leading lady - light vs. dark

After completing my first half marathon Sunday morning, all I wanted to do/could do was lay in bed and be lazy. Thank goodness the Oscars were on! While dissecting the red carpet fashions, I noticed the division between between light and airy gowns vs. dark metallics with a few saturated hues sprinkled in (horray!). Here's a quick rundown...

neon neutrals

pink + red: a little Vday eye candy

Since I will be spending Valentine's Day coaching and corralling 25 teenage soccer girls {how romantic}, I thought I would bid you a very lovey dovey Valentine's Day and inspire you with some red + pink. Don't you love? 

I also want to remind you that there are still a few pieces left from the Valentine's Sale! Don't forget to browse before we spring into the new season {see what I did there??}. And for those of you who are paying attention I'm taking another 15% off. 

Before you go, I know F/W 2013 fashion week is going on right now and this is way off season and sooo last year but I just fell in love with the Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2012 show. Talk about an explosion of color combos {plus perfect examples of the red + pink we're talking about here}. 

Check it out: Salvatore Ferragamo - Spring 2012 Show via Vogue


Happy XOXO day!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

Grammy's!!!!

Melissa wearing our rock crystal and gold chain necklace at the Grammy's

Wow, what did you think of the Grammy's last night? Our remote got a good workout switching between Downton Abbey, the Walking Dead, and the Grammy's but I would have to say the bits I watched I was pretty entertained (well, except for Frank Ocean's Forest Gump bit... keep running Forest).

PLUS, if you are a fan of my facebook page you would have noticed that one of my necklaces made an appearance at the Grammy's on my stunning art advisor friend Melissa Flory Mathis! She killed it in a hugging black number and rock crystal necklace {see above}. LOVE.

Here are some other ladies that I thought were a HIT:

love RiRi's red number by Azzedine Alaia, probably could have used a little more coverage but hey it's RiRi

Kelly Rowland in a geometric peek-a-boo George Chakra Couture gown

Karlie Koss in Michael Kors - flattering cut out in an electric robin's egg blue

And then the MISS:

Adele you are amazing! but I am not a fan of this Valentino floral mess

as a jewelry designer I admired the beading detail on top of Katy Perry's Gucci dress but found the low cut, long sleeves, and color a little off

Guiliana Ranci - arg! I hate that you are on my MISS list because I love you so much but girlfriend this just washes you out *sad face

Do you agree with my picks?

Images via

be mine - valentine's sale

1. Merrick Jewels - Sunburst collar necklace in red howlite 2. Merrick Jewels - Orbitz necklace {gold} 3. Magenta quartz teardrop earrings 4. Merrick Jewels - Socialite teardrop earrings

An assortment of Merrick Jewels pics for your viewing pleasure! Annnddd some are up to 40% off till February 14th for our Valentine's Sale (under the Sale tab on the site). Take advantage of this steal while they're available. Beautiful baubles, will you be mine?

be mine

Valentine's Day is around the corner and I would bet that it hasn't crossed my hardworking hubby's mind... yet. So, I'm being very subtle by posting my little wish list ALL over the internet. Mmmkay? Some of these items have been in my wish list for a little while and some are newbies. I tried to stay very cost conscious with some under $15 and a couple around the $50 range and one sneaky exception! See if you can find it... gimme.

Number one might be in my cart before Valentine's Day because this is such a good idea. I used to journal all the time - pages and pages about boys and blah but as we all know in our late 20's "ain't nobody got time for that". A sweet one liner every day is perfff. Loving the rhinestone studs in rose gold (edgy and chic) and I will have those leopard pillows on my couch ASAP. As they say, "I've never met a leopard I didn't like" (me and Snooki both, ugh). Will post some Merrick Jewels Valentine's goodies later this week. Smooches.

P.S. Someone make me those Geronimo heart balloons. I'll be your friend forever. :)

1. one line a day 5 year journal - Urban Outfitters/Amazon 2. Vince Camuto rose gold rhinestone pyramid studs - Nordstrom 3. Geronimo heart balloons - DIY at Hobby Lobby 4. sea urchin gold sculpture - Pieces 5. velvet leopard throw pillows - Arianna Belle 6. Karen Walker sunnies - Shopbop

continuing education

If you follow me in Instagram {MerrickJewels} you'll notice that I posted this picture last night from my day long jewelry class extravaganza. This time I'm not the teacher (like my jewelry classes at Safe Haven) but the student. There's something to learning new techniques that is so intimidating at first but invigorating once you dive in and get your feet wet. 

Small business owners and artisans - *note to self*. 

Now I have millions of ideas buzzing around in my head {a creative high}.

While at the University of Texas pursuing my art history degree, my mother insisted that I at least dabble in the jewelry metalworking class in the fine arts department at least while I was there (her knowing that jewelry was on the radar screen but not in the forefront and me thinking I wanted to own my own art gallery like Charolette in SATC...

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but in reality I might have ended up like those caddy girls in Bravo's reality show "Gallery Girls" no thanks)...

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I passed seeing as I couldn't fit the studio time into my busy junior schedule and focused more on being some frat guy's girlfriend (hehe my husband, Ryan) and attempting not to fail french. Je ne sais quoi... what I was thinking.

Now a bagillion years later here I am kicking myself and wishing I would have taken those classes. But better late than never dad gum it. Who am I kidding, 28 is not late... just seems late in hindsight. The exciting part is that I'm hoping to add some custom Merrick Jewels metal pieces to my designs. And who knows - when someone asks me if I made my WATCH... next time I might be able to say yes. 

:)