Our Home For the Holidays

We recently decorated for Christmas and I wanted to share our Christmas Decor with all of you.

Our Beautiful Tree

(We have a funny story about this BIG tree! I will do another post on this later!)

Our Living Room

We did simple decorations on our desk, so it is still able to be used during the holidays.

Again simple decor on our coffee table so it can still be used and is functional.

I love putting ornaments in a big bowl, and displaying them in a different way + cute trees make a great side table. 

Our entry way table is simple and elegant. 

This little star fish tree was a great find when we recently went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

Our bar area has a new look and I am loving it. 

The advent calendar was a great addition to our decor last year. 

We started a tradition of putting 25 reasons why we love each other in it every year. 

Our table again has a simple elegant look. 

I didn't want to go too over board, but still wanted a little place setting. 

I hope you enjoy our decor as much as we do, and get some cute ideas for your home. 

Winter Style

Winter is fast approaching and I am a sucker for a good scarf and a red lip. 

My go to look for winter is simple winged eye liner, a bold red lip, an over sized sweater paired with leggings, and a cozy scarf. 

I think this is such a classic look for winter and love that it is so simple and easy to throw together. 

Here are some other cute ways to pull off this look

I also love going a little sexier with a smokey eye and leather accents. 

Its fun to mix this chic sexy look with leather leggings, and gold jewelry. 

Here are some other cute ways to pull off this look

I hope you find your perfect winter style! 

Christmas Decor Inspireation

Last Christmas I decorated our house in a white wonderland and burlap theme. 

I want to continue that this year, but spruce it up a little. 

Lately I have been looking on Pinterest for inspiration and have been over loaded with cute ideas. 

Here are just a few that I wanted to share...

This table setting, is perfect for the look I want in our home, this Christmas. 

It is simple and elegant with a splash of chic. 

This BEAUTIFUL tree would be the focus of the season!

I love the idea of adding throw pillows to the coach to add simple elegance. 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! It is so chic and simple to make!

Inspiration overload! Cheers to crafting!

Sigma Dupes for MAC brushes

Money Saving Tip

I have loved Sigma brushes for a long time now, and can honestly say that I prefer Sigma over MAC. 

Now don't get me wrong, MAC is a wonderful brand and I 100% support it, however if there is a  product that does the same thing but costs a fraction of the price, I AM ALL OVER IT. 

Here are a few of my favorite dupes that I have found over the years.

Eye Brushes:

Eye Liner Brush 

 

Pencil Brush

Tapered Blending Brush

                       Eye Shading Brush

Large Shading Brush

Small Angle Brush

Medium Angled Shading Brush

 

Face Brushes:

Large Powder Brush

Large Angled Face Brush

Duo Fiber Brush

 

Foundation Brush

Concealer Brush

Complete Brush Kit $79

Image credit: http://anitabonitat.blogspot.com/2011/07/grab-deal-sigma-brush-kits.html

What I wanted in a Man, and what I have now

Wow from the title above this is serious.

I originally started this post the day after my first date with Jake, and needless to say I never got around to finishing it or publishing it. 

About a month before I met Jake I had my fair share of ups and downs, in the dating world. 

I had come to find out what I wanted in a man and things I didn't.

Here are a few things I wanted my future man to know:

I want him to be able to bring me from 0 to 100 and back to 0 in a few simple words.

I want that spark when touching him to always be there.

I want to stay up and talk all night, and not worry about how I am going to feel the next day - better yet, do that and still feel amazing the next day.

I want a man that thinks I am so incredible he never wants to leave.

I want a man that opens the door for me.

I want a man that asks me questions, to always get to know me better.

I want a man that will love me for me.

I want a man that is weird like I am, and I want our weirdness to come together and fall in love.

I want a man that can guide me spiritually.

I want a man that will lead me.

I want a man that will teach me.

I want a man that wants to please me.

I want a man that will lift me up and encourage me.

I want a man that will keep me on my toes intellectually.

I want a man that is ALWAYS on time, and feels the same way I do: early is on time, and on time is late.

I want a man that will stand up to me and tell me no, in a way that makes me want to do what he says.

I want a man that sees my inner beauty, not my physical appearance.

I want a man that can appreciate nice things.

I want a man that takes care of himself physically, meaning keeps his hair trimmed, nails groomed, and is over all hygienic.

Here are a few things I didn't want in my future man:

A man that doesn't know how to dress.

A man that doesn't appreciate nice things.

A man that is cheap.

A man that wants more then 2 children. 

A man that drives a crappy car.

A man that uses foul language.

A man that is not hygienic.

A man that feels he always has to be right.

A man that is more worried about pleasing himself then me.

A man that is simple minded.

A man that doesn't appreciate boundaries.

Like I said in the beginning this is a list of a FEW things I wanted and didn't want in a man.

I had a crazy few weeks right before I met Jake and it truly changed my opinion of men, and not for the good. After all of that I found out what my heart really desired.

I have to admit Jake had a lot of walls to break down, but I am happy he was able to break them down, and we are in the most amazing place now. 

I can honestly say that Jake truly checks off all of my wants and don't wants, except for one. 

The one thing we are both working towards, is becoming closer to God as a couple. I know that in time we will be a couple before God, and have his blessing.

Even though Jake checks off all of my wants and don't wants, I have realized that checking off a list, is not what it is about. 

Granted I think it is important to know what you want and don't want, however I now know that love isn't about that. It is about compromise and loving unconditionally. 

Jake is truly the man of my dreams, and I am so thankful that I found him. He is exactly what I had always wanted, even before I knew it.

Where have I been?!?

Hello All!

It has been WAY too long!

Needless to say, I have been busy with life...

To re-cap the last year in one sentence would be: A dream come true

Why a dream come true you ask? Well let me start from the beginning...

On November 23, 2013 I was set up on a blind date. I was set up by a coworker who recently saw me go on a few bad dates. He told me he had the perfect friend for me. (who would have thought he would be right!)

The first date was not impressive. However we did talk about alot of controversial topics that are normally taboo on the first date.  I loved this! It was nice to be open and honest in the very first days of our relationship.

The second date was by far the BEST date I have ever been on in my life. It was truly magical. He picked me up from my house (I lived two hours out of the way) and we were off to Napa. He planned a private tour at one of my favorite wineries, V Sattui, and had a picnic lunch planned. After lunch he had a second tour set up at Chandon, a winery he was very familiar with but that I had never visited before. We took a private tour of the cellars and learned how Chandon Champagne is made. After the tour we we had a private tasting. The tour guide while serving us asked how long we had been together. We both looked at each other and laughed. She had no idea it was our second date. When we told her she was shocked, and said our chemistry was amazing and it seemed like we had been together forever. We think back to that day from time to time and laugh. She saw us even before we saw us. She could see something in us that we didn't even see yet. Needless to say we have created an amazing relationship with her, and make it a point to see her every time we go to Napa. After all that he had planned dinner at the exclusive etoile restaurant. Again dinner was amazing. The food, the conversation, and the handsome guy I was starting at. It was truly the best date I had ever been on, and sparked a love that only happens in fairy tales.

 Here is our first official picture, while we were on the wine tour that day in Napa.

Needless to say our dates just kept getting better!

Our third date was at the gun range! Who would have thought a gun range could be so fun! Knowing that he knew how to use a gun, and use it well was reassuring and comforting in a strange way. I appreciated that he could protect me. 

From then our time together jut kept getting better and better. 

Soon it was Christmas time, and we decided we wanted to cut down our very first tree together. 

We headed to Santa Cruz and picked a beautiful White Fur.

We brought it home and decorated it together that night! 

Our love story just kept getting better and better as time went on. 

We would spend every weekend doing something amazing...

We took a few trips to Santa Cruz and Halfmoon Bay, and other various fun things. 

Some of my favorite weekend getaways were to Tahoe, where he taught me to ski again. 

After only a few short months of dating, I knew he was the one. I knew I was ready to take the next steps and move in together. All of our families thought we were crazy and that we were moving too fast. 

I have heard it time and time again that when you know, you know. I never believed it until I met him. I knew I wanted to be with him, and took the plunge. We quickly found an adorable little apartment in south San Jose and moved in together. 

The first few months seemed to go by so fast... 

Things are finally settling down a little, and I can now sit and truly enjoy this time we have together. 

The honeymoon phase is over and we are now settling in to our daily lives as a couple.  

This is the time we are truly getting to know each other and are falling more and more in love. 

So that is where I have been in a nut shell. 

It has been the most amazing year of my life. There are times I have to pinch myself and ask if it is all real. It is real, and this is my life. I tell him everyday that I have waited my whole life for him, and for these moments, and its true. 

My fairy tale is finally happening and I couldn't be happier with the man that stands by my side.