Honeymoon a memory that will last a lifetime!!

It is been a year since I said "I do" (!!!) and it's crazy to think that a whole year has gone by since our honeymoon. So, instead of sharing any "Anniversary ideas", as you would expect, I'm going dig into cool ideas for destinations and activities for all of you out there planning a first, second, third honeymoon or just a very special-once-in-a-lifetime type of trip with your significant other!

So here is the thing.... if you want to have the time of your lives during your honeymoon you should first think about these 4 guidelines before choosing a destination: 

#1. Most Important!!! Personalities!! You should take the time and think what BOTH of you enjoy doing, are you adventurous? laid back? intellectual? active (sports related)? party animal? etc, etc.

#2. Weather conditions. Do you enjoy warm humid or warm dry weather? Do you find cold and snowy environments exciting and romantic? Are you curious about experiencing extreme temperatures?

#3. Activities. What do you both enjoy doing? (This has a strong link to the first point "Personalities"). Do you like taking risks by practicing extreme sports? Do you BOTH enjoy a day in the beach getting that perfect tan, eating delicious seafood, reading, relaxing and watching the sunset (beach lovers)? Do you look forward to discovering everything about the place you visit, love museums and history (history followers)? Is shopping at the top of your list and do you both enjoy doing so (shopping fans)? Is night life, clubs, DJs and fancy cocktails your thing? etc, etc.

#4. Budget. How much are you willing to spend? You want to make it memorable but you don't want your honeymoon to be the cause of bankruptcy! The amount of time and activities you are planning would have an impact here. Consider that the same budget could probably buy you just a few very intense days full of activities or maybe a longer more relaxing trip. It all depends on what you are looking for. Also remember that the sooner you start booking your flights, tours and hotels the better deals you get!

Pd. If you feel that the two of you are on different pages in two or more of the four points mentioned above, don't worry there are many destinations where you can do a little bit of everything. Probably the two that tend to be non-negotiable are weather and budget ;)

Having said that, here are some recommendations for you! (Starting with my personal favorite cause we chose it for our breathtaking honeymoon :) )

ICELAND

We both enjoy going from place to place, hiking, discovering intriguing landscapes, sightseeing. We chose a 9 day trip driving throughout the country visiting gorgeous lakes, waterfalls, icebergs, glaciers and small towns. 

Highlights

- Breathtaking landscapes (waterfalls, icebergs, volcanoes)

- Very friendly people (tourism is their major income source)

- Almost 24 hour daylight! We went during summer, but if you go during winter you can see the northern lights.

GALAPAGOS

These islands have become a must-see "bucket list" sort of destination; it is definitely a nature's lover paradise. The island have a little bit for every taste; if you enjoy hiking and also beach time this is the perfect spot!

Highlights:

- Unusual geological formations

- Beautiful beaches

- Rare birds species, tortoise nesting grounds

- Incredible marine life

MALDIVES

If you are looking for a unique beach experience, swimming, snorkeling, diving and enjoying sunrises and sunsets this is the place for you. Stay at a over water bungalow and be amazed with all the wonders that you will find here! 

Highlights:

- Known as the "most romantic spot in the world" (no need to say much more I guess)

THAILAND 

Perfect for couples who are looking for a mix of activities such as, excursions, nightlife and shopping. This should be at least a 10 day honeymoon to travel to take advantage of its many wonders.

Highlights:

- Cosmopolitan city

- Fantastic food

- Impressing mountains and lush jungles

- Beautiful beaches and hotels

Intrigued by Yoga?

Hi there!

What's all that buzz about yoga lately?  If you are also intrigued or feeling your are missing something big you better keep on reading!

About 3 months ago I got interested in yoga and started attending a couple classes a week. Let me tell you it has grown on me big time  since then! However, I am still a beginner so don't expect any experienced "yogi" advice- at least not yet ;)

You will need:

- Yoga Mat

- Leggings, sports bra, top
- No shoes no socks!!

Find a class or...

Yoga's popularity is increasing dramatically so you can easily find monthly or even single classes for beginners, I try to attend 2-3 times a weeks  for an hour session each and besides that  I become my own instructor and I practice 1-2 times a week at home about 30 minutes!

Today I want to share with you 2 things:
#1  Suprising Health Yoga Benefits ( selling points ;)  )

http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/health-benefits-yoga/

#2 Basic Yoga positions (to get started with)

Child's Pose






Cobra Pose

                                                       Head-Of-The-Knee Pose

                                          Cat Pose to Cow Pose

          

Warrior I Pose

                                                               Warrior Two Pose

Warrior Three Pose

                                                                    Down Dog Pose

Remember!

Yoga is not a competition, it is really a time to enjoy and relax. After each session you will feel proud of taking the time to do something good for your mind and body!

"Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening." - Nelson Mandela

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah

'If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Wayne Dyer

“Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.” - Alice Walker

BYOPF Build Your Own Party Favors!!! Feel like an artist or mastermind of these delightful creations!

Hi ladies,
Hosting a party? So... I'm going to assume everything is set (invitations, catering, decorations....) and you are just looking for that extra something, a nice gesture for your guests that would become "the cherry on top"!

This post is meant to give you  two simple recipes for you to pamper your guests!!!

Our award winner - CAKE POPS!!!
It's  a special party favor you can give your guests to take home. These are perfect not just because they taste great but they also look amazing. The best part is that you will be the artist who decorated them!

 






Here is a tutorial that explains step by step  how to prepare them!!! I prepared them for my baby shower and they turned out pretty good :)
http://www.hautesosweet.com/party_favors.html


The second place goes to Refreshing Homemade Sorbets
These healthy-delightful treats are great for spring and summer. Be the mastermind behind this project by creating playful fruits and spices combinations. Here a little help on ingredients you can mix and match to make some memorable sorbets ;).  Remember... the beauty of a sorbet lies in its simplicity, hence not too many ingredients, not too much garnishing...


Fruits:

- All sorts of berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Lemon
- Orange
- Mandarin
- Grapefruit
- Passion fruit


Spices:

- Fresh peeled ginger
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Mint leaves :) my favorite final touch!

Did I said healthy? Enjoy the natural sweet flavor of tropical fruits (READ: don't add additional sugar) ;)  just put together some fruits, ice cubes, your favorite spices and mix them all in a blender!!!



Enjoy!!

Your man's bday? .... Off the beaten path ideas...

Hi there!

Sooner or later you would need to start brainstorming for lovely, creative and surprising birthday ideas to celebrate your loved one!

Well, this post is intended to jump-start your little project and show in a pretty simple way your love and care for your boyfriend / hubby... you will draw a smile spread across his face and a memory that will last a lifetime.... or at least until next year ;)

There is a proverb "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach". True or not, it is always a good way to pamper him!

Last week it was my hubby's b-day; I know he is a huge steak fan and chocolate lover. I made a reservation in advanced at the city's  best steakhouse and baked his birthday cake so when we came back home he could dive into his chocolate madness!! a three layer chocolate cake garnished with his favorite chocolate bars :).

If you want the experience to be more unique, you can combine dining with an extra something! In our case this amazing steakhouse offered a private tour of their Himalayan salt-tiled dry aging room. My husband found  fascinating to witness the process the Chef uses to grill his famous steaks.

More unique birth day ideas!!

The goal...

 Treat him to a gift that shows him how much you love him and know his taste on sports, hobbies, food, drinks, trips, etc...

1. Is he a big fan of any kind of instrument but he hasn't taken the next step? Well now you can surprise him with his new guitar and a free lesson to get started with!

2. Is he always talking to his buddies about how he likes trying new types of beers*? Be his "buddy" while you take him on a beer tasting "pub crawl" and surprise him at the last pub with a birthday party with all his friends there!
*For a a wine lover host a wine tasting party.

3. Is he into sports? why don't you surprise him with the latest coolest accessory for his favorite sport and tickets for the next big game!

4.  Does he like sports cars, motorcycles or anything that can go faster than him running? Here is your chance to have him experience that adventure by renting one for him!


Cheers!

Great Quotes!!!

Today I wanted to take 5 minutes out of your day, so that you read this great marriage quotes which remind us that sharing our lives with our husband or significant other becomes joyful if you REMEMBER that a healthy and nice relationship is not the one of a "perfect couple" but instead when the imperfect couple learns to ENJOY their differences....

Mix and Match International Cuisine

Hi there, it's been a while since I last posted... sorry about that. Long story short, I've been pretty busy with hostess duties for several days; moreover, my hubby and I took an incredible weekend getaway to the Great Canyon and Vegas.... AWESOME!!

OK, let's get down to business! As the title suggest we will go wild, creative and risky by combining some appetizers and main courses with different personalities/backgrounds/nationalities/cultures and even languages!!!

We invited over some friends and for dinner I prepared some small dishes. A Greek recipe as appetizers called, Spanakopitas (turnovers filled with spinach and feta cheese) served with hot red pepper jelly. For the main course I went for some Italian inspiration and prepared Gnnochis alla Sorrentina combined with a delicate white wine that our guests brought. For desert some delicious cupcakes they got at  a small local bakery...it was a memorable dinner for all!

I will share with you both recipes and even more so, I will suggest you other "bilingual" recipes combinations you could try at home!!! BELIEVE me they are easy to prepare… even when their names make them sound fancier and more difficult than  they really are! hahaha and REMEMBER my advice: break the rules! ;) always add an extra little something (extra ingredient) to make it yours!

Pd. Feel free to google any of these recipes they are very easy to find in the internet!

Spanakopitas

http://mymorningchocolate.com/2010/06/21/mini-spanakopita-spinach-and-cheese-pies/

Gnnochis alla Sorrentina ( I added some pancetta to don't go too vegan on the dinner)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/gnocchi-in-the-style-of-sorrento-gnocchi-all-sorrentina-recipe.html

My art piece :)

Mix and Match!!!

Appetizzers

1. Shrimp ceviche (Ecuador)
2. Brusccetta (Italy)
3. Hunacaina Potaoes (Peru)
4. Spring Rolls (China)
5. Salmon Spread on delicious warm baguette with a bit of caviar (France)
6. Fritatta (Spain)
7. Swedish meatballs with cranberry sauce (Sweden)


Main Courses

1.Paella (Spain)
2. Calamari risotto (Italy)
3. Encocado de pescado (Ecuador)
4. Chicken Pot Pie (USA)
5. Pad Thai (Thailand)
6. Stroganoff ( Brazil)



(Save room for.........!!!)
Desserts
1. Crème brûlée (France)
2. Flan de coco (Ecuador)
3.Panna cotta (Italy)
4. Brownie with vanilla chocolate (USA)

There you go! choose your favorites, mix and match and enjoy the adventure! Cheers!

Bon profit! - Catalan

Dobar tek! - Croatian

Smakelijk eten! - Dutch

Hyvää ruokahalua! - Finnish

Bon appétit! - French

Guten appetit! - German

Καλή όρεξη! (kalí óreksi) – Greek

BUEN PROVECHO!!!

Welcome to our HOME!!!

As I wrote in my very first post, after my husband and I got married we moved to Chicago to start our journey! It has been 6 months since then :) and we have enjoyed a TON living in such a GREAT city!

We have been lucky to have had family and friends visiting over and staying with us. This is actually what inspired me to write today´s post! Also My hubby told me it will be a great idea to write about it ;)

....as always trying to give my beautiful followers useful tips about miscellaneous  topics :) ...


Get ready to receive your guests and built memories together!!!


The main goal is to add small touches that let your guests know you care :)

1. Prepare a nice and comfy bedding set and make sure you have plenty of clean towels on hand.

2. Don't let your guests go hungry, offer them snacks and drinks or encourage them to help themselves. Here is a list you can use when is time to do some groceries on that matter ;)

Fruits
Strawberries
Grapes
Kiwis

Veggies
Celery
Baby carrots ( do not miss a ranch dip  on the side)

Salty Treats
Peanuts
Olives
Prosciutto
Crackers/nachos
Dips (spinach, guacamole, humus, huancaina maybe? - if you don't know what this is shoot me an email!)

Sweet Treats (my favorite part!)
Dried fruits
Chocolate bites
Raisins
Chocolate covered pretzels ( I LOVE them!!! )

Drinks (alcoholic and soft drinks)
Sodas
Ice tea (add diced strawberries and kiwis)
Orange juice
Lemonade
White/Red wine (you can also add some diced fruit and make it a red or white sangria!)
Rum/whiskey (keep the hubbies always happy!)

3. Is nice to have a list of suggestions about some places to visit and things to do, but keep always in mind to ask your friends what they would like to do. Think about a scenario if someone isn’t used to walking around all day, a visit to a major museum may not be enjoyable!

You may also want to think about fun things you can do at home when you all want to rest for a bit after and all day tourist journey (which can get exhausting sometimes) so take a break and plan something fun to do together such us watching a good movie, cooking an amazing dinner, playing a board game, or if you have a pool ask your guests beforehand to bring their bathers so you can go swimming!



Enjoy your time together and have fun!!!!