surrounded with elegance

There are certain things I have learned living in the "capital of Latin America" ( aka Miami). There are certain outfits people get away with as normal here that would be tacky ( to put it politely) pretty much anywhere else in the world. There is also a level of elegance here I have never seen on such a large scale, and this has nothing to do with individual style. I have learned that there is a big difference between throwing on a t-shirt and shorts, my usual uniform, and this:

(image:chicisimo.com)
And that if there is time for nothing else, lipstick and earrings are the least one can do. I love the natural look, but I like being polished even more!
(image: glamour.com)

animalia

So we took the leap this week and adopted our first dog! :) I can't tell you how great it has been for the kids, including the early and late walks. They love her, she's clearly grateful for a loving home, and so here we are! Before taking the plunge I called my parents and asked them how they committed all of those years to having a dog(s). I knew it was going to be a lot of work, and I didn't want to regret it. Its funny how as you grow older, you see the value of commitment and what it really takes. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the good example ( on so many levels)! ;)

I know it may be redundant in the blogosphere to repeat a theme, and I have more I want to write about, but for some reason, the beauty of nature is fitting my mood. And so this is what gets put out there! 

Growing up we had a tree with leaves similar to this one. Today I was at the park with the kids when I looked up and wished I could capture the breathy, whisper-like bliss above me. It's a reminder of nature's ability to speak wonders. All of our feelings and moods, longings and hopes are reflected in nature. Just this week, we caught an almost entire rainbow arc across the ocean. It had just rained on us, and something about Miami to know is that the weather patterns are very diverse. The sky is so huge that you can see a storm miles away and sunny skies right next door.

( source: flickriver.com)

(image: cfni.org)

I hope you are having the last sort of day! 

mother nature

(image:soapandrestless.blogspot.com)

Today we went biking through a part that has many a peacock. I've seen them frequently since moving down here, but it was only today when my daughter found a feather that I took a closer look. Every single feather has many colors to it in an ombre pattern, and these colors "happen" to coincide with the larger pattern going around it at exactly the right moment. It is as if someone did this on a loom with painstaking effort. 

And I immediately thought of God as Father. If He gives such attention to the details of a bird's feather that it happens to grow this way automatically, how much more to each of us? 

There are a lot of changes at this time of year. Summer is ending and children are getting restless, school will be starting with new teachers and classmates and tests of virtue and intellect. I will add that I find school much more difficult on this side of the line as far as my role goes than when I went through it myself or taught! As mothers we teach patience, perseverance, planning, order, diligence in the proper measure according to each child.. to name a few! And that is just dealing with the relationship between each child and their work, let alone their relationships with teachers and classmates! You get me. 

But I will put my trust where it belongs. If this feather can be so carefully made, we are lucky to have such a Creator.

Have a wonderful weekend!

who knew?

So, Mexicans don't put chicken in their quesadillas. They put ham with the cheese. Who knew!?! Certainly not I. In fact, when I went to a friend's house who is Mexican and she served ham and cheese quesadillas, I thought, " well this is interesting! This musn't be Mexican." ;) HAHAHA!



(image: www.realsimple.com)

But it is delicious, (especially with corn tortillas, but that is my preference. I don't know how Mexican it is. I know they use the tostadas which are made from corn. ) and they actually eat them a lot. It is an amazing breakfast option for kids! Who also knew that Mexico City has amazing pastries that rival those of France? It makes me want to go. That, and every Mexican I know I like. It must be a wonderful place when such wonderful, warm people come from there.

Another interesting food combination: chicken salad made with potatoes and hard boiled eggs and olives, garnished with avocado rather than a green salad. But, that is Peruvian.

There is a mom and pop "restaurant" around the corner that makes fried plantains that I crave as well as some amazing guava and cheese pastries.

I love living in a place that has representatives from various latin countries. They are all so unique. My kids have started using "pero" and "hay!" as a part of their regular vocabulary. Some of my youngest's friends only speak in Spanish to him. Life sure has some amazing twists!

Have a great day!

jane does it again

(image: amazon.com) I thought I knew Jane's life, but picking up Persuasion last night, I read her little biography again and discovered a treasure; she published her first book, Sense and Sensibility, at her own expense! This little nugget proved to sink deeply. I had a book I thought ready for publishing, and the publisher disagreed. I balked and sought advice from friends, and waited for the "winds to change" ( sorry for the Mary Poppins allusion! We watched some of it last night;). And this morning, I found new inspiration once again. Could it be I have someone praying for me named Jane?  Thanks again, Jane!