How to take care of your Jewelry

My wavy hair is fantastic and my skin is glowing. It is hot a humid here in Miami and life is great.

What does my hair skin have to do with jewelry? The same recipe that means success for hair and skin is harmful to your jewelry. Put simply humidity will shorten the life of your jewelry if not properly cared for.

Ideally jewelry should be kept in an individual storage bag when not in use and placed in a cool dry place. Dry location can get away with storing jewelry in a jewelry box or jewelry bags. In humid climates ideally you want to store each piece in its own airtight container. Such as a Ziploc baggie or small individual stack-able containers.

You should never bring your jewelry in the bathroom with you where it gets all hot and steamy from the shower. Humidity will cause the gold plating and metals to turn more quickly then a dryer less hot location.Some precious stones should never get wet. If possible take off your rings before washing your hands in the bathroom. Every little thing you can do to prolong the life of your jewelry allows you to keep and wear that piece of jewelry for that much longer.

Before going to the gym or any kind of exercise take off your jewelry because sweating in your jewelry will eat away at gold plating (no matter how thick it is) or any paint that may be on it.

Don’t throw your jewelry all on top of each other. That only serves to get stuff caught up on each other and scratch on other pieces. Each piece of jewelry should have its own spot to rest in while you are not wearing it.

If you are wearing jewelry and perfume, spray the perfume on directly after getting out of the shower when you are fully dry wait for the perfume to dry and soak into your skin and then continue with your routine. Even better if you know you will be wearing a necklace spray your perfume somewhere where it will not come in contact with the perfume. Perfume has alcohol, oils, colors, and scents that will shorten the life of your jewelry and cause build up making it not as vibrant. The same goes for lotion it has any number of additives the can shorten the life of your jewelry.

Jewelry should be last on in the morning and first off at night when you get home. I know we all have piece of jewelry in our collection that we would sleep in if we could but the oil from our bodies and sweat are not good for the metals, stones, and paints.

Keep your jewelry clean wipe it down with a jewelry cloth to get rid of any build up that might have accumulated on it. This will keep your jewelry shiny and make sure it catches attention for the right reason. If something spills on it clean it off right away.

If you are a mom to a young child don’t let the little one pull on, chew on, or play with your jewelry. It is not meant to take that kind of abuse and could break outright or enamel and plating could come off in your child’s mouth.

Felissa is an Independent Stella & Dot Jewelry Stylist based out of Miami, Florida. She facilitates trunk shows and private viewings in your home and office. To check out her website you can visit www.StellaDot.com/FelissaHadas

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PSA: Dogs and Halloween!

About now you are all going to the store and bringing home candy for the children who come trick or treating in your neighborhood. Here are some safety tips.

If you have a dog who counter surfs or gets at food in the pantry you might want to stick with a non chocolate candy this year. The rule of course is that the darker the chocolate the more toxic it is. That being said an entire bag of peanut butter cups or fun sized snickers will leave any size dog with quite a stomach ache and the potential for worse. IMHO I don't feel the risk is worth it. Not that any candy is healthy for a dog to eat but candy corns and gummies are a lot less toxic then chocolate.

Leave the dogs home on Halloween in a safe and secure room in their crate.You don't know if a kid will be wearing a costume that will freak out your dog and the reaction is either going to be fight or flight. Plus with all the crowds you don't want them to get stepped on by accident. Walk them in their costume during the day so the neighbors can see and comment everyone will be happier especially your dog.

Halloween night make sure to have the dogs in a safe and secure location preferably in their crate before you take the candy out and the first kids come by. Wouldn't want the dog to run out the door by accident when you open it for a group of kids. Even the best trained dog could forget themselves and put their mouth in the treat bowl or run out the door with all the commotion and excitement.

If this is your pets first Halloween with you this is not the time to show off to your neighbors by having a giant dog barking on the other side of the door or a stressed out little one who wants to run and hide. If you are having a party at your house and people will be dressed up or there will be a lot of kids running around put the dog away in a room with a sign on the door saying something like sleeping baby so no one tries to go in and play and the next thing you know your dog is missing.

If you have kids who are going around make sure the candy is in a dog safe container the minute it comes in the door. Best if it goes on a top shelf in the pantry or the fridge or freezer and given out by an adult. Any extra candy that you have from passing out should be stored the same way.

Walking your dog after Halloween. Take a flashlight along with you and a pocket full of appropriate treats in case they find something half eaten or still in the wrapper on the ground so that you can make a trade your treat for the one they found on the ground. All it takes is a second because they can smell it before you can see it. Keep dog treats in your pocket for several days after Halloween for when you are out walking you will be surprised at how much candy you find out there now that you have a dog to walk and keep away from it.

Everyone including your dog can have a safe and Happy Halloween you just need to plan ahead.

Felissa is an Independent Stella & Dot Stylist located in Miami, Florida. She facilitates Trunk Show for women and their friends all over South Florida.To view the jewelry or book an event visit www.stelladot.com/felissahadas or email her Felissahadas@gmail.com

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Consider Your: Skin Tone When Choosing Jewelry

The first step in determining your skin tone is to flip over your hand and examine your wrist right where you dab your perfume. What color are your veins? Do they appear bluish in color or are they more green?


Bluish colored veins are a sign that you have Cool Skin Tone.
To be even more sure use this checklist do you sunburn very easily, notice pinkish or rosy-red undertones when looking in the mirror? You have a Cool Skin Tone.
Most people with this skin tone will have light-blue, blue-green, gray-green, and gray-blue eye color. Skin tones usually range from very fair to moderately fair.

Cool skin tones do well with silver, platinum, and white gold. Diamonds really are a girl with cool skin tone's best friend. Another good choice is white pearls. Gems and painted Jewelry should focus on jewel tones such as pinks, purples, rich blues, greens, and magentas.

Greenish veins are a sign that you are someone with a Warmer Skin Tone. Your checklist to be sure includes the fact that you tan easily, have a high threshold for sun exposure, you notice a yellow or golden-apricot undertone to your face when looking in the mirror.
Typically these people have green, hazel, dark brown, and amber colored eyes. Skin tone usually range from medium to olive brown/dark.

Warm skin tones are better off with gold, pewter, brass, and copper. Warm skin tones favor stones look great with corral colored Jewelry or golden pearls. Gems and painted Jewelry should focus on earth tones such as browns, oranges, brownish- greens, yellows, and yellowish-greens.

However you have to choose something that you love and will feel happy wearing. Don't choose something just because it is more appropriate for your skin tone or face shape or body style if you will never wear it. You want to pick things that you want to show off and have fun wearing.

Felissa Elfenbein
Stella & Dot Independant Stylist
Miami, Florida

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Consider Your Face Shape when Choosing Earrings & Necklaces

The fact that Earrings are worn so close to the face to produce the best possible style for you they should complement your overall face shape. Of course it is also important to think about your skin tone, the season, what you are wearing, as well as the look you are trying to achieve.

Lets start with a round face shape. If this is you it is best to go for lean, long and angular curved lines. This will help to elongate and add a little angle to your face. You can wear drop earrings in dangles, ovals and oblongs shapes. Another good choice for you is to go with square and rectangular along with angular earring styles. Styles you should avoid include small studs which will get lost on your face hoops which will make your face look even more round and chunky large earrings.

Necklaces: You want to go with a style that will elongate your face, necklaces that extend below the neckline (28" to 32") are a great choose for you in order to add definition to your face.

If you have a diamond shaped face you should wear short and wide style earrings. A straight line and curves combination will work well for you. Studs are a great fall back for you as well as small small drop shaped earrings. Styles you should avoid include long and thin earring style.

Necklaces: chokers help contrast and soften the sharp angle of the chin.

Women with square shaped faces should choose styles with a round and angular edge to help soften your face so it doesn't appear as harsh. As long as you avoid hard angles and square shapes, you can wear just about any style you desire. To add roundness to your face go for hoops and curved edges, and drop long tear drops, or multi-tiered dangling styles will give your face some length.

Necklaces: You want to look for a style that will elongate your face, something that will extend below the neckline (28" to 32").

Are you lucky and were born with a classic oval shaped face? You can work with almost any style to create the overall look you desire. Try different shapes and styles and decide which you like the best. You can wear soft shapes like studs, ovals and teardrops. A fun cute look for you would be to choose a spiraled dangl-y pair. Hair style also plays a role in which style and stone will look best on you. Women with oval faces and short hair can wear pearl, diamond, or gemstone studs. Style to avoid any incredibly long and thin shapes this will just pull you down and make you look tired and worn out.

Necklaces: can be either long or short. If you have a long neck, than chose a shorter necklace.

Have a triangular face you need a style that will soften your sharp angles. Large oval or small circular earrings will work well for you. Choose styles with curves at the bottom this will help soften your face. Style to avoid anything that come to a point.

Necklaces: You want to choose a style that elongates your face, something that will extend below the neckline (28" to 32").

With a long and or thin face the style that best suits you is the simple studs and elegant chandelier styles. Any three dimensional style will add roundness to your face. Another style to choose would be circular, triangular with the point facing the top and square. Styles to avoid flat and dangling earrings.

Necklaces: Your best bet is a choker, especially if you also have a long neck this will help soften your overall appearance.

Heart shaped face should go with styles that are wider at the bottom this includes tear drops, elegant chandeliers, as well as triangle shapes that begin with a point. You can even choose circular and oval styles which will work with your face shape however be care to choose ones that do not taper off as they reach the bottom. An interesting style choose for you would be pyramid. Styles to avoid anything that is heart shaped or very short.

I hope this guide helps you choose a pair of earrings that will really make you happy. Not every style is for everyone choose what will look good on you and don't worry about what the next person is looking at. If you are at a jewelry party experiment with looks you have never tried before. Take pictures so you can see just what works and what doesn't. This personal shopping experience is about you. Make the most of it.

Felissa Elfenbein
Stella & Dot Independent Stylist
Miami, Florida
www.stelladot.com/felissahadas
Miami, Florida

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A Few Jewelry Terms to Familiarize yourself with

Gold Plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often copper or silver by chemical or electrochemical means.

Silver Plating is a methid of depositing a thin layer of silver onto the surface of another metal.

Enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and flows and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal , glass or ceramic. The ancient art of enamel has been around since 13th Century BC. A liquid coating made of pulverized glass is brushed then fused to metal. Quality enamel like that used by Stella & Dot is always hand painted and then baked in a very hot oven to set. Lustrous, brilliant, and extremely durable, our enamel is built to last. Check out the Kelly Cuffs, Kelly Necklace, Happy Flower Necklace, Bloom Flower Rings, Garden Party Necklace and Earrings.

Enamel Paint is a paint that air dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish.

14k Gold is a measure of the purity of gold alloys with 24 carat or karat being the most pure.

Embroidery is the art of hand decorating fabrics and other materials with needle and thread. Embroidery sometimes incorporate other materials such as metal beads, pearls, glass beads, and glittery sequins. Stella & Dot uses the same factory that Jason Wu who designed Michelle Obama's Inagural Ball Dress uses.

Felissa Elfenbein Miami, Florida
Stella & Dot Indepedent Stylist
To check out the collection
www.stelladot.com/felissahadas

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