Katie's Wedding Weekend

One of my best friends, Katie, got married a couple weekends ago. Her wedding weekend was beyond gorgeous and just perfect. 

I headed down to Wilmington on Thursday and joined the other bridesmaids at Katie's parent's house.  It was so great that we were all able to stay together as we got ready for the big day. It made the weekend so much more relaxed and fun.  

The weekend was sort of a blur.  I kept thinking about how quick weddings go.  Months and months of planning boil down to like 6 hours.  I really want to be mindful of this on my own wedding day so that I can enjoy every moment to the fullest. 

Rehearsal dinner on the water at Bluewater Grill. 

Getting ready at Blush salon before the ceremony

Bridesmaids

Trolley ride to the ceremony

Bridesmaids post-ceremony

Katie was absolutely stunning, duh.

I snapped this shop as we were getting ready before the ceremony. Love the look on her mom's face!

The reception was held at the Surf Club at Wrightsville Beach.  Plenty of dancing, good food, a Pinterest worthy cake, plus color coordinated macaroons. Such a fun wedding weekend. It was pretty perfect! 

Brain Dump

On the wedding front...things are moving right along! We will be getting married in Wilmington, NC on May 30, 2014!

As much as I enjoy looking at Pinterest...it can be a bit overwhelming.  It is equally amusing as I've come across some really strange wedding ideas. (Camo wedding bands, hunting save the dates "the hunt is over!", and plenty of lame "He stole my heart, so I stole his last name!" type stuff).

I'm in the process of working on a wedding website and finishing up our registries. So those things will be checked off soon.  I've been really surprised to find that there's not that much to do early on besides picking a date and venue.  I keep feeling like I need to be doing more but there's so much that you can't do until closer to the date.

I've been loving I love Southern Weddings Magazine.  Can't get enough.

I'm heading down to NC this weekend to go wedding dress shopping.  I can't wait to spend a few days with my family.  The following weekend we will be heading up to TG's lake house with friends to celebrate Memorial Day.  It will be so nice to finally get some sun. My skin is so very pale at this point. Fortunately, Chicago is supposed to really warm up (hopefully for good) tomorrow!  If I've learned anything about this city it's that you've got to take advantage of every single day during the summer. Winter is no joke up here.

As with any trip down to NC, there will be eastern NC barbeque...Anne's donuts...and a trip to Furbish.

Dish on dishes. (Registry help)

We went on our first registry date this weekend. TG was totally on board and participating but then gradually got bored.  I don't think we went to our first registry date prepared.

Every time I look at dishes, I'm paralyzed with fear that I'm going to choose the wrong China pattern.
Yes, I realize how absurd that sounds. And yes, this is what I talk about these days. China patterns. Centerpieces. Gah, even I'm a little annoyed.

So. I need some help. Married/Engaged folks: Tell me what you registered for / what I can't live without / the best items.

Also, is 4 places too many places to be registered?

Help me, Internets.

Mexico, Charleston, & Springtime!

Hi friends! I have been bad about blogging lately. I've been crazy busy.

Let's recap, shall we?

A week after TG and I got engaged, I got bad news about the internship site I had secured back in December.  They backed out of working with all of their interns for the upcoming summer due to "transitions within the organization".  So, I was in a pickle and have been scurrying around trying to find an internship.  Again. It has been beyond frustrating.  I'm a planner and very type-A, so I don't love when plans change at the verylastsecond. Even though I have had to push back my internship start date, it looks like the new site (a hospital) will work out. Fingers Crossed! Prayers Up!

In March, we took our trip to Mexico for TG's Dad's 50th birthday celebration.  When we stepped out of the airport and into that warm air....I swear my soul was replenished.  Chicago winters are for the birds.  We had such a fun time spending time with family and friends.  Bonus points for the hotel pool/beach bar staff who made mean skinny girl margaritas. I read (The Family Fang), napped on beach chairs, and ate plenty of fish/shrimp tacos/ceviche.  TG's stepmom chartered a yacht for the day on Saturday which was fun.

More Mexico pictures to come...but iphone pictures for now.

Hopefully I don't look so...awkwardly positioned in the other pictures from the camera.

On the way back from Mexico, we were 2 of 7 people on the flight so everyone sat in business class. Win.

A few days after the Mexico trip, I ventured back down South to Charleston, SC for Katie's bachelorette party.  We rented a house on Isle of Palms.  We had such a great time together...complete with cake, party garland, and coozies.  We went out for dinner at Cypress (delish) and then out on the town on Friday night.  Saturday was rainy but we ventured out to Poe's Tavern for burgers.  Katie's maid of honor had some really hilarious games planned that included a video Q&A with the Groom/Jeopardy.

 Group shot minus Tess

Gray joined us during our bar crawl downtown. 

I flew into the charleston airport but decided to ride back with my friends to Raleigh and fly out of RDU.  This gave me the perfect window of time to visit with Amy & Joslyn.

I'm excited to stay put for a couple of weeks and enjoy Chicago as it welcomes spring...and hopefully some warmer temperatures.

We're Engaged!

After 5+ years of dating, TG and I are engaged. 

Earlier last week TG asked me if I wanted to go grab a drink at the Peninsula hotel on Thursday night.  The Peninsula bar is one of our favorite cozy bar spots in the winter (complete with a big fireplace and leather couches).   I actually texted my sister earlier in the day that I thought he might propose but then quickly dropped the idea.  Later that day, a mini blizzard turned my 20 minute commute into an hour.  We spoke on the phone and decided it wasn't a good night to venture back out. 

I arrived home to a very clean apartment and TG sort of pacing around the kitchen.  The next thing I knew, TG was down on one knee in our little kitchen saying the sweetest things about our life together and asking me to marry him.  I was in total shock.  And in lululemon leggings and a t-shirt (my glamour knows no bounds), I said yes. 

TG broke out the champagne (the good stuff) and we spent the next hour calling our friends and family.   My sister was first on my list of people to call, obviously. And then my parents and on down the line.  

 After talking to my grandparents, I cried big tears.  

Once I pulled it together (and showered!), we ventured out in the snow to the Chicago Firehouse for dinner and celebratory cocktails. 

TG told me later that he decided against proposing at the Peninsula after remembering that while I am a fan of fancy libations, I am not a fan of drawing public attention. True story.

With the snow coming down hard outside and two pups by my feet, it could not have been more perfect or more us. 

Sorry for the terrible iphone picture and lighting combo

So yep, we are getting married. 

And we're just over the moon excited!

So are these two guys...

but they're sort of into their own love business, yes?

Bailey McCarthy's Houston Home in Matchbook Mag

The new issue of Matchbook Magazine went live yesterday.  Bailey McCarthy's (blogger behind Peppermint Bliss) Houston home was featured. I've read her blog for a while and have loved her other work so I was uber excited to see the Houston house.  After all, we share a mutual love for Beyonce & Chicago.  She is fearless with her design...and it pays off.

You guys.  It's so good.  

I don't think I've stopped thinking about this bedroom since yesterday.

Or this kitchen.

Go check out the rest of her insane house!

images via Matchbook Magazine (photography by Emily Anderson)

Brain Dump

I'm finally getting around to this little blog again.
I spent the entire weekend and Monday in bed with the flu.
On account of my sickness, we had to cancel dinner reservations at The Carriage House. Boo.
Luckily I had 2 seasons of Parenthood, lots of green tea, and plenty puppy snuggles.
And a very sweet boy to keep me company.
I tend to be a little on the dramatic side when I'm sick but, TG was a good (and patient) nurse.
He kept my cup full. (I love Sprite Zero when I'm sick--Aspertame be damned!)
He made CVS runs (3 kinds of medicine, the aforementioned Sprites, Vitamin Waters, & Chicken Noodle Soup, crackers...)
That romantic roommate of mine was on point.

Also,
Parenthood is definitely the most underrated show on television. So good!
We're planning to start watching Homeland soon since most everyone raves about it.  I'm also curious about The Newsroom. Am I missing any other must sees?

Have you seen the Vine app? I can't decide if it's fun or a little creepy.

We've had really yucky weather in Chicago lately.
0 degrees with a -12 degree wind chill...rain....snow...dreary...repeat. No fun.

Living in the South my whole life, I definitely took the warm days sprinkled throughout the winter months for granted. If you live in Chicago in January and February, you kind of survive on the hopes of sunny days, street festivals, and al fresco dining.

I'm already looking forward to some upcoming trips (and warmer temperatures) we have planned.
TG and I have a Mexico trip coming up in March.
Almost immediately after that, I'll be heading down to Charleston, SC with some girlfriends for Katie's bachelorette party.  So much fun in store.

How do you beat the winter blues?