Week's Inspiration

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. ~ Pico Iyer

Beauty & Makeup: Easy Newspaper Nail Art

In my quest to save money (to fund my happy-hours) I have decided to do my own nails - ugh! - and limit my pedicures to only twice a month. Thus saving myself $540 dollars a year on manicures alone... or as I like to think of it, a round-trip ticket to the turquoise waters of the Mayan Riviera. A little more motivating isn't it? 


Its seems like nail art is all the craze this year and even more so now that it's summer. I'm no nail artist but with millions of colors to choose from and millions more online tips for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) anything and everything, I knew I could find a way to make it fun to do my own nails again...just like when I was 16 and had no job, therefore; no income. 

The CutePolish Channel on YouTube is full of quick instructional videos that will teach you how to create EASY & CUTE nail art designs!

Check out this video for ridiculously easy and beyond cute Newspaper Nails…

I'm thinking I'd like to try to maybe get an entire phrase across the nails on one hand :D

Week's Inspiration

A Foodies Dream

If I could eat anything and not gain any weight I would eat my way through this book: Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics. I would pull a Julia & Julia. Ina Garten can do no wrong with a potato! If I was having a "last meal" I would ask for a meal prepared by Ina Garten. Why would I even be having a last meal??? Scary! [Pause] Anyways, I was saying...she has a way with food that is just mesmerizing - an effortless grace and elegance that really makes you think you too can create that miraculous and amazing dish with a spoon, pan, 4 simple ingredients and 30 minutes. Incidentally the first thing missing when I cook is grace and elegance; my tiny kitchen looks like a cafeteria food fight after I've been in it for 2 hours.

Here's why I pledge allegiance to Ina Garten...

A few months ago my boyfriend was feeling sick and asked me to make him a cremita, Spanish for a cream of soup. Mexican gastronomy has an infinite list of soups, there is caldo de res/ cocido, caldo de camaron, caldo de pescado, caldo de pollo, sopa de fideo, sopa de lima, caldo mich and consome, to name a few. (I happen to make a pretty bomb caldo de res.) But cream of soup? The only ingredient I knew for sure a cream of soup had was cream. Good girlfriend that I am, I want to make my boyfriend feel a little better so of course I was going to make his cremita. I went straight to the place I knew I would find a recipe for a cream of something, the Food Network. With 5 stars and over 300 reviews, Ina Garten's recipe for Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup was the obvious choice. It took me over 2 hours to make, 5 pots and 20 ingredients but let me tell you guuurl, it was worth the work. It was just perfect. The real test, however, was going to be my boyfriend. Later that evening I served him Ina Garten's Cream of Mushroom Soup with a warm crispy french baguette. After the initial shock in his face I swear I saw love, but not like "I love this soup" love, it was "I love you for making this soup that I love" love. No joke. He didn't think I had those mad skills in the kitchen. And shit, neither did I.

I just bought the book and all the recipes look simply amazing and true to Ina's style, made with simple ingredients. There isn't anything on the list of ingredients I couldn't go to Trader Joe's - or my new favorite market, Fresh & Easy - and buy. 

So ladies, you wanna see love in your partner's eyes? Want to woo the man in your life?  Or maybe go from friend-with-benefits (Been there!) to girlfriend? Make him a dinner he'll love. They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Keep in mind that this will only works if his stomach likes it. If he doesn't eat fish don't surprise him with Ina Garten's Sole Meuniere. (My next recipe!) No matter how simply divine it is.

And if it doesn't work - he doesn't deserve you anyways! you're too good for him, mkay!- you can still feel proud of having just made the best dish you've ever made.

Week's Inspiration

"I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” ― Frida Kahlo

Love: Bob Marley said it best.

I think I purposely avoid writing about Love. Why? That answer will probably require some time with a therapist. A therapist or a bottle of tequila Gran Centenario - that's how our Mexican grandparents and parents did it, no? Let's also not forget therapists are expensive. I doubt my average Blue Cross PPO would cover such fancy extras. A good tequila will do.

The truth is, I am firmly in Love. I am. But I will always and forever be the first to say that it's not easy. Even when its easy, its work. Constantly I find myself reading inspirational quotes and writings on Love. I look for them and read them not to help confirm if I am truly in Love with my boyfriend but to remind me that if loving were easy, it wouldn't be Love. 

I leave you with what I think is quite possibly the best (and longest) quote on Love. I don't know anything about Bob Marley's life but after reading this I imagine he loved. For my Juan (I know I'm not easy. You are not either. I'm okay with that.): 

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you've never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can't wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid, it's like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn't exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day's work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there's no need for continuous conversation, but you find you're quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there's a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that's so real, it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."