The Shahs Of Sunset Season 3 – Mo' Better Decadence

Is it true that gazing at  pure Gold metal can make you happy?  Well, the Persian stooges on The Shahs of Sunset seem to be proof positive of that… until they crash from their golden heights:   

 

  

Honestly, think about it: What would make people act like this?  And what could make us love to watch them sooo… much?  Could it be the Gold?!!

The Shahs of Sunset has been solid gold fun for the first 2 seasons.  The 3rd season  starts Nov 5th on Bravo TV.

New TV Series “Gem Hunt” Rocks!

See the remote mines, the miners, the wholesalers, the gem rough… all before the markup.  Follow gemstone buyers Ron, Diane and Bernie on the Travel Channel’s new series ‘Gem Hunt’.

They travel to the some of the world’s most far-flung places seeking luxury gems, “good rocks”,  for their wealthy clients.

 

The show features incredible close-up HD photography of finished “monster gems”,  AAA+ material.

Halloween Jewelry Styles... On The Cheap

A costume that takes a bite out of your wallet too

Here’s the true story behind why I stopped putting-out my spider themed Halloween display and stopped wearing spider jewelry for Halloween:

I caught a febrile case of arachnophobia a few springs ago while weeding a rosebush only to be stopped cold by the venom yellow eyes of a spider staring me down.   I immediately stopped weeding.

And I didn’t garden anymore that year because I was scared to death that I might have a run-in with the yellow-eyed spider.

I Got Sasquatch (Earrings) For Halloween

That’s when I started setting-up my Bigfoot Sasquatch Halloween display. Mind you I started my Bigfoot Halloween theme display long before the TV show “Finding Bigfoot” was broadcast.

I admit my Bigfoot display is just half-ass…I only have a couple of signs and sound effects.  Oddly, the sound effects don’t scare little kids but the accompanying adults seem genuinely terrified.

I do wear my Bigfoot earrings, however: Whimsical Taxco Mexican Silver big feet with green malachite inlay (vintage screwbacks).  Unfortunately, I paid too much for them.  But I had to satiate my Sasquatch obsession.

I wouldn’t recommend doing that.

 

Collectible Fright Night Jewelry

Of course, if you COLLECT whimsically  themed scary jewelry then price might not be the only factor you consider:  Collectability, of course, is the primary factor.

Otherwise junk jewelry is probably the best option for Fright Night. You probably already know the Halloween jewelry standards:

• Light-up jewelry is very effectively dramatic
• Skulls, other bones or skeletons

• Gothic and vampire “dark” jewelry

• Realistic whimsical Insect jewelry… rings are especially creepy

• Big, oversized styles to catch the kids’ eyes, like crowns
 
 

Best Place To Find EERIE Jewelry

Plastic Halloween themed jewelry from the corner drugstore will do just fine and save big bucks for a once yearly event.  It's a cheap fix.  The costume jewelry at Halloween stores costs way more than treasure at drugstores.

Come on!  How much money do you really want to spend on Halloween jewelry to scare a bunch of little kids?

 

 

How To Get Better Hair With October’s Birthstone

Beautiful, Young, Lush Hair Deserves Tourmaline

One of the scientifically proven powers of tourmaline is that it eliminates ‘bad hair’ days. Yes siree!  Tourmaline is a birthstone for October, along with Opal and Coral, but it's not just for rings and pendants.   I’ve conducted my own experiments and there’s no doubt about it: Tourmaline will give you the look of hair from your youth.

It works! It really works!!

How Tourmaline Makes Hair Styling Easier

In a nutshell, tourmaline is slightly radioactive and emits negative ions, the very particles that enable air cleaners to freshen indoor air. Those very same ions smooth the cuticle of hair strands making it easier for me to detangle and style my hair.

Black Tourmaline - also purported to negate EMF

So in my case, using hair styling tools made with tourmaline features, is the difference between hair that’s  like an uncombable brillo pad after hair drying OR smooth hair that’s very easy to style.

Tourmaline’s ions have made world of difference in my hair care rituals.

I now only use  blow dryers designed to emit negative ions from built-in tourmaline crystals - I also own hair combs made entirely of crushed tourmaline gemstones.

These combs also give my hair a glossy sheen that’s comparable to a light spritz of silicone hair products.

 

 

Tourmaline Gemstone Colors

Tourmaline, technically boron silicate, naturally occurs in a wide spectrum of gemstone colors.  My favorites  for jewelry, especially rings, are the ‘eye candy’ bubble gum pink and the very happy watermelon tourmaline varieties.




Tourmaline also commonly occurs in Pink

Opal and Coral Birthstone Updates

Ethiopian Opal is a comparatively inexpensive gemstone that has become more available on the market in the last 5 years.  As with any gemstone’s that from a remote part of the world, on the periphery of conflict, mined with hand tools and cheap:  Buy it while you can!

Lanvin, the French design house, featured red coral couture designer jewelry in a recent spring collection.  Lanvin’s fresh, new jewelry designs are very organic looking, very art nouveau.

 October’s birthstones deserve fresh new looks:   Tourmaline because of its alternative use in hair tools, the new source of opal from Ethiopia, and updated red coral couture jewelry designs.

 

Serena Williams Is The 2013 China Open Champion

Can you guess what's missing after viewing this YouTube clip of the 2013 China Open Final match?  Serena Williams defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-2, to win the ladies final of the China Open in Beijing, China on October 6. 

 

 

 

 

Read on to discover the answer to what's missing from the match!

 

The answer is at the 8 second mark of the video clip:  Serena wore no visible jewelry during the match and throughout the tournament:  No dangling earrings; no gold heart necklace; no big watch –  none, nada, nothing.

 

A Different Tennis Style

Even Serena’s tennis dress was very a subdued tone: Shades of gray with only a pop of yellow color in the back.  Her headband was a pastel peach and her hair was tinted a dark brown instead of the more exuberant auburn color.

Her nails were a pale moonlight polish color (Serena is a certified nail tech) and her lipstick was a neutral pink-red- the nebulous mauve. She wore black and white tennis shoes, a switch from the pink she frequently wears.

Is This The New Serena?

What gives?!!! I don’t know….

I speculate that Serena Williams’ subdued styling for the 2013 Beijing China Open was a nod to conservative Chinese culture. Frankly, Serena never looked more beautiful and powerful.

But the more extroverted makeup, clothing and jewelry styling has been a winning look for Serena in more ways than one:  According to Tennis Channel Serena has won $10 million in prize money for 2013 and $51 million throughout her entire career!

Then again, nothing says “conservative” like minimal jewelry style for times when you know that a particular opponent will never, ever be distracted by prominent, flashy displays of jewelry, gold or gemstones.

You know the types: The individuals that can only be overcome by power and strategy-because they won’t be admiring your shoulder duster earrings or couture designer necklace.

Minimal Jewelry Style Looks

Wearing just one of these minimal jewelry looks will transmit a contrary message of power:

· Very small, eye clean white diamond stud earrings about .2 carat with maximum facets

· Swiss diamond watch with a stainless steel bracelet

· Wedding band or ring

· Small 18K gold ball earrings

· Sapphire gemstone stud earrings in a blue or black color

We can all learn a lot from Serena Williams’ winning jewelry style at the 2013 China Open. Nothing says “Winner” like ‘Pretty Powerful’.

Diamond Jewelry Stash At The Center of Russian Bribery Case

So far Russian authorities have discovered 57,000 diamonds and a total of $3.9 million in valuables in their investigation of bribery and fraud at the Russian Defense Ministry. The inquiry has produced charges of fraud against an Air Force general and his wife  including charges involving valuable real estate and oil shipment terminals.

Here’s a news update from RiaNovosti on the Russian Defense Fraud Case.

Two Nuns And A Mom

Mother Teresa Religious Medals

By chance, I happened upon two nuns from the Missionaries of Charity – Mother Teresa nuns - as I left the hospital parking lot to go comfort my sick Mom.  I rushed toward the nuns, amazed at the miracle of seeing them in Chicago’s West Loop Medical District.

My eyes were popped wide open.

I explained that the doctors and nurses at the research hospital urgently needed prayer. They seemed all too focused on dying and not providing full medical management of my mother’s acute medical condition.

Prepared!

I explained that many of my mother’s healthcare providers didn’t understand that my Mom, like all Christians, has been prepared to die since the day she committed her life and soul to our Savior Jesus Christ when she was a little girl.

Many of the doctors, nurses and technicians had never read Romans 6:8 in the Bible which states:

“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

Many of my Mom’s healthcare providers had not read God’s Commandment in Exodus 20:12 from the Bible, which states:

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

I explained that all we wanted was the honor of management - full medical care - of my mother’s acute medical condition so that she would not suffer. (Mind you, my mother had a complete health insurance package while being treated at  a government facility!)

 

The two nuns said that they would pray for the doctors, nurses and technicians at the university hospital. I gave the nuns a donation and they gave me the religious medals shown in the above photograph.

Lost and Then Found!

The next day was the beginning of a visible improvement in my mother’s medical care during her final days. The attitudes of her healthcare providers seemed visibly more attentive and respectful, replacing the previously cavalier ‘what’s the point’ hopelessness.

Ohhh…I forgot to mention: The two Mother Teresa nuns were lost!!!  They were trying to find the L train station to ride downtown to a conference. I directed the nuns to turnaround, walk back down the street and then turn right at the stop sign to get on the train. 

Please support Easter Seals' efforts to educate physicians to recognize elderly American citizens suffering from Post Polio Syndrome. Please support Bill and Melissa Gates' efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis in improvished nations.

Fresh Jewelry Looks On The 2013 Emmys Red Carpet

Here are 5 easy-to-copy formal jewelry looks and sequined evening gown styles worn by TV stars on the 2013 Emmys Red Carpet:

1. Pure Gold! Dramatically large and long stampato and sculpted gold earrings and cuff bracelets: The gold jewelry styles worn by Tina Fey, Taylor Schilling and Padma Lakshmi from ‘Top Chef’ were star attractions.

They all rocked the “Golden Goddess” jewelry look.

2. Long shoulder duster earrings like Melissa Rauch’s blue sky colored Larimer gemstone slice earrings were showstoppers. Gold dangles and gemstone slice shoulder dusters were the perfect pairing for many strapless and halter evening gowns on the Red Carpet.

3. Scattered sequined and beaded appliques with colorful prints strategically placed on the waist, neckline or bodice of gowns were winning styles.

Amy Poehler’s black silk chiffon gown just featured bead appliques on the hips. Claire Danes’ blush pink slip gown was a stand-out with silver chain straps and a beaded bodice. Both looks were fabulous without tons of  jewelry accessories on the TV stars.

4. Turning up the lights in fully sequined gowns were ‘Project Runway’ Executive Producer Heidi Klum in a scarlet red halter and Julia Dreyfus in a liquid silver evening dress. Both looks stole the show of E! Channel’s broadcast of the event.

5. The shape of some gowns appeared almost sculptural, maybe a nod to 3D TV. These gowns had pleated and folded fabric designs. Look online for pics of Allison Williams purple strapless dress and Cobie Smulders’ highly structured designer gown.

 Carrie Underwood was one of the few stars that wore over-the-top diamond jewelry. But otherwise expensive gold jewelry, heavy use of sequins and beaded embellishments were the top fashion-forward looks worn on the 2013 Emmys Red Carpet.