The Bean

it's actually called the Cloud Gate, but I like to think of it as a big jelly bean...

Chicago Art Institute - check
Riding the L train through Chicago - check
Getting lost downtown - check
Downpour at Millennium park - check
Good times - YES

My kind of town, Chicago....

Things will wind down today and I'm getting really excited about my visit into the city of Chicago! I've been couped up in this airport hotel for the past few days, and my good friend Laura will be picking me up today for my whirlwind adventure in the city. We're planning on just chillin' today (meeting her friends, drinkin' drinks, makin' food), and I've come up with an itinerary tomorrow:

- ride the L into the city w/ Laura, get some coffee
- bus to the Shedd Aquarium. I had no idea it was the country's (the world's?) largest aquarium. I LOVE aquariums (mostly anything that has to do with penguins)
- deep dish pizza for lunch
- head to the Art Institute of Chicago to see "American Gothic". Definitely some inspiration for Paul and I's wedding shots
-end the day with dinner w/ Laura and her gf. To bed early so I can catch my 5am shuttle to O'Hare!

Engagement sesh

Here are some of our pics. I think they turned out GREAT! Thanks so much, Rich, for coming up to the ranch and making it happen!

Memorial Day wedding prep

Practicing our poses
Paul, George (Paul's brother) and I spent our Memorial Day weekend up at Red Tail Ranch (aka my mom's house/where the wedding will be). On Saturday, the boys dug holes and worked on some plumbing stuff while my mom and I picked wildflowers and counted the number of vases I've been collecting (about 30 so far!) Sunday was another work day - Paul and I shoveled rocks for a while, trying to create a pathway in the backyard. Paul jokes that my mom's favorite form of landscaping is using rocks - and that it better not be mine! All in all it was a very fun and productive weekend (even though I came home with wicked bad allergies and poison oak). Ahh...well!

The ceremony site

Some vases

We did take a break and went on a horseback ride...

B2B

Bay to Breakers is this weekend, and I'm debating on whether to go or not. It seems like an easy decision (of COURSE I'll go, a day of fun? thousands in silly costumes, drinking heavily?) What's to decide?

well...

Paul is coming home this weekend, and though we have seen each other for the past 3 weekends in a row (a new record!), this is the only "free" weekend we have together until AUGUST. Yes, that's right, August. So, I feel like we should take advantage of doing nothing, of hanging out in Alameda and doin' our thang (morning walk to coffee/bagels, stroll to the bookstore, maybe the farmers market and the beach?)

Yeah, I think I've made a decision. For all those going to B2B, have fun for me!

E session inspiration

This is what I'm hoping our engagement photos will look like. We're taking them next week at the Ranch. Maybe with a little less seriousness and more laughter. I just like the grass and her cowboy boots :)




Photos by Danielle Fletcher. She does amazing work!

Chicago

I'm getting pretty excited about my upcoming trip to Chicago (at the end of May). I'm going for a short work meeting, but also staying a few days afterwards with my good friend Laura from college. I've been inside the Chicago airport many a-times (delayed is more the word!) but have never been out into the city itself. I'm not sure what to expect - maybe some good pizza and jazz?

A few shots...

...of John and Angi's wedding this weekend. I realized after the fact that I took, like, zero pictures. At least I got a few of the beautiful decor. Ang did such a great job decorating!

Wildflowers

I've already mentioned that I want wildflowers at my wedding, but I can't exactly grow them myself. Isn't this a great way to display the flowers? I can totally see this at my mom's property, lining the fence on the way up to the house....

from Jutilda's flickr

I know, I know!

I've been super MIA the past few weeks - first, I had an incredible 28th birthday (along with a few festivities with great friends), then a 2 day meeting at the Claremont, and this weekend was John and Angi's FANTASTIC wedding at Camp Lotus! I'll post pics soon, but let's just say that I can only hope that our wedding runs as smoothly as theirs - and that it's just as fun! It was the perfect wedding at the perfect venue...the weather was gorgeous, the food was great, and people just had so much fun! Of course it made me really excited about our wedding, but it also made me sad, because I realized just how fast everything is over - I mean, you plans months and months for this big event, and it's, like, done in 10 minutes! Ahhhh well....

Some inspiration for this Monday morning....


courtesy of Our Labor of Love

Honeymoon tickets....check.

Vinalhaven pic courtesy of Kevin Flaming @ CORBIS

Thank goodness for airline miles - I just got our tickets to Boston for our honeymoon to Maine for a total of only $270!! Yay!! I'm getting SOOO excited about it. We're both looking forward to our New England escape...kayaking, hiking, chillin' in the cottage eating lots of lobster, and swimming in the ocean and the fresh water quarries. Is it September 8th yet??

Vintage picnic

I LOVE some of the things in this inspiration board from Snippet & Ink. The oak tree ribbons, the photo "gallery", and the flowers in vintage cans. It's a little too much picnic, rather than country, but I still want to incorporate some of these things into my wedding....

Credits:
Top row from left: beribboned tree, bouquet from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo by Ericka McConnell, family photo clothesline display by Nicole Hill
Row 2: ring pillows from Martha Stewart Weddings, dessert table photo by One Love Photo, flowers in tin can vases via Earth Friendly Weddings, vintage stamps from Chelsea Fuss via Once Wed
Row 3: picnic blankets via Oh Happy Day, picnic meal on Mottahedeh tin plates, sodas from Kate Parker Weddings
Row 4: tart photo by Valls Photographic, flowers via Toast & Tables, photo by Liz Banfield via The Bride's Cafe, bride with roses in her hair via Black Eiffel

My inspiration board

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet, but here ya go!

p.s. I didn't keep track of where these pics are from, so please, let me know if you'd like the credit!

Could this be it?

Another option, courtesy of Anthropologie. I'm actually pretty excited about this dress, and am gonna try it on as soon as I get off of work today. I know it's a little casual, but it's sooo me!

Back to the grind...

my dream dress

Paul and I got back from Philly on Monday afternoon, and I'm still not back to speed yet - maybe I'm jetlagged or just tired? Anyway, we had a good time in Philly with all of his family, despite the very sad circumstances. The trip went somewhat smoothly, despite our 4am arrival in Philly last Friday morning (yeah, that was NOT fun!)

We returned to a very HOT bay area - it's been in the high 80's/90's in the bay which is very unusual for this time of year. Jazzy and Uintah have stopped sleeping in the bed, and are either in front of the fan or on the linoleum all day long. I was thinking about shaving them, but maybe that's not such a great idea?

In other news, this weekend my mom is coming down and we're going for a 2nd round of wedding gown shopping. Yippee! (I'm saying that very sarcastically). Even though I did have a pleasant experience last time, I'm just ready for it to be over (the dress shopping, that is). I already found the dress of my dreams, but it's way beyond the budget. Oh well, wish me luck this weekend!

Back soon

We're leaving on a sad, unexpected trip to Philly tomorrow - Paul's grandmother passed away on Monday. It'll be good to be out there with his family, and I'm glad that I have the ability to go out there with him to support him...

Be back next week!

Cat Bed

I just love this idea for a recycled cat bed, from etsy seller vintage renaissance. Do you think Uintah and Jazzy would fit in there?

Some more inspiration

Since I pretty much have my wedding all planned out, I'm trying not to be distracted by the amazing DIY wedding blogs out there. There are just so many fun ideas that I want to take them all! Snippet and Ink has done it again...a bluegrass-inspired inspiration board. Makes me wanna start dancing to Old Crow Medicine Show!


Top row from left: sweet tea photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, chandelier from Brides, save the date by Ceci New York, suit via Paper + Cup
Row 2: bouquet via The Bride's Guide, sweet tea photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, dogwood cake and getaway buggy both from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 3: photo by Punam Bean, dress from Brides, envelope with dogwood stamps from Martha Stewart Weddings via Brooklyn Bride
Row 4: flower girl dogwood wreath from Brides, "Thanks Y'all" favors from Knottie AliKay, steel guitar photo by Abigail Seymour, table number photo by Leigh Miller

Engagement photos

Paul and I are getting our engagement pics taken in a few weeks, and I'm totally inspired by these images:


Simply Bloom Photography


Matthew Morgan (he's AWESOME!)

I'll say hi to Barack for you....

I'm so excited to be in DC, for the first time since the new administration has taken office. I'm here for NWP's annual Spring Meeting - my favorite event of the year, when teachers from across the country come to talk to their legislators about supporting funding for the NWP. That part is the most amazing part, but I have to admit that hangin' out in DC is pretty cool as well. I'm really looking forward to seeing the new American History Museum (it was being renovated when I was there last year), and of course, hopefully a glimpse at the new White House garden. Thanks, Michelle!