Blog

Meet our Guest Blogger Emmalyn Reid. Emmalyn Reid is a passionate journalist and experienced television personality dedicated to sharing the stories of our local communities. I am excited to share her take on our Box with You!

Want to see the full video of the unboxing? Here’s the video below!

The subscription box game has changed so much over the years, you can get nearly anything mailed monthly. From gardening seeds to really good scotch or even hygiene products, there’s no lack of possibilities. So when I first learned one of my favorite small businesses, S Design, was getting into the subscription box game, I was beyond excited and so ready to see what she’d have in store!

When I first talked to Tricia, founder of S Design Jewelry in Framingham, her warm and energetic presence was contagious as she shared with me her passion for matching meaningful pieces to each individual customer. Furthermore, I was touched by her story of how S Design Jewelry all began. “I became a mother late in life, feeling blessed and connected. Sharing the gift of love and connection through jewelry design fills my heart, and allows me to be a full-time mother to my daughter Savannah, the   namesake of the brand.”                                                                                         

Once I received my first box, I was instantly in love with the brand’s whole vibe! If you’re drawn to the healing powers of stones, love supporting small businesses made in the USA or even if you’re just looking to up your jewelry game, those are just three of many reasons why this box might be for you. But enough talk: let’s see what’s inside!

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH’S S DESIGN SUBSCRIPTION BOX

The first thing you’ll notice when you receive any order placed with S Design is the packaging. Yep-Tricia designs all of her own boxes, too. This month’s trove of treasures came in a beautiful keepsake box tied gracefully with a bow that looks so pretty you almost don’t even want to untie it! It’s one of those things where you just know it’s never going to look that perfectly done again, but is timelessly elegant and makes for a great first impression.

Once I opened up my box, the first thing I saw was a beautiful picture of Tricia and her daughter Savannah on a postcard that tells the story of how S Design Jewelry all began. This is an important personal touch: not only because if you are giving it as a gift they are able to get some background on the brand, but it’s also a reminder that you’re supporting a small business that is grateful for each and every sale. Underneath the postcard was a second personal touch: a thoughtful, handwritten note letting me know the inspiration behind this month’s theme: intention & protection.

Arranged neatly underneath the welcoming notes, my goodies were waiting! The first piece I picked up was in a neatly tied burlap sack. That’s another thing to note about these boxes – the individual packaging for each piece will be something reusable that you can use to either keep your gems safe in or find a creative way to use around your home! Inside the bag, I gently lifted out a pair of sterling silver & onyx ear wires. The second I pulled them out, an outfit popped into my head of how I could style them and I got SO excited! Little did I know, these beauties would pair perfectly with the next piece in the box: a lucky horseshoe bracelet that arrived just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. (Note: This post is a few days after my initial unboxing.) The sleek sterling silver bracelet with onyx beading and a lucky horseshoe charm had three words printed on its presentation card: lucky, spirited, optimism. The bracelet is intended to be a literal good luck charm!

Why did Tricia choose onyx, and what does it represent? Well, if you remember the opening card, she had let me know this box would be focused on intention & protection. Onyx is known for its healing properties of pulling out your intention, and as Tricia has so gracefully described it to me in the past the goal is to, as you put on your onyx pieces, set your own intentions for the day.

Neatly nestled in the top left corner of the box was another set of surprises that arrived in a small black box also tied with a pretty little bow. Inside, two bracelets had been thoughtfully arranged just for me: the first was a beaded bracelet with the words TRUTH on it. As a reporter, for me this was so incredibly meaningful: every day, I am honored to tell the stories of others, to speak up for those without a voice, and use my natural curiosity for good to relentlessly search for the truth. It was a sweet reminder that what I do has meaning, and I was touched by Tricia’s ability to somehow know exactly what bracelet would speak to my soul.

Underneath my truth bracelet was the second piece to the puzzle from the note she’d transcribed: a beaded turquoise bracelet that brought me all the seaside vibes while representing-you guessed it- protection! Extra protection is something we all could use an unlimited supply of in our lives right now, not only with COVID going around but from all the emotions coming to the surface as we face the one year anniversary of the pandemic.

THE COVID STRONG INITIATIVE

Speaking of which, here’s how Tricia is continuing to give back to those *still* fighting on the front lines of this thing!

Originally, I had interviewed Tricia to discuss a campaign she’d launched to give back to healthcare heroes at the start of the pandemic called Covid Strong. Each hematite bracelet in the design represented one of four pillars of strength: community, resilience, courage, and compassion. With each sale, a second bracelet was donated to a worker of your choosing in your community. “We have used hematite in this design for its healing qualities,” she explains in a description on her website. “Hematite helps to absorb negative energy and calms in times of stress or worry. Widely coveted as a protective stone by stabilizing one’s energy with its grounding force, it transforms negative energy into positive vibrations and fostering hope in the wearer.” If you’d like to learn more about the Covid Strong initiative, check out her website here: https://www.sdesignjewelry.com/collections/covid19strong

 by Guest Blogger Emmalyn Reid 

Learn more about Emmalyn: https://emmalynreid.com/category/charity-blog/

A local mom takes a TEACHING MOMENT for her 6 year old daughter and turns it into a Morale Boosting Pep Rally Movement for many.