July is here!  It’s the middle of summer with all the beautiful weather and fun outdoor activities. Summer is when I feel most alive!  I am joyful to also celebrate the birth of our great nation and honor the vision and sacrifice of our founding fathers and mothers…men and women of faith and courage!  I also celebrate our great military who keep our country protected and free!  God Bless them and God Bless America!

 

Warmer weather means fewer and lighter layers of clothing…all the better to show off our beautiful fine jewelry accessories which enhances our outfits and looks.  The look is BOLD…the color is GOLD…and the trend is the layered look! 

 

 

It’s time to dig into your jewelry box and rediscover pieces you may not have worn in a long time.  Yellow gold is making a comeback so you may have some of those pieces tucked away because the trend was the white metals for so long…sterling silver, white gold, and platinum.  You can mix and match the metals for a fun on-trend look too!  As your Private Gemologist, I can help you with a “jewelry box makeover” to sort through what you should keep, what needs repair or restyling or what you should let go of.  Connect with me for a complimentary discovery call and I can advise you to help make those decisions you’ve been putting off because it may seem too daunting and time-consuming.  I make it fun and easy for you!

 

What is a vintage diamond?  It’s a stone that had another life—antique, pre-owned, or a family heirloom.  In a world clamoring for sustainability…”Diamonds are inherently sustainable. As the hardest naturally occurring substance found on earth, diamonds continue to be reimagined in every generation. It’s a story waiting to be told.”

 

Here’s the story of how designers are creating beautiful new jewelry centered around the past.
 

I recently returned from the international jewelry show held in Las Vegas each June which showcases beautiful jewelry, diamond, and gemstone trends from around the world! Literally over 3,000 exhibitors from the USA, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel…and so many more countries…brought their beautiful new jewelry designs to tempt buyers like me seeking the unique for their clients. 

 

I attended with my marketing and branding director Tina, and try as we might to see it all, we realized it was an impossible task in the 3 days we were there. Both delighted and overwhelmed, we managed to connect with all of our current existing wonderful designers…and…meet some beautifully creative new designers who offered exciting resources, collections, and unique opportunities for partnerships.

 

As we did last fall, we will partner with a select few of these designers for our Private VIP Trunk Show events for my wonderful clients to attend.  Everyone had an incredible time at last year’s events and made me promise to invite them again this year.  I’d love to include you too!  Stay tuned for more details on this fall’s events.  

Visualize wandering around your local farmer’s market and seeing all the vibrant colors of the fresh produce, smelling the herbs, and gorgeous blooming floral arrangements, and imagining the taste of crunching into the raw veggies or using them to create wonderfully healthy and delicious recipes. Sometimes I feel like a butterfly floating around and making sure I visit each vendor’s booth. 

 

Grab that cup of coffee, tea, or kombucha as you stroll around interacting with your fellow market goers or engaging in conversations with friends. Approach those booths with excitement while you peruse which tomato, or onion, or lettuces, or snow peas you will choose. There are countless choices which evolve and change each week as the growing season progresses. You catch a glimpse of the growers so happily tending their booths proud and excited you are choosing to purchase the fresh food they passionately worked so long and hard to grow to feed you and your family. 

 

 

You ask them questions to help make your choice easier as maybe they even select the “best” one for you.  It’s especially fun for me to watch my fiancée – and personal chef – Dan make his selections knowing the wheels are turning in his head as to what delicious dishes he will create with his picks of the week. He is very measured and certain not to buy more than he can use. I, on the other hand, get overstimulated and want to buy it all, but then he reminds me it will only go to waste if we go overboard. 

 

We buy breads, rolls, soups and cheeses too! The shopping options are abundant! Some markets also have local vendors who offer their amazing hand-crafted products like soaps, lotions, jewelry, pet treats, essential oils, and the like. Again, I remind myself to support local businesses. The prices may be somewhat higher than your local store, but are fair considering the nature of their work, the quality of their ingredients, and the cost of production and marketing. 

 

This is one of the most joyful experiences of summer for me!  I love going to farmer’s markets and anticipate it all week long. For I know, not only will I find the freshest, healthiest fruits and veggies, but I am supporting the families of these farmers who toiled tirelessly to be able to set up shop and offer their labors of love. Even though we don’t personally know one another, they care about me and I care about them! It is an unspoken but understood knowing. When I transact business with them, I look them in the eyes, smile, and thank them!  We have made each other’s day by appreciating each other’s efforts and support. 

 

I’d love to hear from you how shopping local impacts your life!