Mother's Day 2012 Jewelry Giveaway!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner! So we’re giving away five beautiful and unique pieces of great jewelry on our Facebook fan page.

Winners can choose to have their item sent to any address in the continental U.S., so there’s no excuse not to enter for the chance to give your Mom or any amazing lady in your life, the gift of a unique sparkly conversation piece.


The Contest
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. The contest begins at April 30th, 2012, and ends May 5th, 2012 at midnight CST. Five winners will be chosen. The winners will be determined by a random drawing on May 6th, 2012 by 2:00 p.m. CST, among all qualifying contest entries received by Ms Addison.

How to enter

1. LIKE the Ms Addison fan page.

2. COMMENT on the Ms Addison 2012 Mother's Day Giveaway album on facebook and tell us which piece you would most like to win.

3. SHARE the Ms Addison fan page.

LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE –Easy Peasy!

At the conclusion of the contest date, five winners will be notified the next day (Sunday May 6) by 2:00 p.m CST.

Prizes

Beautiful black textured leather cuff bracelet with black and white rhinestone butterfly. Magnetic closure!

Wow! 1" round silver cubic zirconia earrings. Sterling silver wires!

Antique bronze beautifully textured pea-cock photo locket! Pretty crystal studs! Magnetic snap closure!

Satin silver dangling earrings round cut bezel set cubic zirconias! Sterling silver hooks! Beautiful!

Exquisite two-tone filagree setting! Gorgeous round bezel set amethyst! Size 6!


Finally
Winners will be posted on the Ms Addison Facebook Fan Page and notified via Facebook Email on Sunday May 6th.

Winners must respond within 24 hours upon receiving notification that you won, with your address where you want your item shipped and who it is for.

If address confirmation is not received by Monday, May 6th at 2:00 p. m. CST, then the next winner will be chosen.

Winners must be a minimum of 13 years old. Your information will not be shared with anyone else.

Good luck!

Don't ignore, show you care

Don’t ignore your friend dealing with infertility. Show them you care.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, one of the greatest things we’ve learned about infertility etiquette is to let your loved one know you care.


The best thing you can do is to shut up! Quit giving advice about adoption, relaxing, going on a cruise, IVF, or assuming it is the girl when it just may be the guy, telling them worse things could happen, complaining about motherhood or treating them like they are ignorant.

My daughter once had a friend tell her, ‘well, you must not be doing it right.’ Really! Come on, people. Let’s have more respect than that!

Instead, the best thing you can do is to let your infertile friends know that you care. Send them cards. Let them cry on your shoulder. Tell them you are praying for them and do it. Offer the same support that you would offer a friend who just lost a loved one. Just knowing that they can count on you to be there lightens the load and lets them know they are not going through it alone.

My love language is gifts so I love to share sparklies with my friends also. Here are some great sparkly jewelry gift ideas for encouraging fertility.

Emeralds

I love a beautiful a green stone. Green is the color of fertility and growth. The gem of love and fertility, emeralds stand for loyalty, strength and motherhood. I bought my daughter emerald earrings just before she did IVF.

Butterflies and Turtles

Butterflies are all the rage this year anyway! The butterfly in some cultures is believed to be the symbol for fertility. Turtles are a symbol of fertility and can also be used to cheer your friend on for their patience and endurance.

Kokopelli
Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with a huge phallus and feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture.

Garnet

Garnet cleanses and purifies. It is also a stone of love and may increase sex drive. It can reduce inflammation and strengthen blood, muscles and the reproductive organs.


Rose Quartz and moonstone
These are beautiful beads that are said to aid fertility. Rose Quartz and moonstone can reduce stress and aid hormone balance. Moonstone also encourages hope and fertility.

I find these treasures all the time, so please check my Ebay store often and if you can’t find something, ask me!

For more on Infertility,

Basic understanding of the disease of infertility

About NIAW

Don't ignore people with infertility

When you look at my daughter, you see confidence, strength, and relentless energy. She is busy in her job where she travels the world writing about chemicals. When she is not working, she is making food and hosting parties for her friends and family. She has a spunky personality, a contagious laugh and a warm, kind heart.

What you don’t see is a young woman who is yearning to be a mother, who has been dreaming of motherhood all of her life, and has been trying for the last five years, rather painfully, without success.

You don’t see the young woman who has had nine surgeries to try and repair the extensive damage from intestinal endometriosis and PCOS, or the woman who has gone through IUI and IVF treatments unsuccessfully, or taken injections and pills for weeks on end to boost fertilization. You don’t see the woman who cries with every month’s failure and then gets new hope just days later. And you certainly don’t see the sadness she feels when people offer her hurtful advice, because she is too kind to tell the well-meaning soul that what they said stung.

My daughter and her sweet husband have been dealing with infertility for several years now. I consider it, like Addison’s Disease, an invisible disease. Invisible disease is the internal suffering that is experienced by self but not seen by others.

I know my daughter well enough to know when she is hurting. Her back slumps, her eyes turn grey and she talks less. But most don’t see that when they look at her. She continues to go about her day in pain from the effects of fertility treatment or sadness from another failure and most people have no idea the extent her heart is breaking.

I can empathize with her so much. People look at me and don’t see the deterioration of my insides, my daily fatigue and the painful splotches under my clothes when I go outdoors on a sunny day. They see a cheerful, petite, young-looking Connie. They don’t see my disease. I hear, ‘but you don’t look sick’ often. Probably why I like that community so much. I find understanding and empathy there.


Neither of us chose to have invisible diseases, but we have chosen to conquer them, learn about them and when possible, educate others based on our experiences.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, I’d like to bless my daughter by asking you not to ignore the signs of invisible diseases. Don’t ignore people with infertility, or the pain they are dealing with.

People dealing with infertility see things everyday in the world that remind them of their plight. And society has formed opinions about infertility that are used in various channels. Knowing what to say is half the battle.

Take a look at infertility etiquette from Resolve.Org for great tips on how to comfort someone you love in the same battle. For example, by simply stopping with the advice and just letting them know you care, you can really help a sweet person out.


For more on Infertility,

Basic understanding of the disease of infertility


About NIAW

The jewelry boys

The way things are going I may need Fathers Day listings as well. Last night I sold a mens greek key bracelet a gorgeous pair of celtic cross cufflinks, and a gentlemens ring. Today I sold a different style mens greek key bracelet. In the last 2 weeks I've sold several mens bracelets, and 3 mens cross pendants as well as a few gentlemens rings. I'm down to 1 stainless steel and very cool cross pendant, 1 leather rocker bracelet, and 3 stainless steel rings. Not enough for Fathers Day. Definitely must place another order!

It seems like I sell everything I get for men. AND I sell it really quick. Funny thing about this to me is that men continue to tell me they don't wear jewelry. They may not wear it BUT they certainly buy it.....over and over again. My better judgement is telling me it's time to make a Mens sparklie treasure hunting trip. Besides it's not only Fathers Day it's also Graduation. A nice set of cufflinks makes a great graduation gift.

Does your man wear jewelry? Do you like to see your man in jewelry? Do you buy jewelry for your man? As a man do you or don't you wear jewelry? If you do wear jewelry what do you wear? As a man what sparklie would you like to receive for fathers day? If you are not a jewelry wearer BUT receive a lovely stainless steel bracelet from your new love interest do you wear it? Return it? Tell her you love it? Be honest and tell her you don't wear jewelry and don't really love it? Or take it to the jeweler and have matching earrings made for the two of you?

Should I buy this dress?

I completely love this dress from Cache'.

Buying and wearing a dress is a major accomplishment for me and my disease. I recently had a date, another major accomplishment! The first one in four years since my diagnosis. He has called asking for a second date and I have not had the confidence yet to go out.

My facebook friends and family told me that I should start wearing dresses again. They think it will make me feel beautiful and boost my self-confidence. So why not?

I have some gorgeous sparklies to accessorize it with in my online boutique and know that I can do so much with this beautiful dress.

Stunning Silver and CZ hoops dress up the Cache' dress. Making it great for a special occasion!

Sterling silver and amethyst petite butterfly earrings tone down the Cache dress making it the perfect fun Sunday brunch Dress

Beautiful pink Tiger Eye earrings with gorgeous silver filagree! Makes the Cache' dress perfect for work!

I think I'll buy it!

Sparklies equal Magical Jewels

Another crazy day health wise. Broke down and cried that I couldn't sit outside and soak up some sun today. It wasn't just a beautiful day it was a near perfect day in League City Texas.

What a great day it would have been to sit outside and work by the pool. I can picture it Filming done! Invoicing done! Packaging done! Extra thank-you notes done! Re-apply sunscreen done! New orders done! New listings done!

Oh how I hate being allergic to the sun. An extra little "bonus" that I get for having my disease.

Suddenly out of my postmans truck I receive 7 packages of sparklies, my personal name for magical jewels! So magic my tears dry up and a big smile comes on my face. I cannot wait to get those 7 packages open.

Wow! Oh! Where's my breath? I just had it! The fleur de Lis ring took it! Oh my goodness gracious some vintage, some brand new! All beautiful!

A sparklie from Nevada, A few from New Mexico, and my very favorite sparklies and truly magical jewels from New York City!

As I unpack I begin to pair each piece in my head with specific customers. And start to plan my next day. Have to get busy early in the morning with the camera and the computer.

I say a quick prayer that my disease will stay at bay and allow me an energetic day. Mothers Day is just around the corner and is the #3 gift giving holiday of the year. I need listings and lots of them!

Birthstones

January: Garnet
The garnet is named after the pomegranate fruit, and the birthstone is commonly red. Garnets are said to generally symbolize faith, optimism and constancy.

February: Amethyst
The amethyst is linked to sobriety, sincerity and religious minds. It is worn by different ranks in the Roman Catholic Church. Amethyst was, in legend, a maiden turned to stone by the Roman goddess Diana.

March: Aquamarine
Aquamarine stones tend to be blue in color, thus their name. They generally symbolize clarity or intellect, and help with foresight and courage. Aquamarines were popular with sailors for their supposed protective properties.

April: Diamond
A diamond's ability for startling clarity has made it a natural symbol of innocence and purity. The sparkling diamond used to be rumored to be the very tears of the gods.

May: Emerald
The brilliant green color of emeralds usually symbolizes love and success. It also symbolizes success in love.

June: Pearl
Pearls are the only non-gem on the birthstone list. They are linked with health and longevity. Though often found in white or cream, pearls come in a variety of colors.

July: Ruby
The ruby is rich red in hue and sometimes linked to love. However, as a birthstone they tend to symbolize contentment more than passion.

August: Peridot
A peridot can come in a variety of colors. It has the rather simple meaning of marital happiness, whether present, past or future.

September: Sapphire
The sapphire is thought to represent clarity of thought. Though often seen in blue, sapphires come in every color except red.

October: Opal
Opals come in a wide variety of hues, both rainbow and solid. These glittering stones are thought to represent hope.

November: Topaz
Topaz is another gem that can be found in a variety of hues. Though the meaning may seem a little dull, the stone symbolizes fidelity in both romantic and non romantic situations.

December: Turquoise
Though turquoise may be one of the less expensive birthstones, it happens to symbolize overall prosperity. This can mean both financial and non-monetary prosperity.

I love turquoise

Turquoise is the hottest color for summer jewelry. It is classic and yet exotic at the same time. It comes in several shades: blue, green and red. I love it so much.

The name means Turkish stone as it came to Europe by way of Turkey.

It has healing properties also. I hear it can neutralizes overacidity, alleviates rheumatism, gout, stomach problems, viral infections, increases growth, muscular strength, alleviates pain, relaxes cramps and ontains anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects

Did I mention it is just the right piece to make you sparkle?
You can add color to a great black dress, or pair it with jeans and a white tee. It would even look stunning with a cocktail dress.

Check out my page for great turquoise finds. But hurry, they will move fast!

Learning to live again

In 2008, I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, a rare disease of the endocrine system involving adrenal failure. This is a disease that many doctors still do not know about.

I was in and out of emergency rooms for over a decade before my diagnosis. Each time I'd go to the emergency room, I was treated for dehydration and told to drink more water, eat more protein. But water, food, vitamins, medicine all went right through me and I was back in the emergency room dehydrated day after day. I could not digest anything. I was tired all the time, sore all over, extremely sick to my stomach, and had low blood pressure. I broke out into awful hives any time I went into the sun. I'd get large brown spots on my arm and red splotches across my neck and chest. It seemed like I became more depressed and irritable every day, which made it even harder to describe my issues to my doctors.

Doctors kept pointing to my digestive system and removed the gall bladder and treated me for pancreatitis, removed an intestinal blockage and performed countless endoscopic and laprascopic surgeries. I was given pain medications and anti-depressants. Through all these treatments, my body just weakened under the extra stress.

When I finally got down to just 71 pounds, an endocrinologist ran blood and ACTH tests to look at sodium, potassium, cortisol and ACTH. Test results shows full adrenal failure.

I now take about 30 mg of steroid a day and have followed doctors orders to simplify my life. I learn all I can and am fully prepared with a notebook describing the disease any time I have to go to the hospital or see a new doctor.

I've been blessed to spend time and have the help of my children, their spouses and children. I am the proud mimi of Adam and Sam, both who live in Dallas.

With the severe sun reaction, my job as an outside sales rep had to come to an end. Now what really keeps me going is my Ebay boutique.

I have always loved treasure hunting and my friends always said I had a gift for finding unique items. Now I treasure hunt for a living, searching far and wide to find special jewels for my online gift shop. It makes me feel good to help people feel beautiful inside and out. Seeing the joy from my customers when they find the perfect piece, has taught me to live and love again.

Find me on Ebay!