~Mosaic Monday: Travelista!~

Happy Monday!

I hope your weekend was fun and relaxing.

I cooked an ambitious Italian feast alllllll day yesterday for Mother's Day, more on my weekend next post with some fun photos!

For today:

Mosaic Monday: Travelista!

I can't freaking wait for our coming up vaca . . .

it's one of the main things on my mind:
what to wear?!

Do you have any traveling plans this year/summer?

Do share, I love to hear about it!

Our vaca:

London, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, France . . . etc.

It can't be soon enough!

Enjoy your Monday my dearies!

~Mosaic Monday: Roman Inspiration~

This

Mosaic Monday

 is all about our bathroom remodel inspiration

Isn't it crazy how you can find inspiration for anything, anywhere?

1. The past and the present, 2. A Tribute for Emperor Constantine..., 3. Detail of an Urn on a Table in the Bedroom from the Roman Villa of Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sept. 2007, 4. Poppy, 5. MARIAGE / WEDDING : The Poppy! :o), 6. No.1..., 7. Town of Assisi, 8. Day 4: Bath Photo (1 of many), 9. Don't You Worry, 10. Greens / Verdura, 11. Chaise Lounge, 12. Siena Red, 13. Beige-Travertine modern vessel sink bathroom vanity pedestal14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Rome is one of our favorite cities in the world . . .

and we have so many fun travel photographs from here, as well as many many fun memories.

So we decided to use Rome as our inspiration for our bathroom.

Painted frescos

Roman fountains

Poppies

Roman ruins
Feminine marble statues

Stone

So this is our demolishing . . .

I helped a little . . . but my hot handy man did most of this part :-)

look at those arms, yum!

next up:
*installing vanity and counter-tops

(actually waiting for the guys to come as we speak!)
*Waiting for our new tub to arrive
*Buy travertine for our tiling (which we will do ourselves, so excited!
*Pick out a large mirror and lighting
*Find a statue (sooo excited about this too!)

We bought a "red" paint from Benjamin Moore . . . and we were looking for a muted red . . . but it turned out to be bright pink, even after 3 coats!

Heee heee oooops!

Will keep you guys posted!

Any remodelling projects you have going right now, or wanting to?

Happy Monday!!!

Pssst don't forget to enter the Giveaway . . .

win a gorgeous scarf ($35-$75 value!) from Nikkisic!

My favorite:

Enter here!

~Mosaic Monday: Tea Party!~

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?!

Ours was nice and relaxing . . .

Movies cuddled up

Happy Hour at Ruth Chris Steak House (yummm)

More work on the in-laws re-modeling project, almost done!

Finished writing my business plan (lots of work!)

Craft Time

Cleaning House Craze

Hit the gym 2x (woooo hoo!)

Altogether it was a nice, relaxing yet productive weekend.

Now that we are slowly approaching Spring . . .

I am getting the itch to stop hibernating and start planning social events!

One goal I for sure am going to do this year is plan a

~Tea Party!~

Although not exactly Mad Hatter style, I will have mis-matching cute china, we'll all dress up and have a jolly ole time!

Pssst come back next time for a lovely giveaway . . .

~Mosaic Monday: World Travelista~

Happy Monday!

As it is a holiday here (woo hoo) the hubby has today off as well, so I'll make this quick so we can go take the pups to the dog park and make some seafood pasta:-)

BUSY weekend, more on this tomorrow!

How was yours???

Lately I am in this mode to finish what I've started. 

I'm not sure if it's a Spring Cleaning mode coming on? 

But I am all about clearing my mental to do lists to open up space to think clearly.

Anyone else feel like this?

One thing that I've been meaning to do is edit our travels pics from our last vaca

(ummmm last May! Lol)

And share them with you all.

I got through Rome and day 4 . . . only 11 more to go! Hee heee

Chk out posts:

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4

I need to do this before we head off again in June . . .

So with that said, this Mosaic Monday is for all of you travelistas out there . . .

1. Gelato cones, Italy, 2. Pressed Between Pages, 3. Oia, Santorini, 4. caryatids, 5. venice, 6. Venice Canal, 7. bruges in vintage, 8. sometimes your heart just explodes, 9. All ways lead to the sea\Все дороги ведут к морю\, 10. Boulange de Cole Valley, 11. Vintage Inspired Travel Journal, Journey, 12. globes, 13. A big thank you14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

So I will be doing my best to post pics, and bring back my

"destination thursdays"

in order to share them with you all!

Where was the destination of the last trip you took??

~Mosaic Monday . . .Weddings~

Happy Monday!

I hope you are all recouped from Super Bowl and the weekend.

We had a crazy remodellign weekend, more on this soon . . .

AND I've gone a week without drinking lol. 

Yes even at Super Bowl party, a birthdya bash AND a date night.

3 more weeks to go . . .

Anywho I have some pretty images in a mosaic for your viewing pleasure:

1. Vintage Wedding, 2. 1920s vintage wedding at Treowen House, 3. Vintage Wedding, 4. Wedding Sign Set of 3 , 5. L'amore di settembre, 6. Christian, 7. purple-and-yellow-wedding-flowers-2, 8. Photo by Stephanie Williams, 9. Shabby Knife, Fork, and Spoon Tags, 10. yellow candy buffet, 11. vintage barn garden wedding with lavendar wildflowers in mason jars and glass lanterns, 12. Stephanie Williams Photography, 13. lavendar purple wedding details flowers and brides shoes14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

AND on that note: I have something to announce . .

Nope not getting married (we did that 2 1/2 years ago!)

BUT . . .

I am helping with my friend's wedding,

and my hubby has been pushing me to try my hand at wedding planning.

Crazy right!?

But he does have some good points . . .

 I LOVE to plan, design, decorate, create, coordinate themes, and I love anything to do with weddings.  I can craft up anything to help with the weddings . .

So here we go on a new adventure.  Not sure if it's for me, BUT we'll find out.

So in order for me to research and find ideas . . .

I've subscribed to wedidng mags, read some planning books . . . and

I started a new blog!

Simply by Tamara Nicole

So come chk it out!

 Only a week old, but hopefully full of some fun eye candy and wedding links.

ALSO: call for ideas/ possible vendors!

I know some of my lovely blog friends do calligraphy, etc. so if that's you please contact me!

OR if you know of some lovely wedding sites let me know!

Weddings@simplytamaranicole.com

here wo goooooo . . . we shall see where this takes me!
I've already planned mine and helped plan 4 other friends . . . I think I got this covered.

Wish me luck!

~Mosaic Monday and my busy weekend!~

Happy Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?

Ours was great!

Busy as it was, we also had some relaxing time to re-coup . . .

 And dream about sunny weather . . .

Oh I can't hardly wait for some sunshine and warmth!

Anywho our weekend:

*Watched several movies (Wallstreet Never Sleeps, Inception)*

*Girl's Breakfast!*

(Met with 6 of my girls Sat morning for some good old catching up and chatting)

*Matinee with the hubby to see "The Rite"*

(kinda freaky!)

*Happy Hour with the hubby at Lot No. 3*

The food and drinks were good! AND we actually ended up getting all of our food FREE! Yup we saved like $40 b/c we were patient while it took an hour to get our food.  Funny thing was . . . we didn't even notice! Good drinks, and great discussions and the time flew by.  But hey I'll take free food, thanks!

*Church*

Was soooo good.  So I'll admit, we're not the best at going on a regular basis.  BUT it's funny b/c I feel like when I do go, it's just what I need to hear.

*Remodel project with the In-Laws*

We're helping the in-laws remodel and spruce up their house.  Many trips to Home Depot, and discussions on what to do.  I feel like I'm a host on HGTV! Will post pics of our many projects, and we are excited to be creative and help!

Can't wait to paint this brick, tile the bench, and rip out the gold and get a new fireplace screen, etc.

*Finished Jane Eyre*

Yup finished my book, now on to the next classic! Looooove how classics are FREE on the Kindle!!!

*Made and shipped recent orders from Etsy shop*

*Made some fun items for my Valentine's Swap, so many ladies participating this will be fun! My very first blog swap, and many more to come!!!*

Now it's your turn to share your weekend!

Hope you all have a great start to your week!

~Mosiac Monday~ and last chance for Valentine's Day Swap!

Hellloooooo all my wonderful peeps:-)

I hope you all had a fine weekend . . . I sure did!

Date night with yucca fries and jalapeno margaritas, french night with the girls, birthday celebrations, etc. Phew!

Will have to update you all on my last 2 weekends when I can, all my photos are at home and I'm a chillin at Starbucks while my mini is getting serviced.

My Mosaic Monday:

awwww isn't it cute?! So I honestly think aside from Christmas, my favorite holiday is Valentine's Day.

I'm obsessed, and what other holiday is all lovey and pink and girly?

So although it is exactly 3 weeks away, a girl needs to prepare right?

So I've been crafting away for a "special giveaway" on another blog soon . . .

Getting items ready for the shop . . .

Planning a fun Valentine's date for the hubby . . .

and hosting my very first swap, and a Valentine's Swap woooo hooo!

So if any of you haven't signed up and are interested, details and sign up here.

Swap closes tonight! So hurr up:-)

So far I have 35 ladies, it'll be fun!

Anywho I leave you to beginning your week on a good note (I hope!)

Have a great week!!!

(from we heart it here)

Any of you already know what you're doing Valentine's Day?

~Mosaic Monday: Giveaway week and parrrrtay . . . 1 year blog birthday soon!~

Happy Monday!

I am truly super excited this week . . . for Friday is my

Blog's First Birthday!

Began a year ago as a way to express myself, I've grown to love it, and all of my friends gained over the year!

I wrote in my planner that the 14th is my Blog's Birthday, and my hubby laughed:-)

Little does he know we really are celebrating! Hee hee breaking out party hats!

Anyway for my Blog's Birthday . . . my

Monday Mosaic:

Stay tuned for possibly THREE Giveaways this week!

Now onto a quick recap of our weekend:

*Watched a ton of movies via Netflix with the hubby (heart it!)*

*Finally cleaned up any signs of Christmas in our house*

*Editted, printed and put up a mosaic of photos from our travels on a wall,

will show pics soon!*

(a few sneak peaks:)

We took in Eze, France 2010

St Mark's Square Venice, Italy 2009

Another Venice! 2009

Rome, Italy 2010

Santorini, Greece 2009

Pisa, Italy 2010

Rome, Italy 2010

*Worked out 2x, yay!*

*Went out to a dinner party at Pearl, amazing!!!*

*Went back to my "craft roots" and scrapbooked for the first time in forever!*

*lots of walks with the dogs*

*Watched the Seahawks beat the Champions, the Saints!!! Woooo hoooo!*

*Almost finished Little Women, oh I love that book!*

Here's to an amazing week for all of you,

and don't forget to visit frequently for giveaways!!!
Also an announcement and sign up for my Valentine's Swap!
So many fun things, I can't hardly contain myself:-)

How was your weekend?!

~Mosaic Monday: Italian food!~

Happy Monday!

What a busy day it has been.

Errands errands errands

Ooooh and a fun coffee date with my dear Cynthia.

We went to Starbucks on the 40th floor of the Columbia Tower downtown Seattle, and what a view!

(my new camera was broken NYE by a drunk . . . new one on it's way . . .so only Cynthia's iphone for pics)

My lovely Swedish friend!

Always fun to chat and sip on some coffee with a dear friend:-)

So moving on to my

Monday Mosaic . . .

Wouldn't it be so nice to be in Tuscany right now . . .

sipping on some divine wine, and eating some amazing food?!

Awwww I do miss their cafes, pizzerias, mmmmm and don't forget the gelato!

So as I said before, I am not doing any actual new years resolutions,
but I am sticking with my 101 in 1001 days!

So one of my goals is to cook my way through a cookbook,

and I've found the perfect one!

(here)

Thanks to my dear mom for the Christmas gift!

I've already bought the food for my first recipe, starting out in the

 "antipasta" section!

I'll keep you guys posted on my fave recipes, etc.  BUT don't worry, food will not be taking over my blog, nor my waistline! Just a little post here and there to share,

cause who doesn't love some Italian food?!

I am already planning an Italian dinner party night this month, so excited!

Ha ha I plan on keeping in shape with all this yummy food!

(My hubby and I went running in the 32 degree weather tonight, crazies.)

Have any of you been to Italy to taste the real authentic Italian food?

Any favorite Italian dishes???

Soooo excited to get this going, and actually follow all the way through with a goal! (hee hee)

Here's to an amazing Monday!

Buona notte.

Ciao!

~Monday Mosaic!~

Happy Happy Monday to you all!

The excitement for Christmas is crazy, I can not contain myself!

I'm in full force in finishing Christmas gift projects.

Finally taking a breathe from online orders

and just focusing on my people that I love dearly.

Everything is in order, gifts wrapped, cards sent, plans set.

Projects left:

Finishing a quilt

Sewing 4 bags like this one

in fun colors/patterns!

So excited!

So you know today I'll be sewing up a storm!

1. Snip and Sew 1, 2. turquoise needle case, 3. No.350, 4. Brown paper packages, 5. Sew Deer, 6. ♥ Nähmaschine, 7. handmade ornaments, 8. Vintage Blue, 9. Pompom Parcels, 10. Untitled, 11. day 111: loop-de-loop, 12. #46, 13. Love Has No Measure14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Will post pics soon to show ya'll the finished products!

Do you have any last minute things to finish before Christmas??

Enjoy your day!!!