Todd Loves Wendy

Obsessed: Tiny Houses [oh my!]

2015-02-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Tiny Houses custom built for the tundra of the Northern climate.
{Image: Leaf House}

In my latest obsession (besides texting Todd recently we need to visit the magical, gorgeous islands of Greece soon) he is honoring my newest obsession with tiny housing, like this mobile one here in the photo, and it just may be exactly what we are looking into next.

They are tiny.

We are not tiny.

With Todd's 6'4" frame and my 'legs for days' we are not petite but, in fact, it may just might work out for part-time housing, travel, etc.

The tiny housing craze isn't just on wheels and there are so many websites selling, renting, building and promoting the tiny house or tiny living movement I cannot get my head around everything.

Do you or someone you know reside in a tiny dwelling like this one pictured? Let us know!

In the meantime, give your kids and loved one(s) you share your home sanctuary with a hug...life is short.

Until next time...

Stay safe and stay fabulous,
Wendy x

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?
SIGN UP FOR OUR BLOG-BY-E-MAIL AND YOU WON'T MISS A THING!

RECEIVE OUR LATEST BLOG POST AS SOON AT IT'S PUBLISHED!
GET IT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE!
(WE NEVER SELL OR BET YOUR INFORMATION FOR MONEY, BACON OR ANYTHING ELSE.
YOUR INFO IS ALWAYS SAFE WITH US! READ OUR PRIVACY POLICY HERE.)

SUBSCRIBE VIA E-MAIL

© 2014-2015 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserves. No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

Wine Ice Cream? Thank You, God!

2014-12-13T16:03:00.002-08:00

Wine Ice Cream | Photo Credit: Petit Petit Gamin

Now, a very serious blog post today.

If there EVER was a perfect world it would include wine and while I don't eat a lot of dairy by choice, I do love a really gorgeous scoop of ice cream. So, when I read on my friend, Oskar's, social media feed there is, actually, the best of both worlds. And, you can get drunk off it. HA!

Insert "Wine Ice Cream".

Yup. It's a thing.

It is a 15% butterfat and up to 5% alcohol by volume WINE INFUSED ice cream. In fact, the formula is trade-secreted by Mercer's Dairy.

It's been a 'thing' since 2007 and this is the real deal. This brain (freeze) child of the 100% female and family owned business for 60 years in New York state, Mercer's Dairy was featured on the Montreal Blog (@MTLBlog).

Read all about this absolutely brilliant idea here.

Or……..if you are too lazy to read (like me!) you can visit Mercer's Dairy online store and place an order straight away via phone or mail order form.

I told you it was serious.

Cheers,
Wendy x

Legal Stuff: The sale of Wine Ice Cream to individuals under the age of twenty-one years is prohibited. Wine Ice Cream contains alcohol up to five percent by volume. NOTICE: Wine Ice Cream contains alcohol used as a flavoring and, as with any product that contains alcohol: (1) women should not consume alcohol during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects, and (2) consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. It is a violation punishable under law for any person under the age of 21 to present any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or not actually his own for the purpose of attempting to purchase Wine Ice Cream.

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?
SIGN UP FOR OUR BLOG-BY-E-MAIL AND YOU WON'T MISS A THING!

RECEIVE OUR LATEST BLOG POST AS SOON AT IT'S PUBLISHED!
GET IT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE!
(WE NEVER SELL OR BET YOUR INFORMATION FOR MONEY, BACON OR ANYTHING ELSE.
YOUR INFO IS ALWAYS SAFE WITH US! READ OUR PRIVACY POLICY HERE.)

SUBSCRIBE VIA E-MAIL

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserves. No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

Holiday Charities: Who and Where Should I Send My Dollars?

2014-12-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

Photo: Stock

With the holiday giving season on the brink of exploding, my post office mailbox has been full of mailers from various charitable causes with notepads with my name on them or cute doggies on address labels…. made just for me. Needless to say, I find I am often asked the question of where to donate and how do I know they are really using my money for what say they are?

Great questions.

Choosing where and how much to gift/give is always a highly personal choice, often influenced by our bank account balance, life experiences or personal affinities to a particular cause.

Just remember: small dollars really do a make a big difference.

I have always trusted and navigated through the helpful and super organized website of Charity Navigator. You'll see why I like this site when you visit. The genres are already sorted out for me (love that!) and the information is really easy to read and understand. This NY Times article is a good place to start too on where and how to offer to charities this year.

Giving to others, no matter who it is, is good for soul. The holidays are not about getting but about giving. When you come from that place of intention, you cannot go wrong. And, (the best part) you feel good for doing so.

From our home to yours,
Wendy x

Read >> NY Times.com Article | Charity Navigator.org

Photo: blog.salvationarmyusa.org

P.S. - I am a big supporter and LOVE the Salvation Army's "Angel Tree". It is just so fun to shop for that one little, disadvantaged child you choose off the tree and fulfill their Christmas wish request. Or, if you are like me, one year, the 5 year old little girl I was shopping for asked for a pair of mittens. Well, I bought her the softest, warmest, light pink mittens I could find. Then, I marched right into the Disney Store and bought her a new princess tea set, some storybooks (reading is important!) and a (pink) princess coat with a hood that would keep her warm and feeling like royalty all winter long! Imagine the sheer delight and squeals Christmas morning (and not mention a good cup of tea!). Check out the program here!

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?
Sign Up For Our Blog-By-E-Mail And You Won't Miss A Thing!

Receive our latest blog post as soon at it's published!
Get it before anyone else!
(we never sell or bet your information for money, bacon or anything else.
Your info is always safe with us! Read our Privacy Policy here.)

Subscribe via E-Mail

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserved.

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

Thanksgiving Is For (pumpkin) Tacos!

2014-11-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin tacos, because, why not?
Photo Credit: laurenslatest.com via buzzfeed.com

It's officially the holidays in America. Starting with American Thanksgiving today.

And, since I am in the Southwest today basking in the hot sun by the backyard pool (28C/83F) what better pumpkin recipe than tacos?!

Click here to read The Ultimate Thanksgiving Taco Adventure courtesy of BuzzFeed.com

Wishing you and yours a fabulous, yummy and safe holiday!

Warmest,

Wendy x

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?
SIGN UP FOR OUR BLOG-BY-E-MAIL AND YOU WON'T MISS A THING!

RECEIVE OUR LATEST BLOG POST AS SOON AT IT'S PUBLISHED!
GET IT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE!
(WE NEVER SELL OR BET YOUR INFORMATION FOR MONEY, BACON OR ANYTHING ELSE.
YOUR INFO IS ALWAYS SAFE WITH US! READ OUR PRIVACY POLICY HERE.)

SUBSCRIBE VIA E-MAIL

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserved.

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

6 Top-Notch Scents For Men

2014-09-12T23:41:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit: Gear Patrol.com

As a fashion writer and blogger I am always scouring trade magazines, both print and online, websites and everything stylish for the best stories and interviews and when it comes to, well, beauty in general and then grooming for the guys, I am all over it....

So, naturally, when I posted recently on the Men's Board on my fashion blog, A Fashionable Blog, I ran across this gem of an article from one of my most favorite men's e-magazines, Gear Patrol >> click the link to read:

The word perfume originates from the Latin word perfumare, meaning “to smoke through”. It alludes to the process by which we swiftly extend ourselves into the spaces we choose to occupy. Your choice scent is a nonverbal statement; it defines presence and personality, telling the woman sitting across the bar the things you no longer need to say. -Gear Patrol.com

6 Classic Colognes To Wear Now [Gear Patrol]

Happy reading,

Wendy x

P.S. A Fashionable Blog is a blog for women and men of style, now in 15 countries, translated in 20 languages and all over social media.

P.P.S. Todd wears the good, old classic, Old Spice. :)

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?
Sign Up For Our Blog-By-E-Mail And You Won't Miss A Thing!

Receive our latest blog post as soon at it's published!
Get it before anyone else!
(we never sell or bet your information for money, bacon or anything else.
Your info is always safe with us! Read our Privacy Policy here.)

Subscribe via E-Mail

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserved.

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

2014-09-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

FOOD: Caramel Apples Done Right [Recipe]

2014-08-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

Photo: EverythingOrganized.org

Posted by: Wendy

During the final, polishing portion of my dental cleaning this afternoon, my lovely hygienist, Courtney, asked me if wanted mint flavor or cinnamon. Hmm? I thought about it and always seek new things and adventure, I thought how "Labour Day that sounds" so I went with the cinnamon. YUM!

The whole 5 minute experience made me think of my upcoming trip to my beloved B.C. next weekend and how much fun there will be, how much food and new memories made. The temperatures are dropping there already and (sadly) Summer is fading and Fall is sneaking in.
At the grocery store this afternoon, I headed down the tea aisle and I walked right past the new coffee display and couldn't help read:

Pumpkin Spice Latte

That's my favorite! Fall really is just around the corner and in a less than 2 weeks away it will be the Labour Day weekend and SEPTEMBER!

With the new season and Fall/Autumn, comes new clothes, lip balm in your pocket or handbag again and of course, food! Another fave is mine is………carmel apples. This gem of a recipe is done right courtesy of EverythingOrganized.org.

I will be trying out this gorgeous Fall treat when I am back home in BC. I can hardly wait!

Let me know if you steal this fabulous recipe too, complete with a little branch or sturdy twig as the stick. Love that!

Enjoy!!!

Wendy x

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?

Sign Up For Our Blog-By-E-Mail And You Won't Miss A Thing!

Receive our latest blog post as soon at it's published!

Get it before anyone else!

(we never sell or bet your information for money, bacon or anything else.

Your info is always safe with us! Read our Privacy Policy here.)

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserved.

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

The Most Sophisticated Woman in the World

2014-08-16T23:56:00.003-07:00

Photo Credit: Wallpath.com

My name is, Todd, and I'm the "Todd" in the blog title, "Todd Loves Wendy"! As I make my first blog entry, I'm happy to report that I'm the man dating the MOST sophisticated woman in the world!

How did this come to pass, you might ask?? Well, the path was not clear, the path was not short and the path was not easy, yet somehow, it came to pass. While I AM madly in love with, Wendy, I did not mention this first because there is no distinction in being in love with, Wendy, because EVERY MAN is in love with, Wendy!! Nevertheless, Wendy and I have cultivated a long distance relationship (LDR) over the past year and it has been absolutely fabulous!

If I was a risk-taking, self-directed, upwardly-mobile Alpha Male and had to guess as to why I have attracted the MOST sophisticated woman in the world into a LDR with me, I'd have to guess she is attracted to me for my uniquely personal, independent attributes that makes me, me! (lucky, right?!). Moreover than that, my utterly, stupefying self confidence and almost shameless self promoting in administering those attributes in relation to how Wendy and I interact, helped a lot too! In fact, I'mma go out on a limb and say, "I'm just plain GOOD!".

In short...I'm a lucky man to be dating the MOST sophisticated woman in the world and I'd rather be lucky than good any day...I have no replacement for luck but the rest I can work at everyday. ;)

Todd.

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?

Sign Up For Our Blog-By-E-Mail And You Won't Miss A Thing!

Receive our latest blog post as soon at it's published!

Get it before anyone else!

(we never sell or bet your information for money, bacon or anything else.

Your info is always safe with us! Read our Privacy Policy here.)

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserved.

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

Mark Your iCalendars >> iPhone 6 is Almost Here! [UPDATED]

2014-08-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

Yippee!!! iPhone 6 is almost here!
PostedCredit: Wendy Evens

Posted by: Wendy

9.10.14 UPDATE: See comments below. Pre-Order starts 9/12 :)

There are Bond Girls then…there are TECH Bond Girls.

I am the self-proclaimed latter.

Having one of the first iPhone 3Gs on the planet at the touch of my just-manicured-fingers in 2008, (true story…I could tell you but, then, I would have to…. yeah….messy) I am an Apple girl forever (aka Apple Addict) so, naturally, I was jumping up and down in silly excitement when I learned of the release date for the iPhone 6 with iOS 8 as tech gurus started to swirl the news on social media earlier this year.

What the what now? The iPhone 6 has a new, 'indestructible' sapphire screen? Sapphires?!

I love sapphires! :)

Apple co-founder and former CEO, Steve Jobs
Click here to read his now-famous speech to the Class of 2005 at Stanford University
[Source: IBT Times.com]

Apple is mum on the date…
Tuesday, September 9th is the iPhone 6's (rumored) debut
Credit: Stock picture

The 9th month on the 9th day seems like a perfectly, lovely day to reveal the latest mobile phone to the masses, don't you think? In numerology it breaks down to a '9 day', school is officially back in session, there's a crispier feel to the air as it touches your skin as the Northern Hemisphere starts to wind down from Summer and we pull out our warmer clothes and give thanks for all we harvested over the past 9 months. Todd has already spoken to the cell phone carrier company in British Columbia about when we can upgrade my senior citizen iPhone 3G model (hey! it still works like a charm!) to the latest and greatest SIX. The helpful salesman hinted it would be 'in the Fall'. Yeah!

In anticipation,

Wendy x

P.S. Todd, owns and loves his (Android) Samsung Note II and just upgraded to the Note III last month. He uses it for all things work and play (don't we all?!) :)

Will you purchase the iPhone 6 in September?

Thoughts?

CONNECT WITH US @ About.me/ToddLovesWendy

~ LINKS ~

Apple Eyes Solar to Power the Cloud and iPhone 6… [The Guardian]

Apple iPhone 6 Specs, Price, Preview [Stuff.com] *the full run down*

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?

Sign Up For Our Blog-By-E-Mail And You Won't Miss A Thing!

Receive our latest blog post as soon at it's published!

Get it before anyone else!

(We never sell or bet your information for money, bacon or anything else.

Your info is always safe with us! Read our Privacy Policy here.)

© 2014 Todd Loves Wendy. All rights reserved.

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

Peach Perfection [On a Hot Summer's Day]

2014-07-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

Credit: O'Malley Photographers via Style Me Pretty Blog

Posted by: Wendy

[Our blog is made available to person's 21 years of ago and older, with that said, this blog post is intended only for responsible adults of legal drinking age in the United States of America (21 years old or older) and Canada (19 years old or older). It is purely intended for entertainment purposes. Please do not drink and drive].

Keeping with our fruit theme this weekend, Summer temps are HOT this year and from where I am sitting (in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona) it's still 40C/105F and well, deserving of a tasty, cool cocktail! [P.S. BC is having record breaking temps too! Almost 30C in my native land of Vancouver].

Now, hear me out, I am known to sip on a fresh Bellini with chilled Champagne at many a social function but when I saw this picture of a Peach Tequila Sunrise I had to share with you this peach-y perfect way to end your Summer's day and flow right on into the starry evening……… Stay Safe and À Votre Santé!

~ PEACH TEQUILA SUNRISE ~

What You Will Need

makes two drinks

> 4 ounces Tequila
> 2 ounces Peach Liqueur
> 1 ounce Lemon Juice
> 1 ounce Lime Juice
> 1/4 ounce Agave Syrup
> 1 Peach ({go for organic, you'll get brilliant TASTE*} be sure it's peeled and pitted)

How To Make It

Combine tequila with the peach in a cocktail shaker, then muddle the peach well.
Add the liqueur, juice syrup, and plenty of ice. Shake well.
Divide into two chilled cocktail glasses, straining out the pulp. Garish with peach* slice.

Recipe courtesy of Mayhar Design via Style Me Pretty: Living | * organic references are always Wendy's. It's my belief and way of life to choose food that is is not chalk full of chemicals. Organic food explodes in your mouth with flavor and serves one's overall health x 1,000%.

~ END-OF-SUMMER COCKTAIL:WHISKEY PEACH SMASH ~

Credit: Nora Maynard via Kitchn.com

What You Will Need

makes one drink

> 1/2 peach, cut into thick slices
> 3 or 4 fresh mint leaves
> 1 lemon wedge
> 1 ounce water
> 1/2 ounce simple syrup
> 2 ounces whiskey (suggestion**: Canadian whiskey, but bourbon also works well)
> 1 sprig mint
> 1 thin peach* slice for garnish

How To Make It

Muddle all ingredients except whiskey in a cocktail shaker.
Add ice and whiskey.
Shake and strain into an ice-filled old fashioned glass and garnish with a peach* slice and a sprig of mint.

Recipe courtesy of The Kitchn.com (**adapted from Dale Degroff, The Craft of the Cocktail)

~ Wendy's Favorite Cocktail: Peach Bellini ~

What You Will Need

makes six to eight drinks

Veuve Clicquot Champagne | Credit: Stock

> 2 ripe peaches*, seeded and diced

> 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.

> 1 teaspoon sugar (you can use Agave too for an organic and healthier option)

> 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled Prosecco sparkling wine (or use Champagne: my favorite is Veuve Clicquot also known as "Yellow Label").

How To Make It

Place the peaches*, lemon juice*, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth.
Press the mixture through a sieve and discard the peach solids in the sieve.
Place 2 tablespoons of the peach puree into each Champagne glass and fill with cold Prosecco.
Serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten | FoodNetwork.com

Thanks for visiting! Until next time………..

Love and light,

Wendy x

Disclaimer and Terms of Use (your safety is important to us)

Please do NOT drink and drive. If you need transportation, use a designated driver or a taxi service. And please be careful when crossing the street after drinking.

Todd Loves Wendy does not advocate or encourage the abuse of alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly and with moderation.

We do not, under any circumstances, accept responsibility for any damages that result to yourself or anyone else due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages or the use of this site and any materials located on it. We cannot take any responsibility for the effect these drinks may have on people.

As such, we do not accept liability for any loss, damage or inconvenience that occurs as a result of the use of this blog / website or your reliance upon its content. The information may be changed or updated without notice. Links to other websites are provided as a convenience and we do not accept any responsibility for the information provided by those links or their use. All trade names credited and used herein on our site are the property of their respective owners and licensors.

Lastly, have fun!

DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?

Sign Up For Our Blog-By-E-Mail And You Won't Miss A Thing!

Receive our latest blog post as soon at it's published!

Get it before anyone else!

(we never sell or bet your information for money, bacon or anything else.

Your info is always safe with us! Read our Privacy Policy here.)

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

Oh My Sweet Jesus -- It's a NUTELLA BAR

2014-07-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

The Eatly Chicago

Posted by: Wendy

Really????

Having moved from Chicago last Spring I didn't have the gorgeous and yummy opportunity to visit the newest of the Eataly locations and so when I learned my favorite hazelnut, Italian spread (ok, truth: I have eaten this straight out of the jar before and I mean seriously eaten…like a meal….because…well doesn't everyone?!) opened last December it was chocolate crêpe heaven come true!

With this news I was seriously considering moving back to the ice pole of the midwest because …. Nutella!

Happy days just got hotter!!! And, the brutal Northern British Columbia winters just became a little more, okay…..ALOT more tolerable! Rejoice!!! :)

-Wendy x

CONNECT @ About.me/ToddLovesWendy

Five Tips to Get Over The Break-Up Quickly [And Move On with Grace]

2014-03-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

Posted by: Wendy

I am a (fashion) journalist in the making working towards my BFA. This is a published ''personal" piece I wrote a couple of years ago for a magazine class. During my Spring Cleaning this past weekend, I found it in a file and had an intense gut feeling to post it. The gut always wins. There was a disclaimer at the bottom about how 'the writer and staff of this publication are not in the medical field...blah blah....I took that part out...Here's the article because God (and our friends and family) only knows Todd [does] Love Wendy but our road hasn't always been, well, straight. Our break ups (there have been three of them and have been somewhat dramatic (hey, we are under the artistic zodiacs) and otherwise civil but they hurt like crap. With prayer, love and guidance we have found our way back together and each time much stronger, aligned for success and a deeper, truer love.

Here's the article.....

Five Tips to Get Over the Break-Up Quickly and Move on with Grace
By Staff Writer: Wendy Evens

Okay, here's the deal....everyone has experienced a break-up at one time or another (either some time ago or recently) as is the case with a friend in a far away land. She calls to chat on a rainy week night while I'm watching Dancing With The Stars and explains in tears what happened between her and her "special someone" who ended the relationship of 4 months.

As any respectable friend would do, I put down my glass of champagne and muted the TV and listened to her side of the story for a few minutes and got her to stop the waterworks and move her head to a more positive place vs. just bitching. "There should be an easier way out of feeling so crappy after a breakup" she said sounding congested from all the tears. Well, there is, I replied, (Note: if you know me well enough I do not participate in drama, bitching, etc and seek to find the truth and happy place ASAP).

Do not do it in a text, do not do it in a Tweet or on Facebook or even an E-Mail that's neat.

1. Break-Up Properly

There is a certain way to do everything, breaking off a relationship with someone is one of those times. If you are doing the breaking up: a) be very sure that you have decided to do this out of respect and not because you are afraid of great love, happiness, etc. And, b) be damn sure you do the breaking up part properly. There is a proper way to do everything, break-up etiquette is no different. Here's the way to do this and so to ensure you can sleep at night with your respect in tact: (forgive me for sounding like Dr. Seuss here...) Do not do it in a text, do not do it in a Tweet or on Facebook or even an E-Mail that's neat. It's a pathetic, low version of yourself and let's be honest, you and the person you thought was tres groovy at one time, deserves respect. [And, for the LDR folks, use your telephone or even better and preferred, a video call; it's just like in person but way better than a bottom feeder SMS]. Do it in person. It's just that simple.

2. Stop Feeling Like a Victim

Nothing drives this modern girl crazier or faster than people who act like they have zero power to do something about a situation. You have the power to change your feelings, thoughts, and actions. You and only you. No one can make you feel hurt, sad, etc. So, stop bitching and blaming of who did what to who and start positive, power action. Change the thought to a happy place thought, pet your cat, turn on your favorite music, go for a walk. ANYTHING to get out the negative rut that you will spiral down the drain and feel even worse!

3. Decide To Be Happy
You are only one who can do this in the end anyway, so...choose happiness.
Do it now.

4. Take Ownership Of The Relationship And See It For What It Was

So you dated this person for a time, so what? It's called dating for a reason, right? Just because you are not a 'perfect match' doesn't mean that either of you are bad, wrong or need therapy. It just means there are potentially better suited, matched people for BOTH OF YOU. There are many things that you liked about this person so take the good and drop the bad and be grateful for the experience as it has and will help you to learn about yourself and others the next time around.

5. The Final Step: Turn the Channel

After your have cut off the relationship/contact properly, stopped feeling like a victim, chose to be happy and took ownership of the relationship, it's time to turn the channel to a new and even better-matched experience. You do this by arriving at a place in your head and heart with the knowing that there is a perfect partner waiting for you and be open to that wonderful experience! Look for it! See yourself and your ex free, happy, healthy and moving forward to joy. Say to yourself you gave it your best shot, had fun and trust that everything happens for a reason.

"God doesn't give you the people you want. He gives you the people you need to help you, to hurt you, to have you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be." -Unknown

Hold your head up high, take with you the good and learn from 'the bad' and may you find peace in your heart quickly to heal from this break-up and move on to the next experience in love...because it is going to be great!

::MORE::
(These are books, authors, blogs and websites I have had personal experience with either recommended to me by a therapist years ago or I found them on my own. TLW never acts as your doctor, just information that was helpful and passing along. -Wendy)

Books on relationships, love, co-commitment by Gay and Kathryn Hendricks, Ph.D. [via AMAZON]
"Men Are From Mars. Women Are From Venus" by Dr. John Grey [WEBSITE]
Dating Coach and Relationship Blog by Evan Marc Katz [WEBSITE]
Baggage Reclaim Modern Relationship Advice by Natalie Lue [BLOG]
Mr. Unavailable and the Fallback Girl by Natalie Lue [BOOK via U.S. AMAZON | eBOOK]

No animals, children or trees were harmed during the making of this blogspot.

LOVE: How To Survive a LDR [Long Distance Relationship]

2014-03-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

Having a Skype chat with a girlfriend on the other side of the planet this past weekend, she asked me for some tips on how to keep her long distance relationship (LDR) with her beau fresh and in love when weeks go by and you haven't seen each other?

Having actually been in a few LDR's myself (okay, 3 to be exact) my heart flooded with reasons:

1) BE READY. Long distance relationships no matter where you are at on the relationship scale, it's all the same, and I have learned they are NOT for the weak, the immature or the insecure. LDR's are not impossible.

2) CONTACT. Make contact every day. It's so easy to do this and no excuse in our modern world. Phone, Skype, IM, Facetime, E-Mail or text. I'm not known to get deeply personal on social media but in my own relationship with my lifemate, we are ALWAYS in contact. After "good morning" or afternoon, whichever it happens to be, after the 100's of exchanges of hellos, updates on our days, throughout the entire day, we share a 1-2 hour phone call at the end of our day. It's a great time to really check in with each other, work out any issues that have popped up, current events, get to know each other better, plan your next visit, vacation, share hopes, wishes and dreams, or even getting into business together for world domination...you get the idea. :) Staying open to what's possible, always moving forward organically is a beautiful thing. (Note: be sure to have an unlimited talk/text mobile phone plan in place. I have an Internet/Online calling card too with Keep Calling[dot]com and so I can call anywhere on the planet so there's always a way to be in touch)

3) BE CREATIVE. Hallmark should send me a dollar every time I have mailed a card for no reason to someone I care for and my love life is no exception.

Picture it: after a long day and your mate opens his/her mailbox at home to find a red, blue, yellow or green envelope just for them, just from you. It brightens their day, reconnects your love and erases the thousands of miles on the map and reconfirms your commitment. I collect care package items throughout the year too: I'll pick up my mate's favorite music, books when I see them on sale, their favorite coffee, that cigar you know they will love 'just because' or you know they will be low on choices soon. Showing acts of kindness, love keeps bonds strong and besides, action is where it's always at and even more so when you don't have the luxury of seeing them everyday in person.

4) PRIORITIES. Keep your mate at priority number 1 or number 2; revolving at all times. No exceptions. They proved to you they are fabulous and deserve to be at the top of your radar screen so always #1 or #2.

5) VISIT. Make plans to visit. Have something to look forward to. Set that date, that vacation, that rendez-vous weekend in the country. A relationship that is just on the phone or pen pals via email is not a relationship; it's an arrangement. Save your money, cash in on your air miles and get on a plane, train or automobile and erase the mileage between you at an interval that works for both of you. Again, refer to #4 to keep this alive. :)

I have learned LDR's are not for everyone. Have a sense of humour. Show patience. Keep it real. Be yourself. Stop the drama. I have also learned that sometimes it is very wise to 'break a few rules' and date outside of your 'I only date people within 50 miles of my house only' rule for that one incredible person that makes your heart sing each and every time and you just know.... they are your future.

-Wendy x