Happy Halloween

I really can't believe it is Halloween again.  It is kind of freaking me out because this means I am getting married in less than 10 months eeeek!!  At age 26 Halloween is such a different holiday than it used to be.  When you were a kid it was all about the coolest costume and candy.  My favorite costume I ever had as a child was a shark.  I had a HUGE shark costume with blood running down my face.  My mom told my dad to take me to the store and get me something pretty and girly.  When I came home with a shark costume I think her mouth hit the floor.  I really wish I had a pic of this because it was pretty amazing.  As we grew up and went to college Halloween became the time where we can dress as absolutely slutty sexy as possible.  In Texas it was still warm so wearing barely any clothes was doable, but when I moved home to Chicago I dressed sexy for one year and I quickly learned my lesson.  So now the past few years I have just tried to be creative. 

With SO many weddings coming up I really didn't feel like dropping any money on a costume, so I tried to think about what I could possibly be.  On my walk home from work on Thursday it hit me, A HOT POTATO!  I simply called one of my potato shippers in Idaho and had him overnight me burlap bags.  If you have forgotten I sell potatoes and other produce for a living.  He was laughing at me and asking how I would possible make a costume of of these bags, but I was not worried at all.  He suggested I look to Marilyn Monroe for some inspiration.



Marilyn via

Aside from smelling like a potato all night I think this is one of my favorite costumes I have ever made!  I sewed it all myself and it was pretty easy, I am a big fan of my creative purse:) 

Here are some more pictures of my friends and I celebrating:

Me and Elvis

 



Loving how Nicole is a "Punkin"



My 2 Chainz bestie

 The second party I went to on Saturday was over the top amazing check out the walls in all of these pictures they had all the furniture removed and the walls were covered in black and graffiti.

Don't know this girl but I just wanted to pay respect to this costume.. you are looking at SPAGHETTI and meatballs. LOVE.

I hope everyone had fun celebrating over the weekend and are doing something spoooky tonight.

I may not being spooky but I plan to be wacky at Wacky Wednesday with my ladies.

Is Lululemon Becoming my Enemy?

Ever since I started working out at Barre Bee Fit my obsession for Lululemon  clothes has reached an all time high.  I am lucky because I can wear workout clothes to work, however, now I find I am spending half of my paycheck a week buying new pants, shirts and of course sweatshirts.  I used to say I could justify buying workout clothes if I was in the zone and really applying myself, but now that I workout everyday I think I need to STOP this shopping habit!

So I have been great the past two weeks and haven't checked the website or walked into the store.  I was doing such a great job even after my mom came to barre with me on Sunday and was sporting the cutest jacket ever.  Of course this morning when I opened my email the subject from a Lululemon email read: BARRE STAR.  My mouth pretty much dropped.  I am used to yoga and pilates emails, but now they are marketing clothes that should be worn specifically by those taking a Barre class.

Via

I think I am going to exercise self control, but I really don't want to :(  I may not even click the link.  (I probably will lets be honest)

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On another note I just want to send my love to all of you that are affected by Sandy.  I am hoping everyone is doing okay this morning and weren't affected too badly.

Loving Leopard

This week in Chicago the weather has been ALL over the place.  I am savoring these last few days with warm temps.  Although it seems like it is the middle of summer I know the cold weather will be back in a blink of an eye.  That is okay, though because I have a new obsession that works a little better with the cooler temps...

 

 

Flats  / Belt / Heels / Dress / Fur

{Guest Post} A Very British Camping Party

Good Morning everyone!  I don't know about everyone else, but I am fascinating in hearing what other girls do at bachelorette parties in other countries.  A few weeks ago, Laura from Polestar explained to us why they call it a Hen Party, today she is going to introduce us to Glamping!  I had never heard of it until they went on "Pretty Little Liars," but I am interested to hear how it is down in England! 

 

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I love reading Traci’s blog because it reminds me that even though we are on the other side of Atlantic us Brits are not so different from you Americans, especially when it comes to weddings and partying.  A British hen party generally plans out the same as a Bachelorette party over in the States; there is usually a day time activity of indulgent relaxation in a spa or beauty salon, followed by a raucous night fuelled with alcohol!

Where it is so easy for Americans to jet from State to State on their hen weekend, it is the same as us popping over to Paris, Amsterdam or anywhere in Europe for that matter for a weekend full of fun. I am currently planning my best friend’s hen weekend in Barcelona, which I cannot wait for! I am slightly sad though that we cannot go to Vegas though; I think I might turn into a bridzilla and force my friends to save so we can go for my hen weekend!

Via I loved Barcelona the last time I visited and CANNOT wait to get back there later this year!

 

If that fails, and the monster inside me doesn’t escape, I would happily stay in England for my hen weekend. I have been considering a ‘glamping’ weekend for my own hen party. Glamorous camping has been becoming increasingly popular in Britain over the past few years, mainly because of the celebrity appearances at British festival sites.  It is also being marketed as a very kitsch product, with a vintage feel that British brides-to-be are really going for in all aspects of their wedding plans.

Maybe it is because I am a bit of a festival babe and I actually cannot think of anything better than wearing my Hunter wellies, mud up to my knee length socks, singing my heart out in the rain, but I really want a glamping weekend away in the English countryside!

I have more fun at festivals than anywhere else!

So far, all of my camping experiences have involved wet clothes and a cocktail of cheap cider, rum and blackcurrant juice, which is probably why I am so intrigued by glamping. On a glamorous camping trip I can demand luxury! Tipis instead of pop-up tents, quilts instead of rain sodden sleeping bags and even real cocktails made with fresh ingredients. I would also like to have my obligatory pamper day combined in with my camping trip. Luckily for me two of my best friends are beauticians who will be more than happy to give manicures, pedicures and facials in our tipis.

I also want to indulge in the nature with a foraging trip, probably before I have my campsite manicure! Most camp guides will be happy to organize trips around the campsites to show campers which wild ingredients can be used in food preparation and drinks. These camp guides are also expert wild food chefs too, so my group of hens will get a gourmet meal too!

I want to dress up as Pocahontas when I stay in the tipis!

Like most hen parties, the evening will definitely end in a boozy haze! My weapon of choice is rum, so I will be making everyone mojitos. Hopefully the camp guides will give me some advice on how to make my already very alcoholic cocktails even wilder! Knowing my group of friends there will be lots of tequila and champagne too. It will be nice to sit around the campfire playing games and sharing stories all night with the girls I love the most rather than trotting off to a club full of strangers. I think that is the real beauty of glamping trips, they are very personal and only involve the people that you really want there!

To stop the hangover that is obviously going to occur, experts glampers have come up with the perfect trick, that being the portable sauna! What better way to end a night and to sweat out the toxins than in a sauna? It really adds to the luxury of the glamping experience. That way, you can nestle down into the tipi feeling fresh.

After a good night sleep I would love to be woken up with a vintage tea and breakfast. I want real china cups and proper loose tea made in a quaint tea pot, which will really help evaporate any hangover that could be floating about! Being in the British countryside it would be rude to have one of the camp guides make us a full English breakfast – bacon, sausages, eggs, beans, tomatoes and mushrooms with lots of buttery toast! Having everything cooked over a campfire will just make it all taste so much better!

I think I am looking forward to a teddy bears picnic more than anything else!

Well I suppose I should stop getting to ahead of myself, I need to finishing planning my best friends hen party before I jump ahead and starting planning mine completely!

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Alright, well if that is what camping is, well I think I am in!  I just love all the british words she includes, especiall wellies!  I am thinking tipis are the same things as tepees? 

 

Laura thanks so much again for sharing:) 

A Walk Down Wedding Lane: Brittany and Josh's Wedding Weekend!

This past weekend we went to New York to celebrate Brittany and Josh's wedding.  It is always so much fun to get together with college friends and celebrate our sorority sister.  The weather was perfect in New York, but it was nothing compared to the wedding weekend.  Between the rehearsal dinner and the breath taking bride and venue, I don't think anyone could have asked for a more perfect wedding experience.

Some necessary tequila shots to celebrate Britt

Who knew cabs were hard to find on a Saturday night in NYC?  Well we found a limo instead:)

Gustavinos was probably one of the most beautiful venues ever

The bride had her hair put up during cocktail hour so she would be able to dance all night long, I LOVED this idea.. may see it happening next August:)  Oh, and look at this out of control amazing Monique Lhuillier dress.

Standard Fancy pic.

Love her and so glad I got to celebrate!

Getting pretty silly

What a weekend, I am still recovering!  Mazel tov again to Brittany and Josh!

Off to NY for Brittany and Josh's Wedding!

Sorry I have been so MIA this week.  I have been so busy with some wedding planning details and I just haven't had a second to write any posts.

I will be gone again tomorrow because I am leaving for NY to celebrate my good friends Brittany and Josh!

How cute are they?  This was taken the night they got engaged!!

Can't wait to be back next week with all the details:)

Weekend Recap

My weekends coming up are super busy celebrating my lovely friends get married, but this past weekend I was able to just enjoy some time at home with the fancy.  Since he travels almost every week for work it makes the time we spend together on the weekends that much more important.  Friday, we had a chill night and ordered in Chinese food to watch the cardinals game with some good friends.  Okay, I admit it, I root for the cardinals when they are not up against the cubs.  I mean I am not supposed to just sit there while David watches and hope they lose... am I?

Saturday, it was David's turn to root for my team.. the Texas Longhorns.  If you are not familiar with the Texas vs. Oklahoma rivalry lets just say it is pretty major.  It is usually the one game a year I still make sure to put on some burnt orange and make it to the Texas bar in Chicago.  It is usually so hard to get a table, but this year I won a raffle and had one reserved and waiting for me.. it was pretty amazing. 

Pizza showing her Texas Pride

Enjoying the table
 

Our friend so upset with the team he decided to take a quick nap

Although the score was just embarrassing we had a great day and obviously OU still sucks.

Little Borrowed Dress

If you open my closet you will find seven bridesmaid dresses that were worn once and will never be worn again.  I know every bride says mine is different and it totally can be worn again, but the truth is after wearing that dress for twelve hours straight nobody wants to wear it again..ever.  As you know I focus on the positives when it comes to being a bridesmaid, so I never let these dresses bother me.  It comes with the territory of being a bridesmaid, you buy a dress for $175+, you get it altered for $40+ you then dry clean it for no reason at all for $15 and then you let it just sit for $230+. 

Well, after my Skype converstation last night with Corie Hardee, the owner and founder of Little Borrowed Dress, I think I may have stumbled upon a bridesmaid dress game changer. 

Can you imagine paying only $50-$75 for a bridesmaid dress that looks great and needs zero alterations?  Well at Little Borrowed Dress this is all possible. 

Corie, like me and so many of you, has been a bridesmaid multiple times.  While sifting through her closet she came across four bridesmaid dresses that hadn't seen the light of day in years.  She came to a realization that all bridesmaid dresses are either not that great or are just really expensive, or worse, they are both.  This is when it hit her, groomsmen rent their wedding day attire, why don't bridesmaid have the same option?

Like, Rent the Runway, Corie wanted to create a place where bridesmaids can rent the dress right before the wedding and easily return it after.  With all the different brands, styles, and colors available she realized the best way to make this happen was to design her own dresses. 

Hillary - $50 / Hillary Jane -  $75

 

Cheryl - $50 / Cheryl Leigh - $75

Julie - $50 / Julie Elizabeth - $75

Catherine - $50 / Catherine Ann - $75
 

 

The process is pretty simple, the bride browses online to view the eight dresses they have available.  Once she selects the style and color she likes, she has her bridesmaids choose their size and place their own orders. Don't worry too much about size because they will send you a second size for free.  In order to ensure they have the dress available for all the bridesmaids they ask that the orders be placed at least three months before the wedding date.  The dress arrives at the girls homes two weeks before the wedding.  Once the wedding is over all they have to do is send both dresses (dirty not clean) back to LBD in the provided prepaid return envolope. 

 

Alright, so it sounds simple enough, I know, but I had probably a million questions for Corie.  I figure I would share them and all her answers.

 

I get every dress shortened, how do these dresses really not need any alterations?

 

When designing these dresses Corie started by thinking about all the dresses she borrows from her sister, and all the dresses her sister borrows from her.  They both wear the same size, but their body types could not be more different.  They went with dresses that looked good on all body types and can be easily adjusted with a ties, hooks and elastic.  As far as the length goes if you choose a short dress, on the taller girls it will hit right above the knee, and on the shorter girls it will hit right below the knee.  For full length gowns they offer two lengths regular and long.  They ask that you give your height in heels as a way to make sure you get the correct dress length.  With every dress rental they send a second size for free, that means if there are seven bridesmaids in the wedding party, they will actually be sending fourteen dresses, so odds are there will be a size that fits you among them.

 

I have twenty bridesmaids, will you have enough dresses for all my girls?

 

If you order three months in advance they gaurentee they will have the dresses you need.  Yes that means 40 dresses including the freebies!

 

As a bride and I would be nervous about selecting a dress offline and not seeing it until two weeks before the wedding, can you send me a few samples to try on?

 

If you can make it to New York they have just opened up a new showroom for you to come try on the dresses.  If you can't make it to New York you can always order a dress for an earlier date to try them out. 

 

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I really learned so much last night about this new buisness and I am truley a fan.  I think my favorite thing was how Carlie kept saying that customer service is their number one concerned.  Of course they want to please the bride, but at Little Borrowed Dress, they want to also really please the bridesmaid.  If you think about it they are usually the next customers! 

 

 

RED LACE

With the colder weather coming here I for one am not looking forward to wearing only dark colors when it comes to rehearsal dinners and weddings.  I have several events coming up and I cannot figure out what to wear to ANY of them.  While doing some online browsing I came across two dresses that I think would make a statement.  The key to their perfection is red lace.

Free People - $128 / Asos - $79.16

The best part about both of them is they are under $150.  Perhaps you will see me in one of these some time soon:)

"Reasons Why You Cannot be a Bridesmaid" Review

So how many of you have read the Gawker article, "Reasons Why You Cannot be a Bridesmaid"?  If you haven't read it you really should.  Like RIGHT NOW.  However, I will break it down for you.  It is an email sent by a monster bride to her potential bridesmaids with a list of ground rules they must accept before they are granted the honor of bridesmaid. 

I have had a bunch of family and friends send me this article to get my opinion on it and I have decided I need to address everything this bride requests of her bridesmaids and give you my perspective.  I am going to break it down by paragraph and give you my thoughts.  Just to lay down some ground rules the bitch's  bride's writing is in bold and I am in pink.  Also, please excuse her grammar, she isn't the brightest.  


To m lovely Bridesmaid: [Names removed to protect the brideslaves]

As you all know I picked 10 wonderful ladies to stand by my side, share and make happen my special day to Jake. Each of you individually have a reason and a special place in my heart of why I picked you to be a bridesmaid. We have set our date for Saturday, August 31, 2013 in Vail, Colorado. That seems far away but it really isn't, the earlier the planning the better. You may have already knew that my wonderful sister L— will be the Maid of Honor, she's in charge under me. Also my lovely mom will be a big help as well. L— has a big role in throwing me a bridal shower and bachelorette party, of course all of you guys do but at the end of the day shes the go to person and makes it happen.

• Not too bad yet, I think it's a little harsh to tell your brides your maid of honor ultimately runs the show, but a lot of brides do it so I would be totally fine if one of my best friends wrote this to me.  (Glad they may have already knew that though)

You all have a big roll in this wedding, so before we continue I'm going to be setting some ground rules and its very important you read and think about everything through before you accept this honor to be a bridesmaid. If you guys email anything I would also like you to put L— in the CC. Not all the bridesmaid need to be CC'd unless its coming from me or L—, if it something everyone needs to see then well do it. We set the date to August 31, 2013 if that's a problem we need to know NOW. Also by the end of the week we will be setting dates for the engagement party, bridal show and bachelorette party.

• It's hard to fully understand what she is saying because of the language, but I think I got the gist.  There is to be no talking about nice things for this bride behind her back.  So if a few bridesmaids wanted to do something special you have to clear it with the maid of honor and then she can decide whether others need to know.  I think I will skip emailing anything for this one.  Don't want to get in trouble!

Our wedding party is really the most important people at the wedding besides my self and Jake so we want every single one of our bridesmaid and grooms at our parties, I have 10 not 8 where two couldn't make it so if you already know you cant make one of the parties then we have to find someone else, not to be harsh in the slightest it would sadden me and of course you'll still be invited to our wedding, engagement ect. But it's different if your not in the wedding party and couldn't make it. We'll give everyone well advance dates for the parties and it will always fall on a weekend. The wedding as I stated will be in Vail the engagement party will either be in NY or CT and the bachelorette party will be in Vegas, cliche yeaa but I've never been.

• So basically we love you so much and you truly is are the most important people at the wedding besides for my highness and Jake, but if you can't make three parties throughout the year in three different states, you are no longer THAT important and I will replace you. 

A few girls live out of town so if there is going to be a problem with coming to either one then I need to know now because after this week I don't want to be surprised. I would like everyone to send me any dates they are going away or planning to go away after February so if your going away in January I don't care. I want any dates from February to the day of our wedding in August, that way we know not to plan something when your away. But after this week the dates are set in stone. Also if money is tight and you cant afford to contribute to say the bachelorette party or wont be able to afford a dress etc then L— and Myself don't have time to deal with that, I'm sorry. This includes flights as well, everyone knows the states where the parties are going to be held so if you wont be able to afford a flight then that means you cant make a party which ultimately means I cant have you as a bridesmaid. Obviously we'll get the best deals and were not gonna books flights for $1000 and shit that's why were doing this in advance, that goes for bridesmaids dresses as well everything will be affordable but if you think by affordable its going to be a $25 forever 21 dress then your going to the wrong wedding.

• So let's say I accept this HIGH honor of being this slave and I send in all my dates I can possibly think of this far in advance, what happens if my cousin plans her wedding the same day as the shower next month and I have to miss it?  Or what if a work trip comes up and I have to go somewhere on a weekend?  Am I out? 
• This is out of this world.  I would never ask my bridesmaids to spend this money on me.  If they are able to then I love them for it but if they can't I will help the where they can and I totally understand if they can't participate in everything.  Doesn't she get that people have their own lives and on top of it this may not be the only wedding they are in at the same time?  I personally can't miss work that often so I would have been kicked out for sure.

If your out of state though don't think you have to fly in for all fittings, that we will work with you, find stores in your town, get measurements..you don't have to worry about that. Also if you accept this honor another thing is that you need to be available, I'm not going to harass you with wedding stuff every hour of everyday but if its something important and it takes you a week even 2-3 days to get back to me seeeee ya! I don't have time to wait around for responses, everyone has their phone on them, it shouldn't take you more than a day to get back to me, even if your out of the country, check your email!

• Oh so you don't have to book a flight just to get your dress altered, she is such a nice person.  However, that is probably a little harsh to demand you check your email when you are OUT OF THE COUNTRY!  What if someone was on vacation and didn't have access.. would they be out?  I am guessing yes.

Furthermore, Ever since I could remember I have dreamed about this day all my life. I want to share it with the people that are most important to me. You only get one time to plan your dream wedding and I couldn't pick a more amazing group of girls to make that dream come true! So please, what's stated above think about it all and by Wednesday I need to know if everyone is 100% in, and what I have asked about sending me dates if your gonna be away between Feb-Aug ill need that on Wednesday. If you don't think you'll be able to attend one party but can make the rest of them I'm sorry but I'll have to take you out as a bridesmaid and put you as a guest. If you want to get back to me before Wednesday, that's fine. Really think about everything I've said. This is really going to be the most epic wedding ever so I hope you girls can share this special day with us!

Love,

• I hope every girl that read this pressed delete and never spoke to her again.  This girl is a miserable human being and does not deserve any more attention. 

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So, what do you think?  I think we took two TOTALLY different approaches on asking our bridesmaids.  I threw a shower to celebrate our friendship and she ended all ten friendships.  

My New Motto

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I recently started a new workout program and honestly, it has changed my life. I knew my body was changing, but I didn't realize other parts of my life were being affected.  When my best friend, Heather, sent me this quote it really made me take a step back. I have finally found a fitness program that is working for me.  I see results I didn't think were possible and in exchange I am pushing myself harder at all aspects of my life.  I clean more, I eat better (don't worry I make sure to get my noodle fix), and I find myself trying harder at both work and my relationships.  I am also saving a SHIT load of money.  I used to pay for the nicest gyms, private pilates sessions and trainers, but now for an eighth of the price I am in the best shape of my life.

Hopefully this quote will touch some of you, because when you find a workout you can tolerate or even one that you semi enjoy you really hold the key to some extra happiness.

Happy 10th Anniversary Sapphire Sky!

If you live in Chicago or it's surrounding suburbs and don't have plans tonight, now you do!  Please come out to my Mom's boutique, Sapphire Sky, in Lincolnshire, IL to help celebrate their ten year anniversary.

That's right 20% of the sales tonight will be donated to K.I.D.S.S. for Kids.

I cannot believe it has been ten years since she started this journey (makes me feel old) but I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished.  If you can make it we would love the support!

Honeymoon Booked.

I am sorry for the past few days without posts, but I have literally been frantically working on our honeymoon to Bora Bora.  OK, yes I know it is like 11 months out, but I just couldn't help myself.  A few things you may not know about me is I LOVE BOOKING TRAVEL, I also love looking for apartments on craigslist (more on that another day). 

One of my favorite things to do is book new flights on American Airlines.  I have a little notepad on my desk with the breakdown of how many miles I will gain with each trip I take and how many miles closer we will be to first class honeymoon tickets.  I also keep track of how close I am to gaining frequent flyer status.  Everyone can rest assured, now that I booked my flight to Miami for Blogshop in December I will keep my gold status. Phew.  If you are thinking to yourself sucks for Traci because American is going bankrupt, I say to you please shut up.  Thanks.  It won't happen.

So when I started planning this honeymoon I had NO idea how much work fun it would be to book  not only the flights, but also the hotel and activities and meals.  As I mentioned in Friday's post, at midnight on Saturday night the flights were supposed to open from LA to Tahiti.  I called at midnight and the nice lady told me to call back at 2 am my time, 12 am her time.  So I watched two more episodes of "Pretty Little Liars" and then called back.  The tickets were not available.  I called about every hour until Monday morning at 9am, when we finally got our 2 buisness class tickets on the exact time and day that we wanted.  I have been saving these miles for years literally paying for every flight possible so I could book these tickets one day.  As well as stalking my Dad's account to make sure he had enough to help us out.  It felt so good to only have to pay $50 for flights to TAHITI!!

Since the flights have been booked I think I have called way too many travel agents, read way too many tripadvisor.com reviews and pretty much learned everything you need to know about Bora Bora.  I still have three more flights to book, but I have decided to take a step away from all this craziness and say hello to all of you.

I plan on spending a lot of time posting over the next year because it looks like I can't spend another penny until after the honeymoon.  But I think I will be okay with that.. I mean look...

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Alright, so glad I let you into my crazy head.  Have a good day.