Welcome to the diamond edition of 10 on the 10th! In case you’re new to my blog, I’ve teamed up with Leslie for 10 on the 10th. Unfortunately, Leslie will be stepping back from blogging for a bit. I do intend to continue the 10 on the 10th, but I’m not sure if it will include a link up (I don’t know how to do that yet). You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can answer some or all of the questions in the comments on today’s post!
Without further ado!
- Diamonds are April’s birthstone. What is your birthstone? What do you like or dislike about it?
- My traditional birthstone is the opal! I adore opals! I like the way they sparkle in the light and change color based on the light. I have quite the collection of rings and earrings. I have a couple of necklaces and one bracelet. My Grandma Rose had a gorgeous pair of opal earrings which I was supposed to inherit. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what ever happened to them. There are two other gemstones considered to be October’s birthstone. They are tourmalines and pink quartz. I like both of those, too!
- Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance found on Earth. What is something hard you’ve dealt with in the past year or so?
- This is probably not going to be surprise to anyone. The ongoing pandemic and my subsequent anxiety have lead to a huge weight gain. I’m still struggling with my stress eating and not making much progress on my weight loss. That leads to more stress as I worry about my summer clothes not fitting!
- Diamonds are also known as a girl’s best friend. Tell us a bit about your bestie!
- My bestie is like a sister to me. We honestly do not see each other for weeks and months at a time. When we get together or even chat, we just pick up where we left off! We even finish each other’s sentences. When K faced a life-threatening illness a few years ago, I was devastated at the thought of losing her. I give thanks to God almost every night that she is still alive! She is one of the most intuitive and loving people I know!
- Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with that saying about best friends. Do you have a favorite Marilyn Monroe saying, movie, or picture? Please do tell!
- Without a doubt, my favorite Marilyn Monroe movie is “Some Like It Hot!” The woman was a comic genius, and all anyone saw were those boobs! Here’s a favorite quote: “We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.”
- The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was in 2012. What were you doing in 2012 and would actually confess to?
- As I mentioned in my last Style Imitating Art post (here), I was actually in London in 2012 during some of the celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. That was also the year my Pete crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and his big brother, Max, was diagnosed with diabetes. He spent a week in an emergency pet hospital. I visited him every day. Some days, he would just lean against me for comfort. My tears flowed during every visit as he fought for his life. I’m happy to report he lived for almost four more years after that diagnosis. He went blind shortly after his diagnosis. But, you would have never known it. I miss my boys every day. I also retired in 2012.
- Name a song with diamond in the title and then tell us why you picked that one.
- Geez, this is a tough one…and I came up with it! So, I’m giving you a list. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by the Beatles, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” by Marilyn Monroe for the movie, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, and “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” by Pink Floyd. The Beatles song is a favorite because I love the imagery created by the lyrics. John was my favorite Beatle, and I love his weird yet poetic words. “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” is quintessential Pink Floyd…heavy on the instrumental with melodic harmonies. And, “Diamonds”…do I really need to say anything? Well, yes, I do! I love the way the power dynamic is turned on its ear in this song and the scene from the movie! I love the gorgeous pink dress Marilyn is wearing as well as listening to her sing! Can you tell I’m a big Marilyn Monroe fan?
- Would you splurge on a large diamond, a grand experience, or a new car? Why?
- Personally, I would splurge on a grand experience. I love cars, and I love diamonds. But, experiences make our lives so much better and meaningful! I’m really hoping Nigel and I make it back to the UK for a train trip up to Scotland and Wales…maybe even cross the channel to Ireland. Paris is always on my bucket list as well as Hawaii! Those are pretty big splurges, eh?
- Do you have a sentimental diamond gift or bequest? What makes it sentimental to you?
- Some time during their marriage, my dad bought my mom a pair of diamond earrings. I have no idea how big they are. A few years before she passed, Mom gave me those diamonds. When she died, I used part of my inheritance to buy two diamond rings…I call them my Mom rings because every time I look at them, I remember her. This past fall, Nigel surprised me with a pair of quite large diamond studs. This was another one of those surprises he had to tell me about because he knows I know diamonds! Let’s just say he was right!
- Why do you think diamonds have become such a desired gemstone? Do you like diamonds?
- Honestly, I think diamonds became desired gemstones because the big diamond mining companies developed campaigns to promote the stones. I adore diamonds so I guess that means I bought into the hype, right?
- Are you a traditionalist when it comes to diamonds, or do you like the colored stones? Why?
- I am a traditionalist. I like clear diamonds with invisible to the naked eye inclusions! Yeah, I know diamonds that well! If I’m going to buy a colored diamond, why would I spend that amount of money? I’d just buy a topaz or another stone that’s the color I want!
No sneak peaks yet!
I’ll post a sneak peak in a week or so. Please bear with me!
Not quite there yet, but…
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Wrap it up, Marsha!
One of the things I enjoy about this series is finding out about other bloggers and followers. At this point, I don’t have a link code for a link party. I’ll investigate and try to have it figured out for May! If we don’t have a link party, we can’t learn about others, right? What do you think? Are you a fan of diamonds? Or gemstones in general? Leave a comment or two answering these questions if you’d like! Or, as the incomparable Joan Rivers always said, “Can we talk?” Thank you, one and all, to my subscribers! Thank you so much for your support!
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m also a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here).
I played along as well: https://www.myslicesoflife.com/2022/04/10-on-10th-april-2022-diamond-edition.html. My sister’s birthstone is opals and for some reason I have a few pieces of them as well… though my grandmother always insisted it was bad luck to wear opals if that wasn’t your actual birthstone!
My grandmother told me the same thing! That’s why I really wanted those opal earrings of hers…to protect others from harm…hahaha! Actually, they were gorgeous round balls. I think a cousin probably ended up with them but would never admit to having them. I loved reading your answers! Experiences seem to be the winners with everyone’s answers! Thanks for playing along!
This was a fun one!! I love all of your answers, and my answer to why diamonds are so desired is pretty much the same as yours. Lol.
And ugh, yes. The pandemic pounds found me too!
https://crackercrumblife.com/2022/04/10/10-on-the-10th-the-diamond-edition/
Oh, Erin, I’m so glad you liked the questions! Now, I have to get busy with May’s! You have the best girlfriends…I think we vastly underrate the need for these kinds of relationships. Give your friend, the respiratory therapist, a humongous hug for me as a thanks!
I’m starting a new mindset tomorrow to lose those doggone pandemic pounds!
Thanks for participating!
I enjoyed your answers a lot. I’ve always enjoyed 10 on the 10th so will continue to participate and I’ll check for everyones links and check out their posts if you can’t figure the link thing oug.
https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/materials-a-cricut-machine-can-cut/
Thanks so much, Kirstin! I hope I can figure out how to do a link party. It is so much fun reading other people’s answers. Heading over to yours now!
I have my grandfather’s masonic diamond as my diamond in my wedding right I always love the sentimental aspect of that.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
That is really cool, Jodie! My mom had four “sets” of diamonds. We each got one. My little sister ended up with her wedding band. Mom had had her larger diamonds reset into a pendant. I think my little sister got that one, too. Dad was a Mason, but he didn’t get a ring. All of Nigel’s brothers have them!
I enjoyed reading your answers to these questions! Love that quote of Marylyn Monroe!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks, Lovely! Marilyn is very underrated, in my humble opinion!
Ooh…., I love opals! Cool birthstone! I like that Marilyn quote too. And good song choices. That Pink Floyd song is another favorite, but yeah, the imagery in Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds is hard to beat.
If you want to continue the link up, I’d be happy to create the code for you in the future.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Oh, Michelle, you are a diamond for sure! I’ll email you re: the code. Pink Floyd is often playing here at the house. You just can’t beat them for orchestration! Well, you can, but they’re pretty terrific! I do wish Marilyn had been seen for the businesswoman she was…and not the dumb blonde she often portrayed…and, to be fair, played up! She’s another one of those gone too soon, misunderstood artists.
I have my grandmother’s diamond engagement ring, and haven’t figured out what I want to do with it…
My oldest sister got a diamond solitaire from Mom. She can’t figure out what to do with it, either. If there are several diamonds, could you have it reset as a pendant? That’s what my mom did with her engagement ring. I would, perhaps, wear it on a chain as a necklace. Part of what I would do would also be determined by the setting…if it’s that gorgeous antique filigree…I would have it resized and wear it on my middle finger on my right hand. Just some ideas!
Thanks, Michele, for coming by!
Very fun reading your answers!
Thanks, Lauren! I’m glad you came by!
Loved reading all your response! My birthstone is emerald and my mom’s is opal. I also adore opals and have one of her rings. Love sentimental jewelry!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
My older sister’s birthstone is the emerald. They are gorgeous stones, aren’t they? I have so many pieces of jewelry…I really need to make a list and decide who gets what!
Thanks for coming by!
I got a new ring in December using the diamond from my engagement ring and I love it. My wedding band and ring had gotten too tight and I had to go to the firestation to get them cut off. Like you though I would rather spend money on a great experience vs a large diamond. But a new van would be fantastic lol!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I do love cars, but they don’t make Saabs anymore! I would love to see your new ring, Mireille! I love looking at rings!
Sorry to hear about Leslie…here is my post. https://www.notinjersey.com/2022/04/10-qas-about-diamonds.html
Thanks for sharing your link! I hopped over to your blog and commented there!
I finally wrote my post today so it will be live tomorrow- better late than never! We answered one question the same. This one was such fun! A link up would be great
I think I have the solution for the link up. I love reading everyone’s answers. They’re all so varied! I think “Some Like It Hot” has to be one of the best films ever made. I can watch it over and over again…I can’t say that for many movies!
I adore opals! I find them to be quite mysterious if that’s makes any sense?! But diamonds are very special too, aren’t they?
As for you preferring to have experiences, I love it that you want to come back over to Europe to take a trip to Scotland, Wales and Ireland! I have done all of the trips (by car) and I desperately want to return to each country! There is something about the British Isles, isn’t there? I know I am British, but I’ve lived in Portugal since I was 10 years old so I do miss it sometimes!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
OK, you’ve probably told the story before, but I’m wondering how you got to Portugal. And, I really do hope to make it back to the UK as well as Europe some day. Nigel will complain the whole way, I know!!! I love opals…and, I totally get the mystery thing. Actually, I’m trying to think if there’s a gem I don’t like!
Thanks, Suzy!