Easter Treatster: Brigadeiro (3-Ingredient Brazilian Fudge!)

So if you were wondering what I was going to bring you back from Brazil, this is it! And just in time for Easter, too, if you find yourself in a pinch for a dessert! There are only 3 ingredients that you may very well have around your house, so even if you're not in a pinch - no excuses! You can't pass this deliciosity up.


This dessert is called brigadeiro, and it comes in all different

The Ups & Downs of Rio

Finally, the promised Carnaval pictures! These are all from the Sambadrome (sambódromo), where a couple nights a year Rio's favela communities come out to play in all of their finest, sparkliest regalia! It was a fabulous time and an incredible show that starts at 9 pm and keeps right on going until 5 or 6 am the next morning. We headed out around 3 because we were exhausted, though, but not

Carnaval Instagram Feed!

Finally, some of the promised photos (more sambadrome photos (glitter!) to come later)! These are from my
instagram feed (follow me!) and they basically consist of all of Rio's little pleasures: beach, açaí*, amazing views, and Carnaval festivities.



KEY (top to bottom, left to right):
1 - açaí* for breakfast before heading to the beach & Carnaval nails!
2 - my makeup for the first bloco**

After Christmas Cards

Once again, Pinterest has served up a fabulous a-ha idea...this time in the form of turning Christmas card photos into iphone contacts!

One of the things I dislike most about un-Christmassing my house is filing away all of the gorgeous holiday cards sent from friends and family all over the world.  Unable to bear the thought of tossing them, after Christmas I generally file the cards away in a photo album (though this year they simply went on a big binder clip thanks to new friend A's ingenious idea.)  And, pretty much exactly once a year, I look back on the pictures and marvel at the stories they tell of the last ten years.  Weddings, babies, trips, more babies, a few second weddings and a lot more babies.

Now I'll get to enjoy the cards all year long, each and every time my phone rings!

With that, I do solemnly swear to refrain from Christmas posts for at least the next ten months.

xoxo

PS. A few neighborhood gals invited me to watch the Bachelor last night over cheese, chocolate and wine.  As such, I have been forced to add one more unscrupulous show to my already questionable repertoire.  Ahhh!  Isn't it terribly good?!?!

My New Babies!

Quick post today - just want to introduce you to my new babies!


This isn't my first pair of mousies; I first saw MJ's mouse shoes at a department store when I was 14 and fell instantly in love, although it took me another 6 years to get around to getting a pair. But come on - I mean, they have whiskers, for love's sake! How can you resist the whiskers?!






Actually, I'm sure lots of

Feria Fare

So in case I haven't mentioned it before (I have), I'm a HUUUUGE feria* fanatic. I think most of my jewelry is from some feria or another, and I'm constantly dragging anyone and everyone with the misfortune to be accompanying me through any and every feria I can find.


This trip to Argentina was no different! Boyf, who carries his grouch hat to all of them, grumbled and groused through feria

Scavenger Hunt Ornaments

I realize that I'm probably the sole individual in blog-land still posting about Christmas, but these ornaments orchestrated by Mother were just too darling not to share.

Mother purchased a plastic ball ornament and bedazzled initial stickers for each grand while we were down South celebrating.  We then went out into the yard to gather up things to stuff in the ornaments.  The PCP went to great lengths to collect curly bark from the river birch. (That is a river birch, right??  Have I ever mentioned that nature and I don't really click, try as I might.)

Laden with treasures of bark, moss, feathers, shells and leaves, we went to work stuffing the ornaments.  Mimi also helped the the littles funnel in some sparkly snow (you know, since we sure didn't find any of that outside.)

When they were done poking, shoving and funneling, we snapped the tops on and adhered the initial stickers. And they turned out absolutely adorable...so much better than I ever imagined.  They were FUN to make and will be a great memory of our holiday in Savannah.  I would really love to have a whole tree of these beauts...

Come to think of it, not only am I still blogging about Christmas, but I also have trees up all over my house and wreaths on every window.  I kinda like that Catholics don't take their decor down until after the Epiphany.  Gives me a grand excuse for my after the holidays slump.

xoxo

Sunday Supper {New Years Style}

Along with folks all over the South, we rang in 2012 with the traditional, albeit meager, meal of peas for luck and greens for wealth.  We've been cookin up this meal and enjoying it with Sister and her Mister since the first year we were married.

I repurposed the table decor from New Years Eve for the occasion.  I thought about cookin' up those collards but just couldn't bring myself to deconstruct the centerpiece quite yet.

Along with our hoppin john and bourbon bacon greens (my new fave recipe, though I substitute turnips), Honey grilled up his delish bourbon and brown sugar glazed pork tenderloin and we noshed on honey cornbread muffins, the Pirate's House pecan pie (recipe here) and the sweetest tea you've ever wrapped your lips around.

Now, I've got to go get me a piece of that pie for breakfast before the boys wake up and beat me to it.  Yes, they are all still asleep.  Glory be...
xoxo

Ringing in 2013 with Postcards from Patagonia!

First things first: sorry for the extended disappearance! I've been visiting with my high school host family in the depths of Patagonia (where the internet is spotty at best) and shamelessly neglecting my blog duties in favor of mountain adventures. The good news is, I'm back in Brazil now! So will be coming back to you full force soon!


Juicier updates to come, but for now I'll be leaving

Eggnog

Eggnog is one of those things that people seem to love or hate. I just happen to LOVE it! I look forward to eggnog all year long. The moment is appears on shelves in the grocery store I snatch it up.

There is something about that thick spicy creaminess that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It is what marks the holidays for me. I'd love to say that Christmas trees or carols on the radio is what does it for me, but it's not. It's having a bit of white froth on the top of my lip while I glug down some cold eggnog. Oh boy, that's heaven!

While I do love the store bought stuff (I love it all!), I also enjoy making it at home. I have tried a few recipes, but this one seems to be a winner. The eggnog we made last year tasted like straight booze. While that is fun for parties, I prefer my eggnog to taste more like eggnog. This recipe calls for rum, but I only added half a cup rather than the whole cup. If it were up to Andy he would have added two cups, but this was for me not him, so we did it my way.

What I really liked about this recipe is that the eggnog is cooked. Traditional eggnog is raw, but that weirds me out when I'm the one making it. Sure I'll drink your raw eggnog, but I won't make and drink my own if it is raw...I am strange.

It was fun to make this recipe with Andy. There were just enough components that we were both busy with cooking. We went through a few different steps, but it was definitely worth the work. I think Andy even enjoyed the end product...though he added more rum to his glass.

What about you? Are you an eggnog lover or hater? Any great recipes or experiences?

A Redneck Christmas!

Andy and I went to a Redneck Christmas party last weekend and it was a blast! Go figure that our Virginia friends would throw such a party. They are not rednecks by any means (...mostly), they just enjoy a good time, and no time is better than when you are dressed as a redneck. It is also a good excuse to grow facial hair, eat fried chicken, and drink cheap beer. Gotta love Virginia!

I found this beauty of an outfit at a Goodwill thrift store. I love putting costumes together from Goodwill clothes...and usually while I'm at it I find a cool thing or two for my actual wardrobe. I was supposed to be 'barefoot and pregnant' for the party, but never found stuffing for the pregnant part of the costume.

 Guacamole with crispy bacon for dipping. I will definitely make this combination again!

A redneck party just isn't complete without KFC. It's finger lickin' good.

With the lovely host and her awesome sweater.

Even the dogs were in costume! So cute. And you can't have a redneck party without Busch...gross.

 We enjoyed some moonshine spiked cider. It was pretty awesome stuff.

Oh you know...just some redneck couples enjoying a Christmas party.

Have you been to a Redneck Christmas party before? This was my first, but I hope to attend more. Maybe California will have parties as cool as Virginia. I can only hope.

2 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Everyone In Your Life

Christmas and Kwanzaa are fast-approaching (Hanukkah is... pretty much over, can't help you now) and maybe you thought that you would know the right gift for so-and-so when you saw it. But you just haven't seen it yet. And who knows if you will in time? So if you're short of ideas, here's our 2012 gift-guide flow-chart.






SKIMP:
For your boyfriend: Every boy can use a nice belt. And if he

3 Heart-Warming Holiday Films

Whila Isa and the boyf are in Buenos Aires working tank tops, Jen and the Irishman have been huddling against the chilly Paris evenings in front of a laptop screen. Right now they're working their way through the Die Hard quadrilogy (the original from 1989 could be no. 4 on this list), but here are some of the other holiday movies we'll definitely be watching this month.

3. A Muppet Christmas

La Ciudad de (los) Buenos Aires

Welcome to the city I used to call home but now just call Buenos Aires. This is our third day in the Argentinian capital and our third day of perfect sun, and boy did I miss this place. I guess especially coming from São Paulo, the city of 6 layers of concrete with a concrete cherry on top, this city seems like paradise. Sure, it's a bit run-down these days (Cristina Kirchner would not be my

Jen's Christmas Wishlist

1 So Low Skinny Jean Leggings | Shopbop $81

2 House of Harlow 1960 Pyramid Station Necklace in Mint Green | Boutique to You $75

3 Rouge D'Armani Lipstick | Barneys New York $30

4 Green Ikat Dinnerware | C. Wonder $10-$14

5 Collette by Collette Dinnigan Beat Stripe Sweater | Matches $194

6 Michael Kors Bella Chronograph Watch | Piperlime $250

7 Dolce & Gabbana Net Lace Sleeveless Dress |

Human Rights Day & 4 Organizations to Support While You're In The Giving Mood

In case these words didn't clue you in, we're going to go a bit off-blogtopic today, so be forewarned.


For those of you who don't know, December 10 (today!) is International Human Rights Day. Today marks the 64th anniversary of the UN adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.


If you didn't know, both of us are very passionate about human rights - Jen has a Bachelor's

Jet-Jet-Jetsetting

COUNTER-CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Boyf in the living room last minute Skyping with his sister in New Orleans; clean shoesies; our room during the process of packing; our (maybe too) tiny shared suitcase.



Today's is a quick update only. In yesterday's post I mentioned that I was supposed to be leaving SP today (summer vacay what up?!). This was a lie. I was supposed to be leaving yesterday, but

What to Get Isa for Christmas (December Wishlist)

1 La Mer Collections Print Wrap Watch | Shopbop $125

2 Wool-Angora Snood | J. Crew $60 $50

3 Joe Jeans Plaid Skinny Pants | Shopbop $179

4 Marc by Marc Jacobs Katie Snake-Effect Coin Pouch | Net-a-Porter $58

5 Woodland Park Elephant Bank | Kate Spade $50

6 Louboutin New Simple Pump | Barneys New York $775

7 Sephora Collection Glitter Eyeliner and Mascara in Mystic Teal | Sephora $13

8 

5 Simple Ways to Cheer Up Your Home for the Holidays

Hi everyone! So the big news for today is that WE FINALLY HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE! If you like us, we'll love you forever!


But back to the task at hand: as the holidays draw nearer, the streets of São Paulo (and New York and Paris and pretty much anywhere else that can be considered awesome) are filling up with decorations - so isn't it time you follow suite?


We think oui! So we hope you'll

To Mom and Dad

The PCP was as pleased as punch when he raced off the big yellow bus with this tow...

We waited for Honey to arrive home and the second he walked in the door the PCP was clamoring for us to open the gift.

Frum John to Mom and Dad
Hayy Cisms. Luv John

The snowman ornament made from his fingerprints was darling.  But the note...well, the note just had us bursting with pride and overwhelmed with love.  (If you're not adept with kindergarten literacy, the second line reads "Happy Christmas.")  :-)

This is what being parents is all about!
xoxo