Friday, September 23, 2011

{ More Ybor...little by little }


More Ybor...little by little

taking a quick moment for refreshments


My grandfather resembled Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy) is both appearance and stature.  Seeing this made me think of the club Ricky owned; La Tropicana....which naturally made me think of my grandfather.


This stranger sitting with his hookah and what looks like a journal seemed to me like a moment of peace, self-indulgence, and tranquility. Obviously, he either has no kids or they are grown.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.



{ This Moment }


{This Moment} ---. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by SouleMama
Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.



Saturday, September 17, 2011

{ This Moment }


{This Moment} ---. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.  

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by  SouleMama  

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

{ Strolling Ybor }


Mango and aqua colored tiles on the Columbia Restaurant 
and 
white linen table cloths placed over tables in the shade at 
Sunday's Fine Dining, 




Save the Tatas! Loved this balcony with the bras hanging from it. 


Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

{ Cigars Little Havana Style }




Ybor City loves it's cigar shops and factories. In the 1800s, it was the cigar capital of the world and once had over 70 cigar factories established by Cuban settlers who migrated to Florida . I don't smoke. But, I love these places. I love their scent, I love the warm tones of the leafy wrappers, the artwork on a cigar label, the intriguing names of cigars and the names of their shapes and sizes and the way they sound when said out loud. I love the amatistas, glass jars containing 25-50 cigars. My husband is the occasional cigar smoker and I must admit, I really like the scent of a good cigar. (Note to Self: I should do a post/pics of his cigar box collection)
 A visitor today to the small historical "Little Havana" can still walk into various cigar shops/factories and see a group of men in their guayaberas playing cards or dominoes while smoking an Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, or Romeo and Julieta. One can also watch the busy hands of the Torcedores (cigar rollers), as they fill, wrap, and roll cigars using the Entubar method established in Cuba. 
As with anything, "Hand-Made", can have a variety of meanings. Here is a little tidbit of helpful info to look for on a cigar box----

Totalamente a Mano - Made totally by hand
 Hecho a Mano -  made by hand, which can mean it is filled with machine-bunched filler 
Envuelto a Mano - packed by hand 








Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.



Saturday, September 10, 2011

{ Say Cheese }


Me and lots of smiles with my Cabana Boy,
Sarah Sarah GodGriefuss Boberra,
My Dad aka Best Dad EVER,
and my sweet paloma, Saylor.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.

Friday, September 9, 2011

{ Donut -- Saturn -- Peaches }


Some call it a Donut Peach. Others call it a Saturn Peach.
I call it my favorite peach.
 Crisp like a bosc pear, sweet like candy,
and less fuzzy than it's other peachy cousins. Especially good with spanish manchego cheese drizzled with local tupelo honey.
Sadly, these peaches have a short season.
 Until next summer.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.


{ This Moment }


 {This Moment} ---. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.  

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by  SouleMama  

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.

{ "Little Havana" Ybor City }


We drove 3 hours southwest to enjoy a day in Tampa. Or more specifically, Ybor City, aka Little Havana. We walked the old historic streets and enjoyed the wonderful woodsy scent of cigars coming from the local cigar factories and cigar shoppes established by Cuban settlers. Other street corners greeted us with the scent of coffee beans being brewed in the various coffee houses. When our tummies growled, we satisfied the hunger with plantain crusted Mahi Mahi and quenched our thirst with a pitcher of Cuban mojitos at the original Columbia Restaurant. 
It was a really nice day in which my husband summed up by saying, "I feel most like myself in places like this."


Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

{ Come On, Eileen }


What's playing on my Virtual Victrola today?
 This song, Come On Eileen, by Dexy's Midnight Wonders. 
Yes, I know-I know, it is an old one hit wonder.
 But, I love when this song comes on. 

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.