Happy Home-iversary

A year ago, we spent our days chatting with experts who offered advice for our stressful battle to purchase a home.  Our mortgage banker and realtor stayed in close contact, encouraging us and guiding us through the entire thing.  We easily saw the perks of homeownership as we dreamed about all we would have once the deal closed, and many of them proved true, but we didn't quite prepare ourselves for heavier choices ahead.  

We purchased with the knowledge of a leak in the wall behind a marble-surround tub, which kicked off our first home project - a walk-in shower.  It was a job full of difficult decisions and unexpected delays, but we were ecstatic when the it was complete!  We kept up the momentum and dove straight into another project that we hoped would resolve the issue of a leak found in our master bedroom window the weekend after we got the keys - new windows!  The window installation was a success, but the leak management failed, so we're looking to tackle the siding next, in order to ensure the leak doesn't return again.

At the moment, we are aware of about seven other issues mainly caused by the excess amount of rain we got this year (yay - no drought!), so we still have many budget, priority, contractor, scope, and timing decisions ahead.  A lot has changed in a year, but one thing that's clear now is that we have to find new ways of tackling issues without allowing it to overwhelm us.  

With that in mind, in honor of our one-year home-iversary, Tyler and I set out to get as much done around our home as we could complete on our own!  I removed the suction cups from an old shower caddy and Tyler fastened it to the side of a cabinet above the sink to free up the clutter on the counter.  We fastened hinges to an old sliding door to use as a swinging door for the extra space next to the stacked washer and dryer, then hung cleaning supplies from the wall behind it.  We purchased crates and stacked them in the space made to hold an old-fashioned TV, to serve as cubbies in the living room.  

I also rearranged the office to better use the space and we finally hung the last few art pieces in our bedroom, which we had been putting off for quite some time.  We replaced many light bulbs for LEDs and fluorescents, and strung up twinkle lights in the garden using screw-in hooks and an extension cord to give us some much needed light.  To top things off, we took to the front yard, tilled some soil, and scattered some wildflower seeds in the hope of some blooms to accompany a lonely lavender plant.  We love our island and feel more at home than ever before, so, for now, we plan to take it one day and one project at a time, because we are determined to make this house a home!