penny lyra

Rachel Gets a Day Off

2012-01-23T14:20:00.028-07:00

Eating biscotti and looking up recipes for biscotti and doing other important things.

I'm so happy my phone is working and I can take pictures of my food again and that there is snow on the ground.

2012-01-22T20:59:00.006-07:00

David looks ready to punch someone.

lace sleeves

What's Up Tiger Lily Opening Credits

2012-01-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

I think the opening credits of Woody Allen's What's Up Tiger Lily are really cheeky. The credits remind me of some tasteful old playing cards my Dad used to keep of topless babes. (We were/are snoopy kids.)

Une Fille Comme Les Autres

2012-01-14T13:10:00.002-07:00

I love this.

Jalouse Magazine: Une Fille Comme Les Autres from Matthew Frost on Vimeo.

Birthday Girl

2012-01-10T22:13:00.009-07:00

For my birthday we went to a diner, ate breakfast, and posed for photos. I told the server it was my birthday so I could brag and get something cool and he gave me a giant banana sundae! After breakfast I went to my friend's house for a surprise cake. It was a good day.

"OH no, I don't know how to put on mascara."

"I'm braiding my hair and eating breakfast."

"And I'm drinking my Coke."

"Whoa! Kieren is amazing! She made me this chocolate cake with a flower crown. She is so talented. She painted those flowers with her soul."

"Awww my birthday is over, but thank goodness I have this really cool flower crown that I'm going to wear every day!"

Our Birthday

2012-01-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Elvis! Maybe next year I'll post a chubby picture of you. Also, it's going around that you were a king in bed. Way to go! And for other ways to celebrate, go here. (photo via)

Te Amo.

2012-01-05T21:00:00.009-07:00

Some people really know how to make you breathe. When you are around such people you feel alive, inspired, and fearless. And then one day these wonderful people disappear and you can’t breathe at all. Everything hurts so much, your heart, your throat, your dreams, but with time you understand that the memories and moments will always be in your mind and you breathe a little bit better. Today is my Granny’s birthday and I miss her so much. I miss coming home after a long weekend in East Texas visiting. I always felt refreshed after seeing her, even if all of my clothes and suitcase would smell of tobacco smoke for days when I came home. I miss that smell.

Tonight, for her birthday I ate brownie bites and drank coffee. Granny drank coffee every day of her life. She’s probably pouring a cup right now or maybe she's started hanging out in coffee shops. I have great memories sitting on the patio in her backyard talking and laughing over coffee as warm winds picked up the fragrance of her cigarettes and garden roses. When I was in high school we ate a whole tub of brownie bites together and made ourselves so sick that brownie bites became our thing. She would be so embarrassed that I posted this, but I set her little pink urn next to our coffee and brownie bites so she really was with me. Creepy? I don't think so. We had a really good time tonight. Happy Birthday, Granny. I love you.

2012 Wishes

2011-12-31T19:06:00.005-07:00

Mostly, I'd like to go to a Japanese spa and follow Neil Gaiman's wish for 2012,

"And for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.

And it's this.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

Dreamiest Moment of 2011

2011-12-30T20:44:00.003-07:00

Going to an Arab bathhouse (go to the website) in Granada. It was hidden in a dark and narrow alleyway by the river. There were three pools covered in beautiful Moorish tile filled with warm, hot, and cold water. We would switch from pool to pool, swim around and relax, but my favorite (and the funniest) part was watching all of the couples intensely make out, tubby Spanish girls in tiny bikinis with their legs wrapped around the hips of their lovers in speedos and so many tongues moving in and out and all over, up and down, all around us, so much love, lust, euphoria. In between the pools and the teenagers kissing, we would drink mint tea and roll around on hot stones. It was so relaxing and magical. The bath attendants in cute little terry cloth outfits told us they would come and get us in an hour and half. They never told us to leave. We went in at 9 pm and left at 12:30 am. Here are some pictures I took of the dressing area.

And then I walked around the rest of the night feeling like this. I always loved how at 5 am in Spain there were still people partying.

Never Enough Midnight in Paris

2011-12-29T23:41:00.009-07:00

I wish we could spend a rainy week in Bruges, walking down the street and seeing the windowpanes and canals like we're on some grand adventure. It would be lovely to smell your citrusy, sea salty scent and hold your hands, your hands that feel like powdered talc. You would lie your head on my lap and look at me and I would adore you with the longest kiss. My kiss wouldn’t make you breathless, it would make you sigh a thousand breaths. We would celebrate at midnight, wandering into a tavern where we would dance with the locals to ABBA.

I think of the party filled with candles and confetti and how you made me feel like the only person in the room with your charming eyes. I felt beautifully stupefied by you on the winding steel stairs in your fancy loft. Every moment felt like La Belle Époque, we made music with pots and pans, we forgot and it was honest.

The Cutest Thing That Came In The Mail In 2011

2011-12-29T14:51:00.001-07:00

My Granny's Christmas card.

Probably The Funniest/Most Flattering Thing That Happened In 2011

2011-12-27T16:57:00.004-07:00

When David got to be Melanie Laurent's (maybe my favorite French babe) ex-boyfriend in the movie Beginners. Over a year ago I got an email from director Mike Mills' assistant saying that Mike Mills had found the photograph of David and Tippy on Men and Cats and wanted to use it. I giddily signed a release form and wondered for a long time if the photograph would make it in the movie. I finally got to see it in November and about an hour and 6 minutes into the film there's a scene where Melanie Laurent talks about her exes and David and Tippy fill the entire screen. Our names are in the credits as Rachel Easton and David Easton at the very end. They spelled Eastin wrong, but I don't care. You should watch Beginners for David and Tippy and because it's a beautiful movie that had me crying, but happily.

Christmas Morning

2011-12-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

Christmas morning was spent with this cake and dancing (new record player).

Merry Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T16:45:00.012-07:00

Lately, I've been watching a lot of made-for-TV movies on Netflix. Did anyone see Pizza My Heart? I think you'll like it. It's Romeo and Juliet set in Verona, NJ with two rival families, the Montebellos and the Prestolanis. It's about true love and the pizza parlors that define it.

Did you love Emily Mortimer's outfit in Hugo? I just watched the movie a few days ago and loved it so much. I cried at the end when Mr. Méliès addressed the crowd,

“As I look out at all of you gathered here, I want to say that I don't see a room full of Parisians in top hats and diamonds and silk dresses. I don't see bankers and housewives and store clerks. No. I address you all tonight as you truly are: wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, and magicians. You are the true dreamers.”

On Christmas Eve Eve I rode my bike to get my hair cut and dyed. It was so delightful and relaxing going to a salon. I think it's been 5 years.

While waiting for the dye to process, I read W Magazine and learned two very important things. 1. A Japanese study found that beauty begins to fade at age 35.09. 2. Cameos are cool again. Thanks W Magazine.

The floor in the salon.

Here is an after picture. It's a really rich dark brown with a little bit of red in it. I will show you better pictures in future posts. Merry Christmas Eve.

Jane Says, "Open Your Heart."

2011-12-18T21:47:00.005-07:00

new hat, inspired by the gypsies in Sherlock Holmes.

donuts!

frites from Bruges.

This is me saying, "I don't want to go on an arranged double date to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir." My mom set it up and I really didn't want to go because I had to work early the next day and I thought it would be so boring. I ended up loving the concert. Jane Seymour told the most beautiful Christmas story that warmed my heart. I was so into it that for a whole minute all of my thoughts were on her and the fake snow falling on the ballerinas. Jane and the instruments made all my troubles go away in that moment.

I really didn't want to go. I was trying to be pouty or poop on the floor? I'm glad I did go [to the concert].

Scenes from around the house:

stack of books nightstand.

tinsel above the bed.

Tippy yawning/I'm mad at her, she scratched David's lip and made it bleed. I told her that if she kept being a bad kitty I'd be bringing a puppy home.

Saturday

2011-12-11T17:03:00.002-07:00

I helped out at a Sugar Plum Fairy party after a performance of The Nutcracker on Saturday. I wanted to take a million pictures of all the pretty costumes, the stage, and the crazy muscle butts of the ballerinos, but they were all copyrighted so I wasn't allowed to. During the party I was the fog maker. I stood at a table on the stage and poured hot water over dry ice for the kids and threw plastic snow at them.

The magician's trunk and hat from the party, this wasn't copyrighted.

I was very excited to wear my gold sequin skirt and shimmer tights.

These costumes might be copyrighted, shhhh.

Sequin skirt in a different instagram filter.

After the party, pizza and ice skating.

Bowling shoes with blades.

careful walking

2011-12-02T15:18:00.002-07:00

Your friends live in a house filled with human corpses underneath the carpet. The corpses are covered completely by the handmade Moroccan carpet that fills the entire house. There is different carpet for each room, some patterned with pink and teal camels and others in plaids and stripes.

Life is normal with the corpse cocoons. You catch your friends making out in the hallway with one of them by their feet. You go into the kitchen to take out a pan from the cabinet to bake cookies, it falls out and lands on one. You pick it up. On the sofa you watch a movie while holding hands with your friend under a blanket. You use one of them as a footstool.

When you sleep over you are careful not to trip over the corpses in the middle of the night to get a glass of water.

It’s Christmastime and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is playing on the record player. You all dance merrily around each corpse as you decorate the Christmas tree with gold tinsel and popcorn garland. Pieces of popcorn fall like snow from the garland and land on the corpses. You don’t pick up the pieces.

The house smells like warm cinnamon and pine forest and the corpses are always there.

Happiness is....

2011-11-27T10:46:00.004-07:00

This morning I enjoyed seeing the apartment maintenance guy and his wife walk their dog in their pajamas while drinking out of Marvel Comics coffee mugs. The wife wore skull and peace sign fleece pajama bottoms. The man's pajamas might have been plaid or covered in footballs? I was too focused on the wive's pajamas and the dog.

Orient-Express

2011-11-27T10:19:00.005-07:00

I can't get enough of the Orient-Express website and their their sexy little movies (seriously,watch all of them) of rich people being so glamourous and cool. The videos are so over-the-top beautiful. These people seriously look like they are having the best time in the world with vintage typewriters, surprise afternoon masquerades, trunk suitcases, and hide and seek on the train. The narration is good too and sort of ridiculous, but in a good and clever way. Along with the videos they also have instagram type images that are so pretty.

I don't think you need to be rich to look like these people or to have a lifetime of adventure, I seriously just enjoy watching them and think all ad campaigns should look this good. One of the blogs I read, Pret-a-voyager actually got to take a ride on the Orient-Express train to Venice and I am obsessed. Her posts about her train adventure are beautiful.

Toast the movie, not the catalogue

2011-11-06T12:51:00.001-07:00

This movie looks really good and pretty...1960s Britain, food, and Helena Bonham Carter.

found from this beautiful blog

Meatball Sandwich

2011-10-24T16:33:00.006-06:00

A few days ago I realized I had never had a meatball sandwich. I decided that I really needed to live in the moment and eat a meatball sandwich. I really wanted one that tasted like leftover spaghetti on french bread, so I went to Tony Caputo's, an Italian Deli and found one...along with really cool looking colas. The sandwich tasted delicious!

I fell in love with these glass bottled drinks by Fentiman's. I was surprised that the colas were actually quite good. Dandelion & Burdock was sort of like root beer, but more anisey. They also had one called Curiosity Cola.

The deli was selling this french pastry from Les Madeleines, a local patisserie. It's called a Kouing-aman and we had heard that it tasted amazing. It really tasted so amazing.

It reminded me of this caramelized pastry filled with cream that we ate in San Sebastian. I can't decide which is better.

Pastries in Madrid

2011-10-22T16:45:00.002-06:00

how they would wrap them.

king's feast

2011-10-17T12:47:00.006-06:00

We had the loveliest feast with my favorite friends in Utah inspired by these recipes. Our feast included a mulled honey drink, mini meat pies, butternut squash soup, apple salad, fresh-baked rosemary bread, mashed red potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Now we should all watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Hunter's Moon

2011-10-11T12:41:00.003-06:00

Don't forget to look at the moon tonight! It's the smallest full moon of the year and will appear to look full for the next three nights.

A full moon in Stockholm, Sweden, 1900
Photo Source: The Swedish National Heritage Board

bloodcakes

2011-10-07T17:08:00.002-06:00

for dinner last night

Pumpkin Flavored Everything

2011-10-05T12:40:00.006-06:00

Have there always been so many pumpkin flavored things in the fall? It seems like there are more pumpkin flavored things than usual; pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin scones, McDonald's pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced drinks, candles, pumpkin pancakes,etc. Has it always been this great or am I just noticing it because I skipped an American autumn? Ahhh if you write pumpkin too much it will start to look really strange. p.s. Has anyone read the Night Circus? I love it so much! It's perfect for fall and life.

Cooking with Italian Grandmothers

2011-09-20T12:17:00.007-06:00

I saw this travel diary/cookbook in the bookstore and the illustrations and photos are so beautiful plus it's about cooking like an Italian grandmother. American chef Jessica Theroux spent a year traveling throughout Italy, cooking, talking with Italian grandmothers, and learning the wisdom of the nonnas. I love the blog post she wrote about the nonnas here.
"Our mother made us, but our grandmother raised us. She taught us these things when we were very young: to go and put wood on the fire, to hand roll the pasta, to help with the bread or the slaughter. It's a lovely and natural thing to learn to cook first by the side of one's grandmother" — Carluccia

Froth Yourself

2011-09-15T19:28:00.016-06:00

I 'd like a milk frother and a frother pitcher (and some syrup too) so I can attempt this:

a few photos of Granada

2011-09-13T13:49:00.005-06:00

I was just going through some pictures of beautiful Granada. I was thinking about how we ate pizza,banana nutella crepes, falafel, tea, and ice cream (ferrero rocher flavored ice cream) the whole time. I miss the little paper napkins that always said, "gracias por su visita" and were everywhere in Spain.

Granada is beautiful.

I like the guy in the background.

I really liked this babies in a sea storm/evil fish water fountain

Tea & Mums/Midnight in Paris

2011-09-09T16:31:00.004-06:00

"All men fear death. It's a natural fear that consumes us all. We fear death because we feel that we haven't loved well enough or loved at all, which ultimately are one and the same. However, when you make love with a truly great woman, one that deserves the utmost respect in this world and one that makes you feel truly powerful, that fear of death completely disappears. Because when you are sharing your body and heart with a great woman the world fades away. You two are the only ones in the entire universe. You conquer what most lesser men have never conquered before, you have conquered a great woman's heart, the most vulnerable thing she can offer to another. Death no longer lingers in the mind. Fear no longer clouds your heart. Only passion for living, and for loving, become your sole reality. This is no easy task for it takes insurmountable courage. But remember this, for that moment when you are making love with a woman of true greatness you will feel immortal. "

Toast Catalogues: Why do they smell so good?

2011-09-08T11:17:00.022-06:00

Do you get Toast in the post? It is my favorite catalogue to order. I am always impressed with the faded/rich saturation and color of the pages every single time, but what gets me the most is the scent of the pages. I think it is the best smelling catalogue in the world! Have you ever wondered why it smells so good? I emailed the Westdale Press Limited printing company who prints Toast to ask and they replied immediately:

Good morning, Rachel

The smell (which, incidentally, is completely harmless) is caused by the oxidisation of the linseed oil within the printing inks.

On coated paper, the ink sits on top of the paper coating and cures (oxidises) comparatively quickly because it is naturally exposed to the air. However, on uncoated paper (which is what Toast use for their brochures), some of the ink penetrates into the body of the paper, so is less exposed to the air. The ink curing process on uncoated papers therefore takes longer, hence the smell of the linseed oil oxidising lingers longer.

Long may you continue enjoying Toast's beautiful brochures!

Kind regards

pinned

2011-09-02T19:34:00.007-06:00

Some pins I've been thinking about and a quote, “Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.

“After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.”

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" J. K. Rowling

/1 babushka tea caddy/2 hanging stars from plumo/3 knight applique /4 boots/5 house/6 David & Tippy/ 7 necklace/

Today I came home to this:

2011-09-01T22:32:00.004-06:00

Fancy carpet on the stairs instead of cement. The maintenance man's 12-year-old son doesn't like it either. Why did they do this? What happens when it snows? The open window on the right is where the bearded lady with the shakes lives and on the left is where the schizophrenic lady who yells and screams lives.

Dickens' Dream

2011-09-01T17:23:00.002-06:00

"The water of the fountain ran, the swift river ran, the day ran into evening, so much life in the city ran into death according to rule, time and tide waited for no man, the rats were sleeping close together in their dark holes again, the Fancy Ball was lighted up at supper, all things ran their course."

-Charles Dickens

When we were in London we went to the Dickens House Museum to see the 'Dickens' Dream' portrait by R.W. Buss. We were inspired to go because David had a Belgian professor come to his school and give a whole presentation about the painting, but mostly because Matt Damon went to the Dickens House in the movie Hereafter. Did you see Hereafter? I really liked that movie. It really made me feel better about the afterlife, seriously.

Here is David in front of the portrait.

at the writing desk.

Oh, we had the best carrot cake and curly whirly chocolate cake from Konditor & Cook in the backyard café.The End.

Waffles in Belgium

2011-08-30T15:59:00.001-06:00

I still want to post pictures of Europe, is that okay?

I loved all of the ice cream/waffle vans in Belgium.

eating a waffle in front of an amazing cathedral.

a waffle van in bruges.

Homemade Butterfinger

2011-08-29T11:59:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I made homemade butterfinger from Not Without Salt. I didn't have a candy thermometer so I followed the 'bowl of cold water method' I found googling. While the sugar was boiling, I tested a spoonful of the syrup in a bowl of very cold water to see what stage it was in. After you drop the crystallized sugar in the bowl, you shape it into a ball underwater. When you take it out of the bowl you can examine the texture and shape to find out what stage it's in. I had the best high while making these. I really felt like a scientist. Also, Our Idiot Brother is hilarious and I want to watch it a million more times and live Paul Rudd's life at the end of the movie.

Just so you know,

2011-08-27T13:15:00.004-06:00

I have trouble sharing my feelings on my blog because I know there are many people in the world who have it way worse than me, but I will tell you a little bit about how I feel anyway and show you pictures of sexy people on bikes. We live in Salt Lake City now. I thought that after living in Europe, I would be less wanderlustful, but my addiction has just been made worse. I really miss the Spanish/European pace of life and how stores weren't open 24 hours. When there was a holiday,we would have to prepare for it the day before because the store would be closed. I swear there was one month where there was a holiday every single week. I kind of like not having everything available to me all the time. BUT, I would like it if more things would be in olive oil, like sun-dried tomatoes and olives. Why would you ever put sun-dried tomatoes and olives in sunflower oil,Whole Foods,Smith's, and Sunflower Market!? I guess I could buy a bag of sun-dried tomatoes and put them in olive oil myself, but I like to buy from the prepared food section sometimes.

Back to my boring baby-wah wah feelings, I walk around and ride my bike in Salt Lake City and it's very pretty, but it's not the same. I think things will be better when it's not so hot outside and we have more paychecks, but it seems like the only people who walk and bike where I live are homeless. Why aren't there thousands of bikes around like Amsterdam and why isn't there a Chino (convenience store) ten feet away from my apartment? Why do I live in the same building as a scary schizophrenic lady that shouts,screams, and scares the shit out of me every time I walk into my apartment building? I also miss teaching little Spanish children very much. My new hotel job is so unrewarding that I've volunteered at Ballet West to feel better. I guess that is a good thing. Do you need a hotel discount? It's easier than ever, I only have to email you the discount.

There IS something really wonderful about being in Salt Lake, besides my recent obsession with genealogy and being next to the genealogy center of the world. It's that I have the most amazing friends! Coming back from Spain, we haven't had very much money and without asking, these lovely friends have been beyond generous and helped us in a million ways, from letting us borrow a french press-to giving us a bed frame-to having us with open arms in their home for a few nights-to even letting us borrow their car!

Thank you wonderful friends! I don't deserve any of it! I'm still finding euro cents mixed in with my laundry and my pennies and nickels, but I think I'm starting to feel normal. I'm also very thankful for my family and my best (internet & California) friends for sending me postcards, sweet facebook messages,blog comments, and texts. Thanks for understanding and supporting me after my overseas traveling spree/European Vacation.

photos from: 1 Garance Dore 2/3/4 The Sartorialist

Julianne Moore's Clogs

2011-08-23T16:00:00.002-06:00

Did you see Julianne Moore's clogs in Crazy, Stupid, Love? I love them and Pinterest is shutdown right now so I decided to blog. I think her clogs are the same as these ones at No. 6. Are you a clog fan?

We were walking around Brussels when we came across these amazing antiquities...

2011-08-22T14:44:00.001-06:00

Return to Oz

rainy day bruges

2011-08-22T14:10:00.001-06:00

I really love Bruges and this old man in a yellow slicker.

slytherin snakes on buildings.

Why isn't this flavor in the USA? Big mistake that it isn't!

we went inside a comic store filled with Tin Tin,weird nude art, and kinky comics.

best part of the store. a movie festival poster from the 90s...what a great time.

't Poatersgat

2011-08-18T13:42:00.000-06:00

On our last night in Bruges we stumbled upon this secret cellar bar with candles and a foosball table underneath a church. It seemed very magical and hidden so we went in. There was a mirror on the door. I think I was adjusting my scarf?

I liked how the bar filled up with bikes.

p.s. That night David and I had a foosball tournament and I won! David says I cheated though. Why is spinning the rods illegal?? It's a technique. I really don't know how to play without spinning.

Beer Wall in Bruges

2011-08-18T12:47:00.003-06:00

I was daydreaming about Bruges today and decided to post more pictures. I really liked seeing the beer wall. I think there were probably 500 bottles of beer on the wall. I don't really know.

The Belgians told me that each beer comes in its own glass.

Inside the restaurant there were these cute porcelain duckies.

adorable forest nymph

This was named as "Best Beer in the World" in 1998.

I will close this post with a dirty beer joke I found while googling 'beer jokes':What does a drunk walrus have in common with a woman at a tupperware party? A: They're both out looking for a tight seal.

From the Car: Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona/Utah/Nevada

2011-07-09T00:41:00.001-06:00

City slickers.

You'll find the scariest bathroom in the world here, somewhere in AZ.

Lake Powell.

The cloud underneath the magic sun reminds me of the lochness monster or a dragon.

The End.

Since I've been back in America (most pictures in one post)....

2011-07-09T00:25:00.002-06:00

I had a great hamburger with fries in Texas...

I got to visit with all my pet family.

I watered and planted with my brother at my Granny's house in Colorado.

I started embroidering badges to wear at the final Harry Potter movie.

Took a picture of a random dog.

Ate a brownie sundae.

Watched fringe fireworks.

Went to a creepy deserted carnival.

I took a picture of an old picture of my Granny & Grandad.

Granny loves angels.

A restaurant.

My brother playing at open mic night.

A nauticool pizza place.

Breakfast and the Waitress

2011-07-06T02:33:00.003-06:00

Dialogue from the waitress I'll never forget:

"Don't get the burrito, it's the size of a fetus."

"Ahhh the people keep comin', like diarrhea."

To my brother and his cigarette she said, "Save me a drag I'll hit it on the way back...let me give this lady a soup spoon first."

"I need to pee so bad."

An hour later we got our food to go. My hash browns and chocolate chip pancakes were delicious and I think my brother loved his burrito.

Curiosities

2011-06-26T16:31:00.001-06:00

anchor,coat of arms, and wooden shoes.

See the lady in the window? That's an antique shoppe.

in front of the shoppe

The street with the shoppe.

We went inside.

I'd love to have a ship painting. I'll be looking for one to pin soon.

myspace

It started to rain. The nice man in the white jacket and red bowtie gave me his umbrella.

To be continued....

The Bellfry

2011-06-26T16:06:00.002-06:00

On the way to the bell tower.

I like the boots above the door.

pretty chairs and tables at the cafe.

The Bellfry

Inside the tower.

Brugge

Boat Ride

2011-06-23T14:24:00.006-06:00

One of my favorite parts of Bruges was this boat ride. Let me show you. Ahoy!

I love this tree.

Funniest picture ever! And she showed up in every single picture I took of him!

Here the captain is telling me a joke, "Stop looking at me swan!"

Here the captain is telling me another joke to break the awkwardness from witnessing me taking out a plastic baggie and sprinkling a little bit of my Granny overboard.

If you were on the boat you would have heard the captain announce on his microphone, "And over there,a dog's life."

"And if you've seen the movie In Bruges, over here you will see Colin Farrell's B&B...."

Did you have fun? Dank u wel for looking.

June Saturdays In Bruges

2011-06-20T06:55:00.002-06:00

We saw beautiful weddings in Bruges. The wedding bells from the tower rang for hours as brides and grooms went around town in horse drawn carriages. One wedding party rode around in this amazing bus and horse drawn carriage. Others drank champagne in the street. Note: The building with the gold statues houses a vile filled with the precious blood of Jesus. You can go in and kiss it for a euro fifty.

Mirage

2011-06-15T01:56:00.007-06:00

If you want to die laughing watch this. I was 18 years old in it and I had a weird rash on my brow bone and it´s just the best acting you have ever seen. The role of Chrissy was really challenging, because she is so not me in real life, but I had perfect lines so it´s impossible for my acting not to be good. It was written and directed by a wonderful man named Glenn Kau who makes movies every semester at BYU Hawaii. Gather the little ones and enjoy. *Note: Make sure you watch after the credits too, if you decide to watch it.

Every Flavour Chocolates

2011-06-13T17:47:00.002-06:00

I have a feeling you are going to see a lot of blog posts from me. We just got back from a trip to Brugge and it was amazing! We went to the chocolaterie, The Chocolate Line and it really had the best chocolate I've ever had. It was better than frozen Reeses and Junior Mints and popcorn. They had really interesting flavors that were surprisingly amazing,like fried onion. When I bit into the chocolate it didn't taste just like flavoring, it tasted like I really was eating chocolate with little bits of fried onion, but it somehow tasted extraordinary.

My favorite chocolates were probably fried onion, Earl Grey,Caramel Apple,Bacon, and Monkey's Favorite, which was a peanut salted praline, but it tasted like I had just taken off the shell of the peanut, dipped it in chocolate, and went to the circus all in one bite. All of the chocolates were so good, even Sake, Cola, and Curry. There was even a Havana Cigar chocolate. It really tasted like I took a bite of chocolate and then inhaled pipe smoke. Oh and I was so surprised how refreshing lavender chocolate was. I've always thought lavender flavored things, like ice cream were for the houtie-toutie (sp?) and that lavender in food just sounds cool, but it's actually really really delicious.

We bought a box of these chocolates and ate them throughout the day. It was cold and rainy so they didn't melt. Rainy pictures will be for another post, because I was really proud of my yellow slicker.

Platform 9 3/4

2011-06-08T07:22:00.003-06:00

Remember when I went all the way to Kings Cross Station and found a plastic wall instead of the real brick wall that's normally there ? Oh well. I was still really happy and posed with these bikes.

And then a kind southern gentlemen from a big church group took this picture.

Deathly Hallows

2011-05-29T18:24:00.002-06:00

Part 2 is coming so soon. What or who should I dress up as? I could dress up like a boggart when it takes the form of a spider wearing roller skates. Or I could be what I've always wanted to be, a Hogwarts student. Maxi dresses are everywhere so Trelawney would make sense too. p.s. I can't see much out of my window, but I can hear and see thunder and lightening and I love it...I love storms (as long as they don't hurt people and animals).

A letter from Alan Rickman to Jo Rowling

spinal column candles like the one in Prisoner of Azcaban

Remembering

2011-05-28T10:08:00.000-06:00

the time I dyed my hair a lot, made one dress, and wrote one article for the school newspaper (it's on the fridge).

Also remembering the time this was my job.

Granada

2011-05-25T07:57:00.003-06:00

We went to Granada last weekend. It was dreamy.

Midnight in Paris

2011-05-13T16:35:00.008-06:00

Whoa!! I just saw Midnight in Paris tonight! Laremy Legel from Film.com described it as, "A real treat, a buttery and flaky croissant." I agree, but I'd like to add that it was more like a freshly-baked croissant filled with chocolate and caramelized on top with sprinkles,also known as a napolitana in Spain. It was amazing!!! Magical! Bewitching! Splendorous! Funny! I laughed and smiled for hours after the movie ended.

I don't want to give anything away, because I want you to be surprised. I don't care that Woody Allen married his daughter, because I think we would be best friends in real life. I feel like he made the movie just for me. It might include my two favorite eras, the perfect hair and fashion, and lovely music. Every single actor was great and beautiful, but E.H.(see the movie and you will know who I am talking about) might have stolen the movie. I'm so excited to hear what you think! Go see it when it comes out in your country! My rating: One-hundred napolitanas!

via new yorker, but don't click unless you've seen the movie

How can I even try to go on? When you're gone?

2011-05-07T10:40:00.000-06:00

I am leaving Spain so soon!!! I'm not ready to leave. For the next two months I am going to blog about the things I will miss. I will miss this amazing chocolate cookie spread from the Netherlands and the long walks that make it healthy. p.s. the Penotti website is adorable.

San Sebastian (Donostia)

2011-04-24T16:12:00.002-06:00

This flat really spoke to me when I walked past it....I love the circled potted plants, but it was really that whale floatie saying, "take me out to the sea Rachel!"....and when you are done let me dry out on this cool balcony overlooking the beautiful aquamarine water and colorful boats that gave me butterflies in my tummy and seahorses in my heart.

That dreamy piso (flat) is in the left corner of this picture.

Behind David drinking a strawberry shake: The strange Basque language

Soccer on the beach is fun even though it leaves me with little bruises and a beet red foot after about 30 minutes. Do I kick on the wrong part of my foot?

Goodbye magical Donostia.

Stratford-upon-Avon

2011-04-11T10:00:00.000-06:00

I loved Stratford! I loved all of the overgrown gardens and having baked beans and toast for breakfast. During David's field trip we saw three plays;The Tempest, Antony and Cleopatra, and King Lear. My favorite was The Tempest, because it had puppets. You can see the puppets here. The Royal Shakespeare Company is so pretty. It's such a neat place to visit. More pictures on my flickr.

We arrived during a full moon.

The Tempest

the pub

the beautiful river

Anne Hathaway's house

I want to visit RSC forever and picnic like those old people.

oh scones and clotted cream!

Ice cream cups during intermission! I always think those ice cream cups taste better, because of the cute wooden spoons.

Sneaking out to the roof of the b&b.

London Part 1

2011-03-29T09:24:00.002-06:00

London is so different from Madrid. A lot of things stood out to us,like seeing green and street names. Here are a few pictures from our first morning before catching the train to Stratford-upon-Avon to attend David's school field trip. See more pictures on my flickr.

View from the window of Tower of London

A garden we saw on the way to the Tower of London

Harry or William? I choose Harry.

Tumblr

2011-03-12T08:32:00.002-07:00

I'm having a lot of fun with my tumblr.

Body Snatchers and House Tour

2011-03-07T10:24:00.002-07:00

I've decided to take a picture of every movie we see in that old theater.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers was sooooo good! I loved how humans grew in giant pods

and that dress!

Also, here is a video of Tippy playing and a spontaneous tour of our place.

The Kids Are All Right

2011-02-24T10:49:00.006-07:00

But, I think they made me sick for two weeks in a row or it's those street smokers. In January smoking in public places was banned, but now I just think they smoke even more outside. One day I had to cover my baguette with my sweater to protect it from THEM.
Hopefully I feel better, because I really want to see Invasion of the Body Snatchers at that old theater this weekend.

Smoky Spicy Black Bean and Quinoa Soup

2011-02-18T14:53:00.005-07:00

Photo/Recipe from So Good & Tasty

I made this soup last night and it was really delicious. I really enjoyed it, especially with avocado/onions as a topping. It was like eating a frito pie, but healthy. The teaspoon of cayenne pepper felt really good for my awful cold. Go here for the recipe.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T08:34:00.003-07:00

I have the day off, so I'll be reading the 3rd book of The Hunger Games. How about some Katniss and Peeta (he enjoys baking...sigh...) fanart?

sources/1/2/3/4

The Invisible Man

2011-02-07T09:08:00.002-07:00

On Saturday we watched The Invisible Man at a theater that plays old movies. Have you ever seen it? It is so funny. I laughed so much. The chemicals that make the man invisible make him go mad. He steals bikes, de-pantses people, throws stolen money from the bank on the street, bashes a cop's head,derails a train carrying a hundred people, and flips over a baby in a stroller. The Invisible Man is a murderer and it's so funny. It's a must-see!

Our tickets/ a fresh coat of red paint makes me happy.

The cafe at the theater.

a storefront

School Photo

2011-02-03T13:38:00.001-07:00

Monday was teacher appreciation day, so my school gave me chocolate and a wooden frog holding up a piece of paper that said, "Feliz Dia Profes". I felt special. Also, some great person on my Dad's facebook posted this school photo. My Dad is the one wearing jeans and a white shirt. He is standing next to that little guy.

Tonight

2011-02-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about this little car and when Tippy was so little that she could fit into a shopping bag and go to the photo booth.

Tippy Hedren of Bodega Bay

2011-01-30T04:27:00.000-07:00

Moving Inspiration For Sarah

2011-01-24T10:56:00.005-07:00

L to R: 1. Adventures in Babysitting 2. Providence, RI 3. Vogue 4. Hunter Boots 5. Olympia Le-Tan Book Clutch 6. Madewell 7. Madewell 8. Madewell 9. Alan Rickman

Classic Book Clutches

2011-01-24T10:16:00.001-07:00

Have you seen these really expensive, but really cool book clutches designed by Olympia Le-Tan? See pictures of Clémence Poésy and Natalie Portman carrying them here.

Double Ponytail

2011-01-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

David has been experimenting with no haircuts. 6 months down, 5 more months to go! Will he make it that long without cutting it!?

Argos Dog

2011-01-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

I also miss my sister-niece Argos. A few nights ago I had a dream that Argos and Tippy were trying to escape out the front door. They had the door open, but couldn't get out because of the chain. Argos was so nice and let Tippy stand on her head to reach the chain. They never got out, but it was so cute that they were friends. I didn't want to wake up. A kitty standing on a dog's head! And you have to watch this video!

photo source

Kitty Family

2011-01-21T14:02:00.002-07:00

I miss my nephew and niece Moses and Rigby so, I made my new background for them and other blog kitties out there like Persie, Mephistopheles, and Tippy, of course.

A guide to house cats. Click to enlarge and zoom. (photo and link from Laura)

Little Brothers in Big Madrid

2011-01-20T12:20:00.002-07:00

My Mom and little brothers came to town a for a few days after Christmas.

Tommy loved high-fiving Tippy, of course!

Tommy didn't like the big city life of walking everywhere.

But, Tommy enjoyed seeing this giant fish at the Mercado de San Miguel and

eating his Bocadillo de calamares, a baguette filled with chewy-room-temperature-fried calamari (My mom and me not so much)

And then Stevie woke up (he was sick most of the time) and joined in on the fun. Swim caps required!

We went to "Dunkin' Coffee" for donuts and hot chocolate

and had a drawing contest. Tommy won!

I explained to Tommy the importance of having his own style and that he didn't have to draw things exactly as they appear to make myself feel better about my drawing.

After donuts, we went to the Reina Sofia Museum (this is Stevie).


My Mom's favorite. Girl Standing at the Window, Salvador Dali

They were all pretty bored, but enjoyed these pictures of framed books.

Everyone's favorite art.

Decorations

2011-01-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Some decorations that are still up at my school,

This is up all year.

Our Feng Shui

2011-01-15T11:36:00.003-07:00

Erin Jane made a collage of goals for the New Year based on Feng Shui. It looked like a fun activity, so we made one the other night. Based on the Bagau map, we were supposed to create 8 boxes; The top 3 left to right: Wealth and Prosperity, Fame & Reputation, Love & Marriage, The middle 2: Heatlh & Family and Creativity & Children, and The bottom 3:Knowledge & Self-Cultiviation, Career, and Travel (the boots and the nesting dolls count as one). note: Some of the boxes are obvious while others are cryptic.

Broken Ribs

2011-01-13T15:27:00.003-07:00

I've been having terrible pain in my back for over a week. I think it's from the springs in the mattress that I feel poking me at night (we sleep on a full-sized pull out mattress in the couch every night). Lately, I really like doing the NYC Ballet Workout on youtube. The YouTube site Yogatic has been nice too.

Do you know of any good videos on the internet to do exercises or have any ideas to make the pain go away? It's on the right middle side of my back. It feels like a broken rib. I'm used to my back cracking and being weird (retired gymnast), but this really hurts. muchas gracias.

[photo via ninatakespictures]

My Birthday

2011-01-10T12:55:00.004-07:00

I had a really good and rainy birthday on Saturday. We ate noodles from my favorite wok place.

Then we went to Le Pain Quotidien and enjoyed sitting by the window and watching the pouring rain.

Chocolate syrup to go with the hot chocolate.

A really funny and long 7 euro dress from H&M

Laura's Present

2011-01-08T15:16:00.002-07:00

I really wanted to crop myself into a photo with Elvis, but I don't have Photoshop or a time machine! Thank you Laura for making my birthday a dream come true! It's so cool that you have a time machine!

Happy 76th Elvis!

2011-01-08T06:35:00.001-07:00

I love to google news Elvis between January 5th and 8th. Every single year, there are thousands of articles celebrating his birth. I would have a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich today, but the bananas here taste different. They come from the Canary Islands which sounds wonderful, but they taste kind of mediciney. David and Tippy agree. Happy Birthday Elvis. You would have been 76 years old. p.s. It's David Bowie's birthday too! Happy Birthday David Bowie!

The King's Speech

2011-01-07T14:22:00.002-07:00

I just wanted you to know that I loved The King's Speech and you must see it. It was brilliantly funny and Colin Firth and Gregory Rush were really great together, like Jason Segal and Paul Rudd. Also, the sets were so beautiful. Don't worry about the R rating, it's all in a speech therapy context and fun! p.s. It made me happy to see Dumbledore, Peter Petigrew AND Bellatrix in the film.

Nutella cookies

2011-01-04T11:46:00.004-07:00

I made these Nutella cookies from What Katie Ate's digital magazine. They turned out really good, but I could really only eat two at a time. They were so rich. You should look at the magazine, if you haven't already.

Button Shoppe

2011-01-03T07:46:00.001-07:00

I saw the button knobs and had to take pictures.

Amsterdam Overload

2011-01-02T05:51:00.000-07:00

We loved the boats

and the ice in the canals.

Christmas decorations!

Through the park to the Van Gogh Museum.

The bikes have a nice view.

Across the street from our hotel.

Chandeliers at the Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (the best airport I've ever been to).

Science or Magic?

2010-12-31T14:32:00.001-07:00