hong kong!

Zippidadee! I just had my first order from Hong Kong!!!
T&T is traveling global again!
{ pic from lonelyplanet.com}

on a mission for...salad

Melissa and I were craving the tomato.basil salad from Panera today...Melissa called and they truly did discontinue it! So...Melissa googled and searched the area for a new source. She came across a steakhouse up the street that she felt sure could fit the bill. Well...after calling and speaking to the chef personally, explaining the item of choice, he agreed to whip up "her" recipe. Mel also decided to try the parmesan cheese fries with fresh basil ketchup! YuM! Our take-out salads were wonderful...a little short of tomato and dressing {so we will make that change next time}, but the chef was obviously more worried about impressing us with presentation and not quantity...I guess thats what happens when you order from a 4 star steakhouse!

wednesday's with dave!

so...i have been without my hubby for 4 weeks now. I have thankfully been able to text and talk to him several times {most days} every day.

Well...my dear friend Rosie has been without her love, Dave, for months! To make it even harder they have only been able to talk once each week, write him letters daily. She receives a letter on Wednesday's from him! She gets to see him this weekend in Chicago at his graduation! So Rosie...this ones for you...to celebrate your love letter in today's mailbox and the weekend ahead...with your love!!!

my nanny...

...her life won't have another chapter, but her legacy will write a novel.

oh the little boys!

...they miss B, but they also like to get to sleep with their mom when he's away!

lovely friends!

so...I have had a rough last couple of days! On top of missing my hubby, work trials, a family "situation", design roadblocks with an order...I was a little at the end of my rope when I was told tonight that Panera was taking my FAVORITE salad off the menu...tomorrow! {My 1st clue that I bought it a little too much was when the cashier knew my name! Yikes!}

Well...can I just say that I have the most precious friends! They {like my family} listen to my rants of frustration when I have met my peak...and still love me!

Lauren's birthday wishes could not have come at a better time...today!!! She sent me this preciously wrapped package full of all sorts of fun whimsies...a lovely vintage hankie complete with my initial, a super soft ultra thin wallet for my clutches, very cool green{!} coasters, a fun "c" luggage tag, and pink{!!} initial notepads! This gift had my name all over it!Then my evening was topped off with...a Tiffany's necklace! Oh my goodness I couldn't be more excited to be the temporary owner of a tarnished Tiffany's necklace! Bri gave me {for a few years} her Tiffany's necklace that she "doesn't much like nor wear anymore". Ummm...I will gladly give it love for a while!
Don't I have precious friends!!! No...you can't borrow them! ...I seem to need them quite often! :)

our example...

I sure do miss you today Nanny. If only things were still the same. I hope that even today...you are smiling and dancing on the streets of gold!

will you come live in my closet?

retail therapy...does it count if you just drool over it? I gasped for breath when I turned the page and saw this beautiful coat! However, with a pricetag of $695...I am going to have to keep drooling!

{ found...Blueprint No.6 }

missing honey...

I sure am missing you today...and yesterday...and again tomorrow!
{ one week left! }

THE package { part I }

As promised...I wanted to share with you my birthday goodies! {in parts that is!}

My mom got me this fabulous purse!!! I just love it! It goes with everything and will be just the it thing in my closet for fall! I have had my eye on it for a few years now, but couldn't decide on the color...I think my mom is just excited that I finally picked one! :)

Well...I broke it in today...officially. My beloved purse was subject to the abuse of...a pen mark! I was heart-broken! Yes...it is small, yes it is most likely removable {with hairspray Carla says}, and it will be ok at the end of the day...but can a girl still be disappointed that at the age of ## she still can't keep her art supplies under control and only on the paper!?

all grown up! ...well almost

My baby brother Dallas started his senior year of high school yesterday! I still remember the day he came home from the hospital...I was pouting because they left me at school until AFTER he arrived at home! I also remember the first time I saw him...right outside the nursery door on a swivel chair so that Krystal and I could take turns holding him.
I can't believe it is now 17 years later! It was a little much when I returned home that first spring and he wanted to practice driving by taking me to the grocery store..."umm, no thanks! I'll drive!" {-I wasn't ready!}. Or when he called because he met this precious girl..."this can't last long...he is a high school boy!" {-I wasn't ready!!} Or this summer when he started his first job... I called mom -"he does NOT need to be working at the mall mom! Do you know some of the people that he will come in contact with?" {-I wasn't ready!!!}

Not that I ever needed to be ready for him to grow! Well...he is driving, still dating that precious girl Mallory, working, and just got back from Mexico on a mission trip too! Ready or not...he is growing up! Maybe I should allow him to drive my next visit home!

working away today...

...designing, creating, and shipping away!

lovely made!

Thanks in part to my precious friend Lauren for the push...I am beginning to put together a plan and direction for my new creations. I am so excited with them that I wanted to give you a sneak peak!
They make the most precious gift for the bride and groom...sure to bring tears to her eyes when she sees her wedding invitation forever treasured on a plate for display. I am offering them strictly by word of mouth right now. I love hand-making each one so unique and full of personalized style...just knowing that it will forever be treasured makes it all the more special!

...interested? simply drop me an email at branash619{at}yahoo.com.

shopping for wishes!

I found a gem! OK...so it was shown to me. It is always such a treat when a customer turns out to have her own fabulous little spot on the web. Well...when Andrea shopped T&T last week she was sure to also let me know about her new little boutique...One Hundred Wishes. I was instantly in love and starting counting my birthday money! I can't wait to place my order for some of these...

...and I missed the chance to purchase these...they sold out in one day! The day I wasn't able to check her store at lunch!

birthday lunch with the girls!

I spent the afternoon today with Miss Keeley Grace {my fellow redhead} and her mommy. Vickie treated me to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory for my birthday...I just love that place! Oh...and the cheesecake...I am enjoying my Tiramisu Cheesecake right now and can I just say that this cheesecake is fabulous!!! I had some great conversation with Miss Keeley...she coos and I ga ga over her! She loves staying home with her mommy all day and is such a cutie! Can't you see!!!

...fresh back from Philly and busy with orders!!

I got a LOVELY bit of surprise press from Ms. Liz over at The Daily Stroll while I was gone. It landed in inboxes on Friday recommending T&T goodies for back to school and has sent tons of sweet orders already!

Be back later for Philly pics...better get busy processing orders so the kiddies have their new stylish goods for the first day of school!

"all done!"

finished Miss Hannah's frame... So...mom taught Miss Hannah to say "darlin" because she felt it important to instill a bit of southern style in this midwestern missy! Therefore, mom only found it fitting to have Miss Hannah's frame rightly-so reflect their visit together! She really liked it and was excited that it "matched her room and had a picture of her and Mrs. Connie in it"!

to be a quarter...

What a lovely birthday! I am a whole quarter today! I knew it was going to be a great day when it started with a so very special card from hubby, perfect tasting coffee, and all but one green light on the way to work!

I know you are dying to know...I got to open my box of goodies first thing this morning! {I phoned mom at 6:00am her time...it was like Christmas!} It was full of hand-wrapped love from Texas!! I got so many goodies that I have decided to share the fab finds with you over a few posts...TBCWhat a lovely day...Carla greeted me with 1/2 a dozen doughnuts!!! {no I didn't eat them all yet}, I had Mexican food for lunch complete with singing waiters and a large black sombrero, enjoyed an italian dinner at the Olive Garden with the Diller clan {our Ohio family members} complete with a singing chocolate cake {YuM!!!}, and was surprised by a hidden gift from hubby...it made him feel so close despite the fact that he is 100s of miles away!Thank you all for the greetings and best wishes for a lovely birthday!

not your everyday pancakes

So I'm obsessed with pancakes, I love pancakes, I can eat pancakes everyday...there I said it and admit it wholeheartedly! Well...a few weeks ago Krystal {lovely sis} created this recipe like no other for pancakes. I decided to try them {sadly I am impressed even with box pancakes}...well...I went out on a limb and added oatmeal and creme brulee creamer to my pancake mix as sis suggested. The result...the best pancakes I have ever had!! The bar has been raised!

{just enjoyed last night...no syrup required}

somebody stop me!

They are growing. With hubby not here can I just say it makes it all the harder not to peek!! Its like a tease for Christmas when you know that Mom hides presents in Dad's boat...{opps! I just gave away the Taylor-kids family secret!}

"crafting"

Briana and I ventured out yesterday in search of notions to fill our creative desires. We got out with no kiddies or hubbies and headed to Michael's...look what came home with us! I can't wait to use these beauties! What a shall I do first?
I am almost finished with Miss Hannah's frame from mom for her 7th birthday...I think its coming along quite nicely....

a few more days!

Look what arrived from mom in the mail today! I can't wait to open it and see all the goodies. Mac {my postman at the PO} said that he would tattle if I opened it before the date approved! ...no luck of peeking early! Even though I'll be older...birthday please come for the birthday fairy has already delivered treats!