thank you etsy

Dear Etsy,
I can't imagine life before you. You have thinned my wallet, added texture to my wedding, provided simple thoughtful presents and most of all allowed me to creatively define my style. Almost everything I have ordered comes with a personal note from the hands behind the craft and it makes it that much more special. From my wedding guestbook, shoes, cupcake wrappers and jewelry and Alex's groomsmen gifts to moms birthday present and my thank you notes, life's little details feel so much more meaningful.

All the best-

Here are some of my favorites...


(Lucky Accessories)


(Babettworld)


(Stuff made from Stuff)


(Millburn Design)


(Buy Some Love)

and lastly my friend Heather's shop...


(LilyBird Shop)

40 dollars of wonder

So this apparent "wonderbar" is all the rage in the skin industry right now. Well that is according to various blogs/websites and the like so I figured I would give it a whirl. My years of baby oil lathering and no regard for sunscreen are since past but the damage has slowly started to set in. I will give an update in a few weeks after using it every day and let you know if its really what its all cracked up to be.

my favorite poem

In time’s a noble mercy of proportion
with generosities beyond believing
(though flesh and blood accuse him of coercion
or mind and soul convict him of deceiving)

whose ways are neither reasoned nor unreasoned,
his wisdom cancels conflict and agreement
-saharas have their centuries, ten thousand
of which are smaller than a rose’s moment

there’s time for laughing and there time for crying-
for hoping for despair for peace for longing
-a time for growing and a time for dying:
a night for silence and a day for singing
but more than all (as all your more than eyes
tell me) there is a time for timelessness

--E.E.Cummings

Visualizing it...

IfItWasMyHome.com - Visualizing the BP Oil Disaster

It might be easier to donate money when you watch the expanse of human life taken in minutes, and we watch the babies and the mothers look for the result of concrete crashing on top of humanity on the news and in our papers. But the gulf is no different. It will be a slower death, to the birds and the fish, the beaches and the proud jobs of fishermen as the spill engulfs livelihoods, families and futures. Im ashamed of BP as we all are, and there are many fingers we will spend years pointing at, but now it is about action. The ten extra dollars we spend at the grocery store can help clean the muck off dolphins, and attempt to prevent the more than 227 sea turtles that have already perished.

Click here to donate to the National WIldlife Federation.

1 month to go....

"Pencils Down" screams my inner dialogue but in reality its hard to give up the wedding blogs; force fed information that gets me through the day till I can get home and change my mind a hundred times about details few will remember from a 5 hour party. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself, but Ive tried to slow down now because I almost dont want it to happen. It will be over so fast and I will have hardly punctured the wedding list by the time we hit our first dance... I just want to hit pause! But like a freight train on we roll...

This past weekend we went to a fabulous wedding in Pinehurst. The friend wedding troupe was in full gear to celebrate Miss Jane Claire and her new husband Kelly and I have to say I just dont know what I am going to do when wedding season finally comes to an end...

Summer Shoe Fun

I have been eagerly awaiting the new TOM wedge this summer and today is the day. They are out and the internet is lighting up with traffic. I cant wait to support kids in need and walk comfortably 2" taller this summer in my new fun wedges!

To learn more about the philanthropist behind the craze click here

Cheers

Summertime in Chicago

My most favorite time of year in Chicago, the tulips are a bloomin, the birds are a chirpin and the patio decks are rockin'! Since last summer, little tiller is all grown up and we are about to get married...wonder what next summer will bring in Brazil...but for now

Dear Chicago... I am so going to miss you....

Happy Memorial Day! We are off to Pinehurst to Celebrate Jane Claire's Wedding =)

Ready….Set….

So I have been nervous for a while about how I might tell people at work I am leaving. You have to understand, we are very small and operate much like a family. Every one knows what everyone else is up to, what they are doing on the weekends (if not spent at work) and generally that we are all managing the growth of the somewhat new office together. Monday morning I got in a little early and saw my boss over in the drawing corner. I figured, well it’s just the two of us here whenever is there a better time? “Good morning Jana I have some news for you.” Wait, you have news?? “I put in my two weeks!” Yep, my boss the principle who, mind you, started the Chicago office just 3 years ago (and was with our company for over 15 years)… is moving on to start his own firm. So that changed the game a little. I quickly broke my news and it couldn’t have better timing. He suggested I modify my portfolio over the next few weeks as my firm is apparently going to be working on the Olympics and there is a good chance they are starting a design office in Sao Paolo....like now!! Hmm maybe I wont be starting my dream career as an in/ex designer (my term for for my new job description im creating in the future...interior/exterior landscape architect) for another few years.

Ready… Set…..Brazil here we come….and I might just have a job now too!
As a paisagista (portuguese for landscape architect)! Yea, now about that Portuguese....

The times of our lives.

This past weekend my good friend Jane Claire and I celebrated a joint bachlorette weekend in Charleston. With 19 girls in tow we beached, played and danced our little hearts out in the best 80's costumes. It almost makes me teary to think how lucky we are to have spent such a great weekend with girls who drove and flew from all over the country to be with us. I truly have the best of friends. I cannot describe the kind of emotions experienced when you have all your amigos in one place together, sharing silly stories for days.

These fabulous pre-wedding moments are passing by far too quickly. Thank goodness for cameras and thank you thank you for best friends.

had to continue the theme...

So as I spend too many hours worth mentioning to find the perfect wedding shoes I came across these walkable wonders. Now, I am looking for flower inspired shoes to the point where I am about to retire and just make my own but I guess its always worth knowing whats possible out there in shoe world. Just when you didn't know where else to plant your spring flowers....

Happy Tuesday.

OBSESSED.. with everything flower...

I know I'm a prep. No Shame... so its no surprise that I would fully promote and adore this website. How many ways can you wear a flower? Let Emerson show you...








I cannot get enough of Emersonmade and dont be surprised if you see it again... like all over at the wedding =)

One of my favorite people on earth, Nancy, tagged me to be in the (contemporary) hot seat next.
Here are the rules:
1. Post the above picture to your post or your own version of a chair…
2. Share 5 things about yourself (silly, inspiring, super honest)
3. Nominate another blogger friend


So here goes...

1. I love Alex. Simply, truly, forever.



2. I love Life. Family. Friends









3. I love to see the world. And capture it the best way I know how.







4. (The beach is great but) I Love the mountains...Aspens and blue sky powder days







5. I love my sweet little pleasures …

Shoes, Champagne and Great tunes..







Now, I nominate another blog I quite enjoy....B's Peregrinations!