See You at Indie Wed - This Saturday!

Who's going to Indie Wed at the Ravenswood Event Center on Saturday? I AM!!! And if you're getting married, you should, too. 

While I won't be a vendor this year, I will be there visiting my pals and checking out all the amazing wedding goodness! Click HERE to see all the fantastic artists you'll get to see - and meet. 

Click HERE to get your tickets online.

See you there....

Wedding Chocolates

This Sunday, you can visit Fannie May stores to learn about (and sample!) their products for wedding favors. Yum!

Click HERE to find a participating location. 

It's Truffle Time!

Valentine's Day is coming up very soon, people!


And do you know what I want?


Look to the left. Yup, that's it. 


I want truffles from Katherine-Anne Confections. And while I won't insist on it, I'd be thrilled if one of those babies happened to be a Passionfruit Ginger Truffle. 


I realize no one was asking, but now you know. 


I would highly recommend your getting some for your sweetie. Or yourself. 

Something for Your Sweet Tooth

My BFF Martha, recently featured candy-inspired cakes on her website. They are, of course, fabulous!

Just take a look at this beauty in the photo. Imagine this cake along side a colorful candy buffet. Willie Wonka would be proud!

If you are considering candy for your wedding, I would suggest a stop at Sweetness in La Grange.

My husband discovered the shop with our son one afternoon while strolling around La Grange Road. When I saw the treasures they came home with, I had to check it out myself.

Not only does this place have an amazing selection of vintage candies, there are plenty of new delights to discover, too! There's a whole counter devoted to a variety of sweets sold by the pound - and displayed in big glass jars. So cool! I'm talking Swedish fish, licorice, flying saucer candy.... you name it!

To make the experience even better, owner Julie Magno-Procich is very welcoming and friendly . To my detriment, she was so friendly during my visit that she offered me a candy sample. She innocently asked, "Do you like grapefruit?"

It's not my favorite, but I like it just fine. So I said, "Sure!"

Well, then she told me I had to try the grapefruit gummi candy. I tasted the sample and a new addiction was born. They're incredible! Of course, I purchased a bag full and have created a slew of new addicts in the last few weeks.

In any case, stop by Sweetness and say hi to Julie. She creates fantastic candy displays and buffets for weddings, so be sure to ask her about that. Just be careful, she may offer you a sample and then you're in trouble!

Elise and Ed's Wedding - Featuring a Mixed Drink

A few months ago I had the honor of marrying Elise and Ed, one of the nicest couples around.

They had a lovely ceremony, held at Hotel Baker in St. Charles, also the site of the reception. Hotel Baker is a fantastic spot for a wedding - and just about any celebration! Built in 1928, this historic hotel is in downtown St. Charles and sits right on the Fox River.

The original plan was to have the ceremony in the rose garden, on the patio overlooking the river. But, rainy weather forced us indoors. The good news is that the Rainbow Room ballroom is gorgeous - and boasts a light-up floor. It was a lovely place for the ceremony!

One thing I loved about Elise and Ed's ceremony was that they opted for a unique unity ritual. Rather than a sand ceremony or a unity candle, they chose to share a drink. Now, sharing a cup of wine is pretty common, but they did something that was a little more "them." They took their two favorite beverage, iced tea and lemonade, and poured them together to make an Arnold Palmer. They then shared the concoction - a perfect unity ritual!

And one more great detail - they had personalized bottles of Jones Soda as party favors for their guests. Love it!!

You Shoulda Put a Ring On It...

Candy ring, that is. Check out these incredible candy rings featured on Martha Stewart Weddings!

And there's even a how-to. For you crafty folks out there, it looks like these might not be too tricky to make. (For you, that is. For me it would likely be a crazy, sticky mess.)

How fun would it be to have these as party favors at a shower or bachelorette party?

And if you have extras...... I WANT ONE!! Please. And thank you.

The AnitaWeds Giveaway: And the Winner Is........

And the WINNER is........

Sarah & Teresa's Dia de los Muertos wedding - 10/8/11

Okay, folks - fasten your seatbelts and get ready for the juicy details of this way cool wedding! Just look at these two - you know this is gonna be FUN!

Teresa and Sarah are having their reception at Catalyst Ranch in Chicago, one of my all-time favorite venues. This fun spot definitely lends itself to their Day of the Dead theme with its bright colors and funky decor. Perfect choice.

And why the theme? Teresa explained, "This colorful celebration fits our lives in a few very symbolic ways. The first is the death of our lives separately, and the rebirth of our lives together for eternity." She also explained that her grandfather

is from Mexico and the theme is a tribute to him and a celebration of his culture.

It also doesn't hurt that Sarah and Teresa are both fans of punk rock, So the Day of the Dead images "are very fitting."

Sugar skulls are the symbol of the day and will be incorporated in a variety of ways. First of all, they have a tattoo artist friend who designed a sugar skull portrait of the couple. See the photo of the drawing? Note the sunflowers, which are a tribute to Sarah's grandfather, who had a spectacular sunflower garden. The wedding flowers will be sunflowers and marigolds, known as Flor del Muerto.

But, who the heck is Clover? That's Teresa's nickname! So, this really is them, in case you were wondering. I'm glad we have that cleared up. Moving on....

They're incorporating the sugar skull portrait by having a stamp made of the drawing, so they can adorn their wedding invites with the skulls. They're considering having tattoos made of the drawing to give out as wedding favors. Ooh! I totally want one!

The couple will be making their own wedding favors, which will be sugar skull-shaped soaps. Cool, huh? Plus - they're making actual sugar skulls which will adorn their wedding cupcakes as well as the tables. Squeee!! I can't stand all this fabulosity!!

Of course, you know the cupcakes are a big hit in my book. But, did you notice the cupcake tattoo? I did!

Prior to the wedding, they're inviting friends over for a sugar skull decorating party to help them make the favors. What a great way to get people involved!

For the reception, the Day of the Dead theme will carry over into the menu. Guests will get to dine on a taco bar and made-to-order guacamole. Plus, lots of chips and salsa.

The beverages will include Mexican beer and wine, and a specialty drink - Margaritas. These women know how to throw a party!

Other great details? How about an awesome sugar skull cake topper?! They're having one custom made by the etsy shop, dnacreations. See the photo of an example. Sweet!

And one of my favorite details of all?? Teresa's proposal. For Sarah's birthday, Teresa created a painting that said "Marry Me" and tied an engagement ring to the middle. Here she is with her painting. I guess Sarah liked it, 'cause she said "Yes."

Clearly I am in love with this wedding! So, congratulations to Sarah & Teresa! Your AnitaWeds Giveaway prize will be on its way to you shortly.

Just PLEASE send pictures of your Big Day..... I'm DYING to see them!

AnitaWeds Giveaway - Honorable Mention #1

The Giveaway ended on Monday and then the hard work began - selecting a winner! I received such fantastic entries, so I had a hard time deciding. I narrowed it down and then enlisted the help of my website guru (aka - my husband!) and my logo designer (a brilliant artist who happens to be my BFF). We finally came to a decision. We also felt that it was necessary to also have two honorable mentions. They were just that good!

So, before I announce the winner on Friday, I'll tell you about the entries who made it so darn hard to choose.

The first:

Cori and Steve, getting married on 9-10-11

They're planning on a ceremony that will be "a bit of

sweet and a dash of funny." They come from different religious backgrounds, but plan to include her Jewish heritage by ending the ceremony with the breaking of the glass. As Cori put it, "...honestly, who doesn't love to stomp on glass till it breaks and yell out Mazel Tov! Sounds like a good time to me!"

Their reception will include other personal touches. For example, the customized cake topper. As you can see from the photo, they're Hawks fans, especially Steve.

In fact, the Blackhawks even had a role in their engagement! Just look at their engagement photo, if you have any doubts! Well, the wedding cake topper will feature a bride and groom made to look just like them..... with Steve in a Hawks jersey- and both of them perched on a hockey puck!

Cori's favorite flower is the orchid, so she'll be carrying a bouquet with the beautiful blooms. The picture here is a photo that inspired her choice. Steve will also have an orchid boutonniere. And since they both like bamboo, they'll have bamboo in the centerpieces and will offer guests mini "lucky bamboo" as wedding favors.

Cori said, "We're hoping some of our luck in love will rub off on our guests!" How can you not love these people?!?!

She also mentioned that their "ultimate favorite thing" is their families, explaining, "Without our family's love and support we don't know where we'd be!" They plan to include special items from both of their families into the ceremony and reception. So sweet!

See why it was so hard to choose, with fabulous couples like Cori and Steve?

Details on the other Honorable Mention will follow tomorrow. And the WINNER will be announced here on Friday! Stay tuned.....

DIY Wedding Ideas from my Close, Personal Friend, Martha

Okay, she has worn down my resistance. I love Martha!!! I can't help it. I received a subscription to Martha Stewart Living and when it comes in the mail, everything else gets tossed aside. It's like a drug! Now you know my secret shame.

So, I am now compelled to share the latest DIY projects from her wedding website - ideas for spring weddings. My favorites? So glad you asked!

Personalized tea bags - take-home treats for your guests

Flower girl parasols, which could also be for bridesmaids or the bride!

Flowers-to-Go Favor Bags - What are you going to do with all those cut flowers? Let your guest enjoy them at home after the wedding!

Pom-Pom Car Decoration - Seriously, do you really want old gym shoes or rusty cans trailing your car?

See all the spring wedding ideas here. Enjoy - and say hi to Martha for me!

It's Time for BEADS!! Stop by at my Bead for Life Open House this Sunday!

If you're considering Bead for Life jewelry for your wedding (for your bridal party, or as shower favors), or if you're just wondering what it's all about - I have good news for you:

I'm hosting a Bead for Life Open House this Sunday!

You can come by and see the beads in person - and learn more about the amazing work done by Bead for Life. Here are the details:

Bead for Life Open House

at Caribou Coffee at 90 E. Northwest Hwy. in Mt. Prospect

(across from the downtown Mt. Prospect Metra station, just east of Elmhurst Rd.)

Sunday, Dec. 5th from 1:30 until 4 pm.

I'll have a display of the gorgeous bead jewelry, as well as information about Bead for Life. The pieces really are beautiful and make great holiday gifts. You can leave with a beautiful present, and fell good about making a difference in the lives on women in Uganda.

The wonderful bangle bracelets are only $5! But, I'm warning you - it's be hard to pick just one. That's why I'm always wearing at least three at a time! I've been hosting these Open Houses for the past five years, so believe me, I've purchased lots of them!

So, come on by and say hello!

Beautiful Corsages for Your Wedding

Okay, I admit that, up until recently, the thought of a wrist corsage made me cringe. But that probably goes back to an incident a long time ago, when I went to a dance with a friend (I didn't think it was a date - we were going with a group of friends) and he presented me with a wrist corsage. I wanted to die. It didn't help that it was a big purple orchid and wearing it made me feel like someone's grandma.

Oh well, the night was a disaster and thus, my disdain for the wrist corsage was born.

But....... that ended when a couple I married last year ordered a corsage for me to wear when I officiated their wedding. I was really flattered - and it was a beautiful corsage!

Then, a few months later, another couple gave me a wrist corsage. Wow! These sweet gestures changed my mind.

And then - I just checked out a post on Martha Stewart Weddings. She's done it AGAIN! Check out these luscious corsages!! The article even gives you ideas for sweet little guest corsages, delicate crepe paper flowers, even flower rings for your bridesmaids! Most of these ideas include instructions to make them yourself, so they won't cost you a fortune.

And they're so pretty!!!

Okay, I admit it - I was wrong for a long time. I encourage you to get corsages for everyone! And don't forget me. =)

After the Wedding - What to do With All the Stuff

I just came across this great post at So You're Engayged and just had to share.

The article, After the Wedding: What to Do About Your Wedding "Leftovers" has some great tips for getting rid of all those little extras.

And even better? Suggestions for how to avoid winding up with all that extra stuff!

Be sure to check it out.... before you're buried in piles of tiny vases and other do-dads.

Wedding Beads for You!

I know I've written a post about BeadforLife before, but I was motivated to do so again when the most recent newsletter popped up in my email.

This edition of The Bead included an article called "Shopping Is Giving: Add Beads to Your Wedding!"

Well, you know that had my name all over it.

The article shared the story of a customer who proposed to his wife by presenting her with - not a diamond ring - but a bracelet from BeadforLife.

The woman (who is now his wife) said, “The fact that Ugandan women made these beads added a tremendous amount of value to the engagement! This symbol of our commitment to each other also represents something real and valuable to those Ugandan women and their families.” How cool is that?!

If your proposal has already happened, BeadforLife can still play a role in your wedding. For example, brides can give a jewelry set to bridesmaids - complete with necklace, earrings and bracelet - for as little as $25! Not only are the pieces very affordable, the jewelry really is gorgeous. Trust me, I know.

I have hosted Bead Parties for the past five years and own more BeadforLife bracelets than any one person really should. Just ask my husband, who puts up with my bead habit. Actually, as I sit here writing, I realize that right now, at this very moment, I'm wearing a BeadforLife necklace, a band bracelet, and two bangle bracelets. I love them all! And there's lots more in my jewelry box.... and the bathroom cabinet.... and the table next to my bed..... you get the idea.

Besides being attractive, inexpensive, and durable - your purchase makes a huge difference in the lives of the beaders in Uganda.

So, if you're still thinking about bridesmaids gifts, or shower favors, or even jewelry for yourself, consider shopping at BeadforLife's online shop. Just take a peek.

C'mon. You know you want to!

Bead for Life comes to town!

If you've read my blog, you probably know that Bead for Life is near and dear to my heart. That's why I'm happy to announce that I'll be hosting a Bead for Life Open House on December 5th!

The event will take place at Sweet Remembrance, a wonderful new coffee shop in downtown Des Plaines. (I'll be writing more about it in the future, because it's fabulous!) The shop's gracious owner, Randy Toelke, has allowed me to use the space to host the event. Thank you, Randy!!

Here are the details:
Bead for Life Open House/Bead Party
Saturday, Dec. 5th from 2 to 5 pm at Sweet Remembrance
614 Lee St., Des Plaines (just north of the Metra station)


Come check out the gorgeous bead jewelry, handmade from recycled paper. You can finish up your holiday shopping and help a worthy cause. These make wonderful, meaningful gifts. A necklace and bracelet set would be perfect for your bridal party.- and affordable for you! Or, think shower favors - bracelets are only $5.00!

Best of all, your purchase makes a huge difference to the beaders in Uganda, who are working diligently to lift themselves out of poverty. You can learn more about Bead for Life by visiting the website.

Come have a cup of coffee (and maybe one of the amazingly delicious cookies!) and check out the bead jewelry. Join the fun!

Indie Weds - A Unique Wedding Show in Chicago

I plan to check out IndieWed on January 30th. This is the wedding show hosted by they same folks that offer the cool & funky Renegade Art Fair.

The show will feature various wedding vendors, many of them being the "off-beat" variety.

It looks like it will be pretty amazing!

This pop rocks!

I'm back to soda. But don't get the wrong idea about me, I'm not a huge pop drinker. That being said - I LOVE Jones soda. It could be I'm a sucker for the fun labels, but I also like the quirky flavors.

I became a devoted fan when I discovered the Thanksgiving boxed-sets. These Jones folks have a great sense of humor! I couldn't resist bringing a box along to the in-laws a few years ago, when we went there for Thanksgiving dinner. Most of the guests were too leery to try all the flavors (myself included). My teenage nephew, to his credit, braved them all. His repulsed expression and an exclamation of "Ewww!" were immediately followed by, "Wanna try some?" Surprisingly, his unique sales pitch didn't win over any converts. I tried the cranberry, which was pretty good, but I didn't bother with broccoli casserole or turkey gravy. Just knowing they existed was good enough for me.

And now, the Jones soda people have won my heart all over again! I have discovered their customized Jones sodas for weddings. You simply choose your flavor (Strawberry Manilow, anyone?), add your photo for the label, and create a message to be printed on the bottle. Voila! You now have your very own Jones sodas!

It's easy and makes a great wedding favor!

Do you think the Joneses would adopt me?

Anita Jones.... I think it's meant to be.

A Sweet Tooth Extravaganza!

I just love the trend of candy buffets popping up at wedding receptions. Why didn't they have things like that when I got married??

But then again, I don't know if I could really picture the old German relatives dipping into the rock candy or scooping up handfuls of SweetTarts!

If you're planning on a candy buffet, you really should read the article "How to Create a Candy Buffet Bar," found at Bride and Groom.

In addition to many other helpful hints, the article suggests using clear containers, so your sweet treats will also serve as a fun, colorful decoration.

Another idea is offering your guests nostalgic candies, such as lollipops and candy bracelets. Oh, I can just see Uncle Norm munching on a candy bracelet right now!

I found more good ideas in the article, "How to Create the Perfect Wedding Candy Buffet." It gives you tips on what type of candy to buy and -very important!- how much of it to buy. The article also has lots of great candy buffet photos to get your creative juices flowing (and make your mouth water!)

I think this is such a fun idea - and the best part is that it can fit into a tight budget. Just don't forget the peanut M&Ms.

Gifts for wedding guests

At the website Style Me Pretty, I found these wonderful goodie bags that you can make yourself.

The idea is that the couple makes a donation to a charity, in honor of their wedding guests (an idea I really love!). The guests receive these lovely DIY Goodie bags with a little treat (such as home-made brownies) and a note explaining the donation.

In these photos, the outside of the bag has a keepsake card with a poem selected by the couple. It would be a nice touch to include a poem or reading from your wedding ceremony.

Style Me Pretty (for "the style-obsessed bride") has tons of neat DIY wedding projects.

I think these are fantastic - they can save you money, but they also add a nice personal touch. Check out the website for more projects and unique ideas.

So, I really like this Goodie Bag idea. What do you think?

Cupcakes + Contest = Check it out!!

Okay, everyone knows I love cupcakes. But, if you love them too, then this is the contest you have been waiting for! Intimate Weddings is sponsoring a giveaway in which the winner (lucky dog!) will receive a $100 gift certificate to Gourmet Gift Company for gourmet custom label cupcake mix wedding/shower favors.

The best part? The cupcake mixes available include chocolate cupcake mix, champagne cupcake mix (I'm drooling) and even red velvet cupcake mix (now my heart is racing).


The contest ends on April 20th. Click here for the details of the giveaway!

Sometimes it's better to give than to receive....

I just learned about a wonderful website called JustGive.org.

I know there are many couples who would like to "give back" in conjunction with their Big Day. The problem is, most just don't know how. This website gives you the opportunity to create a Wedding Registry, where you can allow guests to donate to charities of your choice.

Another option is to make a donation yourself, in lieu of wedding favors. JustGive.org will then send you a pesonalized PDF to print and place on your guest tables. Great idea!

One of the organizations that can be supported through JustGive.org is BeadforLife, with which I have been involved for a few years. I'm a huge fan of BeadforLife and can't say enough about it (just ask anyone I know - they've all heard me blathering on!).


The organization helps women in Uganda earn a fair wage selling beautiful jewelry made from recycled paper. I've hosted several Bead Parties, which are tons of fun.... and the beads are so beautiful that I wind up buying a bunch for myself. At this very moment I'm wearing a long BeadforLife necklace, earrings - and two bracelets! Trust me, there's more .... I admit that I'm shamelessly addicted. Each time the box comes in the mail with the goods for my one of my Bead Parties, I get utterly giddy. I dump everything out on the kitchen table and pour over every single piece..... it's glorious!!! And I do this repeatedly before my party, just to make sure I've picked out all my favorites. It's a little obsessive, I know.....

Okay, back to the point - I think the jewelry would make fantastic bridal shower favors- and the beads are even gorgeous enough for brides to wear!

Check out the BeadforLife story in the videos below...