También la lluvia

Have you heard about Spain's nomination for best foreign language film for the Oscars? It looks promising this year. Staring Gael García Bernal and Luis Tosar-two fantastic actors, and directed by Icíar Bollaín, blurs the lines between the past and the present in Latin america. The film hasn't been released in Spain yet, but the story looks intriguing. Check out the trailer or read more about it here.

Tortilla de patatas

This weekend is October! Can you believe it? I'm thinking we should head up to Betanzos, a small town that will be celebrating the Fiesta de la Tortilla this weekend. What could be better than a party all about the Tortilla?? Betanzos is famous for their tortilla (above) made with very thin potatos and cooked just enough to get the shape and warm the egg. For the traditional Spanish Omelette, try this recipe.

Polish

Loving Les Khakis de Chanel nail polish. Never thought I'd like green nail polish...but these look so discreet!

Online!

Have you heard? You can now shop Zara online! Exciting, isn't it?

Scratch

One thing I'm really loving about living in Spain is forcing myself to make everything from scratch. Where in the states I would just hop out and buy a box, here a box of pancakes costs 4 euros, so I'm really learning to bake-and even to control my temperature gauge-less oven!

Fall is here, so I spent yesterday making a yummy apple pie with some apples that the suegros gave us from the country house. It smelled fantastic in the house with a crisp breeze blowing appleness everywhere. Perfect. We still have extra apples, so I'm thinking maybe it's time to make apple pancakes from scratch, it can't be that hard right? And, I have a giant bottle of syrup my mama brought me waiting to be drizzled. Check out the recipe at Smitten Kitchen. What's better than a breakfast from scratch on a cool fall weekend?

Oh boy!

Last night, we met the newest arrival to the baby scene, teeny tiny 3 day old Roi, (he only weighs 6 lbs and is like a little lightworm bundled in joy!) first son of our friends Marta and Moncho. Marta looks fantastic, Moncho is filled with pride, and little Roi is so content. Before stopping over to meet him and help with his first bath, I stopped at Zara Kids to get a little welcome present-so dengerous! I had cute overload looking at the mini capes, trenches, boots, blazers, scarves, etc, but controlled myself and bought the cutest jean overalls and little shirt with elbow patches...ha! After meeting Roi, I want to go back and buy him even more! Baby clothes are the cutest!

Boots, blazer, and scarf!!

baby mocassins, tweed shorts, and camel coat!!

Fuzzy vest and boots!!

Back to school

(Vineyards-La Rioja, Spain)

I've been lacking post ideas...I guess that's what happens in the first weeks back to school. Lots of planning and projects to get the year started right, and so far so good, even with the little ones (I have almost all kiddie classes this year-and I'm actually enjoying it!-time to buy a halloween apliqué sweater?? jeje...). Until I think of something really lovely to post...here are a few ESL pages that I'm loving that may come in handy for any other language teacher out there! Enjoy...

Great, quick printable activities for basic kids vocab...seriously the easiest page ever in your in a rush: ESL-Kids.

And the cutest games, stories, and printables from the ever popular: British Council for kids.

And for adults or teens, this page is great for listening activities at all levels with pre-made quizzes: ESL Video.

Very exciting, I know! Do you know of any other fantastic online resources??

Ps: Aren't you excited for fall...capes, felt hats, boots, and scarves with apple pie, donuts, and falling leaves!

Beach Boda

We're back in Spain and we've already hit the road again...for a weekend escape to celebrate a wedding in Huelva, Andalucia! It was a long 10 hour drive from Santiago to the south coast, but the wedding was beautiful, the food was fresh, and a little last sun before getting back to reality was worth it.

Arrival to the wedding included complementary flip flops and a boat ride to the natural beach where the wedding was celebrated.

In the town, El Rompido, we enjoyed the cute beach houses and the famous fresh shrimp from Huelva and fried chocos (squid)...we spent the weekend eating gambas, salpicón de gambas, ensaladilla de gambas, and cold beer...delicioso.