My Unfortunate Neiman Marcus Experience
December 4th, 2007 @ 9:32 am by Mrs. Jasmine
Last Saturday was especially cold and blustery here in Chicago. After running various errands in the suburbs with Mr. Jasmine, I was cold and tired. Then he suggested a trip to Oakbrook Center, a fabulous outdoor mall in Oak Brook. Why the trip? Mr. Jasmine, the incredibly amazing man that he is, wanted to buy me my highly-coveted Manolo Blahnik wedding shoes.
A Traditional Wife
December 3rd, 2007 @ 2:50 pm by Mrs. Jasmine
Growing up, I always spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in the kitchen with the other female relatives in my family. We gossiped and laughed over pots and pans on the stove and roasts and pies in the bake. The male relatives were crowded around the television, watching football. After dinner, the women retreated to the kitchen, where many dishes would be washed and leftovers stored. The men, on the other hand, would go back to the television, for more football and relaxation. I never questioned the fact that holidays meant days of preparation, cooking, and cleaning for women– it seemed that it was always done that way. But does that make it right?
Quotables Part Two
December 3rd, 2007 @ 9:24 am by Mrs. Jasmine
I’m sorry I’ve been a bit MIA lately! Work has been extremely busy lately, so unfortunately wedding activities have taken a back seat. But, as promised, here is the follow-up to my Quotables post. I hope these quotes, poems, and passages inspire you as much as they did me!
My Very Productive Weekend
November 26th, 2007 @ 8:23 am by Mrs. Jasmine
I was in Los Angeles for Thanksgiving weekend and I finally got to do some hands-on wedding planning! Planning from afar has been difficult, mostly because I felt very removed from the whole process. But now the wedding feels very real and we’re almost at the six month mark– very exciting! Here are some of the major wedding activities I enjoyed last weekend:
(1) I saw my venue: Believe it or not, this was my first time seeing my venue and thankfully, I love it! The InterContinental Los Angeles is so chic and sophisticated, but with the intimacy and service of a boutique hotel. It has a very modern Asian aesthetic that matches my theme nicely and the ballroom is so lovely. I’m so excited to finally be able to visualize where I will say my vows!
Welcome to La-La Land!
November 23rd, 2007 @ 2:14 pm by Mrs. Jasmine
I’m in LA for Thanksgiving weekend– it’s so good to be home! I adore Chicago, but a little part of me misses the sunshine and palm trees of So Cal. I’m so excited to introduce our many out-of-town guests to Los Angeles next year.
To that end, I want to put together a “Welcome to LA” basket for all of our out-of-town wedding guests. I’ve started to brainstorm about what kind of items I could include, but I’m coming up short. Here are some ideas I have so far:
What To Do About An Updo?
November 19th, 2007 @ 6:28 pm by Mrs. Jasmine
I’ve always harbored a mild obsession with my hair. When I was young, I never knew what to do with my straight-yet-wavy, jet black, super thick hair. I finally discovered the joys of great shampoo, conditioner, and hair products and I’ve never looked back! It’s taken me many years to figure out my hair but we’re finally friends 
So, as you can imagine, I’m taking my wedding day updo very seriously. On the big day, I will be putting my faith in the fab Sherry McAnelly, master of makeup and hair and all around sweetheart. I have a few wedding day hair requirements, namely:
1) My hair needs to be pulled all the way back or have a middle part, so I can wear a tika in the middle of my forehead. No side part for me.
2) I want a big updo– lots of fullness and drama. I’m growing my hair long for a reason!
Let Them Eat Cake
November 19th, 2007 @ 8:33 am by Mrs. Jasmine
I have a confession to make: I don’t really care about the wedding cake. It feels blasphemous for a die-hard sweet tooth like myself to say that, but I have to be honest– our wedding cake has become an afterthought in the flurry of wedding planning. Among the many aspects of the wedding I want to splurge on (venue/food, stationery, decor), the cake quickly fell to the bottom of my priorities.
But while I may not care too much about the cake, I still want it to be a scrumptious treat for our guests. I’ve started to think about what kind of cake would be most enjoyable for everyone and I’ve decided we must have a mango filling! I actually don’t like mango, but I love the way a mango cake pays homage to our Indian/Pakistani heritage. Plus, our families and friends all really love the fruit and would be delighted to have mango cake.
Walking Away From The Dress
November 14th, 2007 @ 12:55 pm by Mrs. Jasmine
When my family visited Chicago in July, I took them to Devon Avenue. Devon is the “Little India” of Chicago: a street lined with Indian and Pakistani grocery stores, restaurants, and boutiques.
VIV: Very Important Video
November 13th, 2007 @ 5:14 pm by Mrs. Jasmine
For many brides, the choice to hire a videographer is a tricky one. For me, it was a no-brainer. My parents love videotaping everything. We have an entire cabinet in our house devoted to dozens upon dozens of videos of my brother and I from childhood. During graduations, I could always pick my mom out of the crowd: she was the one wielding the giant video camera. Even today, most family get-togethers revolve around my parents pulling out a home video for the amusement of our relatives and friends. There was no question that my wedding day would be videotaped– professionally, no less.
Working Girl
November 13th, 2007 @ 11:06 am by Mrs. Jasmine
Holding down a full-time job while planning a wedding is no easy feat. It can be so difficult to balance professional responsibilities with the emails, phone calls, research, and vendor appointments that are part and parcel of wedding planning.
How have you managed to balance work with wedding planning? Do you ever find yourself wedding planning while at work (we won’t tell anyone!)?
image courtesy of the guardian
Mrs. Jasmine, Chicago/LA
Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Attorney
Engagement Date: March 24, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 20, 2007
Venue: Hotel on the westside of Los Angeles
About Me: I'm a happy-go-lucky, imaginative spirit trapped in the body of a lawyer. I love reading, shopping, dining out, and exploring my beloved adopted city of Chicago with my fiance. We're planning the wedding of our dreams in my hometown of Los Angeles and we're excited to incorporate our cherished Indian/Pakistani customs and traditions.
