One hundred fifty-two is the approximate number of Tiffany
& Co. velvet-lined pewter trinket boxes the NFL’s Player Association
purchased to give to the wives and girlfriends of former players who RSVP’d for
the “Money and You” financial guidance breakfast. The box was like a tchotchke
of sorts; a thanks-for-playing gift attendees picked up simply for sitting
through a stocks and savings accounts presentation by a big-time writer at Money Magazine. (Research suggests that
nearly 80 percent of women in relationships bear the responsibility of managing
household finances – often with little help from their significant others, and
apparently the NFL got the memo.)
The early-morning seminar was but one of many events on the
itinerary during the 2005 NFL Former Player’s Convention, an annual five-day
getaway – usually held in a warm, sun-drenched locale; that year it was at the
lush Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach – where retired football players, both young
and old, convene for food, fellowship, and to hear health and business related updates
from their board of representatives.
But for now, let’s focus in on the Tiffany swag because at
that point in time, it was the first Tiffany anything I had received. If you’re thinking, Damn, Courtney, the box is made of pewter – it’s not covered in diamonds. You are easy to impress.
Why, yes. Yes, I’m easy to impress, then.
It’s because in all the 12 years I spent toiling in the
workforce, attending more yawn-inducing seminars than I care to remember, the
only token gifts I received were key chains and cheap ink pens, many of which
had run out of ink before I had even reached the parking lot.
So, yeah, I admit it: My heart skipped a beat when I took
my seat at the table and realized that the little blue box next to my mimosa
and crumpets was for me to keep. It still is a pretty big deal to me.
But as much as this gift excited me, it pales in comparison
to the second item we walked away with – and get this: The second item actually
cost less than a dollar – 79 cents, to be exact. I’ll explain what it is – as
well as its significance – in an upcoming post.
The 2014 NFL Former Players Convention kicks off today, as
a matter of fact, at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. This event is just another
in a long list of things we’re continuing to pass on while the Ball and Chain
are young.
Sigh.
In the meantime, however, Scott’s and my definition of
“going away,” involves a trip to…wait for it…
The park.
…where Kennedy this weekend had her first ride on the
swing:
And she liked it! She really
liked it!
* VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE * VOTE *


Pewter or not, I love shiny things!
ReplyDeletelol! I'm right there with you -- shiny things, regardless of the label! It's just that, in case, I became blinded by blue.
DeleteI'm not gonna lie.
I can't wait to hear what the second thing was, you tease :) And isn't it SO MUCH FUN watching your bebe on a swing for the first time?? Kiernan was so uncertain at first, but within half a minute of her first time, she couldn't stop grinning her gummy little smile. Heart = melted.
ReplyDeleteI have to keep you coming back for more, Sara! (hee, hee.)
DeleteAh, yes, the first swing ride is a real delight to witness indeed. But I'm kind of suffering from Second Child Syndrome: When the firsts of the second child eclipse the memory of your first child'd firsts.
I vaguely remember Scotty's first time on the swing...and it was less than three years ago. ;-/
I am not proud of this fact.
Yay you posted the park photos! Look at Kennedy with her big ol' smile! Way too cute! I see you guys still got some snow up there. I hope it thaws out completely soon.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I haven't touched a Tiffany & Co anything! Lucky!!!!!
Thank you, Louida, really. If not for you, I would not have even thought to include these family photos.
DeleteThank you.
Yeah, this trinket box still makes me swoon. And it's 9 years old!! It's on my dresser as I type this...
Thank you for commenting! :-)
Oh I love Tiffany! My first Tiffany gift was the keychain and then actual jewelry. It was the only thing that ex-boyfriend was good for!!! Yay your baby on the swing! Big Kid status right there!
ReplyDeleteHi, Ida!!! Nice to hear from you! :-) Thank you for the kind words. I'm thankful that jewelry followed suit, too. I have a charm bracelet with an engraved charm each for our wedding anniversary and Scotty and Kennedy's birth. That bracelet is complete...
DeleteAnd the swing, sigh. It's bittersweet: Happy to have experienced it, but a tad sad that the baby stage is fleeting.
That said, I won't miss the middle-of-the-night nursings, I can tell you that much. ;-)
...and lol about the ex-boyfriend comment!!!
DeleteCongrats on the beautiful Tiffany gift! I had no idea the NFL did nice stuff for its former players. I've only heard the media complaints when someone is permanently injured and complains they don't get enough money to cover it. Yay for Kennedy's first swing ride! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Lexa!! Yes, that entire NFL former players conference was awesome. (Wait until I post the part two of this story in which I explain what the 79-cent gift was! I think it will make for a pretty entertaining post. :-)
DeleteThe swing ride was so fun, a tad chilly that day, which was why we dressed K like the Marshmallow Man. But, 'eh, at least most of the snow had melted.
C'mon SPRING!
I love anything that comes in that blue box from Tiffany's! Sounds like a great conference.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kathy! And ditto on the Tiffany goods. ;-)
DeleteBut, as I stated in the post, the cheapo 79-cent gift (which I'll explain in an upcoming post) was even better!
The conference was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to going back...someday.
The anticipation from the blue box is as good if not better than what is inside. So fun. One year when I was just out of college, my boss got everyone in the office a huge blue box for Christmas and it was sitting on all of our desks...it was a gorgeous glass bowl in a bamboo pattern. That was my first (and maybe my only?) blue box gift. So awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow! That was so nice of your former boss! That's the thing about Tiffany & Co. items: the anticipation, yes, and also the comfort of knowing that -- whatever is inside -- is good. Instant keepsake territory. You'll have that bowl forever, I reckon. Just like me and this trinket box (and, especially my Tiffany personalized charm bracelet, which has engraved charms for our wedding anniversary and children's births, respectively. I always say that this piece is going straight to Kennedy someday...)
DeleteOMG Kennedy REALLY liking the swing is huge.
ReplyDeleteAnd ya know, the swag is great, but I'll let you in on a secret from my past...we used to have these huge corporate (not NFL cool but cool) parties with massive swag. I got a Mont Blanc pen, along with some other stuff and today, not working, no swag, I am wondering how much I can sell the Mont Blanc on eBay for...hey...hmmm, I just so happen to know an eBay expert...hmmm....
I LOVE love LOVE the photos, and can't wait for the rest of this story, sweets.
Thanks, Kristi!! OMG, it is so funny you mention Mont Blanc because Scott met at a Mont Blanc boutique...and he, three years latter, he proposed to me (unsuspectingly to me) in the very same spot. (More details to come in an upcoming post, but I just had to mention that since you brought up Mont Blanc...)
DeleteOkay, as for how much you can expect to score on eBay. Hmmm. Wow, I haven't sold anything like that before, so I don't know for sure. ) Yes, it is true that I've bought virtually every kind of good under the sun on eBay, but I've only sold clothes and handbags on eBay.
My hunch,however, is that unless the pen is the Meisterstuck (sp?) you may be capped at how much you can get for it. (I am somewhat of a Mont Blanc aficionado. lol) Your best bet would be to conduct a search on eBay for the exact same pen you are trying to sell to get an idea for how much others are paying/listing for them.
Let me know what happens! I'm curious...
Thank you for posting. :-) I just sent you an e-mail, by the way...
Great tips, I would be too embarrassed to tell you how many sweaters I still have from the 80's and 90's - I need to do some serious purging!
ReplyDeleteI hear you...a little purging is necessary sometimes...which is what my post will be about this coming Monday, coincidentally!
DeleteThank you for commenting. :-)
Oh yeah, I knew I'd live your stuff:) so happy I asked by(from your new SITSta!)
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you! That means a lot...
DeleteDid you see the comments I left on your blog? I know I tried to leave one under your post about under-the-bed-storage...but for some reason, my comment never showed up -- even though I was logged in to Wordpress.
Thank you for stopping by -- and commenting. :-)