SENTENCES THAT DRIVE ME NUTS!!!

So, I was watching a show by George Carlin, may rest in peace this shortly known hero of mine. He was cracking me up while saying: … “what is “Have a good day” supposed to mean? What if I had 364 good days in row and I don’t want to have a good day?”

While this one doesn’t bug me at all - To be honest I didn’t ever think about it - I have a few of my own that I want people to STOP telling me :)

Live your life to the fullest: I promised you before I was going to talk about this one sometime. I don’t think there is a person in the world who has ever done that. How does anyone on this world even realizes that his/her life is being lived to the fullest… Could it mean: to the foolest? Lol. The successful businessman wants more time to spend with his family. The library woman wanted to be an exotic dancer. The traveler wants to settle down. The family man wants to be a traveler. I could go on, but I will stop for now. I find no sense on this sentence: Not that I don’t try to make my life good enough, but this famous saying could make a person feel very miserable if you taken seriously: where and how do you make this wonderful situation happen??

I want a woman who knows what she wants: Sorry, could you say that again? Lol Same applies to us (ladies) when we dare to say something like this. It doesn’t matter how confident a person is, it’s quiet selfish to expect your other half to know what they want, isn’t it? Even though you know that you jump into uncertainty every once in a while? Some of us jump on big wholes of confusion as to what to do with our lives, so when I hear people saying such a senseless sentence I dare to think to myself: Sorry to hear you expect to find someone who doesn’t question herself!

We are not hiring right now but you can fill up an application: I know how much you are probably laughing at me right now…I am laughing at myself too. I never filled up an application and expected a phone call, because it simply doesn’t happen. Unless you talk to the big guy, the chances of getting a job through filling up an application, at least for me, are just sooo little.

Never mind, forget about it!: How can I forget about it if you are just making me more curious about it? No, I don’t usually give up just by hearing this. Why would anybody say something that at the end doesn’t really matter if it is heard???

These are just a few of my own, come on over and share yours and share the laughter! Coming soon: A great Caribbean style recipe: Beef stew with coconut milk. The flavor is just sooo amazing!!! :)

Best to you:

Raquel Gonzalez

MA PETITE CUISINE: CEVICHE!

This is a pretty well known seafood cocktail that many latin countries love. Different countries have different ways to do it as well as different ingredients; however the costarrican ceviche will suit you and your friends just fine!

It’s easy to make and amazing to taste. If you are planning an easy going get together with friends; this cocktail will be gone within minutes! Happened to me at a party I threw at my place; and just so you see that I am right, most of the people who came were French, Israelis and Americans.

What goes best with ceviche? Beer indeed! but that is not a rule. It also makes a great appetizer.

Have a party to give? Let’s get those hands to work then!

Ingredients (this will be enough for about 3 people depending on how much they want to eat)
1 White onion
1 Roll of cilantro
1 Sweet pepper (I like to use red, but you can also use green sweet pepper)
4 Tilapia fillets
7 lemons (or limes)
1 small bottle of ginger ale
Crackers
Salt and pepper

-First, we are going to chop (finely) onion, cilantro and sweet pepper.

- Next, chop the tilapia fillets, I'd say about 1/2" squares, but you can make them a bit bigger or smaller if you'd like.

- Depending on how juicy your lemons are, you will need to squeeze them to at least almost cover the whole mix. Remember that the lemon is the most important ingredient; because it will "cook" the tilapia!

- Now, don't give me that weird look! lol, this is an important step! You will add about half a bottle of Ginger Ale. Don't worry, it won't taste when the ceviche is ready. This step helps the ceviche to NOT taste extremely acidic.

- Add salt and pepper until it tastes good to you, et voilà! You got yourself a treat. Now, cover up the bowl (with shrink wrap or whatever you preffer) and leave it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. When you get it out, you will notice that the fish has changed its color and now it's pretty white. Serve cold with crackers.

I hope you enjoy this tasty and healthy combination! Your comments will be always appreciated! :) See you all soon on my next post!

EXCITING DAY, I'm a lucky winner of Blog Award!

I've been chosen by Laura from http://lifewithjola.blogspot.com/ as one of the top 5 winners of Blog Award and I can't be grateful enough. Thank you Laura!

So these are the rules that I and my chosen bloggers have to play by:

1) choose 5 bloggers who I think are also worthy of this award to pass it on to

2) List 10 things about myself that others don't know

3) Post a quote

4) Now I can post the award on my blog and a link back to the person who chose me!

It is really difficult to choose only 5 blogs, but I'll do my best!

These are my choices:

1. Jennifer This blog is neat! I always see something interesting, nice pics, colors and perfect size posts!

2. Ana You can see how this blogger is very commited! I like people who post about their real lives!

3.Tracy Revell Tracy Revell's got great potential! She's a new blogger but I can see her getting tons of followers, I really like her posts!

4. Rachel She was one of my first followers. I love her posts and the angle she looks at life from. I check often!

5. Helen E. H. Madeen I met Helen in twitter, then I found her blog which is shared with other authors. It's very interesting as I am quiet open minded - for adults only.

Check out these amazing authors! They are all so unique and interesting to follow!

10 secret facts about me.... Not that nobody knows, lol

1. I have 2 first names but I'm only called by the second one, so if someone mentions my first name I won't ever notice that they are calling me.

2. I got married in flip flops and summer clothes and so did my husband.

3. I am so petite that when I shop for my little nieces I always buy for myself too; at those kid's stores!

4. I lived in Paris for 6 months and didn't learn French. Damn it!!!

5. When I give "thumbs up" my thumbs bend back so much that people look at me weird!

6. I want to have 5 kids-like my parents did- it's so much fun now that we are all grown ups! My parents agree on that one.

7. I make the best guacamole in the world, so if I ever invite you to my place don't refuse!!!

8. I'm 26 and I get asked for ID everywhere I go. I wonder if I'll freak out when that stops happening, lol.

9. When I was a kid I wanted to learn English so bad that I used to write words from movies in a notebook: just how they sounded to me and then pick up the meaning right from the subtitles!

10. I used to model when I was 20-21 years old. backkkk on those years, sigh, lol.

Let's see, now I have to write a quote, that's a hard one but let's try!

When you expect it the least is when the rabbit jumps! - Dont know who came up with that one, and it comes from Spanish language but I suits many of us when we think we can -actually- plan anything... life waits to surprise you! :)

DIRTY CHEAP NYC!

For those of you who live in the city and those who are coming to visit, I gotta tell you Manhattan is not as expensive as everything that you see. Not such a thing! There are hidden spots where you can make a party with your $$$ and not feel guilty afterwards.

To be totally honest, I am a little bit cheap when shopping time comes. I also have a huge family back in Costa Rica, so if I am not careful with my money, after Christmas I can be in debt for a year when shopping for everyone.

Here I come with my dirty cheap NYC shopping places. Dirty cheap shopping spots belong in dirty areas….Sorry to start off like that, lol, but it’s true!

Pretty Girl:
This one might be well known by many people. They have a lot of stores all over NY. This shop is quit dirty cheap. Not everything is nice, but if you stay in the store for at least 10 minutes you’ll be able to find something nice. Prices go from $5 to 20$ as far as I’ve seen. The ones I’ve been to don’t even have a dressing room but I am really good at not trying clothes on before buying. Also this place is so cheap that if by any chance something doesn’t fit me the way I expected, I might end up passing it to any of my sisters or friends without any hurt feelings. :) Why is it so cheap? They manufacture most of their merchandise!

Some of their locations and contact info:
31 W 14th St, New York, NY‎ - (212) 675-3195‎

2136 3rd Ave, New York, NY‎ - (212) 831-3800

‎203 E Fordham Rd, Bronx, NY‎ - (718) 329-2708‎

I got that red shirt at Pretty Girl: $5. Wanna know why my friend is laughing? Scroll down and you'll see :)

Danice
If I am completely broke, I have the solution, I need to stop by Danice shops. They are fast growing and I see more locations every time, which could be really helpful for everyone. They have kid’s clothes, women clothes, accessories, shoes and even lingerie! Prices go from $5 to $20 as far as I’ve seen.

Some locations and contact info:
2883 3rd ave, Bronx, NY 10455 - 718-993-1628

305 West 125th Street, NY NY 10025 - 212-665-0389

482 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 - 718-875-0664

Expo 2000
This store is so much fun for me. I love it and visit it as often as I can! They have a lot of cute shirts and shoes which are usually my favorite things to shop for. I know they have locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and NJ. Prices range from $10 to $30 and it is very easy to find clothes that you will fall in love with instantly. As most of dirty NY, there aren’t any dressing rooms, I’ve done quiet well trying on shirts on top of mine and just looking at a mirror. You should definitely stop by this place!

Some of their locations and contact info

118 W 125th St, New York, NY‎ - (212) 222-7247

‎2918 3rd Ave, Bronx, NY‎ - (718) 292-2183‎

376 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY‎ - (718) 522-2399‎

I got this funky great red boots at Expo2000! See that pic on the upper left? I didn't crop that pic, that's just the way it is: hubby took a pic of me and my best friend but then I complained I wanted my new boots to show....so Mr. smarty pants took a pic of our shoes ONLY, that's why my friend is laughing so hard!

Bombini:
It is quiet worth it to take the train all the way up to Fordham Road. I take the D train to get there. This place is around 190 street or so. This store has so many lovely things at so affordable prices. I got my favorite skinny jeans there for $30 about a year ago and so far so good. They have a lot of accessories: bags, scarves, cute stockings, necklaces, etc. But the best deal is their clothes. Range prices might be from $15 to $40 depending on what you want since they have lots of variety. They also carry shoes! Needles to say that you’ll find the greatest ‘dirty cheap’ shops around the same area, if you are a student in NYC and can’t afford the wild prices in Manhattan but at the same time want to look as good as your friends at the club: you gotta see these shops!

Single location:

204 E Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458-5006 - (718) 584-8826

Rainbow
I am deeply in love with this shop. There is one close to me so I check it out very often and never leave it without taking at least something. Shame on me! They have shoes, kid’s clothes, baby clothes, plus sizes and women clothes. What else could you ask for? I got the cutest boots from them this winter and there is none who doesn’t look at them when I walk on the street, despite the fact that they are yellow and able to catch eyes very easily, people stop me on the street to ask me where I got them… they are speechless when I tell them that they cost me $20.

Some of their locations and contact info:

308 W 125th St, New York, NY‎ - (212) 864-5707‎

200-238 E 161St Street, Bronx, NY - (718) 293-1700

380 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY - (212) 947-0837

These are my awesome boots from Rainbow. A bargain!

I hope you enjoy this selection as much as I’ve done! These shops are great for so many of us (who are broke...shhh) and demand good results from shopping.

I am coming back later on this week with a great recipe. Easy to make, amazing to taste! - CEVICHE - didn’t hear about it yet? Don’t worry, you will :)