There were a few Pandora charms I wanted but didn't have a plan for...until I was eating a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal and reading the box! The list of marshmallow charms inspired a new bracelet theme and I couldn't wait to start putting it together. I already had quite a few of the beads waiting to be used so I only had to search for a few more to complete the design. Retired ones were the most difficult to source but with a bit of Google work and patience, I found what I wanted!
Here is the final reveal of My Pandora Bracelet: Lucky Charms edition...inspired by good luck charms AND a bowl of kiddie cereal!
The week has flown by as I try to catch up after being away for the weekend. It's only a couple days but amazing how that messes with the work to be done. However, I had to find time to see the new PANDORA 2018 autumn release, including the adorable new Disney charms, just out today. I didn't come home empty handed and a few of my TOP wish list items are now waiting to be added to my bracelets.
Here is a very short video showcasing the beautiful new Pandora charms I picked up from the Disney Pinocchio and Snow White lines...plus a cute new "Bruno the Unicorn" and a set of clips from the Grains of Life collection. Do you have any of the Pandora autumn 2018 charms on your wish list???
You know you "got it bad" when you design a bracelet themed on the love of your bracelets! Of course I DO love my Pandora collection but this particular bracelet was primarily created to showcase the beautiful set of special Club Charms I have been fortunate to assemble. Pandora released the first club charm in 2014 as a limited edition, unique charm meant only for the people who had joined the Pandora Club. It featured the year engraved on the charm as well as a tiny diamond. As you'll see in my video, the first was a lovely silver Pandora gift box with a lid that opens to reveal a heart charm nesting on a cushion, the .01 ct diamond centred in the face of the heart. All subsequent Club charms also include the engraved year and an equally rated diamond (H/VS), of the same carat weight
I detail the remainder of the yearly club charms in the video, along with the other Pandora signature items I've added to finish off the design. All of these charms were perfectly suited for the gorgeous Silver Mesh Bangle bracelet and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
I don't have many ocean-themed Pandora charms so a bangle bracelet was perfect to showcase them. The Pandora bangles are designed to hold 7-9 charms and there are quite a few pretty clasps to choose from. The one I'm using for this video is the Patterns of Love design and it happened to be free as a Pandora promotion. (I think the entwined pattern passes for rope in this case and works perfectly!)
The bangles are fun to style with some stand-out favourite beads or for special events or occasions, seasonal holidays, or fun themes like love or family. Since you are only working with 7-9 charms it is very quick and easy to switch them up, making the bangle a versatile choice when considering which Pandora bracelet to purchase. You needn't feel committed to a long term styling and it's not a big deal to swap out charms based on your outfit, theme, or mood. I recently realized the silicone clips are perfect for keeping those charms at the top of the bracelet and that made all the difference for my enjoyment of this style of Pandora.
This video shows my Under the Sea ocean themed design in detail. It is so stunning in the sunlight and the teal colours and sparkly CZs and crystals are simply radiant. I love wearing it this summer paired with a striped teal and sea foam t-shirt I have. The bangle is very comfortable too! I hope you enjoy seeing it close up and are inspired to give a bangle a try.
Due to vacation schedules we 'had' to take our holiday now (or never). Not that I'm complaining but back-to-back trips within a month of each other is tough on the waistline...and the wallet...especially when there is a Pandora outlet involved. Hubby and I celebrated our anniversary in Las Vegas and while we always enjoy the beautiful hotel, the amazing food, and the really fun concerts, truth be told I was 100% most excited and looking forward to seeing the U.S. Pandora outlet for myself. I had watched YouTube videos and my sister had recently been there so the anticipation of being able to get a proper look first hand at what was available in the retired charms trays was very enticing.
Some highlights from this visit (other than the outlets!) included seeing Rod Stewart, eating at Gordon Ramsey's Fish & Chips, and Raiding the Rock Vault one more time (we were SO close!). The Rod Stewart concert was a last minute replacement for our cancelled Barry Manilow show (he got sick right before opening night). It was so much fun and I can't believe how great he looks and sounds at 73! He is amazing! The fish and chips were excellent and even though I hadn't really felt like going all the way to the Hard Rock Hotel, Raiding the Rock Vault was an incredible show that had us on our feet clapping and cheering.
Just before we left I filmed a video after being tagged by Emily of fashionstoryteller in her My Pandora Story question and answer vid. It was a lot of fun to think of responses regarding my Pandora collection and come up with a way to creatively showcase them on film. Here is the result and I hope you enjoy hearing some details about how I got started with my bracelets, what charms I have and want, and what's next on my wish list. Now that I'm back and holidays are done for quite some time I will have much more to share with you in upcoming posts. Please come back to visit!
I love collecting the gift-with-purchase travel jewelry cases from Pandora almost as much as the charms! They are beautifully made with lovely details and are great for storing and (traveling with) bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces and extra charms. Each offers different configurations of compartments, pouches, straps and clips, depending on the size of one's collection and the needs of the occasion. It's always a good idea to keep jewelry organized and protected to avoid scratches, tangling, and misplacement!
I filmed a short overview of the Pandora travel jewelry boxes I have been able to get my hands on and the benefits (or limitations) of each. If one is buying on-line from an auction or private seller it may help to be able to see the different options - that was definitely something I was looking for while researching older gift-with-purchase cases. While there are obviously other brands of jewelry boxes, cases, and rolls available that will work with charm bracelets, for an avid Pandora fan and collector, there is something special about having a genuine logo-ed item.
I couldn't wait to add my new Disney Park Exclusive charms to my Pandora bracelet and I'm so happy with how it turned out. These charms are so detailed and adorable, and of course have so much meaning to me. Disney holds a special place in my heart and we have enjoyed creating so many happy memories as a family during our visits.
Here is a quick video showcasing this bracelet in more detail...
This Pandora bracelet was a birthday present and came as a set with clips and a gorgeous centre charm. I loved it of course, but also appreciate the travel case it came in - the perfect size to take along on a getaway, with room for rings and other small jewelry items.
I added more blue and sparkling charms to complete the look and I love how it turned out. Not too much meaning behind these choices but the final result is a lovely evening bracelet that twinkles under the lights. It is a fancier collection of beads for sure but it also looks good with jeans!
There is a new 'land' in Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom and it's named Pandora! Based on the movie Avatar, this new experience is a stunning recreation of some of the gorgeous and complex landscapes from the fictional lush planet. It is reported to have cost $500 million dollars to build and it's not difficult to see why when you walk through the incredible land. There are two main attractions to enjoy, the first being a boat ride that is magical and enchanting as you journey through a bioluminescent rainforest. The second is one of the most extraordinary rides I've ever taken!
Avatar Flight of Passage is unlike any other 3D experience as you ride on the back of a mountain banshee. I won't spoil it with details but I loved every second of it. We were lucky to have FastPasses but I think the 2 hour stand-by wait time would be worth it. It is an incredible feeling of flying and there are so many details that are just mind-blowing. I can't begin to explain how unique and exhilarating those 5 minutes are and I am still mesmerized!
Our trip was a wonderful chance for our whole family to be together and we had the best time. As always, as hard-core Disney fans, we enjoyed all the different aspects of the vacation, from food, to parks, to resort. Oh, and the food! Before we left I watched so many Disney Food Blog videos with tons of advice and enticing suggestions. I was so pumped to try new snacks and foods we hadn't before and it was amazing to actually finally get to taste everything.
A few highlights were: the pineapple upside down cake with Dole whip, the All American sundae with peanut butter and chocolate, the giant chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich, and beignets. Yum! We also enjoyed cupcakes and chocolate covered marshmallow rice cereal treats, poutine with bacon cheddar sauce (for the non-vegetarians), mango pie, and of course, the usual popcorn which is still incredible! So not the healthiest fare but we did walk almost 100 km during our six days there. It was all terrific!
This year was special because I was also super excited to be able to pick up some park-exclusive Pandora charms. I will share those in another post but safe to say it was a Pandora-filled trip, with both the attraction and the jewelry being front and centre in my magical wishes. It all went too fast but now I am home I can re-live the memories with photos and gorgeous souvenirs...
One of my favourite YouTube Pandora videographers is Emily at Fashionstoryteller. She creates the most beautiful style videos and has a wonderful collection of Pandora charms, bracelets, and other jewelry which she shares in such a creative and professional way. When I first happened upon her channel I was amazed at the work she puts into her videos, from the gorgeous way she films to the final editing and production. It's like watching an actual Pandora promotional release!
I have been so inspired by this fellow Pandora fan and it is largely thanks to her that my passion for the charms has been renewed. I have learned so much from Emily about the way to go about designing a bracelet as well as how to properly size, care for, and wear Pandora jewelry. If you enjoy Pandora bracelets and haven't already become addicted to Emily's videos, definitely check out her channel to discover a great source of inspiration!
Another passion included in the fashionstoryteller videos is TEA! Emily always has an interesting cup of tea on the go while she films and she recently shared how she makes her tea lattés at home. The secret is the Milk Café by Breville, a stand-alone home milk frother machine. While this small appliance is a pricier choice when it comes to frothing milk, the reviews are consistently excellent and it tops many of the lists I read while researching frothers. Emily swears by the Milk Café and if you also enjoy lattés and cappuccinos daily, it might just be a worthwhile purchase.
The Breville machine uses induction heating to gently and evenly heat the milk to the selected temperature. Having a variable temperature dial allows you to choose how hot you want your drink and the option of a latté frothing disc or a cappuccino disc gives you the pick of a smooth and silky milk or a thick and creamy froth. There is a cold stir setting, as well as a removable measuring cup in the lid for adding chocolate, syrups or flavouring while the milk froths. The large 3-cup capacity stainless steel jug has various level markings inside and is dishwasher safe.
The Milk Café really does work perfectly to deliver a hot, frothy milk for at-home beverage creations. My first cup was a delicious London Fog (Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and creamy, foamy milk) and it was so fun to make. I am tweaking my recipes to perfect them and am enjoying playing barista for my family. Chai tea latté anyone?
Here is Fashionstoryteller's video tutorial for tea lattés at home...
