Who knew coconuts could be used for more than Mounds bars and rum?

Fortunately, coconuts happen to be functional for more than just sweet cravings and Friday nights. The latest use for the fruit of the coconut palm is now in the accessory form of earrings.

The earrings have been popular in Europe for years, and are inexpensive (a great thing for those of us who frequently lose jewelry) and light. Pair the earrings with a head wrap, and you've suddenly found your inner hippie. Going to a Dave Matthews Band concert? Got a new job at a coffee shop? Coconut earrings are your new best friend.

The earrings provide a multitude of benefits, especially in that they flatter literally everyone. The earth tones of the earrings compliment hair of all colors, and the small size meshes with tresses of any length.

Another fun quality is no two earrings are exactly the same, as all coconuts yield slightly varying marks. But don't worry, the differences are only noticeable upon up-close inspection.

The wooden stick that poses as the earring's stud is great, in that it's metal-free and isn't likely to ignite allergies.

However, the stick is large for some, and putting the earrings in can be a pain. Thankfully, the tedious action will pay off without too much effort, as you realize that heavy metal chandelier earrings are a thing of the past (or the nightclub).

To find coconut earrings like those pictured, visit www.coconutjewelry.com.

Each pair is $10.