Celebrating- part II

                   Week 5                                                                                                    Week 22

Ricardo and I are very happy to announce that we´re expecting a little girl!! I suprised Ricardo on Feb 14th with the good news. Everything is going wonderful & after much back and forth to find the perfect American/Spanish name- Carolina Lola de Abiega Richards- will be here Oct 21st. I´ve always loved the name Carolina & Lola is a special name for both Ricardo and I after his Aunt Lola.

Celebrating- part 1

1 year ago on Easter Weekend- April 23, 2011- Ricardo and I were married. To celebrate our Anniversary, we decided to stick with the Semana Santa Weekend break and head to the South of Spain.

we began in the plaza of Caceres in the Extremadura region

 spent an afternoon in Merida, visiting the Roman Ruins

 caught the Semana Santa processionals in Merida and Zafra, what a unique Spanish tradition!

 we stayed over in the cutest, quaintest village of Zafra- in an amazing boutique hotel (a great wedding gift from our friends Yolanda, Carlos and Cris)

 for the final 2 days we headed to Cordoba to visit la Alhambra, the famous Equestrian show, walk around the town squares, getting lost in the most amazing side streets and visitng the Alcazar. amazing town!

 and for our final pit-stop on the way home, a visit to Baeza

Springtime in Spain

We've been celebrating this lovely springtime weather for 2 months now. And keeping our travels a little closer to home......

A quick day trip to Aranjuez (just 45 min south of Madrid)

and a weekend in the Basque Country for the "Bilbao Bilbao" bike race

Work and Play

My 2 last work trips were to LA and Dubai. How great that I could catch up with close friends while I was there! Unfortunately, I was left with only my BB camera.

Liz and Chris took me to Susan Feniger's "Street" in LA for a new twist on street food from around the world. Highly recommended. We spent the weekend shopping and dining in Malibu and checking out a great travel bookstore that Liz has found. Such good hosts and I can't wait to get over there again soon!

Next to Dubai where I could visit with Katia and her adorable kids. We only had 1 night together, but it was sooo sooo nice to catch up. We went for sushi by the Dubai Mall fountains. (Katia is a good friend of mine from my Genoa days)

Spanish Football

a belated Birthday for Ricardo as we celebrated with a Football match between Real Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao in San Barnabeau Stadium. We're Athletic fans, but unfortunately they lost =(

Welcome Baby Celia!

Our Dear friends Javi and Ani gave birth to Baby Celia on February 28th, the month before we were able to celebrate her arrival with an old fashioned baby shower, American style. This isn't a common tradition in Spain, but I must say- it went over quite well with the guests. And we had a great time preparing for it!

Diaper Cake and Candy Station with "Baby Celia" M&M's

Begonia, Ani and me before the guests arrive

The food table- with the crowd favorite, chocolate guitars

Javi, Ricardo, Paco, Begonia and me

Advice cards, guess the Baby picture, and the handmade decoration globes I found off Pinterest!


Javi and Ani opening gifts- a pink tutu for Celia!

A New Year

Ringing in the New Year in Bilbao- a de Abiega tradition......

The festivities begin with a Spanish tapas style dinner around 10pm and always include 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight (imposed action shot seen here). This is also when you hear/see all the fireworks going off from the neighbor's (and i mean all of them) apartment windows! Typically the parties then start around 2am and you won't find a soul on the street before then.

followed the next day with our New Years lunch/ Ricardo's Birthday Celebration (Jan 1st!)/ Early Three Kings Celebration - the Spanish do gifts on this holiday rather than Christmas (normally celebrated on Jan 6th)

Wishing you all a Happy 2012!