Hump Day

Sorry for being so MIA last week, life's been a little unpredictable lately.  My mom is headed home 3 months early, which means we're scrambling to find day care for our little Man starting in September.  If you're a Chicago parent and know of a great daycare you'd like to share, by all means please do.  Who knew finding daycare could be so stressful.  In other news, Will & Kate or 'the Cambriges' as I like to refer to them as, have released their first family photo.  They look picture perfect, as we've come to expect from them, and incredibly happy.  Even the family dog, Lupo, seems to be having a great time.

 

{via}

In other great reading, I cracked up at this article about what we as parents say we'd never do till we actually become parents.  I personally am guilty of letting our little Man sleep in our bed, because it means that we will all get a little more sleep at night.  Happy Hump Day! 

Royal Baby Love

How completely adorable are Will & Kate as parents?  Kate radiated with that new mom glow.  And I couldn't have been the only person holding my breath as Kate walked down those steps in her signature heels while holding her infant son.  The Little Man is 4 months old and I think I've held him with heels on all of twice, I'm also a lot less graceful than the Duchess.  And I adore that Will, also known as the celebrity crush of my 12 year old self, has already changed his son's 'nappy'.   On a side note, I love the last picture with the 3 of them leaving the hospital, Kate in the back seat watching over her little Man, perhaps because it was such a normal thing, ignoring of course the crowd they had to drive through.  Can't wait to hear what they decide on for a name for their Royal bundle of joy.   Congrats to the two of them, and to the many days full of awe and love, and sleepless nights ahead of them.

{via}

Beautiful Dress

2 things I love about this dress.  One, yes it's pale pink.  Perhaps white is on the up and out for choice of wedding dress color, think Reese Witherspoon's wedding to Jim Tooth.  And two, I love that embellished belt.  Sorry Kate for your second wedding dress that you wore to the reception, you should have gone with a more elegant and sophisticated diamante belt like the one below.

PS. I love her hair!

{photo via Me Oh My}

Getaway... the Royal Hooneymoon

Yay the Bloggerfairy found one of my posts from last Thursday that was mysteriously lost when Blogger went down....

When I heard Will & Kate were lounging beach side in Seychelles, my first thought was, ah beach, followed by where is Seychelles?  For those of you who were with me on that second thought: Seychelles is an  archipelago (yay GRE word) of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of  east Africa.  And one of the more beautiful destinations in the Indian Ocean (think Madagascar, Mauritius, Maldives).   Look at that beautiful blue water, makes me what to plan a beach getaway asap.

{photos via Adelto}

Royal Wedding Fever... The End

..And they lived happily ever after.  They are Duke and Duchess, Prince William and Kate, and most importantly man and wife.  Hope everyone has a fabulously royal weekend, especially if your weekend involves a going to a 'knees up', see translation.



{via Marry Me You}



Royal Wedding Fever part VII.. Something Old, Something New..

It's official, William and Kate said their 'I Do's this morning.  The bride, now the Duchess of Cambridge, wore a beautiful lace and satin gown by the late Alexander McQueen with a 9 foot train.  William reportedly told her she looked beautiful when he finally saw her standing next to him at the alter.  Which by all accounts Kate was in her Alexander McQueen gown reminiscent of Princes Grace Kelly as seen here.  The gown was Kate's something old as it was fashioned in the Carrickmacross craftsmanship, a technique that dates back to the 1800s. Kate's something new: those stunning earrings, a gift from her parents.  Her something borrowed was the beautiful Cartier tiara, the same one Queen Victoria wore on her 18th birthday.  Kate's something blue: not her beautiful engagement ring, that once belonged to Princess Dianna, but rather a blue ribbon she had sewn into her dress.  Kate was said to have told William "I am so happy" when they were seated in the carriage that took them back to to Buckingham Palace.  Here's wishing them all the happiness in the world!



{photos via The Official Royal Wedding}



Royal Wedding Fever part VI

With a little over 12 hours to go, William and Kate have parted ways and will be spending the eve of their wedding with their respective families.  William and Harry will be spending the night with their father, Prince Charles at his home, Clarence House.  While Kate and her family will be spending the night at the Goring Hotel.

 Westminster Abby is all decked out with two rows of tall trees and seats facing the aisle (very runway-esk).  Shane Connolly, floral artistic director for the wedding, has created a lavish floral and green alter for the Royal Wedding.



{photos via People Magazine}



Royal Wedding Fever part V



{poster via All Posters}



By this time tomorrow Will & Kate will have said their 'I DOs', kissed and wave to the crowd outside Buckingham Palace and be dancing the night away.  If you plan on watching the Royal Wedding with some friends here are some fabulous Royal Wedding Viewing party ideas.



{photo via TomKat Studios}



{photo via Make Merry Events}



~Will & Kate cupcake toppers

~ If you aren't  Tivo-ing the Royal Wedding you can catch highlights here

~ Royal Wedding Viewing party invites

~ Royal Wedding "it should have been me" bunting

Royal Wedding Fever part Tres

The official count down to Royal Wedded Bliss.. 43 hours.



{photo via Vector Graphia}

 Some can't wait for the dress, or the tiara others can't wait to check out the fashionable guest list.  Some of the more notable guests that will joining members of Royal families, Government officials, and dignitaries at Will & Kate's wedding this Friday, include: Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), The Beckhams, Sir Elton John, Guy Ritchie, and  Joss Stone.

 And if you can't get enough Will & Kate memorabilia, check out this fabulous list of Royal Wedding inspired trinkets.  My favorite has to be the engagement ring replica ring pop!

Royal Wedding Fever part duex

Even some store fronts in London are getting the Royal treatment.  Love these fabulous windows at Jo Malone's Salon in London.  Speaking of salons, first there was the 'Rachel' and now there's the 'Kate'.  Here's how you can create those Royal waves for yourself.


{photo via Joe Malone}



A trip down memory lane and a look as some of the more memorable Royal Weddings to date.

Royal Wedding Fever

It's almost here... Will & Kate will get hitched this Friday, April 29th.  And for the rest of this week rnlMusings will be usurped by Royal Wedding Fever.



{photo via This is Glamorous}



Sadly as the Royal Wedding will air at 4:30am our time, most of us wont be up to watch it live.  No worries, as you can catch all the recorded glitz at these Royal Wedding Viewing parties:

Crumpets & Couture At The Four Seasons Hotel ChicagoThis Friday, April 29 at 3 p.m., The Four Seasons combines high tea, high fashion, and highnesses. Enjoy all the Royal Wedding fun you missed at 4:30 a.m. through a flat-screen broadcast, along with a fashion show featuring the collections of Karen Millen and L.K. Bennett. Guests will enjoy tea, a champagne toast, and an English-inspired tea menu prepared by Executive Chef Kevin Hickey. You will also score an English-inspired swag-bag with an opportunity to win a Royal Fashion Retreat at the Four Seasons, along with a $500 shopping spree to the 900 Shops on Michigan Avenue. $55 per person.

Cityscape Bar Hosts A Royal Wedding Party
If high tea doesn't suit you, you're not alone. Celebrate the Wedding of the Century as Chicagoans do—with cocktails. Beginning at 11 a.m. on April 29, Cityscape Bar hosts a Royal Wedding watching party replete with themed cocktails to mark the occasion. Sip The Courtship, a Prosecco-N-Cranberry Beauty, or The Royal Wedding, a boozy blend guaranteed to have you stumbling about looking for your price. All themed cocktails are $7, and should hunger strike, you can dine at ItaliAsia restaurant, adjacent to Cityscape. What better way to enjoy royal grandeur than from the 15th floor of your own Chicago palace?