Taco 'bout Love- A Wedding Shower

I love to entertain! We didn't do much at our last house because we were either working on home improvement projects, or we just lived too out of the way for many people to come over. So I was ecstatic to co-host a shower for our good friends Bonnie and Josh not too long after moving in to the new house.

Custom cookie favors for guests to take home. 

A little back story on the party theme.... Hank and I are part of a running group in Austin called Gilbert's Gazelles, and every Saturday we have a post-long run tradition of getting breakfast tacos at Taco Deli. Bonnie is known as the "Queen B" of our group, and after she marries Josh, they will be relocating to Alabama. Our group of friends wanted to do something really special for her, and thought this theme would be a fun way to shower them with love and well wishes.

We lucked out with the most incredible weather for a late June party. Given the size (about 35 people), I wanted to have tables and chairs in the backyard so that everyone could spread out and eat comfortably. Temps were in the low 80's that evening and we were able be outside without dying in the Texas heat. You can read below for all the details on this fun shower theme!

Invitation

Every good party needs a fun invitation. We used evite.com to manage the guest list. As much as I love paper invites, this was just the easier route. I also appreciated the fact that we could upload a custom digital image.  My very talented friend Becky recently opened an Etsy shop for her party goods business Bubby & Bitty. I went to her with a few ideas for an invitation, and she put together an invite that far exceeded my expectations. She also created a matching "fill in the blanks" card, and some fun photo booth props.

#tacoboutlove party invitation

Food and Drinks

Two other couples hosted the shower with us, so there was plenty of help to pull this off. I went back and forth over having the event catered, or doing it myself. I really love to cook and I knew that I could make taco fillings better than a caterer. Plus, I love any chance to cook in my new kitchen right now. So I made a menu with items that could all be prepared ahead of time, and was thrilled with how it all turned out.

Veggies/hummus/nuts/olives for light appetizers
Beef Picadillo and Crockpot Verde Chicken for taco fillings
Corn and Flour Tortillas picked up fresh from El Milagro in Austin
Chips and homemade guacamole
Watermelon and Blackberry Salad (link to recipe)
Texas Caviar (black bean and corn salad that also doubled as a vegetarian filling)
Mexican Coleslaw (link to recipe)
Key Lime Bars (link to recipe)
Churro Cupcakes (link to recipe)
Sweet Elise custom cookies for party favors
Salsa from Taco Deli

Topo Chico and Limeade for non-alcoholic options
Margaritas
Wine

Appetizers and drinks on the island made for easy access for guests to help themselves. 

Personalized cocktail and dinner napkins were a fun touch. 

Love this quote. 

Salsa from Taco Deli.

Topo Chico is a lot more fun than plain water bottles. Costco has a case for a good price. 

The Churro Cupcakes were amazing- definitely give the recipe a try.

Decorations

I tried to keep decorations fairly simple. We opted for round tables and white chairs outside with white  tablecloths, then added colorful flower centerpieces, succulents potted in tin cans, and a few candles on each table. I probably Pinterested tabletop ideas to death, and am really glad I decided to just keep it simple. I didn't get a picture of the actual taco bar, but we had big sunflowers in a blue and white pottery piece, and a fun chalkboard sign with the phrase "first comes love, then comes tacos". I found the blank sign at Home Goods for $4.99, and used my cookie projector to space out the wording just right. We also ordered personalized napkins, and sent the extra home for the soon-to-be newlyweds to use in the future.

Backyard set up with a few rental tables. 

Table centerpieces. (Those El Pato cans are hard to find!)

Good friends make every party perfect!

My favorite part of the party (and one that was really popular with the guests) was the photo booth we had upstairs. I borrowed a backdrop stand from my photographer friend, hung a white sheet over it, and added some bright colored fans that I ordered on Amazon. On a table across from it I had some fun props I picked up at Party City, along with signs that I ordered from Amazon. I provided an Instax Mini Camera (along with some simple instructions), so that guests could take pictures to contribute to a mini photo album for Bonnie to take with her when she moves. I *think* the album was made by Heidi Swapp. I got it on sale at Michael's and can't seem to find anything similar to link.

Photo Booth Set-Up, and lovely hosts Murphy and Shelly.

We were too busy to get a good polaroid, but we did stop long enough to take a picture on the back porch.

Overall it was a really fun and memorable party. We had a blast planning it with our good friends, and enjoyed doing something special for Bonnie and Josh. What are your favorite party themes?

Hello from the other side (of Austin)

What a crazy ride it's been since my last post on February 1. We sold our home in Steiner Ranch and then closed on our new home in Circle C a week later. Due to timing though, we had to find temporary housing for 2.5 months. Would you believe that I told you we ended up in the exact same apartment that I lived in when I first met Hank? (like, the literal EXACT same numbered unit?!) It was not nearly the romantic interlude that I envisioned in my head. Sharing the tiny second bedroom as we both worked from home, with 4 animals who were all pretty freaked out by the move, made for a somewhat stressful and cramped stay. Fortunately it went by pretty quickly, and we are officially moved in and almost settled into our lovely new home.

Meet the new Holland House! We gained about 500 square feet, and had some immediate furniture needs to address when we moved in. However, the house is barely a year old and has minimal projects (hello weekend freedom!) Hank has a dedicated office downstairs, and mine is upstairs facing out the front of the house (it's still a big work in progress right now). We also have a very empty upstairs living room that will hopefully be furnished in time for football season. We'd love to have a comfy couch and a big TV for movie watching and Sunday football marathons.

Shortly after moving in we did a little sprucing up to the front flower bed. It still had the original builder's package- just a few uninspired shrubs and plants, some of which weren't alive anymore. My parents helped us plan and pick out something more original, and after a hard afternoon of work, it now looks like this.

Inside the home, we have a very open floor plan downstairs. You walk in through the entry hall and Hank's office is immediately on the right. Then it opens up into the kitchen/dining/living room space. I LOVE that I can see everything from my kitchen island. In our old house, the kitchen sink and counters faced away from the living room, so I always felt like my back was to all the action. Now I can see everything that's happening when I'm cooking or working on cookies.

Entry hall- I'm so glad I was able to use this piece of furniture that used to be in my grandparent's entry.

Entry hall, with artwork and lamp from Back Home in Austin.

Hank's office- still in need of a large piece of art for the back wall.

My new kitchen- complete with a wine fridge that was pretty much what sold us on the house. ;)

View from the kitchen sink.

Tall walls mean tall lamps, and I adore this pair of blue glass ones. 

Our furniture worked out great in the new floor plan, but there were definitely some things we needed. Luckily my favorite home furnishing store, Back Home Living, was having an anniversary sale in May and I got some great deals on some bigger ticket items. I purchased the mirrored console, the wood bead chandelier, a pair of lamps and a set of chests for our bedroom (which are in transit right now). Seriously- if you live anywhere near Austin, this is the store to shop at. The owner and staff are so nice and helpful, and it's a great source for inspiration as well. I try my best to mix quality pieces with less expensive decorative items found at stores like Home Goods, World Market or online retailers like Wayfair and Joss & Main (where I got this awesome bar cart). 

Our bedroom is still a work in progress. The plan is to replace the carpet with the same wood floor as the rest of the downstairs. I also need to find a dresser, but we're in no hurry for that. Hopefully the new chests will get here soon- the wall is wider than our house and we needed something more substantial next to the bed. Speaking of beds....since we left our headboard screwed into the wall at the old house, we needed a new one. I found this wonderful metal and upholstered bed (on sale, of course) at Bassett Furniture. Their white glove delivery service was amazing and we have been so happy with this purchase!

The back of the house is another area that is definitely going to need our attention at some point. The original owners of the new house decided shortly after building and finishing this one that they were going to need more space to accommodate in-laws. So they left the backyard as-is, which is basically just one large rectangle of grass. We're doing our best to keep it alive for now, but hope to add a tree or two, and some privacy landscaping along the back fence. Our back porch, however, is another favorite spot of ours. It's covered (we added a fan right after moving in), and it's a lovely place to sit outside and enjoy a cold drink or a meal with friends. Hank got a Weber Grill and has loved cooking on that too. 

View of the back porch. Brees most certainly has enjoyed her big backyard!

Chairs, pillows, and table all from World Market. 

Picnic table, chairs and rug all from World Market. 

Overall we're absolutely thrilled with our new house. It's been fun to entertain, and we're enjoying meeting and getting to know our new neighbors. The animals are having a blast too- especially the cats who spend their afternoons sunbathing on the stair case. 

Before and After

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then you know by now that we put our house on the market last week. It was a crazy few days that resulted in three great offers and a contract with an amazing family who loves our home as much as we do. Assuming all goes well, our option period ends on Friday and we close sometime between Feb. 23-Mar. 3. I'll tell the story of why we decided to sell in another post. For now, I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane, and look at some true before and after pics of all our hard work over the last three years. Our realtor had professional pictures taken of our home, and I'm so glad I'll have them to remember it by.

The "before" pictures come from when Hank listed the home a few years before I came into the picture, so the furniture and decor was pretty different than after I moved in. However, the "after" pictures are definitely a true snapshot of how our design aesthetics married over time. It has been so fun defining our style together over the years, and I can't wait to see what we come up with in our new home!

First up- the kitchen. This was by far our biggest remodel. Hank did the demo, lighting, new cabinets and paint. We hired professionals to install the pecan herringbone wood floor and the countertops. The light and bright feeling has served me well over the years. I have loved hosting cookie classes in this kitchen, and being supervised by all our animals when I'm cooking dinner. The idea of removing the island initially had me a little worried, but I haven't regretted it for a single day since.

Breakfast Nook

Next is our dining/living area. Obviously a fresh coat of paint (Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore), updated lighting and new furniture drastically brightened up the area. The biggest change in this space though is our custom shiplap feature wall, with a beautiful new built in and updated fireplace. While we dreamed up the look for this, we hired a professional to complete it for us. This was way beyond our skill set, and I'm so glad we didn't try to attempt it ourselves. This is really the first thing you see when you walk in the door, and it was worth the investment to make it the highlight of the room, and not the eyesore it was for so long.

Here's a better view of our pride and joy- our shiplap wall.

Our master bedroom and bath also got makeovers. We used the same flooring in our master, and updated paint and furniture. Our master bath only went through phase 1 of its remodel. We painted the vanity and room, paneled the vanity wall, added hardware, and updated the mirrors and lighting. We had planned on new tile and vanity, but decided not to follow through when we put it on the market. We just didn't think we'd get our money out of it, and decided to let the next homeowner make that decision.

Both of our secondary bedrooms and guest bath were updated as well. We swapped the original order of the rooms- the old office became a pretty guest room. The old guest room became a beautiful office thanks to an awesome craigslist find of Ikea bookcases for $100. Hank framed them into built-ins and made the beautiful desk to go in between. We also did wood flooring in both rooms so that there would be no more carpet in our house. (With 4 animals, carpet is a bad bad thing.) I didn't have a great before picture of the guest bath (trust me when I say it was very, very ugly.) But there is a nice picture of the finished product. New listing, mirror and vanity, along with a white textured shower curtain for the finishing touch.

Our "his and her" home office

Guest Bath

One other touch (that took way longer than we ever imagined) was replacing all of the door trim and baseboards with 6" white trim to give it a more updated (and cottage-y look). Hank installed the trim while I did most of the caulk and paint. We never thought we'd finish, but the final result is so much prettier than how it was. Let's face it- 18 year old trim can look pretty dingy. The Simply White color by Benjamin Moore really stands out against the walls.

Our backyard saw just a few changes. We added a rock retaining wall to help with drainage, and planted a big tree at the top of the yard to help with shade over the years. Hank built the deck off the back door, and we planted a small garden where there used to be a cramped magnolia tree. We also replaced the fence last year and stained it a neat gray color to go better with the house.

We love looking back at all of the progress we made on this house. (You can view the full tour here) A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it. While we're sad to be saying goodbye, we're thrilled about new adventures in our first home purchased together. Stay tuned for what's to come. We have two closings and two moves to get there, but we can't wait to settle into our next home!

On Love and Loss

Hello old friends! It's been quite awhile since I last posted, and even longer since I likely posted anything meaningful. 2016 overall was a pretty great year for us, minus some pretty devastating news that we received last April. Hank's mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma (lung cancer) and spent the better part of the year fighting it. When first diagnosed, the doctors weren't sure exactly how long she would have, but we knew she was on borrowed time. Unfortunately it was a type of cancer that couldn't be beat and we said goodbye to her on Friday, January 6th.

Hank and I had just been up to Oklahoma the week before to visit, and I'm so grateful that I will forever have that last memory of playing a card game around the kitchen island, laughing and having a good time. Even though she was tired and struggling with her breathing, she made every effort to enjoy the visit. We did not know at the time just how bad she was, but I think in a way she did.

She went to the hospital a few days after we left, and then we got the call that a cat scan showed the cancer had spread to her good lung, and there was nothing left to do about it. Again- no one knew how long she had. But we got the call late Wednesday that it didn't look good, and Hank left for Oklahoma early the next morning. She Facetimed us around 4:30 am wanting to tell us that she loved us. I wasn't sure that Hank would make it in time, but he did.

Needless to say, last week was a really tough week. We're in our early 40s, an age where we shouldn't have to be saying goodbye to parents just yet. I'm not sure its even really sunk in that she's gone. There was so much to do last week- making arrangements, attending services, looking after Hank's dad. I think it's going to take awhile to process it all.

Hank's mom was a gem. As far as mother-in-laws go, she really was the best!! She called me sugar, never meddled in our business, and made me feel like she loved me as her very own daughter. She raised an amazing son, and for that I will forever be in her debt.

This was from a surprise visit last fall, taken around the kitchen island where we spent so much of our time!

March Madness

March was one for the books! Work travel took me to some really great places, and I had the opportunity to combine work with a little bit of fun. In between meetings in LA and San Jose, I had a full day to myself. I rented a car and toured Carmel and Monterey. There was so much to see in so little time, but I think I hit the highlights. I stopped at the Carmel Mission museum, walked around the shops downtown, and then drove along  Scenic Road. I could have done that twice! With the ocean on the right side, and the most amazing homes on the left, I really needed two trips down the street to see it all. After I was done in Carmel, I took the 17-Mile Drive to Monterey, stopping at Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress. Again- amazing homes and breathtaking views. If I was able to do it all over again, I would skip Monterey (too touristy) and stay in Carmel. Better food and sight seeing by far!! Hank and I will definitely be going back for a romantic weekend.

While in LA, the keynote speaker at my work event was none other than Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple.  Getting to hear him speak was really special. He was so engaging and passionate about education- it was really motivating to hear his thoughts. We chatted briefly, and then he signed the back of my iPhone. Bucket list- check!!

I got to go home for a week before heading back to California- this time to Palm Springs (you'll hear no complaints from me). I had never been before and was excited to see a new place. The weather was absolutely perfect, but I didn't have a ton of time outside of the work event to enjoy it. I did receive an invitation to the Indian Wells tennis tournament, and watched an exciting match with John Isner, and saw the tail end Serena Williams playing. I've never seen a pro tennis tournament before, and really enjoyed it. I also got to ride the aerial tramway to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. I'm not normally one to be scared of heights, but this was almost a little too thrilling for me. The view from the top was totally worth the trip up though.

Lest you think that my work travel is ALL glamorous...I will share this funny Air BnB experience. Our new marketing guy (who is all of 24 years old) booked my stay in PS. All of the hotels were sold out due to the conference and tennis tournament, so we turned to Air BnB. This is where I *thought* I was staying:

And this is where I somehow ended up. An apartment with a hair salon in the dining area. Too funny! Not sure how the reservation got mixed up, but I survived and made the best of it. (I'll also be booking my own reservations from now on.)

With work travel done for the month, it was time to have some fun in Austin. One of our running friends invited us to the Dell Match Play, with access to a hospitality suite for the day (free food and drinks FTW!). The event was held at the Austin Country Club, where the course is right on the lake. The views are beautiful, the weather was awesome, and it was such a fun way to play hooky from work for the day. It was the inaugural year for the event, and it went so well that they will be coming back for at least the next 3 years. I consider it a can't miss if you have the opportunity to go. We got to see Jordan Spieth up close, and also had Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy (hello, muscles!) sightings.

Jordan Spieth in the middle.

This was our view of the 15th hole from the hospitality suite.

Last but not least, we did a little bit of housework as well. Hank transplanted a Magnolia tree to make room for a veggie garden, and so far everything seems to be growing. We planted tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, bell peppers, zucchini squash, red onions and parsley. We have absolutely no idea what we're doing, so I'm just focusing on keeping everything watered and free of bugs.

Hank also finished a project that had been bugging him immensely- our unsightly laundry room. In true Holland fashion, we didn't get a good "before" picture that showed the wire shelving. Hank was so excited to rip it down that he totally forgot. He started the project off by installing bead board, but after loving our shiplap in the living room so much, he tore it down and did "cheap" lap instead- just regular plywood ripped down at Home Depot. A lot less expensive, and still the same general look. It's nice to have covered storage now, a fresh coat of paint, and a pretty new light fixture.

So that recaps a very fun and busy month. April is already off to a great start with several charity events and a weekend in Houston. More posts to come.

Modern Coastal Living Room Makeover

Test test..... Not sure this thing still works. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know our life has been pretty uneventful lately. You'll hear no complaining from me- it's been really nice to have a little less stress in our lives. The new job is going really well (working from home is a dream), the animals are all healthy, and Hank and I are slowly getting back into a regular running routine.

The biggest news is that our living room makeover (that's been over a year in the making) is finally complete! When I moved into Hank's home, my goal was to get rid of everything brown. We wanted a more "modern coastal" look for the home, and have tried to stay true to that in all our decisions and purchases. Over the years we've made small improvements here and there, doing most of the work ourselves. We've collected some furniture pieces and painted the walls, but knew that it wouldn't all come together until we tackled the main living room wall. After moving the TV from the cabinet to above the fireplace, we were left with a giant hole, and a lot of unsightly cables. After a lot of careful thought, serious Pinterest browsing, and saving- our dream is finally a reality.

Living Room Wall "Before"

Living Room Wall "After"

The biggest transformation is the main wall. It was most definitely inspired by our love of Fixer Upper. Hank has a man-crush on Chip, and we love shiplap almost as much as Joanna does. When you walk into our home this wall is definitely a focal point, and it was a really sad first impression. Our DIY skills are slightly above average, but we knew this project would never get done the way we wanted to if we didn't call in professionals. Luckily we knew a contractor who came highly recommended, and I credit him with making our vision become reality. I highly recommend Peglars Custom Cabinetry if you need any work done in the Austin area. Jesse is the utmost professional and timely person I've ever worked with.

To round out the modern coastal look, we stuck with neutral fabrics for furniture, and accented it with a bold blue rug from Pottery Barn. For the past year we've had just a couch and a random chair in the living area. Today I found the absolute most perfect coffee table and set of chairs at Back Home, a local Austin home decor store. I splurged on a few pieces, and shopped at Home Goods and World Market to find affordable decorative items to fill in the gaps. (Frugal tip- find a used or half-price book store for inexpensive books with pretty spines or covers. It's an easy way to fill in shelf space without spending a fortune.)

Living Room "Before"

The coffee table is one of my favorite new pieces. I love the modern touch that it brings to the room. Several of the furniture pieces are wood, so I wanted to balance that out with a piece that wasn't so heavy. Katie the cat seems to love it too.

We're thrilled with the finished product. The room feels light and airy, and is such a calming place to sit and relax. I love the combination of new and old- you can see my grandmother's old desk in the background, and I love that we were able to keep it in the space. Hank even upcycled a piece of live edge wood to make a sofa table (that still needs to be accessorized), using inexpensive hairpin legs he found online and then painted himself.

Hank's sofa table

Accessorized shelves, courtesy of my mom

Thanks for stopping by! I've got one other home project to share and hopefully I'll be able to get those pictures up soon.