HOUSE UPDATE {exterior trim}

The last time you saw the outside, we had just finished the stone and cedar siding. 

This is what it looks like now. Can you see a difference?

We added white vinyl trim.

First, we added a separating line between the stucco and stone.

Then, we added it around each window on the stucco. The windows surrounded by stone will eventually get dark wood shutters instead. 

Not having trim has been bugging me for a long time. It felt like something was missing. 

Our house was like a woman without eyeliner. 

Much better. It needed that definition. 

Before the trim.

After the trim.

Now all it needs are the shutters and porch columns. And landscaping, of course (but not 'til spring). 

AN INVITATION

It is General Conference weekend! Twice a year, the leaders of my church give a message to the membership of about 14.5 million people broadcasted in 93 different languages to 197 different countries. But the messages are directed to everyone worldwide...Mormon or not. 

I love that there are modern day prophets to speak as God's mouthpiece. God is unchanging in his love for his children. Why would He speak to them only in ancient biblical times? Of course, we would continually need heavenly direction! I definitely need this guidance, inspiration, and comfort for my personal heartaches. Christians everywhere can enjoy the messages from these prophets and apostles as they teach from the scriptures. 

I respect you'all for whatever religion you follow. Just thought I'd share for those who are interested.You are welcome to check it out HERE. 

You are also welcome to read more on my thoughts about my religion HERE. 

JULY GUESTS

In July, Mom and Becca came to visit us in our new house. This was a while ago, but I thought I should still document the fun. 

A few highlights include playing in the river and exploring the forested area behind our house.

Guess who.

We visited the Ashton Balloon Festival (more to come on this later).

Hi, Becca!

And we went Idaho Falls...

...To watch the fireworks. 

We also fawned all over CC, played board games, watched the parade, worked on the house, watched movies, and ate lots of good food. Excited to see you at Christmas!

CONSTRUCTION BIRTHDAY CAKE

I was home sick from work on Thursday and Friday. Thursday consisted of about ten hours of Netflix on the couch. Figuring I would go coo-coo with boredom with another day like that, I forced myself to be somewhat productive despite my miserable state. 

This was the result. I have not decorated many cakes, so it was a fun experiment. I saw a similar cake here and wanted to build one for Andrew ever since. 

I baked a 9x13 chocolate cake, cut it in half, and layered the pieces on top of each other. After spreading chocolate peanut butter frosting, I went to work decorating it to look like a construction site. 

I dug an actual hole in the top of the cake and scooped the innards (eww...that word makes it sound gross) around the top to look like dirt piles. Oreo's, Nestle Buncha Crunch, and chocolate rocks from a local candy shop finished the layered dirt look. 

I personalized it with Andrew's construction company's logo printed on a "sign" from the computer and stuck to the top with a toothpick.

Graham crackers were cut into pieces for lumber, and I sprinkled a few areas with green sugar sprinkles to look like grass or weeds.

The construction vehicles are sold in a 5-pack at Wal-Mart.

Andrew loved the cake, but when I asked him to stand by it for a picture, this is what I got. 

Great, Babe. Now smile.

Very funny. Try again.

Not quite what I had in mind either, hon. 

"Andrew Ashmore!!! Behave your age!"

Eventually, I got what I wanted. Though part of me hates that he looks so innocent in this picture. 

It's all a lie.

But anyway...hooray for Andrew's birthday #28. And hooray for my awesome cake decoratin' skillz. It was a fun way to survive a sick day.

FYI: I got the wooden guy from my dad who has a hobby of making and selling sets of families and historical figures as  kids' toys. This is one I used to play with when I was little that I thought matched the theme. 

We celebrated that evening by stuffing our pockets with Kleenex (we are both sick), and heading over the theater to watch the BYU game (we don't pay for cable channels). 

After coming home and eating a piece of cake, we both sat back from our plates in kind of sugar-induced catatonic stupor. This cake's sugar level is though the roof. Any neighbors are welcome to come by (please come!) and take a few pieces off our hands. Holy heck this cake is rich.

HOUSE TOUR {Laundry Room}

Well, here it is. Behold, the laundry room.

Only days old. 

This picture lets you see one of my favorite window views: Teton Mountains behind a farmer's pivot. It feels so country. 

Sheeting and wiring.

  

Drywall. 

Cabinets. 

And the doors. 

Yep, my man built 'em all.

Ceramic tiles on the floor and Sherwin William's Repose Gray on the walls. 

We totally scored the tile for about a dollar a square foot. We know a guy. 

Trim and baseboards, hanging rod, and our old beater washer and dryer. 

A little tip: Install cabinets AFTER you paint the walls. 

We still need to pour the black concrete counter top and attach the drawer fronts for this room. 

This corner was left unfinished because the plan is to build floor to ceiling cabinets against the wall to match the ones above the washer. 

We'll get there one day. 

In the meantime, my brooms, mops, and vacuum don't have homes. I didn't realize how important a broom closet was until I was without one. 

Here are the freshly painted mudroom lockers. 

...And what it looks like today.

In hindsight, I'm thinking I probably should have straightened up our crap to give the illusion of perfection. Oh well. You get the real deal.

I got the baskets at Michael's here. I love them and the way they keep our gloves, scarves, and snow hats organized and out of sight. 

I bought super cheap silver hooks and spray painted them with oil rubbed bronze spray paint before Andrew attached them. 

After transferring all of our coats from  the master closet to the hooks, I got thinking that maybe Andrew and I should get rid of a coat or two?

Back to BEFORE.

And AFTER.

It's huge and beautiful and makes me very happy...especially after 4 years with my washer and dryer in the kitchen next to the dishwasher! Bleh.

As far as decorating this room...I haven't gotten there. Too many other things on my mind! Let me know if you have any ideas.

Stay tuned for the next room in our new house tour!

What you may have missed:

1. exterior
2. entry way/ sitting room
3. great room
4. dining area

MY BOYS

So apparently, it is difficult determine the gender of young kittens. They all look the same until suddenly...they start to develop. Change. Blossom. And then you're left feeling foolish and holding a boy cat named CC. 

It was about a month ago that the area under CC's tail began to appear suspiciously...manly. Andrew and I researched online, comparing poor CC's private parts to awkward photographs on websites until we finally, conclusively, and shamefacedly proclaimed CC to be a boy. 

One website said that breeders even get it wrong sometimes. So don't judge us. 

In the meantime, our family is working to make a difficult paradigm shift. Despite this revelation, our minds seem determined to keep CC as the familiar pretty kitty we have always know her to be. Half the time, I address the cat using feminine pronouns. The other half, I consciously try to land on the masculine ones but usually only get as far as...it.  

Where's the cat?

It's napping under the boat. It is tired from hunting grasshoppers all day and its fur is making it hot. 

*sigh*

We have kicked around the idea of renaming it...I mean him...with something less embarrassing. Caesar seems to be the front runner. It sounds similar and isn't so sissy. The only problem now, is that CC knows the name CC. He responds to it. His ears perk up and he comes running when I call him. Not to mention Moose knows that CC is his little furry friend. Who the heck is Caesar?

So now, everyone is confused. 

Severely Mistaken and Outnumbered,

Rachel

2 INGREDIENT PUMPKIN MUFFINS

I just had to share the good news of these muffins I saw on Pinterest. Easy, tasty, and healthy.

I made a batch to take on the road to the Oregon Coast and they were a huge hit with Andrew and our friends.

Take a yellow cake mix. 

Mix it with a 15 oz can of pumpkin (I only had a 29oz. can, so I used half and froze the rest).

Pour the batter in a muffin pan.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. 

That's it.

Maybe I'll experiment with a spice cake mix next time. 

Our friend questioned me several times about the truthfulness of my 2 ingredient boast:

"There are no eggs?" 

"You didn't have to add oil or water?"

"How did they get so moist?"

Let's count the ingredient together, people. One. Two. 

I'm not lying. 

Okay fine. I used three ingredients if you count that I added chocolate chips. But those are optional. The muffins are seriously tasty enough without.

And I was surprised to read that this is a weight watchers recipe with fewer than 100 calories. Not that I am a calorie countin' kinda gal...'cause I'm not. But I thought I'd share anyway for those who care. 

All the rest of you non-calorie countin' folk might try it with cream cheese frosting too.