show your love of family...with melvin jewelry

Most moms would agree...when you've got kids, you want to flaunt them. The famous multi-colored Aaron Basha baby shoe charm collection and the designer discs displayed on chains with each child's initial, are just a few of the "Mommy" status symbols you see around women's necks and wrists at the local playground or on the mat next to you at Gymboree.

While I love the concept, I always found myself looking for something different to display my affection for my mini me's.

So I was thrilled when I walked into the Ora showroom, set in the heart of NYC's fashion district, and found the Melvin jewelry collection, a variety of eclectic bracelets, cuffs, earrings, necklaces and rings with definite tribal and exotic influences.

Amidst these amazing works, I fell in love with the Charm Necklaces and Bracelets in the Out of Africa collection, designed to really get their messages across. Inspirational words like "bravery", "good fortune," and "health" were inscribed on the back of the crystal studded charms to interpret the symbols featured on the front. These symbols are used to tell the stories within African Mudcloth.

My favorites were the "Love of Family" charms, available on stacked gold or silver chains, which echoed my sentiments exactly, and even boasted four crystals which could easily represent the four members of my family--myself, my husband, my son and my daughter. I would be proud to wear them anywhere.

For more info about the Out of Africa collection or to shop for Melvin Jewelry, go to www.shopmelvin.com.

chic treats: you gotta love lester's

Growing up in Brooklyn, Lester's was a household name. Some of my friends shopped there for their everyday school clothes but for my me and my sisters, any special occasion--sweet sixteens, recitals, graduations--called for a trip to the famous designer shop. The dresses or outfits we purchased there would be treasured and rarely shared (unlike everything else we owned).

So when I heard Lester's opened up a store in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, I was so excited to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised to find there was a kids' store and an adult store too. The fashion emporium was filled with cool tees, chic jeans, edgy dresses and tons of accessories. (Love the Hunter Rubber Tote and the cutting edge shoe shop--I even picked up a beautiful pair of suede wedge sandals for myself while I was there).

But the kids' store is out of control. It was obvious that camp season is right around the corner. You'll find the hottest camp fashion, accessories and gear, plus lots of stuff your kids will love that you never imagined even existed. Load up their personalized duffle bags (shown here) with word bracelets, snap on watches, fashion bandaids, color war attire, and American and European swimsuits. You'll even get a $25 gift card when you spend more than $500 worth of camp essentials.

Make sure you save time to do more than just "drop by"--you'll want to spend some time at Lester's, where you uncover a different fashion find as you scour every corner of the store.

Over 60 years ago, Lester and Lillian Kronfeld established their first store; and Lester's remains a family-owned and operated business today. Stop by any of the stores--in Brooklyn, Greenvale, Huntington LI, Manhattan, New Jersey and Rye-- for personalized service, unmatched selection and a pleasurable shopping experience.

Go to www.lestersnyc.com for more info.