creamy vegan broccoli soup

Personally! – A Plant-Based Diet for 2013

Like everyone else on the planet, I have ‘lose weight’, ‘be health’, ‘get fit’ goals for 2013 which includes a plant-based diet.  I also have other goals for 2013 such as financial goals, so one of the new features you will see on my blog is the ‘Personally!’ series.  On Saturday, I’ll post a new ‘Personally!’ update that will include some of my non-stamping thoughts, projects and progress.  I hope you will join in and share your goals for 2013 and your struggles and successes!

Why am I including this on a stamping blog?  Because I’m hoping that we can encourage each other on our journeys to feeling better, being better and loving better!  I think life is a continuous improvement proposition.  So let’s continuously improve together, shall we?!

creamy vegan broccoli soup

For years, I have read about the benefits of a plant-based diet and on occasion I have pursued that eating regimen.  This past year my husband, a long-time Adkins fan and huge meat eater, adopted the plant-based lifestyle with fantastic results.  My daughter and her husband also made the change and look and feel fabulous.  Another friend and husband have made the switch with inspiring results.

For some reason, while I completely and utterly believe in the health benefits of eating wholesome & nutritious fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, I struggle to make the complete conversion.  But I have had a measured amount of success this year making worthwhile changes to my eating habits and so I’m ready to jump in with both feet and truly give it my all!

Yesterday I made a very healthy Creamy Broccoli Soup!  It was yummy (despite the anemic picture above!)  I followed the recipe found here on allrecipes.com pretty closely with a very few exceptions.

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 5 cups vegetable broth, divided
  • 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 4-1/2 cups coarsely chopped broccoli
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

I used peeled and diced red potatoes because that’s what I had on hand.  And I used garlic sea salt.  Next time I think I’ll had fresh garlic.  I don’t think you can ever have enough garlic!  Also, I simmered it for a lot longer than the recipe suggested.  Plus I made it in the morning and then reheated it for dinner, which worked out great.  Blending cashews into the soup makes it creamy without adding cream and cheese!

For cooking directions, go to recipe link.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR 2013?  Leave a comment and let’s inspire each other!

Enjoy, Julie

summer silhouettes congratulations graduation card

Congratulations on Your Graduation!

summer silhouettes congratulations graduation card

My son-in-law Chris recently graduated from college!  A fantastic accomplishment, and we are so happy for him and his family!  This is the card that I created to acknowledge this great achievement.  I kept it masculine with earthy colors and images.

To create this masculine congratulations card, I started with a card base of Natural Composition Specialty paper cut 4-1/4″ x 11″ and scored at 5-1/2″.  The Natural Composition dsp has a cardstock weight so it’s perfect for a card base.  I paid special attention to the orientation of the embossed lines of this paper before I trimmed the card base out.

summer silhouettes congratulations graduation card leaves

The leaves stamp is from the Summer Silhouettes stamp set and I stamped the left side first in Summer Starfruit and then in Always Artichoke.

summer silhouettes congratulations graduation card tag

I used the strip of paper left over from cutting out the card base to create this tag.  I stamped “congratulations” from  the Sweet Sentiments stamp set on the backside of the embossed paper and then punched the ends of the tag with the Curly Label punch.  I added a bit of Linen Thread to the tag before adhering it to the card base with dimensionals.

summer silhouettes congratulations graduation card above

CHECK OUT THE BEAUTIFUL NEW SPRING CATALOG!   I think you’ll love the beautiful colors, images and ideas in the brand new Spring catalog. 

Click Here to Order your Stampin’ Supplies

Click Here for Fun, Easy Digital Scrapbooking 

Enjoy,  Julie

summer silhouettes congratulations graduation card
Card Recipe:
Stamps: Summer Silhouettes wood-mount #126445 clear-mount #125447
Ink: Summer Starfruit #126991, Always Artichoke #126972
Paper: Natural Composition Specialty dsp #126917
Extras: Linen Thread #104199, Curly Label Punch #119851, Stampin’ Dimensionals #104430
 
summer silhouettes stamp set
 

The Spring Catalog Goes Live Today!

Stampin' Up! Spring catalog

The Spring Catalog is beautiful!

View the 2013 spring catalog online (Flash)

View the 2013 spring catalog (PDF)

View the 2013 spring catalog project supply list (PDF)

And here’s some Stampin’ Up! videos on some projects and products from the catalog.

1. Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate

2. Core’dinations Card Stock



 3. Pop ‘n Cuts Dies

THE STAMPIN’ UP! SPRING CATALOG BEGINS TODAY.   If you still need one, click here to send me a quick message with your name, address and phone number, and I’ll get one in the mail to you.   (If you placed an order with me during 2012 you should have already received your 2013 Spring Catalog in the mail.)

Enjoy, Julie

mds happy birthday summer smooches

Stamping Julie: 2012 Favorites

Here are just a few of my favorite projects from 2012.  I hope you will enjoy this 2012 tour!

Summer Smooch Birthday  – I created the background in My Digital Studio!

summer smooch birthday card

Easter Bunny Punch-Out – Love the bunny topper!

easter bunny punch-out topper

 Kentucky Derby Hat card, with detail pictures, and hat tutorial – I had so much fun with these little hats!!

kentucky derby hat card
 Day On The Lake With Lovely As A Tree – I love a great brayered scene!

day on the lake lovely as a tree thank you
 Reason to Smile Butterfly Art Card – Definitely a favorite project, love the big bold artsy butterfly!

reason to smile butterfly art card

Praying for You – I love the soft serenity of the flowers and colors, especially as my heart is broken by the latest Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut.

praying for you sympathy card
Speedy Recovery Card – fussier than my usually preferences, but this was fun!

speedy recovery get well card

Keep Calm & Eat a Cupcake Birthday Card – originally designed by my sister I changed out the greeting and absolutely love that bold sentiment with the detailed frame!

keep calm and eat a cupcake birthday card

Owl Occasions Birthday Wish – I had a ball creating this whimsical number!

owl occasions birthday wish
I have a ton of favorite Halloween and Christmas projects, but those are so recent I thought maybe you would enjoy seeing some of my favorites of the older projects.

HERE’S TO 2012!  So excited for the great possibilities in 2013!  I hope you will join me by subscribing to my newsletter , my blog updates and ‘liking’ my facebook page. 

Enjoy, Julie

Stamping Julie: The Best of 2012

Over 13,000 different people have visited StampingJulie.com since I started posting here in 2012!  Wow!!  Thanks for your support!  I love being here and I love that you love being here too!!

I absolutely cannot predict what will be a hit when I post to StampingJulie.  Who knew that this little project that I threw together on a whim with a dryer sheet flower and some other fun, glittery stuff would be soooooo popular? Amazing!!

Stampin' Up! Dryer Sheet Fun Flower Thank You card

But this thank you card was BY FAR the Most Popular Post of 2012.  A  flower die cut from a dryer sheet with the Fun Flower die is the highlight of this card.   View the details here:  https://stampingjulie.com/2012/06/stampin-up-fun-flower-thank-you-card/

Here are some more popular searches and posts from 2012!

Thanks for taking this online journey with me this year!  I’ll be posting some more 2012 favorites this week.

THE STAMPIN’ UP! HOLIDAY CATALOG ENDS JANUARY 2ND.  Don’t forget to order your favorite  products right away.

THE STAMPIN’ UP! SPRING CATALOG BEGINS JANUARY 3RD.  If you need the new catalog click here to send me a quick message with your name, address and phone number, and I’ll get one in the mail to you.   (If you placed an order with me during 2012 you should have already received your 2013 Spring Catalog in the mail.)

Enjoy, Julie