more little dates with the husband

W 5.15.13

• this week we had a few little dates
• first, after my Wednesday 7-9pm adult conversation class, we went to a burger place that is sort of on my way home, and that we heard was really good

• and I had been craving a good juicy cheese burger and fries off and on for the past couple weeks...despite the little Korean BBQ incident from Saturday (too much beef = 2 hours of vomiting...it was so painful)
• well, unfortunately, I think baby doesn't like beef in the burger form either
• I didn't get sick, but I definitely didn't feel well afterward...no more beef for a while (and I'm in the land of it!)
• I know what you're thinking: Becky, you ate a burger, fries and milkshake!  SO not healthy!
• I know, I know...but sometimes it hits the spot, ya know?
• Jake enjoyed his Be Frika burger and fries...but with these pregnancy hormones flying, I can't say I'm a fair judge...
• but I'll judge anyway...take it or leave it
• burger seemed a bit dry and very thick (like equivalent to 5 McD's burgers stacked up)...maybe would opt for their mini-burgers next time...their fries were fries...usually can't go wrong (funny side-note...many places here, including burger and fries joints, don't give you a bottle of ketchup or have one on the table...only packets...so you can imagine how many packets we went through...yikes! us 'mericans like ketchup with our fries ya'll!)
• oh, and the teen-lookint employees working behind the counter (both servers and cooks) seemed to be more interested in their cellphones than the guests/food (I really shouldn't sit so close to the kitchen...I'm getting old)

Th 5.16.13

• Thursday was a double-date kind of day for us
• Jake and I got to see all kinds of each other!
• first, we ran a few miles together to start off our day (don't be impressed, it was only 3 miles)
• then we took the bus together (que romantico!) and made our way downtown to the police station to get our fingerprints re-done, then to an office to sign some papers (all part of the glorious DNI renewal...my fave)

• but ya know, there's kinda something about being downtown amongst the hustle and bustle of a work day in a big city on a sunny day...and spending a few moments of that with a loved one is sort of nice...it's like you're not supposed to be together, like you're skipping class (or work) or something...hehe
• ...later that night after my evening class, we met at the Puerto Madero Cinemark for BA's premier of The Great Gatsby in 3D (been dying to see this movie...it was my 7th graders' reader last year and the book we based our end-of-year play on as well)
• here are the terrible photos I tried to take with my super sad Blackberry camera phone:
• first, our delicious dinner and a movie menu: Coca-Cola (what? never drink this stuff, but for some reason, it sounded good), sweet popcorn, sweet/sour gummy worms, and a Snickers bar...dinner of champions folks!

•  another terrible shot...but here's me at the end...haha...loved the modern-ish style and Jay-Z music throughout

• book/story still isn't my favorite (think it's a little weird) but the movie followed the book very well and had fun twists and over-the-top party scenes and wardrobes to keep it interesting
• one last little thing...I gotta give a shout out to Jake...the whole online ticket-purchasing has been  faulty lately (or always), so after I tried and failed to buy them online several times, then in person at our neighborhood Cinemark, Jake hiked his way over to the PM location to get our tickets the day in advance...it was the premier you know! sure to be sold out in a jiffy!
• ...but...as it turns out...I think there were maybe 5 other couples in the theater...hehe
• THANKS husband for getting the tickets, and especially for a fun week of mini-dates!!!

a bit on cafes

• favorite part of BA is the cafe culture...hands down
• I can safely say that this is definitely one thing (maybe the only...haha jk) I'll miss about living here

this photo has nothing to do with cafes...it's just a mural that I pass on my way to different jobs...kinda like it

• I often find myself getting work done/checking e-mail/recharging at cafes in between schools and classes...which is fun for me, because I get to try out a variety of cafes in the city...and compare how good their medialunas are (DANGER!)
• on that note...I have some shots to share
• if you haven't noticed yet, I have this thing for photographing food...I should really take a class on it or something to improve my skills...
• but anyway, some things are just too good not to document
• like this one:

DO NOT go here! corner of Paraná and Tucuman; Tribunales

• let me explain
• I was early to an interview, so I stopped in the cafe on the corner to try out their medialunas, I think it's called Paraná Cafe or something...
• most cafes have some sort of medialuna combo deal like "cafe con leche con dos medialunas por 20 pesos" or even better "cafe con leche, dos (or tres!) medialunas, y jugo de naranja por 22 pesos", or "cafe con leche, una medialuna, jugo de naranja y agua por 12 pesos" (you get the idea)
• this place offered the 12 peso combo^^^...what a steal!
• and if you can't tell...my water glass arrived at the table empty
• I got a kick out of this, but was not too surprised when observing the waitress a bit closer...she was literally talking on her phone while delivering people's food and checks...no surprise that she forgot to fill my water glass

• another day, I had a private lesson followed by an adult institute class...the private student cancelled so I found myself here ordering tea
• it came out like this:

• how fun! the little rooster was actually a pot holder, which you used on the kettle's handle to pour out your tea...nice!

• then there are sometimes when you get really pretty coffee, like at LATTEnTE in Palermo Soho (Thames 1891)

• moving on to churros, which happen to be popular here...so of course, I expect something similar to the delicious, hot, gooey ones at Taco Bell
• but when you buy them at a bakery here, they're cold...and since they were fried, they taste awful
• but after reading this review of the magical "churro/hot chocolate combo", I thought I'd better give it another shot
• so last week I hit up the #1 churro/hot chocolate place on the list, La Giralda
• OMG...

• it was exactly what you want in a fatty, greasy churro...perfect temperature, perfect filling, perfect amount of sugar...and combined with uber-rich, quality hot chocolate...
• I think my blood sugar level sky-rocketed...better cut out sugar for the rest of the week!
• this place is conveniently near two of my work locations...we'll see if I can stay away

• last, a note on the cafe menu in BA
• your most common beverages are:
• cafe con leche (basically a latte...half milk/half coffee)
• cortado (more coffee than milk)
• lagrima (milk with a tear drop (lagrima means tear) of coffee...who really gets this?...oh, I did, the pregnant lady over here decided to try it out...trying to cut back on caffeine, you know)
• here you can see all three next to each other...can you tell which is which?

• well, that's all I got for now...I'm sure you'll be seeing many more of my cafe photos in the future...
• there's just something about non-chain cafes...and coffee served with a little treat...(I think they do it to compensate for their not-so-tasty-coffee)...but really, just gets me here!

Mother's Day

• HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Christmas 1983...every mother's hair-do in the early 80's

• we are so grateful to have mothers who have always been kind, loving, and generous...
• Happy Mother's Day Ann Feauto and Mary La Liberte!  We love you both so much!

• we're kind of sort of celebrating Mother's Day a little bit over here...and...
• we are extremely thrilled to announce that we are expecting a little bundle this November!

5 weeks

• a mini porteño/porteña is quickly growing inside my tummy...and we could hardly wait to share the news!

7 weeks

• as of today, I am 12 weeks, 5 days according to our first ultrasound two weeks ago

1st ultrasound! 10 weeks 4 days

lil' nugget fist pump

10 weeks 5 days ...first lil' outfit

• we celebrated a bit today by heading to Felicidad for brunch

12 weeks 5 days...can you see the little bump? I promise it's very prominent after eating a large meal ;)

future daddy

amazing apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and Oregon Chai Tea!
(had to slip this one in)

• we're thinking of and praying for all the mamas and future mamas out there...
• and especially thinking of our own moms today...we promise someday soon we will get to celebrate mother's day together...
• and until then, we will keep in mind all you have taught us about being a good parent through your amazing example and unconditional love
• hopefully our little nugget will have a mother that is just like its grandmas :)

kumquats and moths

W 5.1.13

• today is International Workers' Day, so we didn't have to work
• I've recently started teaching an adult conversation class on Wednesday evenings, but it was cancelled tonight due to the holiday
• last class I mentioned this, and that I didn't know what the day off was for exactly, and my students embarrassingly pointed out that it's International Workers' Day and that it  began in Chicago...how silly of me
• all I know about is Labor Day and May Day (where we'd get and give baskets of candy from/to neighbors)
• anyway, we'll take another feriado
• today we discovered two things:

• the culprit, or as Jake calls it, "that hot-damn cotorra", who's been picking, peeling, and sort of eating our kumquats!

• Jake's gotta get out his ol' sling shot to scare them away
• and the second thing...

• moths in our 1 kilo, $96 peso bag of walnuts

• again, what's with our apartment and infestations...or our bad luck with food purchases down here?!
• aside from dealing with pests, we had a great day of sleeping in, running, and getting some work done around here...we should definitely have Wednesdays off every week...sure is a great way to re-energize mid-week!
• p.s....last thing...our friend Adam was in town for work a couple weeks ago...was so nice of him to invite us over to his fancy hotel pool to relax our Sunday away (meanwhile it is still snowing in the midwest...what's going on back home?!?!)

• THANKS ADAM!  LOVED HANGING OUT WITH YOU! ;)

Date Night

Th 4.11.13

• let me just start by saying, I love date nights
• Jake and I go out a fair amount whether it be for coffee, a meal, to a market, with friends...but we rarely call it a date 
• this week, Jake surprised me with dinner reservations for Thursday night at an Italian restaurant, Olivetti, that had opened in our neighborhood almost a year ago, but we hadn't been
• after ordering, we were given various types of bread in this cute little paper bag...served with an eggplant tapenade

•  we also got an appetizer of seafood tempura to tide us over while Jake's massive meat dish was grilling

•  then our main courses arrived...Jake's meat kabobs with french fries and steamed spinach

•  and my mushroom and cheese ravioli

•  we debated between heading to the helado place down the street, or trying a menu item
• we went with what was like a chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream...it was a good choice

•  we even got complimentary limoncello for an after dinner drink, served in these cute mini green goblets!

• would definitely recommend Olivetti!
• we had a lovely evening out...a night where we didn't have to cook or do dishes
• thanks, husband for planning a date night! 

Mis Amigas in BA!

W 3.20.13

• girls arrived safely!
• took them to the bus station that night where they bravely took the overnight bus to Mendoza (12+ hours!...they said it ended up being great)
• I was sad that I couldn't join them...Jake and I slaved away at work until their return
• they thoroughly loved sipping on loads of wine in the mountains of Mendoza!

Sa 3.23.13

• girls back in BA...did a bit of hanging out, catching up, and relaxing...
• before dinner at Artemisia 

• then we went out, starting with drinks at 878
• the party continued to Plaza Serano in Palermo SoHo, where we found a bar with outdoor seating to enjoy the nice evening and people watching in the plaza
• our last stop was the alluring BA Cultural, where a Beatles cover band was pulling us in, begging us to sit down and listen.  so we did
• the girls made it until about 3am, which is when the discos really get hoppin', but these chicas had been traveling pretty much non-stop since Tuesday...so I let them go home...and was proud of their endurance

Su 3.24.13

• today was the San Telmo Market, complete with always interesting sites:

• mouth-watering choripan:

• and numerous good purchases

check out all those mate gourds!!!

• Sunday night dinner included vegetable stir fry and pear, feta, walnut salad on the terrace

M 3.25.13

• today I got to join the girls in a little outlet shopping before having to go to work
• here is a random photo of the school (not where I teach) near our house...Rachael named it "The Titty School" thanks to its freshly painted graffiti

• Monday night we had reservations at La Brigada in San Telmo, a traditional parilla that both Katie and I had heard good things about
• the decor was quite charming, 

futbol-obsessed culture

• and the meat plentiful

this is in addition to our bread basket, provoleta, salads, and vino

• then it just so happened that a helado shop I'd been wanting to try was just down the block, Nonna Bianca...was a nice change from the chain helado shops

Tu 3.26.13

• I very happily took Tuesday afternoon off work to join the girls in a Bike Tour of the heart of the city (South Side, Puerto Madero, and the center)

• I hadn't yet been to the neighborhood of La Boca, so I was excited to check it out
• here is a shot of the infamous bombonera (shaped like a box of chocolates...?) home of the Boca Juniors futbol team 

• we then biked our way down the street to Caminito, the area famous for its colorful buildings

• then it was time to make our way to Puerto Madero
• but it wouldn't be a bike tour without a small hiccup or two...hehe
• Katie's bike maybe got a flat...and our Dutch tour guide, Joe, put a bad tube on first, and had to do it all over again...oops

• but we were rolling again in no time
• we learned a bit about the port's history before riding over to the nature reserve which unfortunately happened to be closed to bikers due to yesterday's rain :(
• by now it was lunch time

• I was super excited that the girls got to experience  the carritos' (food stands') enormous, delicious bondiola sandwiches near the nature reserve (previously written about here and here)
• after lunch we headed over to the Casa Rosada (pink house) and Plaza de Mayo, then finished back in San Telmo where we began
• Joe shared some cookies and mate, made with sweet juice instead of hot water...not too bad
• then we were off...the girls did a bit more touring around the Congress building, and I had to head back to prepare for work that evening
• I picked up some fresh curly noodle pasta (like this) and sauce on my way home from work to have for dinner that evening
• for dessert, we walked to our neighborhood go-to (delicious and affordable!) helado shop, Nicolo...
• tasty end to a great day!

W 3.27.13

• school just happened to be cancelled today, so I got to join the girls first for breakfast at Croque Madame (always a classy favorite)

• then to Recoleta cemetery and the mansions nearby

• next to Croque Madame is the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, which wasn't open until the afternoon, so on our walk back toward home, we stopped in for a quick tour
• it was pretty magnificent to me...especially the great room's fireplace...crazy to think one family used to live in this beautiful, grand home...the neoclassical house was built in the early 1900's for the high-society couple, Matías Errazúriz and Josefina de Alvear
• next we went to the Evita Museum, located in our neighborhood

• this lady had quite the wadrobe!

• but besides admiring her fashion, we each learned something new about either Argentina, or about Evita herself

• Wednesday night was pizza night at El Cuartito, one of BA's best!

• after dinner was a quick exterior view of the Teatro Colon, then home to pack for Uruguay

Th 3.28.13

• early morning flight to Montevideo, Uruguay
• rented a car and headed into town
• checked in at our super nice hotel, Regency Rambla, right on the water (Jake and I got our first upgrade ever in our lives...sweet!)

• then we were off to explore the city
• a lot of people compare Montevideo to Buenos Aires, except it makes much better use of its coastline with beaches and walking paths, etc.
• the city itself it quite reminiscent of a smaller BA, with its neat architecture and plazas

• the girls humored me with a photo in front of this ridiculous store display...aren't the mannequins weird?

• we grabbed lunch in town, went to a market, then back to the hotel to enjoy some time on the beach before the sun went down
• sadly upon arrival to Uruguay a stomach bug worsened for Rachael, so she was off and on feeling well enough to join us for certain activities for the rest of the trip...but she sure was a trooper and fought through it...and at least got to enjoy some beach time over the next couple days (none of us girls were feeling really great during this week...sometimes that's what travel does to ya! good thing we're tough)

• that night we went to a really nice restaurant right on the water, Hemingway

Jake's tuna

my gnocchi

F 3.29.13

• GOOD MORNING! this is what we could see from our (upgraded) room's window: 

• I briefly opened my eyes to take a peek before falling back on my pillow
• Jake, however, got dressed, grabbed the camera and headed over to the beach to get some better shots of sunrise

• beautiful start to our day at the beach
• we drove the 1.5 hours up to Punta del Este and immediately went to this beach:

Can you spot me and Jake?

beach babes

• we spent the day in the sun reading, sleeping, swimming, enjoying

• Jake couldn't get enough of crashing around in the waves

• while the ladies mostly took comfort in our rented sun chairs (some of us may have forgotten our sunscreen...)

Sa 3.30.13

• beach day 2, we headed further north to Bikini Beach for a couple hours before we needed to head back to Montevideo to catch our bus/ferry
• some people opted to seek shade (aka check out the life guards ;)

• and the rest enjoyed our last couple hours of sun...such a rare treat on an Easter weekend

• for lunch we were eager to try one of Uruguay's famous sandwich, the chivito
• so we found this diner-style cafe, Rex, that said they had the best chivito in town...

• ...and they had outdoor seating overlooking the surfers!

• we were sold
• and their chivito maybe was the best in town!
• it surely did not disappoint...all of that beef filet, mayo, mozzarella, tomato, bacon, lettuce, egg, and ham yummy, yummy goodness...and the fries and vanilla milkshake were just the cherry on top!

• unfortunately our ferry from Montevideo to BA wasn't quite so simple
• we were not aware that our tickets included a 1.5 hour charter bus ride from Montevideo to the Colonia port...then we had to wait in line for about an hour for our delayed ferry...getting us back into BA super late
• but we made it

Su 3.31.13

• Happy Easter!
• a few of us got up to go to mass
• stopped and picked up a traditional sweet bread (Rosca de Pascua, Easter Ring Bread) on our way home to add to our brunch menu (something like this)
• then we got to cooking...the girls had graciously provided the ingredients for our meal and prepared the egg bake the night before...we also made french toast and cut up some fresh fruit to go along with our mimosas and coffee

• enjoyed one final meal on our terrace

• before the girls sadly took their evening taxi to the airport
• THANKS FOR VISITING US GIRLS!!! hope you enjoyed your journey south!  we did :)