So excited I found this!!!!...

How FABULOUS was that!!!

Can't wait to try this out!!!

http://www.refinery29.com/beauty-tips-eyeliner-video-tape

Reminds me of when I was little...

I have so many great memories...

and I love that my son gets to experience those wonderful memories too..

I was lucky enough to be a helper at Ethan's School Halloween Party and Parade this year!

It was so much stinkin fun!

We helped all the little ones get ready...

watched them walk along the path...shaking their instruments their teacher gave them...

and

just enjoy watching all these kids soo darn happy...

We then went back to their classroom where they had fun at different stations...

decorating cookies...playing pin the tail on the cat...

and making witches brooms out of pretzels and cheese sticks!  (who thinks of these things)!

What these kids will never realize is how much joy they bring to me...

how much my heart fills up watching them play...and laugh...and just enjoy the simple things in life...

I thank God each and every day for this little miracle...

that I can be a part of his life...

because let me tell you...

I DO NOT take it for granted...

I am blessed...

Hope you all had a very happy halloween!

For my future vacation...

So, I know this is TOTALLY pre-mature...

but, we are going on a couples vacation...(the only one I am sure!)

YAY!

Not next Spring...

but, the one after that...

& yes, I know...

that is TOTALLY a ways away...

BUT...

I found "the" dress...

ya know...the one that BEGS to be worn on a tropical vacation...

sipping cocktails with friends...on the beach...at night...under the stars...listening to music...

eating fabulous dinners...and dancing...

ahhhhhh...

anyway...

this is it...

yes, I know...this dress requires months of workouts and eating FABULOUSLY...

but...

if I am going on (probably the only) couples vacation with my wonderful friends and FANTASTIC hubby...

I want to feel GREAT!

Anyway...it's Alexander Wang...and waaaay to expensive...

but, I am currently trying to "figure out a way to get it"

Wish me luck!

 

Enjoying Fall with the little ones...

Sweet and Spicy Pepitas Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

• 3 (3.5-ounce) bags natural microwave popcorn
• 2 cups pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for forming
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or 1 tsp if you like it spicier)

Directions

Pop the popcorn according to package instructions. While hot, carefully open package and dump into a large bowl.

Toast the pumpkin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until browned and popping, tossing and stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. (Do this in batches, if needed.) Add to the popcorn.

Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar. Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.

Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon and cayenne. Cool for about a minute. Pour caramel over the popcorn and stir to evenly coat.

When the popcorn is cool enough to handle, coat your hands with some butter and shape into 4-inch balls. Wrap in waxed paper and tie with a string, if desired. Serve or store covered at room temperature for up to a week.

Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

Fall Inspiration...

*LOVING*

this outfit!!!

I have sadly gained a little weight over the Summer...

yes, Summer...

So..this is my inspiration picture...

Everyone has one, right!

...Tory Burch...Love...

 The Beckett Coat

OH.MY.LORD.

How fabulous is this coat!!!!

I would do almost anything for this coat...

I mean COME ON!

Have you ever seen anything more gorgeous??

These boots are beau-tee-fulll....

How divine paired with some skinny jeans...or cords...

and a gorgeous sweater...

xoxo 

& these two outfits below are in two words...

*my dream* outfit...

The perfectly fitted...tucked in sweater...

the pop of color...

& the absolutely fabulous figure flattering pant that bells out just a smidge...

Oh Tory...

How I love thee...

Now, does anyone know how I can make $1300.00 for the coat in the next month????...

anyone...

anyone...

Chairs...Fabric...What to do!!!...

Annette Tatum fabric - 100% cotton poplin

(I don't know about doing a chair in poplin...???)

Ideally...I need this is a denim or a twill...something heavier than poplin..

Serena and Lily Fabric - Flax Linen

(I really dig this...but maybe just a smidge lighter and greyer)

Serena and Lily Fabric - Spade Fog

(This is good to hide wear and spots...)

Or...

call me crazy...but, I dig the look of the pink STRIPED!!!!

Or something like this...

Kind of pale oatmealy...but, I might lean towards a blue / grey / oatmealy linen

or velvet...

VELVET???

What is wrong with me...? 

haha!

By the way...it would be to recover the chairs below!

This is what inspired me...

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic...again ;)...

but...the more I look...

the more I JUST DON'T KNOW!!!!!!

These are all a little pricey...at around $50 a yard...

(compared to my white denim at $15 a yard!)...
which I could do slipcovers in...
YIKES!...
stay away from the white...
yes, I am obsessed ...
but, I would be a NUT again...
SOMEONE talk me out of the white...

Phew...
I am calm...
focus, Tara, focus...
Anyhoo...
I am entertaining options...!

ideas...


thoughts...


concerns...


comments...


Although, believe it or not...
I am really leaning towards the flax linen...
but, maybe in a slipcover...

Birthday Dinner...

So...

My wonderful husband just turned 35 yesterday...(yay)!

and 

we couldn't celebrate, because he had a softball game...(boo...)

So...

My wonderful sister in law is taking our son for the evening...

so we can spend some quality time together...(yay)!

I am off work and busy getting our dinner together for tonight...

(& doing some school supply shopping too)!

(cause if you don't go now...Target's supplies get pretty thin...)

So...

Here is the menu!!!!

Cupcake Merlot

Ina Garten's Cape Cod Chopped Salad

Pan Fried Scallops

French Bread w/ Spicy Olive Oil Dipping Sauce

Yumm...

Ina Gartens Cape Cod Chopped Salad

Serves 4 to 5

8 slices (8 ounces) thick-cut bacon, such as Niman Ranch


8 ounces baby arugula

1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced

1/2 cup toasted walnut halves, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup dried cranberries

6 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled

For the Dressing:

3 tablespoons good apple-cider vinegar

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

2 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup good olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and lay the bacon slices on the rack. Roast the bacon for about 20 minutes, until nicely browned. Allow to cool.

3. In a large bowl, toss together the arugula, apple, walnuts, cranberries, and blue cheese. For the dressing, whisk together the vinegar, orange zest, orange juice, mustard, maple syrup, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper in a bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

4. Chop the bacon into large pieces and add it to the salad. Toss the salad with just enough dressing to moisten. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss well. Serve immediately.

Happy Birthday my Love...

My Newest Find!!!

So...I finally finished recovering my cane back chairs in my Rachel Ashwell white denim...

& they look GREAT!

(pics to come soon... my camera broke :(   )

I had a party for my hubby's 35th birthday the other day...

and moved my white wing back chairs into the dining room...

(cause there were 45 kids there!  YIKES)

...and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them in there!!!!!

So...

Now I need something else to go back into my family room

where I just took the white chairs from...!

Yes...

I am obsessed with chairs...

well...at least that's what my husband says...

BUT...

I found these beauty's on Craigslist for...

wait...

wait...

$25 DOLLARS A PIECE!!!!!

Stinkin beautiful Queen Anne chairs!!!!!

The woman was the NICEST thing ever and is moving to another state!!!

She actually didn't really know if she wanted to part with them..but, her daughter talked her in to it...

(a HUGE thank you to you!... ;)

So...I am going to pick these up for $50!!!!!

Now...these I think I will recover in something "sit able"...!

Still beautiful and light...

but, something that won't give me a heart attack if people walk near...

Cause as GORGEOUS as my white wing backs are...

I am absolutely paranoid of anyone even touching them!!!

which...is no way to live...

but...damn they make me happy!!!!

So...

I am thinking Damask pattern...

Pale colors...

hmmmm...

I LOVE CHAIRS...

&

I LOVE CRAIGSLIST!!!!

Have you ever fallen in love...

with a RUG?!!!!

Well...Lordy Be...I have...

Problem is...I don't have the money to purchase it...

I am actually contemplating getting my behind in gear and selling some stuff!!!!

This rug is SCREAMING my name!

Lordy Be...

I. AM. SMITTEN

http://www.dashandalbert.com/

Great Idea!!!

I spotted this from http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com/!

What a GRAND idea!

&

Free!

Loving My...

PEONIES!!!!!!

Seriously...

there is nothing that makes me happier

than my peonies in full bloom in my backyard...

What SUCKS is that they bloom for, literally, 2 weeks and then...

BOOM.

dead.

So, I have to pick them to be able to enjoy them!

My wonderful hubby bought me two bushes for my birthday when we first moved into our home

6 years ago...

The hot pink POP in my kitchen and dining room amongst the black and white is just stunning...

EVERY time I walk into the kitchen, I actually stop and say "DAMN THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL"...

I am not joking...

EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

They last a couple days...the ants crawl out of them...and all over our house...

my son gets freaked out...and my husband complains because he just spent the week prior to this getting all the ants OUT of our house...

and then I bring them back in...

I can't help it...

I am IN LOVE.

He understands...

To paint or not to paint...

So...I am almost finished redoing my cane back chairs I got off Craigslist for $20 A PIECE!!!

I have 800 yards
(seriously...I bought WAAAY to much)
Rachel Ashwell White Denim Fabric...

which actually...I could redo EVERYTHING in this fabric...

so it's totally fine that I over bought...

anyway...

I decided to recover these seats the other day...

I started taking them apart and the padding underneath was SOOO disgusting...

and completely falling apart...

So, I picked up some new foam...borrowed a staple gun from a fabulous girlfriend (thanks Chas!)

and am off to my new adventure!

Now...

do I keep them this color (the stained wood)...

or...

do I paint them white...

or...

glossy black...

Let me tell you first that I just purchased a rug...

yes...

I found an 8 x 10 rug for...wait for it...

 $200!!!!!

I almost fell over.

Anyway...

it is black and white...

well...

here is a pic from where I found it...

http://laybabylay.com/vivi-charles-nursery/

IT IS SOOO COOL!

This dresser she has in her daughters room is almost exactly the style buffet I have in my dining room...

but...it is white with a glossy black mirror.

I am really digging the Vintage...Modern...Glam...Earthy look...

yes, I know...

kind of alot of looks...

but, it's what I love. so. I will make it work!

Anyway...

thoughts?  suggestions?

wood, white, or black?

Next Stop...Kindergarten...

My sweet little E graduated from Preschool...

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....

Where oh Where did the time go?.....

This past year literally FLEW by...

All the preschool classes assembled together for a big graduation ceremony the other day...

each class sang some songs...

about God...about growing up...about moving on to Kindergarten...

He goes to a Christian School...

which I am soooooo happy he was able to go to this past year...

not only were the teachers and staff A-M-A-Z-I-N-G...

but, he was exposed to God and religion in such a fun and exciting way...

it just became another part of learning...

I was blessed to find this school and we will miss it very much next year...

My awful camera could not get close enough to take good pics while they were singing...

but, you get the idea ;)

E and his diploma...

we are sooo proud!

Now...to make sure he gets two more!

Here are his two seriously FABULOUS teachers..

Mrs. Angel and Mrs. Shinzing...

His cousin Griffin who came with both sets of Grandparents to cheer him on!!!

One of his BFF's...Lorenzo...

Proud parentals...

(I look preggers...yuck...too bad I am not...than I would say HURRAY!)

We took the kiddies out to Applebee's for Computer Games at the bar (hee hee)

...Mac and Cheese... & Ice Cream

(Craig and I had a cocktail...that's ok, right?)

congratulations on growing up E...

I hope there are many more happy and wonderful days ahead of you...

love...mama

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo



Dreamy Whites Giveaway...

One of my favorite blogs...

http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/

is having a giveaway to her BEAUTIFUL...seriously...BEAUTIFUL shop...

Giveaway Information....

One reader will receive a 250.00 gift card to Dreamy Whites Online.

The giveaway winner will be chosen by random number.

The giveaway ends June 12th at midnight.

The giveaway is open to international readers too.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1.  Become a follower of my crazy blog...Leave me a comment...say hello...introduce yourself...I would love to meet you...

2. Leave http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/ a comment on her giveaway post

stating what you would purchase from her shop if you were to win the 250.00 gift card.

If you would like an additional entry you can.....

2. Post the giveaway to your blog

3. Post the giveaway to your facebook page and or...

4. Post the giveaway to your twitter account

In order for your extra entries to count you must leave separate comments for each entry.

If you leave an anonymous comment please be sure and leave your email address.

I am hoping for one (or two) of her antique french bistro chairs...

Good Luck everyone!!!!

Beach Bum...

Just got a new beach bag from Etsy!!!

I love Etsy...

I love supporting people that make their own products...

they are almost always willing to work with you regarding fabric...color...amount...

custom orders are welcome!

& Etsy has expanded soo much in the last 2 years...

you seriously can find almost ANYTHING!

I was searching for a completely non-crazy-priced-but super cute-extra-large-beach-bag...

cause...
we went to the water park yesterday...

my beach bag/gym bag/overnight bag/throw everything into bag...

did not quite fit all I needed for our Summer

(wait...is it Summer?...no...actually it's Spring...but, who can tell, right?)  outing...

which led me here...

http://www.etsy.com/people/LucyJaneStudio?ref=ls_profile

I am sooo into nautical this year...

bring it on stripes!...

So...I ended up getting a huge lime green and navy floral beach bag!

 

Anyhoo..

Super great price...

lovingly made by a mama of twins...

in the wonderful USA...

really...you can't get any better...

Thanks Etsy!