My Favorite Books of 2014

So I thought today's post would be something a little different. 2014 is the year I rediscovered my love of reading, and I am kicking myself for not having picked up a book in years. As a result, my Goodreads to-read list is dangerously approaching 80. (!!!).

I didn't even come close to achieving my goal of reading 35 books in the year, but at least it's an improvement from 0-1 books from 2010-2013!! So far in 2014, I've read exactly 20 books, which I have to say, makes me quite proud.

When I absolutely love a book, I literally can't put it down, and when I finish it, I can't stop thinking about it for days afterwards. I want to stress as much as possible that this is an OPINION post (key word there!), so you have every right to fully agree or disagree with me on this. In fact, this would make the discussion even more interesting! So here is my list:

The Ones I Absolutely Loved:
1. Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty: This book begins by telling you that a parent has died at a school function, but they keep you guessing the whole time who it is. I couldn't put it down because I just couldn't go to sleep until I found out what had happened. This is by far the most un-put-downable" book I read in 2014. Her books remind me a little of Jodi Picoult, my favorite author a few years ago, but I definitely enjoy Moriarty's style a whole lot more.

2. Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell: The paradox with this book is that it moved me so much, that it completely paralyzed me on the couch for a while when I finished it. The emotions felt incredibly real to me, so it impacted me deeply, and I know I sound so melodramatic here but it's totally true.

3. If I Stay, by Gayle Forman: This book is the very definition of heartbreak. I don't know what else to say about it.

4. Where She Went, by Gayle Forman: Again, I don't know what it is about heartbreaking books that attracts me so much, but this sequel of "If I Stay" is equally as emotional and gut-wrenching as the first, and left me thinking about it for days afterwards.

5. Bossypants, by Tina Fey: Because everything Tina Fey does is brilliant, and her book is no exception. Very enjoyable and funny throughout, one of the best light reads of the year for me. I needed it after the Gayle Forman books.

6. The Husband's Secret, by Liane Moriarty: Although I liked "Big Little Lies" better, I was still glued to the pages of this book, unable to look away and completely shocked by how a single action that occurred years ago can come back and change so many lives forever.

7. Yes Please, by Amy Poehler: I talked about this book in my November Lifestyle Favorites post. It was a great book that shows how wonderfully sincere and honest Amy Poehler is. She writes like she lives: freely, without apologizing and owning up to her mistakes. I loved every page, reading it mostly in the morning, which made the start of my day so much better.
 
8. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green: another beautifully written, heartbreaking story that I couldn't pull away from. It was one of the first books I read this year and it made me want to keep devouring lots more.


The "Just-meh" books:
1. Dear Daughter, by Elizabeth Little: This is supposed to be a sort of crime thriller, Gone Girl-style book. While it did keep me very interested in the storyline, and I really developed a liking for the protagonist, it wasn't a book that I just couldn't wait to finish, and soon after I did, I never thought about it again.

2. The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert: First I have to admit that I dived right into this book as soon as I saw who wrote it (the author of "Eat, Pray, Love") without even bothering to find out anything about it. Then I read it and realized it was a historical fiction novel, which isn't one of my favorite genres, and that, together with the fact that my expectations were so high because of the author, made it a little disappointing for me. Regardless, it's a beautifully written book, extremely well researched, so for those of you who love historical fiction, you'll probably actually really love this one.

3. Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter: the storyline was cute and I did enjoy it, but my thought after finishing it was that the characters lacked some depth, and it is just kind of a forgettable story.

4. Just One Day, by Gayle Forman: again, I think my lack of love for this book is more due to my having read Forman's "If I Stay" previously. And also after finishing it, I just couldn't help but think that this book was very "been there, done that", so it was nothing new that blew me away.

5. We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart: Everyone had raved so much about this book and its "twist", that I thought it would be something much more shocking and nerve-wracking. Instead it was just a bit "meh", and I really really hated the protagonist. I simply cannot stand books that center on the theme of "I'm so beautiful and rich, but I swear to you my life is so very, very hard!". Ugh!!! And to top it off, the book centered mostly on this message than on the actual plot of the story!


And the one I just couldn't stand:
1. The Beginning of Everything, by Robyn Schneider: I listened to the audio version of the book, and I don't know if it was the way it was read, but I hated pretty much all the characters from the very beginning. A prom king kind of popular boy suddenly realizes he wants to change his life and hang out with more "real" people? please! I don't buy it for a second. Plus this book was way too long for the plot: something that could have been written in 100 pages, took over 300, which just made it unbearable. I couldn't wait to finish it, and not in the good way!

If you have made it this far, kudos to you! What were your favorite books this year? Did I perhaps convince you to read any of these?
Love you bunches!

November Lifestyle Favorites

Yesterday I shared my beauty favorites, and today I am sharing all the other stuff that I loved during the month of November. Let's get cracking, shall we?

Bath & Body Works Harvest Gathering 3-Wick Candle
I am and forever will be faithful to BBW candles. Just ask my husband, who is more than happy to tell everyone that I have an obsession bordering on worrisome. I got a bunch of their winter candles in November, but this one happened to be my favorite. It feels homey and cozy, and fills the whole room. And those leaves hanging from the lid add such a cute little touch to it, too.

Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Mason Jar Candle
I keep this one in our bathroom, and unlike the candle above, this one is a lot sweeter and fruitier. I love the little mason jar it comes in and it is more than enough to fill our bathroom.

Rosebud String Lights from Urban Outfitters
These rose bud fairy lights caught my eye instantly in the store. They are cute and delicate, and I think they will add personality to any room.

Whatever You Are Be A Good One Book
This book is simply stunning. I bought it more for the illustrations than for the quotes, but the quotes are also very thought-provoking and beautiful. I read a few pages every few days and always left feeling motivated and happier. It is most definitely one of the most beautiful books I own.

Yes Please, by Amy Poehler
When I started to read it, I thought it would be a lot like Tina Fey's "Bossypants". However, Amy, despite having a very similar sense of comedy to Tina's (and having worked alongside her for many years), manages to steer her book in a very different direction. I absolutely love how she writes exactly what she wants to write, is not afraid to sound controversial or dive into touchy subjects, and even gives you unsolicited (awesome!) advice shamelessly. You just have to love her for it. If I was a fan of hers before, I am now crushing big time (not creepy at all!) and want her to be my bestie stat (17 year age gap and all!).

Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Yummy yummy yum yum. What else can I say? This has been the winning hot drink of the month by far.

Urban Outfitters Hat
When I got this, my husband had to laugh and said I looked like a nana. I in turn informed him that he has no sense of fashion (pretentious? me?), and I rocked the hat all month long. I specially love how it looks with a cute dress, heels, and sunnies, but for the colder months, a cool pair of jeans, booties and a printed tee complete the look perfectly as well.

"Do Your Best" Mug from Anthropologie
I mean, come on! This is the cutest little teacup, polka-dotted inside and with a cute typographic design on the outside, very me.

Brandy Melville Ring
This is a very cute, delicate ring that I have been wearing a ton this month. I got it on my trip to NYC and I love the touch of flirtiness of the little flower.

Black Express Heels
If I am being completely honest, this aren't the most comfortable shoes to walk in, as your foot is positioned at a very strange (read, steep) angle. If I am being even more honest, I couldn't care less, because they are seriously S T U N N I N G. And yes, sexy, I'm not gonna lie. In my book that equals worth it, worth it, worth it!!! That sound you just heard was half the population of the world gasping (how dare I be so vain!?) but I can't deny that I love the feeling a beautiful pair of heels gives me: I love how they look with jeans, as well as a dress, and they make any outfit look so much more sophisticated and finished.



Please do share what you loved this month in the comments below!
Love you bunches!

Five Beauty Lessons I Learned From Food Shows

 

How ironic is it that I am literally the biggest fan of food shows such as Top Chef and Cupcake Wars, and can barely make scrambled eggs?  (Don't answer!). Really, it's funny, but there are few shows on T.V. I enjoy more than those two, and believe it or not, I have learned a beauty thing or two (actually, five!) from them:


1. Less is more
On Top Chef and basically every single food competition, the chefs arrange their plates beautifully, but in the simplest of ways. You never see an overstuffed plate on those shows. This rule is paramount for beauty also: too much of anything never looks appealing. I.e. too much foundation will look cakey; or statement lips plus statement eyes is too over the top. Choose a main feature on your face, and work the rest accordingly, keeping it simple.


2. The tools on hand make all the difference
Have you seen those challenges on cooking reality shows where the chefs are required to cook with only a couple of tools/pots? They always freak out and have to use all their creative thinking to be able to produce something of quality. In beauty this is no different: you might have beautiful ingredients (i.e. makeup) but if you don't have the right tools, you won't go very far with them. A good set of brushes, an excellent eyelash curler and even the right nail file will make the makeup you already own go much further.


3. Something unexpected is always more eye-catching
No one would ever watch Top Chef, or any food reality show for that matter, if the contestants always cooked the same dishes over and over. In each challenge, the chefs are forced to use all their creativity and imagination to take some ordinary ingredients and turn them into something spectacular. This might not be feasible for every day when it comes to doing your makeup (we wouldn't get anything done!) but it is fun and a nice change to spice up your look once in a while. Maybe once a week or once a month, or even once a year, try something you've never done before: a double eyeliner look; a shade of lipstick you haven't dared to wear; a beehive hairdo. Getting out of your comfort zone and experimenting with different things is a good thing. At worst, you'll need to use a couple of makeup removing wipes, but at best you've found a new look that suits you wonderfully!


3. A pop of color changes the whole look
Contestant chefs always seem to have this rule down pat. Even when their plates use fairly neutral ingredients, they manage to add just that little detail that brings their whole dish to live: a little edible flower in a gorgeous red hue; a sprig of purple lavender; the brightest cherry tomatoes, you name it. When it comes to beauty, I am a big fan of this too: I love my color. Even for work, I try to incorporate a little brightness into my look. I'll be wearing a beige shirt with navy pants, and I might add a cute bright bracelet; or I'll put on a beautiful red necklace if I am wearing black and white.
This is technically more of a "fashion" rather than "beauty" lesson, but a helpful one nonetheless.


5. You don't have to be the most beautiful dish to be the most delicious
This is perhaps the most important lesson: there are countless times on Top Chef and similar shows were the chefs present the most incredibly beautiful dishes but they turn out to miss the mark and disappoint. Even though these dishes charm the judges at first, once they dive in they realize that they are bland, under-seasoned or overcooked. Make sure you are not one of these dishes: your beautiful, striking looks will mean nothing in the end if you are completely devoid of substance and flavor.
Love you bunches!

Refocus and Reset

So I have really lost track of how many times I have said this... but I am a firm believer that when things just aren't working for you, you MUST refocus and restart (not surprising that I have moved cities -even countries!- five times in the last two years).

The same thing goes for this blog: the moment that you are not feeling proud of your work, or that it stops bringing you joy, is the time to stop. Sometimes it's not necessary to fully quit, but to take time to get things back on track. I want to produce content that I would enjoy reading myself, content that doesn't feel like a chore to write, or that feels like a "filler-post". So that's why I took over three months away from the blog, changed cities, adapted, got to a place where I am feeling happy and confident, and finally decided that I am ready to get at it again. I can't promise that I will post every single day, but when I do, rest assured that it will be something I enjoyed creating. And I want to reiterate that, while this blog will remain mostly beauty-focused, I will be occasionally posting about other topics too, (fashion, diy, books...) just to keep things fresh and original. And I also want to explain that I am by no means an expert on beauty, just a (very) passionate hobbyist.

Without further ado, I re-welcome you to A Bunch of Radness. Sit back, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy. I have a bunch of brand-new posts brewing for you, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled and come back here tomorrow!
Love you bunches!

Photography Tips For Total Beginners By A Non-Photographer

I am going to put it out there from the get-go: I am not a photographer. Nor do I consider myself to take perfect photos (I wish, though!). BUT recently I learned a few tricks that upped my photography game immensely. If you would like to take better photographs with just a few steps, without taking a whole photography course, keep reading. Be mindful, though, that it this post is very content-heavy, so take it easy, and read every paragraph several times if you have to until you fully grasp it.


Your Camera
Up until last year, I used a simple Fujifilm FinePix XP70 point-and-shoot camera. A point-and-shoot is a practical, affordable option. It is great for those who get it out every once in a while at parties or concerts, and aren't really too interested in photography. Point-and-shoot cameras are also extremely practical, as they automatically select the best settings for you by doing a quick reading of the lighting situation you are in. This means that you don't have to worry about adjusting all your settings in order to get the lighting just right (what you call the exposure).

HOWEVER: as you will see below, your photos turn out infinitely better if you are able to control and adjust those settings, because a camera (as smart as they are these days) will never read a situation as well as you would. This is why investing in a good DSLR (stands for Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera is absolutely worth it and necessary.

Last November I got the Canon EOS Rebel T3. It is one of the most affordable ones out there (Amazon and BestBuy sell it for $399 USD) which isn't cheap but isn't outrageous either. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a DSLR if you want your pictures to be stunning instead of just nice.


The Two Basics
Now we get into the fun stuff. In photography, there are a million settings and terminology to learn, but who has the time for that. Instead, I think that focusing on just two of them makes a world of difference:

Aperture: Simply put, each lens has an opening, and the aperture is the measure of just how small or wide that opening is. The aperture will depend on your lens, not the camera model.

Shutter speed: This one is self-explanatory: it refers to the speed at which the shutter of your camera takes the picture and captures movement.

Now let's find out how to play with those two:

The aperture is the one that will determine if your background is blurry or not. I remember at the beginning when I made the switch from the point-and-shoot to the Canon, I was desperate to find out how to get a blurry background in my pictures, like I saw on all the blogs I loved. Well, the answer to that is very simple: the aperture. In a DSLR, it is represented by a f/ and a number.

Now, the tricky part is this: the wider the opening (aperture) of the lens, the blurrier your background will be (less of the picture will be in focus). However, the wider the aperture, the smaller the number. This means that f/1.8 is a very wide aperture with a very blurry background, whereas f/20 is a very closed one with the whole background in focus. The aperture will come determined by your lens. The one I have at the moment goes down to f/3.8, so fairly wide. Other lenses go all the way down to f/1.2 (super wide), but the wider they go the more expensive and bulky they become.

This photo was taken with a f/4.0 aperture. Notice how the background is very blurry, and only the little plant and my arm are in focus.

Shutter speed is a lot simpler to grasp. A slow shutter speed will make those subjects in the picture who are moving appear blurry. A fast shutter speed will freeze the movement, so that even if your subject is moving, it appears still in the image.
Now, having a super fast shutter speed will not always be the best option: the slower the shutter speed, the more light it lets in. This means that if you are in a low-light situation, a fast shutter speed will make the picture appear much too dark (what they call underexposed), and you will need a slower shutter speed that lets more light in. Similarly, at midday or with very bright lighting, you would probably prefer to use a fast shutter speed, otherwise your photo would be too bright (overexposed). Shutter speeds can go from 20 seconds (incredibly slow, letting in a huge amount of light) down to 1/8000 of a second (how any light gets in is beyond me!).

I took this photo with a shutter speed of 1/320 of a second. It was fast enough to even freeze the water pouring from the hose. 

How to adjust them
Ok, so by now you are probably saying: "Yeah, that's great and all, but how do I adjust them to get the correct exposure?". Well, my friends, I'm afraid you will have to use the manual setting on your camera. Every camera is different, but generally speaking, it is the big letter "M" on your dial.

The manual setting is the one that lets you adjust both your aperture and shutter speed. Let's picture a couple of scenarios and how you would adjust each one:

Scenario 1: You are trying to take a picture of your toddler son. He's cute and all, but the bloody kid moves at a thousand miles per minute. You are indoors, and you would like to have a blurry background so people can't see the mess in your living room.

In this scenario, the predominant aspect would be the shutter speed, as it has to be fast in order to freeze your child's movement. However, you can't go too fast, otherwise you risk the picture being too dark or underexposed. A shutter speed of, say, 1/250 of a second should do. Then you adjust your aperture and bring it down (widening it) as far as it will go (like I said, mine would be f/3.8) in order to get the blurry background you are after. Widening it also lets in more light, counteracting the effect of your fast shutter speed and thus resulting in the correct exposure.

Scenario 2: You are in Holland with your husband and you want to take a picture of the beautiful tulip fields after a nice lunch.

In this case, what matters most to you is the aperture, as you probably want the whole picture to be in focus to capture the landscape, so you close down your aperture to around f/20. This will mean, though, that you are letting in very little light, so you will need to slow down your shutter speed to compensate. It probably won't be too much though, as you are outdoors and it's daytime.
I do recommend that you don't go any slower than 1/60 of a second if you don't have a tripod: a slower speed wouldn't freeze the little involuntary movements we all make when we hold a camera, and your photo won't be as crisp.


The correct combination
Ok, so just how do you know the exact combination of aperture vs. shutter speed that would give you the perfect exposure?  Is it 1/250th of a second and f/3.8 for the first scenario, or  1/300 of a second and f/4.0? How to know for sure?

The only way to know for sure is to look through the viewfinder: that little window you look through to take the picture. When you are looking through it and focusing on your subject, press the shutter button halfway down and you will see a meter appear. Again, each camera is different, but it is basically a number line with positive and negative ends, and a center represented by an 0 or an arrow. Next to that line you will also find the aperture and shutter speed values that you've set.

This is how I explained it to my husband when he was taking photos of me:
- If you see that the pointer under the number line (or meter) is to the left side, your photo will be underexposed, meaning it will be too dark. If it is placed to the right of the 0 or arrow, it is overexposed and it will be too bright. Only when the pointer is right in the center will the exposure be just right.

- To get it to shift to the center, you will need to adjust one of the values: either the aperture or the shutter speed. In order to change one of the two, you need to use your dial. Read your camera manual if you are unsure how to do this, because every camera model varies slightly.

- In case of underexposure: You will either need to open your aperture more (smaller f number) and get a blurrier background (but remember that this is limited by the lens you've got!); or slow down your shutter speed and not freeze as much movement. Both of this options let in more light, and it is just a matter of deciding which one is best for you to adjust in each specific case. For the first scenario, for example, I would change the aperture, as I want the shutter speed to stay fast. Similarly, for the second scenario I'd change the shutter speed as I need a closed aperture.

This is a very underexposed photo I took when I was first becoming familiar with the concept of aperture and shutter speed.

- In case of overexposure: Your picture is too bright, so you need to let in less light. You can either close up the aperture (getting more in focus) or increase your shutter speed and freeze the movement.

Completely overexposed photo, taken the same day as the one above.

It takes a few times of trial and error, but once you get the hang of it and understand the concepts, it becomes much simpler. At the beginning, it took me a good 3-5 minutes to get the pointer to the center of the meter, but now I do it much faster and am much more familiar with which values to adjust for each situation.


The big difference
Now that you know the concepts, you will understand why I said before that in order to take good quality pictures, you need to be able to control your settings and values, which point-and-shoots don't do:

Say that you are at a party at night, and want to take a picture. A point-and-shoot will adjust all the settings automatically for you. Yes, there is no hassle at all and you just, well, point and shoot and it's done. HOWEVER the camera reads a very low-light situation, and it has to adjust the aperture and shutter speed accordingly so you don't get an overexposed picture. A point-and-shoot will not have a very wide aperture, which means that it can't adjust it much to let more light in. It will have to adjust the shutter speed, making it slower and slower until the exposure is right (where the pointer would be at the center of the meter). The result? an incredibly blurry picture, with a lot of detail lost thanks to the very slow shutter speed. Or, it might adjust the shutter speed and aperture only slightly, and then increase the ISO (the sensitivity of the sensor in recording light. In other words, raising the ISO lets more light in without having to alter the aperture and shutter speed). This should only be done if you don't get the correct exposure with your aperture and shutter speed, because the higher the ISO, the worse the picture quality. With a very high ISO, you will get white speckles all over your photo. You can find the ISO option next to the aperture and shutter speed in manual mode.

If you had a DSLR at the party, though, you would have been able to control the aperture and shutter speed levels in order to get the quality you desire. If you still can't get to the center of the meter by adjusting them, that's when you raise your ISO. The ideal ISO is between 100-400, but even up to 6400 will give you an ok quality. Anything above 6400, and those dreadful white speckles will start appearing.

Try it for yourself: grab your point-and-shoot and take a picture at night with the least light possible. I can almost guarantee that it will either be incredibly blurry or full of white speckles (or both!).

For this photo, my camera would have raised the ISO so much that the photo came out full of white speckles, not to mention super blurry. Not good. 

This was on the cruise where my husband and I got engaged in 2012. Our Fujifilm camera not only took an incredibly blurry picture, but it didn't even get the exposure right due to the poor lighting. 

Whoa, that was a mouthful! But I only learned these tips recently, and I thought, there will be some of you out there who also didn't know this and could benefit from it, so I decided to share my new knowledge. I hope I made sense and that this post was of use to at least one of you.
Please feel free to ask any questions you have below in the comments, or if you are a pro, feel free to leave more handy tips!

This Isn't Another Mushy Mommy Post

One of my very first posts talked about how I became a mother in my (very) early 20s, but how it was all worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat yada yada yada. That is all true of course, but I think there are two sides to every coin, and there are many moments to every motherhood.

Few things give me more contempt that mothers who smugly declare to the world that motherhood is nothing but joy, sunshine and rainbows. I call their B.S. right now. Motherhood is freaking hard, and yes, of course the rewards are more than worth it, but that doesn't make it any less of a bumpy road. Anyone who says raising a tiny human is all smooth sailing probably drinks a little too much wine with dinner or something and can they please share their secret with us mortals?

I have been a mother for just over 3.5 years and I already know that I've screwed up more times than I care to admit. But I'm only human, and my child is alive and well fed so I figure I must be doing a good enough job. In the spirit of the upcoming Mother's Day, this post is dedicated to all mommies out there who, like me, feel guilty way too often about their parenting. I'm learning to rid myself of unnecessary guilt and I'm starting here.

- Children can be really irritating creatures. Mix together a long day and about twenty "Mommmmy"s and you are bound to lose it a bit. You are allowed to lose it every once in a while, don't beat yourself up about it. Losing your temper does not equal abuse.

- Feeding them a Happy Meal when you are too busy to cook a proper meal every once in a while isn't going to kill them. I don't care how many smug moms say otherwise, a cheeseburger once every two months hasn't poisoned any kid I know.

- I really don't like cursing but I would be the biggest liar in the world if I said I've never accidentally uttered the f-word while driving, forgetting my super attentive child is in the back. Give me a break, he was going to hear it sooner or later.

- I've been known to put my kid down to sleep a bit earlier once or twice because I just really didn't want to miss an episode of The Big Bang Theory, or because I was getting dangerously close to murdering him and that would be unfortunate. And guess what? There were no dramatic consequences from him going to sleep 20 minutes before he usually does. Go figure.

- I have to admit that I have used the iPad or TV as a babysitter before. Look, when I'm sleep deprived and I know I can get a good half an hour of rest thanks to Thomas The Tank Engine, I'm only human and I give in it temptation. I'm pretty sure he is not going to get overly traumatised by that, as long as it doesn't become a daily occurrence.

- I feel bad sometimes (often, really) that I'm not the kind of mom who bakes homemade cookies every week, or the perfect perfect macaroons, or heck, even a simple birthday cake! I'll never be the kind of mom who when kids come to play, shows up with freshly baked goodies, and I need to come to terms with that. But I am instead the mom who tells him a story every night before bed, who drops him off at school every morning and picks him up, and asks about his day and has tickle fights with him. I can't be everything, nor do I have to. And that will be good enough for him.

I am a firm believer that even if you don't abide by every single rule in the "How To Be A Perfect Parent" book (who even wrote that!?), if you have a well-fed, generally happy child, you are doing a heck of a good job. So on Sunday, pat yourself in the back, let yourself be spoiled and pour yourself a well-deserved glass of vino.

26 Before 27

I mentioned on yesterday's post that it was my 26th birthday. As it turns out, blogger Kaelah from The Clueless Girl also happened to turn 26 back in March, and she wrote this great post titled 26 Before 27: Goals and Intentions: a list of 26 things she wants to have accomplished by the time her next birthday rolls around. I absolutely loved the idea then, and thought it would be awesome to come up with my own list for my birthday. So here they are, 26 goals I want to accomplish before I turn 27 (we'll come back to this in exactly one year and see how I did):

1. Pay off 70% of my credit card debt
Yes, wouldn't 100% be awesome, but I know that's not realistic, for two reasons: 1. I freaking love me a good internet sale... They are my guilty pleasure, I just need to take it under control a bit more. 2. I have a few subscriptions that go on my credit card, such as Audible, Photoshop, and Netflix. Regardless, I think 70% down is reasonable/feasible enough, no?

2. Go on an overseas trip with my husband
Over the five years that we've been together, we have been fortunate enough to take at least one trip every year, which is a tradition I am not planning on breaking this year. It's a very important time to reconnect, change routines, and spend quality time together. This is where the best memories are made and I know we'll be glad we have them in our older years. (I know this might be contradictory to the previous point... But somehow I'll try to work it out.)

3. Get rid of guilt
I am going to admit, even though it is hard to, that I don't take failure very well. I don't like the feeling of knowing I am not very good at something (although some things, like cooking and sports, are a failed cause). So in my mind I feel like I have to be the perfect parent, perfect wife, perfect boss, perfect employee... And it's an enormous pressure! I am most definitely not perfect, and the sooner I understand it the happier I will be. I am allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, and not have to feel guilty every time I do. It's funny how life works sometimes: we are usually much more forgiving of other people's mishaps than our own.

4. Learn a lot more about photography
I discovered my passion for photography only last year, and there is still so much more for me to learn. I want to be able to take gorgeous pictures to look back on life's special moments.

5. Update my camera bag
If I'm going to get more serious about photography, then I definitely need a new, chic camera bag. I haven't decided yet between this one from Jo Totes, or this one (in green) from Kelly Moore + A Beautiful Mess collaboration.

6. Become a lot more organized with this blog
There have already been a couple of times when I have made big launches on this blog, but I still find myself so busy with other commitments that they kind of fall behind after a while. I really hope that will change from this year onwards. I am putting some strategies in place to that avail (read #24).

7. Attempt at least one DIY/Craft project a month
I could easily be one of the least crafty people to walk this Earth, but that doesn't mean it always has to be the case. I don't think my projects will be Pinterest-worthy any time soon, but hey, practice makes perfect. This is also such a fun activity to start regularly doing with our son as a family.

8. Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Sean would probably roll his eyes at this one, I have been so bad with my exercise (or lack thereof!) lately... But I really have to try and change that, I do want to learn to respect my body a little bit more.

9. Become more of a tea drinker
I love coffee soooo much! After all, I do come from the land of coffee. But I realize that it's not the healthiest either, and in keeping with the above point, I will make more of an effort to substitute it for tea more often. There are awesome selections out there!  Maybe cut out on the chocolate should be featured here too, but I'm trying to keep this list realistic, so...

10. Do more of what I like
I think this year I achieved a good balance of doing the stuff I have to do vs. stuff I want to do. I want to keep it up, but also do more activities where me and my son spend some true quality time together and I am really there in the moment.

11. Be more social with this blog
For some reason I can't seem to bring myself to use social media as often as I probably should. I really want to become more active, specially on Instagram, where I haven't posted a single photo in ages.

12. Decorate my home how I want it
I think I've mentioned that I am in the process of completely redecorating my home. So for this year I intend to have a home decorated in a way that truly fits our style and reflects our personalities. I am fast becoming a big fan of old-school, rustic vintage vibes and I want my home to reflect it.

13. Go outdoors more
I'm not an outdoorsy person. Not at all. But I really do want to go out more, if only to breathe some fresh air and have a change of scenery once in a while. This can be incorporated into point #8, where I'll do more stuff outdoors with my son.

14. Let go of the past
I struggle with letting go of events, people and experiences from my past. I think that's why life keeps bringing me change after change, until I learn not to look back so much and appreciate what I have right now, which brings me to:

15. Focus more on the present
One of my favorite quotes lately has been: "Don't let the things you want make you forget the things you have." For me this is much easier said than done, and that's really a shame: the thought of looking back towards the end of my life and realising I didn't really live for focusing on the past or the future way too much terrifies me.

16. Finally get a curling iron
I am so boring with my hair! I just can't be bothered styling it in the morning, so I pretty much end up with a headband, or a ponytail or the most boring chignon in the planet. I have my eyes on this curling wand by NuMe in order to vary my style with minimum fuss.

17. Don't forget my friends!
I get caught up in the busyness of daily life, that I sometimes forget to make some time for my friends. Sure, there are my closest friends who I speak to/meet with on a regular basis, but there are other very dear friends who I tend to spend ages without talking to or asking about their lives. I need to make more of an effort to open up my circle of friends more.
Point 17a could be make girls night out a more regular occurrence.

18. Don't let myself get overwhelmed too often
I'm often getting way more overwhelmed than I'd like. I really just need to take a moment sometimes, breathe in deeply, and remember that everything is working itself out. Overstressed is not my favorite state, but it is becoming quite common. This is the year to give myself a break!

19. Maintain date night
Date night has become so important for me and my husband. It is basically sacred. We don't have a set schedule or day of the week, it's more of a "when we feel like it" approach. Spontaneous date nights are the best, and I intend to keep doing them. They are very refreshing for our otherwise-boring lives. Again, a bit contradictory to point #1, but priorities! and also, date night doesn't always have to be expensive: here is proof.

20. Take more pictures of my family
Not only do I want my photography quality to improve, but I also want to capture more of our family's moments. Tommy is growing up so fast and changing so rapidly that it would be a true shame not to document his milestones and phases.

21. Go on at least three spontaneous road trips
What better feeling than packing up and leaving, driving somewhere different just for a short, sweet change? the three of us love them, they don't have to be super expensive, and make for some great change of routine, so I think at least three times in the next 365 days is reasonable.

22. Read at least one book each month
Thankfully, Audible is making this one pretty easy for me. I just need to remain consistent. I definitely want to have this list done and dusted by the time I turn 27.
Update on the list: I already read Inferno, and it was sooooooooooooo good (that's 13 o's; that's how good it is!). I couldn't stop listening to it! If you have been wanting to read it, run don't walk to get it!

23. Buy a nice, good pair of basic black pumps
I have ones that I absolutely adore but they are pretty well-loved by now. I need to get another good, dressy pair, because they are lifesavers when I'm in a pinch. I'm thinking something like these peep-toe Anthropologie heels.

24. Take and complete Blog Life
Blog Life is an online blogging course by A Beautiful Mess. It covers a huge variety of topics (25, actually) about all aspects of blogging, and how to make it something you are really proud of and inspired by. Can't wait to give it a go! And hopefully, this will also help me achieve #6.

25. Participate in at least two more blog swaps
Last month I participated in Buttons And Birdcages' Blog Swap. This is where a bunch of bloggers get together, get partners assigned, and then go and get them a box of goodies they think their partner would like. It was pretty rad to go around finding stuff from my country to send to my partner, who was Martyna, from Spoolish. I will blog about it once I receive my parcel. I am very excited to receive some awesome goodies, and for her to see what I chose to send her. Such a cool experience, I want to do it at least twice again in the coming year.

26. Be more assertive
This is the area of my personality I really want to work on. It will make my life so much easier.

So there you go. Those are my 26 goals for the next twelve months. Some are easily attainable, some will require a bit more work. Some I have been wanting to do for quite a while (hello, #16 and 22) and others have been very recent (#24).

What are some goals you want to achieve in the near future?

A Music Kind Of Day

Yesterday I had a completely "Blah" day. You know the kind, it wasn't necessarily bad, nothing sad happened in my life... but it was the kind of day when little things that you normally don't give a second thought to, were really annoying me. I'm a woman, so I can get away with blaming it on my hormones, and that's exactly what I'm doing. Darn hormones!

I posted a while back about what to do on those kinds of days to get you in a better mood and frame of mind. I applied two of my advices: I went and sat at a cafe, and watched some YouTube videos, and read a bit of Cosmopolitan. Mindless activities that actually helped entertain my mind and stop me from overthinking everything.

The second thing I did was create a playlist (which you can listen to right here on Spotify). I guess I was feeling a bit sentimental yesterday, because these were the songs I listened to all day:

- Let Her Go, by Passenger.
I had this on repeat the whole entire day. Seriously, I easily listened to it a good twelve times. I guess I was relating to it a lot yesterday. It got me thinking.
"You only miss the sun when it starts to snow... Only know you've been high when you're feeling low." Some serious food for thought right there. Yup, I'm listening to it right now writing this. If you haven't heard it, stop reading this right now and listen to it. I'll wait.

Are you back? Isn't it freaking amazing!? Ok, let's continue.

- JOY, by Ellie Goulding.
Oh man, I am so totally girl-crushing on Ellie Goulding, it's actually getting creepy. I love every single one of her songs! Last month I had "How Long Will I Love You" on repeat, and this whole month has been JOY. I admit I shamelessly sing it at the top of my lungs when I'm driving to work in the morning.

- The A Team, by Ed Sheeran.
I love the power this song has to transport me to a far away land, as ridiculous as that sounds. I know you are rolling your eyes now, but it really does.

- Once In A Lifetime, by Landon Austin.
Such a sweet, soft song that brings All. The. Feels. I can never listen to it just once, it moves me like few others.

- Speed, by Cary Pierce
The slow-paced way in which he sings it and the accompanying, wistful guitar was a combo I got hooked on yesterday.

- All Of Me, by John Legend.
I'd be willing to bet my right arm that you wouldn't be able to find a more romantic, sensual song released in the last twelve months than this one so of course this was a must-listen for me.

- Fireside, by Brett Bixby.
This sounds a lot to me like "Once In A Lifetime". It has the same soulful melancholy to it that I can't resist when I'm in that kind of mood. I think this song is absolutely perfect for those romantic nights with your one and only, when the two of you are solely focusing on each other and it seems like there's no one else in the whole world. Ok, now I'm getting a bit too carried away. Let's move on to the next song...

- Hey Brother, by Avicii.
Avicii has also been one of the performers I've been listening to nonstop for the last couple of months. This song is quite upbeat but also a bit nostalgic at the same time, and that combination is simply fantastic in this case. Exactly what I was needing yesterday.

- All Farewells, by The Coast.
This song seems really strange to me at first. I don't even know how to describe it, except that it fit my mood to a T yesterday.

- Just To See You Smile, by Tim McGraw.
I love me a good country song that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Wow, actually forget about "a bit" sentimental. Judging by my musical choices looks like I was having a major emotional meltdown or something. But I felt so much better after a bit of time with my iPad and my coffee and my music. It's my foolproof recipe for those kinds of days, always works like a charm.

I don't know, am I really weird? Do any of you do something similar when you are having one of those days? Or does listening to this kind of music and being by yourself only makes it more depressing?
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and listen to "Let Her Go" for the twentieth time. I'll see you tomorrow.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

... and mangoes, and bananas, and apples, and oranges... It's because you have a 3 year-old at the supermarket who won't stop putting stuff in your trolley!

Ok, ok... I can't take all the credit. I actually saw that line on Ellen one day, but hey, it is just so accurate! When you have a toddler, a full-time job and hobbies, your hands are full every second of every day (not that I don't enjoy it, though!). In life, in my opinion, it is all a matter of prioritizing. Some say you can't have it all. I say you can organize it all.

Source

I have two methods for this:

1. The non-negotiable list:
This is something I think I might have learned from reading one too many Cosmo magazines, but it has become a rule I live by. Recently, a good friend of mine was struggling with her decision whether or not to break up with a long-term boyfriend who was just not fulfilling her anymore. I hate giving advise on these situations (I have learned that it hardly ever ends well), but what I did tell her was to make a list of the stuff that is non-negotiable for her. This changes for every person. For some, it would be non negotiable to have a smoker boyfriend, for instance. For others, this would be no biggie. So she needed to determine what constituted deal-breakers for her and what traits she could live with, and then see whether her relationship was worth fighting for with a little more tolerance, or whether it would just keep making her unhappy.

I don't apply this rule to just relationships, either. For me, it is non-negotiable to have a date night with my husband every week. It is also non-negotiable to have at least once a fortnight, a couple of hours to myself where I sit at a café and read a good book, or to read a book to my son on most nights. Once I figured it out, it was much easier to decide what then needed to be compromised: Maybe one day I just won't waste time reading my magazines. Or maybe I just won't exercise that day, because spending time with my husband and son is more important. It is all a matter of balance and perspective.

And also, very importantly, it is a matter of learning not to feel guilty for compromising some stuff in favor of what actually means the most to us. Learn to not let people dictate what you should and should not accept. Back to my friend: her aunty might believe that this guy is a total catch because he has this incredible job and is really smart. This could persuade my friend to stay with him if she was to listen to what other people deem important and not her.


2. Make even more lists.
I am a list maker in all its glory. I make lists for everything, from groceries (duh!) to wishlists, to stuff I need to do, to stuff I need to talk to my mom about, you name it. It helps keep my brain organized and leaves room for other important stuff (like where the hell did I leave my keys!?). This is how I can see all the stuff that needs some attention in one place, and decide what to tackle first, and what can wait. It also allows me to allocate time to each one, so I don't get too overwhelmed by a mountain of tasks. I still do get overwhelmed sometimes, but it helps me see that I can make time for most things!.

Now, this is not for everyone. For example, my dad insists that life shouldn't be planned so much. I do agree, to a point, but in order to keep my sanity I just have to have some sort of organizational system and this is what works for me. It also allows me to perform well at my full-time job, and then come home and spend quality time with my husband and son, and still have (somewhat) of a social life on top of it. I do fail miserably at times (hello, posting schedule!) but I'm sure it would be much more often if I didn't try to keep track of what I want to accomplish the most.

All this preamble, was actually to announce that I decided to get (a lot more!) organized on this little blog. I realized that not having a defined schedule was resulting in me not making the effort to come up with good content. I'll make more of an effort to bring you more radness, and that means streamlining: from this moment on, each day of the week will be assigned a specific category or topic.

- Mondays will be dedicated to beauty and/or fashion, simply because -for me at least- this is a great start to the week. Outfits of the day, tutorials, skincare routines and all sorts of pretty clothes are all coming your way the first day of every week.

- Tuesdays will be a wild card: this means miscellaneous -but pretty rad- stuff, such as books, travel, motherhood and food. Or this could be a break day too in case I'm having one of "those" weeks.

- Wednesdays is home decor/DIY day. I am in the process of completely redecorating my home and finding some amazing inspiration and ideas along the way that I can't wait to share with y'all.

- Thursdays will be dedicated to awesome finds. This means all things Pinterest-worthy: mind-blowing stuff, incredible photography, heartwarming stories, and overall goodness. This is the day when you will find all the stories worth reading and pictures worth seeing from around the web.

- Fridays will also be a wild card. So expect a different topic or issue on these days.

Boy does it feel good to have a structure! I put two wild cards as I don't want to limit this blog. Like most people, I have many different interests and thoughts and it would be a shame to feel like I can't share them here. So there you have it: after a super long hiatus this blog is getting a lot more structured and streamlined. So grab a cup o' joe, sit back and I hope you enjoy and stay a while!

Vintage Decor Tips From Grandma

Last week we stayed at my grandma's place for the whole week (hence why I hadn't blogged for what feels like ages!). There is a fine line between a beautiful vintage vibe, and a dated, obsolete, grandma-y one, and my grandma's home (interestingly enough!) falls into the former category. So naturally I asked her to share some of her insight with me.

I have always been a big fan of everything vintage, but alas, I had never been brave enough to try it in my own home for fear of looking old-fashioned. But here are the keys to add some vintage elements into your home and still have it look modern and fashionable:

1. Vintage trays and mirrors 
Little trays and mirrors add personality to a space (like a bathroom) but are also simple enough not to make too big a statement. Place little glass bottles on top, adding a pop of color to counteract its effect.

2. Add fresh elements next to old ones
In order to counteract the old feel of a space, add some new, fresh elements into the mix. For example, here she placed a clean vase with some white flowers next to old-looking vintage clock and books, which makes them look more updated.

3. Halls and corridors can use some vintage-loving too
If you have a hall, entryway or corridor that looks too plain, add two or three statement pieces that set the tone for that space. Plus, these pictured containers double as genius storage!

4. Focus on an opaque pastel color palette
A soft color palette can instantly add a vintage character to any room. If blush hues feel too grandma-y for you, however, then you can still play around with some trendier yet still vintage color palettes, such as rose gold.


These little tips are simple enough, and don't necessarily require a big budget. They are perfect if you want to give your house a much-needed makeover, with minimum fuss and expense but major effect.

Please do share, what are your best tips to give a room (or a whole home!) a vintage/romantic vibe?

The Lazy Girl's Guide To Blogging

First, let me start off by saying that no one who is actually truly lazy will be able to pull off a successful blog. This post is, instead, about those times when you have a had a long, hard day and the last thing on your mind is posting something, and creativity and motivation avoid you like the plague. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I am fairly certain that this is not unknown to probably 90% of the blogging population.

But before I give you my tips for those situations, let's cover a thing or two that might seem pretty tempting at first but you should AVOID if you want to maintain a good standard of blogging:

• On those days when you feel like you need to post something and are not coming up with anything, it might seem tempting to go over to other big blogs and try to "adapt" their content (nice word for plagiarism!). Of course there will be plenty of times when you'll be reading someone else's blog and suddenly inspiration hit thanks to a word, sentence or picture you saw on there. But there is a fine line between creating your own content based on someone else's, and just plain rephrasing what was already written. No one likes to read the same several times!
• Desperately trying to find those "wildcard" posts on other blogs: Don't get me wrong, those are usually a bit of fun and a nice change of routine (I've actually done it once or twice), but doing it on a weekly basis is really not providing much content to your blog.
• Quality can be severely affected by doing some rushed, uninspired post. Readers are quick to tell if you are just writing for the sake of it, so avoid doing it at all costs.

Now, what I think you should DO in my opinion:

• I'm not going to lie, there are many times when I can't be bothered grabbing my big girl camera and capturing a truly great picture. So when I actually go on a "photo" spree, I will shoot several scenarios and environments so I have something to come to when I urgently need a pic for my post. Original photography is much better than resorting to Google images, although of course it is infinitely helpful and necessary at times. What I'm trying to say is that using Google or stock images more often that not for your blog will make it flat and uninteresting pretty quickly.                                  
• Give yourself time. When I first started last year, I felt compelled to post something every single weekday. Let me tell ya, it is hard work! And the worst part is that you end up with a bunch of posts that are not adding anything to your blog, nor providing your readers with anything worth reading (here is a cringeworthy example!). I learned eventually that it is significantly better to not post for a day or two if you need to, instead of posting something of poor quality. This month, for instance, has been crazy busy at work and we are going through some changes, so instead of just throwing some weak post at you, I have taken "days off" as you may have noticed. I do feel a bit guilty about it, but then I am reassured that when I do post, it will be something I am proud of.

• I have found that the surefire way to ensure that you are not always feeling lazy and bored about the prospect of writing a post is simply to love what you write about. For instance, sports are not a passion of mine, so writing an entire post about it probably won't be too inspiring for me (nor enjoyable for others to read!). Books, beauty, and home decor on the other hand, are a completely different story, because they are things I am very passionate about and writing about them actually excites me. Find what you love and write about it, and you will have fewer (although, you will most likely have some) of these lazy episodes.

• Plan ahead. Keeping a blog calendar is a very helpful tool for you to become organized and create a system that works for you. 

• If your blog isn't inspiring you anymore, don't force yourself to keep writing. You might just be in need of a redesign: maybe revamp your header or update your color palette; even just changing your layout might make it more fresh and easier for you to get your creative mojo back. 

Let me know if you find this helpful, and if you have any more tips for those days!

The TMI Tag

I resisted doing this tag for months... I had considered doing it but never felt like it was the right time. Well, reading one of my favorite blogs, Buttons And Birdcages, I saw her do it and decided to then take the plunge myself. I find this tag quite fun (hopefully you do too??), as I see it as a way to get to know the person in some aspects that are not as deep as what is usually shared on blogs and videos (so, pretty much useless -but fun- stuff!).
So here we go...

1. What are you wearing?
A black, slightly oversized top; an owl necklace from Forever21 and printed leggings.

2. Do you have any tattoos?
No, but only because I haven't figured out what to get. The few things that wouldn't look totally ridiculous on me are so cliché!

3. Piercings?
Just my ears.

4. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Ha. When I have to drop my son off at school, it takes me around 50 minutes from the moment I get in the shower. But if I'm not rushing, it can easily take me well over an hour... just ask my husband  ;-)

5. How tall are you?
5'1'. I'm tiny and I know it.

6. Zodiac sign?
My birthday is May 5th, which makes me a Taurus.

7. Favorite quote?
By Robert Frost: "In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: it goes on." I used it for my High School graduation speech, and always remind myself of it when I feel like I am hitting rock bottom.

8. OTP (One True Pairing)?
I can't think of any human pairing but I'm going to go with... fried chicken and honey! Seriously. Everyone does it in Colombia and I was shocked to see no one does anywhere else!!! If you belong to that group, I seriously encourage you to go to your nearest KFC, buy some chicken, and go home and pour some honey over it. You can thank me later.

My mouth is watering!!!!
Source

9. What are your fears?
This one is easy: insects! I may or may not be known to have screamed bloody murder at the sight of a cockroach. Multiple times. Drives my husband, dad and mother in law nuts! I even wrote about one such episodes here.

10. Last song you sang out loud?
JOY, by Ellie Goulding.

11. A place to visit?
New York. No matter how many times I go I always long to go back.

12. Favorite color?
Pink by a long shot.

13. Have you ever been in a physical fight?
Hmmm.... I'm ashamed to admit that I remember me and my little brother pushing each other once over who got to watch t.v when I was around 10 and he was 5.... whoopsie.

A Beautiful Mess Photoshop Actions

One of my most favorite blogs of late is A Beautiful Mess. It is fresh, and fun and plain awesome. And last month they launched their online shop. I was immediately drawn to two things: the "Mastering Your DSLR" course (because I bought one in November and let's just say I am less than an expert at it!) and their Photoshop actions.

I bought the course immediately, as an early birthday present to myself. I am currently halfway through, and my beautiful camera is no longer a scary, foreign device. The course is fun, super easy to follow, and very aptly named as it really does teach you the skills necessary to become the master of your DSLR.

And since I am learning to take beautiful pictures with my little toy, I wanted to make them even more perfect. That's where the Photoshop actions come into play. If you don't know what they are, ever heard of a little thing called Instagram? ok, now have you seen those fun filters you can use to change the aspect of your photos? That's pretty much what the actions do. They are Photoshop filters that give your pics a specific effect or look, with just one click.

They have three collections, which you can buy separately. Or you can also get all three for a special price. Seeing the examples they provide for each, I was drawn the most towards the Fresh Collection. It is pretty self-explanatory: the pics look crisp, clean, fresh, which is my favorite feel for my photos. Then the Folk Collection on the other hand is a lot more rustic and vintage, which is great for moody photographs. And lastly, the Signature Collection is comprised of actions that add more subtle, serious effects. It is gorgeous, but a little too "grown-up" in my opinion.
I went back and forth and finally bit the bullet and got all three, but I found my instincts to be true: I keep using the Fresh collection 90% of the time.

I still have a lot more playing around to do with my actions, but here is a glimpse of what I have accomplished so far:

1. You will have to forgive me, but this was the very first photo I edited and can't for the life of me remember which action I used!  (insert "The Scream" emoji here!). But I just had to include it because look how the colors just pop in the second photograph!

2. For this one I used the Eleanor and the Luna actions, both from the Fresh Collection.

3. This one has Chloe from the Fresh Collection and Merit from the Signature Collection:

4. Audrey, from the Fresh Collection, won me over. I love how retro and romantic this photo looks:

5. Now look at this one, edited with Violet from the Folk Collection! Moody and with a very old-school feel to it. I love it.

6. My favorite action from the Signature Collection is Rose Gold. (Anything rose gold will have me obsessed right now, actually!). It gives the photo an interesting, almost girly look, doesn't it?

I have been playing around a bit, seeing how the different actions will look on my pictures. My verdict is that they were well worth the investment, as I have so many options now to get my pictures to look more professional and definitely a lot more interesting and fun. I definitely encourage any Photoshop owners out there to go have a look at them, you really won't regret it.
And I have also found that this is specially useful for phone pictures or those of lesser quality, as these actions instantly beautify them.

And no, A Beautiful Mess aren't sponsoring me in any way to write this post. I am simply sharing something I am currently loving, and that might be of interest to some of you out there  :)