I’m excited that my son will be coming home from his first year of college today!  What a crazy year it has been… he’s loving Boston University and I’m loving that he avoided all the weather and violent drama that unfolded there since he left in August.  Hurricane Sandy, a Blizzard and bombings… oh my!  

It’s also pretty cool that for the first time in 20 years, I live in driving distance to my own mother!  We have a barbeque planned if the weather holds out but chose food that can just as easily be prepared in the kitchen.  This is day 2 of the celebration since my brother will be working… we had part one last night.  

I’ll also be doing some work as my big trade show starts next week in New York.  It’s crunch time and my brain has a hard time shutting down…

That’s how I’ll be spending my Mother’s Day and I’m thrilled about each and every piece of it.  If you are a mom – I hope you get to do just what you want to do too.  

– Tara Reed

Here are the product details… Melamine Plates. Designed with the warmth and beauty of hand-painted ceramics, these colorful plates are shatterproof so fabulous for cocktail parties and outdoor dining alike. In a versatile size, they’re perfectly proportioned for cheese, crackers, desserts, a luncheon salad, a little bite. The coordinating plates, rendered with a sense of whimsy, feature one each Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Riesling. Dishwasher safe. 8” sq. Set of 4

And a great review from Barb  in Kentucky! (No – I don’t know her. ) I use these plates for my book club meetings. with all the wine drinking we do, they are perfect and fun.

SO… what will you use YOURS for?

Click here to order a set of your own.

– Tara Reed

Every once in a while I get a tid-bit of wisdom from these shows that sticks with me – I thought I’d share the most recent one from an episode of LA Shrinks.  Dr. V mentioned that her dad always told her you need 3 things in life to be happy.

The three things you need to be happy:

1. Something to do.

2. Someone to love.

3. Something to look forward to.

Dr. V went on to say that she usually finds, both in her life and for her patients, that when one of those three is missing, that is when life gets difficult.  For whatever reason, this little bit on conversation really resonated with me and has gone through my head on several occasions.

The next time you are feeling a little sideways – ask yourself if you have these three things… and if not, see what you can do to remedy it!

Thanks Dr. V!

– Tara Reed

PS – this image and many others are available as rubber stamps – click here to see what Janlynn offers

To see and order the kit, click here to go to my website – PrintYourOwnBunco.com

Here’s to a fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day!

– Tara Reed

So today – channel yours!  I’m going to bookmark the theme song so I can play it when I feel less than able – between the upbeat music and looking at my Potato Head – I’ll be back on top in no time!

Want to rock out to the theme song? CLICK HERE (sadly it wouldn’t embed)

Here’s to your creative (and silly and happy) success!

– Tara Reed

P.S.  Want your own Wonder Woman Potato Head?  Get it here >> http://bit.ly/WonderWomanPotatoHead

I just got my samples from Impact Innovations and wanted to share them with you.  Don’t ask where you can find them because at this moment – I have no idea!  That is one of the down-sides to what I do – I don’t always know where the products will end up.

If you see them in a store – please leave a comment so we know where to go!

Here’s wishing you lots of love in your life every day of the year -

– Tara Reed

2012 was another one of those major change years in my life.  Like 2004 when I got divorced, moved cross country with my son and started my art licensing business… I’d say that was the last time a year was as full of change – before THIS YEAR of course!

Here are my top 4 events of 2012 …

The Big HOUSE REMODEL

The old 1923 Craftsman Craig & I bought as a short-sale in late 2011 went through a TON of changes in 2012 with yours truly acting as the general contractor.  Learning to coordinate everyone’s schedules and do quite a bit of work myself – from pressure washing to painting and all the shopping and decision making – it was a full time job in and of itself!  We had a fabulous crew and couldn’t be happier with the results.  2013 will see some improvements to the landscaping because we are pretty much done with the structure. (Thank goodness!)

High School Graduation and Off to Boston University!

Exciting and big transitional times for both mother and son as Kyle graduated from High School and went way-far-away to Boston in the fall to start college.  He LOVES it and is taking no prisoners! I’ve adjusted to life without him around and now that he’s home for Christmas, realize how much more grocery shopping and laundry needs to be done when he is here! (But as I tell him, he’s worth it!)

Let’s not forget the WEDDING!

After five and a half years together, Craig Harris and I tied the knot!  We had a backyard wedding at our new house and I don’t think I’d planted as many flowers in all my adult years combined as I did this year.  We shall forever say we “need to water the venue” when referring to watering flowers in the back yard.  What a wonderful day it was – my brother performed the ceremony, my son “gave me a away” (perhaps a bit too willingly???) and I married my best friend.  A man who can make you laugh every day and thinks you are both fabulous and funny is a man to hang onto!  Our only complaint (more mine than his…) was that is was 102 degrees.  Really?  After it had been in the 70s almost all summer?  Oh well – if that was the biggest issue we have nothing to complain about!

My Parents Big Move

The day before my wedding my parents were out looking at houses.  They had just received an offer on their house in Reno so they needed to figure out where they might want to live in Portland!  Thankfully we didn’t have a rehearsal dinner of any kind because they ended up getting home at 9 pm after putting an offer on the most FABULOUS house just 4 miles away.  (It is so weird – I’ve never lived close to my parents – let alone 4 miles away.)  On the morning of the wedding we had more than one thing to celebrate – they got the house!  Move in day was on September 8th and I was the point person for all the things that go on in between the contract and the big move.  Good thing I had experience with my… oh… 10 moves now I think?

Here’s to 2013…

May the coming year be filled with love, laughs, memorable moments but maybe a little less change and chaos!  It was fun but it would be hard to keep up the pace of 2012 long-term!

– Tara Reed

This free downloadable PDF has 4 numbers / sheet – simply print, cut and tape them to your favorite wine.  (There are four #25′s – I mean… it is Christmas!)

Click here to get your copy today!

If 25 bottles seems like too much, just print 1-12 and use them for a “12 days of Christmas” theme.  Could also be a fun gift…

Anyway – wishing you a very merry, fun and festive season!

– Tara Reed

– Tara Reed