HOLIDAY ART SALE!!!


Visit my Etsy shop for 25% savings off your purchase!!!
(Offer excludes original paintings)
Ends 31, Dec 2010
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU!!!

A KIWI THANKSGIVING

As you may know, Thanksgiving is not a holiday that is celebrated in here in New Zealand, so this year I decided to host my very first Thanksgiving Dinner at our little home. Little did I know that this was something that I should have started planning much earlier than the day before!

My Thanksgiving Menu:
Entree:
Dinner Rolls
Roasted Pear Salad with Toasted Goat Cheese

Main:
Baked Whole Salmon
Butterflied Turkey with Apple-Cranberry Glaze
Country-Style Turkey Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Holiday Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

Sides:
Roasted Baby Carrots
Spicy Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir

Desserts:
Pumpkin Pie Chantilly
Pecan Pie
Nutty Chocolate Fudge






Something to be thankful for? Libby's canned pumpkin...making pumpkin pie from fresh whole pumpkins is not an easy task!











It was no question the biggest task I've ever taken on in my little kitchen, and I had quite a fun time figuring out what I needed to prepare first, considering I had planned to make the entire Thanksgiving menu, and with only one small oven I had to be precise with my baking times to be sure everything was done in time! Not to mention this was my first time ever making a turkey (For a vegetarian, I'm sure you could imagine it was not an easy task!) I spent the whole day prior, as well as the night (sleeping was not an option!) and the following day cooking non-stop... We had an incredible group of friends join us, all of whom had never experienced Thanksgiving before! It was an amazing night, of fun, friends, lots of food, wine, and of course - Thanksgiving!

I'm determined to introduce Thanksgiving to all of New Zealand, and hope that every Kiwi will be able to experience one of my very favorite of holidays! Thank you to our lovely friends, who made our kiwi Thanksgiving extra special ♥

Just thought I'd share a little video that my hubby and I did together this week, for one of our challenges in the competition we're a part of... so sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy... :-)

http://www.my22ct.com/profile/1821

"Sparkling, Shining Love" give-away!

By now you may have noticed that my husband Cameron and I have entered Michael Hill's competition in his search for "The Worlds Best Couple" with the grand prize being a 22 carat diamond engagement ring!

Well I've decided to offer a give-away of my own! We can't win this competition without your votes, and I figured that this is something I can do in order to give back to you and let you know how much we appreciate you taking the time to help us out!

I will be giving away the art block pictured above titled "Friends". Printed on high quality 250gsm archival paper from my Original painting titled "Friends", this print has been mounted on canvas, framed with ink-stained foil and sealed with several layers of matte varnish.
Nails embellish either side, ready to hang on the wall or prop on your shelf.
4"x4" (depth 1" 3/4") Valued at $30 US (and also available in my Etsy store)

Here's how YOU enter to win! Below is a total of 10 opportunities to win, entry #1 is required to be entered in the give-away! You must post a SEPARATE comment below for each additional entry!!

#1. Click on each of the following 3 links (you will find a "Vote for this Entry" button at the bottom of each one, click and follow prompt)
Link #1: VOTE FOR OUR FAVORITE PHOTO HERE
Link #2: VOTE FOR OUR SECRET PET NAMES HERE
Link #3: VOTE FOR OUR REASON HERE

Once you have completed ALL 3 votes, leave a comment on this post and that says "VOTING COMPLETED" (this will count as 3 entrys!)

Additional Entries:
2. "Like" The Worlds Best Couple on facebook and leave me a comment telling me so. (this counts as 1 entry)

3. Link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or in a blog post and leave a comment for each that you do. (each link counts as 1 entry, ie; linking on Facebook, Twitter and your blog counts as 3 entrys)

4. Post my giveaway button on your sidebar for the duration of the competition and leave me a comment and link to your site. (this counts as 1 entry)

<br /><a border="0" href="http://shariyahgarner.blogspot.com/2010/10/sparkling-shining-love-give-away.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/slgarner/button.jpg" /></a><br />

5. "Follow" my blog and leave me a comment telling me so. (this counts as 1 entry)

That’s 10 opportunities to win this unique art block for yourself!! Don't forget to leave a SEPARATE comment on this post for each of your entries!!

I will pick a winner 1 week from today, on October 29, 2010. Winner will be selected in a random drawing using random.org and will be notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won! Keep checking back for updates, and quite possibly even more prizes to be given away. I can’t wait!

Good luck!

GIVE-AWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!! Winner will be announced shortly...


AND THE WINNER IS...
#13
alvind95
Congratulations!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my give-away, I've had so much fun doing this I've decided to offer a new give-away each week this month!! Please be sure to stop by and enter for a chance to win more great prizes...
Peace & Love!!!!

SPICY BEETROOT ROAST

So I just finished gobbling up my yummy lunch, and thought I would share my recipe for this Spicy Beetroot Roast with you...This combination of spices with the natural sweetness of fresh roasted beets makes for a mouth watering dish! You can serve right out of the oven, or chilled.

Ingredients:

6 medium size raw beets (chopped in halves and then quartered)
1/4 cup walnuts (chopped)
1 tsp. rosemary (dried, OR 1 Tbs. freshly chopped)
1 tsp. thyme (dried, OR 1 Tbs. freshly chopped)
2 dried red chili peppers, chopped
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
Juice of one lemon
2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Take 6 medium size raw beets, wash well. Chop in halves then quarter into bite size chunks.

Drizzle 1 Tbs olive oil, 1 Tbs of Balsamic Vinegar, 1 Tbs of Red Wine Vinegar and 1 Tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice over beets (be sure to keep remaining oil, vinegar and lemon to drizzle over just before serving)

Sprinkle Rosemary, Thyme, Salt, Cinnamon, and chopped Chili Peppers over beets and toss well.

Scatter beets in an even layer over pre-sprayed baking tray and place in oven. Stir about every 15 minutes to make sure beets get evenly roasted.

10 minutes before taking out of the oven, sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top and pop back in the oven for remaining time. Beets should be slightly shriveled and can easily be stabbed with a fork.

Remove from oven and let cool. Drizzle remaining oil, vinegar and lemon juice just before serving. Add freshly ground pepper and salt to taste.

Optional: Add freshly crumbled Goats feta for a tasty garnish!
Serves: 6 (serving size 3/4 cup)
Enjoy!

(and just in case you care...)

That's Hot.

do you wanna know what I think is hot??
Well, wonder no more- I'll get straight to the point.
I married a HUNK.
We were driving through town awhile back, and Cam got a call from one of his mate's to say that he was needed urgently on set to model for a clothing line and a few minutes later, there we were (I had the fun job of doing his hair and taking his clothes off...don't be jealous ladies, he's mine.) :-) So just thought I'd share a few of the photos from the shoot...

Might I add that not only is my husband sexy, but he also happens to be super smart... Cameron is currently one of the candidates running for a seat on our local board! I have to say, it's a bit dangerous to be driving along and then see a huge billboard with my husband's hot face on it :-) Go Cam. To find out more, check out his site: www.cameronmorris.com

an overcast spring day...

Just working on unpacking my studio today, have about three layers of clothes on so I don't get any colder than I already am... haven't slept the last two nights, and oddly both nights woke up around 3am sick to my stomach (god, I hope it's just the flu!)

It's overcast today, and for some reason I don't mind. It fits the mood I'm in. The house we just moved into is one of the original brick buildings that was built in the early 1900's (or earlier maybe), and I just found out this morning it's also the "back-drop house" for a new TV series called "The Almighty Johnson's" (I think the hundred crew swarming outside my front door and the "Lights-Camera-ACTION" shouts kina gave it away) . I was spying out my studio window as Keisha Castle-Hughes (you may know her from Whale Rider), one of the main character's of the new series acted out her lines for the camera one time after another, and maintaining her enthusiasm as if it was the first time she had said the words aloud... how do they do it? I have a hard enough time saying something once, and if I do for some reason have to repeat myself to my listener who didn't catch it the first time, I find it hard to repeat the exact words over again. So my point is I guess, I have a new respect for actors... (which is why I am especially glad now that I resisted the urge to hit "play" on my CD player to Lada Gaga during the emotional scene taking place on the other side of my door) good for me.

Anyways, I'll leave you with this video, which makes me feel a little warmer just watching it. Love the song, love the band, love this. Enjoy!

Original Illustration for sale on Etsy♥

New original illustration "Portrait of a Woman" for sale on Etsy!
Graphite/charcoal on 150gsm paper 8.5 x 11"

Paper n' Stitch "Daily Favorite"

Yay! My print "The Gardener" has been selected as "Daily Favorite" on paper n stitch's main page :) I've probably spent more time lately "window shopping" in all the other beautiful shops and it's about time that I take some time and update my own! Off to busy myself... have a beautiful day!

It's on tomorrow!

The Devonport Craft Market... see you there!