UGG Boots fashion news
Amy Berkley will be emotional as any proud parent when her two graduates pick up their Cumberland Valley High School diplomas during Friday's commencement at the Giant Center in Hershey.
There are plenty of happy tears as Berkley describes the highlights of being with "her girls" from the first day of classes last August to May's senior prom.
And the girls - Denise Lammers, of Germany, and Debora Macedo, of Brazil, two of Cumberland Valley's 20 exchange students - will be sorry, too, when it's time to give their Hampden Township host mother a last hug and kiss.
"No one will truly understand the depth of our relationship," Berkley said.
Berkley grew up in Shippensburg and went to college there, too. She slaked her thirst for travel and adventure with a post-high-school cross-country drive that filled her own mother with dread.
Now, she hosts exchange students who are making their own life's trek. Two students stayed with Berkley and her husband, Mark, last summer. In the fall, two more will arrive.
The couple have two dogs but no children. Yet, their house has room for young visitors and Amy Berkley has time - working part-time as a nurse - to mother them.
Lammers and Macedo, both 17 and schooled in English, needed her after their first day at a big school filled with fast-talking strangers.
"The first week was really hard with understanding the different accents," Lammers said.
She and Macedo used Berkley as a sounding board during refrigerator raids after school and sports practice.
"Denise is my little athlete. Debbie is my social butterfly," Berkley said.
She let them paint and decorate their bedrooms and took them on trips to Colorado and California. She supplied them with cell phones, laptop computers and fashion advice. Macedo needed coaxing to try ugg boots and both initially shunned jeans with artfully-placed rips, Berkley said.
The girls answered her generosity with school success. Both are honor roll students and Macedo was voted on to prom court. Both girls say Berkley has become family to them and they'll stay in touch online after returning home.
"That's not even a question for us," Macedo said.
"I've seen the strength it's taken them to get through this program," Berkley said. As adults, we forget there's millions of possibilities. There's a small window in their lives and I tell them to live it big."
Let You and Her Be the Perfect Match
How has Tiffany & Co Become the Darling of American High Society
An Icon is Born
In September 1837, New York was first introduced to the stationary and fancy goods store Tiffany & Young, established by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young. It was renamed Tiffany & Co in 1853. The store made history by being one of the first to have non-negotiable prices for each item. It was at this time that the aqua blue colour, still used today, was chosen for all packaging and brochures.
An Industry Leader
Throughout history, Tiffany jewellery have played a large part in setting industry standards. In 1851, Tiffany's became the first American company to use the 925/1000 standard for all of its silver. In 1907, Tiffany's chief gemmologist was instrumental in setting the measurement of "carat" as the weight standard for gems. In 1926 the United States also adopted Tiffany's standard of purity for the official standard of platinum.
A Part of American History
In 1861 Tiffany jewellery made its first big impact upon the media world as a presentation pitcher was commissioned for President Lincoln to commemorate his inauguration. He also presented a seed pearl bracelet to his wife. Tiffany's further ingratiated itself as the unofficial jeweller of the United States as it provided swords, flags and surgical instruments for the troops in the Civil War. In 1885, further establishing itself of the darling of the USA, they were commissioned to redesign the Great Seal of the United States of America. This can still be seen on the one dollar bill. A true American company through and through Tiffany's also designed the Super Bowl trophy in 1967 and in 2004 the NASCAR trophy.
A Catalogue of Artists
By 1873 Tiffany silver were viewed by high society as forms of art and were displayed in a number of museums and galleries. This view continues to this day with collections by Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Frank Gehry.
