Let's Catch Up

Well, a lot has been going on but let's start slow.

Thanksgiving. Really nice to have Emily home from school and that helped me from being super stressed about the parental units.

I should have taken a pic of my layers of batik and sunflowers on my dining room table but by the time I thought about it dinner was over and I was drunk.

Then mom and I took Emily back to school. This trip I called the "Thelma and Louise" car ride. Although Louisiana has no cliffs, there were times when I wanted to take the car into a large ditch.

Although it was a really quick trip due to mom needing surgery, we were able to get together with mom's sister, my Aunt Peggy.

They are so faking that they like each other. These 2 are the queens of Snarkyville.

Mom got to see her childhood home:

We went to LSU's campus and saw Mike the Tiger:

Here he is pooping:

Then came home and had surgery.

She did well and that part of life is good.

I leave tomorrow morning for Orlando to deal with Dad. The upside is that my sister is meeting me there so I am hoping to get some good drunk pics of us because I promise that will need to happen.

My dad has been diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia so we need to find the right place for him to be. Probably TMI but that is the reason for the need for cocktails.

So there you go...the reason for my absence. It just seemed silly to post about paint colors or fabric choices.

Have a good weekend. I am off to Crazytown.

Overwhelmed And Thankful

I find it so interesting that you can one minute be cruising along, doing mundane ordinary shit and the next minute everything gets turned upside down.

That is what has happened here.

Super condensed version of story is I have both parents, who live in different states, ill and need immediate attention.

I am one person, my daughter is flying in for the holidays, and I just want to focus on that.

I just want to take this opportunity to thank my friends now and in advance, because I am going to REALLY rely on these girlfriends for support. Girlfriends are so key in my life and I have been blessed to have some of the most creative, intelligent and sympathetic women surrounding me.

I am thankful for a supportive and loving husband and am so blessed to be apart of this crazy clan of Crochet's. His family is truly the best.

So I have decided instead of getting bogged down in the negative, I will concentrate on the positive.

I have my family, my health, friends and am constantly amazed at the love that surrounds me every single day.

I am thankful.

From Menopause To Mylar

This post may not make sense but here goes.

A friend from high school called me over the weekend and told me the greatest story. She had a date with a guy she didn't know well so she agreed to meet him at a restaurant. After a long meal he asked her if she would like to go to his house for a drink. She followed him and ended up at my old house that I grew up in!

She wasn't really interested in the guy but she had to get in that house.

This house was built by my grandparents and was a ranch style mid century mod home complete with a front door with the knob in the middle.

She didn't go through the whole house because that would have been awkward since she was planning to bale out soon but she did hit some key areas that I was curious about.

One was the kitchen. Of course all appliances had been replaced with stainless steel and counter tops were marble but what I was most sad about, but not surprised, was that our wallpaper on the ceiling was gone.

It was yellow and silver mylar and super cool.

So to the menopause part, I have not slept in a few nights. I feel like I am headed to a slow death. I will sleep for about 2 hrs then I am awake because I am on fire and awake I stay. So that leads to watching tv or surfing the net.

Thinking about my old house, I started looking for that groovy wallpaper that was on our kitchen ceiling and what do you know...I found it on etsy:

Source: google.com via Melissa on Pinterest

The etsy seller is Kitshcy Koo Collage and they have the greatest vintage papers.

This one caught my eye and know of a certain friend of mine that would pee her pants if she came across this at an estate sale:

Source: etsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Anyway...

Immediately I felt the extreme need to order it...along with knife sets and wrinkle cream from QVC. I'm sad for Pam that her date didn't work out but so glad she got to wander briefly through my old home and give me an update. I'm also sad I may spontaneously combust any day now.

Good Dots Bad Dots

I am not a huge polka dot fan but there are ways to do it so it doesn't seem juvenile.

Good dots:

Source: Uploaded by user via Kristin on Pinterest

I actually found this wallpaper, made by York Wallcoverings, at Home Depot for $81.98.

I think pairing it with the black lacquered cabinets keeps it sophisticated.

 Bad dots:

Source: mylifetime.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Bye Bye Suade

And that is the lesson for the day.

I Just Realized I'm Old

This past weekend was a reality check.

Friday we drove to Louisiana, picked up Emily from school, and headed to BR for the LSU/Bama game. We always stay at our best friends house and behaved relatively well that night.

 

Saturday morning came and the cooking started.

Drooling yet?

Those my friends are crawfish pies.

Here is the recipe:

 

Pat Johnson's Crawfish Pies

1 Tbs olive oil

1 med onion

1 med bellpepper

1 bunch of green onions

1 Tbs parsley

3 Tbs minced garlic

1 lb crawfish tails

1 pint whipping cream

9 cups mild cheddar cheese

3 Tsp oregano

1/2 Tsp thyme

1/2 Tsp salt

1/2 Tsp black pepper

1/2 Tsp cayenne pepper

1 Tsp La hot sauce

24 small tart shells

2 Tbs flour

Keep tart shells in freezer until called for in recipe. Shred crawfish tails (retain fat) with knife. Chop onion, bell pepper, green onions, and parsley. Sautee them in olive oil until soft. Add oregano, thyme, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Add garlic. Add crawfish and sautee 5 min. Add whipping cream, simmer about 10 min. Increase heat and add 3 cups of cheese, stirring constantly. Add flour if necessary so that it is not in liquid state. Spoon mixture into shells and top off with more cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 min.

So Ann made those and Randy made black eye pea jambalaya.

Needless to say we ate well that day.

The ride to campus was challenging since we had 10 people to fit into a suburban:

There were 3 in the front, 4 in the middle (that's Em laying across us), and 3 in the third seat.

Thank God we are all close friends.

The campus was packed. Here is a pick of tailgate parties around us:

That is an ice luge shot dispenser. It is a block of ice with 2 grooves carved into it where the wonderful bartender pours you the shot of your choice.

I visited that a few times.

This tailgate party was nice enough to provide a pole for dancing options.

I did not participate in that.

We lost. We went to bed at 3am after consuming liquid therapy.

Home again and spent yesterday catching up...laundry, removal of pet hair and waiting for Housewives of Beverly Hills to come on.

DIY Spider and Weekend Plans

At our house we have a theme for our Halloween decorating.

Last year it was "Welcome To Death Valley"...in other words LSU themed. 

This year it was "Attack of the Giant Spider".

Our neighborhood goes all out...like one house is always Wizard of Oz themed with the movie going outside and special effects. One house hands out candy to children and jello shots to the adults. We are pretty competitive in our home so we...Christopher and I...got to work.

Here is our spider made with pvc pipe painted black, garbage bag filled with leaves, and 2 bike helmets sprayed black and put together:

We inserted a red light inside for extra creepy eyes.

Then we hung a zombie covered in spider web and small spiders from the tree above Spidey:

We covered the front porch, bushes, and trees in webbing and then sat back with a bottle of red and shoveled out candy.

Tomorrow I head out for Baton Rouge to go to the LSU/Bama game...like a pig heading to slaughter.

Sending My Love

I'm sure everybody knows someone that has been affected by Satan's Handmaiden Sandy.

 I have a sister that lives in Connecticut and I finally got word today that her and her family are fine but obviously will be without power for quite sometime. 

Having grown up in Louisiana, we have been through our share of storms and hurricanes, but this is a different bitch all together.

I hate this feeling of not being able to help. I'm a fixer and problem solver and I can't fix this.

So as any good southern woman does, I cook. Yep...soup cures everything. So here is the best mushroom soup recipe ever:

Source: blog.seasonwithspice.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Homemade Mushroom Soup by Season with Spice Serves 2 Ingredients: 300g or 2 cups fresh mushrooms - cleaned and chopped finely (I used a mix of swiss brown and white button) 1 tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic - chopped 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 - 2 bay leaf 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock 1 tbsp flour dissolved in 1 tbsp water Salt to taste 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup milk Dash of nutmeg Freshly ground black pepper to taste Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish Method: 1. Heat olive oil in a sauce pan. Add butter and lightly sauté garlic on medium heat. 2. Add in mushrooms, thyme, bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the moisture from the mushrooms disappears. 3. Add in chicken broth. Stir occasionally until broth boils, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 4 Add diluted flour in, and stir constantly (while simmering) until the mixture thickens. Season with salt and nutmeg. Taste and adjust seasoning. 5. Finally, add milk and heavy cream, and bring to a simmer. Turn heat off. 6. Serve hot in your soup bowl. Add freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley or thyme if you have Read more: http://blog.seasonwithspice.com/2011/12/cream-of-mushroom-soup-recipe.html#ixzz2AozPF9jG

Flea Market Weekend

It's that time again folks...Flea Market Weekend...and not just any old FM but October FM!

It is notoriously the best one so the girls and I hit not only on Friday but Sunday as well.

I will separate this post into 3 categories.

1.Here are my purchases:

these are actually a soft grey and I need to repaint my staircase

2. Things I wanted but didn't get

the only reason why I didn't get this is because someone pointed out to me that it looked like a vag

one day I will own a gold cowhide rug

3. Things that make you go hmmm

plastic Halloween army

plastic Christmas army

The 2 holiday armies were a little unnerving in person. Hope you had a great weekend!

Thank You Craig

....these will be perfect in the New Orleans townhome.

Source: neworleans.craigslist.org via Melissa on Pinterest

$100.00 for both!

A New Orleans Townhome

Our best friends have bought a townhome on St. Charles!

Obviously the location is perfect and Mardi Gras season just got interesting.

It is 3 beds 2 baths and full of potential...it just needs some tweaking and that's where I come in.

They envision a white space with pops of color but staying true to the area. This home will be used as a rental from time to time so fabrics and surfaces have to be durable...it is New Orleans...parties will be going on.

 I have created an inspiration board for them on Pinterest titled Ann's New Orleans Townhome for them to grab ideas from.

Here are some pics of how it looks now:

Foyer

I envision this

Source: creators.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: annesage.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: blueprintbliss.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

French doors in living room with transoms

My idea for this room

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: atlantahomesmag.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: housetohome.co.uk via Melissa on Pinterest

The kitchen has a copper hood and decent counter tops with distressed white/cream cabs...not our favorite but can be worked with so here is my inspiration

 

Source: houzz.com via Melissa on Pinterest

The dining room is a blank slate so here is my suggestion

Source: sarahcatherinedesign.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: blog.glamourdrops.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: delightfull.eu via Melissa on Pinterest

This fixture reminds me of a musical instrument which would be perfect and Lord knows this needs to be replaced:

The interior courtyard

Bedrooms are blank slates as well and need to be kept luxurious but simple

Source: shelterness.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: countryliving.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: luxuryd3sign.tumblr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I am so happy for them and can't wait for some long weekends in my favorite city.


If anyone else needs help with a space , I have plenty of vision left over for you too.

I'm Back And A Little Bored

First and foremost I have to say Chicago is an INSANELY AMAZING town!

I'm in love with the whole thing...from the suburbs (gag usually and can't wait to get out of one day) to the city.

Love using public transportation

Love the architecture

Love the people...and I thought southerners were the only nice ones

Love the cleanliness

Love having options

Love the pace...everyone has a sense of urgency yet not in a rude way

I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people and one in particular lives in a 1914 craftsman style home. His house was full of charm and character and I wish I could have photographed every single detail. I did manage to snap some pics of my favorite moments:

This was obviously at night so hard to see details but the windows are leaded glass with mint green colored accents in them.

You know I'm a sucker for vintage portrait art and he did not disappoint. He said "you can never have enough strangers on your wall". I agree.

He had a pair of Blackamore Chalkware sconces that he had purchased from a home in Hollywood.

I have no words...just envy.

Another fine home I saw happened to be Frank Lloyd Wright's home/studio.

His homes were sprinkled all over the burbs there.

I also had the opportunity to spend a few days in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, or what I will call the Hampton's of Chicago.

I could have taken a pic of every "estate" there but one in particular stood out...not just in architecture but because of the story.

The story of the woman that owns this property is inspiring to say the least and as a pay it forward gesture, she has created a "miracle path" along her property. An artist painted inspirational quotes along the path that are meaningful to her and she has placed a podium in front of her home with a notebook so people can put down there thoughts, troubles, or prayers. After writing down whatever you need to, you ring a brass bell and that symbolizes asking for your miracle.

You can read about this amazing woman's story and home here

Of course I had to do a little junkin there and I stumbled across this

This is a perm machine!!!!!!!!!

They were asking $275.00 for it and if anyone out there is opening a hair salon, this would be the coolest thing EVER to put on display. I can totally see a ultra modern sleek space with this in it.

So after landing back in Nashville, I unpacked my gloves, scarves and sweaters for purple and gold attire and headed home for this:

Yeah...we kicked some Gamecock ass

Now home again and feel like this: