Fashion Friday: Talk Derby To Me

With Steeplechase and the Kentucky Derby rapidly approaching, we chose to highlight race attire for this Fashion Friday (because after all, it's widely accepted that Derby events are just as much of a fashion show as a they are a horse race). And while the stars of the event are arguably the horses, the oversized hats claim a close runner-up. We gravitated towards a floppy black hat and matching accessories to complement a bold lemon-lime shift dress. This dress spoke to us for two reasons: it strayed from the typical pastel floral frocks and its neckline begged for a statement piece, namely our Luckies necklace, with its nod to a  horseshoe. With this ensemble, anyone is ready for the winner's circle and a mint julep.  

1. Grosgrain Ribbon Hatband Hat Floppy Ribbon Wide Brim Black by Sk Hat 

2. Black Acetate Sunglasses by the Row

3. Luckies necklace by Freshie & Zero 

4. Black and White Striped Clutch by Dorothy Perkins 

5. Lime V Neck Shift Dress by River Island 

6. Juju Wedge Espadrilles by Kate Spade

Double Tap To Win!!

First up: Last week's winner of the $80 gift certificate was Anne W. of Chicago - have fun shopping, Anne! We'd like to thank everyone who has participated in our giveaways thus far - it has made our 8th birthday that much sweeter. ♥  If it hasn't been your lucky day yet, there is still ONE more chance to win something from our collection... For the final week of our month-long birthday party, we are hosting a Double Tap To Win giveaway on Instagram. We are big fans of Instagram and love sharing sneak peeks, behind the scenes, and life in general behind the hammer on our feed. Are you following us on Instagram yet??

How to enter Double Tap to Win:  1. Follow us on Instagram (@freshieandzero) 2. Double Tap* the Instagram picture that matches the one above for a chance to win our new Rose Cluster Necklace featured in the image. That's it; easy like Sunday morning. :) *a.k.a. like // Please note, this contest is only open to residents in the US and Canada.

Fashion Friday: Hunting Down Easter Attire

With Chocolate Bunnies, Easter Eggs, Spring Fever and Peeps in full force, it seemed only natural that this week's Fashion Friday cover Easter Sunday attire. Much Easter Egg Hunts, the Easter Dress Hunt has become a holiday tradition for many women. It didn't take long for us to fall in love with this sweet, pleated floral dress, especially because the neckline perfectly complimented our Simple Horizon Cross necklace. To finish off this ensemble we gravitated towards beautiful pastel accessories, oversized glasses, and a spritz of perfume (P.S. how cute is that bottle?). We are confident that this is an outfit that anyone would be "hoppy" to wear this Easter.  

1. Bookmaking Brunch Dress by Modcloth 

2. Feriha Cady Blazer by DVF  

3. Simple Horizon Cross by Freshie & Zero 

4. Faux Leather Envelope Clutch by Stella McCartney

5. Oversized Round Glasses by the Row 

6. Dancer Wedge Sandals by Kate Spade 
7. Daisy Eau de Toilette by Marc Jacobs 

WIN an $80 gift certificate to our website!

We're continuing our month-long birthday celebration with another giveaway! You could win an $80 gift certificate to our website in honor of our 8th year in business! Read on to learn how...

First, make sure you're on our email list to earn five entries! >>Click here to sign up!<< (If you're already on our email list, you're already entered!) Verify you're on the list by entering through the fancy Giveaway Widget below and earn even more entries just by following us on our Social Media pages! 

Good luck and please share with your friends!
 Freshie & Zero Giveaway

Prize: One lucky winner will receive an $80 Gift Certificate to www.freshieandzero.com

Eligibility: Open to residents of the USA & Canada, must be 18+
Entry Period: April 14, 2014 - April 21 11:59pm EST
Rules: By entering you agree to the terms and conditions (see link above)

Fashion Friday: Batter Up

With America's favorite pastime in full swing (see what we did there?) we thought it'd be appropriate to dedicate this Fashion Friday segment to MLB. Even if you're not a die-hard fan, baseball games are fun outings! The fashion challenge of attending these sporting events is striking the perfect balance between casual and cute - you never want to be THAT girl who comes overdressed in a sundress and wedges or the slob that shows up in grungy athletic gear. We think this outfit is home-run-worthy because it accomplishes the perfect fusion of looking put together while still being relaxed. Lastly, because sweating is often involved in sports (even while cheering in the stands), we recommend sporting earrings instead of necklaces to avoid damaging your pieces with humidity and moisture.  

1. Ebbets Field Flannel Baseball Hat for J.Crew
2. Short Sleeve Scoop Neck Tee by Michael Stars 

3. Green High Waisted Shorts by Gap

4. Minimal Small Hoop Earrings by Freshie & Zero 

5. Gold Clubmaster Sunglasses by Ray-Ban
6. Awesome Tattoo by Tattly 

7. Metallic Naples Sneakers by Flamingos 

Pin it to Win It!

We're kicking off our month of birthday-related festivities with a

"Pin it to Win it" giveaway! This is the first of our three April giveaways where you will have chance to WIN Freshie & Zero goodies! 

How To Enter: 
1. Follow Freshie & Zero on Pinterest!

2. Visit our website { www.freshieandzero.com} and pin your favorite products to your Pinterest page, tagging @freshiebeth and using the hashtag #winFreshieZ.*

3. Pin as much and as many times as you like (not limited to just one product!) until April 14th.

4. One lucky winner will receive the Freshie & Zero product pinned in the winning pin. 

Happy Pinning! We can't wait to see your favorites!

xoxo,
Freshie & Zero

* there seems to be an odd Pinterest autocorrect issue defaulting to "Jon Freshwater" when you enter Freshie & Zero so make sure you're tagging "@freshiebeth"!

It's our birthday! Hip hip hooray!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

We can’t believe this month marks Freshie & Zero's 8th year in business! We've definitely worn out a lot of hammers over the years!

To celebrate this sweet occasion and kick off our best year yet, we've decided to host a month of giveaways, birthday discounts, and other surprises! Stay tuned for more info and be sure to follow us on your favorite social media platform so you don't miss any of the fun!  

A handy celebratory checklist:

1. Follow us on our social media profiles so you don't miss out (see links in sidebar)! 

2. { Join our mailing list } to hear all about the upcoming contests and discounts!

3. Celebrate with sugar! That's right, go ahead and have a cupcake or cookie in our honor!(Calories don't count when it's a birthday treat, you know.)

I would like to extend a heartfelt "thank you!" to every customer who has purchased one of my pieces over the years! Because of you fabulous people, I get to live my dream of running a creative business that supports my family. I'm also lucky enough that I am able to provide employment for some Nashville gals - Freshie & Zero has evolved into a fabulous little team! We should probably start a bowling league...

Fashion Friday: Rainy Day Chic

With spring arriving in full force, so are the inevitable April Showers (plus possible damaging wind and hail, nbd). Luckily, it's easy to stay dry and look fabulous at the same time during the stormiest of days! We've put together this rainy day outfit - the pop of color and fun patterns are enough to brighten up any stormy day. To finish it off, we've paired it with our sterling silver Heavy Drop Earrings, perfect for anyone trying to look pretty in the precipitation. 

1. Blue Mosaic Tile Umbrella by New Look

2. Heavy Drop Earrings by Freshie & Zero
3. Seasalt Hellweather Waterproof Mac by Seasalt
4. Dot Chambray Drawstring Henley Shirtdress by Gap 

5. Waxed Cotton Tote by Brooks Brothers

6. Metal Silver Original Welly Boots by Hunter

Summer Jewelry Care Tips

With the temperatures rising and the urge to be out in the gorgeous sunshine in full effect, it’s important to keep in mind that sun, sweat, exercise and traveling can take a toll on your jewelry.  This summer, beat the effects of the heat by checking out these simple Jewelry Care Tips from Freshie & Zero to ensure that your pieces stay sparkling all summer long!

Q: When should I avoid wearing my jewelry in the summer?

A: It’s important to avoid wearing jewelry in any sticky or sweaty situation with excessive moisture. Sorry Southern gals but if you're going to spend a lot of time outside in the humid days of summer (at a festival, outdoor concert, the beach, etc.) it's probably better to leave your Freshie & Zero necklace at home. BUT you can wear your Freshie & Zero earrings on a hot summer day instead!


Q: Should I exercise in my jewelry?

A: It is not recommended to exercise in your handmade jewelry, as it can cause unnecessary stress on the piece, and the salt from sweating does not react well with the metals. 


Q: Can I swim in my jewelry?

A:  I definitely do not recommend wearing jewelry in a treated swimming environment (unlike a natural environment like a lake or ocean). I learned this by mistake - I was wearing a silver necklace and got in a hot tub and it's never been the same since. Any sort of pool or hot tub has chemicals that the jewelry does not like, so play it safe and take them off before swimming. 

Q: What products should my jewelry avoid contact with?

A: In the summer, sunscreen is the big one to avoid when safeguarding your jewelry. Although the chemicals in Sunscreen protect your skin from serious harm, the same cannot be said about its effect on your jewelry. You should also avoid hairspray, lotion, and perfume as they have a damaging effect.
 
Q: Whoops! I got hairspray on my jewelry! How should I clean it?

A: If your pieces get "dirty" with sweat, sunscreen, hairspray, etc - make sure to wash your jewelry as soon as you can with mild soap and water (and rinse and dry well) to get the offending elements off of your jewelry.

Q: How should I store my jewelry?

A: Always store your pieces out of the open air (even though branch jewelry holders are super adorable) - instead store them in an airtight container or bag. Vacation tip: when traveling, don’t forget to bring your jewelry storage essentials so you have a safe place to keep your pieces!

Jewelry Storage from The Container Store

Q: My sterling silver jewelry has tarnished! How do I remove the tarnish?  

A:  Luckily sterling silver is super easy to clean! Special jewelry cleaning cloths will do the trick but they can take a lot of time & elbow grease so I prefer an actual liquid cleaner. You can pick up silver jewelry cleaner at any CVS/Walgreens/Bed Bath & Beyond type store and simply dip, rinse well, and dry! Just make sure you don't dip any of the stones or pearls in the cleaner - it will dissolve their luster. Even easier than that is cleaning them with toothpaste and a toothbrush (that you no longer use, of course!). Clean, rinse, and dry!        

Q: My gold filled jewelry has darkened and looks dull! How do I shine it up again? 

A: To be clear, Gold filled does not tarnish or "rub off", but it can darken if not taken care of properly (for example, you wore it to that hot summer festival and after a day of sweat, it turned dark). My own secret trick is that I dip it in a sterling jewelry cleaner for just a second or two to remove that outer dull layer, but that may not be a recommended practice if you ask an expert. I've also found that putting it in a regular jewelry cleaner (not one specifically for sterling silver) will shine it up again, too. 

My secret household weapon for gold is just a little liquid laundry detergent mixed in with about a cup of water - stir it up, soak your piece in it, and clean it with an old toothbrush if needed. Rinse and dry well when finished.  

*On some of my pieces that have a gold ring, there is a soldered joint that will occasionally darken due to wear and weather.  Simply buff the dark spot with a jewelry polishing cloth or clean it with a liquid jewelry cleaner to shine it back up again.

If you can boil it down to one fundamental rule of jewelry care - avoid all things moisture as much as possible to ensure your jewelry stays as pristine as possible!

Some of our favorite products: 

Empire's Instant Tarnish Remover 

Sunshine Polishing Cloth 

Jewel Brite Cleaner