It's so interesting to me to be diving into Mexican culture and history as research for my trips to Mexico to produce more art. I really want to help enlighten and inform others about my Mexican roots.

I didn't really pay attention in history class when I was younger, but now I can't get enough. And let's be honest, how much of American history do you remember from your school days? I'm the first to admit I didn't retain much. 

Mexico's Flag Day is approaching on Feb 24th, so I thought it would be a good idea to look into the flag's history and share with you. 

Image from wikipedia

The first national flag of Mexico was created in 1821 following its independence from Spain. While there are a few other flags that were used during the War of Independence from Spain, the first official use of a flag with the green, white and red colors was used after they won the war.

Green: The first in the three stripes signifies the Independence Movement and hope.

White: The middle stripe is to acknowledge the purity of the Catholic Faith and Mexico's strong devotion to it.

Red: The vertical bar to the right is a representation of the blood that was shed for Mexico by the revolutionaries for independence.  

The coat of arms: In the center of the white stripe is an eagle with a snake in its mouth. This is to recognize the Aztec heritage of Mexico. Aztec legend states that the gods advised the people to build a city on the spot in which they saw an eagle perched on a prickly pear tree eating a serpent. This spot is now known as Mexico City today.

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Here are some variations that the Mexican flag has gone through before the current design that we know today was established.

The first National Flag is from The First Mexican Empire from 1821 - 1823. The crown on the eagle's head signifies the empire under Agustin de Iturbide.

The second National Flag was used during the establishment of the Mexican Republic from 1823-1863, 1867-1968. You can see the crown was removed and the serpent, oak and laurel branches were added.

The third National Flag was from the Second Mexican Empire from 1863-1867. The eagles in the corners were added to look like the French Imperial arms but with a "Mexican flavor" 

There have been many variations during the evolution of the Mexican flag, but these are the main ones. The current flag is the one pictured at the top. All of this is so interesting to me and if you want, you can find out more at these sites:

Historical Flags of Mexico

Symbolism of the Mexican Flag

Wikipeida: Flag of Mexico

Thanks for following along, feel free to leave a comment about something that was interesting to you. Or if you end up doing research on your own culture's flag, I'd love to learn something new so leave a comment below. 

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I'm doing a series on my San Miguel Collection prints and am collaborating with interior stylist Mylene Raspado. I'm hoping to make it easier for you to picture these fine art photographs in your home by giving you two mood boards and color palettes. 

The week I'm featuring: Guanajuato Street. Guanajuato City is the capital of Guanajuato in Mexico. It's known for its silver mining history and colonial architecture. It's definitely a place to visit. 

This week's mood boards are so exciting for me. I must admit that I'm not one to be drawn to men's fashion or even think about designing for a man's space. However, since having a son, I've been trying so hard to plan out some great birthday themes, find "cool" outfits for him to wear, and this year I'm even planning to re design his bedroom. 

This first mood board was designed with a teen boy in mind. I love the muted colors that give off a playful, yet mature vibe. 

Get this style

Rug: Urban Outfitters

Cushion: Urban Outfitters

Light Fixture: Lamps.com

LED Light: Urban Outfitters

Blanket Ladder: Target

Crate:Target

Round Pillows: Urban Outfitters

Side Table: Urban Outfitters

Dresser: Urban Outfitters

Bedframe: Urban Outfitters

Continuing with the male design theme, this next mood board was designed with more sophistication in mind. This print would go well in a guy's dorm room, or a man's living room. (I mean I'd even design MY living room like this) Essentially this print will follow my son as he grows because I love both of these mood boards. 

Sofa/Daybed: WestElm

Rug: Urban Outfitters

Pouf: Urban Outfitters

Coffee Table: West Elm

Square Floor Pillow: Target

Mirror: West Elm

Storage Unit: Urban Outfitters

Lounge Chair: Urban Outfitters

Shelving: Urban Outfitters

Throw Blanket : Target

Round Gold Pillow: Target

Striped Throw Pillow: Etsy

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This week only (until Sunday), I'm offering free framing on all orders of this Guanajuato Street print. Let me know if you have any questions about this design mood board, or this specific print. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment below. 

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Lotería is the Spanish word for lottery. The game originated in Italy in the 15th century and was brought to in the mid 1700's. Lotería used to be a hobby of the upper classes, but eventually it became a tradition at Mexican fairs, markets, and festivals.

The game of Lotería is similar to the game of bingo, but played with a deck of 54 cards with different images. Each tabla or board has a 4x4 grid of pictures with corresponding names and numbers. 

It's a really fun game to play. I remember loving it as a child. It was a good way for my parents to teach me Mexican nouns.

Once you pick your "tabla" one person selects a random card from the deck and announces it to the players by its name. You can also say a riddle describing the picture instead of just naming the image. 

The chips used to mark off your spaces can be anything from small rocks to raw pinto beans. I remember using raw pinto beans to play this game as a kid  Similar to bingo, the first person with 4 chips in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) and to call out "LOTERIA" wins the game. 

I recently bought a game and thought it would be a great way to teach my kids some Spanish words. However, I was a little surprised to see some of the cards in there were a little questionable. I ended up taking two of them out completely because I just didn't think it was appropriate for my kids. There's actually this guy I've been following on Instagram that just launched The Millennial Lotería. It's pretty amazing. He's taken the traditional cards and gave them a "millennial" makeover. It's hard to describe, you'll just have to check out his site. I can't wait to buy one for myself!

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Rice and beans are a staple in Mexican food. They're pretty much included with any Mexican main dish. Whenever we are eating Mexican food, it's assumed that at least one or both will be part of that. I'm sure you've seen those store brand "Mexican rice" boxes, but I want you to know that there's a better option that's EASY to make, so much better, and cheaper...and serves a lot more people. Every time we make rice for the family, we end up having leftovers that last for another day or two. 

Gather your ingredients (serves 6-8)

2 cups of rice (I use La Preferida medium or long grain)

2 tablespoons of oil

1 cup of chopped tomato

1 cup of chopped onion

4 and 3/4 cups of hot water

2 tablespoons of chicken bullion, or to taste (I use Knorr)

Now what?

1. You're going to need hot water, so you'll want to make sure you put your 4 cups of water on the stove to boil. 

2. Put oil in the pan, and add your rice. Mix until all your rice is covered with the oil.

3. Let rice brown. You want it to look toasty, not burned. 

4. When the rice is tan, add the water in.

5. Add tomato & onion first. Mix.

6. Add in the bullion*, mixing throughly so that it all gets dissolved.

7. Cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes. 

8. When the water is all absorbed it's done! Yay! 

*It helps to add one table spoon first, then taste the water before adding more in case you're satisfied with the flavor. Add a half a table spoon, taste. If you still want more flavor add the last half of a tablespoon. Mix well. 

This is seriously super easy to make. Even my son who is 4 helped me out, and could probably do it himself. Give it a try. 

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I'm doing a series on my San Miguel Collection prints and am collaborating with interior stylist Mylene Raspado. I'm hoping to make it easier for you to picture these fine art photographs in your home by giving you two mood boards and color palettes. 

The week I'm featuring: FLORAL WINDOW. In the residential areas it felt like the vines and trees were part of the architecture of each house. The different varieties of flowers add to the color and vibrancy of Mexican decor.

If you're in the midwest and experiencing the winter weather, you know we're probably only half way through. As you spend more time at home enjoying warm cups of coffee or hot chocolate, you might be inspired to update a few rooms. Updating the art on your walls can be a quick and simple way to change the mood of your space. This floral print would look beautiful in a bedroom or a guest room. You can see and almost feel the sunshine coming through.

I love the earthly tones in this mood board. This color palette is very versatile feeling fresh, relaxing, and comforting. 

Drawing from the greens in the vines you can use that color in the accents like a rug, or other decor. You could use the hint of pink in the flowers for accents in pillows, or other wall decor.

Where to find this style:

Rug : WEST ELM Palmette Chenille Wool Kilim Rug

Throw : TARGET Chucky Knit Throw Blanket Threshold

Light Fixture : URBAN OUTFITTERS Anna Pendant Light 

BedFrame : URBAN OUTFITTERS Eva Wooden Canopy Bed

Curtain: URBAN OUTFITTERS Ruffle Guaze Curtain 

Mirrors : URBAN OUTFITTERS Averly Circle Mirror

Pillows: URBAN OUTFITTERS Round Pintuck Pillow

Chair: URBAN OUTFITTERS Cooper Lounge Chair 

Dresser: URBAN OUTFITTERS Industrial Storage Dresser

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This photo adds a brightness to a room, so you can also pair it with a more neutral palette. I can also see this print hanging in your living room. You can add accents of gold, wood, or white to make the space light and airy. 

Where to find this style:

Pillows: WEST ELM Woven Silk Pillow Cover + Velvet Appliqué Pillow Cover

Lamp : WAYFAIR Langley Street Baristo Tripod Floor Lamp

Throws: WEST ELM Faux Fur Brushed Tip Throw

Vases: WEST ELM A Question of Eagles Bud Vase

Ottoman: WEST ELM Fontanne Ottoman

Side Table: WEST ELM Katie Gong Stump Side Table

Rug: WEST ELM Oasis Rug

Sofa: WEST ELM Urban Leather 2-Piece Chaise Sectional

Curtains: WEST ELM Mid-Century Cotton Canvas Etched Grid Curtains

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This week only (until Sunday Jan 28), I'm offering free framing on all orders of this FLORAL WINDOW print. Let me know if you have any questions about this design mood board, or this specific print. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment below. 

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Join the mailing list to be the first to know when there's a new collection launch, exclusive promotions, blog posts, and to get a behind-the-scenes look as Karina travels to capture work for new print offerings.