You shoot me down but I won’t fall, I am titanium

There we go, same old story: he said, she said, you said, they said… blah, blah, blah.

Do we feel powerful when we badmouth someone? Talk behind their back? Do we feel stronger or even superior when we decide it’s a good idea to start talking vicious things of one another?

I say «we» because I include myself in that group. I try not to, but sometimes I find myself saying a couple of ironical stuff about others. Stuff that if the person was right there in front of me, would be definitely hurt.

I don’t like it and I will change it. At least I will try.

We are not born this way. I refuse to believe we come to this world already prepared to criticize and turn down people and say mean things. We learn to do so. We don’t only become mean to others but eventually we become out greatest bully.

We poke and insult ourselves. You don’t have to verbally say «I am an idiot» to yourself, but it is the same thing when you don’t respect yourself enough to walk away of a situation or person.

I try to avoid people who bring conflict into my life. I live and let others live too. I do not intentionally hurt someone or bring someone down. I just have more important things to do. You see, when you have a life, other people who don’t, will want to disturb that and interrupt that. They will obsess and they will try to take that happiness away from you. You go ahead and continue whatever you are doing that makes you happy (and awesome).

You go ahead…they will try to shoot you down but you won’t fall.

You are titanium.

 

Advent calendar: 24 days of kindness

My parents always told be to be kind: they showed me how with little details everyday. Nowadays, I rarely see acts of kindness but when I do, I smile because I believe that there are still some good people out there.

It takes so little effort to be kind and yet we decide not to be. I understand why, I know pretty well that specific feeling that we experience when we do something nice for someone and it goes by unnoticed. But it’s ok, we can still sing our song even if no one can hear it. Kindness is not about having an audience, it is about having you own private little happiness show. 

So the other day I was strolling down the aisles of the supermarket and I saw they were selling advent calendars. I suddenly remember how much I always wanted to make one and I had a fantastic idea (yes, I tend to have them sometimes), I should make one.

So between this lovely advent calendar I found on Pinterest and some list making, I made the «Kindness Advent Calendar». If you need some inspiration you can find ideas here and here.

Since this is going to be my first Christmas in Madrid, I wanted to make it different and special. I will let you know after I finish the calendar’s list how it went.

Do you guys use advent calendars?

 

 

 

 

Fresh air: 12 random things right now

1) My legs are sore of so much walking.

2) I can’t explain this wonderful feeling of walking in the street and feeling the fresh air in my face.

3) I love to walk and walk and wander around.

4) I see small coffee shops and old streets.

5) I stare at the «tapas» in every Madrid’s restaurant tables.

6) I drink «cafe con leche» like crazy.

7) I am like a little bird who has finally opened the small cage and is flying through the trees.

8) I get overwhelmed, I sometimes let go a tear or two but this time because I am free.

9) I don’t hide my phone in the streets, I don’t worry every time I go to the supermarket because I know I will find the things I am looking for.

10) I miss my sister, my mom, my dad and I can’t walk by a dog without missing Nina.

11) This has been hard. I try to focus on the things ahead but somehow I find myself remembering the things I left behind.

12) I am scared but also excited to start this new adventure.

The weather is starting to get a little chilly and the summer heat is far forgotten, but I am happy that this time my hands are the ones who are cold and not my heart.

I am ready for you Madrid.

From Paris with love (Part II)

Last week we went on a brief and short trip to Paris with Jimmy. My mother-in-law was going to be there with a friend for a week, so we thought it would be a fabulous opportunity to jump on plane and meet there. My brother-in-law was coming from Barcelona and we all got together for a small family reunion.

I can’t emphasize enough how much we laughed and had a very lovely (and freezing) time. Although I missed my sister Stefi so much because every street and every corner reminded me of the last time I was in Paris with her. My little travel companion.

I think this is the first time in twelve years with Jimmy that I got to share and have so much fun with his family. His mother is the sweetest person you will ever meet and his brother is absolute fun. I rarely got to see him back in Caracas but I am really happy we got to share this trip together.

The view from our room

Breakfast and lunch at Laduree

I have a small obsession with postcards

Skulls everywhere

Gift idea: brownie mix in a jar

When I saw this the other day I immediately knew what I would give as a homemade gift for a friend. He loves good food (well, who doesn’t?) and rarely has time to cook, so I though this would be a lovely and original idea for his birthday present. Plus I know I will be making some of these for holiday season.

I followed this recipe and I have to confess I had to test it before I handed it out: it was heaven. Jimmy loved the brownies and I am planning on making some more to store in the freezer for our future sweet cravings.

This post falls into the Culinary Tuesdays category but I am going to go ahead and post it too in the OCD Thursdays because it is also a DIY gift idea.

Layer carefully your ingredients so they look pretty (mine look kinda weird, but I made the effort)

Don’t forget to add a little tag with the instructions and the rest of the ingredients to add when making the brownies. I bought my paper and tags at Tiger.