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?

I ate too much

I’m back in Cali, which means I’m back at work and back to my routine.

Unfortunately, I feel a bit like this:

Yep, a bloated cat, that’s what I feel like.

When I’m on vacation, I do try to balance healthy eating and some rigorous activity with the added treats and splurges. 

Unfortunately this trip my activities didn’t quite balance my indulging.  Meep! While we did do about 1.5 hours of kayaking on Sunday, and a 3 mile run Monday (in the HOT weather I might add, so it was like double..haha), and a 2-3 mile walk on the beach on Tuesday, this did not combat my eats.  I don’t feel too incredibly guilty because I enjoyed all of my extra treats.

I only get to see my Mom about 1x per year and she’s always great about buying things I like, including Brach’s gummy fruits (sooo good — love these things).  And well, it’s hard to say no.  And frankly, I didn’t want to.  I also liked indulging in some coconut vanilla cake, a DQ Blizzard (quite refreshing after our beach day), and huge heaping portions of watermelon.

But now I’m home and ready to face reality and also the scale (side note: I need to write a post about the scale…my opinions may surprise you). 

While my tastebuds still have a hankering for some sweet treats and salty goods, I am mentally very excited to start consuming my greens, my balanced meals, and my typical eats (oats, salads with chickpeas, etc).

I’m also stoked to get a nice long sweat session going on tonight with the gym.  I like to “earn my treats” and right now I’ve got a debt to pay in the exercise department before I can earn some more brownie points brownies.

Also on my agenda is some major cleaning.  I love coming back to an organized clean home so tonight will also include tidying up and tackling the beast of a laundry basket that’s consuming our closet.  Oye.

How do you get back into your routine after a vacation?

Push it, push it real good

A little Salt N Pepa to start your Wednesday

Today’s topics is about “push presents.”  Have you heard of this?  If you’re a fan of the Bravo show Pregnant in Heels, then you’re probably in the know.  Oh and the show is hilarious and informative — check it out!

Wikipedia says the following about push presents:

A push present (also known as a “push gift” or “baby bauble”) is a present a new father gives a new mother when she gives birth to their child. In practice the present may be given before or after the birth, or even in the delivery room. The giving of push presents has supposedly grown in the United States in recent years.

A 2007 survey of over 30,000 respondents by BabyCenter.com found that 38% of new mothers received a push present, and 55% of pregnant mothers wanted one, though fewer thought it was actually expected.

Inneresting, no?

Well let me tell you, some day when I give birth, I’m going to be in the category of wanting (but certainly not expecting a push present).  And I’ve already found what I want.

Hello lover

While in SF for our anniversary staycation, Zach and I stopped by my favorite jewelry store, Lang’s Antiques.  And what do you know, I found this vintage gem.

This graceful and flowing all round diamond band ring, circa 1930, winks and sparkles with just under a carat of bright white European-cut and single-cut diamonds. A distinctive dazzler.

It fits perfectly on my right hand forefinger or middle finger and I am seriously lusting over it.  And it would go well with my 1915′s engagement ring.  Sigh….

This looks just right on my finger, I swear

The price tag, not so much.  Platinum vintage rings are not cheap, unfortunately.

Being that I cannot depend on a push present anytime soon, I’ve decided to set up a splurge account on top of my monthly budgeting.  So far, I’m nearly half-way there!

What do you think of push presents?

Do you like vintage jewelry?

What do you want to splurge on?