Tis the Season for Giving!

Diamonds Direct is a huge advocate for giving. We believe very strongly that you cannot be successful in life or business without giving generously of your time, money and donations. We are all big supporters of being passionate in life so anytime we can catch that enthusiasm for a charity, it is fun for us to get involved.

What is it about giving that makes you feel good? For me, it is that feel good, “aha” moment. That moment when you are up to your elbows in bread dough cooking for a homeless shelter or handing out bottles of water to irritated Habitat for Humanity workers or on mile 62 out of 65 in the 3-Day Walk for the Cure or sorting tiny little diamonds to make a beautiful pendant for a silent auction. It’s that moment when you smile to yourself because this little thing that you are doing right this moment is going to make a difference in someone’s life. Probably someone you don’t know. Someone who will never have the opportunity to thank you. And then I think about a time, whether in the past or in the future, when I will be that person who needs help. It is a totally awesome cycle of generosity that I can’t imagine life without.

The original owner of Diamonds Direct, John, is a Vietnam veteran. Two years ago, his unit received the Presidential Citation at the White House for courage under pressure during his tour in Vietnam. We are very proud of him. John has become an advocate not only for Vietnam veterans, but for families living in Vietnam. Over the past few years, he has become increasingly involved in a non-profit called Bridges to Learning (BTL). BTL raises money to send children to school in Vietnam who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn. John started out attending the yearly gala and is now one of its biggest advocates and supporters. This year’s BTL gala raised enough money for 400 Vietnamese children to go to school for another year. BTL also raised money to build their own high tech, clean, school for students to attend. http://bridges2learning.org/

I am also heavily involved in volunteering. Last year, I did the 3 Day Walk for the Cure. It was absolutely a life changing event. I managed to raise $4000 for breast cancer research in the months leading up to the walk…but that was the easy part! Whoever thought of walking for three days to raise money for breast cancer was brilliant. Walking for three days straight is HARD. My feet have yet to fully recover for that walk. I never thought just walking could be that difficult. But walking for three days is nothing compared to the strength, mental awareness, stamina and spirit that is needed to battle breast cancer. The women I met on that walk and the stories I heard have shaped my life forever. I continue to raise money for the walk each year, but don’t know if I will subject my feet to that again for another couple years. J http://www.the3day.org

Anyone who knows me, knows that art is my big obsession. I sit on the Steering Committee for the Uptown Art Fair. Art is awesome. Art makes life more beautiful. Art gives kids an excuse to make a mess. Art is great release of creative energy. I put a lot of time and effort into my position on the committee and I still always feel like I should do more.

The Salvation Army is also a personal favorite. I have to tell you, there is nothing quite like the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you are outside in the cold, ringing your bell and a little kid comes up and puts all their change in the bucket. Or when a parent is walking up with their kids and they stop about 20 feet away to give each of the kids a dollar. Or when someone gives you a knowing smile on the way into the grocery store and comes back out with a twenty dollar bill. Or, my personal favorite, when someone comes out with cash AND a hot chocolate for me. I like to switch up the location where I ring because every place has different types of givers. The thing they all have in common is that simple sense of giving because it is right. I also get to meet some pretty amazing people that I would otherwise never talk to! Do you want to ring too? http://www.ringbells.org/

Okay, so if you have made it this far into my blog, you are probably asking yourself why I am babbling on and on about charities and volunteering. I promise, I have a point. This year, we are going to try something new out. We want new clients, this is a given. We want to figure out a fun way to get new clients. So over the next 6 months, I am going to be trying new ways to get people excited about Diamonds Direct, but also pay it forward by donating money and items to charities as a direct result of that excitement. So please, keep an eye out for these unique ways to support local charities and a local business at the same time.

Now, check out these new pictures taken with our fancy new photography system. I could not be more excited about having an awesome space to photograph the amazing work we are doing here. I am still learning the tricks of trade when it comes to taking high quality photos, but hopefully you can bear with me. Don’t forget the holidays are coming up! We have tons of new inventory at every price point.