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If I hit the jackpot, I’d still do what I do; I’d just hire more help! When you’re already in the business you love, why do anything else?
New Jersey had 3 big winners recently. Two were individuals and one winning ticket was a group of employees from the Ocean County Vehicle Maintenance Department in Toms River, NJ.
NJ already had lots of millionaire’s. Now it has even more!
I’m not one. Here’s what makes me rich:
- A brilliant husband who adores me.
- Two sisters I can’t wait to be with and always hate to leave.
- Nieces & Nephews: BIG fun, lots of laughs, texts, and phone calls. Taking them to “hang out in Times Square” never feels like penance…
- Enough good girlfriends to make a pretty fabulous party. Some of these relationships go back to pre-school!
- A great home
- A healthy body
- Most of my marbles
- A good sense of humor
- Enough jewelry to fill a room
The room is named Hodge Podge Lodge. Here are a couple of photos of a corner of it. The rest is not ready for prime time viewing (…the truth is I can’t go public with the breadth of my addiction). To me it’s ALL fabulous. None of it is in a safety deposit box, which is a testament to its worthlessness, but NOT its pricelessness…
My stepmother once befriended Natasha, a funny fascinating lady in her 90s who lived near my grandmother. The woman used to be a nightclub singer: in her day she was called a chanteuse. She had the stories that went with the whole romantic notion. Even at 94 she looked the part. In her nightclub appearances she always wore pearls with her fancy gowns. I saw the old photos of her with men who looked like rich patrons and some that reminded me of Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire.
In 1992 she died and donated her estate to charity. Catherine, my stepmother bought the pearls for me. It was the perfect gift and the thing I LOVED the most was the history the pearls carried. In fact the story was in much better shape than the pearls, which were badly stained and needed restringing.
I took them to a jeweler for refurbishing who marveled at the layers of soil he deemed to be makeup, perfume and nicotine. Fabulous! The story was confirmed by real evidence. I like to imagine they were a gift from one of her smitten patrons.
Pearls with stories are the best kind. If yours are new, start infusing them with your stories right away. If they are white or natural colored pearls they will darken slightly with age and wear. This is not dirt that can be rinsed away; it’s the patina that comes with the stories.
For Your Pearl PLEASURE: How To Take Care of Your Pearls
Some days it’s OK to go off the rails. A girl can’t always be wearing her big girl hat and polishing her goody two shoes. How much fun is that?
OK, so I got a few emails after my last post about Retrograde Mercury. Yes, the concept may seem “out there” which is what makes it so juicy. Sooo much more interesting than a booooring post about what Anne Hathaway is wearing.
Here’s how it goes: there’s meaning in the universe and we make jewelry, the way we marry these facts is by making jewelry that has some meaning behind it. (:
Birthstones & Signs
We create our own good fortune, right?
So right!
Still, a girl should do what she can to keep her stars aligned! I‘m a big fan of ‘flexible astrology’; I read all the horoscopes and pick the one I like best.
THE one astrological event I try and keep ahead of is Retrograde Mercury. Three or four times a year Mercury goes haywire, appearing to stop and spin in reverse. It’s an illusion because it really just slows down but this creates confusion in the solar system and translates into all kinds of earthly dust ups and turmoil.
If you were born during a Retrograde Mercury then it’s your lucky time! If you weren’t, then it’s best to be aware of the timing so you can sit tight until things start spinning right again. If you own birthstone jewelry, now is the time to wear it. Retrograde Mercury lasts about 3 weeks.
If you’re an Aries: Listen more and talk less. Watch what you say and how you say it. A girl needs all the boosts she can get so wear diamonds if you have them, if not, cubic zirconia will do.
If you’re a Taurus: Slow down and think before you speak. Carefully review all expenditures and delay them until after the retrograde. Wear emeralds, they are symbols of hope
If you’re a Gemini: Expect miscommunications, lost mail, dropped calls and gross slips of the tongue that will make you want to scream!!!! Wear your pearls. Pearls have an association with the moon that will save you from lunacy (:
If you’re a Cancer: Ruined cakes, leaky faucets and split seams will all happen just as the guests arrive. Stay calm and put rubies under your pillow when you’re not wearing them. As THE most powerful gems in the universe, rubies bring peace amidst chaos.
If you’re a Leo: Always remember this: Leos are smarter than they are lucky. Do not speculate. This is not a good time to buy, sell or trade anything. Analyze everything and then make the right investment AFTER Mercury goes straight again. Wear peridot to tap into inner wisdom.
If you’re Virgo: Expect cranky co-workers, equipment malfunctions, and Murphy’s Law; if it can be broken, delayed, or lost during shipping it will be. Double check everything while wearing your sapphires. They help tap into the mental clarity that will bring financial rewards.
If you’re a Libra: Your mojo will be out of balance, so love yourself the way you are. This is not the time for a makeover. Limit purchases or expect to make returns. Libra is usually all-charm, so just hang in there until it’s over. Wear your opals to soothe erratic energy.
If you’re a Scorpio: You can be one Hot Tamale; all emotions and no common sense. Relationships can get severely scrambled, so don’t go falling in love until the coast is clear. Wear topaz to soothe your passionate nature and keep your head on straight.
If you’re a Sagittarius: Consider staying home or be prepared to deal with travel delays, lost tickets, and long lines. Laugh it off; it’ll all be over soon. Meantime wear your turquoise; it’ll protect you from all the negative energy associated with cancelled flights and long layovers.
If you’re a Capricorn: This is the sign that governs property. Look but do NOT buy any real estate. You don’t want to sign anything important like leases, deeds, or mortgages. Wear garnets, it helps in crisis situations, like when the movers drop your heirloom chandelier.
If you’re an Aquarius: This is the sign that governs relationships. Misunderstandings can get blown out of proportion and test the limits of your friendships. Wear amethysts to bring relief from the headaches brought on by petty squabbles.
If you’re a Pisces: Mercury is the planet that rules logic and Pisces is the sign that governs illusion. Retrograde Mercury can create brain fogs and excessive daydreaming for Pisces people who need clear heads to navigate day to day realities. Wear your aquamarine to bring clarity and serenity.
The next Retrograde Mercury happens September 17, 2015. To get more information go to Astrology Zone.
No. Yes. No. Yes. But…
Tall tales of happiness, wealth, healing, health, good fortune, and romance. Who doesn’t want it to happen to them? Stories and powers have been associated with gemstones for centuries. This mythical connection between gems and humans goes at least as far back as the fourth millennium B.C. (that’s the “Pre-antibiotic Period for sure!).
In the “Pre-Antibiotic Period” Ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Egyptians all show evidence that their Medicine Men used gemstones to create healing potions which they administered to their patients as needed. For illness, anxiety, and protection, it was also common for healers to order a patient to paste or wear certain stones on the body to displace demons and cure diseases.
What we don’t know is if these ancient diagnostics worked. Did that gemstone infused elixir cure the patient? If the patient was cured, did the healing happen spontaneously? Did the right gemstones create a stronger braver warrior? Modern medicine is a long way from ancient history, but the myths endure and are a large part of what makes gem lore so fascinating.
Magical stories create magical thinking and magical thinking has been cited in many inexplicable ways for healing what was thought to be incurable or creating unprecedented achievements. This all seems to make a strong case for the old saying “to conceive it you have to believe it.” So to answer the question, “Can a rock change your life?” The answer lies within the wearer. Intention is everything.
There’s no denying the power of jewels to cure the blues, lift the spirits and create happiness.
Love the stories. Wear the jewels. Be a believer. What have you got to lose?
