Pumpkin Patch Time!

We went to an awesome pumpkin patch here in Utah called Jaker's.

Its run by Hayward Farms and its the best. Ben was mostly confused and a little weirded out by the petting zoo. It was fun to see him experience this!

Awesome face, Ben. And the nasty pig.
Sister in law, Heidi, looks adorable though!

The corn pit was weird - mostly he just liked that we were pretending to be excited about it.

He thinks animals are just fuzzy, weird - shaped humans. Who don't applaud or smile at him. LAME.

Andy finds the perfectly round pumpkin!

We all had so much fun! I love fall!

House Tour Progress - Second installation

This weekend was crazy fun! I spent so much time with my boys enjoying the fall weather, I didn't get a chance to post about the rest of our house progress!

Well, I last left you in the kitchen. My favorite spot ever! Onto the Master bedroom.

Before we moved in, we realized we could fit a much larger bed than we had before. Yipee! King size beds are awesome. This particular one, inspired by our Restoration Hardware images, we found online.

It had the things on my list - linen, nailhead trim, tall headboard, and king size! We also prefer platform beds. I just like literally rolling out of bed :)

We also put up a new light fixture. Andy picked this out (!!!) Color me surprised. I love it. Its feminine and classic. It also has great light - which, isn't that the most important thing for the light fixture?

The real estate group that remodeled the home, actually installed some very helpful features, such as a light switch that hides behind the headboard. So convenient!

The desk lives in here for now - but we have plans to move it to a better location later.

Opposite our bed, we chose a great piece from Ikea. I'm not a fan of the hardware - so I can't wait to buy new ones for it!

We've since hung our favorite piece of art about the dresser and it is flanked by our two favorite lamps from TJ Maxx.

To the right is our closet with a back door that leads to the laundry room (another great detail thanks to the previous owners). I have big plans for that space too. The first thing we'll do is put a light fixture in there. D A R K.

To the left of the dresser is the bath.

In this room we still plan to:

*add crown molding
*paint walls and ceiling
*add a ceiling medallion to beef up the chandy
*hardwood floors
*hang remaining pictures
*night stands
*move desk
*drapery
*hardware on dresser
*bedding for the bed
*closet reno

Next up is the bathroom. It's great with it's high ceilings. In here, we added a cabinet to the right of the sink for additional storage. We totally scored at HomeGoods with this one. It had a wonky hinge so we got it for $40! Its a Powell cabinet - originally $120.

And the white is the same as the doors and trim. Its perfect for the space. Andy's choice, again.

In here, we still need to:

*buy extra long shower curtain
*paint
*beef up mirror with trim or something

Next up is the utility room.

This is the only pic you get :) Its a messy, dark disaster zone. AHH! Thats my LAUNDRY right there!

I'm still trying to figure out what I want this room to be. The tricks are the trap door to the basement and the facing washer dryer situation. Thats how they have to sit. Sigh. It's going to be hard.

Stay tuned for my Bedroom Mood Board! Can't wait to put it all together! .... on paper, at least!

Have a great weekend!

Totally otally slacked slacked on blogging about the rest of the house this week! No fear! I'll be posting asap tomorrow morn about the rest of the rooms! This is the stuff I've been eyeing when I wasn't here...

This has got to be one of the funniest things I've seen. She's hysterical!

Stop it! Baby walrus orphaned!

I want! "But help me, I'm poor..."

The 25 funniest tweets of the VP debate. (On that same note - Joe Biden is like a severe "Loud talker" [Seinfeld, anyone?])

Grey or white for living room colors? So torn between these two boring colors ;)

One of the best blogs I've ever seen! So fun. So happy.

We're going to pick pumpkins at the pumpkin patch  (PP at the PP, if you will) and let Ben enjoy a corn bin (? sounds cool...) and hayride! He'll think its boring! Can't wait :)

House Tour - Progress

Since having been moved in for a little over a month now, we have actually done a lot! Andy has some compulsion when it comes to living in disarray. He wants everything in its proper place and put together.

I actually didn't know this until know. So - cool! I lucked out!

He's all "let's get our new bed! lets switch out some lights!"

New lights? Suuure!

So around the house, just in the last month that we have moved in, it looks pretty different.

In the living room, not much has changed. We had an electrician install TV height outlets. Now Andy is convinced we need a bigger tv.. " To hide the outlets, of course!" I installed the temporary paper shades the day we moved in because our neighbors are, like, right there.

Note: Andy was sitting on the couch with a box of Cheeze- its until I told him I was blogging these pics. lol.

He was hiding the Cheeze- its here :) and no my kid isn't watching tv.
He's watching General Conference. So thats ok.

In this room, we still need to:
*paint the walls and ceiling
*hang art/ mirrors/ pictures/ curtains
*switch out light fixture
*new lamp
*add crown molding
*add wood floors
*get different TV
*add a console under TV for dvd player/ stuff


In Ben's room/ guest room, we haven't done much either, besides furnishings. It features this awesome stained glass window that where I shelved the Pirate Ship mobile Grandpa made him. It totally reminds me of Hook. Anyone else?!

"I've lost my marbles." - Tootles. right?!

We've purchased an iron guest bed which I adore. Overstock. Who knew!? And threw up a simple roman shade for privacy that matches our others we have. And I really need to get a bookshelf for all of his hand me down children's books.

To do in this room:
*paint walls and ceiling
*add crown molding
*switch out light fixture
*add wood floors
*organize closet
*guest bedding
*bookshelf
*clean up and paint kids table/ chairs

Our kitchen is my favorite room in the house. Mostly because its functional/ large/ and mostly finished.

bluuuuurrryyy. sorry I can't photograph. or use my white balance. 

In this room, Andy and I have just added the roman shade (gifted by my sweet MIL) and had an electrician install an outlet in the island.

Oh, and we picked up these sweet bar stools at HomeGoods for $60. The quality is amazing and they have this nice two tone going on.

We still want to:
*paint ceiling
*switch out light fixture?
*add hardware to cabinets (33 knobs is actually a large financial commitment. ugh!)
*backsplash?
*refinish original beadboard (it has a bad paint job on it now with un smooth finish underneath)
*under cabinet task lighting

Next up are the plans and progress on the rest of the rooms including the exterior! woot woot

Have an awesome weekend!

This weekend we'll be getting family pictures taken - (somuchpressuretolookdecent). We'll also be making snuggly cinnamon rolls to sit down and watch conference all weekend. Also, my fav/only little sister will be in town! Yay!

I'll be making these cinnamon rolls  because they look totally scrumptious and no rise time! score!

source

Came across this amazing new lifestyle children's site with awesome ideas like this recipe for...peach...basil...jam! what!? making this for gifts for sure.

24 grooms seeing their brides for the first time. So sweet!

Can't wait to get on this DIY! I'll be posting my tutorial on it here soon!

And I'll leave you with the best line from the 30 rock premiere:

“You know I can’t wear green, Jenna. The Clinique lady says I have witch undertones.” -Liz Lemooooon!

Thinking on Thursday

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I sometimes find myself spiraling down a tunnel of envy, self doubt, and complete unhappiness when I look around me and on the internet to see images of picture perfect families who seem to have their life totally together.

In my head I know that it is a false front. In my heart, I truly am happy with my life. But why does almost every blog portray this airy, dreamy life of pure bliss filled with painfully white linens and smiling children.

Shoot. My whites are dingy yellow from all the bleach I use and my kid is honestly adorable and honestly screams a lot - if I'm being honest.

As I reflect on what to focus my Conference Weekend , I know I need to stop comparing. Comparing puts fear in my heart to start new things and steals moments in my home because they aren't what I think they should be.

Tell me I'm not alone.
Or I'll know you're all lying :)

source unknown

Aspen Loop

This weekend we decided to explore the new fall foliage and, here in Utah, there is no better way then to take a sunset drive on the Aspen Loop!

We start this scenic drive through the mountains in Sundance. One of our favorite places of all time.

It's just such a perfect place to walk around and breathe the fresh air. Andy spent a whole year working here and tells lots of funny/ gross/ illegal- ish stories about his days spent catering to the wealthy celebs and skiing his lazy winter days away. I hate skiing, but it sounds awesome.

In the summers, Sundance does Moonlight lift rides at night every full moon. As lovely and romantic as it may sound, it is actually terrifying. Reason #567,890 why I don't like skiing is that those lifts don't have seat belts! ah!

Ben loved being toted around in the Bjorn. Staring at people.
But our favorite part of the trip around Sundance is their suckers.

Ben liked them.

Like really really really liked them. Especially two at once.

And he had a death grip on them.
Andy didn't get many licks of his sucker.

Next, we headed out to the road to enjoy the last rays of sunshine as they made the colors on the mountain light on fire.

*forgive my poor photos. windy road + amateur photographer. 

The Quaking Aspens are my favorite.
Really tempted to dig one up and throw it in the back with Ben.

AH! We saw a moose! He barreled straight down the steep mountainside, across the road, and down the other side. He was huge. It was cool to see that.

It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon as a family.
Sometimes Utah isn't so bad.