__________________________________________

2012-02-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just get a craving for nachos, but then I think about how horrible they are for me. Fake liquid cheese, ewwww. No THANK YOU. Quinoa Nachos to the rescue!! Now I can feed my craving without feeling really guilty afterwards. You can find the awesome VegNews recipe here.

I haven't tried the cheese recipe to accompany the nachos, but if you do, please let me know how it goes! Instead, I just melted some shredded cheese over the quinoa mixture.

Hope you're having a happy weekend!

2012-02-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

I'm marking April 17th down in my calendar because my beloved Domino magazine is coming out with a special edition! My heart sank when they suddenly shut down production, and I ran to the bookstore when the Domino book came out, but now my stomach is all a flutter again.

Are you as excited as me?

Seeing RED

2012-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

Heart Shaped Apple Pillow by WinterPetals

Classic Red Toms

Heart Plate via Target

I confess, I bought these last year. They were much too cute to pass up.

Heart Pillow by 645 Workshop

Mixed Berry Muffins

2012-02-01T19:16:00.000-08:00

Recently I heard about almond flour and immediately was intrigued. So lately I've been an eager beaver wanting to get my hands on some and experiment. I found my bag at the local Trader Joes in the nut section for a reasonable $3.99.

We had some fresh raspberries and blackberries in the fridge, so I thought berry muffins would be nice for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Now, I've heard almond flour makes whatever you bake less fluffy, so I was a bit hesitant as to how the results would come out. I got Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook My Father's Daughter for my birthday back in December, and still hadn't tried anything from it. So I decided to use her Blueberry Muffin recipe. The recipe calls for 2 cups of unbleached flour, so I decided to substitute half organic wheat flour and half almond flour. Good choice because, these bad boys came out tasty!

Getting started

Folding the berries in

Ready to bake...

NEW IN SHOP

2012-01-28T23:20:00.000-08:00

The thought of throwing a handful of confetti in the air makes me smile & I want my jewelry to make you smile too! The "Confetti Necklace" is now available in pretty peach. A tiny enamel peach oval hangs from a sterling silver chain.

This necklace would look oh so sweet layered with the "Baby Love Necklace."

Morning Tea

2012-01-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

I like to start my weekend mornings off with a nice hot cup of tea in my favorite mug. Mostly I like my tea simplified and straight up, but sometimes I get a little cray and add some locally sourced honey or agave nectar.

How do you like to start your weekend mornings?

I love my Initial Mug from West Elm.

Panko Delight

2012-01-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I got up early before everyone else, even my dog. So, I made myself a cup of tea and starting watching cooking shows. First it was the cooking channel (which is pretty amazing. if you have it, and your not watching it, well, I don't know what to tell you about that.), then it was the food network, and soon I found myself sucked into hours of food making television. But that's ok, that's what the weekends are for....just plain enjoyment, right? Right.

Ok, the point to this story is this "panko crusted salmon." Oh, Ina Garten, you're awesome! I made it for dinner tonight, and it was so tasty that I just had to tell you about it too." Tasty" and "Easy", those are some awesome adjectives. The recipe basically calls for panko, parsley, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon zest (I used lime zest instead), and mustard. You can checkout the full recipe here and thank me later.

Get Your Heart On

2012-01-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

Enter promo code "HEARTU10" to receive 10% off your order

*Offer is valid from January 23-February 4*

NEW IN SHOP

2012-01-22T07:43:00.000-08:00

The "Baby Love" necklace is now available. I named it "Baby Love" because of that adorable teeny tiny heart. Isn't it she puuurdy? The heart is white enamel & hangs from a delicate sterling silver chain.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Coo Coo for Coconuts

2012-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

We're currently in the middle of a not so fun to drive in, but pretty to look at snowstorm. And, during my 2.5 hour drive home today, all I could think about was the sun and coconuts. So, here's some of my favorite coconut goodies...

We always have coconut water stocked at home. Pineapple-coconut is one of my favorite flavors.

Coconut oil is fantastic because it has so many uses! Sometimes I use it to cook. Other times I use it as a moisturizer. I'll even use it on my dog's fur in the winter.

Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles are my absolute favorite. They last forever, and burn evenly. An added bonus is the pretty glass jar with silver lid you can use later on. They have a new coconut scent called Coconut Waters, and it smells divine!

72 hours

2012-01-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

This week I must have had my crazy hat on or something because I decided to try to go carb-free for 48 hours. What was I thinking??! Let me tell ya, I AM A CARB LOVING FREAK! Rice, pasta, bread, chips. I love them all and eat 'em up everyday.

Moral of this story, I survived! After I hit the 48 hr. mark, I figured, what the hay. Let's get super cray and go for 72hrs! So yes, I made it 72 hrs. I honestly wasn't sure if I could really do it. And, I did find myself standing in the kitchen scratching my head and wondering what I was going to eat. I have to give big props to my hubs for helping me out and supporting my efforts.

Curried chicken, green beans, sweet potato mash w/ cinnamon, agave nectar & almonds

Hawaiian Quinoa (our version of hawaiian fried rice): peas, onion, egg, spam, pineapple

WHAT I LEARNED:

-I really did feel less bloated without the carbs and tons of sugar.

-My sugar cravings decreased. I never craved soda or juices.

-I kind of hate to admit this, but it made me stop and think about my food choices. It made me think of other options rather than revving up the rice cooker or boiling a pot of pasta. Sure, those options are tasty and easy, but they all leave a puffier version of moi. I'm still going to eat them, but now I realize I can make better choices when I do. Now I'll eat them less frequently and when I do, I'll try to eat them at lunch rather than dinner. Eating them at lunch is a much wiser choice because it will give me more hours in the day to burn them off.

-I blossomed a new friendship with quinoa. Quinoa is yummy yummy seed folks and I can honestly say that substituting it for rice does curb my carb craving. Read more about it here. You can even make it in the rice cooker!

portion tip: making 2 cups is enough to feed us both for dinner and each have lunch the next day.

Thanks for letting me share my 72 hr. food journey with you. xo, Megan

2012-01-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

I'm a flower girl through and through. I love how this rug has feminine charm without using an obvious pink or purple.

This would look great in our new office with white furniture, and offset with pops of bright color. Or moms, I think this rug would also look adorable in a nursery!

via urban outfitters

A Very Merry Married Christmas

2011-12-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! This was our first Christmas together as husband and wife, so this will surely be a memorable one. We celebrated Christmas with both our families, and ate way too much food. On Christmas Eve, we gathered at our house, cooked dinner together, baked lemon cookies, then watched Home Alone 2. Sounds awesome, right? Don't worry, it was. This year's menu consisted of prime rib, sweet potato casserole, and mac'n cheese. We feasted for hours. I think we're even going to make that our new traditional Christmas Eve meal, with the addition of everyone that comes over must wear Christmas pajamas. Yep, I won't let you in the house if you aren't wearing those pj's!

Spring Rolls

2011-12-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

My last post was about an annual potluck holiday party we went to. The week of the party all I could think about was what to make for that darn potluck. Now I wanted to bring something that was yummy, of course, but I also wanted to bring something that wouldn't taste craptastic if it got cold. After much debating, we finally settled on what to bring. Low and behold, the Vietnamese Spring Roll!

We eat them all the time at my mother in law's, and in many different varieties, but we decided to go the vegetarian route this time.

Here's what we used in ours:

-Rice Paper *

-Vermicelli Noodles *

-Fried Tofu *

-Lettuce

-Bean Sprouts

-Cucumber

-Carrots

*Available at most Asian grocery stores.

A Chicago Family Christmas

2011-12-11T06:42:00.001-08:00

It's become a tradition that we get together with some of our Chicago friends to celebrate Christmas together. Instead of our typical potluck sit-down dinner, this year we opted for a potluck tapas style. Everyone brought smaller tasting portions allowing us to graze and socialize around the house while still filling our bellies.

Our friends Eric & Beth kindly hosted this year's affair, and welcomed us into their newly renovated home. Some of their renovations include the exposed brick wall and the fireplace with built-in shelving unit (pictured below). They exposed that brick themselves, and scrubbed in between each and every brick! And that fireplace/built-in unit, Eric built that himself. Let me tell ya, their hard work is paying off. Their home is not only gorgeous, but oh so cozy feeling too.

Happy Holidays from Chicago!

Watercolor Walls

2011-12-08T19:45:00.001-08:00

I am completely in awe of these walls, and I can't seem to get over how stunning they are. Can you believe they're custom watercolor wallpapers? Major props to the talented team over at Black Crow Studios .

New Banner

2011-12-06T15:13:00.001-08:00

I've had the same banner up in the Etsy shop for quite awhile now, and thought it was time to change things up a bit. Afterall, sometimes change can be quite refreshing.

Do you like?

Navy

2011-12-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

An adorable video by New York artist Chris Silas Neal via Kate Spade.

NEW IN SHOP

2011-12-05T19:26:00.001-08:00

Lately I've found the color green to be quite inspiring.....

THE "AERIN" EARRING: Pretty seafoam green briolettes double draped in delicate gold.

Ornament making

2011-12-02T20:26:00.001-08:00

I love West Elm, so I was super excited to find out they were hosting an event near by this week. I hit up the West Elm/Etsy Holiday Craft Event with my friend Alex. A handful of awesome Etsy vendors were on hand selling there goods, West Elm offered 10% off everything in store + free gift wrapping, and there was a Christmas ornament making workshop! Sounds like fun, right?

Getting crafty at the table.

Alex showing off her ornament.

My ornament.

Happy Friday!

Shop Update

2011-12-01T19:31:00.001-08:00

So I closed the Etsy shop this summer due to my wedding, but I'm excited to let you know that it's back open!! I have a few exciting things to tell you about. First up, I've been working on some new goodies and I'll be posting soon, so please stay tuned.

Secondly, I'll be offering some sales that will change throughout the month. The first sale, 10% off all rings, starts today and runs through December 8th. Enter promo code "RINGSWK1" at checkout.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Holiday Gifts: Unisex

2011-11-19T07:02:00.001-08:00

Aren't these just gorgeous? These, my friends, are horn whiskey tumblers. I personally don't want to drink whiskey out of them. I just want to sit and stare at them. Don't worry, they're ethically sourced, and handmade in England. I love that each tumbler is one of a kind and absolutely unique.

They come in sets of two, and can be purchased from Best Made. Currently these bad boys are sold out, so keep your eyes peeled.

2011-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Mrs. T! Yep, the wedding is over and things are gradually getting back to normal life again.

In my last post, I showed you those glorious crocheted TOMS. Luckily I was able to get a pair! I did in fact use them on my wedding day. Here's a photo of me wearing them while I get my makeup done, and our dog, Violet, keeping me company. Later in the night I changed out of my heels and back into those fab TOMS to get my dance on.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Summer Favorites

2011-06-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

NO, I didn't fall off the planet. I've just been crazy busy planning my upcoming wedding. Still not an excuse though I admit.

Summer is in full swing...well sort of. The weather keeps toying with us here in Chicago. Dinners outside, outdoor music festivals, fishing along Lake Michigan, and wearing sundresses and sandals are some of my summer favorites. Right now I have these on my wishlist...

Crochet Women's Classic TOMS

Aren't they gorgeous? And perfect for summer! In fact, I think I might just wear them under my wedding dress when I hit the dance floor. You can get yours here.

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter! The Mr. and I met up with some friends to celebrate and decorate eggs. I don't think you ever get too old to decorate Easter eggs! Plus I'd been dreaming of eating egg salad sandwiches, so needless to say, I had plans for those bad boys. Color-stained hands, and dozens of eggs later, we decided to have a nice Boys vs. Girls peep joust. Yep, you heard me correctly...a peep joust to the death.

Have you ever peep jousted?

Smarty Pants

2011-03-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

So, the other day in one of my classes, one of my students correctly answered a question without hesitation. I was so proud of him, so I said, "Wow!! You are such a SMARTY PANTS. Great Job!"

Brace yourself cause this is where it gets funny...
He then looked at me, then looked down at his pants and replied, "No, I have BLUE JEANS on!"

Oh goodness, its days like this that I LOVE. I think I laughed so hard my eyes teared.

Speaking of adorable, isn't this little boy one of the coolest looking kids you've ever seen? I mean he sure looks like a smarty pants to me.

Hope you have fantastic Friday!

via planetawesomekid

Color me Coral.

2011-02-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

Mandy Moore was hands down one of my best dressed at the Oscars this year. She looked elegant and timeless in her Monique Lhuillier gown. For me, the fabric seemed to almost melt into her skin leaving a breath of sparkle. Can you tell how much I love this dress?!

But ahhhh, that coral lip was equally as beautiful, not to mention youthful & F.U.N.! So inspired by Mandy, here are a few fabulous coral lipsticks...

MAC Vegas Volt

NARS Casablanca

Blues.

2011-02-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend! This week just seemed to drag and drag to me for some reason, but hey its the weekend now, and the sun is shining! So the saying goes..."something old, something new, something borrowed, something BLUE. I thought I'd share some things blue for your feet....namely, blue heels.

Kate Spade, Diva
To me, these say, "Hello, I'm elegant and lady-like. I enjoy a good afternoon tea and tiny sandwiches."

Kate Spade, Didi
I'm kind of in love with these. They look like a party on your feet. I mean, how could you not want to bust a move at your wedding reception with these pretty ladies on?!

Chinese New Year.

2011-02-03T17:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. To celebrate the new year, I decided to make homemade Wonton Soup. I crossed my fingers that it would turn out ok, but it was better than ok. It turned out super yummy. My mr. even went back for seconds!

Here's some photos of my cooking adventures....

May the new year bring you happiness & prosperity!

Pop Rock.

2011-02-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

True Grit's Hailee Steinfeld rocked the SAG Awards in Prada. Being that I'm stuck in a blizzard struck Chicago, this bright horizontal dress is just what I need to perk up my day. Pops of color = youth + fun in my book.

Case closed.

BHLDN

2011-01-27T18:36:00.000-08:00

It's the day we've been waiting for ladies. Ok, well, it's the day I've been waiting for atleast. The beloved store Anthropologie will launch their new wedding line, BHLDN, on Valentine's Day.

Blooms.

2011-01-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

flowers via Poppies and Posies

Beautiful flowers have a way of making everything just a little bit better...wouldn't you agree?

Eternally Yours...

2011-01-23T16:38:00.000-08:00

Meet the Eternity Bracelet. She's based on an entwined circle design dotted with celadon, and made to represent the limitless opportunities we are given in life. She's also quite lady-like.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Monograms

2011-01-05T15:25:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you, but I sure love a good monogrammed piece you can keep forever! Isn't this footed candy dish from William Sonoma the cutest thing ever? And, to make it even better, you can order it with a single monogram or a classic triple monogram. It would make such a lovely gift for a hostess or your bestie that loves to make goodies in the kitchen. Tempted yet?? You can order it here.

Cheers to 2011!

2011-01-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

image via BrooklynBride

Wow. Well hi there 2011! I can't believe you're here already. You just sort of leapt out at me.

2011 is going to be such a great year. I'm looking forward to watching my business grow and putting more and more love and hard work into it. I'm getting married this year to the boy of my dreams, and I'll make that move from miss to mrs. I wonder how long it will take to me to get used to a new last name. I can't wait to start this new journey in life!

Fashion Under $100

2010-12-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

Our Dangling Illumination drape necklace was featured on fashionunder100.net.

I love the outfit Nellie of Wired,Witty,& Well Dressed paired our necklace with. I would totally rock this outfit out for dinner with my girls.

Darkness

2010-12-13T14:53:00.001-08:00

Deep Love necklace

Winter is officially here in Chicago. We have a snow cover ground, the temps. have taken a dive, and the days have grown dark. Bummer. But on the bright side of things, I find myself being inspired by the darkness and have been creating some darker toned pieces.

A Bridal Soiree

2010-11-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month, designer Jenny Yoo previewed her Fall 2011 line with a fashion show at the Zhou B Art Center. Also along for the ride were a handful of other Chicago based wedding professionals including Cork Catering...YUM!if you're looking for a caterer, I highly suggest you check these guys out! Botanicals.....beautifully dreamy florals, Greatest Expectations....they'll help put together all your wedding needs, and Mario Tricoci...I was loving all the hair looks they put together.

If you're a bride looking for a simple dress or are planning a destination wedding, look no further. Jenny Yoo has beautifully simple dresses that are perfect for the bride that is anti-princess dress and fantastic for the beach.

Sorry it's taken me such a long time to blog about this. Hope you enjoy the photos.

xo
-Megan

Beautifully romantic.

2010-10-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

The ever talented Jose Villa took this beautifully romantic photo that makes me feel all lovey dovey and like i should run out to buy vintage doilys. Grab your honey and give em a big ol' smooch!

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!

Dresses with character

2010-10-10T10:34:00.001-07:00

Eliza J

Tadashi Shoji

I've found the dress of my dreams, but if I was still on the wedding dress hunt, I'd without a doubt give these two beauties a try. I can't get over how much character each of them have...truly unique. And, I'm kind of a sucker for texture, so for that they make me giddy.

The Wedding Salon.Chicago.

2010-10-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

Getting makeup done by the Giorgio Armani makeup artists from Saks Fifth Avenue

Truffles too beautiful to eat

Beautifully feminine wedding gowns by the genius that is Vera Wang

Tonight I took a little trip with my bud Katy. We've known each other since our high school days...WHOA. And, now we're both engaged, and excited to plan our upcoming weddings!

We headed downtown to the Sofitel Chicago Watertower Hotel for the Wedding Salon: Luxury Bridal Event. 56 exhibitors were on hand to fill your every bridal need. The night included live music, dancing, tasting portions, makeup touchups, manicures, photobooths, and more...

The highlights of the evening for me were the live music, tasting portions, makeup touchups, Magnolia Photobooth, and beautiful tablescapes. Ladies, checkout this wedding event next time it rolls into town.

O Baby Baby, buh buh Baby

2010-10-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Speaking of children, you should checkout the talented Mimi Campaigne. Mimi is based here in Chicago with a primary focus on her loves: capturing the world through her lens, and family. She's a mama herself to a beautiful baby girl, Louise.

So if you were thinking you need a new family portrait or photos of your children, run don't walk over to mimi's blog.

Happy Friday!

xo
-Megan

Happy Monday!

2010-09-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

These kiddos pretty much make my heart melt...

via kourtneypulitzerstyle

Bridal Inspiration. Part 1

2010-09-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Photography: Kara Schultz
Makeup: Cynthia Sally Makeup Artistry
Dress: The Frock Shop
Flowers: Kio Kreations
Jewelry/Hairpiece: Megan Lim Jewelry

Doilies

2010-09-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

image via minted.com

image via realsimple.com

Friday

2010-09-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

A little something to keep you guessing. Stay tuned to see what I've been working on...

Happy Friday!

xoxo

An "OH NO" Moment

2010-08-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

So this past weekend we had a "family engagement" party. We thought it'd be nice to have our loved ones meet and actually get to hangout prior to the major wedding festivities. The food was never ending, the weather was great and the sun was shining, drinks were flowing, and everyone was smiling. We had a wonderful party!

The big funny moment of the day was when we were opening gifts. In a sea of crystal, cake stands, and crate and barrel boxes, there was a photo album. My fiance suddenly opens up the photo album and screams, "Ohhh my gosh!!" while dropping the photo album to the floor. I then grabbed the album to find that it was filled with photos from the day I found my wedding dress!!!!

All is well though. We all laughed it off. And, thank goodness the one photo he did see was a close-up shot of mostly just my face.

Have you had an OH NO!! wedding moment???

Pretty in Pink

2010-08-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

NEW IN THE SHOP: Pretty in Pink headband

I created a girly palette of pinks to adorn your head. Easy to wear everyday or to give to your bridesmaids! The elastic headband allows for a comfortable all day wearing fit.

Made in the shade.

2010-07-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

How's your week going? I'm in Florida on vacation, catching up on some relaxation, and soaking up some sun poolside. I thought I'd drop by and say hi from my condo.

On the bridal front, I'm excited to say I'll be shipping off a slew of bridal jewelry goodness to an upcoming Illinois bride. Her color palette is slate grey & yellow....so classic and pretty, right? She'll be having an outdoor reception at her dad's home, surrounded by the green goodness that is the midwest.

I'll post photos as they come....

Pierogi

2010-07-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

If I haven't said so already, I LOVE food. I love to eat. I love to cook.

On that note, this morning we went to the farmer's market and couldn't resist picking up some homemade meat pierogi's. As soon as I put them in my bag, I started daydreaming of how I was going to prepare them for our lunch. They came out deeee-lish!

Ingredients:
Meat Pierogi's
Butter
Onion
Chives
Arugula
Garlic
Morningstar Bacon

I sauteed the thinly sliced onion and garlic in butter. Then I added the pierogi and 1 slice of Morningstar bacon chopped up, and waited for both to crisp up. Lastly I added coarsely chopped arugula and chives, and waited until the the arugula cooked down.

In Love: Kim and Rob part 1

2010-07-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Kim and Rob Gryzmala made it official this past Fourth of July. It was only fitting because the 4th is Kim's favorite holiday, and Rob proposed on the 4th a year earlier in front of all their best friends. Needless to say, they made their own fireworks this year!!!

The hairpiece the bride is wearing is, YES, a Megan Lim Jewelry custom piece. I think Kim looked beautiful! Checkout Kim's hairpiece and part 1 of the wedding in the slideshow link below...

In Love: Kim and Rob part 1

Church: Rockafeller Chapel at the University of Chicago
Reception Venue: Holiday Inn Mart Plaza
Photography: Kara Schultz
Flowers: Kio Kreations
Hairpiece: Megan Lim Jewelry

O is for Olivia

2010-07-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

Introducing the "Olivia" earring...
Textured gold rings accented by a hint of robin's egg blue. Now available here.

I think they'd look gorgeous on a bridesmaid wearing this Jenny Yoo dress...

Vintage inspiration

2010-07-14T19:14:00.000-07:00

This "Lily," vintage inspired headband is now available HERE.

How's your week going? Mine is going pretty swell. One more day of work and a weekend full of music. Ahh, I love summer in Chicago!

Wouldn't it be nice..

2010-07-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I came across the cutest wedding video and I just have to share it with you! If your reaction is anything like mine, you might just tear up a bit. Yes, that darn "first look" got me. You might also think to yourself, "wow, this music rocks!" In that case, the songs used are Block Party "SRXT" and The Beach Boys "Wouldn't it Be Nice." I'm not sure who did The Beach Boys remix, but if you do, please let me know.

Monachetti did this awesome videography and primarily services Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Checkout more videos and info. HERE

Meredith and Tommy from Monachetti on Vimeo.

A Breath of Fresh Air...

2010-06-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

I had an earthy, ethereal bride in mind when I designed this bridal halo. Light as air and full of romance, a gentle tuft of baby's breath lays upon your head, while a cascade of white grosgrain ribbon runs down your back. Lovely to blow in the wind...

Cheers my dears...

2010-06-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

The now laid to rest Domino Magazine has been revived. Hallelujah!!! It's like someone was reading my mind and my sweet wishes were granted. Thank you Brides.com! You're the greatest. Now we are all little click away from revisiting the greatness that is Domino. You're happy field trip begins HERE...

Cheers my dears.

Sneak Peak: new earring

2010-06-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! So many things to be excited about...the sun is shining, I think I might have found my wedding dress, we managed to book my dream chapel, and I have a new earring set for you to preview!!!

The earrings will be available soon in the Etsy shop...

The Portage.

2010-06-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to attend a special tasting event at the new Portage Park restaurant, The Portage, the other night. Inside you'll be met by clean lines, deep reds, and cool greys. The decor is welcoming, not too feminine, but also not too manly...just right. Up front is a handful of intimate tables, followed by a lovely bar area that leads into a comfy lounge area that feels warm and inviting.

Now I can't talk about a restaurant without talking about the food! First up, fries cooked in duck fat. The fries are left with just a hint of duck flavor. Yum! Crabcakes were lovely...don't miss out on these. I had the kobe burger with grilled onion and a big ol' slice of gouda cheese...huuuge portions...eat half and save the rest for the next day. And for the finale, creme brulee and homemade shortbread with fresh fruit and whipping cream. Both were lick the plate worthy! Ok, so what are you waiting for? Head out to The Portage for dinner! You won't be disappointed.

The Details:
The Portage
3938 N. Central Ave.
Chicago,IL 60634
p:773.853.0779

New things brewing...

2010-06-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier I posted a sneak peak of this bracelet, and now the "A New Leaf" Bracelet is now available at my SHOP!

How will you be spending your Saturday? I'll be slathering my face with bbq sauce at Ribfest!
Have a great Saturday...

xx,
Megan

Laurie Peacock

2010-06-10T16:39:00.001-07:00

Today I received this gorgeous photo by the talented Laurie Peacock. The headpiece the model is wearing is a Megan Lim Jewelry vintage inspired bridal headband. More photos from this photoshoot are to come and I can't wait! In the meantime, you can checkout more of Laurie's work here.

A New Leaf...

2010-06-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, summer is here. The sun is shining. The flowers are blooming...
Inspired by all the new blooms, I've design a new gold leaf bracelet. Available soon in the etsy shop!

S n e a k P e e k: bridal headband

2010-05-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek of a Bridal headband I've been working on. Vintage inspired swirls in feathery soft white.

Octo-cake.

2010-05-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

Isn't this one of the coolest looking cakes you've ever seen? Amaaazing! I think this would make one fantastic grooms cake for the ocean loving husband to be.

Wu Wu

2010-05-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of this Jason Wu stunner Camilla Belle wore to the MET Ball. What a beautiful shade of lipstick red. the hair. the makeup. the earrings. perfection. but I can't help but try to imagine it in white. hellooo, wedding dress inspiration...

Teenie Weenie

2010-05-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

I have the bad habit of taking off small, yet important jewelry, and leaving them laying about on a dresser, sink, or counter. Almost every time I do this, I think to myself, "gosh, this probably isn't really the best idea." Sooo, on a recent trip to Ikea I discovered the Blanda bowl set. The set comes with 4 teenie weenie glass bowls. Completely cute, but I'm uncertain of what their real purpose is for. But for me, they'll be put next to sinks in the house and on my night stand. No more fear of misplacing heirloom jewelry!!

S A L E

2010-04-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders made now through May 9th in honor of all the wonderful mamas out there!!!

And, congratulations to Ash for winning the Corinne drape necklace over at Sweet Chic Events.

Sweet.

2010-04-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to head over to Sweet Chic Events for a chance to win a Megan Lim Jewelry Corinne drape necklace! Winner gets picked tomorrow.

While you're there, check out Sweet Chic's awesome work, where they take away all your worry and help create your PERFECT wedding day!

Sea Creatures

2010-04-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

I can't stop thinking about this Sea Creature Tea Set from the mecca of all this pretty and girly, Anthropologie. Pictured above is the creamer, but there is also an equally exquisite sugar bowl, and tea pot. I can't help but keep looking at all the little nubby details and the faintest hint of green that falls into the little nooks. Can you tell I'm drooling over this?

Being newly engaged and all, I find myself booking marking in my mind things that I would like to register for. This set is surely on that bookmarked list! However, I doubt it'll still be around when it's actually closer to the wedding, sooo I guess I just might have to buy myself a little pressie!

Love. Love. Love.

2010-04-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

So I've been missing on the blogger front and I do apologize, but its been for good reason...I GOT ENGAGED!!! Its been a wonderful whirlwind and the end of my spring break was here and gone before I knew it. Right now I'm just trying to enjoy this special moment in life before the madness of planning comes.

More fun posts to come & jewelry goodness, so please stay tuned...

Chasing a garden...

2010-04-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

I've been pining over this dress from H&M's "The Garden Collection" for the last month. Images of myself in this dress swirling and spinning in delight at the many summer weddings I'll be attending have been playing in my mind. The collection promotes earth friendly clothes made stylish using organic fabrics and recycled materials. I went again to H&M crossing my fingers that the dress would be there, but of course, it was sold out. Bummer for me.

Mossy

2010-04-06T21:42:00.001-07:00

Ever since I stumbled upon a photo of the most beautifully mossy terrariums in a Martha Stewart Living issue maybe a month or 2 ago, I've been day dreaming of making my own little ecosphere. Somehow I just couldn't seem to find time to do it. Ahhh, but I'm on spring break! So here's my attempt at my own little mossy universe...

Gizeh

2010-04-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

photo via la.racked.com

photo via passementeries-diary.com

I wrote a previous post about trying to find sandals that were still cute, but offered arch support. Without arch support, my knees start hurting, so I was crossing my fingers that somehow I could find a sandal that united form and fashion. And yes, I realize I probably sound like a grandma, but that's ok with me.

Blooow the horns girls....what I've found is Birkenstock's Gizeh sandal. Ok, so it isn't the cutest or trendiest thing around, but it is a cuter update on the traditional Birkenstock. Case in point, check these ladies out rockin the Gizeh. I give it thumbs up! Now I just need to decide on which color to get.

SUMMER HERE I COME...

Twiggy.

2010-04-01T20:37:00.001-07:00

The Flowering Branch Necklace is now available in the Etsy shop!

Spring has officially sprung here in Chicago, so I thought this would be the perfect time to unveil this necklace. It seemed only fitting. I've been rockin the Flowering Branch Necklace quite a bit lately. It reminds me of the sunshine and beautiful things blooming ahead...

MODEL: Megan
LOCATION: Chicago
JEWELRY: Flowering Branch Necklace

Dangling Illumination Pair.

2010-03-31T18:02:00.000-07:00

Dangling Illumination Necklace

Dangling Illumination Earrings

I think a woman's collarbone is gorgeous and should be shown off whenever possible. The Dangling Illumination Necklace is an elegant way to carry one's eye to this special place...understated & lovely. And now you can get the coordinating Dangling Illumination necklace & earrings. A pair made in dangling heaven <3

All Things Pearls...

2010-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

A big phat hug to Ashley over at Little Miss Momma for featuring my Birdsnest Ring in her 10 Etsy Finds: All Things Pearls post! Look to Ashley to read about the life lessons of a momma in training, adorable photos of her family, and diy tutorials.

Call me Corrine...

2010-03-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

The Corrine drape necklace is now available in the Etsy shop.

MODEL: Whitney
LOCATION: Chicago
JEWELRY: Corrine-sterling silver drape necklace

Stamp yourself happy

2010-03-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

I came across this custom stamp by Lilimandrill and think it is just about the cutest thing! I'm quite tempted to order my own. All you have to do is send in your favorite photo of you and your love. Your photo will then be sketched and upon approval of the drawing, get carved into a stamp...Voila! I think this would be adorable to use on save the dates.

Happy stamping <3

New in Shop

2010-03-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

The "Louise" blusher veil is now available in the Etsy shop.

The woes of warm weather...

2010-03-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

O the delights of sandals! I love for my toes to be free, painted, pretty, and fancy for the world to see. With warm weather creeping just around the corner, I'm day dreaming of what sandals I'll wear this summer. But here the problem lies....I have flat feet and desperately need arch support. All the cute sandals I long to wear offer me zero support, and what I'm left with at the end of the day is major knee pain.

Every summer I heavily rely on my good ol' Reefs. I can walk around the city all day in these! However, they only work for casual wear.

Does anyone else have this issue? Do you have any suggestions for cute, yet supportive sandals?

Swirling twirling...

2010-03-16T17:57:00.001-07:00

DSC_5040
Originally uploaded by meganlimjewelry

A new photo of a hairpiece I wanted to share.

xo,
Megan

Go Green!

2010-03-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

Happy almost St. Patrick's Day! Last weekend my boyfriend made us green eggs and spam to celebrate. And yes, I know you're probably thinking,"ew, spam is gross," but never mind that because I do, I do like spam...spam I am.

Anyone else celebrating?

Simply delightful.

2010-03-12T15:17:00.000-08:00

Whew...how did the week manage to fly by so quickly?! Sorry about the lack of posts this week. I'll blame it on the beautiful weather. The snow finally stopped here in Chicago and the sun actually decided to come out. Instead of blogging, I found myself soaking up the weather the city.

On other fronts, these heels from Ann Taylor make me giddy. Their pale nude color, elegant heel, and fantastic texture had me at first sight.

Saturday. Saturday.

2010-03-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

photo by Shana Rae

Early morning rise and nice cup of chai...this is going to be a good Saturday. The sun is shining at I think the temperature just might rise above 40. Hope you enjoy yourselves today!

Fried over

2010-03-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

No Meat Fridays:

I look forward to fish fry with the family. But something new and fantastic has been introduced into the equation. FRIED OYSTERS. Warm and dipped into some cocktail sauce...YummO.

Punchy lips.

2010-03-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

Inspiration: Punchy Lips

I couldn't help but be inspired by these gorgeous pink lips. Makes me think she just drank some sort of fruity punch and it lovingly left her with this stain. They also remind me that warmer days are hopefully around the corner...

These jokes are dope.

2010-02-27T21:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight I went to see comedian Aziz Ansari perform stand up. If he comes to your city, I highly recommend going to see him. And, if you aren't able to catch Aziz live, you can watch him on the show Parks and Recreation. Are you looking at his photo and thinking " gee, he looks familiar." Well, you might recognize him from the film Funny People or from MTV's Human Giant.

I laughed so hard my eyes were watering! Thanks Aziz for making my Saturday night rock.

Dailey

2010-02-27T06:44:00.001-08:00

Have I been working out lately? A BIG no to that! But, I really should...On that note, has anyone tried the Dailey Method???

I've heard it compares to the likes of the The Bar Method and to Tracy Anderson (I think she's a genius and a workout goddess!). Google her and watch her in action on youtube. Anywho, the Chicago location is in Bucktown and it's on Groupon today. I'm thinking of giving it a go...

Jessy

2010-02-24T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Jessy Mary Jane Shoe:
I can't even decide which color I like better. Images of black tights with the black pair are dancing in my mind. But, we know that I do have a thing for nude/tan, so of course part of me gravitates towards the other.

What I do love is its feminine appeal...the scalloped detail and the almost triangular sort of heel. After closer examination of the heel, it actually started to resemble an ice cream cone!

Question: Which one do you like more? What would you pair them with?

Sneak. a. peeky

2010-02-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peek of a bridal hairpiece I've been working on....a crown of white feathers, followed by a shimmering swirl of creams, greys, and silver. Oh goodness, I can't wait to see this on a bride! I've been trying to overcome a sinus infection, so please accept my apology for looking a bit ill. Better photos and a hopefully un-sickly looking model to follow!

Bleu

2010-02-22T17:11:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest brooch I've been working on...Bleu.

I have a certain affection for brooches. I love that they're multi-functional. I pin mine on blazers and cardigans. They're also a great way to spice up a monochromatic dress...perfect to make your outfit one of a kind. I also like to pin them in my hair...criss-cross a few bobby pins and you're good to go!

Dreaming: Part II

2010-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

So here's the finished product...TaDaaaa! Super moist and yummy. Tres Leche, I love you. I'm going to have another piece for dessert tonight.

Dreaming...

2010-02-21T20:18:00.001-08:00

I've been dreaming of having Tres Leche Cake since last week and tonight I finally found the time to partially make it. So moist and yummy...full of fluffy goodness and topped with a whipped topping. As I type, the cake is sitting in my fridge soaking up all the wonderful milks. Tomorrow I'll make the topping and fill my belly.

Wait, I forgot to say that this is my first attempt at making a Tres Leche Cake, sooo, let's cross our fingers that it turns out as well as I've been dreaming.

Until tomorrow...Sweet Dreams.

Dance Dragon Dance

2010-02-20T18:27:00.000-08:00

So last week was Chinese New Year and today I went with my boyfriend to watch the parade and festivities at the smaller of Chicago's two Chinatowns. Lots of firecrackers....hence the cloud of smoke and three dancing dragons later, we proceeded to Ba Le Bakery for their "special" sandwiches. Yum.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Splish, Splash...

2010-02-18T20:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's still winter. And yes, I'm still walking around in a thigh-length down coat. But, the sun was shining brightly today here in Chicago and that made me think of warmer weather....dreams of being on a beach....ahhhhh.

This bathing suit struck my fancy. However, my coconut-scented dreams of frolicking in this number was squashed once I realized that was from the Victoria's Secret 2009 swim catalog and is no longer available.

Sadness.

Valentine Flowers

2010-02-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

All girls like flowers, right? Well here's a pretty photo of flowers made from recycled plastic bottles. I was strolling down State St. yesterday and saw this fantastic display in the windows of the new Anthropologie. So of course I had to stop and snap a photo.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love....may it be with your family, girlfriends, pets, or significant other. MWAHH!!!

XO,
Megan

Branching Out

2010-02-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

I'm quite drawn to things with an imperfect, organic feel. These branch salad servers fit the bill! That, and I grew up surrounded by the forest, so I kind of have a thing for trees. The lighter colored set (pictured second) can be found at Red Sail and the darker set can be found at High Camp.

Now Available.

2010-02-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

The Birdsnest Ring is now available at the Etsy shop.

It's a bird, It's a plane...ok it's really a bird's nest

2010-02-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Available soon at the etsy shop! The Bird's Nest Ring. I've taken great care in gently weaving a golden nest to keep two freshwater pearls & the prettiest robin's egg blue czech glass bead safe & sound.

Puppy Love

2010-02-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

I thought it was time to introduce you to one of my loves. So,meet Violet, my 9 month old puppy. I just love her to pieces. She's a feisty little girl...a big time sleepyhead...a giver of kisses...a snuggle bug...and has a key to my heart.

Who or what has the key to your heart?

Oh Domino!

2010-02-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

I was deeply saddened when Domino magazine folded. By the time I realized it was gone, the website had even been deleted. My friends thought I was silly for loving a magazine about home design, when in fact, I didn't even have a home to decorate. That wasn't the point though. Domino was beauty in color, design, home, lines, layout, and even threw in a bit of fashion and food. Now silly me, while I was busy pouting my lip, I completely forgot about the Domino: The Book of Decorating! I've already informed my boyfriend to push it to the top my valentine's or anniversary wish list. Ohhh I'm giddy with anticipation...