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