Happy Friday - Ayi (aiyia!) fashion - Moda Ayi (aiyia!)

Ayi; literally means Aunt (or Auntie). Is also used to refer to the house helper/cleaner.
Aiyia: A Cantonese expression of displeasure or disapproval.

Ayi fashion. Aiyia! a unique way of expression of Chinese women (and men). An Extremely cheerful-colorful-mix-and-match-everything-goes-together style. Usually with lots of hello kittys', accidentally retro, with elaborated hairdos (viva le spray!), weird stocking and bizarre shoes coordinated(?) with an elaborated nail art (sort of speaking) that makes Salvador Dali look like a timid painter.

Oh, dear. Chinese women (and men) know how to make a fashion statement. Aren't they?. What do you think?

Happy Friday!

More fashion and fun inspiration for your weekend:

Joanna Goddard (a cup of JO) has a huge surprise.
Mademoiselle Dore and her Postcards from Shanghai video
Recently discovered this blog and I'm kind of silly loving it (for fashion blogs followers)
Have you hear of Pinterest? Is da new cool thing. Check my boards here

And if recipes is what you're looking for; why don't take a look at my Recipe Index?. Or if you just want to have some fun why don't dive into la vida loca files?



En español

Ayi: significa literalmente Tia pero también se aplica para designar a la asistenta domestica.
Aiyia: Una expresión cantonesa de desplacer o de desaprobación ejemplo: Hoy tengo que trabajar horas extras, aiyia!

Moda ayi aiyia!: dícese (o mas bien, digo yo) de la forma única (as in unique) de expresión de las Chinas (y los Chinos) que se traduce en algo así como extremadamente coloroso-meets-mix-and-match-y-everything-goes-together. Usualmente se manifiesta por medio del uso excesivo de Hello Kittys o LV(original o fake) por doquier, un estilo un poco retro-accidental (muy 80's) con elaborados peinados de tres pisos (viva la laca!) y medias a combinacion con zapatos muy, muy especial; todo esto coronado con un nail art que pondría a llorar al mismísimo padre del surrealismo Salvador Dalí.

Oh, Dios. Las Chinas (y los Chinos) si que saben como hacer de la moda un fashion (y life) statement no?. Ustedes, que opinan?.

Happy Friday!

Mas moda y diversion para el finde:

Joanna Goddard (a cup of JO) tiene una huge surprise. (grande sorpresa)
Madamoiselle Dore y sus Postcards from Shanghai (video)
Recientemente descubri this blog y me esta encantando (for fashion blogs followers)
Has oido hablar de Pinterest? Es da new cool thing. Checa mis boards here

Y si es recetas lo que estas buscando; porque no echarle un vistazo a mi Indice de recetas Recipe Index?. O si lo que buscas es diversion echate un clavado a la vida loca files.

Shanghai, again - Shanghai, otra vez

Exactly one year has passed and I still remember exactly how I felt as we were walking through the passengers boarding bridge. I was nervous (I always get nervous and anxious at airports; they have bad karma) but at the same time I was happy and excited for the unknown crusade we were heading to.

But most of all I was feeling nostalgic.

We were saying; à bientôt ma belle. Au revoir ma concubine. Good bye to 2 1/2 incredible years.

Today exactly one year later, I'm about to get on a plane to visit her again and tell her:

- Hola, chica guapa. Aqui estoy nuevamente. Me recuerdas?. Hello gorgeous chica Here I am. Again. Do you remember me?.

I'm sure she will answer me:

- Claro chica, como olvidarte (sure girl, how can I forget you?). Wo ai ni (I love you)

Yes, as you have guessed, I'm heading to Shanghai (again!) for what I hope will be a wonderful week with mon amour, having fun with mis chicas favoritas probably eating lots of xia long bao. (Oh, and of course we will visit the Expo too!).

I'll be back in a week or so.

This set of pictures is from our Farewell Brunch Party exactly a year ago (May 10th) at Closed Door. A very small, almost private and hidden Italian Restaurant in the heart of the Ex-French Concession (in fact, it does not have any sign on the outside, just look for the big 808 at the door, and once there knock it!) owned by dynamite duo Eduardo Vargas and Kelley Lee.

Régis and I love to go there for a casual lunch or for a lazy endless brunch buffet style (cold antipasti, salads and several vegetarian choices, plus bread basket and a drink:coffee, tea or soft drink) for around 88rmb or 128rmb if you add and extra main dish from À la carte menu.

August 2010 Update: Unfortunately Closed Door is now history. :-( 

Closed Door
Reservations only
请带我去长乐路808号 近常熟路
808 Changle Lu, near Changshu Lu
Tel 6248 0098
Brunch: Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am - 4:30pm

psst, psst: how about you, have you ever had a date/life coincidence like this in your life?.

En Español

Exactamente hoy un año antes y aun recuerdo como me sentía mientras caminábamos el pasillo del puente de abordaje hacia el avión. Estaba nerviosa (siempre me pongo muy nerviosa y ansiosa en los aeropuertos....tienen muy mal karma), pero al mismo tiempo, estaba feliz y excitada por la desconocida aventura hacia la que nos dirigíamos.

Pero mas que nada estaba nostálgica.

Nostálgica de estar diciendo: à bientôt ma belle. Au revoir ma concubine. Good bye a dos y medio años fantasticos.

Hoy exactamente un año después, estoy a punto de tomar el avión para visitarla de nuevo. Y decirle:

- Hola, chica guapa. Aquí estoy nuevamente.Me recuerdas?.

A lo que seguramente ella me contestara:

- Claro chica, como olvidarte . Wo ai ni (I love you)

Si mis adorad@s, como habrán adivinado, nuevamente parto rumbo a Shanghai, por lo que espero sera una magnifica pero corta semanita de vacaciones con mon amour, disfrutando la compañía de mis chicas y probablemente comiendo muchos xia long bao. (Ah, y claro, ya que andamos por allá visitaremos la Expo Universal Shanghai 2010).

Regresare en una semanita, mas o menos.

El set de fotos mostrado pertenece precisamente a las fotos de nuestro Brunch de despedida exactamente hace un ano (10 de Mayo, para ser exactos) en Closed Door. Un pequeño, muy escondido y casi casi privado Restaurante Italiano ubicado en el corazon de la Ex-Concesion Francesa propiedad del dúo dinamita formado por Eduardo Vargas y Kelley Lee. (de hecho, el Resto no tiene letrero o senalizacion en la puerta que da a la calle, solo busquen el gran #808 en la puerta, y una vez ahí hay que tocar la puerta!...así muy onda speakeasy).

A Regis y a mi nos encanta ir a este lugar cuando andamos en busca de un lunch casual (y bon prix) o por un muy relax brunchesito estilo buffet en el micro patiecito; el cual consiste en antipastos frios, ensaladas, y varias selecciones vegetarianas, mas canasta de pan y una bebida (cafe, te o soft drink) por alrededor de 88rmb o 128rmb si decides anadir un plato fuerte del Menu À la carte.

Closed Door
Solamente reservaciones
请带我去长乐路808号 近常熟路
808 Changle Lu, near Changshu Lu
Tel 6248 0098
Brunch: Sabado y Domingo desde 10:30 am a 4:30pm

psst, psst: y ustedes, alguna vez han tenido alguna experiencia como esta en su vida? Experimentar algo similar o muy ligado en una misma fecha pero con años de diferencia?. O acaso soy la unica loca que se acuerda de fechas totalmente absurdas?

Madre solo hay una

La mía.

Y parafraseando a un celebre personaje de la cultura popular Mexicana que decía: todo se lo debo a mi manager; yo todo se lo debo a mi sacrosanta y abnegada Madre.

Cuando niña, le regale a mi Mama una cartita con motivo del 10 de Mayo que decía así (mas menos):

Mami, en este tu día* te prometo ser buena hija, portarme bien, estudiar mucho (ahem, algo que no cumplí muy bien que digamos) y te prometo rezar en tu nombre 5 Aves Marías 10 Padre Nuestros y 5 Jaculatorias (!!!..ya ni recuerdo que es eso, pero como me encantaba decir esa palabra; btw, nótese, que fui a un Colegio de Monjas).

Con amor, tu hijita la mas bonita ;)

Muchos anos han pasado de esa cartita. Ya no te ofrezco tantas oraciones. Pero si te ofrezco este ramito de flores con todo mi amor. Felicidades Mami.

Felicidades a todas las Mamas.



* notese, que solo prometi portarme bien en ese su dia :)


Dear readers: Sorry for starting this entry so abruptly in Spanish but this post is dedicated to my Mother and I wanted to do it in my Mother tongue language. Hope you can understand it.


English version

There is a Mexican saying: Madre solo hay una: - there's only one Mother -; and it may not mean much to you in English but it does in Spanish.

When I was a little girl on a Mother's Day I gave her an artsy handmade letter (that she still keeps....of course, like all Mothers do) where I wrote something like this:

Mami, in this your day; I promise to be a good daughter, I also promise I will behave properly, and I will study very hard (ahem...that, I must confess, never happened...) and, dear Mom, I promise I will pray for you (!!). I will pray 5 Rosaries, 10 Our Father and 5 jaculatorias in your name. (I study Primary School at a Catholic School.....no further comments...)

With love, your daughter the prettiest one ;)

Many years have passed since that letter, and today, even thought I won't offer my Mother more prayers, I want to send her and to all Moms this virtual flower bouquet.

Happy Mothers Day. (In Mexico Mother's Day is on May 10th)

Postcards from Bangkok - part 2

Voilà, more pictures from our trip to Bangkok.

These are some of the pictures from the day we spent at the Weekend Market buying lots of useless but cheap stuff(a *must*...if you ask me...).

We enjoyed visiting this huge market where besides good shopping (don't forget to bargain) you can have some really good street food and a soso (but cheap and still refreshing) foot massage. (eco friendly tip: bring your own empty backpack to fill it with your precious new cargo; to avoid using non eco friendly plastic bags).

Are you ready?.

Let's take a second tour around Bangkok then! (first tour here)

Hyatt touch at GH Erawan; because we are family. (don't you think those b/w personalized cards are just way too beautiful?).

Mucho picante & caliente! : cause and (sometimes not so effective) remedy (for ever hot and sticky Bangkok)

vintage findings waiting to be cherished (and to be buyed, of course)

and plenty of the Buddha statues' to suit your style and prays...

Massage time: bliss (?)

street food lunch: pad thai, spicy prawns with steamed rice & green banana salad + dessert: some sort of ice shavings or our new favorite: sweet but fresh coconut jelly.

Grand Finale: Thai style coffee [overly sweet to my taste] & impromptu music concert..

p.s somehow my blogger editor and I aren't the best friends these days. I've been unsuccessfully trying to upload pictures of the pad thai, the spicy prawns with rice and more; but apparently this blog editor does not likes spicy Thai food at all (too bad!) ;-D. So I guess you will have to stop by my Flickr photostream to check the rest.

2 years and counting - 2 años y contando

Last week aromas&sabores turned 2 years old. Which by the way, just as these smokeless dripless coloured candles [don't you just love the packaging?...and do me a favor, check the company's name!!.....congratulation happiness brand!! ] is also proudly Made in China.


Muchas gracias, if aromas&sabores is alive [and kicking] is because of you.


I hope you keep coming back because there's a lot more to say!


:-)


One year blog anniversary: la vida te da sorpresas and a sweet corn cake
First post: the first of many to come