Hi friends!
Lots of fun stuff I want to share with you today … see if you can keep up! 
First of all, I just wanted to make you all jealous with the delicious dessert I had this week.
Hello, piece of carrot cake the size of my head. 
On Tuesday, I met a friend from church at Alon’s Bakery and Market.
This place had it all … sandwiches on fresh breads made at the bakery, pizzas, wine, cheeses, specialty items … you name it.
But we came with one goal in mind: dessert.
I had a tough time choosing between all of the gorgeous desserts, but in the end, my love for cream cheese frosting won out.
I enjoyed my cake with a caramel cappuccino … the first coffee beverage I had drank in 2 weeks! And of course, silly me forgot to order decaf! But I enjoyed every sip!
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OK, enough tempting food pictures. Now let’s move on to a healthier meal choice.
Nope, that’s not mashed potatoes …
… it’s mashed cauliflower! 
I’ve been wanting to try mashed cauliflower for a while now, but I was nervous that Brandon wouldn’t like it.
However, this dish ended up being a complete success! And it was so easy!
Mashed Cauliflower
(makes about 4 servings)
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 1.5 tbsp butter
- splash of milk
- about 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
- salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
Directions:
- Wash cauliflower and break into large chunks
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower and let cook for about 10-14 minutes, or under fork tender.
- Drain cauliflower and put it in a food processor. Add butter, milk and parmesan cheese.
- Pulse until you get the desired consistency. Add seasoning to taste and pulse again to mix.
- Enjoy!
Now I’m not saying that this side dish is the equivalent to mashed potatoes, but I’d say it’s a pretty awesome alternative.
I will definitely be making this dish again. I’m thinking next time of adding a little cheddar cheese. What do you think?
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And finally, I wanted to share how the house is coming along.
We still have some things we need to buy and I know that the decorating will take a little time, but overall, we’re really happy with how things are looking!
Living Room:
Kitchen:
Kitchen table:
Dining Room:
Downstairs guest room:
Downstairs bathroom:
Upstairs guest room:
Upstairs guest bathroom:
Office (note: this room needs a lot of work, especially a new desk!):
Upstairs “bonus” room:
I like to call this room our “staging area.” Basically it’s where all of our stuff we’re still sorting through is stored.
Master bedroom:
Master bathroom:
Back patio:
For those of you who could care less about decorating, I apologize for boring you. But I know a lot of our friends and family have been wanting house updates!
Well that’s it for this girl! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Drink lots of water … it’s supposed to be crazy-hot throughout most of the country! I believe our temperatures are reading 106 tomorrow … yikes! 
Question for you …
Do you like carrot cake? If you had been at the bakery, would you have chosen carrot cake or one of the chocolate desserts?
Ever made mashed cauliflower? What ingredients do you usually add?
What are you up to this weekend?
We’re doing a service project with our church tomorrow, and we’re going to be outside … helllloo heat stroke! 
I went through a phase where I ate mashed cauliflower 3 times a week! So so so good!!
Jennifer recently posted..What Forces Shape You?
Mashed cauliflower sounds really interesting! And your house is gorgeous!!
Laurie @Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Dinner at the Yacht Club
Carrot cake = a most excellent choice! You are right, the cream cheese frosting is usually drool worthy on that kind of cake
The house is looking fantastic! Such great decor, I mean it when I say I want my future house to look similar!
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..WIAW- Checking In
Thank you so much, Tessa!! I really appreciate that … I’m not very confident in my decorating abilities!
Your house looks great!!! I LOVE the art in the dining room! And the staging area makes me laugh…it is a good idea! That way you don’t get overwhelmed by trying to do it all at once.
jennifer recently posted..I {Heart} Flowers
Thanks, Jennifer! I’ve really tried to keep your advice in mind and just take my time with the process!! I LOVE the art in the dining room, too! It really pops in there! And guess where we got it? IKEA! For like $30 or $40 for all 3 pictures. Such a great deal!
LOVE the new place!!! So cute, and so much space! Oh, and I would die for a huge piece of that carrot cake right now…. looks delicious!
Alyssa @ fit and fun in third recently posted..Wedding Recap: Pre-ceremony & Saying “I Do”
Hey girl! So sorry that the spam thing caught yours by mistake … always let me know if that happens!!
oooooh girl carrot cake is my FAVORITEST, so suffice to say i’m drooling over your pictures.
i LOVE LOVE LOVE how your house is coming along, it looks beautiful!
Theresa recently posted..A trip down memory lane
Thank you, Theresa!!
The house is looking great! And oh my goodness, that carrot cake looks divviiiiiiine. I need a slice ASAP!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..creamy fettuccine with corn + arugula
Your house is looking beautiful! That’s so exciting! I love carrot cake. I just made it last week for my husband’s birthday.
Corrie Anne recently posted..Denver Date Night: Modmarket
The house looks great! I am a huge fan of mashed cauliflower, I add smoked gouda and it is amazing!
Ooh Kathy, I like that idea!!! P.S. I miss you! I haven’t had my hair done since you did it in February haha. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks, but everyone is SO expensive down here! You’re amazing and reasonably priced! Move to Atlanta haha!!
LOVE carrot cake and cream cheese frosting . . . let’s just say I could eat it by the spoonfull, YUMMO! Your house looks great, I like your decorating taste. I knew there was a reason we hit it off, the more I get to know you, the more I’m finding we have in common : ) Happy Weekend!
Happy Weekend to you, too, my friend!!
The house is looking great! And I am a diehard mashed cauliflower fan … but it’s been awhile (I think I overdid it haha). Time to bring that back!
Yellow Haired Girl recently posted..Black Bean Burgers
I had carrot cake cheesecake last night!! It was delicious. I love cream cheese frosting too lol. And your house is looking awesome!! I love how you’ve decorated everything thus far
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Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..The Simple Things A-Z
Alon’s is the best! I love their brioche. And their salads. Ok, I love their everything.
You’re house is gorgeous! Great sense of style.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Loving Friday + Zucchini Bread Smoothie
Thank you, Laura! And I’ll have to try their brioche next time!!
Ugh, I wish I had decorating style but I so don’t! Your home looks gorgeous though. Also, I love cauliflower, but especially the cauliflower pizza crust. Have you had/made it yet? It is incredible! Try that next!
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..Southern Sparkler
Cauliflower pizza crust?? Never heard of that one! Do you have a recipe?
i’ve been wanting to try that mashed cauliflower too! i’ll have to try it this week. your home is looking gorgeous! holy moly, you guys better be having lots of guests or lots of kids someday with all those extra rooms!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..June Yoga Challenge Closing Thoughts
Carrot cake or anything with cream cheese frosting is my choice!
oh my goodness I LOVE the colour of the downstairs bedroom! I LOVE IT KRISTEN!
I also love cream cheese frosting
Pretty much the only frosting I enjoy.
Meg recently posted..High Five Friday #20
Thanks, Meg! I can’t take credit for the color, though … the former owners chose the paint colors. But I love that purple shade, too!
I love the wood color on your cabinets and tables! Such a nice shade. I can’t wait until we get a house and I can decorate more than a little apartment. One day!
And I am salivating at all those sweets. Yummm.
Lauren @ Call Me Mrs. Rapp recently posted..WIAW: Disney Edition
WOW! Kristen, your house is looking absolutely gorgeous! I’m so happy to see that everything is coming together quite smoothly!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..Instagram Catch Up
Your home looks GORGEOUS! You have been doing lots of hard work!
Michelle (Better with Berries) recently posted..Pins and Things
Thank you so much, Michelle!! It takes time, but we’re getting there!
Your house looks GoRGEOUS! Well put together
and you have cute taste too! Can’t wait to be able to buy more pieces for ours soon
Nicole recently posted..A WHINE for help.
Thank you so much, Nicole!
I LOVE carrot cake but NOT with raisins. To me, it takes the best dessert on the planet and ruins it. So, yes, I would have chosen the carrot cake but only if I could get it raisin free.
Your house is totally cute! I have lived in my house for a year and am still in the process of decorating. It is pricey so we just do a little at a time!!
Suzanne @ Fit Minded Mom recently posted..Summer Lovin’
I thought mine WAS raisin-less?? But now that I’m looking back at the picture, I’m not so sure haha!
Your house looks absolutely lovely!!!!
Thank you so much, Amy!
I’ve had the mashed cauliflower, my husband made it and it was good. Definitely worth doing again. Good luck with the house. I like your paint choices, especially the silvery purple in the bedroom.
Mary@FitandFed recently posted..Fig Mascarpone Dessert Pizza
I like to add a little horseradish to mashed cauliflower; gives it some kick!
Oooh good idea!!
Eric and I love mashed cauliflower! We usually add butter, a little milk, a little cheese and some green peas…it’s delicious!
kaceyjt recently posted..It’s Summer…So Eat Like It!