Feliz Navidad Con Sabor! Venezuelan Christmas

I'd like to say a massive Feliz Navidad to all those who have visited the blog and sent me their comments. Thanks so much for all your support. I promise I'll post more recipes in the New Year.I also have to say a big thank you to Luisa and Roberto from TU-UKSABORVENEZOLANO for making my Christmas dreams come true.Thanks to them I was able to enjoy a traditional Venezuelan Christmas dinner on 24

Willie's Cacao Launches Las Trincheras Bar

After a few weeks of looking for Willie harcourt-Cooze's new "Limited Edition" chocolate bar made from special cacao beans sourced from the Las Trincheras hacienda in Venezuela's Carabobo State, I was lucky enough to find one in Waitrose this morning.At £2.99 for two small, individually wrapped chocolate squares, Willie's chocolate bars are more suited to an occasional expensive treat - or

Hallacas and Pan de Jamon - Venezuelan Xmas in London

For details of the 11 December 2011 Venezuelan Christmas Bazaar at Bolivar Hall, London, click here.

There was a tropical twist to the usual run-up to Christmas in London on Sunday, 6 December, as the Venezuelan community turned out in force to savour traditional festive dishes at the annual Bazaar Navideno held in Bolivar Hall, the Venezuelan Embassy's cultural centre in Grafton Street.

To

Ponche Crema - Venezuelan Xmas in a glass

December is here and it's time to break out the glasses and share a cordial round of Ponche Crema, Venezuela's most typical festive drink.Made from alcohol, milk, egg-whites, sugar and a few a closely-guarded secret ingredients, Ponche Crema has been infusing Venezuelan family gatherings with Christmas spirit since Eliodoro Gonzalez P. first came up with the concoction in 1900.It wasn't the first

Drinking cerveza Maracucho style

Our good friend from Maracaibo explains how to drink a beer in Record-Guinness-style.

Zoe

Isn't she cute?? Our latest addition to the family is Zoe. She is a shihchon - shihtzu - bichon frize mix. She is 4 months old and weighs 5 lbs, and is cute as a button! She is, however taking up a great deal of our time! No crafting and no gym this week! Terrible, I know. Oh well, there is always next week. Although, in truth, the crafting NEEDS to get done. I have a swap ready to go, that must be mailed in the next few days, and I have a swap due in the US in about 2 1/2 weeks - not even started yet! Ugh, the stress.... so enough computer stuff. I must go craft!

A la prochaine...

Time Flies!!

So, this card is what happens when you let your seven year old design a thank you card! He picked the paper (Stampin Up) and he picked the embellishment (cricut) - he designed the whol thing! It is a card to thank his aunt and cousin for a gift he recieved from them. Not the colors or the card I would have chosen, but I didn't choose it. He did. It turned out cute, despite the, shall we say, non-traditional aspects to it.

I can't believe it is almost the end of September! What happened there? It's amazing how quickly time has gone by since we had kids!! Oh the insanity...

A la prochaine...

Crazy Month

I made thes sweet cards back in June. I am only getting around to posting them. I love those cute little dolls from Hero Arts! They rock.

This month has been just this side of insane!! And, unfortunately I did very little creating this month. Too many other things to be done. DH had vacation the first week, then I had 2 weeks off (first time ever that I got vacation in the summer). We ripped up a carpet and put peel and stick tile down, then we painted two rooms. I took the kids to the Valley a couple of times, once to visit a girlfriend, and once to go to the zoo. The weather was GORGEOUS - other than hurricane Bill, who blew in last week. Now Danny is on his way.

I did make some cards last night with my cricut, so when I take pics, I will post them. I have a swap due in the next 2 weeks, which is done, but not yet mailed, and 2 more due in the next month and a half, so I really need to get creating!

In very sad news, we had to put down our 14 year old kitty yesterday. She was blind (who knew??) had high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, probable kidney problems and most likely a brain tumor. It was devastating - especially for the kids. DS is very sad, and DD said to me "Don't worry mummy, we'll see her again in heaven" - she's 3. DH and I are talking about getting another cat. I would love to get a sibling pair, so they could keep each other company - haven't mentioned taht to DH yet...

a la prochaine...

Great day!!

We had such a fun day today! the kids and I went to Rainbow Haven Beach with my inlaws and couple of nephews and 2 of my sister in laws and their hubbys. Fun was had by all, though I am pretty burnt! Funny how I manged to sunscreen the kids, but not myself! Ugh... Then we had a BBQ with the family again, and then I went to see The Proposal with a girlfriend. What a cute movie!

I didn't manage to get any crafting done, but that's OK. Maybe tomorrow, though I am putting new flooring in the computer room/ "room of crap"... hubby is going golfing. A busy weekend planned for us. I plan to post a pic or two of our trip to the beach, but my computer is acting up. what can you do?

A la prochaine.

5 days off...

The days I'm off seem to fly by, but the days I work - they crawl! What's up with that? Yesterday I managed to do 2 cards. Well, I should say 1 card (which I am unhappy with) and most of one card that I am happier with - though they were both based on Split Coast Stampers sketch of the week. I think the one that isn't quite finished yet, may become a card I make for a swap I am in in September! At least I hope so. I am having trouble coming up with ideas for these swaps. The calliber of work is so high - I am not sure mine will live up.

I will post pics of the cards - both the one I like and the one I don't when I get a chance. Hopefully tomorrow we will head to the beach. If the girl's mood improves that is...

A la prochaine

Rum cocktails - El Ritual

When it comes to rum cocktails, most people who like the occasional umbrella in their drink have tried a Cuban Mojito, a Strawberry Daiquiri or a Pina Colada, but how many people have tried Venezuela's wild and wonderful rum concoction El Ritual?

Closer to a Tequila slammer than a true cocktail El Ritual, as its name suggests, is not about mixing interesting flavours in a glass, but creating an

Productive Day...

Had a pyjama day with the kids today, but still managed to get some cards done. I think I have finally figured out what I want to do for my next swap. I already have one set of cards almost done. Here is my second card (I think) for this swap. I originally did it in blue and silver, but it felt really cold. On my second attempt, I did it in the green and gold, which I like much better!

I am pretty simple in my stamping style, but this is really simple for me. I like it alot though. I am pleased that it will be fairly easily to replicate many times over. Now I just have to make a few more, and send them off, and swap #2 will be done! yay for me.

Busy day tomorrow. Gym in the morning with the kids, shopping for a present for our nephew, birthday party in the evening. And some prep for the following few days. I'm back to work for 4 on Friday. Hopefully the weather will improve for my next days off!

A la prochaine

work...work...work

I worked Wednesday and Thursday 6:30 - 6:30 and Friday and Saturday 11:30 - 11:30. Then I was on call Sunday, 2nd call so I thought I might not have to go in. No such luck. 7 hours of overtime, then I did an extra 6 hours on Monday. Just when I'm thinking I never want to see the inside of the hospital again, I get 2 calls today to do overtime. One on my current floor, and one on my old floor. No! 6 days in a row is enough already! I am done.

Somehow my job always gets in the way of crafting! In good news, I mailed off one of my swaps, and did 2 - 2 page spreads during the 6 days of chaos. I plan to do something tonight. maybe some scrapbooking? Or I just might play with my new SU toys. So many choices....

A la prochaine

These little cards are ones I made a few weeks ago using stretch your imagination Cricut cartridge and a SU stamp - don't remember which... I was planning to post a pic of each of them seperately, but the pic of the pink one kept coming up sideways for some unknown reason...

I went to a baby shower at work for 2 girls, and these were cute quick cards. Very easy to make, and using stuff I had around. Perfect solution for when you forget to buy cards :) - until recently I wasn't so good at making things - like cards - despite the fact I have ALL the gear. Something I am trying to rectify.

The kids are down for "quiet time" so I am off to my craft room to finish watching 27 dresse, and work on designing a 3x3 card for a swap.

A la prochaine...

So that's it. I used a fabulous stamp set from CTMH, also a paper pack from CTMH - more to adore maybe? I cut the marquis shape on my cricut, from Storybook. Love all my tools! Also love my newly organized space.

a la prochaine...

Loving it!!

Today while the kids were napping, I actually scrapbooked a 2 page spread. I am very proud of me! Tonight I hope to do another... We'll see - the munchkins need to go to bed first, and at the moment, that is proving difficult...

I also wanted to post a card I did fairly recently for my mum. I CASEd the idea from Robyn at the Pink Stamper - she rocks!! Here it is...

Hmmm... I am finding the picture thing frustrating, so I will post it in a seperate thing...

Reorganized Space...

So my wonderful husband spent the better part of the afternoon putting up new shelves in my scrap space. It has now been tidied, purged (a little) and reorganized so it can be worked in! My cricut has its own space, with a little cutting area, and storage for all my cartridges. My second table is actually cleared off with lots of space for scrapping or card making. I also ordered a disturbing number of pictures today from Walmart - almost 400 - eek! I am ready to hit the ground running.

Plan to start tomorrow, probably in the eveing after the kids are in bed. Today, I am really tired after all the organizng, and hubby has already gone to bed. All in all, a very productive day1

A la prochaine...

Today, my wonderful husband had the kids all day, and I spent the day scrapbooking!! I did 11 double page spreads, which is pretty impressive for me. I need to start scrapping at home. I have a great space - though small and short on shelves and storage. I have my cricut and all my cartridges, I have 3 years worth of pictures to scrapbook... It is a fairly overwhelming prospect, truth be told.

It is a perfect time of year to scrapbook. There is nothing on TV, so in the evening I could do a loayout or two. My plan is to stay home tomorrow afternoon, while hubby and the munchkins go to the in-laws, and get my space set up a bit better. Then, I am planning to start. So that's the goal. less time on the computer/ TV and more time scrapping. We'll see how it goes..

A la prochaine...

Venezuelan Rum - Ho Ho Ho!

Sorry for not posting for a while but I was travelling in Venezuela for work. I'm currently researching material for an update to the "Bradt Guide to Venezuela", a travel guide in English which will come out next year.It's a lot of work but I'm loving the opportunity to criss-cross the country, catch up with old friends, make new friends and have some adventures. I'm hoping this impressive shelf

So much to do...

I have actually done a little bit of creating lately. Some cards, a name sign for DS teacher. I just don`t ever seem to find (or take) the time to take pics and post them... hopefully one of these days. I have also discovered (to no one`s shock I am sure) that I am not good at rgular blog posting. Oh well, maybe I`ll improve with time.

This weeked I am going scrapbooking for a whole day! It will be the first scrapbooking I have done since February, and I miss it. I need to get my scrap-room organized, gut all my cricut stuff organized etc. and then I might feel inspired to do more. I am so far behind!! No time like the present I guess. Well, maybe not the present - maybe this Friday, when I am done my run of shifts :)

A la prochaine...

My first post...

I've decided to get into the world of blogging. Why? I'm not really sure. I want to have somewhere to write stuff down, show some of my creations, and I figured - why not? I love reading other people's blogs, maybe I'll like having my own as much!

I am in 3 Christmas cards swaps on Splitcoast, and today I bought some new stamps for them, so I'm off to clear a space in my scrap room (which is a HUGE mess) and I am going to get creating! Lets hope I feel as good about it when I'm done!! Let the mojo flow....

Guayoyo o tetero, flaco? - Venezuelan coffee glossary

You can credit Starbucks for the annoying coffee snobbery that turns seemingly normal people into seething wrecks of a morning if they can't get hold of their usual "grande, half-caf, non-fat, sugar-free, double-shot, extra-foam, no-whip, pumpkin-spice latte - with extra cinnamon", or whatever over-frothed, over-priced muck they drink in place of regular java.But all the Starbucks snobbery in the

I Love Arepas - Ñum Ñum

I really like this cool graphic so I thought I'd share it. What's the point of having a blog if you don't share.

Venezuelan cacao back on TV as Willie "Raises the Bar"

Venezuelan chocolate sales in the UK are expected to get a boost after funky new logos were unveiled recently for William "Willie" Harcourt-Cooze's 100 per cent cacao products. The launch coincides with a new three-part Channel 4 series called "Raising the Bar: Willie's Chocolate Revolution" and his brand new chocolate bars, which will be sold initially in Selfridges from 1 April.It's all about

Arepa & Co - Authentic Arepera in Camden Market

Arepa & Co is one of the few authentic Venezuelan areperas in the UK and a gastronomic experience that global food junkies just cannot miss.

Tucked away in Camden Lock Market, the hippest market in the capital, Venezuelan entrepreneur Gus's small food stall has been turning on Londoners to the true tastes of his native Caracas for four years with the catchy slogan: "Venezuelan Food with a Pinch

La Reina Pepiada - The Curvy Queen of Arepas

The "Reina Pepiada" is one of the most popular arepa dishes in Venezuela: a lip-smacking combination of shredded chicken, mayonnaise and petit pois stuffed into a grilled cornmeal arepa with slices of soft avocado.

Like the doner kebab in Britain, the Reina Pepiada - or Reina Pepeada in some places - is a firm favourite with drinkers and ravers who flock to late night areperas after the bars

Arepa de Maiz Pelao: Making arepas the hard way

Edelmira Jimenez from Cojedes State makes her arepas the old-fashioned way by pounding shucked maize kernels in a large wooden mortar called a pilon.

The pilon is believed to have been brought to Venezuela from Africa with the slaves who worked the sugar, cacao and coffee plantations. Before that, the indigenous tribes of Venezuela used stone metates for grinding their maize, similar to the