Archive for October, 2009

Practical Jewelry Box Buying Guide

How to find a cool jewelry box that fits your style or used as a great gift?



Jewelry boxes come in a variety of sizes and styles, all with the goal of storing, protecting, organizing, and displaying jewelry. Boxes made specifically for jewelry can be made wood, leather, metal, or various types of fabric. Some boxes are intended specifically for protecting and organizing your jewelry while you travel, while others are intended to compliment the decor or your home. Most jewelry boxes made with women in mind, but there are also jewelry boxes for men and jewelry boxes for children.

With so many choices how do you choose the right jewelry box? How do you select the best one? The key is the think about how much and what type of jewelry you have, how you want to use your jewelry box, and then set a budget.

Below are some popular types of jewelry boxes. Each one has its own unique appeal and is designed to keep your jewelry safe and secure. All you have to do is pick the one you like.

* Leather Jewelry Boxes





Boxes for men’s jewelry, often called “valets” are simpler than women’s versions. They’re typically wrapped in leather and may be a single layer tray with compartments or two layers with a lid. They’re designed to hold watches and cuff links.

These boxes make excellent gifts for the man who has everything.

* Wooden Jewelry Boxes



Wooden jewelry boxes are often the largest. Most contain several drawers and possibly one or two cabinets with glass or wood doors. They’re frequently constructed of oak or mahogany, but other woods such as teak or burl wood may be used. Women’s jewelry boxes can range from very small chests designed to tuck into a drawer to large bureaus on legs. Most boxes fall in the middle range and provide ample storage for earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. The drawers may slide out or lift out accordion style. Wooden boxes for jewelry are traditionally have a high gloss lacquer. Some are intricately carved or ornately painted while others are sleek and simple. Drawers are usually lined with velvet and may have necklace hooks or a mirror inside the lid.

Many women receive these boxes as gifts and treasure them for years. Wooden jewelry boxes become family heirlooms that are passed on through generations.

* Fabric Jewelry Boxes



Fabric jewelry boxes are becoming increasingly popular. Usually smaller than wooden boxes, they’re frequently lined with a combination of satin and velvet. They may have decorative beading on the outside and come in a wide range of colors so as to match the room’s decor. These boxes look lovely displayed on a dresser. Fabric boxes also tend to be more inexpensive jewelry boxes than those made of wood.

Fabric boxes are popular gifts for bridesmaids or younger women.

* Children’s Jewelry Boxes



Children have many uses for fine jewelry boxes. Baby necklaces, charm bracelets, and earrings can all be stored in a plush jewelry box. And just because the jewelry box is authentic doesn’t mean the jewelry has to be. Children can store replica and vintage jewelry for when they play dress up like Mom and Dad.

The solution to getting a cool jewelry box for a child is to know what the child likes. If she’s into music, a musical jewelry box will be a better choice over one that has a cartoon character theme. In any case, there are a number of cool jewelry boxes for children to choose from. It all comes down to what the child considers “cool”.

On the other hand, boxes for children’s jewelry are usually more about the box than its contents. They can be cardboard or wood wrapped in a licensed character’s image or fabric. Inexpensive jewelry boxes have a simple latch. When opened, they play a song for a twirling ballerina. Boxes suitable for an older child may be wrapped in brightly-colored leather or fabric. They’re often lined with satin rather than velvet and have one to three compartments and a mirror.

Cool jewelry boxes for children come in a variety of forms. Often they’re made of thinner wood and emblazoned with popular cartoon characters. Others are made of more luxurious woods yet have a simple design. Some even have music boxes built right in.

* Men’s Jewelry Boxes



Do you believe it? Jewelry boxes are not just for women. For men, there are valet boxes, pen boxes, and watch boxes. Dads who enjoy a smoke every now and then may want to invest in a finely crafted box. Such items can make great Father’s Day gifts and provide a suitable storage place for Dad’s treasured gifts or family heirlooms. However, these cool jewelry boxes aren’t always called jewelry boxes. In most cases they are referred to as valet boxes. Valet boxes are designed to hold men’s “everyday” items such as rings, loose change, wallets, keys, watches, etc. A valet box is a more luxurious way for men to keep their items in one place, rather than shoving everything in a dresser drawer or empty ashtray. Other types of cool jewelry boxes for men include watch boxes (designed to store and display your watch collection) and cigar boxes (which can be used to store cigars or as a keep-all for your pocket items). So as you can see, there are such things as cool jewelry boxes for men.

* Women’s Jewelry Boxes



For women, a jewelry box can be a lovely companion piece to an engagement ring or gold necklace. A velvet-lined jewelry box can be a great way store or show off your most precious valuables. Jewelry boxes can also be customized to suit taste or preferred functionality. They can be crafted to be thin or large, 3-drawer or 4-drawer, or with panels, in a variety of woods. Many boxes can be built in teak, cherry, maple, oak, walnut, or quilted maple.

Women have a number of different types of jewelry boxes to choose from. Jewelry boxes are often crafted in luxurious woods such as maple, oak, walnut, etc. A wood jewelry box gives your collection a solid foundation and protects your pieces from the elements. Some jewelry boxes even contain glass inlays and ornate carvings. Glass and even ceramic makes of jewelry boxes are also quite popular among women and provide their own grace and beauty. Some larger jewelry boxes have multiple swinging doors and compartments, and even finely carved legs. Many jewelry boxes are lockable to protect the precious jewels inside from theft or being lost. Women have many different styles to choose from when selecting a jewelry box. However, it’s very important to match your jewelry collection with a box that will display and protect your pieces appropriately.

Cool jewelry boxes are available for children, women, and even men. However, the jewelry box you select depends on the jewelry you have, what your jewelry storage needs are, and what “cool” factors are important to you in a jewelry box.

* Travel Jewelry Boxes



Travel boxes for jewelry need to be specially designed to ensure the jewelry will remain secure and organized. Popular styles include the small locking box with lined compartments and the fabric roll.

Travel boxes usually have compartments that touch the inside of the lid or slide out of the case. The compartments are divided into one large one for necklaces and two or more smaller ones for earrings, rings, and bracelets.

Jewelry rolls have several plastic zippered compartments of varying sizes. They’re then rolled up and fastened with a ribbon to keep it secure.

Both of these styles have advantages and disadvantages. The roll tucks easily into a suitcase but provides less protection while the box takes up more space but provides better protection for expensive pieces.



It’s known to us all, jewelry boxes are not meant to be disposable items. They are meant to be personal, gifts that can be treasured
for generations. That’s why it can mean so much to have your jewelry box engraved. Monogramming can be a great way to make a jewelry box your own. A tender message from a loved one can also increase the sentimental value of these wonderful items. So these jewelry boxes make wonderful gifts for family members and other loved ones. They also bring with them a rich, Old World heritage that can be passed from generation to generation. After all, your valuables deserved to be stored in jewelry boxes that are equal to the value they contain.

Last, I’d like to give you some useful terms when shopping for your jewelry box.

- Musical Jewelry Box

This type of jewelry box combines the musical component of your typical music box with the storage space of a jewelry box. Musical jewelry boxes function similar to music boxes – you lift the lid and the music starts. However, these types of jewelry boxes also contain drawers and storage space for jewelry.

- Travel Jewelry Case

Made for transport, travel jewelry cases are jewelry boxes designed to handle the bumps and dings of travel. These types of boxes are fashionable but serve a more protective purpose than display.

- Valet Jewelry Box

Valet boxes are jewelry boxes for men. These boxes serve as a keep-all for everyday items such as rings, keys, loose change, cell phone, etc. Valet boxes are designed specifically for men and are unlike your typical jewelry box.

- Watch Box

This type of box is intended specifically for watch storage. Watch boxes come in single and multiple watch capacity, and are available in many different sizes and styles. Asides from this, you may have noticed a specific type of watch box which also called ‘watch winder’, which rotates the watch in a circular pattern to keep the self-winding mechanism of automatic watches in motion. If left in rest, these types of watches often stop. A watch winder eliminates this problem.

- Jewelry Box Lining

The lining is the interior of a jewelry box. Jewelry box lining is often lush and consists of fine fabrics. The lining is designed to protect your jewelry but also present them in a fashionable way.

- Jewelry Trays

Jewelry trays are open trays with compartments for jewelry storage. Often these trays are stackable and lined with fabric for safe storage of your jewelry pieces.

I’d like to introduce and display an excellent selection of China jewelry boxes, on which you will view various jewelry boxes for different persons, and you might find exactly what you are looking for without further ado..

What Can You Study in the Area of Fitness?

National Qualification in Aqua Fitness

In our constant endeavour to improve and expand on the opportunities available to our graduates, and other qualified fitness instructors, NCEHS have developed this two day certification programme to meet demand from the health fitness industry for qualified and competent aqua fitness instructors. Aqua Fitness classes are rapidly becoming a part of the standard class offering being made to clients of fitness facilities with pools.

The science of exercise and sports nutrition is a rapidly expanding field with new career opportunities and exciting career pathways for Exercise and Fitness instructors and Personal Trainers.

The aim of this programme is for fitness instructors to develop a critical understanding of Aqua Fitness Training and to enable them to obtain the high standards required to teach Aqua Fitness safely and effectively to the general public following the National Standards & Guidelines as set down by NCEHS.

National Qualification in Pre and Post Natal Exercises

The National Qualification in Pre & Post Natal Exercise has been offered since 1996 and has been established to offer Pre & Post Natal clients safe, appropriate and effective exercise, more energy during pregnancy, reduced stress and anxiety, quicker recovery from birth, fewer complications in pregnancy, shorter labour time and increased self esteem.

The National Qualification in Pre and Post Natal Exercise has been approved by the NCEHS Educational Committee and is designed to assist fitness professionals who would like to work with pre and post natal clients. Opportunities exist for professional practitioners to establish and develop pre and post natal programmes within existing health club timetables.

The aim of this programme is for fitness instructors & personal trainers to develop the advanced skills and knowledge specific to pre and post natal exercise prescription.

National Qualification in Exercise and the Older Adult

In our constant endeavour to improve and expand on the opportunities available to our graduates, and other qualified fitness instructors, NCEHS have developed this one day certification programme to meet demand from the health fitness industry for qualified and competent fitness instructors who can specialise in the specific exercise requirements of the older adult.

The aim of the module is to provide the health fitness instructor with skills that will assist them to help older adults maintain and/or develop functional fitness and age “successfully”. In order to achieve this goal current program design protocols must be altered to better address the needs of the older adult. Suggestions and recommendations for exercise programs that can improve the older adults’ ability to efficiently accomplish activities of daily living are explored.

The National Qualification in Exercise and the Older Adult is a post-graduate Advanced Certification Programme (ACP) and has been established to meet the growing demand for this rapidly expanding area of our industry. The growth experienced in this area in recent years has been enormous and has led to a big demand for qualified instructors in fitness facilities around the country to meet the public appetite for such programmes.

National Qualification in Spin Cycling

The science of exercise and sports nutrition is a rapidly expanding field with new career opportunities and exciting career pathways for Exercise and Fitness instructors and Personal Trainers. They offer Ireland’s National Qualification in Spin Cycling which can be obtained by completing our one day Advanced Certification Programme.

The National Qualification in Spin Cycling is the only professional qualification offered for Spin Cycling in Ireland. NCEHS started offering this qualification in 1997 and Spin Cycling has become one of the most popular and successful fitness class to hit the exercise industry in years with almost every health club and fitness centre in Ireland now offering Spin Cycling classes to their clients. These classes have proved extremely popular.

The aim of this programme is for fitness instructors and personal trainers to develop a critical understanding of Spin Cycling and to enable them to teach what has become one of the most popular forms of exercise in gymnasiums and health clubs around the world.

National Qualification in Stability Ball Training

The Stability Ball has emerged in recent years as one of the fitness industry’s most versatile and widely used pieces of equipment. Bridging the gap between health and fitness, the Stability Ball offers cardio respiratory, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and balance training for the entire body.

The aim of this programme is for fitness instructors & personal trainers to develop the skills to enable the safe and effective use of the stability ball in providing a work-out that is challenging and fun for clients in both group exercise and one-to-one environments.

The National Qualification in Stability Ball Training is a post-graduate Advanced Certification Programme (ACP) and has been established to meet the growing demand for ball based exercise. The growth experienced in this area in recent years has been enormous and has led to a big demand for qualified ball based instructors in fitness facilities around the country to meet the public appetite for such programmes.

National Qualification in Step Aerobics

The science of exercise and sports nutrition is a rapidly expanding field with new career opportunities and exciting career pathways for Exercise and Fitness instructors and Personal Trainers. They offer Ireland’s National Qualification in Step Aerobics which can be obtained by completing our one day Advanced Certification Programme.

The National Qualification in Step Aerobics is presently the only professional qualification offered for Step Aerobics in Ireland. NCEHS has been offering this qualification since 1993 and the NCEHS National Qualification in Step Aerobics is the only such course in Ireland with both practical and written examinations. Step Aerobics has remained an exercise mainstay for many years and will be with us well into the future.

The aim of this programme is for fitness instructors and personal trainers to develop a critical understanding of Step Aerobics and to enable them to obtain the high standards required to teach Step Aerobics safely and effectively to the general public.

National Qualification in BOSU Balance Training

The BOSU (Both Sides Up) has emerged in recent years as one of the fitness industry’s most versatile and widely used pieces of equipment. Bridging the gap between health and fitness, the BOSU offers cardio respiratory, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and balance training for the entire body.

The aim of this programme is for fitness instructors &!personal trainers to develop the skills to enable the safe and effective use of the BOSU in providing a work-out that is challenging and fun for clients in both group exercise and one-to-one environments.

Pilates Workouts are for Every Body

The Pilates Method teaches a common-sense approach to efficient movement habits for whole-body health. Every Pilates exercise combines strength and flexibility with breathing and total body awareness. Learning to pay attention to what your body is doing and how it moves is a must for getting the most from your Pilates training program.

Developed as a system or movement regime, Pilates training provides a variety of choices both in exercises and specialized Pilates equipment to help reinforce good movement habits for an improved quality of life. With over five hundred exercises in the Pilates system, there are lots of exercises to choose from to keep you focused, motivated, and progressing towards your wellness goals.

Safe, Efficient, Injury-free Movement

Done well, the Pilates Method exercises help teach you how your body is put together and how to find and use all the right parts for safe, efficient, injury-free movement. Everything you learn about how to move your body during a Pilates training program can be practiced during other sport and fitness activities, and with time… these important new habits, acquired during Pilates workouts, will transfer into fitness for an improved quality of daily life.

Joseph Pilates believed that, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.”

A sound mind in a strong body gives us the tools necessary to live life to the fullest. If you’re looking for a fitness program that is fun, challenging, develops balance and control, provides total body conditioning, improves posture and breathing, helps reduce stress, and has a strong focus on a combination of core strength and flexibility — incorporate Pilates exercises and principles into your weekly workout routine.

Pilates really is for every Body!

Regardless of age or fitness level there is always an appropriate place to start when developing your Pilates workout program.

If you’re healthy, Pilates Matwork can be a great way to get your Pilates workout program started. There are over 50 different Pilates Matwork exercises. A basic Mat workout usually includes about fifteen to twenty exercises and, once you know what you’re doing, can be completed in as little as ten to fifteen minutes! This can be a quick stand-alone workout, or can be a great complement to an aerobic training program. An experienced Pilates student can complete an advanced Pilates Mat workout in thirty minutes to an hour.

You can find numerous books, Pilates Mat videos, DVD’s and Pilates MP3 workouts on the market that can be good resources to help remember the exercises, but many people are unaware that Matwork is only half of the Pilates system. For ideal results, your Pilates program should incorporate both Matwork and Pilates Equipment exercises into your workout program. And nothing compares to the benefits you can receive through the hands-on assistance of a qualified Pilates teacher.

We all have dominant and weaker muscles, and don’t always notice when we’re cheating. Regardless of your athletic background, when you are learning the Pilates exercises, the eagle-eye of a good instructor can assist you in really getting the most from your Pilates training program. Once you know what you’re doing, you should be self-sufficient and able to workout on your own with occasional sessions with a Pilates instructor to tweak your technique and progress your workout program.

Get Great Benefits from Your Pilates Workouts

If you want to make the most of your Pilates training experience, (or have any injuries or have had recent surgery,) private one-on-one Pilates training using the Pilates Reformer and other specialized Pilates equipment — Pilates Cadillac / Trapeze Table, the Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Pedi-pole, and Pilates Chairs, may be the very best option to develop a safe and effective exercise program. The Pilates equipment provides both more support, and more resistance, to assist you in learning how to strengthen and stretch the right muscles. Plus with hundreds of exercises to choose from, a personalized program can be developed to take your special needs and goals into consideration for a fun, rewarding workout experience that will help you get the results you’re looking for from your Pilates wellness program.

When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to start with a few one-on-one Pilates training sessions and let your Pilates teacher help guide you into a workout plan that’s best for you. Whether it’s on the Pilates equipment, Matwork, or both… a well-planned, whole-body Pilates workout should be completed in less than hour. Rather than being exhausted, you should feel more invigorated when you are finished. The goal: improved mind, body, and spirit, increased circulation and blood flow, reduced stress, improved energy and enhanced vitality to enjoy life!

Most Pilates students begin to see improvements after their first few sessions. For some changes are dramatic and happen very quickly. Others begin to notice subtle differences in how they breathe, sit, stand, and move. One of Joseph Pilates famous quotes is, “You’ll feel better after 10 sessions, look better after 20, and have a completely new body after 30 sessions.”

Happiness and Health Go Hand in Hand.

Looking for a Pilates Teacher? Here are Five Tips to finding a Pilates Teacher: www.CenterworksPilates.com/blog/find-a-pilates-teacher

A Pilates exercise program can be one of the best ways to keep your whole body healthy, and Pilates workouts are for every Body! If you haven’t experienced the benefits of Pilates do yourself a favor and find a qualified teacher, Pilates studio, or health club that offers Pilates training programs for both the Matwork exercises and Pilates equipment, and check it out. Learn what the Pilates Method can do for you! You’ll love the results.