Happy Wishes

Wishing

YOU

LOVE

GypsyInMe

JOY

Art by Anita Rivera

and

PEACE

Pablo Picasso

Love and Blessings!

See you in the New Year...

xoxo

Simply the Best

*** DULUTH ***

 

...one of my favorite places on earth...

 

* infinite zen *

How fun it was to discover that this magical city was just voted "Best Town Ever" by the readers of Outside Magazine!

I'd love to share a few photos from our most recent visit...

( photos on this post GypsyInMe)

So exciting to watch these big guys come into port!

I don't know what took us so long, but this was the first year that we drove across the lift bridge to "Minnesota Point"...
part of the largest freshwater sand pit in the world!

The weather was gorgeous...a perfect day at the beach...

 

 

 

("scattered driftwood on the beach"....

Abba song playing in my head...remember that one?)

;)

The homes on this tiny

strip of land are charming and unique...

 

 

 

 

It is a well-known fact that sea air makes one hungry...

 

 

 

 

Yummy pizza at Lake Avenue Restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing sweet treats at Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe 

 

This may have been the most delicious cheesecake I've ever tasted...sour cream frosting tops it off... perfection...

a delightful al fresco evening

 

My absolute favorite place in Duluth?

 

 

 

 

 

I can spend hours perched on these ancient glacial rocks...

 

Thank you for joining me, friends!

Until next time...

xoxo

 

 

Merci et Bon Appetit!

To dear Anita, for hosting yet another magical blog party! 

We "traveled" through gorgeous Europe, met new friends, and had an overall marvelous time!

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All this traveling can make one hungry, so I think it is time for a Donna Hay cook up with sweet Dzintra...

The luscious Spring issue is full of beautiful and tempting recipes...

The incredible chocolate cake featured on the cover is one I plan to attempt in the near future, and I hope to post on that.

This time, though, I thought it would be fun to cook some brunch items.

You can always count on Donna Hay for some creative combinations and bright flavors...

First up...

"Smoky Tomato Pan Eggs"

I have never cooked eggs in tomato sauce , but now I am hooked...

So delicious!

The smoked paprika added a rich complexity, 

and I garnished with a bit of basil...

The accompaniment suggested was toasted sourdough with feta....

(can't go wrong with that!)

Dessert was in liquid form this time....

Decadent "Iced Mochas"...

A most satisfying, gorgeous meal!

Thank you Donna Hay, and dear Dzintra!

Please visit Dzintra HERE for her mouth-watering cook up...

A splendid weekend to you!

Love and Blessings,

- Irina

Simply Irresistible Party!

It is blog party time! 

MERCI to our amazing hostess, dear Anita, at 

Castles Crowns and Cottages....

please visit her gorgeous blog to experience all of the party journeys...

Bon Voyage!

please listen to the music....

(please excuse the ads)

;)

It is indeed 

Simply Irresistible

Over the years, I have sketched it...

GypsyInMe

GypsyInMe










Dreamt it....

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Victoria Publications

travelettes.net

And, of course, these days... 

I (obsessively) Pin it

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*My Dream English Cottage*

And though I am unable to live in such a cottage at this time, I try to create the warm, whimsical, and cozy atmosphere in my tiny, but loved, space...

GypsyInMe

GypsyInMe

GypsyInMe

GypsyInMe

bunny tea party... :)

While I love where I live now, my Dream Cottage can only be situated in one of the most magical places on Earth...

cotswolds.org.uk

*THE COTSWOLDS*

So let's pour ourselves a cuppa...

 and take a little tour of this extraordinary, 

enchanting area of England...

welcometothecotswolds.tumblr.com

With its lush rolling hills, 

the Cotswolds were a wool trade center for many years....

welcometothecotswolds.tumblr.com

thewildlifekingdom.tumblr.com

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Historic, honey-colored villages...

like a fairy tale....

walkthelandscape.co.uk

cotswolds.org.uk

thecotswoldguide.com

welcometothecotswolds.tumblr.com

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So much beauty...

welcometothecotswolds.tumblr.com

telegraph.co.uk

grouptravel.com

And the cottages...

oh, the cottages!

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welcometothecotswolds.tumblr.com

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evanevanstours

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No wonder luminaries such as Beatrix Potter and J.M. Barrie, (among many others), were inspired by the wondrous Cotswolds...

but we will leave that for another post...

;)

Beatrix Potter

I hope you were inspired and refreshed by our journey...

thank you so much for joining me!

I look forward to visiting all of the travelers...

Thank you, sweet Anita!

Love and Blessings

xoxo