Spring Makeover at JuanitaTortilla: Necklaces

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Hey guys! I am so happy to be back, drifting in the Craft Wind :D

Starting things off easy, I dove into my jewellery stash for a makeover; just in time for Spring.

This time, we go loud!

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If you're finding these pieces a little too familiar, you're right.

Scroll on down for the 'Before and After's :)

Yay oder Nay?

Fingers crossed that you say yay :)

When Life Gives You Too Much Dark Chocolate?

You know how there will always be that one thing in assorted mixes that you call your favourite?

In our case with a jumbo chocolate pack, it was the dark chocolate morsels that didn't win us over.

We love chocolates. Just not dark chocolate.

So I spent the day sifting through, weeding out, the bitter ones.

To my dismay, it was the majority flavour. That is so not random, chocolate packers.

So, Sundays call for Sunday Bakes. I say we bake a chocolate cake.


Completely out of nowhere, I used this list of ingredients: 
- abt. 3 cups Melted dark chocolate 
- 100gm Butter 
- 100gm Sugar
- 3 Eggs 
- 2.5 cups White Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda


I knew it was trouble when the volume of melted chocolate was almost the same as cake batter...
Anyhow, 170°C for about 60min. My oven is wonky like that. Otherwise, 180°C for 30-45min.

Yup, this works much, much better.

Day 4 in Rome and the Vatican City.

It was a Saturday that we thought best to enjoy a walk in the fresh snow.

Nobody likes to be out in the cold, right?

We were wrong.

We walked our way into the Vatican City, otherwise known as the smallest country in the world.

So, greetings from The Smallest Country in the World:

With our licenses are tourists, we joined the masses and stood in line.

For what? It could have been either a line into the Basilica or the Sistine Chapel. 

Why not. Surprise me.

While waiting in line, a chopper was buzzing over the city.

Unlike our time in Brussels, we didn't get to be on the local news.

But can you see us waving from St. Peter's Square?

 

Photo credit: DailyMail.co.uk

After spending hours on our feet, admiring the paintings in the Vatican Museum as well, we walked some more. Hungry and tired at this point.

We walked back to Rome and even made it to the Spanish Steps, along with a sea of others.

The city was drowning with pedestrians that Saturday. Are Saturdays car-free days?

Was it just that particular Saturday (04.Feb.12)?

Would this be a typical scene on a weekend in Rome?

:)

With this, my friends, I conclude my time in Rome. But I might talk to you about a restaurant, too :D

We'll see.

A Knitted Sweater Dress!

Yarn: 11 skeins Pro Lana Deluxe Filz wool, and 2 skeins "tweed" wool

Knitting Pattern: http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/pattern.php?id=3670&lang=en, modifying the neckline.

So glad I included 2 balls of "tweed" wool yarn; I wouldn't have had enough yarn to call it a dress :)

Not liking the squiggly bottom hem, though, but I hope a wash and block will fix that. Small matter, anyway.

What do you think about this dress?

Too crazy? Too colourful? Too crazy-colourful? :D

Day 2 in Rome: Meeting Juana

When I first heard that I could tag along to Rome with The Hubs, (It's Rome, come on.) I immediately thought of blog-friend Juana, who lives in the vicinity. On a whim, I contacted her to find out if she would be available on such-and-such dates. With luck, yes!

Having Juana as a tour guide was pure luxury, and did we cover much ground in one Thursday afternoon!

She kept me fascinated with the ruins and things ancient Roman, pointed things out while we took walks in the not-so-touristed paths, and you know, discussed things two-Juanitas-would-talk-about-when-they-meet-each-other-for-the-first-time-in-a-city sort of stuff.

I even got to stand under the Pantheon*, and asked the often-asked question**.

And the inbetween highlights: The Roman cats in the cat colony, where ancient, historical ruins were their playground. Cat Colony...*squee*

For lunch, Juana took me to the Jewish ghetto, where we had a lovely vegetarian platter with falafels. (I love falafel.) Do you see those ricotta cheesecakes? These pictures aren't lying. I remember the taste like I still have that slice in my hand.

If only I noted down the addresses to these humble eateries...

We parted that Thursday evening as the rain started to get persistently heavier and mood-dampening.

The next morning, we were to meet Michela for our Roman adventure :D

*The Hubs ought to be jealous. Do you know what else would make him jealous? Pictures of yummy food, and cats I get to meet. (Here's him with one. So that's good enough.) Please don't tell Fluffy and Pickle.

** "What happens when it rains?"

Day 1 in Rome

Do you plan an itinerary for your holiday?

A quick Google search about Rome turned my head into goop which made me decide:
Four days in Rome, I'll see what I'll see. 

Printed a Rome Attractions map that very morning, nonetheless, and off we went.

It's also all about being spontaneous, isn't it.

Hotel San Anselmo

Our first day in Rome was meant for chillaxing and to find our bearings, as The Hubs geared himself up for long work days, in the next 2 days.

I was particularly impressed with Hotel San Anselmo that Hubs booked us into, which is located near the Piramide metro station.

The Pyramid of Cestius, circa 12 BC

Voila. A few minutes away from the hotel. No surprise as to how the metro station got its name.

It was an easy walk along the streets -- but clutching our hearts in our hands as we tried to cross them -- and we found ourselves at these unexplained places:

Not bad for an afternoon's walk!

And yay! We made it to Rome! :D

'Rome saw snow for first time in 26 years': Day 3 in Rome

... as described by the Daily Mail (1).

I remember that fateful 03.Feb.2012 very well, and most certainly my friends Juana and Michela do too.
The three of us were to meet in Rome that day.

I remember how that morning began: It just poured heavily and tirelessly.
While I was well-prepared for Rome's mild winter and rain, I was not prepared for deep puddles with my every other step.

Stepping out of the hotel

It took merely two steps, out of the hotel, for my boots and socks to get soaked through and through.

It was going to be a long day.

From a gusty storm to falling icy flakes, the weather went from bad to awful within an hour.

The weather changed right before our eyes.

Rome is best enjoyed with lots of sun; it certainly is not a place accustomed to precipitation.

Chaos would be lightly describing what we experienced that day :D 

It was all true: all forms of transportation above ground came to a halt.

Thankfully, the underground metro still worked.

Despite the bumpy start to our morning, with lots of slipping and sliding, the day ended well (2).

At the Fountain Trevi with Juana and Michela (3)

That's one more memorable day for the history books.

(1) The last time Rome saw snow was 2010.

(2) Michela caught her flight back; Juana caught her bus home, safely.

(3) Both Juanitas in their new weather-combat boots. Hence the plastic bags of old shoes :D