good fortune (and plenty of pretty baubles, of course!)
Bisous,
LPA
May 2011 see you having all sorts of delightful adventures with friends and family!
Bisous,
LPA
The very merriest of Christmases to all of the delightful readers of Manolo Jewelry!
Bisous,
La Petite Acadienne
So, it is three days before Christmas and before your entire family comes over for Christmas dinner.
Your roots aren’t done, you still have baking to do, goodness only knows where your good tablecloth is, and let’s not even discuss the state of your powder room, thank you very much.
You’re running around like a madwoman on your lunch hour, getting the last-minute stocking stuffers and making sure that you have a healthy supply of cashews for your snack-mad stepfather.
Your beloved texts you reminding you that you should really have some antacid in the house, just in case.
In the words of the Manolo, “Ayyyyyyyy!” There is just too much to do, and too little time in which to do it! How on Earth are you going to remember all of the things that you must check off of your list before the big day?
Well, there IS that old trope about tying a string or a ribbon around your finger, so that you don’t forget…
What better way to soothe the frazzled nerves than with the lovely bit of fun indulgence for oneself, especially when that indulgence is available at 43% off?
Happy holidays to all of you, and may you get plenty of time to sit in your pajamas and eat buttered toast!
Bisous!
LPA
Happy Sunday, everybody!
My apologies for being rather quiet lately. I’ve been fighting a double-whammy of bronchitis & stomach flu, which has left me incapable of coherent thought, let alone coherent writing.
When putting my earrings in today, I realized anew that I have had these holes in my ears since before I even knew what ears were. Like many women my age, my ears were pierced when I was a baby. It was simply the done thing.
Of course, like many things, there are both pros and cons thrown out there when it comes to piercing an infant”s ears:
Stated Pros:
1. The infant is incapable of yanking at the piercings, and by the time she’s old enough to have that level of motor control, she’ll be used to the earrings and won’t mess with them.
2. It’s much easier to clean and disinfect the piercings of an infant than of a squirming toddler or rebellious school-age child.
3. If your girl-child is not particularly feminine-looking, it does help reduce the constant refrain of “Oh what a sweet baby boy.”
Stated Cons:
1. The risk of infection is still very real, as is the risk of allergic reaction.
2. When your baby becomes mobile, there is the risk of her getting the earring caught on something and ripping it out.
3. If she DOES manage to get her earring out, or if it falls out, there is the risk of aspiration.
Personally, I tend to stick by the rule of not making any permanent body modifications to my child unless medically necessary. So no routine infant circumcision and no ear piercing. (Besides, I see ear-piercing as an EXCELLENT good-behaviour carrot for a ‘tween girl, so why not keep that arrow in your quiver until it’ll be of the most use?)
However, I know that there are plenty of people who feel differently.
What are your thoughts on earrings on infant girls (or boys)? Adorable? Appalling? Or is your reaction best summed up as, “Meh…whatever the parents want”?
Bisous,
LPA
‘Tis the season — for the holiday party.
The holiday party can range from the sublime to the horrific.
On one end of the spectrum, you have the festive/raucous, delightful/hilarious evening with good friends and intriguing strangers, filled with witty conversation, great music, delectable nibbles, excellent beverages, and a lovely atmosphere. Dancing games on the Wii are optional (it IS, however always a delight to see your pregnant friend Jennifer waving a remote around wildly to the gentle strains of “Groove is in the Heart.”)
On the other end of the spectrum is your boyfriend’s sad office party, where you are forced to make small talk with Troy, the unctuous middle manager who insists on talking with his mouth full (of spinach dip, no less) and who has already dropped every single name with whom he has even the most tenuous connection.
Buying a new outfit for a party that promises to be fun is a delight, but also comes with a certain amount of pressure. Buying a new outfit for a party you dread? That’s just bleak and sad and depressing.
So what to do? Get yourself a workhorse stunner of a dress and make that bad boy earn its keep by pairing it with a gamut of accessories.
You could go with black, but why not experiment with a bit of colour? This Donna Karan dress, with its artful draping, modest neckline and gorgeous colour, can work for a multitude of occasions.
For look #1, you could go with an elegant, yet somewhat exotic look. The rich colour and flattering draping of this dress remind me a bit of the saris that my best friend’s mom used to wear, so why not go with a bit of Indian influence? These earrings and this bracelet fit the bill quite beautifully without being at all costumey. This is perfect for a romantic dinner out with the beau, or for cocktails with the girls.
Look #2 is great for those evenings when you want to make a big impact without having to put a lot of thought into it. It’s one of those nights when you are getting home late from work and now have about a half-hour to shower, change and put on some makeup. You’re frazzled as heck, but still want to look put-together. Consider a bold, single accessory like this floral brooch, in a highly contrasting colour. It conveys a major amount of confidence and sophistication — basically, it’s the type of look that less confident women will wish they could carry off. And when you’re wearing a statement piece like this one, you can eschew any other accessories, making for fewer mental gymnastics at a time when you’re truly on your last nerve.
Look #3 is for those times when you really do have to go in a conservative direction. Perhaps it’s a business dinner with a client. Perhaps it’s some other sort of function with dreary but very important people. Conformity tends to be the name of the game at events such as this. However, there are still ways to add a bit of personality and quirk to your look. These earrings and this watch are classic and basic, while this adorable owl brooch adds just enough of a touch of whimsy that you won’t blend in TOO much with Muffy, Kiki, Babs and Myra.
Mind you, if you want to utterly knock the socks off of Muffy, Kiki, Babs and Myra, Tiffany’s version of an owl pin will probably delight them enough that their faces may break free of the constrains of their latest Botox injections and actually register a facial expression.
Well…we can hope, right?
Bisous!
LPA
Hidey-ho!
I featured a nifty bracelet from Monserat De Lucca in a previous post, and I can tell you now that I had a HARD time figuring out which piece of theirs to feature in that post, because there was just so much stuff that I loved.
What was I able to find out about Monserat De Lucca?
Not much…yet.
Their bio page is very low on details as to how they came about, and other information about them is pretty much non-existent. They’ve indicated that they will be sending me a bio shortly, so I will update this post as soon as it comes in. In the meantime, I was able to find out that they were founded in 2006, and a bit about their design inspiration:
“Modern women are multi-faceted dynamic creatures. We wanted to embrace this by creating accessories that are delicate and edgy, feminine and masculine, hard and soft, just like the women that they are intended for. We were inspired by the next natural evolution – an evolution in which the biker girl and the bohemian girl might not only be friends, but they may also be the same girl!”
Their pieces are whimsical, quirky, feminine and strong. AND, they’re very reasonably priced. I definitely plan on snapping up a few pieces, such as this sweet nest necklace:
These conversation-starting bracelets:
These lovely, tendril-y earrings:
It’s also worth noting that they have some rawther lovely handbags as well! I’m currently lusting after this gray satchel (which also comes in a multitude of other colours!)
Bisous,
LPA
