Limited Edition: Goose

A tisket, a tasket!

Sorry that my goose charm appears to have only one foot. I promise you that it has two. I really should have taken pictures from the front and the back, but the light was disappearing outside.

So, you know me and animal charms. I love them! The goose is no exception, even if its back end is shaped a little strangely. The egg inside is a fantastic detail; I love that it has small crystals on it instead of being just plain gold.

My favorite part of this charm is the pearly white finish. The flash in my picture washes it out but it's very subtle and just so pretty. Now let's talk about the two things I don't like: the stamp on the butt and the snap. Juicy usually places a logo (either the banner or the crown) somewhere on each charm. I think the crown might have looked better on the chest area than the butt. And the snap is something I always take issue with. Some are too loose, some are too tight, and some can go from being too tight to too loose with just one drop. Like mine did this afternoon when I was taking it out to photograph it.

This charm flew off S&C's website like nobody's business. In fact, I never even saw it and I had been obsessively checking the site for days! So I just picked it up when I went to the Juicy boutique today, and swallowed the full cost. Why? Because the Prince Charming swan charm (which I have.. somewhere.. and am dying to find it and post photos because it's so adorable) will run you about $150-$200 on eBay these days. Animal charms, the bird ones in particular, always climb in value once they're gone. This one being a limited edition will only increase the value and is definitely worth picking up.

LE Tag Year: 2010
Price: 52.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3743

Limited Edition: Ring (Purple Neiman Marcus Exclusive)

Much like the shoe, purse, and snowflake charms I'm not really one for the ring charms either. Juicy has done several different versions of the engagement ring, and I think I only have two including this one.

But there is a very good reason for having this one: it's the only colored stone they've done on an engagement ring charm. And it's beautiful. I purposely used flash on the third photo so you could see just how many colors are hiding inside of the purple stone.

I really love the detailing along the inner sides of the ring. It's intricate and rather than overwhelming the entire piece, it really elevates the purple stone and brightens everything up.

Now the bad news, as there usually is with older charms. This was a limited edition piece made exclusively for Neiman Marcus in 2008. That means that even if this charm had made it to the sale tables it would have eventually gone to Neiman Marcus Last Call outlets (of which there are quite a few less), not Juicy outlets. Your odds of finding this in a retail establishment are about as good as Juicy re-releasing the original globe. You will have to resort to the secondary market for this one, and it is still hard to come by. Prepare to pay (on average) double MSRP!

LE Tag Year: 2008
Price: 38.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU1729
Misc: Produced exclusively for Neiman Marcus; make sure their logo is on the tag.

Limited Edition: 2009 Snowflake

I've never been particularly interested in the Snowflake charms, despite this being the only charm so far that Juicy changes every winter season. The concept is great; it immediately creates a set for anyone who is ambitious enough to get them every year.

Even though I love snow, they just never swayed me enough to spend the money on them. Not to mention that they all kind of looked the same, even if they were different. However, I was totally sold on the 2009 Snowflake when I saw it in person.

Perhaps because it looks more like a starbust than an actual snowflake? Whatever the reason, it's gorgeous. It has a wild amount of sparkle! The size crystals that Juicy chose for the tips of the flake are amazing; they're so big you don't even need much light for this charm to shine. 6 lines with pave crystals come streaming out from the center to add a little big of weight to the otherwise delicate lines holding the larger crystals in place. Even the back of this charm is pretty -- how often can you say that??

If you haven't picked this one up yet but are feeling like you should, then you're in luck. The ones that are left have made it to sales tables, and are discounted on websites (check Nordstroms.com!). I am fairly confident in saying that this particular charm will not be reissued; Juicy has been putting out a different Snowflake every year and doesn't do repeats of these, that I'm aware of.

LE Tag Year: 2009
Price: 58.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3317

Limited Edition: TeePee

I am loving that Juicy is pumping out more of the charms that open up to reveal a little scene on the inside. Granted, they could switch it up a bit and give the Yorkie something else to do other than warm his paws over a fire. But as long as stuff this cute keeps coming along I'm not complaining.

Instead of talking about my favorite thing last I'm going to do it first. I LOVE the little printed buffalo on the outside of the teepee. 100% totally enamored with this detail. It could be my affinity for tiny animals that makes this stand out to me, but come on! They're adorable. The rest of the teepee decorations are kind of bland - the jagged red stripe along the bottom, the Juicy crown logo, and the zipper. There is a tiny hole on the front that allows you to see inside the teepee; this is such an adorable idea but would have come off just a little better if the fire inside didn't immediately block your view of everything else.

It seems that they kept the best stuff out of immediate view on this charm. Here you can spot our little Yorkie hanging out on a carpet in full headdress gear with a fire going. The fire doesn't come across quite as well as it did in the igloo -- it looks more like a container of french fries to me. But the little sticks of wood give it enough character to pull it off. And of course you should be sure not to skip out on taking a peek at the bottom. I love the little double entendre that they slipped in there.

This charm hasn't exactly been hard to find since it hit shelves, but you are pretty much guaranteed that once they're gone they're gone. Same as the igloo and gingerbread houses; a year from now this could be pretty hard to track down for a reasonable price. I'm also surprised to see that this charm, with all of its detail, came out to be $6 less than the LE Present which I consider to be much simpler. I'm dying to know how Juicy prices their charms.

LE Tag Year: 2009
Price: 52.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3181

Limited Edition: Present

I know, I know. It's not even Thanksgiving yet. But every year Christmas starts earlier and earlier, as Juicy released their Holiday charms well before Halloween had even made its appearance.

So I present you with.. the present!! Haha. I really love almost everything about this charm. I was excited to see Juicy release a new style, especially since they've really been upping the number of re-releases. The red box is cheery and festive, and of course it's countered with a green "ribbon" around the box. Juicy is printed down the bottom of the ribbon, and Couture along the right side. It opens up to reveal -- nothing?? Oh, except for a clever note to Santa printed on the side. And then we have the standard logo stamped on the bottom.

The one thing I don't love? The bow. The dual bows seem like they're competing for attention and overshadow the rest of the piece. Juicy really could have made this stand out more by having only one bow; either silver or gold. Not to mention that rumors of a pearl bow were floating around before the charm was actually released and I'd really had my heart set on that. Oh well! I hold out hope that Juicy will get the bright idea to do charms in series, like Hallmark does their ornaments. They could come out with a new present every year and I'd get it even if it were ugly because that's what you do when you're too in-the-box to not collect all the pieces of a set.

LE Tag Year: 2009
Price: 58.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3318

Limited Edition: Candy Cane (2007)

Leave it to me to find a great deal on this Christmases-past charm over the summer, only to see it re-released (albeit in silver) this winter. I'm not too upset about it, though; this was my second LE 2007 Candy Cane as I had gotten one when they first came out. Why do I need/have two, you ask? I'll tell you in just a bit.

First let's talk about this charm. It's pretty perfect, save for the fact that the crystals are pink and not red. Would it have been better done in red? Possibly.. I mean the red and the white stripes are what makes candy canes so iconic. Red and white striped anything will usually remind people of candy canes, even if they're not shaped as such. But that's about my only complaint with this charm because I think the rest of it is perfect. The white enamel is smooth and makes for a great contrast against the chunky pink crystal stripes. The silver and crystal bow is a gorgeous little detail. It doesn't overwhelm the candy cane and adds an extra dimension of presentation to it, as if someone has wrapped this candy cane up just for you.

This charm was pretty hard to find at a decent price before it was revealed that it was being re-released in silver this season. The OCD part of me wants the candy cane in silver but I have resisted it thus far because they really are exactly the same except for the plating color and tag. Still, I think the gold is just a little bit shinier than the silver anyway. ;)

Now the good news. My amazing-summer-find Candy Cane was purchased just for Charm Candy! I'm giving it away and you have all of November to enter to win. Every comment you leave (from this post forward) will count as one entry. On December 1st a winner will be randomly selected, via the same method as last time. I know that seems like a long time away, but this gives everyone time to increase their odds and will be a nice little holiday surprise in the mail for someone by the time the deadline rolls around. Also, I'm hoping it will force me to return to my 1-a-day posting system I had going earlier this year. So comment away -- this is open to everyone (unless you're in Greece or Italy :[ .. mail mysteriously vanishes in that area too often)!

LE Tag Year: 2007
Price: 48.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU1459

Limited Edition: Spider

I have a terrible fear of bugs. I'm told it started when I was 4 or 5. Try as I might to find piece with the creepy crawlies that we share this earth with, I can't. I still shriek when one unexpectedly whizzes past me, and it's practically an instinct to jump up onto something should one scurry across the floor. I have, however, made a lot of progress with my resolve not to just outright kill them when I see them.

Especially spiders. Spiders are supposed to be good luck (so I've heard), and the wonderful Jes has some of the most adorable spider pictures I have ever seen -- she keeps them as pets! I'm not sure I could ever bring myself to do that, but I admire her for caring so deeply for something that seems so unconventional to me. So, I haven't killed one in ages - when I see them I let them continue on their merry way.

While I'm still not ready to keep one around as a pet, I am fully excited to (finally!) have the spider charm. I'm a little disappointed with the color scheme they chose (a black spider would have made for such an adorable "Juicy Widow" charm) since, presumably, this is a Halloween charm. It seems awfully light and chipper for something we usually associate with darkness and spooky things. I also think the design of the body is odd - spiders only have two body parts, not three. And why no facial detail, apart from the weird buggy gold eyes?

With all of these complaints, you'd think I wouldn't like this charm. Wrong! The concept is great and the web alone makes up for anything else that isn't so great. Look at the detail - like very tiny, delicate pieces of rope woven around and around. This is absolutely a fantastic Halloween charm. There aren't very many in existence and once they're gone they can be hard to track down again. So if you're going back and forth on this one, I say go for it!

LE Tag Year: 2009
Price: 52.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3180

Limited Edition: Mushroom

At the end of the day my resistance is futile. When the mushroom first came out I had made up my mind that I wasn't going to get one. After all, what do mushrooms really mean to me? Nothing.

But the talk of Alice in Wonderland slowly crept into my mind. Then pictures from everyone who had gotten one began to pop up. And there it was, whimsical and almost elegant, calling my name.

Still! I held out for as long as I could. Once I saw it in stores I was totally gone, though. I still have no real love for mushrooms (I think they taste gross) but I do love all things fairy tale, fanciful, and mythical. So instead of just another fungus, I choose to see this as a souvenir from some faraway land.

I LOVE the pearl and stud rhinestone detail. I even think that the white and gold contrast swimmingly with the murky brown color of the mushroom itself. The underneath of the mushroom is quite a sight as well, as it's quite detailed and mimics what the real deal looks like.

This one is already getting a little harder to find, but not impossible. You might be able to wait it out to hit the sale table but I'm not too sure that it will make it all the way to the outlets. If it does I'm pretty sure it won't be there for very long at all.

LE Tag Year: 2009
Price: 52.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3131

Limited Edition: Bat

As soon as rumors started circulating that a bat charm was going to be released my heart got a little fluttery. I love animal charms and knew that, regardless of what it ultimately looked like, I would launch myself on a quest to find it once it was out.

A lot of people have been disappointed that the wings don't open. You can add me to that category, but I don't mind it all that much. I think Juicy did a pretty good job capturing the likeness of a bat, save for one small thing - the face looks a little more like that of a mouse than a bat.

Still, I'm over the moon with his sparkly, sparkly wings and his sweet baby pink ears. So much so that I don't even care that it's a completely silver charm on a gold clasp. The back of the charm is smooth and shiny and reads "bite my couture" up near the top.

Bats aren't for everyone, so I don't see this flying (haha, pun fully intended) off the shelves right away. I do imagine that once this is gone it will be absolutely, gone though -- like most of the previously released animal/creature charms.


LE Tag Year: 2009
Price: 52.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU3179

Limited Edition: Beach Bag

I don't know about the rest of you, but summer is in full swing here. To be fair, it's usually always like summer in Hawaii but you can really feel the sun kicking it up a notch by the time the end of May rolls around. So out come my beach-specific flip flops, roll-up bamboo mats, sunscreen, and of course a bag to tote it all around in!

This tiny tote was a Neiman Marcus exclusive, which made its debut when they were offering the Charm of the Month club last year. Luckily for those of us who didn't want to pay $300 for the set (some of the charms were pretty bland and not worth it) the idea seemed to fizzle out quickly and the charms were put up for sale individually. I grabbed a couple and this bag was among them.

Usually Juicy's bag charms hold little appeal for me, but I really really love this one. It's very simplistic and the colors are gorgeous. I'm not sure what the little white roll inside of the bag is supposed to be -- my best guess is a towel. The main piece of the bag is a translucent pink color which reminds me of jelly beach bags that are perfect for tossing in the sand. Spring green handles move freely on the bag and keep it attached to the clasp. Juicy's logo is printed on the front side of the bag and Love G & P is printed on the back. A very small but key detail is the traditional heart J tag; this is on most of Juicy's real handbags and is adorably mimicked here on the charm. If you have a summer-themed bracelet or necklace set going this charm would be a perfect addition as it fits right in with tropical drinks, sunglasses, and scuba flippers. Looking at it makes me wish I were at the beach right now!

LE Tag Year: 2008
Price: 38.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU1727
Misc: Neiman Marcus exclusive charm; NM logo is on reverse side of LE tag.

Limited Edition: Nutcracker

I had originally wanted to hold off on posting my LE holiday charms until closer to December. But the collector in me knows that these will probably start appearing on eBay by September or October, so I hope you hunters will be properly armed with information before you seek them out.

This little guy is and will always be one of my absolute favorites. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so perhaps that's why I'm so enamored with all of the holiday charms. It could also be that this guy is just TOO cute!

Let's start with the face. The eyes and nose are dainty, but the handlebar mustache is exquisite. Golden fringe lines the back of his head, beneath his very tall and proper hat. Now how about the uniform? Perfect, perfect, perfect! His festive red coat is trimmed with golden accents -- I think the thin little belt and buckle are my favorite. White pants and black boots finish off the outfit but another important detail lurks around the back: the "nutcracker" lever! Unfortunately it doesn't move (which I suppose is good since technically this charm has no mouth), but I still think it's great that it was included.

The Nutcracker's limbs do move, although the legs are very limited in their range. The arms are hinged together so they move at the same time and height, but note that they will not swing backward.

Now the bad news. Prepare yourself and start saving your pennies now, because this little guy has had a very high resell value ever since he could no longer be found in stores. Set up a saved search on eBay and don't wait until December, because the price will only increase exponentially as it gets closer to the holidays.

LE Tag Year: 2006
Price: 45.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU0927