Friday, January 22, 2016

Music Friday: Jana Kramer Laments Receiving a Class Ring Instead of the Diamond and Wedding Band in 'I Got the Boy'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Country star Jana Kramer admits that she "started bawling" when she heard today's featured song, "I Got the Boy," for the first time.

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A song about seeing a high school boyfriend grow into the man that you never thought he could be, "I Got the Boy" struck a personal chord with Kramer, who has always wanted to pen a song about her high school sweetheart but could never get it on paper.

Fortunately, the writing team of Connie Harrington, Tim Nichols and Jamie Lynn Spears (Britney's sister) nailed her sentiments perfectly, using jewelry to represent the difference between young love and a mature relationship. Kramer sings, "I got the first kiss and she'll get the last / She's got the future and I got the past / I got the class ring, she got the diamond and wedding band / I got the boy and she got the man."

Kramer was introduced to the song by her producer, Scott Hendricks.

"I started bawling," she told Billboard. "That's the story. Those are the words that I couldn't write. It was 100 percent true. I'm very fortunate that the song came about. It's my life."

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Released in 2015, "I Got the Boy" is the second single from her second studio album, Thirty One. The song was certified Gold, selling a half-million copies, and ascended to #5 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and #56 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Kramer told Billboard that the song has resonated with her fan base, even the men who see it from the opposite perspective.

"On my Twitter, people are saying things like, 'I got the girl, not the woman.' It goes both ways, for sure," she noted.

Born Jana Rae Kramer in Rochester Hills, Mich., the multi-talented singer also has an impressive resume of acting credits, including a four-year run as Alex Dupre on The WB television series One Tree Hill. She began her music career in 2012 with the release of her single "Why Ya Wanna."

She met Washington Redskins tight end Mike Caussin on Twitter and they became engaged on her 31st birthday in December 2014. The couple tied the knot in May of 2015.

Kramer admitted to Billboard that it stung a bit when she learned that her high school boyfriend was married with two children. "But I've got someone else's 'boy' now," she said, "so all's well that ends well."

We know you will enjoy Kramer's live Grand Ole Opry performance of "I Got the Boy." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"I Got The Boy"
Written by Connie Harrington, Tim Nichols and Jamie Lynn Spears. Performed by Jana Kramer.

I saw your picture in a paper, Honeymoon in Jamaica, she's a lucky girl
You look so grown up in your black tux, from a ball cap in a pick up, seems like another world
You and me and our big dreams, falling in love
We were two kids in the backseat, all fearless and young

I got the first kiss and she'll get the last
She's got the future, I got the past
I got the class ring, she got the diamond and wedding band
I got the boy, she got the man

Yeah there's an old you that I knew,
Fake IDs to get into those spring break bars
Back woods on a four wheel, hanging on tight, I can still feel my racing heart
And now you're cleaned up with a hair cut, nice tie and shoes
If things were different and I had a choice, which would I choose?

I got the first kiss and she'll get the last
She's got the future and I got the past
I got the class ring, she got the diamond and wedding band
I got the boy and she got the man

I got the first kiss and she’ll get the last
We each got something, the other will never have
I got the long hair, hot head
She got the cool and steady hand
I got the boy and she got the man
I got the boy and she got the man

Credit: Video screen captures via YouTube. Jana Kramer/Elektra Nashville.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Romantic Labor of Love Sees Brit Proposing With 148 Selfies, But She Doesn't Notice

When Ray Smith learned in June that his girlfriend, Claire Bramley, was pregnant, he set in motion a five-month labor of love during which he amassed a gallery of 148 selfies, each with a secret "Will you marry me?" message somewhere in the frame.

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Although she's seen smiling in many of the photos, Bramley remained blissfully unaware of Smith's daily marriage proposals, which started on July 31 and ran through Christmas Day.

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Bradley believed Smith's daily selfie routine was meant to document her pregnancy. "He told me he was taking the pictures to create memories for the baby so I just let him get on with it," Bramley told the Mirror.

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The 38-year-old fish delivery driver from Grimsby, a coastal town about 200 miles north of London, turned to the Internet to learn about the best proposal ideas. He was impressed by the flash mobs, but decided on something much more personal.

"I have been planning to propose for a while and I knew I wanted to do something romantic," he told the Mirror, "so I originally thought about popping the question in a hot air balloon."

The high-flying idea was tabled after he learned the exciting news that Bramley, a 33-year-old teacher, was expecting.

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That's when he came up with an original idea to take a picture every day for five months. In some photos, the proposal is subtly tucked in Smith's hand, while in other shots it's stuck to his forehead or lit up on a large-screen TV.

To maintain the ruse, Smith often took multiple shots, one with the proposal in view and a second without, just in case she wanted to see the shot.

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By Christmas Day, Smith had edited his daily work into a four-minute video and he was ready to propose for real. He invited Bramley to view something very special on his laptop computer.

Set to the music of Ryan Huston, the video starts with a title frame that states, "I love you Claire Bramley and I love every second with you." The captions go on to explain that every day since July 31 he's been wondering how, where and when he should ask her the most important question in the world. And that question is... Will you marry me?

Of course, that special phrase is communicated in the video by 148 selfies, each in chronological order.

He ends the presentation with this request: "I love you and would like to ask if you could end a perfect year. And join me in 2016 planning our wedding together, Claire. Will you marry me?"

"I said yes straight away," she told the Mirror. "I didn't need to think about it. I got a bit emotional, but I am pregnant after all." The couple is preparing for a spring 2017 wedding.

Check out Smith's innovative five-month-long selfie proposal below...

Credits: Screen captures via YouTube. Facebook/Claire Bramley

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Ingeniously Designed Engagement Ring Box Is Sleek Enough to Hide in the Pocket of Your Skinniest Jeans

So thin that it can disappear into the pocket of your skinniest jeans, a revolutionary new engagement ring box promises to "save life's biggest moment" by keeping the ring concealed until you're ready to pop the question.

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The inventors say that all too often surprise marriage proposals are ruined by a bulky traditional engagement ring box that is anything but inconspicuous.

In an effort to solve this seemingly unsolvable dilemma, two New York Diamond District jewelers set out to build a better mousetrap — and the result is "Secret" by Parker Square.

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Approximately the size of a man's wallet and constructed with full-grain leather, the Parker Square box boasts an ingenious design that allows the ring to lie flat in the box and then propel upward when opened.

"Diamonds and other gemstones sparkle by catching light and reflecting it into our eyes," explained the inventors. "To 'sparkle' there needs to be light and movement. Our ring holder raises the ring as you open the box and enhances the brilliance and scintillation of your diamond."

The jewelers launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to bolster production capacity in preparation for a spring launch. With one day left in the current campaign, their modest $3,000 goal already has been surpassed by $10,000. More from Kickstarter here...

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The Night Box version even has an LED light that beautifully illuminates the ring, and all versions have a frame built into the top side of the box so the groom-to-be can add a romantic photo or personal message. Both the illuminated and conventional boxes are priced at $98.

The inventors are confident that consumers will pay a bit more for a premium product.

"Many of the rings are breathtaking but the boxes they come in are downright disappointing," the inventors explained on Kickstarter. "They are usually ugly, bulky and made with cheap materials. We often wondered... "Why would anyone put a $10,000 ring in a $5 box?"

The first run of 2,000 "Secret" boxes is set to deliver by April 2016.

Credits: Parker Square images via kickstarter.com.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Debuts Flawless 5-Carat Edwardian-Era Engagement Ring on the Red Carpet

Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley unveiled her flawless 5-carat Edwardian-era engagement ring from actor Jason Statham on the red carpet of the Golden Globes last week.

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The ring from designer Neil Lane's archival collection features a round diamond secured by its original four-prong Edwardian setting — a piece that dates back to the early 20th century, according to People StyleWatch. The platinum band is adorned with pavĂ© diamonds on each side, and has a delicate diamond gallery that encircles the center stone. People reported that the ring's value is $350,000.

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The 48-year-old Statham, a Brit who is famous for his tough-guy roles in films, such as The Transporter trilogy and The Fast and the Furious franchise, was truly excited when he found the right ring, according to Lane.

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“It’s classic and elegant and the stone is perfection,” Lane told People. “Jason wanted something perfect and flawless and he kept coming back to this one. He knew it was right.”

Brides.com called Statham a sweet and bona-fide genius at picking out jewelry and praised the vintage ring for its timeless, tasteful style — a flawless fit for a classic Brit beauty.

Huntington-Whiteley, 28, is a top-earning fashion model and covergirl who is best known for her work as a Victoria's Secret "Angel." She is also dabbling in her future husband's profession, with a few movie roles already under her belt.

The couple met on the set of Transformers in 2010 and had been dating ever since. During an April 2014 interview with Self magazine, the stunning model opened up about the love of her life.

“We’re best mates,” she said. “He makes me laugh every day.”

Credits: Golden Globes shots via Getty Images; Ring courtesy of Neil Lane.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Top Designers Create Bespoke Footballs to Commemorate Golden Anniversary of Super Bowl

To commemorate Super Bowl 50, the NFL and members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have teamed up to create 50 lavish footballs that share a "gold" theme.

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Rag & Bone; Tiffany & Co.

The NFL required the designers to use a "gold" element to align with the precious metal's traditional connection with 50th anniversaries. But, how they used the gold was totally up to them. While some placed gold as the central motif, others used it as a glittering accent. Our favorites were the designers who took it up a notch by mixing precious metals and gemstones to make their footballs into treasures suitable for a jeweler's showcase.

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Ovadia & Sons, Marchesa.

Among the designers whose footballs evoked fine jewelry are Rag & Bone, Tiffany & Co., Ovadia & Sons, Marchesa, Prabal Gurung, Rachel Zoe, Kendra Scott, Melissa Joy Manning, Jennifer Fisher and Vita Fede.

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Prabal Gurung; Rachel Zoe.

The balls will be officially unveiled at the NFL's offices in New York this Wednesday and will be making appearances at a number of promotional events in the San Francisco area leading up to Super Bowl 50 on February 7.

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Kendra Scott; Melissa Joy Manning.

The balls are slated to be auctioned off on the NFL.com web site to benefit the NFL Foundation, the league's nonprofit organization that supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes. The organization finances sports-related medical research, funds the efforts of current and former players working in local communities and assists former NFL players who have come upon hard times. The auction will be held online from January 20 through February 14.

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Jennifer Fisher; Vita Fede.

This is not the first time the NFL has collaborated with the CFDA. In 2014, in preparation for Super Bowl 48, an equal number of designers were challenged to create bespoke helmets that dazzled window shoppers of Bloomingdale's 59th Street flagship store in New York City and eventually were auctioned to support the NFL Foundation.

“When we did the helmets in Bloomingdale’s, it was really successful,” Rhiannon Madden, vice president of consumer products for the NFL, told WWD. “So we wanted to partner with them again to bring the worlds of football and fashion together.”

Images courtesy of CFDA.