TOPAZ HORIZON

This blog isn't called Topaz Horizon for nothing. November is my birth month and the yellow topaz is my birth stone. When I was very small, my favorite grandmother, Lola Auring, also a November-born lady, showed me her favorite ring--a huge chunk of deep yellow topaz and told me she would give it to me when she passed on. When she died, well, you know how friends , neighbors and distant relatives descend onto one's home to offer sympathy? Well, let's just say that after all the confusion, Lola Auring's jewelry box and linen closet were empty. So a part of me is always looking for that topaz ring.

I've begun a modest collection of topaz jewelry. Yes, just 6 pieces: a brooch, 2 pairs of earrings, 2 huge rings and a delicate bracelet. It's strange but I love how warm topaz makes me feel. I remember Lola a lot, just looking at the stones. At the same time, the deep yellows and oranges remind me of the sun.

Topaz comes in a variety of colors--white, gray, green, blue, pink, yellow. My favorite ones of course are the pale yellows, deep yellows, vibrant oranges and smoky browns. Those are pretty rare. It's a good thing topaz is a semi-precious stone, unlike diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Even the rare ones are inexpensive. I've gotten really pretty pieces for very little money. Topaz is so pretty but cheap, you can practically buy them by the bulk from wholesale fashion jewelry stores!

Right now I'm eying this fabulous set from Ocampo's--earrings, ring and a pendant. The brilliant yellow stones are about the size of a pinky fingernail, surrounded by diamonds on a yellow gold setting. It dazzles like the sun! It's PHP 30,000 (USD 618) but they're willing to give me a considerable discount. What do you think? Shall this be my Christmas present to myself?

And I'm lovin' every minute of it!

Thank you, all of you who have made my life fantastic. I've had a pretty good 31 years, all things considered, so you can bet I'm giddy to be 32 and I can't wait for more and more years to pile up on me. God is ever so good and faithful to me. All the blessings in my life--small and great--I do appreciate. Well, the fact that I don't look 32 despite my laziness to slap on moisturizer is enough to give Him all my thanks and praise!

Now, my friends, please excuse me from blogging for a few days while I go celebrate!

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Photograph by Willy Saw, makeup by Mimi Bautista for L'Oreal Paris, hair by Ogie Rayel, dress and belt by Mango, jewelry all mine!

Special thanks to Dimensione High Street for graciously allowing us to shoot at their spectacular store. Their staff is ever so helpful. All the photos from the shoot at Dimensione came out fabulous. The light was amazing (yes, that's natural daylight so, Lord, thank You for the bright cloudy day--the kind of day all photographers and editors love).

I got tagged on email but I'd rather do it here on my blog.

Here are the rules for the Book Tag:
1. Grab the nearest book to you (not the most intellectual or your favorite. From where you're sitting, get the nearest one!).
2. Open the book to page 56.
3. Post the text of the first two-five sentences.
4. Tag five people to do the same.

And here's what I do:
1. The book is The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams. It's Vince's hardbound book that contains five novels and one short story. He loves it. I'm opening it for the first time now...

2. ... to page 56, which says,

3. "The real Universe arched sickeningly away beneath them. Various pretend ones flitted silently by, like mountain goats. Primal light exploded, splattering space-time with gobbets of Jell-O. Time blossomed, matter shrank away. The highest prime number coalesced quietly in a corner and hid itself away for ever."

4. Hmm. That was interesting and strange. I guess this book's on my To-Read list! I'm tagging the five people on my blogroll who've most recently updated their blogs: