Is Tiffany Worth It?

This weekend Lee and I took the girls to the Mall of Millenia. I associate those three words with one word - TIFFANYS! I love stepping inside there and feeling the opulence and grandeur that store has and if you've never been I HIGHLY recommend paying a visit. We aren't usually on that side of town, but any chance I get I always indulge my senses and try on a couple rings. This act always gets my armpits sweaty and makes my heart race and this time it was no different.

I tried on, in my mind's eye, the perfect engagement ring that no other compares to. It was a 3/4 karat, platinum, channel set piece of art. I even tried on the matching wedding band! Talk about a sensory overload! The ear to ear smile is inevitable when your eyes behold such a masterpiece. The feeling of looking at it is priceless and indescribable. It just shines and shines, and the myriad of colors from any angle captivates me. Lee and I have looked around at other rings, but I'm telling you - you have not seen a true diamond until you've seen a Tiffany diamond. The price tag was $7,800 and $2,000 for the wedding band. Yikes!

For those who know me, you know I'm not a spendthrift. I like nice things and I enjoy treating myself sometimes but generally my money has cobwebs on it. I have the same attitude towards Lee's money even though it's not mine. Which leads to me to my current dilemma. A decent 1 karat ring in any other store would generally run from $5,000 to $7,000 but Tiffany's price their 3/4 ring at $7,800.

There is something to be said about the Tiffany quality and craftsmanship that comes with their name. But, is their sparkle, and the warm fuzzy feeling worth the extra cost? Should I invest that extra money in a bigger diamond from another jewellery maker? Or should I get what truly and ultimately makes me happy even if it cost more? My heart screams Tiffany, but my mind says to be affordable. I would tell you though that I've experienced that Tiffany colored box before my eyes (Lee's still partially deaf) and the intense feeling of happiness is an unparalleled emotion. He rarely buys me jewellery but when he does, he does good! Hopefully he keeps that up!

Finally! Some Direction!

My college experience sucked. Four years of classes, tuition, and the dreaded weekend team meetings. Finally came out in the end with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Central Florida. Yawn Yawn. I never really stopped to think what I wanted to be and I just went through the motions of getting it done. Business seemed logical and easy. I didn't make many college friends, or party hearty, or even hang around the campus. I went in and out and on with life. But walking across the stage and shaking hands for my degree definately was the most proudest moment in my life thus far.

While I was going to school part time, I was working full time and that surely didn't help my outlook on college. It wasn't too long after I graduated that the economy took a dump and I'm stuck in a job pushing papers and answering the telephone. I'm grateful to have a job but the real estate industry is definately not my cup of tea. It pays the bills, but my job has no meaning. It's mindless and I'm outright BORED STIFF. What else could I do? I had no experience in anything else, and nobody was hiring anyway.

Last year I got the notion to become a teacher but I was only eligible to teach Business classes to high school students ( I rather eat dirt than deal with hormonal, rude teenagers.) I applied to a ton of jobs, but a couple things were against me. 1) I had zero, zip, nada teaching experience 2) I wasn't qualified to teach and 3) Teacher's were being fired not hired because of budget cuts. I dropped the issue and piddled away at my job.

A couple weeks ago I caught wind of a program that would help me get my Professional Teaching Certificate. It's 9 months long, on Saturday's and I do a new class every 5 weeks. I want to teach in Elementary schools so then I take the State exams and I should be much more lucrative for a teaching position. I'm very excited to be back in school studying for something I really want to give a shot. Classes start July 18th and even though it'll eat up my entire Saturday, its not a forever program. Its only 9 months and I'll be learning tools that I would actually use. By then, the economy would be improving and turning around favorably. If not, I'll wait it out and when it does I'll be ready to step into some new shoes. Hopefully, when I look back at this posting 9 months from now I'll say - Damn, I just wrote that the other day!

Decisions Decisions

This coming November would mark the 4th year Lee and I have been together. Just last night we were saying how time has flown by, and it seems like only yesterday we met eachother. We've been extremely happy with eachother and there's no doubt in our minds that "This is IT..they are 'D' ONE!!!" There is doubt however, on the time frame to step this relationship up to the next level. Since inception, Lee would declare that we're on the 5 year plan, and I was fine with that. I'd skin teeth with him and play along with his little game. Then came September 23, 2008. I turned 26 and did a little backwards math. Women's "deadline" for having kids is 35 and I want to have 2 kids, 2 years apart. That means I should have my 1st child at 30/31. I want to be married 2-3 years prior to kids so that means I should get married at 28. It takes a year to plan a wedding, so I should get engaged at 27 right? To make a long story short, we're off Lee's plan and on MY timeframe now.

Some might think I'm forcing him. I'm not forcing him. I told him my future is with him, and either he's on board or not. I'm not going to be a forever girlfriend, or a common law wife and after 4 years of this charade - ITS TIME TO BUCKLE DOWN MISTER. Don't waste my time because I'm defintately not getting any younger and if there's no doubt in eachother's mind that we're the one for eachother - the next logical step would be to carry forth. And that's where we are now.

It is my nature to talk about everything and a life changing event such as getting engaged is not one to be taken lightly. We believe that both parties must be emotionally, financially, and logically available before a proposal should be made. It dosen't make sense to accept a proposal and then work on the details...what if you can't work out the details? It won't be too late, but alot would have been invested emotionally with an engagement. So much has to be discussed first; the future living arrangments, financials, timeframes, ring expectations, emotions to mention a few.

We've even started looking for rings. Its fun to try them on, see the different styles, and get a feel of my likes and dislikes. My ideal ideal ring lays in the showcases at Tiffanys! Its a round brillant stone, Tiffany setting, with a channel set band. Words can't describe how I feel when I put that ring on. I asked the sales person "Is it the lights in here that make the ring shine like that, because I know you guys have alot of tricks!" He didn't say a thing. He covered the ring and I gasped. It was like a spot light was still on it. I've never felt more love for one object than this ring! Then we saw the price tag! The end..gave the nice man back his ring..and ran for Zales!!!

My engagement is not a short term goal. Alot has to be done/said before Lee falls to one knee and I accept. I have though given him a year..give or take a few months to do the deed if all goes well. Its June 2009 right now...the countdown begins!


My Tiffany Ring

Trying on different versions of my perfect Tiffany ring!