Elena went missing...

So, it's really sad it's been over 3 months since my last blog post... just when I thought I was getting better! So much has happened, so I will try and spread it out a little bit in different posts so it doesn't get overwhelming! (we can't have too much excitement at once, can we? Ok... maybe we can!)

So first off, I just sent out my invitation to my 3rd annual Jewelry party! Which I think will be pretty fabulous because I have 2 amazing friends joining me. My friend Allison is joining me again for the 2nd time. Milina Co. is the name of her business and they have the most fabulous soaps, scrubs, bath bombs and much more!! It's going to be dangerous this year... I have lots I've been wanting. Not only is it great smelling, it feel so great on your skin! And what a better time then the winter season so give your skin some pampering...

My friend Lisa will also be joining me for the first time. She has a newly launched business is called Minnie Lola. She makes baby blankets, bib, burb cloths in the most amazing prints! She also has adorable hair clips (that I secretly wish were big enough for me) I'm super excited to have amazing handmade things to give as baby gifts now.

If you are interested in coming to my jewelry open house, check out my evite:

Monili Bella Open House

Below are a couple pics from last year and some other fun stuff you can expect to see :)

I hope to see you there! If you are having trouble viewing the invitation, please contact me and I will send you details! elena@monilibella.com

More posts to come soon, I promise!

xoxo,

Elena

Welcome to 2009!

Wow, can you believe it's 2009 already?  I remember last new years like it was yesterday.  Time flies way too fast!  And you know what?  What they say is true, the older you are, the faster time seems to fly.  My Grammy told me that, and she was a very wise woman.  I am happy to be welcoming 2009 with open arms.  Time for new adventures and to look forward.  I lost my last grandma in 2008 which is still very hard for me, but I'm glad she is happy and healthy where she is now.

So here is my little New Years card for all of you out there.

And now the count down begins... I told myself (and many of you) that I would love to get my website up by the end of this month! So here it is January already! But I think I will be ready, although as much time as I've had off (since the 19th) I still wish I had more. Isn't that the way it always is? I've really been enjoying my time off... not getting as much done as I would have liked, but I have been relaxing and that's the important part to me right now. What good is vacation if you don't take some time out for yourself??

I hope 2009 is filled with good health, hope, love, prosperity and everything that brings you happiness!!

XOXO, Elena

Happy Christmas!

As I'm relaxing on the couch, watching a movie while our prime rib is in the oven, I thought I would take this time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!  Mine has been wonderful and relaxing and very tasty :)  My mom made this fabulous egg dish this morning with rosemary bread, eggs and gruyere cheese!!  It's a Wolfgang Puck recipe and it was SOO delicious!  She also made her famous scones which are my favorite. 

I'll keep this short, especially since a brie appetizer was just put out!  I hope everyone is having a fabulous day with friends and family.  Also, here is another picture I made this week while I was stuck home in the snow!  I love all the illustrator tutorials I've found this week.  

So I got a little pre-occupied and am now just posting this... Already had a YUMMY dinner!  And am getting ready to pack up and head home in this lovely SLUSH we've been blessed with today after all this fabulous snow.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day.  Me... I'm happy to be heading home to my quiet household!

Snow makes me smart!

So... I'm totally snowed it.  I've actually never seen so much snow in the city before!  There has been white on the ground for 7 days straight.  Craziness.  I love it though!  Especially since I am on vacation until Jan 5th now.  So I really don't have anywhere to be... except my parents on Christmas Eve of course.  So, I've been doodling on the computer all day, trying to design a little flyer for Christmas, and I stumbled across this tutorial on how to make a Christmas bulb in Illustrator...  look at what I was able to make!  I'm really proud of myself, I love the way it turned out.

Of course the color changed a little bit, going to RGB.  But I still think it looks pretty.  I think I will look for more tutorials.  Who knew the snow would make me smarter?  Man, it's really coming down out there!!

Craft Mania

Well well... it's been too long.  Nice to see you again! :)  It's been a busy past month.  I swear I didn't just jump from my home improvement project into the craft mania season that is... I full forced did a flying leap and I think I injured myself on the way!!  Not really, but I have been moving a million miles a minute lately!  My day job has been keeping me VERY busy, and then I get to come home and make lots of jewelry for my craft obligations.  As much as I love it, I am a little relived it's over.  I'm exhausted and my little finger tips were starting to get sore.

My first jewelry stop was an open house that my wonderful mom hosted (I think I mentioned this in an earlier post).  This is the 2nd year we've done this and it was a great success (again).  Also, my co-worker Allison joined me as well from Milina Co. and also had a successful day.  I had a lot of fun, getting to see friends and even meeting new people.  It wiped me out though... Below are a few pictures from that day.




The set up

A few of my sets on display

Bangles, bangles.  I sold a lot that day!


My adorable friend Kristen admiring some of the lovelies.  It's funny you can see my parents shrine to their only child (me) in the background!

Wonderful gift sets from Milina Co.

Yummy bars of soap, body scrub, bath gel and lotion!  Did I mention the yummy flavors I bought this year?  White Tea Ginger Bath Gel, Clementine Clove Lotion, Almond Body Scrub, Pink Grapefruit & White Tea Ginger Bath Bombs.  YUM YUM

It was a very fun successful day! A lot of work to prepare for, but well worth it. I look forward to next years! Now I have one one more craft extravaganza this week, my annual craft fair at work and then i'll be hanging up my pliers for a little bit.

To much of a good thing...

I do love my pumpkin this time of year, but I'm almost pumpkined out and it's not even Thanksgiving yet!  Tonight I have made Pumpkin Creme Brulee, Pumpkin Bread/Muffins and Pumpkin Pie which is now in the oven.  Whew...... I'm exhausted, but thoroughly looking forward to tomorrows feast, cooked by yours truly...Muah! Like I mentioned in my previous post, I'm cooking thanksgiving dinner for my parents and boyfriend tomorrow and am very excited about it.  So I thought I better get a head start on things tonight.  So at least dessert is out of the way.  I decided last minute that I wanted to try and make Pumpkin Creme Brulee...  It turned out delicious!!  I love it.  If you're interested, here is the recipe. The pumpkin pie I think is just for the sake of having pumpkin pie (and my boyfriend could live on the stuff) and the pumpkin muffins are for my stuffing tomorrow!  Yummmm....

The pumpkin bread recipe that I have is pretty fabulous.  It's the best pumpkin bread and people love it.  For all you pumpkin lovers, here it is...

3 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp. allspice

4 eggs

1/2 cup water

1 cup vegetable oil (or substitute applesauce for lower fat)

2 cups canned pumpkin puree

(optional) 1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, sugar and spices and mix.  In separate bowl, mix eggs, water, oil and pumpkin.  Add dry mixture and stir until smooth.  Add nuts.  Pour into two (greased) 9x5 bread pans.  Bake one hour or until done (toothpick will come out clean).  Be careful not to over bake and dry out.

Enjoy!!

Excited about the Holidays

Can I just say how excited I am about the Holidays?  I love this time of year... Being thankful and thinking about all the delicious foods we get to eat on Thanksgiving... and then my favorite part, decorating for Christmas!  I just finished with my hardwood floors in my house (pics to come soon) and I can't wait to have a beautiful tree up!  

I got a little anxious today thinking about buying some new decorations for my house.  After all, a little paint and new floors and I feel like I just moved into a new place!  Which makes it that much more fun to decorate this year.

I also took it upon myself to host Thanksgiving this year!!  Wait... before you think, oh my gosh... Thats a lot of work! There will only be 4 of us.  My parents, boyfriend and myself.  I'm really excited to be able to cook for a small group (especially since this is my first thanksgiving) and be able to do something a little gourmet.  I've been having so much fun looking for good recipes this week, I can't tell you what though, because it's a surprise for my parents and my mom is an avid reader of my blog (I love her for that) I know I at least have 1 loyal reader :)

So now it's Holiday Craft Fair time... As we speak I am preparing for my 2nd annual Open House that will be on December 7th.  If you are interested in attending please email me for more info. My friend Allison will also be joining me from Milina Co. with their fabulous hand made soaps, body scrubs, lotions and more! I'm very excited to have her there with me.  The following week I also get to participate in my employers craft fair (along with Allison), which we've both been doing for the past few years and always have fun at. 

Here are some of the wonderful things that Milina Co. has to offer. (If only you had a scratch and sniff screen!)






The White Tea Ginger soap is to die for!! I can't get enough of that and the Clementine which is also my boyfriends favorite. I can't wait to try the Pink Grapefruit.

Milina Co. has more scents then what are listed above, I just wanted to show some of my favorites and one's that I've been eyeing :) You can also order directly from their website, I promise you won't be disappointed!

I guess I need to wrap this up. I hope everyone finds their perfect Turkey (or Meat of your choice) for the upcoming Holiday. Don't forget to think about what your thankful for. My list is so big, and for that I am SO thankful!