JENNIFER McKENZIE WELKER

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE AK PRODUCTS AND WHY?

I'm in love with the letter keychains...since I own a personalized jewelry business, it's only fitting that I need another "initial" in my daily life. One of my other favorite pieces is the iPad cover...a MUST HAVE since my iPad is with me all the time!

I'm also a creative mess, so I scratch notes and jot design ideas all day long, so the AK notepad holder definitely makes the mess seem a little more chic!

WHAT ARE THE TOP THINGS THAT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT OR ARE CURRENTLY OBSESSED OVER?

 

• Ray Bans
• iPad
• My Bible
• Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose
• Venti non-fat hazelnut macchiato
• Golden Thread earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces. LOVE stacking them all up! Dark-chocolate covered espresso beans
• My ridiculously large vintage bag...it used to be my "stylish carry-on" when I traveled, but nowadays, it doubles as a work/diaper bag. It has three compartments...one for each child and then one for my work!
• LuLu Organics Dry Shampoo (in Lavender!)
• Trish McEvoy Blackberry Vanilla perfume
• Last, but certainly not least...my family! I'm head over heels for my husband, Ellis, and I'm just wild about our two kiddos...McKenzie (8mths) and Noah (2yrs). So blessed to have such an amazing, loving and supportive family!

 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES YOU HAVE TRAVELLED TO AND WHY?

My favorite trip of all time is when my husband and I traveled to Bora Bora for our one-year wedding anniversary! We love, love, love the beach and all things oceanic and mountainous. Bora Bora combines both of these and is the most beautiful place in the world...staying in an over-water bungalow just off the shore was truly the icing on the cake!

Secondly, as my husband and I love to travel and love sports...two of our favorite trips both include LONDON! Before we had our first child, Noah, we traveled to London to attend Wimbledon. Being such huge tennis fans, having the opportunity to be that close to the great Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams was incredible! Then, this past summer, for a babymoon before we had McKenzie, we went back to London to see the Summer Olympic Games. Incredible!! This was a dream come true, and I am so thankful for this trip of a lifetime. Ellis and I were blessed enough to be at the Opening Ceremonies and to witness Olympic gold at swimming, gymnastics, and tennis...we even had a "royal" citing of the Queen, Prince William and Kate! It was truly surreal!

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BEAUTY ESSENTIALS AND SECRETS?

My daily beauty essentials are La Mer's Brightening Infusion Lotion, Soleil de La Mer, Smashbox BB Tinted Moisturizer with SPF and Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. Since I am a mom of two young children, I have about three minutes to get ready in the morning and these products really do make practical and everyday beauty attainable. I love feeling beautiful, but I don'tlike to wear a lot of make-up, so with these products I just add a colored lip balm and I'm out the door feeling fresh-faced and ready for the day.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

UK's Daily Mail and...the amount of online shopping that I do!

What's the scoop on Golden Thread and from where do you draw your inspiration?

I am so passionate about accessories and all things regal, feminine and timeless and in 2010 I pursued this life-long passion with the launch of my brand, Golden Thread. My line is a luxurious blend of handcrafted and personalized jewelry that embodies regal femininity and classic elegance.

As a mother and a wife, I relate so much to women's desires to feel effortlessly beautiful in their day-to-day lives and I am inspired to design for these women. As a contemporary brand, we pride ourselves on the extreme customization that the shopper gets to create with our line...add your three initials, engrave a milestone date on the back, add a diamond or birthstone of your choice...mixing and matching, layering and adding to your collection as the years go by.

Inspired by architectural and historical shapes, my designs combine timeless icons with modern appeal. I crave the era of my style icons: Jackie Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot, and Coco Chanel of the late 1960's. While I draw so much inspiration from their personal style, I thrive on the differences of each woman and her individual style.

Ralph Waldo Emerson brilliantly said, "insist on yourself, never imitate."

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PERSONAL STYLE AND WHAT ARE YOUR MUST-HAVE GOLDEN THREAD PIECES?

Personal style is about engaging in the creative process, one that evolves as you do, and putting your "signature touch" on each day. I always try to pair classic styles with a fresh, modernized twist. Modest, refined, and traditional meets a sophisticated and savvy sense of personal style.

It is also the way that you carry yourself; you should always be dressed head-to-toe in poise, confidence and grace (as opposed to just a designer label).

I change pieces in and out from my collection on a daily basis, but these are my staples:

Large diamond bezel piece with my married monogram in yellow gold Rose gold sideways diamond cross ring stacked with our large signet ring on top of our yellow gold edged clover ring Layering our sideways tiny "W" bracelet and our crest bangle both in rose gold

WHAT'S ON YOUR IPHONE: TOP APPS? TOP SONGS?

My must-have apps are: ShopStyle, Twitter, Instagram, OnePlace, Snapchat and AfterLight. And the top artists playing on my phone and in my car are: Icona Pop, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Christy Nockels and Zac Brown Band.

WHO IS JENNIFER WELKER AND WHY DO WE LOVE HER?

Jennifer's savvy style and bubbly personality make her an instant standout.

Born and raised in Houston, Jennifer's Texas roots run deep. After earning her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas (where she was also a cheerleader) Jennifer went on to become a registered nurse in the Neonatal ICU at the Children's Memorial Herman Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

Six years later, needing a positive way to unleash her creativity after tending for struggling newborns, Jennifer began to pursue her lifelong dream of designing. In 2010, the now booming Golden Thread jewelry line was born and currently serves as an accessory staple for the likes of Pippa Middleton and more. Jennifer's line, like our own, is handmade in the U.S.A and allows you to have a seemingly endless amount of personalized options so that the finished product is truly a reflection of yourself.

For today and tomorrow, Jennifer is extending a 20% discount off of her entire line - just for us. Take a look at all of the products here and be sure to enter "KNIGHT" at checkout to receive the fabulous savings!