How’d you spend your Easter?

To sum mine up: 2 planes, 2 hours in the air, 3ish hours in the aiport, 5 hours with my family, and 1 big surprise.

I don’t know about you guys, but Easter is just another excuse for my family to throw a party. Naturally, I was disappointed when I was missing yet another family function because I live here in Chicago and they all live in Pittsburgh.

I miss the food, the gossip, and the all around chaos that comes with being around my family. I missed out on Christmas because I spent it with Chris’ family. So facing another holiday away from them (and even worse: by myself ) was really depressing.

Needless to say, after spending most of friday and saturday moping Chris bought me a plane ticket so I could spend the day with my family. He tried to convince me to leave Saturday night, but I was having dinner with Jamie and I didn’t want to miss out on that. I booked the first flight out and the last flight home.

The best part: no one except my brother knew I was coming in. My mom was utterly stunned. My family was ecstatic. I have video of their reactions, it’s awesome. I can’t wait to post the video.

So how was your Easter? Did you overindulge in the festive food and candy?

Happy Easter Weekend!

Spring has finally sprung!!! (I think)

Enjoy the flowers, sunshine, and company.

Wishing everyone a colourful, happy weekend!

Adventures Elsewhere

Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.

I am, however, guest blogging over at Free and Flawed today. Jenn sent out an offer for someone to blog for her the other day, and I jumped at the opportunity. For FREE!! (Aren’t I nice?)


So read my guest post here. Because really, you should be reading her blog anyway. She’s awesome.



Now go!




Now please excuse me while I go inflict an easter candy induced coma on myself.

The Long & Short of It (my Pittsburgh trip, that is)

Last weekend I took a trip back home to Pittsburgh to get the ball rolling on the wedding plans. I’ve been engaged for, oh, 3 months now and have yet to make a single decision on one of the most important days in my life. I’m kind of a procrastinator.

First thing on the agenda: Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall. I was impressed. It was in a word, grand. Literally. It used to be a church that was converted into a banquet hall so there is this enormous pipe organ in the balcony, and stunning stained glass windows. My dad of course, saw all the dollar signs. Leave it to me to pick the most expensive place in Pittsburgh to have a wedding. While it’s still an option for a venue, I’m currently looking into other options. Right now I’m seriously considering Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

Second (and perhaps most important) on the agenda: dress shopping!! I rounded up my mother, maid of honor/best friend/cousin, grandmother, and a couple of my aunts for a day at the dress shop. Poor Chris was left to spend the afternoon with my father. After trying on pretty much anything and everything, I narrowed my choices down to 3 dresses. At first I thought for sure my heart was set on one dress, but dress #2 was growing on me. The longer I had it on the more I loved it. It was settled, that was the dress. I am so excited and dying to reveal it, but I can’t post a picture for fear Chris would see the dress I chose.

Last but not least, I had scheduled a hair appointment with my friend Ashley. I still have have yet to find a hair salon here in Chicago, so my hair was in desperate need of TLC. As soon as I sat in the chair and took my hair out of the ponytail, I commanded to Ashley: “cut it off”. Ashley’s semi stunned response: “Are you sure??”. I was. 7 inches were lopped off. It felt so liberating!!

(ps. I hate smiling in pictures)

Basically, I’m exactly where I started–still looking for a venue, still struggling to set a date, and still debating on eloping. At least I picked a dress.

Pittsburgh brides (or brides in general really)–any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated. How did you settle on some of the bigger choices in planning a wedding?