addicted!

While I was in Lawrence, I headed to Target to do a little shopping. Yes, I know there are many Targets here in Chicago, but tax is sooo much cheaper in Kansas!! Anyhoo, the truth of the matter is, I NEEDED to see some Liberty of London prints. Everything they did for target is truly amazing. I'm really addicted. I did manage to get some cute stationary and some pajamas, but there is so much more to love. I think Ben might need that tie for a certain wedding in our future... And the same goes for that dress. Rehearsal dinner? Hmmm, I think so!

a lovely lawrence bridal shower

This past weekend I visited Kansas to help some lovely ladies host a bridal shower for our friend Mallory. Lauren was gracious enough to let us have it at her adorable house! (Ps: she has an adorable blog to match) It really turned out great, not counting the super snowy weather! Which was on the first day of Spring no less! Well, it was Spring indoors, which was our intention. Anyhoo, so here are some pictures of how it all turned out. Lauren made the cake, Jenny, Mallory's sister made the cupcakes and I made the flower arrangements. It was lots of fun... and we drank mimosas!! What could be better?

yes, i'm alive!

Okay, okay, I know it's been WAY too long! But I have a good excuse, I promise! Well, maybe I do, I'm not quite sure. I'll just blame it on school.

Anyhoo, Ben and I started spring cleaning early this year. We got rid of lots of stuff we didn't need and actually got two things we desperately needed! A dresser and a computer. The computer arrived today and I couldn't be more excited! It's such a relief to use a computer that doesn't die after 20 minutes!

Basically, Ben and I have been trying to rid our lives of clutter and make our home generally more organized. Both being artists, it is very, very hard to keep uncluttered. However, I think we're making steps in the right direction by getting rid of all that junk we've been piling up! Here are some of my favorite new additions to our home.Ben's Valentine gift for me!
My cousin Sadie's wedding gift to us. It doesn't have a home yet because we still need to attach hangers to the back...Artwork by our friends Paul Munro (birds) and Gretchen Huffman (squirrel)
And last but certainly not least, my new plants! I'm attempting this whole green thumb thing. After all, I do take care of plants at my job, surely I can do it at home too.

anthropologie love

After a recent shopping trip to Anthropologie, Ben and I decided we need to make our apartment look as much like it as possible. We are kind of lazy when it comes to decorating within a certain theme. Luckily for us, we already have tons of quilts and afghans which will go along with our Anthropologie theme perfectly. So naturally I've been spending lots of time perusing their website looking for things we need... okay, want. Really I'm just compiling a mile long wishlist, for now I figure we can make do with what we have at home. I made this pillow yesterday after months of saying I was going to do so. I found a this fabric at the Salvation Army probably 2 years ago. I'm happy I finally used it! It's very cheesy cute, don't you think?

Vintage Clothing & the Sartorialist

We all know how amazing the Sartorialist is and if you don't, then you need to! His photographs are beautiful as are the people in them. I love this photo of a vintage shop owner in Melbourne. So adorable. Maybe it's because of my recent lack of funds, but vintage shopping really is the best. It's amazing what you can do with little money and lots of patience. I'm planning on going thrifting later this week with a school friend that I don't see enough of. It's especially fun to go to other people's salvation armies. I know I have thrift stores I frequent because I always find great things there. Time to step outside the neighborhood thrift store!

delicious clogs

Ugglebo Classic Swedish Clogs via small stump + studio choo

swedish hasbeens

My mom had the coolest pair of clogs back in the day. I used to borrow them all the time in junior high, when we had the same size feet. Now sadly, they sit in my closet unused. I can't bear to part with them though. They are just too special. So now, I have this problem, I'm majorly broke, but really want clogs. I guess maybe I should go on a shopping ban. There's no harm in looking, right?

Wedding Photos Part 2!

Hello all! I've been such a lazy lump about blogging lately, I know. Ben and I had a lovely Christmas here in Chicago, the we headed to Kansas after the new year for a week. It was nice to see family and all the blizzardy Kansas weather! I've been meaning to upload our wedding photos forever. Rather than upload them here, I put them on Flickr. So please go and check them out! I'll leave you with one of my favorite parts of our wedding, our cake!! Made by the lovely and talented Tessa.

wedding photos! part 1

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since I've posted anything. This semester was one of the hardest I've had so far, but now it's over!!! I can finally just relax and enjoy married life! So in honor of that, I posted a couple of my very favorite photos of me and Ben from the wedding. Jennifer did a wonderful job!! I can't wait to post the rest!

so freaking cool.

Seriously! This dress is to die for. Best dress I've seen in a while. And Rihanna is just so damn cool.

most perfect hat ever!

Umm, yeah, so I need this. But I've never spent more than $10 on a hat, so I probably won't be getting it, but it is definitely the most perfectly cute winter hat.

yay!!!

Well, as you might have guessed, Ben and I are MARRIED!!! We don't have many pictures yet, but this is one of my favorites that a good friend took. The whole wedding was amazing. It was so awesome to have all our loved ones around us. Ben keeps saying it was the best party he's ever been to, which I have to agree with! The best!

12 days!

Yikes! Next time we're at a wedding it will be our own! Can you believe it? 12 days! There are so many things going on right now that I just haven't had time to blog, which I feel really bad about, but hey, I'm blogging now right? Anyhoo, it is hard to believe that one week from now Ben and I will be on our way to Kansas to get married! Right now we're just working on those teeny tiny microscopic details that drive me crazy! Well, really they don't. It's just a lot of work, but it will TOTALLY be worth it! I cannot wait to see all my friends and family. It will be great to see everyone all in one place, but most of all, it will be amazing to marry Benny. I don't really know what to expect. Even though we've been together for 5 years and been living together for 3 of those 5, I know it will be different once it's official.

bored?

Why don't you Google old wedding photos? It's pretty fun and also kinda weird, because I have no idea who these people are, but their wedding photo is just lovely.

I admit, I've been a little lazy when it comes to blogging. However, I've been more busy in school than I think I've ever been. Pile that on top of wedding madness - oh yeah, and my job - and I've got my work cut out for me.

Only 44 days!!

shoe is a funny word.

I finally found my wedding shoes! I saw them a while back when my mom was visiting, but I wasn't sure about them. Then I went back to the Dressing Room with Mary on Saturday and got them. I just want to wear them right away! But I can wait. I'm sure I will wear them a ton after the wedding. I think I could even wear them to Mallory's wedding!!

yummers!

When we were in Lawrence a few weeks back, we had the pleasure of meeting with Tessa! She's a good friend of mine from when we worked at Winfield House in Lawrence. Anyhoo, Ben and I decided to ask her if she'd make the cakes for our wedding. We had so much fun talking about cake and I seriously can't wait to see (and taste) what she prepares. Here's a sneak peak! We asked her to make us a vegan cake because a few of our guests are vegan. We just want everyone to be able to have some yummy cake. Even though I didn't get a chance to taste this, it looks super delicious.

kitty love

Lately, I've been a little obsessed with For me, For you. It all started with Mary. She showed me her fabulous necklaces and I fell in love! Then, I noticed something else. Her cat Wendy, looks a lot like my cat Smokie! I think I actually gasped when I saw a picture of Wendy for the first time. Is it just me, or do you think they look like they could be brother and sister?

cutie boutonnieres!

Here is Benny modeling the boutonniere I made for him. I think this is what I'm going to do for all the groomsmen. However, I think I would skip the dried lavender, even though it smells awesome. I would like to incorporate feathers instead. Wouldn't that be cute?

By the way, our wedding is in just about 2 months to the day! Can you believe it?!

engagement photos... ben & martha style

Sunday night, we went to Mary's house for dinner. She lives across the street from the prettiest park. So we thought, hey, lets take some engagement photos! Mary took them, and I think they turned out great! What do you think?

[Our engagement announcement was just in the Lawrence paper!]

too crazy?

I need a new bag for the school year, and first I thought I should get a plain black bag from Le Sport Sac. Then I saw this lovely zebra print. I know Mallory will love it! Is it too crazy for me? Keep in mind, I will be carrying it through fall and winter with a boring black winter coat.

vintage shopping: what I want to do all day

Yesterday I found myself needing to get out of the house. I ventured to Gap to peruse the sale section and came up empty handed. Then I went to Haystack Vintage, one of my very favorite shops in Chicago. I've found that lately I just want to buy vintage clothing rather than new. Maybe it's because I'm trying to save money. Well, I looked and looked and didn't find anything I wanted. But sometimes isn't it nice just to look at clothes without the pressure of buying? Since I've had a couple days off from work in a row, that's what I've been doing. I've definitely spent too much time on etsy, but it's just looking, right? However, if someone wanted to buy me this dress, I wouldn't mind one bit.