This year, I will not fail! This year will be different. This year, I resolve to…

Ok, who am I kidding? I have made both easy and hard New Year’s resolutions and I still can’t keep them. Last year, I was going to cut coupons. This is not a difficult resolution compared to someone who wants to quit smoking or lose 30 pounds. I have a Masters’ degree, printing out coupons and organizing them to save money isn’t rocket science. Professional coupon cutters swear the grocery stores end up giving them money back when they check out. There are websites devoted to this cause of coupon management. They tell me where to shop, which days, and what to buy, yet I still can’t make the system work for me. I end up having $.50 off toothpaste and forget to use it at checkout, or have $1.00 off eye solution, but it expired.
2011 is all about instant gratification and technology. Now a days, coupons on our phones, Groupons, Deals of the Day, facebook friends, grocery applications, and coupon emails are everywhere. In fact, you should facebook ChaChaBella to view her cyber sparkly deals.

If there is a coupon at the store in front of the crescent rolls that say “buy 3, save $.50 now” I do that. Most of the time, I even remember to peel the instant coupon off the can. I like Buy One, Get One Free deals. Organizing, compiling, having notebooks with tabs for frozen, health and beauty, paper goods, etc., sounds like me, but in reality that resolution just proved to be too ChaCha consuming.

Last year, the Miami Herald reported that the tradition of New Year’s Day resolutions dates back to the early Babylonians. They believed what a person does on the first day of the new year will affect what they do throughout the year. Statistics confirm that 97% of resolutions are never fulfilled (at least I am not alone) but still 40 to 45 percent of adults make resolutions and goals. I like the concept of making the goal and starting off 2011 with a goal and a purpose. Maybe my purpose should be to eat out more – I can cut coupons for restaurants. This I can do, I know it.

Now, when it comes to retail products like clothing, then I do always check for key codes before I order online or if I know I am going to the certain store, I will print out a coupon first. It must be something about saving $.25 on a food item verse 20% on sweater. I understand the financial dynamics that a bunch of quarters does equal 20% and if I was consistent and used my food coupons, I would save. This whole resolution just make me ChaCha coupon crazy and so I stopped.

But, this year, I will attempt again. ChaCha girls are no quitters and I will recommit to the cause of coupon cutting and saving money. My resolution is to make it to Valentines Day!
Let me know details if you have kept a New Year’s resolution to win a ChaCha ring. Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com.

I recently bought my friend a Heifer, a llama, and a goat.
I know, it sounds like the beginning of a joke, but this really was her birthday gift. The organization, Heifer International at www.heifer.org has the perfect gift for friends who don’t need or want anything, but you want to do something special for them. My friend loved the idea that her gift was helping families and children less fortunate in third world countries. Please visit the site to find out more details regarding the variety of animals available. She can now check off her bucket list that she is the proud owner of a cow!

Purchasing gifts for friends and loved ones can be tricky. I of course recommend the ChaCha rings, wine glasses, and jewelry which come beautifully packaged. I also love the idea that you can match your recipients personality with the color varieties and stone size. But, if you have already purchased ChaChaBella before and are looking for some other ideas, perhaps this blog can help.

At www.gifts.com, I love how they divide the women and men into personalities. Is your female friend or relative the domestic diva, the trendanista, the achiever, the super mom, the thinker, urban sophisticate, the adventurer or one of the other personalities. They group gifts by style. Remember, what you may like or want isn’t necessarily their choice. I sometimes see things that I say I would like that, but I am not purchasing it for myself. If you are ever with your friend and you hear a comment like that, file it away for gift giving. I know the super sized cupcake baking tray seems like it would only be used once a year, but she will love it, and always think of you (as she bakes her own cake if she is the domestic diva type).

My friends normally chip in and we give each other hard, cold cash. I know it isn’t exciting, but sometimes it can be a lot of money. This allows the receiver to decide if they want tons of little things, or one great big purchase. The key is always making sure they buy something though to honor the gift and not pay a boring bill! I know women who will roll over in their grave if a gift card or cash is given, you want a substance beautifully wrapped (not in a bag) gift. I salute you for your effort!

A funny gift that I have seen given is all the “As seen on TV” items in a huge basket. Yes, the shake weight, aqua globes, heel tastic, and many more can be the special birthday present for your loved one. This friend just has to have a sense of humor! Visit www.asseenontv.com for the variety of choices.

We all know sentimental gifts of a letter, poem, or framed picture can be beautiful. They are personal and always well received. If you ever need a poem written for a friend, I am your gal! I have written more poems than I can count by just asking about 20 questions, and you will have most unique gift ever.

Let me know the worst gift you have ever received and the winner will win the best gift, a chachabella ring! If you need a poem, contact me, Suzanne, at s@chachabella.com.

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence,” says beloved author Erma Bombeck.

As I prepare for the holidays with some deep breathing, chocolate, and a bottle of wine, I consider the things that I can control and those that have a life of their own. I can have enough toilet paper in my house, but I can’t make sure the toilet will flush properly each time. I can buy the turkey, but I can’t make sure it won’t burn in our deep fryer.

One thing that is constant though is the traditions that are handed down from family members. Perhaps you have your Aunt Betty’s pumpkin pie recipe or if you are like me, you have Mrs. Smith from the supermarket. Maybe you cram your entire family into one guest room or you opt for some alone time at the local hotel, either way if you are like most…holiday time is family time!

We have too many cooks in the kitchen, televisions and radios blaring, shhh…someone’s napping, oh I couldn’t eat any more but I’ll just try that, shopping to you drop, baking all day and watching football all night. The traditional cry of, “Where are my fat pants?” is heard everywhere.

Traditions sometime begin by accident…you go bowling one year after Thanksgiving dinner and then it is a tradition. Some traditions are deep rooted like singing carols after the lighting the advent candles or waking up at 5am to start shopping Friday morning.

ChaCha girls everywhere have one tradition they must uphold. Fun and Friendship! This is the time to send out those holiday cards and get excited when you receive them from a far-away friend. Maybe you get a chance to visit with an old acquaintance while at your family home or you get to meet your husband’s good ol’ friends.

Either way, if we are dealing with a mother-in-law, your own mother, or that “crazy” relative everyone has…we must be ChaCha gracious and embrace the holiday spirit of love. Yes, that means biting our tongue when we are told that it needs more salt, or that the knife should be pointed this way. I am thankful for any and all self control that I can maintain during the season!

If sitting on the couch and watching football makes the male species excited, than we have touchdown central with all the shopping deals during the holiday season. I personally like the one for you, one for me theory. I find it makes giving the gift easier because I don’t have to say goodbye since one is in my closet too. Sometimes I would rather pay $5.00 more than wait on the Toys R Us line, and sometimes it is just fun for the thrill of the kill. One easy way to shop is online.

Yes, wearing your pjs, googling your coupon codes, and armed with your credit card – you are off to shop and save! Of course if you are reading this blog, then you already know I am going to promote our beautiful gifts. Rings, Wine Glasses, Earrings..oh my! And now, you can save 25% off till January first using the code “sparkle”.

Everyone knows someone who spends more on the gift wrap then the present. The box, bag, cellophane is beautiful! It pains you to open the gift. Remember the days of just ripping it open! One gift idea I like to do for the person who has everything and needs nothing is lottery tickets. First of all, if it is a family member – it could also benefit you. Second, it is easy to purchase. Third, the excitement of the gift is unknown and so much fun to scratch off or watch the tv replay of numbers.

One issue lately that has arisen is my world is “How does Santa wrap his gift?” Some families have an entire separate color paper, others don’t wrap, some have them set up, and some are still in boxes, and one uses plain brown paper.

I find when the children discuss it, the wrapping doesn’t matter. As long as they believe - then it’s your unique, magical, special, family tradition. Cha Cha girls everywhere love to believe in the power of magic and all that is good in the world! May you have a safe and blessed ChaCha holiday season.
If you have a crazy family tradition – please share and be rewarded with Cha Cha sparkle! Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

Tell me it isn’t true!
I can’t believe I went to the store yesterday and my favorite (you fill in the blank here) is now discontinued. This is sooooooo (yes, this is worthy of many o’s) unfair, as that is the best product! How frustrating when you finally find the perfect lipstick color, lotion, hair gel, paint color, sheet set, diet soda, cereal, or whatever item you deem amazing and then it is gone.

We are truly loyal to our products. This is the end of the relationship and we take it personally. Am I really the only person who bought this item? I have good taste, could sales really be low or is it something else? So, then we go on a hunt. We go to every store that could possibly carry the item. We call store managers. We call the company. We buy it in bulk. There is no way that I am not having that lipstick for my daughter’s wedding ten years from now, it is the only one that makes my teeth look really white!

My girlfriend recently found out that her lotion goes on stop sell during the winter months. They only make it in the summer time. There is no fury like a women without her must-have-product. I mean- friends, parents and cousins in other states had to be on the look out and purchase this for her.

Why do these companies taunt us? Here are the facts my friends: It is not personal. They aren’t out to get you. They don’t even know you exist. Some other new product needed space on the shelf. Or, they want us to be without it, so when they reintroduce the new formula or packaging, we will rush out to get it. Actually, this sounds like a brilliant marketing plan to me.

Marketing is the essence of America. Only here can a famous musician like Jimmy Buffett really sell the “lost shaker of salt” for $8.99. I stopped and bought Oreos yesterday, because for a limited time only they had Dairy Queen blizzard flavor Oreos. If my beloved University of Florida Gators are ever featured on a box of cereal, we purchase it. There is nothing like a summer time beer flavor that is only around for 8 weeks.

In one instance, I am actually looking forward to a limited time offer being over. I have been wasting useless calories on Zaxby’s amazing cookie cake shake.

My favorite marketing tool is: if you buy this item, we will give a percentage to charity. This is truly getting two birds with one stone!

Literally, in ChaChaBella’s case they have an entire ChaCha for Charity line that feature nothing but beautiful stones and crystals. If you purchase any of the ChaCha for Charity rings, a portion of the sales goes to that charity.

Check out the full line here.

Our rings are never discontinued, we just stay current and update with the trends. Contact us if something isn’t on the web and we will search high and low for that crystal color. We understand when you must have it!

Let me know your favorite product that was discontinued to earn a ring. I love all sob stories! Also, if you have a special cause, maybe you can have the next ChaCha for Charity ring named for you or someone you know... Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

I once dressed up as deer for Halloween a few years ago.

My husband wasn’t in the mood to participate and he came as a hunter in his camo, literally right out of the woods.

I was thinking this year if I dressed up as a Spanish senorita, he can dress as the animal and wear a sign that says I’m the BULL -___(and you can fill in the blank) with the appropriate word choice. I am just kidding, my husband is great, he just doesn’t get excited about costumes. I must say that I was disappointed my deer costume didn’t win, I thought I was super creative with long brown socks on my hands and my cotton tail. Perhaps I can convince him to be Zorro, so at least we look like a costume couple. It is very ChaCha to coordinate costumes!

Did you know that costumes originally started because Halloween was the day that the dead would return to Earth and the scary costumes would ward off the ghosts? The Celts in Northern Ireland and France would celebrate their last day of summer and the harvest with bonfires hoping that the ghosts wouldn’t ruin their crops. The Romans then conquered them and merged their tradition of honoring the passing of the dead by celebrating Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruits and trees. This is where bobbing for apples originated. Apples (without the carmel) are the only healthy part of Halloween!

“Trick or Treat” didn’t come to America until the 1850’s when the Irish came over. The women did tricks with yarn, apples, and mirrors to see if they could “see” the name of their future husband. I guess every holiday can be romantic in some shape or form.

Nowadays, Halloween is a 6.9 billion dollar industry. With candy, costumes, and decorations- we can be scary, sexy or sweet. Halloween parties are fun to attend and throw. The theme can easily be set from the front door with scary spiders to the ghoulish ghost punch. I once attended a party as pregnant white trash girl bringing twinkies and ring-dings as my dessert contribution. Stay in character all night long and have fun! Your attitude makes the ChaCha costume memorable.

I would love to hear about your couple or family costume that is ChaCha creative. Drop me a line at s@chachabella.com to be entered to win a ChaChaBella hot halloween ring!

Love is love, whether you’re famous or not!

Summer is over and so are the celebrity weddings. Let’s look at who tied the knot and how some of their choices actually mirror us mere mortals (by the way, that is a subtle hint to one of the couples).

Counting down the top 7 weddings we start with singer Alicia Keys and producer/rapper Swizz Beatz. While their guest list includes Bono and Queen Latifah at the 7/31wedding, you might have been spinning their albums for your own guests’ dancing pleasure. She wore Vera Wang and he wore Tom Ford at the French Mediterranean location. Alicia is also pregnant but I don’t think this was a shotgun wedding, as they have been together a long time.

Number 6 is country singing sensation Carrie Underwood and ice hockey star Mike Fisher who had a southern wedding in style. They tied the knot at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in South Georgia. It was reported to be a nice wedding for a nice couple. If you consider donning your pup Ace in a Swarovski crystal encrusted pink tuxedo as nice, then Carrie leads the charge. We all know our ChaCha founder Heather loves pink, and I know she would agree that is a“sparkly southern wedding!” Carrie began with a big and fluffy Monique Lhuillier wedding gown but then changed into a strapless and sexy Lhuillier gown to “get her groove on.” Yes, famous brides want to dance too!

Number 5 is British Pop star Robbie Williams an actress Ayda Fields. They tricked the media and ended up having a simple ceremony on 8/7 in Los Angeles. Sexy 24 year old Megan Fox weds Brian Austin Green from 90210 on 6/24 as the number 4 couple. Talk about simple, no one but Brian’s 8 year old son on the beach of Hawaii was present. Brian knew a good thing when he had one as this was his second proposal to Megan who finally agreed to commit this time! Brian is a lucky man, and men all over the world may have cried at tear at that wedding - and not because of the moving vows!

Actor Orlando Bloom and Australian Victoria Secret model Miranda Kerr’s wedding make them the #3 couple. She had to miss a big fashion show to fit in her Caribbean honeymoon. See, we all miss work for the important things like a wedding!

Young actress Hilary Duff (age 22) married hockey player Mike Comrie in an intimate wedding for 100 in Santa Barbara, California. Her sister Haylie was her maid of honor. Sisters always snag that role! For the drumroll please, the #1 wedding this year was for all you vampire lovers, Anna Paquin (28) and Stephen Moyer (40) of True Blood, who found true love in Malibu. Love defies age and human death! See, all of us mere mortals need love.

If you dressed up your dog at your wedding, let us know and you can receive a ChaCha Bella ring that is made for woman’s best friend! Contact me at s@chachabella.com

Happy 9 month anniversary to Lindsey and Austin Reynolds!

Do you remember the days when you wished your spouse happy monthly anniversary? For you newlyweds, that is probably still going on, but as I hit my 14th anniversary, we are lucky we can fit in a romantic dinner. The Reynolds were the first ChaCha couple to get married in January 2010. Their beautiful wedding in Orlando, Florida was at the Dubsdread Historical Ballroom. The staff was excellent and location is beautiful, she said. Since it has been a long time since I planned a wedding, I wanted to hear first hand about her bridal experience and my goal is to feature different brides with different budgets and locations throughout this blog, so contact me and get featured!

Lindsey and I wore the same bridal gown from the same place, Oleg Cassini from David’s Bridal. That is ChaCha coincidental! She got hers in a major sale and so ChaCha points for saving money and loving the dress too. Lindsey wore pearly clear/white ChaCha earrings and necklace, and her bridesmaids wore brown ChaCha rings that matched the dress perfectly. Her bridesmaids wear the rings all the time, which is the beauty of our bridesmaid gift.

Their wedding colors were Brown, Light and Dark Pink. In case you didn’t know, Heather, the owner of ChaChaBella is ChaCha crazy about the color pink! In fact, Lindsey’s favorite gift was her pink KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. She said, “I love to bake, so it is great and it also just looks adorable on my kitchen counter.”

Their were 117 guests in attendance and since her wedding was around the holidays on January 2, the guests hung out for about a week before the wedding enjoying each other’s company and being together. It was special for Lindsey and Austin to enjoy their relatives more than just the day of the big event. Lindsey wouldn’t change a thing about her wedding. Her advice, “have fun and don’t stress,” at the end of the day you are married to your dream mate.

Lindsey’s favorite ChaCha moment was actually something that was caught on camera. Her photographer caught a picture of her maid of honor and Lindsey hugging. Her friend was in her dress, and Lindsey had her hair and makeup done, but she was still in her jeans. “I don't know why I love the picture so much, but it is just amazing,” she said. I know why it is special, because nothing is more special than a true ChaCha friend!

After honeymooning in a 7 day cruise to Mexico, Grand Caymans, Honduras, and Belize, the Reynolds got ready to move to LA, California. Austin a screenwriter and Lindsey, who is a corporate event and meeting planner just recently moved to start their life together out west. We wish you happiness in the city of dreams!

Contact Suzanne as s@chachabella.com to be the next bride featured!

Reading classifieds can make you even more depressed than giving up chocolate for a week.

With the new additions of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, my experience with public relations and marketing is dinosaur ancient. The last time I typed APP into my computer, I was searching the best apple for pies, not free downloads that might help me with my paint colors, coffee calories or the weather. I guess “googling” is not what a future employer may desire in terms of computer experience. Writing is something I love to do, and blogging is a great outlet that lets me be creative while keeping my skills sharp. Yet, I have to actually blog about something ChaCha related. The beauty is that ChaCha represents all things fabulous women can do for themselves and others, so there are endless writing opportunities.

Today’s blog is about how I began searching for the perfect part-time job on Craig’s List and the Atlanta Journal Constitution on line newspaper. This non-existent job incorporates marketing, creativity, public relations, sales and writing. I even looked into non-profit work since my volunteer experience is in that area of expertise. My ideal drive is within 20 miles of my house and my hours are flexible. And, of course, the pay is excellent.

Being a realist, I know this won’t be listed in the classifieds, but I still believe the opportunity is out there, even if I have to create the position myself. ChaCha Girls make their own path in life. Sometimes luck, friends, or a divine intervention push you a certain direction, but ultimately you have to work hard to succeed and create the opportunity.

While Zach Braff playing a doctor on Scrubs makes $350,000 an episode or 7.7 million a year and the women of Desperate Housewives earned $450,000 an episode for 10.1 million a year, I was just hoping to earn enough to pay for a cleaning service and a manicure once a week.

Effective July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 per hour. Some states go as high as $8.25, with Washington state offering the highest of $8.55 an hour. I am fortunate that I don’t have to work and I can raise my children, but there is something for actually wanting to work and making a contribution to society. I didn’t graduate with honors for the heck of it!

P.S. Did you know that I also write poems, roasts, and toasts for birthdays, bridal showers, graduations, retirement, or any fun event that you desire. It is of course done in perfect ChaCha style that will delight you and your guest of honor!

If you have been out of the workforce for more than 10 years and recently re-entered, share your story and win a ChaChaBella ring that screams “Yay Me!” Or, if you need a poem for a special event, contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

I am guilty.

I have wasted more than a few hours of my life watching infomercials, and even more time, researching some of those products online. Yes, I did make a purchase (or two) but I had very valid reasons. My face was feeling tired and I needed a miracle lift that their products promised to deliver. In addition, my wooden floors needed to be super steam cleaned to prove that I was a worthy housekeeper. Who says that you and your home can’t be beautiful at the same time?
If you have ever indulged in watching the infomercial, you know you must act fast for either the extra special give-a-way or the super payment plan. I am smart enough to know that if I purchase the product days from now, it will still be honored, but it keeps flashing on the bottom of the screen that this is only a limited time offer, which definitely hastened my purchase.

Now, I am not going to reveal which skincare line I bought, but I had to watch several different famous and beautiful models tell their secrets before I made my intelligent decision. After googling all the choices and reading real user comments, it appears that each had their positive and negative statements, so I went with the best price package. I was happy with my selection but not enough to purchase again, and I think the over-the- counter products are just as successful. Perhaps, I should wait for the gift with purchases from the department stores to entice me next time. I am a true sucker!

Can you even imagine if ChaChaBella rings were on an infomercial? By the end of the show, you would have ordered the 5 must have rings to mix and match with every possible color combination outfit. The models and rings would be so dazzling that you just couldn’t decide and the super package price would have made you dizzy! Oh, if there was a “gift with purchase” special, ChaChaGirls would rejoice with “Yay Me!”

If you have ever made an infomercial purchase on something life-changing, let me know so I can check it out, and if you want to know my 5 must have rings….I am happy to share. But, respond fast, as I have a super secret blog special if you are one of the first 10 responders!

Suzanne Taylor at s@chachabella.com
Blog contributor

My daughter’s toe has fireworks painted on it!

In excitement for the upcoming fourth of July holiday, I said yes to my daughter’s plea of having a graphic painted on her toes at the nail salon. I decided at age 8 it was appropriate, and at age 40, I just went with a boring French pedicure. Last year, my girlfriend had a flag painted on her toe and when she went to visit her friends in Cleveland, they were amazed by this toe trend. Trends come and go faster than you can say Pet Rock, but when they are hot, nothing can stop momentum.
Something can be hot in one place and six months later, just begin somewhere else. We are already referring to them as that “old thing.” By no means is Canton, Ga a hot trend city verse New York and Paris, but we may have a leg up on Cleveland, since we get to associate with the big city of Hot-lanta.

A few trends that have come and go in regards to toys were Bakugan (a toy that transforms into a Japanese animal) two Decembers ago. You couldn’t find them anywhere in Cherokee Country, Ga, but if you drove a few counties over or another state, the shelves were jammed pack. Silly Bands are still around, but the fevered pitch has died down in our city as it just starts in other places. You may remember the movie where parents fought over the last must-have toy. I can remember my parents searching for Cabbage Patch dolls for my sister, and that doll concept was just modernized with me searching for American Girl products that were sold out. Word of mouth determines the trends life and successes or failures. We all know what Oprah does for trends!

Trends are in all areas of life from fashion, technology, stocks, hairstyles, medine, décor, business, and of course marketing. Who would have thought that blogs, facebook and twitter would have become the norm to reach customers. Coupons can be instantly downloaded to your phones in application forms. Some trends just become reality such as every house having a phone, tv, and a home computer. In fact, we use brand name words now as actual verbs, such as I TIVOed that show or I’ll facebook him.

The best trend is beautiful quality, which is timeless. ChaChaBella jewelry is not only for weddings, but beautiful gifts for all the women in your lives. We love being voted #1 wedding favor by brides on weddingwire.com, but more importantly, ChaChaBella is ChaCha Timeless. We are constantly reviewing new crystal colors and keeping up with fashions, but friendship is the true sparkle of our company. That trend will never go out of style!

Win a free ring by retelling your funny story of finding a hard to locate trendy item in time for a special occasion. Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"
is a quote from the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Its interpretation is meant to say that the names of things are irrelevant. If you are recently getting married and are changing your name, sometimes the name can be easier to spell or say, and other times it can be more difficult. Obviously, we can’t pick our mates based on their last names - that would be really shallow! All new brides take pride in their first signature; whether it is 5 letters long or fifteen! I must admit I got an easy pronounciation, but sometimes common names are a hindrance too. I went from Rogoff to Taylor. So, when I used to be the only Rogoff in the phone book, I am now grouped with a long list of Taylors, and there are even three other Suzanne Taylor’s in my small town, so it can be confusing.

Of course, we all know the turmoil of naming children (or pets if that applies) and choosing the perfect name to represent their future personality. Some people choose names early on, and others wait to they see their baby, in order to make sure the name fits the child. Many parents have no option. They have a name that must be passed down, or family names that need to be utilized. My son’s name is Ethan Cole. We needed an E after my grandmother that passed away and Ethan is the only E that we could agree on, and Cole is my mother-in-law’s maiden name, which we wanted to honor. My daughter is named Jessica (called Jessie) just because we liked unisex names. No rhyme or reason. Her middle name is Neill, my husband’s middle name, which we opted over my middle name of Paige, since his is a family name. Maybe, I can convince my daughter to use her surname and call her daughter, Taylor Paige if that sounds good with her future unknown 5 or 15 letter last name.

Did you know how Heather Roe Thompson, the owner of this company, named ChaChaBella? She has twin boys, Chase and Chandler and took the first three letters of their names to create her totally female company! Now, that’s creative! Recently, I went to a tour of Sweetwater Brewery, a local Georgia brewery. Some of their beer names were Road Trip and Happy Endings. When asked how they came up with their creative names, they said they sat around a table and brainstormed. So, some things aren’t rocket science. Other companies do tons of research before launching a name to make sure that the public opinion is favorable, and that the name conjures up the image they want to be associated with their company or product. All I know is that my husband could have had a horrible last name, and I would still have married him and a ChaChaBella ring by any other name would still be ChaCha fabulous!

If you are getting married soon and are changing last names to something more challenging than your maiden name, let me know and you might be the winner of one of our easy to pronounce rings! Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

I just got off the phone with a Yenta, and I couldn’t wait to share her information with my ChaCha girls.

My amazing conversation was with Alison of The Wedding Yentas, a new company that writes a blog about Jewish weddings and provides ideas, photos, explanations, and information on Jewish wedding traditions. In addition, their website has a vast vendor directory that can help all brides, but the daily blog articles specifically references Jewish wedding traditions.

If you aren’t familiar with the term Yenta, the old school Yiddish definition (which is derived from German and Hebrew vocabularies) is busybody. Today, the word translates to mean an endearing person who knows a lot of people and many things, and who shares that information with her circle of friends. Alison and her friend/business partner, Nicky, who was also her wedding photographer, created this new company, The Wedding Yentas at www.theweddingyentas.com, and they share their expert knowledge about Jewish weddings and traditions. When they got married, there was no one-stop website that answered their questions in a modern way, so they created this company. ChaCha girls love women who solve problems! Both women are the kind of Yenta you want to know, because their blogs will make your wedding easier if you are a Jewish bride or having an interfaith ceremony.
Many brides have traditions they want to preserve in their wedding ceremony or reception. If you have never been to a Jewish wedding, it is deep in tradition. You may not be aware, but many Jewish brides can’t get married on Saturday afternoon, because it is the Sabbath, a holy day, and no weddings can occur until it is dark. Hence, they covet the three-day holiday weekends so that their guests can enjoy a Sunday wedding, and not rush back to work the following day. Brides of all faith love the three day weekends, as it makes great anniversary weekends too, and that is why they book up so fast.
My wedding was interfaith as my husband’s family is Christian. We had a rabbi and a minister preside over our service. One of the main traditions is to sign the Ketubah, which is the Jewish version of a marriage contract. It is signed, framed and displayed like a piece of art and they are very personal. This isn’t your traditional over the counter marriage certificate, which is also required by United States law. Jewish marriages are constantly reminded of their promises to each other every time they pass their Ketubah, and many brides search for new, modern phrases as no bride wants to be referred to as property or being owned. My Ketubah is on my bedroom wall. Do you know where your certificate is located? I hope it isn’t in the junk drawer of your kitchen!

Another Jewish tradition is having the bride and groom stand under a Chuppah (a bridal canopy), which is a cultural symbol representing the new happy home that the bride and groom will build and create together. The Chuppah is covered on top as a symbol of security and protection and is open on all sides so that family and friends will always feel welcome

Jewish brides also circle their future husbands seven times, which is an omen of good fortune, linked to the seven days of creation. The circling is also a means of protection, from evil spirits and from the temptations of the world. It also creates space, space from their families and space together. I only hope no one faints or gets dizzy after that practice, as that would be a wedding coordinator nightmare!
Jewish grooms step on a glass at the end of the ceremony and the reasons for this are so varied that I refer you to The Wedding Yentas’ website, www.theweddingyentas.com/traditions/kiss-my-glass. The key is making sure you pick a glass that is breakable (I think we used a lightbulb as a substitute) instead of your fine crystal. Judaica shops have specific glasses for this purpose.

I refer you to the Yentas for more information, as they are the experts and their website has the resources to help make the process easier. Oh yeah, and if a Yenta says that the ChaChaBella ring is a must have, you better listen up!

If you have had a Jewish wedding or an interfaith wedding that comes with a funny story about a traditional element, share with me and you will be blessed with a ring of your choice! I only hope your Chuppah didn’t fall down or you got dropped during the Hora!
Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com.

My friend’s husband said, “If you can’t fit it in a backpack for camping, you don’t need it.” Well, I guess I went camping ChaCha style, because two car loads later, I felt like I had almost everything. My children were excited to camp on Mother’s Day weekend with our neighbors (33 people in total!), so I was going to make sure we were over-prepared. Isn’t that a girl scout motto?

Five families spent the night and many others came to visit on Saturday. After my husband assembled the tent and built the fire, I came in with the two queen air mattresses, sheets, comforters, and extra pillows. He may have given me looks that showed he was a manly man and didn’t need all of that, but I know his back appreciated it the next morning. My son wanted to know why he needed so many clothes and after his third outfit in one day got wet, I just smiled and said, “Mommies know best!”

We had more than enough food to feed the entire campsite, let alone a small nation. The chip selection alone rivaled Walmart’s aisle ten! When you hike, swim, and bike all day, appetites are fierce. Or, the exact opposite, when you sit around in a fold out chair all day and stare at a fire knowing you can’t do laundy (but thinking about all the stuff you will have to wash upon return), clean out a drawer, or empty the dishwasher, you just eat all day too! I of course not knowing what my tastebuds might crave, had a sampling of everything from sweet, salty to sour. In addition, I brought several different alcoholic beverages to choose from and those mixers. I would like it to be written that next year, I am bringing a blender, but thought I might get too many looks from my fellow neighbors on camping trip round one. I know my limits of being an over-doer. One friend did have a welcome mat outside her tent, and I will file that away as a future camping necessity.

We were on Red Top Mountain on Lake Allatoona in Geogia. The weather was a Chamber of Commerce weekend, warm 2 days and cool the third, with no rain in sight. I know we were only thirty minutes from civilization but it seemed much further as all four of us slept within an arms grasp of each other…perhaps, that made it the perfect thing to do Mother’s Day Weekend, except for the side effects of those campfire beans!

If you have a ChaChaBella camping story to share, the winner will receive a ring that represents the color of nature!
Send submissions to Suzanne at s@chachabella.com.

Seriously, I am stuck in Paris! Yes, an unprecedented explosion of an Iceland volcano has sent ash into the air closing airports across Europe and stranded me in Paris with me my four college girlfriends. I know, break out the violin, as I have it so rough!

My sorority sisters and I decided to see if we could celebrate the big 4-0 with a bang by planning a trip to Europe. The depth of organizing a trip of this magnitude, figuring out a date, using our frequent flyer points, agreeing on a place and organizing child care is so enormous, that it was a miracle that the trip happened at all- and then to get additional days due to cancelled flights, was unprecedented. As my husband said, if a natural disaster happened on his Keys trip with the boys, I would have said, “Walk Home!” Well, I couldn’t swim back to the USA and he sensed my anxiety, so he told me to just enjoy my extension as eventually I will return home to reality.

Of all the natural disasters to occur, a volcano eruption never entered my mind and I am a planner! I wanted to enjoy the extra days, but I was a little stressed about my return to the United States. The news in Europe was much more exaggerated then here as the trains were striking (because they could) there were no rental cars left to travel to Spain (the only open airport), experts predicted another eruption (hence closing airports longer) and Paris isn’t the cheapest city in the world either! Since my friends and I are all positive, we actually thought our flight on Tuesday wouldn’t be canceled and once it was, we had to deal with the reality of we could be here a few more days. Now, we were in the backlog of people whose flights had been canceled since Friday. After phone calls to the airlines and rebooking back up flights, we tried to enjoy the rest of our extended trip by drinking, eating, and shopping - a girl’s favorite activity!

For those of you that maybe just planned a wedding, I know it is hard to imagine, but the girls that you just had as your bridesmaids could very well be your best friends in another 25 years. There is something about old (my friend likes to say dear because it sounds better) friendships and the comfort of knowing each other so well. Getting stuck was a joy with my friends and in true ChaCha style, we embraced a situation we couldn’t control with a few tears, but mostly laughter. We were part of a world wide event, the closing of European airport in April 2010. Needless to say, we all got home safely, on different days, on different flights, on different airlines with none of us flying directly home anymore, but with transfers, yet we are all happy to be back on this side of the pond! In looking back on the trip, the airport closing is one small part of the trip as the memories we made in Provence and Paris will make my 40th birthday unforgettable!

If you were stuck in Europe, tell me how you handled your situation in ChaCha style.
Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

Have you ever done the “friendly wave” because you are driving a Jeep, Sea Ray boat, Harley motorcycle or something similar and see someone in the same type of vehicle?

I think this wave is more than just a “Hey, we like the same type of vehicle” as I certainly am not waving at every Chevy SUV that drives past me. I think the wave is reserved as a wave of acknowledgment that you enjoy the same attitude, lifestyle, feeling that these vehicles or other unique products provide.

So, imagine my surprise when I am at a ski resort in North Carolina, where the dress code is simpler, more natural, and of course warmer. I almost didn’t even pack a ChaChaBella ring since I knew I was wearing gloves most of the time and we were planning to eat in our cabin. But, just in case we ventured out for dinner, I wanted to have one in my purse.

I even told my brother in law that it would be a ChaChaBella free weekend. The rings are like a drug, you can’t live without one or your finger feels naked. So, when we decided to have one nice big dinner out, I donned one. My brother in law has helped spread the word about the ring in South Carolina and his female friends think they are fabulous, so he understood my obsession with breaking it out of my purse!

Anyway, as I am drinking my glass of red wine, a girl stops me and says, “Is that a ChaChaBella ring?” My brother in law says, “Here We Go…” because he knows that automatically if we have the ring in common, what else can we talk about for hours?
It is the same with the Jeep, Sea Ray, Harley example from above - the ChaChaBella ring is more than just a ring, it is an attitude and a feeling wrapped into a beautiful, unique piece of jewelry.

Needless to say, they were visiting from Charlotte and her friend knew the owner of the company Heather, and the ring started us talking. Otherwise, we would have just been a bunch of people drinking separately at the bar. It’s not such a small ChaCha world after all!

If you have been approached by anyone because of your ChaChaBella ring, drop me a line and let me know your cute story. Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

For those of you that gave up something for Lent, I commend you.

With the children counting down the days to the Easter Bunny arrives, perhaps you too are anxiously awaiting the big day to indulge in your sacrifice as well. I wonder: If after giving up something for 40 days, do you ease back into it or go for the gusto? Did you miss it so much that you will never give it up again? Or was it easy to walk away from?

Having never challenged myself to give up anything for 40 days and making myself accountable, I can only watch from the sidelines in amazement and awe. I have so many guilty pleasures…watching BRAVO marathons on TV, drinking wine, wasting water by taking baths at night, and don’t even get me started on my chocolate fixation.

I realize the basis of Lent is prepare the believer through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial and the 40 days are from the Death of Christ on Good Friday until his resurrection on Easter Sunday. So, I am not writing this blog lightly, but in tribute to those that partake in this ritual.

As a woman who was raised in the Jewish religion but married a Christian, my knowledge of Easter was limited to a bunny, dying Easter eggs, and decorating cookies. (BTW, I once went to an Easter Egg hunt where the eggs were dropped from a helicopter in the sky!) Since we have had our children and lived in Georgia, we began attending a Presbyterian church and my religious knowledge has expanded.
Last week, my daughter and I attended a 5 hour bible study on the Old Testament. Being Jewish and all, I thought it was history I should know but unfortunately didn’t; and therefore volunteered and paid to take this course on a Sunday.

I know I didn’t give up anything for 40 days, but I gave up 5 hours for God on a sunny Sunday and after not seeing the sun in several months, I thought it was some kind of a sacrifice. I felt good about myself and GOD when I was done with the course, and if I felt that good after 5 hours, I can only imagine how you feel after 40 days.

Say “Yay Me,” a popular ChaChaBella saying, if you are on your way to completing your Lent sacrifice.

If you gave up something unusual for LENT, you might be the winner of ChaChaBella ring as your reward, even if you went back to it after your 40 days. Send me your story at www.chachabella.com and since ChaChaBella is an equal opportunity business, if you aren’t Christian and have a good story of something you gave up, send it in as well.
Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

I am no expert on St. Patrick’s Day, but it helps break up the month of March and I am always looking for a reason to celebrate.

The Irish have generously shared their patron saint, St. Patrick, with us and welcomed us into their pubs across the United States. No other holiday appears to be as tolerant of others as St. Patrick’s Day. Our only requirement is to wear green clothing, and have a willingness to toast and drink with the Irish. In America, we wear green so we don’t get pinched, which is just a silly tradition. But, we also punch people when we see a Volkswagen Beetle, so we are easily amused. Some people say that we wear green because Ireland is nicknamed the Green Isles. In Ireland, they wear the colors from the flag which is Green for the Catholics, Orange for the Protestants and the White for the peace between them.

I can remember as a youth searching for the mysterious four leaf clover or shamrock! While many like to claim a mythical explanation for the existence of four-leaf clovers, a simple genetic mutation is the real cause. According to legend, on a four-leaf clover, each leaf stands for something. One leaf symbolizes hope, one is for faith, another for love, and the fourth is, of course, for luck. Some people are just born lucky, but my dad used to say - and I think he stole the line from Benjamin Franklin- “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” For example, when I played golf in my youth and I would make a 20ft putt, my friends would say, “You am so lucky” but in reality, I practice 20ft putts for more than an hour a day for a week. We all know inherently lucky people, maybe they found a Shamrock, which is hard to do, as it is estimated that there is only 1 out of every 10,000 clovers!

One of the things that the Irish are known for are their great toasts. You may even remember some of the limericks from the movie Cocktail starring Tom Cruise as an Irish bartender. There are so many Irish Blessings that it is worthy of a google search for a good laugh. I enjoyed this one very much:

There are 4 things you must never do: lie, steal, cheat, or drink.
But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
If you must cheat, cheat death.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away...
Brianne Kelly Darragh


For those Irish brides or ChaChaGirls out there, I would love to know a toast you used at your wedding or at a birthday party. The best one will earn a green ChaChaBella ring, as that is a must wear on St. Patrick’s Day!

Contact Suzanne, where my non-Irish eyes are always smiling, at S@chachabella.com.

If there was an over-packer anonymous group, I could be the President.

It doesn’t matter if I am going for a weekend or a two-week trip, I always over-pack and still never have the right thing to wear. So, if you are getting ready for a honeymoon or a girls’ weekend, I have no advice - except that you will wear half of what you bring, you will buy something wonderful to wear at your destination, and you will repeat your favorite outfits.

When we travel to Florida - I bring the classy outfit to wear to my parents club, the perfect jeans in case I run into any old high school friends, work-out gear, cute short sets, and find that I live in my bathing suit, cover-up, pajama sweats and a tank top. I have been known to pack several different strapless bras because each one works with a different top. It is a disease. The hysterical part is that I actually plan, and it takes me an entire day to pack because I organize my shoes, purses, jewelry, and of course, my ChaChaBella rings!

Experts tell you to roll your clothes, in order to save on space and wrinkles. You can even watch “How to Pack” on You Tube, which at least makes me feel like I am not alone. I have decided when I travel to Paris in the spring, that I am only bringing black and white clothing. This will reduce my purse, shoes, and jewelry options freeing up luggage room for my future purchases. It may be boring, but I will be practical. I am sure no matter how neat and organized I am anyway, my luggage will get chosen by security for further inspection, thus messing up my tidy bag.

Don’t even get me started on toiletries. I am a health and beauty junkie - so I have product for curly hair, straight hair, lotions for this and that, different sunscreens, makeup for day and night, nail products, and then all the regular everyday must have items. As you know, this doesn’t fit well in the one, little plastic bag approved by the airlines if you are carrying on your luggage. This is just another reason to drive, yet that doesn’t work well when traveling overseas. So, I have had to modify by going more natural, and hoping the alcohol consumed by others and myself will make me look better! *Tip: A ChaChaBella ring on your finger always makes you feel confident and in style!

If you can relate to my over-packing and always spend time on your trip, re-organizing your suitcase, drop me a line at s@chachabella.com so I know I am not alone!

Did you hear the screams?

I recently went bathing suit shopping and did my best to not cry at the image in the fluorescent three way mirror. I believe it is a conspiracy to bring the bathing suits out in the middle of the winter before you have lost the holiday weight, gotten your spring bikini wax, and started applying tanning crème.

I know you all have been in this predicament, looking for a bathing suit before your spring break trip, yet your body isn’t ready for this event. I am still hiding under bulky sweaters and looking forward to the arrival of the Girl Scout cookies!

It doesn’t matter if you are a size 0 or a plus size, trying on bathing suits is our own worst nightmare because we are all self critical. I love that some boutiques have heels in the dressing room. Yes, they do make my legs look longer but I won’t be wearing those at the pool club or on the beach. Perhaps, if I was taking a trip to Vegas, they would be appropriate, but for now, I’ll have to use the wedge flip flop or (gasp!) go barefoot, which doesn’t elongate anything!

I haven’t worn a bikini since I was in my twenties! I am a tankini girl thanks to my two beautiful children. I also prefer the halter top to help lift my breasts up. So, right away my choices are limited. My friends love the bikinis and can order them right from the Victoria Secret catalog. Sure, they may have to return a few for being see-through or lack of coverage, but they have so many choices online and in the stores it makes my head spin.

Like most of you, I have figured out a few brands that work well with my body type and concentrate on those. I need two types of suits, one to wear in a lake for boating activities (dark color and not as pricey since may get ruined more easily) and then one for sunning at the pool, which can be prettier and more flattering since I am not covered in life vest. It seems crazy that something so thin and small can cost so much, but per wearing, I guess it works out. At least, that is my cost-benefit rationalization, as the more expensive ones always look better on me.

Whether you shop at bathing suit specialty shops that let you mix and match sizes, department stores where you can bring in 25 suits at once to try on, or discount stores where you can sometimes pick up steals, I suggest bringing a friend.

ChaCha brides and ChaCha girls need a female companion to remind you that your smile is the best part of your body and to stop obsessing over the way the suit makes you look!

Let me know your nightmare bathing suit story, and you will be entered to win a ChaChaBella Friendship ring to help you feel better.

Suzanne Taylor, Contributing Blog Writer
s@chachabella.com