chelsea charles and mom, Michelle! Love you.

All of the entries were heartfelt and I actually wrote many of them down in a journal that I could reference when the going gets tough! They were inspiring and thank you to all who entered. It was a day-long decision choosing one. In the end, the winner was Michelle Arts. Here are her mother’s words of wisdom:

Chelsea Charles Mother Golden CMH bracelet at Belk.com

Ellie Goulding wears Rose Gold CMH

You can also find “Lights” on the itunes Essentials compilation called “Running Through the Hits.”  Here’s the video. Make it a great week. Stay positive! Chelsea

Rainboots by designer Llse Jacobson

Hunter boots are the common choice, but thought these were really sleek and loved the pop of color.

Black Llse Jacobson rainboots with electric soles

Seed Bombs + Floral Pruning Shears

Created by VisuaLingual, these Seed Bombs are such a cool concept! You just throw them in the soil (don’t even need to dig a hole) and you will be bombarded by different types of flowers and herbs specific to the United States region of your choice.

Seed Bombs...a bright burst of color for the garden!

Floral pruning shears

Katie Kalsi Hangbag with Interchangeable, hand-painted straps

These bags are not only stylish, but actual works of art. Handbag designer, Katie Kalsi, creates a multitude of unique, hand-painted strap designs featuring bright colors, grommets and crystals. I have one of these bags and aside from being fabulous to look at, the straps are the perfect, shoulder bag length and the pebbled leather is amazing.

Katie Kalsi Metallic Sophie bag with Interchangeable straps

Voluspa Candle in Baltic Amber

This scent is enchanting and not at all overwhelming. I always have this burning and think mom will enjoy it too!

Even if you and mom don't agree on fashion, you will agree that this smells amazing!

Hand Crafted Enamels by Bonnie Shopper

I got mine at a gallery in Midtown, Memphis, but she has a website (if you visit, read the “About Bonnie” section which tells the interesting way she fell into her trade). Consider this if you want to get mom a one of a kind piece to display.

My Bonnie Shopper Enamels. They reminded me of gorgeous eyes

Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

Created by the world famous bakery in NYC known for their Butter Cream frosted cupcakes, this book should quickly become one of mom’s baking bibles.

Cover shot of the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

They have a great section with “baking tips” that is super interesting. I have a copy so thought I’d share their recipe for Vanilla Buttercream frosting.

Magnolia Bakery Buttercream Frosting (Makes enough for one, 2-layer 9-inch cake or 2 dozen cupcakes)

Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, 6-8 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions: Place the butter in large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the reamining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled). Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Katie Holmes and Suri eating a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery West Village

Instagram Pillow

I love the Instagram photo treatments and thought this was such a personalized and heartfelt present.

Instagram pillows!

Retail Therapy via Jetsetter

I’m sitting here daydreaming about taking my mom to the James Hotel for the weekend, just a block from the amazing shopping of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile! If you are considering a trip for your mom, check out the flash sales on Jetsetter.

The flash sales on Jetsetter are reasonable. Choose one within driving distance to give mom a weekend of R&R

Count Me Healthy Mother Sterling (NEW!)

Of course, I have to mention our new Mother Sterling style. And who better to model with it than our own Laura Johnson with her two beautiful sons!

Laura, our accounts manager, with her two beautiful sons. Count Me Healthy bangles make great gifts for mom.

See more Mother’s Day Gift Ideas on my Chelsea Charles Jewelry Pinterest account. Have a wonderful week!

Share on Facebook ]]> http://countmehealthyjewelry.com/newblog.php/?feed=rss2&p=975 0 http://countmehealthyjewelry.com/newblog.php/?p=961&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-eros-equation http://countmehealthyjewelry.com/newblog.php/?p=961#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:43:52 +0000 Chelsea Charles http://countmehealthyjewelry.com/newblog.php/?p=961 Thought I’d share one of the greatest wellness/beauty secrets and only recently have I started to fully grasp its power. It’s not a fabulous cream, a limb-lengthening workout or low GI diet (however I believe in all of these). Nope…the ultimate wellness secret is the “EROS Equation.”

I came across the article by Eve Hogan while reading Health & Spirituality Magazine, which I subscribe to and highly recommend.

E-R-O-S stands for “Event + Response = Outcome and Solution”

We as women internalize so much and take what we perceive as other people’s opinions of us, to heart. The detrimental effect is taxing stress on our bodies, leading to accelerated aging, drama, and a sense of being stuck in a constant rut of unhappiness.

The “Events” (the E in EROS) are anything anyone else says or does, anything external. Listen! Events are unchangeable as they’ve already happened.  Unconsciously, we think it is the event (person, place, thing), which is making us unhappy, when in reality it is our perception and what we do in response to the perception that leads to the solution. It is nobody’s choice but ours as to how the solution will play out.

As Hogan writes:

When we misguidedly think that the only solution to the equation is contained in the “event” we render ourselves victims of outside circumstances and give away our power for happiness, love and joy. When we choose responses in alignment with our goals and values, we can create powerful solutions.”

Try to keep EROS in mind and apply it throughout your day. Start to become conscious of your perception. For both the big issues and the little, such as when someone cuts you off in traffic. Most of the time, they weren’t doing it to personally make your claws come out and it’s up to you how the solution is going to play out. Are you going to take it personally and feel the cortisol rush in, or are you going to go, “wow, ok, cool and it’s a beautiful day.’ EROS is empowering, takes emphasis off of the ego and…really helps prevent those wrinkles.

I try to use EROS daily...and fail at it daily. But, continue to work at it and I'm getting better.

I now wear a fourth CMH bangle that I call my “EROS bangle.” I move a bead when I’ve put the equation into practice. Wishing you a calm and peaceful day. Chelsea

The Bendel Storefront

Love the Vibe!

First Floor---Cosmetics and Bendels Private Label Jewelry

Second floor jewelry

They have done an amazing job of branding themselves with the crisp brown and white striped iconic logo and unmistakable HB font.

Henri Bendel iconic logo

If you have never been to Henri Bendel and are planning a trip to NYC in the near future, this destination is a must for anyone who loves to shop (as seen in the is image of the movie, “Confessions of a Shopaholic” starring Isla Fisher).

Notice the unmistakable brown and white stripes?

Here is one of the many styles of our bangles to be featured is the 18k rose gold Peace and Love with rose gold peace charm:

Peace and Love Rose Gold bangle by Chelsea Charles

I’ll be posting more about this in the near future. Henri Bendel is located at 712 5th Avenue  New York, NY 10019. Hope you have a wonderful, zen-filled weekend! Chelsea

Sara Evans wears a Chelsea Charles Wild at Heart Bracelet

She’s an inspiration to women both as a singer and as a women’s advocate. She hosts the Fashion For Every Body to benefit the Eating Disorder Coalition of Tennessee and is an official ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association.

Bite size mini pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream

Ingredients: Pancake mix, light whipped cream, strawberries

How: Make your pancakes however you usually do, but instead of dollar sized dollops, reduce the size significantly. The cook time will be quicker. Flip when light brown. Skewer the mini-panakes with sliced strawberries and light whipped cream.

Baked Egg Cups

These are only 100 calories each and if you are following a low-carb diet, the cup is made of thin ham so it is almost carb-free.

12 Eggs

12 thin slices of deli ham (round)

1/4 cup of 2% milk fat sharp cheddar cheese (I always use the sharp kind because the taste is bolder so you don’t need as much)

1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese

1/2 Cup diced scallions

Fresh cracked Sea Salt and Pepper

How: Preheat the oven to 400.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.  Lay a piece of ham in each hole creating a little ham cup.  Crack one egg into each hole and sprinkle with the cheddar and salt and pepper. Bake the eggs for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with goat cheese and bake for another 2 minutes.

Homemade Applesauce atop Breakfast Toast

This simple recipe comes from my Grandma Meldrum (love you Grams)!

Ingredients

7-8 apples (I prefer Macintosh)

1/4 cup sugar

Lemon juice.

How: Peel and boil the apples. Then, use a hand crank to churn the apples into a sauce. Finally add sugar to taste along with a little lemon juice.

Offer a selection of breads and put a bowl of the applesauce next to the bread as a spread along with the traditional butter. Yum!!

Sunshine Dazzler

• 1 part vodka
• 1 part fresh OJ
• 1 part fresh mango juice
• 2 parts dry champagne
• lots of ice
• orange slices

Mix ingredients in a pitcher adding champagne last & give a quick stir. Immediately serve over ice. I prefer to serve in wide-mouthed, stemless wine glasses.

Happy Easter! Hope everyone enjoys time with their family. Chelsea

Téa Leoni: Actress, producer

Estimated Handicap: 12

Golf Cred: Once admitted to owning 14 pairs of golf shoes; played 50 holes a day when she picked up the sport in 1997.

Tea Leoni on cover of PGA Magazine

Céline Dion

Estimated handicap: 17

Golf Cred: Owns Le Mirage; her nearby home has a private course; she jumped into the pond with Karrie Webb at the ‘00 Kraft Nabisco.

Jodie Kidd: British model, actress

Estimated Handicap: 18

Golf Cred: Has parred the notorious Road Hole at St Andrews; designs golf shoes for Hi-Tec Golf.

Jodie Kidd on Vogue Cover

Beverly Johnson: Former supermodel

Estimated Handicap: 20

Golf Cred: “I take my clubs to my hotel room. I clean them, line them up and talk to them.” ‘Nuf said.

Inés Sastre: Spanish model, face of Lancôme

Estimated Handicap: 20

Golf Cred: Says golf is her favorite hobby; has dated European Tour players Colin Montgomerie and Juan Andrés Vizcaya.

Inest often graces magazine covers and the greens

Angie Everhart: Model, actress

Estimated Handicap: 24

GOLF CRED: Junior golf champion at Ohio Prestwick CC, where she started playing when she was 5; father is named after Bobby Jones.

I think Angie Everhart looks so pretty here in this shot

Catherine Zeta-Jones: Oscar-winning actress

Estimated Handicap: 24

Golf Cred: After learning she played golf, Michael Douglas said of his future wife, “Yes, that’s it. The deal’s done!”

Vera Wang: Fashion designer, lifestyle guru

Estimated Handicap: 28

Golf Cred: Learned the game at 12; plays with her two daughters; compares reading greens to designing clothes.

Vera Wang is the epitome of style

Using these women as “stylish inspiration,” I’ve come out with a new Golf Goddess Golden as well as new packaging as part of the brand evolution. I’m proud that many women golfers wear the Golf Goddess to count their strokes per hole as well as other goals when not on the course. Some of the most amazing press we’ve ever received was when the editor of Golf Digest Magazine wrote, “It’s time to toss your old bead counter, the Golf Goddess bracelet offers math-challenged golfers an elegant way to count their strokes.” For everyone who loves the game, good luck this season and keep counting! Chelsea

New Golf Goddess Bracelets by Chelsea Charles

The show is hilarious and witty and has become one of the few I look forward to every week. Since we are talking about Mother/Daughter duo, Joan and Melissa, I wanted to stay on topic by introducing two new styles, “Mother” sterling and “Daughter” sterling and rose gold bangles with heart-etched beads will be available early next month (just in time for Mother’s Day shopping).

Mother and Daughter styles in sterling and rose gold.

I’ve been doing a series of trunk shows at Bloomingdales and asked more times than I can count, “do you have a style for my daughter?” and “I love the Mommy and Me, but it’s more for a mommy-to-be or new mom. Do you have a style for a more established mom?”  Now I can say yes! These are just two of many new styles coming soon. Have a beautiful week and remember to keep counting.

Views of the Chanel Collection: Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina

Coco thought 5 was her lucky number and so named her iconic perfume, Chanel No. 5, after it. It has been in continuous production since 1921 and the house of Chanel estimates that a bottle is sold every 55 seconds.

1959 Chanel Perfume Ad

Chanel began life as a poor orphan; yet by her late teens she enjoyed a lavish lifestyle as the mistress to a textile heir and lover of several French socialites. By 1913 Chanel opened a boutique in Deaville, followed by boutiques in Paris and Biarritz. She initially achieved fame in the 1920s for being a savvy businesswoman and creating unique designs (simplicity mixed with femininity) that liberated women from constricting corsets.

The Original Chanel Boutique - 31 Rue Cambon, Paris

With the approach of World War II (1939-1945) Chanel closed her design houses. Her romance with a Nazi officer lead to her exile from Paris. Then, in 1954 at the age of 71, she returned to Paris and successfully promoted her two-piece suits. Twelve years after her death in 1971, Karl Lagerfeld took over as the lead designer of the Couture House of Chanel, continuing her iconic designs.

A young Karl Lagerfeld without glasses.

Some designs throughout the years:

Some of her earlier designs stray from the traditional tailoring of the two-piece suit in order to be more flowing and comfortable:

Chanel suit circa 1929

Jacket circa 1929

The Evening Dinner suit is an example of intricate tailoring and use of lace.

Evening Dinner Suit (Jacket, Skirt, Top, Under Slip and Belt) circa 1955-1960

A sophisticated dress suit of the late 60s

Boucle dress suit circa 1969

Following Chanel’s death in 1971, her assistants Yvonne Duel and Jean Cazaubon became designers for the fashion house and continued the role for a decade until Lagerfeld became principal designer in 1983.

Dress suit ensemble circa 1978

LBD of the 80s with signature Chanel white flower.

The attention to design is apparent in the coat construction below.  There are hand-sewn “whip stitches” that affix silk tissue ribbon along the edges of the garment. Each enameled, dome-shaped button has a crystal center stone.

The construction of this dress Coat spring:summer 2004, was spectacular

The elegance, structure and color of this evening Dinner Suit Jacket and Skirt from Fall/Winter 2003-2004 is a classic that could be worn forever.

dress with jeweled brooch spring 2008

How elegant. Evening dinner suit: fall/winter 2003-2004

Today’s Chanel is coveted by women of all ages and races. Chanel continues to evolve as a universal symbol for ladylike, sophisticated luxury.

I think this is a beautifully crafted campaign.

I learned at the Mint exhibit that Chanel is credited for creating the term “little black dress.” Please check out my upcoming two-part series on wearable, LBDs, including the favorite black dresses of some fashionable friends.