Star Wars Fiesta

A year ago my husband turned 30.  To commemorate this milestone birthday I wanted to surprise him.  Knowing him he would just want to have burgers and watch a movie, simple guy.  But I wanted to celebrate bigger, I have only known him since he was 19.   I thought, what does John love... menudo and Star Wars............. So a surprise brunch was born!  I made pozole for the first time and my sister-in-law brought the menudo.  

As you can see we munched on fruit salad with Tajín and lime and micheladas.  His cake was from Nothing Bundt Cakes (kept it easy).  

Click through to see the rest of the photos, especially the piñata!

One Year Wedding Anniversary Piñata

Wedding photos by Ashley Lynn Richards 

For our 2014 día de los muertos wedding I chose to use a piñata for our one year anniversary advice notes.  So on our 1 year anniversary, November 1, 2015, John and I laid in bed and read the messages.   For the piñata my friends helped with the diy portion and spray painted a store bought donkey gold.  I simply printed out cards on cardstock for our wedding guests to write their message and place in the donkey.   The notes were endearing, comical and full of love. 

The notes will someday make it in a scrapbook and cherished forever.  

(Continue reading to see photos of the opening of the piñata.)

DIY Lemonade Cap

I don't live with any regrets, except for one... not wearing my fur coat to the Formation concert.  So instead I wore it to take the photos for this easy DIY.   Beyoncé (and team) continue to woo and  awe us with all that they do.  Though personally I wasn't that impressed by Ivy Park.   Her Boycott Beyoncé tees, Beyhive Boys tees among the slew of slay worthy items in her merch booth at concerts and some available online on her website.  

The Formation World Tour

When Beyoncé announced her tour via a commercial after her Superbowl performance I got the chills.   She dominated the half-time stage and the world knew an album was imminent.   My niece's birthday was also approaching soon after tickets went on sale so I jumped at the idea of gifting her a ticket to see the Queen B with me.  Genna turned 14 and loves to dance, Beyoncé would be her first concert.   

Seeing Yoncé was a spectacle.   The visuals of the transitions and of each song were amazing.  At one point Blue Ivy came on the huge screen in a transition and the entire crowd screamed.  Prior to the show I had checked her set list and I made a Spotify playlist with all of the songs to listen to leading up to the big day so I had an idea of what songs to expect.   What I loved most is she didn't do the album versions of the songs.  Kitty Kat for example she only sang a portion of in a sultry voice while patting her kitty kat.   Most songs had samples of other songs (like The Doors 5 to 1 sample in Ring the Alarm).  The wall at the rear of the stage was made completely of speakers and the rectangular prism of a screen opened and rotated throughout her set.  This was all part of the THX experience, much like at the beginning of a movie it you hear the sound effect we heard it just before she opened with Formation.  

I captured all photos with my Olympus OM-D EM10 (zoom lens, though yes, the Rose Bowl only allows lenses that are no bigger than 3.5").   I also captured a few dozen videos but editing them together will take a bit longer.  

 

Spring Cleaning & a Hanging Bedside Table

If you're anything like me, when you need to get down to work (think homework or blog work or work-work) you need to have a clean workspace or environment around you.   This past week that is exactly what I've been attempting to focus on- cleaning.   I'll pick a room and deep clean as much as possible (while taking small breaks of course).   Yesterday I focused on our bedroom.  Busted out the carpet cleaner and cleaned our rug! Gasp!