Little Bit of Sass Thursday: A Sassy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Have you ever seen the tumblr Hot-Dog Legs?

No?

Check it out. Sometimes you can't tell if the images are of legs or of hot dogs.

So I made my Halloween costume of this tumblr.

What can I say? I like costumes that cost $5 or less and take 10 minutes or less to put together. 

Yep. I'm lazy. 

Did you dress up?

Wedding Wednesday

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

I love kids. They just say the darndest, don't they?

I'm sure some of you have seen this article: "How Do You Decide Who To Marry (written by kids)?" My co-worker sent this to me and I nearly fainted from the cuteness.

Here are a couple of my favorites. Check out the article for more!

Fantastic, right?
Kids crack me up. Apparently 10-year olds are particularly sassy.

[So I made the above image in PicMonkey and it looked like the background was white at the time. Well, clearly it doesn't appear white in Blogger. Have any of you come across this issue? Please help!!]

In terms of our wedding plans, I need to get back on the ball. We're waiting for our Save the Dates to arrive and will send them asap! Luckily everyone knows when the wedding is, so there isn't a surprise. However, I want to send them!!!


Also, Becky sent our engagement photos to us in the mail today! We will get to see them soon and I will post some here next week!

Becky gave us a little teaser while we wait for the mail.
Want to it now?
Twist my arm, here you go:

{via}

Yay! :)

Any stories or updates to share this week? Please link up below, add the button and share it! Want to use #WeddingWednesday and my handle on Twitter? Go for it! I'll RT you just for kicks.

Little Bit of Class Tuesday!

Something about Tuesdays makes me want to shop and look fabulous.

Since I plan to do neither of those things today, here are some photos to inspire instead, all from my "Classy" Pinterest board.

Anyone want to shop now, too?

Friday's Fancies!

YAY!!! It's Friday!!!

I'm linking up today with {av} from long distance loving for her weekly Friday's Fancies link-up!

This week the theme is "boo-tiful" which is just too stinkin' cute.

We aren't going all out for Halloween this year, but I did see an amazing partnership with two brands: Etsy and Rent The Runway.

A gorgeous dress paired with handmade accessories? Sign me up!
Well, not really. I don't have an event for it.
But seriously check it out!

Here are a few of my favorite looks. I want a fancy Halloween party to attend now!

Vanna White

Pretty Woman

A Work of Art

Dry Cleaning

Miss Audrey

SO cute!

Are you dressing up?

Enjoy your weekend!

Little Bit of Sass Thursday

I'm going to make fun of myself a little bit today.

You see, I often read blog posts regarding what bloggers carry in their purses. People are very curious about what others lug around on a day-to-day basis.

This topic baffles me.

Why?

Well, because my bag looks like this at the gym.

And this on a day when I workout at home.

Why would anyone need to know or want to know this about me?

The contents of my bag includes:

My laptop, wallet, planner, book, water bottle, make-up, two hand sanitizer bottles, one water bottle, my clean coffee mug, essential items, three reusable bags (why 3? No idea!), another make-up thing for some reason, glasses case, a fan, about 3,000 lip glosses/lipsticks and sample perfumes, a tattered baggie of tissues and cough drops that I need to toss, flyers from people since I walk everywhere, paper clips and bobby pins and crumbs and receipts and wrappers and mystery items...and you get the idea.

Oh and on a gym day I pack it to the brim with my clothes and boxing gloves and wraps and whatever else.

It's not pretty.

And I think as a result my right shoulder is permanently lopsided since I only carry bags on my right shoulder. 

What are the rest of you doing that you are so much more organized?

I may just be disgusting. You may just be lying.

It's a toss up.

Help me out here. 

Am I alone in this?

Do I need to start a support group?

Any takers?

Wedding Wednesday!

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

This weekend we took our engagement photos!

Andrew's friend (and now my friend!) Becky from Michigan State has a photography business in addition to her marketing job. Check out her Facebook Page: Becky Johns Photography! Lucky for us, she was free on Sunday to take our photos!

Doubly lucky for us, the weather was perfect!

We went shopping on Saturday for something to wear. Shocking that we waited until the last minute!

I picked up a lovely investment piece from Madewell. I absolutely love this dress and definitely plan to wear it all of the time. It's navy and classic and everything I wanted!

We started at Lincoln Park (the actual park, not the neighborhood) and walked around taking photos with the city in the background and the changing leaves all around us.

Then we were off to Adler Planetarium because the view from the outside is amazing: right on the lake with the whole skyline in view.

We finished up in our neighborhood park.

It was such an awesome day. We giggled the whole time!

After our photo shoot we made an awesome dinner and looked on Becky's camera at the photos. I looooove them! I can't wait to see them!

Becky took a photo of us on Andrew's phone just so we could have one while she edited hers. I was going to post it on the blog but I really don't like it. Thank goodness everything Becky took was 1 million times better. Seriously, with every "Like" the photo received on Facebook I liked it less.

OK fine, here's the photo:

It's not the best of us, but oh well. Becky's are awesome!

.........................................

OK it's time to get real for a minute.

This photo (and other photos from this summer) are motivating me.
I must lose some weight. I'm not entirely sure how since I currently do Weight Watchers and workout 5 or 6 times a week. I have lost 7 pounds this summer but I have a long way to go. I workout really hard, too. I can choose to not go into my Weight Watchers Allowance Points so that should help. That's a good goal, I guess. I know that I'm not meant to be a size 2 (and I don't want to be ) but I just want to look like I work hard. Seriously, why can't my arms look as muscular as they are? I love my muscles! Why don't they show up and say hello once in a while?!?! Grrrr

Sorry to complain. I'm not fishing for compliments here. I just wanted to let you know that I'm not all sunshine and rainbows all of the time. I am incredibly happy, but when I see photos of myself the happiness decreases a little.

Just a little, though!

I mean, shoot! I have so much to be thankful for and the #1 reason is standing next to me in that photo! I have Andrew! He is the best man in the world. I just love him. Simple as that.

I also have my amazing family! And tons of friends! And my faith! And my health! And my job!

Who cares if I should lose 100000000 pounds so I feel acceptable?
Sheesh, get a grip, Mary.

OK pep talk finished. Back to being sunshine and rainbows :)

What do you have to share this week? Any updates or stories? Please link up with me and Kristyn and tweet your posts to us!

Little Bit of Class Tuesday!

I'm so excited for tonight! 

The book club turns two!

Yep! Two years ago I wanted an excuse to hang out with girlfriends and drink wine. And (I guess) chat about books. The Hardcover Hotties Book Club was born!

Admittedly I didn't finish the book for tonight (oops), but I am really enjoying it and definitely plan to finish it this week.

Sometimes we didn't follow our once-a-month meeting schedule due to holidays or whatever life throws at us, but we've been pretty consistent! I love that new people join all of the time and we even have two new ladies tonight!

Curious about what we've read?

Here's a list!

Bitter is the New Black

The Stupidest Angel

The Marriage Plot

Growing Up Amish

The Shadow of the Wind

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Prep

The Paris Wife

The Casual Vacancy

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Cold Mountain

Wild

Gone Girl

The Sex Lives of Cannibals

The Great Gatsby

Where’d You Go, Bernadette?

The Cuckoo’s Calling

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets

That's our order over the last two years, starting with a Chicago-based book to currently an amazing book based in 1950s London (The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets). My absolute favorite by far is The Shadow of the Wind. It's an amazing book. I also really loved Gone Girl, The Cuckoo's Calling and Where'd You Go, Bernadette? It was so fun to re-read Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Great Gatsby as a club. We watched the films in the meetings following those books. We definitely plan to do the same for The Wolf of Wall Street! 

People sometimes ask me what it's like moving to a new city when I don't know many people. When I lived in DC I luckily knew my amazing roommate (sorority sister!) and my co-workers were hilarious. I also played kickball. Hence, friends formed.

When I moved to Chicago it was different. Maybe because I was older and/or because I'm not single, or maybe because the city's bigger. I don't know. My co-workers are awesome here, too, but our group of girlfriends didn't all hang out right away. Only months after moving here I itched for a group of girlfriends.

So I started a book club with a friend! It's full of co-workers and friends...and friends of friends. I absolutely love it. I definitely recommend joining or starting one if you're looking to meet new people. Not only was it a great excuse to get together and gab for hours, it also forced me to read!

Are you part of a book and/or wine club?

Any suggestions for our next book? 

I definitely plan to keep the Hardcover Hotties alive for many more years to come!

Random Worry

Happy Friday!

So I have this silly worry. I guess it's not terrible, but it could make things real weird real fast.

You see, I rarely talk on the phone. When I do it's with loved ones or close friends. At the close of our conversation I usually express my love for them. Then I hang up the phone.

Therefore, on the rare occasions that I speak with someone else I have a fear.

What if I accidentally say "Goodbye! Love you!" to a stranger or a co-worker?!?!?!

That could get awkward.

That is all.

Enjoy your weekend!

Wedding Wednesday: Whirlwind Weekend

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Happy Wedding Wednesday!

With just over six months to go, it's time to update the checklist:

Set a date

Book venue

Book photographer

Book DJ

Ask bridal party to be in wedding

Create wedding website 

Register (started!)

Book florist

Buy wedding dress

Finalize ceremony musicians

Take engagement pictures

Take Save the Date pictures

Select bridesmaid dresses

Meet with priest and vendors
Select and order groom & groomsmen attire  (selected!)
Purchase veil  (using the family veil!!)

Purchase accessories for dress

Book cake baker

Buy cake knife & server (registered for a set!)

Order save the dates  

Finalize guest list 

Compile addresses (started!)

Send save the dates  

Pre-marital counseling

Acquire guest book

Hotel room blocks
Teach myself calligraphy (in progress!)

MOB dress shopping 

MOG dress shopping

Find wedding shoes (back to square one)

Find wedding jewelry (I have the necklace!)

  Find garter

Book makeup artist

Book hair stylist

Menu tasting  

Cake tasting

Hair trial

Make-up trial

1^st dress fitting
2^nd dress fitting/take bridal portraits

Teach myself Illustrator and InDesign (in progress!)

Make or order ceremony programs

Finalize where I'm getting ready & where Andrew is getting ready 

Send email reminders to bridal party about rehearsal dinner/hotel reservations

Order invitations

Mail invitations 

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Buy rehearsal dinner dress 

Book shuttle bus for bridal party    

Make reception table decorations (table numbers)

Figure out location and décor for guest book

Figure out and make escort cards

Create menu

Create favors

Ask pianist friend to play during cocktail hour

Ask people to be involved in ceremony (started!)

Buy bridal party gifts 

Bachelorette party?

Bridal shower(s)?

Write thank you notes!

Find a super cheap videographer??

Order wedding bands (rings)

Put together picture list for photographer

Get marriage license

Decide on honeymoon location (Costa Rica!!!)

Book honeymoon flights

Rehearsal dinner invitations

Rehearsal dinner groom's cake (MOG says “There must be dessert!” Yes ma’am!)

Music selections to DJ

Music selections to ceremony musicians

Book wedding night hotel room

Rehearsal dinner seating chart

Pick out first dance songs

Dance lessons?

Finalize wedding-day timeline

Put together a few bathroom essentials for ladies bathroom

Card Box

Honor the family veil in some fashion (I’m going to wear it!!)

Pick signature drink and name!

Confirm florals

Wrap bridesmaids gifts in a cute way

Get ring cleaned!

Get my hair ‘did

Welcome Bags

Confirm everything with vendors

Prepare final payments

Order thank you notes

Send final guest list to venue

Break in shoes!

Deliver everything to reception the Thursday before

Walk down the aisle & say I do!

These past two weeks we have crossed off a BUNCH of the big to-do's! I can't believe it!

And it's been so fun!

Last weekend we got the bridal transportation squared away and schedule our engagement photo shoot (this Sunday!). This past weekend Andrew and I drove to Ohio for an incredible trip. Andrew's mom was there, too, so it was a fun group!

We got to our reception tasting RIGHT at the time of our appointment. We were stressing! Silly construction, I tell ya!

You guys. The food.is.awesome.

It was so tough to make a choice but we settled on something our guests will really enjoy!

Here are all of the place setting options:

Then it was on to the food. Lots of food. And wine. LOTS of wine!

I can't show you allll of the photos we took, but I can share a little preview!

I love the windows in The Athletic Club. I can't wait to take some photos when we're all gussied up and husband and wife!

After that we went to the florist, started our registry at Macy's and had a lovely dinner.
Saturday we picked out tuxes, met with the priest, went to Mass and went to our Rehearsal Dinner location for dinner!

Sunday we drove back and pretty much crashed!

Phew! Tiring!
So so so fun, though! We had a great time!

Have a wedding-related story to share?

We welcome them all, just please link back to us!

Free retweets if you mention @marysue20 and #WeddingWednesday!

I know Kristyn will do the same (she's @chits_giggles)!

We could favorite the tweets, too, but that'll cost ya.