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...

One of the funniest websites I've seen (Thanks Jenna!)

see more crazy cat pics

Check out http://icanhascheezburger.com but only if you intend to look at silly animals pictures with poorly spelt capschuns and then laugh yourself ridiculous.

I blame JennGwenHenn for my new problem.

Addicted to Kelley Armstrong books...

Never in a million years would I have picked a vampire/werewolf/necromancer book on my own. I am so glad that my friend Dawn made me read the 1st book. I have read all of the other books so far and she lent me the newest release last night so I could start it (and probably finish in super fast time too). I know you won't believe me - but these stories are well-written, sexy and because of the supernatural stuff (which adds to the story without taking anything away KWIM?) they are different and interesting.

Check them out if you ever think of it...
My current favourite is No Humans Allowed -- but each successive one is my fave until the new one comes out! Start with the first one Bitten - then you would be totally in the know...

Reading Personal Demon tonight!

How to know it's an addiction

If your not-quite-5-year-old wins this at school and comes home excited and says - hey MOM! Look what I won at school - you can scrap this - I'll go put it on your table!!

Come ON right?! So stinken cute...

Tagged by Tray

I was tagged by Tracey - a super cool scrappymom I know from the Turtle... and I stalk your blog too Trace because I saw your tag before I saw this comment! Ha ha!!
http://www.trays-spot.blogspot.com/ Here is where you can find her - and on the blogroll to the right!

Here are the rules…

1. Post the name and URL of the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules
3. Write seven things about yourself
4. Put the links in to your 7 favourite blogs
5. Name 7 people you are going to tag
6. Post a comment on their blog to say they’ve been tagged

Seven things about me.....

1. I am proud to be me and all the junk that comes with that. Mom, wife, daughter, sister etc... It is important for me to be authentic and real and remember that family is everything. We are all together - all the time and people comment on it. "Wow your family is so close - every weekend you are together?" And to that I say - weekend, meaning Friday nite, Saturday nite and usually Sunday too... We are all best friends and it's awesome.

2. I am a bookworm. HUGE! I read all the time. I almost never watch tv. Lots of people say that - but I really really don't. Like tonight Dave went out to a hockey draft and the kids were in bed by 8. I couldn't wait to get my blankie, couch and book. I love them all too - funny, romantic, scary, mysterious *ahem* even dare I say inappropriate ones that curl your toes. All that. My fave though are the classics, Jane Austen, The Brontes, William Thackeray, Shakespeare (yep reading it!), Anthony Trollope but NOT Dickens. Can't help it - not my thing. Did I mention I studied English Lit in school? Yep - on purpose.

3. Scrapbooking is definitely my calming place. It makes me feel like an artist. I love that I get to spend time with my family while I am creating too. My mom, my sisters, my aunts, and Gabriella. A cup a tea and you're set. Being on a design team is really an honour but has put an unexpected self-inflicted pressure on my work that I am sort of struggling through right now but I am sure it will work itself out.

4. I fell into an insurance career. Does anyone really set out for a career in insurance? I know there are a few - but not me! Having said that - I have found it to be rewarding and despite it being a "necessary evil" - in the end, it does help people and rebuild lives. Plus I have a creative job in it (marketing and communications) and that part is fun. Designing ads and campaigns. Planning stratgies... Sick fun sometimes.

5. I am Canadian. Not a surprise right? But I am really passionate about this. I hope to see more of our beautiful, generous, peaceful country in the future. We don't get too far from home lately but I know that someday we will...

6. Tracey said: "I am pretty shy and reserved in crowds or around new people! Pretty hard to believe for some since when I get to know people I can be a little loud & crazy." and I am stealing it for myself too. I am exactly the same way. I have a big mouth that sometimes gets me in trouble - but when I first meet people I am pretty reserved. Til I can't resist a one-liner that pops in my head... then all bets are off.

7. I have a lot of food issues. There I said it. I am a vegetarian and this is a bigger part of who I am than I would have ever guessed. It infiltrates life and its situations and causes sometimes uncomfortable attention on what I am eating or going to eat. I feel bad that others have to worry about my meals and dislike a lot of focus on it in a group setting. Won't make me eat a steak or chicken wing though..

Hmmm, seven people to tag - I am not sure that I have seven people I could tag that haven't already been tagged. I will have to think about this and add it in later.

Yard Sale Scoopage!

So I went to my 1st Turtle yard sale and we were there before the doors opened... We were outside with the other crazy ladies - me, Mom and Gab. Brenda was there, Melissa and some other lovely ladies. Good thing it was a warm day out there!
Awww what we won't do for our art!

Brian was taking photos of us out the window while Teresa and Lori's kids had nice laughs at us. Oh well - at least I had a Timmys!

We were some of the the first folks in the door and we went a little nuts on the paper and cardstock. I may have to sell some of this stuff next year but for now I feel like I CLEANED up!

Mom got a QK font too - but we can't figure out which font it is - no name at all!
It's awesome though... Hope she will let me borrow it from time to time!

Here is my stash (and Gabby's too - hers is mixed in with mine here) She found some cool stuff she wanted to get - what the hey right? Can you see the piles of paper at the back?? Crazy!





Mom's stash! She rocked the ribbon!!!

I am a Design Team Member!

WoW!
I am so pumped to be a member of the new Scrapping Turtle Design Team!
Since it is my favourite store ever and a fun place to hang out and all the ladies on the Turtle Soup Forum are fantastic - I am truly honoured.

I have my first duty to prepare for this week since the 1st of the month is Tuesday... and I already know what I will be posting. Ladies if you are checking up in here by chance and this makes you curious - visit Turtle Soup on the 1st for what I hope is a fun new challenge by me! But no hints here!!!

(Man I hope people like this one... )

Crash My Stash!

Going to my first Crash Your Stash class tonight... and because I am shy (ha ha ha) I sweet talked Laura and Mom into coming with me - and Gabby is always game for a lark...

Not much time for dinner but I brought home some wicked Ye's sushi (so cheap and so satisfying!) and I will whip up something quick for the brats and then we are off.
Good thing I made up the kits last night!

I will post the creations later this week. Laura is nervous about the class and thinks she is not ready for it. I think she will blow us all out of the water with her creativity. Like always...
Wish Megan would be into coming...

Chuck Norris for goodness sake?

Ok so I am not actually a Chuck Norris fan. I am not NOT a fan - I don't really know many of his movies KWIM?

Anyway - my sister sent me a link to the FUNNIEST thing I have seen in a long time.
I think I am NOW a fan - like it or not... This made me laugh OUT LOUD!

Check it out!
http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/

*Chuck Norris went to Burger King and ordered a Big Mac - and he got one.
*When Chuck Norris does a push up, he is not lifting himself up - he is pushing the Earth down.
*There is no evolution - just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

Come ON!

I found a great place to browse and purchase homemade items. If you haven't checked out www.etsy.com - you should! A scrapper like myself - Catherine - has a cool shop you should check out. I got some wicked felt covered letters and a whole array of special funky journalling tags and title tags. The word "enjoy" above came from her shop... Check her out - Catherine's ETSY shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5344845