Happy House-versary!

1 Year down, 29 more to go!
 (Based on a traditional 30 year mortgage, which surely will be paid off far ahead a time)

At any rate, how do you celebrate a 1 year House-versary you ask?

Well you get a fairly decent amount of sleep the night before, you wake up in a fog, and promptly smash your finger in the sliding glass door while letting the dogs out in the morning.let the dogs out, pick up several miscellaneous things and prepare for Molly Maids to come and clean (thanks to Groupon)

You work a full day, then swing by and pick up fresh cut flowers on the way home, run into or almost literally over Paula Deen and her Husband Michael in the shopping center parking lot, (Yes I saw Paula Deen and hubby going for dinner at Bonefish Grill) So you go home and prepare dinner and enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying a freshly cleaned house. You conclude the evening with a candle lit bubble bath, with some Barry White Miles Davis tunes. After a long day you watch Under the Tuscan Sun, because what better movie is there about home renovating and things going wrong? Of course there is Money Pit... but that was so June. 

It was 1 year ago today I spent several hours signing away my life amongst a massive stack of documents. Closing had been moved several times but finally the day had arrived.

After being at the closing attorneys office, I headed to the new place with keys in hand. My first task was pulling up some very very very doggy smelling carpet on the sun porch. In the days to follow my bestie would come and help remove it, and we'd embark on the task of wallpaper removal.

My former apartment began to look like a warehouse, packed and stacked with boxes galore.

The first 2 weeks of homeownership were hardcore, as bedrooms were de-wallpapered, the living room painted and the dining room de-wallpapered and painted. Giving me a whole 3 rooms "liveable" while months and months of work went into other areas. 

By March 19th (which was my nieces 1st birthday and we celebrated the week after in Ohio) I was officially moving in and popping the cork to having a place to call my own.

What a year its been! If you've been following this blog for any length of time, you know the year has been filled with tons of ups and downs, sleepless nights, lots of sweat, tears, injuries (not too many and mostly minor) and elbow grease.

So cheers! To one year down and many more to come! 

(Herb crusted pork lion, pan seared asparagus, sliced tomatoes and blackberry wine accented with some pomegranate) yum!

As most of the work is now done, my efforts and focus are on cleaning, organizing, decorating and accessorizing. So as rooms become "complete" stay tuned for some true before & after pictures.

Happy 1st House-versary to me!

Closing time!

The day we've all been waiting for. CLOSING.
Funny, I woke up this morning a renter and a daughter of a landlord.. and tonight when I go to bed, I am a homeowner! CRAZY!!

Closing went well and all parties involved were super nice. It was interesting to hear about the area of where the house is from way back when in 1955 when the original family moved in. Due to possibly the post-war economy while the house was built in 1945 the first family didn't move in until 1955. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford raised 5 children in the home. 2 Girls, a boy, and a set of twin boys. By the time the twins came along, the daughters were out of the house. Hearing the daughter Andrea speak of her memories inside the home were great. It made me really feel like a part of that era. It also made me think about what it must've been like for my grandparents during that time raising my Mom in Chicago.

I've always wished I knew more history etc from my grandmother and maybe this house will kinda be a journey for me.

The area surrounding the house used to be farmland, prior to the construction of the Truman parkway. The pecan tree when it was young was hit by lightening. Mr. Crawford took one of his belts and strapped it around the tree to hold it together. Eventually it grew back and remains in the yard. I was also told there's a blueberry bush-- haven't pinpointed where that is yet.

After closing I headed to the house. I was promptly stung by a wasp while opening the backdoor in the kitchen. The booger was on the doorknob and I hadn't flipped on the light switch. My finger swelled three times the size.. Thankfully my friend Crystal was on her way and her husband had spit tobacco in the car.. She put a glob of it on my finger, I threw my hand in a rubber glove and off to work we went laying drop cloths and beginning prep work.

Molly and Peyton enjoyed running in the backyard. I think they'll be very very happy puppies once we are in there for good. They kept running circles around the pecan tree and sprinting. It was hilarious.

I finished tonight with beginning to remove some wallpaper in the bedrooms and the dining room. We'll see how that adventure fairs. Molly and Peyton are zonked out and I'm beat.

Tomorrow is another day!


My closing gift from my Realtor Julia! =) Gonna come in handy for all those long nights ahead!

Back and Forth

Closing has been a rock n roll rollercoaster... back and forth back and forth. The closing date has changed 4 times in the last 2 weeks. But as it stands... Monday at 4pm.

Some have asked what the layout of the house is, see it below. Can't wait to get in and get dirty! Come on Monday!!
The house is longer than it is wide.. but the scan of the layout distorted it.. but you get the idea..