When Guys Get in Trouble

I just found this VERY funny site that explains to men what jewelry to buy and when - engagement rings, earrings, 'I'm sorry' jewelry, anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, baby's birth, etc. Men need to know this stuff! It's a one-stop advice and shopping haven for men. It had me laughing several times!

My man is usually really good (I say "usually" because he had one bad jewelry choice early on in our relationship) at buying jewelry but I know a lot of guys get that glazed look in their eyes when it is brought up. Men just don't have any idea what kind of jewelry to give or when to give it. They don't want to give something that means more than it should (don't want a woman to get confused over a ring you thought she'd like versus a ring she thinks is an engagement ring when it's not...boy would that be uncomfortable to talk your way out of!). They also don't want to give a piece of jewelry that doesn't mean enough.

I'll give you an example of great gift-giving. After the birth of each of our kids, on the Mother's Day that followed the birth, my husband bought me a ring that had the baby's birthstone in it. It was a very sweet, sensitive gesture. Not only do I have many good pieces of jewelry to choose from now (in many colors), but the jewelry means the world to me to have and wear. It will be something I can pass down to my kids down the road. I would definitely recommend this for dads to do as a gift for mom after the birth of their child or for the Mother's Day immediately following the birth! It'll be THE most appreciated gift, besides your newborn, of course.

Another example of gift-giving, that didn't go that well, was in the beginning of our relationship, when my husband and I had only been dating a very short time. He bought me an expensive gold necklace for Valentine's Day. I thanked him and acted pleased but internally, it freaked me out a bit. It was a serious gift at that early point in our relationship and it made me nervous (I know, usually it's the guy that gets a case of the nerves). A pair of earrings would've been better (and the web site, Bella True, in the "Tips for Guys" section confirms my feelings.) It was too serious, too fast, and I stopped dating him for a couple months shortly after that. OK, I ran - fast. I admit it.

The web site not only has pretty jewelry, but useful advice for the guy who is unsure what he should do and when he should do it and it gives us women a chance to laugh out loud because we can see our guy, or past boyfriends, in these predicaments.

You seriously need to bookmark the Tips for Guys page at Bella True and forward the link onto the boyfriends, husbands, brothers, uncles, etc. They need a little direction!

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Powered Vehicles for Kids

My youngest daughter turns four years old on Monday (oops, just realized I forgot to order the birthday cake for this weekend...having thryoid biopsy a few days ago kind of put me off schedule). I can't believe I don't have anymore babies in the house!

She's made it very clear that she wants a Power Wheels Barbie Jeep for her birthday. She came to this conclusion after the neighbor next door received his own powered vehicle a few months ago (not Barbie of course). They ride around in it together, holding hands (yes, holding hands).

Because she has such a resourceful mom, she might just get one. After much research online, and calling around to local stores to match prices, I found it at a local store who will match an online price I found and knock off a chunk of change (and many, many bills) if we will go get it tomorrow morning.

She is going to be thrilled!

Next month is my younger son's birthday and the following month is my teenage stepson's birthday. Yeah for my bank account! Oh my.

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I Have Sweet Kids

My two oldest (12 and 9 years old) wanted to buy something for their sister for her 8th birthday with their own money (they all have savings accounts for tooth fairy money, birthday money, etc.). She LOVES to sing so they came up with the idea of getting her an iPod. They were looking at the Apple iPod Shuffle in Pink but when they saw the Creative Zen Mozaic 4 GB MP3 Player, they wanted that for her instead since it has so many more features over the iPod Shuffle. Even with the price difference between the two (the shuffle is much less), they still went with the Zen.

Aren't they sweet?

Edited to Add: My 9yo son came home with a necklace kit to give to his little sister for her birthday today too. He earns "bucks" at tutoring that he can "shop" with for toys that they supply there for the kids to shop with. He used some of his tutoring bucks to buy his little sister another birthday present! She's all girly so she is going to love making her own little necklace. My kids amaze me sometimes. I'm so proud of them. Of course, he also came home with some goo in a container that farts when you sqoosh it. I guess he had to make sure he had something totally "boy" too for himself, lol.

They really thought of things that they knew my 8yo would love from singing (the mp3 player) to the necklace (girly). Very thoughtful of them.

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Valentine's Day Gift Idea For Men or Women

Who doesn't need a watch? I know I am in need of a new watch since I broke my last one.

If you haven't seen these great looking watches before, you should check out Suunto watches. This is my favorite one at Kenmar Watches. It has a different look, which is what I like about it. It doesn't look like everybody else's.

A new watch would be a great gift idea for a man or a woman. Kenmar Watches carries for both. They also offer free shipping.

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Husband Spoils Me Too Much

My husband gave me an early Christmas/Anniversary present this morning (he even wrapped it which is a first)...after telling him already not to buy me anything because: 1) we need to get xmas gifts for all the kids, and 2) there is just too much that needs to be done to the house to spend money like this. I'm not a kid anymore and don't need anything. Obviously, he didn't listen (he never does). Seriously, I might as well not even talk.


He bought me a new camera - a digital SLR camera. Damn! I've wanted one of these cameras for a long time now and I figured maybe next year as prices continued to come down on them, then we'd pick one up...eventually. We just talked about this the other day - waiting until next spring/summer. My husband isn't about waiting I guess.

Now he'll joke about getting extra attention every day for a month. *cough cough*

*sigh* This means spending more money because now I need to buy a flash (soon) and one more lense (55-200 I think?...eventually). Oy. I better start reading up on how to work this thing.

I'm excited about the camera...a bit worried about the money he spent...and excited about the camera. Such a conundrum, lol.

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Birthday Presents

About two weeks ago, I picked out an all-in-one printer that I've been wanting (for about a year now). We got it for about half price plus a three year warranty. It faxes, scans, copies, prints, photos. Too bad it can't cook meals. I thought when we picked this out that this was my birthday present (which is too fast approaching).

Turns out it isn't.

My husband informed me last night to take out a certain amount of money from our budget because he'd spent it. I thought the printer was my present. It was what I've been wanting for a long time. Hubby scowled and said that's not a birthday present.

So, I have something else coming. I know where it is coming from (since I do our online banking and it's right there on our online statement), but I don't know what it is. I can't figure it out either (and that drives me nuts, lol).

I feel guilty when money gets spent on me like this. I think it's the "mom" in me. The printer was just fine. He always does this though. His gifts are usually (always) on the "very spoiled" end. He is a really good gift-buyer, unlike a lot of men.

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