-Heart and Body Warmers-

I have just had one of the best weekend! we went to see Thomas the train on friday at Simpleveld, we were in Roermond outlet yesterday and today, where did we go? to the kermis (fun fair)!!

Did this out the blue. i have been resting from crafting for more than a couple of days now. i've just finished a big order for cute little Rosey's 1st birthday party. and after a couple of days resting, i have missed my scissors, papers and ribbons and so decided i should sit down and do a little something.

I drew a heart shape on a thick cardstock and make the scalloped edges. lined the olive green paper and backed the back with another sheet of cardstock. embellished with one of my blue fabric roses, lots of thin ribbons and laces at the side, yellow bicycle's fabric sticker.. added a crystal at the bottom and that was it!

I've just had a complete day. amore!

Weather's cooler now that we're in mid autumn. temp between 10-16c, it's gorgeous outside with yellow, brown and golden leaves all scattered. we've been taking walks too and after a long day outside, i had to keep the boys warm. we grow quite a few veges and herbs in our garden. nothing beats the feeling of pulling your own veges from your very own garden! (photo of aidan with our carrots in the garden here).

The best way to keep them warm (and healthy for that matter) is cooking them good warm food! chowders are hearty and filling, they are full of immunieboosting antioxidants, a perfect antidote to cold weather.

My Chunky Vegetable Chowder

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

1 big onion, finely chopped

1 leek, finely chopped

1 celery stick, finely chopped

3-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

8-10 carrots (ours in the garden was rather small sized) chopped

1/2 squash, peeled and diced

3-4 medium sized potatoes (ours was slightly small compared to normal) peeled and diced

1 ltr of vegetable stock

2 handfuls of broccoli florets

1/2 canned of canned tomatoes

150ml soya/fresh melk

salt and pepper

basil leaves to garnish

1. Heat the oil and butter in a large heavy pan. add the onion, leek, celery and garlic and cook gently until softened.

2. Add the carrots, squash and potatoes and stir for about 5 mins.

3. Add the stock and cover with lid. allow to cook for about 10-15 mins.

4. Add the broccoli, tomatoes and cook for 3 mins.

5. Remove from heat and let it to cool slightly.

6. Stir in milk and season with salt and pepper

7. Blend with food processor or handblander to a rough pouree. (the chunkier the better, so dont over do it).

8. Serve with scattered fresh basil leaves.

The boys loved it and so did i! it was filling indeed plus a couple of slices of bruchettas, fuh! we were full!

How was your weekend? i enjoyed my extra hour (clock goes backward an hour today). hope you enjoyed your weekend as well!

Love,

09♥09♥09

I have a beautiful friend (whom i wish to meet again very soon) who tied the knot on the 9th of september. she ordered her wedding cards and a guest book a year ago, when we met at a Raya gathering in Eindhoven. she was still waiting for some papers back then and for the gementee to confirm with her on the dates available. and in august this year, i received an email from her. the date's been confirmed and it was 9th of september 2009!

The names of the beautiful couple

I've always love creating things for weddings. i used to be in the business for a while when i was back home and loved all the planning and executing involved. i seriously missed those days..

The guest book

I used a lot of pastel papers. my kind of colours. they're very very soft. used lots of trimmings, ribbons and laces as well. different pages had different layouts for their guests to sign and write their best wishes. i had to think of a way so that it'll be easy for them to write and not come up with buldging bows that'd put them in an awkward postition to write!

The pages inside

The last page of the guest book

My stamp at the back

They asked for a pastel sweet cards. that's all they said and left everything all up to me. i'm glad they did cause i was able to explore on a lot of possibilities. glad they had confidence in me! i was toying around with some lanterns in the beginning but opted to go with this one instead. i just love it when everything works together!

The wedding invites

The front details

The scallops

The inside of the card

The envelopes

I snapped way too many photos of them, i just didnt know which ones to share! it was so difficult parting with them, but nothing beats the feeling of a satisfied bride and groom.

Here's to Shannen & Arthur, the wonderful newlyweds. Congratulations! and may your lives be filled with love always. best wishes always!

{Drie}

My son is now 3. we have had 3 wonderful years of parenting. we have had 3 joyful years of watching him grow. it is my absolute dream to be a mother and i am so blessed to be having this life.

He is crazy over cars. you name it, he's got them all from mini to lamborghini (the small metal ones, of course) and he even sleeps with them, all lined up next to him! i couldnt help myself but to make a car card for him, but no, i'm afraid its no ferrari!

Did this little tag book for him to mark his 3rd. it spells his name and a little something to describe him today.

A - adorable

everything about him is adorable from our eyes.

I- independent

he cleans, helps, doing almost everything on his own now!

D - delightful

there's always something new about him every single day! he is a delight to discover!

A - asks and asks!

oh yes! now's the stage where he showers us with all his amusement and curiosity. i love the way he asks. the tone of his voice is just so pure..

N - nice and neat!

he respects our "nos and not yets". he says his "pleases and thank yous" and he's neat when it comes to his stuff.

He had more than a party. he had 3 parties! and he kept saying "ik ben jarig! aidan is jarig" for almost a week after that! (its my birthday!). we didnt take down the banners and ballons for a more than a week! we had loads of fun now that he's able to understand what a birthday involves - cake, candles, presents, cards and lots of toys!

Here's what i did for his teachers at school. a decorated birdcage filled with tea and chocolates. we drink lots of tea here in holland! and i manage to find a matching flavour for each cage! lemon for yellow, passion fruit for purple, apple for green and blueberry for blue!

And as for his friends at school...

Goody bags filled with snoepjes and some party toys. 3 stars and a note saying "Hoera! Aidan 3 jaar".

An animal themed notebook with crayons, kids scissors, ruler, glitters and stickers for all his friends at school.

A party wouldnt be complete without them! baked some chocolate chip muffins.

21st September 2009

From the look of his face, i'm glad he enoyed his parties (and also he gets to blow the candles, plenty of times!)

Happy 3rd Birthday Aidan. I just cannot tell you how proud and honoured i am to be your mother, and how proud i am of you. believe in your dreams and reach for your goals. nothing is impossible, you can be anything. i wish only the best and all the good things for you. i adore and love you with all my heart and might.

Thank you to you guys who remembered, who texed and thank you for the cards and presents. we love you guys!

Aidan's already fast asleep and i'm curently waiting for Hardy to come home from Barcelona. have a great weekend everyone, cant wait for x factor tomorrow! (yes, i am a sucker when it comes to the x factor!)

Good night, sweet dreams..

What It Really Means

I am in my own little world when i'm crafting.

It allows me to be beyond what i am.

My parents always tell me, when you want to be something, be the best. it doesnt matter what -let it be a worker, a mother, a crafter, just be the best that you can be, putting all your effort into it.

Crafting is more than just love for me, it has always been a passion.

My craftrom is like a little playground for me where i get to play with a lot of materials. i love the feel of fabrics, papers and other embellishments. i get to explore and push my creative side from ideas in my head into reality, to actually holding them.

I'm the sort who'd stand infront of shop displays and look at how they disply and showcase.when i was small, whenever we're at a shopping mall, i'd run to the stationary department first, checking out the card and gifts section (in fact, i still do!) i make cards and keepsakes since i was in primary school and eversince i was a little, little girl i love collecting gift wrappers and paperbags and paste them on my wall! i remember i used to cut out those beautiful pictures in mum's Home&Garden magazines. i've always

loved boxes and packaging, refusing mum and dad to throw away those perfume boxes, chocolate boxes.... i then put them all together, what i saw and collect, into something. most of the time i love giving presents more than receiving. and when someone asks for help to make something, i'd be the first one to jump out of my seat and say "me! me!"

It allows me to share, share my love and passion. it allows me to inspire and be inspired. it allows me to think. it allows me to challenge myself.

It creates happiness, a satisfaction kind of feeling leaving you feeling all warm and proud of yourself when something's done (no matter how bad it turns at least i've tried!)

It also allows me to 'escape' from the real world for a little while. the real world sometimes can be a little bit harsh and unfair. there might also be some people sticking their noses into someone else's home and business, the gossips and the bad mouths... i am at ease with myself when i craft. i get away from all of these and stay away from all those.

Its tough to find a balance in the beginning. but the most important thing for me are my family, my home and caring and providing for all of them.

Support means everything to me. i am ever so grateful to mum and dad for always encouraging me to be what i want to be. law wasnt at all for me, and i will always be grateful to them for having my back at all times, understanding my passion, having faith and believing in me. and of course thanking my two boys hardy and aidan as well!

Nothing comes close to being a wife and a mother but i enjoy having a little bit of 'me time' once in a while. it allows me to grow into my own person and explore those endless possibilities and creativities within me.

Having said all that, i am grateful that i get to share them with you guys. knowing i've made some smile at some parts of the world makes me want to share more! i enjoyed reading all of your comments. its a wonderful feeling knowing that we share something in common! i wish you all the love and may we all continue doing what we love!

Aidan picked us a winner for my final september giveaway! he picked a "bloemetje" (a little flower) and here's our lucky winner!

Our lucky winner is...

Betsabe!

Congratulations my dear! will get the items ready to be shipped for you!

Thank you girls for playing along. another very special date coming up and i can smell some yummy sweet stuff out for grabs. so do hop by!

Wishing you joy in everything you do.

Love,