Splendid

an afternoon in Condesa...

We spent yesterday afternoon in Condesa, a very cool neighborhood in Mexico City.  It reminds me of Berkeley in California, Portland, Oregon or parts of New York.  There's a very laid-back, artsy crowd that lives there. The streets are lined with cafes and neat little stores.  There are nice parks around each corner and it had a very calm, casual feel compared to some of the other high-energy areas of the city.  Of course the two margaritas I had at Primos Bistro may have helped my mood...anyways, I love it there. I would love to get an apartment there...

I bought this crocheted shawl from a street vendor, I love it... big sis was chilly so I let her wear it...

We ate at a fantastic restaurant called Primos Bistro.  SO DELISH!!!  I'm craving the Tacos el Dorado now...It's mostly French inspired cuisine, but has some international fusion to it (like my tacos)... 

 

I swear we were having fun...

We went to the best little gelato place after our lunch.  I got cafe flavor and it had bits of espresso beans in it, soooo good!

As always there are street food vendors.  This one is nice with the oil cloth covered tables and seats for relaxing conversation...

And a Vespa shop (Simona, I thought of you...)

or you can take the bus..

or your trusty VW bug...they are everywhere here.

I don't think I ever shared these...

From Sisiversary '09 in Nashville.  I found these layouts this weekend while organizing my craft room/office.  Made me smile...

From Heather...

From Amy...

From Martha...

Yeah, if you didn't notice, WHO goes to a scrapbook convention with only a few photobooth strips? 

This little gem is from Patty, I proudly display this on my craft desk...a beauty, huh?

homeschool days...

As I've told some of you out there, we plan on putting the girls in a small, private school down the  street.  It's a bilingual school with a great reputation and the girls have already met a few girls in the school there.  As many of my friends know, this is bitter sweet for me.  I truly LOVE homeschooling and would gladly do it as long as I could.  But here in Mexico, it's not common and many people look at us like we're strange and scheduled play dates like those homeschool groups in the States are not common. Because there is so much traffic and finding parking is so bad here, I doubt we will get to do a lot of things or activities "after school" like in the states and I fear they'll feel isolated. So the school thinks they'll take the girls October 1, a little late, but luckily the girls have already met 5 girls in the school, 3 of which each has become very close with.

But for now I'll hang onto the homeschool dream...

Geography...

learning to count by 10's...

learning to read with Bob books...

Big Sis loves the American Girl Doll series.  Nothing like reading in your jammies for school...

learning to count money...

and labeling everything in spanish, so fun! Check out the book...HA!

Which leads me to another aspect of homeschooling which I love.  Learning math, science and social studies hands-on.

Learning about everyday stuff like cooking is really important in my opinion for everyone, but learning to measure different ingredients for weight and volume is a great way to learn science and math. The girls have learned to make real Mexican tortillas a couple times a week with Areceli.

Starting in September we're beginning our Frida's Fiesta's studies.  One dinner a month we're taking real Frida Kahlo recipes from a cookbook Frida's step-daughter wrote(Diego's daughter from his first marriage)and having a feast.  

Come over...it'll be delish!!!

More crafty-scrappy news...

I am happy to be able to scrapbook all afternoon...

and I wanted to tell you all about some inspiring people...

First, my friend Mandi has launched her own paper and kit line.  I'm super impressed with her mad scrapbooking skills and the paper she has designed is so beautiful! All the papers are designed around vintage clothing or housewares.  She also has a cool vintage clothing and housewares shop on etsy.

 

Next I signed up for Vee's paint and misting class. Another lady who I always enjoy looking at her creations. It's online and only $10.00!! I'm sure she'll have it again, go email her and ask!

And I just wanted to give a round of applause to my sweet gal pal Jen who made it as a Fashionista on SIS.  Not surprising because she's pretty rad!!!

Can't wait to see her and Mandi in a couple weeks in Chicago!  3 days with some of my most favorite people (Jen, Mandi, Vanessa, Patty, Sandy, Martha, and I will be channeling Heather, Beth and Angie's sunshine spirits while there because they couldn't make it...) Thanks to Matty for lending us his fab apartment on State Street!

And finally, I signed up for the RVA Autumn Crafting class.  The two I've taken in the past were fun and I'm feeling like I need a little crafty encouragement here...You should look into it, it looks like a goodie!!

Hope you're having a great week!

Zocalo

This past weekend we went down to the Zocalo, what is considered the heart of Mexico City. It is one of the largest city squares in the world.  It has beautiful, massive buildings that absolutely have a Spanish influence in the architecture. Most of the huge buildings were erected in the 1500-1600's, from the days when Spain came to "visit" Mexico and then took over.  That area dates back to Aztec times where huge pyramids and buildings stood, it was wiped out and built over by Cortes and other Spanish Conquistadors.

The Zocolo has an amazing Cathedral, I was totally moved by it's grandeur and ornate beauty.

and outside, of course the sidewalks are lined with sales people and vendors of all sorts.

We had brunch at the Hilton Hotel with a lovely balcony that overlooked the Zocalo Square. A little hummingbird came to drink from the feeder.

enjoying tea..."awww...muy exquisito..."  

the Cathedral Tower

and the Bell-ringer using my telephoto lens..

awww...my sweet girl...

mom and daughter self portraits...

here is an Organ Grinder, they originate from WW2 when many Germans came over.

getting a ride from dad...

About 30 years ago, Mexican workers were attempting to put new wiring under the Cathedral when they discovered the remains of the Aztec buildings. After years of archaeological work, a few buildings have been unearthed, while not in it's entiretyy because the Spanish used many of the rocks from the Aztec buildings to build the Zocalo.  This is walking through the Temple Mayor Museum.

I couldn't resist getting a blessing from an old Aztec Shaman.  It was free and I loved it. Dave and McKaylah decided to do it after me, Ava was scared. The Shaman did a long prayer, some of it I could understand, about having good health, long life, etc. She burned copal (a resin) in a bowl and passed it over you, wiped huge bunches of basil all over you, blew a conch shell horn all around you to ward off the bad spirits and sprayed blessed water over your head (which Dave promptly OCDed on it and made us run to a bano to clean us off).

There were quite a few Aztec dancers who despite the blazing sun (remember we're at 9000 feet above sea level) they danced for hours, sometimes barefoot on the hot, black stone sidewalks.

popular restaurant

cobblestone streets and beautiful buildings

a Taquería with an hombre cutting el pastor for lunch

colorful hacienda

Hope you had a good weekend...

Just me...

The new Category Stories prompt is up and the theme is "Pampering Me." Of course this was a fun one because the theme lends so many fun possibilities. But truly, I feel like I'm pampering me when I just have some quiet time. I took this picture awhile ago in my house in Philadelphia.  I had been reading a magazine, drinking tea one afternoon, the sun coming in through the big bay window when the girls were gone with Dave.  I remember feeling really tranquil, really peaceful...Since I homeschool, I rarely have more than a few minutes where I'm ever alone. I love being with my daughters and spending so much time with them, don't get me wrong, but who doesn't like a little down time?

Journaling reads, "I love manicures, pedicures and massages, but sometimes the best pampering to oneself is time to sit alone quietly..."  Come play along, there are fun prizes from Fiskers!

This past week was a good week. The girls finally made 4 new girlfriends after weeks of feeling rather lonely here. When it comes to kids, Mexico City is dead in the summers.  Most children in our area go away for the summers to vacation homes, summer camps or in general are just gone. The girls had befriended a couple girls here in our apartment building, but they left for vacation in Acapulco. And honestly, the area we live in is pretty affluent, and with that comes a certain, ahem..."attitude." Finally through the Newcomer's Club (an organization for expats here in Mexico) we met 2 families, each with 2 girls around my daughters ages. I'm so happy for them because moving in general is hard (even while they are pros at it now...sad...) add the language barrier and it can make for hard times.  But both sets of girls attend the small, private school down the street where we hope to get the girls into that's bilingual and is supposed to have a good curriculum.  I am half heart-broken to think I won't be homeschooling them anymore, but homeschooling is not the norm here and I worry about them socially since it seems playdates and such are not common here.  Moms are not as hands-on when it comes to arranging playdates I've noticed like Americans or other countries. If they cannot get into the school this year, I will happily homeschool one more year and try to get them into the same classes as other kids their ages (swim, tennis, art, dance, etc. at the club we belong to) and hope for the best.

In the mean time, we have been trying to keep ourselves busy... we spend a lot of time around here  crafting...

the view from our office/craft room

playing Calico Critters...so addicting...

community garden...

welcome to the cafe...

waving bubbles around at Chapultepec Park (and watching the Veronica's shot a music video)

playing in the apartment's playground (or swimming)...here's the treehouse...

or learning to make traditional Mexican food, like REAL handmade tortillas from Areceli...

and trying to make bento box art...

This is a long one, so I'll sign off now and write more later...have a great weekend!

a fun little video...

A friend reminded me of Sarah Blasko tonight, I haven't thought of her in awhile...I love this little vid..

newest...

I collect matryoshkas and when my friend Ana gave me these cute tupperware set I was so excited. I don't use them, just display them on shelves in my kitchen.

And this one from when my friend Sarah found a baby squirrel and rehabbed it back to a healthy 3 month old, it had become pretty friendly to humans until she released it back into the wild. His name was Mr. Skimbleshanks and he was so cute. Sarah and I both have a thing for squirrels and he was so fun!

And for 4th of July and Ana's patriotic party; swimming, BBQing, cupcakes, apple pie, cocktails, kids with fire...good times. Plus, it was the weekend before we left our Philadelphia home and moved to Mexico.

I made 3 almost identical pages (one for each of the girls albums and one for mine).

How's everyone doing out there? Anything new in your life?

apartment therapy....

I know a lot of people check out this website  like I do. It has so much inspirational eye candy and delicious ideas for decorating a space.  Now...to just find some things to actually decorate with. I don't need a lot, but a few key pieces would be delightful. I'm torn between the clean, vintage-y, soft, retro-ish look I have in some rooms in my house in Philadelphia, and a more earthy-bohemian look like on the front cover of Elle Decor a couple months ago. I definitely gravitate towards both styles, now just to find a nice blend of both...

Plus, contrary to what everyone thinks, Mexico City (well, where we live) is more expensive than NYC or SF. Furniture, clothes, electronics, make-up, books/magazines, etc. are double than in the states. So ridiculous...

Here's some pictures of things I feel drawn to...

these 3 pics I've has saved for sometime...

 

(all from apartment therapy)

and these too, kind of urban-natural, or modern-country, whatever...

 

because we're renting an apartment here, I can't paint or do anything major...and the walls are a neutral cream color. I think I'll do a wall of plates like above. I had a awesome stash of plates to bring down here to do just that. I'll have to ask someone to mail them to me...

love this couch in Lindsey Buckingham's casa                             (Elle Decor)

and this I SUPER LOVE (swoon)                                                 (Elle Decor)

I'm crossing my fingers and pulling out eyelashes that this weekend Dave will be able to take me out of town a little ways to get some unusual and handmade (and more affordable)items such as area rugs, tables, artwork. While I'm surrounded by an artisan Mecca of beautiful artwork, furniture and such, I'm only here in Mexico for 2 years and I want it to be pieces I'll enjoy for many years. I will wholeheartedly embrace a couple Frida Kahlo pieces, a Don Quixote sculpture perhaps, but I doubt my house will look like some of the magnificent haciendas around here. While I totally appreciate their splendor, it's not totally my style.  I'm definitely more eclectic in my tastes, a little of a lot...

If you have any affordable tips on getting some cool home stuff, shoot me a comment-k? I can even have it shipped my my US place, and then bring it back with me when I come back here in September. Help me out people...

 

 

new challenges and a walk in the park...

The new challenges are up over at Category Stories and Scrap Mojo. Come play along. There are fabulous prizes to be had!

Here's Category Stories, "Stuck in a Moment." I have this old Fenton aqua hobnail vase that was my Granny's. Every time I see Ranunculus they remind me of her because they were some of her favorite flowers. I always smile when I see them in her vase, and I miss her so much, too. She was the best!!!

 and I redid the picture in a 1960's tint and only one picture...which do you like better?

Here's my Scrap Mojo, the prompt is "Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures." How has the economy affected you? Scrap about it. The second part is to use something square or recycled.

Then this one the other day just for fun. "I never met a cotton candy I didn't like..."

Then today we took a walk through Polanco, a neighborhood in Mexico City. We met a friend from the US embassy for brunch at his house (lasts for 4 hours here, even if you are American you start to adopt the Mexican lifestyle of LONG brunches, lunches and meetings). He has 3 other US Embassy employees there, so it neat to hear where they're from, what they do, etc.
We walked to Lincoln Park about 10 blocks from our friend's house. It was busy and there were vendors of all kinds. We sat under a large tree on a stone bench drinking iced coffees and people-watched for a bit.

sculptures in Lincoln Park

walking with dad and uncle Troy

boat races in the little pond

Tonight we made a yummy dinner with a dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar and brown sugar marinade (over chicken)my friend Chandra gave me years ago. Accompanied with wild rice and a green salad, a delicious way to end a good day!!

How about you? How was your weekend?