Tinamou Stitched Tunic

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I had tried The Tinamou Stitched Tunic (now sold out, but the same designers made this gorgeous top more appropriate for winter) on over the summer. I fell in love with it, but because it was sleeveless, I put it in my wishlist and made myself forget about it.

By the way, did you know “Tinamou” is a type of bird? Each time I look up an unknown Anthroplogie word, it usually means “bird.” I think I have cracked my head the code.

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Then one day, many months later, it popped back into stock after being sold out. I scored it for $20. The Mothers Jeans were a different popback at $8. Retail price for those was over $200. I knew I wanted to layer the fun tunic for the fall, so I paired it with a simple long sleeve tee from H&M.

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The fun details on this top are so intricate and bright. There are black pompoms on the bottom. It is hard to tell because of my black pants.

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I also wore my fringed booties. We took these pictures in a nearby park, because my husband had to get to work. But I wanted a picture of this outfit.

Winning.

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These over the top neon hoop earrings are recently from Forever 21. They were less than $5 and they stole my heart. The neon bracelets garnered their own post a few months ago.

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I wore this outfit to my son’s junior high school, because it was parents eat lunch with their kids day. I thought he would not want me to go.

I was right.

His exact words were, “Mom, I’m not embarrassed by you. Well, only a little embarrassed. But they play music at lunch. I don’t think you can control yourself.”

He knows me too well.

But I promised I would behave. And by behave, I meant not dance on the lunch table. It was a promise I have avoided making for years. Thankfully my husband did not hear me say it and therefore still does not know that I am capable of such actions.

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To the vast relief of my son, we could not hear any music from our lunch table.

Phew.

It was a close one.

Have you scored any deals lately? If you have children, do you embarrass your kids? Do you dance to music in public? Do you keep unknowingly buying clothes named after birds?

In Which Bigger Is Better: Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I thought I made big chocolate chip cookies. I thought this. But then one day I had the crazy idea to use this giant scoop. And our lives have never been the same.

Because bigger is better.

At least when it comes to treats.

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Here is how I do it. This scoop. This wonderful giant scoop. I got mine from Pampered Chef.

This recipe makes thirteen giant cookies. If you eat the cookie dough (I have to say this probably is not healthy. Eat at your own risk, ’cause it has raw eggs) like we did, you will be left with eleven. You will still be happy.

; )

Ingredients:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup organic brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 sticks softened salted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
*Caviar from one vanilla bean

Preheat oven to 360 degrees or 335 convect bake.

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With a hand mixer in a bowl or with your mixer: Cream butter and sugars until light, about two minutes. Add vanilla. Incorporate by mixing. Add eggs one at a time until mixture is fluffy. About one minute per egg.

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Add salt and baking soda. Nope. I don’t sift. I just blend these in first. I have never had a problem. I think sifting is highly over rated. Mix together with the beater on low.

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Add flour one cup at a time and beat on low. Add last 1/2 cup. Beat on low. Mix in chocolate chips.

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Scoop cookies onto cookie sheet with your giant scoop. Your sheet will probably hold six cookies maximum. Flatten cookie dough with your palm. When you are done, wash your hands. You should definitely not lick your palms in the kitchen when no one is looking like a human cat.

; )

Put cookie tray in oven. Bake eleven minutes. After eleven minutes, check cookies. Mine always take another two minutes after this.

Remove from oven.

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Let cookies cool on sheet for one minute. With a spatula, remove cookies to a cooling rack.

Repeat with remainder of the cookie dough.

Cookies are ready to consume after five minutes on the cooling rack.

Yum! Warm chocolate chip cookies? Is there anything better?

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Oh yes! Giant warm chocolate chip cookies!

* Edited on 3/12/2014 If you do not have a vanilla bean, increase vanilla extract to 2 teaspoons instead of one.

I shared this on Savvy Southern Style