Wine Celebrations

Last week, my husband and I went out and celebrated wine...  oh, and our two month anniversary too, of course!
I put on my favorite LBD and bold fuchsia lips, and I was ready for our night out. We found a cute little winery with a very vintage vibe. I love discovering small, unconventional places that make me feel like I am somewhere in Europe. At this particular winery, I felt like I was somewhere in the Spanish region of Catalonia, thanks to the amazing selection of tapas the place offered, its rustic ambience, and of course their mind-blowing wine selection. I indulged in a ridiculously good salmon carpaccio, and Sean had the peppered beef with a side of fries (pictured).

Now that I think about it, it only seems fitting that we celebrated two months of marriage with something as sweet, timeless and elegant as wine... I mean, how can you go wrong with wine!?
(I apologize if that last line made you throw up a little in your mouth... I realize how sickeningly cheesy it was).

However, the 'highlight' of the night was when my lovely hubby dedicated a song to me. For a second I thought it was going to be something along the lines of Ellie Goulding's Goodness Gracious (Goodness Gracious I can't seem to stop / Calling you up / Calling you up / Just to keep crawling to your arms). I am realistic, however, and know my husband isn't so much the smoochy-coochy (a word made up by me, BTW) type of guy. But I thought that maybe I would get something like Kanye West's Bound 2 (Close your eyes and let the world / paint a thousand pictures / one good girl / is worth a thousand b*tches). 

Wrong again.

Turns out my husband is a little more creative than that, and he went with "She Will" by Lil' Wayne feat. Drake. He insists that the song is about a strong-willed girl who isn't afraid to go after what she wants and it reminds him of me... Hmmm... really? I don't think that's what I got from the song AT ALL. Nonetheless, I do appreciate the sentiment. And truth be told, I like how he chooses to go against all convention and be romantic in his own quirky way. I am way too cliché (as you may have noticed), so I figure we complement each other perfectly.

Any ideas as to how we should celebrate month #3? (with minds out of gutters, of course ;-) )

Wedding Footage And Cringe-Worthiness

Because I have been really naughty over the last couple of weeks with my posting, I have a bonus post for you guys today: my wedding video!

Last week we received it on the mail, and seriously, I could watch it over and over again. I love it so much! It conveys all the special moments of our day: the excitement previous to the event; the nervous bride getting her photos taken before walking down the aisle; the guests waiting; the vows; the love on both our faces; and of course, the party time!

What I have here is a short 3-minute trailer with all the highlights. The full video is about an hour long, with all the speeches and a lot more dancing that I won't bore you with. Hope you enjoy it!

***Oh, and by cringe-worthy, I mean my voice!  Seriously, I sound horrendous while saying my vows. Turns out, the week of the wedding I had a minor cold, and my voice got so rough! Luckily, on the actual day it was already much better but my voice wasn't fully back! I was trying so hard to sound "normal" that I ended up sounding childish and just plain weird. Oh well, a funny story to tell the grandkids...  so if we could just move past the funny voice... thanks!***

Anyway, so here it goes:

The song is "Hasta Mi Final" by Il Divo.

25 Life Lessons

First off, I am sorry for having been so inconsistent with my posting. Prioritizing is one of those things that I pride myself on doing well, so that's what I have been doing these last couple of weeks. But hopefully, things will slowly roll back to normal and I can maintain the regular posting schedule.

With age comes wisdom and I am not old enough to possess any significant amount of it. However, that doesn't mean I don't have any to share, now does it? So seeing as I am 25 years old, I am going to share 25 life lessons I have learned so far. It wouldn't surprise me if some were completely outdated by the time I'm 40, or even 30, but for now these are my reality. Don't worry, I've tried to make them as less cliché as possible so you are not reading the same thing you have a million times before:

1. You will waste a lot of time in your younger years. Don't waste any more by regretting it.

2. You get to know yourself much better through the difficult times. That's when you cling like crazy to those things that truly fulfill you.

3. Work towards living in a city you love. It will make all the little troubles in life seem much smaller.

4. Learning even just some basics of photography pays off: having great photos to look back to is priceless.

5. Keeping a budget is a great way to become organized with money. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be saving. Will power is what you'll need for that.

6. Travel as much as you can. Try and travel with friends at least once, too!

7. If you are going to be living in a new house for only a short while, try and still make it feel cozy and homely. You don't have to spend big bucks to achieve it!

8. You are never too old to find what it is that truly fulfills you. But start following that dream as soon as you figure it out.

9. Unless you are really wealthy, don't waste your hard-earned money buying high quality tops or pants. High quality handbags and shoes are a much more worthy investment.

10. Not all friendships will last forever. People grow up and take different paths and that's ok. Learn to forgive yourself for that, and instead make an effort to maintain those friendships that truly matter the most to you.

11. Keeping a calendar with not only to-do's but also important birthdays and anniversaries will probably avoid one or two panic attacks. (Facebook isn't always super reliable with birthdays, you know!).

12. Make sure you have good cables for recharging flat car batteries. Mine was flat once, but I thought it was something else because the car didn't jumpstart with the cables. Three hours and a lot of freaking out later, it turns out it was my cables that were broken, not the car. Felt really smart after that!  (Not!)

13. Five years ago, my advice would have been "say yes to more things". Now, I think it is important to learn to say "No" when necessary without feeling guilty about it. For me this is a sign of maturity.

14. It is ok to fake some things such as: confidence (until it becomes a habit); being cucumber fresh when you actually have a killer hangover (hopefully not very often); and elaborate hairstyles (there are many extremely easy hairstyles that look like you've just spent two hours at the salon!).

15. False modesty isn't cute. It is downright annoying.

16. There comes a time when staying in with a good movie and a glass of wine is your idea of a perfect Friday night, instead of dancing the night away with a bunch of strangers that reek of something suspicious. That is fine too. There is a time for everything, so make sure you go through every stage, at least so you don't have that annoying "I should have done more of..." feeling in the future.

17. You will do many cringe-worthy things in your life. Try and find the funny side when you look back. (kind of goes along with point 1)

18. Speaking of cringe-worthy, don't EVER ask the question "Are you pregnant?". Believe me, if she is, she will most definitely tell you at some point.

19. When you have a lot going on (and who doesn't), it can be pretty easy to fall into a rut (be it makeup, fashion, hair, dates, or general routine). That is ok, but life becomes more interesting when every once in a while you go crazy and, say, order a mocha frappuccino instead of a chai latte!

20. If Wikipedia was your best friend in High School, YouTube is your best friend now. For tutorials on everything from changing a tyre, making an iPad case from scratch, to making your own wedding bouquet, it is all there.

21. Learning to apologize is key for long-lasting relationships. Learning to forgive is key for true happiness.

22. One of the easiest things to do is also the worst thing to do: taking things for granted.

23. The more difficult it becomes to balance friend and family time, the more paramount it becomes to our sanity.

24. The silent treatment stopped being effective Many. Years. Ago. Assertiveness is the new black, you guys!

25. Learning never stops. (For example: the rumbling noise from your stomach is called "Borborygmus". Bet you didn't know that!) There is always something new to be learned, so take as many opportunities as possible!

Big Friday Roundup: Valentine's Day Edition

Hi everyone.
My husband and I aren't big Valentine's day celebrators. However, we do love to get all lovey-dovey every once in a while... (fiiiiine I love to get all lovey-dovey) which is why V-day gives me the perfect excuse to present you with this romantic roundup.


DATE IDEAS

1. A massive list of 55 date ideas, brought to you by Sunglass Warehouse

2. Sequins And Scissors also has a bunch of fun ideas for bonding with your significant other!

3. I am loving Shannon Brown's sweet "date planner" so much! Major props for creativity.

4. These 12 date ideas by Babble are amazing, because they will get you out of the routine by doing something unique and different!

5. Is budget an issue? Then creativity is your best ally... and this list from Mama's Coffee Shop!



GIFT GUIDES

Still haven't found that perfect gift? Maybe these can help:

1. Valentine's Day Gift Guide For Him And Her, by thecluelessgirl.com

2. Valentine's Day Gift Ideas For Everyone, by LaurenConrad.com

3. Gifts For The Special Guy In Your Life, by iVillage

4. Another Gift Guide: Boyfriend Edition, by The Trendblazer


MUSIC
No good date would be complete without a proper playlist, right? Here is my selection for those nights when you are 100% sure you are the only two people on the planet:

1. How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
Her voice alone is enough to spice up any date, but couple it with the incredibly nostalgic piano and lyrics and even take-out at home in your sweatpants would seem romantic. (This is actually the song I have on repeat All. The. Time. at the moment!):

"How long will I love you? As long as stars are above you. And longer if I may..."

2. Baby Can I Hold You - Tracy Chapman
Actions speak louder than words, as this song conveys oh-so-beautifully. And Tracy Chapman... if there ever was a more seductive singer!

"Words don't come easily... but you can say baby, baby can I hold you tonight?"

3. Make It To Me - Sam Smith
Oh my... oh my... I just don't even have words for how sexy, romantic, sensual, EVERYTHING this song is:

"... you're the one designed for me..."

4. The Story - Brandi Carlile
Part of "The Lucky One" soundtrack. Enough said. (I couldn't even choose just one favorite line from the song:)

"It's True... I was made for you"
"Even when I was flat broke, you made me feel like a million bucks"
"These stories don't mean anything, when you've got no one to tell them to."
"I broke all the rules... but baby, I broke them all for you."

5. XO - Beyonce
Granted, everything Beyonce does is sexy as hell, so of course she had to be included in this list with her beautiful and heartfelt song "XO".

"In the darkest night hour, I'll search through the crowd, your face is all that I see."

FOOD

1. Conversation Heart Chocolate Cake  by Passionforbaking.com  (Scroll down for English)

2. Cherry Chip Sponge Cake by Sprinklebakes.com

3. No-Bake Oreo Cakesters by Plain Chicken

4. Chocolate Cupcakes With Sprinkles by Passionforbaking.com  (scroll down for English)

5. Baking not your forte? Valentine's Popcorn, by She Wears Many Hats, will save you! Even I could make them!

FASHION AND BEAUTY

1. Outfit Idea For The Classic Girl:

Source

2. Outfit Idea For The Urban, Easygoing Girl:

Source by Stylish Eve on Polyvore

3. Outfit Idea For The Girly Girl:

Source

4. Outfit Idea For The Trendy Girl:

Source

5. MissGlamorazzi's easy yet flirtatious hairstyles for a romantic date:

6. A smoky makeup how-to for a glamorous date, by Tanya Burr:

7. Urban Decay's new Naked 3 Palette is their most romantic and flirty to date, with a dreamy collection of rose golds, mauves, and purply pink hues:

8. Want even more fashion inspiration? Check out LaurenConrad.com's 4 Valentine Day's Outfit Ideas

Woman's Body Language And How To Decode It

Body language can say so much more than words. And this is never truer than when it comes to women. We have become masters at disguising the true meaning of our words and expressing them instead with our body language and stares. However, more often than not, men don't get the hint and before they know it, they have awoken that terrifying wrath that lives within every woman. All because he thought that when his wife said she didn't need help bathing the kids, cooking dinner and setting the table all at once while he was watching sports, she really meant it.

If more guys knew what their wives / girlfriends really mean when they say something, it might just save them an argument or two. All  that guys need to do is memorize some general rules so they learn to identify when they are on the verge of unleashing their partners' fury. For example:

1. You ask if it's okay that you go to poker night with your buddies for the tenth time that month. Your wife says "Fine".

Rule 1: If she says "fine" like it's four syllables instead of one, it's most definitely NOT fine.
Rule 2: If she only half-smiled, or rolled her eyes, or gave you a blank stare while saying "fine", don't you dare leave the house.


2. You make an "innocent" joke about your girlfriend in front of your friends (or worse: your family!). She smiles.

Rule: If she smiled, but didn't actually laugh, you are in major, major trouble. 
Rule 2: If she didn't look at you for the next minute or so after the joke, you can be sure you'll be sleeping on the couch that night.
Rule 3: Hell, if the joke was in front of your family, forget the previous rules. You are in big trouble regardless, you poor, poor man!  (Sean learned this one the hard way!)


3. She is talking to you while you are doing something else. Suddenly she realizes it, and stops.

Rule: She is not being considerate, you moron! She is counting to ten, trying not to murder you on the spot for not paying attention to her. Stop whatever you are doing immediately, look her in the eye and express time and time again how interested you are in whatever it is that she is saying. Try and repeat some of the words she said, to make it more believable. If she walks away, follow her or you are a dead man. 


4. You made some constructive criticism to her cooking/singing/dancing/insert-verb-here skills.  She didn't seem to mind because she didn't say anything.

Rule: Make no mistake: silence is NEVER a good sign coming from women! we love to talk! What it means is that she is taking her time gathering a plethora of arguments against you. Take immediate action: the longer you leave her, the more arguments she will have to prosecute you, and you will never (trust me!) hear the end of it. So start apologizing and complimenting her excessively (make it believable, otherwise this is counterproductive!). 


5. She seems a little off, so you ask if everything is ok, and she says "yes".

Rule 1: If she said "yes" while not looking at you, it means "no".
Rule 2: If her"yes" was rather annoyed, it clearly means "no".
Rule 3: If it took her more than three seconds to say "yes", it means "no".
Rule 4: If instead of "yes" she snaps "why wouldn't I be?" that means "Are you serious!? you have some nerve asking me that! you should know full well that no, I am not ok, and you won't be in a while either!".


6. Your very loud, Edward-fortyhands-playing friend has invited you two over to his, let's say, interesting home. You ask your girlfriend if that sounds good and she replies with "If you want to..."

Rule: If it wasn't a very enthusiastic "if you want to..." then she doesn't. 
Rule 2: If she did want to, she would add something like "absolutely, if you want to!", or "sure, if you want to!" or an equivalent. Not a plain "if you want to...".  (Still hoping Sean will learn this one... maybe after reading this post?). 


Conclusion: Guys should probably learn a bit more about body language. Girls need to learn that men are literal creatures, and will take their words at face value. So, coming from someone who has had one too many fights over miscommunication issues, maybe next time you will just want to say "No" flat out, instead of expecting him to get it from your death stare... and he might want to learn that no, it's not ok to tell his mom all your "funny" anecdotes that time you had one too many vodka cruisers.