Wholesale Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Blog

Memorial Day falls on May 31^st of this year, and what a day it promises to be! A holiday that has grown far beyond its original scope, Memorial Day is both a day of remembrance and a day of wonderful beginnings.  This is the start of the long summer days of relaxation and excitement. 

Schools prepare to close for the summer vacation.  Resorts are opening.  Beaches are back in business, as lifeguards return to their high observation perches.  Young girls in mini skirts and bikinis flaunt their warm weather figures proudly.   Festivals of all sorts are scheduled for towns across America.  Bar-B-Qs and hot dogs are in demand.

And everybody is happy, lounging in hammocks and sipping lemonade. 

After all, it’s Memorial Day!  But…let’s not forget that this holiday is something very special, far more than just a start to a long hot summer…

ACCESSORIES CAN MAKE MEMORIAL DAY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.  HERE ARE SOME TERRIFIC PRODUCTS TO BRING OUT FOR THE DAY:

• Americana fashion jewelry stretch bracelet in red, white, and blue.

God Bless America pin

• God Bless American pin

                                        A Day of Remembrance

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was proclaimed by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, as a day of remembrance for the fallen dead in the Civil War, and first observed on May 30, 1868. 

The South, however, held to its own day of remembrance and did not join the nation in commemorating its heroic dead until the National Holiday Act of 1971 was passed, setting the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, to honor all Americans who died fighting any war for our country. 

                                                The Parade

Parades are held in practically every town across the country on Memorial Day.  I remember the best one I ever saw.  It wasn’t a major exposition such as I was used to in New York City.  This was a small town parade in Montauk, New York, a quaint fishing village at the very end of Long Island. 

Here was the local high school band all dressed in finery showing how well they could play marching music.  And every important person in town, from the mayor to labor leaders, walked proudly along, smiling, waving, having a grand time.

Of course, the local veterans were there, some practically dancing along, the old in wheelchairs, the war-injured in special cars. Everyone applauded.  Everyone was so proud of them. Perhaps the highlight of the parade was the volunteer fire department, with all its men excitedly riding up the main street of town in a brand new, bright red fire engine.  Oh!  This was something to show off.  This was small town America at its best. 

YOU CAN OUTFIT YOURSELF ADMIRABLY FOR MEMORIAL DAY WITH THESE PIECES OF AMERICANA:

• 6” X 8” American flag on a stick.  Take it to the parade!

• American flag, 34” X 61”.  Perfect for outdoor use.

                                                  A Pause

If you can, try to see a small town American Memorial Day parade yourself this year.  Bring an American flag on a stick to wave, put aside your smart phones, and bring your children or grandchildren with you.  These parades only last a little while, but they are so worth seeing!  Later in the Day, at 3 PM, don’t forget to just be silent and observe the National Moment of Remembrance.  It gives an emotional depth and meaning to the day.

At many cemeteries, Americans place flowers and small flags on the graves of their deceased loved ones.  Yes, this is a holiday of remembrance for war dead, but it has grown to cover all those Americans wish to commemorate. 

   –Some feel that has diminished the meaning of the day for war heroes, but most disagree.  It is still, first and foremost, a day on which we remember the wars we fought and the brave military men who died to keep us free. 

On the Thursday before Memorial Day, flags are placed on more than 260,000 gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery.  The President visits Arlington on the morning of Memorial Day, and places a wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Soldier.  

Most of those who visit there that day take a small detour and also visit the site of John F. Kennedy’s grave with its eternal flame. 

Many people wear a red poppy on Memorial Day.  The practice was started by  Moina Michaels, who also wrote her version of the poem “In Flanders Fields” in honor of the day:

                              “We cherish, too, the poppy red

                              That grows in fields where valor led,

                              It seems to signal to the skies

                              That blood of heroes never dies.”

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY WAS JUST HERE, and how can I forget that once, when I was in my twenties, I developed an intense desire to discover my roots, to know who I was and where my people came from. I planned a trip to Ireland, realizing I would be the first in four generations to return.

We flew all night over a black ocean, and as the sun began to rise, we cut across the green, green coast of Eire and landed at Shannon Airport.  My adventure was on.

I took a taxi a few miles north and checked into a charming Irish hotel in Ennis.  A few hours later, a call came in for “Miss McGarry.”  “Well,” the stunning Gaelic lass said to me, “wasn’t my mother shocked to discover someone of the same name at the same hotel as me?  And with an American accent, no less!”  Hmmm.  I had never heard that before!

I ordered a ham plate for dinner and then waited for service. And waited.  And waited.  At long last, the hotel owner arrived, and asked if he could join me.  After some hums and coughs, he responded to my question about dinner by saying, “Do you know…it’s Friday!”  This was a very Catholic country, and many Irish still didn’t eat meat on Friday. I ate eggs.

  – Exploring the little town the next day, an elderly lady seeing me exclaimed, “Imagine!  A Yank on a bicycle!”  This was going to take some getting used to!

I had wanted to go up to Galway on the ragged and torturously beautiful west coast cliffs. There I would catch a boat leaving for the Aran Islands, a bleak and desolate land group off the Atlantic Irish coast, and the last place the Irish went trying to escape the British army.  It was supposed to be the only really Gaelic place left. 

But, nobody knew when a boat might leave. And when it did go out, well…who knew when it might return?  “Just relax,” they told me.  “Americans are too impatient.”  So much for my Aran Island excursion, and the great handmade Aran fisherman sweaters I had planned to buy there!  Still, I had to admit, I was learning how to smile. 

YOU CAN BRING PLENTY OF IRISH SMILES TO YOUR CUSTOMERS’ FACES WITH THESE GREAT PRODUCTS FOR SAINT PATRICK’S DAY:

• Pot of Gold St. Patrick’s Day beads.

• St. Patrick’s Day Mad Hatter hat.

They rolled the Irish coffee carts onto the grass about ten PM and I asked the other Miss McGarry if she’d like to join me in a cup.  “That’s quite good!” she said of the tasty coffee and liquor that PAN AM pilots created to offset the chilling cold of early Irish Spring.  Then, she took off a pin she was wearing, declaring, “I’ll not be needing that anymore.”         “What’s that?” I asked. “It’s the pledge,” she said. “You take it in church, and then you wear this pledge pin, showing you’ve promised never to drink alcohol.”  Oh. Oh. Oh.

                                          If at First You Don’t Succeed

Three hours after we left Shannon, we arrived … back at Shannon.  “We had some radio trouble coming into Dublin,” the pilot said, undisturbed.  “We’ll try again later.”   The airline fed us all an admittedly delectable lunch, and back we went for a second try at the capital city. 

Back then, my sister was the Press Agent for the fabulous folk singing Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and they had arranged with another brother to show me around Dublin.

Clancy and his wife had the first Irish program on the BBC, and the two of them arrived at my hotel with enthusiasm.  They brought with them an elderly Irish folk singing sensation, Tom Haney, and a handsome black Irish journalist from the Dublin Times.  Together, we all set out on a rebel’s pub tour of old Irish Republican Army haunts.  It was intriguing!

Down dark alleys and through abandoned houses and across unlighted cobblestone courtyards into obscure and hidden havens we went, stopping from time to time to savor some Guinness stout and read the rebellious testimonials on the walls.  “You Americans don’t understand the Irish,” Haney assured me.  “You think we actually believe in things like leprechauns and banshees.  Absurd! We are very civilized.” 

But as the evening progressed, his haunting singing voice became more mesmerizing, and his tales got wilder and wilder.  About why the Irish wouldn’t work on the new runway at Shannon, because it came too close to where the banshees were said to live.  And about that ship that went out in the night and never returned, only the dogs on board came swimming home howling mercilessly.  Oh, it was terrible!

THEY SAY THAT EVERYBODY’S IRISH ON SAINT PATRICK’S DAY.  HEY, TRY PROVING IT WITH THESE FUN ITEMS:

• Shamrocks and leprechauns design make this St. Patrick’s Day tie really special!

                                                       Goodbye

Before we broke for the night, they gave me the name of an Irishman to look up once I got to Paris, and then they were gone.  My Irish adventure was coming to a close. I was about to see London, France, and Amsterdam before returning to the United States.  It all went very fast, and I was impressed with how much I liked Ireland and yet how foreign I felt there.  So much for roots.

Still, a couple of weeks later, I learned that my trip was not in vain, because Europe came through loud and clear on my journey for identity.  As I came through the gates at New York’s JFK airport, the customs officer looked at my passport, then at me, and said, warmly, “Welcome home.”  I almost cried.

“All you need is love … All you need is love…                                                                                                All you need is love, love…Love is all you need.”

–Lyrics by The Beatles

WHO KNEW THE BEATLES WERE SO WISE?  IT’S TRUE:  TO BE HAPPY, WE DO NEED LOVE IN OUR LIVES, AND WE NEED TO EXPRESS IT to our nearest and dearest family and friends.  How nice to have a day dedicated to Love!   And, while we show our love in many ways year-round, Valentine’s Day has special cachet, and, along with hugs and kisses, we revel in giving and receiving love-tinged gifts… prized because they are either to or from a loved one.

While Valentine’s Day was originally intended to commemorate the Christian St. Valentine and his martyrdom, over the centuries it has evolved into a more secular holiday, a joyous one, one where you exchange heartfelt sentiment with cards and gifts.  And what is so delightful about Valentine’s Day is that it extends to all kinds of love:   lovers, of course;  but love for children, parents, friends and  relatives—ALL AGES, ALL BACKGROUNDS—EVERYONE IS INCLUDED!   Valentines are the cards of choice for this day, and can range from heady declarations of undying love to lighthearted notes of affection.  What’s especially nice is that the person giving the valentine most likely will also receive one!

Hearts, cupids, bows — Make your special someone happy

Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for so long, and in so many countries around the world, that there are definite traditions:  Pink is the delightful color of the fete; add the red heart form, along with winged angelic cupids or paired love birds to create a truly amorous atmosphere.   Gifts have always been an integral part of this celebration, and originally centered on sweets such as chocolate, and simple flower bouquets.  Today many people choose a gift that will extend the sentiment long after February 14^th, such as jewelry or personal accessories that themselves act as valentines, emblazoned with heart or cupid designs.

INSPIRE GIFT-GIVING WITH ITEMS PERFECTLY ATTUNED TO EXPRESSING LOVE ON AND BEYOND FEB.14:

• Double Heart Necklace with crystals – Sparkling sentiment!

• “Love” Ankle Bracelet with dangling charms – Perfect for teens or tweens.

While some couples prefer a private tête-à-tête on Valentine’s Day, there’s something about this feast that prompts people to go out to neighborhood parks or venues, walk about together, holding hands and laughing, exuding the happiness that comes with conveying  love to others.   Love is in the air.  Children romp, and elders beam with having been told, and shown, how much they are treasured.  Whatever the headlines on the news, today is a day for happy smiles and closeness, feelings of belonging and contentment.

Another design popular for Valentine’s Day gifts is that of a LOCK AND KEY, meaning that the recipient of the gift has the key to your heart.   Who wouldn’t delight in receiving this from your heart’s desire?  And, as years go by, every time the item is worn, the original warm feeling surfaces once again.  So Valentine’s Day interrupts the distractions of everyday life, prompting us to pause and seriously think of those who are important to us — and then to convey our loving thoughts to them.   LOVE.  WRITE IT.  GIFT WRAP IT.  SAY IT.  Valentine’s Day traditions insure that we’ll never ever say “Oh, I wish I had told (him/her) how much I care.”

HEARTS WILL FLUTTER WITH THESE VALENTINE TREASURES—PRICED SO RIGHT!

• Beautiful Crystal Heart Shaped Brooch.  Antique gold plate filigree setting,

• Cupid Pin snares Hearts!  Gold plated wings and halo.  Sweet as can be!

Somehow, one can’t help but believe that St. Valentine would enthusiastically approve of how we all celebrate his day.

Christmas is coming and with it, all the excitement and thrills the season can bring.  But this year could be a rough one for retailers.  The economy is bumpy and nobody really expects Christmas sales to be brisk.  Of course, one good thing in a grey outlook:  Fashion Accessories are among the few top product categories riding a somewhat high road.  Choose the right items to sell, and chances are you’ll come through this period feeling pretty good.

But…what about your store, your image, your Christmas?  We all know you have to decorate the store for Christmas if you want to rev up your customers to come in and buy.  How do you do that on a budget?  It’s not all that difficult.  To start with, think red.  Plenty of it.  Santa Claus red, to be exact. 

You can put up a big poster or portrait of Santa Claus and voila!  You’re in the season!  You can also buy a half dozen or more of fairly large poinsettias, and put them around the store.  They look great, and cost very little!  Christmas wreaths are almost essential for this time of year.  And scented Christmas candles will transform your store into a holiday haven in seconds!!

Don’t forget that your products often make the best Christmas decorations!  Consider a bright green clutch handbag alongside a red scarf.  Or, a collection of cozy winter hats put out on a counter surrounded with pine branches (you can often get them free at your local Christmas Tree outlet).

HERE ARE SOME IDEAL GIFT PRODUCTS TO DISPLAY THIS CHRISTMAS:

• Wholesale Christmas scarves sprinkled with snowflakes.

• Nativity scene tie with manger and Star of Bethlehem

                                               Sights and Sounds

If you sell toys, by all means use them to set the Christmas mood.  You can also purchase an inexpensive set of toy trains and set one up in the store.  What is more fun, more reminiscent of Christmases gone by than the sounds and sight of a train running its tracks?

And, don’t forget the power of sound.  Get some good Christmas music and play it 24/7, or however long you’re open for business.  Depending on your customer base, you can choose very specific music, too.  Spiritual Christmas chants are great for a more sophisticated, classical music-type market. 

It’s always a good idea to be available to your customers for special help and service.  You might put up a chair, and hang a fun sign above it saying something like, “Christmas Gift Consultations.”  Set a time each day when customers can come in and get personalized help in choosing gifts for their families and friends.  This is a terrific sales booster.  People often don’t know what to buy, and they will feel happier and more confident in a gift backed by your advice. 

                                             A Time to Give

Giving something away is a tradition for this time of year.  Having hot cocoa or cider available for customers has been a wonderful idea for many retailers.  Just offer each person who comes into the store a small cup, and watch his or her eyes light up!  A small piece of candy will go even further with children.

And, talking about children…oh, this is an area of endless possibilities.  But for just one starter idea:  Consider setting aside a Saturday morning for a story-telling Christmas session.  Invite customers to bring in their little ones for an hour or so.  You can buy wonderful Christmas books at your local bookstore, and read one of the stories to the youngsters. Be sure to make it interactive: Ask the children how they feel about what is going on in the story as you go along.  You’ll surely have as much fun as the kids, if not more. 

    –Don’t fail to have a display of children’s accessories that the parents and grandparents of the youngsters can look at. 

WONDERING WHAT CHILDREN’S ACCESSORIES TO CHOOSE?  WE HAVE A RICH COLLECTION AT REASONABLE PRICES:

• Small to medium tiara combs – wonderful for little girls!

• Children’s pearl necklace with matching tiny earrings.  Sweet!

                             …Stay tuned to our blog.  We’ll have plenty of Christmas ideas coming up…!

Late one summer when I was a girl, we had new neighbors move in next door to us.  I didn’t especially like them.  They kept their house dark and you never did know what was going on in there.  Even the kids were strange. 11-year old year Jerry rarely played ball with the other boys, and always had his nose stuck in a book. 

Charry was 9, and admittedly gorgeous with her long blond hair and bright blue eyes.  But she dressed atrociously, we thought, with layers of crinolines, big skirted silk and satin dresses with bows and ribbons and embroideries. – And this when the rest of us dressed in precursors of Gap Kids, at best. As you can tell, these new people just didn’t fit it.

Mostly we all ignored them, and months went by. Soon it was Christmas.  My parents were a little conservative about that.  We put up the tree and other decorations on Christmas Eve and took them all down January 2^nd, without compromise. Keep them up an extra day?  Never!  But our newest neighbors seemed to have time schedule all their own. To start with, days went past Christmas, without any noticeable decorations or lights. Still dark.

YOU CAN BRING LIGHT AND BEAUTY INTO YOUR CHRISTMAS WITH GIFTS TO PLEASE EVERYONE.  TRY THESE:

• Silver plated snowman bracelet.  Magical!

• 3 Wise Men Christmas Earrings.  Packed with Detail!

                                                       Eastern Rite

But then, just before January 6^th – “Little Christmas,” we later learned, the Orthodox Rite Christmas – a miracle happened.  A real miracle!  Just like that, the house was ablaze with lights like you never saw.  And what was most incredible was the tree.  Oh!  That huge, blazing, fabulous Christmas Tree! 

Just when everyone’s trees were down or coming down, their’s went up, and it was more glorious than any I had ever seen.  It was so fantastic all us kids peeked into the front windows just to get a look it, soaring up the top of the ceiling, with all manner of decoration on it.  Different kinds of decorations, such as we had never seen before.

The mother came out and even invited us to see the tree, which sat in its own big vat of water and was cared for daily.  There we saw generations of ornaments lovingly brought to the United States from Russia, carrying with them all the memories and history of their family and land. 

Here were little delicate ornaments with openings you could look into and see a whole village story unfold! Tiny dolls dressed much like Charry with carefully ironed bows and flowers and dresses.  Things you wouldn’t expect to see on a tree back then. Tiny toys with all kinds of moving parts. Jewelry with beads that dripped over the pine leaves and gave even more color and delight.  Well, the splendor went on and on. You could spend weeks, maybe months, and still not fully experience it all.

And perhaps that was the idea.  Because the Eastern Christmas came and went, but the Tree remained.  January came and went, and the Tree remained.  Other neighbors became concerned.  Some called it a fire hazard. Others used it to remind everyone how weird these people were.

                                                     A Forever Tree

February set it with all its ice and snow and blustery weather, and the Tree remained.  But by now, it had become a curiosity.  School kids would come into our neighborhood to sing Christmas Carols in front of the house, totally freaking out my brother. Somebody reminded that “For everything there is time,” and the time of the Tree was up. But, it wasn’t.

February ended and March began. It was still cold, but cold enough for a Christmas Tree? Week One came and went, but the Tree remained.  Week Two did the same.  But then…just as mid-March settled in tightly, the lights went out.  The Tree, in all its glory, finally came down.  The ornaments were all hand-wrapped and put away for another day.  Pine needles were carefully swept out.  And the house was silent, dark once more.

BEFORE YOUR TREE IS PUT AWAY FOR TE SEASON, WHY NOT ADD A FEW EXTRA GIFTS AROUND IT?  HERE ARE A FEW TO TRY:

• Wholesale Christmas Angel Pin.  Timeless.

• Wholesale Bobble Head Christmas Pin. Charming!

“Well, it’s about time,” my mother said, as my brother sighed relief. Kids stopped coming around harassing. Christmas was at last past. And you’d think, by then, you’d be glad. But I wasn’t.  I wasn’t glad at all. Not only that, but I seemed to develop a whole new respect toward these new people. I mean, image!  People who pay no attention to what other people say, and just keep up their Christmas Tree as long as they want.  Well, it could have gone on forever.

But of course, it didn’t.  It has been years since we’ve seen that family, but we still exchange Christmas Cards with Charry, who lives in California.  I suspect her present day Tree comes down in very neat conventional time frame, like ours.  Nice trees.

   –But oh! I don’t think I will ever forget that Christmas Tree that stood almost forever years ago.  Being different, I learned, can be a wonderful thing!

Father’s Day is June 21st, and like every other year, this one is no different.  The holiday is strictly second class.  It can’t compare with Mother’s Day in any way. Dads don’t get expensive gifts.  They don’t have endless numbers of songs written about how wonderful they are. Most dads will say this is just fine with them, they’d rather it this way, low key.  But how real is that?  I have real questions about it!

My own dad had less humility about Father’s Day. He preferred to be proactive.  I recall his making up a sign that read, “Place All Gifts Here,” and standing it up on the dining room table.  Of course, we all laughed heartily when we saw it, but I don’t think it made much difference where his cache was concerned.  Still not too impressive.

Modern day society has even done in to a great extent the one really good gift dad used to get on Father’s Day.  A fine home cooked meal.  Now, Dad is taken out to dinner and, ironically, he often pays for the experience.  Poor dad!

A Box of Cigars

Dad’s gifts are also pretty mundane.  Predictable.  A tie And, back when smoking was more permissible, a box of good cigars. Now, even that is taboo.

STILL YOU CAN GIVE DAD A LOT BETTER GIFTS THAN HE’D EVER EXPECT.  JUST CONSIDER THESE:

• Riverboat Gambler Hat.  Just look at this handsome Panama straw look hat with tight toyo weave!  It will give dad the romantic look of a Southern Gentleman, straight off the silver screen.  Fabulous, trendy retro.

• Men’s Summer Dress Hat.  Braided toyo hat for polished summer looks. In ivory with tan web band.

Just Say It

I join with a dozen or more friends every morning for coffee at the local bagel shop where we often discuss things we’d never mention elsewhere.  This was the case a few years ago with Bob, who developed cancer and was only given a short time to live.  One morning Bob confided in us that he felt really terrible about never having told any of his four sons, then grown, that he loved them.  He just couldn’t, he said.  He didn’t know how.  And yet the absence of putting that love into words tore him apart.

Most of us offered him words of advice, suggestions on what he might say or how he might say it. Just blurt it out, someone offered.  Or, hit one of them on the shoulder and say, “I love you, buster.” The theory here was that acting tough sometimes makes it easier to be emotional.  But nothing seemed to hit home. Weeks passed.  The subject was dropped, although none of us forgot it.

Then, out of nowhere, Bob came in one morning beaming.  He told them, he said. One by one by one by one..  He said, “I love you.”  And each one of them, in turn, said, “I love you, too, Pop.”  How do you like that?

Bob died a few weeks later.  He had accomplished what he so wanted to do, and gained so much more than he could have imagined.  No Father’s Day gifts.  No brouhaha.  No songs.  Just the recognition of love.

Giving

If you haven’t ever said I love you to your father or your kids, you might work on it.  It’s really important.  If you have said it a thousand times well…say it a thousand times more.

This is what remembering Dad is all about. And if you think it won’t mean anything to Dad, you’re wrong!

—Oh yes…and don’t be such a cheap skate!  Here are some great gifts to add to the celebration:

• Solid medium brown tie in polyester with the look and feel of real silk.  Rich and wrinkle resistant.

• Men’s tie with tall ship emblazoned on it.  Sails are set to the wind on this handsome symmetrically patterned tie. Ship is dramatic, set against a dark blue backdrop.

Memories of my Grandfather, too

My grandfather was an elegant but stern faced old gentleman of German descent.  He had rules for everything.  Put on shoes before you go outside.  Turn off the lights when you go from room to room. Close the screen door in the summer.  He was The Law, and all us kids were scared to death of him.

One day, when I was about seven, I must have gone insane.  I went into his house, ran up to him, threw my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug.  Then, to make things worse, “Smack!” I gave him a big kiss, too.  It was unthinkable! Everybody held their breath.  But grandpop just smiled from ear to ear, and said nothing.

The thing is, he never yelled at me again.  Each time I saw him, I gave him a hug, and each time he saw me, he smiled.  My cousins all complained in confusion that I was his favorite, though they couldn’t figure out why.  Years later, it occurred to me how easy it was.

What a day of conflicting emotions!  Here we are back again, with Memorial Day starting summer vacations.  Schools are out.  Kids are ecstatic.  Marching bands are getting ready to parade up Main Streets in towns all over the country. Ohhh, this is a great long weekend to dangle your toes in the ocean, take a bike ride into the mountains, loaf in a hammock with your dog, or just read a book and mellow out.

But…there is really a lot more to it than just that. And, for members of the fashion industry, days like this have special significance.  They give us all the chance to promote our products while celebrating or commemorating national times of importance and caring.  It is an opportunity not to be missed.

Memorial Day will be observed on May 25^th this year.  Formerly called Decoration Day, this is a federal holiday originally established to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War.  Initially, many in the South refused to participate in the observance because of the long-enduring hostility toward the Union. 

Today, of course, Memorial Day goes far beyond the Great War of the States, and is meant to honor all those men and women from all parts of the nation who died while serving in the United States military. 

MANY FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG ON THIS HOLIDAY.  YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE FLAG, TOO, WITH PRODUCTS LIKE THESE:

• 6″ X 8″ flag on a stick.  Buy a gang of them and put them around the backyard as you fire up the barb-y!

• American flag men’s ties in silk-feel polyester.  Wrinkle resistant.  Look great while making a patriotic statement.

                                       More than Just Military

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN an American generation that has not had its own war or wars, and its own war dead. Memorial Day touches everyone.  Many also visit cemeteries and memorials all around the nation in memory of deceased family members, too, not necessarily only those who have served in the armed forces.

Even though the basic concept behind Memorial Day is very serious, it has also been lightened by the fact that it is the first major holiday leading into the long summer months of national holidays, family get-togethers and fun. So it is a day of mixed sentiment.

On one hand, it is a day when television cameras from stations all across the country focus on the President as he puts the traditional wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Soldier, a moving and sad memorial in every way. 

                              Happy Times, Serious Memories

BUT IT IS ALSO A DAY FILLED with images of children frolicking in the ocean for the first time this season, a day when families get together, barbecues are fired up, and everybody looks to have a good time. This is not a day for unstoppable tears, and rightly so.  It is very much dedicated to life and living.

In South Carolina, a Confederate Memorial Day is observed, as it is in a number of other Southern states.  This year, the S.C. holiday was observed on May 11^th.  According to the Web’s Wikipedia, it marks the death of Confederate Commander Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and the capture of the Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

     –So, this is another day of sad remembrances and national recognition of just how tragic the Civil War was for us all.

An interesting thing about this holiday is that fashion bends to it.  People wear red, white, and blue proudly.  Many express their spiritual responses to the Holiday by wearing crosses and other religious symbols.  We sing war songs, like “Over There.” We remember Normandy and forget for a while that we’re mad at the French.  In its own strange way, Memorial Day brings us all together.

HERE ARE SOME TERRIFIC PRODUCTS FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND STRAIGHT THROUGH THE SUMMER:

• Religious pendants.  Quality craftsmanship in a variety of Christian and other spiritual themes.  Inspiring for Memorial Day and straight through the summer.

• Americana stretch bracelet in patriotic red/white/and blue seed beads.  Great for Memorial Day, for sailing, for any and all fun activities this season.

OXYTOCIN IS a remarkable bonding hormone.  It helps reduce stress and it helps develop and maintain close personal relationships.  It is, simply put, that chemical in the brain that helps us establish and keep relationships of love and friendship with our families, associates and, well, just about everybody we care about. 

Oxytocin is often called the “love hormone,” and understandably.    Its power is uncanny! As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s a good subject to think about.  Oxytocin, for example, induces uterine contractions when a woman is about to give birth.  It helps in the release of milk in nursing.   And, as a leading Health publication put it, it is responsible, at first touch, for a mother’s feelings of instant attachment to her newborn. Mother love – whether from the mother to the baby or the baby to the mother – is strongly centered in this fabulous bit of human chemistry.  Oxytocin. 

                                               Think Love

OXYTOCIN IS ACTIVE throughout our lives, often more so in women than men, since its effects are amplified by estrogen.  But men still have plenty of it.  When an individual engages in any thought or activity that induces the release of oxytocin, feelings of love and attachment are enhanced.  A hug is one such action.  The thought of a child’s or a husband’s love is one such thought. 

–Dr. Paul Zakk of Claremont Graduate University found that by just giving individuals a bolt of oxytocin in a nasal spray, they became more trusting of strangers and had better feelings toward them. 

The really good news about oxytocin connects directly to Mother’s Day, when everyone hopes to give a gift that will be appreciated. Good thinking.  But…with oxytocin in the picture, the gift can go a lot further than that!  Here’s an example of what we mean:

–If you buy Mom a gift of jewelry for Mother’s Day, say, she’ll see it, put it on, and enjoy it that day.  But long after Mother’s Day, each time she puts on that piece of jewelry, she’ll think about  who gave it to her, and the positive thoughts will cause a release of  — you got it! – oxytocin, adding even more love and affection toward you.  Is that terrific, or what?

HERE ARE SOME GRAND JEWELRY GIFTS WITH OXYTOCIN-POWER BUILT IN:

• Freshwater pearl double bracelet – elegant with iridescent crystals!  Years from now, Mom will still love it!

• Mom’s silver plated initial will look beautiful set into this lovely rectangular frame pendant, supported by a 30″ pink leatherette cord.

                                      Love Maker

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING that you’ll want to increase your own amount of oxytocin, as well as your Mom’s, your marital partner’s, and maybe even your boss’ and co-workers’.  After all, you can’t ever get too much love. 

Some ways of building your supply of oxytocin include being more demonstrative with love (with hugs, as we already said), even walking hand-in-hand with someone you care about.  Avoiding negative thinking, and following the old adage that says you’ll be a lot happier concentrating on the good things in life also brings good results.

THERE ARE PLENTY of other ways to latch on to the love hormone, too.  You might adopt a dog or a cat.  Wow!  Every time you pet one you’ll release this magical stuff!  Or you could volunteer to work with kids because, after all, they’re easy to love.

–But most especially, on the Second Sunday of May, year-in and year-out, send special love to Mom.  This is her day! 

HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL GIFTS TO MAKE THE DAY AND THE WHOLE YEAR AHEAD VERY OXYCOTIN-SPECIAL:

• Large sparkling crystal brooch with large acrylic center stone.  Dynamic.

• Charming rhinestone hairpins with hearts make delightful gifts for Mom from anyone, but especially from a child!

SOME SAY DUBLIN is the only place to be on St. Patrick’s Day, but they are wrong, dead wrong.  The only place to be on St. Patrick’s Day is New York.  It is a fabulous experience, and you really don’t know what a March 17^th celebration is until you’ve seen it for yourself. The City is literally transformed. Thousands upon thousands crowd into its streets, all of them Irish, or claiming to be Irish for the day.

Everyone is happy, everyone is friendly.  And everyone eagerly awaits the bagpipes that signal the start of the  parade of parades as it begins its majestic swing up Fifth Avenue – the street where, just a little more than a century ago, employment signs all read NINA, (No Irish Need Apply). 

                                         Parade of Parades

NOW, THERE IS A GREEN LINE up the famous boulevard and all New Yorkers –the governor, the mayor, senators, the super-rich and powerful, corporate officers, military units, union leaders and workers, students, policemen, and descents of clan after clan  – are proud to march in what has often been called  the quintessential immigrant parade.

Sure, there are many ethnic parades in New York, but this was the first of its kind.  What’s more, it dramatically shows what immigrants have endured coming to this country, and what they have accomplished. So it is a great day for the Irish, and everybody else!  It’s that green line up Fifth Avenue.  It says, “We made it!”

YOU CAN BE IRISH FOR THE DAY, TOO:  Just have fun wearing some of these great items:

• A 42″ strand of green and white Mardi Gras beads with shamrocks, leprechauns, and a pot of gold charms.

• A St. Patrick’s Day bracelet with rows of enameled leprechaun charms.

• A “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” necktie or cap.

                                 Green Beer and Pub Crawls

Of course, St.Patrick’s Day in New York City isn’t all green cotton candy.  It can also get downright rowdy, rambunctious, and raucous.  Once the multi-hour parade draws to a close, celebrating “Irish” fill up with green beer or Jameson’s at all the Irish pubs and bistros in town.

Irish bands and entertainers abound.  This year, The Pogues famous Irish folk and rock group will entertain at Roseland Dance Hall, while the Irish Musical Ambassadors will be at Carnegie Hall. And, of course, there is always the somewhat disreputable Irish Pub Crawl, which this year will run 3 days, cover 300 taverns, and frankly benefit no one but the barkeeps..

                                                      McSorley’s

–We can’t fail to mention the oldest Irish pub in New York, McSorley’s Old Ale House, downtown. It stayed male-only longer than any bar in town but finally crumbled in 1970 under the weight of the feminist movement. Not that it made much difference. Even though McSorley’s distinguished patrons have run from Abraham Lincoln to the poet Brendan Behan, one New York woman delicately said it for her gender: “I wouldn’t be caught dead in the dump.”   

STILL, IF YOU AIM TO DEDICATE YOURSELF TO THE ART OF IRISH ELBOW- BENDING this year, you might want to stock up on these fun-time souvenirs:

• Green beer mug novelty sunglasses. Good for the day after, when your eyes will probably be bloodshot.

• A St. Patrick’s Day top hat in emerald green. Look like a leprechaun!

• A “Proud to be Irish” pendant. Sort of comment on the obvious!

                  How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

                  I love thee to the depth and breath and height

                 My soul can reach…

                                                              -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

                Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.

                                                              -Ogden Nash 

VALENTINE’S DAY is quickly approaching and what better way to celebrate it than with these magnificent words from poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning?  Or, with a few less respectable tomes, from the poet Ogden Nash.   Or, from the inimitable Mae West, who was always willing to make the best of any situation, saying, as she did,

                            It is better to be looked over than overlooked. 

Ahhh, Love.  This is its day, in all its many forms!

                                    Red Doors and Gem Stones

Red is the official color of Valentine’s Day. It is the warmest color, representing passion and fiery heat.  In China, brides wear red and doors are painted red for prosperity and energy. In the west, some people put red gem stones around the home to stimulate vitality and joy.

Everyone gives hearts for Valentine’s Day.  What Valentine card is without them?

Even bumper stickers declare love through the symbol of the heart, as in “I (BIG RED HEART) MY CORGI.”  Or, “…MY PIT BULL.”

Big hearts are wonderful.  Broken hearts are sad, even tragic.  The heart represents life itself and, of course, love. It is the essential expression of physical nature, especially strength.  Hearts are Number One in popularity at tattoo parlors.

The Bible sees the heart as the center of a person, and the seat of human intelligence. King Solomon prayed for an “understanding heart.”  According to the Dictionary of the Bible, by Father John L. McKenzie, “It is in God’s heart to love creation….”

In looking for a gift to give for Valentine’s Day, certainly the first thought to come  to mind – after a loving Valentine’s Day card – might well be a piece of heart jewelry. Every woman sees it as a cherished expression.  Some ideas for Valentine’s Day gifting:

• A crystal key to the heart necklace, young and romantic, what better way to say “I’m yours?”    

• A classic cupid pin with red enameled heart.

• A rich red crystal Victorian style heart brooch lavishly embedded with smaller crystal hearts. This is a real heirloom piece.

                                      Freudian Confusion

DESPITE ALL OF THIS, if you are still confused about what to give your lady love this Valentine’s Day, you are not alone.  Sigmund Freud, Father of psychoanalysis but not personally expert in the love arena, bemoaned the same problem, saying, “The great question, which I have not been able to answer, is, ‘What does a woman want?’ “

Real lovers know the answer without hesitation. Give your heart! And, the symbol of your heart. Give an expression that goes beyond “Will you be my Valentine,” to the more essential statement, “I love you.” We guarantee you’ll like the results.

                                       A Gift for Everyone

A piece of Valentine heart jewelry is a gift to thrill a romantic lover, delight a mother, please a sister, and brighten the eyes of a little girl.  And unlike flowers or chocolates, this is something that will last for years. Some more ideas:

• A glass Venetian bracelet of translucent red puffy heart beads, fashionably chunky and sophisticated.

Silver plated heart earrings in highly polished finish, with mixed metal border design of shimmering gold plate.

White faux pearl necklace with crystal embellishment. The center pearl-shaped drop is handsomely supported by 2 in-line silver hearts for a truly elegant look.  From the wholesale bridal collection, this gift is serious!

Perhaps Zsa Zsa Gabor gave the definitive word on the value of Valentine jewelry gifts when she said,

                    I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back.

Of course, she also said,

                  If you want diamonds, buy them yourself.

But that is another story, for another day.