Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
On the heels of my Mexico vacation, I wanted to share a secret skinny trick that has been in my maternal side of the family for generations.
It's so simple, but if you think about it - the key to good eating, (and staying skinny!) is keeping it simple. I'm guilty of having my processed stuff from time to time, but I find that when I really feel good about my body and what I'm putting into it, it's because I'm going back to the basics.
Much of my fashion choices, as well as my limited culinary skills are influenced by my Mexican heritage. (See an interview I did about it here for my gal-pal The Chirpy Bird.)
So... my childhood was always centered around food. Seven kids, not a lot of money. And a serious staple in our house was always rice and beans. We loved it! And the smell of this food in the kitchen, still gives me such sweet nostalgia that I can only hope to pass it along to my little one someday.
Spanish Rice
1 & 1/2 cups white rice (brown will not work for this recipe)
2 & 1/2 cups water
Three quarters of an 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 & 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 & 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp olive oil
Place rice and oil in a pot and brown lightly. Add salt and garlic powder. In a separate bowl mix the water and tomato sauce, mix well. Add the tomato/water mix to the rice and stir. Lower heat to medium. Cover the pan and cook for 20 min.
Serve with piping hot flour tortilla's!
Pix 2&3 Via Vogue Australia
Old World Food
Much of my fashion choices, as well as my limited culinary skills are influenced by my Mexican heritage. (See an interview I did about it here for my gal-pal The Chirpy Bird.)
So... my childhood was always centered around food. Seven kids, not a lot of money. And a serious staple in our house was always rice and beans. We loved it! And the smell of this food in the kitchen, still gives me such sweet nostalgia that I can only hope to pass it along to my little one someday.
Juanita's Beans Rice & Beans
Beans
1/2 (32 ounce) bag of pinto beans
1/2 ( 32 ounce) bag of great northern beans
1 & 1/2 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove peeled & cut into 3 pieces
1 small boiling onion cut in half
Sort beans for dirt and rocks. Put beans in a colander and rinse well. Place the rinsed beans in a bowl covered with water, and let them soak for about 10-15 minutes. (The longer the better, and the quicker they will cook.) Get a big pot and and place the onion and garlic in the bottom with about a cup of water. Heat it up to a soft boil (just enough to release the flavor), then add in the beans and enough water to cover about double the amount of the beans. The beans must always be covered with water. Cook on high for about an hour. Check often.
Spanish Rice
1 & 1/2 cups white rice (brown will not work for this recipe)
2 & 1/2 cups water
Three quarters of an 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 & 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 & 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp olive oil
Place rice and oil in a pot and brown lightly. Add salt and garlic powder. In a separate bowl mix the water and tomato sauce, mix well. Add the tomato/water mix to the rice and stir. Lower heat to medium. Cover the pan and cook for 20 min.
Serve with piping hot flour tortilla's!
I cut both recipes in half because my mother was always cooking for such a large family! This should serve about four. Enjoy!
Pix 2&3 Via Vogue Australia
Monday, March 28, 2011
Over the weekend was the mark of my one year blogging anniversary for November Grey! I can't believe how quickly it's gone by, and how many opportunities have come through this beloved platform, simply by doing what I love. (Key to life?)
At any rate, I spent the mark of the big-one-year on a road trip to Santa Barbara on a shoot for Sunset Magazine. Not only was I hired to be in it, but also to style it. (Does it get any better?) In addition, my very own sister traveled along as hair and makeup artist, making it less of a job and more of a... well, road trip. (I guess it does get better!) We had a blast, and shot in some amazing locations and I can't wait to show you the final product using many pieces from my creative brainchild with Noa B., Secondhand Star.
In the meantime, take a look back at my very first post for November Grey, as well as some favorites from over the past year.
Thank you for your support and love, guys! Here's to many more blogoversaries to come! xx
In the meantime, take a look back at my very first post for November Grey, as well as some favorites from over the past year.
Friday, March 25, 2011
La Isla Bonita...
Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far away
Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far away
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature, wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
All of nature, wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring trough my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
The sun would set so high
Ring trough my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
I fell in love with San Pedro
Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me
Te diso te amo
I prayed that the days would last, they went so fast
Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me
Te diso te amo
I prayed that the days would last, they went so fast
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature, wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring trough my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
All of nature, wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring trough my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
I want to be where the sun warms the sky
When it's time for siesta you can watch them go by
Beautiful faces, no cares in this world
Where girl loves a boy and a boy loves a girl
When it's time for siesta you can watch them go by
Beautiful faces, no cares in this world
Where girl loves a boy and a boy loves a girl
Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
It all seems like yesterday, not far away...
It all seems like yesterday, not far away...
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature, wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring trough my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
All of nature, wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring trough my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
Your Spanish lullaby...
Outfit inspired here
Dress - Crossroads Trading Company
Hat -Thrifted Vintage
Earrings - Forever21
Bracelet - Vintage heirloom
Thursday, March 24, 2011
We interrupt our regularly scheduled Mexico post to bring you a behind the scenes peek at my Secondhand Star shoot featuring a "Ferragamo look" for Spring, under $5 thrift...
In addition to the camera, she was very excited about her rocks.
Notice a messy ponytail in this one? And the tiny little butt below?
She literally situated herself like this on the steps and smiled for the camera.
Check out Secondhand Star here for the entire look and story!
And now,(er tomorrow)back to our regularly scheduled program...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
It's funny that I mentioned I couldn't wait to wear this little Calypso tunic (featured in a story about designer Heidi Merrick here) because the morning I slipped it on (over saltwater hair, sleepy coffee cup in hand)...
I couldn't help but notice that directly across from our balcony view, was this building:
I enjoyed the rest of my coffee in the sand...
Until my beloved tunic became way too much fabric, and the heat beckoned me to slip into something a bit tinier and of the bikini persuasion.
Mmmmm..... Paradise.
Realizing that the rest of the world (and designers of note) take inspiration from these beautiful people, creating beautiful treasures.
After sneaking off to do some market shopping (a thank you gift for my sis, a threaded gato for our monkey, and a belt I wish I had purchased for 50 pesos! ~ That's around $4, people. Shame.)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Shot one: (And many more to come!)
I was floating somewhere in Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancun in Mexico.
I'm so happy to be back (sometimes a little time away is all you need to appreciate your home, am I right?) But I can't tell you how therapeutic and wonderful this trip was. Mainly because it was the first time since I got married in Mexico myself (and since my precious daughter was born!) that I spent some much needed time alone with the hubs.
We honestly considered it our second or "real" honeymoon because ours turned out to be a total disaster. (Our rented honeymoon home was broken into and we were robbed of everything but our love for one another.) But that's another story for another time...
This story is about my darling friend and her amazing Mexico love journey. We not only attended the wedding, but I had the pleasure of styling this big event week and I was so honored to be a part of it.
We had several months of planning and shopping to do and whilst I adore styling on the funk and frugal side, this particular gig needed to be just right.
I also found this tear sheet and just fell absolutely in love with the entire boho, travel-fabulous vibe of it. Can't you just feel it calling to you? Get me on vacation, stat!!
(Sigh) Mexico Blue... and all that surrounded us... somehow took me full circle...
As I breathed in the salty air, lounged on the beach, and tapped my tanned finger to the sweet lullabies that Alexi Murdoch whispered in my ear (the same album I listened to when I gave birth to my daughter)... I could't help but think of dreams, past single girl schemes, and who I used to be before I was a bride... how the tides have changed and everything is inexplicably different.
For Jenni. (And for all my single ladies out there...)
I was floating somewhere in Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancun in Mexico.
I'm so happy to be back (sometimes a little time away is all you need to appreciate your home, am I right?) But I can't tell you how therapeutic and wonderful this trip was. Mainly because it was the first time since I got married in Mexico myself (and since my precious daughter was born!) that I spent some much needed time alone with the hubs.
We had several months of planning and shopping to do and whilst I adore styling on the funk and frugal side, this particular gig needed to be just right.
When we found this shot of the luminous Eva Mendes, we knew it was the perfect inspiration. My buddy bride-to-be based much of her wedding look around this glamorous shot. (I can't wait to show you her pictures of the big day!)
As I breathed in the salty air, lounged on the beach, and tapped my tanned finger to the sweet lullabies that Alexi Murdoch whispered in my ear (the same album I listened to when I gave birth to my daughter)... I could't help but think of dreams, past single girl schemes, and who I used to be before I was a bride... how the tides have changed and everything is inexplicably different.
For Jenni. (And for all my single ladies out there...)
You will.
With love,
T xx
4 - Getty Images
5 - Unknown source
6&7 - via WeHeartIt
Thursday, March 17, 2011
OK, I'm feeling a bit Queen of the Jungle in these shots, but I'm dying over my new fave vintage dress. This little leopard baby was found via thrift for under $10 bucks and tweaked & tailored via my lovely partner at Secondhand Star. (Did you catch the "how to" video here?)
Booties - sam edelman
Earrings - alvera street downtown
Belt - Zara
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