Meanderings, Adventures, and Crafty Inspirations

Introducing...my new blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 21:26:00 +0000

Hello there! I'm so glad you're stopping by today :) This blog will no longer be updated, so please come visit my new blog...

Jar Full of Stars

Have a beautiful day!

Express Your Self-Love

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 05:58:00 +0000

Hi all! Things have been pretty go-go-go with work this last week so I haven't been in blogland much...and I miss it! I'm trying to get back in the swing of it and finishing up my new site by tweaking it to loveliness. Thanks for your patience :)

So I've been wanting to write about body image and self love for awhile... and then came along this Love Your Body Link-up with Alicia and Rachel. I'm just catching the tail-end of it, but am glad I can share this.

I am so proud and excited to be apart of the Vagina Monologues this year. This is a production, based on interviews with thousands of women. It's fruition came to life by a sociologist, Eve Ensler. The stories of these women are hilarious, sorrowful, angering, and inspiring, but above all, they are making a statement that vaginas are powerful. I feel this is so important because it's time for people to speak up and love themselves.

It took me quite a few years through middle school, high school and college of hiding my body, uncomfortable about my weight and what clothes would show tummy pudge. I was discouraged from wearing a bikini. In 4th grade a girl commented on a posed dance costume photo that I looked pregnant. That totally hurt and I didn't understand. Then I used to crave lots of attention from males. I always was with a different guy. I realize I was trying to be whatever they wanted me to be. And that will never work... thank goodness. What a blessing to discover our true selves and celebrate it! ...Needless to say, I got through those developing years and became more comfortable with myself.

I now know that beauty is in our true expression - in every person's perfect imperfections. It's our own story that we each tell. And it's in actively speaking that true, not passively swallowing whatever comes. But on one hand, I don't feel like society encourages us to express what we love about ourselves. I see this even amongst the 5 year olds I work with, who tell the teacher "so-and-so was braggiiiing" when the girl was proud of something she did. I say ~ Share what you love and be proud of it!

Now I'd like to share a few things I love about myself :)

I LOVE: ........the giant freckle on my big toe............my speckled brown-green changing colored eyes.......my teeth (parents are happy about their investment in this one)..........hips, hips, hips...... and, fun fact - my single chin hair (it's my 'beard of wisdom')!

What do you love about yourself?? What does beauty mean to you?

Linking up with Alicia and Rachel

Friday Favorites { numero dos }

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 17:10:00 +0000

Hi loves. Friday already!? Before I head off into the busy and exciting weekend, I want to share some really awesome gems from this week. I hope yours is great!

~ DIY Bow Bun. A majorly exciting discovery this week is Mr. Kate. How did I not know about here before?! This lady shares her fabulous DIYs through really fun and silly videos. I recommend checking her out (especially if you love word puns and crafts).

~ Kid Snippets: Driver's Ed. We all know that kids say the BEST things...this video is no exception. I was dying with laughter and I hope you find it just as hilarious! Thanks Jan for sharing this :)

~ Skin tag removal with Daily Wanderlust and Such. Ok, maybe a bit weird...but if this works I would love to share more. I'm on Day 2 of trying this remedy and will keep posted how it goes...best part = 1 simple ingredient...Apple Cider Vinegar! (This stuff is like magic, I'm learning more and more)

~ DIY confetti stix with Best Friends for Frosting. How perfect are these for surprise parties!

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~ This free flyer from Apartment Wife is a fun way to spread the love around town. I'll definitely be doing this when the rain has finished.

~ Love Your Body link-up with a lovely blogger Alicia, which I just discovered. Love yourself, from head to toe and inside and out. Share in a post about an experience or something you LOVE about your very you-self.

Hello Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:15:00 +0000

In the spirit of spring, here's a few things I've been up to!

DIY! Use acrylic or spray paint to decorate up some plain shades. Then paint a sealant over it. I used Modge Podge and it should be a-ok with no rain.

Start planting when the frost is gone (sorry East Coasters!). I love rainbow chard for its beautiful, vibrant colors. I'm beginning them as sprouts, until they grow an inch or so, then will transplant to a bigger space.

I'm also looking forward to wearing some dresses :) What do you love about spring?

Linking up with Nicole:

Breakfast Favorite

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:20:00 +0000

I love food. And between all meals, I don't think I can choose a favorite. But today is about breakfast. Only a few years ago I discovered the amazing-ness that is cottage cheese. When I can get it (not in Peru) I eat it alll the time. Especially for breakfast. Here's what I like.

cottage cheese! add some raisins, almonds or nuts, and a touch of cinnamon for a little sweetness. Perfect.

What's your go-to breakfast?

Lemon Rosemary Wanna-be Margarita

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 02:45:00 +0000

Hey friends! I wasn't planning on posting today, but it's hard not to when there's such a fun challenge with Melyssa's Creative Collective. I love this link-up of crafty projects and experimentation. Today's prompt is concocting a cocktail, which I should really start doing more often.

I wanted to try out the lemon-rosemary combo...Original thought was a margarita, but there wasn't any. A friend put it perfectly, saying "when you don't have tequila for a margarita...use rum". Catchy, huh? Well, that's pretty much what happened. This recipe was heavily experimental and it turned out really nice!

Ingredients

- Margarita mix

- dark rum (or...tequila!)

- 1 tsp honey

- a few sprigs of rosemary

- 1/2 lemon

I like that I tried using honey in a cocktail - but it may not have been necessary since Margarita mix is darn sweet on it's own. Maybe a bit more water instead of mix.

First I infused the honey, lemon juice, and rosemary by heating in the microwave for less than 10 seconds. Since the honey has so much sugar, it will heat super fast.

Then, I poured in some rum and probably triple the margarita mix. I poured it all into the blender, added ice and blended it up into an ice-y froth. Garnish if you like. This is great for summer and I'll definitely be making it again - who knows, maybe with tequila ?!

Did you join the link-up? What's your favorite cocktail? Cheers, all!

Fresh Squeezed Wishes

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:05:00 +0000

Hi lovelies! Did you have a wonderful weekend? I sure hope so.

Just a little heads up, it may be kind of quiet around here for a few days while I'm getting my new blog up and running...I've been making some good progress :)

Here's some fresh squeezed goodness to start your week...One morning, I hand-squeezing all these oranges. All fresh from the farm in Costa Rica. I love starting the day with juice!

How do you start your day? And your week?

What we can learn from bees

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 05:56:00 +0000

Just to preface this. I am not a bee expert by any means. I am simply fascinated by the little creatures. Today I met with a mentor who's had bees for several years and I got to observe a bit and ask questions. And I was inspired to write about them. So...

Bees! l

These insects are incredible. Really. I think we as a species can learn so much from them.

* They're all about community. Sometimes people are selfish. I definitely am. But bees are actually in it for the whole community. They can't survive without the queen, or by being separated from their hive for very long. So they'll actually sacrifice themselves or others, for the sake of the hive. Talk about team-building!

* Highly organized society. Each bee throughout their life has a very specific function to complete. The first few days after being born, they clean up the cells. Later on, they act as guards to protect the hive. And only in the last phases of their lives they are able to leave the hive to collect nectar, pollen, and water. Yep, they've got organization nailed down. I aspire to be this efficient.

* They really are busy-bees. This expression is full of truth. The female worker bees that is, (go figure...) They can fly extremely far distances in search of food and work hard building up wax to deposit the honey.

A Honey Bee colony will fly a total of around 55,000 miles to make just one pound of honey. { source }

* Honey! I may be biased, but we should really learn how to make something so nutritious and medicinal as this sacred nectar. I mean, we came up with all kinds of GMO and strange things to stick in stuff we eat. Sometimes I'd rather live on a farm and suck on flowers too ;)

What do you think when you hear the word 'bees'?

Tips to Playing Carnavales

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 07:02:00 +0000

Flipping through some photos, I came upon a few favorites from Carnvales in Cusco which are pretty entertaining to share. (I'm on the left, covered in foam.) These carnavales are basically an excuse for full on water and foam fights. It's not really like Brasil's Carnival, but also celebrated in February.

Tips to play the game:

1. If you go outside, you're playing. People go all out for a few weeks and if you go outside you're not considered 'safe'. The main arena for the games is the Plaza de Armas, the main square. I remember some people had buckets of water on balconies, waiting to dump on 'innocent' passer-by-ers.

2. Stock up. And if you actually want to get in on this action (instead of just wearing a poncho and running), make sure to go fully stocked with supplies: water guns, foam spray(or powder?), water balloons, etc. There are tons of street vendors and shops for all your carnavales needs.

3. Definitely go with friends. Two reasons: what's more fun with friends than making a giant mess? and So you're not left empty canned and defenseless!

*Disclaimer* I don't encourage using foam spray bottles because they've got weird chemicals in them and I don't think they can be recycled. Maybe a good alternative would be some type of power, like in India's Holi festival. Now I want to try that.

Have you been in something like this? Do you dare get so messy??

Happy carnavales a mis amigos/as en Peru!

The Sunday Currently { vol. 2 }

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:37:00 +0000

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

R E A D I N G The Secret Life of Bees.

W R I T I N G this post....(sarcastic 'duh')

L I S T E N I N G to a recently discovered band, Pickwick. Diggin' them! A little preview:

T H I N K I N G What an incredible and passionate person Harvey Milk was. For some reason, I hadn't known much of his story, except he was a gay rights leader elected to office. Recently I just watched two documentaries about him and they both brought me to tears.

S M E L L I N G Sleepytime Tea and my pillow :)

W I S H I N G that the package I sent to my husband arrives to Peru...fingers crossed - it was birthday gifts!

H O P I N G you have a beautiful and positive week!

W E A R I N G a cozy robe.

L O V I N G today! What a productive day with my mom - full of flowers, planting, painting, and lifting things.

W A N T I N G to edit some special photos and finish Photoshop class.

N E E D I N G some sleeeep.

F E E L I N G ecstatic about my first year performance for Vagina Monologues...and it's next month. Can't wait!

Joining this lovely link-up with Lauren. Come play next time too! Wonderful wishes, all :)

DIY: Recycled Bottle Centerpieces

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 06:54:00 +0000

Good morning, friends!

A whiiile back I shared a post that will make you feel like a badass DIY diva for completing. It's called DIY: Breaking Bottles with Fire. Now just imagine all the possibilities of broken bottles (that sounds strange).

I used various shades of blue and green bottles for my wedding table centerpieces. They fit the peacock theme perfectly :)

Materials/supplies
- broken bottles
- fabric
- ribbon
- glue (tacky or hot glue)

Putting It Together
Measure the diameter of the bottle and cut 1 1/2 inch thick fabric. Glue from the outside and over to the inner part of the bottle to create a finished-look. Then tie on a pretty ribbon to complete the decoration.

Start saving up those wine bottles, ladies, and get crafty!

What would YOU do with these bottles?

Linking up with lovely Nicole with Treat Yo' Self :)

Birthday + March Wishes

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:20:00 +0000

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Today is a really special day......it's my husband's birthday! I'm so so joyful to have him as my closest friend and support. Happy birthday to him, mi gatito. He loves cats, but you may have guessed that already ;)

NOW, onto some of my goals for March...I love so much linking up with lovely Melyssa and her amazing enthusiasts :)

* Transfer my blog. This has been underway awhile and this month the change is happening! I'm so excited to have a fresh spot to share!

* Organize wedding photos. It's been a long while since our wedding - like about 7 months. I've accumulated a whole lot of lovely photos from friends and my parents, which I am so overjoyed to have! But now comes the daunting task of sorting through, editing, and compiling them all (essh!). I'd like to give attendees some of these photos to remember the day. I'm looking into prints, CDs, or electronically sharing (through Picasa or Flickr?). Does anyone have experience or ideas with this? :)

* Keep learning! I'm taking a Skillshare Photoshop class now and it's sooo helpful! Little symbols and buttons are making so much more sense now :) This month I want to attend a Beekeeper's Guild meeting and maybe try to apprentice a beekeeper. Those insects are just so enthralling and I really want to try working with them!!

* Read a book. There's tons of books I've been glancing at and referencing, but I want to read an actual book start to finish this month.

* Save money. After this short weekend trip to the Redwoods (I'll post on this soon), I was kind of wiped out. So back to saving!

* Eat corned beef and cabbage. Yum.

What's up for your March? Any new projects or goals?

On Moving to Peru

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 18:21:00 +0000

Hey there! If it's your first time, welcome. I'm so so glad you're here :)

I'm Lisa and want to share a very frequent question I'm asked: Why did you move to Peru? Some background info is that I've been primarily living in Peru for the past two and 1/2 years. In that time I met my (now) husband, which has mostly kept me there. Also, I'll refer to it as there only because I'm visiting the states for another few months.

So...that brings me back to the question - why did I move to Peru?

Well, if I were asking myself this, the answer would be simple: why wouldn't I want to go to another country and explore new things? It's part of my nature, which I love. I'm adventurous and challenge myself to get out there, try new things, and discover more about myself.

But really I did take some things into account, so I'll take your through my thought process. First, I would break this question into two parts: why did I want to move abroad? and why Peru? I feel like those both have their own stories.

Why did I want to move abroad?

In 2011 I was in California and had graduated two years previous. I was working with several jobs that I really liked, with sparkling and magical people all around me, but (like many people, I believe) I wasn't completely happy. I would really enjoy life and then slightly freak out about things. I felt like I complicated so much in my own mind, creating scenarios and situations that weren't relevant and didn't make me happy. Maybe it was anxiety? I also may have been slightly depressed. Anyway, I thought that was a powerful sign to step away and sort through my stuff...In summary, it was partially for my sanity.

Another piece to this is that I'd already fallen in love with traveling. A few years before, I'd gone with a large group of other students (who are dear ones to me still) and was studying through a program as part of my Bachelor's Degree in Spain. And oh, did I love it! Like, so much! But this was my opportunity to take it one step further: to travel to a new place, on my own, have a work experience, etc. To me, this was a very important challenge of self-exploration.

Ok, so... why Peru?

Since I'd developed my Spanish language skills pretty darn well, I wanted to embrace this by using . So I checking my way through my bucket list by visiting every continent - I'd lived in Europe, traveled in Central America... it was only logical that I must visit South America this time! For me, it wasn't exactly about a precise destination, but taking a path there. Peru kind of fell into play because of several people mentioning it, a few friends who are from there, and because I was really interested in shamanism and the ancient cultures.

That's the whole answer to why I up and out-ed to Peru. And I'll say - I'm so glad I did! A lot has happened these past few years and I'm so grateful for the most amazing guy I've met, special expat relationships I've formed, and really neat experiences I've had so far.

Happy weekend, friends!

Do you like to move around or be in one place? How do you expand your horizons?

Tuesday Tunes #8: song for current feelings

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 04:09:00 +0000

Oh my goodness, hello Tuesday! I'm posting a little later than usual, but better late than never (am I right?)...Tuesday Tunes is a weekly link-up I started awhile back to share musical discoveries, promote local artists, and gather inspiration. The February prompts above are just ideas, but anyone is welcome to share any type of musical post desired. Link-up below and share the music love!

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My pick of the week: "We Can't Stop"
My current mood is pretty peppy these days. I've been getting more things done by creating more of a schedule and to-do lists for myself. Check, check, checkin' things off feels good! So the song representative of this is "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus. This version is the coolest with The Roots and Jimmy Fallon. The A Capella makes it pretty impressive. Enjoy lovelies!

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Your turn! I'd love to hear what you're listening to these days or an artist you recommend or want to promote :)

While in California { p.1 }: Local Beer Tasting Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 08:53:00 +0000

Hi all, happy new week! There's so much to love about this place I'm from, I decided to start a little series: While in California. Most posts will probably be focused in Northern California, since that's where I am. I'm excited to document my little explorations here, and maybe inspire your travel curiosity. Part 1, let's go!!

What to do you on a free Tuesday afternoon, I asked myself...

Go get a local-crafted beer! California is a great place to do this, since there are TONS of really great breweries making artisan beer...Just in the North Bay are a few favorites...Lagunitas, Russian River, and Taps. Ok, there's a ton more here!

On a sidenote: Admittingly, I wasn't a huge beer fan until living in Sonoma County for a few years. There I discovered how the diverse spectrum of beer and that I find it delicious if it's well-crafted.

So last week, two lovely lady friends joined me for a day trip up across the Golden Gate to Russian River brewery to taste a very special beer. It's called Pliny the Younger. So, why so special? Well, let me (pretend to be a beer expert and) explain...it's a triple hop craft beer. This is a difficult and costly process so it's release is limited to two weeks in the entire year - during February. For this reason, people come internationally to sip on this tasty stuff!

On opening day the line was around the corner, but I wasn't expecting much of one. I may have been a bit overly optimist. We were troopers to stick it out. Luckily we were in good company. And took selfies :)

3.5 hours later...we did the happy dance (literally) and got in!

In good timing for a refreshing and hoppity, long-awaited Pliny the Younger. The blossoming flavor is strong and sweet. And with about 10% alcohol...it's no wonder photos got a little blurry.

Here's the second, more fuzzy selfie. We enjoyed this full day adventure, which definitely paid off by the end :) Love these gals!

Do you have a brew of preference? Or a must-visit brewery near you? I'd love to hear!

Boys Behind the Blog {numero 5}

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:56:00 +0000

Hey all and feliz fin de semana - happy weekend!! I'm still catching up with Boys Behind the Blog link-up. It's such a nice chance to get Rafa more involved in this space. Especially since he's off enjoying the jungles of Peru adventuring! I'm a little jealous, but really couldn't be happier for him...unless we were doing it together, of course :) Anyway, he it goes!

1. Describe yourself in 5 words.

I-am-a-good-person.

2. What is your biggest fear?

To die drowning or electrocuted.

3. What is your favorite candy?
Willy Wonka candies that pop in your mouth. (I think this is like Pop Rocks).

4. What was the best Halloween costume you've ever worn?

Spock from Star Trek.

5. Who is your favorite football team?

Aurich Cañaña de Chiclayo is my soccer team because I don’t watch American football.

Creative Collective: Fresh Antique Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 02:06:00 +0000

Hi lovelies! Happy to share one of my passions through Melyssa's Creativity Collective. Today's theme is "Anything-goes art". If you want to try some new things and get a little creative, head over here for prompts.

I started making jewelry in 2008 and quickly fell in love. Long story short, I've accumulated sooo many beads and materials (too many for my own good!). So last night I found some cool old beads that I've had forever and never used. They're really beautiful, with turquoise chips embedded with a type of clay and wire. They're kind of perfect for a big chunky pieces, so that's what I ended up crafting.

These earrings are for my dear friend, Rachel. She loves hoops with a flare, so these are just that!

And I created this necklace just to make it. My mom is modeling it here.

Yea! Feels so good to create! What's your favorite medium to create with?

Tuesday Tunes #7: Letter 'N'

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:29:00 +0000

Hello and thanks for checking out Tuesday Tunes!

This is a weekly link-up I started awhile back to share musical discoveries, promote local artists, and gather inspiration. The February prompts above are just ideas, but anyone is welcome to share any type of musical post desired. Link-up below and share the music love!

My Weekly Pick: Letter 'N' song

{ source }

Looking through my iTunes, some great songs I haven't heard in awhile came up. I chose 'Naita' by Ojos de Brujo. This band is such a fun, spirited, and unique fusion group from Barcelona. They infuse their beats with flamenco, Middle-Eastern sounds, hip hop, and some jazz. Great sounds they've got going on.

Their music also reminds me of my time in Spain. I spent a year 'studying' in Granada but mostly partying, traveling, and learning about life. Oh, sweet memories :)

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What songs are you loving? Any new musical discoveries?

Love All Around

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 07:18:00 +0000

Valentine's Schmaletine's! Whether you're solo, together, or together but apart (who else is doing this crazy long distance thing?) I hope you celebrate loveliness everyday. Maybe that means something small or something bigger. My past few days were full of some pleasant little surprises.

<3 Valetine's crafting with pre-k kiddies
<3 red rose and a drawing from a darling girl
<3 Ladies night and dancin' to funky electronic DJ sets

<3 Skyping with my hubby
<3 catsitting two spastic furballs

<3 a bottle of wine
<3 Peanut butter cookies...(here)

<3 ...with no flour! (it only has 3 ingredients - peanut butter, sugar, and egg!)
<3 stumbling upon a great little Indian restaurant (a new favorite) in Oakland
<3 being offer a glass of wine by another table at the restaurant. I love friendly strangers!

Happy weekending to you all! Halfway through February, here we goooo!

Tuesday Tunes #6: lovely romantic song

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:59:00 +0000

Welcome, lovelies. If you're just tuning in, Tuesday Tunes is a weekly link-up to share musical discoveries, promote local artists, and gather inspiration. The February prompts above are just ideas, but anyone is welcome to share any type of musical post desired. Also, hashtag #TuesTunes on Twitter and I'll retweet you :)

My Vweek Pick:

Clean Bandit, "Rather Be" (feat. Jess Glynne)

This song is sure to get you up and groovin'! I stumbled across it on Spotify the other day and really enjoyed it. It's very romantic and just a happy song. This is one great line:

"We're a thousand miles from comfort, we have traveled land and sea. But as long are with me, there's no place I'd rather be"

With that, I dedicate this to all my loves, but especially a cat named Rafa. Miau!

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Sesame Kale Chips

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 18:39:00 +0000

These chips are SO simple and tasty! My little 6 year old friend loves them too - he said he would rather have a boxful of kale chips than a boxful of candy. How sweet is that!

How to make Sesame Kale Chips:

1. Wash and air dry kale

2. Mix in a bowl with olive oil, ground Himalayan salt, and sesame seeds

3. Toast in oven for 15 minutes on 325*F

4. Take out and eat 'em up!

Tip: I found they're best when crunchy, kind of like a seaweed texture. So it's better to not put them in a bag because the moisture takes away the crunch. Just put them in a bowl and they probably won't last long either ;)

5 Fav Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 07:16:00 +0000

Happy weekend everyone. Here's a few favorites from the week. Enjoy :)

1. These adorably cute DIY bookmark cuffs. Lena makes such fun things!

{ source }

2. I'm not sure how I stumbled on these Thrifty tips @ Ginger Snaps...but I'm glad I did! Some great things to keep in mind when out on a thrift mission.

3. All kinds of zucchini recipes with Six Sisters' Stuff. This is the one that caught my eye. On my to-cook list!

4. Learning amazing bee facts with HoneyLove, a nonprofit conservation organization in LA. All the Buzz!

5. Perfect Valentine's treats ~ red beet cookies with white chocolate chips. Recipe here.

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Blessings and best wishes!

Awesome Things To Do in Medellin {Colombia}

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 08:18:00 +0000

¡Buenos días! It's been some time since I've shared about travels, so today let's visit Medellin - one of my favorite places in Colombia. Some people are surprised to hear that Colombia has really changed a lot since it's drug and crime ridden past some 20 years ago. When I went in 2011, it was apparent that tourism is really growing and being invested in. And I really did feel pretty darn safe the whole time there. Ten days is not enough time btw, unless you like to hop around really quick or just stay and get to know one place. Anyway, I completely recommend visiting this beautiful and vibrant culture!

Uno. Fería de los Flores.

The 'flower festival' happens every August. In this big celebration farmers create giant bouquets of their flowers(silletas) and flood through the streets carrying them. I'll let this video capture the feeling.

The whole city really gets decked out for this and you can also find about 7 giant flower sculptures around the city, like the virgen below. Very impressive and colorful!!

Dos. Take the MetroCable.

This was a really unique experience, partially because of the gondola-like transportation system. At the top you will arrive to a big green forested park, Park Arvi. We took a little walking tour and learned some of the native plants and animals.

Fun fact: "It was designed to reach some of the least developed suburban areas of Medellín. and is largely considered to be the first Cable Propelled Transit system in South America." (The other is in Caracas but carries passengers to a luxury hotel...a bit different.)

Tres. Malls.

I'm not really a supermall person. Like, really not. But in Medellín I fell in love with malls. Why? Because of all the amazing(and free) exhibitions and activities they host! We wandered into several malls because at least during August there are lots of things going on. At one we admired a huge collection of bonsai trees, complete with a giant buddha statue. At another mall there were tons of orchids and still another had a showing of birds. It's kind of juxtaposed with nature next to a 'sale' sign, but I like that at least in the midst of all the buy-and-sell is something green :)

Cuatro. Museo de Antioquia.

Here in the Plaza de Botero, you will find...this museum, yummy foods, a lot of Fernando Boltero sculptures, and a checkered cathedral. A fun place to hang out and a very extensive art museum, with permanent and temporary exhibitions from all time periods. I was fascinated by the Botero and contemporary showcases.

"I fatten my characters to give them sensuality." -Botero

Cinco. Get a hat!

We both were eye-ing the beautiful woven hats hanging in carts and perched up along sidewalks. So we both decided it was a necessary souvenir, to be stylish in the sun. Don't you think?

And una más extra: Pablo Escobar Tour. This sounds pretty interesting, visiting significant places and learning about the drug cartels. If only we had more time - we didn't get a chance to do it!

Now your turn ~ what's a must-do in your own city or from a trip?

Linking up with Expat Diaries

Tuesday Tunes #5: a new discovery

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 18:15:00 +0000

Good morning all and welcome! I decided to keep going with Tuesday Tunes because it's a fun thing for me and maybe you too :) It's a link-up to share musical inspirations, according to prompts above or whatever you feel like if it's music related. Tuesday Tunes is open all month, but Tuesday is the day to post it up! (thanks to alliteration!)

Feb. 4th, a new discovery: Ayla Nereo

This lady has a wistful way of bringing nature and spirit into musical form. She shares a lot of love and consciousness through her music. I just found her a few weeks ago, looking up music and kept listening to more. She's also from Sonoma County, a place dear to my heart and where I lived for several years. Lovely way to start the day!

This song is a cover of Feist, called 'How Come You Never Go There'. I love the loop peddle here! It's so fun how artists can create a full-on band with just their voice.

Ayla's website. You can listen to her new album there too;)

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The Sunday Currently

noreply@blogger.com (Lis-ita) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 08:50:00 +0000

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

R E A D I N G - more like browsing for inspiration - nonetheless, I've got The Beekeeping Handbook and a book on canning. I'm thrilled to learn about bees, the fascinating creatures and communities they are - and I'm going to can something soon. I tried sauerkraut and it was good according to my parents, although not quite for my taste.

W R I T I N G reflections in my journal. I heard about this mini-course from Sam @My Latest Obsession and started this week. It's called Emergineering and while slightly cheese-y I am really getting some good things out of it. And a big part is processing and discovering your vision for yourself, hence the journaling.

L I S T E N I N G some music found on KEXP podcast. This group is called Lavendar Diamond. Dig!

T H I N K I N G of just how adorable, hilarious, genuine, and compassion that Ellen is. She's just my hero, for sure. Here's a clip from this week's show!

S M E L L I N G Bailey's Irish Coffee I just had :) <happy girl

W I S H I N G for rain, rain, and more rain! It's really weird seeing all the cherry flowers blossoming now :S

H O P I N G to get my new website going soon soon soon. I should say planning, as hoping is a bit more up-to-chance. But yes, some changes are on their way.

W E A R I N G new, comfy wide-leg pants. I loooove them! And blue feather earrings from Costa Rica.

L O V I N G - again- these pants! And the best part is that I bought them on Etsy from a woman in Thailand who makes them. Here's her shop, Ablaa.

W A N T I N G to hug my husband. One month down. 3 to go. Skype, email, and drop box have been amazing but I really want to cuddle with the hubby.

N E E D I N G to get out in nature. Today's the day!

F E E L I N G excited for another month of Tuesday Tunes, my musical link-up. Check out January's prompts here and this preview of what's coming up this month. Come and join if you feel so groovy, prompt or no-prompt :)

C L I C K I N G ... Every Day Journals! I have one called "Create" and I just adore it because every other page has a related quotation. The journals have different themes like Explore, Courage, Enjoy, Care, etc. {See more here}

Linking up with Laren for The Sunday Currently. Glad to find this through Nicole's blog hop.