Graduation Day!

It's Graduation Day here at the Vaughan house - my son is graduating form 8th grade today.!

And that is an event that needs to be celebrated with CAKE. This beauty is from the wonderful folks at Sweety Pies in Skokie. 

While I'm looking forward to the graduation ceremony, I really CANNOT WAIT to cut into this cake. When Dana at the bakery began telling me about the best way to save "the leftovers," I just chuckled. Like there will be any leftovers. Ha!

Thanks for the amazing cake, Sweety Pies! 

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to the Under a New Moon couples! Congratulations to Ron & Jason, Kimm & Jo, Sam & Chris, Amanda & Katrina, Steve & Felix, and Esther & Kati! 

So thrilled that today, on their third anniversary, they are celebrating their MARRIAGES!!

Photo by Jeremy Lawson Photgraphy

Congratulations to the Smiths! (The couple, not the band)

I get so excited about babies! And I get super-duper-over-the-moon excited when those babies happen to belong to wonderful couples, like Cori and Steve, whose wedding I officiated in 2011. 

Tatum Ann Smith arrived yesterday morning - and she's absolutely adorable! Congratulations, Cori and Steve. I hope to meet your little angel soon!

Cori & Steve Smith - photo by Angel Eyes Photography

Marriage Equality in Illinois!

I have literally not been able to express my joy out loud because I keep crying. And there I go again.

So, this says it all:

New Reviews from my Couples!

Just received my 53rd review on WeddingWire. Wow! A huge THANK YOU to my wonderful couples! Feel free to click on the badge below to see what they said.

  

It's Our Wedding Anniversary! Looking Back 19 Years.......

Mom's creation

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary. Tonight we'll go through our wedding album and reminisce. 
In honor of our celebration, I thought I'd share a few pages from our album - and some wedding day memories

1. My mom made my wedding gown. This led to many debates (okay, arguments). I wanted a flowy, hippie-style dress. I wound up with a straight skirt and a detachable train. It was beautiful - but completely different than what I planned. And what was with that cap/veil thingie?
2. When the flowers were delivered to my house, we realized that we forgot to order corsages for the moms and grandma. I wound up ordering them from Jewel & Dad went to pick them up. 
3. I went to a friend's house to have her do my make-up before the wedding. I looked like a circus clown when she finished. ("But you need to have more color for the pictures.") I rubbed off most of it off on the way home. 
4. My brother drove me to the ceremony with my sister and his date. We were early, so we went to Winberie Cafe, a restaurant with a bar. People kept buying us drinks! (Brides, use that wedding dress to your advantage!) 
5. When I was walking down the aisle, a friend of my husband's stepped forward and high-fived me. Classy.
6. My nephew (age 2 at the time) was the ring bearer. My sister bribed him with candy to "walk nicely" down the aisle. When he got to the front he yelled out, "Can I have my Tootsie Roll now?!" 
7. During the vows, after my husband said "I do," I whispered, "You better." I didn't think everyone would be able to hear me. Of course they did.
8. We did a receiving line at the reception venue. By the time we finished, all the appetizers (that WE picked!) were gone.  And I was hungry. Really hungry.
9. My parents wanted a German band, I wanted a deejay, so we had both. All my friends danced to the German band. The Deejay played everything EXCEPT the songs on my playlist.
10. We had a really hard time cutting the cake. No one mentioned that there would be cardboard between the layers. I know that now.
11. Another thing about the cake. I wanted fresh flowers on top. The bakery said that wasn't possible. What?!
12. The server that waited on the head table was really mean. She rolled her eyes when we asked for more butter. Nice.
13. Despite some mishaps, it was one of the best days of my life. 

Other couples make cake cutting look so easy!

If I could do it over again I would: 

1. Hire a real deejay & play great dance music.
2. Get a good photographer
3. Serve cupcakes!
4. Wear a different dress
5. Marry the same wonderful man.

So..... I guess next year we may need to have a 20th anniversary party. This time we'll get those details right. 

Happy anniversary, sweetheart!

Bride's Choice Award!

So happy to have been awarded this honor! A big thank you to the wonderful couples who provided such kind feedback. 

I truly have the best job in the world! 

Under a New Moon - Win a June 1st Civil Union Ceremony & Wedding!

Announcing - Under a New Moon!

Under a New Moon is a celebration of same-sex civil unions in Illinois! Be one of the first couples to have a civil union ceremony in Chicago!

Six lucky couples will win a midnight ceremony and "mini-wedding" at Catalyst Ranch, Chicago's most unique event space!

The party will begin at 10:30 on June 1st, with guests arriving and enjoying appetizers and cocktails.

Group ceremony will begin at midnight, followed by a reception that will include dessert - and dancing!

This momentous occasion will include:

• Pampering for the couples before the ceremony, including hair and make-up services provided by Nika Vaughan
• A group civil union ceremony - conducted by ME, Anita Vaughan! This will include individual vows for each couple
• A reception for couples and their guests following the ceremony, with fabulous deejay, Toast and Jam

But wait, there's more!

• Each couple will be able to invite 12 guests
• Photography of the event by amazing photographer, Jeremy Lawson Photography
• Video by I Do Films
• Wedding cake by Bleeding Heart Bakery
• Delicious treats by Luscious Layers Bakery (a personal favorite of mine!)
• Truffle party favors by Katherine Anne Confections
• Flowers by Pollen, a local eco-friendly florist
• Food by Entertaining Company
• Programs by Paper Stories
• Wedding coordination by SQN Events and Greatest Expectations
• Each couple will also receive a one night stay on June 1st at Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro

To be considered, couples must enter via the Under a New Moon Facebook Page.

Your entry must be a response to the following:

June 1st is a New Moon, which is considered a harbinger of good fortune and new beginnings. So, we want you to tell us how your relationship is a once-in-a-lifetime connection. How will your union mark a new phase in your lives together?

Share your story with us, in writing or with a short video, submitted to the page. Then, get your friends and family to show their support by liking your entry.

The six winners will be selected by the Under a New Moon committee.

Rules:

• Entries must be submitted via Facebook page, either in written form or in a short video (maximum 5 minutes).
• Entries must include a photo of the couple.
• Couples must submit their own entries. Entries for other people will not be considered.
• Finalists must be available for an in-person interview at Catalyst Ranch to be scheduled on May 9th. (This is a change from the original date)
• Winners must obtain a civil union license at a Cook County Clerk's office on June 1st. You will not be able to participate in the event without a license!
• Winners will be required to attend a wedding rehearsal at Catalyst Ranch on the evening on May 31st.
• Winners agree to be available for media contact and understand that their likenesses will be used for promotional materials.
• Winners (both partners) will be required to sign a contract, including agreement to obtain civil union license on June 1st, photo release, etc.
• UPDATE- Deadline to enter is May 6, 2011!
• Winners will be announced on May 15, 2011

Major Announcement Coming Soon!!!

It's really hard for me to keep a secret.

So, I'll tell you a tiny bit......

Right now, I'm working on a very exciting event that will be happening in June - at one of my favorite venues.

Okay, that's enough for now. Stay tuned for the juicy details!

Best Birthday Ever!

Today's my birthday and so far, I'm having the best birthday ever! My family sent my on a treasure hunt with a stack of clues. I uncovered the Lego gorilla man I've been dying to get, a new cd, a book, and a way awesome stuffed octopus!!

We're going out for breakfast and then tonight I'm going to be at BE: the exhibit. I will be making an announcement tonight about an upcoming event at Catalyst Ranch, celebrating civil unions in IL.

Hope to see you there!

I won the Bride's Choice Award 2011!

I'm so excited to have been named a winner for WeddingWire's Bride's Choice Award! Thank you so much to my couples who nominated me - I appreciate it!!

Surprise! It's a Flash Mob Wedding

My hubby saw this on The Week and it MUST be shared! A flash mob wedding in Boston from this past December. Enjoy!

Celebrating Good Deeds and Great Talent!

I just heard some great news and had to share. I'm all about CELEBRATING, you know!

First, I need to introduce you to Kate Diaz. She is a local singer/songwriter that you will definitely be hearing about in the future! I had the good fortune of meeting Kate and her mom earlier this year at our homeschool Co-Op. I had the great pleasure of hearing her play guitar and sing - such a wonderful, rich voice!

So..... I was really excited to hear that Kate was invited by the band Sister Hazel to perform on stage with them at House of Blues earlier this year. Kate had done a cover version of "All for You" which the band saw (and liked!) on YouTube. They admired her talent as well as her generous nature. You see, Kate has been performing at Potbelly's on the weekends, saving her tip money to donate to a charity which supports families dealing with cancer. Sister Hazel knew that Kate was someone who deserved celebration!

Here she is performing with the band at House of Blues. This was so fantastic - it had to be shared!

And, the story doesn't end there! Kate has written a wonderful Christmas song called "Christmas Smiles." The song can be downloaded at iTunes. All proceeds form the song will be donated to CureSearch for Children's Cancer. Download it now! You'll get a great song and you'll be donating to a great cause.

Here is an acoustic preview of "Christmas Smiles":

This just shows that one person can make a difference. Thanks for the inspiration, Kate!!

17 Years and Counting!

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 17th Anniversary! Yay for us!!

We rang in the occasion last night by staying up past midnight watching the fabulously bad movie, Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, starring none other than Debbie Gibson (oh sorry, it's Deborah Gibson now) and Lorenzo Lamas. It was as bad as it sounds - and we enjoyed it immensely!

Today, we're dropping the kids off at their grandparents' house and spending the day hanging out together, trolling garage sales and going out for lunch. A perfect day with my hubby!

And to share the love with you, here are some pix from the big day back in 1993.

First, there's me, walking down the aisle at Unity Temple in Oak Park. Notice the guy standing to the left (the only one standing, for some reason)? This photo was taken right after he high-fived me as I was coming down the aisle. Classy.

The next photo is the ring exchange. Look how cute my hubby is! He was pretty nervous that day, and I doubt that my cracking jokes helped much. Such as when I said, "You better." after he said, "I do."

I know. I make no excuses for myself, I can only hang my head in shame.

But, I'd also like to point out the dress. It was beautiful and a labor of love - my mom designed it and sewed it all on her own. We spent lots of time discussing (arguing) the style of the dress. She won.

It did have a nice detachable train, which went over the long, narrow skirt. But what's with those puffy shoulders? And that poof of netting attached to the cap?!?! What was I thinking?

Mind you, the dress I had been dreaming about was a long, flowy, hippie-chick style. Imagine a long-haired girl in this dress standing in a field of daisies. That was my vision. As you can see, not even close to what I wound up in.

Oh well. It was all well worth it.
Happy anniversary to my wonderful Hubby, who continues to be the best thing that ever happened to me. XOXO

Create Your Own Holiday

So, who remembers the Seinfeld episode where George's dad comes up with Festivus?
Yup, "Festivus for the rest of us." So, maybe the Seinfeld holiday got a little carried away with The Pole (tinsel is too distracting) and the Airing of Grievances.....

But who says you can't create your own holiday? We did!

It began with having a son whose birthday is right before Christmas. Not only was he inundated with birthday presents, a few days later he was bombarded with Christmas presents. Then my daughter came along and her aunts got carried away with buying cute girlie stuff. It just got to be way too much.

I tried to get everyone to cut back on the gift-giving, and they did respect our wishes (for the most part - we're dealing with some serious shoppers). My husband and I found we still weren't comfortable with all the "stuff" the kids were accumulating.

Thus, Vaughan Day was born. We discussed our idea with the kids: they wouldn't get any Christmas gifts from us, but instead we'd have a holiday in the summer where they'd get gifts. They were all for it. They called it Christmas in July.

The first year that we were going to skip Christmas gifts, I was a little worried that we'd have two unhappy kids on our hands. I kept reminding them about our arrangement. When Christmas rolled around, they barely even noticed.

This past weekend, we celebrated our 2nd annual Vaughan Day. We brought the tree up from the basement and decorated with "summery" ornaments. The kids and I made our own decorations the day before. My favorites were my son's light saber ornament (nothing says family holiday like a Star Wars) and my daughter's lemonade ornament (notice the long spoon for stirring?). Instead of garland, I used pink crepe paper around the tree. I'm all about multi-purposing stuff that's laying around.

On Sunday morning, we had Big Breakfast, as it's called in our house - bacon, eggs, cinnamon rolls, the works! Then the kids opened their presents. They each got one present and were thrilled.They even made us cards with a piece of candy from their prized stash of candy. We spent the whole day together - no pressure, no stress. We went to the movies and then ordered our favorite pizza. It couldn't have been a better day!

So, I highly recommend coming up with your own holiday. Be creative!

Do you like bagels? Try one day where all your meals include bagels (bagel dog anyone?) and it's your own official Bagel Day!

Love books? Why not Reading Day, when you spend the whole day in pajamas and curl up with a good book and a nice mug of tea.... and scones. (Hey, I think I may do this one!)

Celebrate your family, your friends - and yourself! And do it any way that makes you happy!

World Cup Celebrations

Before I go any further, let me say that, yes, I am well aware of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup.

But.... a little closer to my heart is the fact that the World Cup has just begun. I'll admit that I am by no means a sports fan, but having been practically raised on a soccer field, the sport is inescapable in my family.

I love it for the fact that it is truly the sport of the entire world. Having worked with refugees over the years, I know that soccer is often an escape from the harsh realities of life for many people, especially children. I can clearly recall a time several years ago, when I brought a donated soccer ball to a Somali family with three sons. The look of joy on their faces was the best thank you I could ever get. It still makes me smile.

So, I am compelled to share the news that there was a another sports celebration happening today. It was the opening game of the World Cup in South Africa. The South African consulate is hosting Celebrate Africa right here in Chicago, which will include public viewing parties and soccer tournaments.

This morning, Daley Plaza played host to the viewing of the Mexico - South Africa game (which ended in a 1-1 tie). In addition to the game, there was plenty of entertainment, including musical performances by a South African drumming group and a Mexican Mariachi ensemble. I heard a re-cap of the event on Worldview on WBEZ and it sounded amazing. One of the highlights was when the African drummers joined the mariachis and had a spontaneous jam. Could this happen any place else??

Just to get you in the spirit of this incredible world-wide party, here's the official World Cup song (in Spanish & English).

A Surprise Birthday Celebration

As a Celebrant, I am of course a big fan of any type of celebration.

So, I just had to share this video posted on Andrew Sullivan's blog. Watch as Danish bus driver, Mukhtar, is surprised by many birthday wishes.

It's impossible not to smile! Actually, it made me cry!

Enjoy!

Surprise! It's Your Wedding Reception!

Thanks to my wonderful Celebrant colleague from New York, Valerie Coleman, for forwarding this video. It's a surprise wedding reception, staged by Improv Everywhere. It made me day!



In a follow-up from the ImprovEverywhere blog, here is from an email sent by the couple after their surprise reception:
"Whatever becomes of our “scene” we just wanted to say thanks because it was freakin’ hilarious. The most important thing for us is that you gave us just about the best wedding story anyone could have to pass on. Take good care."

Happy New Year!

I hope you found a festive way to usher in the New Year. We spent a nice, cozy evening with good friends, hot cider and lots of food. We celebrated the New Year at 10 pm (for the kids) by getting them bundled up & sending them outside to bang on big aluminum bowls and lids. For some reason, I was the only one yelling, "Happy New Year!" These kids need to learn how to let loose!

I wish you all the best for 2010. And a special wish for happiness and love to all those couples planning weddings in the coming year. Congrats!

Winter Solstice - The Shortest Day of the Year!

Today marks the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year. Still celebrated by modern pagans, Winter Solstice has been a day of celebration since ancient times.

The Roman feast of Saturnalia honored the God Saturn as a week-long observation of the Winter Solstice. The day was also honored by the Germanic people of Northern Europe with Yule festivals, which brought us the tradition of burning the Yule log.

If you'd like to celebrate the shortest day of the year.... and thus, usher in the lengthening days, here are some ideas:

Celebrate with a series of rituals, feasts, and other activities, with Winter Solstice Eve and Day as the central focus. Have gift exchanges and meals over the course of several days and nights, as was done long ago.

Decorate your home with Druidic holiday colors - red, green, and white. Place holly, ivy, evergreen boughs, and pine cones around the house, including a sprig of mistletoe above the doorway. Hang an evergreen wreath on your door, adorned with holiday herbs - the circular shape represents the continuity of life.

Enjoy a Solstice Eve ritual where you relish the longest night of the year by meditating or enjoying music in the darkness. Then, symbolically welcome the arrival of the sun by lighting candles. If you have a fireplace (or a fire pit outside), burn a Yule log, saving a little bit to start next year's fire.

How ever you decide to acknowledge the shortest day of the year (or the longest night), be sure to take a moment to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

I have another very special reason for celebrating today - my son's birth 10 years ago today! He has brought joy and light to our lives ever since. Happy Birthday!