YOU could totally make these!

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Lush tropical landscaping...and a little lime in your coconut...

Happened across a great post over at Lime in your Coconut today which was very timely for me.

Whilst out on morning errands, which consisted of stopping by our 4th little investment property, and doing a drive-by photo session on a home for a BPO (broker price opinion), we drove past a home that made me a little green with envy. Okay, a lot green...like a palm frond.

Image found at HGtv

It was a small, older home. I mean older in terms of Spring Hill. We're talking 70's. That's like ancient around here, lol. Nothing that would normally knock your socks off except that leading from the driveway to the front door it was a tropical oasis. The likes of which I have coveted ever since first spotting such beauty when visiting my aunt in Fort Lauderdale. I wanted to pull into their drive way. Fix myself a bellini. And casually stroll up that walk way feeling like an exotic goddess with a hibiscus flower carelessly perched behind one ear.

image found at HawaiianDays

Now, you're probably thinking "why not just do that at your house, Nat?" (I like that you call me Nat because we're cool like that.) Well, I want to. Believe me, I want to. Issue I have is that I bought a home in a deed restricted neighborhood. Plus side is that it is soooo pretty in here, and everyone has to keep their landscaping and homes in good condition, no rusted out cars on lawns, etc., etc. Negative side is that I can't create a tahitian jungle in my front yard. I'm ever so slowly creating one in the back (shhhhh! I only told you that because we're cool, don't snitch on me, k?) but I have to behave with the front. The pic in my header is my home and you can see that I've added a palm tree and a bird of paradise and am working my way to "controlled tropical" I'm calling it.


Please head over to Lime in your Coconut to read her post, and check out her beautiful tropical landscaping and home while you're there. If you want the full effect grab a little peach nectar and proseco on your way. Or maybe just a sweet tea.

WHAT???!!! (Top Design Spoiler)

Do not read any further if you haven't watched the finale yet and are intending to.




Last warning.





This was my reaction to the winner:

I was totally pulling for:

Preston Lee

In my search for a pic of Preston, I came across this post.

It's here, it's here!

Guess what arrived! It's WICKED AWESOME! lol

My Wicked banner that I won in Art-n-Sewl's give away came in, yay!

Being from MA, wicked is a part of my vocabulary. I thought this was normal for a big part of my life. I now know it is not. Things can either be wicked pretty or wicked ugly...wicked small or wicked tall...wicked cheap or wicked expensive...you get the idea, right? It's a little added spice to absolutely any adjective. Wicked handy.

Here's my wicked pretty prize hanging on my mantle. It's so pretty it deserves a much nicer mantle to hang on:

by Art-n-Sewl

My poor photo taking skills are not showcasing this properly. I'm looking at it now as I type and the letters are sparkling, and that green fabric....oh, I could live in that fabric, it's that pretty. Please visit her Etsy shop, where you will not only fall in love with her work, but will find that she's offering 20% off right now. Wicked cool.

If you like busts...

and who doesn't? Please go here for a chance to win a wonderful prize!

And while you're there, help my contest winner, Mommy2LilGems, select her prize from A Fanciful Twist's Etsy shop! She's having a hard time choosing (can't say I blame her), and wants your input.

Here's one that reminds me of where we were at yesterday, Weeki Wachee!

The Sirens One Wish - A Fanciful Twist

St. Augustine, FL...or maybe not?

Josh and I are trying to figure out where to take our annual mini-road trip to this year. We did Key West last year and are tempted to head right back down. I've heard great things about St. Augustine though, and think it might be the way to go.

Have you been there? Any suggestions?

I'd love to hear them!

Update: Just realized it's quite a bit north of us...being that we'll be going to celebrate my B-day at the end of December this could mean chillyness. My life is all about avoiding any weather where I can't wear my flip flops so I might need to re-think this.

Any suggestions for alternatives in points south?

A Taste of Jazz...

Just got in from Weeki Wachee where Snew and the Springstead High School Jazz Ensemble performed at the HCFAC A Taste of Jazz. So much fun, so much food, and so much jazz to groove to. This is totally going to be an annual thing for us. If you live anywhere near Spring Hill, FL, it should be for you, too.

We enjoyed Thai Chicken with Rice, Hummus, Tzatziki, Tabouli, Chicken Parmesan....and there was soooo much more we didn't sample yet but will be sure to do so next year. Oh my goodness was everything yummy.

Once we were good and stuffed (I think it cost us under 10 bucks for the 3 of us and we had quite a variety!) we made our way over to watch the Jazz band. This was their first venture out of school grounds to perform, and I'm hoping it won't be their last. Super talented kids. We were grooving. Girl from Impanema was Li's favorite song.

Once I get the pics off my camera I'll post a couple. Li bought the most beautiful mermaid, of course...we were at Weeki Wachee after all!

Go here for more info on the Hernando County Fine Arts Council, and all they offer.