Turn a loss into a gain: giving new life to a piece of jewellery

It's been a while since I've posted to this blog. I'll explain in another post but basically I moved from Jamaica to the US and it's been quite a journey but I'm back ^_^.

Have you ever lost 1 of your earrings and just had the other one sadly looking at you? 

This has happened all too many times to me. What do you really do with the odd earring though? Well you can either mix and match and wear earrings that don't match or you can repurpose them. 

What do I mean though really? I am a beaded jewellery maker and I turn earrings into pendants or brooches or bracelets- I use it to make something else. 

I also realize I'm a bit of a hoarder, a neat one but a hoarder nonetheless. I hate throwing out things. Usually I'll hold on to it for a while then my head will take me and I start shedding stuff because the place feels stuffy and I rearrange and throw out or give away items.  I digress but the point is I can make lemonade from the lemon of a lost earring.

Here this is my mother's earring. She loved these earrings and it is in her favorite link. One day she lost one and that was it for the pair.  It was real gold and I thought hey I must can do something with this. I could have melted it down and make something else or do cash for gold, etc. I recently came across it and thought about how I love rings so I tried it to see if it could fit any of my fingers. It fit my middle finger to my delight.  Just like that I had a new ring. 

 

I broke off the hook that would have been inserted into your ear and I will also use my pliers to break off the little things jutting out. This can snag clothes. In fact the other day I was putting on my moisturizer on my face and forgot I had on the ring and scratched my face.

So if you lose an earring,  don't just throw it away, turn it into a part of a craft project, make another piece of jewellery or get cash for it. Turn a loss into a gain!

 

Xoxo

Ronnie 

Royally Grey in GAP

Purple is the colour of royalty. I love wearing purple coloured clothes. 

I've actually worn this combination of colours in a previous post but with different articles of clothing.

I love wearing sweaters to work. I usually wear them on a Thursday or Friday, as I get more casual as the week goes on. 

I got these items at the GAP Outlet at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Florida. I had so much fun in this store. The prices were great and the quality of the clothes were good especially the pants. I got more discounts by purchasing a US$5 GAP tote bag and I could use the bag throughout the year for more discounts. Score!

Sweater- GAP Outlet (US$7.60, sale)
Pants GAP Outlet (US$16.15, sale)
Shoes - from Mommy

Xoxo
Ronnie

~ * Natural Beauty * ~ : Oil Pulling

I came across this beauty tip some time last year. I saw articles by Lauren Conrad and Gwyneth Paltrow about oil pulling.  I did some research and decided to try it. After all, it involved using coconut oil and it was a natural product.

So what is oil pulling really?

Oil pulling, also known as "kavala" or "gundusha," is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. This action supposedly draws out toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health but also to improve your overall health (Source: Google)

In my research I saw that several types of organic oils are recommended. These include sesame, sunflower and coconut oils. I personally use expeller pressed organic coconut oil. Coconut oil is said to lauric acid, which is well-known for its anti-microbial agents.  The one below cost me about US$5.99 at TJ Maxx. I love the kitchen section of TJ Maxx. They have a lot of organic items for less.

Besides the removal of toxins, oil pulling claims to whiten your teeth as well. I can attest to this. This is especially great for those persons that are concerned about the harmful effects of whitening products on the market. It's also a cheaper alternative. 

How much do you use? I usually take a small mouth full. Also if you can't do 20 minutes, start with 5. I usually start as soon as I wake up and go about cleaning up after my dogs and bathing. I put on my timer and just keep swishing until it goes off and my 20 minutes are up.

Disposal of the oil after you are done is also important. Don't spit it out in your sink. It's usually advised to spit it out into your trash. I usually spit out the oil in a small plastic bag, tie it and then put it in the trash. 

In spitting it out you may get a gag reflex and feel like throwing up. I'd advise just spitting it out quickly into the bag and getting rid of it. Try also not to smell it. You'll get a hang of it though. 

I had a weird inflammation and sensitivity on my gum and was a bit worried. I didn't want to incur the cost of going to the dentist so I tried oil pulling for about 2 weeks and within a few days my gums felt great!

Please note that oil pulling should not replace brushing your teeth or going to your dentist. This is a great addition to your normal oral care routine. 

Xoxo

Ronnie

Green & Mustard

This is one of my favorite colour skirts. It's not the usual yellow and it goes with everything. 

It's also more comfy as it hits right below my knee, making it very work appropriate. 

Jacket- old
Skirt- US$10 (seamstress)
Shoes - Nine West (US$40, TJ Maxx)

Anything above my knee, I get so self conscious and worry about people saying I have fat knees. The things we women worry about. Sigh. 

I also worry that people will say it's not work appropriate according to the company's dress code. The worst thing you can do is give people ammunition especially in an environment where people will step on others to get ahead or for them to feel better about themselves. Hi haters! and boy do I seem to have a lot. I read somewhere though if you have people hating on you like that, you probably are doing something right. ;)

Another point I'd like to make also about this skirt is that the length is important for another reason. I'm short, I'm 5 feet 3.75 inches- yes the .75 counts :p. A shorter skirt will make me look shorter visually. A skirt that hits below the knee lengthens me. Also the nude shoes also help with the illusion of being visually longer- tricks of the trade. There is a method to my madness ^_^

Xoxo
Ronnie

Orange & Grey

Have you ever found some great deals at the flea market? I did with this skirt. I got it for US$3. Yes, seriously! It's a Gap skirt too. It takes some work sometimes to weed through to find nicer pieces, but the cost is the best part. I've found some really nice clothes from the flea market and some were even brands I knew. I've gotten a few Gap, H&M, Banana Republic and other brand name items and all for less than US$5.

It may be second hand but unless I told you, you'd never know. It's like getting hand me downs from an older relative. Some people turn their noses up to thrift shopping but as long as it looks fine, I have no issue. The savings benefit is definitely something to smile about. ^_^ and you can take THAT to the bank! You just have to check that there are no visible tears or snags and that the buttons and zips are good. 

Shirt- American Eagle Outfitters (Mommy's)
Skirt- Gap (Flea market, US$3)
Shoes - Bandolino (Ross Stores, US$19.99)

Xoxo
Ronz