Tara Miller Designs

Mail- You've been served!

Oh! In your face mail! Ha Ha- Burn!
Hey you, Dining table, you've been demoted to just a dining table. Don't take it so hard. Now you can be pretty all the time. I can't promise not to put packages on you every once in a while, but I promise no more parking.

I ran into Joann's today just for some piping (already you see where this is heading) and was distracted by the dorm stuff on 50% off. I fell in love with this locker style magazine racks and decided that the Daily System at Pottery Barn could not beat $5/per rack, that and I have plans for a giant chalk board wall in the kitchen. I knew these would help me get my mail situation under control and they do beautifully. The racks are a chartreuse and dark teal color which compliments my curtains and the wall color wonderfully. I could not be happier, except if I had a super dooper camera to take the magazine shot I have in my mind (all better-homes-and-gardens-like)

Underneath, I have plans for some shoe holders from Ikea. I am not sure when I will get them, but they will be infinitely better than my lone air freshener. Though, in the Air Wick's defense makes for fresh scented entrance. But there is another outlet hidden behind the curtains next to the wine rack.

 

Soon to be

For my birthday, Garrett gave me a set of upholstery tools and a budget to purchase my first piece. I was excited. It took me months to find the right chair for my living room. I really like some of the bright spicy seating that PB has been offering lately but I can't wrap my head around $1000 for a chair. I had to travel clear across Atlanta to Conyers to find this bad boy since Douglasville doesn't have a Goodwill, but I walked in and fell in love. And who wouldn't for $35- SOLD. But, then I got scared: what if I bought the wrong fabric (upholstery fabric can be any where from$300/yd to $15/yd), what if I can't find tacks, I still have some tools to buy, What if I just F-it all up. I sucked it up and put an end to the second guessing. Mostly because the yellow dot, itchy fabric is embarrassing. Last weekend, I purchased 9 yds- probably too much but I am not taking any chances and I will finish this project. I ordered my tacks today and some other little do-dads I might need and this weekend, I will buy my piping with my Joann's coupon.
I plan on removing the skirt completely to expose some leg and might even end up painting them. I purchased some relatively dark fabric because this is Murphy's favorite chair and having Maggie and a dark blue couch I have learned my lesson in matching dog to fabric as much as possible. I really can't wait to get started. However, I said that when I ordered my pleat tape for the living room curtains which are still on roll and the pleat tape is still in the box. One day everything will be done, and then I will have baby and nothing will get done. Who cares...I have pretty fabric!
Note: This is a very bad picture of my fabric. The color is all wrong. It is much more rustly and less ugly. It is also much more branchy and less floral. Basically, it is awesome and not really like this picture, except that it is. I will show you pictures when it is done-- hopefully in 2 weeks. But I also plan on painting the baby's room in those 2 weeks, sewing a crap load, hosting a dinner party, cleaning and watching the Olympics, so you might not want to hold me to that deadline.

Yarn Cake

My favorite part of a trip to my local yarn store are the yarn cakes. I enjoy walking in and seeing all the colors and textures. Touching and imagining everything I could make with this or that yarn. talking with the yarn store employees are so helpful and knowledgeable, plus my local store has a huge farm table and coffee to encourage you to sit and knit. But the best part, is getting home and pulling the wound yarn cakes from my bag and pulling out my favorite patterns. I love to go on Saturdays, especially, because Garrett works Saturdays, so I can sleep in, go to the yarn store take my time, come home and cast-on without any distractions or conversation. It is always much harder to cast on for a new project with distractions. I think I need to go this Saturday!

Ants ate my Poppies!

    

I have googled my brain off to find out why ants (little black ones...teeny-tiny) were eating my seedling poppies. My little guys were being eaten from the top down after they had about 2-3 sets of leaves but before they could bloom. There is nothing out there covering ants eating poppies, and I can't wrap my head around that. We don't live in an age where we are the first to experience anything, let alone something that can't be found via Google. Yet, I have found nothing after 2 days of searching (and I happen to be pretty good at googling...I might even add it to my resume).

 

However, one trip to my local Home depot set me up with a strapping red haired older gentleman who not only answered my questions but armed me in my battle- BEHOLD: Bayer Rose & Flower Insect Killer. Use it! It rocks. It freed my poppies which are back on the mend and not longer dying. I use it on all of my non edible plants to protect from any insect that I haven't discovered yet. Since I just moved in, I am not familar enough with all the predators in my area.

 

For assistance with my edible plants, such as tomatos and pumpkins, I use Garden Safe Fungicide 3-in-1. It totally rocks with any pests that find my plants are yummy as I do.  I highly recommend both products and spray each every 30 days to insure continuious protection

Perfect Tea

One of the first introductions into the Southern Lifestyle is Sweet Tea and if you have never had it, it is pure heaven in a glass.

There really is nothing that makes you feel at home or welcome than a tall glass of well made Sweet Tea (Bad Tea is just insulting and not wished upon your enemy). A restaurant's reputation is made on the quality of their tea (Not an exaggeration). It may not sound that important but it is qualitative to America's ties to Apple Pie. Given the joy that Sweet Tea brought to my life I want to share the recipe. Which is so easy but it is much like watching french food being prepared- While you marvel at the flavor and enjoy the taste, if you were to watch its preparation you would cringe at all the eggs, cream and real cheese used. Sweet Tea's name is quite literal but I encourage you all to try it once and see if you can't live without it!

Ingredients:
3/4 c Sugar
2 Qt Water
2 One Quart Tea Bags (Don't be stingy, Go for the good stuff--Not Green Tea either, give it a real chance, pansy)

Boil the Water (I use an electric kettle because that sucker is fast). Pour said water into a pitcher and add sugar will still really really hot. Stir till dissolved (about 1-2 min). Then add Tea bags and walk away. I usually let mine sit for AT LEAST 5 min. No less. The less time time the tea has to sit the less flavor and the more sugar one is inclined to add. I have been known to let mine sit while I forgot and went and did some laundry. I would not let it sit for more than 45 min but don't watch it. Set the timer for 10 min so you don't forget but you are not tied to the kitchen. Then put in fridge or pour over ice and ENJOY. It is so good. Man, I need some now.

P.s. Not so fun fact about vacationing in Florida: For some weird reason Florida is not really southern and this is determined by the fact that it is rare to find Sweet Tea served in Florida. You can ask any Southerner and they will back me up.