In my last post I forgot to include some more pictures from Art Basel. So before I forget again, I will start this post out with something to wrap your minds around!

A whip cracking and look there's even dirt on the ground!

This seems to last forever.

Suspended in air?

These Evan Penny silicone sculptures were so perplexing to the mind and the eye!

Every single person's mind was boggled.

These two pieces were hyper-realistic yet had an illusional twist. Definitely the buzz at this year’s Art Basel in Miami.

I spy a winning fruit combination.

That morning I tried Udi’s Banaberry flavor – for kids! Overall I really liked the granola except the freeze-dried strawberries threw me off. The banana chips were so good though because added a natural sweetness. I had the granola with a sliced banana, and Sunland’s caramel peanut butter.

After my mom and I got our groove on we came home, got ready, and I prepared something to bring to my mom’s friend’s birthday get-together.

My first time trying fava beans.

Mondo-sized beans!

Did you guys know that in Portugal a Christmas Cake called Bolo Rei (“King Cake”) is baked with a “Fava” bean inside. Whoever eats the slice containing it, is supposed to buy next year’s cake.

Favetta

I got this very simple recipe from The Accidental Vegetarian. Then when I was done I just poured in a small pool of olive oil and freshly cracked black peppercorns. Simon Rimmer recommends serving it with coriander seed flatbread but anything dippable will do.

Look at how nicely my mom's friend set the table up!

And someone was proud of the gingerbread house they put together!

Brie!

Mom & Daughter

Then someone kindly offered to take a picture for us so I didn’t have to bust out the stretch armstrong camera move.

A bit blurry but that's okay - my mom looks adorable!

I love this shot! Laughing is such a wonderful thing.

One of the ladies made a very pretty seafood pate decorated with roasted red pepper!

Everyone exclaimed how delicious it was and asked her to share the recipe. Since I don’t eat fish, however, I just took their word for it!

Latinas could talk forever, and I love it.

A group of gorgeous women!

I want a pretty birthday cake like that.

Did I mention that twins were celebrating their birthdays?

They haven’t celebrated together in 10 years! The one in the blue shirt lives in Colombia so it’s not often that they’re together on their special day.

Slicing the cake wedding style!

Of course Colombian coffee was a must.

I loved being around these women. They were so full of life and just enjoyed each other’s company. I’m pretty sure my tummy was sore from laughing at the hilarious stories they shared – lots of funny confessions too!

Greek yogurt!

The kind folks at Oikos offered some freebie coupons to me to try out some of their products. My first choice was the plain 0% tub of Greek yogurt goodness! I really enjoyed the texture of this yogurt because it was thick but still creamy. Sometimes I find that certain ones can have this strange fluffiness to them. Not to mention, this yogurt is organic meaning it’s authentic and just how Greek shepherds made their yogurt. They have other flavors like strawberry, blueberry, vanilla, and honey that I’m looking forward to trying out.

What a bright breakfast!

Yesterday morning I tried Udi’s original flavor made with “Thick-Cut Rolled Oats, Wildflower Honey, Canola Oil, Raisins, Banana Chips, Walnuts, Cashews, Almonds, and Pistachios.” I had it with a sliced banana, papaya and pineapple bites, and Oikos yogurt. Yuuuuum! I loved the variety of nuts and the dried fruits have this sweetness that I love. Oh, did you perhaps notice my little army?

Chocolate-covered gummi bears

I usually munch on these while I make my breakfast but this time I thought I would be polite and invite them to my favorite meal of the day.

I made a quick sandwich since I was going to be on-the-go!

Slice No. 1 = Sunland’s dark chocolate peanut butter. Slice No. 2 = Cherry preserves. Chocolate-covered cherries in sandwich form! I think I’m becoming a chocolate lover too! Actually, I think I already am!!! I just noticed that I have chocolate every single day. And I must say, life is good. My friend picked me up and we were off to some thriftstores!

We found some little treasures.

For the mysterious Elizabeth. Hmm... who could she be?

I tried on someone's old wedding dress.

And I had a reunion with zany little Madeline!

She turned into a Swedish girl and I shared some of my mood-changing lip gloss with her!

Later on I went to the bookstore to flip through magazines for ideas. Cookie ideas! Three-course meal ideas! By the way, I haven’t mentioned this but some time soon I will be hosting my first cooking clinic! It was going to take place this Wednesday but I think that may be too stressful. Anywho, I’m so excited! My mom has also been bugging me about making a Christmas list so I browsed through fashion magazines and fell in love with so many things. I have a feeling my list won’t be so hard to make! I don’t usually ask for presents though because I like to see the thought behind the gift. At some point my mom met up with me at the bookstore and we exchanged magazines and shared some cheesecake and a cappuccino. She always orders a cappuccino and I always steal some sips. But I love that she never minds. We lost track of time and before you know it my belly was telling me “I want dinner!” I was going to prepare something last night but I looked at the recipe and it called for two hours! So I just saved it for another day.

Instead I quickly put this together.

Have any of you tried Mestemacher bread? It’s a brand from Germany that makes all-natural, whole grain bread. Some don’t like it, but my family does! It’s especially delicious with cream cheese and raspberry preserves. Last night I had it with gouda, leftover vegan Caesar dressing, heirloom tomato slices, capers, and small bell peppers. These bell peppers were bursting with flavor!!! Gosh this just made me remember the fresh broetchen that was had every morning when I lived in Germany. German bread is so good! After my dinner I decided to relax and take a bubble bath.

Candles were lit.

The bubbles kept rising!

I poured so much of the bubble bath liquid in before I turned on the jets. So once those were turned on the bubbles went above my head. Santa Claus beard! Sometimes I think we forget about little things like bubble baths, cozy spots, or anything else. A friend of mine takes bubble baths almost everyday, and I think that’s a wonderful idea. Maybe for you it’s not specifically a bubble bath, it could be picking out a delicious recipe, or a morning stretch. Whatever it may be, may it bring you joy!