Posts

Love & Beads...February at Le Roost

Image
Mardi Gras is nearly here!  And Valentine's Day too.  We've been busy decking out our shop, Nest Interiors , below and incoming guests in these next two weeks should expect to see the rentals decorated as well.  We love celebrating the season...and beyond decorations, we have something really special... King Cake flavored coffee!  Yes, both rentals will have limited edition K cups.  I've sampled it (because I care!) and it's delicious! Also, new things are coming...particularly, updates to our gift kiosk in the next couple weeks. Luxury Sleep Masks!  All bedrooms have light and noise reduction window coverings, but that doesn't help if your travel mates are keeping the lights on?  Pop downstairs to the self serve gift kiosk and purchase one of these handmade masks. Succulents and more!  Yes, we will be giving you the option to purchase some of the plants used in your rental. Check us out to Check in...availability fo...

Ponchatoula knows Christmas...

Image
Who knew this much Christmas cheer could be found this far South of the North Pole?!!!  This past Saturday, was our annual town Christmas parade and new tradition "Sweet Treats on Main Street".  Local businesses worked together to offer homemade treats & drinks to shoppers and parade goers hours before the parade.  We joined in downstairs at our store, Nest Interiors , with a nod to Gilmore Girls and Stars Hollow with Chocolate Praline Cookies and Candy Cane Coffee.  After, we were lucky enough to watch the parade upstairs at Le Roost... What an amazing time; we are so lucky to have the parade pass right in front of us (the Strawberry Festival parade does as well).  We just received our last Christmas booking and are full; but I have one remaining suite for New Years.  Also, Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras are right around the corner and we'd love to host you and your family! See you soon! Lisa

Come Home for the Holidays...

Image
Do you have Christmas Wish to come home to Ponchatoula this holiday season?  We'd love to host you in our private apartments!  Located in Downtown Ponchatoula, the inspiration for Lifetime's A Christmas Wish movie, you can be right in the middle of all the holly & jolly! Currently, we have one opening through the Christmas holidays.  Also, not to be missed is next weekend's inaugural Sweet Treats on Main Street with the Christmas Parade following...you can even watch the parade from your suite as it passes right in front of our building! Follow these links to check availability: https://airbnb.com/h/leroost1 https://airbnb.com/h/leroost2 See you soon! Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving!

Image
November has been a wonderful month for us; we averaged a 78% occupancy rate for our two units!  We hosted a number of guests working out of town, a group of fun college kids for the LSU game and families for the Thanksgiving holiday this week! Speaking of LSU; more than likely our Tigers are going to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans this Jan. 1, 2020.  Currently both units are available for a minimum 2 night stay, only one hour from the game. Also, coming up in town... a couple more weekends for the Louisiana Renaissance Festival Ponchatoula's Official Christmas Lighting ; shops stay open late.  Dec. 6th, 2019 Sweet Treats on Main Street , followed by the Christmas Parade (see it from your room as it passes right in front of the building)  See you soon! Lisa

Guests Giving Back...

Image
We've had a really nice batch of guests lately; and what I find to be true to the typical Airbnber, they often leave our apartments better than they found them.  One such guest just gifted us a coffee pot as she really wasn't comfortable with all the bells and whistles of a Keurig.  She left a note that she's be back to use it but until then, our guests could enjoy! The last group tho, did something extraordinary for our town; they helped restore the exterior of one of our landmark train mail cars. Before After The antique rail car is located in the center of town at the famed Country Market, a fun place to visit and shop too.  I was delighted when, Mardi, the manager at the Country Market asked us to host the team.  They did an amazing job that locals and visitors will enjoy for a long time. To find out more about the Country Market, click here . ***Photos shown are owned respectfully by the Country Market See you soon! Lisa

New at Le Roost

Image
We're coming off a busy summer season into what I consider, Fall peak!  Holidays, Festivals and soon, a blessed relief from the heat of Louisiana.  Where we've had some downtime between guests, we've continued making improvements.  My favorite...room darkening draperies in every bedroom!  It was a suggestion that we kept hearing, and because I have 4 year old twins that wake up before dawn...I don't remember what it's like to sleep in!  Plus we've even had a couple guests that have come for work, which happens to be at night, meaning they need to sleep in the day.  So the feedback has been invaluable!  And they really do work, plus they provide some noise cancelling from the street below and keep the apartments cooler too.  Also, check out the new (ok, used) fitness equipment available in our larger unit.  Another perk and for most abilities. I also want to share an exciting new resource for our visitors and locals... Downtown Ponchat...

All A Flutter...

Image
May brings our first international guests!  I love how our little Roost has global appeal and we can welcome guests from all corners of the world! I also wanted to share a new visitor benefit I been working on over the past couple years, our butterfly garden next to the building. We are a registered Monarch Waystation (#15386) providing both host & nectar plants for Monarch butterflies.  I also have a number of different host plants that attract many different kinds of butterflies (and moths) of Louisiana. The definition of Roost is a place where birds or butterflies can sleep or rest (you can see how our name was derived!)  Definitely check it out when you visit us and to learn more about my personal efforts in helping pollinators and birds by visiting  Happinest Farmette . See you soon! Lisa

Bright Lights, Berry City

Image
If you are a guest in for the later part of May, you may find our town decorated for Christmas.  Weird, I know...but this Spring to Winter transition is due to a movie being made right here!  Not a lot of details are known, but I've heard it will be a Hallmark Christmas Movie...and our little town is just cute and weird enough for that! Image and additional info courtesy of the Daily Star . Also, our guests should be aware a new smoking and vaping ban is in effect throughout the city.  To put it simply, no one will subject to second hand smoke within a business or at the immediate entrance.  Business owners can help you find a suitable place to smoke if needed.  Also, since we opened, our guests rooms have been non-smoking, and we have access to outdoor areas for those guests that wish to smoke.  As always, message me prior to reserving your stay and I'll answer any specific questions. See you soon! Lisa

Our Newest & Smallest AirBNB...

Image
Literally for our guests that take to the air!  We're happy to announce we have an active nest (ironically, right next to our gift shop, Nest Interiors ) on the first floor.  It's added a lot of Spring time entertainment for our guests (and me!) to watch them bring nesting materials into the box.  Hopefully, we'll see some babies soon! Also, I'm happy to report the Easter bunny visited our guests at LeRoost!  He didn't have to go too far to find some excellent candy as our town is lucky enough to be home to Elmers' Candy...a real chocolate factory.  (unfortunately, they do not give tours, but everyone is trying to convince them to!!)  We had young guests in both our rentals during Easter, so I was tickled that we could be part of their holiday memories! Some vacancies remain for May and June; check out both our rentals: Le Roost  West Le Roost  East See you soon! Lisa

Happy Mardi Gras!

Image
I have to admit, I'm thrilled to see Mardi Gras on the way out...I have never been so exhausted, without going to ONE parade this season!  Mainly because we had a parade of guests; a lot of turnovers and YES! We opened our second apartment. The response has been really wonderful from our guests; it's larger than our first apartment and where I went "cozy" with the first, this one embraces the spaciousness. See you soon, Lisa View On Airbnb Le Roost: Large Private Apartment Sleeps 6

Le Roost is for Winners & Lovers!

Image
Ponchatoula is turning black and gold little by little each day as the Saints keep moving forward in the playoffs.  As I was pulling together some looks for our gift shop, Nest Interiors , below LeRoost, I realized January 20th is the deciding game for who advances to the Super Bowl and the last Dome game for the season.  Even better, we have availability that night of the playoffs.  With only an hour away from New Orleans don't miss out on this historic game! We also have availability for Valentine's Day.  There are a number of fine dining experiences in and around our area and Ponchatoula is for lovers... Who couldn't love this face!  This is Roosevelt, the neighboring Flower Shop's cat.  You'll be sure to catch a peek of him during your stay.  He's quite the ambassador for our building. See you soon, Lisa

Superhost!

Image
Exciting news!  We've made Superhost through AirBNB.  It's a huge accomplishment being open only since October 2018.  It's definitely motivated us to make some real progress on opening our second rental. And I wanted to share with you, even though we are booked for Mardi Gras, we have some weekends open to take advantage of; you can visit many great parades leading up to Fat Tuesday.  Gas prices are lower, so take advantage and come explore!  Here's a good link to all parades: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/ See you soon! Lisa

Le Roost Too

Image
The holidays were happy and booked solid at LeRoost!  Though we started in late 2018, we were booked 55 nights and had over 15 guests from all over the US.  2019 brings our 1st international guests AND we have some very big news... We're opening the West-side apartment next to our current rental very soon!  This unit is a little larger and will continue to help fill our niche of hosting families in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas. This apartment still has a fun quirky aesthetic, but if I were to describe LeRoost West (our current rental) in the style of New Orleans' French Quarter, then the new LeRoost East will have a Garden District vibe.  We had fully anticipated this unit to be done by the holidays; however, much like the 1st rental...everything takes longer than you think!   Stay tuned for more details and check our current booking for our LeRoost West: View On Airbnb Le Roost: Private Upstairs Apartment Sleeps 6