Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Japanese Masking Tape


Have you ever ran across something on the internet but then forgot to bookmark it and couldn't remember where you saw it? That's how it was for me and colored Japanese masking tape. When I first saw it, I was thinking about all the fabulous things I could do with the beautiful colors: party supplies, wrapping pretties and lots more! I was instantly smitten (again!) when I saw it on Milk Tea & Polkadots. Beware - you might want every color!

Paper Mondays...


Next week, the hubs and I will celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. Oh how I would have loved to have our wedding logo as the one above. Isn't it too cute? This week's Paper Monday (yes, I know it is Tuesday) will be free party printables. While reading Paper Crave, I ran across The Wedding Chicks and their fabulous free printables. Here are some of my faves:

These will be used for Carter's party!


Super cute printable lunchbox notes from Paper & Pomegranates. Carter is not yet in the lunchbox stage...but I will be saving these!


Adorable "back-to-school" cupcake toppers from paper glitter:



Rosa Mexicano



I love New York City. Barrett and I have only been a few times...but every time we go we always visit Rosa Mexicano. They have fabulous food...of course I could eat mexican food everyday...but there is something extra special about theirs (probably because I cannot have it everyday) The guacamole is the best of the best! I found the recipe online and will be adding this to my favorite "good eats". Enjoy!

Guacamole en Molcajete

Chile Paste Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped white onion
  • 1 firmly packed tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeño, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or as needed

Additional Ingredients

  • 3 medium ripe but firm Hass avocados (about 8 ounces each)
  • 3 tablespoons diced tomato
  • 2 firmly packed tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped white onion
  • Salt if necessary
  • Tortilla chips and/or fresh corn tortillas

Make the chile paste: Grind the onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and salt together in a molcajete until all the ingredients are very finely ground. Alternatively, use a fork to mash all the ingredients to a paste in a wide hardwood bowl.

Cut each avocado in half, working the knife blade around the pit. Twist the halves to separate them and flick out the pit with the tip of the knife. Fold a kitchen towel in quarters and hold it in the palm of your “non-knife” hand. Rest an avocado half cut side up in your palm and make 3 or 4 evenly spaced lengthwise cuts through the avocado flesh down to the skin, without cutting through it. Make 4 crosswise cuts in the same way. Scoop the diced avocado flesh into the molcajete. Repeat with the remaining avocado halves.

Visit their website for the sinful Margarita.

Monday, August 30, 2010

the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes


My responses to the book club questions for Chapters 21-35 of the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain.

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?
Yes, I think it is Tim's guilty conscience that is making him send the money to Eve. Obviously, he does not want CeeCee to know that it is him and make any efforts to contact him.

2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?
I believe I would have come clean with Jack. Even if she was not able to tell everything, CeeCee should have been honest (from the beginning) that she did not give birth to Cory. I would have felt so guilty lying to my husband about the doctor's appointments. She knew he was thrilled about becoming a father. She robbed him of his excitement.

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?
Ooh...I really like Jack: his confidence, his love for his car, his passion for life, his compassion for Marian, his "Cory-Dory" bag...I'm sure there are lots more!

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?
She is more mature with her relationship with Jack. She is less dependent on him which is a healthier relationship. This is her chance to be happy in life. She realizes Jack really loves her and does not have alternative motive.

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?
Definitely, she's too protective with Cory. As a fairly new mother, I completely understand the need to protect your little ones. However, as your children grow there is a balance (which I'm sure is hard) that has to be maintained. I believe your first instinct is always to jump in and limit your child's disappointments...but in the long run this could create more trouble. I do agree with Eve's choice in enrolling Cory in the private school. She will have a feeling of acceptance.

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?
Honestly, I think she did the best she could. Yes, she has not been honest with Cory but too many things have happened to come clean now about her father. She sees that it would ruin her relationship with her daughter...and this so values more than her life.

Photo via here.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

How sweet it is...


Yesterday, we went to the Dr. Phillips Splash Park with some friends. This one is bigger and better than the Winter Park Splash Park...but the Winter Park one is a lot closer to us. And, we all know the importance of getting home fast with a sleepy kid in the backseat. We had tons of fun watching the little kiddos fill up their buckets and cups. At this age, it is hard to get them to sit still for a photo but there was a sweet moment when Carter and Holden were holding hands together. There might be a little chemistry there!!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Homemade Bread Pudding


Our wonderful friends, John & Hellen, invited us over for dinner several weeks ago. Of course, we had a fabulous time because Hellen is a great hostess! They have a daughter that is 3 months older than Carter so the girls are getting to the age where they really love playing together. Gracyn wanted to show Carter her "cooking" skills. Speaking of cooking, Hellen made this delicious dessert that I could not stop thinking about since we were there. Instead of waiting for a night that we had company, I decided to make the dessert for just Barrett and I. Sometimes, I crave a good dessert at night...and gummi bears just don't cut it!

Homemade Bread Pudding

8 slices of French bread

1 stick of butter

4 eggs

2 cups of sugar

4 cups of milk

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of nutmeg


Caramel Sauce:

1 stick of butter

½ cup of whipping cream

½ cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 pinch of salt


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast bread on both sides in oven. Break into small pieces and place in 9 X 13 baking dish. Melt butter and pour of bread. Beat eggs and sugar in bowl. Add milk, cinnamon and nutmeg to egg mixture and stir. Pour over bread and let stand about 10 minutes.

Bake 45 minutes or until brown.


Caramel Sauce:

Melt butter in saucepan. Add cream, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Bring to boil and simmer until thickened about 5 minutes. Serve warm with sauce. (Vanilla ice cream optional)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I've Been Tagged...

My new friend Natalie at Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers tagged me with some questions about myself. You must check out her blog. By the name alone, you can tell she is one funny girl. Her blog is too cute...and her son is too! She has some great recipes...one I have been dying to try - Avocado Buttermilk Soup.

On with the questions...
1. What is your signature color?
I pondered over this one for a while...I love color! Even though my home tends to be more neutral colors...with a little green/blue thrown in there. Of course, my daughter's room has plenty of color to go around! I would love to have a white, airy feel...but with a black and white dog & a messy 2 year old this seems like a lifetime away.


2. What is your most embarrassing moment?
Honestly, my whole life is full of embarrassing moments...but I have nothing that sticks out!

3. Would you get anything pierced other than your ears? If so what?
Definitely not! It's not because I see anything wrong with it...but I am not one that can pull it off. You know we all have seen the types that can pull off a nose ring or an additional earring...and we all have seen the types that should not have gone there.

4. Are you a social butterfly or homebody?
I feel I would fall right in between these two. I do love going out to a swanky restaurant or seeing a fabulously, funny movie...every now and then. But, I absolutely love being at home with my hubby and daughter. While the summer TV lineup has been scarce, I have found solace in these two shows. A good book is always a winner!

Photo via here.

Photo via here.

Photo via here.

5. Are you done having babies or do you want more?
Well...this is still one in discussions. We have a 21 month old daughter, Carter. She truly is the "apple of my eye". While I love kids, I believe I could be completely content with only have one child. However, Carter beams when she is around other kids. It would be sweet to see her as a big sis. So the answer...undecided!


6. Are you loyal to your hairstylist or do you try every new salon in town?
A very good question...if asked 2 weeks ago I would have a completely different answer. I had been going to my hairstylist for 5+ years. While I have always been happy with the outcome, the process is what has been the strain. From start to finish it would take about 4 hours before I was walking out of the door. Pre-Carter this was really not an issue...I would take a book and get lost in it. But, now as all you moms know...time is precious! I tried a new salon (closer to me) 2 weeks ago for a Brazilian Blowout...and feel in love. I went back to get my color and my hairstylist was fast and worked with my schedule. I see this is the start of a beautiful relationship.


7. How many times have you moved in your life?
A grand total of 6 times: twice with my parents (within Nashville), 4 times with my husband (2 in Memphis and 2 in Orlando). I despise moving almost as much as I despise the show the Jersey Shore.

If you really care, photo via here.

8. If you could take a vacation for just you and your love where would it be?
By far this is my ideal of a perfect vacation spot...Santorini, Greece.

Photo via here.

My new Obsession...

...Hardback Classics in beautiful fabric covers. I'm absolutely in love with these redesigned classics and looking forward to owning every one. The talented Coralie Bickford-Smith redesigned the classics for our reading pleasure. Even though, I have read some of these before I'm thinking about re-reading them because they have to be even better in their new beautiful jacket!

First set of Penguin Hardback Classics:
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
Cranford - Elizabeth Gaskell
Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The Picture of Dorian Grey - Oscar Wilde

Second Set of Penguin Hardback Classics:
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Arthur Conan Doyle
The Odyssey - Homer
Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass - Lewis Carroll
Emma - Jane Austen
Lady Chatterley's Lover - D. H. Lawrence
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
The Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint - William Shakespeare


Two of my favorites:
All books can be purchased here.

All photos via flickr.

Teezy prints

all prints found here

What a powerful daily reminder that God is in control.
I would love to see any one of these when I first wake up in the morning!


Monday, August 23, 2010

the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes


My responses to the book club questions for Chapters 11-20 of the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. Check out the book club here!

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?
I think they have abandoned their foolish plan...and running scared! They have realized that there is no way they are getting their sister back.

2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?
How in the world did she get herself in this mess? Agreeing to babysit the governor's wife was one thing...but now delivering her baby...wow! Honestly, I barely knew where babies came from at 16...much less delivering one! I was thinking that she had to stay strong for her because I knew Genevieve must be scared to death!

3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?
Even at 16 years old, I would have realized the right thing to do would be to go to the police and explain the situation. It's interesting how quick CeeCee's mind goes from not wanting to involve a pregnant woman with Tim's sister's problem to kidnapping her baby. Honestly, I thought she would have fought more to get in touch with Tim. He is the one that got her into this mess.

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?
She is only 16 years old and Tim was her first (and only) love. She thinks his love for her is the same as her love for him. Honestly, everything in her life has changed and I think she believes her love for Tim is the only thing that has remained constant.

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?
I think she will be a very loving "mother" to Cory but be protective of her as well. She has given up everything for this little girl. Marian seems like a very caring woman and that is exactly what CeeCee/Eve needs right now! But CeeCee/Eve is a very smart girl (besides the whole kidnapping thing and trusting the wrong guy!)...she will make sure to have some type of success in her life...for herself and Cory. I think she believes that she owes that to Cory.

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?
I think she is stronger than she ever thought she was. I remember when I was 16, there is no way that I would be able to move and forget everyone I knew...and raise a baby. I just had a baby about 2 years ago and could not imagine going through all that when I was 16...without a husband or family. Even though CeeCee did not give birth, she had the tough job of being there the days afterward...with no preparation.

Paper Mondays


I was looking for a special gift for my new nephew, Law Taylor. Imagine my excitement when I ran across Preppy Paper Girl. They have some of the cutest things for little ones. I bought him one of the personalized monogram bucket (Evie, if you are reading - sorry to ruin the surprise!) They fill them with personalized stationery and gifts. But the best part is their package...I love all the ribbons! Check out her blog for updates on sales.



I love the elephant theme!

Great teacher gifts for the new school year!

My new girl crush...


The It girl of Fashion and the Bad girl of "The City"...Olivia Palermo.

In all honestly, I have not seen one episode of "The City" (I was a "Hills" fan but never made the crossover) so I'm going on the buzz about the show. But, I have taken notice to the amazing style of the young Olivia Palermo. Whether it's a movie premiere, charity event or strolling around NYC - she always looks put together perfectly. The handbags, the shoes, the jackets...Oh My! I would love to have one day (or more!) in Olivia's closet. No matter if you hate her or love her - you cannot deny that she has impeccable style!






Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Romantics


I love when two of my favorite things get combined in one: the beautiful clothes of J.Crew and the movies! J.Crew did a photo shoot with the stars of the upcoming movie: The Romantics. I love a good romantic comedy...and this looks like it will not disappoint. Really, how cute are Josh Duhamel and Katie Holmes? This one comes out on September 10. Who's with me at the movies?






See you at the movies!!

What would I wear if invited to the J.Crew/The Romantics photo shoot? Glad you asked!



Inspiration & photos came from here.