One of the best things about this time of year is the chance to get together with friends at holiday parties! It’s so fun to see everyone at their sparkly best! And, of course, it’s the perfect excuse to dress up.  (We live for the chance to amp up the razzle-dazzle!)

So if you’re looking for some extra ‘zazz to take your favorite little black dress to the next level, Ped has just the thing!

Here to help is Seattle-based jeweler Jamie Joseph, who has “how to dazzle” down to a science!  The hand-selected gems she uses are truly special, and her minimal designs show these spectacular stones off to their best advantage (and yours). Drink in the loveliness of Jamie’s latest cocktail rings, which just arrived at Ped HQ:

Every time we look at this Blood Tiger’s Eye ring, our hearts skip a beat because the stone is so unusual. The rose-cut faceting pulls in the light, amplifying the filament-like streaks that run through the gem. This ring is a guaranteed show stopper!

Another new JJ design that has us swooning is her Dark Drusy ring, which gets extra sparkle from a gold-encircled diamond set in the stone.

A drusy is commonly called a geode, which, as you may know, has a crystalline interior. We think the diamond floating on the sugary background looks like a full moon shining in a star-filled night sky. Go for high drama by slipping this unusual ring on your finger! No one will be able to resist you!

If you really want to pull out all the stops, though, there’s no better way than with Jamie Joseph’s Square Rock Crystal Ring.

You’ll be as glamorous as an old-school Hollywood movie star when you wear this sparkler! Want to flirt with someone across the room? Simply flash this ring with a wave and soon you’ll feel a tap on your shoulder or maybe even an arm around your waist!

You say rings aren’t your thing? Don’t worry, we have other ways for you to turn every head at the party! Look no further than the whimsical creations of Pepita!

What a fabulous necklace! Beautiful circlets of sanded glass cascade down from an antiqued brass chain to create an eye-opening sensation! Not only does Pepita’s Fabiana necklace look gorgeous, but it also makes a lovely sound when you wear it! If you prefer something brighter than these earthy hues, it also comes in a lovely combination of blues and greens!

Another wow-worthy piece is Pepita’s Fortuna necklace:

Crafted from a combination of coral, red, and burgundy silk, entwined through a brass chain in one section, this necklace looks so festive for the holiday season! Imagine how it would enliven a dark party dress!

But if you wish to be the belle of the ball (and why not?), then Pepita’s Mumbay necklace is a must-have for making your mark:

WOW! A necklace like no other, this knockout features lightweight copper beads hand-sewn to a printed piece of Italian fabric. You will feel like an Indian princess when you tie the Mumbay’s grosgrain ribbon around your neck. (And everyone will bow down to your royal style!)

Whether you slide a Jamie Joseph sparkler on your finger or deck your neck with a one-of-a-kind Pepita necklace, you’ll be the spiciest thing at your holiday parties since mulled wine and eggnog!

(And just fyi, you’ve got one more day to enjoy Ped’s current “sweet treat,” Cydwoq’s oh-so-chic Kappa Boot! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, and you’ll arrive at the Kappa the magic discount code that will take a a cool 20% off when you enter it in the designated box at checkout!)

February may be the shortest month, but given the wintry storms currently pummeling many Ped fans, it may feel like the longest. Thank goodness, there’s a sweet something in the middle to make February worth it: Valentine’s Day!!! What could be better than a day dedicated to showing your sweetheart how much you love her? It’s the perfect time to express your affection for any woman who really matters in your life! (Remember how you used to give candies and cards to your friends, your teachers, your sisters, and your mom?)

So let your love light shine by putting a sparkle in your favorite gal’s eye with a sparkly something from Ped!

It may be chilly outside, but these gorgeous Jamie Joseph Indian Ruby earrings are guaranteed to warm things up wherever you are:

The color is so juicy, like a ripe pomegranate! And the faceting catches the light in the loveliest way.

Maybe the woman you have in mind agrees with Marilyn Monroe  that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Then assure her you, too, qualify as a BFF with this understated but stunning Jamie Joseph silver circle necklace that twinkles with three gold-set diamonds:

Jamie has a way of making the simplest designs worthy of “Wow!”

As long as we’re doing song references, maybe you should take Beyonce’s advice if you want to keep your sweetheart from joining all the single ladies—i.e. if you like it, you should put a ring on it! Now, it doesn’t have to be that kind of ring; we’re pretty sure this Jamie Joseph Onyx ring will keep her by your side:

Featured in Vogue, this design is the epitome of chic! We love how the tiny diamond adds a little extra dazzle. Going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day? Imagine how terrific this ring will look with your darling’s little black dress.

“Hmmm,” you may be thinking, “I want to give her jewelry but maybe something more low-key.” How about this Green Onyx and Apatite bracelet from Debbie Fisher?

It’s pretty and fresh without being over-the-top.

The again, maybe the object of your affection is a free spirit whose taste is more whimsical, in which case look no farther than Pepita:

This Eleonora necklace, with its hand-sewn fabric beads blooming from within brass petals, is sure to appeal to her love of one-of-a-kind treasures! A unique beauty deserves something uniquely beautiful!

And if your sweetheart could use a little dose of spring about now, Sophie Digard has just the thing to remind her warmer weather is right around the corner:

Sophie’s cheerful Three Flower Brooch (you can also opt for a single-bloom pin) will brighten up any winter coat or sweater.

Of course, it’s the thought that counts, but a beautiful gift that makes your favorite gal feel more beautiful is a wonderful way to show how much you care! (And if you need to drop a hint or two, remember you can mark anything at Ped as a “favorite” and then share that list with the one who loves you best.)

Happy Valentine’s Day in advance! May love fill every Ped fan’s life!

Twinkling lights, glittering tinsel, wreaths of greenery, and mistletoe waiting to inspire kisses are just a few of the reasons we love this time of year. Here at Ped HQ, we think you, too, should shine as brightly as the Holidays! As long as you’re hanging ornaments on the tree or lighting the menorah candles, why not add a little dazzle to your neck (or to the one of someone you love)? We have the prettiest necklaces at Ped to make your festive spirit sparkle (and they’ll look just as beautiful in the new year)!

Nothing catches the eye quite like diamonds and gold! Jamie Joseph’s new Buttercup necklace is absolutely stunning:

Jamie’s organic designs always make us swoon! This necklace’s trio of diamonds look like tiny stars sitting so prettily in their gold buttercup.

Want to make a bolder statement with your jewelry? Sophie Digard has just the thing:

Ped’s Laura recently got Sophie’s Pastille Pop necklace, and she says everyone goes gaga whenever she wears it! Not only do the velvety beads slide, allowing you to cluster them in a variety of ways, but each features a different color combo on each side, so you can spin them to change up the overall composition!

If you really want to create a buzz, nothing gets people talking like Pepita’s imaginative jewelry!

We can’t get over this Agnese necklace with its fantastic mix of fabric beads, brass fittings, glass beads, braided silk cord, and chiffon rosette! Imagine how great this necklace would look with your favorite little black dress on New Year’s Eve!!! Everyone will be toasting your style!

So, deck your neck as you deck the halls! You’ll look spectacular!

Don’t panic. We’ve all been there! You want to get something really lovely and stylish for that special gal who makes you smile—girlfriend, daughter, wife, BFF, mom, mentor who got you where you are today—but you’re just not sure what size she wears. No problem! Although we love the footwear here at Ped, we also have lots of gorgeous things that require no knowledge of numbers. So, let us offer a few ideas for what we think would make wonderful tokens of your affection.

If you really want to delight someone, you can’t go wrong with a scarf from Sophie Digard, our favorite Parisian textile artist.

Whatever design you select, the work is guaranteed to be dazzling (use the “zoom” feature at the Ped site to appreciate the intricacy of Sophie’s artistry).

Maybe you’re enamored of Mademoiselle Digard but want to give something slightly smaller. Why not one of her wonderful brooches?

So pretty and what a lovely reminder that spring is not too far away!

But, then again, maybe the razzle-dazzle is exactly what you want, in which case, look no further than Jamie Joseph:

Everyone here at Ped HQ—including Terry—adores this Halo Diamond Pendant. What makes it so special is each of the organically shaped silver ovals moves independently, and the diamonds, well, they’re diamonds—need we say more?

If the woman you admire prefers adorning her lobes, we’re also especially fond of these Indian ruby earrings:

They are simply designed yet absolutely drop-dead gorgeous! Jamie’s hand-selected stones are truly out of this world!

Admittedly, jewelry is a rather intimate gift, so if you’re looking for something lovely but a little less emotionally charged, the 49 Square Miles Clingy Wallet may be just the thing:

Practical and luxurious! (Plus, the leather is so soft.)

Speaking of practical, any woman who has a chilly commute or who has to walk across campus when the mercury plunges will thank you profusely for a pair of Rain + Jack wooly arm warmers:

The colors alone will warm her heart.

We’ve also heard toasty toes are the key to winter smiles! Unlike shoes, socks are pretty much one-size-fits-all, and Antipast makes the socks everyone wants because they’re just so darn cute (and warm):

Any chilly day is going to be a lot more fun with pom-poms!

See? No need to worry about measurements or numbers! Everything above is guaranteed to brighten the holidays for your favorite gal!

And if you see something that sings, “my heart’s desire,”  to you—yes, you!— as you browse around Ped’s site, just click the green box that says, “add to favorites.” Then you can e-mail your wish to the people who’d like to make you happy this holiday season!

The Dog Days of summer are here, and as much as we love dogs at Ped, it’s so hot that all we can think about is spending a day at the beach, cooling off in the waves and relaxing in the sea breeze. Happily, Ped has quite a few things to make the sand-and-surf experience that much more pleasurable. (And stylish!)

Seaside tip of the day: Don’t leave home without 49 Square Miles’ Carryall Tote:

Four words: Best. Beach. Bag. EVER!!!!! Everyone at Ped HQ is crazy about this sturdy canvas bag because it’s spacious enough to hold a beach towel, paperback, snack, sunscreen, binoculars, frisbee, water bottle, and whatever else you need to make your day in the sun fun. And despite being a workhorse of a bag, it’s so dang cute! The leather appliques are whimsical, and the colors sing of warm weather. We love. We love.

Another great way to haul your beachwear and wares from your house to that umbrella in the sand is Mia Zia’s Parisian Market Tote.

Beautifully woven out of natural raffia, this bag is casual yet undeniably chic. Traditional Moroccan construction means it’s sturdy enough to take on whatever rough-and-tumble adventures you care to carry it on, looking sassy all the while with its colorful tassels.

Another must-have beach accessory is a pair of kick-on, kick-off sandals. Cydwoq’s Lizard is just the ticket!

There’s not much to them, but what there is packs a serious style punch! The ultimate in Zen-like simplicity, these beauties will keep you from burning your tootsies’ tender soles as you skip across the blazing sand.

Finally, every day is sunnier with the beach-inspired dazzle of Jamie Joseph’s Starfish Necklace.

The perfect way to add sparkle to your beachwear—whether you’re baring it in a bikini or keeping covered in a kaftan—this necklace is so sweet with its gold-set diamond twinkling like a star within the silver starfish. And what a way to maintain your beach frame of mind the rest of the year!

So, stretch out on the sand and, with Ped’s help, beach all you can beach!