Third times a charm
Posted by Isabel on May 22nd, 2007. Filed under: Addictions, Me, Vacations.About five or six years ago I read an article in Vogue (or some other fashion magazine, I can’t really remember). In this article they were saying that the next big trend would be charm bracelets. I got really excited. I had always thought charm bracelets were fascinating, but had never put in the time to get one. I felt like this was the perfect time to get into charms. I mean, if Vogue says it’s going to be cool, then I have no other choice.
As part of this plan, I also decided I was going to buy charm bracelets for my family and friends that year for their birthdays. And that’s what I did. Each friend and family member (that were, you know, female) were given a bracelet and one charm to get them started. I figured for each following birthday/holiday/celebration I would give them another charm to coincide with what we were celebrating.
And that’s what I did. I gave snowflake charms for Christmas and engagement ring charms for engagements. I bought birthstone charms for births of babies and Statue of Liberty charms from my trip to New York. I have even been able to find charms in Mexico, Germany and France to bring back home. My mom started to buy charms for all of us girls when her and my dad went on vacation. My sister bought me charms each year for Christmas. Even The King’s mom started to slip one into my Christmas stocking.
When I would fly to visit my family I’d always bring my charm bracelet with me and some new charms for everyone. My Mom, sister, sister in law and I would get together and show off our bracelets and all of our new charms. We’d tell the story behind our new ones that we had bought for ourselves and talk about cute one we’d seen but hadn’t bought yet.
(annotated picture over at Flickr, you know, if you care.)
I guess a few years ago my charm phase started to peter out. I would still buy charms when I went places, but only for my own charm bracelet. While at the Vatican a few years ago, I couldn’t help myself and bought about a billion charms with different Catholic symbols on them. Something about buying charms from an actual nun at the Vatican was very, very cool. That year for Christmas everybody got a charm.
Yesterday I came into work and found this little treat sitting on my desk:
I recognized the packaging immediately. It’s the same little baggie I brought all of my charms home from Rome in. I still have one of them saved in my little charm box. It comes from the little gift shop that the nuns run at the Vatican in Rome. One of my coworkers had just returned.
What was inside the package? It’s my very first charm of the new Pope. I think it’s awesome and I can’t wait to add it to my bracelet. (You know, even though I’m not Catholic.)
So tell me, am I the only person above the age of 8 that still collects charms (and postcards)?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I love that you have a charm of the Pope!
With the exception of my engagement and wedding rings, I’ve never been into metal jewelry, so I will never wear a charm bracelet. But I like the idea of them and think yours is very pretty!
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I love the idea of a charm bracelet, but I know I would never wear it because the jangling would drive me crazy. I love all the little memories, though! I especially love the Hawaiian pineapple.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Seriously, I totally collect post-cards. I make my friends and family bring them back for me from anywhere they end up traveling. Yes, I’m a nerd. Can’t help it! And yes, I still collect postcards, and I still request them when people go on trips. Sigh, I’m pathetic.
Love the charms!
xox
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
You and your clever titles (wink, wink)
I really like the idea of a charm bracelet so you can remember special events and places you’ve visited. But I’m not so crazy about wearing them, too dangly for me.
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I have a charm bracelet too! And I collect magnets from all over. That’s my standard travel souvenier – I’m happy with a magnet!
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pm
My friend Sarah collects postcards too
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I don’t collect them, but think it’s a pretty cool thing to collect. I also love how you have you Vatican charms right next to your dice charm from Vegas!! LMAO!
May 22nd, 2007 at 6:07 pm
My mom collected charms for me when I was a kid / teenager. I think my last one is from high school graduation. I rarely wear the bracelet because it annoys me when I type at work, but it’s a great keepsake and always makes me think of my mama!
May 22nd, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Dude, that is SO cool!
I don’t collect charms but this makes me want to. I have a gold charm bracelet from when I was young with only a few charms on it. I don’t wear gold and it really bothered me to wear it. I can’t handle all those charms clinging around.
A couple of years ago I got one of those Italian charm bracelets. I love those b/c it’s all the fun of a charm bracelet without all the dangling of a charm bracelet. I have stopped collecting stuff charms for it though. Don’t know why.
What do I collect? Shot glasses baby!
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
This is seriously awesome. I love that you have so many Vatican charms, despite your non-Catholicness.
Also, do you actually WEAR the charm bracelet or is it just for … show?
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Best charm ever! I have two charm bracelets, I just don’t update them much any more :/
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
That is such a cute idea! I have never gotten into charm bracelets… I think the only thing I really every got into collecting were Pogs, Haha!
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 pm
okay can I just say I think it’s hilarious that you are not Catholic yet have a charm of the pope! too cute you are!
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
So cute! Is it wrong that I find a Pope charm cute? I would totally collect postcards if, you know, people ever sent them to me. Maybe I should start a charm bracelet of my own…
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:12 am
I have a charm bracelet, but I haven’t added to it in so very long. I’m not even sure I can find it nowadays. I love yours though, especially the Pope.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:19 am
De-lurking to tell you I have a charm bracelet. Its not as full as yours, and I need to get more slip rings to add charms. When I finished college and grad school I decided not to get class rings and instead got a charm of the school seal with my initials, degree and date of graduation on back, because I knew I would eventually give up wearing a class ring, as I did with my high school ring.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:28 am
i have a charm bracelet from the 40’s that belonged to my grandmother. i love the old charms that she added that represented a place in time for her.
it’s one of my most cherished possessions.
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:30 am
That is TOO funny about the charm of the new pope. Can tell you now that my mom? Has never met you but I’m pretty sure she loves you more than me for wearing a popey charm.
I love charm bracelets. For years I’ve hinted to the hubby that I’d like one. (Still don’t have one.)
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 am
My mom gave me a charm bracelet for my first communion, and it is filled with charms at this point. I haven’t worn it for a really long time though. I will have to bring it out!
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
My mom has the best charm bracelet and my sister and I were always fascinated with it when we were young. So she got me one for my first communion. So right now I have a charm for that and a clamshell with a pearl in it that she also got for me.
But darn it if no one else will buy me charms even when I put them on my lists! I’d love to have a full one like yours, it’s wonderful.
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Hey, I recognize that bag too – same one I got my rosaries in while visiting the Holy City.
I had a charm bracelet as a baby, not sure where it is now. I may have to resurrect the idea…
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
(Delurking) I inherited my charm bracelet from my mom. It had all of her charms from her childhood, and I have added to it over the years. I used to wear it all the time, but for a couple of years it hasn’t been out of the jewelry box. I read your post yesterday, and am wearing it today. Thanks for the reminder!
May 24th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
For one of my bridal showers, my moms’ friends all brought charms with explanations/wishes attached to them, then another very crafty and awesome woman put them on a charm bracelet for me. It’s amazing, and I love it. It’s chock full of wishes for my life with Mr. Squirrel and hopes for a baby Jojo (real subtle, people, to give me a baby carriage charm at my BRIDAL shower).
May 24th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
I think that’s a really cool collection to have. I used to have a charm bracelet, too. My mom had a huge one from when she was younger, and had gotten me into collecting charms when I was a kid. I loved it, although it was not something i ever wore — I’d always love to take it out and look at it and all the memories associated with it.
But then my house got robbed 2 years ago and the charm bracelet — along with all my other jewelry — was never to be seen again. It’s one of the things those f—ing bastards took that I miss the most.
May 27th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
i’ve collected postcards for as long as i can remember. i keep misplacing my collection so i now have piles of postcards hidden all over the house!
it’s crazy that you posted about your charm bracelet because i was just thinking (yesterday) about how i’d like one. it has been on my want list since middle school (when everyone had one).
May 28th, 2007 at 3:33 am
I had a charm bracelet that someone in my family started for me when I was a young girl. My Mom had one too, she always wore it to church.
I think charm bracelets are cool, they have so much meaning.
May 28th, 2007 at 4:31 am
I never had a charm bracelet, but I always wanted one. I have just never worn enough jewelry to warrant that type of collection.