Happy Birthday, M!

As much as I love being in New York, I can't deny that I miss my family and friends sometimes. And these past few days I've been missing them more than ever!

Today is my best friend's birthday and, although I did have lots of fun having dinner and going out with my girls in New York, I couldn't stop thinking about not being with her. Last year we started brainstorming what we should do to celebrate her birthday––and our ideas were so good we should have started a party planning business right there––and had the best time ever. And this year I'm miles away and with no chance of seeing her today.

But I did spend some time looking at old pictures in my laptop. Most of them were absolutely horrible––we weren't particularly good-looking during our teens––but they made me laugh––and cry a little––from all the great memories they brought back. I really wish I could be with her right now... But I know that not even the distance will tear us apart.

I'm really, really glad that I have shared the past two decades of my life with this girl––and I'm sure she doesn't need me to party hard and have a blast today on her birthday!

Love you baby, Happy Birthday!

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

PS. I'm including a couple extra photos from a few years ago below. They were the only decent ones I found in my laptop, and unfortunately I don't have access to all our childhood photos, which are at my parents' house in Colombia.

Friendly Evenings

One of my friends is moving to LA next month, so we went for dinner last night as a sort of good bye. One of the things I love the most about her is how she's willing to pursue her dreams at any cost, and after graduating as a lawyer, she's finally taking the risk and chasing her dreams in what less than the City of Angels!

Since there's no much time left for her to hang out in Colombia, we decided to go to one of the restaurants she says she'll miss the most: Crepes Artesano. Nothing big or fancy, but the perfect cosy atmosphere with healthy food for a cold and rainy evening with a friend.

We had a great time talking about life, about our dreams, about Coachella, and––naturally––about moving back and forth from New York to LA to see each other, as soon as I establish myself in NY in the fall. We also had some great food.

I chose to eat a Gandhi, which is a crepe with indian flavours and curry––my favourite––, together with lemonade flavoured with some peppermint to top up a very aromatic meal.

She ate a crepe with turkey and cheese, which looked absolutely delicious!

Unfortunately, we didn't have space in our tummies for dessert, so we had to skip it this time. I would say our dessert was all the sweet talk about this new phase of our lives that will be starting soon!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Summer Nostalgia

Every time I feel the summer coming, I can't help but fly back to 2011, when I worked at a summer camp for the season. Those 10 weeks at camp were probably the hardest moments I've had in my life––working with horses, children, and adults with disabilities is definitely not an easy job! But those 10 weeks have also been the most nourishing weeks I've ever had, and I would definitely not be who I am today if I hadn't lived them.

Not only I learned to teach young, inexperienced riders how to ride, and even jump their first fences, but I also learned some basics of horseback riding for persons with disabilities. I learned about myself and about God––even if I tried very hard not to be influenced by the religious atmosphere of the camp. I learned about love, about giving to others, and about friendship.

I sometimes regret not staying in closer contact with the people I met at camp. I guess I could still write to them and maybe even schedule a Skype meeting––and I might probably do so, before more time flies away without staying in touch with them––but I regret I haven't had the chance to talk more in the past few years with all these wonderful people.

But at least I know all the memories I collected with them will be forever in my heart. All the beautiful Maine landscapes. The sunrises and sunsets, the beach, the morning sound of the waves hitting the land. Fireflies on the way to the horsefield at night. The Sisterhood, Pants and Liz. Our mother Betty. An unpronounceable name reduced to PJ. Storytelling in the woods. The semi-savage, bipolar horses, the kids that rode them, and Sue's "I did it" every time she hopped on a horse. Crazy people. Midsummer fest. Fairy lights. Escaping to Boston and chilling on a rooftop. Feeling like Portland is the biggest city on Earth. Tie-dye. Wishing for beer, eating the biggest pad thai to ever exist, and playing with miniature sand. Wednesday Barbecue. Arts and crafts, baby showers. Ice cream. Running in the rain back to camp from Old Orchard Beach. Being left by the train, running to Saco, and being left again. Getting our nails done. Irish fairy dust. Irish people always have their feet cold. Piano man. Lilies and broken lilies...

...I just realised I could go on forever, but I guess I'll leave it here. Here's to you, beautiful Oceanwood, to your children, to a place I know I can call home, and to all the friends I made there! I hope I can visit you again soon!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio – Natalie Souness

Sushi Nights

Friday night was spent making sushi and ceviche at a friend's house, while drinking some rosé wine. It was one of the best nights I've had in a while, because we had the chance to chat, laugh and have lots of fun while cooking.

The food was also absolutely amazing, so what else could I ask for?

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Celebrate Valentine's Day -- Single

Valentine's Day tends to be rejected by anyone who's single. For some reason, if you don't have a beloved sweetheart, all the hearts in the air might seem a little disgusting. But this doesn't mean you can't  have a great time celebrating love. You can love yourself, your friends, and your family. Who needs a man (or a girl, whichever you like) to feel happy and fulfilled?

1. Have A Romantic Date With Yourself

My first idea for Valentine's Day celebration is having a romantic date with yourself. This is something I really enjoy to do every once in a while when I'm tired and don't want to go out on a Friday night.

You'll only need your favourite PJs, some old movies you enjoy (my personal favourites tend to be chick flicks I enjoyed as a teenager –say, What A Girl Wants, 500 Days of Summer, and all that stuff). Get a box of chocolates, and order your favourite food. A good glass of wine is optional.

Get inside your bed, and have the best time you could have ever asked for. When you wake up on Saturday, you'll only be able to smile for the great time you had with yourself on Valentine's Day.

2. Go Out With Your Friends

Yes. Friends are the best things that could ever happen to us. They love us unconditionally, and we love them back. So what better than celebrating endless love with one of your best friends? I bet at least one of them is single. Or if (s)he isn't, (s)he still might be willing to celebrate Valentine's Day with you.

You can have a tea party at home, go out to your favourite restaurant to have dinner, or go to the movies. And if you're more creative than I am––which you probably are––I bet you can come up with a thousand more ideas. Maybe you could even do something you haven't done in a long time. If I were to do this, I would bring my friend Felipe, who now lives in Canada, and drink mojitos at home.

3. Enjoy A Spa Evening

This one is probably my favourite idea. And you don't even have to go to a real spa––although I sincerely recommend you do it if you prefer that!

If you'd rather stay at home, you can just pick your favourite beauty products––I strongly recommend any type of products that has a smell you enjoy––, light some candles, and love yourself. Depending on what you enjoy more, you can have a bubble bath, soak yourself in Cocoa Butter, or use some hair treatment and get your nails done. Whatever you choose, make sure it makes you feel like you're being loved and spoiled!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travel Diaries: Naples, Day 1

After spending about a week in Rome and Terni, we went down to Naples, to continue with the conferences. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I was really excited because I had never been the re before. On the other, I was a little scared because my team-mates for the conference are more or less like brothers and sisters, and I didn't know if I would fit in. Thankfully, they welcomed me as part of the family and we all had an amazing time!

Naples is supposed to be the city with good weather, all year round. However, for some unknown reason, it didn't stop raining during the time we went there. So a rainy Naples received us, making us get soaked as we tried to pull our suitcases into the hotel! Our conference was held in a beautiful castle, which I had time to explore with one of my friends before we started working.

Although it's definitely better when you look at it from the outside... And during the sunset!

After spending the day working, we went for dinner to one of the most important places of the city. It's a pizzeria called Starita, which is famous around the world. They've also got a place in New York (Don Antonio, 50th Street b/w 8th & 9th), which I will probably be visiting soon––read: March.

We had fried pizza bread with tomatoes and arugula, followed by a pizza Capricciosa (with mushrooms, artichokes, mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto), and ending with fried pizza bread with Nutella. I honestly can't choose which was my favourite part of this meal. I could eat it over and over again!

After dinner, we went out to wander around the city. Unfortunately, it was still raining, so our walk didn't last for long. But we got to discover the magic of this wonderful city, and I bet we all fell in love with it after a couple of minutes walking in its streets!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio