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.
Tara from Va. 06.02.2013
The Goonies!! Love that movie! :)
Congrats on your new house!!
Megan @ mealsfromthemountains.com 06.02.2013
Congratulations on the house! We are in the process as well and under contract right now…it’s exciting and kinda scary!
Stacy 06.02.2013
What is it about pregnancy that makes us think we can DO stuff like this? I’m 38 weeks this week and we just signed a p&s to sell our house and are looking for another. Today we are going to see a home that meets much of our criteria for a new home – fingers crossed it’s the one. We’ve already put together an offer just in case it really is… 2 weeks until baby is here and just under 6 weeks until we move out. I’d better get on that.
nessa 06.01.2013
So excited for you on the house! Wishing you lots of luck and hope that great memories will be made there!
Cat Yates 06.01.2013
Congrats on the new house! You must be REALLY into the nesting phase! And those rice krispie treats look DEE-VINE!
Debtgirl 06.01.2013
Congrats! I can’t wait to see the chandelier I love them!
JennP 06.01.2013
My water broke on moving day during my first pregnancy. My second baby was born in a hurricane. We should probably stop at 2 – lol. (By the way, the water breaking had nothing to do with the move. Just a nice, crazy little coincidence.
Maria W. 06.01.2013
I always enjoy reading your blogs. Your recipes are wonderful. I’m so happy to hear you’re doing well, healthy and soon you will have your baby boy! The news about a new home is wonderful. Blessings to you and yours!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 06.01.2013
Congratulations on buying a house that is great news! I love that dog licking the ice cream cone he is way too cute :)
Rena 05.31.2013
Hey this will be a piece of cake, we purchased our home when I was 5 months and I quit work at the same time! yea!!
So I had 4 glorious months to get the house put together and best of all do the nursery too! Congratulations, this is the best years of your life! So Happy for you guys.
jennyv 05.31.2013
It may be a busy time — but what an exciting and blessed time for you two! With all the changes going on, I’m sure it makes you even more happy to have such a great family around to help. Congratulations!
Dream Mom 05.31.2013
First, congrats on the baby! I have been MIA because I bought a house and it was insane. I looked a gazillion houses as well and it is a zoo out there. Things finally settled down now that I’ve moved in and got some things installed (only been in a few weeks). Congrats on your new house-can’t wait to see it. The outdoor kitchen sounds divine!
Dee 05.31.2013
Wow! Congrats!
ps. Love the Goonies!
Chris H. 05.31.2013
I am on the other end of the home spectrum. We have been in our home for 17 years, raised our kids here, but kids are gone & it’s time to move on. Hard to see a “for Sale” sign in my front yard…bittersweet, really. Excited to get a new home, but get a little teary at the thought of leaving all these memories. Time for a young family to come in & build new memories, like you will do in your new home! Best wishes!
Karla 05.31.2013
YAY! Congrats on the new digs, Kristin and Ben! So happy for you during this super-exciting time. :)
Karla 05.31.2013
Also, I hate to admit it, but I’ve never seen The Goonies. A rental is surely in order!
Emily 05.31.2013
Congrats on a new house! I had to laugh when you said your glad you aren’t doing it with an infant, because we are moving in August and our house is listed now and we have a 1 yr old! Trying to keep the house picked up seems to be a full time job on top of the ones we currently have! Can’t wait for it to sell so I can let the toys go free again!
jen 05.31.2013
congrats! it is exciting and you are smart to do now vs after the baby gets here. i have moved 2x while pregnant and we moved into our house last spring with a 2 yr and 5 month old around and it was SO much easier doing it will pregnant. plus, you don’t have to any of the real work on moving day :)
sharon weaver 05.31.2013
My daughter sold their house in a week, first ones that looked at it. So the scramble to find a house was hectic. She has a 15 month old and every room needed painted. Needless to say it was not fun..
Barbara Bell 05.31.2013
I love your Friday favorites…but now am hungry looking at that food…and I need to leave for a 4-mile walk. Congrats on the house!!
Rachel 05.31.2013
Congratulations! You ARE smart to get it done before the baby comes–We bought our house when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, and I’m SO glad we were able to get settled before our son was born. I am jealous and can’t wait to see pictures of your outdoor kitchen!