It all boils down to the ring

So there has been a lot of talk about getting married. And this time of the year there are a lot of couple that are tying the knot. I don't know exactly the reason why there are a lot of couple getting married in the month of December, but I am guessing it's probably because of the holiday season and just the celebration itself.

There are those that propose during this holiday. And again it's probably because it's holiday and all the celebration.

If you are planning of proposing, have you pick out the engagement rings? A great deal of emotion goes into purchasing rings. The reason is women tend to get very particular with the cut and design of the ring that their man is going to give them. My engagement ring wasn't to fancy nor my wedding band. But it has 8 diamonds, 4 on each side. We didn't have a whole lot of time in choosing the wedding band due to lack of time. And before I didn't know that we can actually browse online for designs so we are not in such a rush and stressed out in choosing the design.

So I suggest that if you are just in the process of finding the right engagement ring try going to WhiteFlash.com. They have a huge and gorgeous designs. You can do your shopping online which lessen the stress that you will encounter.

Rings Worth Committing To: A Groom’s Guide

It’s one of the ironies of love and marriage: Whether for romantic or other reasons, the onus for buying the rings often falls on the very person who knows the least about jewelry-the groom-to-be.

So maybe the best piece of advice for any male out there is this: Pretend you’re shopping for a new car and do as much homework as you would before entering the showroom.

Read on for some other useful tips:

Don’t Rush It-Most men take one to three months to find the right engagement ring. But you might be able to save yourself some time and stress by shopping for all three rings-the engagement ring and separate wedding bands for bride and groom-at once.”Finding three rings at the same time takes some of the pressure off the groom because it means a big part of the wedding to-do list will already be taken care of,” says jewelry and style expert Michael O’Connor. “Also, it’s easy to decide what will coordinate with the engagement ring if you see them all at the same time.” Web sites like http://www.white%20flash.com/ are terrific resources for visualizing what you need before buying, and that particular site’s policies are great when it comes to returns and lifetime trade-ups in case you decide to buy a larger stone with a different Platinum setting.

Know The Lingo-You already know that car dealers react differently to buyers who know what they’re talking about. So come armed with a few choice buzzwords technically known as “the four Cs”: “cut” (the proper proportions, whether a pear, oval or other shape, optimize a diamond’s natural radiance); “clarity” (the fewer a diamond’s flaws, the more valuable it is); “color” (whitest is best); and “carat” (although a higher carat weight may increase a diamond’s rarity and value, small stones can still be more expensive if the other three Cs rate highly). And remember: The center diamond generally accounts for most of the ring’s price, so it’s important to invest in a quality Platinum setting-which most brides prefer, according to the latest surveys-that will hold the diamond securely in place for a lifetime.

Know Her Style-The good news is that the three rings you buy don’t necessarily have to match. “The band and engagement ring just need to work well with one another and complement your bride’s personal style,” O’Connor explains. “Is she ‘girly’ or outdoorsy? Modern or traditional?” If you’re having trouble figuring out what she likes, talk to her friends or hit a few jewelry stores together.

Determine A Budget-Most men set aside two months’ salary for the engagement ring alone. So if you’re buying all three Platinum rings at once, figure on budgeting another month’s salary for the additional two rings.

For more information and tips visit http://www.whiteflash.com/.

Watch Out For Bad Fashion Elves Hiding In Your Closet

The holidays are a time of good cheer … but with the good, you can always find some bad. And that includes bad holiday fashion.

Jingle bell earrings. Snowflake sweaters. Reindeer ties. We've all seen – and perhaps worn - our share of festive fashion don'ts.

Whether you're off to the holiday office party, getting together at Grandma's or just dressing for the season, try (try very hard) not to overdo it in the fashion department. Trust me, people will talk about you if you slip up -- and that includes your family members. Especially your family members. (Mine still bring up the blinking Rudolph brooch I wore to Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago.)

This year, why not swap the dippy duds for some classic – and classy -- holiday style?
Here are a few suggestions:

THE HOLIDAY SWEATER
It is, perhaps, the deadliest of holiday sins. Sure you love the holidays, but yelling it to the world with a red and green Santa sweater or a puff-painted snowman sweatshirt isn't the answer. Hang these items with care … in the closet.
Instead, slip on a cashmere sweater in a holiday hue like red or green (although not together).

THE CHRISTMAS BROOCH
A tacky pin can ruin a perfectly good outfit – particularly if the bauble blinks.
Tell that old pin to stick it and get yourself a sparkling diamond brooch you can wear year-round. When the holidays are over, clip it to a hat, scarf or wear it in your hair.

THE SANTA HAT
This one is tempting. So cute! So fuzzy! But these hats should only be allowed on Santa and those who are being paid to look like Santa. That's it.
Hats are hot, and there are plenty of adorable and functional styles – sans the white fur trim - that will take you from a family gathering to a performance of "The Nutcracker" (and won't block anyone's view behind you).

THE HOLIDAY TIE
When you wear a tie, you say to the world: "I've dressed for the occasion." When you wear a holiday tie, the world hears: "I'm really hard to buy gifts for."
A tie in green or red is just as festive and will get you noticed for all the right reasons.

JINGLE BELL JEWELRY
Save the ornaments for the tree, sweetie. These earrings are only a good idea when they're on a 6-year-old. No one wants to hear you jingle before you walk into a room, or every time you move for that matter.

How about a pair of stunning diamond studs instead? They'll raise your bling factor without all the noise.

AWEAR featured in MyStyle

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Click here for a chance to win!

This stunning 14k yellow gold Tides of Change pendant necklacewith diamond accent ($340) from Whiteflash's Awearjewelry line is the gift that keeps on giving. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds go to support education and health care for children in countries affected by the blood diamond trade (WCCCI).

CRJP releases certification documents

The Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices (CRJP) has released the implementation documents for its system of certifying responsible ethical, social and environmental practices through the diamond and gold jewelry supply chain, the group announced on Thursday.

In addition, the organization has debuted a new logo and a new, simplified name: the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC).

The council's system, known as the "RJC System," requires council members to be audited by an accredited third party to verify their conformance with the council's standards, which are set out in its Code of Practices.

Members who are verified as conforming to the code will be certified members of the RJC.

"We are acutely aware that our industry is facing extremely challenging times and that companies must focus their immediate attention on financial and operational issues," Matthew Runci, RJC chairman and CEO of Jewelers of America, said in a media release. "Nevertheless, the over 80 members of the Responsible Jewelry Council, from miners to manufacturers to retailers, remain committed to the importance of ethical business practices and reinforcing consumer confidence in the gold and diamond jewelry supply chain. Now, more than ever, the industry must demonstrate responsible practices and protect its reputation."

Members of the RJC as of Dec. 31 are required to undergo the certification process by December 2010. Companies that join after Dec. 31 will need to undergo verification within two years.

The RJC system is expected to become fully operational in the second quarter of 2009.The certification system is set out in five core implementation documents that will guide members and accredited auditors through the process. The documents are available on the RJC's Web site, ResponsibleJewellery.com.

Whiteflash.com "Outstanding Customer Service"

Dear Whiteflash.com Team,

I want to thank you for the helping picking out the ring setting and all the details that went into it. Your team was a pleasure to work with, please pass that along to all the other people involved that I missed.

As for the ring, in came out absolutely perfect, I couldn't have been more please with the results. As I mentioned I was a bit nervous doing it online but I would now recomend anyone I talk to at least explore what is out there, and especially with your company.

I did ask Maranda on Nov 2 up at the my parents beach house in New Hampshire, a bit cold but it was a beautiful day and things went perfect! Here are a few pics of us and the ring.

Thank you again,

Maranda and Sean

Orlando Bloom engaged to model Miranda Kerr?

Ladies, the Elf is off the market.

"Lord of the Rings" hottie Orlando Bloom is engaged to his Victoria’s Secret lingerie model Miranda Kerr.

According to reports, the Australian model will tie the knot with Bloom in the middle of 2009.
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" swashbuckler and Kerr, 25, who share a New York pad, celebrated their engagement with a romantic getaway in Venice last week. The trip was combined with her fashion shoot for designer David Jones’ fall/winter ad campaign.
The strange revelation comes only weeks after the Brisbane-born beauty denied wedding plans. However, she has mentioned wanting to have children.

She told Page Six: "I've always wanted kids, so someday, eventually, yes, it will happen,'' she said. "My ideal situation would be to live on a farm in a solar-powered house with a hammock and a vegetable patch. When this is all over, that's where I'll be.''
Sounds like a little love nest is in the works.

But here's the good news for Orlando fans. KERR'S PUBLICIST DENIES REPORTS!

Here is her statement: "The story published in the Australian Sunday Telegraph suggesting Miranda exclusively revealed she is getting married is completely false and misleading. Miranda herself has clearly stated she is not engaged. There is nothing else to be said."

However, Kerr may still be authoring a self-help book, "Treasure Yourself," aimed at young girls. That could help buy that solar-powered house, hammock and veggie patch. With or without Orly.