New items have been added to The Anniversary Shop
As promised, new items have been added. Find beautiful, hand-made garnet jewelry under years 2 and 40. These unique necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are sure to please. Buy for yourself or for someone else. Sometimes a little hint goes a long way.
You will find garnet with gold-fill or sterling silver. Some pieces contain more than just garnets. The Nichole necklace (shown here) is made of freshwater cultured pearls in shades of cinnamon, wine, rich cream, soft blue, and green, and the garnet is a deep, dark red faceted nugget. It also features a 14 karat gold-filled wire chain, handwrapping, and clasp. A coordinating Nichole bracelet is also available.
A great gift for a 2nd or 40th anniversary as well as a birthday in January (birthstone: garnet), June (birthsone: pearl), or August (birthstone: peridot).
Flowers fresh from the grower have also been added to year 1 - paper and year 4 - fruit and flowers. Fragrant paperwhites are a new twist on the paper theme for year 1, and a unique Clamondin Mandarin Orange bonsai tree and other bonsai trees are available as fruit and flowers for year 4. Give a gift that will keep on giving, and give your husband or wife a new hobby at the same time!
While you're at The Anniversary Shop, be sure to sign up for the mailing list to be entered to win a box of Bodega chocolate truffle bars and receive email notification of new products, specials, and featured items. Find the Sign up now to win! option on the Home page and enter your email address.
As always, thank you for shopping at The Anniversary Shop, for unique anniversary gifts, and keep Celebrating Wedding Anniversaries!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
New Items Added
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Chocolate for the Sixth Wedding Anniversary
Today is my 6th wedding anniversary - and the traditional gift for the 6th wedding anniversary? Sugar. My preferred form of sugar is chocolate. Chocolate in all forms tastes great, but the latest health information is that dark chocolate, the darkest you can find, is best for you.
I have known this for years. Who doesn't feel better after eating chocolate? More than that, though, the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most well-known and respected health organizations in the world, recently reported that the flavonoids (which you may not have heard of) in chocolate act as antioxidants (we've all heard of these), thus promoting better health and vitality. What about all the fat in chocolate? The Cleveland Clinic addresses that as well.
"You may be surprised to find out that chocolate isn’t as bad as once perceived. The fat in chocolate, from cocoa butter, is comprised of equal amounts of oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are forms of saturated fat. Saturated fats are linked to increases in LDL-cholesterol and risk for heart disease."
"Research indicates that stearic acid appears to have a neutral effect on cholesterol, neither raising nor lowering LDL-cholesterol levels. Palmitic acid on the other hand, does affect cholesterol levels but only comprises one-third of the fat calories in chocolate." (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter)
While only your doctor can tell you if you are eating too much chocolate, it appears that a little bit, especially dark chocolate, may be good for you. And, if you are celebrating your 6th wedding anniversary as I am, or if you just want to add chocolate to any celebration, visit The Anniversary Shop at The Anniversary Shop to find chocolate that can be delivered direct to your door.
While you are there, be sure to check out the Always Appropriate section for gifts for any occasion or year of marriage.
Bookmark The Anniversary Shop for all your gift-giving needs.
Read More......
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Flowers That Will Last
True to form, my husband brought flowers to me for our anniversary. Even though I told him I didn't want anything because we just retired and moved to a beautiful new home in a warmer climate, he just couldn't resist the bouquet of peachy roses, lilies, and carnations.
What can I say, though? How many wives would be upset that their husband remembered their anniversary - a few days early - and spent a few dollars for a quick but lasting smile?
If you would like flowers that will last much longer than the 5 days or so that my flowers generally last, visit The Anniversary Shop and find the beautiful Ariana flower necklace with peridot (4th Anniversary). Whether for yourself, an anniversary, a birthday, or a lovely way to say "I love you," the Ariana necklace will be a hit and remain vibrant and colorful for years to come.
As always, remember to Celebrate Wedding Anniversaries with The Anniversary Shop, your online store for traditional and modern anniversary gifts..
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
How It All Began
Recently my husband and I spent an evening with friends we had just met. Soon after we began eating, the conversation turned to how we met. My husband and I are one of the pioneers of online dating. At first I was embarassed to admit it, but as more and more people find love online, I don't mind telling people that we met through a Christian dating service.
Just over 8 years ago, at the age of 38, I began looking online for a husband. I lived in a small town all of my life, and there were few eligible men that I hadn't known my entire life. Online dating opened up a whole new world to me. Instead of being scared about the possibilites of "who might be out there," I was anxious to have a door to the world. Little did I know, my sister was worried enough for the both of us.
After meeting a few men online and meeting 2 or 3 of them in person, my husband came on the scene. We emailed a few times then met at church one Sunday morning as he was passing through from a trip out of state. Since that first meeting, my husband drove 100 miles each way every weekend to spend time with me and attend church together.
After a few months, God revealed to me that He had brought me the man I had been praying for. He is kind, gentle, and loving, and He loves God, me, and his family.
On my birthday 7 years ago, we went out for dinner and crossed the street to a gazebo in the park after dessert. Soon my husband handed a card to me. As I read it, I was oblivious to everything else going on around me. When I opened the card, he had written "This is good for one proposal." When I looked up and asked, "Are you asking me to marry you?," he was down on one knee in front of me with an open ring box in his hand.
As the saying goes, "The rest is history." This Saturday we will have been married 6 years. A lot has happened in those 6 years. Single for 40 years, I am now a grandmother of two of the most wonderful kids in the whole wide world. My husband and I recently retired from our full-time jobs and are living a moderate life in a warmer climate. We stay up late, sleep in when we want, and eat most of our meals at home (an amazing feat given that we previously ate out more than we ate in). He has started a second career part time and I am working at getting an online store set up to sell, you guessed it, anniversary gifts.
Why anniversary gifts? Because marriage is to be celebrated and marked with a special gift that will be remembered for years to come. Traditional and modern gift lists are available for suggestions on gift giving, but even more important than sticking to a list is finding a gift that fits your spouse or that special couple. It is great if it falls into the traditional or modern theme, but it is more important to be creative and celebrate with a gift that is unique and will be treasured.
At The Anniversary Shop, you will find gifts for most years (remember, I just retired and am still working on the site) and some that are appropriate for any year.
Send your story of how you met. Even though we often get cynical about marriage, it is still the most coveted relationship in the world.
Remember, celebrate your annivesary! It will do wonders for your marriage.