Making this house into our home

Good Morning!

First off, I would like to thank my wonder sister in law for this beautiful new lay out on my blog.

As you know Brock and I just made the move to Arizona.

For the first time we have a house, not an apartment...

to call ours.

The only thing is when we moved in it was just a house, and we are now starting to make it our home.

When Brock first arrived to stay 2 weeks ago I took him to Ikea.

Believe it or not, he likes to decorate our house. Well maybe not decorate...he likes to put his style into it. He ended liking Ikea a lot. We walked through the whole store and took our time. It was very exciting because that was the first time we really have been able to pick out things for a home. I was so excited but I am very picky about what I like and so is Brock. We ended up picking out all the same styles. I should say we window shopped, didn't buy.

Of course we picked up a couple little items. How can you resist Ikea?

Last night was the first time our house started to feel like a home.

Brock came home from work early and I was cleaning and cooking. We sat down for dinner as a family. Even the dogs were in the kitchen. I went to take my first bite and Brock stopped me...he said Can we pray? I looked at him very surprised and said yes. He grabbed my hands and started praying. I was so taken back in a good way. I know he probably doesn't want me telling everyone, but it was awesome!

After dinner he wanted to go to Ikea again. YIPPEE!!! I ate fast, changed out of my cleaning clothes and grabbed my purse. You don't have to tell me twice when it comes to Ikea.

If you are a bargain shopper like us, Ikea has a great little room right by the check out called "As is". Its furniture that may have just a little chip or was on the show room floor.Yes, some things are more damaged then others. You just need to look through things and grab those great deals! Last time we were there we got a side table for $4.00!

Anyway...We ended up getting a coffee table, a modern rocking chair that Brock picked out. I asked him why a rocking chair...we have nothing to rock to sleep. ha ha I just like to tease him about having children. WE ARE NOT PLANNING ON HAVING ONE ANYTIME SOON. Just had to make that clear.

Oh, and another little side table that matches the other one.

We also decided on colors of the house. 

The living room will be brown, black, and tan.

(I know your thinking why???) We have tanish tile in our home and it looks very nice all together. Brown wasn't my favorite either but it honestly looks great! The kitchen is going to be colorful. Spring greens, corals, and another that we haven't really decided. The guest bedroom...who knows. That is the last room on my mind. It still has boxes piled in it. Our bathroom is Zebra. All black and white.

Our bedroom...That's a hard one. BUT today I figured it out. Shh, I haven't told Brock. He has picked out things for the living room and kitchen so the bedroom is mine! Since I don't want to spend a lot and I LOVE to get creative, I am going to make a head board and foot board myself. Yes, I can use power tools and yes, I am allowed in Brock's tool box as long as I put things back.

So this Friday I will start my new project. I will gather my supplies and get my plan together. Saturday is our ONE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY so I will enjoying that day and night with Brock. So on Sunday I might start my project.

I will keep you up dated on how it comes along...and sorry I am not telling until its all finished.

This is the start to the living room.

We will be adding pictures and art to the walls.

I will be sure to post pictures!

There's Capone & Ruby enjoying there new home!

Turning pages & Adventures.

Did you ever go to the Library as a child? It was such a fascinating place to go. There were SO many books about anything you were interested in. It was almost like walking in a forest of books. What a wonderful place.

Recently I have started enjoying the library again. Here in my new town the library is pretty big. When you walk in the staff is right there to guide you to your new reading adventure. It also new and modern. There is even a mini cafe for you coffee drinkers ( I drink decaf, I know weird ). The main level has adult books, DVDs, Cd's, and a computer lab. I have yet to venture to the bottom level which is the children/teen level. Maybe I will do that today just to see the light in a child's eye from walking through the great book forest. I know when Brock and I have children I will take them to the library to learn, make friends, and spend some quality family time together.

Today as you might as guessed, I am at the local library. Enjoying the sounds of turning pages, smells of old books, and the interesting people here. It is my day off today and I really enjoy spending a couple hours here. It is really a relaxing place (just ask the gentlemen sleeping down the row from me). While I am here I really get away from daily worries. I just breathe deep and sit down....and I am off on my adventure in a book or even on the Internet. I have taken an interest in MSN.com. I know how odd for a 23 year old to like to know whats going on in the world. I also am trying to read a new book called, "Alice I have been" by Melanie Benjamin. It is about what Alice and wonderlands life was like after she got out of the hole. I just like reading books that take me all over the place and do not have any relevance to my life. Its my get away from life time.

I know we all are busy with daily life, but try out your local library again. If you have a couple hours you do not know what to do with just go and check it out. If you have children bring them and watch how happy they are in a positive place. Just grab a random book of your interest that will relax you and your favorite drink and start your new adventure today.

Have and wonderful day

 

Catching up....

I know...I know...Its been a very long time since I have posted. I really had a lot going on with the new move, starting my new job and getting acclimated with this HEAT! 

Where to start? Well, I was living with my dad for almost a month until I found a place for us to live. It wasn't as bad as you may think. He was very welcoming and very helpful with my dogs while I was at work and looking for a place to live.

As for house hunting...not as good of an experience. Looking for a house in a place that you really don't know is very difficult. I wanted to be close to my work, but I work in Scottsdale and its VERY expensive. It would be just like living in Vail and that is NOT why we moved here. Then you have to look at the neighborhood and let me tell you some look nice and then you drive through them more and they are not so nice. It was days of searching for the right one. FINALLY! I found the right one. Its 2 bedrooms, one bath, AND it has a private backyard for the dogs! PLUS, it was a great price. I was so relieved to find it. It was not as close to my work as I was used to, but its only a 25 minute drive so that's not too bad. OH, and I had to pick it out alone because Brock was still living in Colorado. That made me nervous, but he likes it thank goodness.

After the house hunt,not seeing my husband for 3 weeks, and starting my new job I was really ready to be in my own house so that I could relax in my own space and the dogs could have their first backyard. That was not going to happen...all of my "stuff" was still in Colorado. The next week Brock, my brother, and a friend came and brought me all of our things. I was so happy to see Brock and my brother. It was a short trip for them...only one full day, which wasn't enough if you ask me.

The next two weeks until Brock made his offical move my dad and I got some things done around the house. Man, if it wasn't for my dad I don't know what I would do. He helped me with so many things like changing the faucet on our kitchen sink. I couldn't have done done it.

The worst of getting the house ready deserves its own paragragh....
I HAD TO KILL BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS! Yes, the poisonous ones. EWW.
The first one that I found was about 1.5 feet from my back door. So I had to kill it right away. All I could think of that would kill it was bleach....I was wrong. Bleach doesn't even knock them down. I killed that one and went to the store the next day and got Spider/Scopian killer spray, Bug guard spray for the perimator spray, and this organic bug killer for our grass. YES, I went bug killer crazy all alone. As I was spraying the aback patio down 3 more Black Widows came out. Killed them right away. Then another popped out while my dad was over and he got that one. The last one popped out after Brock arrived. Even he was freaked out. I made him kill that one. He couldn't believe how big it was...with legs and body it was almost the size of a silver dollar. YUCK!!!!

I am sure you would like to know how the dogs are doing...They are great. They really LOVE all the space in the house. The backyard was an adventure for them. They haven't had their own backyard ever. When I first would let them outside they would stare at me through the window like "HELLO, why are you leaving us out here all alone?" It was very cute. Now, they go right out and explore. They love to sun bathe in the morning. They both find a sun spot usually Capone is on the sidewalk and Ruby finds one in the grass.

Brock has been here for a week now. I can't even tell you how great it is to have him here. I missed my soul mate, my best friend, and my side kick so much. It really is no fun being away. We had to live apart when we first got engaged, but this was worse.

This past week we did a lot of exploring our new city. We have been to every mall but 2 I think. We went to In and Out Burger (YUM). We also went tubing down the Salt River which was awesome. Its like Colorado tubing but the water is warm. What a nice change. On Sunday we went golfing. We golf for free at my work. Its a great perk for Brock and my dad. The course is very nice and normally over $145.00 a round.

He has already found a job and today was his first day :) I have yet to find out how it went, he is still at work. At lunch he said it was going good. I am crossing my fingers that he likes it.

That is all for now. Pictures will come later.

Have a great day !