Jewelry is special to me. Well, for the most part. There are some pieces that I pick up just to fill in the spaces on the blank canvas of an outfit with a splash of color. But for the most part, my jewelry tells a story, even my brand new snake charm bracelet. I put on each piece with love and thought, and cherish when someone asks me about them. A compliment can turn into a 3-minute story or a 10 minute conversation… depending on the look in someone’s eye and if they are a complete stranger or a close friend.

My wedding ring is not really my wedding ring, but made from jewelry given to me when Chloe was born and when I turned 25. The turquoise ring was my grandmother’s. The jade ring was my mother’s. That ring of Chloe’s? It was given to her grandmother on her 16th birthday, me on mine, and Chloe on hers. Yep, I’m making sure the tradition continues. But of course, there are jewels that sit waiting for a story to happen, and their day will come. But for now, I seem to pull out those to wear that already have a story… and the others wait patiently for their story to happen. And still other pieces of jewelry are “just for fun.”

When Wren & Glory offered to send us bracelets, we had a hard time deciding what to pick because they have so many amazing pieces. When I selected my snake charm bracelet, I wasn’t thinking about my jewelry telling stories. But when it arrived, I realized that I had chosen a snake bracelet and it will be a story that will be significant for me. 1) I love snakes. Fake ones, natch. Jeweled snakes, especially. 2) I made my New Year’s resolution to be less judgmental of myself and others - wait for it, that matters. 3) 2013 is the year of the snake. When you add those 3 together, there will be a story and it will be about the year of 2013 when I made a resolution to be a better person and this little charm that I serendipitously chose, actually chose me. My snake bracelet was a reminder, is a reminder, and will be a reminder of 2013… and how I kept my resolution to be better. And when I’m tempted to stray from my resolution, my snake charm winds itself around my memory to be a constant reminder of my intent. That it can be worn as a charm on so many other bands or necklaces is pure bonus, but I love the silk band since it’s stretchy and comfortable and I barely feel that it’s there… and it’s definitely a statement piece.

Chloe chose a gold circle from Wren & Glory. It happens to match her watch perfectly! She says she chose it because she loved the clean simple lines, and the way the smooth texture contrasts agains the rough brown suede she selected. She also absolutely, completely, and madly loves polka dots. And the design reminds her of a polka dot interpreted by some amazingly talented sisters from Brooklyn who are doing what they love and creating jewelry for people who love what they are doing. So nice to meet you, Wren & Glory!

 

Disclosure: We received the products mentioned above for free, but that does not influence us. Those mentioned on our website are the only ones we would recommend to you and that we use personally.

Our guest blogger Shannon, who blogs at prepavenue.com, has an issue with a mandated color of the year! She wants to celebrate her own color choice, and here’s how she plans to do it: Every year, in a secret undercover meeting, representatives from various nations meet for a very significant event. Presentations are made and then the debate begins to select the Pantone “color of the year.” Panic follows every announcement as girls everywhere race out into the hustle and bustle, and practically bend over backward just to get their hands on this new color of the year. Companies plan fashion lines, make-up brands, and even jewelry around this one color. This year? Emerald. This royal green is described by Pantone as a “lively, radiant, and lush green.”

Before you can snap or blink, style magazines like Allure and Vogue will be portraying the color emerald as the “color of all colors,” superior in every way. Celebs around the globe will be strutting down runways and red carpets in the newly crowned color of emerald, simply because Pantone professed it be the color of the year 2013.

Then just as fast as it entered, 2013 will be over. And emerald? Well it will simply fade into the fashion abyss just as quickly as it emerged. One thing I have always been passionate about is being myself and being unique. Why follow trends and fit in, when you were born to stand out in this world?

So many of us struggle with the idea of being different, because our peers and society seem to encourage us to conform. Being yourself and staying true to your own personality is where it’s at. So stop searching for everything emerald and get on board your own color train.

I know this sounds great on paper, but can be tough in real life. On shopping trips, I’m known as the navy magnet. My closet is filled with navy shorts, navy sweaters, and navy shirts. I have to confess; I am obsessed with all that is navy. So, to combat this issue, I have made a New Year’s resolution. I will add some sort of pop of color to my outfit each and everyday. Whether I do it by adding a colorful necklace, a bright bangle or a simple pair of pink ballet flats!

scarf / shoes / bracelet / belt / necklace

Don’t get me wrong, I follow and conform to every other trend just as easily as you. But this year, instead of focusing on the color of the year, focus on your own color! Maybe it’s fuchsia pink or traffic light yellow! I guarantee it makes much more of a statement being yourself rather than disappearing into part of the emerald crowd. Leave your own sparkle behind.

So who’s with me? Be bold! Profess your own color of the year! Tell me how you plan on incorporating your own color the year into your everyday outfits! I want to hear from you, email me at [email protected] !