Your Lucky Day?

Anyone getting married in the New York City on 8-8-08?  Still in need of a photographer?  Well, this just might be your lucky day!  Ha ... sorry, I sound like an infomercial.  But seriously, my fabulous photographer Leah McCormick will be in town (from California) for an August 9th wedding.  She's recently gotten tons of calls to shoot weddings on August 8th -- apparently a lucky day -- but none in NYC.  So if you're a last minute kinda bride, there's still hope for you

I owe a few wedding related updates ... I did get the Tacori ring, but can't seem to take a decent photo.  I love it by the way.  Also, 13 months later, I've f-i-n-a-l-l-y lost most of the baby weight (although still not quite wedding thin), so I'm thinking of wearing my wedding top for our Second Anniversary.  Its in a box under our bed, so I have to try it on one day when MK isn't around.  If I try the top on, do I need to get it re-drycleaned???

Another Ring Option

So, in my usual decisive manner (haha!), I don't think I like the Scott Kay ring anymore.  This is my current front runner:

The brand is Tacori and its a little more than the Scott Kay ring, but I feel like I'd be getting more for my money!  What do you think? I need to order it from Bailey Banks by Saturday to get the 10% off (although I'm sure I could sweet talk them into extending the offer).   My one issue with the ring is that they are showing it with a 2+ carat center stone, while mine is just over 1.5 carats -- I actually think it will look better with a smaller stone, but I wish I could see it first!

Thanks ... but ... um ....

Yesterday I received a card from a very dear friend thanking me for the lovely lasagna pan I got her for her shower.  One minor problem ... the gift wasn't from me!

Let me start from the beginning.  My friend is getting married in December.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend her wedding shower in Washington, DC last month. 

It was an "Around the House" shower, so we were asked to bring a gift for the kitchen or entertaining around the house and to also bring a favorite recipe (great idea!).  If I was a better organized, I would have sent a gift directly to her bridesmaid hosting the shower, but, alas, by the time I made it to the Macy's website, I'd have to overnight the present, which was silly.  Also, my friend and her fiance will be leaving the country after getting married, so I didn't think it made sense for her to get too many pots and pans!  I did email my Turkey Chili recipe in time and last week (a little late!) sent her a Victoria's Secret gift card  (for .... um ... entertaining around the house). 

What to do now?  Should I email her?  What do I say? 

A Proposal for a Ring

Mr. Firefly is sweet and wonderful, but not exactly the creative type.  When he proposed many moons ago (April 2005!), he wasn't sure what type of ring I would want, so he went with a very simple, 4-prong, white gold setting.  His thought was that I would go back to the jeweler and have the stone reset, but I liked it and I thought it looked good on my hand ...

... Fast forward to late into my pregnancy, one day at work I looked down and one of the prongs was up!  Holy #&^*?&^!!!!  The ring is insured, but I'd be crushed if I lost the stone and who really wants to fight with an insurance company?

Given that my fingers were getting puffier by the day, I put the ring in storage with the thought that I'd have it reset later this year.  Like any true Ohm'GodI'dNeverPayRetail New Yorker, I planned on going to the diamond district on 47th Street to check out settings, but honestly, I just don't have time to bargain shop anymore.  Mr. Firefly and I were at the Westchester Mall recently and I spotted this ring at Bailey Banks and Biddle.  The designer is Scott Kay .  I know its probably over priced for what I'd be getting -- essentially a chunk of platinum and two microscopic diamonds on the sides -- but I kinda like it.  Its simple, but different.  And the stone wouldn't be set too high, so I wouldn't be scared of wearing it around Baby Firefly. 

What do you think?  Should I do more home work and bargain shopping, or just go with this setting?  The store will be having a 10% off sale later this month, so I feel like its now or never.  For what its worth, the price of the setting varies based on the size of your center stone, but it should be around $2300 for my stone, before the discount and tax (which will essentially net out) -- this is within my budget, I just thought I'd be getting "more" for it.  

... the whys of not posting

... sooooo, some of you might be wondering why I disappeared last year .... here's a hint

although i was comfortable posting all of the details of my wedding, I just didn't feel the same about my pregnancy or the baby.   and now ... well ... time time time ... so much time, so little to do (i wish!).  i still try to keep up with my ladies, but rarely write comments. 

but I'm FINALLY going to focus on my wedding album in the next few months.  I'll be working with my wonderful photographer Leah McCormick and Cypress Albums, which are just stunning.  I promise to post photos once its all done some time next year.