Tell your mom to go ahead and get brave and get one! They're so much fun. I love mine and I'm thinking about getting Duke on my left ankle for my 40th birthday. I know this will give my mom great joy as she doesn't like any of them but they make me happy. I'll probably get Duke in the play bow. That's my favorite of his, as you well know. And, the necklaces look great! The blue one is my favorite. I went to my Michael's to try to find those dog beads like you got and they didn't have them or I didn't look good enough.