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For most women it’s fun to go to events, meet new people and find new connections. It’s all a part of the career game – expanding your sphere of influence and building a solid network of connected people. This can help for anything from finding inspiration from other successful women, meeting new people in high places that can help when you are job hunting, or even meeting people that can help you fundraise for your favourite charities. If you look at almost any successful person, they are surrounded by a network of other successful people.
But how do you get these people at parties and events to remember you?
Here are a few tricks to make sure you stick in people’s minds:
Accessorize with something different This may sound silly, but it works. Wear something that sets you apart and is a good conversation starter with strangers. At a recent event I wore this crazy feather and lace hat, because I wanted to wear something that people could talk about, but also if I contacted them later I could mention that I was the lady with the feathered hat and they would remember me. It worked too – everyone I approached and introduced myself to commented on my hat and everyone responded to my emails when I said hello from the lady with the feathered hat!
Wear bright colours When you go to events take a look at how many women and men are wearing black or dark colours. Probably more than 75%! So if you want to be easy to find later at the event wear something bright. It will make you stand out and you will also be noticeable in any pictures that are taken. When you contact the people you met again you can mention how you were the girl in the yellow shirt and everyone will remember.
Ask about your new contacts hobbies, interests, or anything slightly different If you can start a conversation and somehow tap into your new friends interests, passions, or hobbies you might find that you have something in common, and can develop an emotional connection…which is the best way for people to remember you! Even if you don’t have much in common you can ask questions and learn some cool new stuff that you didn’t know before!
Smile, and look like you are having a good time People like to surround themselves with other people that make them feel good. So when you meet people smile, nod, laugh (not fake though), and loosen up. It’s more likely for people to remember you if you leave a positive impression in their minds.
Introduce the people you just met to the people you already know If you seem like you are connecting people and can offer something to others they will appreciate it, and think more fondly of you…therefore remembering you. If you seem like someone who is dominating a conversation, won’t introduce your new friend to others and don’t really offer anything the person will likely forget you…or worse yet, avoid you in the future!
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Tired of just doing Brazilian waxing…why not add some jewellery to your hoo – ha? Or perhaps wear a lovely pendant inspired by what’s down under? Or if that’s not for you, how about a spritz of perfume that is crafted to smell like your nether region?
It’s a new trend, it’s all the rage…but is it for you?
Apparently Jennifer Love Hewitt “vajazzled” herself by applying Swarovski crystals to her “precious lady” to get over a break-up. VULVA Original is a new scent from Germany designed for men to smell and play their internal porn reel in their heads, and you can buy vagina jewelry from www.VulvaLoveLovely.com
Just in case that’s not enough fun for you there’s also a special dye available so you can add some new colours to your “little kitten”.
But if you haven’t laughed hard enough you have to check out the Vulva Original website – when the page loads you are treated to a short video where a hot & sweaty lady finishes exercising only to have a horny guy go over and smell around the bike seat she just hopped off of!
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After our wedding in Mexico earlier this year I came home to discover that my dress was totally destroyed. There was a thick layer of dirt around the whole bottom, coctail mix all down the front and lots of sweat and grime from me and all the other dancing guests.
Naturally it was time to take the dress to the dry cleaner. Yowza! Do you know how much it costs to dryclean a wedding dress? Well over $200!
I hummed and hawed over this price…and started to think of other options. What if I took it to a regular dry cleaner instead of a wedding dress dry cleaner? How much would that cost? What would happen to my dress – would it get ruined. Did my dress really need the fancy treatment versus just regular dry cleaning?
At $265 it’s hard to say what you need. It’s the worstcase scenarios that make sure you spend that crazy amount though.
You might be able to save by taking your dress to a cheaper dry cleaner, but if your dress gets ruined you will be filled with regret over your choice!
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BBQ is a must do in Argentina!
The lovely ladies over at Hip and Urban Girl asked me to do a restaurant review recently…and when in Argentina the opportunity to review a traditional barbecue restaurant was one we couldn’t pass up.
Find out here what happens at an Argentinean barbecue restaurant…including an interesting experience involving stuffed cows and “interesting” menu items…
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While in Argentina the size and activity in Buenos Aires can be a bit much. So why not take a weekend off and go to the renowned beach town Mar del Plata?
A short four hour drive outside of Buenos Aires, you can rent a car, take the bus, or hop on the train to get here. Once you arrive the first thing you want to do is head to the beach! The rocky shore, grassy slopes and soft sand all combine to make a beautiful beach landscape. In Mar del Plata the beaches are all well maintained, and extremely popular, so if you go in peak season prepare to be packed in the sand with 2 million of your closest friends! It will be busy, but it’s worth it – the views are gorgeous, the vibe is cool, and the setup of the area will remind you of beach towns of yesteryear with a gorgeous boardwalk that spans from one side of town to the other.
If you want a more exclusive beach experience you can always go to the private beaches a bit further south. Nikki beach is just by the lighthouse and offers a great beach, parking, and a fancier beach experience.
Whichever beach you chose keep in mind this is the Atlantic Ocean, and you’re pretty far south, so it’s pretty chilly all year round – even in the hot period of January/February. Look what happened when we went in the water!
After strolling on the beach for a few hours it’s time to grab a bit. If you are going to a waterfront restaurant bring your patience along because the queue to get in will be long, and service will take forever! Some of the Mar del Plata institutions include Manolo’s (an Argentinean take on the American diner) and Torreon (a coffee shop designed to look like a monastery). Keep in mind that Argentinean’s eat lightly during the day, and have a large dinner at night, so the lunch options will be on the lighter side.
After lunch it’s time to head downtown and see the city sights and have an afternoon cafe. When downtown Boston Confectionary is a great coffee shop, and the medialunes (half moon pastries that are like croissants but sweeter) are out of this world! After your coffee stop stroll around the pedestrian streets, enjoy the parks, and take your time just strolling around and taking in the local culture. Keep in mind that any touristy areas, like the pedestrian streets, are hotspots for pick pocketing and purse snatching, so keep your possessions close to you.
After some light shopping downtown it’s time to head over to the hotel for an afternoon nap. Our top pick is the Sheraton hotel; it’s clean, new, the service is excellent and it’s a bit removed from the party central downtown. You also have excellent views from pretty much every room and breakfast in the charming La Pampa restaurant is included in the nights stay. The hotel is close to the golf course, and also close to the cool night spots on Alen Street.
After a long afternoon nap it’s tea time. Some light sandwiches a warm drink and lots of water will have you refreshed and ready for evening. When it’s time to head out on the town for dinner – typically around 930pm there are great barbecue offerings, or pasta from La Trattoria. When dining make sure you take in the great night sights of the city. There are many beautiful places to watch the city go by, so make sure you enjoy!
Looking for a little night-time activity? Alen Street is a great pick for bars, cafes, ice cream shops, and watching live music. If you are tempted to go to the casino think again. It’s a dark, dirty and depressing place to spend some time, and with smoking inside and no ventilation it’s hard to see the poker tables through the smoky plumes of the players.
Mar del Plata is a great place to visit, and one of the most charming towns/cities in Argentina. Known as the Vegas of Argentina it’s a bit of a party town, but the natural beauty of the area make it a great place for families and pretty much everyone enjoy!
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Take advantage of this great Spring weather and plan an active and adventurous date with your honey.
1. Go for a romantic bike ride & picnic Dust off your bike, pack a light picnic and hit the road with your honey for a few hours. After riding for a few hours step off your bikes, take out your picnic of light sandwiches, fruits and maybe a little vino, and relax. After lunch take a nap, relax and when you’re ready ride home. This is a fun date idea that can be as short or as long as you want it, so make it your own and enjoy!
2. Go boating Most cities and towns have a nearby lake, ocean or river, so take advantage of it! Rent a canoe or kayak and spend a few hours slowly paddling and enjoying the peace of the water.
3. Try out rock climbing This activity is sure to get your blood rushing, whether it’s an indoor gym or outdoor area! The thrill of climbing high will get your blood rushing and when you have to lean back to get down you are sure to skip a few heartbeats! Rock climbing is a great trust builder, and for some thrill seekers the excitement can be super sexy!
4. Take a hike! Hiking is a fun way to see the outdoors and to get fit! You can go to the countryside, mountains, or even in your own city – so find your fancy and spend a few hours walking and talking…maybe even ending up at a cute cafe for a little lunch or afternoon tea.
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Put your palette to the test with a wine tasting
Ever tasted a wine and have no idea if it’s the fanciest Chateaux Margaux or the dregs of a home brew? Not to worry, here’s some easy advice on how to taste wine and have fun while doing it!
There are three basic senses that are used in tasting wine.
1. Sight
2. Smell
3. Taste
That’s right, it’s not just the guzzle, guzzle that you use to figure out if a wine is a five star!
First, you are supposed to look at the wine. Check out the Colour and Clarity (so similar to diamonds…no wonder girls love wine!)
Pour a glass of wine into a wine glass and have a good look at it. Tilt the glass away from you and check out the colour of the wine from the rim edges to the middle of the glass (it’s helpful to have a white background like a white napkin or tablecloth). Look beyond red, white or blush. If it’s a red wine is the color maroon, purple, ruby, garnet, red, brick or even brownish? If it’s a white wine is it clear, pale yellow, straw-like, light green, golden, amber or brown?
Next look at the wine’s opacity. Is the wine watery or dark, translucent or opaque, dull or brilliant, cloudy or clear? An older red wine will often have more orange tinges on the edges of color than younger red wines. Older white wines are darker than younger white wines when comparing the same grape at different ages.
Next it’s time to smell the wine – seriously, this is like a wine seduction…so take your time! To get a good impression of your wine’s aroma, swirl your glass for about 10-12 seconds. Some people say it matters which way you swirl your wine, so if you want to look super sophisticated hold you wine between your index and middle finger of your right hand, and swirl your glass counter clockwise. Swirling helps vaporize some of the wine’s alcohol and release more of its natural aromas so it’s important not to skip this step.
Now stick your nose down into the glass and take a deep inhale through your nose – this may sounds silly, but it’s interesting to see what you smell when you really get in there! Do you smell oak, berry, flowers, vanilla or citrus? A wine’s aroma is an excellent indicator of its quality and unique characteristics. Swirl the wine and let the aromas mix and mingle, and sniff again. Entertain whatever comes to mind. There’s even a smell referred to as “barnyard” so don’t be shy trying to figure out what’s in your glass!
Finally, take a taste – you’ve been so patient thus far now you finally get to try it! Start with a small sip and let it roll around your mouth. There are three stages of taste:
1. the Attack phase
2. the Evolution phase
3. the Finish
The Attack Phase is the initial impression that the wine makes and does not display a specific flavour. Instead the flavours meld together to offer impressions in intensity and complexity – is it soft or firm, light or heavy, crisp or creamy, sweet or dry?
The Evolution Phase is the wine’s actual taste on the palate. In this phase you are looking to discern the flavour profile of the wine. For red wine you may notice fruit, like berry, plum, prune or fig or spice like pepper, clove, cinnamon, or maybe a woody flavour like oak, cedar, or hickory (smokey). For white wines you might notice apple, pear, tropical or citrus fruits, or florals like honey, butter, herbs or a bit of earthiness.
The Finish is the final phase. The wine’s finish is how long the flavour lasts after it is swallowed. Did it last several seconds? Was it light-bodied (like the weight of water), medium-bodied (similar in weight to milk) or full-bodied (like the consistency of cream)? Did you like the taste and want to drink more, or was it bitter and you want to rid your mouth of the taste?
All of these things combined create a “proper” wine tasting. So next time you’re opening a bottle of wine make sure you look, smell and taste the wine. And have fun with it – invite your friends over, make some score cards and have a tasting party. Who said wine tasting needs to be serious and stuffy?
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Warm weather has brought Spring early this year to Toronto. Such a relief!
Put away those mittens and parkas for good, and get used to seeing more of these over the next few months!
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As a huge advocate of getting WHATEVER you want out of life I wanted to share some of the recent go-ings on happening in my life. I love to travel. Every time I open a magazine and see a beautiful picture of somewhere I’ve never visited I try and figure out how I can get there asap.
Last year was a big year for travel, with a big trip to Italy and many smaller trips to Washington, Charleston, Savannah, and all around Ontario.
This year is shaping up to be another big year for travel. So far I’ve been to Mexico (ok, it was to get married…but it still counts!).
And this week I’m in Argentina!
We arrived earlier last week and have been mostly visiting family and taking care of business…until this weekend, when we had the ultimate Argentinian experience.
The Santa Maria Ranch Main House
We went up to the Entre Rios province, about 2.5 hours outside of Buenos Aires, to a ranch! The ranch, called Estancia Santa Maria, offers the Real Gaucho (Cowboy) Experience…and I wanted to see how these Argentinian cowboys do it!
We arrived late Saturday afternoon, and after we settled in our room we were offered tea in the dining room. We had tea, toast with dulce de leche and some little baked goodies.
Of course that was far too exhausting for us, so we retired to our room and napped for 2 hours! The rooms at the ranch are comfortable and clean, and very country cute!
Cute & cosy rooms at the Santa Maria ranch
We had a nice dinner of meat empanadas, and a chicken risotto main course. The ranch offers a set menu for all meals, so if you are a picky eater this is not for you. For us it was amazing, to pay for the hotel and four meals and have everything included (except liquor) and not have to make any decisions. We were there to relax!
After dinner we watched a movie and then spent some time looking up at the stars – the stars are always amazing in the country!
In the morning it was time to go horseback riding with the gaucho. It was a strange (and a bit nerve wracking) experience in the beginning. It’s been years since I’ve been on a horse. But after a few minutes it was more comfortable and it was gorgeous to ride the horses through the pastures, next the sheep, by the cows, and past some very noisy birds. It was nice to just let our thoughts wander as we were riding to the rhythm of the horse. There was no stress, no big decisions, just a nice slow rhythm of the horse.
When we returned to the farm house we were treated with the original asado – Argentinean barbecue. There were blood sausages (not for me, but others seemed to like them), chorizo sausages, potato salad, green salad, and a gorgeous barbecued beef. It was definitely tasty!
The Argentinean wood burning barbecue
After lunch it was time for another nap…which we managed to do for two hours! The great thing about the ranch is that your stay is for 24 hours… so if you arrive at 5pm you can stay until 5pm the next day. It was much better than having to check out of a hotel at noon, like most North American places.
It was a wonderful relaxing weekend out of the city, seeing the countryside, and tasting the local foods from field to table. If you are going to Argentina, a farm experience is not to be missed.
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We love this super cute short jumper from Loeffler Randall. It’s fun but polished, and definitely sexy!
You could wear it with a cute cardigan for a super feminine look, heels for a sexy look, or a little jacket for a more business appropriate approach.
