~Cards By Jenna: One World, One Heart Giveaway~

This is the first year I will be participating in the “One World, One Heart Giveaway” and I am so excited to be a part of it.  Lisa started this idea 3 years ago and has been continuing to keep the tradition going.  To visit Lisa’s personal blog here is the link: 

http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com

So what is the “One World, One Heart Giveaway”?  Lisa created this event to bring bloggers together worldwide.  It’s a great way to meet new bloggers, expand your horizons, and get free goodies!  Listed on the One World, One Heart blog is a list of almost 500 bloggers giving things away.  Here is the direct link if you are interested in checking it out:

http://oneworldoneheart.typepad.com/one_worldone_heart/

To participate all you have to do is go to a participating blog and leave a comment on the giveaway post.  Winners for each giveaway will be drawn on February 12th, see participating blogs for more details. 

If you are a blogger and would like to participate click HERE for more information.

With that said here is my giveaway!

Thank you cards are used year round so I thought giving away a set of my handmade thank you cards would be a perfect giveaway. 

This set of 10 cards is hand stamped in silver ink on a scalloped black square mounted on a combination of white and black cardstock. In the middle of the black/white cardstock there is a layer of black paper with sparkly silver circle accents. Each card is accented with a silver circle rhinestone in the lower right hand corner.

Cards are white and blank on the inside allowing plenty of space to write your note.  Measuring 4 x 5.5 inches each handcrafted card comes with its own white envelope and packed in a clear cello bag. 

These cards are considered A2 size.  Value: $20.00

To enter the giveaway please leave a comment on this post.  Be sure to include your contact information (i.e: email, etsy shop url, webpage, blog url, artfire url).  The deadline to enter is midnight (PST) February 12th.  You don’t need to be a blogger to enter and I will ship worldwide!  The winner will be chosen via the famous number generator. :-)

~A Recipe For The Best Pork Roast Ever~

The only thing I had defrosted for dinner yesterday was a boneless pork roast. Since I do not have many roast recipes I decided to browse through some recipes at www.allrecipes.com. I found this recipe titled: Easy Roasted Pork. If you like applesauce and pork you will looooove this recipe!   Here is the original recipe:

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cinnamon applesauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 pounds boneless pork loin roast

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly flour an oven bag.
2. In a small bowl, blend brown sugar, applesauce, and ginger.
3. Place pork roast in the prepared oven bag. Pour the brown sugar mixture over the roast. Seal bag, and cut several small slits in the top.
4. Cook the roast 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the internal temperature has reached 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

I did modify the recipe slightly.  2/3 packed light brown sugar seemed like a lot to me so I used 1/3 of a cup.  It was perfect.  Also, I didn’t bother flouring the oven bag.  Since I didn’t have any cinnamon applesauce I used plain unsweetened and added a teaspoon of cinnamon. 

To go along with the roast I cubed some red potatoes and put them in a plastic bag with some olive oil and lawry’s seasoning.  After coating the potatoes I spread them out on a cookie sheet and sprinkled with dill and some paprika to add color.  Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

For a vege I heated up a sugar snap pea steamer bag.  Dinner was complete and very delicious.

*Recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com*

~Fun Times In Marco Island, Florida~

Well we just got back from a trip to Marco Island, Florida and even though it was short it was worth the trek from Seattle.  Mike's company hosted their annual company meeting there.  We felt so lucky to be able to go!  The weather was perfect!  75 degrees with sunny blue skies whocould complain?  Marco Island is a vacation spot for many people who live in the busy city areas of Florida.  We stayed at the Hilton, an all suite resort located on the beach!  

Every room had an awesome view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico.  While we were there we ate, drank, and had lots of fun with all of Mike's colleagues.  Great memories and friends were made along the way.  

So what did we do?  Lots of things!  We arrived Friday and were so tired that we ate at the restaurant in the hotel...had a few drinks in the lounge...took a quick walk out to the beach, then hit the hay!  We flew in to Fort Meyer's airport and had an hour cab ride to get to Marco Island so we were incredibly tired, not to mention the 3 hour time difference.  

Saturday we ended up sleeping in completely missing breakfast so ate lunch instead at the poolside cafe at the hotel.  We spent the day walking on the beach and hanging out at Captain Brien's.  Here we enjoyed buy 1 get 1 free drinks during happy hour.

A few hours later we went back to the hotel to freshen up to meet everyone at the pool for a yummy buffet dinner!  After dinner we had some time to kill so we headed off to the hotel lounge and drank some more.  At Captain Brien's there is a comedy show around 9:30 on Saturday nights so we went back to watch.  It was a great night. 

Sunday Mike went to his first meeting so I slept in...again I missed breakfast!  Mike was out of his meeting around noon so we relaxed in the room for a bit then went over across the street to Nacho Mamas...seriously that's the name!  Nacho Mamas is right next to Captain Brien's.  It is a little Tex-Mex Bar/Restaurant.  Here we experienced happy hour with $1 draft beers.  We also ate some burritos, very tasty. 

The Superbowl playoff game between the Cardinals and the Eagles came on about 3pm so we stayed and watched.  Poor Eagles!  After the game we took off and met up with some of Mike's colleagues at the hotel.  We took a cab ride up the island to a restaurant on the water called The Snook.  It was delicious!  We shared some oysters for an appetizer.  For dinner I had sea scallops and Mike had the soft shell crab.  We sat outside and listened to live music.  After dinner we took a cab back to the hotel and went to bed.

Monday Mike had his second meeting and I didn't sleep in!  I actually woke up with him and stayed awake.  It was a little overcast and sprinkling rain outside so I stayed in the hotel and watched an HGTV House Hunters marathon.  Once Mike was out of his meeting we went up to the Marco Island Town Center Mall which was a few miles north of our hotel.  I found Christmas ornaments at 2 stores in the mall so I bought a bunch. :-)  If you are reading this and know me well you know I love Christmas and especially ornaments.  Later on everyone went to the Tommy Bahamas in Naples.  

It took 2 shuttles to get about 50 people there.  Once we arrived we had a shrimp appetizer, Caesar salad, and for the main course there was a choice between chicken, steak, and sea bass.  Of course we both picked the sea bass.  It was delicious!  

Since most people were leaving on Tuesday this was the last night to hang out together eat drink and be merry.  That is exactly what we did.  After dinner we went back to the hotel but stopped for a beer run on the way.  We went to the lounge and started up a poker tournament.  Midnight came around and we closed down the bar with no place to go but the hall ways outside the meeting rooms.  This is where the poker tournament and beer drinking continued until 2am.  

Tuesday morning came quickly and we missed breakfast. :-)  We went to the lounge around noon and watched Obama's Inauguration.  We caught the 1pm shuttle to the airport.  Our flight didn't take off until 6:30 so we ate some lunch and killed some time.  Finally we boarded the plane and began the long journey back home.  

We arrived at the Seatac airport around midnight, took our fancy

schmancy limo ride home in the 32 degree weather...we were cold! Once we got home we had 2 cute little kitties that needed some attention, Minnie and Stamper missed us!  Once the kitties gave us their forgiveness for leaving them home all alone we took showers, ate some macaroni and cheese, and went to sleep!  It was a great trip.  :-)

~Do you know what a Grapple is?~

Have you seen this commercial?

http://www.kgbkgb.com/#ads/spot2


I saw it and was wondering what the heck is a Grāpple???



Well...if you don't know what a Grāpple is check this link out: http://grapplefruits.com/ or continue reading for a quick definition.

A Grāpple is an apple that tastes like a grape! I have yet to try one but want too out of curiosity. I do love grapes but it seems like every time I buy some they turn to mush too fast or are just plain sour. Apples tend to keep fresh longer than grapes and store much easier, so why not buy Grāpples?

Here is a brief explanation of the Grāpple process from the website: http://grapplefruits.com/


Grāpple® brand apples begin either as Washington Extra Fancy Gala or Fuji Apples, depending upon the season. These "premium apples" are the ones that take on the grape flavor best. This Patent Pending process is complex and the ingredient mix primarily includes concentrated grape flavor and pure water. All ingredients are USDA and FDA approved and the process has been licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

There is nothing but flavor being infused into the apple. A relaxing bathing process prepares our apples for you or your kids. The apple takes on no additional sugars or calories. They are not genetically altered in any way. The apple is as healthy as ever but now has the new exciting grape flavor. The process is better explained by the Food Network's "Unwrapped" show entitled "Grapeful". If you have a few minutes check out the video clip on the Grāpple website or click here now!

Have you eaten a Grāpple before?

Share your thoughts here!

"Crunches Like An Apple, Tastes Like A Grape."

Grāpples are currently born at the C&O Nursery located in

Wenatchee, Washington

PO Box 116, Wenatchee WA 98807

local: 509-662-7164 fax: 509-662-4519 800-232-2636

~EtsyBloggers Street Team Featured Member - January 2009 - Rose Works Jewelry!~

With Valentine's Day just around the corner why not start shopping for that special someone by starting off at Ruthie's store, Rose Works Jewelry.  According to Ruthie's profile on Etsy she started out creating jewelry for family and friends.  She even made all the jewelry for her own wedding in 2007!  Throughout the years people have told her that she should sell her creations...and...that's how her shop was born! 

When you buy from Rose Works Jewelry you are not only getting a one of a kind unique piece of jewelry but an affordable one too.  You definitely won't break the bank by shopping at Ruthie's shop.

If you would like to learn more about Ruthie and her shop visit her blog: www.roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com.  

Here are a few items from her shop that I think are absolutely stunning and would make

 a great addition to any woman or young girls jewelry box: 

How gorgeous is this Purple Ice Dreams Earrings & Necklace Set?  The following is the description of the set from the listing in her shop: 

These light purple beads have crackling through them, just like the effect of ice crackling! That inspired me to combine them with some Glass Sea Opal chips that high light the ice-like qualities already in the purple beads! Plus, just to make this set a little more unique, instead of being a simple strand this necklace is comprised of hand crafted metal links that add a little extra "pizzaz" to your newest piece of jewelry!

This necklace is approximately 19 inches long and can easily be customized either longer or shorter! The earrings are just under 2 inches long.

For something with bright and bold colors check out this fun Multicolored Memory Wire Bracelet.  No need to buy a new outfit to match the bracelet, oh darn!  Here is a snip from Ruthie's description of the item: 

Memory wire has the fun property of being super-strong, and springing right back into shape! As a result, this bracelet will fit most wrists comfortably. It also creates the fun "multi-strand look" that is so popular these days!

There are plenty more beautiful jewelry pieces to look at so stop by Ruthie's shop, Rose Works Jewelry, and shop, window shop, and don't forget to tell your family and friends!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

~New Year, New Goals?~

Some may think that with the New Year comes goals and resolutions.  Others might ring in the new year with the same goals as the last and yet others believe that new years resolutions just never work!  

With that said, I don't make resolutions.  I believe goals are much easier to obtain.  My goals this year for my card shop is to sell, sell, sell!  Selling cards on etsy and artfire is not my full time job and is a hobby for me.  It's a creative outlet and a favorite past time.  If I make any money at all I end up using my profit for more supplies!  I get so excited when I sell one item. 

Hopefully my shop sales with go up soon because I really am running out of storage space for all my new card creations. :-)  If not my friends and family will be getting a bunch of freebies soon. Of course if you see something you like from my shop put it in your shopping cart, rarely do I make the same design twice.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and...

Happy 2009 From Seattle!

~Jenna

PS:  Stop by my shop, purchase a card or set, and receive a free gift!  Just mention the code "2009 Goals" in the notes to seller.  

This includes sales from both of my shops: http://cardsbyjenna.etsy.com and http://cardsbyjenna.artfire.com.

~Etsy Greetings Thank You Card Promo, January 5th to January 15th~

Now that the holidays are over you can relax.  While relaxing why not write thank you notes to those who shared their hosiptality with you over the holidays?  Even if you didn't receive a gift from someone you can always write a thank you note for something.  Here are a few things you can send a thank you card for: 

• Being invited to a party over the holidays  
• Send a thank you to those who gave you gifts whether it be something big or small
• Say thank you for that hostess gift someone brought to you during a party 
• Did you have lunch, dinner, or happy hour with a friend? Send a note to say how much you appreciated your friends company
• Give a thank you note to a friend or relative for just being there for you 
• Write a co-worker a thank you note for being such a great co-worker

Thank you notes can be given for any reason at any time.  Stock up on all your thank you card needs for the year by visiting this link: 

http://etsygreetingsthankyou.weebly.com

Click on any photo to be taken to a participating etsy shop.

  

Now is the perfect time to say thank you for all of those wonderful holiday gifts and meals you shared!  Sending a handmade card is a beautiful way to show your gratitude.  The shops featured in the above link are offering free domestic shipping on thank you card sets from January 5th through January 15th.  

My shop, Cards By Jenna, is participating in this promotion.  I am offering free shipping on all my thank you card sets.  I will also be shipping single thank you notes for free too!  Free shipping includes all of Canada and the USA.  Take advantage of this promo and stock up!