Passeggiata

Ciao, darlings!

Passeggiata is an Italian term. It doesn't hold much meaning in America but it's an integral part of culture in Italy. Passeggiata is the evening walk taken by Italians of all ages. It is a social hour of sorts- the girls walk arm in arm down to road and share stories and teenagers gather in courtyards to talk and enjoy each other's company. The middle aged engage in more sophisticated activities outside café's, drinking coffee and chatting. It is a community bonding experience- every day!

Sadly we have no such thing in the USA. But we can still takes walks whenever we like! I went on a walk with my little sister as the sun started going down.  I took a few random pictures because as summer draws near, in the evening everything turns a dusky blue color that never happens any other season, and it's really pretty.

When you try to focus on the sun the rest of your picture will turn filmy black...

This is a fire hydrant 

I found a dandelion!!! I made a wish too. Making wishes on dandelions is the best. 

And my azaleas. They just bloomed and are my signature pink:)

Make: Flan!

Ciao, darlings!

Tomorrow is International Food Day at school. All students are expected to prepare a dish from their assigned country; isn't that exciting! My country is Spain and so I have decided to prepare the traditional dessert of flan. I've had it before at Señor Tequila and thought it good, so I searched online for a recipe and made it this evening. I recorded the process by which I made it and I want to share the recipe with you! Here it is:

Ingredients:
2/3 cup white sugar
1 (14 ounce) can of condensed milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
5 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Pour sugar into a small nonstick saucepan and put it on medium heat on the stove. Shake it and swirl it a little with a spoon or spatula until the sugar begins to melt and turn brown. Then lift the pan a few inches above the stove and continue to swirl it a little until it's a dark golden brown. Pour the sugar into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish and then tilt it to cover then bottom of the pan with the melted sugar.
3. Blend the condensed milk, milk, cream, eggs, and vanilla in a blender for 1 minute. Then pour the concoction over the melted sugar ( which will be firm now).
4. Place the casserole dish into a larger dish! Pour water in the outer pan until it's one inch filled with water.
5. It took 70 minutes for mine to cook but I have an old oven. I recommend cooking for 50 minutes and then periodically checking your flan to see how set it is. When you remove it from the oven it should be slightly jiggly.

The sugar will look like this when it's time to pour it into the casserole dish.

It will get hard really fast, spread it around quickly!

Blend all other ingredients!

This step seems funny, but it will help the flan to settle if you pour water in the surrounding bigger dish.

When you pull it out of the oven the top will be bready. Don't poke it! To check and see if the flan has settled enough, jiggle the dish a little. It should move a little in the middle but the edges should not.

The finished product should resemble this!!! Enjoy!!!

Update:

My class really enjoyed the flan! They went back for seconds! I would say this cooking endeavor was successful... I hope yours is too! 

What kind of food do you like to cook?

As Iron Sharpens Iron

Ciao, darlings!

Over the past weekend I had a little get- together with the girls in my youth group and our leaders. Our little gang has always had some crazy dynamics- several of us like to take charge and we all have our own special style, which makes for some seriously fun and interesting times. We always have fun together and we ALWAYS end up laughing over even the silliest things. The special thing about my group of friends at church is that we can talk about literally anything with each other. We talk about movies, boys, school, the usual.... But what makes it different is that we can also talk about serious things. I can always rely on these girls and our small group leader Melissa. If I have big questions they can help answer them with Bible verses to back up what they're saying. If one of us is having a difficult time, we share each other's burdens, and we pray for each other. I trust these girls with almost every aspect of my life because I know they love me as their sister in Christ, and I love them too. It's a kind of relationship with them I've never had before. It's unique and amazing and it's blessed by God. They are the people I am closest to. These girls are friends like I've never had before and I know that we will always be friends forever and sisters in Christ.
Just being around them inspires me. It's a perfect example of Proverbs 27:17-"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
It's so vital to have genuine and uplifting friends who will lead you deeper in your walk with God!

We played a lot of twister. I was the designated spinner which meant I could take pictures of my friends while they were tied up like pretzels!

Some players had it easier than others... 

The board was completely full here!!! And there's Lily, the cat...

My friend A. was completely shocked when Lola the dog decided to join us as we ate pizza and ice cream for dinner. 

I love having such supportive and godly friends!!!

Waiting for Summer

Ciao, darlings!


I took a long walk tonight. Don't worry, my neighborhood is relatively safe... I won't get kidnapped (hopefully). The weather was extraordinary!!! It's barely spring but it felt like a true summer night. The air was balmy and the wind was whipping pretty fast, as there's a big storm front on the horizon. I could see the moon glowing and a few bright stars speckled around it. The weather made me want to run! I can't run currently, due to a temporary medical concern, but it was pretty hard not to break into a jog just to feel the amazing wind more fully. I could see storm clouds in the distance and the lightning inside them! It was crazy to see such a tempestuous scene only a few miles away and at the same time be locked inside a stolen summer moment, dreaming about what lies ahead of me next season. God's creation is truly stunning. I had to tell Him on my walk how grateful I was for the beauty He has created for me to enjoy. I think we get a little too wrapped up in our technology sometimes to see what's going on around us, but if we would just look up there are some amazing views waiting. The power of the incoming storm was a reminder of God's own power, which far surpasses any earthly occurrence.

A friend sent me a photo of a small lightning strike and I wanted to include it, and I took a picture myself of  the clear sky where I was, just to contrast.

The intense lightning!

The peaceful sky above my house. I wish I could stay out all night. Maybe I will when it's summer and  I'll sleep outside and just walk around some, and enjoy the humid breezes. After all, there really isn't any night like a summer night.

What's your favorite season?

A Quick Photoshoot

Ciao, darlings!

It's really fun finding cute clothes on sale! I was shopping at JCP the other day with a friend and found a striped cotton dress. I immediately fell in love and pulled some money from my savings to purchase it. Stripes are the most classy, timeless, and seasonless look! Summer, fall, winter, spring- stripes fit into your wardrobe somewhere. I also discovered a modest, colorful bathing suit- a rarity these days! Bathing suits have always been a struggle for me, and I'm so glad I found one before it's time to jump in the pool. I also found a chic (striped) tank top. I don't think modeling a bathing suit is very modest, and I haven't worn my tank yet, so I just have a few snapshots of my new fabulous dress.

I accessorized my simple dress with a flashy orange necklace, one of my favorites.

I liked the back of this dress because it had a cute cutout that was still modest. It added character to the outfit. There's also neon peach lining around the sleeves and cutout, which thankfully matched my necklace. 

Have fun shopping this spring and remember that if you like what you're wearing, it doesn't matter if anyone else does! Your style is about what you like and not what everyone else is wearing. Be adventurous! And be yourself. 

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak" - Rachel Zoe

Comment and tell me what spring styles you've discovered or have invented yourself! What do you think is stylish?

A Day at the Races...

Ciao, darlings!

I love horses. I always have. I've taken riding lessons for a long time and I love the feeling of galloping on the back of a horse, with the wind running through your hair and adrenaline coursing through your veins. I love jumping over a hurdle, the split-second sensation of flying, every person's dream. I can't imagine what a jockey must feel like atop a medal- winning racehorse. Talk about fast.        
           Today my parents took me and my sister to Oaklawn in Hot Springs. Going to the races is an old Southern tradition. Everyone dresses up in their Sunday best to attend, although a racetrack is hardly a fancy place. I watched five races and left at closing time, and had an amazing time. I saw gorgeous horses with funny names, and listened to people shout and cheer for their bets. I myself did not place any bets, but my dad did and he won a few dollars. Spending time with the family and having racetrack treats is fun,  but my favorite part of the races is watching the horses pass the finish line. The winning mount usually pulls up from the middle of the pack, and the victorious jockey raises their crop in the air triumphantly. I like witnessing the big wins and the almost-came-in-second wins, and it's even more fun because the crowd favorite is rarely the champion, which makes the race even more suspenseful.

There's me and my yummy strawberry fro-yo 

My racing outfit

The horses coming in hard across the line!!! I love the gray

A different race.... Neck and neck! There is only one winner, however, and it's not #2...

The very last race of the day. The horses thunder across the finish, tired and sweaty. Magnolia Steele was the ultimate champion today, and she later received a trophy for her efforts. 

Going to Oaklawn was a great way to kick off the spring season and I cant't wait to go again

¡Ciao!

Ciao, darlings! I'm Bella, authoress of Bella Ama. In Italian that means "Bella Loves", and I've not added an end to that statement because there are far too many things to list, and I also intend for this to be about the things I love. As you no doubt have picked up, I hold Italy and its culture close to my heart. But that, of course, is only the beginning.  There are so many things out there worthy of talking about. I will post soon and I hope you find it interesting❤️