Phew, this winter has been rough! Having more snow and ice days than ever before,  these winter days have been brutal. Raise your hand up high if you slipped, or almost slipped? 🙋 Let’s be thankful we are exiting winter and heading into the next season of spring. We are hoping the flowers will begin to bloom, and our days will finally lighten up with sunshine again. Saint Patrick’s Day brings celebrations,  leprechauns, searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and indulging in delicious shamrock shakes, and green beer (if you’re of age of course!). As we approach the second Sunday in March, we dread losing an hour, but we gain more daylight and longer days of fun. “Springing forward” is a reminder to check your clocks and watches for working batteries, and make sure you’re not going to be late! Looking ahead at spring break vacations and warm weather plans, the blue in the sky reminds us of March’s birthstone, aquamarine, the real beauty this spring season.

March Birthstone:

Aquamarine

The blue of the ocean calms us as we watch the waves crash onto the shore. This calming sensation is replicated by aquamarine as it is believed to relax the senses, and for this reason is often used in meditation. It is one of the most beautiful and versatile gemstones on the market. Aquamarine is a semi-precious gemstone and is a member of the beryl family, which includes emerald and morganite. It is rated a 7.8 on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning that it is considered a hard stone, yet soft enough to accommodate a wide variety of gemstone cutting styles and shapes. Wearing this special stone is believed to increase courage, happiness, intelligence, wisdom, and youthfulness.

Fun Facts:

-Believed to be a precious treasure from mermaids, sailors have worn aquamarine amulets to keep them safe at sea, ward off seasickness, and protect them from Satan.

-Aquamarine gemstones are graded using the same system as diamonds – the 4 C’s: Cut, Color, Carat, and Clarity

~Cut: The shape of the stone

~Color: The color of the stone, best being D, meaning colorless

~Carat: The weight of the stone

~Clarity: This refers to the absence of blemishes and inclusions

– Aquamarine was believed to both soothe and prolong relationships, and for this reason is often given as an anniversary gift way before its official listing for the 19th wedding anniversary. 

– Aquamarine was also once thought to render soldiers invincible, and was thus carried into battle as a stone of protection. This ‘protection in battle’ legend has been reinterpreted by some in the modern age as a form of protection during legal battles.