Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to show your wife, girlfriend, or yourself :) how much you care!

Choose one of our larger pieces to put a favorite saying, quote or bible verse. Or choose our small charms for individual names, dates or special words. The choice is up to you...we look forward to making you or that special someone the perfect necklace.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Home Shows

We love home shows. Due to the fact we have no store front, this is the perfect opportunity to see our designs in person...pick them up, try them on and find the perfect piece for you or a loved one. This past weekend, I did a home show in Silverthorne, Co. My girlfriend, Anneke was a wonderful host. We had such a great time. It was a morning filled with friends, pastries and jewelry. Thanks Anneke!!

If you are in the Denver, Highlands Ranch or Colorado Springs area and you would like to host a Chocolate Silver party, please let us know. We love meeting new friends and getting this wonderful opportunity to show off our designs.

Abandonment

My husband works.

My husband works a lot.

Some nights I sit and wonder what life would be like with a husband who was actually home every night before 6:00. I know there are families blessed with this type of structure and schedule, however I am not one of them.

Before having children, I never noticed how much my husband was gone. I would wait up for him every night without complaint. Our "time" together was always between the hours of 11pm and 2am, and it was normal. I would go grocery shopping in the evening, or have dinner with friends. I read books and followed my "shows" all on my own time so that my husband never felt ignored. It was blissful.

Then came the kids. The day begins early, and runs at a frightening pace until bedtime. Or at least my days are that way. By 6pm, the witching hour is in full effect until bedtime at 8:30. I just shivered a little thinking about it. By the time I pick up the house, and do some work in the office, it is 11:00 and I am D-O-N-E!

So where does this leave my poor husband? He is falling asleep alone on the sofa while The History Channel drones on in the background. Poor guy.

But life is like this sometimes. With small children, who are at home with me 100% of the time, something has to give.

For now it is my poor, sweet, understanding, abandoned husband.

I sure love that guy.

Let the iPad jokes begin

So, I know Ali and I don't really talk much about technology on Ye Olde Blogge, but I couldn't resist talking about the new iPad computer from Apple.

iPad????

Seriously. Steve Jobs should've paid a little visit to a 7th grade boys locker room to know that this is a terrible name for a product. I get the whole "i" theme, but come on......

Also, they released information about wireless connectivity charges through AT&T, and I read this comment from a critic website and nearly spit my drink out.

Augustine04:52 PM

There's an iPad data plan to fit your needs: $14.99 for lighter months and $29.99 for those who experience heavy data flow.

The5thElephant promoted this comment

Lasting Friendship

This past week, I was blessed to have my college roommate, Maggie, and her family come for a visit from Florida. We moved here about four years ago, and we hadn't seen each other since shortly before the move. Our children at the time were 1,2,4 and 5. Needless to say they have all changed so much! They have all grown into such wonderful young people, and had a great time together.

Being from Florida, all the kids wanted to see was snow! We had to go a little into the mountains to see the good stuff, and what fun we had! We went ice skating and tubing and walked around Breckenridge. It was a gorgeous weekend and we loved spending it with the Froitzheim's! Thank you Mag, for coming and for being such a wonderful friend! When you have true and lasting friendships, you truly are blessed!!

We here at Chocolate Silver Designs love our customers!!! Thank you for your support and we look forward to a long and lasting friendship with you!

Get 'em next year!

I am a die hard Dallas Cowboy fan. Poor Lauren (as well as my family and friends) have to deal with this obsession of mine. However, she is very supportive and even brings me home Cowboy stuff when she goes to Texas. What a gal!!!

This has been a very interesting season for us Cowboy fans...the new stadium, Wade Phillips coaching status, how will Tony Romo play in December, will Roy Williams ever show up??? And...will we ever win a Playoff game again (it's been 13 years!)? Well, the stadium speaks for itself! Wade Phillips has a job next year. Tony Romo played great in December and got us into the Playoffs. Roy Williams showed up for the Playoff game at least against the Eagles. And, yes, even though Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings knocked us out of the Playoffs on Sunday, at least we won a Playoff game! There's always next year, right???!!! Until then.... I want to make lots of jewelry :)

So, even though the season is over, I will continue to wear my Dallas Cowboy necklace we created here at Chocolate Silver Designs with pride. Remember, you can always have that special necklace designed for the sports fan in your life!!!

A little gold goes a long way

I am in love with sparkly things. Sparkly silver and gold things.

They catch my eye. Especially when paired with a deliciously rich purple hue. Yum.
I must devour them. It is an addiction. My one saving grace?
Jewelry doesn't have any calories.

Being Inspired

~found

I am in L.O.V.E. with this sofa and wall art. Last week while trolling around on ETSY, I came across the PopWall shop and feel head over heels. I bookmarked this picture and I look at it everyday.

Purple sofa. Wow.

Silver trim. Inspired.

The tree reminds me of the road to my parents house.

Branches sprawling low over a winding road.

Having an idea move you, and remind you of something from your childhood is real inspiration.

Add a little Charm!

So, I just got off the phone with my old college roommate. We were discussing her mother in laws necklace she had gotten her for Christmas (of course, from Chocolate Silver) :), and how much she loved it. Then she said, "Ya know, you really should think about doing a charm bracelet"...

Ironically enough, this was already planned to be my post today. So, Maggie, here is one of our new charm bracelets.

This is our sterling silver linked bracelet with a Tiffany style heart in the middle and our Kayla medallions on either side. Lauren and I love how this turned out, and we hope you do too!

Use coupon code happynewyear at checkout for free shipping on your purchase of $25.00 or more. This is good through the end of January.

Happy 2010!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season filled with lots of love, family and friends! After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, it is nice to sit back, relax and reflect on the many blessings we have been given! I hope you are getting settled back into your normal routine and
we hope you have a safe and prosperous 2010.

Thank you to the many people who ordered Chocolate Silver Designs for Christmas! We had a very successful and busy Holiday Season, and we hope everyone loved their gifts!!! We have gotten a lot of wonderful feedback, and are thankful that we could touch as many people as we did.

December marked the 1 year Anniversary for Chocolate Silver Designs!! Thank you for helping make this year such a special one for us.

So, we are back from our much needed vacation and are hard at work. We look forward to a creative and exciting 2010 and we can't wait to share it with you.

HAPPY

2010

Calendar

found

Christmas will be here in 4 short days, and I have found myself abnormally well prepared. Aside from the Christmas card mess currently taking over my dining room table.

Once the gifts have been opened, meal served, and naps taken, our thoughts will soon turn to the new year. Will we start a new diet? Vow to spend more quality time with our kids, and put the blackberry in a drawer for safe keeping?

What does your calendar for 2010 look like? Any resolutions I should plan for?

Holiday Vacation

Alison & I will both be taking a much needed vacation from Tuesday, December 22 through Tuesday, December 29. Shipping will resume on Wednesday, December 30.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you to all of our new friends.

Alison & I wanted to thank all of our new network friends from blogger, facebook, google reader. We hope everyone that requested a shopping pass received one. The 25% off Shopping Pass will be back in January through one of our partner sites.

In keeping with our Christmas promotions, if you become a follower of our blog through the end of December, you will receive a 10% off coupon for a purchase of $50.00 or more.

Email info@chocolatesilverdesigns.com for more information on this great deal.

Don't forget, we are still accepting custom orders for Christmas delivery. We are not closing up shop early this year!

Talk to you all soon.

Shiloh Birthstone Pendant is now Online

The Shiloh Birthstone Pendant is now online under The Classics.

If you have recently began following our blog and have not received your Shopping Pass: Please email info@chocolatesilverdesigns.com so I can send it directly to you through email.

Christmas Orders

We are still accepting orders for Christmas Delivery!

As we get closer to the cut-off, Alison & I will announce the last day we will take Christmas Orders. However, we have been know to Overnight a gift or two!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Holiday!

Talk to you soon.

Guess who is wearing Chocolate Silver?

She is! That's who!

Christmas is coming up soon! Don't forget about our 25% off shopping pass to pick up those last minute gifts! If we have it in stock, we will still be taking custom orders well into December!

New Followers!

If you do not have an email address attached to your blogger profile, then I need you to email directly to info@chocolatesilverdesigns.com to receive your shopping pass.

I have sent google connect messages to a few of you, and am waiting to hear back!

Thanks,

Lauren

Who doesn't love a free pass?

Become a "follower" of this blog and receive a 25% off shopping pass for your entire first online order!

25% off is huge, and it is the best promotion we offer all year long. Be sure to pass this along to your friends and family too. You never know, they might use the shopping pass to buy your Christmas present!

The Holiday Fair in Old Colorado City

This weekend, Alison and I were not sure what to expect.

Friday night, the weatherman announced a snow storm would be moving in.

We had never even seen the venue for our Saturday event.

Saturday morning, the snow was coming down thick and heavy.

The venue was a converted school dating back to the early 1900's. Think......... The Shining.

Much to our suprise, the Holiday Shopping Event was more than we had hoped for.

The people we met were genuine, friendly, and organically talented.

Even better still was that this was the first year for this event.

I also heard that The Wellness Center for Spiritual Living hosts a Spring Event.

A tip for all of you Springs residents: if you ever see Big Sarge's tent - eat all of his food that you possibly can. But make sure to save all of his bacon for me. Yum!

To Bang or not To Bang

I really don't post pictures of the kids , but these pictures were worthy of posting. If you read my personal blog or follow me on twitter, then you already know what transpired this week. My little girl has been going through some growing pains the last few monthes. She is bright, challenging, and truely and individual. I thought that I could homeschool her, but it didn't really work out the way I planned. Darling Daughter needs interaction from her peers. She needs a designated teacher, not just her mom.

So, we enrolled her in Pre-Kindergarten, and boy were we suprised what we got in return.

B decided that she needed BANGS like the other little girls in school. Wow.

I was overcome. Never in a million years did I think she would cut bangs on her own. Luckily, she only cut the front of her hair. If I had to give her a mullet, I wouldn't have recovered so easily.

I called Toni & Guy within 15 minutes of the "cut". We haven't lived here that long, and I know what to expect from T&G.

The hairstylist was Jack Sparrow. I am not kidding. He looked exactly like him minus the gold charm hanging from a braid in the middle of his face.

He wanted to know what I "wanted" with her hair. I told him to "save" it, and not cut all of her hair off.

And he did. I cried tears of joy.

So I am now a mother of a daughter who takes matters into her own hands.

Eastridge Holiday Jewelry Show

The show on Saturday was a lot of fun. Although our booth was in the very back of the room, we were surrounded by some great women, and their great home-based businesses.

Several ladies stopped by simply to meet us, and tell us how much they have enjoyed their jewelry. Thank you!

Many new faces were able to get their Christmas shopping done early, and I know they want us to "get to work" as soon as possible.

I'm not sure why the coffee cup in the background is what is in focus, but I thought it was pretty funny.

Now, I know many of you are curious about custom orders. The answer is always yes, you simply have to ask the question. A new friend of our wanted something special to commemorate her home-based business, and I think it turned out great.

The new gold chains are here, and I am drooling over this version of our Kayla Charm Necklace. The golden freshwater pearl makes me happy. I keep pulling this necklace out of stock to wear it everyday.

I am also drooling over this necklace.
So, for those of you who haven't heard, a North Texas show has been added. It is in Burleson, TX in the home of a friend of Chocolate Silver Designs. The date and time is Sunday, November 22 from 3:00-6:00. It will be casual, and come and go. Friends of friends are welcome. All custom orders will be ready to ship within 10 days. Email info@chocolatesilverdesigns.com for more information.

2009 Ole Fashioned Community Bazaar

Saturday, November 14th at the West Center in Old Colorado City (Colorado Springs)

The West Center is located at 1628 W. Bijou

Join us from 9am-3pm

Shop for that perfect gift for that perfect someone

Featuring fine crafters, artists, and vendors

For the kids: bounce house, face painting, free coffee, drinks & popcorn

We hope to see you there.

New Beaded Medallions are online!

Don't forget to become a Follower of our blog, and receive a 25% off Shopping Pass! There is no limit, so it's great for the holidays!

The Colors are Here!

Color choices are now available in the Beaded Collection.  You can choose a single or a double strand.  It's fun to layer several single strands to get an even more individual look.

We have been having so much fun playing with the colors to get them right.  We wouldn't offer you anything less than the best!

What is even better is that all of our Sterling Silver Medallions are interchangeable.  You can wear a Payten Medallion (Extra-Large) one day, and switch to a Kayla Charm (Small) the next.  Our Medallions and Beaded Strands are so versatile.

Don't forget to become a Follower of our Blog to receive your 25% off Shopping Pass for your first online order.  It is a one-time use pass that will apply to your entire purchase.  There is no limit!  So, spread the news to your friends.  The 25% off Shopping Pass is a great way to get the best deal at Chocolate Silver Designs.  We only offer these Shopping Passes once a year, and we thought Christmas Time would be a great time to do it!

Littleton Holiday Fair

So, after the whirlwind of our Fall Trunk Show, Alison & I took part in a Holiday Fair the very next morning.

The building we were in was beautiful, with 20 foot ceilings and windows everywhere.  The company was great, and we even met a few new friends.

We are so excited about this holiday season!