The blue and the beautiful

Pops of blue...

 Rebecca Taylor

 Band of Outsiders

 Jenni Kayne

 images via style.com

Bold colors and beautiful images...

I couldn't help but smile when I came across Charlotte Taylor's new collection on Oh Joy!...I'm a sucker for animal prints, especially when they're done in such a fun and quirky way.

Light and bright fish and couscous recipes

Today I bring you two easy and delicious recipes as part of Michelle's (Pretty Mommy) Beat the Winter Blues Recipe Exchange. The theme for this exchange is light and fresh recipes to get us through the last of winter (although there seems to be no end in sight!).

I immediately thought of my favorite Fish in a Sack recipe. It seems pretty appropriate considering I was inspired to hunt down a recipe for this dish after having it a couple of years ago at Quattro in Sunny Miami.

Spanish Fish in a Sack (Adapted from Rachel Ray, serves 4)

Parchment paper  

2 pounds cod fillets, cut into 4 portions (you can also use mahi mahi, halibut or red snapper) 

1/2 pound green beans (sometimes I use zucchini instead)  

1/2 asparagus  

4 large garlic cloves, minced  

Strips of thinly sliced roasted red pepper 

Cherry tomatoes, halved  

1/2 cup pitted chopped kalamata olives  

4 scallions, chopped  

1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, a generous handful, chopped  

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for generous drizzling  

1 lemon, zested and juiced

Salt and pepper  

(Great with bread or a green salad)

Pre heat oven to 400°F.

1. Rip off 4 sheets of parchment paper, each a little over a foot long. 
2. Place 1/4 of the green beans and asparagus in the center of each sheet then top with 1/4 of the garlic, 1/4 of the roasted pepper strips, 1/4 of the tomatoes, chopped olives and cod portions. 
3. Season the fish with salt and pepper and top with equal amounts of the scallions and parsley. Drizzle EVOO liberally and equally along with lemon zest and juice evenly over the fish portions. Fold the top and bottom edges together and crease several times then crease up the ends of the packets, making a sack for each fish to cook in. Arrange the sacks on the baking sheet and place in the center of the hot oven. 
4. Bake packets 20 minutes. Serve a packet per dinner plate and cut open at table.

This is one of my favorite go-to recipes. It's quick, easy and delicious! Tomato, cucumber, feta and couscous...you can't go wrong! Jules and I have this at least once a week. And I always whip it up when friends are over. It's from Weelicous -- a great resource for easy, healthy and delicious recipes for the entire family. I've loved every single recipe I've made from the site!

Greek Israeli Couscous Salad (serves 4)

1 1/2 Cups Israeli Couscous

3 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided

2 Cups Water

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Crumbled Feta Cheese

2 Persian Cucumbers, seeded & diced (or 1 cucumber)

1 Large Tomato, seeded & diced

1 Tbsp Parsley, chopped

1. Place the couscous and 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pot and toast for 5 minutes over medium heat.
2. Add water and bring to a boil then simmer for 12 minutes.
3. Remove to a bowl and cool.
4. Pour in the remaining ingredients plus the 2 remaining tbsps of olive oil and stir to combine.

first image (for a different recipe) here

Happy tulips

It's going to be a cold week. And as if that wasn't bad enough, we're expecting snow again. So I picked up purple tulips at the market this morning and already I feel better (granted, it hasn't started snowing yet). And they make me think of my sister...it's her birthday today!

Speaking of happy tulips, I just love this ad. Jules is obsessed with eos lip balms. He loves that he can handle them on his own (they're the perfect size for his little hands). I love that they're natural and free of chemicals.

 

first image via here

Weekend inspiration: The French market

Hello, weekend! All I want to do is kick back, relax and enjoy the weather. But the one thing that's keeping me down is that I didn't get my food shopping done in the beginning of the week like I usually do. I stopped in for milk and fruits mid-week but that's about it. So that means I should hit the market tomorrow morning. But I'm dreading doing so. And even though this nifty shopping list has helped me become more organized, I sill dread it.

This has to stop! I do love to eat, after all, and I'm a mom...I'm responsible for feeding someone other than myself. I love my cookbook collection and I really do get excited when I master (and I use this term loosely!) tasty recipes.

Things became pretty clear after reading Jordan's post on learning to grocery shop in France (I'm living vicariously through Jordan while she and her family spend a year in Paris!!). I need to stop bulk shopping once a week. This isn't a foreign concept to me because I talk about it all the time at work (shopping on a daily basis is common in Latin America as well). But Jordan's pictures are so inspiring. And it's Paris. So from here on out, I'm going to try to approach my shopping with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.

Check out Jordan's pictures...

For more inspiration, check out the recipes shared this week as part of Michelle/Pretty Mommy's recipe exchange. I'm up on Monday!

I'll leave you with this wonderful song...Have a great weekend!

'Write' state of mind

To say it's been a tough winter is an understatement. It's been brutal! But over the last week or so we've been getting small glimpses of Spring and it's been fantastic. A great boost for the body and soul (more time outdoors, enjoyable walks, and even runs). But today we're back down to 30 degree weather. My soul is deflated, my body fatigued and my mind is, well, not present (probably because it's frozen!). Not a good combination when you have a ton of writing to get done.

There's hope for warmer temps tomorrow, but that still leaves me stuck indoors today, unable to get into the right headspace.  So I'm just daydreaming about how incredible it would be if this was my home office. Sigh.

Instead, all I've got is my mat, and that will have to do...for now.

  

1. Design*Sponge, 2. Tumblr, 3. Thrilld

Magical love

Yesterday we celebrated with beats, arepas and cupcakes in NYC.

Today I was awoken by the pitter-patter of little feet coming over to my bed, followed by a sweet kiss on my cheek.

Later I will continue to experience the most magical love ever.

Sweet!

In the meantime...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feathers, lace and eyeliner

Chanel’s silk tulle organza coat with feather collar and sleeves; Eres’s silk bra

Mila in feathers for W 

Pink feathers...be still my heart!

Nina Ricci’s embroidered silk gazar dress with ostrich feathers

I need this jumpsuit

Marchesa’s silk lace jumpsuit, Lanvin shoes

Aquamarine and bold eyeliner...fierce!

Dior Fine Jewelry’s 18k yellow gold, lacquer, aquamarine, sapphire and diamond ring

It's Friday, I'm in love...

...with this funky peony print

image from pinterest via ffffound

...with this Cameroonian Juju Hat

...with Loeffler Randall's spring collection via refinery29

...with all things Kate Spade: this iPhone cover that Liz posted yesterday, Kate's Tumblr and these cute e-valentines

 

...with red on red

image via convoy

...with Milk Made Live and Livestream

image via BlackBook

...with this awesome hat Jules picked out all by himself 

Happy Friday!

A sensual mediterranean journey by Toast

Kudos to Toast for creating a fashion film that captures the essence of their brand in such a sensual way. Their catalog is one of the few I actually look forward to receiving. Their latest film, Coastlands, is pretty magical in how it captures light, sounds and the beauty in nature. Very Chris Isaak meets Sofia Coppola.

Now I'm off to daydream about napping in a white tent, surrounded by great pillows, in the middle of the desert while wearing a cute blue dress with gold gladiators and a great cuff...

(It's a bit long, but worth it. Click on the link above to watch on their site...it looks better there).

PS: I'm participating in a recipe exchange graciously coordinated by Michelle over @ Pretty Mommy. She's got couscous and chocolate chip cookies today. Yum!

Blabla love

I came across this cutie while searching for a new blabla for my little Valentine. Love!

I don't think I'll be able to resist the Mr. X keychain this time. So cute. Still need to decide which new blabla we should add to our family.

Mondays just got a bit less stressful

I’ve been trying to get better at weekly meal planning, but my shopping list (and the actual shopping) is something that still drives me crazy. I try to organize different lists for different stores, but it ends up being one big stressful mess. I forget things. I misplace lists. I forget which meals I intend to cook because they're written on a note that's hanging on my fridge and not on my lists. I most certainly overspend. It’s a dreaded activity that stresses me to no end. But I just came across what might be the handiest shopping list ever…and the one thing that might bring some sanity back to my Monday grocery shopping trips. Get an editable version here.

 Image by Debbie Carlos (via inchmark for Design Mom)

Feeling good...

Who better than Nina to set the mood? 

Birds flying high, you know how I feel...

This remix by The Mighty Bop is a staple on my vacation playlist.

In fact, the album it's on is my beach vacation anthem. It's a powerful mood booster...just hit play, close your eyes and you'll start to feel the ocean breeze.

Style Fiesta

I’m fortunate enough to spend my time at work focusing on two things I’m really passionate about: Latin culture and fashion. I’m always intrigued by the intersection of the two, particularly when Latin influences are reinterpreted to align with modern day style expressions. But Prada and Vogue I'm obsessing over.

The Prada Spring/Summer 2011 ad campaign video is mesmerizing! It’s colorful, exotic, happy and full of energy. I can’t stop watching it. This might just be my new happy dance.

via L.A. in Bloom via Keep Feeling Fascination

According to the editor’s letter, it was the Prada S/S 2011 collection that inspired the trip to Mexico for the Vogue Australia March cover shoot. The images are absolutely stunning...great use of color and the fashion is on point.

via Pretty Mommy via WhoWhatWear

 

Weekend inspiration: My Vibe My Life

Kelly Wearstler has an incredible knack for creating design experiences that stimulate your imagination in indescribable ways. As someone who is very visual, I have a fond appreciation for her aesthetic. What draws me in the most is her use of unusual yet beautiful items in unexpected ways. I sometimes think a Kelly Wearstler design museum is in order.

So I was super excited to learn that Kelly has launched a blog. She describes it as a personal collection of photos of the things that capture her attention…and give her moments of happiness and inspiration during busy days. I’m already inspired.

Check out some of the inspiration trays she's created for projects. 

A vibe tray for a living room in a Miami villa

  

A vibe tray for a dining room in a Manhattan residence 

A vibe tray for a bedroom in a Kuwait estate

Loaded with contradictions: My kind of azabache

Like many Cubans and other Latinos, I was wearing an azabache within minutes of being born. In Latin culture, it’s custom for babies and adults to wear one to protect them from mal de ojo or the evil eye. I wore some version of it (pin, necklace charm) until I was old enough to refuse to do so.

Much to the dismay of many family members, I chose not to follow the tradition with my son. I’m definitely superstitious (you’ll never catch me walking under a ladder or putting my purse on the floor), but this was one superstition I didn’t feel the need to follow.

But I might just be having a change of heart. Enter The Light and the Truth Bracelet by nomoikoru. The strong modern gunmetal is an interesting contrast to the rustic vintage eye stamp, while the magnesite bead is a lovely counterbalance to the dark black glass bead. I’m considering picking one up for myself, and even having one sized down for Jules, because this here is an azabache I can get down with.