My Life in Film

I usually carry my digital camera with me where ever I go but this past week I decided to switch things up. I pulled my dusty film camera down from the shelf and put in a new roll of film in and off we went.

I had a fun week visiting with family and friends, shopping, eating, and drinking some good coffee- and my camera got to tag along! Here are some of my favorite photos from this past week.

My cutie pie niece Zoie

Affogato from Pazzo Gelato (gelato, espresso, and whipped cream)

Shopping the cute boutiques in Silverlake

Awesome, awesome coffee from Intelligentsia Coffee

My doggie Montana (aka Monty-poo)

Cupcake ice cream (yes, there's ice cream in the middle!) from Frosted Cupcakery

This last one was a bit blurry and I didn't have much light to work with but I just had to put it in- it's of my best friend Sharon's (and Ernest's) doggie Evie and she is just the cutest dog ever (well, besides my own dogs of course).

I just love the look of film photos- it almost has a nostalgic look to it...or is that just my imagination? I think I'll keep taking my film camera around more often! 

Flying High

Tad and I had plans to ride a hot air balloon for our first year anniversary and were bummed when it got cancelled due to high winds. Well, we were finally able to reschedule it and we had the best time!

We got the see the balloon setting up and man, is that thing big! We were even allowed to go inside the balloon itself before it was inflated. I love the bright, gorgeous colors of the balloons and I was amazed at how gigantic these things were. 

We did ours at Sunrise Balloons in Temecula and they were great.

It was awesome being up so high and looking down on the wineries while sipping champagne- so so romantic! If you get the chance to go on a hot air balloon ride, totally do it, it's an awesome experience.

Cupcakes and Macarons

Holy Moly I just realized that today is my one year blog-aversary!! I remember thinking about this a few months ago and thinking that I should host a give-away...but then I wasn't quite sure how. I'm sure it's super simple, right? Hmmm...maybe sometime in the near future. Any tips or suggestions for hosting a give-away?

Anyways, I want to say thank you all for stopping by and reading my blog. It started off as a fun little hobby but has now become a regular part of my life- I love it! I get so happy when people pop over to see what I posted and it makes my day reading your comments. I love this little blogging community that I belong to, you're all such positive and wonderful people! And it's so cool that I don't even know most of you but I almost feel like I do... in a way- so awesome!

Also a litle thanks to my dear husband for being a good sport for having to take some of my blog photos- it somehow alway seems to be on the way to dinner, and when he's starving too!

Outfit Details:

Macaron Dress- Made by Me! (by Colette Patterns)

Shoes- Seychelles

Bag- Anthropologie

Cupcake Ring- bought from Greece 

Thanks again and I hope you keep on stopping by! Happy Monday! xoxo, Tammy

Jumping for Joy!

I'm so happy that I'm jumping for joy! Yesterday was the day we found out if Tad matched into a fellowship program and if so, where he will be for a whole year. I was so nervous the night before that I couldn't fall asleep.

Well, guess what? Not only did he get a fellowship, but he got his top choice! And a super bonus- he gets to stay in Los Angeles! Whoohoo! We're so excited and I'm so proud of him.

Tad interviewed all over the country for a fellowship program and not only were we worried about whether he would get into one, but we also worried about him having to go far away. Yea, its only one year but one year apart can be sooo long. 

Outfit Details:

Dress- Macy's

Shoes- BP from Nordstrom

Cardigan- Banana Republic

Tights- Anthropologie

Purse- Kate Spade (outlet bargain!)

Luckily, things worked out perfectly- it couldn't have gone any better actually! Tonight we are going out to Scarpetta for a celebration dinner- hmmmm, can't wait!

 Happy Friday! xoxo, Tammy

Creme Brulee Love

I've been into creme brulee lately. A lot. It's one of Tad's favorite dessert and I never knew how easy it was to make! For reals, it's super easy.

For my first try, I made a classic vanilla bean creme brulee. All you need are egg yolks, sugar, cream, and a vanilla bean. That's it! (I got all my baking supplies on Amazon.com).
- 6 egg yolks
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup sugar
- I vanilla bean pod

Step 1: Pour the cream into a saucepan. Next, slit the vanilla bean down the middle and scrape out the seeds and mix into the cream. Heat the cream, vanilla seeds, and the pod until bubbles form on the edges. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Step 2: Beat the egg yolks until a light, pale yellow (may take awhile). Then whip in the sugar. Once the cream has cooled, mix it into the egg yolk (after removing the vanilla bean pod). Then pour into ramekins! Put the ramekin in another pan and fill that pan with hot water until about half way up the ramekins.

I baked mine at 325 for 40 minutes- it's done when the center jiggles a bit. Let cool a bit and pop into the fridge for 2 hrs (or longer). 

Now the fun part! When you're ready to serve, sprinkle some sugar evenly over the top (you can use brown or regular sugar) and turn on your blowtorch. Evenly move it around to carmelize the sugar. Done and done!

You can make a bunch of these and keep them in the fridge for a quick treat (I have four in my fridge right now...)

YUM YUM. Enjoy!

Foto Friday- Puppy Love

Hip hip hooray it's Friday!

I've been playing around with my fish eye lomography camera and some of my favorite photos are of my doggies. They're just so cute and photogenic!

This last photo is a random dog I couldn't resist petting..and quickly snapping a photo of!



I'm off to Vegas for some girl fun now! Have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo, Tammy

Straight and Sassy

It's been 4 months since I permed my hair and since then I haven't touched a blow dryer or a flat iron and I love it! My hair is crazy thick so it's been nice to just let my curls air dry without having to fuss with it.

But when I woke up this morning, I had the sudden urge to wear my hair straight. So I took out my dryer and flat iron from where it's been holed up all this time and started working on my hair. Seriously, it's like a workout doing my hair and my right arm is sore from holding itself up! While I didn't miss the time it took to style my hair, I did realize how much I missed wearing it straight.

Outfit Details:

Dress- Modcloth

Shoes- Urban Outfitters

I mirrored my straight hair with this drop-waist dress that also falls straight down my hips. My favorite part of this dress is the super fun collar- love!