Or Maybe We'll Got With This Model

We have moved on to a new home design and a different neighborhood.

So now our plans are to go with this: (if we can afford it, of course :)

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

BASEMENT

Elevation C:

Elevation B:

Open House on Sunday 5/1

We are hosting our first OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, from 1:00-2:30!

EXCITED!

And It's Officially Listed!

I wonder if there will be a For Sale sign in my yard when I get home?

Here are the listings: (Our Listing Agency is Remax)

http://www.statecollegehomesales.com/mls/listingDetails.php?origin=nrl&mlsNumber=33509&category=New-Residential


http://www.1kbb.com/real-estate/State-College/16801/Home/168-Harvest-Run-Road-N.php

Mulch & Money

There are two things that tickle my fancy right now.

1) H & R Block's FREE online filing

2) RubberStuff Mulch


I know there are people out there that do it, but I have never paid to file my taxes. Granted, mine are fairly simple so they are probably easier to do than some, but still, I just don't think I could ever bring myself to pay someone to file them for me. So, that brings me to the first of the tickles - H &R Block FREE filing! Woo hooo! It is so easy to use and with the electronic filing I get my return super fast (usually in less than a week). In my opinion, it is the way to go!

And the second of my tickles - RubberStuff Mulch. We have wanted to use rubber mulch around our house for quite some time, but when it first hit the market it was rather spendy. I few weeks ago I was at Sam's Club and found a pretty good deal. RubberStuff Mulch had the right color, at the right price ($8/bag). So we thought we would try it out. LOVE IT! We loved it so much we went back and purchased more. Originally we were just going to do the front yard, but now we have decided to also do the side yard. If we weren't putting our house on the market today, we would be replacing all of our mulch with RubberStuff. I hope Sam's Club keeps it in stock, because we definitely want it for our new house :)
If you aren't familiar with it, check it out:

100% Recycled Rubber and Made in the USA!

http://www.americanrubber.com/shop/product/rubberstuff_landscaping_mulch

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RubberStuff-Mulch/268856882119?sk=wall#!/pages/RubberStuff-Mulch/268856882119?sk=wall

Sneak Peek at Monday's Listing

We finally have the house pictures taken and sent off to our agent.
It goes up for sale on Monday...crazy!

I thought I would share. Warning: picture OVERLOAD!

Wanted: New Cool Room for 8 Year Old Boy

My son has wanted a bunk bed for quite some time now. My problem with them though, is that they are so chunky and a lot of them waste more space than actually create it. Aside from that, a really sturdy bunk bed is a bit on the spendy side. After looking through some of those awesome sites I posted just a bit ago, I think I have come up with a solution. Hubby agrees with it and I think we could pull it off at the fraction of cost for a retail bunk. This is what I am thinking:

I really like that there is minimal space used for this design, which allows for more "play" room. I am all about the fact that there are two beds and they hardly over-lap at all, giving both beds ample head room.

Challenges:
1) Finding a ladder that would work in that area. I would want one that is removable or hinged, that way the storage area under the bed could be utilized and easily accessed (SCORE for added storage area!)
2) Getting the right measurements for the desk area. I don't want it to be too small. I do love that it is hinged though, and can be folded up to allow even space.
3) Finding the right chair.
3) Make the desk top wide enough (after closure) that a laptop will fit inside. Of course this will mean that wires will also need to run through the back of the desk for connectivity. Although SCORE for being able to hide those wires in the storage area!

Changes:
1) Make the back of the desk area out of cork.
2) Add a light under the lip of the bed frame above the desk. Since the desk is hinged, a desk lamp won't really work, but a small "under counter" light would be perfect.
3) Colors. I like the green and yellow, but they aren't really my son. I have other colors in mind.

With the two beds and desk on one side of the room, it leaves plenty of room for a dresser and bookshelf along another wall - maybe even a little lounge area in the center.

I am super stoked about this! Hope the kiddo likes it!

http://www.modernhomeidea.com/modern-bedroom/loft-bedroom-ideas-with-small-spaces/attachment/lower-ceilings-loft-bedroom-ideas-with-small-spaces/

_____________________
Pulled some colors and ideas together. This is what I am thinking...

Oh Wonderful Sites, How You Trap Me and Won't Let Go...

My decorating style is modern/contemporary and I am very much a minimalist. Clutter and busy-ness do not mesh well with my taste.

I heart this kind of stuff:

http://www.interiorarcade.com/
It's kind of hard to navigate with all the ads in the way. But, if you go the the right side of the page and look through the categories there are some GREAT ideas. LOVE Tumeidi!

http://www.modernhomeidea.com/
I want it ALL!

http://www.chiasso.com/
The stiletto doorstop and invisible bookshelf will be mine.

http://www.burkedecor.com/
Way spendy, but way awesome.

http://www.decorpad.com/index.htm
Love the paint gallery feature.

There are of course many others out there, but these few have done a grand job at sucking up any free time I have right now.

Family and Art...My Two Loves. (Aunt Cindy)

Two things I love:

1) My family
2) Art

So when the two come together, well, it just makes it over-the-top special to me.

My Aunt Cindy has been an amateur photographer for as long as I can remember - since before my times I'm sure. She has an unbelievable ability to trek into nature and come back with amazing shots that make you feel as though you were with her the entire time. She captures natural settings just as they are, letting life carry on around her as not to interrupt. The love of all living things pours from her photography, and allows you to step back and appreciate those smaller moments in life that make the bigger moments so special.

She has never publicized her photographs until now. Like most Americans today, she is feeling the economic crunch, and is trying to find an alternative for funds. Blessed with her gift of photography, she has turned to her outlet as her means of reaching out.

I am happy to share her link with you, and am honored that she is my family. Have a look, enjoy her work (there is more to come!), leave some comments, and if so inspired, purchase a photograph (or two...or three!). Her style may not match with yours, but there is always a friend or family member, co-worker, child care provider - someone - who would love the gift of nature displayed in their home (...office, studio, etc.).

This is the link to her site. I hope you all enjoy ;)

http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=d3d9d524-9fff-495a-9c7e-08d54124b140

Time to Build a New Nest

Although we love our current home, we have outgrown it. And with the possibility of more kiddos in the future, we really need to find something else.

Of course this does not stress me out in the least bit. I have this odd fascination with looking for houses for sale and going to open houses. Love it. Sometimes we just pack up the kiddos and drive around for a few hours looking at houses. Of course the kids don't consider it the most fun thing to do, but it really helps the hubby and I relax. We have time to talk about something (other than the kids) and it gets our creative juices flowing. Some of the best landscaping and decorating ideas have come from just browsing, or attending open houses. Even more so, it gives us insight on what we would NOT want in a new home - which I think is extremely important.

So, I have been following home sales for the last year or so, every since we began thinking about what our next step would be. We have been undecided about buying vs. building. They both have their pros and cons.
We have made offers on homes that would suffice (i.e, meaning we weren't IN LOVE with the house, but it had most of what we wanted and we would just have to work on those things it didn't). Both homes we made offers on fell through (on the sellers end), and so we just took it as a sign. (We tend to see signs like that all the time - keeps us optimistic!). So in the end I think we have come to the conclusion to build.

Of course if any of you have ever built a custom home, you know all the crazy stuff that is involved. Part of me is sooooo excited to jump right in, and the other part has me so uneasy about making decisions I may regret later.

So as it stands right now, we have a hold on a lot, and after much consideration have found the floor plan that we like the most. There of course are some adjustments that need to be made to get the things we really want out of it, but the layout is one that we think we will be really pleased with.

Now, of course, we have to put out current house up for sale. Oh joy! (insert sarcasm here). Don't get me wrong, I am excited to get it out there, it's the prepping and staging (and lack of energy and time) that I am not so thrilled about. Our goal is to have it up on Sunday. Today is Thursday. Think it's possible?

I'll be posting pictures of the process....probably more details about house stuff than anyone wants to hear - so, sorry. But it is good to know that I will get some great feedback and opinions along the way. If you know me, you know that I am a very open person. So please, suggest away!

Here is the floor plan of the model we have chosen. I am hesitant to even post the pictures of the front of the house that they have on the website. The elevation they have pictured is hideous! It looks like an box with awkward windows. Gag. Please keep in mind that the front of our new house will not look like the one pictured :) The interior layout is what I want you to see most. Check it out...

First Floor

Second Floor

Basement (unfinished for now)

I have been inspired!

I have, for years, been in awe of beautiful blogs created by awesome moms. Art tips, recipes, creations, remodels, pictures of their kiddos - I love it all.

So it finally hit me today that I should just create one of my own. I get caught up in the world of FaceBook, but perhaps this will become a (better?) alternative.

So here it goes....