Life Lately

Life has been lovely, exhausting, crazy, and crowded lately. We've been celebrating marriages, painting, packing, and unpacking. We've been cleaning, planting, eating, and sipping. We've been sprucing, sleeping and settling in. 

Things will be make to normal soon, and I have so much to show you and a few delicious recipes to share as well (basil juleps anyone?). If for some reason I don't show back up soon, I"m probably trapped under a cabinet door or a box full of random shoes. 

Here's a glimpse into the chaos via my phone. 

Happy Birthday, Husband

Today is Jake's 28th birthday. I love him so much I can just hardly stand it. 

Jake, in honor of your birthday here are 28 random things I just adore about you. 

1. You love Jesus and desperately want people to know and be changed by Him.

2. You love me, despite all my craziness.

3. You tolerate my Anthropologie obsession, and you don't mind that I buy the expensive candles.

4. You are my best friend. Driving around, running errands, taking road trips and evenings laying around the house are all infinitely more fun with you around.

5. You wash dishes and take out the trash. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this. And, you only do it because you know I hate it so much.

6. You write amazing songs and hymns. I really love watching you play, or hearing you strum around on the guitar from another room. It makes my heart all mushy and happy.

7. You are good at cooking the things I'm horrible at. Grilled. Cheese. Master.

8. Jake Gehret & The Brokedown Sound. Need I say more?

9. Ok, I will. I love your over the top dance moves.

10. You are hilarious, and people love to be around you for it. Even though I get on you for making inappropriate jokes sometimes, I'm secretly dying of laughter on the inside.

11. I  really know and believe that you love me and always have my best interest at heart.

12. You make really really good coffee.

12. You make really really good cocktails.

13. You make really really good runny eggs.

14. You are romantic and full of surprises. You take time and plan out dates for us. It is one of my most favorite things. Ever. Ever. Ever.

15. You are INCREDIBLY intelligent.

16. You understand grace and you extend it to me on a daily basis, even thought I don't deserve it one bit.

17. You love community and you take caring for one another seriously. You pray for people and walk through life with them. You make good on your promises.

18. I love that you are over the top silly with me ... crazy dance parties, ridiculous inside jokes, writing horrifying songs in the car together.

19. It's been really cool to see you light up when you talk about our new yard and garden. I'm looking forward to helping you grow food we can enjoy and share with our neighbors.

20. You don't want a dog. Neither do I. Hooray!

21. You make good and wise decisions for your family, and I can trust your leadership.

22. I respect you,  probably far more than I can ever show you. You are a good man and good husband. I really admire you.

23. Your playlists are so great. I'm listening to one right now, actually. Thank you for Spring Mix '12.

24. I love watching you care for people around you. You are such an encouragement, you ask good questions, but you also boldly share the truth of what the Gospel has to say. You say the hard stuff and you say it with deep care.

25. I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off. You are one too. 

26. You always have your nose in a book. I'm excited for our kiddos to see that one day and fall in love with reading. 

27.  You understand that some circumstances just call for a fountain soda. They just do.
 
28. You are my husband, chosen for me by a good and gracious God. I'm forever thankful for that. 


Happy Birthday. Loves!

Homeowners

Whoa. What a weekend. 

We are officially homeowners and I am officially exhausted! We spent the whole weekend painting out the entire first level a beautiful pale gray - Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in half tint. Thank God for family. With lots of hands on deck we were able to knock out the living room, dining room, kitchen, and downstairs hallway!

I can't wait to show you more pictures. But in the meantime, here's a peek into the progress of our living room. The fireplace mantle will soon be painted out white. Don't worry, that's not original wood you're seeing, just gross brown paint. 

A New Front Door

Well, it's pretty obvious I have house on the brain. 

My current obsession?  A pale blue minty green front door. 
 
This is where I need your help. I just can't decide. In my heart I love it, but I want to make sure I'm not out of my mind crazy.  See that first little picture down there? That's our new old home. I rigged up a pale mint door in Photoshop to see what it would look like. I love the color of the screen door in the picture right below it. It seems their house has the exact same colors going on with the exterior, which gives me hope. 

Thoughts? 
Love? 
Hate?

Be honest. 

Clockwise from left: Our new front door, 2, 3, 4

A New Kitchen

It is probably no surprise that the room I'm most excited about in our soon-to-be home is the kitchen. I won't post any pictures until we actually close in NINE DAYS, but I thought I'd give you a glimpse at what's to come for the most important room in my home.  We'll be tackling several DIY projects. I warn you in advance, this blog will probably explode with house projects. Get ready.

The kitchen is in great shape already, but isn't really our style. So, we plan to make a few inexpensive updates to spruce it up. Here's my plan. 

1. Have cabinets painted white. If you are in STL, we have a friend who is a great painter and has great rates. I'd be happy to pass along his info. 

2. Get new hardware from IKEA, and hopefully their dark wood-esque counter tops.
 
3. Install a subway tile back splash with gray grout. We also have a tile friend. 

4. Send that subway tile all the way up the wall in one section where we will remove the cabinets, and install some open shelving to match the counter tops. 

5. The ceiling is already slightly coffered, and I think original to the house. I'd like to add breadboard in the existing squares, and perhaps paint it just the palest robin's egg blue to channel my inner southerner. To be determined. 

6. Paint the walls out light gray. 

Have you tackled any similar projects? Do you have any tips, suggestions, or words of wisdom? Let me know! If you're interested, you can track all my "New Old Home" inspiration on my Pinterst board. 
 
I'm really anxious to show you all pictures, but for now, here's the inspiration.

Clockwise from top: 1, 2, 3, 4

Strawberry Basil Shortcakes

Strawberries are super delicious right now. So, I knew exactly what I had to make for this week's community dinner ... Strawberry Shortcakes! Since I used store-bought pound cake, (hangs head in shame) I decided to spruce these short cakes up a bit with strips of fresh basil from our herb garden. The basil paired oh-so-wonderfully with the strawberries and fresh whipped cream. In fact, I'd like to stuff my face with a big bowl of berries and cream right this instant. 

Homemade whipped cream is one million bazillion times better than any can or tub of cream you can buy at the store, and is also free of gross unpronounceable chemicals. Plus, it is one of the easiest things to make on the universe, and for some strange reason I find it incredibly enjoyable. This whipped cream recipe comes from our good friend and master gardener, Justin. You will want to thank him later. This stuff is good. See that perfect bowl of cream right down there? See that small section of delicious whipped cream missing from the lower left corner?  I couldn't help myself. 

Strawberry Basil Shortcakes

1 giant carton of Strawberries
2 Tablespoons of white sugar
Zest of one lemon
A handful of basil leaves (about 10)
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pound cake, angel food cake, or sweet biscuits

1. Hull and slice strawberries. Don't worry, hulling is just a fancy word for chopping off the top and scooping out that tough little middle piece. 
2. Toss strawberries in sugar and lemon zest
3. Cut, chop, tear or chiffonade your basil into little pieces and toss it in with the berries. Set the berries in the fridge while you whip up your cream so they can get all juicy and delicious. 
4. Beat together heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream of tartar in a large bowl. The cream will come together quicker if you use a stainless steel bowl you've chilled in the freezer. Beat on medium till soft peaks form from the cream when you lift the beater. 
5. Assemble berries and cream over your preferred vehicle for sugary carb goodness. 

Enjoy