Valentine’s Day Engagement Rings by Vera Wang in Rose, Yellow and White Gold

Is there anything sweeter than proposing on Valentine’s Day? Vera Wang LOVE features rose, yellow, two-tone and white gold engagement rings that are perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day proposal. Whether you choose to give a nontraditional ring like rose, yellow or two-tone gold or opt for classic white gold, this ring will always be a sweet reminder of your Valentine’s Day engagement story. This Valentine’s Day, surprise your love with a timeless engagement ring that is as unique as she is!

Vera Wang LOVE, Vera Wang’s diamond jewelry collection available at Zales, Zales.com, and VeraWangLOVE.com has a variety of rose, yellow, two-tone and white gold rings which are perfect for a Valentine’s Day proposal! The Vera Wang LOVE collection features classic and stylish engagement rings in an assortment of new styles ranging from $1,999.99 – $29,999.99

Wine Wednesday: Plated meals are pretty simple and pretty delicious

I like cooking but truly am a better baker until I discovered Plated.  Plated is a food delivery service that not only put the joy back in cooking, they made it as easy as 1-2-3.  Their recipes are really easy to recreate and you know what…they look just like the Plated picture and taste amazing.

Of course it would be two Harvard Business School alums (Nick Taranto and Josh Hix) to compile gourmet recipes from noted chefs and deliver all the ingredients necessary to make a home-cooked meal. After all, we know all students can only eat so many packets of noodles and cold pizza and they take it a step further. With Plated, everything from the meats, vegetables, and spices directly to your door – everything! Members must order at least four plates per week so just consider it at least 2 full meals for 2 (shipping and tax are included in the price). Considering what you may pay for a night out, the price ($14 to $15 per plate for non-members, and as little as $10 to $12 per plate for members) is truly affordable and so much healthier.

What made Plated super attractive is that each box has a generous helping of fruits and vegetables essential to a healthy diet. Since the fruits and veggies in each box are sourced direct from farmers, your Plated greens are fresher than what you’d buy at a grocery store.  All you need is the pot to cook it in and of course…a beautiful ‘plate’. You don’t have to worry about it spoiling, because it is packaged in a cooling box, so it will be waiting for you when you get home – fresh as can be.

I love this for couples and soon to be couples.  Choosing your meal for the following week is really exciting and when it arrives, honestly, it’s a blast opening it and getting my “Top Chef Self” ready to cook. 

Try it yourself, go to https://www.plated.com/invites/49f0e0 and use the code: Lisa’sreaders to try 2 for FREE.  Let me know how you do and what you think.

 

Does your guy want an engagement ring? The Knot and Men’s Health seem to think yes

Recently TheKnot.com and Men’s Health co-branded proposal and engagement survey of 1,400 engaged couples. They discussed everything from picking the ring, to who is now wearing engagement rings to social media.

In the midst of prime proposal season when more than half a million men plan to “pop the question,” this one-of-a-kind survey, featured exclusively on MensHealth.com and TheKnot.com, asked more than 1,400 men and women engagement questions that reveal everything from how brides feel about the ring to how much their sex life has changed (or not!) since becoming engaged.

“This survey goes inside the minds of men and women to show exactly what they’re thinking and expecting during one of life’s most crucial and thrilling moments,” says Carley Roney, editor in chief of TheKnot.com. “We found that sex lives for engaged couples are increasing, men are open to wearing an engagement ring themselves, and women really want to show off their bling to everyone in their social network.”

Sex Lives Have Increased Since Becoming Engaged. Love is in the air for many couples…and in between the sheets! 20% of men surveyed on MensHealth.com and 18% of brides surveyed on TheKnot.com said their sex lives have increased since becoming engaged. Surprisingly, however, almost half of brides (48%) and 43% of men said they did NOT celebrate with sex on the night of their engagement.

Men Want to Sport Some Bling Too! Ladies, don’t be surprised if your man asks for a ring: 17% of men surveyed said women shouldn’t be the only ones to wear a ring before marriage and that they’d rock a “man-gagement” ring. What woman wouldn’t want other ladies to know her man was off the market?

Carat Size AND Quality Matter to Brides. Guys, take note but I’m sure you know this already. Quality of the ring is important, but don’t forget about the size of the bling! When asked how much carat size really matters, more than half (59%) of brides said both size and quality matter to them. When asked if they thought carat size matters to her, a whopping 76% of the men surveyed said, “No, she doesn’t care that much—quality over quantity!” Really guys?!

Brides Care What Friends and Family Think of Their Ring. Nearly one in four (22%) brides surveyed admitted that it matters what their friends and family think about the ring. Maybe the 44% of guys who chose the ring themselves should have enlisted some extra help from her side.

Not All Brides Love Their Ring. When asked if they thought their fiancée loved the ring, nearly all (98%) men said “yes,” yet 9% of brides actually didn’t love the ring. While 4% let their fiancé know how they felt, the other 5% didn’t have the heart to tell their fiancés!  Recently, a girl told her diamond dealer future husband that her engagement ring wasn’t big enough after she saw someone else’s ring…like did she think she wouldn’t get another diamond ever? I though that was a bit tacky, but that’s me. Oh yea…he changed it – but then again he could.

Tradition Reigns for Men. A massive 76% of men said it is essential to propose on bended knee, while only 48% of women agreed. Yet when it came to asking the parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage, men and women were pretty much on the same page, with 21% and 28%, respectively, saying it’s a do. For this writer…that is a must.

Brides Love to Post Their Rock on Facebook. Who’s more excited to show off the ring? Brides, with 57% saying “yes” to sharing their happy news on Facebook by posting a picture of their ring. Yet when asked what they thought, 22% of men said it’s tacky for their fiancée to post a pic of the ring. That might change when they start rockin’ theirs

Surprisingly, 12% of brides admitted that they posted a pic of the ring or changed their relationship status to “engaged” on Facebook before emailing and texting friends.

Is this a true trend, perhaps not. There will always be a few guys who may want to wear a ring but more importantly, I think it’s social media that takes center stage. The change of status OR even adding your future spouse on your facebook page is something that means a lot. To not add your partner on your page, when you have other members in that ‘family section’ will lead to trouble and feeling of  “you’re hiding something”. Trust me on this on.

Wine Wednesday: Propose with a martini sparkle not stirred at the Blue Bar, Algonquin Hotel

So your girlfriend (and her friends/family) has hinted that she would love a little something. You know, an accessory on her left hand.  You being the ‘hold your cards to the vest’ kind, have thought the same thing.  The only problem is where and when?  While I’m not for proposing on traditional holidays, however this might be the exception.

Propose in style at The Blue Bar at The Algonquin Hotel with their famed “Martini on the Rock” cocktail. You have to call three days in advance to grab the ‘$10,000 deal’, complete with a personalized visit with the hotel’s private jeweler to help you select the perfect diamond. The perfect ring you just picked will be at the bottom of the martini glass (beneath an olive or two unless she likes apple martini’s – I’m sure they can figure it out) as its presented to your very special lady (or gent!). Fingers crossed that he or she says yes, if not, drink it like a shot to ease the hurt, just don’t swallow the ring.
Blue Bar at The Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street (between Fifth and Sixth avenues); 212-840-6800.