Getaway for two!!!
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March 30, 2012
Let me introduce you to a friend!
Her name is Siv Renate Riise! Unfortunately I don't know Siv in person,
but we are in two social groups in facebook and because of those two
groups I can confidently say that Siv is a dear friend. I have gotten to
know her for the past 8 months since I joined the groups, as well as
other beautiful ladies around the globe, and one amazing talent that Siv
has is her eye for taking stunning photos!
So here I am helping her promote her photography!! She has her own website which you can check out here: Siv's website!
And she even has her own Epla store, where you can view all of her pictures which are for sale. They run for 200kr/$35USD which you can securely pay using paypal. She will then send you the picture without the watermark to your email and you can print it out yourself onto poster paper, canvas...whatever your heart desires! I think there is a canvas printing offer but I'm not sure if that has expired, you can send her an email which can be found on her epla page.
Here are just some of the pictures that you can purchase for such a great price at Siv's epla store.
And she even has her own Epla store, where you can view all of her pictures which are for sale. They run for 200kr/$35USD which you can securely pay using paypal. She will then send you the picture without the watermark to your email and you can print it out yourself onto poster paper, canvas...whatever your heart desires! I think there is a canvas printing offer but I'm not sure if that has expired, you can send her an email which can be found on her epla page.
Here are just some of the pictures that you can purchase for such a great price at Siv's epla store.
Beautiful right?!?! These are my favorite! I'm debating between the first two. The skull is amazing and the roses beside it are gorgeous, but I can kind of see the heart stone hanging better in a living room....but the skull is so pretty....but the heart! ahhh decisions decisions! Needless to say, I will be making a purchase very soon!! So please go check out her masterpieces and purchase them! Help her out in her new personal business!! Tell her Mariana sent you!
PS, if you're reading my other blogs. i have no idea where the pictures went...I have to figure out what happened and get them back somehow!
March 6, 2012
Jesus is coming!!! Quick! Hide the eggs!
In the spirit of Easter, I wanted to share a little candle craft! It's super easy and makes for a great gift and/or decoration!
Measure your candle and cut from the napkin, make sure it goes all the way around.
This is where I intended to add a video, but it didn't want to upload for some reason.....So the best way to describe the next step is too turn on your stove to high, place the metal spatula over the heat until it is nice and hot, and iron the napkin onto the candle. Start with one of the sides first and work your way around, don't start ironing from the middle. The point is to let the napkin melt into the wax so that when it cools off the napkin is underneath the wax that melted through. Iron all around making sure you melt the top and bottom edges as well. Try to smooth it out as much as possible and you're done!
What you need:
- Candle
- Desired napkin
- Metal spatula
- Scissors
Napkins usually have 3 layers, some have 2. You want the top layer with the design, peel the other layers off and throw away.
Measure your candle and cut from the napkin, make sure it goes all the way around.
This is where I intended to add a video, but it didn't want to upload for some reason.....So the best way to describe the next step is too turn on your stove to high, place the metal spatula over the heat until it is nice and hot, and iron the napkin onto the candle. Start with one of the sides first and work your way around, don't start ironing from the middle. The point is to let the napkin melt into the wax so that when it cools off the napkin is underneath the wax that melted through. Iron all around making sure you melt the top and bottom edges as well. Try to smooth it out as much as possible and you're done!
This one is a big candle. I did several of them for Christmas with angels on them
March 5, 2012
Nasty, nasty nasty
When shopping for fresh produce in Norway I recommend being extra cautious with what you pick up. My husband and I went shopping the other day to Rema1000 and I was disgusted by what I saw. Rotten fruit filled with mold, bird shit on packages, dead flies in the fruit. I understand that sometimes it may be hard to miss some things. For example, I once bought a very nice looking lettuce, only to find out that a caterpillar had made its little burrow inside. Things like that don't bother me, because I checked the lettuce and didn't see anything wrong with it until I started peeling off the leaves, but when rotten fruit is sitting out in the open like that....then it's an issue.
A few months ago, a tv program called "TV2 hjelper deg" did a report on this. They went around to several stores throughout Norway and picked out which ones did a better job of selecting and selling good fresh produce and which ones didn't. It was shocking to see how many stores don't bother to check the quality of their products. After the report aired, all the stores did a god job to have fresh produce and to make sure nothing was bruised or rotten or moldy. This extra care only lasted a few weeks and then it was back to having to pick for the least worst items.
It isn't only the fresh produce that is neglected, it's dried goods as well, such as vacuumed packed breads, tortillas.... and meats. We have found meat packets to have been accidentally opened, possibly during delivery, that sit on the shelves dripping blood and the whole shelf is red and stinks. As for the bread, I had to once find the baker in the store and lead her a shelf filled with 10+ baguette bags FILLED with mold that had been expired for 2 weeks.
The following pictures are from Rema1000 in Kleppestø. This was just from one visit.
A few months ago, a tv program called "TV2 hjelper deg" did a report on this. They went around to several stores throughout Norway and picked out which ones did a better job of selecting and selling good fresh produce and which ones didn't. It was shocking to see how many stores don't bother to check the quality of their products. After the report aired, all the stores did a god job to have fresh produce and to make sure nothing was bruised or rotten or moldy. This extra care only lasted a few weeks and then it was back to having to pick for the least worst items.
It isn't only the fresh produce that is neglected, it's dried goods as well, such as vacuumed packed breads, tortillas.... and meats. We have found meat packets to have been accidentally opened, possibly during delivery, that sit on the shelves dripping blood and the whole shelf is red and stinks. As for the bread, I had to once find the baker in the store and lead her a shelf filled with 10+ baguette bags FILLED with mold that had been expired for 2 weeks.
The following pictures are from Rema1000 in Kleppestø. This was just from one visit.
March 4, 2012
Mexican rice!
As another favor for my sister in law, I made her Mexican rice for her party she had yesterday!
Hopefully everyone liked it and hopefully you will too! Also, just so you know, there are several ways of making this type of rice; this version is the one my grandmother taught me with a few of my own norwexican changes.
I usually calculate 1/2 cup of uncooked rice per person. So this recipe will be for approximately 4 people.
2 cups of rice
4 cups hot water
1 onion finely chopped
1 red chili pepper de-seeded and de-veined finely chopped
2 chicken stock cubes
2 whole garlic cloves
1 can of tomato puree
1 cup of fresh cilantro/ or dry cilantro
1 cup of frozen peas (optional)
2 carrots finely chopped into small pieces (optional)
First rinse your rice to remove as much starch as possible. In oil, cook the finely chopped onion and the chili pepper. Add the rice and fry until they are a light golden brown color. Add the garlic cloves, cilantro, peas and carrots. Let those fry a bit too.
What I did next was mix the tomato puree and the 2 chicken stock cubes in 4 cups of hot water. Wait until the stock cubes dissolve and the puree is well mixed. Add too the rice, mix and lower heat to a low-medium setting. Cover and let cook for about 20-25 minutes. Occasionally check on it to make sure it doesn't burn on the bottom, if it's starting too stick to the bottom and a bit of water, cover and let it continue to cook.
After 20-25 minutes the rice should be done (remove the garlic cloves)!
Hopefully everyone liked it and hopefully you will too! Also, just so you know, there are several ways of making this type of rice; this version is the one my grandmother taught me with a few of my own norwexican changes.
I usually calculate 1/2 cup of uncooked rice per person. So this recipe will be for approximately 4 people.
2 cups of rice
4 cups hot water
1 onion finely chopped
1 red chili pepper de-seeded and de-veined finely chopped
2 chicken stock cubes
2 whole garlic cloves
1 can of tomato puree
1 cup of fresh cilantro/ or dry cilantro
1 cup of frozen peas (optional)
2 carrots finely chopped into small pieces (optional)
First rinse your rice to remove as much starch as possible. In oil, cook the finely chopped onion and the chili pepper. Add the rice and fry until they are a light golden brown color. Add the garlic cloves, cilantro, peas and carrots. Let those fry a bit too.
After 20-25 minutes the rice should be done (remove the garlic cloves)!
March 2, 2012
The Friday List
So this is my first Friday List!!! Linking up with Company of Clever! As you may have guessed it will be a list! On what? I get to decide! So as my first Friday List topic I shall choose the things I miss most about San Diego, California. My family and friends are definitely the top two, so apart from them:
I am used to 80's and 90 degree weather! Sandals, jeans and t-shirt weather. Today, it was considered "warm" on Askøy, the island I live on right outside of Bergen. Warm. HA!! It was 9 degrees C out today, that's 48.2 F. Lets calculate that. We'll take the average of 85-42.5=42.5 HALF!! I must be going crazy to have thought that it was nice and warm out today. Even went out for a walk with jeans, tennis shoes and a fleece zip up jacket. Someone buy me a plane ticket for a 2 week vacation in San Diego so that this poor Mexican can be reminded of what real nice weather feels like.
2. The Beaches
What I would give to just plunge into this picture and whomp in those waves. "Whomping" is a more graceful form of bodysurfing, haha yeah right! Instead of riding along with the wave for several seconds, you are slammed into the sand! I promise you, it is sooo much fun! Read more on Whomping!!
3. Mexican Food
If you've read my last few posts you'll know my depressing desire for real mexican food. In this case though I miss fast food Mexican food, the kind that give you bad gas and clog your arteries after the first 5 bites! The kind that comes from all those taco shops that end with "bertos", "Albertos" "Rigobertos" "Adalbertos"... A california burrito with carne asada, sour cream, cheese, beans, rice, cilantro, potatoes, salsa, guacamole all wrapped in a warm tortilla that if you unwrap you'll find that is the same size as your car tire. Or a chorizo with eggs burrito with potatoes, cheese and sour cream!
4. Friendly polite strangers
I love the Norwegian people, but they are only nice after you've met them. Complete strangers...nope. Not even the dogs. In the States everyone smiles and says hi, excuse me, sorry, please, thank you....Here...different story. I won't get into it much so as to keep this post friendly.
I will give them this though, when out in the wilderness or out at sea, you'll think you're famous; everyone makes sure to say hi to you! It's quite funny!
5. Activities
When and if the weather is nice in Bergen the only fun thing to do outside is go for a walk, and if you're rich enough to have a boat you can take it out and enjoy the nice weather. But if you're not, like most people, you can go get a coffee...which is indoors, go to the mall....which is also indoors... Or for even more fun, even if the weather is bad, we can go bowling or watch a movie...that's pretty much it. I miss being able to go down to the bay and rent some kayaks for 15 bucks and cruise along the bay islands, sneak around the back of Cirque De la Mer Sea World show and watch for free, buy a starbucks and walk down balboa park, go grab some awesome sandwiches and the local beach shop and some smoothies and go to this mountain view top where you can see all of La Jolla Beach and the Cove. Snorkeling at the cove and sneak some frozen peas to feed to all the fishies, surfing, going to a family fun center and ride the bumper cars, mini golf, playing frisbee at the park, watching my dog run wild and free at dog beach, car camping or camping in general, barbecues any day anytime. Man those were the good times...
1. The beautiful weather!
2. The Beaches
3. Mexican Food
If you've read my last few posts you'll know my depressing desire for real mexican food. In this case though I miss fast food Mexican food, the kind that give you bad gas and clog your arteries after the first 5 bites! The kind that comes from all those taco shops that end with "bertos", "Albertos" "Rigobertos" "Adalbertos"... A california burrito with carne asada, sour cream, cheese, beans, rice, cilantro, potatoes, salsa, guacamole all wrapped in a warm tortilla that if you unwrap you'll find that is the same size as your car tire. Or a chorizo with eggs burrito with potatoes, cheese and sour cream!
4. Friendly polite strangers
I love the Norwegian people, but they are only nice after you've met them. Complete strangers...nope. Not even the dogs. In the States everyone smiles and says hi, excuse me, sorry, please, thank you....Here...different story. I won't get into it much so as to keep this post friendly.
I will give them this though, when out in the wilderness or out at sea, you'll think you're famous; everyone makes sure to say hi to you! It's quite funny!
5. Activities
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