Just when I thought wedding planning couldn’t get any more time consuming….I hit the 100 day mark. Now, as I enter the last three months of my planning period I am realizing that, boy, there is still so much to do!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredibly exciting at the same time. I now actually feel like I am getting married and am looking forward to the wedding, and even more, the honeymoon! But, only 100 days? As the to-do lists pile up, how will I possibly handle all of this?

Well, my goal is actually pretty simple – continue to enjoy every moment of this experience. A few weeks ago I was starting to stress out, with decisions around invites, wedding rings, final confirmations of vendors, dress fittings, and more, but after a minor break down I took a step back. And I realized that no matter what these events are meant to be fun and I absolutely don’t want to miss out on that.

So, that is the attitude I am taking from now until the big day this summer. I am fully aware that the closer I get, the more hectic things will seem…but I am striving to not let it break me. My tip? Get organized and schedule time to get things done. Maybe that’s only because of my Type A personality – but, hey, I think it could help quite a few of you too!

Any other words of wisdom from previous brides? How did you handle the last few months of wedding planning?

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• wedding planning
• wedding stress
• wedding organization

Wow, it’s already March!? Are you in as much disbelief as I am??

Maybe it’s the slew of holidays and long weekends that have just passed us by. Or maybe it’s the fact that this winter has been rather “spring-like” in general (especially for those who are more used to blizzards and frigid temperatures), and we are now starting to get a bit more daylight back in our lives – but whatever it is, the normally dreary winter weeks are just flying by!

Now, I’m definitely not complaining – as there are only 19 more days until Spring and warm-weather fashion is in full force! Everywhere I turn – online, in stores, in magazines and ads – I see bright colors, dresses, shorts and tank tops. But even more in trend this Spring season? Accessories!

Seriously…if you love to shop as much as I do, you’ve definitely noticed that accessories seem to be all the rage right now. Clutches, watches, bangles, earrings and necklaces – no matter what your style, it seems there is something “in style” for you! 

But, I’ll be honest, as much of a fashionista as I consider myself, sometimes I hesitate when it comes to spending my money on these seasonal favorites. Being a little classic deep down, there is something I always love about traditional stud earrings or a simple diamond pendant to complement my everyday look.  And if I can add in fun, new clothes instead, these “timeless” accessories give me the polished look I am going for, all with a fashion-forward twist. 

But that’s just me! Some people prefer to keep their clothes simple and go crazy with accessories instead. What do you prefer when it comes to fashion this season?

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• diamond jewelry
• stud earrings
• 2012 fashion trends
• spring fashion
• accessories
• diamond pendant

Chances are, your husband-to-be took a good amount of time deciding on the perfect diamond engagement ring to propose with – so why do so many people blow off how important choosing a wedding band to complement this meaningful piece of jewelry is? A diamond ring that signifies your union as husband and wife, a diamond ring that you should love and cherish every time you look at it. 

Is it really just as simple as choosing the wedding band that perfectly complements your engagement ring? Many diamond jewelers, including Hearts On Fire, offer matching wedding bands to help make the decision easy, but this isn’t necessarily the right answer for everyone.

I recently went through this dilemma myself. As I continue to (so quickly!) approach my 2012 wedding date, there are more and more decisions to be made, and next on my list is ordering wedding bands! I thought this would be fairly simple – as I had my eye on a certain diamond band for several months now – but when it came time to sit down and decide, I’m left completely unsure of what to do…

Now, I know how my fiancé felt when he was choosing my engagement ring. Since these rings are traditionally worn together on your left hand, it’s important to consider the look of the two rings together and how they fit your hand, personality, and style. But there are really so many options that work!

Luckily for me, I’ve narrowed it down to two options, both of which look beautiful with my engagement ring - but they are also very different options. So what do I do?

1.       I could choose the Perfectly Matching Band. This is what I always thought I would want, since many engagement rings and wedding bands are designed as a set and fit together, side-by-side, with a seamless look.  As many women do, I like the perfect symmetry and appearance of two matching rings, each with diamonds of the same size and shape and a similar design in the metal. But then…

2.       I could also choose a More Unique Band – one that still complements the look and feel of my engagement ring, but stands out on its own as well.  After trying on different designs, I realized that an exact match didn’t necessarily make me happier, and I know that this unique look is becoming increasingly popular with women who may choose to wear their wedding band (or engagement ring) alone or on a different hand. While that isn’t the route I think I will go, I still think that this design option might be right for me!

In the end, every woman is different when it comes to choosing the right wedding band. I absolutely recommend trying on different designs of diamond rings, even if you think you know what you want, in order to ultimately choose the perfect wedding band for you.

So what will I choose?  Any words of advice before making the big decision?

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• diamond jewelry
• diamond engagement rings
• wedding bands
• matching wedding bands
• wedding jewelry

When people buy luxury jewelry, especially diamond jewelry, they often think that the diamond is the only part that matters. I won’t deny that, yes, your diamond quality is incredibly important, but the precious metal that you select to surround your diamonds should also play a crucial role in the decision-making process.

When I first looked at diamond engagement rings, I didn’t understand the differences in my metal options. I knew I didn’t want yellow gold, so that left white gold and platinum as my options (note on another lesson I learned: silver isn’t something that should be used with high-quality diamond jewelry!). But which would I choose? To be honest, I thought platinum was just a more expensive version of white gold and to me, I didn’t think it mattered. But, boy was I wrong.

Not wrong in my selection of white gold for my engagement ring – because it’s still dazzling and I truly love it – but wrong to not give myself the benefit of understanding the options. Because, especially when it comes to engagement rings and wedding bands, jewelry that you will hopefully wear for the rest of your life, this decision is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

So, what do you really need to know about platinum versus gold? Here are a few pointers that are easy to remember:

• Before getting into the details, know that this decision is usually a personal choice. So guys, the safest bet is to pay attention to the type of jewelry that your lady already wears.
• The price differential? While gold and platinum are currently trading at comparable prices, platinum has historically sold at a higher price tag due to its denser metal (however, with that denser metal comes more durability and more protection against wear and tear!)
• The upkeep differential? All fine jewelry needs a little TLC over time; however, white gold needs more care to help retain its luster. Both white gold and platinum will dazzle again after occasional polishing, but white gold will require the rhodium finish to be re-done from time to time.
• Something important to know? Some people have allergic reactions to wearing gold; though it’s usually an allergy to one of the metals in the alloy, often Nickel. 
  

The bottom line? Luckily, you can’t really make a “wrong” choice (well, unless you buy yellow gold when she clearly doesn’t want that…) as white gold and platinum look about the same and both truly dazzle. Platinum is a bit more expensive and white gold needs a bit more upkeep…so what would you choose?

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• platinum vs. gold
• diamond jewlery
• platinum diamond jewelry
• white gold diamond jewelry
• engagement rings

Attention everyone! We want to take a minute to offer a warm welcome to our new Director of Design at Hearts On Fire – Ilaria Lanzoni!  

 So, who exactly is Ilaria and what is she here to do? I just had to take a few minutes to sit down and get to know her a little better, and wow is she going to be fun!  

Because, born and raised in Italy, Ilaria is here to inspire the world of Hearts On Fire with her passion, imagination and drive. She’s got a great head of wild red curls, she’s witty and fun, and she works insanely hard. Could we have asked for anyone better to join our amazing Hearts On Fire family?

HOF Girl: So we’ve seen the “official” announcement, but can you tell us a little about your background to just get us started?
Ilaria: Sure! Well, as you know I am a native of Italy and have lived many places around the world, most recently London. I’ve been in design for almost 17 years and before coming over here was the Head Designer for Garrads in London. Prior to that I also designed for Asprey Fine Jewellery in London and helped launch their collections. 

HOF Girl: So, since you just moved to the US for the first time, what will you miss the most about London and Europe? And what are you most excited about?

Ilaria: Well, when I first moved to London I thought it would only be for a few months, so I could have a chance to learn English better. I ended up staying for 12 years, so while it was enjoyable overall, what they say about the dreary weather is so true! I absolutely hated the weather in London and I while I moved to Boston during the coldest, gloomiest part of the year, I am so excited to finally have a nice summer again!

Also, I have to admit, I’m so excited to indulge in American ice cream! You could take me away from all the food in the world, but I couldn’t survive without ice cream. Haagen Dazs, Ben & Jerry’s….I’ve already noticed so many things to try in Boston! And the idea of new flavors is just so exciting (and dangerous…).

HOF GIRL: What made you accept a role in the Hearts On Fire family?

Ilaria: I actually wasn’t looking to make a change, but when this opportunity arose, it obviously peaked my interest. Hearts On Fire is such a great company and this new role is a huge challenge, but as an extremely proud and stubborn person, that type of challenge is actually exciting to me.

Plus, I obviously move around a lot and new places are exciting to me. I knew it would be tough to come to the U.S., but once I started feeling scared, I knew that I absolutely had to go for it!

HOF Girl: What kind of inspiration do you have for Hearts On Fire?

Ilaria: As any designer, I came in with big ideas. However, I want to definitely keep in mind the characteristics that have gotten this Company to the place it is today. Hearts On Fire is known for classic, beautiful jewelry and I plan on continuing that tradition with more diamond stud earrings, engagement rings, etc. But I also think that I bring a new ability to give things a twist and refresh our designs, plus add more collections that are trendy and glamorous (but still classic). I want to ultimately design jewelry that makes people excited about Hearts On Fire, and makes people proud to wear it and talk about it.

HOF Girl: So, now I have a few questions just for fun! Imagine you are in a job interview again…What are 3 words you would use to describe yourself (and why?)

Ilaria: (laughing) This part is actually hard, I hate to talk about myself. Besides the ones I’ve told you already about being stubborn and proud, I would definitely say that I am really active, I can never sit still and I absolutely love Zumba! I also would say that I am thinker – I just get totally stuck inside my own head and can’t help but to always be planning something. And then I would say an explorer. This probably ties into the “not being able to sit still” part, but I love traveling and my favorite thing right now is just getting lost and exploring Boston. I walk everywhere!

HOF Girl: So you’re a designer and a fashionista! Do you have any secrets on the best (aka your favorite) place to shop?

Ilaria: Well, I still need to learn the hot spots here in Boston, but I know I really like DKNY! As for England, my favorite place was Selfridge’s, a department store in London. It’s probably comparable to Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales and other luxury department stores you have here. But to be honest, my favorite part of Selfridge’s is the home department…I know, probably not what you were expecting.

HOF Girl: This question is always fun – If I were to dump out your handbag right now, what items would we find inside?

Ilaria: Well, if you would have asked me a few months ago, I would have said “What could you NOT find in my handbag!” But now, actually, I am working on downsizing what I carry around all the time and I hardly have anything in there. I don’t even carry my makeup anymore! It’s tough because now I sometimes go to look for things and realize I don’t have it with me (which is frustrating), but overall I like the lighter load to haul around.

But there are two things I always have one me. First is a bottle of vanilla body spray, which I keep in my bag and in my work drawer. I absolutely LOVE it….I actually love everything that is vanilla scented – candles, body lotions, shower gel – but my vanilla body spray from Boots in London is a must-have all the time. I’ve already looked for something similar in Boston and can’t find anything like it, so looks like I need to stock up!

The other item I always have on me is a little strange, but it’s my tape measure. With learning all these conversions over here (I mean really, how big is an inch??), it’s the most precious thing I have right now!

HOF Girl: So every woman has an accessory and/or article of clothing that she couldn’t live without. What is yours?

Ilaria: Finally, an easy one - handbags! I especially love Mulberry and Prada, but I really just love them all. I also have an obsession with shoes, especially flip flops. I always buy them when I travel or shop! It’s a bit crazy, considering I’ve lived in the dreary English weather for so long, but for example, last year in Malaysia I bought eight pairs. I’m hoping to now have a chance to wear them!

HOF Girl:  And of course, what is your favorite (current) HOF diamond jewelry design?

Ilaria: It might be strange to know that someone who designs fashion jewelry doesn’t wear a ton herself, but it’s true. For myself, I really love the classic Beloved pendant and will wear that all the time. I don’t wear earrings at all, but I do love rings, and am especially in love with the whole Diamond Bar stackable collection. My two favorites are the Diamond Bar Beaded Crown Band (such a fun design!) and the Diamond Band Single Prong Milgrain Band.

Thanks so much to Ilaria for taking the time to sit down with me! I know I can’t wait to see what brilliant designs she comes up with, and I’m sure you can’t either! Stay tuned for big product news from Hearts On Fire in the coming months, plus much more from behind-the-scenes with Ilaria…

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• diamond jewelry
• design director
• Ilaria Lanzoni
• new hire

It’s a wonderful excuse to tell someone you love them. And an even better reason to celebrate that love with romantic dinners and gifts of chocolates, roses and jewelry.

But is that really all Valentine’s Day is all about?

To me, it’s simple. It’s a day to feel happy and alive. It’s a day to be thankful and a little more open to the world around you. It’s a day to embrace and celebrate all the love that you are lucky to have.

And it’s definitely not just a holiday for couples. It’s a perfect day for embracing your family and celebrating with best friends. It’s the perfect day to help your colleagues and smile at a stranger on the street.

Regardless of how you feel about Valentine’s Day or what you do to celebrate, these words hit right at home for me…

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• Valentine's Day
• love quotes
• diamond jewelry
• holiday gifts

If you were watching diamond jewelry trends in 2011, you’ll know that last year was quite an exciting time in the world of diamond engagement rings. From all the pomp and circumstance of Kate Middleton’s royal engagement and wedding, to the made-for-TV hooplah of Kim Kardashian’s marriage (and subsequent divorce), and all the celebrity engagements in between, 2011 kept the diamond jewelry industry busy trying to keep up with all the ladies of Hollywood and their trend-setting engagement rings.

Now, while I can’t necessarily predict which celebrities will be saying their “I dos” in 2012, I have spent some time debating what I think the top three diamond engagement ring trends for the year will be. So ladies, and gentlemen, time to listen up!

In my opinion, the diamond fashion trend for 2012 will be eye-catching designs that create an overall striking and unique look.  Think rings that seamlessly mix creativity and style with elegance and class, and it’s really no surprise that these three styles are sure to be such a hit with brides-to-be in 2012.

• The Halo—Halos are in, and it’s easy to see why. Originally a fashion icon of the 1920s and 30s, halo diamond engagement rings create a beautiful, art deco look that maximizes the brilliance of your diamonds for a truly spectacular look.  Especially  for couples who are looking for superior value in their engagement ring, the halo of diamonds around the center stone create an amazing effect to make the center stone pop. I expect to see a variety of halo-style diamond engagement rings on the hands of celebrities and average brides alike in 2012…and not just because it’s my personal favorite style (yes, I have a halo and yes, I am biased!).

• Split Shanks—So, sometimes the prettiest things have less-than-beautiful names, as is the case here with split-shank engagement rings. I used to confuse this style with the typical twisted band, but it’s definitely worth it’s own category. Spectacular for showcasing your center diamond, the defined split shank creates a striking look that maximizes the light returned from every angle (making your diamond sparkle even brighter!). A long-time favorite of Hollywood’s leading ladies, I have a feeling the split shank will once again be making the rounds as one of 2012’s most popular styles for women everywhere.

• Big Solitaires—Solitaire engagement rings are always in, but the key to this year is “big.” And yes, I mean, one, two and even three carat dazzlers. For a while, it seemed that couples were understandably scaling back, but we’ve really been seeing that trend take a turn upward in the past few months.  Maybe it’s all the press around enormous stunners on celebrity hands making women yearn for their own, but honestly, who doesn’t love the look of a brilliant round or Dream cut solitaire engagement ring? With multiple options on the band design that make it perfect for any woman’s fashion style or personality, these timeless classics are going to once again light up the bridal industry of 2012.  

What style are you hoping for in 2012?

♥ HOF Girl

• Tags
• Hearts On Fire
• diamond engagement rings
• diamond trends in 2012
• diamond rings