Valencia: day trip

The first time we visited Valencia was not what we had expected so we left with a sour taste and not willing to come back never again. Then our good friend Ivan told us last week he would be going so we decided to give it a second try. (Spoiler alert: in the end…we had a blast!)

First thing first: café con leche in the nearest coffee shop and then some touristic walks around Valencia’s city center.

We stumbled across the Mercat Central or Mercado Central (you guys know how much I love a farmer’s market) and we tried some Jamon Iberico and Manchego cheese. 

Time for some modern architecture: The City of Arts and Science was breath-taking.

Since we had a car (not like last time) we visited two beaches and considering it was late Summer, it was rare to have all the beach for us. We stayed two hours in each one and had a very relaxing time. I got to take my arm brace off and sun bathed a little being very careful not to fall since my arm is not  100%  ok…yet. (Can you spot my very thin arm? Well I guess it will take a lot of crossfit to gain my muscle back) 😦

5 things right now: Summer through my Iphone

I have to admit that even though I thought my arm would be useless forever, I am starting to feel a little better. When I say a little better I mean I can move my fingers now and grab a cup of coffee with my right hand again. Still, there is a lot of healing left and I am trying to be as patient as possible.

Some nights I stare at the ceiling (since sleeping on my back is the only position I can manage right now) and think about all the things I didn’t get to do this Summer and all the things that are «paused» until I get better. I have to stop this silly behavior and start focusing on the positive because either way time will pass and it is up to me to be miserable or focus on the good through it all.

Good news is I am writing a bit more since my hand is starting to work a little better now. Still planning ahead future projects and polishing some old ones. I did get to meet Toledo in a small day-trip, I am enjoying my terrace more and with Jimmy’s help I did get to upgrade and organize in a fun make-over my office/beauty room (post coming soon).

1. Sunday trip to Toledo.

2. Coffee with my favorite mug (thank you Ivan 🙂 )

3. Nina’s company

4. Behind the scenes of Hispanic Kitchen’s videos (big thank you to Belen ❤ )

5. I am going to miss sunsets like these.

Are you guys having fun this Summer? 🙂

Summer bucket list

Ah, the breezy Summer feeling. I spent most of Winter thinking about it and now that it is here I am über excited. Two years ago I shared a similar post when I was living in Venezuela, last year I posted my Summer pics and this year I have four simple things on my bucket list.

I have been working out more than usual and trying to eat as healthy as possible to keep my migraines at bay so I hope it pays off when I try on my bikini (I can’t stop hearing Britney’s words in my head going «you better work b*tch).

1. Trip to Greece with my sister. Stefi is moving to Greece and I am helping her with all the unpacking and settling in. By helping her I also mean taking her out for drinks and casual shopping.
2. Swim like nobody’s business. I am going to be soaking in the water like a lentil for hours.
3. Allow myself some Summer cocktails. Lately, I rarely drink but this Summer I am having my «cheat» drink from time to time.
4. Finally wearing my jean shorts. I say finally because last year I bought some shorts and didn’t get to wear them confidently. This year I am dusting them off and rocking the hell out of them (thank you crossfit).

What are you doing this Summer? 🙂

DIY: cactus in a cup

Recently I bought a very ugly cup in thrift store out of pure oh-this-costs-only-a-euro euphoria. The color was terrible but I saw some potential in it. So with a coat of white and two coats of baby blue I have now a very cute cactus in a cup.

After you spray it, be sure to let it dry (I say this since I am an anxious person and didn’t let my cup sit overnight) what happened is that the soil stuck in different parts of the cup. Not cute at all.)

This can definitely be a nice idea for a gift too 🙂

7 things that make my summer rock

I just want to take a minute and thank my landlord for having an air conditioning system in her apartment. I am not kidding when I say that I would probably melt if it wasn’t for it. But that being said, this summer has been packed with tons of activities and lovely events!

1) Finding the juiciest cherries in the world

2) Precious moments with my sister Stefi who came to visit alongside my parents and Nina

3) Recording the new album with Jimmy, this project is very personal and I am loving every step of the way 

4) Late night games: my dad crushing us all in Scala 40 

5) This two girls coming to visit! My mafia: Valentina and Carola. We went to school together and every time we meet is pure fun!

6) In this pic my dear friend’s Maria T wedding and next to her my fun girl Luisa! Still can’t believe this day, we had such an incredible time!

7) One word: Frappe

How’s your summer so far? Let me know! ❤

 

Lately…this is what’s going on

(This picture is from our trip to Greece in June)

It’s been almost a year since I left my old home in Venezuela and moved to Spain. I remember all the stress and chaotic moments involved. Everything has changed so much since last year, that I have no words to describe how blessed and grateful I am to be here.

This last six months have been a real challenge. We were flirting with the idea of moving to Barcelona because we got a real good offer to sign our music and make some more videos there, but Madrid was holding my hand really tightly and I felt I did not give this amazing city a real chance. Jimmy and I discussed this back and forth until a lovely event made our decision easier: we found an amazing producer and started recording our new album right away.

After searching like crazy for a new apartment, we finally found one with an elevator and a big balcony. Late this month we will move and I can’t wait to show you guys the before and after of the place.

So don’t think for a second I have forgotten about my blog and all of you who make it possible. The Golden Limoncello is getting tons of new posts and lots of giggles and smiles.

Madrid….you haven’t seen the best of me.

I hope you guys are having a lovely Summer ❤

 

June photodiary: Greece

Aw…my lovely Greece.

This trip was definitely an exciting one! I got to spend my birthday with my family and got to work with amazing people. We laughed, we bickered and we laughed again.

I polished my skills as a translator for Jimmy when people talked to him in Greek. He learned new words like «fovero» that means «amazing» and «akrivos» that means «exactly».

The weather was kinda cold and we suffered a little when we jumped into the freezing water, but hey…cold water is good for your skin (and also for having a minor heart attack once you touch the water).

 

June: 5 things that make this month amazing

For me May is an exciting month because I know that June is going to arrive soon with my birthday in it and the lovely warm weather. I am excited to spend my birthday in Greece and that I get to travel not only for business but also for pleasure.

May has been packed with tons of work and new exciting projects. My parents and my sister are coming to visit! I just can’t sleep counting the days until they arrive!

I can’t be more grateful for all that is happening: I finally finished the first draft of my book! I have been working so hard on it and finally it has some kind of structure. I battled with ideas and got inspired with a new ending. It’s a fiction novel that I have been working on in the past two years. I have really no idea when it will come out (or if it will ever come out) but I have my hopes high that someday it might.

1) Celebrating my birthday on June 5th.

I have to go to Greece to start an exciting project that we are working on (more details in the next couple of months) and I will get to spend my birthday with my family in Greece. How fun is that?! I have never spent a birthday there and I think it is going to be amazing having my grandmother and my family next to me.

2) Finishing the first draft of my book.

It may sound crazy, but I have developed a very strong relationship with my main character Thomas. So when the last page was being written I felt I was loosing something very close to me (I tried to explain this to Jimmy but he looked at me like I had lost my mind).

3) Finally going to the beach. 

We managed to squeeze in a little weekend get-away to Valencia last week since the weather was getting warmer. Unfortunately when we arrived the water was really cold but we got to soak in some sun and unplug ourselves from work for two days. I am thrilled for my trip to Greece because I will definitely make time to go to the beach and swim a lot!

4) Mastering my paleo bibimbap recipe. 

Jimmy loves this dish and after reading tons of recipes, I finally found the one that we both like. I make his with rice and I make mine with cauliflower rice so it’s paleo. This month I want to master the recipe and invite some friends over to try this veggie filled plate. Obviously the recipe is coming soon to The Golden Limoncello!

5) Flowers everywhere. 

We went to see the annual rose contest at La Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste. It was spectacular and breath-taking. I think this is officially my favorite place in Madrid.

May you all have a lovely month! 🙂

 

August: five things I am loving right now

1) This little cup that reminds me of an orchid

2) Sharing summer fruit with Nina 

3) Gel neon nails

4) Baking gluten-free cookies

5) This little girly corner of my room

Lovely kaftan dress

There I was one day, walking on Halkithiki’s town streets after a long day at the beach, when I saw the most beautiful white kaftan dress I have ever seen. I kid you not when I say it was the most beautiful kaftan dress ever. The fabric was fantastic and when I asked the lady in the store how much it was, I was shocked it was only 30 euros. Since I had no cash I quickly went home to retrieve some money, just to arrive 15 minutes later missing the last kaftan sold to a very nice German lady.

I have tried to purchase something similar ever since but I can’t seem to find the perfect one. I hope next time I go to Greece I will find it…somewhere…I don’t care if I have to haunt down that German lady.

Today’s fashion inspiration is the lovely and airy kaftan dress.

This is similar to the dress I was talking about:

Summer, sweet summer

This photo was from last summer. We went to Miami to make some music and ended up having an improvised vacation. Those are the good things about loving the work you do. The first days were a little unpleasant thanks to an idiot who calls himself a «producer» (no dear, mumbling in a luxurious studio is not being a producer. Call me when you learn a thing or two about being a decent human being.)

Some days later we met with our dear friend Dennis from Dmenace Music and had a wonderful time in his studio. I forgot how fun it was hanging out with him and his good vibes. We made this song that I shared in a past post.

I miss the beach. I would love to be swimming right now and then have some light lunch somewhere along the seaside. I would love to have my morning run in the hot sand and watch the sunset accompanied with some seagulls.

Oh good times.

I plan on having my little bucket list for this summer even though I will be staying right here in the city. I will share it with you next week.

Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂

 

Greece: 5 places where I would rather be right now

Summer is here, I am working: no fun at all. I am here sitting in my work space wishing I was swimming in the clear and warm Greek waters. My summers consisted of frappe coffee, swimming and sharing with family. I want to leave everything as it is, pack a small bag and randomly leave.

So today my mind is flying far away and I want to share my inspiration board of five places I’d rather be right now instead inside a room with air condition and extreme allergy.

1) Paros

2) Zakinthos

3) Agia Marina

4) Kalogria

5) Lefkatha

Shall we all leave everything and book a ticket to Greece? We wish right…