It's a boring Friday!

BUT....you *could* come to the Elemental Scraps "Meet the Designers Chat" this evening...we'll be there! They'll be giving out cool freebies!

It's homecoming here in good 'ol Tipp City and the weather is ideal...COLD! LOL okay it's not THAT cold, but it is nice. I think it's in the 50's? (I don't watch TV so I haven't seen the weather.) I made Nathan put on gloves this morning, that's for sure.

Gabriel had his final evaluation for preschool this morning. I think that in about a month, our little guy will be in school! It's surreal but should be wonderful for him! Just wait for the day the bus comes for the first time and we put his wheelchair on the lift...I know I'll be the one taking the pictures because Tabatha will be crying :( It's hard to send your kids to school for the first time.

THE TOOTH FAIRY HIT US AGAIN. :D Nathan lost another tooth, that's two in the last month! I'll post a pic soon, I promise!

I'm still nesting...pretty badly! And, I chaired the pep rally for the Parent Teacher Club so I just got back from the school. The high school football players are signing bookmarks for the elementary school at lunch today...I baked iced brownies...it was SO HARD not to eat them, but I did sneak a lick of the spoon when I was done :D Now I'm off to some appts...nothing AT ALL exciting here lately :)

We did finish a new kit, Cheerful...and it should be uploaded at Elemental Scraps momentarily. Check back tomorrow for a picture of it!

That's all from us for now, bloggers, more later! :D

~Lena

It's a big one!

Bad bloggers! We've been so busy lately, I don't know if we are coming or going lately. Seems like there is always an appointment or a meeting or a task to do! I'm happy to say thing are doing well in Bella Gypsy Land :).

Lena is nesting away preparing for the imminent arrival of miss Naomi! Seriously it's institutionally clean in this house. From top to bottom, not a thing is out of it's place. Not a speck of dirt is hiding anywhere in this house *lol*!



IMPORTANT FYI: If a recipe calls for chocolate candy melts DO NOT try and substitute chocolate chips. All you will end up with is fried chocolate hash!!

We decided to try pomegranate juice this week. I must say it was quite interesting. It's yummy and sweet :). Very good stuff!

Lena has a big toot to announce. Of course, she hasn't done it yet, so I'm going to do it for her :)! If you look to your right, you'll notice that Lena has become a member of Faer Oak CT *woohoo*! Congratulations Lena!

Now we are blogging this especially for Jen Beschinski (Three Ring Studio - check her out!) A couple of nights ago, we decided nothing could be more perfect for dinner than pancakes with strawberries and whip cream! MMMMMM!



If you read this in time, come join us for our Elemental Scraps chat at 9PM! We will be giving away a cute freebie and having some fun chatter! Also this coming Friday, is part two of Meet The Designers at Elemental Scraps. Talk about some mad fun and a lot of freebies!

We have been neglectful of letting everyone know about our nifty new Halloween Kits! Like our blog decor? Grab 2 Cute 2 Spook from Elemental Scraps!



Want something a bit more sophisticated? Check out Wicked at ACOT! It's one sexy gothic kit! Well crap, it won't let me upload the picture...check back later k?

CONTEST WINNERS!

It was SO hard to decide on three winners, I mean it! Even with our CT helping us, and polls set up, and two of us...we have really gone back and forth the last couple of days! I had my wonderful friend, Lynn Overend, coordinating the contest, that way I wouldn't see the submissions as they came in. This way I could just sit down, fresh, and look them all over for the first time, at the same time. Boy did they make me hungry!

Everyone who entered a submission will receive a .zip with all of the recipes and a gift!

Here's Lizzie's 1st place entry:

Lizzie will receive a $100 Shopping Spree to our ACOT store!

Here's Kim's 2nd place entry:

Kim will receive any kits we put out for the entire month of October, for free! (we have 4 already in the works...on an average month we put out 6-8) This includes all kits we put out at ACOT and all kits we put out at Elemental Scraps!

Here's LuAnn's 3rd place entry:

LuAnn will receive 3 of our kits for free!

In addition, all winners will receive ALL of the submissions printed and bound for the kitchen! I'm not 100% sure of the grand total, but it looks like it is close to 20!

Everyone will be being contacted personally in the next two days or so with your gift and .zip! Thank you SO MUCH for all of the great entries!

There is more news, bloggers, there is ALWAYS more news...but I think I'll quit with this for now...check back tomorrow (or even later tonight if I can get Blogger to cooperate) It's acting wonky for me and usually that's my cue to give it a break and try back later. I'm afraid it'll eat my post! ANYWAY check back tomorrow for more BIG updates!

~Lena

Bear with us!

I know that people are anxiously awaiting the announcement from our contest. It WILL be announced today, I promise.

But, this week and today are a little harried around here.

Today is Katriel's First Birthday. Katriel is my neice, Tabatha's daughter, who passed away at birth. So, it's an emotional day here. We won't be around for a bit as we go release a balloon into the heavens for Katriel and spend some family time together.

Check back for the announcement, and please keep Tabatha in your thoughts today.

~Lena

Happy Sunday! and other ramblings...

I have been a lazy blogger lately but we have been swamped with life stuff! Since I last blogged, Tabatha and I have both been in the hospital! She is fine...her health issue should be straightened out at her appt tomorrow....and the baby and I are fine, too! I spent 3 days in L&D for some preterm labor and for my high blood pressure, but things are going okay now. Send me some "stay put Naomi" vibes! I need a few more weeks to get ready! I'm picking up my lot of cloth diapers next Saturday...and I think my shower will be the Saturday following....I need to make it to term! :D Right now I'm having 3 weekly appts...for AFI and NST for those of you who know what those are...and I'm swelling like Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...except I'm not violet, atleast! :D

My $40,000 package came in the mail yesterday....my Bachelor's Degree! It's been 6 weeks since graduation and I've been waiting anxiously...I actually hugged my letter carrier! Those of you who know me in person (which are only a few...) know that from this picture I AM incredibly swollen...everywhere...my face is so swollen right now I can't even smile big without my eyes closing LMBO! I gained 11 lbs of fluid the three days I was in the hospital. Go figure! So here's my super-proud moment...you'll probably see a layout or two once it's framed, no doubt!


We have been super busy with Collaborative Kits and things of that nature. Look for us in the October Mega Kit at Elemental Scraps and ACOT Collaborative Kit #11, Warm Autumn Breeze! We *should* be releasing our Halloween kits(s)...YES, that's two of 'em! today or tomorrow! All I will reveal for now is that they are called Wicked and Too Cute to Spook!

Today is the last day of our Contest....Bella Gypsy Delights! This is the first time we have done a recipe card contest and it has turned out REALLY WELL! We will be accepting submissions still until midnight tonight to contest@bellagypsydesigns.com and we will be reviewing them (and taste-testing them if we have to to make our decisions!) and the winners will be announced on our blog and probably shouted from every other scrapping rooftop on Oct 3! Every one who enters will receive a compiled zip of all of the recipes....and there are LOTS already! (some really yummy sounding ones, too!) To see the full rules of the contest....scroll down a few blog posts :)

You'll also want to be watching for an update from our hostage, Bella Bunny. I have a feeling that very soon you'll see Bella Bunny very happily being returned to her Creative Team! (If you don't know what this is about...scroll down to other blog posts and see Bella's plight)

On to other things...Our October Retirement Sale! This one is a BIGGIE! In August we retired The Dramatic Digs Collection, in September we retired our spring and summer themed kits, and now in Oct....The Coffee Shop Collection! Just in time to pick up and use all of the warm colors for your autumn layouts, too! All of this line is only 50 cents each at ACOT for the month of October...here's the link to see them all a little closer~! The Coffee Shop Collection

Okay, for those of you who need a recipe fix....Tabby makes these ALL the time...about once a week...but the household swarms to them when they come out of the oven and we've never taken a picture! LOL. We really like these brownies when they are warm because the fudge chunks are still melty. :) I promise to try and grab a pic next time....

Tabby's Homemade Brownies

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square baking pan.
Sprinkle pecans on cookie sheet and toast in oven until lightly colored. Set aside to cool.
In saucepan over low heat, melt unsweetened chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally. Let cool.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Fold in the melted chocolate. Sift together the flour, and salt and add to mixture, stirring lightly. Chop the semisweet chocolate into coarse chunks and add to mixture, along with pecans. Mix until just blended. Pour batter into pan and smooth top.
Bake about 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

So anyway....I bet you are interested in the freebie~! This paper pack is from our retired Dramatic Digs Collection. The matching element pack we will be giving away at our Monday Night Chat at Elemental Scraps. It's at 9pm EST...we'll remind you tomorrow...but don't miss out! :) Here's the link for the paper pack...but please leave us a comment so we know you visited! Just say HI! :D

BELLA CAPE FREEBIE

That's all from BellaGypsyLand, Scrappers! See you soon! :)

~Lena