
When I first met Cynthia Wolff, back in 2005, it was to talk about my engagement ring. I explained to her exactly what I wanted and on my 30th birthday, in the middle of the Hokey Pokey {we rented out a roller rink}, my husband got down on one knee and proposed with it. Even though I had helped in designing it, I hadn’t a clue what the finished ring looked like and was surprised and overwhelmed and teary-eyed when my husband presented it to me in its little red box.
But let’s rewind for a moment… back to that first meeting with Cynthia who sat me down at her dining room table and proceeded to bring out velvet lined tray after velvet lined tray, each sparkling with rows of pave diamonds, gorgeous vintage jewelry, semi-precious and precious rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings… anything and everything you could possibly imagine, all at my fingertips. I was a kid in a candy store… and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to take it ALL home with me. Because I did.
But there were a few pieces that stood out. Cynthia had about 8-10 bangles, in various shades of gold {white, rose, yellow} shaped liked tiny tree branches and set with randomly placed diamonds resembling knots in wood… and I fell in love. I wanted an armful of them. But when I heard they were over $3,000 each, I slowly just set them back down… but I’ve never forgotten them.
You wouldn’t know this about me because I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it BUT I have a thing for tree branches. In fact, I’ve been known to drag a 9foot fallen tree branch in from outside, and use it as decor. I’ve also been known to drag a 5foot tree branch in after a windy night and glue fake flowers all over it so it resembled a Cherry Blossom Tree {which I totally would have DIY’d had I been blogging at the time}. Both of which were placed in or around or as a pseudo canopy to a stairwell. I’m not sure what it is about branches and stairwells, but if we had stairs in our current house, I’m betting there’d be a huge branch suspended above them.
I’ll get to the point… Cynthia may or may not have been having a little sale recently of said bracelets and I was the lucky receiver of two of them for Valentine’s Day. One in rose gold and one in yellow and to give you a little history, they were cast from actual tree branches, which I just adore, and set with rare diamonds from the Argyle mines of Australia.
Yes, he spoils me rotten, what can I say? But I’d love him even if he didn’t.

Here are just a few of my Valentine’s Day Instagram shots.
The husband brought home some of the most delicious cupcakes home from Velvet Cupcakes… oh god are they good. And we promptly placed them in my domed cake stand to freshen them up. I don’t know what it is about that thing, but it actually makes food FRESHER! I usually refer to it as The Moistmaker… Friends {anyone?}.

The shot below is from the cupcakery window… and from last month.
And how funny is this cookie {below}? If you sent it back in time, even just 15 years, no one would have any idea what it meant. Oh technology… and baked goods.

Neris / Fashion Fractions
your husband is the sweetest 🙂 love the bracelets and i bet those cupcakes were delicious 🙂
xxx,
Fashion Fractions
sepatuholic
you lucky girl!!! those are beautiful bracelets, and the cupcakes looks yummie too….
http://sepatuholig.blogspot.com/
Aline Kaehler
The Moistmaker…. instantly reminds me of the Friends episode and made me smile. Thanks for that. 🙂
On another note…. gorgeous bracelets!
Natasa
Amazing bracelets !:) Also, I love those cupcakes !:)
Maria
You are hilarious! The moistmaker, hahaha!
Cute bracelets and yummy cupcakes. Looks like your Vday was great! 🙂
meghan hochgesang
those are ABSOLUTELY stunning. congrats on finding such a loving and generous husband.
i don’t mean for this to sound weird, so i’m being very careful with my phrasing. but either i’ve missed it or you’ve never mentioned how old you were when you were engaged. i’m 28, will be 29 in may and have been dating my boyfriend for 2.5 years. we talk about marriage all.the.time, have even been ring shopping but still…no ring. it seems like everyone around me is either engaged or married and we talk about wanting to be young parents (should we be lucky enough to have kids) so i get frustrated with every birthday that ticks by and my finger is still naked. my point….reading that you were 30 when you get engaged somehow made me feel at peace with where i am. i/we are still very young and there’s not reason to be.married.right.now. at least that’s what i’ll keep telling myself. 🙂
Gawgus things...
I can see why you fell in love with these – so unusual. Lucky girl 🙂
Emma xx
Carla
I believe she got married in 2006. 🙂
Real Girl Glam
Those bracelets are gorgeous! I’m a big fan of unique pieces of jewelry and this are so pretty and delicate. The hubby did good!
BmoreLoveLeigh
Wow, those are stunning! So unique and gorgeous. You deserve it 🙂
Schnelle
Those bracelets are beautiful and so unique, what a great husband you have! The cupcakes look delish. My glass domed cake stand keeps my cakes/cupcakes extra fresh too, I guess it just holds the moisture in really well.
House of Avandan
Love those bracelets!
http://www.houseofavandan.com
Becky Lynn
Moistmaker!!! Lol Anyway.. those bracelets are GORGEOUS! I’m jeals.
joa
What was your present for the hubby???….i mean he deserves something goood
jenn~the stylish housewife
LOVE those bracelets. i have a twig necklace (from another designer). i will of course now think of you whenever i wear it. LOL
xoxo, jenn
the stylish housewife
Gareen
Umm, best husband of the year award! What a sweet surprise. Lucky girl, you!
xoxo,
La Petite Gigi
H*
Beautiful brazalets!
Francis
Those are gorgeous!
Katya
lovely pictures♥
Aline
they are absolutely beautiful, what a great hubby!!!
rroosh
The bracelets are so fabulous! and those cupcakes look so yummy <3
Blanca Serrano
Love the bracelets. Looks like your hubby got some brownie points…or more like cupcake 🙂 yummy
Anonymous
I, too love branches…..in fact, just yesterday I found two branches which I brought home. And this morning, I dragged home a larger one. (I just might spray them either white or silver.) I thought: “What a coincidence!” when I just read your blog! p.s. Love your new bracelets! Your hubby is a dream……you, too! Glad you had a beautiful Valentine’s Day, deservingly so.
Me
“You-you-you-you threw my sandwich away? MY SANDWICH?!? MY SANDWICH!!”
I think it’s great that he spoils you!
Mawiyah
I love husbands who give meaningful gifts :)What did you get him???
Those bracelets are darling! The cupcakes look dangerous -LOL
Anonymous
Diamond is a very Precious Value .
Scrubsandbeyond Coupons
Diamond Engagement Rings
Love the first three lines !!
Those cupcakes seem to be delicious.. can i get a bite!! 😀