DomestiGals

Off-the-Chart Couple Hotness: Barack and Michelle Obama

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Dearest Jen,

Hmmm... equality in terms of couple hotness is certainly a most excellent topic to discuss.

I mean, since it's my birthday, can I pretend that I'm hotter than The Doctor? Seriously, I think I woke up on my 30th with a grey hair and slight wrinkles developing around my eyes.

Just kidding. I'm Asian, and Asians don't age.

Jen, I love how the way you write makes you sound like a 400 pound cow who has to lug herself 2 hours back to London every week to train with Colossus. Even though I watched you and The Lawyer wolf down 3 entrees during a beautiful NYC brunch is no reason to be so hard on yourself.

Anyway, I put together this quick ball-busting workout for you to do in your room. This way, you can stay out of that nasty MBA gym of yours.

Do two minutes of each exercise and be prepared to vomit afterwards:

1. Lunges to the front (R/L) with 8 pound shoulder presses to the ceiling with 8 pound weights;
2. Kickboxing with legs to the side (R/L) with boxing arms punching to the front with 8 pound weights;
3. Squats (R/L) with bent arm lateral raise to the side with 8 pound weights;
4. Static hold squat with back against wall and bicep curls (hands facing each other) with 8 pound weights;
5. Calf raises with bicep curl (hands facing ceiling) upwards with 8 pound weights;
6. On back: Inner thigh reps (legs from Big V to little v) with sit-ups;
7. On back: Inner thigh reps (right leg in front; left leg in front) with oblique side-to-side sit-ups;
8. Jump squats to pushups;
9. Tricep dips with fingers toward glutes with right leg lift to ceiling;
10. Tricep dips with fingers rotated outward toward walls with left leg lift to ceiling.

If you do this workout 3 times a week you'll return to your Domestic Goddess level of hotness in no time!

But back to couples and their hotness. You know the latest uber-hot couple? Hello, obviously The Obamas!

Photo courtesy MSNBC.com

Michelle Obama is a rockstar (even though people here in NYC complained a bit too much about the red dress she wore to Barack's acceptance speech), and President-Elect Obama is going to be our skinniest-president-ever! Hopefully you all read this op-ed piece in the New York Times about electing a Skinny Black Guy. Totally hilare article by Colson Whitehead.

Anyway, the Obamas obviously receive a double A+ in terms of couple hotness.

Let us know, DomestiGals, who's hotter: you or your beloved?

Love,

Birthday Girl Sue

PS: Did I mention it was my 30th birthday, folks? Hello! I'm devastated. But still fabulous.

PPS: Thanks again to Kyla Bea for her fabulous post yesterday!

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY SUE!

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Dearest Sue,

Few words could capture the true momentousness of this day. Therefore, I will leave it up to my friends at someecards (OK I don't actually know them but I am OBSESSED with their site - I mean, hello, is this genius or what?!)...

(with an edit to keep things clean, since I am not yet "dirty thirty" - obv)

Lots of love from your favorite DomestiGradess,

Jen

DomestiGals Welcome Kyla Bea for More Ring Talk!

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Dear Sue & Jen,

I have to say, I really adore the moissanite ring talk you've been engaging in over the past posts, but I can't say that I'm as entirely on the boat as you guys are. I have to voice my opinion! DomestiGal or not, I am thoroughly domestic (and alternately non-domestic) and I will be heard!

I feel like we skipped a step in this discussion, we went from diamonds to moissanite in one move - that's like getting engaged on a second date! And Sue, I thought you didn't even really want the fuss of this formality stuff! Let's at least go on a third date before you guys really commit.

I get that moissanite is great for a whole bunch of reasons - including that the stone in the middle is conflict free. You get a brand new shiny piece of jewlery, and at least part of the appeal is that you have a big stone without the same cost of a big stone. Here is where I get tripped up though: what about the minerals your stones are set in?

Mining is tough, dirty, and extremely environmentally disruptive at the best of times if it's not downright harmful. Unless your moissanite ring is set in recycled gold, it's still harmful to the

environment, and the rings that I've found online really aren't as pocket friendly as I'd thought they would be! Maybe it's because I'm a married girl in my 20s, but there is no way I could find it acceptable for my Mister to throw down $2000+ for a ring, especially if there were no diamonds changing hands.

Knowing where I stood on this, when Mister and I knew we wanted to get married, I started looking at vintage rings.

Okay hear me out!

Has someone else worn them? Maybe. Maybe they were purchased for someone and never accepted. Maybe they were given and never worn. Maybe they were worn for a year and then put into a box again. But once I got over the "someone else factor" - I have to say that vintage

rings hold my heart.

First of all: it's not about cost. Vintage rings are beautifully designed. Rings from the 1920 and 1930 can be simply or exquisitely set - but they are all warm designs with extreme attention to detail that you have to pay $3000+ for in a new, or moissanite, ring.

Second: The cuts of the stones are also more generous - because a lot of the technology that we have just wasn't around you can get a really gorgeous, and big, stone that by today's standards would lose a quarter of a carat just in making the cut more precise. I have to say, I don't really care how precisely cut the stone is - the diamonds really do sparkle the same in a vintage setting.

And of course, my goodness are they cheap. At estate sales and resellers you can get a vintage ring for a fraction of the cost that you would buy new. The designs are warm and detailed, and you can buy them without breaking the bank. The diamonds that you're buying are already in the world, no one's digging them out or making imitation stones, and gold is upcycled if not recycled. How eco-friendly can you get?

My ring Mister used to propose ended up being Mister's Grandmother's ring. The modern designs just didn't work with my sensibilities in the end, and it's worked out perfectly for us. I had the wedding band re-set and they made an awesome pair.

Can I stop being practical and go back to being a girl talking about her wedding for just a second? Here's my engagement ring. It's almost a carat. It's from mister, and I love it. The start of a very good thing.

What do you think? Anyone thinking of taking the vintage plunge?

For more Kyla Bea, check out her fabulous blog! Thank you, Kyla, for adding this new dimension to our ring obsession! XOXO!

Lawerly Hotness vs. Grad School Bloat

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:19:00 +0000

Sue,

As I pack to fly back to NYC for your birthday - oh wait. I cannot even believe I will be missing your 30th. Don't even get me started.

So. As I anticipate my trip back to London tonight to work out with Colossus, I have to say I am feeling a little down.

Back when I was a Domestic Goddess, I was working out five or six times a week, cooking three healthy meals a day, getting ten hours of sleep a night, and generally feeling fabulous. As I have previously mentioned, I was totally Colossus' star pupil. I was even doing lunges with free weights heavier than what The Lawyer used! Not that he and I are competitive about this, but I felt fit, strong, and fabulous.

I have now been a DomestiGrad Student for - oh holy crap, has it not even been two months? I should not have done the math - well, it feels like forever. I now strive for three workouts a week. I eat sandwiches for lunch. And sometimes breakfast. And dinner. I haven't had fish for ages and green vegetables are a thing of the past. I get a measly seven hours of sleep on a good night. And I am generally feeling exhausted, puffy, and less fit by the day.

The Lawyer, on the other hand, as you have now seen for yourself, is basically turning into the hottest thing since Nutella came in a pitcher.

I have always believed that couples who are truly MFEO (and if you don't know what that stands for you need to watch "Sleepless in Seattle" ASAP) need to be in the same looks bracket. You know, they need to be at the same level of hotness. As much as two people have in common, or as much as they think they are attracted to each other, if one far surpasses the other in his or her hotness, it just won't last.

Of the men I dated pre-Lawyer, most were in my looks bracket. But some were hotter. And some were notter. And those were always my shortest relationships.

I know The Lawyer and I are MFEO, but I am worried about his ascent to hotness while I decline into a state of red-eyed bloat. I am trying to eat well, and trying to workout more, but there are only so many hours in the day, you know?

Sue! Ladies! I need a boost! Are there any shortcuts to hotness that I can grasp as I attempt to climb out of my funk? Or is my Looks Bracket Theory just a load of baloney?

Or should I just stop whining?

Yours in tighter pants,

Jen

Moissanites are a Girl's Best Friend...

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:22:00 +0000

Dude, *love* all those rings you posted about yesterday! The Doctor has been threatening to buy me jewelry for my birthday this Friday (and when he says that, he means earrings or a necklace) and I keep stressing, “Do you hear me? Do not buy me jewelry! Save your money for my moissanite ring!”

Ug, I mean, come on. I've become such a girl, the next thing you know I'll actually be going from Domestic Partnership to REAL LIVE WEDDING or something totally insane for me.

Also, how many karats do you want? I can understand this obsession of wanting something that is at least a karat. Is the Ring of Dreams The Lawyer is buying 1 karat or 2 karats? Have you instructed him on desired size?

So back to me.

It seems that Gwyneth was the clear winner from our weekend of "diamond" ring shopping for DomestiGal Sue.

Sigh.

Let's just look at that beauty once again.

I mean, double sigh.

Also, do you realize that this is the last Tuesday ever that I'll be posting as a 20-something?? That's right, ladies, I'm about to enter into Dirty Thirty territory! I just sent out the following birthday reminder to those unfortunate enough to be my friends here in NYC:

Hey guys,

Just a not-so-friendly-crack-of-the-whip reminder that my birthday is
this Friday and our Dance Party will be Saturday, November 15. For
those of you who get here at 8pm, you'll be fed yummy treats courtesy
Formaggio Kitchen.

Remember, lame excuses for why you're not in attendance will not be
accepted. (Not interested that you have an early morning Sunday
political protest, you can't get out of your hospital shift, you're on
your honeymoon, you're still too exhausted from campaigning for Obama
in Michigan and Pennsylvania, or that you have too much work to do for
your PhD/MBA/JD).

You should be at [my address] that evening. If it's nice out, we can party on the roof as well.

Finally, if you need any additional reasons to celebrate, Obama's going to be our next president!

(Isn't it so much more personal that I emailed this, rather than you
finding out via Facebook and Twitter?)

Thought so.

See you all Saturday!

xx,

My Real Name

Anyway, Jen, I know you just flew in to have brunch with me last weekend, but I can't wait 'til you surprise me, once again, for my 30th.

Here's to my next decade with the DomestiGals (How old are all of you, anyway?)!

Love,

Dirty Thirty Sue

I'll Just Pretend They're Diamond Rings...

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:53:00 +0000

Sue my darling,

First of all? Did you HAVE to tell the blogosphere about the three entrees? Not that I'm ashamed, because we are looking hot (if I do say so myself, but thank you for the confirmation), and we only make it to that brunch spot like twice a year now when we used to go every weekend so it's important to get to eat all of our favorite things on the menu... anyway. I'm over it. And I hope you enjoyed your mimosa and two glasses of wine, by the way.

Anyway, it's like 7:00AM here. I've been up since 6. The Lawyer was up here this weekend and had to catch his train this morning. Trying not to be too sad/cranky/whiny about this whole long-distance thing, but it SUCKS. What's worse is that I have a class called "Business Modelling" at 9 - and no, it's not about how to look hot in the office, but about how to use Excel to do weird stuff that I don't understand in the first place - and I have lots of homework to do. So thank you, Sue, for giving me an excuse to procrastinate... by looking at (fake) diamond rings!

Let me say that I totally approve of your choices. Is Diamond Nexus Labs fun to browse or what?! Even though I'm afraid you are going to wake up any day now and snap our of your blingtastic reverie, let me just add a couple more rings to the mix.

First, I was delighted to find Fanfare.

This ring actually fairly closely resembles the Ring of Dreams! (Though the Ring of Dreams is a little more svelte, but nevertheless similarly art deco-inspired. And made with real diamonds. Are you reading, Lawyer? I said REAL DIAMONDS.) Anyway, this may be a little too heavy for your dainty Asian fingers but I had to feature it here.

Next, we have Adelaide.

Mostly just because I couldn't resist taking your new-found love for bling that much farther. Is this ring gorge or what?! The thin band would look beautiful on you, and the sparkle factor is just perfecto I think.

Of your choices, Sue, I would definitely go for Gwynie.

She actually looks a lot like the Tiffany Novo, also known as the Ex-Ring of Dreams (as my Midwestern Caucasian/German Ancestral fingers are too big for such dainty perfection).

Can't wait to hear your further thoughts!

By the way, you do realize that these rings ooze "Wife," not "Domestic Partner," right? I mean. Just saying...

Ok, off to hit the books.

xoxo,

Jen

Diamond Ring Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Uy, uy, uy.

DomestiGals, who am I?

I look at my gorgeous self in the mirror and don't even recognize me. Why, oh why, am I all of a sudden wanting a fake diamond ring? DomestiGal Sue hearts moissanite engagement rings -- all of them.

Jen, last weekend when you flew into NYC for the weekend with the rock-solid Lawyer (more on that later), did I soak up too much of your fabulous girly-ness? By the way, The Doctor and I so enjoyed watching you and your man SPLIT THREE ENTREES between the two of you.

(No comment on what Colossus, your personal trainer, must have said when he pinched the fat around your knee upon your return to the gym.)

Perhaps it's because I just returned from a Manhattan fundraiser for The Bottomless Closet, where all the usual Upper East Side women were there with their 3.5 karat blinders. Thank god I'm Asian and have slightly slanty eyes, so I can't let in too much sparkle.

Thank you, lady blogger Kathryn, for the link to the Diamond Nexus Labs. I've officially wasted the last 45 minutes staring at bling.

Ladies, which do you like the most from Diamond Nexus Labs? Of course they're all fake, and I hope they follow Jen's cardinal four F rules.

What do you think? Callisto or Gwyneth?

I think I'll try to convince The Doctor to stop cleaning behind the oven (I know, forget about the Ring of Dreams, I've got The Man of Dreams) and come and take a look at my newest choices.

Oh, and Jen, The Lawyer is looking H-O-T. I mean, I've known your fiance-to-be since 1996, and he is officially made of steel. You may be able to cut your platinum ring across his triple-tricep-whammy one day.

And you, my darling, looked stunning as usual.

Love,

Sue

Engagement Rings: The Four F's

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:55:00 +0000

Sue and Gals!

First of all, if y'all have not clicked on the comments section of my last post, DO IT NOW. You are about to see such a gorgeous ring - it must be viewed! Not to mention the lovely sentiments from Kyla Bea and Caz, two of our fave ladies. Check it out!

Now onto further engagement ring obsessing.

So Sue. Since you are looking at fakies, you don't need to worry your pretty little head about the 4 C's (clarity, cut, color, and carat weight). Moissanite in particular is always basically gorgeous and sparkly, so you want to be sure to get a nice cut that you like and, obviously, a HUGE carat weight, but you don't have to worry about the all the complicated stuff that, for example, The Lawyer (are you reading, dear?) will have to deal with when purchasing my Ring of Dreams.

But, but! You are not out of the woods yet! Behold, the 4 F's! Created by moi just for you (and all of our fab readers, of course).

F #1: Fake

Put down that salad and chew on this, my darling: Are you sure you want a fake diamond? Positive? You won't regret this years from now as you gaze down at your moissanite stunner? No? Good. Let's move on.

F #2: Fit

As thin and gorge as you are now, Sue, we will all put on a few pounds, or at least some puffiness, over the years. Especially when you get knocked up with your JewAsian spawn. Or indulge in one of your "Fat Fridays" and drink a few margaritas. So just make sure the ring is comfy with just a wee bit of room for growth.

F #3: Flair

Sue, think of your studded cowboy boots. This ring needs to reflect you. Make sure the ring has personality worthy of its fabulous owner! Which leads me to...

F #4: Fabulousness

I mean. Obv.

So there you have it, Sue! Food for thought for your ring quest. Obviously you must keep us posted as this process continues...

I love that I can obsess about your ring while I await mine! This is fab!

xoxo,

Jen

America the Blingiful

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:07:00 +0000

HOLY CRAP SUE.

The only thing that would interrupt me from my Obama Victory Party (by which I mean eating peanut butter straight out of the jar and crying with joy and relief and probably the extra dose of hormones in my new birth control pills - I mean WHY can they not make low-dose pills in the UK?! Come on people! - while watching his victory speech online) is this miraculous news that you have seen the light! Well, either that or you have been blinded by the rays emanating from your mumsy's fake diamond ring. Either way, this is tres exciting.

So do tell! What does your mom's ring look like? Do you like it or do you want a different style? Are you sure you want moissanite (which, honey, you really can't call "moissanite diamond"...unless you insert "fake" between the two words, dear) or perhaps does a wee part of your hot Asian self want The Doctor to splurge on a real diamond? Surely he can find a way to splurge now that you are seeing a financial advisor/therapist.

Though I must caution you, Sue. Make sure this is just not a whim! Don't get my hopes up that you will soon be sporting a blingalicious domestic partnership ring only to dash them and decide to wear that ring you liked that looks like a gift my 6th grade boyfriend gave me.

Not that this is about me.

But before you ask, YES, I am still sans Ring of Dreams. However! It's now November which can mean only one thing (to moi, anyway): bonus season is almost just around the corner! Which means my Ring of Dreams draws ever closer to becoming a Ring of Reality...

Though I must say, I find it interesting that many of the married girls in my program are sporting neither diamond engagement rings nor diamond wedding bands. Kind of horrible, I know. But apparently diamond engagement rings are not the worldwide obsession I so naively and Americanly assumed they were.

But before The Lawyer should breathe a sigh of relief, let me confirm the fact that I cannot WAIT to blow my classmates away with the gorgeosity of my Ring of Dreams.

Not that this is about me.

So we need more details, stat!

And ladies out there, I second Sue's motion - post pics of your rings and link to us! Or send us pics of your rings and we'll post them! Sue needs our input ASAP!

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

DomestiGal Sue wants a Diamond Ring... ASAP!

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:27:00 +0000

Girls, here it is. This is what DomestiGal Sue actually looks like.

Okay, sort of. But. Um, not really at all.

Because I'm way hotter.

Totally diggin' her cleavage though. Clearly pronounced by that diamond necklace and the V-neck dress.

Anyway.

So, I think I'm ready. Not really for a diamond *diamond* ring. But for a moissanite diamond ring.

Did DomestiGal Jen just faint? Wake up, darling, you heard right!

Here's the deal. Last weekend I flew back to Vermont to visit mumsy and daddykins for my dad's 60th birthday. I showed my mom my Domestic Partnership ring and the Asian woman did not approve. Okay, mind you, it was also the first time she was seeing my youngest sister's way-too-fabulous Tiffany's diamond engagement ring, but still.

Can you really compare my Domestic Partnership ring to a Tiffany's ring?

In typical, manipulative Asian mom style, she did the deepest, dirtiest trick: she made me try on all her diamond and pseudo-diamond rings. Including her wedding ring.

Then, mommy dearest made me fly back to NYC wearing one of these beyond fabulous pseudo-diamond rings. I may or may not be wearing it now while blogging.

Anyway, I'm now entranced. DomestiGal ooh-I'm-so-different-anti-diamond Sue (ew, I'm so sick of myself) has now turned into DomestiGal I NEED A DIAMOND RING STAT Sue.

The next thing you know, I may actually want to get married, or something terribly perverse like that.

Ladies, please, please, please take pictures of her beautiful diamond rings and post them now.

Wait, why are you still reading?

Run -- run like an Asian tourist to your camera and snap those photos!

I'm begging you!

Love,

Diamond Diva Sue

Wedding Madness

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Hey Gals!

Just a quickie to let you know that I am currently in the throes of a mayjah post-wedding state of exhaused jet laggy out-of-itness.

Not my wedding, obv. But a great and inspirational one nonetheless!

More on all of this soon. For now, I am heading back to bed.

xoxo,

DomestiBrideWannaBe Jen

Why The Doctor Drives Me Loony...

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Dear DomestiGals,

Last time I ended my post asking what everyone's boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, husband, wife or domestic partner did that drove you all nuts.

I wanted to share what happened today.

There I was, happily blogging away for my various sites, when The Doctor's personal trainer appeared at our house. She is a pretty hilarious girl, but I almost died when she came into our apartment and started eating Starbursts and other candy. Thankfully, even The Doctor called her out on it, to which she replied, "Dude, I'm hypoglycemic."

Apple, anyone?

(Jen, can you even *imagine* Colossus, your A to the Mazing personal training, even eating a slice of pizza, let alone candy?? If he eats candy, it's probably made out of tofu!)

Anyway, The Doctor, my dearly beloved, must be the worst personal training client in the world. I knew he was terrible at exercise and a bit lazy, but today he was out of control.

He did all of the following of his 45 minute workout:

1. Came over to say hello
2. Came over to kiss me
3. Started vacuuming
4. Went to the bathroom
5. Changed his "workout" music from disco to hiphop and then back to disco again
6. Came over to show me this letter he got in the mail from a friend, and did I think we should put it up on the fridge or just recycle it?

Oy, oy, oy.

It is highly debatable whether he actually got through his assigned sit-ups, push-ups and squats.

Come on, ladies. Are you telling me that Caz is the only one who has a partner who drives her crazy with his dirty laundry?

Jen, how does The Lawyer put you over the edge?

Love,

Drill Sargent Sue

PS: Happy Halloween, DomestiGals! What spooky (or hot) outfits will you be wearing tonight?

Seriously? How will Jen be a hot bride...

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:44:00 +0000

When faced with constant free meals like this:

This was the scene at a recent MBA barbeque/fatty gorgefest.

I mean COME ON PEOPLE. If it's not the boozing that will kill my wedding figure, it's the meat. Lots and lots of meat. Meat everywhere. And not healthy meat, either! And because I'm a poor grad student I have no choice, I MUST EAT IT. I MUST EAT THE FREE FOOD.

Sigh. As if post-workout puking weren't enough of a lesson... Colossus would have my head if he ever learned of the true deterioration of my diet.

Sue! How will I be able to get through this year without either a) going broke because I'm trying to buy healthy food, or b) gaining a zillion pounds and busting out of my Wedding Dress of Dreams? And which is worse?

At least Nutella never comes free.

Sigh,

Jen

Domestic Goddess Turns Entrepreneur Too?

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Sue!

Ok first of all? That post title almost gave me a heart attack.

But now that I am over the shock-turned-disbelief-turned-disappointment that you continue to avoid being bitten by the wedding bug, I have to say I am so proud of you! You go, girl! You are such the budding entrepreneur!

Now that I have survived my MBA program for over a month (hard to believe, considering the almost weekly breakdowns I have been having - I don't know what I would do without the Lawyer! For reals.) I have to say that I am more and more tempted by the thought of starting my own biz. Or a bunch of bizzes, like you are creating!

Do we have any other DomestiPreneurs out there??? If you're out there, tell us about your fabulous business!

Of course I have no idea what I would want to do. I wish I had the gumption to be a wedding planner - I could specialize in planning weddings on one side of the pond from the other! Now there's a niche, right? Of course, not that I have been able to do much of my own wedding planning lately - but that's fodder for another post. Or lack thereof.

But I love the idea of being my own boss, and starting up a business around something I'm truly passionate about. Going to work should be FUN, right? Not to mention the fact that I want to be able to make my own schedule so that I have time to raise Lawyer Jr. and his little sister, DomestiGirl.

There are so many amazing, enterprising women out there. Including you, Sue! I think I might

just have to jump on the bandwagon...

Hmm,

Jen

I went to City Hall today...

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Sorry, Jen -- I didn't get married at City Hall! Puh-leeze! (I know what your Dirty Domestic Goddess mind was thinking!)

I took a break from my DomestiGal duties today to run down to City Hall and incorporate the parent company of my various businesses.

Now, not to be totally out there, but wouldn't you agree that forming a corporation is a slightly serious endeavor? That's what I thought, as well, until I went to do it.

While setting up my business checking account (not the same person who Domestic Partnered me and The Doctor, unfortunately), my banker told me, "Now, when you go to City Hall to set up your business, make sure you visit the coffee guy. Most people don't know that you can pick up your forms at the coffee shop."

"That's really bizarre," I thought, "Why would I ever go to the coffee shop to pick up business forms?"

Anyway, I took the A train down to Chambers Street, eventually found 60 Center Street, and went through all the various security lines and found my way down to the Business room. I proudly marched myself to the counter, and was ignored by the state employees for a good 5 minutes while they finished dancing around to some mmmm-bop from the 90s.

Finally, this woman comes over to me and asked what I wanted to do. Upon hearing my response, she questioned, "Did you pick up your business formation forms from the coffee shop?"

"Um, what? No, can't I pick up the forms here?"

"No, we don't keep corporation forms here. You have to go back up to the first floor and get your forms from the coffee shop."

I just had to laugh, since this pretty much confirmed that Manhattan is not the epicenter of the world, as everyone thinks it is. So, off I went to the deli guy upstairs, who sold bags of chips, People and InTouch Magazines, and all the documents you need to start a business in NYC.

Sigh.

I think I should have had the deli guy Domestic Partner me and The Doctor, rather than the dude at the bank. It would have been so much more glamorous.

But, moving on from business and back to our bootylicious bottoms.

First of all, a workout can never be *too* hard. After all, no one wants jiggly buns in their wedding dress of dreams, right? I certainly don't want a jiggly butt in my beehive outfit. (I am competing with the Queen Bee, after all).

Amazingly, I have never thrown up after a workout. I did, however, one time make The Doctor get terribly green after I pushed him too hard with his exercises. He now refuses to work out with me and his personal trainer comes over once a week to watch him do push-ups on his knees. Seriously, the last time I came home his trainer was standing in the middle of our living room completely exasperated and The Doctor was working on his computer. His trainer practically had to beg him to come back and do another set of pretty basic sit ups. I was absolutely furious with him!

Working out the brain does not equal working out the body!

Ladies in DomestiGal land... admit it... what do your guys do that drive you up the wall bonkers?

xx,
Big Business Sue

Fitness: How Far is Too Far?

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:21:00 +0000

Hello Non-Honeymoonin' Sue!

Palau is hot. The Lawyer and I have been thinking about our honeymoon but have not been able to even really narrow down our list - there is too much to see! However I have decided that, wherever we go, we will end our honeymoon in Munich for Oktoberfest. I mean obv I will not miss the perfect chance to spend a little more time with my ancestors... remember these dudes?

If they don't ooze "romantic honeymoon" I don't know who does!

Though frankly the thought of drinking lots of beer makes me feel a little ill right now, because I am still recovering from my session with Colossus yesterday. During which I puked my guts out (if you will recall from my tweet).

Now if I do recall, you recently made a friend of yours honk, correct? Ahem, if I may quote you directly from your tweet: "Sue went to the gym with her friend, Kat, and put her through Sue's strength training routine. Kat threw up. Poor Kat. Mean Sue."

All this exercise-induced hurling as got me thinking. Are we going too far? Pushing ourselves too hard? How hard is too hard? (MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, SUE! I MEAN FIGURATIVELY HARD!)

Granted, I probably should not have eaten a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, and sausage yesterday a mere few hours before my workout. And it was the first real workout I'd done with Colossus in awhile, and he basically put me through a death circuit. But still. I am not thrilled to have honked.

Sue, what are your thoughts on workout-related vomit?

Gals in the blogosphere, have you ever been pushed to these ridiculous limits? Or are Sue and I just insane?

Off to drink some more tummy-calming tea...

xoxo,

DomestiGal Jen

Honeymoon of Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:03:00 +0000

Hulk Jen,

I *love* that you are part of the Powerlifting Club. I mean, of course you are. Are you making all the Brits look like fried weenies? I bet you can drink them into the ground too! I think you should definitely start joining competitions. Don't you think you could make enough money (as obviously you would win, duh) to pay for your Honeymoon of Dreams?

I realize you and The Lawyer have romanced your way around Germany, Italy and who knows where else this year... but what are your thoughts on the Honeymoon destination?

One of me and The Doctor's good friends is living in Palau this year.

www.nationalgeographic.com

We thought we could do a stopover in Palau after visiting and being criticized by my relatives in Taiwan. Nothing like a fake-honeymoon with the relatives. (By the way, did I ever mention that my parents went on their honeymoon to Japan with my dad's parents? Lord knows how they've stayed married for 30+ years after that!)

DomestiGals, where have the rest of you honeymooned? If you aren't married or Domestic Partnered yet, where are you planning on getting married?

xx,

DomestiGal Sue

DomestiGals Welcome Kyla Bea!

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:06:00 +0000

We are very lucky to have with us today the gorgeous and lovely Kyla Bea! If you are not already reading her blog religiously, get on it. She is a fantastic writer with a joyful soul and a DomestiGal spirit!

In her own words, Kyla is "a twenty three year old crafter, baker, reader, knitter, black tea aficionado, vegetarian, and stray dog rescuer from the Canadian Prairies. She just finished school, bought & moved into a 99 year old house, took in two crazy and wild puppies, and got married in September to my Mister. It took a lot of deep breathing, but it all finally happened! I guess the biggest question now is, now what?"

Read on...

Do you take this woman to be your Florist?

My Mister and I have been decidedly in the throes of young domestic bliss for a few years now, and when we started planning our wedding we had a lot to talk about. I'd never been one of those girls who thought about their wedding – I had obsessed about when he was going to propose, but some how that never gave way to wedding fantasies. As soon as we got engaged I wished that I had let my imagination run away with me, at least a little! Imagine how much I could have narrowed down! Getting married when the groom has no idea about what he wants is tough enough, but getting married when the bride has only attended two weddings, counting one where she served as the flower girl?

I'll put it this way – writing a ceremony is hard enough when you know what's supposed to happen. Writing a ceremony when you don't know what makes up a ceremony? That's a fast way to burn three weekends in a row.

Thankfully for everyone involved, there were many parts of planning a wedding that I already had some experience in – planning special events is part of my job so contacting caterers, tasting little desserts, and making sure that table cloths were spic and span was something that I knew a bit about. But what I was looking forward to, hoping about, and imagining as we got closer to the wedding was, decidedly, the flowers.

No matter how many bridal magazines I looked through they were the only thing I saw. I had it all planned out – we would having a very local wedding, all the vendors would be within 10 blocks of the church, it would be eco-chic! I knew exactly what I wanted – but not being a florist I didn't know what flowers went into it, so I drew up a list of everything I could describe my dream bouquet to be.

It would be woodsy, organic, local, the main colours would be green, white, and blue – it would be wild looking, with thistles maybe, and willow branches – something more undone than most bridal flowers.

I set up my first meeting, puffed myself up, put on my cute "I'm a young, laid back bride, please get me!" outfit and went out.

When I got to the shop I was pleasantly surprised – the woman was young, sweet, and owned the shop, it would work! I could feel it. We started talking – I used my best design terminology, pointed at pictures in wedding magazines and her portfolio, and then set my papers down. We were on the same page, I knew it all along.

And then she said it.

Florist #1: "I'm.....I'm thinking....Gerber daisies. And I
might be going out on a limb here – but I'm thinking all white Gerber
daisies. What do you think?"
Bea: "You're....I'm sorry? No, I don't think that Gerber
daisies are wild enough really that's....we're....all Gerber daisies?"
Florist #2: "No no, you're right....what about Gerber daisies
and some Baby's Breath? Or if you're thinking wild we could do bear
grass instead – that's very wild."
Bea: "I was kind of hoping that you could shop with local
growers, so we could have something a bit more unique."
Florist #1: "Local? Why? critial look Ms. Bea, no one wants that."

I was shocked and disappointed, I knew I couldn't be the only bride looking for something a little outside the norm! I set up meeting after meeting only to be told by four other florists that no one wanted what I wanted, that it wouldn't be possible to find, and that I really should be Gerber daisies. Whoever this Gerber is – I tell you he is paying florists to push his damn daisies!!

The flowers were the biggest sticking point in the whole planning process. It took over a month in my four month wedding planning process to get them hammered out. Finally after being dragged from meeting to meeting with less enthusiasm every time, I met a woman whose eyes got wide when I described what I hoped for and who said, "Well, it's not what we usually do – but I think I know exactly what you mean."

Forget finding someone who is worth marrying - finding the right florist turned out to be one of the hardest relationships I worked at while we were planning the wedding. But opening the boxes of bouquets on The Day Of? It was worth every Gerber Daisy someone tried to sell me.

Thank you, Kyla, for this fabulous post! Those flowers are to die for. Gals, for more Kyla Bea, click here. Be sure to check out her wedding recap!

xoxo,

Sue and Jen

Jen: Future Powerlifting Champion of the World?

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:42:00 +0000

Okay so Sue.

As if my sessions with Colossus do not entertain you enough (yes he is still pinching my knee fat to tell if I've been drinking and YES, I am still a grad student, so I am indeed drinking) I have perhaps the most genius news yet:

Colossus wants to enter me - me, Jen! - in some local Powerlifting competitions. Yes, Powerlifting! The sport of champions! The sport of insanely strong and somewhat odd-looking people (see below)! The sport so hilariously hardcore-sounding that I am compelled to type it with a capital "P"!

Photo via CriticalBench.com

See how that dude is marveling at my strength? Inspiring, no?

According to a somewhat skeezy article on Wikipedia, "Powerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Powerlifting resembles the sport of Weightlifting as both disciplines involve lifting heavy weights in three attempts."

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, apparently it's actually super technical and rather dangerous if you don't do it right. But Colossus says that I could be a total superstar - at least in the Powerlifting world - because I am very "body aware." Obv I get my body awareness from you.

So in order to do this I have to train while at school... and I have to train with people who know that they are doing, because I need a lot of help with all this. Thus far I've only done the deadlift - and I can deadlift 200 lbs, by the way! - so I have a lot to learn. So... drum roll please... I am joining the University Powerlifting Club. And I am totally the only girl!

I mean do you love it or do you LOVE it?

My first order of business as a new member is to get team uniforms. Obv.

Will keep you posted of course!

xoxo,

Jen

Non-DomestiGal Duties

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:42:00 +0000

Jen dear,

A belated Happy Birthday to you from the rest of the DomestiGal community! What did you do on your blessed day aside from study your heart out? Did you do some super nerdy statistics calculation of your various diamond-engagement-ring-of-dreams pricing and actual diamond composition using Linear Regression?

I mean, I do hope you took the following into account:

the interpretation of the slope as the average imputed value per carat of diamonds within the specific range;
the viability of the SLR model as determined by the R² value and the slope coefficient;
the regression fit for determining the price of diamond rings within this range.

Sigh.

Asian DomestiGals and their damn math.

Anyway, perhaps you can do more fun statistical models that include your Dyson and the percentage body fat that Colossus pinches every single time he humiliates the fat around your knee.

By the way, now that you're not in London and doing your dutiful Lady of Leisure duties you so enjoy -- who is? Is The Lawyer vacuuming and cleaning and washing?

The Doctor recently bought a Dirt Devil and I must say that it has become one of his best friends. Of course I'm not even quite sure how it works, as I'm Dish Woman and only handle items on kitchen counters. Recently, though, The Doctor has been flexing his green thumb and has added a collection of three more plants to our indoor urban garden. I think it's all in preparation for our beehive and I'm excitedly preparing our Bee Blog.

Stay tuned, ladies!

xx,
s.

Ex-Homemaker Seeks Solace

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:34:00 +0000

Hello Sue!

So I am horrified to report that I will be slaving away to complete - and possibly, very possibly, even pass - a business statistics exam today. How heinous is that? Makes me long for my Domestic Goddess days more than ever...

Speaking of which, check out the fab tea towel I spotted this past weekend at this A to the Dorable store in London called Emma Bridgewater:

Do you love it or do you LOVE it?

But I didn't buy it. I just stared longingly and snapped that quick pic with my iPhone.

Sigh.

Is it pathetic that I miss homemaking? I mean, here I am in this worldly MBA program, surrounded by some of the brightest people I have ever encountered, and I am missing doing the dishes, doing the laundry. Not to mention my Dyson!

Sigh.

I suppose that I long for those simpler days because MBAland could not be located at more of an opposite pole than Domestic Goddessville. And that's okay. I am a career woman, after all. (If by "career woman" I mean "wanting to make as much money as quickly as possible so I can support The Lawyer in his early retirement and raise our family and learn to make pottery and live happily ever after, Dysoning to my heart's content.") I may not rock this exam today - especially since yesterday was my birthday and really? Who studies stats on her birthday? - but I will rock this program in my own way, just as I rocked my Domestic Goddess days.

So Sue, and gals out there, please hand-wash a mug for me today. Do a load of delicates, hang them on the clothesline, and know that I would be by your side handing you your undies in a heartbeat.

With love and a brainful of statistical mush,

Jen

Cheap NYC Weddings

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:27:00 +0000

The Doctor and I have been debating whether or not we should go ahead and have a more formal Domestic Partnership ceremony for our families (read: Our Mothers).

We actually walked around Manhattan the other day, in search of the perfect community garden to have a small ceremony for my immediate family and his.

I'm not sure why I couldn't find any information on the web about cheap NYC weddings, but I think I have a few recommendations.

Contact your local community gardens

A few of them charge around $100, and most are free!

There are so many gorgeous community gardens in NYC, and, as an aside, I forgot to tell people that The Doctor and I are going to become Urban Beekeepers in one of them! He has been obsessed with bees and honey for a while, so we're actually partnering with an urban collective in Brooklyn to become their garden beekeepers. I just can't wait to bond with our Queen Bee and help her boss around all the Workers (they're the female bees, basically her ladies-in-waiting) and the Drones (they're the Dudes).

Look! I mean, kind of hilarious that I'll eventually be looking hot wearing a white beekeeper outfit and not a white wedding dress.

Photo courtesy albaniabridge.co.uk

Sorry, I just have a really hard time focusing on talking about weddings. Honestly, I'd rather be talking about bees.

All right, so I'll share more How to Have a Cheap NYC wedding in my next post, but, I'm curious... how were all our ladies in DomestiGal land able to reduce costs for your weddings?

Did you refrain from getting your engagement-ring-of dreams?

Did you have just beer and wine instead of a full bar?

We're dying to hear from you! Plus, as we all know, Jen is currently planning her wedding (amidst studying finance and stats) and I'm sure she would love to hear some of your wedding tips.

xx,

Beekeeper Sue

Tagged! (We Feel So Special!)

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:15:00 +0000

The A to the Mazing budgetsavvybride tagged us to reveal six quirks about ourselves. What the?! Only three quirks each? Where to begin...

Three quirks about DomestiGal Sue:

1. She is willing to wear a white beekeeper suit that comes with a veil, but refuses to ever wear a white wedding dress, with or without a veil.

2. She is known as "tank top girl" even when it's 32 degrees out and friends question why she sweats like a fatty.

3. She is convinced that all newborns look like they are Asian even when they're not and ooohs and coohs over said Asian buddhas.

Three quirks about DomestiGal Jen:

1. She keeps an ongoing list of baby names on her computer, with different fonts for boys and girls.

2. She is the only female member of her university's Powerlifting Club.

3. She always has to set her alarm clock, TV channel volume, microwave time, and other such devices at even numbers. Never odds.

Welcome to our quirky world!

So. Here are the rules:

1. link back to the person who tagged you

2. mention the rules on your blog

3. tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours

4. tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them

5. leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs letting them

know they've been tagged and

6. you can now display this charming dalek image Songy at Style

Discovery created when tagged!

We tag:

It's a Jaime Thing

Michelle Woo

Jenn and Erin, the Fit Bottomed Girls

The fabulous Renee

Caz from Cherry Blossoms and Vodka

The lovely Bekah, AKA Country Mouse

Cheers, Gals!

xoxo,

Sue and Jen

Parents Schmarents

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:00:00 +0000

Hello Sue my love!

It is late here. And I may have had a few too many drinks tonight, only to come home to see your post about the 'rents meeting.

And it got me thinking... once I finished cracking up - because seriously? A sushi party? That is BEYOND.

But first, let me explain about my somewhat inebriated state. Tonight was a big night for me and my fellow MBAs who are in my college here at uni. (How British do I sound?!) Basically, my MBA class (and everyone else here) are divided among small colleges that make up the university. And each college has its own matriculation ceremony to officially welcome each new student to the college and uni. And there was lots of alcohol. The end.

So anyway, I kind of can't even believe that you are having the fam all meet each other over that most hallowed of American holidays (if only because of the pie and booze), Thanksgiving. That is intense!

I, on the other hand, would never even fathom having my father meet The Lawyer's father. No no. They will not meet until our wedding day, and even then we will seat them as far away as possible. I mean, I love them both as individuals, but The Lawyer and I also know that they will detest each other... so we are not rushing into any kind of introduction any time soon.

Is that weird? Or is your situation weird? LADIES! We DomestiGals need your input! Have you ever introduced your parents to your significant other's parents? If so, how did it go? If not, why not? We need deets stat.

If only - speaking of stats - to distract me from my statistics exam studying...

Big love,

Jen

Introducing the Parents...

noreply@blogger.com (DomestiGals) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:09:00 +0000

Jen,

I think I finally stopped laughing over your big non-engagement ring "outing" your first day of business classes! Are you now known as "engagement ring Jen"? I'm sure there are 5-10 Jens in your program, so you clearly have some sort of descriptor going on before your name.

Ahem. Actually, while we were planning on getting Domestic Partnered in the post office, in the end we decided to be even *more* romantic and do it at the bank instead.

In response to your question re: my betrothed status, let's just say our parents aren't quite satisfied yet. Aside from that, anytime I refer to "My Partner, The Doctor," people either assume that a) I'm speaking about my business partner or b) I'm a lesbian.

Sigh.

But! BUT! The Doctor's family will be travelling from NYC to New England to visit my family this Thanksgiving and have their formal introductions.

Amazingly, I'm not nervous in the least. Mostly because of the following mathematical calculation (hello, you know how much we Asians love math).

Fabulous half-Asian family + Fabulous Jewish family = Super Fun Times.

Of course my wonderful Asian mum is already obsessing over all the following:

* "Where will The Doctor sleep?"

Mind you, because we're not married, my Asian mum typically puts us on SEPARATE FLOORS. Um, seriously. a) I'm almost 30 and b) We live together and c) We have been together for over 2 years and d) Mother, puh-lease! You're always embarrassing me!

* "What do Jewish people (read: non-Asian people) eat?"

Okay. As I have been dating Jewish guys since 1999, you think she would have a handle on this already, but she continues to obsess. This is the friendly exchange we had today:

Asian Mum: "Sue, what will The Doctor's family want to eat? No pork, right???!!"

Mean, Impatient Daughter: "Ma, I told you! They eat everything!"

Asian Mum: "What? Really? They eat pork?"

M.I.D.: "As The Doctor says, 'No one loves bacon as much as a Jew.' "

Asian Mum: "Bacon's too fatty. I don't want your father eating so much fat. His belly keeps getting bigger! He looks pregnant. Is The Doctor getting fat? Does he look pregnant? You both have to stop eating so much!"

M.I.D.: "Ma, stop being mean! I told you not to start making Fat Comments when we're home this time. Please, try not to tell The Doctor to "suck it in" while he's resting on the couch this time, okay? You're turning into your mother!"

Asian Mum: "I'm not being mean. Mummy loves you and The Doctor. Only Mummy will tell you the truth. Anyway, we're not having bacon. I want to have a make-your-own-sushi party."

I mean, obviously she does. We'll all just sit around in our lovely kimonos, eat sashimi with chopsticks in our hair, and occasionally get up to shuffle around the house with our little feet.

The meeting will obviously be a riot.

Love,

Fatso Sue