Northwestern Territory

It's been about two weeks since we've arrived in Evanston, and so far I am loving it. Almost everyone I have met -whether a neighbor, waitress, or salesperson- has been so friendly and helpful.  I know I keep saying this, but it is such a big difference from what I am used to.  I can't tell you how refreshing it is to be in an environment where everyone just smiles more and seems so much happier.  We have also been quite lucky with the weather and have taken advantage with some beautiful walks by the lake.

The apartment is getting close to feeling like home.  We're just waiting on our new couch to be delivered, so as soon as it comes, I'll post a few pictures.  I am so excited because for the first time in my life, I will have a REAL couch.  Not the IKEA futon excuse for a couch that everyone had back in the college days, but a real, soft ivory leather, beautiful, gorgeous couch!  The day it arrives will feel like Christmas.

Among other exciting news, having a doorman is the greatest thing since sliced bread. How in the heck can someone remember EVERYONE's name in my building (there are 25 floors for Pete's sake!)?  I don't know... but I like it and it makes me feel special. We are also ordering things like crazy online- even stuff like paper towels and energy bars.  I find it very exciting when I see the special key chain stuck in my mailbox that says I have a package waiting! Being able to have someone sign for your packages is so convenient.  It's the little things in life, you know?

                                                    bunny rabbits!

                                            
Living in a college town is fun.  I compare it to Westwood, but of course, it has its differences in many ways.  One of the things I noticed right away is how clean and safe the streets are.  Being able to walk to Whole Foods, the Farmer's Market, restaurants, the public library, shops, the lake, etc. has been one of the greatest experiences.  For Scott, it's more old hat since he used to live in NYC, but for me it is a whole new world.  Back in April when I was apartment hunting, I had no idea how much I would come to appreciate being in the most convenient part of downtown.

I've been told that I have three months left of good weather and then I will see what it is like to live in the freezing cold.  Today I purchased all my winter gear- down coat, base clothing, thick socks, and snow boots.  I got very paranoid when I heard that everything sells out by October, so of course I made my check list and got it all!  When Scott saw the receipt, I think his heart might have stopped momentarily.

Despite all the negative comments people make about how I'm going to hate the cold, I am actually looking forward to seeing the seasons change and the first snowfall. Check back soon for the next blog entry: a recap on my first real trip into downtown Chicago, taking the L, and my happiest day since the move.

Road Trip!

Well friends, we made it safely to Evanston and are currently in the midst of getting settled.  So far, the weather has been treating us well, and everyday there is something new and great to experience.  I am really enjoying living downtown so far, and I seriously can't get enough of the Midwest love!

The drive out here was definitely an experience I'll never forget.  At first, I didn't even want to think about a road trip.  Our initial plans were to pack up and take the first flight out to Chicago... but after much thought, we decided that it would make more sense to do the drive.  Plus, it would be an opportunity for me to go a few places I probably never would have planned on visiting.

First stop was Vegas.  It was hot as hell, but I had a great time there.  I still get paranoid every time the weather gets crazy hot because it reminds me of when I was hospitalized for dehydration/exhaustion about 3 years ago... but I ate well, stayed hydrated, and rested so there was nothing to worry about!  We stayed at the Encore, which I have to say I enjoyed much more than the Wynn.  The suite alone was incredible, and it didn't hurt that it was super cheap for midweek summer deals!

Notable mentions in VEGAS:

-Beef noodle soup from Noodle Asia at the Venetian.  Scott's foodie friend swears by it, and because of his reputation for knowing good food + the fact he was also Chinese gave us the confidence we needed to try it out.  It was a little pricey, which is expected in Vegas, but I have to say that I was very impressed!  Flavors were really good and it hit the spot for our first late night meal.  All the waiters and cooks were Chinese, so it felt like it was going to be the real deal.  We also had the black peppered beef stir fry noodles and chinese sausage and broccoli stem fried rice which were tasty, but the highlight was definitely the beef noodle soup.

-European pool at the Encore.  No one actually goes topless, but it was nice having a 21+ crowd w/o kids running all over the place.  It was very relaxed and the crowd was hip and cool.. Scott thought it would be funny to take a picture here.  Apparently, he really did look like a Pool Boy because a woman came over and asked him where she could get bottled water!

-ALEX restaurant at the Wynn.  I swear Steve Wynn is a genius and just knows what people want in a great hotel.  Between the Wynn and the Encore, the good eats are never-ending.  I have eaten at my fair share of amazing restaurants in the world, but this one takes the cake by a landslide... seriously the best dining experience of my life.  It is completely worth a trip out to Vegas for a special occasion!  The only way to do it is to go for the seasonal 7-course menu.  In-freakin-credible.  Just try it and you will thank me later.

After Vegas, we drove through Arizona for a little bit, then Utah to Denver, which was a gruesome 12 hours.  It definitely was the hardest leg of the trip and driving through those damn Rockies was pretty scary at times.  On a positive note, I did enjoy the scenic route- there is something so beautiful about the crazy rock formations... pictures don't do it justice.

So Denver.  I was very underwhelmed by this city!  I hope I don't offend anyone who hails from this area, but I guess I was expecting a lot more.  It was a quaint town and the people were very nice, but for some reason it just wasn't my favorite.  Maybe staying downtown wasn't the way to go?  The only two things that stick in my memory were the abundance of pawn shops and how many Cubs fans ruled the city.  They were in town to support their team play the Rockies- the Cubs have quite a following when they travel, which is pretty impressive.  We stayed pretty close to the ball park, and I swear I don't think I saw a single Rockies fan anywhere!!

Notable mentions for Denver:
-a cute little area called Larimer Square
-Snooze cafe for brunch.  Upside-down pineapple pancakes and coffee were delish~

It wasn't until about this point of the road trip that I really started to feel far from home.  It was almost like a fun game to point out Japanese or German cars; gas stations, fast food chains, and convenience stores were unfamiliar... I found comfort in junk food, which is of course totally acceptable and healthy on all road trips.

Now it was onto Omaha, which was the most pleasant surprise.  I honestly did not have high expectations, and considering the way I felt about Denver, I certainly was not excited.  This leg of the trip was easier- about 8 hours this time and much easier to drive.  It's funny how things work out, but this was actually my favorite stop (after Vegas) en route to Chicago.  What I remember most about Nebraska is all the green... and I can't really explain it, but there was just something different and really nice about the area.  I was also very impressed with their downtown "Old Market" area, which a local described as "a poor man's version of the Gaslamp District."  Apparently rent (and the cost of living) is dirt cheap there- I found out the average apartment was only $500 per month!  Below is a pic of all the barrels of hay I saw alongside the road... it reminded me of a challenge from the Amazing Race, my fav tv show.

Notable mentions for Omaha:
-The "Old Market"
-Upstream (freakin awesome!) restaurant where I had the BEST Omaha ground sirloin burger and homeade creamy rootbeer.  I even got a complimentary big scoop of vanilla ice cream to help me finish it at the end of my meal. =)

For the last major leg of the trip, we did another 8 hour drive through Iowa.  All I remember were fields and fields and fields and fields of corn forever.  And that is all.

At long last, we arrived in Chicago.  Of course, we had to pick up where we left off on the deep dish pizza tour.  I had previously been to Lou Malnati's, and this time, it was Gino's East.  We had the spinach deep dish, which I really enjoyed!  Since then I've also tried Giordani's, which I think is currently in the lead.  I used to think I was a New York pizza girl at heart, but I think I'm crossing over to the other side!!

The last stop: Evanston.  I can't wait to tell everyone how beautiful this town is.  We're living in the best part of downtown- walking distance from everything, including the train (which is a quick ride into downtown Chicago) and also the lake, which is so huge it looks like an ocean.

Look out for the next entry, which will be about everything Evanston!

One Door Closes...

Evanston, IL: Come August, this will be my new home for the next two years.

I've been mentally preparing for this day for quite some time now, but still it feels so surreal. My dreams of living outside California are finally coming true, and it is certainly bittersweet.

When I first got my leave papers approved from LAUSD, I felt a touch of sadness wash over me. Reality began to hit home and I realized that I would be leaving my family, my friends, and the life I knew and loved.  At the same time, I also knew I needed to take that risk and walk through another door in my life. It's so easy to become complacent and comfortable with the way things are.  I think I would have been very happy to continue with a successful career in teaching, perhaps become a homeowner, and start a family... but in the back of my head, I always knew this day was coming.  I knew what I was getting into when I married Scott.  To say that he is ambitious is quite the understatement.

Despite the fact that I've long thought about pursuing another career and moving across the country, I never really had the guts to take either of those risks.  In fact, it was only just a year ago that I began to realize it might actually happen whether I liked it or not.  We have discussed the possibility of him going back to school for an MBA for years, and to tell you the truth, I selfishly hoped that his desire would fade with time.  Who was I kidding?  Scott had decided to apply to four business schools, and three of them weren't even in California!  The one that was in California was also 6 hours away from home, so that meant big changes were in store for us.  I had to start preparing, at least mentally.

I groaned when I heard the choices, and I have to tell you that Chicago was at the bottom of the list for me.  I had never been there before, but I just knew I didn't want to go there.  At one point, I think I may have even told him not to bother applying because I was certain I would hate it.  Then I just became so aggravated at the thought of all this change and promised him that I wouldn't make my decision until I visited the school myself.  Looking back, it seemed like I could buy myself a bit of time (at least until the acceptance- or rejection- letters started coming in).  There was no point in stressing out about an option that wasn't really an option.  Since all of the schools he applied to were difficult to get into, I knew there was a chance that he would not be accepted into any of them... be that as it may, I still stressed out about my future.

The whole application process was such a learning experience for me.  Even though I wasn't technically the one applying to the schools, it was very important to Scott that I would feel comfortable there too.  What was the environment like for spouses?  Would I like the area enough to live there comfortably for two years?  There was so much to research, and so much I didn't know.

By the time Scott started hearing from schools, I was definitely on edge.  Is this what it feels like when mothers wait for their children to hear back from colleges?  I seemed to be a lot more emotional than Scott (either that or he was really good at hiding it from me), and I surprisingly took the rejection hard and quite personally.

I wish I could tell you that I was jumping for joy when Scott called to tell me he got into Kellogg, but I wasn't.  He was so excited, and I was relieved that he got in because I knew how much he wanted to go there.  We even found out that he was offered an incredible scholarship (the F.C. Austin Scholarship, which is merit-based and given to only 20 students in an enormous incoming class).

Despite all this great news, I still had mixed feelings about picking up and leaving my life in LA.  I remember the day when he asked me if I could go to DAK (Day at Kellogg) with him, which was an admitted students weekend.  I wasn't thrilled about going in the first place, and it didn't help that it was during the same weekend that I was co-hosting one of my best friend's bridal shower.  To make a long story short, I wasn't sold on Kellogg yet.

Thanks to a few twists of fate and a completely understanding and supportive friend, I ended up spending the entire weekend in Evanston to see if I could imagine myself living there for two years.  It wasn't an easy decision-- I felt horrible about missing such an important event for my friend, but honestly, I'm so glad I didn't miss DAK because it was the major turning point for me.

Here are a few things I learned that weekend:

1.  Kellogg wasn't in Chicago!  It was in Evanston, a town I had never even heard of until then.
2.  It was clean and extremely beautiful.
3.  Midwesterners are all SUPER NICE!  (Seriously, even the bums are nice)
4.  How Kellogg does such an incredible job embracing the JV community (JV= JointVenture aka significant others).  There were so many separate activities I was involved in all weekend.  If ever I needed a support group, this would be it.  I liked all the girls I met, and I knew that being active in this type of community would help the transition immensely.
5.  I could afford a nice apartment with a doorman.  Yes, this was very exciting to me.

I could probably write a whole entry about my experience at DAK, but all you need to know is that I was sold. I fell in love with the campus, the community, and the whole Evanston vibe. Slowly but surely, Kellogg climbed its way to the top of the list.  

As I grew more and more sure that Kellogg was the perfect place for us, it became easier trying to explain to people why we were leaving. Everyone had always said the same thing or something similar. We have a great life here. Scott is already an attorney and CPA. He's happy with his job, so why does he need an MBA? How could we leave our family? We'd hate the weather. And the list went on and on.  I think a large part of why I felt so uncomfortable earlier on was simply because I wasn't even convinced myself that making this move was the right decision.

I'm happy to say that I no longer have doubts, and in fact I am even looking forward to it.  I'm nervous and I'm scared, but find comfort in the fact that I am about to discover a brand new city that will ultimately become a part of me.

The Vibiana Wedding

So here it is- my last wedding before I leave for Chicago. With the move being so soon, I was hesitant to take on another job, but how could I turn down an offer to work with my good friend Brenda??

It's not always easy to work with friends, but Brenda and I know each other's strengths and work very well with each other. We have shed blood, sweat, and tears as co-Presidents for our sorority's Alumnae Board for the past three years, and heck- we even planned the ultimate bachelorette weekend in Miami together!  

Needless to say, I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a wedding at The Vibiana. The venue alone was enough for me to accept the job. I wish I took a picture of the empty church when I first arrived because there was something truly captivating about walking through it.

I don't have the professional pictures yet, but for now, here are a few teasers...

This was one of the rooms reserved for the bridal party to get ready.  I thought the mirrors were very cool.

One of the most spectacular engagement portraits I have ever seen.

A view of the reception at this black tie affair.  The food was just incredible- An Catering (the family who does Crustacean) nailed it.


Check back later for the professional pics!

Christine and Kelley's Wedding

A few months ago, I was pleasantly surprised to reconnect with a former college roommate and friend, Christine. I happened to know she was recently engaged and was truly honored when she asked me to coordinate her wedding. Of course, I accepted without a moment's hesitation!

Christine and Kelley got married at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. It was a beautiful day at a beautiful venue, and from start to finish, the event was just perfect. With nearly 400 guests in attendance, it was definitely a celebration to remember.

















There were so many memorable moments throughout the day, but the most spectacular were Christine and Kelley's vows. Is it normal for the wedding coordinator to be crying too?!?! I was so touched by how genuinely in love they were with each other, and it was the first time that I've heard a couple say their own vows and leave a lasting impression on me. I'm so glad my friend Christine found her perfect soulmate.

Thanks to their wonderful photographer, Tey, the event was captured with this amazing slideshow. It was so fun working with her... I just love what a fun bubbly personality she has, and she is super talented too.


















My absolute favorite part about weddings is that special feeling you get when you realize that everyone around is so happy for the bride and groom. It truly is a joyous occasion, and you just can't help but smile and feel glad to be a part of the celebration.

Check out Tey's blog to see more highlights from the wedding!


















And a good time was had by all. Congrats Christine and Kelley!


















Special thanks to Christine and Kelley for allowing me to be a part of their big day, Tey Garcia for being an amazing photographer, and my two right hands Amanda Zvirblis and Cindy Pham.

Looking for Wedding Invitations?

So you might have heard through the grapevine that I've been working a special events card company in Mexico. We do weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, baby announcements, you name it. They're all custom and hand-made, and the best part is that they're affordable. The quality is outstanding and embossed printing and calligraphy are part of the package! Contact me if you'd like to set up an appointment. :)

Carrie and John's Wedding

Last weekend, I had the honor of coordinating my good friend and co-worker Carrie's wedding. I had such a blast, and it didn't even feel like I was working! The festivities took place at the gorgeous Castle Green in Pasadena. I instantly fell in love with the place when I first saw it.

The whole experience was stress-free thanks to Carrie's husband John. He was hands-on from the very beginning and knew exactly what he wanted. I loved how he could take charge like this so Carrie could relax during the whole planning process. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I was so impressed how he even knew what color linens to pick for the reception! Although I love my husband dearly, there is no way I'd let him be in charge of reception decor. ;)

Carrie and John's wedding truly reflected who they are as a couple. The story was in the details, from the warm fall colors that perfectly match their home together to the Diddy Riese cookies that any UCLA Bruin knows and loves. Even the ceremony set-up was unique with the guests seated in a circle of chairs that surrounded the bride and groom. Their love for music was also highlighted in special live performances from their talented friends.

This was also the first wedding where I've seen boba served during the Cocktail hour! The food was absolutely delicious (dim sum and Chinese buffet), and to top it off, one of the best cakes I've ever tasted from Phoenix Bakery.

I left this wedding with such a big smile on my face. Not only was it a success from a coordinating standpoint, but I couldn't stop feeling happy for my friends Carrie and John. Happiness is contagious. This is why I love weddings so much.
























Cheers to a happy marriage!
















Last but not least, a few important thank yous:
-To Carrie and John for letting me be a part of your special day.
-Amanda Zvirblis for being my right-hand. You are amazing.
-Fred Moayed of Creative Vision Photography for sending me these beautiful pictures.
-Craig from DJ's on a Dime for being so easy to work with and an awesome DJ/emcee!






















Woo hoo!