Hi, my name is Manuela Barreto and I’m an internet junkie. It’s official people…

Anyone who knows of a good internet junkie detox center, do share!

Let me just narrow it down to numbers…my  bookmark page dedicated to all my favorite e-commerce sites and online boutiques has recently hit the 170 mark.

On a completely related note, my other bookmark page dubbed Covet-Couture, can you guess what this one is all about? Yup, it’s all the things I’m severely or just obsessed with that I want.need.must-have.NOW. Anyways, that has reached an exorbitant 433 desirable items. ???? I’m in serious, serious trouble here.

And to celebrate this uncontrollable urge to splurge and max out my credit cards…voilà my hunky-dory DIY collage of the new board members of the whims roster!

In no particular order- (I’ll be mix&matching as I go)

I have a weakness for anything stingray related, I just find it exoticly (is that even a word?) hawt. This manta ray cuff is by enviromentally-friendly, L.A. based jewelry line, Alkemie. The contrasting sleeve blazer by Dressmonster has this passive-aggressive rock look that gives any outfit that much needed touch of casual decadence and looks good over just about anything. Sparkle, glitter, shine! Theyskens’ Theory scoop neck jacquard dress is one sexy darling you can easily slip into this holiday season! And because I’m obsessed with anything boyish, why not add this white oversized drop pocket boyfriend shirt from Asos to our repertoire, to be worn with shiny, leopard print trousers…and you’re now ready to walk-on-the-wild-side with this sexy pair of lime green python pumps. The sparkly Dannijo Jiselle bib necklace works perfectly with both our sexy Theyskens’ party frock and oversize shirt, plus, it’s simply a must-have. A Rachel Comey chunky, distressed knit over a pair of cuffed leather boyfriend trousers…and those chunky wooden wedges…yummm! Oh and let’s not forget another one of Alkemie’s gorgeous creations, the wrap around snake bracelet. Add to that a Surface to Air fringed, tie-dye scarf and you’re ready to conquer. Armed forces in Aztec territory? That’s what you get when you pair this uniformed inspired cargo dress with a sexy, tapered aztec mini from Torn by Ronny Kobo. And why not throw over that contrast wool leather parka…eclectic hotness.

What do you think? anything worth going for? (I know the answer to this question)

Pasta alla Norma

This is my first attempt at making my favorite Italian pasta recipe, Pasta alla Norma (named after Bellini’s renowned opera)…yummidy yumm yumm!

Such recipe is of Sicilian origin (from the beautiful city of Catania to be exact) and it’s comprised of four basic ingredients- tomatoes, eggplant, onions and salty, aged ricotta cheese (aka ricotta salata). I’ve always wanted to make it cause I always order it at restaurants whenever I’m down in Sicily (which is rather often since the bf is Sicilian himself) so I decided to put myself to task this past Sunday afternoon.

Ingredients & preparation are as follows:

- eggplant

- fresh tomato sauce

-onion

-100gr of salty, aged ricotta

The only downfall to this recipe (or any recipe containing eggplant) is that the eggplant, which should be chopped into small dice, needs to sit for at least an hour in order for it to drain its bitter juices. In the meantime, you can cut the onion into fine rings and add it to the tomato sauce which should be simmered and reduced for at least a half hour to concentrate flavors. Using the thick side of the stand grater, grate the salty ricotta and begin boiling the pasta water. Once your pasta is done and al dente add some of the salty ricotta to it, then mix together with the tomato sauce and eggplant dice and you’re ready to go!

In this case, I scouted some of the stinkiest cheese in the market and made myself a radioactive, earthly pungent French cheese plate to go with my pasta… (if you’re curious to know what my selection of cheeses was, I’ll come back with the names later today)

bon appétit!

(last edited 21.09.11)

ok so I’m back with the cheeses…the names are (in order of stinkiness): Gres des Vosges, Brebis d’Argental and Crottin de Chavignol.

it was love at first sight…I had to, HAD to get them!

Easy (boyish) Sunday outfit for a morning stroll in ghost town Milan and the unmissable Sunday brunch.

The suede loafers- one of my recent whims, plus, they were the very last size 7 left in the shop…it was soo meant to be.

I’m wearing a Zara Man v-neck, Theory bermuda shorts, Rêves loafers, Ray Ban wayfarers, Zara leopard belt, and Balenciaga city bag.

So I admit I got carried away by what seemed to be a perfectly beautiful hot, sunny day here in Milan a couple weeks back, then it was just downhill from there, summer was still nowhere to be seen…the result however- a pair of pink studded ballerinas.

It was like a reflex, saw the blonde guy and before you knew it, I was online surfing all my fav boutiques on the hunt for some cool first-days-of-summer items.

My sharp reflexes took me straight to Bona Drag‘s e-shop. I confess, I have an extense wishlist there.

I was torn between the black studded and pink studded flats…thought the pinks were more original; delicate yet naughty.

I’m also quite a sucker for detail, other than the shoes, there were two other things I loved about my instinctive purchase, actually three. The box had my name handwritten on it and next to it, a heart, like the doodles we used to do in our notebooks back in school when we were bored out of our minds (and in love)…nearly 90% of the time in my case. Then there was the snake printed tissue paper which is beyond cool. But even more cool was the Bona Drag soundtrack to match which I’ve been listening to non-stop.

I have nothing but to love the girls over at Bona Drag for their exquisite taste and fab eye for details. <3