I'm usually such a tidy person (stop snickering Rebecca). But here lately, Ive been letting a few things slide. For example, I have a horrible habit of piling necklace on top of necklace each day when I get home.
As I surveyed the damage last night, I realized something. I'm a bit of a jewelry hog. Not expensive jewelry mind you, but usually the cheap sale necklaces at Steinmart and JC Penney. I love these little cheapos.
I suspect my love of jewelry stems more from sentiment than flashiness. I remember wearing my white shell necklace in the shape of a dogwood flower on the first day of my first real job. I remember buying a rhinestone medallion necklace to wear to my best friend's bridal shower. I've got a pair of abalone earrings that my mom bought for me on a girl trip, and a giant fake yellow gemstone ring my little sisters gave to me for Christmas (I think that was the same year Ben Afleck gave a yellow diamond ring to J-Lo, they thought that was hilarious).
If I lumped all of this in a basket and carted it to a pawn shop, they would probably laugh and offer me $20.00. But the value isn't in the money, it's in the memories. I suspect that most of us jewelry junkies feel the same way; we love our cheap necklaces and gold 'skimmed' rings because of who bought them for us and the special events when we wore them, not how much they cost.
But now, the time has come for me to clean. Seriously. If I still lived at home, my mom would be yelling, "I'm going to wait until you're gone one day and throw all of this mess away!" Yikes, she has a key. She could still do that...
*** P.S.
I've found a couple of things that are really lighting my creative fire here lately. One is Jerusalem's super innovative idea of an online summer craft camp. Another is Autum's beyond fabulous patio makeover. Check them out! You'll be motivated to turn off that TV in no time! And sorry to bloglines people, I've re-posted this thing three times this morning. But those grammar things HAD to be fixed.
38 comments:
I've always thought it had something to do with my inner-raccoon - the love of all things sparkley. Seriously, I know exactly what you mean.
I like jewelry, but not expensive jewelry. I'm not like most women where a diamond will dazzle me. I'd rather have a cheap fake one because 1. I'll probably lose it. and 2. I will probably stop liking it in a few years and want something different!
I love the look of vintage costume jewelry laying out on display!
Have you thought about displaying your jewelry? If you really like it, you can use it as art.
I'm the same way about rings, I just love big, gaudy, awful things. BLING!
I have too much jewelry and then never have the "right" pair of earrings. Go figure! I've been meaning to make some jewelery holders but time has alluded me. So the piling? I do that too.
Girl...I do the same thing! I post and repost all the time - guess it's the perfectionist is us.
Inexpensive jewelry is the way to go, especially considering how fast jewelry trends are changing. Right now I have -2 pieces of jewery, I think it's time to stock up.
Have a great weekend!
I do the same thing with necklaces except its ALL on my tiny nightstand!
Oh - good information to know. I'm usually walking down to Marci's to borrow jewelry :)
That sounds so familiar. And how is it that I always seem to lose the expensive stuff and never the cheap bits and pieces?
You just make me smile (smile). I love your little place over here and you have quickly become my "Happy Place" to visit.
The other night (while trying to catch up with you) I was engrosed for hours it seems reading and reading. Wonderful stuff here and ocassionally hubby would hear me break out into laughter. Finally he just had to ask what was so funny.
Then I summed you up into one big "I wish I could write like her". She brings out every emotion and feeling and you have such a wonderful way of bringing the reader in.
So, thank you for making this my happy place, I just love it here! And as for the jewelry, I love that stuff too! That kind of jewelry is my absolute favorite kind to purchase these days! And I think it looks quite nice just like that on your dresser.
I'm the same way with jewelry - I love interesting and colorful pieces I can find at a good sale. My hubby bought me a very thoughtful gift a few months ago - a big jewlery box to put all of my new jewelry in. Though somehow it still ends up on the bathroom counter and never IN the jewlery box!! Yikes!
Thanks Liz, I certainly appreciate your prayers! Feel free to e-mail me anytime if there's anything I can lift up in prayer for you!
You should see Sharon's jewelry. You need to ask her to open her jewelry cabinet, yes cabinet! She has so much. I hope I don't get into trouble for tattling on her. I did that once, years ago. I got my mom in trouble. Way back when there was still black and white tv sets, my parents borrowed money from grandpa and grandma. This money was for NEEDS. I don't know what possessed me, but I took grandpa into Mom's room and opened the closet and showed him all of her new pointy leather shoes, we're talking rows of shoes. I specificly remember goreous red alligator shoes. I remember, getting glared at, and quietly scolded. I was also instructed NOT to tell about the new color tv up in the play room...sigh Mom and Dad did pay back every penny. They were faithful in that.
Have a pleasant day. Oh, and I will certainly be back to read your next chapter. Can't wait. I am off to weed the garden, then pick up the kids at camp first. Yay. Then I'll settle down with an ice-tea with lemon and read your lovely words.
Kathi
Liz - thank you for visiting my blog and yes that was a Texas flag horse sculpture. The jewelry thing is always hard - I've given away a lot of things I simply don't wear now but I keep hanging on to some. The ideas of displaying it are great - pretty sparkley and baubley it would be almost hypnotic!
I am LOVING your blog!! Thanks so much for commenting on mine so that I could find you.
I know about being a jewelry junkie, and I tend to let it pile up too! Thanks for the great finds. I went and checked both out. The patio is great and so is the crafting at Jerusalem's. Off to the beach tomorrow. Have a great weekend.
That's me with earrings. The sad part is sometimes only one is there when I want to wear them again. I would love to find my dark hole full of odd earrings.
Liz, what a sweet and simple post. I love it. And your links led me to two great places. I just had to click on the dresser photo to see the necklaces up close.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Dawn
I enjoy the cheaper jewelry as well which is probably best since I never wear any of it. I put it on and right before I leave the house, I get nervous with my choices and take it all off. I do look at it a lot, though, so that should count for something.
I am EXACTLY the same way!! :-) And I LOVE the pictures you took to capture this!
Oh, dude! We were there! (Well, in the parking lot.) We pulled up super late and had a crying baby and then Danna said, "I am not going in there." So, we turned around and went to the Ramseys' house and waited for everyone to get out of church. If only I'd known you were going to be there...
So fun! I love pretty necklaces that don't cost much! And that way if you lose some or have some brek, it's much less emotional! ;)
I hope you have a great weekend!
Hi Liz,
I just wanted to stop by and thank you for your prayers today.
Also, I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures from Overboard...That movie is funnier to me every time I watch it.....While I was at the doctor today, I wanted to say, "Listen to me, medical people! I don't know who I am, but I'm sure I have a lawyer." ;)
Have a lovely weekend!
God Bless,
Amy:)
I kinda of like the way it looks..all piled up like that.
Hi! This is mireille from c'est chic with your "list of soapy fragrances" from friends on the fragrance board I frequent:
Guerlain Vetiver pour Elle
Pre de Provence Orange Flower
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz (DSH) En Fleur
Keiko Mecheri Hanae
Penhaligon's Castile
Chant d'Arome
Dolce et Gabbana Femme
Dolce et Gabbana Sicily
Windsong
Cote de Bastide Lin
J Lo Glow
Carriere
Annick Goutal Eau de Charlotte EDP
Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Secrete Datura
DSH Pink Gardenia
Hope this helps you with your perfume dilemma and thank you for visiting! xoxo
I think, if I were you, I'd call it a "still life" instead of a "mess." That really is a happy jumble of pretties!
I love jewelry and am often tempted to buy it but have learned not to do it as I seldom wear it. I worked in the operating room for years so couldn't wear it there and somehow it just doesn't fit when working my my garden now.
I'm so glad you stopped by my blog so I could find yours. I've loved what I've seen so far and look forward to being a frequent visitor here!
Now, I can understand jewelry stacking up when someone wears it often, but I hardly ever wear anything other than my watch. As a matter of fact I only had my ears repierced a couple of months ago -- I hadn't worn earrings in YEARS so the holes closed. So far this time I've only been wearing my studs. Maybe I should venture out a bit.
Oh, gosh, when you edit and make changes to a post does it go out into peoples' readers multiple times? They must hate me! I'm constantly changing things around, even with old posts from months ago.
Anyway. Loved seeing your pile of necklaces. I do love a colorful necklace! I have one with a diamond that my husband gave me for our anniversary a few years ago, but other than that they're all from Target, Kohl's, and cheapo places like that.
Have a great weekend! -Julia
We all love the sparklies!!
Rosemary
Soo glad you commented so I found your blog, love it. I can't wait to ready your book start when I get the boys down. Wanna share links? As for the jewellery, I am soo there with you. Love your hair...makes me want to chop mine that way again too.
Just commented and I forgot to say where from - duh! www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com. Enter my Style Statement contest for a signed book. I am doing it now and you would love it, gorgeous pictures and really thought provoking questions. ciao for now! k
Liz, I adored that story on the jewelery , I have a memory for each piece too and reading it brought them back again, thanks! and I love that mirror too! gorgeous!
I love your blog! Thanks for your sweet comments on my daughter.
I have the same problem with letting my jewelry getting messy. I keep most of my life in order except my jewelry, my car and my purse! Oh well. I have some real jewelry, but I love my cheapy stuff! I, like you, have way too much of it, but it is hard to part with. I think to myself, "it's not hurting anybody sitting here in my drawer!"
Have a great day!
:0) Sharon
I have lots of jewelry, made for me, by friends. I'm looking for a way to store it, rather than all over my vanity as I have been doing. They are all very special pieces. I want to keep them all. I just need a tidy way to keep them.
Have a wonderful week.
Pat
You need a new way of displaying all of it so it gets worn and is all tidy! My sister bought a funky cheap metal chandelier thing and hangs jewelery off of it. I bought a small tension window screen, seperated the two parts and poked 'S' hooks through to hang necklaces on. It works so well and you can just push earrings through as well!
My Mom would be yelling too.
I have a problem with collecting those necklaces and then never wearing them. I have this glass container I put them in. Looks pretty all mixed up in there together.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Imagine you and a 17 year-old daughter just like you living in the same small 1899 farmhouse. We had jewelry scattered on almost every horizontal surface until I took the bling by the horns and put a wrought iron votive candle holder on the wall of our bathroom. Outside of the twice a year or so big gatherings at our house - it is normally the holder of all our precious things - rings in the glass votive holders, necklaces, earrings and bracelets hooked on the wrought iron leaves and vines....it has been one of the best $20 organizing investments I can stand proudly on from every angle.
don't have to untangle
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