You've Gotta Try These

Good Saturday Morning!!
Do you wanna get your Saturday off to a good start? Let me introduce to you the Cinnamom Roll. Not just any cinnamon roll. It's the recipe from Pioneer Woman.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/
OH MY GOODNESS GIRLS!!! You've gotta try it. It takes a bit of time, but is quite easy and so worth the character- building patience (snicker, snicker) it takes to endure until it's melting in your mouth.

My mom and sis and I were heading out for a once-in-a-lifetime SPA day and I wanted a little something-something special. Know what I mean?  I made these little cuties in individual tin pans and had our specialty coffees ready to go in these darling cups. It was the perfect start to a perfect, relaxing day.
I am so ready to go again!
Enjoy your weekend!
Tammy

Spring Plantings

Welcome to my garden! 
I've been enjoying planting lettuce and cauliflower with my youngest. She can't wait to get the watering can out! Water and kids go hand- in - hand.

How is your garden growing?
Tammy

still celebrating

Easter worship service was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S. I didn't want the music to stop! My girls really enjoyed the Easter egg hunt at my sis-in-laws later for lunch. 

I don't know if you can see that little gap on the top row of my baby's mouth, but she also lost her first tooth for Easter. She assured me it was not a problem eating candy with that gap! HA! How was your Easter?
We managed to get a good family picture too!

I started getting ready for Gracie's sleep over birthday party this week. She wanted tissue flowers!

Now she has them .....

I'll show you pictures once I have the table set and the three-tiered cake made! Tonight we are having a little get together with some old neighbors. I've set the table for Easter and I'll have pictures of that soon!
Enjoy your week!
Tammy

Celebrations!

This month and next we have LOTS of celebrations in my house! It's the month of birthdays!! In March we celebrate my brother, his wife and my mom (see my beautiful mom above with my sis and two girls) and in April we party for my Gracie, myself and my sis!! It's one fabulous way to welcome in Spring!!
It may not be so warm outside yet, but we are feeling the warmth inside! It's so much fun!
I saw this yummy recipe somewhere for an open faced tuna on a baquette. It looked so pretty and sounded so yummy, I thought it was the perfect menu for my mom's spectacular day.

And it was!! You mix cans of albacore tuna with capers, homemade mayonnaise (I can't believe I made it myself!!) Italian parsley and hard boiled egg, salt and pepper and scoop it unto a crusty piece of Italian bread. Then you broil it in the oven smothered with provolone, Parmesan or Swiss cheese -- whatever you prefer. S.C.R.U.M.P.T.I.O.U.S.
I tossed a pretty green leafy salad next to it with plenty of little mandarin oranges, slivered almonds and feta cheese. OH SO GOOD!!!

One of all of our favorites is cheese cake. Creamy, thick, New York style cheesecake. I have a great recipe and ended up making three. (gotta have one for my party in April, you know?) That's when my ancient hand mixer decided to die and I was left with a bowl of eight cream cheeses and a smoky, smelly mixer. Thankfully it was mostly mixed. So we ate some more and sang and asked the Lord to bless my mom for another beautiful year.
I'm looking forward to some great partying in April. Gracie is having a Hello Kitty slumber party. She wants a three-tiered chocolate cake with white icing. L.O.V.E.  I'm headed to one of my favorite local towns for some bring-it-on pampering. An all day affair at our wonderful Hershey Spa where I'll have a rain forest "shower", cocoa soak and chocolate massage. We'll follow all that up with a Mediterranean lunch in our white, fluffy robes. So can't wait!!!! Maybe I'll even have pictures to share! OOh La La!!! 
Until then...... 
Tammy

Visit by a Movie Star

Hello Dear Friends --
I got a new camera recently. A Nikon 3100. It was a complete surprise and welcome gift! In the midst of my random shooting, a movie star graced the room and I couldn't help but take her picture.

Well, maybe a lot of pictures! 

She loved posing and I loved snapping!

It wasn't long before my house was filled with movie stars dancing all around!
I'm blessed to have such precious stars in my life!

How about you?

Tammy

Heavy Metal

Hello Sweet Friends --
I couldn't resist the title. I'm not advocating the music --
just the stool! hee hee
We got a Home Goods store in our area within the last six months and I made it there finally. As soon as I walked in, I had to stop and just take it all in. So many rich textures, colors, metals and fabrics. I had to go up each and every aisle at a leisurely pace.
I've been looking for a stool for my craft space for months. Finally one I liked that was not too pricey. It's just my style...industrial.
I'll send along some more pictures of the stool soon as well as my crafty work space.
hugs,
tammy

closet makeover

Hello Sweet Friends --
Since our recent bathroom upgrade, I've been looking for some grey wallpaper to cover the inside of my bathroom closet. I came across this contact paper at TJ Maxx and was delighted!!
It's just what the space needed. I'm a little giddy about it. AND I have two rolls left. Hmmmmm...where will it show up next? hee hee

Can I share some with you? 
Enjoy your week!
Tammy

Hello Again Friends --
I promised I wouldn't keep you waiting for the new bathroom update. And here it is. Once again these pictures are coming out sideways. Not sure why. I guess a little neck stretching exercises are in order! HA!

I wanted bead board or plank walls, but instead I got it on my vanity. The marble top and fabulous stopper really make this little beauty get noticed. It's just the right fit for our small bathroom. And I just loved the addition of the trio of mirrors down the side.

It's all about the details, you know?
The walls are now sporting a wonderful grey paint. Do you remember the ugly 50's brick? NO MORE!! Hooray for Behr Porpoise. It really looks nice against the white toilet and vanity.

I love our new tile floor. It is so clean with hints of tan, grey and blue through it. Once I have my curtains up and all the layers added to the bathroom the colors and accessories should pull together nicely. I'm counting on it!
I spent most of the day shopping for a new shower curtain and window curtain. Came up empty. But I did find something that is going to add a great element to this little space. I'll take some pictures and be sure and show you in the next few days. 
Smiles,
Tammy

Sneak Peak

Hello Beautiful Friends --
I hope you are enjoying yourself today. We are enjoying the falling rain as we sit indoors in the cozy house.
My husband surprised me at Christmas with an OUTSTANDING Christmas gift. A bathroom re-do! For two weeks during the holidays he's been ripping out, de-stapling, (is that a word?), hammering, and putting back together our new bathroom. It is so lovely now. Here's a little glimpse into the stages of remodeling.

For some reason my computer will not allow me to import these pictures in vertical format. You'll probably have a kink in your neck when you are all done looking at these! HA! 

The second night he was working on this I had the feeling that I was going to be SICK!! He panicked and put the toilet back on. He's such a dear. So the next morning I woke up to the assembly of our shoes lined up outside the door and this cute sign: "The Toilet is working! Wear Shoes!"

Thankfully I never did get sick, but it was nice to have a working toilet again! HA! He ripped out several layers of old flooring down to almost the sub-floor. He ripped off black and white 1950's tile from the walls and the old toilet and forsaken vanity with layers of formica on and in it! What a dusty, dirty mess. The rest of the house was filled with tools to rip this and cut that and saw this.

All these above came out! Good riddance. The floor was squishy and moldy.
I will be back with our New bathroom in a day or two. I won't keep you waiting long, I promise!! 
Tammy

Nutcracker Ballet

Merry Christmas to All --
Now that we got our youngest one's birthday party done, we can finally concentrate on Christmas preparations. She had a lovely time. It all went so well.. I was so delighted! Here are a few pictures from the big day. Enjoy!

We hired a teenager from Rachel's creative movements class to teach the nine girls some ballet steps. It was adorable watching them all dance around our family room. All adorned in fancy outfits that they wore for the occasion. My two girls are in the silvery sequins.

After the dance lessons we had a yummy tea party with snowflake sandwiches, pink gingerale (at the birthday girl's request, of course) and some yummy vanilla and raspberry cupcakes adorned with dancers. A sweet affair!

 

After seconds and thirds were consumed, the girls made pretty purple tutus to take home. 

The girls used rainbow colored ribbons to tie in between each piece of tulle. So creative and so cute!

And of course the evening was not complete until we visited the sweet shop! Everyone took home a little sugar in their sparkly bags along with their beloved nutcrackers.

Merriest of Merry's!!
Tammy

'Tis the Season

Merry Christmas!
I've been decking the halls with some `vintage finds. Come. Take a look.

One of my daughters was in a Christmas pageant. She was happy to be an angel!

I love how I captured the picture just as she was about to wave.
Tomorrow we celebrate my baby's sixth birthday. It's so hard to believe! We are having a Nutcracker ballet theme. I'll share pictures with you when it's all over.
Tammy

Many Thanks

For so long I have been yearning for a dresser to fill the landing at the bottom of our stairs. It leads into our family room. It has just cried out for something for so long, I had almost forgotten about it. Until one day this week while browsing Craigslist for a bathroom vanity. There it was. A brand new made-to-look distressed dresser! I opened the picture, saw the chippy loveliness and knew it was mine. The price was sweet too!

Now I sit at the top of my stairs, sip my tea and sigh. Isn't it so wonderful just to gaze at something beautiful? I am so thankful. 

I so love the detailing and curvy legs.
Since the Fall season has set in, I've been doing lots of crafting. I wrapped these cute little gifts in newspaper wrapping paper, glittered some pinecones and set them under the lit tree. It all came together just right!

I hope you are having a wonderful season of thanks giving!!
Tammy