bubbledog blog

endulging in some tasty cuban food

Just a quick cell phone blog from sunny Florida. I'm enjoying the warm weather, the clear blue water, and the tasty food. I can never resist a good Cuban sandwich... here is a delicious example from El Siboney Restaurant. It was amazing!

was everyone this happy?

During some down time this morning, I found myself searching through youtube for some nostalgic eighties gems.  I had to stop myself when it was getting near the twenty minute mark and I was watching one old commercial after another.  I remember these commercials so clearly, but I didn't remember how completely over-the-top happy the people were in them. 

This guy is REALLY excited to go get some Pizza Hut pizza.  When he returns his friend experiences a level of happiness that I have never felt before in my life.

"Fever for the flavor of a Pringle" or not, no one was this happy at any of my kid parties when I was younger.

Now  these people are really happy too, but who wouldn't be??? They have edible bowls... I mean, come on :)

june giveaway results

Once I tallied all of the various types of possibilities, there were a total of 48 entries for this giveaway.  Each entry was placed in a bowl and then I drew three names.  There was only supposed to be one winner, but I decided to give out two runners up prizes (which will be a set of three notecards).  I am emailing the winners privately and asking them to post a comment here to accept their prize. Here are the results:

Giveaway Winner:  Congratulations to Rachel H
(wins polar bear tote, polar bear magnet, and set of three polar bear notecards)

Runners Up:  Congratulations to Stacy E & Emilie S
(each win a set of three polar bear notecards)

Thanks to everyone for entering.  The July giveaway will begin in the next few weeks :)

 

martine's river house

 
I took my parents out for dinner tonight for a belated Father's Day celebration.  My father requested going to Martine's in New Hope, PA.  For anyone that hasn't been there, New Hope is a really quaint town that is part artist colony and part tourist mecca.  Over the years, it has grown in popularity and seems to attract more and more people.  Sitting right along the Delaware River, it is a nice scenic town to spend the day walking, shopping, and eating.

Martine's was really great... everyone was pleased with their meal (that's no small wonder).  My parents have lived in that area for 20 years and I can't believe I have never eaten there before.  They have a beautiful deck that sits on the river and it was the perfect place to be eating on the first nice night we have had in a couple of weeks!    What did we have, you ask...

I had the Pork Medallions (Hatfield Prime Reserve medallions marinated in ginger and sesame, topped with apricot glaze, served with sweet potato fries and wasabi aïoli), my father ordered Farfalle Pasta (Tossed with sun dried tomato flavored sausage and braised escarole in a white wine and tomato caper sauce with Pecorino-Romano), and my mother and grandmother both chose the Salmon (Pesto topped and slow roasted, served with a yellow pepper and shellfish sauce, rice pilaf and asparagus).

If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend it!

it's been a while...

I am excited to say that I just booked my first vacation in about three years!  Since buying my home, I haven't been able to do anything except stay here in it.  I won't be going anywhere crazy exotic this time around, but at least it will require an airplane trip and it won't be work related!  So, in a little over a week, I will be in Key West, sitting by the pool at the Ocean Keys Resort, and basking in the sun... ahhhh.  I can't wait because the weather in NJ has been amazingly horrible.  It's literally been raining for WEEKS.  I am considering starting construction of an ark as a "just in case" precaution. 

Here are some ocean creatures I made today while dreaming of my vacation...

 PS - don't forget, there are three more days to enter my blog giveaway!

bubbledog's june giveaway

This is the first of three free giveaways that I am planning for this summer - one each for June, July, and August.  The winner of June's giveaway will receive three items featuring my hugging polar bears design.  The winner will get one 2.25" magnet, one 12" lightweight tote, and three blank 4.25" x 5.5" note cards.  To read more about these items, check them out in my etsy shop. 

THE RULES:

• The winner of this giveaway will be chosen at random. 
• All entries must be made by midnight EST on Tuesday, June 23rd. 
• The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 24th.
• No purchase is necessary to be entered into the drawing. 
• This giveaway is open to US residents only.  
• Void where prohibited.

You can receive up to five entries for this giveaway:

1.  Receive one entry by leaving a comment on this post.  Just make sure you enter your email address correctly when leaving the comment (that's how I will notify you if you win).  If you read my blog in a reader or through email updates, you will have to go here to leave a comment.

2.  Receive one additional entry by leaving a comment on any other post in my blog.

3.  Receive one additional entry by posting this contest on your blog (just post a link in your comment so I know to check).

4.  You can also receive two additional entries by signing up to receive my blog updates by email using the form below.  You only need to subscribe once to get two entries... sorry if I was confusing :)

Enter your email address:

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Good luck :)

UPDATE:  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  NO MORE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.  CHECK BACK FOR MY JULY GIVEAWAY.

nothing better to do

Basically, it's been raining here in NJ for the last three weeks.  We may have had a break of sun now and again, but overall it's been pretty dreary.  As I woke up to yet another rainy and overcast day, I was happy to have received an email from my brother suggesting I check out awkwardfamilyphotos.com.  If you are having a lazy Sunday, or having trouble getting back into work mode on Monday, it is a perfect site to browse and waste some of your dreary day away.  Enjoy!

gummi bear lights

I found these cool gummi bear lights over at jellio.com.  I would love to have one as a cute accent lamp... though $125 for a tongue-in-cheek lamp might not fit in my budget right now.  Jellio has some other great pieces too including a dots candy bench, some cereal box toy wall art, and a rubik's cube table.  I'll take one of each please!

new art for my wall

While at the Art Star Craft Bazaar last weekend, I was able to get away with only making one purchase.  My booth was smack between two talented artists, my friend Laura from Dog Bone Art on my right and an illustrator, Jamie Zollars, on my left.  It was great to be sitting amongst such talented people, but also a bit intimidating.  The whole time I was in my booth, I could see this amazing silkscreened Bug Parade print at the front of Jamie Zollars' table.  I was able to get one at the end of the second day and I now just need to get out and get a frame for it (sadly, framing is my Achilles' Heel... for some reason it takes me forever to get around to doing it).  When it is framed, I am thinking of adding it to my dining room wall in either the top or lower right hand side... what do you think?

role reversal

Behold the place that usually houses my car!  That pic is about half of my two car garage filled with stuff to be sold at my garage sale tomorrow.  You would normally find me playing the role of "buyer" role at a Saturday garage sale,  but this week it is my turn to sell.  I decided it was time to get rid of things that have been accumulating in my basement and in closets throughout the house.  It feels really good to empty out those storage areas... now I just need people to buy it all.  There are some small furniture pieces, some kitchen items, some craft supplies, some clothes, and let's see... about 8 sets of drinking glasses!  Why so many glasses?  I wish I could tell you.  I don't care about making money; I just want it all gone.  Wish me luck!