Reasons for not blogging this past week:
1. It's been at least 90 degrees every day
2. Our power has been going out off and on since Sunday. Climbing up 14 flights of stairs in 95 degree heat isn't fun.
3. When the power does come back on, I use that time to take a nice cold shower and to charge my cell phone.
4. Apparently Christmas is in 2 days and I am having a very hard time reconciling the fact that it's SUMMER and I have a tree in my living room.
5. Sissy comes in from Frankfurt tomorrow and I hope her plane isn't too late.
6. I honestly don't know where the time goes, then I realized I have two jobs and run around like a crazy person all day while I try to get last minute gift shopping done. Then I realize that if I were in America "it would all be easier" and everyone would be getting cooler gifts. Sorry folks.
7. The end. Pray the power stays on.
23 December 2010
16 December 2010
Outsourcing the Christmas Decorating
I loved this amusing, if not oligarchical, article about the trend of having your interior decorator get your house ready for the holidays. Leave it to the New York Times to go in-depth about the true value of an interior designer (Hey, I'm not criticising! I just couldn't contain myself upon reading the line "There was a fluffy white artificial tree pocked with silvery ornaments, and cylindrical vases filled with white feathers and calla lilies. For the party last year, Mr. Garofalo even made white cocktails to match." Amazing)
If you're looking for last minute inspiration to get your home ready for the holidays, the article will definitely give you a boost! Be sure to check it out if you're in the mood for an uplifting and entertaining peek into another side (the really, really expensive one) of the business of Christmas.
My parents just told me that it's snowing in DC ... Le sigh. What I would give for a beautiful evening snowfall! I think that as the sun comes through the window, burning my arm because it's so damn hot. I don't think Santa Claus was built to weather such conditions.
15 December 2010
Lovely engagement shoot
As I pine for a way to get our wedding photographer Leo down to BA for a little photo sesh (actually, he is from Argentina and comes down here annually, but this year he will be in Brasil for his cousin's wedding. Blast!) I wanted to share with you this photographic piece of perfection from Hello Love Photography. Fran & Jeff had a fabulously chic photoshoot in Boston for some great engagement photos! This one is my favorite and figured I had to share ... Fran is Yoda's mami and therefore it's even more special!
14 December 2010
12 December 2010
Christmas in Summer - STILL WEIRD
We pulled out the ol' Christmas tree from its home (box) in the laundry room last week. It's been kind of sitting in the living room, waiting for us to unpack it and dutifully craft its pointy branches to make it look like a real Douglas fir. Wednesday, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, is the standard day to get your Christmas tree ready here in BA, but since José was sick I really didn't feel like doing it on my own. I mean, it's the Christmas tree! Not just a regular household chore.After scarfing down some delivery McDonald's (don't judge, please) I decided to take that important first step and unpack our little 3-part tree and get the process going. I have since scratched myself 3 times on the damn thing and ALL I WANT IS A REAL TREE !!!!! I'm also on You Tube and making José listen to "All I Want for Christmas is You" and other musical delights to get him in the holiday spirit. Next time I go home, I'm hitting up one of those year-round holiday bazaars and stocking up on quality decorations so when the time comes I will be ready to make the house look like a Winter Wonderland that happened to be created in summer.
It's just such a strange feeling, getting things ready for Christmas when you're far away from all of the things that remind you of the holidays. I feel so nostalgic for the silly things, like cozying up next to the fireplace to look at the lights, or watching Home Alone late at night when I was home from BC for break, or the slew of festive (and fattening) holiday parties, cookie exchanges, cocktails, and tacky sweater parties. I almost wish we didn't have a fake tree and instead just decorated a palm tree or one of our ficus or something. At least that way we wouldn't be faking it.
Once the tree goes up and is all decorated I know it will be perfect and I will be so excited. I'm also happy that someone in my family will get to see it this year - last year D&D were supposed to come and I was beyond happy to show them our little tree and our house. Then the blizzard from hell ruined that. Probably not a good psychological experience. Now Mere will be coming from foggy Londontown and we'll be in BA to celebrate - hooray !
Now if only I could get over the fear of my oven and start baking cookies ...
08 December 2010
20x200
I am pretty sure I have posted about 20x200 before, but now that I am feeling strange and guilty about being in a tropical city for the holiday season yet again, I thought I would give it another mention as an amazing place to go for a gift (for any occasion).
What I love is that most of the prints are available for just $20 (8 x 10) and that the site features a wide array of incredibly talented artists and photographers.
Given the high volume of content, there is definitely something for everyone here! It's a must-visit place if you're looking for any kind of present - Christmas, birthday, housewarming, wedding ...
I was just moaning and groaning to José (while I perused One King's Lane, which to me is a modern form of self-flagellation) that "if we lived in America I would be able to get you, and everyone else, much better gifts because there, AND ONLY THERE, can I find creative, unique, fun, meaningful and affordable gifts. So don't get your hopes up this year." Wow I think Scrooge called and he wants his personality back. But it's true. It's sunny, 85 degrees and today is the official/unofficial day to put up your Christmas tree and get the holiday spirit really underway. No matter how long I live here, I will never be 100% on board with summer + Christmas combined. Sure, I love a good dip in the ocean on New Year's day and have no problem with a nice beach getaway, but I still yearn for a tacky Christmas sweater cocktail party, repeat viewings of Love, Actually to no end, and snuggling up with a glass of champagne next to a real LIVE Christmas tree !!!!
Le Sigh.
Here are two images I loved from today's 20x200 selection. The baby giraffe was taken by Sharon Montrose, a photographer who works with baby animals, and while that might give you the impression that her work would be, well "baby-ish," it's adorable but at the same time very tailored. (I have one image from a series of gray bunny perfection and I love looking at it in the dining room.) The other image was taken by Thomas Prior and I would love to have it blown up to gigantic size and have it in my living room.
So if you're at a loss for a gift for one of your artsy, creative, "cool" friends or relatives, you're bound to find something here!
What I love is that most of the prints are available for just $20 (8 x 10) and that the site features a wide array of incredibly talented artists and photographers.
Given the high volume of content, there is definitely something for everyone here! It's a must-visit place if you're looking for any kind of present - Christmas, birthday, housewarming, wedding ...
I was just moaning and groaning to José (while I perused One King's Lane, which to me is a modern form of self-flagellation) that "if we lived in America I would be able to get you, and everyone else, much better gifts because there, AND ONLY THERE, can I find creative, unique, fun, meaningful and affordable gifts. So don't get your hopes up this year." Wow I think Scrooge called and he wants his personality back. But it's true. It's sunny, 85 degrees and today is the official/unofficial day to put up your Christmas tree and get the holiday spirit really underway. No matter how long I live here, I will never be 100% on board with summer + Christmas combined. Sure, I love a good dip in the ocean on New Year's day and have no problem with a nice beach getaway, but I still yearn for a tacky Christmas sweater cocktail party, repeat viewings of Love, Actually to no end, and snuggling up with a glass of champagne next to a real LIVE Christmas tree !!!!
Le Sigh.
Here are two images I loved from today's 20x200 selection. The baby giraffe was taken by Sharon Montrose, a photographer who works with baby animals, and while that might give you the impression that her work would be, well "baby-ish," it's adorable but at the same time very tailored. (I have one image from a series of gray bunny perfection and I love looking at it in the dining room.) The other image was taken by Thomas Prior and I would love to have it blown up to gigantic size and have it in my living room.
So if you're at a loss for a gift for one of your artsy, creative, "cool" friends or relatives, you're bound to find something here!
07 December 2010
Gastro Road Trip
If anyone actually wants to come visit me (ahem...) and escape WINTER/COLD/EVIL SNOW/ICE/BEING PALE/ETC I will be happy to take you outside of the muggy city mess (aka convince José to drive us) to one of the sleepy railroad towns about an hour outside of BA.
I found this article in the Guardian that gives a little taste (pun intended) of the blossoming culinary scene in these otherwise forgotten little towns. Carlos Keen happens to be where the people I work for are building/restoring a little country house for the family. My stomach is rumbling and I could totally go for a nice hunk of meat, especially after being deprived of the asado goodness on Sunday.
But back to my point ... If anyone wants to come visit me (pleeeeeeease! All of my best friends are moving away in the next 10 days. Thank God it's not actually winter or I would be incredibly depressed x 200) we can venture out and do wonderful things like eat to our hearts' content in Carlos Keen. Oui !
I found this article in the Guardian that gives a little taste (pun intended) of the blossoming culinary scene in these otherwise forgotten little towns. Carlos Keen happens to be where the people I work for are building/restoring a little country house for the family. My stomach is rumbling and I could totally go for a nice hunk of meat, especially after being deprived of the asado goodness on Sunday.
But back to my point ... If anyone wants to come visit me (pleeeeeeease! All of my best friends are moving away in the next 10 days. Thank God it's not actually winter or I would be incredibly depressed x 200) we can venture out and do wonderful things like eat to our hearts' content in Carlos Keen. Oui !
06 December 2010
It's ... December?
Wow. Anyway ...
I will write more tomorrow - things have been a little wacky (why do I feel like I am always saying that lately?) and busy. Also I fell a little ill over the weekend (just a bad head cold, but when it's sunny and 85 outside, and everyone you know is at a nice little backyard bbq, it makes matters worse) and just wasn't up to doing lots of doo-dads on the computer.
It's also time to admit my addiction to Modern Family. I saw a few eps of the 1st season when I was home at Easter I think ... with Deb of course, and fell in love. I got the first season dvds for my birthday or something and haven't opened them until just now! I spent 4+ hours on the couch, laughing out loud and completely alone, on an average every 3 minutes thanks to that series. It's insanely funny. Gloria reminds me of Jose's sister (she is Cuban, stunningly beautiful, loves her kids more than anything, and has an insane temperament), Cam & Mitch are too funny for words, and I just think it's so well-scripted.
I'm so, so, so excited for Christmas! Then Punta del Este for New Year's, which is basically paradise and my haven from the crazy world. Cannot. Wait. Also this weekend dj Armin Van Buren is coming to Crobar Outdoor .... I saw him at Crobar in Punta 2 years ago and it was phenomenal. Hooray! I love summer in BA and all of the fun things that go along with it.
What I do not love is the Post Office system in BA. I got off to a very typical Monday start today when I went two 2 post offices and realized that I had about 30 people ahead of me in line. Seriously??? DO THEY HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME THAN SIT IN THE POST OFFICE ALL DAY? Ok I'm going to stop talking about this because it makes my blood boil. Literally.
I am going to post this picture of the photographer for our wedding, Leo Patrone, that I nicked from his blog. I love that he and his wife are amazingly adorable and chic and cool and more wrapped up into one. I also love that he is from Argentina and travels all over the world for his weddings. I am so excited to have him photograph us in LESS THAN SIX MONTHS (Woo!)
I will write more tomorrow - things have been a little wacky (why do I feel like I am always saying that lately?) and busy. Also I fell a little ill over the weekend (just a bad head cold, but when it's sunny and 85 outside, and everyone you know is at a nice little backyard bbq, it makes matters worse) and just wasn't up to doing lots of doo-dads on the computer.
It's also time to admit my addiction to Modern Family. I saw a few eps of the 1st season when I was home at Easter I think ... with Deb of course, and fell in love. I got the first season dvds for my birthday or something and haven't opened them until just now! I spent 4+ hours on the couch, laughing out loud and completely alone, on an average every 3 minutes thanks to that series. It's insanely funny. Gloria reminds me of Jose's sister (she is Cuban, stunningly beautiful, loves her kids more than anything, and has an insane temperament), Cam & Mitch are too funny for words, and I just think it's so well-scripted.
I'm so, so, so excited for Christmas! Then Punta del Este for New Year's, which is basically paradise and my haven from the crazy world. Cannot. Wait. Also this weekend dj Armin Van Buren is coming to Crobar Outdoor .... I saw him at Crobar in Punta 2 years ago and it was phenomenal. Hooray! I love summer in BA and all of the fun things that go along with it.
What I do not love is the Post Office system in BA. I got off to a very typical Monday start today when I went two 2 post offices and realized that I had about 30 people ahead of me in line. Seriously??? DO THEY HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME THAN SIT IN THE POST OFFICE ALL DAY? Ok I'm going to stop talking about this because it makes my blood boil. Literally.
I am going to post this picture of the photographer for our wedding, Leo Patrone, that I nicked from his blog. I love that he and his wife are amazingly adorable and chic and cool and more wrapped up into one. I also love that he is from Argentina and travels all over the world for his weddings. I am so excited to have him photograph us in LESS THAN SIX MONTHS (Woo!)
30 November 2010
Jacaranda Lovin'
Please take a minute to check out this lovely little photographic depiction of my favorite month of the year in Buenos Aires. Photographer Beatrice Murch, who works with the Independent, compiled these images for a little feature on one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen!
The jacarandas are such a stunning part of BA. I love strolling down Av. del Libertador on a nice Sunday afternoon and admiring their purple blossoms. What a perfect incentive to come visit in November!
The jacarandas are such a stunning part of BA. I love strolling down Av. del Libertador on a nice Sunday afternoon and admiring their purple blossoms. What a perfect incentive to come visit in November!
29 November 2010
Photographic Evidence of My Ceramic Purchase Rampage
Taken from Emma's blog - Proof that not only am I a giant, but that when left unsupervised, trouble ensues.
Luxe Lumiere
This j.crew lumiere dress is my idea of a holiday party dress! Although from the practical side of things, whenever I wear my beaded/intricately sequined tops and dresses, not only am I constantly paranoid that I am going to snag things on them, but I usually do lose a few along the way. It makes me sad. My favorite item in my closet is my Rapsodia boxy swing top - silver and covered in a mix of sequins and little beads. Paired with my leather leggings I feel like Mick Jagger.
27 November 2010
At Home with Nora Ephron
There is no doubt in my mind that Nora Ephron is beyond words amazing. I want to be her. Or just be her friend. Or have her be a cool auntie of mine. Either way, I just read this interview with her in the NYT and I felt an urge to go knock on her door and have her teach me how to play craps.
Some prize excerpts:
Worst Thing About New York: Bicycle messengers. They scare me. Sometimes, when I am not worrying about other forms of death, I am certain that I am going to be run over by a bicycle messenger.
Hobby: I play craps. About 900 years ago, when I was a columnist at Esquire, they had a sales conference in Paradise Island, the Bahamas, and someone taught me. It is such a great game. I will teach almost anyone how to play craps at a moment’s notice.
Neck Guards: I have always loved scarves, because in New York you have to wear them to keep your neck warm. Then, as you get older, you need to keep your neck shielded from public view.Always in Fridge: Are you kidding? If you open our refrigerator, you have to close the door to keep things from falling out. I buy more food than the two of us can eat. Then I freeze it.
Obsolete Thing She Won’t Toss: A collection of teacups that I once had a place for, but now I don’t really. They are too gorgeous to be used, and they hold barely any tea, I’d like to add. So they are just in a little cupboard, and it is very sad.
Evening Routine: Around 6 o’clock we’d figure what we want for dinner. It is very ordinary. I cook dinner. We eat it. Nick does the dishes. It is a fantastic division of labor. Then we might watch something on TV and read. Or go back to work. Bedtime would be midnight.
Thanksgiving in Photos
More details on the feast - and the hangover that followed - to come. For now, eye candy. I'm hungry!
25 November 2010
Thanksgiving!
Well here I am again. One year later and I can't believe how much time has passed! It really feels like just yesterday that I had very little notice that I was in charge of roasting the turkey, in addition to buying flowers and dessert and getting everything else ready for our Thanksgiving feast here at Basavilbaso.
This year I knew I was going to do the turkey so at least I had that part more or less taken care of. José is also in town today, unlike last year when he had just gotten home from a business trip to sit down to dinner -- so I have a little helper! I am so excited for tonight. A good friend and her entire family are coming to the house, and since they're 5 they are making a bevy of dishes. Seriously amazing. I am definitely thankful for THAT! It just leaves me to turkey, home decor, and a potato/leek gratin that I am going to whip up.
Road block: I have this really nice French ceramic baking dish, but I'm not 100% sure that it can go into the oven!! I mean, it's French, so it has to be nice, right? Nice = heat resistant. Right? Fingers crossed. Otherwise I'll be running out to the store like, 10 minutes ago to go get a replacement. I really don't want to have a gigantic messy gratin disaster on my hands 20 minutes before guests arrive ... HELP !! MOM !!
It's 900 degrees today. Typical. That's why Thanksgiving is celebrated in the autumn, not on the verge of a broiling summer. I wish I had some sangria on hand ... Hm ... maybe I could whip up a quick batch.
Ok - back later with turkey updates. SOS !
This year I knew I was going to do the turkey so at least I had that part more or less taken care of. José is also in town today, unlike last year when he had just gotten home from a business trip to sit down to dinner -- so I have a little helper! I am so excited for tonight. A good friend and her entire family are coming to the house, and since they're 5 they are making a bevy of dishes. Seriously amazing. I am definitely thankful for THAT! It just leaves me to turkey, home decor, and a potato/leek gratin that I am going to whip up.
Road block: I have this really nice French ceramic baking dish, but I'm not 100% sure that it can go into the oven!! I mean, it's French, so it has to be nice, right? Nice = heat resistant. Right? Fingers crossed. Otherwise I'll be running out to the store like, 10 minutes ago to go get a replacement. I really don't want to have a gigantic messy gratin disaster on my hands 20 minutes before guests arrive ... HELP !! MOM !!
It's 900 degrees today. Typical. That's why Thanksgiving is celebrated in the autumn, not on the verge of a broiling summer. I wish I had some sangria on hand ... Hm ... maybe I could whip up a quick batch.
Ok - back later with turkey updates. SOS !
23 November 2010
Great Shelving Idea
I just found this lovely little bloglet, apartment diet, and have been drooling over each and every image posted there! I love this idea for low but raised shelving - I am thinking it will be the perfect solution to our home office. José collects music and it seems that every free centimeter of the room is used to store vinyls, cds, old cassettes, you name it! That leaves very little room for my precious books and other beloved treasures that came with me to Basavilbaso. We already have lots of things stored in boxes similar to those featured in the photo, so let's just say we're halfway there!
22 November 2010
for my BA readers
All 5 of you. But really.
Saturday I skipped on over to the Christmas Fair at the British Ambassador's Residence. I had been there a few years back, in the crazy UCA days, for the ambassador's son's 21st birthday. It was a free-for-all of random booze and out of control English kids with a 6 to 1 exchange rate and an insatiable desire to rage. It was so fun and so random. I hadn't been back and when I found out about the annual Christmas Fair, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I had to go!
Each year there is a lovely little fair with lots of little old ladies who call you "love" and sell things like handknit stockings, felt ornaments, cute gift ideas, and other gems. It was a brilliant day, with so much sunshine I wanted to lounge there all afternoon.
I was tipped off by someone I know who was selling things there, and was so glad she filled me in! Emma is from Leeds and has been in BA for the past 6 years with her husband Oliver and two most adorable sons, Seth and Bo. They have just returned after living in India for the past 9 months (Oliver is a writer and was in India doing research). I really don't want to gush, but I have such a girl crush on Emma. She's beyond cool it hurts. Her creativity is incredible and her Boca chairs are being sold by Anthropologie! (They were also featured on Design*Sponge, as was her previous apartment. Check it out here)
When Keith from Man Shops Globe came to BA, she was his guide. Hello, can you see that I am green with envy? You'd think she would have an ego to match, but she's so down to earth! I love that she prefers to work with relatively unknown artisans and people when she's doing a project.
One of her ongoing projects is Handpicked - a small, curated collection of objects and gems from the artists she's found along the way. I bought a bunch of ceramic bowls and limited myself only to those because otherwise I would have taken the entire table with me! There were the cutest little teapots, amazing pitchers, perfect mugs and a million other things I loved. She also carries necklaces made by a woman whose father owns a factory - she rescues the buttons that aren't used and makes the most amazing pieces of jewelry out of them! Toss in some beautiful throws from Elementos Argentinos and you can imagine that I didn't visit any other stand but Emma's!
If you think you can stand the case of envy that will overcome you, take a peep at Emma's blog and read up about her fun little life and all the rest! I will post pictures of the bowls I got later this week.
Saturday I skipped on over to the Christmas Fair at the British Ambassador's Residence. I had been there a few years back, in the crazy UCA days, for the ambassador's son's 21st birthday. It was a free-for-all of random booze and out of control English kids with a 6 to 1 exchange rate and an insatiable desire to rage. It was so fun and so random. I hadn't been back and when I found out about the annual Christmas Fair, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I had to go!
Each year there is a lovely little fair with lots of little old ladies who call you "love" and sell things like handknit stockings, felt ornaments, cute gift ideas, and other gems. It was a brilliant day, with so much sunshine I wanted to lounge there all afternoon.
I was tipped off by someone I know who was selling things there, and was so glad she filled me in! Emma is from Leeds and has been in BA for the past 6 years with her husband Oliver and two most adorable sons, Seth and Bo. They have just returned after living in India for the past 9 months (Oliver is a writer and was in India doing research). I really don't want to gush, but I have such a girl crush on Emma. She's beyond cool it hurts. Her creativity is incredible and her Boca chairs are being sold by Anthropologie! (They were also featured on Design*Sponge, as was her previous apartment. Check it out here)
When Keith from Man Shops Globe came to BA, she was his guide. Hello, can you see that I am green with envy? You'd think she would have an ego to match, but she's so down to earth! I love that she prefers to work with relatively unknown artisans and people when she's doing a project.
One of her ongoing projects is Handpicked - a small, curated collection of objects and gems from the artists she's found along the way. I bought a bunch of ceramic bowls and limited myself only to those because otherwise I would have taken the entire table with me! There were the cutest little teapots, amazing pitchers, perfect mugs and a million other things I loved. She also carries necklaces made by a woman whose father owns a factory - she rescues the buttons that aren't used and makes the most amazing pieces of jewelry out of them! Toss in some beautiful throws from Elementos Argentinos and you can imagine that I didn't visit any other stand but Emma's!
If you think you can stand the case of envy that will overcome you, take a peep at Emma's blog and read up about her fun little life and all the rest! I will post pictures of the bowls I got later this week.
weekend roundup
For me it's like Sunday since Cristina decided to make today another national holiday. Thank you very much!
We've had a really fun and very busy weekend, and I'm even more excited since Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I got my hands on a sassy turkey imported from Brasil and have just put it in the fridge to start the defrosting process. I have named her María de Luján and she weighs 5.1kg, just around 11 lbs. She's rock hard. I hope she thaws in time (cue holiday nightmare #12 that has crossed my mind in the past week or so).
On Friday I had really wanted to go to day one of the Hot Festival - Mika, Girl Talk, Scissor Sisters, Phoenix. I should have gotten my act together and bought my ticket ahead of time, but when push came to shove I couldn't really rationalize it in terms of budget (sad). We had 2 free tickets to day two, which was still great but I was dying to see Girl Talk (actually I'd prefer not to talk about that, I'm still kicking myself). So instead of dance on stage with Girl Talk, we did a trifecta Danzón/Shampoo/Crobar that did not disappoint either. I feel like it made up for my granny ways.
Thievery Corporation and Massive Attack were the two big names for Saturday and I have to say I was not disappointed by either of their sets! I love that Thievery Corporation is from DC and listening to them really brought back memories of when I used to go to the 9:30 Club about 4 times a month (no joke). It was definitely bittersweet; I love the power music has to transform the entire mood and feeling of a place. I closed my eyes and I was back home! It was lovely.
I guess you could say I was late to jump on the Massive Attack bandwagon - just last year when I started living with José he would put it on while we enjoyed a nice glass of malbec on any random evening - but no matter. Their set was nothing short of amazing. I actually want to say AMAZING because that is more accurate. Since I had never seen them before (not even a music video) I was so happy to see that their show mirrored exactly how the music sounds and feels. I would totally see them again.
Sunday was spent watching polo at the Abierto de Palermo - the final cup of the season. The sun was shining and it was a perfect day to bask in the sun, drink a little champagne, and people watch. Two years back I went to every game in the short season (mid-November to early December) and really started to love watching it! (It helped to have someone who used to play explain the rules and ins-and-outs of the game - makes it much easier to follow and therefore, enjoy). After about 5 hours in the sun, I got home and was totally knackered, as my sissy would say, and needed to lie flat with a big bottle of water by my side in hopes of recuperating.
That brings us to today ... Holiday. Humid and cloudy and not nice for my barometric-pressure sensitivity. Jose wanted to climb a bit so I joined him at Peru Beach and caught up on recent issues of The Economist and Time while he scaled walls and got his hands covered in chalk. Now I'm here, waiting for María de Luján to start melting & for my ice cream to arrive (What? You say that ice cream isn't good for a headache? No, I've been told it's just the ticket).
Now I'm perusing Etsy for some milk glass vases and eyeing the lentil recipes from the New York Times ... not to mention the amazing "Up at the Villa" article from T Magazine. Take me to Rome...
We've had a really fun and very busy weekend, and I'm even more excited since Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I got my hands on a sassy turkey imported from Brasil and have just put it in the fridge to start the defrosting process. I have named her María de Luján and she weighs 5.1kg, just around 11 lbs. She's rock hard. I hope she thaws in time (cue holiday nightmare #12 that has crossed my mind in the past week or so).
On Friday I had really wanted to go to day one of the Hot Festival - Mika, Girl Talk, Scissor Sisters, Phoenix. I should have gotten my act together and bought my ticket ahead of time, but when push came to shove I couldn't really rationalize it in terms of budget (sad). We had 2 free tickets to day two, which was still great but I was dying to see Girl Talk (actually I'd prefer not to talk about that, I'm still kicking myself). So instead of dance on stage with Girl Talk, we did a trifecta Danzón/Shampoo/Crobar that did not disappoint either. I feel like it made up for my granny ways.
Thievery Corporation and Massive Attack were the two big names for Saturday and I have to say I was not disappointed by either of their sets! I love that Thievery Corporation is from DC and listening to them really brought back memories of when I used to go to the 9:30 Club about 4 times a month (no joke). It was definitely bittersweet; I love the power music has to transform the entire mood and feeling of a place. I closed my eyes and I was back home! It was lovely.
I guess you could say I was late to jump on the Massive Attack bandwagon - just last year when I started living with José he would put it on while we enjoyed a nice glass of malbec on any random evening - but no matter. Their set was nothing short of amazing. I actually want to say AMAZING because that is more accurate. Since I had never seen them before (not even a music video) I was so happy to see that their show mirrored exactly how the music sounds and feels. I would totally see them again.
Sunday was spent watching polo at the Abierto de Palermo - the final cup of the season. The sun was shining and it was a perfect day to bask in the sun, drink a little champagne, and people watch. Two years back I went to every game in the short season (mid-November to early December) and really started to love watching it! (It helped to have someone who used to play explain the rules and ins-and-outs of the game - makes it much easier to follow and therefore, enjoy). After about 5 hours in the sun, I got home and was totally knackered, as my sissy would say, and needed to lie flat with a big bottle of water by my side in hopes of recuperating.
That brings us to today ... Holiday. Humid and cloudy and not nice for my barometric-pressure sensitivity. Jose wanted to climb a bit so I joined him at Peru Beach and caught up on recent issues of The Economist and Time while he scaled walls and got his hands covered in chalk. Now I'm here, waiting for María de Luján to start melting & for my ice cream to arrive (What? You say that ice cream isn't good for a headache? No, I've been told it's just the ticket).
Now I'm perusing Etsy for some milk glass vases and eyeing the lentil recipes from the New York Times ... not to mention the amazing "Up at the Villa" article from T Magazine. Take me to Rome...
15 November 2010
Honeymoon Brainstorming
Jose and I have made very little progress when it comes to the honeymoon planning process. We know where we want to go, but it's a route that could be done in anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months (oh to have the luxury of time!!). Given that we have to assume that at least one of us will have some kind of real employment at the time of the wedding, sadly we cannot bank on taking an extra-long trip after we get married.
Our basic outline is this: Venice/Bigonovo, trot across N. Italy, trot across S. France, trot along to Barcelona and then to the Basque country. Ideally a jaunt to Portugal could be tacked on at the end.
Since i've never been to any of those places, I would love some tips on what's not to miss, little gems of boutique hotels, amazing places to eat (my #1 priority, clearly), and anything else you feel would be helpful! I would be such a happy camper to get some info!
14 November 2010
Gluttony
Let's just say that yesterday got off to a wonderful start. We had a nice leisurely morning while getting ready for the busy afternoon/evening that waited for us. Jose and I made it down to Puerto Madero about an hour before the We Run Buenos Aires 10k was supposed to kick off. Since I wasn't able to run, but had registered for the race (pre-injury, I'm not that much of a wannabe!), I was convinced to wear the race t-shirt along with everyone else. I felt like a total dork but it helped me blend in (among 15,000 people it's not that hard, but anyway) and I figured it's better to dress in a semi-athletic fashion when at a massive athletic event.
Eventually, we all kind of mashed toward the starting line. Since I was the non-runner of the group, I was the portable coat check with the backpack full of water, jackets/long-sleeved shirts, cell phones, etc weighing me down. Before I knew it, the race had started and I was crossing the starting line with everyone else! Mind you, it's basically impossible (and also incredibly stupid) to try to stop/walk when you have masses of people behind you ready to run 10k. My plan was to just cross with everyone and then ditch off to the side straight away. Unfortunately, Nike had put up some serious barriers and I felt like they were neverending; it was impossible to find a seamless exit from the race course! I finally found a gap between two and kind of shoved myself in between them. It was a good 2-block little trot there. My knee hurts now so I've got that going for me. Ugh I miss running so much.
Fast forward. Everyone finished - Jose's time was great, 52:30 - and we had to rush back home to get ready for our Indian feast (part of the week-long Indian Cultural Festival) with some friends. When I found out that it was all you can eat, full-on buffet style, my heart exploded with joy. The wine flowed, and the curry wasn't far behind. The food was delicious, and managed to distract me from the awfully kitschy decor (a la Bollywood, no doubt) and overpowering sitar (I will admit, the guy playing was really good, although I kept expecting a Beatles song to come over the stereo or something, reminiscent of the days when George got really into Bangladesh and the late 60s/early 70s started to take root).
I ate. And ate. And ate.
Coup d'eat: gulab jamun.
The death knell. Little fried balls of heavenly dough, soaked in sugar/rose water syrup.
I've had them several times before and have never been able to resist. Oh man, oh man.
Bad news bears. I ate three and was immediately immobilized. Like, unable to stand up, walk, breathe or think without severe discomfort. I even had a little digestive tea afterward and it didn't help. I was in for a doozy.
After dinner, we all piled into our friend's car to start off on our trek around the city for Noche de los Museos. We had driven all of 1 block when I felt an extreme urge to throw myself out of the car and into anywhere but a moving vehicle. I had to bow out of a fun night that I had so badly wanted to be a part of, and ended up watching old-ish episodes of SNL and Top Chef on the couch while I strained not to move or do anything that would upset the insane quantity of food and liquid in my stomach.
Definitely not an ideal end to what could have been an ideal evening.
I slept until 1pm today, something that I almost never do, because I had finally managed to fall asleep a little after 3am. The day has been grey and ugly, so we didn't miss out on much. I caught up on some news on the iPad, made a smoothie, used up the rest of the veg in the fridge to make Gazpacho round 2, tried to see if I could remember how to do a real push up, and looked for bridesmaid's dresses that can accommodate pregnant bellies. Rather productive, given the circumstances.
And here we are, listening to the Scissor Sisters and Girl Talk, getting ready for the show on Friday. I haven't gotten my ticket yet because I just found out that if I buy $350 of anything from the Paseo Alcorta mall (not hard at all, given inflation and my itch for retail therapy) I get a free ticket! Woowee! It's a win-win, people.
12 November 2010
tgif
I just had a delicious lunch down at Pura Vida and my belly is full of fruit & veg and extremely happy. We need to run out to the supermarket to get some more fruit so this weekend I can keep on blending! Sad, but true.
Just some random thoughts. These past weeks have been full of wedding planning/logistical details blargh. I was kind of bummed (as I'm sure my mom was too!) that things really weren't 100% resolved at the end of my trip in September. There really was/is a lot to do - maybe not the "big" things but we don't have the invites yet (I have such expensive taste apparently. The invites we had decided on two months back would end up costing us over $2,000. Better luck next time.) I don't believe in skimping on the important details but I also don't believe in going overboard just because. It's ONE DAY. Not even a whole day! I obviously want things to be spectacularly perfect because I'm Type A, but I can't imagine trying rationalize some of the outrageous things that brides demand/want/purchase/make other people purchase for the Big Day.
Part of me is happy that I'm not working full, full time (two part time jobs keep me busy but I wouldn't say they add up to a complete 9-6 every day) so I can at least spend some time looking at my favorite wedding blogs for ideas and just general eye candy. The other part of me is just like still in awe at the fact that some people put so much energy and expectation to this one day in their lives. Of course it's supposed to be happy and perfect and amazing and fun and all the rest - but I'm not sure if I would hope for it to be the "best day of my life." I just feel like there should be so much more happiness and joy beyond that day! That the marriage, not the wedding, should be what you're most excited about. To be honest I'm exhausted just thinking about all of the work and blood/sweat/tears that go into a mere 8 hour event! That's not saying that I don't care at all about how it turns out, of course I do, but I just wonder where our expectations and priorities are. Obviously everyone is different and I'm really not in any position to judge, but I just hope that if I were like trying to drag on the whole "I'm getting married I'm the bride omg omg!" thing much beyond the actual wedding ... well, I hope that someone close to me would give me a good slap.
Because at the end of the day, after fighting with my mom over the most minute little detail like the exact color of the envelope liner, I sit down to dinner with Josey and I just realize why I am so excited for June 4th. It's not because I get to wear a beautiful white dress, and it's not because of the gift registry. It's because I get to spend my life with my (cue cliche) best friend/running buddy/Indian food companion/puzzle partner/music buff/personal sommelier! How exciting and amazing is that? I'm sure that is why brides really just beam on their big day. The event is a blur; if you're lucky you might even get a bite of dinner or manage to step back and enjoy the event that has taken so long to create. The material objects and goods just melt away. It's not about being "the Bride" and buying an entirely white wardrobe to drive the point home. It's about cherishing a love that to you is so unique and so special that it deserves its own celebration.
Just some random thoughts. These past weeks have been full of wedding planning/logistical details blargh. I was kind of bummed (as I'm sure my mom was too!) that things really weren't 100% resolved at the end of my trip in September. There really was/is a lot to do - maybe not the "big" things but we don't have the invites yet (I have such expensive taste apparently. The invites we had decided on two months back would end up costing us over $2,000. Better luck next time.) I don't believe in skimping on the important details but I also don't believe in going overboard just because. It's ONE DAY. Not even a whole day! I obviously want things to be spectacularly perfect because I'm Type A, but I can't imagine trying rationalize some of the outrageous things that brides demand/want/purchase/make other people purchase for the Big Day.
Part of me is happy that I'm not working full, full time (two part time jobs keep me busy but I wouldn't say they add up to a complete 9-6 every day) so I can at least spend some time looking at my favorite wedding blogs for ideas and just general eye candy. The other part of me is just like still in awe at the fact that some people put so much energy and expectation to this one day in their lives. Of course it's supposed to be happy and perfect and amazing and fun and all the rest - but I'm not sure if I would hope for it to be the "best day of my life." I just feel like there should be so much more happiness and joy beyond that day! That the marriage, not the wedding, should be what you're most excited about. To be honest I'm exhausted just thinking about all of the work and blood/sweat/tears that go into a mere 8 hour event! That's not saying that I don't care at all about how it turns out, of course I do, but I just wonder where our expectations and priorities are. Obviously everyone is different and I'm really not in any position to judge, but I just hope that if I were like trying to drag on the whole "I'm getting married I'm the bride omg omg!" thing much beyond the actual wedding ... well, I hope that someone close to me would give me a good slap.
Because at the end of the day, after fighting with my mom over the most minute little detail like the exact color of the envelope liner, I sit down to dinner with Josey and I just realize why I am so excited for June 4th. It's not because I get to wear a beautiful white dress, and it's not because of the gift registry. It's because I get to spend my life with my (cue cliche) best friend/running buddy/Indian food companion/puzzle partner/music buff/personal sommelier! How exciting and amazing is that? I'm sure that is why brides really just beam on their big day. The event is a blur; if you're lucky you might even get a bite of dinner or manage to step back and enjoy the event that has taken so long to create. The material objects and goods just melt away. It's not about being "the Bride" and buying an entirely white wardrobe to drive the point home. It's about cherishing a love that to you is so unique and so special that it deserves its own celebration.
Weekend Romping
Lots to look forward to this weekend ... Indian feast after Josey runs the Nike 10k (my damn knee still hurts. Thanks, Centro Valls, for NOT working) in the afternoon (side note: I don't know why this race is run in the afternoon, but I guess it's nice because we don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn!). Then we'll be playing at Noche de Los Museos (Night at the Museum) - an annual event where almost every museum/gallery/etc in the city is open until 3 am. Fun times. I want to go to the Penitentiary Museum but not sure if anyone else will want to join me ...
Have to start getting ready for Thanksgiving Dinner at Basavilbaso, Round 2! Very excited to make another turkey and have some friends over for a big feast.
What else .... Reading Design*Sponge and getting fun Before&After inspiration ideas. Just a minute ago Jose and I were chatting about how to tackle the home office problem. I NEED MORE STORAGE people! I hate seeing loose papers and documents, among other things, scattered about without order. Part of my tardiness on the whole matter is due to my pathetic claims that because I'm in BA, I don't know where to go to buy what I could get at home in a pinch. That is sort of true, but mostly false. I just need a little oomph to get to a librería for some stand-up document storage, maybe Easy for some random shelves or something, and the rest I can wing. Ideally I'd be at the Mercado de Pulgas for some amazing antique hunting and a little bit of salvage work. Maybe on Sunday I can coerce a certain someone to join me ...
Have to start getting ready for Thanksgiving Dinner at Basavilbaso, Round 2! Very excited to make another turkey and have some friends over for a big feast.
What else .... Reading Design*Sponge and getting fun Before&After inspiration ideas. Just a minute ago Jose and I were chatting about how to tackle the home office problem. I NEED MORE STORAGE people! I hate seeing loose papers and documents, among other things, scattered about without order. Part of my tardiness on the whole matter is due to my pathetic claims that because I'm in BA, I don't know where to go to buy what I could get at home in a pinch. That is sort of true, but mostly false. I just need a little oomph to get to a librería for some stand-up document storage, maybe Easy for some random shelves or something, and the rest I can wing. Ideally I'd be at the Mercado de Pulgas for some amazing antique hunting and a little bit of salvage work. Maybe on Sunday I can coerce a certain someone to join me ...
08 November 2010
Blendy Friendly
Today I have revived my relationship with a forgotten kitchen buddy, the Blender. I made an insanely yummy but incredibly basic smoothie for breakfast and then just whipped up a nice fresh batch of gazpacho for dinner tonight. It's currently rainy and chilly, nothing at all like weather that demands a chilled soup but I don't really care.
I'm going to start being more creative (aka lifting inspiration from Pura Vida's smoothie menu, saving myself a trip downtown and $20+) and adding random things into my morning fruit fusion, and coming up with other blended delights for my tumtum. Liquid diet, anyone? (Just kidding)
I'm going to start being more creative (aka lifting inspiration from Pura Vida's smoothie menu, saving myself a trip downtown and $20+) and adding random things into my morning fruit fusion, and coming up with other blended delights for my tumtum. Liquid diet, anyone? (Just kidding)
A True Necessity
We're looking at getting some new rugs for the house (pretty much just for the home office and the dressing room), and I am sort of set on picking up a gem from Elementos Argentinos. I love everything that comes out of their amazing store, and I think this Greek key rug would be perfect in the office! I dream of it and need it immediately.
05 November 2010
Things That Make Me Happy
1. Mid-day sunning sessions with José on the terrace. Good time to catch up on Elle Decor mags, essential travel literature, and check in with my darling succulents.
2. Eating Indian food twice in two days! Both with excellent company and delicious wine. My bell has never been this full of curry delight. Annex to #2: The Indian Cultural & Food Festival in BA, from now until November 14. Pure. Heaven.
3. Giggy the Pom. Enough said. (Thanks FMF)
4. TGIF. The sun is shining and life is good.
5. Dreaming of the antique mosaic tiles I might pick up while in Punta this New Year's.
6. Peonies.
2. Eating Indian food twice in two days! Both with excellent company and delicious wine. My bell has never been this full of curry delight. Annex to #2: The Indian Cultural & Food Festival in BA, from now until November 14. Pure. Heaven.
3. Giggy the Pom. Enough said. (Thanks FMF)
4. TGIF. The sun is shining and life is good.
5. Dreaming of the antique mosaic tiles I might pick up while in Punta this New Year's.
6. Peonies.
03 November 2010
Things I Enjoy
Paying the disgruntled post office girl in 5 cent coins because she refuses to give me change for $10
02 November 2010
Overdue Pictures
It's been a while since I've posted some pictures, so when I started looking through my recent uploads I saw that I really only take pictures of flowers and plants. Kind of sad, but better than putting up pictures of my ugly mug. For example, my garlic friends that are flourishing, and my sad lemon cypress that is semi-dead but reviving.
Enjoy photographic evidence of recent events ... José's amazingness and filling our entire apartment with jasmine, my stunning peonies that I gazed at for days, and other random tidbits.
These are the funny yellow flowers that are sprouting way on top of my cabbage ... They're winter plants so now that it's Spring they are getting ready to die (tear) and these insanely tall things have started popping up!
Tall, moribund cabbage and its baby brother who isn't quite there yet. In the middle, a random onion I planted. It seems to be doing well. Hooray!
01 November 2010
Sunny Monday
What a busy weekend! And by busy I mean there was so much wind it was out of control. The two don't seem to be related but I'm just going to go with it.
Friday was my only taste of Halloween - sniff, sniff - as I went to an event hosted by the newspaper for a bit before running off to a dinner with friends. Since I didn't really have much time to come up with a real costume, I feel that we did a pretty good job considering. I dressed up in a kimono and Josey went as a random Russian man (we did the best we could with what we had in our closet. I miss the days of college when theme parties were so rampant that you always had something completely insane for nearly every occasion).
Photo:
Later in the evening, after a quick costume change (literally), we scampered off to a late, late dinner at Olsen accompanied by several strong vodka cocktails (Fun Fact: Olsen is a Scandinavian restaurant that boasts the widest vodka selection in all of BA.). After sleeping in considerably on Saturday, we were hoping for a nice day outside but the sky got all dark and gusty and things started blowing everywhere in epic proportions. Really. It was quite odd. BA isn't usually a windy place. We took shelter in an Italian place in Puerto Madero and drank limoncello to quell our nerves. I was also served a bowl of pasta so big 3 people could have eaten it and still been satisfied. Regardless, our table ordered 3 desserts just to finish it all off with a bang. Woo. Was on the couch for several hours afterward.
Sunday we headed over to Buenos Aires Photo at the Palais de Glace, one of my favorite little exposition spaces. I felt like there weren't as many photos on display as last year but that might be my memory playing tricks on me. Regardless, it was really fun, as always, to check out some of the up and coming artists and their work. Some of my favorite photos were from Buenos Aires in the 1930s, with shots from inside the slaughterhouses and other things. It's a shame it's only open just 3 or 4 days, because I would love to go back when there was no one else so I could really enjoy it!
Oh yes we also saw The Social Network last night. Loved. It. Just like everyone else who has seen it, I feel. I loved reading a little more of the backstory before seeing it (and reading which bits were a little more fictionalized than others), but especially enjoyed the interview Sean Parker did with Vanity Fair last month. Really compelling, to me at least. I think Justin Timberlake did quite a good job at portraying him. I didn't once think of him from the nsync days! On another movie note, I am sad that Black Sawn, the new Natalie Portman psycho-sexy-thriller, won't be coming to BA. Am hoping I can find a copy of it somewhere ... Anywhere!
At PT this morning they told me that my tendons still feel inflamed. I could have told them this myself when, after another "touch test" (a name I invented) revealed that random poking of my knee causes severely sharp pain! Not cool. Why have I been waking up at the crack of dawn for the past month if this isn't healed yet? Looks like I'll be getting a second opinion ... Which is why I love my health insurance. It's free!
Hm.. What else? It's hot and sunny so I spent some time up on the roof this morning and at lunch. Went to the gym and now Jose laughs at me for wanting to be like a bouncer at a club since I do crazy arm workouts and check out my sick muscles in the mirror when we're in the elevator. Hey, what can I say? Gotta look good in my wedding dress - and the clock is ticking!
Off to babysit and make some yummy Murg Malai kebabs for dinner .... mmmmmm
Friday was my only taste of Halloween - sniff, sniff - as I went to an event hosted by the newspaper for a bit before running off to a dinner with friends. Since I didn't really have much time to come up with a real costume, I feel that we did a pretty good job considering. I dressed up in a kimono and Josey went as a random Russian man (we did the best we could with what we had in our closet. I miss the days of college when theme parties were so rampant that you always had something completely insane for nearly every occasion).
Photo:
Later in the evening, after a quick costume change (literally), we scampered off to a late, late dinner at Olsen accompanied by several strong vodka cocktails (Fun Fact: Olsen is a Scandinavian restaurant that boasts the widest vodka selection in all of BA.). After sleeping in considerably on Saturday, we were hoping for a nice day outside but the sky got all dark and gusty and things started blowing everywhere in epic proportions. Really. It was quite odd. BA isn't usually a windy place. We took shelter in an Italian place in Puerto Madero and drank limoncello to quell our nerves. I was also served a bowl of pasta so big 3 people could have eaten it and still been satisfied. Regardless, our table ordered 3 desserts just to finish it all off with a bang. Woo. Was on the couch for several hours afterward.
Sunday we headed over to Buenos Aires Photo at the Palais de Glace, one of my favorite little exposition spaces. I felt like there weren't as many photos on display as last year but that might be my memory playing tricks on me. Regardless, it was really fun, as always, to check out some of the up and coming artists and their work. Some of my favorite photos were from Buenos Aires in the 1930s, with shots from inside the slaughterhouses and other things. It's a shame it's only open just 3 or 4 days, because I would love to go back when there was no one else so I could really enjoy it!
Oh yes we also saw The Social Network last night. Loved. It. Just like everyone else who has seen it, I feel. I loved reading a little more of the backstory before seeing it (and reading which bits were a little more fictionalized than others), but especially enjoyed the interview Sean Parker did with Vanity Fair last month. Really compelling, to me at least. I think Justin Timberlake did quite a good job at portraying him. I didn't once think of him from the nsync days! On another movie note, I am sad that Black Sawn, the new Natalie Portman psycho-sexy-thriller, won't be coming to BA. Am hoping I can find a copy of it somewhere ... Anywhere!
At PT this morning they told me that my tendons still feel inflamed. I could have told them this myself when, after another "touch test" (a name I invented) revealed that random poking of my knee causes severely sharp pain! Not cool. Why have I been waking up at the crack of dawn for the past month if this isn't healed yet? Looks like I'll be getting a second opinion ... Which is why I love my health insurance. It's free!
Hm.. What else? It's hot and sunny so I spent some time up on the roof this morning and at lunch. Went to the gym and now Jose laughs at me for wanting to be like a bouncer at a club since I do crazy arm workouts and check out my sick muscles in the mirror when we're in the elevator. Hey, what can I say? Gotta look good in my wedding dress - and the clock is ticking!
Off to babysit and make some yummy Murg Malai kebabs for dinner .... mmmmmm
28 October 2010
RIP Crazy Penguin
Yesterday morning, Nestor Kirchner died suddenly after suffering a series of heart attacks near his home in El Calafate. It was also a national holiday (census day), so there wasn't much else to do than watch the news and see what was happening. To be honest, after the first 45 minutes of watching I came to realize that there wasn't much to be said and that the channels were just going to repeat the news over and over again.
It's definitely a strange, surreal event - there are tons of pro-Kirchner supporters out there, but there are also so many people who are fed up with how CFK and Nestor manipulate and control things. No matter how you feel about them/him, I find it in poor taste to openly "celebrate" his passing (as I have seen via many comments and discussions on Facebook - of all places).
Even though I think the Kirchners are nuts when it comes to politics, and I was not looking forward to the prospect of his being elected next year, I get so sad when I think of his wife and children who are of course suffering in a big way right now.
This article from the New York Times is a nice summary of what the Kirchner world is all about.
I'll include a little excerpt:
It's definitely a strange, surreal event - there are tons of pro-Kirchner supporters out there, but there are also so many people who are fed up with how CFK and Nestor manipulate and control things. No matter how you feel about them/him, I find it in poor taste to openly "celebrate" his passing (as I have seen via many comments and discussions on Facebook - of all places).
Even though I think the Kirchners are nuts when it comes to politics, and I was not looking forward to the prospect of his being elected next year, I get so sad when I think of his wife and children who are of course suffering in a big way right now.
This article from the New York Times is a nice summary of what the Kirchner world is all about.
I'll include a little excerpt:
"Mr. Kirchner’s death, coming on a national holiday to conduct the census, throws next year’s elections and the presidency of his wife and political partner, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, into a sudden state of flux. Not only did Mr. Kirchner and his popularity as president help her be elected, but he also exercised substantial influence behind the scenes of her government, playing a hands-on role in the running of the economy and recently serving as the head of their Peronist party.
Together they formed one of the world’s most powerful political couples, dubbed the “penguins” for Mr. Kirchner’s close association with his Patagonian home province, Santa Cruz. As president, Mrs. Kirchner was more often the public face of their partnership, while he was the master political operator, pulling the levers of the Peronist machinery. Mr. Kirchner held the disparate governing coalition intact by inspiring loyalty in lower-level politicians and unions with subsidies and patronage, and by growing the economy at a swift pace, even at the cost of inflation.
Many Argentines were also betting that he, not his wife, would run for president next year, part of what analysts frequently called the couple’s leap-frog strategy to create a lasting dynasty by passing the presidency between them for multiple terms."
26 October 2010
Semi-Famous People We See at the Gym
I have definitely mentioned my semi-addiction/fascination with "Showmatch" ("Bailando Por un Sueño" - Like "Dancing with the Stars" at home) at least once or twice for sure. It's a trashy yet hilarious Argentine tv show that is on 4 nights a week and sweeps everything else in the ratings on a regular basis. Marcelo Tinelli is the host, and got his start by doing other tv shows that included hidden-camera pranks and funny sketches. I think he is hilarious and even though it's kind of embarrassing to admit that you actually watch Showmatch, I don't really care since it's a nice distraction from all the scary or bad things that are on the other basic cable channels. We have real cable too, but I don't always want to watch NatGeo documentaries. I like to indulge in a guilty pleasure now and then, hokay?
Anyway. For some reason, our gym (Megatlón in Recoleta) is used as a rehearsal space for what seems to be quite a few of the couples/dancers. It's fun because they're really not that famous - they have a big public following and are definitely what you might call celebrities, but a lot of them became famous either for dating someone in the public eye, for being a model / vedette (kind of like a showgirl), or something along those lines. Regardless of how they made it to fame, they're all over the place on tv shows, magazine covers, and going to the boliches - getting paid for just being there. Not bad I guess - maybe better than working a boring 9-5.
Since José and I go to the gym at random times and on a lot of Saturday afternoons, we've run in to some of the participants and it's always fun to recognize them. They're also TINY in person. It's not that the camera adds 10 lbs, but that the people seem taller on television! I felt like a giant when I saw some of the women.
Virginia Gallardo, ex-girlfriend of Ricardo Fort (current judge, ex-participant of Bailando, former male stripper, bajillionaire, ambiguously gay). Her boobs are actually ENORMOUS and I don't understand how she doesn't fall over when she walks.
Sofia Zamolo, blonde beautiful pixie who is mostly known for being a model. She seemed like the smallest human being on the planet when we passed each other in the gym entrance (she touched my hand! She said "disculpame"! omg. Or, not) last week. I didn't know you could be a model if you were less than 5'5" but I guess if your bod is insanely hot you can do whatever you want.
Sofia's dancer/partner is Maxi Diorio, most famous for being a ... male stripper. Anyway. He smokes which I find weird. Why would you smoke if you're a professional dancer? That's kind of like being an athlete - you have to train a ton. Oh well. I'm not here to judge, people.
Finally ... Silvina Escudero. She's all over the news lately since she is airing out the dirty laundry of an apparently very messy breakup with fellow semi-celeb and Bailando participant, Matías Alé. It's all kind of ridiculous, and I wonder why these people get press for doing nothing of true substance, but clearly people buy it. She can really stretch her leg up in the air.
So there you have it - the limber & tanned dancers/semi-celebs who we run into at the gym. If that doesn't serve as motivation to work out just a little harder next time, I don't know what is !
Anyway. For some reason, our gym (Megatlón in Recoleta) is used as a rehearsal space for what seems to be quite a few of the couples/dancers. It's fun because they're really not that famous - they have a big public following and are definitely what you might call celebrities, but a lot of them became famous either for dating someone in the public eye, for being a model / vedette (kind of like a showgirl), or something along those lines. Regardless of how they made it to fame, they're all over the place on tv shows, magazine covers, and going to the boliches - getting paid for just being there. Not bad I guess - maybe better than working a boring 9-5.
Since José and I go to the gym at random times and on a lot of Saturday afternoons, we've run in to some of the participants and it's always fun to recognize them. They're also TINY in person. It's not that the camera adds 10 lbs, but that the people seem taller on television! I felt like a giant when I saw some of the women.
So far some of the people we have seen ...
Virginia Gallardo, ex-girlfriend of Ricardo Fort (current judge, ex-participant of Bailando, former male stripper, bajillionaire, ambiguously gay). Her boobs are actually ENORMOUS and I don't understand how she doesn't fall over when she walks.
Sofia Zamolo, blonde beautiful pixie who is mostly known for being a model. She seemed like the smallest human being on the planet when we passed each other in the gym entrance (she touched my hand! She said "disculpame"! omg. Or, not) last week. I didn't know you could be a model if you were less than 5'5" but I guess if your bod is insanely hot you can do whatever you want.
Sofia's dancer/partner is Maxi Diorio, most famous for being a ... male stripper. Anyway. He smokes which I find weird. Why would you smoke if you're a professional dancer? That's kind of like being an athlete - you have to train a ton. Oh well. I'm not here to judge, people.
Finally ... Silvina Escudero. She's all over the news lately since she is airing out the dirty laundry of an apparently very messy breakup with fellow semi-celeb and Bailando participant, Matías Alé. It's all kind of ridiculous, and I wonder why these people get press for doing nothing of true substance, but clearly people buy it. She can really stretch her leg up in the air.
So there you have it - the limber & tanned dancers/semi-celebs who we run into at the gym. If that doesn't serve as motivation to work out just a little harder next time, I don't know what is !
25 October 2010
Dog-Tastic
My Godmumsy, who is more amazing than words can describe, sent me this video a while back and it always makes me laugh/love dogs even more than I already do (wasn't sure that was possible).
Anyway, enjoy the musical stylings of OK Go + Friends
Anyway, enjoy the musical stylings of OK Go + Friends
24 October 2010
Sunday Night - Already?
I have a love/hate thing with insanely busy weekends. On one hand, it's great to be out and about, seeing friends and taking advantage of free time and good weather to go on fun adventures. On the other hand, sometimes I just want to have a couple of hours to lay on the couch, scratch my belly and stare at the wall. Last night I went for tea with some friends and didn't get home until well after 9 - and had to be at a birthday party less than an hour later ! We got home around 2:30, woke up at 10:30 and left for our friend's house outside the city at like 11:15. It's 9:30 and we got home about a half hour ago. Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it. It was definitely a fun finde but knowing that I have to wake up at 7 AM tomorrow is still giving me a tough time (seriously, NOT a morning girl).
Now we're watching Policías en Acción (Argentine version of COPS and I love it) and having some mint tea to help digest the insane asado we had today. Seriously not a good idea to skip breakfast when you're about to go to an all-meat fest. I was scarfing mollejas at like 12:15 and right before we left thought I'd throw in 3 amazing medialunas just for good measure. The food consumption that occurred in that time frame was pretty ridiculous. Better be off to the gym tomorrow ...
The house still smells of jasmine and I love being surrounded by my favorite spring flower! It was the perfect beginning to a busy weekend. José had literally bought every last jasmine in the 10 block radius and filled the apartment with them, and was waiting for me after I got home from work with a nice chilled bottle of champagne. We love Josey.
Wednesday is the National Census so we have a holiday! Hooray! Now that I am legal (and have been for a while) I actually have to stay at home until they come check me out to see where I live, etc. If I were DNI-less I could technically run amok and do whatever, but I'm theoretically supposed to be counted since I have the sought-after DNI (blah).
OOOH ! Also ! We have been stalking people who have French bulldogs to see where they've gotten them to start doing some research. The first woman was really mean and didn't even stop to talk to us! She like kept walking at her brisk pace and made us follow her, and finally when we got to one street corner she just said "ok, chau" - I was sad. Her little clown was so cute too, but he came from a puppy mill and didn't have any papers. Then on the way home from the gym we saw a couple with two Frenchies! They were SO cute. And SO tiny! Little pups. They passed us the name of a well-established breeder, Pancho El Cuervo (random..) and I have already been snooping on his website. It all seems very legit so hopefully it will work out when we're ready to get a dog! I just need those gigantic ears in my life ... and a little tater tot to keep me warm when I need a cuddle!
Now we're watching Policías en Acción (Argentine version of COPS and I love it) and having some mint tea to help digest the insane asado we had today. Seriously not a good idea to skip breakfast when you're about to go to an all-meat fest. I was scarfing mollejas at like 12:15 and right before we left thought I'd throw in 3 amazing medialunas just for good measure. The food consumption that occurred in that time frame was pretty ridiculous. Better be off to the gym tomorrow ...
The house still smells of jasmine and I love being surrounded by my favorite spring flower! It was the perfect beginning to a busy weekend. José had literally bought every last jasmine in the 10 block radius and filled the apartment with them, and was waiting for me after I got home from work with a nice chilled bottle of champagne. We love Josey.
Wednesday is the National Census so we have a holiday! Hooray! Now that I am legal (and have been for a while) I actually have to stay at home until they come check me out to see where I live, etc. If I were DNI-less I could technically run amok and do whatever, but I'm theoretically supposed to be counted since I have the sought-after DNI (blah).
OOOH ! Also ! We have been stalking people who have French bulldogs to see where they've gotten them to start doing some research. The first woman was really mean and didn't even stop to talk to us! She like kept walking at her brisk pace and made us follow her, and finally when we got to one street corner she just said "ok, chau" - I was sad. Her little clown was so cute too, but he came from a puppy mill and didn't have any papers. Then on the way home from the gym we saw a couple with two Frenchies! They were SO cute. And SO tiny! Little pups. They passed us the name of a well-established breeder, Pancho El Cuervo (random..) and I have already been snooping on his website. It all seems very legit so hopefully it will work out when we're ready to get a dog! I just need those gigantic ears in my life ... and a little tater tot to keep me warm when I need a cuddle!
22 October 2010
Feliz Cumple to Yodie !!
Happy 1st birthday to our beloved Yoda! May he celebrate many more happy birthdays on Bank St. or wherever his journeys take him! xxxxx
21 October 2010
Too good for words
The always wonderful Fran sent me this hilarious You Tube video the other day and I can't stop laughing. I'm not sure if everyone will find it as funny as I did but I feel it's worth posting for you to take a look for yourself. I feel like it depicts a rather typical series of events in the lives of many 20-somethings these days, and it's just so perfectly sarcastic and funny that I could watch it over and over again.
Tipple & Snack (reprise)
Quite some time ago, I posted about my all-time favorite Etsy store, Tipple and Snack. I just went back for a little visit and stumbled upon this amazing apothecary jar. Seriously, can we register here? I would die for anything from this little gem of an online storefront ... I want to spend my life savings on this amazing woman's finds! Call it exaggeration ... I think it could be love.
20 October 2010
Not funny.
I'm really sick of hearing about the ongoing increases in price in just about everything these days. The price of meat has already increased 11% in the last month (about 90% over the course of the year). Taxis have gone up 26% in the last 6 months. The cost of light and gas are about to go up, in some cases between 100-360% before the end of the year.
I'm sorry but I am just sick of having to accept that inflation is just ridiculous and that I end up paying what feels like an average of 20% more for everything these days ... It makes me feel a little, teeny, tiny bit stupid for having left a job with a nice (not great, but not miserable) salary. But then I remember that I was miserable there and wanted to bang my head against the wall for 9 hours every day.
Oh and PS, the trash is still EVERYWHERE. And it's going to be about 80 degrees today.
I'm sorry but I am just sick of having to accept that inflation is just ridiculous and that I end up paying what feels like an average of 20% more for everything these days ... It makes me feel a little, teeny, tiny bit stupid for having left a job with a nice (not great, but not miserable) salary. But then I remember that I was miserable there and wanted to bang my head against the wall for 9 hours every day.
Oh and PS, the trash is still EVERYWHERE. And it's going to be about 80 degrees today.
19 October 2010
Stinkville
The trash collectors have been on strike for the past two days. Since there aren't official dumpsters or "real" places where people put their trash (in apartment buildings, the super collects the trash bags from every floor and puts it all out in front or on the corner for collection), it's been piling up and it's getting pretty gross. Stupidly, I wore flip-flops today (it's so warm and perfect outside!) and had to traverse a narrow sidewalk overflowing with what seemed to be a lot more than just two days' worth of rubbish. I kind of felt like I was at a creepy salad bar that also sold carpet samples and cardboard boxes.
I just made a delicious batch of my homemade salsa and some guac to boot ... Making some tacos for Josey tonight. For the salsa I just chop up tomatoes and add salt, pepper, lemon/lime, some chopped onion, tons of chopped jalapeños, cilantro (if I can find it) and let it sit and marinade into fabulosity. It's super simple but it's a great snack - I love adding the leftover juice to my guacamole for an extra little kick. Clearly I'm a culinary genius.
Speaking of culinary - big, big, BIG road block made my day not so nice this morning. We went back to L'Interdit, the store that carries Christofle & Le Creuset here in Buenos Aires. I was apparently smoking tons of crack when I checked the prices, because they definitely aren't the same as in the US. The big Dutch oven costs AR$ 1,600. That's US$ 400. NO THANKS. That's $130 more than at Williams-Sonoma! I literally went insane and started mumbling to myself like a bitter old lady. Le sigh. We'll see how to remedy that. Luckily you can declare up to US$ 300 in goods when you come into Argentina, so maybe I'll just shove cookware into my suitcase every time I go back and forth. Yeah, that sounds like a problem-free solution. Sike.
This is when I start praying that someone with a customs connection comes out of the woodwork to save me and make all of our wedding present dreams come true. Le sigh.
Back to my usual ... Sitting on the couch with a bag of frozen peas on my knee, watching the news of the wackiest city ever unfold.
I just made a delicious batch of my homemade salsa and some guac to boot ... Making some tacos for Josey tonight. For the salsa I just chop up tomatoes and add salt, pepper, lemon/lime, some chopped onion, tons of chopped jalapeños, cilantro (if I can find it) and let it sit and marinade into fabulosity. It's super simple but it's a great snack - I love adding the leftover juice to my guacamole for an extra little kick. Clearly I'm a culinary genius.
Speaking of culinary - big, big, BIG road block made my day not so nice this morning. We went back to L'Interdit, the store that carries Christofle & Le Creuset here in Buenos Aires. I was apparently smoking tons of crack when I checked the prices, because they definitely aren't the same as in the US. The big Dutch oven costs AR$ 1,600. That's US$ 400. NO THANKS. That's $130 more than at Williams-Sonoma! I literally went insane and started mumbling to myself like a bitter old lady. Le sigh. We'll see how to remedy that. Luckily you can declare up to US$ 300 in goods when you come into Argentina, so maybe I'll just shove cookware into my suitcase every time I go back and forth. Yeah, that sounds like a problem-free solution. Sike.
This is when I start praying that someone with a customs connection comes out of the woodwork to save me and make all of our wedding present dreams come true. Le sigh.
Back to my usual ... Sitting on the couch with a bag of frozen peas on my knee, watching the news of the wackiest city ever unfold.
18 October 2010
Sometimes
Obviously this post is going to be vague, just because I need to vent and don't feel like airing my personal dirty laundry on the bloglet (especially if it's not happy personal details).
I am surprised when people let me down, in whatever way. I mean, no one is perfect and I am clearly not the apex of moral fortitude. Regardless, it hurts when someone you see as a friend says or does (or doesn't say/do) something that seems out of the ordinary for them.
I guess it makes it easier to keep my guard up in the future, but that isn't easy for someone like moi who tries to always see the best in others and give them a second chance despite what my instinct says.
Sometimes you just gotta call a spade a spade.
Anyway, just wanted to write that down.
I am surprised when people let me down, in whatever way. I mean, no one is perfect and I am clearly not the apex of moral fortitude. Regardless, it hurts when someone you see as a friend says or does (or doesn't say/do) something that seems out of the ordinary for them.
I guess it makes it easier to keep my guard up in the future, but that isn't easy for someone like moi who tries to always see the best in others and give them a second chance despite what my instinct says.
Sometimes you just gotta call a spade a spade.
Anyway, just wanted to write that down.
17 October 2010
Anniversary
I'm a little late on this, but on my birthday (24 September) I marked my 2 year anniversary of living in BA as a "real person" and not just an extended-stay tourist/troublemaker. Happy Anniversary to moi!
It's funny how time flies ... How things change so much in such a short amount of time, and at the same time how it all seems to just flow in a subtle way without much pomp&circumstance. I figure a lot of people blink and realize they've been living where they are for much longer than they had anticipated (that is, if they picked up and moved away in the first place). One thing I have learned is that you can't ever put a "sell-by" date on your plans ... What you may think will be feasible and fitting at the time can go right out the window once you start to settle down for good.
Anyway, perhaps I will post a little list of things I have learned in these past 2 years, but for now I will eat some chocolate to celebrate (belatedly).
It's funny how time flies ... How things change so much in such a short amount of time, and at the same time how it all seems to just flow in a subtle way without much pomp&circumstance. I figure a lot of people blink and realize they've been living where they are for much longer than they had anticipated (that is, if they picked up and moved away in the first place). One thing I have learned is that you can't ever put a "sell-by" date on your plans ... What you may think will be feasible and fitting at the time can go right out the window once you start to settle down for good.
Anyway, perhaps I will post a little list of things I have learned in these past 2 years, but for now I will eat some chocolate to celebrate (belatedly).
Etc
Today is Mother's Day in the Southern Hemisphere. Feliz Día to all the madres out there.
Life has been good and busy in the past week. Who would have thought that unemployment could be so hectic? In the past 7 days, I have been diagnosed with tendonitis in my knee, I have chaperoned a birthday party in a house packed with 30 or so 4 year olds, I have been offered gold chains/measuring tapes/mini guitars on the train for "very special, extra low price," I have made an excellent version of my go-to curry (as well as an amazing homemade & super spicy fresh salsa), and I have finally been able to enjoy my correctly upholstered dining room chairs (that was a saga).
My knee is really ticking me off, since I can't run, and now that the weather is consistently nice, all I want to do is fly out the door with Josey and spend the weekends in the sunshine and getting a workout in all at once. I'm doing physical therapy which is kind of funny - the first day they probed me with some strange electrode device that apparently helps reduce inflammation (but ended up leaving me more sore since they poked my tendon so many times trying to locate where it hurts the most. I thought my shouts of pain were indicator enough), followed by a nice 40 minute long icepack session (and I had to put my leg through this weird plastic tube thing. Anyone know what that is?). The place where I go seems pretty good, but I still have a hard time adjusting to the bare-bones, semi outdated equipment and overall ambiance at some of these medical places. I still think it's funny that doctors' offices are often in apartment buildings (not sure why I even care to notice), and when the exam table is just like a wooden cot, I feel like I'm in a time warp. No matter. My knee should be back and kicking in a month or so ... Fingers crossed.
I've also started working as a nanny for the most adorable little muffins ever. They're such sweet kids, and I of course have a serious crush on the internationally chic quotient that the family has. They speak 3 languages and spend a good chunk of the year in Europe, have an incredible and gigantic Bull Mastiff who is as sweet as could be, and their house is (literally) out of a magazine (no, really. It's been featured in Elle Decor and other Argentine deco mags). I die. The kids are so funny and it's a nice way to keep my days/week structured. It's just 3 hours a day so I have plenty of time to do other things, which is also a nice bonus. I will also be working in the commerical/ad/marketing-ish area of a newspaper called the Argentina Independent (formerly known - and loved - as the Argentimes). This will keep my brain sharp and teach me some new and exciting things. Maybe I'll be able to sneak into the editorial side one of these days ...
Yesterday was spent in the sunshine with friends, followed by a nice sweaty gym session before running off to celebrate Mother's Day with Josey's parents. We drank too much grappa. Woke up rather early in spite of that fact and camped out on our rooftop (oh how I love our terrace. It's such a little goldmine for peaceful sunning and urban gardening) and read Scientific American, a little bit of TIME, and dove into a significant chunk of a rather lovely anthology of travel writing.
Have to be up with the sun at 7 am for PT tomorrow (at 8 .. why, why, why?) Also, why did the taxi fares have to go up another 13% just yesterday? Now I can't really argue for a $14 peso taxi ride when the bus only costs $1,10. Random thought: while shopping for a birthday present for a friend, I saw a dress that looks (almost) exactly like this fabulous little number that I picked up at Forever21 while at home. Mine is sort of this bright Caribbean-esque print (semi Ikat but not. I'm horrible at describing) with a shirred front and exposed zipper on top. It's quite charming, actually, and made of a nice silky fabric. The one I spotted today is of a flimsy cotton, with what seems to be kind of shoddy finishing and uglier colors. That dress cost more than $100 and mine was only $25 ! Viva USA and now I want to cry and never, ever buy anything here again. Grr.
Time to watch NatGeo and rest up before the birthday party. Farewell.
Life has been good and busy in the past week. Who would have thought that unemployment could be so hectic? In the past 7 days, I have been diagnosed with tendonitis in my knee, I have chaperoned a birthday party in a house packed with 30 or so 4 year olds, I have been offered gold chains/measuring tapes/mini guitars on the train for "very special, extra low price," I have made an excellent version of my go-to curry (as well as an amazing homemade & super spicy fresh salsa), and I have finally been able to enjoy my correctly upholstered dining room chairs (that was a saga).
My knee is really ticking me off, since I can't run, and now that the weather is consistently nice, all I want to do is fly out the door with Josey and spend the weekends in the sunshine and getting a workout in all at once. I'm doing physical therapy which is kind of funny - the first day they probed me with some strange electrode device that apparently helps reduce inflammation (but ended up leaving me more sore since they poked my tendon so many times trying to locate where it hurts the most. I thought my shouts of pain were indicator enough), followed by a nice 40 minute long icepack session (and I had to put my leg through this weird plastic tube thing. Anyone know what that is?). The place where I go seems pretty good, but I still have a hard time adjusting to the bare-bones, semi outdated equipment and overall ambiance at some of these medical places. I still think it's funny that doctors' offices are often in apartment buildings (not sure why I even care to notice), and when the exam table is just like a wooden cot, I feel like I'm in a time warp. No matter. My knee should be back and kicking in a month or so ... Fingers crossed.
I've also started working as a nanny for the most adorable little muffins ever. They're such sweet kids, and I of course have a serious crush on the internationally chic quotient that the family has. They speak 3 languages and spend a good chunk of the year in Europe, have an incredible and gigantic Bull Mastiff who is as sweet as could be, and their house is (literally) out of a magazine (no, really. It's been featured in Elle Decor and other Argentine deco mags). I die. The kids are so funny and it's a nice way to keep my days/week structured. It's just 3 hours a day so I have plenty of time to do other things, which is also a nice bonus. I will also be working in the commerical/ad/marketing-ish area of a newspaper called the Argentina Independent (formerly known - and loved - as the Argentimes). This will keep my brain sharp and teach me some new and exciting things. Maybe I'll be able to sneak into the editorial side one of these days ...
Yesterday was spent in the sunshine with friends, followed by a nice sweaty gym session before running off to celebrate Mother's Day with Josey's parents. We drank too much grappa. Woke up rather early in spite of that fact and camped out on our rooftop (oh how I love our terrace. It's such a little goldmine for peaceful sunning and urban gardening) and read Scientific American, a little bit of TIME, and dove into a significant chunk of a rather lovely anthology of travel writing.
Have to be up with the sun at 7 am for PT tomorrow (at 8 .. why, why, why?) Also, why did the taxi fares have to go up another 13% just yesterday? Now I can't really argue for a $14 peso taxi ride when the bus only costs $1,10. Random thought: while shopping for a birthday present for a friend, I saw a dress that looks (almost) exactly like this fabulous little number that I picked up at Forever21 while at home. Mine is sort of this bright Caribbean-esque print (semi Ikat but not. I'm horrible at describing) with a shirred front and exposed zipper on top. It's quite charming, actually, and made of a nice silky fabric. The one I spotted today is of a flimsy cotton, with what seems to be kind of shoddy finishing and uglier colors. That dress cost more than $100 and mine was only $25 ! Viva USA and now I want to cry and never, ever buy anything here again. Grr.
Time to watch NatGeo and rest up before the birthday party. Farewell.
10 October 2010
José: Marathon Man
I am so proud of my Josey! Today he ran his first marathon and finished in an amazing time! 4 hours 30 minutes of insanity - I am so beyond ecstatic for him and for our other friends who ran. As much as I love running races, I'm not sure if I am mentally capable of completing a marathon. It's such a test of endurance on so many levels. Never before have I been more excited - not even when I finished my first 10k. Digging deep down back to my BC days, I remembered how much we loved Marathon Monday & waking up early to (drunkenly) cheer on the runners. Today I was alone and sober, but I cheered like a madwoman anyway! It was strange since not many people seemed to be vocally enthusiastic about runners (in fact, taxi drivers and other people were bitching more about the streets being blocked off than anything), and I am so used to the whole superfan/spectator mentality.
The sun was shining, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and I have never been more happy than when I saw my Josey finish the BA Marathon! Congratulations!
09 October 2010
Turlu Recipe
As I mentioned below, my yearning for a Dutch oven is based upon true desire for culinary prowess. While e-browsing the NYT last night, I found a link to an article that led to recipe called Turlu, and clicked on it mainly because I was intrigued by its name. It is a Turkish variation on a ratatouille-esque dish and even though I'm about to roll into Spring/Summer, I still felt a serious need to make/eat this rich and flavorful dish. All I need is my Le Creuset friend to help me along ...
Wedding Wish List
This is a boring post about presents so I don't expect anyone to read it. FYI
During the past month or so, we've had lots of enthralling chat (sarcasm intended) about registry and the whole logistical aspect of getting wedding gifts down to BA both before and after the wedding. It's been rather frustrating having to think about the whole stupid customs factor, given that you can't just bring in a suitcase full of Wedgwood and high-quality knives like it's nothing. If only it were that easy. Now I am on the hunt to find providers in Buenos Aires where we can get some of the most essential things on our wish list (I call it that because we really don't need much. I prefer the prospect of receiving fun and creative gifts rather than a salad fork or a spatula.) without breaking the bank (a lot of the nicer goods here can be up to 3x the price you'd pay in the US).
So far, I'm still drooling over:
1. Anything and everything Le Creuset which is kind of a given. Lots of fun recipes I've stumbled upon require a Dutch oven of some sort and I have always dreamed of starting a collection of the French cookware. Sadly, they have discontinued the grey color I saw and loved a few weeks back. I do love the matte black color, however, and I have found a place in BA that sells it! If I remember correctly, the prices (in pesos) were basically equivalent to those in the US, but at another home/kitchen store, the Dutch oven cost AR$ 1,780. Yep. More than $400 dollars for something that costs less than $200 in the US. Death.
2. Simple, elegant and practical Wedgwood that I saw while browsing the Bloomingdale's website the other day. I love the Greek key design, and I think it's just perfection! I also loved this pattern from Michael C. Fina (thanks Frances for the tip) - it's definitely more appropriate for a beach house in my eyes, but I still think it's so beautiful. I wonder why I am starting to get so excited about these silly things - I don't even think they're that ridiculous, but who would have ever thought that I could actually be enthusiastic about china?
3. A badass knife set like this one from Williams-Sonoma aka my little heaven on earth. It's where I can dream of culinary greatness and pretend that I am a maven in the kitchen.
4. Too soft for words bedding - I really love the sheets that I had from Target, and I love that they don't break the bank but are still durable and insanely comfortable to sleep on. Our bed is a California King (aka enormous), and good sheets are hard to find here, not to mention extremely expensive.
But let's skip from practical to "in my ideal world where people don't need to rely on a registry (I know, I know, it's much more... PRACTICAL and makes it easier to ensure that you don't buy a couple the exact same gift as someone else) and think of unique and memorable gifts"
I loved what my cousin Jenny (who is a renaissance woman - her family raises chickens, does beekeeping, pottery, and so many other activities from the good old days) gave Brooke and Mike for their wedding. She made them these adorable little pots/mugs and included some vintage salt&pepper shakers and other little goodies. It was so thoughtful and different! I loved it.
It's no secret that I love antique store and flea market finds like the old seltzer bottles and crystal glasses. I think it would be so fun to amass a hodgepodge collection of neat old trinkets and gems that already have so much history to them. How fun would it be to gaze around your home and smile when you think of all the fun and diverse things from your friends and loved ones?
This was a terribly self indulgent post, and I feel kind of like an idiot for having the chutzpah to actually make it known via the bloglet. These things have just been swimming around in my head and it feels good to get them down on (internet) paper and more or less be done with it.
Now let's just think of creative ideas for getting all of these goodies to travel 5,217 miles to Buenos Aires without any customs snafus ... That could be the greatest gift of all!
During the past month or so, we've had lots of enthralling chat (sarcasm intended) about registry and the whole logistical aspect of getting wedding gifts down to BA both before and after the wedding. It's been rather frustrating having to think about the whole stupid customs factor, given that you can't just bring in a suitcase full of Wedgwood and high-quality knives like it's nothing. If only it were that easy. Now I am on the hunt to find providers in Buenos Aires where we can get some of the most essential things on our wish list (I call it that because we really don't need much. I prefer the prospect of receiving fun and creative gifts rather than a salad fork or a spatula.) without breaking the bank (a lot of the nicer goods here can be up to 3x the price you'd pay in the US).
So far, I'm still drooling over:
1. Anything and everything Le Creuset which is kind of a given. Lots of fun recipes I've stumbled upon require a Dutch oven of some sort and I have always dreamed of starting a collection of the French cookware. Sadly, they have discontinued the grey color I saw and loved a few weeks back. I do love the matte black color, however, and I have found a place in BA that sells it! If I remember correctly, the prices (in pesos) were basically equivalent to those in the US, but at another home/kitchen store, the Dutch oven cost AR$ 1,780. Yep. More than $400 dollars for something that costs less than $200 in the US. Death.
2. Simple, elegant and practical Wedgwood that I saw while browsing the Bloomingdale's website the other day. I love the Greek key design, and I think it's just perfection! I also loved this pattern from Michael C. Fina (thanks Frances for the tip) - it's definitely more appropriate for a beach house in my eyes, but I still think it's so beautiful. I wonder why I am starting to get so excited about these silly things - I don't even think they're that ridiculous, but who would have ever thought that I could actually be enthusiastic about china?
3. A badass knife set like this one from Williams-Sonoma aka my little heaven on earth. It's where I can dream of culinary greatness and pretend that I am a maven in the kitchen.
4. Too soft for words bedding - I really love the sheets that I had from Target, and I love that they don't break the bank but are still durable and insanely comfortable to sleep on. Our bed is a California King (aka enormous), and good sheets are hard to find here, not to mention extremely expensive.
But let's skip from practical to "in my ideal world where people don't need to rely on a registry (I know, I know, it's much more... PRACTICAL and makes it easier to ensure that you don't buy a couple the exact same gift as someone else) and think of unique and memorable gifts"
I loved what my cousin Jenny (who is a renaissance woman - her family raises chickens, does beekeeping, pottery, and so many other activities from the good old days) gave Brooke and Mike for their wedding. She made them these adorable little pots/mugs and included some vintage salt&pepper shakers and other little goodies. It was so thoughtful and different! I loved it.
It's no secret that I love antique store and flea market finds like the old seltzer bottles and crystal glasses. I think it would be so fun to amass a hodgepodge collection of neat old trinkets and gems that already have so much history to them. How fun would it be to gaze around your home and smile when you think of all the fun and diverse things from your friends and loved ones?
This was a terribly self indulgent post, and I feel kind of like an idiot for having the chutzpah to actually make it known via the bloglet. These things have just been swimming around in my head and it feels good to get them down on (internet) paper and more or less be done with it.
Now let's just think of creative ideas for getting all of these goodies to travel 5,217 miles to Buenos Aires without any customs snafus ... That could be the greatest gift of all!
07 October 2010
I loved this article that I read in the NYT today - The idea of a 36-hour communal feast is just so thrilling to me! That sounds super dorky but I don't really care.In other news, I am in the middle of a stationery-making mania. I am covered in ink and paper snippets. It's bliss! If anyone wants to buy humbly made notecards from an unemployed girl living in BA ... let me know!
06 October 2010
La dee daa
Apparently next Monday is a holiday, giving us a three day weekend. No "real" reason - just Cristina trying to win over future voters by giving us vacation time. Pretty good strategy, but I'm not fooled. Regardless, I plan to enjoy this extra little day in all its glory.
Another ridiculous current event here: Yesterday afternoon masses of people started up a camp in the middle of Av. 9 de Julio. This isn't necessarily shocking, as it happens quite often. My favorite part of the news coverage as it unfolded was a reporter who asked someone "Do you all have a cause you are attempting to represent with this campout?" only to be told in response "Um, no... I don't know." Classic. José and I couldn't stop laughing. Next time I hope they appoint a better spokesperson.
I went to Easy/Jumbo (kind of like Home Depot/Target - but not) yesterday to get some gardening stuff. I'm in full force, and cannot wait to get my compost pile started either! That's going to require another trip since I didn't have a list of things I needed for that. But I got some soil for my succulents, since they are outgrowing their baby pots, and I got some pre-made compost (boo) which should revive some of the soil after a chilly winter. I am kind of winging it, so we'll see how this turns out.
Need to make sangria but reallllly don't want to go to the store right now. Lots of fiaca. I shouldn't have had all that wine last night with dinner. I am also watching all of the mosquitoes that are dancing along the balcony doors, trying to get in and bite me. No thanks, dudes. The one thing I detest about Spring/Summer in such a tropical climate is the abundance of mosquitoes. When I get bitten, the bites turn into these gigantic hives and it's really just... not attractive.
I took some pictures of my ranunculus that I need to post, so once I get around to remember how to do that, they'll be up here for everyone to enjoy!
Another ridiculous current event here: Yesterday afternoon masses of people started up a camp in the middle of Av. 9 de Julio. This isn't necessarily shocking, as it happens quite often. My favorite part of the news coverage as it unfolded was a reporter who asked someone "Do you all have a cause you are attempting to represent with this campout?" only to be told in response "Um, no... I don't know." Classic. José and I couldn't stop laughing. Next time I hope they appoint a better spokesperson.
I went to Easy/Jumbo (kind of like Home Depot/Target - but not) yesterday to get some gardening stuff. I'm in full force, and cannot wait to get my compost pile started either! That's going to require another trip since I didn't have a list of things I needed for that. But I got some soil for my succulents, since they are outgrowing their baby pots, and I got some pre-made compost (boo) which should revive some of the soil after a chilly winter. I am kind of winging it, so we'll see how this turns out.
Need to make sangria but reallllly don't want to go to the store right now. Lots of fiaca. I shouldn't have had all that wine last night with dinner. I am also watching all of the mosquitoes that are dancing along the balcony doors, trying to get in and bite me. No thanks, dudes. The one thing I detest about Spring/Summer in such a tropical climate is the abundance of mosquitoes. When I get bitten, the bites turn into these gigantic hives and it's really just... not attractive.
I took some pictures of my ranunculus that I need to post, so once I get around to remember how to do that, they'll be up here for everyone to enjoy!
01 October 2010
Neo-Trad's Vows
I just had to post Katie's amazing vows that she and John wrote together a week before their intimate wedding in San Francisco. The photos are on Once Wed and more info is on her own blog, but if you don't feel like skipping on over there for the details, read along and let your heart melt! Congratulations Katie & John! (John started and they alternated line by line until the loving finish.)
I vow to love you
I vow to love you
to respect you
to be your best friend
to always share my dessert
to be the Emma to your Mr. Knightly
to read aloud to you
to lead a charmed life
to write you love letters
to take spontaneous road trips
to do most of the driving
to keep the NPR podcasts rolling
to always provide you with more trivia than you need
to indulge your geeky side
to always believe your current haircut is the best you’ve ever had
to laugh at your jokes
to buy you lots of pugs
to be patient
to build you a home
to consult you before painting the walls pink
to never stop learning
to dream big dreams
to always be awed by your pioneering spirit
to not overshadow you with my fame [everyone laughed!]
to be your biggest fan
to wake you every morning
to kiss you every night
to learn to cook the basics
to ask about your day
to remember where I left my keys and phone
to hold your hand
to be open-minded
to admit when I’m wrong
to cherish you for always
to never give up
to never, ever give up
to work every day toward being the man you deserve
to work every day toward being the woman you deserve
Do you vow to be my wife?
I do. Do you vow to me by husband?
I do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
