VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS!

December 10, 2020 Anamarys Rodriguez

&& B E S T I E S

Since COVID things have changed a little in my household, as I am sure it has for you. Grocery stores are a pain, planning date night is a real struggle , and home cooking has become an art form in our household. Especially spending quality time with friends and frailly. The most difficult time that my husband and I experienced was wanting to see his family and standing outside in the back garden and talking through the back doors while his parents were inside. It was strongly different and surprisingly the new normal. This of course was at the beginning of COVID, but the start of a whole new form of interaction.

We adapted to virtual happy hours, FaceTime game nights, and bedroom movie nights. Trying to find the new normal has become a quest I so eagerly want to conquer. As time progresses on we have slowly returned to face to face interactions. I DISLIKE that I use this term, but today that is where we are. We are fortunate to be healthy, to have each other, and that we are able to return to a new normal.

With that, I am so happy that my best chica and I put in the effort to plan and execute our first girls trip since last November. We have been ULTRA careful and mindful of our surroundings to have a wonderful experience outside of our home city. We have had a BLAST in the most unexpected of places, Crozet, Virginia is MAGICAL! Below you will see images and reviews of journey that took us to Crozet Virginia and what we enjoyed along the way.

FIRST STOP ON OUR ROAD TRIP:

DAY 1:

If you know me, and most of you do who are reading this, St. Augustine is my second home. Not literally, but one day very soon this statement will be a reality. We stopped here for a quick bite and coffee since we were taking I-95 on this trip. We stopped at this new place where my old FAVORITE coffee shops used to be:

SUN DAY | ST AUG

Just devious and fresh food! Everything was delicious, made in store and THE BREAD was everything and then some. The French Press coffee wasn’t my favorite, but I am an Espresso Snob so that explains that. Totally worth a try and super cute, chill vibes, and great atmosphere.

CHARLESTON | SC

We stopped here for the evening and arrived just in time for a late lunch. Arrived and stayed off of King Street and LOVED the proximity to everything the city has to offer. It did down pour on us while on a walk in the city to lunch, leaving us drenched! But it really was a hilarious time and so sad to see so many places we loved and visited frequently before now closed due to COVID. Below are out stops in SC before hitting the road again.

COFFEE

*LA PATISSERIE, HOTEL BENNETT | SC*
Yummy delicious cafe that is attached to the hotel; however, you do not need to be a guest to enjoy it’s deliciousness! The coffee is great, but it was the pastries that really got me. The dough is everything and then some. Stop in and enjoy a coffee and pastry, I promise you will not be disappointed by the food or the ambiance.

DARLING OYSTER

***CHARLESTON, SC***
The first time I came here was 3 years ago for Lara’s bachelorette party, and who would know that coming back here, caught in a rain storm, all other choices running dry, the darling oyster would provide us salvation. They accepted us in drenching wet, hair soaked through and through, and provided a save haven from the storm and the time we had walking up and down King Street. Everything here was a series of magical moments and dishes. I heavily enjoyed the SeaBass special and the delicious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. HIGHLY RECOMMEND !

DAY 2:

A delicious all VEGAN place in Charlotte, NC with a rhythm all of their own. I decided on the black bean burger and it was a SOLID choice I must say. The sweet potato fries it came with was everything I needed for this lunch in-between our destinations. This was a great outdoor vibe to enjoy and stretch our legs as we make our way to Virginia. If you have the time to make the stop I highly recommend. Very chill vibes and great food!

VIRGINA | USA

Ok, so before I talk about the amazing city of Crozet, I want to touch on the coolest Gas Station that I have ever stopped at in my history of road trips. This place was in Virginia on our way to Crozet and I was taken aback by it. The people were wonderful, the gas station was pump first pay second, and the gas station was also a PUB! I mean the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. If you are ever out here, stop by, sip a beer, enjoy the laid back vibes!

TWO SISTERS TAP ROOM AND DELI, ALTAVISTA, VIRGINIA

We arrived in Crozet, VA that evening around 5 PM and it was still light and beautiful outside! We decided to get pizza in town, but I am not going to share because that was NOT our favorite. Instead, I am going to share the best experience of that evening which was at Star Hill Brewery & Tap Room. We tried 6 beers and absolutely loved each one. The names for the beers were another treat, our FAVS were “The Love” and the “Double IPA”

DAY 3:

CROZET | VIRGINA | USA

But First, COFFEE

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

This morning we woke up early and went to Charlottesville to enjoy coffee and walk the grounds of the school. I know this can be corny for some people, but I heavily enjoy walking the grounds of colleges and seeing how other campus look. I attended a fairly new school com aired to a school like University of Virginia and love seeing these buildings.

Where to go for WINE in Crozet | VA

IMG_3080 2.JPG — KING FAMILY VINEYARD

CROSE YA’LL!

This place is amazing and so open! The tables are first come first serve so get there early, or plan like we did and bring a blanket to sit in the lawn. I have always been a lawn girl: county concerts, outdoor chili festivals, Wine Down Wednesdays in the neighborhood, always good with sitting down in the lawn and enjoying the view. There were 3 wines that I heavily enjoyed while here so much so that I purchased the bottles to take home.

ROSELAND: Dry, light, and refreshing blend of Viognier. Chardonnay. Petit Manning.

CROSE: (the reason I picked this place) Dry, Merlot Rose with bright fruit characteristics.

PETIT VERDOT: From their harvest in Mendoza, Argentina. Rich and filled bodied.

DIN DIN:

Near where we were staying we went to Smoked Kitchen and Tap because we were hungry after a day of all the yummy wine. I have no pictures because that’s how hungry and how good the loaded brisket nachos were that they didn’t make it so that I could photograph them. I highly recommend this place in Crozet it’s devious and has outdoor seating which is a big thing for us while traveling and dinning out during COVID.

DAY 4:

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL STATE PARK | VA

I have always admired people who hiked, camped, and traveled the world. Mostly because of my upbringing and my immigrant parents being so afraid of me going anywhere outside of Orlando, FL. I have reached the time in my life where travel is possible, and now HIKING has become a big part of my WISH LIST. This park was wonderful, easy to navigate, and the rangers were so helpful and honest about what hikes would give us the biggest bang for our buck. So glad we chose the FILL IN NAME trail. It was about a mile hike up and a mile back. Total 2.0 miles and roughly took us an hour from start, pictures and seeing the views at the top, and the walk back. If you have time this is a great hike and moderate to easy, but has some real steep parts.

Evetime you see fall movies or shows apple picking is always something people go do. While we were here, we thought, why not? And it was truly fun, hot, and wonderful! There were so many families that were out picking, NOT PICTURED, and it was truly a gathering place. I image that it would a great place to get together, listen to bands play on their outdoor stage, and enjoy a good apple cider. That was not happening now, due to COVID, yet still families ordered the apple crisp donuts, got together, and picked apples.

PIPPIN FARMS WINERY

*Hands down my favorite Vineyard I have visited on the East Coast. I can’t forget my favorite in Napa Valley, but this place is AMAZING!*

If today wasn’t fun filled enough, we also made it just in time to our LAST WINERY on the trial. I was all things excited about coming here when I saw images of the hydrangeas and all the beauty of this outdoor, porch sitting, wine sipping, easy vibes place. And it was everything I thought it would be and more. They have a full menu if you sit down inside or on the patio as well as light bites for outdoor seating. We sat outside and ordered off the bites menu; however, we devoured it and I totally forgot to take photos. There are rate occasions where that happens and this was one of them. Enjoy the photos of this magical place!

*** I HIGHLY recommend their Sauvignon Blanc. I am not a big Sauvignon Blanc person, but this wine is light, crispy, and delicious. I took home another two bottles after drinking there this afternoon all into the evening.

DAY 5:

The Journey Home: SOOO we selected this exact destination because we know we could stop along the way at other awesome cities and states that would give us the biggest bang for our buck! First stop on the road South, was

RICHMOND, VA

IRONCLAD COFFEE

This cute little place was everything we needed for our first leg home. The coffee amazing, the atmosphere; wonderful, and everything in between. I even got myself a shirt and sticker. Just perfect! Did I mention the coffee??!

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

IMG_3460 (1).JPG — HOLIDAY INN HILTON HEAD

When we thought of what town we wanted to stay in inbetween home and Crozet, Hilton Head literally sounded like a dream.

This area was way more Beach Vibes then anything we expected. We ate at a place across the street from the hotel we were staying at that had the best reviews and LOTS of outdoor seating. I wish I took more photos but this trip was alot more in the moment than anything else. Believe me everything was totally worth it and YUM! I did catch a photo of my Miami Vice that we ordered at The Porch, the bar at the hotel and the views were everything!

DAY 6:

FLORIDA HERE WE COME!

Our last leg of the trip included lunch in my favorite city in the entire US, St. Augustine Florida. We did find many snags on this lovely day because it was a Tuesday and I never knew this before, but almost EVERYTHING was closed. But no worries, we did what we always do, found somewhere new to try. I am VERY happy we did because we found a WHOLE NEW LEVEL of goodness and another reason to always come back to ST. AUG. The Forgotten Tonic, used to be Celler 6, now converted into this sweet iconic restaurant and bar. Specializing in fresh food and amazing cocktails! If you haven’t been, go!

HYPPO: MY FAVORITE ENDING

Love that they have rotating flavors and I never get bored! A MUST!

We had a blast on this trip! We got lost, had to ask for money, and enjoyed so much food and wine! Truly the most adventurous time filled with lots of laughs. I cannot wait for the chance to go on my next adventure. Stay tuned for more!

Until next time,

XOXO REESE

Rosé All Day

April 13, 2020 Anamarys Rodriguez

I thought it would be a good time to finally try Rosés to uncover my favorite while we’re all sheltering in place! I’m no wine expert (although I have been drinking a glass daily)…just wanted to share my tried and true favorites that are both tasty and affordable.

One of my favorite things to do is pop open a bottle of wine while we’re cooking dinner or sharing a cheese board at home. Evenings are always better when you add a little wine, find all the small things to enjoy and celebrate!

I was planning on doing this Rosé tasting alone but my mama came over to our place and we made a day of it. Below are the wines that we tried and enjoyed. I will leave only the positive reviews for the wines we enjoyed, the ones that we didn’t enjoy will not be listed below.

OPALINE Pinot Noir Brut Rosé($7.99)

Sparkling wine from Languedoc-Roussillon · France. We found it to be a semi-sweet, light body with a crisp flavor. Very bubbly with a sweet smell. My mama loved this wine she returned to it after the tasting. Very nice affordable Rosé we found at Trader Joe’s. YUM!

THE COLLECTION ($9.99)

Rosé wine from California. We found The Collection to have a light scent and body. Semi sweet, slight dry, and crisp taste. A big surprise for the price and we found it at Target. We didn’t have sushi, but this would be D E L I C I O U S paired with sushi!

MIRAVAL Rosé 2018 ($21.99)

Rosé wine issued from the Château’s best parcels (Muriers, Longue, Romarin), and from selected parcels in the best terroirs of Provence. Clay & Limestone vineyard. We found it to have a light fragrance, semi dry with a crisp taste. We really enjoyed the versatility in flavor and weight of the wine. This wine is sold in many stores, we found I in Target but will need to act quickly when you see it. It was SOLD OUT today when I went for a quick grocery stop.

CRISPIN ROSÉ HARD CIDER ($12)

Crispin Rosé is an elegant blend of apple and pear juice crafted with rose petals and hibiscus. This is one tasting that isn’t a wine, but delicious and competes with the other Rosés. Light enough to enjoy outside like you would a beer, but tastes like Rosé ! Sold in many stores, but if you haven’t guessed it yet, we got it at Target!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

USUAL ROSÉ WINE($96 for a 12 pack)

From Santa Barbara, CA easy-drinking Rosé with notes of strawberry, rose petal, and rhubarb. This wine is pricy but honestly has become one of my favorite wines! They are made in small batches so every pour is a fresh pour, you do not have to put a cork in it, or have day old wine again! Usual wines if focusing on sustainably farmed grapes with no additives and minimal intervention— this is my new way of enjoying Rosé! They also have a Brut and a Red Wine but are currently only available online. D E L I C I O U S !

Thanks for taking the time to read, if you have Rosé, or any other wines that are your favorite please share with me. I am always up for opening a new bottle of wine.

S A L U D !

HOW TO: SHOP FOR THE GUY WHO HAS IT ALL

December 10, 2019 Anamarys Rodriguez

I don’t know about you, but I always have a hard time shopping for the men in my life: my father, my brother, my fiance, and my soon to be father-in-law. These men are hardworking, minimalists, but have the most expensive taste yet. They will not go out of their way to spend money on themselves, but the things that they do like are expensive and very difficult to locate. So this holiday season I wanted to put together some options to purchase these men and I thought I would share them all with you. Buying presents for others is something I really enjoy doing, almost like a competitive sport trying to locate the best gift to give. I just love when they open it and really love what they receive. That joy is priceless to me. So, here are the following options, of which many I have already purchased for these said men in my life.

Before we begin. . .

Always consider the man that you are trying to purchase a gift for. Interest, needs, likes, dislikes. I personally like to give useful gifts that wont be thrown out in a month or placed at the back of a shelf somewhere for years to go unnoticed. I always look for things that are both beautiful and entirely useful; otherwise, there is no point in the gift. To my anyhow, so think deeply about your person and what they would want. Or follow my common rule, what would I like and what would I ACTUALLY use?

1ST I am a huge fan of corn hole and love giving gifts that make people go outside :) This is a beautiful corn hole set and you can personalize it too!

MARK & GRAHAM

2ND Men and their watches. I feel they always have a ton of watches, but I hardly ever see them wearing these said watches. Anyhow, this watch case is beautiful and looks masculine enough to make them happy, but delicate enough that it still fits the decor in your bedroom. Cannot tell you the difference it’s made from this new one that I had personalized verses the one that came with him. Win Win ladies; he will like his gift, and it will not clash with the surroundings.

MARK AND GRAHAM

A Whiskey decanter is just as important and beautiful as a wine decanter. I loved this purchase for my father. He fell in love with the whiskey one I have at home, that cannot be linked because it is no longer sold, and so I purchased him one. I was in between the one at Mark and Graham and Pottery Barn, but Pottery Barn won because it came as a set verses just the decanter. Not to mention I had no intention of personalizing it for my dad, my mom would have not liked that. As much as this gift is for him, the women he lives with has to also be ok with it. Word to the wise :)

POTTERY BARN

I am a HUGE fan of wallets and accessorizing all together. Fossil is a staple in my closet and in those of the men in my life. I love their bags, purses, watches, wallets, even belts. There are a sturdy and fashionable brand and I just love them! I do watch the wallets of the men in my life, makes sense since I love money and talking about finances, but honestly men don’t go and buy new wallets unless theirs has broken, lost, or stolen. This is a really easy and inexpensive gift to give the guy who has it all. I personally love the magnetic clip wallet for men, it’s small which forces them to throw away trash and no hold on it this, but it also ensures that there isn’t something massive bulging from their pants. Well besides that.
FOSSIL

last but not least. . .

Make it C U S T O M <3

Select something that your man would heavily enjoy based on his own personality. Think about the things he values, habits, quirks, and never shy away from a sentimental gift that screams the relationship you share with him, this includes dads, brothers, cousins, etc. Guys can easily pick up things in store themselves, if and when they do, but a custom gift from you cannot be replicated. The following are my favorite individualized gift ideas. (PS Moms love them too!)

SHUTTERFLY EASEL CALENDAR

CHAT BOOKS

GIVING KEYS

ALL of these pieces have meant the world to the men in my life. From my stubborn father, fickle little brother, and strong fiance. They are wonderful pieces that they will not only use, but enjoy for many more months to come. (or years!) If you have awesome finds that the men in your life have enjoyed, please share with me :)

Until next time :)

HOW TO: Become Financially Literate

July 10, 2018 Anamarys Rodriguez

Once upon a time we all imagined what our adult lives would be like. I thought that I would live in a big city, nice small town home that had a wonderful yard my dog could run around happily in. I would go out to nice dinners with friends, watch all the movies my little heart desired, and I could drop everything and take a trip whenever. Then I grew up and somewhere along the way discovered that life wasn't going to be what I saw in the movies growing up. I quickly learned that there needed to be a balance with work, how much you took home, and the need to indulge in yourself so the "work hard, play hard" mentality could be equally balanced. I've read various articles and researched proper budgeting skills and the following are the two books that helped me find a balance between what I make and what I want to be doing with my spare time.

The first of the novels that I read that helped me discover the areas that I needed to work out to live life on a budget was this awesome witty novel:

This novel answers all the questions we are afraid to ask. My biggest takeaway from this novel is to surround yourself around friends and family who are money forward. Talking about money and finances with your friends, significant others, and family should not be as difficult as we make it. Surrounding yourself with people who are good with money, who are not afraid to talk about it and give advice are going to lead you down a path that allows you to reach your financial goals. Continuing to hang out with friends who do not look at money and spending the way you do will only hurt you financially. If you are trying to save money but your friends want to go out and get drinks, happy hour, vacation in the middle of the month although you've been budgeting so you can take a trip in 3 months, isn't going to help you get where you want to be.

The second novel I devoured this summer on budgeting/ life:

A detailed explanation of all the stuff we're too scared to ask or think about. I have two big takeaways from this novel; however, there is a lot worth reading and taking notes on.

1st BIG Takeaway: DEBT to INCOME RATIO

I finally understand the dreaded DEBT to INCOME RATIO that everyone throws in your face but never bothers to explain. Best part is its a simple math problem that even mathematically illiterate people like myself can complete.

(Monthly debt payments) / (Gross Monthly Income) = DTI (Debt to Income Ratio

The novel also gives us the number that banks are OK with lending out to = 43%. You cannot have more than 43% Debt to Income Ratio in order to receive a loan from a bank. To be safe I recommend no more than 40%.

Numero 2: Pick a Bank that works for YOU!

Chapter 5 goes into depth about the importance of selecting a bank based on what they provide for you, not what you need to provide them. I currently don't bank with anyone with an annual fee, I do not allow over drafting charges, I don't have a monthly fee. But I had no clue about other banking options for your savings. Currently my bank returned to me .15% on my savings account and .20% on my money market. Then I found this novel and have expanded my knowledge on what other banks can offer, especially online banks with minimal overhead. Now I am "shopping" for banks and am excited with all the options out there.

SO.... here is what I learned on how to budget my life according to the know it alls and these user friendly budget novels.

Now I know everyone just gives you notes and never really tells you the truth. But I am going to give you a base income and show you how to properly budget, see what you can get rid of, and how to start taking control of your budget so your bank and lifestyle can find a happy medium.

I follow the 50, 30, 20

and it has changed the way I spend money, but also the way I live life. I hope this will bring some perspective to your life and allow you to realize the moment you start being honest with yourself about your spending is the moment you start making strides towards the life you truly want to be living.

50% is your life. What it costs to be you, to go to work, eat, and any expenses that you cannot go without.

30% is budgeted for your debt. This is credit card debt, school loans, car loan. You catch my drift. Other people/ blogs state that this should be your personal spending: going out, dinners, movies, dates, avocados and guac. I disagree. However, at the end of the day you have to be ok with where your money goes and what you are doing with it. For me, for my budget, paying off my debt is my biggest goal and comes first.

20% is budgeted for savings. Yes I said savings! If you do not make a commitment to save now, this habit will be even harder to acquire as you get older. The time is now, today.

Unlike all the articles and novels I have read, I am going to show you how to budget properly according to an average monthly income where the annual salary is 43,000. After taxes, medical and 401K here is the monthly takeaway:

Budgeting on 3,000 a month

50% = 1,500 Life Expenses

Rent: $810.00 (includes internet, water, electric, and housing.)

Gas: $80.00

Car Insurance: $80.00

Food: >400 My favorite thing to do is eat so I would put more towards that than anything else.

TOTAL: 1,370 (additional 130 can be spent going out or for savings)

30%= 900 Debt

Car= 515 This is the top of a budget for an average monthly car payment.

Credit Cards: 385

20% = 600 Savings

Your breakdown might look a lot different, I recommend writing everything out and analyzing what you can take out. This is a 15th draft of a monthly budget where the take home is 3,000 a month. I've already taken out all the small perks that I would usually enjoy, still attempting to not go shopping regularly, less nights out, more happy hours with friends. My goals with money have changed drastically in the last two years. Before I saw my monthly income as an invitation to be a "baller". Times are changing though and the cost of living is slowly rising. I found a successful way to live a life I enjoy but can also put money away. Hope it helps! If you have any new ideas on how to live on a budget please don't hesitate to comment below. Would love to see what works for other people.

How To: Have A Holiday Night In

December 22, 2017 Anamarys Rodriguez

The holiday is upon us, and nights in are a MUST. There is nothing more that I enjoy than binge at home, watching one of my favorite films, and snuggling on the couch. I have been being watching Christmas movies for the past few weeks and wanted to share with you the movies worth watching.

The MUST haves for a night in:

Movies are my FAVORITE component to a night in. I have included my go to films for a nice holiday night in. They are feel good films that make me laugh, feel warm inside, and help me get in the holiday spirit. Each are traditional, well loved, and easy to find in the discount section at Best Buy. Watch and enjoy!

Movies on Netflix that are TOTALLY worth a watch:

Merry Kissmass

Super cute movie that showcases a main character who struggles to find who she is outside of love. Great film: funny, romantic, and good acting. A total feel good movie starting Karissa Lee Staples and Brant Daugherty. Shows how love can happen anywhere, to anyone.

12 Dates of Christmas

A comedy that takes the spirit of Christmas in a whole new direction. This film takes the concept of Family Man with Nicolas Cage and combines it with Christmas. A great movie that'll make you laugh starting Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The film focuses on the humor and embarrassment of a blind date all the while making you cheer Kate (Amy Smart) on.

How Sarah Got Her Wings

Talk about a total tear jerker and highly inspirational movie. Our star Sarah Fitzpatric played by Lindsey Gort has to earn her wings so she can get a reservation into heaven. When she returns to do good deeds, her world and everything she knew gets tested. Her costar Jordan played by Derek Theler helps unravel every misunderstanding of her present and past. A romantic, dream chasing, fate altering film that makes everyone hopeful for the future. Feel good film doesn’t even cut it, a must watch for sure. Enjoy ❤️🎄

The perfect meal:

My go to is PIZZA always always PIZZA 🍕

For my ORLANDO Babes here are the best local pizzerias that you’ll enjoy (and available on uber eats ❤️)

Valadinos
Ragazzis
Anthony’s Pizza
Pizza Bruno

For my babes that don’t live in my city, go with your all time favorite. Or try one of my favorite make it yourself pizzas! 🍕🍕🍕

Reese's Zesty Cheddar Cheese Pizza Recipe:

1 ball of dough

Ranch (to taste for base sauce)

1/2 cup of Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup of Mozzarella

2 Tablespoons of all purpose Flour

1 Teaspoon Dried Sweet Basil

1 Teaspoon Red Chili Flakes (or to taste)

3 gloves of Garlic

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

Directions:

Use flour to keep dough from sticking to cutting board, and roll out dough to the thickness you prefer your pizza crust. I like mine thick so I leave it pretty thick.

Spread the ranch sauce on the dough, layer mozzarella and cheddar cheese, sprinkle the basil and red paper flakes on the cheese.

You will mix the olive oil and garlic together. Then brush it onto the crust and whatever is left you can spread it onto.

Bake at 360 for about 15 minutes or until crust is golden.

If you have any movies, recipes, or night in traditions, please share. I can never get enough of movie nights in. Happy Holidays y'all <3

How To: Set Up The Perfect Online Dating Profile

April 8, 2017 Anamarys Rodriguez

BY: Reese Rodriguez

Meeting people just isn’t what it used to be, but that's okay. We need to stop turning things down because they are not what we are used to. The probability of meeting someone at a bar or out in the world are almost the same as meeting someone online, except online they know you’re single and looking for a relationship. Gone are the high school and college days where you were surrounded by young SINGLE people just like you. If your professional life is anything like mine, ignore the glam, then you too are surrounded by married, divorced, or newly engaged friends and coworkers. If you think your situation is grim consider half my clients are high school students graduating and going off to college, while the other half are people excited to get married or excited to showcase their beautiful family. I love my clients, but lets face it, dating today isn’t easy. Here are some questions a few of my girlfriends asked the other day & answers.

Q: How many pictures do I upload to my profile?

A: Three has always been my number and for the online world it works great. You want to keep it between 3 and 5. One is not enough, two creates questions on the reality of you looking like your photos, three is suffice. It says “hey, this is who I am”. Anything over five says you’re overachieving and not mysterious.

Q: What images of myself should I include?

A: The following are the types of images that we felt would be represent you and not scare men off. This also applies to men believe it or not :)

If you are doing three images follow the following format:

The Selfie:

The infamous Selfie is not overrated for online dating. Pick an honest photo of yourself that highlights your beauty. This photo is vital and should be your default to attack others. You don't want all your images to be selfies, but one is definitely a must. Also, it's a plus if you're smiling in your selfie. Known fact, you appear more attractive when you smile. It creates a sense of peace and happiness in the view and thus they think, "I want to make that person smile".

A Photo With Friends:

This photo lets them know that you have friends and can social with others. For some people wether or not you have friends is vital; however, showing that you have friends implies people like you and thus makes you more welcoming. Which is what you're trying to do when selecting photos.

The Activity Photo:

We believe it's important to let them know what you are interested in and that you do things. When you enter a relationship you're interested in meeting and getting to know who they are, but they also need to get to know you. This photo also can be a way to break the ice and a great conversation starter. If you love to travel you don't want to get involved with someone who prefers to stay at home and not invest in traveling right? I wouldn't.

Q: What should I put in my bio?

A: This part might hurt a few feelings, but I need to be honest. You should never put in your bio that you’re looking for your future husband. I know it might be what you want, but think about it from an outsider’s perspective (and yes I really mean a scared single man’s perspective); you are telling men you’ve never met or had a conversation with that you want to marry them. All they read is, “If I don’t want to marry her then I shouldn’t talk to her”. You’ve already limited the amount of men that will reach out to you by a tenth fold. Then you’re left with men who are done BSing, which isn’t many, or weird men that you probably wouldn’t go on a first day to begin with. Our advice is simple; less is more. Pretend you had just meet a guy at a bar; how would that conversation start?

My name is Reese. I am a photographer and the occasional blogger. && yes you can buy me a drink (insert winking face)

Something casual doesn’t automatically imply that you want casual, you’ll know the difference in what you want versus him within minutes. Desperation surfaces differently in online. In person it’s the guy trying to buy every girl a drink; on the other hand, it’s the woman who walks around the room “on the prowl”. With online dating, its either the person who is being completely honest, shocker I know, or the person listing everything about themselves and what they want in their mate. You don’t need to lie, but you also don’t need to unload everything in your profile. Allow there to be something to talk about during your date. :)

Q: Where should we go on our first date?

A: This is our favorite answer for online and in real life! First dates are the best and the worst; however, we can help fix that. My girlfriends and I all agree, keep the first day SUPER SIMPLE. Go for coffee, a beer, even ice cream. Forget the days of old: dinner and a movie, fancy dinner downtown, and even the elaborate concert or date that lasts 5 hours. You want easy fun dates that have an easy exit if things are not sparking up between you two. This does not mean you can’t accept an extension to the date. I’ve been on many dates that started with coffee, transitioned to dinner, and ended with great conversation and a glass of wine. Keeping it simply allows you to leave if you’re tired, do something else if it gets interesting, and no one gets hurt when it comes to an end because you didn’t promise anything more. Also, this leaves the other person interested and usually wanting to know more so a second date is almost always in the cards.

Best Date Night: Orlando

October 19, 2016 Anamarys Rodriguez

Eden @ The Enzian Theater
Feeling like a movie and dinner, or a causal night out with your bae? Head over to Eden bar and enjoy the laid back atmosphere && romantic surroundings.
Best thing on the menu to order is their chicken and fries. Ignore the simplicity of the order, but go back to the south with this wonderful version of an all time classic. They make their own breading and have a wonderful secret ingredient in their breading (rosemary! for lovers) Pair this delicious dish with a draft pour of any craft beer at the bar and enjoy. Aside from being delicious, this is a dish that is big enough to share with your date; however, if you're really hungry it's more than enough for one.
Not only do they have great food, but the bar is located outside with a great mural painted around the bar, connecting nature to the craftsmanship of the wood bar. The bar is fully stocked and they have a wonderful selection of craft cocktails with even more impressive bar tenders. Tell them what you'd like to drink and they will produce a concoction that pleases you beyond means. No reservations needed, just a great bar with even better food.

Santiago's Bodega
Best tapas restaurant in Orlando. This place always reminds me of Spain and the deliciousness of my home roots. It is the best representation of Spanish food in Orlando, and even better with their selections of wine and dessert. Whether your looking for something intimate or a group gathering, Santiago's is a perfect infusion of romance and elegance. The portions of the tapas are well balanced and the price isn't outrageous.
They have a specials menu that changes regularly so if something sounds good, order it! They also have a special menu during happy hour that isn't present during regular hours of operations and those items change everyday at Santiago's.
Their happy hour is everyday from 3pm-6pm then 11pm - Close. They also have discounts on wine and sangria (5 a glass) and discounts on draft beers and cocktails.
The best day to go for happy hour is typically on Tuesday nights because they have the most items on their happy hour list. Reservations are welcomed, but you can always find a seat and enjoy their tapas.

Harp and Celt Irish Pub and restaurant
Not the traditional date night with a fancy waiter or romantic ambiance; however, Harp and Celt has amazing food with a super laid back feel. Best thing to order is their loaded nachos. This is more than enough for 2 people, but if you're still hungry, splitting the blackened caesar chicken wraps are the best thing on the menu. Consider this place if your significant other wants to watch the soccer game, football, or hockey. Welcoming to couples and booths available for bigger groups. This place is a great alternative if you want to go out and eat good food, but may not possibly want to get super fancy.

Shari Sushi
Talk about the best sushi! I have had the best dates here at Shari. There's outside seating, bar, high tops and booths available. Not many places in Orlando can compete with this delicious find. Reservations always welcome, but nothing compares to their happy hour prices. 5 dollar rolls and 5 dollar drinks. Their saketinis are a must have! The best part is they have happy hour everyday even the weekends!

Happy hour everyday from 5-7pm.
Great for parties or coupling up with your bae, definitely worth a visit.

Coopers Hawk
Wine wine wine!
This place is one of my favorites because depending on your mood, there are many options you can take part in.

The front house has a wine tasting room. You do not have to come in for dinner, you are more than welcome to come in and enjoy tasting their new monthly wines. Coopers is a new winery here in Orlando that has won an array of awards on their wines. Watch out, they will be the next household name. They are fresh, delicious, and crisp wines that have different varieties where any wine drinker can enjoy. They have a light and sweet menu, the monthly menu that changes and let's you try their new wines as well as their award winning wines, and lastly their LUX wines that are full bodied. The best part, if there is a wine you want to taste just ask and they will pour you a glass. The staff is amazing and knowledgeable about their wine.

When you move deeper into the restaurant you will find a bar, beautiful booths and tables, and outside patio seating so you can #patiolife. You can order bottles, try any glass from their menu, and enjoy top notch food from their superb menu. My personal go to is there caprese flatbread and their gnocchi carbonara. Delicious.

They have an array of appetizers and are welcoming to big groups. You can't go wrong.