I got a promotion!

Woo Hoo!

I am now the 2IC of a fairly large, store! I got a call last Friday to say I was wanted for an interview, went in on Tuesday, and was offered the position on the spot.

I start on the 10th of August. Pretty damm excited indeed.

DH goes in

For his first banding appointment on the 21st. I have butterflies thinking about it. I also now understand how he felt 100%.

I see him as sexy and perfect just as he is. I don't think he needs to loose weight to be attractive, but I understand that he wants to to be healthy.

A total 180 degrees to where we were 5 years ago.

He popped the question!

Again, 13 years to the day later ❤


He thanked me for loving him the way I do, and for being his wife.... And gave me THIS!









I had NO IDEA that he had picked it up. I was sulking because it wasn't ready to be honest! But the sly bugger had it, and was just waiting for the 24th! He brought me in my oats and coffee in bed (we take turns giving each other brekky in bed) and he sat on the edge of the bed and popped the question again. I was very sweet and romantic!

Now my old engagement is destined to become a pair of 1ct total diamond weight stud earrings! My poor husband! LOL. I managed to pick up my old ering's twin for an absolute steal, and have shot an email to my jeweller about the studs. I hope to have them for my birthday in September. And I will reuse at least one of the settings for that pretty purple spinel I picked up a few months back.

Anyway, the twins!

The husband

is thinking about banding. Talking very seriously about it. I am pretty scared and excited for him.

A new pretty

I am sure you are all sick of my jewellery! But I had to share! A pretty 2.7ct pink Tourmline with a couple little diamonds on both sides!





Sparkly things make me happy. See?

It's been what? 4 and a half years now?

And it just hit me, that I am a totally different person now.

I am mature, self confident, motivated individual. My personal relationships have gone from strength to strength, and I generally have a great time with life.

Yes, I have had some pretty awful periods in the last few years, but truly believe that they have helped me appreciate the wonderful normal, uncomplicated life that I have.

It would be a lie if I said that banding and weight loss did all that for me. It played a huge part in helping me "find" myself, and letting me grow as a woman but I think a lot of it would have happened regardless. I just came a lot further because of banding and weight loss.

Funny the things you think about on a Sunday night.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Everyone NEEDS a Roomba. I got my iRobot Roomba 530 today.

That little sucker ROCKS MY WORLD.

No, it isn't as good as the Vax (but what is, 4 years later, and I am still smitten), but I will give it it's due. It is one hard working little robotic vacuum cleaner.

I can't wait to go to work and hit it's little button on the way out and know my floors will be clean when I get home. Cant wait.

That's only a little bit sad, right?

Ohhh! My new stone!

My newest stone, a 1.1ct plum/purple spinel is sitting in customs awaiting processing! Ohhh! I am thinking of popping it into a cheap eBay setting, just to keep costs down on this project.

Here is the stone;


And the setting I am thinking of using;



I am toying with having it made with a white gold head, and rose gold band, or white gold head, with a yellow gold band. I will decide when I "meet" the stone, and get a feel for it's personality.

Apart from that, nothing too exciting happening apart from a new wardrobe being delivered next Thursday (Okay...I will admit to being excited about my massive mirrored wardrobe) and buying a hot new pair of heels.

Life is good. Family is good. Work is good. Who can complain?

I'm sorry.

But having a husband who loves me, and yes, spoils me, does NOT make me a whore. Does not make him "up to something" and it doesn't mean he is trying to buy my love. No I don't need to deserve it. If he wants to give me something he does. And I give to him. You just can't see it, so you chose not to recognise it. But it *is* a two way street.

I am just not going to say anything to you about the jewellery my husband buys me, and I will not be wearing it to work.

Oh. And before I forget. It is my business how we can afford it. Let me just say that I can afford it, and leave it at that, shall we? It really is a wee bit crass to ask.


Can you tell I have had a hard day?

Happy Mothers Day 2009!

What a day!

I was woken up by my guys, ran to wash my face, then was given my Mothers Day cards, flowers and gifts!

I got a beautiful bouquet of mums, daisy's and lilly's, a lovely card from DS and another from DH (he wrote me a poem! So sweet!) I was given a really nice mug that matched the ones given to my Mum and MIL. It really is a nice mug to drink from. I love bone china.

And I was given my "Surprise". It's simply *beautiful*. I may have swooned when I saw it.


Happy Mothers Day to all Mum's everywhere!


My mug and watch

A little update...

I didn't get the job. There were 13 (13!!!11!!1!!) other people who applied for the job. I am sure it's a sign of the times. The "big boss" did say that there are a few maternity relief jobs coming up in the next few months if I was interested.

I am not as bummed as I thought I would be. Thanks for all the good thoughts and well wishes.

Tomorrow is Mothers Day... I will update tomorrow with my prezzies from the kid and husband.

I brought my Mum a really nice Pulsar gold tone watch, and a pretty fine bone china mug with "mum" ad flowers on it, and the obligatory flowers and chockies. I saw her this afternoon and gave her her prezzies. She was thrilled.

DH's mum is getting a similar mug, flowers, chockies and a nice gold chain to put her wedding rings on (she has arthritis, and can't wear them anymore.

DH will see her tomorrow. I am sure she will be happy with her Mothers Day gifts.


Last Friday, I dropped my aquamarine and diamonds off to my jeweller friend. So, if things move swiftly, I could have my new engagement ring in as little as a month!

My aqua and diamonds


I know I posted a pic of them before, but this one gives you a better idea of the size and scale. I wub them. It is going to look fantastic! I can't wait to get my new engagement ring.

I think

It went well. But I do know more than 5 2IC's applied for this job, and that I was the only 3IC with less than a year under her belt to apply.

I will get a call soon, hopefully.

I was feeling lazy, so no exciting outfit for today

But remember that job I put in an expression in interest on?

I have an interview this THURSDAY AT 11:30!


I am freaking out. A lot.

I am having lunch with my manager tomorrow (my day off) so she can give me some tips on preparing for the interview, but I am still freaking out.

Wish me luck for Thursday.


Edit;

I just found out that two 2IC's have applied for the job. Unless I nail this interview, I am not likely to get it over them :-(

What I wore today

Okay, so some time ago, I said I would try to do a daily "what I wore" type thing.

Here is post 1, of hopefully a lot of posts. You will probably see my work uniform in here as well, because while it is a uniform, there is a lot I can do to accessorise it, to stamp my personality on it.

Anyway. Today was a windy, and at times bloody cold day. So my lips are chapped, and my hair wind swept. And all I did was run to the supermarket and grab the Sunday newspaper!

Please excuse the mess in the background.



Black cardi from Cotton on
Basic 3/4 length tee from Portmans
Denim skirt from Portmans
Aqua scarf from Tree of Life
Knee length boots
Cool white Baby G watch (gifted, thanks Casio!)

Hummm

I think I know what I am getting for Mothers Day....

If I am right. And I am 99.99% sure that I am, I am going to have the single most beautiful watch that I have ever seen.

I found a special order slip from a local jeweller, and it appears that my wonderful husband has ordered this watch for me;


(wipes the dribble off her chin before going on)


I tried this watch on at work before we stopped selling Seiko (apparently they are too upmarket for us now... Whatever that means) And I just fell head over heels for it.

Ohhhhh... I am doing a little happy dance. Now. To keep it a secret that I know, and act surprised on Mothers Day!

And finally as promised, a pic of the aquamarine that I plan to use in my new engagement ring, and the diamonds I am going to use. Now to settle on a setting.

IT'S HERE!!!

I have it. It's beautiful....


1.47ct Parti Sapphire and 0.34ct of G colour VS1 diamonds set in 18ct yellow gold and platinum.

The stone;


The plan;


The result;






So very, very stuning. Well worth the wait.

I also have the Aqua and some diamonds. I will take pics of the tomorrow in the sunlight...

I am so very pleased with this project!

I *might* be able to pick my ring up....

TONIGHT!!


It's almost like waiting for a baby to be born!

The jeweller might have it ready today... Otherwise it will be next week sometime!

Exciting!!!


*****
Edited to add on 14th April;

My jeweller had a rather dramatic family emergency that took him away from home, and he still isn't back at work as of today. So sadly, my princess is still sitting in the safe (in 2 parts, he got as far as setting the stones and assembling the head before he got the phone call...)

So hopefully he will be back at work soon, and hopefully I will get "Blue" as soon as he gets a chance to put her together and have her valued.

Then, I will buy the aquamarine stone that I am lusting after, and DH is having a new engagement ring made for me with it. He wants it to be a three stone style, given the size of the aqua (about 3cts) we have to have about 0.35 - 0.50 ct side stones, I will have to search for the perfect stones, so hopefully once big blue is on my hand I can get started on blue II.

2 to 3 weeks

Is how long I have to wait till I get my sapphire ring! Oh, I am so excited.

A while back I posted a pic of a loose blue sapphire stone I brought. Last night I dropped it off to my jeweller to be set.

It's a trillion cut, and will be cap bezel set with a halo of channel set diamonds surrounding it.

Not too long to go now!

Ohhhh!!! It's home!

My little 3 stone ring that is!

I had it re set with pink sapphires... It looks freaking AMAZING.

I am so very, very impressed with the work my jeweller did. I am in love!

Before


After

Another one of those days...

First, some good news.

I faxed my expression of interest to the regional manager today. My manager said 'Oh, well, I have 2 months to make you hate me now, so we won't be sad when you leave"

She seems pretty confident I will get the job....


And my current position... It's mine for good if I want it. The chick who was on maternity leave has decided that she only wants 10 hours a week. So the 3IC position is mine for as long as I want it.


Now, credit card fraud is fucking real, and it's UGLY.

Mid January, I sold a 1/2 ct diamond engagement ring to a chick, and will all CC transactions over $500, I asked for photo ID. The card had been swiped through the machine, and I was waiting on photo ID (she didn't have any...) and the machine timed out, APPROVING the transaction! I was just about to hit "no" when it timed out!!

I know it wasn't my fault, and all that jazz, but I feel so fucking bad. I feel like *I* had something stolen from me, personally.

I will have to give a statement to the police in the next week or so, and hopefully they will catch the chick, but damm. That sucked.

But the rest of the day was pretty dammed good.

Dear Boss Lady

I deserve this job. I would fucking ROCK as 2IC of that store, and you would be puffing penguins not to promote me.

Love,
Me.




(Somehow I *don't* think I will submit that as my letter of application, but I will be submitting something tomorrow. Wish me luck)

What happened?

At work, long story, but I am sending the shitty ring for a second opinion.

Then I can tell him to get fucked.


At home with the mango trees;

The asshole turned up at 5:45am, and wanted to go ahead, I said no way, we want legal papers to say what we expect, and what we expect to be done with regard to fixing the issues with the fence, and replacing the trees.

We said Thursday, but we can't see our legal guy till Friday at this stage. So he will have o wait till then I guess. He won't be happy about the wait, but at this point, I do not give a toss.


Now. Some FANTASTIC news.

A assistant managers job will be coming up in late May. I have to apply, but hopefully I have a good shot at getting it.

I will talk to my manager tomorrow, and then the regional. But fingers crossed I get it. I would be a big step up, and a HUGE pay rise.

Wish me luck tomorrow.

Ever had one of those days?

It started with a bad hair morning.

Then, we had nothing but returns for the first two hours at work.

Then, this guy, who had already yelled at me once about a 4 year old ring (that is totally out of warranty, and had been assessed as having lost it's stone due to wear and tear ;read she got a claw caught and lost the stone) calls and asks what's happening. I told him that the jeweller said it was wear and tear, and the ring had likely gotten caught causing the stone to be lost.

Well. He *lost* it. Told me he was going to the ACCC (consumer affairs) the news papers, that I was a mole, cunt, bitch... You get the picture.

He was an asshole.

I rang him back after I had calmed down, and offered to have the work done at cost. That still wasn't good enough, and he started on me again. So I hung up.


It got slightly better from there.

But. I got a phone call from DH. The dude next door wants to sub divide his property, and put a second house on it. Cool. But he has to go through our property to do it.

So, we say, yeah okay, provided we have proof that you are fully insured in the event of damage to our property, and we are adequately compensated for cutting down a mature mango tree in the yard, and the puling down of the fence.


So he calls DH today, and tells him that he would like to have the trees (both of our 20 year old fruit baring mango trees, not just one) cut down tomorrow. DH says, uhh no, it was only supposed to be one, and, where is the written agreement that we were supposed to have. He dodged that, and told DH rather than paying to have the fence put back up, and having the trees replaced, he will give us $200.


Umm. I don't know where he lives, but where I come from, $200 is NOT going to replace 2 fully grown mango trees, and put up a new fence.

So I called him. What a fucking pig. As god as the asshole this morning. Calling me little lady, and telling me that the men had agreed, and that I will do as I am told.

So. Yeah. My day sucked.

I will call the police if tree loppers turn up tomorrow. I don't fucking care if I have to take the day off and chain myself the the fucker.

Sigh.
/rant.

Oh. My.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25089795-421,00.html

GOODNA couple Josh Brennan and Leanne Rowe were supposed to celebrate their dream wedding on the Gold Coast yesterday.
But instead of toasting their future together, they were preparing for the funeral for their four-year-old daughter, Yolanda.

She was supposed to be their flower girl, but Yolanda's young life ended in minutes on Friday night, the eve of their wedding day, when she drowned in a pool at the Burleigh Palms Resort, The Sunday Mail reports.

The little girl was found face down alone on the bottom of the pool at about 8.30pm.

"She was a girl's girl. Bubbly and bright, loud and outgoing," a relative told The Sunday Mail.

"The family is not holding up so good. Everybody's loss of life is a tragedy. When it's a child it's hard to fathom and comprehend.

"It is bad enough without being on your wedding day. It's something you read about and say, 'How did that happen?'," the relative said.

I sold this couple their wedding rings on Monday. They were happy to be getting married, for their kids to be involved in the wedding.

Now their baby girl is gone. I saw the story (without the names) this morning, and I mentioned to DH that this family sounded like the one I had in the store on Monday. I got home this afternoon, and a quick google search brought this up. I cried so hard for that family this afternoon. I cannot imagine what they are going through.

Think of them at this awful time.

Why

Is jewellery insurance so fucking expensive?

I mean, I know you stand a higher chance of being robbed, getting it lost, or whatever than, say having it burn down, but give me a fucking break here. I am not paying what they are asking for coverage on my jewellery.

Time to start looking around at other insurance co's.

My new baby!

A 1.47ct trillion cut Parti sapphire from Northern NSW.




(wipes drool and slobber off keyboard before going on)

It will be bezel set in a halo of diamonds, and maybe a split shank. I am also toying with the idea of pave set sapphires down the shank. Ohhh! I can't wait!


(but in the mean time, I am having this ring reset with pink sapphires)

Long time no blog

It seems like the only time I blog these days is when something goes wrong.


Not this time folks.

I promised well before Christmas to post pics of the anniversary ring DH brought for me (using *my* staff discount, at my store....)

Well, here it is (please ignore the fact that it is dirty... I did clean it Friday afternoon before I left work, but, alas, it has been a busy weekend).




He has redeemed himself for that little faux pas by having this designed and made for me. Loosely based on the Tiffany and Co. circles pendant



Rather than totally knocking off the Tiff & Co. pendant, he had "I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mine" engraved across the two rings. It's fantastic I love it. One billion points to the DH sitting in the naughty corner. I am a sucker for a custom made piece.

Don't I look just thrilled? LOL!


I can't remember where I promised to post pics of my charm bracelet, so I will do it here. I *LOVE* my bird, my elephants (all 3 of them) the crown, and the hearts. The glass beads will be replaced in due time. As soon as something I like better comes in, they will be handed down to my SIL.



And just for fun...



Borg Kitteh!


(he had his eyes checked by the vet when he had his ball-scetomy, it's fine, just a bit odd. It fits his personality)

Till next time.

WWYD?

The girl I replaced went on maternity leave in July last year. Apparently today she said she is coming back July 20th this year.

My hours will drop like a stone, and I will go down a pay level.

I am thinking I will apply for assistant manager jobs (within the company if I can, or outside if need be) as soon as she comes back.

That's not silly is it?

Nice to know.

Apparently, my MIL is "worried" that I will run off with some young bloke because I wan 13 years younger than DH, and I have the audacity to not lock myself in the house, and to hold down a job where I *gasp* talk to MEN!


Holy shit!

How long has she thought like this? It's now 3am, and I still can't sleep. I just can't get over what I have been accused of.


On a bright note... I commissioned a ring to be made for me today. A half ct assher cut aquamarine (IF in a pale blue aqua), with .25ct of princess ct diamonds on either side (F colour, VS1 clarity) set in platinum and 18ct yellow gold.

Set kinda like THIS

All I have to do is pay for the diamonds (1.5k) and the jeweller will get started on it! Eeek! I am pretty excited about this!!

This is interesting....

I found this just now while looking about on the interwebs for support to my "keeping weight off is the trick" argument.

http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2005/08/03/1429212.htm

Lose weight - and keep it off

by Peter Lavelle

Only about one in five people who've lost weight manage to keep it off. But in the US, researchers studied a group of 4000 people who succeeded - and found out how they did it.

Published 03/08/2005

Losing weight is hard enough. Keeping it off is even harder. Only 20 per cent of us manage to lose it and keep it off. But though difficult, it's not impossible, say the authors of a new report in the latest American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Of the twenty per cent who succeed - how do they do it? That's the question the US researchers hoped to answer when they looked at a group of about 4000 people on a database called the National Weight Control Registry, operated by doctors at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

To be included on this voluntary registry, subjects had to provide information about their peak weight and then how much weight they'd lost - and this information had to be independently verified by a nutritionist or counsellor. They had to have lost at least 10 per cent of their body weight, and have kept it off for at least a year.

In practice most of the subjects were more successful than this - on average losing a whopping 33 kilograms - and going from a body mass index of 37.6 to 25.1. And on average they kept it off for more than five years.

Body mass index (BMI) is a way of assessing how healthy a person's weight is. It's calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. A BMI over 25 generally indicates being overweight, and a BMI over 30 is classed as obese.

How they did it

Pretty impressive stuff. How did they achieve it? By doing five things;

* Exercise. Most did an hour of moderate intensity exercise per day. Three-quarters did brisk walking; the rest did cycling, aerobics or weightlifting.
* They ate a low fat, low kilojoule diet. On average, they consumed about 7,500 kilojoules (1800 calories) a day. (Compare this to the average Australian daily intake of 13,800 kilojoules or 3,300 calories). They achieved this by limiting the volume of food and drink they consumed overall, by counting kilojoules and by restricting their intake of high-kilojoule foods. On average, 24 per cent of their energy intake was from fats. And they avoided fast food - eating less than one such meal a week.
* Most ate breakfast daily (usually fruit and cereal). Why was this important? The researchers think it stopped them binge eating later in the day.
* They weighed themselves regularly - 44 per cent weighed themselves daily and 31 per cent weekly. This allowed them to detect small gains and take action early when success was more likely
* .They maintained a consistent eating pattern - varying it little, even on weekends or holidays. Those who were less strict about their regimen on weekends and holidays tended to put weight back on.

In fact, putting small amounts (average four kilograms) back on was common, despite the large overall losses. And once the weight went back up it tended to stay up. Even small amounts (as little as one to two kilograms), once gained, are hard to lose again, the researchers say.

The people who kept their weight down most successfully were disciplined, had good self esteem, and didn't suffer from depression. Most - 55 per cent - didn't go it alone but sought help from a nutritionist, GP or a weight loss program to help keep them on track.

The more weight they lost, and longer they managed to keep their weight down, the easier it became to keep it down in later years. After two to five years staying on track, the chance of longer-term success increased greatly.

There's hope for us yet.
***************************


So, I am doing something right. It's not just "luck' that keeps me where I am. I am not just talking out of my ass when I say the trick isn't in losing weight, but keeping it off, that you still have to eat right and exercise....


Humm. Me thinks the truth is too much for some people.

I *love* LBT

I am *nasty*


LMAO

Damm. How do these people survive in the real world. Are they never challanged? Do they stomp their little feet every time someone questions them?

Amazing isn't it?


And the shame of being nasty and from (gasp) AUSTRALIA!

EDIT
Holy crap! I attacked her. That vapid little twit wouldn't survive an attack from me.

And again...

Could someone (who knows what I am on about) tell me where exactly I was nasty? I thought I was being pretty funny in that last post actually.



Oh, and totally off topic. Did my Brick the "She way" today. Run first, then an easy ride. I got in a much longer run/ride combo that way.

Thanks She!

Holy Shit!

Did my first "Brick" tonight (Brick, for all you non running folks is a good hard half hour bike ride followed by a ten minute run, you increase the run and bike ride as you go along)

Well. It was delicious torture. My legs felt like jelly at first (I swore I was going to fall off the treadmill and smack into the wall) but I son felt that brick they talk about.

Holy shit. It was awesome. I think I needed the change. The challenge.

I think I am gong to try to get to the Gold Coast this year. Even if it is just for the 10k.