Anyone Want A Cat?

This is what Elsie did last night -

There were tears. . . lots and lots of tears. . . and there was swearing. . . lots and lots of swearing. . . and there was threatening of sending her back outside. . . and then she curled up on my lap and said "moow" (yes, Elsie meows like Sponge Bob's snail Gary). . .

Fiesta Party Invites

As I mentioned in my last post - I really like party planning. So this year I'm going all out and not letting a single detail fall by the wayside. Being that the first thing your guests see is the party invitation, that's where we'll start.

This is an edited version of the invitation I sent out to my guests -

I wanted something simple, casual, and most importantly FUN. How can you beat a chihuahua with promises of tacos and margaritas for all. . . crap, I just noticed that I misspelled margaritas. . . okay, so maybe I shouldn't have made these in the middle of the night and sent them out without proofing them. . . guess I can say that Emmett made them. . .

Oh well, if you don't mind the misspelling I have a lovely blank PDF version is here for your downloading pleasure.

This post might be better suited for the Biscuit & Sissy blog, but, whatever - I make my own rules.

What Kind Of Girl Do You Think I Am?

Well, I guess I deserve what I got, I did ask you to guess why I have 20 margarita glasses in the backseat of my car. . .

But, no, Lisa, I'm not learning to play the glasses. . . and no, Gene, just because I used to take silverware when I was in college does not make me a kleptomaniac. . . Jolie, while I didn't get wasted and take them with me from a party, your guess was the closest though - I have 20 margarita glasses in my backseat because I'm going to be having a party soon. I turn the dreaded 29 in 45 days and to celebrate (or numb the pain, whatever) I am hosting a Fiesta.

Why am I sharing this all with you, well, see, I like to throw parties - it's fun, and well, it's pretty much all that's going on at my house at the moment, so deal with it.

P.S. Jolie - I love love love Mt. Airy. . . we hit up Goober's every time we're in North Carolina.

Margaritas in Bulk

I currently have 20 if these glasses in the backseat of my car. . . can you guess why?

Why?

Did you know you can buy your very own Tap Out (TapouT?, Tapout?) cage bed and matching bedding. . . but would you really want to?

Knock It Off: Eames Shell Chair

I've shared many a knock-off here over the past two years so I thought it was only fair to share my sources in my new "Knock It Off" series. We are starting it off with the lovely Eames Shell Chair.

The real deal from Hive Modern coming in at $349.

1. Eiffel Bucket Chair from Modern Dose for $129!
2. Ayers Wire Base Arm Chair from Overstock - two for $207.99!
3. Baxton Studio Cettina Steel-Base Armchair - two for $211.05!

(you can find the real deal at tons of places online all are pretty much around the same price)

Geeking Out

Okay, so I normally share what I watch, or talk about the crazy amount of t.v. I watch here, but this time I can't help it - my geek is totally showing. All because of tonight's episode of Glee!

Here's what Yahoo had to say about it:

The director and guest star of this week's episode of "Glee" are legen — wait for it — dary! The former is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon. The latter is Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), playing Will's old high-school nemesis, whose arrival could mean trouble for the glee club. Meanwhile, Jesse helps Rachel achieve a lifelong dream, and Tina's tap number inspires Artie's own dancing adventures.

Joss Whedon + NPH + Glee = super duper excited Laurendy (I was going to say "gleeful", but I'm already admitting to being a huge geek, I didn't want to add to that by using a pun). Yep, I'm a total gleek.

On a design note, I totally want to do a few posts on the different rooms of some of the Glee characters, like Rachel's girlie bedroom and Kurt's awesomely modern basement.

Virtual Shopping: Too Cute for Words

I'll admit it, sometimes I buy something just because it's cute. . . I may try and say it's useful, but when it comes down to it, I bought it just because it made me smile. . .

And one of the best places to find the super cute is the Apartment section of ModCloth.

Mulch of Another Color

I was wondering around my local Lowes last week, checking out shed when I stumbled upon black mulch. I've always been a red mulch girl, but not so much by choice, more so because that what I've always had. . . and to be honest, I didn't know there was other options. But now all of a sudden my yard is screaming out for black mulch. My biggest worry is that black mulch will get too hot in the harsh south Florida summer sun, and that it will fad too quickly. The reviews I have read have been mixed. Now I was told that there is also a dark brown mulch option, so maybe I should give that a try. . .

Yes Please

Reminder - I've got a birthday coming up soon. . .

Why?

Just say "no" to themed light switch panels. . .

Backyard Plans

I've got this huge yard that I'm currently unable to do anything with. My side yard sorta looks like a used car lot, my backyard is full of piles of wood, rocks, and sand, and my poor gazebo is being used for storage. . . it's just a mess. . . and it's driving me crazy. While there is nothing I can do about it at the moment, I can dream -


See how pretty it can all be? While a lot of the above (super crappy) rendering are in place, there is still a ton that needs to be done.

Currently have:

• Trees: large mango (center-ish), small oak (bottom left corner), medium sea grape (top left corner)
• Gazebo with paver patio (big black thing on the left)
• Pineapple Garden with misc plantings (upper right corner)
• Tiki god (teal circle under the sea grape tree)
• White Cement Bench (next to the Pineapple Garden)
• Ornamental Grasses (small green blobs at the top between the mango and sea grape)

Would like to have:

• Grass (everywhere)
• Fire Pit Circle (upper right) - got the fire pit for Christmas, just need additional seating
• Raise Pepper Garden (lower right corner)
• Grilling Pad (between the gazebo and the mango tree) - I already have the grill, I just need a place for it to live
• Small Paver Patio outside backdoor (center) - this would require I change out my kitchen window for a backdoor
• Random Paver Pathway (between the gazebo and house)

I have a feeling that it's going to be a long time before my plans can take shape. . .

New to Me South Florida Antique Malls

For Mothers' Day this year my mom, aunt, and I hit some new to use antique malls. First we hit the Cooper City Antique Mall. While it's not super large it had some awesome finds - all three of us found something that just had to come home with us there. Our next stop with the Sugar Chest Antique Mall in good old Pompano Beach. Even though the Sugar Chest has been open about 6 months or so, and is right down the road, this was the first time we went in. The place was huge and had tons of pieces that I would have loved to buy. I almost came home with a 1902's bedroom set.

All in all it was a wonderful day spent with wonderful women, and I can't wait to do it again soon!

Converts

I am always trying to get my friend's to go to Ikea with me (I figure it's less of an obsession if I don't go alone), but I rarely get any takers (they have yet to know the glory that is Ikea). I hate to admit it, but my friends are nonbelievers in the power of Swedish design.

Well, that was true until I was able to convert two of them. It wasn't hard too do, Ikea does most of the work, I just had to point them in the right direction. See one night while I was eating dinner with two of my bestest friends in the whole wide world C and A (who happen to be married to each other) I was asked where they could find a new dining room set - and of course the first word out of my mouth was "Ikea", followed by "duh". C wasn't so sure, she's not a fan of modern design, but I whipped out the go old laptop, pulled up Ikea.com, and next thing you know they're driving down to Sunrise to pick up these -



It's all in a day's work. . .

and NO, Ikea has never given me anything, they don't sponsor this here blog - I am really just that crazy about them.

In Need of Some -

My house is a total mess, the kitchen counter is covered in junk, my closet has exploded all over my bedroom, oh, and don't even get me started on the living room. . .

Attack of the Giant Snail

I swear my house seems to attract giant bugs - first we had crazy huge moths, now we are being attacked by giant snails!

This guy was a good 5 to 6 inches long - he was so big I actually spotted him from the road (a good 45 feet away).

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Okay, this time I am not going to sing the praise of a lovely house with lots of potential, nope, this time I am just going to beg - someone, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE BUY THIS HOUSE!! It's awful, it really is - I'm pretty sure the "addition" is a shed they attached to the house and I'm almost positive that it would have to be removed. It's a mess, it really is - I'm not going to lie to you or sugar coat it. Why would you want to buy this house - other than the fact that you would live near me, I'm not too sure. . . But I would really really really like to see this house sell to someone who wants to clean it up and not just rent it out as-is to another questionable group who are just going to trash it more.

And yes, I didn't share a picture of the house on purpose, it really is that bad.

Heat Lightning Show

Please excuse the super crappy video, but I just had to share the first bit of heat lightning we've had this year, thus marking the official start of summer here in south Florida.

Blog-O-Versary

I just realised that I missed my blog's 2nd anniversary! For some reason I thought it was the 5th, but it's actually the 2nd!

In honor of Laurendy Home turning 2 I was planning on doing some sort of giveaway to thank all you who take the time to stop on by this here blog and have followed along as turn my first house into a home. I was going to work out the details tonight (I know, I know, - super last minute), but since I messed up my dates, I'm going to postpone said giveaway until the end of the month - planning it out a little better, making it a bit more personalized.

Oh, and thank you all for sticking with me these two years - you all don't know how much you have helped me out and encouraged me when I was ready to give up. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!

And yes, I know I'm a complete spaz.

Your Weekly Emmett Fix

I love this little dog way too much.

I'll Tumble For Ya

Okay, so I've given into the evil that is Tumblr and signed up. I figure I can post all the inspiration photo I collect but then don't know what to do with there. So check it out!