precioussssss

We went to the jeweller's last week for our wedding bands.

It was the first time they were seeing me as my fiancé took care of my engagement ring.

And so, they were asking about how my ring had been so far.  Standard questions really.  When the specialist looked at my hand, he said that he is surprised the ring had never fallen off and then practically begged me to have it resized.

My mom and friends had told me the same.

After five months, I am used to how it feels around my finger and I am not sure if I want to go a size down.   

It feels like tightening the belt literally and the idea that something prohibitive fits snugly doesn't sit comfortably with me.

Admittedly, in the cold (as in when in an air conditioned room) I do feel the ring becoming loose.  And there would be times that I push it down to the very bottom of my ring finger and (maybe) unconsciously, stick my little, ring and tall fingers together--as if in a huddle.

I also tense my fingers when I wash my hands to make sure the ring stays put.  

Maybe because I seemed so reluctant, the specialist demonstrated how easily the ring can slide off.  He also got a few rings one size down just to let me feel the size.

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In the end, I did the right thing and had it sized down.

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It took three business days to get it back.

What really surprised me was how I felt its absence.

I would huddle the same three fingers and feel surprised that I am not squeezing anything.

When I chance upon my left hand, I no longer just see the tan line left by my wristwatch.  A spot had been created on my left ring finger.  There is some physical marking, which reminds me that something is missing, that something should be there.

I love my ring.  Physically, and even more so, what it stands for.  I surprised myself though, realising just how attached I am to it.

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I had become, Gollum.

And this made me a little uneasy.

Maybe not a Gollum, perhaps a Frodo at one point.  While I was not consumed by the absence of it, I missed it more that I thought I would.

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I got my ring back yesterday.

I am still adjusting, but I feel that I had made the right decision.  Somehow I can feel that it is more secure.  The stone also don't slide to one side anymore--at least not as much.

PRESSure

Looking at invites printers, I can't help but be swayed to having our letter pressed.  I love the perfect-imperfect effect.  It doesn't hurt that it's old school too.

This led me to buying a rubber stamp set.  I thought I'd stamp my Save the Date envelopes.

not the most elegant--but it works

Mine is a very simple set.  No idea what font, rubber of wood were used. 

I bought gold, silver and copper stamp pads to complete the kit.

I practiced on (and in effect, wasted) some envelopes.  I thought I could pull off an artsy, messy, shadowed look.  It just looked, messy.

"L" and "I" are really tough!

Imperfection is the appeal, but really, there is a fine line between imperfect and sloppy.

In the end, I managed to make a few--thankfully not wasting more envelopes. 

imPRESSed :)

starts, stops, grapes and raisins

I think that maybe since I hit twenty-five, I had started and stopped using eye cream a number of times. Needless to say, I probably didn't do as good a job as my best friend utilising technology to prolong youth.

I am not proud of my eye cream track record.

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It is perhaps, time (again) to start using eye cream.  A few days ago, I purchased a drugstore brand eye cream that I heard a friend was using.  As her eyes look okay to me, I thought why not? maybe this works.  

I had now been using it morning and night since I got it and well, I really can't tell if it is doing anything.  I sure feel better knowing I am investing in the future of the skin around my eyes.  Not sure it it is worth the time and effort, but it makes for sleeping better at night knowing I'm doing something.

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I also bought Anti Wrinkle Night Cream.  

This is a leap for me, considering I'm a wash-and-moisturise-kind-of-girl.  HUGE.

For this product though, I could say that I felt my skin was softer when I woke up!   :)

I am a bit concerned though because the cream is very rich.  I once tried a rich sunblock (BB Cream-esque) and it broke me out, I think my skin loves all things light.

It may be that I have a better chance with this product, I hope it continues working.

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Even better if I'd follow through with the new routine.

Wish me luck.

my sister, a keeper

A friend posted something in facebook, about how having a sister allows you to experience loving and wanting to strangle someone at the same time.

When I think about it, my sister consistently does things that make me love her more.

And maybe, I do things that consistently make her want to strangle me more.

LOL.

Seriously speaking, I could honestly say that I am very lucky to had been given someone like her.

Today, instead of listing down the reasons why she is wonderful, I'd list down lessons I had learnt from her that some maybe even unknowingly, she taught me.

I am listing my top five.

1. Actions speak louder than words. While we don't say I love you often enough, I do not remember a day--or season where she did not make me feel loved, through asking about my day, sending me sampaloc, taking the day off when I come visit and arranging for our vacations. Despite the distance, she is there.

2. Family is most important. She had unknowingly been the glue that kept us all together. It is funny how she is so oblivious to this, but truly, it is her who pulls all of us closer.

3. Understand, and understand some more. Through everything, she had been nothing but understanding, even when it seems unreasonable or illogical, she keeps an open mind.

4. When you say "forget it", forget it. I think that maybe she hands out passes by hundreds. I think this is what I truly commend her the most for--that is her ability to forgive and move on.

5. Share. For as long as I could remember, my sister had always been generous, not only on material things but especially with her time and attention.

'invented'

I had pretty much completed our wedding invites.

By that, I mean that I had written out the text (as in I didn't google for 'wedding invites text') to express what we really want from our guest. I realised that to us there is a HUGE difference between cordially inviting someone and asking someone to share an experience. You can see where this line of thinking leads to.

I had also layed out the text for the entourage card.

Our direction card? Done!

Truth be told, our invites are practically ready to print.

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I really didn't intend for this, you know.

I wanted to create a prototype to show the printers.

BUT, one thing led to another and before I knew it, our dream invitation was crafted.

I say OUR because although I did the detailing, it was a collaborative efforf for us. I must commend my someone for going the extra mile (seriously) thinking if he preferred "&" versus "and".

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As happy we are with how our invites look like, we are still to find a printer to realise our vision :)

Save OUR Date

I made this video, it is actually my first video ever!

I am a little bit sad about the resolution, but overall I feel that it it pretty good for a beginner like me :)

I hope you like it.

ants MARCHing

I can’t believe it is March already.  At this point, I shouldn’t be too shocked about the fact that time runs quite quickly--but it still catches me by surprise!

Admittedly, we had taken a break from all the wedding arrangements in December—and January.  Maybe even the first half of February.

We were however, able to accomplish a lot the last two weeks.

Really.

If you ask me what other pieces we are missing, I’d say A LOT.

But I love how our list is starting to get shorter.  Even if that just means we’ve booked my next fitting and identified our next ocular.