Moving home

Things have definitely been quiet here.  For far too long.


There is a reason behind it though.  I've been working behind the scenes on a slight change of plan.

Please come check out my new site

Art of Discovering

Hope to see you there!

A little afraid...

...to even attempt a post since it's been so very long since I've written anything on here.  But since the idea has come to me, I thought I should go with it as you never know where it will lead and there must be a reason for it.

The past year has been a busy one for me with many changes having been made and more still to come.  If I've been quiet with Chichiboulie there is a reason.  In fact, there are several.

The first is that I went back to school.  Yes, one more diploma in the works!   Perhaps it's cliché, but I turned 40 back in January and in the months leading up to then, I just knew it was time to make a change.  While I love what I've been able to do with Chichiboulie over the past 8 years or so, it was no answering my needs in the way it once had.  I still enjoy it and it's still ticking along on it's own, but we evolve and change and it was time for me to add something different to my life.

New Style, New Me!

And so after a lot of thought and research and soul searching, I started training in Transactional Analysis to become a therapist.  I'm fascinated by it all and the insights it's brought me and helped me to bring to others.  In all honesty, it's not an easy training to undertake as it requires the trainee to question his or herself and set ways of behaving or doing things.  It can be a bit destabilizing to say the least, but if you can make it through the bumpy bits, the ride is definitely worth it.  In the end I have loved every minute of it and look forward to what lays ahead.

In addition to working towards my certification as a psychotherapist, this summer I also started towards my certification in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping as it's commonly known) which I find to be a very simple yet powerful tool to use when we're feeling a bit stuck.  Know that feeling?  Yeah, me too.  Again, the certification is in the works (it's not an overnight process after all!), but it's on its way.  I don't plan on stopping there and the combination of psychology and energy therapies speaks to me in such a logical way that it all feels like it's coming together.  Perhaps not quite as quickly as I would like at time, but I'm learning to take things as they come.

With all that, I will be opening my therapy practice this autumn and really just can't wait!  A completely new venture that is a bit scary at the same time.

So where does that leave Chichiboulie?  To be honest, I don't really know.  Part of me wonders if it's not run its course and it's perhaps time to say goodbye.  And yet, every time I think of that, something stops me.  I'm taking this as a sign at the moment that perhaps it's not really time.  It's been a good friend and because of it I've made so many good friends.  How can you just let go like that?  Maybe Chichiboulie just needs to evolve like I have.  So many others were willing to give me the time and space I needed, so it seems only fair for me to do the same.

Part of me believes that Chichiboulie, like myself, will emerge from it all.  Perhaps in a new and different form.  Most probably so as on top of all the rest, I've also been secretly taking art classes!  I said I'd been busy, didn't I?

Something new is emerging.  Now I just need to give it all time.

Lovely Share...

One of my readers was nice enough to share this photo with me.  I'm a bit late in posting (isn't the end of year overwhelming for all of us?), but I wanted to share it with you all still.

Vicky used my freebie pattern to make these cute little bird ornaments.  I'd made them out of paper, but think they look oh so cute in fabric.  Can't you just imagine them in lovely springtime colours to welcome in the warmer weather?

You can still find the pattern to download for free over in the right sidebar.  And if you feel so inclined, I'd love to see what you make of it as well!

Thank you, Vicky for sharing!

Martha Stewart Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

I had a request from somewhere else after mentioning this, one of my favourite soup recipes for this time of year, so I thought I would share it here as well.  I got it from one of my Martha Stewart Living mags many years ago so thank you, Martha and crew for such a delicious recipe!

Ingredients:
1 Tbs unsalted butter
1 medium onion, diced
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped
4 red or golden apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
2 tsp coarse salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 C chicken or vegetable stock
2 1/2 C water, plus more if needed
1 jalapeno chili, thinly sliced for garnish
Sour cream

Directions:
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, about 4 minutes.  Add squash and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, about 10 minutes

Add apples, salt, cumin, coriander, ginger, cayenne, black pepper, stock and water (just enough to cover) and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cook until vegetables are soft.

Puree and thin with more water if necessary.

Garnish with diced apples, jalapenos and sour cream if desired.

I hope you try this and enjoy it as much as we do!  Bon appétit!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.  All can be found here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/284268/apple-butternut-squash-soup

As I'm Waiting...

... to recover from the end-of-year festivities (which can be pretty heavy duty in France, believe me!), I thought I would share the finished product of the Red Mini mixed media painting I was working on as a special order present.  I love this technique and hope to be making more soon!

Also, to celebrate my big 4-0 which just passed, I'm offering 10% off all orders in both my Chichiboulie and Atelier&Cie shops for the next week.  


To take advantage, all you have to do is enter the code ENCORE at checkout and 10% will be taken off your order.


Best wishes for the new year!

Normand Apple Pie

...to celebrate the season!

I've been meaning to share this recipe for some time, but between making it and taking photos, it's not always an easy mix.  But I've finally managed to do both.

This pie is a bit of a mixture of a few recipes I've tweaked and added to or taken away from myself.  It's very simple (as you'll soon see), but receives accolades every time I make it.  I hope you'll try it and enjoy!

Ingredients:
For the topping
3 Tbs unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 C sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbs flour

For the pie1 pie crust (either pre-made or homemade, the choice is yours)
1 C sour cream
2/3 C sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
3 Tbs flour
5-6 apples (I prefer more acidic varieties)
2-3 Tbs Cognac

Method:
For the topping
- Blend all ingredients together until well combined

- Cover and chill

For the pie
- Peel and slice the apples in approximately 1/2 inch slices

- Whisk together sour cream, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs, flour and cognac in a large bowl

- Add the apples to this mixture and combine

- Spoon filling into the pie crust (in a pie tin of course)

- Crumble topping over the top

- Bake in the middle of the oven for 60-75 minutes.  You may need to cover the top of the pie with aluminum foil near the end in order to prevent over-browning.


Enjoy!

Finally!

... but I've run out of paper to make it up properly. I hope you'll excuse me and enjoy this printable calendar anyway!

24 templates for 24 days of wee tiny boxes, perfect for hiding goodies and sweets!  And a perfect crafting opportunity with the kids.  You supply the paper and glue.

Finished boxes look like the ones below, but with a little something more.