I am so thankful for all the blessings of 2011. I started back to school for a new career path, I got married, and Tony and I just moved into a lovely new apartment! All wonderful things, but they also took their toll on me. With the stress and time involved, I feel like I lost a bit of myself along the way. Now it's a new year, and my resolution is to get those bits back. I'm really missing some of my inner strength and calm... as well as my muscle tone haha.
I'm ready to return to yoga and enjoy the clarity and peace of mind it has helped me achieve in the past. It also has the added benefit of keeping me in shape! I've slipped some in my eating, too. For the new year, I've vowed to cook something fun, interesting, and healthy at least once a week. Try a new recipe or one I don't make often! It'll get me cooking more, which is definitely healthier than all the Amy's frozen food I've been eating. My new juicer (thanks to my in-laws!) should help in the health department, as well.
Welllllll, I'm too tired to think of a nice way to wrap this all up (still catching up on sleep from our New Year's Eve party), so Happy New Year! Hope it's a great one!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Sunday, October 16, 2011
New Links
Oh, harro! I just wanted to point out that I updated my links section. Now they're all in nicely categorized sections! Some are great, kind places to shop, and some are great places to learn!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Absent
School has been keeping me super busy, so I apologize for the lack of posts (to whom am I apologizing? I have no readers!). Good news, though - next Saturday (unless Tony ends up having to work) we're going on a little trip out north of Fort Worth to visit an animal sanctuary. I'll get to see lots of piggies, horses, dogs, cats, donkeys, and PIGLETS!!! *Squeal!* We're also going to stop in at the original Spiral Diner in Ft Worth. I'll try to remember the camera :)
Edit:
We may end up pushing the Serenity Springs Sanctuary trip back. This Saturday there's a cool Harvest Festival going on in Denton. It has some art demonstrations, live local musicians, and vegan cuisine! It's even byo cups to be more sustainable. How could I miss out on such an awesome opportunity so close to home!? It's gonna be a busy month! An EXCITING month!
Oct 1: The 8th Annual Denton Harvest Festival
Oct 9: Tony's birthday
Oct 15: Josh & Janet's wedding (for which I got an organic cotton dress!)
Oct 23: Texas State Veggie Fair
Oct 30: Tony and I celebrate 6 happy months of marriage
Oct 31: Halloween
Maybe we could fit the sanctuary in on the 8th, 22nd, or 29th?
Edit:
We may end up pushing the Serenity Springs Sanctuary trip back. This Saturday there's a cool Harvest Festival going on in Denton. It has some art demonstrations, live local musicians, and vegan cuisine! It's even byo cups to be more sustainable. How could I miss out on such an awesome opportunity so close to home!? It's gonna be a busy month! An EXCITING month!
Oct 1: The 8th Annual Denton Harvest Festival
Oct 9: Tony's birthday
Oct 15: Josh & Janet's wedding (for which I got an organic cotton dress!)
Oct 23: Texas State Veggie Fair
Oct 30: Tony and I celebrate 6 happy months of marriage
Oct 31: Halloween
Maybe we could fit the sanctuary in on the 8th, 22nd, or 29th?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Responsibly Beautiful
Due to the lack of pretty pictures in my blog lately, I decided to make a collage FULL of pretty things. Yay for Photobucket's EZ Collage feature! (If the picture decides to be lame and not show up, you can click the teeny little box where it should be).
1. Scotch Naturals Watercolors in NEAT: vegan, toxic-free, and pretty much everything-else-free nailpolish (just read about it on their site!)
2. CITYZEN GREEN Justine V in Petal: Naturally dyed 100% organic cotton T
3. Blue Metallic TOMS: they're vegan and TOMS gives a pair to a child in need for every pair bought
4. Marine Blue Sheer Lace Shirt by Minxshop: beautiful shirt handmade by the lovely lady modeling it
5. 31 Bits Robi Necklaces: Made out of recycled paper by women in Uganda
6. Goodsociety Women's Skinny Jeans in Raw: sexy jeans from a fully organic and sustainable company
7. Luckyduct Oxidized Sterling Triangle Earrings: handmade earrings from a talented etsy seller
8. Matt & Nat Ella Bag: Cute vegan bag with a lining made of recycled bottles
9. Bewilder Bra and Darkside Garter Hotshort by Clare Bare: eco-lingerie made of bamboo jersey and vintage mesh hand-dyed with eco dyes
1. Scotch Naturals Watercolors in NEAT: vegan, toxic-free, and pretty much everything-else-free nailpolish (just read about it on their site!)
2. CITYZEN GREEN Justine V in Petal: Naturally dyed 100% organic cotton T
3. Blue Metallic TOMS: they're vegan and TOMS gives a pair to a child in need for every pair bought
4. Marine Blue Sheer Lace Shirt by Minxshop: beautiful shirt handmade by the lovely lady modeling it
5. 31 Bits Robi Necklaces: Made out of recycled paper by women in Uganda
6. Goodsociety Women's Skinny Jeans in Raw: sexy jeans from a fully organic and sustainable company
7. Luckyduct Oxidized Sterling Triangle Earrings: handmade earrings from a talented etsy seller
8. Matt & Nat Ella Bag: Cute vegan bag with a lining made of recycled bottles
9. Bewilder Bra and Darkside Garter Hotshort by Clare Bare: eco-lingerie made of bamboo jersey and vintage mesh hand-dyed with eco dyes
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
My first two days of school
Insomnia has taken me the past few days. Excitement, perhaps? And of course, my little Cindy baby is no help - walking around on my chest and gently slapping at my face with just enough claw that she doesn't scratch, but I can't ignore it. Attention whore! But alas, no kitties will be turned down affection in this home. Anyway, I bring that up so you'll forgive me if I'm a rambling mess :) I don't normally post about my days, but the start of this semester seems somehow worthy.
Monday I left a little early for class to get a new stick of deodorant (I *would* run out during one of the hottest summers in Texas history). I also decided to treat myself to a delicious, cold bottle of Kombucha. Beth got me addicted to Kombucha, which is great since it's a source of vegan probiotics! It looks a little funky (some of the bacteria cultures like to clump up in the bottom) and smells a bit like feet, but I promise it tastes great! Hmm, that's my second tangent in two paragraphs...
Anywho! After my stop, I headed to Statistics. The professor was a kind-looking, smiley man, though he made me a little uncomfortable by making way too much eye contact with me. That's what I get for being one of the ones paying attention! The class was a bit dull (Statistics terms definition day, wahoo!), but I'm sure I'll be a lot more interested once we start working actual problems.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are much fuller days. Tuesday started off well - I got up, did a little yoga, had some coconut water (NOM NOM), and did the usual, boring get ready for class junk. First "oh crap" moment of the day: "hmm, no one else is here for my class..." That's because it starts at 11:30, not 11, smartypants. Go me! I decided to use the extra time to explore the campus a bit (I usually take classes at Collin's Spring Creek campus, but Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I'm at the less-familiar-to-me-and-further-away Preston Ridge campus this semester).
Philosophy seems like it will be fun. The professor was witty and enthusiastic, which is always great. He chose very modern philosophical material - mostly how people today are so greatly affected by inanimate objects, such as smartphones. At first I was a little upset about this (I love learning things with historical context), but I can see how most young college kids probably find it more relatable. All-in-all, most likely a good choice on his part.
Next, I headed to Anatomy and Physiology I. Philosophy got out a bit early, so I had a few relaxing moments to read first! Let me start off by saying I had VERY high hopes for this class. I think I'm even more excited to learn anatomy and physiology than jewelry-making (and that's saying a lot!). A few minutes in, however, my worst fear was realized... 18% of my lecture grade comes from a GROUP PROJECT. OH THE HORROR!!! Another 10% comes from a community service learning project. That part worried me at first, since I had no idea where I'd do my service. However, once she told us there's a list of organizations on the Collin website, I realized it will be a great thing. Perhaps even get me started volunteering somewhere permanently! But back to the group project... My mind COMPLETELY freaked. Dark thoughts started running through my head: "I can't do this," "Why am I here?" "I have to drop," "Why did I think I could be a nurse?" etc. It took me a few more hours to get through the shock.
A bit disheartened, I drove to the nearby mall to try to find a suitable lunch. Luckily, I recently read that Starbucks now offers a vegan-friendly bistro meal, so I grabbed one of those. Turns out it was pretty delicious. An Asian-inspired sesame and veggie pasta with sesame-covered peanuts and a little square of dark chocolate. I'll have to start figuring out my own food to bring, though. I don't feel too comfortable eating something that comes in a plastic box, two small plastic containers, and two plastic wrappers. Wasteful!
Back at the campus, I found my A&P Lab room. I have never liked lab classes. Mostly for the same reason group projects scare the living shit out of me - I'm too shy and I always end up having to explain everything to my partner/s. Still, I did so well in my Biology lab last Spring, how bad could it be? I'll tell you how bad. We have to dissect. Ugh. But wait, it gets worse! What are we dissecting? Cats. CATS!? As soon as I heard that, I teared up for about 30 minutes. Again I thought about dropping or skipping those days, but I take my grades too seriously now that I want to be a nurse. I tried to comfort myself by assuming the cats were already euthanized, then donated to the college for learning. But still, when I look down at that cat I'll think of my own. All the sweet little kisses they give me, their purrs, their rubs against me... What could have been for the cat in front of me given a chance? I decided I must tough my way through it, but I guarantee I'll be the weirdo crying as we dissect cats. I'll also e-mail my professor ahead of time to warn him how uncomfortable I'll be.
I feel a lot better now. A little time has helped my mind re-center. First off, I like to always keep in mind how very blessed I am to have the opportunity to go to college. Being thankful helps get me through the classes I don't like as well. Also, this all leads somewhere - a GOOD somewhere at that. One day I'll be sharing my love and compassion with patients in a hospital. The group project will help me get used to being around and opening up to people I don't know. One of my two worst fears going into nursing is that I will be too shy to relate to the patients or let them know I care. (The other... I'm afraid of needles). Hopefully the lab will help me learn to do uncomfortable things, including forcing me to work with a stranger. At least my lab partner seems sweet.
A little more personal than my usual posts. I hope it's not boring! Have a great day!
Monday I left a little early for class to get a new stick of deodorant (I *would* run out during one of the hottest summers in Texas history). I also decided to treat myself to a delicious, cold bottle of Kombucha. Beth got me addicted to Kombucha, which is great since it's a source of vegan probiotics! It looks a little funky (some of the bacteria cultures like to clump up in the bottom) and smells a bit like feet, but I promise it tastes great! Hmm, that's my second tangent in two paragraphs...
Anywho! After my stop, I headed to Statistics. The professor was a kind-looking, smiley man, though he made me a little uncomfortable by making way too much eye contact with me. That's what I get for being one of the ones paying attention! The class was a bit dull (Statistics terms definition day, wahoo!), but I'm sure I'll be a lot more interested once we start working actual problems.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are much fuller days. Tuesday started off well - I got up, did a little yoga, had some coconut water (NOM NOM), and did the usual, boring get ready for class junk. First "oh crap" moment of the day: "hmm, no one else is here for my class..." That's because it starts at 11:30, not 11, smartypants. Go me! I decided to use the extra time to explore the campus a bit (I usually take classes at Collin's Spring Creek campus, but Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I'm at the less-familiar-to-me-and-further-away Preston Ridge campus this semester).
Philosophy seems like it will be fun. The professor was witty and enthusiastic, which is always great. He chose very modern philosophical material - mostly how people today are so greatly affected by inanimate objects, such as smartphones. At first I was a little upset about this (I love learning things with historical context), but I can see how most young college kids probably find it more relatable. All-in-all, most likely a good choice on his part.
Next, I headed to Anatomy and Physiology I. Philosophy got out a bit early, so I had a few relaxing moments to read first! Let me start off by saying I had VERY high hopes for this class. I think I'm even more excited to learn anatomy and physiology than jewelry-making (and that's saying a lot!). A few minutes in, however, my worst fear was realized... 18% of my lecture grade comes from a GROUP PROJECT. OH THE HORROR!!! Another 10% comes from a community service learning project. That part worried me at first, since I had no idea where I'd do my service. However, once she told us there's a list of organizations on the Collin website, I realized it will be a great thing. Perhaps even get me started volunteering somewhere permanently! But back to the group project... My mind COMPLETELY freaked. Dark thoughts started running through my head: "I can't do this," "Why am I here?" "I have to drop," "Why did I think I could be a nurse?" etc. It took me a few more hours to get through the shock.
A bit disheartened, I drove to the nearby mall to try to find a suitable lunch. Luckily, I recently read that Starbucks now offers a vegan-friendly bistro meal, so I grabbed one of those. Turns out it was pretty delicious. An Asian-inspired sesame and veggie pasta with sesame-covered peanuts and a little square of dark chocolate. I'll have to start figuring out my own food to bring, though. I don't feel too comfortable eating something that comes in a plastic box, two small plastic containers, and two plastic wrappers. Wasteful!
Back at the campus, I found my A&P Lab room. I have never liked lab classes. Mostly for the same reason group projects scare the living shit out of me - I'm too shy and I always end up having to explain everything to my partner/s. Still, I did so well in my Biology lab last Spring, how bad could it be? I'll tell you how bad. We have to dissect. Ugh. But wait, it gets worse! What are we dissecting? Cats. CATS!? As soon as I heard that, I teared up for about 30 minutes. Again I thought about dropping or skipping those days, but I take my grades too seriously now that I want to be a nurse. I tried to comfort myself by assuming the cats were already euthanized, then donated to the college for learning. But still, when I look down at that cat I'll think of my own. All the sweet little kisses they give me, their purrs, their rubs against me... What could have been for the cat in front of me given a chance? I decided I must tough my way through it, but I guarantee I'll be the weirdo crying as we dissect cats. I'll also e-mail my professor ahead of time to warn him how uncomfortable I'll be.
I feel a lot better now. A little time has helped my mind re-center. First off, I like to always keep in mind how very blessed I am to have the opportunity to go to college. Being thankful helps get me through the classes I don't like as well. Also, this all leads somewhere - a GOOD somewhere at that. One day I'll be sharing my love and compassion with patients in a hospital. The group project will help me get used to being around and opening up to people I don't know. One of my two worst fears going into nursing is that I will be too shy to relate to the patients or let them know I care. (The other... I'm afraid of needles). Hopefully the lab will help me learn to do uncomfortable things, including forcing me to work with a stranger. At least my lab partner seems sweet.
A little more personal than my usual posts. I hope it's not boring! Have a great day!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Back to School!
EeeeeeeeEEeEeee!!! I start classes today, and I couldn't be more excited! I've got my roomy, sexy, new Matt & Nat purse (Matt & Nat is a fancy vegan handbag company that makes the interiors out of recycled plastic bottles!), my cute and recycled ecosystem notebooks (edit: forgot to add that they're also American-made; buy American, create American jobs, and reduce the travel distance to you, reducing the carbon footprint!), and plenty of freshly-laundered, lavender-scented clothes. I only have one class today, but tomorrow should be pretty interesting with three whole classes. Friday will be the best (I hope), because I have six hours of jewelry/art metals!
I'll leave you with one of my current obsessions, 31 Bits Designs. They give jobs to women in need in Uganda making necklaces and bracelets out of recycled paper beads. The end result is fun and fashionable jewelry you can feel good about buying! I'm itching to get my hands on some!
I'll leave you with one of my current obsessions, 31 Bits Designs. They give jobs to women in need in Uganda making necklaces and bracelets out of recycled paper beads. The end result is fun and fashionable jewelry you can feel good about buying! I'm itching to get my hands on some!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Recent Revelation
I have been toying with the idea of giving up drinking for a while now. Currently, I typically have a few glasses of chardonnay over weekends and perhaps a cocktail if we go out, but I realize more and more how crappy it makes me feel both mentally and physically. I don't want to hurt my body or mind, I only get one! Plus, so many empty calories! If I avoid things like sugar and white bread, why ingest high carb drinks that also kill brain cells?
So why haven't I quit? I realized the other day that the main reason I haven't quit is because I'm afraid our friends will think I'm lame, and drinking is something Tony and I have always enjoyed together. Basically peer pressure. What a SHITTY reason. Also, I adore the thought of fun, fancy, fruity cocktails. But you know what, they'd probably taste better without the alcohol. There's no reason you need alcohol to mix up intricate concoctions of fruit juices and herbs. I often think of certain events as "needing" alcohol. Beer and football, the beach and cocktails in coconut shells, family holidays, etc. The last reason is slightly related to the first: I'm shy! Alcohol helps me open up around people. Oh, and I do just plain enjoy the feeling from time to time.
Tomorrow night we're going out to a wine bar, which is something we've been setting up for quite a while. I think I'll let that be my last hurrah, then give up drinking other than maybe champagne at weddings or on New Year's Eve. My sweet Tony assured me the other day when I brought it up that he would never think less of me for not drinking. Maybe I'll handle it like sugar: cut it out completely, so I cut back drastically when/if I start again. I can't promise I'm done for good, but that's the goal!
So why haven't I quit? I realized the other day that the main reason I haven't quit is because I'm afraid our friends will think I'm lame, and drinking is something Tony and I have always enjoyed together. Basically peer pressure. What a SHITTY reason. Also, I adore the thought of fun, fancy, fruity cocktails. But you know what, they'd probably taste better without the alcohol. There's no reason you need alcohol to mix up intricate concoctions of fruit juices and herbs. I often think of certain events as "needing" alcohol. Beer and football, the beach and cocktails in coconut shells, family holidays, etc. The last reason is slightly related to the first: I'm shy! Alcohol helps me open up around people. Oh, and I do just plain enjoy the feeling from time to time.
Tomorrow night we're going out to a wine bar, which is something we've been setting up for quite a while. I think I'll let that be my last hurrah, then give up drinking other than maybe champagne at weddings or on New Year's Eve. My sweet Tony assured me the other day when I brought it up that he would never think less of me for not drinking. Maybe I'll handle it like sugar: cut it out completely, so I cut back drastically when/if I start again. I can't promise I'm done for good, but that's the goal!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Farmaesthetics
I get daily emails from a great site called Pure Citizen (they host great deals from eco-conscious companies, with the opportunity to donate some of the money you're saving to a chosen non-profit organization for that product). Recently they teamed up for a sale with an amazing company called Farmaesthetics. Farmaesthetics has the purest ingredients I have ever seen! No preservatives or chemicals whatsoever. For example, here are the ingredients in their Fine Herbal Cleanser: witch hazel, vegetable glycerin, acylglutamate (a natural amino acid derived from sugarcane), geranium essential oil & lavender essential oil. (Disclaimer! I have to point out that not all Farmaesthetic products are vegan; some use honey, beeswax, and/or dried milk, but they do not test on animals.)
I picked up the Fine Herbal Cleanser, the Rosehip & Clay Mint Mask, the Pure Complexion Tonic, and the Nourishing Herbal Cream (which does contain beeswax). I couldn't be more in love with them! Yesterday I tried out my Rosehip & Clay Mint Mask. As suggested on the bottle (which is simple yet adorable by the way!), I mixed a tsp of the mask with a tsp of the Pure Complexion Tonic in my hand, then applied the paste to my face. The two go so well together; it smelled like heaven! The mask was lightly exfoliating, and my skin feels loads better. I think this combo is now a must-have in my life! I love the Fine Herbal Cleanser, too, because it gently and effectively cleans my face without stripping it. The other day, I tried the Nourishing Herbal Cream on my neck and decollate. It took a little while to absorb, but made my skin baby-soft! So, if you're okay with using family farm beeswax (which is supposed to create a layer that holds the moisture in your skin), I'd recommend it!
I have a long wish list of other things I'd love to try! Maybe if I manage to not be lazy, I'll take a picture of my goodies to add later. The owner handwrites the titles on the labels and sends them off to be printed. That added with the glass apothecary bottles and jars make for very attractive and useful bathroom decorations!
I picked up the Fine Herbal Cleanser, the Rosehip & Clay Mint Mask, the Pure Complexion Tonic, and the Nourishing Herbal Cream (which does contain beeswax). I couldn't be more in love with them! Yesterday I tried out my Rosehip & Clay Mint Mask. As suggested on the bottle (which is simple yet adorable by the way!), I mixed a tsp of the mask with a tsp of the Pure Complexion Tonic in my hand, then applied the paste to my face. The two go so well together; it smelled like heaven! The mask was lightly exfoliating, and my skin feels loads better. I think this combo is now a must-have in my life! I love the Fine Herbal Cleanser, too, because it gently and effectively cleans my face without stripping it. The other day, I tried the Nourishing Herbal Cream on my neck and decollate. It took a little while to absorb, but made my skin baby-soft! So, if you're okay with using family farm beeswax (which is supposed to create a layer that holds the moisture in your skin), I'd recommend it!
I have a long wish list of other things I'd love to try! Maybe if I manage to not be lazy, I'll take a picture of my goodies to add later. The owner handwrites the titles on the labels and sends them off to be printed. That added with the glass apothecary bottles and jars make for very attractive and useful bathroom decorations!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Dreaming of the future
So... it's been about 6 months since my last post on here. Between classes, wedding planning, and *cough* World of Warcraft playing... life got pretty busy for a while there. I am Mrs. Evelyn Mara Meyer Steneck as of April 30th. So far marriage has been total bliss. I've never felt so happy and in love! The combination of marriage and uh... being unemployed with a college degree for the past 3 years has got me thinking a lot about the type of future I envision.
My dream for the future constantly changes as I find new influences. The latest inspiration I've found is from this amazing couple, Peter and Juwels (read their blog, The Winnebago Diaries). Besides being the cutest couple ever and making beautiful candles cast from antique bottles (which are beeswax, but I trust this couple probably gets their beeswax from kind sources), they live in a winnebago they refinished and decorated. They live an incredibly sustainable life! I don't think I could stand living in a winnebago, but now I've dialed down my future home ideas from some fancy schmancy green home, to some small place my husband and I can fix up to be eco-friendly and beautiful. I'm so lucky that he does remodeling for a living, so I'll have a pro at my side.
I'd also like to continue narrowing down and healthifying my diet (so healthifying may not be a word, but I likes it!). We currently have lots of Amy's microwave things, Annie Chun's udon soup, Panera, and Chipotle. I've been a lazy wife in lazy summer mode. I feel like food is something that should take time to prepare, and if it doesn't, I should be grabbing a piece of fruit or something. Besides, we got a super sweet Le Creuset dutch oven as a wedding gift that is screaming to be used more often (it's so pretty, thanks Harry!!!). One day I hope I can learn to be a decent enough gardener to grow some of our own food, but that currently scares the shizz out of me. I don't like bugs and dirt and getting smelly and bugs again!
For my future career, I've decided to go into nursing, so I can help and nurture people for a living. Have I mentioned that before? I took biology this past Spring, and in August I start Anatomy and Physiology I; I freakin love biology classes! I'm also going to take a jewelry metals class. The thought of making jewelry is so exciting, especially with my new addiction to rings! I could use recycled metals, and maybe even eventually have my own etsy shop on the side! Mmm, spending money!? Ooh, and the hubs is considering going into firefighting. Sexy! My hero!
Tony and I would love to move someplace we could enjoy the outdoors a bit more, such as Colorado or Portland. I want to spend my free time hiking, rock climbing, and bicycling, while of course keeping to my yoga. For a while, Tony and I took daily walks when he got home from work, but the temperatures in Texas have now reached 100+, bleck.
I promise to post some wedding pics soon!
My dream for the future constantly changes as I find new influences. The latest inspiration I've found is from this amazing couple, Peter and Juwels (read their blog, The Winnebago Diaries). Besides being the cutest couple ever and making beautiful candles cast from antique bottles (which are beeswax, but I trust this couple probably gets their beeswax from kind sources), they live in a winnebago they refinished and decorated. They live an incredibly sustainable life! I don't think I could stand living in a winnebago, but now I've dialed down my future home ideas from some fancy schmancy green home, to some small place my husband and I can fix up to be eco-friendly and beautiful. I'm so lucky that he does remodeling for a living, so I'll have a pro at my side.
I'd also like to continue narrowing down and healthifying my diet (so healthifying may not be a word, but I likes it!). We currently have lots of Amy's microwave things, Annie Chun's udon soup, Panera, and Chipotle. I've been a lazy wife in lazy summer mode. I feel like food is something that should take time to prepare, and if it doesn't, I should be grabbing a piece of fruit or something. Besides, we got a super sweet Le Creuset dutch oven as a wedding gift that is screaming to be used more often (it's so pretty, thanks Harry!!!). One day I hope I can learn to be a decent enough gardener to grow some of our own food, but that currently scares the shizz out of me. I don't like bugs and dirt and getting smelly and bugs again!
For my future career, I've decided to go into nursing, so I can help and nurture people for a living. Have I mentioned that before? I took biology this past Spring, and in August I start Anatomy and Physiology I; I freakin love biology classes! I'm also going to take a jewelry metals class. The thought of making jewelry is so exciting, especially with my new addiction to rings! I could use recycled metals, and maybe even eventually have my own etsy shop on the side! Mmm, spending money!? Ooh, and the hubs is considering going into firefighting. Sexy! My hero!
Tony and I would love to move someplace we could enjoy the outdoors a bit more, such as Colorado or Portland. I want to spend my free time hiking, rock climbing, and bicycling, while of course keeping to my yoga. For a while, Tony and I took daily walks when he got home from work, but the temperatures in Texas have now reached 100+, bleck.
I promise to post some wedding pics soon!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Vegan wedding dresses
Well... I failed at posting again the same week as my last post. 10 days later isn't too terrible, though, right? I thought today I'd share a few of my favorite handmade, vegan wedding dress finds.
I bought my dress from a neat little shop called Olivia Luca. The coolest thing about the website/shop is that you design your own dress. In the design studio, you choose the neckline, skirt shape and length, fabric, color, and detail (for example, a sash around the waist) for your dress. For my wedding dress (no pics until after the wedding, of course!), I chose to use the organic cotton for a vegan and eco-friendly option.
There are a few other cute dresses I found by other small, handmade business. My favorite is probably Sarah Seven. She builds her dresses off of vintage bustiers, how cool is that!? Most of her dresses are silk (which, if you're fine with that, have at it!), but she has a few that are made with tulle or netting. Like this lovely elope dress:
Ouma and Holly Stalder also make cute dresses. Ouma is for the ballerina, tutu-loving, girlie-girl in us all. Holly's dresses are again mostly silk, but she works with a lot of tulle, and I'm sure she'd be willing to line with something else if asked. Holly also makes adorable vintage lace shrugs. I was afraid they were a bit fancy for the look I'm trying to achieve, but my mom convinced me I needed one. So I ordered one, and I am NOT regretting that decision. She worked with me to make a shrug with details I love in a hand-dyed color to match my wedding theme. My shrug is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL and probably my favorite part of my wedding attire at this point.
*Just as a note, here's why I don't wear silk: I'm definitely not a fan of bugs, but I absolutely cannot support boiling alive THOUSANDS of silkworms for ONE dress. Especially for a wedding. That should be a time of happiness... not genocide! But that's just my opinion, and you certainly don't have to agree!
EDIT:
I found another pretty awesome dress! See here. It's not technically a "wedding dress" but the designer has made it as a wedding dress for several customers. I just adore the mix of an old-fashioned structure with modern, box-y ruffles. An interesting note on the designer, Liza Rietz: she also tours with a rock band. A life of rock and fashion, what a lucky lady!
I bought my dress from a neat little shop called Olivia Luca. The coolest thing about the website/shop is that you design your own dress. In the design studio, you choose the neckline, skirt shape and length, fabric, color, and detail (for example, a sash around the waist) for your dress. For my wedding dress (no pics until after the wedding, of course!), I chose to use the organic cotton for a vegan and eco-friendly option.
There are a few other cute dresses I found by other small, handmade business. My favorite is probably Sarah Seven. She builds her dresses off of vintage bustiers, how cool is that!? Most of her dresses are silk (which, if you're fine with that, have at it!), but she has a few that are made with tulle or netting. Like this lovely elope dress:
Ouma and Holly Stalder also make cute dresses. Ouma is for the ballerina, tutu-loving, girlie-girl in us all. Holly's dresses are again mostly silk, but she works with a lot of tulle, and I'm sure she'd be willing to line with something else if asked. Holly also makes adorable vintage lace shrugs. I was afraid they were a bit fancy for the look I'm trying to achieve, but my mom convinced me I needed one. So I ordered one, and I am NOT regretting that decision. She worked with me to make a shrug with details I love in a hand-dyed color to match my wedding theme. My shrug is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL and probably my favorite part of my wedding attire at this point.
*Just as a note, here's why I don't wear silk: I'm definitely not a fan of bugs, but I absolutely cannot support boiling alive THOUSANDS of silkworms for ONE dress. Especially for a wedding. That should be a time of happiness... not genocide! But that's just my opinion, and you certainly don't have to agree!
EDIT:
I found another pretty awesome dress! See here. It's not technically a "wedding dress" but the designer has made it as a wedding dress for several customers. I just adore the mix of an old-fashioned structure with modern, box-y ruffles. An interesting note on the designer, Liza Rietz: she also tours with a rock band. A life of rock and fashion, what a lucky lady!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Happy New Year!
I totally suck at being a blogger, BUT!!! it is now 2011, and 2011 will be a great year. One of my New Years resolutions is to blog more frequently. I think a lot of my problem is that with the upcoming wedding, I just have TOO MUCH to blog about, and I'm just not sure where to start. Well! I solemnly vow to blog tomorrow...ish. Ok, how about sometime this week (...that's reassuring).
While I'm on the topic of New Years resolutions, here are my other ones:
- Reduce the amount of processed foods I eat (aka, cook from scratch a lot more and avoid that darn microwave)
- Practice yoga 4-6x a week. I think I'll up this to 5-6x in February. Gotta look perfect for my wedding!
- Keep the apartment cleaner. This one is a complete failure so far... Lazy, lazy me.
I also had some other personal health goals for the past few months with which I'm having various levels of success:
- No more caffeine! I'm probably doing the best on this one. I do have a cup of green tea about every other day or less, and I still often have decaf coffee. So, I'm getting a little bit of caffeine, but I've cut back SUBSTANTIALLY. I highly recommend giving up caffeine. I can tell a huge difference in my daily... umm... sleepiness? I sleep less overall (which is a good thing because I often sleep 10+ hours), and I feel much more awake throughout the day.
- Don't have sugar or agave nectar. They're just not natural. The sweetness is too concentrated. I've resorted to brown rice syrup and maple syrup (YUM) for my sweeteners, though I really rarely have sweets at all. If I make myself a cup of (decaf) coffee, I'll add about a teaspoon of maple syrup. It's still not the best sweetener for you, but I love that maple flavor. Plus, it has at least a little nutritional value (it contains a decent percentage of calcium, iron, and a few others). If you do decide to try some maple syrup go for Grade B. Grade B is boiled at a lower temperature, and therefore retains more of its nutritional value.
- Reduce soy intake. I'm terrible at this one. My huge weakness is still soy lattes (and, of course, Starbucks' soymilk is sweetened with what I can only assume is sugar *sigh*). I don't know what it is about lattes... they're just happiness in a cup to me. I can't find any definitive sources on soy, but it has enough supposed good and bad health effects that I've personally concluded it's probably fine to have in moderation. This is, of course, assuming it's non-GMO (aka not genetically modified).
Alrighty then, I'll be back later this week! Hmm which topic to choose then... (Oh, and I apologize for the lack of pretty pictures)
While I'm on the topic of New Years resolutions, here are my other ones:
- Reduce the amount of processed foods I eat (aka, cook from scratch a lot more and avoid that darn microwave)
- Practice yoga 4-6x a week. I think I'll up this to 5-6x in February. Gotta look perfect for my wedding!
- Keep the apartment cleaner. This one is a complete failure so far... Lazy, lazy me.
I also had some other personal health goals for the past few months with which I'm having various levels of success:
- No more caffeine! I'm probably doing the best on this one. I do have a cup of green tea about every other day or less, and I still often have decaf coffee. So, I'm getting a little bit of caffeine, but I've cut back SUBSTANTIALLY. I highly recommend giving up caffeine. I can tell a huge difference in my daily... umm... sleepiness? I sleep less overall (which is a good thing because I often sleep 10+ hours), and I feel much more awake throughout the day.
- Don't have sugar or agave nectar. They're just not natural. The sweetness is too concentrated. I've resorted to brown rice syrup and maple syrup (YUM) for my sweeteners, though I really rarely have sweets at all. If I make myself a cup of (decaf) coffee, I'll add about a teaspoon of maple syrup. It's still not the best sweetener for you, but I love that maple flavor. Plus, it has at least a little nutritional value (it contains a decent percentage of calcium, iron, and a few others). If you do decide to try some maple syrup go for Grade B. Grade B is boiled at a lower temperature, and therefore retains more of its nutritional value.
- Reduce soy intake. I'm terrible at this one. My huge weakness is still soy lattes (and, of course, Starbucks' soymilk is sweetened with what I can only assume is sugar *sigh*). I don't know what it is about lattes... they're just happiness in a cup to me. I can't find any definitive sources on soy, but it has enough supposed good and bad health effects that I've personally concluded it's probably fine to have in moderation. This is, of course, assuming it's non-GMO (aka not genetically modified).
Alrighty then, I'll be back later this week! Hmm which topic to choose then... (Oh, and I apologize for the lack of pretty pictures)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Save the NEW Date...
Ok, I lied. Cross April 29th off your calendars, and mark Tony and Ev in a little heart on April 30th! We found an awesome (and green!) venue called event1013 in downtown Plano, which saved us a nice wad of cash compared to the other place we were planning on using. Check it out!
event1013
While you're at it, check out our wedding website. It's in need of some work, but I'm waiting until we get our engagement photos done. Anyway, there's still some stuff done on there, so have at it!
Tony and Ev
<3s!
event1013
While you're at it, check out our wedding website. It's in need of some work, but I'm waiting until we get our engagement photos done. Anyway, there's still some stuff done on there, so have at it!
Tony and Ev
<3s!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
A Side Order of Guilt
Last night Tony and I went to see the new Harry Potter movie (hooray!). We got there about an hour and a half early, so we opted to sit down at their cafe and split an order of french fries. I LOVE french fries and potato chips, but I usually avoid them due to the greasiness, high calorie content, and lack of nutritional value. I hadn't had either in a while, though, so I figured, meh, what the hell! But then, as we sat there munching on fries, I looked over at the next table where they were having fried chicken tenders. I thought to myself, "Hmm, I wonder if they have separate fryers..." Now, I know most places usually do have separate fry and meat fryers, but I've heard that if the restaurant gets busy, they'll often toss whatever into whichever.
I guess that thought bothered me more than I knew at the time. Every once in a while when I feel guilty about something I've eaten, I'll have a nightmare in which I eat meat. Last night was one of those times. I dreamed that my mom served up fried chicken for dinner, and I had a few bites before realizing, "WAIT! WHAT AM I DOING!? I DON'T EAT MEAT!!!" Then I set the chicken down, disgusted. Sometimes parts of dreams feel so real, and tasting the nasty, greasy chicken fat sure was a horrid, realistic feeling. I think the fact that Thanksgiving is coming is another reason I had this dream. I've been dreading seeing that poor animal carcass sitting on the table while the rest of my family chows down on its flesh.
My point in all this is not that vegans and vegetarians should beat themselves up over little slips. My point is that you should listen to yourself. From now on, I'll probably never touch a restaurant french fry again. I'm obviously not OK with eating them, and I feel good knowing that I discovered something about myself.
I'll end with a little plug for Farm Sanctuary. If I had ANY spare money right now, I'd love to donate to this. Hopefully someone else out there will read my blog or one of the many places it's posted and decide to take part. Maybe I can convince my mom as a way to make our Thanksgiving more compassionate. Check it out, and sponsor a turkey! http://www.adoptaturkey.org/
I guess that thought bothered me more than I knew at the time. Every once in a while when I feel guilty about something I've eaten, I'll have a nightmare in which I eat meat. Last night was one of those times. I dreamed that my mom served up fried chicken for dinner, and I had a few bites before realizing, "WAIT! WHAT AM I DOING!? I DON'T EAT MEAT!!!" Then I set the chicken down, disgusted. Sometimes parts of dreams feel so real, and tasting the nasty, greasy chicken fat sure was a horrid, realistic feeling. I think the fact that Thanksgiving is coming is another reason I had this dream. I've been dreading seeing that poor animal carcass sitting on the table while the rest of my family chows down on its flesh.
My point in all this is not that vegans and vegetarians should beat themselves up over little slips. My point is that you should listen to yourself. From now on, I'll probably never touch a restaurant french fry again. I'm obviously not OK with eating them, and I feel good knowing that I discovered something about myself.
I'll end with a little plug for Farm Sanctuary. If I had ANY spare money right now, I'd love to donate to this. Hopefully someone else out there will read my blog or one of the many places it's posted and decide to take part. Maybe I can convince my mom as a way to make our Thanksgiving more compassionate. Check it out, and sponsor a turkey! http://www.adoptaturkey.org/
Saturday, November 13, 2010
My new favorite vegan products
I finally gave a few of Strawberry Hedgehog's products a try after many months spent lusting after them. I learned about Strawberry Hedgehog through the wonderful Vegan Beauty Review (awesome blog, check it out)! Strawberry Hedgehog products are ALL vegan and handmade without chemicals, sulfates, parabens, artificial fragrances, dyes, or other harmful crap. Hooray!
My absolute favorite new thing is Tracy's organic whipped body creme. It's "unscented" other than the natural scents of the ingredients, which make it smell like almondy, vanilla-y, chocolatey cookie deliciousness. The creme is a bit thick, but after a little rub between my fingers I can smooth it on with ease. This stuff is heaven. Literally. A lot of lotions and body cremes don't really seem to absorb into my skin, but this one is very hydrating without being greasy. How fantastic does this look:
I'm also loving her tea tree rosemary face soap/cleanser/thing. Recently my face was getting pretty icky. I could feel the dead skin in a few places (sexy, no?), but nothing I tried would get it off. Just one use and those nasty patches started coming right off. Two uses later, my skin feels 100x better. Not to mention I've been very blemish-free for me (though I also gave up caffeine and started drinking a lot more water, so that could be from any combination of things).
I'd really like to try one of the facial treatment oils next time I make a purchase... which will definitely happen soon because I AM IN LOVE.
My absolute favorite new thing is Tracy's organic whipped body creme. It's "unscented" other than the natural scents of the ingredients, which make it smell like almondy, vanilla-y, chocolatey cookie deliciousness. The creme is a bit thick, but after a little rub between my fingers I can smooth it on with ease. This stuff is heaven. Literally. A lot of lotions and body cremes don't really seem to absorb into my skin, but this one is very hydrating without being greasy. How fantastic does this look:
I'm also loving her tea tree rosemary face soap/cleanser/thing. Recently my face was getting pretty icky. I could feel the dead skin in a few places (sexy, no?), but nothing I tried would get it off. Just one use and those nasty patches started coming right off. Two uses later, my skin feels 100x better. Not to mention I've been very blemish-free for me (though I also gave up caffeine and started drinking a lot more water, so that could be from any combination of things).
I'd really like to try one of the facial treatment oils next time I make a purchase... which will definitely happen soon because I AM IN LOVE.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
In Appreciation of my Kitty Love
This may be a bit of an odd post to the majority of people, but I felt it needed to be made. I owe so much to my baby girl; she has been a blessing in my life. It's strange to think that one little cat could significantly change the world, but the way I see it Kitty has. Especially my world.
Tony and I adopted Kitty together very early in our relationship. We were both slightly different people back then, and without her our love may not have survived. Both of us were somewhat anti-commitment and would rather walk away than fix our problems. We broke up a few times, and that probably would have been the end of things if it weren't for Kitty. She kept me coming back. My parents wouldn't let me keep her at home, so I had to go over to Tony's daily to see her. I couldn't abandon my baby! Where our pride and stubbornness kept us from making amends, Kitty came in; we were connected by her. Eventually we stopped fighting it. We realized how great of a couple we are and that we wanted to spend our lives together.
Then, of course, she inspired a huge change in my lifestyle. If it weren't for her I doubt I would have gone vegan. Now when I think about the animals that other people eat, I think how if they are anything like Kitty, I could never harm them. I want them to have the love, respect, and lives they deserve, just as I try to give her and little Cindy. They never cease to amaze me with their intellect and adorableness hehe. Kitty melted my heart and helped my love and appreciation of animals grow. Thanks to her I've lessened my carbon footprint, around 100 animals a year are saved by my diet, and Tony and I are both healthier.
Here are a few pictures of the kitty that made the world a better place:
Napping in mommy's lap
Getting in the Christmas spirit
Peek-a-boo!
With daddy :)
Being a good sis
I LOVE YOU KITTY! I LOVE YOU CINDY!
Tony and I adopted Kitty together very early in our relationship. We were both slightly different people back then, and without her our love may not have survived. Both of us were somewhat anti-commitment and would rather walk away than fix our problems. We broke up a few times, and that probably would have been the end of things if it weren't for Kitty. She kept me coming back. My parents wouldn't let me keep her at home, so I had to go over to Tony's daily to see her. I couldn't abandon my baby! Where our pride and stubbornness kept us from making amends, Kitty came in; we were connected by her. Eventually we stopped fighting it. We realized how great of a couple we are and that we wanted to spend our lives together.
Then, of course, she inspired a huge change in my lifestyle. If it weren't for her I doubt I would have gone vegan. Now when I think about the animals that other people eat, I think how if they are anything like Kitty, I could never harm them. I want them to have the love, respect, and lives they deserve, just as I try to give her and little Cindy. They never cease to amaze me with their intellect and adorableness hehe. Kitty melted my heart and helped my love and appreciation of animals grow. Thanks to her I've lessened my carbon footprint, around 100 animals a year are saved by my diet, and Tony and I are both healthier.
Here are a few pictures of the kitty that made the world a better place:
Napping in mommy's lap
Getting in the Christmas spirit
Peek-a-boo!
With daddy :)
Being a good sis
I LOVE YOU KITTY! I LOVE YOU CINDY!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Progress, FINALLY!
Good news, everyone! Tony and I found the place we are going to get married. Wow, I teared up writing that, hehe. I am so happy and excited (oh, and looking for a job to help him pay for it so Tony can also be happy and excited)! Now that we found our venue, we're really close to setting a date.
THIS is the place! The photos on the website really don't do it justice in my opinion.
THIS is the place! The photos on the website really don't do it justice in my opinion.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Urban Decay: super vegan-friendly!
I'm a little late on this boat as a result of my whole, umm, not posting ever thing, but Urban Decay is too cool to not post about. Around a month ago-ish Urban Decay came out with the most incredibly awesome vegan eye palette. I was stoked because I had recently been checking through every shadow in their other palettes, trying to determine if any were vegan. I was a sad panda because they sure weren't!
The new vegan palette comes with six eyeshadow colors, a small black pencil eyeliner, and one of their eyeshadow primer potions in a pretty champagne color. I think they did a good job of choosing colors that are fun and flattering to pretty much any eye color and skin tone. As with all their palettes, the vegan one comes in a cute little flip open box with a mirror inside and tattoo-type animal art on the cover.
How cute is this?
Urban Decay does not do any animal testing, and they even have a section of their website set aside for vegans. It lists every vegan product they carry. In the stores you can tell the vegan products apart because they put a little paw print by the name.
The new vegan palette comes with six eyeshadow colors, a small black pencil eyeliner, and one of their eyeshadow primer potions in a pretty champagne color. I think they did a good job of choosing colors that are fun and flattering to pretty much any eye color and skin tone. As with all their palettes, the vegan one comes in a cute little flip open box with a mirror inside and tattoo-type animal art on the cover.
How cute is this?
Urban Decay does not do any animal testing, and they even have a section of their website set aside for vegans. It lists every vegan product they carry. In the stores you can tell the vegan products apart because they put a little paw print by the name.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
A bit of a ring debacle
Well, hello again! My last post was SO long ago. Since then, I've been through a bit of a personal struggle involving my engagement ring choice (see previous post). It's not really vegan related, but it's wedding related, and that's priority one in my mind these days!
First off, let me say, Simply Wood Rings is an A+++ company with wonderful customer service. Whether buying, requesting a custom item, or even complaining, they are quick to respond and very friendly. Ok, now on to my problem.
I received my ring a few months back. I was ecstatic... my engagement ring, teehee! Unfortunately, one thing bugged me about it: I didn't like the way the topaz was set on the wooden band (I must say the wooden band itself was spectacularly done!). I kept my discontent completely to myself for the first few months. This was my ENGAGEMENT ring, a symbol of our love! No bride-to-be wants to be unhappy with her ring! Ultimately, though, my internal struggle to be in love with a ring I wasn't entirely happy with bubbled to the surface.
I contacted the seller with my concerns, and boy was it a relief. Lauren was incredibly understanding and accommodating. She offered an exchange or return and was quick to send pictures of other possible ways they could make me a ring with no setting. Well, Tony and I decided to get a different engagement ring, but I still couldn't bare to part with the one I had (I'm sentimental, ok!). After discussing it with Lauren, I decided to have the topaz taken off my ring, and crushed turquoise inlaid all the way around the band instead. It will be like a promise ring I decided. I can wear it on my right hand or on a chain. Oh, and did I mention the changes are being done free of charge? They are too kind.
This is me, so I can't promise I won't have a change of heart, but I'm pretty set on another engagement ring now. I found it in an etsy shop called singleB: Beautiful. These rings are handmade with conflict-free stones and recycled metals, so I still get my eco-friendly ring, it's still not exactly the typical engagement ring, and now I get a socially-friendly version of my birthstone: diamond!
Here's a link to the ring I've chosen: 3 stone ring. And here's a picture!
First off, let me say, Simply Wood Rings is an A+++ company with wonderful customer service. Whether buying, requesting a custom item, or even complaining, they are quick to respond and very friendly. Ok, now on to my problem.
I received my ring a few months back. I was ecstatic... my engagement ring, teehee! Unfortunately, one thing bugged me about it: I didn't like the way the topaz was set on the wooden band (I must say the wooden band itself was spectacularly done!). I kept my discontent completely to myself for the first few months. This was my ENGAGEMENT ring, a symbol of our love! No bride-to-be wants to be unhappy with her ring! Ultimately, though, my internal struggle to be in love with a ring I wasn't entirely happy with bubbled to the surface.
I contacted the seller with my concerns, and boy was it a relief. Lauren was incredibly understanding and accommodating. She offered an exchange or return and was quick to send pictures of other possible ways they could make me a ring with no setting. Well, Tony and I decided to get a different engagement ring, but I still couldn't bare to part with the one I had (I'm sentimental, ok!). After discussing it with Lauren, I decided to have the topaz taken off my ring, and crushed turquoise inlaid all the way around the band instead. It will be like a promise ring I decided. I can wear it on my right hand or on a chain. Oh, and did I mention the changes are being done free of charge? They are too kind.
This is me, so I can't promise I won't have a change of heart, but I'm pretty set on another engagement ring now. I found it in an etsy shop called singleB: Beautiful. These rings are handmade with conflict-free stones and recycled metals, so I still get my eco-friendly ring, it's still not exactly the typical engagement ring, and now I get a socially-friendly version of my birthstone: diamond!
Here's a link to the ring I've chosen: 3 stone ring. And here's a picture!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Surprise!
Ok, well, considering everyone that reads my blog already knows that I'm engaged (everyone probably meaning no one with how often I've been updating), it's not really a surprise. Not to mention I'm almost a month late posting this. But uh, yah... I'm still damned excited, and you better be, too! This means a VEGAN WEDDING is in the planning! Green AND vegan. Just to make things extra difficult on myself! Difficult, but perfect with no regrets. I will (hopefully) start updating with my green and vegan wedding finds. I've planned SO much already, I have some blog catching up to do.
I'll start where it all starts: the engagement ring. My dearest Tony Balogna (tofurky balogna, of course!) knows me well. He took me on a surprise trip to Austin for the weekend to propose, and he told me I could choose my ring. GOOD decision, dear. I am picky! I had happened across a ring I liked previously, so I knew EXACTLY what I wanted.
The site we ordered it from is called Simply Wood Rings. They carry very unique handmade wooden rings. I picked out one of the more "traditional" engagement rings (traditional in comparison to some of the other choices). It's made of rosewood from recycled xylophone keys, with a 5mm round blue topaz. Beautiful and eco-friendly! I also fell in love with their poetic description of the ring. They're making it special for me, so I can't wait for it to be done!
Here it is:
I'll start where it all starts: the engagement ring. My dearest Tony Balogna (tofurky balogna, of course!) knows me well. He took me on a surprise trip to Austin for the weekend to propose, and he told me I could choose my ring. GOOD decision, dear. I am picky! I had happened across a ring I liked previously, so I knew EXACTLY what I wanted.
The site we ordered it from is called Simply Wood Rings. They carry very unique handmade wooden rings. I picked out one of the more "traditional" engagement rings (traditional in comparison to some of the other choices). It's made of rosewood from recycled xylophone keys, with a 5mm round blue topaz. Beautiful and eco-friendly! I also fell in love with their poetic description of the ring. They're making it special for me, so I can't wait for it to be done!
Here it is:
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