Tag Archives: engagements

Fabulous Friday: My Engagement Ring

Posted by: Maggie

To finish off our sentimental Fall Week I thought I’d share with you all, one of my most prized possessions, my engagement ring.

I adore it. It always makes me think of being so in love with Josh and just knowing that it was right. Knowing that he is the person that I want to be my partner in life. And it reminds me of how he proposed, which is a pretty good story. We just decided to get married in a conversation at home one night. I probably said something like, “I think we should get married.” and he probably said, “okay, that seems like a good idea.” Oh so romantic, I don’t even really remember the conversation. So we went and picked out a ring, and I never expected any kind of proposal. Josh isn’t exactly the romantic type.

While we were waiting for the ring to be sized, I thought it was taking forever and started complaining about it. I wanted to announce the engagement already, but didn’t want to tell anyone until I had a ring to show them. Well, it turns out Josh had already picked the ring up and was planning a surprise for me. I’m pretty sure I was in the middle of mid-terms (this was my senior year of undergrad) and I think I had studying to do that night, which is exactly like Josh to not consider. So I came home to our apartment (we were already living together) and I walked in the front door with my schoolbooks in my arms. There were flowers and candles and my favorite Chinese food for dinner and an entire banana creme pie for dessert (another favorite) and Josh was on his knee with ring in hand. Not the most dramatic proposal, but it was a surprise, and it was perfect and it made me happy. I love you Josh!

Anyways, back to the ring. It’s a big fat amethyst. To be more technical, it’s about a 4 carat square-cut amethyst in a white gold setting.

I love the setting. It’s kinda vintage art deco style, without being too ornate, although it’s not a vintage ring. We bought it from a department store. I think if I could do it over I would have looked for something that actually was vintage rather than something that looked vintage.

Mostly I just wanted an amethyst, my birthstone, and I wanted something big and sparkly. In the sunshine, that amethyst sparkles like nobody’s business.

I wanted an amethyst because I think that they are lovely, I wanted something unique that other women wouldn’t be wearing, and I don’t wear diamonds. I won’t get up on my soapbox about this, and I don’t think badly of all of you ladies out their with your diamond rings. But if you want you can read some articles here, here, and here, which include many of the reasons why I won’t wear a diamond.

Thus ends my sentimental fall week. I hope it didn’t make you all too sick. Next week I’ll get back to complaining about having to clean up poop and scrape oatmeal out of the carpet.

Engagement Party and Eleanor’s First Pair of Shoes

Posted by: Maggie

We celebrated Josh’s sister Beth’s engagement this weekend with a party hosted by Josh and Beth’s Aunt Diana at Maggiano’s at The Grove.

Because it was a special occasion and because Eleanor is no longer willing to be held the whole time when we are out, we finally bought her a pair of shoes so that she could walk around at the restaurant.  We didn’t want her in bare feet on a floor that we had no way of knowing how clean it was and we thought that shoes would really finish off her very cute outfit.  So I found her a great pair of black patent leather Mary-Janes with little bows on the strap.

I really wanted her first pair to be the Converse I am getting her for her birthday party, but these are pretty cute too. Don’t you love her outfit, we got the dress at Target it is very office to evening. It looks like something I might wear.

Beth and Her “Fiance” Jenny

Although they are actually already married, the ceremony will be held in Las Vegas in February (they were married before the election in case Prop 8 passed which it did, but according to the Attorney General of CA their marriage should remain valid despite the passage of Prop 8 ).  Eleanor will be the flower girl!

Diana giving a toast to Beth and Jenny

Eleanor trying to destroy Beth’s corsage

Eleanor with Grandma Raisa

Eleanor with Grandpa Gross

I made Beth and Jenny a special engagement gift.

I scanned and reprinted the best of Josh and Beth’s parents wedding photos and put them into a Kolo album (I love Kolo!) with some cool copper photo corners.

I think the brown linen cover with the copper photo corners on the cream colored pages gave it a cool 70s feel.

Congrats Beth and Jenny! We love you!