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“I’ve been dating Mark for close to a year now. He went to Europe for a conference a few months ago and asked me what I wanted. Maybe this is where I went wrong, but I said, “You choose something.” Now, I know we’re still in dating mode but I can tell you I was just a little irked when he brought me back a beer mug! What? I don’t even drink beer that often!

I tried to forget about it that evening. I mean, he can’t read my mind. But finally I broke. “Mark, do you think you could have kicked it up a notch and bought me a pair of earrings or something.” “Oh,” he said. “I thought that would be a bit more of a…serious gift.”

I spent a while explaining to him that an engagement ring would be a “serious gift.” But a pair of earrings, after a year of dating, would have been appropriate. And the thing is (I told him): you don’t have to spend a fortune on a jewelry gift. It’s that thought that resonates for women. Even if we don’t love the piece of jewelry, we learn to love it, because it was given to us.

“Won’t you learn to love the beer mug?”

“No.”

So that’s my jewelry story. If you’ve been dating a woman for a while, guys, don’t think jewelry is that big of a deal. A pair or earrings, a bracelet or a necklace – all sweet and rich with meaning for us!

Here’s a good example of a non beer-mug gift:

Style 10340 Key of Love Necklace with Pave Set Stones “Key of Love” key necklace with pave set stones. For a larger view click here. 1/10ct version measures 17mm tall Other sizes available, call for info

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Heart Shape Pendant With Genuine Brazilian Garnets And Natural Diamonds Heart shape pendant in 14kt white gold featuring approximately .06ct t.w. of genuine Brazilian garnets and natural diamonds. (Pendant only, chain sold separately) Trade Up Our Guarantee MSRP: $499.00 Our Price: $339.00

Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace, 10mm-11mm, 18″ long with a sterling silver clasp. For a larger view click here Available in: White Black Multi Color (dyed color) Chocolate (dyed color) Price: $199

Four Prong Round Pendant With Round Stone Bale Four prong round pendant with three round brilliant stones on bale, set on an 18″ cable chain. Fits a 7.5mm (1.50ct) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone). Price: $385 and up

Classic Tiffany Style Round Moissanite Solitaire Round Tiffany style solitaire engagement ring with Charles and Colvard created moissanite. Width top: 2.3 Width bottom: 1.8 Price: $489 and up

On Sale! Special Purchase Princess Cut Moissanite Stud Earrings On Sale! Special purchase! Princess cut moissanite stud earrings featuring classic low profile wire basket settings. Includes the Charles & Colvard Certificate of Authenticity and Limited Warranty Available in 14kt white or yellow gold .56ct t.w. (2-3.5mm) $199 1.18ct t.w. (2-4.5mm) $380

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Over the years, I’ve heard more customers tell me that it was worth the extra bit of money to have a very special pair of earrings. For this price, you have an affordable, classic pair meant to last any changing fashion trends. The lever-back earring clasp ensures safety and comfort as well.

If you’re an early holiday shopper, consider these earrings for anyone who wants to stand out just a little.

Style 10587S Diamond And Brazilian Garnet Drop Earrings 14kt White gold drop earrings featuring two Brazilian garnets (10x7mm each) and approximately .025ct t.w. natural diamonds.

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During a recent visit to a hair stylist, I found myself in a quandry: Am I supposed to tip Kathy a bit more during this time of the year? I did. Then I ran into my mailman later in the day. Do I give him a little something? What about the trash guys? And if so, how much? I did a little research and found this.

• Shampoo Girl $10.00
• Manicurist/pedicurist $15.00 and up (usually whatever the price is of a basic service like a plain manicure – in fancy salons, consider giving more)
• Hairdresser/stylist $15.00 and up (usually whatever the price is of a basic service like a hair cut – in fancy salons, consider giving more)
• Mail carrier $10.00 for just showing up – more if he actually does helpful stuff like pay for the missing 33 cent stamp on your credit card bill envelope
• Doorman/concierge $50 to $100 – and could be much higher depending on the building and the clientele.
• Household help A cleaner (whether through a service or independent) who comes weekly or biweekly should get an amount roughly equal to what he gets paid each time he works for you.
• Nanny or babysitter Full time nannies expect a generous gift – often approaching or equal to a week’s pay. Babysitters should see anywhere between an extra $20.00 to $50.00 depending on where you live, how often she works for you and how desperate you are for her to sit on New Years Eve. Be generous with pet-sitters as well, but not to the magnitude of human sitters.
• Newspaper delivery boy (weekly) $10.00 for just showing up – more if he actually does helpful stuff like bring the newspaper up your driveway rather than tossing it in a snowdrift.
• Newspaper delivery boy (daily) If you haven’t tipped him or her on a monthly basis, between $25 and $50

This may seem like a bit much (a few did to me!) but figure it this way: spread out over the year, it’s not much at all. Often we don’t realize  how much people contribute to our day-to-day existence. And while they often get paid for their services, if they do them well, it’s really nice to show them some extra acknowledgment. Besides, it just feels really good.

Thanks for the advice, Party 411! Here’s a virtual tip for your solid tipping advice!

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The staff at Joseph Schubach Jewelers has hand-chosen classic, high-quality pieces that are guaranteed to put a sparkle in any loved one’s eye..and all for under $500! Want other ideas? Take a quick glance at our amazing holiday sale items, marked down as much as much as 60% or give us a call and we’ll help you find the perfect gift over the phone.

Just call us (888) 724-8222 or order online. We will email or phone you with the scheduled delivery date and the FedEx tracking number. For most US locations, delivery takes two business days. For international orders, shipping normally takes 3 to 5 business days.

And happy holidays to you and yours from the staff and family of Joseph Schubach Jewelers!

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This year, think outside of the box!

It’s in the presentation.

Giving a gift in a creative way is part of the event of gift-giving.

Here are techniques I found – some of which apply to jewelry, others apply to other small gifts.

But this year, literally and figuratively, think outside of the box!

1. Find several boxes of different sizes and place the item in its original box. Place it in a larger box, and then place that box in a slightly larger box. Continue this progression for as long as you like. You can let this gift get larger and larger as long as you can keep finding boxes. This trick is a great way to disguise the size of your gift, and it is fun to unwrap.

2. A very small gift, like a ring, necklace or earrings, can be placed inside of a clean empty wine or champagne bottle. Attach a ribbon to the jewelry, and lower it into the bottle, securing the ribbon on the outside of the bottle. Wrap the bottle with shiny paper and festive ribbons and watch the recipient glow when they see that the gift isn’t what it appeared to be.

3. Another interesting idea for a small-sized gift, such as an engagement ring, is to place the item (unwrapped of course) inside food. Cake or pudding can work or you can balance the ring atop a mound of whipped cream. Of course, make sure he or she doesn’t eat the item, perhaps leave the diamond clearly visible in the icing. This is a tried and true romantic way to pop the question.

4. If you have a small gift that goes with a much larger gift, such as car keys for a new car, this gift can be attached to some sort of car accessory item, like an ice scraper. Simply wrap the scraper and watch your recipient’s eyes light up when they see the keys attached to the scraper.

5. If you are giving someone tickets to an event, these can be placed between the pages of a book, preferably one that has something to do with the event. For sporting events, you can tape the tickets to the inside of a baseball glove or around a basketball, and then wrap the item.

6. Another idea for a small gift item is to place the item inside an empty paper towel holder. Wrap the gift, and insert it in the holder. Then place confetti inside, so that when the recipient looks for the gift, confetti will fly.

7. Extraordinary gifts can also be placed inside ordinary household items to add a little fun. You can insert precious jewelry inside a box of cereal, or place a CD inside a bag of chips, place a bracelet atop a can of peanuts, or tape a ring inside a bottle cap.

8. One clever way to wrap a small gift is to insert the item into the pocket of a piece of clothing. After you insert the item into the pocket, be sure to attach a little ribbon to clue the recipient in as to where to find the real gift.

9. Let’s face it, half the fun of gift-giving is surprising the recipient. This idea will cleverly disguise what’s inside, while making them curious about its strange shape. First, you need to construct a box in an unusual shape. You can do this by simply cutting away some cardboard and adding it to just about any sized box. The box can be made into a triangular, octagonal, or star shape, or just about any shape you can come up with. Although it may be just a bit difficult to wrap this self-styled box, it will keep the recipient guessing as to what’s inside.

10. If you want to wrap a men’s ring or cufflinks, one idea is to wrap it in fancy paper, and put it inside a tightly-coiled belt. Wrap the belt and enjoy the expression on his face as he uncoils the belt and sees the “real” gift.

11. A gift card can be inserted just about anywhere. You can insert it into the wrapper of a candy bar or put it into a box of chocolates. Be sure to insist the recipient open the box for a taste of candy to discover the card.

12. Of course, money can be disguised almost anywhere. It can be cleverly rolled around cigars or inserted into a small purse. Perhaps the cleverest way I’ve ever seen money given is by replacing the designer tag on an expensive piece of clothing with several bills (or a check).

13. Putting a small gift inside a bouquet of flowers is a romantic way to give. Simply wrap the gift and tape it to one of the roses and watch her eyes sparkle when she smells the flowers.

14. If you want to bake up a surprise for your loved one, get a fancy box, fill it up with fresh baked cookies, and place your gift on top of the cookies.

15. Finally, bubble wrap can add both size and texture to your gift. You can make the gift larger and wider to really keep them guessing as to what’s actually inside.

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