How to Save on Your Engagement Ring

Phil proposed on August 18th, 2012 with a beautiful Mark Schneider engagement ring.  I found out afterward that he did a great job saving money in certain areas, so that he could give me my dream engagement ring.  Below are a few tips and tricks to help you with getting your dream ring.

Most guys appreciate a little guidance in determining what ring to be their future wife.  I shared with Phil some of the designs I liked online through Pinterest and certain designers.  Then we went to a few jewelry stores together to see what band thickness and style I liked the best on my finger.  It also helped me in knowing that we were getting closer to a proposal.  After 8 years, I needed the confirmation!

The best way to let your man know what you are looking for is to have an open conversation with him when you know you are ready.  While on Pinterest, you can show him designs that you like.  Walk him through your favorite designers websites and let him know which styles you are most excited about.  When friends get engaged, let him know what you like and dislike about your friend's rings.  I found going to the jewelry store the most helpful.  Make sure to try on a variety of rings--ones that he picks out and ones that you pick out.  Selecting two or three of your favorite styles for your man to choose from gives you an element of surprise the day you get engaged, but still allows you to have a say.

Be careful not to scare your guy with unrealistic diamond size requirements or having him try to fit a bigger diamond size into his budget.  You will end up delaying the engagement and potentially ending up with a less quality diamond.  In addition, weddings are expensive and if your family is not paying for it, then you will want to make sure that he has money in the bank to make your big day special.  There are of course ways to get a bigger diamond by sacrificing quality/clarity or getting a shape other than round.

 Phil saved on my diamond by purchasing it from Blue Nile.  He was able to get a higher quality diamond at a lower price point than we saw in stores (almost $2500 cheaper for the save quality).  The jewelry store where he got the band from did an appraisal on the diamond and it matched the quality listed on the site.  Blue Nile has a great guide for choosing the right diamond for you and starting price points.

Obviously, choosing a smaller diamond will help save money.  There is a drastic difference between a ring that is .99 carats versus 1.01 carats and looks the exact same.  Save your man some money and settle for something slightly less than the milestone diamond sizes--no one will notice.  Round shapes are typically the most expensive, so you can save money by selecting an oval or pear shape.   

Other ways to save are by asking your mom or grandma if you could use the diamond from their engagement rings.  It's always nice to have something that has been handed down from generation to generation.  Or go with a different stone other than a diamond.  If you go this route, make sure to choose a stone that will go with everything and you know you will love forever.

Phil was able to save a little bit on my band by buying both the engagement band and wedding band together.  Ask your local jeweler if they would be willing to cut you a similar deal.  Also, buying his ring from the same store as he bought your ring can usually save you $100+ off the price of the band. 

The less elaborate the band, the less the ring costs.  If you fall in love with a designer's band but cannot afford the price tag, bring a picture of the band to your local jewelry store to see if they have a similar design at a cheaper price point.  They can usually guide you toward a design that is comparable.

For more tips on finding the perfect engagement ring, check out Dana's post on how she found hers.  Do you have any tips for future brides-to-be?  Are there any other ways that you would suggest saving on the ring?

Heart Shaped Baked Pita Chips

Heart shaped pita chips are the perfect appetizer for your Valentine's Day party.  These chips are baked, not fried, and packed with flavorful seasonings.  Just before your guests arrive, lay out these pita chips with festive spreads like roasted red pepper hummus or sun-dried tomato pesto.

8 Pitas

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Dried Garlic

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Meanwhile, use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out mini pita chips.

Line chips on a cookie sheet and brush both sides generously with olive oil.  Sprinkle with sea salt and dried garlic to taste.

Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until crispy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  It is a great snack and you can use any shaped cookie cutter to fit your theme.  Try footballs for the Super Bowl, flowers for spring, or even snowflakes for a chilly winter day.

7 Dinner Party Centerpiece Ideas

 

My dining room table is the first thing that people see when they step into my house.  I like to switch out the centerpieces to complement the evening activities or the time of year.  Since I am always running behind schedule for my dinner parties, I took some time to design a few simple and easy dinner party centerpieces that I can have in my back pocket.  

I like to incorporate flowers, candles and table runners into my centerpiece designs.  Below are the recipes for each simple and easy dinner party centerpiece:

Blue, Silver & White Centerpiece

Two blue candles, two mercury glass candle holders, 4 tea lights, one clear vase, hydrangeas, blue/silver table runner

Grecian Inspired Centerpiece

Greek inspired vase, 6 tea lights, white flower, khaki table runner

Playful Rustic Centerpiece

Laugh wooden word, 5 tea lights, two mini vases, pink flowers, burlap table runner

Pretty in Pink Centerpiece

 Clear round vase, two mini vases, two tall vases, mercury glass candles, hydrangeas, two types of pink flowers

Rustic Glam Centerpiece

Clear round vase, three mini vases, 3 tea lights, hydrangeas, pink flowers, burlap table runner

Simple White Bowl Centerpiece

 White ceramic bowl, fake fruit and rustic balls, khaki table runner

Tea Party Centerpiece

White tablecloth, tea pots, variety of pink and white flowers

 I obviously love pink and girly!  I hope this inspires you with your centerpieces.  Which centerpiece do you like the best?  What do you typically incorporate in your centerpieces?

Bridesmaid Dress Shopping Tips

When bridesmaid dress shopping, there are a lot of important little details to consider.  The most important advice I have is to take your maid of honor with you to try on styles before you bring along the rest of the girls.  This will make it easier to narrow down your options and keep opinions at a minimum.

Bridesmaid dresses look best if they coordinate with the style of your gown.  If you are wearing a ballgown, your girls' dresses should also be formal.  For my wedding, my bridesmaids and I all wore belts around our wastes. Mine of course was bigger and more sparkly, but it was a nice detail throughout the photos.

From pastels to neon, you can find bridesmaid dresses in any color.  If you don't like the matchy matchy look, consider having your girls purchases dresses in similar styles and shades of a certain color family, or the same style in coordinating colors.

However, there are two colors you should stay away from according to some photographers I spoke to - black and green.  Dress your bridesmaids in black, and they will blend in with your groomsmen and wedding guests.  Dress your bridesmaids in green, and they will blend in with grass and the background.  Other than that, have fun and be creative with whatever direction you choose.

For 2013, the trends are bright, saturated colors or pastel muted pallets.  Consider the colors below.

If your girls are different heights, pay attention to the length of their dresses.  Where should they be altered?  Maybe you want your girls standing in a row so the hems hit at the same height above the ground - or maybe you want the dresses to lay at the same place below the knee.  These days anything goes (even long dresses), but have the hem in mind so you can make quick decisions about alterations.

Alterations can be very pricey (sometimes $45 to $60).  Pay attention to the dress' details to ensure the girls can easily tailor them.  For my wedding, the bridesmaid dresses had a v-shaped cutout in the back and boning in the sweetheart neckline, which made tailoring difficult and expensive.  Also, dress usually run a couple  sizes larger than your street size, so don't be alarmed.

Usually, your girls will get a discount on their gowns if they are purchased from the same bridal salon that you get your dress.  If they live across the country, no worries - have them visit a nearby bridal salon to get measured (typically a complementary service), and they can email you their measurements.  


The good news is that you don't have to buy a traditional bridesmaid dress.  Popular stores like J Crew and Ann Taylor sell bridesmaid dresses online, and you can always find something gorgeous off the rack.

Dresses from a bridal salon can range from $80 at David's Bridal to $350+ for a higher end bridal designer.  Your bridesmaids have a lot of expenses related to your wedding, so don't make them pay an arm and a leg for their dress if they don't have to.  To keep costs down, consider buying gowns off the rack.  Nordstrom has a great selection of dresses for ~$150, and Target now sells bridesmaid dresses starting at $50.

If you really want your girls to wear a designer dress, consider having them rent gowns from Rent the Runway for up to 90% off retail.  Some bridal parties sell their dresses after the wedding, and you can get dresses slightly used from Recycled Brides or even Craigslist.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I am happy to provide advice.

Girls Night In

The perfect girls night to me is one that includes plenty of girl talk, chocolate and chick flicks.  Last weekend I had one of my best friends over for a relaxed evening of watching my favorite classic romance, The Princess Bride.  To complement the movie, I made salted caramel and chocolate popcorn and had champagne and plenty of chocolate on hand.  

To freshen up my dining room where our conversation started, I arranged a girly floral arrangement of pink and white flowers with clear and mercury glass vases.  I love how lux it looks!

I received a Whirley Pop for Christmas this year and this was my first time using it.  The popcorn came out super fluffy!  Here is my recipe for the salted caramel and chocolate popcorn:

 

1/2 cup of organic popcorn kernels

3 tablespoons oil (I use Orville's popping oil)

1/4 cup melted butter

Smuckers caramel topping

Melted dark chocolate

Salt

Heat oil over medium/high heat.  Add popcorn kernels and twirl the handle on the Whirley Pop to keep the kernels moving over the heat.  Continue turning until the rate of popping dies down to almost nothing.  Remove the popper for the burner and dump contents into a large bowl.  Pour the melted butter over the popcorn and stir.  Then top with salt, caramel and melted dark chocolate as desired.  Enjoy!!

What do you like to do for your girls nights?  Does it remind you of sleepovers from when you were younger?  I can't help but reminisce about all the sleepovers I had in high school.