I stayed at the pretty Hotel Valencia whilst in San Jose, USA. It’s right on Santana Row – famous for all their restaurants and shopping. I adore Santana Row because it’s like a little laid back but ritzy village.. all gorgeous weather, flowers everywhere, and el fresco dining. People are dressed casual chic, always friendly and polite, and there is NO spitting on the streets. It’s heavenly!
Anyway, there is a little jewellery boutique across the road from the hotel, called Flying Lizard Designs. The jewellery appears on celebrities and in movies, though I can’t say I’ve ever noticed 😛 What caught my eye were the whimsical, delicate strands of jewels in the shop window. Draped in the window, they sparkled and came in an assortment of pretty colours and stones. So absolutely gorgeous! What I like best about the shop is that they make 2 identical designs – 1 using precious stones (and expensive) and 1 using regular materials or plastic pearls (and so way cheaper). It’s such a good idea because you can buy a piece of jewellery that looks JUST like the expensive version, but it’s only $30.
Anyway, after much deliberation and poking at just about every piece in the store, I finally decided on a strand of pearls with garnet, appetite, peridot, citrine gemstones. It was so pretty it took my breath away as it glistened in the sunlight streaming in through the glass windows. It’s really delicate and thin, with tiny gold links and the pearls and gemstones scattered all over it. It’s simple enough to be worn with any colour outfit, but pretty enough to still stand out than a regular strand of pearls.
It’s a long strand, so it can be worn long, or circled around twice for a double-strand necklace. Or, as a bracelet. Or, as a belt. Super cute 😛
Flying Lizard Designs strand of pearls with
garnet, appetite, peridot, citrine gemstones
Closeup – I like all the fine beading 🙂
Worn as a bracelet (forgot to take a pic of it worn as a necklace, heh!
Some of their other designs. That shimmery opal necklace is calling my name!
oooooo! I love the earrings at the bottom, the colours are so pretty!!
i really like their opal stuff as well, all their jewellery is so prettyand colorful!
oooooo! I love the earrings at the bottom, the colours are so pretty!!
i really like their opal stuff as well, all their jewellery is so prettyand colorful!
I like the necklace it’s so pretty.
Thanks hon, I really love it too 🙂
I’ve never heard of them before! Checked out their site and they have the prettiest opals and a lovely blue quartz necklace. Heavenly! Love what you got, sooooo versatile!
Pretty stuff huh?! I had to resist buying half the store, hehe.
Awwww I love seeing pictures of the local area!!! I have a couple rings from The Flying Lizard. 🙂 I love that store. What restaurants did you try while at Santana Row? I was actually there earlier this morning – my condo is only a 5 min drive there. My boyfriend & I love Pizza Antica – it’s become our to go to restaurant mostly at Santana Row (Village Cafe too). But pretty much majority of the restaurants are delish. I’d say we do not enjoy only 2 restaurants there.
You should have seen what Santana Row used to look like before getting a face lift. It was called Towne & Country and it was like a ghost town.
We’re going to get a Bloomingdales there too – won’t need to treck all the way to Palo Alto. 🙂
I didn’t know/forgot you live in that area! How cool, you’re so lucky 🙂
Ive been to every restaurant on Santana Row… cos Ive been there so many times over the past few years.. lol. But my fave is also Pizza Antica, esp their potato truffle pizza, YUM. I also like Left Bank and Blowfish Sushi is fab. Man I took soooo many pics of all the food and was gonna make big posts on each restaurant there, so pissed they’re all gone 🙁
Awww Blowfish! My friends work there. Actually I have a couple friends who work there. I get a lovely discount at Cole Haan. 🙂 HEHEHE I’m sorry about your camera. 🙁
I like the necklace it’s so pretty.
Thanks hon, I really love it too 🙂
I’ve never heard of them before! Checked out their site and they have the prettiest opals and a lovely blue quartz necklace. Heavenly! Love what you got, sooooo versatile!
Pretty stuff huh?! I had to resist buying half the store, hehe.
Awwww I love seeing pictures of the local area!!! I have a couple rings from The Flying Lizard. 🙂 I love that store. What restaurants did you try while at Santana Row? I was actually there earlier this morning – my condo is only a 5 min drive there. My boyfriend & I love Pizza Antica – it’s become our to go to restaurant mostly at Santana Row (Village Cafe too). But pretty much majority of the restaurants are delish. I’d say we do not enjoy only 2 restaurants there.
You should have seen what Santana Row used to look like before getting a face lift. It was called Towne & Country and it was like a ghost town.
We’re going to get a Bloomingdales there too – won’t need to treck all the way to Palo Alto. 🙂
Awwww I love seeing pictures of the local area!!! I have a couple rings from The Flying Lizard. 🙂 I love that store. What restaurants did you try while at Santana Row? I was actually there earlier this morning – my condo is only a 5 min drive there. My boyfriend & I love Pizza Antica – it’s become our to go to restaurant mostly at Santana Row (Village Cafe too). But pretty much majority of the restaurants are delish. I’d say we do not enjoy only 2 restaurants there.
You should have seen what Santana Row used to look like before getting a face lift. It was called Towne & Country and it was like a ghost town.
We’re going to get a Bloomingdales there too – won’t need to treck all the way to Palo Alto. 🙂
I didn’t know/forgot you live in that area! How cool, you’re so lucky 🙂
Ive been to every restaurant on Santana Row… cos Ive been there so many times over the past few years.. lol. But my fave is also Pizza Antica, esp their potato truffle pizza, YUM. I also like Left Bank and Blowfish Sushi is fab. Man I took soooo many pics of all the food and was gonna make big posts on each restaurant there, so pissed they’re all gone 🙁
Awww Blowfish! My friends work there. Actually I have a couple friends who work there. I get a lovely discount at Cole Haan. 🙂 HEHEHE I’m sorry about your camera. 🙁
How was the hotel? I was thinking about staying there this week, but chose Westin Palo Alto instead 😛
Not bad! I mean, it’s the only hotel on Santana Row which is the hotspot there, and I like boutique hotels.. so I may be biased 😛
The only thing I don’t like is their breakfast. I love HUGE buffet spreads where I can eat myself silly, and theirs is not that massive..
The necklace is so pretty! I think it would be better worn as a bracelet, though. For me, it’d be too long for a necklace. But that’s just my opinion 😉
Wei-Wei
I really like it as a necklace 😛 It makes a nice casual strand when worn as-is, and is really pretty when doubled up too – sparkly!
How was the hotel? I was thinking about staying there this week, but chose Westin Palo Alto instead 😛
How was the hotel? I was thinking about staying there this week, but chose Westin Palo Alto instead 😛
Not bad! I mean, it’s the only hotel on Santana Row which is the hotspot there, and I like boutique hotels.. so I may be biased 😛
The only thing I don’t like is their breakfast. I love HUGE buffet spreads where I can eat myself silly, and theirs is not that massive..
The jewelry is really pretty.
Yeah, i just love their designs. It’s a shame they don’t have a store here!
The necklace is so pretty! I think it would be better worn as a bracelet, though. For me, it’d be too long for a necklace. But that’s just my opinion 😉
Wei-Wei
The necklace is so pretty! I think it would be better worn as a bracelet, though. For me, it’d be too long for a necklace. But that’s just my opinion 😉
Wei-Wei
I really like it as a necklace 😛 It makes a nice casual strand when worn as-is, and is really pretty when doubled up too – sparkly!
I really like it as a necklace 😛 It makes a nice casual strand when worn as-is, and is really pretty when doubled up too – sparkly!
The jewelry is really pretty.
The jewelry is really pretty.
Yeah, i just love their designs. It’s a shame they don’t have a store here!
Yeah, i just love their designs. It’s a shame they don’t have a store here!