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We Love: Acts of Kindness

The past couple of months, we’re feeling more grateful than ever for family, friends and gratitude itself. Here’s our weekly list of comforts and joys to share.

We’re so inspired by so many good people. Join us in performing 26 acts of kindness.

Citymeals. A truly great local food charity for more than 30 years.

Support this small business in the hard-hit Rockaways and get something amazing to share or give.

Need a breather? Take a moment with these photos from this year’s Tour de France.

Then, cozy up at home with Barefoot Contessa’s classic comfort food...

And check out La Buena Vida. We’re loving Nicole Franzen’s aesthetic, her food and her gorgeous photography.

Feel like making a memory? This would be an unforgettable date or family outing. Read more here.

Photo by Mark Leary.

 

Jeff Cooper Rings: A Love Story

Hearing from ‘our’ couples is the best! Our awesome Facebook friend Ramiro recently shared this magical photo of his wife’s bridal bouquet and their Jeff Cooper wedding rings. He wrote, “Just wanted to share a picture of our rings. We got married on 9-29-12. Thank you for making such beautiful rings.” Thank you so much for sharing your love!

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Ask Jeff Cooper: The Push Present

What are Push Presents?
The push present or baby bauble is a celebrity trend that’s definitely reached the rest of us. Babycenter.com revealed that 38% of new moms received a push present. As one mom told Babyzone.com, “Was it necessary? No. Was it an unbelievably special gift that oftentimes will help me recall one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences of my life? Absolutely.”

According to Tori Spelling, “a push present is supposed to be something you wear forever, as a token of your child.” Her husband Dean McDermott once gave her a Balenciaga bag as a push present. For Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, it was a gold bracelet. Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Garner a classic diamond ring.

Some Daddies give creative push presents, like the four pairs of biker boots Tim Burton gave Helena Bonham Carter. Some are more thoughtful than glamorous. One mom came home to a new king-size bedroom set she’d wanted for months. Others are totally extravagant. Marc Anthony showed his appreciation by giving Jennifer Lopez a $300,000 canary diamond ring and $2.5 million earrings!

How to Pick a Push Present
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Rachel Zoe with a 10-karat cushion-cut diamond, surrounded by a halo of many more diamonds in a platinum setting. Her husband Rodger must have had some help coming up with a push present that reflected her style so perfectly, right?

An element of surprise is fabulous, but it’s okay to get some guidance from Mama on what would make the best gift. Sometimes the new mom chooses the gift and the husband puts a personal touch by engraving an inscription that makes it a keepsake.

In Hollywood, the standard is something sparkly, and it’s hard to go wrong with precious jewelry. Mathew Broderick went relatively subtle with his charm bracelet for Sarah Jessica Parker. Liev Schrieber gave Naomi Watts a platinum and diamond locket. Gifts that can be personalized make memorable push presents.

Personalized Push Presents
Jay-Z gave Beyonce a blue jeweled ring for the birth of their daughter Blue Ivy. Jessica Simpson’s fiancé Eric Johnson imported a collection of bracelets, necklaces and rings from Jessica’s favorite jewelry designer in Capri. Nick Cannon gave Mariah Carey a necklace that spelled the names of their twins in diamonds and pink sapphires. Special, right?

Keith Urban gave Nicole Kidman a cross necklace after their daughter Faith was born. We love meaningful push presents, and we’re doing a series of pendants with initials and spiritual symbols, based on a custom push present we made for Mike Rubendall’s wife.

Ultimately, the best push presents are personal, they last forever, and they make a new Mom feel special and loved. If you’re in the market for a push present, CONGRATULATIONS! The best part of what we do is getting to be a part of your special milestones.

Photo by Sean Taylor Photography

We Love: Wedding Music & Red Dresses

Winters on Long Island remind us of Milton Avery’s late seascapes. Quiet, muted colors with a subtle shimmer, and his trademark simple composition.

According to Mark Rothko, Milton Avery’s artistic repertoire was a lot like ours: his living room, Central Park, his wife Sally, his daughter March, the beaches and mountains where they summered. We totally identify. This winter it’s all about things that are close to our hearts and close to home.

Here’s our weekly snapshot of fun from around the web.

‘Tis the season for red dresses.

‘Tis also the season for reindeer cookies!

Yet another way to be everyone’s favorite guest? These great New York wines have the best labels. Especially the winter-chic 2010 Clones.

If you’re putting together a wedding playlist, check out the 50 greatest hip hop songs of all time.

We’re also loving these fabulous sashes to accessorize a wedding dress.

Here’s another good one for wedding planning. Champagne’s less-expensive, just-as-sparkly cousins.

Of a Kind is so much fun to browse. Every single thing on the site is a crazy cool limited edition.

How cute and funny are these?

Stay warm this weekend! See you Monday.

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We Love: NYC Wedding Photographers

If you’re following our blog, you may have already picked up on this, but we’re obsessed with New York style. Our jewelry’s been designed and crafted here forever, and from the beach to the city to the mountains, New York is our constant inspiration.

As avid followers of wedding photography trends, we’ve seen a lot of urban motifs, but Christian Oth’s New York City is the real deal. He captures the city’s energy, and the sophisticated, timeless personality we know and love.

To check out his NYC slideshow, go here and click “New York.”

Photo by Christian Oth Studio.

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We Love: A Simple Wedding

We love a great wedding, and this one is straight out of our wildest Ralph Lauren dreams. NYC couple Laurie & Brendan decided to keep it simple and romantic, with a heartfelt elopement in the Adirondacks at Lake Placid Lodge. Read their interview with one of our favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard from A Cup of Jo. The pictures by Jon Zander Photography are crazy good and their love story was even better. Happy Monday!

Photo, by Jon Zander Photography, reblogged from A Cup of Jo.

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We Love: Made in NY

What’s on your holiday wish list? We have some cool things picked out that are made in New York, and a few other irresistible somethings from everywhere. Here’s our round-up of enviable items to we’d love to give & receive.

For the art & design-types on your list, the most gorgeous fishbowl imaginable.

How pretty are these gem-shaped soaps, by husband & wife designers in Red Hook, Brooklyn!

Also made in Brooklyn! The best Hanukkah gelt. 

These killer neckties are made in NYC, too.

Yes, yes, yes, more awesome presents made in Brooklyn!

Speaking of color, who wouldn’t want to wake up with this every morning?

European dream weekends! How fun would it be to find this in your stocking?

And this, from artist Yayoi Kusama’s too-cool Louis Vuitton Collaboration.

Of course, the best things in life aren’t things. Have fun this weekend!

Photo: Aruliden’s Fish Bowl, from the A+R design store.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Diamond Engagement Ring Trends for 2013

Happy Holidays! We’re already thinking about 2013, which is poised to be an incredible year in engagement ring style. Here are our top ten predictions for the best trends of the year.

1. Vintage-Inspired
Updated vintage designs are the single biggest trend we see, now and in the future. Who doesn’t want a ring that feels timeless? Vintage-inspired engagement rings have that innate sense of history and romance. Photo: Hope

2. Colored Stones
What do Penelope Cruz, Kate Middleton and Mariah Carey have in common, besides great hair? Colored engagement rings! Sapphires especially are seeing a huge rise in popularity, quite possibly due to Kate Middleton’s royal rock.

3. Halo & Double Halo
Modern brides are loving the architectural look of halos, and some couples also see them as symbolic of eternity. Either way, we think dramatic halos seem chicer by the day.

4. Princess, Emerald & Oval Diamonds
After Brad Pitt designed Angelina Jolie’s engagement ring with its impressive emerald cut diamond, was there any doubt the trend would take off? Three cuts we predict will be huge in 2013 are princess, emerald and ovals.

5. Personalization
Justin Timberlake included Jessica Biel’s aquamarine birthstone in her engagement ring. Our own Nikole Collection is based on the ring David Cooper designed for his wife, Nikole. In love and jewelry, the more personal, the better.

6. Twisted Bands
An elegant twist is such a classic, glamorous way to add dimension to a ring, we think you’ll be seeing a lot of this trend in the future.

7. Floral Motifs
Brides feel freer than ever to express their personalities, and unique engagement ring designs are gaining popularity. Floral engagement rings strike such a cool balance of feminine beauty and bold individuality.

8. Unique Settings
Blending in with the crowd is so over. While most brides want a classic look, choosing a unique setting is a great way to make it your own. We love barset diamonds for a look that’s bold, but still timeless.

9. Three Stone Rings
A lot of couples see the three-stone ring as symbolic of the past, present and future, or three of their own personal milestones. It’s just another way that couples are personalizing their experience, a trend we love.

10. The New Solitaires
Fresh, new versions of the classic solitaire will be big in 2013. We’re really feeling radically clean lines and understated details that make the center stone pop.

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We Love: A Colored Wedding Dress

Would you dare to forgo the classic white gown for a colored wedding dress? If three times make a trend, then colored dresses are a craze in Hollywood, since we’ve seen this almost a dozen times!

Trendsetting stars like Julianne Moore, Gwen Stefani, Portia De Rossi, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway, Cynthia Nixon, Emily Deschanel  and Amber Tamblyn all wore color, and we suspect it’s a trend we’ll see more of in the future.

Who wore it best? It’s Hollywood, so of course everyone looked uniquely amazing. We’re all about the refined simplicity, so we’re voting for Reese Witherspoon’s blush pink Chantilly lace Monique Lhuillier. Such a flattering color and classic silhouette could really work on anyone.

Photos: Lara Porzak & People Magazine

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We Love: A Great Wedding Video

So what are you up to this weekend? The Matisse show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art looks amazing. But then, so does holiday shopping online with a cake in the oven. Here are some fun links from around the net we’re loving this week. Have a wonderful weekend!

The ‘Magnificent Jewels’ auction at Christie’s.

Is ‘Magnificent’ a bit too extravagant? Try these.

Put a bow on it for the holidays.

Yum. Nine Amazing American Whiskeys.

A sweet gift that gives back.

Matisse at the Met!

Just so incredibly romantic.

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