Bonnie gets her first Turkish Valentine at check-in

Hardly a denizen of PDA, you’re lucky to spy a young couple holding hands let alone smooching on the streets of Istanbul.  Even with its sultry history of harems and other royal luxuries, city of lovers it is not!  There’s one thing, though, all Istanbulites gush adoringly over – children!

Traveling through Istanbul with small children is an experience like no other that offers exclusive insight into the warmth and love of this fascinating culture.

For parents accustomed to a full-alert (one might say territorial) approach to child rearing, Turkish custom will take some getting used to.  Last year when we took our then 2-year-old to Istanbul, her instant celebrity status was almost overwhelming.  From a corner fruit stand to the Grand Bazaar, she was showered with treats from perfect strangers – Turkish delight, a beautiful orange, one Turkish lira, and (much to my dismay) a stick of gum, were hand-fed or otherwise reverently bestowed upon this little munchkin.  Many simply wanted to know her name before continuing merrily on their way.  A couple teenagers asked to take a photo with her.  Several waiters paraded her around the restaurant and grabbed her a special treat from the kitchen before even acknowledging our presence.  But all, old and young, looked lovingly at her cherubim cheeks and whispered “Maşallah.”

Maşallah (pronounced My-shalla) and Inş’Allah are both peppered through Turkish conversation regularly, literally meaning, “God has willed it,” and “God willing,” respectively.  When we asked a native friend about the use in regards to children, though, he gave us an explanation that touched our hearts.  Children in Turkish culture, he explained, are cherished for their innocence.  To say “Maşallah,” is to invoke God to preserve that innocence.

Make no mistake, adoration is not reserved for blonde, blue-eyed westerners, as we learned when we went out with our friend and his family.  There Arron and I sat, trying hard to conceal our tension as our friend’s daughter ran wildly around the Istanbul equivalent to The Orangery at Kensington Garden!  Had we been in New York – or Lander Wyo. for that matter – we would surely have been asked to leave, but in Istanbul, neither the restaurant staff nor any patrons batted an eye.

Yes, one might argue the pendulum is too far to the opposite extreme.  And we personally will not forfeit the “on your bottom” standard for mealtime any day soon, but can you imagine if we held all children in our own society in such high esteem?  What love, then, would manifest through us and within them?

Kristen Cavallari in Gypsy necklaces in the September 2010 issue of Maniac Magazine as well as on www.style.MTV.com.

Gypsy draws inspiration from an era known for its strong use of abstract symbolism in art, and our jewelry continues to feature these timeless symbols.  Their meanings enhance the natural aesthetics of our pieces and, we think, make a little statement about the wearer as well!  So, read on, pomegranate gals, because this is all about you!

The pomegranate has long held symbolic meanings for the Greeks. In ancient times, they were offered to the gods for fertile land and for the spirits of the dead.  Today, it is still conventional for a guest to bring a pomegranate as a housewarming gift, which is placed near the home altar of the house as a symbol of abundance, fertility (Consider yourself forewarned!) and good luck.

Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds, which correspond with the 613 commandments of the Torah.

According to the Qur’an, pomegranates grow in the gardens of paradise, and many Christian depictions of the Christ child and his mother feature them holding pomegranates in their hands as symbols of resurrection.

Finally, the pomegranate ties to the infamous history of Anne Boleyn.  The fruit was originally an emblem in the coat of arms of Catherine of Aragon, a devout Catholic and the first wife of King Henry VIII.  After the King divorced Catherine to marry Anne Boleyn, Boleyn’s first decree designated a new coat of arms, showing a white falcon pecking at a pomegranate.  Meeeow!!!

Symbolism aside, the tart, refreshing taste of pomegranate transports us to Turkey, where freshly squeezed pomegranate juice has been standard street fare far longer than American juice bars and wellness magazines have been touting its detoxifying properties!  We enjoy eating the “pips” by themselves or thrown in a salad. (Sidebar: Pomegranate dissection: Extract them easily by cutting the pom in half, soak for a few minutes in a bowl of water, then scoop out the pips into the water, discarding any pips and fibers that float to the top.)  We also recommend checking out this recipe for slow roasted lamb with pomegranate salad on BBC Food which will make the pom a centerpiece on your dinner plate.

Inside and out, the pomegranate delights and allures, and we suspect that all our pomegranate-wearing ladies out there do the same!

Whether you’re in blustery New England, unpredictable San Francisco or always sunny Florida, Gypsy scarves will help you make a autumn style statement no matter the weather. Annie shares her favorite ways to wear Gypsy’s felted wool & silk scarvesand invites you to wrap up and show off!

Click through for the video!

Now it’s your turn… how do you style your scarf?