Currently | April 2013

Loving: My cactuses cacti (I still think cactuses sounds better) and succulents that I bought at Lowe's and Walmart. Now if only I can find the bowl/planter that I have envisioned in my head... I hate when I know exactly what I want and cannot find it anywhere. 

Reading: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I am so glad I decided to read them! I am enjoying them a lot more than when I tried to read them in middle school. I may even finish the series this time.  

Watching: The Vampire Diaries on Netflix. I don't know what it is about teenage dramas that just hook me in. It's a tad bit embarrassing... Meh oh well.

Anticipating: The actual move. Now that things are finalized I can't wait to be moved in.

Listening to: Mumford and Sons Pandora station. So good. 

Planning: Coordinating paint colors, light fixtures, faucets, hose pipes, weed eaters, how I am going to get grass to grow in my yard?!, etc... If there are any lawn specialists out there feel free to give advice.

Working on: Painting! I want to get everything painted that I can before moving my furniture. I also made moving announcements. I was going to order some online until I decided that I could design and print my own. It saved me a lot of money since I already had the paper and envelopes. 

Wishing: For more time in a day. There is just so much to be done!

Thankful: I am so very thankful for my family and friends. They are so encouraging in stressful times. 

What are you currently loving, reading, watching, anticipating, listening to, planning, working on, wishing, thankful for, etc.?

Previous Currently Posts:

-  September 2012

- October 2012

- November 2012 

- Decemeber 2012 

- January 2013

- February 2013

- March 2013

Weekend Snapshots | April 26-28, 2013

1. On Friday I came out of this shiny building a homeowner!
2. I signed a gazillion papers.
3. First meal in my new house. Lee Palace's sesame chicken and steamed rice.

4. I was going to paint all of my walls white until I discovered this beautiful section of paint swatches at Lowe's. I went a little crazy. I really hope I like the colors I chose after they are on the wall. 

I guess this means I'm an adult now? Say what!?

I have had this post written for awhile and have just been adding more things to it. I have been scared to hit publish along the way in case something fell through. I have been hinting quite a bit about buying my first home for a month or so but now that it is finalized I can finally share without worrying. What a relief this is! 

Over the Christmas holidays while at my Aunt's house the topic came up of "Why doesn't Brittany buy a house?" I have played with the idea many times before but never thought seriously about it. To be honest, I didn't think it was an actual possibility. I had no idea what my credit looked like but thought it would be okay since I always pay my bills on time, I always pay over the minimum balance on my credit cards if I don't pay them off each month, etc.  Well lo and behold, after meeting with a mortgage production lender, I was told I could buy a house! This meeting was the day after Christmas. I had until October of this year until my lease was up, or so I thought. I received a notice on my apartment door stating that my lease was up in June and to let them know if I would be re-signing. When I moved into my apartment I signed a sublease in October. I just automatically thought October. So with only 5 months to figure out what I was doing instead of the 9 months I originally thought I would have I started to feel stressed.

Along with being stressed, I have gotten my heartbroken. That may sound a little dramatic but finding a house that I thought would be perfect and then finding out it is under contract is tough! They should definitely take down the for sale sign and the sale listing. Something about it just made me fall in love. So the search continued.

After a couple of weeks I found another house that I really liked. My mom went with me the first time I saw it and I later took my dad back to see it. He liked it and thought it would be a good first home for me. So that was it. I called the realtor and asked if it was still available. She said the house had been under contract but the loan fell through and the couple was not able to get it. I felt bad for the couple but that mean't I could get it. So I made an offer and after going back and forth we finally agreed on a price and terms.

Another unnerving side note is I never ever thought I would be buying a house alone.  I am so blessed and proud of myself for being able to provide for myself. I guess I just can't believe it. There is A LOT of things to think about when buying a home and it can be a tad bit overwhelming at times. Am I really doing this?  

I am so excited and hope to share my experiences as a homeowner along the way. I can't wait to start painting, decorating and having friends and family over. 

Here are the pictures I took the first time Mom and I went to see the house. No picture of the outside for safety reasons but that is one of my favorite parts! I love the brick color and shutters. I have lots of decorating to do! Not crazy about the paint colors or the light fixtures. 

Weekend Snapshots | April 19-21, 2013

1. I went a little overboard with the milk foam this weekend but boy did it taste good. I love that you can make frothed milk with a mason jar and microwave.

2. Saturday mornings call for a good hot breakfast. This past Saturday I made a grilled cheese with eggs and strawberry jam. I love the sweet and cheesy flavors together. I am hooked. 

3. My Mom and I went to Lowe's Saturday. I bought a lot of stuff for my house which of course included cacti and succulents. I also got a couple of paint samples to try out on the walls. Now I just have to wait until the Closing on Friday to get the keys! 

Book Review | Insurgent

I finished Insurgent a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it just as much as the first one, Divergent. I really liked how Insurgent picked up right where Divergent left off. I hate when sequels recap what happened in the first book. I wouldn't be reading the sequel if I hadn't already read the first one and liked it. I feel like that is a waste of time. Anywho, if you haven't read this series yet then you should! So good!

Publisher's Synopsis 

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Pray for Boston

image source

Kylie's Bridal Shower

This weekend I went to Mobile for a sweet friend's bridal shower at the Bluegill. It was a lot of fun. The cake was adorable! It had their two dogs on it and a panda bear bride. 

Easter 2013

 

 

After church we went to my Aunt and Uncle's for Easter lunch. This Easter lunch was a little different this year. Instead of having a lot of family over we shared lunch with a sweet family friends. It was delicious as always. My Mom made a pretty cake and I made red velvet whoopie pies. 

Weekend Snapshots | April 5-7, 2013

 

1. My second attempt at making macarons turned out pretty good. They tasted good so that is a plus!
2. Mom and I went to see Dad at the camp.
3. I fished while we were there.
4. One of the fish I caught.
5. Dad's garden he has been working on. We measured it 100 ft. by 25 ft.
6. I learned how to froth my milk without a milk frother all you need is a mason jar. It makes my coffee so good.
7. These are the boxes I have packed so far. I still have a lot to go.