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.
Samantha 05.31.2013
Congratulations on the house purchase! Can’t wait to see the pictures!
By the way, where did you get/what brand is your jean jacket? I always seem to be swimming in the ones I try on.
Katie 05.31.2013
Yay! Congrats on the new house!
Denise 05.31.2013
Congratulations! It’s all very exciting. Could you possibly sneak in a post about your baby shower? I have a few coming up this summer and have been out of the baby loop for a few years. It would be nice to have some gift ideas. Thanks and many happy memories in your new home.
Lauren Williams 05.31.2013
Congrats on selling your house! I bet that is a huge relief (especially in this market) and yippee on the new house. I’m sure you will get a lot of use out of the outdoor kitchen ;) my mother-in-law also moved into a new house right before she had my husband and she said it was a smart decision because she didn’t have to lift a finger ;) The crumb cake looks so yummy! Thanks for the great finds!
Todd @ HonestlyYUM 05.31.2013
Thanks for all the cool finds. That fruit salad has my name on it. The weather is supposed to be amazing this weekend here in the SF Bay Area, and it would be perfect for tomorrow afternoon. Congrats on the house!!
Cristina 05.31.2013
Congrats!
Aggie 05.31.2013
Yay! Congrats!!!
When are you due? I think we may be around the same time :)
Sarah | The Cyclist's Wife 05.31.2013
Congrats on the house! We are selling right now and it is a nerve wracking process! I have been to Château de Chenonceau and it is AMAZING. The room spanning the river on the bottom floor is the ballroom with windows on all sides. The floor is stone of huge black and white diamonds. The kitchen is on the lower floor and has a door going out to the river where they would receive food delivery via boat. I believe it was also used in World War I as a crossing – one side of the river was German occupied and the other was not. Also, I think this is the castle where the crest has both the wife and mistresses initials in the crest. Fun facts for y’all. Such a beautiful place!
Erin 05.31.2013
Congrats on the new home! We are looking, on and off, at properties that interest us. It is such a difficult process!
That rice krispie ice cream treat thing looks awesome. Two of my favorite sweet treats in one? Dangerous.
Rosi Rios 05.31.2013
CONGRATULATIONS! You are SOOO blessed! I am very happy for you, I’ve been following your blog for a few years now, and get so excited when I see good things happening to you! I feel like I know you :o)lol We closed on our 1st home right before my due date with #3 and moved in… 3 days later on Easter Sunday she was born!!! Ha, so take it easy ok??? I know it’s much easier said than done, but really try to not cave in to the urge to help.
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner 05.31.2013
Outdoor kitchen? Jeeealous. Good luck with the move!
Christine 05.31.2013
That is a stunning photo of Château de Chenonceau! I have actually been, and the area that is on the river is a big PARTY room, long with black and white checker flooring and completely open. It is a stunning place, and it is a beautiful forested area as well. Hopefully one day you will see it!!
Anne [A Squared] 05.31.2013
Love the folks at Iowa Realty. And congrats on the house!
Britney @ The Princess & Her Cowboys 05.31.2013
Yay for finding a house! I’m glad that you are able to get everything settled before baby gets here. Good luck!
young c 05.31.2013
Congrats! Hope the move in goes well!
Tracy 05.31.2013
Huge congratulations to you both!! Exciting times in your family for sure!
You always have a favorite furball in FF. Do you think you guys will ever get a dog?
Kayla 05.31.2013
Congrats on the house!
My hubby and I too are working on buying our first home. We should be closing in mid-June, aka 29 weeks into my pregnancy with twins…and should be moving shortly thereafter, aka during panic time!
I can’t wait, though. And now I know that if you and Ben can do it, we can, too. :)
Woo hoo!
Mandy 05.31.2013
Congratulations on the new house! We sold our previous house and bought a new one/moved about a month before my due date with my second son. It also happened to be a week before Christmas and a few weeks before my first son’s birthday.
It’s nice to have it all accomplished at once though and I’m not going to lie, nice to not have to do any heavy lifting ;)
Crystal 05.31.2013
How exciting! Congratulations!!
Cynthia 05.31.2013
Congratulations!! God Bless and Good Luck :) xo