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Happy Hour: Mad for Margs
A yummy, fresh twist on this happy hour favorite!
Blood Orange Margaritas
Ingredients
3 oz tequila
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
4 oz fresh-squeezed blood orange juice (~3-4 oranges)
1 oz agave nectar
kosher salt on plate, for rim
Blood orange slices, for garnish
Instructions
Run slice of orange around rim of glass
Dip the rim of two small glasses into the salt, fill with ice, and set aside
Mix tequila, Triple Sec, lime, and orange juices well
Taste for sweetness and add agave if desired
Pour into glasses
Garnish with slices of orange
Cheers!
Photo and recipe via Tide and Thyme
Hot Off the Press: Pops of Purple
Typically, save the dates are a chance for an engaged couple to be a little more creative and a little less traditional than when designing the formal invitation. It’s also the first glimpse of the wedding that the guests get to experience so it’s a chance to excite people about attending! Today we’re featuring this gorgeous save the date from Spark Letterpress. Such a clean, fun and festive look!
Budget Tip: Two shades of purple for the price of one! By using colored cardstock, the finished product achieves the feel of a two color save the date. Easy on the eyes and the budget!
Photo via Amanda Hein Photography
Bridal Blingo
Last week, we invited brides-to-be to the store for a fun night of Bridal Blingo!
While drinking champagne and snacking on sweet treats from truffle and truffle, guests flipped through the wide collection of Magnificent Milestones invitation samples for inspiration. Equipped with Blingo cards, brides chose their favorite fonts, ink colors, design, embellishments and envelopes. Brides left with a shorter “to do” list and a bottle of pink champagne!
The night was a blast and it was a pleasure to meet and chat with so many fun women!
Photos via Magnificent Milestones
Welcome Home Wednesday
Last weekend, I spent a few fun hours scouring the North side for antique finds with a friend. In honor of our “Welcome Home Wednesday” feature, I thought I’d share some photos from my afternoon! It was great to get out and be inspired!
I loved these repurposed wooden crate lamp shades from Roost in Andersonville. So fun and creative!
xoxo,
Kara
Photos via {1} Chicago Home and Garden {2} Magnificent Milestones
Valentine’s Day Couple: Megan Cahill and Patrick Breen
When I met Megan, I was immediately excited to work together! And when I met her mom, Margie, my excitement went to a whole new level! I was instantly their third wheel and I loved every minute of it. Over a year, we designed playful save the dates followed by engraved invitations with a custom monogram. Once we raised the bar, we followed suit with coordinating day of pieces that debuted Megan and Patrick’s new monogram.
Some words from our bride…
What was the best compliment you received regarding your wedding invitations? How can I just pick one? We received countless compliments about our breathtakingly gorgeous wedding invitations! Until you plan a wedding, you never realize how much thought goes into the invitation from the envelope liner to how “loopy” the font should be to the thickness of the cardstock and it was wonderful hearing such amazing feedback from our guests! Kara was so amazing helping us every step of the way.
What was your favorite moment of the wedding day? Besides gleefully walking down the aisle after we said “I do,” I would say my favorite moment was walking into the reception (glass of champagne in hand!) with my husband to see the space before our guests arrived. The end result truly took my breath away and it was worth every late night and busy day! It was so rewarding to see all my ideas and selections come to life!
Any advice for all those ladies in the planning process? My best advice would be to plan ahead! Planning ahead helps you stay organized as well as ensures the vendors you want will be available for your big day! Make sure to write down and keep track of all your ideas No matter how organized you are, something small will still come up in the weeks and days leading up to the wedding and if you plan ahead you will have plenty of time to conquer that issue and still focus your energies on getting yourself ready for the big day!
I would also say to enjoy the process! Although I look back and there were certainly some stressful times trying to make planning, work, etc. all flow together, it was honestly such a fun time in my life! My mom and I had so many fun appointments with all of our great vendors picking out everything from A to Z and would always recap everything over a fabulous dinner with both my dad and fiancé (now husband). I can’t think of anything better!
Congratulations, Megan and Patrick!
xoxo,
Kara
Photography by Andre LaCour and Amanda Hein
Perfectly Planned by LK Events
Valentine’s Day Couple: Natalie Nutson and Joshua Barney
Natalie, simply put, was a beautiful bride with great taste. We worked together on everything from save the dates to menu cards in order to capture her classic style in a cohesive look. This perfect match was a perfect match for a timeless winter wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center. Just look at that amazing dress and veil!
What was the best compliment you received regarding your wedding invitations? Josh and I were told by numerous friends and family members that our wedding invitations were elegant, timeless, and a reflection of us. To have the invitation – the true “start” to the wedding day – showcase our personalities and style to our guests is exactly what we had hoped for; it set the tone for our day.
What was your favorite moment of the wedding day? Saying “I do”! It was such a blissful feeling to experience the culmination of all events leading up to that point – from dating to getting engaged to the parties and the planning – and then finally being in that moment. …plus I knew a great party was about to start!
Any advice for all those ladies in the planning process? So many people told me that “the day will go by so fast” and to be sure to “take it all in”. I assure you that, if you follow your instincts during the planning process, you will have nothing to worry about the day of. By working with vendors I trusted and in choosing details I knew best reflected our tastes, I was completely relaxed throughout the wedding day and enjoyed every moment of it 110%!
Congratulations, Natalie and Joshua!
xoxo,
Kara
Photography by Imaginative Studios
Perfectly Planned by LOLA Event Productions
Valentine’s Day Couple: Ashley Knapcik and Grant Markgraf
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we are excited to feature the wedding stories of {3} Magnificent Milestones brides! Read on and enjoy!
After each meeting with Ashley, my cheeks would hurt the rest of the day from laughing so much! She made wedding planning exactly what it should be, fun! So it makes total sense that Ashley and Grant’s wedding was full of laughter. Just look at that adorable dog! I’m so happy to share a few of her gorgeous photos today.
Some words from the bride…
What was the best compliment you received regarding your wedding invitations? “The invites are SO you!!” It meant a lot that people thought the invite represented my style and personality!
What was your favorite moment of the wedding day? Dancing to ”Cry Me A River” by Michael Buble. It wasn’t even our first dance song, but it’s one that Grant and I always have fun dancing and singing to at home. It was so awesome to share that with our friends and family!
Any advice for all those ladies in the planning process? Relax and have fun!! It’s all going to be over before you know it and then you’ll wish you enjoyed it more!
Congratulations, Ashley and Grant!
xoxo,
Kara
Photography by Amanda Hein and Riverbend Studio
Perfectly Planned by Big City Bride
Happy Valentine’s Day!
The way to a lady’s heart is as easy as 1, 2, 3
{1} Wine
{2} Sweets
{3} Love letter
Happy Valentine’s Day!
{1} Lucky Night Red Wine {2} Strawberry Cupcake and {3} Vintage Stamps
Gift Guide: Valentine’s Day!
1. Have you ever needed to add just a smidgen of thyme or a pinch of salt? These Heart Spice Spoons ($32) from Beehive Kitchenware make it easy! They are a great Valentine’s Day gift for your friend or loved one who loves to bake.
2. A little creativity can go a long way on Valentine’s Day. We love the idea of pairing these cute alphabet earrings ($15 each) from By Boe with one of our I Am fragrances ($25).
3. Feel like giving something homemade this year? Or need a recipe to go along with your gift of our spice spoons? Dig into this recipe for lemon and rosemary butter cookies!
Ingredients
2/3 cup of room temperature butter
2 tbsp of lemon zest
1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp of vanilla
2 cups of AP flour
1 tsp of fresh chopped rosemary (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Cream the butter until fluffy
Add the zest and mix for one minute
Add the sugar and mix until smooth
Add the egg and mix on high until a smooth batter forms
Add the vanilla and mix
Slowly add the flour and rosemary if using, mix until the dough forms a ball and just releases from the sides of the mixer
Dump the dough out onto the worktop and form a ball, cover in shrink wrap and chill for about 15 minutes
Flour a dry flat surface and take the dough from the fridge
Roll it out gently flouring well until about 1/4 inch thick
Cut out the cookies with your favorite cutter and place on a baking sheet or Silpat mat
Gather up the scraps and roll again until all of the dough has been turned into cookies
Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden around the edges
Let cool and drizzle chocolate on top (optional) or dust with some powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week
Photos via {1} Beehive Kithchenware {2} Magnificent Milestones {3} Foodness Gracious
