Jewelry Fashion Trends

Have you ever owned something special that you were able to re-use once it retired from its original purpose? Turning your treasures into forever trinkets (like the designs on a few worn-out t-shirts used for patches on new, homemade clothes) is an easy way to memorialize your stuff through recycling. But what if you took someone else's old junk and saved it for your own as well?

 

One fashionable lady in California is doing just that, with a special emphasis on cleaning up her local neighborhood. Judith Selby Lang is making jewelry, in fact, from trash collected from Kehoe Beach near her home.

 

Many of Judith's materials originally come from things typically abandoned at the beach, like fishing line and flip flops. But other general trash is also being used to inspire the fast-growing West Coast style. One bracelet, made of pull tabs from milk cartons, sells at the Donna Seager Gallery for $45.

 

If you think about it, the most varying blends of color, shape, and texture do come from the heaps of product packaging and discarded belongings we throw in the trash can. Seriously, where else could you choose from so many scraps? So what can you do to recycle such seemingly useless stuff without scouring the entire coast?

 

Try saving paper bags and plastic bottles for your pets to use if it's safe. Our furry friends can make playthings out of even the simplest throw-aways. Or, you could turn bits of fabric from old clothes into dolls' blankets and coats for your daughter, niece, or neighbor. And if you happen across any bling on your dumpster dive, borrow Judith's philosophy for turning unwanted scraps from the environment into something sweet to hang from your wrist.

 

But that's not all for the successful designer. The water-bound piles of trash off of Hawaii, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is famously known for its more-than-Texas-sized trappings of plastic and other ocean debris. It is also the inspiration for Judith's newest pieces. Now being sent chunks of the tropical trash, Judith plans to reduce the mid-ocean eye-sore by making more pieces from its junk.

 

Source: Terry McSweeney at ABC Local.

Attention gift-givers! Are you out of luck with conventional gift-giving behavior? Do upcoming family birthdays loom in your near future? Or are you just an early bird Christmas shopper? Finding the perfect gift is easier if you think outside the box. Check out some of this fall’s coolest and silliest get-ups:

 

 

1. Moshi Voice Control Digital Alarm at Brookstone. ($49.95) Who wouldn’t appreciate an alarm clock that you command with your voice? “Moshi,” this smart little digital clock, lets you set alarms from bed, hands-free! With commands like “set time,” and “night light,” Moshi can do pretty much everything any other alarm can do, but better. Able to play three relaxing nighttime sounds, and three different alarm chimes, this voice-commanded, flat screen helper will start working at the sound of his name.

 

 

If you like Moshi, you may even shop around for similar gifts like digital picture frames, and other small devices like electronic golf aids, handheld weather forecast devices, and meat thermometers with so many buttons you won’t know what to do with yourself.

 

 

2. Personalized items from What On Earth, a company that is always coming up with hilarious novelty items, has a huge collection of personalized gifts for the man in your life. You’ll find the appropriate gift for your Bob, Bill, Dave, Joe, or Mike (and many more!) which will make a funny keepsake for years to come. Like this metal traffic sign that reads, “What happens at Dave’s stays at Dave’s,” ($11.95) and the “Bobmobile” car magnets ($6.98). If you think your friends will get a kick out of personalized memorabilia, also check out stores like Things Remembered, to have names and phrases engraved on all kinds of really shiny merchandise!

 

 

3. Gag gifts for your goof-around friends, found just about anywhere. Can’t think of the perfect gift for a fun coworker? Office-related gag gifts are also a favorite in What On Earth’s catalog. Find T-Shirts with slogans like, “My spreadsheets kick butt!” (starting at $15.95) and tees with drawn-on ties and shirt pockets (starting at $18.95).

 

Don’t forget to think about what your friends like to keep on their desks, or what kind of accessories they keep in their homes. If one of them is the type to get a giggle out of gag figurines (like the spoons attached to some fake goo to create the illusion of a mess oozing off the silverware), think about getting him or her a gift that may not be as useful, but will make them laugh every day. Similar items include magnets that really look like half-eaten foods, complete with oozing mayonnaise and all.

 

 

More next time!

 

 

Products shown: Top: Moshi from Brookstone.com; Middle: I Put Bacon on my Bacon T-Shirt northshoreshirts.com ($10.99); Bottom: Bagel Magnet from Zazzle.com ($3.60)

“Sterling Silver, Polished Steel, and Dazzling Rubies Combine to Seduce and Mystify.”

 

That’s what you get when you mix one Emmy and Golden Globe winning HBO drama with designer Udi Behr. Behr’s True Blood collection is inspired by the vampire series of the same name, which got its start on HBO just last year.

 

 

True Blood, the series, is the television recreation of The Southern Vampire Mysteries, novels by Charlaine Harris. It was the show’s dark, mysterious vibe that gave Behr the look he and HBO were going for.

 

True Blood pieces are available now for jewelry and vampire fans alike. Currently, the priciest item in the online shop is the Stainless Steel Invisible Clasp Necklace with Rubies, at $1,295. However, stylish vampire divas can check out the Silver Infinity Rings and Earrings, and the Stainless Steel Double Chain Bracelet, each for under $100.

 

Some of the unique, vampire-inspired pieces include a leather bracelet, a steel chain arm band, and double rings

studded with rubies. Many pieces have heavy chains and a gothic-like design that somehow retain that gleam of glamour; others are simply subtle, like the Sandblasted Silver Double Ring, a thin double ring that has small rubies rimming its infinity-shaped edges. Its sister ring, the Silver Double Ring with just two larger rubies in the center (pictured left), is a cheaper option, at $149.

Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to your exercise routine? Think about how much your environment affects your every day mood. You wouldn’t want to catch your Z’s on a busy street corner, would you? Your body will get tired of uncomfortable spaces, which may worsen your overall performance. Especially monotonous routines, for instance, will do for your body what an uncomfortable bed will do for your sleep habits.

The most elemental way to wake up the body is through a natural retreat. I’d say our natural surroundings live up to their reputations as therapeutic centers of serenity, so jump on in—or out, I suppose—and see what you’ve been missing!

Is this for me?

If you’re bored of staring at the gym wall, the evolving environment can be a cure. You’ve probably noticed that talking to a friend, or listening to a favorite album can make tedious exercise go by more quickly. So help yourself get past the tough parts with a few natural distractions. Pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells, and inhabitants of your surroundings, and time will fly, I promise.

If you carry stress from work or home, getting away from it all may have a positive effect on your unsteady mood. One of the best ways to distress before a workout is to unwind outside and take big, deep breaths. Not just air, but stretches in wide, open spaces and the quiet buzz of nature will contribute to the calming effect. Parks, nature trails, and beaches are often more quiet than your home and public places. Don’t feel like traveling far? Vacation to the backyard for a soothing yoga session among the trees.

Lastly, did you know that natural sites have characteristics that are extremely similar to those that you encounter on your everyday routine? For example, if you exercise on dry, hilly sand, you will get an intense workout in your legs that will prepare you for tough terrain you may come across on your walk to work, or up a steep hill. You won’t have to work as hard or appear as exhausted when you perform these every day functions. Sometimes people who workout in gyms lose sight of this ultimate goal (or at least what I think should be an ultimate goal of any healthy person). They isolate muscles by using machines, when in reality they could get a true multi-purpose workout from a hike in half the time.

Oh and visiting nature is free, ladies. So live it up!

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend; but an angry ex-wife became one Texas man’s foe last weekend after an argument over jewelry. Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that a former couple from Houston had a heated argument after the woman’s common-law husband demanded back some jewelry he’d given her during their relationship. The woman was apparently not happy about having to return the jewelry.

In an act of revenge, the woman went into her ex-husband’s home with the purpose of retrieving something of his. The man called the police when he later noticed something was missing.

Police arrived at the woman’s house inquiring about items that, like the jewelry, were purchased during the couple’s common-law marriage. Police spokesman Vance Mitchell says that the police asked her about seven goldfish that the man believed she took from his residence. The woman directed the officers to the kitchen where they saw four of the goldfish fried on a plate. When asked where the other three were she replied that she already ate them.

As summer comes to a close, you may be thinking about this year’s winter getaway. Even if you’re next holiday isn’t for a while, you can still get excited about vacation plans! Making early plans can be the most rewarding travel decision, so this year it’s all about thinking ahead:

Be money-wise. If you’re traveling overseas, even if it’s just a quick Caribbean getaway, you’ll probably have to trade in your good old American dollars for local currency. Arriving in a foreign destination without any useable funds can be scary, especially since many destinations, unlike the United States, accept cash much more readily than they accept credit. For this reason, you may want to consider having your currency exchanged while you’re still at home. Having immediate access to local currency will be beneficial for miscellaneous expenses, perhaps even minutes after you step off your plane or cruise boat—especially if you need to grab a soda, tip the guy who carries your bags, or for taxi fare. Your bank might charge you a little extra to get the money exchanged, but it could beat the expensive ATM fees you get slammed with overseas.

Why stress over souvenirs? Don’t fight the suitcase zipper! If your bag doesn’t close comfortably, it’s best to remove items or find a bigger bag. Not only will over-stuffed suitcases wrinkle your clothes and make unpacking disorganized, but you probably won’t feel comfortable bringing extra items back home with you. Suitcases with straps will hold your clothes and personal items in place, even if the suitcase has a lot of extra space. With these, on your way back home you’ll have the extra space ready for even bulky, misshapen souvenirs, dirty laundry bags, and as many new shoes as will fit!

The luxury of time. Maybe the trick to true vacation luxury is all about secluded suites and lavish amenities. But for a free taste of the VIP treatment, just remember to book early. While flights are still months away (and possibly on sale), choose a convenient time at which you’d like to depart. Be realistic. You know that figuring in travel and wait time can add hours to your schedule, so don’t try to be a hero at the gate by 6 AM if early morning isn’t your thing. Noon will do just fine, thank you.

To choose which seats you and your family will occupy on the flight, visit websites like SeatGuru.com and find out which ones have the most leg room, etc. Another part of giving yourself the luxury of time is compensating for any time zone differences. Getting the appropriate amount of sleep the night before and planning on plane ride naps will keep you grog-free on your getaway.

Chores on holiday? No one wants to participate in the dirty work while on vacation, so find out beforehand how easy (or difficult) it is to do laundry where you’re staying. Don’t stress about finding a Laundromat at the last minute. Instead, call ahead to find out where you can find one, or know whether or not your hotel has machines. You may even consider travel size detergent meant to wash your clothes in the sink—a great, cheap alternative to washing small or delicate items without a machine.

Leaving it all behind… Lastly, feel good about your pets and your home while you’re away. Prepare housekeeping matters the whole week beforehand. Do you need to cancel the mail or newspaper? Inform a friend that you will be out? It doesn’t hurt to have someone check on your house, especially if you will be gone for a long time. As for your cage and tank-dwelling friends, offering to transport small pets to a neighbor’s house can make pet-sitting an easy sell. But if you need someone to come by for other matters, like watering the plants, tending to the swimming pool, etc., make it easy for your house-sitter by providing explicit, written instructions and the phone numbers of other people in town you can trust.

Part Two of the unusual and unconventional ways we can all pitch in!

 

#4 Homemade goodness. Make some of your favorite products at home, using ingredients you already have, or ones that are double in purpose. Cutting back on commercial products will help you save on the cost of lots of packaged foods you didn’t know you could easily whip up yourself. Plus, by using fresh ingredients, you’re also cutting back on the preservatives you find in many packaged foods. (Psst… This also means you do your part to cut back on the costs of manufacturing such products in wasteful factories.) Why let machines do it when you can do it yourself!

 

Here’s environmentalist Joanna Yarrow’s recipe¹ for green goodness:

 

Make your own mayonnaise with a few simple ingredients! It will last three days and won’t load you down with the junk from the brand names. Just beat a couple of fresh egg yolks for the base and add ¾ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of mustard powder, and 4 teaspoons of lemon juice (or white wine vinegar). Slowly stir in about a cup of olive oil so that it absorbs evenly. You never know—it just might be the tastiest mayo you’ve ever had.

 

But don’t stop there! Take a handful of your cheap mayo mix and slather on enough to smooth all over your dry hair. Let it sit for 15 minutes then shampoo and rinse as normal to reveal silky, protein-rich hair. But don’t indulge in mayo masks too often or you’ll experience the opposite effect. Now isn’t that the cheapest, most natural deep conditioning treatment you’ve ever heard of?

 

#5 Escape to the Unordinary.Typical vacation destinations are great for sipping drinks on the beach, but if you crave something a little more unusual for your family trip this year, there are exciting and eco-friendly options for you.

 

With the rise of ecotourism, undiscovered pieces of paradise have promoted themselves while educating outsiders about their culture and environment. Areas that qualify as ecotourism destinations are ones that are natural, usually small, and have virtually no negative impact on the environment. If you’re thinking about one of these trips, you’ll need to arrange for responsible, low-impact travel methods and be ready to learn something unexpected once you arrive. By the International Ecotourism Society’s standards, these getaways must promote green practices to its participants, and share with them the area’s history, culture and unspoiled natural attractions.

 

Besides providing a stunning backdrop for your eco-experience, these beautifully preserved areas are also home to locals that benefit from your visit. Your vacation will in some way directly fund the conservation of their community, and will of course, indirectly improve the quality of life in the area. As at any other exotic destination, these ecotourism areas thrive on money from tourism; but unlike all-inclusive resorts and other commercial vacation spots, they do not take away from the natural environment.

 

To further appreciate such unspoiled sections of Peru, Costa Rica, many parts of Africa, and more, you’ll get a chance to speak with, maybe even work, eat, or stay with locals. You can feel confident that in no way will your stay be a burden on their community. In fact, eco-trips support the locals’ right to keep their area beautiful and undisturbed.

 

Belize, Brazil, and even Alaska are all destinations that are reasonably close to parts of the United States. By cutting unnecessary luxuries and finding excitement in cultural exchange rather than room service, you could take a trip that’s friendly both to the environment and your wallet.

 

1. Joanna Yarrow, 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth (San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2007) pp. 275-295.

We all wish we were a little better at recycling, but I bet you didn’t know there are more than a few non-traditional ways to support a healthier planet. So don’t forget about the three R’s, but I invite you to think outside the box when it comes to conservation.

#1. Let’s slow things down a little. The Slow Food movement was originally created by an Italian to protest the growing popularity of fast food. But since then it’s become a whole lot more. The organizations more than 100,000 members strive to appreciate the cultural value of food by educating others about the wasteful and risky behaviors in the food industry. They also oppose such things as the use of pesticides during growing and relying on too little variety in general. You can support the effort in a small way by learning and teaching others how to garden your own foods; or, just take the time to learn about and prepare cultural favorites in your kitchen more often. Caring about the quality, origin, and tradition of foods will promote things like ethics in the marketplace and economical production.

#2. Be cool conscious. The environment on any given day affects what you wear, right? But did you know it could be the other way around? Choosing your clothes carefully can improve your comfort level, and will promote more careful habits in others. Consider this: in Japan, the government runs a campaign to get businesses to allow short sleeves to be worn during the summer. If your business or child’s school requires formal dress or uniform, make a case for reducing the coverage or thickness of the cloth. Unlike a lot of business attire, thin, white, short sleeve shirts can cut air conditioning costs.

#3. Think outside your world. In worlds beyond yours, developing nations struggle for food and resources are strained under our wastful habits. But you can help protect destruction hundreds of miles away by “buying” your own square of endangered forest. Under the World Land Trust’s “Buy an Acre Fund”, you can protect an acre of rainforests for about $100. The organization has already saved over 400,000 acres in places like Brazil, Ecuador, and Parguay. For more info go to Worldlandtrust.com

More next time!