Merry, Merry, Ho, Ho, Ho!

Macy's Herald Square

Wheeee, I'm an elf! In Santas workshop you will find me- with Elizabeth, Jose, and Taylor, our new intern. We're stringing Swarovski baubles onto wires, setting beautiful jewels into gold and silver fittings and drinking eggnog all day long. Why? It's Christmastime, and we've got to get those gifts ready for the big day.

Lord & Taylor'sss

I know, many of us don't have chimneys, but we've all got mailboxes, and hey, it's 2010 and I saw on TV that even Santa uses UPS to make sure all the gifts are where they should be.

Christmas in New York is always fun and hectic at the same time. I didn't make it to the Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony, where the star on top is a giant Swarovski crystal, because there was so much security they had to move the jewel display out of the plaza and have the ceremony down on the ice-skating rink. I know the thousands of folks who went had a great time, and it is a really beautiful tree this year.

We went to see the department store windows yesterday. My favorite will always be Lord & Taylor, with their intricate miniature christmas and holiday scenes in every 5th avenue window. Just look at these guys, they are really cute! Inside the store, a recent renovation has turned it back into the masterpiece I remember, everything is so white, so bright, and the place was packed with shoppers. Then, it was over to Macy's on 34th street, where you can now stop for a hot chocolate in the giant plaza the city has created where Broadway and 6th avenue cross. When you are in your car you'll curse these silly plazas, our Mayor has decided that traffic will somehow flow better if you close most of the street, but when you are on foot they give you a place to slow down and enjoy the views. The Empire State Building is blue for Chanukah, and looks great from this part of town.

We had some great food at Seven Bar and Grill, it's a secret spot right near Madison Square Garden serving wonderful fish and a great thin crust pizza appetizer. I highly recommend this place if you're nearby, though most nights a reservation is in order. Full and happy, it was back home to work a bit more, today we filled a dozen orders so they can go out first thing Monday morning.

Fashionistas from everywhere love the jewelry featured in People StyleWatch- Zoe is wearing our Crystal Mosaic Earrings which we've got in 10 colors. Check out the link, and enjoy! This weekend it's an encore presentation of the black-friday free shipping event, People StyleWatch has a promo code and we've got our BOGO sale running till the end of the year, so you and a friend can get a pair if you like.

the Angie Earring

Another hot, hot item is the Icy Cool Earring, it's a 2 1/2 inch long Swarovski piece in the nicest shade of aqua, they are literally flying out the door after being featured in Self Magazine. Another favorite is the Angie Earring, created for Angelina you-know-who! This brilliant pear shaped crystal is on sale at only $68, they look great with practically anything. So if you want some twinkle, some bling, some ice, and some sparkle, robertachiarella.com has what you desire. And your faithful elves will pick and pack and ship until the last moment to make sure you get your jewelry in plenty of time for the holidays. Ciao!

giving thanks on thanksgiving (it's not just a harvest meal)

That's what they called it, a harvest meal, enjoyed by the pilgrims after all the crops were in. To celebrate the completion of the harvest, the new england colonists went hunting with the indians and put together a real feast. In 1621, the year of the "first thanksgiving",the american colonists were celebrating the bountiful crops they had produced that year. Back then, it was easier to gauge the economy than it is now - if your crops failed it was a recession. You had to go borrow from the indians, and promise to pay when the next ships came over from europe. If you're curious, look up Edward Winslow's journal on the first thanksgiving.

One thing I love about thanksgiving is it is a holiday everybody celebrates. It became a national holiday during the civil war. Abraham Lincoln was looking for ways to unite the nation, and in 1863 he gave his Thanksgiving proclamation which declared the last Thursday in November a day of thanksgiving. Later, president Roosevelt wanted to lengthen the Christmas shopping season so he moved it up a couple of weeks. Finally, in 1941 congress decreed that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November, where it remains till today. So, we have to give thanks to the congress of 1941 for defining the christmas shopping season. Of course, this year everyone will be watching to see how the shopping goes, hoping for some signs that things aren't as bad as we are hearing.

Besides the economy being as lousy as it is, there are still things I am thankful for. I'm healthy, and so is my family. Our dogs tails are all wagging, little chicklet sent the grim reaper packing and is back to her usual happy state. We're moving the jewelry studio down the hall of my apartment building to new quarters. And, I'm not cooking a thing for this holiday!!

My cousin Diane is doing the honors and having us out to her new home in New Jersey. Uncle Ernie and Aunt Frances will be there, in her role as chef emeritus, making sure we have lots (and lots and lots) of good things to eat. There will be cakes and pies and some wine, and of course, football. In our family, we love to celebrate thanksgiving ! Hopefully Donna will bake, and we'll get to enjoy each others company and have a good time after catching the parade. We'll hang out with Carly, Jason and Michael, and their dog Coco.

Being the start of the holiday shopping season, the stores have unveiled their elaborate display windows. Take a walk down fifth avenue you will be amazed by Lord & Taylor's windows, this year the theme is my favorite holiday traditions, with a show that you won't find at disney world! In Manhattan, tourists are everywhere, taking in the sights and crowding into the stores. People are decorating, and beginning to feel the holiday spirit.

So, even if all you are thankful for is two days off, it is a nice time of the year. Give thanks for the for the special people in your life, for your family or anything that makes you happy. And if you can work in some shopping, retail therapy is a good thing.

American made jewelry (hint, hint) keeps more of our money here in the USA. Money spent on American Made products brings our workers more work to do and helps fight the deficit. I want to thank my friends at Swarovski for making me part of their crystallized elements affairs, they were so elegant. I thank my friends and hosts at HSN for some great shows, and hope I get to thank them some more when they realize that my customers, mostly working women, are only available to buy my line when they are home from work.

I'm thankful for the health and happiness of the pups, Lulu and Boomer (and thankful for the dog walker who gives them a chance to stroll around the city). I am thankful for my husband Brian, my brother and his partner Thomas. They've all been a great help with the business and getting this blog up and running.

I thank my wonderful associate, Liz, and Jose Luis, who help me keep the place hopping, take orders, charm customers into gift sets and handle returns or repairs with a smile. It's good to have so many things to be thankful for. If you're in the city, come and meet us at our holiday sale next week December 2nd and 3rd at the affinia hotel, 155 East 50th Street, in midtown manhattan. Ciao.