Martha Stewart Wedding Party

Tangy mimosas to kick-start the event, while waiting for Darcy Miller to speak

We’ve made some really great progress on our wedding so far, and I’m proud that we’ve done so much in so little time. Even though all of the major details are squared away, when I heard the Martha Stewart Wedding Party was rolling into Chicago, I knew that the fiancé and I just had to go. Case in point: watch the video here. It was a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning, and I left inspired and hopeful for our own occasion this October.

Even the programs were beautiful

Major flower lust going on throughout the ballroom

Pink coordination--just look at those adorable customized drinks!

Delicious bite-sized cupcakes and orchids to celebrate our decision to honeymoon in Hawaii

My favorite place settings, featuring mismatched vintage china

Bag of swag to enjoy after the event; excited to try a few new L'Oreal products

The Ritz Carlton is everything you'd expect it to be and more

Lately

Sugarfina invitations for my bridesmaids--all 5 of them said yes!

I feel like I haven’t even had the luxury of spending much time at home lately. Work’s insane, wedding planning is fairly demanding on the front end, I’ve had a lot of hectic weekend activities, and I recently suffered from a pretty catastrophic car accident. You know it’s been a rough winter when it feels like you live in the dark, and you celebrate the one 40 degree day by going for an hour-long trudge through the slushy sidewalks outside. It’s times like these that you have to focus on the little things…

Dog-sitting Flossy; speaking of trudges outside….

A gift from my sister, and one of our new nightly traditions

Expanding my skincare routine by trying the Tata Harper line 

A crazy colorful birthday gift in my favorite color from my friend Minie

Over It

Though most of my personal goals have been undeniably wedding-centric as of late, I thought it might be a good idea to balance them out with some stress-free, non-nuptial activities that I can enjoy while I desperately wait for it to warm up outside. Sure the Lake looks amazing in this weather, but other than that, I’m kinda done with the winter.  Some things to tide me over until Spring rolls in:

1. Attend the Martha Stewarts Wedding Party at the Ritz Carlton (okay, this is so fun I don’t think it counts as a wedding activity)
2. Submit my garden plot renewal contract and start planning this year’s crops
3. Spend a long evening on the couch watching all things Oscars-related, including the always-awkward E! red carpet pre-game
4. Spend even more time on the couch, finishing up the second season of House of Cards
5. Finish reading The Son and start in on Night Film
6. Send in my tax returns early!
7. Keep up with the morning "Booty Calls," courtesy of my new favorite trainers
8. Raise a spoonful of jambalaya in honor of Fat Tuesday
9. Escape to the American Club for a belated birthday celebration
10. Celebrate the second birthday of sandcastle!