Ah Sue,

Fortunately for you, the stress of this MBA program is totally overwhelming me at the moment so I have no stress left for you and your unplanned-yet-definitely-happening wedding!

But do share some further details… your new moissanite is cushion-cut? Are there any sidestones? Do tell!

The other day I had my first dental appointment in London - no biggie, since I do have perfect teeth (for real. No cavities, no braces, no grinding, nada! Pure perfection! Dentists can never believe I haven’t had braces. My teeth are also unnaturally white, especially considering the amounts of coffee and red wine I drink - uh, drank, pre-detox, that is. Anyway.) - just had to have a cleaning. So I lay back in the chair, and this cute little hygienist puts on her mask and starts up the sonic cleaning thing (which, I mean, is it me or do those things always hurt more than they look like they should?), and then says, “Oh my goodness! Look at your ring!” And then - wait for it - I love the Brits - “That’s a proper sparkler!” And then she asked to see it up close.

Not that this is about me and my engagement ring of dreams.

So your new moissanite is cushion-cut, eh? Is it a solitaire, like this lovely moissanite morsel:

Courtesy of the confusingly-named www.moissanitediamond.com

Or did you get side stones, like these?

www.moissanitediamond.com again. Still confusing.

What about your wedding band? Is it plain or a moissanite eternity band? Deets, stat, lady!

Please, give me an excuse to think of bling instead of corporate finance…

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

DomestiGals,

I finally caved.  I decided to get a proper engagement/wedding ring, as my domestic partner ring is a bit too modest, as my friends indicate.

Let’s review.

Here is my domestic partnership ring that we purchased from Versani, a store here in SoHo where my beautiful friend Yaf has been for almost a decade.

Sue's Domestic Partnership Ring

And here is my beloved Domestic-Partner-but-soon-to-be-hubby’s Ring:

The Doctor's Domestic Partnership Ring

And now for the DomestiGal Drumroll….

Sue's Moissanite Wedding Ring

Well?  What do you think?  Obviously because this is *such* a big deal, I had to make the picture about 10 times bigger than our domestic partnership rings.

Hopefully it’ll arrive this week!  Of course, I’ll need Jen to give me proper advice on how to care for my ring.  I’m still debating how often I’ll actually wear it, as my domestic partnership ring is easy to wear around the gym.  Jen, are you wearing your 55 karat rock when you work out with Colossus, your personal trainer?

Love,

Sue

Um, hello Sue,

Obv you will need to wear your red wedding dress again… when you marry me and The Lawyer!

Seriously. So make sure your sister uses stretchy material (jersey, anyone? Anyone? Bueller?) in case you get knocked up. Which you know you will. Bring on the JewAsian babies!

Here in the UK, it is Day Nine of The Reign of the Ring of Dreams. I have gotten nothing but A to the Mazing feedback on my engagement ring, from girls and boys alike! I have been taking a tally of words most often used to describe the ring, and here are the top three:

1. Sparkly

2. Gorgeous

3. HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Ok, that last one is not an all-out bronze medalist. It’s basically tied with “beautiful,” “amazing,” and “ice rink.”)

I kid, I kid! I told The Lawyer that I did not want a Finger-Chopper, i.e. an engagement ring that, if worn in public, would result in my getting my ring finger chopped off. So The Lawyer sized it brilliantly - just big enough to stand out, but not so big that I walk lop-sided, my left hand hanging lower than my right.

Not that there is anything wrong with Finger-Choppers. Some of my fave celebs’ engagement rings are total Finger-Choppers! In fact, my two favorite Finger-Choppers of all-time happen to belong to the world’s hottest and first WAGs: Coleen McLoughlin (Mrs. Wayne Rooney) and Victoria Beckham (Mrs. David Hottiehottieboomalottie Beckham/Posh Spice). Check ‘em:

The incredible engagement ring of Coleen McLoughlin, via iconocast.com

The uberPosh ring of Victoria Beckham, via daylife.com

I mean. Whoa. Right?

So, the Ring of Dreams will not be losing me any fingers (knock on wood), but it certainly has brought me incredible joy.

What more can a girl - um, Gal - dream for?

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

Sue,

I am a new woman.

I am an officially engaged woman!

YES! Yes I am! And no, I am not just trying to re-steal your thunder after your shocking and wonderful wedding announcement. The Lawyer really proposed, for real, with the ring, and it has been sparkling on my finger for four days!

This is the first you’ve heard from me because, frankly, it’s been a little difficult to focus and get anything done with the Ring of Dreams on my finger. It is the most gorgeous and amazing engagement ring I have ever seen (if I do say so myself). I can’t believe I get to wear it for the rest of my life! Though I do hope I get used to it a bit more than I am now, if only to increase my productivity and actually pass my MBA program.

But anyway. Back to the bling.

You remember I said I liked this moissanite choice of yours, right?

Well, my engagement ring of dreams is basically like that, only more fabulous! Round center stone with 4 prongs, a gorge tapered band with 7 - count ‘em, SEVEN - side stones on each side, 2 baguettes and 5 square diamonds.

It. Is. Beyond.

But now I am already obsessing. How to keep it clean? What to do with it when I go to the gym? What about washing my hands? Ack! It’s like having a child or getting a puppy!

Only way, WAY more fabulous.

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

Um. Am I dead? No seriously. Have I died and gone to WEDDING HEAVEN???

Sue! This is brilliant! You are getting married! You are getting married to The Doctor! You are getting married before me!

Um. Ok well that last part is not my fave. I mean obv my wedding will far outshine yours - not that this is Bride Wars - but. Well. Nevermind. I’m over it.

I just pray I will actually have my engagement ring before you get your wedding ring.

But back to you. So! A red wedding dress, eh? Why am I not surprised? You may be surprised to hear that I applaud this choice, my dear. Remember that divine orange wedding dress I found back in the fall? I think a wedding dress of color can be simply fab, and obv you will pull it off (literally, I’m sure, and figuratively).

What concerns me is the hoochie example you showed. I think you need something a little more bridal:

Or how about this:

You’ve got a hot bod that is just begging for a mermaid gown!

Ok. I kid, I kid. I’m sure your sister will put together an A to the Mazing red wedding dress that will look smashing on you!

Actually, I think I’m still in shock. I think I need to go read some bridal mags to calm and recenter myself.

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

Sue darling,

It is great to be back or IS IT GREAT TO BE BACK. I mean. Obv. Especially now that we have been Sherika-fied. That woman is a rockstar. I love love LOVE our new look!!!

Um, and can we please have a moment for “expired-cordials”? Expired. Cordials. That cracked my arse up in the middle of my Operations Management class. For real. I had to pretend I was coughing.

But I am so thrilled that the families of DomestiGal Sue and The Doctor got along as swimmingly as we all hoped. Whereas The Lawyer and I are already brainstorming ways to separate our fathers at our wedding.

However, there is a much more pressing issue at hand. Literally.

I have had a most curious development over the last couple of months. As you noticed when we had our hot NYC rendez-vous in early November, I have been wearing a ring on my left ring finger. OBV not the Ring of Dreams – not an engagement ring at all, actually. It’s a ring The Lawyer gave me for my birthday a couple years ago – sterling silver with four teeny tiny lovely sparkly diamonds. I have been wearing it as a “placeholder” (as they say in the bridal mags) until the Ring of Dreams makes its debut.

But I think my ring finger is allergic to anything that’s not platinum.

You see, I had been wearing this beautiful ring on my right hand for over a year, and I never had a problem. But over the past few months that I have been wearing it on my left hand, a little rash has developed on my ring finger. As the rash has gone from pink to red, panic is beginning to creep in. I mean, what if my ring finger is allergic to my engagement ring?! Trag to the max!

Now, I want to wear this ring on my left hand, even if it isn’t the Ring of Dreams. I like the “placeholder” idea, and plus I think The Lawyer likes me to show the world that I’m off the market. I also just like the feel of a ring on my left hand. It’s something I’ve been waiting for all my life, you know? But this allergic reaction is just not hot.

My dilemma is this: I could suffer through this little rash for the sake of having the ring on my left hand… but then when the Ring of Dreams does finally come along (and it will, I am assured, it will) my ring finger is going to look terrible! I cannot get engaged with a rash-stricken ring finger! And the Ring of Dreams deserves better treatment than that!

So, for now, I have demoted the silver and diamond ring. It is back on my right hand. And I’m not thrilled about it, but fingers crossed the left ring finger heals itself swiftly. As for the horrific potential for an engagement ring allergy… well, I trust in the power of platinum. My engagement Ring of Dreams will not let me down!

xoxo

DomestiGal Jen

Sue my darling,

First of all? Did you HAVE to tell the blogosphere about the three entrees? Not that I’m ashamed, because we are looking hot (if I do say so myself, but thank you for the confirmation), and we only make it to that brunch spot like twice a year now when we used to go every weekend so it’s important to get to eat all of our favorite things on the menu… anyway. I’m over it. And I hope you enjoyed your mimosa and two glasses of wine, by the way.

Anyway, it’s like 7:00AM here. I’ve been up since 6. The Lawyer was up here this weekend and had to catch his train this morning. Trying not to be too sad/cranky/whiny about this whole long-distance thing, but it SUCKS. What’s worse is that I have a class called “Business Modelling” at 9 - and no, it’s not about how to look hot in the office, but about how to use Excel to do weird stuff that I don’t understand in the first place - and I have lots of homework to do. So thank you, Sue, for giving me an excuse to procrastinate… by looking at (fake) diamond rings!

Let me say that I totally approve of your choices. Is Diamond Nexus Labs fun to browse or what?! Even though I’m afraid you are going to wake up any day now and snap our of your blingtastic reverie, let me just add a couple more rings to the mix.

First, I was delighted to find Fanfare.

This ring actually fairly closely resembles the Ring of Dreams! (Though the Ring of Dreams is a little more svelte, but nevertheless similarly art deco-inspired. And made with real diamonds. Are you reading, Lawyer? I said REAL DIAMONDS.) Anyway, this may be a little too heavy for your dainty Asian fingers but I had to feature it here.

Next, we have Adelaide.

Mostly just because I couldn’t resist taking your new-found love for bling that much farther. Is this ring gorge or what?! The thin band would look beautiful on you, and the sparkle factor is just perfecto I think.
Of your choices, Sue, I would definitely go for Gwynie.

She actually looks a lot like the Tiffany Novo, also known as the Ex-Ring of Dreams (as my Midwestern Caucasian/German Ancestral fingers are too big for such dainty perfection).

Can’t wait to hear your further thoughts!

By the way, you do realize that these rings ooze “Wife,” not “Domestic Partner,” right? I mean. Just saying…
Ok, off to hit the books.

xoxo,

Jen

Uy, uy, uy.

DomestiGals, who am I?

I look at my gorgeous self in the mirror and don’t even recognize me. Why, oh why, am I all of a sudden wanting a fake diamond ring? DomestiGal Sue hearts moissanite engagement rings — all of them.

Jen, last weekend when you flew into NYC for the weekend with the rock-solid Lawyer (more on that later), did I soak up too much of your fabulous girly-ness? By the way, The Doctor and I so enjoyed watching you and your man SPLIT THREE ENTREES between the two of you.

(No comment on what Colossus, your personal trainer, must have said when he pinched the fat around your knee upon your return to the gym.)

Perhaps it’s because I just returned from a Manhattan fundraiser for The Bottomless Closet, where all the usual Upper East Side women were there with their 3.5 karat blinders. Thank god I’m Asian and have slightly slanty eyes, so I can’t let in too much sparkle.

Thank you, lady blogger Kathryn, for the link to the Diamond Nexus Labs. I’ve officially wasted the last 45 minutes staring at bling.

Ladies, which do you like the most from Diamond Nexus Labs? Of course they’re all fake, and I hope they follow Jen’s cardinal four F rules.

What do you think? Callisto or Gwyneth?

I think I’ll try to convince The Doctor to stop cleaning behind the oven (I know, forget about the Ring of Dreams, I’ve got The Man of Dreams) and come and take a look at my newest choices.

Oh, and Jen, The Lawyer is looking H-O-T. I mean, I’ve known your fiance-to-be since 1996, and he is officially made of steel. You may be able to cut your platinum ring across his triple-tricep-whammy one day.

And you, my darling, looked stunning as usual.

Love,

Sue

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

HOLY CRAP SUE.

The only thing that would interrupt me from my Obama Victory Party (by which I mean eating peanut butter straight out of the jar and crying with joy and relief and probably the extra dose of hormones in my new birth control pills - I mean WHY can they not make low-dose pills in the UK?! Come on people! - while watching his victory speech online) is this miraculous news that you have seen the light! Well, either that or you have been blinded by the rays emanating from your mumsy’s fake diamond ring. Either way, this is tres exciting.

So do tell! What does your mom’s ring look like? Do you like it or do you want a different style? Are you sure you want moissanite (which, honey, you really can’t call “moissanite diamond”…unless you insert “fake” between the two words, dear) or perhaps does a wee part of your hot Asian self want The Doctor to splurge on a real diamond? Surely he can find a way to splurge now that you are seeing a financial advisor/therapist.

Though I must caution you, Sue. Make sure this is just not a whim! Don’t get my hopes up that you will soon be sporting a blingalicious domestic partnership ring only to dash them and decide to wear that ring you liked that looks like a gift my 6th grade boyfriend gave me.

Not that this is about me.

But before you ask, YES, I am still sans Ring of Dreams. However! It’s now November which can mean only one thing (to moi, anyway): bonus season is almost just around the corner! Which means my Ring of Dreams draws ever closer to becoming a Ring of Reality…

Though I must say, I find it interesting that many of the married girls in my program are sporting neither diamond engagement rings nor diamond wedding bands. Kind of horrible, I know. But apparently diamond engagement rings are not the worldwide obsession I so naively and Americanly assumed they were.

But before The Lawyer should breathe a sigh of relief, let me confirm the fact that I cannot WAIT to blow my classmates away with the gorgeosity of my Ring of Dreams.

Not that this is about me.

So we need more details, stat!

And ladies out there, I second Sue’s motion - post pics of your rings and link to us! Or send us pics of your rings and we’ll post them! Sue needs our input ASAP!

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen