Guys - I can see some beautiful comments from you in my moderation section - but no matter how many different ways I update the settings in the comments area - I just cannot figure out how to publish them. Nothing happens. The box checks and then nothing.

Any suggestions - I love hearing from everyone and wish you could see the nice things my good friends have written!

Help!

Do you feel relieved?
I am starting to.
The high is so fantastic and amazing - this Christmas insanity. I love it.
And I hate it too. I always put a lot of pressure on the gifts that I purchase for others. I want them to be great and thoughtful as well as useful and yet reflect all my feelings for the person I am giving them to.

Wow.
That's is a lot to ask of a small package wrapped in paper - or reuseable shopping bags with tissue such as the case might be.

Have I mentioned yet where we are going, the four of us Silvas in 141 sleeps?
I'll give you a hint.
It's magical.
There is a mouse.
And Buzz and Troy and Gabriella and some Goofy guy.

Dave surprised Gabby, Rui and I with the most incredible present I could ever imagine. Nothing can top this one!! NOTHING! 4 tickets to nirvana!
I might have the best husband in the entire world. I know some of you would disagree but I think I am going to finally let him know he has earned his self-given nickname "Mr. Perfect". I secretly have always thought he is perfect but I try not to let him get too big of an ego. Doesn't do anyone any good know what I mean?
I think I will tell him.
Tomorrow maybe.

Christmas Shopping Success

Christmas shopping is hard.
Nope.
My mom had the greatest idea to go to the Southworks mall in Cambridge. Never been.
I wouldn't say there is tons of things to buy there for the people on my list - but -the deals we did find were spectacular! Great trip, great company (thanks Mom and Gab), great coffee on the way home and I can't wait to eat off our new kitchen dishes. You wouldn't believe me if I told you the steal of a deal we got. So I won't tell ya!
(Winks!)
Come over for cookies sometime - we'll show you in person!

Kate tagged me the other day and since I finally have a minute to sit - I will finally answer!! Kate has a rocking blog here:
http://kate-burns.blogspot.com/ also found in my blogroll at right!
So I need to list seven random or weird facts about myself...
1. I am allergic to evergreen trees, well more specifically the sap - I have an asthmatic reaction to it if I ever get too close for too long - or God forbid get that stuff on my skin. It's especially eventful during this festive season. God bless the artificial Christmas tree... for me at least.
2. I am a vegetarian. If it could make a baby, walk, fly or swim I won't eat it. I won't eat other things if meat has been on my plate. I won't eat gelatin because they make it from animals which eliminates most yogurt (which I love) and I only eat free run organic eggs. Not really weird I don't think - Ok, how about this - I am a vegetarian with lactose intolerance. Ha! What the heck do I eat you ask? Somehow - still lots!
3. I know you will find this hard to believe by looking at me (note sarcasm please) - but despite my last name, I am not Portuguese. But my dh is - and I can cook Portuguese cuisine with the best of them! (And then I won't eat it because it is all meat-based mostly ha ha ha!)
4. My kids are my life. Not so unusual. They are my morning, noon and night, my Christmas, Easter and all the days in between. And they are both fantastic awesome people who I love as friends too. I would do absolutely anything, anytime, anyplace to make them happy and I make no apologies for that.
5. I want to be an author. My dream unfulfilled. To date at least.
6. I have never been to Europe and have only been on 2 plane trips in my whole life both to the Carribean. I would love to spend a whole month or even a whole year (with dh and kids) in England or Scotland or Ireland. Either way - I would be in my glory!
7. My fave colour is orange, my fave food is veggie sushi (and lots of it please) and my fave pastime other than scrapping is reading. And it's been ages since I scrapped (Booooooo!)

That's it - I now tag Kathy P., Jenn M, Tammy B., Amanda N. and Deanne Burton. Let's see when they find this!! Mwah ha ha ha!

I don't know if he said it first but it's still just great!

Robin Sharma (who is an author and speaker who I love!) says:

"The smallest action is always better than the noblest intention."

Right?!

Check him out if you ever think of it - he's fantastic and SOOOO positive! Loves life. Reminds me of important things.

Read:
The Greatness Guide (1 and 2)
The Monk who sold his Ferrari.
or his blogs at: http://www.robinsharma.com/scripts/ic_blog.php

My friend Jenn, marbles and good deeds!

My friend Jenn posted the story on her blog about the man who used marbles to keep track of good deeds he did for his neighbours and for his family because he realized a little later in life that his priorities of work over family were a little mixed up. Instead of continuing - the man fixed it by working hard to be with his family going forward instead of reflecting back with regret.

We use these marbles and these little slips of paper to recognize the nice things we do for our family and for our community. It is our way of remembering goodness in our days and focusing on positive activities and goodness... These marbles are the centre thing on our mantlepiece. They aren't fancy but they are all about what matters to us.



Thanks for the reminder Jenn! Great story!
Want to read it - go here:
http://thinkingwell-jenn.blogspot.com/2008/11/3900-saturdays.html

Jenn has the most incredible amazing blog about being positive! Love everything about that idea Jenn! Way to go girl!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Found this link on Kelly's blog...

http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/
Started reading.
Missed 20 minutes of housework and finishing LO duties for DT.
Need to go back and read the rest.
Becoming a fan!

If you haven't already - check out my new non-craft blog... A new 21-day challenge is starting tomorrow!

Click the button to the right!

Turtle Soup Anniversary!

This weekend is a Turtle-versary Crop over at the Scrapping Turtle!



In this post you will find some of the samples from my posted challenges. But there are so many more and some incredible work by the DT over at the Soup.
Check it out and play along if you will!



I may actually make this soup this weekend. I have made one very similar but not this recipe exactly...!! Do you think I should have tried it first before I spent time scrapping it?

NAH! Not my style!

DT Reveal for November

This month I get to play with the new Christmas line from American Crafts for the design team! I am having trouble getting a layout done (have to dig out some pix from Christmases past first) but I am totally digging all the altered items that are popping in my head!

Here is the reveal of the first one...
Check out Turtle Soup on the 1st and 15th of each month for the whole DT reveals!



And I cannot get enough of these prima poinsettas!!!

I have a story to tell but it has a pre-story. A few weeks ago my son Rui was in the shower and he noticed that we had Axe bodywash in there. My husband's and he says to me - "Hey Mom! If I use that stuff girls will fall all over me. Can I have some?" Come ON! Is that marketing at its very best or what? The advertising campaigns even work on 5 year olds!! So you gotta give him some Axe then doncha? They we (me and my daughter) pretended to fall all over him the rest of the day every time we got close enough for a sniff.

Fast forward to yesterday - we were going to go have dinner at my sister and b-i-l's house, (always a great time) but Rui needed a shower or bath. You know boys - they stink sometimes and not in a good way.



So he runs upstairs and tells his dad he needs a shower. In he goes. Well I don't hear much from them for a few minutes except laughing and sillyness and all of a sudden there he is - all dressed up and ready for the party. And what does he say?
"Hey Mom - smell my neck!"
Isn't the little brat wearing my husband's cologne!? And he was STRUTTING!
Monster. So we fell all over him for another day. Man this kid is going to have an ego the size of the CN Tower. I guess that is as it should be.

Sick Day

So Gabby is ill and has a super froggy voice! So what better thing to do with a kid who feels yucky than a costume montage..

She tried on her Halloween costume for me and it's the cutest thing! If that hat isn't spectacular, I tell you - I don't know what is! Hey, at least she is smiling!























Hee hee hee...

You know what I think, I think there are not enough faux feathers in today's fashion industry. Let's do something about it everyone! Find a feather - wear it like a brooch. We're starting a new trend here people!

Sorry what?!

I can't hear you... my new shoes are too fantastic!





Shut UP right?!
But you can see in that second picture - I need help deciding on a critical point... do I criss-cross or no?
Please post your vote in the comments for me would ya?!

Want a sketch challenge?

Try this on for size:


Simple but satisfactory I think! Hey challenge yourself this - no pics of people in it! Give that a whirl if you want to... Or not... Up to you!

Here's my interpretation:


If you try out this LO - please let me know by posting a comment here!
You can find this sketch challenge and a variety of other amazing challenges at the Scrapping Turtle Message Board - http://www.turtlesoup.scrappingturtle.com

GO and check it out!

October Scrapping Turtle Design Team Reveal

Here are my October Projects! Whew! With gorgeous papers from Pebbles Inc - who could go wrong! I was IN LOVE with this Legacy collection from this company. Double-sided delectable deliciousness...

I love my pumpkin that I freehand paper pierced without a plan! I think it turned out really well!



And not just any boy - MY boy. Love this face and a picture taken by Dave instead of me! SHOCKING! I let someone use my camera... Never happens... I think good ole Dave did a smashing job getting this shot!



How about a little synchronized sillyness? Gabby and Poppy showing off in the summertime at Kathi and Jim's. Once she figured this trick out - you couldn't stop her!





Ordinary fridge magnets? Don't be fooled my friends...

The new baby in the family...

Introducing my Mom's new baby "Chip" aka Chipshot in keeping with the golf-related-pet-names-thing we have going on in the family already with current furbeasts Bogey and Mulligan...
This guy is Mom's tiny 3 pound purse-dweller adopted from the local Humane Society. He's a 5 year old chihuahua and I have yet to hear a peep out of him - so he is not noisy at all. The only problem I can see other than he not afraid of my dog growling at him- and that we seem to only be able to speak to him in the style of the Yo Quiero Taco Bell dog -- is that he can walk right under the fence gate at my house and escape down the road. We may need a leash for this little stinker until he realizes that we are all HIS people now.

Better than chips! More meat-free goodness...

I was inspired by a recipe I saw on a cooking show - however, if I am being honest, I was doing a million other things when it was on and I was not paying close attention.

Here is my recipe for Black Pepper Lime Chick Pea Snacks - Inspired by Rachel Ray but not exactly her instructions I am sure. Sorry Rachel.

Here is what I did:

Drain and dry can of chick peas.
Put about 1 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet or teflon frying pan.
Add the chick peas, some sea salt (about a tsp-ish) tons of black pepper and sprinkle some lime juice over top. About a tbsp of lime juice depending on your taste. These will turn all crispy and since there isn't too much oil - it's not too terrible for you.

After you turn off the heat - add about 2 tbsp of romano or parmesan (not the powdered stuff - fresh if you got it) and it will melt into the beans, stir it around quickly so it melts but doesn't burn and then dump in a bowl and snacky-snacky. We put these in some homemade squash soup - but after that we were eating them for a treat whilst playing Texas Hold Em!
If you can't or don't eat dairy -- leave out the cheese and these are still awesome.

Dancing in the rain... What is better than that?

Amazing Fall Squash Recipe!

A healthy - low fat low cal delicious and more importantly vegetarian fall recipe that will make you wish it was already 5pm the very next day so you could eat it again!

Stuffed Squash
Ingredients
1 medium acorn squash
Nonstick cooking spray
4 ounces cremini mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced - I used organic but it's not essential
2 large shallots, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, roasted in the oven (I had these done the day before) smushed into pan
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/3 cups cooked brown and wild rice mix
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp dry vermouth or dry white wine
Instructions
Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 375°F.
Split the squash in half, stem to bottom, and scoop out the seeds. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and place the squash on it cut side down. Bake until tender, about 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and set over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms give off their liquid, about 4 minutes.
Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, basil, thyme and pepper. Cook 1 minute.
Remove pan from heat and stir in the rice, cheese and vermouth or wine.
Once the squash are fork-tender, turn them cut side up and fill each with a quarter of the rice mixture. Serve hot!
Dang it's good too!

Some new cards and a recipe...

So World Card Making Day was a big weekend for me - got lots of cards made - mostly in the twilight hours with the kids in bed.
Good times - I was super productive and pretty happy about these latest...

Sometimes poetry comes in the most unexpected places

Here is one I found in an old Sesame Street Golden book from ages ago...
To try and give credit, I believe it was written by David Korr




When my imagination
Takes me by the mind,
It leads me off so far, so fast,
My body's left behind.
Yet that's when I am most myself,
Lost in wish and dream,
And coming back, I smile and think,
I`m more than I might seem.

Birthdays!

Ever think about birthdays really...
Today my niece turns 15. Yikes! When I met her she was only two and a half. And so small. With insanely curly hair.
Now she is a gorgeous, tall, thin, supermodel-looking type with a keen fashion sense and mad soccer skills. What is this world coming to?

Happy Birthday Clarissa. Knock it off, will ya?

Happy Canada Day Everyone!

June DT Projects - I am a slackin' blogger.. so much to add, so little time...

The altered frame before:

And after:

May Design Team projects...

This weeks Design Team Challenge

Black and White and Something shiny...

Use black and white as your inspiration and something shiny - bling, metal, glitter brads and black in white to inspire something awesome.

Check out the challenge here:

http://www.turtlesoup.scrappingturtle.com/viewtopic.php?p=60285#60285

Here is my layout...

A RAK for a name...

I am giving away a RAK on the Scrapping Turtle Forum for the person that can name this chocolate milk bubble making layout...



Check it out here... Prize to be this Friday I think...!

Where it counts...

Counting my points
Counting my points
Counting my points
If you understand this post then you feel my pain!

It's actually been a good Day One (again!)

Negligent Blogger and Poster

Lately I have been blog talking but not posting any work.. I have been doing quite a bit of scrapping lately - and so has Gab and Mom so here I will catch up..

My first reveal on the DT at the Scrapping Turtle came and went on April 15th. We received a delicious package from Dream Street papers and I received the entire Birdie Bits Line. I also received some 6x6 chipboard album covers and a few sheets and a 6x12 as well - all matching in the Birdie Bits. Here is a picture of the kit BEFORE:



Here it is AFTER - The Book








And the Layouts...