Hi Girls

I don’t know about you but I have been a soap fan from before college. My favorites were All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. Well I happened to pop on one of my favorite soaps and noticed that some of the pieces of jewelry that my favorite soap stars were wearing have managed to make it into the main stream jewelry stores.

My favorite is Circle Jewelry or Eternity Jewelry. Courtney (Alicia Leigh Willis), in particular has really had a hand in inspiring this trend. So now we not only have the Hollywood celebs to watch but the soaps as well. Oh well, life is rough. Hmmm I wonder if they are still playing the Luke and Laura angle. I must tune back in and find out.

SMILES!
ZOE

Hi Girls

I saw the most interesting piece of jewelry online today. It had the fluer de Lys on it, as mentioned in the Da Vinci Code. Apparently this world wide sensation has made it to the jewelry industry as well. This dog tag necklace is really cool and would look sensational with a simple black dress and heels.

This fluer de Lys bracelet would look great for a night on the town. I love these funky new designs. And sporting the fluer de lys is almost like being part of a secret society. Those in the know would totally get it.

I hope you have your sunglasses on because the emerald ring that Victoria Beckham sports could blind you. Did I mention that the emerald has diamonds on the sides? Well why not she can afford it? Hers probably cost a couple of grand.

If I had that kind of cash lying around though, I would spread it out. You can get a fabulous emerald and diamond ring for about $500 online. Which means the rest of that money could go to - you guessed it - even more fabulous jewelry and perhaps a dress or two to wear with it.

That’s just me though. What would you do if a few thousand dollars dropped in your lap? Which pieces of dazzling bling would you pick out? Would you go for the big one time purchase or spread it out a bit. We would all love to know.

SMILES!
ZOE

Hi Girls

I was watching Legally Blond again and noticed the adorable pink heart necklace that Reese Witherspoon wore in this movie. It completely matched her outfit and her character - feminine, classy and just plain smart.

Yes, I know she played the ditz for most of the movie but I just keep remembering that scene in the dress shop where the sales girl tries to pull one over on her. Reese’s character lets her have it for expecting her to pay retail for last season’s dresses. I’ll bet she got a deal on that necklace, as well, while still making sure that she got the highest quality for her money.

No matter what type of shopping you do, you can absolutely have the best without breaking the bank. The key to continually looking fabulous is knowing quality when you see it and continually looking for it at the absolute best price. You don’t have to be a Harvard lawyer to figure that out.

SMILES!
ZOE

Hi Girls

Did you hear that Ellen Barkin is selling her million dollar jewelry collection at Christies in London? Ellen was married to the 34th richest man in the world, according to Forbes, and now that they have decided to split she is selling off her jewelry collection. She says that each piece represents a memory and she needs to move on.

I can think of better ways but to each her own. On the other hand what a fabulous way to think of jewelry. These aren’t just clothing accessories. These are memory makers! I wonder what she will select in the future to create memories. She is giving up her million dollar apricot diamond. Perhaps a shiny new pink diamond will replace it? We will have to wait and see.

SMILES!
ZOE

Hi Girls

I bumped into a friend of mine the other day, while shopping, and she told me about a real honest to goodness Pretty Woman moment that she had just had. My girlfriend makes far more than I do and can afford, well a bit more than I can, yet she dresses very simply. She walked into a jewelry store to buy her mom some earrings and this obnoxious sales woman very obviously snubbed her. Now my friend probably makes more than her and most of the employees in there and yet she was treated worse than Julia Roberts. Needless to say those sales clerks lost the sale.

Fortunately she knows me and I directed her to her the wonders of online shopping. She had always been hesitant to shop online but I sat her down in front of the computer, directed her to our favorite site and helped her click her way to some gorgeous diamond earrings for her mom, and a really stunning bracelet for herself. She could not believe how much money she shaved cutting out the sales commissions and she just loved shopping while we sipped a glass of wine . No rude sales clerks here.

SMILES!
ZOE

Hi Girls

Part of the thrill of owning fabulous jewelry is the ability to share that joy with others. For some it is passing a special piece of jewelry down from generation to generation. For others it is lending it, as something borrowed, at a wedding. And finally for the privileged few it is the ability to auction off a few precious pieces in the name of charity.

When Elizabeth Taylor gave away her Emerald and Diamond engagement ring at an Aids charity event she said,” Please know that it is not easy for me to give it away. It is only my commitment to AIDS that persuaded me to let it go. My love is inside that ring forever.”

She believed and stated in her book that jewelry is never owned by it’s wearer. From her book Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry she states, “I believe that I am their custodian, here to enjoy them, to give them the best treatment in the world, to watch after their safety, and to love them.”

What an amazing way to view your jewelry collection. Some people receive a piece of jewelry and lock it away in a safe or jewelry box somewhere. But to truly appreciate a piece of jewelry you must wear it, share it and allow it to live a life, alongside your own.

Want not begin your collection today? Choose each piece wisely, not just for the monetary value but for the pure joy you will have in wearing it and in passing it down for others to enjoy. You don’t need millions of dollars worth of diamonds, as long as you have a collection that you personally can be proud of. Maybe you can even start your own jewelry savings account. Each year you can add a piece to your collection.

How fabulous is that?

SMILES!
ZOE