Alex's birthday weekend in Nerja

This weekend was my first weekend back in Spain and also my guy's birthday weekend, so naturally, we decided to go away-- somewhere special-- somewhere gorgeous-- somewhere relaxing-- somewhere (cheap, haha)-- so we choose Nerja.

Nerja used to be a sleepy fishing village town, now it's somewhat of a small resort area without the huge hotels. There's a dramatic mountain range that lines the clear blue waters and powdery white sand. It's only about 40 minutes from where I live, but it feels like a world apart, mostly due to the natural beauty. This town also houses Europes' Balcony, el balcon de europa, which is a promenade on a cliff which provides gorgeous views of the Costa del Sol. I was amazed every second I looked at the views... ughhhh.... so so so beautiful.

A few of Alex's many birthday dinners/meals this weekend:



me and our bee in the background, sorry, I had to do it:
more of Nerja:


did I mention, I busted my ankle climbing down a mountain to jump into the sea, ughhh... always getting injured, haha. (look at that egg, sorry to kill the beach mood, hah)

@ the airport

thinking about my life...

where I'm going.

where I'll be this time next year.

what I am leaving behind.

who I am leaving behind.

it's crazy.

damn.

back to Spain

I'm moving back to Spain tomorrow, as always when I leave a place, I am very sad... I don't want to go, I'm not ready to leave my family and friends, but I will anyway, and in a short time, I'll love it there and then not want to come back to NYC, or where ever,

and the cycle continues...

xo.

Puerto Rico, August 2009

Now I know why they call it the beautiful Island. It was magical. Gorgeous. I love the culture. I love the people. The warm ocean water is so soothing. The people are beautiful. I loved it, the only complaint I have is that I should have stayed longer.

gorgeous ocean!

I had to look my best for a night out, there are so many beautiful ppl in PR!

sipping from a coconut :)

castle in Old San Juan

driving along the shore.

Tampa, Florida, August 2009

Went to visit family in Tampa--

I LOVE spending time with my family, I don't take it for granted at all, I think it's because I'm away from them so much during the year that when I'm with them I am so happy and have so much love to share. My cousins daughter is getting so big too, it makes me sad that I can't see her grow up, ok, enough sentimental-ness.

I had a GREAT time! I saw a zebra in someones backyard, I mowed a lawn for the first time in my life (everyone knows REAL New Yorkers don't have lawns, and if they do, they have $$$ and hire a gardener!) I went out for my cousins' friends birthday, my mother was there for the first 2 days and we went shopping in all the chain stores because that's all they have out there; I went shopping in walmart (don't kill me with the comments for this one) and bought everything I needed for the whole year in Spain, haha. It was nice. I had fun. I wish I could have stayed longer.

only a member of MY family would bring a tent to the beach-- here it is blowing away, haha.

the crazy fam.

squeezing in travel.

I got back from Florida yesterday, it was so refreshing to see my family, especially my cousins 3 year old girl! She is adorable!

In about 5 minutes I'm heading to the airport to catch a flight to Puerto Rico, I got a good last minute deal for the holiday weekend. I'm SO excited, I've never been there, but it's been one of my dream destinations (along with India, Thailand & Greece).

More soon. I'm crazy excited!!!

xo.

end of summer-- I NEED A BREAK!

OH MY GOD!! I need a break! I have been non stop, WORKING like crazy, going out like CRAZY, running LIKE crazy, I can't even see straight right now-- PLUS I have low blood pressure, so I faint a lot, this summer I have fainted way more than usual-- I know, it's bad!!!!

Work this summer kicked my booty. It's always rewarding to work with young people and work towards a goal, BUT after 6-12 hours a day with 20 teenagers, all summer long, I LOVE them to death, but maybe I just wasn't sleeping enough, OR focusing on things that I shouldn't have been<-- won't say more bout this-- but I need a break. Badly. 

So I am going to Florida this weekend, for an EXTENDED weekend.

Hopefully I will unwind, relax, swim in warm water, spend calm time with my cuzo! I don't know how people work so much without vacations, it's necessary for peoples well-being! At least a vacation at home, with a good book, nice music, cooking- food that feeds the soul, having good company. 

We NEED to take care of ourselves!

During my lunch break yesterday I NEEDED to get my blood flowing, so me and my co-peeps went across the street to shoot some hoops, and do you think I even cared if I was all dressed up in work clothes!?? HAHA-- NO!! I NEEDED IT-- fuck it.

OK-- tomorrow is my last day of work, then I have off for 5 weeks. Two more weeks in NYC... crazy.

HS pre mixer

So I have to admit, High School wasn't the most memorable time of my life... actually, I hated every second of it, that awkward stage where image was so important, where going to school was not about learning, but about socializing, I hated it all, and maybe that's why it took me a little longer to finish than is expected, PLUS I went to more than one high school in NYC, transfered around a bit until I was comfortable in my learning environment.

Despite all this, I decided to attend my first High School's PRE-mixer-reunion party at a rooftop club in times square! Some of my closest friends are from my time at this school, so I made a few calls and together we went to see all the people that were in our lives everyday for years and years. It was interesting how I remembered a lot of faces, but hardly any names, and if it weren't for facebook, I probably wouldn't have recognized people either! (I have a horrible memory-- this is one of the reasons I blog and write about everything, so I wont forget).

I reunited with my ex-best-friend Jess for the first time in 7 years, that was an amazing moment for me. She hasen't changed a bit, still gorgeous and LOCA!
It's so crazy, these reunions, to see people that were such a huge part of your life, then all these years later, see them again, and its like nothing ever changed... crazy.
<3 you guys!

C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E

Making art is feeding the soul, having friends make art with you is feeding all the senses with love. Even if it's a simple project.

damn.

The personal life deeply lived...
always expands into truths
beyond itself.