1 // What's the silliest thing you and your significant other have needed to compromise on? We don't really have to compromise on a whole lot, but our movie selections. I'm more of a horror/action/documentary kind of guy. While she is more of the comedy/romantic/love movie type. 2 // If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 must haves would you bring with you? My wife, a 440HC survival knife and a magnifying glass. 3 // Talents aside, what is your dream job? Oh, wow. Traveling the world with my wife and photographing our journey and the amazing things that we would see. 4 // What are three things on your bucket list? Hm. Going to Egypt, seeing Europe and being a parent. 5 // What kind of date is your favorite to go on with your significant other? Picking up steaks and cooking together and snuggling up in our theatre and watching a movie. That, or going to play pool because it reminds me of when we first met. And Staycations!
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As Mr. Charming and I prepare to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary next week I wanted to share our wedding story. I've shared our story of how we met & fell in love & I shared his amazing, romantic and whimsical proposal story - I've even shared our engagement photos, but our wedding... a day that was so special, blessed & magical beyond words I had yet to share that all here. It was a day that was personal & shared with our closest family & friends and I guess I just held on to that for a little while. I'm beyond blessed to call myself Mrs. Pimental and the morning of our wedding was not short on butterflies. And love. And excitement. And that magic I spoke of earlier. Lifestyle blogger Summer Telban of Coffee With Summer wrote about her wedding & divided it into many posts. I loved that she did that because it allowed readers to linger a little longer and feel like they really got to sink into her special day. So that is how I've decided to tell our wedding story. The morning began waking up in a hotel suite with my maid of honor & sister, Ashley, and my bridesmaids Jessica, Amber and Katrina. The boys had a room on the same floor. Our rehearsal and rehearsal cocktail party had happened the night before so we all stayed in the same hotel as it was just minutes from the venue. I awoke to my husband-to-be delivering a love note to one of my bridesmaids to deliver to me and I began the day so calm. Calm - with happy butterflies all a flutter in my stomach - so when our room service was delivered (I LOVE room service, its one of those little luxuries I adore about travel.) I couldn't eat much of my omelette or fruit. I did however, manage to have some champagne with the girls that morning though. Once we started getting ready we sunk into the rhythm of the morning and time just flew by. We put on a mix of wedding tunes I had loaded into my iPhone for this special occasion (think every romantic comedy wedding soundtrack blended with traditional wedding songs and that was our eclectic wedding mix, haha) My bridesmaid Jessica took me to the salon to have my hair done once breakfast was complete and my vows were finalized and on the way back to the hotel we bought out every cake pop Starbucks had (pre-gluten free days) and of course I got my "Bride" latte for the day. Once back in the room, my sister Ashley did my makeup and I finished it off with a pale pink gloss. Then it was time to get into my dress! My dress was super special. as it was one of the first things we bought for the wedding. And it was totally not planned that way. After Mr. Charming proposed in October 2010, my mom wanted to take me wedding dress shopping when I got back from Florida for fun and to "just look". Well, as an emotional, in love, newly engaged woman, I knew just looking was going to be hard, but I also knew I wanted to take the time to find the right dress. I'm one of the Monica Geller-wedding binder-dreamer types from way back so I thought I knew everything I wanted to a T. But then, your real wedding day approaches, and as I prayed for God to guide our day and not plan it by my own visions, it transformed from everything I thought I wanted to everything I didn't even know could exist. It was picture perfection and God's presence was in every little detail. Back to the dress. My mom took me to a dress shop Fall of 2010 (our wedding was September 2011) and I tried on a few dresses, one or two maybe, and then I put it on. The dress. As I stepped out of the dressing room in the dress I would be married in, my mom and I looked at each other and instantly started to cry. This was it. This was THE dress. My dress. Problem was, I hadn't even sat down to begin the budget with Mr. Charming as we planned to pay for the wedding ourselves. And then, my mom looked at me and smiled and said that she had planned for a "just in case moment' just like this and bought me my dream dress. It's what movies and bridal reality shows are made of people. My mom is one classy lady and I am forever grateful for her. Dress or no dress, she brought my wedding so much joy. I loved every detail about my dress.From the corseted top and intricate swarovski beads to the special moment my sister and I had as she tied me into it, I felt like a princess. It had a long train, covered in sparkling beads and I decided to go without a veil and just use accessories in my hair. I wanted to SEE my groom at the end of the aisle so I went again the veil tradition. And best of all - it was COMFORTABLE! I also loved every detail about that morning. From time spent with my girls, to visiting my niece who I hadn't seen in almost 20 years, to just the love that surrounded us all in those moments. We laughed, we cried, we sang, we danced and we celebrated that I would soon be walking down the aisle to my HUSBAND! My girls wore chocolate brown satin strapless gowns and my sister, my MOH, wore a mocha colored one that was gathered and gorgeous. When choosing our colors my "dream binder of the past" showed crimson and silver. But God led us to a natural, rustic palette that celebrated the earth and His creations. Brown, white, sage and mocha just fit then and it still fits today with the path God had led us on and who He has led us to become. Stay tuned for the following posts in the series.
If you are married what was your favorite "getting ready" moment? One of the ten characteristics of being a Proverbs 31 wife points to health. Health – A Virtuous Woman cares for her body. She prepares healthy food for her family. (Proverbs 31: 14 – 15, Proverbs 31: 17, 1 Corinthians 6: 19, Genesis 1: 29, Daniel 1, Leviticus 11) Today, after Mr. Charming and I wrapped two extremely productive but crazy workdays, I went to the kitchen to see what I could prepare for dinner. Excited to kick back and enjoy the evening after staring at a computer screen for what felt like 24 hours, my poor husband walked in from work totally sick. I am thankful, not for his illness, but for the fact this is one of two times he's been sick in almost three years. We use to catch EV-ER-Y-THING when we were eating the Standard American Diet, but since going primarily Paleo and upping our vitamin, probiotic and fruit and veggie intake our immune system has gotten a much needed boost. We came to find out that many of those who attended a party we hosted this weekend were sick and he couldn't escape the bug. So I popped back into the kitchen with a new goal in mind: Healing.
While I always aim for nutritious, when one of us is battling the ills, I always like to find things that are rich, green and full of vitamins. I opted for a large pan of roasted asparagus drizzled in a little olive oil and plenty of minced garlic for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. I had already planned to cook turkey tonight, so I added onions and red & yellow bell pepper for vitamins & of course - more garlic. Normally I cut out grains when fighting germs to let the gut heal, but since he has to take medication this time around, I wanted sustenance in his stomach, so I made some organic brown rice pasta tossed in a healing both broth for flavor. I served all this up with plenty of fluids & a refreshing bowl of cubed watermelon for dessert. Cool on his sore throat and detoxifying for the kidneys. What are your go to dinners when you're fighting something? And how do you show your husband and family 'health' as it pertains to Proverbs 31? For the third post in the Guy Behind The Blog Series link-up hosted by the beautiful soon-to-be-newlywed Betsy of Heavens to Betsy, the topic is love. So very fitting. This month Mr. Charming gives us insight to love in the past, present and our future. Enjoy! #GBTB: August Edition 1 // Share a funny wedding story with us - it could be from your own or one you attendended. It would have to be my sisters wedding. My brother in law Randy was at the alter, and he said "I Do" before the pastor was done asking him the question. The pastor then had to stop and ask if he could continue, and asked that he agree and say "I Do" once he knew everything he was agreeing to. [laughs] 2 // On the topic of love, who was your childhood crush? I would have to say a little girl named Malia in Kindergarten or first grade. She pinned me down as kissed me on the playground. Mandi's Note: I totally did this to a boy, Eric, when I was in kindergarten. Mr. Charming just seems to like women who know what they want ;) [laughs] 3 // What is your top love language? What is your significant other's love language? We've glanced at the book briefly, but we serve each other in all ways. We didn't have to pick just one path of how we show our love. 4 // How did you meet your significant other? We were very good friend a long time ago, over 15 years ago, we lost touch, and 9 years ago we reconnected. We'd both been through career changes, school and former relationships and knew that what we wanted in life was each other. 5 // How did you propose? I had a lot of fun planning it and I knew it would be something very memorable for the both of us due to the things we love to do together. You can read the full story here. Read More Like This:
1 // What is your all-time favorite food?
Hot wings. And I enjoy a really good meatloaf or pot roast. 2 // Who is the cook between you and your significant other? I would say we split the responsibility of cooking. We both really enjoy cooking great meals for one another. She has taught me a lot about clean eating and how to alter recipes with good ingredients to make them more healthy. 3 // What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? My dad used to make me mayonnaise and banana sandwhiches. My sister and my mom were disgusted at the fact I ate them. 4 // Are there any foods that you absolutely detest? Coconut. I am a texture person. I don’t like sauerkraut for the same reason. I don’t like grittiness. 5 // What is your favorite local, little-known, or hole in the wall place to eat? My wife and I love the Veggie Grill in Long Beach, CA. It has a wide array of foods she can eat and it has a good atmosphere.
1 // What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on? My wife and I just took an eight day vacation down the California Coastline. We got a little inventive with each day and decided to plan something different. We saw eight cities, where part of the time we camped, part of the trip we stayed in a beach house – we also hit Disneyland and various coastal Farmer’s Markets to cook up some great meals seaside. All in all, I enjoyed that vacation the most because it gave us a wide array of experiences all in one week. 2 // If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Probably England or Paris, France. Some place in Europe, I think it would be an amazing experience because of the cultural differences. 3 // Are there any summer traditions that you have or would like to start? (think things like big picnics, summer activities, bonfires, or day trips!) Being from Arizona, I’d like to start spending every summer in San Diego. [laughs] I’d like to finish landscaping our backyard so that we have a place to gather and have BBQ’s. 4 // The 4th of July is coming up! What is a must-have picnic or BBQ food for you? I like a really sweet watermelon! 5 // Think about your ideal vacation… are you in a cozy cabin, camping in a tent, or hanging in a hotel? Camping in a tent! To the partial dismay of Mandi, my wife. She is more of a hotel-spa-day kind of girl. Coming soon - the July edition, where Mr. Charming talks all about his love of being a foodie! Photos are one of my loves in life. I guess it's perfect I married a photographer. I love that they capture a moment. Freeze it in time. Allowing you to revisit it whenever you want to. Swimming in the memories, reliving the joy. Our engagement shoot was one of my favorite photo shoots I've ever done. Our talented wedding photography, Charli Groen, captured us so perfectly. Here are a few of my favorites from the day. Hope you enjoyed. To read our engagement story, click here.
lady boss - 1 wife - 0This idea of "doing it all" can be damn hard sometimes. Am I right ladies? My whole life I dreamed that one day I would be the ideal wife. The Proverbs 31 wife we all strive to be. Cooking all the meals, taking care of the house and the future littles. Sweeping & singing, cooking & cleaning and all the while caring for my husband and going above and beyond like I did when we first started dating. But that's not the only dream I had. I also dreamed of living my dreams. The one's God designed just for me. Touring the world with my music. Running a successful business. Writing anything and everything I could get my little creative hands on. And making designated time for Mr. Charming and I to entertain and spend time with the people we care most about outside of just the two of us. But somedays, ok, most days, doing both is just. Really hard. I like to think I'm pretty good with time management. On good days I start the day in prayer and focused, taking quiet time with God to set my intentions for the day. Then, I make my lists and my schedule. But then there are the days when the motivation lacks, the jobs take longer to complete, new meetings are scheduled, or the puppy rolls in mud requiring a 20 minute bath before dinner, and the schedule gets 1, 2 or even four hours behind. I say this because today I've taken on a large freelance client, three social media clients, and had a two-hour lunch meeting and when I got home around 3:30, I realized the dinner we are supposed to eat at 7pm was never put in the crock pot. In fact, it's still in the freezer. Meaning that the dinner menus I so proudly made on Sunday with each meal meticulously planned will be off by a day and tonight we will probably end up eating leftovers. Or a salad. Or gluten-free cereal. Which is why today's score flashed like this in mind, the way a sports scoreboard lights up when team A makes its first point against Team B.
But you know what? That's ok. Because I have God's grace & my husbands loving grace that he extends to me everyday. It humbles one to know that perfection isn't the goal. I have to say that one more time because I was able to finally let that go a few years ago... Perfection isn't the goal. The goal is balance. And on some days the scale may tip further one way, but I can rest in the fact that no matter which way it tips, I know I am doing it for the good of my family. Whether its serving up a stew from the crockpot, or booking a job that helps pay for the stew. Whether I am sorting the laundry, or writing this blog, I am doing so with God first and foremost in my heart, and my husband and our family in a very close second. And, that, that evens the score every time. The balance is found in forgiving yourself. Knowing that while there are some days that we feel like superwoman, closing the deal, returning the calls, making the meals, picking up the house and having time for a hot bath and a date night, there are other days when our biggest accomplishment may be taking a nap. Finding five minutes for prayer. Or simply just giving your husband a hug and telling him you appreciate his support on your journey. Just continue to get up, dress up and show up, always leaning on God's understanding before your own. Melissa at A Virtuous Woman posted this lovely list of what it means to be a Proverbs 31 wife. I strive to live this way for my husband and take care of my home, my body and my loved ones the way God intended. I had to include this into Nosh & Nurture because it is He that nurtures us, His children. I pray everyday that I, in return, can love the way He does.
1. Faith - A Virtuous Woman serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She seeks His will for her life and follows His ways. (Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 31: 29 – 31, Matthew 22: 37, John 14: 15, Psalm 119: 15 2. Marriage – A Virtuous Woman respects her husband. She does him good all the days of her life. She is trustworthy and a helpmeet. (Proverbs 31: 11- 12, Proverbs 31: 23, Proverbs 31: 28, 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 5, Genesis2: 18) 3. Mothering - A Virtuous Woman teaches her children the ways of her Father in heaven. She nurtures her children with the love of Christ, disciplines them with care and wisdom, and trains them in the way they should go. (Proverbs 31: 28, Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 22: 6, Deuteronomy 6, Luke 18: 16) 4. Health – A Virtuous Woman cares for her body. She prepares healthy food for her family. (Proverbs 31: 14 – 15, Proverbs 31: 17, 1 Corinthians 6: 19, Genesis 1: 29, Daniel 1, Leviticus 11) 5. Service - A Virtuous Woman serves her husband, her family, her friends, and her neighbors with a gentle and loving spirit. She is charitable. (Proverbs 31: 12, Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20, 1 Corinthians 13: 13) 6. Finances - A Virtuous Woman seeks her husband’s approval before making purchases and spends money wisely. She is careful to purchase quality items which her family needs. (Proverbs 31: 14, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 18, 1 Timothy 6: 10, Ephesians 5: 23, Deuteronomy 14: 22, Numbers 18: 26) 7. Industry – A Virtuous Woman works willingly with her hands. She sings praises to God and does not grumble while completing her tasks. (Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 24, Proverbs 31: 31, Philippians 2: 14) 8. Homemaking – A Virtuous Woman is a homemaker. She creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her. (Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20 – 22, Proverbs 31: 27, Titus 2: 5, 1 Peter 4: 9, Hebrews 13: 2) 9. Time - A Virtuous Woman uses her time wisely. She works diligently to complete her daily tasks. She does not spend time dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord. (Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 19, Proverbs 31: 27, Ecclesiastes 3, Proverbs 16: 9, Philippians 4:8 ) 10. Beauty – A Virtuous Woman is a woman of worth and beauty. She has the inner beauty that only comes from Christ. She uses her creativity and sense of style to create beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones. (Proverbs 31: 10Proverbs 31: 21 – 22, Proverbs 31: 24 -25, Isaiah 61: 10, 1 Timothy 2: 9, 1 Peter 3: 1 – 6) So, if you're familiar with the concept of being a Proverbs 31 woman/wife/mother, or have read my other posts in this series, you know I've set goals for being the best version of me that I can be, for God and for my husband and future children. I did a spotlight on faith a while back, and today, I want to talk a little about marriage. Marriage – A Virtuous Woman respects her husband. She does him good all the days of her life. She is trustworthy and a helpmeet. (Proverbs 31: 11- 12, Proverbs 31: 23, Proverbs 31: 28, 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 5, Genesis2: 18) I know this may sound odd, but from the time I was young I knew I wanted to be a great wife. Every little girl dreams about being a bride, and having a wedding, and of course, I did too (I mean I am the girliest of the girlie girls) but I also knew I wanted to be a great wife. Not simply a wife, but one that would love her husband with all that she is. And that's how I love Mr. Charming. I love him with all that I am, and this Proverbs 31 piece makes my heart glow. I love love. I love seeing couples who truly respect one another. A lot of people in our lives comment on our relationship, and it's humbling. So much of society today loves drama. People love to hear people talk down about others, friends, family members, and spouses and I just think that is so toxic to marriages. One thing I always do is talk about Mr. Charming in positive, love-affirming ways. Though he makes it easy, I think that even in times of struggle, couples should continue to talk up the positives of the person they vowed to love no matter what. I have put together a list of things that Mr. Charming and I do that speaks to being in a Christian, God-filled, Proverbs 31 marriage. 1. We are each others priority. God is always #1, and Mr. Charming is always before anything else, and I his. Before work, before friends, before hobbies, he is at the top of the list. This doesn't mean we don't work hard, have social lives, time alone with friends, or hobbies of our own, it just means that our marriage comes first and we wouldn't let those things come in the way, or threaten, our marriage.
2. We are best friends. Mr. Charming and I are so alike, it's been an easy match from the beginning. I'm not saying opposites can't attract one another, and that people who are different can't be as close, but for us, it's our similar life goals, hobbies and loves in life that make the adventure that much better. 3. Genuinely care about the other person, in all circumstances. Mr. Charming and I have been together 8 years and I still want to know how his day was. It's not just empty words. When he comes home from work, I've missed him, and I stop what I'm doing to greet him romantically, whether it be a kiss, or a hug, or dinner, and I ask him how his day was. He's my favorite person to tell all my stories to, big or small, and I always want to be that person for him. 4. Communication. This one is crucial. Mr. Charming and I make it a must that we talk about anything we are going through. I will be completely honest and say this one is a tough one for me. I grew up hating confrontation, (I still don't really care for it, haha) I've suffered from anxiety growing up (although God is helping me through this!) and I've struggled with fear of rejection, so broaching hard topics, or asking for things that may not go my way, has been hard. Mr. Charming is wonderfully patient, and knows sometimes it takes me a while to speak, though I try my hardest. The important part is we eventually ALWAYS talk through things big and small. This keeps things from festering and becoming big problems or causing an unnecessary fight, when it could have been something so simple. 5. Be honest, always. Mr. Charming knows me better than I think I even know myself sometimes. Which makes #4 a little easier, haha, but he is still not a mind reader. I think a lot of spouses expect the other to be a mind-reader in certain situations, which again can lead to messy, unnecessary arguments. And even though there isn't much he doesn't know about me, if there is ever a question or topic that comes up, I will always tell him the truth. This also covers the part of the verse that speaks on trustworthiness. My heart and eyes are focused on my husband, always. I took my vows very seriously that day and will strive everyday to hold myself accountable for those. 6. Remember what made you fall in love. This one is a big topic of conversation with my girlfriends regularly. Some think its odd that Mr. Charming and I still act like we're dating sometimes. Some think its cute. Some I think it bothers, but "courting" my husband is something that I believe is vitally important to keeping a marriage fun. We have been together for 8 years, married for 3, and we still make time for date nights, for big vacations, and for nights away. I still cook him special meals. He still brings me flowers randomly. It's these little things that show that we don't take each other for granted. That we will still go out of our way to say "I'm thinking about you" or "I love you." If he or she the most important person in your life, why would you stop acting as such? 7. Be helpful. Last but not least, touching on the verse, "she is a helpmeet." In today's culture women are working just as hard as men. Up until recently I was working two full time jobs, and Mr. Charming works a demanding full time position in the medical field and goes to school. Though, I wholeheartedly adore my role as "wife", (see #1), and love making our house a home for him. Yes, I've had a couple little breakdowns working out how to balance and juggle all of that, but at the end of the day I hope that I have been helpful to him in making his home life happy, relaxing and enjoyable after a long day of work. Just remember to always keep God at the center, put love first, and stay respectful and honest while being yourself. If you have those key elements at the center, everything else will fall into place! Many blessings for a happy marriage! Feel free to share your marriage tips or date night ideas in the comments! And check out my other posts in the Proverbs 31 Spotlight Series: - Faith |
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