Who Said Anything About Being Perfect?

It's time to leave Perfection town




Dear God

“Help me not to be a perfectionist (did I spell that correctly?)”
“Help me to relax about insignificant details, beginning tomorrow at 7:41:23 am”
“Help me to not try to run everything….but, if you need some help, please feel free to ask me…..”

Mmmm, sound like someone?

Where exactly have we got the message that we need to be perfect? Where was that written down, because I can’t for the life of me seem to remember ever seeing it anywhere. And yet, we all try to be perfect.

Well I don’t know about you, but I’ve decided to give up striving for perfection and have decided that EXCELLENCE is a better objective.



When we aim for perfection in everything, I think, we are unconsciously setting ourselves up for certain failure. After all there’s only ONE way to be perfect in any particular endeavour and SO many ways (an infinite number of ways) to be less than perfect. For example:

*What does it take to ruin a perfect day? Just one little 15-seconds of unpleasantness

*What does it take to ruin the perfect “significant other?” Just one little annoying habit



But excellence takes into acount our “imperfections”.

Subsequently, it also becomes extremely liberating to stop demanding that everyone else be perfect too (and believe me THEY also feel liberated!)

I discovered that my own urge to be perfect was a need to CONTROL everything and everyone. But we don’t have to control the creative process. In fact, we can’t!!! We just have to get what we really do want clear in our minds and proceed from there, through the rest of the process. Now instead of thinking about being “better than” or “the best at…”, I just aim at being really good at what I am doing. It now feels right, and it gives me a LOT to reach for, because there’s definitely a “gap” there to relax into. But now, this objective doesn’t beat me over the head every time I make a little mistake….and it keeps me from beating other people over the head when they make mistakes too!




Hmmm, maybe you would like to resign your position from the Perfection Police.
I mean think about. People who call themselves perfectionists are really IMperfectionists. They are always looking for what’s wrong, not what’s right.


So my prescription: Expect excellence from yourself in a way that motivates and inspires you, but don’t set yourself up to fail at being perfect every minute.

The 3 Reasons People Come into Our Lives

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.


Image via stylesncream.blogspot.com


When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then without any wrong-doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring this relationship to an end. Sometimes the ending is created by death. Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.This is usually really hard for me-letting go. But as I have grown older I have come to realize (through trial and error) that trying to force these friendships to continue is usually detrimental, and can lead to a once beautiful friendship becoming quite toxic.


Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelieveable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.


LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
My best friend Pri and I have been friends for 20+ years. We now only see each other once a year (when I travel back to the UK), but when we do it is like NO time has passed. We simply pick up where we left off. Of course we communicate year-long by phone or e.mail. When either of us needs a listening ear we always know the other will be there. On the other hand, when either of us have good news, we are the first to call each other. When she recently graduated from University as a mature student I am sure she could have heard me cheering from Spain! Also when I started my boutique, she was the first person I told, and she was my first customer. She is definitely a "lifetime" friend and I couldn't imagine my life without her being in it (without us living in each others pockets). In fact I love her more than I do my own sister (but that's a whole other post!)


Any thoughts?
Do you have a "Pri" in your life?

Love her or hate her!

Well this month Victoria Beckham is gracing the cover of yet another Vogue (UK) for the sixth time on her own! Pretty impressive I think.

Now she has had her critics for as far back as I can remember but I have always loved her. Why?

It doesn’t seem to matter who knows her, they all seem to say the same thing; she is the funniest and most down-to-earth person they know. That surely doesn’t come easy when you have the world at your feet, are married to one of the most gorgeous men on the planet (well I think so!), and seem to have clothes and shoes that the rest of us can only dream of.

I remember when she appeared in Ugly Betty, the cast and crew were so surprised that she arrived at the studio only with her husband and her children; not a PA in sight!

Simon Cowell (who certainly doesn’t suffer fools gladly) said that she was the most down-to-earth celebrity he knew. That really is a compliment.


What I like about her is that all the time the British and Spanish press tore her to shreds, she just kept her head down. She didn’t retaliate; she just kept working hard at everything she did.

All my Spanish friends hate here and I think that is purely down to the press she received when David Beckham was playing in Spain for Real Madrid. She resisted living in Spain for many years, spoke of her dislike of garlic, and the Spanish have never forgiven her for that (if it's true).

Thankfully the US press (who love a “trier”) embraced her, and consequently she has come into her own and blossomed. I for one am really pleased for her. The British (especially the British press) seem to love building people up only to then get great pleasure from tearing them down. This has thankfully not happened since she moved to the US where the whole family have been embraced. So why are we Brits so surprised she wants to stay in the US?

She is definitely like Marmite; you either love her or hate. I definitely love her. Beneath the glossy mane, false eylashes and Berkin bags is a fighter with a steely ring of determination that never falters ; I love that!

What’s your view?
See more of the interview at www.vogue.co.uk

Our Divas Don't Sleep!

OK, so here we are just finishing the first week in January, and when most people are shopped out and recovering from the holiday season, the Divas that buy from our boutique are still shopping (I am not complaining, just very, very grateful!)
Here's the items that were most popular as we kicked off 2011.


OK this was actually bought at the end of December by my wonderful blog friend Adrienne over at The Rich Life on a Budget
In fact she bought the new color called Fume (which is so new I don't have a photo from the designer yet).Basically it's a gorgeous smoky, brown, tobacco color. Adrienne bought it as a reward for her new exercise regime (pop over to her blog and read all about her efforts; it's truly inspirational if you are in a "fitness funk" after the holiday indulgences). I'm hoping once her ring arrives she will post a photo so you can all the see the new color.




A few people purchased this ring this week.As you can see from the second photo, it opens up like a locket and is deep/big enough to put a sentimental momento inside. One customer wanted to put a lock of her sisters hair after her sister died from cancer at the end of last year. How heartbreaking!




If you are all "glitzed out" after the party season, these earrings seem to be quite popular; I think it's because after all the glitz and glamor, these are still classy enough to wear during the day without looking like a Christmas tree.I know mine have been on my ears quite a bit this week.



Finally the earrings that made it onto the ears of an MTV Diva, sold quite a few at the end of last year and this week. Who is the Diva? Don't be naughty, you know I can't tell. OK, you naughty bunnies, here are some clues: She is a singer-song- writer, she plays the piano, she had a hit last year singing about a very special city in America, and she has just had a baby boy!

OK, so there you have it, a quick update of what our loyal Divas bought this week.







All items available from LUXURIA

Happy New Year from Luxuria!

Well a belated Happy New Year to all my wonderful blogger friends. As some of you will already know from my tweets I went back to a snowy UK for Christmas. After having my flight canceled for 4 days running and feeling like I would never get there, we finally arrived on the 23 Dec.It was certainly worth all the countless wasted hours sitting in Seville airport.



A gloomy day outside Kensington Palace. I always feel really sad when I pass the late Princess Diana's home


I never expected to find them cooking a paella outside an old English pub. Very strange!


Shopping in Fortnum & Masons (London) on Christmas Eve



Knightsbridge Arcade in "Ye Olde England" style; really classy shops



Who said you can't eat cupcakes for breakfast! (Harrods Food Hall, London)



Having only arrived back 2 days ago I am still catching up on all the wonderful blogs I missed, and thought I would just touch base with you all in case some of you thought I had dropped off the edge of the earth!

Firstly I want to start this year by saying a HUGE thank you to all the wonderful friends/followers I have obtained since I started blogging a few months ago (yes, I really am a "blog virgin!") You have all made me feel so welcome on the blogsphere, as well as teaching me so much about how it is all done. I have suffered from serious "blog envy" with practically every blog I follow, and usually have to go and lie down after reading some of your fab blogs in the hope that lying horizontally may help my creative juices (so far it hasn't worked!) Therefore, I hope I can continue to learn from all of you very talented bloggers. It's been an absolute pleasure getting to know you all and I hope our friendships continue throughout this year.

With regards our boutique, I am looking forward to lots of exciting things here at Luxuria HQ. Our first in-house design (designed by moi!) has now been made, and I am just waiting for the samples to arrive. I hope I will be able to show it to you in my next blog post. Here's some hints to wet your appetite; it has been designed specifically for the "pinky" finger and includes black onyx in the design. I can only describe it as decadent, classy and indulgent! Keep your eyes peeled. We may run a competition with this new design as the prize. Have I teased you enough?

Also we are in discussions with more fab designers who want to showcase their wares in our boutique, so as they start coming on board I will let you all know.

So I will end this short post by just wishing you all health, happiness, and of course lots of "bling" for 2011.

Christmas with Luxuria!

OK, I feel very guilty for neglecting my blog over the last few weeks, but things have been crazy at Luxuria HQ leading up to Christmas. I'm not complaining, but it has meant that i) I haven't been able to follow some of the fab blogs I usually read, ii) all my creative juices have been completed zapped in the manicness of the Christmas rush, and consequently iii) I haven't had any inspiration for my own blog.

So I thought I would share with you some of the things that made me smile at Luxuria HQ this week.



These have definitely proved to be our best seller for Christmas. They have been flying out the "cyber door". The most popular is the 3 stone ring although I personally prefer the 2 stone ring (but I know I am in the minority on this one).




I know these two versions of beautiful solid silver cuffs that we sell will be in quite a few stockings this Christmas. Needless to say that it has been mostly men that have purchased these over the last month!



A few luck ladies will also be receiving this gorgeous necklace on Christmas morning. This necklace is the most expensive item we sell in our boutique, and again all purchases were made by men (some lucky ladies out there!)




OK, no need to feel neglected chaps, as many lovely ladies have purchased these gorgeous solid silver cufflinks. I personally hate insects (especially wasps!), but these are really, really classy, yet with a modern twist.




Finally I'm just deciding which earrings to wear on New Years Eve? It's the night when "plain" just won't do; it's the night to be a Diva and proud of it! I'm still undecided though-what do you think?

OK, that's it for this week. I hope to get one more post in before I go off on my Christmas hols.Hope you are all enjoying the lead-up to Christmas and your shopping isn't proving too stressful.
Happy December Lovelies!!!!


(All items shown are available from Luxuria)

Simply Luxurious!

Please pop over to The Simply Luxurious newsletter where I am interviewed for the "Reader Spotlight". I gave my views on all things luxurious and had a really fun time asking the questions posed to me. I LOVE this newsletter and corresponding blog because at a time when "luxury" is something most people cannot even consider, it's a great way to dream. Shannon (the writer of both the blog and newsletter) always reminds us that luxury isn't only about living the "rich life"; it's more profound than that. Luxury can mean different things to different people. Her blog always has the most "luxurious" images;it's real decadence without taking out your credit card. I am always telling her what "blog envy" I have for her blog!

Pop over and see if you agree with my interpretation of luxury, and a BIG thank you to the wonderful Shannon for featuring me/Luxuria in this weeks newsletter.

Here's the link to the newsletter.
http://aweber.com/b/1xCZJ
Click on her image/button to the right of this post to go straight to her blog; you will not be disaapointed.

Brit designer Eli Spanning joins Luxuria!

OK, in amongst the excitement of our Facebook competition which is buzzing (we have nearly reached our target after only 3 days, so a second prize of Swarovski earrings have been added!) I forgot to mention that the wonderful Brit designer Eli Spanning has joined our boutique.

Her trendy bracelets are fabulous. So if "bling is not your thing", then you will love these.



All bracelets are made in cord and metal and come in various colors. If you don't see a color you fancy I can put your request into Eli, who will try and conjure up your color choice.

The design above also has two round discs which can be engraved for a small extra charge. These would make such FAB, and affordable Christmas presents.



As a special promotion, we are offering FREE SHIPPING on any Eli Spanning designs shown above from now, until Sunday 5 December. All you have to do is add the code: BLOG-ES to your order form and it will be whizzed to you wherever you are in the world!

Don't miss this opportunity to stand out from the crowd this party season.

Luxuria Facebook Competition!

OK friends up for grabs are these GORGEOUS Swarovski crystal earrings by Dutch designer Mieke. These are just perfect for the forthcoming party season and are in a beautiful gun-metal grey (Night Shade is the name!).
Can't you just imagine these dangling from your ears this Christmas or New Years Eve?

OK, all you have to do is go to our Fan page on Facebook and:
i) become a Fan (and leave a comment saying you are a new Fan).To become a Fan now all you have to do is click the "Like" button on our Page, or
ii) if you are already a Fan get your friends to become fans.
We need to reach 250 Fans on our Page by 23 November for a name to be drawn for the prize. If we don't reach 250 by this date, the earrings will be mine (and I know you prefer to have them dangling from your earlobes). We already have 99 Fans so we are nearly there; not many more to go.

So good luck and I hope I have the pleasure of sending the earrings to one of my faithful blog followers.

Renowned NY Designer joins Luxuria!!

Well, it's been a few weeks since my last post; life suddenly became super busy. But I am so excited to announce that a new designer has joined Luxuria. New York designer Victoria Tillotson's beautiful pieces can now be seen on our website (www.luxuria-jewellery.com)

Victoria and I connected by chance as neither of us have a typical jewellery designer background (both of us have academic/science backgrounds). I guess neither of us imagined that there would be another scientist interested in contemporary/modern jewellery.

Victoria's designs have been showcased in Allure, InStyle and Lucky magazines, as well as adorning the earlobes of a very famous MTV Diva!!!!

She is also the author of 'Chic Metal-Modern Metal to Make at Home' and has contributed to many other jewellery and jewellery making books. Now you can understand why we are so honoured that she has joined us.

Just take a look at some of her gorgeous earrings (all are available from Luxuria).



Silver hammered double hoops with 12 sparkling gemstones in rich purple Amethyst and black streaked tourmalated Quartz.



A sparkling cascade of 5 hammered silver mini squares, accented with a faceted Aquamarine stone. Earrings are 3" (7.5cm) long.These would look fab at a Christmas celebration/party. One of my favorites!!!


These earrings are absolutely DIVINE, and so unusual.Gorgeous hammered silver with Iolite gemstone.


These are the "famous" MTV Diva earrings!!



I am definitely buying these. They are hammered into an organic pomegranate shape (perfect for Fall/Autumn). Gorgeously
discreet enough to wear during the day without looking like a Christmas tree.


So there you have a sneak view of Victoria's designs. More can be seen on our site, along with all the prices.

As a special promotion we are offering FREE shipping for any one of Victoria's designs,from now until Thanksgiving Day (offer ends on Thanksgiving Day)

Would love to hear your views on this collection.

The Drink of All Divas!

One drink that is always associated with decadence and divas, is Champagne (well bearing in mind Mariah Carey won't sing a note without a dressing-room supply, then you can see how this perception has grown.

Here's some more facts/trivia about the bottle we always love to pop when there is a celebration:


*Hip hop favourite Cristal was the first prestige brand created in 1876. P Diddy did his bit for the brands street cred when for his 29th birthday at New Yorks Cipriani, the bill for SIX free-flowing champagne bars was $500,000!

*The world's ritziest concoction is the Diamond Martini served at London's Sheraton Park Tower. For up to 4,000 Pounds (approx $6,500) a glass, you get a heady mix of vintage cognac, Champagne, Angostura bitters, a sugar cube- oh, and a loose diamond of your choice!



*Despite the recession, Champagne sales leapt by 14% in the UK last year.

*Legend has it that the champagne "coupe" (a shallow broad rimmed goblet) was modeled on the shape of Marie Antoinette's breast, using wax moulds.

*James Bond is portrayed as a frequent drinker of champagne. A count reveals 35 occasions in which he is portrayed drinking Champagne. I am surprised as I always thought his drink was Martini; shaken not stirred!



*A Champagne corks leaves the bottle at a velocity of approx.38-40 mph, but can pop out as fast as 100 mph!

*The pressure in a bottle of champagne is 90 pounds per square inch, about three times that in an automobile tire.



*There are approximately 49 millions bubbles in a 750ml bottle calculated by scientist Bill Lembeck. Wouldn't you have loved to be involved in the fact-finding?



*Marilyn Monroe is said to have once taken a bath in the bubbly. According to her biographer, it took 350 bottles to fill the tub.

*The average 120ml glass contains 90 calories and contains antioxidants that lower blood pressure.Compare to some calorie laden cocktails,what more excuse do you need to indulge?

So there you have it, some facts about the Divas drink of choice. Having put this post together, I can now confess I don't like Champagne!

What about you? Can you take it or leave it, or is it really your drink for celebrating in style?


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The Million Dollar Bracelet

A £3 million collection of jewellery once owned by Wallis Simpson went on display ahead of its auction at Sothebys.

The pieces chronicle Mrs Simpson's scandalous affair with Edward VIII that shocked Britain and led to the King abdicating in 1936 for the woman he loved.
Messages of love and support are inscribed on some of the items that also document Edward's brief period on the throne and his married life with the American.



The 20 pieces, many made by Cartier, were first sold in Geneva 23 years ago with a host of other objects owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as the pair were later titled.

Sotheby's will auction the collection in November but is exhibiting the pieces in London until September 29 before showing the items in Hong Kong, Moscow, New York and Geneva.

The objects are not only beautifully preserved, incomparable examples of the genius of Cartier in collaboration with the Windsors, but also pieces whose inscriptions tell the story of perhaps the greatest love story of the 20th century, the romance that led Edward VIII to abdicate the throne of Great Britain.

Highlights of the sale include an onyx and diamond panther bracelet and a flamingo-shaped ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine and diamond clip, both by Cartier and estimated to fetch up to £1.5 million each.



The jewels not only represent the height of fashion at the time they were made but give an insight into the life of the famous couple, and many pieces in the sale are dated and bear inscriptions of an intimate nature.

A diamond dress suite estimated to make £90,000 and made by Cartier in 1935 is engraved with the initials W and E and the inscription 'Hold Tight' - a phrase used by the Duke and Duchess in their correspondence during the abdication crisis.

The Duchess' favorite diamond Cartier bracelet, which supports nine gem-set Latin crosses, has one cross engraved with a reminder of an assassination attempt against the King - 'God save the King for Wallis 16.VII.36'.



The auction is estimated to make up to £450,000.

I trust we will ALL be going !!!



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Friday Jewellery Quotes

"You can always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you." (Audrey Hepburn)




"My husband gave me a necklace. It's fake; I requested fake. Maybe I'm paranoid, but in this day and age, I don't want something around my neck that's worth more than my head!" (Rita Rudner)




"I would rather lose a good earring than be caught without make-up." (Lana Turner)

Hope you enjoyed these quotes. Wishing all you lovelies a great weekend.


(All images are the property and copyright of Luxuria).

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