Nature

No where else am I so reminded of God and his majesty than in nature.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth." - Psalm 19:1-6

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

"The LORD is my shepherd;
         I shall not want.
 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside the still waters.
 He restores my soul;
         He leads me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name’s sake. " - Psalm 23:1-3

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines;

it flows between the mountains." - Psalm 104:10

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of 
his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:5-8

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." - Psalm 18:2

Who Ever Said Oil and Water Don't Mix?

I love visiting with my endlessly talented aunt Geninne , I always learn something new.  However great or small the lesson is I never leave the same person and for that I'm grateful.  

Today we made body lotion.  Simple, easy, delicious (you could actually eat this), lather all over your body and feel like Queen Esther upon being presented to the King, lotion.

Try it yourself! Recipe link below:


Mirror Image: How to Make Natural Body Moisturizer

Travel on my mind

Barcelona is on my mind, as was Egypt until that whole liberation movement put a kibosh on my plans.  I was really looking forward to planning that trip but it doesn't look like that's going to happen this year - the Egypt part I mean. None the less the rest of the trip is on and the planning has begun!

On the itinerary: Barcelona (of course), Provence, Paris (I don't think I gave Paris a fair chance last time I was there. Need to make it right) and Prague.  I feel that I should be completing the South America trip instead, but I have been thinking about Spain for some time and I think I need to go with it.

To my fellow Wanderlusters, feel free to share your insights/recommendations on the cities mentioned. Must see places or restaurant suggestions are welcomed.

Welcome 2011

2011...Crazy! is the first word that comes to mind! what in the world?! Weren't we just partying like it's 1999? It feels oddly insane that a whole decade has passed us by and here we are at the precipice of a new one ready to leap off and take flight.  How exciting! the possibilities.  With each new season there is that sense of renewal, and more so with a new year, but this is different.  This is better.

I couldn't think of a better way to start a fresh decade than with a vacation to the East Coast. Many had ask if I would be at Times Square for New Years, as sorry as I was to disappoint, I am glad to have decided against it.  The idea of standing all day among a million or so people, in the cold, waiting for an event that takes 10 seconds to culminate was just not all that appealing to us.  Maybe in my 20's when I was naive and idealistic, but not now.  Now it's all about comfort and style.  And that's just how we rung in the New Year,  choosing fine dinning and jazz over hot dogs wrapped in bacon and a stunning (and not in a good way) comeback of the NKOTBSB...that would be the New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys new "super group" ...see what I mean about a new decade? it's so filled with hope and possibilities...even for the NKOTHBSB!

January 1, 2011 will go down in history as one my favorite days no doubt.  Starting the decade with a fabulous spa treatment was all but perfect.  I had always wanted to take a nap right after a massage and often wondered why on earth more spas (even the really nice ones in SoCal) don't provide you with a room to nap in.  A nap room sounds reasonable to me, who wants to get back to reality after such pampering? Well I'm here to testify that spa heaven does exist and it's called The Spa at Norwich Inn. I have two words...Relaxation Room.  Enough said! 

I used to live in the East Coast and had the amazing opportunity to do the whole New York City tourist attraction thing many times.  It was great to be able to go back and enjoy the City for what it is, a dichotomy of all things and people.  I love walking around in that City, you feel powerful and insignificant at the same time.  Such dichotomy, where else can you buy a beautiful scarf on a street corner for $5 and on the opposite corner, in one of the most extravagant department stores, buy an Hermes scarf for $750 (not the same scarf of course, but I mean silk is silk, except when its the best silk...you get my point..still that's kind of ridiculous). I love it.  The culture, the arts, the food!

Speaking of food...having heard of famed bread guru Jim Lahey we just had to stop by Sullivan St. Bakery (which is actually on 47th St., between 10th and 11th) to assess for ourselves if the no-knead method lives up to all the hype.  Its true...he is a bread guru! I'm no bread expert but yummy! this is good bread!

 I love the simplicity of his technique and style

We had the prosciutto & mozzarella panini along with pizza funghi and pizza zucchini all amazing! 

The arts...The fact that one person can sing, dance and act all at the same time is pretty amazing,  but to do it in ensemble! that's just awesome.  There are no take 2, 3 or 5.  Its live, raw, a true interchange between actor and audience worth every penny.  This go around we watched Wicked.  Much acclaimed and rightly so.  Very much enjoyed it! 

This was truly a vacation, absolute relaxation, spending quality time with friends and people I love.  A great way to start the year!  It was sad to say goodbye but there's a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.  With that I say Welcome 2011!

New Year's Trip

A long time ago my beloved uncle shared a wonderful simple truth with me...seasons are a way for us to experience God's renewal. To experience the end of one thing and the beginning of another. A fresh start! Living in California we don't always get to experience much change in weather, but having lived in Connecticut I did get to enjoy the sense of newness that comes with a change in season. I miss it. I miss the fresh crisp air that comes with the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall. You can feel it, smell it. The leaves change colors and consequently fall in anticipation of Winter. I miss The Merritt Parkway covered in leaves followed by snow. I used to love driving up and down that highway with my windows down (heater on) and the music blasting, singing at the top of my lungs. It always felt like I was in the midst of a New England postcard.

It's been a long time since I was last there and much like the seasons I too have changed (I don't sing in my car anymore - you're welcome - lol). But as I prepare to go back I'm reminded of that simple truth...with every end comes a new beginning, times of refreshing from the Lord.

What better way to start a New Year than with a trip to NYC!! I think Alicia Keys sang it best:

Now you're in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets hear it for New York, New York, New York

Torrey Pines

Today my college BFF and I decided to meet up and enjoy the beauty San Diego has to offer, while doing something productive - of course! We decided to "hike" Torrey Pines. The day was perfect, sunny but not too hot and with just enough breeze to keep us cool during our ascend. Here are some pics of our time there.

At the top

This was my favorite picture of the day

The following are little flowers we founds along the way.

Cliff view from the beach

It may be more expensive to live in San Diego but its so worth it!

Spring is in the Air!

Spring is most certainly in the air! we have been having the most beautiful weather here in Southern California and the trees have started to bloom. I was washing dishes when I spotted these lovely flowers in the back yard.

If you've never tasted orange blossom honey you're missing out! delicious!!

I wish you could smell the orange blossoms...absolutely delightful!

the blossom of a nectarine tree - amazing color

Our God is indeed an awesome God...his creation is complex and yet beautifully simple.

Up-Date

So its been a little over 3 months since my last post but today I decided that I should get on here and write something, anything. Since my travels have ended for the time being (Spain, Eastern Europe, the Maldives and heck the rest of the world still awaits me) we move on to more mundane posts.

I love that my friends have blogs for their children! what a great way to stay in touch and up to date on the little ones. But what about us who are not so privileged? can we blog about our furry babies? who think of furry babies when you have real babies, right?! well, turns out us peeps who don't have them and some of us who do. I want to thank my talented and lovely aunt Geninne (Geninne's Art Blog) for the blog she created featuring her furry baby Turbo (A Day in the Life of Turbo). I love that I get to see him grow. These four legged creatures are a constant source of entertainment and lets just say that the next best thing to actually having children!

That being said, here are some pictures of my two four legged fur balls:

The two of them were napping and Ginger's leg was literally over Buddy's neck...too cute!

Ginger chilling.

Buddy listening attentively.

Gotta get my camera out of the closet and start taking pictures again...the iPhone camera is great but not for blogging!

Grandma's Birthday

On Saturday my aunt Xochitl and I loaded her truck and made the 6hr trip southwest to Bejucos. It has been 17 years since the last time I visited my grandmother's house but this was a special occasion, we were there to celebrate her 80th birthday! My grandmother truly amazes me, at 80 years old she lives alone and still manages her shoe store, the same store she's had for over 50 years. Every day she opens shop and on Sundays she participates in the town's weekly "farmers market." She has always been ahead of her time. In an era when women where expected to be home "barefoot and pregnant" she was a true business woman, traveling to Mexico City and Leon to buy merchandise for her store while at the same time raising 9 children!

waterfall in Bejucos

She was so cute asking everyone if they were having a good time. How could we not? she made Mole de Pavo, Tamales de Elote and Arroz from scratch for 25+ people. Everyone ate till their hearts were content. After dinner the party moved to the courtyard where there was a DJ set up. Now, you have to remember, these people are her contemporaries, people in their 70's and 80's and yet, they where the ones who got the party started asking the DJ to play un zapateado. The zapateado is a very particular style of dancing characterized by a lively rhythm punctuated by the striking of the dancer's feet. It's a work out! and at 80 these folks were going to town.

Xochitl and Grandma zapateando

Grandma and uncle Julio

Grandma and her 92 year old brother

Grandma and 3 of her 9 kids

I can only hope that when I'm 80 I have as much energy and joie de vivre as my grandmother does!

Morning Walks

Every morning I take Ginger and Buddy to the Unidad Deportiva to walk around the soccer fields. A few weeks ago a lovely couple from Maryland told me about a hiking trail behind the park and so we've been walking there ever since.

Here are some pictures:

The tiny flowers along the way are just beautiful:

Here are Ginger and Buddy after we're done:

Ginger and Buddy in the Jardin

I decided to take Ginger and Buddy to the Jardin the other day. Here are some pictures of our time there:

on our way to the Jardin

so happy

Buddy checking out the scene

in front of the Parroquia

me trying to get Buddy to look at the camera

Ginger people watching

Ginger and Buddy meet a new friend, Bruno.