New card, new wardrobe...

Hello everyone!

First of all, I would like to thank all of you who follow and read my blog, although it takes longer now to post something.

I'm back with another card, that I did on the floor, next to my boy, who was playing and wondering why he doesn't have mommy's undivided attention. My precious boy has the widest and cutest smile in the world and when he sees me in the morning, he lets out this excited shriek that completely melts my heart! To be honest, it's really hard to do anything else when he's awake, because I haven't gotten over the affection that he gives and needs.

But now he's sleeping so I'm rushing to post a card. It's for Curtain Call Color Challenge #15, which proves to be a rather old one. I mistook it for the most recent, because of "Halloween" colors. Never mind, hopefully I'll make a card for the newest challenge. This is the first time I participate in this challenge, although I've been following it with the corner of my eye for quite some time.

All this time, I've done some other things that I haven't talked about and maybe now it's the time.

I have lost 30 pounds since giving birth! So happy!

After having Mircea, I have given myself a couple of months, to see if breastfeeding will "miraculously" melt the fat off my body. Other friends have inspiring stories, but it didn't happen to me. I also didn't pay attention to what I ate, thinking that since I'm breastfeeding, it doesn't matter how much of what was on my plate.

Because I really felt the need to move again, I started going to Zumba and loved it! I had a great time, but...not losing much weight. I was feeling hungry all.the.time and I would eat whatever was there.

Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, until I changed my eating habits, the scale would not budge a single little line. I started thinking what was important for me in a "diet": I could NOT go hungry, that was sure and I needed some substitute for foods that I loved.

I remembered that, a couple of years ago, a friend of mine sent me a copy of a book written by a french doctor, Michel Montignac, who divided foods based on their glycemic index. He explains that we gain weight because the insulin function of pancreas is "uncalibrated" and therefore, instead of releasing the amount of insulin to metabolize only the carbs, it releases much more and ends up transforming everything in body fat. This is due to a history of eating carbs like refined sugar, white flour, corn starch, that spike the sugar levels in our blood.

After reading it again, I was convinced that I don't need to eat less, but better and that the abundance of bad carbs in our diet makes any amount of exercise futile (unless you're a professional athlete) or it takes so long to lose a little bit of weight that you become discouraged.(I'm talking here about people like me, I'm sure there are people out there that can lose weight only by batting their eyelashes..like my husband and his family. Seriously, these people have a secret and don't share with anyone!)

That day, I decided to give up over-processed foods and eliminate any products that have sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, starch, etc. You would be shocked how many products have unnecessary ingredients for nutrition, but necessary for preservation, so they can stay long amounts of time "fresh" and unalterated on the shelves.

I stopped eating sugar, white flour, white rice, potatoes and corn completely.

This regimen meant that I would cook and eat most of the meals at home. I used to cook before, but I would always have a frozen bag of "goodies" for days when I didn't feel like going near the kitchen. But now, unless that frozen bag was "spinach", I had to (and wanted to) eat a homemade healthy meal everytime I was hungry.

I didn't count calories, I ate when I was hungry and how much I needed and in a month...15 pounds! Have I really eaten 15 pounds worth of sugar, flour, corn starch, corn syrup before?! It was hard to believe, but I did!

I gave up all these, but I discovered cabbage, beans, oat bran, wild rice and "exotic" things like quinoa and jicama. I've substituted white flour with a mix of oat bran flour and almond flour. I've always loved to try now things and I had the chance with this "diet" also. I wouldn't call it a diet, but eating healthy and being mindful of the crap that it's offered out there as "food".

These are some of my favorite dishes:

Oat Bran Blueberry Muffins

(made with oat bran flour and almond flour, not even a trace of wheat flour)

And because nothing says "diet" better than pizza, I'd like you show you a pizza with pinto bean crust.

A modified version of the well-known Shepherd's Pie (with mashed cauliflour puree instead of mashed potatoes)

And now, my 35th birthday cake: Black Bean Cake. (I was suprised how "tasteless" unseasoned beans actually are. Cocoa had a stronger taste than the black beans.)

Isn't it fun to "diet"??? *smile*

To be honest again, sometimes it's a lot of work to cook every single day, but it's worth it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'm leaving you with the cutest face on Earth! Trick or treat?

HAVE A SCARY MERRY HALLOWEEN!

{Count my blessings} Card 5 1/2 x 4 in

~ Cardstock: Papertreyink {Vintage Cream}, unknown orange cardstock;
~ Stamps: Papertreyink {In Bloom, Fall Elegance};
~ Ink: Papertreyink {Ripe Avocado}, Stampabilities' {Plum};
~ Ribbon: Martha Stewart
~ Buttons: Papertreyink Vintage {Spring Moss}, purple button from my collection.

A season of Gratitude {FTL 110}

Hello everyone,

I'm finally back with another card, in all these beautiful fall colors.

Whenever I need a simple and quick idea for a card, I go to Clean and Simple Stamping. I am always inspired by the sketches over there.



I can't explain where the time flies. Mircea has started developing a personality and one sign is that he does not like to wear a hat. Period. Ha ha. He can take it off himself. Two of his bottom teeth are coming out and I expect surprises every night. Sometimes he wakes up, sometimes he doesn't. And I am afraid I "caught"some kind of insomnia...I'm falling asleep standing around 10 pm and usually go to bed, but I'm waking up around 1 am and unable to go to bed for a couple of hours. Like last night....So days like today are a little bit of blur, tired enough to not function normally, but not enough to take a nap. Uggh!

Anyways, enough about me. What are your plans for this fall? How is Fall where you live? Full of changing colors, cold, hot (like here!)? Don't you just love the chilly mornings, when you can sit outside with a cup of coffee and muse about how wonderful life is? :)

I'm looking forward for all that this Fall has for us, except one thing: to the table cloth that my in-laws use for Thanksgiving dinner. Any suggestions on how to delicately suggest another table cloth (this is going to be my husband's duty, for sure)?

I am really determined to not let so much water pass under the bridge before I post another card. I have some dreams when it comes to card making, but they look farther than I thought. But I hope that day will come! :)

{a season of Gratitude} card - all products Papertreyink, unless otherwise noted

~ Cardstock: Melon Berry, Spring Moss, Vintage Cream;
~ Paper: Autumn Abundance;
~ Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Fall Elegance;
~ Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Melon Berry, Dark Chocolate;
~ Buttons: Vintage Melon Berry, Vintage Scarlet Jewel.

Here is Mircea wearing my husband's 6-months old outfit!

The Fall is here!

Hello everyone,

I'm back, finally! I'd like to thank my friend Genuta for nudging me about not posting anything for some time.

The last month, our little boy has been keeping us on a roller-coaster. Overnight, he started to roll over (we found him one morning rolled on his belly swaddled! What a scare :) ). Then, the breast milk wasn't enough anymore and moreover, he became quite disinterested in breastfeeding. My heart is broken! :)

I love Fall! After a little bit of thinking, I realized that Fall is my favorite season. Maybe it's connected with the touch of coolness it brings after the suffocating summer here in southern Texas and the all these holidays that brings us closer and closer to Christmas.

I have a card today, my first card for Fall this year. I made it for Dawn's Color Cue {8} Challenge. I wish I could use my Chartreuse ink, but unfortunately it has a very low quality. I'm glad that Papertrey Ink changed their inks manufacturer.

Recipe for {I am thankful for you} card 4 x 5 1/2 in
~ Cardstock: Papertreyink {Lemon Tart, Vintage Cream};
~ Stamps: Papertreyink {Vintage Labels}, Making Memories {Autumn Splendor};
~ Ink: Papertreyink {Scarlet Jewel, Ripe Avocado}, Stampabilities {Brown};
~ Buttons: Papertreyink {Vintage Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel}.

I hope this Fall will brighten your life!

Giveaway WINNER!

Good morning everyone!

I'm back with the winner of my little giveaway. It's....

Probably you wonder "What is this?" It's the mirror image of the name Christina. So, the winner is:

Christina at Sea Glass & Sentiments

Congratulations, Christina! Please contact me by email with your address so I can send you the prize. 

I'd like to thank everyone that took precious crafting time to comment on blog! *smile*

Today is my second Blogoversary!

August the 4th.

In 1693, Dom Perignon invents Champagne {Cheers!}. In 1830, the plans of the city of Chicago laid out. In 1862, the US Government collects its first income tax. 

In 2008, I made MY FIRST CARD. Here it is!

It's been an amazing journey so far. Card making has helped me in ways I have never expected. 

I have always struggle with noticing details. They could be right in front of me and I would miss them. I am more of a bigger picture person. After two years of making cards (where, let's be honest, the battle is won in the little details), I could literally sit down for a couple of hours working on a details of a project with no pain. The emphasis is on no pain. Because I've been dealing with a lot of details before in my life, but it's been always painful. I remember the first time I had to write a scientific article in grad school, I got sick. For real! My body fought it as an illness. 

I have met some incredibly talented ladies in the blogosphere. Ladies that inspired me with their stories of their family, their children, their own journey though life. They taught me that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a little bit of energy and creativity to make a card!

That's why, for everyone out there who stumbles (or comes on purpose!) on my blog today, I'm offering my absolute favorite stamp set so far, Papertreyink's Guide Lines 2. 

Please leave a comment to this post until next Wednesday, August 11th 2010, 11.59 pm, about the first card you made, if you remember, about how you decided to start making cards or a memorable moment in your card making journey...anything that had to do with card making. 

The winner will be chosen randomly. {Unfortunately, this contest is open only to U.S. residents, as the cost of shipping outside of the U.S. is too much for my budget right now.}

I am looking forward for many more years of browsing beautiful cards on line and making some myself. I'm actually very curious how this is going to "evolve" from now on!

THANKS for stopping by and I'll see you soon! 

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge {featuring Birds}

Hi everyone!

I'm back with a card with birds! First, I thought I had no stamps with birds, but I dug in my rubber stamps drawer and I found this cute Hero Arts stamp. I was more than happy to put it to use. {By the way, I think everyone should have a stamp with birds}.

Here it is:

Recipe for {Thank You for Caring} Card 4 x 5 1/2 in

~ Cardstock: Papertreyink {Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Raspberry Fizz};

~ Paper: Papertreyink {Dotty Biscotti};

~ Stamps: Hero Arts {Thank You Card};

~ Ink: Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Button: Papertreyink {Vintage Spring Moss}.

I really love ledger borders in general, but because I wanted to be true to my promise of taking ordering new crafting stuff a little easier, I decided to make my own! Here's how: with the help of a ruler, I marked a few dots at equal intervals on the left border of the paper. I punched a little circle for every dot. Then I took the "line" puncher and punched a line from the side until it met the circle. Pretty easy, isn't it? I bet it looks even better with a smaller circle punch.

So, this is my card for today. But don't forget to stop by tomorrow, 4th of August, as it's my second Blogoversary! A little giveaway will be waiting for you!

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge {with Ric-Rac}

Hello again!

How is everything going? 

I'm back with another card. I realized that, if I wanted to keep up with card making and not letting it slip through the cracks of everyday dish washing, laundry, feeding, diaper changing, I needed to take a different approach. The bank hold-up approach: in and out in 5 minutes. No second guessing or shaky hands. Have an idea, get the materials and get it done. Otherwise, it's becoming obsessive. Maybe for those who are not into making cards, it sounds a little much to have layout and colors flying through your brain, but I'm sure that the card makers understand.

So, with this card, I just let if flow. I also chose some cardstock and an older stamp that I haven't used in a long time. My husband and I made some future plans that require some serious savings and realized how much stuff for making cards I already have. It's going to be very hard to not make long lists with my favorite new stamps and accessories, but I'd like to see how it goes for a while, using all that I already have on hand.  

Recipe for {hey friend} card 4 x 5 1/2 in

~ Cardstock: Papertreyink {Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate}, Paper Studio;

~ Paper: Papertreyink {Dotty Biscotti};

~ Stamp: Practicing Creativity {Key to my Heart}, Stampabilities {Antique Time Piece};

~ Ink: Papertreyink {Hawaiian Shores}; Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Ribbon: Making Memories;

~ Buttons: Papertreyink {Vintage Ocean Tides}.

I'd like to share some tips that helped me finish this card...without making several previous attempts. I frayed the ends of the ribbon on purpose, because it wouldn't cut clean and I didn't want it to look sloppy. The buttons were a little bit of an afterthought, because I tried to adhere the ribbon with an adhesive that showed. 

One tip NOT to follow: don't delete the Downloads folder in bulk. You might delete your watermark. Shoot! Oh, I still have the Trash folder...not anymore, because I got a computer cleaning wave and emptied the trash, too. 

Have you also realized that sometimes you can find stuff better before you clean the desk?   

By the way, I made this card for the latest Embellish Color Challenge {with Ric Rac}.

In a couple of days it's gonna be my second Blogoversary! It's been two years since I made my first card. I'm planning a little giveaway to celebrate, so come back by on the 4th of August!

  

Wplus9 Color Cue Challenge #6

Hello everyone!

So good to be back in the blogland with another card. About looking at cards online, I do that every single day! {So much talent out there.} But I don't get to post as often as I'd like.

Today's card is for the latest Wplus9 Color Cue Challenge. Pretty nice combination! I have had this layout in my head for quite a while, but now I have found the right colors for it.

Recipe for {Just Because} card 4 x 5 1/2 in 

~ Cardstock: Papertreyink {Vintage Cream, Kraft};

~ Stamps: Wplus9 Studio {Woodgrain Silhouettes}, Papertreyink {Damask Design};

~ Ink: Papertreyink {Melon Berry}, Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Buttons: Papertreyink {Vintage Melon Berry};

Can you believe it's getting to be the end of July?! Me neither. I love the coming of Fall. With all the holidays and the preparations for the end of the year. But don't let me jump ahead, there is still some summer to be enjoyed! Hope you have a wonderful time!

THANKS for stopping by!

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge {Invitations}

Hello everyone!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9....that's how many mosquito bites I've got. Round, red, burning bites. They are on the roll. They have come with the rain, but while the rain moved on, the mosquitoes decided to stay a while. I hope no one ever comes up with a stamp set with mosquitoes! 

I'm glad I'm on time with my card for the latest Embellish Color Challenge, because the colors are irresistible!  When one throws Kraft in there, anything is possible. 

I grant my husband two things that I had never thought would happen, before we met: reading(and watching) Harry Potter and drinking tea. I got to the point where I would finish a book at 12 at night and James would finally think we're going to bed, but no, I had to start the next one.."just a couple more pages...". 

About the tea, we have now a true ritual. We buy the cream of the crop of Darjeeling and we let it steep just the right time. Then we pour it in a nice tea pot and drink it from our favorite tea cups....it's a love affair we have now with the tea. 

That's why the card today is an invitation for you: 

Recipe for {You're invited to tea} [All product PTI unless otherwise noted]

~ Cardstock: {Kraft, Vintage Cream};

~ Paper: {Dotty Biscotti};

~ Stamp: {Tea for Two, Turning a New Leaf};

~ Ink: {New Leaf, Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel};

~ Ribbon: {Scarlet Jewel};

~ Button: {Vintage Scarlet Jewel}. 

I hope you have a great day and have time to drink a good cup of tea!

Wplus9 Color Cue Challenge #5

Hello!

How are you this morning?

I have some droopy eyes, as my sweet baby decided to wake up at 4 am and 7 am. While he went back to bed comforted, I couldn't go back to sleep. There is a certain point in the morning when I know that if I hadn't fallen asleep yet, it's not gonna happen. One of the hardest things for me is to sleep in the daytime, so probably I'm looking at a long long day. But it's all right, I've been through these days before and came back to the other side, alive and well.

Besides, we're still smitten with our baby boy. Last night, after he went to bed, we laughed our heads off trying to imitate what he does. I had no idea how funny these things look when an adult does them!

I have some cards today for the latest Wplus9 Color Challenge. I'm slightly embarrassed by one thing: it took me quite a bit of time to realize that I CAN use white or a neutral color in a color challenge. It gives a card a lot of good balance.

Recipe for {Thankful for you} Card 5 1/2 x 4 in [All products PTI unless otherwise noted]

~ Cardstock {Summer Sunrise, Aqua, Vintage Cream};

~ Paper: Stampin'Up!;

~ Stamps: Making Memories {Autumn Splendor}, Wplus9 {Woodgrain Silhouette};

~ Ink: {Ripe Avocado};

~ Gems: ~ Cardstock {Summer Sunrise, Aqua, Vintage Cream};

Recipe for {the Sky is the limit} Card  5 1/2 x 4 in [All products PTI unless otherwise noted]

~ Cardstock {Aqua, Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest};

~ Paper: {Dotty Biscotti}

~ Stamps: Practicing Creativity {Look up!};

~ Ink: {Simply Chartreuse}, Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Buttons: {Vintage Spring Moss}. 

I hope you have a wonderful day and THANKS for stopping by! 

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge {Baby Theme}

Hello everybody!!

I'm still here, stealing a little bit of time everyday to work on a card, but until now I haven't had so much time for blogging. But my little one is sleeping soundly (hopefully till the end of this post) and my husband is still at work, so this is the right moment!

It's been a while since I made a card for a baby, so I couldn't resist the latest Embellish Magazine Color Challenge {Baby Theme}. Here is what I came up with:

Recipe for {Welcome little one} Card   5 1/2 x 4 in [All PTI unless otherwise noted]

~ Cardstock: {Melon Berry, Vintage Cream};

~ Paper: {Bitty Baby Blessings};

~ Stamps: {Bitty Baby Blessings, 

~ Ink: {Spring Moss}, Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Buttons: {Spring Moss, Melon Berry}. 

Since I've been at this amazing color combination, I also couldn't resist making a couple more cards. 

             

Recipe for {Celebrate} Card  5 1/2 x 4 in  [All PTI unless otherwise noted]

~ Cardstock: {Melon Berry, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss};

~ Paper: {Bitty Baby Blessings};

~ Stamps: {Turning a New Leaf};

~ Ink: {Spring Moss, Melon Berry}, Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Buttons: {Melon Berry}. 

   

   

Recipe for {Celebrate} Card  5 1/2 x 4 in  [All PTI unless otherwise noted]

~ Cardstock: {Melon Berry, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss};

~ Paper: {Bitty Baby Blessings};

~ Stamps: {In Bloom};

~ Ink: {Spring Moss}, Stampabilities {Brown};

~ Buttons: {Melon Berry}; 

~ Ribbon {Melon Berry}.

I hope you like and find inspiration in my cards. THANKS for stopping by!

{Happy Anniversary} Card for The Play Date Cafe #33

Hello everyone!

I'm back sooner than I expected, because I really really wanted to make a card for a dear friend of mine, Mrs. Moore, that gave me the opportunity to sell my cards in her coffee shop. 

Today is her and her husband's anniversary and I am so happy for them. Their coffee shop is our second home, especially since I broke our french coffee maker. 

For this card I used to colors from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #33.

Recipe for {Happy Anniversary} Card  4 x 5 1/2 in

~ Cardstock: Papertreyink {Kraft, Vintage Cream, Aqua};

~ Paper: Papertreyink {Dotty Biscotti};

~ Stamps: Papertreyink {Fancy Flourishes, Butterfly Wishes, Damask Design};

~ Ink: Stampabilities {Bright Pink, Brown}, Papertreyink {Chai}. 

Hope you all have a beautiful creative day and I'll be back with another card before you (and I) know it! Thanks for stopping by.