Whether you are on top of a snowy mountain or basking in the Caribbean sun, I hope you are all happy and surrounded by loved ones. That’s what it’s all about, right?
Focus on what you have today and cherish it. Take a moment to let those far away know you are thinking of them. Enjoy every second, even if you are in your pj’s watching tacky Christmas movies. There’s no place for hate today, let’s keep that living on.
Happy Holidays!!
As much as I love social media, I sometimes get tired of hearing about social metrics. I see how our society gets blinded by the number of “likes” and followers and how sometimes people end up being just plain fake. I hate that people end up measuring themselves against a sometimes insignificant number of “approval”. I can go on about the things I hate about social media, but I get easily frustrated and who wants to read that, right?
Something interesting happened to me today. Yesterday, I posted a picture on my Facebook of me and my boyfriend to celebrate that we had met 3 years ago. It was a pretty picture with a cute little message, as expected. I allowed myself to be sappy because oh well, sometimes you gotta be. Today, I saw that I had about 90 likes and decided to click and read through all the names of everyone who had liked the picture.
I was immediately smiling, seeing all the different people from my life that liked the picture. Reading their name meant they had taken a moment to see my post and show they were thinking about me with a simple click. It may sound dumb but to me that meant a lot. These are people that I may not talk to anymore or as often as I would like, but they still hold a special place in my heart in one way or another. By just reading their name I also had quick memories come back to mind and for a second there, my day got better too.
In this crazy world we live in, isn’t it nice to show people that we are thinking of them in some way?
Maybe I’m sounding like my Mom these days, but I’m starting to think that “likes” might not be so stupid after all.
Como lo prometido es deuda, aquí estoy nuevamente escribiendo en español. Hacía tiempo que no me leía un buen libro en español. A Nuria Roca la “conocí” cuando estudié unos meses en Francia. Estuve una semana de visita en España y decidí comprar varios libros contemporáneos para sentirme más a tono con la vida Española. De hecho, me envolví tanto comprando libros que después me di cuenta que dos de los libros que había comprado tan emocionada no eran ni siquiera libros originalmente escritos en español.
Sin embargo, encontré uno que hoy día sigue siendo uno de mis favoritos. “Los Caracoles No Saben Que Son Caracoles” fue el primer libro que leí de Nuria Roca y desde entonces me ha encantado su forma de escribir y su sinceridad al crear sus personajes.
“Lo Inevitable del Amor” tampoco decepcionó. Esta vez, Nuria escribió este libro junto con Juan del Val. A el en verdad no lo conozco, pero juntos crearon algo bien chévere. Me encanta darme una escapadita a España, aunque sea a través de unas pocas páginas. Siempre le he tenido cariño a esa cultura, ¿Asumo que la llevo un poco en la sangre? Bueno, eso son otros veinte…
Aquí les dejo algunas citas de “Lo Inevitable del Amor”, se los recomiendo si quieren una lectura llevadera, con un poco de risa y hasta un poquito de suspenso.
“Y a mi mente sólo vienen las partes mejores, aquéllas en las que no aparecen ni el aburrimiento ni la rutina. Sólo las risas y los besos y la pasión… La nostalgia convierte los mejores recuerdos en presente. Es así de perversa.”
“Allí, en aquella habitación, mi madre amó a Gene de esa forma en que sólo puede amarse la primera vez. Que no es ni mejor ni peor que las siguientes, pero que ya no puede volver a ser como esa primera vez.”
“El desamor siempre nos duele en la tripa, en las entrañas de nuestro ser, justo ahí, en el centro de lo que somos. Ese es el sitio en el que duele el desamor.”
“Nunca se dan los besos suficientes, siempre se dan de menos por muchos que se den. De eso tienes la certeza cuando ya no puedes dar más.”
En fin, es uno de esos libros que te hace sentir distintas emociones. Por lo menos eso pienso yo. De vez en cuando es bueno emocionarse, sentirse triste y feliz a la vez, todo por un libro.
Dear Cheese,
You know my love for you is true, but we need to talk. All I’ve ever done is praise you and treat you with love and what do you do in return? You hurt me. You hurt me when I least expect it and it drills a Swiss cheese hole in my heart.
You know I want to be with you every waking moment. I want you in my breakfast, as my snack, with my lunch, before dinner and for dinner. You make me happy in so many ways and you’ve given me some amazing times I will cherish forever. Your versatility provides for unexpected delight in different situations. Melted, hard or spread, you’re still amazing.
But Cheese, you’ve been hurting me too much lately. I can’t fathom the idea of life without you, the mere thought is too painful to bear. Still, my love, I think we need to spend some time apart. I’m not going to say goodbye forever because that’s impossible, but I think we need to see a little less of each other for a while.
I know you mean well, how can’t you with all the cheesy love you have to offer? You bring smiles to everyone who is lucky enough to encounter you, you make boring meals so much more exciting and even on your own… you are a wonder.
We’ve both seen what you can do to me. I know you’re sorry and you don’t mean to hurt me, I still love you in spite of the pain.
This is not farewell, it’s just a “see you soon” (and in smaller amounts).
Forever yours,
Cristina
In the midst of the sweet chaos that coming home for the Holidays entails, I wanted to take a second to be cheerful and cheesy. I love Christmas time, it’s really the best time of the year (besides my birthday, duh). I love seeing everyone come together, if only for a day.
I love seeing people go out of their way to come together in celebration, but most importantly, I love the magic it brings to life. I don’t even dare say what we know to be real or not, because on a day like today I like to believe that all of us believe a little more that we care to admit for. My little sister with special needs has already been told where the presents come from, but still, she left her letter with cookies as she did every year. I don’t think I’ll ever know what’s truly in her mind, if it’s pretend or not, but seeing her this Christmas morning made me very happy. She was sleepy and grumpy, but for a second we were all there in the floor opening presents together and it felt as magical as I always remembered it to be.
“C’est le temps que tu a perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Never-ending itch to travel and discover. That’s what I have. I don’t understand how people can feel any other way.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia – Photo by Cristina Nogueras (no filters/edits)
This is the story of how I was a crucial part in the most important moment of the lives of two strangers, in Croatia.
While in Zadar, my boyfriend and I decided to take a tour to visit the Plitvice Lakes. These had been highly recommended and all the pictures we had seen looked amazing. Honestly, I did not believe what I saw on the pictures, I just thought it looked too fake. Boy, was I wrong.
The Plitvice Lakes, part of a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are truly a place full of wonder. As you will see from my pictures (no edits, no retouches) these waters are clear and intense at the same time. We were actually able to drink from the springs and it tasted even better than the water in our bottles. My fear was to get a stomach bug or something from drinking it… nothing happened.
Our tour was a one-day excursion and it allowed you to get to know the people in the tour with you. Sitting next to us during the bus ride was this super nice Canadian couple, just around my age. We were talking through the trip and while on the lakes, helped each other out by taking couple pictures of each other, cheesy but believe me, super practical.
By the end of the tour, we reached the waterfall below.
The view was truly amazing and as it had become the custom, I told the Canadian couple I would take a picture of them there. The guy went to hand me the camera and said, “Actually, take a video, I’m going to go propose”.
Needless to say my reaction was a mixture of “OMG I want to scream right now” and “OMG I forgot how to use all technology”. My boyfriend rapidly jumped away knowing he would mess up the video under pressure, so I was strong and agreed to take on the task. Let me tell you, I have a new found respect for wedding photographers.
As the guy went up the rocks to “take the picture” I felt like I was about to witness something amazing. I also felt like I was creeping on two strangers, but whatever, I had a job in my hands. I was not able to hear what he was saying, but the look in her eyes told me he was promising her the world she always wanted. She started tearing up and nodding profusely. Thank God she said yes, that would have been one awkward ride back to Zadar.
In case you were wondering, I was able to tape it all! I didn’t get the couple’s information or anything, I don’t remember their names and I probably will never see them again, but for one moment there I was a part of their lives. Isn’t it weird how life works sometimes?
Feel free to contact me for quotes on proposal videos.
Surprise bouquet at the office, delicious candlelit dinner at the fanciest restaurant with the finest bottle of wine and a night out dancing and strolling by the water…
That was not my Valentine’s Day.
I have been sick for the past week, but don’t worry I will not bore you (or disgust you) with the details.
Somehow, I was still able to have a pretty damn sweet Valentine’s Day. Boyfriend brought me flowers and some grape juice, which I enjoyed in a fancy wine glass while I ate a dairy-free and fairly unseasoned pasta on my freezing kitchen. I could not eat chocolates or any other sweets for that matter and all the dancing I did was from the kitchen to the sofa, where I killed that grape juice while we watched nothing else but the Valentine’s Day movie (permission to gag).
Yes, I was upset about the food choice and evident lack of wine and cheese. Yes, I wish we could have done the long weekend road trip we originally planned, but you know what?
Sh*t happens and you still are able to smile. I wasn’t able to stuff my face with complicated dishes, fancy cheese and gulps of wine? Eh, I saved the calories?
In all seriousness, I’m grateful I could even eat. I also had love, which is kind of the point of this so-called Holiday, so why was I complaining? Oh yeah, because I am obsessed with cheese.
Guilligan Island, Puerto Rico – Photo by Cristina Nogueras ©
Beaches & Brie 
