Now for a bit of history about this great holiday. Did you know that Massachusetts Bay turned into a HUGE glass of iced tea one day in 1773?  Yup!  Partly as a joke, Samuel Adams and other Bostonians dressed up as Indians and dumped a cargo of the India Company Tea into the Massachusetts Bay. There’s much more to the story of course but that had to be one, big tea party!

What about this: New Castle, Pennsylvania, is home to the Vitale Fireworks Display Company, responsible for more than one thousand fireworks shows every year.  1922 Constantino Vitale brought his expertise at making fireworks from Italy to the United States. He passed his secrets on to his four sons, and since then the company has been making Americans exclaim “ooohhh” and “aaahhhh” at the lighted colors in the sky on July 4 and other occasions.  Who knew it was an Italian that started all this!

What do you know about the Liberty Bell?  In 1752 the new bell arrived safely from England, but at the first blow from a hammer to test it, it cracked.  After being recast twice and used for every event of national importance for over 80 years on July 8, 1835, while tolling for the funeral procession of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the great bell cracked…for the last time.  No one living today knows the voice of the Liberty Bell, for it has never spoken since 1835.

And finally, the song and words to Yankee Doodle were actually a harvesting song in 15th century Holland.  In England, the tune was used for a nursery rhyme, and later a song making fun of Puritan church leader Oliver Cromwell, because “Yankee” might be a mispronunciation of the word “English,” and “doodle” refers to a dumb person.   So…what would a Yankee Doodle Dandy be?  I don’t think I even want to know.

Enjoy the holiday everyone!

Roy’s site enables women who have attractive feet  step into a career in   footwear modeling.  Roy is an excellent promoter and will always be there to support a new candidate and assist them in their goal of being a shoe or foot model.  With twenty two years experience in the business he and his staff have helped many women fulfill their dream of breaking into a modeling career.  (Shown here is Donna,  the winner of the Ms. Women’s Shoes N Us 2010 Pretty Feet Contest.)

If  you’re a woman who knows you have beautiful feet and takes meticulous care of the appearance of them – here’s your opportunity to find out what it takes to get started. The site offers a guide book and CD with everything you need to know.  In addition, their models will speak to anyone who is serious about getting into the business.

Roy has been an avid supporter of Jewels by Jan and was gracious enough to create a page on his site just to help promote us!  He has even placed a link on his site for his visitors to vote for us in the Top 200 Leading Mom’s in Business contest. And check back soon for images of his models wearing Jewels by Jan Barefoot Sandals!

But now tell me -  what ever happened to pantyhose?  You know what I’m talking about -  that  tight contraption of nylon that seems far too small to stretch half the length of your body.  Years ago we wouldn’t dream of  wearing a dress without pantyhose.  Today, it’s a whole different story.   We get ready for an evening out in our sexiest little black dress with nary a thought of wearing pantyhose.

The snag is the generation gap.  The culture is changing, casual is “in” and the younger set seem to shun them altogether.  Some don’t even own a pair.  After all, they’re not the most comfortable undergarment. They can be hot, tight or sag. and the slightest wrong move causes a run.  Besides that – they’re expensive.  When was the last time YOU pulled on a pair?

Personally, I prefer the bare leg look but I would be remiss if I neglected to point out that there IS a time and a place where bare legs should be covered up.  A job interview is one (if you’re wearing a skirt or dress).  The other is a cold, winter day.  And I suppose our legs CAN still look pretty smooth and sexy in a sheer pair of black nylons.  I’d love to hear your comments – do YOU have a love/hate relationship with pantyhose?

The 2010 beach bride is one who likes to add her own personal touches to personalize the ceremony.  After a few years of seeing the casual beachy style, she may decide to veer from the seashell theme and choose instead to look more glamorous.   Starting with the “oh so elegant” white and ivory, a beach wedding with a  pop of hot color, be it orchids, maids dresses, or beach wedding sandals, can add just enough “beach” for the modern bride.”

Along with this more refined style, wedding planners are seeing a return of the seated dinner.  Brides are opting for the elegance of having dinner served to their guests, complete with poured wine service.  The outdoor setting makes dining under the stars, the perfect combination of romance and style. And with the guest list pared down to close family and the very closest of friends, elegance won’t come at such a high price.

Bridal couples are also asking for more non-traditional photos for their wedding day.  They want to push the boundaries, letting the photographers capture their day in a non-traditional way, creating more candid and less-posed quality images.   They want an artistic perspective as far as shooting style that captures their own unique ideas.

Remember that no beach wedding is complete without the right footwear.  Let us put the finishing touch on your wedding day attire with sparkling barefoot sandals!

Think about the glorious, natural setting that provides a gorgeous backdrop, minimizing the need for expensive decorations.  Consider the miles and miles of beautiful beaches right here in the U. S., saving the cost of travel to distant lands.  Now close your eyes and picture yourselves surrounded by the embrace of your loving family and closest friends in a warm and intimate ceremony.

A beach wedding can also be more casual.  Everyone can relax, dress comfortably and affordably.  You can even involve family or friends in your ceremony and make them part of the celebration.  It’s your day and you can plan it any way that you want, be it romantic, whimsical or even silly.   It can be a modern and refreshing change from the typical indoor wedding and it allows your creativity and personalities to shine through.

Give it some thought – think about how unique you can make it and remember that your beach wedding footwear  is already taken care of….. by shopping at Jewels-by-Jan!

Grab a pair to match your teenie weenie bikini, a pair for your wet t-shirt contest and another for your balmy evening wear - let us match your “get down and partay” vacation-wear with our beach barefoot sandals. 

Jewels by Jan is your official Spring Break Footwear site!  Place your orders today! http://www.jewels-by-jan.com

I just received my March issue of In Style Magazine the other day and over the rainy San Diego weekend I had time to look at the myriad of shoe fashions gracing the pages.  High heel platform shoes seemed to dominate the pages.  I’m just not sure if I want to be that tall and for me they would  be an accident waiting to happen.  But for those of you who are slaves to fashion (and who can balance like a high wire performer) those in the know say they are very chic and sexy.

I also noticed that some shoes never go out of fashion – like stillettos.  According to the fashion experts, we should all keep a pair or two in our closet for those nights out on the town or those nights you feel like staying in and slipping into your sexiest teddy.  

Lace pumps and fringed footwear were also shown in the magazine, evidence that shoes are constantly changing and evolving.  Personally, there is nothing more feminine and sexy to me than a pair of dressy, skinny-heeled pumps that do more for a woman’s legs than anything else….other than a pair of dazzling barefoot sandals!

With styles from casual (for that winter vacation or cruise) to elegant (for a romantic beach wedding or a night on the town), we offer something for every gal on your list.   Since barefoot sandals can be worn with shoes, it doesn’t have to be summer for her to enjoy them.  Pair our Elegant Evening barefoot sandals with a sexy heel and she’ll be ready to party the night away on New Years Eve.  Or plan a romantic evening at home in sexy lingerie in front of the fireplace  Barefoot sandals will dress up her cute little toes!

Be sure to place your order now so we can guarantee delivery by Christmas! We make every effort to get orders on their way within 24-48 hours of receiving them.  Give the gift of beautiful jewelry for the holiday’s this year!

Shown here on the red carpet are two of the colors of custom-designed barefoot sandals that we handcrafted for one of their dances.  They matched the magenta and green costumes worn for that performance.  The sandals were a big hit with the crowd and with the dancers! 

And just so you know, the dance troupe is available for private parties, wedding receptions or any type of event that is looking for some fabulous, up-beat and colorful entertainment.   Contact Priya via e-mail on their web site http://www.dhoonyadance.com .

Remember that we will custom-craft barefoot sandals for any occasion in any color so if you know of another group of dancers who might like to add bottomless sandals to their costumes – just send us an e-mail at jan@jewels-by-jan.com