Bar Cart Jackpot

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I have searched high and low for a cool bar cart that isn’t insanely expensive and whatdoyaknow, this little guy was hiding out at Target. And it is everything. The reviews on Target.com were absurdly positive (I had no idea you could love a bar cart that much!) and while it’s sold out online, it’s available in store. It is awesome, exactly what we were looking for and I literally squealed with delight* when they wheeled it out from in-store pickup. While I still have to google “how to style a bar cart”, here’s a peak at my first round (pun intended) with the best, most reasonably priced bar cart ever.

*It must be noted that the cab diver did not squeal with delight when I wheeled it out and into his cab.

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Thursday Nights Now

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My 2 favorite appliances in the house…well, 3 favorite if you count the wine cooler the floor cleaners are in front of.

I love cleaning, I love Broadway show tunes and I spend my Thursday nights cleaning while listening to said show tunes. I am not ashamed to admit this.

It does, however, put in perspective how long ago Thursday nights in college were…at Lou & Harry’s by 6pm for margaritas that were closer to formaldehyde than actual tequila and several hours from making enough bad decisions to go to Rick’s American Cafe. Wearing some sort of sequined tank top that showed stomach and/or cleavage, naturally. It’s a damn miracle I made it out of college alive/with any dignity intact.

I’m going to get back to Windex’ing now. Memory lane is closed for the evening.

Wedding Update- Working with People You Love

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I have to be honest- the idea of wedding planning was really hard for me at the beginning because a lot of it feels really….contrived. You have to do this, you have to do that, hire this random person, go with this photographer who has you take a “personality profile” (seriously)…. I had someone ask me who was “branding” our wedding, who was doing my “paper” and when I said I was probably going to order invitations from a website, she looked like I had just told her I killed a unicorn.

I ordered my invitations from there anyways. They’re lovely and totally sufficient as a tool to let people know where to be and when. The further I get along in this process, I see there are not nearly as many rules as people want you to think. We are basically doing what we want and making decisions that feel good.

As the wedding gets closer and we are making decisions about vendors, what is working for us is going with people we know and have relationships with or who friends of ours know and love. Our DJ is someone I have worked with for events for my job, my hair stylist has done my hair for years, the jazz trio are guys from one of our favorite places to grab cocktails. My makeup artist and photographer are friends with dear friends of mine. Sure, we have done our research on who the best of the best in wedding is in Chicago and have found that someone always knows someone who is amazing at their craft to work with. It makes me so much more comfortable knowing the people we are going to be spending portions of our wedding day with. And it makes me excited- these people are amazing, professionals in their field and genuinely people I want to be around.

Back to wedding invitations- I admit that ordering them wasn’t high on my “ohemgee these have to be perfection” list (that is reserved for shoe related purchases) but I am excited to share the details of our wedding weekend with our loved ones. When I saw the lettering on my friend Renee’s save-the-dates, I knew I wanted whoever was responsible for that gorgeous hello to take the reigns on addressing our invites. The girl with the golden touch is Liz Gaines, out of Nashville and I am so excited for her lettering to be the first thing our guests see when receiving our invitations. Not only is Liz super talented but she’s also absolutely lovely and I am thrilled the law-of-attraction that is Renee brought her into our wedding fold. Email me if you want her contact info- she should probably do some lettering for you too.

Moral of the story: do what makes you feel comfortable when planning your wedding and when making decisions, make one that is going to bring the most fun to the day.

Link Love

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The lack of snow on the ground in Florida is making me dream of wearing heels outside again. These pumps are at the top of my spring shopping list.

Even the Girl Scouts are gluten-free friendly.

This blog post from Mary Beth LaRue on letting go is one of the best things I have read this week.

This is the other best thing- major truth bomb from Cheeky Chicago about how Facebook is not real life…and to call your best friend more.

My (very stylish) friends Renee and Megan swear by these jeans. Anyone else?

This free download from Lindsay Letters is perfect for my new home office- a good, inspiring daily reminder.

A (warm) Break

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On the night of the -15 degree freeze about a month ago, I was so disgusted that I booked a flight to Florida. I knew it was shaping up to be a long winter and the end of my rapidly fraying rope was coming up. But in the back of my mind, I thought that if it was that cold/snowy/terrible then, in a few weeks it would surely be better. Glad I went with my “get me out of here” instinct because 8-10 inches of snow in Chicago? Again? Come on.

It’s only for a few days but I am hoping a few naps on the beach, being able to run outside and some time with my parents will recharge my batteries for the rest of winter.

Here’s hoping…

Billy Joel & Store Bought Brownies

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Disclaimer: I had a post all ready for you that involved how I fed Ryan amazingly delicious brownies made out of avocado, rice flour and all sorts of virtuous goodness.

Really- even before presenting him this dessert glorious’ness, I was ready to tell you how I baked gluten-free goodness that he didn’t even know about and loved. I was all puffy chested before he even walked in the door. Healthy, natural, organic brownies were clearly where it was at. Obvs.

In my opinion, they’re so good. Gluten-free, sugar free…I sent the recipe to my Dad and he made them tonight as well AND a darling new friend of mine brought me a brownie from this exact recipe yesterday so really, they’re legit.

However…

Real talk, 8pm: 1 Ryan bite in- “These aren’t fully cooked. Eew. No. Look, it’s raw here. Let’s put them back in the oven.” I tried to wait it out, convincing him they were fudgy. “They’re not that sweet either. Let’s add sugar and butter and put them back in.” I had to fess up. No dice. “Avocado?!?” So mad. SO MAD. Me and him.

But we made blood orange old fashioneds. And listened to Billy Joel in anticipation of his Wrigley Field concert tickets going in sale tomorrow morning. So there’s that.

Moral of the story: bake what you want to eat because you never know if you can disguise avocado and Billy Joel as store-bought brownies.

Really- do what you want. Avocado or not.

Sweet Season

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It was freezing (again) today. It was a hands in my pockets, head down sort of walk. I looked up and found myself on the block of the church where we are getting married. The door to the chapel was wide open so I ducked inside. It was warm and entirely empty.

We passed the 5 month countdown mark this week and despite my huge knit hat jammed over my ears and my winter coat that resembles a sleeping bag on, it hit me that I am getting married here. As I walked down the aisle to light a candle and say a prayer, I realized that my Dad and then Ryan will be by my side the next time. My favorite people in the world, the people who have supported us and been there with us in our relationship these last 5 years will be in those pews. Whoa.

I lit a candle and sat a few rows back for I don’t know how long. I thought about a lot of things but most of all, I thought about how sweet this season is and how I am going to soak up every last drop with gratitude.

And when I went back outside, it wasn’t so cold anymore.