Hungry for Mexican......

Yes we were..............food, that is! But little did we know that going to No Mas Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant in downtown Atlanta, were we going to "feast our eyes" with beautiful Mexican art as well !




Our lunch was delicious, but the best part about it was strolling through the No Mas Hacienda gallery and gift shop afterwards.







I can truly say that there is no place like this any where that I've visited out side of Mexico.





These items are meticulously hand crafted and created.






There is a wonderful mix of old and new,







traditional and modern......



These chickens were so vibrant, they brought a smile to my face.....








I particulary identified with this sculpture... exactly how I was feeling after feasting on their delicious mexican cuisine...



Love how they mixed these elements to create a mod yet rustic feel..........




The lighting is so unique and sculptural and surprisingly affordable...

























To me, this looks like a painting...


Oh yes.........This pottery belongs in my kitchen !



Hand carved doors........



Can't get enough of the pottery... and what a beautiful vignette it makes here....











I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves........






















No need for a passport, Mexico and an exquisite array of art work is as close as Atlanta...



The next time you are hungry for Mexican.. you should go to No Mas Hacienda...... not only are you going to enjoy the food, you'll feast your eyes on delicious art !

Like a Candle in the Wind....

You know there's nothing I like better than a great Metamorphosis... I especially love transforming furniture ... today I have a different metamorphosis to share with you.

It's actually a love story....

The transformation of this little girl...

to a sweet and beautiful princess that the world fell in love with!

I attended, Diana... A Celebration. This exhibit was featured at the Atlanta Civic Center and it was a glorious and enchanting look into Princess Diana's world.

From her enchanted wedding dress:

· In keeping with tradition, most of the materials used in Diana’s royal wedding dress were made in Britain.

· The dress is a romantic, fairy-tale gown made of ivory silk taffeta and lace, with a fitted, boned bodice, curved neckline and a detailed finish.

· The wedding gown has a full skirt over a multi-layered, tulle petticoat, with intricately designed bodice panels. The entire gown is hand-embroidered with more that 10,000 tiny mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls.

· The 25-foot silk train is the longest in Royal history and adds a touch of theatricality to the outfit. It has been called the dress of the century.

· The dress was made of six different fabrics including 25 yards of silk taffeta, 100 yards of tulle crinoline and 150 yards of netting for the veil.

Other Interesting Facts:

· Diana’s five bridesmaids also wore dresses of ivory silk, modeled closely on her gown.

· Diana observed tradition by wearing old antique lace, new silk specially spun at Lullington silk farm in Dorset, a borrowed tiara from the Spencer family collection, and a small blue bow, sewn into the waistband of her dress for luck.

· A tiny horseshoe in 18-karat gold and studded with white diamonds, a second good luck token, was also sewn into the intricately embroidered dress.

· Diana’s low-heeled slippers were made of ivory silk, top-stitched with pearls and sequins, with suede soles etched in gold.

· The bride carried a cascade of gardenias and golden Mountbatten roses, named after Charles’ godfather, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and mixed with white orchids, lilies-of-the-valley and freesias. The bouquet also included traditional myrtle and veronica flowers, cut from bushes grown from cuttings from Queen Victoria’s wedding bouquet.

Her tiara and other royal jewels were equally inspiring...

The evening gown gallery:

There was much to see and read as well as film strips of Diana in all stages of her life.



If she "touched" you as much as she did me, this is a beautiful and very personal insight into her world and a MUST SEE exhibit if you are in the Atlanta area.




To see other metamorphosis please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

Nature's Paintbrush

Appreciating the beauty of all seasons is one of lives greatest gifts.....
















Anticipating warm days and watercolored gardens is nature's reward...











For now, this beautiful frosted landscape is my reality..........










Tomorrow's promise of a colorful Spring allows me to celebrate the beauty of every season ...

















I'm joining Outdoor Wednesday's today, take a look at more photos here.

A Jaw Dropping Experience.........

The Georgia Aquarium graciously hosted a Blogger's Day event yesterday and I was one of the recepients of a pair of tickets to enjoy the wonders of the sea featuring...............

This was an awe inspiring exhibit based on reality and education. These fascinating giants have been around for over 400 million years. So much to see and learn. Truly a fun and educational experience!

No photography was allowed, so the following 3 photos were courtesy of the Ga. Aquarium:

A sneak peak at what you'd get to see when you go........

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey will feature:

• Full-scale shark models cast from real specimens, including an 18-foot Great White shark caught in South Australian waters – the largest caught by recreational fishing.
• Extensive collection of real shark jaws, teeth and fossils dating back 350 million years
• Shark cages and authentic artifacts from the movie "Jaws"
• An amazing "frozen in time" display featuring a real, frozen 700 lb Bluefin tuna and its natural predator, a real frozen adult Mako shark
• Stories on human/shark encounters as told by survivors and shark experts
• An examination of their size, biology, hunting strategies and amazing sensory systems
• Detailed information on the Great White shark satellite tagging program and other conservation efforts
• Captivating high-definition displays and hands-on experiences that demonstrate the behaviors and relationships of sharks

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey is being
presented through a new partnership
between the Georgia Aquarium and Grande
Exhibitions - an Australian-based producer
of museum-quality exhibitions. This
fascinating 12,000 square-foot exhibition was
created by a team of experts in the fields of
sharks, aquariums, ocean cinematography
and world-class exhibitions.

Enjoy the sea life I was able to capture with my own camera:






I like to think of these jelly fish as nature's take on modern art. I couldn't get enough of them... so etherial and captivating........






















































Need a little "staycation" this week? Go to the Georgia Aquarium... it will take your breath away!