tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149007099127435392024-03-12T23:44:44.375-04:003 french words in every bubble...charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-84994788255527752962010-08-06T11:10:00.001-04:002010-08-06T11:10:56.519-04:00Cruisin' or Snoozin'Back from a 5 days cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman Island.... Love the carribean sea. <br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a><br><br> charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-4395723791421744602010-07-21T21:56:00.001-04:002010-07-21T21:56:46.659-04:00another very hot daySitting with my mexican family, enjoying french wine, wiating for our ceasar salad to be made by my american husband. Life is good<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a><br> <br> charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-59532176024055785662010-04-08T13:57:00.001-04:002010-04-08T13:57:51.296-04:00April Showers Bring May Flowers<div>My son told me this yesterday afternoon while driving back home. We both wondered when did the trees bacome so green again? I walk , i take public transportation, I look out the windows, and suddenly the city is green. Every year I feel like this is an overnight transformation.... The hear wave for the past 3 days is unusual, and this brought on my comment of the day: <font color="#cc33cc">April Showers Bring May Flowers </font></div> <div><font color="#000000">Well in French I only know one such sentence for the month of April: </font></div> <div><font color="#cc33cc"></font> </div> <div><font color="#cc33cc">En Avril, ne te decouvres pas d'un fil! </font></div> <div><font color="#cc33cc"><font color="#000000">Translation: In April Don't uncover yourselve of one thread.... in other words, beware of the cold!</font> </font></div> <div><font color="#cc33cc"><font color="#000000">This would make many of my friends laugh...since I over bundled my babies in fear of the cold...</font> </font></div> <div><font color="#cc33cc"></font> </div> <div><font color="#cc33cc">That's it for now, </font></div> <div><font color="#cc33cc"></font> </div> <div><font color="#cc33cc">Cheers.</font></div> <p><font color="#cc33cc"></font> </p> <div> </div> <div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a><br><br></div> charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-45682281784872273582010-02-21T09:14:00.001-05:002010-02-21T09:14:40.098-05:00Sunday MorningsSunday mornings are made to watch cooking shows and wonder what will the coming week bring on! I'm a good cook, I enjoy creating simple healthy meals for my family. Some evenings, I just burn out, I will simply have a glass of wine, and we each fend for ourselves...and the kitchen is a huge mess! Getting back to my sunday cooking shows, I am trying out a quick pear tart with raw sugar and cinnamon... and my usual chicken milanesas (or fried chicken cutlets) . <br> Today I will give you more than 3 French Words, a few short sentences;<br><br>I enjoy cooking: J'aime cuisiner!<br>I just burn out: Je suis a bout <br>I have a glass of wine: Je sirrote un verre de vin<br><br>That's it for now, until next.... month? <br> <br>Cheers to my followers, enjoy some good home cooking.<br> <br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a><br><br> charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-62404089071163521042009-10-18T16:20:00.001-04:002009-10-18T16:20:56.988-04:00Working with BenOn a gloomy Sunday afternoon, Benjamin Tankersley visited us and we spent the day sitting on a sofa, looking at his website. I look forward to working on it , I think he is a great photographer and should be published in many more magazines... <br> So Soon To Come... Benjamin C. Tankersley updated website... Look for his blog also. <br><br>3 french words he needs to know when travelling:<br>Rain: Pluie<br>Chilly: Frais<br>Chili con carne: chilie con carne<br clear="all"> <br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a><br><br> charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-87835003288471445242009-08-27T08:44:00.000-04:002009-08-27T08:45:01.463-04:00End of SummerYes it is the end of the summer, the days are shorter, but still quite hot and humid. <br>If anyone is still following me ... learning a just few words here and there... thank you!<br><br>I read a blog yesterday talking about The Certification of Graphic Designers...<br> The comments were very funny, and I think everyone agreed on the end results:<br>It really doesn't matter if you are certified because a bad design will unlikely kill anyone, <br>whereas a poorly built structure could very well fall on your head... and kill you. <br> <br>So Graphic Designers, rebel and if your future employer asks for a degree... he/she should ask to <br>see your qualities, capabilities, knowledge, team work, flexibility, and if you show up at work!<br><br><br>My 3 French words for the day are:<br> <br>Yesterday: HIER<br>Graphic Designer: GRAPHISTE<br>Show up at work: SE PRESENTER A SON TRAVAIL<br><br>Cheers, I'm off to work.<br><br><br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a><br> charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-15402297824474609112009-06-16T10:26:00.002-04:002009-06-16T10:28:44.912-04:00A long time away...summer is around the cornerHello world!<br>I am back and updating this blog. Travelling to France this year will not be possible however tickets are affordable and it is very tempting to take off.<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Charlotte Vazquez<br><a href="http://www.spellsoup.com">www.spellsoup.com</a> <br>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-69818493277214900952009-03-10T09:16:00.002-04:002009-03-10T09:35:09.042-04:00Spring breakFinally some time off! A vacation at home....just thinking about my next project, and what the future will bring. I think more about the flowers popping up everywhere than about looking for work! This state of mind is due to the current financial crisis. I am avoiding the issues like the plague, but sooner than later will have to focus entirely on finding more work! This vacation at home is also the time to do my taxes, organize my office (again) and battle the laundry. I'm pushing for "Less is More" and hope to win!<br /><br />Today I will add a bit more to my 3 french words: sorry no pictures this time.<br /><br />My vacation: Mes vacances [note in english it is singular while in french it is plural!]<br /><br />My taxes: Mes impots<br /><br />Look for work: Chercher du travail<br /><br />Find work: Trouver du travailcharlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-76461560229783520402009-03-02T08:10:00.005-05:002009-03-10T11:10:20.556-04:00Let it snow.....I think snow storms create a unique atmosphere of "Happy Happy Joy Joy", everything is quiet and serene... I love it.Unfortunately I did forget to bring in some wood, so no sitting by the fire watching the flakes go by.... But I will still dream and wish to be on top of a steep mountain, with skis, blue sky, and a fast lift back up this very long slope. At the end of this great day of skiing, the last slope ends with an irish coffee near a fire with my husband and our friends, wondering when we go back up.....<br /><br />In the real world, I am in love with my husband, and the snow covering my yard waste! The ski trip is for another time.....<br /><br />My 3 words are:<br />Blue sky: Ciel bleu [sky is ciel]<br />Mountain: Montagne<br />Husband: Mari or Epoux<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxV1vItztdAVi6PXNLOldD6objvDycA-7fWqlKNQPWlRuKIsuh49X6XH7gppeJ3WT1M4th91iS1fhSzmogCkw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-26187746958789022009-03-01T11:03:00.020-05:002009-03-01T12:34:18.452-05:00..a few weeks later<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SarFrU8bVmI/AAAAAAAAAFg/jDBWC_ez-6A/s1600-h/bonjour.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SarFrU8bVmI/AAAAAAAAAFg/jDBWC_ez-6A/s200/bonjour.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308272458956756578" /></a> First there was sleet, then snow. I love snow, I love walking in snow, and mostly how everything looks so different in snow. The dirty, grimy outdoor table suddenly looks pleasing...my pile of yard waste, sitting in my driveway, waiting to decompose, suddenly looks a little bit neater! Thank you Snow for covering all those things and many more <br /><br/>...wouldn't it be nice if it could also cover my school payments!<br /><br />so the words for the day are described in my pictures.<br />Hello / Snow / Cold<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SarGDEOvwRI/AAAAAAAAAFo/zCcyXXXTgCE/s1600-h/neige.jpg"><img style="width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SarGDEOvwRI/AAAAAAAAAFo/zCcyXXXTgCE/s200/neige.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308272866787049746" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SarGPvMEE7I/AAAAAAAAAFw/65Oagtfa4y0/s1600-h/froid.jpg"><img style="width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SarGPvMEE7I/AAAAAAAAAFw/65Oagtfa4y0/s200/froid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308273084476953522" /></a>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-69514453087552543022009-02-06T09:01:00.012-05:002009-02-08T21:50:45.216-05:00The daily grind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYxGnb3pdzI/AAAAAAAAACY/SdnGowJX1oE/s1600-h/landscape.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 0pt 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYxGnb3pdzI/AAAAAAAAACY/SdnGowJX1oE/s320/landscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299688504818235186" border="0" /></a> Do animals feel the daily grind? One that comes to mind is the lioness, fetching and gathering and hopefully receiving something in return for her work. So as I start my morning commute, sitting in my bus with the same daily passengers, I stare out the window and read:"Pimpin aint easy" on the back of a dump truck. I wonder what possessed anyone to think this, let alone display it in large bold letters on the back on this truck? What does this really mean? Although the scenery never changes, I'm happy to still discover something new everyday.<br /><br />The 3 words of the day are inspired by the daily grind!<br />The French would call it: METRO BOULOT DODO!charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-8855940391257174102009-02-06T00:46:00.010-05:002009-03-01T12:35:51.024-05:00Winter's beauty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYvQtyEgeVI/AAAAAAAAABo/BbEaVrip6As/s1600-h/ice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 0pt 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYvQtyEgeVI/AAAAAAAAABo/BbEaVrip6As/s320/ice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299558871484889426" border="0" /></a>February always seems to be a very long month... despite the number of days! So if I lived in France today, I would be planning my <span style="font-weight: bold;">winter vacation</span>. This is almost mandatory in this culture... everyone has the right and should take a break during the long winter month. Most kids go skiing with their schools, or relatives, some go to sunny Morocco, and some just hope they didn't forget to <span style="font-weight: bold;">shut off</span> the water to their outdoor <span style="font-weight: bold;">faucet</span>.<br /><br /><br/><br />3 words of the day are:<br />winter vacation: Vacance d'hivers<br />shut off: Fermer<br />faucet: robinet<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-62390209093241168502009-02-05T17:45:00.008-05:002009-02-08T21:58:23.326-05:00Paris in the summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYxtLFO4GHI/AAAAAAAAACs/zmpxLWlaM2g/s1600-h/paloetmoi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 283px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYxtLFO4GHI/AAAAAAAAACs/zmpxLWlaM2g/s320/paloetmoi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299730898658793586" border="0" /></a><br />While travelling to France this summer, I realized how easily one can forget a language when not using it all the time, even your mother tongue... a very sad realization. Anyway, my endearing <span style="font-weight: bold;">daughter</span> and myself decided to go to France, just the two of us, a girls expedition.<br />This may have been one of my most memorable and lovely trip I ever took. Two weeks I will cherish for the rest of my life. However, I noticed she was fairly quiet, and avoided any contact with the waiters, store clerks, our wonderful <span style="font-weight: bold;">baker</span>..... the list goes on. She speaks French, but not fluent, and English really is her mother tongue. Finally under much pressure, she was forced to talk to the clerk if she was ever going to buy that "must have" pair of shoes. Yes, mother would not help, knowing perfectly well if she got lost in Paris she would be able to find her way, so I sat at a coffee shop in front of the store, and waited.<br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">shoes</span> fit perfectly, and suddenly the quiet teenager was chatty again, and her French improved dramatically. While in High School, she's planning to spend a year in Paris with my sister !<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYx3XlHGhWI/AAAAAAAAADk/UAAZEQA0A1o/s1600-h/boulanger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 165px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYx3XlHGhWI/AAAAAAAAADk/UAAZEQA0A1o/s320/boulanger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299742108490827106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today's 3 words are:<br />Daughter: Fille<br />Baker: Boulanger<br />Shoes: Chaussures<br /><br />.........et voila!<br /><br /></span></span>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-22828888716489792242009-02-05T11:11:00.010-05:002009-02-08T22:09:42.731-05:00SMART<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwR_TfRLuLP0cuuL4r_V1_jnsWB3gUr6_W3K4ybaGgiLIDRxj0nBbputWRX9IkWkt6STGgBMTlVC_CeKeMFcw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />The <span style="font-weight:bold;">Smart Car</span>.... yes, it's very popular on parisian streets where parking is almost impossible. I love small cars, but I can't imagine living here with such a small car and a bunch of kids...and dogs. I gave up my motorcycle when I was pregnant, I bought a Jeep Grand Wagoneer... and loved it and eventually gave it to a charity... years pass, now my teenagers use public transportation</span>, long boards, bicycles and I long for a Smart Car.....<br /><br />today's 3 Words:<br />Smart Car: Smart Car<br />Streets: Rues<br />Public Transportation: Transport Public (metro, bus, train)charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-55055936192279651452009-02-04T15:24:00.012-05:002009-02-06T09:25:44.821-05:00Cole, a skateboard, a video<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wM_iWHH_WpU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wM_iWHH_WpU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cole is a dear friend of the family. His mother is among my dearest friends. Just like his skating skills, Cole's french vocabulary is amazing, everyday gets better.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That's all I have to say about that! enjoy his movie</span></span>...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">My 3 words for the day are: </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Great</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">friend</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">forever</span>: Meilleurs amis pour toujours! (mapt)</span></span>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4314900709912743539.post-70756703213579307202009-02-03T15:30:00.023-05:002009-02-06T12:57:25.287-05:00BONJOUR<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br />SPELL SOUPE is here to help..... </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" > , with this blog I give you a blink of France, and 3 very useful words on each post, with a little extra.<br /><br />I grew up in a very international setting, I am half Spanish by blood, but France is my native country. French is my mother tongue, and I believe I'm fluent in English. Some years ago I moved to Spain, figured one more language would be a good asset, and not too difficult to learn! HA... was I fooled! Not knowing the language means not being able to express any thought, opinion, converse for more than a minute, it defines who you are.....silence in a noisy room. <br />Advice of the day: learn as many languages as you can.<br />While traveling you may ask for directions, so here are </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" > 3 simple directions, but very important ones!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >take a right : </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >Tournez a droite</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" >take a left: Tournez a gauche<br />go straight: Allez tout droit<br /><br /><br />Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jojo-bean/2693141085/">Jojo-bean</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYvC2rC4pXI/AAAAAAAAABE/m62U8hDZpXw/s1600-h/cremebrulee.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 190px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qt2V4efi4XA/SYvC2rC4pXI/AAAAAAAAABE/m62U8hDZpXw/s320/cremebrulee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299543631055070578" /></a> When learning new words, you may want to also learn classic recipes:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpr9lDltc24">Creme Brulee</a></span> can be topped with fruits, whipped cream, or your own distinctive creation.<br />These are the basic ingredients: <br />whipping cream, vanilla bean, lots of egg yolks, and sugar.<br />In French: Creme, Batonnet de Vanille, plein de Jaune d'oeufs, et du Sucre.</span>charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16559363980036584435noreply@blogger.com0