As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. While the Hot Toddy often acts as a blank canvas for whatever variety of boozy ingredients its creator feels like customizing it with, the basic recipe is still a surefire classic to start experimenting with warm cocktails. And while we don’t profess to be experts in the medicinal benefits of honey, lemon, and brown liquor, this throwback remedy is known to provide relief when cold winter days leave you feeling a bit under the weather.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounce brown liquor such as brandy, whiskey, or rum
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• 1 cup hot water
• Lemon wedge, cinnamon stick, and star anise, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients into the bottom of a warmed mug. If desired, garnish with the lemon, cinnamon stick, or star anise.

One of the most common ways we slow down our progress is by rushing the process. We want everything right now. We seem to have lost our self-discipline, but what we have really lost is our patience. 

Grass doesn't grow faster by tugging on it. The best things in life don't manifest instantly. We seem to overestimate what we can do in a month and we underestimate what we can do in a few years. We are in love with the result, but not the work - not knowing that it's the work that brings us fulfillment, not the result.

Take your time. Plant seeds. Give things their chance to grow. Keep moving, but don't stress out. Sometimes the best way to arrive on time is to stop running. 

Keep growing a little better than what you were yesterday, life is that simple! 

Syna’s iconic Mogul Drops speaks most to our Indian heritage; the shape of the hand-cut gems is inspired by the traditional red Tilak – a Hindu symbol of victory, success and fortune – placed on the forehead. Celebrating our culture, and this being such a strong part of who we are, also brings in a greater appreciation of other cultures.

Gemstones take center stage in the timeless Mogul collection. Bright luminous madeira citrines, intense purple amethysts from Brazil, along with precious stones – sourced from mines in South Africa and Australia – are cut and shaped at our family-owned lapidary in Jaipur.

 The Mogul drops draw on ancient techniques as well as the meticulous artistry of our craftsmen. The roughs are marked with extreme precision to extract color and quality, while maintaining a desired minimum weight – 20 carats, 50 carats, and 100 carats. A clean high-end rough, weighing more than 250-300 carats, makes the perfect choice of material to shape up a beautiful 100-carat tear drop.

Capped with resin, the stone is polished and transformed from its ‘pre-form’ state into a big shiny drop – expert hands and nimble fingers polish the gems into perfectly shaped teardrops each time. 

Simplicity and love of color are at the core of Syna’s precious Mogul drop pendants that feature natural gemstones – moon quartz, blue topaz, lemon quartz, rock crystal, rubellite, tourmaline, peridot, London blue topaz, chalcedony, lavender quartz, rose quartz, prehnite, lapis lazuli, smoky quartz, coral, turquoise, black onyx, and black spinel.

In the past, we have explored exotic materials such as mammoth ivory, green amber, ebony wood, Ethiopian opal, sleeping beauty turquoise, and Tahitian pearls. At Syna, we are on an endless search to source gorgeous colored stones and uncommon materials in which to render the drops.

The Mogul gem drops feature gold caps, trimmed with a line of diamonds or paved with diamonds, while custom-designed gold Mogul drops have a smattering of diamonds. The pendants can be strung on gold or blackened silver chains; leather cords too are a great way to style the Mogul drops. 

Our fine jewelry is designed to stand the test of time, and with a little care, each piece can be treasured by you and your family for generations to come. While it may seem like a chore, it actually doesn’t take a lot of work to keep your jewels sparkling. Read on for tips for caring for gold, enamel, and all sorts of gemstones.

General Tips

• Most types of jewelry will become dull over time through repeated exposure to sweat, oils, lotions, and perfumes. Make sure to apply any perfume or hair spray before putting on your jewelry. Likewise, remove your jewelry before bathing, swimming, or exercising.
• It is possible to clean your jewelry too much. For pieces you don’t wear every day, an annual cleaning should suffice.
• All of our pieces come with a jewelry pouch. To ensure the longevity of your jewels, store them in the provided pouch.
• Have your jewelry professionally cleaned by a local jeweler about once a year

Gold

Pure gold does not tarnish, and gold jewelry is naturally resistant to tarnishing. Gold can, however, lose its luster over time, so make sure to wipe down your gold with a polishing cloth 3-4 times per year. You don’t want to over-polish your gold.

There are many products and devices on the market for cleaning gold, but all you need is a few drops of dish soap and a bowl of warm water.

1. Add about a tablespoon of dish soap to a bowl of warm water
2. Soak your gold jewelry for 10-15 minutes
3. Use a soft-bristle baby toothbrush to remove dirt from the gold (but not the gemstone), if needed
4. Rinse off any soap residue
5. Pat dry with paper towels

And that’s all there is to it! If the gold jewelry contains gemstones, you’ll have to be a bit more careful. It’s fine to use soap to clean diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, but emeralds and opaque gemstones are too porous to submerge in water. In that case, it is best to use a damp cloth to wipe down the jewelry rather than soaking it in water. Finally, do not use a toothbrush, even a soft one, on gemstones.

Crystalline Gemstones

Gemstones such as quartz, amethyst, topaz, diamonds, and rubies can become dull over time due to the accumulation of oils, lotion, perfume, and the like.

Emeralds are one exception. Due to their porosity, they should not be submerged in water for any length of time.

To clean gold jewelry with crystalline gemstones, follow the steps in the above section.

Opaque Gemstones

Like emeralds, opaque gemstones are porous and should not be submerged in water. This category includes softer gemstones such as opal, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.

The best way to clean these types of gemstones is to wipe them with a damp cloth. Do not soak them or clean them with chemicals such as bleach or ammonia.

Pearls

While most gemstones can be damaged by contact with body oils, the same does not hold true for pearls. The body’s natural oils help to preserve pearls. You do, however, want to keep them away from perfumes and lotions, and remove them before exercise just like other gemstones, as perspiration can damage them.

Pearls also thrive in damp environments, so store your pearls in a humid place. A dry environment can cause pearls to crack.

Gently wipe down your pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them. Never use a toothbrush, even a soft one. Pearls are themselves very soft (2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale) and are easily scratched. For more thorough cleaning, follow these steps:

• Add ½ tablespoon of dish soap to 2 cups of warm water
• Dip a soft cloth in the water and gently wipe down the pearls
• Dry thoroughly with a separate cloth.

It is worth it to buy a soft chamois or bamboo cloth to avoid scratching your pearls.

Black Rhodium

Black rhodium is a rare type of platinum often plated over silver or gold to create a darker hue. Any type of metal plating fades over time, especially in areas that come in contact with the skin, so remove your jewelry before going to bed. Avoid over-polishing plated metals.

Enamel

Enamel is made by fusing powdered glass with metal at high temperatures, creating a beautiful yet fragile work of art unlike anything else. Because of its delicacy, clean it only with mild soap and water using a soft cloth. Let it air dry, and store it in the provided Syna jewelry pouch. Avoid extreme temperatures, cosmetics, lotions, acetone, or jewelry cleaner.

For most jewelry, infrequent cleanings using soap and water is sufficient to keep it looking like it did the day you bought it. A little care at home, along with annual professional cleaning, is all it takes. For more jewelry care tips, see our care guide here.