Weekend: Sing it Girl

Jessica Lea Mayfield, For Today

Friday: Song of the Week

Hoping I get to see one of my favorite gentlemanly friends this weekend... he's this kind of guy. We're like tight.

Griffin House: The Guy That Says Goodbye To You Is Out Of His Mind

Wednesday: Wishful Thinking

Today's version of Wishful Thinking will require a bit of self-revelation on my part. If you know me, you know that I work as a school social worker and that this is something I totally love most days.

But then I get these.... ideas. Ideas about doing something for a living (or more like on the side) that would satisfy that creative/entrepreneurial side of me. The side of me that appreciates design and believes that feelings can be experienced through the beauty we see around us or the things we taste and hear.

At the risk of being laughed at or otherwise judged, here is my latest (and I believe greatest) idea. I think it would be sweet to be wedding consultant/creative director for engaged couples in the greater Rockford area, with a specific focus on nontraditional/unconventional/creative/interesting couples!

And here's why I think this is actually a GOOD idea:

1. I love weddings and I love people. I love the idea of a couple sharing a day with all their loved ones, a day that is completely personal to who they are as a couple and the beautiful love they have for each other.

2 (This one's a doozy, so I needed to break it up into parts):

A. The world of weddings is absolutely busting at the seams with new ways of doing things. Weddings are no longer cookie-cutter events filled with red roses and enough tulle to fill a barn. More and more, couples are embracing their own personal style and letting their wedding be a reflection of who they are and what they love. Nowadays, everything from the dress (and the groom's attire for that matter), to the flowers, to the photography, to the venue, to the decorations, to the food, to the invitations, to the music, to the cake can be done in very unique and nontraditional ways.

B. Rockford, as in so many other areas, is waaay behind in this arena. There just aren't (or at least don't seem to be to the average Joe) a lot of options for couples in Rockford who want to shake things up a little and do their wedding day with a little pizazz and creativity. But the exciting thing to me is that those creative people, venues, and possibilities are out there... there just isn't a lot of organization and most people just don't have the time to seek out all these unique people and places and ideas... that's where I would come in!

C. I want to be a holder of the vision, you could say. It would be my job to figure out what it is that the couple wants for their special day, to translate what they have told me into a vision/inspiration, and to then go out and work with all the various members who would make up the team for this couple's event. It would also be my job to bring everything together in a way that reflects who the couple and is and do this in an aesthetically pleasing and cohesive way. Then there would be the weeks leading up to the wedding and the day before and of the wedding when things can get a bit wacky... this is where #3 comes into play.

3. I am, if I don't say so myself, fairly talented (okay, let's just say freakish) in the areas of organizing and coordinating things. Making lists and schedules and using spreadsheets are fun activities for me (insert laughing here). I'd also like to think that I would love (and maybe even be good at) meeting a couple and getting to know them and figuring out what they envision for their special day... and then helping them get there!

4. I scour over wedding blogs like Once Wed, Green Wedding Shoes, Ritzy Bee, 100 Layer Cake and Snippet & Ink for fun... daily. I am so often inspired by the millions of ideas that can make a wedding day special and unique to couples. DIY projects, out-of-box ideas, vintage details... you name it, I will find it and I will love it. I want to bring a fresh vision to what planning a wedding could look like for couples in this area.


5. I believe there are couples out there who would want what I have to offer. Maybe you're one of those couples... if so, let's talk. Seriously!

PS... I'd probably offer my services for about zero bones (and maybe a slice of cake at your reception) since it would be my first time doing this. We've all got to start somewhere, right?

Friday: Song of the Week

Woh, have I been bad at this blogging thing! I will try harder, okay? (Stay tuned for a fun post tomorrow :)

This man murders my heart on a regular basis. Here's a new(ish) one from my main man Ray!

Ray LaMontagne, Beg Steal or Borrow

Friday: Song of the Week

One of my absolute favorite bands and an all time classic song.

The Format, Let's Make This Moment a Crime



Have a great weekend!

Friday: Song of the Week

Hola! Here's a song to enjoy as you enter into your weekend. Woo hoo for that!

Ingrid Michaelson, Locked Up

Friday: Song(s) of the Week

Because

1) the blog was a bit lacking this week (and probably will be again next week due to the fact that I will be out of town Saturday morning through Tuesday night) and,

2) because I just plain love music and have a hard time picking only one song...

...I will be doing a "double header" Song of the Week today. Woo hoo!

Song One:

You may have varying opinions about Kanye (you hate him, you love him), but I dare you to not enjoy this song.

It's sort of my fun-loving summer anthem, though when I blast it in my car the bass tends to make my back window shake quite a bit which then, in turn, causes me to literally laugh loudly at myself as my bass-bumpin', grocery-gettin', station wagon rolls through Rockford. Laughing at myself is basically a daily necessity.

Kanye West, Homecoming featuring Chris Martin



Song Two:

Love. love. love. No further description needed.

Beirut, Elephant Gun



Enjoy your Independence Day Weekend folks!

Tuesday: Discovery of the Week

A Tuesday Discovery... posted late on Wednesday night?!? Oooops... I hope you can forgive me, though I am guessing the Discovery itself will be so exciting you will forget all about how late it has arrived. Onward we go...

Bored with places like Chili's and Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner? Craving something much more original, funky, and cool? Want the feeling of big city dining without the drive?

Well, go no further than Brio Restaurant. Brio is located in the River District area at 515 East State in Rockford. My sister Emily was in town last week with her husband and her two beautiful boys Landon & Parker, and as much fun as we had all week with the boys, we needed a night out of the house where us girls could go and enjoy ourselves for a few hours (or as Emily would say, a few hours where she was not constantly being touched by her children).

We met up with another sister duo, Emily and Alison Benthien, for some drinks and dessert. It was a great time. Brio has a really chill, calm atmosphere, unique, urban decor, and a super interesting and diverse menu (not to mention superb service).

Left to Right: Emily and Alison Benthien, Emily Bashaw, and me.

From time to time Brio also features live musicians, and in fact, they supposedly had live music tonight, so hopefully some of you were able to check it out.

I was somewhat amused by the decorative plants on the table :)



Most importantly, it was amazing to spend time with my beautiful sister and enjoy some laughs with great friends.