I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a Hamburger today... a memorial day Sunday Dinner

The beginning of Summer... Memorial Day Weekend!

Flags are flying, pools are open, parade routes are set, the smell of sunscreen is in the air!

 Its Memorial Day Weekend folks

BBQ grills around the country are firing up, some I'm sure for the first time this season! 

And the quest for the perfect burger is underway! We have a new tradition in the familia... the 1st annual Memorial Day Burger Off!

We have separated into 3 teams, Myself and the Tiny Diva... Chef and one teenager... and The biggest teen and Critter... the winner will receive... the ultimate burger trophy! {or a photo of a burger trophy}

Supplies have been purchased and the kitchen is set... its every team for itself!

And while I'm awaiting my turn at the grill... here is a fantastic burger recipe I found while searching for my winning recipe! I hope you enjoy!

LAMB BURGERS

courtesy of marthastewart.com

Ingredients

• 1 large eggplant, cut into 3/4-inch wedges
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
• Zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 4 plain or whole-wheat buns
• Fresh goat or feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. Heat a grill to medium-high. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Brush eggplant with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill eggplant, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and coarsely chop. In a medium bowl, toss eggplant with mint and lemon zest and juice.
2. In another medium bowl, mix lamb, cumin, and coriander. Form into 4 patties. Season with salt and pepper. Grill 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Serve burgers on buns with eggplant mixture and crumbled goat cheese.

Tips from Momma...

*a great side with this would be a cous cous salad... or A medley of yucca, beet, and sweet potato chips YUM!
*if you don't want to grill these... they will be just as good inside on the stove, and Martha even suggests you can use one skillet if you cook your eggplant first! 

Happy Memorial Day Friends!
Hug a Vet today, and say thank you...

Be good to each other!
♥ Tawny

"Out on the road today, I saw a BLACK FLAG sticker on a Cadillac"

Remember when summer was all about sleeping in, and laying out? When the tape deck blasted tunes from your car stereo or your boom box while you splashed around in that carefully picked out bikini at the lake...

Those fantastic days filled with sun and friends, and the nights that you never wanted to end.

{Oh and that time that Christine and I tried to lighten our hair with lemon juice and hers just turned orange... mine did nothing at all.}

Summer camps where you always united in song with people you swore you would never forget and someday see again...

Summer romances that swept you off your feet and made your head dizzy...

Sneaking your first smoke, and beer... {shhhhhhhhhh don't tell my mom.}

Fast cars and cute boys... sleep overs and sunburns.

Some of the most influential moments of my life happened in those 3 precious months...

I guess all I'm trying to say is whether your 16 or 36... heck 66 for that matter, make the summer of 2011 one that you will never forget!

Happy Summer Friends!
Be good to each other!

♥ Tawny

Three Red Apples.... new artist feature!

I know I told you guys a long time ago that I would start doing more artist features here on the blog... and well, that kinda got forgotten put on the back burner for awhile...
until I came across one of the sweetest little shops ever!

I would like you to meet Annabelle from

Three Red Apples

Annabelle's work makes me think of clothes lines full of summer dresses and peony gardens along cobblestone paths... and tea time with gypsies. I simply love it can you tell?? ;)

Anyhooo.... I hope you enjoy learning about Annabelle and her little cottagie life in the UK

 {I know, cottagie is not really a word but it seems appropriate here..}

Enjoy!
1} Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your life outside of the studio...
My name is Annabelle Ozanne. I'm a 32 years old French girl who, 15 years ago (eeek!!) crossed the Channel from Brittany to the UK to go to uni, met a boy, fell in love and never left. I live in a small cottage in Devon, England, with said boy (he will love being referred to as a boy, being an eternal kid at heart) and Jack-the-dog.

2} How long have you been creating/selling?
A couple of years ago, I lost my job as a web designer (a little blessing in disguise) which prompted some serious re-thinking. Unsure of what to do next, it took a good 6 months for the light bulb moment to come. It finally dawned on me that I could put my sewing machine and piles of fabric to good use. Until then I had done very little sewing. I stumbled upon some freehand machine embroidery and got hooked. My Etsy shop and blog soon followed.

3} What inspires your designs?
It can be anything, an object, a place, some fabric, a feeling, a memory, an aspiration, humour, people... Whatever it is, I have to be in a positive mood to feel creative - or is it that creating puts me in a positive mood? I think the two take it in turn like two old chums.

4} Out of curiosity, what are the tools/materials of your trade?
My (very basic) trusty sewing machine (a present from my man many Christmas’ ago), an embroidery foot, thread and as much fabric, mostly vintage, as I can get my hands on! I have also recently started throwing paint into the mix.

5} What is the one thing in the craft/art world you wish you could do? (ie. paper crafting, sculpting, etc.)
I would love to have a go at screen-printing. It looks so much fun! It ‘s certainly one I am saving for later, when I get a little spare time. I am currently dipping my toe into crocheting.

6} Any Advice to artist/designers just starting out...
Make what you love and make it your own. It’s easy to get distracted with so many talented folk online. Etsy is such a gold mine! When you are starting out it can be a little overwhelming, but if you make only what you would be proud to have in your own home, you’ve got to be on the right track.

7} Where can we find your work?
I have an Etsy shop (etsy.com/shop/threeredapples), and my own little online shop Three Red Apples
 I also like to share my various experiments (as well and other ramblings) on my Blog, and on Flickr.

{You can also follow sweet Annabelle on Facebook and Twitter}

So get to clickin folks and go spend a minute in the world of Three Red Apples... your eyes will thank you for it!

Be good to each other!

♥Tawny

Baby Baby Baby Ohhhhhh!!!!

I've been kidnapped... taken hostage... held against my will!
Send reinforcments, because in 24hours...

This happens.

Eight, count them... EIGHT... 7 year old girls will ascend upon OKC in a whirlwind of cupcakes and cotton candy... spending the evening in the citys oldest and most premier hotel... sipping soda and undoubtedly squealing uncontrollably at random.

Yes, I have lost my mind. {who are we kidding... that went ALONG time ago}
But there is NOTHING I wont do to put a smile on that little Divas face!

So tomorrow the festvities will finally get under way!
Its going to be a BieberTASTICLY great time!
There will be tons of pics to share... so stay tuned!

And with this madness over I might have a chance to take a breath and share with you some surprises I have up my sleeve! ;)

Have a fantastic friday! See you on the other side!

Be good to each other!
♥ Tawny

in the blink of an eye...

This happened...

He is the same age as I was when he came into my life... and it blows my mind how much stonger, and smarter he is than I was then... heck maybe even now.
I probably rely on him way more than I should, and the thought of only one more year with him tears at my heart more than I can ever explain, but I am so proud of the person he has become.

I love you London O...

♥ Mom

Tiny Bubbles in the wine make me happy make me feel fine...

Oh sweet Mothers Day Bubble bath!

Nostagia Soaps

♥ Tawny

My trip down the rabbit hole...

I hate when people tell me I cant do something... "Dont be silly Tawnya, that will just be a disater..."
It makes me angry, and it hurts my feelings.
It also pisses me off spurs me on just enough to prove them wrong.

I have a very silly dream... and everyday I peel back another layer of pure awesomeness.

Someday Lollipops Sugar Shoppe will be no more... LSS will crawl into its chrysalis and emerge a new... fresh ... fullfilling, something different.

And the whole unknown of that makes me nervous and thrilled all at the same time.

But now, while Im still in this fuzzy caterpillar phase, I will do what I have always done, I will jump in feet first... and learn while Im falling.

To those around me, get ready... your tummys will be full... your waistbands will expand... and as always I will be a basket case! But in the end... its going to be magical.

so here we go!

♥ Tawny




 

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils ...

I dont think there is anyway that I could express just how thankful I am for the teachers that have been in my life...
My 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Greenshields taught me the love of reading through the works of Laura Ingalls Wilder... going as far at times to dress the part...

My 8th grade art teacher, Mr. Price taught me to be confident in myself... and my art.

There are so many more, that naming them here would take awhile... and now as I watch my children make their way through school I see the twinkle that each teacher has left on their little lives.
And for that I am eternally grateful!

So this week I am honoring all the teachers in our life... and asking you to do the same!

Here are some really cool ideas to help you show your teacher just how much She or He means to you!

Ok... seriously this is ADORABLE! You can find this and SO many other sweet pieces in
LoopLoft shop on etsy!

I found these really cute DYI ideas over at the idea room...

There are some cool tutorials there as well!

And there is always my favorite "go to" teachers gift... The Crayon Wreath... {spoiler alert DCS teachers... Sorry! LOL!}

This is one I made for Hobby Lobby... We did a whole inspiration sheet that you can find HERE filled with some other fun ideas!


This is What you need:

12" embroidery hoop, or basketry hoop
8" embroidery hoop, or basketry hoop
box of 64 crayons
Wire or ribbon for hanging
hot glue
Embellishments

Directions: Place the 8" hoop in side the 12" hoop with equal distance between all edges. Arrange the crayons along the 2 hoops. Hot glue the crayons to the hoops.
   Momma Tip: Keep the unglued crayons arranged on the hoops. It will keep the spacing.


Tie the ribbon or wire around the 12" loop creating a hanging loop. Place as many (or as little) embellishments/stickers/found objects as you like. Personalize with the teacher's name, if you'd like. Super easy :)!

Make sure to say thank you to your teachers this week... its a crazy hard job they have... and where would we be without them?

Be good to each other!

♥TAWNY

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. ~Lily Tomlin as "Edith Ann"