September 2011 - Page 3 of 3

Today was just crazy! Got up at 7am to catch the morning train towards my hometown to spend the weekend. My wonderful mom booked me an hour at her salon to get the “famous” Keratin Treatment, every lady in my family has gone cuckoo bananas over this treatment, so I just had to try it too! I’ve been wanting to do this for 2 years, even thought of getting it as my birthday gift last year, but never thought it would actually work and straighten the hair. However seeing my mom and aunt’s straight shiny hair erased all my doubts.

Girls, let me tell ya, I haven’t had my hair this soft and silky since I was a little girl! I recommend it to everyone who has a natural slightly frizzy hair and enjoys that smoothness and healthy glow of the heated ceramic plate styler finish. The procedure takes about 3 hours and lasts up to 6 months. The rain, sweat and air humidity won’t be your hair’s top enemies anymore. No more brushing, no more hair straighteners, just a quick blow dry and it’s ready to go! Your hair will finally be beautiful and stay healthy. It can be a little expensive though, on an average salon it will cost you from $200 to $350 depending on the length of the hair. Cough, cough. Well, shhhhh, gladly I know a place where it’s insanely waaaaay cheaper, near my hometown. *wink*

For more information on this kind of hair treatment, I suggest you to read this article

Of course, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies and the day was going way too smoothly for me. I’m starting to think I’m jinxed when it comes to tech and cars and all that stuff! Something HAS to happen every time I touch things. I’m getting used to this though.
So when i started my car’s engine it just broke down, when I shifted the gear it went like kaboom! A broken drive axle on a SUV. Just great. God in heavens. I was lost in the middle of nowhere, almost no battery and only 1€ credit on the phone. I called my aunt to call her mechanic and it took almost an hour for them to arrive. Anyways, it was faster than what I expected. Well, now the car is at the repair shop and it will be fixed by Tuesday. Bummer.

However my grandma borrowed me her car so I could drive back home. Driving an old car ain’t easy but thankfully i got here safe, fast and with a freakishly amazing looking hair!

Glittery kisses,

Rita Fontes♥

Image found on sunflakes

I love to cook, Mr. boyfriend can’t complain about that. Being a vegetarian made me step up a notch on my cooking skills and turning my kitchen into an experimental lab also helped mastering the art throughout the years. So truth be told i hate following recipes, improvise a lot following my gut, well mostly taste buds – unless it’s a cake or some other baked dessert.

Cheesy Portobello Mushrooms stuffed with red pepper and crispy new potatoes

It’s a Jamie Oliver-ish kind of dish, with lots of veggies and fresh herbs. This was the first time I ever tried this, but the combination of ingredients sounded perfect for a late Sunday lunch. It takes about 35 mins to prepare.

Crispy new potatoes
1/2kg of new brown skinned potatoes
Olive oil
Garlic cloves
Salt
Dried oregano

Turn on the oven at 250ºC. Cut the potatoes in quarters. Remember the smaller they are, the faster they’ll cook. Put them in a tray, with olive oil, 3 unpeeled garlic cloves and a pinch of salt and oregano. Put them in the oven, lower the temperature to 200ºC and turn on the top grill. They’ll be ready when a golden crispy crust appears. Takes about 20 minutes, but try to keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook and burn.

Cheesy mushrooms
4/6 Portobello mushrooms (depending on how many people you have, serves 2 mushrooms per person)
1 Jar of roasted red pepper
Garlic cloves
Fresh parsley
Fresh basil
Grated vegan mozzarella (or any cheese of your choice)- I recommend Daiya or Cheezly Mozzarella (melts similarly to dairy cheese)
Olive oil
Salt, Pepper and Paprika

Wash the mushrooms to clean out all the dirt. Let them rest.
Cut the roasted red pepper in cubes, chop the parsley, basil and 2 garlic cloves and add them to the mixture. Put some olive oil in the pan and the add the red pepper. Add 1 or 2 unpeeled garlic cloves. A pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper and other of paprika for seasoning. You’ll get something like this.

Smash the mixture with a fork until you get a roughly mashed red pepper paste.
Soak the mushrooms in the pan and let them absorb the juices. Then put the mushrooms in a tray and the mashed pepper mixture on top. Sprinkle with the vegan mozzarella, and put it in the oven until the cheese is all melted.

Roasted Asparagus
You can cook some asparagus on the side, roast them in a grilling pan with olive oil and a pinch of salt, so they don’t end up bland.

There you go, veggie awesomeness!

Yummmm! Bon appétit,

Rita Fontes♥

Hey Rita

Monthly Archives September 2011

Silky Straight Hair & Broken Cars

Cheesy Portobello Mushrooms with Crispy Potatoes

Cheesy Portobello Mushrooms stuffed with red pepper and crispy new potatoes