Eating your way through Barcelona. Part UNO

Food glorious food, you will sing these words often in Barcelona. Particularly if you choose to treat yourself to a night of exquisite local dining like at the charming and rightfully celebrated restaurant, La Pepita (http://www.lapepitabcn.com). Shall I commence the obscene food pornography?

Start by ordering a few appetizers to share. We dove into these so quickly I failed to get a before shot. Let the ravaged plates speak for themselves. It probably doesn't matter what you order but this was a kind of croquette with sweet sauce and tart apple slices.

Get your own individual Sammy's. You'll need to eat these crispy bad boys with a knife and fork, and lick that soy avocado goodness off your fingers. I promise not to look.

We started with (delicious) wine but quickly grew jealous of the amazing gin and tonics we saw being made at the neighboring tables. We also read the words "world famous gin and tonics" in the menu and were instantly sold. They offer corking so we corked our wine and moved on to ginnier pastures. The face I'm making is probably related to the desert I just ate, which you can admire here:

This is chilled fresh pumpkin on fluffy cheese with honey and sugared nuts. Death and instant heaven. Come to me. 

It's a casual place, but its moments like these you must use as an excuse to get out your sparkly gold peep toes. You did lug them all the way to Europe, after all.

Wearing:

Sheer blouse hand me down from friend

Shorts hand me down from same friend (I have amazing friends)

Gold sparkly Nine West peep toes from DSW and probably made through salve labor and by chopping down a rain forest... But they were on sale! and so shiny! It was a momentary weakness and I will do better in the future.

African bracelet gift from Africa

Big red ring vintage from 70s (was my mom's)

Stack rings from Sole Shoes and Accessories (scoutmob)

Black nested ring from street artist in L5P

Shell ring home made by yours truly. Shell Yeah!

Want to go to La Pepita? Here's what you need to know:

Address: Còrsega, 343 Gracia, Barcelona 08037

Phone number: +34 932 38 48 93

Closed Sunday.

MAKE A RESERVATION!! This will allow you to breeze right through the hungry waiting crowds and go straight to your table.

Go late! Like anywhere in Spain it really comes to life after 9:30/10:00

Drop Crotch December Dreams and Caribbean Cruise Scams

Nothing like drop crotch parachute pants for leaping into 75 degree weather! I am oh so blessed to spend another December in Jupiter. 

Besides romping around in my breezy pants (which I scored from the Bedouins when I was in Israel), the last few days have consisted of bike rides, pony-gawking, and lavender sunsets with dusk moons peeking over the Atlantic. 

The next few days involve participating in what I have now researched to become suspicious of as a cruise scam, with Caribbean Cruises (follow the link to read an article about whether it's legit or not). It was supposedly "free"... which in hindsight should have been a red flag as it is... and has been a predictable headache ever since. But what's done is done, so all I can really do now is enjoy this bizarre situation to the fullest! I shall do full recon and let you all know exactly how terrible (or wonderful??) it is. Sending warmth your way XOXO

Raven Cliff Saturdays

ATLiens, if you want a fresh way to experience Fall, I recommend taking the 2 hour drive from Atlanta to Raven Cliffs Falls. It's a lovely, easy trail ending in some impressive waterfalls. The last bit of the hike you have to scramble up these tree roots to get to a a cliff that causes your stomach to pay a visit to your throat when you peer over the edge.

I loved this weekend because it gave me an excuse to wear my cute polkadot backpack I bought in China and my vintage Outdoorables by Daniel Green. (I'll tell you a secret... I changed into ugly unstylish tennis shoes for the actual hike). I also threw on a bow, because, well, I just can't help myself sometimes.

I can't seem to stop photographing mushrooms. Below are just two favorites of the dozens I found. Did you know the "mushroom" we see is actually just the fruit? The real mushroom is underground, unseen to us. Being a 2nd grade teacher is fun because you learn things like this. Fact: Hanging out with 8 year olds all week makes you smarter.

Lastly, is there anything more lovely than the sight of your own dear city sparkling across the interstate as you make your way home?

hot toddie season

Hot Toddie Season, dare I say you approach too slowly?

My annual injury has occurred, this time in the United States (rather than in China... or France...)!

I'm quite alright.
My first set of stitches, so I feel like I've finally reached adulthood in a way.

I'm still mushroom hunting with my students.

And I wore this jersey H&M Suzhou dress with my grandmother's Liz Clairborn cardigan. On my sore little feet, flats that have been spiced up with some vintage shoe accents. Like so:

If you were wondering, yes, my cane is leopard print.

Now to snuggle up with hot toddies and a warm critter and let the healing continue. 

It's been awhile

A lot has happened.

I went to Israel.  

And New York. 

Then I came back. 

Maybe I'll tell you guys a little about it sometime?

The weather has begun to nod its head towards something resembling Fall.

My hair has gotten quite long, reminding me why I chopped it all off three years ago.

The seasonal shift brought with it the blessed Dragon Con, allowing me to dress like a random wood nymph for a night.

I've kept my eye on Atlanta's street art.

(I still love rabbits). 

And school has begun, allowing me to dive back into the magic of mushroom hunting and exploring big juicy caterpillars on the playground, dressed like so. 

I dress "teacher" so often, it's not even Ironic anymore.
Wearing
Denim dress from thrift store
Striped shirt borrowed (stolen?) from gentleman lover
Minnetonka moccasins
Sunnies from cool shop in NYC.

I've been busy, but I miss blogging. I will try not to be such a stranger in this little corner of the internet.

Thank you for reading. 

festive, or how another sunhat came into my life

The school I work at was silver for the local neighborhood festival and parade that took place. I took the theme seriously from tiptop to toenail. 

It's magical to wake up one morning and walk out your front door to find your quiet sunny neighborhood transformed into a bustling market. When not participating in school fun and painting the faces of adorable youngsters, I wandered around the booths. My favorites were one selling raw crystals and gems for about a dollar apiece, and another boasting "packable" sun hats located directly outside my yard. 

On the first day, the packable hat lady wouldn't bargain with me, but I was not discouraged. I lay patiently in wait, my floppy be-ribboned prey in sight. As she was packing up on Sunday, I ran across my yard and asked for a last minute end-of-festival deal; One more wide-brimmed sunhat became mine. 

Hope you wake up to a little magic in your front yard!

Silver nails with a sparkle accent.

The cutest Power Ranger.

Lovely packable hats.

Crystals

Gems

Gourd face.

New hat <3

so long, winter

Yellow like a sweet
canary, yet skimming the
earth, water-bird style.
Some skirts cary warmer days
in just the thought of their hue.

Another outfit from several weeks ago. It must be old because such length and layers would be unthinkable now. I wish I'd worn this skirt more during the brief winter; it's long and oh so warm, but I think the bold bright yellow threw me off. I tend to be a muted-toned dresser in the muted-toned seasons.  Still glad I picked it up for a few dollars at (I think) Last Chance Thrift Store; some cold days are just begging for a bit of color, and sometimes it's your job to bring it!

Wearing
Knit yellow skirt from Last Chance Thrift Store (?)
Lace up boots from Underground Atlanta
Gray shirt from Rainbow
Jessica Simpson brand scarf gift from grandma
Bow barrette gift from Korean student ;)

springtime in the winter

I don't wear a lot of these straight-up vintage dresses anymore, but these warm springy February days just seem to scream out for them! This sweet little violet number was purchased in Austin, Texas several years ago (here I am wearing it in 2009!). I fell in love with the big peter-pan collar and the subtle tribal print, the latter of which makes it kinda perfect for this day and age considering the tribal craze going on! All the more reason to give this dress another outing in the sun. I try to keep from being too costume-y by pairing it with my ole faithful lace-up military boots. 

These kinds of dresses exist for simplicity; throw them on with a ribbon for a belt and you are well outfitted for lunch dates with lovely sisters and mothers. These photos were taken right outside of Leon's Full Service in Down Town Decatur. Eat their french fries. Right now. Do it.

Wearing:
Vintage 50's dress from Austin, Texas
Gray tights
Lace-up military style boots from Underground Atlanta
Mustard cardigan bought in China
Tapestry clutch from thrift store.
Ribbon for belt and in hair.

lbvd - little black velvet dress

I love everything about this little black velvet dress from Festivity... particularly the part where I got it for 20% off! It has the sweetest little shape with an open back and exposed zipper.  The only thing wrong with it? Not enough occasions to wear it. 

Playing with color is fun with a black dress, so I paired it with my favorite shade of lavender lace bra and green tights. A Chinese friend gave me the latter straight from her shop, deeming the hue "unacceptable" to Chinese girls. Fine by me! 

Wearing:

Velvet dress from Festivity in Virginia Highlands

Lavender lace bra from American Apparel 

Green tights from China

Golden snitch necklace, gift from my sister

Black bracelet from a friend's give-away pile.