Wednesday's Quote ~ Coco Chanel

This quote is the very essence of my mom - it defines her perfectly and fills me with such nostalgia!  I can not recall a day that my Mom did not look her absolute best since early morning till late at night.  Whether she is at home in Arizona or visiting us in Madrid, Mexico City or Florida she has never missed her Friday morning hair and nails appointment.  Mom you are and always have been awesome!

Manic Monday's Mosaic ~ FIESTA!

Don’t you just love a good party!?!  Our family certainly does, which is why we were so disappointed to miss the Margarita Revival party of our good friends!  Here you will find my inspiration for a Fiesta celebration!    Enjoy!

Invitations hand made out of "papel picado", buy calavera decorations,
 so important to get entertainment.

Tamales are a sure favorite! A selection of beef in red sauce, chicken in a green sauce,
and green chili & corn with plenty of cheese.

A good quality sipping Tequila, party favors and pinatas add to the festivities.

Tacos, salsa, grilled corn on the cob, rice, 
beans (frijoles de olla), beef and chicken fajitas.

Guacamole made fresh in a molcajete!

• 3 - 5 medium ripe but firm Hass avocados 
• 2 firmly packed tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoon finely chopped white onion
• juice from one lime/limoncito (or to taste)
• Salt freshly ground pepper
• Tortilla chips

Cut each avocado in half, working the knife blade around the pit. Twist the halves to separate them and flick out the pit with the tip of the knife. Fold a kitchen towel in quarters and hold it in the palm of your “non-knife” hand. Rest an avocado half cut side up in your palm and make 4 or 5 evenly spaced lengthwise cuts through the avocado flesh down to the skin, without cutting through it. Make 4 crosswise cuts in the same way. Scoop the diced avocado flesh into the molcajete. Repeat with the remaining avocado halves.  Add the remaining ingredients and carefully mix (we like it chunky)

Refreshing Micheladas!
(juice of 1 lime, ice, wet the rim with the lime
then dip in salt, serve the beer of your choice)

“Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.” –Dalai Lama


{images:  marthastewart.com, google.com}

Recipe ~ Alexandra's Key Lime Pie!

Alexandra's Key Lime Pie

adapted from Dinosaur Bar B Que

An American Roadhouse

The Crust

About 10 Graham crackers

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

5 tbl butter, melted

The Filling

4 extra-large egg yolks, lightly beaten

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 tsp grated lime zest

1/2 cup lime juice (from 3 or 4 key limes)

The Garnish

Sweetened whipped cream (optional)
Thin slices of peels of limes

Preheat oven to 350

Mix the Graham crumbs (about 1 cup), sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl.  Pour butter & mix till the crumbs are evenly moistened.  Press the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of an 8-inch pie pan.  Set aside.

Make the filling by whisking together the yolks, condensed milk, zest, and juice in a bowl.  Pour the mixture into the crumb crust and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges and the center are just set.

Pull the pie out of the oven and cool to room temperature: then chill it in the fridge.  Slice into wedges and serve with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. Garnish with thin slices of lime. 

*Do not over bake so that filling stays creamy
**The Key Lime is slightly smaller than a golf ball and is more yellow than green, thin skinned very juicy with lots of seeds.  You can substitute the Mexican Lime (limoncito) or the larger Persian Lime.

This is one of our favorite desserts.  When the temperatures soar 

 there is nothing more refreshing!

Perfect table dedicated to all things lime....
JPM Design Event Styling

  

Remember:  "When life give you lemons (1 lime).....

add (1/4 cup) Tequila, (1/4 cup) Grand Marnier liqueur and ice 

rub rim of glass with lime, dip in salt and serve a golden margarita."

Salud!


“Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.” –Dalai Lama

IMAGES VIA: Google.com, Pinterest and http://jpmdesign.blogspot.com/2010/08/event-styling-services-by-jpm-design.html
Recipes from our Dinosaur Bar B Que cookbook and my husband's Margarita recipe.

Manic Monday's Mosaic ~ Red, White & Blue!

       " You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of 
       guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but
       with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from
       happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."
       -Erma Bomback

Jose Cuervo Strawberry Margarita

Lemon Curd Trifle with Fresh Berries
recipe courtesy Tyler Florence 
www.foodnetwork.com

Images via:http://allthosebeautifulpeople.tumblr.com/post/3241642270/liv-tyler-actually-in-my-opinion-one-of-the-most    weheartit;  http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com/;   http://lapetitefashionista.blogspot.com/;   google.com via gypsy brocante;   www.vogue.com;  http://pinterest.com/pin/18613201/;   http://velvetboots.tumblr.com/post/3331528751;   WEHEARTIT.COM;   www.coastalliving.com;  sundayinbed.tmbr.com;  pinterest

Hello July! Escape!

Water Lilies by Claude Monet 1905
July's flower is the water lily.

SHANGRI LA, VILLINGLI RESORT IN THE MALDIVES
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/male/villingiliresort/details

I'm inspired by the Villingli Resort in the Maldives, a ridiculously perfect

place to leave it all behind.  Situated in the middle of a series of islands

in the Indian Ocean, this resort promises ultimate relaxation

in the form of secluded water-side huts which float

(like water lilies) over the bay on stilts.

It reminds me half of Robinson Crusoe, half of the Jungle Book!

Welcome July!

I'm dreaming of a secluded and totally relaxing vacation.

.....and this place is jaw dropping gorgeous!!! 

Monet Painting via google.com; all other images from the awesome blog http://theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/ and http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/male/villingiliresort/details

Manic Monday's Mosaic ~ Blue/Rainbow



Painting by George Rodriquez
http://www.georgerodrigue.com/

Monday! The start of the week (and the end of the weekend). 

Today I'm feeling inspired by color blocking, a Spring/Summer trend that uses combinations of different colors that support and compliment each other. I'm specifically inspired by color blocking with ROYGBIV rainbow colors from the multi-hued Empire State building light-up of this past weekend to a multi-layer cake. I'm going to try to incorporate color blocking into something I do today. 



images via:  google.com; Melanie Gordon-West, pinterest, etsy shop http://foreverpeaches.blogspot.com/2011/05/etsy-love.html; http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/