Tapas

Hi Lovelies!!



Okay so I am still super de duper stoked about everything which is such a great way to feel. Good news the website is looking like it will be up in mid March which is AWESOME. Anyway I have so many things to dish with you all but with building the website and researching and all the other things that I do I have not been able to post everyday but when the website gets up I will go back to posting everyday. Now lets get down to business, this weekend I went thrifting (more to come on a later post) and out for tapas and sangria. Tapas which originated in Spain are small bites or appetizers that can be served hot or cold. After shopping there are a great way to end the night and also a great way to begin an evening of partying. We went to Peoples which is located at 1560 N Milwaukee Ave in Chicago. The atmosphere is very comfortable like a lounge with relaxing latin music playing in the background. Its kind of like a loft with exposed walls and high ceilings and each table has a couple of candles to set the mood. Oh and what's really cool about it is that they feature local artists work on the walls! As well as a great view over looking Milwaukee Ave. Enough about the ambiance and lets get down to the vittles. The food itself was fresh, tasty, and innovative. The compotes/sauces were complimentary to every dish which is a big thing for me because I tend to feel like some places just add things to make you dish look pretty and that is annoying. There were two dishes that I really liked the first was the  empanada de cerdo which is sweet chili pork empanadas with Belgium beer ailoi. Empanadas are another latin dish its like a Jamaican beef patty but bigger and flakier. The second one was the salmon tostada (which was very shocking because I HATE FISH seriously I hate it) which consisted of citrus vodka cured salmon with mascarpone chive cream cheese it was very yummy and fresh. We also had the tortilla which consisted of a traditional egg and potato omelet with melted manchego with this dish whats not to like?! Datiles con bacon came next this dish consisted of bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese I have had this dish before and it was terrific but it was too sweet at Peoples. Last but not least we had deep fried polenta with a red pepper compote polenta is the Italian answer to grits its a boiled cornmeal (I know sounds horrible but I promise you its amazing) Anyway it was okay but I still prefer my polenta to be boiled....So overall I liked Peoples but I do think that going to other Tapa lounges will give you more bang for you buck...cuz I really do love Cafe ba-ba-rebas. Oh yeah I almost forgot about the Sangria...what is the world coming too???!!! Just like anyplace you can choose white or red and then they give you a choice of six or seven rums....the fruit was fresh but the sangria was nothing to write home about....So below I have attached some pics and I would like to apologize for the fuzzy shots I had my camera set on the wrong shooting mode...Enjoy

Always,

Curly Bella

Pork Empanadas

Fried Polenta

Datiles con Bacon

Tortilla

Exciting News!!!!!

Hi lovelies,

Sooooo I am really liking the new expansion of my blog it feels complete and in order to have a more creative feel to the blog I am constructing a website!!! Yep I am so excited I can not wait to move to my new home!!!!! I plan on debuting the new website in the spring either March or April...it all depends on me. But anyway I am working day and night on the website and I can not wait to share it with you...okay just a quick blog to let you all know what is going on in my neighborhood!


Always,

Curly Bella

Stylin n Profilin

Hello lovelies!

Ugh super irritated at my hubby I recorded a vid of me cutting my split ends and he deleted it on mistake...UGH!! So we will have to wait for the next time whomp whomp...anyway being a busy Mom I have run into a quick easy hair style, what good luck I have!!! So this is how it goes...I take my bottle of distilled water and my spritz (check my older posts) and place my hair in big twists then I place those in Nubian knots. I cover my hair with a scarf and then sleep the night away, this takes me all of 15 min...Once I wake up I take my hair down pull the twists apart then I rock it! I included a short vid...this is so easy!! I have been rocking this hairstyle all week long and I love it!!! Its last about two days then I just redo...check out the video and if you have any quick and easy hairstyles let me know


Always,

Curly Bella

Soul Searching

Hello lovelies,

So a couple of months ago I decided to change my style up...instead of rocking a few vintage/soho/rock pieces I want to fully incorporate those styles into my everyday wear...so like anything that you are trying to change about yourself you all know that it is a struggle just because you are going out of your comfort zone. I detest whatever is trendy except for shoes ; * because anyone can go to a store and pick out an outfit but it takes a true fashionista to make her own. With that being said I hit up some of my spots that I have been going to since high school and bought some pretty cool things. I also want to let you all know that you will find the best things at the thrift stores or garage sales...check out the items below

Happy Shopping,

Curly Bella

A cute little clutch $5.00 at a thrift store

Vintage style earrings $2.00 at a garage sale

Silver flower ring $0.50 at a garage sale

Rose clutch with silver chain $5.00 at H&M

New Year New Blog!!!

 Hello hello hello!!!!

Okay so I have decided to re purpose my blog....when you are new to something you just kind of stick to what you are comfortable with...but then I decided that I am so much more than my hair....and from reading other peoples blogs..I knew that I wanted to incorporate so much more into my blog. With that being said I am going to chat about everything that I find interesting. From cooking to technology to photography to clothing to crafts to books all things that I enjoy doing...So I welcome you to join me on my journey of shopping creating living and being fab....sit back enjoy the ride!



Always,

Verano

1 Year Anniversary of My Big Chop!!!!!!!!

Hello to all of my lovely naturals,

I know its been awhile but all three of my computers were malfunctioning so my hubby rigged one for me so I could forage on and blog. Yep you read it! It has been a year since I stood in my bathroom with a pair of shears and parted with my limp dead chemically treated locks. I still remember the feeling of anxiety plus freedom mixed with a little fear once I cut the last lock off. I only had my hair cut that short once before that and I was totally helpless and had to rely on my beautician to do everything for my hair. Not this time! I cut off my last lock washed my hair and began twisting it....guys it was so short in some spots that I thought that it would not be long enough for twists...I also did another trimming in May because in Feb I did not get all of the chemically treated hair off. Today I talked to my husband about how much I love my hair and he smiled and said well I am very happy....it looks like you love it, its always shiny, your ends are trimmed, you are always trying out different hairstyles...you have come along way. He pretty much summed it up this has been a wonderful journey and I want to thank the whole natural hair care community for being a support system. Especially to those of you who read my blog; not just for reading it but f also for sending me personal messages about what works for you and what you thought I missed or what I should talk about. I am so happy to be on this journey that I hope it never ends...so with that said I did a little video for you all enjoy...oh and remember naturally you is the only way to be.


Always,

Verano

Product Review

Hello to all of my lovely naturals,

So I have been looking for a reason to buy Shea Moisture's Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie and coming up empty. Lucky for me my bestie decided to cut his hair off and gave me his. First it smells lovely now on to the real stuff. Now you all know that I like Shea Moisture because it is all natural but I am kind of peeved because it does not come with directions but I guess they figure you can use it any way you would like to. So I washed my hair with my home made shampoo and conditioned with my trader joes conditioner and then applied this to my hair. When it first goes on it is kind of thick and white and you have to work it in so once I did that I looked in the mirror and I could see that my curls were defined. Then I twisted it up in fat twists and let it air dry over night....Ummm my hair felt so dry like brittle it was horrible but it looked great. So I am at a cross roads with this product I will have to try it again and maybe instead of only putting this product on my hair I will first moisturize my hair and then see how it goes. It kind of sucks because I really want to try to wash and go but it is colder than a witches tit outside so that is a no go. Okay so my over all rating is a 5 out of 10 because I like how thick it is, the smell is amazing, and it did define my curls but I didn't like the way that it left my hair feeling parched after my twist out. I am happy that I didn't spend my money on it but I will give it another try. So you can pick up this product at Target and it cost $9.99 Have you had different or similar results with this product? Let me know


Always,

Verano