Bling Thing.

or a ruby, or sapphire, or emerald... 

I have always been a lover of all things sparkly, statement, subtle or blingy, but lately I feel like I've stumbled upon some serious jewelry realness across the internets. From bold and blinged out cuffs to dainty chains and charms, here are some beauties worth adding to your collection.

How ridiculously rad is that bracelet!? Custom options just like it are available via the Etsy shop Doloris Petunia and it's only a matter of time before I place my order. I also love the shop's Swarovski friendship bracelets ($28 each) and a stack of Jelly Jems ($18 each or 3 for $45) are the cutest take on the jelly band trend I've ever seen! So pop over to Doloris Petunia and check out her collection of jewels, headpieces and more today!

On the opposite end of the jewelry spectrum, I was excited to discover designer Meira T's collection which is full of dainty charms and chains that make for beautiful everyday outfit accents. From moons and stars to feathers and gemstones, these necklaces come with a significant price tag, but promise to be an elegant yet unique piece that will withstand the test of time in your jewelry box. 

Another Etsy gem comes from StarryBasement Co. whose location cuff caught my eye on Pinterest and led to a treasure trove of adorable cuffs bearing inspirational quotes and customizable messages. Priced reasonably at approximately $20 each (depending on your metal choice), I'd love a stack of copper, silver and gold bracelets for myself, or maybe there's a certainly newly engaged girl who might need this anniversary cuff one day!?

Did you know that Madewell has a seriously awesome jewelry collection? Because they totally do!! I bought this "Knotish" necklace last spring and receive compliments every time I wear it and that's just one example. From bold statements to simple elegance, be sure to check out Madewell next time you're on the hunt for a new piece or bling!

The end of an era...

In the early 2000s, who didn't want a belly like Britney!?

This week I did something major. This week, after 11 years of pierced glory, I removed my belly button ring. A singular act of rebellion against my parent's wishes, the week I turned 18, I marched into Tattoo Lou's (yup) and got the piercing I'd been pining for for years (take that Mom and Dad!) I was completely satisfied with the decision from the moment I made it; I was just the kind of girl who rocked the subtle, sparkle of a belly button ring. Over the years I endured questions (my babysitting clientele always had trouble wrapping their little brains around an earring there!), commentary ("you still have that metal thing in your stomach?" - Nanny, every time I went to her pool in Florida) and indifference (my girls would often remark, even years after I got pierced "I always forget you have a belly button ring!") But a few month ago, when I'd removed my belly bling because its protrusion was highly noticeable through the dress I was wearing, I glanced in the mirror and saw what my stomach looked like without the jewelry I'd become accustomed to seeing there. I thought "that looks.. kinda... good". I contemplated my next move for weeks, finally deciding that at the end of the summer (after bathing suit season, to give the hole time to close up) I would remove the ring forever. Fast forward to yesterday when, after having removed the ring for a dress on Tuesday, I realized I'd never put it back in. For those of you not in the know on these things, a belly piercing closes up fast and I realized it might actually hurt to try to put the ring back in... given how close I was to my personal bye bye belly ring day, I decided to not even try. It felt like the universe was sending me a sign... It was time. 

This morning, as I inspected the tiny empty hole above my belly button, I felt a little bit... sad? "Did I make a mistake taking it out!? Should I try to shove the ring back in there just for this weekend!?!" Because even though I know that belly button rings are not the height of trendiness, class or glamour, I liked having one and taking it out makes me nostalgic for a time in my life when having a belly button ring seemed perfectly reasonable. I can't pinpoint why exactly I don't feel that way anymore (maybe it's just that when I really looked at my tummy sans ring, it seemed flatter without a piece of metal poking out?!) but something about the piercing suddenly just seemed done. So goodbye belly button bling... we had a great run. I'll miss you every time I'm in a bathing suit and sporting just a little less sparkle.