Thomas Sabo Jewellery - Zodiac Charm Pendant

I have mentioned on a few occasions that I don't really wear much jewellery on a day to day basis, whatever I do wear has to capture my mood. My staple items are always my wedding and engagement rings, which I never take off but I will sometimes wear a necklace or bracelet if the mood takes me.

Image Credit - Thomas Sabo

One brand of Jewellery that I do adore is Thomas Sabo and over the years I have added charms to my bracelets and extended my collection slightly.  Just a week or so ago, I went along to the annual cocktail party which was just incredible. I am always made to feel really welcome and alongside the most amazing canapes and cocktails, you get the chance to explore the jewellery in the South Molton Street Thomas Sabo Store.  

I am usually lusting after some of the skull rings that are on offer, delicate on design and in keeping with the Thomas Sabo Slogan - Unconventional, Contemporary and Vintage. At the event, I was kindly gifted a Zodiac Charm which is just stunning and oddly, not something I have ever owned before.  My own starsign is Cancerian, so naturally, I went for the crab. 

As you can see, not only does the box within which the jewellery comes in is just stunning and I love how the black and white stripes work with the yellow colour of the drawer.  The silver disc upon which the sign of the crab sits is incredibly shiny and the crab takes on a 3D figure as it sits slightly raised and at the top of the pendant is a lobster clasp which is fitted onto to a Charm Carrier, this means that should I choose to move the pendant to another necklace or bracelet I can do with ease and equally if I choose to add additional charms, I can do that too.  

I chose to have a slightly longer oxidised chain which hangs down over my chest rather than around my neck and I like that it is quite delicate, so it doesn't take away from the pendant. I also chose to have the pendant engraved with my initials, something that each Thomas Sabo store does and you can also add it to your order online.

The Charm Pendant retails for £69.00 and it would make an amazing gift for absolutely anyone. I like the option of being able to move the charm or add charms to the existing pendant.

Are you a Thomas Sabo jewellery fan?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

AnimalStone Jewellery - Cecil The Lion

I don't wear a lot of jewellery, I am not someone who loves to be covered in bling, it just isn't me. I like my jewellery to have a meaning to it and other than my wedding and engagement rings, it is rare that on a day to day basis I would wear much else. I do sometimes wear a bracelet or my earrings if I remember, leaving everything else for special occasions.

AnimalStone is a purveyor of luxury animal-inspired jewellery and is a company who was founded on the principle that animals have shared this planet with us since time immemorial. I absolutely love animals, I have three cats and an aquarium full of tropical fish, my dream would be to have my very own cattery to take care of unloved and unwanted kitties, but for that, I need a very big lottery win. When Delane Cooper and I reconnected over Instagram, it was such a delight to Facetime with her and catch up, I first met Delane many years ago when I started blogging and she has since relocated to Toronto. Delane is an incredible jewellery designer, goldsmith and artist who expresses her creativity by making beautiful pieces that are accompanied by a story for the wearer. So Delane and I had a chat about the piece of jewellery she would make for me, we chatted for quite some time about personal memories, home life, my job, blogging, life, death and of course animals.

After our chat, Delane set about choosing an animal she thought best represented me and arriving a few weeks later came Cecil the Lion who was selected for me because of its meaning:

• Strength
• Personal Power
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Justice

The description which accompanies Cecil the Lion is "May you roar into action knowing that you have the courage to accomplish anything you want. Go beyond the sanctuary, explore the savannah and establish yourself as the peaceful warrior in your world". Explaining why Cecil was chosen Delane said:

When I had asked you your three animals, you selected cat as your answer each time. Though your answer broad but probably meant domestic cat vs the wildcat, I chose our Lion because it resonated with me as to who you are. The personal power you exhibit with every communication you put out into the world is clear and comes through only because of the personal strength you exhibit. 

When you shared the story of your nanny and the neighbour’s cat, I sensed that there is a deep respect and quiet connection with cats that you have. Even a fellow cat lover will never know the personal connection you have with these animals. 

I believe it takes courage to put yourself out there with every post you do to be in the public eye sharing your opinion/recommendations. Just as a lion must go out into the open and claim his territory or a female lion going out for the hunt to supply the pride with food. 

Whether domestic or wild, cats are full of mystery, magic and independence. The domestic cat gets its energy from the night where as the lion represents sun energy and the cycle of power year round.  May you wear Cecil the Lion as a reminder that you possess personal power/strength/courage and may he balance your energies when called upon when you are not able to visit the seashore.

At the time of speaking with Delane over the Facetime, I had no idea she would have listened to so much of what I was said.  When I am feeling stressed and a bit out of kilter with myself, the one place that makes me feel relaxed is anywhere near water - even the bath and I think this is perhaps why I enjoy bathing as much as I do.  I am never more calm than I am when I am near to the sea, just listening to the sea or the waves crashing is an instant soothing experience.  

When I opened the box with the beautifully packaged necklace inside, nothing quite prepares you for seeing something so amazing that has been created for you, it was and still is quite simply breathtaking to see.  The features of Cecil the Lion being so lifelike with every intrinsic detail there to see, the design of the mane, the eyes and even the detail on the paws is incredible.  It is such an honour to be the recipient of something so beautiful and something so meaningful. I love that Cecil is 3D shaped which adds a specialness to the necklace which is so shiny and stands out that I've been asked many times where I got my necklace from and I am always so happy to tell the story of how Cecil came into my life.

Sitting on this beautiful wheat chain, what I love is how wearable this necklace is, whether it is for everyday wear, a special occasion or even just because you feel the need to be wearing him, it works. I love the circle of life clasp which means you can take him from the chain and wear him in other ways - on a bracelet or even a keychain for example.

Whilst I received this as a gift, there are a lot of other animals available and depending on what it is you feel best represents you, some of my favourites include Rex the T-Rex, Kai the Sea Turtle and Mei Yu the Panda Bear all of which can be found here in the store.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

ADEXE THEY - Grande Silver & Blue Watch + Giveaway

Watches are an item of jewellery I tend not to bother with, I have slim wrists and don’t like watches that have too heavy a face or a fake leather strap, but I do need to have another option to my iPhone to tell the time.  Adexe describes itself as being the non-conformist brand which differentiates itself from the mass-produced competitors, by offering traditional quality and luxury, but invoking contemporary minimalism. Vertically integrated under one roof.  With one mission in mind: “Create Finely Crafted, Uniquely Appointed Timepieces at Affordable Prices”.  I love that everything is designed and manufactured in-house here in London and the story behind the brand is one worth reading. 

Just before Christmas ADEXE let me choose any watch I liked from their site and I was immediately drawn towards called THEY - Grande Silver & Blue. With its blue face and mesh strap detail, it is just a beautiful watch and has quite a few features which include:

Classic Multifunction dial: Day - Date - Second

• Case material: Hand-Polished All Stainless Steel
• Case size: 41mm diameter 
• Band Width: 20 mm 
• Glass: Curved Hardened Crystal 
• Straps: Hand-Polished Stainless Steel Mesh
• Waterproof: 3 ATM
• Movement: Japanese Miyota VD76
• Battery: 2 - 3 years

A non-gendered watch it can be worn by absolutely anyone and everyone and has been featured in GQ Magazine. On the wrist it sits absolutely flat against my skin and is so comfortable and light to wear, I almost forget it is there. It is easy to fasten and undo with one hand and the watch face itself is every bit as stunning as the photo which drew me in. 

I like that the watch not only tells you time but it does so in a manner which makes looking at it without my glasses easy to do. As well as the time there are three smaller dials which tell you the day of the week, the date and the second, so quite the functional watch. Add to that the silver mesh strap means it goes with every possible outfit whether you are dressed up or down and best of all, it doesn’t tick overly loudly, in fact it is quieter than I had expected it to be.

As you can tell I am absolutely delighted with this watch and have really enjoyed wearing it. Priced at £149 it isn’t going to break the bank and I have a 15% off code if you fancy ordering a watch from ADEXE for yourself or a loved one, all you be to do is add the code GIFTOFTIME15 to your basket! 

I also have a competition to win any watch of your choice and all you need to do use complete the Rafflecopter widget below and ensure you complete all of the mandatory entries otherwise your entry will become null and void.  Please also ensure that you are aged 16 and over or have parental permission to enter and finally please note that there is no cash alternative. UK Only.

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*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Christmas with Findmeagift

Whenever I am stuck for gifts, one site I always find myself looking at is Findmeagift because they literally have so many things on offer for absolutely anyone and everyone whether you need toys, games, gadgets, accessories, personalised gifts, sweets and even some boozy treats. It is always the site that I get my Office Secret Santa from.

Jewellery is something I absolutely love to receive and you might be surprised to find that Findmeagift have an entire section dedicated to jewellery and there is something for each occasion or just because the mood takes you.  I was very kindly sent two items from the Jewellery section and they are absolutely divine.

I rarely take my wedding and engagement ring off, in fact the only times I do is when I am cleaning and have my hands constantly in and out of bleach or other household chemicals.  But when I do remove them, I want somewhere to store them rather than just on the top of the microwave, so the Rose Gold Elephant Ring holder is just perfect. 

The description reads: 

Have you herd about these new elephant ring holders? Standing proud and with his trunk raise in a joyful trumpet, the metal elephant will make a pretty little ornament as well as a useful storage device. You slide your rings onto his trunk, where they will be stored safely. Elephants are supposed to have amazing memories, and certainly they'll help you with yours because you'll never forget where you put your rings again when you have such a special place to put them.

What I absolutely love about this piece is how delicate it is, not only is it very shiny and really well made, I just love the reason for it and did you know that owning an elephant ornament is often thought to bring good luck to your home. Feng Shui practitioners also believe that when an elephant statue is in the home it should have its trunk facing upwards to represent good luck, success and prosperity - which this elephant does.  You can find this little guy for just £10.99.

The second item is the Love You Lots Necklace which is described as being a modern take on a timeless classic and it arrives beautifully packaged and for that little added extra special touch you can have it personalised by having three lines of text engraved into the top as I did.

The locket itself comes has a multitude of little hearts inside which perfectly compliment the design and style of the necklace. Made from plated rose gold, the hearts are made from brass and hanging next to the locket is a pendant hanging on the chain next to the locket, with the engraved message: 'I love you lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots'.   As a necklace, it is just absolutely beautiful, quite different to anything else I own or wear and I love that it can be bought for anyone special in your life and you are given the option to personalise it with a special message.  Priced at just £35.99 it is more than good value for money.

If fun things for Christmas are more your thing, then this is one of my favourite products and no matter how many times I see it, I cackle:

Bogey Man Egg Separator is the perfect way to separate your whites from your yolks! The ideal kitchen gadget for cooks and bakers, just crack your eggs into the cup and then tilt it so the egg whites run out of his nose. Revolting, but it seriously works!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

JewelleryBox + Giveaway

I like my jewellery and whilst I never ever take off my engagement and wedding rings, I do like to wear a few choice pieces every now and again. When JewelleryBox got in touch and asked if I would like to try some of their products, I was quite excited because a few friends of mine have some really delicate and beautiful necklaces and I have had on eye on one or two pieces for myself plus... I am also giving one of you lucky lot the chance to win £40 to spend at Jewellerybox too.

If you haven't heard of them before, Jewellerybox is an online jewellery retailer based in South London who launched back in 2014. They are on a mission to show the world you can buy real jewellery at costume jewellery prices. From starting out in 2014, not only do they sent out up to 10,000 orders a week across 100 countries, they also have a range that consists of over 10,000 unique pieces of sterling silver & 9ct gold jewellery, you will be spoilt for choice, it took me quite some time to narrow down my choices.

I have for years, been obsessed with the Infinity symbol and if I was ever brave enough to have a tattoo, it would be that.  The Infinity symbol, often referred to as the Lemniscate, takes on the shape of a sideways figure eight and it comes with many different meanings. To me, it has a personal meaning that I am not quite ready to share with the world, but it is a beautiful shape and formed my choices of jewellery.

Sterling Silver Infinity Loop Stud Earrings - These sterling silver stud earrings feature a 1cm by 5mm infinity symbol with a 1.3cm front to back distance and butterfly backs for secure fastening to your earlobes. Perfect for valentines day, a wedding or an anniversary! The earrings will arrive in sealed packaging. £6.75.  I love how dainty and delicate these earrings are and for someone like me with small ears, they fit just perfectly.

The second item I chose is this stunning Sterling Silver Rolo Chain Bracelet with Large Infinity Charm. Again it comes with the Infinity Charm which matches the earrings perfectly and the Rolo Chain, which is a classic design and because it is a double chain it more than definitely makes it stand out. Priced at £18 here.The final item within my trip is the Sterling Silver Infinity Necklace - The necklace is 16 inches long and with it is a 2-inch extender, so it is perfect for those who want it to hang lower. Again, it is made of Sterling Silver and features a lobster clasp and on it is the Infinity Symbol which sits flat against the chest which I really like when it comes to a necklace which features a charm. Priced at £11.15 here.I am absolutely chuffed with my three items of Jewellery and am so impressed with how well made they are. Given JewelleryBox have said that their mission is to show the world you can buy real jewellery at costume jewellery prices is something they absolutely do live up to. Even better not only do I have a competition from which one of you could win £40 to spend with JewelleryBox using the widget below, I also have a 20% discount code which is XMAS20 and you simply use it at the Checkout.

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*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Dower & Hall London Entwined Triple Infinity Bracelet + Competition

Dower & Hall London is an exquisite Jewellery company whose designs are really quite unique and there is something for everyone within the collections.  This season Dower & Hall launch a brand new collection, from within their London based workshop and drawing upon over 25 years of jewellery design experience, comes the new Entwined collection.

I am quite picky when it comes to jewellery. I don't like over the top showy pieces and I like the unique and different and believe the jewellery you wear should represent who you are and match your personality.  There are of course pieces of jewellery that I adore and hanker after. I am quite obsessed with the Infinity sign, something I have been obsessed with for years and it stems back to my childhood and memories which right now are still too hard for me to share, but it is a symbol which means a lot to me.

Within the new collection from Dower & Hall there are some just beautiful designs and the one which stands out to me is the Entwined Triple Infinity Bracelet.  Described as being a Sterling Silver & 18ct Gold Vermeil Entwined Triple Infinity Bracelet, it features 3 delicate infinity symbols on a fine chain, finished with our quatrefoil catch. 

Representing eternal love, the infinity bracelet features our signature hammered finish that perfectly complements the curved shapes that this collection beholds.  The lovely people over at Dower Hall have given one of my readers a chance to win the bracelet shown above and all you need to do is use the Rafflecopter.  But before you enter there are a few rules:
This giveaway is open to UK only residents

• You must be aged 18 or have parental permission to enter because I will need your postal address.
• There is no cash alternative.
• All mandatory entries must be completed otherwise your entry will be null and void.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

He won’t propose? Drop some hints!

If he hasn’t proposed after a couple of years of living together, sometimes it can feel as though your relationship is stagnating slightly. You’re ready and waiting for him to pop the question, but it seems like he hasn’t even thought of it — so why not drop a few hints to your man so that he knows that you’re truly ready to become engaged and wear the perfect engagement ring.

Angelic Diamonds are here to help! Here are some of their best tips to make sure he’ll be proposing with the perfect engagement ring in no time.

Make sure that your married friends are always close by

Try to make sure that you and him are hanging around your married friends, or family members that have children, so that he experiences more serious relationships other than your own. This will make him realise that you’re comfortable with him being around others in more serious relationships. 

Even though marriage does have its ups and downs, this could be said of all relationships. Demonstrating this commitment through your friends will help him to understand that you’re who he wants to be with. Although men who have parents that are divorced sometimes struggle to trust this commitment, replacing negative feelings with positive ones in this type of environment may help to bring him around to your way of thinking.

Make sure you’re a go to guy

Relationships can become boring when you’re constantly in your assigned roles and doing the same things for one another, never fall into a routine. To avoid this, make sure you’re always his go-to guy as well as his girlfriend. If you’re constantly being left behind for the guys, then this is going to put a strain on his ability to propose and take you seriously. 

Like his interests, and share your interests with him, so that you can do more things together rather than apart. If you can be part of his whole life, rather than just someone he spends time with, then he’ll feel like you’re indispensable. Once you get to this point in your relationship, then he’ll feel like proposing, as he can’t spend his time without you!

Try and show some tough love sometimes

Being cruel to be kind can be really difficult, but when it pulls off it can really work. If you don’t see your relationship heading in the right direction, and things are flatlining, try and find his pulse again by telling him you may move out. 

Without being dramatic about it, why not spend more time with the girls or situations where he will miss you and want to know how you are doing? Although he knows that you’re always there for him, this will make him feel that he isn’t being as included as he should be, and he’ll start to wonder why. Keeping him on his toes in this way will make him realise that he needs to put the effort in (by proposing!) so that he can get your undivided effort and attention in the future. 

Always be open and honest

If you want to be in a successful relationship, then communication is always key – no amount of hints and tricks will completely make up his mind. If you want to get engaged, then why not talk to him about why it’s important to you. 

On the basis that he knows how much you mean to him, and how much he means to you, then your relationship is bound to end in happiness. Sometimes people have the same fears and doubts within a relationship, but they are just too afraid to address them with each other. By talking about your future together, he’ll know that you want to be a part of it. By giving him that gentle nudge in the right direction, you may just be engaged before you know it. 

*this post contains a paid for link

Why are Diamonds a Girl’s Best Friend?

We all know that Marilyn Monroe song that immortalised diamonds as the gems that women all over the world covet, but why are diamonds really considered a girl’s best friend?

Image Credit - Golden Unicorn

Diamonds have been charming us for centuries and even as time passes and trends come and go their popularity has never waned. The enchanting stone has been admired for centuries, Ancient Hindus believed they were bolts of lightning, whilst other ancient cultures proclaimed that they were the tears of gods. There has always been a magical aura surrounding the gem.

These stones are glittering and many have fallen under their spell. They are sparkling, dazzling and are simply beautiful. They’ll always look stunning, whether you’re in jeans and a t-shirt or a glamorous evening gown, and they definitely help to elevate your style. It’s true that we have all fallen for their twinkling looks, but there’s so much more to diamonds than this.

Diamonds are a symbol of everlasting love. They have been synonymous with engagement rings for years, associating the stone with commitment and true love. Although there has been a surge in coloured gemstones in engagement rings it still tends to be a beautiful diamond that hopeless romantics dream of. When someone receives a diamond ring it symbolises their love, along with the promise that you’ll be together forever. A diamond manages to make a million promises without saying a word. It’s an everlasting token of your relationship and a truly sentimental piece of jewellery. The romance of a diamond is undeniable.

But diamonds don’t just have to be for engagements. A beautiful piece of diamond jewellery can be given to show your love to anyone important to you, your mother, sister or friend. Diamonds tend to mark a celebration and are often given on special occasions. This means that as well as being valuable they are usually emotional. They can hold memories and will always mean something special to you. Every piece of diamond jewellery has a story to tell.

As well as being a girl’s best friend, diamonds are also forever! A beautiful piece of diamond jewellery will never go out of style and will always be truly timeless. Fashion icons are constantly spotted in beautiful diamond pieces, from simple pieces in their off-duty look to stunning, statement styles on the red carpet.  Diamonds will always transcend trends and for years women have gone weak at the knees for a stunning piece of diamond jewellery. No matter how many times you change your wardrobe, you’ll never grow tired of a diamond.

As Elizabeth Taylor said: “Into every girl’s life a little diamond should fall.”

Laings of Glasgow, in the Argyll Arcade and online, are experts when it comes to diamonds. With over 175 years’ experience of selling fine diamonds, Laings can offer expert advice and service when making your purchase. Buying a piece of diamond jewellery is always going to be a big decision and so to put your mind at ease Laings only stock the highest quality gems, always taking into account the 4 C’s (Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat). This ensures you’re getting the best value for your money.

Whatever the occasion you’re bound to find a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery that will soon become someone’s best friend! 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Create your own necklace with J&S Jewellery

When given an opportunity to create my own necklace with charms, life got a little bit interesting.  I absolutely love my Pandora and Thomas Sabo charm bracelets, but a necklace is a whole new ball game. Based in Norwich J & S Jewellery have an amazing tool that gives you the opportunity to create something unique, something very you and something that would make an amazing gift.

Why buy off-the-peg jewellery when you can customise your own personalised pendant necklaces online without a hefty price tag? At J&S, our mission is to make it easy for you to express your style and individuality with bespoke charm jewellery.

I have just created my very own necklace which is personal to me and I found it so easy to do and a little bit obsessive and you can see my creation and how I did it throughout this post. Get started by selecting your choice of plating - silver, gold or rose gold. Next pick your chain; choose satellite (a delicate chain with evenly spaced silver plain beads between chain lengths) or trace (a simple, dainty chain with uniform links).

Now the really fun part, time to design that necklace with some simple dragging and dropping motions of the charms to the position of your choice. It is at this point that I am sure you will click and drag every single charm across, delete them, re-add them and so on and so forth until you reach a combination that you like. I found it much easier to start with a centre charm, of which there are 11 to choose from, then try a few other combinations with birthstones, chunky lettering and symbols, before adding more centre charms and then removing, re-ordering their place on the chain and then switching between different necklace plating before finally deciding on the 'one'

For me choosing the centre charm and the first charm I didn't hesitate with is the Heart Key Charm and more because of its meaning - "Symbolising awakening, knowledge, curiosity, new beginnings and opportunity, the key reminds us to learn from the past when unlocking doors to a better future. It can also be of romantic significance: key to my heart".

So the other charms that I choose include two letters R and S which could either stand for my initials or the first name initials of myself and the mister.  Then I chose the birthstone option and Ruby a I was born in July and I have absolutely nothing with Ruby in or on it. Sat in the centre of the necklace is the Tree of Life symbol which I was drawn too for its design and the final charm is the Rainbow Crystal disc which stood out to me with the colour of the stones.  Here is my necklace in all its glory.

The reason that I chose these charms is so I can chop and change them as I see fit, I sometimes like to change my charms around on everything else, so it is nice to have the option to do just that with this necklace and it cost just £30 in total. I am also impressed with how well made the chain is and how nice it sits.

If all of that isn't enough, there is a final finishing touch which allows you to add a gift card for free and there is a variety of options to choose from and these are just some of them.

I am really so overly impressed with J and S jewellery from the concept, being able to design my own necklace to the actual product, it was such a fun experience and definitely something I would love to do again because they make such a perfect gift.

If you would like to make your own necklace then I have a discount code for you. For 25% discount on all purchases until the end of December use the code BEAUTYQUEEN16

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise