...it's simple love...

rachael @ ...it's simple love...

as one of the new features of lifestyle maven, each month i'll be featuring a "blog of note".  i'll share one of the blogs i <3 and give you a behind the scenes look at the fabulous blogger, herself!  this month i'm featuring rachael from ...it's simple love...  she is a complete sweetheart whose vintage-chic style is ever-present on her blog.  she always has some hidden treasure that she is sharing (or giving away) to her loyal readers.

not only that, but rachael was one of the first bloggers i networked with when i first started rethinking my blog back in september 2010.  she offered me great advice and tips and even co-hosted a giveaway with me.  after reading all about rachael and ...it's simple love... take a trip over to her lovely blog : )

1. how did you come up with the concept for ...it's simple love...?
To be honest, it is an ever evolving blog. It started as just a personal blog however when I moved to Peru I started to get more involved in the blogging world. I wanted to share my traveling and adventure stories and pictures with the world. Now my blog includes travel/adventure, etsy favorites, shop updates, and more. I am hoping that it continues to grow and expand as my life grows and changes.

2. when did you start blogging?
I really started blogging last February 2010 about a month after moving to Peru.

3. what's your best blogging tip?
My best blogging tip is blog for you, share what you really love and what is in your heart and mind. Don't stress about stats or how many comments you have. Just have fun!

4. what's your favorite food?
My favorite food has to be sushi! Hands down.

picture credit {here}

5. what's your favorite book?
My favorite book is the Book of Mormon! (I am LDS). Another fave is "What Should I Do With My Life" by Po Bronson, sounds boring but it is about real life stories and it is actually quite an easy and enjoyable read.

6. what's your job/career (outside of blogging)?
I am a social worker. I work at the Salt Lake City Homeless Shelter full time. I also have a part time job as a youth counselor for an in-home family therapy session. And I run my online vintage shop, Ande Monster.

ande monster vintage clutch

7. describe yourself in 4 words or less.
loyal. loving. contemplative. adventurous.

8. describe your blog in 4 words or less.
random. clean. travel oriented. vintage-inspired.

ande monster pencil skirt

9. any other info you would like to include? fun facts, blogging tips, randomness...
Fun fact: Owls are the only birds who can see the colour blue. Neat!
 
 
so, isn't it about time you checked out ...it's simple love... ?.

some dandy date ideas

so with february being the month of love and romance, i figured sharing some date ideas could be both fun and useful.  craig and i love our dates.  whether they're thoughtfully planned meals at home or nights on the town.  or happy hour at bobby's.  dates are fun.  period.

when thinking about what dates i find especially fun, many ideas came to mind (too many), but i narrowed it down to three, as not to overwhelm : )

o day date – coffee shop, wander cute town (if you're in or around the bucks county, pa area doylestown, new hope or lambertville, nj won't disappoint), movie

cute town to wander

visit the county theater : )

o dinner out – cocktail lounge, fabulous dinner (at tinto restaurant in philadelphia or similar amazing foodie haven)

cool restaurant

o at home –fireside picnic, home cooked meal, champagne & something chocolate

so cozy...fireside date : )

the perfect something chocolate for {heart} day



so what's your ideal valentine's day???

.

bubbly goodness : )



martini rossi asti spumante

 champagne is february's wine of the month.  any of you who have spent any time with me (in person or on my blog) know that i love a good (that's a relative term) champagne.  there's just something about its bubbly goodness that i adore.  it transforms an average evening into a celebration.  and don't even get me started about how much i love it in a vodka cocktail...

so, with the (slightly) new direction my blog is taking with all the new monthly features - like wine of the month.  i figured what better wine to start with than champagne?!  and what better month for champagne than february?  it was kismet.  so, back to champagne.  i don't know about you, but i've never been totally clear on what exactly brut, extra dry, demi sec, etc. indicate.  so, i did a bit of investigating, and here's the deal:

o ultra/extra brut = the most dry*
o brut = very dry
o extra dry/extra sec = less dry than brut or slightly sweeter than brut
o dry/sec = sweet
o demi sec = even sweeter
o doux = sweetest

*dry meaning not sweet or that almost all sugar has turned to alcohol...

picture credit {here}

so, if you like something on the sweet side, opt for sec or demi sec.  if you like dry, try brut.  simple enough.  don't know why it took me so long to figure out... 

some of my personal faves.  don't worry - they're all under $15 a bottle.  yay!

cupcake prosecco - ok, so it's not actually a champagne because only grapes grown in champagne, france can actually make champagne, but it's bubbly none-the-less.  and delicious.  we had it at my sister's birthday dinner at this adorable restaurant last friday, and we all agreed the wine was delish!  i would say it would fall in the extra dry/extra sec category.  you can find it for around $9/bottle : )

martini & rossi asti spumante - so so so good.  perfectly sweet (probably in the demi-sec category) and very smooth.  great with chocolate covered strawberries...hint, hint.  you can find it for around $12/bottle.  not bad, eh?

korbel brut champagne - for those with drier preferences.  korbel is a great stand by for parties.  it's not expensive, but it has a good name and is always reliable when it comes to delivering a good quality bubbly.  you can find it for $14/bottle.

picture credit {here}

so there you have it.  i know i'll definitely put this new knowledge to good use when buying champagne...which we probably won't have to do for a while considering we have about a dozen bottles in the house.  (a lot of lovely engagement gifts.)  good thing i LOVE it!

cheers!  any cheap/good bottle recommendations?

what other fabulousness is coming up this month?  check it out {here}..