Forever Paris Contest: Pandora fans are not Grinches

Pandora recently held a contest on Instagram to win a limited-edition gold Eiffel Tower charm. Fans were asked to, "Share a photo and write why you are a true Pandora fan." I submitted a photo and write-up on five of the six days that the contest ran. And one of my submissions won! This was my entry for June 24.

For your information the contest details are at the end of the post.

Pandora fans are not Grinches

"It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags." (Dr. Seuss' version)

Clearly the Grinch was NOT talking about Pandora. And he was certainly NOT a true Pandora fan!

"Pandora's not just about bracelets. It's not just about rings. It's not just about necklaces, charms or ear rings." (my version)
 

Pandora is about being part of a community of Pandora lovers. For over four years now, I have been part of a Pandora community on Facebook, and more recently on Instagram. We buy and sell charms from each other - new, preloved, retired, or hard-to-find. Sometimes we even swap. We help each other with promos or the latest gift with purchase. We send each other display boards, wrapping paper, gift bags, and display decorations.

Small gift bags

Large gift bags

 

I try to do my part by sending ribbons, pouches or catalogues. I've helped ladies around the world buy Disney pieces that they don't have in their country, retired charms I've discovered in my city, or charms exclusive to Canada - usually taking advantage of the free bracelet promo. I'm in a group that swapped Christmas ornaments with friends around the world. I've been in a support group that grew out of a selling page. I've even been in a photography group with friends who met through Pandora. And I'm in a wonderful group that does Secret Santa, exchanges birthday gifts, and are there for me during the ups and downs of daily life.

Pink travel box (plus chocolates) from a friend in Australia
Valentine's backboard from my local store

We've shared photos of our charms and bracelets. We've admired each other's creations. And we've shared stories about the meanings of our charms. With the support of my Pandora friends during my recovery, and with their feedback on my stories, I even started a blog.



VD - Valentine's Day
Ch - Christmas
MD - Mother's Day

Pandora fans are NOT Grinches. A true Pandora fan is kind and generous, is never jealous of someone else's collection, and is pleased to see the happiness that Pandora brings to the lives of her friends. I am a true Pandora fan.

"We collect ribbons.

We collect tags.

We collect packages,

boxes and bags."

(inspired by Dr. Seuss)

My Forever Paris dangle on one of my favourite promo items, the "Love is Forever" music box.

Only my second gold charm and it does glow!

A surprising find: the four feet of the Eiffel Tower are hearts - little gold hearts in this case!
How cute is that? Even my sales associate hadn't noticed this detail.

Related Posts:

Forever Paris Contest: grieving the loss of my mom - the winning story and photo, now with more photos of my mom's trip to Paris and the surprise I discovered; my submission for June 21, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: using Pandora charms in my recovery - a story about the role Pandora has played with links to stories about some of the charms; my submission for June 22, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: the meaning of Pandora's box - a story about how Pandora has helped me and what it represents, now with photos of my Pandora's box charm and the bracelet it's on; my submission for June 23, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: Ode to Pandora - a silly poem I wrote about Pandora, now with a photo for each stanza as well as a photo of my whole collection to date; my submission for June 26, 2016


Here is Pandora's description of the contest:

"To celebrate summer in the city of love, Pandora has created a limited-edition 'Forever Paris' dangle charm, and from June 20 - 26 you can win it in our #PandoraForeverParisContest. Each piece is beautifully crafted from 14K gold and features two diamonds.

 

"Because they are true collector's items, only 500 have been produced. Each dangle charm is engraved with a unique number (from 1-500) and they are only sold in selected stores in France but we have kept 10 for you!" 

 

Contest rules were available on Pandora.net.

The charm was valued at 599 € (approximately $860 CDN/$665 USD)

Forever Paris Contest: Ode to Pandora

Pandora recently held a contest on Instagram to win a limited-edition gold Eiffel Tower charm. Fans were asked to, "Share a photo and write why you are a true Pandora fan." I submitted a photo and write-up on five of the six days that the contest ran. And one of my submissions won! This was my entry for June 26.

For your information the contest details are at the end of the post.

Ode to Pandora

 

I do love you Pandora,

You are always on my mind.

Where's the latest catalogue?

On the nightstand you will find.

Every morning when I wake I think,

"What will I wear today?"

My clothes should match my bracelets

That is the only way!

I have bracelets in every colour,

And a leather one to match.

There's always at least one bangle

In amongst my daily stack.

I tie the cotton cords

And wear them with special charms.

I feel that I am naked

If there's nothing on my arms.

 

For when I need to know the time,

There's my bracelet with silver beads.

These novelty and animal charms

Tell daily lessons that I need.

All of my Essence charms

Are gifts that I receive.

My husband says, there's always hope

And that helps me believe.

"Curiosity, compassion, faith,"

He says, "I learned from you.

With happiness and trust,

Out of friendship our love grew."

 

"Health, wellness, and energy,

A peace one that is blue,

These beads represent

All the things I wish for you."

My kids picked out two Essence,

To represent me as a mom.

The affection and dedication are

From my daughter and my son.

A few Essence are from friends,

For the spiritual journey that I'm on.

To represent our friendships.

I love them every one.

 

I wear all my Essence daily

They're always on my right.

They give me strength and help me

Carry on from morn' 'til night.

There's resilience and wisdom

And on my bracelets you can see,

What I admire about my children,

And what lessons they've taught me.

For mindfulness and meditation,

Pandora meets my needs,

When I say the affirmation

I've attached to every bead.

I even have Pandora

Taped on my bedroom door!

The photos remind me

Of the ones I'm working for.

Pandora is how I express myself.

Each bracelet, a work of art.

Each charm represents a goal I've reached

Right from the very start.

Pandora is my hobby,

In case you're wondering why,

All my photos are of bracelets,

A true Pandora fan am I.

My winning entry

The three dimensional details on this charm are fabulous.

Related Posts:

Forever Paris Contest: grieving the loss of my mom - the winning story and photo, now with more photos of my mom's trip to Paris and the surprise I discovered; my submission for June 21, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: using Pandora charms in my recovery - a story about the role Pandora has played with links to stories about some of the charms; my submission for June 22, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: the meaning of Pandora's box - a story about how Pandora has helped me and what it represents, now with photos of my Pandora's box charm and the bracelet it's on; my submission for June 23, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: Pandora fans are not Grinches - a story about collecting Pandora promo items and the community of Pandora collectors (with some Dr. Seuss inspired rhyming); my submission for June 24, 2016


Here is Pandora's description of the contest:

"To celebrate summer in the city of love, Pandora has created a limited-edition 'Forever Paris' dangle charm, and from June 20 - 26 you can win it in our #PandoraForeverParisContest. Each piece is beautifully crafted from 14K gold and features two diamonds.

 

"Because they are true collector's items, only 500 have been produced. Each dangle charm is engraved with a unique number (from 1-500) and they are only sold in selected stores in France but we have kept 10 for you!" 

 

Contest rules were available on Pandora.net.

The charm was valued at 599 € (approximately $860 CDN/$665 USD)

Forever Paris Contest: grieving the loss of my mom

This is my prize! The Forever Paris charm came in a Limited Edition box.
The leather sleeve contains the certificate of authenticity.

Pandora recently held a contest on Instagram to win a limited-edition gold Eiffel Tower charm. Fans were asked to, "Share a photo and write why you are a true Pandora fan." I submitted a photo and write-up on five of the six days that the contest ran. This was my first submission, on June 21, and the story and photo that won!

For your information the contest details are at the end of the post.

Grieving the Loss of My Mom

 

One of the ways that I am a true Pandora fan is that I have used Pandora in ways that are different than most Pandora collectors, and written stories about them. One of the unique things I've done is to use Pandora to grieve the death of my mother - and to celebrate her life.

This bracelet I call "My Unforgettable Mom - her life in charms." The process of writing stories about these Pandora charms has become part of the process of grieving - looking through her old photo albums, reading her letters and journals, and writing blog posts around the story of her life. 

 

 

This photo [above] was taken in 1952 on my mother's first trip to Europe. She brought home a charm bracelet for her younger sister with a charm from each place she visited: on this trip, Switzerland [cow bell], England [Marble Arch], France [Eiffel Tower], Italy [gondola from Venice], Holland [wooden shoe] and Scotland [highland dancer].



Map of Australia added by Aunt Edna after she lived Down Under and married an Australian

 

I would love to retrace her steps and do a Pandora travel bracelet, including the Eiffel Tower. But in the meantime I have this ["My Unforgettable Mom"] bracelet in her memory.

Each charm has a special meaning. From her early years in the 1920's and her childhood nickname Fishy, to playing basketball in university and earning three degrees. From her work as a research scientist to her trips to Europe in the 1950's and 60's. From visiting art galleries and becoming an accomplished artist herself, to getting married and raising a family. From becoming a teacher, and then a literacy tutor, to losing her sight and becoming blind. For standing up for what she believed in, including access for the disabled, to travelling the world, despite being blind. From a trip to Greece with me, to becoming a grandmother of three. And finally, from losing track of time to a battle with Alzheimer's which took her life eight years ago. The "amazing" charm, simply because she was not only an amazing mom but an amazing person.

My Mom shortly before she retired from teaching.
Verna Georgie (Leonard) Holmes

From the Left: Verna (my Mom age 25), Barb, Jan and Joan
I was so shocked when I enlarged this photo.
Can you see what surprised me?!!
*(If you can't guess I will tell you at the bottom of the post)

Paris June 10-14 (1952)
Barb on Champs Elysees; Garden in Reid Hall

 

From the steps of the Madeline

Jan, Barb, and Joan at Versailles; Garden at Versailles

Barb (left) and Verna (right) Palace of Versailles

Jan and Arc du Carrousel; Verna in Touleries Garden

Barb, Roz Shaffer and Jan; Roz, Verna and Jan
Roz's house in Malmaison

Touleries Garden; Getting directions to Malmaison (Pam-Pam Champs Elysees)

 Champs Elysees from Touleries Garden to Arc d' Triomphe; Eiffel Tower

Bank of the Seine near Eiffel Tower; Joan, Verna and Jan

Enroute to Eiffel Tower (Shopping Girls?); Under Eiffel Tower

Café on Eiffel Tower; Verna, Joan and Barb Paris Station

Joan and Jan; From top of Eiffel Tower Trocodero - United Nations Building

From the top of the Eiffel Tower
Arc d'Triumphe in Centre; River Seine

*Can you see what surprised me?!!
The girls all have cigarettes in their hands! I suppose everybody smoked in those days, and they didn't yet know the dangers of smoking, but still it was my MOM! I've never seen her smoke. She smoked until she was pregnant with me and then it made her too nauseous so she quit. My mom taught at a community college and I remember her having a "black lung" specimen in her lab to show her students the effects of smoking. Later in life she would tell people she was allergic to cigarette smoke so they wouldn't smoke at meetings! And there she is, plain as day, smoking on the Eiffel Tower!

Related Posts:

Forever Paris Contest: using Pandora charms in my recovery - a story about the role Pandora has played with links to stories about some of the charms; my submission for June 22, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: the meaning of Pandora's box - a story about how Pandora has helped me and what it represents, now with photos of my Pandora's box charm and the bracelet it's on; my submission for June 23, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: Pandora fans are not Grinches - a story about collecting Pandora promo items and the community of Pandora collectors (with some Dr. Seuss inspired rhyming); my submission for June 24, 2016

Forever Paris Contest: Ode to Pandora - a silly poem I wrote about Pandora, now with a photo for each stanza as well as a photo of my whole collection to date; my submission for June 26, 2016

My new Eiffel Tower next to the old photo my mom took over 60 years ago.

Here is Pandora's description of the contest:

"To celebrate summer in the city of love, Pandora has created a limited-edition 'Forever Paris' dangle charm, and from June 20 - 26 you can win it in our #PandoraForeverParisContest. Each piece is beautifully crafted from 14K gold and features two diamonds.

 

"Because they are true collector's items, only 500 have been produced. Each dangle charm is engraved with a unique number (from 1-500) and they are only sold in selected stores in France but we have kept 10 for you!" 

 

Contest rules were available on Pandora.net.

The charm was valued at 599 € (approximately $860 CDN/$665 USD)