lucky penny is a cougar… yup, there she said it.

rather than be ashamed, why not embrace her feline temptress self with a gold diamond pavé cougar ring by anita ko? the price tag is a few pay cheques deep, but cute boyfriend is listening… and saving pennies, natch. he would be wise to avoid a cat fight.

this beauty, as well as her less sparkly girlfriend, are both available at augustina. rawr!

lucky penny is free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot change.

nearly five years ago at the london fashion week exhibition, she met local jewellery designer alex monroe, and immediately fell in love with his nature-inspired trinkets… like this birds and nest ring. the duo of swallows watch over their pearl egg in such delicate whimsy.

“meander through the british countryside to the sound of bird song. this lively collection brings together many of alex’s birdlife designs, featuring a flock of swallows, reed warblers, goldcrests, owls and more. the energy and spirit of our smallest native song birds are captured as the birds perch or fly among the branches and leaves of the summer meadows. keep an eye out for blue and pink topaz, sapphire and pearls in amongst the birdlife.”

how darling.

lucky penny is a hopeless romantic. she walks through life with a boom box hoisted above her head… blasting one ’80s power ballad after another, and “making love out of nothing at all“.

tucked away in her jewel box, she just found a lost treasure from years past… the reese ring by jeanine payer. hand-engraved onto mixed precious metals with poetry like “at one glance, i love you with a thousand hearts“. *swoon*

happy valentine’s day, lovers! xo

lucky penny, as a wee one, loved to play dress-up in grandma’s closet… adorning herself in costume jewels, stomping around in heels too big, and parading about in fur toppers… that was every sunday afternoon.

so imagine her delight when she received an invitation to preview swarovski’s stunning fall/winter 2011 collection. titled “wings of fantasy”, over 50 pieces were on display.

flitting between a dozen podiums, she tried on numerous bold, beautiful pieces. her favourite? “the proudly” necklace… paying homage to the feathers of majestic birds. this multi-coloured beauty induced a longing and wishful sigh.

a close second was a fully encrusted hello kitty doll. only 88 were created and each one retails for about $10,000! sheesh.

for cute boyfriend, there were bracelets, rings, cufflinks, a necklace and accessories… like a beautiful, black leather iphone case, and two gorgeous skull paperweights.

***psst… a new fragrance was also unveiled. aura is a nice, light and summery scent with notes of white musk, lychee and hints of citrus… and housed in a crystal bottle, of course.

lucky penny has an itch to scratch… her strict shopping diet is coming to an end. the holidays are just around the corner, time to blow the dust off her credit card. chaaaaaaarge it!

now where to? armed with a golden ticket, a *sweet* 10% off anything at the drake general store seemed like the perfect pit-stop.

first: a box of charming christmas cards… ok, good start. until she was distracted by something shiny and sparkly… jewellery. duh.

second: 14k gold “forget me knot” ring by kiel mead. made from the mold of a real string, penny claus thinks this will help her not to forget… [blank stare]. oh, right… also available in sterling silver, as well as brass dipped in coloured enamel.

third: knotted wire rings by erica weiner. both plated in gold (yellow and rose), they nest as a pair, but best to split ‘em up and share with a bestie.