Charm of the Day: 2009 Limited Edition Gingerbread House

I have saved the last posting of my Holiday charms for the best. This charm may be my absolute favorite of any charm I have. I think it is. It was definitely my HG before I got it, is one of the most detailed, whimsical, and fantastic charms I own.

This charm was released twice, two years apart. In 2007, a gold version was released, which, when it was no longer available in stores, quickly skyrocketed in price on the secondary market. I knew from the first second of seeing this charm that I had to have it, so this charm was heavily stalked on eBay by me. In fact, I lost out on probably close to 30 auctions for this charm, because the price kept going so high. But I continued to hunt for it.

In the fall of 2009, rumors started circulating that the charm was being re-released, but this time in silver. It didn't take very long before my charm buddy detective friends confirmed the rumor, and found pictures to prove it. Finally! I could get my HG charm!

The front of the charm is really sweet. A crown logo above the door, and a little heart on the door make for a very whimsical sight, almost as if Juicy is inviting us in:

The detail on the side of the charm is one of the things I love best about it. I love the multi colored crystals on the roof and windows, and the adorable little snow-covered chimney is one of my favorite things about this charm. A side view:

You didn't think I was done, did you? No way, not even close! This charm opens! And what is inside?

Juicy's mascot, the Yorkie, warming his paws by a roaring fire! I admit neither the fire, nor the Yorkie are that detailed (they are tiny), but it does make for a really cute little surprise when showing this charm off. A side view:

As you can imagine, the silver one, as well as the original gold, are both quite pricey now on the secondary market. The silver is a little more reasonably priced, and easier to find, but I would suggest doing it now if you're interested. I don't see any reason for Juicy to ever release this charm again.

Happy Holidays everyone! Have fun and be safe!

Charm of the Day: Snowman, Teddy Tree, and Present

I decided to post about the next three Holiday charms together, since they usually get worn together.

Up first (as promised) is a really awesome, blingy snowman charm. There are two versions of this charm, one in silver, one in gold. They were both released in 2008, and they are both Limited Edition charms. The gold one has the LE tag and the silver one does not. I have no idea why. Other than that, as far as I know they are identical.

I have the silver one. It was one of the first charms I ever bought, and I bought him in the Spring of 2009, when he was on clearance. To be honest, even though he is no longer available without resorting to the secondary market, he is still not that hard to find or too expensive. My theory on this is simply that the silver charms are not as popular as the gold ones. But I love him and his crystal scarf and top hat, and pearlescent bottom layer anyway! He is a very pretty charm, and one of my favorites to wear.

Next up is the teddy tree charm. I love the way this little guy is dressed, you can call it a tree, or you can call it an elf costume. Whatever you call it, it's super cute. And I also love the multi colored crystals that are all over his outfit.

The teddy tree is from this season, and, as of this posting, is still readily available at many retailers that sell charms.

The last charm featured in this posting is the 2009 Limited Edition Christmas Present. I really love this charm for several reasons. One, it is one of the easiest charms to wear on a necklace or bag, because of its shape. Two, I love the huge gold and crystal bow on it.

And third, the present opens! And what is inside? The cutest little saying:

Charm of the Day: Winter 2006 LE Charm Bracelet

Merry Christmas everyone! I apologize for dropping off posting once again. What can I say? The holidays are a crazy time! Between Halloween and New Years, there are seven birthdays in my immediate family and friends, not to mention Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this year I hosted a baby shower and went to a wedding, so there have been lots of celebrations, preparations, and migraines. LOL

Anyway, I figured I better get to posting my holiday charms, being that it's Christmas Eve and all. Wouldn't make much sense to post about them next month, now would it?

Without further ado, here is one of my very favorite pieces of Juicy Couture jewelry I own: The 2006 Limited Edition Winter Charm Bracelet:

Now, this bracelet was released approximately 2 and a half years before I began collecting charms. In fact, Juicy released a "Winter" themed charm bracelet in 2006, 2007, and 2008, but this was the only one that interested me. Needless to say, I had to resort to the secondary market to get it, where a bracelet that retailed for around $100 usually lists now for around $200. But I was patient, and was able to finally score this baby for....wait for it.....wait for it.....$13!!!

The bracelet has 9 charms in all, some are more on the plain side, some are really super cute and detailed. Here are my 4 favorite charms, in ascending order:

Up first is the crystal snowman charm. Complete with crystals for the bottom and middle layers, and an enamel head, it is the "blingiest" charm on the bracelet. And anyone who knows me knows I adore snowmen. So why is he only my 4th favorite charm? Because I have a snowman charm (to be featured in a bit) that is way more awesome.

Next up is an adorable little cup of hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows:

My 2nd favorite charm on the bracelet is the adorable set of mittens, for several reasons. One, it's pink. Two, I love the little chain that connects the mittens to the bracelet. And three, the little saying (Juicy HoHo) on the mittens, is just too cute!

And here is my absolute favorite charm on this bracelet, the reason I wanted this one over the 2007 and 2008 versions, the charm that absolutely sold me: The Red Nosed Reindeer charm. There is a full sized version of this charm that is on many collectors' HG charm list, and I have seen it go for several hundred dollars on eBay. I've never chased down the full sized one, because I am lucky enough to have the smaller version.



Charm of the Day: Bat

Happy Halloween everyone! I am here to feature the last of my Juicy Couture Halloween charms: the bat. Pictures of this charm had begun showing up on several websites long before it was actually released, and I was very excited about it, because of the whole vampire thing. I ordered it at least a month before it became available, and I am really glad I did, as this charm did not have a wide release, and I remember it only being available at selected retailers in the 2009 season.

This charm is one of the cutest charms I have, and I absolutely love wearing him. His face does somewhat resemble a mouse rather than a bat, but then again, bats and mice are in the same family.....anyway I think he's darling. The crystals around the wings are really beautiful, and very secure. I have never had a problem with any of them falling off, and I have had problems with some of my Juicy charms losing crystals in the past.

The back of the charm reads "Bite my couture" (just like this season's vampire lips):

Because of the fact that this charm is a retired Limited Edition from last year, once again, you are limited to the secondary market if trying to locate one. But be warned: due to the limited release of this little guy, even on the secondary market there don't seem to be many to be had, and the ones I have seen sell for well above retail.

Charm of the Day: Spider

Here is another one of my Halloween charms: the spider. When my charm buddies and myself learned that a spider charm was to be released for the 2009 season, there was a lot of speculation as to what it would look like. Would it be a black widow type spider? A tarantula? Would it be really scary? Or would Juicy try to glam it up? Our questions were answered soon enough, and sadly, those (like myself) that were hoping for a scary spider were a bit disappointed. Juicy definitely released a spider with bling.

Although, I admit, when I saw it in real life, I was no longer disappointed. This charm is really beautiful in its own way. I absolutely love the detailing on the web. That alone is worth giving this charm a chance. The pearlescent sheen and the crystal detailing are absolutely gorgeous, and this charm sits beautifully on a necklace, making it a very fun one to wear.

Now, this charm is no longer available, as it was a limited edition from last year. So you are pretty much stuck with the secondary market if interested. What I have found, however, is this one is still pretty reasonably priced on the secondary market, as the popularity of this charm does not compare with a lot of other LE charms.

Charm of the Day: Jack O Lantern

This little charm is really unique to me in several ways. First off, it was retired long before I started collecting charms. Secondly, it was badly damaged when I got it. "He" looked as if someone had dropped him squarely on his face. A bunch of the enamel paint was missing, and he only had one crystal eye. Good thing I enjoy a challenge. A little nail polish, a manicure gem, and he's complete:

Another really cool thing is I got this charm from one of my Juicy Charm buddies (in a round a bout way). She had it, sold it on ebay, and then that buyer sold it to me. I always thought that was neat, because she got to see pictures of him after he got his makeover.

My favorite thing about this charm is that he opens to show a super cute little candle inside, all lit up and ready for trick-or-treaters:

The bottom of the charm is printed with the mantra: Eat Candy. Little S would definitely agree with that, especially on Halloween!

Now for the bad news. As I said in the beginning, this charm has been retired for a while (it was a limited edition from Fall 2007), so you're completely limited to the secondary market if interested in owning him. And expect to pay upwards of $100 for him. Or if you're crafty, maybe you can score a fixer upper one for a great price!

Charm of the Day: Vampire Lips

Aww, bite me, whydontcha!! In honor of all things October (my favorite month), I will be presenting my Halloween charms over the next few weeks, beginning with my most recent aquisition, the vampire lips:

I really don't have a lot to say about this one. This charm is pretty much one of the best charms Juicy has ever put out, in my opinion. Then again, I love all things Halloween and vampire. This charm may not be for everyone. But it is sure to be a collectors' item once it is gone, like most of the Limited Edition charms are.

I took a few pictures, in different lighting. This one is in outdoor lighting, although not in direct sunlight:

This one is in indoor, flourescent lighting (my parents' kitchen):

And then I took a picture of the back, which reads "Bite my Couture", although it was really hard to convey. The angle was weird and the lighting was weird:

As of this posting, this charm is still readily available online and in many stores.

Charm of the Day: Bluebird

I figured I had better get to posting this beautiful charm before summer is gone for the next 9 months. This was a charm I just had to have from the moment I saw it, yet for some reason I never took the plunge until it was on sale. I should never have taken the chance that it would sell out (we all know what happened with the sushi charm), but I did, and it actually paid off, as I was able to save 50%!

Here is my little bluebird in all her glory:

This is easily one of the prettiest charms I own. I am in love with all the crystal detailing, as well as the variants of blue that were used in painting her. The fact that she is perched on a branch is a nice touch. This charm is on the heavier side, but looks fabulous on a necklace! My favorite part is the different colored crystals on the tail:

I don't know how much longer she will last, but as of this posting, she is still available on sale at http://www.nordstrom.com/

Got balloons?

I absolutely adore hot air balloons. I have loved them since I was a little kid. I have even gotten the fortunate experience of riding in one (everyone needs to do it at least once). When we first moved here, 15 years ago, the city used to do an annual balloon launch every day for a week the last week in June, during what was called the River Festival. But about five years after moving here, due to city budget cuts, the River Festival went away, as did the balloons. Oh, I would see one every once in a while, but never a skyfull. 

So imagine my joy at learning of a new tradition being started this year, to occur annually in the first week of September: The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic! My camera was ready, my coffee was poured, my robe was on (it was 6 am), and here they are:

  

I only regret they aren't the greatest pictures. The pics don't capture the colors as vividly as I would have liked. But trust me when I say they were absolutely breathtaking.

Bag of the Day: Coach Poppy Universal Case

Well, so much for my summer blogging. I can't believe I have neglected this place for almost 4 months! Well, without further ado, here is a great little find I got a few weeks ago: my Coach Poppy Universal Case:

I'm super excited to have it because they are completely. sold. out. It fits my T-Mobile MyTouch perfectly, as well as my 30g Gen 5 Ipod, and has little slots everywhere for credit cards or cash, so it also makes a great wristlet.

Gotta love the hang tags:

And the lining is so pretty (although the pic does not represent the true color. It is a very deep purple):

My Top 10: Music

I decided to add a new feature to the blog: top ten lists of things I love. I am going to start with musical artists. This was a very, very hard top ten for me, as there are so many artists I love. I have a very solid top five, it was those last five that created the most confusion for me. But I think I have it narrowed down finally:

10. No Doubt/Gwen Stefani - I got hooked on this band when they first appeared on the scene in the early 90s and have followed it right on through Gwen breaking away to do the solo thing. I am just dissappointed we haven't heard more from her in the past few years. Looking forward to a comeback when her little ones are older...

9. Alanis Morissette - this is another artist I really wish would make a giant comeback. I have loved her since her Jagged Little Pill album in 1995, absolutely love every album of hers, and she is amazing live too!

8. Counting Crows - this band and I go way back to 1993, when they released their first album, August and Everything After. Ever since then, they have become a staple in my CD player, and then, ipod.

7. Kanye West - okay, okay, I know he's gone a little off the deep end, but the "Louis Vuitton Don" sure can write and perform music! Until that takes a serious trip downhill, I will always be a listener.

6. Live - I was so enamored with this band in the mid to late 90s, in my opinion they could do no wrong. I know we won't be seeing a comeback from this band due to drama among the members, but they still make my top ten list for sheer nostalgia. If you're not familiar, give their 1997 album, Throwing Copper, a listen...

5. R.E.M. - I used to have a boxed CD set of every song ever done by the band. That's how much of a fan I am. Nuff' said.

4. Black Eyed Peas - There is not one single solitary song put out by this band that I don't love! Not one! Pure, unadulterated fun! I even loved Fergie's solo album!


3. Eminem - He's one hell of a songwriter. I am always excited when a new album of his comes out. I always know it's going to be a new and exciting journey.


2. Lady Gaga - She's crazy, ostentatious, over the top, and so much more. But she put her dues in writing songs for artists like Britney Spears before deciding to perform her own songs, which are absolutely amazing. And there's no denying her very unique and fun sense of fashion. Not to mention her music videos, which are some of the best I have seen in a long time. The girl is just pure controversial genious!


1. Tori Amos - She is the only artist I have seen live more than once (five times, actually). She is the only artist to get me to go to midnight album release parties, and by far the largest playlist on my ipod. She got me through my teen years, changed the way I thought and felt about music and life, and continues to pull me in with every single album she releases.


Honorable mentions go out to: Hole, The Notorious B.I.G., Aerosmith, Goo Goo Dolls, Nirvana, My Chemical Romance, P!nk, Panic! At the Disco, Katy Perry, The Pixies, Tech N9NE, Tom Petty, and Sarah McLachlan

Charm of the Day: Hollywood Mini Charm Bracelet

I figured as long as I had my mini popcorn charm out, I would show the entire bracelet it came on: Juicy Couture Hollywood Mini Charm Bracelet. I absolutely love wearing this bracelet. I find that the regular Juicy Couture charms are much too large to be worn on a bracelet, but the minis are absolutely perfect!

This bracelet features the following mini charms:

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Palm Tree

Reel-to-reel Projector

Popcorn

And Script Pearl

It's such a fun bracelet, and I get tons of compliments on it!!

Charm of the Day: Popcorn

Here is another charm I loved from the moment I saw it: the popcorn charm! This charm makes me think of going to the movies every single time I see it, and it puts a smile on my face. I was gifted this charm at Christmas by a very wonderful "Charm Buddy"! It was a charm I always wanted, but always got put on the back burner due to other ones I felt were "more important for me to get at that time" coming out, so I never got it for myself. Still, since it was a part of my permanent wish list, I was more than stoked to receive it!

This charm is one of the heavier ones I own, and it does hang a little awkwardly:

And, for no apparent (or at least obvious) reason, it opens. Not sure why. One time I stuck a couple of Tic Tacs in there before wearing the charm around my neck....

Still, this charm is beautiful, and a lot of detail obviously went into it. I can't see myself getting rid of any of my charms any time in the future, but even if I did get rid of some someday, this would not be one of them. And this charm is the only one in my collection that I have a miniature version of as well:

Super cute, huh?!?!

My Birthday Haul - Part 2

I promised I would post pics of the heart shaped Coach coin purse I ordered with some of my birthday cash, and here it is:

I just love the metallic look of it! The leather looks, feels, and smells wonderful! It opens really wide, too, which I love! It will hold a lot of change:

And my absolute favorite thing about this coin purse is the whimsical little zipper pull! Cuteness factor: sky high!