Backyard Shenanigans

So we have been working feverishly placing pavers in the back yard in anticipation of the brickwork that is to be laid this week. I can tell you now, I am more that a little sore. I think for the first time in my life I was feeling old! (Don’t get excited, we all know I am still 29…I mean, SRSLY) Who is to say I can’t pick up 100 lb. paving stones and move them all around the yard for days on end with little or no repercussions! Hmmm? Who?

So we got all the paving stones laid. The brick guys will be here on Wednesday. But you know how the saying goes… If you give a pig a pancake…?

So we started to think about water feature options. As in what were the options for us to cool down after laying paving stones. We looked at in ground pools a few years ago, but decided that we would like to be able to send our kids to college and/or retire someday. We can’t really say which ideal we are more committed to at this time. Let’s just say our youngest daughter has been supes sassy as of late. So paying for college is becoming less and less enticing…

Anywhoobs… I floated the idea of a stock pool to Mr. Cottage In The Glen, and he was DOWN. Like 100%. Like he has been living his whole life for a hillbilly hot tub. And I was like, WHO ARE YOU. So after some back and forth, we are settling on a hot tub. I think. I still have reservations. I mean, I’m a child of the 70’s/80’s. How many of my friends had a divorced dad with a redwood hot tub? I shudder at the creepy memories. (And what was up with all the mustaches?)

So we found one that the salesperson described as the hot tub “Apple would design if they designed hot tubs.” So you know MCITG was HOOKED.

So here we are. Working out the kinks. Tryna decide if we are hot tub people.

The brick guys will be here on Wednesday.

Decorating With What You Love

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about decor. Doing the Insta (that’s Instagram for my older readers. Hi Mom!) will do that to you. I am seeing all my spaces with new eyes now that I am photographing them and editing them for mass viewing.

What I’m learning is that I really do love all the things that I decorate with. Now, that doesn’t mean everyone else will have the same feelings about my things, but for me, what I have chosen for my house makes me happy. You will know this when you can take things, and move them around, and in every place where you put them you just love it! It almost feels like you have purchased all new decor when items find new places! (Pro-tip: saves a lot of money! 😂)

In my youth, I used to be more judgey about personal decor, but as I get older (and possibly mature - not sure about that one) I highly recommend that everyone only choose items that make them happy. We all may not find joy in the same colors or styles, but that’s what makes it so much fun, and everyone’s home a unique expression of who they are!

I always love the things that remind me of my family. Recently on Instagram I posted a picture of my Grandmother’s hula school graduation certificate. This is one of my favorite pieces because every time I see it, I think of her in her youth swaying away to an island breeze. Or about Hawaii, where they were both living when she met and married my grandfather. And the million and one leis they were given as they left for their honeymoon!

There are many things in my home that carry memories like this. I love that I can surround myself with reminders of the people who I love, and that they can be a part of the soul of my home.

A Big Move

Six years ago this week we sold our 1929 Spanish bungalow. We had spent 15 years lovingly restoring our little cottage by the sea. In fact, I had just finished a major kitchen remodel during which I finally had installed the Carrera marble countertops of my dreams! (Insert Crying Face)

My husband had been interviewing with a company that he had admired his entire life. They offered him the job of his dreams. Dreams he had had since he was a little boy writing code on his Commodore 64. (Yes, I married a pretty hot nerd) It was the opportunity of a lifetime, so we packed up our things, two kids and three dogs, and hit the road.

We moved to an area where real estate prices are quite high. QUITE. As in very. As in ridiculous. As in are you kidding me. As in SERIOUSLY.

So we scraped together all we could, and only by the grace of God, purchased a 2 bedroom, 1 and a half bath. Calling it a half bath was being EXTREMELY generous. It was more like a RV toilet. You could sit and do your business, and brush your teeth at the same time. Win-win.

But that is a blog for a later date.

We learned a lot from that move. Probably enough for a book. First and foremost we learned we weren’t in control of anything, and that we needed to be trusting God for everything. Tough to put into practice when the rubber is actually meeting the road. I see now how every lesson you learn prepares you for the next phase of life, often when you will get to learn a whole new set of lessons, and you are grateful that you can lean on the wisdom from the earlier ones.

So we squeezed into a two bedroom house. Before the movers came, we painted the entire house. Including ceilings. And Trim. And Doors. We did this over a very warm weekend in June. And yes, it only took a weekend. To paint the whole house. Because IT WAS SO SMALL. I mean SERIOUSLY PEOPLE. THE HOUSE WAS TINY. When the movers did come, we could barely fit the boxes inside! They were stacked to the ceiling except for a small path to walk in between like we were crazy hoarders. There may have been a few tears shed throughout this process.

The girls learned to share a room. We learned that you really don’t need so much stuff, and that living with less is actually freeing. It prepared me for the future Marie Kondo movement, by giving me an enormous head start. Like I was so far ahead all y’all don’t even know. So silver lining!

We learned to make do with less. I learned how to chalk paint a old rusty refrigerator that we couldn’t afford to replace. It ended up being so cute that when we remodeled the kitchen and bought a new refrigerator, my neighbor asked if she could have the chalk-painted one! (It really was cute people)

After a few years of sacrifice we saved up, and were able to afford to add a third bedroom, another bathroom, an office, and a carriage house for the kids to hang out with their friends. I will be blogging about each of those spaces. I was beyond grateful to be gaining the space just as the kids were entering high school. The additions came just in the nick of time.

Now every time I get to use my NON-RV bathroom, I shake my head and think “WOW,” and how I am so grateful for the difficulties, and the blessings, and celebrating life exactly where you are.

Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cottage_in_the_glen/

Eat the Meat

I think I was up the better part of last night worrying about content for my first blog. It has been so long, and I was feeling quite inadequate and unsure. Where should I start? What should I cover? So much has happened in the last 6 years, where do I begin.

I guess I just needed to start by eating the meat.

A few months ago Ryan announced that she no longer ate mammals. Like none. Only chickens and fish. Long story. Anywhoo… I thus preceded to only create amazing dishes that did not contain mammals of any kind. Srsly..

After a while it became quite tedious. What is life without a hamburger, or pulled pork, or BABY BACK RIBS?

So I told Ryan the deal was off. She better learn to like mammals. Because it’s happening.

So I give you my favorite recipe for Baby Back Ribs. Its kinda not so specific, because I make my own rub, and it is different every time. I say sorry.

Rub

Garlic Powder 2 tbsp?

Mustard Powder 1 tsp?

Smoked Paprika 1-2 tbsp?

Salt and Pepper

1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar

(This can all be avoided if you buy a pre-made rub at the store like a normal human.)

Directions

Rub your ribs on both sides (with the rub. not just for fun.)

Put the ribs on a baking sheet with the meat side down.

Cover in foil, and bake at 250 degrees for 2-3 hours.

*make sure you always have your meat come to a safe temperature.

Remove from oven and discard juices.

Brush ribs on both sides with your favorite barbecue sauce. This week I used Bone Sucking Sauce (Hot).

I am also a big fan of Kinders.

Place ribs bone side down on the baking sheet with no foil tent.

You can have foil below. I’m not a monster.

Bake for 10 min or so until the sauce is caramelized.

Repeat sauce application if you so choose.

Serve with whatever side you want. I did asparagus and roasted sweet potatoes.

Thank Ryan for being such a dingbat that I would crave, and then force her to eat ribs.

#motheroftheyear

#dontdmme

After a Long Hiatus

So after a long hiatus of non-blogging, I have decided to begin again. If you followed me on http://trophywifelivingthedream.blogspot.com welcome back! To those of you who are new…whom are new…who are new…welcome. Hopefully my amateur attempts at home decor will inspire, or at least entertain.

If you’d like feel free to peruse my old stuff. Should be good for a couple of laughs.