Valentine’s day is right around the corner. Many men and women are getting ready to pop the question to their significant others. So I decided to give you some wisdom in selecting the perfect ring for you future husband or wife to be. I am going to discuss the 4 C’s of a diamond.  So get your notebook out, I am going to take you to class on diamonds!

Lets talk about Carats

This has nothing to do with the vegetable. A carat is just an industry term for weight of a diamond.  A carat weight accounts for the biggest portion of the diamond value. In order words, the bigger the diamond, the more Money it is worth. We all love $! The average cost of a diamond engagement ring is $3,500 to $4,00. Make sure that your diamond is certified. The best agencies are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gemological Society (AGS). I prefer the GIA!

The Cut!

Out of the 4 C’s,  the cut of the diamond is the most important. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance. OK, so you probably want to know what is brilliance.  Brilliance is the brightness of a diamond. The cut also deals with the angle of the diamond and how the diamond handles light.  Remember that dark spots in your diamond is not a good sign of a great cut.

The Color

The color of a diamond is important. Each diamond is graded . It grades diamonds from D through F (colorless) G through J (Near Colorless) K - M (faint yellow) N through Z  (very light to light yellow). If you want a colorless diamond- you want a diamond graded D, E or F. Color diamonds beyond Z are graded differently. The lower the Grade like D —the more value the diamond has. In other words, a diamond with a Z grade does not have as much value as a D grade diamond. This is the only time when a D is great to have.

The final C- Clarity

Diamonds are graded from FL (flawless) to I3 (imperfect). Flawless diamonds do not have any inclusions or blemishes under 10X magnification. Imperfect diamonds have many imperfection and can affect the brilliance of a diamond. My opinion, you should worry about the clarity of the diamond, if you have a imperfect diamond, the flaws are visible to the human eye. Who wants a diamond where you can see a spot or two.

I hope this help all my couple otu there. So get your wallets out and help boost the economy– buy a diamond!

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How to keep your News Years Resolution and look great doing it!

1.    Lose Weight
Experts say to work out at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes. If you are trying to lose a lot of weight than work out 5 times a week. I suggest getting an exercise journal (to track your progress and exercise regiment), a good pair of sneakers, and a charm! Yes, a charm! A charm can remind you of your resolution. You can find many charms that are geared towards exercising! I found a lovely sterling silver exercise bike charm by Rembrandt Charms for $28.00.

2.    Managing your debt
If you are debt, I suggest that you developing a Budget. You cannot control your debt without knowing where your money is going. The next step is to contact your creditors and set up a payment plan. You can reduce your payments to a more manageable rate. This can be applied to car payments and home loan payments.

If your accounts have been turned over to a debt collector, than know your rights. A debt collector may not call you before 8 a.m., after 9 p.m., or while you’re at work if the collector knows that your employer doesn’t approve of the calls. Collectors may not harass you, lie, or use unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. Creditors must honor a written request from you to stop further contact.

I suggest that you getting Managing Debt For Dummies. It is a great book for everyone trying to be Debt free.

3.    Save Money
We all love to shop but make sure you put a little cash on the side. If you do not trust many of the banks in the world today than go back to the good old piggy bank. Yes, piggy banks are still around and they are very stylish! If you have spare changes from buying those great earrings or that fabulous new shirt, then drop those coins in your new piggy bank. You will be surprise by how much you will have. Try out this piggy bank. This piggy is stylish and so cosmopolitan!

4.    Get a better Job

If you are sick of your job, my suggestion is to stick with it. Remember we are in a recession and getting a job is very hard. If you are determine to getting a new job or entering the job market for the first time, I suggest that you various versions of your resume. If you are applying to a job, show your skills/experiences that fit that job. Add relevant job experience for your chosen position. You may need to increase your skills and experiences in your dream job. There are several things you can do to build up your resume such as establishing a network, interning at a company, and/or learning a new skill -such as a language.

There is also other creative ideas to get a job such as a tee with your resume on the back! This is the best way to market yourself in these rough times.

Here is a list of all the merchandise mentioned above:

1. http://www.rembrandtcharms.com/Home/CharmDetail?ClassID=10&StyleID=6395&SizeID=0&cate_id=0&p=1&cs=exercise%20bike&pp=10
2. http://www.dummies.com/store/product/Managing-Debt-For-Dummies.productCd-0470084863,navId-322436.html
3. http://www.amazon.com/Volcoino-Piggy-Bank-Chrome-Umbra/dp/B0019TYR0U/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231236349&sr=8-18
4. http://www.blackbirdtees.com/store/resume-tees-65/your-future-employee-tee-202.html

We all know to look to Tiffany & Co. for their classic silver charm bracelets and baby rattles, but did you know they also have an excellent line of travel accessories?

For the world traveler, Tiffany & Co. has gorgeous leather passport covers that come in multiple colors, including their signature Tiffany Blue.

And what person travelling wouldn’t love to have a classy travel alarm clock to make sure they make it to their important meetings on time? Tiffany & Co. has many styles to fit any one’s taste.

With excellent quality and reputation like Tiffany, you can expect some of their prices to be a little on the higher side. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to get top notch accessories for yourself or your loved ones. If you’re looking for something a little more on the frugal side, how about a leather travel jewelry case, at just $75, for her? And for him, Tiffany & Co. has a wide array of business card holders starting at just $65.

Shop Gen Art is the quintessential shopping event for the savvy fashionista.  With events in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco guests can purchase clothing and accessories by emerging high end designers at up to 70% off!  With an open bar (sponsored by Bailey’s and Rum Jumbie!), a DJ Lounge courtesy of Crunch, and beauty product sampling and services (provided by ECRU NEW YORK and the Chopra Spa!) – This is an event not to be missed!

Shop Gen Art NYC is taking place on Monday, December 1st and is guaranteed to feature some of the hottest fashion, accessory and beauty lines within tastemaker culture. Cop items by numerous unique brands that are highly sought after by those who have a passion for individuality and fashion, with merchandise available from luminaries such as Bijules, Armour Beauty, Mimi Turner, The Lake & Stars, Falls and more.

This is a great opportunity for you to score some must have items before anyone else, and also a great chance to find the perfect holiday gift for even the most fickle friend or family member on your shopping list this year.

To purchase tickets visit the Gen Art site…

And, for discounted ticket info, visit the Bijules blog for details

Northern Japan: World’s Best Ski Destination Skiing is one of life’s most marvelous and amazing escapades. Its scenic magnificence and stunning outdoor style can surely bring an unforgettable thrill of an adventure that is blended with total fun and excitement.  One of the best ski destinations that can offer more than just ordinary skiing experience can be found in Northern Japan.  Why Northern Japan?  Perfect deep and downy powder snow can only be found in Northern Japan, especially in Niseko, making it the best place to enjoy skiing on the holidays.   And that would also mean lots more fun and entertainment.  Aside from that, Niseko’s food and culture are great. You’ll get to eat lots of delicious cuisines straight from the heart of Japan’s bountiful delicacies and specialties.  Restaurants and cafes are accessible in the mountains and at the base of the ski lifts.  One good thing is that the prices of the food are affordable and there are a lot of foods to choose from.  The people are very friendly.  Most locations have English signs and English speaking staff available (rarity in Japan).  Life’s greatest adventures Niseko’s ski-able area is close to sea-level and rises as high as 1200 meters with about 1000 meters in elevation.  You can choose from the table tops, tree rounds, mogul fields, half-pipes, first timer slopes, and quarter pipes.  Don that woolly hat So what are you waiting for? Don that woolly hat and wax those skis and boards for you are about to experience a different kind of a blast. Start sliding down those white snows and have the greatest time of your life.