Art on the Streets

Art by Julian Beever

Pretty amazing especially for street art. Check out Julian Beever. 

I would love to find one of these. 

Modern day fairy tales

I prefer this shot to the actual movie poster

I opted not to use the infamous kiss shot

I just got through watching It Could Happen to You with Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda which left me with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it's saccharine sweet and feel-good and on the other, it seems too good to be true especially considering the title. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that every generation has those too-good-to-be-true films which brings me to-- The Notebook. I mean, he writes her everyday for a year AND builds her house AND harbors his intense love for her for 7 years while they are apart. From Love Story to Say Anything to Titanic and of course, Gone with the Wind- love stories seems to transcend reality and  you know what, that's ok.

What's your favorite love story? Any you particulary dislike?
I know everyone has mixed feelings about the aforementioned films but they have left an indelible mark...

Nothing quite like comfort food

It's nice when the cheese overloads the pasta

Yesterday I did A LOT of cleaning which, needless to say, can really build up an appetite. But after all that energy used up organizing I was hungry and impatient so I made mac and cheese. First I made the roux (using 40% vegetable spread which takes away some of the guilt) and flour. I then added warm milk which keeps it from getting lumpy. The final step- I added Monterrey Jack cheese; normally, I like to use an Italian blend but MJ was all I had and it still was delicious. I love the thick, goopy consistency and more so when I mixed in the rigatoni.
Now you might think that considering my state of near-starvation I practically ate it directly out of the pot, sorry to disappoint you. I then decided to bake it with bread crumbs on top and a little bit of creole seasoning. It was amazing and I loved the rigatoni because the cheese would collect inside as well :) Bon Appetit!

What are some of your favorite comfort foods? I'd love for you to share your recipes.

The wonders of Etsy

Isn't this beautiful? There's only one available

I wish I could knit or crochet or heck, mend a sock! So when I visit Etsy  I'm always a little envious of these amazing creations. If only this had been around when my grandma and mom were growing up! My grandma made all my clothes up until I was 5 and my mom made her own wedding dress with the help of her aunt. I still have the baby blanket my grandma gave to me... and it's always nice to know if my socks need mending at least my mama can fix it. :)

the evolution of a work-out

This is how I feel right now photo by E. Weston

1) excitedly anticipating the effects of the new work out craze (at the moment it's Zumba)
2) adrenaline pumping workout
3) sweaty post-workout, tired and simultaneously exuberant
4) early morning- whole body soreness and mentally berating myself for pushing myself and yet hoping that it will pay off
5) weeks of the same routine
6) a toned body that made it totally worth it

Ok, so maybe the last one is wishful thinking... I'm still on 4 with weeks ahead of me.

I still do the same warm-up routine I did while studying modern dance and I take my dogs for walks everyday and I lift 5 pound weights to tone my arms (they say you don't need to go higher than that).


What's your work-out routine?

A taste of... (insert country)

A Thai dish from Lum-Ka-Naad

I'm not the most adventurous person when it comes to food. I love my comfort foods and the main cuisine I grew up with (Italian/Argentinean) so when I became ethnic restaurant examiner for examiner.com, I learned to break out of my comfort zone. I've tried Thai, Indian/Pakistani and Nigerian cuisine and they were all SPICY. I realized then I do not have a palette for spicy foods but  I can appreciate the bold flavors (in small bites, natch).
What are some of your favorite ethnic dishes? Any restaurant suggestions?

Check out my examiner page

Dancing in the moonlight

ABT- Swan lake photo by MIRA courtesy of ABT

I love to dance and I miss it now that I'm working and in grad school. I took a year and a half of modern dance and those warm-ups killed me but I wish I had that routine back. There are three other styles I want to learn: waltz, tango and salsa. I recently visited The Tango Room Dance Center and I witnessed how people give in to the dance and the music and it inspired me. My modern dance instructor always told us dance was more than a movement, it was a full-body experience and the rhythms of the music become your guide.Unlike exercise, dance is fun and doesn't feel like a workout which is part of the reason why I'm drawn to it. Any suggestions on the best dance styles to burn calories while having fun?
(the ballet photo is too beautiful not to post- But, at 25, I think I'm too old to start!)

Ode to summer in L.A.

Tim Burton's Romeo and Juliet courtesy of LACMA

L.A. may be known as a city with only one season but whether you feel that is true or not, I love that the one season is summer. Granted, some days are hotter than others but overall I love that I can come home from work and jump right into the pool. I love that I can garden and see my beautiful sunflowers bloom and I love that on such days I shut down my computer and blast my ipod.
I'm excited for summer adventures with friends that include Cinespia, the Tim Burton exhibit at LACMA, the Getty and, of course, Point Dume.
What are your summer getaways?

Los Angelenos...

I was recently inspired by this LA Times article regarding the guidelines on how to be a "true angeleno." Since moving to the valley in 1991, I feel more like an Angeleno than an Argentinean (sad but true fact) and I've racked up a few of my own tips.

1- A true angeleno makes beach visits all year long (not just on warm summer days)
2- a light sweater is a necessity (a thick coat-rarely) but a true angeleno is spoiled by the sun so even on cool days there's always the flip-flop, shorts and tee-wearing crowd.
3- Gun shots in the middle of the night, green-haired teens with piercings in places one didn't know could be pierced, and the occasional homeless guy who needs some cash "for gas to transport his pregnant wife to the hospital" don't faze a true and wise angeleno
4- while we may not be able to travel the world, we are surrounded by cultural diversity-  whether it be ethnic cuisine (nigerian, thai, colombian etc), music, museums and festivals all contribute to further extending our knowledge of the world. However, the best source of cultural knowledge is usually your friends, neighbors and acquaintances who most likely come from all parts of the world.
5- Six degrees of separation has never rang truer. Though we may not all be connected to Kevin Bacon (but we may have seen him jogging in the hills or at Farmer's Market) we all know somebody who happens to be a friend of a friend of your best friend, cousin, sister etc.