365 days down...

We actually DID know what we were getting ourselves into...

I can't believe that I have lived in this house for a year today and I have no plans to move.  Seriously.  No plans.  Who am I?  I am doing things like asking Nick if we can one day get a pool and discussing where we should plant trees for our future grandchildren to play in the shade and becoming BFFs with my neighbors.  I always assumed that being a home owner was a terrible burden...I mean, what about my freedom to pack up in one hour and move overseas if I want?!  Been there, done that, but VERY surprisingly, I am settling in and enjoying the thought of home...a real home...the kind of home where people don't always have to ask, "So, where are y'all living now?".  

The past year HAS been an adventure.  We bought this place knowing that pretty much the entire house needed to be renovated.  So, we have been working days, nights and weekends and everything in between.  I've actually surprised myself and helped out my Ironman a lot!  It's exciting to think of what we are accomplishing together!

It's also been REALLY good to go back and look at all these old photos to remind myself that we HAVE gotten a lot of work done in our first year.  Since we STILL have so much more work to do, it is easy to forget and feel like we aren't making any progress.

Our first year has been focused on pulling up a lot of carpet, tearing down some walls and taking care of the basics like insulation, getting a decent bathroom and moving the washer and drier out of the garage and into the house.  

Can't wait to see what we accomplish by June 19th, 2017!!!

But, before I get ahead of myself, take a look at the changes so far...

Hall Bathroom...

then

now

Bathroom with shower...its going to eventually be a half bath, but we haven't actually gotten much work done in there yet!

then

now

3rd Bedroom...on its way to becoming the laundry room and some closet space!

then

now

2nd Bedroom...Guest Bedroom!

then

now

Our Bedroom...can you believe the upgrade?!?!?!?

then

now

Living Room...knocked out some walls to create an open floor plan!

then

now

then

now

Kitchen had carpet...seriously...

then

now

Family Room became Dining Room...pulling up that red carpet was the FIRST thing we did!

then

now

Foyer...

then

now

Sunroom is basically storage now, but will become a Master Suite one day!!!

then

now

Front porch...my favorite spot in the house since Ironman built me a swing!

then

now

1st morning waking up in our first home...June 20th, 2015.

And today is the 365th morning waking up here!!!

Ironman

     If you follow me on social media, you have probably noticed that I call Nick "Ironman" and you may wonder why...let me take you back to how it all got started.

     Back in 2005, when I was 19, I fell in love with a baseball player.  I went to ALL his home games at Francis Marion University and a few of his away games, when I could.  He played Right Field and was super quick, very strong, a great hitter and could throw like no one else.

     I will always remember one specific game.  There was a player running towards home base.  Nick took off like lightening, caught the ball in the farthest corner of the right field and threw straight to home plate before the player slid in.  Everyone jumped up and screamed in shock.  It was one of those once in a lifetime moments.  I was so proud, I could feel it bubbling up from my heart.

     Nick had it all going for him and I loved watching him play baseball.  Each time it was his turn up to bat, FMU would play his walk out song, Ironman by Black Sabbath.  So, it became "my thing" (after Nick's baseball days were over), to stomp to the beat and hum Ironman like a crazy person in preparation for anything difficult that was about to happen.  It was around that time that I began to call Nick my "Ironman".

     Although his baseball days are long gone, Nick still amazes me with his natural ability to succeed in just about anything he sets his mind to.  He is so talented and gifted, but the best part is that Nick is also incredibly generous and has a true servants heart.  So, there's how "Ironman" came to be mine...I'll be keeping him around!

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Fearless and Selfless

When I think about my mom, two words come to mind:  Fearless and Selfless.

     Fearless for many reasons.  First, she married my dad (sorry, I just had to...haha).  When I was seven, she agreed to move to Ethiopia and when I was 12, she agreed to move to Bolivia.  Although she was living in foreign counties, she learned the language, made friends, shopped in the markets, got involved in local events, drove like the natives, traveled out of the city and through the mountains (even when the breaks gave up and the gasoline was out).  She was always a trooper.  When I was 16, she was burned and nearly died.  However, she not only survived, but she then founded her own burn care ministry.  Over the years, I have seen many emotions, but I can't recall a time that I ever saw my mom afraid.

     Selfless for even more reasons.  When my family moved to Ethiopia, then back to the USA, then to Bolivia and back to the USA, my mom never complained about losing a house or the things that fill it.  We would simply pack up, move on and start over.  Each place we lived in, she would find people who needed her help.  Women who needed to become family instead of another housekeeper.  Children who needed a bath and new clothes while they visited our home.  Schools that needed books and a real library.  Kids who needed shoes and backpacks so that they could attend classes.  Even when the schools we attended needed teachers, she was the first to sign up and give up her free days to make sure we got the education we needed.  After she was burned, she would even spend her days at the hospital, visiting burn victims and trying to figure out how to get them better medical attention.  It's always the same.  In all these years, I can't remember a time when I saw my mom put herself first.

So, I want to say Happy Mother's Day to the BEST mom in the world...I hope that I grow up to be just as Fearless and Selfless as YOU!

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2016 SPRING/SUMMER CAPSULE WARDROBE

     Fall 2014 was the first time I tried my own capsule wardrobe! I began following Jennifer L Scott, watched her TED TALK and was sold pretty much immediately. I LOVE all things simple, so this was right up my alley. I started with 37 items and have continued to minimize a little more each season. Take a look at what I have for my spring/summer capsule!

 

 

     Since the weather is starting off in the 40s in the morning and ending up in the 80s by afternoon, its hard to know how to dress some days...but pretty soon it will be hot ALL THE TIME and I will be living in these shorts and tanks!

     If you do a capsule wardrobe, I'd love to hear what pieces you are using for the upcoming season!