A Shiney Mission

A custom wedding ring. 


That's right. Custom. My grandma left me her wedding ring when she passed away, and we really want to use it. The problem is, grandma's ring is a size 9 (I wear a 7), most of the prongs are gone, and the ring is really off-balanced. It's really in terrible condition, despite the fact that it's only about 20 years old (her second ring). It HAS to be remade. We were originally thinking about simply keeping the original ring with wedding band and then adding on a band of our own. Grandma's ring is simple (sorry, I don't have a picture and the ring is in St. Louis), with the "engagement ring" being a 3 stone ring, and the wedding band having 4 small diamonds on it. 


Last December, Sean proposed to me with this ring: 

I absolutely love it - but it has always been the intention for me to wear it on my right hand after we get married, and use my grandma's ring for our wedding ring. 


Unfortunately I have no idea what I want to do with a wedding ring. Which is why I'm posting this - I would LOVE for other people's ideas. Even if it is just a picture of your own ring. We're no long "stuck" in the idea of keeping the ring design the same when we re-fashion it, so the possibilities are nearly endless (though I have a few ideas I'm stubborn on). We'll be using my grandma's diamonds, which consist of a center stone of a 1/2-3/4 carat, and then 6 smaller (about 1/8 ct) stones around it. But we're totally open to buying more of the smaller diamonds, because our jeweler said they're only about $80 a piece. 


Things I'd REALLY like:
1. I really want to keep the double wedding band idea. I like the idea of symbolizing my grandma with the ring, and so having two wedding bands is a MUST. I also love the idea of an engagement/wedding ring set. I don't want to look like I'm engaged for the rest of my life. 


2. I love split shank rings. It's not a requirement, but I do like them. Or at least rings with a twisted metal appearance - you know, something different and modern.


3. I'm not opposed to sapphires. Not in the slightest. Obviously, because my engagement ring has them. However, I don't HAVE to have them. 

Anticipation. And Chip Dip.

Moni is having a baby. Within a week. And I couldn't be more excited. She's the first of my good friends to have a kid, and I'm only slightly obsessed with children. She's not technically due until the 28th of September, but she went to the doctor on Monday and they told her any day! She's being induced on Monday if she doesn't go before then. Mandi and I both told her Friday or Saturday, cause we want to see her!! I'd really like to go visit in the hospital, but we'll see. Soon the world will welcome Omar Miguel Lopez! I still need to figure out where the accents go. I'm not sure if Miguel has any on his name (I know Lopez doesn't). I can't believe she's having a baby! AHH! I'll have to go baby shopping in the next couple of days too.

Okay. I need to calm down before I start freaking out in my next class...

Anyways. School is kicking my butt, per usual. I'm absolutely terrible with this online, independent study course. I really need to work on it. I'm going to try to get the midterm in by the end of September. We'll see. The biggest problem I'm having with it is that there aren't any due dates. It's COMPLETELY on my own. *sigh*

The other day I made chip dip. I found it as a recipe for French Onion dip, but it was not french onion. Not in any way. But nonetheless, it is delicious.

Un-French Onion Chip Dip

16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 cup Sour Cream
2 packets of Lipton's Onion Soup Mix
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (I used more to taste)
Garlic Salt to taste


Blend the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Sift in the onion soup mix in (or if you prefer chunky dip, just dump it in!). Add in the Worcestershire sauce and garlic salt to taste. If you prefer a thinner dip, add milk until you get the desired consistency. 
Break out those ruffle chips, and enjoy!

Football Season

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 2009 collegiate football season - technically. Actually, it started last weekend, but the game was in St. Louis - not at our home football stadium, so it didn't really count. Yesterday was the first HOME game.

I love football. Specifically, I love Mizzou football. I love the roar of the crowd, the stadium packed in black and gold. I love the video at the beginning of the every game, and chills I get when it plays and the football team runs by. I love the boom of the cannon. I love our seats and yelling as loud as we can when the opposing team is trying to score in OUR endzone. I love the rush of the game. I love Dr. Knight's speeches at the beginning and the end of the game. It's wonderful.

And it's ending. This is my last season - perhaps the worst part about the thought of graduating college. I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss the 7 am calls, not leaving the stadium until it's empty, singing the alma mater, waiting for bananas, and practicing under the stands before we go out. I'm going to miss my swoosh tan line from my uniform (though I haven't gotten it yet this year).

Okay. Enough sap.

The Tigers almost blew this game. Big time. We played Bowling Green. BOWLING GREEN. A team who was 6-6 last year. And they were ahead until the 4th quarter!! Gah! It was the most nerve-wrecking experience. We should have never been behind them in any way. Never. We eventually won (only 27-20), but my gosh. /rant.

You'll probably be seeing a new header in the next couple of days. And it will probably be football-themed. It's football season - and football (well, and Marching Band) pretty much rule my existence.

Shrinking Campus

Isn't it amazing how huge I used to think campus was? The trek from Gillett to say, EBW was almost worth getting my car, and was definitely worth skipping class.

Now, I feel like campus is nothing. Maybe it's because I don't start out in the dorms, or because I've learned to walk faster, or even that I've lost the fear of being a second late to class...but campus seems so small nowadays. It's no wonder it felt big - our main campus is over 2 square miles. But over the years I've learned short cuts and time savers, as well as how long it takes me to get from one spot to the next. I have no problem crossing between red and white campus - I'm often found on both throughout the day. I almost feel like I'm ready for something bigger - which is a good thing, since I'm graduating in December.

Sean and I have no idea where we'll be going. But, I've decided I like the thrill of not knowing. I want to be able to live entirely on my own, in my own world for a while. I'd like to prove that we can do it, without help, unlike so many others we know.

Labor Day Weekend

So the weekend isn't technically over yet. But the most important stuff is. I've had a great weekend, although not exactly "relaxing". Who needs to relax anyways?

Saturday was the first football game of the season. It was AMAZING. The spread was 7 points, with the Illini winning. Instead, Mizzou steamrolled them. Our team has actually been called the most underrated team this season, already. The game was fantastic. No one really knew what was going to happen, because we lost so many players after last year. But our new 1st string really stepped up. The was fantastic too. Our guard really did well - I think it's the best we've ever done. I'm not sure if it will work or not, but here's our first movement - In the Stone, by Earth, Wind, and Fire. It was a GREAT performance - I'm really proud of all the girls. Of course, this just sets the bar high :)

After the game, Mom, Michelle (my godmother), Shanon (my sister), Sean and I all went to Max and Erma's - I was starving. We had a good meal, complete with cookies. Once we got home, I got an awesome surprise. Mom and Dad had bought me a new tv!! I'm now the proud owner of a 19" HD LCD tv. I'm super excited about that one - we've been living off a tiny TV in the living room.

It's been a pretty good weekend. Sean and I are heading back home to CoMo this afternoon, and he's going to come back to StP tomorrow morning, since he doesn't have class until noon. I've realized that I really don't "live here" anymore. I can't wait to find out where Sean is going to school, and make a life there. I guess I just want a place to be mine/ours, and I can't really do that when I'm living with friends. I love living with my girls, but I'm just anxious for the future.

Classes - The Final Countdown

This is my last semester at Mizzou. Obviously, class is probably going to occupy most of my posts for the next few months, but we'll see. I'm in 13 credit hours - 16 if you count the independent study course that I was SUPPOSED to do over the summer, but didn't touch. I have to finish it though, or I don't graduate. Nothing like waiting until the last minute I suppose. I find that I do better if I don't think about the numbers that symbolize my classes. I mean, I'm in 3 4000 level classes. 4000! Yes, I'm a senior, and they're senior level classes. But, I only had to take ONE to graduate, and yet I decided to tack on 2 more, because they looked interesting. But so far, I'm pretty sure it'll all be fine. Here's a look at what I've got going on:

Business Law: This is my last lecture class. Ever. There are 500 students enrolled, and we pack the auditorium in Cornell (the business school). It's required for my business minor, but I'm not complaining. It's like, 4 tests and a couple of quizzes. Defintiely going to be my easy class of the semester, which is scary seeing as the word "law" is in it and it's only taught by lawyers. Maybe the fact that I've worked at a law firm for the past 2 1/2 years is helping that. :)

Political Communication: This is one of the 4000 level classes. The first day the Prof walked in, he was wearing a polo with holes, gym shorts, and flip-flops. And was drinking a Red Bull. As I've come to find out, he's incredibly intelligent - just not professional. I'm enjoying the class, though I'm not sure if that's because it's politics based (which I've come to enjoy while at school) or because the professor isn't more than 23, but it's a good class. And our first assignment? A 1 page paper on 3rd Parties. This one's gonna be hard *rolls eyes*

Media Theory and Research: I'm not really sure why this one is called this, because it's really all about persuasion. We're talking a lot about ads, both in the commercial world and the political world. I'm taking this class for the teacher though, entirely. I HATE theory, and I HATE research, but I LOVE Morawitz. It is a pretty interesting class though, I have to admit. And I've got some friends in there. Unfortuantely, I'm also going to have like, 3 15 page papers. Ugh.

Capstone: Okay, I GUESS I consider this a class. It's taught by Porter, who's the head of the Communication school. He's hilarious and goes off on so many tangents. Our subject this semester is Media Literacy. It's interesting, especially since Porter is making up this course as he goes along...We may or may not get anything done. I have several friends in here, including Julie and Andrew, so the class is great. We took a test called StrengthsQuest, and it's SO cool. I highly suggest it to anyone - you can take it at their website, for about $15. It nailed my strengths on the head, even though I never really considered them strengths - I just thought they were normal I guess.

Marching Mizzou: Yes, this is a class. I'm one of the captains on the guard this year, so it's going to be a lot of time. As captains, we write routine, we teach routine, and lately we've been staying late to tutor routine - not to mention disciple for the guard and taking care of uniforms and flags. It's a lot of work and time, but it's so worth it! I think the biggest difference this year is that there's so much pressure for us to be perfect every time, because we stress being perfect in the routine to the girls so much. We DON'T want to be hypocrites, unlike captains in years before. I can't wait for the first game Saturday.

I was contemplating joining Tau Beta Sigma this semester, which is the band service sorority. They deal with uniforms, plumes, and some food, and set up and break down for concerts and such, as well as other random service projects like Girl Scout day. I'd LOVE to join, but I feel like I'm just too busy. With the wedding and LPE especially. Besides, it's my last semester. I think I'd feel bad having a "mom" (older member who's like a mentor) spend a lot of money on me, and then not be able to give back and be a mom myself. Instead, I'll focus on LPE.

LPE is Lambda Pi Eta. It's the Communication Honors society. It looks phenomenal on a resume, but we also do a lot of volunteer stuff. It's also a great connection to other people - I love it. I designed the shirts last year, but I'm hoping to get more involved this semester. We'll see what goes on I suppose.

I also have work this semester. Typing all of this out makes me feel like I have SO much, but I love it. I'm only working like 12 hours a week, but I make enough to at least pay my rent and food. With my extra loan money, I have the car payments covered. It's a pretty good deal. I'm still working at the law firm. We're trying to automate everything, but you can't automate phone calls very well so that's what I do most of the time. I do mail for my department too - quality controlling outgoing mail and entering incoming mail into the system. I've gotten to be fairly good friends with the folks in my department, and I'm not really looking forward to having to leave them. I like my job. I never thought I'd say that about an office job, but i REALLY like it. Crazy!

That's the ridiculously long run-down of my semester thus far. It's great and I'm so excited for it.