Heeey, yoooou, guu-uys!
(Name that movie.)
What’s up? Happy Friday! It’s been a crazy week around here and it’s about to get even crazier because…we bought a house!
The “special project” Ben and I have been working on since oh gosh, February? was getting our home listed and sold, then finding a new home ourselves. Because we didn’t think having a baby was life-changing enough so we thought we’d throw a move into the mix, too. ;) Honestly, we love our little home, the one we moved into straight from our honeymoon 5 years ago, but were just ready to find something with a little more room to grow into.
The house sold in a little over a month but we must have looked at 50+ homes in the 3 months following before finding “the one.” Our Realtor kept telling us it would happen but we were about a week away from looking at short-term rental options before poof, dream home! Space, privacy, an outdoor kitchen (!), a big back yard, and…a chandelier in the bathroom. I know. Plus it’s only 10 minutes away from our current home so we can stay in an area we really love. I can’t wait to give you a mini tour!
We move in later next month (23 days to be exact but who’s counting?) and could not be more excited…nor anxious to get the little man’s room ready. The timing may not be ideal for some, but I’m so glad we did this now vs after the baby. As hard as it was to have a house on the market (decluttering, painting, staging, cleaning ALL. THE. TIME.) I can’t imagine doing it with an infant. I bow down to anyone who does this with kids or pets. You are wizards!
And don’t worry, I will not be lifting a box on moving day, rather, I will be directing traffic. Actually worked out kinda perfect… ;)
Anyway, just wanted to share our good news with you! Although we did a lot of de-cluttering and donating when we listed, there’s still a lot to pack, which I hope to get started on this weekend – in between stops at the farmers’ market and my first baby shower, that is! Should be a full, but fun next couple of days.
Wherever you are, and whatever you do, have an absolutely wonderful weekend and in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Click the blue links to be taken to the original source.
Favorite mmm: Lemon Velvet Cream Cake. I pretty much want to swim in a giant vat of this thick and luscious frosting. MMM!
Favorite sip: Homemade Lemonade. Leave it to the Pioneer Woman to give us an awesome, thirst-quenching recipe for homemade lemonade concentrate. Great for this hot and sticky weather.
Favorite fresh: Farmer’s Red Potato Salad. This is one of the loveliest recipes I’ve seen in a long time, from an equally as lovely blogger, Sandy, whom I got to meet in Monterrey earlier this month. No mayo to be found in this unique take on potato salad.
Favorite decor: DIY Moss Letter. I loooove this homemade moss letter. Looks shabby-chic, not shabby. An important distinction, no? (BTW: Just found this design blog this week and am next level obsessed.)
Favorite indulge: Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake. I can’t even imagine how mouthwatering this moist and fluffy cake is, topped with crunchy crumbs and sweet chocolate chips. I would devour a loaf of this!
Favorite bite: Tomato and Fresh Corn Quiche. A fresh and summery bite for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Favorite decor: Will Bryant Sure, I Like Fun Print. Soo, cough, I saw this print on The Real World this week, cough, and immediately hopped on the interwebs to find it. How fun, right?
Favorite refresh: Simplest Red Fruit Salad. Watermelon, pomegranate, mint, and lime. YUM. Perfect to have in the fridge all summer long.
Favorite view: Château de Chenonceau. I’ve seen many pictures of this French chateau, built on the site of an old mill in the 1500s, but never from this angle, which appears to be from a hot air balloon. Stunning!
Favorite app: Salmon Cucumber Bites. Definitely need to remember to make this yummy party app when I’m able to eat smoked salmon again. Flavor-packed, fresh, and easy.
Favorite fashion. I’ve been wearing my jean jacket like a crazy person this spring since my regular spring jacket no longer fits, and like to “class it up” a bit with fancy/sparkly necklaces. Love the mix of rugged and refined.
Favorite fakeout: Krispie Ice Cream Dessert. Using buttery Rice Krispie Treats and ice cream to mimic fried ice cream?? Brilliant! :)
Have a great weekend! BTW, the movie was, of course, The Goonies.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl 05.31.2013
Congrats on the house, can’t wait to see that outdoor kitchen! What a find!
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 05.31.2013
Congrats on the house! I made my daughter watch the Goonies with me the day school let out for summer! My husband freaked out when the statues goodies got broken off at the beginning of the movie. But she just got through with “growing and changing” aka sex ed so I thought she could deal with it ;) Great list by the way!
Ed 05.31.2013
Congrats on the new home!!!
Becky @ Olives n Wine 05.31.2013
Oh my gosh, CONGRATS on the new house!! I cannot wait to see photos of the chandelier and the outdoor kitchen. I’m only slightly jealous ;)
Jen @ Lilly Pea Designs 05.31.2013
Congrats! I can’t wait to see this outdoor kitchen!
Sandy@Reluctant Entertainer 05.31.2013
I’m SO excited for your new house. Can’t wait to see the baby’s room, too. Thanks for the link-love today, Kristin. Love and HUGS to you, my friend!
Krista 05.31.2013
So this may sound very weird….but it is just too ironic not to mention. You and I are both about 32 weeks pregnant…..with boys! Not to mention it is the first baby for both of us. And we sold our house about a month ago and have been looking like crazy. Good luck with everything!! I feel like it’s been a lot of craziness crammed into a short time but it’s all very exciting!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.31.2013
Ahh – crazy coincidence!! You guys will totally find something. It only takes one! :) Congrats on baby, too!
Trisha 05.31.2013
Woohooo! So much excitement! We bought our first house during a pretty crazy time too, but I tend to think it’s best to get all the big things out of the way at once. Then you can really sit back and enjoy it all when the chaos is over. Congratulations!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope 05.31.2013
Huge congrats on the new house!! Such an exciting new chapter for you to share with your growing family! Can’t wait to see it!
That lemon cake and the quiche look to die for!
Lauren 05.31.2013
Kristin! Congrats on selling your home and finding one you love! I just had to write you because our timing is totally in synch. Tim and I just did the same thing this week! At the end of June, we are: moving back to Chicago, starting new jobs, and getting married (Aug.)! I totally hear ya on the hectic schedule, but I figure that’s how life goes…sometimes things get a little crazy and you just have to ride it out. :) So excited for you and Ben!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.31.2013
Oh my gosh, so many exciting things going on for you guys too! Congrats on the move AND the marriage!!
Sara B. 05.31.2013
Congrats on selling your house! I will be excited to go on a virtual tour of the new house sometime! Sounds like it is everything you could ask for!
Brynn Guster 05.31.2013
Great movie, great news and as always, great FF!! I look forward to this post every week. Please spill where the necklaces are from.
Iowa Girl Eats 05.31.2013
Hey Brynn! If you click the blue link above the picture that says “Favorite Fashion” the blogger notes where the necklaces are from. Wish the picture was mine! :)
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl 05.31.2013
So excited for you! I can’t wait for the virtual tour! Everything in this post is making me hungry and I’m truly obsessed with watermelon right now. ;)
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance 05.31.2013
Congrats on your new house! I love how in the photo Ben is holding a smallish piece of paper. It looks like he is holding the “receipt” of purchase. Haha.
Iowa Girl Eats 05.31.2013
Hahaha it totally does! I have no idea what that is actually, now I’m curious! :)
erin @hooleywithaz 05.31.2013
congratulations! what an exciting summer for the two of you! as always, this post has made me happy and hungry.
Kathleen Welch 05.31.2013
Congratulations !
jad18 05.31.2013
Congratulations! I think you are smart to move before the baby comes, but I am too much of a worrier to cut it that close. I know too many people who have had their babies a few weeks earlier, so I would be freaked that I would have the baby before being settled at all in the new place.
Nora 05.31.2013
Congratulations on the house! Can’t wait to see pictures. You look AMAZING – so glowy and cute.
I LOVE the Friday Favorites – you find us the most amazing and delicious sites.
Shelley 05.31.2013
Congrats on the house. I hope it has a great indoor kitchen, too. Also, I hope your new neighborhood is close to the trail system since the DSM area has some of the the best bike/walk/run trails!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.31.2013
It does, and is! :)
Chelsea @ Chelsea Eats Treats 05.31.2013
Congratulations!!! That is so exciting :) I can’t wait to see a tour!