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My Most-Loved Christmas Traditions

October 20, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

I love traditions. Seasonal traditions, holiday traditions, cultural traditions. All of them. So, that being said, you can correctly assume that there are many Christmas traditions I love, and I’ll be sharing those with you here!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Lefse

Does your family have a Christmas tradition that is traditional to your heritage? We do! Making lefse is one of them. Lefse is like a very thin Norwegian tortilla made with potatoes, and my family really enjoys it. Making something from your heritage with your family is a great way to start the Christmas season. Not sure what traditions are associated with your heritage? Check it out on Google, or adopt a fun tradition from a different culture as well!

DIY Your Own Wreath

Start a new Christmas tradition, save money, and have fun doing it! A few years ago I started making my own Christmas wreaths, and it’s so much fun! All I do is use a metal wreath frame, cut some branches from trees on our property, and weave branches through the wire frame. Then, I add a bow, lights, and any additional touches I’d like from the craft store. When Christmas is over, we have a campfire using the branches, and I save the frame, faux berries, lights, and bow for the next year. It’s super simple, takes up virtually no space between seasons, and is very cute and customizable.

Tip: If you don’t have branches near your home to cut, you can use Christmas garland to weave through the frame. You can check out some other great DIY crafts here!

Fontanini

Fontanini is a company that makes beautiful, heirloom quality Nativity sets. My grandma and mom got me started with a set when I was five, and I’ve been collecting pieces to the Nativity ever since. It’s 100% my favorite thing to set up during Christmas, and is a great reminder of the reason for the season.

Operation Christmas Child

Tis the season to bless and be blessed! Operation Christmas Child sends shoeboxes full of necessities, toys, and more to children around the world. We have been packing shoeboxes for a few years now, and it’s so fun to shop for these items, write letters to recipients, and see what countries they end up going to. Operation Christmas Child is really spreading joy to the world! Follow them on Instagram to see the impact your shoeboxes will make!

If you’re looking to donate locally, there are often many organizations looking for volunteers and donations at homeless shelters, food banks, churches, and more. Also, another great way to donate is to give gifts in someones name. For example, if you have a friend or relative that ”already has enough stuff” and you’ve been told they don’t want a gift, why not give a donation in their name? You can do this in your local area, or around the globe, and it makes for a great gift all around.

Tip: Want to verify that you’re money is going to a reputable charity? Check out Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to verify where your gifts are going before you donate.

Packing some Operation Christmas Child boxes.

Sledding

If you’re spending Christmas in a snowy state, now is the time for all those fun winter activities. One of my favorites is sledding, followed by cozying up inside with a toasty cup of hot chocolate.

Christmas Lights Tour

Another one of my favorites, the Christmas lights tour! Crank up the Christmas tunes and cruise your neighborhood for lights. You never know what you might see!

A camper display at the drive thru light show in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Christmas Movies

Grab the popcorn, blankets, and Christmas classics, it’s movie night! Watch some retro Rudolph and enjoy the fun of your childhood favorites.

Hallmark Ornaments

A fun Christmas collection to start is with Hallmark ornaments. You can collect series of them every year, or choose a little something different each season. They make great Christmas gifts as well.

Cookies

You can’t go through the Christmas season without whipping up a batch of yummy cookies. Ever since I can remember, my mom has been making sugar cookies for Christmas. We’d have my cousins and friends over to decorate, and it was so fun. Baking and decorating cookies with friends and family is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Delivering Treats

Once you have those cookies done, it’s time to spread that joy around! Take time to visit your family, friends, neighbors, and others during this season, and bring them some tasty treats, too.

Tip: You can often find cookie tins at 70% off or more after Christmastime each year. That’s the prefect time to stock up for next year’s deliveries!

Fruitcake

Don’t knock it till you try it! And if you’ve tried it and didn’t like it, give another recipe a shot. I really don’t love some fruitcakes, but my grandma’s fruitcake recipe is a Christmas staple. Whether you’re making it, eating it, or both, you’ve at least got to try it once!

Christmas Plays

Visit Christmas plays, concerts, and more in your area. A church in our town does “Bethlehem Revisited” ever year, which accounts the events of the birth of Jesus. It’s pretty magical to see, and is great for little kiddos, those who may not know the story of Jesus’s birth, and a good reminder of the meaning of Christmas for all of us.

Bethlehem Revisited in Soldotna, Alaska. The Christmas tradition with real meaning. — A little bit of Bethlehem in Soldotna, Alaska.

Matching Pajamas

You can roll your eyes at this one, it’s fine. I just can’t get over how cute matching family pajamas are, especially when we get them for our dog as well. It’s just too adorable, and makes for a good gift to open on Christmas Eve.

Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree

For about seven years now, we’ve been cutting down our own Christmas trees. Are they full, perfect, and beautiful? No. Do we have a fun and memorable time doing it? Yes! If you have property or an area near you where you can harvest your own tree, take advantage of it and start a new Christmas tradition.

Cutting down Christmas trees. One of my favorite new Christmas traditions. — It may not be the perfect tree, but it’s the perfect one for me!

Christmas Breakfast

A tradition I’m hoping to start doing is Christmas/Christmas Eve breakfast. Maybe lingonberry crepes? Maybe fruit soup? I haven’t decided yet, but I’ll let you all know what we end up doing this year!

Hopefully this post has helped you get in the Christmas spirit and added some meaningful and fun traditions to this beautiful season. Share your favorite Christmas traditions in the comments below, and let me know if you plan on starting any of the traditions you read about in this post! Merry Christmas, friends!

Essential Things You Need to Do When Preparing Your Camper for Winter

October 12, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Winterizing. Yup, I said it. The time is upon us to get our campers, RVs, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and travel trailers ready for winter. Winter comes early here, so our fifth wheel is already winterized and parked for the snowy season. Now that we’ve gone through this winterization process for many seasons, I feel like I’ve got a good system down and can let you know about all the essential things you need to have and do to prepare you camper for winter.

The last trip of the season before the snow came.

Empty Your Tanks

This is an essential step, and my least favorite part of camper chores. It’s time to dump the tanks. Gray tanks, black tanks, fresh water, it all needs to be out so nothing freezes up. By the time our fifth wheel camping ends, dump stations here are already closed. If you have the same problem in your area, check into septic pumping services near you. That’s what I did this season, and they come right to your house to pump your tanks out for you. So convenient! Just be sure to follow the instructions on your individual RV to dump your camper properly and completely.

Pro Tip: Using a clear elbow when dumping your tanks makes a major difference. You can ensure that it’s completely empty, and see if it needs to be flushed out more, if you have that option on your camper. Check them out here!

Empty Out Your Food

Even if that pasta sauce’s expiration date isn’t until next summer, and you’ll be back in your camper by then, take it out. Any perishable item, even if it’s in a can or jar, should be out of you travel trailer. You don’t want any rodents or other pests to be moving in for the winter, so take the food source out. Also, during the freeze/thaw of winter, things will expand, contract, and possibly explode. No one wants to open their camper up to the remnants of summer soda pop’s past splattered all over their walls.

There was a lot to clean out after our last trip! Hopefully we’ll be more organized next year!

Pest Control

Knock on wood, we haven’t had this problem in our fifth wheel, and I hope we never do. “Prevention is the best cure” though, so stop your pest problem before it starts. My aunt suggested Irish Spring Soap to keep mice away, which I’m going to buy this weekend to leave in our camper for the winter. I’ve also heard that the scent of peppermint and a few other things keeps unwanted guests away. Have you tried these options or any others before? If so, please leave a comment, and let everyone know how it worked!

Antifreeze

Now it’s time to prevent any freezing in your camper’s plumbing. We use -50°F antifreeze, but you can use whatever formula is appropriate for your winter temperatures. Follow the instructions provided with your RV to complete this step, or hire someone who can do this for you.

Pro Tip: From what I have experienced, it seems like Walmart is the cheapest place to purchase your RV antifreeze, but shop around in your area as well for the best price

DampRid

There is a surprising amount of condensation and moisture that occurs in your camper over the winter. I wouldn’t have realized this until we started using DampRid. DampRid buckets absorb moisture in the air and trap in within the absorbent crystals in the buckets. We use large buckets in our toy haulers garage and living room, and smaller ones for the bathroom and bedroom. They do a fantastic job of keeping our toy hauler free of excess moisture.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Unfortunately, we didn’t have a lot of time to do this before freeze up this year, but cleaning and maintenance are important steps in preparing your camper for winter. Make sure slide out seals are conditioned, inspect your roof for leaks or damage, reseal any areas that need it, wash your camper, and do whatever else needs to be done so you can hop on in and start camping ASAP once spring hits!

Pro Tip: Double check that all of your roof vents are closed! Leaks from snow and rain can cause serious damage to your camper, so it’s always good to make 100% sure these are closed.

I hope this list has helped you prepare you RV, camper, fifth wheel, or travel trailer for the winter ahead. Putting away our camper is usually the last winter chore we have before the snow really starts, so it’s the official end of fall for us. But don’t fret, there’s plenty of things to enjoy during winter as well! And it’s the perfect time to plan your summer camping trips and determine what else you need in your RV! Winter isn’t the end of camping, it’s just a season to plan your next adventure. Happy planning, folks!

The Real Cost of Winter in Alaska

October 12, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Are you thinking about moving to Alaska or are maybe just curious about the cost of living here? That’s great, I’m here to help! I’ve prepared a list of items to help you learn about the cost of living in Alaska during the winter. This list isn’t 100% comprehensive, but contains many of the things you’ll need to think about when budgeting for Alaskan winters.

I know as you read this some of these things may sound discouraging and overwhelming. This list isn’t intended to dismay you, but to inform you so you can be prepared for our longest and coldest season. The reality is, winter in Alaska is harsh, cold, and dark. But this season is also full of fun adventures, cozy nights by the fire, beautiful crisp days, and so much more. Winter is one of my favorite seasons in The Last Frontier, and the more you are prepared for it, the more you can enjoy it.

Winter Tires

You’ll want to have studded tires on your vehicle during winter. Some will say you can get by without them, but I think they make an immense difference. Things to think about as it relates to the cost are the tires themselves, tire change over (if you won’t be doing it yourself), and storing the tires. For example, we have a dually pickup, so we have the cost of six tires, spring and winter tire changes if we don’t have time to do it, and an area in our backyard to store them on a pallet under a tarp. Ideally, I’d love to have a shed to store them in, but it’s just too costly currently.

Winterizing

If you have an RV, camper, equipment, boat, or anything else that can freeze up during winter, you’ll need to winterize it. For example, if you are winterizing a fifth wheel like we just did, some things to take into account are the price of RV antifreeze, dumping your camper, Damp Rid (if you plan on using it for moisture control), and whatever else you may need. Plus, if you don’t do the service yourself, factoring in the cost of labor will have to be considered, too. You can check out a list of camper winterization tips here!

Storage

If you want any campers/RVs/vehicles/boats stored for the winter, that will be another cost of winter in Alaska. It’s handy to have those types of things covered during winter, but it can be costly. Pro tip, storage facilities fill up fast, so call as early as possible to get a spot. You can also check into getting things wrapped so snow will slide better, and snow can be brushed off easier.

Home Servicing

If you need your furnace serviced, yard maintenance, sewer pumped, gutter work, or any other services done for winter, you’ll need to consider these in your budget.

Utilities

Utilities are a big thing to factor into the cost of winter in Alaska. With dropping temperatures and darker days, your lights will be on more. Also, your heat will be up, and so will your bills. If you have an older, less energy efficient home like we do, you’ll obviously be paying more. If you supplement heat with wood you cut yourself for zero cost, that’ll lower your cost. If you plug your tuck in, your electric bill will be higher. There are many things that can cause your utilities to fluctuate, so be aware of those costs.

Vehicles plugged in outlets in Fairbanks, Alaska where you’ll 100% need to use that block heater!

Frozen Pipes

If you have issues with heating your home, you may end up with frozen pipes. I don’t know how much it costs to fix this, and I never want to find out. This is where keeping your furnace and other heat sources in tip top shape really comes in handy. And it’s also where house sitters come in handy.

House Sitters

Did I mention winter’s are dark and cold? This usually leads to people traveling outside (lower 48) at some point during the winter, if they’re can, to get some sunshine and vitamin D. But when you’re gone in the winter, you can’t just leave your house unattended. If you do, it may lead to the frozen pipes problem mentioned above. Thus, you’ll need a house sitter. If you’re lucky, a friend, family member, or good neighbor may be able to watch it while you’re gone. If not, you may need to hire someone in your area to check on it for you and ensure the heat is on and things are good while you’re soaking up the sun.

Vitamin D

What does this have to do with your winter budget? Well, with longer, dark winters, us Alaskans don’t get much sun in the winter. Thus we don’t get enough vitamin D. I’m not a medical professional, so I am only speaking from personal experience here, but your doctor will likely recommend that you take vitamin D. Just another small thing to budget for during winter and year round.

Snow Removal

Do you plan on doing your own snow removal? Will you need shovels, a snow blower, a four wheeler or truck plow? Those options, and the maintenance on them, can get pretty pricy. Depending on what area you move to, you may be able to get away with just a shovel and snowblower (although I’ve never used a snowblower, honestly). Or, you may need a plow on your four wheeler or truck, which is what I’d recommend if you’re in a snowier area. If you plan on hiring out for your snow removal, that can also bring your budget up. You then have to depend on someone else to show up before the snow gets too deep, but sometimes that’s the only option. Just make sure whomever you hire has many good reviews before entrusting them to take on the job.

Okay, are you sufficiently stressed out about the cost of winter in Alaska yet? No? Awesome! Yes? Don’t worry too much! Being prepared for the next season is a big part of living in Alaska. Budgeting for the next season is a big part of being prepared. Now that you know what you’re getting into, I sincerely hope this helps you plan ahead and have a successful winter in our beautiful state. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments!

Gifts for Outdoorsy Folks Under $25

October 9, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Honestly, there are some people that are just plain hard to shop for. They may have everything they need. Maybe they’re very particular. It may just be that you don’t quite know what they’d actually enjoy and use. Luckily for you, most outdoorsy folks are always looking for new gear, are willing to try new things, and enjoy a variety of outdoor hobbies. This makes shopping for them much easier than you might think. And, lucky for you, I’m one of those outdoorsy folks, so I’ve got plenty of gift ideas to share with you!

LifeStraw

LifeStraws are water filtration straws that take contaminants, bacteria, and other unwanted particles out of water so it is safe to drink. Why is this a good gift for those who love the outdoors? Great question. When hiking, camping, or just traveling to the next adventure destination there may not always be easy access to fresh, clean water. If someone ends up in an emergency situation in the outdoors, they may run out of fresh water that they hike in with. Thus, LifeStraws are there to save the day. Plus, when you purchase a LifeStraw product, a “child in need receives safe drinking water for an entire school year”. If that’s not a win-win I don’t know what is.

Typhoon Matches

These aren’t just any old matches. Zippo Typhoon Matches come in a protective, floating container, and are windproof, water-resistant, and have an up to thirty second burn time. These are an essential addition to any outdoor or emergency gear kit.

Paracord

This versatile cord has many uses in the outdoors. Need rope to secure a tarp between trees? Grab the paracord! Did your boot laces break on your hike? Use paracord to replace them! Make it into a fish stringer, gun sling, or water bottle carrier; paracord has a ton of uses!

Travel Pillow

Having a compact, compressible pillow for camping is a great outdoor luxury. I have a Therm-a-Rest pillow similar to this one, which is over $25. You can find many compressible, and even inflatable, pillows online that are less than $25 though.

Nalgene Water Bottle

Lightweight and American made, these water bottles make the perfect gifts for outdoorsy folks.

Dry Bags

Wet gear can really put a damper on outdoor adventures. Giving the gift of dry bags will help keep gear dry and out of the elements.

Headbands

No one likes to have sweat dripping in their eyes or hair blowing in their face while you’re trying to enjoy a nice hike. Check out Bay Bands and get 15% off here!

First Aid Kit

Everyone needs a first aid kit, especially when you’re out and about in wilderness. Give the gift of a first aid kit to protect your loved ones, and add any extras you think they may need such as a SAM Splint, tourniquet, or quick clot to keep them prepared on their adventures. Also, to ensure the recipient knows how to use these items, look into first aid classes in their area to purchase for them, or notify them about the classes as well.

Socks

High quality, durable, and comfortable socks can really make a difference in a person’s time outdoors. They make perfect gifts, and you can easily find them online or in your local sporting good store.

Jetboil Fuel

Jetboils are definitely out of our $25 range, but their fuel isn’t! If your outdoorsy loved one has a Jetboil, why not grab some fuel to help them prepare for their next outdoor excursion.

Getting ready to enjoy a little camp snack.

onXmaps

onXmaps has a variety of maps you can purchase for offroading, hunting, and backcountry adventures. They are more than $25, but you can Google onXmaps promo codes and get a discount to bring it down to $25. They make great gifts, and we use our onX Hunt maps all the time.

Memberships

Chances are the outdoor lover in your life has a passion for conservation, wildlife, outdoor education, or some related cause. If that’s the case, why not sign them up for a membership to one of these organizations? Often times, if you gift a donation to the organization in someone’s name, they will send that person a letter, magazine, and sometimes another gift as well such as a backpack, jacket, shirt, travel mug, or other fun goodie. This way you’re supporting your friend’s passion as well as giving a gift.

HotHands

HotHands hand, foot, body, and toe warmers are a must for outdoor activities on those chillier days. They’re very affordable, useful, and made in America. Whomever you give them to will definitely get their use out of these handy warmers.

Dehydrated Meals

There’s nothing like a tasty Peak or Mountain House meal while you’re out hiking, hunting, biking, or camping. If you grab your friend a couple of these it makes the perfect gift!

Nothing like a **tasty meal** outdoors on a chilly afternoon.

Long Handled Spoon

If you think this is an odd gift for outdoorsy folks, that’s definitely understandable. I know it really does sound strange, but it’s a very handy outdoor tool. Dehydrated meal bags are fairly large and deep, so to easily eat out of them one would need a handy, dandy, long handle spoon. That’s where this comes in to play. And, if you bundle this with some meals, you’ve got the perfect gift!

If these gift ideas have helped you with your gift list shopping, leave a comment below and let me know what you purchased! Thanks for reading, and happy shopping, friends!

Subscription Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

October 3, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Are you hoping to find a unique and useful gift idea? Maybe you’re shopping for a friend’s birthday, Mother’s Day, getting gifts for everyone on your Christmas list, or looking to purchase something fun for yourself? Why no look into a subscription? You may think they’ll be too expensive, or you won’t find one that fits the individual you planning on giving it to. Believe me, there are many affordable options out there, and there’s definitely a subscription for everyone on your list. Below, I’ve listed subscriptions that anyone from babies to seniors will love!

KiwiCo

KiwiCo subscription boxes have something for every age and interest. They’re primarily targeted at groups ages infant to teens, but they’re fun for everyone. I purchased a subscription for a friends little ones, and they really enjoyed it. She even wanted to save an activity to do with me, so we got to do one together and it was tons of fun! These monthly boxes are affordable, educational, and promote creativity. You can also choose the length and type of subscription you want. Get $10 off your KiwiCo purchase here!

Universal Yums

This is a gift the whole family can enjoy. Universal Yums will send a curated box of snacks from a different country every month to the recipients. You can choose the amount of snacks that are sent for the subscription, the subscription length, and the first country that will be featured in the subscription. Plus, each box of snacks and treats includes information on the snack’s country of origin, so they can learn while they snack! Get $5 off here!

Harvest Host

Gift your loved ones a subscription to Harvest Host. Harvest Host allows members the opportunity to camp at a variety of farms, attractions, and even golf courses (if you add it to the subscription). With this membership, they can stay the night at these fun locations for free. They can take their motorhome, camper, fifth-wheel, or other self-contained camping vehicle and enjoy their camping adventure in a new and special location.

AAA

Give the gift of AAA. Roadside assistance, towing, discounts, travel planning, and more are included in subscriptions to AAA service. I received a AAA subscription from my aunt, and it saved me a bundle on towing costs. Give the gift of peace of mind and tons of savings with AAA.

Storyworth

This gift is as much a gift for you as it is for the recipient. Storyworth is a subscription that emails prompts to the recipient every week. They respond to the email at any time with stories and even photos. Once a year of questions is complete, Storyworth compiles all of the photos and responses into a book, creating the recipients autobiography. I purchased a subscription for both of my parents last Christmas, and it’s been so fun reading their responses. Learn more about Storyworth here, and get $10 off your purchase!

Spotify

Who doesn’t love music!? Giving the gift of Spotify premium allows the listener to enjoy their tunes ad-free, with unlimited skips, and they can download from the Spotify library to listen anywhere. It’s an inexpensive gift that anyone is sure to appreciate.

The Flower Letters

Have you heard of The Flower Letters subscription? If not, I’ll give you a little lowdown on it. The Flower Letters is a subscription that tells a story through letters recipients get in the mail twice a month for a year. There are multiple stories to choose from. It’s like watching you’re favorite tv show, but doing it the “old school” way by waiting to hear the next episode via mail. It’s a unique gift to give, and gives your recipient mail to look forward to all year long.

FabFitFun

I’ve had a FabFitFun subscription for years now. I get a box with various fitness, cosmetic, household, and other goodies every season. FabFitFun lets you choose the items from a list of things they have picked out, and depending on the membership level you can pick out every item, or they will choose a few of them for you. Many of the items are high-value, brand names that honestly I’d probably never try outside of getting this box, due to the cost of buying the individual item. I gifted my mom a box subscription one season. It’s like a surprise within a gift because you give the subscription, but they get to choose some of their own gifts within the box. Kind of fun! To save $10 on the first box, click here!

Amazon Prime

I use my Amazon Prime membership almost every day. It allows me to get free shipping on Prime items, stream tons of movies and TV shows, and more. This is a gift that almost anyone on your list is sure to use, whether it be to watch their favorite TV show or order their groceries.

Magazines

There is a magazine out there for every interest. Do you know the favorite hobbies or interests of people on your gift list? Perfect! You can likely find a magazine to fit them, and yearly subscriptions are often under $10. Some of my favorites are Country Living, Taste of Home, and All Recipes.

Audible

Do you know someone who loves to read but may not have the time to read as much as they’d like to? Gift them a subscription to Audible, and they can listen to a variety of audiobooks at their convenience!

I hope this list has given you some great gift ideas. If you have a favorite subscription you’d like to share, or have tried one of the ones listed above, give a review of it in the comments!

Jewelry by Johan: My Experience with Custom Jewelry

September 6, 2022 by Everyday Alaska

Weddings can be pretty stressful. There are so many decisions to make. What type of cake to serve? What shoes to wear? What songs to play? What ring to buy? And that question is how I happened upon Jewelry by Johan.

I’m a pretty sentimental person, so I knew I wanted to get something unique and custom for my husband’s ring. Something that fit his personality and was memorable. When I found out I could use a moose shed he found to make his ring, I was hooked. That’s when my experience with Jewelry by Johan began.

My husband’s moose antler shed wedding band turned out even better than expected.

Jewelry by Johan

Jewelry by Johan is a custom jewelry designer. They make their jewelry in America, using a variety of unique materials to create one of a kind, heirloom pieces.

Materials

Is your loved one interested in more traditional diamond pieces? They have that! Do they love space? Meteorite jewelry may be the perfect out of this world gift for them! Outdoorsey? Try an item made with antler! Are they musically inclined? Check out their guitar string rings! Going for a prehistoric vibe? Dinosaur bone might be just the ticket! There is really a material that will fit any interest and personality.

These custom crushed antler earrings from Jewelry by Johan turned out beautifully.

As I mentioned, I chose a moose shed that my husband found to create the pieces of jewelry that Jewelry by Johan made for us. JBJ does have antler that they can supply, but if you have your own piece that is large enough to use, you can send it to them and they will use it to create your custom piece. If your piece is too small, they can still use it by turning it into crushed antler. They then use the pieces of it to create your unique accessories.

Additional Customization

In addition to the variety of materials you can choose from, there is also the option for text and image engraving for certain sizes and materials of rings. Since I chose to use antler for my items, I was not able to use this service, but if you are able to do so it adds an additional personal element to your pieces.

The antler in this band really created the classic look I had hoped for.

Pieces

There are many possibilities when it comes to what jewelry you can create with JBJ. They make and design rings, earrings, necklaces, tie clips, and more. I purchased my husband’s wedding ring, two sets of earrings (one for me and one for my mom), and three tie clips (one each for my husband, dad, and father-in-law) from them. All of the pieces turned out incredible and came in beautiful boxes. I couldn’t have been happier with them, and my experience of dealing with JBJ was absolutely awesome.

Customer Service

I didn’t go full bridezilla during wedding planning, but I was pretty darn picky about what ring I was going to get for my husband. I had so many question about how ring sizing with antler worked, if my antler sample would work, and more that I called and emailed wayyy too many times. Each time I got the best, most polite customer service, and got all of my questions answered. They do a great job of walking you through the process of custom jewelry design and explain all you need to know. I was so impressed by their professionalism and kindness, and can’t recommend them highly enough for both their products and great customer service.

Whether you’re looking for a wedding ring, earrings for mom, or a bracelet for a friend, Jewelry by Johan has it all. Their mix of high quality, unique, custom jewelry and exceptional customer service has earned them a lifetime customer in me, and I hope they can do the same for you.

For any questions about my experience with JBJ or about what I had made, please comment below and I’ll answer as soon as possible. Also, don’t forget to check their website for discount codes and sign up for their email list to see current sales! Thanks for reading and happy shopping, folks!

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