Weekly words to live by - June 20, 2010

Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever. ~ Isak Dinesen

Have you visited Twig?

I've been at a loss for what to write about lately, but I've been reading a lot of new blogs, as a result (new to me anyway).

One of the blogs that I recently decided to follow is Twig . Twig is having a giveaway. She is giving away my favorite kinds of things, like, a very cool apron from Anthropologie and French soap from Heather Bullard's online shop (and another favorite blog of mine), the cutest earrings, and a terrific book from Country Living called 500 Kitchen Ideas. Make time and visit Twig, I think you'll be glad you did. Just click here and you'll be there.

Tea on Tuesday

Has anyone else out there in blogland fallen in love with these insulated Starbucks cups? I can fill my cup up in the morning with ice and homemade ice tea and it stays cold for most of the day.

For me there's nothing better than ice cold tea in the summer, except maybe, drinking ice tea in Paris.

Jewelery that speaks to me

I have never been one to collect a lot of jewelery, but in the last few years I have collected a few pieces that I really love...some I bought, some gifts, some inherited, some just for fun, but all loved dearly.

The bracelets below are a couple of favorites... the one on the left has the names of my daughters and my grandsons spelled out in the beads, the one on the right was given to me by my sister in-law and then added to with love by friends and family on special occasions. You might notice the Eiffel Tower, the Hollywood sign, the Arc De Triumph, a London double decker bus, and many more special charms.

Some of you know by reading my blog that I adore Scrabble. I usually have ten games going on at a time on Facebook. One of my Scrabble partners lovingly gave this special bracelet to me.

I have a small collection of Maximal Art pins that are so pretty and I found irresistible, and I don't even wear gold jewelery.


The heart necklace below I bought a TJMax about 15 years ago and I wear it almost everyday. It was inexpensive (cheap actually), but it has been a favorite. At one point, several years ago, our house was burglarized and along with some other valuables this neckless was stolen. On the burglars second attempt to hit our home the little hoodlums were arrested and my beloved neckless was recovered. I have thought of this neckless as my lucky charm ever since.

This next neckless tickled my fancy at the Remnants of the Past Antiques Show. I bought it from jewelery designer Kelly Maddalena of Le Creme Boutique in San Luis Obispo. I love the tree of knowledge that it represents and the little salt water pearls add to its charm. It was my Mother's Day gift to myself this year.


The bracelet below belonged to my mother who passed away just three short years ago right after Mother's Day. I don't really know how my mother came to possess this beautiful bracelet, but she did tell me it was made in Egypt. I love the little hearts on it and I love that it belonged to my mother.

This last neckless has two sides...the one that says Ooh la la and the side that has the Eiffel Tower on it. This was a gift from my sister in-law and I wear it all the time. Now that I have actually been to Paris it is especially precious to me.


Do you love jewelery? Do certain pieces have special meaning for you?