Day 1 - Jewelry

The only jewelry I am guaranteed to wear on a daily basis is my wedding set. It's a 1/4 carat diamond solitaire set in gold with a wrap on each side that contains 2 small diamonds. Scott and I bought the engagement ring together at Greenberg's Jewelry at the mall in Sioux City, Iowa. I knew I liked the marquis cut and Scott told the salesman at Zale's that I wanted one of those "football-shaped" diamonds. The salesman was snotty and said, "It is called a marquise." Scott then informed him, "And I'll buy it at Greenbergs." Miss America was also speaking at center court while we were there, so it was a lengthy process to get someone to wait on us. We purchased the wraps at Greenbergs in Des Moines at Southridge Mall. If I remember right, they were on a 1/2 price sale so that's why I was able to get the wrap for each side. Which I am grateful for, because I really prefer the look of symmetry that it gives. Part of me looks longingly at larger sets with bigger diamonds in a more modern setting. But I could never "trade-in" my rings to get a new one. They mean too much to me. I've worn them every day since we got married, with the exception of a short time when they didn't fit during and after my pregnancy. I've considered having the diamonds reset, but even that seems wrong to me. I don't have any judgement against people who have done this - I just know that I couldn't do that myself. Too sentimental, I guess! The other jewelry I might wear is an anniversary ring that Scott got me for Christmas one year, an omega necklace from Premier Jewelry that I have a few different slides for and very rarely another ring or some earrings. I find that earrings irritate my ears so I don't wear them often. I'd like to get a pair of diamond studs that I could wear. I used to also have a few bracelets that I wore, but I haven't for a long time. I had a charm bracelet and a few beaded bracelets. I remember my mom wearing a few rings all the time - her engagement ring and wedding band, a gold band with some birds stamped into it, a small emerald ring and a vintage engagement ring that my grandmother wore. My grandmother had 4 rings she wore that were engagement sets she had purchased throughout the years on sales or auctions. Each of her children received one when she passed away. It is my understanding that the rings are to be passed to the oldest granddaughter in each family, which means the one my mom has would be passed to me. If it is, I will treasure it. I remember seeing the rings on my grandmother's hand, now on my mother's and someday it will pass from me to my daughter.

Fresh Start

After several attempts at blogging that have all fizzled out, I'm trying again. I love to read others' blogs and catch up on things, get new ideas, see creative work. I hope that this blog will help me to document our daily lives and serve as a place to store ideas, posts and inspiration for myself - and if by chance it serves as inspiration for someone else, that's a bonus. I plan to start with the prompts from 31 Things from Ali Edwards, taught on Big Picture Classes. It's somewhere for me to start with my writing - and a way to get it started that can later be translated to my scrapbook pages. The house is quiet right now, too quiet. The kids are all out with friends and Scott is out for the week in Chicago for class. I don't really know what to do with myself so I thought I would give this a shot. I usually feel better once I just jump into the scrapbooking and get some creativity going. I've been stuck for so long that I need to just jump on and start - I think this seems like a good week to do it. :)