JUST FOR FUN!

A few months back my best friend asked me to learn how to use my camera so we can play and take some photos of London's arrival. Her anticipated arrival is next week and we are just counting the days from here. :) I've been getting pretty serious about this--so I decided to practice on someone other than my dogs, Paul and My parents. They seem to be getting very frustrated not to mention the headaches they've experienced from the flash going off all the time. Ha!
Some dear friends of ours prob think P&I are a little strangely obsessed with their daughter but we just think she is a hoot not to mention pretty sinking cute!
Hope you Enjoy these photos as much as I do:

The Name Game

I decided to research my name recently and discovered a few interesting facts I'd thought I would share. 

 TARAYN (regardless of the spelling) means:

Tender/Innocent 

Rocky Hill

Thunder

Of The Earth 

Tower 

The Reaper 

Wild Goat

To Carry 

Young

Queen

Little Princess

SPELLING

I must admit, after 27 1/2 years I'm still not totally prepared for always having to spell or pronounce it for everyone. In fact, I figured out pretty darn quick that sometimes it's easier to answer to "Karen" or "Tara" - especially on the phone - just to save time.

I reference it as my "Starbucks name"

There's just one question...Where does Taralyn come from? Ha!

Remember when you were a kid and your name was on every key chain at Alvin's Island or already painted on the pencil box at Hello Kitty?? Gosh, they were so cute with the colorful puffy paint pens! At least I was already used to not being able to find my name readily available on a keychain, an I.D. bracelet, or even stationery!

PRONUNCIATION

t(a)-ryn, tar-yn\ is pronounced TARE-en

TARE-IN (like Karen, but with a " T ").

TAR-IN (Tar rhymes with Car).

TARE-INN (accent on the 2nd syllable, like Corrinne).

TARYN, TARIN, TAREN, TARAN, TARUN, TARRYN, TARON, TARYNN,

TERIN, TARRAN, TERYN, TARYNE, TERRYN, TEHREN, THERON!

FAMOUS NAMESAKES

I discovered something else about the name TARAYN while looking up

and regardless of the spelling virtually no one really famous has ever had the name.
(Maybe there is hope :) )

Famous Taryn's include:

Taryn Davidson, a Canadian model

Taryn Fiebig, an Australian opera singer

Taryn Foshee, an American beauty contestant

Taryn Manning, an American actress

Taryn Marler, an Australian actress

Taryn Onofaro, an Australian television presenter

Taryn Power, an American actress

Taryn Rose, an American, luxury shoe designer

Taryn Simon, an American photographer

Taryn Southern, an American singer

Taryn Swiatek, a Canadian soccer player

Taryn Terrell, a wrestler

Taryn Thomas, an American pornographic actress

Taryn Woods, an Australian water polo player

So, do you think there is hope? :)

My Granny's Chocolate Cobbler

First stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa, and 3/4 cup of the white sugar. Reserve the remaining cocoa and sugar.

Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla to the flour mixture. Mix until smooth. 

Pour the mixture into an ungreased 8-inch baking dish.

I prefer my small oval Corning Ware glass dish.

In a separate small bowl, mix the remaining white sugar (it should be 1/2 cup), the brown sugar, and remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter.

Pour the hot tap water over all. DO NOT STIR!

Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.

Let stand for a few minutes if you can hold yourself back.

Serve with homemade ice cream using the gooey sauce to spoon over all.

1 cup All-purpose Flour

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

¼ teaspoons Salt

7 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder, Divided

1-¼ cup Sugar, Divided

½ cups Milk

⅓ cups Melted Butter

1-½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

½ cups Light Brown Sugar, Packed

1-½ cup Hot Tap Water

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Having Fun....

Check out my friend Meghan's blog for some cutie pics of us having fun...

http://thechamblessranch.blogspot.com/2010/07/great-finds-and-friends.html

House Update 7.21.2010

We officially have sheetrock and should start painting next week after it's trimmed!

Paul daydreaming about watching tv in our living room

My office A.K.A The Kitchen

The hardwoods were delivered yesterday to get acclimated to their new home.

Our cedar beam that's going over our fireplace

Our new deck! Lollie and Weebs will love their view of the woods--so serene!

12 weeks and counting...we have about 7 weeks left at my parents.

Life is good but we are ready to have our "stuff" back and our own place to crash!

My Contribution...

I mentioned in the previous post that I was recently on the Emerald Coast so I want to give a shout out to the World's Most Beautiful Beaches! If you are from the South I'm sure you know those crystal clear waters and sugar white sand beaches. You've probably spent your share of summers driving the 265 miles down 331 from Birmingham. Since the BP Oil Crisis started there has been no shortage of media coverage but from what I saw there are no oil ridden beaches and plenty of sunbathers and fishermen with a paradise beyond words!

These unspoiled surroundings foster life-long memories of family vacations designed to reflect a simpler time!

I grew up spending just about every weekend (aside from Alabama Football season) at the beach from the time I was 12 until I got married almost 4 years ago. It was more than a way of life, it was a way of living!

Since the beach held so many memories it was the first place I thought of when Paul and I started to plan our wedding. It was the fairytale setting I had always dreamed of celebrating My Wedding Day!

There is no oil, no tar balls, in fact the only tar I saw was a cigarette someone put out in the sand. :(

Do me a favor turn off the T.V. and go see for yourself!

Paradise, Friends & Food

Last weekend we packed up and headed to Destin with some of our friends, John and Lori Macomber and Jeff and Kelli Bollman. Paul and I had lots of fun to look forward to with these fun, loving couples!

Lori, Kelli and I headed down earlier in the day to hang out and go grocery shopping for the 3 days we would be staying. :)

As you can tell it started with lots of fun and food at the grocery store.

The guys were exhausted after an early morning of fishing! They actually did a lot of fishing over the time we were there. Too bad they couldn't provide dinner one night!

Instead we headed out to Baytown one night and ate at the delicious Poppy's!

Paul and I both had lobster and enjoyed playing with our food!

On Sunday we headed to Seaside for an afternoon of shopping!

No Tar Balls in sight!

For all my sewing friends out there I would LOVE to make this for my hope chest! I just LOVED it! Looks like a pretty easy project, huh?