Chicago Day 2

Today was crazy.

We have been walking around Chicago in the freezing cold all day!

But, I loved getting to see so much of the city.

We met with Emily Waldren at The Field Museum.

I wish we could've spent more time there!

That place is huge and full of so many incredible artifacts from around the world.

Emily's job is very fascinating because she has to take new scientific discovery 

and find an angle to pitch it to the media.

Next, we met with Kevin Saghey from the Chicago Cubs.

Kevin was very down to earth and could relate to us seniors 

that will be looking for internships or jobs soon.

His biggest advice to us was to work hard and stand out.

After a short break we walked over to Fleishman-Hillard.

That building is amazing. 

Every building is amazing.

The architecture in Chicago is definitely in the top three reasons why I love this city. 

Anyway, after taking the elevator to the 37th floor,

(and our ears popping)

we made it to the Fleishman-Hillard office.

They gave an excellent presentation with a fun brainstorming exercise. 

I felt very welcomed there.

They talked a lot about their intern program, which seems very reputable. 

The appointments have been so enlightening into the PR industry, post-college.

Tomorrow we visit with Cision Point

and visit the Willis Tower!

For now, I will just try to stay warm.

Chicago Day 1

Wow, remind me to never get 3 hours of sleep right before a long day again!

Regardless, it has been a great day.

Chicago is a beatifully unique city, full of life.

I am currently sitting in the hotel lobby, 

looking out a huge window of the city.

I think I could get used to this...

The frigid cold, though? That's another story.

After we flew into Chicago we headed right over to McDonald's headquarters.

We met with about three groups of people, three people each, all working in PR.

It was so interesting hearing about their previous work experience and what they do for McDonald's. 

A few things I learned:

- Informational interviews are welcomed by employers. I always kind of felt like they were just saying that, but it would mostly be a burden on them. Nope! Informational interviews are a must.

- They have a legal team of 400 people. 

- To get your resume to stand out: make it creative, stand out and you don't necessarily have to include your education.

- Important skills to have as a PR professional are: relationship building, service-oriented, stress management, organization and be a good writer!

Obviously, I learned a lot.

I can't wait to share what I learn tomorrow!  

RPM Italian

Wednesday night we are going to eat dinner at RPM Italian.

If you don't know what it is,

Guiliana and Bill Rancic from E! News started this restaurant!

To get a reservation you need to call six weeks in advance.

Luckily, a few of the girls on the trip got a reservation.

I've heard so many good things about RPM, 

I am eager to try it.

I'm getting hungry just talking about it. 

I can't wait to share my experience with you all!

Speakers I Am Excited to Hear From

While in Chicago, I will be attending a conference with PR major from all over the nation. 

I can't wait to hear from the speakers.

Here are a couple people I am excited to hear from.

Ryan Beshel
Purely Fashion
Ryan Behel currently works as the Digital Marketing Lead at Purely Fashion. Ryan has extensive experience in the fashion industry. Ryan worked as a runway model agent for Agency Galatea and is a fashion contributor for FOX, NBC, ABC, Women's Wear Daily, Racked and Refinery29. Ryan was the first publicist for 900 North Michigan Shops. Ryan's interest include co-hosting the  Speaking of Fashion podcast, drinking coffee, collecting tattoos and bowties.


Ashley Lavore
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Ashley currently works as a coordinator for Ann & Rober H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Before holding this position, Ashley worked as the events intern for the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Ashley has previously worked as a PR assistant for Bettie Bomb PR, Inc. and a senior event coordinator for Fashion for a Cure. Ashley was also a public relations intern for Carol Fox & Associates. I found it interesting that Ashley previously served as the PRSSA President of Columbia College Chicago.

You can read more about the conference here.

McDonald's

I'm sitting at the airport 

waiting to catch a plane to Chicago.

It was a late night packing and an early morning getting here.

But I am excited for the trip ahead!

As soon as we get there we are going to McDonald's headquarters

 to meet with the PR Manager, Christina Tyler. 

I can't wait! 

Here is more info about Christina:

Christina Tyler is currently the Public Relations Manager for McDonald’s. Before she held this position she worked with Fortune 500 companies in communications. Previous companies she worked with are Allstate Insurance Company and TransUnion. Christina assisted in the crisis communication for companies during the BP oil spill, Toyota recall and hurricane Katrina. Christina graduated from the University of North Florida and received her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. She also received her accreditation in public relations in 2008.
You can visit her LinkedIn here.

Chicago & The Loop

Did I ever tell you I am going to Chicago?

Well, I am.

And I am going next week!!

I was selected to attend the Regional PRSSA Conference- The Loop.

You can visit The Loop's Facebook page here.

I'm incredibly excited as I will get to hear from the top PR professionals in Chicago.

I cannot wait to explore the city and immerse myself the world of PR.

I will post more details about the conference soon!

A Happy Belated New Years

I am taking a break from wedding posts to write about the happenings of my life.

Shocker, I know. It's been a while.

After getting married, between all the wild parties, 

I haven't had much time to document my life.

Alright, alright, maybe I'm not up late,  partying every night, but married life has been a blast!

I am loving having a permanent partner in crime.

Anders and I pride ourselves in still having a somewhat interesting social life.

Anyway, New Year's. Let's talk about it.

New Year's is an extremely overrated holiday, in my opinion. 

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of a fresh start and a new year, full of opportunities...

But, is there ever anything super exciting to do?

If so, please let me know so I can join you next New Year's.

Anders and I found ourselves at work on New Year's Eve afternoon 

without a clue of what to do that evening to celebrate the holiday. 

We both had work off the next day so we wanted to do something... well, not boring.

I finally decided to book a hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, 

where we could find plenty to do and eat at one of our favorite diners!

We booked a room at the Marriott.

The view did not disappoint. 

Prior to checking into our hotel, we ate at a lovely place called Hires Big H.

They have a peanut butter shake to die for.

Feeling stuffed and satisfied, 

we headed to our hotel room to crack open a couple Martinelli's and watch the ball drop in NYC.

As it grew closer to midnight we put on our jackets and headed outside to 

ring in the New Year with all the other people in SLC.

 There was an incredible firework show right above us, outside of the Marriott.

Following the firework show, we headed out to a waffle party with a bunch of Anders' friends. 

It was so much fun and the waffles were delicious!

We got home super late and check out was at 10am :( 

That's pretty early for a person who enjoys sleeping in, like me.

Luckily, we got to spend New Year's Day relaxing

 and maybe one of us needed a nap ;)

Happy 2014, people!

This is the year we both graduate,

move out of Utah,

and have an adventure.

Bachelorette Party

After the rehearsal dinner, I was rushed off to my bachelorette party!

It was such a fun night.

My sweet best friend & maid-of-honor, Lexie, booked us a private room at a karaoke bar.

We sang, laughed, and ate cupcakes all night long!

 ^^ How cute is that cupcake dress?^^

I couldn't have asked for a better party.

I LOVE karaoke.

It's the perfect opportunity to be goofy and just have fun.

Plus, I was surrounded by all of my favorites!

It was a late night and I had an early morning.

It was the night before I was getting MARRIED.

As I was getting ready for bed, I was kind of surprised to feel so calm and collected.

I asked Lexie, "shouldn't I be freaking out or something?"

But, I wasn't.

I was ready for my wedding day to be here.

I couldn't wait to wake up and marry my best friend!

The Rehearsal Dinner

"Rehearsal dinner" is just the term I use to describe the dinner the night 

before my wedding, because Mormons don't actually have to rehearse anything.

After doing our best to change into normal clothes while in the car,

(which is really difficult when you're in a wedding dress)

we made it to Salt Lake City, where our close friends and family were gathered

to celebrate with us and eat some good ol' Cafe Rio!

How good is that stuff?

Anders and I ate hustled in and got the party started.

We hadn't eaten since breakfast so we ate like cave people, I'm sure.

After a few words from our fathers, everyone lit a sparkler.

 And then things just got crazy!

My Aunts were dancing and laughing,

I was being pulled in every direction for a picture,

and there were sparklers being waved around every which way!

I was just so happy to see everyone having a good time.

I was so grateful to have my family in Utah with me!

I was even more excited for the biggest day of my life.

Without wasting too much time,

I was whisked away to my bachelorette party...

And boy, did we party!

Bridals

Our bridals were the beginning of the 36 hour wedding chaos.

I really didn't want Anders to see my dress till our wedding day,

but I also wanted the "first look" picture.

So, the day before our wedding we snuck in this amazing photo shoot

by Jenna Bechtholt Photography.

We managed to blind fold Anders all the way up to Heber

(which was a hilariously complicated journey)

and get those first look photos I've always wanted! 

There was a chill in the air and the wind was going crazy from time to time, but I loved seeing the two of us in our wedding clothes for the first time!

It's honestly hard to choose a favorite but here are a few.

 ^^^I was obsessed with the back of my dress^^^

 ^^^So handsome!^^^

 Did I say a few??

Jenna did such a good job, there are just too many favorites!

Anyways, after we started to go numb from the cold,

we called it quits and headed to our next adventure...

The rehearsal dinner!

A New Last Name

Hello dear blogging universe,

I've been neglecting you, but not on purpose!

You see, I got married to my best friend and we have been in our own little dream world.

The word I can best describe my wedding day is surreal.

It is the strangest feeling when it is finally "your turn".

Even with the little ups and down that accompany a wedding day,

we were both on such a love high that we couldn't come down.

 Our reception was absolutely perfect,

and marriage has been so wonderful!

I mean, it has only been 2 weeks so it better be wonderful, haha ;)

I'm so grateful for this man and his love.

He is so perfect for me and I can feel his undying devotion every day.

I love him.

I love that I never have to be separated from him ever again.

These are just a few pictures from our bridals, taken by the amazingly talented Jenna Bechtholt Photography.

We took these the day before our wedding.

I can't wait to see the rest!

A full blown wedding day post will be up soon.

Until next time, 

MMP

My First Event

2 days ago, on the 18th,

was my first event for PRSSA.

In case you have forgotten I am the VP of Events for the UVU PRSSA chapter.

The event was called "Rock Stars of PR".

We had Sam Schultz come speak (owner of Sammy's, home of the pie shake)

and Jacob Jones from The Fictionist (Imagine Dragons used to open up for his band).

It was a great learning experience. 

I know I can take what I learned from this event 

and make the next one even better. 

Half way through the event Sam mentioned his buddy, 

Jef Holm (from Emily's season of The Bachelorette) was sitting in the back of the room.

Apparently they are buddies. 

So naturally I had to get my picture taken with him.

Jef was very kind and talked to Anders & I for a bit.

I think it's going to be a great year.

Did you know I'm getting married in 18 days?

18 DAYS!

Carolina In My Mind

This last weekend my mom was in town!

She was here for the annual "sisters reunion" with her sisters and my grandma.

I didn't actually get to hang out with her too much but it was fun to see her.

On Monday she even made me breakfast and drove me to school!

That hasn't happened since 2006 ;)

Between running errands and visiting with family,

Anders and I went to the James Taylor (Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Utah Symphony)

 concert on Saturday night. It was amazing!

I grew up listening to James Taylor on our road trips to Utah.

He still has an incredible voice and knows how to work the crowd.

 ^^I love this cute boy. Can we just be married already?^^

We are getting married in 26 days!!

It seems like it will be here before I know it,

but it also feels forever away.

Thank goodness I have school to worry about or else I'd be thinking about it all the time!

^^My mom driving me to school on Monday. She doesn't even know I took this picture^^

My favorite James Taylor song.

Guess what?

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Hello Old Friend

Hello old friend,

I have been caught up in the hustle and bustle of school, work, and wedding planning.

Do you forgive me?

I hope you do...

But just in case you aren't sold,

I have a few pictures to soften that heart of yours.

One month from today I will be a married girl!

Can you believe it?

They grow up so fast.