Jewels in My Midst

Photo of Mary Marino.

I walk in and out of town fairly frequently, and shop locally on Valley Road as often as possible rather than take to a highway and head to the mall [exception: Tory Burch, shirts for Sis's husband, Don, etc.].

For a couple months, I've noticed a pop-up jewelry store advertised in the window of Wade Maxx Art Gallery & Framing. Today I finally popped in.

You made the right decision coming in, said Mary Marino, who makes the jewelry and had a big fashion job at Chico's company for years. I wasn't sure at first. I thought the jewelry was a bit too...big for me. But then I saw it, a beautiful long necklace that first reminded me of Chanel, since it was black and white and pearls. But it has this cool long tassel on the bottom. It looks like an investment piece [and costs a bit over $100], something I can wear on work appointments [as a writer], on job interviews and on city outings. I ended up choosing one that mixes it up with sparkly and flat beads but the same fringed tassel, too. I love it! I couldn't afford to buy the whole thing today so I paid for 1/3 of it to hold it. I can wear it to a lot of holiday parties this year!

Then, Ria of Wade Maxx and Mary invited me to come and bring Punchy to their holiday party tonight, which was fun. Punch--who had a couple of rough spots in her day, at school and at CCD--reveled in it. She offered everyone cookies from a tin and mixed special cocktails with Pellegrino water and berries or peppermint sticks.

Here's a LINK from baristanet to read about the jeweler. Her website is flashionista.com, but I don't see my necklace or a lot of other great pieces I saw tonight on the site, so if you are in or near Montclair, pop in to the pop-up. I think Mary will be there through the holidays.

Good night.

TCOY

1. Walked to and from salon blowout. But bad news, my beloved Vamp, with $20 blowouts, is scaling back and will no longer offer blowouts and pedicures.
2. Going to bed now. H. has been in San Francisco area for a few days for work and Punch has not been sleeping well, due to a cold, and neither have I.