You know how I was talking about Fro-Yo?

This is the new place I'm addicted to. It's like TCBY for the 2011! And it's self-serve so I love it because you can control your "mix". My mix is plain vanilla with mini dark chocolate chips and strawberries. So good. But then the other day I got mint and chocolate fro-yo with thin mints and oreos. YUM!

Don'tcha love local news?

Brace Yourselves...

...It's Casa Batlló time! This was by-far one of my favorite things we went to in Barcelona, and on our entire trip as well. It was truly nothing like anything I'd ever seen before. Casa Batlló is one of Gaudi's most popular designs. It's an apartment building quietly sitting on a beautiful block of buildings near La Rambla.

Y'All get ready for a lot of pictures (couldn't narrow them down)...

Tile, tile, and more tile. The facade looks "skeletal"

THE window to have.

A rainbow of tile...

Looking up.

Stairway - backbone, anyone? Gaudi was not subtle.

Just your average window...

Gaudi employed a bunch of VERY skilled artisans for all the craftsmanship of this apartment.

I got arty-farty again...

Skylights, woodwork, stained glass, oh my!

THE window from inside.

Best craftroom ever, right?

Chandelier | Window.

Old | New | NewOld

Seriously. These doors.

Shell-like ceiling.

Arches like I've never seen...

This is how Gaudi chandeliers.

Looking out.

This tilework is on the patio in the back of the property.

So, after I'd been to NY for the first time, I'd watch tv and be all "I've been there! And there! And there!"...you suddenly recognize all these iconic locations that are on tv all the time....or, you get back from Spain and promptly resume watching cultural garbage like Jersey Shore and what do you notice on the walls of those guido kids' beach house?

If you are me you're all, "omigod, that artwork is of the tile in Casa Batlló!"
True story.

This is looking up at the roof from the back of the property. More tile.

Ok now. The atrium. Can I get a witness? He graduated the blue tones of the tile so that it got darker as it got closer to the top. This gave the illusion of space and light, the lighter tile being at the bottom of the bldg where the least amount of light was, and the darker tile at the top with the most light. You get it...

There was an actual apartment in this bldg that is occupied! Lucky Person.

Again. Picture taken through the glass lining the stairwell...Gaudi is not being subtle about his water reference...

Cool eh?

I died when I saw this door. Custom font numbers too!

Top floor hallway.

I mean, vertebrae, right?

Then...at the end of the tour...holographic Gaudi? Somehow this seemed wrong and weird.

Finally: THE ROOF!

Chimneys. I think.

Dragon's back? Oh and some religion. Gaudi loves to sprinkle some Catholicism everywhere.

Three sisters.

Rooftop looking down into the neighbors yard. Neighborhood mansion watch!

This neighbor's yard is in my opinion awesome. Wonder if they do weddings.

Look at this guy. Awesome fiance. With some light reflections arty fartiness.

Sittin' on a Gaudi sculpture.

Making him pose too.

Couples!!!

Another awesome building on this block.

It's good to know your neighbors. If you live in a Gaudi house.

You Guys, if you go to Barcelona - Casa Batlló is an absolute MUST SEE!!!

Art Framing I Was Talking About

Here ya go...a pic of that easy way to frame art that I'd mentioned, found via Apartment Therapy (what isn't on that site?). Aight have fun gettin' your DIY on with this one!

Ask MansionMogul.

Enjoy yourselves a Vitamin-D-crazed "Ask MansionMogul" edition from Palo Alto, California:

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I love all the questions! Keep them coming readers! What's on your mind? Do you need advice or ideas? Go ahead in the comments and Ask MM :)

La Rambla Boqueria Market

While in Barcelona we went to the most amazing market EVER!!! Omigod You Guys - if you go to Barcelona you HAVE to go here. The Boqueria Market was full of all kinds of abundant fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, olives, omg the list goes on and on. Lots of these things I'd never seen before which was the best part!

Even the entrance is dramatic with colored glass...

Booo-ya! I die for the gorgeous color of these tomatoes.

Spanish ham - US customs no likey. FYI.

GAH! Mushrooms!!!

"Barnacles" - what do you do with these!? They're weird and pretty.

I think these are sweet potatoes.

Beautiful eggs!

Monochromatic fish!

More fish!

Seafood galore!

Get a look at that tuna - right?

This is disgusting and I can barely look at it. But I had to put it on here for you people. Documentation purposes.

Hot Spanish guys serving people Tapas. Tapas is a real thing.

Peppers and spices.

Poms.

OLIVES - hollah

Our picnic spot.

Stained glass n' stuff

Spicy chorizo sticks - we got one, it was fabulous.

CHEEEEEEEESES

Nuts!

We didn't get this, but I mean how amazing does it look???

I've never seen smoothies look so gorgeous. I got one. It was too watermeloney.

Once we'd been to this market I felt like I'd really been to Barcelona. So fantastic!