Hiiiiii! My name is Tara and I'm so glad you stopped by!

This blog is about transformation, restoring old things and finding purpose.

I started this blog in 2014 to tell the tales of my vintage picking trips around Virginia. Soon it became much more as I branched out to write about other topics and even hosted guest writers from all walks of life. After yet another hiatus, I am returning on my own as an older and possibly wiser writer ready to focus on simple things that bring joy.

A little bit about me...

 At 9 a.m. on April 23, 1981, I made my debut on earth. Since then I have lived in 4 states (New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia) and 1 foreign country (Italy). Growing up, I performed self-written songs for all of my dolls, conquered the rare and unusual world of ventriloquism, discovered my love for vintage fashion (by raiding my grandma's closet for dress-up clothes), and somehow managed to survived high school.

Post college, in 2007, I packed up everything I owned  into my 2001 Chevy Malibu and drove to Northern Virginia to start over. Life in Virginia has proven to be a great adventure including matrimony and motherhood, grad school, exploring the state, searching for buried treasures in piles of antiques, decorating our house with estate sale finds, and staying in shape with Jazzercise.

As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of coffee, you'll never find me without my favorite Anthropologie mug and Bialetti espresso maker. I empathize greatly with city bus drivers, but I have a deeper desire to advocate for social justice among women.

All of this coffee keeps me fueled for writing Haiku's with my husband Michael, playing hide-and-seek with my 5 year old daughter, chasing my three year old son through the neighborhood (because he is so fast), and snuggling with my 9 month old daughter. I come from a strong Italian background and for us it’s all about food and family, two of my most favorite things.

At the ripe age of 6, I gave my heart to Jesus. I have been forever changed by His love. I adore singing His praises in worship and learning more about Him through studying His Word. My Christian faith is at the heart of all I do and who I do it for.

 Please join me in all the fun as we rummage through piles of antiques, cry over Hallmark movies, make school lunches, and find joy and purpose in everyday things.

Welcome!