Booking a Honeymoon

For me, one of the most exciting things about planning our wedding was to decide where to go on our honeymoon.

Sean and I sometimes differ on our ideas about a perfect holiday. For me, a perfect holiday is a place where I can find lots of different things to do, to see, to go to, to explore. For him, it is a quiet oasis away from any potential source of stress. I suggested New York. He suggested a cruise around the caribbean. The New York idea got dismissed pretty quickly after considering that the trip would be around New Year's eve, and we don't really want to be freezing on our honeymoon. Then we considered the cruise, but it turned out to be more expensive than expected since we would have to get to the port where it would leave from, and besides, we have already done a cruise before (where we got engaged).

Back to square one. My dad spends almost half his life on a plane, so we immediately turned to him for advice. He guided us pretty much towards the caribbean: white sandy beaches, with everything available to us and days of enjoying nothing but sun, ocean and margaritas. That idea appealed to us pretty quickly. We looked at places like Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. We were mesmerized in the end by the prospect of going to Cancun, with its cultural richness, incredible food and beautiful places to visit... and hmm, not at all for the tequila... (yeah right!).

We finally did it today: we booked our Mexican honeymoon in an all-inclusive resort. We found that it met both our expectations: some days we can go to the mayan ruins and explore their absolutely mesmerizing history, and other days we can toast ourselves like lobsters by the breathtaking caribbean sea. Ultimately, it is all about finding that one place where you will both feel happy, excited, and of course, completely committed to celebrating the big step you have both taken. And we feel like we have accomplished that with this choice of location:

A stunning, never-ending turquoise sea

And even more sea...

The Mayan ruins

And of course, you can't forget the Mayan pyramids!

If you are married, where did you go on your honeymoon? was it difficult to agree on a destination? If you aren't, where would your dream honeymoon be?

Beauty Trend: Nude Nails

While spring and summer are seasons known for fun, flirty and relaxed trends in beauty and fashion, fall is really where the most sophisticated, feminine and elegant trends come to life.

This season one of the biggest trends that I am in love with are nude nails.  Not only are they gorgeous, but they are also super versatile: they transition ever so smoothly between day and night, work and fun. They really are appropriate for any occasion (which is not the case with other nail trends, like magnetic polish or 3D accents). 

If your skin is on the darker side, this is definitely a must-try, as the nails will stand out beautifully against your skin. However, nude nails don't only suit darker-skinned girls: pale girls can benefit from wearing sheerer shades of nude, so as not to create an undesirable contrast with their skin. A good rule to follow when choosing a flesh-colored lacquer is to go for one that matches your foundation, and that way your nails won't clash with your overall look.

Regardless of your skin tone, clean nails and cuticles are crucial in order to rock this trend as any dirt will definitely show. 

If you love being adventurous with your nails, fear not: this trend doesn't have to be plain or boring. Here are some tips to add an edge to your mani:

1. Add nail strips over the lacquer. Here, YouTube beauty guru MissGlamorazzi is rocking a stunning, chic manicure wearing Essie Topless & Barefoot underneath, and Revlon by Marchesa nail strips on top, in Beaded Couture:

Image from Ingrid Nilsen's Instagram account, @TheGridMonster

2.  Add an accent nail:

Image by Bellasugar

3. Incorporate nude shades into some fun nail art:

Image from Stylosophy

There is an endless selection of nude hues to choose from now, from really sheer, barely-there tones to light brownish nudes. To make it easier for you to choose, I have rounded up my three favorite options: a light nude, a medium nude and a darker one.

Marc Jacobs Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in 104 Funny Girl

Essie Ballet Slippers

O.P.I. in Barefoot in Barcelona

Finally, I did my own nude nails. I am absolutely terrible at doing my nails, but I do them from time to time anyway in hope that practice makes perfect (or at least acceptable!), so please forgive the quality of my manicure:

What is your favorite nail trend this fall? And are you going to be wearing the nude nail trend? 

F is for Friday's Frozen Yogurt!

My friday is going by way too slowly... I am stuck in the office, and while I do enjoy my job most of the time, today is just a blah day with not many people coming in and me feeling really crappy due to an unwelcome cold. I was definitely having a case of the "friday-blues" (I know that's not a thing, but hey, who says I can't start my own "thing"). For me the friday blues happen when I really really really need a weekend break, but the hours until it comes are going by extra-slowly... or does that only happen to me?

Pretty much since I woke up today, I was dreaming of finishing work and going to get my favorite frozen yogurt (one of my biggest weaknesses). Alas, I did not succeed in waiting until work was over, and had to have a 15 minute break to go and get it. And it felt like the BEST. FROZEN. YOGURT. EVER! It was such a foodgasm moment for me, that I had to take my iPhone out and capture it, so here it is:

There is absolutely no better combination in this world for me than that of chocolate and strawberries. I really try sometimes to make it a little bit healthier and change the chocolate chips for fruits, such as bananas or mangoes, but today was not one of those days. I enjoyed every single bite of it and returned to work only to find that I still had two hours left of work to do... but hey, those two hours are so much easier to handle after a quick chocolate pick-me-up, right?

The world is now invaded by fro-yo of every kind, with every imaginable flavor and toppings, so most people have a particular preference, or certain toppings they get every single time. My fiancé, for example, loves his with cherries and chocolate sauce, which I don't really care for, but each to their own. So how do you prefer your frozen yogurt? And please tell me, what are your tips and tricks to tolerate those long, torturous hours before the weekend?

Stationery Luuuuve

Before I write anything, I just want to put a disclaimer out there, to say that I am not associated in any way with the brand mentioned, I just became obsessed with their products when I first headed over to their website. It was love at first sight.

Bills aren't going to pay themselves, so having a job is (for most people anyway) a necessary, important part of life, if only because of the life lessons and relationships that come with it. However, any job can easily become boring and spiral into a never-ending routine, if you don't make it  a fun and enjoyable experience.

First, you must know that I am completely obsessed with stationery and cute office supplies. Ever since I first started consciously knowing what it was, I would marvel at different-colored notebooks, sparkly pens and markers, bright erasers and rulers, and mountains of stickers. It is an obsession that instead of ending, has grown with time and now I am the proud owner of about a hundred different notepads and notebooks that I use for anything and everything, and I have also been known to use my toddler's colored pencils more than him...  (*looks around in shame*)

When I first heard of Poppin through one of my favorite blogs, http://www.bubbyandbean.com/, I had to check it out. Next thing I know, I had spent three hours browsing their website and our dinner had burned (kind of...). I immediately decided which items I wanted for my workplace, just to add a little more life to it. So here are all my favorites:

Some goodies for the professional gal...

Pink iCushion

Lime Green Clipboard

Pink Mouse Pad

Pink Pebble Eraser

And of course there's a notebook in this list...

Racecar One Subject Notebook

I left the best for the end: A color-changing lamp in the shape of a teardrop! How absolutely perfect is this!? It is cute, bright and cheerful. Whenever you are having a particularly hard day at work, I'm sure looking over at this pretty lamp will be enough to make you forget your troubles, at least for a few minutes. Just maybe don't place directly in front of you, as it can get a little distracting...

Color Changing Teardrop Light

Aren't all these supplies absolutely adorable? How much easier would it be to get out of bed on a cold monday morning when you know these are all sitting neatly on your desk, waiting for you to arrive and begging to be used?

If you are anything like me, checking out their website can be dangerous... it will make you waste a good amount of hours, but I know you won't resist the urge, so I'll let you go now. Enjoy the rest of your day taking mental notes for your next stationery haul!

F is for Fall Wishlist!

So, it's that time of the year again!

Summer is now over. The weather is a little crisper. The air feels different... and our fashion possibilities are endless!

Being fashion-obsessed, I love spending hours and hours browsing around and marveling at gorgeous ankle boots, cute cardigans, comfy sweaters... right now, it is still around 90 F where I live, but hey, a girl can dream about her perfect colder-weather wardrobe, can't she?

So here is a list of items I have my eyes on and are perfect for Autumn. I hope I will be able to get my hands on at least a few of these:

1. BOOTS
As soon as the weather starts cooling down, is the perfect time to get out all those beautiful, stylish boots and show them off. The ones I want today are from Daily Look, and today they are on sale for only $49.99. Seriously, how cute are they!?

Low Rise Combat Boots

2. SWEATER
I absolutely love wearing sweaters: there is something so effortless yet chick about them. One I particularly like is this one from Forever 21, for $22.80, because I am totally in love with the whole black and white trend (which was BIG at New York's Fashion Week!).

Striped Sweater from Forever 21

3. PANTS

Pants are also a source of great fashion during fall, so I chose these from Daily Look, because they are fun and very versatile, as they will look amazing with mostly anything.

Plaid Rocker Skinnies

4. HANDBAG

A trendy, sophisticated handbag is a must to finalize a good fall look. The one I'm totally drooling over right now is a classic, timeless tote from Tory Burch. I love that this can be an everyday handbag, as well as for a more upscale event. 

Nylon Mini Ella Tote

 5. JEWELRY

For jewelry, I just couldn't decide between these two options from BaubleBar.  I have been a long-time fan of MissGlamorazzi's YouTube beauty channel, and now she has her own BaubleBar collection and it is nothing short of fabulous! For fall, I particularly love the Ivory Petal Wrap and the Roseland Disco Wrap. The first one is perfect for a flirty look during the day, and the second is a fun yet elegant option for a night out, so with this duo you're basically set for all your fall commitments!

Ivory Petal Wrap

Roseland Disco Wrap

6. MAKEUP
With the arrival of fall, makeup tends to become warmer and the colors deeper. That's why I think the Marc Jacobs Style Eye-con No. 7 palette is perfect for the season: it comes complete with seven very fall-y shades, perfect for a variety of autumn looks: a midnight blue with shimmer; a silver taupe; a matte off-white; a metallic burgundy (my personal favorite!); a metallic jade green; a metallic golden brown; and black with a subtle shimmer.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No.7

Did you like these head-to-toe options? For now, I can't help but browse and mentally take note of all the awesome trends that come with this beautiful season. I wish you a wonderful time this fall, and I would love to read some of your comments telling me what your fall must-have-item is and what your favorite thing about it is.

Thoughts on Happiness

Source

This is going to be a bit of a different post, since this is mostly a beauty and lifestyle in general blog, but I love writing about what comes to mind and about things I believe are worth sharing, which is why today I am going to share with you some experiences in my life that have taught me a little about happiness. I am by no means an expert on the subject, I am simply sharing what I learned recently. Don't worry, I won't be writing these kind of posts frequently, I know they can get pretty boring pretty quickly.

So, anyway, I was browsing Pinterest for a few (coughs *four*) hours, you know, as you do, and stumbled upon this pin.

The first thing that captured my eye was how beautiful the image itself is: the pink, the flowers, the gold typography, the jewelry... I love it all. I love how just a few, simple details work together to create a bright, beautiful space. This image definitely goes on the list of my future home office inspiration.

However, I decided to pin it when I read the words. Be Happy. Be Bright. Be You. Such small words conveying such a powerful message! For me, the last two are the path to achieve the first. Only when you are truly being yourself, and you are determined to keep shining no matter what life has in store for you, can you be truly happy. By no means is this an easy task to achieve. I should know.

No matter how many times I try to convince myself otherwise, I was a pretty negative person. I had an unconscious habit of complaining about little things all the time. If my coffee got cold, I complained. If I had to pay a little more than I expected for my car service, I complained. If another car was being a complete asshat on the road, I complained. And I wasn't being happy. I mean, I had happy moments of course, and I wasn't miserable or anything, but I most definitely didn't feel content and happy with my life as it was.

Then last year came the trip to New Zealand, which forced me to change every single preconceived idea about myself and life in general. I thought I would move, get a job straight away and live happily ever after with my son and fiance, and go on with our lives there. As it turns out, the "job straight away" didn't happen, which decreased my self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It also meant we were close to being completely broke when a job opportunity turned up back in Colombia. In a very small, very hot, very unknown-to-me city. And I had to let go of the very rigid plan I had made for us, and start all over again. In a less than ideal place. This change shook me to the core: the circumstances were forcing me to move to a city where I definitely didn't want to live, and it made me really really unhappy.

In retrospect, I can definitely say that this has been my "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" moment. I was so miserable the first few months after moving back, and I don't think I had ever been so negative. And then I hit rock bottom and realized something HAD to change, and fast. I realized that my whole life, my happiness had been dependent on external things: the city where I lived, the friends I had, the amount of clothes I owned, my grades at university, you name it. My happiness had never come from within me, and it became crystal clear why I had never truly felt happy: the things I couldn't control were the ones responsible for my happiness.

Now, I can fully appreciate this little pin with its few, little words. Being happy is about learning to shine and remain bright when circumstances change, or when you are in a less than ideal position. It is the knowledge, deep within you, that your life is working out exactly as it has to, and that there is a reason for everything (no matter how cliché that sounds). And it is also about learning who you are, and staying true to that. If you pretend to be someone you are not, or if you are being the person other people want you to be, there is no way you can achieve happiness. For me, the answer was blogging, because it forced me to write about things I was feeling, things that inspire me, things I like, and this is teaching me who I really am.

I encourage you to start this journey of learning who you really are, and then finding a way that works for you to stay true to that. It is not easy. But it is so totally worth it, because when you are truly being yourself, your light will be shining brighter than ever, and I can assure you that you will be able to feel happy. I was incredibly surprised when I changed my mindset, as little things weren't affecting me nearly as much as they were before, and much to my pleasure, I am happier now than ever before. Yes, even living in this tiny little hot town in Colombia.

Top 5: Emmy's Fashion

I know, I know. You have probably seen these pics a thousand times on a thousand different websites already, but I couldn't leave my poor little blog out of the hype. So here I present you my top 5 outfits of the night:

1. Tina Fey
The color and the silhouette of her Narciso Rodriguez dress worked together perfectly to make Tina's beauty stand out. The simplicity of her dress only added to the sophistication of her overall look.

2. Sofía Vergara
My fellow citizen looked stunning as usual in this Vera Wang number. The bright colors she chooses for the red carpets suit her wonderfully, and she manages to rock her unbelievable curves every single time.

3. Sarah Hyland
Another Modern Family star that makes it to my top five. She stunned the crowd with her choice of outfit: a beautiful emerald dress by Carolina Herrera, paired with flawless makeup and hair. This is definitely my favorite of all of Sarah's red carpet looks.

4. Kerry Washington
Vanity Fair named Kerry Washington "best dressed woman in 2013" for a reason, and she is determined to prove that she deserved it. Her Marchesa dress was a fun, refreshing choice, full of sophistication and glamour, portraying the Scandal actress' style to perfection and her ability to dress impeccably without being too safe.

5. Kiernan Shipka
Ok, so I probably wouldn't wear this dress to a red carpet myself, but on the 13-year-old actress this Delpozo looks absolutely perfect: it is age-appropriate, fun and girly. She managed to look incredibly beautiful while looking her age at the same time, and that should be celebrated in Hollywood.

I love red carpets. I love being mesmerized by the fashion, the makeup, the hair, the jewelry... it is all such a feast for my eyes! And this year definitely did not disappoint in that respect (the awards, well, that's a different story) with all the flawless looks that walked down the red carpet, making it very difficult to narrow it down to only five. Now it's your turn: who were the best dressed stars in your opinion?

Motherhood in Your Early Twenties

Girl goes on exchange to a strange country, where she knows absolutely no one. She is excited, thrilled, and a little nervous about what she'll encounter there. Girl sees boy on her very first day at university. Girl sits next to boy and introduces herself.

One month later: Girl is sick of her university accommodation and boy suggests she move in with him. She has never done anything this impulsive, this irrational, this exhilarating. She moves in three weeks later. Girl and Boy start falling hopelessly in love with each other.

Six months later: the pregnancy test comes back positive. Girl runs to tell Boy. Both of them are surprised, scared, happy, and a thousand more emotions at once. Boy decides he will move back with girl to her home country, 36 hours away by plane, which they ended up doing in the second trimester of the pregnancy.

Three years later: Boy proposes. Girl says yes. They start preparing the wedding, which doesn't take place until a year and a half later.

If you think this is a story taken from some old rom-com movie, let me tell you that this is my very own true story. I met Sean in New Zealand in July 2009, and on the 13th of September 2010 our son Tommy was born in Colombia.

When Tommy was born, we were both 22 (I am older than Sean by exactly 17 days!). It has been quite a ride, full of ups and downs. I always thought being a mother was going to come easily to me. Throughout the whole pregnancy I kept daydreaming and picturing how we were going to raise our son, the values we would teach him, and the habits I didn't want him learning. Three years down the road I can see how naïve I was. I was really smug and thought I had it all figured out by the time he was born. I was prepared and ready.

Except I wasn't. I wasn't prepared for those moments in which I have wanted to scream in frustration because he just isn't cooperating very much. I wasn't prepared to feel like I was missing out on my youth because of him, nor for the inevitable guilt that comes one second after thinking that. And I definitely wasn't prepared for the strain it put on my relationship with Sean.

We come from completely different cultures, so our ideas about how to raise Tommy, discipline him and teach him right from wrong sometimes differ greatly. And that for me has been the biggest challenge of motherhood in the early 20s: you are only just starting to know yourself, but are forced to know what kind of mother you want to be and on top of that, reconcile that concept with that of your partner's.

Also, in order for me to function, I need some me-time. It is part of who I am, and if I don't get it often enough, I become stressed, anxious and overwhelmed, definitely not the kind of parent I wish to be. But it is hard to get that me-time when I am working at a full time job and trying to spend as much time as possible with my toddler and fiancé. I feel guilty very often, and that has also been very hard. I don't think this happens exclusively to mothers in their 20s, but when you have children a little further down the road, you have had enough time to be on your own. I didn't have a lot of time when the only person to consider when making a decision was myself, and I have resented that at times.

Sleepy Tommy. 24 hours old.

A dirty, just-after-dinner Tommy at age 1.

Tommy at age 2

Tommy three weeks ago, aged 3.

However, I have also enjoyed many aspects of being a young mother. I love that we are both young and energetic (most of the time, anyways) to play with our son. I love that we have our whole lives ahead of us still and get to enjoy them with this little person that looks up to us. I love how when he is a teenager, we will be in our mid-thirties and although he will probably think otherwise, we won't be too old for his stories. I also like the idea that we will probably get to meet and enjoy our grandchildren, just like our (still very young) mothers are enjoying Tommy: my own mom is 47, and Sean's is only 43 having had him at the age of 18.

Those early mornings when he wakes up at 6am; those times when I have had a long day at work and he is being especially clingy; those times when our friends call us to go out but we can't find someone to look after him... all those times are worth it when I come home and have someone waiting eagerly by the door to give me a big bear hug. Or when he is in bed and tired beyond belief but still manages to give me a little kiss and whisper "I love you mommy" with half-open eyes. Or when he comes home from kindergarten, and excitedly starts telling me snippets of his day. Because of these and a million other moments, it is all worth it. Those moments fill my heart more than any amount of outings or parties ever could, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

There are few things more adorable than cute baby stories, so if there is/has been a special baby or toddler in your life that has completely melted your heart, I would love to hear about them in the comments.

Lip Balms Galore

Hello everyone!

Who in this world doesn't want to have smooth, lovely, plump, kissable lips? I know I definitely do, so today I am going to do a little review of all the (in my opinion) best lip balms and lip butters I have been hoarding as of lately.

1. The Body Shop Chocomania Lip Butter  (The Body Shop, $6)
If you like chocolate (and really, who doesn't!?), you will most likely love this one. It tastes very much like the real thing, and it is very moisturizing thanks to large amounts of Cocoa butter. However, it can be pretty greasy and sticky, so if you are not a fan of that, this one probably won't be your cup of tea.


2. Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm  (Sephora, $27)
I am just going to say this right now: paying $27 USD for a lip balm is just plain ridiculous. However, I must be really ridiculous because I plan on purchasing this over and over again once I run out. I am a lover of all things rose, and this lip balm is rose goodness all over. Of all the lip balms on this review, this one is by far the best tasting one. As far as performance goes, it does make my lips feel plumper (how do they do that!?), and I love it, but I think it is pretty much as moisturizing as other drugstore ones that cost a fifth of the price. But if you are feeling super luxurious and want to give your lips a delicious treat full of amazing ingredients such as Shea butter and Vitamins A and E, definitely give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.


3. EOS Organic Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet  (Target, $2.99)
Another lovely-tasting one! Like any good girly-girl, I will always love anything strawberry-flavored. This one does not disappoint in that respect: it really does taste like a scrumptious strawberry sorbet (yuuummm!!). However, when I put it on, I hardly notice it's there! I have to roll the little thing over and over and over my lips just to feel that I have it on. Also, it isn't the most moisturizing one. The price makes this one worth it, though, seeing as it pretty cute, tastes good and it's really cheap.


4. Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched (Target, $2.99)
I am a big fan of the Maybelline Baby Lips line. This particular one I love because it tastes like vanilla and maybe a subtle hint of lemon, it is also very moisturizing but not greasy: it slides so easily onto your lips, and leaves them oh-so-smooth! It is super practical to carry around in your purse and just reapply whenever and wherever, and when you look at the price tag, this one is definitely a winner and one of my favorites.


5. Rocky Mountain Lemon Lime Lip Butter  (www.rockymountainsoap.com, $4.50 CAD)
I received this in a cute little gift box my dad brought me from his trip to Canada. I haven't seen it in the States, but you can get it from their website. For me, the smell and taste are a little too pungent and too lemony (some people will really like that, though). But I can't stress enough how amazing this is for your lips: it goes on smoothly, and much like the Dior Creme de Rose, with this one my lips also feel plumper. I love how hydrated my lips feel after using this one, so for the colder months that are so rapidly approaching, I would definitely recommend carrying one of this in your purse, as they are small and practical.


6. Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Cream Kiss  (Target, $3)
This product is great when you are looking for a moisturizing, thick lip butter that you can feel on your lips for hours. I usually use it before bed, I'm not sure it would go really well with lipstick on top as it can be pretty thick, so I just let it work its magic all night, and wake up with the softest lips.
It also has the added bonus that it tastes really nice, like a nice caramel latte, and it is also one of the cheapest ones.


7. LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub  (LUSH, $9,95)
I could not finish this review without adding this gem from LUSH. This was actually one of the very first products I tried from them, and definitely one of my favorites. This is a must-have if you love all things pink and sweet, like me. It is very aptly named, since it does taste like pink bubblegum. You just rub it all over your lips, giving them a good scrub and then lick the excess. Yes, this one is actually edible! I have to admit, sometimes I use it just so I can eat it (a little embarrassing, I know). If you don't really like things that are very sweet and sugary, probably try another one of their lip scrubs line: they have three more: Popcorn, Mint Julips and Sweet Lips. I have tried them all, and I also like Popcorn and Mint Julips, but didn't really enjoy Sweet Lips too much as the chocolate taste was a little too fake for me. After using it, put on any lip balm or lip butter on top for best results.


Now that the cold season is almost upon us, lips will tend to become dry really quickly and if you are like me, they will also probably chap and crack, so make sure to constantly show them some love. After all, they are the ones responsible for those wonderful smooches! For practicality, keeping a stick one in your purse works best as you don't have to use your fingers to rub it on your lips (if you are out and about, they might not be too clean); and then at night use a scrumptious one that you can rub as needed to let it work overnight.

I am always looking for amazing lip balms and lip butters, so please do leave a comment telling me what your favorite lip balm is and why I definitely should try it! Also, if you have used any of the lip products above, let me know how they worked for you, it is always so interesting to hear different opinions and points of view about the same product!

Weddings and Gifts

I got engaged to a wonderful man, Sean, in January 2011. Finally, after moving countries last year and then moving back again, we are getting married on December 21st.

I was never the type that started picturing her wedding dress at the age of five. I mean, I thought of my dream man, yes, and getting married and living happily, but never about the wedding itself. I have always been a little bit (or quite strongly, actually) against traditions and doing the same everybody is doing. Take my exchange, for example. In 2009 I decided to go on an exchange to another country. Everyone was going to countries such as Australia, France, Uk... and I said, "no way", I need to go somewhere much more exotic and uncommon. So I chose New Zealand, and upon getting there I met Sean. Four years and a toddler later, we are getting married.

As fate would have it, Sean is big on tradition. He wanted the whole deal. The big wedding, with me walking in a stunning white gown down the aisle, speeches, a full bridal party, nice champagne, the whole lot. I wanted something a lot more relaxed: 50 people tops, barefoot at the beach, at sunset. Something intimate and beautiful, that followed only OUR rules, and speaks to who we are as individuals and a couple. To me it was always, ALWAYS, about what comes after that one day. I guess I am on the other end of the spectrum to bridezillas.

After much debating, discussions, and even a little argument, we are finally preparing a ceremony that we will both love and that means something to both of us. It took us a very long time, but we got there, and ended up with just over three months to plan it. The first thing I wanted to do was the gift registry. I might as well start with the most fun part, right? So I went last week, and spent a whole day choosing what I would like to have in my home. We already have pretty much all the essentials, but I find our home way too cold and empty, so I mostly went for decorations.

Some of the things I chose are:

1. A beautiful, huge, vintage clock. It will give any room so much character and color. I fell in love with it the second I saw it.

2. Beautiful wall art with different messages. There were many, but I chose five that really speak to me and have simple but powerful messages that I want to be reminded of every day: Breathe; Free Yourself; Connect to the energy of love; Trust the Universe; and finally, Dont Give Up, pictured below.

3. Bright-colored China. Our dinnerware at the moment is pretty dull, just plain old white. So when we saw these beautiful, bright, cheerful plates from United Colors of Benetton we just had to add them to our list. They are sure to make meals a little happier.

Image is from http://www.falabella.com.co/, where we made our registry. They didn't allow me to photograph it. Also, not all of the plates we chose are hot pink. We also chose bright green and blue  ;)

4. Aside from some more home decor items, the last thing we picked was this one "big item": the Fujifilm FinePix S1600 Semi-professional Digital Camera. Our camera is getting pretty old now, and I have wanted a semi-pro for quite a while now, and especially since starting this blog. This one in particular is pretty awesome: it has a 15x zoom lens, 12 megapixels and a 3" LCD screen.

I'm curious now: if you are married, what made in onto your gift registry? Also, what type of wedding do you lean more towards: very traditional? more rustic and relaxed? a destination wedding perhaps?

Top 5: Favorite Cities

Oh, hello there!

I am a firm believer that you can tell a lot about a person by what their favorite places in the world are. Is it a tropical island, as far away as possible from everything else? Or is it right in the middle of the action, with a hundred things going on at the same time?  Is it in the heart of Africa, being amazed at a million different animals? Or a romantic stroll down a little street in Rome?

Since I want you all to start knowing me a little better, I am going to share my five favorite cities in the whole entire world. I have been in all of them, and completely fell in love. I think about most of these places on a daily basis, and I definitely want to settle permanently in one of them, hopefully in the not so distant future.

So, here they are in order:


1. New York City, NY
New York is my absolute No.1 place in the world. I am as urban as they come; I love the city, the business, the action. I don't mind noisy streets or cramped apartments one bit. (I mean, if you live in NYC, you would hardly want to spend a lot of time in your apartment anyway). The more people there are in one city, the better. I love how in NYC, you have so many possibilities: you will never get bored as there is a new and exciting place opening up every single day. You can find absolutely anything you could ever want, you basically don't need a car, it is full of amazing views and beautiful fashion, all packed into one beautiful city. The two holidays I've spent there were the most fun I've had, and I just can't stress enough how much I love it.

2. Wellington, New Zealand.
First and foremost, this is where I met the love of my life: my wonderful fiancé Sean. Yes, he is a kiwi. Wellington is just filled with the most wonderful energy I have ever felt in my entire life. Everyone is so happy, and smiling, and joyful all over. I lived there for over a year, and walking down the waterfront was the highlight of my day. Not only does it have stunning views of the Cook Strait, but the people there just make your heart smile. I loved how it is a very young city, most of the Wellington population is made up of university students, so it has a very laid-back yet exciting vibe. The best way I can describe it is that I really feel that I am being myself whenever I'm there.

3. Cartagena, Colombia.
This city will always hold a special place in my heart. Located on the caribbean coast of my homeland, I lived there for 14 years from the age of three. It is a very stunning city, full of history, romanticism and charm. It has a castle and a wall built in the 16th century to protect the city from the spaniards, which are still up and standing to this date. It has a gorgeous sea, breathtaking sunsets and the typical chilled attitude of the caribbean.

4. Sydney, Australia
Oh, Sydney, how I cherish you. You are to me the combination of everything that makes a city wonderful: lovely people; incredible beaches; and a metropolitan feel. This is also a city where there is something going on all the time. Basically, much like NYC, it has everything you could want in one place.

5. Miami, FL
This city also made it to the list thanks to its vibe, similar to that of Wellington. Whenever I'm there, I get this great feeling that I can just BE. I feel cheerful, and excited, there is something in the air that makes my soul happy and content. And then there is the shopping. Oh, the shopping... this is pretty superficial, but I can't deny that I do love a good shopping session, and there is no other city where I have more fun doing it than Miami.

If you haven't noticed yet, EVERY SINGLE ONE of my five favorite cities is by the beach. And all of them also offer a big-city feel at the same time.
Now it's your turn: what are your favorite cities/places in the world and what makes them so special?