A Look Back at the FIRST House

Our first home was my baby. This 3 Bedroom, 1 bath raised ranch was my way to decorate to my heart's content and start putting equity down on a place of my own. It was the perfect place to start and I am proud of it to this day. 

It didn't always look so cute, however. 

Ewww. This little foreclosure needed some SERIOUS TLC. Not only did the outside leave something to be desired, but the inside was a disaster. First of all, it stunk to high heaven of cigarette smoke and dog pee. It had awful dark paint colors and yellowed ceilings, nasty (and I'm not lying here) carpets throughout that were covered in pee and grease, no switch plate covers, and no kitchen cabinet doors or appliances. But something about it said, "Someone please love me." 

So that's exactly what I set out to do. 

I might have been a single teacher without a huge budget, but I had ideas and the willpower to put in the work I was capable of...so I did it. I bought a house and I never looked back. :) Sign those papers! 

Most of the labor happened within the first month of owning the house. I had to get it livable and I was more than excited, so I got to work with the help of several friends and family members. I wouldn't have been able to get as much done as I did in that month without all the help I had, so I am continually thankful for these precious people. (I only wish I had taken pictures of us all in our painting gear getting the job done).

 

The living room was nothing short of disgusting, but truly all it needed was a good cleaning, some paint and fresh carpet. 

 

After 5 years in the home, it had changed colors a couple of times, but looked completely different upon selling just 5 months ago. 

We painted floor to ceiling, added new carpets, took the trim and doors from oak to white, and I decorated to my hearts content. 

The kitchen took a bit more love. You see, the wallpaper was daunting and the fact that there were no cabinet doors or appliances added a challenge that I was up for. 

The first time I decorated, I went with a bold yellow stripe and blue painted backsplash with white cabinets. My style evolved and the need for "sellers neutral" came about so we ended with a neutral greige with white subway tile backsplash. 

After we neutralized to sell and updated our look:

 

Bedrooms changed as well, although not as dramatically. The biggest change was the basement we took on. Originally there was a small living area (with more of the same nasty carpet) and a tiny office room and unfinished laundry/utility room. We decided to open the space and finish a laundry closet. 

All in all, I loved that little house. It was my first home on my own, the place we first lived as a married couple, and the place we brought our baby girl home. 

While it wasn't our dream home, by any means, it was our FIRST home that underwent a massive transformation and I will always love it for that reason. Now, though, we get the joy of starting fresh in our NEW home--our TOGETHER home. It's the start of some more hard work and many more memories, and we are elated that The Lord has blessed us with this opportunity. 

Now, onward and upward, my friends...it's time to start the NEW house updates. Let the journey begin! 

This is How We Started

It's been a long time coming, this whole write a blog thing. I've known for a while that it as something I would love to do--mostly to share in the adventures of fixing up our home, but also in sharing about how The Lord is blessing our family in many ways. You see, my husband and I both love a few of the same things: family, writing, remodeling, and each other. It is safe to say that our crazy differences, as well, could cause some interesting updates for the world to hear. 

So the verdict? Just get started and don't look back. It's time to be more productive and creative with how we share about us. And it's time to find a better way to organize my thoughts and adventures. Let the blog-writing begin! 

This is how we do it. :) 

You see, just over 5 years ago, I was a single gal with a wild hair. I wanted to buy a cute little house and totally redecorate it--all.by.myself. So that's just what I set out to do with this little guy. 

I'll recap on it's evolution someday soon, but she definitely was NOT a beauty when I first set eyes on her, as you may be able to see here. :) A forclosure, she was not treated very nice, but she was in my price range and I knew I could bring her back to life...so for the last 5 years, that's just what I did. The best part? I met Tyler within those 5 years and we had the opportunity to do it together, finding out that we both love to do it. 

Marriage and remodeling victory! 

So here we are, married now 3 years with a most beautiful baby girl to add to our mix, a new career in teaching for Tyler, and new church family. All creating the need for a new adventure in a new town for the three of us. So we took the plunge, sold our first gem of a home and bought our first "together" house. Less of a fixer, but a fixer either way. 

The adventures continue here in our new home as we are now 5 months in to owning her. She's a beauty! Now, no worries, friends because pictures of before and after and the journey along the way will be coming. For now, though, it's a beginning in this blog world. 

Welcome to our home, family and friends. Welcome to our home. :)