Mom's Garden | Iceland Poppy & Anemone


Today's Mom's Garden is all about a couple of my most favoritist flowers: Iceland Poppies and Anemone! Mom and I planted these little suckers sometime in early October. Growing up from bulbs, they have been going gang-busters for the last couple of weeks, signaling the start of spring! I believe they are flowering a bit early because of our warm weather... normally they come up in April and May. 
My parents have peacocks in their neighborhood and they love to snack on the petals, so I decided to snag a bunch before they're gone and share them here.


I love the bight colors and the crepe-like texture to their slightly translucent petals. Such delicate things! These are flowers that even look good while wilted and dying.

Go out and find some - these little things are guaranteed to brighten your day.



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Project Bake | Bacon Bourbon Caramel Popcorn

Yes, you read it right. Bacon Bourbon Caramel Popcorn. You are probably like me when I read those words, {gasp!} "No! Combining three absolutely wonderful things together in one?! It can't be possible!". Ladies and Gents, I assure you, it's for reals. At the beginning of the year, I received this recipe in my inbox via Daily Candy featuring the creation from LA's Villans Tavern. With a friend's Super Bowl Party in my future, I thought perfect! I needed to try and make this STAT. 
Now, I had never made caramel corn before, let alone a crazy fusion like this one, so I knew that I was going to have to try it out in advance of said Bowl Party.


Note: I used TJ's Apple Smoked Bacon. Don't. Don't use any flavored kind of bacon. It puts a bit of a strange taste to the popcorn. Just use plain bacon.

Click Here to read on!

Of course, I had to taste to make sure the bourbon was still good {never mind that I just bought it the day before}. 
Now, being the type of recipe-follower I am, I blindly went out and bought what it called for. This one called for nine bags of kernel popcorn. Nine bags. Didn't even phase me. After running out of bowls to hold the first bag of air-popped popcorn, I realized I had eight more bags to pop. Believe me, I even contemplated washing out my kitchen trash can to hold it all. Then I stood back and thought, 'Am I crazy?? How many people do they expect me to be serving? A thousand? Screw that! I'm just popping one bag.' 
So I didn't just halve the recipe, I quartered it. Much more manageable.
Oh, PS: The recipe calls for popping the corn in a pot with oil, but the air popper is much easier {and less oil/fat} and runs much less risk of burning.


Also, if you are a fan of more salty zings in your popcorn, cook a few more strips than it calls for. 
Also, cook it so that it's nice and crispy - you don't want chewy bacon in this popcorn.


After you coat the popcorn with the caramel mixture, it'll seem soggy. Don't worry, it'll dry out and harden/crystalize in the oven.
Also, spread the popcorn in a pan/sheet that has sides. You are going to be lightly mixing it every 15 minutes - sides help to keep it inside the pan instead of all over the bottom of the oven.


The popcorn is at it's best right out of the oven. Seriously, melt-in-your-mouth good. So, I would try to make it the same day as your party. Have it with a glass of milk. So yummy!

Find the original recipe here
Oh, and for the record, I decided not to make this for the Super Bowl Party. It was just too much for me to deal with when the weekend finally came. I made something entirely different and stupendous. Which, I will blog about at another time.
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Sliding Doors

In a world where I host a backyard Oscar party in Palm Springs...
I would wear this dress, with this bracelet and this necklace
while sipping on deliciously gorgeous, slightly dirty martinis like this
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Project Adventure | The Backyard

So, I recently found this really cool iPhone app called Pano {on sale for half-off!}. It lets you take photos in succession and then automatically stitches them together. So easy.  So, I thought I'd share this awesome photo from last night. {No, I'm not trying to make any of you in 30 degree weather jealous. Well, maybe a little.}
click the image for a larger view
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Monthly Obsession | BHLDN

So, if I were getting married or even thinking of getting married in the near future, my head would just about explode from today's launch of the bridal/wedding inspiration shop, BHLDN. I think there are a lot of soon-to-be-brides' fainting all over the country right about now. BHLDN is the newest creation from Anthropologie. Given my obsession with Anthropologie, I'm sure I'll be checking in on the site regularly for inspiration, not just bridal junk.
Of course the geniuses at Anthro have thought of everything - gowns, bridesmaid dresses, jewelry, shoes, lingerie, hair accessories and cover-ups. It has a breadth of style options from traditional & sweet to all out funky - but all very elegant. They even have a "flow player" video of the model moving around in the gown to see how it moves. Such a great idea! 
They have also added a section similar to Pinterest where you can "pin" your ideas onto a virtual collage moodboard to keep inspiration flowing with items from the site. 
Of course, there is also the "What Kind Of Bride" section to help you pick out styles. 
(I might have filled in the blanks and may or may not have come out with "Lady With A Twist" category, but of course I'm not getting married any time soon, so why would I bother?) 

I'm also loving their "Nuptials of Yesteryear" section with old wedding photos. Many traditional a few, hilariously, not so traditional.
Go check it out, yes even if you're not getting married, it's fun {and pretty}!
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Project Adventure | Huntington Dog Beach

This edition of Project Adventure is dedicated to a great little place down here in Orange County. 
Dog Beach, a couple miles above Main St Huntington Beach. Mom, Dad and I took a trip out there with Zoe, their yellow lab. She loves it, when we get close, Zoe sticks her nose out the window and wags her tail in anticipation.
If you have a pooch {or two, or three} you can guarantee that they are going to LOVE Dog Beach. Heck, even if you don't have a dog, you'll love it.
A mile-long stretch of beach located between 21st and Seapoint Streets. Where dogs can run around off-leash and jump around in the waves. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends {especially in the summer}, so it's a bit nicer early in the morning if you like it mellow. Like, 7:00am early. If you do get caught in the crowd, be sure your dog is mild-tempered because puppies can get pretty carried away with all the euphoria. But, guaranteed, your canine will be tuckered out when you get home!
Be sure to put a couple towels in the car to wipe paws off afterward... unless you enjoy having sand all over the back seat.

Bring your surfer friend too, because the waves here are pretty decent {from what I've heard}. There are always guys and gals out there having a good time.
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Mom's Garden | Tangerines!

While those of you on the east coast are enjoying the snowflakes and frigid temps, I'm sending this to you to brighten your day. Tangerines! They are such a happy fruit, don't you agree? {sigh}
Mom has a tangerine tree in her garden, in an area she calls The Orchard or, as her Dad used to call his back-backyard area, The South 40.
Fruit typically appear on this little tree from October to April. They all ripen at just about the same time, so when it's fruiting, man is it fruiting! I picked 66 tangerines and barely made a dent! Super sweet, only a tiny bit tart, bite-sized with skin that falls away super easily {and doesn't get under your fingernails}. So yummy!
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New Section: Looking Up

One thing I noticed while living in New York was that people never looked up. I'm not talking about being pessimistic, I'm talking about literally looking upward. Toward the sky, aloft, to the heavens... you get the idea. With that thought, I wanted to start another category on MyLifeEclectic. Looking Up.
Next time you're out and about, try it. Look up. You might spot something cool.
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New Year

Happy New Year!
I know this picture may be a strange one to start off the New Year, but I thought it was funny. 
I guess this  is the way people in my neighborhood get rid of their Christmas trees.
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