#tacoloveslox-- The details

NOW we get to the fun stuff! I loved finding little details and decor that went along with our theme. Especially since I was able to really hone in on the 20s and let my inner flapper out. This was probably one of my favorite parts of wedding planning.

Lets start at the beginning, INVITES. So invites were one of the things that we didn't mind saving money on. We knew gold would be incorporated with our colors. We made our invites through and online company and we loved how they turned out.

NEXT,  was the flowers. As I mentioned in our vision post, I wanted to have more greenery rather then flowers and I wanted white flowers. I wanted the feel to be boho and elegant. For my bridesmaids I went with some eucalyptus and baby's breath. For my bouquet I wanted eucalyptus with some baby's breath and white roses. 

Bridesmaid dresses- I knew I wanted the dresses to go with the theme. I love neutral so as soon as I found these Adrianna Papell dresses I knew they were perfect. I picked out three dresses and gave my bridesmaids the option of which one they would want to wear. They are champagne colored (duh, champagne) and had beading in a art deco design. For my flower girls I found gold sequin dresses, they were adorable. Not to toot my own horn but still obsessed with how my tribe looked.

My Dress -- As soon as I tried on my dress I knew it was the one. The lace and little sparkle, I was swoon and knew it was perfect for our mansion wedding. I loved how I felt when I put it on. My advice when looking for a dress would be to try on everything. You never know what you will fall in love with. I never thought I would like a fitting dress but I did!

Cory's Tux and the groomsmen-- For Cory we wanted him to stand out from the groomsmen so we decided on a navy blue tux and have the groomsmen in black tuxes. It is a very subtle difference which we liked, oh and we did bow ties :) My hubby looks good!

Table center pieces-- We wanted to do a mix of two different center pieces. I wanted a mix of the Gatsby theme and greenery. First, to capture the greenery I picked bubble bowls that would have baby's breath and eucalyptus and another idea was having 3 different varying sizes of candles and greenery leaves surrounding the center piece. Now for each table I found Gold sequin table runners off amazon, pearl necklaces that would be laying in the center of the table. Lastly, for the table numbers I found different gold picture frames and printed art deco table numbers off of etsy. (etsy was a lot of help and I got to know the fed ex guys pretty well with all the printing I did)

 

Now for little details--

This was our welcome sign. I ordered a custom print off etsy and had it printed at fed ex.

 We had this picture and our first initials by it in the entryway of the mansion.

Instead of the traditional guest book I wanted to be able to see our guest from that night so we had two polaroid cameras and some cute signs and pearl necklaces to add to the pictures ( kind like a photo booth) We provided washi tape and sharpies so our guest could tape their pictures and sign :)

This was a custom made print off etsy again, for people to help find their seats.

As I've mentioned before my brother passed away almost 6 years ago. I couldn't imagine my day without him. I looked up different ways people include loved ones who have passed. I decided to get a pin of my brothers favorite bands logo. I added it to my bouquet so he could be with me right there in my hands. The pin also served as my something blue.

For our favors my dad brought home small dream catchers from Mexico. This made my boho heart happy. My sister and I made labels that said "Thanks for being part of our dream" A&C . My nieces passed out the dream catchers to all of our guest and they had so much fun doing it.

We did a first look and it was the best thing ever. I do not regret doing a first look at all. I loved having that special moment between just the two of us. 

BEST DAY EVER

My last piece of wisdom: Make sure you enjoy your day, it will fly by! I know everyone says it but it is true! Take a step back and just let it all sink in, oh and easy on the champagne. 

xoxo

A

#tacoloveslox-- Our Vision

So I meant to finish all my #tacoloveslox series before our 1 year anniversary but life just got in the way so here we are.  ENJOY

Venue

We went and saw a bunch of venues. We knew we wanted something unique. So we saw everything from mansions, barns,  banquets, and breweries. We were really close to a destination wedding because nothing spoke to us. Before the last venue we checked out we both were in agreement that if we didn't like it then we would have a destination wedding. Lehmann Mansion was everything we wanted. ✅ceremony space outside  ✅unique vibe ✅  nice spacious indoor reception space

Love the chandeliers

Isn't is dreamy?! I would get married all over again if I could.

After we found the venue then everything kinda came into place and I knew what theme/decor I wanted to go with. Since it was a mansion and Im Gatsby obsessed we went with a Gatsby/art deco/ greenery theme. Basically two of my favorite things Gatsby and boho.

Ceremony

 Okay we had the venue next was to figure out the ceremony.. Cory is Jewish and I am Christian  so we had to find a Rabbi and a Pastor that would be willing to do an interfaith marriage. We did end up finding a Rabbi and when he met with us he made us really comfortable in that he emphasized that his was our wedding and could add or take away anything from the Jewish ceremony. He went through the whole traditional jewish ceremony and asked our thought on what we wanted. He was so helpful through out the whole process and explained all the meanings behind the ceremony parts. Next, we had to find a pastor, My uncle happens to be a pastor and so I asked him if he would officiate with the Rabbi. He said he would and then we went over to his and my aunts home where they did some pre marital counseling with us. We rocked it :). He also explained the ceremony the meanings and what we could choose to make it more us. We chose some bible verses that spoke to us and our relationship. After meeting with both officiates Cory and I came up with a draft of our ceremony and which parts each religion would take. It felt like a lot of work but it was fun being able to pick and chose and create a ceremony with both of our religions.

We were under a little arch that kinda served as a Chuppah

For such a hot day this picture gives me a sense of calming.

Reception

We had cocktail hour inside which was awesome because it was so hot out! And then everyone head to the tent attached to the mansion for the reception. The room was decorated Gatsbyish ( I will share more decor in the next post). Our Goal was really to make sure everyone knew how much we appreciated them being there and everyone having a good time! 

Wedding planning can be overwhelming. My husband and I had a code word when we got too overwhelmed : PINEAPPLE ( feel free to use it :))

My Wisdom for this post is to really just tackle one thing at a time, otherwise it can be crippling thinking of everything that has to be done at once! Also, I used the knot planning book and the timeline checklist inside. I promise everything will come together!

xoxo

A

Guess who's back.. back again..

YUP, Eminem again. Sorry not sorry. It's been a minute and wanted to give a quick life lately. Two majors happened on June 18th. That Tuesday I was filled with many mixed emotions. 

First // I had orientation for my masters program that I will be starting in the fall! I was able to meet the teachers, fellow students, get my ID, and all that jazz. It all still feels surreal. I don't think it will feel real until I actually start my classes. I am very excited to start my classes and be closer to my career. I feel like I've been in work limbo, I love, loved working at the school but it wasn't a career.  I'm also nervous (hello anxiety) because I'm used to classes that just talk about social issues and feelings and now I will be learning about helping people in a new way. August will come sooner than I think and then we are off to the races!

Second // June 18th is a very, very special day that I hold close to my heart. June 18th is my big brothers birthday. Jesse would have turned 35, and boy do I wish he was here to celebrate. He passed away almost 6 years ago and I've been missing him ever since. On his birthday I try my hardest to make the day more about celebrating my favorite person and the life he lived. He was unapologetically himself and had the kindest soul. I looked up to my brother ever since I can remember. He LOVED to tell me stories and give life lessons which I keep filed away for when I need them and I DO end up needing them. He is my kindred spirit who now watches me from above, he had a way of knowing what I was thinking without me even saying a word. Birthday's are hard, I feel guilty because I usually post something for his birthday but this year I didn't. I know it sounds silly but it helps me cope and feel like he's still here. On Jesse's birthday I usually like to listen to his favorite band and maybe look at old pictures/conversations. I try to stay positive but its frickin hard. I'd like to take this moment to say, happy birthday big brother. Your spirit lives on through me and I'm trying my best to keep your light shining. There is so much I could say about Jesse but I will keep it short and sweet. Thank you for being the best brother anyone could ask for and teaching me that life is better when you stay true to who you are and that Chicago pizza is the best 'za. Unity. 

Thanks for reading through all that even though I got a little sappy. When I started this blog my goal was to keep it positive. But, I also wanted to be genuine because if someone else can relate to this and find it helpful or just know they are not alone then I'm happy. If you have a loved one who has passed away, do you do anything special on their birthday? Asking for a friend and myself. 

xoxo

A

#tacoloveslox---The proposal

Prop 11

Happy June Ya'll! This just so happens to be one of my favorite months! Why do you ask? Because on June 11th 2016 Cory proposed and June 30th 2018 I married my favorite person. So yeah I would say June has my heart. Since I started this blog after I got married I thought it would be fun to do a #tacoloveslox(our not very used#)series and go through the wedding process. PLUS it gives me a chance to relive my favorite moments. Lets kick this off with the proposal!

I HAD NO IDEA! When I say I was surprised I was like truly surprised. Of course I dropped hints of what kind of ring I would want and we talked about our future but we never discussed when we would get engaged. Any who, my sweet, sweet husband planned this whole proposal with one of his good friends and they named it Prop 11. 

One of my best friends and her boyfriend (now fiance) were in town and wanted to go to the blues fest in the city. Nothing strange about that. So we went to the fest but it was kinda boring so we walked up and down the street and stopped at the architectural museum and spent like 20 minutes in the drake hotel. Still I was not phased by any of this because I was just down to be walking around the city...Little did I know that they were stalling because the bridge that Cory had planned to have my siblings and their s/o's , his sister, and all my closest friends along with their s/o's  Holding a will you marry me sign(so sweet right). After all the sight seeing stalling we ended up in the Nichols garden. Cory stopped and I didn't know why and he said something about his foot so I thought he had a blister and I gave him a bandaid haha He then pointed me to the direction of where all the people I love were standing and holding a sign. To me it read "will you marry me" Well there was no way in my mind that it was for me so I told Cory that we should move because someone was getting proposed to and I didn't want to ruin their pictures. In my defense I wasn't expecting to see all my people and they were kinda far.. all I knew is that I didn't want to ruin someones proposal!

Before I knew it Cory was down on one knee. The proposal was for me! I was in shock.. there were so many emotions, all the good kind :) He did have a whole speech..that he later told me that he had practiced but all I remember is him telling me I love you, I want to make a life together, and will you marry me. I said YES! 

Yeah thats my happy cry face.. I love the people clapping in the back ha!

THEN I realized all my favorite people were there to congratulate us and it was amazing. I had always envisioned a private proposal but these were people I love and I truly loved having them there! It was just the best feeling to celebrate with people you love. After we calmed down we headed back to the burbs where my parents and Cory's parents were waiting to celebrate us and hosted a little engagement party. This is easily one of the best days of my life, one of those moments you hope you never forget. 


For your pleasure (and mine) Here is a video of the proposal with my sister in laws commentary. ENJOY!

For each post of this series I want to add one piece of advice that will hopefully be helpful. Or at least what I wish I would've known.

My dose of wisdom: If you were just recently engaged or you are engaged enjoy every minute of it. Don't put/or let others put too much pressure on you to start planning right away. This is such a special time so sit back relax and ride the happiness wave. 

xoxo

A

Summer Favs Round Up

4 of my favorite summer products

We are in the second week of June and I am here for it! We finally have had some nice weather in the Chicagoland area and I know everyone is happy about it! I thought it would be fun to do a round up of  a couple of my favorite things for summertime 🌞

Nena and Co.

Nena and Co. //  I got this as a birthday gift from Cory this year and I cant wait to bust it out! The colors alone scream summer. They are definitely pricey but I love their story and you know where your product is coming from, which makes it worth it to me. These bags and their patterns remind me of my dads little hometown in Mexico and all the hand made goodies he would bring us home from his trips. Definitely a splurge but I love it!

Raising Wild

Raising Wild //  This is one of my favorite swimsuits! I love the style, shape, color, comfort.. and everything! What I really love about this suit is that it makes you feel sexy and cute but still has nice coverage where I need it. This is also on the pricey side but I waited for a sale, which I would recommend! They also had more colors to choose from when I bought mine but I do like the onyx option a lot!

Stanley and Milk Makeup

 Sunshine Oil // This sunshine oil by Milk makeup is a fun add in to my minimal make up routine. When I say minimal I mean like mascara and then maaaaybe something else. Your girl is not the greatest at make up BUT willing to learn, that is if someone is willing to teach. I like this sunshine oil in the summer because your skin is already looking sun kissed and this just adds a little dewiness. I put it on the places where the sun would hit naturally on my face. Pretty simple, if I am doing it right haha 

Stanley travel mug // I LOVE this travel mug! I used this Stanley at work everyday and it keeps your drink cold. It is one of my most favorite products. I take my Stanley pretty much everywhere, especially the pool!

As I'm writing this the weather took a turn and is gloomy, thats Chicago for ya! 

Happy Summer!!

xoxo

A

Thursday thoughts

Read, reflect, and repeat..

HI friends and happy Thursday! Lets take a moment and read that again, "One day you will look back and see that all along you were blooming." I think we can all get caught up on where we are going instead of reflecting and appreciating where we came from. At least I know that I can be so focused on my goal that I forget to "smell the roses". We constantly see people succeeding and I cant help but wonder if other people feel a sense of FOMO like me. Not until I had to look back at my work for the past 4 years did I realize how much I have grown. 

This is me; teary eyed and all holding the book dedicated to me 

This past Tuesday was my last day at the elementary school I've worked at these past four years. Four years may not sound like a lot but I have grown so much. I was challenged more then I could've imagined but came out the other side wiser. I've loved my job and am excited to use my new skill-sets in my next adventure. I will be attending grad school full time for occupational therapy in the fall! This means I am not able to continue working at my school which is very bittersweet. As a tradition the school dedicates a book in honor of a person who worked there. I thought I was handling the goodbyes pretty well until they dedicated I Am Human to me which is a book about empathy. This hit me because my journey throughout the years has been all about accepting others and embracing their differences and workin' with it. I didn't get a chance to read it all but you better believe it is in my amazon cart as we speak. Everyone could learn about empathy so I included the link 👇
https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Human-Book-Empathy/dp/1419731653/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LHJYRGVCB4T7&keywords=i+am+human+a+book+on+empathy&qid=1559878042&s=gateway&sprefix=i+am+hum%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

I consider myself very grateful to have worked somewhere that makes it so hard to leave. Goodbye Kildeer and thank you for pushing me to bloom all along. 🌻

Have you given yourself time to reflect and see how far you've come? I bet you didn't realize how much you've grown. 

Keep blooming friends!

xoxo

A

I'm going through changes...

Another song lyric for the title? really?? YASS, Eminem just has a way with words.. a lot of changes happening here in the Racusen household! We moved into a cozy 1,000 sq. ft. two level apartment in the beginning of May. So we've been busy over here trying to get settled and make this new place our home. We are so lucky to have family that lives close and willing to help us move because we got everything moved into the new place in one day! Phew I get tired  all over again just thinking about it.

We moved that couch a full 360 degrees to see the best way it would look in our new space. We ended up keeping it the first way we had it haha 👏

 We ended our move weekend celebrating Cinco de Mayo with my family. It was the best way to end the weekend; eating tacos and drinking margs. We also played loteria which is the Mexican version of bingo and a way we all practiced our lack there of spanish speaking skills. The weather was beautiful and we were able to relax outside while playing my cinco de mayo playlist. If your dying to know what was on my playlist, you can find it here..
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3FNMANOuVfMsCCntsYwMZo







There will be more changes to share in future blog posts but I'll end with the fact that this past week I officially changed my last name! (only took me a year :) )

Cheers to a three day weekend!!🍻 I hope you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend, you deserve it!

xoxo

A