NYE WEDDINGS: YAY OR NAY?

If you follow us on Pinterest (shameless plug) you'll see that I've been pinning quite a bit of wedding content in hopes that my tendency to procrastinate won't conflict with my planning. While I've never been the girl who has had her wedding planned the second she could form a thought, there are a few things, like getting married in New York, that I've always wanted. Recently I've been thinking more and more about a New Year's Eve wedding and how much fun it could be to celebrate with all of my friends of family, and I love the though of celebrating another anniversary with a new year.

Although I've received mostly positive feedback, some people aren't fans of New Year's Eve weddings. There's definitely many pros to it- spending the holiday with my favorite people, fun decorations that I can get creative with, throwing my guests a party (hey, open bar!) that they will hopefully always remember, and more. However weddings can be a pain in the you-know-what, and having a NYE wedding can be a nuisance to some people, especially with the travel cost being a bit more that time of year. And what's a wedding without happy guests?

So while I procrastinate spend my time on Pinterest in the early stages of my planning, I go back and forth with the idea. But you can't deny how pretty the inspiration is, right?

via Pinterest.

via Praise Wedding.

via Your Amazing Wedding.

via Green Wedding Shoes.

What are your thoughts on a New Year's Eve wedding? Have you/would you want to attend one?

x Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: BO.TAN.I.CALS

A warm, inviting fragrance makes a home a home, so when we come across a good one that lasts, we fill our whole house. Last week at Martinis with Megan, we came across Scent Shop's bo.tan.i.cals candles and we were hooked at first sniff. We picked up both Peach Mango Tea and Sea Mist, and at only 15 bucks a pop, these babies pack a mean punch. Unlit, the candles will will fill your room with their scent, and lit up, they'll make your whole home smell amazing in minutes.

What is your favorite candle brand?

Jess & Jill

2014 SPRING STYLE SERIES AT THE UNDERGROUND

Spring Style Series, a unique experience where guests can see the latest looks in fashion, is starting tonight at The Underground!

Head over to 56 W. Illinois at 10 PM every Thursday night from now through April 24th for a series of runway shows by local and national women and men's brands. It's a night filled with fashion, music, drinks, and stylish company, highlighting Chicago's fashion scene. This year's series includes Shopcade, Beyond Boutique, Roam Boutique, Wilfred Newman, and von Z with beats from DJ Cobra, DJ Rock City, and more. For more information about each event, check out the details from The Undergound below.

Thursday, March 27

Shopcade – The Underground is proud to kick off its Spring Style Series with popular shopping company Shopcade. Shopcade helps fashionistas discover new trends and get deals on the most stylish items in fashion. With over 500k users, Shopcade has grown into a must-have, one-stop mobile shopping app for the stylish girl on the go. Internationally acclaimed DJ Cobra will provide the soundtrack for the show.

Thursday, April 3

Beyond Boutique – Beyond Boutique is the leading destination for chic women who love to shop. This Chicago-based boutique offers a unique twist on everyday ready-to-wear designs with a blend of high-end styles to help any woman turn their wardrobe into something beyond. Music will be provided by DJ Rock City for the remainder of the Spring Style Series. With his own unique style and electric energy, DJ Rock City is sure to add a special touch to the Spring Style Series.

Thursday, April 10

Chicago Curated – Hosted by The Almanac Mag, a lifestyle website for today's dynamic man, Chicago Curated features trendsetting local designers who are quickly moving to the forefront of the Chicago style scene. This show will highlight Chicago’s Roam Boutique. Roam Boutique has taken the Chicago style scene by storm with its perfect mix of popular established brands as well as fashion’s top up-and-comers. Ford Models will grace the stage as Chicago’s fashion elite come together to celebrate all things fashion.

Thursday, April 17

Wilfred Newman – Wilfred Newman offers men the opportunity to get quality clothing that is modern, sleek and tailored to meet their specific needs. This fashion show will feature Wilfred Newman’s crisp and refined tailoring and classic cool sportswear.

Thursday, April 24

von Z - Founded by Chicago designer Jenna Zielbauer and her husband Patrick Zielbauer, von Z brings an independent new flair to the already bustling Chicago fashion scene. Von Z’s mantra of “attainable fashion” has garnered the brand the title of Racked Chicago’s Best New Boutique of 2013.

RSVP to StyleSeries@TheUndergroundChicago.com and admission is free! (Entry is not guaranteed after 11 PM.)

Which night will you be attending?

Jess & Jill

DINNER TIME WITH RELISHED

Hope you're hungry, because it's dinner time with Relished!

As you all may know - we're horrible in the kitchen. The poor guys in our lives are stuck with brownie mix all over the floor and upside-down pizzas burning the oven. (Yes, those are true stories of Jess and Jill.) With the fresh ingredients picked out, detailed instructions, and photos to let us know what we're doing wrong - Relished set us up for three successful dinners. 

With Relished, you receive one box per week with three meals of locally sourced food. Everything comes labeled and packaged within each meal, so it's foolproof. At $9.95 a serving, it's cheaper than a night out and you can boast about your chef skills. (Your secret's safe with us.) While Jess had a little mishap with her package (her building's fault, not Relished) and couldn't get to her food for almost 24 hours, the ice packs in the boxes kept her food chilled until it was ready to cook. Jill had an issue with her chicken being bad and unfortunately, had to throw it away. Not sure if she waited too long (she opted for cooking the shrimp before the chicken as per the instructions) or if it was already on it's way out, but everything else was fresh.

Read what we ate for our three days of meals, courtesy of Relished, and if you want a bite for yourself, find out how you can get 50% off your order below.

Sauteed Shrimp and Baby Spinach Salad with a Balsamic Reduction

Jess: This recipe was light, but still filling. I actually never used cracked red pepper in a recipe, but now I'm hooked. I was also really eager to try the balsamic reduction because I swear, I hear it on every cooking show on TV. The shrimp, onions, and cheese were also a great addition to the spinach salad.

Jill: This was my favorite meal and one I plan on recreating again! It's perfect for a lunch or light dinner and it's so refreshing. The balsamic was the perfect touch.

Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken with Cavatappi Pasta and Sweet Pea Primavera

Jess: My favorite meal of the week, and honestly... one of my favorites ever! I absolutely love prosciutto, so I was really excited for this meal. The pasta instructions gave me and my boyfriend the perfect al dente and the sauce was freaking delicious. I felt like a chef making this plate and the recipe is always on my refrigerator door now.

Jill: Unfortunately my chicken was bad so I couldn't test this recipe out fully, but the pasta was pretty good on it's own! The sauce was ah-mazing.

Pan Seared Strip Steak with Roasted Vegetable Hash

Jess: This meal felt very homecooked-esque and was very hearty. It was a ton of vegetables sent directly to my place, so I loved not having to lug a ton of vegetables from the grocery store. It gave me the opportunity to try something new and I had enough for leftovers the next day!

Jill: I love that they give you a lot of vegetables and don't skimp out! The meal was delicious and the vegetables were insanely fresh. One of the best parts about Relished is they give great proportions!

We thoroughly enjoyed the meals Relished sent us and would definitely use it again! We would like to see a "best date to eat by" for each plate, just in case our nights run late, because we're pretty bad at judging how long a product can last for. But we'd say it's one of the best home meal services we've tried!

If you're hungry and want to try Relished for yourself, use code 'Jess&Jill' for 50% off your order.

Mangia, mangia!

Jess & Jill

Jess & Jill received product courtesy of Relished. Opinions and comments are of their own.

DIY CHALKBOARD

On my very large "DIY to do list" was to make my own chalkboard, and after moving into my new condo and finding the perfect wall where it would get the most use, I decided to go for it. Since this was my first larger DIY project, I knew my dad, who is insanely crafty, was the perfect person to team up with!

Here's what I used:

- Piece of wood (cut bigger than the frame, since I'm gluing the frame to the wood)

- Old frame

- Sander (optional)

- Paint primer

- Semi-gloss paint

- Chalkboard paint

- Heavy duty adhesive

I knew I wanted a more ornate frame, so we went to a local thrift store and found this old picture for under $15.

- Lightly sand the piece of wood that will be used as the chalkboard. I didn't want a perfectly smooth surface and loved the wood's imperfections, so I didn't sand it too much. You can also use an easier option since chalkboard paint works on various surfaces - even glass!

- Clean off your wood and paint it with a primer.

- While waiting for the primer to dry, thoroughly clean your frame to remove any dust or dirt. Then paint your frame the desired color, like this awesome yellow I chose. Be sure to wait a few hours between each coat. If you're impatient like me, this could be a challenge, but it's worth it in the end.

- Once the primer on the wood is dry, paint it with the chalkboard paint. There are two options, black and green, and I chose black.

- Make sure all your materials are dry (all the waiting in a DIY project is the worst part) and use the adhesive to glue the wood to the frame. I let it dry for double the amount of time, just to be sure.

The end result? Voila!

I love the look of old pieces updated with modern colors, so all the little imperfections and wear on the frame attracted me to it.  As you can tell by the chalk marks, it's already gotten a lot of use.

There will definitely be more father-daughter projects in the future! And lucky for my fiancé, more I love you notes demanding chore reminders on my new chalkboard.

Have you tried a DIY chalkboard?

x Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: CHICBUDS PORTA PARTY WIRELESS SPEAKER

If you're like us and always have Spotify playing, it's not easy lugging your laptop from room to room while you're getting ready. You can make your life a little easier, and a bit more loud with chicBuds Porta Party speaker.

This little speaker packs a big punch! Connected by Bluetooth (wireless), and small enough to fit in your palm, it's a great home accessory for any room (no bath is complete without a good soundtrack!) While the speaker can get really loud, on the maximum level the sound does get distorted, but since we're never putting it on max (we're good neighbors!), it's not a big deal for us. The speakers are less than $50 and come in a variety of prints and colors. The perfect accessory to jam out with!

What song are you jammin' to right now?

Jess & Jill

Jess & Jill were given this product to review and were not compensated. Opinions and commentary are of their own. 

BRIDES BUBBLES + BLISS

We're all about everything bridal this week - from Jill's engagement, our visit to Sarah Seven, and now Brides Bubbles + Bliss! This 5th annual bridal event will be held at the Great Hall at Union Station next Wednesday, March 26th, from 6 to 9 PM. Join Carasco Photography for an unforgettable night of bridal beauty and runway inspiration, with special appearances by Glossed and Found’s D. Graham Kostic and international designer Francesca Miranda. This couldn't come at a more perfect time for Jill's wedding planning!

Amongst the mingling of top wedding industry professionals, there will be a couture runway show, bridal exhibits, decor, and more. But our favorite part? Neiman Marcus will have a luxury lounge filled with Christian Louboutin shoes and a Bobbi Brown makeup counter. It's like your favorite Pinterest wedding board come true!

See you there!

Jess & Jill

SPRING DRESS IN LA FORTUNA

File this one under "one of the most unique spots I've ever done photos for an outfit post..."

One of the coolest things I got to see on my trip to Costa Rica was the Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna. Next week I'll be posting more pictures from my trip, but for these I kinda though to myself "when am I ever going to get to do a photo shoot in front of a volcano?"

This is also the outfit I wore to my best friend's rehearsal dinner in Costa Rica. This Free People dress was a last minute find before my trip at Neiman Marcus Last Call, and I paired it with Kate Spade Saturday sunglasses, and Donald J Pliner heels. The bracelet is amongst the most unique jewelry I own - a vintage ruler with double zippers c/o Left of Right. Their Etsy shop has some of the coolest pieces I've seen.

All photos were taken by Adam Badlotto.

Sweet burns, right? One of the many misfortunes of being pale is burning in the sun. I just can't handle being closer to the Equator.

x Jill

SPRING REWARDS #SPRINGINCHI

Spring Rewards, an awesome, FREE way to receive rewards through your credit or debit card, is celebrating spring by giving away some amazing perks! Of the many freebies, our favorite is Lincoln Park based Laudi Vidni, maker of custom leather handbags, which is giving $25 off purchases of $25 or more! You can claim this deal and sign up for Spring Rewards here. And we must say, we're really loving their bags!

The celebrations don't stop there. On March 20th, Spring Rewards is having 50+ pop-up shops all throughout the city to kick off the hopefully warmer season. And with participating food, fashion, and bar vendors, there is literally a deal for everyone! Learn more about the event and a list of participating places here.

Happy shopping!

Jess & Jill

SARAH SEVEN CHICAGO

Using natural fabrics, silk, wool, linens, and recycled vintage fabrics, Sarah Seven brings her Portland roots to her wedding dresses, and finally to Chicago in her new Lincoln Park store (530 West Arlington Place).

What was once an Etsy shop, has now evolved into a girl's Pinterest dream. With studio space in Oakland, boutiques in San Francisco and Portland (limited collection), and dresses in almost 40 boutiques all over the world, Sarah Seven creates a unique experience for all future brides. And did we mention her dresses are stun-ning? 

With dresses priced from $1,500 to $2,500 (and adorably named), we love that Sarah Seven can make any bride's dream dress come true. And for the client looking to spend a little more, Sarah Seven Gold Label - exclusive lace and fabric for only Sarah Seven - ranges from $2,500 to $5,000. Dresses range from short to long, tulle to lace, and simple to intricate, covering all bridal types. You can also accessorize with belts, headpieces, and veils from Sarah Seven, Twigs & Honey, Untamed Petals, as you enjoy their impeccable customer service and, of course, glasses of champagne. 

One of the fitting areas.

Sarah Seven Gold Label dresses.

Sarah Seven Gold Label dresses.

Our favorite dresses: Practically Perfect, Goldie, and La Vie.

Now that we've got you itching to try on your future wedding dress, you can make an appointment here and swing by their boutique in Lincoln Park. If you already have your wedding dress and want to zhuzh it up, you can make an accessory appointment to add headpieces, belts, and veils to your bridal (and even bridesmaids) ensemble. 

And since we've just introduced you to your future wedding gown designer, don't forget to invite us to the wedding.

Jess & Jill

Photos by Jess.

JILL'S ENGAGED!

Cue the Beyonce song! (Yes, you know the one...)

If you follow us on Instagram, you'll know that I recently spent a week in Costa Rica for my best friend's wedding, which I'll be sharing my trip soon. But for now, I had some personal news to share... Before my trip, I got engaged!

G and I have been dating for over eight years and we are so excited to begin this new chapter (and Titan is so stoked, too.) I don't often get mushy or personal, but it truly has been the best past few weeks of my life, and I am so lucky I got to celebrate with my family and friends. It's been a beautiful, magical time with the love of my life. And this totally means a ton of wedding content for the blog!

And since Mary-Kate Olsen and I have gotten engaged within days of each other, I'm pretty sure the universe is telling me that her and I are life partners. It's the only plausible explanation and I'm sticking to it.

Celebrating in Costa Rica!

And I'm only half kidding when I say I want Chipotle to cater my wedding.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me love!

x Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: FLOWER BEAUTY

I've been dying to get my hands on Drew Barrymore's cosmetics line, FLOWER Beauty, and I finally ended up at Walmart on my recent trip to Florida and grabbed the Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in Berry-more and Kiss Me Twice Lip & Cheek Chubby in Think Pink. Everything everyone is saying about FLOWER Beauty is absolutely dead on! Overall, the products are inexpensive, easy to use, and long-lasting. I'm kicking myself that I took so long to try them out - I'm obsessed!

Kiss Me Twice Lip & Cheek Chubby in Think Pink ($9.98)

Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in Berry-more ($7.98)

The Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in Berry-more is my newest must-have. I normally never wear anything on my lips for work because since I'm not the most savvy with lipliners and lipsticks, doing it so earlier in the morning would be a hot mess. This chubby glides on really easily and is thick enough to do it quickly, but still the perfect size to apply it perfectly. The matte finish is great for an every day look and lasted through eating and a whole lot of talking. I'm definitely going back to get this in more colors (okay, all the colors) and can't wait to try the Sheer Up Lip Tint.

I love the Kiss Me Twice Lip & Cheek Chubby in Think Pink for my cheeks, but not so much for my lips. It has almost a chalky feel to it, and for a non-frequent lipstick wearer, it was too uncomfortable. But when it comes to cheeks, it's such an easy and great product to use. I just drew a line on each cheekbone, and either spread it out with my fingers or a cream blush brush (it comes out super bright, but blends out light). The end result is a natural and highlighting blush that I'm all for!

Also wearing LVX in Roux nail lacquer.

Have you tried FLOWER Beauty?

Jess

MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING: SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

If you've ever been to a wedding, you know that music is one of the most important parts of the night. And since I frequently white girl dance around my condo to tunes from all ages, I was excited to help my best friend come up with a playlist for the DJ at her wedding to go off of. With a mixture of oldies, top 40s, and even a little country (we all have a little country in us), this playlist will get even the biggest of wallflowers dancing. Check it out here!

And if you want to know just how often I white girl dance, I just said "tunes from all ages."

x Jill