First Giveaway!!

Hi Y'all!

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for awhile now, but since I haven't been blogging much how could I do a giveaway?

Anyhow, I'm back now, but still not as much as I want to.

The above are earrings I bought when I went back in August to California to visit family.

They are from the Baker's store where they sell shoes, bags and accessories.

Not expensive earrings at all, but I think they are funky and so unique, but if I keep them they will just sit in my drawer and never be worn.

The problem is that I have a bit of a short neck and they hit my shoulders too much.

I should have known better, but I loved the colors and the uniqueness of them.

The stood out against my dark brown hair beautifully and that's what suckered me in.

Overall, I just don't do big earrings very well and should have known better.

The colors on these though would stand out beautifully on a brunette.

(I tried to get a clearer picture, but this is the best I could do before my batteries ran out).

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and email where I can reach you if you win.

You have up to Sunday, October 25Th at midnight (Central Time) to leave a comment.
I will pick a winner on Monday, October 26Th and announce it.

Good luck everyone!

P.S.

I will be having another giveaway in November that I know everyone will like.

It's so cute and the only hint I will give is that it has to do with tea.

I think you will be happily surprised.

I think I will do it with enough time so that the winner gets it before Thanksgiving.

Items For Sale On Ebay

Old Navy Military Style Jacket

Hi There!
There are two days and 19 hours left to sell my items on EBay.

If they don't sell, I will re-list them again, but

check them out here:

ITEMS FOR SALE

It will give you the complete list of what I'm selling and there will be more items to come.

They are nice pieces of women's clothing in great condition and they run between size 10-12.

You can't beat the price and I'm taking offers as well so don't be scared to make an offer.

If you know of anyone who wears these sizes please let them know.

They are pieces from The Limited, Ann Taylor Loft and Old Navy.

I have to get rid of items that I haven't worn in over a year and to make room for new pieces.

I only sell items that are brand new and look brand new with no tears, stains and odors. Everything else usually ends up on my quarterly garage sales.
Thanks and I hope you check it out!

Ann Taylor Loft Tunic (SOLD)

What you give, you will get back......

I know I've been M.I.A since I think August...Wow! Time has flown.

In a nutshell, I'm no longer working at home and I returned back to the Corporate world and the last of all places, a mortgage company. It's a company though doing very well here in the Austin area after being taken over by the FDIC and it's revamped itself. I love working there and I work on the loan modification side I see the letters that come in from people in desperate need of their home loans being reduced due to their financial hardship. It can get depressing, but at the same time I feel very blessed that my husband and I are doing better financially now in days. I can relate to these borrower's since I went through that...luckily though, we have made it through it and it lasted long enough that I know that I don't want to be down that road again as long as I can help it.

Anyhow, was reading the Austin news and they reported on this...check out the link.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=67546&catid=2

I hope there is nothing negative on this story, despite the comments from the public, but if she really has done this and is giving, then so be it.

The world would really be a better place if we all just gave a little without even expecting anything back.

So, what you give back, you will get back ten fold.

I think in this case, that might hold true.

Happy Sunday!!

M.I.A

Sorry y'all....I've been non-existent for awhile now.
Been super busy and have had new things come up so I will post a recap of what I've been doing. Hope everyone is doing great and I will see you soon!

Make Your Way To The Galaxy!

Okay, I'm writing about more food, but how can I not...it's good stuff! LOL

From my previous post, our friend C from California visited us after being in Dallas for work.

I was kind of nervous of where we would take her since she is a vegetarian.

I found a place in the Austin area called, Galaxy Cafe.

This place is AWESOME!!

(Make sure to go online so you can some pics and go over the menu...I'll guarantee you'll be hungry)

We had dinner her first night here and breakfast the day before she had to leave because we fell in love with this cafe so much.

We pretty much wanted to eat there the next day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For Dinner we each had the following:

I had their Homemade Veggie Burger with a cup of fruit.

Really did taste homemade....Here I go again, I'm getting hungry!

Great size burgers and so much taste.

She had the Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries.

She was in love! lol

My husband had the Grilled Skirt Steak w/Chimichurri Sauce and a side of Bowtie Pasta and he even thought it was great and my husband is picky about his steaks.

We ended our food fest with some dessert.

Yup, we are all major dessert people so that's a good thing!

We ordered two....The White Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake and the Chocolate Torte.

Need I say more?...not even crumbs were left.

My friend C and I decided we had to go to breakfast before she left Austin and we did that the day before she went goodbye.

We were excited to try the Mexican Breakfast and oh my, was it just as good as we though it was going to be.

Make sure to get the French Press Coffee there too...super good.

I can go on about Galaxy Cafe, but it's your turn to try it out for yourself.

Make sure to visit their website for the three location in the Austin area.

By the way, the service is great and the girl who helped us recommended the French Toast Deluxe.

That's next on my list to try the next time we go for breakfast...I'll make sure it's soon!

:-)

YUMMY!!!!

f(picture from www.citysearch.com)

If your ever in Austin, do not leave the area without stopping at Hey Cupcake.

I've seen them in mags as a must visit location in Austin and now I know why.

We were on our way to the Lake Travis area when our friend from Cali visited last week.

She loves cupcakes, but when we saw this on the side of the road we had to make a u-turn.

I got the Red Velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting on top and on the inside.

Talk about YUMMY!!

They are only $2.50 each and I couldn't believe it.

These were big size cupcakes...the size of muffins so to me it's worth every penny!

My mouth is watering just writing this.

Trust me you won't be disappointed, so visit Hey Cupcake today.

New Shoes!

My wedges arrived from Piperlime and I love them!

They are from Kenneth Cole.

I got compliments the first time I wore them.

They look great and are super comfortable.

Wish they would have them in black and now that I went back to check they are sold out.

Now, my mission is to get some black wedges.

(Picture by The Pampered World)

Picture Frames & Art....

From my previous post, y'all know how I'm loving things beachy and nautical.

Well, the following items were handmade by me. Except, I didn't build the frame or box. :-)

I bought them at Michael's along with a couple of bags of seashells and glued them on one by one.

Yes, it took a while and since I tend to be a perfectionist I wanted as perfect as can be.

I first painted the wood to give it a white-washed look and then added the shells.

Had the perfect picture too of my son walking along the beach in La Jolla, California.

This one I have yet to add a picture too, but it's ready to go.

I love it!

Another project I tackled was trying to paint a leftover blank canvas that I had and just couldn't decide what to do.

I used to be good at drawing pictures and painting back in junior high into high school. Now, when I try it just does not come out...not sure what happened. :-(

Anyhow, I love anything Parisian and just Paris itself (never been though, maybe one day) and just came out with the following.

I have yet to find a place to put up in my home, but not sure yet.

I have mixed feelings about it...I like it and then I don't.

It's pretty bold when it's up.

We'll see.......

The Inner Space Caverns

This is where we ended up going on Memorial Day. The Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown, Texas.

The husband and I are into things like that.

My son was okay in the beginning, but I think he got bored.

We had to tell him Superman lived there and he got interested again.

LOL!

Going down in the cable car and looking up to the outside.

Getting off the car into the main entrance of the caverns.The guide told us the limestone formations grow about 1 inch every 100 years!!

Wow!

It's a cool 72 degrees down there and humid. My hair turned into a complete frizz ball.

There's my little man...the only crystal formation we could touch since the natural oils in your hands can damage them.

(All pictures by The Pampered World)

If your ever in Austin, it's only about 30 minute drive.

The tour lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and I thought it was worth it.

Your about 50-70ft below the earth's surface.

If your claustrophobic I do not recommend it though.

Book Store Visit...

I've been itching to go to Border's and get myself a book or two with the gift card I got from my brother-n-law for Christmas.

Also, through email I got a 40% off coupon for Memorial Day Weekend and it had to be used by the end of the day yesterday.

Couldn't let that one pass me by.

There are soooo many books on my want list, but I came home with the following:

(photos courtesy of www.amazon.com)

I only had a chance to skim both of them real quick once I got home, but the "Cottage Style" book has a lot of eye candy pics. I'm so into the cottage, beachy style now.

Actually, not only that style, but a few others, that I cannot make up my mind on just one, but when it comes down to it, it has to be comfortable and cozy.

Have a great day!

P.S. After my coupon and gift card, out of pocket for me was six dollars and some cents...got to love that!

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope y'all have a great Memorial Day!

I'm off to work out on the treadmill, go get a late breakfast, head to some caverns in Georgetown, Texas and possibly then end the day with a BBQ.

I'll be back to blog about that.

Should be fun and looking forward to it.

I'm sure my son will be in awe too.

Have a great one!

Loving This Right Now!

Lately, I'm been finding myself loving the beach style again with some nautical thrown in.

Check out some of the following home accessories that would help out with that.

Maybe growing up in Southern California and only being half hour from beach has something to do with it. ;-)

I'm going to try to incorporate some into my decor.

Enjoy!

(All photos from: Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs & West Elm)

Now Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Show....

Wow, I'm getting really bothered with myself that I have not been on here at all posting.

Just saw the last time and that's too long to me. I don't know, maybe I haven't been feeling inspired too much right now, but I will try my best to get on here a bit more often....at least I'm posting this right now. :-)

Also, I'll be updating my list of the the blogs I follow. There are several of you I follow, but have not listed.

I added so many through bloglines.com that I lost track and did not update them on my own blog. So I will start sorting through that.
Hope you are having a good weekend and I will be back with more :-)............

Happy Weekend!

I haven't had much to say lately and sorry for hardly any posts, but been super busy and a lot is going on right now, so I'll try to have some things next week.

Also, stressing out about this Swine flu going around.

Here in Austin there might be some cases, but nothing has been confirmed and that poor child that passed away in Houston make it too close for comfort.

Maybe it's a big deal, maybe it's not, but I think better to be safe than sorry right?

Stay safe, healthy and have a great weekend!

Happy Monday?? Also, Some Things About Me....

Hi Everyone!

I was hoping this Monday would start off okay and it has, but woke up to a tornado watch and found out through the news that a possible tornado touched down in the Georgetown area about 15 minutes north of us around 4am this morning, so that put my nerves on alert. LOL!

I'm hoping though work will be mild today and I'll be keeping an eye on the skies as well.

It starting to get darker outside as I write. Uggghhh!

Saw this at Apartment #412, Kay's blog. Check out her blog if you haven't done so. You will not be disappointed.

The things I've done have been bolded.

Feel free to do this on your own blog and let me know in the comment section. I love to learn new things about people and this is another great way.

Have a great Monday!!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyworld/Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been laid off from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Happy Easter!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter!!!

I hope you have a great weekend no matter what's planned. Just trying to finish up work here and do some things I've been wanting to accomplish for awhile like scrap booking, getting my home idea binder in order, look through a couple of magazines, watch a movie, etc.

Hopefully I'll be able to do that starting today.

We are suppose to get thunderstorms starting tomorrow night into Easter Sunday so hopefully it will be gone by the time we plan the Easter Egg hunt with all the kids or we'll have some very disappointed children.

My son's Easter basket from last year.

(picture of The Pampered World)

Love the flowers below and they remind me of Spring so much.

These were at the San Diego Zoo when we lived in California.

They also take me back to my childhood when my mom had them planted in the yard.

Bright fuchsia with lighter pink ones.

Heaven.

(picture of The Pampered World)

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Yes, It Did Save Us Money!!

Just wanted to share with y'all in regards to what I did over a month ago on saving money on our electricity bill.

I read some where on a website that a lady unplugged all her lamps, radios, t.v.'s, etc. in her home to save money on electricity. She saw a good reduction on her bill. I can't remember how much, but I decided to do the same thing.

Remember, they say that having things plugged in and not on still uses energy.

Our bill right now without the a/c was coming in around $100 a month.

I unplugged lamps, toaster, coffee machine, radios, etc.

Of course I had to keep the following plugged: refrigerator, washer & dryer (electric), oven, microwave and there are a few other things that I could not unplug because of where the outlet was (behind furniture or something).

Well, we got the bill and it from around $100 to $40.00!!!

I couldn't believe it!!

I thought it was a mistake, but unplugging those unnecessary things really helped in saving us money!

So my advice is, go around and unplug those unnecessary items and see how much you can save!!

I would love to hear from you down the line after a month or two of doing it and if you did see a huge reduction in your bill.

Until then.....

Lately I've Been Craving....

An exposed brick wall in the bedroom like in the pics below.

I'm also craving a fancy schmanzy chandelier too!

This one is my absolute fave right now.

I wouldn't want to get out of bed.

(photo credit: www.countryliving.com)
(Photo credit: www.cococozy.com)
(photo credit: Corbis)

Model Home Hobby

I don't know about you, but I have this thing for going to model homes and checking out the decor.

I really love it and I have a partner in crime that loves it just as much as I do, my friend and neighbor Karina.

I love to see what colors, textures, home accessories etc. that they use.
Sometimes I see things that I never thought of.

The first house is just down the street from me.

I wish I would have taken photos of the bonus room upstairs on this one model.

It's the ultimate man hangout.

I love the colors and textures throughout this home.

Below is the family room and further back is the kitchen.

Below is the sun room adjacent to the living room above.

The opposite wall has a built in desk that was super cute.

The wood ceiling peaks and it's painted white which gives it a cottagey feel.
Then there's a wood deck that you can walk out to that's real nice.

Love this bathroom...especially, the floor length mirror.

Hints of seashell, coral and shells.

The dining area is at the front of the home.

The next home is completely different decor.

More on the Tuscan side.

Looking into the family room and kitchen.

Very high ceilings in the family room, but cool with what they did on that wall above.

This wall above the fireplace, I probably would have not even thought about using iron decor.

It goes great here and make such a statement.

Breakfast nook.

Love the leather benches that were on each side.

Isn't this little girl's room so pretty?

Upstairs bathroom.

Don't know how they painted the colors on the walls, but it was nice in person.

The tiles match too.

Upstairs den. Orange & brown color theme. A good majority of homeowners here in Texas, whether it be outside or inside own a star(s).

I actually have this set of stars, but I'm trying to figure out a good place to put them up in my home.

That's it for now, but there are new homes going up near us, so I'm sure I'll make some time to go and sneak some pics.

:-)

11th Wedding Anniversary!

Hello Y'all!

I've been wanting to post for a few days now, but life has been too busy and I don't know how some of y'all do it some times to get on and blog. :-)

Anyhoo, had to post about a couple of things I did with the hubby yesterday for our 11th wedding anniversary.

Yup, 11 years!!

Time has surely flown.

We've had lots of ups and downs, but here we are...still together. :-)

Since the hubby and I moved from Southern California to the Austin area we still hadn't found a place for some real good sushi. The hubby decided to ask around and he was given a couple of recommendations. We ended up going to a place called Musashino which is about 10 minutes outside of Downtown Austin.

Just know that they don't take reservations or call ahead seating.

There's a cool, trendy looking bar upstairs that you can go and have a pre-dinner drink which we did.

So if you ever visit Austin and want some good sushi, go there.

Recommendations would be the Texas Hybrid roll...the menu does not tell you, but it comes with this sauce that makes it pop.

All I have to say, is YUMMY!

By the way, unfortunately, I did not get the name of the sushi chef (who did a great job) who prepared ours, but I'm sure he wouldn't be hard to find.

He's a young, Asian sushi chef with visible, tattooed arms....Johnny Cash tattoo on his right arm and on his left it said, "Don't Think Twice."

I've never been a huge fans of tattoos, but they were cool I've got to say!

Our next stop after dinner was to head to Cedar Street in Downtown Austin.

It's the name of the bar, not an actual street.

Some of our friends were going to be there because "The Spazmatics" were going to play.

Seriously, this band was AWESOME!

Again, if you are ever in Austin you need to see these guys.

(their normal schedule is Wednesday's nights there)

Click on their name above to go and see their website and what they look like.

I actually got to see them before they dressed up like nerds and I was blown away at the transformation.

Not only did they look the part, they sang great!

All 80's cover tunes...can't get any better than that!

It literally was one huge party going off and it was so much fun to be there and finally get to see the band that everyone talks about here in Austin.

All in all, this Anniversary and weekend was a fun and tiring, but a great one!

Now I'm just trying to find some excuse to do it all over again.

:-)