la dolce vita

Guerilla Art

2012-04-07T00:24:00.003-07:00

Guerilla Crochet

Jars of Love

2012-04-06T10:07:00.003-07:00

Had the pleasure of getting these cute little Jars of Love gifts from my game night host last night!

heres a recipe I found for these cakes in jars

Depending on how you feel you can change the batter and make red velvet, tiramisu or whatever else you're heart desires!

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
8 straight-sided wide-mouth pint canning jars with lids and rings
Directions

Prepare the cake according to package instructions, or use any cake recipe.
In pint size, straight-sided wide-mouth jars, put 1 cup of batter in each greased jar. Make sure to keep the rims of the jars clean. Put in preheated oven 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place jars on a cookie sheet to keep from tipping over while baking.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.
While they are baking, have your jar lids boiling in a pan of water. When the cake is done, take one jar out at a time and add the hot lid and screw on your jar ring and let set and cool.
It will seal as it cools. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to 'ping' as they seal. If you miss the 'ping', wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed.
After it cools it will pull away from the jar and when you are ready to eat, open and pop out the cake and enjoy.
Unsealed jars should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within 2 weeks. Sealed jars may be stored in a freezer.

Chi Chi in Quiche

2012-03-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

If you are visiting Guatemala you MUST go and see the largest and most famous market in all of Guatemala. This market is in Chichicastenango, a town sitting on a mountain inhabited and known for its K'iche Maya Culture. The market is only open on Thursday's and Sunday's! You'll get lost in this market of endless vendors selling handicrafts, jewellery, clothes and textiles that are rich in colour and design.

Antigua, Guatemala

2012-03-12T11:35:00.001-07:00

This is Guatemala.

Antigua, Guatemala is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. A small colonial town with cobble stone streets and colourful homes surrounded by three volcanoes, a lot of churches, and amazing Guatemaltecos. Parque Central is the main centre of the town where people can go to hang out during the day, and just a few esquinas down on each corner you can find the best spots to drink and dance salsa.

One Last Ride

2012-03-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Motorcycle Diaries

2011-11-08T05:48:00.000-08:00

After travelling to Cuba a few times, I've really learned a lot about the impact of Che's revolution on the Cuban people. Fighting for people that weren't even his own.

This film is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara's diary he wrote in while he travelled across Latin America on motorcycle with a buddy of his from back home in Argentina. Inspiring after the revolution and before then, Che Guevara was a revolutionary before his time.

This is one of my all time favorite movies and doesn't hurt that Gael Garcia Bernal is the main character.

Birds of the Same Feathers

2011-10-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

I'm still not quite sure if I'm ready to rock this look, but everyone from LA to NYC has at least one in their hair. They come in both synthetic and 100% natural hair that can BE curled, straightened, whatever your heart desires. I'll let you be the judge of these:

Feather Hair Extensions

Jennifer Love Hewitt with a bold yellow, red and orange- very earthy tones

Surfers Playground

2011-10-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

El Tunco, El Salvador

A small town 5 minutes away from La Libertad filled with many tourist surfers from the USA and Australia, rushing off to catch their morning waves. It was either tourists that were overly into surfing or some really cool and laid-back locals. There isn't much to do in El Tunco during the day unless you surf, otherwise you'll be getting ripped off and paying $15 to use the pool at one of the hotels on the beach -the waves in the beaches were too strong and dangerous to swim in. None the less- it is a beautiful place to visit, to enjoy the most delicious street pupusa's, cheap seafood and drinks, with a more than fun nightlife of live music, Batucada to be exact with a fire show and dancing. Tons of people come out to the beach with coolers of alcohol and just drink all night by the ocean, while listening to the live music.

Nuts for Coconuts

Vendors with the Salvadoreno cowboy in the back

One of the surfing schools

Batucada all night long

Drink up! $6 for the bucket of beers

Moda en la Calle

2011-10-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

Street Fashion: Paris, France

VALENCIA

de MADRID

Freedom Avenue

2011-10-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

A little tribute to street art.

Entre Dos Aguas

2011-10-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

PACO DE LUCIA circa 1976
Some really good Spanish Flamenco Guitar.
Que rico

Roasting Marshmallows

2011-07-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

Volcan Pacaya

Location: Antigua, Guatemala

Pacaya is an active complex volcano in Guatemala, which first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala. Pacaya rises to an elevation of 2,552 metres (8,373 ft). After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965 and has been erupting continuously since then. Much of its activity is Strombolian, but occasional Plinian eruptions also occur, sometimes showering the nearby city of Antigua with ash. (From Wikipedia)

I had a bittersweet hike up Volcan Pacaya with a couple hours of sleep and a bad hangover from Mono Loco's 4Q= 50cent drinks all night and dancing at Sin Aventuras all night. The worst idea possible, getting drunk all night before hiking a "1 hour and 45 minute" hike, while people on horses would harass you and try to convince you to give in and pay for a horse ride the rest of the way up the volcano. Whispering beside your ear, their prices and telling you that you were tired. But after all that we finally made it to the top where we roasted marshmallows and watched a clear view of the other surrounding volcanoes and the town.

we made it!!

Volcan Pacaya

100quetzals..80...70...

Eat My Dust

2011-07-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Volcano Surfing @ Volcan Cerro Negro in Leon, Nicaragua

Volcan Cerro Negro

me and my board, hot sweaty and gross after a 40min hike carrying that thing

on top of cerro negro

Volcano Boarding Leader

View from Cerro Negro

Climbing the Ruins

2011-07-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Palenque (Bàak' in Modern Maya) was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century. The Palenque ruins date back to 100 BC to its fall around 800 AD. After its decline it was absorbed into the jungle, which is made up of cedar, mahogany, and sapodilla trees,but has been excavated and restored and is now a famous archaeological site attracting thousands of visitors. It is located near theUsumacinta River in the Mexican state of Chiapas, located about 130 km (81 mi) south of Ciudad del Carmen about 150 m (164 yd) above sea-level. It stays at a humid 26°C (79°F) with roughly 2160 mm (85 in) of rain a year.

Much of the history of Palenque has been reconstructed from reading the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the many monuments, historians now have a long sequence of the ruling dynasty of Palenque in the 7th century and extensive knowledge of the city-state's rivalry with other states such as Calakmul and Toniná. The most famous ruler of Palenque was Pacal the Great whose tomb has been found and excavated in the Temple of the Inscriptions.

(stole that from Wikipedia)

Yo con Cyndi

Hostel Jungle Palace en El Panchan

Listening to live music and drinking 40s, watching a fire show @ El Panchan

the fat cat

2011-07-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

EL GORDO GATO

Location: San Cristobal De Las Casas, Mexico

San Cristobal, my favorite city in all of my traveling. Best vibe, people and music.

Spent the night at El Gordo Gato watching live music and enjoying the beer served with a complimentary tequila shot.

Inside El Gordo Gato

Anna with the beer and complimentary shot

Me and some of the guys from the band

Santa Huateco performing their Reggae Cumbia @ El Gordo Gato

(worst filming possible, sorry)

Holy Tamales

2011-07-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Location: Antigua, Guatemala

Restaurant: Tienda La Canche

Comienda comida tipico de Guatemala. Eating Pepian de pollo (chicken stew with potato and mixed vegetables with rice) and tamales. We found this religiously decorated restaurant in the back of a tienda. Very surprising because it was hidden in a room right behind the cash counter of a convenience store. Felt like we were at our abuelitas house with a big home cooked meal. Great place where many locals came to eat, your guatemaltecan abuelita there would not let you leave hungry, even let you bring the avocado home.

Cheers

Pepian

Cuba Libre

2011-04-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

February - March 2011
Me encanta cuba

Cinnamon Hearts

2011-04-11T22:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Coffee Lovers,

adding a bit of cinnamon into the next batch of coffee you brew makes it taste so much better

Love, Another Coffee Lover

Oui Oui

2011-04-11T22:57:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups plus 1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar
1 cup (4 ounces) finely ground sliced, blanched almonds
6 tablespoons fresh egg whites (from about 3 extra-large eggs)
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Macaroon Filling (see below)

Directions

To make the macaroons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and ground almonds. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites with salt on medium speed until foamy. Increase speed to high and gradually add granulated sugar. Continue to whip until stiff glossy peaks form. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the confectioners' sugar mixture until completely incorporated.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Fit a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch #4 round tip, and fill with batter. Pipe 1-inch disks onto prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. The batter will spread a little. Let stand at room temperature until dry, and a soft skin forms on the tops of the macaroons and the shiny surface turns dull, about 15 minutes.
Bake, with the door of the oven slightly ajar, until the surface of the macaroons is completely dry, about 15 minutes. Remove baking sheet to a wire rack and let the macaroons cool completely on the baking sheet. Gently peel off the parchment. Their tops are easily crushed, so take care when removing the macaroons from the parchment. Use immediately or store in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
To fill the macaroons: Fill a pastry bag with the filling. Turn macaroons so their flat bottoms face up. On half of them, pipe about 1 teaspoon filling. Sandwich these with the remaining macaroons, flat-side down, pressing slightly to spread the filling to the edges. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
Variations:
To make coffee-flavored macaroons: In step 1, add 2 drops brown food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. In step 4, blend 1/2 cup macaroon filling with 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder dissolved in 1/2 teaspoon warm water for the filling.
To make cassis-flavored macaroons: In step 1, add 2 drops purple food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. In step 4, use 1/3 cup good-quality cassis jam for the filling.
To make pistachio-flavored macaroons: In step 1, add 2 drops green food coloring to the egg whites after they are whipped. In step 4, combine 1/2 cup macaroon filling with 1 tablespoon pistachio paste for the filling.
Macaroon Filling
Ingredients
- 3 large egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into pieces
Directions
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg whites and sugar. Set mixer bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and heat mixture, whisking often, until it feels warm to the touch and sugar is dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Transfer bowl to the mixer, and fit with the whisk attachment. Whip on high speed until mixture is stiff and shiny, 3 to 5 minutes. Add butter, one piece at a time, and continue mixing until butter is thoroughly incorporated. The filling can be kept, covered and refrigerated, up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before stirring.
3. Variations:
  To make hazelnut-honey filling: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of macaroon filling with 1/3 cup finely ground hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons good-quality honey.
  
  Thanks....from Martha Stewart's website

Vintage Romantic

2011-04-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

PASTEL LACE EYELET FLORAL FEMININE CHIC CLASSY

Im in Love With Your Brother

2011-04-11T22:46:00.002-07:00

weird video...but good music

The Knife- Pass it On

S2011 Alexander Wang

2011-04-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

Set Fire to The Rain

2011-04-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

I love love LOVE Adele's new album, Turning 21. amazing.

get at this remix even better...

Tyga ft Adele- Reminded

Set Fire to the Rain

into pieces

2011-04-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of Katy Perry, but I do love her line for OPI's shattered nailpolish.

Block My Colour

2011-04-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

Spring 2011