Milk, Chai & Tolstoy

Hello, I'm back...again! All I can say is: life gets busy. It's been a busy time with work and dance but today I'm taking the day to relax.
The leaves on the trees have all changed and are on their way to the ground below. I'm warming up with a hot mug of milk and chai on my new wing-back chair with Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. A perfect afternoon...

Peter Pan, Flamenco Style

Como la Luna en el Agua - Miguel Poveda

¡Hola todos! It's been a crazy month full of rehearsals, dancing, designing, painting, and now the big show is one day away! The Karen Flamenco Dance Company and School is performing Peter Pan, flamenco style. Here are a couple of behind the scenes snapshots! More photos coming soon!

Mermaids waiting in the wings...

Captain Hook and Smee trick Tinkerbell...

The Airborne Toxic Event

The Airborne Toxic Event is one band I can't get enough of and I just found out that they will be performing an hour outside of Vancouver. I would definitely drive to see and hear them play a live show again. Squamish here I come, August 26th!

I've got thousands of songs spread out among several iPods and computers but I think this song is one of my absolute favourites...

Travel Posts from the Past

Disappear - Mango, Andre Frauenstein, Ludik

I cannot believe it has been so long since I've written anything. The past month has been a whirlwind of work, classes, papers, exams, writing, dancing, dancing, dancing, and graduating. I would love to just stop everything for a moment, grab my camera and explore... anywhere! For now, these posts from the past will have to satisfy my artsy travel urges...

A fancy polo match in New York? Sure! I've been invited to this year's Mashomack International Polo Challenge, but last year's photographs will have to do... Polo in New York

I have never been to Istanbul, but I've always wanted to go there. One day, I will share the photographs of Hagia Sofia that I've taken!

Madrid is my home away from home. I know transit there better than I do in my own city! Next time I think I'm going to befriend Plaza Mayor's stout Spiderman!

If not Madrid, I would be perfectly happy surrounded by the blues of Ibiza. Everywhere I pointed by camera, I captured island blues... Ibiza Blues

Luckily I won't have to wait very long before I'm packing my suitcase again. I'm off on a tropical trip to the Philippines this summer and I am finally going to visit the beaches of Dumaguete...

But until then, I'll just have to replace my wintry pictures of Vancouver with new ones of the summer sunshine...

It's You... Vancouver, Canada

As much as I love to travel and dream about living in and exploring new cities, there's no place like home. If you have never visited Vancouver, I highly recommend it! Summer is a great time to visit but then again, come in winter and you'll have just as much fun.
Here's a video to give you a quick peak at this city. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't always rain here :P


Interesting tidbit: This morning I read that Vancouver has been newly crowned the most expensive North American city to live in, surpassing even New York City and Los Angeles! I don't know how I feel about that yet...But I suppose this sort of thing can happen to any city that has plenty to offer, right?

Hey Ocean - Big Blue Wave

Ahhh. I am cheerfully writing my first paper of my last semester. I'm pretty sure I won't miss the last minute paper writing when I leave my undergrad behind. So why am I so cheerful? Hey Ocean has some of the best "lift your spirits" songs and I'm practically dancing while writing about the 19th century play, Uncle Tom's Cabin.I'm loving their latest song, Big Blue Wave (click for a free download at the band's Facebook page). Trust me, it's completely worth it!
Back to writing...

Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah!

Happy Holidays - Bing Crosby (Beef Wellington Remix)

What a December it has been! I just finished my last project yesterday (phew!) and did my last minute Christmas shopping today and now we are busy prepping our house for a big Christmas Eve celebration. It's going to be so delicious! Turkey, stuffing, salmon wellington, winter veggies, brussel sprouts with chestnuts and bacon, carrot cake... there's still more!

Wishing all a very wonderful holiday season!

After Christmas I'll be back with delectable tales of dinner, snowy alpine skiing adventures and theatrical experiences of White Christmas in Vancouver! Cheers! Salut!

Snow!

Yay! First day of snow this season! Last night, it began to 'wet snow' and in some places of Vancouver, it was actually snowing. But at my home it was just raining (how disappointing). But this morning I was greeted with one fabulous surprise: a light dusting of snow! Today is going to be a good day. I can feel it. There's snow and one of our local mountains is open for the ski/board season! Have you seen the film White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye? Well, here's one of my favourite songs from that film. Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Rubbish Rehab

Ahh... early morning. They can be so difficult but once you're up, it's great to watch the sunrise. In winter here in Vancouver, you can get up at 6:30 and still watch the sunrise.
On a different, design note, I went to the Interior Design Show West and discovered a husband and wife team that gives new life to old items: Rubbish Rehab! Their chairs are so fabulous, I wish I the resources and reasons to get at least one!Before and after!
And after...
And after!

Design*Sponge at Anthropologie, Vancouver

Well, as I expected, Grace Bonney's book signing event at Anthropologie was fabulous. Everything about the event was inspiring: the book, the author, the people in attendance (great outfits all around), the employees (so friendly and cheerful), the products and their displays! I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots. Enjoy!

I wasn't the only one with my camera out! And how I would have loved to bring that bolero home... and an initialled mug!Lots of fun outfits walking around the store. Glittery gold shoes, double panelled leggings, and my favourite look of the whole evening: The Girl with the Lace Skirt. (Click to zoom)
As this adorable young boy was reaching for cupcakes, I couldn't resist snapping his picture! Let me share the dialogue that happened just before he reached:

Boy: I want anothew cupcake
Mother: Well, you can have another one now but then no ice cream later. You choose.
Boy (short pause and with a thoughtful expression): Hmm... that's okay. I'll just have the cupcakes now instead of the ice cweam!

Yes. That table is made of rolled up magazines... I think! And there's a lot of great shoes in this shot...
I love this cutlery set! If I needed more cutlery, I would have bought these.

Design in Vancouver

Hello everyone! I'm excited for a design-filled weekend in Vancouver and I had to share it with you. I'll be taking photos so more to come next week. Tomorrow I'll be heading to one of Vancouver's newer stores, Anthropologie (I was so excited when I first heard it was opening here!), for the book signing event of Design*Sponge's Grace Bonney! It's going to be good.

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

Then I'll be squeezing in some mother-daughter time at the Interior Design Show West! This will also be good: amazing speakers, renowned designers, magazine editors, store owners, and design gurus galore all in one huge convention hall that will be filled to the brim with creative displays! Can't wait to share pictures with you all! Last year's show was tons of fun and I'm sure this year's will be as well.
Cheers to all you fabulous people! I'm off to finish (oops, I mean start) a paper...

Summer Wedding: Carolina y Fabrizio

Happy Tuesday! It's been insanely busy (I seem to say that a lot lately) on my end. Basically, I work on the computer all day, commute home, dance classes, family (so many in town this summer), sleep.
Two weeks ago, I attended a small but very beautiful wedding. The bride made her own gown! Enjoy these photos and I promise I'll be back tomorrow!Such a beautiful bride!
Yes. She made that dress! And the whole wedding was planned in about two months!
Los queremos Caro y Fabri!

Pictures courtesy of Fiorella Pinillos Baffigo y Zaira Petruf

Photo Shoot with MUAHjwn & Dominic de Sequera

Stéphane Pompougnac ft. Madonna - What It Feels Like for a Girl (remix)

Well, I gave you a sneak peak of the photo shoot with MUAHJwn's Jessica W. N. and now I've got the final shots from photographer (and cousin) Dominic de Sequera. These were taken at Granville Island, Vancouver. Enjoy!And a few behind-the-scenes shots with a little peek at my small role in the shoot!If it tickles your fancy to use any of these shots, please credit the photographer and attach a link. Thank you! Until next time!

Casablanca

I love old movies and I love the idea of open air screenings! Remember the film The Wedding Planner? There's a scene where the characters are watching an old flick in the park, sitting on a fallen tree. Well yesterday, my friend and I decided to check out one of the free open air screenings: Casablanca. It would have made a perfect summer date night but we turned it into a girls' night ;)
Here's one of my favourite scenes...Play it Sam

Whale Watching, Steveston, B.C.

Two years ago, I went whale watching... twice. And I didn't see any whales. I saw a porpoise here and there, seals, bald eagles, sea gulls... but no whales. Good thing there is a lifetime guarantee! I finally made good on that guarantee, hopped on the zodiac boat for almost five hours with my cousin and finally saw orca whales! They are really difficult to catch on camera though.

Mount Baker in Washington State...Of course, seals...It was really cold. My cousin was pretty well bundled though!
And fins. Lots of fin shots but I won't bore you with all of those...well, just a few.This is the closest one swam to our zodiac! Very cool!
Actually caught a bit of the white colouring! Except there wasn't enough time to actually look through the lens...
The sun was starting to set and one whale got really close to another boat, showing it's size!

A Vancouver Summer Weekend

Sergio Mendes - Magalenha

I just had one of the most multicultural weekends! Vancouver had a nickname: "no fun Vancouver," but I think that's changed! If ever you come to visit Vancouver, I guarantee there will be lots for you to do here. Because I haven't posted in a while, I'll make this a juicy one!This past Saturday was the Brazilian festival in downtown. One of the main streets closed to allow tourists and locals alike to enjoy the Brazilian food, colours and beats. I didn't get a chance to take good pictures (I didn't want to carry my huge camera in the crowds you'll see in a second), but I do have some coming from a friend.The stage featured some great acts, but I think the most entertaining were Sambata and Ache Brasil.
Difficult to see thanks to my short legs but there is a group all in white playing drums in the middle of that crowd! The festival was on one of the main streets in downtown Vancouver.

Following the Brazilfest, we walked with the crowds to English Bay, and patiently waited to enjoy Canada's display of fireworks for the Celebration of Light 2011 and what a show! I unfortunately missed the day when Red Bull's aerobatic pilot, Pete McLeod, gave the crowd a show!This year, the competitors were recent champions: China, Spain, and Canada. They had amazing fireworks that would fall to the water and then come shooting out again! At least that's what it looked like!We finished off our Saturday night by heading to the Ouisi Bistro for a drink. It's a small spot in South Granville with a great list of international beers. I ordered the Alhambra beer from Spain. Yum! Love the green bottle...Sunday was a busy day of driving all over the place: brunch and cupcakes in North Van, half hour drive to drop off a friend, another half hour back to pickup friends and then another half hour to Empire Field to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps FC play against Chicago!The firework pictures are from the Celebration of Light website and the Ouisi Bistro and first two Brazilfest pictures I found floating around the internet.