Showing posts with label giveaways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giveaways. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

And Now, For the Moment You've All Been Waiting For...

...but first, thank you to everyone who commented or otherwise entered this giveaway. It's been super fun for me to read your comments!

We, my studio assistants and I, have chosen a winner. You can see all the little pieces of paper in the bowl. There is a name on each one. I couldn't figure out a better way to do it. My comments aren't numbered so I couldn't use some kind of online number generator.

My assistant was very busy this morning, as you can see. Someone has to take the naps around here and she is the self appointed nap-taker in this family. When my daughters moved out someone had step up and take on the job! Besides, she didn't think she'd be able to choose the name out of the hat bowl without opposable thumbs. She has a point there, so I let her off.


I enlisted my other assistant to help me. It was no problem because he has opposable thumbs. 


And the winner is...



....the winner is....




....



Michele! Yay! Congratulatons! (oops! I misspelled your name on that slip of paper...so sorry!)
You won with this comment: 


Michele Aguilar said...
LOVE!!! I want matching umbrella and rain boots!

Here's your prize. Kind of a Valentine's Day theme, but not over the top so you can use it all the time for make up, miscellaneous stuff in your purse, whatever. 

The outside,

the inside,
and a closeup of the embroidery.
I hope you like it, Michele! Would you please email me at catfeetstudio at gmail dot com and give me your mailing address? I don't seem to have your email anywhere. Thanks! I'll get it into the mail for you as soon as I hear from you. And thanks again to everyone for playing along.

Giveaway Is Closed!

My giveaway is now closed, and I'll announce the winner later today. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Last Chance!!

Last chance to enter my "celebrate my 100th post" giveaway! Any comments left after midnight, Pacific Time, tonight, Jan 31, 2012, will not be entered in the drawing, so what are you waiting for???

 Here's a little sneak preview of your prize, in progress. 
Studio assistant not included. 

Once again, here are the details:

Celebration of 100th post giveaway! 

Comment one time per post on any post (even old ones) between now and January 31st, 2012. 

Each comment good for one entry. 

Give me a shout out on whatever other social media you use and I'll enter your name an extra three times. (Send me the link!)

I will do a random drawing of all entries on February 1st and post the winner's name, address, birthdate, and social security  number...just kidding! I'll post your first name.

 Please make sure I can contact you by email as well, so I can let you know if you win and get your mailing address to send your prize! 

Open to all, including international. 



So set off the fireworks, start the music and let the party begin! I've done over 100 posts...yay!!!!

......What? No fireworks? 

If you aren't going to bring fireworks, at least would you bring cake? 

Monday, January 30, 2012

Happy Things on Your Monday

This is a happy thing: a dog who drinks  Starbucks.
(via) 

In lieu of my regularly scheduled post, I bring you this: Happy Things. 

If you click on any of the pictures in the link you should be redirected to the original sites. 


Sunday, January 29, 2012

A Recipe That Will Make You Popular Because We All Know How Important It Is to Be Popular



The other day I posted a picture of  a Caramel Apple Cheesecake bar. Today, you are in luck because I'm giving you the recipe for this divine, delectable, delicious, deliriously decadent dessert. (Did you like all that alliteration? It's true...every word.) I get requests for this every time we have a potluck. If you take this to a potluck you will instantly become the most popular person there. 

Those of us who are "popularity challenged" need all the help we can get!

Just kidding. 

But it will make you popular!


I'll post the picture again, just to make sure you get the full view. 

The recipe I used is here, but I'll repost it for you because I like to make your life easier like that! ;-) 



Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 

Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped (I use whatever apples I have on hand)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel topping, recipe follows
1/2 cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold and enjoy!

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. I like to really combine it by using my clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.

I don't have a print friendly version of this recipe so if you want to copy and paste it into your own document you can print it that way. Eventually I'll figure out how to do give you a print friendly option. 

Saturday, January 28, 2012

The other morning....


....when I went out early this was the view across the parking lot where we live:



Normally it looks like this:



At least it didn't look like this! 

Fog covering the Bay with only the tip of the tower of the Golden Gate Bridge visible.

The fog is beautiful and all, and I absolutely love living here in Nor-cal and wouldn't change a thing, but really, I'm a desert rat at my root level. I guess you can take the girl out of the Arizona-Sonoran desert but you can take the Sonoran desert out of her. 

  
Sunrise at Saguaro National Park near Tucson.




Friday, January 27, 2012

Pursuing the Dream

(Go here for the giveaway!)

Goals.

Dreams.

What's the difference? I've been thinking about that lately.

For example,

if I am sitting with my fork sunk into a piece of this



while I'm talking about losing weight, then I do not have a goal of weight loss. 

I have a dream

Or if I say that I am going to hike the Inca Trail to see this


while I'm sitting on the couch day in and day out, I do not have a goal to hike Machu Picchu. 

I have a dream

But if I'm doing a lot of this

and this 

Oops! Where did you come from???? You're cute but you don't really demonstrate the type of workout I'm looking for.  Looks like you need to a few more reps, dude. 

I mean this


and some of this


then I have goals

Goals to not only lose weight, but to hike the Inca Trail without having to be carried down in a body bag. 

Dreams and goals are both good, but let's understand that they are not the same thing. Dreams are thoughts and ideas. Dreams can inspire and motivate us, but to truly pursue them, to turn them into goals and make them reality, we need to put feet on them and take them beyond being merely wishes and turn them into decisions. Lay the groundwork, do the research, learn, take 
steps to actually make them happen. We need to take action, to do something, or we will wake up one morning realizing that we had lots of good intentions but no accomplishments. What's there to be proud of in that?







Thursday, January 26, 2012

In Which We Had a Minor Flood, I Go For A Run, and I Am Not A Horticulturist.


So we've had a lot of rain. A lot. In one night. Not even the whole night. On Friday evening the skies opened and dumped more rain in two hours than we had all year last year it seems. Enough to flood the entire foyer of our church. Actually, the flood could have been avoided if the storm drains on the street outside hadn't been made "environmentally friendly." Apparently the city installed filters in the drains and the filters are lame and caused the drains overflow. I was under the impression that drains are supposed to, you know, actually drain. But no. I was obviously misinformed. Fortunately we didn't really have any damage, though the carpet is still soaked. This happened on Friday night and now it's Thursday. But whatever. We (the operative "we..." I actually mean the guys) cleaned the black street dirt out of everything (glad it wasn't sewage...ewwwww!) and used a shop vac to extract as much water as possible.

Meh...it's life.  It will dry eventually.

My point in telling you that is to show you this: 
The rain has turned stuff green! 
The ice plants that cover the edges of the lagoon behind my house have suddenly gone from their sickly winter look to plump, green, full of water, and blooming. 
Another view of the ice plants...I threw in some kind of water birds in the background for your viewing pleasure.

The bottle brush are also putting out blossoms. As are the dandelions....

This purple stuff (yes, that is the scientific term: Purple Stuff.) is just starting to bloom. There will be lots more purple in a few weeks. So pretty.

Even this jade is blooming. I've seen jade bloom, but not like this! 

The crowing glory, though, is this (out of focus) tree. I have no idea what it is, being that I'm such an accomplished horticulturist and all. It had nothing, and I mean nothing on it just a few days ago. 

And last, but certainly not least, is a collection, though it may be hard to see, of  naturally occurring "unwanted silk flowers that still have their labels thrown over the side of someone's balcony and left to languish in the weeds at the water's edge." A common sighting around these parts. It's nicer when they are attached to a park bench


All these are pictures I took with my phone on my jog yesterday. 

Just to round things out here are a few more shots: 
Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but the sky was brilliantly blue. 

Kayaks parking for residents along the dock.

Someone's cat enjoying the beautiful weather. I may or may not have offered to scratch his ears and I may or may not have spent too long hanging out with him. 


And lest you think things are too idyllic on my jogging route, I cross under the freeway which is a bit unnerving when the trucks rumble across. The whole things shakes. I guess it's that earthquake-proof thing going on. 

And this, people, is a picture of my lily white legs after my run. The angle shows my calf all splayed out and looking huge. They may or may not be that size in reality. Let's pretend they're not, shall we? Let's pretend they are muscular and toned and tan, hmmm? 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what I was up to yesterday.

Among other things. 




Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Crows and Giveaways (I'm not giving away a crow.)

Note: Scroll down in this post for a giveaway! 
The giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!



Dust of Snow


The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.


I have always loved the work of Robert Frost, thanks to Mr. Gray, but...that's not a hemlock tree. And there isn't any snow. I always picture this poem having been inspired by a walk in the woods, but I wasn't in the woods.

Whatever.

Ok, ok, so the picture really has nothing to do with the poem. And it's poor quality as well because I took it with my phone. But it's a crow!

AND....

This is my 100th post!!! woohoo! Set off the fireworks, start the music, let the party begin! 

What? 

You didn't bring fireworks? 

You don't have your playlist ready? 

You mean...there's no party? 

Does this mean I haven't reached a super-duper impressive milestone in bloggy-land? I'm actually behind the times and most people are looking at something like a gazillion posts instead of a piddly hundred?

*sigh* I've always been a late bloomer....

Ok. It is what it is. But I'm still doing the giveaway I promised some time ago! Leave a comment on this or any post (even my old ones) between now and January 31st and I will enter your name in a random drawing for a groovy and cool gift, the exact item yet to be determined (maybe a make up bag, maybe an infinity scarf, maybe a ????...but whatever I finally decide to make for you, I know you'll love it!). I will guarantee, however, that it will be handmade by moi, and the name will be drawn randomly. Each comment is one entry, but only one comment per post, please. Open to all, even international, though the mail will take longer to reach you. If you give me a shout out on your facebook, twitter, or other social media, let me know (send me the link!) that will be good for three extra entries. 

So! To recap and simplify: 

Celebration of 100th post giveaway! 

Comment one time per post on any post (even old ones) between now and January 31st, 2012. 

Each comment good for one entry. 


Give me a shout out on whatever other social media you use and I'll enter your name an extra three times. (Send me the link!)

I will do a random drawing of all entries on February 1st and post the winner's name, address, birthdate, and social security  number...just kidding! I'll post your first name.

 Please make sure I can contact you by email as well, so I can let you know if you win and get your mailing address to send your prize! 

Open to all, including international. 








Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Please, Sir, I want some more.

Name that classic. A prize to the winner. Umm. Just kidding. No prize yet. But I am thinking about  a giveaway drawing when I reach 25 followers! Stay tuned!

As promised, here is another out of this world quinoa recipe.

Quinoa Salad with Black Beans, Avocado and Cumin-Lime Dressing

Ingredients:
For the salad:
   1 T olive oil
   1 C dry quinoa
   1 3/4 C chicken stock
   1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
   1 whole avocado, sliced
   1 handful cherry tomatoes, quartered
   1/2 red onion, diced
   Several cloves minced garlic
   1/2 red bell pepper, chopped into chunks
   Small handful fresh cilantro, chopped

For the dressing:
   1 whole lime, juiced
   1/2 T olive oil
   1/2 t cumin
    salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Warm the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and sauté the garlic and oil until garlic is golden. Add quinoa and stock, bring to a boil, turn down and simmer with lid on for 20 minutes.
2. While quinoa is cooking, prepare all the other ingredients. Prepare the dressing by combining ingredients and whisking briskly. Adjust salt as necessary.
3. When quinoa has finished cooking, remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Add all the other ingredients except avocado and dressing and toss. Serve warm or cold, garnished with avocado slices.

Sometimes I'll top this with chicken strips, alternating with the avocado slices so it looks pretty.

Next time I make this I will try to remember to take a picture and edit this post to add it. For now, the above image will have to do. Its very similar.

I found the original recipe on PW's Tasty Kitchen site. Can't seem to find it now, though. Good thing I printed it! 

Image credit

PS I'm working on figuring out how to post recipes in printable form. If anyone knows how to do that, I'm all ears!



Thursday, June 3, 2010

Entering Another Giveaway....

I enter contests and giveaways. I like to win stuff! ...but only certain stuff, because the last thing I need is more "stuff" that I have to find a home for. But this giveaway....it's a good one, and I could certainly use the prize!!!!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Check It Out!


Check out this very cool giveaway! I LOOVE this skirt! I wonder if it's too young for me? .....nah! The whole clothing line is very cute! Modest but not old-ladyish, appropriate for church or for casual or for going out to dinner, and the prices are great! Check out this post for details about the giveaway. The whole blog is a good read too.

Photo credit: 
http://www.downeastbasics.com/

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Fun stuff...giveaways and cool things


I have discovered the cutest decor! I'm loving it...check it out here at Lewa's Designs. I think I like the dandelions the best. And the trees. And the birds. And...and...and....

Just in time, I say. I'm decorating my "Studio" and I'm getting so inspired just looking at her pictures! I think her stuff would go very well with the way I'm doing it. Pics to follow. Eventually. When I finish. IF I finish! Haha!

You can also go to that same link and follow the instructions for a very cool and generous giveaway. Very groovy, if you ask me! :-) Thank you to Brittany Hughes of Lewa's Designs! (She's from Arizona, like me! LOL)

Have a great day, ya'all!

(Above image from Lewa's Designs)