2015 · catalonia · fiestas · Mallorca · spain

El Día de los Reyes

Adoration of the Magi by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 17th century (Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio)
Adoration of the Magi by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 17th century (Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio)

The day for Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar to arrive is here! Children are anxiously awaiting all over Spain to see the Three Kings. Known in the Anglophone world as the Epiphany, the arrival of the Three Kings is defined in Spain by the enormous expectation and the tremendous annual celebrations that revolve around the event. Festivities officially start the evening before Epiphany, on the night of January 5, when the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings’ Parade) takes place in every town and city, with hundreds upon hundreds of people crowding the main roads of the urban settlements in order to get a glimpse of the reenactment of the arrival of the Three Kings into town.

Here in Mallorca, the Three Kings arrive on boat and then proceed to join the parade (either on an elaborate float or on camels or horses) to throw candy to the children that line the streets. The children hopefully have been very good all year because this is the time they receive the most presents. Santa is definitely number two in popularity in Spain. But if the children have been bad they receive a bag of black coal, (usually a lump of hard sugar candy dyed black, called Carbón Dulce).

If you haven’t realized it yet, the Three Kings are the Three Wise Men who traveled by night all the way from the farthest confines of the Earth to bring gifts to Jesus, whom they recognized as the Son of God. The two days remain a beloved tradition, the night before when the Kings arrive and January 6, the day of the Epiphany.

It is a special time here in Spain! But sadly, it is also the end of Christmas.

Til next time!

2015 · beach · beauty · just do it already · Mallorca

HNY Y’all

Hey you guys! Happy New Year! Wishing you a 2015 filled with freedom and magic and dreams to come true! My 2014 was filled with friends, family and lots of travel. What more could a girl want? Okay … a few more ….. maybe 2015 will bring them!

As I watched the first sunset of 2015 I felt a positive force. Let’s do this.

first sunset 2015

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2014 · church · fiestas · food · friends · Germany

A lovely quick white fun-filled holiday

Dec. 24:

Left Mallorca for Germany. Adieu!

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Flew over the Alps. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

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Landed in Düsseldorf in complete fog.

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Landed safely. Whew! Ordered an extra large coffee and went upstairs to meet my boyfriend to head off to Wesel for the Christmas celebration to begin. We arrive, pour some champagne. But first, lemme take a selfie.

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Awwwww, I love it. Mama N always decorates her house so beautifully and Christmas time is no exception.

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Opened all the presents. Dr. Dre Beats headphones!! Thanks Santa! Now time for the FOOD. Meat fondue. So delicious.

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And now we are stuffed. Upstairs for some laughs and wine. Next day we did a quick trip to Xanten, Germany to visit the cathedral.

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Then drove to Detmold and went out to dinner at the Greek restaurant. Yummy. Next day was time to fly back to Mallorca. And we woke up to a white winter wonderland!

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I hope your Christmas was blessed too. OX

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happy holidays y'all · let's learn spanish · spain

Twas The Night Before The Spanglish Christmas

I thought this was muy adorable, I hope you do too!

(ps – I don’t know the author. If you do, let me know. gracias!)

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE (SPANGLISH) CHRISTMAS

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‘Twas the night before Christmas y por toda la casa,
Not a creature was stirring-Caramba! Que pasa?
Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
Some in long underwear, some in pijamas,
While hanging the medias with mucho ciudado
In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado
To bring all children, both buenos y malos,
A nice batch of dulces y otros regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my pies like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados
Were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
“Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!”
Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,
Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his real suit de gala,
He filled all the medias with lovely regalos-
For none of the niños had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud, seeming muy contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone como viento.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!

england · kate middleton · new york city · she's crafty · the royals · tue Gutes und sprich darüber

Just Keep Wrapping

I am royally loving this. Maybe you know, or maybe not, but Kate and William were visiting New York City just a few days ago. Monday started off with Kate lending a hand to volunteers at the Northside Center for Childhood Development and later her and the hubs enjoyed a basketball game of the Brooklyn Nets vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers topping it off with a sweating hug from LeBron James, while Tuesday they spent a portion of the day at The Door (an organization that helps New York’s disadvantaged children) and later that night they attended St.Andrews’ 600th anniversary dinner at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

There were even a few more things thrown into the mix between their arrival on Sunday and their departure on Wednesday – Wills flew to Washington D.C. to meet with the Prez, they also met the Clintons (Chelsea included) in NYC and a fashionable event for Kate to rub elbows with J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons and Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman.

But my favorite thing that has recently been posted is Kate giving the royal roll of the eye to a woman telling Kate to “Keep Wrapping”. This is awesome. And I believe happened on Monday at the Northside Center. Welcome to New York hospitality Kate!

All Hail the Queen!

animals · cats · tragic

Cat heaven right meow

RIP P Diddy. ❤

This sweet feline went to cat heaven today. And I know he is partying it up with his bro, Growler. But I sure am going to miss this sun-loving lover boy. He loved to eat shrimp, go on back-packing adventures with his girlfriend Good Morning and hang out with his brothers and sisters. Light a candle for the P-ster tonight.

I already miss this sweet face so much. Hugs and kisses to you P.

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happy holidays y'all · just do it already · let's daaaance! · music favorites

Favorite Christmas song #1

Is it starting to feel like Christmas? I am still working, rushing about here and there, so it doesn’t yet really feel like Christmas. BUT this weekend I have been listening to Christmas songs because I want to make a Christmas CD for my friends. What are your favorites?

Have you joined Spotify? Because if you haven’t, you are missing out! Spotify rocks. Pun intended? C’mon, you can listen to (almost) anything you want! I love LOVE love it. Okay, so Taylor Swift said Spotify couldn’t use her songs. Not very Christmassy, right? Just wants all the $$$$. I will move on ….

My favorites range from silly (Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses) to fun (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) to the very beautiful. I love them all so much. For the rest of December I will be posting my favorite Christmas songs. Who knows, maybe I will go crazy (meaning “I have time”) and post something else … but at the moment it is all about the music. Because really, that is ALL it is ever about. At least for me. Music is EVERYTHING!!! Now listen up my friends. This is my so very most favorite. And it is in the very beautiful category. Or maybe the jazz category (which is beautiful).

For you, the Charlie Brown Christmas dance. And YES, you must get up and dance – in whatever style you want. But dance, my friends. Dance.

ps – GO SNOOPY!!

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