LIFE Magazine - 75 Years 'The Very Best of LIFE'

For someone who is a logophile and bibliophile, I have to admit that nothing can compare to a beautiful and breathtaking picture. No amount of words can ever capture the beauty and spontaneity of a 'perfect' picture. Today while I was at the grocery store I purchased Life Magazines '75 Years of Life Magazine'. This edition of the magazine holds countless images of the past 75 years. All the images will invoke emotions. Some made me teary eyed and some sent a warm rush of joy inside me. A picture really can capture 1,000 words. Below is a link from a CBS telecast about the book version of the magazine which has a lot more images. I will be purchasing the book version as well. These photos are a time capsule of World History and a treasure to own.

Newspaper Nails

Here is something new I am going to try... Newspaper Nails

I will try it out this week and post a picture.

Here is the Youtube Tutorial

(Video Compliments of CutePolish)

DIY Costume: Black Widow Spider

My Halloween costume this year... Black Widow Spider! Here is how I did it. Best part? I now have accessories that I can use for another costume instead of buying one costume that I cannot use to make others. Consider making your own costume. It is fun and I bet you won't have to worry about someone else cramping your style at this year's Halloween party. Try it!

Happy Halloween!

(The Concept)

American Apparel leotard

Black Jewelry, Spider Web Eyelashes, and Skirt from Icing

Tiara, Fangs, and Spider Necklace from Spirit Halloween Store

All Craft Supplies to make this costume were purchased at Michaels

To make this costume I purchased sticky glitter foam from Michaels as well as Red Paint Markers Martha Stewart Glitter in black. Once I got home I cut out spider web shapes from the foam glitter and cut out nice black ribbon to make a bow and cover the elastic band on the skirt. I sewed the little black spiders to each piece and painted the red Black Widow Spider on each spider. I also attached one of these spiders to the black tiara. The picture below shows the finished spiders.  

 I spray painted the large spider I used for my belt in black. It was really a glow in the dark suction cup house decoration. After, it dried I used spray glue to adhere the glitter. I highly recommend the Martha Stewart glitter it is incredible and so SPARKLY!

 (Sparkly Spiders)

 After, the glitter dried on I painted the Black Widow Spider symbol using the red paint marker. 

To add to my costume I had my nails done and used OPI nail polish in a cool metallic purple (I will try to find the color) and Black Shatter. I love how it looked with the costume. 

The final piece... an American Apparel leotard. American Apparel really is the best go-to place for costume leotards. They also look sexy and hip for clubbin'. 

Reminiscing My Summer Vacation: Costa Rica

This summer I went to Costa Rica and as I glanced through my pictures I decide to dedicate a post to this beautiful country.

Here are some of my pictures...

(Outback Jack's Roadkill Grill)

Outback Jack's Roadkill Grill is the first place we ate in Costa Rica and it was delicious. The owner is an American from Detroit. He was so accommodating and welcoming. 

Here is a picture of my first meal in Costa Rica... Nachos and Imperial Beer!

You have not had enough? Here is more of the delicious food I ate in Costa Rica...

(Coconut Breaded Shrimp with a Mango Sauce)

I had this delicious meal in El Avion. This restaurant and bar is all centered around a plane or avion in Spanish. The entire interior of the plane was gutted out and it is now a bar. El Avion had the most beautiful view of the rainforest and the food was delicious. I also tried a Guaro Sour. Guaro is a Costa Rican liquor, similar to a rum. The most popular brand of Guaro is Cacique.  

To learn more about El Avion, visit their site (http://www.elavion.net/) 

To learn more about Guaro, visit the Cacique site (http://www.guaroliquor.com/home/index.php)

(A Casada: Typical Costa Rican plate of Chicken, Platanos Maduros, and Rice)

(Cappuccino)

(Banana Split)

(Pina Colada)

(Squash Soup)

(Kahlua and Coffee drinks with a Chocoflan)

(Steak with Rice, Black Beans, and an assortment of Vegetables)

There is one more dish that is very typical in Costa Rica and sadly I do not have a photo of it. I found the following photo online...

(Photo Compliments of http://travelcostaricanow.com/index.php/Tico_Food)

(This is a typical Tico breakfast. Tico is what Costa Ricans call themselves. The breakfast which by the way is delicious, consists of Gallo Pinto rice, Fried egg, Maduros, Cheese, and a Flour Tortilla)

What else does Costa Rica have to offer? Animals!

I have to admit that I am not one that looks forward to vacationing in a place that is not known for its art and architecture. I prefer a 'concrete jungle' over a real one. But, Costa Rica took my breath away. The people were some of the nicest people I have ever met and the country is breathtaking. We stayed in Manuel Antonio and visited the National Park. There we saw the Capuchin Monkey, Three-Toed Sloth, and Iguanas. I also visited El Arenal Volcan and the Tabacon Hot Springs Spa. It is expensive to go to Tabacon but it is the tranquil place I have ever been to. The hot springs are natural and heated by the volcano.

Here is the site for Tabacon if you would like to see and read more about this majestic place. (http://www.tabacon.com/)

I plan to do another post about Costa Rica because one is simply not enough. Costa Rica is paradise and I will return one day.

Like Most Girls... I Have a Passion for Fashion!

What am I loving this season? COLOR BLOCKING

Here is an example from the cover of Elle Magazine. What is color blocking? It is combining solid colors that compliment each other. 

If you need a little inspiration for your first color blocking attempt here is a color wheel...

(Color Wheel compliments of AcademiChic)

If you love art like me you may want to gain a little inspiration from Piet Mondrian the German Modernist painter...

Piet Mondrian has also inspired fashion...

Image Compliments of www.nwareia.org

Image Compliments of www.kicksonfire.com

I hope this blog inspires you try out color blocking. It is fun and adds so much depth to an outfit. If you are a bit wary of being too bold with your color blocking, start slow and ease your way into it, maybe try a colored handbag or statement necklace. 

Have fun and be fashion forward this season!

Another Passion... FOOD!

A Brunch Table-scape

Prosecco and Champagne glasses for Mimosas

Brie en Croute served with Water Crackers and a Pear, Walnut, and Grand Marnier Jelly 

Tips for a Successful Brunch:

• A great and inexpensive way to make a mimosa is to use Prosecco (an Italian Sparkling Wine) and Orange Juice. 
• The Brie en Croute is a delicious and elegant hors d'oeuvres. To make this brie, use a wheel of Brie and wrap it with Puff Pastry. Bake it in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. To serve the Brie en Croute you can use Water Crackers and add extra flavor with honey, a fruit glaze or marmalade, or nuts. 

Where to Buy Prosecco: 

The Prosecco I prefer is Mionetto Prosecco. It can be found in Crown Wine and Spirits as well as some Grocery Stores. Here is a link to order it online: Buy Prosecco Here!

Architecture and Art (Dedication to Gaudi)

When I traveled to Spain, the city that took my breath away was Barcelona, much of this is attributed to Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi was an architect with an astute knowledge of geometry and design. His buildings took my breath away. His work was so innovative and distinguished for his time (circa 1850). Gaudi is credited with being the Catalan representative of Modernism. The Modernism movement was a revolt against the conservative aspects of realism. The fundamentals of Modernism was to do away with the classical convention of what was tradition and to create a new cultural movement that would coincide with the emerging industrialized world. Modernist were not like the Enlightenment thinkers, they did not credit anything to "The Creator". They developed the ideas the world was more complex and could not be defined by religion, government, God, or science as the final authority. Gaudi represents this lack of convention in the structure and aesthetics of his work. It is like nothing I have ever seen and highly doubt it can ever be replicated. Here are some photos I took...

These last two photos are of La Sagrada Familia, this is Gaudi's most famous work and sadly he was not able to finish it due to his untimely death in 1926. Sadly, many people will never get to see this architectural masterpiece completed in their lifetime. It is expected to be completed in 2025, I will be 37 years old and you can bet that I will be in Barcelona to see La Sagrada Familia completed. The completion of this cathedral now falls in the hands of construction workers and citizens that have VOLUNTEERED their skills and time to make Gaudi's vision a reality. Now, if that is not a beautiful story then I don't know what is. So my advice to you is to put this on your list of places to see. Even if you have seen 100 cathedrals in your lifetime you have not seen one like this.

With that I say Adios, 

Kristina

Androgyny

Yesterday I saw the film "Adaptation" (2002) starring Nicholas Cage and Meryl Streep. The film was brilliant. I have never seen a film that can have about four intricate plots and stories and they all seem to work. This film tells the story of a screenplay writer played by Nicholas Cage that is hired to write a film based on the book written by Meryl Streep's character. The book is about orchids.

Ok, so I bet you are wondering why this meant anything at all to me. To start off the orchid is my favorite flower. In the film, Meryl Streep's character is speaking to an orchid expert and he explains to her the origin of the flower. This is what interested me. In the film the orchid expert states that the word orchid comes from the word orchis which in Greek means testicle. This is interesting to me because the orchid is a flower that exudes sensuality and in art is typically portrayed as female genitalia. Therefore this flower has both male and female characteristics and interpretations making it, androgynous.

Anyway, the film is spectacular and I definitely recommend it.

Till Next Time,

Kristina

Welcome!

Welcome to my Blog!


My Blog is titled Sogno.Speranza.Amore. In Italian it means Hope, Dream, Love. Why did I chose it as my name? It was available. Just kidding, actually I think the Italian language is beautiful and I am studying to learn it on my own. It is also part of the purpose of my blog to jot down everything that inspires me and what I am passionate about. So for now, you know I love language, keep posted to learn a little more about me.


xoxo, 


Kristina