Birthdays! They come once a year and we should treat them for what they are... a celebration of life! While I can describe the joys (and trials) of turning 25 I thought I might let the gif's speak for themselves.


TURNING 25: EXPLAINED BY GIFS

1. Waking up like...

2. Entering an existential crisis when you realize you are a quarter of a century old

3. And you're pretty much an adult

4. How you expect to be greeted at work 

5. How you actually get greeted at work

6. Realizing you have a year until you're kicked off your parent's insurance

7. But on the plus side, you can now rent a car without added fees

8. You have to reply to endless Facebook posts

9. You know you'll be spoiled by the people that love you 

10. How you imagine your night to go

11. But you're a responsible adult now, so you go to bed early

12. Happy birthday, you wonderful you!








If it's your birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Isn't 25 great? What do you think? What's the best/worst thing of being 25 years old? Don't forget to comment and share with others who might enjoy this!

Hello and happy (late) Thanksgiving! This year, Scotty's family decided to have Thanksgiving brunch in Los Angeles! The review on the blog today is for Maggiano's Little Italy near The Grove shopping center. I have to admit that I am not big on traditional Thanksgiving foods so when I learned that we would be eating Italian for Thanksgiving I definitely got in the spirit. I hope you find the information below useful! Let me know if you decide to try Maggiano's next year for Thanksgiving!

Maggiano's Little Italy for Thanksgiving
Location: Maggiano's Little Italy in Los Angeles, California
Address: 189 The Grove Dr, Suite Z80, Los Angeles, CA 90036  
Cost: $44.95 per person
 
Arrival
I highly recommend getting a reservation, especially if you have a large party. Our reservation was at noon, the restaurant didn't seem that busy when we arrived but it did start filling up closer to 1:00 pm. There are different rooms to sit in: the lower inside, outside terrace, and upstairs private rooms.

The Setting

Outside Terrace

We got seated in the outside terrace. As you can see, there are a few empty seats. This picture was taken as soon as we arrived (noon) and the tables began filling up a little while later. We had a bread basket on our table along with a bowl of olive oil with balsamic vinegar.

The Menu

The concept of the menu is pretty self-explanatory, there are a few options per course and you pick two, not counting the first course. Servings are limitless and you can order as much as you want of the two options that you picked. The only downside is you can't mix and match for the refills. So say you picked the house salad and the Cesar salad, then those are the only refills you can get. But honestly, it's all-you-can-eat, so really there is no downside.

First Course

Bruschettas

On the left is the Artichoke and Roasted Pepper Bruschetta and on the right is the Classic Tomato Bruschetta. We got a platter full enough for our party of 6. We knew we wanted to save room for the real deal (pasta and turkey) so we didn't go past one platter of the first course.

Second Course

Maggiano's Salad

Cesar Salad

We chose the Maggiano's Salad and the Cesar Salad for our second course. The Maggiano's Salad was my favorite and the Cesar Salad tasted just like another Cesar Salad. They were good but again we were mostly anxious for the main course.

Third Course

Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia with Sage, Lemons, & Tomatoes

This is where the fun begins! Our choices for this course were the Traditional Roast Turkey Breast with Gravy and the Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia. I apologize because due to the excitement/hunger I was not able to get a picture of the turkey.

The plating consisted of turkey slices with some gravy. While the plating was nothing out of this world, the taste was incredible! The meat was extremely tender and delicious. I notice (as I am writing this post) that the turkey already comes with gravy AND stuffing... We ordered stuffing as a side but in the future, I would not do this so that we can have two different sides plus the stuffing that is already included. I am an advocate of more bang for your buck!

The tilapia was nice. I was definitely more blown away with the turkey, which surprised me as I am not a big meat or poultry eater. Whatever your preference is, if you are looking for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, get the turkey. A cranberry sauce is included as well which is nice!

Focaccia Sausage Stuffing

The stuffing (pictured) was delicious! The addition of sausage was a nice touch and added to the hartiness of the meal. Stuffing is always my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner/meal.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

The mashed potatoes were good. They weren't anything special but looking back at the picture I took, they sure look good.

Gnocchi & Italian Sausage

I want to take a second to highlight the gnocchi because it was my favorite item on the menu. Just looking at the picture makes my mouth water! I knew going into this meal my favorite part would be the pasta because Maggiano's specializes in Italian cuisine. The gnocchi has bits of sausage that add to the overall flavor and the pasta has amazing consistency! We definitely ordered about 4 or 5 of this plate and I recommend getting this if you are thinking of having your next Thanksgiving dinner at Maggiano's.

Pasta of the Day

We picked the pasta of the day because our server described it so deliciously, we couldn't help ourselves. Essentially, it is a giant tortellini stuffed with cheese and chicken on some white sauce. I wasn't a fan. It really wasn't that great and we actually had a couple left over. Now I'm kicking myself because the Cheese Raviolis sounded so good! So conclusion: I would choose a different option. Maybe have the raviolis and I can live bi-curiously through you.

Fourth Course

Warm Apple Crostada

I have a personal motto: There is always room for dessert. In this case, there is always room for two desserts, the warm apple crostada and tiramisu. My favorite dessert is tiramisu and I will have to say I liked the flavor of the crostada more.

Tiramisu

Cappuccino

Although I enjoyed the flavor of the crostada more, I love the experience of having coffee with my tiramisu. I ordered a cappuccino and it took a little while for it to arrive at our table, but it wasn't a big deal as I understood more people were arriving and the feast is so complete that I can imagine the servers were very busy.

I think setting our reservation at noon was smart because we were attended to very nicely and received our food with perfect timing. More on the service later below.

The Service
Part of having a positive restaurant experience is the service that comes with it. Our server was very attentive to our needs and brought us extra gravy (a bowlful) and cranberry sauce. He was on top of our drink needs and we didn't have to wait long for refills. As the restaurant started filling up around 1:30 service did become slower but at that point we didn't need as much attention and we were happy to just sit at the table and talk. I really appreciated how my plate was removed and replaced after the second course. My favorite part of this whole experience is being able to take home leftovers. Scotty and I have been indulging on Maggiano's for the past 2 days and it has been glorious!

Extra
If you indeed decided to dine at Maggiano's (this particular location) for your next Thanksgiving meal, I have some parking recommendations that we wish we had known. Maggiano's validates parking at The Grove's parking structure for two hours. If you plan on arriving and eating within this time frame, this is the best option for you. If you want to spend some time around the area (The Grove is a nice shopping mall with a movie theatre), then I recommend paying for valet parking in front of Maggiano's for $10. Otherwise, parking at The Grove's parking structure will cost $24.

The Takeaway
Once again, I have managed to write a very long post. I like to hit the details in case someone is interested and when it comes to an important decision like choosing your Thanksgiving meal, I believe details are important.

So here are the major points to know about:

• Your menu consists of Thanksgiving foods with classic Italian options
• Cost per person is $44.95
• You get to pick 2 items per course and it is unlimited food refills for only those 2 items 
• Arrive early for fast food and little service wait time
• Park at The Grove parking structure if you plan to spend less than 2 hours at Maggiano's- valet park for +2 hours
• Leftovers for days

This concludes the first review on Sand Soul and Spirits! I really enjoyed our Thanksgiving brunch and being able to spend time with Scotty's family. I recommend Maggiano's for your next Thanksgiving venture and hope you found this review helpful. Maggiano's has many locations all over the USA, you can find the nearest one to you here.

How did you and your family spend Thanksgiving? Have you gone to Maggiano's for their Thanksgiving menu? What did you think of it? Or did this review help you decide what you'll do for next year? I would love to read your opinions below, leave a comment! Thanks for reading today's post! 

Ahhh, Black Friday. What can be better than a day who's sole purpose is to sell things we actually want at reduced prices? That electronic you've been eyeing will probably be on sale. I actually got my Taylor guitar on a Black Friday sale. You'll find something.

Every month, I'll scout Amazon and find either useful or random items to spotlight. Here are November's finds.

AMAZON FINDS: Black Friday Edition (2017)

1. Amazon Echo

In case you missed it, I recommended the Amazon Echo on this past post. It's got a good discount through Black Friday and I think that if you have been wanting to try it out, now is the time to do it (you'll save some $$). SNEAK PEEK: If you enjoy reading Sand Soul and Spirits then there is an exciting opportunity that has to do with Amazon Echo coming up for the new year. Heads up! You'll want to have one of these bad boys.

2. Anne Klein Watch

This watch is so stylish and minimalist. It instantly caught my eye and it had to go on the list! Who said Black Friday was only for electronics?

3. Power Strip

Don't tell me you couldn't use one of these in your house right now. And this one is on sale from $48.99 to $8.99! I love a good deal.

4. Multiple USB Charger

Charge your whole family's phones, tablets, camera batteries, and smart watches at the same time. Or be a good person and become the phone charging hub at the airport. A lot of practical uses for this one.

5. Fuzzy Blanket

Even in southern California you could use this. Imagine waking up to watch a beautiful sunrise in the crispness of the morning, with a cup of warm coffee between your hands and a cozy blanket around you. It's the little things.

6. Kombucha Starter Kit

Uh... why did nobody tell me this was a thing?? I probably could have paid this off with all the Kombuchas I buy.

7. Kombucha On Tap

This just keeps getting better and better!

8. Veggie Spiralizer

I didn't touch my veggie spiralizer until I found a filling and amazing spaghetti squash recipe (here). I have now used it more times this month than this past year. This is a good addition to your kitchen after an intense Thanksgiving dinner!





What did you think of this month's list? Did you find something you liked? Comment below and stay tuned for exiting opportunities with Amazon Echo. Thank you for supporting Sand Soul and Spirits!

When I think about things to write about I usually get inspiration from things and events that have affected me personally. In late 2016 I started experiencing issues with my gallbladder (though I didn't know it at the time). I remember looking online to try and find someone who had similar symptoms and feelings as me and to my surprise I couldn't find much!

I want to take a few minutes to write about the process of

• Feeling something was up with my body
• The uncertainty of what was happening
• The pain that comes with gallbladder attacks 
• The choice of getting surgery to remove my gallbladder
• Life with no gallbladder

I'm not going to include any stats or information about the gallbladder and stones in itself because I found that information to be in abundance online. Gallbladder issues are quite common and there are certain aspects (such as ethnicity, age, lifestyle) that can create these problems.

So let's start from the very beginning. 
I began noticing a change in my body in mid 2016. By change I mean something that felt like acid reflex. I remember very vividly not being able to fall asleep one night due to this "acid reflex" and no amount of Toms would help.

Mind you, I've never had acid reflex before in my life. I had drank a lot of champagne fruit punch that night though (it was heavenly) so I didn't think much of it.

Fast forward to late 2016. At this point I had gone through a few "acid reflex attacks", as I called them, which consisted of slight uncomfort for approximately two hours and no remedy. The pain got to be pretty unbearable at one point that I thought about going to urgent care.

I should probably mention my pain threshold is pretty high.

The attacks only occurred at night and were pretty random at this point (more on this later). It wasn't until December 2016 when I found out these "acid reflex attacks" were actually "gallstone attacks" and finding out wasn't fun at all.

The day it went down.
I was traveling in Hawaii when I got one of these attacks. TMI (too much information) to follow: It was late and the usual pain was happening, the only difference was this time, I was throwing up. 7 times to be exact...yes, I was counting.

The pain got to be so much that I went to urgent care. I was crouched over the entire ride there and time seemed to stop!! I don't even think I am over exaggerating this you guys, it was that bad.

Long story short, I got there and waited maybe 5 minutes before I was attended to. I must have looked terrible as I was attended to pretty quickly and got tests done. My nurse gave me some morphine and it seemed to work as I was feeling better than ever! The doctor informed me I had a gallstone and prescribed me two medicines: one for pain and one for nausea.

Now, fast forward to June 2017. I had been dealing with gallstone pains on average once a month. This was pretty consistent and to this day I am shocked at how the body seems to move in cycles. The process was always the same: Start feeling pain, take my pain medication, feel sleepy, fall asleep. A couple of times the pain was so bad I had to take two pills.

One beautiful day in June 2017 I ran the Bryce Canyon Half-Marathon in Utah. That night I experienced pain so intense that persisted even after taking two pills, which was the most I could take. This was the last straw and I decided I could no longer go on like this. I later found out dehydration can cause gallbladder attacks (that would have been good to know).

So I went through the next process:  

Removing the gallbladder.
This basically consisted of:

1. Getting more tests done. At this point I found out I had TWO gallstones now. I grew a whole other gallstone in 6 months! This is bewildering and slightly gross to me.
2. Getting an endoscopy test (and asking for Cafe Rio while being high on anesthesia)
3. Getting the gallbladder removed at the hospital.
4. Recovering 

The removal is fairly easy and painless. I was extremely nervous as I had never undergone surgery before. Luckily, I scheduled a super early appointment so I was half asleep when I was being prepped and I was equipped with a stress relieving, heart rate decreasing piano playlist on Spotify (Music Therapy Win).

Here is my recollection of the surgery: Being asked to take my earrings off (and being scared of my newer piercings closing up), being wheeled to the surgery room, being put on anesthesia, breathing, and literally 3 seconds of consciousness.

Next thing I knew, I was being woken up and being told everything went fine! And then I went back to sleep. And then I was woken up again and checked up on. Basically this went on for a while.

You can leave a few hours after the surgery but in my case, I did not want to wake up so we stayed in a hospital until the afternoon (no joke). My poor mother and brother were with me the entire time while I slept. Completely pain free, just sleepy.

Recovery.
Let's talk about the recovery.

I believe they ask me to refrain from strenuous activity and lifting for 2 weeks and I was expected to do minimal walking for a couple of days after surgery. I would do some laps around the kitchen and then return to my nest on the couch to watch Netflix. Not much of a lifestyle change for me.  

Everybody is different and I've heard of people who return to work withing a few days. My doctor even told me of a patient he had who got on a cruise the next day! I'm not sure if any of this is reassuring or comforting to you. I had the best time being pampered by my family!

The toughest part about the entire recovery was removing the tape they put on my stitches. I realized that I was being a big baby about it though when I went to my check-up with the doctor and he ripped them off without harming me. I repeat: I was a big baby.

Concerns.
I will mention the concerns I had during the entirety of this process. This may seem trivial to most but my biggest concern were the scars. I don't know why as I rarely walk around without a shirt on.

The surgeon made 4 incisions on my body, 3 on my torso and 1 in my belly button. They are the tiniest of incisions and are kind of cute to me now. Speaking honestly, I barely notice my scars and am proud of them. They are a part of who I am.

My other concern was how my body would react without a gallbladder. And this, my friends, is what I continue to struggle with even to this day. It has been 1 year and 3 months since my surgery and my digestion is no longer the same. Does it cause me problems? Yes. Do I get frustrated my stomach isn't as sturdy as it used to be? Yes. Do I miss having gallstone attacks and being rushed to urgent care?No.

So do the surgery. Get your gallbladder removed. No amount of digestion problems is worth the pain. At least not for me. 




Looking back on this blog post, it is pretty long. If you are reading this (and read the entire thing) THANKS! I want this blog to be a resource for people so if you had to get anything from this post here is what I would hope you learned:

• Dehydration can cause gallstone attacks. Think twice about running a half-marathon.
• Go to the doctor early on. The doctor can give you some medication so attacks may be slightly more tolerable. 
• Scars are history to your body. No shame!
• Everybody's body reacts differently. Some watch Netflix for weeks, some go back to work, while others take cruises. Just listen to your doctors recommendations. 
• Do what is best for you. If your gallstone attacks are not bad OR you don't have any don't feel pressured into getting surgery to remove your gallbladder. I do know that some attacks may be a risk to your health and then you have to have emergency gallbladder removal. 
• Be aware of timing. When I started my journey with my gallstone (which I named Gullum), I began with one stone. By the time of the gallbladder removal I had two stones! I suggest getting the procedure done before your whole gallbladder is filled with Gollums. 

Are you thinking of getting your gallbladder out? Or have you had the surgery? How has life changed for you since the procedure? Did you have similar experiences as me? I would love to hear about it in the comment section below! Thank you for reading this blog post! I hope you found some useful information! 

If you found this information useful, would you mind sharing to to someone who could also find it useful? Thanks!

So part of this blog is putting together a collection of thoughts about various things, primarily self probing and exploring various thoughts. This is why mindfulness is a big deal for me and many others. We really get so caught up in endless thoughts that in a way seem to spiral out of control! And I understand that not everyone is this way. This is something else I am learning, not everyone thinks like me.

The inspiration for this particular post came from finding myself in a situation in which I felt uncomfortable. I will be vague because as you can imagine, it is not easy to share ones deepest thoughts so easily. This wasn't necessarily a bad situation...it would look like an everyday normal experience for most people, but what matters is that I felt uncomfortable. So the big question is: how can you make sure you are making the right decisions or in this case, putting yourself in the best situation for yourself?

Looking back at what I would have done differently, I can safely say there are a couple things I could have done to avoid the situation completely and therefore ridden myself of any uncomfortable feelings. But you know what? Life is not about avoiding the uncomfortable. If you did, you would not be able to grow. Growing comes from discomfort.

So before deviating from my original idea too much, here is what I would have done to put myself in the right situation.

1. Acknowledging and validating my feelings
2. Being honest

1. Acknowledging and validating my feelings 
I knew from the start that the situation in which I would find myself in would make me uncomfortable. Think of roller coasters...you build up the anxiety/excitement/adrenaline during the cue and by the time you are in the roller coaster you are ready to let it out. That is how I felt only I wasn't cuing a theme park ride that I knew would be over in a couple of minutes.

I knew from the start that the situation would make me uncomfortable, awkward, and decrease my self-esteem. These are not positive feelings and having that sense of introspection is a big deal. So where did I go wrong? I didn't know how to get out of the situation, which leads me to...

2. Being honest
I am pretty transparent and I feel a sense of trust from other's who are true to themselves and respect even their flaws. I wanted to come clean to my friend about the anxiety that the situation would give me.

This is hard to do.

It is hard to let someone see who you are and what your biggest fears are. It is hard to say your insecurities out loud. It is hard to be open with someone and trust them when you may not have that trust.


So what do you do when your resources are used up and you have no choice but to face the situation? You cope. This is, to me, how you grow in life. From being put in those situations you don't want to be in but growing stronger from them.

In my particular situation, I found myself being proactive while feeling anxious and practiced a few strategies I have learned in the past to help me with my feelings. Those strategies are:

1. Using logic
2. Positive affirmations
3. Breathing

1. Using logic
I am in no way the perfect advocate for logical thoughts. I am emotions driven and think with my heart not my head. But I have learned this about myself so when the situation arises I can turn on some premeditated logical thoughts and talk these through my head when things go out of control. Examples of this are "there is nothing wrong with you", "you know this is how you feel around this person", "believe you are great", you get the idea. This goes hand in hand with strategy number two.

2. Positive affirmation
Positive affirmations are more powerful than we think. It can rewire the way we think but it takes time and patience. So I would take a premeditated thought and repeat it over and over again. Kind of like meditation. Not only is this helpful to increase those negative self-esteem thoughts that creep into my head, it grounds me when I am physically somewhere I don't want to be.

3. Breathing 
THE MOST important strategy by far. Breathing is the start and the end. By visualizing my breath, my focus is now inward and not on external factors such as other people and what their thoughts may be. My breathing practice goes something like this: Breath in slowly for about 4 seconds, hold for a 2-3 seconds, and slowly (and quietly) let it all out. I do this subtly and I've never had anyone notice me working on my breathing before.


At the end of this experience had I wish I hadn't been in the situation at all? Yes
But am I glad I went through it so I can look back and be thankful for the growth that happened? YES!

The moral of the story is to listen to your feelings and make smart decisions. You know yourself best and if you have an iffy feelings about something, there's a reason for it. Above all remember that you have one hundred percent control of your life and no one or thing can put value on yourself. However, if you do find yourself in those situations (it happens) that cause you stress and anxiety, look for ways to grow from it.


Can you think of a situation in which you were forced to do something you didn't want to? Did you feel uncomfortable and unworthy? What did you do to cope that other's can learn from? Thank you for reading a collection of my thoughts.

The engagement ring is the first step of anything wedding related but to be honest, the feeling of marriage didn't quite sink in until I saw my man wearing a wedding band! We put so much emphasis on the engagement ring; between the design, color, and diamond, a woman can find so many unique styles that fit her personality.

Who says men can't have a similar experience with their ring?! I am especially in support of promoting the community and small business owners so below I have highlighted some rings that are worth the price and you won't be finding on other people. Each band has a direct link to the provider with pricing, click on the name besides each number.

10 UNIQUE MEN'S BANDS

1. Wood

This ring is made from authentic whiskey barrel stave and I can't help but to think this band is meant for a man who wants to have a good time. I like how the wood has a polish and you can customize the outer rim with different metals.

2.  Tungsten

Tungsten is a popular choice worn on people these days. It's definitely an affordable choice and it looks sleek and modern. This particular ring is called "The Baller" so give your man a compliment by giving him this ring.

3. Thin

If I were a man looking for a wedding band, I imagine I would pick something like this. I love the dainty design that would feel practically invisible on my hand. If your man isn't big on jewelry, I would recommend this design. This is also a popular choice on women.

4. Color

I actually wasn't planning on including this ring until I saw it's name, "The Blue Steel". The name in itself is unique enough but the Zoolander reference puts this ring on the top of the list for uniqueness. AND how cute would it be if you have a blue stone on your engagement ring? The perfect pair.

5. Rose Gold

This is actually the ring Scotty has shown interest in for himself. We love that it has a rough exterior yet there is still a visible hint of rose gold that matches my engagement ring. It's all in the details people! I can post a review if this is the route he wants to go, stay tuned.

6. Diamond

Who says diamonds are only a girl's best friend? Men can wear all the bling they want and what better place than your every day jewelry? This ring has a great sized white diamond that invokes minimalism with class.

7. Texture

What I love about this ring is the significance of the detail and the secret element of only you knowing what's in it. There is nothing more personal than a fingerprint (ask the FBI).

8. Turquoise

I actually have not seen many colorful wedding bands out there (unless you count the silicon bands people use for the outdoors/etc.) This one has a pop of beautiful color as well as some wood to tone it down.

9. Square

Want to have a sharper look? Go for a square! (Sorry, puns will be thrown out in this blog like nobody's business). I really appreciate how this ring is made to order and can be customized. And props to anyone confident enough to veer from traditional round bands!

10. Imperfect

This ring features both an imperfect outer design AND shape. This, to me, embodies handcrafted and home-y qualities that is rare to find in jewelry. I expect this band to be a great conversation starter at any social gathering!


And that is it for this blog post, happy shopping! Please feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions or concerns. And THANK YOU for taking the time to read my humble words.

Registries, the most taboo subject of weddings. On one hand, it is polite and etiquette to gift your host or hostess when attending a party, it is also a big help for a couple just starting out their lives together. On the other hand, not many guests can afford to buy a gift, particularly if they are traveling from out of state or country. Whatever the case, registries are now part of wedding planning that couples must think about.

But what if you and your significant other are living together and have been for a while? You already have all the kitchen appliances you need and enough linens to stock your closet. Don't just throw the towel on registries and opt for cash/honeymoon funds! Below are 10 HIGHLY useful items you can put on your registry for those guests that may not feel comfortable gifting money at your wedding.



10 MUST HAVE REGISTRY ITEMS

1. Projector

We live in a day and age where T.V. is becoming obsolete. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are releasing series that don't require a T.V. to watch. A projector is a unique way to display these images and versatile enough that you can take it outside and have a backyard movie night or use it while traveling! Through research on many projectors, Scotty and I added this projector to our registry.

2. Knife Set

In my opinion, this is the most exciting item of the registry. If you spend any time at all in the kitchen you need knives. And believe it or not you may actually enjoy cooking if you use decent knives. YES they are expensive but this is why they are put on your registry. For some reason it is culturally accepted to ask for expensive gifts for your wedding but not your birthday so take advantage of this! Now, if a knife set isn't something financially available (or you just don't want one) add a nice chef's knife and paring knives by themselves.

3. Upgrade Kitchen Appliances

Do you still have the pots and pans from you and your fiance's college days? We do. For us, upgrading meant having a lid on our pots. For you it may mean having sturdier cookware! Whatever it is, this may be the best time to upgrade. And along with the knife set, you can always put one or two specific pieces you need.

4. Experiences

If you want to do things instead of getting them then adding experiences to your registry may drop a subtly hint without asking for money. Many registry out there (such as MyRegistry) offer services that let you pick out a fun date idea such as romantic dinners or even thrilling adventures like skydiving! 

5. Amazon Gift Card

I add this to the list because I don't know a single person who hasn't shopped at Amazon. With wedding planning and festivities going on, a few weeks after the wedding you may realize you really need something you forgot to add on your registry! For the wedding guest, this is an easy way to gift money without giving cash at the party and for you, there will most likely be something you can buy from the endless Internet shopping Gods.


6. Google Home/ Amazon Echo

 

This is one of those things that you don't know you need until you have one. I say Google Home/ Amazon Echo because I'm not affiliated to either. I have the Google Home and let me just say it has made my life easier. I use it to set timers while I am cooking or checking the time/weather when I am in a rush. There is something so nice about setting your alarm for the next day without having to grab your phone.

7. Cooking Utensil Set

While you most likely already have at least a couple cooking spoons lying around why not start fresh with a matching set or a sturdier set? This is one of those items that you will use on the daily and may have to replace throughout your life, so why not start fresh?

8. Food Processor 

Or any item you have been putting off getting and being fine without. This is the time to treat yourself! So put that food processor, juicer, pasta maker, veggie spiralizer, on your list!

9. Camera

 

If you don't already have one of these DSLR cameras and you love to take pictures, put it on your registry! While these cameras can get bulky and are heavier than your phone, there's no doubt the image quality is significantly better. You are going to want to capture all the firsts as you officially start of your life as Mr. and Mrs. and you will be happy you got beautiful pictures of your honeymoon or your children growing up!

10. Vitamix Blender or Outdoor Furniture

Okay, okay. I have to be completely honest, I didn't come up with this one! I asked Scotty what he thought was important (since both of you should benefit) and this was his answer. Scotty is really into nutrition and smoothies so he has always wanted a nice blender, how can you say no to that? And when I asked if there was anything else, he said outdoor furniture because we really needed it when we moved into our apartment. So to summarize, I would say get anything you really need at the moment!



What do you think of this list? Would you add anything else? I use MyRegistry to help me keep track of everything I want. Comment below and thanks for stopping by!