CHA Giveaway 8 - Nathalie Kalbach!

Nearly saving the best for last...was to meet Nathalie Kalbach who is a designer / artist for many companies including Tattered Angels and Prima!

Above is what I made while chit chatting with Nat.
I got to play with all the NEW products!
Glimmer Glaze and Glimmer Glam.
and some new colors of the Glimmer Mist!
I could have stood there and played ALL day!
I also liked trying out the stuff on crumpled crepe paper and then drying it with the heat gun till it was extra crispy!
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Did you know that Heidi Swapp has joined up with Tattered Angels?
The crepe paper is actually part of her new line as also the the bird tag I used!

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The following art work is all by Nathalie.
I wanted to give you a taste of just how talented she is!
To see more, be sure to visit her blog and her gallery Here.
Let her know that I sent you!

I'll be throwing in some assorted Glimmer Screens in to the CHA Celebration giveaway!
and then I'll be taking a short break before the final CHA post.
I have group of friends coming over Saturday for a crop/card swap and I need to prep for that and also get my tutorial ready for you as well.
It's a Valentine themed craft using a Jacquard product!
Super cute!

I'll be posting my Tutorial on Sunday...sometime after Super Bowl. :)

& don't forget that the One World One Heart party ends on Feb. 15th.

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So with that in mind, I'm leaving you with 2 favorite recipes for you to enjoy!
The first one is a appetizer,
great for football parties,
crops or just for snacking...careful though..they are addicting!

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Bacon Wrapped Lit'l Smokies

You will need:

1 pack. of smokies,

1 pack. Of bacon

1/2 cup of brown sugar.

Cut bacon slices in half. Wrap each smokie with bacon and put a tooth pick through each to hold the bacon on. Place all bacon wrapped smokies in a baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Heat for 45 minutes in a 350 degree F oven. Serve on a platter or remove toothpick and put in a crock pot to keep them warm as guests munch along.

The next is a wonderful soup recipe I found online...
I was looking for a good Minestrone soup and found Olive garden's recipe instead!
You can simmer it on the stove or in the crock pot, and let me tell you, it's perfect for this cold winter weather!
I'm serving it for lunch on Saturday when the girls come over , which is perfect for a rainy day!

Ready?

Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup by Todd Wilbur Recipe #77585

45 min |

SERVES 8

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup minced white onion (about 1 small onion)
• 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
• 1/2 cup frozen cut Italian green beans
• 1/4 cup minced celery (about 1/2 stalk)
• 4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
• 4 cups vegetable broth (Swanson is good *note: Do not use chicken broth!*)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans small white beans or great northern beans, drained
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup carrot, julienne or shredded
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 cups hot water
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup small shell pasta

1. Heat three tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.
2. Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.
3. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices.
4. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency.
6. Makes about eight 1 1/2 cup servings.

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(For extra flavor...add a little red wine to the stock)

and serve with freshly grated Parmesan!

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Ok, that's all for now...see you all on Sunday!

~Michelle

Nearly forgot to share...Dyllan finally made it to the top of his Winning stick and was able to pick out a Ben Ten Lego toy today at Target! ...if you have kids...it's the best thing so far :)

*No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions