The Reading Girl

Most people who head to the U.S. of A 

from Mexico, for the weekend, well--

they bring back LOADS of goodies,

more often than not, clothes.

But on each of our quick trips back to Texas,
I have somehow managed to find myself right 

in the thick of some amazingly irresistible
throw pillow sales--this, as you might
imagine, has provided for some 

'interesting' packing dilemmas.

But I lugged some of my best finds
all the way back to Mexico City.

And this one is by far my favorite!

So sweet. And simple. And perfect.

WAIT...are we still talking about the pillow?

And these huge, feather filled, clouds 

of pillows found a home in our slowly
but surely evolving guest bedroom--
I'm hoping that our future guests
will find it a soft place to land
when they come to visit.

I am also digging the addition of these
three smaller scaled pillows to our bed.

My Sweets, on the other hand, is
starting to get the feeling that our
pillows are spontaneously multiplying.

:S

What can I say?
I guess I am just a throw pillow kind of gal!




And I am really beginning to think
that it might run in the family.

:)

Thanks for stopping in!
We'll see you soon for our most
recent adventures in D.F. exploration

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
We are back in action here on
the blog after a few weeks off.

My little babies finally made their
big move to Mexico City--so, I of
course spent days making up for lost
cuddling time and getting them comfy
in their new digs! I think it's safe to say
that they are adjusting rather well.

:P

Today's nautical inspired outfit is
meant to hold on, just a bit, to
the fleeting sunny summer
days, as fall fast approaches.

For now, though--we'll just
enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

I love that this outfit combines the perfect
amount of whimsy and sophistication--

which is probably, like, the most fun one 

can have when getting dressed. Right?

These relaxed pants have a surprisingly 

refined cut. They are flattering and feminine--
and a little different, which I love. 

They were pretty much a steal, too, 

at almost half off of their original price!

And my snakeskin-ish pumps were
so happy to have made their debut!

They have been boxed up and dying
to see the light of day for months now.
They seem to have been destined for a
navy and cream color combo all along. 

A little sparkle for this otherwise 

casual combo was very much in order. 

So, I dug up this little treasure of a
necklace and polished off my navy look.

I hope you, too, are prepping for 

fall with some fabulous finds!

Thanks so much for stopping by

:)

My Sweets and I were getting
anxious to throw something onto
our freshly painted and VERY bare
white apartment walls. But not
just anything would do.



We wanted our new home to feel,
well, like home. So, we took a dive into
our electronic photo albums and singled
out a few of our favorites to blow
up, frame and deck our halls with.




Each represents a precious memory to us,
frozen in time, and now a daily reminder
of just how beautiful this world is.




And while we were thrilled to have finally
done something with our loads of photographs,
I wasn't terribly excited about spending a small
fortune on having them framed.




So, I bought some canvases and a few
tiny pots of shiny gold paint, got straight
to work, and made my own frames.

I thought that I'd share this simple,
but statement making DIY project
with you, incase you find yourself
in the same boat. 

First,  I taped off the canvas,
leaving a 1/2 inch border all around. 

This would eventually be the faux
frame, so I measured carefully and
taped off as precisely as I could.

I had multiple canvases to 

my least favorite part of the 

process at the outset, and I 

measured and taped in bulk 

Then it was finally time for the fun part--

I applied three light coats of the gold paint, 

allowing for 15 minutes of drying time

in between each coat-- this is what the

frame looked like after just one.

Already looking better!

My brush was getting a bit of down time in 

between coats, so I covered it with foil-- 

this prevents weird stiffness and flakey 

paint on the brush and the canvas.

Just after I had finished painting the 

third and final coat, I began removing 

the painters tape. For the most part, 

the lines were very crisp, and there 

was little sign of bleed through. 

Yes!

I then allowed the canvases time to
cure for a bit longer, before I began
sticking the photos to my new 'frames'
with craft spray adhesive.




And voila, folks! We had a new gallery
wall full of memories that make us all
sorts of happy for less than $30.




I just love when that happens!
Thanks so much for stopping in
:)

amazing! We're talking a flavor

filled omelette that is oh-so-kind
enough to grace us with the addition
of a yummy sauce to boot.

And what's that you say?

It's healthy, too?!

I know, mind blowing! 

:P

So, let's get to it, shall we--

here's the lineup:

For the veggie mix:

-1 Tbsp. EVOO

-1/2 a medium onion sliced

-3 cloves of sliced garlic

-1/2 diced red bell pepper

-1/2 of a large zuchinni, 

quartered and sliced


For the omelette:

-1 Egg

-1/2 cup of egg substitute/egg whites
-Salt/pepper
-Cilantro
-Spinach
-Oaxaca Cheese

1. First, get the salsa de frijoles

started by placing the black beans

in a blender with a splash of milk.

2. Once the beans are more
creamy and less mushy...

Add 3 seeded chipotle 

peppers and blend well-- give
the salsa a taste, it should
have a little kick to it.

3. Add said creamy creation to a
heated sauce pan with a bit of oil.
Let the flavors mingle on low heat
for 10 minutes. Then set aside in a
covered bowl to keep the sauce warm
while you whip up a few more things.

4. Next warm up 2 Tbsp. EVOO 

over medium-high heat and saute

the onions and garlic until sweet--

about 7 minutes.

5. Now add the red bell pepper
and cook for about 7 minutes.




6. And then add your mini zucchini
pizza-like slices with a pinch of salt
--saute until everything is cooked
through and has a bit of a toasty
color to some of the pieces, about
10 minutes.




*Set aside your veggie mix in a covered
bowl while we whip up the actual omelette.




7. Whisk one egg and 1/2 cup
egg substitute--and by all means,
add a splash of milk if you'd like.




 Season the egg mixture with
chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper.




8. Spray a heated pan with non-stick
cooking spray and pour your mix in.



Sprinkle a bit of coarsely chopped spinach
on top, along with some shredded cheese.




9. Allow the underside of the
omelette to cook just enough
to be able to 'flip' it into its
pre-destined omelette-y shape
:)




10. Once you've completed your flipping
magic and your beautiful omelette is
looking all golden and yummy-like,
transfer it to the plate that is about to
become your masterpiece of the day.

Spoon the warm salsa around
the omelette, and then top with
your warm veggie mix.




And now--DIG IN
without reservation
:)




Hope you enjoy this
Mexican twist on an
age-old egg classic--
I know we did!

This weekend my Sweets and I 

headed to El Bosque de Chapultepec:

pride and joy of this huge city, and 

without a doubt one of the most lively 

and colorful settings that we have had 

the pleasure of exploring since we  

moved to Mexico City.

  

Its unique name comes from the 

Aztec word for 'grasshopper hill.' 

Long ago, this park served as a
sacred and strategic site for the
Mexicas and grand Tecnochtitlan.
And it remains a national treasure, today.

We managed to weave our way through 

merely one section of the park's nearly 

2,000 acre expanse--and it was such a
treat! In a city of 20 million, it's no
surprise that a little peace and quiet
can sometimes seem hard to come by.




But Chapultepec is a world apart.
Filled with flowers and trees,
and sunlight and laughter.

And of course, A LOT,
I repeat, A LOT of food!




It is an oasis from the hustle and
bustle, even on its liveliest of days!




And it was a beauty-FULL thing to see just
how the thousands of local families spend
their precious Sundays together here.
Perfectly happy, their bellies full, eyes
full of light and hearts full of love.


An extended visit to Chapultepec can't
come recommended enough on my part--
and the fact that it lays claim to cotton
candy the size of a small person, may
or may not have something to do with it.
:)




Thanks for stopping in--
Happy Monday everyone!