Giveaway: Looking Glass Necklace

Happy Sunday friends!   I hope you’ve had a fabulous weekend so far.  If you’re interested in a bit more fabulosity, keep reading for a pretty amazing giveaway!

Mai at Shabby Apple contacted me to provide one of my readers with a  necklace!

I highly encourage you to peruse the Shabby Apple website for tons of unique items, including jewelry, dresses, kids items, fitness clothes, and more!  You’ll love the options and also the cute names they have for all their products

After careful selection, I have picked the Shabby Apple Looking Glass necklace:

I love the whimsical appeal and also the simplicity.  What’s even better is that it is a locket for a photo, charm or anything else that will fit!

I can see pairing this necklace with a button down V-neck top perhaps with a little ruffles around the neckline or even a plain colored T with some jeans and great boots.  Have fun with it!

There are 4 ways to enter:

1. Mandatory: Like Shabby Apple on facebook entry (leave a comment letting me know)
2. Following Shabby Apple on twitter (let me know you’ve done so)
3. Subscribe to the Shabby Apple blog (let me know you’ve done so)
4. Leave a comment telling me what type of jewelry you like best: rings, earrings, necklace, bracelet, watch (I’m a ring and necklace girl myself! )

Giveaway is open to US residents only.  You have until the end of Wednesday to enter!  Good luck!

Budget update and rings

Good mornin’!

Remember this post, where I told you I was putting myself on a budget ?  Well since it’s been a few months, I figured I’d check in to see how I was doing – and obviously share with you all!

I think I may have been a wee bit aggressive in trying to put away half of my net income.  Um yeah, that worked for awhile since I had a nice cushion in my checking account, but once that was depleted, I realized it’s pretty darn hard to come up with on a weekly basis.  At least it wasn’t due to any personally ridiculous spending on my part, but more due to our standard monthly bills:

• Rent – (nears $3000 / mo)
• Car payment (hubby and I both have one)
• Groceries
• Cable / internet ( I blame the hubby’s need for HD and Golf channels on this one..haha)
• Supporting Shanna’s shoe habit (wait, how’d that get on there )
• Baby planning (oh yeah, that big change )

….and others (pets, insurance, utilities, etc) 

So I’ve readjusted to my goal to save to be closer to 1/3^rd my net income.  I think this may still be challenging, but also should fall in the realm of realistic.  And while I’m saving, I will continue to drop a bit in my “splurge” savings account.  And you may also remember my (not-so-subtle) post on Push Presents …well since I feel like I’m asking for a bit of extravagance, it can’t hurt to chip in.  I still really truly want this ring,

….but I may have found another alternative in these 3 rings:

The center rope ring is actually the wedding band to a set, but I’m I love with the style and the band has chocolate diamonds all around.  The two outside rings are 14 ct rose gold pave and channel set bands with diamonds (2/3 the way around). 

The total would be about the same for both.  The former is platinum and from the 1920’s making it far more ‘valuable’, but I’m digging the versatility of the 3 rings.  I could wear each on its own or buy more in white gold and yellow gold to continue stacking?

What’s a girl to do?  What would you do?

Are you a ring person?

How do you keep yourself on budget?