Belly Charms "Swarovski Pearl Initial Bracelet" - Giveaway!

This Giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats to Tabathia! #105

This giveaway, for me - is monumental. The company I'm featuring today is called Belly Charms, owned & operated by the lovely Sonya, & alot of you wouldn't know it, but thanks to Sonya and Belly Charms - my blog is where it's at today. I'm dead serious, (although I won't go into the exact reasons, suffice to say I've been wanting to feature Sonya and Belly Charms for a very long time!) a few months back I won a giveaway hosted by Felicia from Go, Graham Go! and it was this amazing bracelet from Belly Charms.

I was absolutely stunned when  it arrived, encased in a velvet jewelry box the bracelet had the first initials of everyone in my family (it was a single name bracelet, and I was in no way going to narrow it down to just one child when the bracelet was as gorgeous as it was, and I knew I'd wear it almost everyday - so initials it was!) I chose the pearl color (Tahitian) & Sonya was not only solicitous she paid attention to every detail.

Helpful, generous - she asked that I send my bracelet back, when she noticed in my blog post that the size I had ordered was a size too small for my wrist (although I was still going to wear that bad boy - no matter what!) & Sonya re-sized it for nothing! I was so, so impressed, as I was a giveaway winner - not an actual paying customer - but to Belly Charms - there is no difference. Sonya cares for everything concerning her beautiful creations, & she doesn't only have bracelets, in fact her store started with , yup - belly charms.

When Sonya was pregnant with her 1st son, she had to take her belly button ring out, and of course her hole closed on her - so she had it re-pierced, only to find out she was pregnant a second time, lol!
This time though, she was determined to keep a cute little belly ring in, so she used a PTFE bar (a short term for teflon, basically) but after her second son was born - just didn't like the "steel" rings anymore.

So - Belly Charms was created! Sonya has all sort of cute charms and everything can be customized! She has Team Bling, Names, Vital ID's (for kids' to wear, for medical & sport safety), Anklets, Bracelets, Pendants, Toe Rings - the list goes on & on. Belly Charms uses Swarovski crystals to accentuate what she makes, & combined with the Sterling silver, some of her work is simply gorgeous! Her dedication to detail & love for what she does, shows with her work - the pieces she creates are things you want to wear, I've had several people comment on my bracelet, how beautiful it is, where did I get it? It's worthy of being a family heir, (which mine will be) that's how fabulous her products are!

And everything that Belly Charms has to offer, is of the highest possible standard that Sonya can bring to her customers, there's definitely an aura of class with Belly Charms.
Another interesting fact about Belly Charms, and Sonya, was that she has  some special bracelets made for 'Breast Cancer Awareness' & she donates 20% of sales from that specific collection to the American Cancer Society! Generous, as I said before. She also offers free shipping on orders over $20.00 to the U.S & Canada!
And in following with Sonya of Belly Charm's generosity, I am going to add a little "extra" something to her giveaway.
The winner will also receive their choice of any Sterling Silver Toe Ring that Sonya has on her site!

Belly Charms has a sophisticated edge, everything in Sonya's store is stylish, original & is obviously the result of someone very passionate about what she does. Sonya is a true artist! I asked her a little something about herself, & was thrilled with her answers, I think most of us, as Moms with kids - can appreciate what she had to say ...

Is it hard to run a company, raise 2 boys while being a STHM?

 Yes.  You have to really love what you do.  My boys ( 4 and almost 3) are not in school yet so most of my work is done late at night when everyone is sleeping...OK So I started answering this at about 6:14am then a little voice screamed"Mommy" so I went and got in bed next to my  3 year old until he went back to sleep...it is now 6:45 am - good example :)  
I love being home with them during the day.  I am also an aerobics instructor.  I teach in the mornings mainly, so I take them with me when I go to they gym.  They love it and it is a great way for them to play with other kids.  I am on the go 24/7, but would not have it any other way.  My husband is great -  when I am really busy, he will take over the kids for a few hours.  I try to ship out all belly button ring and Vital ID orders within 24 hours.  I believe in shipping everything ASAP.  He is very supportive of my businesses and helps me come up with new ideas too.  We have just moved and I finally have my own office.  Could not be happier :)

How do you come up with the ideas for the style of your products?
 I honestly just make them up, I am always on the lookout for new charms for the maternity belly button rings.   My boys are only 13.5 months apart so I spend about 4 years straight either pregnant/nursing or both.  I would have loved to have a pendant that said " I am pregnant, not fat" 
Especially for the second pregnancy.   I  am always throwing things out there to my husband. I started my website  on Etsy.com with about 5 products.  When I first published www.BellyButtonRingsAndThings.com, it had 20 products...... I now have over 400 items on my website.  I just keep learning new things and adding more products.  Since 90% of what is sell are maternity items, I am always on the lookout for ideas.  In the last year I have learned to make Glass Tile and Scrabble Tile Pendants, they are lots of fun and just so cute for a mom-to-be.

How long does it take you to complete a bracelet or an anklet?
I am very picky about what I make.  If  I make a bracelet or anklet and it is not "Perfect"....I will take it apart and start over.  Many of my customers have told me just how much they love their mother's bracelets and how much having something with their children's names means to them.  I want each one to be perfect.  
I would say average time is about 45 minutes to an hour for a single strand.  Double and Triples strands take longer because I want all of the beads to line up perfectly.  I have spent as much as 4 hours on one of these.

 How did you come across the idea of donating proceeds towards Breast Cancer Awareness?
One of the chairperson's for the local BC foundation was given one of my bracelets as gift.  She loved it and asked If I would donate a few for some giveaways at their charity events and that is how it got started. 
I am also a big supporter of the March of Dimes, my oldest son was born at 34.5 weeks and spend 10 days in the NICU.  He is a perfectly healthy little boy today.  For the last 4 years I have been a team captain for the March for Babies in Palm Beach County.  This is one charity I truly believe in and hearing all of the stories of these tiny little premies will bring tears to your eyes.  It is incredible to see a  healthy little girl and learn that she was under 2 lbs when she was born!

Link  http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=567245&ct=4&w=4026751&u=juiceplus&bt=4

What one thing can you never leave home without?
 I can't leave home without my Blackberry.  All of my orders & inquiries come to it and I like to stay on top of things.  When we moved last month, we were without internet for 4 days, and I was emailing all of my customers from by Blackberry to let them know their orders would ship on Monday!

Don't you just love her? I adore her work, her style, her passion for what she makes, & as a person she has been incredibly fantastic to work with.
My favorite answer was definitely about starting her answer at 6:14, and being able to get back to it at 6:45, lol - that definitely sounds like my home and I'm sure most of you could relate!

Win It!

Today Sonya and Belly Charms has graciously offered to give one of my lucky readers a

  Swarovski Pearl Initial Braclet - Your Color Choice  [up to 5 sets of initials]
as well as the "extra" Sterling Silver Toe Ring!

Mandatory entry: To be eligible to win this amazing bracelet, you need to visit Belly Charms & leave a comment with what item from her store you would love to have!

Extra entries: 

+1 Follow Belly Charms on Twitter

+1 Become a Blog Follower of "20 to Life!"

+3 Facebook fan Belly Charms & "20 to Life!"

+1 Name a pregnant celebrity who would look great sporting a Belly Charm!

+3 Grab either Sonya's button , or mine, with the link where to find it! (top, left of blog)

 +1 Twitter follow "20 to Life" then tweet about this giveaway!

WIN w/ @BellyCharms & "20 to Life" Swarovski Pearl Initial Bracelet!! http://bit.ly/9SayS8 Gorgeous *bling* for Mommies & More!

+2 Email subscribe to "20 to Life!"

This giveaway will run from 2.22.10 until 3.4.10, please leave separate comments for each entry, winner will be selected via Random.Org  & emailed. They will then 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be drawn.

**Please note, I received no form of monetary compensation for my opinion/review. I did receive a product from the company in order to give a fair & balanced review and any opinion, statement etc. expressed in said review in solely my own & was in no way influenced by a third party.

Good Luck!