Academy Award nominees will receive a little something from Memphis in tiffany and co their gift bags this year: a bracelet that counts their good deeds. Or bad ones.
The wearer slides beads from one side of a band to the other to count health goals such as glasses of water downed or sit-ups performed or, conversely, chocolates popped or cigarettes puffed.
The Count Me Healthy bracelet was designed by Chelsea Gossett, 29, of Cordova. In January it made NBC’s “Today” show as one of the must-have items for 2009.
Besides going to the Oscar nominees ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony, the bracelets were also included in gift bags for the nominees at the Grammy Awards earlier this month.
Gossett came up with the idea while a student at Oakland University in Michigan. While treading on an elliptical machine, she read an article about journal-keeping as a way to reinforce health goals. But it’s cumbersome to lug a pad and pen around a gym.
So she designed a counting bracelet and worked with a jeweler to silver key rings create it.
Four years working in the marketing and product-launch department at Volkswagen of America headquarters helped teach Gossett how to launch the bracelet. It was also at Volkswagen that she met Al Gossett, president of Gossett Motor Cars, when he visited there on business.
She moved here in 2004 and wed Gossett in 2006 while the bracelet was still in its prototype stages.
“We both have entrepreneurial spirits,” she said, “and we’re driven to start something and see it through.”
The bracelets, made of sterling silver beads and a silver-plated band, allow the beads to be spaced at any point on the band.
Gossett is planning new versions, including a man’s bracelet and one for counting silver necklaces good deeds and prayers.
They are sold locally at Joseph, Wink and Mona Spa & Laser Center and on the Web site countmehealthyjewelry.com for $88.
Marilyn Masterson, wife of retired FDX Corp. executive vice president Ken Masterson, wears her bracelet nearly every day to count calories and water.
“It goes with whatever you have on. And I wear it with other bracelets,” she said.
Jennifer Miller, 31, wife of former Memphis Grizzlies player Mike Miller, said she tracks bangles water, exercise rounds and golf strokes with her bracelet, but has lately thought of a new use: to remind her boys, ages 2 and 6, that they have three chances to straighten up.
Credit: The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.