National Cheesecake Day

Have you bought your Cheesecake to celebrate the day?

Cheesecake Factory is having a special today. Half price off any slice! (although, last year you got a FREE slice)

I don't even like cheesecake so why am I posting this?

It's Complete!

Construction is complete, furniture has been moved in, everything has been dusted, and we're happy!

We are thrilled will the outcome. It turned out better than we had expected. Here are a few pictures!

The entry into the new area off the gameroom

A different view

Looking down the hall. The double glass doors are entry into the cigar room

The cigar room minus the rug. That should be coming in this week and will complete the room!
This room has weather stripped interior doors and a special ventilation unit. The cigar smoke doesn't leave the room. So nice.

A different view (sorry about the picture hanging a little crooked on the wall....I'll go straighten that now!)

Entry into Brent's guitar room

Firetruck red walls, black trim. A very cool room!

A different view. Please excuse the navy leather chair....that will be replaced soon!

The bar is not new, but the liquor on it is. Finally have that bar stocked after two years!


Come on over and see it in person anytime!

Drink Your Dessert

Yum-O! From Rachel Ray comes these delicious dessert cocktails. I don't know which I want to try first! How about serving these in a shot glass with it's namesake cookie.
Vanilla Wafer Whirl
Liquid Oreo
Chocolate Chip Martini
Mint Milano Remix
Oatmeal Cookie Crush

Happy 14th Birthday, Nicholas Garrett

Today is Nick's 14th Birthday!

Nick is growing SO fast! He is currently 5'8'' and 143 lbs.

To a very loving, sensitive, handsome, smart, (I'm going to say it) LAZY, downright great son - Happy Birthday! We love you, Nick!

We chopped it!

Ashlan has been wanting a haircut for awhile now. I've been procrastinating on letting her get it cut because it took 5 years to grow to the current length (seriously!) and it's so easy to pull back in a ponytail or braid... Yet on another note, it needed a cut BAD! Actually, it needed to be chopped. Her hair is so sensitive and has had a green tint for quite awhile now due to chlorinated water. We needed to chop that green off!

Well, today was the day! A quick flashback to what her hair used to look like..

Here is Kate doing Ashlan's hair

Here is Brent trying to brush out Ashlan's long hair (Ashlan's expression is priceless!)

And here is Ashlan now......7 inches cut off. No more green. Ashlan loves it and that's all that matters...

A Fun Piece

I love this Farmhouse Tiered Basket from Southern Living at Home

There are so many fun ways to use this basket...
A place to keep some cups, plates, and fruit handy....

You can use it strictly for fruits or veggies..


I've even seen these baskets filled with washcloths and soaps on bathroom counters...

My mom has this basket and came up with the best idea to use it for..... so I decided to steal her idea and make one for myself.

I went to World Market and bought five of these small jars... $2.99 each

Then I placed a treat in each jar.
The top two are filled with sweets: M&M's and Runts
The bottom three are filled with salty snacks: Chex Mix, Chez Its, and Corn Nuts

Then I placed the basket on the bar counter upstairs...
Snacks for everyone!


Love this piece!

Craft Room

Now that Brent has a new larger guitar room upstairs, I get to move into his old guitar room. I have been using the exercise room upstairs as a set up for my embroidery and sewing machine. I am beyond excited that I can now utilize Brent's old guitar room as a craft room for ME now. So I've been moving the sewing machines and craft items down to that room.....therefore the exercise room remains just that, an exercise room; without the clutter of craft machines and items... Each room finally has its own purpose!

Here is what I'm up against in the new craft room. It's not a large area, but it's enough. The two large windows bring in plenty of light and there is enough space for me to put my embroidery table up against one wall, and the computer table on another...

Both tables aren't the 'color' I prefer.....therefore, I plan on finding a fun fabric and making tablecloths to lay over the tables.
As for the tv on the wall, that's not staying. That's getting moved to Nick's room and I don't want a tv in my craft room anyways.

A different angle. Love the windows that look out of the pool!

Here is Brent's old built in guitar racks. I've stacked some craft drawers on them for now. Not sure how I'm going to handle this corner of the room... Maybe use some fabric to hang in front of the racks to hide my goodies behind it.....not sure though.. Notice the piece of whimsy art I found and hung on the wall temporarily until I can find a permanent spot for it in the room.

Found this fun lamp at Hobby Lobby for $30. It's thin, but tall. I love it! It's bright and fun! I'm going to base my color scheme in the craft room around this lamp!

Now here are some other people's craft rooms that I am using for inspiration and ideas....
For example, I love the two different green tone walls...

I love love love the wall shelf that holds all the ribbons in this picture! I MUST have something like this made! I MUST!

Here's a closer look...

I loved the letters that spelled CREATE on the wall in this room... Yesterday, I picked up wooden letters to spell CREATE that will hang somewhere in my room.....just don't know what color I'll paint them yet. That'll probably be one of the last things I do.

This is where I got the idea to forgo the curtains and just paint the room a fun color and find some fun fabrics to make tablecloths for the two tables... This is a cute room here.


It's a work in progress, but one I'm excited about. If you have any ideas or opinions for this room, I'd love to hear them!

Summer Sweets

I probably have the world's biggest sweet tooth! Cookies, cupcakes, cake, etc..... I love it all! So it's not surprising that when I came across these summer cupcake ideas online, I had to share.

Are these not just too cute!

First of all, for the man in your life that plays golf.....How cute would these be to have on the counter for your man when he walks in from a long, hot day of golf.... (Emily - you need to make these for John)


For a pool or beach party - they look fairly easy to make!


LOVE these! For Spring or Summer.... a lollipop and some sprinkles.. So easy!


I think I'll be getting creative with cupcakes in the kitchen soon!

Playa Del Carmen

Brent and I just got back from a wonderful, relaxing trip to Playa. We were in Playa 18 months ago and absolutely loved the resort we stayed at, so this time we booked our stay at the same resort again. No disappointment! We just love this particular resort and due to the economy and Swine Flu scare, the resort was ONLY 30% full. It was like we had the entire resort to ourselves. That, in itself, was worth every penny! I can't wait to go back!

We stay in the swim-up casita's. They are so nice! You can walk out on your deck and straight into the water. The water swim-way leads to your own personal pool for that section of casitas. Our section included Brent and I, our two friends, and another couple we met from McKinney. We had our own pool bartender and all. Heaven!

Our casita deck

Our personal pool

The main pool at the resort, although we never utilized this pool

Brent and I

Love this boy! Every night, we would hang out on these beds by the beach with our friends, drink wine, listen to the ocean, and play some music on the laptop. Just an awesome time!

We all got a morning massage out on the beach. Talk about relaxation!

Swinging in my seat at the Beer Bucket in downtown Playa. Big Al, a DJ for Kiss FM (106.1) and a friend of a friend own this bar.

Brent and I at the Beer Bucket

And to our surprise, in downtown Playa there is a Cigar Shop called Morgan's. How appropriate!!


Can't wait for our next trip to Playa! And we are lucky to say that we brought back only sand in our shoes, a few seashells, and a bottle of champagne. No Swine!