All posts by Alicia

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General, ,

Like many of you, I was sad to see 2010 come to a close; it was a transitional year that led to many significant changes. I left a job where I’d spent the better part of my career-building years to take a leap of faith in an entirely new industry, lived entirely off freelance work for a few wonderfully exciting months, and started Bubbles & Ink, my favorite creative outlet. If you’ve ever even glanced at the words on this page, I am truly grateful. The hope that anything I write matters even remotely to anyone is what keeps me going. Nostalgic though I am for the year we left behind, it is with nothing short of eager anticipation that I welcome the pristine hope attached to this new year. May you all fill 2011 with the sparkling moments you deserve.

P.S. That cake was actually still delicious after one year. I knew I’d made the right choice when I hired Elegant Temptations!

Sanrio 50th Anniversary Small Gift Miami Event

Art & Culture, Travel & Miami, , , ,

With Art Basel coming to a close in South Florida, I decided to indulge my inner child in a tour around the Wynwood gallery dedicated to Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary Small Gift Miami event, complete with a mini tattoo studio for those hard-pressed to leave their childhood memories behind.

Though the Small Gift Events were limited to Los Angeles and Miami, the pop-up shop tour stopped in cities all across the United States and will wrap in New York City on December 9 and 10.

My very understanding husband snapped pics while I squealed and ran around pointing and gawking at the many incarnations and interpretations of Hello Kitty and Friends. Here’s a look at the culmination of art in celebration of 50 years of Sanrio.

   

   

   

Rebi’s Closet

Fashion & Beauty, Shopping & Deals

Few things have the power to set a girl straight quite like a glass of wine with friends or a little retail therapy. Having experienced the former quite recently (read: 45 minutes ago), I can attest to this wholeheartedly. A few weeks ago, however, my friend Rebecca hosted what is quite possibly the most addicting happy hour I’ve experienced in my life – she’s managed to combine every girl’s favorite stress busters and turn them into an exclusive boutique shopping phenomenon. Quite frankly, I’m surprised no one thought to mix these two before.

Rebi’s Closet is the brain child of my dear friend Rebecca Varona, young entrepreneur and intuitive fashionista. The Miami native has begun what I hope will be a longstanding trend of boutique shopping wine parties that she customizes and delivers to your doorstep. My favorite thing is that I walked out the door with a heaping bag of goodies for less than $120.

I’ve decided to share the fun and host a shopping party of my own on December 10th. If you feel the urge to host your own little heavenly happy hour (and, honestly, why wouldn’t you? There’s even a hostess gift!), email Rebecca at rebis.closet@gmail.com. If you need some quality “Me time” or a last-minute party-ready outfit, she will also meet you for a private appointment if you call her at 786-873-8788. You’re welcome.

Phase 2 – The Kitchen Project

Home & Decor, Life & Family

I’m crouched in a corner of my kitchen admiring the angles of what finally has some semblance of the home improvement project I’d hoped to finish before Thanksgiving. My back is throbbing and my stomach is begging for something other than a cube of cheese and quarter cup of cranberry juice, but there’s nothing in that refrigerator that hasn’t already been promised to a guest or relative. No matter. In four days, I’ll be on a plane to Vegas savoring the kind of exhaustion that causes nightmare-free sleep. In the meantime, I enjoy the look of Phase 2 and wonder what I’d have done with just that much more of a budget. It’s a start…

  

  

A Little Panic, A Little Upgrade

Home & Decor, Life & Family

November has caused me a level of  anxiety akin to that of stage fright combined with first-date jitters. Not only is my first wedding anniversary less than 3 weeks away (with a trip to Vegas pretty much right after our pumpkin cheesecake), but the proverbial baton has been passed and I am now officially in charge of hosting the family Thanksgiving dinner at my (very small and hardly adequate) home.

In traditional Cuban-girl fashion, I have already panicked and read at least 2 Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving cookbooks. This, of course, was followed by yesterday’s impromptu trip to Ikea, mecca of all things cheap, chic, and Swedish. Phase one of my prep time turned into a living room makeover for under $130 (pics below – we basically bought a large mirror and small side table and moved things around until they made sense). Phase two will consist of a kitchen renovation, currently underway. Phase three will undoubtedly involve some sort of muscle relaxer and a bottle of champagne. Check back often and see if I survive.

   

db Bistro Moderne – JW Marriott Marquis Miami

Food & Drink, Travel & Miami, ,

 

Last night, I had the rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain of the new, polished and pristine JW Marriott Marquis Miami. Scheduled for a grand opening this month, I was invited to test the db Bistro Moderne, a little gem of a french restaurant by James Beard Foundation award-winning chef Daniel Boulud. The concept is traditional French cuisine blended with flavors of the American market.

I wish I could tell you I was thorough enough to (stop, breathe, put the fork down and) take some pictures of the many varied perfectly prepared dishes we indulged in (grouper, steak, roast chicken, among a slew of appetizers that barely had names before being devoured by 3 individuals badly in need of a decent meal), but I did regain my sensibility by the time dessert came around. The JW Marriott Marquis Miami opens tomorrow. We hope to return to put a dent in that wine cellar soon.

  

  

Halloween on Lincoln Road

Travel & Miami

Lincoln Road never disappoints with the crazies (and that’s on any regular Tuesday night). Here are pics from our night out on Sunday. I had a great time, despite the fact that no one had any idea what I was dressed as. I guess I’m the queen of obscure references. Regardless, I think our little group had some great costumes to show off (especially Tony and his Chespirito tribute). Check out pics below. Oh, and, though I’m a day late, feliz  Dia de los Muertos. Enjoy!

   

   

Happy Halloween!

General

Happy Halloween, kiddies! I feel like a kid at Christmas. Tony and I spent last night stitching up and putting finishing touches on our costumes while watching Friday the 13th (unfortunately, it was Michael Bay’s 2009 version). So far today, I have celebrated by making lunch while singing along (very loudly) to the Rocky Horror Picture Showsoundtrack as Tony played Dead Rising. Next up, Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye and lots of bubbly in preparation for Lincoln Road followed by the premier of Walking Dead. I’ll be sure to post pics of our costumes. For now, here’s my witch pinup pic, courtesy of Terribly Girly. However you celebrate, wishing everyone a magical day! xoxo