welcome back everyone - i hope your turkeys were perfectly cooked, and your family drama was kept to a minimum!  we’re changing things up a little this month in honor of the holidays, and you’ll be seeing more “what i’m giving today” posts…most of which i’d be happy to receive as well.  hey, ’tis the season to be selfish!  i’ll also be posting deals as they’re passed my way (including some huge discounts exclusively for SMC readers!) and some fun holiday giveaways (the first one starts tomorrow).  so, stay tuned for the fun…starting with the cyber monday deals below!

it seems like agates are the latest find in the jewelry world - i’m seeing them everywhere lately.  but i haven’t seen any i love so well as these gorgeous versions from isharya.  for a friend that wears jewelry you only dream of owning, i can’t imagine a better gift than these hoops accented with rough purple agate ($156 with code lucky5).  

or, for someone you’d like to ease into the chunky jewelry trend (maybe even a hip mom!), i am pretty obsessed with this rosewood cuff bracelet accented with that same lovely purple agate ($237).  even with a simple jeans-and-tee ensemble, this cuff would elevate you to effortless chic.  i’d be thrilled to find this stunner in my stocking.

whichever you like best, for giving or for keeping, you’ll be the best gift-giver in town.

i’ve been looking for a great, classic drop earring to wear every day, but as usual, i’m being overly picky.  so i was thrilled to come across diana kane’s line of jewelry, where i found so many fab options (at fantastic prices), i hardly know which to choose.

these briolettes ($78) are just the perfect shade of smoky green to make them a gorgeous neutral, and they’re a great size to wear for any occasion.

and i love the clean, organic quality of these freeform circle drop earrings ($272), which are perfect for more casual looks.

but i think at the end of the day, these sweet little petal earrings are going to win out.  available in rose or yellow gold ($144) or silver ($42), they’re delicate without being precious, and understated but still unique.

assuming i don’t just cave and buy them all…

PS…don’t forget to vote!!

few things make me happier than falling in love with a jewelry line i can actually afford.  these gorgeous new designs from kevia have my head spinning for all the right reasons.  the stacking rings are just divine, and i love her ability to make even formal rose-cut stones look casual by grouping them in a haphazard trio on an oversized chain.  

but the piece i’m most likely adding to my jewelry box is that stunning emerald & gold vermeil ring.  yes, actual emeralds, and actual gold - for a frighteningly reasonably $150.  in fact, nothing in the line is over $170…so, for once, there’s no need to covet from afar.

plus, today through 10/29, we have an exclusive 15% sitewide discount at layla grace.  use code CARDIO at checkout to pick up your favorite piece (or any number of other lovely goodies) for a song!

sometimes, when i’m feeling the “i need to spend money…but i have none” itch, i like to scroll through my etsy favorites and find something to treat myself.  sure, most of the time it’s an exercise in torture - 1, it always makes me want more things than i can have, and 2, it reminds me of how badly i wanted something at one time…and that it’s now sold out.

still, there are a few pieces on my wishlist that are still there, and still making my heart flutter…so i’m sharing, in the name of fashion.

i’d group two or three of these darling little poppy corsages (made of recycled fabric) onto my favorite charcoal cashmere cardigan - they’d be sure to give me a lift when i need it.  

and this violet necklace is the ultimate in vintage chic - i’d love to see this paired with something as simple as a basic crewneck tee and jeans.  it’s a fabulous statement piece, and at $46, it’s a statement i can actually afford to make.

if i’m being honest, i should already have bought this pink and gold leather cuff (also recycled).  it’s only $10, and is such a stylish alternative to the bangle trend - plus, it’s infinitely more wearable on a practical level (have any of you tried to type at a computer all day wearing a stack of those enamel bangles?  yeah…).

if you’re looking to bust your budget, you’re more than welcome to check out my etsy faves - if nothing else, it should keep you from working for an hour or two.

jennifer tuton is an old favorite here at shoppingsmycardio.  i love to say i knew her when…in fact, i had her chunky aquamarine necklace in my clutches long before it appeared in lucky magazine.  so, when jennifer emailed to let me know she had designed some brand new pieces, i couldn’t resist sharing. 

i am positively obsessed with those gorgeous gold drop hoop earrings (left, $68).  traditional hoops just don’t do it for me, but the subtle detail of the brushed gold vermeil drop makes these so much more chic and special.

i’ve been seeing initial charms everywhere lately, but there’s just something about jennifer’s take on the deisgn (right, $55) that makes them feel more special than the rest of the pack.  personally, i think it’s the hand-stamping. i love that they’re slightly off-kilter…it makes them feel less precious than a lot of other designs, and just perfectly hip.

these chain tassel earrings (center, $150) might look like a lot on paper, but when worn, they’ll melt into your hair like butter and provide the perfect dose of sparkle without overwhelming your look.  you can order these in a few different shades - i would go for the smokey quartz, as i happen to have a little black dress that’s just begging for these stunners.

and if you happen to be headed down a flower-decked aisle sometime soon, i can’t recommend jennifer’s newly-expanded bridal collection strongly enough.  her earrings in particular are amazing, and are pieces you’ll undoubtedly wear for years after your big day…which is a lot more than you can say for that vera wang frock!

to check out any or all of these styles, go to jennifer’s website (sadly, it’s flash-based, hence the lack of links).  but it’s just as well…taking a stroll through her virtual aisles is never a bad thing.

this might qualify as one of The Coolest Things I’ve Ever Seen.  it’s an actual orchid, picked from a botanical garden in thailand, then resin-dipped and made into a necklace.  if ever there was a must-own for my trip to hawaii in january (can i get a collective “you lucky bastard” from the audience?), this is it.  how cute would i be, strutting around the beaches of hawaii sporting this?

you too can be that cute for a relatively reasonable $130, courtesy of tiffini dooris’ brand new website, where she features a very select group of accessory designers for your enjoyment and retail support.

there are also resin-coated butterflies, but those give me the heebies a little bit.

you all know there’s nothing i love better than discovering new designers, except maybe finding great deals.  so, when the two converged, i was thrilled. 

designer jean jackson of double j designs recently got in touch to tell me about her new jewelry line, and i couldn’t wait to share.  it’s exotic, stylish, and amazingly affordable.  if you spend time on her website, you’re sure to find some gems there.  her brand new nefertiti earrings (above center) have such a fantastic, modern shape.  those aptly-named puerto rico earrings (above left), made of copper and tourmaline would be the ideal addition to my travel case for an upcoming tropical getaway.  and i’m pleased to report that her skagway necklace (above right), is now happily residing in my jewelry box.  so, i can honestly report that her designs are even more lovely in person.  jean’s attention to detail is evident in every piece - from the hand-beading on her necklaces to thoughtful details like using copper instead of gold or silver to set off the tourmaline stone on an earring.

but best of all, if you can believe it - every piece i’ve pointed out is under $20 (okay, the puerto rico earrings are $22).  i have no idea how jean makes it happen, but i’m so glad she does.  take advantage while you can, and pick up a handful of her stunning designs from her website or her etsy shop.

ps…don’t forget to enter the giveaway for that gorgeous pleated frame bag from nest!  just go here to enter!

i can hardly keep track of what’s going on at target lately - designer collections are lining up so quickly, it seems like a new one releases every week.

as usual, though, i’ve fallen for one that’s gotten almost no recognition.  dean harris, a jeweler whose designs you’re usually accustomed to seeing in gorgeous, upscale shops like barneys (with extravagant prices to match) has lent his eye to a new jewelry line for target.  and it’s actually quite lovely.

harris is known for his edgy, twisted-wire pieces, but my favorites from the target collection were those with a little more panache.  the notable exception are these lovely silver leaf earrings ($24.99), which have just enough edge to keep them from being too precious, and are the perfect size for daily wear.  there’s a similar version which includes a dose of green quartz, and i admit i’m torn between the two.

i have to admit, though, i’m most excited about that fantastic double-layer beaded necklace ($59.99)  i have something similar from the lovely and talented jennifer tuton (stay tuned, by the way, for a peek at her newest wares soon!), but the aquamarine stones in her version aren’t quite as versatile as the clear quartz in the dean harris version.  for the price, it should be a fairly substantial piece - i’m excited to check this one out in person.  i think the styling options are endless, particularly with the 24″ length, which should lend to its versatility.

of course, you can get a much lighter look from this gorgeous green quartz necklace ($39.99).  i love the way the stones look like random bubbles on a chain, and i’m dying to wear this with a silk blouse and heavy tweed trousers this fall.  it’s also available in clear and rose, but that green is just lovely.

i also love this twisted vine bracelet, but for $99.99, this is one i have to see in person - $100 for jewelry from target is tough for me to swallow.

in general, this line is impressively well-made, i have to admit.  they’ve used semiprecious stones and actual metals, instead of plastic, and the beaded pieces are individually knotted.  it’s definitely better than i’d expect from a target jewelry line.

check out the entire line at target - they’re offering free shipping on purchases of $50 or more from the line, which should be easy enough to accomplish.

this sale is slowly killing me.  literally every piece is stunning, and all are right about $500 - which means 60-80% off.  hell of a time for a budget-crushing career change.  

still, you should at least check out the eye candy.  as always, let me know (editor at shoppingsmycardio dot com) if you need an invite!

remember the gorgeous alexis bittar jewelry i mentioned a month or so ago?  well, gilt groupe has gotten hold of a whole slew of the designer’s wares, most priced well over 50% off.   

run, don’t walk.  and as always, feel free to email me at editor[@]shoppingsmycardio.com for an invite!