Charming Charm Bracelets

When I was sweet sixteen, XX years ago, the most fashionable jewelry to have, the first "real" jewelry, was a 14 karat gold charm bracelet. My parents gave me the gold link bracelet and my first charm, a gold "16? surrounded with pearls. Grandma gave me a January calendar page charm with a tiny garnet for the number 7. Aunt Ruth gave me a golden ballerina. That was the start of the charm bracelet that one of my grown daughters now wears.

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For every birthday after that, a new charm was added. Mom had a charm bracelet, Grandma had one too, so now all three of my daughters have a family heirloom to wear.

GARNET HILL

Charms have been worn for millenia -- from the time of ancient Egypt, they have been worn as amulets, good luck charms, and, in modern times, as mementos of life's experiences and passages.

Charms come in every design the human imagination can create. Collectors search for charms relating to their passion, hobbies or experiences.

In the 1960s there were charms featuring the Beatles. Some had photos of TV and movie stars.

Charms could be personalized, with names, dates, occasions, and sentimental sayings. Souvenirs of vacation travel, tennis racquets and softballs, baby shoes and hearts - whatever the theme, there was always at least one charm to represent it.

Whether for fashion, sentiment, romance, or just for fun, charm bracelets jingled and jangled their way into popular culture.

And then they didn't. After the 1960s charm bracelets fell out of fashion, and were relegated to the bottom of the jewelry box. In gold, or silver, they were too valuable to be discarded, but they were no longer fashionable, and nobody wore them.

Fast forward to recent years. Here came the old charm bracelets from Mom's or Grandma's jewelry box, and charm bracelets were hot once again. Wearing a piece of family nostalgia, or creating your own personal charm story is the "new" style of self expression.

Your gold or silver charms should receive tender loving care. Keep silver bracelets in a tarnish-proof flannel cloth bag. Never spray perfume or hair spray near a charm bracelet, and be particularly careful if there are pearls, enamel or gemstones. Valuable charm bracelets should be photographed, insured, and kept in safes or safe deposit boxes.

Check the clasp and safety chain on the bracelet, and be sure the loops of the bracelet and the loops holding the charms are secure.

Above all, enjoy your charm bracelet. Add charms to it whenever you find a meaningful one, and have fun with it. If you're lucky enough to have one that was your mother's or grandmother's, wear it and pass it along to your own daughter, as I did. She treasures it and wears it often.

Charming Charm Bracelets

GARNET HILL

Mineral Collecting in Maine (Hedge Hog Hill Quarry)

Before making a trip to this quarry you had better make sure you have a sturdy vehicle. Anything without four wheel drive is going to have a tough time making it up there. I would also make sure you have a spare tire with you along with the means to change a tire. A cell phone is highly recommended as well. You can always drive in until the road gets difficult, park on the side and then walk up. There is an open area, what looks like a gravel pit that is a good area to park. This mine can be difficult to locate for some, because it is over grown and you can tell few people make collecting trips to this location. That is a good thing, because it means that the area has not been picked clean. The Hedge Hog Hill Quarry is located in Peru Maine in the County of Oxford. Few minerals have been found here, in my mind it is a simple granite pegmatite, but it is still worth the trip. For one thing the view from up there is worth the trip alone. The fact that few people seem to come here is another draw. This is because you do have to drive a ways on a dirt road through the woods to reach the mine.

garnet pendant

Minerals observed here are albite, almandine garnet, beryl, biotite, chrysoberyl, fluorapatite, microcline, muscovite, quartz, and schroll. That is it, and I only found garnet, biotite, muscovite, and quartz on my trip. So, just because all of those other minerals were listed, do not count on finding them. The jackpot at this location are the almandine garnets. Some very large almandine garnets can be found here. The open mine face is chock full of them, but don't count on getting these out. It can be done, but it takes a lot of work and you better ware a pair of goggles. Not to mention you can go through all of that effort only to end up damaging the sample you are after. I did not see any garnets worth that kind of effort all though it is said that some very gem quality samples have been found in pockets of quarts. I found one such garnet sample at another mine location of the grossalur garnet variety. This garnet was roughly the size of a golf ball and was gem quality. I hammered around that thing for an hour without so much as making a dent. The crystal was resting in a pocket of quartz. I left it there with a tear in my eye. The almandine crystals at the Hedge Hog Quarry are quite large. I would recommend digging through the talise piles. I can almost guarantee you find one of these large garnets. Simply because very few people have dug through these piles. This fact becomes obvious when you first arrive at the mine. In fact, I would almost bet the only signs of digging you will find are from my trip there over five years ago. I only spent four hours here, but I left there with some great samples. My best was a perfectly formed and whole almandine garnet crystal, about the size of a golf ball. I figured I was not going to do much better than that, and so I left. I plan on going back and spending some more time at this site. Maybe take a tent with me and make a week end of it.

GARNET

Driving directions are as follows:

From four way intersection on route 108 in West Peru, drive 3.05 miles south on Dickvale road. Turn left onto mineral springs road and continue 0.95 mile to intersection. Turn right onto Paradis road (gravel) and drive 1.05 miles to abandoned cabin on left. Park here. Walk on main road from here about 150 ft to quarry road on the right. Follow this woods road 270 feet to fork, keep left at fork. Continue 675 feet to next fork, keep right. Walk 390 feet to stone wall. Follow road through opening in wall and go another 150 feet to end of obvious road. Continue straight ahead on steep down grade following trail for 360 feet to the quarry. (Maine Mineral Localities 3rd EDT. by W.B Thompson, D.L. Joyner, R.G. Woodman, V.T. King)

These directions make it sound very difficult to find, but it really is not simply because there is nothing else up here. Make sure you stay on the right trail when the road forks and you will have no trouble finding the mine. I drove past the cabin and followed the directions until I reached the gravel pit area. I parked here, but don't try to make it unless you have four wheel drive. From here it is a short walk up a steep dirt road to the quarry. It is essentially the top of a small mountain where the mine is. One side has been mined. The talice pile is located off to the side and down below. I should not call the area I parked a gravel pit. It really is just a wide open area that looks like a natural dirt parking lot. I assumed it was a gravel pit, because it was the only reason I could come up with for it being there. Perhaps it is what remains from when the mine was open and in operation. It would be a good idea to bring sub block and bug spray with you. I can not emphasize the bug spray enough. This is a wooded area and black flies and mosquitos are thick here. It is also a good idea to bring a screen for sifting. Especially when the main goal is finding garnet crystals scattered through out the talise piles. You can also bring a chisel and a hammer although they are not necessary. A small shovel would be more useful. I highly recommend making this trip. The garnet samples are worth it, and you never know. You may get lucky and find some of the rarer minerals that have been found here.

Mineral Collecting in Maine (Hedge Hog Hill Quarry)

GARNET

Birthstone Jewelry - A Perfect Gift

Picking out jewelry for someone special doesn't have to be an arduous task. If the decision seems too great, know that you can always turn to birthstone jewelry for the perfect, well-thought out gift. Choosing a piece of jewelry with that special someone's birthstone makes the gift that much more personal. And, while there are the traditional stones associated with each month, you don't necessarily have to go with the person's birth month. Instead, choose a stone of the month of your anniversary, or another extraordinary moment like the birth of your first child. A gift of this caliber is always sure to please.

garnet pendant

Let's start with January and February. The birthstone for January is garnet. This is typically a beautiful deep red stone but, it possible to find garnet in shades of green, yellow and orange as well. Garnet is the perfect choice for a January stone because the color red represents strength, energy and new life. The birthstone for February is amethyst. Compared to the fiery boldness of the garnet, amethyst is a much more calming gemstone. Its rich purple color varies from a very light purple to deep, dark shades of plum. Also quite fittingly, amethyst represents February well as it symbolizes healing, wisdom and spirituality.

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March's birthstone is the tranquil aquamarine. This is a beautiful stone ranging in color from light blue to blue to blue-green and resembles tropical blue waters. The word "aqua" in aquamarine literally means water and symbolizes youth, tranquility and confidence. Aquamarine is very readily available and therefore, affordable. When shopping for this stone however, don't mistake a blue topaz for an aquamarine as can look quite similar. The birthstone for the month of April is the diamond. In quite a sharp contrast to the aquamarine, this stone can often break the budget. It is possible to find a beautiful, clear looking diamond without spending a fortune and to the naked eye, it will look flawless. Diamonds are associated most times with weddings and engagements and represent purity, freshness and humility. It is often considered the ultimate in gemstones as white literally contains and reflects every color of the rainbow.

The month of May brings us to the regal Emerald. This stunning green stone can be very attractive to the eye and looks good in just about any sort of cut. This gemstone is both very beautiful and very rare. Again, this is the perfect stone for the month of May as the green represents fertility, growth and prosperity - just right to welcome spring. June's birthstone is the pearl. This is a beautiful, versatile stone available in many different settings. What's great about the pearl is the fact that you can find it in just about any color imaginable. Much like the diamond, the pearl represents purity and innocence and is another popular stone for wedding jewelry.

Now that we are into the summer time, July brings us back to bold, fiery color with the Ruby. This is another stunning red or pink stone that is well known in the jewelry world. The ruby is a fantastic stone because of the immense range of colors in which it exists. The ruby symbolizes love, compassion, energy and excitement. Keeping up with the brilliant colors comes August with its birthstone of peridot. This is a lesser known stone as it often times takes a backseat to the emerald. The peridot however, is a gorgeously understated gemstone with a fabulous yellow-green color that fits in perfectly with nature.

September brings us back to another brilliant blue stone - the sapphire. The sapphire comes in many shades of blue and is the most sought after blue gemstone. Because of the wide variety of color, it should be easy to find just the perfect one when out shopping. The blue sapphire represents harmony, stability and loyalty. Even if this isn't the birth month of your special someone, if you present them a sapphire with a note of how it represents your relationship, you have a sure-fire hit. The birthstone for October is the opal. This is a very unique stone as it comes in a multitude of colors. Similar to that of a pearl, many opals have an iridescent quality to them that flashes brilliant colors when the light hits it from different angles. Opals can be found in pretty much every color to yellow, orange, red, blue, green, brown and black and are very valuable.

The birthstone for November is the yellow topaz. This is a very creamy colored stone with soft coloring. The yellow topaz is the most valuable of all the colors of topaz. This yellow stone represents optimism, happiness and intellect. This could be the perfect stone for someone who appreciates soft, understated beauty. The final month of December has the blue topaz as its birthstone. The blue topaz has a very light, clear color to the stone and reflects light beautifully. This blue stone represents patience, refreshment and peace, making it the perfect stone to signify the end of one year and the start of another.

Birthstone Jewelry - A Perfect Gift

GARNET

The Curse of Michael Jordan? The Post-Dynasty Bulls Just Can't Seem to Get it Right

With the exception of the pathetic Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls were the biggest disappointment in the NBA this season. Coming off a 49 win campaign and an opening round sweep of the defending champions (the aforementioned Heat), the Bulls were picked to be a contender for the Eastern Conference Championship this year. But along the way, something went horribly wrong. Management failed to acquire the low post scorer that the team desperately needed to elevate into elite status. Luol Deng and Ben Gordon each turned down lucrative contract extensions in the preseason ( million plus per year), then struggled with the added pressure of playing for a better contract all season. Ben Wallace proved to be one of the most damaging free agent acquisitions of the past decade. And, perhaps most inexplicably, Kirk Hinrich devolved into a below average point guard, as seen in his precipitous statistical decline (from 16.6 ppg, .448 FG%, .415 3pt%, 17.09 PER in 2006-07 to 12.2 ppg, .414 FG%, .335 3pt%, 13.18 PER in '07-08). For Bulls fans like myself, the breaking point came at the trading deadline a month ago, when, after years of speculation about acquiring superstars like Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, the Bulls ultimately traded for Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden. The team is in complete disarray, and they once again face a long offseason of rebuilding.

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Unfortunately, this pattern is very reflective of their recent history. Since Michael Jordan retired, the Bulls have been one of the least successful franchises in the sport, accumulating a .366 winning percentage, which averages out to 30 wins per season. Following is a year-by-year breakdown of their endless rebuilding efforts in the post-dynasty era:

GARNET HILL

1998-99

Record: 13-37 (strike shortened season)

Draft: Corey Benjamin (pick 28)

Key Contributors: Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper, Brent Barry

Commentary: Jerry Krause famously forced Phil Jackson out of Chicago, and hired the overmatched Tim Floyd as his replacement. However, even the Zen Master couldn't do anything with this group, which was saddled with the departures of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Luc Longley.

1999-00

Record: 17-65

Draft: Elton Brand (pick 1, co-rookie of the year), Ron Artest (pick 16)

Key Contributors: see draft

Transactions: Traded Toni Kukoc in three-team deal, acquiring a 1st round pick from Washington, along with John Starks and Bruce Bowen

Commentary: Rebuilding effort number 1. Jerry Krause famously decreed that Elton Brand would be his power forward for the next ten years after selecting him with the number one overall pick in a stacked draft. They also stole Ron Artest in the middle of the first round, and managed to get value in the Kukoc deal. They seemed to be on their way toward respectability, especially with Brand looking like a potential superstar in his first year.

2000-01

Record: 15-67

Draft: Marcus Fizer (pick 4), Jamal Crawford (pick 8), Dalibor Bagaric (pick 24), A.J. Guyton (pick 32), Jake Voskuhl (pick 33), Khalid El-Amin (pick 34)

Key Contributors: Elton Brand, Ron Mercer, Ron Artest, Brad Miller

Transactions: Signed Ron Mercer and Brad Miller to free-agent deals.

Commentary: This was, without a doubt, one of the most devastating offseasons in NBA history. First, the Bulls had enough cap room to sign one of the major free agents that year, with their first choice being Tim Duncan (who didn't give them the time of day), their second choice being Grant Hill (who again didn't really consider them, which was the only good thing to come out of this offseason), and their third, and most realistic target, being a young guard/forward named Tracy McGrady. The Bulls were so convinced that he would sign with them that they wrote the press release announcing his signing. Unfortunately, he wound up in Orlando, and the Bulls wasted their money on Ron Mercer. Then, their draft was a disgrace (see above), as they picked the wrong year to have 6 of the top 34 picks. They did make one savvy signing by picking up little known Brad Miller in free agency. Overall though, all the money and draft picks that they accumulated ultimately led to nothing, and convinced management that further rebuilding was necessary.

2001-02

Record: 21-61

Draft: Tyson Chandler (pick 2), Eddy Curry (pick 4), Trenton Hassell (pick 30), Sean Lampley (pick 45)

Key Contributors: Jalen Rose, Marcus Fizer, Jamal Crawford

Transactions: Traded Elton Brand to L.A. Clippers for the rights to Tyson Chandler. Signed Eddie Robinson to a free agent deal. Replaced coach Tim Floyd with Bill Cartwright. Traded Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Ron Mercer, and Kevin Ollie to Indiana for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norm Richardson, and a 2nd round pick.

Commentary: Rebuilding effort number 2. The Bulls completely reversed course and decided to build around two 18 year olds in Chandler and Curry. There will never be an adequate explanation for why they dealt Brand for an unproven teenager. The Bulls spun it by saying that Brand would not re-sign with them when his contract was up, but Brand later denied this claim. Also, in midseason, they made another terrible move, trading talented young players Artest and Miller for Jalen Rose. This was around the time that Bulls fans realized that Jerry Krause is completely clueless. The only hope for this franchise was drafting a superstar with their annual high lottery pick, and this dream appeared to come true in the next draft.

2002-03

Record: 30-52

Draft: Jay Williams (pick 2), Roger Mason Jr. (pick 31), Lonny Baxter (pick 44)

Key Contributors: Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall, Marcus Fizer, Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Jay Williams, Tyson Chandler

Transactions: Signed Donyell Marshall to a free agent deal. Jerry Krause announced his resignation and was replaced by John Paxson.

Commentary: The light at the end of the tunnel. Even though the results still weren't there (the team had a mind-boggling 3-38 road record), the Bulls had a decent amount of talent on their roster for the first time in five years. There were two key reasons for the newfound optimism among Bulls fans. One was the resignation of Krause, who lost the faith of the fan base by dealing away Brand, Artest, and Miller. The other was the arrival of Jay Williams, who had been compared to Isiah Thomas while at Duke. Williams had a difficult first season in Chicago, but his talent was undeniable. He was one of the most coveted draft picks in recent memory, and gave the Bulls their leader of the future. With Curry, Chandler and Williams (and to a lesser extent, Crawford and Fizer), the Bulls appeared to have one of the brightest futures among all NBA teams.

2003-04

Record: 23-59

Draft: Kirk Hinrich (pick 7), Mario Austin (pick 36), Tommy Smith (pick 53)

Key Contributors: Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Kirk Hinrich, Antonio Davis

Transactions: Signed Scottie Pippen to a free agent deal. Fired Bill Cartwright and named Scott Skiles Head Coach. Traded Lonny Baxter, Donyell Marshall, and Jalen Rose to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Antonio Davis, Chris Jefferies and Jerome Williams. Waived Jay Williams.

Commentary: Absolute disaster leads to the beginning of rebuilding effort number three. One week before the great draft of 2003, where they held the seventh pick, the Bulls learned that future centerpiece Jay Williams crashed his motorcycle into a street pole, severing a main nerve in his leg, fracturing his pelvis, and tearing three ligaments in his left knee. Needless to say, he hasn't played in the NBA since. This forced a drastic altering of their draft strategy, and also put an end to a rumored deal that had Williams going to the Denver Nuggets for the number three pick in the draft (which turned out to be Carmelo Anthony). Adding insult to injury, the Heat shocked everybody by selecting Dwyane Wade with the 5th pick, who most pundits thought would be available for Chicago at number 7. Instead, the Bulls selected their new point guard of the future in Kirk Hinrich, a steady, tough-minded player, whose skills simply cannot measure up to Wade's. Outside of Eddy Curry (who put up an impressive 17.9 ppg and 7.5 rpg), all of the young players seemed to regress, as injuries and poor play derailed Tyson Chandler and Marcus Fizer. All of this contributed to the firing of Bill Cartwright as Head Coach. Overall, this ranks as one of the two most depressing seasons of the post-dynasty era (along with the debacle of '07-08).

2004-05

Record: 47-35

Draft: Ben Gordon (pick 3, NBA 6th man of the year), Luol Deng (pick 7), Chris Duhon (pick 38)

Key Contributors: Kirk Hinrich, Eddy Curry, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Tyson Chandler, Andres Nocioni

Transactions: Acquired the rights to Luol Deng from Phoenix for a future conditional 1st round pick, the 31st pick in the 2nd round, and cash. Signed and traded Jamal Crawford, along with Jerome Williams, to the Knicks, for Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington, Frank Williams and Cezary Trybankski. Signed Argentinian forward Andres Nocioni. Traded Dikembe Mutombo to the Houston for Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks.

Commentary: The most thrilling season of the post-dynasty era started with one of the greatest offseasons in franchise history. Paxson had a franchise-changing draft, picking up two potential stars in Gordon and Deng, along with a contributor in the 2nd round (Duhon). The rookie class got even better with the signing of Nocioni, who earned the nickname "Red Bull" for his energetic style of play. Then, instead of overpaying free-agent Jamal Crawford, Paxson orchestrated a sign-and-trade that greatly improved the team's salary cap situation. The team seemed like it was up to its old tricks early in the season by losing their first nine games, but by January, they were one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference. Injuries to Deng and Curry at the end of the year thinned out the roster during their first playoff appearance since '98, leading to a four games to two loss to Washington in a thrilling series. However, even the disappointing finish couldn't put a damper on a fantastic season, as the Bulls appeared to be set at every position for the foreseeable future.

2005-06

Record: 41-41

Draft: no picks

Key Contributors: Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, Tyson Chandler

Transactions: Signed and traded Eddy Curry, along with Antonio Davis, to the Knicks for Tim Thomas, Mike Sweetney, a 2006 1st round pick, the right to switch draft picks with New York in 2007, and 2nd round picks in 2007 and 2009.

Commentary: A sad end to the Baby Bulls era. After Curry refused to take a team-mandated DNA test for the heart ailment that sidelined him at the end of '05, Paxson dealt him to New York for a slew of draft picks. They re-signed Chandler for million per season, and he proceeded to regress once again, averaging a paltry 5.3 ppg. Without their only low-post scorer, and with their best interior defender struggling to live up to his contract, the team stumbled, and lost six more games than the previous season. They again exited in the first round of the playoffs, and lost some of the momentum that they earned the year before. The team did, however, receive an unexpected gift from Larry Brown's Knicks, who went 23-59, earning the Bulls the 2nd pick in the upcoming draft, due to the stipulations of the Curry deal.

2006-07

Record: 49-33

Draft: Tyrus Thomas (pick 4), Thabo Sefolosha (pick 13)

Key Contributors: Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, Andres Nocioni, Chris Duhon

Transactions: Acquired the draft rights to No. 4 pick Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa from Portland in exchange for the draft rights to No. 2 pick LaMarcus Aldridge (Texas) and a future second-round pick. Signed Ben Wallace to a free agent deal. Acquired P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith from the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets in exchange for Tyson Chandler. Traded J.R. Smith to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Howard Eisley and two 2007 second-round draft picks from the Nuggets.

Commentary: Even though this team finally got past the first round of the playoffs, and won the most games in the post-dynasty era, I will always look at this as a year of missed opportunities. First, they decided to spend all of their cap room on free agent Ben Wallace, and dealt Tyson Chandler for ten cents on the dollar as a result (we'll call the trade of Chandler, along with Curry's trade from the previous year, rebuilding effort number 4). It's entirely possible that Chandler would have never fulfilled his potential in Chicago. It was equally possible, however, that Wallace was past his prime, which proved to be the case, and made this a disastrous exchange for the Bulls. Then, during the draft, they selected LaMarcus Aldridge, but then sent him to Portland in exchange for Tyrus Thomas. Two years later, Aldridge is averaging 17.7ppg and 7.3rpg, while the inconsistent Thomas is averaging 6.0ppg and 4.4rpg by comparison. During the season, the Bulls were successful, but with the 2nd seed in the playoffs on the line on the last day of the season, Chicago lost to New Jersey and fell down to 5th in the conference. Cleveland, who earned the 2nd seed instead, went on to the NBA Finals, while the Bulls were eliminated by Detroit in the 2nd round. Once again, the Bulls were aided by the Knicks' troubles, and gained the 9th pick in the upcoming draft as a result of the Curry trade.

2007-08

Record: 33-49

Draft: Joakim Noah (pick 9), Aaron Gray (pick 49), JamesOn Curry (pick 51)

Key Contributors: Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah

Transactions: Fired Scott Skiles and named Jim Boylan interim Head Coach. In a three-team deal, Chicago traded Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and a 2009 2nd round pick to Cleveland, and Adrian Griffin to Seattle, and received Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Cedric Simmons, and Shannon Brown.

Commentary: At least they realized that they had to end the Ben Wallace era, and give Joakim Noah more playing time. Other than that, this was a shockingly awful season.

As seen above, every time this franchise has taken a step forward in the past ten years, they somehow follow it up with two steps back. Bulls fans like myself deserve no pity, as we've already experienced a lifetime of memories from the Jordan era. Unfortunately, we won't be adding to those memories anytime soon, as rebuilding effort number 5 looms in the offseason ahead.

The Curse of Michael Jordan? The Post-Dynasty Bulls Just Can't Seem to Get it Right

GARNET HILL

5 Tips for Saving a Broken Relationship

Relationships can be so complicated. And when relationships are broken, they can be so devastating. The reason is that God made us to be in relationships with each other. And we come to depend on those relationships more than anything else. When a relationship comes to an end it makes us feel incomplete and unattached. Our whole lives seem broken and out of control. It you are interested in saving a broken relationship, then here are a few guidelines to follow.

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Number One

GARNET HILL

Never make the other person think that you are ending the relationship. Many people will do this to try to scare the other person into doing what they want them to do. This kind of tactic will only lead to the other person feeling that you will leave them on their own and it makes them feel insecure. Don't do or say anything to make the other person feel that you are about to end the relationship.

Number Two

Always keep the lines of communication open. This is very important. It just might be the most important thing of all. As long as there is communication between the two of you, there is hope. As long as you are talking to each other you can find a way to heal your relationship. When you continue to communicate you are letting the other person know that you respect them and their feelings and are willing to work things out. By continuing to talk to each other you are showing that you care about each other.

Number Three

Understand that relationships take work. Great relationships don't just happen. You have to work at it. The people you know who have great relationships are the ones who have really worked at it. There is no such thing as a relationship without problems. All relationships have bumps along the way but the really great ones are the ones where two people have decided that their love for each other is greater than their differences. Saving a broken relationship can take some work but it is absolutely possible to do it.

Number Four

The other person has a right to feel the way they do. Just because you don't see things the same as the other person doesn't mean that their feelings are not justified. If they feel hurt, there is a reason for that. Maybe the thing that is causing them to feel hurt wouldn't have caused you to be hurt, but that doesn't mean that they should not feel hurt about it. They are not the same as you and that is a good thing. We are all different and we all see things differently.

Number Five

Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill. In other words, don't blow things out of proportion. Don't put too much emphasis on the little things. You will never agree totally on everything. If you are concerned about saving a broken relationship, then focus on the things that really matter, the positive things in your relationship. When you look at all the great things you have together, then the little things lose their importance.

5 Tips for Saving a Broken Relationship

GARNET HILL

How Can I Lower Cholesterol Through Medications

Are you one of those individuals who are looking for ways on how to lower cholesterol? Probably the first option that you may consider looking at is taking medications. There are various types of drugs which aim to lowering the body's levels of cholesterol. Here are a few types for you to look into.

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Statins - these are one of the most popular options when it comes to treating this kind of health issue. Statins block the substance that your liver needs to produce cholesterol. So as this type of drug is being introduced in the system, the liver will then have such cholesterol levels decreased. It is also known that Statins do have the ability to reverse coronary artery disease through helping the body to re-absorb cholesterol which started building up through certain deposits present in the artery walls.

GARNET

Bile-acid Binding Resins - this is another type of drug to lower cholesterol. Our liver actually needs to produce these bile acids as well as it is needed for good digestion. Cholestyramine is a type of medication in the same class and is sold as Prevalite and Questran. On the other hand, Colesevenlam which are of the same type of drugs are sold as Welchol and Cholestipol. More often these drugs are sold in pharmacies under the brand name of Colestid.

This particular type of drugs functions indirectly in lowering blood cholesterol through binding these bile acids and then prompting the liver to make use of extra cholesterol to produce more of these acids. This process then allows the decrease of cholesterol present in the blood.

Ezetimibe - this is another drug which is more known under its brand name Zetia. These actually help in decreasing blood cholesterol by limiting the amount of dietary cholesterol the body absorbs. This particular type of medication can be used with any particular type of Statin drugs. Ezetimebe and Simvastatin which is also known as Vytorin when combined aids in reducing both the absorption of dietary cholesterol in the small intestines and at the same time also decreases the production of cholesterol from the liver.

Just in case you want to get more knowledge on how to lower cholesterol, it is essential for you to consult your doctor regarding the combination of medications that will work for you to successfully alleviate your cholesterol health related issues. It is best to consult your doctor first before taking in these drugs into your system.

How Can I Lower Cholesterol Through Medications

GARNET

Semi-Precious Stones - What You Need to Know

A semi-precious stone is just another word for a gemstone. These gems, like opal or quartz, are cut and polished to make jewelry. While semi-precious stone can mean any gemstone, right up to diamonds and emeralds, the term typically refers to gemstones like scapilite, peridot or quartz topaz that tend to have a lower value, though still exhibit brilliant beauty. In this article, we'll cover some basic semi-precious stones, including how to recognize them.

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Amber: Amber is not technically a stone; it's an organic gem derived from fossilized tree sap. Amber ranges in color from a honey yellow to an almost chocolaty orange-brown. While amber is often faked using high-quality plastic, it can be easily tested with intense heat. True amber will produce a white smoke, while plastic will simply smolder or melt.

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Amethyst: Very popular thanks to its tranquil purple tones, this quartz-based stone is very versatile and durable. Amethyst is typically mined in Russia, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, Canada, India, Australia, Madagascar, Namibia, Sri Lanka, the United States, Uruguay and Zambia. Fine amethysts are also produced using synthetic lab-based methods.

Peridot: As the birthstone for August, this beautiful and transparent stone comes in a range of colors from a yellowish green to a deep chartreuse shade. The remarkable Peridot was originally believed to free the mind from jealous thoughts and was seen as an aid to friendship. Though not exceptionally brilliant, the Peridot stone is prized for its rich color. Today, Peridot is mined in Arizona, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Russia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Garnet: Depending on the type of garnet, its quality, color and size, a garnet can range anywhere from a carat to over 00 per carat. These remarkable stones are found in all colors and shades, but are best known for their deep, blood red variety. Today, the rare green garnet (tsavorite) is mined in Kenya and Tanzania, while orange and red garnet can be found in Madagascar, Namibia and Pakistan.

Lapis Lazuli: Lapis is the birthstone for December and was traditionally prized as a powerful amulet. Genuine lapis is an opaque, blue stone that exhibits an intense, brilliant and very deep blue coloration. Some types of lapis exhibit small, gold flecks, but these varieties tend to be less valuable. The best lapis in the world come from Argentina and Afghanistan, but the unique stone can also be found in Chile, Russia, the United States and Canada.

Semi-Precious Stones - What You Need to Know

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