Monday, September 30, 2013

If I Wasn't Psychic...

 

If I wasn't Psychic,  I say I be a Flutist.  Gosh  every time I look back my flute, I  think of all the wonderful memories I had  in  being in the band. I don't care if I was called a band geek either. It was just nice to be part of the world of music.   I remember working so hard to work  prove to  people I could  play the  flute. People didn't believe I had the talent back then but it was my  passion and love for this  instrument that kept me going to where it defined me for who I am today.  Granted it took me a few years to get to  make it first chair, I was always proud of being able to play the instrument. It was the one class I look forward to doing.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Shop Feature: ChelDesigns



Customizable Word 4x6 Striped Picture FrameThis  weeks Shop Feature is ChelDesigns by Chelsa. She creates  picture frames and can also make a custome frame jsut for you. What a better way to give that picture and add a special touch don't you think? While  cameras are even more advanced today, picture frames are still in style and makes any special moment captured  memorable.  Give that special someone a  memory they won't forget. Let them cherish it and make it extra special by getting a custom picture frame just made for them.


1. How did you come up with the Name of your Shop?
As a nickname everyone calls me Chels, however, my step sister is the only person who always calls me Chel. Chel is a special name to me because it always reminds me of the connection that I am so fortunate to have with my step sister. ChelDesigns became my name as a motivating factor for myself because every time I look at my name I am reminded of one of my biggest fans!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Yes did I tell you one  of my favorite  foods is pasta?  I am actually really good at making pasta in fact my  family  always asks me to make pasta  when  I visit! Actually if anything  again its because I love to learn  new recipes try them out all the time.  But I thought I share  with you one  of my  favorite  shrimp recipes from Food Network. It's so Good  and  honesty, this was the first recipe I learned from Giada. I have  always  been curious  of  her cooking so finally I  got  to the  kitchen and  viola!  This recipe  has become a staple  in my place so here is the  video and the  recipe is right below  if you are interested in trying out.... I know  sometimes we think pasta  is  too many calories but you know what I do, I weigh  all my pasta  I am gonna  make for myself  as a serving and  cook just that... remember 2 oz  of pasta is not  alot when you weigh on the kitchen scale...  so its really not about the sauce... its the pasta that you have to really watch out for... that's my  tip!   just be prepared to have salad or something light  on the side  as a filler and you wont feel  guilty  eating  pasta anymore. That is what I have learned! So here  is the recipe and a video  to go along iwth it Enjoy and let me know what you think! :)




Recipe:
Ingredients

1 pound penne pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, and deveined
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained, roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup white wine
1/3 cup clam juice
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently until the shrimp turn pink and is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the shrimp and set aside.

Add the tomatoes, 1/4 cup basil, 1/4 cup parsley, and the red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the wine, clam juice, and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 7 to 8 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, the cooked shrimp, the cooked pasta, and the remaining herbs. Toss together until all ingredients are coated. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and serve immediately.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/penne-with-shrimp-and-herbed-cream-sauce-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Shop Feature: Wirequeen Jewelry with Angel Earrings Giveaway


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This week's shop feature is Wirequeen Jewelry. She makes all types of  jewelry ranging from different stones and beads that are wired wrapped in the pieces.  I like variety that she has in her shop. Michelle has been very kind in wanting to participate in  doing a giveaway. Below  you will be able to enter to win a pair of Angel Wire earrings. But, first this  let's get to know more about Michelle and her shop.

1. How did you come up with the Name of your Shop?
 

I was dubbed the wirequeen by a competitor.
 

2. What is your favorite item at the store and why?
 My wire wrap cowrie shell earrings. The cowrie shell represents the divine vulva and has been used since ancient times to represent women and wealth.
 

3. What inspires create your products? 
Nature and the wire itself. 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Anime of the Season: Shingeki No Kyojin (Attack on Titan)



As you may know I am a  big anime fan and as I have  watched so many anime that I  always come across something  each season that I can recommend that totally stands out from the rest. That being said I bring you  Shingeki No Kyojin (Attack on Titan).  This is a story based of humans surviving and  fighting  for their lives against the  giants (titans). Yes, its a bit  gruesome as  titans  do feed on the humans. The basic premise of the story is that country and its citizens has been caged within their city walls for 100 years and created their little towns of their own. Imagine not being  able to go outside of the world to see and explore things. These  humans don't even know what  the world is, you can see even children trying to understand why it means to be outside the city walls. Meanwhile, the citizens have lived  in peace until finally the titans  are able  to break through the city walls losing one town in the beginning... hence the  war begins between titans and humans...

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Shop Feature: Pink Flamingo Handcrafting

Vintage paper butterflies: old paper 1950s butterflies for altered art, collage, scrapbooking, upcycling -pack of 11 butterflies from the UK



This week's shop feature is Pink Flamingo Handcrafting by  by Laura Barker. I love the creativity that she has in her shop ranging  from cards to bracelets to gift tags and so much  more in there. It's nice to see a variety that she has at her shop, that is what I really like there. No mention alot of what shei s making is beautiful and cute too. My  favorite item is the  Animal birthday card set. gosh its too cute for me ot use and give away, I  probably just collect it for myself.  Anyways learn  more about  Laura right below.

1. How did you come up with the Name of your Shop
I set up my small business in May this year to make and sell products and teach craft classes. The name I was going to have for this was what my shop would be called too and I wanted a name that reflected something about the nature of my work and be a memorable image. I had a lot of thoughts but nothing felt right. Then when I was looking in my jewellery box I saw my pink flamingo brooch that I bought from an antique centre a few years ago and it just seemed right! The brooch is a delicate flamingo with pink sparkly stones (not real ones!) and it looks vintage but has a modern feel too and this is an idea I wanted in my work too. So Pink Flamingo Handcrafting was born! Although when I came to opening my Etsy shop that name was too long (something I didn’t realise!) so on there I’m Pink Flamingo Crafting.


Animal birthday card set: 3 cards featuring a tiger, elephant and hippo. Handmade in the UK. Can be personalised. Perfect for children. 

Monday, September 9, 2013

PsychicJoelle.com Finally Up!



Wow, I have come a long way from really getting my work out there.  For the longest time, I have worked really hard to try to build my own brand but never knew  how to really go about it.   I have learned everything by myself I mean seriously I look back and go wow in just over a year I finaly get  my blogger site right,  learn how to promote my Facebook page correct, learn photoshop,  how to use newsletters efficiently, twittering and now PsychicJoelle.com.  Just when I felt stuck, I  can say now that I don't feel stuck anymore!  It's just an achievement one after the other in such a good way that I feel so good that I learned everything on my own!

It's only been a little over a year and I realized that  I have created a brand for myself in a good way. Come to think of it I noticed that I can shine with my own work rather than  relying on others to help me. It sure takes longer to do the work I need to do but  gosh if there is one thing that I  have learned in my life that is to be your own best friend and do things  on your own. You are your own support always!  I have found that I achieve greater results by doing a lot of things on my own  than to ask people for help.  Not that its bad to get help  from others, but people give the run around  a lot and I know most people don't realize that some things  really need  immediate  attention.  They just let it sit there without response lol. So the  one thing I have learned is to do it yourself.  In one way or another, I have always found a way to do things that I would never have imagined that I could be so successful in doing.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Blog Feature: Smiles By Jem Plus Scarf Giveaway

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This week's shop feature is Smiles by Jem by Janelle. I love how she lives in San Diego county. I have to say that love the detail of her scarves. She seems to make cotton and silk scarves. For me I love either style but i guess ifi t was upo to me I either go with a pink one  since  its my favorite color but then her blue is lovely too.  With all the  varitey of colors  you could  use it lal to match up and look great. Scarves are never out  of fashion, they actually are a nice  touch to anything that a person is wearing. It's jsut lovely to see that there is so much  variety of colors to choose from as I couldnt just pick one scarf for myself.  Iwill definaitely book mark  her store. In the meantime the other exciting news is that Janelle has been so kind to do a giveaway and give one of her lovely scarves away. So enjoy the details about her and her shop and be sure to enter for the giveaway! :)

1. How did you come up with the Name of your Shop?
Thailand is the Land of Smiles, and we are both very positive people who believe a smile is a great thing to share. Also, while I traveling last year I came up with the quote “A smile means hello in every language.” JEM is a mix of our names, Janelle Elizabeth and Megan Elizabeth. We have been travel partners and best friends since middle school.
 

2. Tell us a little bit about your shop and what you think makes it unique? 
My shop is unique because of the commitment we have to improving local communities. We are happy to donate 10% to improve communities where are products are made. We make bracelets in Ventura County and donate 10% to Food Share, and we travel to Thailand and spend a few months every year making and designing scarves. We donate 10% of the proceeds from each scarf to SOS Children’s Villages in Thailand.

Monday, September 2, 2013

September Giveaway: Home Cleanse Herb Incense




Did you have a time to  relax during the summer?   Are you still feeling you need a  bit  of relaxation but dont know  how to do go about  to get it?  No worries, this month I changing  it up to where you can have the opportunity to win a nice 1 oz  of Home Cleanse Herb Incense. This blend  is not only relaxing but  its always  important to  cleanse your space and your home's surroundings! It helps you  feel more positive when that  icky energy is cleared. We can have a better  frame of mind when cleansing is done. The main herbs are cedar, white sage and  lavender with other herbs as well.   Hence I have decided to give  1 oz of this to the lucky  winner.  A little  goes a long way so  the winner will have  plenty  to  to last for a long time.  Good LuckFor USA Residents only.