A More Perfect Union
Melissa gave me this book as a gift when I was in Dallas and I just started reading it last night. It’s totally making sigh in relief, since I think I’m reacting to being engaged just like the main character in the book. I don’t have my “perfect” day planned out in my head, I have no idea what to do in terms of flowers, dresses, budget, location and almost find it revolting altogether since I’m so busy with other things in life.
Bobby and I are from opposite sides of the country and don’t have a specific place we REALLY want to get married. We want to do something nice, but not go overboard, we do not want to be stressed but find ourselves totally stressing out when trying to make any major decisions. The wedding industry totally does that to people though – making you think you have to make it perfect and fabulous and over-the-top. I want it to be a day I remember forever, not a stress-filled day of craziness that leaves me wiped out and exhausted.
Anyway – I’m super excited to keep reading this book and find out what she decides to do with her wedding. Maybe it will put things into perspective for me and help me handle it Shellie-style. Thank you Melissa for the wonderful gift. I really needed a new book to read as well. Muah!
Great Weekend, Condo Update, Studio Space ;)
Hello!
Bobby and I (and Kurty) had a great time I had this weekend with Mom + Dad Fiocca! They were literally only here for 1 day but it was really nice to see them and hang out. They stayed in a corner suite at the Dana Hotel and Spa looking down State Street with floor to ceiling windows…it was pretty cool (more pictures here). We spent the day walking around the area and eating good food. We came back to the hotel in the afternoon and watched a movie. haha. It was really fun and I’m so glad we spent time relaxing and hanging out because that’s exactly what I was hoping for. :)
The photo to the right is us standing on the bridge near our new condo building on Saturday. We took a cab over there to show my parents and they were really excited to see it. I almost forgot how excited I was 2 months ago when they pushed back our closing…but since we went back I’m super excited again. :) We are literally a week away from new closing date. WOO HOO. Lets see if we really get to close this time! ha! Continue Reading →
At the ER with Bobby
Got a call while I was making dinner tonight that Bobby was a couple of streets over at Northwestern Memorial Hostpital’s ER…he was playing in a volleyball game with co-workers and came down from a spike on another guy’s foot. He is getting X-rays now to see if its broken or sprained. Cross your fingers that its only sprained! *sent from my phone… :/
**Okay update – he’s got a severe sprain (no fracture – although they said he may have to go back in two weeks and get another Xray to see if there are any minor fractures.) My poor Bobby – I know how he hates to be restrained from moving around and doing his own thing. Hopefully with a lot of ice, ibprofen, and elevation he will be back to normal in 3-4 weeks.
My Paper N Stitch Exhibition
Hi Guys! If you get a chance – check out my shop at the Paper N Stitch Exhibition today thru March 22nd and “favorite me” by clicking the heart on my shop page. The more hearts I get, the more chances I have to win prizes at the end of the month. I hope you enjoy the exhibition and check out all the other talented and amazing artists in the exhibit. :)
Check back for updates as well because I will be uploading more artwork to the site as the weeks go on. Thanks again to all you wonderful people out there that support me. Love like that makes the world go round.
Little City Center for the Arts
This is Little City Center for the Arts‘ new website that I designed at Orbit recently. I am so happy with the way it turned out. My favorite part about this project is that I love the organization – for more than 20 years, they have provided children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to explore and expand their unique and creative talents, promoting a sense of accomplishment and empowerment through the arts. Continue Reading →
CAD, Updates, MIA, Art Show, Condo, Broccoli Quiche
So, the Growing Up CAD show went really well and everyone had a great time. I’m glad Nick and Lee were able to come – we had a really fun night that night (except for the fact that I bumped my head really hard on Nate’s ceiling LOL) – you can see pictures from that night on my flickr set and you can also see the Chicago Art Department Photos here. Here’s cool shot of a couple checking out my piece. :) Bobby and I were really happy to have won one of the silent auctions and got to take home art from Jen Rosenthal. She was one of the original peeps in my Go Go Video class at CAD 3 years ago.
I’ve been a bit MIA lately – just have a lot going on. Doing artwork at home and selling it on etsy, planning a couple of art shows with a friend at work Nick Haas, working on some really huge projects at work that are taking up every bit of my patience, will power, and focus…in fact tonight I think I’ll be working from 7-10 on more designs that are due tomorrow. What’s fun and exciting is I get to go to New York for the design presentation in December…that will be a blast. :)
I absolutely cannot wait to go home for Thanksgiving and see my family and play with my nephew Alex and relax a bit – I’m hoping to get down to Delaware and visit with Jess and Josh for a night and celebrate their birthdays. Depends on if we have enough time to get down there and back without upsetting my family – it is the first time they’ve seen me in a LONG time. I definitely want to try and make it – I’d love to see you guys!
The condo is looking closer to finished now than I think I expected for November and that’s really exciting. :) We still have to wait until February to move in but some of the lower floors will be moving in in December/January. It’s gonna be so awesome to have our own place! yay!
I’m off to work or I’m never gonna get stuff finished for tomorrow! Hope everybody is doing great. And a big thanks to Kurt for the sweet a$$ brocolli quiche he made tonight. Yum in my tum! lol.
aaaaah Sunday night, already?!
This weekend was nice and low key…which is what Bobby and I both needed. We had a bit of a lazy day on Saturday and I cleaned the house finally…we really didn’t do much until about 9PM when our new neighbor Janet came down to say hi…we ended up hanging out until 3AM chatting it up and drinking lots of red wine…that was lots of fun. :)
Today I went to the Bridal Walk on Oak Street with J.Large. It’s never too early to start looking for the perfect wedding gown, right? lol. We went to Vera Wang Chicago, Barneys New York and Belle Vie Bridal Couture), tasted lots of little cakes and cookies from local caterers, drank champagne and just generally had a good time (and got lots of fun free stuff)…then we got back to Wicker Park and had dinner at Usagi Ya with Bobby and Sang-woo. YUM! SUSHI!
I can’t believe its Sunday night already, I want one more day to chill. ;)
Indycar Race – Joliet, IL
Had a big day out in Joliet with Bobby, Justin, and Mandy to see my first Indycar Race…fun was had by all and I think we’re all pretty freakin tired tonight from a big day.
I can honestly say now that you have to see this type of racing in person (even if you don’t get into it on TV)…its pretty exciting and way louder than I would have imagined. I wish I had a picture with all four of us in it, but I didn’t get one so here’s the funniest one of the bunch with Justin and Bobby being silly and us all looking funny with our ear plugs. :) Maybe Justin got some good pics and he’ll put them on his blog.
All I can say is I’m tuckered out and ready to start my three day week tomorrow~! Woo hoo! Can’t wait to see Melinda, Kelley, and Jess on Thursday! :)
Night!
An Event Apart: Chicago
Oh my gosh I can’t tell you how excited I am to go to An Event Apart Chicago…just got the go ahead from my boss to get some training and I am jumping for joy (well, on the inside). lol. I have really needed some design inspiration for a long time and I know this conference is going to be just what I’m looking for…
Jason Fried from 37signals will be there, Jeffery Zeldman – the founder and executive creative director of Happy Cog Studios will be there, and many more awesome and amazing people that I can learn so much from.
AND it’s right here in Chicago…so I can blissfully be entertained and inspired and instructed about CSS, design, and web standards right in my own city…without flying somewhere or paying for hotel stay. Yay! This is going to be kickass! Ding~! I win.
Digital Printing on Canvas….YAY
So I’m really excited because I just set up a time next week to go meet with Digital Hub Chicago – a print company that does large format digital printing on canvas. They are very eco-friendly which makes me happy as well. My awesome new friend and co-worker Nick Haas brought in one of his printed art pieces (which by the way are awesome and kick ass and all that good stuff) and I am totally sold on trying out the print on canvas thing. It looks amazing and plus I’m thinking I can maybe print some really large pieces to get an idea how they might look for the upcoming art show we are planning.
I finally met Nate Winter (the super cool and talented writer friend of Nick) last night who will also be in the art show. I’m sure if he saw this blog he’d be a little disturbed by my terrible writing and grammer. lol. I have yet to meet Kurt Kreissl – another amazingly talented artist that I am excited to be exhibiting with – I and totally flattered they even asked me. So that’s my brief update…I’m out!