Nicaragua-Who would have guessed?

Being raised in a Nicaraguan home one would think I knew tons about it, but not the case. I did know we had great food and strong tempers. Well looking a bit more in depth I realized that we had amazing beaches, volcanoes, and yes FASHION. Nicaraguans are filled with an array of multi diverse culture, very influenced by the Mayans and the Aztecs. 

The Fashion

Nicaragua has some very driven, creative, and inspired young individuals, one individual that stood out to me was Shantall Lacayo. Currently Shantall is residing in Buenos Aires and fresh off a successful hometown presentation of her latest collection ‘Oleos sobre tela’ (literally, ‘Paintings over fabric’), which showcased the paintings of Nicaraguan artists interpreted through her original designs, Lacayo is determined on redesigning the perception of fashion from Nicaragua.

“I want people to see that there is always Nicaragua in my designs. If I’m going to produce something it will come from here. I want it to be known as a product from here. I don’t want to be known as a designer that lives in Buenos Aires, I want to be known as a designer from Nicaragua."

Shantell studied  Fashion Marketing for 5 years at UAM , she believes this has given her a slight edge over some designers because she undesrstands that people have to like it and people have to want it, because if people don’t want it or like it it’s just going to be there.

The Art

Much of the art Nicaragua produced there was burned and censured by the National Guard, during Somoza’s regime.After the over throw of the Somoza dynasty, by the Sandinistas, followed a period of freedom of expression, ideology and national identity within the artistic community. This new ideology is intimately related to the now popular artistic forms.

This painting was by one of Nicaragua's most prominent contemporary Nicaraguan composers Salvador Cardenal. He is a singer-songwriter, poet, painter and ecologist with more than thirty years of artistic life. Salvaor Cardenal passed earlier on this year.

The food

Now we are discussing something I have been familiar with my whole life, the food.To start Nicaragua is all about feeding and sharing a meal to bring the family together. A very popular dish is the Nacatamale, its just a larger version of a tamale with much more meat inside.The locals have it for breakfast with a nice cup of café de leche (It’s like a Nicoya latte) Milk, coffee and sugar! Yum!! 

Nicaragua is a typical Latin-American country: with rice, beans, tortillas, plugs and meat forming the diet staples. The national plate is El Gallo Pinto, a plate of rice and beans. In the majority of the rural homes Gallo Pinto is the fundamental sustenance of the nourishment, beside being present in the breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will find plantains (a type banana with a similar taste to potatoes) in all parts of the country. They are usually served sliced length ways and fried. When slices are circular, fried, and served a bit of cheese and a toothpick, as sandwiches, they are known as tostones.

Gallo Pinto

1 cup of cooked rice
1 cup of cooked beans
1 chopped onion (small)
1 small chopped red pepper
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tbs oil
¼ cup chopped cilantro
Pinch of black pepper
1 tbs seasoning

How to prepare
1. Fry onion, red pepper, garlic, cilantro in the vegetable oil, about 3 minutes.
2. Pour in the beans and add the sauce, black pepper and seasoning. Let it cook for a few minutes, but don’t let it dry out.
3. Pour in the cooked rice and mix it with the beans

Enjoy with:
Sour Cream
Platanos maduros
Eggs (fried or scrambled )

Island of Enchantment

"La Isla del Encanto", which translated means "The Island of Enchantment."Puerto Rico is one of the most beautiful islands nestled in between the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. The culture of this place is incredible, me being a Puerto Rican myself I am not being bias, just honest!!

This is a must see on the travel list! The beaches are gorgeous, the food is delicious, and where else can you walk in for a pizza slice and have a FULL bar. 

The Designer

This hidden little treasure named Puerto Rico has given us great talent, from Jlo to Mark Anthony, fashion and great music and this talented designer named Julia Bellaflores. Julia has been dressing women in Puerto Rico for years and recently opened up her boutique in Houston for those that are unable to make it to the enchanted island. Bellaflores designs consist of great craftsmanship, her bold choices in color and textures really stand out and make her quite the force to be reckoned with, her  very minimal details that she puts in to her designs is what makes a piece from Julia well worth the cash.  In the near future, there is a line of shirts for men that range from Hawaiian to Filipino barong style dress shirts and its Latino guayabera version.

Call (281) 690-1636 to make an appointment at her new atelier on 11500 NW Freeway, Suite 624, Houston, Texas 77092. http://www.JuliaBellaflores.com

      

                The Music 

       

Puerto Rico is known for its great music, hot new artist SieteNueve is such a refreshing and artistic personality to add to the list. The music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the Spanish, African, Taino Indians, Panama, Cuba, France, the Dominican Republic and the United States, and has become very popular across the Caribbean and across the globe. Native popular genres include Salsa, bomba, plena, and seis, while more modern innovations include the hip hop fusion reggaeton. SieteNueve which in English means 79 has incorporated the streets and graffiti into music which makes his music raw, real and streets of Puerto Rico.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movkVvampsg 

  

Coquito
Puerto Rican Christmas Eggnog

1 cup of coconut milk
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup white rum
1 cup of water
3 cinnamon sticks
4 egg yolks, well beaten
Ground cinnamon for decoration

Recipe:
In a blender or food processor combine the milks and the rum.
Boil the water and the cinnamon sticks, then allow to cool to room temperature (don’t forget to remove cinnamon sticks),
Combine all of the ingredients (except ground cinnamon) and beat well using a blender or food processor.
Pour the Coquito into glass bottles and refrigerate until you are ready to drink.

Serve the chilled Coquito and add cinnamon to decorate

Adventurous Australia...

Situated at the very edge of the world, Australia has something for everyone if you have a desire to shop till you drop, camp your way across the country or dive into a new world at the Great Barrier Reef. The art and culture of Australia is a representation of all that Australia is and stands for – Adventure.

   

The Label

TigerLiliy is an Australian swimwear company founded by Australian designer Jodhi Meares in the year 2000. When designing, Jodhi focuses on the representing the beauty, strength and individuality of Australian women, incorporating unique textiles with classic themes and silhouettes. The team behind Tigerlily is on a constant quest for finding the perfect swimwear designs, which has brought them to the top in swimwear and fashion in Australia.

The inspiration for the lines are collected from around the world, looking at street styles, art, architecture and anything that can be translated into the next season’s bikini.

 

The Art

The modern Aboriginal art is unique and incredibly detailed. Paintings are created and brought to life on the canvas by using little strokes or dots in a highly complex pattern and creating a bigger cohesive picture. Some aboriginal art is very abstract while some you can look at and see movement, emotions and stories of the indigenous tribes of Australia.

The Artist  

Gabriella Cilmi is a young Australian singer songwriter who made it to the top music charts after her very first album debut in 2008 with “Lessons To Be Learned” and quickly became a worldwide success.

Her latest album is called “Ten” and has a very 80’s inspired sound to it with a lot of up-tempo funk and disco-inspired numbers designed to make people want to dance and have fun! Cilmi has been compared to Anastacia and Amy Winehouse for her vocal style and sound.

From the new album “Ten”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwKvzGtNeZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0nlAElgAQM

Hit song “Sweet About Me” from "Lessons To Be Learned"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0NcnWPh8O4

The Anzac Biscuit (cookie)

•     1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

•     1 cup rolled oats uncooked

•     1 cup desiccated coconut

•     1 cup brown sugar

•     1/2 cup butter

•     2 tablespoons golden syrup

•     1 teaspoon baking soda

•     2 tablespoons boiling water

Preheat oven to 180°C (350° F).

Combine flour, oats, coconut and sugar in a bowl.

Melt butter and Golden Syrup in a saucepan over a low heat. Mix baking soda with water and add to butter and Golden Syrup. Let cool slightly. Pour liquids into dry ingredients and mix well.

Spoon dollops of mixture, about the size of a walnut shell, onto a greased tin leaving as much space again between dollops to allow for spreading.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Anzac biscuits have been a favorite Australian cookie since they were first invented during World War I when soldiers' wives and mothers would bake and send them to the troops stationed overseas. They were, cheap easy to make and lasted a long time even though they were sent over seas. 

Magical Morocco

The Beautiful country of Morocco is nestled on the north-western coast of the African continent bordering the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is unique country in many ways which has a lot to do with the fact that their main Arabic culture is so heavily influenced by the French.

The Fashion

In Moroccan fashion, the traditions of yesterday are mixed and interweaved with modern fabrics and silhouettes of today, delivering a unique and individual look to the world-wide market of fashion. Moroccan fashion designers try to find innovative ways to mix the traditional Moroccan style with modern trends seen worldwide, which has lead to numerous awards by the fashion industry. The fabrics used are of best possible quality from India, Japan, China, France and the Middle East.

The Designer

Aziz Bekkaoui is a successful fashion designer with Moroccan roots currently living and designing his own line in the Netherlands. He has showings every season in Paris and often designs for stage, opera- and dance performances as well. Aziz wants to deliver the meaning of fashion and how it can influence the identity of the man wearing it. He describes fashion like a second skin, which reflects the identity of its bearer.

The Perfect Cup of Tea

Moroccan mint tea (Atai)

As one of the biggest tea importers of the world, it is no surprise that tea occupies a very important place in Moroccan culture and is considered an art form.

Moroccans are famous for their hospitality, and it is Moroccan etiquette to offer tea to any visitors that might stop by. The tea is typically made from spearmint leaves but can also contain wild mint or other herbs. Unlike Moroccan food, cooked by women, this tea is traditionally a man's affair: prepared by the head of the family. It is served to guests, and considered impolite to refuse it.

Ingredients

• 10 fresh mint sprigs, plus 4 for garnish

• 3 teaspoons green tea

• 3 tablespoons sugar

• 4 cups water

Directions

Boil water. Pour a small amount in teapot and swish around to warm the pot. Combine the mint and green tea and sugar in the teapot, then fill it with the rest of the hot water. Let tea brew, stirring the leaves once or twice, for 3 minutes. Pour tea through a tea strainer into glass teacups to serve. Garnish with remianing 4 sprigs of mint.

The Shopping
If you ever visit the glorious North African country of Morocco, be sure to save some room in your suit case and skip those little tacky souvenirs for the real Moroccan treasures! Morocco has an abundance of beautiful ceramics, mosaic furniture, jewelry, fabrics and exquisite leather goods in all shapes, forms and sizes. The best place to visit for this little splurge would be the Medina in Fez, where not only the things you buy will be memorable but the whole shopping trip itself! Just make sure not to get lost in this maze like market!

Something About Sweden...

Home of H&M, IKEA, "Smorgasbord" and of course polar bears on the streets! Just kidding! But it is in fact a common misconception that “non-Swedes” occasionally have, probably because it's so close to the North Pole. It is a country of style, trends and innovation not only when it comes to fashion and design but equally so in: cooking, engineering and science! Here's a little taste of Sweden until you have the chance to visit this beautiful country yourself...

The Designer

 

Filippa K is one of Sweden’s most successful designers. Her brand was established in 1993 by no other than Filippa herself and her two colleagues Patrik Kihlborg and Karin Segerblom. Filippa had been working as a buyer for a successful Swedish label for six years but felt like it was time to move on and start designing her own clothes. The goal was to create garments that would suit every occasion but still be modern and simple. Today Filippa K is one of Scandinavia’s fastest growing clothing companies, represented by over 750 retailers worldwide. A “timeless simplicity with a contemporary edge” is how Filippa herself has described her label’s beloved style aesthetic.

Filippa K Winter 2010 collection

The Fashion Week

 

Sweden recently ended their unusually hot summer and kicked off the beginning of a long and cold winter, with dreams of summer/spring 2011, during Stockholm fashion week!! From August 16th to the 18th, Scandinavian designers showed off the trends and silhouettes for next years sun worshiping.

    The very first show was held in 2005 with the primary focus being to attract the international fashion community of press and buyers to Swedish and Scandinavian design. As of 2010 nearly forty Scandinavian design houses are represented twice annually.

Camilla Norrback Spring/Summer 2011 collection

The Music Artist

 

Robyn started off her music career at the early age 12 years old, when she recorded a theme song for a popular children’s show on TV in 1993. Since then she’s had one hit after the other, creating an established name for herself not just in the Swedish music industry by also in the fashion world, where she’s gained recognition and even won awards for her creative and unique sense of style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n3ozQCGaZw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J294A-R1Cjk

The Favorite Treats

 

These little chocolaty delights are probably the easiest thing anyone can make and still call it “baking”. Therefore, growing up in Sweden, it is probably one of the first cooking creations you learn how to make all on your own! It is a classic Swedish recipe with little effort and few ingredients but with a taste bud sensation, making it impossible to only have one.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups regular rolled oats

• 1 1/4 cups sugar

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 cup butter

• 2 tablespoons strong coffee

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted

• 1/3 cup coconut flakes

Directions

1. Mix the oats, sugar, and cocoa together in a bowl. Add the butter, and use your hands to mix the ingredients together to make a thick dough. Mix in the coffee, vanilla, and chocolate until thoroughly blended.

2. Place the coconut flakes in a small bowl. Pinch off small amounts of dough and roll between your hands to make small balls, about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Roll the balls in the coconut flakes. Balls are ready to eat, or may be refrigerated 2 hours to become firmer.

Enjoy!!!