Review: Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray.

Happy Sunday!! I have had this review written for some time now and finally deciding to post it. Who would have thought Cosmo school was going to keep me this legit busy! But it is, and we're learning haircuts, which I know is one of the most important elements of the program, and I don't want to jack up anyone's hair of course, but I'm a color fan! I love haircolor, and of course, I love makeup, so without further adieu here's my review (totally didn't want that to rhyme, haha).

I have tried several setting sprays and thus far Urban Decay's All-Nighter is my fave. Now, a lot of people always ask me "What's wrong with MAC's Fix Plus?" Well, my answer to that is : nothing. I like MAC Fix Plus for applying glitter and sparkly pigments to my eyes (you know, spray the brush with fix plus, dip in the glitter, apply). This is just the setting spray I'm using and loving right now and I will tell you more about it and why I think it's a gem.

Should I use bullet points?? Let's use bullet points, haha...

• I like that after you mist your face you are left with a pretty, dewy look and nothing greasy or oily look. It would suck to have perfect makeup, spray your face and then look all greasy, right. Yes.
• It keeps your makeup in place and looking amazing all day! I can't say that any simpler. I've tried some sprays that almost over hydrate my face (and no, not because I used a heavy concentration of the product) and my makeup was smearing! A setting spray should never cause your makeup to smear, it's purpose is to "set" everything in place, lock it in.
• You can buy the sample size (.34 oz) for like $10 (get mine from Ulta) and the full size is about $28 (4 oz). I have already gone through my bottle since I actually first wrote this review so I need to re-up! And the $28 is actually worth it. It may be a little more than Fix Plus, but with all this hot summer heat trying to beat us up we want something that works and gives us our moneys worth.
• UD All-Nighter is good for all skin types and hasn't irritated my skin or anyone else's that I've applied this product on.
• It's not sticky! You might think that spraying something on your face will make it sticky (kind of like when you get hairspray on your face and your face just gets that ick feeling), but this product does not, which is always a plus for anything you put on your face.
• Another plus: it prevents your makeup from flaking, which is especially beneficial for anyone with dry skin.
• Oil free. Paraben free. Vegan friendly. Enough said.

• Ummm, the bottle is pretty! Haha, what can I say, I am such a sucker for pretty packaging!!
• You only need 2, maybe 3, sprays to set your look. So you do get your moneys worth, like I touched on before.
• Your makeup will be left looking fresh for like 16 hours. Now I personally haven't worn my makeup that long recently, so I can vouch for a good 10 hours. If you've used this and made it to 16 hours, leave a testimonial in the comments, haha.
• All-Nighter is a moisture resistant formula...so don't worry about crying, sweating, water splashes at the beach/pool/hot tub. I'm not saying go swimming and you will surface from the pool like a beautiful sea nymph, no. But, all the the little things, good to go. Urban Decay gave this product a "cooling technology" so your skin feels refreshed--personally I like cool mist feeling the spray gives and I think it's what adds to that dewy finish most of us love.

So, have you read all this and still wonder, um, "What is a setting spray?". Let me tell you...
It hydrates and refreshes your face while keeping your makeup in place. All you do is hold it about 10 inches or so from your face and mist 2-3 times (make sure you don't scrunch up your face! The spray will dry in like 60 seconds, then you are good to go. If you have the full-size at home, it's always good to maybe carry the trial size version in your bag in case you want to refresh your face throughout the day. You can pick this up at Ulta, Sephora, or on Urban Decay's Website.
Do you agree that UD's All-Nighter Setting Spray is the best?? Disagree? Let me know in the comments.
XOXO,
J.

Hall Pass.

Okay, so I've totally meant to blog way before now, and I have tons of beauty posts waiting to go up, I just find myself either busy or sidetracked. Yeah, so, mini-update...still in cosmo school everyday, we're starting our unit on nails now so hopefully that's fun and exciting. Random: Danielle and I were in the bathroom the other day and discovered that when you look at the door of one of the stalls, where it was wiped down the wipe marks resemble Jesus, no joke!! Bathroom Jesus, yep! and you read it here. We also did some karaoke over the weekend, no one else that was supposed to come did so we just sang on our own and it was amazing. Got a text message saying we were instantly nominated for a Grammy, and that we are winning that Grammy, and that Will Ferrell, Fergie and Jesus in special form will be presenting it to us for our rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About" as seen in the movie Stepbrothers. (If you aren't aware that I am kidding about the Grammy thing, then, wow, what a dream world you must live in). Let's see...I have been thinking about my Dad a lot lately, especially with the passing of my sister-in-laws Dad a couple days ago. It's the unexpected that shakes my core, and I don't even want to talk about the bonds between a father and daughter right now because I know for sure I'll cry. A go to quote for me right now is "If love could have saved you, you would have lived for ever". How poignant. How true, now let's move on...
...Do you all know what the Hall Pass "game" is???  You know where you and your significant other each pick 5 celebs that if you ever had the opportunity to you could hook up with no questions asked and so on and so forth (remember on Friends when Ross and Rachel did it and Ross laminated his list, haha)...well, my husband and I came up with our lists, so I thought for fun I'd share mine!:

1.  Nick Hexum

For real, he is my end all be all as far as celeb crushes go. I dig his music (he's the front man of 311 if you didn't know), and I dig his style in general. He's gorgeous!!!!!!!!! He can sing to me anytime and I can't wait to see 311 w Sublime next week. Ahhh, Nick Hexum. He's married too though, haha. With a kid and another one on the way. But please believe, I would have this man's love child. ;)

2. John Mayer

Another song-man!  And yes, his body is indeed a wonderland. And check those tattoos. Rawrrrrr. Everyone says his attitude is kind of jerk-ish lately, but look at him. I would spend some time in that bed, hahahaha.

3. Adam Levine

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. Again, another singer (I see the trend, huh). Musical talents and tattoos. And his new song, "Never Gonna Leave This Bed"....he is quite delicious. That's what I have to say about that.

4. John Krasinski

Surprise, surprise, it's not a singer!! I love JK though...I mean, really, who doesn't love him as Jim on "The Office"...he's just so dapper. He's married to Emily Blunt too, who I adore! Just saying...he's more charming then anything, so that puts him on the list.

5. WILD CARD!!!!!!

Seriously, I change my mind a lot, so I have decided that my #5 spot is a wild card, because let's face it, you never know who you are going to run into where. I mean, if Alexander Skarsgaard was wodering around Starbucks for whatever reason, and I had Kelly Slater locked down as my #5 I would be out of luck! Or Josh Duhamel, or Justin Timberlake, or that one guy from Big Time Rush, haha! So, Wild Card it is.

Well, I hope everyone is having a rad start to their weeks, and I will do my very best to get on here with some actual beauty posts! I have a review on Urban Decay setting spray so I will probably put that up there next!! Lots of Love.

XOXO,

J.

Just Beachy.

OMG....It feels like forever since I've sat down and wrote a post. I never thought I would be as legit busy as I have been. So, the beauty blogging will soon resume, but I thought I would use this post to just play a little catch up.
I went to the beach for a week last month and it was a delightful little get away; I mean, who doesn't love a beach vacay?? Seriously, I want names. I get back from the beach on a Saturday and that following Monday I started cosmo school. So it's been 2 weeks of school so far and I'm loving it: I've lerned a lot and made some new rad friends. Glad we are having a 3 day weekend though, because I needed a little break. My Nana's 93rd birthday was on June 30th so we had a celebration for that...sn: my Nana rocks. My niece turned 3 yesterday so we had a big Hello Kitty birthday party for her. Kudos to my sister for pulling that all together! So my plans for the rest of the weekend? I don't know...I'm enjoying the a/c right now, and the fact that there's a new episode of True Blood tonight...ugh, last week's episode...ending with Eric fangs out...looooove. I love me some Eric Northman. Bill Compton is not on my hot list though, I already sense something is wrong with him this season.
Okay, so I'm also having like one of those hair issues, ya know, when you're growing it out but it's in the middle stages, so it's not short like the original cut but it's not all gorgeous and Blake Lively wavy. Yeah, that's me.  I''ve been wearing my clip in extensions but they are getting all dry and I want soft flowy beautiful hair...I legit need a hair fairy.
So, that's where I am right now. I got some product reviews coming up and some how-to's as well, so look out for those.
XOXO,
J.

Bonus Jonas:
(you know there had to be one!)
"Things I learned at the Beach"

• A pelican pooping on you will induce vomiting (don't ask, that's pretty self-explanatory)
• Every little old lady in a cover up and sun hat begins to look like your own grandmother.
• You have to look out for "summer runners" (I'm coining that phrase)...you know, the people that you see out running along the beach or wherever and you can tell that they only are out in the heat running because they are on vacay. It's obvious who they are.
• Sharing a bathroom with other people is no good. I like an abundance of bathroom counter space.
• The hot tub rocks....sitting in there, with a starlit sky above your head and the sound of waves crashing on the beach is totally rad.
• Being tan rocks...sunburn, eh, not so much.
• You don't need to go out and spend money to have a good time....helllloooo, the beach is free.
• Ne-yo and Pitbull will inevitably convince you to "grab somebody sexy" and tell them "hey".
• Along those same lines, your husband/sig. other will eventually learn all the words to Katy Perry's "ET" if heard often enough.

That's just a short list of fun facts I came up with. I will add others if I think they are note worthy.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July everyone!!

SPF: A Guide

Summer is here! (well officially on the 20th but the summer sun doesn't seem to know that). Now, I won't lie, I do frequent the tanning bed (bad I know, I know), but I like my nice bronzey glow that self-tanners just don't ever seem to give me. But, outside in the hottness that is this summer sun I do make sure that I'm using my SPF (which reminds me, gotta pick up some since my beach vacay is literally right around the corner). So, I've put together various tips and tricks, if you will, on how you can keep yourself safe from the sun and also what you can do if you find yourself with (ouch) sunburn. Regardless of how you choose to incorporate your SPF, and to what level, play it safe out there!

You want to maintain your healthy, gorgeous skin and the sun's rays can can get in the way of that by causing dark spots, wrinkles, sunburn, scarring, and yes, cancer. If you know you're going to be outside this summer, apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going out--you want to give your skin enough time to absorb it. You want to apply a thin, even layer all over your body--no need for excess! Women want to especially make sure that legs and upper backs are covered well since dermatologists say that melanoma most often strikes in these areas.

Also make sure you are also applying SPF to your face. Most foundations contain a small amount of SPF (usually a 4), but don't rely on that to keep your face sun-safe. If you have sensitive skin/skin prone to breakouts then you'll probably want to pick up a sunscreem specifically meant for your face. Make sure if you are outside for an extended period of time that you are re-applying every hour and a half or so--even if you're just laying out, you're still sweating!

So, You Got Sunburn.
Hey, it happens. Here are some things that Dr. Francesca Fusco says you can do to manage while your skin recovers: Make sure you are moisturizing your skin & keeping it hydrated. I reccomend a fragrant free lotion like Lubriderm's Sensitive Skin Therapy. Hydrated skin will heal faster & may be less likely to scar. You also want to avoid using any product that contains retinol & topical acids (like glycolic & AHA) which could exaggerate your sunburn. Don't think that by putting on more sunscreen and going back out you'll be protected from further burn; in fact, going back out into the sun before you've fully healed can cause even more scarring.

Now ladies, this may be something you don't want to hear, but I've learned from personal experience & from talking to others, that you need to lay off the makeup while your skin is recovering from sunburn! If you're like me the thought of going out with a naked face can make you feel a little "bleh", but trust me, you don't want to irritate your skin any further when you don't have to. I will still throw on some mascara and maybe some tinted lip balm just to placate myself ;) Just keep your skin nice & hydrated. Aloe is also a popular sunburn remedy--and now there's even lotion that has aloe in it, so bonus jonas, whatever works for you!

Have fun in the sun dolls! Just keep gorgeous by keeping that SPF on hand.
XOXO,
J.



Skin 101

This post is basically a guide to the most basic of skin care.

Healthy, hydrated skin is essential for any gorgeous face--au naturale to ultra glam. It is not only important to know how to take care of your skin (even if it's the simplest of routines), but you should also know your skin type since many products, and the application of, cater to specific skin types...you want to make sure you're using the right stuff.

So, what's your Skin Type?? (let's review).

1. Normal: Less oily than combination skin, little to no redness of complexion, medium-sized pores and a smooth, even texture.
2. Combination: The forehead, nose and chin will typically be oily, while the cheeks tend to be more dry.
3. Oily: Large pores, acne/breakout prone, shiny appearance (more "greasy" than "dewy"), prone to blackheads.
4. Dry: Small pores, dullness to complexion, skin may feel tight after you cleanse.
5. Sensitive: Prone to redness, may have reactions to certain products/product ingredients, may be prone to broken capillaries, fine pores.

3-Step Process:
There is a really simple 3-step process that can serve as a guideline to your skin care routine.

1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Moisturize

You want to cleanse your skin to remove any makeup or product buildup from your skin. It also cleanses out your pores and removes any dead skin cells on the surface. Using a toner restores pH balance to your skin and helps to achieve an even complexion. Moisturizing your skin keeps it nice and hydrated (which we all know is important) and helps skin to stay young and fresh.

My product recommendations:
Personally, I love anything from the Exuviance line...I can't get enough of their stuff (I get mine at Ulta). But I am also a fan of the Olay brand moisturizers, cleansers, etc., which you can get at places like Walgreens and Target.

Exuviance

So, what's the deal with exfoliating?

No matter what your skin type is, exfoliating is a must! Why? Not only does it unclog your pores to give your skin that healthy glow we all love, but it can also diminish fine lines and even out your skin tone. But note (according to dermatologist Christopher Sciales), no matter what your skin type is "don't use a chemical peel or microdermabrasion product more than once a week". Normal to combination skin can get away with exfoliating up to 3 times a week. Oily skin can exfoliate everyday if the product being used says that it's okay for daily use. Sensitive skin types can exfoliate 1-2 times a week with a product specifically meant for sensitive skin. Regardless, make sure you are looking for an exfoliator with small granules; larger granules (like those in sugar scrubs) can be harsh and irritating to the skin.

Acne & Breakouts

No one likes acne or the sneaky little breakout, but don't let it get in the way of you feeling your most gorgeous! There is so much that can be said on the topic (it could be a post in itself) but there are 3 simple steps (3 seems to be the magic number today, huh) that will tame those breakouts. Of course, if you are experiencing extreme cases of acne or other skin irritations you should check with your dermatologist.

1. Use a face wash that is oil-free and noncomedogenic (which basically means that it won't clog your pores).
2. Use an oil-free moisturizer that contains salicylic acis and/or retinol.
3. Use a spot treatment formula that contains salicylic acid (2% is the highest you can get your hands on without a prescription) and/or benzoyl peroxide (10% is highest on the shelves). Dab on your spot treatment with a Q-tip so you don't spread any bacteria to other areas of your face.

My recommendation:

ProActive.

The ProActive system (by Rodan & Fields) is great for acne, but the kit also contains all the products you'd need to complete the simple 3-step face routine. I am not prone to acne and breakouts (knock on wood) but I still on occassion use this because the skin care products are just that good!

Fact:  Contrary to some belief, greasy foods, makeup, etc, are not the cause of acne--it's all in your personal biology. But, as a good measure always make sure you are completely removing all of your makeup, and of course, follow your skin care routine.
Want to share some of your favorite products or basic skin care secrets?! Comment below!
XOXO,
Jacqueline



Bombshell Hair.

If you ever read Cosmopolitan magazine--and even if you don't you've eyed in on the shelves--then you know that the Cosmo cover girl typically has the beautiful, voluminous, bouncy bombshell hair. Well, after Christmas I picked up the book "Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets" ($16.95 at Barnes & Noble), and it tells you hot to get that signature hair look. So, keep in mind the steps  for this look are coming from the editors at Cosmo, but any extra notation and product recommendation is mine. I want to also add that I wear hair extensions and you can still complete this look as long as you're not using synthetic hair and you make sure to maintain and condition your extensions, as this look does use a lot of product and a lot of heat.

1. Towel dry your hair and spritz in a leave-on conditioner on the ends and a volumizer all over. Flip your head over and begin by blow-drying your roots, pulling them away from your scalp with your fingers. Dry the rest of your hair until it is just slightly damp.
2. Bring your hair back upright and wrap 1-inch sections in velcro rollers. Once all your hair is set, blow dry with a diffuser for 10 minutes on hot then 10 minutes on cool. (you can also use hot rollers or a curling iron, but make sure your hair is 100% dry first).
3. Take out the rollers, then mix a drop of shine serum and light gel (this is a great combination for hold & shine) between your fingers & then run hands throughout your hair.
4. For extra body, gently tease your roots around the crown of your head. Finish by tousling hair with your fingers into that cascade of loose curls. Spritz with hairspray.

My product recommendations:

Leave in Conditioner: Bumble and bumble OR...

Aussie's Sydney Smooth Heat Protector Plus Leave In Conditioner

Volumizer Spray: Oscar Blandi Volumizing Spray

Shine Serum: MoroccanOil Glimmer Shine Spray

Hair Gel: John Frieda Clearly Defined Style Holding Gel

Hair Spray: Bumble and bumble Style de mode

Have you also tried this look, or do you have a favorite product you like to use?? Let me know!

Today's "Awww" moment: had lunch with one of my gorgeous friends today and we went and took a little sneak sneek peek of the school we start at in less than 2 weeks, and it looks fabulous inside...plus they use Sebastian products, so that is even more stellar. And Bonus Jonas: If you like EOS products, right now at Walgreen their lotions are buy 1 get one Free!!
XOXO,
Jacqueline



"The Art of Marriage".

Hey guys! This is a blog post that some of you knew was coming (and it's not a makeup/beauty post!) and I'm actually pretty excited to put this information out there. On June 3 and 4 my husband and I attended a marriage seminar sponsored by our church called "The Art of Marriage", and let me just first say it was fabulous. We learned things we needed to apply to our lives now as well as things we know will help us in the future. I just wanted to share some of these things, because there is not one married couple out there that can't benefit from something like this. Even if you're not a spiritual person there is undoubtedly something you can take away from it all, and I hope that you find something just from the little bit I mention. "The Art of Marriage" comes from the FamilyLife company, so most of what I'm putting out there comes from them, except for my opinions and thoughts on things of course. If you ever have a chance to attend this seminar or one of the Weekend to Remember events I encourage you to do so, whatever your reasons. So, here's some of the things I learned/loved/thought were interesting.

I. Love Happens: God's Purpose and Plan

One Q & A within the seminar I thought to be really interesting:
Q: If marriage so often ends in disillusionment and failure, why do people get married to begin with?
A: "Because we need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet...What does any one life really mean? But in a marriage. you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things...all of it, all the time, every day. You'r saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will no go-unwitnessed because I will be your witness"--Beverly Clark, from the movie "Shall we Dance?"

Ok. I just thought that was the coolest thing to think that you are a witness to someone else's life. It's kind of a big deal. Marriage isn't easy, and anyone that entered into marriage thinking that it was is, well, an idiot (for lack of a better word). That's not to say marriage can't be an awesome thing, because I know it is, but the ups can be way up there and the downs can be unthinkable, but a promise is a promise. And people who break promises suck. I know I've come close to breaking some promises and at the end of the day you have to remember why you got married. Maybe the one you married isn't the fantastical "the one" that everyone searches for, but if you marry someone and you love them, and they complete you, doesn't that make them "the one" whether you initially thought of them that way or not. It's all so complex but so genius at the same time...I always refer to my marriage as a Wonderland, because it's filled with craziness, curiousness, scariness and fabulousness all at the same time.

Another quote I liked: "It is just as important to BECOME the right person as it is to FIND the right person"...once again, I agree. If you don't grow from being with your spouse and being married, then what is your point in being married??

Here's another great quote:
"I have no way of knowing whether or not [you] married the wrong [person], but I do know that many people have a lot of wrong ideas about marriage and what it takes to make that marriage happy and successful. I'll be the first to admit that it's possible that you did marry the wrong person. However, if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could well end up having married the right person after all. On the other hand, if you marry the right person, and the treat that person wrong, you certainly will have ended up marrying the wrong person. I also know that it is far more important to be the right kind of person than it is to marry the right person. In short, whether you married the right or wrong person is primarily up to you"--Zig Ziglar.

This goes back to what I was saying about "the one". Treat each other well and love each other, and if either of you are unwilling to do this it's never going to work. For the longest time I thought I had to act a certain way or say certain things to make myself more attractive to my husband, but then I told myself that I was just going to be the person I was when we first got married, and I'll say that even reverting back to listening to the music I like has made a significant difference, if that makes sense. You can't force anyone else to change in a relationship except yourself, and I guess a lot of people need to realize that.


II. Love Fades: Overcoming Isolation

Quote: "Unless you lovingly and energetically nurture and maintain your marriage, you will begin to drift apart from your mate. You'll live together, but you will live alone".

I don't like to air my personal life, but I will admit that for a good period of time my husband and I were coasting through our marriage. It wasn't healthy; it was like being roommates and not husband and wife. Once we both realized that you have to keep working passionately after the "I do's" we realized how good the good times truly can be. And it doesn't matter if you have a work-aholic husband or if you have kids, or blah blah blah...if you don't work on your marriage you can't expect rad things to just up and happen.

If anything, consider on something you need to work on yourself in your marriage: forgiving, loving unconditionally, sacrificing, praying for others who mistreat you, showing compassion, etc...I know I need to work on forgiving, and I'm doing my best to do so. I know that isolation feeling, and I don't want to feel it ever again.

III. Love Dance: Fulfilling Responsibilities

Love this quote: "Don't forget Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did...backwards and in high heels"-- Bob Thaves.

Here's another: "The moment I stop believing my wife is my ideal woman, I guess it's over...The absurdly wonderful, almost impossibly romantic thing about all marriages is that what you are saying to each other is: 'You and me, we're perfect'...Choosing a mate is not like buying a car or a house. Until she comes along, we have no idea what we really like: my imagination couldn't hold a candle to the real thing. The best part about falling in love was discovering all the things I didn't know I wanted or needed"--Alex James.

"absurdly wonderful"...love that ;)

Here's some stuff I thought was helpful:
"how a husband nourishes and cherishes his wife"

• Seek to understand her role and her struggle
• If she works outside the home, understand her job and the pressure it places on her, especially regarding her role at home.
• Verbalize often, especially during her times of failure and discouragement, your complete acceptance of her. (Be sure that you really do accept her).
• Literally verbalize belief in her as a person and in her ability and worth.
• Verbalize your need for her and back it up by sharing with her your fears, failures, needs, dreams, hopes, and discouragements. Do it cautiously if this is new to you.
• Share at times when she can listen attentively and appreciate your transparency (Don't share something serious when she's preoccupied).
• Notice and praise her for the things she does for you.
• Be willing to help her work through difficulties in her life: discipline, problems, relationships with friends and parents, fears, resentment, etc.
• Be patient and realize that nourishing and cherishing is a lifetime process.

Now, we weren't given an exact list like the above for wives, but it gave the following 4 points:

• Be a Helper
• Show Respect
• Cheer him on
• Submit

*Now, I have my own issues with submission in a marital sense, but it's referring to a biblical sense here.


IV. Love Interrupted: Communication and Conflict
This section was the most helpful.

Quote: "If you argue and rankle and contradict, you may achieve a victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponent's good will"--Benjamin Franklin.

The goal in a marriage isn't to be conflict free (and if you say you are, I'm guessing there's more to it), but rather to handle the conflict by communicating correctly when it does come up.
*Tips on Communication

• Make sure to address one issue at a time when you're having a conflict.
• Seek to discover the reason why the conflict began. As you do, you will often find out what is important to your spouse.
• All communication takes place on 2 levels: the content level (truth) and the relational level (love).
• We need to retrain ourselves to be present in the moment with our spouses.

V. Love Sizzles: Experiencing Real Intimacy
Yeah, this is the section about sex, which can be a bit daunting to talk about when you're the youngest couple in the room, haha...but yeah, I think we can all agree sex is pretty important.

I am by no means going to go into all this sexually explicit stuff, whether it be from a biblical perspective or not. But I will note a few things about "true intimacy".
*Sexual problems are generally a symptom of another problem (not necessarily physical, but something outside the bedroom).
*Sex is like a thermometer in marriage, not a thermostat, in that it measures the health of your intimacy rather than sets it.
*True intimacy happens when you open up areas of your life to your spouse that are not readily available to others.
So, yeah....find time to flirt, makeout and have sex, haha.

VI. Love Always: Leaving a Lasting Legacy.
Okay, so the last section of the seminar was about leaving a legacy to your future generations by how you live your life and love. This was hard for me personally to wrap my head around, not the idea of it, but actually doing some of the exercises and projects this section required. Not just because my husband and I are young, but because with my dad's recent passing I kept thinking about him (getting teary eyed) and how I am his legacy now.

"Ten Ideas: Helping Your Marriage Last a Lifetime"
These are ideas that have been shared by couples who have been married 50 years or more.

1. You need a Savior.
2. Stay committed to one another.
3. Pray with your spouse.
4. Forgive one another.
5. Realize that there's no such thing as a perfect husband or a perfect wife.
6. Have faith that God knows what He is doing.
7. Trust that God gives grace and direction as you trust Him.
8. You'll need to make compromises.
9. Be objective and take the emotion out of the problem solving.
10. Love your spouse.

At the end of the seminar you had the option to stand with the rest of the couples in attendance and repeat pledges to one another, and together...it was almost like a re-commitment of vows...and my husband and I decided we were ready to participate. So we're standing hand in hand with everyone else and as he goes to repeat his pledge to me he starts laughing! So I'm shaking his hands and giving him that "you better stop" look. So as it's my turn to say my pledge to him, I think I'm going to be all calm and collected, but no, I start laughing to. And if things couldn't get any worse, in the most hilarious yet embarrassing of ways, as we are saying our pledge together we both start laughing, and not quiet little giggles either...like the kind of laughter you try to hold in but you can't so it comes out that much louder and that much more spontaneous! It was so bad, and we knew people had to be looking at us, so next thing I know he pulls my head to his chest and buries his head in my neck and we have to pretend we are crying so we don't appear disrespectful or anything. Believe me, we meant no disrespect or anything by any means, it was just one of those things. We were being totally serious and meant the words we were saying we just couldn't stop the laughter. It was a good after-moment though and it makes for a funny story now, and as one of my fabulous friends told me: "The couple that lasts together stays together".

Now, I know most of this blog post was putting quotes out there and little lists and things here and there, and believe me, it does not do the seminar any justice whatsoever (there's videos, projects, etc), but I do hope you feel inspired enough to attend a seminar like this and maybe comfront something that's been bothering you in your own marriage. And like I said before, even if you aren't a spiritual person I hope you can at least take a little something something away from reading this.
XOXO,
Jacqueline