Here’s a few easy peasy tips on how to rock layers without ending up in a hot necklace mess:

• Remove sterling chains & clasped cords when:
  • Sleeping
  • Cleaning
  • Using chemicals, esp. hydrogen peroxide and bleach
  • Dipping into a chlorinated pool or hot tub
  • Applying makeup & body products
  • Exercising to keep them away from perspiration & potential acidity

Neglecting to do so could expose your Betty necklaces to situations that could end up in a bummer like…

• Tangled, snagged & broken chains/cords. This can be obviously annoying. But more than that, a bad tangle can damage or break both your necklace, and your hair! This can especially happen when you sleep or exercise in more than one necklace to get that sweet layered look. But it isn’t so sweet when you wake up, or finish a workout with a gnarly knot of chain, cord & hair.
• Quickly tarnished chain or clasp. This is nothing more than a minor nuisance, but instead of wrecking them from damaging wear– simply store your necklaces hanging in a dedicated jewelry box, or any safe place away from open air and moisture to keep them bright & shiny.

Not sleeping in your necklaces, but still getting snags? This can happen to some of us depending on chain size & thickness or texture of hair…

Here’s a home remedy: Rub a little melted candle wax on the clasp to prevent tangles.

This week we created a short film featuring Ventura locals Deena Pace and her daughter Luella(Lulu).

Deena works as a delivery Nurse. We refer to her as being “Betty Strong” for a number of reasons. One of which, being that in spite of having a metal rod in her back to correct a severe scoliosis condition, she taught herself to surf, so she could go out with Lulu.

At age 11, Luella is one of the youngest surfers on Team Betty. Our founder Donna has been enjoying seeing her in the water, watching her grow her surfing skills at their local Ventura break, C-street (Surfers Point).

“I wanted to capture the feeling of those magical moments and memories in everyday surf sessions with the ones you love. I enjoy seeing these two in the water when I paddle out and watching them both improve their skills has been very gratifying. I’ve seen them stoked to paddle out even when conditions weren’t great, just for the joy of spending time in the ocean together.

I design jewelry for Ocean Lovers, people like this.

This exemplifies connecting people to the Ocean, which is what my brand is all about.” – Donna von Hoesslin Pu’u

The four-minute long film was shot at Solimar here in Ventura, a short distance from the Betty Belts shop in Ventura.

It gives some screen time to some of the Oceanlovers® Collection, which is a design line featuring hand made, sterling silver, ocean-themed jewelry designed by Donna.

We asked her why she loves the ocean. This is what she shared & why we love her…

I love the ocean because it brings me calmness, happiness, and keeps me healthy. It connects us all as one, and strengthens the bond of humanity. I could not live without being on or near the ocean.

You may already know of Michelle, as she’s one of the inspired souls we heard about when the Thomas Wildfires devastated our hometown last year & for whom we created the Betty Strong Benefit Tee.

Michelle is a Ventura surfer who hustles hard owning her own small business cleaning pools & spas. She, her man & their 11-year old son lost everything in the fire– including her home, vehicle & cleaning supplies needed to work to support her family.

Despite the wreckage & hard road to recovery after the fire, she returns to the sea to soothe her soul. She is Betty Strong. 

Learn more about Michelle’s story.

When she’s not at these special events below, you’ll find her at Melrose Trading Post on Sundays. Follow the Sea Gypsy Instagram & stay up to date on where Sista is settin’ up… happy Summer shopping trails!

Next stop, the OC Night Market June 15th-17th, 2018

…Then onto Treasure Fest June 23& 24, 2018 in San Fransisco

..Rambling next to the 626 Night Market: JUN 29-JUL 1 | JUL 20-22 | AUG 10-12 | AUG 31-SEP 2

Betty B. + Sea Gypsy = SBB (small biz besties)

Visit our sweet little shop in Ventura, and you’ll find our walls decked out with Sea Gypsy signs touting words and mantras to live by if you’re beach life and/or sea glass obsessed.

We looove Sea Gypsy because they’ve been speaking to the souls of our Betty Babes for years. We’ve become such small business besties, that they’ve made exclusive signs you can’t get anywhere else other than the Betty home base in Ventura. One Betty favorite is the Sea Glass Sisterhood below that originated as a popular hashtag on the Bettybelts Instagram .

Some Sea Gypsy signs you’ll find on her pop-up shops on her happy Summer trails

From top left: Cayden (2)/Skinny Wave// From top right: Bee’s Sun/East- West/Courtney Dots/Classic/East-West/Hui Hui Waves/Courtney Dots

Left: Swell/Micro/Swell // Middle:Bee’s Sun/Courtney Dots/East-West // Right: A-Frame (2) / East-West/ A-Frame (2 inverted)

From top left: Double Peak/Olas/Carin/Peak/Spike/Courtney Dots

From top thumb: Mermaid Scales/Peak/Courtney Dots/East-West/Classic

From left thumb: Hui Hui Waves/“V” Ring/Classic/Evanne/East-West/Sea Ring/Courtney Dots (2)

Today is a very special day in the life of Betty. 15 years ago today, Betty Belts was launched as an ocean and beach lifestyle brand. Inspired by her love of surfing, founder Donna von Hoesslin was passionate about creating something people could wear to feel more connected with the ocean. Many of you know our Ventura shop, but did you know that Betty Belts had 5 entire years of existence before that? We weren’t open to the public, but did make appearances at events with the cherry red “Betty Bus” and focused the business on wholesale and online sales . Some of you will remember your first Betty Belt, maybe you got it in a surf shop along the California coast or picked it up at one of the many surf contests we’ve sponsored over the years.We definitely wouldn’t have made it this far without you, our loyal Betty Tribe, so for all of that, we are truly grateful. Celebrate with us with 15% off storewide on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th (online too! Use code: 15ON15TH ) Plus we have a birthday gift to share with YOU! Our sweet and super cute enamel collector pin will be gifted to the first 100 people who come into our Ventura shop or order online.

Journey with us back in time with some images over the past 15 years from the Betty Archives, featuring just of few of the many remarkable women of Team Betty who have been a part of our story along the way, helping build the brand into what it is today.

The very first Betty Belts photo shoot was with Mary Osborne, our first Team Rider, shot by David Pu’u. David was a good friend of founder Donna for many years before the two fell in love and started their creative life together.

Left: An ad for Surf Life for Women from 2003. Right: Donna rocking the Betty Belts in Big Sur, 2004

Family Friend Kia modeled for a Betty Promo postcard with the Betty Bus, circa 2005

A pretty ad from 2005 for Surf Life for Women magazine featuring Mary Osborne and Sierra Partridge.

Surfing Twins Sierra and Hailey Partridge joined Team Betty in 2004. We’ve done a lot of beautiful work with these two over the years.

A full page ad for Wet magazine, 2006, featuring David’s images of Team Betty surfers.

Donna at the Action Girl Sports trade show in Newport Beach, 2004. She drove the Betty Bus down there for the event. Scope those crochet halter tops we made back then!

Mary Osborne doing a little modeling for us. Solimar, 2005

That time Team Rider Tiare Thomas came over from Hawai’i and did some beautiful work with us, circa 2006.

The surf shot of Donna (by David, of course) that made a full page spread in Wall Street Journal magazine in an article about surfing executives, ca. 2006

Who remembers when the shop looked like this? We opened in 2007, and celebrated the shop’s 10th birthday last August.

We started making sea glass jewelry in late 2007 shortly after opening the shop. It started as a very small collection made from a sizeable collection our friend Tracy Lehr had collected locally and gifted to us.

A full page ad we did back in 2009 featuring some of our surf team.

We started making the upcycled surfboard resin collection in 2008. Team Rider Jeanette Ortiz joined us in 2006 at the age of 14. She’s a winemaker now and travels to exotic places to surf. We kinda envy her for it.

An Ad from 2009 with Hailey and Sierra for a 7sky Magazine in Europe

That time Donna modeled her Mermaid Sea Glass Red Carpet necklace design in 52 degree water.

A few years after we opened the shop, in February 2010, the VC Reporter did a great story on us and even made Donna the cover girl!

Earrings: Jeanette Hoops / Rings from top left: Hui Hui / Chelsea / Sirena / Swell / Dots / Circle Wave

Anklets: Adina / Shell / Rings from left: Off Shore / Swell / Bee’s Sunrise / East-West / Dots / Hui Hui / New Wave / Cayden / Bracelets: Kai / Friendship Surfite Bar / Toe Ring: Hui Hui

Rings from left: Chelsea / Sirena / Simplicity / Swell / Circle Wave / Cayden / Rockstar / Bee’s Sunrise / East – West / Dots / Hui Hui / Necklaces: Hui Hui  w/ silver chain / Cayden Pendant / Bracelets: Kai / Surfite Bar

Wish you were here,

XoXo ~ Cayden

Team Betty surfer babe Cayden Edman is a free-spirited mermaid who is wild and beautiful at heart. You can find her swimming (or surfing) in the seas around the world (in the cutest kinis!), studying fashion and fierceness at Cal State Long Beach or daydreaming about where wanderlust will take her soul next. Our Cayden sea glass ring, matching pendant, and cuff bracelet are her namesake Betty designs.

Follow Cayden’s Adventures on Instagram @caydenedman 

Dearest Ocean Ohana,

First, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpour of concern and warm words of comfort from all who reached out.

We truly feel blessed to have such a strong community of support  in the midst of this devastating catastrophe.

Half our staff were evacuated from our homes. But thankfully, they and immediate loved ones are safe, all homes intact, and our Downtown Ventura shop remains in stable condition with exception to reliable power.

With that said, our retail store will remain CLOSED TODAY due to the public safety risk created by the Thomas Fire. 

However our online shop continues to be up and running, and orders are being shipped daily. So, please consider ordering online at www.bettybelts.com

Today’s high wind condtions should be the peak of this disastrous fire for Downtown Ventura and surrounding areas. As SCE works it’s way into the fire strike zones, we should be seeing more reliable power returned shortly.

If all goes well, our Ventura shop will re-open on Friday morning. Looking forward to serving all of you, and are so grateful for the kindness we have experienced from the community in this very stressful time.

With Gratitude,

Donna & the Betty Belts Team

DIY: Cayden’s Happy Harvest

Pumpkin Seed Snack

October = pumpkins

Pumpkins = pumpkin seeds

Yes, time for your favorite October tradition… carving pumpkins. But wait, don’t throw out those pumpkin seeds!

Pumpkin seeds are a great, nutritional snack. They contain a good amount of protein and fiber, plus lots of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other good things your body wants and needs.

So when you’re pulling the gooey orange guts out of your pumpkin just before carving it– separate the seeds out for a bonus Halloween treat!

Place the seeds in a separate bowl as you gut your pumpkin to make things easier, then pick out the orange globs mixed with the seeds into a separate bowl. 

Once you have all the seeds in their own bowl, soak them in warm water and salt.

Now go carve your pumpkin!.. and let them sit in the water for a few hours. After carving my Summer themed pumpkin, I put on a few episodes of Friends, ate dinner, lit up my pumpkin, then strained the water from the seed bowl.

I put the seeds on a few layers of napkins to dry, then oiled a sheet pan, placed them on, seasoned the seeds, then sent them off into the oven for a while.

I chose to cook the seeds for about 15 hours at 150F. I did test them after 12 hours, and then frequently (every half hour) until the perfect crunch came in at the 15 hour mark .

This method of low temperature, long duration preserves the enzymes that help digestion and are basically just good for you in every way.

Let me tell you, they taste AMAZING…

If you want seeds faster, you can skip soaking them and cook them at about 350F for 35 minutes. Yummy either way!

Click to shop Cayden’s sweet layered necklace look  & ring stack (from top) : Swell Rings // Brooke Ring // Courtney Ring // Cayden Ring // Hui Hui Waves Sterling Necklace + Cayden Sea Glass Pendant + Sterling Silver Chain

So, here’s the breakdown:

1. Gut the pumpkin and separate the seeds

2. Rinse and soak the seeds in salted water for 3hrs

3. Strain the water and pat the seeds dry

4. Evenly spread seeds on an oiled sheet pan and season (I used salt & chili powder)

5. Bake at 150F for 12-15 hours (test for crunchiness along the way)

6. ENJOY!

Happy Halloween snackin’ til next time,

Cayden

Team Betty surfer babe Cayden Edman is a free-spirited mermaid who is wild and beautiful at heart. You can find her swimming or surfing in the seas around the world (in the cutest kinis!), studying fashion and fierceness at Cal State Long Beach or daydreaming about where wanderlust will take her soul next. Our Cayden sea glass ring and matching pendant are named after her! 

Follow Cayden’s adventures on Instagram @caydenedman