Bathroom Basics

After moving into our new condo, which has two bathrooms, I decided our master bath needed a makeover. Previously, this is what it looked like.


Mirrors before- lots of bright color!

Shower curtain that we had red & brown towels with.

With $3 of paint and a little time, I re-did the mirrors to be more neutral and basic.

Then I found a shower curtain on sale at Bed, Bath &  Beyond and then waited and searched for a towel/rug sale.  Finally, Kohl's had a 1/2 off sale! YEAH!! I can't believe how expensive towels/runs can be! I got brown's and creme/tan towel's and rugs and then got a few fun colored hand towels to spice it up when I feel like it.

Here is a finished product picture.

I love the basic-ness (is that a word?!)!  

Now I need some help...I have a decent sized wall space above the toilet and I'm not sure what to do with it. I have a couple brown shelves, but Jarad thinks that it is too boring to do all brown/cream.  Thoughts? Suggestions? I am not very good at the whole home decor thing! 

Sisser Time

I have the best sister! I am so excited to be closer to her geographically so we can play more often! Recently, I drove down to Colorado Springs for a few days during her week off. It was awesome to just hang out and do sista things!


Me and my sista-Linds. Most people don't think we look like sisters- probably because Linds is so HOT!


She has a cat who apparently loves to play in bags and who acts more like a dog than a cat! One day we came home to find cherries all over the floor because Lily thought they were toys.


We did some jewelry making while I was down visiting as well. I made this summer necklace for Linds. Hope you're wearing it! If not... send it up to me! :)


Linds didn't know how to drive a stick-shift so who better to teach her than her big sis! Gotta love zooming around the church parking lot seeing what gear you can get up to!


HA! This is fun! She didn't even kill it a hundred times...just a few. :)


We also went to the movies and saw My Sister's Keeper- a very good flick! We of course brought along the necessities...popcorn & snacks and tissues!


Linds was so sweet! She even left me a note of the mirror!


Love you Linds! Thanks for letting me come hang out with you for a few days! Next time, you get to come up north to see me!


Peanut, Me & Baylee- part of the reason I went down to visit was to help Lindsey babysit the animals since Mom & Dad were out of town.


I also got to see my bro Kev and sis-in-law Lori when they got back from their vacation and came to pick up their pooch Max who we were also dog-sitting.

Thanks for a fun time Linds! Love you!

Fireworks or Bust

Happy Birthday America! We had big plans with Jarad's family for the 4th. We were headed to the Colorado National Speedway to watch the races and then a magnificant fireworks show. My father-in-law, Steve, was so excited to give me my initial redneck experience at the races. However, it started pouring rain (it's been a trend lately) at about 1pm and it hadn't stopped yet! So we drove south to the Speedway, got there, and sadly, the nice parking attendant man told us the whole night had been CANCELLED! SAD DAYS! Our 4th plans had been ruined by rain!

So...after sulking (Sienna and I did) and brainstorming, we decided to make our own fun and Steve still wanted some redneck influence, so we headed to a buffet!

According to my father-in-law- redneck eatin' means goin' to the buffet!


Sienna was sportin' some Independance Day gear! Lookin' good!


The Whole Famdamily! Steve, Lin, Deahna, Sienna, Me, Ambar, Kayla & their friend Marina (Jar was playing photographer)

For those who may not know, that is my FAVORITE part about the 4th of July. I love fireworks! I love watching big shows, I love lighting them at home, I love how they look, I love how they sound...I just love fireworks!

Lucky for us, just prior to arriving at the buffet, we saw a couple of firework tents. And my husband was kind enough to take me (to both firework tents) to get some goods for a firework extravaganza of our own at home later.


On the drive home, we saw a double rainbow and one of them was the brightest rainbow we'd ever seen!! This picture doesn't even do it justice.

Much to my enjoyment, as soon as it was dark, we started the firework extravaganza! Jar and I lit all the fireworks and did Pop-Its and sparklers! We had a grand time! I think everyone else did to...or else they were just enjoying me squeal and love the fireworks!


Is it time for fireworks yet?!


Steve & Lin enjoying the fireworks extravaganza!


Marina, Ambar & Kayla laughing at Kaylas squealing at the noisy fireworks.


oooo.....awww.....


We LOVED the sparklers!


Deahna & Sienna


Me-smiling at the joy I get from doing fireworks! Jar- smirking because he thinks we should just light money on fire instead.



Jar trying to look excited for me.


Everyone got in on the sparkler action. I think we went through about 8 boxes!


Deahna doesn't love fireworks...but she wanted to figure out her firework setting on her camera.


Aren't fireworks so cool! So pretty...

Although our original plans didn't work out, we had a great time as a family!

Farmer's Market Loot

Last week, I went to a Farmer's Market in Jar's hometown of Berthoud. It was small with all of maybe a dozen vendors. But, I came away with some serious veggie loot! I didn't see much at first that caught my eye, then came to a vegetable vendor who was doing a special. All the veggies you can fit into a plastic grocery sack for 10 buckaroos! So Sienna and I started loading our bag up with lots of fresh, yummy veggies!


We had to go home and weigh our loot!


Yup...that's 19 lbs. 4 oz!


I couldn't believe all that we got and we haven't even been able to eat it all yet!

Not My Brightest Moment

At our new place, Jar & I have a detached garage. It is great! We love the storage and it is nice to have a guarenteed parking spot. Jarad has been nice enough to let me park in our garage but that all changed this past week after I had a not so bright moment!

Directly across from our garage is some open parking where people like to park their large and long bit type man trucks that hang out further than the parking spaces would normally allow. Apparently because we are in the back of the development they think this is an appropriate place to park. Anyway...so this makes turning into our one car garage (kind of small) kind of a multi-step process. Pull in, back up, try pulling in again, back up again, etc. Well, one day I was pulling in and thought I had enough room on the passenger side when all of the sudden I heard the un-glorious screeching noise! Uh-oh! Side of the garage meet side of the car!


Luckily there wasn't too much damage...mostly just paint transfer. Here is the side-rail.


The back passenger door also got some paint from the garage.

So...now, Jarad parks his smaller car in the garage. And I am banned from doing so! Not my brightest moment!

Mamma Mia!!

Another great summer activity- movies in the park! We went to see Mamma Mia in Berthoud with Jar's fam.


Steve & Lin enjoying the film.


Jarad & I - Jar especially loved the lady in front of us who sang the whole movie and even gave us a little dance at the end! HA!


Deahna & Sienna and if you look close...you can see Zoe! She loved the movie too!

A Day in Denver

Last weekend, Jarad and I headed down to Denver to spend the day with my family! I was very excited to see them! Sad, that my Mom was out of town and I wouldn't see her yet, but glad to see the rest of the fam that lives here in CO.

We met up with Kevin & Lori at the Denver Zoo and Lindsey & Dad met up with us a while later. We saw tons of cool animals and had alot of fun. Good idea Kev & Lori!


Peacock- such a beautiful bird! We saw two of them with their feathers fully out.


Flamingos- to me, a strange bird...why would you want to stand on one leg all the time?!


Penquins- I love how they waddle.


Dad, Linds, Lori & Kevin- a little hot and muggy inside the reptile house.


Lori & I & the Elephants- Did you know that they live by a matriarchal order?! Girls rule!!!


The Fam- Linds (why do you look like you aren't even with our group?!), Jar & I (why do I look preggo?!), Dad- flyin' solo since Mom was out of town, Lori & Kev.


Giraffes- my favorite animal and Jar- my favorite husband!

After the Denver Zoo, we cruised through downtown to Coors Stadium for the Rockies vs. Mariners game. Kev snagged our tickets from will-call, we bought some sunflower seeds and drinks from the vendors outside and we were off! We really lucked out though because as soon as we got into the stadium a down-pour commenced! It lasted about 15 minutes or so but then it was nice the rest of the night and we were able to enjoy the game. Thanks to Linds for raiding the bathroom paper towel dispenser so we could have dry seats! There was a little division between the family on who should win- some cheered for the Mariners since we grew up watching them, some have become true Coloradian's and cheered for the Rockies and some of us just enjoyed the game!


Kevin & Lori- Go Rockies!


Jarad & I- lovin' the game!


PLAY BALL!!!


What's a ball game without some greasy food! Hot dogs & Nacho's! Yum!


Sissers- Lindsey & I.