Archive for the ‘Bijoux’ Category

Yesterday, for whatever reasons, I felt a little like something the cat dragged in. Just utterly blech. Until, drum roll, I hauled myself against my will to a schmancy tea party thrown by the supremely adorable Danna Weiss.

Dana (that would be me) met Danna (that would be Miss Adorable) when I visited her a few years ago to learn all about her fab line of Conscious Jewelry. OMG, it was like a Crunchista Summit, with each one of one us trying to outdo the other with our long lists of favorite self-help books. Kindred crunchy souls. She basically demanded that I read You Can Heal Your Life.

I was completely taken by Danna’s personal tale, which led her on her journey to becoming a Certified Crystal Healer, and later, a purveyor of seriously beautiful healing-crystal jewelry. (I’ll give you the abbreviated version, but you can read more on her website.) Basically, after too many rounds of antibiotics, she contracted C Diff, a bacterial infection that can be fatal. And in exploring a number of different holistic paths back to wellness, Danna fell in love with crystals.

I’m starting to too, especially after attending that tea. Putting aside for a moment that it was held at her mama’s positively slamming Upper East Side apartment, I just felt c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y different when I walked in. Peppy, invigorated, not remotely blech. And I’m convinced it was because of the heaps of crystal necklaces, which were displayed on low coffee tables in two rooms.

“Let me intuit a stone for you,” said Danna. At that point, we were in the room that featured a lot of the darker, moodier pieces. (The brighter, lighter necklaces – which I’d been totally drooling over seconds before – were elsewhere.) “This room really isn’t you,” she said, “except for this.” And then she proceeded to hand me a necklace of labradorite, a stone (technically a mineral) I’d never laid eyes on.

Intense, muddy, but also completely oceanic, I found it so mesmerizing that I ordered the necklace on the spot. (You can too, along with many other gorgeous options. Bonus: If you email Danna your full name, she’ll give you a free stone reading.)

When I was 10 years old, we moved from Oklahoma to a pretty famous New England beach town. To me, labradorite looks like the Atlantic Ocean smack dab in the middle of a harsh East coast winter. I. Die.

She’s a dirty blonde rather than a redhead, but I live with a real Fancy Nancy. And what that means, on a day-to-day basis, is a non-stop request to ramp-up the glitz and glamour around these parts. If the Wee Lass had her way, I’d be wearing a dress or skirt every day of my life, just like she does. And I’d be positively p-i-l-e-d with jewels.

But here’s where it gets strange: She has really good taste and great ideas about stuff Mom should buy (or at least take down from the closet shelves and trot out on occasion). I’ve already mentioned the kooky-crazy cameo choker she recently picked out for me at Target. Love that, wear it all the time…

Over the weekend, at a gargantuan mall near our home, my pint-sized personal shopper was raring to go. After lunch with Mama and Papa and a few laps on the double-decker carrousel (every mall should have one!), she made a beeline for one of those cart-type kiosks. Of course she did; it was like a beacon of blinginess amid all the shops filled with woolly sweaters.

Within minutes, I’d purchased the bracelet and ring I’m “modeling” for you here. Chic, right? I was already thinking “Chanel camellia” when I saw the ring, but as soon as the vendor uttered those words, I whipped out the plastic. Without question, the stretchy, crystal-strewn cuff was the perfect partner. Grand total: $70.

Seeing Mom glam it up made my daughter really happy, which is nice. But what’s even better is the stunning conclusion I came to, which I think can benefit ALL of us mamas: If you’re gonna go the fake route, white stones somehow “read” much better than any of the colored variety (i.e., rubies, emeralds, etc.). Or, god forbid, fake turquoise, which is an abomination. Personally, I think it’s fab to mix real diamonds with the faux variety, so don’t hesitate to rock fake rocks on the same hand you wear your engagement and wedding rings on. Ice, ice baby….