Cheap but Chic

Hey ya'll! I've taken a bit of a vacation from anything wedding related - other than stalking my photographer's website, of course - and before I dive back in, I thought I'd share a non-wedding related post.

I was watching Channel 7 News last night (weird, I know) hoping to catch a glimpse of Obama's new economic strategy, when I found myself watching this super awesome segment on cheap stuff around Chicago! Wooohoo! They featured this adorable website, PoorLittleRichGirls, which compiles all of the deals around the city (be it food, clothes or beauty). Listen to how they define their reader:

"A PoorLittleRichGirl is a young woman living in the city earning enough money to support herself, but not quite enough to go spending it on every Jimmy, Marc and Saint Laurent she sees. She is conscious of the image she portrays and loves life’s little luxuries, but is not willing to spend a small fortune on designer goods and premium martinis. She is smart and would rather put this money into her 401K."

Ahh {sign of relief}, finally, a website after my own heart! The segment also featured some high-end designer consignment shops, such as Buy Popular Demand and Cynthia's Consignments. Just thought I'd pass this info along.

Have a great week, everyone!

Honeymoon Heaven

Our honeymoon was absolutely fabulous! It was the definition of relaxation; exactly what we needed after months of hard work. For the most part, we didn't leave the resort except for one excursion to the famed, Xel-ha, a natural eco-park (more on that below). We had decided early on that we wouldn't make our honeymoon an exploration vacation, our typical m.o., but rather we'd do our best to relax and unwind. So, we spent our days lounging on the beach, sipping mango daiquiris (me) and cerveza blancas (Nathan), and the evenings eating delicious, delicious, food at one of the seven restaurants on the resort.

We spent quite a bit of time exploring the "campus" that was the resort. It was HUGE! Above is the Lobby - gorgeous...

Nathan and I enjoying our first evening at the resort.


Above is the outside of our suite. We've decided that we're investing in these Yucatan "Adirondack chairs" - they are the most comfortable chairs we've ever sat in! Nathan has also decided that a hammock is a MUST HAVE for our new home (who knows how long he'll have to wait to get one!) Below is a photo of the "Casitas", free standing guest suites. If we ever go back to our resort, we are DEFINITELY staying in one of these. One word, luxury!


Above is a shot of the main pool at the resort. While there were over 10 pools, this is the one that got the most traffic - undoubtedly due to the HUGE attached bar. And, below is a shot of one of the resort's pets! There were dozens of these guys!



Here is the gorgeous resort chapel. There were 3 weddings that took place during our stay, but strangely, none took place in the chapel.

Here is the outdoor massage facility! Two words - a-mazing! :) Below are a few shots from our one "cloudy day". We were blessed with really beautiful weather, so we couldn't complain about the one day of massive waves and clouds - the remnants of Hurricane Paloma off of Cuba. Instead of lounging on the beach that day, we explored the resort's miles of coastline. Even while covered under a blanket of clouds, it was still gorgeous!


Our feet in the sand:


Because we were on our honeymoon, the resort gave us a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach. It was absolutely wonderful, except for this saxophonist playing Kenny G (literally, Kenny G), but that was easily tuned out by the sound of the waves and good conversation with Nathan.



Look at how happy we are!

A local artist visited the resort to sell his gorgeous "finger" paintings. Yes, he used his fingers to create these masterpieces. We totally got caught up in the moment and bought two of the
"Mexican village" paintings.

Finally, at the end of our trip, we got off of our butts to go to Xel-ha, a eco-park created from a fresh water river and lagoon and the Mexican Caribbean. I know, it's a bit controversial, creating a type of a theme park from nature and exploiting the history and resources of Mexico, but if they hadn't opened it to the public, Nathan and I would have never had an opportunity to see such a magnificent place! We swam with dolphins - number 34 on my list of 100 things to do in life. We floated down the river flanked with cliffs and mangroves. We snorkeled with schools of colorful fish (by we, I mean Nathan, because I'm too squeamish to let fish touch me) . We explored the ancient, underwater Mayan caves. And, while we didn't have time to lie in the hammocks, we admired the idea of a "forest of hammocks" from the sideline. The entire experience was AMAZING! We highly recommend it to anyone going to Riviera Maya... Note: you're not allowed to use regular sun block. You have to purchase biodegradable sun block, so to preserve the ecosystem.




Our honeymoon was absolute perfection. As you can imagine, it was difficult to leave paradise and return to regular life. However, we're comforted by the daydream of vacations to come and, or course, the daydream of our future together!

Oh entertaining, how do I love thee?

I was perusing the holiday invites over at WPD and came across this adorable thanksgiving party invitation! How cute is that!? I wish that our apt wasn't filled with boxes of wedding presents (seriously, box on top of box, on top of box) and the remnants of wedding projects! We would totally have a newlywed thanksgiving party. Oh entertaining, how do I love thee? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I seriously can't wait to host parties as newlyweds (parties that don't nearly resemble those of my college days with bad lighting, kegs, and people putting their cigarettes out on my floor!)...

photo credit: Wedding Paper Divas (my new favorite place)

Vendor Review I - Reception Music

Toast & Jam: A+

I've been sifting through dozens of emails from family and friends regarding the excellent musical selections played throughout our reception. Yep, that’s right, our DJ was so good that people are talking about her a week and a half later!

With that said, I thought I'd begin my vendor reviews with our DJ - our amazing, amazing DJ...

When we began our wedding planning process, we kicked around the idea of a band, but quickly decided that our money would be better spent elsewhere, so we began the month-long DJ search. (Literally, it took a month before we found one that didn’t scare us – and I found ours completely by accident while perusing the vendor list of this amazing blog!) Toast & Jam, the HOTTEST DJ service in town, is an all-ladies (well, there’s one dude), all amazing “Mobile Disc Jockey Service” that’s “Never Stale, Always Fresh and Sweet!”

We had the pleasure of hiring mini-master dj, Madeleine Kuhns. At first glance, you think that she’s just some adorable, well-spoken, college-age lover of music…but upon speaking with her, you realize that she is so much more! She has an amazing library of musical influences ranging from Frente to Sufjan Stevens (who, you ask – just iTunes them!). During our reception, guest after guest approached me about our “exceptional dj…and she's a chick”, as my one music-loving cousin put it! However, I think that the real test of a great DJ isn’t just the “dancability” of the songs played from 9pm – 12am (while crucial, indeed, it’s not everything), but rather the “listenability” of the music played from 6pm – 9pm (during cocktails and dinner). I mean, really, a little Frank Sinatra goes a long way if you ask me. Madeleine passed with FLYING COLORS! In fact, the music played for those three hours was arguably the best chilled-out, laid-back playlist I’ve ever heard, like ever!

Below is a short list some of the songs played during our cocktail and dinner hours. Enjoy!

Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Air - Playground Love
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Jens Lekman - Maple Leaves 7" Version
Feist - I feel it all
Peter, Bjorn & John - Paris 2004; The Chills
Belle & Sebastian - Dirty Dream Number Two
Yo La Tengo - Black Flowers
Zero 7 - In the Waiting Line
Bright Eyes - Make a Plan to Love Me
Coldplay - Til Kingdom Come
Norah Jones - Feelin' the Same Way
The Shins - Caring is Creepy
The Association - Never My Love
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Radiohead - No Surprises

Cost for Madeleine: $1,000 (and worth every cent!)

photo credit: Toast & Jam

I'm back and I'm married!!!

Hi everyone! Nathan and I are back from our wonderful wedding weekend and our AMAZING week-long honeymoon. Wow - it has been a crazy couple of weeks! More on the craziness in upcoming posts.

I'm doing my best to get people to post their pics on flickr, because it will be over 4 weeks before we see any professional pics (sad face). Here is a shot of me and my father walking down the aisle. Excuse the red-eye (albeit, white-eye). Below that is a shot of my beautiful sister and I just before we all processed down the aisle. I was surprisingly calm - like totally.

I can't believe it's over. I seriously can't believe it! I have so much to post, but I have a lot of "life" to catch up on as well. I'll be back soon and get you all of the details I can gather.

Talk to everyone soon!!

i heart my shoes

My "back up" shoes came today, and I LOVE THEM! I wasn't all that crazy about them online, but I they were gold and had a 4'' heel so I thought I'd give them a shot...and I'm so glad that I did!!! (I know, not that vintage inspired, but I love them nevertheless!) I'll take them with me to my final fitting on Saturday. Wish me luck!

wedding CD...check (almost)

Aside from ordering the last of our paper supplies for our programs, escort cards, and menus, this weekend I started the (lengthy) wedding CD project... We first purchased these amazing "vinyl CD's" and these "record liners", which I painstakingly punched out 2'' holes from the centers to give them a more "record liner" kind of a feel. Then, I sifted through our CD and iTunes libraries and came up with 43 "favorite songs"... It seriously took us longer to whittle down the play list than it took to find all of the songs! (And, being from the south, Nathan insisted on as many country songs as I would allow. God help me, after three years with this man, I'm actually starting to like some of that stuff...) Below is the final song list.

You're My Best Friend - Queen - Introduction Song
Making Memories of Us - Keith Urban - First Dance
Sweetest Thing - U2 - Cake Cutting
Heaven (acoustic live version) - Bryan Adams
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Collide - Howie Day
Stand by Me - Ben E. King
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Cupid - Sam Cooke
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Faithfully - Journey
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
She's Everything - Brad Paisley
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Cherish - Madonna
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton - Last Dance

Yay Tina & Andy!

Tina and Andy, from with this ring, I thee obsess, are tying the knot today!!! Congratulations!!!

photo credit: Sarah Alair Photography via wtrito

tables, candles, and flowers, oh my!

I love me some long tables. Love, love, love them! But my florist just told me that I would actually need more "stuff" (not less) to fill up a long, banquet tables than I would with a standard, round table. Yes, yes, I know, there are fewer inches of space to fill width-wise, but there are far more feet to fill length-wise. When my florist explained this to me, my heart got so heavy! Why, oh why, is everything going wrong? Apparently this happens to everyone, not just me...

So, last Saturday, I went to my father's house and unpacked all of the candles I've purchased over the last 6 months... I took one look at the pile and thought to myself, wow, I went overboard... But...then I realized that our mint julep cups filled with small bunches of flowers, and my insane amount of candles would be just enough to fill up long tables (with a few left over for the buffet, bar, etc)!!!! Yay for long tables!


photo credit: Natalie & Jake's wedding via Thorsen Photography, random flickr search, Sanny & Oli's destination wedding via theknot, Kimberly & John's wedding via Brian Dorsey Blog

Chicago Postcards

Vintage Chicago postcards are not the easiest thing to find! I want to use them as backgrounds of our table numbers which are a cross between VintageGlam's 3D beauties and Mrs. Tiramisu's gorgeous digital materpieces! Wish me luck!!!


View to Grand Avenue, Chicago, 1930


Chicago, Illinois, View to the City, 1955
Chicago Theatre


Wrigley Field - Outside/Sephia - ©Photofile


On The Chicago River


Wrigley Building, Chicago 1930
Marshall Field's Clock

Flower Girl Update

As you may recall, my flower girl and my soon-to-be-SIL found their own version of my flower girl dress, one that I didn't like very much at all... After some serious internal debate, I decided that I wouldn't press it, and I would let her wear whatever she wanted.


That was, until I was on Nordstrom dot com and saw this adorable dress! It is eggplant (one of our colors), it's chiffon, and it's adorable! I promptly asked Nathan to call his sister and gently persuade her to get this dress instead. Mid-conversation, she asked to speak to me...gulp...and I could tell she wasn't happy about my changing plans 4 weeks out. So what did I do??? I bought the dress and had it sent to their house. I know, another $100 bucks down the drain (I feel like we're being nickel and dimed to death!), but at least now there was little room to protest.

The dress arrived today (according to my e-confirmation) so I expect to see a slide show of images to arrive via email any hour now... I really hope they like it! Look at how cute it looks with my bm dresses (together they are our colors, eggplant and [pseudo] pomegranate)!

running with the library theme

This weekend, I researched DIY projects like a mad woman! There are so many great "how to" resources out there, many of which I'm sure you're familiar with, but some of which I haven't seen featured on too many sites... I hope to feature several of them, to give props where props are due, but after the wedding, of course. I can't add another thing on to my plate!

In the meanwhile, for any of you running with a library theme (which is random, I know, but may be relevant to some), Creature Comforts featured a great little library card DIY project that you might use for a Save the Date or a Favor Gift Tag... I'm not positive, but, I think I'm going to use them for our "advice cards" (for our Wishing/Advice Jar).

The wedding is in 26 days and I still have so much to do... Thankfully, only some of it is "necessary", like the programs, place cards and menus...everything else is just fluff... It's all just fluff...

PS, coffee table book update: I'm totally not buying any Chicago coffee table books - they're like $50 each! Instead, I'm going to the library and renting them for free! Yay for budget-friendly ideas!

photo credit: Creature Comforts

I LOVE MY DRESS!

I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to tell you about the latest on my dress. On Saturday, I drove out to bufu Schaumburg (and yes, it's bufu if you're driving from Old Town) for my dress fitting, and I have to say, I've never loved anything more (other than Nathan)... I know everyone says this, but it is seriously the most beautiful dress I've ever seen, much less put on! Yay for my vintage (read: preowned) Vera Wang! Yay for finding the deal of a lifetime!

Plus, the previous owner and I are basically the same size, so yay for super cheap alterations! (Here's a shot of the dress, but I'm having the Asian-esk bow/additional lines of fabric in the back removed...) I LOVE IT! I can't stop telling everyone how much I LOVE IT@!!!

to candy or not to candy

I've been trying to stop myself from doing something just because it makes for a "good photo op"...and so far, I've been somewhat successful. For instance, I originally wanted to exit our church (from our evening ceremony) through a line of wedding sparklers... Why? Because it would make a great photo! But, logistically, it makes for a bad everything else. (Last summer I went to Nathan's bff's wedding in St. Louis (read: STL is HOT as hell in July), where they made the wedding guests wait in the St. Louis heat for 30 minutes while they finished their church photos...all so they could get a few shots of the bride and groom leaving in a cloud of bubbles...) Needless to say, after that experience, I decided that I wouldn't force our guests to wait in the November cold, in the dark, somewhat shady neighborhood, just so I can get my photo!

So with that said, herein lies my problem... Is my "need" for a candy buffet caused by my "want" for great photos? I don't know... And, could the candy buffet money be put to better use if we did "passed desserts". I've already purchased the apothecary jars from Michaels (which will be opening their Roosevelt Rd store shortly) and Save on Crafts, so half of the money has already been spent. However (perhaps) hundreds of dollars will still need to be spent on color appropriate candy (like the ones below).

Thoughts? Suggestions? Anything???