About Chantal

Own and operate the web's #1 Black Hills Gold website dedicated to providing only the best Black Hills Gold jewelry available, from Landstroms.

More on taking the Landstroms Factory Tour

Original Landstroms Black Hills Gold

Original Landstroms Black Hills Gold

I’ve talked about the Clink & Clunk Test we took during the Landstroms Factory Tour and how it illustrates some of the differences between the Black Hills Gold jewelry made by Landstroms and that of some of the other manufacturers.

However, aside from anything else, regardless of other manufacturers or any other outside influences or qualities, we walked away from the Landstroms Factory Tour realizing three important things: Read More

Ever wonder what it takes to be Miss Rodeo America?

See what the Miss Rodeo America title is all about with this video from last year’s competition:

Miss Rodeo America Inc. was developed in 1955 to each year select a qualified Miss Rodeo America as an ambassador of good will promoting the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and American western traditions. Landstroms Original Black Hills Gold Creations has provided the official Miss Rodeo America crown every year since 1965. In addition to a complete line of western jewelry, Landstroms regularly creates hot new designs in authentic Black Hills Gold.

When it comes to Black Hills Gold, those who know choose Landstroms!

Landstroms Black Hills Gold Ring

Landstroms Black Hills Gold Ring

So there we were, standing in Landstroms retail showroom having just finished up with the factory tour. It was now time to take the “Clink & Clunk Test”. In the front of the room near the entrance stood a display case with Black Hills Gold rings, from left to right made by the leading Black Hills Gold jewelry manufacturers: Landstroms, Stamper, South Dakota Gold, Rushmore Gold and Coleman. This was the perfect opportunity to compare similar designs from the leading Black Hills Gold manufacturers, for once and for all, and see why Landstroms is considered to be the best Black Hills Gold jewelry. Read More

Backpacker Magazine: where to raise your kids

It comes as no surprise to me that Backpacker Magazine has named Boulder, Colorado as the #1 place in the US to raise an outdoor kid. Boulder has a lot going for it: 300 sunny days per year, relatively low crime rate, beautiful scenery, fairly low taxes, a major university, proximity to a large metropolitan city (Denver) and an international airport, close proximity to the Rocky Mountains allowing a plethora of outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, climbing, rafting – I could go on and on!

Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park

Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park

The only thing is, I’m not the only one who knows this, due in part to the many “Best Places” articles that have been written over the years, such as the one in Backpacker Magazine. But population growth here is nothing new. In fact,  Boulder instituted its first growth ordinance in 1976. I first came to visit Boulder in 1991 and decided to move here in 1996. Since then, I’ve watched the area surrounding Boulder grow at an unchecked rate. Bloated suburbs, congested roads, compromised air quality (oh, that’s right, it all blows over to Nebraska), and the social chill that accompanies overpopulation has made Boulder a somewhat different place Read More