So... about this migration thing

Hey ya'll....

Yea. It's been a minute.

A looooong minute.

Life has been good. I've been traveling. Sipping lots of wine. Making gallons of sangrias.

My Cinco de Mayo inspired batch
(click to enlarge)  

I also wrote about 40 blogposts.... in my head. Made lots of new bloggy friends and connections. Social Media is effin awesome.

The update is I've already migrated my content to wordpress. Once I got into wordpress and looked around at the fancy interior, I freaked out and snucked out the back door.

Lawd. I done punked out.

I thought about returning to blogger but Justice Fergie forbid me. She told me I *will* love Wordpress, once I get used to my bearings.

*side eye* 

One day, I will resurrect my blog. This year. Before Blogalicious 2012. Once I do, it's gon' be on and popping. Like me and this champange bottle.

Speaking of Blogalicous, you ARE going, right?

I talk about Blogalicious every year. Here, and  Here. In case you didn't know, Blogalicious is the ish. Justice Fergie asked me to be a part of her "Dream Team" . That's like me getting the chance to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. Okay, a bit dramatic but for real, Fergie is doing the damn thing. She sees potential in me that I have yet to realize.

Lawd, lemme me shake my shimmy!

That's not to say that I've fallen completely off the map. I'm still very much active on Twitter. You should check out my cocktail board on Pinterest. As if I didn't need another social media addiction, I created an account with Instagram: Travel Jonez. Be forewarned: filter or no filter, my photography skillz are wack.

That's the update with me. I'm heading to Mexico on Monday, in which I'll have another imaginary blogpost for you. Or better yet, just check the pics on the Travel Jonez Instagram. I'm so hyped for this trip that I packed 3 days early. Yes. Three whooole days. Those of you who has follow me knows I'm usually packing the morning of and running thru the terminal three minutes before the plane door closes.

*side eye my damn self* 

Next time I return, it will be formally announce that the wordpress blog is up and running.

 Lord willing.

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I'm moving on up!

Image source

Bear with me for a few days while I migrate TravelJonez to Wordpress. 

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What to pack.... What to wear.... {Jamaica Jazz Festival Edition}

I leave in two days for sunny Jamaica. T-W-O days!!!

I'm sooooo not ready.

I don't even have a hotel room secured yet. I have a few prospects but I'm waiting on a few more emails responses. Jamaicans be on that island time for real. I'm not at all worried. My travel partner is freaking out though.

I'm more concerned about what the heck I am going to wear. I'm thrilled to be trading my parka and boots for maxi dresses and wedges. I came across JB Style Zone, fashion blog that gave me just the inspiration I need.

image credit: JB Style Zone

By the way, isn't that model's afro fierce?

Speaking of afro, let me post this and head to my local barber for a fresh fade and then off to the nail salon. Lots to do. Lots to do.

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Foodies: Gather Around...

For my foodie bloggers, lovers, and eaters - there's a cool weekend retreat coming to the DC area May 4th - 6th called Eat, Write, Retreat. 

The conference will be hosted at the swanky Madison Hotel. (Check this place out!!) The organizers promise an intensive weekend of bonding and learning all tools of the trade including food styling, photography, recipe development, and more. Ya'll have seen my food pictures on this blog. I can stand to learn a trick or two. Oh, and let's not forget the awesome food that will probably go down that weekend. 

If you're interested in attending this unique experience, registration is now open! Just click here to get started. 

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In remembrance of Dr. MLK

Olive You!

Olive You!

Get it?

I love you. Olive you.

Ehh...never mind.

A friend of mine texted me the other day: "Can you send me the recipe for that Mediterranean dish you make with the olives and cheesy bread as well?"

I get texts/emails like these at least once a month. Especially from my Phoenix friends. I had a dinner party in my studio at least once a month. Good times.

Just so you know, my dinner parties are BOSS. You do not leave hungry or thirsty.

Anyhoo... I'm sharing the recipes with my friend and you guys as well.


The Pioneer Woman's Olive and Cheese Bread 

Image source: pioneerwoman.com

This stuff is sooooooo good. You might want to double up. You can make this as a meal or an app. It will go fast. When I make this, I use less butter and mayo then the recipe calls for. Just enough to coat the stuff.

Emeril's Moroccan Style Chicken with Lemon and Green Olives

As for the chicken dish, I blogged about it a few years ago here.

Don't worry about preserved lemons if you don't have any. The fresh stuff will do. If you love olives as much as I do, definitely add extras. I also strongly recommend doubling up on the broth too. I served this dish with couscous and it soaked up every last bit of that flavor. You'll want extra broth for slurping. Oh! you totally can make this in a crockpot. Just don't add the lemons until the last hour or so. I made that mistake and my dish was exxxtra tart.

I don't eat much chicken these days but I would spring for some free range chicken and make this again. I think this is one of the few dishes that I just can't make a vegetarian meal out of. The chicken shines.

Enjoy!

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Jamming in Jamaica

When I visited Jamaica for the first time back in 2010, my guide shared that every month that begins with "J", you'll be jamming in Jamaica. January is the Jazz & Blues Festival, June/July is the Reggae Fest and I'm pretty sure there's one more event that I cannot think of. That whole "Jamming and J" thing always stuck with me.

Good news. I am going to be doing my shimmy shake at this year's Jazz and Blues Festival. Totally last minute Airline is secured. Now I just gotta figure out where I am going to sleep. Ideally, I'd love to stay at the Iberostar properties. I visited several of their resorts during my last stay and they are stunning! All inclusive baby!

*shimmy shake* 

I don't know a lick of soca or reggae music but I'm gonna jam any way. I'm excited. Countdown begins now: 12 days to go!

On a side note, I'm soooo ready to date again so if this happens... I'm not even gon' be mad.

Come at me, Dexter St. Jock!!

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A Fresh Start...

Ya girl been slacking on this here blog! I know... nothing new...

How was your New Year's?

Of all the holidays on the calendar, New Year's is my most favorite to celebrate. Needless to say, for the 2nd year in a row, I had a horrible New Year's. I spent it in Dallas with a friend. To make a long story short, the trip was a bust. Things did not go according to plan at all.

I am going to attempt a do-over some point this year.

2012... time for new changes and fresh starts. I have lots of fabulous ideas and plans for TravelJonez. Additionally, I'm planning out my travel schedule for the year. So far for January, I'm heading to Jamaica. (again) for the Jazz and Blues Festival. I have to go to Cabo at some point this year. My sister and I talked about spending a few days in Toronto. Butta Baby wants me to go on a cruise with her. Plus I want to return to Savannah and New Orleans. One of my 2012 goals is to drink MORE wine. So lots of wineries on the agenda too as well.

I'll be updating the yearly travel schedule on the side bar in the upcoming weeks.

What exciting plans you have for 2012?
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Holiday Sangria Recipe

Merry Christmas

I'm posting all late but you got the rest of the month to enjoy my Holiday Sangria recipe. I made it a few days ago for my holiday party and it was delciously potent. The only thing I did differently from this recipe I put together is I added *more* brandy and I used pineapple simple syrup instead of regular.

Click to enlarge

Oh, and noshing on wine soaked cranberries is the best part of the whole deal.

Check back in a few days for my New Year's Sangria.
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Best of 2011: Article

I'm going thru a transitional phase in my life right now. A phase that includes utilizing the passport more frequently and ultimately, go live in another part of the world. I'm soaking up knowledge from all these books and blogs that continues to inspire me daily toward this goal.

One of the articles that touched me is from a blog called Almost Fearless. The blogger is a 30-something who quit her full time job, sold everything, and moved across to the other side of the pond with her husband and toddler to start a new life. She wrote a blog post touching on fear, making life decisions, and how travel has impacted her outlook on life.


Here is her story .....   (click to read) 

When people tell me they want to travel, but they are afraid for whatever reason, I know exactly what they mean. Life is complicated. What we want and what we are willing to give ourselves are not always the same things. 

~Christine: "Almost Fearless"

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Best of 2011: Car Ride

My sis & I acting silly before we hit the road

I wouldn't call it the "best" but it was most certainly an adventure. My Sis and I had plans to spend a weekend in Vermont on a working trip. It was a mess from the moment we stepped into the DCA airport and found out that our boarding passes were denied because we were checking in at the wrong airport! A quick beeline to Dulles and we missed our flight by 10 minutes. After several flight cancellations, we were forced to continue our trip the next morning. Thus missing an entire vacation day. The following morning, we managed to make it as far as Philadelphia before we were derailed with more cancellations. By 2pm we were forced to rent a car and drive because there was absolutely no other flight options. $250 for that last minute, one way rental!!!

We hit the road by 4pm. I drove first shift and wouldn't you know, this chyck was sleep 30 minutes in the road trip! After 6 hours I gave her the wheel, only for me to take it back after 3 hours because she was falling asleep behind the wheel. Needless to say, with rest stops and heavy fog, we didn't get to our destination until 1am. We only had 6 hours to sleep before we had to report for duty.

Luckily, we had a smooth flight back home.
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Best of 2011: Book

This year I have been making a strong effort to get back into reading paper books. I'm not a Kindle chyck. I'm old school. I want a book. Even if it weighs 5 pounds in my purse and hurts my back & shoulders from the weight.

Where Will You Be Five Years From Today?

I borrowed this book from my roommate's book shelf and became hooked. I added a lot of the principles and questions into my vision journal. If I was to consider relocating again, it will be abroad. I'd like to experience life in another country. I'm noticing a personal life pattern: 6 years in Rochester, 5 years in Phoenix... If the stars align, I just may only stick around in DC til 2015 (Lord Willing). If that's the case, I got about 3 years to save some serious money for the move as well as visit countries to see which place I'd like to call my next home.

*Bonus read

I just started reading this book last week. I'm a firm believer in the Law of Attraction and I picked up a copy to see what this guy had to say. I'm only in the third chapter. I feel some type of way because the content is good, but this author is racist!! At times it was hard to continue to the next paragraph after he says a snarky or racist comment. But I have to remember that this book was written long before I was born. 

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Best of 2011: Restaurant Moment at Casa Mono NYC

Last October I took a trip to help a friend celebrate her birthday. We really wanted to go the Food Network Wine and Food Show but after we saw the ticket cost we said: "Hayle to the No!"

I suggested as an alternative, we go on a Food Network Restaurant tour. Basically check out a few of the FN star's dining establishments. This includes the Neely's, Bobby Flay, & Mario Batali. We headed to Casa Mono which is one of Mario's places. I let the birthday girl choose the appetizers.

A short while later, the waiter brings me this:

Pulpo with Fennel and Grapefruit

I asked my girl what is this dish and she replies: "Octopus".

Come again!? 

I looked at the waiter. I looked at my girl. I looked at the plate. I looked at my girl again.

I really wanted to ask for a dipping sauce to accompany this dish. Hot sauce or something!! But this was a fine dining establishment and I needed to act appropriately.

I loaded up my fork with what I called "The perfect bite".

A lil bit of the fennel, grapefruit, tapenade, and of course, the octopus. 

It.... wasn't..... bad.

Definitely an acquired taste.

We finished the dish. I won't make this a habit tho. But at least I can say I ate an octopus before.

Cheeeck!
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Best of 2011: Day 1 - Best Trip

Two years ago, I participated in the Best of 2009 challenge. It was a lot of fun sharing highlights and I have decided to do it again. Sadly, (or happily, depending on your out take) the creator of this challenge no longer blogs, so I'm just going to use the same format and probably switch out a topic or two. I'm a week behind, but I'll catch up.

Day 1:  Best Trip

There wasn't a lot of travel this year. I just went back to a lot of old places. Chicago, NYC (several times, especially Prince), Jamaica (again), and a family trip to Ocean City (a first!!). The best trip for 2011 was with the bestie and her babygirl for our birthday trip to Savannah, Georgia.

Do not sleep on Savannah.

It's a pretty city with a lot of charm. We went for 2 days and there was still plenty more to explore. We will definitely be back. Below are a few random pictures from the trip.

This train car is the actual Whistle Stop Cafe restaurant. Best  fried green tomatoes eva!

The Whistle Stop has old suitcases for props. Butter took one down for a picture opp. The suitcase opened up and a spider fell out! 

Butta Baby and Nyla being silly. That lil girl ROCKS! 

The water was amaaaazing on Tybee Island. I broke my flip flop . 

Visited the Spice and Tea Exchange. I left with this habanero sugar. I'm going to use it in the chocolate fondue for my holiday cocktail party. 

The only group photo. Love these girls!! 

That's Randy's BBQ in the background there. We attempted twice to dine and both times they were closed. They open when they feel like it. We read amazing Yelp reviews and wanted to check them out. Up close, you can smell the collard greens seeping from the bricks. The food must have been THAT good. Butta Baby was pretty sad about it. 

Couldn't miss a jumping picture opp. Side note: My arms don't always look that good.

We dined at Cobble Stone Cafe. Each table had a journal where you can leave a note. Baby Nyla left her scribbles on the left and that's mine on the right. The food wasn't that great here. We liked this the least next to Sweet Potatoes Cafe. 

The HIGHLIGHT of our trip was a trip to Leopold's Ice Cream  Shoppe. They were hosting a major party to celebrate their 92nd anniversary. I participated in a jump rope contest. Almost lost my damn breath, but I won!!

Interior of Leopold's. 92 cent ice cream FTW!

Also check out my post on the Savannah Bee Company and my Fried Green Tomato highlights. 

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Speaking of...

Mama grilled this bird in 2005

Sooo... tomorrow's Thanksgiving?! Where did the time go?! At this time, I'm still unsure of my holiday plans. Really, I just want to chill. I want to order awesome Chinese food, rent a bunch of movies, including watching my favorites again like Harry Met Sally & Benjamin Button, while sipping on bottomless champagne.

Cider spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and orange rinds

Speaking of drinking, all week I've been sipping on spiced apple cider spiked with rum. I was thrilled to find Jamaican Appleton Rum at my local store. This sneaky sucker is soooo good. It is my favorite, next to Captain Morgan.

Speaking of cider, I'm inspired to make an apple cider sangria. The inspiration came from Pinterest

Speaking of pinterest, I. AM. ADDICTED. An hour or two of my work day is easily gone exploring inspiration boards. You can check out my pinterest board here. I also have a badge on the sidebar. -->

Back to thanksgiving: My sisters are probably disappointed that I didn't go home. They have been asking me at least 3 times a week to join them for Auntie G's Thanksgiving dinner. I feel some type of ways because Auntie G has my phone number and hasn't called to extend me an invite. I'm just not going to just show up at Auntie's house all willy nilly like that.

Bottomless Brunch

I've debated cooking a Thanksgiving Brunch. I've been obsessed with brunch. Just haven't had time to enjoy it because I'm working on Sundays for the holiday season. Lawd, I cannot wait to get my Sundays back!  Anyhoo, that's a maybe on brunch. Too last minute to invite folks over and stuff.

I haven't seen my niece/nephew since Ocean City vacay last August. I am long overdue for some Auntie time. The kids will be spending the holiday in NYC with their mom's side of the family. I'm strongly entertaining options of hopping on the megabus to spend the day with them. I'm probably going to make a decision later today or first thing tomorrow.

Speaking of nieces/nephews, I really need to adopt some local DC babies to feed the inner Auntie.

Speaking of NYC, last week I spent a day in the city bonding with a new friend that I met thru Blogalicious and we dined on Thai and explored MoSex. It was fun and informative.

I don't know what this is. It just looks cool 

Retro Vibrators. Bulky and looks like they hurt! 

On the 3rd floor, there is a massive collection of personal items belonging to a fellow named Samuel Steward. Dude took very meticulous and detailed accounts of his sexual ... behaviors. Google  him or better yet, check the exhibit if you ever get a chance to go. It was absolutely fascinating.

Masquerade Party New Year's 2010

Speaking of travel plans, as of yesterday, New Year's travel plans have been solidified. A friend invited me to come to Dallas to ring in the 2012. The subject came up yesterday afternoon and by evening, I had secured a plane reservation. Yay! I've never been to Dallas so I look forward to lots of exploration.

All right. I'm done speaking...

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Su Vino Winery: Bottle Your Own Wine

Last summer my mom and her best friend visited Su Vino Winery, a small winery in Scottsdale, Arizona. The winery not only features a tasting room, but they offer the opportunity to create your own custom wine. This is ideal for when you want to celebrate an occasion, create favors for your wedding, birthday, or do it just for the heck of it.

My mom and her bestie, both whom love their share of vino decided to do it for the heck of it and commerate their summer spent together. I'll let her tell the story..

Check out her blogpost on her Su Vino experience

I'll wait...

Two months has since passed and last month I flew down to Phoenix to spend a week catching up with my mom and old friends. I planned my visit so that I can join her when it was time to bottle the white wine they customized. The wine they created, Summer Rain, has a sweet taste similar to Reisling.

The bottling session was fun. I didn't do much bottling. I freaked out after the cork machine temporary spazzed out on me. From that point on, I was just content taking pictures and sipping wine.

Below is the play by play of the wine bottling and how it all works. Excuse the horrible picture quality. I took them all using my blackberry. Ya'll know the crackberry is wack. You may have to click each picture to enlarge.

The package came with 30 bottles of wine. The first two steps was to wash each bottle and hang it on the red thingy with branches to dry.

Next, we siphoned the wine from the jug into the bottle. The 3rd picture looks confusing/blurry so I labeled the process a bit. Once the bottle was filled, a cork was inserted into this vaccum like machine and sealed the bottle.

There was a buffet of different color toppings to choose from. Best friend choose blue, orange, and green for her selection. Ma chose purple and some other colors that I can't remember. I did ask Ma to bottle one in a silver color to save for my wedding day - - if I ever get married. She begrudgingly obliged. 

Once the topper color was selected, it was briefly inserted into this heating thingy to seal. Then came the labeling. The back label with the description, logo, and bottling date was attached first.

Su Vino provides a template that allows you to create your own custom label. Ma and her bestie loved this idea and chose a picture they took the day of their barreling. They submitted the completed template to Su Vino, who then printed the labels to adhere to each bottle.

Then the front label was attached and thus completed the entire bottling session. One bottle down, 29 more to go....


Bottling was quick. We were done in an hour (or less). After that we toasted our efforts and sipped on the Summer Rain.

Ma will be returning in November to bottle the red that she and the bestie created. Sadly, I won't be there this time around but it's pretty much the same thing. I just want to drink the stuff.  (Ma, mail me two bottles of red, please!) 

I looooved this and I want to one day do this for myself. As much wine as I drink, I oughta be creating a TravelJonez wine and an accompany customized wine glass to sell to the masses. I guess the question is: Why haven't I done this already?!

*cheers!* 

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Exploring Chile: Valparaiso - Viewpoint of a Quaint City (Part 2)

Logan's back! 

If you missed Part 1 from last week, check it here....

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The views form the cerros are impressive enough, though walking the steep, winding streets with a bay view that are reminiscent of a San Francisco 100 years back is where Valpo boasts one if its most interesting qualities...the graffiti.  An eyesore or an annoyance in many cases in the U.S., the graffiti here represents the beauty of perfection in imperfection. 

On virtually every street there are amazing displays of artistic expression on walls, sidewalks, even staircases.  Valparaiso is known for being a city of artists and was even home to one of, if not the most, famous Chilean poets of all time, Pablo Neruda.  Neruda had three houses in Chile, but openly called "La Sebastiana" his favorite. 

View from the garden at Pablo Neruda's house: "La Sebastiana"

He loved Valparaiso.  He was known to take a walk every morning through the cerros to get out of the house before working his craft (and with such surroundings who could blame him!).  

The hills provide great views and tucked away gems, but you'll want to use the funiculars once your legs demand it...and believe me, they will.  These funiculars are simply wooden shacks placed on a platform and pulled by a giant wheel and cable system.  They shake and shimmy and for some could be likened to a carnival ride.  On more than one occasion I witnessed yelps, chuckles, and couples holding each other in "safety hugs".  I'm not sure how old these lifts are, but they are old, real old.  

Funicular

Fret not though, they are safe (I'm almost positive) and give the legs the rest they well deserve!  One funicular in particular took us up to a restaurant (the name escapes me) located in a bright orange house atop Cerro Concepcion where one can enjoy fantastic Chilean wine (among the best in the world) along with an international sampling of food and a view that stretches the eye to the neighboring beach city Vina Del Mar

View from inside the funicular at Cerro Aritilleria

My recommendation would be to enjoy a bit of wine and eat lightly while enjoying this view because after a day of walking and when in the birthplace of the "Chorillana" one must, absolutely must indulge themselves in this typical Chilean dish at Bar Cinzano http://www.barcinzano.cl/  

Chorillana

Here, one can also take in typical Chilean music, great wine or beer (some of the beer is Chilean brewed and is impressively tasty.  There is a strong German influence in many of the Chilean craft brews) among locals and tourists alike.  

It's a good thing the Valparaisians have those hills to walk everyday because between the chorrillanas, completos, and bife a la pobre, because without, one could better be rolled through the streets!

If this post were a day, we would now be somewhere in the timeframe of 11pm, as in Chile, meals and life in general are shifted 3 hours later.  And accordingly, I will say my goodbyes and hope that you've enjoyed our time together, because the day is over and the night begins, and that, is an entirely different post.  When you think "Chile" there are so many things to think of, but certainly remember to think of culture, art, warmth, amazing wine, and breathtaking views and geography among aging structures with new and evolving art.  And most certainly, if you plan on visiting Chile, think Valparaiso...and wear good walking shoes ;)

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