About Me

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I was motivated to start a blog by reading all the wonderful talented individual's who have blogs out there. So, I want to make this blog about everyone who reads it. My family and God always comes first in my life. I want to share my experiences and in turn, hope to get feedback and ideas from you. I love unique things, I adore anything that sparkles (not over the top though) I love decorating, cooking, gardening, photography and shopping. My number one passion is photography! To me it becomes more than a picture, it can become a piece of art, or a beautiful memory. Decorating, though I am not a professional, and don't claim to be, has been a part of my life since I was very young, and just love searching and shopping for new ideas and incorporate the old, such as Mid-Century Modern and Hollywood Regency with contemporary. Living close to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, and being of Hispanic heritage, I love cooking Mexican food, and love to share my authentic recipes. Though I live in Florida, my heart is in the desert southwest, and hope that my family and I will return there very soon…keep your fingers crossed that my prayers are answered SOON!!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Hostess Gifts...

It's that wonderful time of the year again where we will be going to holiday parties, family dinners, or just a nice evening with family or friends,  What a better way to show the hostess how much you appreciate all the hard work and effort they put forth to make your time with them special than a little hostess gift.  It doesn't have to be anything expensive, it is always about the thought.  Several years ago, when my daughter and I were spending Christmas at my Father's home outside Los Angeles, we went to a family friends house for a visit on Christmas Eve.  By the way, was one of the most beautifully decorated homes for the holidays, I have ever seen, so many unique and creative ideas. It sat high atop the mountain side over looking the Hollywood Hills, I will forever remember that home and that wonderful Christmas, for many reasons, even the strong after shock of an earth quake that happened the day before.  Upon our return to my Father's home.  The neighborhood was filled with people walking all around and visiting each other, just like in an old movie.  His neighborhood is very beautiful, all the homes that were decorated for Christmas were mostly done by creative professional decorators, so you knows it's something special, warm and inviting.  It is tradition in our family, as in many Latin families, to celebrate on Christmas Eve with the opening of the gifts, dinner and just being together as a family.  Well, as we were about to settle down and begin opening gifts, their door bell kept ringing...one visitor after another, all bringing cookies, bottles of wine, gift baskets, etc.  At their front door, my step-mother had a huge basket there filled with beautifully wrapped gifts and as the visitors went on to the next friend or neighbors home, she would hand them a gift from the basket.  I thought that was just a wonderful sweet idea and made the evening extra special, to have so many people stop by on a cool Southern California Christmas Eve night.   Below are just some simple but nice hostess gift ideas.





Pretty Hand Painted Martini Glasses and Cocktail Glass Adornments
  
 
Box of Chocolate Christmas Ornament and a set of Candles with Rhinestone Insets (Z-Gallery)
  

Winter Tree Glassware (West Elm) and Stella Mare Guava Coconut Candle and Reed Diffuser (Z-Gallery)



Adorable Little Hand-painted Martini Glass Ornaments and Holiday Cocktail Napkins (online)



Fabulous "Cake Pops" Book, by Bakerella and Mac Cosmetic Brushes in Carrying Case



Gold Tory Burch Cosmetic Case and Swarovski Pen with Crystals
 
Winter Fragrance Gift Set from Philosophy and an Adorable High Heel Cake Server


 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Chocolate.....diamonds!

It's no secret as I've mentioned before, I am a chocoholic, if it wasn't for the guilt I would have it every day!!!!  Oh yea!  But now for us chocolate lovers, what could be better than "Chocolate Diamonds".   Several years ago, these diamonds were just known as "brown diamonds".  Well that has all changed with the popularity of the Chocolate Diamond by many celebrities and women in general.  The Chocolate Diamonds of today, are mined and designed in a much higher quality than ever before.  The colors are deeper and richer and make for the most unique stunning jewelry for those women who want something different and beautiful.  Just love these gorgeous pieces, mostly from Le Vian or Na Hoku.













This is the one that I've hinted BIG TIME to my husband for a Christmas gift
 
 

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Annual Christmas Shopping in Orlando...

For the last eight years, me and my family make our annual Christmas shopping trip to the Mall at Millenia in Orlando, less than two hours from our home.  We get up early in the morning, go out to breakfast and arrive just after the mall opens.  My husband will drop me and my daughter off, and he goes Bass Pro and every golf store in the Orlando area.  Then we will meet up for a very late lunch, and finish shopping at the mall together.  I cannot begin to say enough about the Mall at Millenia, it has everything, my daughter and I spend about five hours there and love every minute of our time together.  The holiday decorations are spectacular and it's just a warm beautiful enviornment for holiday shopping.  After shopping, we will go to International Drive and then head to Downtown Disney for all the beautiful decorations that only Disney can do.  Though my daughter is now 24, she still loves to go to the Rain Forest Cafe for dinner, not so much for the food as it is just fun and a great place to unwind after a long day of shopping.  She feels like a little girl again and for that short time, I do too.  After dinner, we will go to Ghirardelli's for a hot chocolate, and stock up on all kinds of chocolate....can we say YUMMY!!!  We will then walk around listen to all the Christmas music and just enjoy the rest of the evening.  And on our trip home, we just spend that quiet time talking about the day and how God has really blessed us in so many ways, especially to have each other.  I'm getting so excited, we are leaving in just a couple of weeks, just hope it is cold out, like it was last year!

Cinderella's Castle - just beautiful

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney - Planet Hollywood

Ghirardelli

International Drive

Rain Forest Cafe

Just love all these planters and fountain at Downtown Disney


Epcot ready for Christmas

Fill em' up!!!

The Mall at Millenia

Disney Chirstmas Store



Monday, November 8, 2010

Teal and metallics, a great holiday combination...

I just love the color teal and copper together, especially for Christmas decorating.  It reminds me so much of the beautiful desert southwest, and using  metallic copper, gold and silver just adds that special glitz for the holidays.  The pictures below are ones that I either found on Picasa, Z Gallery, two of my own, or other Internet decorating sites.  I particularly love the metallic glass bulbs hanging from the second level. I'm seriously contemplating trying to make them for the cathedral ceiling in my great-room, which I normally never have decorated in the past years.  My daughter and I have been going to Home Goods about every 3 or 4 days, they are constantly putting out new decorations, and they have so many unique beautiful items.  I don't know about anyone else, but it seems as though the holidays are coming so quickly this year, so...I think starting next week, I will begin putting up some of our Christmas decorations, and hopefully, to have them all up including the tree before Thanksgiving.


Metallic drops


From Crate and Barrel


Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills a few years ago


Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills


Mercury Glass with the soft teal


This tree was found on Picasa - beautiful colors



Snowy white and teal


The leopard ribbon is stunning



Gold net ribbon with the bright metallic - gorgeous


Part of my fireplace mantel from 2009


Palm in my front yard, Christmas 2009

Stunning


What a great idea with metallic glass bulbs, so unique

Peacock feather wreath found on Picasa

Pine cone dipped in teal paint

Tiffany & Co Christmas Ad

From Z Gallery

Beautiful glass copper ornaments

Candles from Z Gallery
Metallic wreath found on Picasa