The cost of your friends getting married

It's been a privilege and a pleasure to observe many friends and family friends get married over the past two years. Attending nine weddings from mid-2013 to the end of 2014, I'm starting to understand the drill. The biggest lesson I've learned so far is to budget accordingly, because weddings come with expenses.

You start with a gift and outfit for an engagement party (if someone hosts one). Then the bridal shower comes, where you buy your first gift off the registry and sometimes travel to attend that.

Next is the bachelorette party, what most 20-something women look forward to and plan for months on hand. These appear to be getting more and more extravagant, but at the bare minimum, you're paying to host the party (i.e. split a hotel), eat dinner and drinks for a weekend, and buying another "mini-shower" gift.

Then, wedding weekend arrives. You'll need a cute outfit for the rehearsal dinner. To look ready yourself, a manicure & pedicure are necessary, and makeup and hair the day of the wedding. By wedding day, you've paid for your bridesmaid's dress or other outfit for the night, a hotel for the evening (and possibly a flight or gas if you travel), a card and another gift off the registry.

Make sure you're aware of all this and budget beforehand, or else it's easy to go overboard when you're celebrating your friends in love!

Word of the day

Nomophobia: Fear of being out of mobile phone contact

Think: NO-MO-bile phobia.

Read more in Business Insider here.

Priorities vs. options

What makes something a priority or an option?

This question is relevant in all facets of life - whether it's in organizations, friendships, relationships, the workplace or religion.

Decisions in the business world are not taken seriously without a rationale, which forces you to make a smart decision. But the further we progress in the real world, the more normal it is for people to answer "it just felt right" rather than explaining or even feeling confident in their reasoning on certain decisions.  With access to constant knowledge of what very one else is doing through social media, I think it's important to understand what makes certain plans important. Whether it's going to church, managing a relationship or making plans with someone - what makes it integral vs. optional?

Is it...

• The amount of attention you'll receive?
• The perceived amount of fun you'll have?
• Dedication to the people you are with? 
• Sharability & sociability? 
• The allure of new opportunities? 

What do you think? 

Fragendas

I recently started a note on my phone called "fragendas" - an abbreviation I made up for "friend agendas."

The idea stemmed from all the times throughout the day I have a story to tell a friend or family member, or giggle to myself about it, and want to remember to tell them about it. I'm sure it partially came from status meetings at work and the notion that your co-workers and manager always have a 'status' of what's on your agenda, but your friends and family don't - especially if they don't live close or communicate often.

A few weeks in, the brief review is that it's been a great reminder of who I've caught up with, items to touch base on and the little things, like paying someone back for tickets and more. Try it out :)

Owen & Engine

After eating at Au Cheval in the West Loop, one of my coworkers recommended another restaurant for a great burger - Owen and Engine. It's a little off the beaten path near Diversey & Western Avenue, between west Lakeview & Logan Square. Hannah, Harriet and I trekked out on a Tuesday night for the evening special - a burger, beer & bourbon for only $15!

The entire menu immediately looked phenomenal and the restaurant exceeded my expectations. With a dark, living room vibe like Barrelhouse Flat, the ambiance was fun and perfect for a nice dinner without getting too fancy. The burger was the best I've had in Chicago and I look forward to going back. Highly recommended, check it out!

Farm beer burger on a potato bun with caramelized onions

For dessert, we had lavender ice cream sandwiched between two brownies, with a chocolate cookie + peanut butter ball on the side. YUM.

Importance of catching up

I saw this picture hanging up at a co-worker's desk last week. Magazine ads are always powerful, but this one was particularly notable and ahead of its time.

Turning the print advertisement around, it's an ad for Visit North Carolina in 2009, but carries on a different meaning now than it probably would have then.

Wisdom is realizing that catching up is more important than keeping up.

In a world of constant updates & social media, it was a great reminder that you don't have to keep up with everyone's online statuses, photos, etc. But when you see them in person, talk on the phone or talk in detail, you can hear those things then.

August quotes

Funny quotes this month about social media & relationships, enjoy!

"When Chris was little, he wanted to have nine kids so he could have an entire baseball team." -Lauren

“By the way can you tell us your unit number so we can see how much you’ve paid on your mortgage?” -Harriet

“We're not in 2050, it's not like people don't still watch DVDs.” -Joy H

“And then there was the Cracker Barrel fiasco with a 30-45 minute wait…and we waited.” -Eleni, #Artemasfamilyproblems

"He has a cat. Strike one.” -Hannah 

“He didn't buy cable last year because he had my Netflix password. So I changed it on him. Take that.” -Kaleigh, on her ex boyfriend

“He reminded us he could be meeting his future wife, we reminded him he could be meeting his potential murderer.” -Laura, on a friend's trip to visit a girl from Tinder

"His parents go to auctions and estate sales like every weekend and just buy him furniture." -Ricky, on how his house is so furnished

“Why would you ever have a company meeting at a popular bar on a rooftop on a Thursday? Maybe you’re not a good ad firm to hire.” -Harriet

“And our bill is only $14. God bless.” -Harriet, on the total happy hour check for three people 

“I had my most popular Instagram and Facebook post in the same day ever, and it was of my classroom. Cumulatively it’s the most likes I’ve gotten in a single post.” -Shelley

"Don't you know I turn into Enrique in like 5 seconds?" - Brock

"She picked out her ring at Costco because it was $4,000 instead of $6,000." -Irina

"I don't want that much of a ring, Mom." -Irina

"Stop selling yourself short." -Her Mom

"First of all if you're having your wedding at a winery, get stemless glasses." -Brooke

“If you’ve been dating for six years and go to a foreign country and come back without a ring, there is definitely a problem.” -John

"They're not really good friends...If I had to rank them on a social media scale, they're Snapchat friends and like each other's photos occasionally." -Helen

“What are they divorced? It's like a cat. Someone just has to take custody, you can’t switch off day to day.” -Harriet

“And no one knew the cupid shuffle.” -Brock, on a wedding

“It’s been the best birth control ever. I don’t even want to think about having kids anymore.” -Helen, on having a dog

“Who gets married on a Monday?” -Alex C. 

“I have a lot of work which is kind of annoying.” -Eleni
“Oh, you have to do work while you’re at college?” -Katie

“She must be using the wrong filters.” -Emily S, on bad Instagram photos 

“For every vendor they had, they had a sign up for where they were from in Greece.” -Shaina, on an Indianapolis Greek fest