Attention Recessionista Brides: Win a Free Honeymoon at Sandals!

Fancy Fortune Cookies sells custom fortune cookies* in both traditional and "exotic" colors and flavors. As you may recall from my many hot dog rants on this site, I am a purist for most things, but I have to admit that I'm intrigued by some of their fruit (cherry and strawberry) and exotic flavors (the coconut and cappuccino, in particular, have me curious). I personally love giving fortune cookies as gifts. I usually pick up a few bags whenever I am in Chinatown and bring them as hostess gifts when I visit friends. I think that some technicolor fortune cookies would be make an awesome party favor for almost any party.

Fancy Fortune Cookies is giving away a three-night Dream Honeymoon for two at one of Sandals tropical resorts. Sandals has been voted World's Best Honeymoon Resort for the past eight years in a row. Imagine scenic settings where the ultimate of everything is within your reach. Including the most luxurious rooms and suites with exquisite views, along with thoughtful amenities. Each Sandals resort features a wide choice of international gourmet dining experiences, complimented by free-flowing premium spirits, served by a staff whose greatest pleasure is making you smile.


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*Totally random fact, I learned on the Fancy Fortune Web site that fortune cookies were actually invented in America, not China. You can read each of the theories here. I think that #1 is my favorite. It's charming.

Wedding Marches PB&J Style

Andy and I saw Peter Bjorn and John in concert last night. We both love the "Writer's Block" album and had tossed several songs around for various music selections for our wedding. In the end, we didn't use any of the songs because Andy thought that "everyone would use PB&J;" however, we felt so strongly about them that we both admitted thinking about the wedding during many moments of the show.

I think that "Start to Melt" would provide any bride or groom with a dramatic entrance or exit. The performance of this song was wonderfully grand at the show. Here's an excerpt from the lyrics:

I start to melt

with my arms, round your waist

and my mouth, starts to spell

and the words, saying it's OK

And I think that the instrumentals make it work for both casual and formal weddings. I could see a bride with a long train slowly marching through a giant Gothic church to this song.

"Objects of My Affection" is another great song for wedding marches. I think it would be a unique processional for a groom, which is where Andy considered using it. Here is an excerpt from the lyrics:

...And the question is, was I more alive

then than I am now?

I happily have to disagree;

I laugh more often now, I cry more often now,

I am more me.

...

and the other day, this new friend of mine

said something to me

"just because something starts differently,

doesn´t mean it´s worth less."

and I soaked it in, how I soaked it in,

how I soaked it in

and just as to prove how right he was,

then you came.

so I´m gonna give, yes I´m gonna give,

I´m gonna give you a try,

so I´m gonna give, yes I´m gonna give,

I´m gonna give you a try

One of my more vivid memories of our wedding was dancing with Andy to "Young Folks." I realized tonight that even those lyrics were apropos for the occasion:

...Usually when things has gone this far

people tend to disappear

no one will surprise me unless you do

I can tell there's something goin' on
hours seems to disappear
everyone is leaving I'm still with you

It doesn't matter what we do
where we are going too
we can stick around and see this night through

And last, but not least, I really love these lyrics and the singer's Swedish accent on this chorus from Paris 2004:

I'm all about you, you're all about me,

We're all about each other.

I'm all about you, you're all about me,

We're all about each other.

You don't have to tell, 'cause I know so well

What we are all after.

Likewise if uncertainty puts a spell on me,

I have to zoom in on your laughter.

This song would make an adorable first dance song. Unfortunately, I didn't get to hear it live last night.

Oh Sew La Me Oh

Awhile back, a bride contacted me about making her some invitations with sewed pouches. I excitedly enrolled in a sewing class and put a sewing machine on my Christmas list. Unfortunately, the job fell through, but I still had a blast at the class. The class was at The Needle Shop in Bucktown. I know that sewing a pillow is the easiest thing you can do and not really worth a mention in the DIY-world, but I have to admit, sewing this pillow gave me the biggest feeling of accomplishment that I've had in a long time. Sewing in my zipper made me feel like I had run a 5K.

I have to say, the etsy seller who made the pillows and aisle runner for our wedding earned her money! What a time consuming process. I really wish that I would have taken this class a year ago and bought a sewing machine so that I could have made more pillows to complete our vigenette look. After we swapped out the chairs for the benches, our pillows looked small and dumb; but there wasn't enough time or money to make additional and/or larger pillows. Oh well. Just don't tell the bridal magazines. ;)

I think that the shower curtain class will be my next class.

And then the screen printing because I've always wanted to try it.

And while I know my limits and really have no desire to ever make my own clothes, I kind of want to take the pajama pants and A-Line skirt classes just to see if I can do it. (Plus, I think that it would hilarious to watch the expression on my sister's face if I told her that I *made* the pajama pants that I gave her. She would hate me.)

You can view The Needle Point's class schedule here. I can't say enough nice things about this shop. The owner is Girl Power Incarnate.


I can't wait to buy a sewing machine and start including thread into paper designs. I've been loving that look since I discovered the wedding blog world.

All Needle Point images here.

Renegade Handmade Store

Am I the last blog girl in Chicago to know that the Renegade Craft Fair has a permanent shop in Wicker Park? I stumbled upon it while my friend, VP, and I were enjoying some spring window shopping last weekend.

Since I've never been able to attend the Renegade Craft Fair, this was my first foray into the Renegade World. I can't believe that I did not spontaneously combust. VP was a very, very good friend and talked me out of buying several things, including:

Hindsight being 20/20, I think that I only liked this t-shirt because the name "love cones" sounds naughty. Someone my size should never, ever leave the house with two ice cream cones stretched across her chest.

The Renegade Handmade Shop is located at 1924 W. Division Street in Wicker Park.

All images from Renegade Handmade

Simply Vera Wang for Kohl's

Was anyone else totally amazed by the cuteness of the "Simply Vera" line for Kohl's on last week's Martha Wedding special?

I couldn't believe that awesome necklace. Definitely sign me up for one of those. I'm going to have my mom put those on her Kohl's Clearance Radar.

They don't seem to have any of the other items from the show online, but there are a few other cute things. These would be great shower and rehearsal dinner outfits for brides and bridesmaids, not to mention great wedding guest outfits.

This purple dress is on sale for $39.00! I wish that I could wear this style.

I wonder if Andy would notice if I spent the Kohl's gift card that we received as a wedding gift from his aunt on a new necklace? Ha. Ha.

Several years ago, I helped a friend and her husband with the essays for their business school applications. I had decided that my answer to the "Who would you have dinner with?" question would have been Martha, Vera, and Kate Spade. The idea that these women built empires on things that they love amazes me. And how Vera Wang and Kate Spade created non-essential, somewhat luxury items that everyday people not only crave, but will actually purchase on occassion awes me.

Images: Video Stills - marthastewart.com; Merchandise - kohls.com

I gocco-ed

After chatting with Tina about buying a Gocco (she convinced me to do so) I bought one and started right away. So, let me show you my first project.

Photos by me

I'm more than pleased with the outcome. Especially if you know that, uhmm, I'm quite clumsy... So this was a huge sucess for me! :-)

With This Spring, I Thee Break

Work is nuts, so I'm taking a week or so off from the blog in favor of sleep. Hopefully, Severine will be pick up my slack tomorrow. When I return, I have some new-to-me Chicago blogs to share, as well as some detail shots from my sister-in-law's beautiful Florida wedding. Here's a picture of Andy and I at the reception.