i heart peonies

Perfectly Personalized Guest Bags

2013-05-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

Guest bags- little bags/boxes/baskets that greet hotel guests at check-in- have become a norm in weddings. Guests appreciate having a snack and some ibuprofen throughout the festivities and its an easy way to personalize your wedding. Planning for this little extra stresses my clients. They want them to be full of fun and useful stuff, plus they'd like them to coordinate with the wedding decor and invitation, plus they need to be packed and ready to go during a very hectic time. I started offering personalized guest bags as a service and its been pretty popular. Its nice to have one more thing to pass off!

I take several things into consideration when planning these bags. Where are the guests from? What is the schedule for the weekend? How much down time will the guests have? Most importantly, what is your budget? You can include a few little things to make your guests feel appreciated, or you can really do it up to set the tone for the weekend.

This guest bag featured a map drawn by the very talented Sarah Hanna printed on a soft, reusable canvas bag. Tucked inside were a bag of Garrett's popcorn (famous in Chicago), 2 bottles of 312 (another Chicago favorite- 312 is the area code for Chicago's loop and Goose Island was started here), a cookie from Tag's in Evanston, the bride's favorite childhood bakery, an itinerary created by Sarah Drake and a few other comforts. The guests were thrilled!

This guest bag was created for a wedding in the sweet beach town of St. Joseph, Michigan. Everyone was an out-of-towner, so the bag offered lots to do and see in the area, as well as a little first aid kit, bottled water and snacks. The highlight of this box were two little breads, made by the bride's mother. The little sticker on top shows off the couple's dog, hand-drawn by Anne Benjamin.

Have you seen any creative ideas for guest bags?

Picking the Right Dress

2013-05-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

When looking at wedding dresses, I was totally anxious. There is so much pressure to pick the perfect dress. So when we went shopping, I was overly critical of every detail and dragged my mom, sister, niece and at one point my brother and his girlfriend around Chicago AND New York trying to pick out a dress. After shopping some local boutiques in Chicago, I made a trip out to New York with my mom, sister and her 6 month old, Eloise. My brother, Charlie and his girlfriend, Sasha, lived in New York at the time so they tagged along for a day of dress shopping at Kleinfelds and Lovely Bride. Say Yes to the Dress was pretty big when I was dress shopping so we started at Kleinfelds. I tried on a bunch of very vintage feeling Jenny Packham and Claire Pettibone gowns but wasn’t in love with anything enough to commit. Lovely Bride was probably the cutest boutique I’ve ever been to in my life. I so badly wanted to find something there but we walked out empty handed.

Images via Jenny Packham (left), Claire Pettibone (right)

After failing in New York, I did some serious thinking about what I actually wanted in a dress. I wanted the dress to feel like me and not like I was playing dress up. Natalie, my mom and I made one more trip in Chicago to Ultimate Bride. I was feeling pretty defeated until I slipped into one last dress of the day- a silk chiffon, Grecian style Lela Rose dress. It felt like heaven on. It weighed absolutely nothing and was lined in silk. I was so comfortable and didn’t want to take it off. I was done. On my wedding day, I felt the same way- totally comfortable, ready to dance and run around. Ultimately for me, comfort was the biggest deciding factor. What made you decide on your dress?

Wedding photography by Harrison Studio

Pineapple Sunshine

2013-05-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

I live in Denver and we are treated with some seriously wonderful weather this time of year. Its been in the 60s for weeks and I've slowly started packing up my sweaters and pushing my boots to the back of the closet. But today, it is 20 degrees and we have a bit of a blizzard on our hands. I'd already mentally broken up with winter for the year so when I had to pull out my winter boots to walk the dog last night, my mind was pulling me towards summer and away from the snow. In my mental escape from winter, I'm dreaming of the tropical: pineapples.

There's something unexpected about produce in a center piece and a pile of pineapples could make a great statement piece for a summer beach wedding table.

Image via Once Wed

And I love the idea of a pineapple margarita for a signature drink.

Image via Martha Stewart

Pineapples are an international symbol for welcome. What better way to welcome out of town guests than with this pineapple tote?

Wouldn't these make sure a fun alternative bridesmaids dress? Or maybe just a honeymoon on the beach.

Summer may still be a far off memory but until then, I am gonna be sitting by my furnace, drinking a margarita in a sundress.

Meet Elise

2013-05-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

My beautiful and wise sister Elise has agreed to write some guest blog posts for me. She is much cooler and more knowledgeable about fashion and stuff. Please welcome Elise!

Last year, my husband, Bill, took a job in Denver. We packed ourselves up with our dog, Bobby Jenks, and headed west on a new adventure. I've lived in the Chicago area my whole life and in the city of Chicago since college. I've always considered myself a city person and living in Denver has been an entirely new world of hiking, skiing and having pretty mountains to look at on my morning drive to coffee. On the weekends, I love my morning yoga classes, buying myself flowers at the local market and coming home to read a good book or listen to This American Life. If we're lucky with weather, which seems more often than not in Denver, we'll go for a day hike or ski and wander through mountain towns and usually end up at one of the micro-breweries. Moving to a city where you know no one can be scary and exciting at the same time. For us, its become just one long honeymoon and always feels a bit surreal.

I never really thought much about wedding planning until I had to plan a wedding of my own in 2011. I love fashion and worked in the industry out of college planning fashion shows and events in Chicago but never connected my day to day fashion life with wedding fashion. My sister, Natalie, has been planning weddings for years and when it came time to figure out what we wanted our wedding to be, Natalie was a total life saver. I loved thinking about the pretty things and she had an amazing ability to figure out how to make the details work. Our wedding was rustic with eclectic touches and felt very much like us. I loved the idea of a "Midsummer Nights Dream" wedding with lots of candles, big branches and just earthy touches. Planning my own wedding really made me think about how style and weddings can be so connected. It's not about "wedding fashion" but just your personal style and planning a big beautiful party you can be proud of that feels like you.

You can also find Elise on all those social networks.

http://pinterest.com/elisemoranfox/

https://twitter.com/elisefox19

http://instagram.com/elisefox19

Kristin and James

2013-04-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Kristin and James were married on an absolutely beautiful day in September. Just look at that sky! There is almost nothing better than September in Chicago... maybe October...

James is in the Navy and looked so smart in his dress whites. Kristin worked with Petal Play Designs to come up with a subtle nautical theme that played so nicely with the colors and design of the Park Grill and with James' uniform.

These two were so in love, I got teary during their first dance. You could see him singing to her. I love my job!

Colin Lyons and Kristin put together a photo booth with a sparkly backdrop and Navy surplus hats. That was the only thing distracting guests from the crowded dance floor.

Lucky me, I got to work with these wonderful people:

Ceremony: St. Michael in Old Town
Reception: Park Grill
Photographer: Colin Lyons
Florist: Petal Play Design

Sarah Drake

2013-04-12T10:17:00.001-05:00

Sarah Drake and I first worked together on Allison and Mark's wedding last summer. She welcomed us into her sweet, sun filled studio with some very yummy coffee and beautiful paper. I love, love, love going to invitation meetings, digging through books and feeling paper. Sarah does, too, so she didn't mind talking weights and ingredients (can you say that about paper?). Allison had some wonderful ideas involving hand-drawn florals and Italian paper.

That meeting created this.

Allison and I really enjoyed the whole process. Sarah came up with some very original ideas that meshed well with Allison's overall theme. I also just liked plain liked her. When Sarah sent me an email about her new invitation line, I was so excited to share it!

A few of my favorites...

I love all the little details- the liners, the backing, the textures. I would love to get one of these beauties in the mail. Congrats, Sarah!

Martha Stewart Wedding Show

2013-03-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

I was lucky to be able to attend the Martha Stewart Wedding Show with the Wedding Library this past weekend. I have had a crush on Darcy Miller (MSW's editorial director) since I was engaged a million years ago. She has a lot of fun ideas and a really fun- can I call her spunky?- personality. I always thought she brought the best out of Martha when they were together on her show. Once, I got to see the show and it was pretty awesome.

I sat in the back, a bad habit that I picked up during grad school, during Darcy's presentation and panel. Hence the horrible photo. I'm only posting because I liked the light fixtures at the Radisson Blu. Darcy discussed how to personalize your wedding. This is my specialty and passion, so my ears perked up. She gave out some really amazing ideas, but nothing great for the budget conscious bride. I really don't think you need to buy stock in Etsy to personalize your wedding. However, every expensive idea has a cheap cousin and I took notes. I'll have to save those for another post.

There was a panel featuring a few representatives from the Chicago area. Ami from Elizabeth Anne Designs really (I think) stole the show. She has read through so many real weddings, been to quite a few conferences and met a thousand brides, so she has a good pulse on trends.

The vendor room was chock full of inspiration and goodies. Here are a few of my favorites.

These two displays by HMR Design Group were right up my alley. The arrangement under the bell jar reminded me of my Indie Wed booth. I love how all the little chamomile daisies look grouped together. The chairs on the tablescape were AMAZING. They looked like barnwood, but were much more comfortable and you don't have to make them yourself. The whole table was a cool mix of textures and colors.

Here is the adorable Natalie Walsh from Hello Darling. Yes, her outfit matched her decor. The linens were really unique and that piece behind her lights up. What a cool bar!

I've gotten a few cakes from Alliance Bakery and they've always been delicious, not to mention pretty. That cake on display was hand painted. My group had to stop and stare for a bit. The samples were on these really neat little disposable trays that I had to photograph. I like reusable stuff for the most part. For the right event, however, disposable is the way to go. These would work so nicely for appetizers.

The highlight of the show was the moment that Darcy Miller asked me to photograph her and the women from For Your Party (love that shop) with her phone. I really need to get over this! She must not have been happy with my photography skills (can you blame her?! Look above) because I can't find that photo posted anywhere. I'll keep an eye out and report back if I can dig it up.

Indie Wed, 2013

2013-03-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

I've been delaying writing this post because I didn't actually get to experience Indie Wed. I was there, I met some wonderful couples and I was able to try a very tasty cupcake from Pure Kitchen Catering. It was so busy, however, that I wasn't able to step away from my booth.

I must say, however, that I had some lovely booth mates. I'd like to introduce you to a few.

I hadn't met photographer Mark Federighi before we set up shop next to his booth, but what luck! First, I forgot my fancy camera. The phone photos that I took of my booth were dark and yellow. Mark emailed me the next day and asked if I wanted copies of his photos. Why yes, thank you very much! Mark had a really beautiful album of images, with one seriously impressive wedding at a VFW hall. He's new to the business, so grab him for your wedding weekend before he gets booked!

Binding Bee was right across from me and I couldn't have asked for a nicer view. Megan Winn had a gorgeous spread of repurposed books. For a bride, these would make a lovely journal, guest book or photo album. Each one was a little, portable piece of art. The photo of her booth was taken by another lovely Indie Wed vendor, Amanda Megan Miller.

Thank you to my beautiful friend Viviana at Petal Play Design who made my little tea cup arrangement. I wish I had a photo of her rocking booth!

Martha Stewart Wedding Party Ticket Giveaway!

2013-03-06T08:30:00.000-06:00

UPDATE: We have our winners!

Martha Stewart is hosting a big party in Chicago this Sunday and you're invited!

There is a pretty long and lovely list of vendors, with quite a few of my favorites on the list. I am most excited to see Great Life Music perform. Colby Beserra and the Party Faithful from GLM were the band that made my wedding night so memorable.

The best part is that I have some tickets to give away! Comment below and I will randomly select the winners. This contest is closing on Friday, March 8 at noon central.

Here are some photos from the New York show. I love Darcy Miller!

Happy Birthday, Pride and Prejudice!

2013-01-28T20:00:00.001-06:00

200 years young, am I right?

Today is the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This is my absolute favorite book and the inspiration for the name of my business. If you haven't read the book because it has the stigma of being a high school English reading assignment, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. Its even free through Google Play.

In 1995, I was in eighth grade. I saw an ad for the BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and, although I hadn't read the book, something got me excited... Colin Firth, maybe. Hubba hubba. Anyway, the ad was posted several weeks before the miniseries aired, so I ran out and bought a hard copy of the book (it was 1995- plus I love real books) and tore through it. The cover was boring, the language was antiquated. I was just starting to get into the Beats and this was no Jack Kerouac. But I LOVED it. I love it. I ate dinner in bed so that I could watch the miniseries alone without my younger siblings interruptions. It was as good as the book. When does that happen?

Although the most popular scene from that movie is Colin Firth winning a wet t-shirt contest after a swim in Pemberley's pond (duh), my favorite is Mr. Darcy's failed proposal. I love him.

Love him.

I guess I enjoy a good challenge.

Indie Wed 2013 Giveaway!

2013-01-03T09:09:00.000-06:00

This contest is now closed. I hope to see you at Indie Wed!

I had so much fun at Indie Wed last year that I decided to try it again. This year's event will be held on February 2nd, back at the very cool Ravenswood Event Center. The event creators aren't holding the contest again- we must have set the bar a little too high (hah!)- so I opted for my own little table. I have to admit that I am having a hard time stuffing all this creativity into a 3x3 table. It is not every day that I get do something just for me... and the thousands of Indie Wed attendees.

As a part of Indie Wed, I get to give away a few tickets. Comment below with the one sentence (the elevator pitch) story of how you became betrothed. I'll give away 3 sets of 2 tickets using one of those random number generator thingies. I would love to hear the love! I also hope to see you at Indie Wed!

While you're here, keep up with Pemberley Events by subscribing to our email list (on the right), liking us on Facebook or adding us on Google+.

Happy New Year!

2013-01-02T21:52:00.001-06:00

2012 was a big year for Pemberley Events. I started off the year on a great note by being part of the winning team for the Inspired Creations Contest at Indie Wed. From there, I planned, I created, I cried happy tears, I ducked out of photos, I even danced through many wonderful weddings. I love, love, love my clients. I've been crafting perfectly personalized proposals left and right now that engagement season is here. 2013 is filling up and looking bright. Maybe I should blog about it.

Personally, my 2012 was also just perfect. Our sweet little Sadie came in early June as a sweet little kick-off for wedding season. Fortunately, she is as happy as can be which made the road back to work smooth. I am married to SuperDad, who kept big sister content and baby safe while I was running between meetings. He also updated my website in his spare time. I am a lucky girl!

Here is a shot from our family session. Amanda Hein came out to the house and made Eloise fall in love with her. In case you were wondering, she is also a very talented wedding photographer. I met her when I was part of this bridal shoot one million years ago.

I hope 2012 was a happy one for you, as well. If you've found your way here because you're newly engaged, congratulations and best wishes! It is such an exciting time. Please check out Pemberley Events by clicking on my logo on the top right. I look forward to working with you!

Elise Bergman dresses

2012-02-23T15:16:00.002-06:00

My sister, Elise, has always had an interest in fashion. After graduating from college, she decided to try and make a career out of it. She landed a pretty sweet job with a group, run by the city of Chicago, that helps local designers start and grow their business. She was able to meet some really amazing people and bulk up her already deep closet. Elise Bergman was one of her new friends. Elise asked Elise (who also has a sister named Natalie!) to design her bridesmaid dresses.

My sister wanted something unique and flattering, in shades of grey. At our fitting/dress selection, Elise made it so easy by handing us a card, covered in swatches, and asking us to pick one. We all tried on several dresses and found the most fun and flattering. Elise measured us up for a great fit. Here we are, all pretty and not-too-matchy.

Elise was great to work with and I love my dress. She has so many fabrics and colors- solids and patterns. If you are having a hard time finding something great out there, consider custom.

Vintage Valentines

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I do really like today. It is the anniversary of my first date with my husband. It is a day when I always get lots of wonderful, homemade treats- even when I make them myself. I like having another excuse to spoil Eloise. It is also something fun to look forward to when Chicago's winter is at its worst.

There is a really sweet antique mall close to my in-law's lake home in Michigan. We go almost every time we are in town as we love to dig around for treasures. On our last trip, I picked up a few adorable vintage valentines.

I love the drawings and the corny messages. How cute is this little guy?

I took my sweet time searching through boxes, trying to find the right message. It was much more fun than going to Hallmark (or even Paper Source). The one above is going to my sister and her husband, Bill. Pretty perfect, right?

I hope you all have lots of chocolate today!

Pemberley Events featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs!

2012-02-10T07:26:00.001-06:00

We've actually been on Elizabeth Anne Designs twice in the past week (lucky us!), but I'll get back to the earlier post soon.

Our entry for the Indie Wed Inspired Creations Contest was featured yesterday and I am pretty darn excited. We haven't been able to share our official photos until now- I think to add a little drama for the contest. Here is a little peak. Head over to Elizabeth Anne Designs and let us know what you think. We'd love some comments.

If you are interested, here is our full write-up on what inspired us/what we used to create Come Fly with Me!

Our vignette was inspired by a photo of a fun-loving couple in a hot air balloon. From that idea, we branched out to a playful, organic feeling wedding vignette. Most of our display was vintage, with many items from either Viviana or Renee's shop. What wasn't vintage was handmade or inexpensively purchased.

We started with a natural looking canopy/chuppah to “frame” our display. The chuppah was with PVC piping; the posts wrapped in ripped and lightly burned pieces of muslin. A ceiling of branches created the perfect organic structure to hang a multitude of lanterns and candles. We also created two papier mache hot air balloons to hang from the chuppah, flowers springing from their baskets.

We chose a natural wood table and 6 mismatched chairs for our dinner party. We created a natural colored runner (to highlight the wood) with a variety of coordinating ribbons attached and muslin napkins to match. Pops of color came to the table in the glassware (translucent red and yellow hobnail), and patterned dishes. Saucers with a “come fly with me” cloud cup cake and a muslin favor bag added a little whimsy. We wrapped our flatware and napkin in a themed menu band. Three floral arrangements in vintage earthenware were displayed along the length of the table. The florals were seasonal, lush and natural in feel.

We hung our balloon and a sky-themed backdrop along the back wall. The balloon and its basket were made from foam board, then papier mache'd a bit for texture and pai nted for color. Rachel set up a camera in front of the balloon so that we could host a photo booth. Guests really enjoyed taking their photo in a hot air balloon! They took advantage of a few props as well- chalkboard text bubbles, hats and fascinators. They received an email shortly after the event letting them know how they could download their photo.

We also set up a small blue table with a vintage typewriter, seating chart, cake, a small floral arrangement and a few vintage books. We created the seating chart with a typewriter font and fed it into the typewriter. Behind the table, we hung a burlap map ("Where in the world are you sitting?") and attached small hot air balloons to show guests to their "continent." The main table included a small "Africa" sign to tie the two together. Our sweet, mint green cake with sugar anemones added a final, lovely touch to our display.

A Thought on Floral Samples

2012-02-06T11:36:00.000-06:00

I LOVE Sarah at Saipua. Her flowers are always just perfect and her blog posts are fun to read. This is usually because she comes across as grounded, sweet and funny. Last week, she wrote something a bit inspirational. I kept thinking about it last night and today, so I thought I would share it with you.

Her post was on florists providing samples of wedding arrangements. These can be bouquets or centerpieces. They can include the works- linens, glassware, lit candles- or can just be a loose arrangement to show color and style. Sarah says that her samples can cost her up to $300, and afterward there isn't much she can do with them to make up for this cost. Commenters from other parts of the country (Saipua is in Brooklyn) confirmed that estimated cost. While she has no trouble offering "the works" to clients with a budget of $10k or more, she must charge if the budget is less. I thought this post, and the comments, gave some great background. Although you are hiring your vendors to help you, they can't do everything to please you. It isn't economical for them.

When I tag along with my clients to floral appointments, this conversation almost always comes up. Often the florist offers before we have a chance to ask. Sometimes the offers are free, sometimes it is just a heads up so that we know the cost. I never ask for samples before booking because 1) it is rarely the same season as the wedding, and so the flower options will be totally different and 2) florists almost always provide a wealth of photos (digital or printed) of their work, and the client and I can get a good sense of her or his style. It is usually too early for even the client to know exactly what she or he wants.

I am always surprised when they are offered in advance of booking or shortly after. I know it is a big expense, both in money and time. After booking and close to the wedding, a sample with linens and glassware is so helpful so that we can see everything together and add or remove small touches. This isn't always in budget, however. It pays to do your research and hire good help if a sample isn't an option for you. Of all the things I love about my job, pulling it all together has to be the best- even if it is just photos on an inspiration board.

I think this demand for samples comes from bad advice. After being a bit of an addict as a bride, I am now totally out of the loop on message boards. I do, however, remember floral samples were brought up time and again. "Just ask for a sample!" This could apply to make-up artists, cake bakers, custom dress designers... Trust the relationship you have developed with your vendor rather than the advice you get from message boards. Being considerate will do more for you than being demanding. As Sarah said-

Trust is pretty important to me. If you trust me, and I love you than I'm going to go above and beyond for you... There is NOTHING more exhilarating in my work than making incredible flowers for clients who love what we do. Nothing. And no budgets, whether big or small will ever stop us from finding those people we can make happy with flowers.

Up, Up and Away!

2012-01-23T15:00:00.002-06:00

Here we go! A little sneak preview of our vignette for Indie Wed this weekend. You, too, will be able to take a photo this awesome.

Unfortunately, that is not my dog. Sweet little Louise belongs to Viviana and can frequently be found in her shop.

Come Fly with Us!

2012-01-18T15:51:00.001-06:00

May I present... our inspiration board for the Inspired Creations Contest at Indie Wed! The real impetus was that top right photo of the hipster couple, floating in a hot air balloon. As our team assembled for the first time and began to unload their inspirational photos and notes, Renee and I immediately noticed that we had both visions of hot air balloons. Everyone agreed that this was a fabulous idea and here we are. I don't want to give too much more away as I hope to see some of you at Indie Wed.

I also want to say that we have added two amazing new companies to our line-up. Creative Cakes will be providing a bright and fluffy cake and a beautiful gown from Monirose. We're getting so excited!

BHLDN Now Open in Chicago

2012-01-12T08:30:00.000-06:00

Hey there, Gold Coast! Look what you are getting for Valentine's Day....

I am a sucker for Anthropologie, and so it follows that I love BHLDN. Would prefer that it was just Beholden... or maybe Equal Partners in Love Looking Awesome (EPLLA? Not as catchy). But, I do find it beautiful and inspirational. I look forward to visiting the store, now that they are in the best city in the world.

Hooray! Inspired Creations Contest!

2012-01-11T11:33:00.002-06:00

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I received a really wonderful surprise. Along with a small team of my favorite wedding friends, Pemberley Events was chosen to be part of the Inspired Creations Contest at Indie Wed! Indie Wed is wonderful wedding event with local, "indie" vendors. Its the Etsy of wedding events. My sister found her ceremony musician- the very talented Neil Dixon Smith- there last year. I wrote a few posts after the 2010 show on the blog after meeting some really fabulous artists. I am still obsessed with Small Objects and Layer Cake Shop.

Anywho, meet the very talented "Come Fly with Us" team!

Viviana from Petal Play Designs Viv has become our family florist, so I am a bit biased, but she rules. If you want your flowers to look unlike anything you have ever seen, if you want a florist who cares- passionately- about perfect decor, if you want to enjoy every vendor meeting, Viv is your woman. Oh, and I can't leave her shop without buying something awesome.

Rachel from Image Icon Photography Rachel will running what might be the coolest part of our booth... maybe, I'm not sure. Our booth is going to be pretty dang awesome. Rachel will be providing some awesome photography that you will be able to interactively enjoy. Aside from being our teammate, Rachel is an accomplished and savvy photographer.

Renee from 11 Eureka Boutique. In addition to running a well curated and adorable shop, Renee is an bottomless pit of creativity. She makes some super cool fascinators- which Viv sells in her shop. She also seems to have an endless supply of oddities and crafty supplies. During our meetings, Renee always comes up with the solution to a problem with "Oh! My Grandpa can make that" or "Oh! I just picked one of those up at a flea market." I really need to visit her garage.

I will introduce our inspiration board in the next post. I hope that you can join us at Indie Wed to see it in action!

Hello, Pemberley!

2012-01-05T15:54:00.000-06:00

photo credit

Happy New Year! After considering, deciding, overanalyzing, then acting- I have changed the name of my business. No one understood me at industry events when I would introduce myself. I felt like a teenager saying "I Heart" all the time... like I should follow that up with LOL! POS. IMHO I needed to make a change.

Although I love my name, my last name is regularly spelled incorrectly and I'm not an "Events by Natalie" kind of girl. If you aren't going to use your name, naming your business is a challenge. There are a million possibilities, yet every time I found one that I liked it had been taken by someone in Georgia. Pemberley crossed my mind after reading Pride and Prejudice for the 79th time. Pemberley is Mr. Darcy's amazing estate, where (spoiler alert... almost two hundred years post publication) he and Elizabeth go to live after their wedding. Romantic, personal to me and easy to spell. Done.

I have started re-working my site and I still have a lot to do, including adding photos from 2011 weddings. With Eloise starting preschool next week, I am hoping to be able to blog a bit more. 2012 is going to be an exciting year, with lots of loving couples and creative adventures. More on that later. I hope 2012 is treating you well!

black heels to tractor wheels, part 2

2011-04-04T22:29:00.000-05:00

More questions from The Pioneer Woman's book!

(Samantha) What did you think of Marlboro Man's proposal? How would you feel if you were proposed to like that?

Their relationship was such a whirlwind, it just seemed to fit. It was like they were in a big hurry to start their lives together. It didn't fit his personality to come up with a big surprise. My husband proposed in a really thoughtful and romantic way. Not that I didn't love it, but I would have said yes and I would have been thrilled if he had just asked while we were watching TV. Its hard to say... I'm just glad he asked.

(Samantha) She wrote a lot about never riding in a pickup truck before and how she used to judge girls who rode in the middle. After being with Marlboro Man she felt differently and actually wanted to ride in the middle. How do you feel about that? Have you ever judged somebody and then after learning more, regret that you had judged them?

I think she was always jealous! If she was swept away by just seeing the backside of the Marlboro Man in the bar, she must have had a thing for cowboys. She was most likely not allowed to do such a thing- either by her parents or society. I think that is totally understandable. Being a mom has made me retract a lot of judgments, particularly over kids with messy hair or food on their faces. Also, personality has just as much to do with temper tantrums as parenting skills. I have been humbled more often than not and I laugh about the way I used to look at frazzled moms!

(mcbracey) Do you wonder what Ree is doing all day? How is she financially making it? Is she really just waiting around all day to meet up with Marlboro man at night?

I got the impression that she was packing for Chicago up until about the time he proposed. I'm assuming that her parents were taking care of her financially. She might have been looking for jobs- both in Tulsa and Chicago. Maybe she was just watching a lot of movies and dreaming of her cowboy...

(mcbracey) Would you let your now husband duck out of your reception to watch a football game?

Probably not, at least not for an extended period of time, but we did consider what sporting events might be occurring when we picked the date of our wedding! I also think they were still so lovey over each other, she would have let him get away with anything.

(Erin) So many embarrassing things have happened to Ree in front of Marlboro Man. What is the most embarrassing story that comes to mind when you think of embarrassing things that have happened to you in front of a significant other?

This book has brought out a lot of personal questions! I do embarrass myself, but most of the good stuff happened before I met my husband. I did pinch him this weekend after he stole my phone to snoop on plans for his birthday. We were out to lunch with his parents. He cursed loudly and nearly fell out of his chair, most of Panera was looking at us. I didn't mean to pinch him that hard! His parents must think I am abusive.

(Erin) How would you have reacted to being around for the prairie fire?

My family had a house fire when I was in high school. I was the only one home and had to call the fire department. I don't think I would have reacted well to being in the middle of the flames again.
(Rachel) There have been so many funny little stories along the way in the book. What has been your favorite? Any favorite lines?

I just love how sweaty she is! Her blog is so honest, a little crass, and so real. The book has polished her stories to a shine. The sweaty comments and stories remind me why I love her writing. The story about the family wedding and the beautiful suit made me giggle. I loved picturing her in the bathroom, stripped, trying to cool off, and of course the Marlboro Man comes looking for her.

black heels to tractor wheels, part 2

2011-04-04T21:57:00.002-05:00

I went on vacation and then spent a week trying to catch up on work. My questions were delayed! I did finish the book during my travels, so I cheated... again.

This month we are reading Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. It is a real life love story between a city girl and a cowboy. During a pitstop at home in Oklahoma between Los Angeles and Chicago, Ree meets Marlboro Man and her plans are radically altered. I love The Pioner Woman's site, particularly her recipes, so I was excited to read her book. My mom had read about their courtship on Pioneer Woman and raved about it. It is so very romantic. I am having a hard time not reading ahead (Ed. note: this didn't last very long)!

Book club members were asked to submit questions, hence the name before each question.

(Rachel) Has this book brought you back to the beginning of a romantic relationship in your life?

Her story does not remind me of any specific relationships, but I do remember that general giddyness and giggleyness (just made those words up, feel free to borrow them) that is part of a new relationship. Its quite fun to think about, actually! There are few things better than a great first kiss.

(Erin) What surprised you about Ree? If this was your first time reading about her background, did anything surprise you about her "beginnings?"

Although I hadn't read the love story on Pioner Woman, my mom had told me enough that I understood their beginnings. I was a little surprised at all the brand name dropping. I am assuming that is to emphasize her big city life. I also didn't realize that she lived in LA for such a long time. Moving from LA to a ranch would be a TOUGH transition. I can't believe she was a vegetarian either. Her recipes are very carnivore friendly!

(Nina) While reading Part I of Black Heels, did you find yourself comparing your own love life/story to Ree's?

Its natural to do the comparison, and I did relate a bit to giving up "your plan" for the love of your life. My husband and I have more similar backgrounds than Ree and Marlboro Man. Jake grew up a little closer to cornfields than I did and often comments about how he just wants a "piece of land," but we aren't moving to the country any time soon! I do understand the sacrifice of leaving the city as I left my big city to move closer to him. Even though I live in a suburb of Chicago, I miss living downtown.

(Nina) Would you have handled ex-boyfriend (J) the same way or differently than Ree did?

Its so hard to say without knowing J or being part of those conversations, but I probably would have done the same thing. Its hard to call it quits after 4 years when no one has done anything wrong (i.e. cheating, gambling binges, other nasty behavior). I'm sure that I wouldn't have been confident enough in my decision to just break-off communication in LA. I would hope that I would have ended things in a more official capacity after a few dates with MM. To be honest, I would have called J after that first night in the bar!

(Nina) Have you ever made a life-changing decision based on a guy in your life? And how did it work out for you?

I'm having a hard time answering this question without getting too personal... there is a lot more that I can say, but I won't! I will say that if Jake and I weren't married, I would probably be living downtown Chicago. I love the little suburb that we live in, but I do miss the city.

(Stephanie) How do you think Ree's family felt that she was just going to give up going to Chicago for a guy she had just met?

I think they were probably pretty confused! I'm sure her parents and her brother Mike were happy that she was staying so close to home. Her brother in Chicago thought she was making a huge mistake (which he told her) but hopefully once he met MM he felt better about it. Her sister seems very supportive. I'm sure she was happy if Ree was happy.

(Rocky Mountain Wife) If you were Ree and started to question your life plan (leaving Cali, moving to Chicago, being independent for a while)...how would you feel when this sudden romance came into your life at the 'wrong' time?

I would think that I would question my motives. MM was kind of a rebound from J. There was a bit of time between Ree meeting Marlboro Man and their first date, so she had time to think about what dating him would mean. They spent so much time together. They must have known each other pretty well. I think it would be so hard to have decided against shaping my life around one man only to (even more dramatically) do the same for another. Their love seems so very romantic, like new love. I wonder how true to life that was!

(Meghan) How do you think the situation with Ree's parents affected her relationship with Marlboro Man? (Or do think it did not affect her?)

It definitely affected her. It made her question all the happy moments of her childhood and I'm sure it shook up her image of an ideal marriage. It seems like she didn't let it hurt her relationship with Marlboro Man, perhaps it made it stronger.

(Meredith) I love all the details of Ree's cooking for Marlboro Man in the early stages of their relationship. Have you ever made anything for the guy in your life that was just an utter disaster? Did he choke it down anyway?

I am my harshest critic when it comes to cooking and baking! There are things that I have made that we both choked down due to the amount of time or money that I spent making the dish. Lately it has been overcooked chicken or noodles- having a toddler makes you forget about what is on the stove! I don't think I was brave enough to cook during the early stages of our relationship.

(Amber) How much of Ree's book do you think is truth or fiction? How much did she embellish? Do you think she omitted or added anything? Obviously she couldn't get EVERYTHING that happened during this period of her life in the book, but I kept wondering what was left out and if some of the stuff she was writing was built up just a teensy tiny bit.

I kept thinking that she was writing the book with her children in mind. They would read it someday and I'm sure they wouldn't want to hear about mom and dad getting hot and heavy in the back of the pick-up truck or their messy arguments. She used a lot of "flowery words" (the dreaded critique from my high school English teacher) in describing their make-out sessions and I'm sure that she was leaving stuff out! I don't really think she was embellishing their love... I think they had a really long honeymoon period. I can't believe that they only fought once between meeting and marriage. I can see MM being a calming influence and not one to argue, but Ree seems like a firecracker. I could see her picking a few unnecessary fights!

ape house questions, part 3

2011-02-21T22:16:00.000-06:00

Wrapping it up! Although I didn't love the book, I did really enjoy reading along with the Book Beginnings and Bookends group and I am looking forward to next time!

1. How would you describe the relationship between John and Isabel?

Blah. I don't understand what happened! It seemed like something exciting was going to happen and then it just fizzled to nothing. I didn't want John to cheat on Amanda, but I was hoping there would be some "oh, are they going to kiss!?" moment and there was nothing. It seemed like any attraction was one-sided (John's) and I'm not really sure what the point of it all was.

2. What was your reaction to finding out Peter's role in the explosion and capture of the apes?

I kinda saw it coming. The author had been hinting that Peter wasn't such a great guy since the beginning. It made sense that someone from the "inside" had facilitated the capture and I really didn't think it would be Celia. He was a bum.

3. Both John and Amanda ended up achieving their professional goals. Amanda ended up getting pregnant and John is excited about having a baby. Do you think this is the end to their problems? Can John and Amanda be happy?

If John got all hot and bothered about someone he hardly knew, I can't believe that he wouldn't do it again. I also wonder how much Isabel had to do with his love for the apes. He is still reporting on the apes and Isabel. He is also taking these dangerous assignments to Africa while his wife is pregnant?! I would hope that he would snap out of it and be happy at home, but I doubt it. Perhaps if his career is fulfilling, he can be happy at home.
4. What did you find to be the most intriguing about the bonobos?

The language! I would love to watch them communicating with Isabel. They are so misunderstood and underappreciated.

5. Which character did you enjoy reading about the most?

Isabel. She seemed the most interesting and complex. I always enjoyed when the author came back to her. She was so strong. She battled back from the horrible accident hardly thinking of herself but only of her apes. I would have wanted more on her history. Her insistence on calling the bonobos family made her seem so lonely.

6. Was the ending what you expected? Did things resolve the way you thought they would?

The tone of the book led me to believe that it would have a happy ending. I couldn't imagine the apes being killed or sent off to that horrible test site. I did think that John and Amanda's marriage might have ended or at least left rocky, but I didn't think John and Isabel would get together.

7. And finally, any overall thoughts or feelings that these questions haven't addressed? How would you rate this book for others? Any part that you loved? Anything you hated? SHARE!

I honestly didn't love the book! I thought there was way too much going on. What was the deal with the meth lab and the dog? What about Isabel's background? Why did Gruen try to make us think that John was the father of the green haired kid? I'm not sure why we needed to know the story of his first sexual experience. Cut the green haired kid, cut the meth lab and the dog, cut all the details on the porn star. Give me more on the bonobos and Isabel. I thought the scenes inside the Ape House were the most interesting. I wish much more of the book had been spent detailing their adventures. I guess I was just frustrated that it ended with so many random loose ends. I'm not sure how I would rate it... What is the scale? I give it 2 out of 5 Jane Austens!

ape house questions, part 2

2011-02-17T09:18:00.004-06:00

Here are my responses for chapters 13 to 25 in Ape House for the Book Beginnings and Bookends group. I read ahead, like last time, and I am really regretting it! I'm struggling to put myself back where I was before I had finished the book... Next time I will wait for the rest of the group!

1. Would you watch or be tempted to watch a show like Ape House?

Aside from being a HUGE fan of the Bachelor, I don't watch a lot of reality tv. I guess I watch Jersey Shore, too, which seems a little like Ape House. I could see watching it once or twice, but concern for the animals would make me turn it off. It is such an unnatural setting for them! If someone like Isabel had been part of the show and it seemed to be a loving environment, I might have watched!

2. Do you think John did the right thing by quitting his job and moving to L.A.?

I do. His marriage was suffering and nothing good could have come from him staying behind. He needed to get out of that job, too, although I thought he was a little crazy for leaving before finding a new one. I also found it sad that he and Amanda hadn't talked through her new career and move more thoroughly before she left. She sprung it on him and expected him to just go with it. He took the news better than a lot of partners would. I wonder how moving to New Mexico will affect their relationship.

3. We haven't seen a whole lot of Isabel in this section, but what do you think of Peter now that we know more about him?

He is a creep! He slept with Celia, which is enough to think he is a bad guy, but his previous treatment of the apes makes him seem like an opportunist. I am also pretty confident that the "shithead from Kansas" is Peter. He must be involved in the show, and possibly the sale of the apes to Ken Faulks. I'm not sure why Faulks would have a relationship with him otherwise.

4. Can John turn the ape story for the tabloid into something he is proud of? Is he getting a little bit of redemption by being assigned to his dream story again even if it is for a tabloid?

I can't imagine US Weekly publishing an in depth article on the mistreatment of apes, even if there were a hit television show on the subject. It would be fluffy and really just filler for the photos... not that I don't love US Weekly! If this were reality, he could bring some attention to the apes and maybe help the cause. I doubt his editor would want more than that. I keep thinking that he should sell the story to a better paper. Can a journalist even do that? Probably not. Based on the tone of this book, I bet he gets the final story published in its entirety so that his trip to LA wasn't a total waste.

5. Have your thoughts on John and Amanda's marriage changed since last week? Where do you see their marriage headed?

Their relationship is so sad. She is clearly struggling and he is gone. I keep thinking something horrible is going to happen to her- she is robbed, she has a horrible miscarriage, she is publicly embarrassed by having her ideas stolen and kicked off the show. My thoughts haven't really changed. I still think that John will seek comfort in Isabel and Amanda will be terribly hurt.

6. What do you think will end up happening to the apes?

I really can't imagine that Gruen would end this book unhappily. I'm not sure exactly how it will play out- another university offers to buy them, an anonymous donor helps Isabel to purchase them, maybe something illegal is revealed about the sale and the FBI gets involved- but the apes will be okay.