THE Ultimate I LOVE BEING A Girl Party!!!!

WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!! I think that this party from Couture Parties is THE most beautiful GIRL CELEBRATION EVER!!!!

First, being a chip and dip girl, I LOVE the individual dip cups idea. SO COOL!!! Hello, lipstick on the mirror!!! SWOON!!!!

I might just pass out at the sight of this dress made of carnations and magazines & the "chandelier" made of Christmas tree icicles.! DOUBLE SWOON!!!

Stephanie's "THIS IS ME" wall has sent me over the edge and into a river of triple SWOON SOUP!!!!!!!!!!

YOU MUST my bloggy girlfriends go check out all the SWOONY details at Hostess with The Mostess Blog and then check out The Couture Parties Blog!

I LOVE BEING A GIRL!!!
Big Hugs From Texas, Tara

More ice and snow.....

is headed our way SO thought I better come up with a game plan for how we will spend our day. I think we might have to try this YUMMY recipe from Food Wine and Modge Podge!

Look at this yummy deliciousness!!!

Bacon-Cheese Pull Aparts from Why Not On a Tuesday!
Ingredients:
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk
1 (16.3 oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands® Flaky Layers Refrigerated Original Biscuits
4-6 slices crispy bacon, cooked and broken into 1/2-inch pieces (or you can use 4-6 Tablespoons packaged real bacon pieces)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4-1/3 cup finely chopped green onions (4-5 medium), using both the green and white parts of the onion
1 (4-ounce) can mushroom pieces (optional)
cooking spray
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11×7″ or 12×8″ (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray (if you don’t having either of those size pans, you could probably use a 9×13″ pan–it just may turn out a little flatter). In large bowl, beat egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth. Separate biscuit dough into 8 biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters. Gently stir the biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly, then fold in bacon, cheese, onions, and mushrooms, if desired. Spoon the mixture into your sprayed baking pan and arrange biscuit pieces in a single layer. Bake 23-28 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm by cutting into squares, or just pulling biscuits apart. Makes about 8 servings.



Since Bugs Preschool Valentines Party will probably be postponed...
We might need to make some of these cute heartbreaker valentines from Made!

We will have to decide what we plan on freezing too. Bug LOVES doing freezing experiments. (Did I mention that Capri Suns DO NOT freeze? The hubby figures its the packaging.)
What are y'all cooking, making and freezing???

Hugs,
Tara

This Post Brought To You By The Letter P!

This week Bug is learning about the letter "P" at Preschool!!! Tomorrow for show-and-tell she wants to take POPCORN!!! We decided to package some up to share with each of her friends. I think she did a FABULOUS job on the "P" labels!! Learning is so fun!!!

Big Hugs from Texas!
Tara

Pumpkin Pie...Preschool Style

Bug's class had their Thanksgiving feast this week and everyone in the class was asked to bring a dish. We were chosen to bring Pumpkin Pie!


As I looked down the list of food items, I noticed that everyone was being asked to bring finger foods, like turkey slices rolled up, grapes and cheese cubes. I wanted to figure out a way to make Pumpkin Pie more 4 year old friendly. That's when I remembered these...
I bought a mega sized package of these at Party City, so that "Bug" could take ranch in her lunch. (Yes, I had to ask the 20 something guy for the jello shot containers, before he could figure out what I was looking for...giggle! )


Lined those little dip cups up....


Grabbed the melon baller and dipped out a portion for each of our lil preschool friends...


Quick visit with my computer and pumpkin pie becomes pumpkin pie dip!


Put our Pumpkin Pie Dip in baggies with a few Scooby Doo Graham Cracker Sticks. I'm thinking that's how the pilgrims ate theirs, right?



The teachers were thrilled and said it's the first time they had an entire class eat pumpkin pie. We will SO be serving Pumpkin Pie Dip at our Thanksgiving Feast!
Have a blessed holiday!!
Hugs,
Tara

Head on over here for more fun!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

One of my favorite things about getting together with my friends is talking about all the new products we've tried. 320 Sycamore is hosting her own lil FAVORITE THINGS PARTY. Its like sitting down to lunch with our bloggie girlfriends and chatting about all the things that make the world go 'round!

HERE'S WHAT I'M LOVING...
Tyler Candle Company's New Hand Lotion!!!! The Kathina Scent is the smell of heaven in a bottle. When I put it on my hand's I can smell it alllllllll day long. FABULOUS.

Frito's Lightly Salted Corn Chips!!! Frito's are great for so many dips but WOW does the salt overpower the flavor. Thankfully, someone over at Frito Lay agrees.....their Lightly Salted Fritos are DIP PERFECT.

Speaking of dip. I cannot get enough of Sabra's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. In the words of Dora, "Yum yum yum yum yum, ¡delicioso!

Kenra Blow Dry Spray!!! One lil spritz and all the flyway's in my hair are gone! I just spray it on my hand and work it through my hair and my hair is shiny and slick and it smells DELICIOUS!

My CAbi Fringe Vest!!! I love that it goes with everything in my closet and it makes me feel SASSY when I wear it!!!

Ok, don't tell anyone but sometimes, as a mom, I don't always get a chance to sit down and eat breakfast. Thanks to Luna Smores Bars, I can make it through the morning without my head swimming around in hungry lala land!


What are YOUR favorite things??? LINK UP and share with all of your bloggie friends!

Hugs,
Tara

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows."

Bug starts preschool in a week in a half (yes, that makes my lip quiver and my eyes well up with tears) Since this is my first go-around I have lots of questions. I'm confident that most of them will be answered during, meet the director night and meet the teacher day.(right? insert nervous smile)

Ok, so I'll admit. I've been laying in bed at night wondering, what to pack for lunch??? My sweet girl is very independent, but she still needs help opening a fruit snack. I am THRILLED to have found Wendolonia's Lunch Box Ideas post! Not only did she present LOTS of options, but she even has cute packing ideas AND she opens the packages for her little man and pours them into silicone cupcake wrappers. LOVE IT!!!

I found this info helpful too!
Another FABULOUS lunch packing blog!!!

We have already started, as "Bug" calls it, "practicing preschool" I try not to giggle when she holds up her hand and waits for me to say her name, before she asks a question. (she is so stinkin cute and she is still my baby...I may need therapy before this is all over) We are going to practice eating out of her new lunch box, starting Monday.
Speaking of Lunch Boxes....my precious lil bow wearing, dress up playing, princess, chose a Scooby Doo lunchbox. REALLY??? She passed over the princesses, Hello Kitty and even a cute monkey box, for Scooby Doo. (She and her daddy watch it together and she was THRILLED when she saw that lil van shaped box. Insert her car screeching sounds here....giggle. :)

Any advice for "Bug" or for ME as she takes this big step is appreciated. I still can't grasp the concept of dropping my BABY off and letting her go inside that big church building, ALL BY HERSELF!!! And, she's only going 2 days a week....kindergarten may just be the death of me. ;)
Hugs
Tara

Tis the Season of Party Planning

I attend and host an INSANE amount of parties in the months of May, June and July. I have come across SO many FABULOUS party and gift ideas today. Here is a little sample of the fun...

Lulu and Junebugs Hair Bow Bouquets WOW, I thought using hair bows to decorate wrapped packages was a good idea but AS THE GIFT!!! I LOVE IT!!!

Mommy Topic's CANDY CAKE!!! The hubby LOVES M&M's and since we have the same birthday, I'm sure I will get at least one slice. YUMMMMMYYYYY!!!

OR
Mommy Topics Customized Party Plate Tutorial!! STOP IT!!! The possibilities are ENDLESS!!! These would even make a great hostess gift, right? LOVE IT!!

Ok, Ill admit it. I have a new "blog crush!" Do you blame me? After reading Rachymommy's "About" I've decided that she needs to be my next door neighbor. What a neat lady with FABULOUS ideas and anyone who loves 80's movies as much as I do MUST be cool!

Hugs,
Tara

Perfect Party Plan!

Friday night I hosted a party at my house and had 15 of my favorite girl friends over for a night of fashion, wine, food and fun.

Now, I'm not much of a bragger BUT, I am bragging when I say, I hit a food HOME RUN at this party. The only thing left on my food buffet was 6 celery sticks....EVERY SINGLE BITE of food was consumed. That has NEVER happened to me before, and we entertain A LOT! I LOVE hearing, did you make that? whats in this? I promised that I would post the menu on my blog.....If only I had remembered to take photo's of the food. (sigh)

- A wooden tray with sliced, strawberries, sharp cheddar cheese slices and Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits. (those crackers are THE BOMB!!!!)

- Carrots and celery with Kraft Cucumber Ranch. (Yes, the cucumber ranch DOES taste better!)

- A romaine lettuce salad with kalamata olives, feta cheese and chopped tomatoes. Toss in some OLIVE GARDEN salad dressing, right before your guest arrive. (yes, they now sell bottles in their restaurants and everyone LOVES it!)

- Erin's Black Bean Dip. (I cannot tell you how many compliments I get on her dip and its GOOD FOR YOU!) I don't have the exact measurements, because I watched her make the recipe and didn't write it down.
Erin's Black Bean Dip
One can of black beans, rinsed and drained
Half a can of mexi-corn, drained
Chopped cilantro
Chopped jalapenos
Chopped Tomatoes
Chunked Avocados
Limes (the juice keeps the Avocados from turning brown)
Mix the black beans and corn together, stir in cilantro and jalapenos, add some black pepper and a little salt. Put it in the fridge to marinate for awhile. 20 minutes before your guest arrive, chop and de-seed your tomatoes, cut avocados into small chunks and squeeze fresh limes over the top. Add to bowl and lightly stir. (you dont want to stir too much, because your avocados will get mushy) Serve with corn and blue tortilla chips!

-Mini crock pot with lil smokies in bbq sauce. (everyone loves those things and since they are small, you don't feel guilty eating them, right?)

CD Kitchen's Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
I used their recipe as a guide but I used 4 packages of fresh mushrooms and 12 ounces of cream cheese. The stems from 2 packages of the mushrooms and that amount of cream cheese made enough stuffing for all 4 packages of mushrooms. Here is my version of the recipe, it made LOTS of mushrooms! I also made these in the morning, put them in the fridge and popped them in the oven, once my guests arrived.

Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
An entire package of bacon, fried and crumbled; reserve fat
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
4 packages of mushrooms, stems removed
The stems from 2 packages of mushrooms, finely chopped
Directions:
Cook the bacon. I poured off almost all of the fat before I added the onion and stems. Saute onion and mushroom stems in bacon fat until tender. Mix crumbled bacon, onion and stems with softened cream cheese until the mixture is workable. (I did this like I make my meatloaf, with my hands. It was MUCH easier to work with.)
Stuff each mushroom and place in fridge until you are ready to bake. Bake at 350degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Finish under the broiler just until tops are golden.

6 bottles of wine. Now, I am not a wine drinker SO even though I had a list of suggestions, it still took me 45 minutes to find 6 bottles of wine.
A. because they don't display wine by brand (like they do with beer...yes, my gauge is beer, don't laugh at me.)
B. they don't have them in alphabetical order.
Doesn't it just make sense to have all the Kendall Jackson wine in one section and the Robert Mondavi in another?? I mean REALLY??? And whats up with this whole, red wine in the rounder glass thing and white wine isn't the same as blush and don't buy pink wine. Ahhh, my head is spinning!!! In my world, wine should not be this difficult. Since I'm not a wine drinker, I'm thinking no one in the Wine Industry cares. Ok, glad I got that off my my chest. :)

Anyway, I WILL serve this spread in the future, cause it was ALL good and there were NO leftovers. I love that!!
Hugs,
Tara

What Cha Got Cookin! Deviled Chicken

We had Cooking During Stolen Moments, Deviled Chicken for dinner tonight! It was YUUUUMMMMYYY, quick and easy!

Day one of meal planning (and actually executing it) was a success!!!
Yeah, me!
Hugs
Tara

The (snowy) Second Day of Spring in Texas!!! and my meal plan too

This morning we woke up to TONS of snow. Very rare in the middle of March in Texas! We bundled up and built snowmen, had snowball fights and lots of fun.





I've caught myself in another receptive food rut. SO, I thought I would try to PLAN AHEAD and make some decent meals for my family. Thanks to the fabulous moms who link up too I'm An Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday, I was able to find lots of yummy recipes to try. Wish me luck and feel free to send me any yummy recipes that you and your family LOVE!



Deviled Chicken
Healthy Mac and Cheese
Salad

Salisbury Steak with gravy
Baked Potato Chips
Salad

Grilled Chicken Breasts
Crock pot Beans and Rice

Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Salad, Green Beans

Hamburger Soup

I also want to try this recipe for Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos. I've seen the recipe online before but have never frozen eggs before. Ill let ya know how they turn out.

Hugs,
Tara

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination."

I am GIDDY!!!! EXCITED!!!! SQUEALING WITH DELIGHT!!! That one of the most creative and amazing people that I know has started a blog!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Icing On The Cake

Up until now, I have referred to Stacey as "The Cake Goddess" for her amazing creations.......



Now you can read all about her cakes AND the other fabulously creative things she makes!!! Yes, the blog world just became a better place to spend our free time!! I love it!!!

Hugs
Tara

Fall Fun!!!

Fall is here and Thanksgiving is right around the corner soooooooo we are celebrating with crafts and yummy eats!!!

Today we made these super cute Hand and Feet Turkey Wreath

YES, the turkey's body is "Bug's" cute little foot and YES, those are the hand prints of both of my precious angels. I love it!!!

Tomorrow we will be making Make and Takes, Countdown Turkey!


Bug will especially enjoy this because she know that when all the feathers are gone she will get to see her grandparents and cousins!!! I think as we "pluck" the feathers we will put them in her suitcase to really get her excited!

We LOVE apples and I cannot wait to make Makes and Takes, Apple Prints




This weekend we will be making Bright Ideas, Turkey Cupcakes!!
My favorite part it the Starburst feathers.....finally a reason to use up the leftover Halloween candy!!!

Alphamom's ADORABLE and FUN Krispy Turkey Treats!


I love this time of year and all the fun crafts!!!! Be sure to let me know what you and your lil turkeys are making!
Hugs,
Tara

"Milk's Favorite Cookie!"

I'm not a big sweet eater HOWEVER, if there are Oreos in my pantry, I swear I can hear them calling my name. They taunt me......begging me to just have a few. My hottie hubby, loves to slip some Oreos into the grocery cart and watch me pretend that I don't notice. I honestly think he gets a kick out of seeing me try to fight my Oreo addiction. I LOVE Oreos!!!! (He was sweet enough to always have a bag of the mini ones in the pantry waiting for me when I was going through breast feeding HELL! That's true love, my friends.)

FINALLY, I have an excuse to buy some of those cute Halloween Oreos that taunt me everytime I go to the store. LOOK AT THIS!!!!!



I just happened to come across this recipe from Nabsico World (YES, the makers of Oreo have their own world!) Now the recipe is calling my name. How could I deprive my family of such a cute and yummy treat for Halloween. YUM!!! YUM!!! YUM!!!


The NabiscoWorld folks call it Pumpkin Patch Ice Cream Dessert. How could THEY not put the name in the title of their own dessert??? Let me help them out a little...
OREO Pumpkin OREO Patch OREO Ice Cream OREO Dessert much better! ;)

Ingredients:
22 Halloween OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
1 qt. (4 cups) chocolate ice cream, softened
1 pt. (2 cups) vanilla ice cream, softened
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Decorations, such as assorted Halloween candies and decorating gel


Preparation:
SPLIT 17 of the cookies, leaving filling on one side of each cookie. Finely crush the 17 split cookies without the filling. Place in medium bowl. Add butter; mix well. Press firmly onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Stand 15 of the split cookies with filling around side of pan, alternating filling sides facing in and out.
SPREAD chocolate ice cream evenly over crust. Chop remaining 5 cookies; stir into vanilla ice cream. Spread over chocolate layer. Cover; freeze 3 hours or until firm.
RUN knife or metal spatula around side of pan to loosen dessert; remove side of pan. Spread or pipe whipped topping onto top of dessert. Using colored decorating gels, make pumpkin faces on orange filling on the split cookies around side of dessert and 2 remaining split cookies. Decorate as desired to resemble pumpkin patch with assorted candies and remaining split cookies. Serve immediately.