Freckles..

I don’t have freckles but I think that secretly when I was younger I wanted to have them. My mom has them and I think that they’re adorable. Someone was ‘genius’ and comical enough to create a way to have them when you a.} weren’t born with them, and b.} don’t want to walk around with Sharpie dots drawn on your face!

Aren’t these freckled spectacles ADORABLE! They have a certain whimsy about them. The little ‘freckles” are actually little ruby colored stores so when you put the glasses on, the little ‘rubies’ appear to be on your cheeks looking like you have freckles.

Now what I don’t want is to get these glasses and then for someone to say that I have a bunch of little round cruds on my lenses!

{Photo courtesy of Inside the Loop}

Now I ♥ Guacamole..

This one’s for my dear sister C. Harrison who tried to get me to like Guacamole for a few years now. I just couldn’t get over the taste and its mushiness, but with her gentle prodding, I tried it once more but this time putting tomatoes in it, won me over.

Almost every time I make some I quickly tell her and she rejoices with glee & I think that I’ve begun to get a knack for making some really good guac, so sister, this one’s for you.

Now if I can only get her to like sour cream……

Prin’s Guacamole

*2 ripened Hass avocados
* Minced Garlic
* 1 Firm tomato {hand diced}
* Sea Salt
* Jalapeños {optional}
* ½ red onion {hand diced}
* Fresh limes or lemon juice

Mash avocados in a bowl being sure to leave it a little chunky
Add minced garlic {I use the kind in the jar, it’s less labor intensive}, diced tomatoes, salt, onions & jalapenos
Mix well and squeeze fresh lime juice or lemon juice!

Voila..serve with chips

*For a quicker recipe, use fresh salsa {Trader Joe’s has a really GREAT one}, add garlic and a squeeze of lime or lemon juice.

Forget me Knot {please}.....

I've secretly been wanting this Forget me Knot Ring for a really long time!

It's so dainty & darling! Two of my favorite things ever!

Sherbet & Grahams..

I have fallen in love with Kemp's Raspberry Sherbet! It’s especially good when I crunch some honey graham crackers on top! It’s just a refreshing treat & it’ll have you wanting more!

Thank you Butterfly Jeans...

One of my friends who shall remain known as 'Butterfly Jeans' has got to be one of the funniest & sweetest people that I know.

She uses words like Quesh {as in Question} & phrases like You Betta Go Head!

But I think that my favorite phrase that she uses is 'OMG in CAPS'. She literally says it and types it.
Every time I think about it or use it, I have tiny little fits of uncontrollable laughter.

Thank you Butterfly Jeans...I really ♥ you!

♥ Print

International Film Festival...

If you live in the Washington, DC Metro Area, take advantage of the International Film Festival. Movie viewings begin Thursday, April 16th-Sunday, April 26th, with admission rates between $10.oo-$80.oo.

I would love to attend to see a few movies like: Marcello Marcello, We Can Do That & possibly It’s Not Me I Swear.

For a listing of all movies, click here!

With all these creative films at your finger tips, why not head out and enjoy them!

{Photo couretsy of Film Festival DC

Paper Valise...

Papier Valise has charming stocks of paper & other little enchanting treats, so I was pleased as punch when I came across it on my Net ventures.

I’m 100% convinced that I’ll be putting this online store on my list of ‘Stores to Order From’ in the very near future! Don’t sit on your laurels, check it out and make your orders soon. The prices are beyond superb so you’ll get a lot of goodies for your dollar.

Good thing to Note: Not only does PV have a store, but also a delightful blog & photo gallery {the photos will make your heart flutter}!

Papier Valise has been previously mentioned on extraordinary sites like Uppercase & Oh Happy Day & undoubtedly many more.

Round of applause to Papier Valise {clap clap clap clap}!!!!

{All Photos courtesy of Papier Valise}

The Golden Key to my Heart...

I'm already thinking about next year's birthday gifts now & this year's birthday hasn't yet rolled around. I'm really really hoping that I can open a perfect little blue box and possibly find a darling doo wop of a necklace inside it, you know the mouth droppingly beautiful one from here!

Because I'm not sure if they'll even have this gem next year, I think whoever is reading this and decides to buy it for me {oval link/16 inch chain length please}, should get it this year and just hold it for me until my birthday next year.

Next year's birthday is a big one, so that calls for big gifts right? Be still my heart. And if it's given to me as a perfect little gift, I promise I'll be forever grateful & I'll show it off every little chance I get!!!

M is for My Bag..

Who doesn't LOVE canvas bags that you can pretty much take anywhere. The market, out of town, to run little errands where you might need to store some great little things, take to work and the list can get pretty long. I thought that a few bags from here would suffice.

Plus, I think it's just really dandy to have my last name initial on something. I mean come on monogrammed anything is really cute!

What a Pretty & Fashionable View...

This was a glorious internet surfing find. And I found it here! It's just so very lovely & creative fashion photo taken by this fantastic artist with a wonderful eye!

Prin va à Paris..

So I’m beginning to plan my trip to Paris for my birthday next year, yippee yay, whoop whoop and all that razzle dazzle jazz!!!

I’m super super super excited about it as you can read. I really hope the weather turns out swell, well not only the weather but that everything works out and wonderful doors begin to open to make it a fantastic/safe/fondly memorable/exciting/culturally endearing trip.

What better way to enjoy France than with my gal pals girls {moms included} & having it be an incredible way to celebrate such a milestone birthday!!!

Oooo la la!!

I’m checking out here and here just to get me started!!!!

{Photo courtesy of Unlimited Inspirations}

An Ode to Sweet Potatoes & Sweet Salty Corn..

So in case you haven't noticed I like to try new things and food is no exception! The other day while strolling through the market for good finds for my daily home lunch, I came across a bag of delectable Terra chips.

According to their tantilizing description, these Spiced Sweet Potato Chips have 'delicate tones of cumin & cilantro, balanced w/a distinctive accent of cayenne pepper, combined to entice the senses'. And entice they do. All I can say is that these chips are yummy and I've pretty much polished off the bag and I just got it on Monday!

Another great tasty find would be Trader Joe's Kettle Korn Popcorn ! As many times as I've passed this bag of sweetly yet salty treat, I don't know what made me pick today to purchase a bag and rip it open before I left the parking lot.

OMG in CAPS {thanks Toya, ha ha} firstly the bag was filled to the top and not just with air, secondly, these little puffs of corn are sooo yummy and such a perfect snack seriously!! Everyone, find your nearest Trader Joe's and purchase a bag or two. I "promise" you'll enjoy it as much as I am/did!

{Photo courtesy of abdpbt }

Recipe to Try...

While I was perusing the web the other day, I happened upon this little dandy of a recipe that I would love to try to make tonight with a few minor adjustments. Perhaps I'll use lemon pepper noodles & add a bit of salmon. Ooooooo my mouth is watering already at the possibilities and how lovely I believe it will all taste.

Thanks so much to Bread & Honey for the recipe & the photo! I can't wait to try it!

*Update: I tried the recipe tonight & it turned out AMAZING! This is def. one to keep in my recipe repertoire! I decided to add my beloved mushrooms to it and the salmon I cooked made for a perfect side dish companion along with a sweet potato!

Roxanne...

Remember this wonderful updated {well 80's} Cyrano de Bergerac, Roxanne ? After chatting with a friend the other day, this movie popped from my old movie memory bank and landed in my lap! It's a wonderful, lovely & comical love story, so wonderful that I think I'm going to have to add this to my movie collection! I mean who doesn't always root for love & Steve Martin?

{Photo courtesy of Amazon}

Chocolate...

Ever since I went to an event breakfast and had…brace yourselves..Peach Cobbler w/ Vanilla Ice Cream and Bacon, my dear co-worker {who is also a lover of food} kept telling me he wanted me to try this Bacon & Chocolate candy bar. It sounded a bit bizarre but I guess no more bizarre than my Peach Cobbler, Ice Cream & Bacon concoction.

So today when I arrived to my desk, I had a nice little present waiting for me {and who doesn’t like nice gifts}… Mo’s Bacon Bar equipped w/a little note! Immediately I dig right in and…..the verdict is still out. I think that I can kinda get used to the unique taste but I think that I may favor my Peach Cobbler concoction a tiny bit more.

Mo’s Bacon Bar is not alone in its venture to pair chocolate with the unordinary. Look here for more fantastic chocolate confectioner creations!

Thanks dear co-worker for my bacony sweet treat!

{Photo courtesy of Loulies}

Musical Moment..

Brooke Fraser, part of Hill Song United/United We Stand & who penned "None but Jesus", has indeed taken North America by a powerfully wonderful good news storm. She currently has an album out in the US entitled Albertine.

I purchased Albertine at some point last year and simply love it. It's powerful, sweetly earthy and holds a message that cannot be denied. Her voice and sincerity are def. unmatched. Christianity Today quotes that "Albertine proves it is possible to strike the perfect balance between art and faith".

If possible and you think that you may enjoy, please pick up a copy!

{Photo courtesy of Brook Fraser}

I Love Movies!!!

I happily love watching movies!!!! They just take you into another {better} frame of thinking and brings delight to your day! My movie dvd collection is steadily growing & growing & growing and I don't see any sense in stopping it's growth!!
My latest finds were Be Kind Rewind & Happy Go Lucky!

I was able to pop in Be Kind Rewind the other evening and I have to say that I was very pleased with the movie and it's cast. It's really a great lighthearted movie and I was literally cracking up at Mos Def and Jack Black throughout the feature. I think one of my really really favorite parts was of Jack Black singing his rendition of Ghostbusters {you have to see it to know what I'm talking about}.I really ♥ indie films and this movie has def. gotten a thumbs up for sure.

Over the weekend if I can, I'm going to watch Happy Go Lucky!

{Photos courtesy of Director File and Movie Fone}

Congratulations Simpson Family...

Just a small but rather LARGE congratulations to my dear dear friend KerryAnne & her hubby!!! The are expecting baby #1. I'm so uberly happy for them both but KerryAnne especially. She is my wonderful Hampton University/Queen Street Hall Alum!!!

KerryAnne you are going to be a SUPERB/FANTASTIC mother! You've had so many friends to "practice" on during the years! Remember when you made me wash my hair with that awful garlic smelling shampoo because it promised to be good for my hair follicles? Or the times you lovingly gave me guy advice, or the time when you made me try a {okay this one we'll save for private talk, ha ha}!!!

Well including all those things and more, I'm just overly excited for you and I can't wait to see the new bebe when he/she gets here!!!

Love you!!!!

{Photo courtesy of Material Girl}

Friend Interview w/ S. Ford..Coupon Clipping

I love all my friends and I think that they are amazing & entertaining to boot. Here's my interview with one of them.

Introducing......S. Ford {a rousing round of applause applicable here}!

P.Toop: So S. Ford, I'm totally fascinated by this hobby that you have with coupon clipping. Would you care to expound?

S. Ford: What can I say...being fabulous & frugal is just in my DNA. I’ve only seriously been clipping coupons over the past few years but I believe that I’ve always had a natural instinct for sniffing out a great deal. My mom was what I consider to be a “grocery coupon clipper” & once I got older, the torch, or rather the scissors, were passed to me, & of course I became more developed & took it to new heights. My love is not just for clipping coupons it's also for browsing circulars of any kind and reading articles about how to save money. I find it to be very relaxing...

P. Toop: So what do you primarily use your coupon deals for?

S. Ford: I use coupons for everything from electronics to clothes to movie tickets...the list goes on and on. My motto/thought is, “the money I save with my coupons can be used on some other great finds”. While pursuing a degree in Business {GO RUTGERS!!!!}, my studies intrigued me to make the most efficient use of all my resources.

P.Toop: See this is why you fascinate me {add that to your BFF dictionary}. I’ve never really clipped coupons but when I was younger I’d clip them only to make perfect little squares and then ditch them once I was done clipping. Youths I tell you! So it's just in your blood eh? Well I guess it is because you have coupons for Pet Smart and don't even own an animal, whuaa!

S. Ford: Yeah...I guess you can say I inherited it. But can you say that if the person is still alive??? Anywho... I just love coupons so much that I want everyone I know to save money by using them so if I'm browsing and see a coupon that I know I won't use but someone comes to mind that can use it "viola" ...cut it out...stick it in a nice little envelope...and slip it in their purse when they're not looking. Prin...I knew you could take Hampton for a nice little grooming or something...he wants to be pampered too.

P. Toop: Well isn't that just so sweet of you. Yeah, more than likely I can use that coupon to get him some little treats, or toys grooming not so much. I took him there one time and he came back looking like a totally different dog and mom {me} was not pleased. He look like a dark ferret. I'll stick with the mommy cuts, ha ha Lest I digress. How to keep all your coupons together? Do you have a wonderfully chic carrying case and if you do, where did you get it and ....did you purchase it with a coupon?

S. Ford: Well...a co-worker of mine who shared my same enthusiasm for coupon clipping proceeded to bring me the Sunday paper every Monday morning. While most of the super de duper coupons were already gone, I figured it's the thought that counts and there was always something good waiting with my name on it.

I really said all that to say that said co-worker purchased me a little coupon holder. After the coupon holder fell apart about a month later I purchased an upgraded version at one of my favorite stores The Container Store. It was complete with colored tabs for each month and a cutsie little button closure, oh my! I always keep it at the ready either in my purse or glove compartment because I never know when I’ll need to pull it out. Unfortunately, I didn't use a coupon to purchase it but it was an investment so I didn't mind paying full price.

P.Toop: So you're savvy, chic, frugal & fabulous! I can dig it!! So any parting words for our readers?

S. Ford: While it's great to get compliments on being fabulous, it's better to get them for being financially savvy. So the next time you see an opportunity to cut a coupon... go for it! That's money that not only can be spent but also money that can also be saved or invested.

P.Toop: Spoken like a true financially conscious lovely lady. Thanks so much for taking this time to be interviewed & I'm sure you've given our readers a bit of coupony insight!!

{Photo courtesy of The Container Store}

An Open Apology Letter to Parris...

I just wanted to apologize for all the times that I unintentionally frightened you. You mistakenly took my barking and charging at your feet when you tried to video tape me as an attack, when it really was just in good fun, I was playing that’s what little dogs do. Since the latest video camera incident, I haven’t seen you and well, I miss you and I’m sorry.

Please come back and visit me and this time, I promise I’ll do better.

Lovingly,
Hampton, the dog

{Photos courtesy of Penelope Toop & Design Boom}