Around the World Valentine's Day Dates // 2016

Ah, Valentine's Day... I know some of you hate it, but stick with me here... Even if you aren't into commercialized holidays... who doesn't dream of jetting off somewhere fabulous with your fella, lady, friends... etc.?!?

While we can't always jet off somewhere exotic... we can usually get our hands on a good movie.

I have put together a few little movie night / themed dinner pairings that are perfect for a laid back date any night of the year, including (but not limited to) Feb. 14th. This would be great for Galentines as well!

These movies should be rent-able if not on Netflix/Amazon Prime. Much of the food can be found at World Market or the like. Pinterest is obviously a treasure trove of recipes for those who like to cook... I've linked some recipes into this post. Not your thing? Take out, my friends. Take out!

My Movie Coding:

RomCom = RC, Drama = D, Classic = C, Foreign = F, Period Drama = PD, Action = A, Mini Series = MS, Quirky/Indie = Q, Musical = M, Animated = AN.

* denotes a personal favorite of mine (and/or mine & KC's)

Ireland:

Music: Why not queue up some Celtic Woman or an Irish themed playlist?
Dinner: Shepard's Pie, Bangers and Mash, Corned Beef and Cabbage
Movies: Leap Year (RC), The Quiet Man (C), with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, or Tristan and Isolde (D) or Ondine (D).
Dessert: Bailey's Blondies or Irish Apple Cake.
Breakfast: Bailey's Spiked French Toast + Irish Coffee...?

It's actually a leap year this year... so you could always save that one for the end of the month. :)

France:

Music: A French soundtrack,
Dinner: Quiche and a salad.
Movies: Amelie (F), Chocolat (PD + Johnny Depp!), & French Kiss* (RC).
Dessert: Chocolates, macarons, pastries, coffee or champagne.
Breakfast: A croissant with berry jam, and cafe au lait.

England:

Music: Your favorite band from "across the pond."
Dinner: Fish and chips, Mushy Peas, Meat Pies...
Movies: Anything ala Jane Austen (PD) will do, or if you're looking for something more modern, pick up the hysterical Bridget Jones's Diary (RC), Notting Hill (RC), Love Actually(RC/D), The Holiday (RC)... For something kind of quirky, check out About Time (Q/D).
Dessert: "Biscuits" (cookies!) and tea, Eton Mess (pudding/trifle!)
Breakfast: A full English breakfast! Or maybe just scones and tea...?

Greece:

Dinner: Hummus, falafel, gyros, olives.... salad, lentil soup, kebabs...
Movies: Troy (PD/A + Brad Pitt anyone?), My Big Fat Greek Wedding (RC), or another Nia Vardalos flick My Life in Ruins (RC)
Dessert: Baklava and Turkish coffee for dessert... ? Yes, please!

Australia:

Ok... this one is a tad skimpy... but I just love this movie called Danny Deckchair* (that's a lawn chair for you Americans!) It's a really great RomCom.... funny and sweet. You should rent it, right now! I have no idea what a good Australian dish would be (Kristen?) .... but in the movie they have a "Pancake Brekkie"... so, you know, just make pancakes. Breakfast for dinner for the win! It's like dinner and dessert all at once! #winning If you wanted to... you could totally listen to Vance Joy. Just sayin'.

Canada:

Ah, Canada! I love Canada!

Dinner: Poutine. What is it? French fries, with curds of cheese, and brown gravy on top. It sounds kind of strange... but it's like melty cheesy nachos.... Does that even make sense? Just say yes.
Movies: What If (Q/RC + Daniel Radcliffe)! Upon googling... this one also looks good (RC). Or you could always go with Anne of Green Gables (C/PD).
Dessert: Maple Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting, Beaver Tails (Fried flat donuts topped with your choice of topping).

New York City

Music: Sinatra
Dinner: hot dogs with your favorite toppings or New York style pizza
Movies: Breakfast at Tiffany's (C/D?), Cruel Intentions (D), a few '90's favorites: One Fine Day (RC), Sleepless in Seattle (RC), and You've Got Mail (RC), West Side Story (M), When Harry Met Sally (RC)....... There are just TONS of movies that take place in New York!
Dessert: A black and white cookie (THIS RECIPE IS SO GOOD!) or New York style cheesecake.

Russia:

Dinner: Stroganoff , Piroshki (meat pies), Chicken Pelmeni (dumplings).
Movies: Dr. Zhigavo (C/PD - BBC / 1960's), Anna Karenina (C/PD - 2012 - Kiera Knightly / 1948 - Vivienne Leigh, 1938 - Greta Garbo), War and Peace (C/PD - 2016 Mini Series - Lily James, 1958 - Audrey Hepburn), Anastasia* (AN).
Dessert: Apple Sharlotka (fluffy apple cake), or Pryoniki (honey spice cookies).

Multiple Destinations:

Where: England, Africa, China, The U.S.
Dinner: African Sweet Potato Stew, Take out Chinese.... eggs and toast... (really anything here..)
Movie: Hector and the Search for Happiness (Q/C) - I loved this book, the movie was good too. It's sort of a fun adventure.

There you have it, some fun little ideas for your Valentine's day plans, or perhaps a different date night this year. :)

**Please do IMDB before watching ... I don't want you getting something super sad if that's not what you're into! :)**

What are you guys planning for the weekend? Anything fun?

What are your favorite kind of dates? (year round!)

Anyone else LOOOVE French Kiss?! (see below)

XO,

Alexandra

Why I Love a Road Trip // Reflections

Road trips are so good for the soul.

There is something truly important about seeing what is in between here and there.

Seeing how the trees change. How the color of the highway differs. The names of the towns and rivers in between. The interesting people you meet or observe along the way.

Where the Southern accent starts, fades, and then doesn't exist at all.

How the food changes, and how much the portion sizes differ from one city to the next.

Where the forest changes to swamp. Where the farmland turns into desert. Where rocks and sand meet oceans.

The towns that time forgot. Some that were left behind entirely.

You can learn a lot about your country on the road.

A lot of self-reflection can be done there too.

Things get clearer when you're out of your element. Decisions are easily made. What's most important becomes obvious. It's easier to be grateful for what you have when you're exposed to what else exists.

Meaningful and hilarious conversations can be had with your car mates. New plans can be made, ideas can be expanded upon. Ballads are belted, raps are rapped, and perhaps there is dancing, or head banging from time to time.

Facing challenges make you stronger on the road.

Navigating a new place, detours, and construction in that new place. Facing torrential downpours, and blizzards, realizing that your tickets are for tonight and not tomorrow. Overcoming these challenges far from home make you stronger.

Life happens on the road, when we aren't too busy to see it out there.

Have you taken road trips?

What are your favorite parts of a road trip?

Thank you for reading,

Alexandra

Honeymoon Revealed!!

For everyone who had been wondering,

We have an official honeymoon location!

We are very excited! 

so 

here it is,

revealed

at 

last.

Quebec City, QC, Canada 

Complete with castles, ice skating and carriage rides.

We are taking 5 days and 6 nights to play in this beautiful winter wonderland.

Have you ever been to Quebec?

All for now!

Alexandra

Travel Mix Volume I

If you are anything like me ...

you are nearly always thinking about traveling.

{wanderlust}

And sometimes when you can't travel, or your friends are traveling and you are just waiting for your turn... Or, you finally get to take a trip, you need some inspiring travel music. 

So I have created what is {for now} the "perfect" travel mix. Its eclectic to say the least, filled with genres ranging from alternative to catchy classics, with some splashes of dreamy favorites and Celtic Woman.

This mix is meant to inspire travel but also to inspire personal journey. You don't always have to leave home to make a discovery. 

So here it is.. I hope you enjoy.

Travel Mix Volume I

1) Life in Technicolor* - Coldplay

2) Africa - Straight No Chaser

3) Beyond the Sea - Celtic Woman

4) Down Under - Men at Work

5) Old Enough - The Raconteurs 

6) Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney

7) When You Wish Upon a Star - Cliff Edwards & Disney Studio Chorus

8) The Voice - Celtic Woman

9) You Belong to Me - Patsy Cline

10) Roam - The B-52's

11) Buildings and Mountains - Republic Tigers

12) Orinoco Flow - Celtic Woman

13) Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love - Coldplay

14) On Top of the World - Jem

15) Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison

16) Spanish Lady - Celtic Woman

17) Many the Miles - Sara Bareilles

18) Kokomo - The Beach Boys

19) Drops of Jupiter - Train

20) Everyday is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow

This is what currently exists and is what I have been giving to friends who are jetting off {or after they've returned.. sorry Juliet!} It fits nicely on a CD but there are a few songs I am thinking of adding. Especially as a playlist it could be longer.

Here They Are: 

Into the Great Wide Open - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Island in the Sun - Weezer 

Curbisde Prophet - Jason Mraz 

Cruz - Christina Aguilera 

Paradise - Coldplay

What are your favorite travel songs?

*- possibly my favorite song EVER

All for now!

Alexandra

Dream Honeymoon Ideas

Dream Honeymoon Ideas

Recently I have been really struck by the desire to travel. I just get that itch. We went to St. Louis in early May which was really refreshing but I'm starting to feel that way again. Sometimes I just need to get out for a little bit. However I am taking three summer classes so the likelihood of me getting out of here this summer isn't too likely. 

So what do you do to supplement? 

Plan dream honeymoons. 

Now this might be silly, but its slightly less silly because we actually do need to plan a honeymoon of some kind. We will officially be getting married in December now {New Year's Eve!}! So we want a winter appropriate place. After doing some searching around we may have just found the place... but nothing is finalized yet.. and we want to keep it a secret a bit longer. 

So in the mean time... 

we want to know.. 

Where is your dream honeymoon destination? 

What would you do and see while you are there? 

We would love to hear your ideas! 

Love,

Alexandra