Possibly the best recipe I have ever heard of!!!

I wanted to draw everyone's attention to one of my favorite blogs (thanks Jessie!!) - Our Best Bites. It has this amazing recipe for Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze. I love coconut and have never thought about doing this! Can you imagine Grandma's recipe for Banana Bread (THE only and best recipe) with coconut and lime glaze?!?!? Here's a direct link to the recipe if anyone wants to give it a try:
http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/04/coconut-banana-bread-with-lime-glaze.html

Vexation and Taxation

It's over and done with and I waited until the last minute!!! I decided (against my better judgement) to help my dad tackle his taxes this year. My and Mav's taxes are pretty simple and so I am never really worried about finishing those on time. My dad's however were another story. I have contemplated donating my accounting services to my dad throughout the year as I knew that this tax day was coming. He doesn't store a SINGLE thing electronically. But I never made the time to actually sit down and get everything organized, so two weeks ago my dad brought me his records in a cardboard box and plastic file folder. I was actually impressed as he had kept almost everything he needed and made a good effort to do some accounting. But I must say that I don't think I have ever been happier to have this day come, because ultimately it means that I AM DONE!!

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free
I’m following the path God has laid you see.
I took his hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
O yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life’s been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief,
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee-
God wanted me now: He set me free….

Its all about the outside

We have been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. Mav is still working shift work so he has random days here and there that he has devoted to working outside (finally nice weather!!). We have started our big summer project already, which is exciting considering it's only the middle of April. We are going to add a wood patio/deck onto the back of our house this year, complete with seating, a built in sandbox and MAYBE a path that leads to a fire pit. Mav designed it himself, so it is going to be very custom and unique. We hope to be able to finish it soon enough so that we can enjoy it throughout the summer. We pretty much just have the backyard left as far as outside projects are concerned and are ready to enjoy just being outside in a nice space.
Here's a BEFORE pic. We have to first pick up/carry all of these stone pavers away, then put in drain tile, and THEN start the construction. We will keep you posted on our progress!!

Bringing back the bangs...

Yes, I did!! A couple of weeks ago I had Jess cut my hair. As usual I was searching for something different to try. We both decided that I could give bangs a try again...except that these weren't going to be the puffy, ratted, hairsprayed, stick two inches above my head kind of bang. She AGAIN did an amazing job cutting my hair. Where have you been all my life--noONE can make me look cuter than you!!! :) I am still in the beginning stages of learning how to fix it, what works best, and training my hair to be parted on the WAY side. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE it and had to devote a posting so that all you curious could check out my new do!

Early Easter

Mav and I were in Williston this past weekend so that we could celebrate an early Easter with Steph and the kids. We had a gorgeous Saturday to hunt for Easter eggs and play outside! We hunted for eggs first and then had an awesome dinner. Then all the kids decorated their Easter eggs for next Sunday. Judy had seen this really cool idea for decorating eggs. She sprayed hard boiled eggs with chalk board paint and then the kids were able to decorate them with chalk! They turned out really cute and the kids all had a blast! Here are some pics from the egg hunt and then after dinner when we decorated all the eggs!

Presenting our new Guest Bathroom!!!

WE ARE DONE!!!! We (I) have a few touch-ups to finish and some decorations to add but for the most part the guest bathroom has been remodeled!! Mav did an awesome job on the trimwork!! I love it!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Check this out!!!

These aren't the best pics but we finally put up the trim on the big wall and found a countertop that we liked. (This was the "surprise" we were hoping we wouldn't have in this remodel!! It turns out the vanity is a custom size and therefore made it impossible to find a prefabricated countertop that would fit). Mav has to cut the hole for the sink but I think it looks great so far! I am doing more painting tonight and can't wait to finish putting the bathroom back together!

Are we there yet???

I don't know if I can say that we are at the half-way point yet but we are close. I would guess that it will be somewhere around when we can remove the toilet from the bathtub! I have some painting left, ok a lot still but we are starting to put the bathroom back together.

Progress!! (trust me)

Mav and I spent the whole day working on the bathroom and eventually hope to end up with something that looks like this:

Needless to say there is ALOT of white in this room and guess who's job it is to make all that white appear?? This was my life today...painting white trim. I was hoping to make a little more progress today but managed to complete (1 primer, 3 white coats) 5 pieces of trim.

I know that this pic doesn't look too different from the last one I posted, but let me tell you all that Mav and I accomplished today!!! :)  Mav completely scraped the ceiling, down to the sheetrock. He then had to fix an 8 inch strip across one side of the ceiling as it wasn't secured down properly and was always cracking. He mudded and sanded and then we primed all the celing/walls that he was going to re-texture. He re-textured and then we primed everything again. I am pretty proud of our hard day of work!!!

So tomorrow while I work, Mav is hoping to get the ceiling painted and the wall panels up. Then I get to paint the fun color!!!