Happy wedding season!

Ok...so no more weddings for me this season...but this entrance is pretty hilarious. What a fun wedding!! Enjoy!

life in...

I picked up this book while in Chicago with hopes of reading it on my trip back to Spain thinking that reading about another person's experience living in a new culture abroad might be inspiration for me. I read it quickly, the style is very conversational and energetic, like Julia Child herself. Reading it didn't necesarily make me drool over the delectible recipes like crushed duck with blood and wine sauce or white butter sauce...but telling her story did make me start to enjoy again all the little details that are so different from what I'm used to and that surround me here in Spain, and also inspired me to find whatever that thing I love and makes me passionate is...be it cooking, traveling, or whatever else and really be passionate about it. Her's was a charmed life, living in Paris, Marseille, Germany, Norway, Georgetown and I probably won't turn into a national TV star or author without the connections she made through her stunts abroad with her man and the US Government...but the book is a fast, inspiring, and fun read taking you through Paris dinner parties and markets, Mediterreanean fishmarkets, and so many other places. Put on your goodreads to-read list. I'm off to cook now. ;)

light

D and I asked, inadvertantly, for non-presents aka dinero for our wedding in the states. We did recieve some nice sheets and towels...perfectly packable...and with some of the cash I picked up a few must have things for our new place a Target and Homegoods. But, even before all that my (abuela) lelita sent us an engagement present to spend as we liked. We picked up this adorable lamp in May, just after our Spanish wedding...yes, it still counts as an engagement present...at the home store Casa. I love it...small, shiny, modern, and just enough light.

staying busy

We've been back a week. Now fully adjusted to the time change again I've been enjoying my time off keeping busy painting our bedroom, getting my national ID number!, getting a library card, reading...

the bedroom is coming along nicely...I'm about to finish it today...I'll post pics as soon as I finish.

and finally, it's rebajas/sales time again. Strangely enough this time I'm not very interested...so many other nice ways to spend the summer without spending money! I'll probably head out later this summer though. Rebajas last for just about 2 months.

Transatlantic

Leaving Michigan was difficult this time. I had been home for about a month and a half, D and his bro were in town for a month. I spent the time seeing my dearest friends enjoying and celebrating new phases of life...weddings, marriages, pregnancy, babies. I saw family that I haven't seen in years, some because they are a plane ride away, others because life takes us in different directions. I spent more time with my sister than I have in the last few years. My mom's house was filled with laughter and voices...and sometimes drama, haha. It was a wonderful time and I am so thankful for every moment.

Getting to the airport in Detroit was difficult. Leaving everything a continent away filled my eyes with tears. But, getting on the plane, arriving back to my new home-my and Diego's new home, I was filled with excitement. We are also so blessed to have friends and family waiting for us here, and to have the adventure of making this new trans-atlantic life together. D's back to work today-I'm off to paint our bedroom- and now the most exciting part comes...waking up together each day...making new plans...living new adventures...enjoying every person and every moment just like we did there...but now, in a new way, here.

My best friend's wedding

My bff's wedding was beautiful! At the Scarab club in Detroit their ceremony was short and sweet in the rose garden followed by delicious small plates of various vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes, super strong drinks from the bartender, and a cute supcake tower topped with a baby cake and Mexican wedding skeletons! The look was modern, and she was a stunning bride with a look straight from the golden age of Hollywood!!

The music was good, the drinks were plenty, the dancing was non-stop, and the bride and groom were all smiles...what more can you say, Congratulations!!!

Ps...I wore the beautiful vintage blue dress (the purple dress had last minute tailoring issues) and I got to escort the cutest flower girl in the world!

wedding season...

My best friend is also getting married! And I'm her maid of honor! I haven't been able to carry out many of the usual maid of honor duties since I've been in Spain, so I will be at her beck and call in the weeks leading up to here special day. Being the chic and modern bride that she is, she left dress choice up to us, giving us the guidelines of jewel tones. I decided that it would be great to wear one of my mom's old dresses, vintage party dress from the early 70's custom made for her...oh the many childhood dreams I had to have a dress custom designed just for me...

Luckily, I'm the same size as my mom was...she was taller...but the dresses fit perfectly. Which should I wear?? (Please excuse the terrible lighting and background and hair and makeup, I decided to try them on late one night)

Detroit...art city

A few more unforgetable stops in the Motor City...

The Detroit Institute of Art

and the Heidelberg Project