Thursday, January 28, 2021

Making a Custom Name Necklace

Fun fact: The name Sophie (Sofia, Sophie, Sophia) was the most popular name from 2000-2017 within the US. Here are a few pictures from my studio today where I made the custom name necklace “Sophie”. It is hammered with a small hammer on some connection points. 

Made from 14k gold filled wire and delicate 14k gold filled chain. 

For your own custom name necklace, you can order one from: www.AzizaJewelry.com 











Sunday, May 10, 2020

Trending for Summer 2020: Colorful Hoop Earrings

With the end of Quarantine currently underway, bold(er) fashion is trending as we boldly enter into Summer 2020. Allow me to introduce you to your new summer wardrobe staple: bold hoop earrings.

Hoop Earring Trends for Summer 2020

These 14k Gold Heart Hoop Earrings are available in gold filled or solid gold. They measure about 2.5 inches long, are lightweight, feature a secure angled latch, and with their simple design, are sure to be your new 2020 summer wardrobe staple.






These Multi Color Tourmaline Hoops are made from sterling silver wire with tourmaline gemstones that are individually wire wrapped in colors ranging from dark pink to light pink to light green to dark green. They measure 2.5 inches in diameter. Available here






Similar to the Tourmaline Hoops, these multi colored rainbow gemstone hoops are made from various gemstones in every color of the rainbow, including garnet, ruby, tourmaline, turquoise, amethyst and more. They measure about 2.25 inches in diameter.



Happy Summer 2020!
xoxo
Aziza



Monday, April 27, 2020

Mother's Day Gifts via Amazon Prime that will REALLY arrive on time



If you've shopped online recently via Amazon Prime, you may have noticed that many items that you could normally order  *guaranteed* to arrive within 2 days can now take up to 1 week or longer to arrive.

During these unprecedented Corona Times we are now in ... many gift items that you could previously order through Amazon Prime can no longer be guaranteed to arrive in time with their 2 day promise because of social distancing rules that are being enforced at factories, warehouses, suppliers, production companies and shipping companies.

But thats not the case over here at Aziza Jewelry! And in case you didn't know, many of my pieces are now Amazon Prime eligible. Woohoo!! ðŸŽ‰ ...which is especially timely with Mother's Day coming up.

Below, I've listed a few of my most popular jewelry pieces that ship (within the US) from the East Coast all the way to the West Coast and everywhere in between with the 2 Day Shipping Guarantee... so they will arrive by Mother's Day...

of course, if you need it faster, just upgrade your shipping on Amazon...but even if you're not ordering through Amazon Prime, all of my items ship 100% Free right now.

Here are a couple of my most popular pieces specifically for Mother's Day. Shop Now!

14k Yellow Gold Mother-Daughter Heart Earring Set:  https://amzn.to/3aBmcbT



14k Rose Gold Mother-Daughter Heart Earring Set https://amzn.to/2KpXTTV  


14k White Gold Mother-Daughter Heart Earring Set https://amzn.to/3ax6rmg 


14k Yellow Gold Spiral Stud Earrings:   https://amzn.to/35fEX3S


14k Rose Gold Spiral Stud Earrings:  https://amzn.to/3bGVsIB  



14k White Gold Spiral Stud Earrings:  https://amzn.to/2S8jmou  


14k Yellow Gold XO Earrings:  https://amzn.to/2zrbKH8  


14k White Gold XO Earrings: https://amzn.to/2zyGTbU  


14k White Gold X♡ Earrings:  https://amzn.to/2W26VMg  


14k White Gold Heart Stud Earrings:  https://amzn.to/2KEq1ml  



14k Yellow Gold Heart Stud Earrings: https://amzn.to/3eTWdA1  


14k Yellow Gold Large 2.5 inch Heart Hoops:  https://amzn.to/3bIWQKU


14k Yellow Gold Medium Heart Hoops: https://amzn.to/3538qh6



14k Rose Gold Medium Heart Hoops:  https://amzn.to/3cGhlHY


14k White Gold Medium Heart Hoops: https://amzn.to/2yJTU1E



****The Caveat:
Since 99% of the things in my shop are custom orders, you must place your order by Tuesday, May 5th, to allow me 1 production day to make your custom order and ship it by 5pm the next day.****

Happy Amazon Prime Shopping!

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Quarantine Mother's Day 2020 Gift Guide (I Surveyed Real Moms)

With Mother's Day coming up in a few weeks, I asked a few moms that I know, what they wanted to receive for Mother's Day (Quarantined Edition) and the following were the top gifts they requested... sprinkled in with one of my own gift suggestions:


1. Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker - Starts at $104+:

Ice cream has been one of the lowest items in stock at almost all grocery stores lately. Get your own ice cream maker and you can enjoy ice cream whenever you want. You can also use healthier ingredients. Use fresh fruit, frozen fruit, alternative sweeteners, alternative milks, liqueur, use whatever you want!




2. Rope Hammock - Starts at $115+:


I have a hammock and I LOVE IT!! Best. Decision. Ever. Especially during this time when we all have to stay home. Its such a chill activity and a way to relax while being outside in nature but also still at home.




3. Raised Garden Bed - Starts at $165+:




4. Karaoke Machine - USA Karaoke Machine - Starts at $97+:

Bring out family fun in this gift idea as it makes a great way for mom and the whole crew to unwind, sing, dance, etc. 





5. Aziza Jewelry via Amazon Prime - Mother-Daughter Earrings in 14k White, Yellow, Pink Solid Gold- Starts at $230: 

in 14k White Gold:




in 14k Solid Yellow Gold:







14k Solid Gold Mommy Necklace:










*Budget Friendly Edition*: The following gifts will cost you little to no money:

6. Breakfast in Bed: Not just for mom, but for the whole family. Use whats already in your kitchen/cupboard. Bonus points for making it look visually appealing. Check out Pinterest for Ideas. I personally love some of these Breakfast Mood boards:






*Pro tip: Remember to wash the dishes after ;)

7. Massage- even if you don't know how to give a good massage, you can always do a little research on youtube or through google.




So thats it! I hope you've enjoyed my Gift Guide for a Quarantined Mother's Day. 

Prefer to watch this in a video instead? Watch the video version here




Whether you live with her, nearby or nowhere near Mom, Leave me a comment below and let me know what you're planning to do for mom on Mother's Day. I'm curious to know!

xo
Aziza


Friday, April 17, 2020

The Complete Aziza Jewelry Care Guide (Very Detailed for All Metals)


This Detailed Guide will show you how to care for Aziza Jewelry in each specific metal- especially your new wire jewelry pieces. 

For General Cleaning of 14k Solid Gold, Sterling Silver, Copper and Brass Metal: I recommend The Sunshine Polishing Cloth . I use it to polish my sterling silver and solid gold jewelry as it has left the best shine and luster out of the many different kinds of polishing cloths I have tried. (My recommendation for a 14k Gold Filled Polishing Cloth is the blue cloth further down below)


Seriously, I love the Sunshine Cloth SO MUCH that I even did a video tutorial to show you guys the Detailed ways I use it to clean my silver wire jewelry in this video here:





Below, I break down how to care for each metal by section: 14k Solid Gold, 14k Gold Filled, Sterling Silver, Copper and Brass Jewelry. As always, if you have any questions, I am here to help- just message me!


14k Solid Gold Chains:

Your new 14k Solid White Gold, Yellow Gold or Rose Gold Chain will maintain it's luster and shine naturally and require very little polishing. However, if the occasional dirt, oil build-up or dead skin build-up starts to accrue on your chain bracelet or necklace, gently wipe it off with a soft polishing cloth designed specifically for solid gold jewelry.

Avoid dulling of the luster of your 14k solid gold jewelry by avoiding wearing it in the shower, pool, hot tub, sauna, etc. While wearing it in water will not turn the color of your 14k solid yellow or rose gold necklace/chain, it can gradually remove the top rhodium plating on 14k white gold over time (many years) to reveal the yellow gold underneath. Wearing solid gold in treated water sources can also corrode metal over time.

 I also do not recommend steam cleaning 14k white gold as the pressure of the steam cleaning combined with hot water temps will remove the rhodium plating cover on 14k white gold pieces over time.

Avoid wearing your necklace 24/7 because jewelry, like clothes, needs a chance to breathe! It will last much longer and be in better shape for the long haul. :)

To prevent chains from tangling while not in use, store in the clear poly bag that came with your purchase. If you need more than one polybag, they are available here:



14k Solid Gold Earrings: 

Your new 14k yellow gold, rose gold or white gold earrings will maintain natural luster with minimal polishing, however, if they do require the occasional polish, I recommend using the sunshine cloth. Avoid wearing 14k solid gold earrings in the shower, pool, hot tub, etc because even with a snug earring back, water can loosen earrings from your ear hole and make it easier for them to loosen and fall off, slipping down an empty drain. 

However, if you choose to ignore this advice and must wear them in the shower/pool/hot tub, etc, dont worry, they will not change color but the luster may fade over time. This is easily corrected with a quick gentle polish.  The hardness of the metal may also change over time because of the hardness or softeess of your water supply.
Avoid wearing your earrings 24/7 because oil and dead skin cells build up quicker on earrings than any other piece of jewelry and constant wear will wear down jewelry quicker and cause it to accumulate more oil and dirt buildup than any other piece of jewelry. Jewelry needs a chance to breathe just like clothing or any other thing you wear all the time.

Avoid losing 14k Solid Gold earrings by storing them in the same location (a jewelry box or tray is highly recommended) within a poly bag (to prevent tarnish or excess exposure to the elements) or in a cloth or organza pouch (like the ones below that are included with each order) 








If you plan to travel with jewelry in your luggage or plan to take jewelry on and off multiple times at a location besides your home (for instance while out clothes shopping), carrying poly bags or a cloth muslin/organza storage pouch will help keep your jewelry all in one place to help prevent losing them.

While wearing dangle earrings, or hoop earrings, be sure to use the clear rubber ear backs included with your order, to ensure the earrings stay on your ear. If you have long or curly hair, or a complex hairstyle, its easy to snag long dangle earrings and for them to accidentally pop out of your ear. Wearing the clear rubber ear stoppers that came with your order will help prevent this. 

You can order more poly bags and rubber ear stoppers for dangle earrings if you need them.

14k Gold Filled Chains:

You can prevent your gold filled chains from darkening quickly by not spraying perfume, chemicals or oils on to your body while wearing jewelry. Apply all perfume, hair spray, oils, etc, on your body before putting jewelry on.

Avoiding wearing it in the shower, pool, hot tub, etc. to prevent any chemical reaction of the metal from treated water. However, if you must wear this necklace in the shower/pool/hot tub, etc, the chemical reactions of hard water or chemically treated water exposure will lead to frequent tarnishing and it will need regular polishing.

Avoid tangling of chains by storing them in the clear poly bags that come with every purchase. Order more here: Poly bags.  Gold filled is more prone to tarnish and if you have a delicate, feminine chain, it will darken more quickly if worn continuously and exposed to bodily oils, sweat, dead skin, hard water, etc. Jewelry needs time to breathe, just like your clothing does.

Gently polish on occasion with a soft polishing cloth. This gentle polishing cloth is what I recommend to gently buff gold filled jewelry.  Only the outer blue layers of the polishing cloth should be used to polish gold filled. Another option for polishing is to use fabric from an soft old t-shirt.



Gently polish on occasion with a soft polishing cloth. I really like the Mayfield brand. This gentle polishing cloth is what I recommend to gently buff gold filled jewelry.  Only the outer blue layers of the polishing cloth should be used to polish gold filled specifically. Alternately, you can also use an old thin soft t-shirt to gently buff gold filled, but results may not be as good.



14k Gold Filled Earrings:

Prevent gold filled earrings from darkening or tarnishing quickly by storing them in poly bags when not in use and lightly polishing with the outer blue layers of the polishing cloth recommended above or a very soft old t-shirt.

Avoid spraying perfumes, chemicals or oils on to your body while wearing jewelry. Apply all perfume, hair spray, oils, etc, on your body before putting gold filled jewelry on. This will prevent tarnish and product buildup on your jewelry.

If you plan to travel with jewelry in your luggage or plan to take jewelry on and off multiple times at a location besides your home (for instance while out clothes shopping), carrying poly bags or a cloth muslin/organza storage pouch will help keep your jewelry all in one place to help prevent losing them.

Avoid wearing earrings in the shower, hot tub, pool as the water can loosen jewelry from your earlobes and make it easier for them to slip down a drain. This will also prevent any chemical reaction of the metal from treated water.

Sterling Silver Chains:

Sterling Silver chains tends to tarnish pretty quickly unless polished and regularly stored in a poly bag. I recommend frequently and gently polishing with the sunshine cloth. Avoid wearing these chains 24/7 because they need a chance to breathe like your clothing does.

Avoid tangling of chains by storing in poly bags when not in use. If you wish to wear these necklaces together in layers, avoid tangling by wearing chains with different patterns.

Avoiding wearing it in the shower, pool, hot tub, etc. to prevent any chemical reaction of the metal from treated water. However, if you must wear this necklace in the shower/pool/hot tub, etc, the chemical reactions of hard water or chemically treated water exposure will lead to frequent tarnishing and it will need regular cleaning and/or polishing.

Avoid spraying perfumes, chemicals or oils on to your body while wearing jewelry. Apply all perfume, hair spray, oils, etc, on your body before putting jewelry on. This will prevent tarnish and product buildup on your jewelry.

Sterling Silver Earrings:

Avoid wearing earrings in the shower, pool, hot tub, etc because even with a snug earring back, water can loosen earrings from your ear hole and make it easier for them to loosen and fall off, slipping down an empty drain. 

Avoid wearing your earrings 24/7 because oil and dead skin cells build up quicker on earrings than any other piece of jewelry and constant wear will wear down jewelry quicker and cause it to accumulate more oil and dirt buildup than any other piece of jewelry. Jewelry needs a chance to breathe just like clothing or any other thing you wear all the time.

Avoid losing Sterling Silver earrings by storing them in the same location (a jewelry box or tray is highly recommended) and use a poly bag or a cloth or organza pouch (like the ones below that are included with each order) . Use the clear rubber ear stoppers that came with your purchase to prevent long dangly earrings from falling out of ears. If you need to order more they are available here

Avoid spraying perfumes, chemicals or oils on to your body while wearing jewelry. Apply all perfume, hair spray, oils, etc, on your body before putting jewelry on. This will prevent tarnish and product buildup on your jewelry.

If you plan to travel with jewelry in your luggage or plan to take jewelry on and off multiple times at a location besides your home (for instance while out clothes shopping), carrying poly bags or a cloth muslin/organza storage pouch will help keep your jewelry all in one place to help prevent losing them.


Cleaning Sterling Silver:

If it gets very tarnished and needs to be cleaned, use a store bought jewelry cleaner designed specifically for sterling silver. I recommend this one.



However, if you want to $ave money and have time on your hands, I created a video showing you how to clean sterling silver jewelry with common household items at home...you probably already have them all on hand already. Check out the video here


Follow up with gentle polishing using the Sunshine polishing cloth

Sterling Silver Cleaning Don'ts:

I do not recommend using toothpaste or a toothbrush to clean sterling silver jewelry. Sterling silver is a softer metal and toothpaste is sooo abrasive that it will scratch this metal, leaving small pits and making it like a magnet to easily attract even more tarnish, dirt and oil. This also makes it more difficult to keep it clean and tarnish free in the future.

Avoid using a toothbrush, because the abrasive and vigorous motion of the toothbrush can scratch this soft metal as well as loosen and remove gemstones from settings.


Copper and Brass:

Follow all recommendations for Sterling Silver care above.

Jewelry with Gemstones:

Some crystals and gemstones are heat treated and dyed. In order to prevent the color changing with cleaning your gemstones, spot test gemstones with cleaning products before cleaning the entire gemstones to see if they will change color.  Then proceed from there.

*Special Note for Pearls: 

Do not use chemicals to clean jewelry which has pearls, as this may remove the natural nacre and any artificial dyes added to colored freshwater pearls.


If you have any questions, feel free to message me!

xoxo!
~Aziza


Monday, March 30, 2020

Prevent Getting the CoronaVirus COVID-19 (How I have avoided getting the flu/cold)


I haven't gotten a cold or the flu in over 5 years.




With the current pandemic going on, a lot of people are scared of getting the CoronaVirus, so in this blog post, I am sharing how I've avoided getting sick for the past 5 years.

Every day first thing in the morning, I drink a small amount of water (1/2 cup or so) along with 1 Tsp or Tblsp of apple cider vinegar. I prefer Braggs ACV with the Mother brand. Then I follow up with a little more water just to clear the taste from my mouth.




I take a daily multi vitamin and a daily probiotic. I prefer New Chapter Every Woman's One Daily multi vitamin


and this Garden of Life probiotic. I've noticed a change in energy, immune support and overall health when I'm taking these vs. when I am not.



If I am ever feeling worn down, or like I may feel the beginning symptoms of something or may be getting slightly sick, I immediately drink a small cup of water and a tsp of acv, and repeat this every hour or so until I feel better. I also boost my immunity by having a few of these 365 brand vitamin C packets in a little water.



I also use a few drops of tea tree oil essential oil to massage into my scalp and hair every day. Tea Tree oil has anti viral and anti bacterial properties. I use this as a preventative measure. If I ever get blemishes on my face or the beginnings of an acne breakout, I also use tea tree oil directly on the blemish and it goes away very quickly due to the anti-bacterial properties.



I also use a Essential Oil diffuser every night while I sleep (I prefer this brand) and I put in several drops of Eucalyptus Oil which helps to open up nasal passages, acts as an anti inflammatory, and helps to rejuvinate you. It also has many other healing properties and is one of the main ingredients used in Vicks Vapor Rub.



Lots of people are washing their hands like crazy lately. I have found that washing my hands AND using a nail brush helps me to clean my hands more thoroughly. This is especially useful if you have long fingernails which unknowingly hide lots of germs that you may be unaware of. I personally recommend this nail brush.


In addition to taking these precautions, I am also getting lots of rest, taking naps when I need to and I avoid stress as much as possible. I avoid stress by not watching the news (unless necessary and even then, limiting my intake), and limiting or avoiding interaction with toxic people, places and circumstances. Currently, I am quarantining and staying a home as much as possible so this hasn't been difficult. I pretty much only leave my house to go grocery shopping, deliver jewelry packages to the post office and to exercise.

Speaking of exercise...I exercise regularly to keep my immunity up and sweat out any excess toxins. You don't really N E E D any special equipment to exercise, and since gyms are all closed now anyway, now is a good time to reconnect with nature. I personally love hiking in the woods, but you may enjoy a brisk walk or run in your neighborhood or at your local park.


I know hand sanitizer is in short supply almost everywhere lately, but just in case you have some on hand or are crafty and decide to DIY make your own (there are lots of tutorials online), I recommend keeping some in your car along with flushable wipes or paper towels and using some every time you get back in your car after visiting a public or communal space. 

I use it after I pump gas at the gas station, after I visit the grocery store, post office or any public place that I visit where I get back in my car afterwards. I use hand sanitizer while I am out and about any where washing my hands isn't an option. I keep it in the nook of the door of my car. In hotter temps, you may want to avoid keeping it in your car for prolonged periods of time, since if the alcohol in it evaporates in hotter temps, it can dilute the effectiveness of the hand sanitizer.





What steps are you taking to prevent getting the CoronaVirus COV-ID19??


Stay well everyone!
xoxo!
Aziza


Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Unexpected Ways to Save on Black Friday






1. Shop online at home: you'll save money on gas, on other travel costs, avoid lines at stores and avoid wasting time in traffic.

2. Buy coupons to your favorite stores on ebay. Contact the seller of the coupons first to make sure they will work with you, but many times, once you purchase the coupons (only purchase the ones with a Buy It Now Option) the seller will email you the coupon code right away instead of mailing it to you so you can use it immediately.

3. Shop at your favorite retailers including amazon, ebay, sephora through Rakuten and get cash back!
Use my affilite link to sign up and automatically receive $10 added to your account.  So far I've earned $58+ in cash back from purchases. I shop most often at Amazon and Anthropologie through Rakuten but there are sooo many more stores where you can get large % cash back and save big! Starting right now, you can even earn double cash back!



4. Only shop with a rewards credit card and get cash back. I personally love using my Capital One card because I love the gift cards that I'm able to earn and I can gift them to friends and family for the holidays. You can also use the cash back rewards to get a physical check in the mail or earn miles. Depending on the rewards card you choose, your purchases may be protected with insurance including travel insurance. Do your research and choose the best one for you!

5. Amazon prime: If you have an amazon prime membership, you can save 2% when you reload an amazon gift card using your checking account. You'll actually get 2% automatically added to your gift card balance once you reload it, so for instance if you reload $500, your total balance on the gift card will be $510.

6. If you value unique handmade or even personalized gifts, lots of etsy shops are having sales including mine. I'm having a pre-Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale of 20% off in my shop starting Now from 11-26-19 til 12-4-19. This applies to all items in my shop that are $10 or more. And, *Bonus*, the discount is automatically applied at checkout ;)

Happy Shopping!
xo
Aziza