Do You Know What Today Is? It's Our Anniversary

Well, it really isn't my anniversary, but I couldn't resist that line from one of my favorite groups, Tony Toni Tone. Alas, we're still on our real life and blogging vacay, so today we'll have the amazing Albertina from Mimosa Lane dishing about wedding anniversary gifts.

 

This is Albertina from Mimosa Lane and I'm so excited to be here at Live, Laugh Decorate today.  Nicole was one of my first blogger friends.  It has been so exciting watching her blog and business grow in this last year.  I just adore her room reveals.  They are always such beautiful and dramatic transformations.   Today, I have some yummy jewelry ideas for anniversary gifts.  So many people get married in the Spring, so I'm sure many of you have anniversaries coming up.  Mine was just last week (eight years!), and so I rounded up a group of beauties to get your  inspiration juices flowing.

I divided my selection into Silver and Gold, and within these High and Low  (keep in mind these high and low prices are all relative!]  You know which pieces are my fave? and represent to me the biggest bang for your buck?  Numbers 4 , 5 , and 6 in the Silver version.  These beauties are made in silver but plated in 18K gold and of course with some beautiful stones added.  The designs are so fun and daring.  This designer, Irene Zingg, really is inspired and has some amazing pieces that can easily be passed down from generation to generation.  These pieces just make me swoon!  I hope you are pampered on your anniversaries!

 

Which are your favorites?

[ GOLD. LO || 1 , 2 , 3.  HI || 4 , 5 , 6 ]

[SILVER. LO || 1 , 2 , 3. HI || 4 , 5 , 6 ]

Happy Hump Day!

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It's midweek aka we're almost there peeps.
Today I'm dishing about those pesky throw pillows over on Houzz. They are my go to source for color in a room.

But just how many is too many? Hint: If you can't get your entire body in the bed at night, then there are too many darn pillows on that bed!
And guess whose throw pillows gets a mention? None other than the amazing Albertina at Mimosa Lane.

Y'all know how much I love me some Albertina. She's been an amazing blogger bestie, and would be on my VIP list were I to throw a blogger soiree. Yep, she would. Loving her new venture and happy to see her business grow.
In other news, today is a big day for NWD. Am uber excited about a contract that's on the table because the design of this space is gonna be bananas! Wish us luck!

Thanksgiving Mash Up and Giveaway Countdown!

Every single diet plan I've been on this year will officially be erased after tomorrow's feasting extravaganza. I shant complain, nor shall I give a rats booty! Here's to everyone enjoying some quality time with friends and family. And here's to me giving two thumbs down to all the people who'll ditch all that quality time, so they can be the first in line at the mall to buy a television or other electronic device that will be obsolete by next month. 
Enjoy, if you will, this mash up of some of my favorite Thanksgiving E-Cards. 

Have an amazing, blessed and safe Thanksgiving Day guys!
p.s.
Debbie and I will be recovering from stuffed turkey syndrome for the remainder of this week and won't be blogging. But I'll of course pop in for a second tomorrow to announce the winner of that fabulous giveaway hosted with Jessie of Mix and Chic. Today is the last day to enter! Hurry people! Hurry!

Halloween for the Grown Kids

So, to be honest I have no idea where the whole madness of Halloween originated. It's not a day we ever celebrated in Jamaica, so Niks and I are sorta clueless about this crazy event. 
We do know that kids go crazy for this day and I'm sure if you ask any kid, Halloween ranks right up there with Christmas and their birthday. But no way should they have all the fun. Halloween should be for grown ups too...minus the trick or treating from door to door of course, cause that's just down right creepy...LOL.
I will never pass up an opportunity to attend an awesome shindig, especially if you're throwing a bash that rivals that of Hef's annual Halloween party at the Playboy Mansion.  Take a peek at some of these grown up Halloween decorations and yes, I'll be on the look out for your e-invite.


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Now the best thing about any Halloween party is the chance to dress up in costumes.
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Dress up as your favorite character in Downton Abbey

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Or dress down as you pay homage to Game of Thrones.
Side note..next to The Wire and Entourage this is the best show HBO has ever aired. If you haven't seen it you are truly missing a treat, be prepared to become addicted. Can't wait for Season 3...sigh..March 2013 seems so far away.

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Or live it up like the crazies on American Horror Story. 
I would pass on the Black Onesie..lol..unless you don't plan on drinking.

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For the True Blood fans....

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Or go totally old school and Ally McBeal it.

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Or mix things up like our dearest Miami friends did here this weekend........

Sophia as madame Flapper, Paula as the Black Swan and I'm pretty sure that is gymnast MacKayla Maroney herself looking very unimpressed.

What are your grown up plans for this Halloween? Or did your grown plans go out the door the minute your kids became old enough to trick or treat?
Have a safe and fun Halloween! 

xoxo

Debbie B.

Spascape

With a full-time job, two part-times ones and all the other stuff that I have to do, I sometimes feel that there will be never be enough hours in the day. It's no wonder I've been dreaming lately of spa days..eight to ten hours of ultimate bliss. You know the world is getting too darn hectic when even rappers are yearning for spa days...LOL

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My ultimate spa day would start with a soothing facial. 

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Followed by a 80 minute foot massage. 

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Capped off my a 2 hour massage.

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Any of these spa locations will definitely fit the bill.

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Local spa dotted with French furniture, balanced with a contemporary design, the Spa at Viceroy Miami. Niks my birthday is in a couple of weeks....hint hint....

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What's your favorite way to de-stress? Are spa days a must have for you or do you just need an hour or two and you're good to go?

xoxo

Debbie B. 

I'm Single Again and Now it's Time to PAAAARTY!?

Engagement parties, bachelor/bachelorette soirees, the uber fabulous wedding and now divorce parties? Lord help us, but yes, the latter has now become quite the trend. So after taking 18 months to plan the wedding of your dreams, including sending out 300 wedding invitations (with no labels mind you, just your perfect handwriting to address each guest), it only takes you three days and 50 e-invite cards to plan your divorce party. Ouch. I know somewhere I'm missing the irony in this....

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you can still wear white...

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and have an open bar...

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even hire a DJ so you can rock out to songs like Trina's - I'm Single Again, Fiona Apple's - Get Gone, Pink's - So What, Ace of Base's - I Saw the Sign, Daughtry's - Over You and your new anthem Taylor Swift's - We are never EVER getting back together.

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there will be party favors...

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and what party would be complete without cake...

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Now I have been to countless bachelorette parties, but I have to admit I have never been to a divorce party and really hope I never have to go to one. I think we should start a trend where we have "Let's fight to stay together" parties.  I guess that's my hopeless romantic side rearing is ugly head again....
Have you even been to a divorce party? Was it a fun, liberating affair, or was it simply awkward? Should your marriage end (God forbid!)would you even think about having one? 
p.s.
Happy Hump Day!!

xoxo

Debbie B.

Scones, Mimosas and a Garden Party It Is.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one suffering from a little weekend cabin fever. I mean, it has rained consistently two weekends in a row and if the steady rainfall this week is any indication of what the weather Gods have in store, we are surely doomed. 
But hey, it's hump day, which means we're halfway to the weekend and my bucket full of optimism tells me there will be plenty of sunshine and a chance to plan/dream up a fab soiree. This time I'm thinking of the garden. I envision a day kicked off with a fabulously delicious brunch.... 

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..and of course, no brunch is complete without an endless supply of mimosas.

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Despite the rain sometimes being a downer, I must acknowledge that a great advantage about living in South Florida, is the chance to be able to use outdoor furniture year round...whether contemporary or eclectic or a mish-mash of everything in between.

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But a garden party aint no garden party without a bit of croquet and bocce ball tossed in.

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And the only way to top the day off would be to relax with your favorite cocktail while watching Titanic for the 100th time..under the stars.

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Since I live a townhouse, and the only patch of grass is the one that runs parallel to sidewalk, a garden party might just be wishful thinking on my part. I won't turn down an invite though...and since I never drive on the highways (it's a long, long story), all I need is enough drive-time notice for me to make it there on time.

How do you treat yourself after suffering from weather induced cabin fever?

xoxo

Debbie B.

It's Time for Our Friends to Meet

You think you've met your soul mate, you're even at that point where you finish each other's sentences. Now, you've put off meeting each other's friends for as long as possible but it's time to face the music...the natives are getting restless.
The friend seal of approval means more at this point than your parents, who are an easy sell since they keep lamenting about the lack of grandchildren, and will pretty much accept whoever walks through the front door with you at Thanksgiving. 
So you round up the gang, fire up the grill, channel your inner Martha Stewart by setting a table worthy of a magazine photo shoot, and stack some beer on ice...but all this will be in vain if they don't mingle. 

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....thus, time for the big guns...a watermelon eating contest....look Ma, no hands..lol

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or A Minute to Win It challenge - The Home Version 

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and if all else fails..a game of Twister will always to the trick.

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Do you think it's important for your friends and your significant other friends to get along? How did you introduce your friends to your boyfriend? Can't wait to hear how you broke the ice.

xoxo

Debbie B.