Our House...is a very very very fine house (er...apartment)

So....we are finally moved in, and with a little "crap, we just invited people over for dinner tomorrow night and now we really have to get the place in order" pressure, it actually has started to come together quite nicely....or at least nicely enough that I am happy to share some pictures of our lovely establishment

This is our kitchen. The kitchen was supposed to be Scott's domain (he loves to cook...yeah!)However, Scott has been super-duper busy with school and the pantry so I have done my fair share. His chores are still the dishes and the garbage, which he is doing a very nice job with.

Feel free to admire the ample cabinet space. I love having so many cabinets, drawers, and counter space. Its also very nice to have enough room on top of said cabinets to throw all the crap we don't use very often (like 2 blenders, 3 toasters, 2 fondue pots...you get the drift).

Dining Room:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to have people over for dinner! I used to invite people over to Scott's for dinner all the time...I'm sure Scott's roommates loved it! Anyways, I have a wonderful large dining room table that seats six. (and it has a lazy susan...the best stinking part). So all this means, a dining room is a must have on the Melissa apartment hunting list. Dining rooms are not easy to come by in Chicago (esp. if you are not in a 2/3 flat....but we found one. It is very nice sized. Soon we will have curtains for the windows...but now you can see my herbs...they are growing like crazy!!!!

Living Room:

As many of you know, I am a little obsessed with Paris. Ive only been once, but it was beautiful and got lots of magnificent art work. I like to have my living room show my Parisian gusto.

Guest Room-

A guest room was also a must for two reasons. 1. So we would have somewhere to go to "cool off" if ever anger struck, and 2. We LOVE to have guests (come on over!!!!)

We decided to make out guest room "Chicago Lovin". Scott has some great pictures that adorn the walls and we have some neat coffee table books, maps, etc. that will be a free for all for all guests. The guest room will also have a desk in it at some point and serve as a pseudo office.

So now we are ready for visitors. Who wants dinner?

BEST.WEDDING.EVER

so, first off, I apologize to the million and a half of you whose weddings I have already been to. They, also, were fun. However, I think the cake goes to Emily and Marc (hereafter referred to as M&Em Olsen.

The following bullets are ways to make your wedding enjoyable to the plethora of out of town guests:

1. Have the most awesome wedding party ever (and ensure they have equally as awesome dates). Ok- Im speaking mostly of the brides side and the male siblings of M&Em, but I have never been in a bridal party where everyone got along, laughed, and enjoyed themselves for the whole weekend

2. Make a weekend of it (by the time Sunday came around, I had already made new friends, and so by the time the wedding was there, I felt like I knew everyone.) M&Em have AMAZING, SMART, SOPHISTICATEd (minus myself) AND ENCHANTING Friends. So funny, so entertaining. You know when your abs still hurt two days later that the festivities were quite impressive.

-Steps to Making a Weekend Out Of It

A. Determine what is the best thing about your city and ensure everyone else has the chance to enjoy it

B. Make several itenerarie, for all the various people who will be enjoying the festivities

C. Ensure alcohol is served at most locations- it loosens people/me up and ensure everyone has a good time

3. Live Band/Great Music/Surprises

From the AMAZING Georgia Tech Glee Club to the wedding party's redention of "Single Ladies" M&Em ensured thier guests were enjoying themselves for every moment of the weekend.

Congrats M&Em. Thanks for a memorable and fabulous wedding.