One Busy Bee

Oh Yeahhhhhhh. Big sale for the discontinuing Stella & Dot items available at 20% OFF now thru Monday, May 30, 2011 at 11:59 PM CT. Stock up on great jewelry pieces for upcoming birthday presents, graduation presents or 'Just Because' gifts. Orders over $125 will receive a complimentary red or aqua silk base. Just enter MEMDAY at the time of check out. TONIGHT - I'll be headed to Shirasoni Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse in Brentwood, California for Ladies Night and a trunk show. Be there between 6-8PM. Come talk to me about how to earn an average of $250 in free jewelry, how to become a stylist, and about many of our specials. Also, get HALF OFF signature cocktails and appetizers all day long. TOMORROW - I may be able to make it to my cousin's graduation in Pleasant Hill, CA. If not, I'll be visiting the Blues, Brews and BBQ festival in Brentwood, California. SATURDAY - Baby Shower for one of my Maid of Honors. Then maybe back to Blues, Brews &

First, let me just say, we miss you, Cousin Natalie . She passed one year ago today. I plan to stop in Vallejo, California to pay my respects on Sunday morning. My cousins have been updating their statuses, remembering you, missing you. You are not forgotten. And a thank you note for the Lagade cousins walking at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in 2009. A treasured piece.

I had such an amazing time with my sister hiking Mt. Diablo last month. I have lived in San Francisco Bay Area for the majority of my life and I have never hiked Mt. Diablo. I would see it every day when I lived in the Concord/Martinez area. It's hard not to. We did the 7-mile Juniper Trail to the summit. We gained 500 feet in elevation and reached the summit at 3,849 feet. The observation deck at the Summit Museum will be closed but the view will still be beautiful. “Geographers claim that hikers can see more of the earth’s surface from the top of Mt. Diablo than from any other peak in the world with only one exception: Africa’s legendary 19,340-foot Mt. Kilamanjaro.” I eventually want to hike the entire Summit Trail beginning at Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd. in Danville but this was a good start. This is what I can see from my bathroom window every morning. As Amber Meade would say, I can't wait "to make it my bitch." This is what it looked like two nights b

This is the second time I've donated to a cause regarding autism and it's pretty amazing that "Every 15 minutes, another child is diagnosed with autism. Austism Speaks is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder." My cousin, Tiffany, walked with her FedEx colleagues this past weekend. She had a goal of $150 and when I donated $20, I believe she was just another $20 away. I'm sure she reached her goal. GO TIFF! Visit www.autismspeaks.org for more information Also, I have just teamed up with Danielle S. in helping her fundraise for her Nike Women's Half Marathon on October 16, 2011 benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She and her friend, Mary, are hosting and promoting a Casino Night on Saturday, June 18, 2011

It's Monday. But Monday just got better for you fashionable ladies and those still looking for a graduation gift. Stella & Dot just announced that the Festival 'Til Dawn necklace is 35% OFF thru midnight of this Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Enter the code FESTIVAL at the time of check out. Look at what you can do with it! And, a reminder that this is the last week to host a Trunk Show to take advantage of $50 additional in free jewelry credits and to be entered into a drawing to win $500 in free jewelry and a $500 shopping spree to complete the outfit. Also take a look at some discontinued items that have been announced to make room for the fabulous Fall collection. All the more reason to host a party now because once these styles are gone, they are GONE! And a Sneak Peek to some new jewelry debuting in June. Contact me for more info. I am available! NOT everyone goes away for Memorial Day Weekend. Happy Shopping!

With the one-year anniversary of my Cousin Natalie's death approaching, it is time to reflect on life, take in the moments of joy and remind myself I have to slow down. Today, I received the following forward from my future mother-in-law and its timing couldn't be more perfect. I am so pleased to have spent time with one of my Maid-of-Honors, Tara, at her husband's graduation from law school this weekend. She is pregnant and due in July and looks amazing. I also got to see one of my closest cousins on my dad's side, Shanti, who is also pregnant and due in July as well, and beaming with happiness. She lives in Hawaii so it was the first time I've seen her in quite some time. And I had an early dinner with a former clerk of mine in Albany, CA and it was just nice to chat it up about life, a hint of politics and the future. My Cousin Natalie never had children and as she was ill, I believe her sister, my Cousin Donna, said she was glad that she didn't have chi

Every time I log into my Stylist Lounge as an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot there is always some great news or special offer on this wonderful jewelry. And I have only been with the company for a week! S&D has received so much press, the jewelry is featured in magazines such as InStyle, O Magazine, Redbook and now June's issue of Essence Magazine with the gorgeous Alicia Keys on the cover. The Vintage Link Necklace is now 20% OFF through June 30th, 2011. Just enter promo code ESSENCE20 at the time of check out. I am having a great time as a stylist, booking events and promotions, being able to dress up and just wear the products. I will be attending a law school graduation this weekend in Sacramento, then a BBQ in Davis so I'm going to count how many compliments I get on my Stella & Dot jewelry. Not to mention, I'm lending a girlfriend of mine some S&D jewels to wear to these events so let the compliment battle begin! What woman doesn't

I just went to a graduation for my Maid-of-Honor's hubby who graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, California this past Saturday. What an accomplishment! Then I'll be heading to my cousin's graduation at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California next Friday. I don't think either of them would appreciate one of the three items we have on special at Stella & Dot right now. But perhaps their partner would. Checkout code is GRAD 20% Discount at www.stelladot.com/bernadette Expires Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at midnight PST so HURRY!!! Did you notice that the Vintage Link Bracelet goes with the Vintage Link Necklace that's also on sale based on an earlier announcement? Please be sure to LIKE "Stella & Dot with Bernadette" on Facebook to hear about the latest news and promotions! Thanks in advance!

I love sales. Stella & Dot are coming up with so many wonderful promotions, I love it! There's always something exciting available to offer to you! ... Or your mother, or sister, or aunt... Did you forget Mother's Day was yesterday? Take care of these wonderful ladies with this Jolie ring, now 50% OFF . I personally prefer jewelry over flowers and chocolates. They last longer and jewelry always makes women feel pretty. Satisfaction from chocolates don't last long. But a sweet poem and a card from the heart always hits home for me. Not a writer? Eh, maybe you should try this: Also find me on Facebook: Stella & Dot with Bernadette

Well, it hasn’t arrived yet but at this past weekend’s bridal show in Santa Clara with my former bride and client, Kristin, we came across many great vendors. We spent quite a bit of time at the table of Natalie V. and Stella & Dot . Honestly, what caught my eye before I even said hello was their cupcakes and I just took one. Oops. But we looked over their sample displays and I really wanted to try some on but I knew I shouldn’t be spending any money. I was wearing a necklace I just purchased at Francesca’s Collections on Thursday so my jewelry/personal allowance was done for the month… or quarter. They had so many nice pieces. Kristin commented on the bridal set that she wished she had for her wedding and I loved all the bling with black. I have made an effort to stay away from purchasing anything fashionable that was black in color. The new necklace I was wearing was orange and I really picked out what I was wearing that day just to wear that necklace. I foresee myself d

Americans have been waiting anxiously to hear those words. DB and I were hanging out in the living room, watching a baseball game when an announcer said "Osama Bin Laden is dead" and that we can tune into President Obama's speech on CNN. DB did not know what channel that was but I did... or the general vicinity. Apparently, it is true and our President was to confirm it. The master mind behind Al Queda and the attacks on September 11, 2001 is dead and the US has his body. It has been almost 10 years since that tragic day when we lost almost 3,000 of our American citizens on the East Coast. At first there were reports that a drone killed Osama, but it was later confirmed that the CIA and the National Guard shot him in the head. There have also been reports that he used his wife as a shield. We weren't there so we'll never really know what exactly happened. "It's a good day for this country" and I agree with some people's statements like &