I celebrated my birthday this past Saturday. To me, turning 27 felt like such an overwhelmingly adult number (Silly I know, but "one step closer to thirty," and all that.), so I wanted to do something very adult to mark the occasion. And what better way than to fly 881 miles away to a glitzy metropolitan city for a whirlwind overnight?

 
[Rockefeller Center's massive iconic tree and skating rink.] 

Bright and early on Saturday morning my mom, one of my good friends, and I flew to New York city. Once there, we rendezvoused with my brother and his fiancee, who drove in from Massachusetts that morning. It was so lovely to be surrounded by friends and family on my birthday, especially since I don't normally get to see them very often. I know it may sound hokey, but that really was better than the gifts I opened. (Though those were great too!)

[Here's a shot of my brother, mom and me.]

We walked the streets of Manhattan, and enjoyed the festive decorations and general buzz of the city.

[I particularly loved these giant suspended stars whose shifting colors were set to music.  And of course I loved seeing the Empire State building.] 

 
That night, we gussied ourselves up and headed to Lincoln Center. I'd never seen the Nutcracker ballet before, so that was my gift to myself. I had a wonderful time; the theater was stunning, and the show beautiful.  And at intermission I made sure to pick up my lone souvenir of the weekend (I was too busy enjoying the city to othewise shop.), a small silver ballerina charm.

[The subtly color-changing tree in the courtyard at the Lincoln Center.]
 
I've kept a charm bracelet of my travels and milestones since I was a little girl. My mom gave me my start many years ago when she handed down a few of her own charms that she attached to a new bracelet. I've added to my bracelet ever since. On each memorable trip, I seek out the perfect symbolic charm. There are certain things I look for: I prefer silver, and I love moving parts and colorful enamel. The trouble is that I don't ever wear charm bracelets. They're cute, but not quite my style. Plus mine's grown so much, it's really more of a charm necklace by now.

 
So two years ago I came up with a solution. I created a long chain out of jump rings - large rings connected by smaller rings, so that the chain would lay flat and display the charms without crowding them. I then attached all my charms to this nearly 2-foot long chain, and hung it in a shadow box to display on my wall. This way, instead of living in a dark drawer, my "journal via jewelry" is up and out where I can enjoy it. And I never have to worry about losing a charm, or feeling guilty about not wearing and showing off my adorable mementos.

[My mom and I at the New York State Theater.] 

My display idea was such a hit that I made my mom a charm bracelet shadow box of her own for Mother's Day last year. She had so many charms that I had to make two rows of chain just to accommodate all of them! Maybe one day I'll have collected that many myself. I suppose all I need are a few more memorable birthdays like this one.

I'd love to hear about your own traditions.
Do you collect charms too, or do you have another collection?  What does it mean to you?
And what creative jewelry solutions have you come up with?