Patio - Before and After

When looking to buy, one of the things we really liked about this house was the patio:

This spring, we decided to be grownups and finally get some patio furniture:
A few pots by the firepit: coleus, gerbera daisy, petunias...

By the sliding door: three different varities of coleus and some filler (I can't remember the name of the broad, glossy leafed plant)...

This is only the beginning...

I have discovered that there are two places I shouldn't go the day before payday: plant nursery and Ikea. Last night, the kids and I went to Ikea. They had a great time playing at Small-land and I left a trail of drool through the store. Ended up finding a couple tealight lanterns for the patio table and something to organize my 'crap' drawer in the kitchen:

As for today? I'll be cleaning, laundrying, grocery shopping... and making Sangria. Thing is, I'm not a big fan of wine or rum. But mix them together with some fruit and sugar? Mmmm.

Perhaps later a fire in the fire pit, some tapas, more Sangria... Who's ready for Happy Hour?