Park Güell

More from Spain! Here were are at Park Güell, another of Gaudi's fine places to visit. It's amaaaazing!!! So gorgeous looking over the city...and oh my the TILE. THE TILE, PEOPLE. Have a look...

This is where I "GraphicDesign-ed" Keene. He was all "that's weird, that type looks 70's" and I was like - that's because it's nouveau, which had a renaissance in the 70's! I almost NEVER get to school him :)

Dragon fountain guy.

Um....TILE.

...more TILE, oh and there's my fiancé.

Loved all the tile!

Whaaaaa?

I died.

Up the stairs to the park, benches on your right...

I want this in my backyard!

I also want it in Seattle.

Benches with a view.

The view. I give you...Barcelona.

You can't win 'em all. I wanted this tourist to take our pic with more of the view in the background. Not everyone's an awesome photog like me.

Looking down from the park above.

Wide open area of the park: vendors, musicians, people strolling.

Couples self-pic again!

The dudes were awesome. Can you spy Keene?

Cafe up above the park.

Isn't it fabulous?

This is the clearest pic I could manage of this awesome lizard guy. It is a popular picture spot.

Can't get enough benches. Thank you, Gaudi.

Amight? Was Gaudi a pimp or what? Seattle needs a Gaudi.

Sagrada Familia

I couldn't decide which pics to post, and which not to of our Sagrada Família images, so you're getting all of them! Deal wit it. This place is amazing though - I'm so glad I saw it in person. Gaudi's masterpiece roman catholic gothic-style church, and it's still being built, as you can see from all the cranes in these pics. They were working on it the day we were there, which was pretty cool to see as well. Wikipedia says construction "passed the mid-way point in 2010", so it's only half complete! I wonder if it will be completed in our lifetimes...that would be sweet...Group trip to Barcelona, 2070!

...Right?

Heart Gaudi

Work in progress...

The other (older?) side...

I like how the cranes look like part of it...

That dude loved himself some finials...

It's me! See, I was really there.

Organic + Religious. Strange AND cool.

Newer side, I think...

Look at golden Jesus up there!

It was really cool. I HIGHLY recommend going to Barcelona, checking everything Gaudi out. AHMAZING.

It's Over!!!

I barely survived. And we don't even have kids. And we didn't even host anything. Ack! Mom and Dad how did you do it?

I love my birthday but I swear every year with everything happening back-to-back it is just too much! I'm excited that next year will be my boring ole 31st and I will be able to just go to Burgermaster and rent a movie and call it a night.

I know you guys would never buy it if I told you I haven't been reading blogs over the holiday. LIES! I always find ways to read them. Books are for people who still have good eyesight! Pshaw! Anyway, here's some fun stuff I found around the web while in my holiday coma...

A "White Pom Gimlet" via CHS. I can barely think about alcohol still but I thought this drink looked "holiday" without being overly-so, right?

1.5 ounces Stoli White Pomegranik
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a basil leaf and pomegranate seeds.
---------
I'm not a mom, but I'm still amazed by moms like my friend, Carrie, who are finding the time to make their own baby food. It sounds so much healthier than Gerber and it looks pretty too! Check out how she does it on her blog here.

---------
I've only been engaged for less than a month and I can feel the insanity creeping in...love this post by "A Practical Wedding" about the reality of the "big day" and what to expect.
---------
Here's those felt balls again...I think it may be time for me to learn how to felt. {Felt ball garland via Craft}

---------
Would it be December without another "toadstool" craft? {via Craft again}

---------
Molly never fails to put awesome quotes on her blog:
"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you."
-Henry Ward Beecher
Ima try and live by this one a little more in 2011.
---------
And despite being exhausted...I still had a nice time this Christmas. A quick list of things I'm grateful for:
My Family, and my soon-to-be Family.
My Fiance. It was so fun to go to all the Holiday gatherings as newly engaged :)
My Friends.
Our home. I missed having one together - it was worth the wait!
Seattle. Thank you for not dumping snow on us this year, Seattle. I got a peek at the mountains a few times this month and they were breathtaking.

You guys ready for more Europe trip pics? Yeah. I still have lots more from Spain!!! New goal: be done blogging Europe before 2011...

Book 'em Danno, I'm Three-O!

I'm not one of those gals who likes to hide her age....IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I'M THIRTY YEARS OLD!!!!! You guys I'm so excited to be thirty - is that weird? It's like a huge relief or something! I'm so ready to celebrate tonight with all my friends and cupcakes and some awesome party music :) Goodbye twenties...hello thirties!!!

Please someone make sure I don't try and re-enact this 3 cocktails into my party tonight...

Ask MansionMogul

Hey, Y'all! Ask MM is back with a brand new addition...ha ha. Ok seriously though, I was not fully awake for this one. At one point I thought I heard someone at the door and would've cut that part out but I thought it was funny so you get to enjoy my look of concern mid-way through this video.

Here is the link you'll need if you'd like to have your microwave picked up for recycling. Excellent question btw, and if anyone has anything helpful to add, please comment!

And here is the link to my champagne cork ornaments. A delightfully fun project, in my opinion!

And links to some of my fave home styling blogs!
Design Sponge
Habitually Chic
Apartment Therapy
Decor8
Desire to Inspire
...........................................................................
Thanks for the fabulous questions, you are amazing readers! What would you like to know for next week? Ask away in the comments, friends! :)

Ok now, where were we...

I think we were in Barcelona. Then I got engaged and then I moved. It's been a big week :)

Ah yes...Spain.

Paella...check.

Arty Farty picture of Estrella Damm beers...check.

Sipping beer with boyfriend (historically accurate term)...check!

Ok now...I die. Do you die? I don't know why I loved this door so much...but WOW. There was graffiti like this all over the city. LOVE IT.

Pretty fountain in the courtyard. One of many!

Not just any old lamp post...Europe wouldn't do that! They go big on lamp posts.

And then I found my wedding dress....OMG...no.

Ok we went to check out this Gaudi (I think) building...I honestly can't remember what it was called but the finials were pretty rad.

Check 'em out...kindof lawn-art-esque. Think they sell a version at Home Depot?

I loved how everything in Barcelona was Nouveau and Gaudi-inspired. That dude really had an impact on everything and the city has a very distinct personality reflecting it.

I made Keene take my picture in front of the big "B"...

Took this while we were on our bus tour...more cool graffiti...

Fishies!

We walked along the beach! BEACH, people. In October.

All in search of this Frank Gehry fish sculpture. It was pretty cool. I liked the all-gold.

Look at us: BUS TOUR PEOPLE

La Rambla, the place where it's all happenin'

I LOVE palm trees! Or maybe just the weather they live in :)

Is Barcelona cool, or what? Funky public sculpture everywhere.

Cool planters/sculpture. And I rarely approve of sculpture. They do it right in this town.

COOL modern buildings that are actually nice to look at!

The "lipstick" building.

It's a sight to see.

Now we are going on over a month since our trip and my memory is already foggy! I can't remember if this was a bull fighting arena or a Jewish something or other. Or both!

I DIE FOR THIS BUILDING. This is a REAL building! Modern + Lavender. I LOVE IT!!!

La Sagrada Familia up next...it had to have it's own post :)