Wordless Wednesday

Hubby's "fortune" from last night... I happen to absolutely agree!

Fabulous 4th Ideas

Here are a few FABULOUS 4th of July Ideas!

Just click on the link below:

Fresh and bold flower arrangement
Red White and Blue Garland
LOVE this! Flags on your porch
Painted flag decor
Carnation balls
Door Medallion

What a Little Bit of Red, White & Blue Can Do

I added my Patriotic Welcome decor to my front door... It's simple, but perfect for me!

Tomorrow, I will be adding a few decorative flags into my planters for even more Red, White & Blue.



Have I mentioned that I just LOVE this time of year?! I do!!!

Patriotic Cupcake Wreath

If you've been reading my blog for a while, then you know how much I LOVE Cupcakes & all of the FuN, Creative things you can do with them. Which is why, I love, love, love this adorable Cupcake Wreath!!

I've added some Red, White & Blue decor to my front door and hope you will too!

Patriotic Cupcake Wreath @ Mom in High Heels

July 4th Extravaganza!

I LOVE 4th of July!

I love the sunny days, the sparkly fireworks and the great food.

But this year, I’m giving a little more thought to what it means. I live in a FREE country. Most of the time, I don’t give that a second thought.

When I watch the fireworks on July 4th, I’m going to be celebrating the freedoms each of us have. Thank you Founding Fathers. Thank you for your courage and your foresight.

Let us always remember that freedom is a right, but it’s also a priviledge.

Happy July 4th! Happy Independence Day!

I'll be updating daily with Festive & Fabulous 4th ideas... Check back often!

Fireworks Bracelet @ Yellow Blackbird

When One Door Closes...

Another door opens.

OH how I believe this statement! The last few years have been quite a struggle for me, a struggle to remain strong in my faith that God has a plan for each of us. I was layed off 3 times within an 18 month period and we were dealing with some of the most financially stressful and emotionally difficult times that we have ever faced.

I felt like I was not going to be able to survive one more thing being thrown our way. There was nothing familiar about our tomorrow and I was scared to death. However, Abel felt confident in our security, while I started mourning the loss of my career and the loss of a life I really enjoyed.

It's apparent to me that I should NEVER doubt God's plan. Even when I feel that I have approached my darkest times, I now recognize that He is always there. He will bring you through a Season of suffering, so that the unimportant become glaringly unimportant. We have looked at the things that have been stripped away and realize that we can see God more clearly when they are gone.

Today, I continue to have faith in my God and I truly believe that when He closes one door, He will ALWAYS open another.

(Photo By: Basilio Robledo - It's an AWESOME photo, isn't it?!)

One year ago this very same week, I returned to the office on Wednesday from the exact same vacation. The very next day, I was layed of from a job (the job, not the company) that I loved so much. What a sad & very different place I was in one year ago. I am so very grateful that this year, I will be retuning to a company/office/friends who to assist me daily in growing & becoming successful.

Coy fish grow in proportion to their ponds & so does our Faith. If we are kept in safe, small ponds forever, we will never grow.

I am thankful for the gift of supportive family and amazing friendships that have carried us through and I am blessed with a Heavenly Father who carried the burden of my fear and anxiety and a Heavenly Father who continues to comfort me.

*Tiffany

Wordless Wednesday

Well... Not totally wordless!

We've spent the last few days in San Antonio (I LOVE it there!). Here is a pic of my Lil Man (with his gawd awful Summer haircut) & my brother getting a little wet from the Power Surge. FuN Times!

**Stay Tuned... I have an iNCReDiBLe furniture makeover that I will share this week!!

Fathers Day Movie Mania

I am a movie maniac!

I LOVE popcorn, I love Hot Tamales, I love Hot Tamales IN my popcorn, I love watching a good movie with my guys, I just LOVE MOVIES!!

I thought I'd find some great movies as gifts for the Fathers in my life & movies to just watch.

7 Great Son-Father Movies:
1. Frequency. Frequently quoted as the top father son movie of the last ten years.
2. Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade. For the father that likes adventure.
3. Like Father Like Son (1987) For the father that doesn't understand his son.
4. The Godfather series. For the father who likes to keep work in the family. And for fathers who appreciate where they are from and where they have come to.
5. Finding Nemo For the father who would go to the end of the ocean for his kid.
6. American Pie. For that understanding father.
7. The Devil's Advocate For the father with big plans.

7 Great Daughter-Father Movies:
1. Father of the Bride For the father that needs to be reminded his daughter is grown up. (Who doesn't LOVE this movie?!)
2. College Road Trip For the father that needs to learn to give his daughter room to grow.
3. What Women Want For the father that thinks he knows everything but is clueless.
4. Mamma Mia! For the daughter that is hopeful in being a part of her father's life.
5. Footloose For the father that doesn't give his daughter room to breathe, or dance.
6. 50 First Dates For the father that is always there for you no matter what.
7. American Beauty For the father undergoing a mid-life crisis.

20 other movies with memorable fathers:
1. Gladiator For the father who is pure of heart.
2. The Incredibles For the father that wants to bring adventure and passion to his family.
3. Independence Day For the patriotic fathers.
4. Jingle All the Way For the father that procrastinates but still doesn't give up.
5. Lethal Weapon 4 -- there are fathers all over the place
6. Liar Liar - For that father that lets work interfere.
7. Lost in Space . For the father that lives in his own bubble.
8. Meet The Parents / Meet The Fockers For the overprotective father or the freeloving father.
9. The Santa Clause For the father that gets trapped in his work.
10. Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back For the father that likes to make a strong point.
11. Timeline For the father that gets behind in his work.
12. Troy For the fathers who like war epics.
13. George Bush Sr in W. For the fathers that have high hopes for their son or unfulfilled expectations.
14. War of the Worlds For the father that means well but lets life get in the way.
15. What Dreams May Come. For the father that has been there and back for you.
16. It's A Wonderful Life For the father that has forgotten what he has.
17. Gran Torino For the father that never compromises.
18. Kill Bill Vol. 2 For the father that kills a lot of people.
19. The Bird Cage For the family that gets hung up on trying to make the perfect first impression.
20. Spy Kids For the father that likes to include his kids in the adventure.

I hope the Fathers in your lives have a wonderful & relaxing Fathers Day and that they spend time reflecting on all they are blessed with. We have spoiled my hubby the last 2 days (& everyday for that matter) and he is beyond grateful and has reminded us of that every second.

Memorable Fathers Day Quotes

It’s only when you grow up and step back from him―or leave him for your own home―it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. ~ Margaret Truman, in an address to a joint session of Congress (1984)


Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope. ~ Bill Cosby, Fatherhood


Your father, Jo. He never loses patience―never doubts or complains―but always hopes, and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women


The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. ~ Tim Russert, Big Russ and Me


I’d love to have a beer with you, Dad. ~ Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane on Frasier


No music is so pleasant to my ears as that word―father. ~ Lydia Maria Child, Philothea: A Romance


I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection. ~ Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents

Don't Forget Your Daddys!!

Father's Day is just around the corner & here are a few ideas to get the Daddy's who already have EVERYTHING (that would be my hubby & my father... OH! & even my brother-in-law)!

1. Kebab ForksA safer, easier way to cook & flip kebabs! No more messing with individual bamboo or metal skewers… these nifty Kebab Forks will keep dad’s fingers away from the burning heat. ($14.95/set of 3 forks at solutions.com)

2. Hamburger Press with HandleHelp dad make perfect patties the easy way with this cool, 2-piece press. For a thoughtful combo gift, pair this useful kitchen tool with a Weber® Smokey Joe Grill or a book featuring gourmet burger recipes. ($19.95 at Crate&Barrel)

3. Weber® Smokey Joe GrillA bright green, portable grill that goes wherever dad does… to the beach, campsite, tailgate party, deck, or patio. And at only $49.95, this fabulously modern design comes with an equally fabulous price! ($49.95 at Crate&Barrel)

4. Ultra-Bright BBQ LightIt’s no fun grilling in the dark – brighten things up with this super-bright, battery-operated LED light! ($29.95 at solutions.com)

5. Hot Dog Grill CookerSay bye-bye to burnt hot dogs and hello to more space on your grill. These stainless steel racks stand upright and prevent hot dogs and kebabs from rolling around. Better yet, they transfer heat into the stainless steel tines to help cook food from the inside out instead. When grill season is over, you can still put them to use...in the oven! ($9.95 at solutions.com)



6. Black & Tan TurtleWho would’ve guessed that a turtle would be the ultimate device for creating the classic Black and Tan and other layered beers?! ($9.45 at brewtool.com)

7. Vinturi Wine AeratorNo more waiting on the vino! The Vinturi Wine Aerator helps to breathe life into wines instantly, with or without a decanter. ($39.95 at Crate&Barrel)

8. Premium Bamboo Cheese Board Set Cheese connoisseurs will love this premium bamboo cheeseboard set, which comes complete with an aluminum and wood cutting surface, cheese wire, and top-quality stainless steel tools. Oh, ya – and it looks great too! ($34.95/set at coolyourgrapes.com)

9. Cellar Wine Rack This freestanding wine rack looks fabulous on its own – but you can also stack several of them together to create a whole bevy of ultra-stylish storage space for wine lovers! ($39.95 at cb2.com)

I CAN'T, WON'T Stay Away Forever...

Dear Blogland,

I'm missing you MUCH more than you are missing me, I promise!

I WILL be back soon... I HAVE to be back soon. Blogging CReaTiVe, FuN ideas, is my escape from insanity (I mean... Life! LOL!!). I do appreciate the sweet emails/comments that you have sent wondering if I had vanished into thin air. They are always uplifting and have been very encouraging.

I thought I'd include a photo of one of my "chaotic-but-never-a-dull-moment-and-I-love-it-that-way" days. Photo courtesy of my sweet, sweet assistant.

(Update: I no longer have the desk calendar in the photo above, because I knocked over my entire LARGE cup of coffee all over my desk yesterday morning. Just lovely...)

Hope you are ALL doing Spectacular!! Let's catch up SOON!!

Hugs,

Tiffany

Grab & Go Breakfast!

I can't get enough of this breakfast & my boys absolutely LOVE it (Both of them)!!

With busy, busy mornings, it a great knowing that my boys start the day of with the most important meal, a power grab & go breakfast!!

Ingredients

2 packets of your favorite instant oatmeal
1 package (12 ounces) frozen mixed berries
2 containers (6 ounces) vanilla yogurt (I used strawberry)
1/2 cup low-fat granola cereal

Directions

1. Prepare instant oatmeal using directions on the package.

2. Divide oatmeal among six 8-ounce plastic cups (or to-go containers with lids). Top each with frozen berries and yogurt. Cover and chill overnight. Top with granola before serving.

Makes 6 servings & will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator

My boys prefer different types of fruits in their Grab & Go breakfasts, so I label the cups just for them.

I encourage you to try this with your family... it's sure to be a hit!!

Enjoy!

*Tiffany

To Polish or Not To Polish?!

SO... I know that everyone has a pet peeve, but my pet peeve seems much simpler than the others that I've heard. You want to know what it is?? You don't!! Oh well, you're going to learn a bit more about me anyway!! ;-)

My Pet Peeve is Unpolished toenails. Is that Crazy?! It drives me absolutely insane to see ladies with open toe shoes, with unpolished toe nails!! My even BiGGER Pet Peeve (I can have more than one, can't I??) is when someone says they've had their nails "Painted". Painted?! It just makes me cringe thinking about it! You paint a wall, you POLISH your nails.

Yes, I am THAT insane!!

Flip Flops make me SO happy & when you have your toe nails perfectly polished, what could be better??

Get your Pedicures Today & throw on a FuN pair of Flip Flops... Bet they make you SMILE!!

Okay, Now on to the GOOOOOOD Stuff

You know I LOVE sharing ideas & FUN websites, so get ready because http://www.opi.com/ is an awesome website that gives great instructions on how to polish your fingernails and much more. Replace your fingernails in the instructions to your toes & you're good to go!!

My FAVORITE (Yes, FAVORITE) part on the Opi website is the "Try on this color" tab at the top. How COOL is that?! You can pick an Opi color on the right, and "apply" it to the hand. If you must, you can adjust the skin tone color and nail length.

**WARNING** It's fun and it's addicting!!!


OH! And just for fun (or for real), click on the "SHREK" set of colors, and try on "Who The Shrek Are You?" No, I do NOT like this color (Nope... Not even for my toes), I just LOVE the name! Too STINKING Cute!!

Some of my Tiffany Signature colors are:

I'm Not Really A Waitress

Cajun Shrimp

You're a Pisa Work

Paint My Moji-Toes Red

What are your FAVORITE Opi Nail Polish Colors?!

Teacher's Gifts GALORE!! (Part 3)

I just can't get enough of Teacher's Gifts, I'm starting to think that I should've became a Teacher, just so I could receive a few of the FUN ideas that I have posted.

Tidbit's last day of school is Thursday and he is definitely looking forward to the Summer (I'm sure his Teachers are too!)!! This year I decided to make a simple, yet fun (& inexpensive) Summer Break gift for his Teachers.

I found an iced tea dispenser with matching cups for $5 at a shop while floating the river over the weekend & I added a package of Crystal Light Lemonade (my FAVE). Once I add the note cards, this gift will come to a GRAND TOTAL of... $9!!

I bet that got your attention!!

A GREAT, FUN, CREATIVE gift for $9... SCORE!!

Having Fun in the Summer Sun

Here's what you need:

1. Acrylic iced tea dispenser
2. Acrylic matching glasses (4)
3. Crystal Light Lemonade

4. Hawaiian Note Cards

Every Teacher always needs an extra set of note cards!

For other Teacher Gifts, Click on my Teacher's Gifts Link on the right hand side of my blog or click this link http://minearespectacular.blogspot.com/search/label/Teacher%27s%20Gifts .

Also, stop by http://marythekay.typepad.com/marythekaytheblog/ for this and other ideas!

Have a SPECTACULAR week Blogland!

*tpj

*** I've added a new Page Tab at the top of my blog. LiNKiNG... Click on this tab to view the different Blog Parties I link to weekly. Be Warned... You will spend countless hours amazed by the crafty, creative ideas throughtout BlogLand!! ***