Happy Stories From our customers

Hand-engraving

We just love this time of year! Not simply because of the gift-giving and the festivity-making. Its also romantic during the holidays!

The holidays are a prime time for dropping the question. So the collection of videos we’ll be sharing these next few weeks leading up to Christmas will include the happiest, sappiest and most romantic proposals we can dig up on the wide, wide world of Le Web.

This one, Alex Johnson (Rockford, IL) showed up at the door (without any notice) at his girlfriend’s family’s in St. Louis and proposed. We wish we could see the ring!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CABQCGROg

The red kettle of the Salvation Army has practically become synonymous with the holidays and a reminder that others are in need during this time of year. Though a recent trend shows that people aren’t just giving spare change. Some are donating expensive jewelry instead.

According to WHDH:

“A donor reached out,” said Salvation Army Director of Communications Drew Forster, “saying she wanted to donate a piece of jewelry. She was a little nervous that it was actually going to fit in the slot of our red kettle.”

The Salvation Army of Boston says that anonymous donor wanted to give a golden fish pin.

The fish features 18-karat gold and 32 diamonds.

When it was purchased nearly 20 years ago, it was valued at just under $5,000.

It stands to reason that people would donate jewelry. Many of us have expensive pieces of jewelry occupying space in a dusty jewelry box when it could go to better use.

So happy holidays and kudos to all you jewelry lovin’ charitable folks out there!

Queen Bey

The holidays can be a prime time to feel depressed, overwhelmed. According to Psychology Today:

“According to the National Institute of Health, Christmas is the time of year that people experience a high incidence of depression. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals report a significant increase in patients complaining about depression. One North American survey reported that 45% of respondents dreaded the festive season.

So what can you do this year to lift your spirits?

1. Create a holiday of your making. People often feel powerless during the holidays. Plans are made and you’re sandwiched into them, whether you want to be or not. While it might be able to ditch that big family holiday dinner, you could design the rest of the day to be just the way you want it, even if that means sleeping in or binge watching Netflix.
2. Get sunlight, get outdoors. There’s a practical reason people are often depressed during the holiday: there’s simply not as much sunlight. Make sure you maximize your outdoor time, even if its cold outside (because seriously, you’ll be warmer in a matter minutes once you get moving). Fresh air and sunshine do a remarkable amount to improve your mood (and some Vitamin D helps too).
3. Gift yourself. Its easy to get swept away with gift-giving. But where are you on the list? Take some time to think of something you’ve been yearning for and dare to treat yourself. (We think jewelry is a perfect idea for self-gifting.)

The main thing? Don’t go hard on yourself. Sure, the holidays can be a challenge. But remember (refer back to the stats above): you’re not the only one.