Thursday, June 30, 2011

A get-together...

A friend invited me to a barbecue at one of her friend's houses in Weston, Fl.
I was to bring some desserts and myself with an empty stomach in preparation of ample food and good alcohol.
This was going to be another multi-Latino gathering. The lady of the house Bertha is from Mexico, my friend Maria is from Cuba, Eric is from Puerto Rico raised in The States and the other Maria is from Nicaragua.






I wore:
New York&Co made in Vietnam shirt, tied in the back because it's XL and
I did not have the time to sew it in.
No boundaries strapless dress, worn as a skirt.
Both items were thrifted at My Salvation Army store on the Wednesday (half price day) before.

I took this photo at Bertha's house because I was running a bit late and I didn't have the time to
take pictures at home.




Once I came back home I took all of my accessories photos.
These two necklaces are from 2003 or 2004 and they were very inexpensive because they were missing some beads.






The bracelet on the left is from JCPenney, the others are from DOTS and from a co-worker
that used to make me jewelry.






Victoria's Secret little purse, thrifted the same day as the dress/skirt and the shirt.






The dress /skirt print.






We had a loud and extensive conversation over some appetizers and drinks.
The Heineken was my drink of choice.
I wasn't able to post the group photos because I didn't got their permission and now some of them
are out of the country on vacation.  






Some more drink choices. 
When I was in college I used to drink Kahlua with Vanilla Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
So sweet and always brought a smile to my face! Now I prefer a good beer or wine instead.






This is in the back of the townhouse before they started to cook.
The shirt looks blue in the sun but it's really the same purple as the skirt.






It was a beautiful very hot day with a bit of a breeze, and we were surrounded by many trees and hundreds
of millions (exaggeration sign here) of fruit flies and other bugs.






More of the green; to better breath in, my dear.






The breeze was moving the palm trees around and the skies were evoking some 
relaxing sentiments in all of us.




 

I was really about to take a nap with all the lovely breeze and serenity but the nasty bugs were all over. 
I probably ate one or two while I was talking.
Well, they're protein!






Mr. Eric did all the barbecuing and we took the food inside the house because of the pestilent Floridian bugs.






The outside table was very nicely done and the flowers were beautiful.
However the bugs had been there before us Homo sapiens and they won back the patio space that afternoon.






Rice, two different kinds of salads, some home made dressing
and chimichurri sauce.





This was my plate; I got seconds afterwards.
The chicken and meat were brought up from Nicaragua  and frozen until the night before.
The chicken and the cow meat comes from a free range farm of a relative of Maria's that also owns a meat market.
I usually only eat organic meats at home but I must tell these meats were the most incredible tasting pieces of meat that I have since I left Puerto Rico in '99. Way better than any of the organic meats I buy.
They were rich in flavor and had such a perfect combination of tenderness and remarkable natural taste that I really can't described. 
All of us were just eating and making YUMM sounds; the only talk was about how delicious the meat was!





This was my last drink of the day. I drank it while eating the delicious meat.






I was in love with this couch; it remind me of Joan Miro.






I brougth the desserts from my local supermarket because I can't bake; I burn everything beyond recognition!!!!





This pastry cheese thingy is something that we have for or with our breakfast, but it can be eaten at any time during the day accompanied by some black coffee and milk. It's made with guava, cheese and so many other no-so-good for you ingredients.





Another view of the beautiful skies before leaving to go home.



Sunday, June 26, 2011

A Training Day and some Tex-Mex food...


Monday, June 13th I had a training for my Summer job and I decided to re-wear the same outfit I wore  for my friends poetry reading.
The training gave me the opportunity to meet with some co-wokers that I haven't seen since last Summer.




I wore:
Temperley London skirt, thrifted back on May.
Cardigan and shirt from Target (quite old).
I even made a bigger effort on my morning make up so I looked more awake than I really was!






 My no name sandals and no tag purse; it sounds like a bad country song.
                 Necklaces from Steinmart about 7 years old.

                         



Ah, the beauty of flash. I look so more refresh than I am in real life.
You see, the night before I stayed up watching movies
(Red and The Loosers) until around 1:30 a.m and got up by 6:00 a.m.




 

  After the training we went to eat at Tijuana Flats a Tex-Mex restaurant in Ft Lauderdale.
The restaurant walls are cover with some of the best wall art that I have seen in South Florida.
This was my first time at the restaurant and I felt at home among the art, the strangely named sauces,
the great service and the variety of food and people.






A closer look at the blue man. This chain of restaurant was created by a college students with some help
from his parents back in 1995 in Winter Park, Fl.







The pistachio colored ceiling had more cool and funky art.
whom is having a love affair with this color.




 
They have amazing hot and even hotter sauces with names like.Asbirin Extra Strength and Cafe Louisiana
Hotter'n Hell Sauce. 
Here is one of their sauce displays that appears to defy gravity!






This was my friend Shanika's plate. She ordered the chicken flautas. She was also impressed with the food and the service.






This is my plate; I had the meat flautas (flutes) with no sour cream.


Our Manifesto



I have to post their manifesto because it's too cool, and I
can related to all of it.
Disclaimer: Manifesto By Tijuana Flats and not me!!!!!!


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Sunshine Awards...

I want to thank my lovely blogger friend  Loo whom just gave me a
Sunshine Award and also Viviane  whom gave me a similar award a while back.




I want to thank both of these amazingly stylish and all around enchanting women for taking the time to think of me and my blog when giving these awards.

I'm supposed to share some things about myself and pass the awards on.

1-I talk to myself all the time; sometimes I answer my own questions.
Well, what can I said I'm my own best audience.


2-I believe in reincarnation and I have some memories of places and experiences that I once lived.
O.k. this is the part were I may lose many of you readers and you'll probably be turning on the t.v.


3-I can't stand cheap beer.
I usually only have one drink when I'm out with my friends or at a dinner parties and why make it cheap alcohol?


4-When people are aggressive to me on the highway or on the South Florida streets I always give them the peace sign or blow kisses .
Sometimes they smile back other times they give me the international peace sign (the middle finger).


5-I love, love Beluga Whales; they are just majestic and beautiful.
No more explanation needed.






I'm passing this award to:


Angie from Papillion Chouette


Rosy from Sewingadicta


Mrs. Exeter from Dressing Mrs. Exeter


Nefferth from Mode Plus


Elizabeth from The Account of the Comtesse de ferveur


Paula from Fashion Over Fifty


ClaireJustine from Clairejustineoxox


Anika from byanika


You all bring Sunshine to my blogger life and I really appreciate all your support.

With Love,

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Inspiration comes from...

I did this post a while ago for Fabienne to publish it during her honeymoon travels.

I decided to make a few changes and post it again because starting tomorrow I'll be wearing slacks (no jeans), shirts and sneakers or flat shoes for the entire duration of my Summer job. Sadly, I'll have to wear my skirts  after 6 p.m. and on the weekends only.
Believe me I'm not complaining, I'm very lucky to have this job and very appreciative to all the gods, saints  and a close friend that recommended me for this position.

About 3 weeks ago, I was asked by a co-worker what is going through my mind when I decide to put my outfits together?

Well to tell you the truth, sometimes it's just that these were the only articles of clothing that require no ironing.
Other times it's a particular designer, a book, a movie heroine (Annie Hall), the music that I'm listening to, the food that I'm eating or about to eat,  a particular event...
However most of the time my inspiration comes from omy surroundings, my girl's opinions as well as my love of colors, flowers and accessories.

I was into a Summer-like mood and was trying to enjoy the 80 plus heat so I wore:





Shirt and Cardigan from Target.
American Rag, made in India skirt purchased at Marshalls many moons ago.
Italian sandals.







Inspiration:  Miami Beach Botanical Gardens entrance's fountain surrounded by a variety of bougainvilleas.






Squared by Sandra Roberts purse purchased at Marshalls.
Is a very shiny purse in real life; you can see me coming from a mile away!





                                
Both necklaces and earrings are from Steinmart.  
All Bracelets purchase at my two favorite local Indian stores about 3 years ago.  
Rings were presents from my ex-husband family to me on two of my birthdays.






                              Cardigan from Marshalls. Audrey Hepburn shirt  and
                                               Isaac Mizrahi skirt from Target.
                                                      Thrifted belt.
                              My very old and very comfortable Easy Spirit mary janes.






Inspiration:   Right before sunset in Miami Beach behind The Delano Hotel.






The larger necklace is from an arts and crafts fair at The Broward Mall in Plantation,
about 4 years ago.
The smaller necklace was a thrift find the same year.
Bracelets and larger ring from Steinmart.
The smaller one is from Dots.







New York&Company bag, purchased in 2005. I felt in love with the fuchsia pink; it brought back many 80's memories.







Shirt and cardigan from Target.
 The Persaman New York skirt is quite old and don't remember where I got it. 
Penny Loves Kenny sandals from TJMaxx.





Inspiration:   Some of my market shopping for the week's cooking and my Jim Shore's Angels.






Both necklaces were given to me as presents from close friends back in 2007.





Another shiny purse, this one is a Tommy Hilfiger. I paid retail price for this purse 3 years ago; again the color was the main attraction.





One more of my old and very versatile Target shirts.
Chemistry New York skirt, thrifted many years ago.
Impo sandals from Marshalls.





Inspiration:  One of my Shirley Novak paints.  I adore her poppy seed paintings for their color and tranquility.





 The necklaces are from my favorite Salvation Army store.
The red bracelet was a present from a co-worker back in '05.
The other bracelets are from JCPenney's and from a local Indian store.





Talking about spacious and enchanting: this Liz Claiborne purse is both.


Have a lovely, well dress and inspiring day!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

An Award and...

The witty, funny and super- dupper-stylish Sarah from Misfits gave me this lovely award!!!








The Rules are:

To pass it forward to some of my favorite blogs with less than 100 followers.

Here are my selections:


Ambar of The Rose King because she is one of the loves of my life and her love of all things fashion, art, music, etc makes me happy  and proud of her curious and smart spirit. 

Shefali of Flickering Lights because her style comes from her soul and her amusing, inspiring and incredible knowledge of the written word. She takes every day occurrences and turn them into poetry.

Yoana of Dressing-Everyday because of her chic and beautiful way of dressing and her ability to look effortlessly elegant every day.

Barbara (Birdie) of 40 and Loving It! because her struggles, her joys and her daily life are similar to many of ours and she gracefully displays them for all of us to see.

Paula of EveryDay Radiance because she deals with all of her personal turmoils and demons with strength and courage and writes from her heart without limitations.

Judy of Just Another Day On Earth because she is reclaiming her physical being and enjoying the lovely mundane of dressing up.

Ambu of Ambuji because she wear amazing outfits and writes equally amazing posts about fashion, architecture, pop culture and many more subject that are interesting to me with great ease and brilliance.
There are many more that I would like to acknowledge but I'll be doing it in another post!


I also will like to share some of my favorite objects that I see every day at home:





 All the crosses are from the places that I had lived in the last 18 years.






I found her at Marshalls in 2004.






                                 Battle mirror from India, purchased at a local store.






Large and small Ganesh from my friend Shefali's temple here in South Florida.
Small Murano vase and even smaller Peruvian nativity scene that I leave out all year because
I  like the colors!






Small Mexican mirror and blue glossary from Puerto Rico.






Some of my Heartwood Creek Angels by Jim Shore.






The Rosalind Walshe candle designed in Europe for The Enesco Group from 2004. It only been lit once due to the fact that  I want to keep it as a decorative item and not as an useful candle.





Plant pot from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Purchased at the Pier One in Plantation, Florida in 2006.



I want to apologize to my lovely blogger friends because I have not been visiting as often as I did before. I'm preparing myself for my Summer job that begins next week and I also being preparing my oldest daughter to go away to a larger university in the Fall.
I should go back to the swing of things next week (hopefully).

Con Mucho Amor,