It feels like just last week I was writing about my six month countdown. And not even that long ago that I was saying “Yes!” with my beautiful, new diamond engagement ring. But with only one month left until our big day, boy is time flying by!
I just got my official wedding timeline and checklist, and am working furiously on all the final details. And with bridal showers and bachelor parties, it’s all starting to feel real.
But in between place cards, programs, wedding bands and bridal party gifts….I’ve realized there are a few other extremely important items on my to-do list.
Mainly – that now is the time to take a minute and reflect. Appreciate all the hard work you, and likely many others, have put into planning this special day. Chances are, when it comes time for the wedding, it will go by in a whirlwind.
I was becoming so preoccupied with the endless list of tasks on my plate that I 
started to forget everything else. So what I’ve done is find a new appreciation for it all. I’m taking time to spend with my fiancé…not talking about wedding to-dos. I’m taking time to ask for help and say “thank you” for everything. And I’m taking time to concentrate on all the little details that will make our day extra special, and make our guests feel welcome and appreciated – details I didn’t realize were as important before.
As a result, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel happy, excited and am truly enjoying every moment again. So bring on the next four weeks…because this girl is ready for anything!
♥ HOF Girl
That’s right – it’s official! The NEW Hearts On Fire retail store is officially opening later this month.
As the first of many new U.S. stores…we couldn’t be more excited to make this announcement! This first boutique will be located in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada…but don’t worry if Vegas is not in your near future. There are several more Hearts On Fire stores already in the works for later in 2012…in cities across the country.
It is a diamond jewelry store experience like you’ve never seen before. Stay tuned for more details and pictures in the next few weeks!
Are you as excited as we are?
♥ HOF Girl
The Best
Part 1: Diamonds
As I explained last week, at Hearts On Fire we believe in perfection. And to us, this simply means being the best – the absolute best – in everything that we do.
You’ve experienced the overarching magic of how diamonds transform in our first video, The Evolution of Perfection. But this amazing journey goes even deeper, and we now want to tell you more in series of three videos that help explain this exclusive perfection.
We’re naturally starting with diamonds. Diamonds sourced from less than a tenth of one percent of the very best that Mother Nature has to offer – guaranteeing the highest quality results every single time. Guaranteeing, simply, that your diamond sparkles more than any other.
But to really understand, take a minute and watch this amazing video…and see for yourself what it means to truly offer the best diamonds.
♥ HOF Girl
P.S. Eager to see more? Stay tuned for more on what being the best means, coming soon!
Chapter 1: The Evolution of Perfection
Perfection, by definition, it is a state of flawlessness. It is all which is complete, so good that nothing of the kind could be better.
But with so many people today claiming this description, how do we really ever know what is “perfect”?
I have, and always will, believe that perfection is more than words. Perfection is that feeling you get when you just know something is right. The feeling of something groundbreaking or life altering. The feeling that something is just…well, perfect.
If you know anything about Hearts On Fire, you know we are known as The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond. But with this use of “perfect” comes a lot of questions…understandably.
That’s why we recently took some time to really think about our use of the word “perfect,” our use of what “perfection” really means. It was actually a lot simpler than we thought, and we confidently stand by our words.
Because, yes, when it comes to diamonds, they have always been considered exceptional and the ultimate recognition of love and status. But, here at Hearts On Fire, we have our own ideals and our own standards. We have our own idea of perfection…and what that means to our industry, our diamonds, and, ultimately, to our loyal fans.
To us, perfection is not just a simple definition. To us, perfection is not what was once deemed perfect – it is where that perfection has evolved today through drive, dreams and willingness to embrace modern technology advances. To us, perfection isn’t just perfect now, it is “always the best” for now and the future.
It is an explanation hard to put into words, so we’ve chosen not to try. Instead, we think that this video explains it so much better. It is the Evolution of Perfection, and it is the heart (no pun intended) and soul of what we believe at Hearts On Fire.
There is much more to say about this amazing video (and don’t worry it will come!), but for now…do you believe too?
♥ HOF Girl
If you’re at all involved in social media, you’ve likely heard of Pinterest by now. After all, it was recently named one of today’s Top 10 social networking sites. And if you haven’t heard, it might be time to take a look…
Launched in March 2010, Pinterest has dramatically gained popularity, receiving nearly 11 million visits during the week of December 11 alone. This was almost 40 times the number of total visits just six months prior.
So what’s all the hype about? All this excitement for an online “pinboard” (example below) to organize and share the things you love and want to remember?
Even as somewhat of a social media guru myself, I’ll admit that its exhausting to keep up with all the new social communities that pop up. That’s why I wasn’t exactly thrilled to join yet another site. But, boy was I wrong.
Pinterest is nothing like the other social sites out there with its simplicity and visual appeal. I recently joined this invitation-only site and – there’s no other way to say it – I am already obsessed.
I know I’ve mentioned a few times in previous posts how great Pinterest is to help plan your wedding and how much I wish I knew about it when I was getting started. But no matter whether it’s for your wedding, home décor, fashion, recipe ideas, or almost anything else, Pinterest honestly has something for everyone.
Curious how to get started? If you know someone on Pinterest, just ask them for an invite. Or you can request an invite from Pinterest and join the waiting list to get in.
Once there, it’s beyond simple. In a few easy steps, you tell Pinterest what you’re interested in, create board categories (that can be altered anytime) and download the “Pin It” icon to your toolbar. To make it even easier, keep an eye out on brands who now offer their own “Pin It” button on images, like the one we just added to all of our diamond jewelry pages at Hearts On Fire.
Pinterest may not be overtaking Facebook yet, but this new site is well on its way to challenging all the big players in the social world. Have you had a chance to use Pinterest yet, or have a question about how it works?
Happy pinning!
♥ HOF Girl
When most people think of the winter months, snowflakes, holidays and parties quickly come to mind. But one thing many people forget about? Diamond engagement rings.
That’s right. This time of year also marks “Engagement Season” as more than 1/3 of all couples will get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day!
While fun and exciting, this first major diamond purchase can also be overwhelming for many couples. To share insight into what real women want – and more importantly, what men should know when it comes to buying engagement rings – our team at Hearts On Fire developed the below infographic from available sources around the industry.
A few fun highlights include:
- Round and square shaped diamonds are by far the most popular center stone shape, with more than 90% of brides choosing this shape.
- Cut is the most important of the “4 C’s” when it comes to choosing a diamond.
- 65% of future brides are involved in the purchasing process and 31% help choose their own ring.
- 2 in 5 grooms purchase from a local, independent jewelry store and 1 out of 9 grooms purchase their engagement ring online.
- 76% of men still get down on one knee to propose, and 43% plan the proposal down to every last detail.
- 33% say don’t bother proposing without a diamond ring!
The question now is…will this “season” be your season? Ladies…be sure to share with your man!
♥ HOF Girl
(Click on image to bring up new window, then click on image again - you’ll see magnifying glass - to make larger!)
As we quickly approach the holidays (only about 2 more weeks, wow!), it’s easy to see and feel attitudes all around you changing. Everyone seems to just be rushing around and bickering over silly things. It seems like there is so much to do, and never a minute to rest.
Don’t get me wrong, the holidays can (and should) be an amazing time of year. But they can also be detrimental to your emotional and physical well being, and your relationship. Because along with holiday pleasures, comes the pressures of family and commitment, and the stresses of money, travel and more.
I go through these problems every year. Neither my fiancé nor I are originally from the Boston area where we’ve lived for the past four years, and our families are five and eight hours away, respectively. So when the holidays approach, my stress level immediately rises.
Because it means we need time off work – sometimes time that we don’t have – or we face spending the holidays alone. It means we have to get flights – that maybe we can’t afford – or arrange a travel schedule that allows full days of driving time. We have to strategically consider our gift-giving, because a lot of packages aren’t easy to travel that far. And then there is the ultimate pickle…do we go to his family’s house or mine?
The answer to it all?…
1. Be flexible – This was an extremely hard one for me to understand (and admittedly took quite a few years). I love the holidays and my family’s traditions, and I hardly ever get to see those people that I love so much. But I’ve realized that it’s okay to figure out a way to spend time at both of our houses, even if that time is short. Because when everyone around you feels good, you will too, no matter where you are.
2. Get organized – thankfully, this part is easy for my obsessive personality! It may seem silly, but simply sitting down and planning out your weekend activities or holiday gift list can help beyond belief. Just this past weekend I was able to get all of my gifts bought, decorate my house, and so much more – giving us time to do step #3!
3. Relax and enjoy – it’s the holiday season and that means there are opportunities to do things you can’t do at other times! Go ice skating or take a ski trip, go out on a chilly day and drink hot chocolate at a cute restaurant, or stay at home and light candles and bake cookies. Whatever you do…indulge a little. Relax a lot. Because these special moments will make you feel happy and in love all over again.
No matter what you do this holiday season, just remember….its not worth fighting, tears, aggressive driving and pushing over others in the mall.
I know I’m going to make sure my holidays are full of cheer this year – are you?
♥ HOF Girl
When it comes to purchasing a brilliant Hearts On Fire diamond, we always love for people to go into one of our exclusive jewelers and experience the dazzle for themselves. And our family of retailers is truly amazing – so if you go into a store to shop for your diamonds, you really can’t go wrong.
But then why do we even bother to sell online? Especially when some people tend to be hesitant about making big purchases there…
Because, to be honest, in-store purchases aren’t for everyone, and many people today are incredibly savvy, online shoppers. Maybe you are a guy who isn’t totally comfortable going into a jewelry store alone, and you want to be able to shop at your convenience without the pressure. Or maybe you’re a woman who doesn’t want to seem overly aggressive by going into a store to pick out your own perfect diamond ring or gift…but you need somewhere to browse and drop a hint to your man (in a place that’s easy for him to purchase too!).
No matter what your reason may be, when you invest in Hearts On Fire, we understand that you want your gift to be perfect in every way. That’s why we are doing everything we can to make our online shopping experience the best possible one for you. I’ll admit - even though I am slightly obsessed with shopping online, I used to not be sure about purchasing my diamonds jewelry there. But now, I’m thinking…why not? Especially when you can get perks such as…
1. Fast, free shipping and returns – even though I’m confident that you will love your purchase, sometimes you need to make a change when you come to find out she had her eye on the earrings, instead of the pendant.
2. A live Perfection Stylist – available seven days a week via online chat or phone, the Hearts On Fire Perfection Stylists can answer any question you have. And that includes making perfect recommendations or directing you to your closest jeweler if that works best!
3. New payment plan options – only available for online purchases, this can sometimes help give a little peace of mind for those who just want to split up their payments a bit.
4. Endless information – for those times when a Hearts On Fire retailer just isn’t convenient to your lifestyle, you still have all the info you could ever need to browse or buy online! That includes FAQs, product details and prices, our Company history and diamond difference, and even a diamond buying guide.
As I said at the beginning, no matter how you purchase your Hearts On Fire diamond, you can’t go wrong, and we promise you a fabulous experience. But if there is ever anything we can do to make your online shopping experience better, please let us know! We always love to hear from you, our amazing customers.
♥ HOF Girl
Hearts. They’re beautiful and classic. They’re a symbol of love and romance. But I’ll be honest, I never thought a heart-shaped piece of diamond jewelry was for me.
Now don’t get me wrong, I always thought hearts were beautiful. Especially when I saw the selection that Hearts On Fire offered. There was just something about it though – maybe I didn’t think it would work with my style, or maybe I didn’t think it would fit my personality. I’m not entirely sure what it was, but I feel like a lot of women out there would tend to agree with me. 
But I also bet that you’d agree that the first time someone gives you a heart pendant or heart earrings…it all changes. Suddenly you realize what that heart really means – you feel the love that your heart represents. You realize that a heart can go with just about any part of your wardrobe, and is perfect for a casual day, a fancy evening or even professional work attire.
That’s probably why our heart-shaped diamond pendants are by far our best sellers during the holiday season. During a season of true love, a heart is more than just an “easy” gift; it’s a gift that carries value and emotion.
That’s why I think my tune has changed – I’d be happy, no thrilled, to get a heart pendant this year. Would you?
♥ HOF Girl
P.S. If you’re interested in the hearts pictured above (or others!), you can find them at Hearts On Fire under Amorous Journey Pendant, Brocade Heart Pendant and Whimsical Heart Pendant. Plus check out a beautiful picture of one of our favorite fashion bloggers, Christine Cameron of MyStylePill, enjoying her Whimsical heart pendant in a fun, layered way below!
Most people have heard of the movie “The Blind Side.” What I’m really hoping is that most of you have seen this amazing movie. And it’s not just the fact that I’m a huge Michael Oher fan (Go Ravens!) that makes me say this.
It’s because of the incredible, life-changing message that this movie, this story and this family tells. A message that represents so much more than football and Hollywood fame.
I had an amazing opportunity to meet the Tuohy family at a Hearts On Fire event a few months ago. But as excited as I was to listen to their story, I never expected the invaluable lessons that I would walk away with.
Whether or not you know the whole story of Michael Oher and the Tuohy family, all you need to know is this: The Tuohys were a prominent, white, Southern family. Michael Oher was a homeless, young, African-American boy who had no relation to them. Yet without even blinking an eye, the Tuohys made a split second decision to take him under their roof, as their son. All because they decided to turn around.
If you know anything about Southern culture, you know this was a huge risk for the family. They knew nothing about Michael. The “situation” was well beyond the comfort zone of most Southern folk. But to the Tuohys, there was only reward. All they did was offer Michael an opportunity, and it changed all of their lives forever.
Leigh Anne Tuohy says its best. “People always talk about how much Michael benefited from coming into our home. But think about it…isn’t Christmas the best time of the year? A time of love and giving and pure happiness? So why don’t we celebrate Christmas the rest of the year if it makes us feel so good? We may have given Michael a home, but he gives us an opportunity to celebrate Christmas every single day.”
“The Blind Side” was a bigger success than anyone anticipated. It made millions of dollars and connected to billions of people around the world. But the Tuohy’s didn’t make a penny off of it all – that’s not what it was about.
That’s why when I was thinking of a topic this week, the Tuohy’s story immediately came to mind. This week is a time to be thankful, a time to give and a time to love. It’s my absolute favorite time of year.
So, if you have the chance this week I encourage you to re-watch “The Blind Side” or sit down and read Michael Lewis’ equally amazing written version. I encourage you to “turn around” and think about the world behind you. To see where you can make a difference.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! And thank you to the Tuohys for inspiring us all.
♥ HOF Girl
