Casa de Kool

Last night we headed over to Casa de Kelly for a dinner celebration. But on our westward drive, my Mr. Kelly and I decided that Casa de Kelly needed a nickname that reflected it's "good times" attitude. So....Casa de Kool it is. Note it.

The reason for celebration was this fine, lovely lady's birthday...

I will never forget the first time I met dear Grandma Phyllis. Six things struck me all at once: 1) her amazing skin, 2) her wit, 3) her poise, 4) that spit-fire personality, 5) her style, and 6) her smile. Her smile is unabashed and open-mouthed, much like my own. Beautiful and I love it.



I warn you, don't be fooled by that pretty head of white hair...this woman has a social calendar that will rival Paris Hilton's. Honestly, it makes me tired just hearing about it. She belongs to clubs, chapters, groups, you name it - she is in it. In fact, we learned last night that she earned quite an honor last week: Lion of the Year. She also received a birthday card from Mr. Obama. Fancy!

One word: socialite.

Luckily, Grandma Phyllis was available last night so we could shower her in birthday wishes, Kelly style...

But the party truly starts when this party animal arrives. You can always count on Uncle Richard for laughs, jokes, and wild stories about the seventies...love him.

Shooting the breeze, while manning the "Q". It's "man territory" over there.


My first time experiencing bratwursts was with the Kelly's. My life hasn't been the same since. Look at those beauties!




Aside from the folks, the coolest part of Casa de Kool is the patio. It sits lakeside and sports comfy chairs, a swing for two (complete with cup holders), a state-of-the-art BBQ, a couch, and even a beautiful fireplace. This patio just begs one to "come on in and stay awhile". Every time, I am there I pretend that I am vacationing in Florida - it always works until Mr. Kelly says it's time to go home. Then the dream is shattered, but that's ok, home is pretty awesome too....but it ain't Florida :)


Let me introduce to you to this sweet couple, Irene and Myron, and yes, they are as sweet and as fun as they appear.

Dinnertime! Nice salads Mama Marsha!

Like any good hosts, the Kelly's always end the night with dessert and coffee. Tasty! When Ryan saw me with this coffee mug, he informed me that it was a classic of Casa de Kool, one that had survived the nineties and even part of the eighties-wow! I held my grip a little tighter after hearing that because I love unmatched, quirky coffee cup collections, especially when each mug seems to tell a story about it's owner.

Can't beat a house with a view. Yes, Casa de Kool has it all...