Latest news with #ThirstyThursday
Style Blueprint
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Style Blueprint
Horses, Family Dogs & Climbing Ivy Charmed Guests at This AL Wedding
Of course, every bride and groom deserves a moment to shine on their wedding day. At this stunning outdoor ceremony just outside Birmingham, however, the animals in attendance simply couldn't help but turn heads. From graceful horses making surprise cameos to the couple's adorable dogs standing proud during the ceremony, these wedding photos will melt your heart! Pin Alex and Tera matched on Bumble in 2019, but back then, dating apps weren't quite as mainstream as they are now. Not wanting to make it a conversation piece among family and friends, they went with an alibi when asked how they met. 'For the longest time, we told people we met at a Birmingham Barons game on a Thirsty Thursday. If you know, you know,' Tera tells us. When it came time to propose, Alex decided to pop the question on a trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The couple was vacationing with Tera's brother and his now-fiancée, who also happens to be Tera's best friend. Alex knew it would be the perfect opportunity for a stunning sunset proposal with those closest to Tera by her side. With the help of Stefany Keisler of Creating Moments Wedding and Events, the couple invited 100 guests to the gorgeous Windwood Equestrian estate in Pelham for the ceremony and reception. 'I knew I wanted an outdoor wedding, and the venue is stunning — elegant, European vibes, exactly what I envisioned,' Tera says. Pin Pin Alex and Tera knew their dogs would be part of the big day. 'They're basically our children, so it was a no-brainer,' Tera says. 'They walked down the aisle with the wedding party and somehow managed to stay up there the whole ceremony.' Tera says the color scheme for the day came from a lifelong love of blue hydrangeas … along with hours spent on Pinterest. With light blue and white as her primary colors, her bridesmaids' dresses added a bright pop of yellow. 'My bridesmaids' dresses were inspired by the iconic yellow dress from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,' Tera says. When asked about her own dress, Tera laughs as she explains, 'It was everything I thought I didn't want.' The strapless, A-line silhouette with a high slit and long, dramatic train had not been on her vision board when she tried it on at The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, AL. 'I went in thinking I wanted something sleek, simple, and form-fitting,' Tera says, 'but when I put it on, it just felt right. It was timeless, traditional, and felt like a true wedding dress.' Tera and Alex did a few things their own way during the ceremony, including public and private vows. 'We did private vows to each other before the ceremony, then during the ceremony we mixed in some traditional vows with a few personal touches,' Tera explains. However, the vows didn't exactly go as planned. 'I forgot to transfer my vows from my phone to a cute notebook, so I ended up scribbling them on a sheet of paper while getting my hair and makeup done,' Tera recalls, 'Meanwhile, my husband had his perfectly written in a little book.' Luckily, the ceremony concluded just before a rain shower moved in. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with passed hors d'oeuvres in Windwood's chic stables. A grand charcuterie board offered artisan breads, imported cheeses, antipasto, and fresh fruit, plus a Swiss cheese and bacon-stuffed pastry and heirloom tomato bruschetta. Dinner was buffet-style and included all the Southern staples: smoked brisket, BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, baked beans, potatoes au gratin, cornbread, and salad. For dessert, banana pudding shooters and peach cobbler were served. When the bride and groom walked out for their first dance as husband and wife, they were thrown a bit of a curveball. 'Our first dance was to I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith, but the band played the wrong version,' Tera recalls, 'so we completely winged it!' The wedding cake was simple, beautiful vanilla buttercream. Thanks to a creative touch, you might never guess it was delivered with a bright green top instead of the pale blue they'd intended! 'My mom cut it off the morning of, and we just stuck flowers on top!' Tera says. The couple made their exit as guests popped streamers for a fun send-off. But the party was just getting started. 'We hopped on a party bus with our bridal party and their plus-ones to head back to Birmingham and keep the celebration going,' Tera says. She recalls the after-party as one of the day's highlights, saying, 'I think it was because all the stress was gone. The wedding and reception were incredible, but that moment of singing and dancing with all our best friends felt so carefree and fun — it was just pure celebration.' Even with a wedding planner, Tera says the time commitment of planning a wedding was way more than she expected, saying, 'The amount of tiny details to think about was insane.' Still, she says it's true what they say – it really is the fastest day of your life. Her advice: 'Be truly present. Don't spend hair and makeup time stressing about the ceremony, or the cocktail hour, or thinking about the reception. Enjoy each part of the day as it comes.' RESOURCES Planning & Design: Creating Moments Venue: Windwood Equestrian Catering & Bar: Happy Catering Photography: Krista Suzanne Photography Dress: The Something Blue Shoppe Band, String Quartet & Jazz Band: Emerald Empire Band Florist: Cymbidium Studios Candles: Forever Wild Floral Company Photobooth: Moonlighter Events Marquee Letter: Alpha-Lit Tuscaloosa Hair & Makeup: Brittney Ashton Artistry Linens: Decor to Adore Planning a wedding? Check out StyleBlueprint's two Wedding Resource Guides. (More to come!):
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Science
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Planetarium presentation on Elgin Watch Co. set for May 21; ribbon-cutting for new East Dundee parking deck set for May 22
The School District U-46 Planetarium in Elgin will hold two public events on Wednesday, May 21, about the Elgin National Watch Co., its observatory and its connection to the planetarium. According to the school district's website, the program are scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. with self-guided building tours from 4 to 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $2 per person. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The planetarium opened in September 1963, according to the city of Elgin's website. It was an addition to the original part of the building, which was the 1909 Elgin National Watch Co. Observatory. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The planetarium is located at 312 Watch St.. For more information, go to email DebbieMcMullen@ or josephkellenberger@ or call 847-888-5019. East Dundee will host a ribbon-cutting event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, to celebrate the completion of its new two-level parking garage at 304 Hill St. The garage has 163 parking spaces and ground level commercial space being marketed by the village for $500,000, according to a website for the development. The total cost for the garage was about $7 million. East Dundee also opened a new surface-level parking lot with 26 stalls at 309 Jackson St. in March. After the ribbon-cutting, East Dundee will hold its first Thirsty Thursday outdoor street festival of the season from 6 to 9 p.m. outside The Depot, 319 N. River St. The Gooroos will be on stage performing dance music, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. To celebrate Historic Presentation Month, the Elgin Public Museum will be holding guided tours, a program on green infrastructure and a plant sale on Saturday, May 24. Half-hour tours are scheduled for noon, 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3 p.m., according to the museum's Facebook page. At 12:30 p.m., Chris Flaherty will present 'Rooted in Community: Municipal Green Infrastructure.' Flaherty is founder of Green Guerilla, a land management company that specializes in native garden/natural area designs, applications and maintenance. Green Guerrilla will also be hosting a native plant sale outside the museum from noon to 4 p.m. Indoor events are included with admission — $3 for adults, $2 children ages 3 to 12 and seniors 60 and older, and free for toddlers under 3 and for adults with Elgin Township Senior Access passes. The museum is located at 225 Grand Blvd. in Lords Park.
USA Today
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Protesting in Dover, P.F. Chang's at the mall, hot chocolate guide
Hey, there, First State. It's Thirsty Thursday. Did I just make that up? Nah, it's a bar thing, right? Or do I just need more coffee. It definitely is Throwback Thursday, which means two stories about … kid stuff. Crayola is bringing back 8 'fan-favorite' retired crayon colors. Here's what's returning. Girl Scout cookies final: Vote for the best cookie in our poll Another thing kids love is hot chocolate. Keep reading for our winter guide to finding the good stuff, plus how to make it at home. We continue to work hard on our pre-Super Bowl coverage, which we will be serving up for you up 'til kick off and beyond. Be sure follow Martin Frank's NFL coverage and to sign up for our Eye on the Eagles newsletter. And now, more news … Protesters in Dover join nationwide movement against President Trump and Project 2025 About 150 people in Dover joined in protests planned in state capitals across the country Feb. 5 against President Donald Trump and Project 2025, reports Ben Mace. The protests were organized by the 50501 Movement with a goal of '50 states, 50 protests, 1 day.' The website offered 'information on activities supporting the free expression of regular Americans' dissatisfaction with the embrace of Project 2025 by our government,' with announcements of protests in each state. Learn more here. Also worth your time … Local news:Police charge Bridgeville man with 2023 killing at house party Entertainment:Cool Delaware things to do in February 2025 for Eagles fans, Valentines, mystery buffs Dining:P.F. Chang's announces Christiana Mall opening date after over 2 years Shopping: Pottery Barn will open in Rehoboth's Tanger Outlets on Friday News Quiz:Do you remember the headlines from this week? Test your news IQ Gallery of the day: Eagles Super Bowl pep rally 'Road to Victory' tour stops in downtown Wilmington Sports:Blue Hens bulk up for Conference USA move with these high school recruits, transfers Open Call to Arts, Cultural Groups Every Sunday we pass the mic to arts and cultural groups throughout the First State, affording them the opportunity to tell our readers about upcoming events, seasonal plans, fundraising efforts, volunteer opportunities, collaborations and so much more. This week's Open Call is hosted by Delaware Theatre Company. Upcoming Open Call columns will feature Southern Delaware Chorale, New Light Theatre Company and Music School of Delaware. If you know a group that would like to be included, please email me at tpaolino@ for details. Random Acts of Kindness We are happy to introduce our new monthly column, Random Acts of Kindness by Krys'tal Griffin: 'Whatever possessed them to be so kind?': Delaware man recounts strangers who helped him Do you know someone who made a difference to someone when they really needed it? Is there a Good Samaritan you'd like to see highlighted, someone who offered a kindness, that made a difference for you, or made someone's life a little better in Delaware? Random Acts of Kindness aims to share these stories. If you know someone deserving of a story, email Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline with as much information as you can provide. Note to readers Daily Briefing is your first stop for top Delaware news, a friendly guide to other Delaware Online services – our best projects, digital archives, e-edition, online puzzles and comics, polls, regional and seasonal guides, award-winning photos and videos, social media highlights & more. This is your morning briefing. We strive to make it engaging, useful and informative. Thank you to our readers who support us as subscribers, making our local coverage of your community possible. Check out our Subscribers Guide. ⭐ Get out:These museums offer cocktails, culture after hours to help beat the winter blues 🍳Comfort food: Sick of Starbucks and Dunkin'? Here's where you can get fresh hot chocolate in Delaware 🐕 Just for fun:Puppy Bowl 2025 stars pups that have a lot of dog in them. How to watch the fun 🧩 Brain teaser: Get sweet on Mahjongg Candy ✈️ Get away: Great Wolf Lodge launches $25 flash sale. Plus, more indoor water parks near Delaware 🥾 Get moving: February's full moon to come days after a meteor shower. What to know, how to watch 🛠️ Problem solved:Bend your knees: How to safely clear your snowy driveway 💗 Give back: Delaware woman finds her purpose giving back to foster children. Here's her story And now, more news we don't want you to miss …
