I'm new but have been reading a lot. Here's my take:
Hand 1
I think you should have bet out on the flop the spades scared me. I would have bet 3/4 of the pot on the flop. I would have bet again on the turn and checked the river.

Hand 2

I think the Villan had AQ, as Renton says, "a bet on the turn usually means they have the goods."