December Filers

[matt&tara 13]

Hey Mari! We won't forget about you two! This is Tara by the way I am actually in Ohio right now with my sweet love and last night I was doing the dishes when I got the text. I picked up the phone and saw that it was USCIS and right away my hands started shaking like a leaf! It was an incredible feeling getting that news, WOW! You'll love the feeling when your turn comes! Ok here's the recipe...

Lentil, Barley and Sweet Potato Soup:

1 tbsp (15 mL) canola oil

2 stalks celery, minced

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced about 14 oz (425 g)

1/2 cup (125 mL) pearl barley

2 tsp (10 mL) dried oregano leaves

2 tsp (10 mL) dried basil leaves

3 tbsp (45 mL) tomato paste

2 tbsp (30 mL)balsamic vinegar

6 cups (1.5 mL) reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth, divided

540 mL can lentils, drain...

Total Time: 60 minutes

Heat oil in a large pot over medium. Add celery, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add sweet potato, barley, oregano, and basil, and stir to coat well. Add tomato paste and vinegar, and stir to combine. Add 5 cups (1.25 L) of the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for about 35 minutes, or until sweet potato and barliey are tender. Stir in remaining broth, plus lentils and parsley; cook 5 minutes ...

This soup is perfect for those really really cold winters in Canada! Warms you from the heart out to your finger tips

God bless you to, may your approval be swift! All the best!

Love,

Matthew and Tara!

Also, where does it say that Matthew is on the 'wall of shame' lol, how do you even get on that wall lol??

Edited April 13, 2011 by mattb05

[Mariye & Ky 172]

Tara,

LOL the Wall of Shame was created by NEA (Gsummit) lol because OLA her Groom (beautifulnpoppi) would not give her recipe from Nigeria! LOL So when she finally posted, she said, OK you can take Nigeria off the "Wall of Shame" now!

LOL and so... no recipe = Wall of Shame. :rofl:

I am so glad you and Matt here to post!

Love ya,

Mari

[Dublin-SF 0]

I am happy to report we got an email informing us of our I129F approval!!!

Good luck everyone!

[wendie and sam 4]

Christine! Of course we're hangin' out... didn't you see the AOS name? "DECEMBERITE FAMILY DIGS: AOS and BEYOND" ... means, for a long while! You know how long it takes after we do that thing and the steps after that? So no worries OK? We gonna see all our pics if we post 'em on our thread.

K and I are having small wedding and like Wendles, we're incorporating his Turkish culture; Turk /Morrocan lanterns on the tables, belly dancer (his side) and a hula dancer (my side) and Turk food at the rehearsal party, Yankee plated dinner at the reception. I've been looking at the save the date /invites styles...really can't find what I'm looking for yet though. I'd like some Mediterranean Iznik kind of flowery design on our wedding cake done up in gold on white... this is an Iznik flower pattern / design pic:

probably cost me a fortune for a bakery to do that. Unless I keep watching Cake Boss and figure out a way to get a stencil from Turkey and have my bakery copy by airbrushing on the artwork onto the fondant. I do not like the taste of fondant; like a yucky waxy bland thick paste! ach. I had it at a friend's wedding and it was gross. This is what I get as I have a love for frosting and I took a big ugly mouthful... omg, I couldn't spit it out! LOL LOL LOL Maybe it was just their baker's fault.

Other than that Turkish traditions: they do your henna party, they tie a red ribbon on your waist at your reception (youth, present and mature blessing in your life), they dance -- a lot to traditional music, and they always bless the bride and groom with the 2 kiss each cheek thing when they present the bride with gold jewelry or the groom with money; no gifts like toasters from registries.

Love ya!

Mari

OMG Mari I was just watching amazing wedding cakes while working from home today and thinking the same thing.. my henna cake is gonna cost a fortune!! (good thing my mommy said she'd buy it for me!) ha..

So if you find a good deal on the Moroccan lanterns can you send me a message?? I've been looking for them but each one I find is like 15-40 dollars and I really don't want to pay that much. Maybe Kadir can bring us some!? haha.. I tried looking for wholesalers... still nothing.

[matt&tara 13]

I am happy to report we got an email informing us of our I129F approval!!!

Good luck everyone!

Congrats!!!!!!!!

[ManilatoSeattle 6]

I am happy to report we got an email informing us of our I129F approval!!!

Good luck everyone!

Congrats!!!!!!

[Christine + Blake 18]

Congratulations Dublin-SF !!!!!!

Mari the henna sounds awesome, I'd love to do something like that! It sounds like the wedding is going to be SO much fun! Blake and I desperately need things like toasters, so I'm glad we'll have a traditional registry, hahah.

[matt&tara 13]

Tara,

LOL the Wall of Shame was created by NEA (Gsummit) lol because OLA her Groom (beautifulnpoppi) would not give her recipe from Nigeria! LOL So when she finally posted, she said, OK you can take Nigeria off the "Wall of Shame" now!

LOL and so... no recipe = Wall of Shame. :rofl:

I am so glad you and Matt here to post!

Love ya,

Mari

So does this mean Matthew is off the wall of shame??? Because his shame is my shame lol!

[KiwiJen 7]

I am happy to report we got an email informing us of our I129F approval!!!

Good luck everyone!

YAAAAA CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

[Mariye & Ky 172]

I am happy to report we got an email informing us of our I129F approval!!!

Good luck everyone!

Yeah!!!! This is fabulous and congratulations!!!

love ya,

Mari

[Lise+Michael 13]

Hey Mari! We won't forget about you two! This is Tara by the way I am actually in Ohio right now with my sweet love and last night I was doing the dishes when I got the text. I picked up the phone and saw that it was USCIS and right away my hands started shaking like a leaf! It was an incredible feeling getting that news, WOW! You'll love the feeling when your turn comes! Ok here's the recipe...

Congratulations to all who have recently received their N0A2!!! I am especially happy to see a Canadian get approved!!! Christine there is hope for you and me!! Thank you Tara for the recipe, it will warm us in MN too!

Plus lentils are so good for you!

Have a great evening everyone,

Lise

[Mariye & Ky 172]

OMG Mari I was just watching amazing wedding cakes while working from home today and thinking the same thing.. my henna cake is gonna cost a fortune!! (good thing my mommy said she'd buy it for me!) ha..

So if you find a good deal on the Moroccan lanterns can you send me a message?? I've been looking for them but each one I find is like 15-40 dollars and I really don't want to pay that much. Maybe Kadir can bring us some!? haha.. I tried looking for wholesalers... still nothing.

Congratulations Dublin-SF !!!!!!

Mari the henna sounds awesome, I'd love to do something like that! It sounds like the wedding is going to be SO much fun! Blake and I desperately need things like toasters, so I'm glad we'll have a traditional registry, hahah.

OK Wendles: HERE YA GO! LOL always ask me for the bargain stuff... I don't pay retail! LOL here: http://halfpricedecor.com/index.php?pg=item_detail&id=37437. Prices range from $3 - 20 bucks. Take your pick, there are many pages and styles! have fun sweetie!! AND IF I do not like any of these I am going to have that man bring me back some, yes! LOL He already said, "OK Bebegim, I'm bring you everything... you no more talk me" LOL LOL <re: my list of Turkish stuff>

Christine: Turkish henna party is so kewl but I dont' want all that thing all over my arms, what if it makes my arms look 'fatso' ? LOL ... our Turk friends wedding she only had a small area of her palm. Last Sunday, she and the women of the house had me watch her wedding so I got familiar with the traditions. loved it! You can come to my henna party!!!

<<<<<< Wendles, how many do you need? They're cheaper by the bulk.

Love you two!!

Mari

[kristen_maroc 126]

@Wendie and Mari: I can get tiny Moroccan lanterns here (maybe 8-12 inches high? Holds 1 votive candle) for $3.25 each. It's a shame that the shipping would be so much, because they are nice. If you want me to check on shipping, let me know, but my guess is that it would be quite a bit. If you seriously want me to look into it, let me know. The larger ones are pricier though. (EDIT: oops! Didn't see your last post, Mari! Well, sounds like you have it under control, but the offer still stands regardless...)

@Mari: WOW! I LOVE the thought of that pattern on fondant. It may taste yucky... but it would look AMAZING. What if you had a bride's cake and a groom's cake and just made the groom's cake delicious and bigger and a yucky but beautiful bride one? LOL. BEAUTIFUL.

@Wendie: I *adore* your wedding ideas, with the chocolates, the pictures, etc. It sounds BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for the etiquette suggestions. What a PITA, but worth it. I don't want to offend people, or else I'd just do our own thing, but the whole "announcement + hope you can join us at a later date" sounds perfect.

@Christine: I'm really sorry the 11/11/11 didn't work out for you. The May wedding still sounds awesome though. I think my fiance would prefer if we did what you are doing (wedding bands for later and all) but I don't know if I am willing to wait that long, especially if we are living together. He's thinking a year until the "bigger party" (which will still be pretty simple). We'll see.

@Nikolata: Sounds beautiful. Cancun!! Lucky attendees.

Someone also mentioned a henna wedding cake. OMG. PERFECT. I WANT IT. Seriously, my fiance hates henna (HATES IT), so this would be an awesome way to incorporate it in our wedding without him hating it. White cake, brown frosting in traditional henna wedding patterns. Wow. Perfect. Do you mind if I steal that idea, pretty please??

[Mariye & Ky 172]

@Wendie and Mari: I can get tiny Moroccan lanterns here (maybe 8-12 inches high? Holds 1 votive candle) for $3.25 each. It's a shame that the shipping would be so much, because they are nice. If you want me to check on shipping, let me know, but my guess is that it would be quite a bit. If you seriously want me to look into it, let me know. The larger ones are pricier though. (EDIT: oops! Didn't see your last post, Mari! Well, sounds like you have it under control, but the offer still stands regardless...)

@Mari: WOW! I LOVE the thought of that pattern on fondant. It may taste yucky... but it would look AMAZING. What if you had a bride's cake and a groom's cake and just made the groom's cake delicious and bigger and a yucky but beautiful bride one? LOL. BEAUTIFUL.

@Wendie: I *adore* your wedding ideas, with the chocolates, the pictures, etc. It sounds BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for the etiquette suggestions. What a PITA, but worth it. I don't want to offend people, or else I'd just do our own thing, but the whole "announcement + hope you can join us at a later date" sounds perfect.

@Christine: I'm really sorry the 11/11/11 didn't work out for you. The May wedding still sounds awesome though. I think my fiance would prefer if we did what you are doing (wedding bands for later and all) but I don't know if I am willing to wait that long, especially if we are living together. He's thinking a year until the "bigger party" (which will still be pretty simple). We'll see.

@Nikolata: Sounds beautiful. Cancun!! Lucky attendees.

Someone also mentioned a henna wedding cake. OMG. PERFECT. I WANT IT. Seriously, my fiance hates henna (HATES IT), so this would be an awesome way to incorporate it in our wedding without him hating it. White cake, brown frosting in traditional henna wedding patterns. Wow. Perfect. Do you mind if I steal that idea, pretty please??

Kristen Girl, OF COURSE!

OK let's get this straight: My Cake will have a Turkish Izmir tile pattern -- what they used to decorate the mosques ceilings and buildings; but it's NOT HENNA! lol It's only a Turkish art pattern. However, the patterns that they paint on hands are from many middle eastern countries and India too! They easily can be transfered onto a cake! Watch the symbolism though.

OK I just watched TLC Case Boss and there was a episode where Buddy has to a cake for a Coney Island Freak Show place. What he did was brilliant and this is what I want to do with my cake! He got the pictures of the 'freaks' and he put it through a edible copy printer (the picture comes out in an edible food colouring and edible paper). Then, they attached it to steamed fondant *(icky), and pressed it onto the cake which gave it the 3D effect and the pictures were exactly like the drawings of the sideshow actors! Amazing and exactly the episode I wanted to see so I could write down HOW he did that... and I'm going to find a bakery that can do that for my Izmir flower print! LOL SEE? Here's a pic of that cake he did and the artwork on it were cartoon drawings by an artist for Coney Island ... It was the technique he used that I was interested in. http://www.flickr.co...N06/4149722963/

Night before the wedding: HENNA PARTY:

First the red ribbon is placed around the bride's SKINNY waistline 3 times ! < Can you say YOGA & TREADMILL?>

Then there is a line of guest who are single still (all holding lit candles). The first person carries out a tray and many candles are lit while they single file out, dancing to traditional music. They do a "tunnel" and hold their arms up to make a bridge... the bride and groom dance thru that together and take a seat in the henna chairs. They put a red embroidered scarf over the head of the bride...

<me?> lol omg I am so clausterphobic, I will barf!

This is where a Turkish Aunt or woman in the family who has a very blessed & happy marriage takes the brides hand and does the following:

• takes the hand of the bride and puts a gold coin
• applies the henna print on top
• wraps it with cloth
• covers her hand with red bag, it's like a very roomy mitten and ties it.
• The bride wears this for hours.... my family friend only wore hers for an hour and then she, had them take it off! LOL lol...
• An uncle married to the happy aunt, takes the pinky of the right hand of the Groom
• Uncle applies henna *(he doesn't get the gold because the woman is the keeper in the household and he is the one who earns it!) rofl good for me!!!
• A small wrap and then a red cover on the pinky.... tied and he also wears this for a long time ... he is sealed to his wife in love, joy and something else which I forgot.. I think its sex spirit.

Then, the bride sits in a chair and other men one at a time dance around her, offer a rose. She must refuse them, "NO"! Then, Kadir gets to dance around me and offer me a white rose... I accept, he lifts that red veil and kiss his wife on the forehead. <my forehead?!? lol

Then we P A R T Y the more modern Yankee/ Hula/ Turk Party ! Weeeee!!!

OK this song is one we'll use when we party... Turkish/Kurdish wedding reception party music... The little boys dancing is traditional. The rest is a dj mix to the music.

Kristen ... I bet Morroco has some amazing traditions too! I can help you research that out sistah!!

Love,

Mari

** I just left this pc, left the room... and didnt' know I didn't send this yet! That was a long time ago I wrote this! LOL duh Mari!!!

[Nata20102011 6]

How do I get into all of these conversations!!! HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY everyone!!! Just saw a Canadian got their NOA2!! Congrats!! Hi people!! Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!!!