Rural Living: ~ Picking the Perfect Engagement Ring From Your Fine Jewelers~

Inspired by love and the promise of marriage, an engagement ring symbolizes more than just a pretty ring. However, who doesn’t want a pretty engagement ring?  How do you pick it? What should you look for? Where is Jonathan's Fine Jewelers? Even I want these answers, for future reference, of course.  Instead of doing my classic online research on what tips you should have in selecting an engagement ring, I went to my Facebook page for the answers. My status read:

“Hi friends and family! I'm writing an article for a site on how to pick the perfect engagement ring and I would love some insight and opinion on this topic! Please let me know you would (or will) pick your perfect ring! You even hit my inbox if you don't want your business out there! Thanks!!”

Well I will say, that my Facebook friends and family did not fail me. I received an awesome outpouring of stories and comments that made my heart sing. So here are some real life tips on picking the perfect engagement ring!

1     1)      Consider her personality in choosing what ring she would love to wear.

“When Jacobee and I went to look at rings I had no clue what I really wanted. I decided on a princess cut bc in my opinion it looked "alright." Well. He did not get it. Instead he took his roommate and my roommate and picked out a ring, which was ten times better than my pick. It was the three diamonds across the top which meant today, tomorrow and always and a diamond band. #lovethatguy:)” --Roshanda

“I was so shocked he asked my roommate to go along to help. It was my style, my personality and the meaning behind it… very big on that kind of thing by the way was the perfect choice!” ---Roshanda

“Some guys know their girls style, esp if she's the type to throw hints by walking you into a ring store to show you what she'd want to have. Then again she may tell you what she wants by bragging about what one of her friends has on her finger. All the guy has to do is get the type that she says she wants.”—Jerrod

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      2)      Stick with the money you have, don’t go in debt to buy a ring.

“I would think it shouldn't matter how much he spent on the ring. It's just a symbol. you definitely don't want to get credit to pay for a ring…..As proud as I am of the ring I wouldn't spend that much again knowing I can't afford what I'm buying. Credit means you either can't wait or can't really afford what you're getting in the first place.”--Jerrod

   

3      3)      If she’s happy with the ring, she will let you know, eventually!

 “Jamie do not listen to Jerrod... Though he did pick the perfect ring, pink in the middle and diamonds all over the band…but please tell men not surprise women and not give them time to settle into the ring;)”—Molly, Jerrod’s wife

“When he tells the story he says I didn’t give him the reaction he expected.. I tell him I just needed a minute to "see the ring on or settle into it"!”—Molly

There you have it.  Real life tips on how to pick your engagement ring! Thanks to my great WU Alumni friends Jerrod, Molly and Roshanda. 

Do you have a sweet or funny story on your engagement ring? Let me know in the comments!

 This is a sponsored post for Jonathan’s Fine Jewelers, however, all the

         points and views are my own.

Rural Living ~Why I Love Fine Dining~

As a child, my Great Aunt Maxine used to send for me to spend a couple of weeks in New York. It was the mid-80s and early 90s when a little country girl from South Carolina got the exposure of a lifetime in St. Albans, Queens, New York. She made sure I was thoroughly exposed to the arts, culture and fine dining. I remember on my first fine dining experience was at Rockefeller Center. I was taken away by the buildings, statues and all the forks and spoons on the table!! Lol!

Throughout the years I’ve been other fine restaurants up and down the East coast. I heard once that Boston Back Bay Restaurants were awesome! The experiences were beyond my imagination. Fine Dining is the finest in service, food and atmosphere.  Why I love fine dining so much? Here’s why:

-Who doesn’t love a cloth napkin? I’m a collector of fast food restaurants napkins, especially in my car. They are epic and cleaning up after my kids but the cloth napkins at restaurants just lend a special touch also a pampering of the face!

-The Customer service is above and beyond par. Customer service in fine restaurants is welcomed after a many drive thru rant and raving with some cashier who didn’t even get your order correct! I look forward to the personalized service of my beverages , main course and dessert.

-I get used etiquette I haven’t used since I was debutante in 1995! Yes, your cousin, was a Ladies of Iris Debutante, presented in a Jessica McClintock for Gunne Sax in the finest ivory satin. I had perfect pitch with what fork and spoon to use. But you don’t get to put those skills on display at Chick Fil A.  Ms. Emily Post would proud that I don’t blow on my soup to cool it and I don’t stick a whole piece of bread in my mouth while out ‘dining’.

Do you like fine dining? What your favorite experiences with all the forks, spoons and glasses? What’s your favorite fine dining restaurant?  Let me know in the comments!

This is a sponsored post for Vlora, however, all the points and views are
my own.

Rural Living ~Five Tips For Healthy Weight Loss!~

My weight loss is never ending and that’s ok with me. You know why? It’s more of a lifestyle change journey. I want to lose a significant amount of weight but I want establish habits and embrace a way of life along the way. I know that it will pay off soon!!

I want to share five great tips I learned from healthy weight loss that have helped me and worked!

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1     1)      Eat breakfast! If don’t eat breakfast, I over eat ALL DAY and I eat stuff I don’t need to eat either because my body is in crave mode. It doesn’t have to be some large breakfast but peanut butter on wheat toast and a piece a fruit and coffee when I’m in a hurry in the morning works wonders.

2     2)       Cleanse you inner body by doing an all natural body cleanse. There are so many on the market and online to choose from. Do your research so that you reset your organs properly and comfortably. I do a light cleanse at each night of “lemon tea”: lemon, honey, and hot water.

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3     3)      Fuel yourself, don’t starve yourself! I love this saying above. You wouldn’t starve your car (even though some of us ride around with the gas light on  the regular. Lol!), so don’t starve your body thinking that’s the way to weight loss. I’ve played the starve game, and gain more weight than I did when I was eating on the regular. Get fueled up!

4    4)      Organize your thoughts, recipes, plans and tips for weight loss via Pinterest. I have a weight loss tips board that when I come across something great like a new way to get all my water in or an inspiring saying, I pin it. I normally look at my Weight Loss Board and Motivation Board twice a day to mentally fuel myself up!

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5    5)      Water, water, water…drink it!! I am so guilty of not drinking water all day, even though I don’t drink soda or store bought juice ( I do love tea and coffee). Here’s a tip: I make my kids good old fashion Kool-Aid so I can control the amount of sugar they get in a drink. However, I will make myself a big container of water to drink but give the water a ‘splash’ of kool aid so I have the taste but I have WAY more water than Kool-Aid. That way I’m getting my water intake and it’s not bland in taste and I like it!

I hope these tips help and inspire someone to just make changes that become bigger changes in their health and possibly their weight! Good Luck!

This is a sponsored post for Xango, however, all the points and views are
my own.

My Revlon Expression Experiment!!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Revlon for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

 

 

 Hey Everyone!!

I was sent these products by the folks at Revlon to be part of theirRevlon Expression Experiment.

Revlon is looking to inspire women to reach beyond their comfort zones and think beyond the box. Their also encouraging women to have fun with products and experience something new and fresh. You know I'm always down to try something new, but I do stay within my little boundaries. Check out what I thought about the two products I received above and how I even thought beyond my box!!

 

 First product is the Revlon ColorStay nail polish in Sorbet......

I don't really like orange polish, maybe on my toes, but that's the limit.

 This is two coats. It wasn't as opaque as I like but the color looked fresh and new to me for some reason!! I'm on day 3 of Sorbet and there has been no chipping, which is familiar with ColorStay polish( I own one other color of this formula:))

 Next up is Revlon ColorStay 16 hour eyeshadow in Bombshell.....

I normally shy away from yellow eye shadow...they never show up on my skin. But, I charged ahead  to create a look!

 Here are some swatches done with my fingers in two layers......

 Bombshell created a really soft smoky look. The yellow still didn't show up on my lid, but the two grey shades were perfect as well as the white shadow that I put in the corners of my inner eye. Overall, its a pretty, unique quad of colors. Who knew that greys, yellows and whites were a great combination!

I'm also wearing Revlonlipstickin Berry Haute.:)

 I think this experiment was eye opening and powerful for me. It pushed me beyond my thoughts when it comes to color combos and formulas. Revlon Expression Experiment is empowering tool for all women!

 

Check out the Revlon Expressionist Experiment on Facebook!!

Tell me what you think and leave your comments below!!

XOXO
 

Get into it!! : CoverGirl Lip Perfection in Hot #305 ( Janelle Monae ad)

 Hey Everyone!! ((( cyber hugs)))

CoverGirl has a new face and its singer Janelle Monae! I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of hers, but I think she's got beautiful, fresh face and great style to boot. Good pick by the folks over at CoverGirl.:)

Janelle is wearing in her new ads Lip Perfection in Hot. I love CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks. There are very pigmented and the colors are on trend. This red lippie in Hot is definitely on the pulse.

 LipPerfection in Hot....

 Without the flash.....

 I'm wearing it with a bit of lip balm underneath. The finish is a matte satin, matte formula with a bit of sheen. One thing about Lip Perfection lipstick is that they STAIN. You will have left over color after this girl wears off.

 Its looks orangey but I think its more of a slight blue undertone. Its true crayon red.

With the flash...I love this color! Thanks to Janelle Monae for rocking it the HELL out in these ads! Definitely a great drugstore red to pick up.

So what do you think? Do you own Hot? Are you going to pick it up? Let me know!



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