My Last Wedding Day Accessory

So my shower was a ton of fun and I ended up getting this as a gift - my purse. I actually had seen this in an antique store back home and thankfully my sister went back and got it for me. Unfortunately, you cannot see is that well, but it is a vintage clutch and I love it! Very shiny and very beautiful with a ton of character.

Now I can check off my accessories for the wedding.

Bridesmaids Dress Drama

I have been told numerous times - I am pretty laid back for a bride. That was my goal from the beginning - to never let them see me sweat ...and god forbid show any signs of "Bridezilla". Well, she came out last night and she might actually be here to stay. I know I was "late" ordering our bridesmaids dresses (if you consider in wedding lingo that six months before the wedding is late), but as I was told in December that we would be fine, but order them by this date (Dec. 8). So I did just that, ordered them on Dec. 1 to be exact. The saleslady at the bridal store stated that we should be getting them in by the second week of March at the earliest, but I quote - "Jim Hjelm is really good - so no worries."

I could give you the whole long drawn-out story (here are the cliff notes version - me calling them on March 20; talk to rude saleswoman who tells me that I should have them in a week; On March 31, me calling again; they never calling me back; me calling again and talk to extremely rude, rude salesperson, who tells me April 2; me calling again and never hearing back), but rather just end with my vent instead.

I am not a pest. I do not call over and over again just to hear the same answer. If you tell me that my dresses are going to be here the second week of March. I believe you. I only call when it is now April and I have not seen the dresses. I also call back when you tell me you are going to call me with an answer and days go by and I have not received a call.

So fast forward to last night. I called after again not receiving a call when promised. This time - the sales lady actually said, "Oh, you again." And that is when it happened. I snapped and Bridezilla reared her ugly head. I am to receive a call today. I am going to be optimistic and believe them. Because after a couple glasses of wine last night, I have decided this will be the one and only time that Bridezilla makes an appearance.

Skybus Blues

Did anyone get hurt with the latest airlines going bankrupt? We had booked flights on Skybus for a wedding this summer. I received an email two weeks ago that they were changing the flight times, which did not work for us, so I canceled the flights and got a refund. When did the refund go back into my account? Ah...yesterday. How crazy is that?

I am also hearing horror stories with brides having booked their honeymoon trips on Aloha Airlines to go to Hawaii. Ugh, I hope it is not any of you.

Breakfast for the Bride

Just received this in my email inbox. Darnit - can I miss my shower for this? I so wish it was not on a weekend when I am out of town.

Breakfast for the Bride
Hosted by Chicago's finest bridal vendors and Steven Rosengard of Project Runway

Chicago's own Steven Rosengard from Season Four of Project Runway will showcase a bridal gown of his own design and offer wedding fashion advice to attendees PLUS a preview of erin gallagher jewelry's new bridal collection and the latest line from Special Occasion Separates by Scarlet Designs.

Saturday, April 5, 2008
10:00AM – 1:00PM.

erin gallagher jewelry
1017 W. Lake Street

RSVP by April 4
312.492.7548
or by email:
Brides@lizkorespr.com

Enjoy displays and demonstrations from All She Wrote, Blumen Design, Gerber + Scarpelli and Kiki Reef Events while DJ Mary Nisi of Toast & Jam spins. Snack on morning pastries and hors d'oeuvres from Foodstuffs and sweets from Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique. The first 50 brides will receive extraordinary gifts, with the opportunity to win a free wedding!

Etsy Find of the Week

Yeah, screw it. Because it is becoming part of my obsession, might as well make "Etsy find" a weekly feature. Today I am going to tell you about these awesome purses from muchacha K. I was actually thinking about doing custom clutches for my bridesmaids and here at muchacha found unbelievable great ones! For only $27, she will make you a custom clutch bag just like theses. I jumped right on it and am having her make one for me. Um, yeah, sorry, bridesmaids - I might just be doing your jewerly for now! However, she also does jewerly rolls and little pouches - that I might use instead. She has a great blog too- please check it out.

The Countdown Begins...

Well, I am less than two months away from our big day. My "Can't Wait to Get Married" To Do List is getting smaller and smaller, but then I decided to add a couple more DIY projects to it and it gets big again. So the pressure is on...

1) Invitations went out on Saturday when my fiance realized he had left off a couple friends. Then I realized I left off my boss. Oops...
2) I love, love these card boxes that I saw on Something New, Something Old. I have said that I would love to do this as a DIY project - but does anyone know where you can find these type of boxes? I am willing to do the fabric, etc., but can't seem to find any boxes with lids.
3) Four TJ Maxx stores later - I ended my quest for the letter "R". We might do something else with the S only...but darn you TJ - why could you not have an R!!
4) I seriously am addicted to stalking my gift registries.

Chicago-Style Etsy

I must confess - Etsy is going to be the death of me (or actually my checkbook). Unfortunately, if I am not reading all the lovely wedding blogs out there, I am on Etsy. After reading Tina's very cool discovery of possible Welcome "Chicago themed" totes for her out of town guests, I decided to see if there were any really cool Chicago gifts on Etsy. I think some of these would be perfect for welcome gift additions or even bridal party gifts.

Chicago EL Magnets! How cool are these? And she even does buttons!

I think including one recipe in your welcome gift of any local food is a great idea - and how neat would this be to include the Chicago Hot Dog and exactly what ingredients are included!

Or maybe your guests will need these little notepads in their welcome gifts?...

The Chicagoland notecards for your thank you cards?

I am loving the Chicago photos coasters. It looks like the artist also has several other Chicago landmarks that you can pick and choose from!

This was actually my favorite - the Chicago streets art canvas - and I ended up purchasing it for a friend's bridal shower gift. But it actually might just end up lost (...on the wall in my home).

Despite getting married several miles aways from downtown Chicago - this city means a lot to my fiance and I. It is where we met and I so want to include something as a memento to our guests.