DomestiGals Welcome Kyla Bea for More Ring Talk!

Dear Sue & Jen,

I have to say, I really adore the moissanite ring talk you've been engaging in over the past posts, but I can't say that I'm as entirely on the boat as you guys are. I have to voice my opinion! DomestiGal or not, I am thoroughly domestic (and alternately non-domestic) and I will be heard!

I feel like we skipped a step in this discussion, we went from diamonds to moissanite in one move - that's like getting engaged on a second date! And Sue, I thought you didn't even really want the fuss of this formality stuff! Let's at least go on a third date before you guys really commit.

I get that moissanite is great for a whole bunch of reasons - including that the stone in the middle is conflict free. You get a brand new shiny piece of jewlery, and at least part of the appeal is that you have a big stone without the same cost of a big stone. Here is where I get tripped up though: what about the minerals your stones are set in?

Mining is tough, dirty, and extremely environmentally disruptive at the best of times if it's not downright harmful. Unless your moissanite ring is set in recycled gold, it's still harmful to the

environment, and the rings that I've found online really aren't as pocket friendly as I'd thought they would be! Maybe it's because I'm a married girl in my 20s, but there is no way I could find it acceptable for my Mister to throw down $2000+ for a ring, especially if there were no diamonds changing hands.

Knowing where I stood on this, when Mister and I knew we wanted to get married, I started looking at vintage rings.

Okay hear me out!

Has someone else worn them? Maybe. Maybe they were purchased for someone and never accepted. Maybe they were given and never worn. Maybe they were worn for a year and then put into a box again. But once I got over the "someone else factor" - I have to say that vintage

rings hold my heart.

First of all: it's not about cost. Vintage rings are beautifully designed. Rings from the 1920 and 1930 can be simply or exquisitely set - but they are all warm designs with extreme attention to detail that you have to pay $3000+ for in a new, or moissanite, ring.

Second: The cuts of the stones are also more generous - because a lot of the technology that we have just wasn't around you can get a really gorgeous, and big, stone that by today's standards would lose a quarter of a carat just in making the cut more precise. I have to say, I don't really care how precisely cut the stone is - the diamonds really do sparkle the same in a vintage setting.

And of course, my goodness are they cheap. At estate sales and resellers you can get a vintage ring for a fraction of the cost that you would buy new. The designs are warm and detailed, and you can buy them without breaking the bank. The diamonds that you're buying are already in the world, no one's digging them out or making imitation stones, and gold is upcycled if not recycled. How eco-friendly can you get?

My ring Mister used to propose ended up being Mister's Grandmother's ring. The modern designs just didn't work with my sensibilities in the end, and it's worked out perfectly for us. I had the wedding band re-set and they made an awesome pair.

Can I stop being practical and go back to being a girl talking about her wedding for just a second? Here's my engagement ring. It's almost a carat. It's from mister, and I love it. The start of a very good thing.

What do you think? Anyone thinking of taking the vintage plunge?

For more Kyla Bea, check out her fabulous blog! Thank you, Kyla, for adding this new dimension to our ring obsession! XOXO!

Engagement Rings: The Four F's

Sue and Gals!

First of all, if y'all have not clicked on the comments section of my last post, DO IT NOW. You are about to see such a gorgeous ring - it must be viewed! Not to mention the lovely sentiments from Kyla Bea and Caz, two of our fave ladies. Check it out!

Now onto further engagement ring obsessing.

So Sue. Since you are looking at fakies, you don't need to worry your pretty little head about the 4 C's (clarity, cut, color, and carat weight). Moissanite in particular is always basically gorgeous and sparkly, so you want to be sure to get a nice cut that you like and, obviously, a HUGE carat weight, but you don't have to worry about the all the complicated stuff that, for example, The Lawyer (are you reading, dear?) will have to deal with when purchasing my Ring of Dreams.

But, but! You are not out of the woods yet! Behold, the 4 F's! Created by moi just for you (and all of our fab readers, of course).

F #1: Fake

Put down that salad and chew on this, my darling: Are you sure you want a fake diamond? Positive? You won't regret this years from now as you gaze down at your moissanite stunner? No? Good. Let's move on.

F #2: Fit

As thin and gorge as you are now, Sue, we will all put on a few pounds, or at least some puffiness, over the years. Especially when you get knocked up with your JewAsian spawn. Or indulge in one of your "Fat Fridays" and drink a few margaritas. So just make sure the ring is comfy with just a wee bit of room for growth.

F #3: Flair

Sue, think of your studded cowboy boots. This ring needs to reflect you. Make sure the ring has personality worthy of its fabulous owner! Which leads me to...

F #4: Fabulousness

I mean. Obv.

So there you have it, Sue! Food for thought for your ring quest. Obviously you must keep us posted as this process continues...

I love that I can obsess about your ring while I await mine! This is fab!

xoxo,

Jen

Cheap NYC Weddings

The Doctor and I have been debating whether or not we should go ahead and have a more formal Domestic Partnership ceremony for our families (read: Our Mothers).

We actually walked around Manhattan the other day, in search of the perfect community garden to have a small ceremony for my immediate family and his.

I'm not sure why I couldn't find any information on the web about cheap NYC weddings, but I think I have a few recommendations.

Contact your local community gardens

A few of them charge around $100, and most are free!

There are so many gorgeous community gardens in NYC, and, as an aside, I forgot to tell people that The Doctor and I are going to become Urban Beekeepers in one of them! He has been obsessed with bees and honey for a while, so we're actually partnering with an urban collective in Brooklyn to become their garden beekeepers. I just can't wait to bond with our Queen Bee and help her boss around all the Workers (they're the female bees, basically her ladies-in-waiting) and the Drones (they're the Dudes).

Look! I mean, kind of hilarious that I'll eventually be looking hot wearing a white beekeeper outfit and not a white wedding dress.

Photo courtesy albaniabridge.co.uk

Sorry, I just have a really hard time focusing on talking about weddings. Honestly, I'd rather be talking about bees.

All right, so I'll share more How to Have a Cheap NYC wedding in my next post, but, I'm curious... how were all our ladies in DomestiGal land able to reduce costs for your weddings?

Did you refrain from getting your engagement-ring-of dreams?

Did you have just beer and wine instead of a full bar?

We're dying to hear from you! Plus, as we all know, Jen is currently planning her wedding (amidst studying finance and stats) and I'm sure she would love to hear some of your wedding tips.

xx,

Beekeeper Sue

Introducing the Parents...

Jen,

I think I finally stopped laughing over your big non-engagement ring "outing" your first day of business classes! Are you now known as "engagement ring Jen"? I'm sure there are 5-10 Jens in your program, so you clearly have some sort of descriptor going on before your name.

Ahem. Actually, while we were planning on getting Domestic Partnered in the post office, in the end we decided to be even *more* romantic and do it at the bank instead.

In response to your question re: my betrothed status, let's just say our parents aren't quite satisfied yet. Aside from that, anytime I refer to "My Partner, The Doctor," people either assume that a) I'm speaking about my business partner or b) I'm a lesbian.

Sigh.

But! BUT! The Doctor's family will be travelling from NYC to New England to visit my family this Thanksgiving and have their formal introductions.

Amazingly, I'm not nervous in the least. Mostly because of the following mathematical calculation (hello, you know how much we Asians love math).

Fabulous half-Asian family + Fabulous Jewish family = Super Fun Times.

Of course my wonderful Asian mum is already obsessing over all the following:

* "Where will The Doctor sleep?"

Mind you, because we're not married, my Asian mum typically puts us on SEPARATE FLOORS. Um, seriously. a) I'm almost 30 and b) We live together and c) We have been together for over 2 years and d) Mother, puh-lease! You're always embarrassing me!

* "What do Jewish people (read: non-Asian people) eat?"

Okay. As I have been dating Jewish guys since 1999, you think she would have a handle on this already, but she continues to obsess. This is the friendly exchange we had today:

Asian Mum: "Sue, what will The Doctor's family want to eat? No pork, right???!!"

Mean, Impatient Daughter: "Ma, I told you! They eat everything!"

Asian Mum: "What? Really? They eat pork?"

M.I.D.: "As The Doctor says, 'No one loves bacon as much as a Jew.' "

Asian Mum: "Bacon's too fatty. I don't want your father eating so much fat. His belly keeps getting bigger! He looks pregnant. Is The Doctor getting fat? Does he look pregnant? You both have to stop eating so much!"

M.I.D.: "Ma, stop being mean! I told you not to start making Fat Comments when we're home this time. Please, try not to tell The Doctor to "suck it in" while he's resting on the couch this time, okay? You're turning into your mother!"

Asian Mum: "I'm not being mean. Mummy loves you and The Doctor. Only Mummy will tell you the truth. Anyway, we're not having bacon. I want to have a make-your-own-sushi party."

I mean, obviously she does. We'll all just sit around in our lovely kimonos, eat sashimi with chopsticks in our hair, and occasionally get up to shuffle around the house with our little feet.

The meeting will obviously be a riot.

Love,

Fatso Sue

What Ring?

Darling Sue,

Wait a sec. "The Betrothed"? I'm confused. I thought you and The Doctor already got your blessing from the post office worker and are officially Domestic Partners. So what's this "Betrothed"??? You're not crossing over to the fabulous side, are you? I mean, stranger things have happened. Not that I can think of any off the top of my head right now. But still. I'm sure they have.

But seriously. Please do explain. And I do like your ring, by the way!

Speaking of rings (or lack thereof), have I told you that since I've been at school I have started wearing the ring The Lawyer got me for my birthday last year on my ring finger? Between being apart from him (and, thus, wanting to demonstrate that my fabulousness is, alas, spoken for) and the general state of the economy (and, thus, the big giant question mark that has replaced the center stone in my Ring of Dreams), The Lawyer and I decided that it was time to make the switch from right hand to left hand. And let me tell you, it feels good!

Of course, I decided once I got here that I needed to come out of the closet. 

Yes, my classmates are all now aware of the fact that I am an unengaged former Domestic Goddess who is planning her wedding with a ring on her ring finger that is not in fact her engagement ring. In fact, the very first day of orientation, we were randomly assigned a classmate and had to talk with them and then spend 30 seconds introducing them to the class. As a guide, we were given a list of questions to ask, such as... "Where are you from?" "Where were you working pre-MBA?" "What actor would play you in a movie?" "What is the bravest thing you've ever done?" and "What is your most valued possession?"

My answer to that, which was then announced to my entire class by the guy who interviewed me? "The engagement ring she doesn't have yet."

Let me tell you, it got a huge laugh.

I just hope people were laughing for the right reasons...

Forever Dreaming of Bling,

Jen 

Domestic Partnership Rings have been purchased!

Wow. Okay. A big DomestiGal thank you to Bekah yesterday for her wonderful post!

So, The Doctor and I finally went to Versani and bought our Domestic Partnership rings! I have to say that they're pretty fabulous and we are both very excited about them.


Of course, it took me about 2 minutes to choose the one I wanted; however, The Doctor must have spent 45 minutes choosing "the perfect" ring. He's so particular and fancy sometime -- but it's completely adorable.

You know what else is adorable?


The other day he said to me, "DomestiGal Sue, I just imagine you at 60 and me at 70, clutching each other and sobbing hysterically if we don't have kids. We should have babies."

Sigh.

To be honest, I haven't been in a particularly pro-baby mood. (Especially when I saw in the paper the other day that the average kid costs $250,000 BEFORE they go to college...) But, Jewish-Asian babies are just *too cute* to not have!


Okay, but back to our rings.

Do you want to see pictures of the rings we got? I mean, obviously you do.


Here you go!






This is The Doctor's Domestic Partnership Ring o' Love.





This is DomestiGal Sue's Partnership Ring o' Domesticity.

I have to say that both rings look so-so in these photos, but look like Seriously Something when you see them on our ring fingers.

And, of course, they had to special order my size 4.5 ring. The Doctor's a size 9, so he was fine.

Jen, I know you hate when I talk about fun ring stuff while you're busy sharing scary toilets and scarier fridge-space with your new dorm mates.... I'm sorry, my friend!

He he.

By the way, I certainly hope The Lawyer noticed the article in The Week magazine the other day, indicating how exponentially ridiculous the cost of diamond rings have become and how they're going to go up even more! He needs to buy your Ring of Dreams super stat!

Love,

The Betrothed.

To Spoon or Fork?

Alas. I know all of you are just dying – dying! – to know that after 2 years of domestic-partnership bliss, the doctor and I still spoon.

And not just for a few minutes before he or I do the “Squeeze and Roll” method that Ross made famous in that excellent episode of Friends. Oh no! I mean, we spoon the entire night.

What’s absolutely terrific is that we really have it down to a science. I lay on my right side with my two pillows in a perfect L shape. (One for my head, and the other one for me to squeeze). Then, The Doctor wraps his arm around me so that we’re holding left hands. Sometime in the middle of the night, I rollover and squeeze his nose, which signals him to turn so that I can begin to spoon him.

Truly all of you in DomestiGal land just needed to know that.

And now I need to know how all of you sleep with your partners. Specifically – PJs or no PJs?

After all my highly enlightening blog postings, I’m sure you can guess what my answer is.

Sadly, my darling Jen, I don't even know how to respond to your questions regarding my sister's new Tiffany's engagement ring! I just asked The Doctor, and he says he thinks it's a Classic Tiffany's engagement ring. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any side stones, so that makes it a solitaire -- and -- (I'm looking at the Tiffany's site now) not the Round-Brilliant. In terms of karats... uh, I have no idea. The other day, I asked my friend Lynn how many karats her diamond ring is, and she had no idea either.

Clearly we're not the typical Sex and the City Girls that Manhattan claims to have.

xx,

Still Spoonin’ Sue

Engagement Ring Deets, Please!

Um. HELLO, Sue! "Some round ring from Tiffany's"?!!?!

I need DETAILS, STAT! What engagement ring design is it? Is it the classic round brilliant solitaire or one of their other designs? Are there side stones? Are they baguettes, round, or square?

What's the carat weight? Color? Cut? Clarity? Give me the 4 C's, baby!

Yeah, you have no idea what the 4 C's are, do you. Ask The Engineer. Hopefully he did some research before purchasing your sister's Ring of Dreams.

So now that your youngest sis is getting hitched, do you think that will take the pressure off you for awhile? Or will your Asian mummy still be pressuring you to pop out a wee JewAsian sometime soon?

Cannot wait to hear more.

All is well here in MBA-land, though I can already feel the booze re-establishing the beer belly I just worked my arse off for four months to shed. Sigh. Colossus is not going to be happy with me. Especially considering the stellar quality of my last workout with him.

And worse? I just worked out for the first time in the university gym - like, the one and only official university gym - and, like, this is a world-class university of 12,000 students, you know - and let me tell you, that place was spanky! Spanky, dank, smelly, and stinky. Ugh. I don't know how I am going to be a hot bride in a year when my local workout facility has all the charm of a gas station bathroom. 

I am in need of some MAYJAH motivation. And luckily, the Fit Bottomed Girls have arrived just in time! Stay tuned... they'll be with us tomorrow!

(Probably sooner than the details of your sister's new engagement ring, eh? But seriously, give an unengaged-bride-to-be a little blingtastic gossip, will ya?)

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

Jen's First Day: Pick Her Outfit! Please!

Ok ladies. I am sending my DomestiGal beacon out into the sky (I imagine this to be like Batman's bat signal, only in the shape of a huge diamond engagement ring. Obv.).

I need your help!

I started packing for school yesterday (SAD! I KNOW! ACK!) and I am at a total loss. I cannot figure out what to wear for my first day. THE most important day. I will be meeting all my new classmates and professors, and we are having our class portrait taken (which I really think is cruel to do on the very first day, but I digress). So last night The Lawyer and I had a photo session with the four finalist outfits, and I present them here.

Please please please help me choose! Based on your votes, I will let you know the winning outfit on Monday!

Without further ado, here they are (and yes, this is really me, standing in our "Grecian Spa"-colored bedroom, with my new uni's coat of arms hanging on my closet door - I feel so exposed! But I am also thrilled with how adept I am becoming with Microsoft Paint.):

OUTFIT #1: The black pinstripe power suit with red lining (a good Feng Shui color, Sue!). 

I know it's hard to see due to my ailing 5-year-old camera, but please note the patent leather heels. They may get me to wear a suit for the first time in 8 months, but I shall not abandon the fabulous!

OUTFIT #2: The understated but cute brown suit with dark purple shell.

Again, hard to see here and not quite as fab as the suit above but comfy and reliable. And it fits me way better since I've been working out with Colossus!

OUTFIT #3: The simple black dress with my Blair Waldorf jacket.

Seriously, doesn't that jacket look like something Blair would wear? It's preptastic! Also note the pointy-toe power pumps.

OUTFIT #4: The pseudo-wrap brown dress.

This dress has been a professional go-to for a few years. I'd spruce it up with accessories. Obv.

Ok, ladies! Leave your votes in the comments section!

And thank you for your fabulous guidance.

Big love,

DomestiGal Jen

More ring talk! Has DomestiGal Sue lost her mind?

DomestiGal Jen,

Oy. I just can't even believe you're heading back to school to complete your MBA. The thought of you straining your brain to do something other than wedding gift shopping is just beyond the beyond! Please remember the rest of us in DomestiGal Land when you're off nerding out.

Okay, so I finally found two rings that I'm pretty much ridiculously obsessed with. And, best yet, my new friend Yaf has worked at the store, Versani, for the past several years. We met the other night at my business coach, Kim's, fabulous birthday party at Kittichai.

Ahem. Obviously what's more important than rings? Food, duh.

First I have to tell you all about the food I had at Kittichai in SoHo, because it was beyond the beyond fabulous.

*Coconut and organic chicken relish with crispy jasmine rice crackers
*Seabass tempura with sweet chili-tamarind sauce
*Chocolate baby back ribs with Thai spices
Um, excuse me, did you hear me?
That's right, CHOCOLATE baby back ribs with Thai spices.

(Jen, get your hand out of that Nutella Jar, you Dirty DomestiGal! Colossus insists that your rear end be tighter than Michael Phelps' bum by next year. How do you expect your dress-of-dreams to zip up if you continue to be so undisciplined!)

*Flourless chocolate cake with fresh cream
*Banana spring rolls with honey cream

Jen, do tell the rest of our community how all that personal training and no-carb diet is working out for you? Any special vitamins you're taking recently?

Dear god I'm such a terrible, fat cow and a lousy friend.

Anyway, back to the matter of my left hand.

Check it here.












www.versani.com

I know all you DomestiGal diamond-lovers out there will be horrified that I want this as my "partnership ring." But I just love it.

I'm also pretty much obsessed with this one as well. Check it, ladies, here.













www.versani.com

So this is how I see it. Right now, gold is tres in here in Manhattan. (That said, I suppose gold is always very in during the summer time.) Anyway, I'm kind of thinking that gold one can be my pseudo engagement ring (even though I never plan to be engaged... or married for that matter), and then the first one, the Russian Wedding Band, can be my official DomestiGal Partnership Ring. Oops, ahem. Of course I meant my official Domestic Partner Partnership Ring.

Some days I'll wear gold; other days I'll wear white gold.

And obviously my underwear will always match.

Love,

Foie-gras and fat eating Sue

Alternative Wedding Rings -- Sue needs help!

Dear DomestiGal Jen (and all our other wonderful DomestiGals who commented on yesterday's post -- Renee, Kyla and Michelle... I know I'm missing some of you ladies!)

I love your idea of having donations to you and The Lawyer's favorite charities! I must say, the few friends of mine who've actually had a wedding do this exact same thing as well! I think it's one of the most moving and memorable things that you can do for a wedding. As your future minister, I give my Official DomestiGal Seal of Approval!

As for the bridal mag craft project, I can't say it's how I'd spend my time, but I think it's the perfect task for a Domestic Goddess.

Of course, now I must do a shameless plug for me and my friend's non-profit... forgive me, DomestiGals, but I must, I must! It's called Smiles Across the Miles, and we provide medical and dental supplies to pediatric patients and orphanages in Bolivia.

Okay, now for an extreme change in topic.

So here's the deal.

The Doctor keeps harassing me over what kind of partnership band I want and I just don't know what to do. I mean, I'm not exactly the diamond-wearing-type. If I ever leave my house in something other than a tank top and jeans, friends and colleagues of mine don't recognize me.

So, what should I get? Did any of our DomestiGals out there get something other than a diamond ring??

Here are some sites that I have looked at. Jen, do you like any of them? Seriously, if I could afford a personal shopper, I would just put her to work.

There's this place in Brooklyn, NY called The Clay Pot which has a lot of beautiful items. They are a bit too expensive for my taste (i.e., they cost more than $100/ring... Hey, I'm stingy), but let me know your thoughts.





It's by Marian Maurer and called the Laurie Band. I know it's a bit plain for your taste. I mean, you're looking for a diamond that acts as a ship's headlights for a boat ride from NYC to London, but this is me we're talking about.


What about this one? It's called the Matsu Organic Band.









Yikes! I'm bored after spending 5 minutes researching rings. Any suggestions from other DomestiGals about fun, funky wedding rings?

Love,

Size 4.5 ring-finger Sue

Engagement Ring Feedback Required

Sue,

Big engagement news! No, not mine. It may still be in the wee hours of the morning over there in NYC, but rest assured if The Lawyer had popped the question with the Ring of Dreams, you would have heard my shrieks of joy from here.

But big news nonetheless: a fellow lady of leisure friend here in London just got engaged to her beau! Very exciting. They are currently away on vacay in a romantical location perfect for question-popping, so I will have to wait to hear all the details. The Lawyer and I have very different guesses about her ring - and in fact we took a bet on what it looks like. Questions abound. Did he surprise her, or had they discussed what she wanted? Trendy or classic? Mayjah bling or refined rock? Super-sparkly (i.e. round brilliant or cushion cut) or geometric elegance (i.e. emerald or asscher cut)?

Seeing as you have um, undeveloped taste in nice jewelry, Sue, I thought I would pose a couple of questions to our readers. 

Gals out there in the blogosphere! It is time to let your blingpinions be heard!

For those of you DomestiGals who are happily engaged or married, take a lingering look at the rock on your finger and tell us: how much say did you have in its selection? Did you decide to aim for current trends (micropavé, vintage/retro, non-traditional center stone, etc.) or stick with a timeless design (round solitaire)? 

For those of you Domestic Divas who are dating, dominating, and maybe thinking about your own Ring of Dreams: how much do you want to participate in the engagement ring search? Do you already know what you want or will you leave it up to your man? If you had to choose, what would be your Ring of Dreams?

Please, ladies, share your thoughts. We all know Sue is just not up for this sort of dialogue, and my friend's engagement has me going girly-girl ring crazy over here!

xoxo,

Jen

Almost Thirty and Still Dirty, Twenty-Seven and in Food Heaven

Sue,

I mean I am not even going to acknowledge the "swallow" comment. That being said, Madonna's level of hotness (which, granted, has been fluctuating due to the A-Rod scandal and ensuing ginormous donation to her charity) is indeed A to the Mazing and nothing you will not be able to attain. IN TWENTY YEARS.

As for the big 3-0, let's try to relax... and focus on my wedding. Shall we? I certainly can think of no better distraction! Am I a good friend or what?

So as you know, my pre-MBA reading and career prep is piling up around me. Thus I decided it is time to get back to my wedding planning. Yes - before you ask - there is still no rock in sight... but that will not deter me from planning my fabulous future nuptials!

In fact, I have news: we booked a caterer! Big Wedding Decision Number Two - well, technically, Number Three - can be struck from the list! We have the Location of Dreams, and now we have the Caterer of Dreams.

As you may recall, I had been fluctuating, much like Madonna's hotness, between two companies. Ever the only child that I am, I (we) basically chose the caterer who gave me (um, us) the most attention. And I'm not afraid to admit it! Plus, the chosen ones are also willing to serve a "local delicacy" (read: cheap-o Chinese noodles from a strip mall restaurant that taste surprisingly good if you add enough vinegar) requested by The Lawyer and didn't turn down their noses at our somewhat simplistic menu ideas. They just called our taste "Americana." Genius! Bring on the mac 'n cheese balls!

Please do not take advantage of the easy pun here. No one needs to hear more about how I will be serving balls at my wedding.

More plans to come!

Love,

DG

5 Reasons to Marry Michael Phelps

Sue,

You and I may be happily off the market, but for all the Domestic Divas and Domestic Bachelorettes oozing fabulosity out there in the blogosphere, I have a proposition. Nay, a plea.

Please, please, one of you - find, date, and marry Michael Phelps!

Watching the Beijing Olympics has been inspiring and moving on many levels. Perhaps chief among them is witnessing the Olympic idol that is Michael Phelps, and daydreaming about eating Nutella off his torso.

Sigh.

Ok, so his ears stick out a bit and apparently he's a little awkward on land due to his innate fishiness, but here are the five reasons that he is super dreamy Olympic husband material:

5. Considering his penchant for gold medals, he clearly appreciates bling. Bodes well for an engagement ring, wedding band, and assorted anniversary gifts, no?

4. And hello endorsements! This guy will be rollin' in the dough after these Olympics. Snag him now, so he'll know to put some of that money away for your Ring of Dreams. And what a ring it will be! (See reason 5 above.)

3. How cute is he with his mom and sisters in the stands? Beware of his mama's boy potential, of course, but he clearly appreciates fabulous women.

2. One (aforementioned) word: torso.

and the Number One reason to marry Michael Phleps:

1. He is the greatest swimmer and Olympian of all time, and truly seems like a nice guy to boot. Need I say more?

Get on it, ladies! And please keep us posted on the conquest. I'll supply the Nutella.

xoxo,

Jen

Ode to Dy

Sue,

Every trace of the teenagers is gone!  Phew!  Bless my Dyson.  My house is mine again.  Of course, that means I need to buckle down and actually be a little bit productive.  I fear, with the arrival of my pre-MBA course reading and career services preparation (that I have been informed in no subtle way is "COMPULSORY" - whoa! Settle down, folks!), that my lady of leisure days are drawing to a close.  Horrifying.  Seriously.

But I will not go quietly!  I will continue to plan my wedding despite the lack of an engagement ring!  I will strive to be the best Domestic Goddess I can be despite the fact that I will soon assume another, much less fabulous title of "grad student"!  Most importantly of all, I will remain dedicated to my Dyson and the dust-free, teenage grit-free environment it provides.

In fact, so enthused am I about my Dyson that I came up with a little ditty today (with kudos to Beethoven, obv)...

Ahem.  Here goes.

Ode to Dy

Dyson, Dyson
I adore Thee

God of Suction

Lord of Clean

Bunnies of dust flee before Thee

Hail Thee to the homey gleam 

Suck the dirt of jogs and errands 

Rid the house of my hairballs

Not that I have grody split-ends

But they add up 'gainst the walls

Housewives join the mighty chorus

Which the morning tasks began

Dyson love is reigning o'er us

Vacuum love leaves time to tan

Ever cleaning march we onward

Fabulous in the name of "wife"

Joyful suction brings us sun-ward

In the triumph song of life

I have too much free time.  I know.  And I am cherishing every second of it.

Love,

Jen, the Domestic Goddess 4evah!

Domestic Goddess Takes on Teenagers

Dearest DP,

Rings!  Fabulous!  I must admit I do hope you see the light - no, not the glorious rays of light emanating from my future Ring of Dreams, the metaphoric light - and decide to show your commitment to The Doctor by wearing a gorge engagement ring - oh no wait - partnership ring on your ring finger.  Did you find any you like?  Moissanite?  Mokume Gane?  Details, woman!

As for me, well, you may not be hearing from me for awhile.  I am preparing my biological clock for an attack of a most gruesome nature: teenagers.  In my house.  For two days.

That's right.  The Lawyer and I offered to host an expat family friend's two teenage daughters for a couple of days.  And they arrive in approximately 90 minutes.

Now, I have known these girls since they were babies.  I lived over here in England with their family for a couple of summers, so I am kind of the big sister they never had.  Or at least I was.  I haven't seen them for a few years so I have no idea what the dynamic will be now that they are adolescents.  Ack!  I mean I was a terrible little witch when I was in middle school, and an insecure mess in high school (well, at least for the first year or so, until I embraced my nerdiness and gained a little fabulous and became quite cool, actually).  I know I will be able to handle anything that comes my way.  But I cannot speak for my biological clock.  For her, I fear the worst.

Which is probably a good thing, since I'll soon be starting grad school and all.  Not exactly the time to get knocked up.  Oh, and before you remind me yet again, I am also neither married nor engaged.  Right-o!

Ok, I'm off to rev up the Dyson before the girls arrive.  Wish me luck!

xoxo

DG

Bridezilla Schmidezilla

My dearest and favoritest Domestic Partner,

Okay, so you are also the only gal I know who is in a legal domestic partnership, but that doesn't mean my love and admiration for you are any less,

Fear not! Just because I stayed awake for my entire red-eye flight from Detroit to London reading my new crop of bridal mags from cover to cover does not - I repeat, does NOT - mean that I will go all bridezilla on your yenta-cum-ministress ass.

I am the first to admit that booking our wedding location and starting the planning process before getting engaged, yes, without an engagement ring on my finger, is unconventional - though I must also say that it is much easier to browse vendors' websites without being blinded by the rays of glorious light emanating from my Ring of Dreams.

I will also admit that commencing Bridal Boot Camp and counting grams of protein with over a year to go until my nuptials may be a little intense - but remember, I am a Domestic Goddess! I don't work, I Dyson! What else am I going to do all day if I'm not exercising vigilance over my increasingly hot physique?

You can also give thanks to the High and Mighty Internet for keeping me sane in the coming months - okay, YEAR and months. There are a ton of fabulous, grounded brides-to-be out there: Veronica from NYC, Kelly and Natalie in DC, and even a gal in LA who is planning a $10,000 wedding! I mean how crazy can I possibly go?

Love,

Show Me the Blingy

Sue darling,

It has been an historic day. Well, not actually all that historic, since the BF and I browsed rings in the States at Tiffany before we moved, but how I love typing “an historic” and also, today was no slouch of a day, either!

In true Lady of Leisure style, I sashayed and shanteyed (wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve quoted RuPaul – I am showing my age) up, around, over, and through Hatton Garden, London’s blingtacular diamond district. How fabulously civilized it was! There were no skeevy men trying to woo you into their stores like they do in NYC – and I mean, does that ever work? Ew. And the three salespeople with whom I worked were all totally friendly and helpful. If only their rings were a little nicer… alas, I am still lusting after a Tiffany diamond, as the BF and his bank account will no doubt be thrilled to hear.

[That being said, it’s his own fault. He is the one that suggested we take a spin through Tiffany on that glorious day back in January. I mean what did he expect?]

Even if I did not find the Ring of Dreams today, my delicious journey was educational and eye-opening. I learned a lot about the ring fabrication process, and about diamonds themselves. Or, rather, how effing expensive they are. One moment that was positively surreal witnessed me balancing two diamonds in my finger cleavage (you know, if you straighten your fingers and then smush them together) to compare their size and color. These were not huge stones, mind you – one was 1 carat, the other was about 1.5 carats – but there I was, with $40,000 worth of diamonds sitting in my finger cleave. It was mayjah.

To be perfectly honest, I am just trying to bask in the glory of my truly leisurely and fabulous day and not freak out about how INCREDIBLY FRICKING RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED these things are. I have accepted that I am a total sucker for this tradition of ye olde diamond engagement ring, and I must suffer the consequences (guilt, guilt, and more guilt) in the knowledge that it will be worth it to have my Ring of Dreams on my finger as a symbol of our love and a future family heirloom. TG the BF loves me enough to support all this. Well, or at least he does now. I cannot speak for when he learns that my heart does, indeed, belong to Tiffany after all…

How about you? Are you even considering getting some sort of ring at this point? Don’t let me down, sista!

Xoxo

Your DG

P.S. Off to galavant with the BF around Italy! Back soon! Ciao!

P.P.S. And don't think the joy of being able to take vacation whenever I want is lost on your favorite Lady of Leisure...

When Harry Met Jenny

W,

Well thank you for the pick-me-up (post-me-up?), you fabulous Domestic Partner you. As easily as you scandalize me – still! After all these years! – I have to say that creating a menu via Naked Twister is rather genius. I think you need to patent that.

Your kind words are the icing on the wedding cake, as I am feeling waaaaaaay better than I was the other day. And I’m sure it has nothing to do with the candid heart-to-heart convo the BF and I had about money and the wedding and EVERYTHING to do with Lauren “Devil Wears Prada” Weisberger’s fabulous new novel, released just in time for summer: Chasing Harry Winston.

And yes, I had to include both the US and UK covers (I read the UK version) because aren’t they too fabulous for words? How can you not drool over that bling and those stilettos?

Anyway, reading this book at this point in my life was like a shot of Nutella to the heart – invigorating, comforting, satiating. The book oozes fabulosity and girliness, but I think you might even like it! Seriously! Because these girls have issues! Like, realistic ones. And they deal with them, but not without a little pain along the way to the happy but not wholly predictable ending. I don’t want to drop any spoilers, so I won’t say much more except – sigh. Yes, that was the mellowed, happy sigh of someone who’s just delighting in being a girl again, instead of stressing at every twist and turn.

Not to mention that all this talk of jewelry has me hankering for a trip to Hatton Garden, London’s Diamond District – or, as these oft-tending-towards-verbose Brits call it, London’s Jewelry Quarter and UK Diamond Centre. You know, just to browse. And the BF even approves! He says he needs more input (read: decisiveness) regarding my Ring of Dreams, so I will be making a trip ASAP. Stay tuned… I know you’ll have your barf bucket in hand, but just try to appreciate this for the educational value, won’t you?

Ever yours,
DG

Why Isn't This More Fun?

Ah Wendi,

I love how your keen sense of ladylike decorum comes through in your writing. I will never think of my protein shakes the same way again.

Hope you had a good weekend though. I miraculously survived another training session with Colossus and am anticipating another successful cleaning date with my beloved Dyson this morning.

But, alas, I'm feeling a little down. About this wedding planning stuff.

You know, before I met The Lawyer, I never allowed myself to visit TheKnot.com. Well, ok, fine. I might have typed the address into my web browser a few or dozen or so times, out of sheer boredom and desperation and inability to think of anywhere else to surf. But I never allowed myself to set up a profile.

I just knew it would be worth the wait. The BF would propose, I'd have my Ring of Dreams on my finger, and the sun would be shining and angels singing on the day I opened my laptop and logged into The Knot as a bride-to-be.

Things didn't exactly turn out that way, not that I mind. In fact I kind of love that the BF and I are doing things a bit inversely, booking our dream location before actually getting engaged (not that the event manager knows - sshhh!). Plus, it makes sense for me, since I will be starting my MBA in September. Best to get this stuff done now, as a Lady of Leisure, before I become a Student of Stress. I feel secure and happy and excited to get engaged and I think our family and friends will get a kick out of the fact that we booked everything before our actual engagement. I mean it's cute, right?

Me to family member/friend: "Guess what? I'm ENGAGED!"

FM/F: "That's great! I am so happy for you! Have you thought about a date?"

Me: "Yup! And a time, and a location. Invitations forthcoming. And there will be fabulous mini grilled cheese sandwiches passed during the 4:30-5:30 cocktail hour."

I mean, that's cute, right?

So why isn't this more fun?

We booked our date a couple weeks ago, and I had the green light to start planning, so off I went… and then I stalled. It wasn't until recently that I was able to sit myself back down to look at some caterer's websites. We also received our lengthy contracts in the mail, but signing them (and the deposit check to go along with them) was more painful than joyful.

Don't get me wrong. I was listening when EVERY bride EVER declared that planning a wedding is stressful. But this is, like, one of the only things on my docket right now. I could browse wedding sites all day, every day, la dee da, without a care in the world save for my aching legs courtesy of Colossus. And I am determined to have fun with it, dammit! Who cares if I don't have my Ring of Dreams tossing glorious rays of light around my kitchen as I type? Who cares if I am completely financially dependent on my fian - excuse me, boyfriend - right now and thus feel twice the pressure of a lack of liquid funds with which to consider satin linens over polyester and butternut squash soup served in a wee carved out pumpkin over a plain old bowl?

Oh - I care. Crap.

Wah...
DG