Push Presents - Practically Necessary

'Push Presents' are an increasingly hot trend for moms-to-be.


According to Linda Murray, the executive editor of babycenter.com, "It’s more and more an expectation of moms these days that they deserve something for bearing the burden for nine months, getting sick, ruining their body. The guilt really gets piled on." Now, not that many women think of child bearing as "bearing the burden" and "ruining their body" and often women will say that the gift of their child is a present enough. But wouldn't it be nice to receive a gift as a kind gesture and small token of thanks from your partner? When studied, 38% of women received a push present, 55% of women wanted one and 40% of women think it's materialistic only when demanded. In a recent article regarding the subject Jenny Atkinson says, "I certainly don’t “expect” a gift, but I think it would be a wonderful gesture for a husband to do to show a woman how much they appreciate what they’re putting their bodies through to help build their family."


In recent pop culture news it is rumoured that Jessica Simpson's former NFL'er dad-to-be, Eric Johnson has purchased a push present of $30,000 worth of jewels from a store in Italy, where they first fell in love. This by no means sets the bar for your partner to break the bank. Go for a gift that is personalized and stamped with meaning. A small family ring to look down and recall your thoughtfulness when she's away from you and the little one; or a pendant with your new baby's fingerprint for her to remember just how small that finger once was.

                                                       Photo credits by Elle Magazine.

Aquamarine - March's Birthstone

Designers call it their favourite gemstone. It can be found Brazil, Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It’s a common birthstone to the Pisces.

Since early times, aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage, and happiness. It is said to increase intelligence and make one youthful. As a healing stone, it is said to be effective as a treatment for anxiety and in the Middle Ages it was thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons.

A legend says that sailors wore aquamarine gemstones to keep them safe and prevent seasickness.

Aquamarine has good hardness (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale) and a wonderful shine. That hardness makes it very tough and protects it to a large extent from scratches. The lucid gem colour makes it easy to see inclusions making quality an important consideration. Iron is the substance which gives aquamarine its colour, a colour which ranges from an almost indiscernible pale blue to a strong sea-blue. The more intense the colour of an aquamarine, the more value is put on it.

Aquamarine is not only used for jewelry but has been also used in the art world. The “Dom Pedro” is shown below and was cut by Bernd Munsteiner to create the 10,363 carat sculpture named, Waves of the Sea.