Hi! Before I get right into my first monthly post I wanted to introduce myself and give everyone some background information about myself. My name is Paige Kelly and I have worked in the healthcare field for over two decades. I graduated from the University of New Orleans and later returned for postbaccaulaureate work in Biology. I ended up graduating with honors from New York Chiropractic College, receiving a Masters of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition.

My nutrition and therapeutic massage experience comes from working in chiropractic offices, physical therapy clinics, and owning a wellness office in Louisiana called “All About Health” which included colon irrigation and therapeutic massage. I began my own journey toward health long ago when I was presented with several of the chronic lifestyle diseases many of us face today. I bring a unique understanding and compassion to my clients based on many years of trial and error with my own experiences which have been heightened by research and higher education. 

I am very passionate about sharing nutritional information and the tools to use in order to make changes in your health. Nutrition is an integral part of everyone’s health and healing. I feel privileged to share my knowledge with you and grateful for your trust in me. I hope in writing these monthly blog posts I am able to help you begin your new journey toward optimal health.

In my first post I wanted to go over some of the most common questions I receive from new patients:
​
Q: Why is weight loss later in life, such a challenge?

A: Weight loss and Diet – for women a lot of negative emotions, expectations, and stress come with these two words.  Re-thinking the approach to your body is the first step to optimal wellness, see how I did that – not diet and weight loss – but OPTIMAL WELLNESS.
In life, we have 3 Cycles of life in years:

• 1-30   
• 30-60
• 60-90

We cannot expect our bodies to function or look the same as they did in our twenties when we are 30-60 years or 60-90 years old as our hormones are different, body chemistry shifts, and our life experiences shape our wellbeing (which can be an awesome asset!).  What years are you currently living in? Are you placing demands on your body to lose weight, but may not understand the underlying reasons for achieving your optimal wellness goal?

Q: Why is optimal wellness a challenge?

A: Here are some of the reasons you might be struggling with your optimal wellness. This can include skin issues, weight loss, and even organ functions. Some might seem obvious. But take a good hard look at your lifestyle and choices when reading over this list. You might find a few that you could improve on. 

• SUGAR
• Food Sensitivities - you might be unaware of a certain food sensitivity until you get tested. In these cases keep in mind when you have an upset stomach or any other symptoms when eating certain foods. It’s helpful to keep a food journal to keep track. 
• Trans Fats from processed food 
• Equal, Splenda, sweet n low, diet drinks/foods – can make you gain weight
• Eating low fat – eating healthy fats do not make you fat!
• DNA – your genetic makeup
• Environmental toxins – makeup, lotions, or gas fumes. 
• Emotional, Mental, and Physical Stress
• Not consuming enough fresh vegetables
• Dehydrated – how much water do you really drink?
• Underlying health challenges
• Nutrient deficiencies from pharmaceuticals, poor diet, poor digestion, GERD, Thyroid conditions, diabetes, and many more.

Over the next few weeks, consider shifting your perspective from Diet/Weight loss to Nourish/Optimal Wellness.  

Keep it Simple:  

• Drink approximately  ½ your body weight in water.   Urine should remain a light yellow – the color of lemonade.  Majority of people are chronically dehydrated!
• Remove any fake sugars from your diet – research has shown that these fake sugars can cause a decrease in stomach health and weight gain.

I hope my first blog post was helpful! If you would like me to focus on any specific topic please feel free to let me know in the comment section. 

Be kind to yourself,

Paige Kelly  MSACN, CNS
paige@FunctionalNutritionVt.com
802-644-8440
Follow me on Facebook 

Hi Everyone! Here is my second video (of a 3 part video series) with my trainer and good friend Charlotte Brynn. If you haven’t watched our first video you should check it out. In that video we cover tips on how to get started if you’re new to working out, as well as a first month plan to get yourself ready! 

In this video we add some strength training exercises that you should incorporate during that second month. We demonstrate a 6 part workout routine you can do from the comfort of your home. 

To get the PDF version for month #2 check out the link below. Let me know in the comment section if you are unable to download it. 

Hi Everyone! I'm really excited to publish the first installment of a 3 part video series with my trainer, and good friend, Charlotte Brynn!! Charlotte is one of the experts I wanted to collaborate with for my blog. If you have been following along you will see that I make it a priority to give you expert advice for some specific topics. I enjoy giving everyone my perspective and sharing my experiences, but hearing from someone who does have expertise is twice as valuable. Charlotte is definitely one of those people! 

She has over 30 years experience within the health and fitness field and devotes most of her time helping others improving their health. Charlotte has a very impressive background, which she does cover in the video above. She is currently the Executive Director of TSH Non- Profit Community Pool & Fitness Center in Stowe, VT. This is where we have our training sessions, and it's an amazing local establishment. ​Charlotte also has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Otago University in New Zealand. Plus, she is a certified swim instructor, swim coach, personal trainer, and a group fitness instructor.

When I started working out with Charlotte I never thought it would be such a life-changing decision. I look back on pictures and I can barely recognize myself. As you can see from the pictures above I have made some major strides, but it definitely didn't happen overnight. I have personally been working out with Charlotte for over 5 years now, and it has been a wonderful experience all around. I always hated working out, and sometimes still do, but Charlotte knows how to motivate me and make it fun. 

The key is consistency! By uploading these pictures of myself I hope it helps motivate some of you if you're feeling uneasy about where to begin. It's not easy for me to look at these pictures either, but it is a great reminder of how far I have come. 

For our first video, we wanted to sit down and answer the most popular questions I have received about weight gain in relation to menopause. We will also be giving you ladies tips on how to get started as well as workouts for when you start to progress. In this video, we will cover the first month of where to begin, but first, we suggest you consult your doctor before starting any new program. Below I have attached a downloadable PDF covering the first month's plan and some key points we review in our interview. Please notify me in the comment section if you are having trouble with downloading the document below:)

Hi Everyone! I want to start off by saying how blown away I am by the response from the first “CAN WE TALK” post. When I started this blog I did state that I felt that social media, or society in general, was not looking at the issues of women who are of a certain age. I can see that there are so many women who felt the same way! When I was checking the comments every day I could not get over the positive response. There was not one negative comment out there. I also loved reading all the questions and subjects women wanted to talk about.

It’s incredible when you start a conversation and begin to have feedback, realizing that you are not alone in your thoughts. So THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to read, like the post, and give me your thoughts and/or feelings. It’s so empowering to know that we can start our own group and feel comfortable enough to discuss anything. I hope it continues and more of you comment to let me know topics you want to address. That is what is driving the discussions we’ll have. I will provide answers to all of your questions based on my personal knowledge along with extensive research of trial and error on my part. I will never suggest a product or procedure that I have not personally used.

Now let's get right into it! I would say one of the most popular topics women were talking about was gaining weight during and after menopause. My feelings were confirmed by all of you who said:
            “I’m gaining weight for no reason”, or 
            “I’m doing everything I can and just can’t lose weight, especially in the midsection”. 
So that’s the first thing we’re going to really get into and talk about for our follow up. 

The reason I want to start with this topic is that menopause affects essentially every woman’s weight. At the very least women will see some kind of change in their body type. So, I want to take an in-depth look at this subject. I also personally feel like looking your best makes you feel your best.

I was doing research on why weight gain happens during this stage in a woman’s life. What I kept reading was that menopause does not make you gain weight. Everything said that you just need to watch your diet and exercise more, which is definitely part of the solution. To read this over and over again was so frustrating for me to see. It goes back to that feeling that most women have throughout their lives, that this is all my fault. Which is commonly reinforced through society and the male perspective. Honestly, my doctor even said this to me at one point, but it really just comes down to a lack of knowledge on the subject. Mostly due to the faux pas of discussing menopause openly. 

Gaining weight during and after menopause is a real thing and it’s not your fault! Menopause does make you gain weight due to the change with your hormones. The fact that women lose estrogen during this stage in life will trigger the change in your body, especially in your midsection. This means you have to re-evaluate some of your eating habits as well as trying to incorporate more exercise into your routine. For any woman going through menopause, you have to tweak your diet. This doesn’t mean you are eating unhealthy by any means. It just means your body is reacting differently to certain foods during this time than it did previously. Strength training during menopause is also very helpful for many reasons, such as preventing osteoporosis. But, these are not the only things you should be doing. 

Going to your doctor and getting on the right plan for you will really help balance your system.  Whether it be a natural plan or HRT therapy, find out what is right for you. 

For me, the first two years of going through menopause were, simply put, miserable. I was extremely depressed and uncomfortable in my own skin. I ended up gaining about 25lbs and it took a lot for me to start actively dealing with menopause in a healthy way. I first went to my doctor and started HRT, hormone replacement therapy. This might not be the avenue some women want to go down, but as I stated previously there are other natural options as well. After this, I began changing small things within my diet such as cutting out wine with dinner every night. When I lost the first ten pounds that's when I signed myself up for the gym. It took me about five years of working out to get me to where I am today. But, once you see even a little change it will keep motivating you to continue. 

I recently began seeing a nutritionist here in Vermont. One of my reasons for seeing her was because my immune system was really being taxed. After we got home from our vacation to Italy I was sick with the flu for over two weeks. I was getting sick every time I traveled and it seemed to just get worse and worse. Also, I was ready to stop taking estrogen and progesterone and wanted to work with someone to keep myself healthy during that transition. My nutritionist's name is Paige Kelly, MSACN, who has worked in the health care field for over two decades. She has been a breath of fresh air because she is able to give me real nutritional solutions and reasons for the problems most women face. Since I always want to share expert advice with all of you, as well as my personal choices, I decided to ask Paige to collaborate with my blog for a monthly article. When I talked to her about the subject of gaining weight during/after menopause here is just a bit of information that she gave me.

“Q: I seem to be eating properly, so why do I have such a difficult time with weight loss?  

A: It may not be what you are consuming, but subtle clues from the inside out. Did you know that “inner tube” around the waist that decides to join the body during menopause can be a sign of adrenal stress?

This is one component of our endocrine system which is often overlooked as a reason for weight challenges, but is ALWAYS overtaxed and can be a cause of excess weight around the middle. 

Let’s explore this possibility and many others when you join us in 2019 to gather tips on why you may be running into roadblocks to obtaining your goals and optimal wellness.  

Until then try to make good choices such as including protein and fat with each meal, one less dessert, one less drink, to minimize suffering when you begin your weight loss plan”       - Paige Kelly, MSACN
 
Having Paige join our community is so special, and once again goes back to my original idea of women supporting women. Again, this just makes me feel so proud to be a part of something that I know will help other women going through the same experiences. 

Another expert we are going to bring onboard is my trainer, Charlotte Brynn, who I have been working out with for the last fives years. Charlotte is the Executive Director of the Swimming Hole, which is where I workout and swim in Stowe. She has been teaching, coaching, and mentoring for the past 30 years. You’ll find out more about her when we post her first video. I credit her with making me strong, fit, and confident in my ability to always push myself. This month we will be posting three videos with Charlotte. Our first video will be an interview with her and talking about how to get started. In the other two videos, we will demonstrate a basic beginner workout we came up with, and a more advanced workout as well. The workout video will come with a PDF of each workout, which might be easier for some to follow.

As I’ve said, getting into the gym was a big change I made in my life. I was not someone who was into working out, EVER! This was a real game-changer for me mentally and drove me to try other things out of my comfort zone. That was when I learned to swim. This also became a social experience for my husband and I. We found so many friends at the gym who became great friends in our personal lives. 

Since I started working on this blog, which my daughter and I started in May, I’ve been busier than usual. Unfortunately, this means I wasn’t making it to the gym as often as I should. Due to this, I could see my body starting to change and put on weight. This taught me was that yes, the gym does work in keeping weight off. Plus, making me feel good along with giving me more energy.  So, for the new year, I am going to get back into the gym and the pool more often. It’s always important to make time for yourself, which as women we sometimes forget to do. We have a tendency to take care of everyone else in our lives first and maybe think about ourselves last. Making your needs and your health just as important as everyone else’s in your life is something I think we can all work on.

I am again excited to share the expert information that these women are willing to give. I hope that you’ll be just as excited to follow along. I’ve been lucky enough to find people who are talented at what they do. It makes changing things in your life a bit easier. If you’re working with someone who loves their job that in return will impart some of that love and enthusiasm to you.

My feeling has always been that there is an answer to every problem. You may not always like the answer but there is an answer!! Stepping outside your box is scary but believe me, it will make you feel great about yourself once you accomplish it. It won’t always be easy, and sometimes you may fail, but keep at it and you’ll love yourself at the end for just sticking with it. 

There are so many other things we’re going to cover in 2019 based on your requests. I got a ton of comments about skin care and what I personally do to care for my skin. Let me just say I do a lot!! First, I consistently change up my skincare routine and the products I use. I will continue to share all my regimes with you ladies throughout the year. I’ve also been very transparent about getting botox and fillers. I even posted a video of me getting Botox. 

Another way I take care of my skin is always using sunscreen if I’m in the sun. If I’m at the beach it’s a big hat and bigger sunnies. Growing up in Philadelphia our vacations were always at the Jersey Shore. So from a young child, all the way through to my 40’s I was a big sun worshipper. That ended after a very bad burn on my face, which resulted in my skin becoming a mess. With all the products and tools that are out now, you can correct sun-damaged skin and make it healthy again. We’ll discuss all of that along with going to a Medical Spa to talk about laser treatments. It’s amazing what laser treatments can do to help with all different skin issues. 

One idea I decided to start this year is “Glowing Skin with Mrs. Stafford”. This will be a monthly post in which we ask all of you to share your skin issues for me to answer. Since each individual has unique skin I thought this would be the most effective way to approach the subject of skincare.

We have so much in store and I can't wait to share with you what we’ve been working on. Again, I would love to hear your comments and what you are interested in since this blog is for all of you. So PLEASE keep those comments coming!

Happy 2019 to all of you and cheers to making the Mrs. Stafford community a great place to be! 

Hi Guys! With Christmas around the corner I know we are all stressed out and limited with our time. Between cooking, wrapping presents, shopping, and much more its hard to find time to decorate. I actually have 3 trees I need to decorate! I like all of you was overwhelmed with the time it took to do all of this. Over the years I found some quick tricks to making decorating your tree not only easy but beautiful! Check out my video to see how I am able to do all three trees within just an hour and a half! :) 

I got all my decorations from:
balsamhill
frontgate 
​
Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments:) To watch more of my videos check out my Youtube page by clicking on the icon below!!

I love giving gifts and I love my beauty products...So this month I’m giving away all of my favorites to my Insta followers for a fun 13 Days of Giveaways event! Follow along on Instagram @mrs.stafford_blog for your chance to win my top Sephora go-tos ;)

Shown above are just a selected few of our prizes! Each gift will go up in value, starting at a $25 gift and ending with a $550 surprise beauty package. You have the whole month of December to enter to win any gift of your choosing. All you have to do is follow us on Instagram, like the post, and tag a friend in the comments (extra entries for each friend you tag)! We will be picking all the winners at the end of the month and showing how we will be picking the lucky few all on our Instagram stories. So follow along for a chance to win:) 

The last and final post of Gumuchain November ​Part #7!!

For the whole month of November, we have featured all our outfits of the day with only Gumuchian jewelry. You've not only seen some of Gumuchian's stunning jewelry and designs, but you learned about their mission as a company. It is a company comprised of talented women who strive to make other women feel good about themselves. They are also invested in giving back to causes worthwhile. 

For the month of November, we paired our Gumuchian jewelry with various fashion trends & styles. We wanted to showcase that you can wear luxury jewelry for any occasion. It is definitely acceptable to wear high-end jewelry with a casual everyday outfit.
​
For our final look of Gumuchian November, I went a little out of the box. This look is inspired by Blake Lively's power suits. I love the idea of turning traditional menswear into a feminine and also strong fashionable look. Keep reading to see my full #OOTD along with links of where to find the same look.
​

Today's look features pieces from the elegant Oasis Collection!

"Dip into tranquility with this shimmering pool of mouth-watering diamonds. Like lily pads on a pond, they sit perfectly in place on a bed of 18kt gold, although through the ripple effect they seem to dissolve and expand, enough to make you melt."

Let's start with the 18kt Yellow Gold Diamond Oasis Necklace. This 34" necklace is made of 104 RD Diamonds weighing a total of 14 carats. This necklace is dripping in diamonds and gold! You can't help but feeling beautiful once you put it around your neck. 

The matching 18kt Yellow Gold Diamond Oasis Bracelet is made of 30 RD brilliant diamonds. This bracelet is the perfect match to the necklace, but could definitely be worn on its own.
​

For the finishing touch, we added Gumuchian's Oasis Curve Earrings. Made of 18kt Yellow Gold with 10 RD Diamonds. 
​

As I said, in the beginning, I went out of my comfort zone when I chose my outfit. I thought with such elegant pieces of jewelry I wanted to outfit to match in style. The power suits have become popular recently, but dressing in men's attire is also something I have seen being done. It is trendy and a great way to feel empowered and confident. 

If you want to try out this look here is where to find everything I am wearing. Let's start with the bowtie, which may I say is much harder to tie on myself than on Mr. Stafford. The ​Ludlow velvet bow tie is from J.Crew for $65. I'm sure you could find another one for less, but I'm not sure where that would be. 

My oversized blazer is from 3.1 Phillip Lim for $358. A similar option would be this blazer from Everlane for $160. 

Now my button down shirt is from ​Anne Fontaine for $295. You can wear any white button down with this outfit it doesn't have to be so expensive, such as this ​Riley Tailored-Fit Super-Stretch Shirt from Banana Republic for $58. 

For my pants, I decided to go with a straight legged pant, which works best with an oversized blazer. You can't see the stripe down the side of the leg, but I thought it was a nice accent that matched the whole look. My pants are ​Level 99  which I purchased locally at Bunya Bunya, in Stowe, VT. Unfortunately, you cannot find these online. I was able to find these ​Janice Midrise Ultra Skinny made from the same company as mine. Also,  ​The Stretch Ponte Skinny Pant from Everlane would go perfectly with this outfit. 

For my shoes, I could have worn any heel with this outfit. My choice ended up being these Salvatore Ferragamo Varnished Pointed Pumps​. A similar option would be these Vince Camuto Savilla​ from Zappos for $89. 

​I just want to thank Gumuchian for allowing me to wear their beautiful jewelry as well as your support in my blog!! I know that we've featured some very high-end jewelry this month but I thought it would be fun to dress and play with some beautiful pieces. Don't worry, we'll be getting back to reality soon but for the time being it's been a blast showcasing the artistry of the Women of Gumuchian. I would like to thank them again for the experience and I hope you enjoyed dreaming along with me. 

For the upcoming month of December, we have some fun posts coming your way. We have Christmas videos to show you how I decorate my trees and wrap my Christmas presents. As well as the first workout focused video of a three-part series. My trainer Charlotte and I discuss where to start and we will actually give you a program that is great for beginners or those who are more advanced. 

Don't forget about our ULTIMATE GIVEAWAY for the whole month of December! We have 13 gifts that are comprised of my favorite Sephora products. Details to enter will be posted in my Instagram Bio.

Let me know what you think about my #OOTD in the comments! If you enjoyed this go ahead and subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with all my new posts:) You can also follow me on social media by clicking on the icons below.

Part #6 of Gumuchian November!!!

Here's some background on Gumuchian and why we are so happy to share their jewelry with you.  On any given day, if you walk into the Gumuchian office in Manhattan, you will see several women buzzing around, all with one goal in mind: to bring women the most exquisite, timeless and perfectly executed jewelry they have ever seen or worn. Gumuchian's slogan is "Designed by Women for Women". Their founder and visionary Anita Gumuchian and her daughters Myriam and Patricia carry on a family legacy in the jewelry industry that dates back over 100 years. 

The artistry and beauty of their jewelry are evident at first sight. The diamonds and gemstones that they use along with their unique designs are what makes this jewelry so incredible to look at but also so very easy to wear. Their offices in Manhattan is where all their designs are developed and brought to life by master jewelers. This team of women comes together as one, making each design built to wear with comfort while lasting a lifetime. This is what it means to be "Designed by Women for Women". 

This is why we are proud to present their pieces to you since our blog is all about women supporting women. It also doesn't hurt that this was probably one of the most fun couple of days we've had just being able to play with such incredible pieces. I do love jewelry and admire the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into making such stunning pieces. Works of art, like the pieces that you'll see this month, are made to be worn and serve as cherished heirlooms for future generations.  

For the month of November, we paired our Gumuchian jewelry with various fashion trends & styles. We wanted to showcase that you can wear luxury jewelry for any occasion. It is definitely acceptable to wear high-end jewelry with a casual everyday outfit.
​
Today's look features the Stich by Stich Diamond Pendulum Necklace, Honeybee "B" Diamond Ring, and the New Moon Hoop Earrings​. Keep reading to see my full #OOTD along with links of where to find the same look.
​

The beautiful Gumuchian necklace I'm wearing is called the Stich by Stich Diamond Pendulum Sliding Pendant. It's difficult to tell from the picture but the one I'm wearing is Rose Gold. The pendant is comprised of 30 RD brilliant diamonds, coming in at 3.30 carats. As you can tell from the photos the 32" chain is long enough to brighten up a simple outfit or top. This is a very fun and playful piece of jewelry that can be dressed up or down. 

My earrings are the New Moon Hoops, which I have featured in two previous posts. They really are the perfect earring to go with any outfit or occasion. They are made with a left and right earring. The structure is genius because it allows for each diamond to be put on display. They are made of 18kt yellow prong setting. The earrings have diamonds that are G in color and VS for the clarity and are also ideally cut. Each individual diamond is a half carat, in layman's terms they are nice and big! From the combination of color and clarity, they come to a total cost of $72K. These earrings aren't currently on the Gumuchian website. They are expected to be up on the website within 2-3 weeks. You can check out the whole New Moon collection which comes in various sizes. 

Gumuchian also offers these earrings in the same size but with diamonds that are H-I in color and SI in clarity, valued at $44k. 

The  Honeybee "B" Diamond Ring is obviously part of Gumuchian's "B" Collection. I wore many of their pieces from the "B" Collection in Gumuchian November - Part 4. In that post I share the story behind the "B" Collection, and that a percentage of their profits are donated to the declining bee population. The collection as a whole is beautifully executed and highlights Gumuchian's stellar craftsmanship and attention to detail in their designs. 
​​​

With the holidays in full swing, I wanted to share a fun outfit perfect for any seasonal celebration. This is one of my favorite dresses from Kate Spade, which is unfortunately no longer available. Anytime I put it on I just wanted to shake my hips and dance, which is largely due to the feather trim at the hem of the dress. I did find some similar options for you ladies if you are interested in wearing the same look. 

First, we have this amazing ​V-Neck Short-Sleeve Feather-Hem Dress from Neiman Marcus for $475. A more affordable option would be this chic ​Feather Bottom Shift Dress from Nordstrom Rack for $96.97. 

Also, let's not forget my black polka dot stockings. They really do add to this look. If I wore just plain stockings the whole outfit might have been a little too drab, at least for me. I got mine from Bare Necessities for $38.

My shoes are from Dolce & Gabbana, but any shoes would look great with this outfit! Especially a black pump in patent or suede. I found some examples for you guys to choose from. 

1. The Esatto​ in Black Patent from M. Gemi for $278
2.  The Esatto​ in Black Suede from M. Gemi for $278
3. Fefe Feather Sandal​ from Nordstrom for $51.98


​A big thank you to Gumuchian!! Check in with us for the rest of this month to see some more stunning pieces. 

Let me know what you think about my #OOTD in the comments! If you enjoyed this go ahead and subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with all my new posts:) You can also follow me on social media by clicking on the icons below.

Part #5 of Gumuchian November!!!

Here's some background on Gumuchian and why we are so happy to share their jewelry with you.  On any given day, if you walk into the Gumuchian office in Manhattan, you will see several women buzzing around, all with one goal in mind: to bring women the most exquisite, timeless and perfectly executed jewelry they have ever seen or worn. Gumuchian's slogan is "Designed by Women for Women". Their founder and visionary Anita Gumuchian and her daughters Myriam and Patricia carry on a family legacy in the jewelry industry that dates back over 100 years. 

The artistry and beauty of their jewelry are evident at first sight. The diamonds and gemstones that they use along with their unique designs are what makes this jewelry so incredible to look at but also so very easy to wear. Their offices in Manhattan is where all their designs are developed and brought to life by master jewelers. This team of women comes together as one, making each design built to wear with comfort while lasting a lifetime. This is what it means to be "Designed by Women for Women". 

This is why we are proud to present their pieces to you since our blog is all about women supporting women. It also doesn't hurt that this was probably one of the most fun couple of days we've had just being able to play with such incredible pieces. I do love jewelry and admire the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into making such stunning pieces. Works of art, like the pieces that you'll see this month, are made to be worn and serve as cherished heirlooms for future generations.  

For the month of November, we paired our Gumuchian jewelry with various fashion trends & styles. We wanted to showcase that you can wear luxury jewelry for any occasion. It is definitely acceptable to wear high-end jewelry with a casual everyday outfit.
​
Today's look features a necklace from the beautiful and innovative Carousel Collection. Keep reading to see my full #OOTD along with links of where to find the same look.

Gumuchian's 18kt Yellow Gold Diamond Carousel Necklace is made with interchangeable links, ​which leaves so many possibilities. You can achieve multiple looks with just one piece of jewelry! I wore the necklace as a bracelet and a choker with an attached link down the front. This 33" length necklace is comprised of 160 RD diamonds, which comes in at 4.80 carats. See the chart below for the different styles you can wear. 
​

My bag is from Prada which is no longer available. See below for some similar options I found for you guys!

 ZAC Zac Posen Eartha Iconic Soft Top-Handle from Zappos for $297. 
&
​Steve Madden Bfaye from Zappos for $79.99. 

Finally, my shoes are called The Rivista from M.Gemi for $278. I know that this is more money than some of willing to spend on a pair of shoes, but M.Gemi is such a quality brand that their shoes will last you a lifetime. I did try to find some other options to give you a variation in price ranges, but there really isn't anything out there that comes close to this design. ​

A big thank you to Gumuchian!! Check in with us for the rest of this month to see some more stunning pieces. 

Let me know what you think about my #OOTD in the comments! If you enjoyed this go ahead and subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with all my new posts:) You can also follow me on social media by clicking on the icons below.

Part #4 of Gumuchian November!!!

Here's some background on Gumuchian and why we are so happy to share their jewelry with you.  On any given day, if you walk into the Gumuchian office in Manhattan, you will see several women buzzing around, all with one goal in mind: to bring women the most exquisite, timeless and perfectly executed jewelry they have ever seen or worn. Gumuchian's slogan is "Designed by Women for Women". Their founder and visionary Anita Gumuchian and her daughters Myriam and Patricia carry on a family legacy in the jewelry industry that dates back over 100 years. 

The artistry and beauty of their jewelry are evident at first sight. The diamonds and gemstones that they use along with their unique designs are what makes this jewelry so incredible to look at but also so very easy to wear. Their offices in Manhattan is where all their designs are developed and brought to life by master jewelers. This team of women comes together as one, making each design built to wear with comfort while lasting a lifetime. This is what it means to be "Designed by Women for Women". 

This is why we are proud to present their pieces to you since our blog is all about women supporting women. It also doesn't hurt that this was probably one of the most fun couple of days we've had just being able to play with such incredible pieces. I do love jewelry and admire the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into making such stunning pieces. Works of art, like the pieces that you'll see this month, are made to be worn and serve as cherished heirlooms for future generations.  

For the month of November, we paired our Gumuchian jewelry with various fashion trends & styles. We wanted to showcase that you can wear luxury jewelry for any occasion. It is definitely acceptable to wear high-end jewelry with a casual everyday outfit.
​
Today's look features some pieces from the beautiful "B" Collection. Keep reading to see my full #OOTD along with links of where to find the same look.

The Gumuchian 18K Yellow Gold Honeycomb Diamond Medallion is one of the most beautiful necklaces I have ever seen in person. I typically don't lean towards wearing pendants, but the Honeycomb Diamond Pendant is so unique I fell in love once I put it around my neck. The hexagon faceted citrine, which comes in at a whopping 77.43 carats, plus the 96 round brilliant diamonds make it a piece of art. The color and the length (24" chain) just adds to its beauty and rarity. 

This necklace is a stunning statement piece. Don't Bee fooled though, corny pun, this necklace is anything but overwhelming. I've seen some jewelry with beautiful large stones that can be too much to pair with an outfit but this piece of art is just magnificent to wear. How that is done with a 77.43 carat stone is beyond me but that goes back to the artistry of Gumuchian.

Gumuchian's Honeybee "B" Dome Diamond Ring perfectly compliments the Honeycomb Pendant. The "Honeybee "B" motif medium dome ring with diamond detail border and diamond bee adornment are made with 32 round brilliant cut diamonds, 0.22 approximate total carat weight. As well as 10 round brilliant cut diamonds, 0.06 approximate total carat weight on the bee adornment alone. When worn together the exquisite correlation won't be lost to anyone. With the declining bee population, Gumuchian showcases the beauty and ​delicacy of the species. Gumuchian developed the "B" Collection in response to bring awareness and share their profits to this cause. ​Read below to get a better understanding of Gumuchian's mission with creating the "B" Collection. ​

"One in every three bites of food consumed in the United States is either directly or indirectly pollinated by bees.” Gumuchian has thrived with proven success resulting in our desire to create a collection with a worthy cause. The “B” Collection, inspired by the honeybee and the dangers surrounding the declining of the species led to the collaboration of the collection that gives back. Inspired by our surroundings we thrive to not only bring beauty into the world with our designs but also promise to help keep the world beautiful by giving back. Bees have captured the attention of the world since their decline was chronicled in the news and their aesthetic and attractive patterns have captured Gumuchian’s heart. The Gumuchian ladies have been as busy as worker bees to produce the “B” collection as an homage to the fuzzy little endangered fly. Since Gumuchian cannot produce honey, they will contribute a share of its profits to the expansion of their colonies. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the collection will be donated to the University of Minnesota Bee Squad non-profit research program."

Gumuchian is a luxury jewelry designer with many admirable qualities. They are a very empowering force of women who want to make other women feel beautiful. But their strives to give back is really what makes them a moral and an upright company worth supporting!  

The Kelly mini motif jacketed dangle earrings with diamond centers set in 18 karat gold and 10 round brilliant cut diamonds, with 0.18 approximate total carat weight. I paired these earrings with this outfit, not because it necessarily needed anything else, but because I thought it complimented the other pieces very well. Looking at the pictures I love the drop earrings with the necklace and dome ring. It completed the theme by adding the flower-like accents. 
​

For my outfit, I really didn't need much at all. My velvet blazer is from Dolce & Gabbana a few seasons back. I love this blazer, especially the strong shoulder pads. I think with the shoulder pads and the form-fitting waistline makes this blazer one of my favorites with a tighter dress. Here are some great similarities if you want the same look. 

This Blackjack Velvet Blazer from Nordstrom for $298 is extremely similar to the one I'm wearing. It has the same cut, material, and features. The only major difference is the shoulder pads are a little less dramatic. 

The Velvet Caldwell Double-Breasted Blazer from Madewell for $168 is a another great option. The fit is more of a loose boyfriend blazer look, but with some tailoring, you could easily cinch it in the waist like mine. Honestly, the baggy look is sometimes better and easier to transition to everyday wear. 

My dress is from Everlane, and it's unfortunately no longer available. I would suggest you try and keep checking their website because they do tend to come back with similar designs, even if it's not exactly the same. Since this is a very simple piece there are plenty of similar options out there. 

First, we have this ​Helmut Lang Knit Fitted Sheath Dress from Barneys for $239. For an extremely affordable price, there is ​the PrettyLittleThing basic ribbed roll neck long sleeve dress in black from ASOS for $24. 
​

Finally, my shoes are Tom Ford, Peep-toe suede sandals, which are now 50% off for $645! Don't miss out on that great deal! Since tomorrow is Cyber Monday I'm sure they won't last long!!

A big thank you to Gumuchian!! Check in with us for the rest of this month to see some more stunning pieces. 

Let me know what you think about my #OOTD in the comments! If you enjoyed this go ahead and subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with all my new posts:) You can also follow me on social media by clicking on the icons below.
​