Jeannette's day!

The wedding could not have been better... or Jeannette more beautiful... or Daniel more handsome! I'm not sure if it is the fact that I am in Chile or that the reception was in a beautiful vineyard filled with energetic and truly alive people, but this wedding was one that I feel lucky to have experienced! The ceremony took place in a beautiful church in a little town called Casablanca Chile. Short and sweet... but filled with love and laughter. I held back the tears as I stood to the left of Jeannette and Daniel with the rest of the bridesmaids. The priest spoke Latin hehe!... and a little spanish... Jeannette translated ~ lovely, lovely! Jeannette and Daniel filled the room with vibrations of love, life, and happiness.

Will something with the epitome of such goodness happen to me?

The reception. It was at a gorgeous vineyard in Casablanca with about 75 guests. Small, sweet, and simple!~ all friends and family... and no judges. Lovely. The guests arrived first where a courtyard was set up with a bar on one side and candy, masquerade masks and a dj booth on the other. We were offered wine, and pisco sours: ) We drank wine and cocktails until the bride and groom arrived followed by speeches by the guests. Although I'm a bit shy, I was cheered on to make one too! ha!

I sat down to dinner with Jeannette, Daniel, and the family. The food the most delicate... avocado salad, every kind of meat... wine, wine, and more wine. Wonderful. I've never seen Jeannette so happy and content. Daniel truly compliments her so well.

After dinner, we danced and danced until 4am. Chilean's definitely know how to party! For the first few hours the Dj played loads of Chilean songs.. fun fun! Masks, tails, and elements of costumes passed around to add to the party! Love this cultural identity.

I do not think Jeannette ever sat down!... well I guess I barely sat down either!

Every time I tried, I was pulled on to the dancefloor by one of Jeannett´s friends! LOL... quite honestly the best wedding I have ever, ever been apart of.

This is life. 

This is love. 

So so lucky to have experienced this.

Cerro Alegra... the hills of Valparaiso

Valparaiso - Once you take a walk up to the hills...cafes, galleries, and cobble stone walks fill the space... amazing views, art, music, and super awesome eats!  My photos do not represent... sorry! : - )

The bride... the meaning of the "business" trip!

She's lovely and calm. Totally happy. And in complete love. Sweet. Kind. Giving. And enjoying life.

Jeannette. The lovely bride to be.

Preparations, beaches, wine, PHILTER... and Christmas eve!

I arrived back in Valparaiso on Monday and I have been helping Jeannette and the family prepare for the wedding. (well as much as I can!)  Jeannettes condo is awesome, but now it is filled to the brim with her family... so needless to say it is not as relaxing as it was once upon a time. hehe. 

Jeannette and her family are from North Carolina... I must say it is awesome to get to know another culture apart from the LA norm.  Sometimes I wonder if I really would rather have "the simple life." To be honest, I'm not sure.  

I have, however, realized how lucky I am to be doing what I do for a career. "So how exactly do you organize and produce these events?" seems to be such a popular question.  I guess it is different from the norm... This is all I have ever done since college so producing music events is just a normal day for me.

... Tuesday I went to Vina del mar to meet with Adrien and Janna once again.  We laughed so hard about our AWESOME jewelry store adventure on Sunday... they both study Spanish in Vina... Vina is basically just a beach town with high-rise condos and castles... hehe yes castles.  It's nice and relaxing, but there isn't too too much more that the town has to offer.  Adrien, Janna, and friends sat on the beach Tuesday afternoon sipping on rose in plastic cups filled with ice.  Sipping wine in the sun... seems to be pretty popular amongst us foreigners : - )  

I made it back to Jeannette's condo, finally had my fitting for my dress... and ate with Jeannette, Daniel (her fiance) and Fanny (Daniels mom - oh what a sweetheart)... 

Wednesday morning was spent at the Sheraton right on the water. Jeannette had her hair done while I relaxed in an oceanside cafe in the hotel.  Beauty surrounding me.

Now I sit here on Christmas eve relaxing in a really sweet cafe in Valpo in the hills (Cerro Alegre)... I guess this is where the foreigners hang out, but I still haven't seen many at all.  The hills are filled with art galleries, cafes, murals everywhere... I can't believe this is the first time I made it here. OMG my spanish is horrible though which is probably why everything is such a task.  No problemo though... that's the beauty of it all.

So so much has happened... the main point - I love my life. I'm blessed.

Sunday in Bellavista, Santiago

Sunday began as such an ordinary day. I woke up starving (after drinking copious amounts at LA Feria on saturday night!) Jonny and I decided to go eat at Bellavista where there are endless restaurants and high-end boutiques... We sat down and I ordered a tuna sandwich with a latte. I wasn't in the mood to talk and I was almost annoyed at the day (for some strange reason.) Jonny saw some friends who I paid no attention to who were sitting at the cafe next to us. After I finished my tuna sandwich (that had no mayo and only lemon - AWESOME!) they asked us to join them for some wine. we did. Two men, one French, one German... Tim and Earve (I think that's right)... Anyway they were absolutely hilarious. They began their day pondering over the market for the high-end boutique that Tim's girlfriend had just opened. 

The question of the day was "how do we get the people in the shop." "Should we serve high-end yogurt outside to lure them in?"  "Should we decorate the shop in delicate roses to give them "the experience" like no other?"... After my second glass of wine, Earve asked "would you like to join us for "a test" at the shop. I replied "of course!"  I want to experience "The experience!"

So we moved to the shop for a "test" literally around the corner. The sun was shining, the air very clear, and I was feeling not the tiny bit of annoyance - back to myself once again.  The end of such an ordinary Sunday began. Another bottle of wine followed us to the shop. The bottle resting on ice of course. The waiter from the cafe brought bottle after bottle after bottle to the shop. 

The shop beautiful, the name Galleria # something.... I should remember but they didn't have a name for the shop anywhere hehe.  I guess the shop isn't totally finished.

I tried on jewelry, sipped on wine, and lived the "experience."  Earve!!!...a complete character and exactly like I like them.  The question for him (stated by Jonny)... Is he gay or just French... or both!...haha

"Mary you must live the experience!"... I drank, laughed, sat in in the sun, tried on jewelry, and model... so many of the things I love to do.  I lived the experience. I felt the honesty. I loved the jewelry.

I must have been in the shop a good two hours before Janna and Adrian arrived. Janna was a model in Seoul who I actually knew (kind of) from Dennis (his ex-girlfriend to be exact.)... She quickly caught on to our little act... a drama almost! 

We tried on jewelry, modeled the jewelry... and drank wine of course... for at least 5 more hours! Yes I was literally in the shop for 8 hours! Big open windows, completely white decor, and passion. Passion for life, passion to live, passion to travel, passion to be open minded enough to be in a shop for 8 hours trying on jewelry. We must have had at the very least 10 bottles of wine... yes 10. 

The photos do not do justice to this amazingly unique, but lovely day.

Tonight at la feria...!

Tonight!... had a meeting with the club owner of la feria... good good things. fun fun... and more fun.

PHILTER is expanding... unimaginable things happening. postive energy. people who believe. music. travels.

life only gets better. 

a simple day in Santiago...

I'm honestly not sure exactly where I was, but oh my what a beautiful day... coffee shops, boutiques, fountains, art, art, art & music... i love this chilean way of life...

Last night at Etiko!

Murals cover the walls in Santiago...