About that break...

It was just three weeks ago that I declared that this would be a project-free summer. No major overhauls, no weekends spent chugging Fraps and darting back and forth to Home Depot, no stress, no nothing except pool days, weddings and rum.

Well, I'm a huge stinking liar.

Yesterday, Hubs and I came to a realization:

Tiling the kitchen floor would require us pulling up two layers of vinyl, laying a new subfloor and then - actually tiling.

Gag me with a spoon!

Laying a resilient floor, however, would require us vacuuming a bit, pulling up the trim (which needs replacing anyway) and snapping some plants into place. It'd also cost about a third of the price.

And so, instead of saving and re-energizing to do a tile job, we're on the hunt for resilient floors and plan to make progress this summer.

Grasscloth resilient planks - yes please! 

We just can't let the summer pass without making one tiny house tweak. It wouldn't be right.

Have you ever had to take a DIY break? Or could you not stay away?

Des Moines at its finest

Ahoy, Monday!

It was such an awesome weekend to be kickin' it in Central Iowa. Friday, I went and got my hair all done up, plus some big fun makeup, which I never do. Then, I hopped my newly chic self on a Bcycle and pedaled to meet Hubs and friends at the Art Fest.

I've finally hoped on the neon train. Hello, beach tan!

We tried out Host for the first time and I have to say, the curried chicken salad was delectable.

All dressed up!

Saturday, we ran errands like monsters and stocked up on groceries before getting all primped and primed for our friends' wedding. They held it at the Teachout Building in the East Village, which is the same place we had our reception, so it was fun to get back in there and party it up. Hubs brewed a special IPA ("Here's to the Hoppy Couple") for the wedding and it went over really well. Of course, lots of good beer led to lots of dancing and shenanigans.

Delicious!

Hubs and pal enjoying the hoppy goodness.

Any tips for taking better nighttime action shots? We never did get it right.

Sunday, we headed out to the High Trestle Trail and managed to power through 54 miles before calling it a day. We got a later start than expected, so we left from Ankeny instead of doing our planned 80 mile ride from our house to the bridge. With a heat index of 100, it was a pretty wise move on our part.

On our way to the bridge, we passed a little biking family - all on one bike! Ma and pa on a tandem with two kids hitched on a kiddie-tandem. My poor little heart almost exploded at the cuteness. One family - one bike! Could there be anything more freaking adorable in the entire universe?

Doubtful.

May and June in pictures

Bonjour, blog!

It's been a super amazing summer so far. Hubs and I trekked to Europe in search of cheese and beer, I ran my second distance race (Dam to Dam!), and we've been busy biking and ingesting as much rum and coconut water as possible.

Lemme catch you up:

A sunny ride down to Cumming Tap!

Our second annual trip to Swine Fest in Ankeny:

Kicking ass at Dam to Dam (12.4 miles!), thanks to Emily:

Miracle of miracles, Scott has returned to our yard!

Wedding in Chicago! (Did you notice that I've shrunk since last we met? Homeslice done lost 30 pounds, yo!)

!

Hubs, in our Parisian flat:

Belgian flowers! Cobalt walls! Love!

Hubs biking to West Vleteren, home of Saint Sixtus Abbey, and the best beer in the world. Like, literally.

Enjoying some West-Vleteren 12!

Me, biking through the Belgian countryside.

I'm standing with a giant brussel sprout. Guess where I am.

Mort Subite, a wonderful little 1920s bar in Brussels.

Hi! We are tourists!

FYI, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and if it looks like this, RUN to the nearest cafe, especially if you are wearing white pants.

Cats at Versailles.

FYI: Versailles closes at 6pm and there are two trains that head in that direction. Getting on the wrong train at 4:30 p.m. will lead to this being the extent of your Versailles experience:

Our favorite stop: Brugges!

We seriously love beer.

Instructions on how to pour this beer. Belgians have mad respect for the beverage.

Brugges from above! It's a fairy tale city.

Aaaand that about sums it up! Up next: Art Festival, friends' wedding, biking the High Trestle Trail, beirgarten fun, probable sunburns.

And that's just this weekend! This is the summer Bigger, Better, Best does what they want, when they want. That means we've scaled way back on DIY plans. Fun stuff only until cooler weather hits.

What's your mantra this summer?