Oh Hi, I Love You.

It all started last Friday afternoon...

Only that's not really true, this story started a few years ago when I decided I LOVED Kitchenaid mixers because well, they're pretty.. and yup, they're pretty.
I longingly admired them for years, and spent way too much time deciding which color was my favorite.

All that time I just couldn't justify the purchase because well, I never baked or cooked.

Flash forward a few years later and Pinterest comes into my life...

Now I bake, well I bake cookies to be specific.
I have yet to bake something other than cookies.

Well last Friday, Nadav emailed me and said that someone had just posted a really great Kitchenaid mixer deal on Slickdeals.net . (If you haven't heard of Slickdeals, you NEED to get on it. People post ridiculous deals on there... like the $200 flight AND 5 night hotel package to Oahu Nadav and I found a couple of years ago!)

Anyway, I went on Slickdeals and saw that a few Targets had Kitchenaid mixers on clearance... a $250 red Kitchenaid stand mixer for $124 clearance!!!

 Whhhattt?!?!

Ok, whatever, I thought to myself.. 

"Tammy, prepare yourself  to not get in on this deal. There are just a few Targets that have the mixers, and they're probably already sold out..."

Either way, I left work (cough early) went to one Target, sold out.

Ok, I thought, I'll try one more.

I drove to another Target and managed to find ONE lonely beautiful red Kitchenaid mixer for $124. Aahhhhhhh!

Ok, I died a little bit.

Then, I picked up my new best friend mixer and did a very happy dance. (All right, I also screeched a bit and received some stares from nearby customers. But really, that's neither here nor there)

Anyway, I took my new best friend mixer home and then decided to step away from pinterest, twitter, and blogs for the weekend.
Sooo I didn't have a chance to find any yummy recipes for my new Kitchenaid mixer. 

This is where you come in. I still haven't used her.....

What should I make first?

Can't wait to read your ideas :)

xoxo,

Tamms

Adventures In Finding That Balance

To be honest,
Last week, I was feeling.. I dunno...
kind of "blah" about my blog.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE blogging
But over the past week I lost some of that "inspiration",
Blogging started to feel more like something I had to do,
not something I wanted to do.

Friday evening, I made a decision to spend the weekend away from my blog, twitter, and pinterest to refresh a bit...
and well it was glorious.

I drove down to Mission Bay and captured an incredible San Diego sunset.

I really spent time with Nadav,
but not the kind of relaxing where I sat on the couch next to him and read blogs.
The kind of time together that meant enjoying each other, laughing, and paying attention.

Nadav informed me that he was bummed I didn't blog about the Michael Jackson Cirque de Soleil show we saw last weekend. Here's a picture babe ;)

We went to sushi,
and I didn't checkin,
or take pictures (which might be your loss because the sushi was sooo good. Next time I promise hehe)

We met his family in Temecula,
and I took pictures because I wanted to, not because I had too.
(Well, maybe I was pretty confident that they would end up on the blog, but I swear that wasn't the reason)

I finished the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy,
and am obsessed.
I'm starting the second book today

I (eep!!) bought a Kitchenaid mixer,
but my new best friend mixer deserves her own blog post..
sooo I'll tell you more about her later!

We celebrated a good friend's birthday,
Spent time with people we love,
and I am slowly learning to find that balance I wrote about here.

And now, well I gotta admit I'm feeling pretty refreshed and... dun da dunnn inspired :)
Excited for the new week and the SoCal Blogger Meetup on Saturday!!Hooray!!

xoxo,
Tammy

P.S. Have I told you lately that I love you my blogger friends? Because I do. You inspire me each and everyday.

Swappin

Well, you know I love me some Friday Fancies.
(Basically, I haven't missed a FF since I joined this linkup. =P)
This week Alison set us up with another blogger for a little outfit swap action...

I was lucky enough to be paired with the lovely Lia. When she asked about my style, I told her that its pretty eclectic. I would describe it as a little bohemian, a little preppy when I want it to be, a little bit classic, and I really value comfort.
Ya.. I guess eclectic sums it up =P

Anyway, here's the cute outfit Lia made me. I could totally see myself wearing it, especially those red pants! :)

For Tammy by liajoymayes featuring mini handbags

Lia mentioned to me that she really loves stripes, and her style is pretty casual with a little bit of chic. She's also really into gold, chunky jewelry. This is the outfit I came up with for her... I'm quite pleased with it if I must say so myself. =P

partner by bayparkdream featuring a stripe shirt

Well Thursday was another one of those get hit, kicked, and spit on kinda days at work.

(I work with kids who have pretty severe disabilities, I love my job.. but man Thursday was rough)

Sigh.

After a long day at work I spent Thursday evening doing some serious recuperating..

I had frozen yogurt with sno caps for dinner, went to boot camp to de-stress, and forced the boy to watch some reality tv with me while we cuddled on the couch...

Because well, some nights just call for frozen yogurt, trash TV, and cuddling.

In case you couldn't tell,

I am SO ready for this weekend hehe.

Wishing you all a relaxing, fun, and happy weekend...

xoxo,
Tamms

Facials, Lush(es), and a Fabulous Birthday

This is Gabe.

Otherwise known as Gabe-y.

He's one of my bestest friends, ever.

Gabe is the type of person you just want to be friends with from the second you meet him.

He's fun, creative, and just brings out the best in everyone.

His birthday was on Sunday

(All together now... happy birthday Gabbbbeee)

We did some serious birthday celebrating on Saturday, and honestly.. I think I'm still recovering

Saturday afternoon Gabe dragged me we went to the Lush Cosmetics grand opening party at the Fashion Valley Mall. I love me some Lush Cosmetics, but it was a rainy, lazy day and I was having slight difficulties getting off the couch on Saturday afternoon.

We waited in line for about an hour and finally made into the store. As soon as got in we found out that there were about 15 people in line to get free facials. I don't know about you, but lines just aren't my thing, and after spending an hour waiting in line to get into the store I was pretty much over the facial line. 

Well, Gabe saw the line and decided to start schmoozing with the girls who worked at the store. A few minutes later we had completely skipped the line and were getting facials... told you he's the type of person you want to know =P

So lucky and pampered

If you haven't already you HAVE to try the Lush bath bombs. They smell amazing and make your skin so smooth!

That night we continued with more festivities.

The theme for the night was "Real Housewives"... yes as in Bravo hehe.

Gabey dressed up as Andy Cohen because "Andy Cohen's got the 4-1-1" tehehe

We went to Craft & Commerce for dinner and drinks. Craft & Commerce is an awesome bar in San Diego's Little Italy. Check it out if you're ever in the area.

Kim decided the Real Housewives theme gave her the perfect opportunity to sport a wig

We wrapped up the night at the Hard Rock Hotel, but uhmm.. I'll spare you lots of pictures, but uhh let's just say we were out until almost 4am.

Happy Birthday Gabey! :)

xoxo,
Tamms

Pinteresting Shminteresting

Well we had a very productive SoCal Blogger Meetup planning meeting today and I am on such a high!
We have 60 incredible girls registered,
a beautiful location (Roppongi's in La Jolla!!),
and lots and lots of wonderful sponsors lined up.
Eep! I am so so sooo incredibly excited!






Buttt, back to regularly scheduled blog programming,
here are some of my most recent Pinterest finds. =P

Baked crab cake yumminess

Source: sugarcooking.blogspot.com via Tammy on Pinterest

So important...

Source: murraymitchell.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Beautiful red curls

Source: tumblr.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Wantneed this entire outfit!

Source: themannequinmd.tumblr.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Strawbery Margarita Popsicles, yes please!

Source: bakersroyale.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Tape the strings at different heights to create a wall of balloons... love this :)

Source: thebridesguide.marthastewartweddings.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Ridiculously yummy blondie recipe from Smitten Kitchen

Source: smittenkitchen.com via Tammy on Pinterest

So I would like to go to Saturnia, Italy now. Yup.

Source: Uploaded by user via Tammy on Pinterest

Cool, relaxed, & oh so stylish

Source: milenachka.tumblr.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Hi. I would like to live here. That is all

Source: dwell.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Hope you're having a happy happy week :)

xoxo,

Tamms

P.S. You have until Thursday to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway. Make sure you enter here

Sweets, Danes, & Fun Beachy Things

We spent the last day of our Santa Barbara Blogger Girl Weekend in Solvang.

A cute little Danish village about 45 minutes north east of Santa Barbara.

Solvang has cute touristy shops and lots and lots of yummy pastries.

Let's just say I really really needed to exercise after that weekend. =P

My version of an outfit post =P

Ebelskivers (pronoucned Abelskivers.. and yes we looked up the pronunciation=P), otherwise known as sweet and yummy pancake balls. Apparently, they're the "thing" to get in Solvang.

We're a diverse bunch

What? It's totally normal to wear beer hat. =P

After eating our way through Solvang we started our journey back to SoCal. 

As we drove down the 5 freeway I decided we should pull off the freeway and find a spot to take some pictures on the beach.. because really now, is there any better place to take pictures than on the beach? 

Nope, didn't think so hehe.

We ended up taking the Santa Clause Lane exit and ended up at this incredible beach...

Can you tell we like each other? Haha

We tried to spell LOVE. I failed.

Kelsey, Kai, and Olivia thanks for a fun weekend.
It was just what I needed =)

xoxo,

Tamms

aanndd don't forget to check out my Shabby Apple necklace giveaway here