I liked it, so I put a ring on it!

Ok, flashback about 4 years ago.  I was doing some serious soul-searching and really asking myself what I wanted for my life.  One of the things I did during this tough valley was to craft my bucket list.  I didn't give myself any restrictions or limits on what I put on the list other than I had to be willing to actually make it happen.  At the turn of each year, I've re-evaluated the list, adding and removing things as I grow more and more aware of my real wants in life.

For a little background, I got married in college.  It was a cheap ceremony, with a cheaper dress,  and even cheaper rings.  So one of the things I decided I really wanted for MYSELF was a ring I got just for me.  Having priced out a custom engagement ring for our 10th anniversary that we never actually decided to go through with (in retrospect, this may have been a sign?)  I had a mental budget of $10,000. 

So when the big 4-0 rolled around this June, I decided the milestone birthday deserved a milestone bucket list item.  Ring?  Yes, PLEASE!  However, one of the things I decided in the past few years was that $10,000 was more than I wanted to spend on darn near any single thing (prolly why I'm still driving my 2011 paid-for toyota?) 

And the other thing that continues to be top of my list? T-R-A-V-E-L! 

So today, I oscillated to the perfect solution.  I have a good friend at work who conveniently does custom jewelry as his hobby.  I've been eyeing Fish Head Jewelry on Facebook for a few years now and decided THIS was my ring maker!  Solitaire diamond?  No way.  I wanted something uniquely me.  Richard Kollath brought his mad ring skills to bear and I got not 1, but 3 amazing rings and I still have room for a few trips to Europe!  WIN-WIN! :o) 

Thanks Richard for making one of this girl's bucket list dreams come true, Beyonce has nothing on these beauties!