She's FUNKY!

Here's Baby Bella's new dress -A FunkyMom Original. It's obviously for winter... and she'd wear a shirt under it, but it came out pretty well. I'm very proud of myself! It was my first attempt at fair isle (two colors on one line knitting), and I'm ready for more!! Next up - a Sunny Sun Hat for Bella Lu.

Splish Splash!

We pulled out the inflatable pool a few days ago and there was absolutely NO hesitation. Bella climbed in before I could stop her - fully dressed, sandals and all. She absolutely LOVES the water and I couldn't be happier!

Here is a short video of us playing catch in her swimming pool. At one point she starts pointing and talking and we're pretty sure she was telling Yayo to grab the red ball... the red ones are her favorites apparently!

Jadraque and Sigüenza

View of Jadraque church from our hotel window

A month after we'd moved into our new house we had an outbreak of crazy little winged insects in our living room. They were everywhere! Scary stuff! Turns out, the bottom floor was slowly being eaten away by termites. A month and a half after calling the landlord and having exterminator #1 come and check out the situation, exterminator #4 finally fumigated. We took the opportunity to get out of town for a few days and headed north - to the cooler (or downright freezing cold) weather. We headed up to Guadalajara to a teeny tiny town called JADRAQUE. I couldn't remember the name of the town for the life of me so every time I referred to it, I'd call it something different - Jeringue, Jacarta, Jaqrackers...

Not too much to see in Jadraque... the church was the major tourist attraction. But no one told us about the amazing park with the exercise equipment built in! Can you say "AWESOME"??Swinging for the first time = Lots of shrieks and squeals (and I think Bella may have laughed a few times too)!

The little rural casita we stayed at in JADRAQUE was adorable. It was actually the main determiner in picking a place to go for the weekend. It was quaint and quiet and VERY WELL decorated. Props to the owners for their fabulous taste.

La Carbonera, a rural casa in Jadraque, Spain

On Tuesday we headed a bit east to a medieval town called Sigüenza and spent the majority of our time walking around trying to find the perfect place to have lunch. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We found exactly what we were looking for complete with an outdoor terrace with an incredible view, yummy grilled goat and Migas Castellanas (a yummy breadcrumb dish that sheperds eat). MMMMM! Plus, a bottle of wine. Perrrrfect!

Sigüenza, Spain

I absolutely LOVED all the cast iron fences made of swirlys!!

Sigüenza cathedral


Best restuarant EVER!

Bella did... well, she did all right considering she's a baby. I suppose I'll let her behavior go this ONE time... BUT THIS TIME ONLY!! ;-) In her defense, long car rides are just no fun for babies. She got sick on both journeys :( It was also difficult to keep her entertained for very long. She's so stinkin curious! She got into EVERYTHING, which is perfectly normal, but much easier at our house where we can keep her occupied and safely contained.

Not happy about being stopped, but I wasn't too concerned after a few glasses of wine!

All in all, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, but rest we did not. I think we need another vacation just to get over this vacation!!!

Getting Old

Here I am with my newest knitted achievement - The Slouchy Slouchster hat

I have always looked forward to my birthdays. I love them. I like getting pampered for the day and having everyone remember me. It makes me feel special. This year, however, I was dreading my b.day. I was dreading it because, although it was on a Friday, *PARTY!! I, sadly, don't have many friends here. To be brutally honest, I don't have one single friend here that I can call just to talk to or to hang out with and do absolutely nothing. Plus, Alex works his butt off on Friday nights, so no way were we going out on the town... It was just bound to be a big, depressing mess.

My true loves.

Thank god for my adorable, loving husband, and my amazing friends and family (you guys!) who spoiled me with emails, phone calls and Facebook messages. Alex woke up early to make me breakfast - crepes with fruit, whipped cream and chocolate syrup... MMMM! Although he had only slept five and a half hours he got up to make my day special. He also took the afternoon off to spend it with me. We took Bella to the park and then took it easy until my classes started.

WOW! Sliding is so much fun!

Doesn't it seem like we're going to slide forever?

Look how small the slide is in actuality!

Paquita and Jesús surprised me with balloons tied to our front door this morning and a sweet little package waiting just for me! And this afternoon we all went to The Bohemian and they brought a cheese platter, some yummy meats and a birthday cake - triple chocolate suprise.

My day was sensational! Thank you for remembering me and making me feel special today. I really, truly don't know what I'd do without all of you.

Oh, I'm Not Sick.. I'm Just Not Wearing Any Make-up

Did anyone see that episode of Desperate Housewives where Gabby was forced to promise her daughter, Juanita, she wouldn't wear any make up to a gala she had to go to? The entire night she kept announcing to anyone who crossed paths with her that she wasn't sick.. she just wasn't wearing any make up. It gets to the point where she's explaining the situation to even the cocktail waiters.

No make-up shot (ok, ok, I'm wearing foundation. NO ONE sees me without foundation, for the good of mankind. Oh, and I posted a dorky one for you, Hailey.)

How many of you can relate to that??I, unfortunately, can relate COMPLETELY!!! My mother in-law (bless her heart) never knows why I look so crappy when I'm not wearing make-up, (last time she thought it was the streaks in my hair that were washing me out... either that or I was sick), but she definitely notices that I do!!

For the record, let it be known that I'm extremely jealous of women who can go without make-up and they don't look sick, hung over, tired, ten years older, washed-out or dead.