Diamond, stone of the month of April

Diamond is the the hardest and the most precious stone in the world. It also has remarkable optical characteristics. Most natural diamonds are clear and colorless, some could be yellow, brown, green, blue, purple and even pink to a degree - depending on the impurities present in the stone.

The word "diamond" comes from the ancient Greek αδάμας – adámas "unbreakable".

Raw diamonds are converted into sparkling gems through a multi-step process called "cutting". This is a multi-stage process where the final goal is to produce facets with specific angles between them which would give luster to the jewel.


Diamond is a symbol of strength, courage, and purity. Since the ancient times diamonds were used as religious and occult objects. This gem was believed share its qualities with its owner and to protect him. It was also believed that wearing a diamond protected the owner from black magic and would drive away the bad spirits. If someone would try to place a curse on a person wearing a diamond, it would backfire placing the curse onto the person casting the spell. No wild animal would dare to attack a person wearing a diamond. It was also believed that this stone had medicinal qualities: could improve hearing, cure fever, pneumonia, bronchitis, hepatitis and so on.



Diamond is the hardest natural material known and this quality has been known since antiquity. The hardness of diamond contributes to its sustainability as a gemstone. Since it can only be scratched by another diamond, it does not lose its luster as easily as other gemstones.


Оnly about 20% of diamonds mined annually are gem-grade based on their clarity and absence of inclusions. The rest are the industrial-grade diamonds that are used in cutting and grinding tools and as semi-conductors.

Story by Irene (Beautyland)
Translated by Alla (Fleeting Stillness)

St. Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world on March 17th. It is a religious holiday that evolved into a secular celebration of Ireland's culture. The holiday is named after Saint Patrick who is the most widely known patron saint of Ireland.

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The person who has later canonized as St Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. He remained captive for about 6 years until he had a dream in which he was told by God to flee and return to Britain. The dream came true and he returned to Britain and studied to be a priest.

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In 432 St Patrick returned to Ireland as a bishop and proceeded to convert Irish to Christianity. He used the shamrock, a three- leaf clover, to explain the concept of Trinity to the Irish.

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Saint Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903. And in the mid-1990s the Irish government began a campaign to use Saint Patrick's Day to showcase Ireland and its culture. Wearing green and displaying images of shamrock have become a tradition for Saint Patrick's Day all over the world.

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Story by Alla (FleetingStillness)

Bridal Shower and Wedding Party Gifts

The tradition of a bridal shower is believed to date back to a time when it was expected for a bride to bring a dowry with her into her marriage. The dowry was meant to give the married couple a start in life by giving them a little financial help. The times have changed, but to this day it is customary for female friends and relatives to throw a bridal shower party for the bride and give her gifts to help her move to the next level.

Bridal shower gifts are supposed to be thoughtful and practical. Items to be used in the new household, such as silverware, dishes or a bedspread would make a wonderful gift. If you are more adventurous, you can give the bride a very avant-garde moss garden:

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On the other hand, the gifts can be fun, romantic, or even for use during their honeymoon. A soft feminine wrap or a scarf, a nice evening purse will make the bride happy, just as they would make happy any woman at any point in her life. A set of organic body butters or massage oils could also go a long way.

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Another gift-giving tradition associated with weddings is for bride and groom to give gifts to the members of their wedding party. These gifts are a way of thanking bridesmaids and groomsmen for all their time and effort, and making sure they feel loved and appreciated. Usually, all bridesmaids get the same or similar gifts, and so do the groomsmen.

While giving a piece of jewelry or a monogrammed item is on the more traditional side of gifts for bridesmaids, there are a lot of other things that can be given. If bridesmaids love art, a framed art piece could be a great gift for each of them. A fun beaded necklace that can be worn in multiple ways would be a wonderful gift too. Candle holders are always popular, especially those with a more modern spin on the traditional idea.

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Traditional groomsmen gifts offer a touch of class: monogrammed scarves, watches, flasks, cufflinks and money clips. While most men now don’t wear shirts with cufflinks, keep a flask in their pocket and prefer a credit card to cash, the timeless significance of these gifts is what makes them special. A modern groomsman gift generally reflects the taste of the man receiving it. So, a necklace with a silver coin for a pendant would be a good money clip substitute, and a bracelet could be given in place of a watch.

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Story by Alla (FleetingStillness)

Winter Weddings

Your winter wedding will be so special! Nature itself is wearing white at this time of year so there will not be a wrong color choice while taking photos outdoors! Any color wedding dress will look gorgeous on white background!

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Take lots of photos. This is your day and these are the memories which will be cherished by your family forever. Your happiness will shine through and you will be the most beautiful bride this day!

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Please check our selection of lovely things which will help make your day even more special!

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Text by Tanya (SocksAndMittens)
Collages by Irina (IrinaPhotography)